[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, Facebook…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there (like Any New Books?, When Parents Text and College Daybreak) and more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

I love going to concerts, but I always manage to hear about them long after the tickets are sold out. Then I spend weeks hearing about how excited my friends are to see <Insert Favorite Band Here> and another few weeks listening to them gush about how amazing <Insert Favorite Song Here> was live.

Well, I’ll never have to pretend I don’t want to punch them in the face worry about that again now that I’ve discovered iConcertCal.

iConcertCal is a GENIUS tool that syncs with your iTunes library to create a personalized calendar of all upcoming concerts in your area. It also contains information about the venue, what other bands are playing, and direct links to where you can purchase tickets.

If that isn’t amazing enough, iConcertCal can be exported right to your computer’s calendar and is also available as an iPhone or Android app, so you can get concert info whenever and wherever you need it. You can also share your calendar with friends (and see their shared calendars as well).

And iConcertCal isn’t just for concerts — it will also show you if any artists you like have CDs being released soon and provides links to where you can pre-order them.

Thanks to iConcertCal, I’ll never miss another concert! I’ve already discovered so many upcoming  concerts I want to go to — but now I just have to decide which ones to buy tickets to!

Pretty cool, eh? Well, there’s plenty more web where that came from. Check out the other sites that are on Laura’s web radar!

Beautify. Nothing like cruising into a new semester of classes feeling like hot sh*t. Book your appointments early for those caterpillar eyebrows, exposed roots, and crusty feet.

Prepare for potential hanky-panky. (Yep, I did just call it hanky-panky.) Visit to the gyno? Check. Birth control stockpile? Check. Brazilian wax? Check. Stop trying to salvage period-stained panties — as my motto goes, new school year, new lacy underthings.

Buy new dorm / apartment / house décor! Draw some inspiration from Apartment Therapy and go to town. May we suggest wall decals, some choice picture frames and scented candles?

Pick up a new planner. Steal one from freshman orientation if you have to, and then neatly pencil in important dates (your boyfriend’s grandmother’s birthday, any club meeting with free food, the three-year anniversary to the day you got your v-card swiped, etc.) There’s nothing quite like touching a spankin’ new notebook — devoid of uncompleted to-do lists — for the very first time.

Evaluate your finances. If you’re anything like me, you’ve all but avoided checking your banking account for a summers’ worth of glorious sales, extravagant dining and uninhibited bar-hopping — but it is, my friends, something that must be done. Pay off your outstanding bills and determine your budget for the upcoming year so you know exactly how many hours you have to slave away at Applebee’s this fall.

Speaking of jobs… update your resume. ‘Cause let’s face it, you’re not going to even want to think about cleverly crafting bullet points about your summer of servitude well into Welcome Week. Or Rush Week. Or Recovery from Rush Week. Or any of the subsequent weeks after that, really. Get it out of the way now so the moment you encounter the perfect side-job to finance your weekend boozing, you’ll be ready-for-hire.

Do a massive overhaul of your wardrobe. Barring the sentimentally priceless — though really, it’s time to part with the chocolate-stained denim capris that remind you of your high school summer camp fling — donate or eBay the stuff you don’t wear. It goes without saying, but gauchos are not coming back in this lifetime. Head to American Apparel (or Targét — that’s how I roll) to stock up on your favorite basics. Reorganize your jewelry, and splurge on one pair of fabulous, fabulous heels.

Catch up on old seasons of your favorite trashy television. This is obviously the most crucial on the list. Between TiVo and internet video, there are no excuses to be made anymore — because God forbid you watch the Gossip Girl premiere without having seen the one where Serena dies. What? Yeah, see?

I know it’s hard to stay on track, especially when you’re only thinking about the months of freedom, days at the beach and (finally!) reading for pleasure, but snap out of it! You’ve worked too hard all year to eff it all up now.

If you want to spend the summer lounging by a pool (or in your front yard with the roomies) and not re-taking that Econ class, heed my advice:

1. STAY Organized: I don’t know about you all, but my room has certainly gotten messy. However, the minute I took the time to organize it the way I did when I got back from winter break, I immediately felt less stressed out. Having an organized work space makes you focus better, so take the time to reorganize if you’re room has gotten out of hand.

2. Calendar EVERYTHING: I have this big dry erase wall calendar that I write everything down on. Hopefully you have one of these, and if you didn’t get one at the beginning of this semester, I suggest you invest in one NOW. When you write things down it helps you remember them. It’s a very easy way to keep track of tests and quizzes that are on your syllabus. Also make sure to put birthdays on there, especially your roommates. Forgetting a roommate’s birthday could be fatal. (They do know where you live…)

3. Communicate With Your Professors: You probably skipped a few classes by now just because you didn’t want to go (or you feared barfing on your desk), but this shouldn’t worry you. A lot of professors will be more lenient if you send them an email notifying them you won’t be there, and if you want to claim you have food poisoning from that take-out you had last night it usually works. The more you communicate with your professors, the more they notice you and show respect for you. They are there to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions before or after class. If you’re too intimidated to talk to them in person, send them an email. You’ll be surprised how helpful they can be.

