Disclaimer: this is my personal opinion, and not meant to replace the counselling of an appropriate professional.

~~~

ANON, your questions is probably being repeated by millions of graduating and university-bound students worldwide, and not just those headed for Georgia.

Take a deep breath and relax. Here's my answer:

1) The essay questions probably change every semester. This is to prevent cheating.

2) Asking for someone to send you the questions is a form of pre-cheating. I.e., you're planning to use foreknowledge of the question to write a *really good* essay, thus getting your further ahead than other university students who found out *when they should have*. That's pre-cheating.

3) Asking for the essay questions now is NOT a good indication of how well you will do in school. University is a hell of a lot harder than high school, and if you can't make the entrance exam on your own two feet, then... you shouldn't deserve to go to university.

You're going to have to ask your university for more information regarding the essays themselves. Good luck!

Disclaimer: this is my personal opinion, and not meant to replace the counselling of an appropriate professional.

~~~

NY152, I think jealousy often stems from something within yourself, perhaps something that you may feel is either lacking or is not up to snuff, as it were. The easiest way to not look jealous is to not be jealous, and the easiest way for that to happen is to find out what you are missing and fix it.

P.S. It's very easy for guys to go out with hot girls who are total idiots. Bide your time, and go out with a girl that you like for herself - not just for how she looks.

I don't know about *particular* stores that sell exclusively bohemian stuff, since it's sort of universal to different store/brands. I mean, if bohemian is the flavour of the month, then of course it stands to reason that EVERYONE will be selling it. Right?

One of the BEST places for altering clothes, bar none, is http://www.craftster.org. It's a forum-based community that stands on a DIY ethos, and you'll find plenty of tutorials and helpers.

Also, last but not the least - pick up a good sewing handbook.

Hope this helps!

I've lost some weight using the plate method: mentally divide your plate into four quarters. Of these four quarters, one quarter should be a protein/meat alternative (tofu, for me), one quarter should be a carbohydrate (wild rice), and the other two plates should be all veggies & fruit. For salad sprays, I usually use one of those spritzer salad things, like Wishbone's brand.

Drink your 8 glasses of water, get lots of sleep, and keep up with the running!

I don't know... I think some guys do and some don't. The best course of action is to just ask him.

For the record, more guys than not that I've kissed on the neck (kissed, licked, slightly bitten, etc) have said that they've liked it.

There was a similar question that I just answered. I'll give you what I said:

"Well, if she's a liar, she's a liar. That makes her double trouble for you, because if people KNOW she is a liar, and they know you associate with her, then they will either see you as someone who is just too dumb to know better, or as someone who likes and supports this kind of behavior.

Have her come in for a one-on-one chat. Let her know that you're seeing this kind of behavior in her. Give her plenty of examples. She may know she is doing this, but for some people, until you point it out to them they either don't know how bad it really is, or they don't know how much it affects the other people in their life.

Finally, let your friend know that such behavior is unacceptable. Give her the warning that if she doesn't shape up, you'll ship her out. She might tell you to buck off, but at least you will have been honest about it. In the end, that's more important, anyway."

----

Because it is YOUR friend who is having a problem with someone else, pass on the advice and just be supportive of her.

Well, if she's a liar, she's a liar. That makes her double trouble for you, because if people KNOW she is a liar, and they know you associate with her, then they will either see you as someone who is just too dumb to know better, or as someone who likes and supports this kind of behavior.

Have her come in for a one-on-one chat. Let her know that you're seeing this kind of behavior in her. Give her plenty of examples. She may know she is doing this, but for some people, until you point it out to them they either don't know how bad it really is, or they don't know how much it affects the other people in their life.

Finally, let your friend know that such behavior is unacceptable. Give her the warning that if she doesn't shape up, you'll ship her out. She might tell you to buck off, but at least you will have been honest about it. In the end, that's more important, anyway.

I've personally always liked a blindfold... blindfold him and tell him to trust you. Then gently strip him and have your mad (and lusty) way with him. The blindfold adds an aspect of trust-me-on-this, which increases intimacy, and it also has an aspect of anticipation, which makes it hot.

A handmade card or note is always nice. Something that explains why she is the best mum for you or thanking her for being in your life.

I love http://www.quizmeme.com/

You could check with her to make sure that she isn't just assuming that you WILL come. Saying something like "I want to know what to bring to your birthday party" lets her know that YOU, at least, are thinking about your friendship.

However, if she really meant to leave you out, recognize it and just let it go. Friends come and go -- but your self-respect stays forever.

Hey there! Do yourself a favor and get checked out by your doctor.

If you fit these symptoms, you may have a mental disorder called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). It is a mental disorder that involves a disturbed body image. It is generally diagnosed in those who are extremely critical of their physique or self image, despite the fact there may be no noticeable disfigurement or defect.

-Compulsive mirror checking, glancing in reflective doors, windows and other reflective surfaces.
-Alternatively, an inability to look at ones own reflection or photographs of oneself; often the removal of mirrors from the home.
-Compulsive skin-touching, especially to measure or feel the perceived defect.
-Reassurance seeking from loved ones.
-Social withdrawal and co-morbid depression.
-Obsessive viewing of favorite celebrities or models the person suffering from BDD may wish to resemble.
-Excessive grooming behaviors: combing hair, plucking eyebrows, shaving, etc.
-Obsession with plastic surgery or multiple plastic surgeries with little satisfactory results for the patient.
-In obscure cases patients have performed plastic surgery on themselves, including liposuction and various implants with disastrous results.

Keep in mind that I am NOT suggesting that you have a mental disorder. I AM suggesting that you should at least rule out the possibility.

If you are sick and have been in the hospital, then you may have anorexia. Please get yourself the help you need- before it is too late.

Hey there! Try any of those old-time resistance songs, like "Will the Circle be Unbroken?" (check the lyrics out here: http://bluegrasslyrics.com/stanley_song.cfm-recordID=s05754.htm)

Lips down there - like those you get on your face - come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I'm not sure what you meant by "hangy", so I'm taking it to mean that yours are slightly larger/puffier than other gals' lips. Generally speaking, I think if there are no other problems- excessive discharge, foul odor, pain or boils, etc., then you should be okay. Otherwise, you ought to see a doctor, since these changes can signal infections, STD's, and possibly cancers.

It's very hard to tell if you're pregnant immediately after you've had sex. However, I concur with the other advice given in response to your question: GET YOURSELF TO THE DOCTOR!

First of all, you need to make sure that you weren't injured in the attack. First-time sex, especially if it was forced on you, can physically hurt your vagina. Perhaps you've had your muscles torn. At any rate, the fact that your stomach hurts and you pee a lot is A BAD SIGN! Get this checked out before it gets any worse!

You also need to make sure that you haven't been infected with any STD's. Do not risk this either!

Finally, you need to be swabbed for DNA, although I imagine by now you've scrubbed down in the shower and any trace has been removed. At any rate, you need to report what happened to you, and receive some help. (I mean both medical and counselling- you've undergone a traumatic event, and that should be recognized and delt with by any competent health care worker.)

Dear Buyer:

Usually, the mark-down of an electronic part depends on a variety of factors: i.e., newer models coming out; competition involving cheaper knockoffs arriving; compatibility and usefulness; etc.

Trendy technology, (the Furby, for example, or a Tamagotchi) wears out the quickest, because the same desire that picked up on the technology in the first place has moved on to something cooler and newer. Games and software (unless they have won awards like “best game of 2003”, major brand names like WarCraft or Diablo or are industry-related software (Adobe Photoshop, for example) usually fall under this category.

Staple items, like printers, screens, hard drives, blank CD’s, etc., usually have stable prices but can be subject to Sales surrounding school-beginning times, Christmas, and “fall blow-out sales”.

New technology (and here is where the Whatever-It-Is that you want to buy falls into) is the hardest thing to calculate since it’s, well, new. If it seems like it’s not selling, shop keeps will mark it down, but if it seems like a hot product, the price will stay the same, and if it’s Really Wicked Hot Stuff, the price will go up. The Supply-and-Demand law of economics applies here:

If an object is in low demand, but there’s a lot of it, then the price will go down.
If an object is in high demand, but there’s a lot of it, then the price will continue to stay the same, raising only as the supply dwindles, AND
If an object is in high demand, and there’s not a lot of it, then the price stays high- at a premium high- and the Shopkeepers gladly toast their clientele while going, “JACKPOT!”

