Who are these people?

[Zombie]

1) Alan Turing

2) He wrote a seminal paper in the 1930s which has been recognized as the template for modern computing, and devised the Turing Test for AI

3) He invented an electo-mechanical machine - called a Bombe - which automated enough of the Enigma code-breaking process to be able to decrypt signals intelligence in hours instead of weeks

4) the German Enigma machine - a brilliant device that would have been 100% secure if its operators had used it correctly

 

What a tragedy that such a giant of a man, who will be remembered forever, was persecuted by worthless pygmies, long forgotten, whose only achievement was to deny the World of who knows what amazing innovations and insights he could have given us

 

Can't wait to see the movie

 

Edit

ooops, just checked wiki - it was 1950 he wrote that paper

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing

Edited January 4, 2015 by Zombie

[Zombie]

[Cole Matthews]

He's definitely a hunk. He looks quite different without the moustache though. Tehe!

[KJames]

1) Alan Turing

2) He wrote a seminal paper in the 1930s which has been recognized as the template for modern computing, and devised the Turing Test for AI

3) He invented an electo-mechanical machine - called a Bombe - which automated enough of the Enigma code-breaking process to be able to decrypt signals intelligence in hours instead of weeks

4) the German Enigma machine - a brilliant device that would have been 100% secure if its operators had used it correctly

 

What a tragedy that such a giant of a man, who will be remembered forever, was persecuted by worthless pygmies, long forgotten, whose only achievement was to deny the World of who knows what amazing innovations and insights he could have given us

 

Can't wait to see the movie

 

Edit

ooops, just checked wiki - it was 1950 he wrote that paper

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing

Zombie--you're 100% correct!  Although I was hoping #2 could have simply said, he's credited as the father of modern computing--his "bombe" is credited as the first computer due to the complexity of the Nazi's enigma machine cryptography.

 

Take it away, Zombie!

[Zombie]

I was hoping #2 could have simply said, he's credited as the father of modern computing--his "bombe" is credited as the first computer due to the complexity of the Nazi's enigma machine cryptography.

 

yes, I did think of putting that. Then I remembered that it was actually Tommy Flowers who built the Colossus computer in 1943 which was the world's first programmable fully electronic digital computer - built from scratch in just 10 months! - whereas Turing's machine was electro-mechanical. So there's a good case for Flowers to be called Father of the modern computer In fact the Colossus computer was moved from Bletchley Park at the end of WW2 and continued to be operated by GCHQ for code breaking during the Cold War right through until the 1960s so it was a very advanced machine.

 

http://www.fpp.co.uk/online/98/11/FlowersObit.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_computer

 

Actually the whole subject is very interesting, going back to Charles Babbage's fully mechanical  computers and his designs for a programmable computer in the 1830s

 

Sooo, who's the new mystery guy above?

 

Clue: Cole's right, he did sport a moustache

 

 

 

[blake_logan]

Young Ernest Hemingway?

[Zombie]

Good guess, but nope

Just checked out young Ernie - he was quite a hottie too
Similar era and both were world famous but in different fields. Mystery guy was in fact a global icon. You will definitely know of him

[blake_logan]

Young Howard Hughes?

[Zombie]

he was definitely not American - in fact he was more or less excluded from the US for expressing his political beliefs

[Aditus]

In fact he is almost German.

[Zombie]

In fact he is almost German.

 

 one in particular, yes

[MikeL]

Charlie Chaplin?

[Zombie]

well done Mike

 

now it's your turn - and about time too

 

Edit: the pic was a bit sneaky, it had been colorised

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

Edited January 7, 2015 by Zombie

[Slytherin]

 one in particular, yes

German ??  

[MikeL]

well done Mike

 

now it's your turn - and about time too

 

Edit: the pic was a bit sneaky, it had been colorised

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

 

I noticed that and agree it was sneaky.  Your clues, on the other hand were extremely generous.

 

Next challenge shortly.

[MikeL]

OK, here's a more current picture of a prominent American (only clue for now).

 

Who is he?  What are his two claims to fame?

 

No cheating.

 

 

[MikeL]

Hmmm...not a single guess yet?  Is this too hard?

 

Someone please take a stab at it.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 11, 2015 by MikeL

[MikeL]

OK, big clue:  His name is the same as the main character in a Sinclair Lewis novel.

 

Go to it.  Who is he?  What are his two claims to fame?

[Zombie]

clicked the pic to make it bigger and - ooops!

 

name still means nothing to me though

[MikeL]

clicked the pic to make it bigger and - ooops!

 

name still means nothing to me though

 

Oops is right.  My oops.  OK, you should be able to respond without any more clues.

[paya]

he doesn't look like anyone I would know of

[MikeL]

OK.  Have I thrown everyone a curve by picturing someone who hasn't been dead a long time?

 

Here's a really big clue.  His name is George Babbitt.  How's that for a clue.

 

You can claim full credit for answering the big question correctly.  What are his two claims to fame?

 

One seems obvious.

 

No cheating, but research is encouraged.

 

Edited January 20, 2015 by MikeL

[Zombie]

not to be confused with John Bobbitt

[MikeL]

not to be confused with John Bobbitt

 

Certainly not!

[MikeL]

OK.  Have I thrown everyone a curve by picturing someone who hasn't been dead a long time?

 

Here's a really big clue.  His name is George Babbitt.  How's that for a clue.

 

You can claim full credit for answering the big question correctly.  What are his two claims to fame?

 

One seems obvious.

 

No cheating, but research is encouraged.

 

 

It seems obvious at this point that no one is going to spend the little effort required to complete the challenge, so I will reveal all.

 

General George T. Babbitt is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, from 1997 to 2000.

 

In 1959, at age 17, he became the very first drummer with the popular rock band, the Ventures.  He was featured on their hit "Walk, Don't Run".  Here is the story and a performance: