Elementary my Dear Watson

Q & A's Can Watson beat the best Jeopardy players of all-time?

Watson, my dear is an IBM computer designed specifically for Jeopardy's question and quick answer style game. Watson is going to challenge Ken Jennings who has won 74 consecutive games in the 04-05 seasons, the longest winning streak in history and alos Brad Rutter who is the all time money winner on the program, winning $3,255,102. Rutter was also the winner of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions. Watson was named after IBM's founder Thomas J. Watson

Now this isn't the first time we have seen Man vs Machine, there have been numerous Chess matches played out this way. We have also seen plenty of Man vs Beast but still I am looking forward to seeing if these two humans can defeat a computer at Jeopardy The computer has a data bank of information but will it be able to tap in the info and ring in on time and give the correct answer. Time will only tell. If either Ken or Brad wins I say they donate their brains to science or at least we test to make sure they are human beings and not some extraterrestrial form. So anyways from February 14-16 I will tune in to watch epic jeopardy battle and like I always do, play along at home.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/video/computer-to-appear-on-jeopardy/article1869500/

Secret Santa

Dec 16th, I've still got a little bit of time before christmas, the egg nog is not yet sour, but today i'll start to get some shopping done. So anyways, this year I am involved in a secret santa and I can't help but wonder who has me? I going to bet it is my sister Kayla. I hope she gets me a pair of long johns or a gift certificate to the beer store.

The daily paper - Wikileaks , Don Cherry and Christmas

Holy shit, Don Cherry could be the Prime Minister and Rob Ford could of played in the NHL.....ya right they only wish.

Why in the hell was Don Cherry present at City Hall swearing in the new Toronto Mayor Rob Ford? It would be like Regis Philbin swearing in the Mayor of New York. Or Oprah swearing in the mayor of Chicage.

Speaking of swearing, shit and fuck are my two favourite ones to use and I often use them one after the other. Like when I lose in poker.


How about Wikileaks, wiki-waki, wonki, who-cares...Apparently wiki leaks chief is in jail on sex assault charges. Who knows and who cares, this story has been in the news for 3 weeks. First wiki leaks spread some information the government wanted to keep from the public and then some idiot olitician from Canada said wiki leaks chief Julian Assange should be assassinated and now Assange is behind bars. Is this the way of the future? Internet Crimes? ---Crimes of information and charges for leaking information. I remember reading the book "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg , his publisher Lawrence Ferlnghetti was on trial for publishing elicit material back in the sixties and when all things were said and on October 3, 1957 Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled that the poem was not obscene, and "Howl" went on to become the most popular poem of the Beat Generation....its freedom of speech people, freedom to share information. Now I wonder if these sexual assault charges on wiki leaks chief are really true or a fabrication to try and silence the man. But wikileaks seem to be doing fine regardless if their boss is in the clink. They are carrying on and spilling more sensitive info that the government doesn't want the public to see. In the mean time other web-sites and journalists are fighting and taking a stand for the protection of free-speech

Whatever..wikileaks-its been too long in the press, on the front page of papers, if revealing e-mails passed around by senators and diplomats is big time news than I don't wanna buy anymore papers, who cares!! but the more the story runs the more spicy its getting, all in all I am so tired of hearing about it.


What else is going on?
30th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Sad way he to die for an amazing human being. His killer is still behind bars for the shooting death.

I have to start doing some christmas shopping. I am trying not to leave it all until the last minute this year.

World Cup 2018 & 2022

The Fifa World Cup announced two future tournament sites. It will be played in Russia for 2018 and Qatar in 2022. Brazil will be my pick to win in both tournaments

Leafs blow it

The leafs lose another game. This time they had a two goal and blew it with under 3 minutes to go in the game. The Lightning lit it up and squeezed out an overtime win.

Kulemin had two goals for the leafs. One was a flukey bounce off the back bards to an open net and the other was just as flukey. He took a bad penalty on the boards. I say you send him down to the AHL for some conditioning and give some other guys a look on forward. One thought is look within the team. So many people are saying Brad Richards. Why? Give him a big salary and screw signing some other freee agent who would be just as good. They have Kaberle why not try him on forward he would be like a Lecalvier type. Someone who can bring the puck to the net and make things happen.

Poor leafs, poor leafs nation

More coffee

The lighter the roast of the coffee means the more caffein in your cup. Some drink coffee for the boost that they need in the morning. Those folks would get a light coffee and those who prefer the dark rich coffee wont be getting the same caffein intake but would have a richer cup. I drink dark but I think my next cup will be an espresso.

