iPhone

Smartphones are know the leading phone type on the market. They hold a 70% share and are quickly becoming a necessity not just a nice toy. One of the most popular phones is the iPhone for Verizon or Sprint. The iPhone is from the ever improving and popular Apple products. What makes the iPhone such a popular phone is that it is more than just a phone, it is everything. The iPhone can do everything from listening to music, to checking email or even banking. The iPhone can help you pay bills, remind you about appointments or even just pass the time. With the addition of the app store to your smartphone there is nothing you can't do. The app store gives users the ability to get any app at any time, right at their fingertips. 

Even though the iPhone is innovative and new, it does have a downside. The iPhone is very vulnerable to damage. The phone has been known to break from the shortest of drops; from as little as just a few inches off the ground. The way to avoid this problem is to get a trustworthy durable case. Don't always go for the case that is the prettiest or looks the best. Keeping the iPhone safe should be a top priority. Two cases that are recommended are the Otter Box and the Life Proof case. Both cases are very durable and can withstand almost anything. The Otter Box, runs for around $40 and protects it from the most normal everyday bumps and bruises. The Life Proof case is more durable and can withstand the harshest of days. It is waterproof and can take a tall drop from not your ordinary heights. The case is so waterproof that you can get waterproof headphones to get with it, so that taking your phone in the shower is now an option. 

Overall, if you are fairly careful with your phone and usually take care of it the Otter Box is the case for you, but if you are accident prone and tend to buy new phones every few months, go for the Life Proof case. It runs for about $70 but is worth the purchase to keep the valuable phone safe.

Car Sense

There are colleges and universities all over the country, but the one thing that all college students can relate with, no matter where they are, is being smart and trying to save money. One thing that college students need to be knowledgeable about is looking for and buying used cars. Brand new cars are shiny but they are also expensive and a bad investment on a young person. A new car loses half its value as soon as you leave the lot. So it is much smarter to go with something that is used and wont decrease in value as soon as you buy it. 

There are many things that someone needs to look into when they are looking for a used car. The most important thing that you need to look into is the Kelly Blue Book value. Kelly Blue Book is a website that will tell you the value of any vehicle out there. All you need to know is some basic information about the vehicle. Information such as mileage, year and condition. If the KBB value says a car is worth $5,000 dont accept a price that is over, especially if its a significant amount. Some car owners have an emotional attachment to their vehicles and think that it is worth much more than it essentially is. Always consult KBB before buying a car. 

www.kbb.com

New TV Shows

In todays world, television is filled with everything under the sun. But as we all know, reality TV trumps it all. From the Jersey Shore to The Hills, reality TV is the king of prime time. But amidst all of the junk that fills the prime time slots, there are some quality shows out there.

Two shows that really showed promise were Swamp People and Storage Wars. These two shows combine a good balance between comedy, interesting facts and a new perspective on things. 

Swamp People takes you deep into the swamp land of Louisiana and gator hunting. These hunters live off the land and make a majority of their money hunting gators and selling them. You follow them on their small boats as they wrestle gators into the boats with them. You get a unique look to see how some people live their lives. Sometimes we forget that, amongst the big cities and highways, some people still live off the land and can survive without credit cards and cell phones. 

Storage Wars is new type of show that focuses on people buying storage units that are being auctioned off. The idea is to pay less then what you think is in it, but unfortunately it is more complicated than that. The main characters that you follow on the show, have quite the ego's and never let the other get the units easy. The show is interesting because you get a new look on history and find out things about unique pieces of history. From everything to famous paintings to 1950's TV's, the units have it all. 

If you are looking from something new and interesting to watch on TV then these two shows wont disappoint. After both getting great reviews on their first seasons, their second seasons are off and running. 

Christmas Candies

Sometimes Thanksgiving gets all the credit for great meals and fancy dishes. Although that may be well deserved, Christmas can also bring great dishes. Christmas may not have the classic turkey, as a main dish. But Christmas does bring much more candies and goodies. From Christmas cookies to gingerbread houses, the December month brings lots of sugar and sweets to the holidays. 

