Baron Turner’s ‘Anything’ Blog

The Kasparov Expert chess computer is the strongest engine Saitek have with software that can beat everyone but it’s namesake on it’s strongest setting. Of course, lower settings will be required by us mere mortals. The machine has a range of settings (64 of them) that will train and stretch every player with a library of database openings that exceeds 6000. But the range of settings, even the engine strength (2000 elo) is, of course, true of many chess computers. What’s so special about the Expert?

The build quality is the single distinguishing factor separating this chess machine from it’s rivals. The computer has a build quality of a Volkswagon, Honda and Toyota combined (assuming you like those manufacturers). The machine is a peg style model and the bottom of each peg hole has a sensor that is activated when the piece is lifted and inserted into another hole. The computer then takes it’s move - clearly indicating on the LCD readout the move required. The sensor system is activated again. The pieces are slightly dissapointing in that they are plastic - we wish Saitek had made metal pieces - but that apart, they are very clear in visual identification, with the knights actually very well crafted. If a peg style chess computer is preferred, this is the best of the three main manufacturers: Saitek, Novag and Excalibur.

An agonising search for Madeleine has every decent person in the UK and many other countries (including family loving Portugal) waiting for good news. It’s brought us all to the point where we have to ask what kind of world we live in - a world that produces people that sink to the depravity of taking a defenceless young girl away from her parents. How can people actually become so awful? Are we to blame? Or who is?

The media, the internet and the so-called free speech it permits are partially to blame. Watching prurient content whether sexual or violent gradually causes people to develop desires that are base. Just as showing Freddies Flakes on commercials sells more Freddies Flakes - does not the same rule apply to a diet of sex and violence freely available through the conventional media or the newer, less regulated media of the internet?

We hope for success in the search McCanns. It’s a gnawing pain in our stomach too.