One of my friends at UK is considering dropping out of college. He is in a pretty bad place right now. He's practically moved out of his dorm and is back at home because he blames his roommate for a lot of his problems, even though his roommate is really quiet and agreeable. He has dropped his calculus class and his chemistry class, dropping him back to 8 hours this semester. Since this isn't enough for a full time student, UK revoked his scholarship.
Why is he in such a bad place? One reason (the main reason) is that he smokes pot. A lot of pot. As another friend likes to put it, "he blazed his brains out." Now, a lot of people claim that marijuana isn't bad for you. This isn't true. Mentally, it doesn't seem to be that bad for you, other than the fact that some people get almost addicted to it, even though it isn't addictive. However, it has been shown to increase the chances of mental illness when used chronically. It is also bad physically, because smoking a joint deposits more tar in the lungs than smoking a cigarette does. The worst effect by far is the lack of judgement shown while actually high.
My friend has gotten really bad about smoking weed. He does stupid things while high, like leaving all his pot paraphernalia around his house where his parents can find it. Good thing they didn't kick him out for it. All he cares about now is getting to the next high. He plans on dropping out of college next semester to do God knows what with his life. Even though it isn't addictive, he has become addicted to it. Remember that even though it seems fairly harmless, marijuana is a drug like any other and can seriously mess up your life.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Credit vs Debit
In response to my last credit post some people wanted to know what the difference was between credit and debit. The answer is a little confusing.
A credit card is a card that is not linked to a bank account. You can charge money to the card and the credit card company sends you a bill at the end of the month. On these cards you have to be careful of your limit. It is confusing but they do not actually limit you at your limit. You can go over the limit and they will then charge you over limit fees. I have had this happen to me. For this reason I will only get a credit card that has a high limit because I do not want to be worried about hitting it. My spending varies so a low limit might be fine most of the time, but some times I will spend ten times what I normally do. Some credit cards have a yearly fee for having them. This is most common with mileage cards, so you need to think if the fee justifies you getting the card.
On a credit card you have to pay the minimum balance on your bill or you will be charged a late free. In addition to the late fee you will be charged interest if you only pay the minimum. For this reason it is wise to pay the bill off in full. That way you don’t have to worry about interest or fees.
A debit card is linked to a bank account. When you purchase something the money is taken out of your bank account. You would think this would mean you could only spend what you have but it doesn’t. You bank will allow you to make your account go negative and they will charge you fees for doing this as well, so watch your balance.
Most debit cards can also be swiped as a credit card. By this I mean you can press the credit button when you checkout and it will still go though. It still works almost the same though, taking the money out of your account. By swiping it as a credit card you have to sign for purchases instead of entering a pin when it done as debit.
Swiping your debit card as credit has some advantages. Some debit cards offer you rewards like credit cards do. The only way to get the rewards is when you swipe it as credit since then the stores get charged a fee. There is virtually no fee when swiped as debit.
Also all cards swiped as credit have more security. Charges done as credit can be disputed with the bank if they are wrong, while debit purchases can not be disputed. A debit card allows you to get cash back most of the time, so you don’t have to go to an ATM to get cash. This is extremely useful if your banks ATM is not near by and you would be forced to pay a fee at another banks ATM. There is no fee for getting cash while using a debit card.
It costs retail stores money to accept anything swiped as a credit card. The stores usually have to pay 2-3% of the price of your purchase as a fee. This is why some places do not accept credit cards or only accept debit cards. Through this fee the credit card company makes money and it also allows them to give you rewards for purchasing stuff.
A credit card is a card that is not linked to a bank account. You can charge money to the card and the credit card company sends you a bill at the end of the month. On these cards you have to be careful of your limit. It is confusing but they do not actually limit you at your limit. You can go over the limit and they will then charge you over limit fees. I have had this happen to me. For this reason I will only get a credit card that has a high limit because I do not want to be worried about hitting it. My spending varies so a low limit might be fine most of the time, but some times I will spend ten times what I normally do. Some credit cards have a yearly fee for having them. This is most common with mileage cards, so you need to think if the fee justifies you getting the card.