Do we love the writer more than the story?

Today I still love both but in the end it is all about the story because the name is only on the front of the book

War

The War between the Left and Right,.. I can't take it anymore!

The Giller Prize

I have been looking for a few good books to read. Even just one. So anyways, here is how it goes. I am up early this morning with my coffee in hand and the globe and mail in the other. Reading thru the arts pages I notice the short-list for the Giller Prize in the Books section. The Giller is worth a lot of money and goes to Canada's best novel of that year. I don't know If life of Pi won or not in its day...but Yann Martel had another terrific book about a writer and a taxidermist and it has failed to make the Top 10 if great Canadian fiction of this year. That was a fantastic book so I say to myself "Great" here it is, five Novels by Canadian writers. All the best fiction of 2010 that our country has to offer. One book you can even get in stores its on back order and the other four aren't any I have read more than 10 pages For now I will list the novels, there are: Two books of short-stories; one by Alexander Macleod (Son of great Alistair McCleoud) with his debut title "Light Lifting" and Sarah Selecky with her book "The Cake is for the Party". Both are books of short stories.The novelists include Kathleen Winter's book "Annabel" she is published by Anansi Press who also publishes Michael Winter who happens to be one of my favourite writers, I am not sure if theses two are related. Either way, there is also two other writers who maade the short list. Probably the two that I will find the most fascinating from their descriptions are David Bergen's "The Matter with Morris" said to be about a journalist who loses his son in Afghanistan to a friendly fire accident. The writer has trouble, etc.. further and lastly a novel "The Sentimentalist" a debut by Johana Skibsrud. Also dealing with war on some level. All 4 books you can get in chapters or other local book stores but The Sentimentalist is currently unavailable but you can be put on an order list and as soon as Gaspereau press has all the material they are going to print a 2nd press of the the book.'Gaspereau' press is a small press in Nova Scotia, it has only printed off 2,000 copies and the owner says, they are currently waiting on a paper delivery to continue with the second print. So I the mean time I think I will begin reading "The Matter with Morris" and I you are finished and feel like commenting and adding our favourite read of 2010 the by all means share... Until then continue to read the blog for other news and stories

Write? Ya right, I can't write

I haven't been able to write lately. Facebook, you-tube, e-mails and web-sufring have taken over. So much time wasted. I haven't been doing any real work for months. I suppose I should just disconnect the ethernet cable from my computer and then perhaps i'll be able to focus on writing. This is supposed to be my novel. I need more discipline. I have writers block. I need some energy. I think I may have A.D.D. I might have to go for a walk to clear my head and then i'll be able to write. I'll be right back.

We went camping

We loaded the truck with all our gear and lifted the canoe on the roof. We tied and it down and got ourselves on the road. I had a feeling I didn't tie the nose of the canoe down well enough but thought we could get a few kilometers away before I had to pull over to check it all. It was windy enough and I got to the outskirts of town when I seen the nose of the canoe shifting to the left thru the windshield. It made me little nervous and so I pulled over and re-tied the front end and gave the rope a good yank and made sure it was tight. Back on the road and we were continuing north. Big Ball Lake was the destination, just an hour or so drive. When we arrived we dropped off our luggage by the edge of the water and parked the truck further down the road to a clearing and then walked back to the canoe and paddle out to lake. I sat up front in the canoe and Nickie sat in the bow and steered. Just us and the open water. We paddled some and it was a beautiful time, as the sun was beginning to set. The lake was wide and there were many islands in the middle for us to camp on. We paddled some more and made good distance. "Where should we aim?" I asked and Nickie pointed and said over there, and then she asked me the same question, "where do you wanna aim"? We pulled up to an island and noticed there were cottages and an old man was tending to a boat with who must of been his grandson.He noticed us pull up to his dock and I waved and said hello, "do you mind if we pull up to your dock and hang on for a rest"? The old man came closer, he had an initial look of concern on his face and maybe didn't hear me properly. "You don't mind if we just get a little rest by your dock do you"? I tried to smile and look ask as polite as I could. The old man took off his cap and wiped his brow with a rag. "No I don't mind, are you lost"? He asked. "Where are you going"? He seemed a little surprised by our presence and seemed truly concerned. "No were not lost just wanted to have a break". I told him we were just out for a long paddle . He went back to his boat and pulled the motor and he and the young boy started the motor and went out for a boat ride. I grabbed a beer from the cooler and smiled as they moved the boat in front of us and I waved one last time. "I think we should keep on aiming for the island further out" I took a last gulp of beer and with the setting sun it was getting late and we were ready to get moving on.

