Surface Computer rocks (apparently)

Who'd have thought: an exciting, innovative technology from Microsoft. Required reading:

Microsoft announces Surface computer [TechCrunch]

First look: Microsoft Surface computing [Channel 10]

Microsoft Surface: behind-the-scenes first look [Popular Mechanics]

Microsoft Surface confirmed: touch-sensitive, $10k Minority Report table [Gizmodo]

Press release [Microsoft]

Big trouble in little Downsview

I didn't pay much attention to the circling news helicopters for the first couple of hours, but when one of Toronto EMS's bus-sized ambulances pulled up in front of my apartment building, it seemed wise to investigate.

Dozens of police cruisers, the Emergency Task Force, several regular ambulances, one tactical ambulance, the aforementioned huge ambulance, four or more satellite news vans, two news choppers hovering and at least one small aircraft circling overhead make for an awfully busy scene just a block south of my home. The cause? A 'lockdown' at C.W. Jeffries, the neighbourhood public high school.

Apparently a 14-year old student was shot inside at 2:30pm, and later died at Sunnybrook. CityTV's News at Six had a couple of really tasteless video clips of the victim's mother (and others) screaming and collapsing outside the hospital when informed of his death.

Thankfully, it seems like it was 'only' a murder, rather than a spree shooter. There seems to be some confusion has to how a nearby indoor pool fits into the scenario, with The Star reporting that "police at first responded to what was initially reported as a drowning at a pool near the school."

Coverage a-plenty:

• ETF enters high school after fatal shotting at indoor pool [CityNews]
• Boy killed in school shooting [Toronto Star]
  
• Teen dies after Toronto school shooting [CBC]
• Student dies after being shot in Toronto school [CTV]
• Teen shot dead at Toronto high school [Globe and Mail]
• Toronto school in lockdown after shooting [Canada.com]

Lessons for Canada, too

Michael Moore on his new film Sicko's showing at Cannes:

Even those who have been harsh to me in the past, or who have not agreed with my politics, were moved. Aside from my stated desire that "Sicko" ignite a fire for free, universal health care (and a larger wish that we, as Americans, do a better job of treating each other with a true sense of solidarity and respect), I continue to hope that I can make a contribution to the art of cinema and give people a good reason to get out of the house for a few hours...

[read more]

TTC's "36th Annual Bus and Maintenance Roadeo"

How Tough is it to Drive a Bus? Now it's Your Turn to Find Out - "The Bus Roadeo competition takes place this coming Sunday over an obstacle course that is designed to challenge the most skilled urban bus driver. TTC drivers qualify during run-offs at the divisional level, and compete for top honours... The winner [will] compete at the North American championships, which will be held by the American Public Transportation Association next year in Austin, Texas." [PR @ CCN Matthews]

Oh, and before you get as worked up as I did about it being "your turn to find out", be advised that the headline is addressed to the newsroom and/or transit beat journalist-types who actually read these press releases.

Inappropriate Honours Dr.

Judy Sgro, longtime (and still serving) Liberal MP for the riding in which I live, has a street named after her in North York. Awesomely cranky Councillor Moscoe no likey one bit:

Eglinton-Lawrence Coun. Howard Moscoe is one of the outspoken opponents "The city has a policy against naming streets after living politicians," he argued. "But if you're going to name a street after a living politician, you might as well put the 'reelect' in front of it and do some good for her," he facetiously notes.

[CityNews via BoingBoing]

The policy in question may be found here (see point #3). It cautions against naming streets after living persons of all kinds, not just politicians.

Perhaps surprising, but hardly shocking

"A profile drawn up in the [Department of National Defence] study [by CROP] shows that today's average potential military recruit is 'proud and intense,' a 'crude hedonist' and drawn to transgressive behaviour – or breaking the rules... [they also] tend to show an affinity for social Darwinism, characterized by the view that only the strongest members of society will survive." [Toronto Star]

"The poll results indicate about one in 10 Canadians is interested in joining the military. But it also describes an increased segment of those interested in a military career as demonstrating 'more nihilism, less hope,' and being 'more socio-dysfunctional' than respondents in the previous year." [CBC]

School rules as class warfare

Unlike in public schools, where phones are now banned, NY's private school kids tote BlackBerries for fun status and profit success:

"Gil received a hand-me-down Palm Treo six months ago, when his father upgraded his smart phone. Since then, the 16-year-old has been using the PDA to stay on top of his homework assignments, appointments, and extracurricular activities. "I'm definitely more organized," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his camera- and multimedia player-equipped Treo."

[New York Sun via Gawker]

Best job title ever

Nougat Making Specialist

Freedom toaster?

Seneca@York: Freedom toaster dispenses open source software - "The product of a student project, the Freedom Toaster burns open source software to your own CDs, quickly and free of charge." [Seneca Libraries]

Apparently this is modeled after an initial freedom toaster project in Africa. Neat! I think I'll stroll up there (York, not Africa) and check it out some time soon.

Austria moves to lower voting age to 16 [Wall Street Journal]

Green ink draws a crowd - "With this interest in bringing properties up to new environmental standards, it was only a matter of time that an army of new ventures would surface catering to this burgeoning green market." [Globe and Mail]

Adam Vaughn gets tough on nightclubs - "[His] proposal would require nightclub owners to apply and pay for the a permit to use public sidewalks for lengthy line-ups." [BlogTO]

It's okay to think it's ugly: No one says you have to love the ROM addition [Toronto Star via Spacing]