Most of us are guilty of slugging down a cup of coffee to get our morning started. Drinking a cup before we study or start in on a project. The coffee tends to make us focus a little more and be a little sharper so this delicious elixir must be bad for us right?

Well not necesarily, they just haven’t found enough evidence in all of their studies to prove that it IS bad for us. They have been testing the affects of coffee for years and they haven’t found enough substantial evidence to confirm that it is bad for you! Actually, because it improves alertness and function small amounts can actually be good for you.

EnergyFiend.com states,

“Caffeine Increases Dopamine Levels in the Brain Which is Why it Feels Good.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant which increases adrenaline in your bloodstream and increases your respiratory rate. In your brain, caffeine intercepts adenosine, the chemical that slows down our nerves and signals the need to sleep. It also increases dopamine levels, stimulating pleasure centers. That’s why people truly enjoy their caffeinated drinks.

Coffee has been found to improve cognitive functions by blocking that brain-slowing adenosine, says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a food chemist at the University of Scranton. When given caffeine, severely sleep-deprived Navy Seal trainees improved their alertness, vigilance, learning, and memory by as much as 60%, according to Dr. Lieberman, who administered the test.”

Now its not all roses… caffeine is a drug so you can get addicted just as you can to any other drug. Your body gets used to having that dose of caffeine to get you through the day and when it doesn’t get that dose your body goes through withdrawal symptoms. (Headaches and Irritability) So you must be careful and not over indulge in this miracle drink or I assure you there will be someone playing the drums behind your eyeballs when you don’t get your fix!

-Research says that you should limit yourself to no more than 4 cups a day.

-Coffee can stay in your system up to 8 hours so make sure you consume your coffee early to ensure it doesn’t mess with you catching ZZZ’s.

Coffee=Friend

…so turn that mug up!

-Jared, CP Staff

Drunk Mario Kart

Here’s how it works. You can play this game with up to 4 people. It is quite simple. Everyone starts with the beverage of their choice. Once the race begins you must hold your beverage and your controller at the same time. If you set your drink down to steer at anytime during the race and get caught, you must chug your drink and grab another.

The second and last rule is that you must finish your drink before you cross the finish line in order to win. If you don’t finish your drink before crossing the finish line your opponents can come up with some sort of punishment. Be creative.

A few tips for playing this game. The first tip is to use a straw. Though you may get harassed by your opponents you’ll have an edge. The second tip is simply worry more about finishing your drink and less about the race. These races are fairly short so get it down quick.

Have fun and safe driving!

Paul, CP Staff

You can create an account and have several of your own playlists. The songs are streamed so if you always have an internet connection the songs you put in your playlist might as well be your own songs! But without the internet you have no music…but who isn’t connected these days?

I have found the site to be very helpful at parties when people are wanting to play something that isn’t on your ipod. They can search for the song and then play it. However, there are no videos on the site, it is truly a song streaming site.

Create your own study, party, and chill playlists then listen to other people’s playlists.

Check out the site and let me know what you think!

Just saying those words together makes me feel like partying. Hunch Punch is seen on college campuses across the nation. This drink comes in many different containers, colors, and is often called by different names. You may see it served out of a 5 gallon jug, bathtub, trash can, or a punch bowl. No matter what you call it, how you make it, or how you serve it…this is one beast of a drink.

If you are throwing a party or just wanting to experience this awesome drink here are some good recipes to try:

Recipe #1

-1 Liter of Everclear

-1/5 of Vodka

-3 gallons of Fruit Punch

-2 Liter of Ginger Ale

-Sliced Fruit (Apples, Oranges, Melon, Pineapple, etc)

Recipe #2

-1 Liter of Everclear

-1/5 of Rum

-2 Gallons of Fruit Punch

-2 Liter of Sweet Tea

-2 Liter of Sprite

-Orange Juice Concentrate

-Lemon and Lime Juice

-Sliced Fresh Fruit

Recipe #3

-1 Liter of Everclear

-1/5 of Malibu Rum

-1/5 of Vodka

-2 Cans of Pineapple Juice

-1 Gallon of Fruit Punch

-2 Liter of Ginger Ale

-Slice Fresh Fruit

Good luck and drink responsibly!

