I also hope your essay wins. It’d be nice to see a nice man who is writing about topics that aren’t the same old win. But, admittedly, I really enjoy playing chess (as a layman) and that goes way above my head, so it might truly be an example of what I was discussing.

Thank you so much for your kind words. As to whether or not I have any masterpieces, I’d say definitely not, but I hope to. Reminds me of something I read by Emerson the other day:

“What is it men love in Genius, but its infinite hope, which degrades all it has done? Genius counts all its miracles poor and short. Its own idea is never executed. The Iliad, the Hamlet, the Doric column, the Roman arch, the Gothic minster, the German anthem, when they are ended, the master casts behind him. How sinks the song in the waves of melody which the universe pours over his soul! Before that gracious Infinite out of which he drew these few strokes, how mean they look, though the praises of the world attend them. From the triumphs of his art he turns with desire to this greater defeat. Let those admire who will. With silent joy he sees himself to be capable of a beauty that eclipses all which his hands have done; all which human hands have ever done.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great comment, Tony! Thanks for taking the time to leave it.