1. Thumbs Up

   Want to piss off a former Soviet? In most of the Western world, the thumbs up is an informal way to signal a positive response. or indicates something positive. But, watch out. In Russia, Latin America, Greece, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, the thumbs up is basically the equivalent of the middle finger. Word to the wise: learn how to say "thank you" and "good job" in the language of whatever country you're planning to visit.

2. Moutza

   Your palms are open toward your listener and you make an "L" shape with your thumbs. Be your fingers together or extended, this is called the moutza. In parts of Western Europe, Pakistan, and Africa, this seemingly benign gesture is an ancient insult, and one of the most crass hand signals possible. Not only dismissive, but also implying that your target should eat excrement and/or suggesting that you have some creative ideas on ways to bed your listener's sister, the moutza is a particularly rude insult to dish out. Be mindful of your hand position when gesticulating wildly, especially at parties, and especially in Greece, from where the moutza originates.

3. Two-Finger Tap

   Heading to the Pyramids? Be mindful of the two-finger tap. When tapping your two index fingers together, make sure that your target is someone super sexy. In Egypt, this gesture indicates the desire to have sex. No one's saying there's a darn thing wrong with illicit, 'round-the-world nooky, just make sure that you don't flash this sign unless you're willing to actually, um, tap that.

4. Come Hither

   You want to beckon your conversation partner closer, perhaps intending to be sexually suggestive. You make what you believe to be an international hand sign for "come closer" – stretching your index finger toward your new friend then curling it toward you. Sounds like the start of a bad romance novel. In the Philippines, however, this gesture is so nasty that it warrants arrest. In most countries it's considered somewhat obscene. When traveling abroad, you'd probably be better off using a simple wave.

5. Sake Circle

   Here's one that won't get you arrested, killed, or even beaten up. If you're traveling in Japan, the best way to ask someone to accompany you for a drink is to pantomime a traditional sake cup. First make a fist, then extend your thumb and index finger out to create a small circle, and you'll be hobnobbing in a rice wine haze in no time flat.

6. The Corna

   Listen up, sports fans! The corna, meaning horns, has both positive and negative connotations worldwide. When disagreeing with a football (soccer) referee during the World Cup, flashing the corna – the American sign for "heavy metal," made commonly popular by Rodney James Dio and the University of Texas – suggests that the ref's wife is unfaithful. In Hindu and Buddhist culture, however, an identical gesture is called the Karana Mudra, and symbolizes the exorcism of demons.

7. Flipping the Bird

   This one you should already know. Perhaps the only truly universal hand gesture, in certain parts of the Middle East, feel free to accomplish your same non-verbal communique with the upwards thrust of the index finger. Here's hoping that you, dear traveler, are a more worldly person than some, and elect not to use this gesture in favor of international civility.

8. V for…Victory?

   More like V for Vendetta! An Anglo-Saxon hand sign deriving from the Middle Ages, Winston Churchill and, later, Richard Nixon appropriated the index and middle-fingered gesture as a symbol for victory in their respective popular cultures. It may look like a backwards peace sign, but on the streets and sports arenas of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, expect neither peace nor victory as a response to this gesture. When traveling the world, avoid ordering two drinks with this sign for "shove it," instead opting again for a wave and a smile.

9. Sticking Out Your Tongue

   Not exactly a hand gesture, but included in this list because no one wants you getting arrested in Italy. In late 2009, an appeals court in Italy ruled that sticking your tongue out at a person with whom you are arguing is so insulting that it ought to be, and indeed now is, illegal. But hold out hope, ye traveling tonguers! And maybe book a ticket to Tibet instead. For Tibetans, this gesture is considered a friendly greeting. Make sure to indicate your understanding of such, or diffuse an argument in Italy, by accompanying this gesture with a cheeky smile.

10. Chin Flick

    You'd think that a reasonable facsimile of the American Sign Language gesture for "thank you" wouldn't resemble so closely a common European symbol for "f— you," but you'd be wrong. Other than a smile, there really is no universal signal for "thank you." Skip the sign language savvy when traveling abroad, as you may offend someone. Or an entire street gang of someones. This doesn't end well for you. Always be as polite as possible, and attempt to learn a few basic niceties in your destination language, per favore.

1. Jack and Jill

   After taking on some more serious roles in movies like Funny People and Punch-Drunk Love, Adam Sandler went back to his old ways and proved once again why we shouldn't expect too much from him. In his newest movie, Jack and Jill, Sandler plays a cynical man and his annoying twin sister. The male Sandler character, who uses the normal annoying Sandler voice, is supposed to learn something about family while the female Sandler, with a higher-pitched annoying Sandler voice, gets frisky with Al Pacino. Critics and audiences have agreed that this movie is a flop, especially since one Sandler is almost too much to handle in a movie.

2. White Chicks

   Basically any movie where people have to wear prosthetic faces to change gender and races is a bad idea. Add the Wayan brothers to the mix, and it's one of the worst movies ever made. White Chicks follows two FBI agents who are tasked with protecting a pair of rich sisters. Of course, something goes wrong and they think the best option is to pretend to be the girls themselves. They become the strangest-looking white girls you'll ever see, and somehow everyone in the girls' lives is oblivious to the fact that the girls are taller, uglier, and talk differently than before. The film scored a painful 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

3. Diary of a Mad Black Woman

   Even though there are plenty of sassy old ladies out there to play the part of Madea in this and many other Tyler Perry productions, Perry apparently thought it best to take on the role himself. That was a mistake. The movie without Madea is a soul-touching drama about a woman whose husband cheats on her and forces her to move out and the anger she deals with as a result. Madea is straight out of a Saturday Night Live sketch, except not as funny. Perry's character (well, one of them) destroys the movie, making it unbalanced and hard to watch.

4. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

   This movie may be worth watching just to see Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes in drag, but the actual storyline leaves something to be desired. We're again left wondering how movie producers expect us to believe that a whole town would be fooled into thinking these drag queens are women. Sure, Swayze's not the worst woman we've ever seen, but it wouldn't take long to figure out he's actually a man in a dress. Three drag queens from New York take a road trip to L.A., but get stopped in a small town where they teach the people there lessons about life. Though it could've been a powerful message about small-town views on transvestites, it's just silly, with makeovers for all and a strawberry festival.

5. Sorority Boys

   You would think that Hollywood would eventually begin to catch on to the fact that the guys-dressed-as-girls gimmick is only funny for the length of a trailer (if that), but they just keep churning out the full-length drag flicks. Sorority Boys aimed for the lowest common denominator of humor, with a fraternity called KOK and sorority named DOG, and played on the ever-popular college theme. Three guys are kicked out of their fraternity after being wrongly accused of a crime, and to clear their names, they have to dress like girls and live in the DOG sorority house. The movie is exactly what you would expect, with a couple of romantic subplots made awkward by the gender confusion and plenty of dumb jokes about genitalia.

6. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

   Maybe the producers were worried that the Klumps, the family of the main character of The Nutty Professor, wouldn't look enough alike to be a believable family. The obvious solution was to have Eddie Murphy play all of the characters, including the women. In appearance, Murphy makes a decent female, but as soon as he opens his mouth, it's obvious there are multiple Murphys in most scenes. In fact, he plays eight of the characters, including a skinny Murphy who makes out with the granny version of himself. If that doesn't speak volumes about the quality of this film, nothing will. The nutty professor creates a youth formula, separates his jerk DNA from his normal nice-guy DNA, and problems follow. The jokes are basic, the plot is ridiculous, and you'll never want to see Murphy again in your life.

7. Ladybugs

   Luckily for everyone involved, Rodney Dangerfield does not spend the whole movie dressed in drag. Unluckily, though, Dangerfield is still the star of this terrible soccer comedy. His character takes on the task of coaching a girls soccer team in order to receive a promotion at his job, a stupid idea since he knows nothing about the sport and the team members know even less. Dangerfield dresses a boy up like a girl so that their team can win, because everyone knows boys are better at everything. Dangerfield does dabble in drag, though, when he pretends to be the boy/girl's mother, and as you'd imagine, he is not a pretty lady.

8. Big Mommas

   Like Father, Like Son: This is the third movie in the Big Momma franchise, and it's amazing this film was even created. Martin Lawrence stars in this film, using the tired gag he used in the two previous movies — dressing like a fat lady. This time he involves his character's son, as well, dressing him like a woman and enrolling him in an all-girls school so they can solve a crime or something ridiculous. Though we hope to never meet them, there is obviously an audience somewhere that believes that a bulky man would fit in at a school full of tiny-framed girls and that a man would be attracted to Lawrence in a fat suit.

9. Glen or Glenda

   Often hailed as one of the worst films ever produced, Glen or Glenda has gained a cult following for being so terrible. It follows a man named Glen, played by director and writer Ed Wood, who himself is said to have enjoyed wearing women's clothing. Glen longs to wear women's clothing, and eventually finds acceptance from his wife, who gives him her beautiful angora sweater. Most of the film is just strange, and it's obvious it was filmed on a tight budget. Even though Wood wanted to make a serious movie about cross-dressing and sex change operations, he ended up leaving audiences more confused than his main character.

10. Hairspray

    The latest movie based on the musical, Hairspray, is supposed to be a little bit corny (one of the characters' names is Corny, after all), but the camp value would be enough without the added oddity of John Travolta dressed as a big-boned woman. It's a far cry from his Grease and Saturday Night Fever days, that's for sure. The role has always been played by men in drag, on Broadway and on the big screen, but it does nothing for this movie with a message. Afterward, you'll probably be tapping your feet to the music and believing that big girls are beautiful, but you won't be able to get the image of John Travolta and Christopher Walken out of your head.

Medical Assistants

The medical profession has come to realize that shifting some of the administrative and daily organizational tasks to lower skilled workers can save time and labor workload for the premium medically trained positions such as nurses and doctors. Medical assistants are expected to be in much higher demand as the next decade progresses. Their job description includes such tasks as handling billing and insurance paperwork, scheduling meetings and appointments for medical professionals, managing medical records and taking phone calls.

Physician Assistants

A physician assistant position requires require a certain amount of formal training and the passing of a national licensing exam. These positions are going to be in greater demand for the upcoming decade because of many physicians’ needs for supplemental care support. Services that physician assistants offer include many forms of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative treatments.

Dental Assistants

Dental assistants are expected to experience a large increase in job demand over the next decade. They are hired for similar reasons as medical and physician assistants are with respect to doctors and nurses. Through the training they receive, dental assistants are able to provide many of the same services that a professional dentist can perform. This frees up the dentist for some of the more major tasks and saves the dental practice on labor costs through increased efficiency.

Home Health Assistants and Aides

Individuals who take care of patients at their homes constitute home health aides. The baby boom generation is now taking care of their elderly parents who are currently living longer than ever before. The younger generation unlike previous generations is willing to hire other people to care for their parents. This profession is currently one of the fastest growing medical careers and is expected to keep increasing over the next decade.

Surgical Technician

The job of surgical technician or technologist is an excellent way to enter the arena of the health industry with a relatively short period of training. It is an in-demand profession for the next decade because of the increasing need for efficient operation in the surgery room. Many community colleges offer two year programs to educate and train for the position of surgical technician. The job involves keeping the surgical environment clean and sterile and organized for doctors and nurses conducting surgical procedures. An excellent knowledge of the various medical instruments and equipment involved in surgery is also a requirement. Surgical technicians attend closely to both surgeons and other medical staff during many types of surgical procedures.

This article was written by Sierra Miller from JobDescriptions.net. Visit her site for more information on health careers, including the medical assistant job description.

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There are a ton of folks online giving their two cents regarding legal topics, but how many are actually offering some good info? If you’re not sure then take a look at this list of legal blogs that grab readers’ attention based on knowledge, humor or a little of both.

Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement and the Courtroom

Whether you’re interested in criminal justice, the world of law enforcement or what’s going on in the courtroom, these blogs will have a little (or a lot) of what you’re looking for.

1. Cop in the Hood – Interesting blog that looks at being a cop from the perspective of a sociologist turned policeman in a tough Baltimore neighborhood.

2. Crime & Consequences – This blog takes a look at the criminal justice process and the legal consequences that come from breaking the law.

3. Defending People – Blog about the art and science of being a criminal defense trial lawyer. For lawyers but open to everyone.

4. Kramm Court Reporting Blog – Good place to visit if you’re interested in the process of courtroom reporting. Maintained by court reporting agency in San Diego.

5. New York Court Reporters Blog – Professional development tips and additional information on court reporting jobs.

6. Psychology and Crime News – If you’re interested in what it takes to become a forensic scientist (or improve as one) this is the blog for you.

7. Say What?! – Nothing like a little comedy to lighten up the legal process. If you like humor, you’ll love this funny blog that offers insight from U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer.

8. SCOTUSblog – This blog is great for those who are interested in knowing everything that’s going on with the U.S. Supreme Court.

9. Sentencing Law and Policy – Take time to explore how the sentencing process works and also take advantage of other aspects of related policy.

10. Simple Justice – Explore the ins and outs of New York criminal defense.

11. TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime – If you want to delve into the politics of crime on a global scale, this is the blog for you.

Insight from Law Professionals

If you’re looking for insight from law professors, practicing lawyers or other experts who cover a variety of topics from a professional standpoint, these legal blogs are for you.

12. Concurring Opinions – Professors who contribute to this blog include some from George Washington University Law School and Seton Hall and their contributions are considered “general interest” covering a wide variety of legal topics.