On a credit card you have to pay the minimum balance on your bill or you will be charged a late free. In addition to the late fee you will be charged interest if you only pay the minimum. For this reason it is wise to pay the bill off in full. That way you don’t have to worry about interest or fees.
A debit card is linked to a bank account. When you purchase something the money is taken out of your bank account. You would think this would mean you could only spend what you have but it doesn’t. You bank will allow you to make your account go negative and they will charge you fees for doing this as well, so watch your balance.
Most debit cards can also be swiped as a credit card. By this I mean you can press the credit button when you checkout and it will still go though. It still works almost the same though, taking the money out of your account. By swiping it as a credit card you have to sign for purchases instead of entering a pin when it done as debit.
Swiping your debit card as credit has some advantages. Some debit cards offer you rewards like credit cards do. The only way to get the rewards is when you swipe it as credit since then the stores get charged a fee. There is virtually no fee when swiped as debit.
Also all cards swiped as credit have more security. Charges done as credit can be disputed with the bank if they are wrong, while debit purchases can not be disputed. A debit card allows you to get cash back most of the time, so you don’t have to go to an ATM to get cash. This is extremely useful if your banks ATM is not near by and you would be forced to pay a fee at another banks ATM. There is no fee for getting cash while using a debit card.
It costs retail stores money to accept anything swiped as a credit card. The stores usually have to pay 2-3% of the price of your purchase as a fee. This is why some places do not accept credit cards or only accept debit cards. Through this fee the credit card company makes money and it also allows them to give you rewards for purchasing stuff.
Becoming Greek
While living a Greek life may be attractive to many, becoming part of said life is never easy. In fact, it is often time-consuming and annoying, a constant thing that lasts months until initiation. One of my friends chose to join a sorority and she is going through this process as I write this. She won't be initiated until mid-November. Until then, she has to do all kinds of little tasks, which take up a lot of her time.
Right now, for one, she has to take this online course on alcohol awareness. I understand why this is important to her sorority. A lot of people in Greek organizations have had bad things happen to them as a direct result of their booze consumption. However, this course doesn't say anything that she hasn't learned a thousand times already. How much a drink is, how men can drink more than women, how being drunk can affect your judgement. None of it really matters since she doesn't drink anyway. It seems like a waste of time for her to have to take the course just like everyone who does drink.
This isn't the only thing she has to do. Not by a long shot. She has all of these random little tasks her sorority assigns her. Last weekend she had a lockin to go to, where she and everyone in her class have to stay in the sorority house for 24 hours together. It is supposed to encourage bonding or something. Next weekend she has a lockout, where she will go with a handful of other girls and stay at the house of one of the sorority members who lives a few hours away from Purdue. She has also had to do some other things, like go to a pumpkin carving and pledge night. Most of these activities serve no real purpose. They are supposed to help the group become closer, but it doesn't help much when none of them want to be there in the first place. My friend is also supposed to go to a lot of parties held at fraternaties, but she chooses not to because of all the alcohol consumption at them.
Now her sorority cannot actually force her to do all these things. They are not allowed to force her to do things like go to fraternity parties. However, they can reward her for doing so. She can get points for going to events and meeting sisters from older classes and stuff, points that will help her get a better room and other benefits when she actually moves into the house next semester. In this way the sorority perpetuates the Greek traditions of togetherness and drinking.
Why does she have to jump through all these hoops to join the sorority? She doesn't drink and doesn't want to drink, yet she has to complete the alcohol awareness course and gets invited to parties (which seem kind of contradictory...). She wants to be a part of her sorority, but she doesn't want it to take up all her time and become her whole life. It seems like her sorority makes joining overly difficult on people like her who want to join and won't do anything stupid, but have things to do outside of Greek life.
