So you’ve heard about the dangers of sun exposure, but did you know it could be even more dangerous to stay inside? Quit worrying about your lily-white skin and hit the beach, you’ll be glad you did. Here are five reasons to break out your sunscreen and toast your tootsies.

1. Exercise

It’s so much easier to exercise outdoors. Treadmills are boring! Get out there and see some sights while you run. Play games, like basketball or tennis, and forget you’re even burning calories. Your bike is a great way to get around and a heck of a lot cheaper than gas.

2. Vitamin D

“Two forms are important in humans: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Vitamin D2 is synthesized by plants. Vitamin D3 is synthesized by humans in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from sunlight.” At least ten minutes of sunshine is needed daily for your body to produce the vitamin D3 that you need. The major function of vitamin D is to maintain levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Research also suggests that vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.

3. Social

It’s so much more fun to hand around in groups when you are outside than being crammed in a room like sardines. The next party you throw or gathering you have, try to make it outside. If it’s daytime, try a picnic. Fun plus food equals a good time had by all. If it is night, light it up! Tiki torches or even car headlights provide a fun atmosphere and no one will call the cops to tell you to turn down your music!

4. Brain break

Even the biggest geeks need a break once in a while. Study breaks give you time to recharge and reevaluate. Take a breath of fresh air, look at some scenery, and stop to smell the roses. Your brain, and your test scores, will thank you.

5. Experience

If you are stuck in school all the time, studying in the library, or even hanging out in your dorm, you are missing out on experiencing your town. Every place has something to offer. Your town may have an active night life, it may have a boardwalk or beach, it may have a cool historical district, or just beautiful scenery. You’ll never know if you don’t venture forth and look. Don’t be the guy who knows nothing about the town they went to school in. Take the time to explore.

There you have it; five reasons to get outside. Don’t end up a pasty egg-head, get outside and join in on the fun. If your school isn’t big on the out-of-doors, start something yourself. Winter, Spring, or Fall, you can enjoy the outdoors. So take a chance, take a deep breath, and get outside!

This Guest post is by Christine Kane, a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about a wide-variety of subjects including internet providers in my area for different blogs. She can be reached via email at: Christi.Kane00 @ gmail.com

[All photos free courtesy of MorgueFile.com.]

Basically, green careers are those that contribute to preserving or improving environmental quality. The green economy is touching practically every industry you can think of. Many companies involved with wind, solar, biofuels, energy efficiency, and other sectors of the green economy are hiring workers with a host of different skills. Let’s take a look at some of the increasingly in-demand green jobs:

Engineer

Civil, computer software, electrical, chemical, mechanical, and environmental engineers all have great opportunities in the world of green jobs. Some engineers design and construct wind turbines and solar technologies, whereas others work to expand mass transit systems. Engineers create alternative fuels and the systems that will use them. Civil engineers redesign outdated infrastructure and develop more environmentally sustainable and energy efficient structures for cities and housing projects.

Environmental Lawyer

Environmental law is a growing field. Due to the green movement gaining momentum, numerous laws have been passed to ensure people and companies work to preserve environmental integrity. Environmental lawyers deal with laws that regulate air and water pollution, protect endangered species, enforce environmental codes, and much more.

Construction Manager

Basically, construction managers with green credentials oversee workers constructing green buildings. They also oversee work crews retrofitting existing buildings with solar panels and other types of green technology.

Urban Planner

Due to the increasing popularity of “eco-cities,” governments across the country are asking urban planners to make their communities more environmentally friendly. Many urban planners are laying out cities in ways that accommodate greener lifestyles. These folks determine the best use for land when rebuilding or developing a community.

Architect

“Green” architecture minimizes the negative environmental impact of buildings by improving efficiency and using fewer materials, less energy, and less land. Those with green credentials integrate energy-efficient features, including sun-filtering windows and sustainable materials, such as cork floors, into new and existing residential and corporate buildings and factories.

