Recycle Your iPod/Cell Phones

In an effort to help the environment, Apple Inc. has come out with a new recycling program. You can now recycle your old iPods, iPhones, and cell phones from all other manufactures for free. All you have to do is go to their websites recycling page, fill out the information, and send it in. They even pay for shipping.

Also, If you are looking to save a little on you next iPod purchase you can bring your old iPod into an Apple Store and save 10%. Thats not bad, especially if your eying that new 32GB iPod Touch (I so want one).

[AppleRecycling]
[TreeHugger]

Cheers!

The Four Types of Facebookers

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.

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Thought of the Day: Call Me!

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.

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Break your Phone? Get All The Numbers Back From Facebook

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?

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

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]

Help! I'm Failing

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

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

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.

How to Throw the Perfect Kegger

College Kids,

What Do I need to throw the perfect kegger?

Ricky
21 Years
Old Sugarfield, CA

Ricky,

This is what you need:

• A Keg - Thank you captain obvious.
  
• A Cool Place for the Keg - We would recommend you put it in a bin/tub of ice.
• Cups - This is also obvious, but must be handled delicately; especially if you are charging at the door. If you are charging, someone trustworthy (preferably YOU) needs to hold on to the cups and give them to people when they pay.
• A Good Location - Make sure that your house/apartment is in a good location for a kegger. If your neighbors are not the nicest people in the world you may want to find a new spot.
• Good Music - Whether it is a band, DJ, or just an ipod, music is key. Make sure you have that situation set up well ahead of time. Also, depending on the type of party you want, you may want to get some dance lights.
  
• Drinking Games - While these are not mandatory, they are definitely recommended. Drinking games are fun and will make the night much more interesting. For popular games and rules go here.
• Good People - Although keggers are in many ways about quantity they are still about quality. Invite people that are going to be fun and respect your property.
  
• Know Your Laws - Different states have different laws on kegs. Whoever is buying the keg should know what their rights are if they were ever to get caught serving minors(not that were encouraging it). Some states are very strict so be careful!

We hope this helped.

Cheers!

The College Kids

How to Quit Facebook

Maybe your affinity for Facebook began with a simple desire to keep in touch with your friends, or make new ones online. Or perhaps you were just bored. But now Facebook is the thorn in your side, and possibly a bona fide addiction. If you're finding it difficult to spend an hour of your waking life without checking or thinking about Facebook, you may be looking for a way out. This is it.

Steps

1. Admit you have a problem and keep track of what you actually do on Facebook. After every Facebook session, ask yourself: "What did I just accomplish by checking Facebook?" Odds are, you are probably just logging in to see if you've been poked, or for updates of when your friends change their profile image, write a new note, add a new song to their favorite music, and do other little things that you can really live without knowing. But those might be the little things that keep you on a very short leash. At first you're confirming a new friend, and next thing you know, you have spent an hour looking at all the new people you're connected to. Recording your Facebook activities can help you realize how much time you actually spend getting nothing constructive done.
2. Define your goals on Facebook. Make a list of what you really want from it. Why did you originally sign up? So you could remember friends' birthdays? Find and keep old friends? Meet people with similar interests? Whatever your goals may be on Facebook, you need to make sure that you devote your time there to accomplishing those goals, instead of going off track with activities that get you nowhere. If you have no goals (i.e. if you signed up just because you had nothing better to do), skip the next step.
3. Make and follow a Facebook schedule. After each Facebook goal, write down how much time and at what frequency you'll need to be on Facebook to achieve that goal. Then write down the total number of hours, per week, that you should be spending on Facebook. If it seems like too much time, adjust your activity times accordingly. Following this schedule might bring your Facebook addiction under control without requiring you to quit altogether

For more steps check out the rest of the article here.

Time to Relax

College Kids,

School is really stressful and I was wondering if you had any advice on how to relax?

Sam 19
Years Old
Machias, ME

Sam,

Stress is a very common thing for college students. Your ability to succeed will be in many way dependent on how you are able to deal with stress. There is no right or wrong way to relax so only you can find whats right.

Get Away

One of the most helpful ways to deal with stress is to get out of your environment. If you live in a dorm or apartment stress can build up between you and your roommate or just from being cramped in a small room. What you need to to is go outside and find a place where you can relax. If the weather is nice I would suggest going to a park or plot of grass. Here you can get away and get some fresh air.

Do Not Procrastinate

In college you can get caught behind in no time. If you want to stop stress then you need to make yourself do your work on time. This can be hard, but is worth it in the long run.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body. Exercising for a half hour can lower your stress and get you in shape. It also gives you time by yourself (or with friends) to get away. Another important factor is your sleep. We all know what a full night can do to your mood and your grades. So do what you can to give yourself the eight hours you need, or in some cases ten or twelve.

