I'm new to the site. I've been a member for a few months now, but I've never really looked around or paid much attention to what the site was really about. I'm not even sure how the "Journal Entries" work. I don't know if what I'm typing is visible to anyone else or if it's just me...either way, it doesn't really matter. This is just me talking...

(I'm not a great writer, so take that into consideration IF you're reading this.)


I'm an average guy, nothing too special. Wife, pets, home, work. Pretty ordinary.

But emotions govern a lot about what and who I am and I don't hide them. They determine what I do, what I say, and how I act. Fortunately, I'm usually in a pretty good mood. My emotions as well, however, are governed by certain things. Certain movies may make me sad, particular pieces of music may lift me up but art makes me think. I could spend all day looking at this site for that reason(great for one's insight, but a computer monitor for that long can be bad for one's eyesight).

"Art" is the true definition of the expression "one man's trash is another man's treasure". There are a lot of ignorant people out there that look at art, and believe that it's a waste of time and that's fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion but a little culture never killed anybody and a little understanding and insight can only make you a better person.

When you look at some of the work on this site, that becomes very evident. Whether it's something as small as a dock icon or something more personal like a photograph, you get a real sense of the mind behind it. The level of creativity and the level of intimacy and willingness to be open is astounding. All you have to do is look and listen. Of the few pieces of work that I've seen, there's a lot of very talented people out there. My favorite pieces, however, would have to be the personal photos. To initially look at the photo, and ask "why?" is one thing, but then to look into the eyes of the subject and almost be able to see "why?" is visually inspiring. What we see as the viewer may be the polar opposite of what the subject was actually trying to get across, but when we leave that image, if we can take something with us, good or bad, that's what makes art great.

To the developers of this site, "let freedom reign." - Nelson Mandela
To the members of this site, "Happiness...lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

May freedom and happiness find everyone.
Thanks for reading...