13. Law Culture – Professors from Harvard, Princeton and Georgetown are just a few of the contributors to this blog that offers a wide range of legal stories ranging from popular culture to racism in the presidential campaign.

14. Lessig – Stanford Law School professor, Lawrence Lessig, offers his insight into various aspects of law, but mainly keeps a focus on the political state of technology and copyright issues in relation to the law.

15. Prawfsblawg – This blog consists of posts from seven professors representing seven different law schools. Their topics include civil procedure, the judicial process, law and politics, legal theory and more.

16. The Becker-Posner Blog – Experts Gary Becker and Richard Posner have come together to provide their expertise on a variety of topics, including unemployment, executive compensation and the airline industry.

17. The Volokh Conspiracy – Eugene Volokh, a popular UCLA professor, and other big names in the legal world offer this popular blog for folks looking for updated legal news.

Law School, Being a Law Student and Becoming a Lawyer

Whether you’re a law student, looking to get your first job as a lawyer or are a member of the faculty at a law school, these blogs will definitely keep your attention.

18. Center for Internet and Society – If you’re looking to round up Stanford Law blogs, this is the place to find them.

19. Harvard Law New Student Blog – This blog dedicated to potential and new students of Harvard Law School. However, it offers interesting reads for other HLS students and students of all law schools.

20. JD2B Blog – This blog is a part of JD2B.com, an online social network for law students. It hits on a variety of topics that probably hit home with most students pursuing their law degree.

21. LawSchoolBlogger.com – Looking for a distraction for your heavy law school workload? This law student can help make your day flow a little easier.

22. Law Student Blogs – Find some great posts from your favorite law student bloggers at this great site.

23. Lawyerist – The Lawyerist focuses on what it takes to become a lawyer as well as what is going on in the world of legal careers.

24. Legal Careers – This About.com blog is a great place for individuals who are looking to become lawyers and want to know more about the world of law.

25. Ms. JD – Calling all ladies! This blog is perfect for women who want career tips on becoming lawyers.

26. Wish I Would Have Known – Nothing like having an advice blog to tell you what you shouldn’t do before you do it. If you’re a current or soon-to-be law student, this blog is a must read.

27. Yale Law Library – Reference Blog – This blog, though coming from Yale professors and primarily directed toward Yale students, is a great legal reference for all law students.

Legal Theory

Here are some blogs dedicated to keeping up with the latest trends and ideas in the world of law.

28. Empirical Legal Studies – Looking for empirical methodologies and legal theory? If you want this as well as some news from legal empiricists, this is a great blog to explore.

29. Legal Ethics Forum – Find hard-hitting societal issues as they pertain to ethics and law.

30. Legal Theory Blog – Lawrence B. Solum, professor of law and philosophy at the University of Illinois, maintains the blog on legal theory topics and more.

31. Mirror of Justice – This blog tackles legal theory from a Catholic point of view.

32. Overlawyered – Often described as the oldest law blog in existence, it explores the theories behind litigation and the American legal system.

Miscellaneous/Catchall Blogs

Looking for a ton of blogs in one place, or don’t know what you’re looking for at all? These blogs are for you.

33. Above the Law – It’s always great to have a distraction to your difficult legal day, something this “legal tabloid” is happy to offer.

34. American Constitution Society – If you’re into promoting the vitality of the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental values it expresses, this blog is for you.

35. beSpacific – Find law and technology news updated daily.

36. Blawg Dictionary – Enjoy this comprehensive directory of law blogs provided by the American Bar Association.

37. Blawg.com – This blog is popular for its interactive blog map that helps you find up-to-date postings from around the web.

38. Inter Alia – Explore every topic imaginable by visiting this blog. It is what some would consider the epitome of informative legal weblogs.

39. Law21 – If you’re looking for a blog that analyzes trends in the legal world, this is the right one for you.

40. Law Professor Blog – Find a blog from your favorite professor by using the search option on this helpful blogroll.

41. myHq blawgs – Looking for a complete list of legal blogs? Taking advantage of this giant blogroll organized by category is a great idea.

42. Wall Street Journal Blog – If you love WSJ then you’ll enjoy its law blog, which focuses on cases and trends in the legal world.

Paralegal Topics

If you work as a paralegal, or are interested in becoming a paralegal, these blogs are for you.

43. New York Paralegal Blog – Find the latest news on being a paralegal, as well as tips on ways to improve your career.

44. Practical Paralegalism – Learn the ins and outs of having a paralegal career.

Specific Law Topics

These blogs focus on specific types of law, many of which are written by law professors or professionals in the field.

45. Bankruptcy Law Network – Bankruptcy lawyers and consumer advocates offering bankruptcy news and information daily.

46. Election Law Blog – Election law (voter’s rights, redistricting and campaign finance) is the main focus of this blog that is maintained by Rick Hasen of Loyola Law School.

47. Info/Law – This blog looks at the latest information relating to ISP privacy issues, public domains and more. It’s maintained by three professors who met at Harvard and now teach at separate law schools.

48. TheCorporateCounsel.net Blog – If you’re looking for a blog that delves into the world of corporate law, this is the right place for you.

49. The Pop Tort – Civil law is the main focus of this blog; however, you may also find discussions on civil rights, corporate law and lobbying.

50. The Sports Law Professor – This blog, maintained by Willamette University law professor Jeffery Standen, talks about all-things sports law and covers timely topics in sports law news.

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Managing personal finances has been a difficult concept for many who have been negatively affected by the Great Recession. If you find yourself in this position, you may benefit from the helpful advice and financial tips you could receive from the following popular personal finance blogs.

Business Blogs

The following blogs are great reads for people who are looking to manage finances within the business realm.

1. All Business – This blog focuses on providing financial advice to the person looking to get their small business going.

2. Digerati Life – Check out the latest tips for entrepreneurs, small business owners and individuals on stock investments, budgeting and more from Silicon Valley.

For Women from Women

Are you a woman who is proudly managing her personal finances in this tough recession? Well, join the ranks of these women who are making money management work to their advantage.

3. Budgeting Babe – If you’ve ever had Carrie Bradshaw ambitions, but not her budget, this blog will connect you all the glam you can muster with a not-so-glamorous budget.

4. City Girl’s Financial Blog – Ambitions of financial freedom may just become a reality if you follow this city girl through her personal finance plans that span 30 years.

5. Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge – Now that she’s growing older and getting more serious about financial success, the blogger for this site hopes to take us all on the journey with her.

Dollar Saving and Freebies

If you’re in a penny-pinching kind of mood or are looking for some great freebies, these blogs could help you meet your goals.

6. Binary Dollar – Have you been looking for a personal finance for dummies type blog? Well you’ve reached the right place.

7. Cents to Save – This blogger takes time to share her journey toward improving her financial knowledge. You never know, you may learn something on her journey too.

8. Frugal Freebies – Get your hands on a ton of great freebies from the U.S., Canada and other countries around the world.

