It really happens...

What I don't think people realize is how lucky we are here in the United States...even the lower class have privileges that many others only dream of. After watching several movies about the living conditions of children in other countries, it made me so angry to know that so many people here don't know about the struggles of others.

There are children living in slums who have to resort to drugs, gangs, and even prostitution in order to survive. Some children are even forced and sold into prostitution, which is absolutely appalling. Could you imagine that happening here in the U.S.?

Well, it does. Approximately 100,000 young persons, mostly girls (some as young as 5), are brought to the U.S. every year, normally across the Mexican border, and sold from person to person in an e-Bay like fashion for sex. This human trafficking is nothing less than slavery, and brings about $9 billion revenue worldwide. In total, approximately 900,000 young boys and girls are sold.

When will people realize this is happening and start to speak up? IT HAPPENS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!

One movie that portrays two girls' stories of being brought into the U.S. is Trade with Kevin Kline. This film shows the reality so many girls, and boys, are facing, and if you don't believe it's happening, go rent this movie.

There is also a documentary called Born into Brothels, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2005, following a photographer who tries to get a group of children off of the streets of India by teaching them photography. Many of these children, whose parents are in the prostitution business, are headed toward the same future, which is why the photographer is trying to take them down a better path.


Two other movies involving the conditions of children living in India are Salaam Bombay, made in 1988, and the tremendously successful Slumdog Millionaire. These movies may provide entertainment value and millions of dollars to the producers and actors, but it should provide much more to viewers. These movies show how so many children are forced to live in terrible conditions.

I just wonder how many more movies it is going to take for people to realize that people actually do live like this. Or do we have to wait until conditions get so bad here in the U.S. that they make a movie about it? Oh, wait...they already did.

Please, watch at least one of these movies, if not all of them, and educate yourselves. There's nothing worse than ignorance, especially ignorance that can be avoided.

Emily and Shane

I just took some portraits for my friend Emily and her boyfriend Shane- aren't they a cute couple? :)

More Portraits

Even though I felt horrible last Friday, I had to go out and do some shooting. I took portraits of my friend Erin in Schenley Park in Oakland. I have some in color, some in black and white, one with both color and black white, and one with duotone.

Steeler Parade!

There were no classes today at Point Park due to the parade being right in the middle of our school...fine with me! I was going to skip my classes anyways so I could take some photos.

I got some pretty good ones- I only really cared about getting a photograph of Troy, and I succeeded. It was a good day...except for the fact that I was absolutely freezing.

Here are some photos from the parade...

Riots in Sixburgh!

A night of mayhem...the only way I can describe it.


One of the craziest nights I ever experienced was tonight...or I guess I should say last night due to it being 1:30 in the morning now. A riot began at Point Park with students pouring out into the streets immediately following Pittsburgh's sixth Super Bowl win, and soon, our riot combined with several other riots, and then we were off!

Where? Off to Heinz Field...one of the longest treks of my life, but well worth it. There were only a few minor incidents with the police, for the most part, everything was fine- the police were even cheering along with us and taking photos.

Here are just a few photos, but they don 't even do a little justice to the excitement of it all...

I only suffered a minor injury to my foot...a small price to pay :)

Anna Phoebe

Most people probably do not know of Anna Phoebe, one of the greatest violinists I have ever heard...which is why I'm posting this.

This year, the TSO East Coast Tour welcomed Anna Phoebe as their string master- best choice ever! Anna used to tour with the West Coast, so we East Coast folk never got to see this amazing artist at work. She is one of the most energetic musicians I have ever seen- you can really tell how much she loves to play the violin and it is clear how much work she has put into it. She can run all across the stage and still play just as well- she can also play while bending backwards and lying on the ground!

She currently has a new album out called Rise of the Warrior and an older albumette called Gypsy, both of which can be purchased through iTunes. I would suggest both albums to anyone looking for something different and GOOD to listen to.

Here is a video of Anna playing a song off of Gypsy, called 99 lives.


You can also check her out in this video (not as good quality) playing a Mozart Medley during the TSO show this year- watch the whole thing!



I'm sure you will hear her and fall in love with her music- so tell everyone you know- this girl deserves to be heard!

Real News

I wanted to watch the news the other day so I turned on CNN to find a "top news story" about Jessica Simpson's weight gain...okay...so I changed the channel to another news station and it's the same story!

Our country is involved in a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a crisis involving Israel and Gaza, our economy is about to crash, our environment is becoming destroyed...but no, let's not talk about those issues...let's have an entire half hour of news dominated by a woman not being a size 2 anymore.

We're always wondering why young girls have eating disorders...this is why. Jessica Simpson is not even close to being fat or overweight- she is still probably below the average size. Claiming that she's fat is ridiculous and is why so many girls starve themselves.

How about we find something meaningful to put on the news for once and stop contributing to the existence of eating disorders?