Ask a College Kid: College Life

Chill Out: Best Places in the City to Unwind

2008-05-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Local Café:
This is my personal favorite out of all the ones I am going to mention. This location offers awesome music, most of the times jazz, and a great atmosphere. Especially in the city you will find this is a great way to meet people as well. I know many college students come here to wake up, as well as get some homework done.

The Park:
What's a better place to enjoy the environment, people watch, and catch some rays? That's right, the park. Using the green grass as a cushion and the people around you as entertainment, the park is a perfect place to chill on a nice day. Parks are scattered all over the place in cities, and if they're not, they're probably coming. Thanks to urban planners, like college kid: Steve, they realize that having a park close to home provides comfort as well as puts more oxygen into atmosphere.

The Bar:
Now, when I say the bar, I'm not talking about the ones that have girls dancing in cages here. The bar you want to look for is the quiet one on the corner, where locals like to hang out and get a beer after work. This can be tough to find if you live around touristy places like me (Fenway Park). The best time to go is probably around 6-8PM because after that time people get all ancy in their pancy and start having a little too much to drink. If you are lucky, you can find a gem like I did, a Café in the morning and a chill bar at night.

Take a Walk:
Okay, I know, it's not actually a "place" per say, but this can be just what you need some days. The city offers you a very unique environment with plenty of things to look at and observe. All you have to do is put your headphones on, walk out your door, and take a left (or right) depending on your mood, and just go. See where you end up, you might find some cool places that you never knew existed. Also, if your so inclined, you can bring a camera with you, and bring out the photography side in you.

Digsby: The New AIM

2008-05-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

Let me start off and say, I hate AIM, I always have. Over the years I have tried countless instant messenger clients just to stay away from the terrifying AIM. Up until about a month ago I was using Pidgin, which was formally named Gaim. Digsby, which has been on everyone's radar the past month is an amazing new program that combines everything into your IM client.

The one thing that sets this program apart (minus the wicked cool features) is the fact that there are no ads, absolutely none. Have you ever been talking to someone late at night, forget your speakers are really loud, and hover over those damn talking ads? Well, I have, and it would give me a mini heart attack.

Digsby allows you to add your e-mail accounts and even Facebook if you wanted. It is fully customizable from the colors to sounds (just like AIM), but you can also get add-ons which are pretty frickin' cool too.

Give Digsby a try, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Digsby

Video Game Review: Skate

2008-02-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

Skateboarding games for the years previous has been dominated by the phenom that was the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. After years of new titles under the same license, the Tony Hawk games began to lose there appeal due in fact to the "realism" factor that was swept away during the early decade. The mega franchise began milking the gamers of a true skateboarding experience, in turn focusing on a more arcady feel. With that transition, most early fans of the game were turned away by the massive trick sequences that encompassed telephone wires, building jumps, and the quarter pipes that dominate the landscape. Now, after years of crafting the ultimate skateboarding experience, EA has delivered that same exhilarating fun that you had with your friends while playing the original Tony Hawk. Skate in pure genius.

San Velona is the setting for the game, stretching across miles of landscape that include suburbs, city scapes, and old-brick architecture that are sure to keep one skating long into the future. Not only will one find copious amounts of rails, jumps, and ledges, you'll find yourself going back to those same locations to up the ante with a BS Boardslide instead of Frontside. Want up your score a little more? Try Nollie, and each trick is progressively harder. With so many tricks and styles for your skater, the fun never gets old. I continuously find myself at locations making adjustments just to "perfect" the trick on that rail. No more auto-rail bullshit. Timing is everything. The difference in where you ollie can determine the type of grind or boardslide if one does not judge distance.

The story starts off with that of a young local skater that progresses through the tiers of skating fame. With a few jams sessions under your belt, recognition comes in the form of dialed down tricks on huge sets and demanding events such as S.K.A.T.E., and Death Races. Death Races, which could be a favorite among groups online, pit one another against each other on courses that range from open streets, narrow tunnels, and tight Bostonesque one-ways. As you engage in different types of tasks, your reputation grows with added media coverage as well. Soon, your flipping tricks with the likes of new friends in the form of professional skaters, some which you may have seen on MTV's hit series Rob and Big. Soon, your a skating legend, making magazine photo shoots each day you progress. The "Ultimate" photo shoot in the end pits you, man against concrete, in a battle for the front cover of Thrasher Magazine. If that wasn't enough, after making headlines, you continue your career in huge air sessions from the X-games, to a mansion in the hills where jumps compare more to the size of motocross than skateboarding. Still, each event has its realistic feel to it, never jumping into the arcade realm which killed the former series from Activision.

