We know. Voting takes soooo much effort. And really, who has the time these days? Between sharing your favorite CollegeCandy articles on Facebook (this is what you do in your free time, right?) and figuring out how to turn last year’s sexy devil costume into this year’s sexy tomato costume, you’re pretty busy.

We get it. We’re busy too. You know, figuring out how to fit as many statements in parenthesis as possible into a short blog post. (It’s very time consuming.)

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A lot is happening in the world right now. Egypt said no more to their President, and since then, other countries such as Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Iran, Kuwait, Algeria, and Dijbouti have actively started seeking change from their governments. Tons of stuff is happening back in the United States too. There are the Wisconsin protests rising up against the newly elected governor’s budget, the House voting to ban federal funding to Planned Parenthood, possible threats to cut funding for programs like Americorps, and of course, we’re still in a terrible economic recession.

As college students and young women, we should be aware of what’s going on around us. For example, the federal funding to Planned Parenthood could hurt women across the country and prevent us from having affordable birth control options (such as the Pill and IUDs) and annual health screenings. Sometimes sitting around doesn’t seem good enough, but people often say “I’d get involved, but I don’t know how.” Consider this your friendly college guide to activism so you can get involved:

Utilize Facebook and other social media platforms: The world of social media is meant to be an extension of your personality, so why not use it to share what you believe in? Passionate about animal rights — don’t be afraid to ‘Like’ PETA or post a video about puppy mills. Are you upset that funding was cut in your home state for education? Post an article about it on your blog — use it to start a dialogue. Tweet about what’s on your mind. Send out Facebook event invites for club meetings about campus fundraising or for the Gay/Straight alliance you just joined.

Register to vote: This is straightforward and simple. By registering to vote, even if elections are right around the corner, you are taking a proactive step to say, “Hey, I want to voice my opinion.” You can register to vote here.

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Where else but America could we devote our lives to whatever career we want, eat whatever we want (and as much as we want), while subjecting ourselves to whatever guilty pleasures we want — and spoof the government that makes it all possible at the same time?

Compared with the rest of the world, Americans tend to live privileged lives. You know the spiel: it’s all possible thanks to the incredibly brave people who serve in the armed forces. But how often do we really stop and give them that thanks?

Well, it’s time. So today, Veterans Day, here are a few ways we ladies can show our appreciation for those who’ve helped preserve our uniquely American way of life.

Say Thank-You, Literally
College girls are gutsy. Put some of your verve to good use. Approach a family member, or – even better – a complete stranger on the street (veterans often sport their pride with commemorative T-shirts and ball caps, especially around the holiday). All you have to say is something like, “Thank you for your service,” or “I’m glad you’re alive.” This tiny exchange may seem awkward to you, but you will touch a veteran’s heart beyond belief with your consideration. Veterans often go years without hearing these simple words of gratitude.

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Tomorrow Americans nationwide will be heading to the polls to cast their vote for the 2010 Midterm Election. Many recently graduated high school seniors are finally old enough to exercise their right to have a voice in deciding the future of their state representatives and will be voting for the first time.

Before pulling that mechanical lever or pressing that computerized button — and if your not voting via an absentee ballot — check out this beginner’s guide entering the booth.

What to Bring

A government issued form of identification. Your state license or passport will be adequate.

Where to Go

You are registered to vote in a specified area within your county. Check out your registration status online (Seriously, just Google “[state name] voter registration status” and you’ll find a bevy of links). After entering your information, there will be a list citing your voting status, which should be active. Also, there will be an area that lets you know which county you are registered to vote within. Find a polling booth in your specified county.

What to Expect

When you get to the polling station, know there will be a line. Depending on the races, it could be short or could be very long. Allot a minimum time period of an hour to vote. But, do be aware that it could take even longer.

Also, do not wear any sort of candidate paraphernalia. Trust me, it’s illegal and could get you kicked out of that long line you just waited in.

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With Election Day a mere 2 weeks away, the fight for control of the House or Senate has transformed from a casual brawl into an animated Ultimate Fighting match. Considering even the professionals are unsure what the future of this election holds, the candidates have resorted to duking it out in hopes of resolving this uncertainty themselves. But, instead of throwing on their boxing gloves and heading to the ring, they are taking a route that keeps their hospital bills from skyrocketing: the media.

Political ads around election time are famous for their often-nasty messages, intending to take down the opposition. Interest groups act as a sidekick, informally backing certain candidates by criticizing their opponent. With all the smack-talk, it can be really difficult to decipher fact from fiction.

Amid this chaotic media mess, there are several sources that are not only reliable but also non-partisan. They provide voters with the facts, avoiding the echoes of emotion and party allegiance.

Here are a few must-read sites for any college student planning to vote this election– hopefully, that’s all of you!

Project Vote Smart
Votesmart.org provides candidates’ voting records, their political stance on all issues, and their approval ratings by interest groups. Seriously, there is no better site to inform you about your state’s candidates, leaving out the mess of opinion and sticking to the cold hard facts.

FactCheck.org
This site sifts through the truths and lies of campaign ads. It allows readers to be informed of false advertising and not fall for the tricks of media campaigning. Read More »

I’m probably not the only one, but this week practically landed me in the hospital.  Diagnosis: Heartbreak.  Courteney Cox and David Arquette.  Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman.  Perez Hilton and vicious gossip.  Who didn’t break up!?

While I’m sitting here in Splitsville mending my heart with candy corn and Halloween M&Ms, let’s take a look at some less-depressing recent hot topics.

-It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and one CC reader wants you to know the disease isn’t restricted to older women.  Check yo self, ladies.

-We told you how to score Blake Lively’s look for less.  Because shopping always makes us feel better! Especially when that shopping puts money back in our pockets.

-With Halloween only a couple weeks away, we wondered if our favorite holiday breeds sexism.  Those sexy kitten, nurse, and maid outfits sure are revealing, after all…

-We found that some bitches are crazy, even outside the TV.  Do you know how to spot a real-life Gossip Girl?

-If you’re out of college with a slightly out of focus post-grad path, you’re not alone.  Stop hyperventilating, start embracing. Read More »

November 2nd is quickly coming. Yep, the Midterm Election — when you get to vote for your favorite Senator, Congressman/Congresswoman, or Governor for your state — is almost here! Although there’s a ton of hype about the election in the news, it often flies over the heads of many college students (and, dare I say, females). Unless you have CNN, the NY Times, or The Huffington Post as your browser home page, chances are you’re wildly in the dark concerning the election issues.

Luckily, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the biggies.

But, none of these issues really matter unless you actually choose to exercise your vote. So, here are 5 reasons to get out (or online to fill out an absentee ballot) and vote!

It’s Your Right
As a liberal democracy, America allows each citizen to have an equal voice in society. Certainly, some are a bit louder than others. But, that voice is represented in the form of a check mark on a ballot: the vote. This right, which can seem insignificant in our contemporary (and cynical) society, is so important that it has caused social wars for those without it. Now, considering every American citizen receives the possibility to exercise this awesome right on their 18^th birthday, everyone is on a level playing field. When you vote, you’re not only relishing the freedom of America, but the freedom of governmental liberalism.

You Want a Job
Tired of hearing adults at so-and-so’s graduation party console you with the now-classic “Well, in this economy, it’s just so tough to get a job”? Applying for exorbitant numbers of jobs, complaining, and moping around your room will not get them to pipe down. But a package that stimulates the economy by creating jobs, which is a point of partisan contention in this election, will shut them up. And, such a plan will help your future. It’s a win-win. However, no one can win if you don’t get out and vote.

You Get a Sticker
And who doesn’t love stickers?

The Issues Matter
These issues can’t just be ignored. They may seem trivial to your life at the moment, but they will greatly affect your life in several years. Most legislation does not take affect immediately. So, your vote now will decide your taxes, health care, (and even) salary, etc., in 5-10 years. It may seem like a hassle to fill out an absentee form, but it’s 100% worth it in the long run.

