Webby Awards-- Activism, Broadband

Hmm... I think it's not fair that the leading write-in doesn't get equal coverage... you don't even know who it is until you vote, so I've decided to do some comments and listings myself. I'm gonna go down alphabetical order, 2 at a time.
(note: For most of these I just looked at the index page, so the commentary are just first reactions.)

Activism
act for change http://www.actforchange.com
Busy, but good colors and bars that help direct the eye.
Independent Media Center http://www.indymedia.org
long scroll. Colors pretty good for all the text, soothing
PETA http://www.peta-online.org
perhaps a little biased because of sluggy, but the colors are soothing, although a little too "busy", with links and images all over the place.
Protest Net http://www.protest.net
black and red: although fitting, kind of an eye-killer, especially with the amount of text
VolunteerMatch http://www.volunteermatch.org
Great idea, clear organization, fast loading, pretty colors
Leading Write-in: FreeRepublic http://www.freerepublic.com
Not great, and obviously no massive effort to win through write-in, but not too bad, either.

Broadband:
120 Seconds http://www.120seconds.com
Smooth, easy-navigation, cool effects
Heavy http://www.heavy.com
The double-windows are a bit annoying, although the site itself is amusing, albeit confusing.
Once Upon A Forest http://www.once-upon-a-forest.com
again, double-windows, but the intro is cool. probably more suited to broad-band, because the sound was a little sketchy on my lil 28.8 (but still accomodating). Don't know what it does, though.
Pulitzer Newseum - Photos http://www.newseum.org/pulitzer/shock/shock.htm
One window, but slow loading for the likes of me. Definitely broadband.
Yahoo! Finance Vision http://financevision.yahoo.com
It's Yahoo, ugly organization, but economical. What can you say?
Lead Write-In: MusicUWant http://www.musicuwant.com
Tells you ahead of time what you need, offers help, some nice ideas. me like.

Webby 2--Commerce, Community

The next chunks. I am a webdesigner's nightmare: 28.8, 600x800, Netscape, impatience

Commerce
CafePress.com http://www.cafepress.com
Clean, clear-cut, pretty easy navigation.
GORPtravel.com http://gorptravel.gorp.com/
Small text, mediocre color-usage, but organization not *too* bad.
Half.com http://www.half.com/
reminds me of amazon, but not as confusing. (great buys, btw)
mySimon http://www.mysimon.com/
hey, I like this concept. tiny bit of horizontal scrolling, though. consistent colors
Travelocity http://www.travelocity.com/
horizontal scrolling, the yellow on the side a little too glaring.
Leading Write-in: Amazon http://www.amazon.com
obviously no grass-roots effort here, either. Amazon is famous enough.

Community:
Beliefnet http://www.beliefnet.com/
very pretty. Not terribly fast loading. evil popup. Good design, concept, and organization.
Chickclick http://www.chickclick.com/
Okay articles, not too bad. Sort of narrow view, though. (requires registration. ugh)
craigslist http://www.craigslist.com/
tailored to bay area, good list, ugly design
kuro5shin http://www.kuro5hin.org/
cute, good layout, perhaps a little too much scrolling, but like the message-board style
{fray} http://www.fray.com
good concept, good organization, too tired to look further
Lead Write-In: LiveJournal http://www.livejournal.com/
it's livejournal that brought me to Webby. it *is* a great community, but tough competition!

passing thoughts

Once again, time for Thoughts Chop Sui!

I've found something uglier than a butt on human body. Ugh. I went to another open life drawing tonite, 7:15-9:45. This time it was a male nude. >_< Even though I really need practice drawing men, I've discovered that penises are *way* uglier than butts. gah.... ::chokes:: I don't even *want* to go into details. It's so disgusting.

Hah hah! I knew that was Larva in the center! (of the gritty city img. from sluggy.) And also the Lupin! And Ryoga! but everyone else was too random for this non-otaku. can't believe I missed Happosai and Krillin, tho. Oh, I just realized that graphic novels are tankouban. -_-;;

Some people have such busy lives. I don't know whether I should envy them or not. I mean, me, I just sleep, draw, read, go online, and sleep.... Other people are teaching, going to camps, going to cons, travelling, doing all sorts of crazy stuff.