GARRY KASPAROV vs DEEP BLUE
In 1989, computer programmers from Carnegie Mellon University pitted their chess-playing computer named Deep Thought against Gary Kasparov. Kasparov destroyed the computer in both games and the programmers went back to the drawing board with single-minded determination to defeat the world champion.
The Deep Thought project was later taken over by IBM, which challenged Kasparov to a rematch in 1996. Although it was Kasparov's understanding that the match was for the betterment of science, it was clear that IBM was taking a win-at-all-costs approach. Having tweaked the computer for the express purpose of beating Kasparov, the second incarnation of the machine managed to win one of the six games, making it the first time a computer had ever defeated a reigning world champion. Kasparov, however, won the match with three wins and two draws.
IBM again went back and massively upgraded Deep Blue for another rematch the following year. This time, the machine was hidden from view, locked behind doors, which only added to the ominous vibe of the match.
Besides the fact that Deep Blue could calculate some 200 million positions per second, what worried Kasparov most was that he knew absolutely nothing about his opponent, which he called a "terrible, faceless monster." Kasparov was at a serious disadvantage in that the programmers were allowed to tweak the machine between games to adjust accordingly.
Kasparov easily defeated Deep Blue in the first game but the key moment came on the 44th move when the computer made an inexplicable play with its rook. Initially Kasparov attributed the seemingly random move to superior intelligence although it is now believed that it was due to a bug in the system and indeed random. Either way, Kasparov was so disturbed by the move that it psyched him out for the remainder of the match. After more tweaking, Deep Blue won the second game by behaving less like a computer and much more like a human grandmaster. The difference was so pronounced that Kasparov hinted that IBM was cheating. He demanded to see the computer logs to see how Deep Blue calculated its moves because he suspected one of IBM's on-site grandmasters intervened during play.
It was clear that something in Kasparov broke after game two. Deep Blue went on to trounce him in less than 20 moves in the deciding game 6. It is clear from the documentary Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine that Kasparov still believes IBM had rigged the game in some way.
His argument is most certainly sour grapes but it did not help matters that IBM reneged on its promise to release the computer logs and immediately dismantled Deep Blue after the match, effectively denying Kasparov a rematch.
The Deep Thought project was later taken over by IBM, which challenged Kasparov to a rematch in 1996. Although it was Kasparov's understanding that the match was for the betterment of science, it was clear that IBM was taking a win-at-all-costs approach. Having tweaked the computer for the express purpose of beating Kasparov, the second incarnation of the machine managed to win one of the six games, making it the first time a computer had ever defeated a reigning world champion. Kasparov, however, won the match with three wins and two draws.
IBM again went back and massively upgraded Deep Blue for another rematch the following year. This time, the machine was hidden from view, locked behind doors, which only added to the ominous vibe of the match.
Besides the fact that Deep Blue could calculate some 200 million positions per second, what worried Kasparov most was that he knew absolutely nothing about his opponent, which he called a "terrible, faceless monster." Kasparov was at a serious disadvantage in that the programmers were allowed to tweak the machine between games to adjust accordingly.
Kasparov easily defeated Deep Blue in the first game but the key moment came on the 44th move when the computer made an inexplicable play with its rook. Initially Kasparov attributed the seemingly random move to superior intelligence although it is now believed that it was due to a bug in the system and indeed random. Either way, Kasparov was so disturbed by the move that it psyched him out for the remainder of the match. After more tweaking, Deep Blue won the second game by behaving less like a computer and much more like a human grandmaster. The difference was so pronounced that Kasparov hinted that IBM was cheating. He demanded to see the computer logs to see how Deep Blue calculated its moves because he suspected one of IBM's on-site grandmasters intervened during play.
It was clear that something in Kasparov broke after game two. Deep Blue went on to trounce him in less than 20 moves in the deciding game 6. It is clear from the documentary Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine that Kasparov still believes IBM had rigged the game in some way.