Social Responsibility Officer

People with this job bring their environmental and business knowledge to the task of setting and meeting objectives for sustainability, carbon reduction, and general eco-friendliness. Social responsibility officers work with various departments within a company including marketing, sales, product development, internal auditing, communications, and compliance.

Database Specialist

People with technical expertise in databases and environmental knowledge set up and oversee systems to track, analyze, and report information such as carbon emissions and energy use.

Consultant

Many companies hire consultants to set sustainability standards, audit supply chains, measure carbon footprints, set environmental programs in place, and communicate these changes to employees.

Green MBA Programs

Green MBA programs are available both on campus and online. Usually, the curricula cover subjects like the marketing of green products, environmental regulations, waste management, and how pro-environmental actions affect profits. Matt Cheney, chief executive for Renewables Ventures, believes green MBA programs service a growing demand. He said, “More and more students are interested in socially responsible business. They want to make a difference, and there is a confidence that business can produce results quickly and significantly.”

College students across the country believe that the green job market holds promise, even in this tough economy. They’re hoping to grab one of the millions of jobs that experts have predicted will be created in the near future. Extensive research is vital when selecting a “green” career path, so do your homework!

Len Dreifort writes about career in software engineering, as well as other careers that can aid the Green Revolution, for Work Coach Cafe.

It’s no surprise that many college students are broke. Tuition keeps going up while scholarships disappear and it’s harder than ever to get loans with the ongoing recession. So what’s a student to do when there are no more used textbooks at the campus bookstore and he barely has the money for a cafeteria burrito?

Sadly, it’s time to get a job. But with class schedules that are all over the map, it can be difficult to nail down a schedule for work (why, oh why, do they always put lectures in the morning and labs in the afternoon instead of placing one right after the other?). Often, a part-time job is the only option, and that usually means working nights and weekends at some minimum wage slop.

Luckily, the modern college student, connected to the internet and savvy in the ways of communication technology, may have a lot more to offer than an upgrade to large fries and a drink. Here are a few part-time jobs that every student will want to get:

Freelance writer

You never thought learning the five-paragraph essay would pay off, but these days you can make up to $15 per article writing content for grind-house blogs like About.com or The Examiner (although rates for the latter vary based on page views and advertising dollars, so you could make more, or less). But if you’re a good writer, and especially if you are interested in technical or industry-related writing, you can sign up with freelance sites like ODesk and Elance to apply for jobs, get reviewed, and start making a name for yourself from the comfort of your dorm room.

Freelance graphic artist

This is virtually the same as freelance writing. If you have knowledge of common graphics programs and you are building a portfolio through class assignments, you can try to get work online through freelance sites (the same ones listed above). You may not be able to charge much at first, but you’ll your build your book or demo reel and you can start charging more as people become interested in your work.

Tutoring

While you can certainly get a job doing this through the campus (probably for minimum wage), you should think about signing on with an organization like The Princeton Review (which prepares high-school students for college entrance exams like the SATs, PSATs, and so on) or Sylvan Learning Center, which tutors younger students in a variety of subjects. You could even tutor K-12 students in-home by advertising with local schools, or help college students on your own campus to write essays, learn algebra, or discover the mysteries of science with tutoring sessions at the library or other public study centers on campus. Best of all, you can set your own hours.

Receptionist

A surprising number of students cite this type of job as ideal because it allows them to work a short shift (often switching with another part-time employee halfway through the day), earn decent pay for minimal responsibility (directing calls and incoming traffic), and even get some studying done during down time. Plus, it’s better than food service.

Bartender

This job is not glamorous, especially when you’re getting harassed by drunks. But it is the fallback for college students everywhere because it will allow you to make all your classes (since you’ll likely work nights and weekends) and the tips can be a godsend when you don’t have two nickels to rub together between paychecks. BTW – way better tips can be had at bars because people get careless with their money when they’re drunk. So if you’re going into the service industry, this is definitely the way to make a fast buck.

Leon Harris writes for Go College where you can find helpful information on Wells Fargo student loans and student grants by subject.

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that is characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin. Patients are usually diagnosed with this disease early on in life, after exhibiting common symptoms, including frequent urination, weight loss, and abnormally frequent hunger and thirst.