9. Hey, It’s Free – There’s nothing better than getting your hands on a ton of information for freebies like movie rentals and magazines.

10. My Two Dollars – Learn about saving every dollar from this married male blogger who delves into being frugal and making financial sacrifices.

11. QueerCents – Fantastic dollar-saving advice from a group of gay and lesbian bloggers.

General Financial Advice

Some blogs are dedicated to all-things finance. Here are some that incorporate personal finance with other aspects of saving or growing money.

12. Cash Money Life – How to get your personal finances and career on track to build money the way you’d prefer.

13. Finance News Today – Take advantage of the great financial tips and updated financial news offered by this blog.

14. Hill’s Personal Finance – This blog encompasses pretty much everything you want to know about finances, including investing, mortgages, estates, financial planning and interest-bearing bank accounts.

15. My Financial Journey – Explore this blog that documents a software developer’s goal of building a $100,000 investment portfolio by the age of 30.

16. Steadfast Finances – Financial information including current events, consumer education, ways to improve your bottom line and more.

17. The Financial Journey – Learn about saving, spending, investing, bargain hunting and more from the 20-something computer analyst who pens this blog.

18. The Financial Ladder – A married couple gets together to discuss the details of their financial progress while also offering tips on taxes and how poverty mindedness cannot equal wealth.

Getting Rich

Becoming a millionaire may not be on your agenda now, but with the help of these blogs, you may be able to improve your bottom line or even get rich.

19. 1st Million at 33 – Learn how this blogger was able to make $1 million by 33-years-old by saving, investing and more. Also, take advantage of great financial tips to manage in this tough economy.

20. 2 Million – If you want to make money, you should set your goals high. This is the idea behind this blog that offers advice on how to make the $2 million mark.

21. Enough Wealth – This blogger lost half a million in the stock market in less than 12 months. Learn how not to repeat this mistake and instead make good decisions toward becoming wealthy.

22. To One Million and Beyond – Follow the journey with this blogger as he takes steps toward getting $1 million by his 35th birthday. Also, enjoy other great financial tips on how to grow money.

Managing Money, Debt, Credit and More

If you want to make sure you do a good job managing your money, or haven’t done a great job and want to make some improvements, take time to explore these blogs.

23. Blogging Away Debt – This blog is all about earning enough revenue to pay off debt. If only we were all so clever.

24. Credit Cave – If you’re looking for solid tips on how to dig your way out of debt, this is a great blog for you.

25. Debt Hater – This medical journalist has managed to get out of debt, now it’s time to help others do the same.

26. Debt Kid – There’s nothing like a person hitting rock bottom to help others avoid doing the same. If you feel you’re close to your own bottom, visiting this site is a good idea.

27. Debtective – Inspired by Dave Ramsey, this blog helps people look for clues to dig themselves out of debt.

28. Don’t Mess With Taxes – Paying taxes is a bummer as we all know, but this blog explores why avoiding them is a no-no and looks at who you can instead pay them without going broke.

29. Five Cent Nickel – Learn how to save some money while taking advantage of great banking, mortgage, insurance and credit card rates.

30. Frugal Dad – This blog is an absolute favorite among bloggers who want to sidestep financial errors and instead make the right choices managing their money.

31. Make Love Not Debt – While this blog covers a lot of topics, it places a focus on getting out of debt.

32. Man vs. Debt – Explore the struggles this blogger had when attempting to get out of debt. Since he uses humor to tell his tales, this makes for an interesting read.

33. Mighty Bargain Hunter – If you’re looking for advice on saving money, this is a great blog for you.

34. No Credit Needed – While it’s hard to go without having credit, this blog offers tips for not overusing it.

35. The Savvy Saver – This blog is all about saving money to maintain your own personal prosperity.

36. Tired of Being Broke – Check out this blogger who is pushing to get out of debt by age 30.

Ultra Popular Blogs

Calling these blogs ultra popular should by no means undermine their greatness. The reason they’re so well-received is due to the wealth of information they provide.

37. Bargain Briana – Finding the best bargains on the Internet can be really exciting, especially when some else finds them for you.

38. Bargaineering – If you’re looking for personal finance tips like the best checking and savings accounts, where to find great rates on credit cards and more, this is the blog for you.

39. Consumerist – The Consumerist is possibly the most popular personal finance blog on the Internet thanks to its mission to make sure consumers get the long end of the stick when spending their money.

40. Get Rich Slowly – Gather a wealth of information on personal finance from this popular blog.

41. I Will Teach You to be Rich – Ramit Sethi, New York Times best-selling author and Stanford graduate, blogs about personal finance topics related to his book I Will Teach You to be Rich.

42. Money Saving Mom – The mission of this popular blog is to help readers become better home economists by offering coupons, bargains and more.

43. Moolanomy – If you’re interested in really saving your money, this blog should be one of your first stops as it offers all kinds of great tips including having your own “no-spend weekend.”

44. The Motley Fool – This incredibly popular site was created for individuals looking to increase their personal finances by investing, even with little knowledge of how to invest.

45. The Simple Dollar – This blog is great for the everyday person looking to cut corners to produce a great budget.

46. Wise Bread – If you’re living on a small budget, this blog will help you spend your “bread” as wisely as possible.

Stocks and Investing

If you’re looking to grow your money responsibly then take advantage of these blogs that focus on learning how to invest the right way.

47. Live Learn Invest – Learn to use investing as a backup revenue source.

48. ETF Trends – This blog keeps up with the exchange traded fund industry.

49. The Corner Office – Great blog on business, personal finance, investing and more.

50. Vinvesting – Learn about value investing and how to get involved in stocks and real estate.

Blogs from Engineering Schools

These blogs are offered from specific engineering schools, but are still great reads for anyone interested in the field.

1. Blogs at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, MIT – MIT students host this blog that looks at civil and environment engineering and how they relate to the world.

2. Engineering Library Blog – This Princeton University Library blog gives students and visitors updated relevant information on engineering.

3. Engineering News & Magazine – This blog was created by the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Though it’s written for students at the university, it’s a great read for engineering students at any school.

4. EngLibrary – Drexel University offers info on new engineering books, software updates, DVD’s and more related to the field.

5. Environmental Engineering at Suffolk – Suffolk University hosts this site that allows students and staff to discuss trends in environmental engineering as well as their personal projects.

6. Tomorrow’s Professor Blog – MIT and Stanford partnered up to provide this blog that acts as a forum for issues concerning education and engineering.

7. World of Engineering – While this blog was created for faculty and students in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University, it’s a good read for anyone in love with engineering.

For Ladies

Ladies have engineering needs too. If you don’t think so, check out these blogs to find out what’s going on in the world of engineering from a woman’s perspective.

8. FairerScience – This joint project between the Wellesley Centers for Women and Campbell-Kibler Associates, Inc. allows researchers and advocates of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to communicate their findings.

