Monthly Archives: January 2022

After a hard day’s work or a stressful day at school, gaming is a wonderful way for everybody to relax and have fun together. Since time immemorial, families and friends have held parlor nights or game weekends to engage with each other and build closer bonds.

For this reason, there has been a myriad of games invented to capture our imagination and test our wits. From simple card games for kids to complicated roleplaying games for an entire party, we are spoilt for choice. However, there are a few classic games that have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites in every living room.

Most quality distance gaming platforms offer a variety of classic games such as Uno, Yahtzee, and Scattergories. Other fun games include GeoGuess, where players are shown an image from Google Street View and have to indicate on the world map where they think the image was taken.

Uno

Uno is probably the perfect example of an all-ages card game. Anyone from the age of seven years or older can easily understand the rules, and anyone from seven to seventy can enjoy playing. Because it is so accessible, Uno is often the first card game introduced to young children.

The aim of the game is straightforward: Be the first to get rid of all your cards to win. During their turn, players have to put down a card that matches the displayed card by color or number. They can also choose to use a special action card to change the direction of gameplay or to sabotage other players.

Despite its simplicity, Uno can be fast-paced, exciting, and infuriating. The special action cards are designed to test each player’s skill, luck, and deviousness. And players—especially the kids—love to shout “Uno!” when they have one last card left in their hand.

Scattergories

Scattergories (based on the traditional game Categories) is a challenging creative-thinking word game that is great for parties or people working on their vocabulary. Due to its slightly more linguistic nature, it is usually marked for ages 12 and up.

The objective of the game is to name unique objects for the listed categories that start with a specific letter. Players roll a special 20-sided die to determine the letter to use. For example, if the category is “vegetable” and the letter is K, an acceptable answer can be “kale.”

Scattergories comes with a list of recommended categories, but players can also choose to come up with custom categories to keep the game interesting. Each round is timed for three minutes, although players can decide to shorten or lengthen the time for each round.

At the end of the round, players receive a point for each answer that is not duplicated by other players, and players can dispute answers as well. They can also receive bonus points for using alliteration in proper nouns such as “Trinidad and Tobago.” The player with the highest score wins.

Yahtzee

Originally invented for playing on a yacht, Yahtzee is a game that requires minimal props. While the packaged commercial version of the game comes with a dice cup, scorecards, and some plastic tokens, the game can be played as long as you have five dice and know the rules.

During their turn, a player rolls all five dice. After the first roll, they have two opportunities to save any dice they want andre-roll the rest. When the rolling is done, the player has to choose one of the 13 scoring categories to record their dice score in this turn. Each category can only be used once.

The score depends on how well the roll performs against the category’s scoring rules, and bonus points are awarded for special rolls. At the end of 13 turns, when all the categories have been exhausted, the accumulated points are totaled, and the player with the most points wins.

Getting Social Online

Since the onset of the pandemic, people have been trying to find ways to spend time with loved ones despite being physically apart. Distance gaming is a result of this need. With distance gaming, friends and family members can play games with each other by connecting to an online platform.

Distance gaming is not only for pandemic times either. It is a great activity to spend time with people who live on the other side of the world, perhaps a sibling studying overseas or a partner on a work trip. And because the best distance gaming platforms allow you to invite people to your private lobbies, you can fill your virtual game room with your posse for a enjoyable night in together.

Gaming is a wonderful way to relax and socialize. While we may not be able to have huge gatherings yet, distance gaming can fill the gap. Whether you are three houses or three time zones apart, distance gaming can help you to close the distance and spend quality time with the people that you love. 

Los Angeles is an exciting city with global influences and loads of character. If you are moving to LA for your college or university education at USC or UCLA, staying off-campus will allow you to have the most in-depth and immersive experience of this vibrant city and all its inhabitants. 

A Melting Pot

One of the best things about living in Los Angeles is that it is a melting pot on a massive scale. Los Angeles is home to immigrants from 180 countries thanks to its busy LAX airport. So, no matter where you hail from, chances are you will find a touch of your culture and heritage in LA.

LA ranks in the top ten most diverse cities in the US and the city is one of a handful in the country that has no ethnic majority. Hispanic or Latino people make up 48.5 percent of the city, followed by White non-Hispanics at 28.5 percent, Asians at 11.6 percent, and Black or African Americans at 8.9 percent.

The incredible diversity of LA lends to its outstanding culinary landscape. You will find authentic food from a myriad of countries, not just in the city center, but also across various neighborhoods. This means that you will find food that tastes like home and also be able to try new and eclectic cuisines.

LA has certain neighborhoods that act as gathering points for specific ethnic groups. Some examples are Boyle Heights (Hispanic), Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Armenia, Little Ethiopia, Little Tokyo, Thai Town, and the creatively named Tehrangeles (Tehran x Los Angeles).

If you are as fond of pizza and burgers as all students are, LA will not disappoint either. LA has its share of Detroit-style and deep-dish pizza joints, as well as Italian pizzerias that do thin and crunchy pinsa crusts. For burgers, there is the iconic Double-Double (Animal Style) from In-N-Out Burger and the decadent Big Mec from Petit Trois.

Beautiful Weather Every Day

Boasting an average of 292 annual days of sunshine and 35 annual days of rain, and a temperature range of 56-72 degrees Fahrenheit (13-23 degrees Celsius) for most of the year, LA has some of the best weather you will ever experience.

This is because the city is located in a desert basin at the base of the mountain while facing an ocean at the same time. This mix of wildly distinct environments has created a unique climate similar to the Mediterranean with warm days and cool nights.

