Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Daily Dose: Digitalism - Pogo
Have a great weekend. Next week I will start the 5 days of Christmas Music!
4 Easy Presents for Students
1. Practical / Household Items.
It’s not easy turning an apartment/dorm into a home. But putting a few personal touches on your place gets you on track. I am a huge fan of the cardboard deer head. This is something I am hoping to get this year.
2. Trips.
The best gift you can give someone is an experience. I read a recent study that found, the most memorable gifts people were given involved an experience. You don’t need to spend a ton of money and backpack across Europe(although that woujld be great.) You could always go on a weekend road trip or camp at the beach for a few days. An memorable experience doesn’t need to cost a lot.
3. Movies.
I don’t think there is anything college students do more than watch movies. A Roku player is a great way to watch movie instantly for hours on end.
4. Restaurant Gift Cards
Everyone hates to cook at some time during the week. This is also a great (and cheap) way to take that special someone on a date.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
University of New Hampshire Named "Duggiest" College
University of New Hampshire officials expressed skepticism yesterday after news website The Daily Beast ranked the school the "druggiest" college in the nation.
UNH beat out more than 350 schools to take the top spot, according to Beast reporter Lauren Streib, who compiled the list.
Rankings were based on three 2009 factors: Per capita drug arrests at the school, the drug use environment statewide, according to a federal survey, and the drug grades given by College Prowler, a website for and run by college students.
Streib said certain factors, like how some campus police departments may be more likely to issue tickets for minor drug infractions rather than arrest people, couldn't be taken into account because the website wanted to be consistent. She also noted the federal drug survey cited did not provide detail beyond the state level.
"This isn't in any way meant to be a final judgment about these colleges, it's just what the stats say," Streib said of the list, and encouraged prospective students to visit schools and ask questions.
UNH officials said the list doesn't reflect the actual environment at UNH.
"
Read the full story at: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=UNH+called+%27druggiest%27+college+in+the+nation&articleId=1231ee88-1cca-4ba0-b852-86b10579c483
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Lease Checklist
You’ll probably have a million things on your mind when you’re moving into your new place. Probably one of the most important things you need to do, and one that gets lost in the shuffle, or just gets rushed, is to thoroughly read through your lease before you sign it.
Here we’ve provided you a quick checklist to print off and take with you when you review your lease. Make sure you review all these items to ensure a happy and stress-free stay in your new place.
- Check to see when the rent is due.
- Find out where to go to pay your rent, who it should be given to, or where it should be sent.
- What are the late charges for rent not paid on time? -When do these charges begin?
- Exact amount of deposit needed.
- When is this deposit returned?
- How can you lose this deposit?
- Is there a pet deposit? If so, how much is it? When can it get refunded? Can you get this deposit back if you no longer have your pet?
- How soon after you move out is the deposit returned?
- Can you have roommates and what is the building’s policy on adding someone to the lease if necessary?
- What exactly does the rent include?
- Does the rent include any utilities? If so which ones?
- What appliances and/or furniture, if any, are included in the apartment rental fees?
- Is parking included in the apartment rental or is there an additional charge?
- Are there any additional charges for the use of any building amenities such as the gym or community center? If there are additional fees, what are they and if you don’t use the amenities will you still be responsible for those fees?
- What repairs are covered within the lease? If something happens and repairs need to be made by building management, who needs to be called? Are there any charges for repairs not covered in the lease? If so, what are those costs? How quick is the turn around for something to be fixed that is covered in the lease?
Article was found at: living.apartments.com
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
USC Finds: Money Doesn't Buy Happiness
Raising a country from poverty to affluence should make the nation's population happier, right?
Wrong, according to a new study of 54 countries worldwide.
Money doesn't buy happiness over the long term, the study found. The results apply to developed and developing countries worldwide, said study researcher Richard Easterlin, a professor of economics at the University of Southern California.
"Happiness doesn't increase with the rate of economic growth even in less-developed countries or transitional countries," Easterlin told LiveScience. "We already know that to be true of developed countries, but now it's been extended to countries of lower levels of income."
Easterlin and his colleagues reported the results this week (Dec. 13) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Almost 40 years ago, Easterlin discovered a strange economic pattern in the United States: If you look at snapshot data, richer people are happier than poorer people, and wealthier countries have more satisfied populations than less well-off nations. But when you look at data collected over time, more income doesn't bring happiness.
