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Q: hey im 15/f. I was wondering if there is anything to help with like energy boost. I know that there are energy drinks but those dont really work for me. See im always like falling asleep during school or whatever im doing. I'm always tired i have no energy and i just dont want to do anything. I dont eat breakfast because i never really have time. I get enough sleep. I'm just always tired like i can sleep an entire day. But still be tired. And i have no motivation to do anything. Even sometimes when i eat breakfast it doesn't help. Is there anything i can do to help me increase my energy level and not be so tired? Plezz help thanks.

~ Ashley ~

In the morning, an apple is actually better for waking you up than coffee or tea. Just grab one on the way to school or work or whatever and you'll feel much better. I didn't used to eat breakfast either, but when I started doing that I would feel better.
You didn't mention how much sleep you got. Most people say 8 hours is needed, but teenagers actually need about 10 hours in order to function right. Also, it's good to keep to a routine with sleep. Try not to stay up late on weekends. Get up at the same time everyday if you can.
It also could be stress. Stress can make you feel really tired and worn out. People deal with stress in different ways, but once you identify what's stressing you out you can do something to remedy it. I get stressed out a lot because of school, so whenever I can I try and have fun to get my mind off school. Whatever works for you though.
Also, it could be low iron. That can make you feel lethargic. Iron supplements can help. You should probably get a blood test done to see if that is the problem before you start taking vitamins though.

There's also a chance you could have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or some other underlying medical problem. If the problem persists, you should see your doctor.

all the best.

Q: i have to write an eassy on a socail issue. i was thinking about teen sex and pregancy about pros and cons about it. the more i think about it the more it makes me think that i couldnt write an eassy about. my question is

1) is it possible to write an eassy about that?

2) what is a good social issue that isnt as known? like abortion i know a lot of perople that are going to do it.

if it helps i want it to do with teen age problems

15/f

I think you could write a essay on that if you wanted to, but I wouldn't look at the pros and cons on it. There aren't too many pros about it. You'd be better off concentrating on why teen pregnancy is a common thing, ways to educate teenagers, and that kind of thing.

Instead of that though, how about writing on bullying? You could look at it from both sides. For example, what causes people to bully others, different types of bullying, and the effects of bullying on people. You could also look at how it's escalated into school violence in recent times.
I think that's a good one to do, as not many people will do it, but it's an issue facing a lot of young people today that doesn't get enough attention.

Good luck with your essay. :)

Q: THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF FAITH

I have considered myself asnostic for a few years now. I have faith more in the people I know and everyone, then some silly religion with it's own agenda. I also believe in a greater god, but mostly for comfort, to hate, and to thank. Anywho, this coming fall I am going to have to make a decision of getting confirmed by the Catholic Church. I am not so sure that I should do it. I know that it would make my mom happy, but I feel like I am just flat out disrespecting Catholicism to follow their ways even though I don't believe it. I don't really care if I am found out, I am not like an in-your-face religion hater, but still, it would kill my mom. So, my question is, should go through with it for my mom, or not?

THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF FAITH, I DON'T BELIEVE IN CHRISTIANITY, PLEASE TO NOT TELL ME OF THE GLORIES OF HEAVAN, JESUS, AND WHAT NOT

I don't think you should do it if you don't believe in it.
I was confirmed, but that's because I was 10 years old and thus had no idea what I was getting myself into. If I had it my way I never would've become a Catholic at all. I'm a pretty strong Christian but don't like organized religion. Anyway, unlike me, you have some choice here.

Ultimately, you are the manager of your own life. It should be your decision whether you want to become a part of a religion. It would be unfair to yourself, and to the Catholic faith to become a part of it when you don't believe in it. That means you're sacrificing a part of yourself just to make someone else (your mom) happy.

I know when you're growing up your parents have a lot of influence over you. That's normal, and a good thing. Parental figures are our chief role models. But something to do with faith should be something you decide yourself. Don't go through with it just because you feel you should make your mom happy. Tell her you're not sure about where your beliefs lie, and you don't want to become involved in any religion just yet. Your mom should respect your beliefs, and vice versa. :)

Good luck.