9. On Becoming a Domestic and Laboratory Goddess – This blog celebrates being a woman with advanced degrees, a career, a family and a love of topics like bioengineering.

10. Sciencewomen – Alice Pawley, an assistant professor of engineering education at Purdue University blogs about her life as a wife and mother as it relates to her career as an engineer, scientist and feminist.

General Engineering Blogs

If you’re looking for blogs that cover the basics of engineering then these are great options for you.

11. The Art of Engineering – Engineering is a beautiful thing and this all-encompassing blog is set on sharing everything about it with the world.

12. Cooking for Engineers – This fun blog is for individuals who enjoy engineering with a bit of food lovin’ on the side.

13. Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog – Whether you’re gabbing about nanotechnology, antibiotics or research, if you’re a curious cat with a love for science and engineering, this blog is for you.

14. Engineering & … – The “&” in the title of this blog represents all of the aspects of the world engineering affects, including education, the economy and national interests.

15. Engineering Daily – This blog covers any and everything that pertains to engineering, including the latest news, press releases, videos, career advice and more.

16. Engineering Education – Connecting with people across the globe is always exciting, but getting to do so while focusing on engineering education makes this blog a winner.

17. Engineering Education Blog – Generate new ideas and nurture old ones in this blog dedicated to the growth of the field.

18. Engineering Ethics Blog – Follow Karl D. Stephan, Associate Professor for the Department of Engineering and Technology at Texas State University as he looks at current events in engineering and more.

19. Engineering Science – This blog offers daily engineering news, info for prospective engineering students and much more. It’s maintained by Geoff Davis, senior researcher at Google and former Dartmouth professor.

20. Go Engineering! – This blog is run by the American Society for Engineering Education and helps teachers of K-12 stimulate students’ interest in engineering.

21. Rands In Repose – This blog is maintained by an engineering manager in Silicon Valley who loves sharing his expertise on all-things engineering.

22. Scientists & Engineers for America Action Fund – This blog was created by SEA for students and professionals who share the organization’s concerns involving science and engineering.

Green Engineering Blogs

Is going green a #1 priority for you? Then these blogs will undoubtedly help to further your efforts.

23. Bright Green – The Christian Science Monitor hosts this blog that takes a look at the technological innovations and trends in environmental engineering.

24. Chris Gammell’s Analog Life – This green blog takes a hard look at renewable energy, analog design and more.

25. Environmental Engineering Diary – Catch up on the latest thoughts and ideas on environmental engineering from professional Arie Dipareza Syafei.

26. GoodCleanTech – Check out this blog by the PC Magazine team of analysts, writers and editors as they tackle environmental issues.

27. Green Engineering Blog at Design News – The editor-in-chief of Design News, John Dodge, blogs about how engineering and technology can work together in an environmentally-friendly way.

28. Green Inc. – The New York Times is the host of this site that explores politics, business, engineering and science as they relate to alternative energy sources.

29. Science Blog – environmental engineering – The Science Blog offers special interest articles from around the world related to environmental engineering.

Information Technology Blogs

With advancements in information technology being a major priority in our society, it’s good to keep up with these blogs that have both an IT and engineering focus.

30. Arden Packeer – CCIE expert Arden Packeer wants you to become a network ninja by exploring this blog focused on designing, installing, troubleshooting and operating WAN and LAN networks.

31. Andrew McAfee’s Blog – Andrew, an associate professor at Harvard and visiting associate professor MIT, blogs about how information technology effects change in our world.

32. CCIE Blog – This blog was created as a guide for individuals who are looking to pass the CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Exam.

33. CCIE Journey – Another great blog for those trying to pass the CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Exam.

34. Billso – This blog looks at engineering, mobile computing and information systems from the perspective of William A. Sodeman, an associate professor of information systems at Hawaii Pacific University.

35. Steve Haragon – Steve’s blog focuses on K-12 technological education with numerous posts specifically dedicated to engineering.

36. Davos Newbies – As the former advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Strategy Unit, Lance Knobel has plenty to talk about in relation to IT and engineering. Check it out!

37. Karim R. Lakhani’s Infrequent Musings – This assistance professor at Harvard Business School loves to blog about management and technological innovation. In his blog, you’ll find plenty about engineering and so much more.

38. Technology and Organizations – If you’re looking for information on the use of technology within organizational structures with some engineering thrown in, this blog is for you.

39. Technology & Marketing Law Blog – This blog by Eric Goldman, Associate Professor of Law at Santa Clara University, looks at a number of topics related to how technology and law combine. Engineering is a hot topic on this blog.

40. Screaming Circuits – This blog from the company Screaming Circuits offers PC engineering info, design advice and updated news.

41. Open IT Strategies – This blog is a great read for someone who is looking to dive into the use of openness as a competitive strategy. There are plenty of goods related to engineering as well.

Specialty Engineering Topics

These blog each focus on specific aspects of engineering.

42. Blinkdagger – Take notes from this engineering and MATLAB blog maintained by three engineering specialists.

43. Bulk-Blog – If you consider yourself to be a member of the worldwide powder and bulk solids handling community then Bulk Blog is definitely for you.

44. Chemical Engineering World – Get your daily dose of chemical engineering with this blog that focuses primarily on the topic.

45. Computational Complexity – Explore computational complexity and cool engineering topics on this blog run by Lance Fortnow who teaches at the University of Chicago.

46. Invent Civil – Civil engineering is the primary focus of this blog as it dives into technology and research from the field and even offers a blogroll for the category.

47. NetworkersOnline – If network engineering is a big passion of yours then this blog will most definitely feed your soul as you explore building new nodes, designing customer solutions and more.

48. Shtetl-Optimized – This blog explores the ins and outs of quantum computing from Scott Aaronson, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT.

49. UrbanWorkbench – UrbanWorkbench was meant for folks who share a love of urban planning, design and civil engineering and want to flesh out ideas together.

50. Wireless Sensor Networks Blog – Are you all about wireless sensors? Then you can’t miss this blog that covers new products, new books, applications on wsn, the latest papers and conference info.

Once a Great Nation

The student loan burden on today´s working population has already destroyed the economy, practically removed any last semblance of freedom in our workplace and just served to fatten the wallets of the bankers, lawyers and corporate suits that now run the country. The virtues that once made America a great nation have been abused by those entrusted with its care, and even $61 billion will not reverse the situation that we now find ourselves in.

The History

In 1944, the GI Bill (“Servicemen´s Readjustment Act”) was enacted to help war veterans further their educations and, in turn, increase the number of employable persons in order to strengthen the U.S. economy. Throughout the next twenty years, improvements were made to this system through the National Defence Student Loan Program (1958 – aka Perkins Loan Program) and the Higher Education Act of 1965 – creating the Guaranteed Student Loan Program.

