The Mike Abundo Effect

Since it’s Independence Day in the US, allow me to share a rousing talk about independence — specifically, creative independence. Creative Commons founder Larry Lessig spoke at TED about how creativity is being strangled by the law.

This is certainly no dry academic lecture: Lessig throws in Muppet Hunter D, Dancing Jesus, and Singing Bush. Watch, laugh, and free your mind.

Nevermind that Filipina blogger Alodia Gosiengfiao is pretty in this picture, or that the composition provides a visual metaphor for her newsworthiness as a Filipina otaku queen and a case study in personal online branding. That’s not what I found remarkable about this picture. Read the rest of this entry »

Lawrence Lessig, the founder of Creative Commons, is considering a run for Congress in California.

If Lessig runs, I’ll support his campaign. Creative Commons licenses allow independent creators to be heard in an oppressive copyright regime dominated by corporate interests. Perhaps Lessig will allow Californians to be heard in an oppressive legislative regime dominated by corporate interests.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, some senator’s trying to protect DRM. Maybe we should elect Teddy Kalaw to Congress. He studied under Lessig.