The tragedy in Japan continues to unfold and the cleanup costs are going to be steep. If you want to help, you can find numerous organisations raising money and awareness if you jump online. New ideas are popping up everyday. We liked the digital cookbook and now we also like the pay for you chopsticks campaign. When I was a kid I put chopsticks up on a pedestal, it was like learning an instrument. Now the efficient little sticks are being harnessed for charity. Advertising agency BMF and over 100 restaurants across Australia are asking customers to pay $2 for the use of their chopsticks and the funds are being directly donated to the Australian Red Cross and Pacific Disaster Appeal.

I think my parents once paid big dollars for some overpriced designer chopstick training-wheels, so I'm thinking they could probably charge $5 if they just wrap a few rubber bands around them.