Entry #6: Analyzing Chelsea Football Club

Entry #5: Mint

 Mint

    Welcome back to ENGrossing thoughts where today we'll be looking a small, refreshing treat. While it's not exactly a snack, it is still consumed by many people on a regular basis. Opening the container, it makes a popping sound as the lid is flipped back, revealing the contents inside. The container is round and blue, with a white trim around the top edge. The underside of the container is translucent, allowing the owner to view the items inside. Flipping it over, one item falls out. It's a unique design used to limit any contamination. The other half of the container when opened, exposes a little more than half the container, which is more convenient, but not as sanitary. The item in my hand is white, smooth, and round, with the exception of a few bumps from the blue cooling crystals on the surface. Popping it in your mouth, there is instantly a cooling sensation. The name on the container seems to be an apt description. The lid closes with a loud click, locking back into place. It's very smooth in the mouth as it glides back and forth, leaving a cold tingle wherever it touches the tongue. It tastes very refreshing, not like some of its compatriots that are comparable to toothpaste. The taste lingers in the mouth for a few minutes after being consumed, as it's intended to do. It reminds me of grade school, where these were very popular amongst the students. They were definitely an item that students would clamor over on an almost daily basis. 

          Until next week, this is ENGrossing thoughts! 

Entry #4: The Dark Side of the Chess World

 The Dark Side of the Chess World

Cheating in Chess

    With the rise of chess in recent years and the technology surrounding the industry, cheating was bound to increase. It's a problem perhaps more prominent in chess than it is in many other competitions. On a daily basis, people cheat at chess, especially online, by using computer engines. These supercomputers are programmed to find the ideal moves for a player in any given situation, and their abilities eclipse those of any player in the world. Sometimes this goes unnoticed, but many times, websites such as chess.com will flag these games and penalize the offending party, usually deactivating their account. The process is quick and effective, generally resolving any complaints that may arise. Rating points that are lost in these games are restored to the other user's account and a formal apology is sent to their inbox. However, the problem doesn't simply stop at online games.

Stockfish: The Strongest Chess Engine Available to the General Public

    Cheating may happen in person as well and is not uncommon at tournaments that occur over the board (in person).  Players may attempt to communicate with others or leave the tournament room to access their phone and analyze the game in a critical position. In most cases, immediate action is not taken without the proctors physically seeing the accused player cheating. They will monitor the player throughout the rest of the tournament, but many times, nothing will happen. However, in the world of the chess elites, cheating accusations hold more weight. In 2022, Hans Niemann was accused of cheating against the world champion of the time, Magnus Carlsen. While there was no concrete evidence that Niemann had cheated, the accusations by the former world champion were very strong. It was difficult for the chess world to overlook and many people believed Carlsen despite him presenting little to no evidence. Before this tournament, Neimann was one of the most popular up-and-coming grandmasters in the chess world. He had a popular Twitch channel and was heavily promoted by chess.com. However, during this scandal, he had his partnerships revoked and was shunned by the chess community. After a failed defamation lawsuit in 2023, he was eventually restored to all of his platforms but the damage was done. Despite being ranked #19 in the world at only 22 years of age, his popularity lulls far behind that of many similar players of similar age and skill. The chess world still sees him in a negative light, with his profile on chess.com displaying a picture of him scowling and his world ranking being hidden despite being one of the best players in the world. 

Daniel Naroditsky

 GM Daniel Naroditsky

    Cheating accusations can have far more negative effects than simply being shadow-banned from the chess community. Daniel Naroditsky, an American grandmaster, was one of the most proficient rapid and blitz players in the world. He was another highly popular streamer on Twitch, and was often a participant or commentator for major tournaments sponsored by chess.com, both online and over-the-board. In 2024, he was accused by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of cheating in online matches. Kramnik stated that his play was too perfect for him to be thinking of these moves himself. Naroditsky was one of many players Kramnik has falsely accused of cheating over the years. Despite the wide support from many in the chess community, including world #1 Magnus Carlsen, Naroditsky's mental health declined over the past year. He believed that his image was ruined stating 

“Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions.”

    Daniel Naroditsky passed away on October 19th, 2025, at 29 year of age, approximately a year after the first accusations from Kramnik. While there has not been an official cause of death released, many believe that it was a suicide or drug overdose as a result of cyberbullying. As a former world champion, Kramnik has a large influence on the chess community, and the repeated unfounded harassment of Naroditsky led by him is believed to be the cause of his death. Kramnik is currently being investigated for his role in the death of Naroditsky. He was previously banned in 2023 from participating in chess.com prize tournaments after falsely accusing players of cheating. 

 

Narodistky and Kramnik after a match

    Cheating is a huge problem in the chess community and the results can be catastrophic. As the game continues to grow online, protecting the players is of the utmost importance. While eliminating cheating from the game is something everyone wants to see, the side effects of accusations, false or not, are something that needs to be addressed. Daniel Naroditsky's death was a tragic accident and a very dark day for the chess community. The chess world can only hope that this problem can be eliminated swiftly as all players should be able to enjoy the game in a safe and friendly environment.

 

Entry #3: Song Lyric Analysis

 The Birds Don't Sing

       Welcome back to ENGrossing Thoughts, where we'll be analyzing the lyrics from the song "The Birds Don't Sing" by Clipse ft. John Legend and Voices of Fire. I selected this song because I am a fan of Clipse, a hip-hop duo (members are Pusha T and Malice) from my home state of Virginia. The producer for this song is Pharrell, another native of Virginia. This song is also of interest to me because it highlights the depth of the hip-hop industry and shows that it goes beyond surface-level songs about "the street life", drugs, and other topics typically associated with rap. 

    

(Malice and Pusha T) 

    The primary speakers of this song are Pusha T and Malice, with John Legend accompanying, and Pharrell and Stevie Wonder also making contributions. The purpose of this song is for Clipse to share their grief from the loss of their parents with the world. The death of their parents is the context behind this song, as they passed away in 2021 and 2022. "The Birds Don't Sing" was released in 2024. The song is intended not only for people who have suffered losses like they have, but for anyone who listens. "The Birds Don't Sing" is intended to educate people on the values of familial bonds as well as the grief process. The exigence of this song lies in the fact that people lose family members and close friends every day. Many people deal with grief and loss, and this song provides a new perspective on it based on their personal experience.

    Repetition of the chorus, "The birds don't sing, they screech in pain," is the primary technique used to send the message in this song. This repetition highlights the fact that people may display their pain in ways that other people might not necessarily recognize. They compare themselves to birds, stating that while people recognize it as birdsong and typically associate it with positive thoughts and feelings, they're actually crying out in pain. They want this repetition to show people that how people cope isn't always going to display itself in an openly somber way. They purposely create a solemn atmosphere to highlight the depth of their emotions as they recall losing their parents and some of the moments throughout their lives that stood out to them. The outro by Stevie Wonder speaks directly to the listener, an intentional choice to truly grab their attention and leave them with a message to take with them. He said,

"Remember those who lost their mothers and fathers
And make sure that every single moment that you have with them
You show them love
You show them love
You'll see"

This is a direct call to the listener, asking them to cherish the moments they have with their friends and family who have lost their parents. He's asking them to show them love and support because it can help their mental health in unimaginable ways.

    The tone of the song is depressing and distressing. It's meant to capture the difficult subject of losing one's parents and how it negatively impacts the heart and mind. The tone embodies the topic and the message of being there for your friends and family. It is very serious and sad, and the tone is steady throughout the song.

    This concludes my analysis of "The Birds Don't Sing" by Clipse. I'll see you next time on ENGrossing Thoughts.