I was introduced to this site and liked it right away. Most of the people who I have had the pleasure of meeting have been responsible, respectful, and helpful. I've always liked to help people with anything. Being exposed to many different people with a wide variety of situations helped broaden my spectrum and way of thinking. I also learned more about myself just from looking back to see how I helped people and what my advice was to them. Oh and it's fun too =)

It is normal. Guys, just like girls, need some space. Whether it be with an XBox for him or a day at the mall for you, each one needs time for themselves and friends too. I wouldn't be too worried about it. If you still do talk and and hang out, but maybe not as much as you did when you began, then its OK. If you just aren't because he is refusing too because he'd rather do other things or because he feels like he is with you too much...then you might have another issue on your hand. But don't take it the wrong way or anything, and please don't feel that if he really did love you he would want to spend every waking moment with you all the time, because it doesn't always work that way. Give each other space, and if you feel like its going too far then sit him down and talk to him about it to see if you could do things differently. Hope that helped and good luck.

You need to sit down with her and confront her about this problem. Make it very straightforward that you don't like being lied to and that trust is crucial for this, and really any relationship and friendship.

If you feel that her smoking is unacceptable to you as a friend and even girlfriend, then I would suggest to consider leaving things. If you aren't comfortable with her in the first place, especially with something like that, then it might be OK to remain friends, but it would be difficult to remain in a relationship. Confront her openly about this and hear what she has to say about it. Let her know that if she says she will not smoke anymore, then it should stop. If she doesn't feel like she can honestly stop, then she needs to let you know that.

I think you will be able to trust her. What you need to find out is if she will continue to smoke regardless of how much you plead with her, or if after confronting her about it, she really will stop. Knowing which one of those she will take might help you trust her more at least as a person. It is difficult to put up with, but dating is just that - an experiment. If you aren't comfortable you don't need to stay there - but no, don't leave everyone until you find somebody who is perfect because that won't happen too often either. Talk it out and see how you feel afterwards - if you are OK with how she will turn out or not, then make the decision of whether or not to stay with her. Hope that helped and good luck.

Well think about it this way: if somebody really was anorexic, would you flat out say it to their face? I would guess most people don't; in the same way you might call a friend retarded, but not actually go around yelling it to somebody in a wheelchair who was.

Don't let it get to you. Too many people, whether its media or just lack of knowledge, keep thinking that thinness or a specific weight is what defines anorexia. While obesity is defined by a number (based on your height, you could be 200 and not be obese, but then be 201 and be considered obese), anorexia is not. It is just as much of a mental condition as it is a physical one. If you know you don't have it, then let it go and just ignore them because all they are trying to do is get into your head and mess with you. Hope that helped and good luck.

Since you are into photography and such, I would recommend either a Macbook or a Dell Inspiron. I don't have too much experience with Macs, but have been told it is useful for music and pictures. In terms of prices, they both fall around the same range of $900-$1300+, depending on how you customize it.

Right now, for a 13 inch Macbook, you can put 160 GB of hard drive space and 2 GB of memory for a bit more than you would with the 14 inch Inspiron.

If you choose to go with Dell, you have a few advantages: you are familiar with the Windows format and shortcuts; most (if not all) of your software can be used on the laptop and you don't need to buy Mac-specific programs; you have more options in terms of customization; and when you level out the tech specs, you can get them for about a twenty dollar difference with the same memory, hard drive space, and with an additional 9-cell battery (so a total of two) on the Dell.

Right now, I would lean more towards the Dell. If something happens to it, either Dell can help you with it, or you can take it to most computer places to get it fixed. With Macs, Apple is friendly too (but thats if you purchase the protection plan.) You don't always have that option to take it anywhere to get it fixed simply because there are a lot more interchangeable parts readily available with PCs. It is up to you, but definitely go into a store to see what you like and check out the differences online when you have the chance. With Adobe Photoshop 4.0 (a bit pricey, I know), running it on the Inspiron should work really well. Oh, and you can add in a 2.0 Megapixel webcam to the Inspiron, so you can still have fun with that too. Hope that helped and good luck.

Physically, we are each half from the mother and half from the father.

Mentally, I think its 50/50. Half of it comes from a combination of your parents personalities and traits, the other half from your own temperament and outside influences.

I don't think everyone necessarily becomes like their own parents when they are older. There are customs and certain ways of doing things that feel natural after being brought up that way. So maybe you are like your parents in the sense that spending a lot of time with your family outside of home is customary, or that you solve problems in a similar fashion.

