There’s something about fictional bands that makes them almost as fun as real ones (and sometimes more so). They’ve got the same outsized characters and dreams of stardom, but they’re also created with a sense of humor and self-awareness that makes them work as satires of real rockers. This list is by no means exhaustive — for more, check out The Rocklopedia Fakebandica — but the 20 groups featured here are among the best, or at least the most infamous, fictional bands ever unleashed in TV and film. Turn it up:

1. The Soggy Bottom Boys: The three main characters in the Coen brothers’ fantastic comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou? form a solid bluegrass group to make some quick cash. They score a hit with their cover of “Man of Constant Sorrow,” which gets trotted out several times throughout the film. It’s not really George Clooney and company doing the singing — lead vocals are handled by Dan Tyminski of Alison Krauss’ Union Station — but still, The Soggy Bottom Boys are a great band.
2. Sexual Chocolate: Coming to America was the last good Eddie Murphy movie, but you can’t say he didn’t go out with a bang: It’s packed with hilarious moments in which Murphy plays multiple characters, including Randy Watson, the terrible lead singer of Sexual Chocolate. (Though you may know Watson as Joe the policeman from the “What’s Going Down?” episode of “That’s My Mama.”) I would kill to see Sexual Chocolate on tour, wouldn’t you?
3. The Be Sharps: “Homer’s Barbershop Quartet” kicked off the fifth season of “The Simpsons,” when the series was in its creative heyday. The episode is a goofy but loving ode to ’80s culture as Homer tells the tale of his musical success as part of a barbershop group featuring Apu, Barney, and Principal Skinner. Their song, “Baby on Board,” is both a playful skewering of a fad and a nicely constructed barbershop tune.
4. Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good Time Family Band Solution: One of the great gags on “Arrested Development” was Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good Time Family Band Solution, a band formed solely to shill for medical corporations at conventions. The show’s devotion to detail was top-notch, and even the brief moments showing the band were amazing.
5. Jesse and the Rippers: “Full House” was many things; a good series was not one of them. The schlock-filled sitcom ran for an inexplicable eight seasons, during which time John Stamos’ Jesse Katsopolis fronted a rock band with about as much edge as you’d expect from one on a series now rerun on ABC Family. Still, there there were some inspired moments of unintentional hilarity, especially when it came to Jesse’s band. If you make it through this video without laughing, you’re tougher than most:
6. The Folksmen: It’s hard to pick just one band from Christopher Guest’s A Mighty Wind. The New Main Street Singers are a great family-style group, while Mitch & Mickey are a spot-on re-creation of a 1960s folk duo. But it’s The Folksmen who seem to have the most fun and the fewest emotional issues, so they get the shout-out. Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean are all talented musicians in their own right, which gives their fake band an added edge.
7. Stillwater: Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical Almost Famous charts the rise of fake rockers Stillwater in the early 1970s, as seen through the eyes of a teenage fan who writes about them for Rolling Stone. The band absolutely nails the sound and style of the era, so much so that many viewers probably wondered if Stillwater was a real band they’d somehow missed out on.
8. The Wonders: Here’s the thing about the Wonders: They’re really good. The band at the heart of That Thing You Do! scores a pop hit with the titular song, but the song’s got real pep thanks to writer Adam Schlesinger, of Fountains of Wayne. It’s a perfect summer song guaranteed to get in your head and stay there (trust me).
9. Infant Sorrow: Fronted by Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), Forgetting Sarah Marshall‘s Infant Sorrow is a ruthless parody of the middle-of-the-road pop rock that strives to be world-changing but is really anything but. “Inside of You” would be a great pop song if it weren’t so, well, terrible.
10. Crucial Taunt: The name isn’t as inventive as “The Shitty Beatles,” but Crucial Taunt of Wayne’s World fame is still a fun band of the generic early-’90s rock persuasion. Tia Carrere is only occasionally believable as a rock star, but she does well enough covering The Sweet’s “Ballroom Blitz.”
11. Wyld Stallyns: Wyld Stallyns aren’t technically good, either in a real-world sense or in the world of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. (And the less said about Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, the better.) Still, they’ve got a lot of heart, and they’re going to save the world with their music, so they get a little slack.
12. School of Rock: The title group from School of Rock is made up of kids with more musical talent than you or I will ever have, and their song “Teacher’s Pet” is a surprisingly catchy ode to the ups and downs of school life. Perfect listening for this time of year.
13. Barry Jive and the Uptown Five: Speaking of Jack Black: He was also the leader of Barry Jive and the Uptown Five in High Fidelity, though they originally called themselves Sonic Death Monkey (and briefly flirted with Kathleen Turner Overdrive). To the surprise of the other characters, he turned out to be a solid vocalist with a love of great music, as evidenced by his catchy cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
14. The Commitments: The title band from 1991′s The Commitments is one of the best blues-rock outfits in movie history. Composed of working-class Irish guys, The Commitments perform soul music with with skill to spare. Definitely a band and a movie worth checking out.
15. Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem: Everyone likes Muppets, especially when it comes to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the madcap rock band from “The Muppet Show.” Really, if you’re looking for funk and boogie music performed by felt puppets, this is the band for you.
16. Dingoes Ate My Baby: Before being written off the show to do other things, Seth Green played Oz on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the soft-spoken member of affable rock group Dingoes Ate My Baby. The band’s music was actually provided by real-life alt-rockers Four Star Mary.
17. Zack Attack: Again, tough to pick just one musical group. “Saved By the Bell” also featured the dubious talents of Hot Sundae, the band that sent Jesse into a caffeine pill frenzy. But it was the dream episode in which the gang suddenly develops musical talent that gave the world Zack Attack, the fake band that trumps the series’ other contributions. The music is so phenomenally bad that the joke becomes watching the band get famous with such a lousy tune.
18. The Beets: For a certain demographic, The Beets are instantly recognizable. They’re the tongue-in-cheek band from Nickelodeon’s “Doug” that sang about killer tofu