4. Read: A lot of times, we just look at our notes from class before the test and then are surprised when we don’t do so hot. READ the chapters. You will encounter the occasional professor that only puts things on the test from their power points and study guide, but there are also professors who ask questions from the book. Even if you just skim the chapters, it not only reinforces the notes, but you will do a lot better on your tests.

5. Get Ahead: If you find yourself with a little extra free time, do some homework that’s not due for a few days. Start outlining an upcoming paper. Read another chapter. As the end of the year approaches lots of little things (drinking outside!) pop up. Working ahead when you have the time is the best way to stay stress-free and open up some time to do the things you want to do.

6. Save Time for YOU: Set aside an hour or so a day just for you, whether you want to go work out, take a nap or read a book. Don’t study or do homework, just relax. It will keep you stress-free and content. And if your “you time” involves margaritas or a glass of wine, so be it.

Do you have any tips for staying on top of it? Let us know!

1. Making out in totally non-romantic places.

If I see the two of you pawing each other at the Trevi Fountain in Italy, I’ll forgive you. Now THAT is romantic. But seriously – to the couple who gets on the dirty, overcrowded subway and feels the need to look into each other’s eyes, whisper sweet nothings, and make out for all of three stops – save it. Same for the couple who starts going at it in the checkout line at Rite-Aid. Unless you’re buying condoms, why are you so worked up already? And if you are buying condoms, then save it for the bedroom.

2. Sharing a calendar.

Just because you’re a couple doesn’t mean you can’t be individuals. I hate the girl who’s there for you every time… as long as she’s single. Once the “relationship” label gets slapped on some people, they have to synchronize their scheds, and like, can’t even go to the bathroom without making sure it won’t disrupt Date Night (the third one this week). It’s great when a girl can bring her boyfriend out with her friends, and vice versa, but if it’s a “Girls’ Night” and Henry’s trailing behind… it’s effing annoying.

3. Lame-ass Pet Names

Seriously, I’m not really opposed by the use of “Baby” or “Babe,” that is, when it’s used in a nonchalant way. As in, “Babe, I’m going out tonight, I’ll call you later.” NOT “Babyyyyyy I wuv you thiiiiiis much!” But other petnames are semi-obnoxious. If you do have cute names for each other, it should be your special secret. I once dated a dude who actually suggested we do nicknames. I promptly started calling him “Snuggles” in front of his coworkers. When he put up with that stuff, I knew it was time to go.

4. Fighting in public.

This actually might be worse than PDAs. You know THAT couple who’s throwing beers at each other at the bar? Who break up about 5.4 times a day and then go back into cuddle-mode for the ten minutes prior to the NEXT fight. Seriously, girls, he DIDN’T mean to call you fat, he WASN’T checking out the waitress, and just because he wants to watch sports instead of go shopping with you it doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. And guys, STOP inadvertently calling her fat, REFRAIN from checking out the waitress, and if you’re going to hang with the boys, just TRY to do something for her to show that you care in the meantime.

5. Becoming a biographer.

It’s a group event. Everyone’s meeting for drinks/dinner/ whatever, and of course the significant others are invited. There’s often that couple… the one where one party decides to relay everything he/she knows about the other to the group for the entire evening. It’s usually the partner that doesn’t know the rest of the group. For example, Johnny brings his new girlfriend to meet his friends at the bar. While everyone else tries to talk about class, politics, last week’s episode of Lost, whatever, Johnny’s girlfriend can only contribute, “So, Johnny and I met at….” “I know Johnny is the one because….” “Did you know that when Johnny was in high school, he…” ETC. She’ll probably also comment on Johnny’s every move, like, “Ohhh, how cute does Johnny look when he orders a beer? Stella is his favorite!” Let people get to know you and your signif for who you are. They can figure it out on their own without a picture being painted for them.

If I sound like a bitter old hag, that was not my intention. I was very happy in my last relationship, which ended quite smoothly. And I’d love to be in another relationship, once I find the right guy. In the meantime, however, I’ve been nixing the dudes who seem like they will either follow the aforementioned patterns, or expect ME to follow them. That’s too bad, because I’m just not that type of girl. Anyone else have any pet peeves from the dating world? We’d love to hear ‘em!

I’m happy to share – after all, that is what this column is all about – so check them out!

1. Make a schedule for yourself.

This is really the most basic time-management tool. I use a daily planner and I write a new to-do list for each day. Then I cross things out as I finish them. For longer-term projects, I write down the due date and then I write down what I need to accomplish on the project on a daily or weekly basis. You can do whatever works for you—color-code your schedule, write it on a white board, use an electronic calendar, etc.

2. Consolidate activities.

I used to go to the bank every time I got a new check, which sometimes meant I’d be going several times per week. I wasn’t using that money immediately after depositing it, so there was no reason for me to go so often. Now, I only go to the bank once every two weeks. It saves me tons of time, and I just keep all my checks together until I go on my biweekly trip.

Think about the things you do often—run errands, cook, do homework—and then think about whether you can consolidate any of them. Maybe it would help you to cook several huge batches of food on weekends and then freeze them in meal-sized portions to use throughout the week. Can you do a quick math assignment while you’re riding the subway or waiting on the phone for a customer-service rep? If so, you’ll have more free time later.

3. Eliminate activities.

There are probably a few hobbies you have that you really enjoy doing, and a few things you do that you may consider a slight waste of time. I spend way too much time surfing the Internet, so if I’m going to write a big article or work on a portion of my book, I’ll disable my wireless connection. If you feel like you watch too much TV, you might want to drop a couple of shows from your repertoire and catch up on episodes online later (but only if you have extra time). Consider your biggest time-wasters (Bromance, anyone?), and get rid of them! You’ll be amazed at how your week opens up if you downgrade this way.

I know many of you guys are multitasking mavens, so please feel free to share more tips in the comments!

[Image courtesy of blogs.theage.com.]

I love me some Jewish boys, but a calendar? Their mothers must be so proud!

Sign me up for Efran. Rar!

1. Check out a Concert

No, I’m not suggesting you sit on Ticketmaster for hours to pay hundreds of dollars to see Fall Out Boy. Check out a band you’ve never heard of. Scour the web for open mic nights and underground punk shows. You might end up catching the next big thing to hit MTV. If there’s a venue nearby that’s known for being a breeding ground for legendary rockers, join their mailing list. Otherwise, check out sites like Underground Hip Hop Dot Com or Open Mikes to find some decent music at a cheap price. Stuck on campus without a car? See if your school sponsors its own concert series, open mic’s or talent shows, and hit ‘em up, son.

2. Pee Your Pants (Not Literally)

Underground concerts too loud for you? Hit up a comedy club or try to catch an improv troupe in your area. Comedy shows run fairly cheap, and you can bust a gut without waking up with your ears ringing in the morning. Sites like The Improv list venues in several different cities, or you can Google “improv” and the name of your town to see if there’s anything nearby. Did you know that tons of Saturday Night Live regulars got their start at improv clubs like LA’s infamous Groundlings? Or that comic messiahs like Adam Sandler used to tour college campuses before making it big?

3. Take Center Stage

My personal life motto? You haven’t lived until you’ve Karaoke’d. Find a local dive bar that hosts karaoke, and hit it up. You don’t have to worry about being embarrassed in front of townies who are doing renditions of the Dixie Chicks and Metallica, and if you can force yourself onstage without boozing it up, you really won’t have to pay anything for a kick-ass good time. Karaoke in the states is at an all-time high, so there’s bound to be someplace nearby that will let you croon “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

4. Casino Night

Free drinks while you gamble? Two words for the poverty-stricken college student: Penny Slots.

5. Stage a Cultural Outing

Everyone wastes $10 at the cinemas these days to see 90 minutes of cliches and inevitable plot lines. Get your culture on and take in a play, a musical, a cabaret, a drag show, anything! If you live in a city that’s host to a variety of playhouses, chances are, you can get student rush tix on the cheap, and if not, check out your local repertory theaters or community theaters. There have been some amazing shows to hit the stages over the past few years, and chances are, you’ve only seen them on DVD (e.g. The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hairspray… why not seem them all live?)

6. Laser Tag and Cosmic Bowling

Playing pseudo-sports in the dark, under black lights and glowing neon? It’s like a graffiti party, without the “Who the hell wrote that” factor the next morning! Let out your competitive streak by challenging your friends to a game or two, and follow up with a greasy trip to the 24-hour diner for some Disco Fries. Your arteries will hate you, but it’ll be a refreshing, welcome change.

7. Check Out Your Campus Calendar

Don’t feel like finding a DD or selling your soul for gas money? Tons of colleges these days are sponsoring quality entertainment on the weekends, in an effort to prevent their students from binge drinking for 72 hours straight. From music events to movie screenings to themed activities in the student union, you can get your fun on for cheap, or, even better, free, and you never have to worry about the cops busting up your good time.

We’ve all been there; you wake up and instantly feel stabby pains gnawing at your insides, already knowing you’re going to have to do laundry before you throw off the covers to investigate. Or you suddenly sit up a little straighter in your chair, taking a moment to process the fact that yes, your period has indeed started without warning, right in the middle of class.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to find a pattern, a method to the madness of your menstral cycle? Well, now there is — on the internet, no less! Mon.thly.info is a website that was invented to help women everywhere keep track of their cycles with a super simple, super clean interface.

“Each time you start your period, add the date to your Mon.thly account“, the website states, “and it will use your history to predict the next time your cycle will start. This provides you with a record of your menstrual cycles, which can be an important addition to your medical history. If you want, Mon.thly will also email you a customized reminder before or on your next estimated start date.”

I mean, could you do this on a calender or in a journal? Of course. But who has time to actually write something down by hand? Plus, can the calendar in your kitchen send you emails? Nope. And getting cheerful, helpful emails is always fun — especially when those emails help you avoid inching to the bathroom against the wall in those new white summer pants.

Although old enough to be my grandfather, Rolling Stone Magazine continues to maintain it’s finger on the pulse of everything hip and now. From the hottest bands to the sickest trends, RS has known what’s up for 40 years… and 2007 is no different. Check out Rolling Stone’s 2007 Hot List after the jump.

HOT BABE – Megan Fox

2007 was a good year for Megan Fox. Starring opposite Shia LaBeouf in this Summer’s Sci-Fi Blockbuster “Transformers“, this hot starlet is soon to be a household name. Her next role is playing a Hollywood “IT” girl (what a stretch) in the highly anticipated “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People“ with Kirsten Dunst.

See more Megan Fox photos here.

HOT BAND: Band of Horses

Grunge may be dead in Seattle, but local heroes Band of Horses have rubbed the paddles together to bring new life to the the city’s indie music scene. Ben Birdwell’s haunting vocals alongside an ethereal Southern-Alt Rock guitar sound has ” made Band of Horses the most promising young guitar group going.” Their latest release “Cease to Begin” is certain to adorn numerous critic’s year end top tens.

See more Band of Horses photos here.

HOT CALENDAR: Mormons Exposed

This seems so wrong on so many levels, but as the old adage goes “If you got it, flaunt it”… and that’s just what these son’s of Brigham Young have done. Chad Hardy has put the S -ex back in LDS with his 2008 “Men on a Mission” Calendar, featuring 12 of the hottest, shirtless Morman missionaries on the planet. Apparently it’s big seller with the boys as well as the girls, although we’re pretty sure it’s a conservative wrong for the conservative right.

See the calendar photos here.

HOT MODEL: Agyness Deyn

Critics call Agyness Deyn the “next Kate Moss”. We just call her hot. This 21 year-old rock-a-waif has done ads for Burberry and Armani to name a few and has been sporting this tough girl look since the age of 10. Expect to see a good bit more of Ms. Deyn. She is apparently working on a new band called “Lucky Knitwear” in addition to her day job.

See more Agyness Deyn photos here.

Click here to see the rest of the Rolling Stone 2007 Hot List.

In case you’ve been left out of the loop, Going.com is a website dedicated to the sheer pleasure of being young in the city- any city! They cover New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago–even San Fran. For those who feel slightly skeptical of enjoying an unplanned night, this site is gold.

Going.com is the place to find out what’s going on, who’s going, and how it’s gonna go. With an expansive event calendar, private e-vite system, and a substantial list of parties, concerts, and shows, this website will feel just as lifesaving as the first second your lips hit that Cosmo.

Speaking of Cosmos, Going.com has recently upgraded, introducing the coolest new feature to its site, which allows you to buy your other Going.com friends a drink. Yes, via the internet!

Did your best friend save you with her Oscar-winning flat tire routine on a bad date last week, and there’s no doubt you owe her a cold one?

Have you noticed lately that your boyfriend has been really stressed out over his summer Calculus class? The only way to chill him out is with some red red wine, right? Well, now you can buy him and your whole crew a round!

All you have to do is go to your lucky friend’s Going profile, click on the ‘Buy Me a Drink’ button, fill out the gift info with a personalized note, (A little Chardonnay for my beh-bay?) and a little drink icon will pop up in their inbox, which contains a gift code. Once they find a participating BuyYourFriendADrink.com bar or restaurant in the area, they can head over and enjoy their free drink. It’s that simple!

As someone who helped sneak a keg into the dorms as a birthday gift for a wide-eyed friend who makes LiLo’s party habits seem like child’s play, I can tell you: Whether you’re trying to earn a couple brownie points with your bestie or your best boy, booze is a safe bet.

Cheers!