Q: does anyone know a song that has these words
"its going down tonight,tonight its goes down" i think thats the chorus.
well anyway i want to know who sings it but i dont know who it is.
so if u know who it is answer my question please. thanks alot.

112 - It's going down tonight. :)

Q: OK, so I accidentally left my computer running for about a day.

So when I shut the computer down, let it rest for a few hours, and turn it back on, my monitor settings are completely screwed.

It looks spherical--the text, that is. The icons are distorted, text is distorted, and my wallpaper is distorted. Everything is smaller, and my desktop takes up about half of the space on my monitor.

I've tried resetting it, letting the computer rest some more, unplugging and replugging the computer, etc., but nothing is working.

The operating system I'm using is Windows 98. Yes, I'm aware it's ancient, just please someone help me out!

- irate Windows user.

Just in case it's not the screen resolution, another thing you can do is to revert back to to your old computers settings by restoring the registry.
Go to start > then run > then type command and press enter. You will now be at the windows dos prompt. At the ms dos prompt type cd\windows\command press enter and then after that scanreg /restore. And then reboot your computer.

That will reset your PC's setting to how it was beforehand everything got messed up. It sounds complicated, but it's really not. But from the sounds of it, it's probably your screen resolution that needs adjusting (Not sure why this happened though) so try that before you restore the registry.
Let me know if neither of these work, and I'll help you some more.

Good luck!

Q: I'm seeing a counselor on Friday. I'm not used to being open with other people, or strangers. What should I do to make it easier for me to talk about what is on my mind and my feelings. I don't want it to be a waste of time because I have half an hour. Thanks in advance.

Remember that counselors have heard it all tons of times, so don't think what you say will sound stupid or irrational.
I've never been to a counselor, but I know they can be really helpful. Maybe you could write down everything that's been on your mind before you go, or what you want to talk to them about, so it's clearer to you.

It might be difficult at first, but it's their job and they're trained to help people open up. I'm sure the counselor will be wary of the fact it's your first time there. You don't have to get overly intricate on your first appointment, and I'm sure they won't expect you to.

Q: 20/F.

So.
I have kind of a unique situation on my hands.

I’ve always thought that people who looked to the internet to find love were pathetic. However, I think it may be happening to me.

I’m not really sure how this happened but two years ago I started talking to this guy on the internet. I didn't think much of it at first as we would only have short, uninteresting conversations and he lives 30 hours away from me.
However, for the past seven months, we’ve been talking at least once a day. We’ve never met, but we can talk for hours about nothing. We have a really great connection and he is probably one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever talked to.

He sent me flowers on valentines day and if I’m not online when he’s about to go to bed, he’ll call me just to say goodnight. For the past month or so he’s even been saying “I love you”, and recently I’ve found myself saying it back.

I know this may seem weird to some of you, but I really like this guy. A lot. We’ve seen each other on web cam many times, so I know he’s actually who he says he is.

Sometime this summer, I’m going to visit my cousin and he happens to live within two hours from her house. We plan on meeting then to see where we stand after we can physically see each other. We’ve talked about this a lot and we both would like to further our ‘relationship’.

My only problem with this entire situation is that I’m slightly hesitant to meet him. Not because I’m worried about the risks that come with meeting people from the internet, but because I find that our ‘relationship’ is moving too fast. He has the next year planned out for us, as far as visits and whatnot, and we haven’t even met yet! Every time I try to tell him that we should maybe meet first before we start planning when we can see each other again, he gets defensive and accuses me of not believing that we’ll like each other. He makes me feel guilty about it because even though I see myself as realistic, he sees me as doubtful.

Oh, and . . .
Please don’t preach to me about being wary of meeting people from the internet. I’m old enough to make my own decisions, don’t bother trying to change my mind. I know there are risks, but I trust him completely. However, just to be safe, we both plan on having someone else there with us when we meet for the first time.