. They’re a cute knock-off of British Invasion bands, and their song is weirdly addictive.

19. The Rutles: Created by Monty Python member Eric Idle, The Rutles were intended as a spoof of The Beatles but wound up catching on and actually selling a few records in the late 1970s. Their songs are accurate rip-offs of Beatles tunes but listenable in their own right.
20. Spinal Tap: Great fake band, or the greatest? The stars of the brilliant mock-documentary This Is Spinal Tap take fake rocking to new heights, complete with big hair, inflated egos, and enough sexual innuendo to destroy a mini Stonehenge. And if they happen to look a lot like The Folksmen, well, that’s just a coincidence.

The idea of a hangover cure is, honestly, a bit misleading. In the same way that the smartest gamble is not to wager anything, the best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink. But if you want to drink, it is possible to reduce the risk of a hangover and take the appropriate steps to beat one back before it knocks you down. Print this out and keep it in your wallet or purse. You’ll thank me later.

1. Eat first: Never, ever, ever drink on an empty stomach. Never. Never ever. Ideally, you’d pack in a full and balanced meal before hitting the bar to start soaking up the alcohol, but the least you can do is put some grub in your stomach. A full stomach impedes the flow of alcohol into the bloodstream. If you remember nothing else, remember to eat before you drink, or at the very least as you start to drink. Always.
2. Hydrate before: You know why you urinate so much when you’re out drinking? It’s not because you’re taking in more liquid than normal; it’s because that liquid is a diuretic. For anyone who slept through biology, a diuretic increases the quantity and frequency of urination. You’re literally drying out your body. As a result, it’s important to make sure ahead of time that you’re well hydrated and can handle the diuretic effects of the booze. Hence, drink before you drink.
3. Skip coffee: Some people swear by a cup of black coffee after they drink, even before going to bed. Those people are crazy, and wrong. Coffee is packed with caffeine, which is another diuretic. It might sound or smell like just the thing you need to get a little post-boozing clarity, but you’ll just be compounding the effects of the dehydration you’ve already put your body through all night.
4. Stock up on Ibuprofen or Aspirin: When you’re buying a headache medicine — something you should ideally do before drinking — you’ll likely be faced with a choice between Ibuprofen and Acetominophen. They probably sound the same, but they’re not. Acetominophen can have a negative effect when combined with alcohol; regular drinkers can’t take as much of it as non-drinkers, and in rare cases the pill can lead to liver damage. Stick with Ibuprofen and Aspirin and be safe. Another tip: Wait to take the pills until the following morning, when the alcohol is out of your system.
5. Rest up: A great way to fight a hangover is to sleep as much as possible. It is, of course, not advised that you call in sick and tell your boss you need to go back to bed to deal with a hangover, since employers tend to frown on such excuses. Your best bet: do your partying on the weekend, when you know you can sleep as much as possible the next morning and give your body the ability to recuperate.
6. Understand what you’re drinking: Alcoholic drinks can contain congeners, substances that are produced during fermentation and contribute to a drink’s color. Typically, darker drinks have more congeners than lighter ones, and therefore might give you a worse hangover. Go for lighter drinks, and avoid the cheap stuff, if you want to do your part to avoid a hangover.
7. Hydrate after: When you’re done drinking for the night, go right back to the beginning and drink some more water. Hydrating before the evening starts is a smart way to counter the effects of drinking, and you can add to the positive effects by downing a giant glass of water as soon as you get home. It will replenish your body, which is still being drained by the remnants of the booze in your system.
8. Avoid the hair of the dog: A popular hangover cure is to take a drink upon waking of whatever alcoholic beverage you were consuming the night before. People claim this has a lessening effect on the hangover, but they’re wrong: it just prolongs the buzz, puts alcohol back in your system (and on an empty stomach), and generally prolongs the period you have to wait until you feel better. When you wake up, no matter how much you want to or even think you need to, don’t go back to drinking. You’re done for a bit.
9. Take your vitamins: If you haven’t been taking your vitamins, your hangovers are probably more intense than usual. Particularly, low levels of vitamin B6 and B12 can make that morning-after headache extra-excruciating. When you’re chowing down on a greasy meal, work in those two vitamins and your chances of a speedy recovery will increase. Of course, B6 and B12 should be taken on a regular basis to ensure all-around good health.
10. Take a shot of wheatgrass juice: Chase away last night’s shots with a shot of wheatgrass juice. The natural detoxifier will cleanse your liver while assisting with the elimination of waste. In order to mask the not-so-pleasant taste, have a glass of water or juice on standby, or purchase it in powder form and mix it into a drink. Wheatgrass juice can be purchased at your local health food store.