Some people prefer to take a test that evaluates your personality and interests. Lots of colleges have access to these various tests, and if you were to talk to a counselor they could hook you up with a few. A great place to find out how to contact a guidance counselor is your school’s Admissions office. Most legitimate websites that offer valid Major/Career tests charge for them, but lots of educational institutions can hook you up with one of these tests for free.

A good resource for information about how your personality influences your interest in specific careers is Career Key. They offer an e-book (PDF) about career choices for around $15, but there is a lot of content on their site that is free for you to browse through. They even have an article on the Holland Theory of Career Choice (it’s based on 6 personality types) here and another article that allows you to view general information about college majors separated by personality type on this page.

Career Key

I also tested MyMajor.com, and was definitely impressed by the test they had me fill out. I was actually able to get all the way to the part where they  recommended programs of study that I would be interested in FOR FREE! However, to get an “Advisement Report”, they wanted me to pay $15. The quiz seemed very in-depth, so I would take it just to get the Top 5 programs of study (as that would help narrow your choices). You could take those very general Top 5 to your school’s guidance counselor and have a much easier time sifting through some of the degree programs they offer. Side note: at the end of the quiz they have a bunch of sponsored ads from colleges; just keep clicking that you are uninterested to cut through the b.s. and get your Top 5 results.

MyMajor.com Results

Another couple of things to keep in mind when you are searching for that “perfect” major: One, you can ALWAYS change your mind. If you think that you won’t be able to find a job that you even remotely enjoy after college with your chosen program of study, then CHANGE it! The worst things that can happen are that your parents (if they’re paying) get a little irritated that you were three years into your Aerospace degree before you decided to start studying Paleontology or that most of the classes you took won’t count towards your new major. But hey, what’s a few extra semesters in college? The second thing to keep in mind is that very few people take their exact major and turn it into their career. Here’s an example of what I mean: I know someone who graduated with two majors, one in Marketing and one in Management. Pretty general stuff right? Well that person is now working for a paper company as a Replenishment Planner, meaning that she keeps up with when her company’s clients need more paper. That’s a pretty specific job description for a pretty general program of study! Now, obviously she didn’t take any classes on how to distribute paper products, so there’s no way she would have known 4 years ago that she would enjoy slingin’ paper.

That said, remember that the point of going to college is simple: you must prove to a future employer that you are capable of learning and problem solving. This is true for every major I know about, from Art to Zoology. Graduating college demonstrates that you have a desire to learn a trade and that you are both intelligent enough and diligent enough to stick with something for an extended period of time. So don’t stress about your major, because in the grand scheme of college, it’s a minor thing.

SERIOUS

You definitely don’t want to be super serious and only care about the W’s.  But then again nobody really likes “Over the Top Guy” either.  He’s always funny at first and everyone envies his enthusiasm, but about 20 minutes in, he starts to get under your skin.  The best thing for me is to find a blend.  You want your celebration to stay classy and say “I’ve been here before,” but you also have to have the marbles to rub it in the opponents face just a bit.  I personally like the chest pound.  If you are ultra competitive like me, after a great shot, sometimes it can be a good thing to turn your back to your competition and let out a little scream where only you and your partner can hear.  That way you don’t look like such a psycho for being so pumped up about winning a drinking game.

A Bit Over the Top for Beer Pong

It can be a tricky thing, but it can also be beautiful.  Stay graceful, but aggressive.  Be confident, but not necessarily a smack talker.  Beer pong can be a great thing if you let it.  If you get the chance to be involved in a beer pong contest, you should take it, even if you don’t like beer.  There are plenty of thirsty people around who would be glad to take your drinks for you.  Although doing this may make your victory feel less rewarding, and it will also lower your value as a beer pong teammate.  Believe me, the quickest route to becoming the college pro that you dreamed of as a kid, is to become a master of THIS game.  I realize that to some, this will seem like the worst advice you have ever heard, and it may be, but take it for what its worth…  good, clean (or sometimes dirty), college kid fun.   Stay thirst my friends.