There are an endless amount of creations you can make with Christmas cookies. Cookies are a great way to help fill a party tray at and gathering. They can also come in a variety flavors, which is great for people who may have any type of allergies. 

Another great dessert for the holidays is fudge. Fudge can be made in a variety of ways and one of the pluses of fudge is that it stays good for a very long time. When made in bulk and kept in a sealed container or in the refrigerator it can stay good for an extended period of time. 

Just because Thanksgiving is over, don't let your creative cooking abilities rest. Check out this website that has some more great ideas for food over the holidays!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roast-Christmas-Goose/Detail.aspx

Winter Jam 2012

Winter Jam, one of the largest Christian concert tours, was started 17 years ago by the Grammy nominated Christian group NewSong. It takes place at the beginning of every year and it is a 47 city tour.

 Winter Jam 2012 promises to be the biggest lineup yet. Skillet will be headlining the tour along with groups such as Sanctus Real, former Newsboys lead singer Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Building 429, Group 1 Crew, Dara Maclean, For King & Country, and We as Human. Also, Brock Gill the Illusionist will be there along with national speaker Nick Hall. For those Veggie Tale lovers, Bob and Larry will be making an appearance as well! If you want to go, be sure to catch the tour as it comes through your area. Here are some dates for the month of January:

1/7/12-Raleigh North Carolina

1/8/12-Charlotte NC

1/12/12-Orlando Florida

1/13/12-Jacksonville FL

1/14/12-Tampa FL

1/15/12-Atlanta GA

Be sure to visit www.jamtour.com for more concert dates in February and March. It costs $10 at the door.

Still looking for something to do for New Years? Take a look at Rocking in the New Year!

Exam Survival Guide

Available at AllPosters.com

The clock is counting down as the semester is coming to a much anticipated, much needed end. Projects and papers are due and final exams are looming around the corner. We've come up with the Exam Survival Guide to help you make it through the worst two weeks of the semester, the last two.

Step 1: Take care of your body.
We've all heard the slogan on the above poster, and it becomes our mentality when working on a deadline, but remember that you'll be dead quicker if you don't take care of your body. Get plenty of rest! Take mid-day naps if you need to, but rest is a vital part of proper brain function. It is also what turns short term memory into long term memory. And when you wake up, get something to eat, something healthy. Your car needs gas to run, right? Guess what, your body also needs fuel to maintain strength. And an empty stomach can be really distracting.
Step 2: Plan.
Set up a plan for how, where, and how long you're going to study. You'll be more likely to actually study if you plan it out and set aside time solely for exam preparation. Then stick to that plan. Also if you spread it out and take study breaks, then your brain won't be on information-overload and you will be more likely to remember what you've studied.
Step 3: Study!
Start studying NOW! That's right, don't wait until the night before the exam to study. Get a head start and look over the material now so that it will be easier to remember later. Even if it's just 5 minutes at a time, do what you can. Switch out between subjects if you get tired of one, then come back to it later.

Tools:

• A loud, working alarm clock. And don't hit snooze. If you sleep through your finals, all that studying will be for nothing!
• Coffee, coffee, and more coffee. You can substitute for hot tea, but make sure it is caffeinated.
• A water bottle: To keep you hydrated. Caffeine is wonderful, but it can dehydrate you. Your body is mostly water, and you can get headaches, backaches and more if you don't drink enough water.
• A pillow. If you're going to be burning long hours in the computer lab or library, you may as well get comfortable.
• Snacks. Pick up a couple of your favorites to munch on. We suggest mini carrots and grapes. They are healthy, bite sized and will help you stay awake.
• Index Cards. They can be helpful when studying to write down cues and use them as flash cards.
• A #2 pencil. Why? Why does Indiana Jones always carry a whip? Why does James Bond always have a gun? Why does House always carry his cane? Because you just never know. 
• A deck of cards. Solitaire or other card games can be really good for quick study breaks to help your mind relax.

Have suggestions for the Exam Survival Guide? Leave a comment and let us know how it can be improved. Also let us know what your favorite study snack is!

Read the fall issue of Venture Magazine for tips on how to stay healthy and set good habits in college.