If you have an abusive parent, that doesn't always mean that the kid will turn out to be abusive. In the trilogy written by Dave Pelzer, where he describes his life before, during, and after living with an abusive mother, he himself didn't turn out to be abusive...just passive.

Every person has the freedom to choose how to react to something. So you can easily let a destructive household influence you to the point where you are an exact copy of what they are, but you also have the freedom to look past that and not become that at all. But yeah, for the most part you will turn out to be like your parents - that is, if they are around. Having a detached set of parents isn't going to be as much of an influence as would a set of protective parents, unless you yourself become detached.

Maybe you've heard that guys will try to find and marry a woman that was like their mom. Sometimes its true, sometimes not - everyone is different. I don't think who you marry has too much to do with how your parents are. They might influence as to what they allow or agree with, but thats as far as I see it going. Hope that helped.

To become a dentist, you will have to go to college for 4 years - 3 if you can crank out that 4.0. It isn't the easiest of careers, but for medicine it is not as rigorous or demanding as most fields, such as that of a neurosurgeon.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm

Dental schools require a minimum of 2 years of college-level predental education, regardless of the major chosen. However, most dental students have at least a bachelor’s degree. Predental education emphasizes coursework in science, and many applicants to dental school major in a science such as biology or chemistry, while other applicants major in another subject and take many science courses as well. A few applicants are accepted to dental school after 2 or 3 years of college and complete their bachelor’s degree while attending dental school.

If you want to become a dental assistant, here is some information I found:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm

In case you don't have too much time on your hands, it takes anywhere from 1-2 years to learn the training through schools and courses available. You also learn on the job as well.

Being a dental assistant may be more of what you are looking for, but if you really are interested then by all means work towards becoming a dentist. I say go for it - your job would be to make sure people smile. Speak to any advisers or even any doctors about this and see what they say. If you ask your dentist, I'm sure he would be able to give you more information on this and maybe even a rough outline of how to get there. Hope that helped and good luck.

Talk to him and find out. Any attention at all is better than none, which would be a flat out rejection. So don't look at it as a bad thing, or over-analyze the situation. Ask him casually or if you feel easier, while you two are alone or online. There is nothing wrong with asking and don't be afraid of what he may say. You might be surprised and only hoped you would have talked about it earlier. Also, don't forget that you know he is always staring at you only because you are looking back at him. So don't worry about it too much and just let him know that you've noticed him looking at you a lot and were wondering why that happens. Hope that helped and good luck.

Let him know you aren't comfortable with that. Do not be afraid of confronting him about it either - you both need to keep an open line of communication. Also, if you feel that he is doing that to show you off, then ask him if that is what he is doing. I know what you might think: that even if he did he would deny it. Again, with the open line of communication comes trust, so whatever his answer is, let him know that you would not want him to be doing that anyway. Just let him know how you feel about this and everything else - that is how a relationship works. You might not have thought of it, but since you go along with it right now, maybe he thinks that you would prefer to kiss in public as opposed to not. So communicate and talk to him about it and try not to freak out about it. Hope that helped and good luck.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=burnout



1) Smoking the tires of one's car; either to heat up the tires for added stickiness, or to impress the MILFs at the DQ in your swanky suburb.

2) They guy you used to see stoned and tripping in high school, every day, that 10 years later is sitting in his parent's basement playing Final Fantasy, every day.

Anorexia is not diagnosed based on the number of calories taken in. Here are the four main factors taken into consideration:

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for the diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) include

(1)intense fear of becoming obese, which does not diminish as weight loss progresses;

(2)disturbance in the way in which one's body weight, size, or shape is experienced (e.g., claiming to "feel fat" even when one is emaciated or believing that one area of the body is "too fat" even when obviously underweight);

(3)refusal to maintain body weight over a minimal normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight 15% below expected, failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth leading to body weight 15% less than that expected); and

(4) in females, absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when otherwise expected to occur (primary or secondary amenorrhea).

All of those conditions stated, and not necessarily the number of calories you eat a day, is what determines the condition. Hope that helped.

This is very good that you want to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, because unfortunately many people our age, especially girls, do not wish to do so or find it unnecessary. Ask the priest if it is possible to arrange a meeting during school hours, maybe even lunch time. I'm guessing classes might be over for you, so you might have to find another way. Ask your mother that you would like to receive the sacrament of reconciliation - there is nothing to feel embarrassed about, and I don't see why you would be questioned about it. If she or somebody else asks why you want to go or what you want to confess, then reply with something along the lines of: I haven't gone in __ months, and I feel like I can grow closer to God, even if I don't have serious sins to confess. You wouldn't be lying by saying that, because it is true: you will grow closer to God. Also, it avoids them trying to pry into you and find what you want to confess about. Call the church or rectory and ask to speak with the priest to see if you can arrange a time or go during the week. Most are pretty flexible and willing to make arrangements. Hope that helped and good luck.

Hey, let me tell you right away that nobody here or anywhere else will decide or be able to tell you that you are going to hell.

Do some research (and please, don't take everything you hear on sitcoms to heart when it comes to religion), and look up the lives of many saints and holy people. They made mistakes too. Nobody's perfect.

God will forgive you if you are truly sorry. I would go receive the sacrament of reconciliation and confess. I know - probably crossed your mind but feel like you can't do that, but trust me - priests have heard just about everything so there really isn't anything you can tell them that will make them mad or go crazy.

Relax, and don't get so caught up about all of this. If you feel the way you do, then why wouldn't you go to heaven? Please understand that you can't go to hell for a mistake or broken promise you made. People who go to hell are ones who do not want to follow God, and want to deliberately do whatever in their power to go against him. They don't praise him, they curse him. You actually want to do what is right and good - so that is big points in his book. I'm not a judge, but I feel that God will at some point judge us fairly and give us what is due.

It is OK to ask what other people think. I encourage you to do that. I would ask that you make sure you know who you are asking before you take what they said word for word. We all make mistakes, myself included, so don't be afraid to ask somebody in the church, like a nun or a priest, or even write to them. Please, don't feel like your alone either, because plenty of people go through the same problem, and in most cases even much worse. Hope that helped and hope you feel better, let me know through an inbox if you need anything else.

Download Audacity.

http://www.download.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10606824.html?tag=lst-0-1

Open the song file that you want to play backwards. Check the tools (I forget exactly how), but it is pretty simple to use. Hope that helped.

Hey I had the same thing going on at my house. Wall to wall carpet is annoying to clean out when we get stains on it. With our living room, once the carpet was taken out to reveal the hardwood floor, we put in bamboo flooring, like tiles that fit into each other with slots. That worked out nice because it is easier to clean and when we want to sit on the floor we roll out a rug, that can be washed much easier than carpeting. The columnist who answered before me had a point with rolling out a rug. At least keep it hardwood, because if need be it later on you can put in the carpeting, as opposed to putting it in then taking it off if you changed your mind. I would definitely recommend putting in a wooden floor over the one you have, if it is possible (money, space, availability, etc). If not, keeping the hardwood floor would be fine. Keeping carpeting might make it warmer in the winter, but maintenance is higher on that than the wooden floor. Hope that helped and good luck.

The sad part is that there are some people that never get out of that. You might even know a few.

That doesn't usually come until mid to late twenty's. By that time, they realize that shows they saw on MTV or other places weren't as "real" as they claimed to be. There really are taxes to pay, jobs to attend to, people to look after, etc. After a few reality shocks, unfortunately some in the form of a loss whether it be a prized possession, job, or even somebody they know, is when some people come to realize that life doesn't always cut you some slack.

I think that the more things people are exposed to, the broader their mindset is and the more personal experience they posses to form their own opinions. When somebody learns to unplug themselves from the sitcoms, reality shows, celebrity gossip, slanted media, and biased reports, then that forces them to think for themselves and decide what world events are important. If all I heard about on the news every single day was the war over in Iraq, then that would lead me to believe that it is very important and that nothing else was.

It comes to everyone at a different age, but I won't limit it to twenties because there are some who have done much better in their teens. That is one of the reasons why I think most girls are doomed to fail in her relationships if she aims for or only dates older guys because 'they are older and that means more mature'. Total garbage. If they base that on the idea that since guys their age are immature, so therefore older guys are better, then that was their first relationship mistake.

You learn to think for yourself when you stop caring what others think of you. Lets take this example. John just started high school, but he's having no luck with the ladies...in fact, they all laugh at him and think he's weird and they never talk to him. He's not a star athlete and doesn't have the face of a model. So his four years at high school are limited to him just because he never went outside of the girls in his high school. Thirty years down the road he's married, has a job, and kids of his own. In the long run, did the opinion of those girls John knew in high school matter at all? Absolutely not. Wanting to be your own person, define yourself, and not let anybody you know change you or make you feel inferior for doing so is the first step to maturity. I really don't see too many adults getting upset or worrying about what clothes they wear or what others think of them anymore.

