The vagina. It has more nicknames than just about any other body part, and when you say it out loud there are some people who will still look at you like you’re insane. I once had a health teacher who made the entire class yell “penis” and “vagina” to break the ice before we started our sex ed unit. Say it with me everybody, vagina!

In the spirit of that teacher, I’ve put together some crazy facts about the vagina. We already brought you ten facts this summer, so here are ten MORE things you probably didn’t know about your special lady parts. Read More »

Since it’s that time of year, the time for choosing colleges (and for some, leaving college) Jezebel has decided to depart some wisdom on all the high school senior hopefuls out here, asking them to really think about what they want out of there college experience, about why they’re choosing the schools they’re choosing, and the effects those choices will have on their college careers.

Well, their great advice has inspired me to give a little advice of my own. Less about choosing a college, and more about the things you should remember once you get there, about how to bridge that gap between college and the real world, and how to make the most of your opportunities while you still have them.

I mean it’s not all boys, beer, and parties (even though those are important too), so here are a few things I wish I knew when I was a mere freshman.

1. You’ll change your major at least once. Everyone always told me this, but I would just shake my head at them and laugh. Not me, I knew what I wanted to major in. I loved to read and to write. I was going to be an English major. But even I eventually had a moment of doubt. The entire second semester of my freshman year into the summer before my sophomore I was convinced I would be changing my major to information systems. That seemed like a far more practical choice with better options for post-grad jobs. Granted I eventually realized I was not made to be an information systems major and found my way back to English (and later, Philosophy) but I was so concerned with trying to pick a major that I didn’t even realize that… Read More »

As the holiday season is upon us and most of us bookworms have time to indulge in something non-school related, I decided to give into a guilty pleasure that has been collecting dust for the better part of a year. You don’t have to read this exact book, but I encourage you to delve into something non-fiction that is NOT what you’re studying in school! A well-rounded education means learning things outside of the classroom and sometimes on your own, people!

“Nicholas and Alexandra” is a whopping non-fiction history book, totaling 640 pages (including appendices, so it’s a bit shorter!). If you aren’t interested in history, Nicholas was the last Tsar of Russia. Okay, hopefully that triggered something in your subconscious. You’re thinking of Anastasia? The princess who is rumored to have survived the tragedy? Or perhaps Rasputin, the mystic who essentially dissolved the monarchy? And if this is all sounding Greek, let me back up a bit.

Long story short, Nicholas was the last Tsar and a Romanov. The Romanov’s ruled Russia for around 300 years when Nicholas took the throne. He was married to Alexandra, a princess of Hesse and Rhine. They had 5 children: daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, and then finally, a son, Alexis. Because of the Pauline Laws imposed in Russia, only a male could be heir to the throne. This made Alexis essentially the prized possession of not only his family, but all of Russia. If Nicholas and Alexandra had not produced a son, Russia could have fallen into the hands of many greedy countries who believed they had a rightful claim.

However, there was one problem: Alexis was a hemophiliac, meaning that his blood didn’t clot properly, along with a slew of other symptoms.

Nowadays, hemophilia isn’t as life-threatening as it was back in the beginning of the 20th century. Every time Alexis so much as tripped, it could mean death. Empress Alexandra was constantly worried about Alexis, but on one particular occasion that worry was somewhat settled. Alexis had an accident and was basically on the brink of death when Alexandra’s friend, Anna, suggested that she call in a man named Gregory Rasputin. Eventually, Rasputin had such an effect on Alexis that Alexandra believed him to be the only thing keeping her son alive. She truly believed him to be a direct conduit to God.

And that is the beginning of the end for the Romanovs. Read More »

Since you ladies loved our history of the bra so much, our friends from OnlineDating.org went ahead and made a visual representation of the history of the thong. You know, so,  you could have a complete two-piece set. Or at least finally know who to blame for inventing this torture system.

Pay attention – you might be tested on this one day.

Read More »

I’ve always tried to be a good American. I’ve lived each and every day by the words of the good book: the Declaration of Independence. It guides the deeds I do, the words I write, the kicks I wear.

But every Fourth of July, I get stuck. I got parties to plan! Barbecues, decorations, fine beers, crap beers, fireworks, big cars, big cars full of beer. So much to think about! What do I do? The Declaration never mentioned how we should celebrate its own damn self.