A fellow college pro decided that it would be a great idea to start saving money for the fall semester. He decided to start the all ramen, all day diet. For 3 weeks he spent  only $1 every day on ramen only. At the end of the 3 weeks he wound up at the local hospital due to severe loss of balance. At the conclusion of the visit, the doctor diagnosed him with ”labirynthitis,” loss of balance due to inner ear infection. For nearly a week this college pro was miserable because he struggled walking a straight line. Doc told this wiley college pro that it could have been caused by an increase in sodium in his diet or a few other things. Right away he knew what had happened and what needed to be changed.

Lesson learned!

If you wish to save money by eating the delicious ramen, please eat sparingley and maybe add some other foods into your daily diet. This will help you maintain your balance and stay away from the dreaded doctor.

Check out Jared’s post for ramen recipes!

Paul: CP Staff

Submitted by Steph

“So, going to college is all about getting an education, right?  WRONG.  If you go into your college years with that kind of mindset, you’ll come out on the other side wondering why everyone said it was the greatest time of their lives.  Now, I certainly encourage attending class and spending an adequate amount of time studying, or else Mom and Dad may be tempted to start making you buy your own pizza and beer.  But keep in mind that a degree is simply a nice side effect of attending college.  The PURPOSE of college is simple: to party.

There are many ways to “party” during college.  At a moment’s notice, you may be summoned out of your dorm room or apartment to accompany friends to a local bar or fraternity house.  While this kind of partying is fun and an important part of your college experience, it also has its disadvantages.  Loud (and usually bad) music stifles conversation, appointing a designated driver is a necessary annoyance, and sleazy guys with offensive pickup lines almost always find their way into your (or your girlfriend’s) night.

Luckily, there is an easy way to avoid these disadvantages while also having a great time partying.  All you need is an apartment or house with a brave owner, a very large cooler, and a little creativity.  House parties eliminate the need to use a designated driver (as long as there’s plenty of floor to crash on), and you have the distinct advantage of being able to control the guest list.  A great way to keep your house party from being labeled “lame” (an instant death blow) is to come up with a theme.

Ghetto Theme

80's Theme

Your theme should encompass as many aspects of your party as possible.  First and foremost, people should be encouraged/forced to dress according to the theme.  This creates a relaxed, whimsical atmosphere, since everyone looks equally ridiculous.  Second, go ahead, open up your iTunes, create that playlist.  Music sets the tone for a party, so it only makes sense that your music should relate to your theme.  Blast some 80s pop music at an 80s party, and you can practically feel your hair getting bigger and your clothes getting brighter.  Third, see if you can relate the food and drink to your theme.  For example, no respectable hipster party would be complete without a huge supply of PBR.  And finally, if you have a little room left in the budget, a few themed decorations never hurt anyone.  When planning a themed party, Google is your best friend.  A simple search usually returns more ideas than you can use.

So next time you want to party, instead of hitting up your college town’s local bar scene, put a little effort into a themed party.  You can be transported to another decade, step into the shoes of another group of people, or pay tribute to your favorite movie/TV show, all while spending time with the greatest friends you’ll ever make.  Then, when you’re at graduation looking back, ask yourself: was college really about education?”

80's Party, Remembering Michael & Farrah

What were some themed party ideas that worked for you? Share in the comments or write your own post!

Yeah that’s right kids, this game has a gross title. But hey, you can call it whatever you like if that makes you uncomfortable. But let’s get down to business and talk about how to play. This is one of the more complicated card-based drinking games around, but it’s extremely fun. We’ll lay it out for ya:

Number of players: 4

Materials: Deck of cards and drinks (a few cans of beer are necessary as well)

Game ends: When you want it to

How to Play:

• Each player has their drink of choice on hand. There are lots of times during the game where players will have to take a chug/sip of their drink, so keep it handy.
• Fan out the cards face down in a circle and you place an unopened beer in the middle of the circle (yes I am aware I used a Coke in the photo)
  

  A pretty good looking circle o' cards there, if ya ask me.

