Indian Head, MD Young chess enthusiasts across Charles County are set to gather at Henry E. Lackey High School for the much-anticipated annual winter chess tournament. The event, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10, will run from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., bringing together kindergarten through Grade 12 students.

This tournament, open to all students within the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) system, is a test of skill and strategy and a celebration of the intellectual game that has captivated minds for centuries. The event is also open to spectators, allowing family, friends, and chess aficionados to witness the young talents in action.

Advance registration is mandatory for participants. Details and the registration form are available on the CCPS website. Prospective players must complete their registration by Wednesday, Feb. 7, as the event does not accommodate walk-in registrations.

The tournament will kick off with player sign-in at 8:15 a.m. The first round of play begins at 9 a.m., with all participants required to check in by 8:45 a.m. to be paired for the first round. Its important to note that transportation to the venue, located at 3000 Chicamuxen Road in Indian Head, is not provided by the school system. Parents and guardians are responsible for dropping off and picking up their children.

Competitive spirit will be high as the tournament adopts a Swiss-style format for Grades 6-12. This format will feature four rounds of intense gameplay, each with a time limit of 15 minutes per game. Chess clocks will add an extra layer of challenge and excitement, testing the players skills under time pressure.

The event will culminate in an awards ceremony following the fourth-round match. Participants can look forward to trophies, medals, and certificates, recognizing their hard work and achievements. Participation in the tournament is free of charge for all Charles County students from kindergarten to 12th grade, emphasizing the school systems commitment to accessible educational and extracurricular activities.

For any inquiries or further information, interested parties can contact Alicia Briscoe at abriscoe@ccboe.com, Kristen Modes at kmodes@ccboe.com, or Crissy Trest at ctrest@ccboe.com. This event promises to be a showcase of strategic thinking and sportsmanship, highlighting the talents of Charles Countys young chess players.

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Charles County Students Gear Up for Annual Chess Tournament - The Southern Maryland Chronicle

GMs Pentala Harikrishna and Pavel Eljanov started with wins over GMs Arjun Erigaisi and Parham Maghsoodloo respectively in two high-pressure, error-prone games to share the lead with a point apiece after the first round of the Chennai Grand Masters 2023. Both players kept their nerves under check in a quicker time control which seemed to be the deciding factor of the day.

The other two encounters of the day between GMs Levon Aronian and Gukesh Dommaraju, and GMs Alexandr Predke and Sanan Sjugirov ended in almost uneventful draws.

The Chennai Grand Masters continues with round two on Saturday, December 16, at 4:45 a.m. ET/10:45 CET/3:15 p.m. IST.

Chennai Grand Masters Round 1 Results

The drawing of lots ceremony was held at the tournament venueThe Leela Palace Hotel, situated in the heart of Chennai but admirably away from the usual bustle, right at the mouth of the Adyar River, facing the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal.

Such a location offers breathtaking views of the sea, the estuary, and the beach, even under the downcast sky of unseasonal rain, all making it an unusual venue for the tournament.

As is common in India, the tournament started with the lighting of the traditional lamp, in the presence of the organizers and officials of the provincial state government of Tamil Nadu, which has contributed the entire cost of the tournament.

When approached with the proposal to conduct the tournament, the minister of sports of the government of Tamil Nadu approved the event in about half an hour, and sanctioned an amount of Rs.1,77,00,000 (US $213,146 approximately). GM Srinath Narayanan one of the main organizers, gave us details about the birth of the event.

The organization brought in an unusual touch for the drawing of lots too, as the players got to choose between eight paintings done by the budding young artist Akhil Anand, son of former world champion Vishy Anand. The paintings were based on the theme of "Poikkal Kuthirai," (translated as "false-legged horse"), a folk dance of the state of Tamil Nadu.

The most entertaining part of the evening was when Aronian came up to pick his number, and Akhil ventured to help him.

