It appears a math professor from India has taken the first step with factoring large primary numbers that may someday have an implication for computer security. Mindinra Agrawal worked three years to develop a method to determine with complete certainity if a number is prime. Computer encryption uses two large primary numbers and muliplies them.

Yukon
A provincial election in a territory of 35 thousand people ended in an upset yesterday. The liberals had 11 of 17 seats in the 2000 election. Because of defections from the party an early election was called, and yesterday The Yukon Party took 12 of the now 18 seats, with the NDP the official opposition at 5 seats. Liberal leader Pat Duncan retained her seat.

Toys
The Toy Testing Council of Canada has come out with it’s 50th annual top list, and what is old is new again.

For the 50th year, the council and its volunteer child evaluators have produced a list of the year’s top toys, with hot attractions being Groovy Girls — updated Raggedy Anns — and Bey Blades — high-tech tops.

Table-top hockey, a favourite for years, is back. This year’s model incorporates air hockey and replaces the old slots in the ice surface with magnets. It carries a steep price tag, though, about $260.

For toddlers, a Fisher Price Little People Fun Sounds Train ($35-40), which combines bright colours, pop-up characters and fun sounds, was a hit.

The council looks at hundreds of toys each year that are tested by..who else..the kids.

Blogger
Blogger is having a design contest to give the templates a new look. All the details can be found here.

Participatory Storytelling
Some people call it copyright violation. Others don’t. There is a site on line for fans to write their own stories of their beloved heroes from Harry Potter to Shakespeare.

This article gives some background and history on how this started.

New blog
Kevin Micheal Grace of The Report Newsmagazine joins some of his esrtswhile compatriots in the blogosphere such as Colby Cosh and Jeremy Lott, launching his new blog, The Ambler.
Link via Colby Cosh

Cast your vote for Hubert Humphrey!
Happy Fun Pundit resurrects the rested dead for the Senate Race as Americans go to the polls today.