Laura Stricker

On January 26, I read an article in the Toronto Star about a California school board banning the dictionary. The ban came after a parent complained that her child found the term “oral sex” in said dictionary.
I’ll let Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First Amendment Coalition, take it from here:
“If a public school were to remove every book because it contains one word deemed objectionable to some parent, then there would be no books at all in our public libraries.
“I think common sense seems to be lacking in this school,” he said to The Press Enterprise.
The next day they decided to repeal the ban. Parents can choose to have their kids use a different dictionary. Because obviously that will fix everything.

We are ignoring the fact that I don’t actually celebrate Christmas.

10. Gingerbread and snowman soap, courtesy of Demo Soap.
Adorable, inexpensive AND they help keep that pesky H1N1 away.

9. Dexter seasons one to three. Because I’m sick of rewatching it online/waiting to borrow it. And I wouldn’t say no to some Six Feet Under either.

8. The 8GB Nano, in purple or turquoise.

7. The new Blackberry Bold 9700. Perfect for avoiding awkward silences and emanating an aura of importance.

6. Pontiac Vibe, 2010. Now that the DriveTest strike is over and I can FINALLY get my G2.

5. This amazing blue bustier dress from H&M, or the equally beautiful purple one from Le Chateau. For New Year’s.

4. Tiffany’s carved heart pendant in turquoise. Beautiful, simple, classy and my favourite colour.

3. A donation to Free the Children. I worked for them when I was in high school, and they are an organization that does truly amazing and inspiring things.

2. Canon Powershot SD980IS. My existing digital camera is pretty much on its last legs.

And, last (first?) but DEFINITELY not least, all I want for Christmas is…

1. The Elixir Box of hot chocolates from Soma Chocolatemaker in the Distillery.

Happy Holidays!

Vote here!

For anyone who is reading this, I would be super appreciative if you’d vote for me in The Globe and Mail’s Journalism Dream contest. Grand prize is a trip to Vancouver in 2010 to cover the Olympics. I studied journalism in undergrad and this would be such an amazing opportunity for me.

Voting ends November 22 and you can vote for me once a day. You do have to register in order to be able to vote, but with every vote you get entered in a draw to win either a laptop or digital camera.
Thanks!

Not that I actually take the TTC much (if ever, anymore) since moving, but I thought I’d use today as an excuse to post a picture I took months ago and then forgot about.

It makes me happy when things that are so obviously ridiculous and not true show up right in front of you (i.e. take note, among other things, of the cigarette butts).

And if it doesn’t I’ll buy you pie! (Not really).

Great song, catchy, super happy lyrics, cute video…what more could a person ask for?
To see a better quality version, check out www.jasoncastromusic.com

In “honour” of Banned Books Week, here’s a mother who thinks To Kill A Mockingbird is much too controversial.

Speaking of kids, someone who is missing their conscience has stolen a truck of donated toys meant for needy children.

Signalling the end of the Rogers monopoly, Bell and Telus customers will soon be able to use the iPhone.

Finally, the Jonas Brother make a surprise appearance at Toronto’s We Day. The screams of tweeners are still echoing through the streets.

Have a fantastic day everyone. And support Free The Children!

1. For all the TTC users out there: ever wonder why the subway often waits forever at Eglinton station? Other than the transfer stations (St. George, Bloor-Yonge, etc.), Eglinton is the station people most often get lost in.

2. Soap operas are called soap operas because when they were first around, in the 1930s, they were sponsored by soap companies.

3. I was reading my marketing textbook today and found out that the term “tween” comes from between - because they’re not teenagers but not young children either.

And for no reason except my current obsession with this song, here’s some U2 singing Moment of Surrender, in a vid I shot at the Rogers Centre last week.

This is what happened to me on my way home from work today:

1. Get to bus stop, check the times looking for the next express bus. Notice there isn’t one coming for at least 10-15 more minutes, so decide not to wait for it.

2. A non-express bus comes, I get on. Two seconds later, an express bus drives by. FML.

3. Finally, after being stuck in ridiculous traffic, get to the subway station. Decide to get on the subway and go south one stop instead of taking another bus like I usually do, because everytime I go outside lately I see a million bees and it’s freaking me out.

4. Head downstairs to wait for the subway. Except one going southbound is not coming, and in the meantime three come by heading north. I decide after the third one comes by I’m going to go north. A bit of a detour, but who knows when the next subway going south will come? The second I get on the northbound subway and the doors close, a subway going southbound shows up. FML #2.

5. After getting off the subway, the bus I’m waiting for is supposedly on “frequent service” (10 minutes or less). Except 20 minutes go by, and no sign of any bus anywhere.

6. A bus finally shows up and I get stuck standing beside annoying screaming children. I have a headache.

7. Said bus then gets stuck in traffic. For over 30 minutes. Must…not…scream…at…the…children.

8. Finally get onto the subway, on my side of the line this time. Head southbound.

9. Get on final bus going home, only to again be surrounded by obnoxious children. FML #3

10. Finally make it home. Almost two hours after leaving work.

The end.

1. I get tired at like 7:00.

2. Naps.

3. After being at standing room shows, my knees hurt.

4. I’ve started wearing earplugs at concerts.

5. I also started wearing an eyemask to bed.

6. I often say things like ‘(insert something here) was never like that when I was a kid!’

7. I have no patience for the stupid things kids/teens do, even though I probably did them myself at some point.

8. A night chilling at a friend’s house now sounds much more appealing than going out to a bar/restaurant.

9. I wasn’t remotely excited for my birthday this year. Two years ago I couldn’t decide on just one thing to do, so I had two birthday parties. This year I was so meh about it Eva planned something and I just showed up (late, too).

10. I no longer refer to myself as a ‘recent’ university graduate.

11. I’m already planning my future as the crazy dog/cat lady.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go soak my dentures and put in my hair curlers.