BARK! I mean, checkmate!
Today is a milestone day in the wonderful world of artificial intelligence, as it was on February 10, 1996 that the IBM computer program Deep Blue defeated reigning world champion chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the first game of a seven game match. While that was the only game of the set Deep Blue managed to win, it nevertheless was the first time a computer beat a current champion in a game of chess… which of course would come in very handy should we ever be invaded by chess playing aliens and the fate of our planet would come down to which side could win a fucking chess match. Bring it on, universe! Planet earth is ready to kick you right in the rooks…
The only thing that could have made Deep Blue v. Kasparov any better was if it had been played on The Franklin Mint’s famed Civil War chess set…
And now before I get lulled into Fool’s Mate, it’s time to answer Melanie’s Share Your World questions for this week! It’s The Nest’s 162nd time at the plate in this series, meaning if we were a baseball team, we’d have a full season worth of stupid answers!
Also from The Franklin Mint, this crystal earth replica… yours for 69 monthly installments of $19.99!
What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?
You mean besides building a computer that can beat a human at chess?
That science is really magic after all! Wouldn’t that be a treat?
Of course, those of us who grew up watching Mr. Wizard’s World already knew that…
If aliens landed on earth tomorrow and offered to take you home with them, would you go?
No, because I suck at chess….
OK, that’s enough of the stupid references to the intro!
Still no, because I’m not particularly fond of new places or being out of my comfort zone. Plus, there’s that tiny problem with the fact that I’d probably choke to death on their atmosphere…
As opposed to choking on our own atmosphere…
What breed of dog would you be? If you’re more a cat person – what breed of cat?
I wouldn’t want to be any breed… they’re all just the result of generations and generations of doggy incest to create clones of a look someone liked. I’d much rather be a mutt, thank you very much…
Without an owner, preferably…
Bubble gum? Yea or nay?
I always liked chewing gum, but rarely do anymore unless I find a really good looking wad someone stuck somewhere that probably has some flavor left in it…
Or that stuff that came in baseball card packs in the 80’s. That shit’s still good after several decades…
Feel free (no pressure) to share some gratitude from January of this year.
How about we try something from January of 2014…
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
I’m also dobe with bubble gum… it has no longer the fab spit tattoo thingies inside, so it’s semi-funny ;O)
We’ve all been duped at least once in our dating lives. Sometimes, we even married the duper.
Thanks, Bill, for Sharing Your World! Excellent ‘strip inclusion too. I always wondered why wine tasted vaguely of unhealthy additives and pure sugar, guaranteed to wire any kid up for days! Well save that bottle of really excellent California white (fruity and not too sour) that I found in a grocery store while visiting the place in 1985. Great answers to all the questions, even with the chess thing! 😉 (Science really IS magic you know. They just keep that fact on the down low). Yay Mr. Wizard (whom was long AFTER my time, education in the 70s didn’t emphasize a whole lot of real world useable skills. Which is probably why everyone was stoned… ? (no condoning of smoking pot is in this comment). Have a wonderful week! 😀
I think the most surprising – or not – would be meeting the aliens who have been visiting us!
About the alien abduction thing – normally I would say no way would I go with them but these days, the possibility of life on “their” planet (wherever that might be) is a lot more attractive! Yeah…..sign me up. I’m ready.
Pam
Yay for mutts!
Yay indeed!
Me, a cat??????
I feel sorry for some dogs, the issues they have from so much “specialised breeding”.
2 chess pieces every other month? There are still people waiting for that last elusive pawn (sorry, member of the Iron Brigade) to show up so they can actually play a game…
It was bad enough the chess set cost over $700, but the fact that you’d probably be dead before you could even play a game on it made it an even bigger scam…