Though some would find Skate troublesome to master, the majority of gamers will find pleasure in linking even the smallest of tricks. From a simple Kickflip to 5-0, to a 360 flip to FS Crooked, each trick must be mastered through a set of controls that mimics that of the feet and body. No game has come close to using the sticks of a console controller better than Skate has done. although some would contest titles like Fight Night and Ace Combat reign supreme, the coordination required to master such tricks is by far more thrilling. The A Button + Left is no longer a viable way to flip your board, but rather a token of progression for which EA has elevated the level of gaming experience.

All in all, the game does a wonderful job in creating the "real" skateboard feel, but like most games there are some minor glitches. The camera is fairly solid, although some may need to get used to it because it is not fixed. Objects can interfere with the position of the camera, especially when one upgrades to the flips and spins. The other gripe comes in the form of broken bones...or lack there of. The system is fairly good at determining the depth of body destruction when hitting a car, or failing to hit the rail in the right location, but in some instances where one plummets from heights destined to cause death, no bruises, scrapes, or broken bones are tallied. No game is perfect, but by no means will these glitches take away from the fun that is Skate.

After playing the game consistently for more than a month i can still proudly say I pick up this title with the same enjoyment I had when sticking my first Kickflip to grind. If this game hasn't set the bar for fun and realism, then strap me in because were in for one hell of a ride. For those of you still not convinced I would find it hard you read this far into the article. Go play Skate, its one of the best games to date.

Cheers!

College Kid: Hostnik

Awkward Relationships Created in College

2008-02-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

After going to college for quite some time, I have noticed that there are many different levels of relationships you make with the people around you. Here are the top ones that I have noticed (and caused) on my own college campus.

The Girl/Boy you met at a party last night.
You casually said "Hi" to this individual at a party on the previous night and made some small talk. You were somewhat interested in this person, but the conversation didn't really go anywhere. Over the next week you see him/her walking to class, in the cafeteria, etc. and you don't know whether or not to wave or say "hi". This situation (if they remember you) is a bit awkward and usually a smile is traded amongst the two of you if anything.

The Drunk Hook-Up
You wake up, it's 6:35AM, and the sun is just rising. You see your clothes scattered all over the floor, and you say under your breathe, "Well, that was a poor decision.." You try to sneak out, but of course they wake up and this could go one of two ways (maybe three, but not likely). The person you hooked up with might like you and want to hang out more, or perhaps you having second thoughts about whether or not it was a bad decision. Finally, the feeling could be mutual and you both like (or don't like) each other. This situation is usually followed by pretending one anther doesn't even exist, and looking at the ground when you pass each other.

The "X"
Let me just say that this is the worst out of all of them, especially on a small campus. You just broke up with your "significant other" and now you have to deal with seeing them with other people or just making it through the day without making eye contact. I don't have to go much more into it than that.

The Old Friend
It was Freshman year, and you had the best of friends. As time goes though people change (perhaps yourself) and you no longer talk to that friend. Now, whenever you see them you ask yourself if you should say "What's up?" or not. It can be kind of hard to think that one time you two were best friends, but life goes on I guess.

The "How Do I Know That Person" Relationship
This one person in the library (scratch that, who goes to the library?)... in the cafeteria, just looks so familiar and you can't pinpoint where you know them from. Maybe, it was a party or perhaps they're from your town. This mystery is usually never solved because who would go up and ask? right? That is just way too awkward.

Got anymore awkward relationships that I didn't cover? Share them in the comments.

So What If He Was?

2008-02-26T23:38:00.001-08:00

By now many of you may have heard the "allegations" that presidential candidate Barack Obama is or was a Muslim. This is of course false, and was never even a merited or remotely truthful statement. The claim was on the basis that the senator lived in Indonesia as a child and attended a "madrassa," or radical Muslim school. This was disproved when CNN went to the school only to learn that it was a typical public school that taught reading and math and had a diverse population, including some Muslim students.

I'm not here to argue whether these claims were brought about from Hillary Clinton's campaign or from the Republicans, or anywhere else. Instead, I thought I would explain the insanity of this whole media frenzy. The news discusses this story as if they would discuss a political affair, or a dirty business deal, but in reality the allegations are not even remotely bad. So I could not help but wonder, what if he was?

What if any of the candidates were?

It is a true testament to how far our country has come when we see candidates for president who are African-American and Female. But it is also a testament to how far this country has moved back when a candidate actually gets attacked for the ridiculous possibility that they are Muslim. In the last year America has finally opened up to the thought of a non white/male president, but if there was a Muslim or Arabic candidate could they ever win?

