[xclite]

Today is Alan Turing's birthday. He is widely considered the father of modern Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.

He committed suicide after being persecuted for his homosexuality.

Quite an interesting man. Also one of the characters mentioned in the book The Cryptnomicon.

He's pretty much my hero. Anybody else have any less obvious heros? General Patton doesn't count.

This post has been edited by xclite: 23 June 2011 - 11:47 AM

[gabehabe]

It's also your birthday.

[xclite]

Well yes, but I'm not a genius who broke Enigma during WW2. =p

[Jstall]

Quote

was forced to undergo hormonal castration via oestrogen injections to curb his 'unnatural' urges, under threat of imprisonment.

Wow, I can't believe something like that happened to him just for being homosexual. And to think it was only 59 years ago this happened. What a shame, and a waste. At least he got a public apology for the treatment, eventually.

[xclite]

Even that took more effort than it should have.

[gabehabe]

xclite, on 23 June 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

Well yes, but I'm not a genius who broke Enigma during WW2. =p

No, but you're my genius.

luv u.

[baavgai]

Strangely, one of my computer heroes is someone I share a birthday with: Ada Lovelace.

She's sometimes called the "World's First Computer Programmer" for her work on Babbage's "analytical engine." A computer language bears her name. She's one of the first women to have influence in many areas of scientific exploration.

She even has a web comic devoted to her.

Oh, and her family is also real interesting. Daddy, among other things, was the prototype for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

[supersloth]

HAPPY BERFDAY XCLITE

[xclite]

FANKS sUPERsLOTH!

[smohd]

Happy birthday both of you and congratulation for sharing birth date

[Creecher]

The guy that created the windows file action dialog is a pretty cool guy, eh has no concept of time or substance, and doesn't afraid of anything.

[Choscura]

Happy birthday Xclite! And to that other guy too, I guess.

[stayscrisp]

Homophobia is a terrible thing, yet unfortunately I hear and see it every day.

Je ne peux pas être peur que je sois damne.

This post has been edited by stayscrisp: 23 June 2011 - 06:29 PM

[xclite]

Isn't fear something you have in French, not something you are? Like avoir peur?

[stayscrisp]

You shouldn't always trust google translate. It actually translates to "I cannot be lest I be damned".