Coping With College: From Study Tips to Drinking Games

Ray William Johnson

2011-03-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Now it's time to take a break from your excruciatingly dull studying and check out Ray William Johnson's YouTube Channel. This guy creates videos of some of the most popular, funny, weird, and just plan viral YouTube videos along with his own smart-ass commentary.

Click the image below to see his newest video featuring an angry owl, a confused baby, and more.

Tuition Fees in Canada

2011-03-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today I came across a website that is a valuable resource for people thinking about going to university. The website is called Canada's Higher Education and Career Guide. It offers tuition and fee information from Canadian universities. Just click on the province where the university is located and then find your school in the list. The link will lead you to the school's website with more information about finding relevant school costs.

Click this link to see Tuition and Fees @ Canadian Universities.

Coupons @ RedFlagDeals

2011-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Have you ever searched through your couch cushions looking for loose change? Or picked up pennies off the ground when no one was looking?

Well then you are like many college students who need to cut corners and scrounge for extra cash when money is tight. This can often be managed by careful budgeting but saving a few bucks here and there can really add up. If you are not a coupon clipper by now, start today! It can save your life! Or at least save you enough money for a pizza when you thought you were going to have to eat rip-off KD again.

The website RedFlagDeals.com is a good place to start your coupon clipping journey (you don't even have to clip, just print!). It searches coupons for you and organizes them by type so finding deals is easy. There are Deals of the Day, Freebies, Coupons, Price Comparisons, and more. I recommend starting with the Expiring Soon coupons/deals so you don't miss out on something special.

Here's a taste of what you could get for free today!

FREE McDonald's Coffee!

Feb 28- March 6 All Day

FREE Pancakes at IHOP!

March 1 in Ontario only

FREE Glasses at ClearlyContacts.ca

March 1 in Ontario only

see more.

Let us know in the comments if you found any great deals or what you got for free.

Why You Should Get A Job

2011-02-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Having a job while you're in school is a great way to earn some extra income. There are 3 main reasons you should get a job:

1. Increase Your Quality of Living
You can use the extra money for having more fun while you are at school. It's great to have cash for dates, parties, and school breaks. You'll also be able to afford more and better things such as food and clothing.

2. Pay Your Bills
If you're like most people, "mommy and daddy" aren't paying your whole way through school, you'll need money to pay bills such as rent, cellphone, car insurance, internet, tuition, and books. Having a job well help keep your bill payments on track.

3. Prepare for your future
If you think you don't need a job because your school/living costs are covered, you are wrong. Even if you are receiving assistance, loans, bursaries, etc it is a good idea to get a job. You can keep this money in a a savings account/savings bonds to help pay off loans after graduation. You can also save up for something like a new car.

It's best to balance your earnings. For example, you could use a little for fun, most towards school costs, and some into savings. But you need a balance that works for you. Start by covering all necessities like tuition, books, supplies, rent, groceries, and transportation. Then you can use any extra money for things like entertainment and shopping. If possible try to keep some for savings. It's important to have a financial plan in mind for after graduation.

In future posts I will help you prepare for and find a job.

Textbooks: Tip #1 Buy Used

2011-02-12T13:31:00.000-08:00

Let's face it. Textbooks are outrageously expensive. But there are a few things we can do to save some big bucks.

Tip #1 Buy Used Books

If they are available try to buy your textbooks used. A lot of people think used books are out-dated, the pages have been highlighted to death, and are, overall, in terrible condition. But this is not always the case, you can find up-to-date books that are very-gently used. Here is a list of places you can find them:

Campus Bookstores: Some schools allow students to sell their rarely used textbooks back to the school. At first glance they appear new but you can save up to 50%. Whenever I found a used copy of a book I needed, I grabbed it before they were all gone. In every case I never once found a mark, tear, or missing pages.

Students: Some students try to sell their books on their own. Look for postings on your school website, Facebook, your student email, and flyers around campus. These books are usually up-to-date editions because they were purchased the prior semester.

Online: When used books were not available on campus I look online. Just remember that you may have to pay for shipping and you will have to wait for delivery. Also be sure that it is the right book (author, ISBN, publication date, edition) and that you trust the seller. There are several places to buy used book. These are the best: Chapters.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Textbookexchange.ca.

Please leave a comment if you have any tips or stories about buying used books!

New Blog

2010-07-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

Visit my new blog "The Bookshelf".

The Bookshelf offers short book reviews from my reading list. Every two weeks, or so, I will post about a new book I have read and give it a "Thumbs Up" or a "Thumbs Down". You can see which books I plan to read and past reviews. And, I'd love to hear your opinions too. So please join in the discussions.

You can also get a FREE widget for your website to keep up-to-date with the posts! Click HERE.

Finding Cheap Textbooks

2010-04-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

One of the most expensive parts of going to school can be the cost of books (depending on your program). In my university program my average books costs per semester were $600. One of my books cost $160 and I never used it once. Sometimes I feel that textbooks are a huge waste of money. Most of my books were rarely used. Professors just used slides from the book and posted them online or didn't refer to the book at all. Anyways, in most cases it is important to buy the books. Here are a few tips to saving money.

1) Buy Used Books: If they are available buy them used. You'll save a lot of money and most times they are in great condition. You can find offers throughout the campus from other students or from your campus bookstore. You can buy used books online too. Textbookexchange.ca is a Canadian site where you can buy and sell textbooks but I have never used this site.

2) Compare Prices Online: This is something I tried this semester and I wished I had done it all along. Most of the books I ordered arrived in a few days and I saved about 30%. One of my textbooks costs $170 in my bookstore and was $116 online. Be sure to use trusted websites. I recommend Chapters.indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

3) Buy Electronic Texts: I bought one text book from Coursesmart and saved over $100. I got a subscription for 180 days and could access it online anytime. This is perfect for anyone that brings a laptop to school or you can do what I did and just print what you need.

4) Share: If you have are really good friend in your class, you can buy one textbook and split the costs.

Don't be afraid to shop around for textbooks. It takes a little time but you can save a lot. I saved more than $180 on my textbooks this semester.

Related Links:
What can we do about textbook prices?
How Textbook Publishers Manipulate Costs for Students
University Tuition and Fees Calculator
Recommended Read: The Host

I Don't Like Bella Swan But I Like The Books!

2009-11-18T16:11:00.000-08:00

So I don't know if you know anything about this Twilight craze. I'll briefly explain (SPOILER ALERT!!!!). It is a teen fiction series about a girl, Bella Swan, that falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. I work with books and I wanted to know what was so great about this one. I read the first book in the series, Twilight. I thought it was okay. I actually thought it was kinda of boring. Not a lot happened until the end. In fact, I noticed the movie added stuff (other vampires killing man on boat) to make it interesting enough for film (Hollywood). But I liked it enough that I read the second, New Moon. I just finished it and I thought this one was much better, I was really into it and read it really fast.

This was when I understood it. It is a fantasy about true love. That is why girls and women love it so much (or they love Edward so much - *gag*). But now this doesn't explain why girls as young as eight like the book. Do they really understand it or just read its 'cause its popular?

Anyways, that's for another rant. I want to talk about how much I don't like the main character, Bella, (the character, not the actress). In New Moon, Bella and Edward broke up. Then for like 90% of the book she befriends Jacob. Only she was totally using him and leading him on. She held his hand, they held each other, but she thought of him as only a friend. Then at the end of the book, Edward comes back and it was like "Thanks a lot Jacob but Edward (your mortal enemy) is back, so f-off". I thought this was very cruel. He was younger than her and totally in love with her. She was so selfish.

I am not the only one that thinks the main character is horrible (see Deconstructing Bella Swan). People think she is whiny, dependent, a bad role model, and the series is sexist. I just think that she is not a relatable character. I don't like her personality, the way she talks or acts.

There are people who hate the whole series altogether. In my opinion, they only hate is because it is so popular (or because they just don't like vampires). That's not always a good enough reason to hate something. They just say that because they don't want to conform.

The sad thing . . . even though these books pissed me off so much, I'm still going to read Eclipse.

Police Brutality at University of Western Ontario

2009-11-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

Oct 15, 2009

LONDON, Ont. – Officials at the University of Western Ontario in this southwestern Ontario city are defending the violent arrest of a student captured on a video circulating on YouTube.

The video shows the student being held down in a campus building on Wednesday and pummelled by at least five campus and city police officers.

Officers are seen kneeing the student aggressively in the torso, beating him on the back with batons and punching him hard up to a dozen times.

At least one officer is heard yelling "Stop resisting," and then, "Give us your arm."

Elgin Austen, the head of campus police, told a news conference Thursday that by the time he arrived during the arrest, he didn't see "anything out of order" with the level of force being applied.

"It was being conducted consistent with the Ontario Police College and the training that officers have there."

He added that people seeing just the video alone "may not understand what the officers were actually doing."

"What the officers were doing was trying to apprehend a strong individual ... and not injure that person and keep other people around safe."

Austen said the incident began on the seventh and eighth floors of the social sciences building, well before the video was shot.

He said the suspect "was creating safety concerns" on the upper floors and had barricaded himself inside a room.

"Eventually, everything came down to the main floor," where efforts were made to subdue a "disoriented individual."

The student, described as about 6 foot 2 inches and more than 200 pounds, was taken to hospital for observation, then released into custody.

Charged with mischief under $5,000, assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and escaping lawful custody is Irnes Zeljkovic, of London.

University spokeswoman Gitta Kulczycki added that the incident needs to be kept in context. The main concern of police was protecting students and faculty, she said.

"The view of the video itself is somewhat disturbing without knowing the context of the full situation," she said.

"In terms of what were the officers trying to do – let's recognize what was occurring."

Kulczycki said an automatic review is conducted in situations like these.

"We will certainly co-operate fully with London police as that occurs," she said

Article from thestar.com

Pumpkin Carving Tips

2009-10-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

I love to carve pumpkins at Halloween. These are a few tips that I think are helpful for carving the perfect pumpkin.

Choosing a Pumpkin
- watch out for pumpkins that are heavy, have wobbly stems, have punctures or bruises, or a weak bottom. These could be rotten or damaged and will decay faster.

Tools
- a poker for tracing a pattern (a thumbtack will work but a nail or metal skewer is better)
- a scraper to clean out guts
- a small and large saw

Preparation
- use the scraper to make the inside walls smooth
- scrape the side you're going to carve until it's about an inch thick

Template
- tape or tack the template to the pumpkin
- poke holes along the lines about half way through the pumpkin wall
- the closer the wholes the easier it will be to follow with the saw
- when the template is transferred rub flour into the holes so they stand out and wipe the skin clean

Carving
- don't cut, saw
- hold saw like a pencil and cut straight through
- start in the center of the design and with the smaller pieces
- a carved pumpkin can last from 1 day to 1 week

Happy Halloween!

The Meaning of Canadian Thanksgiving

2009-10-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

I realized the other day that I knew more about the history of American Thanksgiving then the Canadian version. So I looked it up on wiki.

Apparently, the reason for giving thanks changed throughout the years depending on what the event was at the time. It started with Martin Frobisher who celebrated safely returning home after exploring the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, Samuel de Champlain arrived with French settlers and they gave thanks for their own reasons. Later, people gave thanks after various wars ended. But mainly Thanksgiving is a time for people to give thanks at the end of the harvest season. Canadian Parliament defines it as . . . . "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October".

So now I know. I used to celebrate Thanksgiving as just "Turkey Day" because I didn't like that people celebrated the pilgrims taking away land from the First Nations people (I don't think that's something we should be proud of and I think it's offensive to indigenous people). But now I know that it isn't so much about that. Thanksgiving is really just a time to be thankful for our fortunes, family, and health. I've been told that my whole life ... I'm just actually realizing it now.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sexy Beer

2009-10-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Bavarian Brewery Claims to Spice Up Sex Lives With a New Erotic Beer

By JOSIE COX September 14, 2009

abcnews.com

Jürgen Hopf fits the stereotype of a Bavarian beer-maker, with his traditional felt hat, rosy cheeks, and proudly protruding beer-belly. But Hopf has given Germany's favorite drink an unlikely twist, creating libido-enhancing beer.

And the potion which he created almost seven years ago, has gone from strength to strength. Sales of the bottles adorned with a picture of a woman removing her top now make up more than a tenth of all the beer brewed in his village.

But his invention came about by chance, Hopf says. "I work at a brewery where all the processes are automated. One night though, the system failed and I was called up to try and fix it as I live just over the road," he told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "It was the middle of the night and there wasn't a soul in sight so I crossed the road wearing just my little boxer shorts and slippers."

What happened next is something which Hopf describes as pure magic. When he entered the brewery the machine was completely broken and couldn't be restarted. Semi-naked with no sleeves to role up, he picked up a large stick and started stirring the soupy brew by hand. "I suddenly felt strange and I knew that this beer would be different from any beer we had ever made before," he recalls.

