Segregation In eSports, Free Summer Camp For Kids, & Hi-Tech Jewelry
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… Sasha Scarlett Hostyn is a top competitor in the world of professional video game competitions and just one of the names put forward by fans who were outraged this week when an eSports tournament made their main tournament male-only... Read More
Metro Reviews: George R. R. Martin, Monty Python, Valiant Hearts
Here’s my Metro News reviews for the week of June 30th Rogues By George R. R. Martin & Gardner Dozois Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Five Stars The savagery the Game of Thrones series is known for can be traced back to one man, prince Daemon Targaryen, whose tale is included here amongst a collection of short stories... Read More
Metro Reviews: Dear Luke, Richard Avedon, Broken Age
Here’s my Metro News Reviews for the week of June 23rd. Dear Luke, We Need To Talk, Darth By John Moe Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Four Stars This collection of humorous memos, letters, and text messages imagine the off-screen interactions of our favourite movie characters, where the shark from Jaws keeps a therapy diary and the Walking... Read More
White House Women Inventors & Google’s $50 Million To Help Girls Code
Jump to the 1:30 mark to listen. This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… Beatty Robotics 14 year-old Camille and 12 year-old Genevieve Beatty have co-founded their own robotics company where they create a wide variety of walking, flying, and wheeled creations as well as museum-quality... Read More
Metro Reviews: Neil Gaiman, Borderlands 2, Wine & Cheese
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of June 16th. The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains By Neil Gaiman iBooks/Kindle Four Stars This is illustrated folklore. A tale amongst the old, dark ways through human weakness and life lessons that leave you haunted. But this is performance too, with Gaiman’s... Read More
Hi-Tech Dresses, Humorous Health Apps, Nutella 3D Printer
Skip to the 1:23 mark to listen. This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… As part of her graduate thesis, NYU student Xuedi Chen has designed a dress made of a material that will slowly become transparent as you share more and more information about... Read More
Metro Reviews: Maleficent, Tomodachi Life, Saying When
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of June 9th. Maleficent: The Official Multi-Touch Book By Walt Disney Studios iBooks Three Stars A refreshing acknowledgement of the faerie tales behind Walt Disney’s films, this Maleficent tie-in includes a copy of Charles Perrault’s 1697 version of Sleeping Beauty and a timeline going back to... Read More
Modern Mary Shelley, Artist Grows Replica Of Van Gogh’s Ear
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… American Bioartist Diemut Strebe has done the extraordinary. She has 3D printed a living replica of dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh’s ear (the one he cut off) using DNA from one of his descendants to grow new cells that... Read More
Metro Reviews: Tolkien’s Beowulf, Watch Dogs, Hello Vino
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of June 2nd. Beowulf: A Translation And Commentary By J. R. R. Tolkien Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Four Stars It’s the oldest-surviving story in the English language, an epic poem of trolls, dragons, and heroes. Published for the first time, Tolkien’s scholarly translation makes it easier to understand while... Read More
3D Printed Fruit, Adafruit Kits, And eBooks Of Forbidden Knowledge
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… From liquid nitrogen popcorn to helium-filled apple balloons, celebrity Chefs love to experiment with technology in their kitchens. A woman in the UK has come up with a way for such Chefs to print their own organic fruit in... Read More
Engineering Girls And Wikipedia Women On What She Said
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… “Girls Like To Read, Boys Like To Build” – that’s the insight gleaned from entrepreneur Debra Sterling as to why girls avoid educational toys that might inspire them to take up careers in engineering and architecture. Her answer is... Read More
Metro Reviews: Mozart Project, Thomas Was Alone, Bounden
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of May 25th: The Mozart Project By James Fairclough & Harry Farnham iBooks Five Stars A mind-blowing, definitive look at Mozart’s music and genius, this eBook is astonishingly alive with sheet music, letters, paintings, timelines, and child prodigy performances. Seven leading scholars showcase his pianos and... Read More
Metro Reviews: Mario Kart 8, Governor General’s Awards, Salute The Desk
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of May 19th. The Performing Arts In Canada: A Celebration By Governor General’s Performing Arts Award iBooks Three Stars Using timelines, short films, and acceptance speech videos to transform an awards ceremony into an interactive book is a fantastic idea. True, the Governor General Awards are... Read More
Holographic Chocolate, 3D-Printed Make-Up, And The Women Inventors Behind Them
