Many thanks for the entries. What a horrendously difficult task this has proved to be!
Low Wattage’s story, based on a real person, sent me scurrying away to find out more about Alan Turing. Thank you, LW, for introducing me to him.
Pseu’s saga of ‘third time unlucky’, was beautifully crafted with the hope of a a happy ending.
The Royalist’s account of waiting, amused me no end – especially the problems involved with faulty PA systems! I had no problem with ‘Jockinese’ 🙂
Araminta’s tale of twisted time, appealed to my love of the supernatural;
While Ferret’s adventure from (I suspect) his own history, reminded me of a time when children did things rather than sit at computers…
There were a few criticisms: a certain predictability, rather rushed endings, and missing apostrophes (well I had to mention those didn’t I!). But I decided to overlook all those and award the chalice to Low Wattage, since I felt that the whole tale was about Marking Time, not only in the case of marking exam papers, but also that the child, Alan, was also marking his time…
Boadicea's Chariot 
Yay El Dubya! Very well done that man.
Boadicea,
Excellent judging if I may say but ‘from his own history’? It was only last month. 🙂
Well spotted though, while we didn’t enter nor win any soap box competitions, the three amigos certainly did exist. I clearly remember the disappointment every time it was clear that we wouldn’t be able to play outside. It seems these days the only kids who want to be ‘out’ are those with criminal activity in mind.
At 7000+ words, I trust I am not in the running for the “rushed ending” award but I will put my paw up to several apostrophe related transgressions.
Well done LW, I have only just read your story now. Am slightly non-plussed by the fact that some here had not heard of Turing. I think it is a sad reflection of our obsession with the arts at the expense science and technology.
Well done, LW.
I always enjoy reading the entries; not least because we all approach the theme so differently.
Well judged, Boadicea.
Well judged, Boadicea.
Ferret – certainly not a ‘rushed’ anything!
Sipu – I find your comment about those who did not know Turing rather patronising. Why should everyone know the name of every scientist and mathematician? I get a little fed up with people denigrating those who study the arts as if they are of less worth than scientists.
Man (and woman) does not live by bread alone…
Boadicea: Thank you, and thank you all for your congratulations. This I did not expect. I thought both The Royalist’s tale and Ferret’s magnum opus had me to rights here. I must confess much of the story was from my own history, the original geometry proof and all the master’s names, including poor long suffering Mr. Voake who tried his best to teach me Eng. Lit. I will give the next challenge some serious thought today.
Who are the we in your ‘our’? WTF’s Turing.
Janus, you sound a bit like Tonto after he and the Lone Ranger have been surrounded by Apaches. The ‘we’ in the ‘our’ is society in general, of which I am a part, but British society in particular which, as I say seems to pay considerably more attention to the arts than it does to the sciences. While I would not be surprised that your average school child had not heard of him, it does amaze me that given the demographic of this site, at least 3 people do not seem to know who Alan Turing was.
Have a look here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing
One might argue that without his contribution to computer science, we would not be having this conversation. But if we were, it would be in German.
I think every British child should be told about him; and apparently, every adult as well.
Boadicea, Turing’s contribution during the WW2, changed the course of history. So I would have expected a historian to have heard of him. (Now, you must be seething with indignation.) You must admit it is ironic that you should use a quote from a book you appear to hold in such low regard! But it is apt. Man does not live by bread alone, that is why it is important to learn about science as well as the arts. I do not denigrate the arts, or those who study them, I merely express some disappointment with those who do so exclusively. I do not ask that everybody understands all of Turing’s work, few people do, only that they be aware of his existence and the nature of the contributions he made. That is all.
I did not intend to start a conflagration with my choice of subjects. I too am a little surprised he is not better known by those hereon, his work on code breaking has been well documented and formed the subject of several films.
Just out of curiosity I looked at this poll by the BBC in 2002
http://alchemipedia.blogspot.com/2009/12/100-greatest-britons-bbc-poll-2002.html
Turing is a strong #21, there are only about 20 technical types on the list in total. I cannot say in all honesty that some of them or some of the other members would make the list if I were compiling it.
I got to #73 before I found someone completely unknown to me. Can anyone honestly say they know them all.
Evening LW, (another run at the triple crown I see ;))
There’s 5 on the list unknown to me 23,45,64,73 & 80
Sipu.
I admitted that I hadn’t heard of Turing, although I have read books and articles about Enigma and Bletchley Park, so I more than aware of the importance of the work done there. I have no idea if his name just didn’t register, but it certainly should have, as I discovered when I took the trouble to find out, as did Boadicea.
I am currently listening to Bill Bryson, as a CD version of his book A Short History of Nearly Everything and find constantly that I know names, but don’t know all the history… fascinating facts about scientists, who’s names are familiar because various things were named after them . More recently this naming seems to happen less.
I watched a fascinating dramatisation/ documentary about Turin a few months ago the most shocking part of which was this
“In 1952, Turing was arrested and tried for homosexuality, then a criminal offence. To avoid prison, he accepted injections of oestrogen for a year, which were intended to neutralise his libido. In that era, homosexuals were considered a security risk as they were open to blackmail. Turing’s security clearance was withdrawn, meaning he could no longer work for GCHQ, the post-war successor to Bletchley Park.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/alan_turing
Sorry, LW, for landing you in it. I just like to have conversations. I admit to not knowing 26 and 64. Bizarrely, I did know of 73. ‘The most evil man in the world’.
OK, Ara, you are forgiven. 😉
Hello Soutie, Only 73(??), 87 ( I knew of Johnny Rotten – no idea of his real name) and 100(knew she was famous for something but no idea what) stumped me
Re. Triple crown: Unless someone posts piccy or two in the next few day I may win by default!!
Hi Pseu “I watched a fascinating dramatisation/ documentary about Turin a few months ago”. Is that why there was a ‘shroud’ of secrecy over his work? 😉
You have to admit, LW, it is a somewhat dodgy list.
Sipu: More about those names which people remember than about greatness in all probability. It was a “write in” poll if I recall which does suggest Turing is a name that many people could call to mind.
Your #16: Markedly so. You wrapped it up very nicely.
LW re your #6. Odd! I, also, tended towards ‘unconventional’ proofs – much to the annoyance of my A Level Maths teacher!
Sipu – I chose to study medieval history – it is, therefore, not surprising that I don’t know modern scientists.
It is indeed not surprising, Boadicea. We live in a complex society where specialisation is encouraged, and rightly so, in my opinion, provided it is not taken to extremes. I remember a discussion some time ago when I failed to recognise an iconic photograph of the blitz. I remember you and the author of the post were surprised.
That said, however, we can all learn, and thanks to LW, we did.
Sipu, no 16 : I feel it must have had a big influence.
Boadicea: A sure sign of emerging genius IMHO. They told me I was lazy, having only learned enough book proofs to derive all the rest. Such was the sausage machine called education.
You made a solid showing on the list ( #35) only narrowly beaten by Eric Morcambe and David Beckham. I wonder how they will do in another 2000 plus years?
Pseu: Your # 21. Sipu is over there lying supine on 18 feet of unbleached linen.
As a result of your inadvertent spelling “Turing” as “Turin” the Italian city, in comment #13, Sipu introduced the “Shroud” of the same name in his comment #16 and the rest as they say “is history”.
You have been focused a little too much on marmalade lately. 🙂