Abraham Lincoln said it best: All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. And with Mother’s Day this Sunday, it’s the perfect time to honor and spoil the woman that bore you, raised you, and put up with you through times both good and bad. And what better way to do that than to show off your favorite movie moms? Kick back, relax, and be sure to let your mom know you love her more than these seven epic movie matriarchs. And if you haven’t gotten your mom a gift yet, feel free to send her this article.

1. Littlefoot’s Mother, The Land Before Time

   I’ll be with you. Even if you can’t see me.

   She’s a 40-ton mother who’s 75 feet long, and she overpowers an evil T-Rex that’s about to have her son for lunch. This gentle giant seems loving and maternal, but she will maim and kill anyone that’s about to lay their fangs into her child. Seriously, the (vegetarian) woman braved history’s most hardcore predator, knocking him into a giant chasm during an earthquake while fighting on the precipice of a cliff. What more could you ask for in a mom?

   Honorable Mention: Mrs. Jumbo, Dumbo. She gets locked up and labeled a "mad elephant" after trying to protect her son from some extremely rude people. And this tender moment will forever make us remember a mother’s love and have a good cry:

2. Mrs. Gump, Forrest Gump

   Stupid is as stupid does.

   … And because we’ve done plenty of stupid (and hopefully a few smart) things in our day, we know that our moms will agree. A single, Southern mom, Mrs. Gump loved and cared for her special needs son, and put his education and quality of life above everything, including her sexual dignity. If your mother is anywhere near that committed to your access to education, she deserves a lifetime of your love and care. And for you to become a world-renowned ping-pong star that is inexplicably instrumental to most of your generation’s big wins.

   Honorable Mention: Sally Field’s other landmark mother role: Meline from Steel Magnolias, and her well-deserved breakdown after the death of her daughter. For all the moms out there that have unfairly lost a child, we salute you:

3. Peg Boggs, Edward Scissorhands

   Edward, I think you should just come home with me.

   Do you have a surrogate mother? One that took you under her wing and cared for you, no matter how weird you were? What about one that stood up for you, even though you you were created by a mad scientist and had scissors for hands? For surrogate moms everywhere, we thank you, Peg Boggs. Your advocacy means more to us than your Avon products ever could.

4. Senator Laine Hanson, The Contender

   Principles only mean something when you stick to them when it’s inconvenient.

   She’s a junior senator who gets picked to be the vice president. She employs her husband and righteously defends her right to raise her adorable young son (and her country) without religious values, but with deep-seated civic convictions that are as inspiring as they are laudable. Embroiled in an undeserved controversy that’s designed to break her spirit and reputation during confirmation hearings, the Senator maintains her stoic dignity and lofty principles throughout. And any mom who can sit in front of her Congressional detractors and give the following speech deserves some Mother’s Day love:

5. Erin Brockovich, Erin Brokovich

   I don’t need pity, I need a paycheck. And I’ve looked. But when you’ve spent the past six years raising babies, it’s real hard to find somebody who pays worth a damn … Are ya getting every word of this down, honey, or am I talking too fast?

   You’re lucky if you know anyone who’s as hardcore as Erin Brokovich. She’s a sassy single mom that brings down The Man (not men, fellas) to pay her bills and take care of her kids. And the best part is that it’s based on a true story. Julia Roberts plays the no-nonsense paralegal whose determination on behalf of her children and her job darn near changes the world.

   Honorable Mention: In another great mom movie move, Julia Roberts also plays a soon-to-be mom in Stepmom, where a dying Susan Sarandon comes to terms with the realization that her children will need their new mother. While we prefer to see Sarandon happy and dancing with her cinematic children, this moving scene is one for the Mother’s Day books:

6. Elastigirl, The Incredibles

   Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so!

   All moms are superheroes, but this mom’s a real superhero. Not only does she protect her husband and children from evildoers and diabolical plots, Elastigirl also sends a great message about the power of, well, girl power. She can reshape her body in crazy ways, and she’s got a wit that stretches farther than her arms ever could. If you’ve got a badass mom (hint: you definitely do), you’re sure to love Elastigirl.

7. Albert Golberg, The Birdcage

   I assure you, Mother is just following a train of thought to a logical, yet absurd conclusion — much in the same way Jonathan Swift did when he suggested the Irish feed their babies to the rich.

   You don’t have to be born female to be a good mother, and Albert Goldberg (perfectly played by Nathan Lane) proves this beautifully. Whether you were raised in an unconventional home, or if your mother is just a dramatic kook, there’s so much sweetness and light to be taken from this performance that we can’t not love it. A big Mother’s Day thanks from all children everywhere, to all the moms out there that raised us!

If you want to learn more about the history of your city, explore the history of corruption within the city’s police department. Police corruption, which can include kickbacks, shakedowns, and protection of or even direct participation in illegal activities, has been around since the creation of the country’s first police force. Initially, the police were not asked to "serve and protect," but to mediate between criminal and political kingpins as they fought each other for power. Some may say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. But perhaps understanding the history of city and police corruption can help to provide the vision and leadership for a better future. Here are nine police departments with well-documented corrupt pasts.

1. New York Police Department

   Since its establishment in 1844, corruption has been a fact of police life in New York City. From the very beginning, New York’s underpaid and overworked police officers were expected to serve the needs of the city’s political leaders while collecting money from gang leaders, gamblers, and pimps for the privilege of operating relatively unmolested. Back in 1895, officer Alexander S. Williams, took advantage of his appointment as captain of the city’s 21st Precinct, which included the Tenderloin and Gas House districts, to collect money from criminals, including the madams of several brothels, and make a fortune as a result. Williams, who earned his nickname "Clubber," once said, "There is more law in the end of a policeman’s nightstick than in a decision of the Supreme Court." After investigation by two committees, Williams resigned, went into the insurance business, and died a multimillionaire. Who says crime doesn’t pay?

2. New Orleans Police Department

   New Orleans Mayor Landrieu released a hopeful, conciliatory statement in the wake of the sentencing of five New Orleans police officers to several years in prison for their roles in shooting unarmed citizens in the chaotic days that followed Hurricane Katrina. "We now have an opportunity to turn the page and to heal," Landrieu said. "It is my commitment to the people of New Orleans to rebuild and reform the NOPD." The first police force in the then-French New Orleans was established in 1803, only to be disbanded due to countless complaints from civilians. Given the history of the NOPD, Landrieu definitely has his work cut out for him.

