I stumbled across an interesting website concerning computer security. It’s the Gibson Research Corporation’s website, and it has lots of little useful tips and tools to help you make your computer more secure! http://www.grc.com/default.htm
Month: July 2009
Professor Robert “Hobb” Beckett’s Website
Dear friends,
I recent stumbled back upon one of my all-time favourite websites. My favourite professor, Hobb, has his own personal website, and it’s well worth the look. You will find mountains of priceless information, free courses, not to mention many life lessons. Hobb is one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the privilege of calling friend, and the amount I have learned from him is impossible to quantify. Without further adieu, I bring to you his website: http://users.vianet.ca/beckettt/
Andy
Attention: It is illegal to wear a costume in New York :(
Badgers!?
I recently came across an article in Ney York Magazine that made me do a double take. It was about Badgers being their new favourite animal. I was curious, why a badger? I have seen the catchy ‘badger, badger, badger’ flash video/song, but it turns out it was completely unrelated! Check out the York York mag article, and the associated link to a hilarious story from the associated press about badgers.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/07/badger.html?mid=daily-intel–20090709
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i9a013U8U1EbEBcrlAf0115R6doQ
11th Annual Panhellenic Soccer Tournament
The Panhellenic soccer club will be hosting it’s annual tournament again this year. To quote the press release, “This year’s tournament will feature a hundred teams from around the province, both boys and girls from age groups Under 11 to Under 21, as well as a women’s open division. The Tournament will be held from July 24th through July 26th 2009. The tournament will be played at a variety of venues all across the city with the finals being played at Laurentian University and James Jerome field.” Looks like it will be another big tournament in Sudbury, which can mean nothing but good things for Soccer’s future in the nickel city.
Koivu moves on to the Ducks
When it was announced that centre Saku Koivu would be heading to the ducks, I was happy for him. The thought of him playing on a line with his good friend, Teemu Selanne, makes me believe that Anaheim might finally have the offence needed to make another cup run. I guess I’m just sick of watching DET win the western conference, and seeing the media ride Koivu. Imagine the joy of seeing Koivu win a cup beside countryman Selanne, and young Canadian star Ryan Getzlaf (who I’d love to watch hoist another cup).
General Soccer update
Congratulations to Brazil for winning the Confederations Cup, a brilliant display against the United States of America saw them rally back from a 0-2 first half to claim the cup. Congratulations are still in order for the USA, who showed a brilliant effort, albeit lucky, in the tournament, which saw them qualify for their first Senior FIFA men’s soccer final in history. Thumbs down to Spain and Italy for their lackluster performances. Next summer’s World Cup should be interesting, with both of these teams looking to prove they still have what it takes to remain at the top of international competitions. Italy is the defending World Cup champion (2006), and Spain is the current Euro champion (2008).
Congratulations to the German side, who won a convincing 4-0 game against England’s U-21 squad to win this year’s UEFA Under 21 Championship tournament.
Also, French International striker Karem Benzema joins Ronaldo and Kaka in Real Madrid! A great opportunity for the young Frenchman to develop, and become France’s future star!
Warcraft 3: DOTA, still going strong
A great strength of Blizzard has always been the lasting power of their games. Whether you speak of the Diablo, Starcraft, or Warcraft series, each of these games carries with it an adamant fan-base that will defend the quality of these games to their last breath. I never really got into Starcraft, but Diablo and Warcraft were such great series. World of Warcraft also deserves a mention, as it was a ridiculous solid mmorpg. However, WoW gets old now and then, and one musst search for new games to occupy their time. Unless of course you rediscover an old game you loved. That is what brings about this post, my rediscovery of Warcraft 3, more specifically the Defense of The Ancents custom map made by Icefrog (http://www.icefrog.com/). I can remember a few years ago, when this map first came out, and it was a blast to play! So much has changed, but so much has remained the same. The basic concept of the map is exactly the same; raid the opposing teams base and eventually destroy their main stronghold building to win the game, while defending your own and the three lanes either team can take to push into the opponents base. The game is meant for 5 versus 5, but can also be played with less players. Recently, a solid AI version of the map has also been released, allowing the rusty players (such as myself) the ability to sharpen up before heading into competition again. This map will also allow new-comers to get the feeling of the game, and understand the basic mechanics of it before getting owned for being noobs in the real games. Now that I’m back into playing DOTA (pronounced dah-ta), I remember what made it so interesting. Sure there are always some balance issues, issues with people leaving or feeding, and cheesy moments, but the core game is just plain fun. For anybody who hasn’t had the experience of playing DOTA, I highly recommend it, especially considering the price of the game and it’s expansion is so low now, that it’s a very cheap investment for all the fun you’ll have. Not to mention the thousands of other custom maps, and the regular games that you can also find great enjoyment in. If that isn’t enough incentive, you can add me as a friend, andyv92, and come play in games with me!
Ottawa Senators 2009 off-season update
Ottawa has signed free agent forward Alex Kovalev, to a two year contract, valued at $5 million a year. Kovalev, a somewhat enigmatic scorer, has some of the best hands in the National Hockey League. He will bring a differetn element to Ottawa with his puck possession play. I would figure that he will play on a line with Spezza, although I am unsure who will play on the Left Wing for them. IF heatley sticks around, it is quite possible he will play the left wing on that line, making for an offensively dominant line to play against. Were I coaching this team, I would most likely split up Kovalev and Spezza for a number of reasons. Both like to carry the puck and make moves. Both have a tendency to have a high number of turn-overs. Both also have a tedency to takes nights off, and not play a very physical game. My line combinations for the Senators’ first two lines next year would be as follows:
Heater-Spezza-Alfie
Foligno-Fisher-Kovalev
Fisheer demonstrated at the Worlds that he can be a skilled play-maker when given time with a sniping winger, so I believe that he and Kovalev could have some great chemistry, with Foligno thrown in to rush the net and make some more space for the two of them. It should be noted that Fisher needs no help making space, but would be able to focus more on play-making given such a solid scorer on his line. More updates to come as more free-agency moves happen for the Sens.
Croatia Adria falls to Hamilton Serbian
The setting was James Jermome field, 3pm, Sudbury. The game to decide which team would advance, and which team would be shut down for this year’s Ontario Cup. Sudbury’s Croatia Adria didn’t even mount a rush before Hamilton was on the board with a spectacular goal from about 25 yards out. The Serbaisn kept coming. Hamilton had a convincing 2-0 going into the second half. Croatia appeared as though they would rally bck, mounting several promising attacks to open the half. Unfortunately, it was Hamilton who got on the scoresheet first in the second half. Not confident with a 3-0, they kept attacking until Sudbury was finally able to answer back. Sudbury answer was too little too late, as the game ended in a 5-1 defeat for Adria. Well fought effort, but Croatia was simply out-matched in this contest.
Andy Veilleux 