While many young adults learn to effectively cope with their diabetes, the transition to college can make managing this disease more difficult. Many young adults are living away from home for the first time, leaving them to deal with their disease, without the help and support of their parents. Fortunately, when following a few simple tips, patients with type 1 diabetes can seamlessly make the transition to college life, without sacrificing their health.

Effectively Manage Type I Diabetes in College

While adjusting to college life can be difficult at first, it is important to maintain your daily routine as much as possible. If you have learned to manage your disease through regular exercise, healthy dietary choices, and insulin replacement therapy, then it is important to remain committed to your management plan.

The first thing that diabetic college students should do is to schedule a time to exercise that fits into their class schedule. Before classes begin, find where the school gym or recreational center is located in relation to your classes and determine a time slot that you can commit to exercise. Treating your exercise routine as an important part of your schedule, rather than an optional activity, will help you continue your fitness routine.

It is also important for students to maintain a healthy diet. While college cafeterias are often filled with pizza, ice cream, and other junk foods, most cafeterias also offer healthy options. For tips to help you choose what cafeteria foods to enjoy, browse the American Diabetes Association’s suggestions on dietary choices.

Things to Avoid While Managing Type I Diabetes

When many young adults think of college, they think of parties without parental supervision. While it may be difficult for young adults to avoid alcohol at college parties, it is important for students with type 1 diabetes to understand the effect that alcohol can have on their health. Alcohol can have a serious affect on a diabetic’s blood sugar and must be consumed responsibly, while keeping up with insulin replacement therapy and paying close attention to how you feel. For information on how to safely consume alcohol with type 1 diabetes, visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International’s list of suggestions.

The transition to college life is difficult for every student. While having type 1 diabetes may make this transition a bit more difficult, students can successfully enjoy their college experience when making the effort to take care of themselves, and their bodies.

Louise Baker ranks online programs for Zen College Life. She most recently wrote about getting an online criminal justice degree.

If you’re someone who shares (or plans to share) a place with friends or roommates, you’ll know how hard it can be to split up the rent fairly. There is always a much larger Master bedroom which often has a private full bathroom. Some rooms may have different sized closets and windows. When splitting the rent, all of these things have to be taken into consideration so that everyone is paying a fair amount for their room. So just how do you split up the rent while taking all of these extra details into consideration? You do it using the rent calculator for roommates at SplitTheRent.org.

How it Works

With SplitTheRent.org, you don’t have to worry about deciding who pays what. It will do all of the calculations for you. The calculator makes adjustments based on other factors of the room besides size. For example, if room #1 is small but has an awesome window and huge closet, then that roommate will pay more than the person in room #2 which is also small, but has no windows and a normal sized closet.

Entering Room Details

The calculator is very easy to follow and it should only take a few minutes to get your results. You’ll start by entering your total rent and then selecting the number of bedrooms in your place. Once you select the number of bedrooms you have, more options will appear below that. This is where you can go into more details about each room.

You’ll need to select the size of each room; sizes go from tiny all the way to enormous. You can then select the size of the windows and closet for each room. You can go as far as to name each room or just leave the default (room #1, room #2, etc). Lastly, it asks questions about private bathrooms, sound isolation, awkward layouts and doors. As you can see, the details are very specific in order to make proper adjustments to the rent prices.

Lastly it asks for the the size of your common area. This includes the living room, kitchen, bathrooms and dining room (anything outside of the bedrooms).

Final Result

The final result will show you the suggested amount of rent for each room, down the penny. If you need to make any adjustments, you can always recalculate. The calculator is very accurate and will definitely save you a lot of time and hassle; you won’t have to worry about arguing over rent with roommates anymore. All that’s left is to agree on the rent prices with your roommates and call it a day.

Lior is a student at the MA Israel political science studies program in tel aviv university and is also a blogger and a consultant.

The above video was the winner for the America’s Smartest Slacker contest. Nice job everyone who entered!

Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t difficult to sell textbooks. Once you find out the right time and right place to sell, it becomes a walk in the park.