Avoid Draining Relationships

Lets face it, some people suck. Every college has those people who are mean, ignorant, and annoying. You want to stay away from them. You will not believe how much better it makes you feel when you surround yourself with people who pull you up instead of down.

Make Time For the Things You Enjoy

School is important, but it does not mean you should lose touch with yourself and what you like to do. I know a lot of people who came into college with hobbies that they loved only to stop doing them. Many people get busy and get so caught up in their lives that they forget how much they enjoyed playing the guitar or writing. Make sure you always take time for yourself when you need it.

I hope this gets you thinking.

Cheers!

The College Kids

Shout out to DBurke - Boston, MA

Going to Bars for Dummies

Okay, nobody thinks you're a dummy. However, I've noticed that a lot of times when a person first becomes old enough to go to bars (or manages to get in anyway), there are certain things that they haven't learned yet. Here are a few helpful tips to make sure your first bar experience goes off without a hitch.

1) Know how to order drinks. This is especially important in a crowded bar. When there are tons of people packed around the bar, you're not getting drinks unless you're assertive. Make your way up to the bar, put your arm down on it, and lean forward so the bartender can see you. Make sure you know what you're ordering beforehand (if you don't have much drinking experience, you can look up all kinds of drink recipes online, at sites such as http://www.webtender.com/), bartenders don't like to waste time when they could be racking up tips. Say your order in a loud, clear voice. In really noisy bars you'll probably have to lean in close to the bartender and shout.

2) Once you've ordered and the bartender has made your drink, you have to pay for it. Be sure not to give exact change, the bartender will be expecting a tip. If you don't tip, the bartender (or waitress if you're at a table) will not be as inclined to serve you. It's also just a really lame thing to do, and makes you look like an awful person. Generally the bartender will make sure to give you change in a way that makes it easy for you to tip (say you give $10 for $5 worth of drinks, they'll give you singles/dollar coins instead of a $5 bill for change). Generally the going rate for tipping is $1 per drink, you might want to see what other people seem to be tipping to make sure you're not tipping too much/too little.

3) Once you have your drink, be sure to hold on to it until you're done (especially if you're a girl). Never leave a drink unattended and then go back to it. You can never be too careful.

4) Now, when you're in a room packed with people holding drinks, chances are eventually you'll bump into somebody, spill a drink, etc. Most people are pretty easy going, and if you simply apologize you shouldn't have any trouble. If you've spilled somebody else's drink it's probably a good idea to offer to buy them a new one.

5) If somebody you're with buys you a drink, it's customary to return the favor.

6) Be careful not to drink too much. Obviously you're there to have a good time, but you absolutely do not want to be "that guy who puked all over and got thrown out". Know your limits, and don't try to be a hero ;).

7) Before you go out, make sure you and the people you're going with have a plan for getting home. Designated drivers are a great idea if you can get a friend/family member to do it. Otherwise, be sure to bring enough cash for a taxi. If somebody who lives relatively close to the bar(s) you're going to is cool with it, it might be a good idea to have everyone sleep there for the night so you can all split on a cab and save some money. In this case, it's a good idea to have everyone park their cars there and head to the bar in a taxi, come back in one, and have everyone leave with their cars in the morning.

Well, I think that about covers it. If anybody has any further suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Be safe, and have a great time!

Written by: Jay Mykytiuk
Ask a College Kid Guest Writer

Is My School Right For Me?

College Kids,

I just started at my school this fall and am not sure if it is the right place for me. I like the atmosphere, but the major I choose is not what I thought it would be. I do not know what I should do.

Lilly
18 Years Old
Newton, MA

Lilly,

Before I say anything else, I must first say what is happening to you is fairly common. Unfortunately, most people do not realize they hate their major until it is about five years too late. So that already puts you ahead of the game.

The decision on whether or not you should stay is dependent on your school. You said that you like the school atmosphere, so that is a check. On the other hand, you do not like your major. What you should do is try and figure out the general area of where you want to go. If the school you are in has nothing even close to it, you may want to consider leaving. Otherwise it would probably be safer to stay.

Remember, you still have plenty of time. If in a year from now you discover your desired major is not available, then you can always transfer (I did). Of course, you may be surprised to find that the major of your choice is waiting for you right down the hall. All in all, the fact that you said that you like the atmosphere of the school makes me think you should definitely stay, at least for the short term.

Good Luck!

The College Kids

Girlfriends from High School

College Kids,

I'm a freshman in college but I still have my girlfriend from home. Is this a good idea?

