The Lightnings: 03-04 Champions

After the Flames lost the 6th game in Calgary in overtime, the team went to Florida for the 7th and last game. Tampa beat the Flames, 2-1 and won the Stanley Cup. The Flames did great this season, eliminating Vancouver, Detroit and San Jose. No one could believe that. Hope to see them as good as this, in the next season. I didn't go to any of the playoff games and didn't watch any complete game but enjoyed some moments. I don't know how people can stay there in arena for 2 hours! You are much more comfortable at home, able to watch the interesting moments through different cameras and slow motion, can go to washroom, if you need and your favorite snack is available. Besides you don't have to drive and buy the ticket!

D-Day

Allied Forces began the major attack to remove Germans from Europe, 60 years ago a day like today, June 6th 1944. D-Day are remembered all over Europe and North America every year and veterans remeber their comrades who died in such a day. Allied forces, which was comprised of Americans, British and Canadaians, mainly, invaded France, the attack that finally led to defeat of Nazis.

The day was remebered in major cities of Canada and also in France where a cemetery takes care of bodies of 359 Canadian soldiers who lost their livse in those days.

Steven Spielberg illustrated the D-Day invasion in his movie Saving Private Ryan. The movie won different Oscars including best cinematography by Polish cinematographer Janusz Kaminski. The first 20 min. of the movie shows the massacre of young American soldiers. The slaughter which was planned by Americans, partially. They paid for that because they knew there's a benefit waiting for them: governing Europe through Marshall Plan and stoppage of Soviets as part of their anti-communism plans.

(Photo: Tom Hanks in the opening scene of the movie)

CQE Exam.

Although I didn't sleep enough last night but woke up on time and went to SAIT to write CQE exam. I hardly found the room as I sometimes become a real idiot! I didn't even take a look at the ASQ's paper as the building and room number is written on it. For the reason, I get to the room just 5 min. before the exam started! There were only 7 applicants present, including me! 2 Canadian girls, 2 East Indian men, 2 Canadian guys and me.
It was not a difficult exam but I made several mistakes:
1- I had not studied the last chapter of CQE Primer which is about DOE, Taguchi's Loss Function and Goodness of fit. DOE is very important and there were at least 6 questions about it in the exam. God damn Quality Council of Indiana and f**k its useless reference! I have to buy a book about DOE anyways.
2- I didn't take my calculator as it's written in the ASQ paper that kind of mine is not allowed in the exam! Therefore I couldn't answer 2 questions about factorial (!) and one about exponential (e).
3- I didn't read the letter and I really didn't know where the exam is as there's usually signs all over the school. By the time I get there it was 07:55 but it didn't change anything, though. It was definitely stupid.
4- I could take more useful references. For example Statistical Process Control and Quality Improvement by Gerald M. Smith is a good reference. Also a reliable and good reference for DOE and other subjects that I know I may need a reference.
** I have to concentrate on the following subjects, if I wanna write the exam again, in case of failing:
a) Linear Regression.
b) DOE (A complete and deep study is essential. Design and Analysis of Experiments, Fifth Edition, by Douglas C. Montgomery must be purchased)
c) Risk Priority Number (RPN) in FMEA.
d) Refer to Supervision in Canada Today for different job satisfactory theories. I don't know why it's here!
e) CQE Codes of Ethics.

Iranian Devil

Ray, my new roommate, has a wonderful story but it's too long to be narrated all here at once. One of the interesting parts of his life was serving the Navy. He's a sharp guy and also strong. He does martial arts and works out when he has time. He also fought in Iran-Iraq war. Therefore he was accepted by the Navy and served there but only left to finish the school and get his Ph. D. They used to call him Iranian Devil there.

Completion: I now understand that he served the Navy in order to be able to continue the school. They provide you with fund and other things, I guess. Something he never told me like many other things. He lies a lot and made up stories. But you find out soon and never buy what he says again and never trust him.

(Photo: Ray, wearing camouflage in the Navy training)

One Win Away from the Cup

The Flames beat the Lightnings in Florida and is ready to win the Cup this Sat. in Calgary. I and Ray were watching the 1st and the only overtime of the game together. After several attacks by Tampa which resulted in nothing, I noticed that they r fatigued now and just try to defend multiple Calgary’s attacks and told that to Ray. Finally, in about 6 min. to go, Oleg Saprykin the Russian player of the Flames, passed the puke through his compatriots’ legs and made Calgary the winner. A sweet 3-2 OT win.
If Calgary wins Sat. game, Lord Stanley's Cup will be the Flames’ after 15 years again.

This photo taken by the net's camera shows just a sec. before the puke crosses Khabibulin's and Calgary wins another game in overtime.

Smoking is Banned

The new rule stating that smoking is forbidden in Toronto bars is very good. This is not the only city that have such a regulation. Some other cities in that province, including Ottawa, follow the same. The rule must be dispersed all across the country. This is one of the reasons that I never go to a bar. I've been to French Maid a couple of times in downtown Calgary. You can't even smoke there and when you get out, you smell like a chimney. You have to take a shower immediately and throw all your cloths to washing machine.