Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™.
Wordle today: Failed (really hard)
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Black to move and mate in 4.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, author of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (1954-55) & ‘The Hobbit’ (1937), was born on this day 134 years ago.
Here he is writing in Elvish, his invented language for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ pic.twitter.com/iReBRJSQHB
— Time Capsule Tales (@timecaptales) January 4, 2026
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Watching plenty of videos from St. Peter’s Basilica and other churches in Rome, I’m interested in the way that people are routinely “bundled up” during the colder months, when very ancient structures, and very large ones, present great challenges to anyone who would attempt to install a climate-control system therein.
I’ve queried Copilot just now to confirm: colossal-scale buildings like St. Peter’s Basilica can exhibit “microclimate” type effects inside them, almost like a miniature ecosystem producing weather.
In some particularly decrepit buildings like aircraft hangars, it says, condensation on the ceiling could result in a little “rainfall” on your head. Of course, a true oculus in a structure such as the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs can admit rain, snow, and rose petals alike.
Wordle in 3 today
I got Wordle on the first try once
A few false starts, but finally, never letting White out of check to queen his or her b-pawn.:
1. . . . . . . . R-f2+
2. K-g3 . . . h5-h4+
3. K×h4 . . R-h2+ (discoveted)
4. K-h5 . . R×h3#
– Will we see the dome of St. Peter’s revert to its original colour?
– Tolkien’s penmanship is amazing. I won’t deny I’m slightly envious.
– @Elizium23: The airship hangar in Akron, Ohio (Goodyear Airdock) is known for its micro climate, and the condensation effect you describe.
Black to move and mate in 4
1) … Rf2+
2) Kg3 (forced) h4+
3) Kxh4 (forced) Rxf4+
4) Kh5 (forced) Rh4# mate
waalaw, after
3) … Rh2+
4) Kh5 is not forced since
4) Bg3 blocks check leaving no mate possibility on black’s next move.
EAW: color
I wonder about that, too. In fact all the domes in Rome are getting dark.
I’m glad to see the chess solutions and exchanges about them.