One of the inevitable narratives of the tournament is the qualification targets for the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 for Gukesh and Arjun (through the FIDE Circuit) and Maghsoodloo (through rating). It is anyone's guess whether this applies considerable pressure to them, and allows the others in the tournament to play with a more relaxed mindset.

Another major factor is the time control being followed, which is not very standard for a tournament of this stature: the entire game is played with 90 minutes for each player on the clock, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from the beginning. Appearing on the live commentary, GM Anish Giri called it "unusual" and proclaimed, "I have never played with this time control in my life!"

The arguments can be easily understood when we look at a couple of critical moments from both games.

After defending a difficult ending for a long time, Maghsoodloo had to find 51.Rb1! to salvage a draw here, which was probably made difficult by less time on the clock. He blundered with 51.Re3?? and Eljanov went on to win the game.

When asked about the lack of pressure on him to play for a specific target, Eljanov answered pretty straight-forwardly: "Yes, I was very relaxed. I didn't prepare much before the game. I slept very wellhelped me get over jet lag." It showed on the board too, as Eljanov looked to be steady throughout the game with no outward show of emotions.

Harikrishna confessed to not having prepared the specific simplistic opening variation of the day against Arjun, but was rewarded with a critical error from his opponent early in the game.

Here, a simple scheme like 15...Kf7 with further development of his pieces would have preserved equality, but Arjun erred with 15...Bxc3? overlooking the prosaic16.Rc1!, which gave Harikrishna an everlasting initiative in one of his favorite parts of the game, the endgame.

From his young days, Harikrishna's forte was his endgame ability. Hence, when an endgame with rooks and opposite-colored bishops came up on the board, it was expected that Hari would be able to convert his advantage. But with both players having under a minute on the clock, and both looking outwardly tense at the board, it was Hari's turn to overlook a simple tactic.

Harikrishna had to find 49.f5!, sacrificing the pawn, to facilitate the push of his h-pawn here, but he blundered with 49.Ra7??.After the further50.f5, Arjun seemed to have a simple tactic to secure the draw:

Arjun had to find 50...Rh1+ 51.Kd2 Rxh5 to level the game here, as the loss of White's h-pawn cannot be avoided. However, he blundered in turn with 50...Rxf5?? allowing51.a6and Harikrishna went on to win the game.

This fascinating encounter is our Game of the Day, analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao below.

The other two games ended in draws after short fights. The Aronian-Gukesh encounter was billed as the game of the day, but it never rose to high levels of excitement. Aronian confessed after the game that he was still not over jetlag and still missing his sleep.

How to watch the Chennai Grand Masters 2023

You can keep up with all the games and results of the tournament on our live events platform by following this link.

The Chennai Grand Masters 2023 is an 8-player all-play-all tournament in Chennai, India running December 15-21. The strongest classical invitational tournament ever held in India, it gives Gukesh, Arjun, and Maghsoodloo a chance to qualify for the 2024 Candidates tournament. The prize fund is $60,000, with $18,000 for first place.

Previous Coverage

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Chennai Grand Masters Round 1: Harikrishna, Eljanov Start With Wins - Chess.com

Teimour Radjabov: A Chess Grandmasters Tale of Triumph and Tenacity

In the cerebral realm of chess, where grandmasters plot and parry with an almost clairvoyant foresight, Teimour Radjabov stands out as a tactician par excellence. From the historic city of Baku, Azerbaijan, Radjabov has carved his name into the annals of chess with a style reminiscent of the tactical dynamism of Garry Kasparov, another legend from the same streets. Yet, there was a time when Radjabov, weighing his prospects, contemplated a shift from the 64 squares to the fluctuating charts of oil, gas, and cryptocurrency trading. This chess savants journey from potential deserter to a renewed icon is a narrative of resilience and rediscovery.

Teimour Radjabovs chess acumen was evident early on, with a victory that shook the chess world: defeating Garry Kasparov at the tender age of 15 during the Linares tournament of 2003. The echoes of that triumph reverberated through his subsequent victories over other titans such as Viswanathan Anand at the Sparkassen tournament in Dortmund and the FIDE World champion Ruslan Ponomariov. These wins were not mere flukes but a testament to Radjabovs strategic brilliance and his penchant for piece sacrifices that often left opponents reeling.