3. Chicago Police Department

   By the end of the 19th century, the city of Chicago enjoyed the dubious reputation of being a haven for "dangerous classes;" a city that was more like an out-of-control frontier town "with an absence of moral virtue." The Chicago Police department went without large-scale reform until 1960 when eight police officers from the city’s North Side or Summerdale district were charged with running a large-scale burglary ring. Known as the Summerdale Scandal, the case generated unprecedented media attention, and prompted the creation of a much-needed police superintendent role to oversee and enforce rules and regulations within the department.

4. Los Angeles Police Department

   The 1951 Bloody Christmas Scandal, a real-life scandal that appears in author James Ellroy’s book L.A. Confidential and its film version, involved as many as 50, mostly drunk, police officers who took time out from a Christmas party to beat six prisoners for more than 90 minutes. Since more than 100 people either witnessed or knew of the beatings, the incident became public, and prompted the city’s Mexican community to come forward with more charges of police brutality against citizens. In 1952, a grand jury succeeded in convicting only five of the officers involved, and none of them received a sentence amounting to more than a year in prison. And then there was the Rampart scandal and the Rodney King beating.

5. Miami Police Department

   Miami in the ’80s experienced an "epidemic" of police corruption due in part to the enormous amount of cocaine being smuggled into South Florida from Latin America. A cheap, deadly derivative of the drug known as "crack" would infiltrate other cities throughout the U.S., and transform many once relatively peaceful working class neighborhoods into war zones. Police corruption in Miami reached its height in 1986 when, as a result of an inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, more than a dozen officers from the police department faced charges that ranged from drug dealing to murder.

6. Sheriff’s Department, Dallas County, Alabama

   Students of Civil Rights history know that Selma, Ala. was the location of a brutal assault on a group of peaceful marchers led by John Lewis of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and Reverend Hosea Williams of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by the Selma Police Department led by Sheriff Jim Clark, as well as state troopers, and recently deputized members of the community. Law enforcement officers used nightsticks, horses, and tear gas to indiscriminately attack the peaceful demonstrators. Televised images of the attack inspired even more support for the Civil Rights movement. Sheriff Clark later lost his bid for reelection, went on to sell mobile homes for a while, and in 1978, was busted for conspiracy to import marijuana.

7. Ahome Municipal Police Force

   Ahome is a municipality in the Mexican state of Sinaola. Just last November, Ahome’s entire Police Department, 32 officers and commanders, were arrested by state police for the department’s connection to two powerful drug cartels. Amazingly, the director of the state police who carried out the arrest, "Chuytoño" Aguilar Iniguez, was at one time one of Mexico’s Attorney General’s most wanted men for his connections to kingpins within the Sinaloa drug cartel. After having fled to Cuba in 2004 while undergoing investigation for corruption, Iniguez was granted a sort of immunity in 2009 by a federal court, and returned to Mexico to profit from, er, whoops, we mean "fight" crime.

8. Philadelphia Police Department

   You know you’ve got a corrupt police department when it comes under the scrutiny of Human Rights Watch. HRW has stated that, "the Philadelphia police department (in terms of) corruption and brutality … has one of the worst reputations of big city police departments in the United States." In the early 1990s, a group of PPD officers, some known throughout the city as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, conducted a series of unreported raids on crack houses where officers would steal from suspects. The arrest of Mumia Abu-Jamal for the murder of a police officer, and the public outcry at his being sentenced to death (this sentence was recently overturned), brought national attention to the PPD’s reputation for brutality and corruption.

9. Baltimore Police Department

   In March 2012, a Baltimore police officer was sentenced for his part in what is known as the Towing Scandal, a criminal ring that included more than 50 other members of the Baltimore Police Department. Vehicles were towed from accident scenes by a towing and repair company owned by two police officers. Other officers were paid to participate in the scam, which generated hundreds to thousands of dollars for those involved. Accident victims were even encouraged by officers not to talk to their insurance companies.

1. It’s not Mexico’s Independence Day

   If you’ve ever drunkenly offered "Independence Day!" as an answer for why you’re drinking so much cerveza, we can’t really blame you. Independence is a great default guess, but in this case, it’s wrong. Mexico’s Independence Day is actually on Sept. 16, which commemorates the day when a priest in a small Mexican town spurred the War of Independence against Spain by calling for Mexicans to rise up. This is known as the "Grito de Dolores" or "Grito de la Independencia," meaning either the "Cry of Dolores," which was the name of the town, or the "Cry of Independence."

2. It celebrates the Battle of Puebla

   Listen closely, because this is the real reason you’re partying. The Battle of Puebla, fought in 1862, was a great moral victory for Mexico in the French-Mexican War. In 1861, Mexico was forced to default on some loans from European countries. One of these countries was France, which decided to take over parts, and eventually all, of Mexico. On May 5, 1862, the French army tried to invade Puebla de Los Angeles, but was forced to retreat by the under-dog Mexican forces there. Although this battle didn’t change the course of the war, which lasted another six years, it raised the spirits of the Mexicans and made them more determined to win the war.

3. It may have helped the U.S.

   Napoleon III, the French ruler at the time, wasn’t exactly a friend of the United States. Many historians believe that one of the big reasons he wanted to control Mexico is so he could better help the Confederacy overthrow the Union during the U.S. Civil War, which was happening during this time. The invasion into Mexico is assumed to be part of his "Grand Scheme for the Americas." The plan involved, among other things, recognizing the Confederate States of America and supporting their military. The defeat of the French at Puebla stalled Napoleon III’s plan, and may have helped the Union solidify its victory.

4. It’s not a big deal in Mexico

   Cinco de Mayo is seen as something of a regional holiday in Mexico, a chance for the people in the state of Puebla to remember the battle that happened there. For the majority of Mexicans, though, the 16th of September, Independence Day, is a much bigger cause for celebration. On Cinco de Mayo, the capitol normally holds a small ceremony to commemorate the day, but nationally, the partying is minimal.

5. It gained popularity in the U.S. in the ’50s and ’60s

   Though there may have been small numbers of Mexican immigrants celebrating Cinco before, the holiday didn’t get a foothold in the U.S. until the 1950s and ’60s. The first official festival was held by a group of Mexican-American college students in California, and the holiday was quickly embraced by other people who wanted to celebrate their Mexican heritage and culture. For many Mexican-Americans, the holiday represents the resilience of their people and gives them the chance to make traditional customs an annual celebration.

