Are you still feeling sorry for yourself because you didn’t get everything you wanted for Christmas? Probably, right? I mean, you specifically asked for a new iPad and your parents were all like “we just got you an iPad last year, we’re not getting you a new one!”

No? Well you’re in the minority. Because tons of real people spent Christmas Day tweeting out their (please, please be parody) complaints. And then some musical mastermind turned those real tweets into a song. Enjoy!

It got me thinking about what I would do if it happened to me. Could I go all day without being in touch with anyone? Probably not. And I know it’s not just me. Us college kids are bombarded with constant communication so we freak out when we don’t have access to it. Hopefully, there won’t be anymore outages, but just in case I’ve rounded up some ways for you to communicate sans phone:

1. Post-It Notes: You can always leave a post-it on your friend’s car or outside their class to meet you for lunch. Granted, someone else could see it and meet you there too, but you’re without a phone so that’s a risk you’ll have to take.

2. Snail Mail: While it’s not the most efficient form of communication, handwritten letters are pretty awesome. I think you should write letters to people on a regular basis. Think about how excited you are when you get something in the real mail! However, don’t do this if there is a dire issue.

3. Smoke Signals: This can be dangerous since it involves fire, so be careful. Typically smoke signals are used to communicate long distance. So if you’re in a long distance relationship or have friends far away, this is perfect for you! Just make a fire and use a wet blanket to place over it which will create smoke. You can make different kinds of smoke puffs and everything!

4. Morse Code: First you’ll need to learn how to do morse code, and then you’ll have to teach all of your friends. You’ll also need a way to transmit the message like an electrical telegraph system. Or a flashlight, but that’s for nighttime communication. You can even do morse code by tapping with a pen on your desk for in class messaging.

5. Carrier Pigeons: You’ll obviously need to find a pigeon and then train it to become a carrier pigeon. They typically fly one way so your friend would keep your pigeon at their house and vice versa. If you think about it, this is kind of like Twitter because there are birds involved. And they can carry about 2.5 oz, so small packages could be transported too!

Communication is awesome, and we definitely need it in today’s society. The Blackberry outage can teach us something, though. Maybe we don’t need to be sleeping with our phones, taking them to the bathroom with us, or having them in our hands at all times. An email can wait a little while for a response. Text messages don’t need a reply at that very second. You need relationships with people, not your phone.

All hail Parents Weekend! At some colleges, parents have already graced your dirty dorms with their angelic presence, while other schools celebrate this unofficial holiday in early and late October. Regardless of whether mom and dad have come and gone or have yet to come, we’ve got all the basics to keep floating well above the water during Parents Weekend!

When I was a freshman, I could not wait to see my parents. It was the first sight of normalcy I’d seen in weeks after living with my super crazy psycho roommate. Seriously guys, don’t screw this up!

First, there are a couple of simple rules to follow when hoping to master Parents Weekend. Since mom and dad are going to spoil you silly with gifts, homemade favorites, dinner at your restaurant of choice (we all know you’re picking the most expensive) and maybe even a mini-shopping spree to get you those must-have dorm and wardrobe necessities, we’ve got a detailed list of a few subtle ways to give back.

1. Do take your parents on a tour of your school. Whether or not it’s walking around your inner campus or actually going through the buildings and pointing out which class takes place where, it’s a no-brainer that parents love this. Show them the places where you grab lunch and/or snacks, what your fitness facility looks like, where you go to enjoy some down time with friends in between classes.

Don’t admit to them how many classes you’ve skipped to get belligerent, or how many times you “accidentally” slept through class, or which classes you already know are going to interfere with Tuesday 2-for-1s and Friday afternoon Happy Hour. While mom and dad might expect you to skip a few classes here and there, make sure you throw in the safety line, “the syllabus says that we can miss up to three classes before we lose any credit.”

