The British Prime Minister has awesome music taste

Rihanna is just too cool for award shows

Girls just wanna have fun

Always wanted a temporary tat for your ta tas?

You know your coat is missing a tiara

Where are all the sensitive guys?!

Is Barbie going bald?

Apparently it’s a thing to barely wear a dress

Ohmygah best mashup of 30 Rock ever

For those going abroad for the upcoming semester or planning a trip to Europe anytime soon, here are some helpful tips to get you around:

You are from Canada: Let’s be honest – Americans like to think they rule the world, and sometimes that holier than thou attitude rubs Europeans the wrong way. Don’t go overseas acting like a stereotypical American (you know, the ones that yell loudly when speaking to someone that doesn’t understand English as if the other person is deaf…) It may be hard when adjusting to culture shock, but the best way to get past it is to simply embrace it. If you can’t … just say you’re from Canada and all the questions will go away.

“Tap Water is For The Prisoners”: When I was thirteen, I went to Europe for two weeks on a guided school trip. The tour guide told my class that only prisoners drink tap water, so we shouldn’t order it at a restaurant. Forget that, live like a prisoner. Unlike in the states, restaurants just don’t bring out water for you. They tend to bring out bottled water, and after walking around Amsterdam all day, finishing off one of those babies happens fast…as does racking up a huge bill. Unless you really have a problem drinking tap water, order it. Not only will it save you money, but it will be cold. Most restaurants will serve you room temperature bottled water, but if you want something icy cold … tap water is the only way you’ll get those extra ice cubes. Free, cold water? No complaints there!

Transportation made easy: With an abundance of train services, ferry boats, and cheap flights (EasyJet and Ryan Air – however, beware of extra fees), traveling from one country to the next is affordable and a must for any European experience. If you shop around for the best deals, you can save lots of money hopping from Belgium to France in one weekend. Although taking the train may seem foreign (trains are rarely utilized in the USA as a form of fast, easy transportation), it is the best way to see Europe. Really, how can you complain when you’re on your way to Paris for the weekend with countryside outside your window?

Hold the Anchovies: I ordered a ceasar salad expecting just you’re standard plate of lettuce and ceasar sauce, but instead, I got a plate full of anchovies (complete with their eyeballs still intact) and a mayo sauce. Make sure when ordering at a restaurant you are as specific as can be or else you may be surprised. Also, if you like your meat cooked a certain way, tell your waiter or else you’re “well done” steak may come out bloody and pink. However, if you can get past some food differences, indulge yourself in as much cultural foods as possible, i.e. when in France, live off of croissants and macaroons!

See the sights: While a lot of my study abroad group got wasted every night, a good amount chose to see the sights. You are abroad, so why are you blacked out outside of Big Ben? A big mistake that a lot of abroaders make is mixing culture with fun – they think they can’t. You paid a lot of money to go abroad, so it is important to see everything that you can. No one wants to come back from Europe to say “I skipped out on the Mona Lisa because I was hung over” or “I couldn’t climb to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral because I was puking in a pub instead.” Party and have a great time, but prioritize what you are going to see. If you can schedule your days ahead, you can save a lot of time for partying and pub crawls later.

Be a local: Instead of eating at restaurants you are familiar with or sticking to simple tourist destinations, expand your travels and pretend you are a local. Ask opinions of the receptionist at your hostel of where to eat. Find out what shopping areas aren’t as famous and go see what you can dig up there. Try new foods and drink. For example, you can’t leave London without at least trying their fish and chips once. Don’t just stick to the same old path everyone else is, explore the beaten path and you will have a much more rewarding experience of culture and understanding of the area along the way.

Happy Traveling!

At my school, Americans who were enrolled in degree programs were labelled “Degree Students,” while Americans who were specifically there for a semester or two were labelled “Study Abroads.”  So, while I was an American sewing my wild oats just like you might be, there were some major differences.  I moved to the UK when I was 18, fresh out of high school.  I’d never had a keg party experience, I’d never lived in a dry dorm, and I’d never been to a major college sporting event.  Though I wasn’t always on my best behavior, my best friends were from all over the world, and I could see through their eyes how Americans earned bad raps as being obnoxious, immature, and annoying.  Make the most of your experience. Don’t make these mistakes.

1.  Do Know That Your Accent Says It All.

Have you ever heard an English person swear? I don’t care how “sodding” pissed off they are, it sounds so much nicer than an American politely asking, “Whaat tye-am is etttt?”  Most natives of whatever country you’re in won’t be instantly appalled by your accent, but they will know approximately where you hail from.

2. Don’t Get Wasted and Yell Things That Would Be Funny at Home.

As I just stated, your accent gives you away.  Which can work to your advantage… or not.  Screaming your school’s sports chant– P-I-T-T Let’s Go Pitt!– is not only loud and obnoxious, but do you really think the residents of Queensland, Australia give a f*** about the University of Pittsburgh?  Singing bar songs (American or otherwise) will also make everyone, including fellow Americans, want to punch you in the face.