• Players go in a circle each picking up a card. Each card represents a rule or an action that the one who drew the card has to do before the next player draws a card. Here’s how that breaks down:
  • 2 is You – meaning you get to pick someone to drink.
  • 3 is Me – meaning the person who grabbed the card has to drink.
  • 4 is War – meaning that the person who drew the card picks someone in the circle to battle in a thumb-war. Loser drinks.
  • 5 is Make a Rule – This is where the game gets really awesome. Every time a 5 is drawn, the one who draws it gets to make a rule that lasts the remainder of the game. For example, a good rule to make is that everyone must hold their drink in their left hand. If someone is caught holding their drink in their right hand, they have to drink. Another awesome rule I’ve heard is that everyone has to speak in a British accent for the rest of the game. That one gets pretty hilarious, and LOTS of drinks get handed out.
  • 6 is Dicks – meaning all guys drink.
  • 7 is Heaven – meaning when this card is drawn everyone has to throw their hands up in the air. The last one to put their hands up drinks.
  • 8 is Pick a Date – this is another highlight of this game. Pick a Date means that the one who drew the card gets to pick one of the other players as their “Date” for the night, meaning that every time that player drinks his/her date has to drink as well. This gets pretty exciting when there is a lot of dates; for example, Player 1 is dating Player 2, and Player 2 picks Player 3 as their date. Now every time Player 1 drinks, Player 2 AND Player 3 have to drink, and so on.
  • 9 is Bust a Rhyme – meaning the player who drew the card has to say a line and the next person has to rhyme with it until someone can’t come up with a rhyme. That person drinks. Everyone interprets this rule differently; I’ve seen it played as everyone rhymes one word and as everyone has to rhyme a whole phrase. The phrase way is more entertaining, but the word way can go on for longer. Your choice.
  • 10 is Categories – meaning that player picks a category like “Fast Food” or “Favorite Colors”. Everyone then goes around naming different things that fall into the category until no one can come up with one or repeats one. Loser drinks.
  • Jack is Never Have I Ever – meaning you say something you have never done and whoever has done it has to drink. I’ve played where this card is used for 3 questions at a time; that way more drinks are handed out and you learn more scandalous things about each other.
  • Queen is for Questions – This one is confusing. The player that drew the card starts by asking the player to their left a random question. That player then turns immediately to their left and has to ask another player a different question WITHOUT answering or responding to the question they were asked. First one to respond or fail at asking a question drinks.
  • King is for Captain Dick Head – The name of the game. Literally. When a player draws a King, he/she becomes the Captain. The Captain can make anyone drink at any time for any reason, and if they’re really feeling like a control freak, can make a new rule. This player remains Captain until someone else draws a King.
  • Ace is Waterfall – meaning the player who drew the Ace starts the waterfall. A Waterfall is when one player starts drinking, and the person to their left starts after them and so on. When the player who starts the Waterfall puts down their drink, the player to their left puts theirs down, and everyone follows in succession. Yes, that does mean that the person to the Waterfall starter’s right drinks the longest. Crazy!
  • Now about that beer in the middle of the circle of cards: Each time someone draws a card, they place the card underneath the tab of the can (see picture). The player whose card makes the can pop open (you will hear the telltale fizz sound) must down the whole beverage. If you want to be really intense you can say that that player has to chug the whole thing, but if you want to be a little more mellow about it then they just have to drink it over the course of the night. Up to you.
    

    The card just barely has to be under the tab. STRATEGY!

Now this game is fun even if you don’t drink alcohol. All you need is some sort of canned beverage for the middle, and make sure everyone has something to sip on. This could be done with energy drinks or apple juice for all we care. Have fun, and be responsible about it. In other words, don’t be a Dick Head. Enjoy!