HOWEVER, new technology may also be subject to sales seasons, which are entirely up to the shop keep’s decisions.

SO, if you are looking for your product to get cheaper, then the first thing to do is to scan the market. What are people saying about it? If the praise is good, then odds are that it will take a while for the fever to come down. If the praise is okay or poor, odds are that the price will come down within a couple of months. Either way, I think your product will come down by or before your 6-7 month deadline.

You may also want to check into knock-offs: products that do the similar function, but sacrifice performance and looks for price. Some people want the lower price, no matter what, but others want the best equipment. It’s entirely up to you.

Liquidation Marts may be a good place to check out, particularly in the countryside, since country folk may not have need/are not interested in/can not afford new technologies. (This is not meant as country-folk bashing, since I am not an urbanite myself.) Check online places, but mind the shipping!

My best advice to you is going to be: save up for your buy, because sooner or later you will have the same money as you will need to buy the product- sale or no sale. If you can afford to get a job, then look for one, because generally extra income = faster savings = money left over = more stuff! Hint at your relatives that you want to get this product, and instead of Yule presents you would like some cash instead. Offer to cut the lawn for your elderly neighbour and negotiate a price that’s acceptable for you both. These are particularly useful technologies for younger people, since by saving you appear to be showing a measure of “responsible adulthood”.

Either way, good luck, and enjoy your product when it gets there!

Yours in the Electronics Aisle,
Thrantos “Technical Grrl” Ellowey

Unfortunately, if you are underage, you pretty much have to go wherever your father drags you. I would, however, suggest that you sit him down and talk to him. Explain that you have started a new life here, one you really like (don't emphazize that you have a boyfriend, some fathers hate that), and how hard it was to pick up and move here, and how much you don't want to go back to that place you hate.

Other than that, perhaps you can talk to your mother, or another adult relative, and see if they can help you.

As for boyfriends, if you do happen to move, you can continue a long-distance relationship. Unfortunately, however, you should realize that if things do head south and you end up breaking up... well, then that's what happens. Young boys, especially those in their first five or so relationships, tend to be emotionally immature. If you break up, then you know it wasn't "meant" to be.

Jealously is a sign of insecurity, always remember that. Your sister feels that YOU are so much more successful than she is, simply because you are happier and more well-loved. There is more than one kind of success, and (IMO) you seem to have taken the happier route- good for you!

Your sister shows the following behaviours:

1) Defensiveness when you call her. “Why is someone as successful as YOU calling someone like Me?”
2) Backbiting to cut you down (Correcting your grammar, reminding you that she has a higher education.)
3) Being pissy when she’s not invited to be in the bridal party.

I’m not sure that an outright, “what the heck is the matter with you?” confrontation right off the bat is the way to go, since at this point your sister can simply tell you to get lost, and then always feel that she is the better one, since YOU “attacked” her. If she is insecure about her weight/social/life, then the best thing to do is to ask her if anything is wrong and check her answers. If she continues to act this way, however, I recommend that you sit her down face-to-face, and ask her what is gong on.

If she is defensive (“why do you want to know?”) then you have a much larger problem on your hands. In order to have a relationship with her, you will need to help her bring her security levels up enough that she realizes that she is acting childish. Ask her how her day went. Ask her what she’s done recently. And yes, you might have to praise her a little (“you know, I’ve always admired how you had the strength to go through university”) to show that yes, she is doing SOMETHING right and worthwhile with herself, and that yes, being fat doesn’t always mean that you can never go anywhere or never be successful.

You might also have to realize, if she doesn’t start to change her behaviours, that sometimes blood isn’t always thicker than water. Unfortunately, if she is causing you severe mental distress, then you need to say goodbye to that relationship. An unhealthy relationship is not good for any of the participants.

Also, you didn't mention this, but ask yourself if your parents praise one of you over the other. Realistically, this happens, and if it does, then you need to ask them to stop interfering with your relationships. Even after they're gone, you will still need to deal with your sister, and having them praise, say, YOU when they talk to her only makes her feel more insecure and jealous of you.

I like reading, writing, and the outdoors. My favourite thing in the world is to work in my garden. An owner of a cat and a dog, I am an avid rock collector, bookworm, LOTR freak, and mouse-catcher. All questions are welcome and will receive long answers.

Be blessed!

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