how much is too much?

I've been stressed out lately. With the EE, History IA, the written task 2 (AVID English is behind by quite a bit) and anything else my other classes give me, its starting to take a toll.  On top of that, i'm also still going on college trips, as other possibilities enter my mind, which takes quite a large chunk of my free time on the weekends.While I feel that this is doable, its getting close to the breaking point. Maybe its how I spend my time, the fact that were the guinea pig class for TOK II, or the placement of the class itself  its pushing me onto thin ice.

How much homework is too much? Is anyone else feeling stressed about the papers?

got spirit?

I remember being so excited for Halloween, especially since a few landed on Friday and Saturday  for more time to keep looting. Getting a costume, a group of people to go with, and route to get the most candy. the group i would go with would go to someones house and set up candy trading stations to get the candy we wanted. this year, i stayed home as my brother and Dad went out to get candy. We usually count how many trick-or-treaters we get. Usually we would get upwards of 100, but this year, we only go 16. Most of the kids went to a trunk or treat, and those that ended up going house-to-house, only a few were in costumes.
When did the idea of Halloween change from running around multiple neighborhoods with creative costumes become walking a matter of feet between cars and lazy or no costumes? which brings me to my question;

What are your thoughts on the Halloween spirit these days?

(also, i find it quire counterproductive that we are trying to fight child obesity, and then turn around to throw massive amounts of candy at kids, and call it a holiday)

Routines

I often see myself falling into routines. Daily ones for school, weekly ones for events like piano lessons, what chores have to be done, and what parent i'm with for the night. Weekend ones as well, as i switch who i'm staying with for the weekend every week.
I like routines, but eventually get bored, and even a bit depressed if I stay in one for too long. On the flip side, when routine is broken, i get stressed out, especially if its short notice, or no notice at all.

do you find yourself in routines, and what are your feelings about them?

College and career path

After visiting a few colleges over MEA break, something dawned on me. I'm only 17, and making one of the most important decisions of my life. Not only choosing where i will stay for the next 4 to 5 years, but a degree, and a career for the rest of your life (possibly). What if you make the wrong choice in which college to attend, and don't fit in or like the feel after living on campus? What if i decide to switch majors, and the major you want to enter isn't offered at the school you attend currently? College is way to expensive to make a mistake like that. Things like this shouldn't be taken lightly.

 I feel that I will make the right choice, but how am I supposed to know what i want to do for the rest of my life?

Should we, and can we be trusted to make a huge decision like this at our age?

The Glass

People seem to be talking about birthdays a lot  and my birthday came to mind. I'll be turning 18, like most people, but that's not what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about the date I was born. December 31. New Years eve. People everywhere throw parties and celebrate the end of the old year and the new year. I also see it (jokingly) as people throw parties for my birthday. But they're parties counting down to the end of my birthday.  So this joke that I make every year got me thinking about perception and how we view things.

What causes us to see things the way we do, in terms of glass half  full or half empty?

Don't say anything stupid...

As everyone knows, I don't speak much in class. Or outside of class. I just don't say that much, ever. I'm just too afraid to say anything stupid in front of other people. I know i shouldn't be worried, but I am. I just don't want to be seen as that one guy who said that one thing. It doesn't have to be about what we say, it could also be what we look like.

Why do we, as a culture, worry so much about our perception to other people?

Child at heart

With college being one of the major things on my mind, i cant help but think of what college will be like. Can't wait til next year, and become responsible for myself. Finally begin what we've been working at for 12 years. From what people have said, it should be awesome. But something in the back of my head keeps telling me that I don't want to go to college, or even grow up.

This last summer was spent doing things I enjoyed from my childhood. Playing games like Crash Team Racing and Spyro the Dragonfor the Playstation 1 with my dad and brother. Star wars Battlefront 1 and 2 and Ratchet and Clank: Deadlocked for PS2. Goofing off at my grandparents house. Just did what i used to do when I was a kid. Nostalgia was a major thing that took over my summer.

