I am really happy because I finally figured out how to make an animated gif small enough to be my avatar! I learned in my digital imaging class that I can animate things in Photoshop. I did not know this before. So, I just uploaded it.

Speaking of school... I just finished two classes that I loved. I took "Digital Imaging for Web and Multimedia" and "Information Design". I loved these classes! They were amazing. I now have a little less than a week of free time which I am looking forward to. When I start back on October 5, I am taking Elementary Algebra T_T (insert dramatic doom music here). I stink at math so badly. My brain is like a sieve when it comes to math facts. I am so nervous about taking this class.

In other news, my family and I found a house to move into. The layout could not be more perfect. My mom and my grandma's rooms are right next to each other on one end of the house and my room and the guest room is on the opposite end of the house (the kitchen and living room separate them). I am going to be really excited to have my own bathroom. Right now, I share one with my grandma. It is not so bad except for the shower head... I am one of those people that like to be drenched with water in the shower because I have long hair and I kind of need it to get the soap out. My grandma on the other hand hates water and feels like she is drowning if she is drenched in the shower. So, we installed THE WORST energy saver shower head ever for my grandma. It is so bad that it feels as though I am being urinated on when I am in the shower. So, I will be glad to have a normal shower head. Anyway, we will be renting the house full time. Our landlords are the nicest people which is just the icing on the cake. We move in on October 5th and 6th.

The 5th is ironically the same day that I start horrid Algebra. T_T So, this week, I will be trying my best to get my entire room packed. I am the type of person (probably due to OCD) whereby I cannot stand to be working with a mess around me. It drives me nuts and I can't focus on my work. All I can think about is cleaning up the mess around me. My boyfriend has been nice enough to agree to help me get my entire room moved over into the house and completely set up this week so that on the 5th, I can relax in my room and get my schoolwork done in a non-chaotic environment (of course, I will be helping when I finish my schoolwork for the day). I will be helping my mom and grandma a lot during these next 2 weeks because my mom has a pain pump installed in her side which drips morphine directly into her back and my grandma is 85. So, needless to say, I have to be the one helping out the most because my mom and grandma can't do very much. Anyway, I am really excited about moving. I love the house. I hope you guys have been doing well?

Until my next post,

Emily =^.^=

I have been gone way too long. X( I took on waaaaaay too much in college this time. I was taking the equivalent of 26 units and was practically killing myself trying to get all of the work done. XD I was not only doing two college assignments per day, I was having to get my assignments done 2 days before their due dates and by the time the week was over, would be on schedule. Allow me explain further... I would start my work on Wednesday and get 2 assignments done that were due on Friday. Thursday, I would get done 2 of the 3 assignments that were due on Saturday. Friday, I would do the 3rd assignment due on Saturday and 1 of the 3 assignments that were going to be due on Sunday. Saturday, I would do the 2 assignment that were due on Sunday. On Sunday, I would do the the 3rd assignment that was due the same day and 1 of the 3 assignments that were due on Monday. On Monday, I would do the 2 assignments that were due that day. And finally on Tuesday, I would do the 2 assignments that were due the same day. (I don't even think that I followed what I just typed, so if you didn't either, don't feel bad.) I would get up at around 8:00 A.M. and stop doing work around 7:00 P.M. Since my school is totally online, I was basically working on my computer all day and posting discussion threads online all day. So, needless to say, by 7:00 P.M., I was so tired of being online all day that I wanted to get out of the house for some fresh air. Needless to say, I am limiting myself to taking on only half of that load next time.

I had only 3 weeks for summer vacation. The first of which, I felt like being lazy. The second 2 weeks, I was in Hawaii which was amazing! I had so much fun! My sister and I went snorkeling, flew over the volcano, horseback riding, and so much more. I will probably tell more in a future journal. For now, I am going to try to catch up with what you guys have been working on.

I didn't realize how long I have been gone! Sorry you guys! I feel like I have been neglecting everyone. How has everyone been? Good I hope?