Sure enough, two months later, the beer brewed that night back in 2002, had become somewhat of a local legend. Anyone in the village of Schönbrunn -- a settlement of 1,400 in the heart of the Fichtelgebirge Mountains in Bavaria -- who tried the beverage, reported a drastically increased libido. "Everyone I asked told me that they had not watched TV in the weeks," Hopf chuckles, "instead they had went straight to the bedroom with no time to spare!"

Hopf produced his "Erotic Beer" in ever larger batches. But each bottle is still brewed manually in the middle of the night by the 53-year-old brewmaster, who dresses in nothing but a scant, traditional Bavarian loin-cloth when making his beer.

Today, his brainchild has become one of the most successful products in the small village, which relies on agriculture and is home to only a few family owned businesses.

Although beer is commonly believed to lower a man's fertility, other companies -- such as the German biggest erotic store chain Beate Uhse -- have also tried their hand at marketing libido-enhancing versions of Germany's favorite drink. The "Popp-Bier," German slang for "F*@# Beer," with 4.8 percent alcohol content, hit the shelves in 2007 but was snubbed for its stiff price of almost €10 for a standard bottle.

Hopf's "Erotic Beer," on the other hand, was an instant hit when it was unveiled at an international beer fair in Milan, Italy, in 2002. "The Italian machos were absolutely crazy about it," recalls Hopf, whose name is almost the German translation of the English word for hops -- the flower used in the production of beer.

Related Links

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Recommended Movie: Sweeney Todd

2009-09-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

I was surprised how much I liked this movie. I'm definetly not into musicals. At the movie theatre, in the opening scene, when Johnny Depp started singing I was thinking "OMG what was I thinking?". But I gave it a chance and I loved it!

I love Tim Burton's gothic style and I think Johnny Depp is a great actor.

What I liked most about the movie was the overall storyline and the amazing visuals. It was more like art than a movie. It just seemed to possess such fantastical quality and magic.

I was able to pick up an original copy of the play from the 1970's. It was also great and actually more adult.

It doesn't change my opinion of musicals (I f***ing hated Across the Universe). But it does support that it's great when Johnny Depp and Tim Burton team up.

Plot Summary from IMDB

"After hard years in exile for a crime he didn't commit, Benjamin Barker, now Sweeney Todd, returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of the evil Judge Turpin. In his anger, Sweeney goes on a murderous rampage on all London. With the help of Mrs. Lovett, he opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims with a charming smile before casually ending their lives with a flick of his razor across their necks. But not one man nor ten thousand men killed can satisfy Sweeney's lust for vengeance on those who've caused his years of pain."

Related Links

Funny Scary Movies

Recommended Movie: Apocalypto

Recommended Movie: Princess Bride

Recommended Movie: Step Brothers

Recommended Movie: Zoolander

Texting 101: Learning how to text

2009-09-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Course Description: Ever read a text message, trying to figure out what the f*** it means? I have. The following lessons will help you to decipher those sometimes uncomprehensible acroymns and spellings (for those of us that aren't quite "with it").

Lesson 1: Numbers as Words
Using numbers as words or as part of words is a good shortcut for people who don't have texting phones.

1 one (Use Some1, instead of Someone)

2 to/too/two (Use ME2, instead of Me Too)

4 for/four (Use B4, instead of Before)

8 eight (Use GR8, instead of Great)
from textlingo.com

Lesson 2: Letters as Words
Using these letters as words can also help shorten the message.
R - are
B - be
C - see
K - okay
U - you

Lesson 3: More Shorcuts
You can shorten the message even more by omitting: vowels, double letters, punctuation, and capitals.

whr r u - where are you?

msg - message

Lesson 4: Emoticons
Your keyboard can create emotions that will enrich your message.

: ; ^^ eyes

0 o D ) ( / ] [ X mouths

. > < - o noses

0 halo

> angry eyebrows

p tongue sticking out

examples:
:D - smiling
:O - wow
; ) - wink
:( - frown
>:) - evil/cheeky

Lesson 5: Common Phrases
AFAIK - As Far As I Know
ASAP - As Soon As Possible
B4 - Before
BBL - Be Back Later
BRB - Be Right Back
CYA - See You
FYI - For Your Information
GR8 - Great!
ILU - I Love You
IMO - In My Opinion
LOL - Laughing out loud
L8R - Later
NOOB - Newbie
NP - No Problem
OXOXO - Hugs and Kisses
RUOK - Are You Okay?
ASL - Age, Sex and Location
THNQ -Thank You
THX - Thanks
TTYL - Talk To You Later
W8 - Wait
2NITE - Tonight
from textlingo.com

Lesson 6: Not So Common Text Lingo
10Q - thank you
143 - I love you
182 - I hate you
4Q - F*** You
2BZ4UQT - Too Busy For You Cutey
404 - I haven't a clue
4COL - For Crying Out Loud
AWGTHTGTTA - Are We Going To Have To Go Through This Again
BDBI5M - Busy Daydreaming Back In 5 Minutes
C-P - Sleepy
DWB - Don't Write Back
FOFL - Falling on Floor Laughing
GAS? - Got A Second?
HAND - Have a Nice Day
ICBW - I Could Be Wrong
JSYK - Just So You Know
KK - Kiss Kiss
LYLB - Love You Later Bye
MYOB - Mind Your Own Business
NRN - No Reply Necessary
OSINTOT - Oh Sh** I Never Thought Of That
PLO - Peace, Love, Out
QYB - Quit Your Bitching
ROTFLMFAO - Rolling On The Floor Laughing My F***ing Ass Off
SHMILY - See How Much I Love You
TAP - Take A Pill
URAPITA - You Are A Pain In The Ass
VEG - Very Evil Grin
WAFB - What A F***ing Bitch
YABA - Yet Another Bloody Acronym
ZZZ - Sleeping, Bored, Tired
from netlingo.com

Even More Lingo
Visit netlingo.com for the largest list of text lingo.

Your New BFF
You can translate your text messages at lingo2word.com. It's really cool and fun. It correctly translated every acroymn I typed, even the ones I thought I had made up. So if you still don't get it, let this site do the work for you.

thats all 4 2day class. hpe u lrnd lots. TT4N

Related Links
iPhone helps you find weed
Earn money from your website
Fold your shirt in two seconds
Does texting make you mean?
Car warranty phone scam

Earn Money From Your Website

2009-09-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

While you're in school there is an easy and fun way to earn some extra money. Google's AdSense is a free tool that allows you to put ads on your website or blog (there is no risk or commitment). Each time a visitor clicks on an ad you get paid. It can range from 1 cent to 1 dollar per click. It's easy to set up and there is a lot of help along the way. They also offer tips to optimizing your ad placement and customization.

FYI:

You can only put up to three ads on a page

You cannot click the ads yourself or have your friends do it for you. Google has the ability to track and stop this. So be careful.
You only get paid once you have reached earnings of $100 USD
You cannot choose the ads for your blog

So check it out. I was able to do it and I don't know anything about HTML. Let me know if you have any questions.

Related Links:

Free Blog Backgrounds

Free Blog Gadgets

Summer Jobs for Students

Google AdSense Steps to Success

My Favourite Drinks

2009-09-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

The first week of classes is at an end. I hope everything went well, if not, don't worry it'll only get easier. But I'm forgetting about the serious stuff for now. It's Friday, and I want to drink. Just for fun, here are some of my favourite drinks.

Holy Water

Molson Canadian

Screwdrivers

Sex on the Beach (try Vex on the Beach, it's cheap)

Irish Coffee

Coke Lime and vodka/rum

First Week of Class: Quick Tips

2009-09-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

Most of us start school tomorrow. Here are a few quick tips for starting off your week right, especially if you are entering your first year.

Make sure you have:

your class schedule (include course name, course code, class location, professor's name, and class time)
your student number (you'll need to memorize it eventually), photo ID, SIN card
your mailing address
campus map
parking pass or bus pass
essential school supplies (see checklist)

To-Do-List

keep rechecking online that your classrooms have not changed location
get your photo taken for your student ID
make an appointment with financial aid if you need to
get to know your campus (i.e. where is the library, cafeteria, financial aid office, registration office, help desk, etc)
leave plenty of time to get to class

Good Luck !

Related Links

Back-to-School Clothes Shopping

Back-to-School Supplies

Keeping an Organized Schedule

Don't Wait to Write to Study Notes

Moving Out: What to Expect

2009-09-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

If you are moving away from home (to residence or off campus) here are some things you should know:

spend time on campus to familiarize yourself and to meet new people (have your student number with you just in case)
explore the city and know where everything is (i.e. bank, post office, grocery store, drug store)
talk with roommates about living standards, chores, etc
get a map of the city
learn your new address
see what your place has already compared to what you'll need to bring (some college houses have dishes, cutlery, microwave, pots and pans, a TV, etc but there are some things they might not have, like a can opener, hand towels, etc)
take photos of any damage in your room before you move in so you will not be blamed for it later
bring lots of food with you, that way you don't have to worry about grocery shopping your first week
bring your own disposable household items like dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, ziplock bags, and toiletries
don't be afraid to ask people for help, your school is your best resource

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment. I'm here everyday. And don't get too nervous, it'll be exciting and fun if you let it.

Related Links

What You Should Know About Renting

Dorm Life Show

Complete Ikea Dorm Room Under $500

Money Management Tips

Hangover Cures the College Way

2009-08-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

The fall semester is starting and that means college parties are back on! Now before you hit the beer bong and get trashed off your ass, let me indulge you in a critical warning (aren't I always looking out for you?). You must prepare for (brace yourself) . . . THE HANGOVER! That's right, I don't just give you great ideas for getting and being bombed.

Thinking Ahead

The best remedies begin with preparing your body for the binge (come on, everyone cool does it ;P). Eat a good, light meal before you drink (no pizza or other crap you can see yourself puking up later). On the contrary, if you don't eat before your drink, your body is more susceptible to the alcohol and can actually get you drunk faster. But that's not recommended if you want to avoid the hangover.

Drink lots of nonalcholic liquid before and during binging. You need to keep your body hydrated. Alcohol actually steals water from your body and you need to replace it (usually all of those piss breaks amount to more than your body is intaking).

Let's Get the Party Started

Soyouwanna.com has some useful tips for helping prevent the hangover while your drinking: have only when alcoholic drink per hour (yeah, that's going to happen), alternate each drink with nonalcoholic drinks (yeah . . . right), and don't drink cheap booze (oh, come on, we're college students). Click here for more information.
Most importantly, "Beer before liquor, never sicker. Liquor before beer, you're in the clear".

The Morning After

If that doesn't work, (don't worry I don't actually expect you to do all of those buzz killers), here are some cures: drink lots of water, no more alcohol, stay in bed, take aspirin, try to eat a small, light meal, and do not drink coffee.

Myths?

As an alternative to the hangover cure there are some questionable recommendations. I don't now if they work but I have heard you can drink tomato juice with some lime, or even have the same drink you had the night before to balance your system (but I don't believe that). There are, supposedly, medicinal pills specifically for hangovers too.

Bottom of the Bottle

You can either get trashed off your ass and suffer a wicked hangover, or take it slow and have not so much fun.

Happy Drinking!

Lene Lovich

2009-08-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

I borrowed a CD from my parents a few years ago, Lene Lovich's Stateless. . . Plus from, I believe, the late 70's (see image below). And I thought it was great and unique. From the CD booklet she looked like a plain gothic girl but her music was really upbeat. Then I looked her up on YouTube. And was surprised to see the results (see video below). She is a complete freak! I like her even more now. Let me know what you think about Lene Lovich.

Back-to-School Clothes Shopping

2009-08-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

Students on tight budgets cannot always afford clothes with fancy labels and high quality material (don't worry that'll all change after graduation!). For now, try to look out for sales and don't be ashamed to look at the clearance rack. I almost never buy clothing that is not on sale.

One way to easily know what sales are going on is by having them sent right to your email. For, example, I signed up for the Old Navy newsletter and got a coupon along with it. Every week they have a great sale. Last week was $25 jeans and this Saturday is $3 tees. This week Payless Shoes has BOGO. I generally don't like Walmart's clothes, but they are really affordable and once and awhile I find something I like.

Click the pic for more tips on clothing shopping on a budget from reader's digest.

But don't buy something just because it's on sale. If you don't like it, you won't wear it, and that's a waste of money. The idea is patience (buying items here and there when their on sale). Now is a great time for sales because it's back-to-school time.