Right now, for one, she has to take this online course on alcohol awareness. I understand why this is important to her sorority. A lot of people in Greek organizations have had bad things happen to them as a direct result of their booze consumption. However, this course doesn't say anything that she hasn't learned a thousand times already. How much a drink is, how men can drink more than women, how being drunk can affect your judgement. None of it really matters since she doesn't drink anyway. It seems like a waste of time for her to have to take the course just like everyone who does drink.
This isn't the only thing she has to do. Not by a long shot. She has all of these random little tasks her sorority assigns her. Last weekend she had a lockin to go to, where she and everyone in her class have to stay in the sorority house for 24 hours together. It is supposed to encourage bonding or something. Next weekend she has a lockout, where she will go with a handful of other girls and stay at the house of one of the sorority members who lives a few hours away from Purdue. She has also had to do some other things, like go to a pumpkin carving and pledge night. Most of these activities serve no real purpose. They are supposed to help the group become closer, but it doesn't help much when none of them want to be there in the first place. My friend is also supposed to go to a lot of parties held at fraternaties, but she chooses not to because of all the alcohol consumption at them.
Now her sorority cannot actually force her to do all these things. They are not allowed to force her to do things like go to fraternity parties. However, they can reward her for doing so. She can get points for going to events and meeting sisters from older classes and stuff, points that will help her get a better room and other benefits when she actually moves into the house next semester. In this way the sorority perpetuates the Greek traditions of togetherness and drinking.
Why does she have to jump through all these hoops to join the sorority? She doesn't drink and doesn't want to drink, yet she has to complete the alcohol awareness course and gets invited to parties (which seem kind of contradictory...). She wants to be a part of her sorority, but she doesn't want it to take up all her time and become her whole life. It seems like her sorority makes joining overly difficult on people like her who want to join and won't do anything stupid, but have things to do outside of Greek life.
Roommate Rumba
It’s been a few months and I think I have a handle on this college bit. I know people, I make it to my classes, and I have friends.
This means that I can further test the waters of my roommates. Don’t get me wrong. They’re great roommates. I’ve heard horror stories of bad roommates (like getting peed on). You can simply look through this blog and find rants about roommates.
So, here’s the background: I live in the dorms with 2 other girls. We have an apartment, basically, because they turned some married student housing into undergrad. We have our own bathroom, a living room, a fridge, a stove, and all the other cool stuff that an apartment should have. I’ve been doing almost all the grocery shopping (and both of my roommates are loaded with money…) and the cleaning. I’m the one who calls them when they don’t come home to make sure that they’re not on the side of the road somewhere.
So, I decided to leave for the weekend, get some fresh air, and see how long it would take them to realize that I’m not there, and I won’t be for a few days.
I left on Friday after class. I packed my backpack with everything I needed so it wouldn’t look suspicious and so I could just leave without going back to the dorm. I had a friend who lives near Chicago come pick me up. (We haven’t seen each other in a while, so said person didn’t mind making the drive. There were other reasons for me leaving, as I said above.)
I left campus around 4:30pm. We made it to said friend’s house around 6:30 (we had some car trouble). We then proceded to Chicago for said friend’s father’s name day (it’s a Greek thing). So, we wandered around Chicago for a while, and I tried to think positive, as if my roommates would realize that I wasn’t there and never said anything about leaving.
I didn’t receive a text message until 3 AM (their time). So much for concern about my well being. I literally could’ve been on the side of some road somewhere and all I would’ve gotten was a text message at 3AM. Thanks, guys. I feel the love.
On the other hand, they have to fend for themselves until Sunday. That means that they’ll have to go buy their own soda (if they don’t steal mine that I have specifically for me), clean the place themselves, do the dishes, and they’ll actually have to get dirty for once.
In a weird way, I’m looking forward to getting back, just for the looks on their faces.
To Break or Not to Break... That is the Question.
I know that I blogged earlier this afternoon, but for some reason I feel like doing it again today.
I am homesick. I'm not lying.