Gainful employment no longer just means preparing students to find work after graduation. The U.S. Department of Education has redefined gainful employment to include adequate preparation for graduate employment and ensure sufficient earnings so that students can repay their debt. Colleges that do not meet these minimum standards for graduate employment and earnings may become ineligible for Title IV funds, also known as Federal student financial aid. Gainful employment regulations are aimed at for-profit institutions, including online colleges, because they are more expensive and students accrue more debt and more loan defaults overall. Although the gainful employment regulations are intended to help students find higher-paying jobs and lessen their debt, it has also been criticized for ignoring certain student demographics and many worry that it will hurt the job market more than help. Here are 5 ways gainful employment impacts online colleges:

• Loss of Federal Student Aid for Programs

  Most online colleges are for-profit institutions that depend almost entirely on Federal student aid funds. If federally-funded college programs don’t meet the Department’s minimum standards of preparing students for employment and making sure they earn sufficient salaries to repay their student loan debt. The loss of Federal student aid is bad for schools that want to maintain their programs, Federal funding and not have their reputations tarnished. However, students will still be eligible for aid and they can enroll in better, high-performing programs. In addition, taxpayers will no longer pay for programs that are not performing well. The new gainful employment regulations hold colleges accountable for their academic programs, while motivating institutions to better prepare students and help them lower their student loan debt.

• Loss of Programs

  Institutions that do not meet the Department’s gainful employment regulations may lose their eligibility for Federal student aid for certain programs. Colleges will have no other choice than to cancel the programs that aren’t performing well and students will have to switch majors or transfer to another institution. Considering the wide variety of degree programs offered at for-profit online colleges, there are certain programs that continually fall short of the rest. Culinary, cosmetology and other nonconventional training programs that aren’t preparing students for what Congress stated as “gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” The Department predicts that approximately 16 percent of programs will lose eligibility when the rules take effect.

• Strengthen the Online College System

  The proposed rules will help weed out college programs that aren�t preparing students for gainful employment and worsening student debt loads. The new gainful employment standards will help improve America’s higher education system, as well as strengthen distance education. Since most online colleges are for-profit institutions, they too will be monitored by graduation rate, employment rate, individual earnings, default rates and other factors that determine gainful employment. Gainful employment will help clean up online schools, by cutting the funding of programs that aren’t performing well, and holding schools accountable for their academics and employment preparation. The good news is that schools still have time to improve their programs, prepare students for higher-paying jobs, increase scholarships, reduce dropout rates and help students manage student loan debt before the proposed rules take effect.

• Make Online Colleges More Accountable

  When schools are held accountable for their actions, they are more likely to be mindful of their academic programs and how well they prepare graduates for work. In order to retain their Federal student aid and credibility, online and traditional colleges will have to follow the Department’s new rules for gainful employment. Like a checks and balances system, the Department will require institutions to publically disclose their information to determine if their programs fit the gainful employment rules, and require poorly performing programs to issue warnings, like debt-to-earnings measures, to current and prospective students. If a school ignores the importance of gainful employment, their programs will be in jeopardy and their enrollment may see a significant drop. By taking accountability for their programs and preparing students for recognized work within their field, online colleges can continue to grow as a reputable and affordable academic experience.

