09/16/2004   How Cool Accoona ?  Accoona Cool.

  Accoona hosted a great event at the Russian Samovar on west 52^nd street between 8^th Avenue and Broadway.  It's a great Russian restaurant. I enjoyed the Russian beer and food. Accoona will be launching its new and innovative search engine, which will make use of artificial intelligence. Its search engine will search by concept and idea and not by words. This will certainly improve mankind's productivity.  The press conference started at 1 O’clock. It was standing room only, TV cameras and noted chess celebrities filled the room. Some of the celebrities in attendance were  NM Asa Hoffman (chess gladiator), Fred Wilson( former chess fm and chess cafe radio personality), GM Ron Henley (former Karpov 2nd), Hal Bogner, IM Michael Khodarkovsky (former Kasparov 2nd), GM Lev Alburt (chess life writer and author), Mig (chessbase writer) , IM Jennifer Shahade (current US Women's Champion) , GM Michael Rohde (chess life writer and chess fm lecturer), Irina Krush’s parents, IM Anna Hahn (2003 US Women's Champion, GM Alexander Shabalov (US Men's Champion) , and Frank Niro (former USCF President). The games began at 2 o'clock.

 The event started with some brief, interesting statements by the President of Accoona Jonathan McCann, New York Sports Commissioner Ken Potziba, and  GM Joel Lautier.  FM John Fernandez, the match arbiter, started the match with the choosing of colors. Almira got the white pieces for game one. GM Pascal Charbonneau and noted author Paul Hoffman did chess commentary. Both games were exciting, however the first was a real see-saw battle. Almira got off to a great start and launched a viscous kingside attack by sacking her Knight to bust open Irina’s kingside.  However in time trouble, Almira was unable to see her way to victory. It was a fun event and a good time was had by all.

   I am really intrigued by Accoona's intelligent search engine. I believe it will help mankind become more productive. Knowledge is power. An intelligent search engine will give the average person more answers to problems or questions they have.  Its uses are limitless. It can quickly provide answers to medical issues, computer, sports, hobbies, political, religious and other numerous issues. As more and more people contribute their ideas, views and experiences to the Internet, this will create a world knowledge base which can be tapped into.  With the use of an intelligent search engine, people will be able to tap into this world's knowledge base a lot more quickly and accurately. Some time in the future, people will look back on this innovation and think of it as a significant event. This could be the beginning of the Hal computer in the movie  2001 space odyssey.  The Internet and an intelligent searcher will bring all of us closer together; because it will allow us to share our experiences, views, and problems. It will allow all of us to help each other. To find out how cool Accoona is, visit their web site at www.accoona.com