Like This City Is On Fire Tonight

Someone needs to write a strongly worded letter to Mother Nature about this crap-tastic cold weather that we just can't seem to shake. Seriously, it was her idea for it to be Spring now, she needs to get with the damn program.

Winter's over, stop hibernating - let me hear it.

Spring is in the air, I wanna hear some voices along with it. SPEAKFORYOURSELF.

I'm Not Your Ghost Anymore

I don't really have much to say tonight. Maybe less is more.

Besides. I'd rather hear your voice.

Times are tough for dreamers. SPEAKFORYOURSELF.

Learn To Swim

Valentine's Day is really only cool for people who are in love. For the rest of us, it sucks. So I say, go buy yourself a chocolate bar and a sex toy, take a bubble bath, and celebrate V-Day with yourself.

On a less cynical note, several months ago I asked some loyal followers to make reactionary pictures about the Prop-8 crock-of-shit. So in honor of a holiday that glorifies ALL KINDS OF LOVE (and doesn't discriminate like a douche bag ::cough::California::cough::) - here's what I got. Short but oh-so-sweet.

V-Day is horse shit. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

You're Fuckin' Perfect To Me

Happy Belated Chrismahannakwanza. And a rockin' New Year.

I could expound on thoughts of this year as it closes, remark on wishes for the year to come...
But fuck that. It's not what I'm here to do, and quite honestly, I don't think I'm in a place to do that. So instead, I send you from one year to another with some words of wisdom.

Next year - I wanna go bigger, harder, and louder than ever before. Help me out. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

Are You Really Here?

My sister is essentially the most awesome person in the world. Click the pic to enlarge, if you can't read the whole thing.

Thank you kiddo. <3

 

This is one of my favorites, and for the longest time it was saved in some weird file format and I had trouble posting. I finally figured it out because I love it THAT much.

Thank you, whoever you are.

Happy Thanksgiving. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

I'm Facing Truths So Unfamiliar

My apologies for the delay. Whoever said being an adult was fun was clearly a child.

No stories. Straight to the point.

Go. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

I'm Awake, I'm Alive

Wow. I can't believe I'm here. I started this blog exactly one year ago to date. I can tell you one thing - I'm certainly not the same person I was when I started this. I won't wax philosophical reflection (this is a PICTURE blog after all =P) but maybe take a second to think of where you were, WHO you were, on August 31st 2009.

That being said, in honor of my one year anniversary here on the interwebs, I'm doing two things.

One - I have gone back through all my posts and pulled out my favorite photos. I'm going to post these favorites and explain why as a point of nostalgia and, hopefully, encouragement for others to speak up.

Secondly - I'd like to dedicate this to two people. One of those people is my mom. She was the one who taught me to speak for myself in the first place. The other is Ariel McAnulty. Without her, this blog wouldn't even exist.

Here it is. Happy Anniversary. =D

-

Mom said she thought long and hard about what she wanted to do for my blog. She decided on this, as she and I are both learning that silence has value as well.

One of my first posts. (Un)Fortunately, I remember every state of mind of all of my submissions. This one still resonates the loudest with me.

She helped me kick start the blog, and she definitely fueled my fire. One of my favorites of her submissions.

My first international picture. It roughly means "one condemns what one does not understand." Cue my shivers.

The first picture I ever received from a stranger. In the beginning, my posts were generated by photos of friends and people I knew. This was the first one where I didn't personally know the subject.

One of the most honest pictures I've ever received. Bold, raw, and unafraid. I admire her courage.

Something so simple, and it still manages to speak volumes.

The first time I had more than one person in a picture. I also loved this themed post, and this was definitely one of my favorites from that series.

One of the most unconventional and artistic. Usually I encourage that the statement be on a canvas of some kind, but I've found that those who branch out from this often shake me, and I could never deny a picture to make a post. (Click on it to make it bigger).

A frequent submitter and avid supporter, this particular individual helped keep this blog going with tons of photos. With a wide range of things she's had to say, this is one of my favorites.

Things don't always have to be so serious. I loved this for it's simplicity and it's hilarity.

Creative and different, yet effective. I enjoyed doing this one, and was very pleased with the final photo.

-

For those of you who follow this blog, thank you. For those who support, who submit, who pass it on, who talk about it, THANK YOU. Without you, I'd be doing nothing here. Instead, I'm doing something.

And for those of you who have yet to submit - stop thinking so hard. Don't wait for the perfect thing to say; it will never be perfect, you'll be waiting forever. Say what you feel NOW. Stop being afraid. There's nothing to be afraid of here. Own your voice. Liberate yourself - this is freedom. Take back your right to say ANYTHING. Anything at all. As I've said several times, it only takes one voice to start a revolution. Will that voice be yours? Only one way to find out.

GET UP. GET AT IT. AND LEMME HEAR IT.