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Alan Turing Biography: Computer Pioneer, Gay Icon
LiveScience ^ | May 9, 2013 | Elaine J. Hom

Posted on 05/12/2013 7:56:36 PM PDT by EveningStar

Alan Turing was a British scientist and a pioneer in computer science. He is well-known for breaking the German Enigma code during World War II. His suicide after being convicted of homosexual acts has made him a martyred hero of the gay community ...

Turing made it his goal to crack the complex Enigma code used in German naval communications, which were generally regarded as unbreakable. Turing cracked the system and regular decryption of German messages began in mid-1941. To maintain progress on code-breaking, Turing introduced the use of electronic technology to gain higher speeds of mechanical working. Turing became an invaluable asset to the Allies, successfully decoding many German messages ...

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: alanturing; enigma; enigmacode; hutsix; worldwarii
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To: Amberdawn
While googling for a photo I saw this image of Turing as a small child..wearing a sailor suit. What a sweetie, look at that cute little face :-)

21 posted on 05/12/2013 11:13:01 PM PDT by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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To: Bobalu

To start with a swag is your bedding roll etc - usually wrapped in canvas. A Swagman was someone who lived out of their swag (that they rolled up and carried in their travels). Many of them in early Australia would have maybe been shearers or farm workers that walked from job to job, from sheep station to sheep station. Either that or they were what we would call bushies who basically just like to live free and would live in the bush and only come into town when they needed supplies.

They could be a bit free with other people’s possessions. In the Aussie song ‘Waltzing Matilda’ the Swagman steals a Jumbuck (sheep) and ends up committing suicide in a Billabong (watering hole) when the cops catch up with him.

Mel


22 posted on 05/13/2013 3:26:00 AM PDT by melsec (Once a Jolly Swagman camped by a Billabong....)
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To: FreeAgent
Saying that Turing broke the Enigma code reduces what really happened to a sound bite. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/enigma_01.shtml

Thank you!! I was wondering if anyone would catch this. The compromising of Enigma was due to Polish Mathematicians recreating a Enimgma, more or less, sight unseen. Still, the machine is useless without the code keys. Enigma, itself, was essentially unbreakable. It's the daily keys that were required. If Turning had accomplished such a feat, why did the RN go to incredible lengths to steal one and the key books? A brilliant man, but this is pure agenda hype.
23 posted on 05/13/2013 5:03:48 AM PDT by 98ZJ USMC
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To: melsec

Thanks for the info...
Watch this short youtube clip.
Excerpt of “Waltzing Matilda” from “On the Beach” (1959)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n7LwzODzQg


24 posted on 05/13/2013 2:22:02 PM PDT by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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To: Bobalu

He IS cute! I miss the days when parents dressed children up nicely.


25 posted on 05/13/2013 4:05:43 PM PDT by Amberdawn
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To: Bobalu

What a great film ‘On the Beach’ was. I had not remembered that version of the song though - Australian’s do not normally sing it as a Negro Spiritual but rather an Aussie(see Irish) ditty.

Love the version though - initially thought it might be Paul Robeson but it gets a bit too light at the end for him - Who sings it?

Mel


26 posted on 05/13/2013 8:27:22 PM PDT by melsec (Once a Jolly Swagman camped by a Billabong....)
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