AniBoom awards

My friend Wendy Ding, a great illustrator / designer, has entered into the realm of the moving! She has entered her first short into the AniBoom awards. I'm sure she would appreciate if you went to check it out (and vote for her ;) ). There are also a bunch of other budding animators who've entered their work if you're looking for something to do for the next half hour.

Lawyers taking over the internet with contradicting laws

photo credit: Chappatte

A story from about how blogging in Italy is now, apparently, against the law. Once again, lawyers have bent their own rules to their advantage. Or, rather, the advantage of people who pay them loads of money to make up, then bend these rules.

The freedom of the internet is slowly being taken away from the people. Stories like this are growing ever more frequent. The Great Firewall of China followed by Australia's mandatory censorship is just the beginning.

This medium is a ray of hope for countries, for we as a citizens of the Earth, to communicate openly and freely. We need to hold onto every last 1 and 0 of it. I'm constantly surprised by how little people know about whats going on around them.

I certainly don't know everything but I like to spread what knowledge I can while I can. I encourage everyone to do the same.

Toronto to start charging 5 cents a bag

In a vain hope at helping the environment, in June next year, the city of Toronto will be charged a nickel for every shopping bar. Not only from grocery stores but all retail. The business gets to keep the measly money raised from the bags.

This isn't going nearly far enough if they "want to reduce their use by 70 per cent by 2012." Not enough people will care about $0.05 to make a change. Businesses, without motivation to change their ways in favour of greener alternative, will keep taking this new source of money... Unless they want to score green points with people who care.

The money should be going to making the city greener. There are so many steps along this long path and both the businesses and governments around the world are slow on the uptake.