QQ Avenue

College Insomnia

2010-06-10T11:05:00.000-04:00

From Luke Turcotte of Hack College,

The college lifestyle is one of fun, excitement, and unfortunately, stress. Maintaining a regular bed time can be extremely difficult when all nighters and crazy parties take jabs at your internal clock. Here's two great pieces of software to help you fall asleep at night.

Read the rest

Boiling Pot Music Festival | Kalamazoo Music Festival

2010-06-09T23:04:00.001-04:00

Boiling Pot Kalamazoo Music Festival--July 3rd & 4th-- $10/day $15/2-day pass

The Boiling Pot Music Festival will be taking place @ Arcadia Creek Festival Place and is presented by The Strutt & The I.D.E.A. Association. This festival is a great example of people in the community trying to bring people together to support each other. Local musicians and art vendors will have a great opportunity to display their work in front of an estimated +2000 community members.

The Strutt and The I.D.E.A. Association receive 5 stars for their amazing effort in bringing the Kalamazoo community together. I don't regularly go to The Strutt nor do I refer others to go there because I haven't been given a reason to.

Now I have a reason to support The Strutt, and refer others to go there: they went above mediocrity and remembered who they work for (fans, consumers, the community). The Strutt became remarkable. Remarkable simply meaning, a consumer is willing to make a remark about a service or product. They found a niche market and went with it. They started hosting local music and artists throughout the week to now, hosting the largest event they ever have in a very small time. They took a risk, went outside of the norm of simply being a bar that takes orders but instead became a partner with the community holding an event.

From Boiling Pot Fest,

Participants will enjoy amazing themed Boiling Pot art curated by a team of local artists. Collaborative art pieces created by attendees will be taking place throughout the weekend featuring various themes of community expression.

Art Vendors will feature a diverse array of local wares from Kalamazoo's talented artists. For vendor sign-up information, please visit boilingpotfest.com.

Delicious 4th of July BBQ favorites will be on sale including smoked pulled pork sandwiches, smoked chicken sandwiches, brats, veggie wraps and grilled corn-on-the-cob. The Kalamazoo Coffee Company will provide iced coffee and teas. Boiling Pot will feature a beer garden with 12 diverse brews, including regional favorites Bells, Arcadia, New Holland, Michigan Brewing Company, Saugatuck Brewing and Atwater Block Brewing. Enjoy a cold beverage outside while listening to great music on the 4th of July weekend downtown.

QQ Avenue

2010-06-01T10:57:00.000-04:00

QQ Ave:-noun (1.) A community where the

every day artist promotes his/her work. (2.) A one-way street where a lone cafe hosts discussions on: expression. FIN AID. college life. take place

Here at QQ Ave, we love to share what students and artists are

working on.

We want to feature your work wether writing, music, or video!

QQ Avenue supports: Writers, Musicians, Artists (of any flavor), Students and even "ugly sweater parties".

Since we are located in Michigan, Western Michigan University in particular, our site will regularly feature and discuss topics from around our area.

If you have any questions/comments or you're interested in sharing your work on our site email; write.qqavenue@gmail.com

How to...Power nap

2010-05-31T05:30:00.008-04:00

From Ririan of Ririan Project......

These short 20-minute power naps for people who are really engrossed in their work, almost always provide a fresh burst of new ideas and energy. They tend to eliminate the need for caffeine boosts during the workday. And, they guarantee a reserve of energy so that the working day isn’t followed by an evening in which he falls asleep on the couch watching TV or at a social event.

Contrary to popular opinion, napping isn’t for the lazy or depressed. Famous nappers have included Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Edison. The moral of the story: to be ultra-productive, just rest your head. You snooze, you gain. Give it a try for yourself and see if you aren’t amazed at the results!

Read the article

Another How to..Power nap article

TZZ8GW2K882G

Why you should choose an unpaid internship.

