I can't wait to get my new roomba. :D

"In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony, one does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response.

Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor -- never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees -- not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity we betray our own."
-- Elie Wiesel

Cross-posted from my real blog...

Last Friday I took the subway from the university to downtown while I was running errands. As usual, the trains were awkwardly spaced, so I had plenty of time to read the numerous advertisements on the walls of the train station, and I was shocked by the abundance of offensive ads prominently displayed at the university.

Unfortunately my phone camera wasn't working so I typed out some of the text on my blackberry so I wouldn't forget. Here's one of two anti choice ads I saw (on opposite sides of the station, so it was impossible to turn away from them):

"Over 95% of women say they were wrong."

Underneath was a picture of a woman sitting on the ground crying. Below the picture was an anti-abortion slogan (I can't remember the exact wording) and a website: http://www.edmontonprolife.org

The ad on the opposite wall was similar, stating that "abortion is not a sign that we are free" because abortion is actually a method of CONTROLLING women. Hmm, interesting appropriation of feminist rhetoric, douchebags.

So here's my question: where did the 95% statistic come from (perhaps "95% of women who have abortions say that their pregnancy was accidental"?) and why are ads like this okay, but Planned Parenthood's (few) ad campaigns tend to be vandalized to the point of being unrecognizable within a week?

...throughout their entire career is the Beatles.

End of story.

Appearance:
I'm short: False
I have many scars: False
I tan easily: False
I burn easily: False
I wish my hair was a different color: False
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color: False
I wear glasses or contacts: True
I have 4 or more piercings: False

Relationships:
I miss someone right now: True
I've gotten divorced: False
I've had a crush on a teacher: False
I've hugged a stranger: True

Embarrassment:
I've laughed so hard I've cried: True
I've glued my hand to something: False
I've laughed till some beverage came out of my nose: True
I've had my pants rip/drop in public: True, grade 10 was a ridiculous year.
I was born with a disease/impairment: False
I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend: True
I've had my wisdom teeth removed: False
I've had chicken pox: True

Experiences:
I've gotten lost in a city: True
I've seen a shooting star: False
I've wished on a shooting star: False
I've gone out in public in my pajamas: True
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator: True
I've played spin the bottle: False
I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour: False
I've been in a car accident: True
I've caught a snowflake on my tongue: True
I've sat on a roof top at night: True
I've played a prank on someone: True
I've ridden in a taxi: True
I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show: True
I've eaten sushi: True

Random:
I own something from Hot Topic: True
I own something from The Gap: False
I own something I got on E-Bay: False
I own something from American Eagle: True
I own something from Abercrombie: False
I own something from Anchor Blue: False
I own something from Aeropostle: False
i own something from Hollister: False

More Random:
I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant: False
I watch the news: True
I curse regularly: False
I sing in the shower: True
I'm a morning person: False
I am a sports fanatic: False
I have listened to more than 30 CD's in a day: True
I've worn pajamas to school: True
I am really ticklish: True
I'm good at remembering names: False
I'm good at remembering faces: True

Well, that was boring. That's what I get for stealing quizzes off of my Mormon friends' pages I guess.

Your confessions:
[ ] I'm afraid of silence
[X] I am really ticklish
[ ] I'm afraid of the dark
[X] I've collected comic books
[X] I sometimes shut out others
[X] I open up to others TOO easily sometimes
[X] I read the newspaper
[ ] I love Disney movies
[X] I am a sucker for gorgeous eyes
[X] I am a sucker for gorgeous smile
[ ] I don't kill bugs
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name
[X] I bake well
[X] I have worn pajamas to class
[X] I love Martha Stewart
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS (only once, accidentally, and I was really drunk!)
[X] I am self-conscious
[X] I love to laugh
[ ] I can't swallow pills
[ ] I can swallow pills without water
[ ] I bite my nails
[ ] I play computer games when I'm bored
[X] I have gotten lost in the city
[X] I have gone out in public in my pajamas
[X] I made out in an elevator
[ ] I have been skydiving
[ ] I have been bungee jumping
[X] I have bitten someone
[X] I have egged or rolled a house/car/telephone booth.
[X] I have dented someone else's car
[X] I have been fired
[ ] I have been skinny dipping


Have you ever...
[ ] seen a shooting star
[X] joke proposed to anyone
[X] gotten stitches
[X] eaten Sushi
[X] got the chicken pox
[X] ridden in a taxi
[ ] been on a cruise ship
[ ] driven over 400 km in one day
[X] been on a plane by yourself
[ ] had surgery
[ ] seen a movie 3 times or more in the theater
[X] been on stage
[X] gotten a black eye
[X] memorized all the dialogue in a movie
[X] watched an entire baseball game

Do you like...
[X] old movies
[X] musicals
[ ] blasting music in your car/or someone else's
[X] foreign foods
[X] Pokemon
[ ] Christmas time
[X] animals
[X] coffee
[X] tea
[X] summer
[ ] winter

1. Do you still talk to the first person you kissed?
No, I haven't seen her in years.

2. Have you ever seen your best friend(s) naked?
If not totally naked then at least mostly so.

3. What did you do when you weren't in school in the 2nd grade?
Ummmm I can't remember. Probably riding lessons, computer games, and soccer. Oh and I collected beanie babies of course.

