A very quiet Sunday eve. I've done even less than usual this weekend because I felt so lousy. At least tonight, I don't feel as achy; more fatigued and tired than anything.

It is dry, dry, dry! When will it ever rain?

I've been reading a book about the development and use of codes, appropriately called "The Code Book" by Simon Sing. He starts with a fascinating look at Mary, Queen of Scots, and her efforts to communicate to her followers via code. Mary was attempting to overthrow Elizabeth, and her coded messages were vital evidence. The codes had been broken by the English, and provided conclusive proof of Mary's guilt. Once the evidence was presented, Elizabeth had no choice but to sign Mary's death warrant.

Certainly a blood-thirsty but telling example of the place codes have played in war and peace. Jumping ahead, there is a detailed description of the British attempts to break the WWII German Enigma Cipher. Key to this effort was the great Alan Turing. Turing has to be one of the true geniuses of the 20th century. After the war, he was charged with "gross indecency" after revealing he was having a homosexual relationship. His work was still regarded as top secret, so it was impossible to cite his importance to the preservation of England. Humiliated and depressed by the criminal trial, he committed suicide by eating literally from a poisoned apple - an apple that had been dipped in a cyanide solution.

I'd come across the info about the breaking of the Enigma some years ago. And since then have pieced together additional details and the story of Alan Turing. Several years ago Masterpiece Theatre presented "Breaking the Code" which examined the impact of Turing, his trial and suicide.

On that note, I'll push the save option.

PAX!