His argument is most certainly sour grapes but it did not help matters that IBM reneged on its promise to release the computer logs and immediately dismantled Deep Blue after the match, effectively denying Kasparov a rematch.
JACK PARSONS vs L. RON
HUBBARD
John Whiteside ("Jack") Parsons (1914-1952) was a Space Age giant who pioneered the development of solid-fuel and JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) units. Parsons co-founded JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories), which became the planetary spacecraft center for NASA, and Aerojet Corp. (some think JPL was really just code for Jack Parson's Lab). Mostly self-taught, Parsons was a true eccentric with a genius for chemistry and what most saw as a paradoxical interest in the occult--specifically the Thelemic teachings of the equally eccentric Aleister Crowley, founder of the OTO (Order of the Temple of the East).
Crowley made Parsons the head of the Agape Lodge, which was the California branch of the OTO. Jack then befriended Sci-fi author and future Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and that's when things got epically weird. Parsons and Hubbard decided to collaborate on a ceremonial sex-magick ritual they called Babalon Working, which was to be the birth of a Thelemic Messiah sired by Parsons and a redhead named Marjorie Cameron (whom Parsons later married).
Back in England, Crowley kept abreast of the goings-on, although he was skeptical of Hubbard, whom he deemed to be a con artist (oh! the irony). Not surprisingly, both JPL and Aerojet booted Parsons for his occult dalliances and revoked his security clearances.
His fortunes dwindling, Parsons entered into a more practical collaboration with Hubbard by forming a yacht dealership along with Hubbards' girlfriend and Parson's former mistress Sara Northrup (oy). The idea was to purchase boats in Florida and then sail them to California to sell at profit. Hubbard and Northrop bought a yacht in Miami using $10,000 of Parsons' investment money and took off sailing with no intention of reselling. In retribution, Parsons claims he summoned a typhoon by evoking the spirit of Bartzabel, which resulted in a squall that ripped the sails of Hubbards' boat, forcing the couple back to port. Hubbard, whom Parsons once thought of as an enlightened being, had for all practical purposes taken his money, his girl, and his business. Go figure.
Parsons later sued Hubbard and Northrup but only recouped a fraction of his investment. By 1952, the 37-year old Parsons was reduced to creating special effects for Hollywood films. Working in his home lab with fulminate mercury for one such project, Parsons was killed in a violent explosion.
His mother committed
suicide upon hearing the news.
BRIAN WILSON vs.
LENNON & MCCARTNEY
The friendly rivalry between the composers escalated when Brian first heard Rubber Soul and realized The Beatles had created the first true album in the modern sense. Wilson took up the gauntlet, exclaiming to his wife, "Marilyn, I'm gonna make the greatest album! The greatest rock album ever made!"
Wilson's response to Rubber Soul was the influential masterpiece Pet Sounds, which, as Wilson had hoped, was recognized (at least by Lennon & McCartney) as the best album to date. Just hours after hearing Pet Sounds, Lennon and McCartney were so amped to top it they began writing Here, There, and Everywhere, which would end up on their next release known as Revolver.
The double-whammy of Rubber Soul/Revolver pushed Wilson even harder as he labored to compose his "teenage symphony to God," which would become the ill-fated album SMiLE.
Whilst Wilson worked on SMiLE, the Beatles had immersed themselves in the studio to record their most ambitious work to date - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Wilson was driving with a friend when he heard the latest Beatle single Strawberry Fields Forever (originally slated to appear on Sgt. Pepper) and was so shocked that he pulled over to the side of the road to listen. It was at that moment that Wilson declared, "They got there first. They beat us to it."
It was reported that Brian wept upon first hearing Sgt Pepper in its entirety. He then holed up at home for weeks listening to it over and over (like everyone else, to be fair). The psychic damage had been done. Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown (often attributed to hearing the album) and retreated into seclusion. After 1967 Wilson was never the same. He would later remark, "Sgt. Pepper kicked our ass."
SMiLE was shelved indefinitely and Sgt. Pepper was declared the greatest album of all time.
