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Things to help me pass time at school

LardalishLardalish Registered User regular
edited April 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
Ok, so this quarter on Tuesdays Ill have a class in the morning until 2:30pm and then a class at 6pm, I live about 30 min away so gas makes me want to just stay there. So this means I will have about three hours of time to kill between those classes. First off Ill be doing homework, but from what Ive heard from people who've taken these, I shouldnt have too much, so I dont imagine that to use up that much time. I dont have a laptop but I should have access to computer labs (assuming the new quarter schedule doesnt have classes in them all while Im on break) so I can't do anything that would require me to download things onto them.

So, some ideas I was kind of tossing around in my head:

Can I run VLC Media Player off of my flash drive or do I need to put it onto the computer? I know that last quarter I tried to bring a movie in on a flash drive to watch it but all the media players needed a codec to play the file (it was just an avi) but I couldn't download the codec because I didnt have administrative capabilities.

I do like to read but the libraries around here kinda suck so maybe there are books online for free? I know Ive seen suggestions for these digital book reader things (Like these) and while I couldn't afford one of those, I would assume that I could still get a hold of the book files. If I can, where would I look for those and could I even read them without the book reader? Like, are they in a special file format or something?

Im not sure but Im assuming that Hulu would work so maybe you guys can suggest some tv shows to watch on there. I like comedies, I keep up with the Office through Hulu, so maybe somethin like that. Ive heard so many people suggest Arrested Development and How I Met Your Mother so if they;re on there maybe Ill give that a shot.


So yeah, basically Ill have three hours a week that Ill need to entertain myself through and homework wont fill that. Any suggestions you guys have would be appreciated, thanks!

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Jordan of Elienor, Human Shaman
Lardalish on

Posts

  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    There are a lot of ebook libraries around, this being one of them http://www.truly-free.org/ Some sites will have the pdf files for the book, others just text, but its all really about what you want/ what you can stand to read on your computer. If those things don't bother you than you're completely set as far as ebooks go.

    And I don't see why vlc wouldn't play a file from a flash drive as long as it could play that file to begin with.

    Definately check out Arrested Development and Its always sunny in philly on Hulu- great shows.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Angel_of_Bacon wrote: »
    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • LardalishLardalish Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Ok, Ill give that site a look over and see if I can stand readin em. I figure Ill be alright since I read the forums for a while.

    As for VLC I wanted to know if I can run VLC off of a flash drive, because the computers wont let me install things on the harddrives. Really if theres any media player that can just run completely in a flash drive that would be awesome, but that sounds kind of doubtful now that I think about it.

    I loved Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia but I heard someone say that its not on hulu anymore, like they made it one of those 5 trailing episode deals like a lot of other shows on Hulu.

    Lardalish on
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    Jordan of Elienor, Human Shaman
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Oh i see what you mean now.... I'm not sure if that's possible. I atleast haven't heard of any video programs that can be run from the flash drive like that.

    And you're right, its always sunny seems to have lost most of its episodes on hulu.

    Well, The colbert report and Daily Show are always options (new epidodes 4 days a week)

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Angel_of_Bacon wrote: »
    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • .Tripwire..Tripwire. Firman Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Investigate some of these google results for "VLC portable". I haven't tried any myself so I can't vouch for anything.

    .Tripwire. on
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  • Sir Red of the MantiSir Red of the Manti Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    VLC Portable from Portableapps.com. The question however is if your school comps will have the necessary permissions set to let you run stuff from a USB drive.
    Edit: Beat.

    Sir Red of the Manti on
  • oldsakoldsak Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Your school doesn't have a commuter lounge or just a student lounge?

    oldsak on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    oldsak wrote: »
    Your school doesn't have a commuter lounge or just a student lounge?

    his might, but to befair- I haven't even heard of a commuter lounge before... I'm not sure how common those are.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Angel_of_Bacon wrote: »
    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • oldsakoldsak Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Oh well we had one at my school, but we also had a significant number of commuter students. It was pretty nice and had a decent tv with a dvd player and I believe a pool table as well. Mostly people just killed time there socializing.

    oldsak on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Well, if the campus is decent, there should be a number of places where that sort of thing is possible, just not solely for the commuters.

