News

Happy 100th Birthday Gram – Have a Great Day!

— moto

Happy 100th Birthday Gram

Congratulations Gram! It’s hard to imagine you were born 100 years ago today. You’re an inspiration to us all. If I make it to a hundred I can only hope that I do it with the grace and dignity you have. And to still have all my marbles would be a huge bonus.

Just a couple of things about my Gram. Her name is Anne McDonald and she lives in Edmonton. Of course she’s an Edmonton Oilers fan and rarely misses a game. She thinks nothing of trotting down to Jasper Avenue and catching the bus out to West Edmonton Mall to do a little shopping from time to time. If you phoned her up and asked her if she wanted to go fishing she would be ready to go by the time you got there. She used to be a hell of shot with her pump-action 22 and could shoot things tossed into the air. I have no doubt she could still do it.

Anyhow Gram…, I’m sure you’re going to have a busy day but then again I’ll bet there’s been a few busy days in the last 36,525 days.

Just as a bit of a curiousity 100 years equals:

  • 3,155,760,000 seconds
  • 52,596,000 minutes
  • 876,600 hours
  • 36,525 days
  • 5217 weeks
 
Earthshaking

World’s First Commercial Quantum Computer Demonstrated

— moto

From the “now that’s cool” Department ::

Aprivately held company based in Burnaby, British Columbia has today unveiled the world’s first job ready quantum computer. D-Wave claims their quantum computer will be a complement to conventional computers and is not intended as a replacement. Today’s demonstation was at the Computer History Museum in the heart of Silicon Valley and a follow-up demonstation is scheduled in Vancouver, British Columbia later this week.

Quantum computers are capable of computation beyond the capabilities of today’s – and likely tommorow’s – digital computers. If everything pans out this will likely be regarded as a breakthrough tool for those involved in complex computer modelling. Medical, aerospace, nanotechnology, and earth sciences should be able to make good use of quantum computing and now there’s a machine available to do some serious number crunching.

I’m sure the skeptics will be out in full force as it has been the consensus of many that quantum computers were years down the road. D-Wave appears to have harnessed the brain power required and I wish them all the success in the universe in putting any skepticism to rest.

A full account of the D-Wave news release is available here. I’ve also created a link to D-Wave’s career oportunities page in my employment directory for any brainiacs out there up to the challenge.

::UPDATE:: February 14, 2007

There’s some decent discussion on the Orion Quantum Computer at the following blogs. Geordie Rose, the CTO is a part of those discussions. Very interesting but way over my head.

  • Scott Aaronson’s Blog
  • Dave Bacon’s Quantum Pontiff
 
Sasquatch

Sasquatch Bigfoot Encounters on Google Earth

— moto

From the “Big Hairy Deal” Department ::

The latest version of Google Earth (version 4) has just been released so I promptly downloaded it to have a look around. If you’ve never checked it out you’re really missing out on one of the finest applications to come out of the Googleplex in Mountain View, California. There are a lot of folks that have come up with some very interesting uses for Google Earth and one that really caught my attention was the undertaking of a fellow who goes by the moniker of Mangani. He has taken the reports of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, encounters reported on various websites and entered the data to allow a visual representation of the data in Google Earth. When you see the data presented in this fashion you get a much clearer idea of just how many encounters there actually are. Considering the fact that many encounters go unreported it really makes you wonder if there just might be something to the Sasquatch, or Bigfoot phenomena.

If you want to see what I’m talking about there’s a couple of things you’re going to have to do:

  1. Download Google Earth 4 if you haven’t done so already.
  2. Install it and get it up and running so you get a feel for it.
  3. Go to the “Google Earth Community” and click the “View in Google Earth” link.
  4. When the dialog box opens click the radio button “Open With” and if it isn’t already selected, choose “Google Earth”.
  5. Prepare to set aside at least an hour or two for exploration.

If that gets your curiosity up then you’ll likely be interested in this directory of Sasquatch and Bigfoot links that I’ve put together. One of the links in the directory has most of the available Sasquatch and Bigfoot videos including one of the latest taken by the ferry operator, Bobby Clarke, at Norway House, Manitoba. Prepare to keep yourself occupied for another hour or two. 

Announcements

Reasons Why You Should Consider Hiring Belleville Business Insurance Broker

— moto

Managing your own business can be challenging since you decide and implement ideas on your own. Therefore, you may lack enough time to look for a good insurance company. It becomes even more stressful when you do not have any idea about any insurance cover. At this moment you need to hire the services of Belleville Business Insurance Broker. The broker will ensure that you buy your business policy from a reputable insurance company.

With the help of Belleville Insurance Broker, you will be able to carry on with your daily activities without being interrupted. The agent will ensure that they attend to your every need concerning the policy. Choosing the best insurance company can be challenging when you do not have knowledge about insurance. The broker will make sure that you get the best policy with affordable price.

Insurance agents will act as a personal adviser. The agent ensures that he gets a competitive pricing and also makes sure that you are fully covered. They ensure that they get time to listen to you and understand the needs concerning your business. They clearly know that it is not about finding the best insurance price that you can afford but is the company that will adequately cover your business.Insurance agents are licensed, professionals. It is a sign that they are fully qualified and approved by the board of relevant field. Make sure that the broker has presented all certifications indicating that he or she is qualified. They assess your business needs and all the policies that are required. Consulting a qualified broker will see to it that your business is protected.

Business insurance agents are very convenient. They are usually located in your area, and so they understand the challenges in the surroundings. Business agents are very flexible and can come to your rescue every time you need them.

They keep all the updates that happen in the insurance industry. And also keep all the records concerning your insurance cover. They also ensure that the let you know of any changes that have been made regarding your insurance policy.

These brokers are not bound to a particular company. They can approach different companies so that to be able to know the one that offers the best rates. This way, they will prevent you from consuming a lot of money trying to move from one insurance company to another.

An agent acts as your advocate. For instance, if you have a claim concern or you require making changes on your coverage, the agent will negotiate with the Insurance Company on your behalf. It makes you have peace of mind since you will not pass through the hassle of following up with the company. 

Diamonds

Blood Diamond Movie puts Canadian Diamonds Under Microscope

— moto

From the “sparkly pepple” department ::

With the recent release of the movie “Blood Diamond” Canadian Diamonds and the Canadian Diamond Industry are being eyed with a litlle more scrutiny lately. This article from the Toronto Star takes a critical look at the Canadian Diamond Industry and suggests that Canadian diamonds, although they may not be blood diamonds, are maybe not as “conflict” free as they would first appear. The author of the story is Larry Innes, the executive director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative. The Canadian Boreal Initiative say they are, “…an independent organization working with conservationists, First Nations, industry and others to link science, policy and conservation activities in Canada’s boreal region.”

In other news, Aber Diamond Corporation has released their Q3 results in the form of a webcast while the text version of the Q3 results can be found here. If you’re in to reading and understanding these things there is a lot of information to be digested.

Meanwhile, Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. has issued a press release explaining how they have increased their interest in the WO Diamond Project to 71.74%. I’m not much of an expert on accounting principles and practices so it sounded like a whole bunch of hokus-pokus, chicken swinging, vodoo accounting magic to me. What exactly does this press release mean? All our investors backed out so now we have more of an interest in what’s left? Or…, due to some calculated and strategic footwork we now own a majority stake in the project. Investors should always do their homework. Only those on the ground know exactly what’s happening.

Anyhow…, I should see what movie theatre is running “Blood Diamond”.