Most likely no.

I don't say that with any satisfaction or enjoyment. The truth is America could not handle a Muslim candidate because many Americans are ignorant to the Arabic and Muslim culture. We live in a society that champions equality and fights to destroy stereotypes yet we act as if every Arab is a terrorist. We live in a country where you can flip though the channels and watch a special on Black History Month then watch bigots talk about how all Muslims should wear ID tags.

Lets be honest, if even a tenth of all the Muslims in the world were terrorist America would be FUCKED! That is because there are 1.4 Billion Muslims in the world, which would result in there being 140 Million terrorist willing to kill themselves to see Americans suffer. That is almost half of the United States 300 Million citizens. Oh and by the way, less than a quarter of all Muslims are Arabic. In fact there are more African-American Muslims in this country than there are Arabic Muslims, just not Obama.

Feel free to leave your feedback.

Cheers!

College Kid: Brack

References:
[CNN]
[Wikipedia - Islam in the US]
[Wikipedia - Arab World]

Friends and Money: Coping with Social Spending Situations

2008-02-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

Explain your goals. Let your family and friends know that you’re trying to get out of debt or are saving to buy your first house. By making your goals explicit, you should decrease the amount of pressure they give you. (And the amount of pressure you give yourself.) Conversations about money don’t have to be uncomfortable. By honestly sharing your struggles and goals, you encourage those around you to examine their own spending as well. Ask your friends to help you be good, rather than pressure you to do something you’ll regret later.
Suggest low- or no-cost alternatives. Bike or run together. Go hiking. Kick a soccer ball around. Organize a picnic or a mother-daughter tea party. Play hearts or bridge or Settlers of Catan. A one-time investment in a board game or a deck of cards can be a cost-effective source of entertainment. If your friends want to go to a movie, suggest a matinee. If they want to dine out, name a restaurant you know you can afford. (Better yet, suggest a potluck.)
Budget for social spending. If your circle of friends makes a regular habit of a specific activity, consider building the expense into your budget so it won’t catch you by surprise. If your girlfriends go out for happy hour on the first Thursday of every month, for example, set aside $20 for the occasion. This may, of course, require sacrifices to other parts of your budget.
Leave your wallet (or purse) at home. If you’re worried that you’ll give into peer pressure, create a self-imposed limit. Take $5 or $10 or $20 with you, but leave your credit cards behind. If you don’t have the money with you, you can’t spend it.
Limit yourself. Do things with your friends, but spend less. Portland has a great bookstore, and several times a year I shop there with out-of-town visitors. They have a tendency to buy a basket full of books. I used to do this, too, before I learned to limit myself. Now I buy one or two items from my want list.
Opt out. If your friends regularly participate in expensive activities together, politely bow out from time-to-time. By playing poker only once a month instead of once a week, for example, you may reduce your costs by 75%. If your friends like to go shopping, join them for the companionship. If the temptation to spend will be too much, don’t go at all.
Don’t keep score. Don’t obsess about what others have or don’t have. Don’t focus on the stuff — focus on the relationships. This can be difficult, I know, but it does no good to ask yourself why you don’t live in a fancy 4,000-square foot home on five acres. Life is not a competition. Your goal is not to keep up with the Joneses. Your goal is to do what’s best for you.

via [GetRichSlowly]

The Four Types of Facebookers

2008-02-19T21:59:00.000-08:00

Lets be honest, Facebook is THE college website. Yeah there is Digg, Myspace, College Humor, and of course Ask a College Kid, but none draw out peoples obsession on such a level as Facebook. The large majority of college students make Facebook their first online destination of the day (and usually their last). There are different types of people who use Facebook. Some are more social and others are more annoying. In my observations I have realized that there are four types of Facebookers.

The Casual User

I would like to say I fit into this category most of the time. This type of Facebooker typically doesn't write on others walls and usually doesn't have too many Facebook Applications. These individuals only write on peoples walls when they actually have something to say, not just because they are bored or looking for attention.

The Chronic Wall Poster

These are the people that love to post on everyones wall. They don't need a reason as to why, they just do. I can only imagine they do it because they want more people to write on their wall or perhaps they are just bored. I don't mind these people too much because, well it is usually nice to get a message on your wall, usually.

The Application Freak

My sister would undoubtedly fall into this category based on all the crap she has on her profile. Funny animation of a cat? Sure! Random bumper stickers? Why not. These people love to add things to their profile, and more annoyingly, send them to other people. I have so many request for groups and applications every day, it drives me mad.

