“wud u send me ur notes fr class 2day? I cudnt go cuz i 4got 2 set my fone”
Bet you’ve encountered poorly crafted texts like this before, right? Are you, too, beginning to wonder where any shred of etiquette has gone since 2000, when people started texting. Back then it was cool to use shorthand to keep texts 160 characters, but now it should be pretty cheap to write everything you need. Here are some quick tips on how to text well:
OK
Logical abbreviations you might use in an email, like Fri, Sat, Sun
Common acronyms like OMG, LOL, NVM that even your parents might understand after one explanation
The occasional emoticon, just don’t go overboard – two per text are plenty!
NOT OK
Unnecessary acronyms, because even hbu is very a/s/l, you know, like in those creepy MySpace messages you got back in middle school
Numbers in words: L8R is so Avril Lavigne circa 2002 in “Sk8er Boi”
Most important: DO NOT press send before double-checking the “Send To” box!
In general, if you have enough characters, write it right! Your thumbs won’t be any more sore from tapping those extra two or three letters, and you’ll look less like an airhead when you actually know the difference between your and you’re, instead of just copping out with a ur.
It’s no secret that my name comes from a character in classical literature. When I was a kid, it was very frustrating to constantly explain the story of my name, but here are a few Greek names that would’ve been way worse:
Medea
In a jealous rage, she killed her children to get back at her ex, Jason of the Argonauts. He did cheat on her, but she was worse than people on the Maury show. Also, she was the niece of an evil sorceress, Circe, who transformed anyone who offended her into an animal.
Pandora
We’re all curious… but she was under strict orders not to open a very special box-jar, but she did it anyway, and released all evil into the world! Whoops… her bad! At least she wasn’t punished for it.
Medusa
Snakes on a head. One look and you were dead. Enough said!
Whatever you’re “not giving up,” you could probably use some good tunes to maintain your motivation. Here’s a little playlist of songs I’m jamming to today:
Just got back from the first cheer practice of the season and, hate to say it, we’re a little rusty. I guess you can’t spend all of summer partying like in Last Friday Night and expect to be in prime cheer shape! Right now, we feel kind of like this:
OK, maybe not that worn out (actually, they weren’t half bad!), but here’s some inspiration:
Or the sassy Laker Girls:
We could definitely use a lesson or two from them on how to inspire all the guys in the stands. I’ll check back later in the semester with more updates!
Guess what, guys!? The women of a Filipino village went on a sex strike earlier this summer to end violence in their area! These brave women said “no way!” to their husbands until they agreed to peace, just like the original Lyssie in Aristophanes’ play, and according to a CNN article, “their stand helped end clashes in July between villages in rural Mindanao Island.”
So let’s give it up for these fearless Filipino women!
Here are some more helpful hints on how to navigate the quad like a pro:
1. Dorm walls are paper-thin
No, mom and dad won’t really know if you have “guests” in your room late at night… but your floormates might. Remember that every gossip session or phone conversation (or whatever else you do behind closed doors) might not be as private as you’d like it to be. I’m not trying to freak you out or anything, but just warning you of the nuances of “community living.” The more you make friends with your neighbors, the easier it is to laugh off any awkward moments.
2. The library isn’t the only place to study
It’s the week before midterms and you need a quiet place to concentrate, PRONTO. But everyone else has the same idea and the library is packed! Explore campus for remote student lounges, empty classrooms, and even graduate school libraries for prime study real estate. Just remember to use reading weeks to focus on your studies and not your study partners… unless you’re taking anatomy!
3. Some people get paid to listen your problems
Maybe it’s academic competition, maybe you’re having problems fitting in, maybe you’re just homesick… whatever’s bugging you, there is always someone on campus, on call (and on payroll) ready to help. Talk to your RA and/or seek out the counseling services at your university. They’re accommodating, great listeners, and they keep everything confidential.
“wud u send me ur notes fr class 2day? I cudnt go cuz i 4got 2 set my fone”
It’s no secret that my name comes from a character in classical literature. When I was a kid, it was very frustrating to constantly explain the story of my name, but here are a few Greek names that would’ve been way worse:
Guess what, guys!? The women of a Filipino village went on a sex strike earlier this summer to end violence in their area! These brave women said “no way!” to their husbands until they agreed to peace, just like the original Lyssie in 
