A vocabulary lesson on alcohol

(Thanks to the chicagoist for the image.)

With the recent banning of the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko in New York, Michigan and Washington states, I thought I should voice an opinion that hardly anyone will read (just like any other warning on anything) about the things people neglect when it comes to alcohol.

Lesson No. 1, also known as the reason Four Loko was banned: Drink responsibly.

Drink: (v.) Take in liquids; Consume alcohol.
Responsibly: (adv.) In a responsible manner.
Responsible: (adj.) Worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; Held accountable.

Now, according to this, the warning that shows quite clearly on every single can/bottle of alcohol purchased or advertisement made for the stuff means "to take in alcohol in a trusting manner for which you can be held accountable."

You know what this doesn't mean? Everyone go buy five Four Lokos and see who can chug them down the fastest.

No one wins in that scenario. You black out, puke all over yourself, look like an complete jerk and aren't able to get out of bed the next day because of a headache that is hardly worth the title of "champ."

It's not just Four Lokos though (silly Food and Drug Administration). It's any kind of alcohol, period. Edward 40 Hands, Rack Races, Power Hours, no matter what it is, there are always going to be those assholes who think they're the coolest thing to ever grace this earth because they can down a water bottle of vodka and not puke until they shower the next morning.

Well, assholes who ruined Four Loko for everyone, though you'll probably never read this, I would like you to know that if the people of those three states previously mentioned actually knew who you were, you'd probably be strung upside down from a lamppost, naked, and left until someone (most like the police since it's their job) pitied you enough to cut you down.

Now, I don't mean to only attack the Four Loko situation because I do realize that kids have died from this, and that's terrible. However, kids die from all kinds of alcohol all the time., and whether it's from alcoholic energy drinks or whiskey, it's their fault for being an idiot about it.

I can understand why the drinking age is 21, and here's why for all you obnoxious kids who run around yelling how it's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair.

Some of my college friends are perfect examples. They get drunk and run around, ripping down emergency exit signs or kicking the mirrors off people's cars, and then don't even remember doing any of it. It's because in today's version of the United States, kids are spoiled by their parents and aren't given limits for any aspect of their life, let alone alcohol.

They just want to drink as much as they can because "that's the cool thing to do," despite the hangovers and problems they know are going to come with it in the end.

Now, imagine if these very kids I explained to you had the ability to walk into any liquor store they wanted and purchase as much as they could afford.

I think it's terrifying, and if you don't, you obviously must be blind.

At least right now they have to get the cash (no credit cards or checks), make friends with someone 21 or older (or spend over $100 to get a fake ID), get that person to agree to get them alcohol, find someone to drive you all, sneak it back into wherever without anyone knowing, and drink somewhat secretively since legal action could be taken if they were caught. This buffer helps prevent extremely immature, irresponsible people from openly wreaking havoc, which would do much more damage to themselves and the people around them.

People just need to learn what a limit is, which brings us to Lesson No. 2.

Limit: (n.) The greatest possible degree of something; (v.) Place limits on extent or access; Decide upon or fix definitely.

Here's a chart to let you know what constitutes one drink and how many you should limit yourself to in one day. (Note: There ARE variables in this, but that's only if you already drink way too much alcohol or are a biological phenomenon.)

(Provided by the Health Challenge Torfaen.)

Now, look at where it says "Max. DAILY Unit Allowance," three drinks for women and four drinks for men. How many people do you know stop after three or four shots? Or three or four beers? Not many, right?

Putting more alcohol into your body than recommended not only harms it, but really doesn't do anything more for you. It makes you belligerent and stupid to everyone else. My suggestion? Give yourself limits so you can be a happy drunk, rather than a burden, because alcohol can lead to some really great times, if you use it right.

(Definitions thanks to Princeton University's WordNet.)

Friends, enemies and all the in-betweens

Let me clear up that title. It's about how you're allowed to hate someone, how your friends are allowed to be friends with that person, how you don't have to get over enemies to be friends with your friends, and how it's OK to talk about it.

This entry may be a bit more on the high school level sweeping up into college, but it's a theory I have that people should think about. It's been affecting me lately due to circumstances with my old roommate/ex-best friend, and it's something no one really wants to bring up because it's "too awkward" even though they should.

Well I'm bringing in my experience to tell you a few things.

1.) You're allowed to hate someone.

Now, I'm not saying that it's OK to hate everyone like some crazy, introverted asshole, but we can't like everyone all the time. It's human nature. Some people in your life will simply rub you the wrong way and that's fine (with reason, of course).

