I don't mean Taken as in abducted by Aliens. Of course, there are those among us who believe that the opposite sex is from another planet, so maybe it is the same thing.

Over the vast course of my experience being single, as compared to my brief jaunts in the world of the taken, I've come to believe that Valentine's day sucks more for those with significant others than for those without. Of course, this isn't universally true. I just speak to the poor saps who's partner will set a judgement of them into stone based on the events of this one, "Corporate sponsered, love-themed Merchandising Day" (thanks Kat) or as Danielle put it "...unimaginative, consumerist-oriented and entirely arbitrary, manipulative and shallow interpretation of romance day". Now, I know Kat and Danielle are taking the ultra-pessimist view of V-day, but both these comments share one truth in common: Valentine's day has been hijacked by capitalism as an opportunity to guilt love-struck citizens out of their money for fear of insufficiently displaying their feelings for their partners through the monitary expendatures on this one day of the year. If you, or anyone you know, has EVER judged a significant other by their actions or lack of actions on this one day, despite their actions every other day of the year, then go ahead and dump them. You'll be doing them a favor and you deserve to be single. Now, take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, here. If you are with someone, you should at least know whether they have pre-concieved notions about this abhorried "holiday", and make it clear to them how you feel about it before ignoring it altogether. But, if someone dumps you because your actions or the amount of money you spend on them on this one day was not to their expectations, then you are the lucky one. I just hope you hadn't married them already. Listen, I just resent society as a whole telling me that I have to buy my girlfriend something today, and telling her that she should think less of me if I don't. Why do you need society telling you how to be in your relationship? We are brainwashed since birth to believe that on certain days of the year (V-day, christmas, birthday, anniversary) we have to buy things for our significant other or we are bad mates. Screw that, I say. Live your life as a good mate, and celebrate those days with some time together and a mutual acknowledgment. That should be sufficient.

In honor of V-day, I'm posting the lyrics for a Bob Spelled Backwards song called "Used to be My Heaven". I have also attached the mp3.

You used to be my Heaven,
But now you are my Hell,
But, baby, I think you'll die before me

Don't call the police, Ain't nothin they can do.
Cuz it won't be yours truly, that puts an end to you.

Keep smoking all them cigarettes, at least a pack a day.
You're drinking too much coffee, or at least that's what they'll say.

You used to be my Heaven,
But now you are my Hell,
But, baby, I think you'll die before me

Get two hours of sleep at night, for at least a month or so.
I think I see Porphyria, coming down the road.
And if I am subpeona'd, I'll have nothing to hide.
For the coroner's report will simply say it's suicide.

You used to be my Heaven,
But now you are my Hell,
But, baby, I think you'll die before me
And, baby, I bet you'll die before me.