On a typical weekend, if you’re at a bad party, you can call it a night, call Safe-rides, and make it back to your dorm in one piece. Then again, if you’re at a good party, you can live it up, sleep until noon the next day, and then relax your hangover away until it’s time to get back to the daily grind.

On Spring Break, however, once you get off the plane at your final destination, you’re in it for the long haul. Though you anticipate your vacay being the highlight of the semester, it can be grueling to go all day, every day, and, being far from home, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Nothing is suckier than getting sick in a foreign place, fighting with your tripmates, or getting into a sticky situation in an unfamiliar place. Make sure you make it back to school in one piece this spring, by taking a few simple precautions.

1. Do your research.

Get some maps, or travel guides with tips, before you leave. Ask people you trust if they can recommend a good hotel. Try to brush up on the local rules or laws of the place you’re headed. The last thing you want to do is get lost, check into a lodging that is reminiscent of hostel, or get in trouble for something you didn’t even think was wrong.

2. Pack wisely.

Flip flops might be a necessity, but what about when you take a day trip that requires walking around all day to take in the sights? Pack a comfortable pair of shoes just in case that long night of clubbing wore out your feet. And even if you think you’re going somewhere tropical and plan to be in a bathing suit all day, it can’t hurt to throw a sweater in your suitcase for when the temperature drops after dark. Read More »

Miss South Carolina definitely didn’t do herself any favors when it came to answering a simple question about maps and education, but unfortunately, she’s not the only idiot in our midst.

Recently, TMZ took a break from reporting on Britney and Paris to showcase the some of the brainpower walking around San Diego State University. Christian author and activist (and fundamentalist-devil-conspiracy person) Mark Dice gave his “the devil is the REAL terrorist!” rhetoric a rest and tried to interview students at SDSU about the year 9/11 happened.

Maybe these students knew who the possibly insane Dice (“formally known” as John Conner) was and didn’t trust him, or maybe they truly were as stupid as they come across on his video.

Either way, I think this proves our educational system needs more than just geography lessons.