Thursday is the new Friday

This article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=four-day-workweek-energy-environment-economics-utah suggests that working only 4 days rather than 5, but for the same number of hours, is better for workers and for companies. But what if 4 days are better than 5 for schools too? The schools wouldn't spend as much on buses, lunches, and operating costs, and the students would have another day off to sleep, catch up on homework, get exercise, etc. What do you think?

Happy Monday

Hello, Teen Link fans!
First off, thank you for reading the blog and being a supporter of Teen Link. Without you and your interest, Teen Link would not be able to continue to be the nonjudgmental, anonymous help for King County teens that they need. That being said, here's some stuff you might like!

First of all, the Sunday barbeque that never involves any barbeque went off without a hitch, except for a little cookie/brownie stealing by the intern on Monday when she realized there were leftovers...


Congrats to the Teen Link graduates, and enjoy your SUPER SPIFFY water bottles!!!

In other news...
If you haven't heard of Teen Tix, it's this really cool program that lets anyone ages 13-19 get $5 day-of-show tickets to stuff like museums, plays, concerts, etc. that usually cost wayyyy more. Here's a website that has some details.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/408232_teentix18.html?source=rss

Owning a gun is a big responsibility. You have to get a license, you have to know what you're doing, and be 21 (in washington) but if you're set on the idea and just can't wait any longer, here's a link to a gun that you can safely sleep with under your pillow :D
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/bbcd/

Also, you're invited to the Food and Fact Fair at Gasworks Park this Friday, the 24th. We'll be there from 11:30 - 3, and there will be tons of booths with all sorts of resources for Seattle-area homeless youth.

Too Much Good Stuff

AMPM? No. The news today is just mind-blowing, and you deserve to have your mind equally blown...to blow your mind too...to...mind blowingly also see...the news....

Nevermind.

6% of people think the Moon Landing was false? Really? Will someone PLEASE comment and explain why anyone would believe this? Conspiracy theories are awesome, but...for real?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009471839_moonhoax15.html?syndication=rss

Seattle is the BACON CAPITAL OF THE US!!!! How did this happen? 2 weeks ago Seattle was the vegetarian hippie bicyclist capital of the US...I thought...
http://seattlest.com/2009/07/14/seattle_is_the_bacon_capital_of_the.php

Go delete 200 of the facebook friends, or else...you won't....be...popular?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brainstorm/200901/facebook-friends-too-many-too-few

Why the guy at the blockbuster insists on making fun of you for renting Bring it On 2. You KNOW its not avant-garde post-modern noir, ok? Shut up.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200906/field-guide-the-snob-some-it-haute

Thank you Captain Obvious. Apparently, teens care about what other teens think of them. No sh**, Sherlock! But, for that guy in your class who insists he still doesn't care what people think, throw some scientific evidence in his pierced-up face. Then ask him if he's seen Bring it On: In It to Win It.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157782.php

Why do I not have a vacation home in space yet? Hurry up. We launched another rocket-ship! Woot!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/07/16/GA2009071602233.html

OK so there were a few other totally awesome things I ran accross today, but they're up on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/s.php?ref=search&init=quick&q=Teen%20Link#/pages/Teen-Link/48263009859?ref=s

Love,
Teen Link

Ooooohhhhhhh! Free Stuff!!!!

Thanks for checking out the blog! If you're here for the giveaway, just scroll down and check out a post that seems interesting. When you're done, just email tlintern@crisisclinic.org with the title of your favorite blog post, along with your name and phone number. We will randomly choose one of the entries and mail you your SUPER sweet prize pack with:

• A neon green TL frisbee (you'll NEVER lose it)
• 2 TL lip balms (they're spf 15! neato!)
• Soon-t0-be historic, discontinued TL stickers
• A TL poster
• A bunch of Where to Turn for Teens booklets
  

Just don't forget to send the email, because we'll be choosing a winner Monday.

*This giveaway is not open to current or former TL volunteers*
Good luck!

Is this normal...or what?