6. The biggest celebration is in LA

   You might expect Puebla to have the largest, craziest Cinco de Mayo party. But the truth is, Los Angeles’ Cinco celebration, Fiesta Broadway, is the biggest in the world. Normally held at the end of April to kick off celebrations, Fiesta Broadway plays hosts to more than 500,000 visitors who take over 12 square blocks downtown to experience performances by Latino artists, eat traditional foods, and enjoy the community.

7. There are festivities outside of the U.S. and Mexico

   Cinco de Mayo parties can be found anywhere there are people who want to celebrate Mexican culture. In Vancouver, Canada, there’s a skydiving event each year for Cinco de Mayo, with an air show and tandem skydiving lessons. Just as fun and typically less dangerous is the air-guitar competition put on each year in the Cayman Islands. Strangely, the winner gets a trip to London rather than some Mexican resort city.

Ditch those images of braided blondes in Viking helmets — opera is an incredibly rich, diverse art enjoyed worldwide. Unsurprisingly, many music students find it so fascinating they focus on exploring the myriad nooks and crannies encompassed. But no creative pursuit exists exclusively within its own bubble. Anyone wishing to pursue studies in opera should put forth the effort to seek out perspectives from a broad range of names. Doing so can only enhance and supplement the information found in class, and the following combine to make a strong start.

Classical Music

1. Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog: This insightful, respected music journalist covers the wide world of classical composing and performance, with interviews, articles, reviews and plenty more.

2. Deceptive Cadence: Presented by NPR Classical, Deceptive Cadence offers up everything the classical music and opera buff could ever want — including some amazing recordings!

3. Re:harmonized: Get a peek at classical, world and opera music from a composer’s perspective, with a few other interesting topics thrown into the mix as well.

4. Classical Iconoclast: Doundou Tchil covers a wonderfully broad range of classical music subjects, providing some of the internet’s most provocative and intelligent commentary.

5. Classical Beat: Anne Midgette with the Washington Post hopes her blog about the classical music scene past, present and future will stoke discussion and keep the love alive.

6. PostClassic: No matter what the naysayers tout, classical music is by no means a dead or dying genre, as Kyle Gann gleefully points out.

7. Sandow: Greg Sandow opines on the directions in which the classical music scene may (or may not) be heading.

8. Iron Tongue of Midnight: Bookmark this active, intelligent blog and refer to it as often as possible when prowling for information about a staggering array of classical music topics.

9. Sequenza21/: Vibrant Sequenza21/ serves as a wonderfully informative hub for anyone wanting to participate in or learn more about today’s extremely active classical music scene.

10. Proper Discord: A former classical musician rants and raves about issues associated with the eclectic genre’s critique and performances.

Opera Commentary and Critique

11. Opera Chic: A young, classically-trained American musician living in Milan discusses her impressions of the Italian opera scene — and beyond.

12. Opera Cake: Fans of European opera will love this Paris-based blog, which also branches out to review performances in other cities and countries as well.

13. Opera Fresh: Opera Fresh tries to cover as much as it can about the diverse performing art, but seems to mainly focus on interviewing and talking about sopranos.

14. Opera Now!: Both a blog and a podcast, the delightful Opera Now! looks at the diverse genre with considerable humor and excellent insight.

15. wellsung: Jonathan Ferrantelli and Alex Baker clearly adore opera, contributing some of the internet’s most cheeky and intelligent reviews and commentary on the subject since 2005.

16. opera chanteuse: Opera can be just as fashionable as it is entertaining, as this blog’s commentary on the various aesthetics the performing art employs so helpfully illustrates.

17. Opera Today: Bookmark Opera Today and follow all the latest news and views from venues and companies around the world.

18. Wagner Opera: Anyone studying Wagnerian opera might want to turn towards this resource for a few interesting pointers and opinions.

19. COMMANDOpera: Visit COMMANDOpera for reviews, commentary and news regarding the scene worldwide, as well as a few bits and pieces about other performing arts on occasion.

20. Parterre Box: Step into the weird world of opera, which isn’t nearly as staid, dull and unflinchingly traditional as many people believe.

21. Opera Tales: Although busy Renassiance Man Renaud Loranger doesn’t update his blog as frequently as some of the others listed here, his experience and analysis are nevertheless required reading.

22. OperaBlog: Learn all about how digital media has revolutionized the way opera performances reach audiences around the world — and, of course, catch up on a little critique and commentary along the way.

23. The Handelmania Podcast: This podcast is presented blog-style and features interviews with and performances by some of opera’s most beloved names.

24. Il Corriere della Grisi: Opera students with a particular proficiency in Italian will love visiting this resource, chock full of musings and content to pique their interest.

25. Likely Impossibilities: One young musician shares her love of opera through in-depth reviews and opinion pieces. She occasionally touches upon general classical music subjects as well.

26. The Opera Tattler: Three experienced opera professionals discuss the hefty amount of performances they attend, reviewing both the events themselves and the surrounding audiences.

27. I’d rather be sleeping (but opera is keeping me awake): Supernumerary Susan provides an insider’s view of opera from the perspective of a performer assigned no singing or speaking roles.

28. Forum Opera: Opera fans and students who know their way around Italian (or Google Translate) will absolutely love this blog, website and community where anything and everything about their beloved art converges.

29. We left at the interval…: Despite the infrequent update schedule, We left at the interval…offers up some excellent reviews of Parisian opera performances.

30. I HEAR VOICES: Catch up on intelligent reviews and commentary of various performances by different German opera houses right here.

Performing Arts

31. Ionarts: Though based in Washington, D.C., Ionarts and its bevy of correspondents appeals to anyone wanting to learn as much as they can about classical music, opera, film and more.

32. AndrewAndJoshua: Stop here to read about opera, classical music, dance, theatre and other useful performing arts trends and topics.

33. Family Circle: Peer into the vibrany NYC art scene through the eyes of a non-professional non-native enchanted by the myriad performing arts options available.

34. Superconductor: Brooklyn-based freelance writer Paul Pelkonen delivers a staggering array of content regarding the city’s vibrant performing arts community, with particular attention paid to opera and classical music.

35. Willy or Won’t He?: Italian culture, the performing arts — especially theatre, opera and classical music — come alive in this thoroughly engaging read.

36. Sounds & Fury: Read detailed rants and raves about a broad spectrum of cultural topics, including opera, literature, theatre, culinary arts and plenty more.

