Regarding harder drugs, specifically the post-ecstasy crash: take a multivitamin beforehand (if you don't take a daily multi anyway) and a couple of 5-HTP capsules afterwards (available at most health-food stores). That should help. But don't do it too often anyway or you'll build up a tolerance.

It cannot be stated enough: stay the fuck away from coke and meth. You know the wierd, twitchy dude slugging down Mountain Dew outside the AM/PM in your hometown at 11p.m. on a Friday night? That's meth.

This is great-- like a table-of-contents for life; it's there in shorthand and if you need more in-depth info, look it up! Thanks!

also, the only music The Stranger really cares about is indie rock.

The insular crack isn't so much cliche, as God's honest truth.

If the Stranger staff left Cap Hill every once in a while (perhaps to do something important like cover Darcy Burner's campagn or drink), they wouldn't e so wrong aout the viaduct.

They acknowledge that there are only 5 damn north-south thouroughfares, but have this silly idea that we should replace one limited access, shipping-traffic-bearing one with a damn boulevard and yuppy condos (extremely damned).

Of course, this is not merely a a lack of travel but a failure of the imagination. A Seattle waterfront dominated by a structure that looks like a Roman aquaduct, celebrates Seattle's old brick buildings (think Safeco), or an emerald-green, ivy-covered forest (perhaps a combination or alternation of the three, by turns) would look fine. More importantly, once you clear the parking lots underneath, you have a long umbrella over public space along the waterfront, perfect for parade-veiwing stands, craft tents, performances, beer gardens and/or street-food. It would be the screened portion of Seattle's front porch and fricking awesome.

Insular pricks.

Amen on the credit card advice. Credit card companies just looooooove college students. The combination of freedom from mom n dad, lack of allowance from same, and the often financially tight circumstances of studenthood all make for easy targets. They start you out with those little credit cards on training wheels, and just keep upping your credit limit. I'm in my early thirties, and friends from college who had credit card debt at the time never really got out of it for the most part, and those who did never stayed in the black very long. It became a pattern.

yeah, you got into to college but forget about using a credit card. you're not able to handle it. you're not responsible enough. forget about building a solid credit history for the future or earning free miles to use on spring break.

Instead trust the Stranger - they do not think you can be trusted with your own finances, college kids. Paying your bill every month, gee, I guess even for some wise journalists that's a lot to expect.

The way to survive E comedown is to acquire X@n@x and just sleep through it. Start with .25mg, wait 20 minutes, see how it hits you (it's strong and fast-acting). Don't take a whole 2mg tab your first time, especially if you've had any alcohol, which you SHOULDN'T HAVE, as alcohol and E don't mix.

do writers at the stranger really think college kids spend time discussing them at parties?

talk about ego desperation!

even if you're trying to prove a point by wearing two condoms- DON'T. the friction will make them more likely to break. uh oh.

yeah yeah yeah

everything you need to know about LIFE begins with transparent pandering to college kids about doing drugs

oh ok. not only is this laughably bad, a repeat from last year, and not nearly as witty as the writers imagine... it's just so out of touch. It really shows it's been a long long time since anyone at the stranger was in college.

Hey Dan, and ECB, is this guide really something you guys are proud of? It's terrible!!!!!

college kids consider writers at The Stranger to be "elitist fucks?"

uh, i really doubt they give writers at The Stranger 2 seconds of thought.

and this guide makes it pretty apparent The Stranger thinks college kids are stuck living in some sort of 1980s pre-Internet pre-Facebook losing-my-virginity comedy movie where the editors of an, ahem, newspaper, are somehow powerful "elitist fucks"? WTF?!

And condoms don't stop HPV, folks: the exposed bitz can still transmit. Warts won't end your life, but they will make for some difficult pillow talk.

1.) DO take on credit card debt, if you can do so responsibly and pay your balance every month. Use it for groceries or some shit. Helps build credit. Between this, ARMs, and the fact that you're all constantly broke, Stranger staffers are probably the least qualified people to give advice on personal finance.

2.) Please stay on Capitol Hill. At least that way I don't have to deal with you.