Sallie Mae

Although it would be easy to say that the rot set in with the founding of Sallie Mae in 1972, you have to acknowledge that they only exaggerated  later problems through their incompetence and greed. In 1972, people still worked their way through college, and Sallie Mae was established to simply facilitate loans to those who needed them, rather than lend any funds themselves.

No. The cause of all today´s problems are those pillars of education – the colleges.

The Facts

The colleges have been increasing the cost of tuition by far more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index for over three decades. This may not be hot news to many people, but the graph below shows by just how much.

Average Annual Percentage Increase in Inflation-Adjusted Prices 1979-2009 - Source: The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2009; Annual Survey of Colleges.

The coloured bars show the percentage above the Consumer Price Index that tuition fees have risen on average each year. So if we take the (lowest) increase of “four year” tuition and fees at public colleges and universities between 1979 and 1989 (the dark blue bar), we will see that every year tuition fees increased by an average of 3% above the Consumer Price Index. This might seem like quite an insignificant amount, but compound 3% per annum over a decade during which the CPI increased by 82% and the total increase in fees during the period is an unjustifiable 137%.

The Last Twenty Years

Effectively, colleges in the 1980´s felt it was okay to increase tuition costs by 67% more than the rise in our incomes and the cost of living. And, because they got away with it in the 1980´s, they did it again in the 1990´s – only this time by more! Consequently, when the new millennium started, they thought “What the Hell!” and really got down to screwing students.

In the period from 1999 to 2009, the Consumer Price Index rose by just 28.50% over the decade. College tuition fees over the same period rose by 104.20% – more than four times the cost of living!

Grants & Loans

Federal and private grants have attempted to keep up with this criminal increase … … …

Growth of Federal, Institutional, Private & Employer, and State Grant Dollars 1998-2008 Source: The College Board, Trends in Student Aid 2009

… … … but have been insufficient to cope with the costs associated with getting an education in America, and consequently the amount of borrowing that has taken place has risen dramatically… …

The Growth of Stafford, PLUS and non-Federal Loans 1998 - 2009 - Source: The College Board, Trends in Student Aid 2009

… … … with the biggest growth area being the “unsubsidized” loans.

The Banks

The banks and credit institutions are far from blameless in this scenario. For decades, they have been courting students with vast credit facilities and offering irresponsible lending to students who not only had to cover the costs of tuition, fees, room and board, but who also wanted to live. The alternative “education” loans available to students resulted in larger and larger loan balances, and the banks have been allowed to get away with acting as predators on the innocent, meaning that the debt burden on students was increased by “easy credit” where otherwise they may have found alternate funding. However, if the college fees were not so high, students may not have had to borrow in the first place!

The Project On Student Debt

In a survey conducted by the Project for Student Debt, over 50% of respondents had taken out private loans to supplement their Federal (subsidized) loans, and the average debt for a graduate on finishing their education is now over $60.000.

Average Undergraduate Debt, Graduate School Debt and Total Debt for Graduate Degree Recipients, 2007-08 - Source: The College Board, Trends in Student Aid 2009; NPSAS, 2008

It is not to say that students would not have found themselves in a debt situation after they graduated, but had college tuition fees stayed in line with the Consumer Price Index, you might have been able to slash these figures by 90%.

How has this volume of debt helped destroy America?

According to the US Department of Education, there is currently $605 billion in Federal Education Loans outstanding, of which $47 billion is in default. These are just the loans that have been made by the Government, or subsidized by the Government, and do not include private finance (estimated at a further $157 billion). The total amount paid out since the Guaranteed Student Loan Program was introduced in 1965 stands at $1.17 trillion, so this implies that more than half the loans ever made to students are still to be repaid.

Consumer spending is the engine of the economy, so imagine how the American economy would have benefitted with an extra $½trillion over the past forty five years – or at least 90% of it, had tuition fees been kept in line with the cost of living (because these are such substantial figures, it might help to explain that $½trillion equates to about all the money paid out in Federal pensions every year).

Although outstanding student loans account for a small proportion of the countries national debt, it all contributes towards:-

A decline in economic growth due to money that could be used for capital expenditure being redirected into loan repayments. A weaker currency, making our imports more expensive and also allowing for US assets to be “gobbled up” by foreign interests at bargain prices. A waste of national resources to pay interest on loans from other countries. Higher Interest Rates for both businesses and individuals.

And, more importantly of all, students that have graduated from college over the past ten to fifteen years are becoming more comfortable with debt because it is something they have had to cope with since going through college. These are the guys who are now promoting debt leverage and selling derivatives on Wall Street in order to pay back their own loans. Effectively encouraging more debt to try to escape their own!

What a shambles, and what an ever-increasing circle of debt we now find ourselves surrounded by. You may feel that achieving your degree will be one of the hardest things you ever do – try paying for it!

The Future – If there is one

President Obama has at least taken a step in the right direction with the introduction of the Educational Reconciliation Act, however the alarming news broke even before his signature had dried that Sallie Mae are lobbying to be responsible for the administration of this new program!

Drastic action is called for, and quickly. The final solution could be a combination of any of the following suggestions (although it would be good to see them all implemented):-

Cancel all provision for unsecured loans, credit cards and other finance for anybody under the age of 21. If students are unable to get easy credit, they are unlikely to run up such fantastic debts. Furthermore, if credit is not available to college students, educational institutions are going to have to bring their tuition fees down or very few will be able to afford them. Colleges will be empty. That is basic supply and demand.

Cap what colleges are allowed to charge. Pell grants have been linked to the Consumer Price Index, so why not college fees? If colleges had to pass exams to justify their existence, how would yours fare?

Kick out the corruptors. It is not just the credit card companies who come bearing gifts. Some credit institutions have been known to make generous donations to your college to keep the fair trade away.

Clear all outstanding student debt. It would cost the government less to repay every student debt than they have already spent on war this year and the long term benefit to the American economy would at least be tangible! However, the President could simply redirect funds set aside for bank rescue packages to the banks as loan repayments, and this way it would not cost the tax-payer a cent more.

Can´t see it happening? If everybody with an outstanding student loan, failed to make payments on it for the next three months, do you think somebody might take notice?

You are the next generation of law makers. This is your responsibility.

But before you decide to give up on the idea of getting your own scholarship, take a look at 45 of the weirdest college scholarships out there. With scholarships as strange as these, you may be eligible for more free college funding than you think!