Monday, December 13, 2010
College Students Are Not Getting Enough Sleep
College students are not getting enough sleep, which impacts negatively on their grades and performance in the classroom. spending nights studying for finals and writing papers, or even staying up too late talking to roommates and watching TV can cause bad sleeping habits. Many students have part-time jobs and busy social lives which make sleep not as much of a priority. This is a common mistake many college students make (especially during their freshman year in the dorms).
According to aasmnet.org, Dr. Epstein MD, medical director of Sleep HealthCenters in Brighton, Mass., said, “Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health and working at peak performance. After two weeks of sleeping six hours or less a night, students feel as bad and perform as poorly as someone who has gone without sleep for 48 hours. New research also highlights the importance of sleep in learning and memory. Students getting adequate amounts of sleep performed better on memory and motor tasks than did students deprived of sleep.”
Some studies show having a routine bedtime is the best way to get the right amount of sleep you need. It can be hard on the weekends while there are parties and other functions going on late into the night, but this is one of the best ways to get on track.
Another way to get into a better sleeping schedule is to exercise. According to colorado.edu, “Getting exercise during the day will make falling asleep at night easier, although exercising within two-three hours of going to sleep will actually make it harder for you to sleep.”
Lastly, don’t skip out on naps if you have time before 3pm. According to education.com, Cody Quintero, a student at University of Kansas, said, “There are just times when you need that alone time to yourself, and even a 30-minute nap to get you reenergized makes the biggest difference. You can’t keep your mind burning all day, it needs a break, too, in order for you to have mental wellness.”
Sleep is of the utmost important factor in getting a good education and living a healthy lifestyle. Practicing a good sleep schedule in college will set you up for good sleeping habits in the future as well.
Written by Joe Pascente at College News.com
Friday, December 10, 2010
Daily Dose: Miike Snow - Animal
Have a great weekend! Be sure to also check out Burial by Miike Snow
The Dreaded Freshman 15
The freshman 15 is no myth! College freshean leave home and before they know it, it’s finals week and they’ve gained 15 pounds they didn’t have when they started the semester. But why does this happen? And how can it be avoided?
It basically comes down to the simple idea that if you pay attention to what you’re eating and you stick to some sort of workout routine, you’ll maintain your weight.
According to Calorielab.com, the best advice is quite simple. “Eat breakfast. No matter what time you start your day, your first meal is important because it helps kick-start your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories) and also helps ensure optimal physical and mental performance as you begin your day. Stick to a schedule of regular meals and snacks, eaten around the same time everyday, if possible.”
This is important because it gets you on a good routine of eating on a regular basis. If you aren’t organized, you’ll opt for fast food instead of a prepared meal that you know is healthier than a happy meal.
Another good way to lose the “freshman 15,” is “maintaining an exercise program which will help you maintain your weight and allow you to worry less about the food (and drink) indulgences that are all a natural part of being a freshman and being on your own.”
Sciencedaily.com reports, “The vast majority of students – 95 percent of women and 82 percent of men – are not meeting nutrient recommendations for fiber. Women’s intake of the important nutrients iron, calcium and folate are remarkably low. Twenty-three percent of men and 34 percent of women participated in less than 30 minutes of activity per day.”
It’s imperative to pay attention to what nutrients you are taking into your body on a daily level. It’s also important to get to the gym for at least a half hour of your day to stay in shape. It’s a combination of eating the right foods and working off the calories by running or doing some sort of aerobic exercises. Also, try not to eat when you’re stressed out. Food shouldn’t be a clutch for stress, it should be a fuel for your body.
Article was found at: College News.com by Joe Pascente
University of Idaho Writes Article About RateMyHousing
Landlords are like professors: they can make life intensely hard if you choose the wrong one–with no "withdraw" grades as an escape.
Matthew Crandall, a student at Brigham Young University-Hawaii majoring in international business, said he developed the idea for the website RateMyHousing.com from the rating system used by websites such as RateMyProfessors.com.
"When I moved (to Hawaii) the housing options were poor and the info about it was low," Crandall said.
Crandall created RMH for an entrepreneur class he is taking this semester.
Working with his college graduate brother, Ryan Crandall, Matthew Crandall purchased an operating site called RateMyApartments.com, and re-launched it with a new name, format and web address.
The website allows students to leave anonymous comments, post pictures and rate the dormitory or apartment in seven categories: "quality," "price," "location," "social," "landlord," "parking" and "overall." RMH also includes distance to campus information.