I had this dream last night about waking up on a Wednesday morning at Purdue. It was the typical Wednesday--an 11:30 math class, a 1:30 educational lab, a 3:30 Spanish class, and a 4:30 English class. I usually sleep in every Wednesday, but for some reason during my dream, I woke up 7:45 in the morning. I guess I was hungry, so I went to breakfast, and while I was walking back to my dorm hall, I saw my parent's car drive past me. I just knew it was them. The white and gold Buick Rendezvous with a big block Purdue "P" sticker above the license plate. The "Purdue Mom" sticker was stuck to the back window, and the mirror on the passenger side of the car was still banged up from the last time I backed it out of the garage while I still lived at home.
I thought I was crazy, so I just walked up to my dorm room anyway. Then later on, I went down to the lobby to turn in letter that I wanted to mail. Sure enough, my family was sitting in the lobby area on the couches and chairs. They ran up to me and gave me the BIGGEST hug in the world! I ended up skipping my four classes that day showing them around campus. We were getting ready to go to Lafayette so my mom could take me to the mall.
Then, I woke up... sadly.
I've felt so stressed out lately and all I want to do is go home for a visit. Going home is all I've been wanting to do lately for the past month, but of course, I haven't had one free weekend to take time and go. When I woke up from my dream, I realized that I just need a break every once in a while. I never do anything for myself. I constantly sit in my room and do homework. I'm an Elementary Education major, and I do more than my roommate who is a Pharmacy major! It's nuts!
So, after I woke up from my dream this morning, I called my mom,crying (I know, I'm a baby), and asked if I could go home this weekend. How could she say no?
I just don't know if I can wait another six days now that I know I'm going! I just want to take time and get away. I think everyone needs to take a break from their studies every once in a while. If you can't go home, it's nice to just lay down, relax, watch some TV. Do whatever it takes, if only for an hour, to take time for yourself. If you miss your family as much as I do (click here for tips if you're homesick), go home... if you live close enough. You deserve it as much as the next person.
I am homesick. I'm not lying.
I had this dream last night about waking up on a Wednesday morning at Purdue. It was the typical Wednesday--an 11:30 math class, a 1:30 educational lab, a 3:30 Spanish class, and a 4:30 English class. I usually sleep in every Wednesday, but for some reason during my dream, I woke up 7:45 in the morning. I guess I was hungry, so I went to breakfast, and while I was walking back to my dorm hall, I saw my parent's car drive past me. I just knew it was them. The white and gold Buick Rendezvous with a big block Purdue "P" sticker above the license plate. The "Purdue Mom" sticker was stuck to the back window, and the mirror on the passenger side of the car was still banged up from the last time I backed it out of the garage while I still lived at home.
I thought I was crazy, so I just walked up to my dorm room anyway. Then later on, I went down to the lobby to turn in letter that I wanted to mail. Sure enough, my family was sitting in the lobby area on the couches and chairs. They ran up to me and gave me the BIGGEST hug in the world! I ended up skipping my four classes that day showing them around campus. We were getting ready to go to Lafayette so my mom could take me to the mall.
Then, I woke up... sadly.
I've felt so stressed out lately and all I want to do is go home for a visit. Going home is all I've been wanting to do lately for the past month, but of course, I haven't had one free weekend to take time and go. When I woke up from my dream, I realized that I just need a break every once in a while. I never do anything for myself. I constantly sit in my room and do homework. I'm an Elementary Education major, and I do more than my roommate who is a Pharmacy major! It's nuts!
So, after I woke up from my dream this morning, I called my mom,crying (I know, I'm a baby), and asked if I could go home this weekend. How could she say no?
I just don't know if I can wait another six days now that I know I'm going! I just want to take time and get away. I think everyone needs to take a break from their studies every once in a while. If you can't go home, it's nice to just lay down, relax, watch some TV. Do whatever it takes, if only for an hour, to take time for yourself. If you miss your family as much as I do (click here for tips if you're homesick), go home... if you live close enough. You deserve it as much as the next person.