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… Grace Choi is taking on the $55 Billion makeup industry with a personal 3D printer that can create customized makeup shades in seconds. It uses FDA-approved materials from the same sources that all the big cosmetics companies use. The... Read More
Metro Reviews: Circa 1948, Mario Golf Tour, Joy Of Cooking, BitGym
Here’s my Metro News Canada reviews for the week of May 12th. Circa 1948 By Stan Douglas & The NFB iPad/iPhone Three Stars Like a ghost in the past drawn to the voices of the living, this exploration of post-war Vancouver offers 44 historically-researched eavesdropping tales of immigrants, newlyweds, war vets, and politicians discussing anxieties... Read More
Metro Reviews: Mom In The Movies, Child Of Light, Record Run
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of May 5th. Mom In the Movies By Richard Corliss Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Four Stars Where have all the movie moms gone? This rich, engaging exploration mourns their recent fading from modern screens by reminding us of their past diversity as protectors and peacekeepers, martyrs and matriarchs, victims,... Read More
Metro Reviews: Window On Eternity, Cook’s Illustrated, Kirby Triple Deluxe,
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of April 28th. A Window On Eternity By E. O. Wilson Kindle/iBooks Four Stars Amongst grandfatherly story-tellers, Wilson is superb. The esteemed biologist captures the grand story of Mozambique’s National Park, a place tied to humanity’s origins and now recovering from Civil War destruction, before whispering... Read More
Metro Reviews: Creativity Inc, Trials Fusion, Windy
Here’s my Metro Canada News reviews for the week of April 21st. Creativity, Inc. By Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Four Stars How Pixar learned from their private mishaps to earn a reputation for perfection is a fascinating journey recounted here by co-founder Ed Catmull. He puts you into their discussions and it’s thrilling.... Read More
Metro Reviews: ROM Stories, Family Guy, Easter Breakfast
Here’s my Metro News reviews for the week of April 14th. Every Object Has A Story By The Royal Ontario Museum iBooks Three Stars Here we have twenty-one museum artifacts artistically interpreted through creative photography and an anthology of short stories by notable authors including Charlotte Gray, Wayson Choy, and Robert Bateman. Although entertaining, somehow... Read More
Tinkerbots Building Blocks Record The Way Kids Play
Imagine if your toys had a record button so they could remember the way you play with them. This is the premise of Tinkerbots, a new robotic building block system that allows you to design creations with moving parts. Each toy you build includes a set of camcorder-like buttons, so making them obey your commands... Read More
Metro Reviews: The Massey Lectures, LEGO The Hobbit, Jean Paul Gaultier
Here’s my Metro Reviews for the week of April 7th. The Massey Lectures By House of Anansi Press iPad Three Stars This iPad art book elegantly packages the recordings and transcripts of the CBC series into an eBook collection where fans can take notes, join online discussions, and access free interviews. Lawrence Hill, Margaret Atwood,... Read More
What She Said: Beauty Technology And DNA Privacy
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… Katia Vega is a computer scientist in Brazil who is pushing the boundaries of wearable computing by exploring smart materials for new forms of conductive make-up, facial triggers, and artificial nail sensors. Here’s a video of her latest project... Read More
Google’s Balloon Network No Joke, Travels The World In 22 Days
Everyone thought it was an April Fool’s joke, when nearly a year ago Google announced that they would offer internet access through a system of balloons. Yes, balloons, the wibbly-wobbly, drifting-bobbing helium-filled kind that give up to the winds if you let go of them for just a second. Everyone thought it was crazy, and... Read More
Metro Reviews: Infamous Second Son, Ravensburger, Strava
Here’s my Metro News reviews for the week of Mar 31st. Skulls & Bones: El Inglés Goes Missing By Jay Malinowski Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Three Stars In this first novella from Bedouin Soundclash singer Jay Malinowski, a weathered box gives up a collection of letters between an old sea dog and the granddaughter he left behind in... Read More
Facebook’s Futuristic Plans For Virtual Reality Headsets
With Facebook’s $2 billion acquisition of virtual realiy company Oculus VR making headlines several people have asked me to explain the story right from the begining so here you go. If you’re already familiar and simply want my thoughts, feel free to skip ahead to “Facebook Buys In”. What Is Virtual Reality? You can tell... Read More
Metro Reviews: Blend Spices, Yoshi’s New Island, F This Test, Angry Birds Epic
Here’s my Metro News Reviews for the week of Mar. 24th F This Test By Richard Benson iBooks/Kindle/Kobo Three Stars If you can’t give your teacher the right answer, at least make them laugh. This collection of High School howlers compiled by Summersdale Publishers (under the pseudonym Richard Benson) captures the feel of a school... Read More
Radar’s Future – Finding Airplanes With Lasers