• Create Stricter Standards

  Higher education institutions will be measured by stricter standards because of the new gainful employment definition. The repayment rate and debt-to-earnings measurements determine whether a program is eligible for Federal financial aid. In order to for a program to be fully eligible, the repayment rate of Federal loans has to be at least 45 percent, or graduates have a debt-to-earnings ratio of less than 20 percent of discretionary income or less than 8 percent of total income. A program is ineligible when the repayment rate is less than 35 percent and graduates have a debt-to-earnings ratio above 30 percent of discretionary income and 12 percent of total income. Students who are currently enrolled in an ineligible program can receive financial aid for the current award year and one other award year, but new students are not eligible for Federal student aid. Programs that are on restricted status are not fully eligible or ineligible, but they are subject to limited enrollment growth, and the curriculum must be recognized by employers who have prospective job vacancies within that particular academic field. Programs can regain eligibility by working with former students to raise repayment rates or increase their average salary earnings, as well as lower the debt and increase the earning potential of current students. In other words, graduates’ salaries must be sufficient enough to repay their student loan debt.

Viral videos have been circulating on the internet for more than a decade. But since the creation of YouTube, they’ve become a part of pop culture, garnering up to hundreds of millions of views and turning everyday people into celebrities. As a result, phrases like “Don’t tase me, bro” and “Leave Britney alone” have become familiar to people worldwide. Below are 10 of the most unforgettable viral videos of all-time. Each one gained rapid popularity by spreading person-to-person from people like you and your friends.

1. “Charlie Bit My Finger”
   The cuteness of English brothers Harry and Charlie is undeniable, especially Charlie after he bites Harry’s finger and giggles in a seemingly diabolical manner. The father of the boys, Howard Davies-Carr, uploaded the video to share with their godfather in the US and was on the verge of taking it down before it exploded in popularity. Since it first appeared on YouTube in May of 2007, “Charlie Bit My Finger” has garnered more than 221 million views – the most viewed video that doesn’t feature a pop star.
2. “Star Wars Kid”
   First appearing on the internet in 2003, the “Star Wars Kid” video is the oldest viral video on this list and one of two that didn’t initially gain fame on YouTube. The video shows Canadian high school student Ghyslain Raza wielding a golf ball retriever as if it were lightsaber. It was self-recorded in November of 2002 in a studio in his Trios-Rivieres, Quebec high school, and it was later discovered by a classmate. Eventually, the video was uploaded onto the internet, becoming viral and prompting Raza’s family to file a lawsuit against the families of four of his classmates. Despite the emotional grief Raza endured as a result of the video – he dropped out of high school and entered a psychiatric ward – he has emerged as a successful adult, leading a conservation society dedicated to preserving the heritage of his hometown.
3. “Numa Numa”
   Gary Brolsma earned his internet fame by performing the “Numa Numa Dance,” which was released in December of 2004 – before YouTube became a top website. In the video, Brolsma is enthusiastically lip-syncing and dancing to Dragostea din tei by O-Zone – a Moldovan pop trio. The phrase “Numa Numa” comes from the chorus of the song, meaning “you don’t want, don’t want to take me.” After the video gained popularity, Brolsma gained mainstream media coverage and even appeared in a Weezer video.
4. “Evolution of Dance”
   For a while, the “Evolution of Dance” video by Justin Laipply was the most-watched video in YouTube. Mass audiences tune in to observe Laipply dance to songs ranging from Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” and ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” in just six minutes. The video ranks in the top 10 in many of the site’s categories; it’s the first most favorited video of all-time. Laipply has responded to the success by composing a second “Evolution of Dance” video, and currently, a third is in the works.