*Finally Fall*
What is up with this crazy Indiana weather one minute it is 75 degrees and a minute later it is 45 degrees. It changes so drastically down here every day I wish it would just stick to an average temperature and not be so extreme some days. I have learnt that you need to be prepared for whatever you face and you never know. Some days when I get up I check the weather online and it predicts partly sunny and sixty degrees and ends up pouring down rain which is the worst.
Here are some tips that I will give to you to help you face the bizarre unpredictable weather. The first thing I did was buy a compactable small travel umbrella that you can just put in an outside pocket of your book bag so it is very convenient when it starts to rain. The bigger umbrellas are of course nicer but for the practical and easy way I just carry with me a small umbrella and when major storms are predicted I take the bigger one.
A second thing is to always wear a sweatshirt or a little sweater in the fall because when the sun goes behind the clouds it gets so cold. You can always just take it off and put it in your book bag if you get really happened but that very rarely happens to me. It is nice to know you will always be warm and is especially nice when you are walking to those seven thirty classes where all you think about is still laying in your bed and its pitch black outside. I would recommend a zip up fleece they are so comfy and if you do take it off you can easily stuff it in your bag and it will fit perfectly.
Fall is a very pretty time of the year especially when all the leaves change and you have big bonfires and of course Halloween. I just do not like the unpredictable weather and I am not looking forward to the winter walking through inches of snow just to get to class.
Here are some tips that I will give to you to help you face the bizarre unpredictable weather. The first thing I did was buy a compactable small travel umbrella that you can just put in an outside pocket of your book bag so it is very convenient when it starts to rain. The bigger umbrellas are of course nicer but for the practical and easy way I just carry with me a small umbrella and when major storms are predicted I take the bigger one.
A second thing is to always wear a sweatshirt or a little sweater in the fall because when the sun goes behind the clouds it gets so cold. You can always just take it off and put it in your book bag if you get really happened but that very rarely happens to me. It is nice to know you will always be warm and is especially nice when you are walking to those seven thirty classes where all you think about is still laying in your bed and its pitch black outside. I would recommend a zip up fleece they are so comfy and if you do take it off you can easily stuff it in your bag and it will fit perfectly.
Fall is a very pretty time of the year especially when all the leaves change and you have big bonfires and of course Halloween. I just do not like the unpredictable weather and I am not looking forward to the winter walking through inches of snow just to get to class.
HaLLoWeeN!
Halloween is celebrated every year on the thirty first day in October which is a spooky time of the year that is filled with creepy creatures, scary ghost stories, and haunted places. Halloween started centuries ago as part of the Roman religious practices and with the Druids. Since then it has a totally different meaning obviously it is not thought of as a holy day by most and has changed drastically. When we were little we would dress up in cute costumes. We would go door to door trying to get as much candy as possible and would be on the biggest sugar highs ever and our parents would want to kill us. Oh what a great time that always was how could a kid not like that?
The question is now what do freshmen in college usually do around Halloween or any holiday in particular? I have noticed that many people are in the festive mood around campus and have lots of innovative and cleaver ideas. In Harrison Hall for example they are giving away festive decorations that you can have for free on Tuesday at 7 pm in the North Activity Room. I think this is an awesome idea because trying to get to a Wal-Mart or any store in general is so tricky because most of us do not have cars and have to rely on the bus to take us. This is an inconvenience because unlike getting picked up and dropped off around campus the bus only makes a few rounds and not as often to stores such as Wal-Mart.
Just the other day in the middle of campus, there was Purdue students selling pumpkins between three and five dollars. I think this would be a cute decoration to add to your dorm room either on your desk or dresser. You could also carve the pumpkin or paint a face on it which may be easier and less messy. Simple things like this put you in a good mood and the spirit of Halloween.