I know i have to grow up and move on, but being considered and adult and having to take full responsibility seems stressful to me. Im still very excited to move on, but one small part of me doesn't want me to.Why do we not want to grow up?

50 million dollar hat industry

Team fortress 2 is a a team based game, revolving around a class system. All classes have strengths and weaknesses. in each class, there are even more weapons to further change the class. Along with this, you can customize the look of each character with hats and miscellaneous items, from facial hair to boots to shirts.  5 years after the release, the game is even bigger. Even more weapons, and even more hats. People love the hats so much, that analysts value the trading of these hats at around $50 million. That was 2 years ago.

The game has its own currency: metal. 2 weapons can be broken down to create a scrap. 9 scrap make a refined. Each refined is worth around $1. Anywhere from 2.33 ( 2 refined, 3 scrap) to 2.77 can get you a key, which is around $2.50. Above all, Buds (earbuds from ipods and iphones) are worth 24-28 keys, which is around $35, if you want to buy with real money. these buds can buy hats that have particle effects from confetti to plasma to sunbeams. These hats, known as unusuals, are worth anywhere from a bud to 50-70 buds. People buy these hats for $4000.

Can virtual economies enter real world economies? TF2 is only one example of random drop games. Diablo, World of Warcraft and even Runescape all have economies, and can have items purchased.

If they can, should it be allowed? Technically, its all the games property. you dont own the rights to it. Gold farms for world of Warcraft are sought after by Blizzard, the creator, and attempt to shut them down constantly. Its illegal to hold gold farms in China. Its that bad.

if you dont believe me on people buying these hats for 1000+ dollars?
heres a link: http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/3422809

Link to article about the tf2 economy:http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.334758-Analyst-Values-Team-Fortress-2-Hat-Trade-at-50-Million

As I continue to research for College, I keep running across the issue of money. Many times, the cost is the deal breaker.Cost is a major factor, especially in these economic times. but should it?

2 colleges on my radar right now are NDSU, and Iowa Stat University. Both are great engineering colleges, but i am wanting to go to ISU more than NDSU. the issue is that ISU costs just a bit more than double than what North Dakota State costs. Should I remove it off of the list because of this?

Some may argue yes. you could be potentially doubling what the debt for the other college could be, or even more than that.

On the other hand, there are ways to get around paying the higher price. The college itself could offer you  a scholarship, and possibly balance out the cost of the 2 colleges. you could also become a part-time student, get a job and a place to live. Eventually you would become a citizen of that state, and college would cost significantly less, around $13,000 less in ISU's case.

Even though it costs more on paper, doesn't mean it will for you.

Should cost be as big of a factor in a student's choice in a college as it is right now?

Trust in other consumers

One of the main reasons I look at electronic products online before I purchase something is to see what other people have been saying on the product. You can get a glimpse of whats good or bad about it. But can these peoples opinions be trusted?

I have run into many products that looked good on paper, but have been turned away by bad review of the product easily breaking, short battery life, runs slow, and many other reasons. On the other hand, I have purchased products that other people complained about, and not run into any issues that they had mentioned.

I often see "fan-boy"ing over products, where they praise one brand, and trash other brands. they hate the other product so much, that they'll go on man retail store websites, and write multiple bad things and give it a rating of 1 out of 5 stars. At the same time, they praise the brand they prefer to be being perfect in every way, and a 5 out of 5 stars.

On the other hand, many people write their experience with the product, showing both its good side and bad and saying that they liked it or not. Some people do it so much, that the website honors it with a "top contributor" tag on the review for being trustworthy time and time again.

There are also all kinds of people in between. people who write good review on a very bad product to trick you into buying it, and honest people just putting in their 2 cents. Can they all be trusted?

In my opinion, they shouldn't make or break purchases. if you're seriously interested in the product, take a look at what they say. what they say about their experience may not be the same as yours.