The Random Friend Requester

Do you remember the girl who sat next to you in 4th grade math? Why is it that she friended you when you haven't seen her in 10 years! It happens to all of us. Every once and a while some random person from your early days will friend request you. I always wonder how it is they find us. My last name is listed as an initial and I still get these random friend request. How they find me, I will never know. I wont lie though, it can be funny seeing how much of a drunk (or a fatty... did I say that?) your 6th grade lab partner has become.

Cheers!

College Kid: Brack

Thought of the Day: Call Me!

2008-02-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, so in celebration of our presidents (minus the current one), I decided to throw a party at my place last night. It was fun. There were lots of good people there and we all had a great time. I shared a six pack of Heineken and New Castle with my roommate, and later enjoyed some of our left over Coors Lights (there always better when your drunk). So as you can imagine it was a good night.

But...

There were certain "individuals" that shall not be named, who said they would come and never did. In fact, they spent long amounts of time texting, and getting information about the party. They said they would come, but never showed up and never even called. Now listen, I am the first person to say life is busy and sometime things come up, but come on! All you need to do is call. Or even a quick text would do.

So remember all you "individuals" who don't call even though they said they would come. Just let us know what the deal is.

Cheers!

College Kid: Brack

The Weirdest Facebook Ad I Have EVER Seen!!!

2008-02-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

I was browsing through Facebook today after I got out of class (I know big surprise) and I stumbled upon this ad. My exact words were, "What the @#!$!"

Make it Bigger

Backing up the '07 Patriots

2008-02-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

So as a Patriots fan I have been going through a bit of a tough period for the past week or so. The Super Bowl loss was devastating and it will be a game I’ll never forget. I can remember the anticipation of the game, the excitement of possibly going 19-0 and showing everyone that doubted them and wanted them to lose, that the Pats were truly the best. I can remember my confidence that my team would win, but not showing it as it could possibly jinx the victory. This was going to be the greatest game ever and I was ready.

Well, I guess I was more ready than they were, and here I sit still supporting the 18-1 New England Patriots. I am very proud of my team. I am not scared to say that I am a Patriots fan, and I will back them up if I feel that they are not getting the credit that they deserve. I’ve been hearing a lot of crap lately being tossed in the Patriots’ direction, and I’m not sure exactly why. Let’s see if we can clear some things up.

First off, my biggest issue is with the people who claim the Patriots are smug assholes. Now, I do not know where these crazy accusations come from but I apparently lived under a rock all season while I watched every game and interview. All I saw all season was a modest football team, treating every game as clean slate and not letting their quickly building perfect record get in their way. I saw the players supporting each other and working together. I saw a coach wisely and quietly, take those players and construct a finely tuned machine made to play football. I thought to myself, “What’s not to love?” Yet, comments still come day after day about the Patriots and how they deserved to lose. I could not think of a team that deserved to win the Super Bowl any more, and with the Giants B.S.’ing their way through the playoffs I couldn’t imagine a team less deserving of the win over the Pats. At least Farve doesn’t look like a 12 year old..oops did I say that? Anyway, I’m not going to shit on the Giants, they are a talented team, and like everyone says, “They won fair and square,” which they did…barely.

Now, as far as the Superbowl is concerned, I have a few gripes here as well. There is no denying that the Patriots lost this game. The Giants won the game and beat the New England Patriots 17-14. There, I said it. My only complaint is when I hear people acting like the Patriots were just demolished and the Giants outplayed them in every way. Here is how the game happened. It was a defensive game with both teams not letting the other score points, simple as that. It soon developed into a race to see who can score and hold off the other team. The Pats defense like always had to give me a heart attack each drive before stopping the touchdown. I was counting on the offense of the Pats to represent as usual, but this did not happen. The offensive line apparently did not show up for the game that day and the copious amount of time that Brady usually had was cut in to, well about 1/10 of its usual length. Brady got hit hard multiple times, and the Giants capitalized on every opportunity to get in there and hit our QB. This stopped the passing game entirely, even with Moss and Welker open all night long. Our running game got us some yardage, but nothing to write home about. A few bad decisions later, and the clock had run to one second left, with the Giants in possession and ahead by 3 points. Yes Belichick walked off the field, I don’t know why, and I am not proud of his actions. I can’t say I blame him, but it was still unprofessional. One second later it was official, and I had to pinch myself…nope not dreaming.