Mathematicians Vs. Zombies

2009-08-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

Scholars put braaains together to thwart zombies

STEVEN CHASE
OTTAWA — From Saturday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009 02:41AM EDT

Science is still struggling with how to get the jump on swine flu, but Canadians can take heart that a group of Ottawa mathematicians have found the key to beating a more virulent, if only cinematic, threat.
A zombie outbreak - the kind that always confounds authorities in movies - can be successfully overcome through "quick, aggressive attacks" on the undead, scholars at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University have concluded.
"While aggressive quarantine may contain the epidemic, or a cure may lead to the co-existence of humans and zombies, the most effective way to contain the rise of the undead is to hit hard and hit often," the mathematicians say in a playful research paper, When Zombies Attack!: Mathematical Modelling of an Outbreak Of Zombie Infection, which is being published as part of a book due out later this year from Nova Science Publishers.
Those behind the paper include students as well as assistant University of Ottawa math professor Robert J. Smith, who receives support from a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant and the Ontario Early Researcher Award program.
The work is not a case of math geeks just cracking jokes. It's a display of the rigorous math, statistics and models used to analyze infection rates of real-life diseases and to demonstrate how a virus spreads through a population.
Ioan Hudea, a Carleton student who helped author the zombie paper, said this mathematical modelling is used to help authorities prepare for outbreaks.
"You're using this sort of model to predict the outcome of epidemics and know how to vaccinate people, how much vaccine is needed and how to assemble a vaccination plan."
One problem the researchers had in modelling zombie attacks is that popular culture has yielded two different types of undead, the second of which can potentially infect people faster. The slow-moving, mindless variety was made famous by the classic 1968 thriller Night of the Living Dead, while the smarter, faster and more independent type have cropped up in more recent films such as 28 Days Later and the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.
In the end, the faster, brainier zombies didn't make the cut when it came to modelling.
The mathematicians considered a scenario in which there was rapid "zombification" after people were bitten by undead creatures, and another in which the incubation period was 24 hours. Both ended badly for the human race. "In this [second] case, the zombies take over, but it takes approximately twice as long."
They considered quarantining the zombies where possible. This didn't avert catastrophe either, even if captured zombies were destroyed.
Finally, they studied the impact of a cure that restored the humanity of the infected, but didn't grant people immunity. In this case, some humans survived, but only in low numbers.
The only solution that worked was rapid destruction of zombies - the same lesson conveyed by Hollywood.
"As seen in the movies, it is imperative that zombies are dealt with quickly, or else we are all in a great deal of trouble," the mathematicians said.
The key difference in modelling zombies, as opposed to real infectious diseases, is that the dead can return to life, the mathematicians noted. "Clearly, this is an unlikely scenario if taken literally, but possible real-life applications may include allegiance to political parties or diseases with a dormant infection."

Back-To-School Supplies Checklist

2009-08-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

If you are entering your first year at college/university you might be wondering what you need to bring the first day. It's not so different from highschool. But here is a list, from my three years of experience, of what to bring to class.

Mandatory:

pencils
pens (black, blue, red)
eraser
pencil case
pencil sharpener
stapler
skinny highlighters of various colours
whiteout pen/tape
ruler/straight-edge
lined paper
calculator
backpack
sharpie markers
small post-it notes for marking pages
large binder or small binder for each class
subject dividers for binder
notepad/notebook
folders for organization and reports

Optional:

three-hole puncher
printer paper
printer ink
laptop
markers/pencil crayons
graph paper
tape
memory stick

This is a good start. Your professors will let you know if there is anything else you will need. Also, leave some money in your back-to-school budget for unexpected expenses.

Pure Pwnage

2009-08-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

I don't watch a lot of online shows but Pure Pwnage is my favourite. It's a great show for gamers and geeks. I don't consider myself either of those but my boyfriend is a gamer and he made me watch it. I didn't like it at first but it gets better. It's very funny when you get to know the characters. And it's a Canadian show! Yay.

Anyways, the show is apparently becoming quite popular because they just announced that their show will be broadcasted on TV in 2010 on Showcase. Click here to visit their website and watch the show.

Dorm Life Show

2009-08-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Dorm Life is an online mockumentary about college students. If you are moving away to college this fall this would be a good show to check out. It's a funny way to look at dorm life and it might ease any nervousness you may have.

You can watch the videos on http://www.dorm-life.com/ or if your in Canada you'll have to watch the show on youtube.

Disturbing New Doll

2009-08-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Fury over girls breastfeed toy
August 7, 2009
thesun.co.uk

A DISTURBING new doll that lets young girls pretend to BREASTFEED has been criticised by The Royal College of Midwives.
Spanish toymaker Berjuan has launched the bizarre toy that comes with a special top to feed your 'baby'.
The Bebe Gloton — meaning greedy baby — has already sparked outrage among parents.
They condemned the bra-like halter top featuring symbolic flowers instead of nipples.
It has been claimed that the toy could even promote early pregnancy.
A video showing how the toy works has been posted on YouTube.
One user slammed it and said: "Honestly, I think this is awful. I think breastfeeding is wonderful and wholeheartedly encourage it. However it is completely inappropriate to allow a young girl to mimic it."
The Sun's Dr Carol Cooper condemned the doll.
She said: "I think dolls in general can be very good. They bring out the caring side in children.
"But I think this is a step too far. It does not encourage breastfeeding. I don't think that you need to promote to little girls pregnancy, periods, sex - all these things are natural.
"And I am worried that some girls will find the toy so enjoyable that they can't wait to have their own babies when they are too young."

Uproar over breast-feeding doll

100th Post!

2009-08-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

In celebration of 100 posts let's remember some of the all time best posts from Coping with College.

SCHOOL MATTERS

FUNHOUSE

SETTING UP HOUSE

RANTS AND OPINIONS

Cheap and Easy Chicken Stir-Fry

2009-07-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

This recipe is fast, healthy, and cheap.

Honey Chicken Stir-Fry
Visite Tasteofhome.com for more great recipes.

SERVINGS: 4
CATEGORY: Lower Fat
METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients:
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 garlic clove, minced
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 package (16 ounces) frozen broccoli stir-fry vegetable blend
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water
Hot cooked rice

Directions: In a large nonstick skillet, stir-fry chicken and garlic in 2 teaspoons oil. Add the honey, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until chicken is lightly browned and juices run clear. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, stir-fry the vegetables in remaining oil for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Return chicken to the pan; stir to coat. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into chicken mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Serve with rice. Yield: 4 servings.

Things You Should Know About Renting

2009-07-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

I found some great tips if you are renting an apartment for the first time. From Mytwodollars.com.

1. When you meet the landlord, try to act like a grownup. You might not want to wear your baseball hat backwards or continue smoking that cigarette - it could reflect badly on you. And oftentimes there are several people applying for any apartment, so you want to present yourself at your best…even if that changes once you sign the lease.

2. The landlord is probably going to ask you for a check to cover a credit check, so be sure to bring your checkbook. Also, when you get accepted, you will probably be asked for first, last and security, meaning that your new $1200 a month apartment actually will cost $2400 plus the deposit for that first month. Be sure to have the money in your account!

3. Talk to the neighbors if you get a chance. If only I had done this at a few of the places that I lived, I never would have moved in. Between finding out about the guy that sings love songs to his old girlfriend at 3am to the chain smoker in the apartment next door, you can learn a lot just by being friendly with one of the neighbors. Ask them what they think of the place, how the landlord is, etc. - get a feel for your new home before you sign anything.

4. If having a parking spot is important to you, ask if you get one. A lot of apartment buildings do not have specific spots for everyone, so you should make sure you get one if you want one. I pay $90 for mine each month, that’s how important it is to us!

5. You should never go over your budget. Most finance professionals tell you that you should be paying 1/3 of your gross income, so if you make $5,000 per month before taxes, your rent should not be more than $1,666. Of course, I understand this is not always feasible in certain markets, but it is a good percentage to try to stick to.

6. Clean up your credit. If you have delinquencies all over your credit report, I seriously doubt you are going to get approved for any apartment. Landlords want to get paid every month! Work on fixing your credit while you stay with a friend on the couch.

7. Read the lease. Seriously, read the lease. And then read it again. You wanted to play your acoustic guitar in the house? Make sure you can. Your parents come visit every month? Make sure it’s legal. This is a legally binding agreement you are signing - make sure you read it.

8. Once you move in, buy renter’s insurance. Our renter’s insurance is $22 a month for $35,000 worth of coverage. Not bad for piece of mind. When you live with that many other people in one building, you are trusting all of them to not leave a burner on or plug up the toilet - that’s a lot of trust. You need Replacement Cost Coverage renter’s insurance, which pays the actual cost to replace items that are no longer usable.

9. Make friends with at least a few neighbors. Stay away from the ones that you think will be knocking on your door everyday, but you need to know a few people in your building. Eventually, you could trade keys in case either of you get locked out, or you can pet-sit if one of you has a dog or cat. Also, you want someone to know when you are away, so they can keep an eye on the place. Trust me on this one!

10. Relax, you are in your own place now! Decorate as you see fit. Make it a home, not just some apartment you happen to rent. Enjoy!

iPhone Helps You Find Weed

2009-07-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

I found this funny article from the Sun website today:

A SHOCK iPhone application which lets users find their nearest CANNABIS dealer has been approved by Apple.

Simply named Cannabis, the £1.79 app lets users search by city for their nearest medical cannabis suppliers, doctors, clinics, lawyers and other relevant organisations.

It currently covers 13 US states which have passed laws allowing medical cannabis use, legal cannabis "coffee shops" across Europe and uses Google Maps for directions.

Makers the campaign group Ajnag.com hope to add cannabis related news, menus, reviews and videos soon.

It is available from the Apple iTunes App Store now, and requires the iPhone 3.0 Software Update.

Fold Your Shirt in Two Seconds!

2009-07-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

All college students want shortcuts for their mundane chores so there is more time for studying, right? Well, fold-your-shirt.com has step by step instructions for folding t-shirts in only two seconds . . . which means more time for homework!

Funny Marijuana Ad

2009-07-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

The other day I saw a very funny ad on my site. The ads are meant to relate to the blogs content and subjects. This ad read:

Do You Want Medical Pot
We can help YOU get Approved FAST! $135 per ounce anywhere in Canada
Click here for more information!

I couldn't believe this ad was on my site (but it's a lot better than the "Asian wives" ad from a few months ago).

Applying for Loans

2009-07-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

If you need more financial assistance you might want to look into applying for a loan. OSAP is the best place to go for student loans in Ontario. You can click here to visit their site. If you are eligible you can get a loan with no interest or payments until you graduate. You may also qualify for exclusive bursaries. You may also find student loans through your bank, province/state assistance, or your school.

College Jokes

2009-07-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

GENEROUS STUDENTS

Two college students, Frank and Matt, are riding on a New York City subway when a beggar approaches them asking for spare change.
Frank adamantly rejects the man in disgust.
Matt, on the other hand, whips out his wallet, pulls out a couples of singles and gladly hands them over to the beggar with a smile.
The beggar thanks him kindly and then continues on to the other passengers.
Frank is outraged by his friend's act of generosity.
"What on earth did you do that for?" shouts Frank. "You know he's only going to use it on drugs or booze."
Matt replies, "And we weren't?"

TIPS FOR SURVIVING COLLEGE

* Minimize food budget by scheduling classes around Happy Hour.
* Enjoy being a Sophomore -- It will be the best three years of your life.
* Wear an athletic cup to panty raids, because it's all fun and games until someone loses their 'nads.
* Lemon juice and baking soda make an excellent bong water stain remover.
* Earn extra cash by parlaying chemistry knowledge into lucrative "home pharmaceuticals" business.
* If an 8:00 am class is required for your major, change your major.
* Boring lecture? Start a wave!
* College-level algebra: 5 returnable bottles = 1 delicious Ramen Noodle dinner.
* "I Phelta Thi" is *not* a real fraternity, except at state colleges.
* Remember - almost no one complains when you puke in a dumpster.
* Clever margin manipulation can turn a 4-page outline into a 100-page senior essay.
* Football games were never meant to be observed by sober people.
* Don't think of it as sleeping with your professor -- think of it as "acing Biology."
* In a pinch, milk can be used as a beer substitute in your breakfast cereal.

Source: unwind.com

Finding Scholarships

2009-06-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

With the fall semester approaching it's time to start applying for scholarships. I applied for bursaries and scholarships directly through my school website. It was so easy. I just filled out one small application and it automatically entered me into any ones I qualified for. I already received a $500 bursary from my school (gotta love free money).

StudentAwards.com is also a good place to find scholarships that most people over look, and so, you might have a better chance. Apply for as many as possible; it doesn't hurt to try even if you think you don't qualify.

I signed up for studentawards and I found lots of scholarship opportunities. Just be careful what you sign up for because I have been getting some spam mail from the site. You can use this website to find scholarships but I recommend that you apply for them directly through the official scholarship's website if they have one.

Additionally, some corporations offer scholarships to their employees. Ask your manager for information about this because you might not find anything online about it.

Easy Pistachio Pudding Dessert Recipe

2009-06-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

PISTACHIO PUDDING DELIGHT

1 3/4 c. plain flour
1 3/4 stick melted butter
1 c. chopped nuts
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 c. frozen whipped dessert topping
1 (3 oz.) pkg. vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (3 oz.) pkg. pistachio instant pudding mix or 2 (3 oz.) pkg. butterscotch instant pudding mix3 c. milk

Combine and mix well the flour, butter and chopped nuts. Pat into bottom of 9 x 12 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and dessert topping. Spread on cooled crust.
Mix pistachio pudding with 1 1/2 cups milk. Mix vanilla pudding with 1 1/2 cups milk. (Or mix both packages butterscotch pudding with 3 cups milk.) When puddings have set, mix together gently and spread on top of cheese layer. Chill. Garnish with additional whipped topping, if desired. Cut into squares to serve.