Whether it's that boy in class that sits in front of you, shaking his leg like he's going through heroin withdrawal and always bails on group projects, or that girl who used to be your best friend but did something to hurt you enough that just hearing her name makes you want to scream, it's your right to really, really not like that person.

Unfortunately...

2.) It's not your right to tell your friends who his/her friends should be.

I don't do this, but I know people who have asked me to not befriend a person because he/she "values our friendship." Well, isn't respecting and trusting your friend enough to know nothing will change between you just because you hang out with someone he/she hates and you can still be good friends part of valuing a friendship?

You and your friends aren't going to hang out with all the same people. Sure, you may have a set group of six people that are all friends, but each individual is bound to have friends outside that group. So what if one of those people is a person you hate? As long as he/she isn't expecting you to "get over it" so you all can go for dinner, it's best to get over this.

Then again...

3.) If you have two friends that just can't get along, be Switzerland.

You have people you hate too (everyone does), and how would you feel if someone your really good friend wouldn't stop harassing you to get over it? Or even worse, ditch you all the time to be with the enemy?

Probably not so great.

Well, if you're getting mad at Friend A because he/she refuses to hang out with you and Friend B, then that's what you're doing, and I'm here to tell you it's not cool.

You have to weigh the pros and cons of each friendship:

• Who was I friends with first?
• Who is a better friend to me?
• Who shows more respect for me?
• Do I really want to lose that friend?
• Who is more important to me?

You could go from there, but say you come out even on all sides. Well, then you'll just have to get over it yourself. If you care about your friends enough, you'll respect how they feel and won't expect them to change just so you can hang out with two friends at once and save some time. That's selfish.

If you do this...

4.) You can talk about it.

One of the biggest ways you can ruin a good friendship is by letting awkward tension come between you. It makes it so neither of you wants to talk anymore, and humans can't connect to each other without communication.

Having a mutual frienemy can be one of the leading causes of this tension.

If you hate your friend's friend: I know it sucks, but you'll have to give in and just let that happen. For all you know, they won't be friends two months from now, and you'll be so glad that you waited it out. However, until then, as annoying as it is, let your friend talk to you. Listen to whatever stories he/she has to tell with a smile. This is his/her friend, and he/she wants you to be OK with that. The only way he/she will know you are is by you showing it. If he/she is really your friend, he/she will know enough not to talk about that friendship all the time. However, sometimes they'll do fun stuff and it's your responsibility to not entirely shut down.

If your friend hates your friend: Don't avoid the subject. If you're going to hang out with someone your friend hates, don't be shady when Friend A asks what you're up to that day. He/She may be annoyed at first, but a good friend realizes that it's first come, first serve and will get over it. Tell him/her everything straight and don't pussyfoot around it. Also, Friend A doesn't want to hear every detail about your friendship with Friend B, but he/she still values you as a friend and will want to know your exciting stories. The worst thing you can do is try to keep separate lives between friends. By making two separate lives for two enemies, you're definitely going to lose you at least one, if not both.

For me, this theory is fact. I've lost two of my best friends because of situations like these. My severe dislike got in the way of friendship either on my point or the friend's, and I can tell you for a fact it's one of the worst things you could imagine. Because I don't want it to happen a third time, I'm writing this blog in hopes that my friends will read it so they know how situations like these can be handled.

No one should have to lose good friends.

Why movie series that never end are a big no no, Hollywood

(Original location unknown, but found here.)

This was recently brought to my attention when a friend mentioned the new "Saw 3D" to me and how this was supposedly the final chapter of a never ending blood saga.

My thoughts? About time. It's a perfect example of how, once again, Hollywood has taken it too far.

I personally didn't watch any "Saw" movies after the third one for a few reasons.

1. [SPOILER] The main "bad guy" dies at the end of the third one, as well as his so called "apprentice." That's it. No more antagonist means no more conflict, which means no more story. So who's to tell me there are four more movies to go here? I don't think so, Lionsgate.
2. Movies generally should end after movie three. It's just like how a tv series should end after season three (though that argument is for another time). Trilogies are where it's at. Look at Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Back to the Future, The Godfather and so many other epically awesome films that knew what was up when it comes to sequels.
3. This one is especially true in Saw's case and other movies like it (hello Halloween and Friday the 13th): NO ONE WANTS THAT MUCH GORE FROM THE SAME BORING PEOPLE USING THE SAME BORING METHODS. The only reason so many horror movies make it is because they each have their unique twist. When a horror series takes it one step too far, people get fed up. Watching a horror movie marathon of House of 1000 Corpses, Scream, Dawn of the Dead, Human Centipede, Nightmare on Elm Street and FearDotCom as opposed to six Saw movies in a row is obviously much more entertaining.