I read an article on the Patriots the other day and it used a great analogy comparing the patriot’s season to a MLB pitcher pitching a no hitter. They are actually very alike. The patriots pitched a no hitter till the 8^th inning, and the pressure got to them. Last out of the game and the baseball gets hit right between the first basemen’s legs, don’t I know the feeling. We’ll the Redsox have broken their curse and the Patriots still have Brady, Moss, Welker, Maroney, Samuel, Gay, and Stallworth for next season, to name a few. So I am pretty sure the Patriots will be able to break this little curse, if that’s what you want to call it. SuperBowl XXIII here we come!

Cheers!

College Kid: Stas

Super Bowl Drinking Game

2008-02-02T23:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, so maybe your favorite Football team didn't do so good this season. Don't worry. Cheer up! The College Kids have got you covered with the Super Bowl Drinking Game. Here, is how it works:

Each player must pick a team that they are supporting and stick with them the whole game (if you are from New York or Boston this will be real easy). You must drink when any of the following happens:

>Your opposing team scores a touchdown, Drink twice.
>For every Budweiser commercial, drink once.
>Your team throws an interception, drink three times.
>A flag gets thrown against your team, drink once.
>Your opposing team scores a field goal, drink once.
>Your QB gets sacked, drink once.
>A breast is exposed at halftime, drink five times, then rewind.
>Your team fumbles the ball, drink three times.
>There is a ridiculous musical collaboration at half time (i.e. NSYNC and Aerosmith), drink twice.
>Your opposing team scores on a two point conversion, drink twice.
>Your team misses a field goal, drink once.
>Your team challenges a play, drink twice.
>Your opposing team breaks a record, drink three times.
>The quarter/half ends, social.

If you have any other rules, add them in the comments. Also, if you liked this you should try our Facebook Drinking Game. You can also check our College Kid: Hostnik's Super Bowl 42 preview here.

Cheers!

The College Kids

Save Money and Help the Enviornent Without Leaving Your Room

2008-01-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

This nifty program saves you money and paper by getting rid of images you don't need when you print among other things. It monitors how much money you are saving as well as how much paper. It's a great way to look out for your environment without putting much effort into it. All you need to do is a quick install and your up and running. It can save you almost a hundred dollars a year and thousands of sheets of printer paper.

Give it a try! To see how it works you can watch a demo of the program here.

GreenPrint

How To: Find the Cheapest Way to Print Out Pictures Online

2008-01-29T12:46:00.000-08:00

First just let me say, "OMG, this site is a dream come true!" Now that I have that out of the way, let me explain why. I'm a college student, (surprise!) and a photographer. When the time comes to printing out my lovely pictures, I want a place that is cheap, and mostly likely on the internet (I don't have a car at school). This website allows you to enter the number of pictures you want, the size, and what type of shipping you want and it instantly shows you prices from around the web.

This is perfect for anybody, you don't need to be a goofy photographer like me to use this gem.

Check it out here.

Thought of the Day: Our Generation

2008-01-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Chris. I am a 20 year-old college student and I would rather watch VH1 reruns of Flavor of Love than pay any attention to what is going on in the world right now. I know there are problems in this country and beyond, but I just don't care that much.

Okay, that's not really true, but I promise you that's what many others think of our generation. So why is it that they peg us as being lazy, impatient, and unconcerned?

Well, because we kind of are. Now I know that I am generalizing when I say this. In fact, I know many people our age that are very intelligent and active in politics, but I also know a lot of people who are not, and who could care less.

We are not the first generation to not care that much. Generation X from the eighties was known for not being a very active generation, but the difference is in the times. Unlike them our generation has faced the challenges of war, terrorism, global warming, voter fraud, increase in AIDS, attacks on the Constitution, Genocide, and many other unique issues. Also, unlike them we are in an era of national uncertainty as the United States looses power in the world and struggles to keep up with other countries.

All current evidence suggest that our generation will be the first in more than 100 years to be worse off economically than our parents.

Keeping this in mind, I want to share with every one a little secret. Although I would put myself in the category of being informed and educated on politics and world affairs, I still commonly shut off the news when I see a piece on AIDS in Africa or Monks being killed. I am not proud to say this, but I suspect that I am not the only one and believe that this truth can explain a lot of issues with our media today. Do you know why these issues get the back seat to mind-blowing stories like Britney Spears shaving her head do avoid a drug test?

Because we let it! Those stories make the companies money, not Darfur or the Tsunami in Asia (does anyone even remember that?).

As great as things are for us, our generational predicament kind of blows. Our whole lives we have been drowning in advertisements, eating fast-food, cooking meals in 3 minutes, and downloading 5 albums at the same time. We are so used to things being instant that we forget to pay attention to anything that requires more than 90 seconds of focus. So just like our food, music, and communications; our news and understanding of the news has become prepackaged in glossy bite-sized squares.