I have been working so much on the computer for school that once I finish my work, I am offline and hanging out with my friends. I feel as though I NEED to get out of the house when I finish my work because I am generally inside all day. So, needless to say, I haven't been on DA for a while. I haven't been creating much recreational art either. However, I have been creating projects for my class "Fundamentals of Design". So, I will be submitting those projects.

On another note... I will be moving pretty soon. My sister is going off to college and our house is too big for just my mom, grandma, and myself to keep up, so we need to downsize. So, I will be busy cleaning out my room, closet, and anywhere else that I need to. That is really all that has been going on though. Toodles for now.

I am so excited because I got into Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division! My first class began yesterday. It is an introduction to online learning. So far, I like school a lot. Everything is online which is really neat. I can go at my own pace and spend as much time working on an assignment as I like (just as long as I get it done by the due date). My major is Interactive Media and Web Design. The "interactive media" part has to do with computer programing and the "web design" part is regarding typography, logo design, color theory and everything aesthetic. I am starting out as a 3/4 time student which is in between full and part time. The school year is divided quarterly; each quarter containing 2 sessions. At this school, instead of taking 4 classes at a time for 11 weeks, full time students take 2 classes per session each spanning 5 1/2 weeks. Since I am a 3/4 time student, I will be taking 1 class the first session, then 2 classes the next session thus finishing 1 quarter. I am so happy that I am going to this school.

Did anyone else hear on the news today and yesterday that the porn industry is asking the government for a bail out? Yes. It is true. Larry Flynt (the owner of Hustler) and Joe Francis (CEO of Girls Gone Wild) are asking the government for a $5 billion federal bail out basically saying that business is down because the state of the economy is so bad that people are depressed and not as into sex. Larry Flynt actually said that the government is really stupid about how they use money anyway and that they are bailing out the auto industry, so why not bail out the porn industry as well? In a way, Flynt is right. Sometimes it does seem that the government mismanages money. Just look here at NASA's oopsy: [link] . Anyway, I agree. We are bailing out other industries and I'm sure by the time this economic crisis is over, there will be more industries that will be in need of a bail out, and this country is based on freedom and equality, right?

The main reason the government should extend a "helping hand" (lol sorry, lame joke XD ) to the adult industry is because the adult industry is actually good for the economy. Yes. Truth be told, porn is "stimulating" (sorry, couldn't help myself) to the economy. The porn industry is good for the economy because it creates job opportunities and adds to government revenues. In fact the porn industry's revenue exceeds the combined revenue of ABC, CBS, and NBC. Don't believe me? Look here: [link] . Just in California alone, the adult industry provides people with 26,000 jobs. Each of these employees pay state income tax which increases the state's revenue. In the exotic dance industry alone, employees make 5-6 times the state's designated minimum wage. In fact, dance clubs bring in approximately $500,000 to local governments in tax revenues.

On a slightly different note, I get sick of people saying that the adult industry "exploits women". This is absolutely absurd because why would any women (in a country who does not force them into sex slavery) choose to willingly become an adult film actress of their own free will if they were being exploited? In fact, first off, let's just examine the name we give these actresses: "Porn Stars". This title is not only glorifying to the women but the word "star" psychologically portrays them as untouchable by anyone other than the male porn stars. This turns them into an idol lusted after by men who know that they would never stand a chance with them in reality. This seems very self gratifying to the women themselves. But the concrete rather than psychological evidence proving that the adult industry does not exploit women is that it is indeed the only industry in which all women make more that the men. In fact a well established female porn star can make anywhere from $10,000 - $14,000 per scene (depending on what is in the scene) and $500 - $3,000 per scene if they are just starting out. Men, on the other hand, make about $100 - $300 per scene if they are fairly well established (this is not including the superstars who make about as much as the women because there are hardly any in comparison) and have to work for free when they are starting out. So, who is getting exploited here?

Anyway, this wraps up my little rant. I hope you found it thought provoking if not, at least mildly interesting and/or entertaining. Sorry, I don't feel like writing a proper conclusion.