(no subject)

[aprilstarchild]

An approximate translation:

'Cars today are full of things that protect the driver: belts, crumple zones, airbags, ABS, electronic stability control...

And there is an element in the car that protects other road users.

That part is in you. Drive with your heart.'

There's been a sudden rash of cyclists and pedestrians being hit and killed around here. It's really heartbreaking, especially when I still see people who text while driving (seriously??) or make sharp turns without looking or almost turn in front of me.

---

Birthday party this Friday. OMG EXCITED. Even more excited about Shawn and I going to Seattle. We leave Sunday night (my birthday proper) and come back Wednesday morning. We're taking Amtrak there and back, which will be a first for me. We have a private room at the hostel, which is a few blocks from the train station.

---

Rode my bike to the Costco in NE yesterday: 10.87 miles in a wicked headwind, and then about six miles to Shawn's house. Woo! And now I'm on Wellbutrin again. Dang is it cheaper at Costco...150mgs of generic Wellbutrin XL, 30 pills, was $29. Central Drug wanted twice that and Rite-Aid wanted over a hundred.

I'm feeling pretty good today, but I don't know how much of it is that I had a good ride in the sunshine yesterday vs. any effect the Wellbutrin would already have vs. placebo effect vs. knowing I'm having my party on Friday and then going to Seattle.

Speaking of my party: I currently have five jars on the table, each with a flavor of skittles dissolving in vodka. I was going to buy a french press to filter it, but even cheap french presses aren't that cheap, so I'm going to just have to be patient using a sieve and coffee filters or paper towels. My roommate Noel remarked that the jars have a pleasing "mad scientist" look to them. I bought fancy bottles with rubber stoppers to pour the flavors into after they're filtered.

---

Last (for now) but not least: Still can't decide whether to see Mum tonight.

Reasons to go:
I saw them once before and they're funny and awesome
The venue (The Aladdin) is a short walk from my house
Dude--they're from Iceland!! Yes!!

Reasons not to go:
$20 is still $20. I'm not rich these days
They came in 2007, maybe they'll come again in two years?
I haven't listened to their newest album
I have no one to go with

Comments

[encapsulate.livejournal.com]

The North Portland accident last night churns my stomach.

Two drivers arrested for DUI... hit twice... possibly pushed!!!

What the fuck.

[aprilstarchild.livejournal.com]

I know. It's insane.

[medicalfairy.livejournal.com]

WTF?! what is wrong with these people?!!

also I don't know if you should go to the show... if you could sneak in that would be rad :D

[5minutelimit.livejournal.com]

I made the mistake of reading the comments on kgw.com regarding the SockDreams girl and got so upset. All these people were complaining about pedestrians wearing dark clothes, jaywalking, darting into traffic and I just wanted to scream "YOU MEAN SELFISH STUPID PEOPLE! Pedestrians are not some rebellious subculture! EVERYBODY IS A PEDESTRIAN! SHE WAS IN A CROSSWALK! "
There just seems to be so much hostility, marginalizing people for their transportation rather than genuine compassion. It makes my heart sick, because we can't fix the problem as long as it is "Us vs. Them".

[aprilstarchild.livejournal.com]

I try (and usually fail) not to read the comments on any of the news sites, because 90% of the time, they believe ALL crashes to be the fault of the person who isn't in a car. Cyclists, pedestrians, you name it.

Or, even better, they bring up something completely unrelated--cyclists don't pay for roads (BULLSHIT)! they should be licensed (MORE BULLSHIT)! the roads are for cars (BULLSHIT X3)!