4. What is the best thing about your job?
I'm not working right now. It's very fulfilling.

5. Pro choice or pro life?
100% pro-choice.

6. How many people have you kissed?
I don't know... 15? 25?

7. Did you vote for Bush?
I was underage during that election, and I'm Canadian, but I wouldn't have.

8. Where are you going on your next vacation?
Not sure yet, probably BC or the maritimes.

10. Are most of your friends guys or girls?
Are we talking actual friends or people who want to get in my pants? If the former, guys. If the latter, girls.

11. Do you own any furniture from IKEA?
Almost everything I own. I LOVE it.

12. Last book you read?
I Ching

13. If you could have one super power what would it be?
Ability to control time - go back and forward, and slow it down and speed it up.

14. Where have you lived most of your life?
Edmonton

15. What was the last conversation you had about?
With The Boy about our plans for Saturday night.

16. Where do you see yourself in four years?
Probably just starting work for real, since my degree will be finished summer '10.

17. What's your favorite smell?
Vanilla/grapefruit

18. What is your favorite sound?
Good music, or someone saying "I love you" and meaning it.

19. Are you moody?
I try not to be, but yes.

20. Favorite movie of all time?
Eh, there's lots. I'm really into The Impostors right now.

21. Have you ever done anything vindictive to your classmate?
Not since junior high probably.

22. Have you ever played Spin the bottle?
No! I'm deprived!

23. Have you ever liked someone and not told them?
Yes, I'm pathetic like that.

24. Have you ever gone camping?
Yep, it would have been great if it wasn't with my family.

25. Have you ever had a crush on your brother's friend?
I don't have a brother.

26. Have you ever gone to a nude beach?
No.

27. Have you ever gone streaking?
Nope.

28. Have you ever gone skinny dipping?
No.

29. Have you ever laughed so hard you cried?
Often.

30. Have you ever gone to a party where you were the only sober person?
No.

31. Have you ever been in love?
Yes.

32. Have you ever felt betrayed by your best friend.
Not really.

33. Have you ever lied to your parents?
Yes.

34. Have you ever been out of Canada?
Yes.

35. Have you ever thrown up from working out?
Yeah. Yay for eating disorders!

36. Have you ever gotten a haircut so bad that you wore a hat?
Nope, I embrace the ridiculousness.

37. Have you ever eaten 3 meals from 3 different fast food places?
Fast food? No. Nice restaurants? Yes.

38. Last song you listened to?
Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse by Of Montreal

39. Have you ever spied on someone?
Not since elementary school when I read Harriet The Spy.

40. Have you ever slept with one of your coworkers?
Yep, and dated. That's how I've met pretty much all of my most recent boyfriends.

41. What would you do with 1,000 plastic spoons?
Recycle them?

42. Who was the last person who you called?
Either my mom or The Boy.

43. When was the last time you slept for more than 12 hours?
Last week probably.

44. Have you ever been arrested?
Nope, close though. Thank you high school track for keeping me fit enough to run away!

45. Most embarassing CD you own?
I don't own any CDs, but I'm kind of embarrassed that I have the entire discography of newsboys and Sonicflood on my computer.

46. Have you ever stolen anything?
When I was little, and my mom made me return it and apologize. Never again!

47. Have you ever had egg nog?
Yes and I love it. Egg nog ice cream is the best though!

Last Person Who--

5. slept in your bed?
The Boy

7. you went to the movies with?
The Boy

8. went to the mall with you?
The Boy

Last Person--
9. you said "i love you" to and meant it?
Zee

10. Did the person you care about most break your heart?
No, but people I care deeply about have broken my heart.

11. who said they loved you and meant it?
Zee

12. who called you in the middle of the night?
I can't remember, probably The Boy.

13. do you have a crush on someone?
Much more than that. :)

Just Plain Questions--

14. what book are you reading now?
Physiology textbook.

15. best feeling in the world?
Discovering an amazing new band OR falling in love OR spending a whole day doing important, productive things OR winning an argument. It's a toss up.

16. favorite location?
Anywhere warm.

17. piercing/tattoos?
Nipples and ears, and a phoenix tattoo is in the works.

18. what are you most scared of right now?
Losing the thing it’s taken so long to find

19. where do you want to get married?
The person matters a whole lot more than the location.

20. who do you really hate?
I don't hate anyone. But my mother's boyfriend really irritates me sometimes.

21. does anyone really hate you?
I don't doubt it. I can't imagine why anyone would really bother though.

22. do you like being around people?
Yes, there are few things I hate more than being alone too much.

23. have you ever cried?
"Ever"? What a horrible question. Of course I have, lots of things make me cry. Hallmark cards absolutely dissolve me.

24. are you lonely right now?
Right this second, kind of. But in general not so much.

25. song stuck in your head right now?
Gronlandic Edit by Of Montreal. Oh man, so good.

26. been on radio/TV?
On TV a few times, mostly when I was little. I was super photogenic back in the day, I don't know what happened.

27. ever liked someone, but you think they never noticed you?
Yeah. :(

28. ever liked someone who treated you like crap?
Yep, fell in love with him even. I sure learned that lesson!

29. how many beds did you lay in yesterday?
Just one.