Radjabovs chess career, however, was not immune to the ebbs and flows that accompany any pursuit of excellence. Amidst contemplations of a career pivot, the 2019 Chess World Cup emerged as the beacon that rekindled his passion for the game. It was a tournament marked by Radjabovs formidable play, where he outwitted the likes of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Jeffery Xiong. The crescendo of this chess odyssey was his victory over Ding Liren, a player who would later ascend to become the World champion. This triumph was not just a win but a pivotal moment that affirmed Radjabovs place in the grand tapestry of chess history.

Radjabovs insights extend beyond his personal experiences, acknowledging the surging tide of India in the international chess scene. He attributes this rise to the robust support from the Indian government and corporate sponsorship, which has fostered a new generation of formidable young Indian chess players. Radjabovs admiration for this growth is palpable, as he witnesses the emergence of a significant force in the chess world that mirrors his own journeymarked by determination and the pursuit of mastery.

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Teimour Radjabov: A Chess Grandmaster's Tale of Triumph and Tenacity - BNN Breaking

USA Rugby today announced a new online Training & Education offering with the Level 1 Assistant Referee course now available virtually through the USA Rugby Learning Center.

In a continued effort to make Training & Education materials more accessible across the country, registered USA Rugby Members can log into their member profile on Rugby Xplorer, navigate to the Learning Center and complete the course. As an introductory benefit, the course will be free of charge until the end of the year, with free access to registered members through Jan 1, 2024. The Level 1 course certifies members as an Assistant Referee, at times referred to as Touch Judge, permitted to officiate USA Rugby sanctioned competition in the assistant role.

This course is a complete Asst Referee course with three modules full of interactions and video - covering touch law, foul play, signals and other duties.

Members can access the virtual course by logging into their USA Rugby Member Profile, navigating to Learning Center on the left menu bar and searching Assistant Referee

Questions on the coarse and other Training & Education matters can be directed to education@usa.rugby

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Level 1 Assistant Referee Course now offered as online education with USA Rugby Learning Center - USA Rugby

Photo from albany.cce.cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extensions offers free online courses on parenting.

ALBANY COUNTY Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering researched-based parent education programs designed to support parents and caregivers and provide strategies that have the best outcomes for babies through teenagers.

All programs are provided free of charge through Zoom. Advance registration is required with Maria DeLucia-Evans, human ecology resource educator, at or flyers with registration links may be found at https://albany.cce.cornell.edu/home-family/positive-parenting. Certificates of completion will be awarded to those who attend all sessions.

Each of the three programs is for a different age group:

The Magic Years

For parents and caregivers of babies through 4-year-old children, from noon to 1:15 p.m on Tuesdays, Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, and Feb. 6.

Topics include strategies on how to manage parent and child stress while understanding and supporting the stages of child development. We will discuss how to create nurturing routines for bedtime, bathing, family meals, and toilet training. We will also better understand parenting styles and learn strategies for positive discipline tools that really work;

The Middle Years

For parents and caregivers of children ages 5 to 10, from noon to 1:15 p.m on Thursdays, Jan 11, 18, 15 and Feb. 1 and 8.

Topics include managing parent and child stress, understanding parenting styles, raising responsible children, improving family communication, and strengthening family relationships; and

The Tween/Teen Years

For parents and caregivers of children age 11 and older, from noon to 1:15 p.m on Fridays, Jan. 12, 19, and 26, and Feb. 2 and 9.

Topics include understanding parenting styles, tween and teen development, discipline strategies and managing stress. We will also discuss how to improve family communication and create a better understanding of tween and teen challenges.

Excerpt from:
Free online education offered on parenting - The Altamont Enterprise

William & Mary Law School, a pioneer in legal education, is making waves once again with the launch of its innovative Online Master of Legal Studies program.