37. Theatre Blog: Despite the title, The Guardian’s group blog does diverge into coverage of other performing arts events and topics, though theatre does comprise the bulk of its content.

38. In the Muse: Anyone harboring a love of (or a need to study) music history will absolutely adore the Library of Congress’ amazing archive of photos, sheet music, stories and other primary and secondary resources.

39. Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise: This music critic for The New Yorker writes about…well…pretty much what one would expect. Almost every genre imaginable crops up at some point here, including opera and classical.

40. Performing Arts: About.com’s Angela Mitchell makes all the performing arts wonderfully accessible to new and old students, professionals and hobbyists alike.

Singers and Voice Coaches

41. Intermezzo: A sassy soprano and former piano player blogs about all things opera, particularly as it pertains to the London scene.

42. Not Just Another Pretty Voice: Opera singer, rock star and writer Amanda White keeps readers updated on her music career, opinions on the industry and plenty more subjects.

43. Trying to Remain Operational: Comedy and opera collide in Jennifer Rivera’s delightful little corner of the web, where she also posts videos and answers questions about life as a professional vocalist.

44. A Liberal’s Libretto: As the title implies, the official blog of bass-baritone James Newman merges politics, opera and social media together into one incredibly interesting resource.

45. A Soprano Steps Out: Step into the digital shoes of one singer, who shares many intimate ups and downs of a life spent performing on stage.

46. Kashu-do: The Way of the Singer: Whether pursuing a career as an opera singer or critic, vocal coach and performer Jean-Ronald LaFonde’s blog provides some incredible advice and stories of value to fans of all proficiencies.

47. Once More With Feeling: Get excellent insight into both opera singing and the theatrical life courtesy of a vocal teacher and performer with over 25 years in the business.

48. Expressions of Love: One Singer’s Journey: Rebecca Fromherz’s romantic passion and zeal for life comes through in both her singing and her writing.

49. The Opera Audition: Though not maintained by a singer, The Opera Audition comes courtesy of a director hoping to provide aspiring professionals a look into the casting process.

50. The Next Hundred Pounds: Find out how one professional opera singer lost weight and stays in shape, as well as the impact such measures have had on both her health and her career.

1. The slob: This roommate was more dirty than your average slobby roommate. She showered once weekly, piled garbage thigh high, and left bodily fluids to soak into her mattress.
2. Stabbing and ID theft: A freshman at the University of Arizona was stabbed 23 times by her roommate, who had previously stolen her credit cards and money from her bank account.
3. Surprise you have AIDS: This roommate picked up the mail and changed the results of a routine HIV/AIDS test to reveal that the other roommate had tested positive. Not only that, she let her roommate go on believing the false results for two days, even waiting until she had told her boyfriend the results.
4. Paying the bills: This roommate was constantly short on money to pay the bills, until she started prostituting herself at home.
5. The hotel: This roommate turned from timid into a social butterfly overnight, leaving the dorm room unlocked to be visited by friends at all hours, allowing them to eat food, use her roommate’s laptop, whether her roommate was there or not. The last straw was drawn when the innocent roommate woke up to discover not only a wide open door, but also a couple of strangers making out on her futon.
6. Bad vibes: This roommate didn’t believe in close contact with electronics. She attempted to spray lemon juice and baking soda on the TV to get rid of the bad vibes.
7. The new drug dealer: This roommate had a great plan to buy cocaine in bulk to sell it to college students, but instead snorted it all himself. He got so high, he had to be talked down while listening to David Bowie.
8. The bathroom: This summer rental was home to an aggressive swinger, and a woman awaiting her court date for assaulting a police officer. On top of that, the owner allowed customers from their late night food joint to use the bathroom.
9. The used tampons: This roommate left her used tampons in the apartment. She made sisterhood puppets out of them, as well as wall decor.
10. Captain Planet: Captain Planet took going green to an extreme level, not allowing 409 in the house, and monitoring what his roommate ate.
11. The denting deer head: This roommate stored deer heads in the garage, one of which fell on a roommate’s brand new car. She also leaves the doors unlocked, and sometimes even wide open.
12. The dead cat: This roommate left a dead cat in the oven for a week, and let a tarantula run around free range. He also idled his motorcycle inside without opening any windows, invited crackheads over, and left feces in various locations. This story tops off with a fake kidnapping, showdown, and 911.
13. Poop treasure hunt: If you can stand it, this roommate story shares photos of feces left in a number of locations, and even inside of possessions.
14. The bleeder: This roommate woke up to find blood all over her room and bathroom walls. Apparently, her roommate, who also had no problem stealing clothes and jewelry, tore apart her room looking for a condom, but had no idea she was bleeding.
15. Wordless wonder: When this girl moved in, she never spoke a single word to her roommate, not even responding to words, waving, and pointed questions about why she never spoke back.