2010-05-31T05:10:00.004-04:00

From Brittany of Savvy Student

When there is no money attached to a job, it is hard to be enthusiastic about it. But internships have a lot attached to them that college students should be optimistic about. Unlike a job at a gas station or department store, internships are interesting and most of the time geared toward what YOU are interested in. We are usually only employed at those other places because we need cold hard cash. And while unpaid internships don’t give that opportunity, they are pleasing to the soul (and to the resumé). Here is a list of reasons why you should consider an unpaid internship, because experience can be more valuable than minimum wage.

Check her reasons

Like Brittany states in her article, there are numerous reasons on why you should participate in an unpaid internship. Despite that they are unpaid, the skills gained will set you apart from the crowd, like a rabid wolf amongst slumbering sheep. Not to mention they're a good resume buffer.

WMU students should check out BroncoJobs and search 'internships' to find local opportunities.

Should Illegal immigrants get college funding support?

2010-05-30T14:39:00.003-04:00

From Fox News

A public community college in California has set up a scholarship fund for immigrant students — including illegal immigrants. The $2,500 scholarship has sparked anger by some, including at least one lawmaker who is threatening to cut off federal funding to the school.

Orange County's Santa Ana College says the controversial new memorial scholarship will be funded by private donations and honors former student Tan Ngoc Tran, a student leader and immigrant-rights activist who transferred to Brown University before she was killed by a drunk driver on May 15.

Read the rest

Considering the scholarship is privately funded, I don't see any real reason for the scholarship not to exist. If someone wants to donate to the cause then that's their prerogative. It would be a whole different story if the scholarship was publicly funded.

Post in the comments on whether you feel this scholarship should exist and would you be for the scholarship if it was publicly funded?

Finally a stable version of Chrome for Mac!

2010-05-30T10:26:00.003-04:00

From Chrome Blog,

In our most recent beta release, we fired up all engines to bring to life our fastest version of Chrome to date.

Today, we’re bringing all this beta goodness to the stable channel so that it’s available to all Chrome users. We’re particularly excited to bring Chrome for Mac and Linux out of beta, and introduce Chrome’s first stable release for Mac and Linux users. You can read more about the Mac and Linux stable releases on the Google Mac and Chromium blogs respectively.

Check the blog

This is awesome. Although I'm using the dev version right now and I'm not running into too many problems using it. It does crash or run annoying slow, akin to running behind an old decrepit couple walking in a one lane bike trail with no side paths to go around, but it does get the job done and I'm rather happy with it thus far. Likely will wait until there's an auto update for beta users rather than downloading it now.

If you haven't tried chrome out yet I would definitely recommend trying it. I love using the various extensions and how they all are seamlessly integrated together. Not only that, you can disable or uninstall them at your leisure.

T&J Towing vs WMU Student. Round 1.

2010-05-30T10:00:00.004-04:00

From Jessica Leffler of WoodTV 8

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - A Kalamazoo towing company that has received multiple complaints to the Better Business Bureau is suing the Western Michigan University student who started a Facebook page against the company.

The four-page lawsuit filed by T&J Towing against Justin Kurtz claims defamation of character and libel. It asks for $750,000 from Kurtz, who received the papers Friday.

"It was $750,000 for slander and defamation of character -- lost income, I guess," he said. "It's kind of shocking. It's a little comical for how much he's suing me."

Check out the rest of the story

Join the Facebook group

Personally, this seems very childish. Not only is T&J Towing suing for an outrageous amount ($750,000) but they are trying to base their entire case on a facebook group in which they will try to prove that it has directly/indirectly caused them loss of contracts. Considering that it will be very hard to prove that any of them are lying or 'slandering' the company, this seems to be a very weak attempt at intimidating students with a rather obscenely frivolous lawsuit.

Feel free to post your own stories below or your opinions on the topic in the comments.

Vodka eyeballing. The best way to drink vodka!

2010-05-29T15:48:00.004-04:00

If you haven't heard of it already, you soon will. Vodka eyeballing apparently originated in the U.K. is now
being spread around the globe.

Vodka eyeballing is where you pour vodka into your eye instead of drinking it. People have claimed
that it gets you drunk faster than normal drinking.