Here’s a list of things you should think about when you sell textbooks to make sure you get the best value:

PRICE

Before you start the process of selling a textbook, you must obviously find out how much it is worth or either you get ripped off or people won’t buy it. Visit an online bookshop like Amazon and search by the title of your book. Find out how much the book is worth on the average. Also take into consideration the condition of the book as it affects the selling price. It’s better if you could visit several online sellers and find out who will pay most for the book you’re selling.

PLACE

Next you should decide where to sell textbooks to; it can be to friends, to the college bookstore or to online resellers. Its common belief that the college bookstore offers the least buyback prices and this is true most of the time; so your best shot is online resellers. After that comes the problem of deciding which website to use. There are hundreds of sites out there but not all of them are well established or reputed. Choose a site that has very good reputation and will pay for the shipping expenses and will pay you fast. The most popular sites to sell textbooks on are Amazon, eBay and Craigslist. You can sell on those too and they have their own pros and cons. One con of eBay is you need to pay for shipping. Amazon also offers Amazon Buyback which gives you free shipping when you sell your book directly to Amazon.

TIMING

Try to never sell textbooks near the conclusion of the semester because at this time the demand is very low and so are the prices. The only buyers are those who are attending summer classes. At this time the textbook prices are at the lowest value in the whole year. For the best profit, you should sell textbooks near the beginning of the new semester. Since the demand is very high at this time, buyers are willing to pay high prices to get textbooks before they’re all over.

Here’re some tips that will be helpful in getting some good background information that will help you sell textbooks online:

• Analyze online prices of the relevant books.
• Analyze local prices of the same.
• Give priority to sites that offer free shipping and instant payment if you are going to sell textbooks online.
• Always try to sell at the appropriate time–that is–when the books are in high demand.

If you somehow end up in the unlucky situation of not being able to sell your book anywhere, try to find a bookshop that’ll trade it for another book or maybe store credit. Remember that when you sell textbooks, you hold most of the cards.

This is a guest post by Amit Sehgal. Helping students save money on college textbooks.

Dating. There really isn’t much that we sink as much time, effort, and cash into like dating. It is not uncommon for a doe-eyed rube to chance upon a prospective paramour with the best intentions in his or her heart only to find that, hey, this shit’s expensive. So, how does one deftly circumvent one of the biggest pitfalls in the wild world of competitive companionship, you ask?

Well, we have some tips that just might keep the cash in your wallet and your head in the game:

Let’s start with the basics, and it doesn’t get any more basic than Dinner. Dinner has been the cornerstone of the dating world since Adam and Eve mingled over an apple (Eve actually wanted to take Adam to this new rib joint, but he was understandably cautious), and it’s been Sushi bars and boutique cafés for humanity ever since.

The truth of the matter is that, yeah, food’s a big deal. It’s typically one of the first times that your date will see you engaged in a typical daily behavioral setting. Restaurant selection can make or break your night before it even starts. And one thing about restaurants? They love money. Can’t get enough of it. Given the opportunity a courteous sommelier would mug you at gun point. For some of us the answer is simple, elegant, and more endearing that a baby koala donating it’s hair to Locks of Love: cooking.

I know what some of you are thinking: “But I can’t cook! I have more packets of dehydrated ramen noodles than a Hong Kong bomb shelter.” Well, that might be the case. But it never hurts to try. If you can find just one dish you can prepare at even a satisfactory level chances are you’re golden. Find something that suits your capacity, and try it out a few times for yourself beforehand.

I recommend Alton Brown’s television Good Eats for the more tech-minded of you. He is to food what Bill Nye the Science Guy is to test-tubes of brightly colored liquids, and has no problem walking you through all of it. A selection of episodes can be found on Hulu. On top of that there are some great recipe search engines such as Allrecipes.com, VegWeb, and the now defunct recipezaar (We’ll miss you!). And don’t forget to spruce it up a bit. At least hide that pile of laundry in your closet until she leaves, fellas.