Don't get the wrong idea though, because this comes to everyone (hopefully) at a different point in their life. Sometimes the earlier, the better, when it comes to deciding what they want out of life. For the most part, everyone wants the best they can get out of life...they just don't know what that is. For some people, that might mean following the crowd and doing stupid things to see if that makes them happy. It usually doesn't, not later on anyways.

Everyone needs to be exposed to the ups and downs of life. They need to visit a poorer neighborhood, maybe meet some kids who aren't as fortunate as them, people who have health problems and would give up anything to be healthy and take full advantages of opportunities they have. Fortunately, people do realize all this, come to think for themselves, and have a more realistic viewpoint on life. It doesn't come easy. To those who are kept in a shell and don't experience different events, meet different people and visit different places, it might be more difficult as they become older to make the change. Most of us who are fortunate enough to have a roof over our heads and meals to eat everyday without having to work, don't always appreciate that. The realization that all of those things don't happen without work and sacrifice is usually what leads to a different outlook on life, hopefully a better one. Sorry for rambling, hope thats what you were looking for.

Of course its worth it to wait until high school is over. Why? If you got married at twenty-five, still relatively young, that is ten years from now and chances are that the guy isn't one you dated in high school.

It'll save you the drama, the headaches, the money, the time you could have spent with other friends or family, and a lot of other things. You should focus your time on you and your own needs, be it academic, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. Getting an education, finishing your studies, and getting started with your job/career is so much more important than dating guys right now.

Don't listen to those brainwashed girls that think love, or their own ideas of what it should be according to MTV and magazines, is the most important thing in life at your age. It really isn't. Most don't realize that until after they've made enough irreversible mistakes in their lives. Live your age and enjoy your youth and the hassle of not paying taxes haha. So yes it would be worth it, but that doesn't mean you still can't be friends with guys. From what I've heard, it is generally easier to be friends with guys than with girls. I'm not sure why that is. Less cat fights maybe? anyways, hope that helped.

You should try getting some study guides or maybe some tutors if you can to study for the SATs. From what I remember, if they haven't changed it, you can sign up to take them in October, November, and December. You need to apply to college in the fall of your senior year if you decide to apply for early action/decision. Not all colleges have that option. It can be, but isn't always, a binding agreement in which you apply to only that college, and by December, they let you know if you have been accepted, at which point you must attend. Regularly, most colleges have a deadline of January 1st. Check with the individual colleges, and please please please try to get as much of your applications done before Thanksgiving - it will save you a lot of headaches. Ask your guidance counselor or visit www.collegeboard.com if you have any other questions. Hope that helped and good luck.

Hey thanks, I really appreciate it. Feel free to ask me or IM me anytime.

Coping with a loss one does get easier over time. I don't feel like you need professional help with this. Dealing with the loss of somebody, especially a very close family member, is difficult for everyone.

When it comes to having a conversation, maybe you can just try to listen for awhile, maybe more than ten minutes if you have the time. If you don't feel comfortable with talking out loud yet, maybe you can say something in your mind. You can also write him a letter if you feel that is more comfortable. Don't worry about crying hysterically or losing your composure. Everyone is like that at some point, so don't feel like your the only one.

I say coping with the loss of somebody gets easier over time because of the fact that you still have to live your life. You have daily routines and obligations to attend to that would take your mind off of it. No, don't completely forget about it, but just don't let it restrain your life. I'm sure that as healthy and active and great and close as he was, he wouldn't want his own death to make your lives miserable. Do your best to move on. It is definitely a learning experience, but it shouldn't be something that makes life impossible for you either. If everyone stopped caring about their lives when somebody close to them died, then the world would run chaos.

Don't feel like it isn't OK to feel upset and cry. Let it all out. Find a family member you can talk to about it - it really does help. Yeah, it might be difficult and sad to talk about it, but you need to. Try to feel better about it. Hope that helped and if you need anything feel free to contact me.

Pandora
www.pandora.com

If you are patient with it, rate a lot of songs, and add more bands and songs to it, it becomes your custom radio station. They will play songs you've heard and haven't that will match your taste. Check the "Users Also Bought" in the iTunes section of the artists you like.

Feel free to ask me any questions or for an alternate way of contacting me through my inbox.

I really like giving advice, so thats why I have a column here. I've been inactive for a long time, but I'm back and will do my best to catch up. Advicenators is a great site and it is what we make it. Having my own advice column helped me learn a lot of new things, even about myself, while giving me the chance to help others along the way. Thanks.

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