Nick
19 Years Old
New Jersey


Nick,

This is one of the hardest questions that a college freshman can face. We can't give you an answer on whether or not you should stay together but we can give you some input based on our personal experiences.

Out of all the college kids, four of us had girlfriends going into college. Two of us had been in a relationship for almost a year, one for over 6 months, and one for only days. Now we are all in our junior years and only the couple that started dating just before leaving for school is still together. Out of the other three, two lasted all of freshman year and the other lasted through sophomore year. None broke up just because they were away at college, most actually happened during the summer.

Trust - If you haven't been dating a while or just don't have much trust yet it could be an issue. You are going to have more freedom than ever and will get to know many more people. If you can't trust each other, it will never work. Ironically, only the couple that started dating right before leaving to go to school is still together.

Visiting - Long distance relationships can work but they are extremely difficult. If you cannot see each other at least every few weeks it may be too difficult. The less you see each other the more you have to communicate.

Communication - In order to make a long distance relationship work you are going to have to communicate. Instant messenger and text messages are okay but if you don't talk on the phone for a while every day you're likely to drift apart and that will be the beginning of the end.

Being Spontaneous - When you're apart and in a long distance relationship it's easy to get stuck in a boring pattern where you say and do the same things all the time. Make sure you surprise each other, send some mail, gifts, or flowers, anything will help.

These are just some simple pieces of advice but the main thing is to never get discouraged and to never give up! If you really want the relationship to succeed you can make it happen. It will never be easy but remember, that's not what it's about.

Good luck!

The College Kids

Avoid The Freshman 15

College Kids,

I just started school and am afraid of gaining the "Freshman 15". Do you have any advice?

Tasha
18 Years Old
Clayton, CA

Tasha,

College life can be very demanding at times. With all your classes, social lives, and jobs, keeping healthy can sometimes take a back seat. To stay healthy you must remember to take a little time for your self and be smart. Here are some tips:

Exercise - This is the most obvious, and most important thing you can do to stay healthy. You should exercise several times a week. Remember, exercise does not always have to be going to the gym. It can be playing a sport, riding a bike, or anything that gets you outside and moving. If you do not play a sport for school you might want to join an intramural team, they are lots of fun.
Eat Healthy - This can be hard in college cafeterias, but most schools have healthy alternatives. If they do not, put in a request for healthier foods.
Eat Smaller Meals - When your busy you sometimes have to combine meals. This is very bad for you. If you know you have multiple classes in a row then you should at least bring a snack with you.
Reduce Your Stress - This is easier said than done and there is not one way to do it. Everyone has different things they do to reduce stress and you need to find what works for you. Once you do you will feel (and look) a lot better.
Stay Away From Fast Food - Sometimes it is late, you are hungry, and you need some quick food. So what do you do? You go to BK or call Dominoes. This is fine on occasion, but if done frequently, your might find yourself upgrading you pants size.
Drink Water Not Soda - When people talk about dieting they always talk about food and sometimes forget to talk about the beverage department. Sodas and energy drinks are commonly consumed in dorm rooms. These drinks are some of the most unhealthy drinks you can consume. My advice: drink water or juice instead.

Cheers!

The College Kids

15 Things You Can Only Learn In College

...but you do not learn these in class.

1. Just about anything can be recycled.
2. Dominoes is key.
3. Change is always to be saved.
4. Money sucks, because you never have any.
5. Getting up on time is virtually impossible (especially if you got drunk the night before).
6. Coffee is one of the best friends you will ever make.
7. Living in the city is expensive.
8. Sleeping can only come over very long or very short periods of time.
9. You will never come close to knowing all the great music in the world, but you can try.
10. Whether you like it or not, Facebook is king.
11. Free Wi-Fi cafe's can save your life.
12. If you have the motivation (i.e. about to fail the course), you can always finish a paper, no matter how little time is left.
13. As soon as you enter college your high school grades, social status, and reputation, now mean nothing.
14. Once you enter college the ability to play beirut/beer pong are instantly engraved into your DNA.
15. Textbooks can easily cost more than tuition.
    

Cheers!

The College Kids

High School Friends

College Kids,

I have a group of really close friends from High School and am afraid that I am going to lose touch with them in college. We are all going to different schools in different areas. How likely is it that we will keep our friendship alive?

Stacy
18 Years Old
Eldredge, CO

Stacy,

I have some good news and some bad news for you. I will start with the bad: The majority of high school groups lose touch in college. The good: Many high school friends are as close (if not closer) in college.

Whether or not you stay close depends on the relationships themselves. I have found that many high school friends are not as "close" as they appear. Many people change entering college and lose similarities they once had with their friends. On the other hand some friendships are close and are for real. In this case it is very likely that they will su