Commercials make the American public seem like complete idiots.

First of all, I know I haven't written in this blog for over 3 months, but that's entirely irrelevant to this post.

I just saw a commercial for a new, digital pregnancy test (what other kinds of commercials are on during daytime soaps? besides commercials for life insurance and colon-regulating yogurt, that's basically it).

In the ad, the omniscient-product-spokes-voice describes how 1 in 4 women read the results of their pregnancy test wrong.

Of course, the blame can't be placed on the dumb-as-rocks women who can't tell the difference between "||" and "|"  or "-" and "+". Really, it's not their fault that they didn't read the directions or graduate from 8th grade. 

So, instead of letting these women stress out for a while and think they're pregnant, all the while they're just ridiculously stupid, the pregnancy test company comes out with a new test.

A NEW TEST?!

Wow, this DIGITAL (Wtf, honestly. Digital? Even things we have to pee on are becoming digital!?) pregnancy test (aka "Clearblue Easy [I'm not kidding. It's called "Easy", not "Just a bit complicated" or "The normal difficulty level of a pregnancy test" but no, "Easy".] Pregnancy Test").

Now, what's so great about this is that it says "PREGNANT" or "NOT PREGNANT" or "IMMACULATE CONCEPTION". It also tells you the baby's sex and helps you name the little bugger... (There was a joke somewhere in the previous sentences, find it.)

My whole point is that commercials are making us, the general public, seem like grade school drop-outs. It's pretty insulting if you ask me.

Also, some commercials are just stupid (not like beer-drinking, hahaha stupid, but seriously dumb).

One commercial that I thought was actually kind of interesting (at first, at least) showed one woman constantly changing outfits as she's walking through her house, obviously a nod to the ever-changing world of women's fashion. 

At the end of the commercial it said "Fashion has evolved, shouldn't bladder protection?"

WHAT?! WHAT DOES FASHION HAVE TO DO WITH A WOMAN'S INCONTINENCE? 

Honestly. These types of things drive me nuts.

But I just gotta ignore them. 

That is, after I complain about them first.

hysteria.

I don't really know what I'm trying to say on this subject, as I haven't really done any research, but am just going to give my opinion.

I think the whole Swine flu thing is ridiculous.
From what I've heard, it's treatable and really not that dangerous.
Just because it's spreading quickly doesn't mean it's going to be like the Black Plague.

I'm just annoyed by the media and its "OMGSWINEFLU" mentality.
And all those people walking around with face masks on? Please.

This was relatively pointless, I know.
I just needed to update my blog.

i've got nothing to worry about.

Except the fact is that I do.

AP tests and finals are fast approaching.
But what am I doing?
Listening to music.
Lots and lots of music.

I just bought a 3 day pass for Lollapalooza.
I'm so excited because I've never gone before.
I also want to make sure that I take full advantage of the $190 I spent.
That's why I've been trying to listen to new artists.

I've asked my friends to recommend new bands and singers to me.
Thanks to their lists, I am slowly broadening my musical horizons.

What surprised me, though, is that a band I actually liked before reading the Lolla lineup is going to be there.

Friendly Fires is who I'm most excited to see.
Their songs have such an amazing dance beat.
They are really good.
Plus, they're from the UK.
I recommend that you check them out.

Oh and even though I just plugged Friendly Fires, my post title is a line from "Nothing to Worry About" by Peter Bjorn and John.

have you ever seen the rain?

I made a list of things I really enjoy for the little box under the picture on my Facebook profile.

I'm going to write about each one of them in a blog post every time I have nothing else to talk about.

First on my list is rain.

Very convenient seeing how it has been raining all day today.

On most days, I enjoy a good, relaxing rain shower.

If I'm feeling a bit depressed or have a lot of things to do that include walking in the rain, then not so much.

Anyway, it's days like these when you just want to curl up and read a book.

(Or post on your blog, I guess.)

Rain has always been symbolic for cleansing, whether it be clearing off dirty snow that plagues our Chicago streets (not currently, thank goodness) or a more metaphorical, internal cleansing.

While I don't really get into the second of the two, I do think that rain helps put things into perspective.

If you're just sitting there listening to the rain, you start to think about things.

Hearing it drip down the gutter or fall onto the roof, your mind sort of clears itself out.

Plus, who doesn't love a bit of Creedence Clearwater Revival?

driving.

I want my license.
Yes, I only have my permit.
I've had it since September '07.
(I told you I am a procrastinator.)

I really like driving.
Though I'm sure I'd like it more without my parents in the car.
(eg. "Tania, there's a stop sign! Stop! Oh my God, you're going to kill us.")

But honestly, it makes me feel really independent.
I think that when I'm able to drive myself around and I don't have to rely on my parents to take me places, I'll feel a lot more mature.

I also like it because, even though I'm kind of a nervous person, I'm really calm when I drive.
I find it relaxing to just cruise around with the windows open and music playing.

I'm excited because my mom said she will probably (when she says probably, it's usually "yes".) get me a car.
She can't decide what kind of car would be best for me, though.

One minute she thinks the Ford F350 will be the safest for me to drive.
I think that I'd run people over and not even notice ("Was that a squirrel?")

Then she'll mention cars like Mustangs and Corvettes. Obviously the first one is a bit more affordable. I'll be honest, I wouldn't mind having a Mustang. I'd only be worried about someone carjacking me. Ahaha.
If I could get any sort of vehicle, it would be this:

Anyway, I have some reading to do.
The three books I can chose from are all 400+ pages.
Great.

twitter.

I just set up a Twitter account.
I think that it's a little pointless, but I know it will keep me busy.
Not that I need to be kept busy, but rather, to keep my mind from wandering when I'm uber bored.

My username is "loveandmadness".
I wanted to make it "peaceloveandmadness" but there were too many characters.

Anyway, this blog post is complete nonsense.
It's not organized or well thought out.
Either way, I still have something to say.

So, tonight my family and I saw the Hannah Montana movie.
Thrilling, I know.
But I'll be honest, I really really like the song "The Climb."

It's pretty much talking about how life's full of hardships and it's not about actually getting to your endpoint, but what you do on your way there.
I know it sounds cliche and oh-so-Disney, but for some reason it's really resonating with me.
It makes a lot of sense.

I'm starting to realize that life goes by so fast.
It's April of my junior year already and I feel like I still have so much I want to do.
I sort of want to "break out of my shell", if you will.
I was at the store yesterday and I heard a song on the radio and just randomly started dancing.
It was a lot of fun.
And I want to have fun more often.
My life is just way too boring.

Well, this post was all over the place.
Sorry if it caused you mental pain.

-tania

ew.

Do you ever get an image or thought stuck in your head and no matter what you do, you can't get it out?
Of course you have.
Who hasn't?

I'm being plagued by a mental image that's been on my mind for a few days.
This is a serious problem.
I keep trying to erase it from my thoughts, but to no avail.
Every time I shoo it away, it comes back in and creeps around like the crazy lady in "The Yellow Wallpaper" (for some reason, that's the only simile I could think of when using the verb "creep").
It's just such a "blegh" picture.

Hopefully it will have the consideration to give me a respite.

I also have a song stuck in my head, but that I don't mind too much.
It's "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.
I don't even know why I like it so much.
I think I just have fun doing the hand motions during the chorus.

I should probably get to sleep.
I'm going out to lunch tomorrow with a few amazing people.
I need to be fully rested in order to be ready for the awesomeness that is sure to happen.

-tania