Iroquois Nationals cleared to play

According to a team's spokesperson the Iroquois Nationals are able to travel to England for the World Lacrosse Championships with their own passports. They may be jet legged with the long wait-over but should be ready to play England in their first game of the tournament thursday night at 7:30pm

Iroquois Nationals Still Waiting

The Iroquois Nationals still haven't left for The World Lacrosse Championships and they are scheduled to play the host team England on thursday in the City of Manchester. It is the kickoff to the tournament.

The thing holding the Nationals back is the Government of Britain, saying that unless they receive word from the United States that it will honour to let the Iroquois Nationals travel back into the U.S. with their own passports unless the President says ok they can not cross the border to England.

The Iroquois Nationals team will be travelling with their own Haudenosaunee passports But the Americans want them to have US passports as well directly affecting their Sovereignty. Homeland Security is not granting an OK to come back. Whats going on with the United States, they do not need the Iroquois team to carry two passports they have their own. The Iroquois have a chance to represent themselves and the Americans are holding them up here for too long trying to make them take American Passports.

There is no story of this on the FIL Federation International of Lacrosse web-page www.filacrosse.com -no word if this will get sorted out with the FIL saying nothing.

There needs to be a first nations team at this tournament they invented the game. The Iroquois players live on land in North and South f the US/Canada border. They share this land with us and we share it with them.

From an Article on WGRZ .com in Buffalo, All the U.S. State Department would say is;

"We are more than willing to help these athletes with very, very fast, expedited processing of a U.S. passport." That was according spokesperson Nicole Thompson.

Iroquois Nationals are being held back

The World Championships are being held in Manchester England and the people who invented the game are not being allowed to travel and play in the tournament.

The Iroquois Nationals are made up of the Six Indian Nations that stretch across Southern Ontario and New York. The International Lacrosse Federation recognizes thea as a country and has them ranked as 4th in the World.

The Iroquois team are facing a problem with the US and Homeland security revolving around their passports. The Six Nations have their own passports which they have travelled with in the past to other tournaments. The US want them to carry the American passports as well. Denis Waterman, a member of the Iroqiois Nationals Board of directors says “It would be like saying the Canadians are having travel difficulties and the U.S. says we’ll make you U.S. passports and you can go over."

The British consulate informed the team they would not be allowed travel permissions unless they were granted the allowance back into the United States. The State Department of Home Security will not grant a promise. This decision is denying the Six Nations their own sovereignty. Dean Kotlowski, a history professor at Salisbury University in Maryland who specializes in American Indian policy sums it up “What’s at stake is their culture, their identity, their tribes, their reservations,” he said. “They’ve seen diminishment ... of their population, threats to their way of life.”

Many of the players have travelled to other parts of the country to compete for their nation and have had no trouble in the past. They should be allowed to travel and it would be a shame if they were not granted the opportunity. Historically speaking there would not be a World Lacrosse Championship in the first place without them. They invented the game.

The Iroquois are scheduled to play England on Thursday. If they leave today they'll still only have one day to prepare for their game. If they are not represented at the tournament I think its a big shame and the American government are making a huge mistake in not allowing clearance to travel. If I were playing I would protest and not play.

Earthquake in Ontario

Holy shit that's what a earthquake feels like?

Thought somebody bumped the back of my chair - nobody was there behind me when I looked. I just kept on working at my desk and only 45 minutes later I heard a co-worker say it was a minor earthquake. The globe and mail reports it was a 5.5 on the richter scale but yet it wasn't much felt at all in Peterborough. It was my first feel of an earthquake. I do no have much experience and know little about the scaling of one but I would of rated that a 3.2-as I say I was sitting down at my ground level desk and if it was as tho a ghost or someone walked behind my chair and glazed the back of me, I do remember looking left and right to see if someone had passed but no, and I thought nothing more of it. As for the scaling of earthquakes it was nothing much felt here. But in Ottawa my partner did say people had left their buildings, not like the King Elvis presely, but instead going outside to see just what the frig that was? but I don't have anything to judge it by. My partner said the Quake had her work building shaking for what seemed like 15 seconds. She said, She "looked at her co-worked and they both got up and split for the stairs outside"

So an Earthquake, who would of thought. Apparently not the weather guy- he was calling for a thunder storm. He'll probably say thunder tomorrow. Bring on the sun is what I say, I still have clothes on the line. Why does it always seem to rain when I do laundry? My neighbour has asked me the same thing.

