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Surviving College With Gear And Sanity Intact?
Mshift2x writes "Like many others, I'm shipping off to college for the first time in a few days. I'm excited, nervous, and a whole array of emotions at the same time. I'm sure many slashdotters have gone through this already, and I'd appreciate any wisdom, suggestions, or thoughts the community could provide." More specifically, phrogeeb writes "Per our earlier Slashdot article on laptop lock insecurity, I've been looking around recently for other options as far as keeping track of my laptop and other semi-expensive and certainly valuable (for a college student) stuff in a dorm room setting. Any ideas? I'm looking for both laptop-specific and comprehensive solutions. Locks? Alarms? Video cameras? Trip wire? (A few serious suggestions would be appreciated.)"
rottweiler ;-)
just tell all the chicks you meet that you had a front page post on slashdot. They love that.
When you meet the "morpheus" on your floor, remember to swallow the blue pill and not the red one.
"Locks? Alarms? Video cameras? Trip wire? (A few serious suggestions would be appreciated.)"
You forgot landmines.
Don't use a video camera. That's just creepy.
though a Trip wire-still photo (with flash) combo would be hilarious.
Just kick someone's ass your first day. They'll leave your stuff alone.
Either kick the crap out of someone the first day or become someone's bitch. Then nobody will mess with you. ... Wait, that's something different.
...keep your gear safe by wearing a rubber. Remember, wearing a condom is a small price to pay so as to not be called H-Thrilla for the rest of your life.
Posted anonymously for a good reason.
Don't use any gadgets! Use pencil and paper, they're cheap!
*patiently waits to be modded up to +5 Insightful even though this answer isn't the least bit helpful*
"Derp de derp."
I'd hate to get all relativistic on you, but it's an official physics standpoint that objects at rest can be stopped if regarded from another frame of reference that is moving with respect to the original frame. Just so you know.
*blinking cursor*
Behave like a psychopath, start your own murder for hire business and post information about it on your door, make it known you plan to take over the world, and then develop a reputation of divinity...
Worked for me!
If God had had a computer it would have taken him 7 months to create the earth...if he even bothered to do it at all.
Treat your penis the same way, lest you contract malware that even Norton Anti-Virus won't clean up.
We all know that there are millions of pimple-faced teens lurking about /. but most of the time, they stay out of sight with their GNAA posts getting quietly modded down to -1. No need to bring them to the fore with an article like this.
Incidentally, I am a pimple-faced teen, but I am not proud!
I thought the correct thing to do when you lose your "really good paper" is to get really stoned and do Apple "switch" commercials.
Mal-2
How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
and other such anti-theft devices is that when you stumble home drunk at 2 in the morning and decide to check your emails or listen to some music you begin to regret balancing that bucket of flourescent dye above your desk.
An unlocked minifridge, full of beer and Malibu, with a stack of porn on top, is not only guaranteed to prevent further intrusion into your stuff, but it will, like flypaper and often just as sticky, entrap any pests and hold them fast until you return.
"Even for Slashdot, that was a very obscure reference!" - Anonymous Coward
>Some people enjoy living in dorms for the community experience
Rent a tiny house with 5 or 6 other guys.
All the chaos and substance abuse, none of the rules or lame events.
Yes, go to class! The rest of us need someone to get the notes from.
hehe.
I hear that a 4 year university starts getting easier to "figure out" around year 7. Hang in there!
Do not have sex with, or buy drugs from, anyone that you have known for less than two weeks.
At Berkeley, locking your bike is useless. If the bike's wheel is locked, the bike theives will steal the bike minus the wheel. If the body of the bike is locked, they will steal the tires. Tires from one bike, and the body from another, and they get a whole bike.
Never had a problem. Surprising how many people, especially low-life, are afraid of snakes.
Here's the real answer. Get a gun. And then make sure everyone knows how badly you want to use it.
The only regrets I have (I'm now married, with child-no fun allowed) are what (who) I didn't do in college. I never tried acid. I never got wasted every night for a month. I never slept with a hooker. Actually the biggest regrets I have are for the chicks I never did. Except for the fat girl I woke up next to, after drinking tequila. She was naked but I had my clothes on so I hope nothing happened but the fear is still there.
As for school, it doesn't really matter what you do. Once peak oil hits, it's all a white line nightmare and, unless you're good with a supercharged V8 and a crossbow, you'll be dog food.
I drank what? -- Socrates
"Like many others, I'm shipping off to college for the first time in a few days..." You are just leaving now? I am starting my third week! Oh, I get it, you submitted it 3 weeks ago and it was just put up now. By now, you've already had your laptop stolen, so this is no use to you now.
Paper? What is this thing you call paper?
Sex. Women do all their freaky stuff in college
Obviously you've never met 30- and 40-somethings at Burning Man or similar...
Da Blog
I don't know what your deal is with security, but in my experience, the coolest people rarely closed their doors, let alone locked them. Maybe you've got lots of "things" (personality substitutes) that can be stolen.
1. no-- J-lube is the best-- it's phenomenally cheap. It comes in powder form, just add water. Though officially designed for farm animals, it lubes my wife's asshole just great. Really-- it lubes anything-- it's way slipperyer than KY.
2. agreed. Learn to study though. It may be that you never cracked a book in High School and still got "A"s. If you do that in college, you will get "C"s at best. (except in English, psych , and to a lesser extent history courses-- those are pure BS-- you'll be fine).