5. “I Dreamed a Dream”
   Susan Boyle’s awe-inspiring performance on “Britain’s Got Talent” thrust the homely 48-year-old Scottish woman into international music superstardom. Unlike many other well-known viral videos, this one gained popularity for all the right reasons, teaching us that appearances can be deceiving. Boyle’s rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” hit YouTube on April 11, 2009 and the total viewership of all of her videos reached 100 million by April 20th. Her popularity translated into commercial success, as her first album “I Dreamed a Dream” was the fastest selling debit album in the history of Britain and the fastest selling debut album in more than a decade in the US. Because of her inspirational story, a Time Magazine poll ranked her as the seventh most influential person in the world, well-ahead of President Barack Obama. Note: the video posted isn’t the original uploaded to YouTube because the user disabled embedding.
6. “Here It Goes Again”
   “Here It Goes Again” gained more than one million views less than a week after it was uploaded onto YouTube. And while the song is generally regarded as a catchy tune, the video was popularized mainly because of the treadmill dance performed by the band members. It took the band seventeen tries to perfect the routine, and its dedication was rewarded when YouTube recognized the video as the most creative of 2006. Note: again, the video posted isn’t the original uploaded to YouTube because the user disabled embedding.
7. “HaHaHa” (Laughing Baby)
   There’s nothing quite as pleasant as a baby’s laughter, especially when it’s as uncontrollable and crisp as the baby in the HaHaHa video, which was filmed by the boy’s father in their kitchen in Sweden. Known as “Small Daring Boy” – his description underneath the video on YouTube – the tot has attracted more than 130 million views since the video was uploaded in 2006, making it by far the favorite laughing baby video on the internet.
8. “Don’t Tase Me, Bro”
   Andrew Meyer became an overnight internet sensation after he was “tased” for disrupting Senator John Kerry’s appearance at a Constitution Day forum at the University of Florida. The incident began when Meyer demanded to be allowed to question Kerry, yelling that he had been waiting for two hours. Officers responded by pulling him away, but he escaped their grips and then was permitted by Kerry to ask his questions. Meyer handed over his camera and spoke for more than a minute, using vulgarity that was deemed inappropriate by organizers. Police officers attempted to escort him out of the room, eventually threatening to taser him, thus provoking the famous line, “Don’t tase me, bro.” Thanks to YouTube, it immediately became ingrained in the American lexicon.
9. “Chocolate Rain”
   If you don’t know why Tay Zonday moves away from the mic, then you missed out on one of the hottest viral videos during the spring and summer of 2007. “Chocolate Rain” features the then-24-year-old grad student playing a digital piano while singing into a condenser microphone with his deep, gravelly and obviously untrained voice. Although his fame has come as somewhat of a joke, the message of the song is actually serious, addressing race issues in America. It has been referenced on numerous occasions on television and has been parodied by famous artists like John Mayer. Zonday even performed it on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
10. “Leave Britney Alone”
    Chris Crocker’s tearful pleas for people to “leave Britney alone” came after the pop icon’s comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2007. The video is among the top 10 most discussed videos on YouTube of all-time, generating more than 500,000 comments – many of which are critical responses questioning whether Crocker is a male or female. Many people claim the video was staged, but Crocker has stated that he displayed genuine emotion in the “Leave Britney Alone” video, even though he has acknowledged that many of his videos are acts.