3.  Do Be Polite.

You’re bound to get lost.  Or at least need to ask directions.  Be nice about it.  If you don’t understand the public transportation system, ask a station attendant, but be nice.  When I was in London, I would ask politely, “Do you know when the next train to [random borough] is coming?” And if I was cordial, they might ask where my final destination was, and then give me a better route that no guidebook could ever highlight.

4.  Don’t Get Angry Because Their Systems Are Different.

Screaming, “God, the T is so much more efficient” on a train or bus isn’t going to welcome any assistance.  Getting angry because the subway (or whatever they happen to call it over there) doesn’t run 24 hours a day isn’t going to get you home.  And if you ask a stranger for help, and they don’t know how to point you in the right direction, blatant rudeness is just uncalled for.  Getting frustrated because you can’t understand their language/accent also isn’t going to encourage them to be patient with you.

5.  Do Learn the Customs.

Immerse yourself in the culture any way you can.  If you have a work Visa, get a part time job.  You’ll meet the locals, or other study abroads from other countries.  I worked at a freaking Starbucks, and helped a Chinese coworker with his verb agreements.  He gave me a paper art Tiger.  I also befriended several English students, who explained the concepts of A-Levels, and years later, we are still close.  They also brought me to the bars and clubs that no other “Study Abroads” had stumbled upon.

If you can’t work or if you don’t waste your time behind a cash register in a foreign land, try to befriend the waitress at the cafe you go to every weekend, or attend as many community events as you can, just to take it all in.

6.  Don’t Insist on Sticking to Your American Ways.

How do you know that German delicacy won’t whet your palate? Just give it a try.  Don’t insist on shaking hands when the customs of your new country are to bow.  Sure, things may seem awkward at first, but eventually, they’ll grow on you.  Why not stay in the states if you’re going to cry over the difference in plumbing systems?   Being narrow-minded will only mean you’re missing out on a culture that could change your life.  Oh, and though it might be okay to shack up at a frat party, keep in mind that in some parts of the world, our American ways can be shocking.  You don’t have to censor yourself necessarily, but just be smart.

7.   Do Travel.

If you’re studying in a European country, you can get a cheap flight to so many other parts of the continent, on the cheap.  Check out Ireland, Italy, Spain, or France.  Check out a place you’ve never heard of (the Canary Islands are to Britain what Cancun is to the U.S.)  If you’re in a big country, like Australia, China, or Africa, check out another province.  Even if it’s just for the weekend.  Once you’re back in the states, these place won’t be so accessible.

8.  Don’t  Be Too Impulsive.

If you buy the first token souvenir you see, you may regret it later.  You might find find a better deal five minutes later (or you might get screwed over the first time around).  Take your time to learn about the trends of the country, and buy something more sentimental than a “J’Adore Paris” t-shirt.  You don’t have to do it all in one day– you’ve got a few months to learn the ropes.

9.  Do Enjoy Yourself.

Don’t cry every night because you miss your family.  Don’t rack up a phone bill calling your boyfriend in the States.  Take in all of the little things, whether it’s a tiny coffee shop or a local park.  The days of your study-abroad will fly by.  Make it count.

10.  Don’t Feel the Need to Take Unnecessary Pictures.

Imagine you’re in Times Square in New York.  You know that gaggle of people taking pictures of Planet Hollywood, who take up the whole sidewalk and won’t let any pedestrians pass until they’ve gotten their group shot? Ugh.  Asking the coffee shop attendant in Amsterdam to pose for a pic of you and your first space cake is cliche and annoying.  It’s okay to document all of the new sights you encounter, but there’s no need to objectify the locals for your own personal scrap-booking needs.

11. Don’t View a Lower Drinking Age as an All-Access Party Pass.

In countries with more leniant drinking laws, students your age have been raised to drink in moderation.  It’s not such a big deal to get into a bar without being carded.  So, if you’re studying abroad and you’re not 21, take your newfound legality as an opportunity to learn about how certain wines are made, or how hoppy you like your beer.  Try all of the “real” Sangria, Sake, Mojitos, Caipirhinas, and Ales that you can, but learn to appreciate a nice drink, rather than play the “how many beers can I pound in an hour” game.

Every year, there seems to be one film that captures the hearts and imaginations of the public, and this year everyone is talking about Slumdog Millionaire. Based on the true story of a young man from the poorest neighborhoods of Mumbai who wins the top prize in the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Slumdog has already won the Golden Globe for Best Picture and is up for the Academy Award in just over two weeks.  And crucial to the movie’s success is the romantic main character, Jamal Malik, played by newcomer Dev Patel.