These days people our age are so stressed out, it seems like worrying about college apps 24/7 or feeling so anxious before a test that you get nauseated is normal. But how do you know when your anxiety is normal and helpful or part of something bigger, like maybe an anxiety disorder?

This article outlines what's considered normal and what's not. The article states,

"The components of problem anxiety include the physical responses to the anxiety (such as palpitations and stomach upset), distorted thoughts that become a source of excessive worry and behavioral changes affecting the usual way one lives life and interacts with others. Left unchecked, problem anxiety may lead to an anxiety disorder."

Obviously, the last thing you want when you're already anxious is to start worrying if you have an anxiety disorder, but if you're feeling totally overwhelmed, it may be time to talk to a doctor or a counselor. You could even call Teen Link! :) (866) 833-6546

Here are some more links that might be helpful:

http://panicdisorder.about.com/od/faqs/f/NormvsProblem.htm

http://gad.about.com/od/symptoms/a/top5fromnormal.htm

http://gad.about.com/od/symptoms/a/ptsd.htm

If you're pretty sure you don't have problem anxiety, but are still stressed out over work, friends, parents, grades, etc. try some of these helpful stress-reducing tips:

• Get a good night's rest.
• Eat healthily.
• Listen to your favorite music.
• Exercise, participate in a sport or engage in fun activity.
• Plan out your time and prioritize.
• Talk to a friend about your problems, don't hold it in. (Blogger's note: if you don't feel like you have someone to talk to, you can always call Teen Link.)
• Get a massage.
• Take a nap.
• Take a warm bath. Use lavendar-scented candles or body wash to help relax you even more.

Read a book or watch TV.

Hope this helps!

Love,

Teen Link

Things that are going on and stuff

Apparently, the world doesn't just grind to a halt when we want to have a long holiday weekend! Who knew? And now there are all sorts of important goings-on that we feel obligated to acknowlege and then promptly forget. Let's get up to speed, shall we?

1) Sarah Palin quit. Everyone seems to be trying to discover the secret hidden reason that she isn't telling us, but isn't that kind of like...jinxing it? Can't we just leave good enough alone?

2) This happened. Obama and Russian President Medvedev reached an agreement to make an agreement about some kind of cut they haven't agreed on in the number of nuclear weapons each country has. Yay!

3) Al Franken was sworn in as senator, proving once and for all that being on SNL not ONLY can get you into movies, but into the senate as well.

4) China is trying to cover up the latest problem over there: huge, deadly riots. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j794twyjYyjeOIdsKWwzCUhsgvUAD999PFJG3

5) Michael Jackson's public memorial was held today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and Mariah Carey sang "I'll Be There."

That should pretty much keep you up-to-date with any conversations about the news you might have, but let's be real, the real elephant in the room that we are all DYING to discuss...the reason you even came to this blog *just in case* we would talk about this very subject, the reason the curiosity has been KILLING you: Just how good was Johnny Depp in "Public Enemy"???!!!!???!!!!

Drumroll please..........

Pretty good.

But we want to know what YOU thought. Was he inspiringly sexy as a gangster, or were you disappointed after all the hype?

Love,

Teen Link

Happy Fourth of July!

Well...It's the 2nd of July but listen, we say all those people out there who have this insatiable obsession with telling you what day it IS and what day it ISN'T are being oppressive. Damn the man!

Assuming Mr. Schroeter over there doesn't win his legal battle, Gasworks Park will be a great place to watch the fireworks on Saturday, providing you like being shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people you don't know, not being able to drive within a 2 mile radius of Fremont, and sitting on top of toxic waste, separated only by a foot of dirt that the little kid next to you is probably distrupting with his star-spangled shovel and bucket. Regardless, it's the only fireworks show in Seattle, and what else are we all going to do?

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-07-01/news/mistake-by-the-lake

So please, we need your comments. Fireworks once a year can't really hurt fish that much, right? but 5,000 shells falling into the water all at once really can't be helpful if you're a salmon and trying to find a snack. So is this guy ruining a patriotic day, or is he the only one responsible enough to point out some big problems with this big party?

<3 Teen Link