But this year, things are different. Because this year, I found something really special. That’s right: The Declaration of Independence, Part Two. Read it and weep, beleaguered patriot partiers, and may tiny American flags spring up where your tears touch the soil. Read More »

You goin’ out tonight? Gonna hit the town and celebrate that final final? You gonna get so drunk that the only thing on your mind at the end of the night is gooey, cheesy and totally bad for you?

Me too!

But before you a make poor decision that involves you and the delivery places you clearly have on speed dial, read on. There are some snacks out there that are just not worth eating, no matter how many Vodka Red Bulls you’ve downed in honor of the end of History 240. Things you will regret more in the morning than last weekend’s romp with the History 240 T.A. Assuming all that fat and grease doesn’t prevent you from making it to the morning… Read More »

For all of you Dan Brown fans just chomping at the bit waiting for “The Solomon Key” (word on the street is you’ll be waiting for eternity), I have a book to satisfy your appetites for a while! “The Reincarnationist” is an adventure novel with a slightly paranormal twist; several of the characters have been reincarnated and are remembering their past lives!

This novel is a quick, easy read, but has a great story. Rose is an accomplished author and is exceptional at description, making you feel as though you are in the story. The beautiful settings of modern and ancient Rome and New York City are so vivid and vibrant, I had no problem envisioning the adventure taking place right before my own eyes. The emotions of the story run high as well and I found myself wrapped up in the story, cheering for the good guys and cringing when the bad guys got ahead.

The historical aspect of the book was also a real treat. Rose did her research about ancient Rome and seamlessly intertwined interesting history into her novel. Even though I am history buff and former history major, I found that I learned some about the Pagan religions of the ancients, and especially enjoyed reading about the Vestal Virgins. Read More »

[We all get bogged down with the required reading lists handed to us by our over-zealous professors. When we aren’t laying in bed with a textbook and 3 highlighters, we are resting our eyes (and brains) with a little TV. No one wants to read any more than they have to.

Not so fast, girls. I am here to show you some books that are totes worth reading when the 347 pages of History/English/Psych reading are finished. Books that will make you laugh, cry, and change the way you think. Good books (which I know is hard to believe when you think of the stuff assigned for class). Stick with me and you will spend a lot less time watching Real World reruns, and a lot more time enjoying books again.]

A lot of books aimed at women are chock full of shopping, sex and other things that are stereotypically “feminine.” Not this book. The Red Tent is the most female-empowering piece of writing I have ever found.

If you’re familiar with the Bible or the Broadway musical, you know the story of Joseph and his technicolor dreamcoat. This is the story of Joseph’s sister Dinah, who is only mentioned ONCE in the whole Bible! But even if you’re not religious and have no interest in religious history, this book is still worth your time.

Diamant creates a rich and vivid backstory for Dinah and also reveals the female-worshipping ways of the Old Testament. The history itself is fascinating, and even with the barren backdrop of the desert, this book never gets boring. The writing is perfection, too! Diamant is an accomplished author and has a great hold on the English language. She takes advantage of beautiful metaphors to enhance the story and enthrall the reader. Read More »

Women are making strides, actually not strides, leaps and bounds. It would seem that since women won the right to vote in 1920 there wouldn’t be anything left for us to conquer. I mean, that was almost 90 years ago. By now, women should have done everything and have a presence everywhere.

Read More »

If this isn’t the most outrageous story  I’ve heard in a while, I don’t know what is.

Apparently, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper’s great-great-grandfather Cornelius Vanderbuilt was the slave owner of Michelle Obama’s great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson. And what’s more, Anderson’s kin has personally invited Obama to visit her ancestor’s grave at the Georgetown, SC plantation named Friendfield. Not surprisingly, Michelle Obama has yet to respond to the invite.

I’m  going to assume that supporting the final days of her husband’s campaign for President of the United States is taking precedence.

We thought we’d seen it all earlier this election season when news of Bristol (daughter of Sarah) Palin’s teenage pregnancy made headlines. But now we’re talking about celebrities/politicians and slavery. Will the press never end?

Of course not.

UPDATE: The source, Mollygood.com (via the New York Daily News), has updated the story to note that Cornelius Vanderbilt came into ownership of Friendfield after Jim Robinson was enslaved there. To clarify, the Vanderbilts never actually owned Robinson as a slave. My apologies for any confusion.