1. Churchill: A Study in Greatness by Geoffrey Best: Winston Churchill is a man who led his country through some pretty difficult times, helping them to come out stronger and better on the other side. Learn what made him such a great leader and an inspiration to his countrymen in this biography.
2. The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles: He may not have always been easy to get along with, but Vanderbilt knew how to build a capitalist empire. Read this book to study his drive, stubbornness and competitiveness– qualities that helped him to rise to the top of his field.
3. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by MLK, Jr.: His tragic death cut short the life of this prolific speaker and leader, a man who played a big role in changing the social dynamics of our country. In this book, you’ll hear the story of his life in his own words.
4. Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America by Elliot J. Gorn: Mary Harris, perhaps better known as Mother Jones, was one of the foremost union organizers and rabble rousers of her time. This biography will let you see into her life, documenting both the hardships and the successes.
5. Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell: Few people have chosen to brave the extremes found at the bottom of the world and this man, explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, was one of the first. This book is full of stories about his life that provide valuable lessons of leadership, humor and compassion.
6. It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Michael Abrashoff: While military-style leadership isn’t for everyone, the stories about his time of the USS Benfold this former Navy Captain tells in this book are enlightening no matter what kind of leader you’d like to be.
7. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Lincoln faced three challengers for the Republican nomination of 1860: William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates. Impressed by their abilities, Lincoln later appointed them to his administration. In this book, you’ll learn how his leadership abilities allowed him to turn these rivals into allies and work towards the greater good.
8. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: You might expect an autobiography of a founding father to include tales of his work during the American Revolution, but this book leaves off in 1760 — well before those tumultuous years. So what does it have to offer? It tells the tale of a young man who worked his way up in the world through hard work, determination, wisdom and enterprise — something every leader can be inspired by.
9. Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond by Gene Kranz: Most people have seen the inspiring tale of Apollo 13 brought to life on the big screen, but this book tells the tale of the real life man who was there for it all and helped turn NASA from a ragtag group of young whiz kids into the efficient and innovative place it is today.
10. Hero for Humanity: A Biography of William Wilberforce by Kevin Charles: Few may be familiar with the name of William Wilberforce, but he was a pivotal figure in British politics who worked to abolish the slave trade and improve the quality of life of the country’s poor. His utter determination and conviction in his beliefs makes him an inspirational figure to read about.
11. Mother Theresa: A Complete Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spinko: Read this biography of the famous Mother Theresa to understand what true compassion, humility and love really are and how they can serve you well as a leader.
12. Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris: In this biography, you’ll be able to read about both the faults and virtues of a president who did so much to establish our nation.
13. Ghandi by Geoffrey Ashe: Leading with non-violence, compassion and determination, Gandhi changed the face of a nation and freed his people from colonial rule.
14. When Pride Still Mattered: Lombardi by David Maraniss: When Lombardi took over coaching the Green Bay Packers in 1959, they were a losing team with little hope of pulling it together to win much of anything. Under his leadership, the team would go on to win two NFL titles and two Super Bowls.
15. Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy: A political figure that remains popular to this day, over 50 years after his death, JFK’s biography isn’t about himself but about politicians who stood up for their beliefs even if it meant making a great personal sacrifice.
16. Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela: There are few leaders in the world who are as inspirational as Nelson Mandela. In this book, you’ll read about his years in prison and how he emerged to lead a nation out of apartheid and into the modern era.
17. Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady by John Blundell:Learn about the achievements of Thatcher during her time as Prime Minster, an inspiration for women who want to take on a leadership role of any kind.
18. The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt by Eleanor Roosevelt: Roosevelt was no regular old first lady. She was a strong and able leader and supported women’s organizations and youth movements and fought for consumer welfare, civil rights, and improved housing– never wavering in her commitment to human rights and justice.
19. Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein: Warren Buffet is known for his billions, but the story of the man behind the moneys is perhaps a much more interesting one and is told in this biography.
20. Estee: A Success Story by Estee Lauder: This brilliant business leader’s biography will inspire you to found a enterprise of your own, documenting the enthusiasm, determination and charm that allowed her to rise to the top.
21. iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business by Jeffery S. Young and William L. Simon: After a forced departure from the company he helped to found, Jobs’ future in the tech world was anything but assured. In this biography, you’ll learn how he turned his second chance into the thriving business that Apple is today.
22. Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson: Read this biography to learn how Richard Branson has built a fortune by doing things his own way and not always listening to the naysayers
23. Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire by James Wallace and Jim Erickson: The story of a geeky kid creating a multi-billion dollar empire gets a fresh take in this biography, showing you that sometimes a great idea and stone cold determination can be better than a college degree.
24. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama: Love him or hate him, Obama has the distinction of being the first African-American president, something that wouldn’t have been possible in decades past. In this biography, you’ll learn about his upbringing, his father and his early struggles that helped him get where he is today.
25. Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama by The Dalai Lama: Since the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India. Check out this book to read of the great honors and great tragedies that have formed the man he is today.

Storage

These tricks can help you make room for all of your cooking tools.

1. Keep big items on your fridge: Mixing bowls and large utensils can live on top of your refrigerator.
2. Get your cookbooks out of the kitchen: Place cookbooks in bookcases somewhere outside of the kitchen.
3. Use door storage: Store items on the inside of doors for extra space.
4. Hang fruit baskets: Get fruit and other items up off the counter.
5. Stack your cabinets: Build your cabinets all the way up to the ceiling to get more space.
6. Buy portable shelving: With portable shelving, you can store items and set them just outside of your kitchen space.
7. Hang your pots and pans: Instead of trying to find cabinet space for pots and pans, hang them from your ceiling.
8. Store dishes where you eat: Keep your dishes in your eating area to free up space in your kitchen.
9. Use the space above cabinets: Take advantage of the storage area above your wall cabinets.
10. Try a kitchen cart: Add to your work space with a kitchen cart that can move.
11. Use a roll-out pantry: If you don’t have a lot of room in your pantry, use roll outs to maximize space.

Decor

Make even a small cooking space look beautiful with the help of these decor tricks.

12. Set up magnetic hooks: Free up drawer space and hang pot holders, trivets, and towels on magnetic hooks.
13. Add a mirror: Add a decorative wall mirror to add depth and the illusion of space.
14. Invest in flooring: Get an eye catching floor job to improve the look of a small kitchen.
15. Use a light color palette: A light color palette and natural light can make a small kitchen feel open and airy.
16. Get European appliances: European appliances often have small appliances with maximum utility.
17. Create a small container garden: Get food from your own kitchen with a small container garden.
18. Use under-cabinet lighting: Lighting under your cabinets can create the illusion of more space.
19. Paint the insides of your cabinets: With glass cabinet doors, paint the inside of your cabinets the same color as the walls.
20. Minimize contrasts: Minimizing contrasting colors in your kitchen can make it look more airy and spacious.
21. Use glass doors: Put glass doors on your cabinets for more interest and an open feel.
22. Keep it simple: Be careful not to overload with patterns, textures, and drawer pulls, which have visual clutter.
23. Buy new, slimmer appliances: Pick up slimmer, smaller models of appliances for more kitchen space.
24. Use short curtains: Short curtains in light fabric can offer more natural light that can make your kitchen appear more spacious.
25. Go stainless: Stainless steel reflects light, making your kitchen look larger.
26. Replace dark flooring with a lighter shade: Dark colors can make your design look cluttered, so pick out a lighter shade.

Organization

These tricks will help you keep your small kitchen organized and usable.