EDWIN ARMSTRONG vs RCA
When
I first heard this story I hated everything for two days.
Edwin Howard Armstrong (1890-1954) was one of the greatest and most influential inventors of all time, known for his pioneering work in radio. At the age of 27 he was the first to be awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE medal, three years before Marconi. His work paved the way for radar and space communication.
Edwin Howard Armstrong (1890-1954) was one of the greatest and most influential inventors of all time, known for his pioneering work in radio. At the age of 27 he was the first to be awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE medal, three years before Marconi. His work paved the way for radar and space communication.
Armstrong
went to work for RCA not long after he had invented Frequency
Modulation (FM) which was superior to standard AM radio. AM
broadcasts were plagued by static, and Armstrong was able to
demonstrate that FM was not only static-free but afforded a dynamic
listening experience at least three times better than AM. RCA had
hoped Armstrong would design a filter of some sort to improve AM
broadcasts but instead he was on his way to revolutionizing the
entire industry. Problem was, RCA already had an interest in AM and
Armstrong's invention was a threat to their long-term goals in both
radio and the emerging television industry.
RCA's
David Sarnoff went on the offensive, deal-making with the FCC to
stymie Armstrong's testing and implementation of FM. They lobbied to
undermine FM by moving the electromagnetic band to a frequency that
would render Armstrong's receivers useless. In the meantime, RCA was
using Armstrong's sound system in their TV sets and paid him nothing
in return. Armstrong fought back and filed suit against RCA for
infringement and open theft.
RCA's strategy was to keep Armstrong tied up in the court system until he was either defeated legally or broken financially. RCA had deep pockets and a huge gaggle of attorneys who attacked him on all fronts. For the next six years Armstrong battled bravely and was forced sell off his stocks in order to pay his mounting legal fees (which he was unable to do). Finally, Armstrong gave in and attempted to settle by asking for 2.4 million. RCA's counter-offer was for a paltry $200,000, which would not even cover his legal fees.
In desperation, Armstrong asked his wife Marion whether she could advance him some of the money he had once given to her and she refused on the rationale that it was for their retirement. Weary, frustrated, and emotionally unstable, Armstrong lashed out against Marion by striking her on the arm with a fireplace poker. Marion immediately left their NY apartment to live with her sister in Connecticut, leaving Armstrong to spend Christmas and New Year's 1953 alone.
On January 31, 1954, Armstrong put on his hat, overcoat, and gloves. He then removed the air-conditioner from the window of his 13th floor apartment and jumped to his death.
Eventually Armstrong's estate won against RCA, and Marion reaped the huge financial rewards. FM went on to become a broadcasting standard and Armstrong's place in history was secured.
David Sarnoff is alleged to have said, "I did not kill Armstrong."
Yeah you did.
RCA's strategy was to keep Armstrong tied up in the court system until he was either defeated legally or broken financially. RCA had deep pockets and a huge gaggle of attorneys who attacked him on all fronts. For the next six years Armstrong battled bravely and was forced sell off his stocks in order to pay his mounting legal fees (which he was unable to do). Finally, Armstrong gave in and attempted to settle by asking for 2.4 million. RCA's counter-offer was for a paltry $200,000, which would not even cover his legal fees.
In desperation, Armstrong asked his wife Marion whether she could advance him some of the money he had once given to her and she refused on the rationale that it was for their retirement. Weary, frustrated, and emotionally unstable, Armstrong lashed out against Marion by striking her on the arm with a fireplace poker. Marion immediately left their NY apartment to live with her sister in Connecticut, leaving Armstrong to spend Christmas and New Year's 1953 alone.
On January 31, 1954, Armstrong put on his hat, overcoat, and gloves. He then removed the air-conditioner from the window of his 13th floor apartment and jumped to his death.
Eventually Armstrong's estate won against RCA, and Marion reaped the huge financial rewards. FM went on to become a broadcasting standard and Armstrong's place in history was secured.
David Sarnoff is alleged to have said, "I did not kill Armstrong."
Yeah you did.
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