This groundbreaking initiative aims to redefine access to advanced legal education, offering professionals the flexibility to enhance their legal expertise and confront industry-specific challenges head-on.

The Online Master of Legal Studies program at William & Mary Law School, pending approval by the Southern Associations of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, introduces a dynamic and flexible learning experience, allowing working professionals to pursue advanced legal education without sacrificing their careers. The program features specialized concentrations, such as Business Law and Healthcare Law, ensuring participants gain a nuanced understanding of legal principles within their specific sectors.

Distinguished legal experts form the backbone of the faculty, bringing real-world experience and expertise to the virtual classroom. Networking is a cornerstone of the program, connecting students with a vast alumni network renowned for its achievements in various legal fields. This emphasis on community and collaboration is designed to provide invaluable insights and foster professional relationships.

The curriculum is carefully crafted to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Students will engage in practical applications of legal concepts, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of their industries. This hands-on approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared to make an immediate impact in their professional roles.

Dean A. Benjamin Spencer, expressing excitement about the program, stated, The launch of the Online Master of Legal Studies program underscores our commitment to providing high-quality legal education that is accessible and relevant to the diverse needs of todays professionals. This program not only signifies our dedication to innovation but also reflects our ongoing efforts to remain at the forefront of legal education.

The success of this transformative program can be attributed to the unwavering dedication of Amy King, associate dean for online and executive education, and her talented team. Their commitment to creating a seamless and effective online learning environment has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.

William & Mary Law School invites professionals from all sectors to explore the opportunities offered by the Online Master of Legal Studies program. Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open, with the program set to welcome its first students in the upcoming academic term.

Visit our Online Master of Legal Studies program page for more.

W&M Law School staff

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William & Mary Law School breaks new ground with Online Master of Legal Studies program - William & Mary

A couple of days ago, the results for the PISA 2022 tests were published, bringing along new data on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected student performance and well-being.

However, the studies show that moving to an online environment was not the biggest risk factor for students, as one would expect.

PISA, or The Programme for International Student Assessment, is a study conducted globally by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations.

The study, initially launched in 2000, is a catalyst for testing 15-year-olds skills and academic levels in reading, mathematics, and science and the last test was conducted in 2018 before COVID-19 happened.

Compared to the last test scores from 2018, the mean performance fell by 10 score points in reading and by almost 15 score points in maths, according to the OECDs report.

The 2022 PISA results show that Education is done differently from country to country.

If, for some countries, the period of COVID-19 didnt signify a roadblock in education, others seem to have been affected by the transition to digital learning.

Key findings from PISA 2022 - according to the PISA Report Summary

Struggles in specific areas

The studies show that children who have not been going to school for longer periods have been scoring lower on PISA tests than those who returned to school quicker during the COVID-19 period.

This should not mean that digitalisation is not the way, but the fact that we might not prepared to tackle it responsibly or accordingly.

The report of the results also notes the fact that there were significant differences in test results between students who reported receiving extra support from teachers during the COVID-19 period and those who had to learn autonomously most of the time.

The PISA report highlighted some challenges that the current education system faces worldwide:

When it comes to the topic of wellbeing in schools, some countries are doing a great job in turning schools into safe spaces and focusing on their students wellbeing.

However, this is not the case everywhere, and theres still much to improve.

This is exactly why online high schools like Spark School are fighting the great fight of making education universally accessible for students no matter where they are in the world.Because everyone should have a chance to get a quality education.

Online education offers crucial advantages in addressing educational disparities:

1. Accessibility: Reaching remote and underserved areas

Online platforms like MySpark can bridge gaps by providing access to education for remote and underserved areas, as highlighted by the results revealed by the PISA 2022 testing.

2. Customised Learning: Tailoring education to individual needs

Tailored learning experiences cater to individual needs and learning paces, ensuring inclusive education regardless of diverse learning abilities.

At Spark, students can study what they want, when they want to, from anywhere in the world. Because they understand the need for different types of learning and lifestyles.