I used to believe online love was pathetic as well, until I found it for myself. I'm meeting mine in September, and am nervous about it but excited too. So I don't think you're weird at all. Online love is very common these days.

The reasons why a lot of online relationships don't work is ultimately because the people involved never meet. The distance gets too much and they drift apart. However, you have the chance to. You have the chance to make something out of what is obviously a very special bond. You've known this guy for 2 years, which has to mean something. He is obviously very keen on meeting you, which is why he is planning a whole bunch of other visits. I understand you feel he's going a bit fast, and in some ways you're right. There is no guarantee you'll like each other because people can be different offline, and it is a bit silly to plan other meetings at this stage before meeting for the first time. But that's why you need to meet now, to find out whether something can come out of you two in the future. You have nothing to lose by meeting, so go for it.

Good luck. :)

Q: ok. so ive been with this guy who lives in california for 2 years. and i live in tx. anyways we're really in love. the thing is i sent him a fake picture. i know it was wrong and the guilt is killing me. so i dont need it from anyone else.but i was wondering how i can break up with him..its not as easy as i thought it would be. im in love with him..i cant just end things, but it needs to be done..any advice?
thanks.

I used to do the same thing. I was really insecure about my looks, so I got some random models picture and said it was me. Needless to say, I got caught out sooner or later and regretted ever doing it. Just letting you know that you're not alone in doing this. The internet makes it so easy to lie, but like all with all deception, there comes a point where the truth has to come out eventually.
The good thing about the internet is, for the most part people judge you by your personality because they can't see you face to face. If he's planning on flying out to see you, it can't be simply your looks he likes, especially if you've known each other 2 years. There must be quite a strong bond there. So that's some consolation.

If you love him, why should you break up with him? He hasn't done anything wrong. You did and thus it's you that needs to fix this up (Sorry if that sounded a little mean. Didn't mean it to be) What you should do is explain to him the situation. He deserves that at least. Tell him that you sent a fake picture 2 years ago not expecting to like him so much, and then when you guys got closer you didn't have the heart to tell him the truth.

If he really loves you for you, he'll understand. Yes, he'll be mad but he does have a right to be. But in the end it should be your personality he's in love with, not solely your looks, and thus it won't matter that it wasn't you in the pics. I'm sure if you send him a real picture of you he'll appreciate it.
If he calls it all off, then maybe he was never worth it in the first place. Of course, it sucks being lied to.. but being that shallow is even worse.

I hope it all goes well. You can email me at th3.legend@gmail.com if you need anymore help, or just to let me know how it all went.

Q: What is the difference between Democrats and Republicans? In early American history it was just whether they wanted more power for the government or not, right? And also, are Democrats Liberals??

Republicans - Conservative, towards the right end of the political spectrum. They are opposed to change and want to conserve tradition. They believe in things like being pro-life, family and Christian values, right to bear arms, prayer and creationism in schools, capital punishment, etc. It has quite strong affiliations with religious groups too.

Democrats - Are liberals, but are not as left-wing as many other liberal parties in the world. They're more center left. Democrats believe in things like gun control, reproductive rights, gay rights, civil rights, health care funding, etc. It has quite a strong affiliation with African-Americans (Who for the most part vote for the democrats) and also trade unionists.

Both parties believe in as little intravention from the Government as possible. And in the US, party discipline is not very strong, so there is a lot of widespread opinion in these parties. For example, not all republicans are for capital punishment and not all are religious. Likewise, with the democrats, some of them are anti-abortion .

Q: Hey Im almost 14 and I still havent gotten my period yet. Is this normal?

Yes, that's quite normal. Ask your mom when she got hers - it'll probably be the same for you too. Some girls have gotten their periods at 9, while others have got theirs at 16! I think the average age is about 12 or 13. Yours will probably come soon, but make the most of not having it yet as you are very lucky not to have that bother every month!