2. Do clean up your room and throw out your trash before you parents get to your dorm room. If you’re a real pig, start preparing for parents on a Monday and hopefully by Friday you will be able to find the floor again. Go through your drawers and even if you’re not going to bother to fold your clothes, at least stuff them far enough into each drawer that you can’t tell it’s a war zone inside. Remember that vacuum your mom just had to get you? Here’s some advice: use it. Moms can tell. They can always tell.

Don’t hide your lucky stash of condoms under your pillow. If you’re a procrastinator and wait until Sunday morning at 10am to start going through your mess, you’d be better of shoving those baby protectors into a sock at the bottom of your closet. Here’s the problem with stuffing them under your pillow. Sometimes parents need to sit down and that seat might just be found on your bed. Another reason: if your mom is anything like mine, she will want to make your bed. It’s just a thing moms do. So while mom is busy fluffing and patting down your sheets the last thing she needs to find is a whole bin of Magnums.

3. Do make reservations at a nice, causal restaurant in whatever town or city your school resides. It’s nice to take your parents into the center of your community and show them the fun things they can do while they come to visit, as well as the fun ways you stay busy when you’re not overwhelmed by classes and homework. Choose a restaurant or pub that seems like it will fit your parents’ taste as well as their wallet. You’re not trying to break your parents’ bank on the first night!

Don’t take your parents to your school cafeteria. I always wanted to smack the kids that I saw doing that. While I totally understand living and working on a budget, there are other ways to provide your parents with a good meal that doesn’t involve sitting between animals scarfing down all-you-can-eat burritos. If you’re going on a budget, buy some sandwiches and take your parents on a picnic at a local park, or grab some appetizers to share at a small, inexpensive café downtown. Remember, you have no choice when it comes to eating college cafeteria food, and while you might find it tasty enough to keep down, your parents should not be subjected to that same kind of torture.

4. Do get tickets to a sporting event that is taking place during parents weekend. If there’s not a sporting event happening (like if you go to a school that has no major football or soccer team), research other opportunities for your parents to see all there is to see at your school. Maybe there is a play or a barbeque for your major. Keeping your parents enclosed in your dorm room all afternoon might not be the best idea. For example, I went to college at UVM. While we didn’t have a major sports team (my dad loves football so, no football, no-go!), there were tons of things to do in Burlington to keep them busy: hiking, apple picking, walking along the water, etc…

If you’re taking mom and dad to, say, a football game, don’t bring a water bottle full of your favorite liquor. I don’t know how your parents get down, but chances are it’s not like that. Also, don’t sit them in the same section as the rambunctious lunatics that shotgun a beer every time your team tackles someone. Wait until you’ve securely tucked your parents in for the evening at their hotel room and then go out and play as hard as you want. Be careful how hard you go though, the last thing you want is a buzzing iPhone flashing your mom’s number while your head is submerged in a communal bathroom stall.

5. Do introduce you parents to your roommates and their families and spend some time letting them get to know each other. It’s okay if you find your roommate’s dad’s voice about as stimulating as watching paint dry, just remind yourself that you need to give your parents ample time to figure that out, too. Your parents want to know what type of family your roomie comes from, what her morals and values look like, how she was raised, you know, all that stuff you don’t really care about at 11 in the morning.

Don’t tell everyone in the room who’s listening that embarrassing story where your best friend walked in on your dad using the bathroom, or that time when your mom pressed the gas instead of the break. Big no-nos! While it’s okay to share those stories with your roommates, your parents are going to be merely acquaintances and don’t need to know anything beyond the basics. Since being friendly and not friends is where your parents’ relationships may begin and end, don’t invite everyone to join you guys at dinner. Your parents drove all this way to visit you and spend time with you.

Last night after work, I signed onto my Macbook and saw the news. The innovator who created the computer I was typing on…had died. Steve Jobs changed the world, and we can all learn a few things from him. Whether you’re a freshman just starting college, or a senior on the verge of graduation, you could probably learn a little from Steve Jobs.