Apathy is Not Awesome
In Obama’s recent interview with Rolling Stone, he urges citizens to “shake off this lethargy” and vote. Obviously, his personal purpose with this statement is to target Democrats since there is a very high chance that the party will lose their majority vote in Congress after this election. But, Obama’s message should resonate with many students our age — no matter your party. We’re educated, we have a decent amount of free time, and all these decisions will decide our future in America. Yet, many of us will remain on our couch November 2, 2010, watching Dexter OnDemand instead of helping mold our country. Not. Cool. So, get out and vote. Especially in this election, when your vote will be extremely important in determining which party will have control of Congress, and therefore what kinds of legislation will be passed in the next two years.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, I have one message for the CollegeCandy readers. Exercise your right and VOTE! Yes, it’s a total cliché, but it’s one that can help change our country and our futures.

In about a month, the U.S. midterm elections will take place nationwide. With 37 Senate, 435 House, and 37 Governor spots up for grabs, the American citizens (yep… you!) will be in charge of determining who will fill those seats.

“But, I’m in college!” you exclaim. “How am I supposed to vote when I’m not even at home?”

Luckily, the whole process is pretty simple. Yes, you will be required to fill out a form, tongue that strip of sticky nastiness on an envelope, and pop that bad boy in the mail. But, that’s about it. Here you can find all the information you need to obtain and send in an absentee ballot.

There are many reasons why the midterms as a whole are important. Also, many races are important. But, it’s not an election without the issues. What do Americans want? What do the varying states want?

This year, the three principal issues of the election will be the economy, the deficit, and healthcare. They’re all extraordinarily complex subjects, so it’s important to objectively understand what’s going on with each topic before heading to the booth. Read More »

Do you need a new computer?

We put out a call to CollegeCandy readers last week to submit their P.O.S. computer sob stories (with photos, of course!) to win a brand new laptop bundle from HP. And boy were there a lot of them. Seriously, we had no idea so many of you were still using desktops! WTF?!

We spent the weekend sifting through the entries (and drinking) looking for the worst of the worst and narrowed it down to five really crap-tastic computing experiences.

Which one is the crappiest? You tell us. Vote below for the person most deserving of the coveted HP Laptop Bundle. And tell your friends to vote too! One of these 5 people needs a new computer stat and you could be the person to help them get it.

Doing good has never been so easy.

We’ll announce the winner tomorrow morning, Tuesday September 1st!
Vote now, vote often.
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As 2008 draws to a close, those of us here at College Candy strive to provide you with a recap of the year in pop culture, poring over countless magazines and endless E! programs to get the full scoop of the year’s worst. In no particular order, we present to you our list of Pop Culture shiz that should forever stay in 2008.

The Pregnant Man – Thomas Beattie became the sensation of the world in April when he appeared on Oprah to defend his choice to have a child as a transgendered man. Sticking up for your beliefs? Awesome, and definitely commendable. Eventually turning into a fame slut and marketing out your second pregnancy? Not cool. Now pregnant with his second child, Beattie has already cemented a book deal on his experience and been interviewed a second time as a ‘Barbara Walters Exclusive.’ One child is a miracle. A second one immediately afterwards is a marketing scheme.

Batsh** Insane Celebrities Across The Media - Britney, Lindsey, and others: we’re talking to you. 2008 was the year of the mental millionaire, with the world playing a captive audience to the tragic, bizarre, and sometimes just eerie behavior of celebrities. We watched Britney Spears struggle to put her life back together after divorce, Lindsey Lohan battling various addictions, and Scarlett Johansson crossing the borderline into stalker-ish about Barack Obama. Here’s the real scoop: an estimated 57.7 million adults are suffering from a diagnosable mental illness in the United States alone. What makes these celebrities any different from these people who are suffering in private besides their income and the paparazzi that shadow them? Watching people suffer is definitely a trend that shouldn’t cross over into ’09. Read More »