Just who is this new Hollywood hunk, and is it okay that I wanted to eff him silly when I saw him shirtless in the movie’s first scenes?

Don’t worry, ladies, I’ve got the scoop. Dev was born in England in 1990 (he’s legal!) and had his first big break on the British comedy, Skins. On his Skins cast member blog, Dev thrills us with this titillating update, “Since we last spoke, I have become a sex machine who will bring to you a sensory experience that will blow your feminine mind and titillate your crazy hot body. I am now a sexual master who has complete knowledge of the three positions of love making.” If that’s not an invitation to eff, then you can take down all my Slumdog posters and burn them (actually, just in case, please don’t. I can’t fall asleep at night without a glance at Dev on my ceiling).

Slumdog director Danny Boyle cast Dev based on a suggestion from his daughter, who loved his work on Skins. Boyle said he chose Dev because he was tall and lanky and could really portray the everyman character needed to carry the film. It is precisely this youthful quality that would make Dev such a good eff.  He reminds me of my crushes of yesteryear, the sweet romantic boys who promised to sweep me off my feet and eff me gently for all time. His earnest smile and timeless love for Slumdog‘s heroine, Latika, makes me wish that I, too, could find a good-natured cutie of my own among the throngs of college bros.

Since the movie premiered,  Dev’s fame has skyrocketed. He’s spawned fan sites galore and has attended a dizzying number of awards shows. Though he himself won’t be receiving any Oscars for acting, Dev will be on the red carpet at the Academy Awards to support Slumdog for the 10 statues it stands to collect. Until the big night, I’ll be waiting for Dev, just like Jamal waited for Latika at the train station. And if his film does win the big prize on February 22, I’ll be all ready with my stellar pick-up line: is that an Oscar in your pocket, or are you just the cutest eff in Hollywood right now?

Well, ladies, if you have ever wondered what Prince Willy’s willy looks like…today is your lucky day.Pictures have surfaced of the future King of England with his junk out and about for the world to see. This is the peepee that will lead the future of England… the royal scepter, the monarch manhood, the regal wanker in Cockingham Palace!

But, seriously, WTF is he doing? and why is he holding his bangers and mash like a fag? (English word of the day: Fag is a cigarette, and he is seriously holding it like one.)

Maybe that’s how they do it in the UK…you know, like how they drive on the other side of the road?

I don’t know…but I never would have thought that I would see the future ruler of England takin’ a leak on a fence.

That is definitely not proper, Willy, your Grandmama would have a fit! Find a loo!!!

I thought it would be fun to have a change of scenery for a semester, but I had heard many a tale of study-abroad-gone-useless: “I never went to class, I just got drunk all the time”. “I only hung out with other Americans”. “We lived with other English speakers, so we never even bothered to work on our French”.

So I decided to skip the whole semester abroad experience and go all out–after graduation, I’d go to grad school in another country.

I applied to a few universities, one in Dublin, Ireland, two in London, and one south of London in the seaside town of Brighton. Because of rolling admissions, I heard back from the three UK schools almost immediately–accepted! Yes! Having never been to England, however, I wondered how I could possibly choose. So…I flew to London. For the weekend. In a jet lag-induced haze, I wandered the city, taking photos, visiting campuses. I took a train to Brighton and tried to imagine myself at school there. I made my choice. I bought a London guidebook.

On graduation day, I got another letter in the mail. It was from Ireland, and informed me that I had been accepted to the school in Dublin. My well-laid plans were suddenly de-railed–the masters program in Dublin was exactly what I wanted, and the school had a bit more prestige. At the advice of friends, professors, parents, strangers, whoever…I changed my mind.

I moved to Ireland in the Fall.

When I arrived at Dublin airport on a sunny day in late September, my entire life packed in two suitcases, it was the first time I had ever set foot in Ireland. I knew no one, and my program wasn’t supposed to begin for another few weeks. I was entirely alone…

[I'll be chronicling some of the best and worst experiences here, so stay tuned!]

But all that changed for me the summer of 2006. I was spending the summer abroad in England, and countless phone calls to my then boyfriend back in the states would go like this:

Me :”I miss you honey!”

Him: “Me too, Babe!”

Me: “So how are you!?”

“I’m gr–Oh babe, gotta go–the guys are about to watch LOST,”

“But-”

“I love you! I miss you! Bye!”

It wasn’t until I came back in September and he forced me to watch the first few episodes, that I completely understood why his priorities were so screwed up over the summer. Once you start watching LOST, there is ultimately no turning back. You will want to must find out what happens next. I think the best metaphor I can provide is that LOST is to me what heroin is to addicts. I can’t get through life without a fix.

And that’s why I’ll be re-capping episodes for you here on Collegecandy from now on. I’ll give you my opinion, you can give me yours. Who sucks (Jack and Locke, in my opinion)? Who’s hot? (Sayid + Desmond, naturally) Who are the remaining two members of the Oceanic six!? (Sun + Jin!)