1. Trust your instinct

Jobs once said, “And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” If your instinct is telling you to be an art history major even though you don’t think you’ll make tons of money, go for it.

2. Take Risks

If Jobs and the rest of Apple never took risks, you probably wouldn’t be playing Angry Birds on your iPhone right now…or be able to FaceTime chat with your parents to tell them you need more money.

3. Be a Genius

Obviously Jobs was a genius. If he weren’t, we wouldn’t have all of these cool Apple products making our lives easier. So hit the books, and start learning. You may do something awesome.

4. Don’t take no for an answer

Another gem from Jobs was, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” So when someone tells you no, beat them up. Just kidding. You should just ignore them.

5. Change the World

Don’t settle. Jobs kept creating products that changed everyone’s lives. Keep trying and you could do something really cool.

So cool your jets, people. Let’s not go too crazy for this new phone. Here’s a few ways you probably shouldn’t react when the iPhone 5 is announced.

1. Don’t skip all of your mid-terms to go to New York City and camp out in front of the Apple store. It doesn’t look good to grad schools or potential employers if you say, “Yeah my grades are really bad, but I have a really cool phone.

2. Don’t destroy your iPhone 4. We don’t want to be premature. We don’t even know for sure if Apple is announcing an iPhone 5. If you destroy your old phone, and Apple ends up announcing the iSnuggie, you’ll be pretty upset.

3. Don’t end a 10-year friendship if your BFF gets the new iPhone before you do. You guys probably made a blood oath when you were younger to be friends forever. Blood oaths > iPhone.

4. Don’t buy every new app. It will probably end up costing more than the phone itself, and you’ll be stuck with some really stupid apps taking up tons of your cool, new gigabytes.

5. Don’t wear a black turtleneck during the week of the release. Steve Jobs isn’t even the CEO of Apple anymore, and you’ll look like a weird beat poet.

Now that being said any phone with talk and text would be sufficient, right?

Wrong-o.

Maybe that worked back in the 1900s, but now, in 2011, it just doesn’t cut it. I don’t know about you but I am tired of seeing “Sent from iPhone” or “Mobile Upload from Blackberry”… especially when I’m still using the original enV. No that was not a misspelling. It’s silver and the back is taped. Now some people may be embarrassed by that, but as a college student who has dropped a few phones in the toilet (don’t lie, you’ve all been there before) and left some in the back seat of a cab (i’ve gone through about 4 in six months…) having a nice phone is not a priority. But with an upgrade in two weeks it was time to get back out there and check out the cell phone market.

After visiting a Verizon store I’ve finally come to terms with how limited my options are: smartphone or cheap keyboard phone. Now when faced with a daunting two-year contract (longer than most of my relationships) I just can’t seem to buy another lame phone. Smartphone it is. First decision made. Check.

There are only two serious smart phones: Blackberry or iPhone. But which one?!?! Time for the showdown (point system style).

1. Both have internet, but the iPhone’s is faster. iPhone +1
2. Both take pictures, but the iPhone’s are clearer. iPhone +1
3. Blackberry’s have an exclusive group: BBM. Blackberry +1
4. Blackberry cellphones are cheaper to buy. Blackberry +1
5. I think Blackberry’s are cooler. Blackberry +1
6. iPhones have music and apps. iPhone +1

Total: Blackberry 3

          iPhone          3

It’s a tie! Than again, either way it’s $720 for two years with a data plan and tha’ts not to mention the plan and the phone itself. On second thought, I think I’ll just get that cheap, plastic keyboard phone. Ugh, what should I do??

Ever put your phone down only to realize it’s sitting with seven others of the same model all with identical cases? Or when you leave with a friend’s phone instead of yours because, oh wait, hers has the same hot pink case as yours? No, you totally didn’t mean to text her boyfriend about that hot guy you met in study group last night…oops! Finally you don’t have to risk making (sometimes lethal) phone mix-ups with Case-Mate!