    But, i guess if there are enough commuters (say, a community college or something) i can see a loge for them being a high prioity.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Angel_of_Bacon wrote: »
    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • oldsakoldsak Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Yeah, I guess my point was: OP look for places to hangout and socialize cause it will ultimately be more fulfilling than watching movies/tv alone.

    oldsak on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    oldsak wrote: »
    Yeah, I guess my point was: OP look for places to hangout and socialize cause it will ultimately be more fulfilling than watching movies/tv alone.

    Agreed :)

    There is probably a student center (where they serve food) that should have an arcade, piano, pool tables etc. There should be enough people that you could strike up a conversation with someone there.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Angel_of_Bacon wrote: »
    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • MrDelishMrDelish Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    I draw when I have free time

    not specific stuff, just anything that comes to mind

    MrDelish on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    MrDelish wrote: »
    I draw when I have free time

    not specific stuff, just anything that comes to mind

    writing poems/ stories/ journal would also be a good idea.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Angel_of_Bacon wrote: »
    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • Funguy McAidsFunguy McAids Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    If you have access to a computer you can run many things off of a portable hard-drive, flash-drive, or iPod. You don't need to actually install most programs and games directly on a specific computer to have them run.

    I used to play warcraft3/DotA online all the time at work with it only installed on my iPod. I am positive that you can do the same with WoW and likely most games.

    Funguy McAids on
  • SebbieSebbie Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    I don't know if you're tight on cash but a DS can work wonders. When I have huge breaks in my schedule I bring my DS with a game I know I can play for an extended period of time. Right now I'm in a robotics lab and my DS is right in front of me with Minish Cap, it'll get some play time very soon :)

    Sebbie on
    "It's funny that pirates were always going around searching for treasure, and they never realized that the real treasure was the fond memories they were creating."
  • Evil_ReaverEvil_Reaver Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Shit man, I used to sack out in the library or under a tree when I had a couple of hours to kill between classes. Nothing like a nap in the afternoon to prepare for an evening class.

    Evil_Reaver on
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  • UnknownUnknown
    edited April 2009
    This content has been removed.

  • JeiceJeice regular
    edited April 2009
    If you have a gym (like with weights/cardio equipment) in your school, you can do good workouts in that period of time.

    Jeice on
  • Black IceBlack Ice Charlotte, NCRegistered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Jeice wrote: »
    If you have a gym (like with weights/cardio equipment) in your school, you can do good workouts in that period of time.

    I was about to suggest this, too. Getting some cardio in, even just 20 minutes so you can shower, would be awesome every week - every day. :^:

    Black Ice on
  • LardalishLardalish Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    Thanks for the suggestions so far.

    Ill look into the players that have been suggested.

    I don't know what my friends schedules are this quarter so really Im just prepping for if no one has a break with me.

    As for some of the stuff you guys have suggested, my school is a tiny private school (The Art Institute of Charlotte) and they have like, less than 1000 students. Its just one building, theres a student lounge kinda deal with a nice TV but its generally on a sports channel, which has never been my thing. We have computer labs all over (out of the like 6 majors I think culinary is the only one not on a computer) but they all have classes in them at some point. So not really any 100% free all the time labs.

    Lardalish on
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    Jordan of Elienor, Human Shaman
  • ascannerlightlyascannerlightly Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    a short-term solution would be to get a map of the city and block out sections of town immediately surrounding the campus (building?) and then explore these on foot section by section. or just draw a bunch of rays out from the school to about 2 miles and pick one to walk that general direction and back. it kills time, it gets you exercise AND you might find a neat out of the way coffee house or restraunt that you never would have known was there otherwise.

    you could also try a "craft" hobby such as knitting.

    ascannerlightly on
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  • MuridenMuriden Registered User regular
    edited April 2009
    I'm sure your campus has a library. Find a book you've wanted to read and see if they have it. If they dont, ebay is a great place to find used books, along with a number of other used book sites.

    Muriden on
    MrGulio.332 - Lover of fine Cheeses. Replays
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Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum