DJ Brace is an old friend of mine, we used to sk8 together back in high school – we’d crank the hip hop and drive around looking for places to sk8, or parties to crash. Drank OE’s together. That old skool kind of shit. I just reconnected with him on facebook and had a AH HA! moment of “this is what facebook is really great for”. Over and above his amazing music career, he’s also a well branded individual. Even his website rocks it.

Brace has had a diverse DJ career that began over 10 years ago and features many highlights as a turntablist, producer and DJ instructor. DJ Brace has won numerous turntablist battles, including the DMC Canadian Championship in 2004 and placing 8th in the world. In 2005 Brace released a self titled LP entitled Soundbarriers, with legend-prairie rapper Gruf. Brace’s music can also be heard on the Fox TV hit Prison Break. Brace has also scored music for the CBC. Debut solo album, Nostomania, won a Juno for Best Instrumental album of 2009. Summer 2009 a 12″ Vinyl was released on ESL Music, with a Brace remix. Has DJ’d for Roxanne Shante. Brace currently resides in Montreal where he is actively composing and recording in the studio working on his solo material, collaborating with rap group Brown Bag AllStars, Ancient Astronauts, Microthol and Birdapres.

If you love music (especially DJ’s) and haven’t heard of this guy, you have to check out his site or find him on facebook!

Dear Blank, Please Blank. Such a great project! Check stumbleupon.com for details…!

Well I sent in my letter to the government about usage based billing for the internet and my thoughts on it. This was the response I got from Tony Clement… I hope you all join in the fight against UBB. Information on the Internet should not be locked down, and should be free for all to use.

Dear Sir or Madam:

Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding usage-based billing (UBB)
for Internet services.  It is essential that I hear the views of Canadians
on the issues that matter.  Prime Minister Harper and I have been clear
that we cannot support imposing a UBB business model on wholesale Internet
service providers. Continue reading ‘Usage-based billing (UBB) for Internet services’

The fight about what’s free online and available to all and what needs to be locked down continues…
It looks as if fair rights usage is not winning for Google books… Wired magazine has a great article on it here.

One of the recent articles from Digital Democracy was about the One World international documentary festival. This festival showcases films from around the world that focus on human rights issues. Awards go to innovative use of modern communication technologies enables important information to be shared and facilitates active public involvement in societal events.

New Media for Social Change has a goal to draw attention to the significance of the new media, which has fundamentally changed the way in which people obtain, share and use information. Access to technology opens the way for more effective reporting of human rights breaches and is playing a large role in checking up on politicians as well as improving awareness of socially excluded groups.

I recently went on a bit of an app download spree, and one of my favorite free new apps is Digital Democracy’s RSS feed app. I’ve been getting news that is uplifting and informative about human rights issues around the globe, and what I really like is that they showcase how these issues pertain to me – and my field of graphic design and new media.

Digital Democracy is a non-profit organization, based in NY, that focuses on advances in mobile and internet technologies that are actively reshaping societies around the world. Day by day these technologies should become cheaper, simpler and more reliable. DD works globally to empower marginalized communities. DD works with grassroots organizations and local technology groups to develop information and communication tools that help communities build their capacity and raise their profiles.

Just wanted to share this inspirational little film on design – snagged from the GDC site. Enjoy

Some interesting news from the GDC’s inspiration page: smashLAB is making waves with its socially conscious interactive work.

The firm has received international notoriety with the spring ’07 launch of their site Design Can Change, a campaign to encourage sustainable practices amongst graphic designers. It was one of the first websites dedicated to the graphic designer’s relationship to the issues surrounding climate change and one of a few online resources for sustainable graphic design.

I support OpenMedia.ca. It is a war out there right now to put chains and locks on media usage. Will communications stay open to the people, or will they be provided only to an elite few who can afford usage based billing? Open Media provides online campaigns to educate and empower citizens to defend and advance their communication interests, values and rights. It is a very important time right now to make sure that your voice is heard on laws about copyright and media usage.

OpenMedia.ca is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization working to advance and support an open and innovative communications system in Canada.

Their goal? To increase public awareness and informed participation in Canadian media, cultural, information, and telecommunication policy formation. They strive to make media and telecommunications more transparent, with broader and more representative public participation. Thier job is to shine a spotlight on key media policy developments, and provide essential tools and information for citizen engagement.

You can be passive and hope all the right laws get passed, but I would encourage everyone to be active in the development of these new laws. Everyone who uses the internet will be affected by this. If open media matters to you please make your voice heard. Please sign the petition below to stop usage based billing on internet in Canada.

If you don’t already use Coda, you should give it a try. Free trial available for download here! This is my favorite tool for editing and writing code, HTML, CSS, PHP, has a great CSS editor and the preview works really well (unlike dreamweaver)! Check out the new additions, such as  Plug-ins. Teach Coda new tricks, and extend its functionality. Download plug-ins that others have written, or write your own plug-ins. If you’re a developer and not just starting out, check out the Coda Developer Zone.