3. I guess. I've always thought of people who got to know people just for the future favors as sad losers (frat boys and sorority girls) though (though they do tend to make a lot of money, but they're also going to be the alcoholic divorcees at the ten year reunion). Maybe you could make some genuine friends I don't know what you're deal is with security, but in my experience, the coolest people rarely closed their doors, let alone locked them. Maybe you've got lots of "things" (personality substitutes) that can be stolen.
1. no-- J-lube is the best-- it's phenomenally cheap. It comes in powder form, just add water. Though officially designed for farm animals, it lubes my wife's asshole just great.
2. agreed. Learn to study though. It may be that you never cracked a book in High School and still got "A"s. If you do that in college, you will get "C"s at best.
3. I guess. I've always thought of people who got to know people just for the future favors as sad losers (frat boys sorority girls) though (though they do tend to make a lot of money, but they're also going to be the alcoholic divorcees at the ten year reunion). Maybe you could make some genuine friends though and be happy?
4. Definitely. college does give you a lot of leeway though-- you get a lecture instead of an arrest for a lot of things (alcohol, drugs, vandalism, even fighting). Be careful who you hang out with. I was tripping on acid with these two other guys, one of which I knew through the other, and the guy I didn't know so well picks up the fire extinguisher in my dorm and lets lose-- fire alarm goes off, we leave. That could have been *really* bad. Especially since he was a spoiled rich asshole who could afford legal counsel and I was paying my own way.
5. Never ever carry a credit card balance. Ever. This is true whether you're in college or not. Never.
6. You really shouldn't have time for that in college. There's always a band playing. There's always a football-ultimate-volleyball game. Do something real. Seriously. If you're in you're room alone listening to music, or playing video games you are failing.
7. Take dance classes. Lots of women, most of the other men will be gay. Plus it will get you in shape. Assuming you're a straight male... though all genders and predilictions could probably benefit. Also-- you know you want to learn martial arts-- find out if there's martial arts club and join it. And-- run and bike, breakdance, or other exercise, a 1*lot*-- get into really good shape. You're a lazy high school student right now. You should be in the best shape of your life. This will determine how fat and disgusting you are in 15 years.and be happy?
4. Definitely. college does give you a lot of leeway though-- you get a lecture instead of an arrest for a lot of things (alcohol, drugs, vandalism, even fighting). Be careful who you hang out with. I was tripping on acid with these two other guys, one of which I knew through the other, and the guy I didn't know so well picks up the fire extinguisher in my dorm and lets lose-- fire alarm goes off, we leave. That could have been *really* bad. Especially since he was a spoiled rich asshole who could afford legal counsel and I was paying my own way.
5. Never ever carry a credit card balance. Ever. This
(Scratches head)
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?
Go to a christian school.
a chick on slashdot? can I get your number? Actually, the real problem is roomates that don't lock the door - this happened to me quite frequently, when I moved into a place with a private bedroom, I had a randomly assigned roommate break into my room one weekend. I have taken notes with my laptop - and you'll find that if you'll do it, some other people will start to bring theirs in. I think a footlocker which is not made out of plastic, with a lock would be best. You just want to make it a deterent, also you don't have to give your dormmates the "benefit of the doubt" right away - don't trust them (at least not right away)! Finally, I would suggest, if you haven't got a laptop yet, a PowerBook, you won't need to upgrade for 4 years, you'll get a great discount, and they really are the best as far as entertainment/productivity, as long as you don't want to play the NEWEST games (but even some of those are out, depending). mod grandparent UP, it's the best advice anybody could give I think.
Buy a cheap old powerbook. I own a Powerbook 540c that I use for school. It has onboard ethernet, a color screen, and can read dos floppies. It cost me about 40USD a few years ago. A cheap yet quality old computer like this will let you do your work and not be tempted to play the newest games(maybe some bolo or Maelstrom!) when you should study. You also will not break the bank if its stolden. I keep a server at my parents house and ssh or sftp into it for backups. MacX also alows me to play some x based games when Im in the mood.Its also Vintage cool!
Try to aviod clutter and gadgets if you can. They will not help you and you will not have room for them anyways.
As far as protecting the junk you have, join the NRA. Really. At least put an NRA sticker on you car or maybe hang some targets on your walls. There is nothing scarier than a gun toating, Macintosh using, Science/Eng/computerscience/informationsystems nerd all hopped up on caffine and looking for his laptop!
Have fun too.
Bah, when I was in college, stealing a computer required a truck and many strong men.
People were always giving my slide rules lustful looks though..
That won't help a bit. You can still end up spending a LOT of money following this advice.
I would suggest, if you haven't got a laptop yet, a PowerBook,
If you haven't gotten a laptop yet, get a desktop. End of story, IMO.
a chick on slashdot? can I get your number?
It's right there, beside my name. See? "Toresica (788403)"... oh, the other kind of number...
Regualr guy:
"Great! I'm off to collage, need some tips on the best places to party, the best clubs, and where all the hot chicks hang out."
Geek:
"I've been looking around recently for other options as far as keeping track of my laptop and other semi-expensive and certainly valuable (for a college student) stuff in a dorm room setting. Any ideas? I'm looking for both laptop-specific and comprehensive solutions. Locks? Alarms? Video cameras? Trip wire?"
Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated up.
Remind me not to shake hands with you after you've been to the toilet...
Never mind Spamassassin. When's Spammerassassin coming out?
Don't bother with the Junior and Senior chicks, they're getting banged by the grad students
Yeah... right!
*grumble*