2007 Winter Vactation

On December 22nd, we boarded our car and put our supplies in that we will need for four days. We left home and went to Fermilab http://www.fnal.gov/ for our play. Our play was called "Snow Queen" and I played the second storyteller, while my brother played the snow queen's adviser. Anyway, that isn't what this post is about. This post is about our winter vacation.
After the play finished (at about 1:00 pm) we left for Michigan. In our green Subaru, our dogs (Carly and Lisa) sit in the trunk, my moms and my brothers and my skis (and my dad's snowboard) were in the car we started our 8 hour drive to Michigan. We stopped for 4 days in the same house as we did last year although we had different people with us; 2 other families: one with three people which includes a five year old boy (Russian) whose dad used to be the champion of America and Russia by controlling little planes without using a radio remote. The other family consisted of 2 people (a young couple) which were also from Russia. The day we got there was the 22nd, and we skied on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th. We left on the 26th.
We skied (my dad snowboarded) mostly on black diamonds. The place where we skied is called Indianhead mountain resort. The black diamonds which I liked to ski on were called "Geronimo" and "Tomahawk" which both used the same lift; a t-bar.

My brother, my mom and I before we leave Indianhead Mountain resort

As I am writing this, my brother's birthday is tomorrow which (I hope) he will write about in this blog.

Photos

Our tire swing

Our bird house

The mulberry tree on our backyard

The top of one of our pine trees

The same as the previous picture, but has a little branches in it too.

A squirrel

Another picture of our pine tree

The pine tree

Our other pine tree

Our oak tree

Our house

A bird nest on our neighbor's backyard

A paper birch tree on our neighbors backyard

Our basketball hoop

Piano contest

Today, November 17th, myself and my brother went to a piano competition. The only songs that we were allowed to play are Sonatas and Sonatinas. My brother and I both played a Sonata. I played Sonata in C by Mozart and my brother played a Sonata by a composer named Haydn. The place where we competed was in Naperville. We were not allowed to look into the notes of our songs. Artem and I both got 86% on our songs even though my piano teacher thought my score was unfair. My brother played before me and I was supposed to play at four o'clock, but the person who was supposed to play was not there. After the competition we went to Russian School.

My brother with our piano teacher
Myself with our piano teacher
My brother playing piano at the Russian school

Vertical Endeavors (VE)

Every Tuesday and Friday we go rock climbing in the building Lifetime Fitness. There is a pool, Rock climbing place and many other things. The place Vertical Endeavors has excellent climbing walls and has auto belays that belay you without an other person. There is also human belays where you can't climb with an auto belay and a person has to belay you. My mom and dad are allowed to belay other people. There is also bouldering places where you have nobody to belay you and you climb to the side, not up. They have a rule that you cannot have your foot higher than the place where your shoulder would be when you are standing on the floor. That rule only applies when you are bouldering, and have no spotter. You can climb higher if you have a spotter (a person who stands on the ground bellow you and if you fall he/she will catch you.) There are also classes that you can take to learn how to belay other people and other things necessary for rock climbing. There are also routes that mark the rocks you can climb on if you are doing that route. The routes rocks are marked with colored tape. You can also buy climbing shoes, harnesses and chalk. It is a very good place to rock climb.

Chess lessons

Almost every Saturday we go to take chess lessons with a chess grandmaster named Yury Shulman. We go and then solve a chess problem and then we play a game against another student. Sometimes we bring our games that we notated from tournaments and he shows us our mistakes and tells us what we should have done in the game. The lessons are fun and sometimes on the way back we stop in a restaurant called Pol Bistro.

Russian School

We Joined a Russian school and go there almost every Saturday. Sometimes we do not go there because we have chess tournaments. The Russian school just moved to Naperville. We take lessons for literature and language mechanics. We usually have 6 students including myself and my brother. Usually our schedule is: first we go to take chess lessons with grandmaster Shulman in Barrington. Then we go home and eat, walk our dogs and go to Russian School.

All Grade State Chess Tournament

On November 3rd, 2007 was the Illinois All Grade Chess Tournament. My brother and I participated in this tournament. I got 4 wins and one loss, and I got 5th place. The person who I lost to was Jyotsna Bitra. The person who got first place though was Noah Weeks-Brittan. Our team got first place in fourth grade. I was 4th by rating when I got there after Allen Guo, Jyotsna Bitra, and Phillip Parker-Turner.
Everybody who I played had a rating less than a thousand except for Jyotsna Bitra. The hardest player I played and won was the least rated player that I played. His name is Sam Heil. His rating was somewhere in the 7 hundreds and after the tournament is in the 9 hundreds. He said he was underrated and I believe him.
My Brother won 2 games and 2 losses. He did not get a trophy, but he did get 16th place. The 7th grade team got 2nd place and almost got first.