The Stranger is AWESOME! Regarding the use of 5-HTP after taking ecstasy, check out the information at http://www.ecstasy.org/qanda/index.html . Knowledge and a good, non-using friend who knows you are taking it are needed. I completely agree with jessica, stay the hell away from such dangerous drugs as meth and coke, they fray the edges of your psyche seriously enough to warrant a permanent "X = poison" label.

A credit card is a good idea if you use it to buy things you can afford at places like restaurants and bars, where there is a non-trivial chance that someone will try to ripo you off. You'll thank yourself later if you charge some money to it every month but always pay on time and in full.

A credit card is a very bad idea if you are like the overwhelming majority of college students and consider your total income to be your paycheck plus the credit limit on your Visa. Nothing beats having to get a cosigner just to get a cell phone because you've screwed up your credit rating so much.

re: smoking pot out of a coke can "will almost definitely give you a brain tumor"

Why add this false alarmist crap to a generally amusing opinion piece?

Regarding the advice for Man Getting Woman: I guess if a guy's looking to just meet a chick and bed her, this might work for some. But it's kinda like telling a girl to kick off the overall, trade her Chucks for stilettos, get a tan and long blonde hair. YMMV, you know?

I may be in the minority but frankly, when guys I know are mostly surrounded by females, I can't take him seriously as a long-term sex partner. All I can see is a that he is Gay or B. A playah, or that I will spend a lot of energy making sure I keep looking good to him (usually in vain). In any case, I could never move him from the "just a good friend" to the "maybe he's the one" category in my mind.

"Plus, there are plenty of legitimate complaints that you could, and should, level at The Stranger's pretentious kingdom." Yeah, how about the fact that Dan Savage supported the invasion of Iraq?

I cant believe The Savage supported invading Iraq. Where's the proof?

Nothing wrong with rum drinks.

Ecstasy sucks. Nine times out of ten it's not even real - just a racket. Anything with a needle should be avoided (duh), and drugs that require two people to use are out, too. Frankly, fruit juice doesn't belong in liquor. Don't guzzle wine, and don't order Merlot unless you know it's really, really good; otherwise you'll come across as a neophyte. Also, if you do insist on mixing your vodka with orange juice, don't order the expensive Grey Goose. Any subtle difference is lost with all of the mixer. IMPORTANT - when choosing a sex partner, remember that even the preppiest boy/girl from the best school/family can have genital warts. ALWAYS use precaution. Seriously. Get HIV tests at a clinic where they do so anonymously. Your doctor's office is convenient but they will put the results on your medical record. And don't get chronic with the pot. Take a little drug holiday from time to time and it'll be much more fun. If you absolutely must do ecstasy, make sure you follow the advice from this column and also get your hands on a quarter bag of weed (per person) because it will make the next day SO much easier. Worth a day off, too. Personally I hate it.

no condom? use foil...its recyclable even! you pompous hipsters at the stranger ought to love that!

I think this website is wrong and ungodly. This website is just gonna get people killed or badly injured. This website should be blocked so people can't bring harm to themselves or anyone around them. If you read any of this please don't pay attention to it. read this comment and read carefully what it says. Stay safe and out of harms way. You don't want to be where these people are that do this stuff you want to be with God. I promise

I think this website is wrong and ungodly. This website is just gonna get people killed or badly injured. This website should be blocked so people can't bring harm to themselves or anyone around them. If you read any of this please don't pay attention to it. read this comment and read carefully what it says. Stay safe and out of harms way. You don't want to be where these people are that do this stuff you want to be with God. I promise

Fuck god and fuck child of god (and no, I won't put in a bullshit capital letter G). Also, fuck the tolerant older guy. Brain tumors may be exaggerated alarmism, but the link between alzheimers and aluminum intake is the subject of numerous studies. Aside from that, you should also be a target of this article for being the "tolerant old guy" who deems his sage advice about grass to be worthy of breath- it's not. I think you could fit in right next to the stereotypical white Rasta dude with your level of annoying self-righteousness. At least the dreadwop is bound to realize he sounds like an idiot and lop off his dreads. For you I fear it may be too late.