Category: Mind Space

TorGame: Waking City

Toronto is becoming more and more interesting, and this time a group of people are doing something truly amazing. TorGame is a puzzle game kinda like the Da Vinci Code, but with no religious undertones. You explore the city and interact with people (or something) around the city. A great way to explore the urban space of Toronto.

The game is starting to get a lot of press coverage so you should register your teams soon. The game starts mid-September. There is also an info session this coming Thursday.

(I am volunteer with TorGame)

Open Sourced, Except for Killing

robot attacksThe GPL is designed to let people modify the code for almost any purpose. Every so often the GPL is modified to reflect our changing needs and wants of software.

Right now there is a debate whether or not to include Isaac Asimov’s first law of robotics:

“A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”

I hope this is included into the GPL even if it isn’t really enforceable.

Funny Look at Media Ownership

Mainstream media is owned by only a handful of corporations, and those corporations also own many subsidiaries.Find out who owns what at the Columbia Journalism Review. Lots and lots of people have argued that media conglomeration perpetuates self-censorship of news outlets, therefore depriving people of reason and intellectual analysis of current events.

The folks at Saturday Night Live (owned by NBC, who is owned by General Electric)made a funny animation showing this, the video was never aired after it’s original airing.

ER for Violence Prevention

CIIAN LogoThe Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN) has create a new fast-reacting Early Response Unit (ERU). Essentially the ERU takes a holistic approach to analyzing potential conflicts to look for solutions before violence breaks out. This is a really good idea. They follow the thinking that even a little bit of prevention can go a long way to preventing conflict.

CIIAN’s President and the Director of the ER Unit, Dr. Ben Hoffman, states “I believe the new ER Unit is greatly needed in our world of increasingly volatile environments. Ethnic and religious strife, land occupations, labor strikes, dysfunctional workplaces, and troubled schools can become violent unless timely action is taken. We have the expertise to recognize early warning signs that these environments may become violent and the experience to deliver an appropriate response aimed at prevention and stabilization.”

Thanks, Evan!

Alley Jaunt

garageThis weekend in Toronto Alley Jaunt is happening. It’s an event that looks at local art in local garages and a chance to go down laneways and alleys that you might normally ignore. Run by some local artists, the event wants to bring the community of Trinty Bellwoods and artists together.

“Follow the path of chalk drawings and flags to guide you to the participating garages and join the local community in turning these private spaces into public gatherings!”

Be sure to check the pictures from last year. (I can’t link to it because their site uses frames.)