Myself on the 4th board

Myself on the 1st board about to play Jyotsna Bitra

From right to left: Ian Wilkinson, My brother, Keith Kimberling and Phillip Bush. (the one in the green shirt.) (All the people I mentioned are on our team.)

My friend Phillip Parker-Turner

Our team getting our first place trophy

Complete Plan for Exploration of Europa

This plan would assure as to the existence or nonexistence of life on Europa. Here it is:

This plan will consist of three parts:

1. An orbiter, which would also deposit one probe onto the icy surface to test chemical composition and slight tremors (location is irrelevant). This orbiter would test for more convincing signs of an ocean below the icy surface, chemical composition, and, hopefully, with the use of advanced RADAR, geological activity. It might be possible to also test the possibility of water coming up to the surface in the case of an ocean positive (unlikely, yet possible). Various possible results would include:
   
   

   1. Positive for ocean, positive for major geological activity, high amount of organic material in chemical composition, positive for water at the surface. This is the most optimistic scenario, almost guaranteeing life. It would even be reasonable to skip the second part of the plan, and proceed directly to depositing probes into the areas where the water is at the surface. This scenario is, however, highly unlikely.
      
      

   2. Positive for ocean, positive for major geological activity, positive for organic molecules, negative for surface water. There is still a high probability of life as we know it, and the measurements of geological activity would allow us to highlight areas with highest probability of hydrothermal vents, and it might again be a good idea to proceed directly to sub-surface probes, though these would have to be long lived because they would first have to find exactly where the vents are.
      
      

   3. Positive for ocean, positive for major geological activity, negative for organics in surface chemistry, positive for surface water. This scenario would necessitate the second part of the plan, as the near absence (we cannot call quits quite yet: it may be that there are trace amounts of organics in different locations which we missed) of organic material would indicate that life either doesn't exist or is a very rare phenomenon. Only after thorough exploration could we pinpoint where life is most likely to be (and pinpointing is necessary, as life would be a rare phenomenon). The packages would not have to be as complete, however, as in scenario 5 and further down.
      
      

   4. Positive for ocean, positive for major geological activity, negative for organics in surface chemistry, negative for surface water. As life would still have to be a rare thing, the difference between the existence or nonexistence of surface water would not make any major difference, and we would proceed in the same way as with 3 in part two, but we would require a more advanced, ice penetrating sub-surface probe in part three (if there will be a part three).
      
      

   5. Positive for ocean, negative for major geological activity, positive for organics, positive/negative for surface water (the difference would be the same as between 1 and 2: different penetrative probes, and different minimum life-span of the probes). This would require a thorough second part, as it is possible that a couple of hydrothermal vents eluded our attention.

   6. Negative for ocean, positive for major geological activity, positive for organics, positive/negative for surface water. This would require a very thorough part two, as it is still possible that there is life: hydrothermal vents could create small domes which would have liquid water in small quantities. The bubble would steadily rise due to the deposit of the vent, but it could also move sideways due to geological activity, thus not necessitating the rise of the bubble to the surface.
      
      

   7. Negative for ocean, positive for geological activity, negative for organics. Finding the locations of the possible bubbles would require a thorough part two. A there are no organic materials detected, it might also be a good chance to abandon the project, as there is a fairly large chance that there is no life whatsoever.
      
      

   8. Positive for ocean, negative for major geological activity, negative for organics, positive/negative for surface water. This would require an even more thorough part two. However, it is also an option at this stage to abandon the plan, as the chances of life are very slim, as there is no evidence for it but the ocean.
      
      

   9. Full negative: abandon project

   
   
   

2. Exploration packages. In result cases 3 and 4 we would require knowledge of geological hot- spots for vent locations, hence a seismograph would be necessary. We would also need to know where the temperatures would be right for life, hence we need the infra-red instrument package, as well as the seismograph to accurately pinpoint where the vents are most likely to be. The RADAR/SONAR is not necessary, as we already know that the ocean exists, and do not need to be reassured of its presence. We do not need such a strong battery as we would surely have needed, as finding major tremors is far easier than small ones, and we would already have an outline of what to do. The instruments would not have to be as acute as in further result cases. In result case 5 we would need an acute seismograph in order to find tremors, but we would not need extremely acute infrared sensors, and the density measuring equipment would not be necessary once again. In result case 6, 7, and 8, we would need a complete set.
   