1. Tall Clubs International Scholarship – If you’re a male 6’ 2” or taller, or a female 5’ 10” or taller, you just may qualify for this $1,000 scholarship. To qualify, you simply need to write an essay entitled “What Being Tall Means to Me.”
2. Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Award – This $7,500 scholarship, free trip to Disney World and spot in a Milk Mustache ad are available to 25 student-athlete high school seniors with 3.20 GPAs who participate in school or club sports.
3. Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship – You can win $1,000 if you’re a descendant through birth or legal adoption of Lambert and Annetje Van Valkenburg.
4. Potato Industry Scholarship –The National Potato Council awards annually one $5,000 scholarship to a graduate student pursuing Agribusiness, which enhances the potato industry.
5. Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest – Who would ever think that creating prom outfits out of duct tape could win a lucky couple $3,000 in scholarship money?
6. American Welding Society Scholarships – Are you a talented welder – or have an interest in being one? If so, you may be eligible for welding scholarships that could help pay for education in soldering, brazing, joining and thermal spraying.
7. Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation Scholarship – $2,500 is awarded to one or more students annually who love the art of vacuum coating. Is this for you?
8. Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship – Scholarship funds are awarded each year to sophomores, juniors and seniors attending Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. To quality, you must be left-handed, have financial need and a good GPA.
9. Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest – If you love ducks season you may be eligible for $2,000 in scholarships. So get your favorite duck call and get prepared to win some money!
10. David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship – Students attending Ball State University could win up to $10,000 in scholarship money by submitting a variety of creative media.
11. Excellence in Predicting the Future Award – You don’t have to be a fortune teller to win this $400 award. You just need to be good at predicting the financial market and have a desire for economics.
12. The Billy Barty Foundation – This scholarship is awarded to students who are short in stature – under 4’ 10” – and have proof of dwarfism.
13. National Marbles Tournament Scholarship – This contest for eight to 14 year olds awards between $1,000 and $2,000 scholarship money to those skilled in the game of marbles.
14. Common Knowledge Challenges – If you know a lot about a lot then you may be eligible for a series of Common Knowledge Scholarships that range from $250 – $3,000.
15. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship – Looking for $5,000 in college scholarship money? Simply be a vegetarian high school student who promotes vegetarianism in your school or community.
16. National Make It Yourself Wool Competition – Do you consider yourself a fashion guru with a special taste for wool? If so, you may qualify for one of four scholarships with the American Sheep Industry.
17. Discover Scholarship Award – This scholarship for high school juniors requires a 2.75 GPA and proof of a significant roadblock to earn $40,000 for post-high school education, training, certification or licensing.
18. Alice Mcarver Ratchford Scholarship – This special scholarship goes to single female undergraduate students in financial need who live on campus, don’t have a car and no other scholarships.
19. KLI Academic Award: The Kor Memorial Scholarship – If you’re a “Trekky” then you’ll love this $500 scholarship from the Klingon Language Institute for students in the field of language study. Luckily, you don’t need to know Klingon to qualify!
20. Dannie Jasmine Mule Deer Foundation Scholarship – This $500 scholarship is eligible to students who love of nature, are enrolled at University of Nevada, Reno and have studied Environmental and Resources Science for at least two semesters.
21. John Gatling Scholarship – Do you plan to attend North Carolina State University and have the last name Gatling or Gatlin? If so, you may be eligible for this full-ride scholarship.
22. School Bank and Orchestra Magazine Scholarship – By writing a simple essay you could qualify for $1,000 in scholarship money. 2009’s entry essay is “I believe music must remain a part of the school curriculum because.”
23. American Association of Candy Technologists Scholarship – College sophomores, juniors and seniors could qualify for $5,000 in scholarship funds if they carry a 3.0 GPA and major in food science or other related areas. Sounds like a sweet deal!
24. Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest – If you didn’t get the Klingon Scholarship, you may qualify for this contest that awards student authors and illustrators in the genre of Science Fiction.
25. National Rifle Association YES Scholarship – After being accepted to the NRA Youth Education Summit, contingents may apply to the scholarship that awards up to $30,000 in college aid – no rifle shooting required.
26. American Society for Enology and Viticulture Scholarship – Being a grape lover has definite benefits, especially when it comes to this scholarship that awards undergrad and grad full-time students majoring in viticulture or encology.
27. Ayn Rand The Fountainhead Scholarship – If you enjoyed the book The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and are in the 11th or 12th grade, you could receive up to $10,000 in scholarship money by writing the best essay concerning the novel.
28. Hood College Heritage Scholarship – If you have a parent or grandparent who received a bachelor’s degree from Hood College, you may be eligible for a $5,000 one-year scholarship.
29. OP Loftbed Scholarship – This $500 scholarship only requires that you attend an accredited college or university and answer a few quirky questions (ex. What will you type in your next TEXT, Tweet, or Instant Message to your best friend?).
30. Evans Scholars Foundation Scholarship – Golf lovers could benefit from this WGA-sponsored scholarship that gives young caddies with financial need (and a great caddie record) the opportunity to pay for college.
31. Zolp Scholarship – Here’s another lucky last name scholarship. This one is from Loyola University and asks that your last name be Zolp and you be Catholic in order to qualify.
32. Gertrude J. Deppen Scholarship Fund – To qualify for this scholarship, you must have resided in Mount Carmel, PA for 10 years, attended Mount Carmel Public High School, stay away from tobacco, liquor and narcotics, and steer clear of strenuous athletic contests.
33. Carnegie Mellon University Bagpipe Scholarship – This highly uncompetitive scholarship offers $7,000 yearly to bagpipe major students.
34. Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship – The desire to study parapsychology along with proof that you’ve written about it before is all you need to qualify for this $3,000 scholarship.
35. Starfleet Academy Scholarship – If you’re an active Starfleet member (an organization modeled around Star Trek) who attends any type of post-high school learning institution you could earn $500 in scholarship money.
36. United States Bowling Congress (USBA) Scholarships – USBA offers a number of scholarships to bowling fans with dollar amounts ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.
37. American Nudist Research Library Scholarship – If the nudist in you is itching to get out – and you don’t mind living in a nudist colony – then you could benefit from $1,000 for college.
38. Surfrider Foundation Scholarship Program – This grassroots organizations awards scholarships to undergrads, grads and PH-D students who are members of the Surfrider Foundation.
39. Michigan Llama Association (MLA) Scholarship – Being an MLA member or being the child of a member is all you need to qualify for this scholarship.
40. Tylenol Scholarship – Tylenol offers $5,000 to $10,000 awards to 40 lucky students each year. How to qualify? Desire a career in the medical field.
41. American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship – High school students who don’t mind reading an essay about fire sprinklers then taking a 10-question test could qualify for a $2,000 scholarship.
42. Collegiate Inventors Competition – Students who have you been enrolled full-time at a U.S. or Canadian college or university for at least 12 months and have a new idea, process or technology could qualify for $15,000 in scholarship money.
43. LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Scholarship – The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) $500 scholarship is for aquatic entomology lovers and scholars performing research in the field.
44. Mycological Society of America Scholarships – $2,000 scholarships are available to students, teachers and researchers who study mycology (the study of fungi).
45. Hiram College Hal Reichle Scholarship – Talk about quirky. This scholarship comes from the Secret Society of Serendipitous Service to Hal (SSSSH), which loves students dedicated to community service.

