Yeah, Slag. ;-) You know, I think the State Department is basically happy as long as they can just convince a slim majority of Americans that it's not really about oil. They are playing to the home audience.

But what a shame about the world of chess! If chess masters would just get a bit more serious and act like grown, mature men...give up the whoopee cushions and joy buzzers and fake Grouch Marx mustaches and the other puerile pranks they are so well known for...well then, I'm sure that women would be attracted in droves to waste their time pushing little men around on a chessboard. I mean, hell, who wouldn't be? ;-)