My Comments

I made this dessert for Father's Day and it was delicious. I changed it a bit though. I made the crust from the Graham Cracker box, I doubled the crust, I added more Cool Whip to the cream cheese and I used two boxes of pistachio pudding because I was using a slightly bigger pan.

Make sure the cream cheese is left out before you use it. It needs to be really soft. Mine had cream cheese chunks in it. Also, the Graham Cracker crumb box doesn't say to bake the crust but it is a good idea because my cream cheese mixture was lifting up the crust and not spreading smoothly. And FYI, pistachio pudding is a BITCH to find so don't leave it until the last minute like I did. Now that I have tried it, the next time it will be so easy to make.

Source: Cooks.com

Buy 3 get the 4th free Book Sale

2009-06-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

It's here now! Buy 3 get the 4th book free is on at Chapters and Coles until July 1st. The sale includes all regular priced books. With an irewards card you save an additional 10%. I do most of my book shopping at this sale and I have been waiting all year. For students who like to read, this is a great chance to buy some books if you are short on cash.

Plants vs Zombies

2009-06-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is a fun arcade game. You can download it for free at GameHouse.com. I tried the demo and it's safe.

I actually thought it was so much fun that I bought it. It's $20 but I found it for only $6.99 USD from Big Fish. If you like the game, it's worth it.

Cool Dance Group

2009-06-13T20:45:00.001-07:00

Cat Jumping Out of Box

2009-06-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Celebrity Look-A-Like Show

2009-06-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

This show has auditions for celebrity look-a-likes and then gives them a makeover. But I think they don't do as nearly as good of a job as they could. For example, there are some people that walk in looking a lot like a celebrity and at the photo shoot at the end of the day they look LESS like the celebrity. The photographer just doesn't capture the right angles. They SUCK sometimes. I think the show could be really good if they had a style team that was better at their job and they had more serious auditions.

However, I find the show to be addictive so I watch it almost everyday and get pissed off every day. Why can't I stop?!

I think that this was a good one. It could have been better if they reshaped her eyebrows.

Click Here to visit their website for more transformations and some style tips.

Legalize Marijuana, Criminalize Alcohol

2009-06-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of controversy about weed being legalized. I believe it should be legalized. While I am not a fan of how our government spends tax payers' money, they could earn a lot of revenue by collecting taxes on sales of marijuana. The country will also save a lot of money because the police don't have to waste their time filling out paperwork just because someone smoked a joint. And I believe that decriminalizing weed would make it less attractive to teens that smoke it to rebel against authorities.

I do think, however, that there should be restrictions, such as a maximum amount you can carry, no smoking in public, age limit, laws against driving under the influence (generally, laws similar to those of alcohol).

When you compare the effects of alcohol to marijuana, I think that alcohol can impair your judgement more than an equivalent amount of weed. What I mean is that I think that people under the influence of weed are more aware/under control compared to people that have been drinking.

Most people that smoke weed become very calm and peaceful. They rarely want to cause mischief and can be easily entertained with mundane things. Whereas drinkers are ready to party and cause shit. Drinkers are also more likely to become angry and violent and want to drive places.

When it comes to health, I don't think pot makes you dumb. It can have negative long term effects if the substance is abused, but so can drinking.

I think a room full of stoned people are less likely to do something illegal than a room full of drunk people. Therefore, I think the world would be a better place if marijuana was legalized and alcohol was criminalized. Not that I want booze to be banned.

Money Management Tips for Students

2009-05-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, not everyone's parents are paying their way through school. There are many of us that need to come up with the money on our own. This helpful article gives some good ideas for college students to keep in mind. Whether your in debt or just tight on cash, it's important to have savings for emergencies, job loss, unexpected expenses like car repairs, and so on.

Top Money Saving Tips for College Freshmen

Save Money and Reduce Stress With These Financially Sound Strategies
by Mike Hardcastlefor About.com

Making the transition from high school student to college student can be confusing. There are a lot of changes and many new responsibilities. Adapting to college is full of life lessons and the biggest lesson involves handling money.

Living at Home Is Easy
When teens live at home there are many financial decisions that they never have to make. Parents worry about how much to spend on housing, food, bills, clothes and entertainment. These things never have to cross the high school students mind.
In college teens suddenly have to handle these things on their own. If you spend money recklessly you will quickly find yourself tapped.
Smart money saving tactics can make a major impact on your finances and your future. Here are some tips and ideas to make your financial transition that much easier.

Know Your Cost of Living
Make a list of your mandatory monthly expenses so you understand where your money has to go. Things like, rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, parking, school supplies, debt repayment, and student or activity fees fall in this category. Once you know where your money has to go each month you'll be able to set up a discretionary fund and a savings plan.

Give Yourself an Allowance
Put yourself on an allowance for things like entertainment, eating out, clothing, and special purchases. Stay on budget no matter how tight things get. It's never too early to start saving money. Even if it's only $20 a week try to put something aside in a savings account.

Become Frugal
Look for creative ways to save money. Consider carpooling, public transit or enviro-friendly biking as a means of getting around. Bring lunches and snacks from home. Buy your text books and lab supplies second hand if possible. Instead of paying a tutor set up a peer study group in classes that you need extra help with.

Understand Your Debt Load
Student loans aside there are other ways that students get in to debt. Credit card companies target cash strapped students, most of whom are inexperienced with unsecured debt.
When handled responsibly credit cards can be good things to have. If you do any shopping on the Internet you will probably need to have a credit card. Many credit card companies offer theft and fraud protection. Read the fine print of your credit card agreement to find out if you’re covered for these things.
It's a good idea to have a credit card for emergencies or for major purchases like books or a bike but avoid using plastic for day-to-day spending or for entertainment.

Jenga Drinking Game: Rules, Labels, and Tips

2009-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Boardgames can be a lot of fun . . . when excessive drinking is involved. Jenga is the best game for parties. All you need is the game, a marker, 2 or more players, booze, and a little creativity. A steady hand and concentration is also required (of which toasted people find difficult to grasp). The result is a quick game with lots of laughs and an interesting after game of crawling on the floor to pick up the pieces.

Consider this site your ultimate Jenga drinking game resource. The following Jenga related links and ideas are the best the web has to offer.

Basic Instructions

What you need:
The game Jenga
A pen
Large quantities of alcohol (ie. Rev, Holy Water, Sexy Beer)

What to do:
Mark the Jenga pieces with different rules and demands that relate to the party.

Gameplay
Follow the rules of regular Jenga. Once a piece is pulled, the player must do what the piece indicates.

The Creativity Part

You can write anything you want on the pieces. Connactivity.com has a huge list of ideas. You can write on the pieces before the game or have your guests write whatever they want.

Here are some of my favourites:

Give/Take 1,2,3, or 4 (drinks)
Strip (take off an item of clothing)
Handswitch (player must play with their other hand for the rest of the game)
Impression (do an impression of someone)
Down the Hatch (finish your drink)
Lurch/Gary Coleman (tallest/shortest player takes a drink)
Beer Wench (you have to get everyone's drinks for the rest of the game)
Name Genie (give all players a new name, everyone must address each other by their new name for the rest of the game)
Rainbow Warrior (Pick a color. Everyone must drink 1 for every article of clothing they have on that contains that color.)
Ru Paul (Switch seats with a person of the opposite gender.)

Please feel free to comment on your ideas/faves.

On The Side
Anyone not involved in the match can make it interesting by betting on their favourite player.

Game Over
Before the game starts think of something humiliating the loser will have to do. Or if you don't want to be cruel make them clean up the game and setup a new one or chug a beer. Click here for a visual example from Youtube.
If you are able to achieve the optimal balance of booze and Jenga the game will be a huge success! Happy Drinking!

Related Links
Holy Water. Hallelujah!
Hangover Cures the College Way
Internet Stars
Nina Conti and Monk
iPhone Helps You Find Weed

Amazing Cakes

2009-05-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Foodnetwork has some really cool cooking challenges. They are a lot of fun to watch if you're really bored and there's nothing else on TV. I think the things these chefs make are incredible. The focus is more on appearance and creativity than taste. In fact, most of the challenges I watch don't even involve eating anything.

Anyways, here are some photos of amazing cakes (I like the ones that look like other things). You can see more at thepinkcakebox.com.

iCoke Prizes Are Weak

2009-05-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

I am loyal to Coca-Cola and decided to start entering the pins from the caps to earn points. The points are adding up quickly but there isn't anything I really want to spend them on. I keep checking the list of things I can buy but there is rarely anything new. Most of the prizes now are Olympic things and I'm not into that. So I guess it depends on your interests. Hopefully they will add new things soon.

If you haven't joined yet you can for free by clicking here.

Stuff to Chat About:

Do you collect iCoke points?

What do you think of the prizes?

Save on Books this Summer

2009-05-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Twice a year Chapters, Indigo, and Coles bookstores have an incredible sale on paperback books. Buy 3 get the 4th free! If you buy 4 books you will get the cheapest book for free.

Tip: If you are going to buy 8 books, group the 4 cheapest together and the 4 most expensive ones together and pay for them in two purchases (you can say "i'd like to pay for these with debit and these with cash" or take several trips to buy them in 4s).

For example:

Purchase 1 : 4 books @ $10 each ---> save $10

Purchase 2 : 4 books @ $20 each ---> save $20

Total Savings = $30

If you were to buy them in one purchase you will only save on the two cheapest purchases ($2o total).

The last sale was in December and before that it was in June. So this year it may be in June as well (I'll post a comment when I know the exact time).

So if you love to read try to hold off on buying anything for now because the sale is fast approaching. Start making that list and share it with us in the comments.

Recommended Movie: Zoolander (2001)

2009-05-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Zoolander is a hilarious comedy featuring one of the world's best comedians Ben Stiller. It's a must see if you want to laugh your ass off. It is often played on TV so check TVguide.ca for listings (It's actually playing on Showcase on May 25 at 1am and 3am).

I like the movie a lot but I wouldn't recommend buying it. It's a good movie to rent or watch on TV.

Summary

Derek Zoolander is VH1's three time male model of the year, but when Hansel wins the award instead, Zoolander's world becomes upside down. His friends disappear, his father is disappointed in him, and he feels that he's not good as a model anymore. But when evil fashion guru Mugato hires Zoolander, he thinks his life has turned back round again, that is until he finds out that Mugato has actually brainwashed him to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Can Zoolander and his new friends find out how to prevent the incident before it's too late?

Written by Film Fan UK

Chat

Has anyone seen this movie?

Do you like Ben Stiller's movies?

Source

IMDB.com

Shockya.com

Related Links

Recommended Movie: The Princess Bride

Recommended Movie: Step Brothers

Recommended Movie: Apocalypto

Comedian Bob Marley: Pizza and Beer

2009-05-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

This comedian is very funny. I have seen him on the Comedy Network several times and I thought I'd share one of my favourite clips. Click the image below to watch the video on the comedynetwork.ca.

Sources: Image - cdbaby.com Video - comedynetwork.ca

What the Heck are Hiccups?

2009-05-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

I just got the hiccups all of a sudden. They were very uncomfortable and I had to stop them. I tried holding my breath (which usually works) then breathing deeply, then breathing shallowly. Nothing was working. So I looked to the all mighty Google Search Engine to find the solution.

What are Hiccups?

For years very little was known about hiccups and even less was written about them. Today that's changed. We still don't know jack, but scientists have explained this to us at length.

Here's what we know. When you hiccup, your diaphragm and nearby muscles convulse, causing you to briefly gulp air. Within 35 milliseconds the glottis (the opening at the top of the air passage) slams shut, producing the characteristic "hic."

If you're able to stifle the hiccup right away, great. But if you hiccup more than seven times you'd better settle in for the long haul. Once in hiccup mode you typically will hiccup 63 times or more. Maybe a lot more. The hiccup record, last time I checked, was 57 years.

Hiccups are commonly caused by distention of the stomach, which you get if you eat too much, drink carbonated beverages, or swallow too much air.

Is There a Cure?

Home remedies are mostly based on the idea that you have to disrupt the hiccup cycle. These include holding your breath, induced sneezing, breathing into a bag, drinking water while covering your ears, pulling your tongue, pressing on the eyeballs, sudden fright, or--this is interesting--eating dry granulated sugar. Merely drinking water, if done soon enough, may work by washing down a glob of food in your throat that's pressing against a nerve.

If the preceding are unavailing, a doctor may try drugs such as chlorpromazine, tickling the pharynx with a catheter stuck through the nose, hypnosis, or acupuncture. Still no go? Time for stern measures. In 1833 it was recommended that you blister or burn the skin above the phrenic nerve on the neck and back. This has now been supplanted by a marginally more civilized procedure in which the nerve is sliced or crushed.

Conclusion

No one knows shit about hiccups.

A Miracle

It's a miracle! As I was writing this my hiccups stopped. Sweet.