So, dinner went well. Congratulations. But now your date wants to doooooooo things (the gall). The movies sound nice, but shelling out 35 dollars for an hour and half of disengaged entertainment for the two of you seems a little unattractive. Plus you we’re going to download the movie illegally later, anyway. Go carts and mini-golf just don’t have the same punch they did in the 9th grade, and they’re not exactly cheap, either. The key here is to get creative.

I bet you there is a calendar of local events somewhere on the wretched hive of scum and villainy that is the internet. Each one chalk full of mostly awful event that in no way appeal to you. Chances are, however, there is at least one shining gem in there, if not many. There is probably some free concert going on in your town this weekend. Outdoor markets and vendor fairs are a great way to kill a few hours and see if you and your mate share the same sensibilities. He or she laughed at the same poorly made crap you laughed at? Match made in heaven. Vineyards love to throw events such as wine and cheese pairing, jazz concerts, or even open mic sessions. Nothing says class like discussing international politics while sipping on the latest vintage Merlot while a drunken 40 year old man trying to conceal an erection butchers Tom Petty on an out of tune acoustic guitar. But mostly it’s a pleasant experience and shows how worldly and sophisticated you are.

So, you ran out of things to cook and your town isn’t throwing together any hootenannies. You want to do something adventurous and spontaneous. Something that says “Yeah, I’m that person who’ll call in sick to work and go an adventure with you.” But how does one find adventure in this day and age, trapped in endless suburban sprawl and mini-vans? Just because you’re not a pirate doesn’t mean you and your date can’t go in a little treasure hunt.

Letterboxing, and its modern incarnation of “Geocaching,” have been a healthy dating activity for over 150 years. The idea is pretty straight forward: Some questionable person hid a box somewhere, probably in some woods, go find it. It boils down to a hiking community with a twist and some very ingenious hobbyists who wish nothing more than to share some of their favorite local spots with you. In letterboxing you’re left with a series of hilariously poorly crafted clues that does invoke the spirit of a true pirate treasure hunt (I, myself, have been asked to walk X paces from a tree at least half a dozen times). Geocaching cuts out possibility of human error and simply leaves you a set of GPS co-ordinates to get to. This is the type of activity that really lets you see the team-work quality of your relationship. You’ll know pretty quickly if you guys work well together when the possibility of being lost in the woods rears its head. Plus, you know, good, clean, cheap fun.

So, you’ve had some good dates and that pesky cartoon moth stopped flying out of your wallet. What now? At this point you should be able to suss out enough about your potential partner to know where to take it from there. Video games are often a fantastic way to spent whole weekends emerged in a team activity both cooperatively and competitively, if that’s your thing. Over time the things that work between the two of you will emerge naturally, and you’ll figure out your own ways of having fun on the cheap that doesn’t just involve couch-locked netflix marathons.

One final tip: keep a copy of Mad Libs in your car. Nothing unleashes the innermost immaturity of your partner than a game of Mad Libs, and sets what might otherwise be a long daunting drive into some really touching quality time for a meager few dollars. It really is a     fart     way to     butt    .

Leon Harris writes for PO Funding. With purchase order financing you can grow your business and pave the way for more.

In one word: no

Most college students see their first foray into the real world as a long-awaited bid for freedom. And this is exactly what the image of a car promotes: the freedom to go wherever you want whenever you want to. Unfortunately, most automobiles are more like a ball and chain than a chance for increased freedom. With all the attendant costs and responsibilities associated with vehicle ownership, you may soon be cursing the day you decided to bring your car to college with you.

So if you’re on the fence about whether or not to buy or retain a vehicle as you pursue your academic degree, here are just a few reasons you might want to say no to the auto:

1. Related costs

This is a doozy of a reason to do it like the Flintstones and rely on the courtesy of your own two feet to get around. First there is the purchase price of the car to consider. Will you pay with cash or do you have to take out a loan (on top of all your student loans)? Then there is registration, which might not be too bad if you own an older vehicle, and insurance, which is bound to remain high until you turn 25.