27. Add baskets: With decorative baskets, you can add style and space to your kitchen.
28. Keep non-kitchen items out of the kitchen: Avoid using a junk drawer, storing homework, and more in your kitchen.
29. Put lazy susans in cabinets: Make the back of your cabinets more accessible with a lazy susan.
30. Put everything away: Counter space is so important, so put appliances and other space hogs away in cabinets.
31. Clean out your fridge: Focus on finishing what’s left over to clear your refrigerator.
32. Install risers and shelves: Increase cabinet space with metal risers and shelves.
33. Get rid of clutter: Be careful not to hang on to items that are damaged or you no longer use.
34. Use your backsplash: Mount spices, utensils, and more to take advantage of unused space.
35. Use collapsible items: Collapsible colanders, tupperware, and measuring supplies can make more space by squashing down.
36. Turn a wardrobe into a cabinet: Store kitchen items in an Ikea wardrobe.
37. Store unused items higher up: If you have utensils and other cookware that you don’t use often, put them higher in less accessible cabinets.
38. Practice nesting: Use mixing bowls, measuring cups, pots, pans, and other kitchen items that can nest inside each other.
39. Hang items with pegboard: Go vertical and use all of your wall space with pegboard and hooks.

Cooking

Using these tricks, you can cook beyond the limits of your small kitchen.

40. Be confident: Learn how to be confident and thrive even in a tiny kitchen.
41. Cook multiple dishes at once: Plan to cook all of your oven items at the same time.
42. Use a slow cooker: Slow cookers can stretch your small kitchen’s appliance power.
43. Go double duty: Use a toaster oven, a device that’s cheap and small with several functions.
44. Clean constantly: Use the same few tools for the whole meal, and rinse them in between use rather than using several different tools.
45. Use a trash bowl: Keep scraps out of your real food and keep your cutting board clear for ingredients only by using a trash bowl.
46. Learn how to cook in a microwave: You may be limited to cooking in a microwave at college, so find out how to do it well.
47. Serve a one-dish meal: Make an elegant single course meal instead of trying to tackle soup, salad, entree and dessert.
48. Cook one meal at a time: Buy, prep, and cook one meal at a time, eat it til it’s gone, and then cook something else.
49. Rule out recipes with too many ingredients: Avoid using too many ingredients that you’ll have to buy and store.
50. Learn to cook neatly: Smitten Kitchen recommends learning how to prep before you start cooking, keeping everything within arms’ reach, and keeping your counter clean.

Language

Get help with your grammar, vocabulary and idioms here.

1. French Word-a-Day: Get three posts daily that teach you about everyday vocabulary words and little stories about French life.
2. French Language: Laura Lawless’ blog teaches French grammar and vocabulary, and offers some posts about traveling and French culture, written in French.
3. Naked Translations: Native French speaker Celine is a professional freelance translator from English into French. Read her blog to gain insight into the nature of her work and to improve your own understanding of the language.
4. Translator’s Musings: An English to French translator documents the horrors and hilarity of the job, and shares examples of translations that can help language students improve their own skills.
5. Canal Academie: This language learning website features streaming news, historical facts and more to help you broaden your vocabulary.

Literature and Film

Celebrate French films, books and art.

6. The Giants of French Literature: The Modern Scholar Blog’s podcast celebrates the giants of French literature.
7. Cinema dans la lune: Mathieu Tuffreau blogs for Le Monde to share movie reviews and news.
8. Maitresse: Lauren Elkin is a PhD candidate who has been living in Paris since 2004, and here, she writes about books, art and culture.
9. My French Film Festival: Keep up with what happened at this year’s French Film Festival.

Food and Wine

French cuisine is legendary, from its haute cooking styles to country, rustic foods. Get recipes and learn about wine making here.

10. French Letters: Learn more about the French attitude towards food, and get French recipes, too.
11. Southern Fried French: Experience what French food has to offer when you this South Carolina transplant’s blog.
12. 18thC Cuisine: This clever blogger cooks the way an 18th-century habitant would have eaten in France, after a mix of American and other cultures infused traditional cuisine.
13. La Tartine Gourmande: Browse recipes by topic, or scroll through past posts to discover fun little anecdotes expanding on French food culture.
14. Chocolate & Zucchini: This popular blog is written by Clotilde, who lives in Montmartre and loves writing about healthy but sometimes indulgent foods.
15. David Lebovitz: David lives the sweet life in Paris, writing cookbooks, foodie books and this blog, which also includes his favorite spots to eat in Paris.
16. My French Cuisine: This blogger actually lives and cooks in California, but the site is devoted to French cooking and even shares French food idioms.
17. French Revolution Blog: Even if you’re a busy American, you can afford the time to make simply chic meals by reading this blog.
18. Wine Terroirs: Learn about vineyards and wine tasting in France from this blog, written by a French photographer.
19. Made in Cantal: Browse recipes by main dish or to learn about restaurants, cheeses and the French style of cooking.

News and Culture

From keeping up with the news to browsing photo blogs, these sites celebrate what’s current in France.

20. Le Figaro: One of France’s leading newspapers, you can find a lot of news and opinion on Le Figaro’s blog.
21. L’Express: Browse this publication’s blogs for dynamic discussion on style, culture and more, from France.
22. French Politics: French translator and visiting scholar chair at Harvard’s Center for European Studies Arthur Goldhammer comments on French politics from an American viewpoint.
23. The Paris Blog: One of the most popular digests on Paris life, written in English, this is a great blog for anyone interested in real, daily life in the City of Love, not just expats.
24. 39Vaugirard.com: Travelers to France — and those wanting to keep up with daily life — will get helpful tips, including everything from iPad apps to new laws to environmental news.
25. French Friday Blog: This culture and entertainment blog selects the best magazine covers, commercials, campaigns and videos to highlight.
26. French Today Blog: This community blog features posts on day tripping, learning French, cooking and more.
27. French Culture: If you can’t get to France, read this blog, "the official website of the cultural services of the French Embassy in the United States." You’ll find French activities and food in cities like Houston, Miami, Boston and more.
28. Paris Breakfasts: This photographer uploads numerous photos of her adventures, from dog-watching at cafes to cheery national holidays.
29. Little Brown Pen: If you think Paris is a gray and dreary city, read this blog for vibrantly colored photographs of the city.
30. French News Online Blog: Jump in the debates in French politics and economics on this sometimes radical news blog.
31. France 24 Blogs: These English-language blogs comment on culture, fashion, international events, and more.
32. Des series et des homes: Keep up with French TV and entertainment here.
33. Observatoire de la Diversite: This blog intends to study the problems that France and Europe has with diversity.
34. Americanexpatinfrance’s blog: This blogger writes to help other American expats adjust to the French lifestyle.
35. La Coquette: American girl Elisabeth has returned to her roots and moved to France, writing about style, culture and shopping in Paris.

Study Abroad and Travel

From expat blogs to students abroad, these blogs will help you understand what it’s really like to live and travel in France.