Students will do anything to fight the boredom that occurs during a long day of school. In the past, they would bring items like pogs and laser pointers, which served as mindless entertainment during downtime and class time. Recently, items like cell phones have become a more engaging way to distract one’s self. It’s instinctive of students to test the boundaries established by their teachers, and for as long as organized schools exist, teachers will have collections of items they deem inappropriate for use in the classroom. Here are 15 items commonly confiscated in schools today.

1. Cell Phones
   Cell phones are without question the biggest annoyance to teachers, the biggest distracters of students and the most confiscated item at schools across the country. Given their large number of functions, there are various ways in which students use them to pass time. But the random ringing and incessant texting are the biggest pet peeves of most teachers today, and zero tolerance policies have been implemented to combat the disturbances. Despite the power held by the schools, students are fighting back, as evidenced by the lawsuit filed by Arkansas high school student Anthony Koch against his teacher and principle, though the case was eventually dismissed and he lost his appeal.
2. iPods
   In the ’80s, it was the Walkman. In the ’90s, it was the CD player. For the past several years, it has been the iPod. Each of these items has been commonly confiscated by teachers through the years, depriving students of their favorite tunes. In 2007, one 17-year-old student and his friend went so far as to break their teacher’s neck after he confiscated an iPod.
3. Notes
   When students can’t text one another, a timeless way to send an urgent message is by passing a handwritten note. Although it may seem archaic – notes have been confiscated for generations – it offers immediate gratification. Of course, students can get into deep trouble if they write inappropriate material, especially about the teacher.
4. Magazines
   Whether it’s Vogue, Sports Illustrated, Cosmo, or one of the racier gentlemen’s magazines, the presence of non-educational publications during class time is frowned upon. Punishment can range from simple confiscation to detention or worse if the magazine features lurid content.
5. Books
   Books that aren’t relevant to class discussions are distractions, even though teachers encourage their students to read and read often. In some cases, students attempt to complete reading assignments during other classes so they won’t have to do them at home. The teachers of those classes usually take this as an insult.
6. Hats
   Some schools ban hats of any kind while others allow them as long as they aren’t a disruption. One school in Rhode Island recently banned a patriotic hat that was adorned with toy soldiers, though the policy was later changed. Students often test the limits by wearing attention-grabbing hats that feature loud colors, eye-popping designs or outdated styles.
7. Inappropriate Attire
   Disruptive clothing and accessories that aren’t permitted on school grounds according to campus policy can be taken up as long as the item doesn’t cover an important part of the body. Banned clothing usually includes skimpy skirts and shorts, shirts that display too much cleavage, garments that are overly baggy and shirts that have offensive designs or statements. Some schools keep replacement items of clothing so they can force students to change on the spot.
8. Sunglasses
   Although the ’80s are long gone, students may occasionally wear their sunglasses indoors – perhaps to hide their dilated pupils or gain attention. They’re innocuous, but some teachers find them disruptive, so students typically have to show off their new Costa Del Mars elsewhere. In many cases, they’re taken up by default after they’ve been left behind after class
9. Playing Cards
   Where cards are present, money is changing hands. Teachers would much prefer their students study during their free time and not gamble. In an effort to prevent the vice, card decks are banned at many schools across the country.
10. Food
    For many growing young men and women, just one lunch break isn’t enough during a seven-hour day. So they alleviate their hunger pains by bringing food items like chips, pretzels and candy to munch on during class. However, not only are the noises created by snacking annoying, but the crumbs left behind are pest bait, and schools are notorious for having major pest problems.
11. Drinks
    Just like with food, the noises and spills that occur while drinking can detract from a peaceful and clean environment. In most cases, water is allowed because it doesn’t stain and isn’t sugary, but sodas, for example, are iffy in many schools.
12. Cigarettes
    Nicotine addiction is tough to break, so teen cigarette smokers find time to smoke in the boys’ (or ladies’) rooms when they aren’t in class. Plus, some teens still hold the misguided notion that smoking is cool and doing it on school grounds is super-rebellious.
13. Marijuana
    It’s an easy and cheap drug to obtain, and it has been a staple of high school culture for decades. Everyone remembers the stoner kids who found it necessary to sneak a couple of ounces with the accompanying paraphernalia into their lockers. These miniature drug kingpins generally endure much worse punishment than just losing their buzz.
14. Medications
    Schools require that medication be cleared with a nurse and/or teacher before it’s brought onto school grounds. Many students misuse medications, taking them without prescriptions while ignoring the negative consequences the drugs may have on their health. Adderall in particular is popularly distributed in high schools, so strict preventative measures have been taken to prevent reckless behavior.
15. Weapons (or perceived weapons)
    Items that could conceivably be used to harm other students are confiscated and harsh punishment is usually given as a result. Obviously, there’s zero tolerance for guns and knives, but even items that are seemingly harmless are taken up if they can be used for nefarious purposes. Included on the list of banned weapons are slingshots, toy guns, and even a spoon/fork/dull knife utensil used by a six-year-old Cub Scout.

Students who attend class regularly are a rare breed. They value their education and seek to gain tidbits of knowledge with each lecture, preparing for a successful life after graduation. Only one obstacle can come between such driven students and a fulfilling in-class experience – annoying classmates. These inconsiderate students stay entrenched in their own self-involved worlds while remaining ignorant of the sensitivities of the 15 to 400 peers who surround them. We’ve all endured the annoyances they cause – unless, of course, you’re the annoyer. Here are the 10 ways to make your college classmates hate you.

1. Arrive late often
   Do you bust through the doors just as the lecture is getting meaty with material, disrupting the concentration of your fellow students who take the class seriously? Have you walked in front of the professor while he was addressing the class? If so, you’ve probably grinded the gears of not only your classmates, but your professor as well.




2. Don’t silence your phone
   Few things are more annoying to your classmates than the sound of an obnoxious phone ringer going off while pertinent facts are being given. The problem is so rampant in college classes today that some professors have taken measures to embarrass students who are offenders. However, less strict professors let it slide at the expense of their more attentive students.




3. Don’t bother to control your fidgetiness
   If you’re fighting a losing battle against ADD, don’t take it out on your peers. Nobody likes to sit next to someone who incessantly taps their foot or pen, bumps their surrounding seats and invades the space of their classmates. Students should utilize the services and medication prescribed at their campus clinic – then everyone will be able to focus better.




4. Eat a meal during class
   Hungry? Why wait? Students who pig out during class often disturb their classmates with poor manners. The common sounds emanated by these undernourished undergrads include the crumpling of plastic wrappers and bags, straw-sucking noises and the crunching of hard foods like chips, crackers and pretzels.