A couple of months ago I wrote an article teaching you how to be a badass. In case you missed it, [intlink id="704" type="post"]check this out[/intlink]. Well since you guys seemed to love it, and we could all use a little advice on being a badass, I decided to give you part 2 on How To Be A Badass.  Enjoy!

1. Create Your Own Opportunity - a badass realizes that opportunity isn’t going to knock on his door, so he creates his own opportunity and seizes the day.
2. Learn to disappear - That’s right folks, nothing is more badass than a person able to disappear at will.
3. Train Vigorously - becoming a badass isn’t going to happen overnight.  One must be training always in order to achieve a higher level of badassness.
4. No Fear - a badass is one who conquers fears: Fight the shark, skydive, charm the snake, have dinner with the in-laws.  Whatever you fear most, you must conquer that fear.
5. Seek Knowledge – a badass understands that there is always room to grow, and with that in mind seeks knowledge on a daily basis.
6. Make Up Your Own Title – You know how doctors have M.D. and Ph.D.? Well there is no reason why a badass shouldn’t have a title also.  Make one up and sign your name with it always.
7. No TV - a real badass doesn’t have time to waste with things like TV.
8. Be The Best at Everything You Do – it’s hard work, but a badass is awesome at pretty much everything.  Badasses can jump over fences, score a 34 on the MCAT, knit an awesome sweater, and make the best food you’ve ever eaten.  That’s right, you have a lot of work to do.
9. Ride a Motorcycle or Horse but never a scooter.  I don’t think this one needs explaining.
10. Learn a Few Good Magic Tricks but never tell anyone how they are done.  A real badass always has a few good tricks up his sleeve.
11. Have a Master Craft - a real badass is probably the best person in the entire world at atleast 1 thing.  Choose your craft well and become the master of it.
12. Straddle the Line of Your Comfort Zone – a badass realizes that it is important to be ready for anything, and for that reason always pushes the line of his comfort zone.
13. Dress Different, but with Style – a real badass isn’t trying to fit in or sport the latest fads.  We are impressed with classic styles, like The Fonz, Dick Tracy, or James Bond.
14. Always Be In Control - It may not look like it to others, but a badass is always in control of his own situation.
15. Don’t Tolerate B.S. – You know that guy who always tells stories that nobody cares about?  Well a badass doesn’t tolerate that guy and his crappy stories.  Badasses don’t have time or care for b.s. and just wont have it.
16. Live on the Edge - You know how badasses always seem so much more exciting than you?  That’s because they are!  They live on the edge and because of that they are way badass.
17. Park in the back of the Parking Lot – you know how you always see that one person who parked far away in the back of the parking lot?  You better believe that he or she is a badass.
18. Do What You Want – a badass doesn’t care what others think, they pursue life with their own motivations and convictions.  Until you can stop caring about what everyone thinks about you and what you do, you’ll never reach badassness.
19. Make Others Feel Safe - A badass is ready for anything, and because of that people generally feel safer around a badass.
20. Quintessentialness – a badass is real, all the time.  You’ll never catch them perpetrating or being fake.  They are quintessential badasses.
21. Use umlauts in their name – Ibrahim may not look like a super awesome name, but Íb?ä??M is pretty awesome.  The more you use the more badass you are.
22. Get a Badass Job – Nobody who works at Wal-Mart or McDonalds will ever be a badass.
23. Carry Fat Stacks - Badasses have huge wads of cash.  It doesn’t matter if they only have $40, because they have one $20 and 20 $1s.
24. Carry a Weapon (but not a gun) – A good knife, nunchuck, or sword are all parts of the badasses arsenal.
25. Awesome Quotes – badasses speak very little, but when they have something to say it’s powerful.  Use quotes like “It’s my way or the highway” to let people know you mean business.
26. Always be Ready To Punch Someone in the Face – keep those jokers guessing.  If people know you won’t hesitate to punch them in the face, they will act right.

So there you have it.  These tips along with those from my previous article will defintely get you moving in the right direction.  Pass this along to others, the more badasses we can get in this world the better the world will be.  Go forth now, and be a badass!

If you are reading this I am going to go ahead and assume you are a creative intellectual.  You know, the type of person who tries to improve themselves by doing things differently, who tries different things, loves to learn new things, and is generally a bit more passionate than most people.  In fact, if you are reading here at Zen College Life, you are already by definition unique.

unique (y-nk): unusual; extraordinary; remarkable;

At this stage in life most of us will have to face facts: we probably can’t be successful in life unless we play the game, at least somewhat.  A doctor usually can’t rock a mohawk,  a teacher can’t dress in the traditional goth wear etc.  But that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice that voice inside of us telling us to be different, to express passion.

Now when I say ‘to be different’ I’m sure you understand that I don’t mean different just for the sake of being different.  That would just be another form of conformity.  What I’m talking about here is different for the sake of expressing yourself.  I don’t know about you, but if I were a business major I would dread the idea of waking up every morning and putting on that black or gray suit, white or blue shirt, and boring tie every day.  But as we all know corporate America has a couple of expectations of you when you join, and dress code is definitely one of them.

So what we have to do is find ways to manipulate the system to allow for personal expression while not crossing any lines or stepping on anyone’s feet.

Small tweaks to the system allow for us to be different without breaking the rules.  It really is an art, and to master it we must find balance.  To the business man tired of looking like every other business man, I say start small.  Find a cool tie you absolutely love and rock it like a rockstar.  Or even better, find a small pin that really expresses what you are passionate about at the moment (as long as it’s work safe…) and rock it on your lapel.  People will notice, take interest that you are passionate about something, and it will have fantastic positive outcomes.

Isn’t it funny how we are expected to follow all these rules, and yet if we do we aren’t considered unique or remarkable at all?  And yet the guy who wheres the green suit to the interview somehow scores the job every time?  What green suit guy did wasn’t break the mold;  he’s wearing a suit…  No what green suit guy did was refine the mold, he took the recipe and made it his own.  And it works!

We are in a world where we are expected to conform and yet those who do not end up the most successful.  This tells me that 100% conforming is not a route to success.  Success comes with passion, hard work, and a little self expression.  And black suite, black tie guy doesn’t have an ounce of self expression in his body.  You don’t want to be that guy do you?

Everyone is attracted to passion.  We love people who are invested in things, people who care, people who stand up and do things.  So it only makes sense that people will be attracted to our passion if we quietly sport it on our shirtsleeves.

So find your passion and rock it, regardless of whether or not others are doing it.  Don’t worry about conforming 100%.  Follow the rules, but change the recipe to fit you.  Just make sure your passion is being expressed your sleeve and not being jammed down someone else’s throat.  Nobody likes a showoff…

What do you think about unique conformity?  What are your experiences with conformity, non-conformity, etc?  Leave a comment, we’d love to hear it!