Discussion

How do you stop your hiccups?

Source

StraighDope.com

Protect Yourself from Swine Flu

2009-05-04T11:49:00.001-07:00

As you may know, the human swine flu has reached Canada. As students you are more at risk. Crowded classrooms, libraries, and hallways can spread the virus fast. And school isn't the only danger zone. There are grocery stores, malls, doctor's offices, workplaces, parks, . . . you must be cautious anywhere there are people or around anything that people might have touched.

As far as I know, the swine flu is not (yet) a reason to barricade yourself in your room. But it doesn't hurt to prepare yourself. The precautions to protect yourself from this virus are the same you would take to protect yourself from any flu.

General Information

H1N1 Flu Virus (Human Swine Flu) has been reported in Canada, Mexico and the United States and several other countries in Europe and the South Pacific . The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working collaboratively with Mexican and American officials to further investigate this situation.

Governments around the world and the World Health Organization are engaged to investigate and address this situation.

Cases of H1N1 Flu Virus (Human Swine Flu) have been reported in Canada.

PHAC continues to work with federal, provincial and international governments to address this situation, and will share more information with Canadians as it becomes available.

How to Protect Yourself

The Public Health Agency advises Canadians to:
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use hand sanitizer

Cough and sneeze in your arm or sleeve

Get your annual flu shot

Keep doing what you normally do, but stay home if sick

Check http://www.fightflu.ca/ for more information

Check http://www.voyage.gc.ca/ for travel notices and advisories

Talk to a health professional if you experience severe flu-like symptoms

For more information visit the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Topics for Discussion

Do you think the swine flu is going to become like the SARS epidemic?

Source: publichealth.gc.ca

The Evolution of Pizza

2009-05-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

It's a known fact, all college students love pizza. I dare you to prove otherwise. The soft dough . . . melty mozza cheese . . . smooth tomato sauce . . . and classic pepperoni. Does it get better than that? This post goes to all of you pizza lovers, a chronological evolution of how pizza came to be so great. And there's a kickass pizza recipe at the end.

The History of Pizza

Circa 1000 A.D.: Pizza gets its start when peasants begin baking leftover, covered dough.

Early 1500s: Spanish conquistadors bring tomatoes to Europe from the New World.

Late 1500s: The first known recipes for the production of mozzarella cheese begin popping up in cookbooks.

Late 1600s: Although tomatoes are feared to be poisonous, peasants in Naples are the first to add them to their pizza.

1830: Port'Alba the world's first pizzeria, opens in Naples. The proprietor bakes pizzas in an oven lined with lava harvested from Mount Vesuvius.

1889: Naples chef Raffaele Esposito prepares a red, white, and green pizza of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to honor a visit by Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanna. He names the pie the margherita.

1905: Gennaro Lombardi opens the first American pizzeria: Lombardi's pizzeria, which was located at 53 ½ Spring St. in New York City. (The restaurant would later move to 32 Spring St.).

1943: Ric Riccardo Sr. and Ike Sewell invent a deep-dish pizza and begin serving it at their new Chicago restaurant, Pizzeria Uno — creating a flagship for the future chain.

1945: Buying a slice becomes increasingly popular as WWII veterans return from Italy and spread the pizza gospel.

1957: The first frozen pizza — Celentano's — appears in supermarkets.

1958: The first Pizza Hut opens in Wichita, Kansas. The first Domino's opens just two years later in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Mid-1970s: Chicago pizzerias add a top layer to their deep-dish pie, creating the miracle of stuffed pizza.

Early 1980s: Pizza goes gourmet, with upscale toppings such as duck and Gorgonzola.

1995: Kraft introduces DiGiorno pizza, the first "self-rising" frozen pie

Pizza Rolls Recipe

These cheesy little swirls certainly make their rounds at cocktail parties. Stuffed with salami, sausage, provolone and mozzarella, these pretty pizza pinwheels never last long with guests around.

Ingredients
1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
1/4 pound Genoa salami, thinly sliced
1/4 pound pepperoni sausage, sliced
1/4 pound provolone cheese, sliced
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Cooking Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
Roll pizza crust dough into an approximately 10x14-inch rectangle on the baking sheet. Layer with Genoa salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese to within 1/2 inch from edges of the dough. Roll jelly roll style. Seal the edge with a fork.
Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Slice into 1 inch pieces to serve.

Nutrition Facts
Servings per Recipe: 5
Amount Per Serving
calories: 457cal
total fat: 27.3g
cholesterol: 63mg
sodium: 1502mg
carbohydrates: 28.2g
fiber: 0.7g
protein: 22.9g

Preparation Time:
10 min.

Cooking Time:
25 min.Ready In: 35 min.Servings: 5

Topics for Discussion:
What do you think is the best pizza topper?
What is the best pizza joint?
How often do you eat pizza?

Sources: Mensfitness.com and Recipes.kaboose.com

Brag or Bitch About Your Grades

2009-04-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

This post is your chance to tell everyone how well (or not so well) you did this semester. Don't be shy. I want to know how you did. I myself have some bragging and bitching to do.

So make a comment and let everything out! I am sure a lot of people with sympathize with any problems you had. And I do not mind listening to bragging as I have been known to do that myself.

Bookmark this post to follow the discussion.

Free and Simple Weight Watchers Program

2009-04-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Weight Watchers program is a diet plan that requires you to carefully record and control what you eat and how many points to allocate to each thing you eat. This program costs $40 to sign up and $22 each month, plus all of the necessary books and materials. But you get more support, resources and help.

If you want to try the program, or make it your own, there are some simple steps you can do that won't cost you anything. All it takes is a little dedication and willingness to track everything you eat. In the long run, it allows you to learn more about food, your body, organization, planning and self control. With some hard work you can actually lose weight.

Step 1: Calculate your recommended points for the day

ADD POINTS: You will add all of these point up to figure out how many weight watchers points you can have in a day.

ARE YOU?
Male - 8 pts
Female - 2 pts

HOW OLD ARE YOU?
17-26 - 4 pts
27-37 - 3 pts
38-47 - 2 pts
48-58 - 1 pt
over 58 - 0 pts

WHAT DO YOU WEIGH?
Use the first 2 digits of your weight - for example - if you weigh 145 then use 14 pts

HOW ACTIVE ARE YOU?
If you spend most of your day:
Sitting down - 0 pts
Occasionally sitting but mostly standing - 1 pt
Walking most of the time - 2 pts
Doing physical work most of the time - 3 pts

POINTS BANK:
You also get an extra 35 points during the week, which you can use all at once, or spread out over the week. (you can use these for drinking nights and eating out)
from ehow.com

Step 2: Set a goal

For a few days eat only as many points as recommended for your body. Then you can begin reducing your points to begin losing weight. For example, if you have 20 points you may wish to reduce it to 15.

Step 3: Calculate points. (Your points include anything you consume, including drinks)

CLICK HERE for a free points calculator. You only need to know the calories, grams of fat, and fibre.

If you don't know this informations, visit WebMD for a Food-O-Meter that can find the nutritional value of almost any food.

Step 4: Record your points

It is easiest to write everything in a notebook
1. Write the date
2. Write the time of each meal, snack, or drink
3. Write the total points of each meal, snack, or drink
4. Total the points for the day
5. If you have points left over at the end of the day, add them to your "Bank" of 35 points for the week. If you go over your goal, subtract them from your bank.

Tips:

Pay attention to serving sizes
Remember that all good diets include exercise
Plan out healthy meals and snacks which actually allow you to eat more. Click Here for weight watchers recipes.
Drinking water instead of soft drinks, juice, coffee, beer, etc. frees up a lot of points
When grocery shopping switch to low fat/calorie products. It can make a big difference.
Eat slowly and chew your food really well. This will give your body better digestion and time to tell you that you are full.

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions. I'll do my best to find you an accurate and credible answer.

Why do otters hold hands?

2009-04-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

I saw this very cute video the other day. . .

Then I asked myself "Why are they holding hands?" So I did some research. I wanted to know if otters typically held hands and if there was a reason. I found my answer and history of the video from Vancouver Aquariam:

"Vancouver Aquarium sea otters, Nyac and Milo, were the stars on YouTube in 2007. A video showing the otters holding paws, a natural behaviour called "rafting", appeared on the Internet in March 2007. It has now been viewed over 11 million times by people all over the world. Aquarium visitor Cynthia Holmes, who was then a PhD student at the University of British Columbia, shot the video in 2002.

The tremendous response to Ms. Holmes's video on YouTube is a testament to the allure of sea otters. And that's good since they are a threatened species and need our help. Oil spills are one of the greatest threats to sea otters. Nyac, the blond, female otter in the video was a rare survivor of the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.

Sadly on September 23, 2008, Nyac died of chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the ripe old age of 20. She was one of the last surviving sea otters of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. According to the Aquarium’s Staff Veterinarian, Dr. Martin Haulena, even in her death Nyac is a very important animal because “Lymphocytic leukemia has not been previously reported in sea otters and because there is some association with contact with petroleum in other species … she’ll continue to provide vital information on the long-term effects of oil exposure.”

We hope that people watching this video will be inspired to take action - by choosing to drive a fuel-efficient car, for example - to help protect sea otters for our grandchildren."

Rafting

"Although wild sea otters raft in areas without kelp, they will often tangle themselves in kelp to stay near kelp beds and will sometimes hold paws with other otters to form a raft. In B.C., sea otter rafts can consist of up to 150 resting individuals, but as this photo shows the rafts can be small too.

In Canada, disturbing sea otters in the wild is illegal. People must stay 100 m away. Watching female/pup rafts is likely very disruptive to them, according to sea otter expert Dr. Jane Watson.

"In fact the best place to get a good look at sea otters and their behaviour is at the Aquarium. Sea otters take to captivity well - the behaviours visitors see at the Aquarium, are the same sea otter behaviours you would see in the wild," she adds."

Kenny vs Spenny: Real or Fake Friendship?

2009-04-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

Kenny Vs Spenny is a Canadian show on Showcase on Fridays at 9:30pm. Two best friends battle each other through different competitions each season (tonight's competition is 'who can piss off more people?'). The loser must endure a humiliation chosen by the winner.

They live together in Toronto and claim to be really good friends. But watching the show you wonder how they can still remain friends after the torture they put each other through.

Actually, if you have seen the show you know that Kenny is the one that tortures Spenny. He cheats any way he can and will do anything to jeopardize Spenny's chance at winning.

Spenny approaches each competition by abiding by the rules and playing fairly. He works hard to try to win the competition legitimately. Yet Kenny wins more often.

Kenny will go to extremes to entertain his audience. He has slipped Spenny drugs such as laxatives and even acid. He has locked him in a closet for more than a day. He has mailed him a fake letter telling him he might have AIDS. And he ruined his relationship with a really nice girl.

So after all of that (and the frequent beatings) how do they manage to be friends? You probably have your own opinions but I have a few theories.

Firstly, one could argue that Kenny isn't really that mean to Spenny after all. In some instances you can see that Kenny cares about him. For example, when he locked him in a closet he felt guilty during his whole trip to Niagara Falls and came back early to let him out. So Kenny might have a heart. Is his behaviour just an act to entertain us? Maybe he doesn't like doing those things to Spenny.

Secondly, the whole show and their relationship could be fake. Maybe they are just actors and all of the competitions are set up.

I, personally, don't think the second theory is too likely. But I don't understand how they manage to still be friends. Spenny does not seem okay with how Kenny treats him. If they are friends now, it might not be long until one of them goes crazy. Do they think the show is worth risking their friendship?

What do you think? Is their relationship real? Do you think Spenny is mistreated, or "boys will be boys"?

Click the pic below to watch "Who can sell more bibles" (part one of three)

And visit their website if you have nothing better to do at kennyvsspenny.tv.

Recommended Movie: The Princess Bride (1987)

2009-04-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

The Princess Bride was one of my favourite movies as a kid and it still is. It is a love story that is also funny and adventurous. There are a lot of well known actors in it including Andre The Giant (a wrestler) and Billy Crystal. I have probably watched this movie dozens of times. If you have seen it, let me know what you think.

Plot Summary (IMDB)

A kindly grandfather sits down with his grandson and reads him a bedtime story. The story is one that has been passed down through from father to son for generations. As the grandfather reads the story, the action comes alive. The story is a classic tale of love and adventure as the beautiful Buttercup is kidnapped and held against her will in order to marry the odious Prince Humperdinck, and Westley (her childhood beau, now returned as the Dread Pirate Roberts) attempts to save her. On the way he meets an accomplished swordsman and a huge, super strong giant, both of whom become his companions in his quest. They meet a few bad guys along the way to rescue Buttercup.

Written by Afterburner

Does texting make U mean?

2009-04-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

Toronto Star

Apr 21, 2009 04:30 AM
Trish Crawford LIVING REPORTER

Professor Tim Blackmore has learned not to get upset at the messages his students send him.

"They sound like they're going to burn your door down," says Blackmore, who teaches media studies at the University of Western Ontario.

