In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Getting ready for spring break

(studentspringbreak.com) Planning a reading week that doesn't involve working full time is a liberating experience. No school, just sweet, sweet freedom. Those among you with cash to burn might hop on a plane and go somewhere warm, or those who are totally broke might go to the local library and rent old seasons of Friends, which you'll watch by yourself because all your friends are on a beach in another hemisphere. Either way, you have choices and making choices isn't always easy. These sites should help you travel, or at least make you feel better if you're stuck at home.

1.

Where to start

Epinions.com
This webpage starts at the beginning of the planning process, especially if you're planning to go somewhere in a group. Reading it over, you'll be asked to consider a few questions and it raises the very good point that every group needs a leader to avoid the power-struggle that often happens between friends. This is really more of an introductory page to things you'll need to consider. There aren't any related sites attached and no amazing seat sales will appear but it's still a good place to start for thinking about what you want out of your break.

2.

How to make plans

ehow
One of the many "How to" sites out there. This site breaks down the things to take into account. It also provides a seemingly endless supply of links to travel packages and how to do things like travel with really old people, kids or teens, or how to plan a plan a trip for people who have completely different interests, which could be helpful in a large group. The page is mostly links to pages with other links, which in a backwards way is perfect for the traveller who has no idea what to do

3.

Bad things can happen to organized people

Helium.com
Knowing that horrible things happen to people who do manage to leave the country might make you feel a little better. This site contains quite a few examples of the things that can go wrong when travelling to a wild, crazy destination. For example, getting caught on national television participating in a wet t-shirt contest could definitely make for some awkward Sunday dinners at home. These stories aren't particularly graphic but you get the gist that bad stuff can and does happen to people when they go on vacation

4.

What your mom would do

Campusgrotto
This site is the one your mother would like you to read. It's a site with tips on how to travel and have a good time without contracting some weird disease and ending up in a dirty hospital on a back-road in Mexico. It's good advice without fear-mongering. It even has a little point-form list at the end of helpful hints for avoiding some pretty serious health issues. Again, it's another site that comes with a fair share of links to other advice

5.

For the poor and bitter of us

Daily Illini
For the bitter at heart, this short article offers some reasons to be glad you're too broke to afford to go anywhere. Your wallet may be empty, but at least you get to keep some dignity right? This rant against an MTV fuelled week of extreme drunkenness makes quite a few good points. It also offers some comfort for students whom have their breaks scheduled at a completely different time than every other school, making it hard to get together with old friends. There's no multi-media component to this article. It's just a rant to let you know that you're not the only one stuck at home this