3. Quality Resources: Access to updated, high-quality educational materials

Access to regularly updated, high-quality educational materials enriches learning experiences, surpassing limitations faced by traditional education systems in resource availability.

4. Global Collaboration: Breaking down geographical barriers to learning and collaboration

Geographical barriers are dismantled as online education enables global interactions and cultural exchange, fostering global competencies.

Education is and will always be in a constant state of change.

In a world where academic stability is not always granted automatically, online schools like Spark want to be the beacon of hope for ambitious students needing quality education.

With technology still on the rise, we should be mindful of the changes happening in our society, and we should learn to trust and consider technology an ally in our lives.

Lots of courses are freely available on the internet, and for other things like digital literacy, we should learn to be our own teachers.

After all, autonomous learning was one of the weak points that the PISA 2022 reported in students.

No matter if we are enrolled in a traditional schooling system or not, there are always additional resources available to us - thanks to digitalisation.

The Spark Cambridge Academic courses are a great resource for students enrolled in traditional education systems to enhance their learning experiences and be better prepared for University Admission.

And for students dreaming of flexibility and a curriculum tailored to their needs, the Spark High School experience might be the best possible fit.

And just like that, learning can happen anytime, from anywhere in the world.

*This is Partner Content.

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PISA 2022: Could online learning bridge the gap in global education challenges? - Romania-Insider.com

Taught by full-time, nationally recognized faculty and researchers, these first-rate online doctorate programs are now accessible to more people.

LAWRENCE, Kan., Dec. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At KU, we recognize how family and work commitments, health or mobility limitations, and other responsibilities can create barriers to education and career advancement. With the goal of creating degree programs that are accessible to everyone with the ambition to succeed, KU's educational leadership and policy studies Ed.D. (available with a concentration in eitherhigher education administration or educational administration) is now 100% online.

These doctoral programs are offered through the KU School of Education & Human Sciences, which was recently ranked No. 10 in the nation on U.S. News & World Report's list of best public education schools. Our online courses are taught by the same highly regarded faculty and expert instructors and meet the same rigorous educational standards as our on-campus programs but they offer more flexibility for students to study whenever and wherever is most convenient.

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts 7% job growth in the coming years as the demand for educational administration increases. To meet this growing need, KU's online Ed.D. in educational administration is designed to help PK-12 educators and professionals advance in their careers as district-level leaders including superintendents; director-level administrators in special education, curriculum, human resources, or business; and policy, consultancy, or professional educational specialists.

Likewise, KU's online Ed.D. in higher education prepares individuals in entry- and mid-level administrative positions in colleges, universities, and related nonprofits to advance in their careers as leaders in a wide range of areas, including student affairs, student support services, institutional research, admissions, and fundraising, to name a few. Some graduates have gone on to be deans, vice presidents, and even college presidents.

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Through Jayhawk Global, the university's education innovation center, KU plans to offer many more online degree opportunities, giving more students the chance to earn a globally recognized degree that signals prestige, quality, and career readiness.

About the University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. Its mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities, and making discoveries that change the world.

For more information contact: Valerie Hawley at vhawley@ku.edu or 785-864-3804

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kus-edd-in-higher-education-administration-and-edd-in-educational-administration-are-now-completely-online-302020323.html

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KU's Ed.D. in higher education administration and Ed.D. in educational administration are now completely online - Yahoo Finance

Matt Rife is in the dog house with his mostly female fanbase, so, to save his career, hes asking for help from a figure who earned massive online success without a single woman fan Jordan Peterson.

Just weeks ago,Rife commanded one of the largest and most fervent following of women in the online comedy community. With his (possibly literally) sculpted jawline, his impressive physique and his enthusiasm for suggestive interactions with fans, Rife was equally beloved by Gen Z girls as he was by their mothers and grandmothers. However, in his debut Netflix special,Natural Selection, which skyrocketed to the top of the charts upon its November 10th release, Rife made a deliberate effort to distance himself from the pretty boy persona that turned off many male comedy fans from taking the Ohio-born social media star seriously. Rife infamously opened the special with a Nothing, you already told her twice-esque joke about domestic violence, which sparked media controversy and blowback from women in his fandom who felt betrayed by his sudden and intentional heel-turn towards insipid, unoriginal dude-bro comedy.