On top of that you’ll have to factor in the price of gas, which looks to rise in the coming months thanks to continued unrest in the Middle East, and basic maintenance like fluid and filter changes (not to mention potential accidents that could require you to pay a deductible in addition to raising insurance rates). And of course, there will be parking fees on campus. That’s a lot of greenbacks.

2. Maintenance

Not only does car maintenance cost you money, it will also suck up some of your valuable time (that could be better spent studying or sleeping). Even new cars have to go in for oil changes at least four times a year, and that’s the bare minimum. Older vehicles will likely have more problems and take longer to service. And if you live in a state that requires smog certification, you’re looking at even more time and money down the drain.

3. Minimal use

If you’re living on or near campus, you probably won’t even use a car that much. You can easily get to classes on foot or by bicycle, and even if you drive to the campus, you’re going to have to pay to park your car all day while you walk from class to class. When you think about how little you’ll actually be using your vehicle, it makes the associated costs seem even more wasteful.

4. Public transportation

If you really need to get around off campus for some reason, there’s always public transportation at your disposal. Buses can get you all over town (to the grocery store, doctor appointments, off-campus jobs, and so on) for cheap, while you’re more likely to take a plane home if your family lives far away. Think about the benefits of these options (versus owning a vehicle) before you decide that a car is the only way to go.

5. Green living

You’re a responsible adult now, so why not start acting like one? Embracing a social and environmental consciousness is a great way to show that you’re more than just a spoiled child living off mommy and daddy. Take the first step towards a green lifestyle by giving up the car while you’re in college in an effort to reduce your carbon footprint. You’ll save a lot more than money as you work towards a better future for yourself, and the planet.

Leon Harris writes for compare car insurance where you can find cheap car insurance rates that will suit your needs.

Your college years will likely be some of the best in your life. Between getting away from your parents for the first time in your life (finally having the space to figure out who you really are), expanding your mind, preparing for your professional future, and meeting new people who could potentially become lifelong friends, business partners, or soul-mates, you have a lot of doors opening to you.

But while you’re busy taking advantage of the many social and academic opportunities before you, it’s all too easy to neglect your health, especially if you’re spread thin between studying and partying (as are most students). And if you have a job on top of everything else, forget about it! In short, the freshman fifteen of fable can quickly become a reality (and then some) if you fall off the proverbial wagon with your diet and exercise routine.

So what’s a busy college student to do? Simple: make diet and exercise one of your many priorities.

Let’s start with diet since you have to eat. And keep in mind that it’s not only about what you ingest, but also when you do it. If, for example, you find yourself skipping meals, taking prescription diet pills, or guzzling a Coke (instead of breakfast) as you dash to class, you’re going to have problems. Not only will missing meals make you hungry and leave you feeling fatigued, it will also prompt you to eat foods that are not so good for you (such as pre-packaged items that are easy to grab and filled with fats, sugars, and preservatives). And when you substitute these quick-burning foods for the real deal, you’re only going to find yourself crashing hard and fighting hunger again in an hour.

Instead, find ways to get the good foods you need to sustain your blood sugar and your energy throughout the day. Forget about three huge meals, which may not fit into your schedule and will probably make you want to take a nap anyway. Eat several smaller meals that consist of the healthy carbs and lean protein that will leave you satisfied for hours and keep filling snacks like fruit, veggies, and nuts on hand to help you through those mid-afternoon doldrums.

Rather than amping up with soda, try some alternatives like green tea, which will give you a gentler caffeine boost without all the sugar. Finally, try to keep alcohol ingestion to a minimum since it not only has a lot of calories, but can also cause you to miss sleep and become dehydrated.

You’ll also want to consider exercise. While running across campus to your classes probably can’t hurt, you really need to implement some kind of sustained activity. Think about joining a cardio class or starting a weekly Frisbee game in the quad. If you have the support network in place to keep you coming back, you’re much more likely to get the motivation you need to stick to an exercise routine. And it can’t hurt to have a little fun while you’re at it!

This guest post is written by Leon Harris. Leon writes for Fatty Weight Loss where you can find articles on health and nutrition in addition to information on the no sugar diet.