36. Lost in Cheeseland: Besides restaurant reviews and commentary on life in Paris, read this blog for its interviews with Americans who’ve moved to France, which can help you make the transition too.
37. Invisible Paris: While this city is known for its impressive art history and museums, this blog celebrates the everyday signs and scenes that make it unique.
38. Partager Paris and more: If you’re new to Paris, you’ll find great hang-out spots to try, and if you’ve never been, you’ll still discover tips for throwing French dinner parties and more.
39. The Paris Sharing Blog: Learn about the vacation industry in Paris, including lodging ideas and more.
40. Paris Daily Photo: Let this blog inspire you to hurry up and move to Paris, already!
41. Why Travel to France: While this blog’s design isn’t very modern, it has an impressive archive of photos, locations, shopping, and other travel ideas for the entire country.
42. Julie’s Paris: Julie offers tips for Americans traveling to France, from taking enough money to trying out specialty spots.
43. chronicles dune frays: This Oregon-native now lives on the French Riviera and documents life there.
44. The Paris Traveler: From lodging tips to main attractions, this blog has clever ideas and informative recaps for travelers to Paris.
45. HiP Paris Blog: Whether you’re staying for a few weeks or a lot longer, the Haven in Paris Blog has tips on finding the perfect place to stay (or live), cooking ideas, living green, traveling and more.
46. La Belle in France: Stephanie writes about all the culture, beauty and opportunities in the Cote d’Azur.
47. City-Guide: French ELLE highlights the coolest things to check out in Paris and the surrounding areas.
48. La Vie en France: Paulina Karpis chronicles her Lyon, France study abroad experience for the blog Her Campus.
49. Lost in France Blogs: Get guides to living and traveling around the country, and read blogs from various expats who’ve made the move.
50. France This Way!: A UK expat writes about making the transition, learning French, traveling, discovering the country’s quirks and history, and meeting other expats.

From guns and weapons on campuses to bullying to predatory educators, parents shouldn’t always assume that their kids are safe at school each day. And while most educators in this country are most likely caring, moral professionals, some gross offenders do make their way to the top of the school food chain, threatening the well-being and happiness of students who expect to attend classes normally each day. Check out our list of the eight most-disgraced school principals in the U.S.

1. Principal foot fetish: Principals are supposed to lay down the law, not kiss students’ feet. But an Ohio principal of St. Anthony of Padua School had to resign after students and their parents complained to police of such fetish-y behavior. The principal — Robert Holloway — agreed to a bet in which he would have to pay students $15 each and kiss their bare feet 50 times if teachers lost the student-teacher volleyball game. And if for some reason you think that the occurrence could be seen as an inappropriate misunderstanding, you might change your mind after learning that 400 photos "depicting foot fetish behavior" were found on computers in Holloway’s office.
2. Real-life Principal Rooney: Gothamist details a perfect comparison between a real-life Orange County, NY, principal and the weasely Principal Rooney from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Outraged that two students — a 12-year-old and 16-year-old — were skipping school, Principal Ernest Jackson laughed off a call from the brothers’ mother and actually went to the students’ home and "let himself in." The guidance counselor who accompanied Principal Jackson figured it was time to go, but Jackson stayed. The boys called their mother, apparently telling her that their principal had walked in on them asleep in their underwear.
3. Sketchy finances: Principal Jose Maldonado-Rivera of Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering in Manhattan was essentially accused of extortion and carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a parent coordinator at his school. The principal made the coordinator — Monica Marin-Reyes — babysit his son without pay and even take him on a field trip to Puerto Rico, all for the trade of living in his apartment for free. The two ultimately hooked up, and Maldonado-Rivera — who had arranged a poorly organized and ultimately deadly field trip the year before to Long Island — was fired by the city.
4. Molesting seminary principal: If you send your kid to a seminary school, you probably think she’s on the right track to a moral, protected future. But a principal at a Utah-area seminary took complete advantage of a student and her family when he was charged with forcible sodomy and object rape of a 16-year-old female student. At the principal’s trial two years later, the student spoke up, saying that she had believed they had a real relationship but now realized she had been his "puppet," "toy" and "game."
5. Booze and strippers: There’s an argument that what you do on your own time is personal business, but people tend to get squeamish when elementary school principals show their shadier side. A Connecticut principal was quietly put on leave until the media dug up a police report about his drunken night at a strip club — and on the road. The principal had been drinking at a strip club called Centerfold’s and drove home when he was stopped by an officer and taken into custody until he could sober up. While the principal doesn’t seem to have been charged with a DUI, school staff were very reluctant to put him on leave — most likely preferring a resignation.
6. Racy survey: Principals are supposed to promote collaboration, diplomacy and fair treatment of all students, but a principal in East Harlem, NY, preferred to categorize student behavior by race. Parents were shocked to find that teachers had been given surveys to break down student behavior and called for the resignation of Dr. Claudia Moore-Hamilton, a black teacher at a mostly Hispanic elementary and middle school. Moore-Hamilton apologized via letter to parents and teachers, merely saying that her approach to school research was "inflammatory."
7. Child rapist: Willow Cottage Arts and Academic Program Director Melissa Stephens sexually abused one of her alternative students for at least a year, police discovered. Stephens was also the founder of the Tualatin, OR, school, where her 10-11-year-old male student attended. Arrested on school grounds, Stephens was charged with first-degree rape, sodomy and sex abuse.
8. Former politician becomes sexual abuser: An Alabama high school principal — who had previously served as a state legislator — was arrested on a sexual abuse charge in late 2010. James Thomas allegedly had an inappropriate and illegal relationship with a 17-year-old student the same year he was defeated in his re-election campaign for state political office.

Shopping

These tips will help you to outfit your dorm room with everything you need while still staying green.