I recently was introduced to the Haunted Fairgrounds that is in Lafayette. They promote it by a funeral car going around campus with creepy loud music coming from it and advertising it. If you’re into haunted and spooky places like that I would highly recommend it. My friend went last week and she said it’s one of the creepiest places she has been to.
The part that I am most excited for and can’t wait to see is going out and just looking at all the costumes. There are a lot of Halloween costume parties this weekend and I am excited to see what everyone is wearing and their creative ideas. I am always amazed to see what some people come up with that I would have never dreamed of. You will always have your traditional nurse, policemen, princess, and things like that but there is always some exotic and interesting ones thrown in there. I can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes and eat some candy.
The question is now what do freshmen in college usually do around Halloween or any holiday in particular? I have noticed that many people are in the festive mood around campus and have lots of innovative and cleaver ideas. In Harrison Hall for example they are giving away festive decorations that you can have for free on Tuesday at 7 pm in the North Activity Room. I think this is an awesome idea because trying to get to a Wal-Mart or any store in general is so tricky because most of us do not have cars and have to rely on the bus to take us. This is an inconvenience because unlike getting picked up and dropped off around campus the bus only makes a few rounds and not as often to stores such as Wal-Mart.
Just the other day in the middle of campus, there was Purdue students selling pumpkins between three and five dollars. I think this would be a cute decoration to add to your dorm room either on your desk or dresser. You could also carve the pumpkin or paint a face on it which may be easier and less messy. Simple things like this put you in a good mood and the spirit of Halloween.
I recently was introduced to the Haunted Fairgrounds that is in Lafayette. They promote it by a funeral car going around campus with creepy loud music coming from it and advertising it. If you’re into haunted and spooky places like that I would highly recommend it. My friend went last week and she said it’s one of the creepiest places she has been to.
The part that I am most excited for and can’t wait to see is going out and just looking at all the costumes. There are a lot of Halloween costume parties this weekend and I am excited to see what everyone is wearing and their creative ideas. I am always amazed to see what some people come up with that I would have never dreamed of. You will always have your traditional nurse, policemen, princess, and things like that but there is always some exotic and interesting ones thrown in there. I can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes and eat some candy.
Her Stuff is Hers, Your Stuff is Not.
Ok, let me just start off by saying that my roommate is CRAZY! Since day one, she has been on my case about every little thing I do that annoys her, such as opening a window or getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, which accidentally woke her up once. She got mad at me for putting a rug on the floor once, and the next thing I know it was folded up and put in my closet.
I knew the decision to room with a close friend I had in high school was a mistake when she arrived on move-in day and basically took over the entire room. My mom and dad were helping me make my bed and put the carpet down when she showed up with her mom, dad, aunt, cousin, and grandma. There was NO room for my family in the room and we were, honestly, standing in a corner the whole time because there was nowhere else for us to go. They got all her stuff where they wanted it without even asking me. I do not lie when I say that her stuff is taking up 85% of OUR room. My parents were mad, and they wanted to say something to her and her family, but I wouldn't let them because I didn't want to cause a problem. Little did I know that would give her the idea that she could walk all over me from there on out.
Occasionally, after I go home for a weekend, I'll bring something back with me, such as a storage bin. I'll put it somewhere where it is located out of her way because I am such a considerate person you know, and then I'll leave the room and come back to find that she isn't here, but my bin is moved somewhere else. That is ridiculous.
Because of the fact that she left me no room on the first day being here, I had to get all my stuff to fit in and on my desk and in my closet. Since I don't have room for my books on my desk, I have not found a real good spot to keep them yet, so I have a cardboard box located under her futon where I keep them. The box is not visible and sometimes it's hard to reach so every once in a while, I'll put the books on the floor in the corner. Of course, if she doesn't like them there, she'll put them in the box for me.
Lately things have gotten way out of control. She has begun to hang my clothes up in my closet for me if I put them on the back of my desk chair or hang them on my drying rack after I do my laundry. This is my property. Agreed? I have told her this over and over, but she just does not understand. She HATES when things aren't the way she wants them, and she thinks she has the right to fix these issues herself. WRONG.
