The Galápagos Islands, part of the Republic of Ecuador, are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, 906 kilometres (563 miles) west of continental Ecuador. The islands are known for their large number of endemic species and were studied by Charles Darwin during the second voyage of HMS Beagle. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin’s theory of evolution by means of natural selection.

Dear Jack, Our friendship has been a roller coaster ride. We became best friends and we did almost everything together. You have seen parts of my heart I have never shown to other people. We have seen each other laugh; we have seen each other cry. We have comforted each other in some of the darkest times. We have drifted close and apart, but no matter what the circumstances are, I have always loved you. I know you are feeling like the world is all on your shoulders. And you don’t know if you can hold it all. You don’t know if you’re going to break it. I know you feel like you can’t do anything right. And at this point, you don’t see how it will get better. Depression is a difficult situation to live with.

You know I’ve been where you are and you were the one to help me when I was down. And now I have to do the same for you. I will keep you away from harming yourself. I will keep you from seeing the world as ugly. I will help you realize you’re beautiful and worthy of life for a stress-free future. Without you, my life would have been awful. You keep me smiling and you keep my spirits high. You’re such a lively person and I know how hard it is for you to stay positive in these dark times but you’re doing incredibly well so far. I feel like you are one of the most important people in my life.

Every day I spend by your side, whether it is spent laughing or crying, is the best day I can imagine. And every day that we are apart, I think about how amazing it will be when we reunite. I feel like you are a bright light in my life. Even though right now you may be in the darkest of places that you could ever imagine, you need to know that you are the light at the end of the tunnel for me.

I can always count on you to watch stupid movies with, go on wild adventures with or do just about anything with. And knowing that is something I can hold onto during my toughest days. I believe God uses hard times in our lives to show us just how much we really need him. Trust me God still has a plan for you. You are so beyond strong, my friend. You are loved. You are important. Love you always, James

A. Phoenix-based interactive audio-visual artist Devin Fleenor will debut S.E.E.D, an artificially intelligent installation with therapeutic properties, in at Nuit Blanche Toronto by the next month. Using sound, lasers, motion senses and infrared cameras equipped with facial recognition, participants will be able to interact with Fleenor’s psychedelic installation at OnlyOneGallery, Toronto before it moves to Museo Franz Mayer at part of MUTEK in Mexico City in June. Encased in an eight-foot plastic and glass cube, the AI installation is activated through human interaction and creates immersive three-dimensional light patterns that emit a ’quadrophonic sound field’. It is inspired by neuroscience research that considers the importance of art, music and creativity for enhanced neuroplasticity, it has therapeutic value.

B. S.E.E.D. [Stellar Emissions Encapsulation Device] is an artificially intelligent art installation – a 9 foot tall cube of lasers, LED video, projections, reflections and sound. As people enter, S.E.E.D. is dormant. In response to human activity, the entity springs to life: producing emotive sounds and intense geometric illuminations. This mysterious device emanates a unique voice, with evolving moods, fluid levels of awareness and cryptic messaging. Utilizing an array of audio and video sensors, the space is transformed into an organic interface – allowing visitors to explore infinite variations of manifested starlight.

C. S.E.E.D. offers its participants an algorithmic exploration of time and the physical senses. Through self-reflection, layers of consciousness are revealed and unlocked through mysterious mechanisms. Full-spectrum lasers and mirrors create three-dimensional geometric light structures reverberated by analog video feedback.

D. The installation isn’t just responsive to physical presence but also to the user’s emotion and mood, adapting its algorithmic makeup for the most beneficial experience. For an ethics review, Fleenor is going to work with Dr. Sri Krishnan, professor and associate dean for the department of electrical and computer engineering at Ryerson University in Toronto, this autumn to analyse the ’biofeedback data generated by S.E.E.D’ and see if the installation has healing capabilities for those suffering from brain trauma, Alzheimer’s, depression, autism and other neurological conditions.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

According to a recent government report, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is charting a gradual path to balance its first budget, keeping a lid on spending increases and promising to take the province into the black only after the next provincial election. While health care, education and transportation will see modest increases in annual funding, most government ministries will face cuts in their budgets, including the ministries of Environment and Social Services. Sixteen of 22 government departments will see their spending fall this year.

The People’s Report mentioned, ’Program expenses will rise over three years by an average of 0.8 percent, compared with the 3.3 per cent in growth the former Liberal government planned.’ The size of the deficit was the subject of a dispute between the auditor-general and the previous Liberal government.

The Liberals’ previous budget pegged the deficit at $6.7 billion; however the Tories later said it was $15 billion after putting the Liberals’ hydro plan and other assets on the books. In a budget that includes a tax incentive for business investment, a new daycare tax credit and an array of measures that loosen the rules around alcohol, the Progressive Conservative government is taking a measured approach to eliminate a deficit the Tories now peg at $11.7 billion. Under this budget, it will fall to $10.3 billion by next year and hit $3.5 billion in 2022-23. The document projects a small surplus by 2023-24.

Mr. Ford has promised in the past that he would balance the books, but the PC Party platform released during the election campaign did not spell out a timeline. The province’s plan unveiled that it will balance the books in five years. ’’We have developed a reasonable path to balance,’’ Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said, describing the plan as ’’the Goldilocks approach. It can’t happen too quickly, it can’t take too long. It has to be just right.’’ While the business community said it had hoped for a promised corporate tax cut, the opposition New Democrats criticized the government for what it saw as deep and painful cuts.

Rocco Rossi, head of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, said he was disappointed that the government did not follow through on its campaign pledge to reduce corporate taxes by 1 per cent, to match recent tax cuts in the United States. But he said the Chamber of Commerce had lobbied harder for the tax measure for business that was included in the budget: the allowing of faster write-offs for investments in machinery and equipment to encourage job creation.’’Look, we’d love to have both, to be clear,’’ Mr. Rossi said. ’’The government has to make its own balance, and they chose the highest priority.’’

Although overall spending will increase, it will rise at less than the rate of inflation, which will actually mean a reduction in critical services such as health and education, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said. ’’We went into this budget expecting deep cuts,’’ Ms. Horwath said. ’’What we didn’t expect was the level of irresponsibility and outright cruelty that we’re seeing in this budget.’’