Q: I dream of the future. My dreams come true 2 weeks to 3 months after. Is there a name for this or a way I could control it? Or find out when its going to occur (besides when I dream of me looking at the time and then the thing happens)

I have the same ability. I've dreamt a couple of things and they've come true. Also, I've had dreams about things that people haven't told me and when I've asked them about it they've confirmed it. Like, my mum met this guy she used to go to Uni with, and I dreamt about him and I was spot on with what he looked like.
Anyway, you have the gift of Prophetic Dreaming. It's quite a rare gift to have, so it'd be great to make the most of it. You probably can't control when you have them, but if you realize you're in the dream (Lucid Dreaming) you might be able to find out more details. There's a lot of information on Lucid Dreaming here:
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/luciddreams.htm

You can read all about prophetic dreams here: http://www.dreamprophesy.com/prophetic-dreams.html

Q: I am so upset with a psychic reading that I had today. I paid a lot of money- 80 dollars for the reading and it was done over the phone. I only did it because my mother said she's been going to this guy for the last 15 years and that he was very good- and his other testimonials on his website looked promising. Well I asked him if I would end up with the guy that I love- I've been friends with him for a long time. He was really negative and said he did NOT love me- that he thought of me as a fantasy and not reality and he would never commit to me. He told me to cut off contact with him forever- and not to tell him I'm cutting off contact with him or else he'll do anything to be my friend again. I was almost in tears because I feel in my heart that he does love me but is shy. I don't want to cut off all contact with him I think this psychic is nuts. But my mother said how good he is- what should I do? I am so upset!

I'm a big believer in the paranormal and I do believe some people have psychic abilities.
But this does not mean I believe in psychics.

Most psychics are just people who are in it for the money. They tell people what they want to hear (Usually, not in your case it seems) and usually say things that are pretty univeral to everyone. Sometimes they get it right. Sometimes they don't. But people still place a lot of faith in them because they've heard how "accurate" they can be. When my grandfather died, my Nanna went to a psychic to ask if he was at peace and whether he had any messages. The psychic said he was fine and that he just wanted to tell my Nanna to look after the kids and grandchildren. He then said she had 3 kids (She has 2) and guessed my grandfather was in the war (DUH!) and that he was British. That's basically all she got and she paid 40 bucks for it. But of course, she felt extremely happy afterwards to know he was at peace even though anyone could've told her this. But the fact he claimed to be "psychic" made it seem all the more accurate. People go to them like they're Psychologists and will help them with their problems..

Anywho, don't take any notice of what this guy said to you. If it feels right to you, your intuition is far more important than a random money-making stranger. This guy probably thought he could control some poor girls life by manipulating her with his "ability" Don't listen to him. Don't cut off contact with this guy who you obviously care a lot for just because of what the "psychic" said.

Q: Okay, so there is a ton of negative input in the media of what Straight Edge really means.

I'm not exact, but I'm sure there is a ton of people on this site who hasn't really fully understood what it really is.

I was wondering if I could get peoples views on what they think Straight Edge is?

Being straight edge is being totally aware of the consequences of actions. It means you are totally informed of where your choices can take you, and this means you don't do anything that could harm you or that you could potentially regret. It does not mean you are just trying to be "Different" from everyone else by being "Better" People think straight-edge people think they are superior to everyone else because they don't drink or do drugs, or whatnot. This is a preconceived notion people have.

You could say I'm kinda straight-edge. I don't drink (I'm underage, but still), I'm anti-drugs, and I think sex should be saved for marriage. I have no problem if other people do these activities. They are no less a person than anyone else. Just, I feel for me, the potential risks outweigh the pleasure. I want to enjoy my life and experience everything, but I don't think I'm doing myself any favors by partaking in these activities. It's hard being straight-edge, but worth it for yourself in the end!

Q: how do they start out and how they start liking each other and did they really ahve true love

I haven't read Wuthering Heights, so I couldn't tell you. However, I do recommend sparksnotes.com or cliffsnotes.com which have summaries and analysis' of many novels. You should be able to get some help there for Wuthering Heights.

Q: I was wondering the pregnancy percentage for people who use the pulling out method. I know it is unsafe and likely to get you pregnant but does anyone know the percentage?

