Christmas in November?

So, I am getting really sick of the Christmas holiday getting longer and longer each year. In my personal opinion December 1 is the first day you should be allowed to play Christmas music and put up your tree.

However, even I seem to be failing at this. Christmas is just such a  great holiday. People are nicer, you get gifts, and it makes walking outside in the snow actually enjoyable. It is the only time I actually enjoy snow.

That being said, I really do think that this Christmas decorations in November habit has got to stop. PRetty soon we will be putting up lights and singing Christmas carols during Halloween!

Well, Its not summer anymore

The weather seems to have finally caught up with us. After an October full of sunny days in the upper 60's this past week has been a shock. This will be my third winter in Wisconsin, and Im originally from Illinois, so I know how to handle the cold. But, when I was informed that scientists predict this winter to be one of the worst, my stomach fell.

How can things possibly get worse then they were last year. We had a snow day for crying out loud. And for Wisconsin, it takes a lot for there there to be a snow-day. This is why I think that all classes should be temporarily moved to online when the temperature gets below 10 degrees. Walking six blocks every day in the freezing cold wind with ice rain pelting your face is just something that I am not a fan of.

And I'm sure that the teachers would love it as well. Stay home all day in you pj's with your laptop and your hot chocolate. Thats how life should be. As a matter a fact, That is exactly what I am going to do right now.

Illinois Drivers

Before I even start I am sure that some opinions have already been made on just the title alone. I will start by saying that I myself am an Illinois driver. I to get criticized for my "crazy" driving style. So don't worry Illinois driver, I'm on your side!

That being said, I think that I have been made soft by living and driving in Wisconsin for the past year. This was made apparent to me though my recent trip home to the suburbs of Chicago. It was a sudden shock to me that I had to go at least 80 on the tristate and that the use on turn signals was more of a suggestion then an actual law.

In Milwaukee and Wisconsin in general, people are much more understanding when it comes to driving. There is less road rage and honking. Although you can argue that this is replaced by more incidents of drunk driving, that is another issue. So, having lived and driven daily in this environment all summer I had become accustomed to actually obeying the speed limit and being a polite driver.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I am driving home and I almost get driven off the road by an inconsiderate "Illinois driver" doing 90 in a Toyota.

My idea is that we institute a law where every driver from the Chicago area have to drive in Wisconsin for a week. I think that overall it would greatly improve road conditions and reputations of Illinois drivers everywhere.

Elephants Living on Campus

I am sure that I am not alone is having this experience. Its really a college right of passage. Im referring to being awoken at 2 in the morning by the sound of what sounds to be drunken elephants. However, after being temporarily concerned that there was an escape at the Milwaukee Zoo, I realized that is was just the sounds of drunken undergrads falling up and down the stairs.

It really amazes me that so few people can make that much noise. I also dont understand why these select people think that their loud obnoxious screams don't travel to those neighbors who are trying to sleep. Yes, drunk undergrad, that window you are screaming next to has a sleeping person on the other side. Stop being rude.

Now, I understand what some of you are thinking. This is college and this kind of stuff happens in college. Yes, I agree with you. However, there still needs to be at aleast a little bit of common courtesy for those who actually have to work in the moring. Let me tell you, being up until 3 a.m. against your will and then having to go to work at 6:30 is not a fun experience.

My point this week is short. Just dont be rude. Thats it, pretty simple. Be aware of those apartments around you. By all means have fun, but have fun in your own sound bubble, and dont encroach on mine.

Sidewalk Etiquette

If you live in the city you walk everywhere. Thats just the way it is. So, as a result, sidewalk etiquette becomes very important. Lately I have noticed that some people in Milwaukee need a crash course in etiquette. So, i'm here to give it to them. Here are the top 10 rules for walking on a city sidewalk.

#1) Walk at a normal speed. Too many times I have tried to pass slow walkers on my way to class (see #10). Just because you don't have anywhere that you have to be does not mean that the rest of us are not in a hurry. I think that we should establish a slow lane just like on the highway for those people who wish to walk at a leisurely pace.