5. Carry on conversations during the lecture
   Were last night’s escapades so awesome that you just can’t wait to tell your buddy in class? Are you incapable of whispering? If so, you’re neighbors in class might as well have stayed home because they aren’t getting any notes. If you’ve been on the other end of the equation, you might’ve had to resist the urge to shove your notebook down their throat.




6. Interject too often
   Some people’s opinions just have to be heard and nothing will prevent them from giving their two cents. Other people simply like to hear themselves talk, and class time is their chance to speak to a captive audience. And, of course, there are the students who have a myriad of questions that just can’t wait until after class. If you’re one of these offenders, it’s your world and we’re just living in it.




7. Be an ardent contrarian
   Usually, attempting to straighten out your professor doesn’t go over well. Not only are you offending them, but you’re also preventing your classmates from receiving the entire lecture and getting out of dodge in a timely manner. Hone your debate skills in classes that require participations points, or save it for law school.




8. Talk out of your butt
   Don’t let not reading the assigned material stop you from acting like the world’s foremost expert on the subject. It’s one thing to be an ardent contrarian and actually know what you’re talking about, and it’s another to just respond emotionally with no real ammunition. If class encourages discussion, do your homework before setting foot in the classroom.




9. Hold up the professor after class
   Speaking up too much during class is only slightly worse than holding up the professor after class with your endless line of questions. Students who do this are usually suck-ups, poor listeners or enthusiastic learners. Regardless of the intentions, it frustrates students who just want clarify an important question pertaining to the next exam and make it to their next classes on time.




10. Loaf during group projects
    Participating in a group project means less work, right? It’s an opportunity to sit back, let your group companions take responsibility and get a good grade. Meetings are optional and time set aside during class to work on the project can be spent texting or surfing Facebook. In reality, few things are worse than getting stuck with a group member who doesn’t carry their weight. The results are more work for the group members who actually care about the project and a festering resentment toward the loafer.

Accounting is a love-hate discipline. Students who choose it as their major either quit within a couple of semesters or commit to crunching the numbers and achieving a fruitful career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants fresh out of college earn an average starting salary of $48,993, and the profession is growing at a high rate in the coming years. In addition to the high salary and job security, other aspects of the profession may appeal to you based on your personal characteristics and preferences – like the 10 listed below. If a few of them apply to you, then you were likely born to be an accountant.

1. Nothing really bores you
   Let’s face it – there are more exciting jobs than accounting, but not everyone is cut out to be a professional football player, astronaut or bartender. Accountants must be willing to become creatures of habit who don’t mind doing repetitive work. Many days are spent slaving away over QuickBooks, SAGE or Peachtree.
2. You’ve always embraced technology
   In addition to being familiar with programs like QuickBooks, SAGE and Peachtree, you also know how to compose a spreadsheet. As the field grows, so will the technology that makes the job easier, and you’re prepared to make the necessary adjustments.
3. You’ve always loved dealing with numbers
   You have a pure and unadulterated passion for math. You’ve always performed well in math classes, and didn’t mind helping your peers who couldn’t quite grasp the concepts. You actually enjoy your statistics, algebra and business calculus classes. So crunching the numbers is what would make the job fun for you.
4. You have an abnormal passion for tax law
   It bores everyone else, but your eyes light up when you see a new tax code. Because you enjoyed studying tax law in school, you have no problem continuously studying new and updated laws – an important part of being a competent accountant.
5. You’ve always sweated the details
   You are a perfectionist and nothing gets by you. Rarely will you misallocate or make errors that’ll cause you to lose time on other important tasks. You know the numbers must be perfect so that your business wouldn’t suffer financially. There’s a lot at stake for accountants.
6. You’ve always welcomed the challenge of solving a problem
   Your analytical skills are impeccable and you love putting them to use in order to solve difficult problems. Comparing numbers, finding indicators and making keen observations based on new information are activities required of accountants. To you, it’s like a puzzle, and every day you’re attempting to find a solution.
7. You’ve always been conservative with your time
   During your academic career, you’ve juggled multiple projects at the same time and have had little trouble finishing them on time. Time management is an essential skill for accountants. People who were born to be accountants were born ready to handle strict deadlines and get work done.
8. You’ve always been a people person
   Accountants used to have the reputation of being anti-social types who were permanently confined to their offices, but these days, that’s no longer the case. You’re expected to build relationships with clients and work in teams. Your verbal and written communication skills must be sufficient.
9. You’ve always had a conservative appearance
   Dressing like an accountant entails professional attire, though it usually depends on your workplace environment. At your least dressy, a polo and khakis will do if you’re a guy. If you’re a gal, a knee-length skirt and blouse are more than enough to make a good impression. Because you have to deal with people, looking presentable should be a priority. If you’ve always had a flair for style – conservative style, albeit – then you might already dress like an accountant.
10. Your integrity has always been of the utmost importance to you
    Regardless of what you do, you strive to do it the right way, and that doesn’t exclude accounting. You’d have no problem abiding by those tax laws with which you’ve become so familiar. Accountants handle sensitive information, so they must operate according to ethical standards established for their profession.