Over the weekend, Rife appeared on the podcast of a popular figure in the manosphere, a corner of the outrage-driven internet where Rife clearly believes he belongs. Peterson, an author, commentator and psychologist who represents the pseudo-intellectual spearhead of the alt-rights culture warriors, embraced Rife for refusing to back down to his detractors bysarcastically posting an apology with a link to a special-needs helmet store. Peterson described Rifes reaction to his critics as a witty, fast, brave and appropriate response to the situation and you can tell that Peterson really believes that Rife is hilarious by how his assessment of the joke has the seriousness of a eulogy.

I thought the joke was funny risky, and funny and I thought your response was dead on, Peterson told Rife with a stern scowl splashed across his face. The controversial conservative commentator declared that Rife had been canceled, using the comics situation as a microcosm for the issues of censorship and sensitivity that Peterson has spent the last decade complaining about on the internet. While describing Rife as a profoundly persecuted martyr, Peterson called the controversy a tempest in a teapot and wished that Rifes idiot accusers would all pass away and spend eternity in hell composed of nothing but people like them talking to them.

Rife said of his controversial opening bit onNatural Selection, Its a modern twist on an old joke, claiming, I wanted to put my own spin on it with it being the tired copy/pasted gag where a woman is beaten and a man says that she deserved it for failing some household duty, sometimes calling her a broken down dishwasher. Rife characterized his style as high risk, high reward, a point with which Peterson emphatically agreed on the grounds that the woke mob now wages war on the comic as the result of the courageous risks he takes. At the time of publication,Natural Selectionis still streaming on Netflix and Rife is not imprisoned for charges of being too provocative.

Of course, the real problem with the bit that Rife and Peterson dissected with all the humor and playfulness of a deposition is self-evident by the comics failure to inspire so much as a smile from his host the joke just wasn't funny. Much like Rifes ensuing promotional tour on the alt-right podcast circuit, Natural Selection was a cynical attempt to rebrand Rife as a guys guy comic worthy of the grift that Peterson and his fellow podcasters in the comedy world continue to exploit for massive financial gain. Whether onstage or on Petersons show, Rifes problem is that he isnt trying to make people laugh hes trying to pander to a specific group whom he sees as his path to greater success than he had with his former female following.

At no point was this more obvious than when Peterson asked Rife why he reached out to the alt-right psychologist to organize an appearance on the show. Rife replied, Im a huge fan, man. Listen, you and I have never met, and Ill be truthfully honest, I havent done extensive research into everything youve done. But I find you to be a very kind man, and very well spoken, and someone who stands on their morals and the realism of society today. And I think that is incredibly rare. Despite being a huge fan, Rife couldnt even be bothered to do his research about his host while maneuvering to access his platform of potential you just cant joke about anything nowadays comedy fans. Rifes move to appear on Petersons podcast stinks like another lazy, calculated attempt to earn the aesthetic of edginess without doing any of the intellectual work to actually push boundaries.

For that reason, I fully expect the scheme to pay off and for Peterson fans to rally behind Rife in his new phase as the most popular incel-adjacent comic in podcasting. Peterson can teach Rife plenty about pandering to angry, lonely men on the internet, even if he cant connect to Rifes past of ever once enjoying the affection of women.

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Matt Rife Is Such A Great Comic That He Needs Jordan Peterson to Explain Why Hes Funny - Cracked.com

Were less stupid and destructive than our opponents is a claim almost certainly true on the conservative side, given the terrible slide into Left-wing radicalism that increasingly characterises the Democrats but it is hardly an inspiring vision. It is also the case that the typical decent conservative is simply outmatched when it comes to character assassination and mud-slinging: the Left has elevated reputation-savaging and destruction to an art. If I had to wager on who was better at it, by character and practice, I would place my bet on Californias all-too-smiley, shiny, slick and popular Newsom rather than the earnest-to-the-point-of-easy-satire DeSantis.