"They send messages that are both lazy and in the imperative – "Hey, u didn't tell me what was wrong with my paper.

"You think, that's some crust. But then they come into your office and they are crying. They are nice people. But their messages are surface, not about depth. They need to step back and get some context."

Is instant messaging, texting and tweeting making us mean?

This was the question swirling in the wake of a study that showed the brain needs eight seconds to register social pain or virtue and produce emotions of empathy, compassion or admiration.

In contrast physical pain, is recognized much quicker, almost instantly, says Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a researcher who worked on the University of Southern California study.

While the USC study – released yesterday by the National Academy of Sciences in its Online Early Edition – did not look directly at instant messaging, Immordino-Yang says a link to the study's findings on delayed emotional reactions "is a very intriguing possibility."

"What it suggests is that we should think seriously" about the effect this has on instant messaging, she said in a phone interview, noting that her child, 7, sends her emails at work.

"A young child may not know the social implications of what they are doing and seeing (in rapid messaging). It is an open question and suggests the need for further research."

Our brains register the pain of others as if it were our own, says Immordino-Yang, with physical pain being "felt" in one part of the cerebral cortex and social pain being "felt" in another part.

People have these deep "gut feelings" for others' situations after years of exposure to books and stories and experiences, says Immordino-Yang, adding, "They give us deep, moral illumination."

But it takes time to ignite those feelings, the study says, leading to speculation that rapid-fire communication could just be too fast for the good feelings to kick in.

Blackmore doesn't think it's the fault of the brevity of the messages, especially Twitter, which allows only 140 characters per message.

It is context and thought that are missing, he feels, citing writer Ernest Hemingway's boast he could write a short story in six words, leading to the evocative sentence: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Meanwhile, the Internet is full of Twitter posts encapsulating great works, such as the one for Homer's Odyssey that ends "Back home! Who r all these random dudes?"

Underlying such a tweet is the writer's grasp of one of the great works of literature, he says, which takes a very long time to read.

"It takes time to live life, it takes time to ponder it."

University of Toronto linguistics expert Maria Cristina Cuervo notes text messaging is no faster than talking and "speaking is very fast."

The fuss about instant messaging is reminiscent of the early furor created by the telephone, she says, when people fretted that it would ruin conversation because you couldn't see each other.

"People were still able to be empathetic over the phone," says Cuervo, adding the quality of all such exchanges, online or not, is set by the relationship between the people.

"The more you know a person," the better you are at grasping the emotions they are conveying in any form of messaging, she says.

And, as she points out, you can always add a smiley face

Complete IKEA Dorm Room Under $500

2009-04-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some products from Ikea.com that I pulled together for a very affordable and stylish dorm set. It includes almost everything you could need for your dorm room, from furniture to silverware and decorations. This set is all black and white but colour can easily be added with accessories and most items have different colour options. The most amazing part is that this set, of more than 30 items, is under $500!

I want to hear your opinion about this dormroom set so please let me know by posting a comment. I may create more sets in the future.

EIDE bedframe $69
DILLING bed storage box $14.99TOLGA bedside table $10 BILLY bookcase $69 ANEBODA 3 drawer chest $79

SKUBB organizer $6.99

HANNES computer desk $59

STEFAN chair $20 VANNA mirror $9.99HASTHOV bedspread $14.99

IKEA 365+ SÖMNIG Sheet $12.99

ERIKSLUND picture $9.99 FARM Vase $2.99 each SNÄRTIG artificial flower $2.99

MJÄLLBY scented candle in pot $1.50 each KNUBBIG table lamp $9.99

FLOKATA rug $39.99

LINGO box 2/pack $4.99

LERBERG CD/ DVD wall shelf $5.99 (2) TRIXA Alarm clock $2.99

FNISS Pen holder $0.79 (2)

BITS Magnetic board $9.99 SPONTAN Magnet $1.50 / 8 pack
FNISS Wastepaper basket $2.99 DIMPA Laundry bag $6.99 REKO Glasses $1.99 / 6 pack
BONUS 16-piece cutlery set $4.99 LUGN Bowl $0.75 (4)
LUGN Plate $0.75 (4)GRAND TOTAL = $489.39

Best Place to Buy Furniture

2009-04-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

College students are often on a very tight budget, as am I. For the past three years I have been trying to break free from my parents house and find a place of my own. But I just haven't been able to save enough money. Now my plan is to move out before the fall semester starts or a year later when I graduate.

Over the years I have bought many household items in preparation for moving out on my own. I have almost everything I need: dishes, silverware, pots and pans, kitchen towels, scissors, tuperware, toaster, spatuals and such, a small sofa, a microwave, etc. I got most of these things from Walmart and some from the dollar store. I bought the expensive items when they were on sale and I saved a lot of money. I recommend this to anybody that is planning to move out of their parent's home or dorm within the next few years. Just look at flyers and watch for good sales. It can be kind of fun if you're obsessive like me!

Next I need to think about furniture. Every year I get the Ikea catalogue and read through every page twice and write down everything I like that fits my budget. I think it is a really great store for students moving out on their own. It has more selection and style then Walmart's furniture. And what I really like is that there are so many levels and options for budgets. You can go really cheap or expensive. That way you can buy something cheap to start and upgrade as you have more money.

You should consider Ikea for your furniture and decorating needs. If you do not have the catalogue you can visit their website (Ikea.com). Just remember, often you get what you pay for. Some items you may wish to spend a little more for more quality and durablility (bedframe for example). Also be careful to read the details of the product to make sure you are getting everything you expect (headboard with the bedframe for example).

Here are some things I think are great and available at a great price.

SMEDTSA Swivel Chair $50

KLOBO loveseat $199

BILLY bookcase $69

LACK coffee table $29.99

MORKER table lamp $6.99

AGNARYD picture $8.99

Corner Gas Ends

2009-04-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

The last show of Corner Gas has aired. It' so said when a good TV show series ends. I only recently starting watching the show but I really like it. Now, too soon, it is leaving. Does anyone else watch the show? Is there any other show you've had to say goodbye to?

Reverage

2009-04-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Rev is a great drink for parties. I drink it all of the time. It is a blue cooler with cola, vodka, and guarana. According to the ingredients there is vanilla, cherry, pineapple, and raspberry flavours. But they are hard to distinguish. They come in 4packs and recently in single, jumbo bottles. This is my favourite store-bought drink. I have had hundreds of them in the past few years. Luckily, you get your ten cent deposit back!

You can check out the website, Reverage.com, it sucks. But you have to try the drink.

Worst Easter Candy

2009-04-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

As promised I have found an interesting article from WebMD. Easter is this Sunday and this article breaks down the nutritional information of many different candies.

I don't mean to ruin candy. I know tomorrow I am stocking up on Cadbury Eggs before they're gone!

Read Best to Worst Easter Basket Treats

"Pick your Easter basket poison. Are you partial to the marshmallow or peanut butter eggs or the milk chocolate bunnies...or, are you a Peeps person? What's the best way to approach your Easter basket, knowing you're going to indulge to some extent?" . . .

Happy Easter!

A Great Health Website

2009-04-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

WebMD is a great website that has a lot of resources for anything health related. I'm not sure how reliable it is but it does seem professional. I love that there a short videos for almost every topic. The articles are so easy to understand and there are a lot of great tips. When I go on the site there are so many interesting featured articles that I want to read them all!

You should definitely check it out. I will post some of my favourites once I have some time to visit the site again.

Here is one to start. Click the picture below to read very short explanations of "Weird Body Quirks: From Brain Freeze to Hiccupping".

Bottled Water

2009-04-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of contraversy going on about bottled water. Some people say "What's wrong with tap water?" and others say "Oh, Dasani is so gross, I prefer Aquafina".

I drink bottle water because I'm afraid of tap water, even though I use it for cooking. I think all of the hype about tap water being filled with harsh chemicals, germs, and diseases has freaked me out. If I run out of bottled water I will fill the bottles up with water from the fridge, but it has needed a new filter for like a year now. And for some reason I am okay drinking that water instead (but only if there is one of those flavour packets in it). As for brands, I dont care what it is as long as its on sale. Accept now people are saying the plastic bottles are bad for the enviroment. Click the picture above to learn more about bottled water.

What do you think about bottled water?

Earth Hour: Yay or Nay?

2009-03-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

Earth Hour was yesterday. Across the world people were encouraged to shut off their lights and electronics from 8pm to 9pm. The idea is to create awareness of the amount of energy we spend in a typical day and how much energy we can save if everyone helped out even a little.

I like the idea. And when you see cities plunged into darkness it gives a sense that the world is one big community and people are starting to care about the planet's health.

On the other hand, by ritualizing earth hour, we are actually alienating it. People will begin to think that this is only something we have to do one hour a year. If we really want to make an impact we should have earth day, week, or month! Everyday should be earth hour and I do not think this message is being communicated effectively . . . a lot of people will forget about saving electricity until next year.

Did you participate in this? What do you think of this earth hour ritual?

Free Online Games

2009-03-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a few websites with great games when you're bored:

Neopets

Alien Adoption Agency

Tetris

Insaniquarium

Blockz

Arcadetown

Grocery Prices: Organic Foods

2009-03-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

Organic price tags may be hard to swallow

CARLY WEEKS
Globe and Mail Update
March 18, 2009 at 8:30 AM EDT

The organic, free-range, hormone-free chicken is a staple of the yuppie cookbook. But the price is becoming increasingly hard to swallow as the reality of tough economic times sets in.
People have been buying and selling organic food for decades. But until recently, most of that activity was done on a local scale for a limited number of customers. In the past decade, organic food has exploded in popularity, evolving into an industry that resembles the traditional grocery model, complete with frozen-food aisles, weekly flyers and rows of cashiers.

The current crisis marks the first time organic retailers will have to face a sharp economic downturn since the industry's boom began. "Organic food has a huge problem," said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst with Mintel International Group Ltd., a global consumer-research firm. "It's always been premium-priced."

While many Canadians were willing to shell out for organic nachos and macaroni and cheese when times were good, suddenly the cheaper grocery-store brands aren't looking so bad. "It's going to affect us, most definitely," said Linda Wonsel, owner of Natural Earth Organics in Windsor, Ont.

Certain organic items are expected to weather the storm better than others. For instance, consumers will likely remain loyal to products whose non-organic counterparts are widely associated with, or suspected to be tied to, potential health problems. That includes hormone-free organic milk and organic baby food, particularly in light of fears over melamine contamination of goods coming from China.

Households with small children that ate organic before the recession will likely continue to do so, according to Ms. Mogelonsky. "You don't want to feed your kid milk you don't think is safe," she said. "You will buy organic milk even though it's $5 a gallon."

And although consumption of organic meat is expected to drop due to its relatively high price, shoppers who ate organic meat before the economic downturn likely won't switch to traditional meat.

That said, they'll likely eat less of it, according to experts.
Dedicated organic customers will, for the most part, also stick to other staples, including free-range eggs, and organic fruits and vegetables.

But as more consumers look to cut costs, it's also likely that pricey non-necessities will be the first organics to go. The growth of the organic industry has sparked the introduction of all kinds of packaged foods - processed cookies, potato chips, ready-to-eat meals and frozen food. Cost-conscious consumers may no longer be willing to pay a premium for organic snack foods, according to Laura Telford, executive director of Canadian Organic Growers, a national industry association.

"The prepared stuff is going to go first," Ms. Telford said. "[Organic retailers are] not going to go into bankruptcy or anything ... but it is going to be a lean year, more than likely."

Read More . . .

Summer Jobs for Students

2009-03-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well the summer semester is approaching. And, if you are in my shoes, you need to start thinking about full time work for your time off. Even though the economy is currently suffering there are some employers looking for students and summer help.

You should check out your school's website for upcoming job fairs. This is an excellent way to newtork and circulate your resumes.

You can also check out other websites for job listings such as the following:
1. Young Canada Works
2. JobPostings.ca: Canada's Student Job Site
3. Canada Summer Jobs 2009
4. Job Bank

Internet Stars

2009-03-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

Got some time on your hands?

Watch these classic viral videos in order. You do not have to watch the entire videos . . the last one is the most important one.(don't worry nothing too disturbing)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Canadian Tuition Hikes of 25%

2009-03-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

As was mentioned in a post from early in December, schools are want to increase tuition to help them out during this recession. (click here for the post and to read why this is a bad idea).

Finally some numbers have been estimated and it seems these hikes are actually going to happen.

This article describes the current situation of college/univeristy tuition. The article is from ParentCentral.ca.

25% tuition hike touted

February 26, 2009

Dramatic tuition hikes must be part of a recession survival plan for Canada's ivory tower, warns an education thinktank.

Colleges and universities must consider charging more, despite a middle-class backlash, if they hope to avoid diluting the quality of education during the economic crisis, says the report by the non-profit Educational Policy Institute.

The report predicts fee hikes of up to 25 per cent in the next couple of years – in line with increases during the last recession – which would generate $1 billion to $2 billion for recession-hit campuses.