Designed for true personalization, you can upload your own photo to create a Case-Mate custom phone case! Available for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3Gs, Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant, and iPod Touch 4, your family and friends can always be by your side with this unique accessory! Check them out on Facebook AND Twitter.

Drum roll, please. Here’s how you can win a custom Case-Mate of your own!

1. Tell us how you’d style up your custom case in the comments below for your chance to win.  That’s it.  Oh, and make sure to use your real e-mail address so we can contact you if you win.

2. Contest closes on July 28th at 11:59 pm

3. Please note this giveaway is only open to US and Canadian residents. For official rules and more legal mumbo-jumbo, click here.

I’m graduating in less than a month. And even though that means I have some pretty great things to look forward to it also means that I’m leaving behind a pretty good life and some pretty good friends. And that’s the reason I’ve been sporadically crying for weeks a little bit upsetting. So instead I’m going to try to look on the bright side. I’m graduating. There will be a celebration. There will be a party. And that means there will be gifts. (There are also a lot of other things to look forward to after graduation.)

And while most of these gifts won’t be nearly as great as the list I’ve compiled in my head (and rightly so), I still feel like sharing it with you ladies. Mostly because I just want to daydream about these awesome graduation presents, but also because maybe one of my relatives will find this article after winning the lottery and feel bad about getting me a crappy high school graduation present all those years ago and surprise me with one of them.

But anyway, back to the point. After day dreaming about my graduation celebration I’ve compiled a list of dream gifts. Not gifts I expect to get. Not gifts I think I should get, but gifts I wish I could get. And now I’m sharing them with you. Get ready to drool ladies.

1. MacBook Air
This one is actually pretty practical. For a long time now I’ve been a PC girl, or a Dell girl to be more precise. But after four years and more fried hard drives and/or motherboards than I care to admit, I think it’s time for a change. Now that I’m out of college I no longer have to worry about my papers being compatible with my teachers and I want to make the switch to a Mac, but not just any Mac, the MacBook Air. It’s tiny and portable, and so, so pretty.

2. A Trip to Greece
Ever since I read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants I’ve wanted to visit Greece. And every time I see it in a movie (Mamma Mia, My Life in Ruins, and lots of other chick flicks) my desire to visit the country only increases. There’s just something about it that appeals to me, ancient and beautiful, and full of gorgeous guys with great accents. A one way ticket is fine, thanks.

3. The iPhone 5
I’ve wanted the iPhone for a very long time. But not enough to give up my Verizon service plan. So I held off on entering the world of the smart phones for a while. Until last summer. When I finally caved and got the Blackberry. Just a few months before the iPhone came to Verizon. So now I have a 2-year Blackberry plan, and can’t upgrade without paying for the iPhone in all its full price glory. Something I will not do. I will, however, accept gifts.

4. A Shopping Spree
Come on, how could I pass up the opportunity to ask for a full-fledged shopping spree? I mean I’ll be a college graduate soon. So that means I need a college graduate’s wardrobe. Wish means I need to do lots and lots of shopping. For lots and lots of shoes business attire. It doesn’t have to be the whole mall, just Macy’s will be fine…please?

5. A Lifetime Supply of Starbucks
Just because I’m giving up all-nighters that doesn’t mean I’m giving up my caffeine fix. In fact, now that I’ll have to wake before the crack of dawn I’ll need my morning macchiato more than ever before. But trenta venti caramel macchiato’s don’t come cheap, especially on a post-grad budget. So if someone else could fit the bill I’d really appreciate it.

What about all the other seniors out there? What are your dream graduation gifts? Do any of these graduation gifts belong on your list?

[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 Jog.FM, Fellow Up and Swap.com) 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.]

Ok, I’m going to come right out and admit that this week’s post isn’t a website, despite the fact that this column is called “Web Spy.” But recently, I found out about an cool mobile app and I have to share it!

LiveProfile is an awesome messaging app for your smartphone. It’s faster and better than texting, because it shows you exactly when a message is delivered, read, and when a response is being typed. It also lets you share photos, videos,  add status updates, and update to Facebook or Twitter.