All I know is that if you have a roommate taking control and walking all over you, do something about it sooner. I should have said something at the very beginning because it has gotten way out of hand now. Also, if you are having these problems, your residence hall usually has a time during the year (at the end of a semester) to request a residence hall change or a roommate/room change. If it's that bad, it might be a good idea to consider this option. I am.
Just remember that her stuff is hers, and your stuff isn't hers.
I knew the decision to room with a close friend I had in high school was a mistake when she arrived on move-in day and basically took over the entire room. My mom and dad were helping me make my bed and put the carpet down when she showed up with her mom, dad, aunt, cousin, and grandma. There was NO room for my family in the room and we were, honestly, standing in a corner the whole time because there was nowhere else for us to go. They got all her stuff where they wanted it without even asking me. I do not lie when I say that her stuff is taking up 85% of OUR room. My parents were mad, and they wanted to say something to her and her family, but I wouldn't let them because I didn't want to cause a problem. Little did I know that would give her the idea that she could walk all over me from there on out.
Occasionally, after I go home for a weekend, I'll bring something back with me, such as a storage bin. I'll put it somewhere where it is located out of her way because I am such a considerate person you know, and then I'll leave the room and come back to find that she isn't here, but my bin is moved somewhere else. That is ridiculous.
Because of the fact that she left me no room on the first day being here, I had to get all my stuff to fit in and on my desk and in my closet. Since I don't have room for my books on my desk, I have not found a real good spot to keep them yet, so I have a cardboard box located under her futon where I keep them. The box is not visible and sometimes it's hard to reach so every once in a while, I'll put the books on the floor in the corner. Of course, if she doesn't like them there, she'll put them in the box for me.
Lately things have gotten way out of control. She has begun to hang my clothes up in my closet for me if I put them on the back of my desk chair or hang them on my drying rack after I do my laundry. This is my property. Agreed? I have told her this over and over, but she just does not understand. She HATES when things aren't the way she wants them, and she thinks she has the right to fix these issues herself. WRONG.
All I know is that if you have a roommate taking control and walking all over you, do something about it sooner. I should have said something at the very beginning because it has gotten way out of hand now. Also, if you are having these problems, your residence hall usually has a time during the year (at the end of a semester) to request a residence hall change or a roommate/room change. If it's that bad, it might be a good idea to consider this option. I am.
Just remember that her stuff is hers, and your stuff isn't hers.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Trying to stay up?
Not all drinks are created equal. I am talking about the amount of caffeine in a drink. I know many people that use soda or energy drinks to help them stay awake. These people I am talking about have to stay up because they have left their homework to the last minute and now have to stay up all night to get it done.
If you find yourself having to stay up, you might want to think about what you drink. Some drinks have way more caffeine in them to help you stay up.
According to abcnews.com and wilstar.com some drinks have the following:
RedBull – 80.0mg (8.2 oz can)
Jolt – 71.2mg (12-ounce can)
Coca Cola Classic -- 34.5mg (12-ounce can)
Diet Pepsi -- 36mg (12-ounce can)
Pepsi -- 37.5mg (12-ounce can)
Diet Coke -- 46.5mg (12-ounce can)
Mountain Dew -- 54mg (12-ounce can)
Diet Pepsi Max -- 69mg (12-ounce can)
Instant Coffee -- 40-105mg (150ml cup)
Filtered Coffee -- 110-150mg (150ml cup)
Tea -- 20-100mg (150ml cup)
Starbucks Coffee, Grande -- 500mg (16-ounce cup)
Chocolate Cake -- 20-30mg (one slice)
Caffeine Pill -- 50-200mg (read label to determine exact dose)
Looking at those numbers I would personally go with Diet Coke or Mountain Dew to keep around for everyday use. I would keep soda around over energy drinks because soda is relatively cheap where an energy drink is about $2.00. I can walk over to the gas station by my house and get a 42oz soda for $0.69. If you want something powerful, I would suggest the original source of caffeine, coffee. I just don’t like coffee, so that is not an option for me.
