no.stupid.answers

Everywhere we turn there they are; in the food we eat, the air we breathe and even on our cute pet pugs; no, I am not talking about the cast from High School Musical. I speak of parasites. As long as nature has evolved, parasites have evolved along with it.

So exactly what is a parasite, asks a WikiAnswers user.

A parasite is an organism that benefits from a close, prolonged relationship with another organism - its host - while the host organism is harmed. Examples include tapeworms in the human intestine, mites on a parrot or fungus infesting a maple tree. In all these cases, one species is sucking the life force out of another species.

So, are there any instances where this negative relationship occurs within the same species?

The answer, my fellow humans, is yes. Scientifically referred to as direct intraspecific kleptoparasitism, this type of parasitism is rare in nature but an all too common phenomenon amongst our own kind. Think about those hardworking parents, waiting with outstretched arms, to embrace their Xbox-playing, beer-chugging, Tila-Tequila-quoting, recent college graduates. These parents are so happy and giving, only to find, five years down the line, that their child has no intention of leaving the house with the couch, free laundry service and magical fridge that autofills each week.

What can we do to remedy this problem?

In nature, the rule is kill or be killed: the host or parasite will eventually die. Luckily, tapeworms are destroyed by one prescribed pill from the doctor, parrots get treated with a lethal-mite shampoo and fungus on a maple tree is attacked by toxins in the leaves.

People parasites are, however, different. There is no shampoo that gets your son a job interview or special toxin that oozes out of the Xbox controller when it’s been handled too long.

Perhaps communication is the key? Words are powerful, motivational and life-changing! Like one WikiAnswers user dared ask:

Can you tell your daughter and her children to move out of your house?

Change the locks. Sometimes locks speak louder than words and are a lot healthier than pesticide.

Just received word that Answers.com was mentioned in the top 100 useful niche - well, I’ll let the title do the rest of the talking:

100 Useful Niche Search Engines You’ve Never Heard Of

“…college students sometimes need more specific tools to help them uncover quality information on the Web that they can use for class projects, research papers, and even job and apartment searches.” (College@Home)

Well, what an honor to be included on a list of 100 alternative online tools for college students. Answers.com is great for class research, quick look ups during study groups, familiarizing with summer internships, and loads more.

I just hope you didn’t really never hear of it yet…

Congratulations to all the graduates out there! That’s a pretty awesome achievement. What are your plans now? Have you mapped out the next 5 years of your life? Ten?

…

No? Why not!?

I kid. I kid. I will tell you that I’m incredibly jealous of you at this moment. You’re young and ambitious. You’re still optimistic and haven’t become jaded by the industry. You’ve got fresh ideas and your whole life ahead of you. Not that I’m THAT much older than you but seriously, 9 years makes a lot of difference.

I remember my graduation from UNC (GO HEELS!) like it was yesterday. Those Carolina blue robes and all that sunshine…

*sigh*

In honor of your big day, I wanted to highlight one of the best commencement speeches ever given. It’s not from MY graduation, but I’ve heard people talk about it and I feel like everyone needs some good advice from time to time. The quote is from Jerry Zucker…he talks about the art of making mistakes.

If you’re going to fail, fail big. If you don’t, you’re never going to make a difference. Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. Ask yourself one question: If I didn’t have to do it perfectly, what would I try? For many of you, the biggest obstacle to getting there will be a fear that you have carried with your since childhood — the fear of humiliation, of embarrassment, of ridicule. That is SO stupid!

Jerry Zucker
University of Wisconsin
May 17, 2003

So that’s it, guys. Get out there and fail a little. It’ll help you succeed.

Speaking of succeeding…have you decided yet what you’ll do with the rest of your life? Still no!? Ugh. Fine. So in the meantime, go and ask or answer questions about Job Training and Career Qualifications!