I looked at a few sites and most of them gave between a 65 - 70 % effectiveness rate. If you ask me, that's not worth the risk. Other methods are certainly much better.

Q: Do those free giveaways on the net really work, like, you answer 1 little survey and they give you a free iPod? Has anyone done this? What do you actually have to do after you give them your shipping information- promote adds or try out products? Is this bad to do? Do people actually do it?

No, they don't work. What it is is a way for companies to advertise. They'll try and lure you in by offering you free stuff just so you'll go to their site, and fill out surveys etc. Then they'll use your email address and send you a lot of SPAM.
I definitley don't recommend doing them, and especially don't give out your real address. You can never trust the internet with that kind of information.

I know they may seem genuine, but there's always a catch and most of the time it's blatantly obvious. I guess there really is no such thing as a free lunch.

Q: i need some contriversal (spelling?) topics that are school apropriate. 5's to anyone that can name a few. thanks so much (:

Gun Control
Violence in the Media
Animal rights
Capital Punishment
Censorship
Stem cell research/Cloning
Utilitarianism
Euthanasia
Nuclear weapons
Religious freedom

Q: are there any good colleges in australia , like the equilent of yale. what would an american student need to get in.

The University of Melbourne, and Australian National University continually make the worldwide top universities list. University of Melbourne ranked number 19 in the world 2005 Times Higher Education Rankings. The University of Melbourne has tons of international students, and is renowned for it. ANU is in Canberra, the capital.. and is just as good, however, Melbourne is a much better and more exciting place to live if you ask me. Melbourne was named the most liveable city in the world along with Vancouver a few years ago. Yeah, I'm plugging it..you can guess I live there.. LOL.

Sydney University is also a good one too. Really, it depends what exactly you want to do. Different colleges are good for different things.

Here's the link for Melbourne Uni, ANU, and Sydney University with the information on what you need to get in. If you need anymore help, let me know. I live in Australia, so I'm pretty well-informed on this. :)

http://www.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/index.html
http://info.anu.edu.au/studyat/International_Office/
http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/international/index.shtml

Good luck!

Q: 13/f. I know that around here there are loads of moronic girls saying stuff like "OmG diS gUy iS soOoOo hOT i wANt hiM! aM i iN luV???!!!" Now, I know that teenagers generally don't fall in love, but is there anything wrong with being
"infatuated" with someone? The way many people talk about it, they make it sound like a bad thing. Is it a bad thing? Because, I'm "infatuated" with someone right now. I try not to take it too seriously, but sometimes I can't help it...

Everyone has an "infatuation" (or possibly several) growing up. There's nothing wrong with it per se, however, it can be pretty heartbreaking for someone when the person doesn't feel the same way, or doesn't have as intense feelings. That's why it's good not to depend solely on someone. When you become infatuated with someone, your happiness really depends on how they treat you. For example, if they speak to you you'll feel great, but if they speak to another girl, you'll feel like your world has fallen apart. As long as you keep it in perspective there's nothing wrong with having an intense crush at your age, but if you find its having a detrimental effect on you, that's when its a problem.

Q: I gave up gossiping because apparently everyone thinks I have a problem with it and when I hear something, it's the hardest thing to keep my mouth shut! I haven't broken my vow yet, and I don't plan on it, as hard as it is. I have broken it past years with things like candy and complaining last year. I was just wondering, how many teens and young adults here find it hard to keep your vows for lent? Even if it's something simple like, sodas. Have y'all been able to keep your vows completely so far?

I gave up Red Bull this year. I know that seems like hardly anything, but I would drink it every day. I kind of built up an dependance on it, and wouldn't be happy without it. It's been really difficult so far, because of the addictive nature of caffeine. I haven't broken it so far, but it's very tempting. Lent is never anyones favourite time of the year, but giving something up you like up shows dedication and self-control. You should feel proud of yourself for doing it. It's not a easy thing to do which makes it all the more admirable.

BTW, apparently on Sundays you can do what you gave up because its not counted in Lent. I still don't do it though because I feel I would revert back to it again. It's up to you though.