Season Four has started off GREAT. They’re finally giving us what we want! Every episode has made sweet, sweet love to the viewer. They know what we want, and they’re just giving it to us nice and hard, even sticking around to cuddle afterwards.

New plot elements, and finally, FINALLY shedding some light on other issues (The smoke monster! Hello?!). I’m even digging the somewhat cheezy Gilligan’s Island element they’re throwing in. Sawyer + Hurley as roomates!? Awesome.

Episode Four re-cap to come!

What’s better than a southern punk rock sounding band comprised of tattooed boys who have some serious chips on their shoulders? A southern punk rock sounding band comprised of tattooed boys with serious chips on their shoulders who are FROM ENGLAND.

Most people call them Gallows, but after spending a couple months on Warped Tour alongside them this past summer; I call them The UK’s Answer To The Shitty American Hottopic-esque Bands Polluting The Minds Of Today’s Teens, instead.

They’re angry. But they’re honest. They don’t prepackage themselves with the sorta fashion you’d expect out of a festival like Warped Tour these days. In fact, Gallows pretty much don’t give a f*$k about anything.

The singer literally spits lyrics about a girl cleaning his cum off of her face. Now, hold your feminist horses….because believe me….I have a point. Maybe you don’t like the idea of this dude singing with lyrical content like this, but let me ask you:

If you were a singer who was angry and writing lyrics about an ex, can you swear to god that you would never ever arrogantly reference your sexual past with that person as a sort of bargaining power for an even more vengeful song? I certainly cannot.

It’s not like Gallows are womanizing or degrading…they just tell the truth. I LIKE the fact that the singer is so brutally honest. I LIKE that he’s not some eyeliner wearing emo boy trying to serenade his way into a girl’s pants. And…I know I might be crazy, but I like the way he simulates jerking off while singing the above lyrics at a show. It’s not proper. No freaking way. But if you are into punk music and have been asking yourself:

“What the hell happened to the scene? When did it become so lame?”

Then go listen to Gallows. Now.

http://www.myspace.com/gallows

Plus, you might as well admit it: British guys can get away with talking a lot more shit than American boys. It’s the accent. End of story.

• England is telling Nigella Lawson she’s fat. And she’s believing them!

• Now the guys in our lives can be comfortable while peeing…as if they don’t enjoy using the bathroom enough…

• The 10-year-old version of me just lost it over this game! We all need it!

• In: Having a cell phone to check in with family. Out: Payphones; Superman

• Not to scare all of you…but sushi can be high in calories so just make sure you aren’t ordering the double battered tempura roll dipped in more fried tempura and you’ll be ok.

• Cutest Story of the Day: Photojournalist saves a puppy from a hole! Awwww.

A 5-foot tall, 42-year-old mother of five from Sussex, England was recently arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 6-foot tall acquaintance.

Tanya Hutchinson claims that when she and her friend (who can’t be named for legal reasons…and the possibility that women all over the world might want to kill him) climbed into bed at 11 AM on a Thursday afternoon last June, the sex was completely consensual. The man she slept with claimed that Hutchinson dropped date-rape drugs into his wine and molested him.

After cops barged into her house and arrested her in front of her 7-year-old son, they took her back to the station and interrogated her for hours, asking mortifying questions about her sexual escapades with the man in question.

Hutchinson claimed that she had grown close to the man, an old business acquaintance of her husband’s, after her divorce, and a few dates into their relationship came to believe that even though the man was still married, he was separated from his wife.

“He told me that he thought ours would be a special, long-lasting relationship and he spoke of taking me on a trip to Portugal.” Hutchinson said, “I began to believe we had a future together.”

Which was why, when he appeared at her door at 11 AM on that June afternoon with two bottles of wine, she thought it was okay that it was “very clear he was there for sex.”

After the deed was done, the man “started talking about how much he loved his wife and how he would never leave her” Hutchinson explained. “His whole manner changed and he seemed very cold. He got dressed, walked into the kitchen and threw £60 on the table, saying, ‘Buy something for the kids.’ I was horrified that he seemed to be treating me like a prostitute.”

“In the heat of the moment” Hutchinson threatened to tell his wife about the affair.

That’s when the bastard ran to the police, claimed he had been raped, and threw Tanya’s life into a tailspin.

The worst part about the whole event?

A few days after being questioned for hours, having articles of her clothing taken in and tested, and looking like a criminal in front of her child, the police phoned and said that the man claiming rape had “admitted she was telling the truth.”

Crying rape when the accuser is sure it never happened is a despicable act no matter what gender a person is, but when a man falsely indicts a woman he becomes a special sort of vile—not to mention a complete and utter pansy-ass asshole.

Here’s hoping his wife dumped him.