Here are some real questions that serious, thoughtful people might perhaps really want to have answered: by what principles do you govern? Why those principles, rather than the many others available? How do your principles differ, in your opinion, from those of your opponent? What is your vision, generally, for the future and, more specifically, with regard to the important dimensions of human life: employment, entrepreneurship, education, energy, environment, family; with regard to civic responsibility, opportunity and duty?

Did anyone learn from the debate what would be different under DeSantis or Newsom, with regard to the energy that keeps our lights on, the environment that we will leave our grandchildren, or the educational and health systems that cost us ever more and in many ways deliver ever less?

The Fox hosting was designed to produce the fiery debate (which was almost all smoke, rather than true flames) it sold itself as in the aftermath mop-up. That post-hoc analysis was also purely performative and formulaic, featuring as it did the same predictable commentators, looking both half-dead and pithed as they always do, in consequence of being unable to see or even truly hear their questioner or their fellow participants through the archaic single earbuds and faceless one-way camera the networks still inexplicably insist upon employing.

The discussion could have been mediated to maximise reasonable and informative exchange, rather than designed or allowed to spark and encourage a destructive fire. An agreed-upon list of (real) questions would have improved things: some space for a genuine interviewer to interpose something spontaneous, and the imposition of some actual equally-agreed-upon rules of engagement: three minutes for a response, say, from each participant, with another minute or two for rebuttal.

Instead, it seemed that half the time Newsom and DeSantis were talking over one another, with Hannitys voice frequently added to the fray. All that did was present a juvenile front.

We need to grow up, and quickly. The tectonic plates are moving underneath us, at a rate heretofore unprecedented, and the shocks and after-shocks will be both continuous and great. We can no longer afford and probably never could to parasitise the political process for the sake of the ratings that are, in any case, falling ever-further and seem fated to do so.

Were embroiled in at least two wars. Our societies are rife with internal conflict. We have great possibilities and great danger in front of us. We must negotiate that territory carefully or there will be an unimaginable price to pay. It would have been much better to have the discussion hosted by Joe Rogan, or Theo Von, or Lex Fridman the popular podcast hosts derided by Newsom as leading micro-cults. Those hosts attract large audiences because they ask honest questions and promote true dialogue, without any of the faux-entertainment hype that has characterised the political and ideational landscape since the widespread introduction of broadcast television. Rogan manages to dominate the podcast landscape making the charts in 65 countries with a team that basically consists of himself and one assistant. Hype is not his aim. The same is true of the other new media interviewers with true global impact.

Ultimately, we should be talking about what comes next, instead of casting aspersions at our hypothetical foes. These are people we must live beside and with. We can accomplish that with vision, not with accusation no matter how justified and necessary such accusation sometimes is. Heres a thought for would-be leaders: My opponents are, at best, wrong not because of the errors they are currently making, no matter how manifold, but because the possibilities they are offering are simply not as attractive as what I am dreaming up and planning.

I would love to see a true vision presented by the would-be leaders of the US, as the problems that beset America are characteristic of those plaguing us everywhere in the free and democratic world. We need to up our game: conservatives, liberals and progressives alike. Sadly, that is not what happened on the Thursday night of the Right versus Left smoke-and-mirror juvenile broadcast brawl we were subjected to.

You can watch The Telegraphs most recent interview with Jordan Peterson via this link.

More from Jordan Peterson exclusively for The Telegraph:

- Eco-extremists are leading the world towards despair, poverty, and starvation

- We are sacrificing our children on the altar of a brutal, far-Left ideology

- Trans activism is sexist and delusional

- Why I love Great Britain

- Twitter is turning us all insane

See the rest here:

American democracy is exhausted - and US media elites are digging its grave - The Telegraph