SparkNotes

It's hard to analyze a situation without being removed from it by time or distance, which is why we're particularly impressed with Sparkler imperfectbutfine. In this great post, imperfectbutfine points out facets of today's digital culture that few of us stop to think about. —SparkNotes editors

The way we communicate changes all the time. Don't believe me? Here's a list of recent changes in our digital culture that affect what we say and how we say it:

Text language is growing so fast I can't keep up. For example, I had to Google “stfu” because so many of my friends were using it, and I had no idea what it meant.
Emoticons are becoming more complicated. I mean, my sister can make a crazy penguin out of a bunch of key strokes, (but the best I can do is “:p”).

It's always the Sparklers with the most threatening nicknames who write the most sensitive posts. Nice work, villanous_mwaha! —SparkNotes editors

I understand that girls talk about love more than guys. I mean, you never really hear guys saying, “Yeah man! Dis is like, totally what love is. I love dis girl and I fink we're gonna go all da way bruv!”

But still, both guys and girls face the question, "Is my relationship with my SO really true love?" I am going to take you through five questions you should ask yourself to determine whether what you think is "love" is simply a glorified fling.

1. Do you just want this to be true love?
There is a difference between wanting what you have to be love because this person means everything to you and you want it to last forever, and because with this person you're happier than you have ever been—and wanting it to be love because you want those things in general, but not necessarily with this person.

We think Sparkler rebel_of_nowhere should consider changing her username to rebel_of_now. :) —SparkNotes editors

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that things aren’t quite what they used to be? Pluto’s not a planet, Tinkerbell has her own movie, Michael Jackson is dead, and Harry Potter is being challenged by sparkling vampires. Is nothing sacred anymore? Here are five things I think are better off as they were wayyyy back in the old days:

Mystery: solved. We finally know where Sparkler safetylast_23's nickname came from! —SparkNotes editors

After years of spouting useless Humphrey Bogart trivia (he got his scar and lisp in WWI), scoffing at new movies (Paranormal Activity? Puh-lease!), and enduring constant sighs from my parents and friends, I’m forced to admit it: I’m a movie snob.

And I’m not your normal movie snob, either. I specialize in being a snob about movies made from 1918-1959. Why, you ask? Well, I’d tell you, but it would take about 5,000 words and it’s probably a really boring story for everyone but me.

This is my list of four old movies, comedies specifically, that I think everyone can enjoy. This is by no means a complete list of excellent old comedies, just four that aren’t mentioned as often as I'd like:

Sparkler raj101 proves it's possible to say "no" with a sense of humor, and we are so very into that. —SparkNotes editors

Most of you have had this awkward moment (speaking mainly to the ladies here): You're in a movie theater, and that not-so-adorable guy you hardly know starts putting his grimy hands places you'd rather they not be.

Sure, some girls are into this, but some girls are also into hard drugs and Miley Cyrus. If a guy is making you feel uncomfortable, there's no need to stifle your urge to tell him to get his dirty paws off of you. Here are some creative (and effective) ways to do so:

1. Drool. Creatively position your mouth so that the drool drips directly on his hand.

Sparkler tawly31 and her friend Lior wrote this rap about thermochemistry. tawly31's (aka Danitte's) lines are in blue, and Lior's are in green. Enjoy! —SparkNotes editors

Glossary

Mrs. Silverberg - my chemistry teacher
FST - Final Summative Task (equivalent of an exam)

Danitte and Lior’s (Thermo)Dynamic Rap

Hey yo, Mrs. Silverberg,
I say it's gonna be ma year.
We be takin' semestered math,
and tutorin' our peers.
Listen up—it's grade 12.
We gonna do it right:
We gonna study in the day,
and a lil' sleep in the night.
Some night in October,
it's 11:03,
Lior calls me up at home
he say what bout chemistry?

Sparkler got_paint is so awesome. That's all we have to say. —SparkNotes editors

If you guys are like me, then cold weather exacerbates your asthma, reactive airway disorder, and pulmonary defects. With winter just around the corner, we should take into consideration the statements we could be making with our inhalers. These are techniques I’ve used to pimp my inhaler, and make one of the most physically miserable seasons a little brighter.

We love Sparkler synchrogirl117's imagination...but we don't envy anyone planning to buy her presents this year. Where can you buy your own personal ninja, anyway? —SparkNotes editors

Over the past week, we heard something that completely horrified us. (Don't freak out, New Moon is still hitting theaters on schedule. [We're talking to you, Dan Bergstein! We know you secretly want to see it!])

What did we hear? Radio stations are already playing Christmas music! After our initial rage about early holiday music/decorations/merchandise, we started thinking about the actual songs we were hearing, especially "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey. I mean, who asks for a hippo for Christmas? It's almost as weird as asking for your two front teeth.

There are much better things you could ask for:

Sparkler xXx_lola_xXx is our very own Princess of Perpetual Boredom. But she's always coming up with new ways to fight those dull days of high school, and we have to give her snaps for that! —SparkNotes editors

How do we stay awake in class while the teacher keeps droning on about, I don't know, The French Revolution, or the composition of cat hair? I have come up with ways to keep you from getting sent to the office for disrupting class with your snoring, which, no matter how much you protest, was louder than the teacher's voice.

Sparkler africanstardust goes to school online, and this post makes us wonder if there are more of you out there. Online student Sparklers, unite! —SparkNotes editors

Internet schooling and home schooling are two totally different things. Home schooling usually involves your parents/guardians/friend’s parents teaching you, helping you with your homework, and hopefully making you coffee when the 3 p.m. zombie stage kicks in. But internet schooling is something like this: