Yes, I am an addict. That’s the first thing DC lovers must admit. We are stubborn and angsty without our Diet Cokes and nothing, I mean nothing, will kill our craving unless it’s one of those pretty silver cans sweating in front of us. Or, even better, a giant cardboard cup filled with the heaven that is a Fountain Diet Coke. Is there anything better? I think not, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either a  A) Coke head (Note: not the same thing as a Lindsay Lohan coke head) B) a Pepsi Whore (EW) or C) stupid.

I’ll be honest and confess that I hated Diet Coke in the beginning. I thought it was “fake” and “disgusting.” My friend loved to order it with every meal and I just scowled at her with disgust. “Why do you even drink that,” I would say over my giant glass of water. “You know, it might kill you.” Her answer was always the same: “Honestly, I just can’t stop. And you won’t know until you try.”

So I did. The first sip, I spat out the coke and said it tasted like cough syrup. And then another sip and another. Then I started ordering DC when I had a salad, or just when I was out with friends. Then I was buying it on the way to class. And soon after, the cravings began. I started to suffer from light headaches, my fingers started shaking. My fridge was filled with nothing but cans of DC and a jar of pickles. I was hooked.

Diet Coke is one of those things, like Taylor Swift or rompers, that either people love or hate. There is no middle ground. There is no “It’s OK.” It’s either “OMG DIET COKE” or “Ew, Diet Coke?!” And I’m always trying to lure in the non-believers. “It tastes so crisp! How can you not like it?” And they just stare at me in horror as I chug another one and crush the silver can against my forehead. But it is. Nothing quenches my thirst (be it at breakfast, dinner, on the beach or after the bar) like a giant Diet Coke. It’s like an icy, comforting hug from a friend soul mate.

And I know for a fact I’m not the only one who thinks so. The Diet Coke Obsession is a cult movement, sorta like Scientology… but a lot less weird. And a lot more delicious. Hell, DC even fueled President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign! Yes, Diet Coke put Obama in the White House.

That’s one powerful beverage.

God, Diet Coke, I f**king love you.

While there are many things about America that are less than lovable – Nascar, the current economy, the fact that Heidi Montag makes millions of dollars – we live in a pretty awesome country. And most of us don’t really appreciate all that we’ve got, like free education, freedom of speech… and Miley Cyrus.

So I thought it was about time for all of us to take a moment to reflect on what we love most about being Americans. Get your American Pride on in the comments below.

Katherine – University of Delaware: I love being an American because you can experience completely different lifesyles without ever leaving the country’s borders. Yet whether you’re from the south, the midwest, or the coasts, you still share a common bond.

Sara C – Fordham: What do I love about being American? Being able to be a woman who can speak her mind if she so desires. Being able to go for a run in a sports bra and compression shorts on a hot summer day. And Ben & Jerry’s. God bless Chunky Monkey.

Kari – Florida State: I love being an American most when I’m milling around a bar at Happy Hour and I can yell “F**K YEA, AMERICA!” Which will spark warm sentiments of agreement from other bar patrons. Not much more American than profanity and self-promotion!

Ricki – University of Michigan: The fact that I can wear whatever I want in the summer.  Can you imagine a country where women can’t wear shorts? 

Cristina – Michigan State: As corny as it sounds, freedom of speech.   The fact that I’m a lady writer who can broadcast my stories and opinions on the internet without fear that I’ll be stoned to death is a pretty sweet deal.

Brithny- Duke: I love how you can tailgate hard and throw beer around while dancing on top of a pickup truck one day, then pull on your best sundress and go to church the next.

Sammie – Fordham: American boys and college sports.  In that order.

Kaitlyn – Middle Tennessee State University: (Via Facebook) I absolutely love the cultural diversity of America. No where else in the world would I have a friend from every country, every ethnicity, every religious affiliation, etc all in one place. LOVE IT!

Alex – Lakehead University: Well, since I’m not American, let’s do Canadian. From a practicality point-of-view, I LOVE the free health care, but for fun, how about the amazing beers and outdoors! I’m happiest with a cold Coors Light in my hand, sitting on the deck of my camp, overlooking Lake Superior.

Lauren – University of Michigan: College football. Soccer might have hotter players, but there is nothing like a football Saturday.

Meg – University of Delaware: I love being American because I can eat what I want: Italian, Chinese, Thai and Mexican all in one week? I love food.

Charlsie – Hollins University: The classic taste of Coca Cola makes me proud to be an American. Nothing is better than opening a can of coke and taking that first sip — especially during the summer.

Carly – Grinnell: Honestly, I think I love the English language most–I know that is such a dorky answer, but I love being able to travel all over the world and knowing that many people will be able to understand me because they speak some English. Of course, that doesn’t diminish the fascination I have with foreign languages, but it is nice to speak such a socially valued language as a mother tongue.

Brittany – University of Saint Thomas: Baseball, Apple Pie, Chevrolet, and the fact Spencer Pratt is considered a real human being.

Christie – NC State: Coming from a military family, I guess I just love this country and the principles it was built on. Cheesy, but I’m a firm believer that the principles this country was built on is worth celebrating and defending. My favorite part of being an American I guess you could say is just that: being an American. God, I’m lame.

Every week, CC and John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, saddest things he hears on his college campus. Join the Overheard revolution!Leave your own overheard convos in the comments or send ‘em over!

(Two guys, talking next to a weight bench.)

Guy 1: We skied a whole bunch last winter. Do you partake?
Guy 2: Yeah, sometimes. You’re talking about cocaine, right?

(Guy, on the phone. Sounds like he’s getting through a breakup.)

Guy: Thanks for talking about this with me. It’s really hard to talk about sometimes.

(beat)

Hey, well, we’re both single now, right?

(beat)

Well, that was kinda rude.

(Girl, walking a dog in the park, meets a guy.)

Guy: Hey, I like your dog.

Girl: Thanks. He’s Arfken, dog wizard.

(A guy walks through a movie theater row and sits down)

Guy: (whispering loudly) Oh, geez, sorry, I think I knocked your Raisinets over.

Gir: (whispering) That’s fine. Your hair’s covered in nacho cheese.

(Guy, yelling, at a party.)

Guy: And he was like “my grandma just died!” Well, f*** it, I loved my cat twice as much as he loved his stupid grandma!

(Girl, lying over in a restuarant booth.)

Girl 1: My head feels fuzzy. Everything’s fading… the nothingness is all around me.

Girl 2: Shut up. You just ate a cheeseburger.

(Girl and guy walking on a busy main street.)

Guy: Wait, she slept with them?

Girl: Yeah. She’s cheating on us.

Guy: Well, I think we’re breaking up with her. You and me both.

(Two guys, sitting outside the mall on a bench.)

Guy 1: What do you think the world would be like if the oceans were filled with Coca-Cola?

Guy 2: I think it’d probably be about the same.

(In a late-night diner, one girl gets up from her booth.)

Girl: *bends down on one knee* Be mine, Carrie.

Other Girl: It’s a Ring Pop.

Girl: Just like my love for you.

But she’s found an entertaining reason to join our whole family during this epic February event: the commercials. This year, NBC Superbowl commercials will cost companies $3 MILLION dollars for 30 seconds of air time! That’s equal to $100,000 for 1 second. Aren’t we in a recession?

Anyway, to celebrate the fact that our economy is in shambles but we still have enough money for ads with talking frogs and cowboys chasing cats, here are my favorite 5 Superbowl commercials of all time:

5) James Carville and Bill Frist Fall In Love Over Coke. With all the political hype going on right now, we hope the Republicans and Democrats will unite like these two do over a can of Coke.

4) EDS Cowboys Herding Cats. What could be better than kitties and cowboys?

3) Mean Joe Green and Coke. Probably the most effective commercial of all time. Maybe Coke can bring peace to the Middle East?

2) Apple 1984. The one that started it all. And because I love my mac ^_^

1) Terry Tate and Reebok. Terry Tate tackling “Office Space” workers. ‘Nuff said.

What’s YOUR favorite Superbowl commercial ever?

Amy Winehouse is up to her usual snorting, shooting-up, smoking, swallowing antics, but this time there are others involved besides her and her junkie boyfriend.

A British couple has pleaded guilty to selling Amy (ample amounts?) of cocaine and ecstasy after releasing a video to The Sun newspaper of her smoking crack. Conveniently, when the police raided the couple’s home they were lucky enough to find a list of celebrities they supplied with drugs.

Unfortunately, the list hasn’t been made public so College Candy compiled our own list of the usual suspects. These celebs MAY (or may not) have been on the couple’s druggie list:

Lil’ Wayne – LW once said he was “so high I could eat a star.” We’re guessing he ordered one of everything …

Willy Nelson – A proud spokesperson of the mary jane…check out some other celebs who’ve been caught tokin’…

Whitney Houston – Crack is whack?! I don’t think she really believes that…

Bobby Brown- He’ll have whatever Whitney’s havin’…

Andy Dick- He is definitely huffing something…not quite sure what tho?

Matthew Perry – Could Chandler Bing use some vicoden??

Kate “I’ll have some coke” Moss – and no she doesn’t mean the fizzy beverage…

Lindsey Lohan- …she showed up with Kate

Any other celebs you think were found on this list?

I have been addicted to Diet Coke for years. I used to start off with a jumbo fountain D.C. on my way to class at 10 AM, followed by another one at lunch and yet another (mixed with rum) for an evening snack. There was nothing on this planet that could come between me and my beloved Diet Coke. In fact, I wasn’t sure there was any way I could love it any more.

But, dear readers, there is: it seems that not only is Diet Coke the tastiest, most delectable treat on this planet….

It is also an effective spermicide!

Oh yeah! You heard me. That stuff you have been drinking by the gallon also happens to be strong enough to kill those little impregnators. Could there be a more perfect beverage? I think not.

Sure, this fact may worry some people (“blah blah how can I put something in my body that is strong enough to kill sperm blah blah blah?), but I couldn’t be happier! Just think of the possibilities:

No need for condoms or birth control when you have a 20 ouncer in the fridge! (Note: not quite sure how one would go about using that 20 ouncer as a contraceptive….) Or better yet, Coca Cola condoms! They taste like Diet Coke (which will make me much more happy to get near ‘em) and have the same effectiveness at preventing pregnancy as a can of D.C.!

This changes everything.

• Looking to waste time on the internet? Is that question as stupid as the bacon one? Eh, just waste your time here!

• Coca Cola is evil. But only in Russia.

• The eternal war wages on! Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

• This guy’s even better than the real Santa.

• So now when your little brother won’t stop making you play Rock, Paper, Scissors you’ll know how to shut him up.