Scientists in Italy have completed formal tests of the world’s first laser-based radar system that promises to capture highly detailed information about airplanes in the sky. The recent disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 has highlighted the need for surveillance systems that can stay in contact with a passenger plane even when its own communications... Read More
Metro Reviews – Captain America, South Park The Stick Of Truth, Happy Camping
Here’s my Metro Canada reviews for the week of March 17th. Captain America: The Winter Soldier By Ed Brubaker Marvel Unlimited iPhone/iPad/Android Three Stars A new concept for digital comics, adaptive audio is a music soundtrack that changes tempo to match your speed in turning pages. Added sound effects are triggered by panels and the... Read More
Child’s Heart Printed In 3D For Life-Saving Operation
Among the trickiest operations they perform at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Kentucky are the ones they eloquently refer to as “children with complicated hearts”. 14 month-old Roland Lian Cung Bawi was born with a rare abnormality where the two main arteries of his heart were connected to the same chamber. Plotting out the complicated surgery... Read More
Metro Reviews: Dan Risken, Thief, UP Coffee, Doggins
Here’s my Metro Canada reviews for the week of March 10th Nature Is Trying To Kill You By Dan Risken Kindle/iBooks/Kobo Four Stars Zebras don’t throw their friends “under a bus”, they throw them under a lion. Daily Planet’s Dan Risken tears apart misconceptions about how benevolent and harmonious a “natural” lifestyle can be... Read More
Drummer Gets Bionic Arm, Has Fastest Drumsticks Alive
Some people struggle with a career choice, but Jason Barnes always knew that he wanted to be a drummer. He applied to the school where many of his idols went, the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, and saved up his tuition by cleaning out the rooftop ventilation systems of restaurants. Three days before his... Read More
Metro Reviews: Wild Canada, Year In Focus, Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare
Here’s my Metro Canada reviews for the week of March 3rd Year In Focus 2013 By Getty Images iBooks Three And A Half Stars Proof that a digital book can hold more photos than paper, this retrospective from Getty Images is a wealth of zoomable slideshows and interactive panoramas that place you at sporting events,... Read More
Sniffer Dogs Offer Up A Breath Of Fresh Tech
A dog’s nose is a wondrous thing. That cold, wet snout that pokes between the bed sheets and wakes you up in the morning can sift through scents at an astonishing parts per trillion. Imagine taking a sip from several Olympic-sized swimming pools and tasting the presence of just a pinch of sugar and you... Read More
Metro Reviews: Wonders of Life, Tengami, Modernist Cuisine
Here’s my Metro Canada reviews for the week of Fwb. 24th. Brian Cox’s Wonders Of Life By Professor Brian Cox iPhone/iPad Five Stars It’s like falling down Alice’s rabbit hole by way of Google maps. This companion book for the BBC TV series (now playing on TVO) beautifully envelopes its scrolling pages within immersive animated... Read More
What She Said – A Self-Defense App For Indian Women & Disney’s Magic Bracelets
This week Kris Abel introduces What She Said’s Christine Bentley, Sharon Caddy, and Kate Wheeler to… World Championship Olympic Boxer Mary Kom who hails from the small community of Manipur. She says that women have a hard time feeling safe on the streets of India, so she’s using an endorsement deal with Vodaphone to develop a... Read More
Toronto Student’s Google Doodle Wins $10,000 Scholarship
17 year-old Cindy Tang has won a national competition put on by Google Canada to create a special design for the search giant’s homepage. She topped thousands of students across the country who submitted designs, each aiming to finish the phrase “If I could invent anything, I would invent…” When you visit Google.ca tomorrow you’ll... Read More
Playful Inventions From The New York Toy Fair
There were more than 150,000 toys on display at this year’s annual International Toy Fair in New York. For more than a century the industry show has been a welcome market for inventors and entrepreneurs to showcase their would-be hit toys alongside the big brands and this year saw many using new technologies to give... Read More
Entertainment Extra: The End of Jay Leno & Getting Aggro On Jeopardy
Check out this week’s Entertainment Extra where, amongst reviews of Three Days To Kill, Pompeii, and Tim’s Vermeer, film critic Richard Crouse asked me to join him for the second half of the show to take part in his weekly chat about pop culture. We discuss why Jay Leno is so hated, how Facebook is... Read More
Metro Reviews: The LEGO Movie, Ringo Starr, Sooshi, Jabra Sports
Here’s my Metro News reviews for the week of February 17th Photograph By Ringo Starr iBooks Four and a Half Stars It’s as if you’re sitting on a couch, knee-to-knee with Ringo Starr, going through his albums. Audio clips allow him to laugh and tell stories as you flip through pages of personal photos and... Read More
Police Use Lasers To Scan Crime Scenes In 3D
In Iron Man 3 Tony Stark analyzes a crime scene using holographic images. He pans and zooms through an impressive 3D model of Mann’s Chinese Theatre, even stepping into it to search for the tiniest of clues. It was intended to seem futuristic and it was…eight months ago. The Queensland Police Service in Australia are... Read More