"The site is really in the hands of the users," Crandall said. "We want to encourage students to take their experience and benefit other students with this website."
Thursday, December 9, 2010
10 Ways to Discourage Break-ins
During the Holiday season, many of us will be visiting family and friends. Please take a minute to read how you can make your place a little safer.
10. Don’t show your goods: Leaving certain things lying around your yard or in plain sight from the road can unwittingly lure thieves onto your property like frantic bargain hunters to a flea market. If you have a bicycle or scooter that someone could easy to walk away with, roll it inside or into your garage. Also, after purchasing a new plasma screen television or other pricey electronics or appliance, don't leave the box out beside the trash can or recycling bin
9. Tricking Burglars: If burglars can tell that someone is home, there's a greater chance that they won't attempt to break in. Remember, more break-ins occur during the day when many people are at work. For that reason, when you leave the house, create an illusion that someone's still there.
8. Secure Sliding Doors and Windows: You can easily break into some older sliding doors by simply popping them off of their frame, even when locked. It's harder to do that with newer ones, but you should still take extra precaution to secure them since they can be an inviting entry for burglars. Simply take a strong dowel, steel bar or two-by-four and slide it into the back groove.
7. Don't Leave a Spare Key Out: It may seem like a good idea to leave a spare key hidden under a flower pot or doormat in case you get locked out of your house. But that's an open invitation for a burglar to walk inside without any difficulty.
6. Secure Your Yard: Low shrubs in front of windows remove additional covering for thieves if they attempt to break in through one. Structural security, such as deadbolts and double-paned windows.
5. Get Police Help: If you're leaving town for a while, let the police know and request that they drive by your property to check on things. Many police stations also offer free security evaluations for your property/apartment.
4. Prepare Before Vacation: Alert neighbors you trust about your trip and ask that they keep an eye on your property during that time. When you leave town, don't leave signs of an empty house.
3. Know Your Neighbors: Closer-knit neighborhoods generally report fewer break-ins because strangers will stick out, and people are more likely to keep a casual eye on other people's security. If you rent a house or apartment, you have more incentive to get to know your community because renters are 85 percent more likely to experience a break-in.
2. Be on top of things: Educate yourself as well about crime in the area. Check the crime section in your local newspaper to see if your neighborhood has been hit recently. While it ¬may seem like a symptom of paranoia, keep your identity and any travel plans on the down low. Only put your street address on your mailbox. Give away your last name, and someone could find your phone number, work place and a host of other stats with a few mouse clicks.
1. Lock it Up: As mentioned earlier, more than 40 percent of break-ins happen without the use of force. That means a lot of people are leaving their houses without locking the doors and windows.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Columbia University: Students Arrested in Massive Drug Bust
In one of the largest drug busts in New York City history, five Columbia University students were arrested and taken into custody yesterday.
The students: Chris Coles, Harrison David, Adam Klein, Jose Perez and Michael Wymbs, were taken into police custody after they sold narcotics totaling nearly $11,000 to undercover police officers. The drugs included marijuana, cocaine, LSD dropped in candy, Ecstasy and Adderall, according to a source from the New York City Office of Special Narcotics.
Most of the drugs were sold from the houses of campus fraternities, including Alpha Epsilon Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha and Psi Upsilon. According to the Daily News, the investigation began after the NYPD's Crime Stoppers received several anonymous complaints to their tipline. The narcotics team raided the houses after identifying the suspects involved. The investigation also led to the arrest of three of the students' suppliers.
Bingham Unversity: Cheating on a Spouse is Genetic (Tell That to My Girlfriend)
In a study recently accomplished by Bingham University evolutionary biology doctoral fellow Justin Garcia it was indicated that the gene DRD4 does not only play a part in excitement based behaviour, such as drinking and gambling, but is also related to promiscuity and infidelity. This new finding supports what Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil has been putting forward that cheating is genetic.
Dr. Weil stated, “Men who cheat are wired to thrive in high arousal activities because of their biological make up.” She further explained that this in turn makes them look for activities to soothe these higher hormone levels. According to her, the most common choices were alcohol, drugs, and sex. This, however, merely points to genetic predisposition which makes the possibility of cheating by those who have the gene higher. It is still a choice whether to go through with the added temptation this brings or not. This is what she concludes in her book, “Make Up Don’t Break Up”.
