Living in the dorms is one of the most essential college experiences. Years from now, you’ll tell your friends and family of all your adventures and mishaps. You’ll never forget those obnoxious fire-drills at 3 am, the industrial blue carpeting, how hard it was for you to climb up into your bed…whilst drunk.

Most of all, when you look back you’ll remember the people you spent these times with, and all the friends you made. But when it comes to dorm buddies, there are the good friends (they don’t steal your shampoo and they grasp the concept of hygiene) and then there are your dorm BFF’s…

The Aspiring DJ: As annoying as his incessant Facebook messaging may be, the DJ is a good dorm friend to have. Not only does he have vast knowledge of the hottest clubs in town, he knows the cheapest best nights to go. His iTunes shared library is effing awesome and he’s always happy to demo his spinning skillz at whatever event you’re hosting (AKA whatever themed pre-party you’re having in your room, he’s happy to bring an equally festive mastermix). Not only is he the life of the party with his hilarious and entertaining personality, but he has a special place in his heart for nightly AYCD party buses. He wants as many of his friends at all his gigs as possible, so you’re always on the V.I.P. list when he MC’s at da club. Read More »

Ever since the great iPhone purchase of 2008 (and, more recently, the great music-obliterating hard drive crash of 2009) I have become completely obsessed with podcasts. It doesn’t help that the iTunes store is one of the more addictive things in this world, and shows you all sorts of great podcasts you might like based on what you have already subscribed to.

You can find a podcast for anything! Want to learn Spanish? Try Coffee Break Spanish! Dig indie music? IndieFeed!  Can’t get enough of LOST? The Lost Podcast is for you!  There are more topics than I could ever name in one short article, but trust me: if you’re interested in it, it’s out there.

There are several factors that make me predisposed to podcast lovin’. I enjoy walking absurdly long distances. I live in a city where long public transportation rides are de rigeur, and some days my poor shoulder just cannot bear the weight of another book. Even were these not true, I would probably still be on the bandwagon. Podcasts are fun, they’re informative, and best of all: they’re free! Yeah baby – I said free!

A rundown on my favorites: Read More »

It’s that time of year.  You know what I mean: the time when the little devil on your shoulder convinces you i’s totally okay to drive around with the windows down jamming  to your favorite iTunes playlists instead of attending lecture to listen to your prof blab on Peanuts-style about the Industrial Revolution.  Yes, it’s springtime!  We are in the home stretch, my friends.

So, in the spirit of doing things you know you shouldn’t do but probably will anyway, this week’s playlist theme is Guilty Pleasures.  You know what they are.  Guilty pleasures are those songs you really shouldn’t admit you like in a crowd and should probably only be listened to when you’re in the shower, or in your car alone…far, far away from campus and anyone you may know.

But since everyone likes cheesy songs when they’re drunk, I thought it’d be a perfect pregame playlist.

Just don’t tell anybody I made it for you.

Check it out here.

You don’t have to have a Valentine to celebrate on February 14th. The holiday is all about love, be that the love for a family member, a friend, or chocolate lava cake. It is a day to stop, think, and really honor the things and people in our life that we love. Yes, it is mostly celebrated by disgustingly cute and happy and perfect couples, but the rest of us can get a little love too.

This week, in honor of the day of lovin’, we asked our writers what they are just loooovin’ right now.  Me? I’m head over heels for Chelsea Handler, Thai carry-out and 2 Buck Chuck.

Sigh.

Gemma – NYU: I am love love loving on all the awesome tights from American Apparel!! I am SO sick of bundling up all the time, and with them I get to wear my dresses in the cold, and I can’t get enough!  Also, still lovin on Obama. And not necessarily in that order.

Coco: I love the warm weather streak in the middle of winter.

K – GWU: I hate global warming, but I love wearing flip flops in the North East in February…and having a reason to get a pedicure prematurely.

Lauren – University of Michigan: Fiber 1 Toaster Pastries. They are like healthy Pop-Tarts!

Ashley Elizabeth – CU Boulder: Kissing in the rain. Read More »

You know how we’re all poor college kids, yet we have so many “needs” that continue to rack up our credit card bills?  One of the best ways to start saving money is to simply re-evaluate your budget.  I know people who use budgeting software and balance their checkbooks religiously, but I am not one of those people.

First of all, it’s nearly impossible for me to predict how much income I’ll rake in in a given week.  Second, there’s no way I can simply skip my monthly Metrocard (or other necessity) because I miscalculated.  So I charge it.  And then I charge five energy drinks because the grocer only accepts credit for purchases of $10 or more.  But the reality is, if I quit energy drinks (over $2 a pop), I would save hundreds of dollars a year.  What are you wasting your money on?

1.  The Bar

In New York City, you’re going to pay at least $10 for a Long Island Iced Tea.  For $10, you can buy a jug of Carlo Rossi or an 18-pack of Natty Ice, and you can nix the tip.  Even at cheap college bars, you’re bound to pay a cover charge to enjoy Nickel Nite, and even though you’re basically drinking for free, you have to tip on every round.  Instead of having a big bar night this week, have a liquor potluck, and invite all of your friends to come over with that random bottle that’s been collecting dust for months.  You’ll get drunk without spending a dime, and won’t have to wait 20 minutes for an overwhelmed bartender to take your order.

Read More »

So, Super Bowl 43 will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and will feature a battle between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yawn.

It sounds like this year, people will be tuning in moreso for the hysterical commercials and the halftime entertainment, rather than the actual football. So far, it has been announced that Jennifer Hudson will sing the National Anthem (meh), Faith Hill will perform a pregame show (over it), and Bruce Springsteen has snagged the highly coveted spot as the halftime performer. I’ve got nothing against the Boss, but if you’re going to get people to tune in to watch the Cardinals, you’re going to have to offer them some excitement at some point during the game.

Where’s Janet? Bring in some gratuitous nipple shots if you really want to please the public.

That said, I would like to petition the National Football League to consider taking me on as their halftime party planner. Here are some sample line-ups that I would suggest to really keep the party that is 2009 going strong. Read More »

2008 was a fabulous year in music. Which means it will also be a fabulous Christmas (or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivous) for you if you know what to ask for. Here are the top 5 CDs I hope to find under my tree on Christmas morning…or, since it is 2008, the CDs I’ll buy with my iTunes gift card that’s in my Christmas stocking. Read More »

There comes a time in every college student’s academic career (usually at any point when said student lives off campus) when a decision of the utmost importance must be made: To go to the library, or not to go to the library?

You will agonizingly weigh pros against cons: “I’ll focus so much more out of my comfort zone”/”But what if that guy who sings along with his iPod sits next to me?”, “I’ll have access to all of the books I might need”/ “But WHERE am I going to park?”, “I’ll escape my roommate’s detailed story about last night’s hookup.”/ “But I might have to listen to the same story if I sit next to an obnoxious group of girls.”

You might make the decision, ultimately, to pack your belongings for the day or evening and reluctantly trudge to that haven of Starbucks, guilty Facebooking and stress ridden speed-reading. Or you might opt to keep your PJ clothed butt right where. it. is — sometimes the best decision. When you need to get studying done, but don’t have time or patience to commute to your campus library, just remember these helpful hints and you’ll be on your way to an A++ (oh yeah, they give those. To SPECIAL PEOPLE). Read More »

I love Kanye West. Yes, even when he gets all cocky and “I’m the greatest in the mother effing world!” I also happen to be ob-sessed with his new song, Love Lockdown. I downloaded it on iTunes 2 weeks ago and already have 189 plays (I have a problem).

Yesterday, Kanye went on the Ellen Degeneres show to debut his video for the song (what ever happened to MTV, people?) and it is…weird. Like, really weird. Like, I think I need to be one some sort of mushroom/trippy drug to understand what is going on, weird.

Not that it makes the song any less awesome. Watch and judge for yourself.

Hello CC readers!

It’s that time of the week where new music and new DVD releases hit the shelves of your local Best Buy and Target! In the mist of all this financial mess, don’t be afraid to treat yourself to a new movie or CD (or just download them from iTunes).

There are quite of few new DVD releases coming out today, but only the hilarious Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the action packed Iron Man matter.

The new music releases are a different story, depending on what kind of music you like. The list of new albums is as follows:

T.I. – Paper Trail

Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God

Anberlin – New Surrender

Bayside – Shudder

Flecktones – Jingle All the Way

Ben Folds – Way To Normal

Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger

Polysics – We Ate The Machine

Porter Batiste Stoltz – MOODOO

Pete Seeger – At 89

T-Pain – Thr33 Ringz

Connie Talbot – Over the Rainbow

James Taylor – Covers 

Well, there you have it, all the new music and DVD you can handle for the week! Let me know if there is any indie music/movies being released that’s not on the list…

What DVD or CD are you going to purchases this week?