   
   

3. Penetrative probes. It is essential that these probes be completely rid of any bacteria, for fear of contaminating the ocean, and perhaps effectively killing whatever life there may be. There are several ways to do this: either letting out plumes of poisonous material every few seconds, which would also kill the bacteria, assuming it exists only in trace amounts, so we would not be able to detect trace amounts of lifeforms, although we would be able to see if it was teeming with life of different kinds; liquid nitrogen just beneath the surface, forcing the water around to immediately freeze, and hence keep our bacteria from contaminating theirs, although this would limit movement, and perhaps force the water probe to only rise and fall by being suspended on a cord, and that would force all movement it would be capable of to be infinitesimal, such as opening and closing a single hatch, and perhaps pull in a sample of the surrounding water through vacuum suction; or each part could undergo a complex quarantine process in which it would be heated, frozen, and exposed to extremely harmful radiation repeatedly, and thus assuring that there are no lifeforms still attached. This would create the most unbiased experiment, and would allow the highest freedom of movement, but would be the most expensive. It is also not guaranteed to completely destroy all the bacteria. I prefer the second alternative, as it allows us to photograph, as well as to collect samples, and even move (to a certain extent).

This is a slow plan, and would take roughly a decade, as it requires three launches. I do not know if the second part of the plan is necessary, as I am do not even vaguely know the accuracy of the orbiter. There is also a possibility of one massive launch. Once in orbit, the satellite would act as the orbiter. If results are negative, the rest can be shut down. Then it could deploy the instrumental packages, then the probes, and different parts of the probes could be shut down depending on the result. That would expensive and difficult, however.

Europa mission

This article is simply something that I thought up and thought might be interesting. As many people today speculate about the existence of life not only on distant planets, but in our very own Solar System, and Europa is one of the top locations for consideration, I thought I might publish some of my own ideas.
People believe that there is life beneath the surface of Europa because it is covered in ice, and some think there might be an ocean beneath it. Another moon which is thought to have life for the same reasons is Callisto.

The purpose of this is to identify whether these ideas are plausible, and, if so, the locations in which life is most likely to exist, and thus maps out a plan for future missions. There are two main parts: a multitude of instrumental packages on the surface of Europa, and a Central Communication and Processing Unit ( CCPU ) in orbit around it.

The instrumental packages will consist of several parts-

1. Accurate and exact seismograph, enabling us to find reasonable locations for hydro-thermal vents.

2. Accurate SONAR and/or RADAR sub-surface scanning devices that can measure density, and hence distinguish between water and ice, so as to find any liquid sub-surface water, as well as help find weaknesses in crust and ice shelves. Perhaps also to measure chemical composition.

3. An infrared sensor, as to distinguish between temperatures beneath the ice a fair distance away.

4. Central computer.

5. Radio, enabling it to communicate to other such packages in different locations, and compare the results, as well as to communicate to the CCPU in orbit around this Jovian moon.

6. Drill, which will have enabled the device to sink beneath the surface upon landing.

7. Instruments to ensure a safe landing.

8. Power source (preferably nuclear, due to the distance from the sun).

The purpose of these packages is to confirm and/or disprove the existence of a sub-surface ocean and/or separated water-pockets on Europa, hydrothermal vents, and henceforth conditions that would enable us to deduce whether or not there are livable conditions on Europa. In order to accurately plot such things as tremor locations, we will need more than one package in different locations. These locations should be an interest in itself, as everything, besides the drill and the central computer, should be double, with one extremely accurate yet short-range instrument, and another less accurate but which measures a far wider area.

As the accuracy of said instruments is, as yet, unknown, than it would perhaps be wiser first to calculate the number of needed locations. If they are to many, then perhaps we should find a different way to find the probability of life on this Jovian moon. If not, and after the specific locations have been found, it is also necessary to find the probability of a safe landing by of any one of these packages. It would be wiser to drop enough of the probes on each location as to ensure the safe landing of at least one. If, again, the number is to large, and the operation to expensive, we would be forced to find a different way to test the probability of life on this intriguing satellite.

It is also of vital importance that these probes know the location of their fellow counterparts, so that they do not take the heat or vibrations emitted by the other probes as a flase positive, or their density or chemical composition as a false negative.

If this operation is plausible, then it would be necessary to create a “mother-ship” to carry these probes to their locations. Once the probes had been dropped, the carriage compartments should be discarded (a safe distance from the probes, with the probes aware of this so that the impact does not falter the measurements), and the stripped-down mother-ship becomes the CCPU. It should also be equipped with a powerful-enough radio to contact Earth.

Measurements from this mission should provide the necessary information on where, how, and if there should be future missions to this Jovian satellite, perhaps which could drill deep enough to reach the areas with the highest probability of life-forms. Similar missions to Callisto could be plausible.

To share with people to get subscription

I created a home page and put there a story - instantchess.com promised a free subscription for the chess stories. I play there regularly and like to have separate account. Here is my homepage.

