Flower Girl

If you're wondering what exactly a photo story consists of, at least in the most basic form, here's an example.

Flower Girl

Ten photos, each with captions describing what's going on in the photo and a couple more sentences explaining the subject in a little more detail. It's pretty straightforward, but ideally, each photo should stand on its own in telling the entire story. My captions are much longer than is recommended (about 35 words), but I felt that at least for this subject, quotes were absolutely necessary.

For such a long photo story (they're usually around 5 images), it's expected that there should be a "detail" shot, an "environmental" shot, and everything in between. You know, formula stuff. But it's the photojournalists that bypass the norms that tend to succeed.

As a side note, I will be in New Zealand in about two weeks. There isn't really anything in the world that can contain my excitement.

Huckabee + Stewart = True Love

Daily Show Interview with Mike Huckabee
It is pathetic, and I mean every letter of that word, that gay marriage is not legal in all 50 states. It is disgusting that those people who have voted against it cannot see that they are denying their fellow American citizens a basic right. Mr. Stewart up there brings up an essential point: in the last century alone, black people were not allowed to marry. Interracial marriages were not considered legal. I wouldn't be alive if that were still the case.

I can't even begin to explain how many times I've heard someone use the Bible as a crutch. It is outrageous that now, thousands of years after the time in which the Old Testament is based upon, Christians and even non-Christians grasp the scriptures and attempt to relate it to contemporary society. Straight marriage is hardly moral. I just can't see a line of logic in the arguments of those who oppose gay marriage.

Huckabee keeps on reiterating his point that a major component of straight marriage is procreation. That is, in every way, an absolutely flawed argument. My next door neighbors adopted a child several years ago. A close friend of mine here in Boston is adopted. Why should gay people be denied the right to raise a family? How many children have had to be raised in abusive, unnurturing environments? There is already so much to be ashamed of in our society today, and it's appalling that this one simple gesture of human rights is still even being debated.

It is the year 2008. I don't want to live like they did in the 80s, let alone 3000 B.C.E. Come on people, get a grip.

Note: I'm not saying that Jon Stewart and Mike Huckabee are the authorities on the topic, nor am I suggesting that either of them are brilliant gentlemen. But they've dumbed down the topic enough in the above clip so that my own argument can be at least credible - and that's always good.

The only living girl in New York

It's hard not to admit that I, along with countless other performing art hopefuls, dreamed of going to New York in search of fame and glory on the stage. Broadway still glitters the way it did three years ago, my first time in the city, and Times Square is still rampant with Batmans and Elmos and Pooh Bears - not to mention people (which is certainly forgivable. It was, afterall, Black Friday [read: hell on earth]). But this time, unlike in my eager and ambitious youth, I looked around with skepticism, cynicism, and a sort of bittersweet disgust.

Yes, the adrenaline was pumping, and yes, I reveled in the throngs of people and colours surrounding me, but I found myself growing more and more uncomfortable, and I daresay repulsed, as my friend and I turned every corner. My tipping point was the 3-storey, metal, industrial-themed, futuristic space-aged McDonald's. On every wall there were projected music videos of who-the-hell-knows Hillary Duff? Ashlee Simpson? and a mess-hall like atmosphere that for some reason infuriated me. If a Starbucks had been in there, I would have hurled.


I'm being melodramatic. It may have been because I had spent a few days taking it easy in Amherst, Brooklyn, and Long Island before finally venturing into the city that I was so acutely overwhelmed that night. Or it could've been a bad sausage dog. Too many Sweedish Fish, perhaps. But after a short lifetime of being in love with a city I had never seen, after finally experiencing it at 17, and even now, after half a dozen or so visits, I confess I'm still in the middle of a lustful, torrid affair with the blazing lights.

The next day, I fainted on the subway.

F-f-f-f-fash-fash-fashion

Simmons College did a nice little fashion show on eco-friendly clothings last week. I was backstage while their "real" women models put on makeup and steamed their dresses.


It was chaotic once the show began. Girls in the stairwell were running in their stilettos (no one fell, surprisingly) and stripping off clothes as others helped lace their vegan boots.

I didn't care much for the clothes. I'm the anti-fashionista.

Obama Said Knock You Out

Just found another one: