On the last post I discussed the importance of getting out and meeting new, non-virtual people. There are all types of suggestions on how to make friends, but experts say that one of the best ways to make a connection is simply by remembering people's names.

This seems easy enough, but we have all experienced those awkward moments where you just can't remember the name of someone that you have met several times. Usually, you end up bumping into this person while you are out with your friends and are faced with the situation of having to make introductions. There is no good way out of this predicament. Your only options are to:

a.) Admit that you don't remember his name (and look like you don't care).

b.) Say hello, but avoid introducing him to your friends (and look like a snob).

c.) Try to dodge the person entirely by pretending like you didn't see him (this rarely works, so you will likely just look like a jerk).

The only way to avoid such a lose-lose situation is to learn how to remember people's names. There are all kinds of legitimate ways to help you get better at this, but I have found a very simple mnemonic system that works for me.

All you have to do is to find something that stands out about the person and figure out a way that it relates to his/her name. For example, if you meet a lady named Bonnie and she has big hair, you could remember her name by saying to yourself, "Big Hair Bonnie." You can also turn their name into a phrase that says something about them. For instance, if you are trying to remember the last name Manchester and this Manchester person has notoriously bad breath, you could create the phrase, "Man, Chester needs a breath mint!" Pretty soon their names will come automatically and you won't have to use your little sayings. You can walk around with the confidence that you know the names of everyone from your pizza man to your probation officer (what, you don't have one?)

This isn't really a new idea, and if you've ever played the name game in school then you basically already know how to do it. Just keep it simple, because if it gets too complicated you won't be able to remember your mnemonic devices, although it seems to work for Michael Scott…

I sort of have a love/hate relationship with social networking sites. I use them and I check them regularly, but at the same time, I anxiously await their unfortunate demise so we can all get back to our regular lives. That's why when I heard about Google Plus I groaned inwardly and thought to myself, "Oh jeez … not another one." I pretty much thought that I was alone on this standpoint until I came across this video at College Humor. It totally sums up my feelings about Google Plus and social networking in general.

That said, compared to other sites, I kind of like Google Plus (although, I'm not sure if it is worth the effort of switching over or managing another account.) But, the cool part about it is that it divides your "friends" into categories or circles. No longer do you have to share the same information with your friends, co-workers, teachers, and parents. Instead, you get to decide which circle a particular comment is addressed to and it only goes to those people. Hey, sometimes we just don't want our different worlds colliding. Must I remind you of a certain SNL sketch?

video is right after commercial

So, how does this social networking discussion help you to survive college? The bottom line is: don't be a Facebook junkie. You know the signs…

You haven't physically seen any of your "friends" since coming to college.

The professor's lecture keeps distracting you from the comment stream.

You view your online course as a chance to add to your friend tally.

You arrive to class looking like you've been on a bender, but you were really up all night tending your farm.

College is one of the best times in your life for socializing, so tear yourself away from the computer and step out and meet some people outside of the virtual world. No one is fooled by your 600 online friends, and we'd all be much more impressed if you went out and made a handful of real buddies. You know, the type of friends that truly care about you. The ones that will help you move, or watch your dog, or loan you some money.

So, go out and make some memories and take some pictures (not for your Facebook page), and most of all, don't be that person who's seemingly online twenty four hours a day. We see your comments, and we all wonder why you don't get out more.

By now everybody is well into their fall semester of college, and the excitement of a fresh, new school year has subsided into a mundane routine. With the next major school break (Thanksgiving) over two months away, I thought that we could all use a little pick-me-up.  And what better way to boost your spirits than with a good laugh? I've compiled a list of ten of the funniest college-themed movies along with some of my favorite quotes (tried to keep them PG-13) from the films. These movies are definitely guilty pleasures, but hey, your brain deserves a break. So why not set up a movie night for your friends and enjoy a mental vacation?

Van Wilder (2002)

"Those circus midgets can NOT hold their booze!"

Slackers (2002)

"We have been getting screwed by the system. The system that forces us guys to like girls. All right? We're getting pushed into this. What if we just take the girls out of it? We can have our own system, it's a counter-system. And then, you do things together, you swim, you row, you... boat, you eat, you stink. We can just be guys! You can have sex, you can do it, you know, many guys at a time, but it's not gay."

PCU (1994)

"All right right, whaddya need? Bottle rockets, dental dams, Redi Wips, term papers?"

Back to School (1986)

"Please, try to understand. I don't have the background for this. I mean, the high school I went to, they asked a kid to prove the law of gravity, he threw the teacher out the window!"

Road Trip (2000)

"It's supposed to be a challenge, that's why they call it a shortcut. If it was easy it would just be the way."

Accepted (2006)

"Yeah, cool guys. Let's start this fake college, and then we'll go start a meth lab somewhere. Come on, it's a gateway crime. That's how these things start."

Orange County (2002)

"Shaun! I read your story. You used a lot of big words. Great! Good for you! It was a little long, so I didn't read the whole thing, but who cares 'cause I gave you an A!"

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

"Those nerds are a threat to our way of life."

Old School (2003)

"Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."

Animal House (1978)

"TOGA! TOGA!"

So, there you have it. This movie lineup should keep you entertained and laughing for weeks to come. You may as well enjoy these raunchy films while you can, because once you graduate and become a serious doctor or elementary school teacher it gets a little harder to admit that you actually still watch these movies (even though most everyone else secretly watches them too).

Skipping the First Day of Class

Naturally, I thought that it would be appropriate to start the blog at the beginning — the first day of class. Whether you are a freshman or an experienced senior, we've all endured enough first days of school to know that, for the most part, nothing really gets accomplished. Generally, the professor hands out the syllabus, talks for a bit, and then lets you leave early. Meanwhile, you are left trying to kill time between each class, which can make for a really long day. So, the question remains, if you feel comfortable reading the syllabus on your own, is it really necessary to attend the first day's classes, or can you extend your break a little longer?

The answer is — it depends. Some professors really take notice of who is missing and who bothered to show up. A good example is this instructor who considers first day attendance as one of the top ways that you can impress her. Don't assume that if you are absent the teacher will simply think that your schedule is not finalized, as most professors are already wise to this game.

That considered, if you blow off class the first day you are really taking a gamble on making a good first impression. This might not be a risk that you want to take if the course is in your field of study since you will likely see that professor again (remember, it's possible that you will have to ask this person for a reference one day). On the other hand, if it’s a large class, and if the course in not in your major, then it's likely that no one is going to notice you anyway. As long as do your work, and don't make a habit out of skipping, then you should suffer no ill-effects.

For those who only read the ending of any article, here's my final verdict:

Classes in your major = You should probably show up the first day.

Core Classes = Feel free to skip; you won't miss much.

If you want to have a good laugh get some extra insight into the first day of school, then check out some of these "first day" video diaries on YouTube.