The study made by Dr. Garcia covers the historical detail of sexual relationships of a group of almost 200 young men and women. The DNA of these subjects was then sampled to compare whether those who were unfaithful would have the DRD4 gene. He pointed out that a variant of the gene also predisposed towards being unfaithful in a relationship through, infidelity or one-night stands. He explained that the dopamine high this brought about naturally also increased the likelihood by acting as a motivational reward. He indicated further that it was their belief that this was not related to what the unfaithful partner felt for the one betrayed. He stated this is not an excuse to be promiscuous but gives us insight into how biology affects our behavior.
Story from: Rillara News
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Daily Universe Runs a Story about RateMyHousing
Students can also post contracts on the site to solicit roommates. The website began in 2007 and became popular without much advertising. Recently, Ryan Crandall and Matthew Crandall assumed ownership of the website.
Ryan Crandall said college students tend to have an opinion on everything, and the website provides an
opportunity for their opinions to be aired, positive or negative.
“You’re getting a real assessment of the property from students,” he said....
Mark Bennett, an information technology major from Canada, used ratemyhousing.com before moving to his current apartment.
“It was accurate, yes,” Bennett said, “[The apartment is] a dump, but it’s close to campus.”
Josh Davis, a computer science major from Plano, Texas, said he would be interested in using the website.
“I wish I would have used it, because I got duped with one apartment,” Davis said.
Read More: http://universe.byu.edu/node/12729
UC Davis: A Revolt Over Textbook Prices
When Elizabeth Walz successfully ran for student government last year, she built her campaign around an issue she knew would resonate with her peers at the University of California, Davis: textbook costs.
For days, she polled students on their textbook-buying habits.
"A lot of the responses were, 'I don't even buy my textbooks -- they're too expensive. I only buy the ones I absolutely need" or use the ones on reserve at the library, Walz said.
Like college tuition itself, textbooks costs have been soaring. From 1990 to 2009, textbook prices rose four times faster than inflation, according to the Student Public Interest Research Group. Today, the average college student spends $900 a year on textbooks.
Students can save some money buying used books or electronic versions, and many campus bookstores have started renting popular texts. But a new option is emerging: open-source textbooks that can be read for free online, or printed at relatively low cost.
Read More: http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/58272
West Virginia University: Increase in Student Apartment Break-Ins
Students at West Virginia University have seen an increase in apartment theft in recent months, police said.
The most common items reported stolen are iPods, laptops, jewelry, digital cameras, televisions and GPS devices, said Lt. Harold Sperringer of the Morgantown Police Department.
The College Park Apartments, which are owned by the University, were robbed of $5,660 worth of equipment on Nov. 20 at approximately 4:46 p.m.
The burglars stole four hot water tanks, two furnace systems, two stoves, one counter top, cabinets, 48 light fixtures, copper metal and tubing, and 16 padlocks, according to the University Police Department's incident summary report.
One of the key factors in helping the police crack down on apartment theft is to communicate with local pawn shops.
Some apartments suggest obtaining renters insurance to protect against cases of apartment theft.
Read More: http://www.thedaonline.com/news/local-apartments-warn-students-on-increased-break-ins-1.1799041
Monday, December 6, 2010
Pay Your Housing with an Mobile App
Campus Apartments, one of the nation’s largest privately held student housing companies in the nation, announces the immediate availability of SmartClick Mobile (http://smartclick.campusapts.com), a free application that is an extension to Campus Apartments’ highly successful SmartClick web portal, allowing residents to easily pay rent and submit service requests from the convenience of an iPhone or Android mobile phone in addition to being accessible from any web browser. This first mobile application in the student housing industry was officially made available to residents on November 17 and has already secured early adopters.
“We recognize that residents of student housing, more so than residents of any other sector of the multifamily housing industry, demand the most advanced technology amenities. Our goal is to exceed our residents’ expectations, and we do this by pioneering services not yet available in the student housing market.”
Campus Apartments sought to develop an application that would support its current residents with practical features such as automated monthly rent, payments via credit card and even maintenance requests. In developing the application, it was most important to Campus Apartments to offer residents the benefits of function and convenience rather than a static application that supported prospective residents.
Andrew Marshall, Chief Information Officer of Campus Apartments said, “We recognize that residents of student housing, more so than residents of any other sector of the multifamily housing industry, demand the most advanced technology amenities. Our goal is to exceed our residents’ expectations, and we do this by pioneering services not yet available in the student housing market.”
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