#2) Stay in the right lane. Think of the sidewalk as a rode for pedestrians. You would never drive in the left lane, so why would you walk on the left side on the sidewalk? It will only cause confusion and collisions. Don't do it.

#3) No bikes. Bikes are considered a vehicle. vehicles do not belong on sidewalks. Ride on the street with the rest of the vehicles, it is a simple as that.

#4) No smoking. There is nothing worse than walking to class on a particularly windy day in Milwaukee (which is most of the time), and having a giant cloud of smoke get blown into your face by the person in front of you. Smoking should be a stationary activity.

#5) Don't stop and talk. I know that you probably think that the conversation you are having in the middle of the sidewalk is really important, but most of us don't care. If you must stop and talk please step to the side so the rest of us can pass.

#6) Don't walk three people wide. This is not the Wizard of Oz. There is no reason why all three of you need to be walking side my side. It encroaches on the left lane traffic and prevents safe passing.

#7) Texting while walking leads to collisions. You know that we have all seen it. Someone is walking while texting and ends up walking into a poll or something. Its just not safe.

#8) no abrupt stopping. This is pretty obvious, unlike cars we have no taillights, so if you make an abrupt stop the person walking behind you will bump into you. There is just no avoiding it.

#9) Dont skateboard. See rule #3.

#10) allow passing. This is the most crucial rule. If you are doing any of the above offenses, you must always allow the option for someone to pass you. There is nothing more annoying then being stuck behind a pack of slow walking smokers who abruptly stop to have a conversation.

We Live in Wisconsin, Wear Some Pants

So, I'm Just going to start out by saying, sorry for offending anyone. These are just my opinions on the current fashion trend not on the character of anyone in particular. Ok so whats the deal with no one wearing any real pants!? We live in Wisconsin, one of the most coldest winters in the country. Yet more and more people are simply wearing leggings as pants! And don't even mention "jeggings" they are leggings not jeans!

My main issue with this is that I really do not want to be walking to class and then be visually assaulted by someones but in only leggings. I could understand it if I was at the gym, but i'm talking about walking on the street on the way to class. There is just no reason for it. They are not flattering! Many people wear them because they think they are slimming. Wrong! They show everything! There is only a small number of people who can pull them off and a lot of the time, they are not the ones wearing them. Just because they are tight, does not mean they make you look skinny.

Now I realize that I may be being a little harsh here, but someone has to say it. Here is my simple rule for how to wear leggings. If I can see your but your doing it wrong. I understand the trend of wearing a oversized shirt that covers your but and then wearing leggings. Thats completely fine! But its those that wear leggings only and leave all the jiggles out for the world to see that I have a problem with. Maybe Im crazy and the only one that thinks this but with the winter weather on the way, I really hope people start to cover their butts up before they freeze!

What if printers actually printed

The idea behind printwise is a good one. You swipe you ID and your print jobs are transferred electronically to that given printer. The problem comes when the actual printing process happens, or in most cases, does not happen. Whether its out of paper, or just doesn't feel like printing on that particular day, the odds of actually getting you paper printed is 50:50 on most days.

Let's start out by talking about the out of paper issue. We are all college student. So, you would think that we would know how to fill the paper in the paper drawer of a printer. However, the great minds at our university have decided that, while we can be expected to write term papers and complete massive midterm projects, filling the paper in the printer is one task that we cannot be trusted with. So instead, the paper drawer is locked behind a super annoying door making it impossible to be opened without a super special key. So, instead of solving our own problems, students are stuck without a paper to turn in. I think we all can agree that there is nothing worse then seeing that paper low icon on the printer. But what choice do we have? We just have to swipe and hope there is enough paper to print what we desperately need for class that day.

That beings me to my next point, deleting. My personal favorite printer issue is when that evil machine just simply deletes your print jobs for no apparent reason. There is nothing like walking three blocks to the printer, only to find out that nothing was transferred to your card and you now have to sprint back to get your computer before class starts. My questions is simple. Why!? I just don't understand why this happens and why is continues to happen. These printers are supposed to be providing a convenient service for us. Instead, it feel more like they are sabotaging us.