In the end I recommend that you just get your stuff done in advance, so you do not have to rely on substances to help you do them. Also this way you will have way less stress.
If you find yourself having to stay up, you might want to think about what you drink. Some drinks have way more caffeine in them to help you stay up.
According to abcnews.com and wilstar.com some drinks have the following:
RedBull – 80.0mg (8.2 oz can)
Jolt – 71.2mg (12-ounce can)
Coca Cola Classic -- 34.5mg (12-ounce can)
Diet Pepsi -- 36mg (12-ounce can)
Pepsi -- 37.5mg (12-ounce can)
Diet Coke -- 46.5mg (12-ounce can)
Mountain Dew -- 54mg (12-ounce can)
Diet Pepsi Max -- 69mg (12-ounce can)
Instant Coffee -- 40-105mg (150ml cup)
Filtered Coffee -- 110-150mg (150ml cup)
Tea -- 20-100mg (150ml cup)
Starbucks Coffee, Grande -- 500mg (16-ounce cup)
Chocolate Cake -- 20-30mg (one slice)
Caffeine Pill -- 50-200mg (read label to determine exact dose)
Looking at those numbers I would personally go with Diet Coke or Mountain Dew to keep around for everyday use. I would keep soda around over energy drinks because soda is relatively cheap where an energy drink is about $2.00. I can walk over to the gas station by my house and get a 42oz soda for $0.69. If you want something powerful, I would suggest the original source of caffeine, coffee. I just don’t like coffee, so that is not an option for me.
In the end I recommend that you just get your stuff done in advance, so you do not have to rely on substances to help you do them. Also this way you will have way less stress.
Cooking tips
So, my roommate is attempting to learn how to cook. Some things just aren’t quite clicking. I’ve been making food for myself for the past 10 or so years of my life. Here are some of my suggestions for cooking:
-clean as you go. If you’re finished with a untensil, put it in the sink. Don’t leave it out.
-check to see if you have all the ingredients before you start in. It’s a pain in the butt when you realize that you don’t have any sugar when you’re making cookies.
-measure everything out before you start in. Just because you have all the ingredients doesn’t always mean that you have enough.
-high heat makes things tough while low heat slowly cooks. Don’t be tempted to crank up the heat to cut the cooking time. It will only make things crunchy and chewy.
-let things cool before continuing (if the recipe calls for it). If you’re frosting a cake, let the cake cool before putting on the frosting.
-follow directions as best as you can, especially if it’s your first time making the dish. Try to do everything as the directions state for optimal results.
-play with the recipe if you feel comfortable. I make these amazing brownies at home…they have chunks of Hershey bar and chocolate chips sprinkled throughout and I add some chocolate syrup to the mix. Oh, they’re heavenly, but definitely not the directions from the cookbook.
-watch the food. Don’t let things boil over, catch on fire, etc.
Photo courtesy of http://www.thimble.ca/?p=742
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Calm Before the Storm
For all of those people like me who have those weeks where you have three exams in a row, i have some advice. Be prepared for your exams ahead of time, because studying during that week is next to useless.
I find it appalling that teachers will still assign homework for the next unit during the week of the test, they definitely shouldn't be allowed to do that. So you gotta study before those hell weeks.
Those weeks can be used for review and practice, but if you haven't hit the books during them your screwed. This is another area where I find college to be so much more different than high school. In high school, I would study the night before a test and usually be fine. In college, that'll get you a one-way ticket outta here.
I find it appalling that teachers will still assign homework for the next unit during the week of the test, they definitely shouldn't be allowed to do that. So you gotta study before those hell weeks.
Those weeks can be used for review and practice, but if you haven't hit the books during them your screwed. This is another area where I find college to be so much more different than high school. In high school, I would study the night before a test and usually be fine. In college, that'll get you a one-way ticket outta here.
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