We’ve all been there. It’s a little past 2am and you’re 3 paragraphs into a paper due in a few hours, on a subject you only vaguely understand, for a class you go to only when it’s on the way to happy hour.You’ve typed every word that relates to your paper topic into Google, and you’ve come up with nary a Wikipedia entry.

So what’s the problem? Well, besides your knack for procrastination and admirable laziness, it could be your research skills.

Before you give up and accept defeat (and an F), pour yourself a hot cup of coffee and check out these research sites that have saved me more than once:

Spark Notes: You may not have used this site since high school, but I assure you, it’s even more useful now. From novel summaries that you’ve been using since 7th grade English class to summary-style subject reviews, you can find help for almost anything here, from Shakespeare to physics. I’ve gotten A’s on papers on books I didn’t read because of this site, and it saved my butt when I was cramming for a psychology final and couldn’t for the life of me, understand a specific topic. Their review for specific subject are great at explaining something simply and thoroughly. Read More »

I’ll admit it—I’m a voyeur. Not the stand in your bushes, peer in your window type, but the naturally curious type. I position myself awkwardly in coffee-shop couches to “overhear” and interesting conversation. I read Oprah’s Book Club books over strangers’ shoulders on the subway. I even look in shopper’s carts at the supermarket and evaluate them based on their picks (my cart usually says “I will not apologize for my chocolate addiction and my consuming preoccupation with my cats.”)

My voyeuristic tendencies spill over into my online life as well, as evidenced by the blog reading I have bookmarked. Take a peek at some of my favorite strangers—borderline internet-stalking is more fun when shared!

College Call Girl
If you’ve ever had one of those weeks where you’re late on the bills and are contemplating selling your body so that you can pay off your magazine subscriptions, this one is for you. College Call Girl is a sassy hooker, and that’s just how I like it. The unapologetic and extremely candid writing will have you obsessively refreshing your browser, begging for more. If you’re the type to scream “T-M-I!” at your best friend when she details her latest hookup, stick to something more PG-13. Read More »

So apparently Jessica’s newfound freedom has caused her to tap into her deep and intellectual side recently. I was not aware that she ever had that side to begin with as evidenced by famous quotes such as “I don’t eat buffalo” or “Why is it called chicken of the sea?”

On her website, she wrote a message to her fans that discussed her recent time in Europe…And to quote Jess, “While I was there I visited many museums, and have been reading about different artists. I have also been writing a lot in my journal recently. I was reading a book about Michelangelo and there were 2 quotes that caught my attention:

‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.’

‘Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.’”

Wow, give me a freakin break. Jessica Simpson is now reading about Michelangelo? Well, don’t worry, it gets even better. All of her reading has inspired her to try her own hand at the old writing game and she posted the following passage after the quotes.

Read More »