Personally, it looks nothing short of ruining your eyesight and looking like a moron.

Here are a couple of links to 'Vodka eyeballing'
From The Huffington Post
From Super Perolas
From College Candy

Top 24 Apps for Ipad and more

2010-05-29T13:08:00.004-04:00

From David Pierce of Digitzd

Killer apps vary enormously. When you bought an Xbox 360 even though you already had an Xbox, it was Xbox Live that made you do it. Of course, you bought the Xbox in the first place because you wanted to play Halo. You bought a smartphone when you already had a perfectly good phone, because this one had the Internet.

For the iPad, the killer app is unclear: is it a gaming console, a netbook, an e-book reader, a TV, or something else? I think the answer, and I’ll grant you that this is a cop-out, is that the killer app for the iPad is its versatility. It’s all of those things and more, rolled into one device.

Read the rest on Digitzd

My personal choices include:

Video Game Design Camp for local Kzoo HS students

2010-05-29T12:07:00.006-04:00

From WMU News

KALAMAZOO--Students in grades eight through 12 are invited to the campus of Western Michigan University this summer for weeklong sessions on building their own video games.

Seven separate sessions are being offered in July and August on video game engine and iPhone applications through a program hosted by WMU's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Vantage Point Education. The course also includes tours of the CEAS facilities, including the solar car and computer science labs.

Check out the article here, which includes how to sign up and where to email your essay. A direct link to the WMU Camp Registration

This is a huge opportunity for Kalamazoo HS students and should definitely be taken advantage of. Not only is this a really awesome opportunity to get a head start in this field but you can submit via email an essay that could get you FREE attendance or lowered cost attendance! Either way if you are thinking about doing this, then you should definitely submit an essay even if you think you wont get chosen.

How to...get a work-study job

2010-05-27T11:39:00.003-04:00

From Debrah Fox of Fox College Funding

Federal Work-Study is not a loan, scholarship or grant. Students who qualify for Work-Study are expected to perform work as they would for any other job and, in return, receive a regular paycheck. The money is paid to the student, not directly to the school, so there are no federal strings on how the student uses the money.

The award amount (the maximum amount a student can earn in a Work-Study job) is determined by the college’s financial aid office. If your student qualifies, it will show up on his or her award letter. Work Study is a need-based program.

Read the rest

WMU Links for Work-Study jobs

Zombie survival is key! So are cheap textbooks.

2010-05-27T10:28:00.005-04:00

From William Rhode @We Compare Books

The chronicle of the Zombie War inWorld War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War takes you from New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the twelve year old patient zero, to floating cities of refugees that dotted the world’s oceans, to the initial feeble attempts by the major world powers to combat the rising and walking dead, to the development of the Redeker Plan that offered humanities best hope for survival, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt that helped turned the tide in North America and paved way for plausible recovery.

Read the review.

The The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead is another addition to his zombie literary collection. This book is quite hilarious and takes zombie survival very seriously.

We Compare Books is a very useful site in regards to comparing textbooks for your college courses. Having just searched a book I had recently bought for $90, I find that I could have gotten a used version for $4.73 and that includes shipping & handling!

A further in-depth article about the site will be posted in the near future.

Love music? WIDR needs help reviewing CDs

2010-05-26T21:33:00.001-04:00

From WIDR

Hey gang,

Our new music director, Andy, needs a little help reviewing CDs! We get in the ballpark of 100+ new CDs weekly, and Andy could use your ears. In addition to helping your favorite independent radio station, you can also listen to all of the awesome new music before it is available! If you are interested in helping out, stop by the WIDR office during Andy’s office hours!

Mon: 2-4pm

Tues: 10am- 4pm

Wed: 2-4pm

Thursday: 11am-4pm

Check out WIDR

College girls, here's summer saving fun.

2010-05-26T14:41:00.003-04:00

From Julie @EveryCollegeGirl.com

Summer is here, and school is out! For most college girls, it’s easy to throw concerns about money out the window and concentrate on having fun and relaxing. There’s no reason not to focus on fun, but there are plenty of ways to save money at the same time. Read on for some suggestions.

