The Pandemic of Professors' Handwriting

       All right, I'm usually not a fan of reading online rants; but I've got to get this one out because I don't think I'm the only one with this frustration.  I spend hours of my time writing a perfectly crafted essay (or other piece of written work), not only do I type it up to all these crazy specifications on what font and what size and what information and how I should site my sources and what format and so on.  I make it look nice, I proofread it (or more often force my friends to) in the hopes that I might impress my professors enough to get a good grade or at least one that doesn't make me feel pathetic.  And what do I get in return?  Seizing chicken scratch that bleeds illegible comments that even if I stare at and ask everyone around me can't be deciphered.
      If I put all the effort into writing and perfecting this paper I really would rather not write, just because I'm told to and the professor can't even take a few extra minutes of their busy schedule (which is infinitely more important than ours) to make their handwriting legible.  Students would never be allowed to turn in a hand written paper in fear that the professor won't be able to read the thing and yet, when we get comments back that might improve our writing for the next paper, we can't even read what we did wrong (or right if you're lucky).  It's not even limited to male professors, female ones have just as hard a time writing clearly, as if they just skipped over second grade when they went over handwriting etiquette.  It's an epidemic.  And the cherry on top is if we want to discover our essay-writing faults in order to resolve them for the next round, we have to take even more time to go visit them during their office hours so that they may hopefully be able to read their own hand writing and tell us how to improve.  And often times even the professors can't read what they wrote.
        All I'm saying is make this a two-way street.  I have lots of essays to write, just like they have lots of them to read so please put a few extra minutes into writing legibly so that everyone's life is a little easier.  And don't go around complaining that you have so many papers to grade, professors of the world, and you don't have time to write perfectly for each one.  If you're going to bitch about them then don't assign them and then everyone will be slightly happier.

Cool Stuff That Floats

         A great way to beat college boredom is camping.  It's free (if you go to the right places), you can bring as many friends as you want and it's available in almost any place you go to school.  I'm a big camping fan: you don't have to worry about proper hygiene, you don't  have to drive once you get to the campsite, and who doesn't love campfires and s'mores?  With all these potential camping trips in my head, and nothing else to do (other than study) I began to browse the internet for cool tubes.  I prefer to camp right on the river (or any body of water) and with pool season about to start I've decided to compile a list of some the coolest floating things you can purchase online.  Feel free to add any you've found that I might not have.

1: Floating Beer Pong Table

It's seven feet of inflatable fun, it comes with removable trays to stick the cups in and it's ready for any drunken,  water-logged fun.

2: Remote-Controlled Floating Drink Tray

Too lazy to get up for that drink?  In the perfect position for a good tan and don't want to ruin it?  Is your drink on the other side of the pool?  No sweat, just press a few buttons and the grown up version of a remote control car will bring over your drink for you.

3:  Cabana Island

This massive float holds up to six people and comes with a bonus cooler so you won't ever have to leave the water.  Perfect for laying out all day without worrying about the burn.

4: Life-Like Crocodile

Ever wanted to chill in the water on a crocodile? Well now you can, it may not be super comfortable, but it sure will freak out your friends, and isn't that worth it?

5: MP3 Lounger

That's right, an MP3 playing water float, big enough to comfortably seat four adults.  With a water-proof speaker system and cup-holders, plug your player in and let the float do the rest.  It's also available for six people.

6: Water See Saw

I'm a fan of anything made for children adjusted for adult use; a teeter-totter that goes on the water is one of the more clever ways I've seen that happen. Just climb on a rock away. I'm sure if you swing hard enough, you could easily do somersaults, unlike its land-based counter part, just make sure you're in deep water.

7: Glowing Beach Ball

Being the least expensive item on this list, I'm already a big fan of it.  I can remember long nights of pool volleyball, but this makes it even better.  It glows, it rolls, you can smack it or throw it at your friends and it's nighttime friendly.

8: Two Person Tube

Not only is this perfect for floating down a river for two friends (I mean look how happy those people look) but it also has a cooler built right in.  Now you don't have to worry about tying an inflatable one to your tube (or worse, a Styrofoam one you shove in the tube next to you), the drinks are right within reach.

9: Trampoline

A trampoline on land is fun enough, so it's hard to imagine how great they are when placed in a body of water.  This one is eleven feet in diameter and has a ladder to help you get up.

10: Iceberg Climbing Wall 

No floating toys list could be complete without something completely outrageous and over-priced.  This floating iceberg is 20 feet tall, and if you're skilled enough to make it all the way to the top, the reverse side features a smooth slide to rocket you right back down to where you started.