It's not just ridiculous horror movies like these, though. It's any kind of movie. For example, the one movie everyone and their brother thinks of when talking about never ending series': The Land Before Time. What movie are they on now? 14? 26? 1,541?! Who even knows anymore. (The answer is actually 12, but you get my point.)

Granted, I'm not dissing The Land Before Time. It was an excellent movie and a great part of my childhood. Regardless, enough is enough.

What I don't understand is the public who feeds Hollywood's ego and wallets. They all go to every installment, expecting the next best thing and almost always come out disappointed. Still they'll come back out the next year when This Film Sucks 10 comes out. Why do people do this to themselves? Why waste time and money staying up for midnight showings or films they know are going to be redundant and all around not worth it?

Well, I say we need to put an economical speed bump in Hollywood's bloated head. Just because a movie does well doesn't mean it needs five sequels. My call to you is stop paying money to see these never ending movies in theaters.

"Ha, bullshit, Melissa. What's that going to do?"

In case you haven't noticed, once a movie stops doing well in theaters, they start releasing it straight to DVD (once again, Land Before Time). Once this happens, fewer people hear about it, so fewer people know to go out and pay money for it it, eventually leading to its death. AH HA! There is a method to my madness.

In the end, you're really doing this favor for the love of a good series. How many times have we said, "Wow, they really killed it by making another one?" Too many. I personally thought the original "Saw" was extremely clever and original, really shining through the horror industry. Now look at it, a joke.

If not for me, do it for the movies. Someone needs to step in for them and show their big heads dollars aren't everything. They're supposed to entertain us, not disappoint, which means they shouldn't be sailing cash boats too far into the deep end. If you managed to get your hands on one great idea, chances are you'll be able to find another. Let those shine through instead of ruining the good thing you've already made.

Why I recommend taking Showers in the middle of the day

http://www.funnycatsite.com/pictures/Is_It_Shower_Time_Yet.jpg

 
My sister once told me that she absolutely hates taking showers in the middle of her day. She has to have them at the beginning or the end. And who was I to argue with her? My entire childhood I showered at night. In middle school, I found the energy to wake up before class and take them, but slipped back to night in high school. However, now I'm college and I've been experimenting with my shower schedule. My conclusion is that mid-day is the best and I'll tell you why.

To most people, a shower is a free ticket to a getaway from the world. They can take the time to either really focus on something without distractions or their mind can go completely blank in that chamber of solitude. This is the most important factor in my theory.

Never take a shower at the beginning of the day:

1. First of all, you don't want your day-long dirty self sleeping in your bed. Talk about gross. OK, maybe not necessarily, but think about all the germs you contract during the day even if you're doing nothing.
2. You just woke up from a (hopefully) refreshing sleep. What has honestly happened in your day yet that makes you need to run away to the sanctuary of the shower? Nothing probably.
3. Honestly? Why wake up even earlier than you already have to? I feel that more than 50% of the general public don't consider themselves as morning people. Shower later and save an hour of sleep.

If you absolutely must wake up and take a shower before you start your day, try and do something before hitting up that hot water. Go for a run, make yourself a quick breakfast, anything that will kick your body and mind into gear.

They help relieve stress, and no one can pass up an opportunity for that these days. What stress do you really have first thing in the morning? Don't waste a perfectly good shower.

Night time can be better, but it's not ideal.

Sure, you've already put up with a day full of drama and headaches, but that's exactly it. You're already done. Isn't the relief that you don't have to worry about anything else until tomorrow a great feeling? I think so. Therefore, you're only handicapping on the relaxation level of your shower.

Though you have the luxuries of taking as long as you want and waking up clean in the morning, that doesn't do it for the mental health aspects. It's proven that mental stress is more likely to have a permanent impact on you than physical stress. You're either half-assing the freedom that the end of the day brings and not benefiting from every aspect of a good shower or committing to one.

I would recommend relishing in the feeling of accomplishment since the end of the day is the only time you're going to have it. Hang out with your lover, go out on the town with some friends or just watch a  movie and snack away. You always wonder when you're going to find the time to do those things, so I'm letting you know that this is it.

So, instead of sitting there and having near heart attacks about getting whatever in on time or making sure you're doing things right during down time in the middle of the day, take a shower. Come home from work and immediately hop into the spray instead of panicking before dinner with the in-laws. Take that excessive gap between classes that you usually stress with your social Facebook life (oxymoron, I know) and turn it into a zen hour.

