The Wii uses a wireless controller that detects movement, not just button pushing. To this end, you can manipulate the controller as you would the device it is simulating. Swords, tennis rackets, and even skis are simulated as realistically as ever with the ingenious Wii controller. The Nintendo Wii is also unique in its use of the Internet. With your Wii you can connect to the Internet and game with others across the globe. Plus, you can even download your favorite video games from past systems. Play Wii Sports and feel like you’re actually bowling one minute, and enjoy your favorite old school Mario game the next! Enjoy gaming from all different aspects, and have fun with the Nintendo Wii.

Stock your fridge with water and fruit, instead of chips and soda. That way, you won’t be tempted to snack on unhealthy items while studying or hanging out. Plus, you’ll save money by avoiding expensive vending machines during late night study sessions. In the dining hall, beeline for the salad bar or the sandwich station, and rarely visit the french fry line. Don’t eat just because you’re stressed. If you’re studying for an exam, or having a bad day, take a break and go for a walk or hang out with friends. Late night eating is a surefire way to make unhealthy eating choices. It’s okay to indulge, but it is important to set limits for yourself. Don’t fall victim to the “Freshman 15” and make healthy choices while attending college.

Respect your roommate’s boundaries, and give them space when needed. If your roommate is clearly studying, don’t turn the volume up on the television. Instead, go to the gym, or quietly listen to music. Similarly, respect that your roommate may not be comfortable sharing everything, so never go through their stuff. If your roommate and you have a disagreement, communicate your differences openly, in a non-threatening way so as to avoid a large argument and possible resentment down the road. Simply put, be open and honest and respect boundaries to have a rewarding dorm experience.

It’s important to prioritize your assignments. Keep an assignment planner and write down when things are due. Online calendars are great tools that send you email reminders when upcoming assignments are due. Stay motivated by rewarding yourself. If you’ve had a great week, attended all your classes and handed your homework in on time, go out to dinner with some friends and celebrate your hard work. Allot yourself a certain amount of study time, and go to the library instead of your room to avoid tempting distractions. Defining work areas and living areas are a major key to staying motivated in college.  In general, define study times, stay organized, and take time to reward yourself to stay on track and have a great time in college.

First rule of success: go to class. Attendance is half the battle. Now that you’re not living at home, you are suddenly expected to be independent, and the thought of skipping one or two classes is very tempting. Go to class! Showing up for every class allows you to retain more of the material learned, and shows your professors that you are serious about doing well. Also, it is important to do all the reading that is assigned in college; there will be a lot of reading assigned. While you may not be quizzed on all the reading assigned at the collegiate level, it is important to maintain your understanding of the course material. Plus, if you’re familiar with the reading ahead of time you are more likely to include yourself in classroom discussions, both impressing your professors and enhancing your retention of the lessons. Providing yourself with a few simple boundaries, and sticking to them, is the key to being a successful college freshman.

1. Hand wash and dry over the tub or out the window on a good dry day. I’m a guy so I won’t tell you what most guys do when they are out of underwear. My secret was to never run out because I would just wash and dry in my dorm room if I couldn’t get to a laundry.
2. Keep nuts as snacks. Nuts are not only good for you but they fill you up quicker than most snacks and for longer. My mom keeps almonds in her purse all the time and I learned to keep them in my desk for those long hours of studying late at night.
3. Drink more water than alcohol. Though my mother is not a big drinker she somehow knew before I went to college that I would partake in a beer or two on occasion. After the first morning after, I remembered what she said about “more water than alcohol” and found it was a life saver for me. When my roommate saw how much better I functioned after a party he also started drinking more water and it really does make a difference.

I hope these few tips helps you as you pack up and get ready for college this year!

What I find fascinating is the fact that according to the decision, it does not give the right to criminals and has held up safety regulations that one has to meet prior to owning a gun. It has brought out the both pacifist and fighter and from my impromptu survey among family and friends, many see both sides of the argument and agree with both sides. Now that is truly a conflict!

On the one hand people believe in the right to bare arms; especially in communities that are rural and where there is a lot of hunting going on. On the other hand, those who live in urban communities are a bit more hesitant to think everyone should own a gun. Where people live in close quarters, tempers tend to flare more often. Combine this with drugs and or alcohol on a collage campus or happening party and a gun or guns may be a dangerous fuel to add to the fire. Whatever happens, we will all need to become more responsible with guns around.

What really scares me more is the fact that these 26% who haven’t a clue; vote. I have always been against a test of any kind in order to vote but after this I’m not so sure we shouldn’t have a basic rudimentary test in order to get your voter’s card. Just things like who we fought to gain our independence and maybe who was the very first president of the United States or list the three branches of your government. Not hard things but things everyone should aspire to know before they vote. No wonder we have such a mess in Washington DC and generally in government these days. Over a quarter of those who are potentially voting don’t care enough about our country to learn about its history. I can only hope they also don’t care enough to vote!

I took my mother to the Neurological Institute of San Antonio and was so relieved to find a wonderful staff of caring professionals who assured us both that MS was not a death sentence. We were able to meet several other patients who have had great results from their treatments and rehabilitation facilities on site. We also learned some tricks to stay cool in the summer as heat is very difficult to deal with when you have MS and Texas is hot in the summertime! Because MS normally attacks women under the age of 40 it has alleviated my fears in case I follow in my mom’s footsteps. The best news is my mother is doing well and is managing her care and her life proving you can have a good life with MS and other neurological diseases.

She made it a point to talk with as many people as possible about how they decided on their chosen careers so she could make a very informed decision. But it wasn’t until a friend of ours told her to “do what she loved” that everything came into focus. Most everyone she asked told her to “do what she was good at”. The problem with that was teaching seemed to be the only career that being good at math held but doing what she loved opened up other possibilities. She is now months away from completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design with flying colors and has used her math and graphic design skills throughout, which is also what she’s good at. I thank our friend every time I see her for her great advice.