What Happened Last Night?

''Carbo load every day and drink up every night,'' my friend advised me. Most people think that studying abroad entails inebriated nights only remembered through tagged photos on Facebook. And they could not be more right. With the drinking age only set at 18, it is hard to resist the temptation to buy booze and throw back beers at bars and clubs. After all, studying abroad is a semester of partying. But after a recently daunting event where a boy on the program drunkenly climbed over his balcony fence and fell four stories, my mindset is starting to shift.



Am I acting wreckless? I am nervous that my carefree Italian attitude, and love of alcohol, might get me into more trouble than a regrettable romantic decision. People clearly act stupidly when under the influence and always think that nothing bad will ever happen to them (me included). But when it does happen, the rules change. And I think the laws should too. While studying abroad, students can either further their alcoholism or start it. It wouldn't be terrible to take precautionary measures against students' alcohol conspumption. I don't mean that it should not be allowed, but perhaps there is a happy medium that could be reached without being overbearing. Am I wrong?

What Happened to Getting 'The Skinny?'

       I was at Wendy's when I first learned what a calorie was. My dad took me and a friend for celebratory burgers and fries after losing a soccer match (we were still winners at life). 

''I wonder how many calories are in this,'' said my friend, examining a limp fry. At first I was excited about what a calorie was, thinking it was a really cool term only related to potatoes. I was wrong. 

Now, consuming way more calories than I should (gelato is the culprit), there is a new term on the block: fat. Many people are unfortunately too familiar with it, but don't know what it looks like in its natural form. But if you ride the subway in New York, you're in luck! The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene just released new subway ads that feature human fat being poured out of a soda can. And yes, this is fat not fiction. 

Personally, I do not think it is a secret that processed foods and beverages that are high in sugar are causes of weight gain. Everyone knows. It is a personal choice whether you want to care or not. I don't need to be slammed with disgusting images on my way uptown (there are enough of those in subways already).  Is this campaign necessary or just annoying? Chew on it before spitting out a response... 

The Tech Age

Since I was young, new social media phenomenon have come and gone. Blogger has replaced Live Journal, Facebook has replacedMyspace, and virtual communities have replaced physical ones. Sounds crazy, right? But think about it. How often do you log into Facebook, Twitter, or AIM? Most would say every day. I don't think this is a bad thing, we are just keeping up with the times. We're living in the Jetson-age rather than the Stone Age. And with so much progressive technology that makes our hectic lives so simple and easy to maintain, that's definitely something to YabbaDabbaDoo about.

Normally, a groom will say ''I do,'' and kiss the bride. This newly-wed did things a little unconventionally, updating his facebook status in between steps. But sometimes I fear that being online takes precedence over being present...even at one's own wedding. If I was the other person standing on that alter I'd probably tell him to to re-update it to single. That should be a fun walk of shame down the aisle!

I'd like to say that there are only a select few that are bred with this kind of ''specialness'' (like the cast of Jersey Shore). But according toMark Zuckerberg, such social media stints won't be so unlikely in the future. Zuckerberg sees Facebook as a kind of technological take-over. Let's just hope he uses his powers for good and not evil...even though interviewing with Forbes makes that wish questionable. Feast your eyes on The Facebook Invasion.

I'm wondering if the coined joke is even funny anymore, or just true. Is nothing official unless it's Facebook official? Even our lives? Young tech-savy CEO say what?