Check out the rest of Julie's article.

Writer's Block

2010-05-25T23:35:00.003-04:00

Guide for submitting writing, poetry and other literary resources

Here we will post the latest writing or poetry submission.

Guidelines for submitting work:

*Maximum 1,000 words

*Will not feature content that consists of extreme sex and swearing

*By submitting your work to be featured you are stating the work is your own

and that you have sole copyrights. Don't plagiarize.

*Depending on the quantity of submissions, we may feature your work for up to 1 month.

*Submitting your work does not guarantee it will be featured, so don't take it personally if you haven't seen your work featured yet. It may be lost or we may have forgotten about it, we are human!

*In addition to submitting your work, we will leave comments open so you are able to get feedback on your work.

Writing for QQ Avenue

Interested in writing articles for QQ Avenue? Want to get your feet wet in writing online? Have interesting ideas or fresh approaches to studying or college life, then this is the place for you!

Sample Article Topics

General College Advice
Study tips
Healthy living ideas & advice
Upcoming art, music, festival or literary events

Writing Guidelines

Excellent writing skills (there are several resources on campuses and online)
Article length should range from 300-500 words
Must be original article (No plagiarizing, article will be reviewed before being posted)
Article should be unique, thought-provoking and even controversial ideas are accepted

Sangren Hall is getting a huge(expensive) makeover!

2010-05-25T21:07:00.003-04:00

From Ben Coleman (Western Herald)

That lack of funding could translate into a 3 percent tuition increase in 2011 to pay off the debt acquired for the new building, Rinker said

While WMU will have to borrow to pay for the cost of the building, without the additional funding or without significant gifts to the University, the new Sangren building will save about $300 thousand per year in energy costs due to the positioning of the building in relation to the sun, top-of-the-line heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and what is known as daylight harvesting, according to WMU Facilities Management officials.

The best part is that clearly we can't use $4 million dollars anywhere else on campus so we might as well go ahead and spend as much as we can.

Check out the article here.

Kick-Ass speed reading guide.

2010-05-24T15:50:00.005-04:00

From Stefan Knapen of Study Successful,

A person who reads on the normal speed takes 9 hours to cover the reading assignments. The average student doesn’t read anything, but spend around 8 hours on understanding the material anyway. I read 2-3 times as fast as a normal person, so I need only 3 hours for reading. With taking notes during the reading, read parts again the total amount of time I need to understand the material is only 4-5 hours. That is only half of the time the average student needs to cover the material!

Check out the guide.

LSAT, college courses, and work!?

2010-05-24T15:21:00.007-04:00

From Studenthack.org,

If you have a full college course load and a decent social life, it’s probably hard enough to balance the two. Add studying for the LSAT to the mix, and you may feel overwhelmed. This post gives you 5 ways to balance studying for the LSAT (or GMAT, MCAT, GRE, etc.) with school and life obligations. I’ll speak with regard to the LSAT throughout this article, but just apply my advice to your relevant exam.

Read about the 5 ways

Utilize those Mac corners!

2010-05-24T15:08:00.004-04:00

From Kevin of lifehacker

Mac OS X: Assuming you're not doing anything with the very corners of your screen, free (for now) utility MaxMenus has a use for them—customized menus of recent documents or applications, mounted volumes, system preferences, or other shortcuts.When you mouse close to a screen corner, a barely-noticeable green blip appears at the very edge. Click it, and down drops your applications or whatever you wanted to keep convenient.

Western Michigan University

2010-05-24T14:47:00.015-04:00

Student Resources and College Advice

If you have any events, articles or topics pertaining to WMU feel free to post/discuss in the comments below. Also, if you would like a link added below then email:

(write.QQavenue@gmail.com)

WMU related Posts

Work-study Information

WMU Work-study FAQ

On-Campus

Community Service

America Reads work-study

Local Artists, music, radio,writing and events

WIDR