The perfect weather amplifies the casual atmosphere of LA, with residents sporting shorts, sandals, and sunglasses most of the time. You can enjoy the beach almost every month of the year and spend time in lively ocean communities such as Santa Monica and Malibu.

With endless days of sunshine, there are countless activities that you could enjoy on your days off from studying. You can hike the 4,210-acre Griffith Park, bike or jog the Strand along the stunning shoreline, take a roller coaster ride on the pier, or just chill out with your friends at some of the best skate parks in the entire country.

So Much to Do

Aside from being awesome for the great outdoors, LA is also a hub for art and entertainment. This might seem a little obvious, given that Hollywood is in LA. However, the art and design scene in LA has a lot more to offer than just movie stars and celebrity gossip.

LA’s creative offerings include the Downtown Arts District, numerous galleries, art parks, and the 24-acre hilltop Getty Center. Other art museums include The Board, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

Theatres such as the Pantages Theatre or the Pasadena Playhouse put up plays and productions, while live music venues like the Roxy and the Troubadour feature all genres of music. In addition, you can catch a massive stadium concert by top performers at the Hollywood Palladium or the Staples Center.

LA is imbued with so much art and design that you can see it by simply walking the streets. Art majors will love the art deco of Wilshire Boulevard, the industrial geometry of Hayden Tract, and the striking atrium of the Bradbury Building. Even the low-key Elysian Park is full of interesting design touches.

Not a day goes by without a fun event happening in LA. With sports games, flea markets, open-air film screenings, karaoke bars, and more, there is plenty of entertainment for everybody. From yoga at sunrise to bespoke cocktails at night, LA is abuzz with life.

With such a large selection of affordable USC off campus housing, students should definitely consider staying off-campus. Not only will you have the independence and privacy to explore the city, but you will also be in the thick of the action, ready to enjoy all that Los Angeles has to offer.

You very well might show up to college classes in sweatpants and a ratty tank top. I mean, it’s just regular school right? But when it’s time for that hall social, sorority, and graduation, girl you better SHOW UP in your formal dresses! We’ve compiled some nifty outfit plus accessories to help your glow up before strutting into that dance hall.

Best part, you can totally shop online for the best deals! Typically, there’ll be a much more extensive selection online than your regular neighbourhood mall. Coupled with free returns and same-day delivery options, you can try on multiple options from the comfort of your home. Just give yourself some leeway and start shopping early on, or risk losing out on your dress size or getting your dream dress snapped up in a blink of an eye!

1. School Formals 

We know ball gowns are de facto choice, and not without good reason. They’re often in more conservative cuts, with a wide range of colours and use more luxe fabrics like velvet, satin  brocade just to name a few. However, their price tags are rather steep and you probably won’t have the chance to wear it again unless it’s for another formal event. If these are your concerns, why not consider an on-trend party or cocktail dress? Amp up the formal bling factor with some chunky layered jewellery, a bejeweled pair of stilettos and a clutch-turned-sling for your essentials! It’s time to leave the roomy, oversized totes at home in favour of dainty, handheld bags. As such, you’ll have to get creative with the things you choose to bring along. Essentially the bare minimum will suffice, like your car keys, driver’s license, credit cards, some cash, and a lipstick. Everything else will either have to stay in the car or be foregone altogether. You can even consider bringing a wristlet along! It’ll help keep your valuables close by and prevent you from misplacing them throughout the night as you mingle and dance.

Colours-wise, we’ll look to the seasons to decide. Think deep, rich jewel tones for the fall and winter, while light bright pastels and florals will be gorgeous in the spring and summertime. 

1. Sororities

Most sorority initiations will require an all-white dress code. Well, the options for white are simply endless! Classic white doesn’t have to be boring — explore unique cuts like a halterneck, off-shoulder or interesting fabrics such as lace or velvet. For a softer, feminine touch, blush or rose gold-coloured accessories add a hint of colour without overpowering the outfit. 

1. Military Balls

Service members are decked out in their full military uniforms, and boy is that a sight to behold! Hold your ground with a long and sophisticated look, preferably in a colour that compliments your date’s uniform. Most military balls tend to err on the side of caution, so opt for a conservative cover-up like shawls, jackets or cardigans that help to keep you warm throughout the event. 

1. Weddings 

Pay close attention to the dress code indicated in the wedding invite. Is it black tie? White tie? Formal? Or even smart casual? If you need more clues, an important one is actually the wedding venue. Check out what other people typically wear to that venue for more style inspiration. Most part dresses will be appropriate, but opt for a deeper colour and longer length if the occasion requires black tie. As usual, avoid white as it’s a faux pas for weddings, but a small accent or trim shouldn’t be too big of a problem. 

1. Graduation

Its the final college milestone, and we think now’s the time to make your outfit count! Celebrate your achievement with something mature and ladylike, to signify your growth for the past couple years as you prepare to graduate into the workforce! 

Do keep in mind that for the most part of the ceremony, you’ll be in your cap and gown, so opt for a fabric choice that’s both lightweight and breathable. 

Last But Not Least

Prep time starts the night before. Hit the sack early, give yourself ample time to get ready for the big event. Drink loads of water and regular food intake for energy to last the night. 

Finally, you’ve got on the perfect dress that accentuates your figure and hugs you in all the right places. Along with the perfect clutch, jewellery and heels, you’re practically stealing the spotlight at this point. However, there’s one last secret ingredient that can take your outfit from great to stellar – killer confidence! Even if it’s your first college formal, it’s probably someone else’s too so they’re probably just as nervous. Strut into the hall confidently, knowing that you’re looking your best and with a beautiful smile for an amazing first impression!