You've already done some work for the day, so hit the reset button. The rest of the stress can be doused by your night time activities. Use the shower for the middle when you can't be done quite yet but just need to hit the breaks. Like I said, most people's sanctuary is their shower. Take advantage of it.

Here are some things I suggest doing once under the waterfall of bliss:

• Pick one problem and focus only on that. It'll be easier without all the cell phones, emails and people you're sick of hearing in your head even after you leave the office.
• Get your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse to wash up with you. Getting absorbed in the one you love almost always helps people relax, especially when it's just the two of you.
• Don't think about anything. This is my personal favorite. People think too much. They don't take time to just absorb their surroundings. Running water has always been used to calm people. Meditate.
• Organize, organize, organize. Putting order to your thoughts and problems can take a huge weight off your shoulders. Close your eyes and make a mental to-do list. It really helps.

I'm sure you all have your own things that you do. Maybe the shower is the only time you have to wash your dog for all I know. I'm sure he'll also appreciate that loving in the middle of the day.

That's my opinion anyway. Just some food for thought.

Donating blood and giving back to your community

I just got back from donating blood to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) here on campus. Usually I give to the Red Cross, but I figure just give where you can, right? And you know how easy it was for me to walk up there and fill out their mini is-your-blood-good-enough quiz? Very.  No skin off my nose. I'm sure even a monkey could do it, so why not you?

Personally, I have no fear of needles or blood or anything to do with that. In fact, I think it's actually cool to watch. (I've always had a fascination for medicine and science even though I'm not good at them.) However, I do realize that not everyone is me and some people pass out at the very thought of blood. Still, did you know that only 38% of people living in the United Sates are actually able to donate blood? Want to hear something even worse? Only 5% of that measly number actually go out and give their blood to those who need it. So when more than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day, this isn't good.

It's a fact that 25% of people worldwide will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life. Then again I'm sure this makes it another one of those things where everybody says, "Oh, it'll happen to someone else. Never me." There's no point in thinking like that. What if you get in a car accident? Bet you didn't know that one victim usually needs around 100 units of blood.

It's kind of like Social Security. We all pay on it even though maybe not all of us will actually live here long enough to use it (morbid, but true). Still, you pay that tax -- even if it might not be by choice. People should think the same way about donating.

Like I said before though, giving blood isn't for everyone. I get it. "I hate needles. I'm scared of blood. What if I pass out? What happens if the sharks come?" I've heard it all, and I'm not going to sit here and patronize you like there's no tomorrow for something you may or may not be able to help. I am going to tell you that there are plenty of other charities and causes out there dealing with problems bigger, smaller or just like the blood shortages that we face every year because people just can't seem to "find the time".

1 in every 7 patients entering a hospital needs a blood transfusion.
The American Red Cross can locate blood drives near you by entering your zip code.

Around 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes every day.
Study for the SATs and give food to those in need at Free Rice.

1 in 8 women (13%) in the U.S. have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Click once a day at Click to Give to give a woman a free mammogram.

There were 832 cases of animal abuse in the U.S. in 2009.
And those are only the ones actually reported. Find your local ASPCA and adopt.

As you can see, there is more than one way to support something you care about (hopefully). So if you're not ready to go stick your arm with a needle and donate that pint, maybe buy something in support of those who have breast cancer. Opportunities are everywhere, and not all of them have to cost you. It's just a matter of finding what's out there and actually being committed to it.

Chances are that if you're reading this blog then you're more fortunate than someone else in the world and can spare that one click a day or find an hour for that shelter. I don't want to hear anyone say that they're too busy. Not even President Barack Obama could be too busy to put together a little care package for the soldiers fighting for all of us overseas.

We all have those we care about, so think of it this way: if not for me, then for who?

Want to check my statistics or see more? Go ahead. Thank you Blood, Bread for the World, BreastCancer.org and Pet-Abuse.com for the reality check.

There's a reason why feminism still exists

1893 - Women are first give the right to vote in Colorado.
1903 - The National Women's Trade Union League is established to improve wages and working conditions for women.
1919 - The federal woman suffrage amendment, introduced to Congress in 1878, is finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
1920 - The Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor is formed to monitor women in the workplace, collecting information and safeguarding working conditions.
August 26, 1920 - The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote, becomes law thanks to Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.
(http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html#axzz0zPhluGJi)

Looks like we got everything we wanted, right? So then why are there still raging feminists out there today? It's because on paper it appears that women are treated just as fairly as men, but that doesn't mean that socially they have any greater standing whatsoever.