Before deciding on which college to attend, you undoubtedly took many different aspects of the college experience into consideration. Of course, you wanted to receive the best education possible so that you can prepare for a fruitful career doing what you enjoy. Price, location and where you friends were going likely influenced your decision as well. But now that you’ve enrolled and have become somewhat accustomed to the way things work on campus, you might have discovered that your college’s environment is severely lacking, and as a result, college life is less than what you expected. In this case, there’s a good chance that you’re attending a commuter school – here are 10 ways to know that you’re attending such an institution.

1. No parking
   Whether it’s due to rapidly increasing enrollment, poor planning or both, most colleges of varying sizes tend to lack sufficient amounts of parking spaces. At commuter schools, this problem is multiplied by 10 because – as mentioned below – you and many of your classmates don’t live on or near campus, and you drive to class each day (hence the commuter nickname). If you’ve ever parked on a random side street off of campus, walked a mile to class after parking or received multiple parking tickets, then you might be attending a commuter school.
2. You don’t live on or near campus
   Perhaps you live at home to save money, or chose a place to live on the other side of town. It’s common for students at commuter schools to not live in campus dwellings, and many of them simply show up for class and go home immediately after. Students who attend commuter schools spend almost as much money on gas as they do on tuition. Without a car, attending class is nearly impossible.
3. Weak student organizations
   It’s characteristic of commuter schools to suffer from low participation in campus organizations – like fraternities and sororities, student government, political and religious organizations, and intramural athletics. This is a direct result of the lack of students living on campus. Obviously, it’s much easier to join and contribute consistently to an organization when you’re just a stones-throw from where its meetings occur.
4. Campus is located in a big city
   Commuter schools are almost always located in large cities, attracting mostly students from their respective metro areas. Students don’t opt to participate in campus organizations because there are so many different other fun activities around town in which to partake. Any city worth its salt offers a wide variety of bars, restaurants, festivals, concerts and sporting events, so you may not feel the desire to socialize with just your classmates. What’s the incentive, especially if you lived in the city before attending the school?
5. Campus turns into a ghost town on the weekends
   The occasional gently-rolling tumbleweed is the most action your campus sees on the weekend. It’s partly due to the urban location and partly due to the absence of decent campus housing. Additionally, the lack of hijinks-inducing bars around campus ensures that campus dwellers spend their Friday and Saturday nights elsewhere.
6. You frequently get lost on campus
   When venturing outside of you normal everyday route to class, you almost always end up lost – unsure of where the next turn will lead you. In your quest to finally visit the library or student union several semesters into your college career, you happen upon new buildings that you never knew existed. For students at a commuter school, certain parts of campus seem like uncharted territory.
7. Students wear other schools’ colors
   Students at commuter schools generally have low regard for their institutions of higher learning and no desire to display school spirit. You might have observed that more of your fellow students sport colors from other big state universities than the colors of their own school. It’s indicative that they haven’t adopted the traditions and customs of the school, and have no interest in doing so because they haven’t been enticed to become immersed in campus life.
8. The average student age is older than normal
   An older student body indicates that the school serves people who are seeking to complete their degrees well-after they graduated from high school. They likely work full-time and have a family, and are purely there for academic and career purposes. They usually don’t contribute to the so-called college atmosphere because they’re simultaneously entrenched in the real world.
9. A large percentage of students are enrolled part-time
   In addition to the older students who are enrolled part-time as they juggle work and family responsibilities, many of the younger students take fewer than 12 hours as they work to pay for tuition and living expenses. For them, joining campus organizations and partying every night isn’t an option because they have more responsibilities than most kids their age.
10. It was your safety school
    Didn’t gain admission into your first, second or even third favorite college? Are you attending the local college because it was the only one that would take you? Commuter schools tend to have relaxed admissions standards and high acceptance rates. The outcome is a high dropout rate, meaning that some of your friends who entered the school with you are likely gone by your second or third year. The revolving door of students makes it difficult to establish a consistent atmosphere filled with familiar faces and flourishing campus activities.