 |
Issue 5
How To...Do Donuts
1. Get the Right Car
You’ll need a real-wheel car with a manual transmission. A few hundred horses is recommended for grade A donuts.
2. Set the Wheels
Have the car stopped and turn the wheel until its almost locked.
3. Start Revving
In first gear with the clutch in, hit the gas until you get up to about 3,500 rpm
4. Drop the Clutch
Simultaneously remove your left foot from the clutch and shove your right one onto the accelerator until you're just below the redline. Now you’re doing the donut. (Warning, if you don't do it quickly enough, you can burn out the clutch!)
5. Ease it Off
Before you get too dizzy gradually remove your left foot from the brake and decrease acceleration till you regain steering.
How To...Deal With A Bad Roomate
Step 1:
Tell your roommate what’s bothering you, if they don’t know what the problem is then how can they change? Ask what bothers them about you, this will make it seem like you’re willing to make a compromise. Avoid having this conversation when other people are over, your roommate may feel like he’s being pressured. Also, try to keep a calm tone and don’t make any threatening remarks. Explain yourself clearly and mention everything from the dirty socks on the living room floor to the kitchen sink that’s overflowing.
Step 2:
Set some rules. Are you going to leave plates in the sink or put them in the dishwasher immediately? Are you going to share food or keep your stuff separate? When is it okay to bring over friends? Tell them your schedule and when people shouldn’t come over. Margarita Mondays and Wasted Wednesdays are never cool if you know your roommate has a test the next day!
Step 3:
Do something nice. Offer to wash the dishes if your roommate is running late. Buy something you can both share and enjoy. This might lead your roommate to do likewise, and soon enough you’ll find yourself a good friend. Forgive your roommate if he breaks a rule, and more importantly don’t get revenge if he does, it will only make matters worse.
Step 4:
So maybe your relationship is now in the green…you find yourself enjoying their company and hang out more often…and more often….and more often. Soon enough he’s your best friend. But as the months go by you suddenly become aware of their every flaw…suddenly leaving the Doritos bag open for the tenth time feels like a federal crime. Hanging out too much is one of the most common causes for a good roommate to go bad, and purposeful steps should be taken to avoid overexposure to another person. Stay home when he goes out, go out when he stays home. Don’t feel bad for not inviting him to go somewhere, your privacy is a treasure you deserve to hold onto.
Step 5:
When all else fails consider moving. Your roommate isn’t likely to change his ways or negotiate with you. This sad situation has left many people feeling dissatisfied with the year, so try to make the best of it if you can’t move immediately. Label your property accordingly and be firm on the rules that concern your personal belongings. If he fails to clean his mess start putting his stuff in a designated area, whether that be in front of his door or under his bed (Make sure you don’t break anything and tell him where you put his belongings). Contact housing management to resolve the problem, and ride it out as best you can.
- John Gallagher
