OCAD Hosts Socially Responsible Video Gamers, Raptors Trounce the Heat: TorontoIAM

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Raptors Turn Up the Heat

Tim Reynolds, blogging for NBA.com RaptorsNews, reports on the pounding the Raptors gave the Miami heat last night (114-82). “Chris Bosh scored 24 points, Andrea Bargnani added 22 and the Toronto Raptors handed the hapless Heat their biggest loss of the season.” Through the first three quarters, Toronto shot 66 percent. They took a 23-point lead in the first quarter “and wound up leading by as many as 39 in the final minutes.” Coach Sam Mitchell said “It would be hard for us to play much better.”

In addition to Bosh and Bargnani’s high scores, Anthony Parker scored 18 points, Jose Calderon had 11 points and 10 assists, and Jason Kapono (“in his first trip back to Miami after the Heat chose not to re-sign him in the offseason”) scored 13 points. In addition to the strong win, states Reynolds in his post, the Raptors got T.J. Ford back. Ford hadn’t played “since colliding with Atlanta rookie Al Horford on Dec. 11.” He entered the game with 9:55 left in the second quarter. “He finished with four points and four assists in 18 minutes, a driving dunk capping his night with 38.1 seconds left” who commented later that he didn’t think people expected him “to come in and do the things that [he] normally [does].”

Social Aware Video Gamers to Speak at OCAD

Over at the Torontoist, Dillon McManamy announces a free presentation of SWEAT on Wednesday, February 6 at OCAD. SWEAT is “a collaboration of game designers, programmers, and artists dedicated to bringing socially aware video games to the general public.” The organization has produced games like Crosser, “a Frogger-esque game about illegal crossing at the US/Mexico border, and is currently developing Juan & the Beanstalk, a game about the societal effects of illegal drug production in Columbia.”

Founding member Rafael Fajardo, “an advocate for video games as a teaching method,” will lead the presentation.  The programme is called “Reflective Play: Exploring the Creation of Games and Toys to Raise Consciousness and Stimulate Thinking” and it starts at 6:30 p.m. at the OCAD auditorium. Arrive early as seating is limited, warns McManamy in the post.

Cycling Enthusiast Sheldon Brown dies of Heart Attack

I Bike T.O. sends a sad farewell to beloved cycling enthusiast Sheldon Brown. He was known as a “bike mechanic extraordinaire, and a great resource of cycling information. Brown died of a “massive heart attack, as reported on his bike shop's website, Harris Cyclery.” The website was how most people were introduced to Brown, when attempting to get information on how to fix their bikes.

Sheldon Brown was the person to turn to, writes Herb in his post, “for various arcana of bike mechanics. Need to dish your wheel? Wondering what the inside of an old Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub looks like?” Sheldon Brown was the man. Not only did his site have a wealth of information on mechanics, it kept fans entertained by his “trips, family, humour and other interests.”

Local Jazz Singer Joni NehRita Breaks Out with Debut CD

The latest post on It’s not the Band I Hate, It’s the Fans reviews local jazz singer Joni NehRita’s new CD A Fine Time. Our blogger states in the post that NehRita falls into the “smooth jazz category, but thankfully she takes her cues from the Stevie Wonders of the world, as opposed to the Kenny G's.” Her single “Not That Deep” makes for an excellent pop song “with a slight Latin feel.” She displays refreshing restraint in her vocals, which “makes it all the more compelling.”

Another song, “You Left” is “one of those old school jams.” As the song progresses, “its funkiness gives way to bluesier territory, making it wonderfully eclectic.” The song “hooks” the best on the CD is “How 2 Get Thru.” The only negatives were that “Star” is a “little too close to elevator music territory” and the reggae attempt on “The Way Of The World” doesn't quite “work.” Overall, a very promising debut CD. NehRita’s release party will take place at Hugh’s Room on April 15th.

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