Yum. Yum. So what should we do?

We need to remember that we are not little kids anymore, we are adults. Soon we will be running this country and we need to get it right this time around. So I encourage everyone reading (including myself) to push themselves to be more aware and active. No one is asking you to be a hard core activist or an overly obsessive polisci freak, but just be more aware. Remember, change is not just about doing, it is also about knowing.

That alone will put you 10 steps ahead of the game.

Cheers!

College Kid: Brack

I Can't Get That Song Out of My Head!

2008-01-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

You were at a party last night, a sweet song came on, but you don't have it on your computer. I have the perfect solution for you, Songza. This little gem allows you to search for ANY song, and play it for FREE. It's perfect for those times where you can't download anything because your on a public computer or your at your friend's place.

On top of being able to listen to endless music, they have a sweet feature which puts you a click away from the music video on youTube. Also, Songza is all about helping out local bands, and getting their music on the internet. Speaking of local bands, we are going to start reviewing and promoting them for free on Ask a College Kid. So, if you would like some free publicity and a chance to get heard by thousands of college students, drop as an email at support@askacollegekid.com. If you don't have a band and one of your buddies does, have THEM send us a message.

Check out Songza here.

P.S. I left a sweet song on their for you guys that has been stuck in my head ever since I played it on Guitar Hero.

Cheers,

College Kid: Matt

Firefox: Campus Edition

2008-01-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

To start off, let me just say that if you don't know what Firefox is, you have been missing out. Mozilla Firefox is a web browser that is a GREAT alternative to Internet Explorer.

Firefox just released a web browser specifically for college students that has three great features you can't beat. Some people might be familiar with these, and others may not. The first one is FoxyTunes which brings your media player right into your browser, so you can change and view the song that playing on your computer at that given time. Next, we have the StumbleUpon toolbar, which I like to explain as a "Random" button for the the internet. It allows you to view websites that YOU would like, based on your interests. Finally, it comes with a feature called Zotero which makes it easy to take notes in your browser while doing research.

I highly suggest you check out Firefox: Campus Edition, and give it a try.

Cheers!

Why 80% of Relationships Don't Work Out in College

2008-01-24T08:52:00.001-08:00

To start of, I know that statistic that says 70% of people in a relationship coming out of college get married, BUT that means that you need to be IN a relationship for that to work. When you start going out with somebody in college so many things run through your head, it almost starts to hurt. I'm going to let you know a few things that just don't let a relationship work during your four years in college.

Trust
Trust is always the most important thing in a relationship, and it should be the first thing you achieve when you start dating a person. If you don't trust your partner as soon as he/she leaves your eyesight, you have a BIG problem. You need to be able to trust someone who will always be there for you; no matter what. You shouldn't be worrying who your boyfriend or girlfriend is talking to in class (it is okay to be a little jealous though).

The "What if" Factor
It's Friday night, your at party, and a cute guy or girl gives you the the "elevator look" (the look when someone looks you up and down with an interest). But wait, your in an exclusive relationship, so why are you even thinking about this situation? It's because we are curious and sexual beings and we can't help it. It is okay to look at the opposite sex, it's healthy, but when it comes to thinking a lot about it (which usually happens) is when it becomes a problem. You begin to think, "What if I had gone and talked to that cute guy/girl?" That is the question that messes with peoples heads the most, and excuse my language, but it's really, really SHITTY!

Freedom
When you meet someone in college you usually live very close, if not right down the hall from one another. This can get very unhealthy because you can get sick of someone very easily if they are around 24/7. What you really want are those butterflies in your stomach to NEVER go away. You should always look forward to seeing the person you most care about. If he or she is always around you don't get to do the things you would usually do just chilling around by yourself. People need their alone time to think and continue their favorite hobbies what ever they may be.

Rumors
Need I say anymore than the title? I don't think so...

Long Distance Relationships
Most people have gone through one of these, and if not I'm sure you've been away from your significant other for a week or two. When it comes to these types of relationships visiting one another is SO important and communicating on a daily basis is a must (Not every five minutes though, that's a bit overkill). I take my hat off to people who are able to accomplish such a feat. Trust in this case is most important because you may never see who your partner hangs out with. You might hear them in the background when on the phone with them, and that can be very intimidating, but you must over look it.

My feeling about relationships in college is it's hard, very, very HARD. If I was given the chance to date the girls I did in my past years at college after I have graduated, things would be much different. Keep these things in mind next time you ask a girl or guy out, it might just help.

