Hello all!

The title holds significance; grave and important significance. For one, this news spot has been delayed a little. I have an excuse, I got married! Getting married takes a lot of time, but it is time well spent. I will make up for it with this massive post today. For two though, someone else is back… and he needs your votes!

Josh Alves submitted his comic creation Araknid Kid to Zuda several months ago and ended up a little less than 1st place. Now Zuda has announced their first ever invitational competition and Araknid Kid has been invited to compete again! Woot! The Kid is currently sitting at 6th place but with votes and comments, I’m sure the Parable team can bolster his placement to NUMBER ONE! Vote here  (there’s only 2 weeks left!) and check out the AK promotional site Josh has set up here. The promotional poster can be found in miniature below.

Paul Conrad participated in an exciting project as well. Complete information can be found on his blog, but the gist is this: Artists from around the world are donating art for an auction whose proceeds will be given over to help save the Sayama Forrest (also known as the Totoro Forest) in Japan. The project is called (not surprisingly) the Totoro Forest Project , and was founded by renowned film maker and anime master Hayao Miyazaki. If you thought that Totoro sounded familiar, you’re right! The forest is where Hayao found inspiration for one of his most loved characters, Totoro, from My Neighbor Totoro . The art that Paul is contributing (shown below) is fantastic. He deserves a clap on the back and a friendly high-five.  And make sure to check out the other pieces of amazing work being auctioned off.

The last two things are smaller, but no less important. Caleb Monroe has a new site, it is clean and brilliant. Please check it out. Also since I was not blogging during Canada Day, I missed this. I will post it now since I am Canadian. Sally Thompson created a picture that embodies most everything Canadian: a beaver, a roots hat and is that a Tim Horton’s donut? See the picture below and the original at her blog. All that’s missing is the hockey jersey :) And a happy late fourth of July to all our American friends as well (I couldn’t find an American Style pic, sorry!)

Until next time!