Jeopardy!

The reason the computer (Watson) decimated Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter was simply that it could buzz in sooner. I knew many of the answers; you probably knew them, too, as did Ken and Brad, but none of us can compete with the speed of a computer.

I can see only two possible solutions. Humans will either have to beat Watson to the buzzer, even if they have to risk making mistakes, or IBM will have to agree to incorporate a small delay in the computer's response time. As presently constituted, it's no contest.

THE MIDDLE EAST: At latest count, six nations are in open revolt against autocratic, dictatorial and repressive leaders. If you count America, that makes seven. So far, we have avoided our violence, but, as usual, we will be blamed for theirs.