What do you think on the matter?

Cheers,

Matt

Break your Phone? Get All The Numbers Back From Facebook

2008-01-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Not many people know that Facebook has built a feature into the site that allows you to easily print out all your friends phone numbers in one easy click.

All you have to do is go here and print out that page (assuming you have a facebook account), and you instantly have everyone's contact information once again. No more creating stupid groups that are entitled, "Dropped my Phone in the Toilet, Need Numbers!" Just take the numbers that you want and your all set to go!

Jenkem - The New Drug?

2008-01-24T08:47:00.000-08:00

So a new fad that is becoming "popular" according to the media is a drug called Jenkem, also known as The Human Waste Drug or Butt Hash. Any drug with the words butt or human waste just doesn't seem very appetizing.

I did a little research on the well known Wikipedia to find that it is obviously very dangerous; I mean you are "huffing" fecal matter. The drug is a gas that is created from fermenting human waste in a bottle with some type of balloon over the top to catch the gas.

Wikipedia states:

The general concerns related to "huffing" and hallucinogenic drugs apply to Jenkem usage. The possibility of fecal-oral contamination due to lacking hygienic conditions during Jenkem manufacturing, which could lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal infections, must also be considered.

Here is a recent news clip on Jenkem:

Top 5 Cities for Beer Lovers

2008-01-24T08:46:00.000-08:00

1. Amsterdam
Cozy, neighborhood watering holes serving beer (or pils as the locals call it), the Dutch way – with exactly two fingers' worth of foam on top – aren’t hard to find in this city. Heineken, Grolsch, and Amstel are three of the best-known native brews, but a sampling of artisanal blends and witte (wheat) beers from neighboring Belgium are also on the menu at Amsterdam’s cozy “brown” bars, so called for their antiquated, nicotine-stained walls. If your interest in hops goes beyond consumption, take a tour of the Heineken Experience, where tastings are encouraged.

2. Berlin
Is there any place on earth better to sip Berliner Weise (beer with woodruff or raspberry juice) than in its city of origin? Berlin boasts more then 20 beer gardens where you can enjoy this local favorite – along with hundreds of other frothy ales. Though the city is a haven for beer lovers all year round, August in particular stands out, when the first week of the month is devoted to Bierfestival, and the city center turns into a 1.2 mile-long beer garden hosting 240 breweries from 80 countries, representing 1,750 different brands of beer.

3. Brugge
Slightly smaller than the Belgian capital of Brussels, Brugge (also known as Bruges) is renowned for its fine lace, Godiva chocolate – and beer. Indeed, this tiny city is, amazingly enough, a prime place to sample over 450 unique varieties of Belgian brew, each served in its own specialized glass. You’ll find a preserved pub, Café Vlissinghe, that dates back to 1515, breweries that still use antiquated brewing techniques, and even museums, like De Gouden Boom Brewery Museum, where beer has been produced since 1455.

4. Burlington
Set between two beer-bustling locales – Montreal to the north, and Boston to the southeast – Burlington, Vermont is a university town with one of the best brew cultures in New England. Home to the quirky micro-brewery Magic Hat, visitors can do as the locals do and sample homegrown brews such as #9, Fat Angel, and Blind Faith IPA to name a few. Church Street, a four-block pedestrian-only zone buzzes with vibrant bars with top-notch beer on tap, including Vermont brewed Otter Creek and the Long Trail beer collection, whose specialty beers change seasonally.

5. Dublin
No beer list of any kind would be complete without a nod to the Irish and its capital city of Dublin, where pub culture thrives and the favorite local pastime is imbibing in age-old taverns where luminaries like James Joyce perhaps once did. Dubliners and visitors alike can’t resist the smooth creamy flavor and dark body of Guinness, the city’s finest, home-brewed stout. The Guinness Storehouse, where visitors can watch the brewing process and learn to pour themselves the perfect pint, and The Porterhouse, Dublin’s first brew pub and a must on any pub crawl, are two of the city’s top draws.

via [ShermansTravel]

How To Avoid Trapped Arm Whilst Cuddling In Bed

2008-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

This is perfect for those damn small-ass beds they give you for your dorm room...

VideoJug: How To Avoid Trapped Arm Whilst Cuddling In Bed

Help! I'm Failing

2008-01-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

College Kids,

I am failing my environmental science class pretty bad. What should I do?