I am 9 and a half years old and I have a USCF rating which is 1154 and my quick rating is 1186. I am 12^th place in the state of Illinois for the year 2007. This year I've been to the Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee. I got 67^th place in the K-3 Championship.

I go to the school DaVinci Academy school. I go to the chess club in our school and go to the chess club in St. Charles every Thursday.

My dad, my brother and I have used our instantchess account for about half a year.

I want to have a separate account, that is why I am writing you this. Our Instant Chess rating in rapid is 1716, and our instant Chess Rating for Classic is 1641. Thanks to Instant Chess I play better in chess and play better at Tournaments.

IMSA Summer camp (Summer @ IMSA)

Today I finished the IMSA Summer camp. The first day in the summer camp, we learned about The three R's, which are Recycle, reuse, Reduce. Fun rating: 5.5 out of ten.
The next day we learned about kitchen chemistry. We learned about acids and bases. It was kind of cool. Fun Rating: 6 out of ten.
The third day was one of my two favorite days. It was called "Gross" Anatomy. First we learned about broken bone and the different kind of possible fractures in the broken bones of people who have broken bones. Then we saw this slide show Human Anatomy vs. Worm Anatomy (right before lunch). After lunch we got to break an owl pellet open and see what the owl ate and got to keep the bones. Fun Rating: 10 out of 10.
The fourth day we learned about green biology. There we got to learn a lot about animals under the sea. We learned that 90% of the fish under water either make their own light in cells called Photophores and how some of the fish work together with a bacteria to make light. An example of one of these fish is an Angler Fish. It works together with the bacteria to make light and attract prey. We also learned how people find out the population of different kinds of fish. Go to the camp to find out how! Fun rating: 8.7 out of ten.
The last day we learned about engineering. This is my other favorite class. We learned about tension, compression, and torsion.
We built our own skyscrapers out of newspaper. We had 15 minutes, 2 newspapers and 20 1nches of tape. Our project got second place while my friend's and his partners got first. We looked at different sculptors around the building and outside the building and talked about how the supports use either tension, compression or torsion. Fun Rating: 10.

My friend Eric and I holding up our paper wind-proof skyscrapers.

My Friend Jackson and I.



Me in the sculpture "Hamster Ball" holding my paper skyscraper.

http://www2.imsa.edu/programs/kidsinstitute/home_page/homepage.html

North Barington School (NBS) Chess Tournament

There was a chess tournament today. I won all five games.I nearly lost the second game by losing my queen. But my opponent miscounted in a trade and lost his queen. In the end I had a rook and a couple of pawns and the king, he had a couple of pawns an the king. I played a lot with Philip Parker-Turner (not in the chess tournament).

Artem playing Harpreet Singh

Me, Phillip, his mother and kids I played.

Artem receiving award from GM Yury Shulman.



Me receiving award from GM Yury Shulman.

The end of National Chess Championship

So, on the National Chess Championship Dennis won one more game (game #7). All the games he won there he played black. Game #6 was very dramatic - Dennis lost it. I will try to convince him to comment it and put here. So, Dennis has 4 out of 7.
Artem won 2 more games and has 4.5 out of 7.
Father of Kevin Yan, Dennis opponent in the game #2 send a photo of Dennis and Kevin before the game.
Here it is:Many thanks to Rocky Yan!

Day 2, 5th game

Dennis won his game in 13 moves, Artem drew. So, Dennis has 3 out of 5, Artem has 2.5 out of 5.
Now they both are dead tired and sleepy - 2 more games tomorrow.

2nd Day 4th game

The 4th game I lost and my brother totally creamed his opponent

2nd Day 3rd game

I won the 3rd game and my brother lost his.

1st Day Chess Tournament

Yesturday, the first day in the chess tournament, both my brother and I lost the second game.

National Chess Tournament

The National Chess Tournament is in Tennesee. It is the first day. I won the first game on board 754.The place is wonderful. My brother also won his first game, in 18 moves. When I played I played black. The person who I played name is Sebastian Alaniz. We are playing at is called Gaylord Opryland Hotels.

The notation of the first game. I did not finish Notating.

Black Belt Testing

On April 21st there was a black belt testing at Bill Cho's United Tae Kwon Do Center. The people who were testing for 1st Dan and the people who were testing for USMATF black belt had to run to the river and do 45 jumping jacks and run back. The people who were testing for second Dan and the people tip testing stayed inside. After everybody was inside we had to do every form 1-8 and break very hard boards. I was testing for USMATF Black Belt while my brother tested for 1st Dan.

Artem after the run - he come first.

Me after the run.

A kick - breaking a board.

Artem breaking board.

I getting my USMATF Black Belt.