Sure we've come a long way, but as far as society goes, women still have not reached the point where they are at the same level as men. There are women CEOs and females who have worked their way to the top, but you don't see them in the spotlight nine out of ten times. It's always their male counterparts sucking up the glory. There still has yet to be a female president (not that the candidates so far have been all that great), but who has really given us a chance to break through up there? Not men.

I don't know where the idea that men are better than women originally came from came from, but I do know that it is completely bogus. In many ancient societies (Sparta, Egypt, Native American culture, etc.) women were the main foundation for how they lived and thrived, making them equal to, and in some cases better than, men. Without women, most societies never would have flourished. There were even societies completely made up of only women that found ways to thrive until dying out from lack of reproduction.

Still, how often to you hear a guy saying, "She can't do it because she's a woman." Guys, how often do you think things like, "I don't play games with girls," or, "I'm not going to bother because she's just a girl." Well, why not? There is nothing that says men are inherently better at the stupid things they play this "better than women" card on. I know tons of girls who play Call of Duty on their own -- no boyfriend required -- and kick total ass at it. Nothing out there says that just because you have balls means that you're instantly better at sports with them.

It's upsetting when leagues like the Women's National Basketball Association or Women's Professional Soccer get knocked because they're made up of breasts and estrogen. I admit that they very well may be a bunch of lesbians running around on a court or field, but that doesn't stop them from actually being good at what they do and it certainly doesn't keep them from being able to kick the asses of most men who even tried to go up against them. I know that any one of those women could definitely beat all of my guy friends into the ground at once. Unfortunately, that doesn't really matter because they're just the butt of everyone's jokes. How fair is that?

This isn't me saying that I'm some crazed feminist that thinks all men are evil and should be castrated in their sleep. I love my boyfriend and the guys that I hang out with are usually pretty cool, but it gets old, boys. I'm just saying that the next time you wanna crack the "why don't women need to wear watches" joke, look at Chef Emeril John Lagasse instead of your 1950s picture. Just admit it: you need us.

It's fun to break the rules, whether you admit it or not

After playing a marathon, 100 day long game of Dope Wars and successfully not having all my bitches killed (I had failed two times previously thanks to the cops), it made me think about all the games that we play where we do illegal things and how much fun they are. Whether you're punching old ladies on Grand Theft Auto or running around in the backyard playing Cops and Robbers, it's all technically illegal, right? You may not be doing it in real life, but you are pretending to do it.

 (Picture from Saint's Row 3 found at Gandhi's GamePad.)

Let's picture this with Dope Wars. It's a free computer game that let's you buy and sell drugs on the streets of New York City (or New York City, California, Las Vegas, Japan, China and France if you have a Mac because you get the cooler version). You can buy and sell everything from heroin to weed as long as you can find it for the right price. The object of the game is to pay off your debts to the loan shark, not get you and your bitches killed in shoot outs with the cops, and basically just make as much money as you cane before your 30 days (or more if you choose) are up. May not sound like much, but play it and you'll find out just how addicting it actually is. I'm hooked.

This doesn't mean that since I made $10,964,229 in my last game that I'm going to drop out of college and go to New York to work my way up to the cocaine business. But does that mean I'm going to stop playing my game any time soon? Definitely not. It will still be my ultimate tool of procrastination when it comes to library homework and working on articles for months (or at least weeks) to come.

So if I'm never going to live for the dope, why is it so much fun to play the game? It's because I'm human and humans love to break rules. In these games you're breaking the law, but laws are just rules, aren't they? And rules were made to be broken.

I was reading a blog from Dr. Tina Seelig on Psychology Today (found here) where she talks about this very thing. She says that rules are just created by social norms that we feel we have to follow in order to be a productive member of society. When we break them it's exciting because we know we're not going to get the same old outcome and something different (good or bad) is going to happen.

I agree 100%. I once read in Cosmopolitan that breaking rules (like skipping a day of work) can give you an extra adrenaline rush. Makes perfect sense, right? You don't know what's going to happen when you break a rule you usually follow. You think, "Will I get caught? Will I get away with it?" Come on, admit it. It's awesome.

All in all, I'm not saying to go out and kill somebody, but if you want to run some people over with your car in Need for Speed, then whatever. You drive that car like a champ! More power to you. There's not one thing wrong with wanting to have a little illegal fun on the whatever-sized screen you have.

PS: If you want to download Dope Wars for yourself (it's free) here's the link for Windows and here's the link for Mac.