The Mechanical Turk, also known as the "Automaton Chess Player" or "the Turk", was a chess-playing machine, first displayed in 1770, which appeared to be able to play a strong game of chess autonomously, but whose pieces were in reality moved via levers and magnets by a chess master hidden in the machine's lower cavity. The machine was toured and exhibited for 84 years as an automaton, and continued giving occasional exhibitions until 1854, when it was destroyed in a fire. In 1857, an article published by the owner's son revealed that it was an elaborate hoax, a fact suspected by some but never fully explained while the machine still existed. Constructed by Wolfgang von Kempelen to impress Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, the Turk won most games, including those against statesmen such as Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin. The device demonstrated the knight's tour, a puzzle that requires a knight to visit every square of a chessboard once.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_Turk
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1935:
A college football game between the SMU Mustangs and the TCU Horned Frogs became the first game in Texas to be broadcast nationally on radio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935_SMU_vs._TCU_football_game
1979:
The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by the English band Pink Floyd, was first released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall
2005:
John Sentamu was enthroned as Archbishop of York, becoming the first black archbishop in the Church of England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sentamu
2018:
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake (aftermath pictured) hit Anchorage, Alaska, causing 117 injuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Anchorage_earthquake
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
strath: 1. A wide, flat river valley. 2. A piece of flat land beside a body of water. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/strath
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
In a monarchy, the king and his family are the country; in a republic it is the common voice of the people. Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government, or the empty catch-phrases of politicians. Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide it against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may. --Mark Twain https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mark_Twain