John
19 Years Old
Greenwich, CT

John,

The simplest answer would be to work really really hard for the rest of the semester. I would recommend talking to your professor and seeing if they will let you make anything up or do any kind of extra credit. Not all professors will do this, but a lot will especially if you show the initiative . Besides that you should try and find the reason(s) you are not doing good in the class (i.e. partying, missing class, girlfriend, ect.) and change your habits. Of course, if your school will still let you drop the class that may be a last resort too. Just remember if you do drop the class that is tuition money gone down the drain, so try and make it a last resort.

I hope this helped!

Cheers!

The College Kids

Ways to Sleep Better

2008-01-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

Reduce Screen Time Before Bed
Stop checking your email or watching TV just before bedtime and you'll sleep better. A recent study shows that people who consume electronic media (read: stare at a backlit screen) just before bedtime report lower-quality sleep even when they get as much sleep as non-pre-bedtime screenheads.

Exercise to Enhance Sleep
You already know that exercising provides lots of good health benefits—a good night's sleep being one of them. But make sure you exercise in the morning or afternoon, not at night, to see the benefits while you dream.

Eat to Enhance Sleep
Some foods are more conducive to a better night's sleep than others. You already knew about warm milk, chamomile tea and turkey, but Yahoo Food lists others, like bananas, potatoes, oatmeal and whole-wheat bread.

Master the Power Nap
Slowly but surely, the benefits of the classic, 20-minute power nap are getting more recognition, with big companies installing sleep pods at the office and more software applications like Pzizz helping to set the right power nap aural scene.

Avoid the Soul-Shattering Alarm Buzzer
No one likes starting the day by getting ripped out of bed by that evil BEEP BEEP BEEP of the alarm clock, but some sleepyheads ignore anything gentler.

Teach Yourself to Lucid Dream
Arrive at school naked in that terrible dream last night? Turn nightmares around by knowing you're dreaming while you do it. Lucid dreaming opens up all sorts of possibilities for controlling where and how your dreams go. Teach yourself to lucid dream by keeping a dream journal and learning reality checks and dream extending techniques.

Via [Lifehacker]

Theme Parties: The Best of the Best

2008-01-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

Throughout your college career you will attend hundreds of parties, some lame, and some ridiculously fun. You probably have been seen at least half of these parties, and if not, why not throw one yourself?

The first one that is popular among the guys is called a Red Light Green Light Party (also known as a traffic light party and Stop and Go party). These parties are known for its red, green, and yellow shirts that people who attend the party wear. Each color shirt symbolizes a different thing. First, is the red shirt, this means NO GO! When people have red on, they do not want to hook up with anyone and are strictly there to have some fun. Yellow, means that they need to meet the right person in order "fool around". Finally, the green t-shirt means that everything is a GO!

Now a days you can't walk into a dorm and not expect to see a blacklight dangling from the ceiling by the duct tape that their mom bought them. Blacklight Parties are known for their white shirts and florescent markers. Beware of these parties if you don't want to wake up with a million doodles on your face in highlighter. Although these parties are very fun, if raving isn't your thing, you might want to reconsider the Beer Pong contest down the street.

Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes is one of many parties that pretty much have the same theme; have all the guys were there best button-up and all the girls dress slutty. This is the party you want to attend if you just can't wait for National Dress Like a Slut Day (aka Halloween).

The Graffiti Party (aka Marker Party) is a party that you go to with a white shirt and marker in hand. When you leave you will have profanity written all over you and a t-shirt that will be a nice addition to your dorm room wall. Don't expect to go to class on Monday unless you feel like bathing in bleach for the next few days.

Finally, the infamous Toga Party. You have not fully experienced college until you have gone to one of these crazy, nothing but a sheet on parties. This shindig was made famous (and a college tradition) by the movie Animal House. From then on, people have been wearing their bed sheets to parties every weekend all around the nation.

Beer Review: Harvest Moon

2008-01-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

Well it’s fall. That’s right, midterms are kicking you in the ass, the World Series is just around the corner, and its not too long before you will be attending a costume party dressed as Duff man or a slutty librarian /teacher /botanist /hooker /receptionist /cop (and there are no complaints from all of us at askacollegekid.com!!!!). But lets be honest, we all need to take a little break and relax, especially in this stressful time of the year. When you get a chance, buy some Harvest Moon by the brewers of Blue Moon. This seasonal beer has a hint of pumpkin that will not leave your taste buds disappointed. Harvest Moon is sold during the fall months at any liquor store. Most pumpkin beers that I have tried have a little bit too much pumpkin, but these master brewers have nailed it. The smooth ale finishes nicely without an explosion of pumpkin in your mouth, but still enough to know its there. When you get a chance or when you need a break, pick up a six-pack of Harvest Moon and enjoy.

Drink Responsibly.