You’ll love LiveProfile if you’re already a fan of BBM, but what’s great about it is that it brings that same quick messaging to all the major smartphone platforms — Blackberry, iPhone and Android! What’s even cooler is that LiveProfile lets you connect with other LiveProfile users, no matter what type of phone they have!

Be still my iPhone addicted heart.

If that wasn’t already cool enough, LiveProfile is also 100% free! It uses your existing data plan or wi-fi to send and receive messages, doesn’t charge additional fees for international messages, and won’t cut into your texting plan — so it actually saves you money!

LiveProfile is gaining popularity pretty quickly — it recently added one million users in a matter of only five days (bringing the current total number of users to over two million)! But it’s so cool, that’s not much of a surprise, is it? I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone (with a smartphone, that is) is on LiveProfile soon.

Good deal, right? And there’s plenty more web where that came from. Check out the other sites that are on Laura’s web radar!

The following is a guest post by our (nerdy yet totally helpful) friends at Hack College. Check ‘em out for all your techy needs. They’re like the nerdy boyfriend you never had but always needed.

It’s a well established fact that iPhones and iPod Touches now outnumber male students on most college campuses. If you have one of these devices, be sure to keep these apps in your regular rotation to make college more pleasant. You’ll notice that most of these apps are pretty popular, and savvy iPhone users have probably heard of all of them. The reason for this is simple: most popular apps are popular because they’re good (or because they have pictures of women in their underwear, but I digress). Probably 90% of the apps in the store suck, including most of the ones supposedly geared towards college students. Presented here are some of the gems of the App Store, all of which I keep in my regular rotation, and have found indispensable throughout college.

All links open the iTunes App Store.

• Quickoffice – Our parents typed their papers on typewriters… typewriters! The very fact that we can write and edit out papers on a phone is remarkable enough, the fact that this app is actually good enough to write a few pages on is what gets it on this list. Stuck in a waiting room? Laptop broken and the computer lab is all the way across campus? Have a bad dream about that one awkward sentence (don’t laugh, it’s happened to me), and need to fix it on the go? This app can maximize your productivity, and is even—dare I say it—fun to use.
• Evernote – Yes, this blog talks about Evernote a lot, but it deserves another mention. Invaluable for recalling and backing up your professor’s hint about next week’s essay test, or that girl’s phone number you just overheard. Plus, it’s free.
• Flashlight – There are any number of these apps available, so there’s no excuse not to have one. Makes it much easier to navigate your dorm room at 2 AM without waking up your roommate. Maximize the brightness and hold it up at a concert to prove your phone’s superiority.
• Voice Memos – This is included with all iPhones and new iPod touches, so really you have no excuse. If you find yourself falling asleep in during your Medieval History of Prussia lecture, or simply enjoy day dreaming, just fire this up and record the lecture to listen to later. It’s like TiVo for class.
• Shopping List Lite – Your ability to get to the store in college is limited, particularly if you don’t have a car. Running low on contact solution, ramen, or Red Bull? Keep a running list so you’ll be sure not to forget anything. It’s free too, so you’ll actually have grocery money to spend.
• SnapTell – Everyone wants to get the best price on their physics textbooks and Glee DVD’s. Just snap a picture of the cover of any book, CD, or DVD, and instantly get a list of prices and distributors.
• eTextbooks for iPhone – Electronic textbooks are still a nascent market, but if you can find even half of your books on CourseSmart, you’ll be saving a lot of money and trees. This free app means you’ll never be without your textbook, and your bathroom breaks will never be more productive.
• Doodle Jump – Perfect for boring classes in large lecture halls. Can be used simultaneously with Voice Memos if you’re worried about missing something.
• Urbanspoon – Nobody wants to eat every meal at the dining hall, and finding cheap delicious food outside of a half-mile radius from campus can make you very popular. Combine with a car and you’ll be an unstoppable social force come dinner-time.