Caught between the surge in enrolment that happens in every recession, and the looming slowdown in government grants and private donations, Canada's colleges and universities must consider hiking fees, boosting student aid and cutting the ranks of big-ticket senior staff, said the report.

The good news, say the authors, is that many Canadians can afford to pay more. "The average net tuition a student pays in Canada, once you factor in inflation and tax credits, has gone up less than $90 in the past 10 years – to $4,066 from $3,985 – while family incomes have increased a lot," said analyst Alex Usher, co-author of the report by the institute, based in Toronto, Virginia and Australia.

"Also, there is a smaller percentage of students borrowing to pay their tuition, because so many have been able to find work," said Usher, whose report states bluntly, "The question in Canada is not whether families can contribute more (to tuition): on average, they can."

John Milloy, Ontario's minister of training, colleges and universities, said he was not willing to "get into a numbers game" yet because the province's 5 per cent cap on yearly tuition hikes for most programs doesn't end until September 2010.

"But obviously we're in a tough economy and it's no secret our resources are limited. However this government has said we do not want finances to ever be a barrier to a qualified student having access to post-secondary education."

In fact, any fee hikes during a recession are "an absolutely absurd proposal," said Shelley Melanson, chair of the Canadian Federation of Students' Ontario branch.

"It's fascinating that while every government in the world is saying we can't raise taxes, to increase what is really a flat tax on students – tuition – completely ignores the reality of the economy."

Charlie Bit My Finger

2009-03-02T17:39:00.000-08:00

I have been crazy busy with homework the past week and probably will be until exams are over in April. So today I thought I would just share one of my favourite YouTube videos. It is so cute!

Car Warranty Phone Scam!

2009-02-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

I believe some people are trying to scam me. I keep getting calls on my cell from numbers beginning with (416)000-... I haven't answered them because I don't know who they are. Finally they left an automated message. It was fairly urgent saying that my car warranty was about to expire and I need to renew it before my file closes. It then instructs me to press one to renew the warranty, or two to get off of the follow-up list.

Some things came to mind quickly: First of all, I don't own a car. So I thought they might have the wrong number.

But then I remembered hearing about a phone scam awhile ago. They would leave an urgent message to call them right back. They would then keep you on the line as long as possible. At the end of the month you get a big surprise on your phone bill. Some people have been charged thousands of dollars. And because you called them, and it wasn't a toll free number, you get the bill.

Right away I thought this must be a scam too, especially because each time the phone number was slightly different (i.e. 000-7935 and 000-7945).

Next, I did some research: It turns out that a lot of people are getting these calls (I think only in Canada). Some people think it's a company trying to get people for telemarketing lists. Some have tried to call back but got 'number out of service'. People have had sketchy conversations with them where they asked for personal info. I also read about 'caller ID spoofing'. This is the practice where unethical (i.e. telemarketers) or dangerous people can make a different number display on caller ID then the call is originated from.

My Conclusions: This must be a scam. I don't own a car, the calls are fairly frequent and always different (the caller ID spoofing explains this). I don't want to call them back or press one or two because I have no idea who I'm calling!

What are your thoughts?
Should I answer next time and bitch them out?
Should I report it somehow.
Has this happened to you or someone you know?

Movie Trivia/Mistakes

2009-02-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

I love movies. But I am one of those people that sometimes can't keep my mouth shut. I love to point out things in the movie that don't make sense or are not realistic. But cartoons drive me crazy because I'm constantly trying to guess the actors that do the voices. That's why I like the IMDB website so much because I can look up the voices if I want to see if I'm right.

Can you tell which actor plays this character in Tropic Thunder?

IMDB also has movie trivia!

Another website that's cool is movemistakes.com. It can be really interesting. Some movies, like the Titanic, Labrynth, and the Shining, have hundreds of mistakes. But, in the past, I have read some movie mistakes that I didn't think were mistakes, but deliberate. And some of the mistakes are stupid - - - who cares? I guess some of these people don't have lives and can pick out some of the smallest mistakes.

Reading Week

2009-02-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

For some students Reading Week is just ending. But for my school it has just started! Horray! Actually this Reading Week is gonna suck. No vacations for me. Everyday is going to be booked with work, group meetings, studying, and homework. But I am going to fit in some down time and a couple of drinking nights (I can't let the whole week go to waste). My overall goal is to get as much done this week so I won't be freaking out because of deadlines and midterms in the weeks after that.

York Update:
I'm so greatful for Reading Week, especially because not all students get one this semester. York Univeristy has decided that students won't get the break because there is no way then can catch up with it.

If you are in the same boat as me and have a lot of homework to do for reading week I suggest that you revist some of these older posts:
1. If you have a busy week --> Keeping an Organized Schedule
2. If you have midterms to prepare for --> Don’t Wait to Write Study Notes and 8 Exam Preparation Tips

Or if you have a lot of time to kill check out the featured Everday Living and Entertainment posts in the right column of this page. I recommend Alien Adoption Agency, a free online game, or pick up a book/watch a movie (refer to Recommended Reads and Recommended Movies).

My overall advice about Reading Week, if you are not going on vacation, use this time to catch up or get ahead in your work, but also remember to take some time to relax because final exams will be here before we know it!

Holy Water. Hallelujah!

2009-02-16T15:43:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I would share my favourite drink with you. It's called Holy Water, and here's how to make it:

Holy Water

One Part Red Sour Puss
One Part Blue Caraco
Sprite

Mix together in a glass and serve with ice.

You can make adjustments to the drink in terms of measurements. For example, I have had this drink in the form of a shot, also very yummy.

Want a stronger drink? Add vodka . . . my favourite.

If it sounds good to you, next time you're at a bar give it a try! And let me know what you think.

Jury Duty? Are you kidding me?!!!

2009-02-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

I got jury duty! I can't believe it. I received a letter at the end of January with a date, time and location for the selection process. But I'm in school and don't have time for this bull that can take weeks (it could blow my whole semester).

So I called the juror office and they said that they didn't know that I was a student and they would postpone the date. I got a call a couple of days ago . . . it was extended until June (which falls in the beginning of my summer break).

That may sound fine but now my problem is that I need the summer to work my ass off so I can pay back loans and save for the fall semester. I don't think they'll care about that though. And even if I was lucky and it was postponed until after my schooling, I still need to work my ass off to pay back the rest of my loans before serious interest kicks in.

So I'm screwed. I'm relieved that I don't have to do it during school but I still need to work in between. I know it's my duty but it f***ing sucks! They have made me so mad by putting me through all of this worrying. If it had happened at a good time I would have loved the experience.

So I have been researching some ways to get out of it. It should already help that I'm going to be in a miserable mood. I heard that you should act really smart, stubborn, over confident, unstable and you should jump to conclusions and make assumptions.

You must think I am an ass for bitching about it like this, it has just come at the worst time.
Has anyone else had an experience with jury duty? Do you know of any ideas to get out of it (I wont do anything drastic, I can be pretty shy)?

Recommended Movie: Step Brothers (2008)

2009-02-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Will Ferrell (Brennan Huff) is one of my favourite comedians. I just think he is hilarious. The movie kinda surprised me with the language. I was expecting the brothers quarrels to be more innocent. At least it wasn't as disgusting as the movie Super Bad at the beginning (I almost turned it off). I have seen Step Brothers a few times and it doesn't get tired (actually I'm going to watch it again tonight).

A favourite quote:

"Brennan Huff: I'm not gonna call him Dad.
Nancy Huff: Brennan, you're 39 years old. I wouldn't expect you to call him Dad.
Brennan Huff: Well I'm not going to, *ever*! Even if there's a FIRE!"
(more quotes from IMDB)

Movie Plot from IMDB:

"Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are both about 40 when Brennan's mom and Dale's dad marry. The sons still live with the parents so they must now share a room. Initial antipathy threatens the household's peace and the parents' relationship. Dad lays down the law: both slackers have a week to find a job. Out of the job search and their love of music comes a pact that leads to friendship but more domestic disarray compounded by the boys' sleepwalking. Hovering nearby are Brennan's successful brother and his lonely wife: the brother wants to help sell his step-father's house, the wife wants Dale's attention, and the newlyweds want to retire and sail the seven seas. Can harmony come from the discord? Written by jhailey@hotmail.com"

I love this movie, it so funny. If you like Will Farrell then you should definitely watch this movie, you'll laugh your ass off.

What can we do about textbook prices?

2009-02-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

As you may have noticed, textbook prices are outrageous! I spend around $500 on books every semester, that's about average for all students. My most expensive book was more than $160. And I didn't use it once! The professor said, "I know its expesive but you'll need it". And guess what . . . I DIDN'T NEED IT! What a waste of money.

If you are pissed at the prices you're paying for books there are some things you can do to help:

Buy used books when you can
Sell your books, but make sure you won't need them in the future
Share with a friend, only if you can depend on them
Buy online copies if available

There is a group in the USA that are trying to fight against high textbook prices. They say that the prices are so high because, #1 the want to make as much money as they can, and there are no competitors to force price reductions. But another cause of this problem lies with the faculty, because ultimately it is the professor that picks the required book. And of course the pick the newest, most expensive edition, that often don't have used copies available to buy.

So this group started the Make Textbooks Affordable campaign. They have researched the textbook market and are trying to get the prices to go down. I personally think that the government should regulate these prices. If the government wants a future of educated citizens they need to make it more affordable, and textbooks are just too costly. They are scamming students!!!

Anyways, you can check out their website to learn more about their cause. I know that this is just in the US but may encourage the same efforts in Canada. Also you can find other resources to reduce your textbook costs.

The video below is about this issue.

Nina Conti and Monk

2009-02-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just need a good laugh. I saw this Irish comedian on comedy central, Nina Conti. I have only seen one of her routines so far but I love her. First of all she is a great ventriloquist, but her act is so original and creative. This one is funny and the end gets a little strange, it's hilarious.

So take a 5 minute break from your rigorous studying and check out this video. And let me know what you think.

Buy a Reusable Bag!

2009-01-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

What's the deal with reusable bags?

With concerns today about the effects of global warming and maintaining a green lifestyle, reusable bags are becoming a hit. It takes up to 1,000 or more years for plastic bags to biodegrade in landfills. Yes, plastic bags are (eventually) biodegradable. However, as oil-based bags bio-degrade, they break down into smaller, more toxic polymers which contaminate soil and waterways that enter the food chain.

Why should we use them?

They are stronger than plastic bags and can hold more. They are more durable and easier to carry. I walk to and from the grocery store, so reusable bags have made a big difference. Also, the store where I shop charges 5 cents for every bag, so I save money too.

What is my opinion on reusable bags?

I love them. I think they are great. They are better for the environment and have a lot of other benefits. I use them all of the time (as much as I can). I own about a dozen of them, in all different shapes, designs and sizes.

And if you don't like them, you'll have to get used to them. Grocery stores in Canada, such as Loblaws, is going to start charging for their plastic bags, and some are already phasing them out completely.

There are so many different bags to choose from!

Most of the reusable bags I have seen cost $1.99. My favourite ones are the LCBO, P.C., and Indigo bags. Now when I look for reusable bags I also look for style. I don't like the ones that Walmart sells because they look really cheap.

The LCBO bags are plastic and they are much bigger so they are good for protecting my purchases in the winter. The Indigo ones are great because they have flat bottoms and a little zipper pocket on the inside.

Anyways, I do not think I would buy a reusable bag for more then a couple of bucks unless I really like it.

It sounds like reusable bags are the perfect solution!

Not necessarily. There are some purposes that plastic bags are much better for. For example, it is great as a lunchbag that can be thrown out when you're done with it, so you don't have to carry it around everywhere. Also, sometimes you don't know when you are going to do some shopping. Reusable bags basically should be carried at all times and that isn't always convienient.

What does the future hold?

It makes me happy when I see more and more people carrying reusable bags, it shows that more people are starting to care about the enviroment. And I think that even small efforts like these promise a healthier planet to come.

Final Thought

Reusable bags are not just good for the enviroment, they save money, protect your purchases, and they make it easier to carry things.

You can help the environment too! Next time you are out shopping, pick up a couple of reusable bags and bring them when ever you go out. They'll grow on you.

Resources

ReusableBags.ca

ecoACTION

Scene Card: Earn points for the movies!

2009-01-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

If you are on a strict budget there is a free way you can see a movie at any Ciniplex Entertainment theatres (i.e. Galaxy, Famous Players). The Scene Card allows you to collect points when you purchase movie tickets, and you get 10% off at concession stands.

But the better deal is when you sign up for the Scene Debit Card from Scotiabank. I have this card and I love it. You get 1000 points just for starting up, you earn 1 point for every $5 you spend on all your purchases, and 5 points for every $1 you spend at the movies. There are also other bonus points along the way.

You can redeem your points for things like concessions and tickets. My boyfriend also has the card (and the Scene Visa) and we've already gone to the movies, for free, a couple of times

Anyways, I recommend that you check it out. You can sign up for it online, its free and easy, no monthly fees or anything. It's just a great way to earn free movies, and everyone's gotta love that!