Its been a great so far, and here's to the rest

(I have a cold moosehead I am raising to toast)

Off to the Big City! Toronto of course. Home of the CN Tower - The thing is huge it reaches upto the stars. Massive!
Going to see a Drive by Truckers concert with the boys. Really looking forward to it.

Olympic Round Robin Hockey

Sunny, ..Sunday, ..SUNday, SUNDAY!!! February 21/2010

- Super Sunday Olympic Hockey Triple Header

Almost feels like the Super Bowl all over again.

We have aN Olympic Hockey Triple Header - three huge tournament hockey games,
In all 3 games first place is on the line and a spot in the quarter finals.
The hockey schedule was set-up for this to play out. First place on the line in each Pool.


POOL A
Dem' Russians(1-0-0-1) vs Czech Republic(2-0-0-0) 3pm -Russia was lost earlier in the round robin to Slovakia. I think Russia will win and get first place in the pool

POOL B
Canada(1-0-1-0)vs USA(2-0-0-0) 7:30 pm Canada who are still juggling lines and looking for the right chemisty will be in a battle with the Americans who seem to be playing like they have nothing to loose. Brodeur will get the start in net for team Canada. Reports say that Mike Richards will be added to the top line with Crosby and Nash. I have a feeling Canada will win this one in a shoot-out.

POOL C
Sveeden (2-0-0)vs Finland (2-0-0) I have to believe that Sweden will win this game but it will also go to overtime and Sweden will win on a goal by one do the Sedin twins.


USA leads with 23 medals- 6 gold 7 silver and 10 bronze
Canada in 4th with 8 medals- 4 g 3 s and 1 b
Zee Germans have 14 medals- 4g 6s 4b
Norway has 11medals- 5g 3s 3b

Beer and the Environment

Dear Environmentalists et all,

What is better: Can or Bottle?

What should I be using when I drink beer?

Olympic Medal Favorites

Who is the favourite to win overall gold at the Olympics?

Zee Germans might just be the early favourites with 164 athletes competing. They are always a strong contender for the overall medal count. Norway are always strong at the Winter Games and even with only 81 athletes Norway are still medal favourites. The Americans who have 216 athletes, the most competing in the Olympics are always a top contender. Canada, the host country have 206 athletes competing. Canada will be a top contender. Russia is close behind with 178 athletes, Switzerland has 146 athletes, Sweeden 118 and Italy has 109 athletes. Altogether there are 2631 athletes competing in these games.

The pressure is on Canada as the host nation. The Canadian citizens and the Canadian Press are hungry for medals and the athletes are expected to put up good numbers. But keep this in mind Canada has hosted the Olympics twice before and yet still a Gold medal has yet to be won on home turf.

So now the big question is who will win the first gold at home and the better question is how many gold will we win?

Both the Canadian Men and Women's hockey teams are favourites to contend for the gold. I would really enjoy seeing both teams win gold on on home ice but that could be a long-shot. The Men's hockey pool has so many strong teams. Its really a tough call. Russia and Canada are the favourites."Dem' Russians" look the strongest on paper. The Sweedes are the reigning Olympic Champs, they'll want to repeat for sure and Canada has the fan support. On the Women's side, its the Canadians whol have the best chance for Gold with the home fans supporting them all the way. But watch out for the Sweedes on the women's side as well, they had a young team last Olympics and now have matured into a team that could upset the host team.

Vancouver Olympic Opening Ceremonies

The Olympics officially open tonight in Vancouver -Friday February 12/10

The games of snow and ice. The winter Olympics. These sports are extreme.

At the winter olympics the opening ceremonies are starting up tonight but unfortunately there has been a death.


Sad story in the Luge event. Olympian from Georgia died from a luge accident during the tail end of his luge practice run.

Already the Olympics competition committee have suspended 30 athletes this year before the games for doping infractions. All NHL hockey players are able to compete this year. But you wonder whether they have to go through the same scrutiny as other Olympian athletes.

Its tough to think of the sports and the Olympics with a death of an Athlete.

The ceremonies will go on as scheduled


Looking forward to the broadcast and the parade of countries. This is a huge event for Canada and I can't help but feel excited even though I have been playing off the importance of Opening night. I'm actually a little nervous for my country its gonna be a huge moment for Canada.

I know Don Cherry will be there and all of TSN and its too bad Landsberg is there. At least Off The Record will be off-line for a month. I noticed Much is Music is there- what hell are they doing there? I might just be jealous.

I Wish I was there.