1. Buy furnishings locally. If you’re going to college far from home, buy your furnishings locally instead of hauling them with you. It’ll save on gas and still give you access to everything you need. Some stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond, may give you the option of purchasing remotely and picking up at your destination so you don’t have to move a thing.
2. Shop at resale stores. Not everything for your room has to be brand new. You can be green and save money by shopping used.
3. Browse Freecycle. Why pay for what you can get for free? Use sites like Freecycle to pick up great stuff for your dorms at little to no cost.
4. Buy organic cotton sheets. Organic cotton and other natural fibers like bamboo are incredibly soft, durable and don’t require any pesticides to produce.
5. Look for natural fibers. When shopping for blankets, rugs and towels look for natural fibers. They’re more environmentally-friendly, even though they may cost more to purchase up front.
6. Get a plant. A plant will not only help your room feel more homey, it will help to clean the air as well.
7. Look for recycled paper products. When buying paper towels, toilet paper or printer paper, opt for recycled materials.
8. Avoid disposable furniture. While it might seem like a bargain, cheap, particle-board furniture won’t last and will only end up in a landfill. Higher quality furniture will be a better investment for you and environment in the long run.
9. Buy things that will last you beyond the dorms. When purchasing things for your room, look for those that will work if you decide to move into an apartment later. That way you won’t have to spend money and resources when you get out.
10. Look for environmentally friendly storage solutions. This can mean getting canvas or metal baskets or looking for plastic bins that are made of recyclable materials.
11. Find or make reusable shopping bags. Don’t bring home loads of plastic bags. Instead, invest in some nice reuseable ones. Or make your own.
12. Skip heavily packaged items. Unless it’s something you really, really need, avoid purchasing items that come with way too much packaging. It’s wasteful and will be a pain to deal with once the item is unpacked.

Appliances

From fridges to air conditioning, use these tips to save on energy when it comes to appliances.

13. Look for Energy Star appliances.When buying a mini-fridge or microwave for your room, always do your research to find the most energy efficient models.
14. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace those incandescent and halogen lights with compact fluorescents instead.
15. Turn off your computer when you’re not using it. It saves energy and will help your computer to get a much-needed break. If you don’t want to turn it all the way off, at least make sure it’s sleeping or in power-down mode.
16. Watch out for energy vampires. Chargers for phones, computers and the like suck up energy even when not in use. Use a power strip you can easily turn off to help reduce their impact.
17. Pay attention to the chill factor in your fridge. Keeping your fridge out of the sun and regularly checking its thermostat can help it use less energy over time.
18. Get rid of the AC. Most older dorms don’t have built in AC, but some do allow window units which can be big energy hogs. Forgo the AC if you can handle it, or only switch on to help you sleep or study rather than leaving it on all the time.

Cooking and Eating

Waste less and conserve more when it comes to cooking and eating with these ideas.

19. Avoid plastic water bottles. Instead of stocking up on plastic bottles of water, get a reusable, filtered pitcher. You’ll save tons of plastic from being wasted.
20. Kick the packaged snack habit. Instead, purchase snacks that aren’t individually packaged. Fresher snacks are greener and healthier to boot.
21. Find low-energy methods of cooking. Cooking in a rice cooker, toaster oven or crock pot can mean making delicious meals with much less energy.
22. Buy reusable silverware and plates. Instead of going with the disposable kind, invest in some nice cups and plates you can store and reuse in your room. If you’re worried about breaking glass, go for a recyclable plastic instead.
23. Reuse plastic grocery bags. Don’t throw out perfectly good plastic bags. Use them as liners for your garbage cans or find a number of other great uses for them.
24. Eat smart in the cafeteria. Only take what you know you can eat and avoid using a tray if you don’t have to in order to keep your diet and dorm greener.

Community

Dorm rooms are the perfect place to get close to others and spread your green ideas.

25. Start a club. Want to get the word out about greening the dorms? Start a club on campus to promote activism.
26. Go communal. Instead of having your own fridge or microwave, share with others in your dorm when possible.
27. Green your move out. Don’t simply throw out items when you move out of the dorm. Donate them to a resale store or give them to new students.
28. Share with your roomie. There are numerous items that can be shared between you and your roomie, saving space and materials.
29. Get others interested in your cause. Talk to others on your floor about being green. Post flyers and posters to help them understand just what you’d like to accomplish.
30. Talk to administrators about green ideas for the dorms. There are loads of ways to make dorms greener, and many ways that your college can start being environmentally friendly. Talk to them about your own ideas, you might just see change.
31. Embrace the small space. Living in the small space isn’t the worst thing in the world. It will help you use and waste less, appreciate what you have more.

Green Clean

Give some of these ideas a try to keep your dorm room and yourself clean while still remaining green.

32. Forego plug in air fresheners. They might make your room smell better, but they’re not good for the environment. Clean up your room instead or use natural air fresheners.
33. Do laundry in cold water. It will save on the energy used to heat water and will get your clothes just as clean.
34. Purchase earth-friendly toiletries. Toiletries can be full of harmful chemicals, so reduce your exposure by purchasing those that are better for your body and the earth.
35. Clean your room naturally. Ditch the harsh bleaches and chemicals for cleaning. Instead, choose products that are green or natural to tidy up with.
36. Take shorter showers. It might be nice to luxuriate in long showers, but you’ll be wasting loads of water. Instead, keep it short and sweet.
37. Get all natural flip flops for showering. Kick the plastic flip flop habit and go for natural materials instead.
38. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing your face. Be kind to the earth by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face.
39. Buy chemical-free detergent and fabric softeners. There are several brands out there that make great chemical-free detergents. These options are better for the environment and will leave your clothes wonderfully clean.

Saving and Recycling

Try out some of these tips to ensure your time in the dorms leaves as little impact on the health of the earth as possible.

40. Recycle class materials. Don’t just toss out old notes and papers from class. Put them in the recycle bin instead or use them as scrap instead.
41. Make your own. Rather than going out to buy decorations for your room, make your own using items you already have. There are numerous ideas out there you can use.
42. Never leave the lights on. Keeping the lights on when you’re not in the room is just plain wasteful. Always turn them off when you and your roomie are out.
43. Upcycle old items. Something might not be useful on its own anymore but can be nice when upcycled. Use these ideas to make your dorm room nicer.
44. Take old soda cans and bottles to a recycling center. If you’re like many students and have an addiction to caffeine, you probably have a few soda cans and bottles hanging around. Instead of tossing them out, recycle them.
45. Recycle boxes or invest in reusable containers for moving. Dorms can be pretty wasteful places when students are moving in and out. Do your part to reduce this by recycling and reusing anything you can.
46. Store instead of shipping. Instead of shipping your items back and forth between home and school when you go home for summer, store them locally.
47. Insulate windows. This can help use less energy when both heating and cooling your room.
48. Read online instead of printing. When possible, read your assignments online instead of printing them all out.
49. Buy rechargeable batteries. Devices like remotes and game controllers run through batteries pretty quickly. Instead of simply throwing them out, get some rechargeable ones instead.
50. Print on both sides of paper. When allowed (some professors don’t like it) print on both sides of the paper to use half as much.