Alien Adoption Agency

2009-01-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

I have been playing an interesting game online called Alien Adoption Agency for about a month now. It is a free text game but you can subscribe by month for extra benefits. Some of the game involves battling and increasing your stats like strength and endurance. I'm not really into that type of game but there is so much else to do. You can farm, mine, fish, get jobs, go to bars, invest your money, work out at the gym, by gifts, get married at the wedding chapel, and tons more.

It's a pretty cool game to check out if you're bored. It is easy to learn and if you have any questions I can do my best to answer them.

I'll just add that the game is not appropriate for children as there is some bad language.

You can try out the game by clicking the image below. It will take you to a page that will direct you to another page to sign up. It is really easy and safe to join and completely free!

Healthy Eating: Special K Challenge

2009-01-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

As part of my New Years Resolution I have decided to eat healthier. I heard about the Special K cereal diet and decided to try it out because I really like the cereal.

It is called the Special K Challenge. They have tips for success, exercise tips, healthy recipes and more. Check out the website to find tons of credible and useful resources.

The feature I like the best is the Meal Planner. The meal planner creates a suggested weeks worth of meals and snacks based on your recommended daily calorie intake.
While I found that the meal planner provides great ideas for a healthy diet I am not following it exactly. My twist on the challenge is that I am going to substitute one meal each day with a bowl of Special K. The cereal is available in different flavours so I can mix it up. Right now I am working my way through a box of Special K Berry. I love this one with some sliced banana and 1% milk.

I am going to be dieting this way for a couple of months. I'll let you know how it works out for me.

Wendy Wear on Plus-Sized Labels

2009-01-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

After reading the article from my previous post I found that the United States is considering doing the same. Wendy Wear, a plus-sizd clothing designer, was on Fox news to say her bit about the absurd proposal. She even mentioned something I had said about the issue (why not put labels on small sizes?). The video is below, you can also visit Wendy's blog.

It seems the consensus is that this idea of warning labels on clothing is insulting and degrading. The only person that seems to be for it is that crazy professor guy that started the whole thing.

Note to College Students: This just goes to show that not all professors are right about everything. When your in class listening to lectures just remember that you do not have to take everything your professors say as gospel. You can disagree with their ideas, philosophies, and opinions.

Politicians are listening to this UK guy because he is a credible source with education to credit his theory and of course they are concerned about money. But the fact is that the average person can see that this is an incredibly stupid idea and isn't going to help shit!

Warning Labels on Plus-Sized Clothing?

2009-01-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

A professor in the UK argues that clothing labels, on sizes 16 and up, should include obesity help line numbers. This is intended to help curb the high rate of obesity in the UK that is consuming their health care resources and government spending. Here is the article, found on wptz.com.

U.K. Professor Wants Government To Fight Obesity

"A leading professor in the U.K. said that obese people should be warned about the health risks of their weight when buying clothes, according to The Daily Mail.

Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said that oversized clothing should have obesity help line numbers sewn on them to try to reduce Britain's obesity crisis.

The professor made the recommendations in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal.

Sir George Albert, the U.K.'s national director for emergency care, joined other health professionals in their recommendations. He wants the government to take a more proactive response to obesity.

The suggestion would be to put the label on all clothes with waist sizes over 37 inches for boys or 31 inches for girls. Women's clothes over size 16 would also get a label.

The paper reported that Sattar also believes new urban roads should only be built if they include a separate lane for bicyclists.The professor also said that new housing complexes should all include sports facilities and park areas.

Britain's obesity problem could bankrupt its health system if nothing is done to stop it, according to Sattar. The British Medical Journal reported that more than half of the U.K.'s population is overweight and more than one in five adults is obese.

Treating obese people in that country takes up about 9 percent of the health budget, the Mail reported.

Sattar thinks there should be more political intervention. He told the journal that he also wants food manufacturers to display nutrition information on the content of all meals and snacks at retail and catering outlets.

"People clearly have some responsibility for their health, but society and government have a responsibility to make the preferred, easy choices healthier ones," Sattar said.

Sattar said in the journal that education should be provided at all levels to change behavior towards diet and physical activity, and obesity made a core part of all medical training, according to a press release."

My Opinion:

Shopping for clothing can already be hard enough on a person’s self esteem. Embarrassing and degrading women further is not a good way to cut down on health care costs. In fact, this may actually increase health costs for prescription drugs which these women may feel are necessary to live a happier life.

In addition, the article says that obese people use up 9% of their health care budget. But I think that this is not a high enough number to call for radical change. Maybe the government should be more concerned with curbing violence, car accidents, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and so on.

Notice in this article there is no mention of anorexia help line numbers on sizes extra small and lower. This professor is not concerned with health issues or costs, but is actually concerned that UK women should try harder to look like fake supermodels.

Discussion: What do you think about this proposal? Will it help or hinder health issues?

This video is related to this post. It's a Dove commercial from their real beauty campaign.

No Classes for York Students

2009-01-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

As you may of heard, the facalty of York University in Toronto has been on strike since November 6. And that means that students still cannot go to class. You may think "Wow, that sounds great, a break from all the chaos of school for awhile". But the reality is that students are losing money and precious time is wasting. For many, it will now take longer to graduate or they will have to take summer classes.

Here is an update about the strike from thespec.com.

Talks resume in York University strike
Two-month dispute jeopardizes school year

January 05, 2009

Raveena Aulakh
Torstar News Service'

"Students across Ontario head back to school today - unless they attend York University.

York University and the union representing its striking workers have still not reached an agreement, but it's a good sign that talks haven't broken down, said a union member.

"Talks are still going on – that's a very good thing," said Christina Rousseau, chair of CUPE 3903.

Thousands of students - including commuters from Hamilton - have been idled for two months by the strike. The school year is in jeopardy for many, but the province has said it won't intervene in the dispute.

University officials and union representatives will resume bargaining today after negotiations ended late last night. The two sides have been working with a mediator since Saturday. The strike has shut down campus since Nov. 6, when 3,400 teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants walked off the job. This is the third attempt at reaching an agreement.

Workers are demanding better job security, benefits, wages and a two-year contract that will expire at the same time as other Ontario university unions, giving the Canadian Union of Public Employees more province-wide bargaining clout.

Rousseau said job security is a big point of contention. "We want a special contract which gives members five years instead of the eight months they have now," she said last night. "That will allow them to do some long-term planning."

Child care and professional development are also at issue.

A York University spokesperson was not available to comment. "

Keeping an Organized Schedule

2009-01-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

There is nothing worse then going to class when everyone one has an assignment to hand in and you forgot all about it! Agendas allow you to keep a record of important due dates, test dates and to do lists. This way tests, and the like, won’t creep up on you unexpectedly.

I highly recommend writing a detailed schedule for everything in your life. If you are not used to keeping an agenda, just follow these guidelines and you’ll have no problem getting into it.

Buying an Agenda: Look for ones that have spiral binding so that it is easier to keep them open on the page you need. Make sure they have the required months for the school year and are of the correct year. Buy one that has a lot of space to write in. There are some agendas made specifically for students. I bought one called the Original Student Calendar a few days ago. I got it for half price (boxing day sales) and it looks like it will be very useful.

It also includes pages for recording your expenses, months at a glance, timetable page, goals, contact info, and grades.
Creating your Own: Last semester I made my own agenda. It worked really well and I was going to use it again (with a few modifications) but I found the Original Student Calendar and decided to try it out. Try making your own (on the computer) if you cannot find an agenda that you like or you want to save some money.
Keeping it Organized: The info you write is the most crucial part to being organized. In the "Appointments and Assignments" section of my agenda I will write that a test or group meeting takes place on that day or if there is an assignment due that day. In the "General Study" section I will write tasks that need to be completed by next week (i.e. print slideshow notes for the next class, read the next chapter). I will also write specific goals that need to be completed that day, like: complete research for the first argument of the essay. The "Rest of Your Life" section will be for other things I need to do or want to remember, outside of school.

Completing a Task: You can cross things off your list as you complete them. I find that doing this allows you to see that you are making progress and accomplishing your goals. And it makes it easier to see what still needs to be completed.

With so many things to do and the assignments piling up, you will find that keeping an organized schedule will allow you to manage your stress with more ease. Winter semesters begin soon for most programs so don’t wait to get started. If you have any questions leave a comment and I will reply ASAP.
Discussion: What techniques do you find are crucial to maintaining an organized lifestyle?

Sims 3 Coming 2009

2008-12-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

The Sims is my favourite game. I am excited about the 3rd version (even though my laptop cannot possibly hold any more Sims games). Anyway, here is a trailer to give you an idea of what the game is about.

What is Boxing Day?

2008-12-26T07:08:00.001-08:00

Does anyone know what Boxing Day really is? A website I found discusses the origins and meanings of Boxing Day (snopes.com).

Wikipedia has a similar describtion of the holiday:
"Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa, this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society. Contemporary Boxing Day in many countries is now a "shopping holiday" associated with after-Christmas sales."

I didn't know that the United States doesn't have Boxing Day. And I also learned that it originated from the UK.

So those websites are worth checking out if you want to know what Boxing Day is really about.

Tis the Season to Give

2008-12-22T10:20:00.000-08:00

I had mentioned in an earlier post that a good gift idea is a donation in someone's name (see Christmas Gifts Under $10). It's a good gift for people that are hard to buy for or the person that has everything. The website Canadahelps is the perfect resource to do this. It provides access to make donations to over 80,000 Canadian charities. For a small transaction fee paid to Canadahelps, you can donate any amount you want, any way you want to.

You can do it online and the best part is you can get a Charity Gift Card. You choose an amount for the gift card and send it to the recipient. The recipient can then use the gift card to donate to the charity of their choice. I think this is a pretty neat idea.

Nothing says Christmas like a Twisted Santa

2008-12-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

An interesting and creepy article from the Globe and Mail.

Nothing says Christmas like a twisted Santa
JENNIE PUNTER
From Friday's Globe and Mail
December 19, 2008 at 3:54 AM EST

"Not everyone appreciates the Christmas season's candy-cane smiles and chocolate ho-ho-hos. Which is why a rare screening of Christmas Evil - originally titled the more appropriately sinister You Better Watch Out - should appeal to those who prefer naughty over nice during the holidays.

The obscure 1980 slasher film - which by today's standards plays more like a low-budget psychological drama - has become something of a cult classic in recent years. A 2006 special edition DVD includes audio commentary by none other than singular "bad taste" filmmaker John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray) who deems Christmas Evil "the best seasonal film of all time," adding, "I wish I had kids. I'd make them watch it every year and if they didn't like it they'd be punished!"

Only one 35 mm print of the film is known to exist and it travels with director Lewis Jackson, who brings his road show to a screening in Toronto next Tuesday (9:30 p.m., Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., $13 for non-members, $10 for members). Lewis will also present a reel of deleted 35 mm scenes from the film and participate in an onstage discussion with critic Richard Crouse. And for last-minute gift needs, Jackson promises a satchel full of Christmas Evil merchandise.

The film opens on Christmas Eve, 1947, in suburban New Jersey as young Harry, his brother and mother quietly watch Santa Claus quaff some snacks, deliver gifts then disappear up the chimney again. Later that night, unable to sleep, Harry hears a creature stirring; but it's no mouse - it's Santa (actually his dad still in costume) on his knees groping his mother's garters. A stunned Harry goes to the attic where he smashes a snow globe and deliberately cuts his hand. Creepy music lets us know this kid's screwed for life." Read more

Discussion: I like movies but I have never heard of this one and it doesn’t sound like one I would like to watch. Does anyone else know about it?

Christmas Movie Times

2008-12-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

This is a listing of a few Christmas movies that will be on in the next few days.

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 21
@ 8:00pm on CBC

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2
December 20
@ 8:30pm on YTV

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 21
@ 7:30pm on CBC
December 23
@ 8:00pm on ABC

4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
December 20
@ 2:00pm Tree
@ 6:00pm YTV
@ 10:00pm Tree
December 21
@ 6:00pm on Tree
December 23
@ 12:30pm on Tree
@ 7:00pm on YTV
@ 8:00pm on Tree

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas
December 17
@ 7:00pm on YTV

See more Christmas Movie Listings at TVGuide.ca

Christmas Q&A

2008-12-17T07:10:00.000-08:00

This is just a fun Christmas Post.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, gift bags for awkward shapes and sizes and wrapping paper for others
2. Real tree or Artificial? I used to be against artificial trees for Christmas but now I prefer them, less mess, cheaper in the long run.
3. When do you put up the tree? 3-2 weeks before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? Less than a week after Christmas
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Can’t remember
7. Hardest person to buy for? My mom
8. Easiest person to buy for? My fiancee
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, or given in person
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Do not want to say
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Rudolph, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don’t think so
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Clementines
16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay at home Christmas morning then go to relatives for dinner
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Only three: Donner, Blitzen . . . are Dasher or Cupid names?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning for my family, eve for my finance’s family
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The awful Chipmunk songs
23. What theme or color are you using? No themes
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Not much

Discussion: Answer these questions on your own blog and provide a link in a comment to this post.

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