(Part 2) Best products from r/teenagers

I actually had a friend ask something similar recently so I'm going to copy and paste what I sent him (From the line down). I also added a couple of bits that apply to you specifically, especially in the first point.

I'm not exactly a fashion master by any means but these are some rules I stick to and I get a lot of compliments on what I wear.

I'm European and generally, from what I've gathered from discussions with a few American friends, it's more expected of guys to take care with how they dress over here. So these are the basics I would suggest.

***

• Find jeans that fit. If you think they're uncomfortable it's because either a) you're wearing the wrong size/cut, b) you're not wearing them for long enough. All new jeans are a bit stiff before you wear them in. Get jeans that are slim but not skinny. They should fit your form but still have some slack on them without being baggy. Like this -- it'll most likely be either skinny cut or slim cut, depending on how thick your legs are. I know you said you're against jeans but the fact is they're the perfect balance of being casual but not lazy looking like sweatpants. If you're REALLY REALLY against jeans then apply similar rules to chinos but chinos should be a tad looser
  
  
• If looking for shorts, don't get basketball shorts or sports shorts. It looks lazy. You want something like this - chino shorts work well. A braided belt goes well with chino shorts. The shorts should not go below the knee. On a side-note, I personally try to only wear trainer/ankle socks when I wear shorts.
  
  
• No graphic tees unless it's a basic basic design. Logos are fine, but no actual pictures of anything. No graphics that stand out.
  
  
• Get some button up shirts. Again they should be form fitting but not tight. Make sure you can comfortably roll up the sleeves (girls love it). If you're wearing a shirt with shorts, short sleeved shirts look better. If you're wearing trousers, rolled up long sleeved shirts are usually better than short sleeved ones. Checkered or plaid are good go-to designs but it's hard to go wrong with button up shirts, it's pretty obvious when a design is a no-go. I personally avoid leaving the shirt unbuttoned with a T-Shirt underneath but some people don't mind it. If you wear a T-shirt underneath for insulation purposes avoid a V neck
  
  
• Unless it's the summer where it's too hot, layering looks great and is practical in cold weather.
  
  
• Pick up some basic black and white T-shirts. Up to you if you prefer V neck but you need 2 or 3 simply because they're so versatile and can go with almost anything. And again, form fitting but not tight. In a basic T-shirt, the shoulder seam should sit roughly on the 'corner' of your shoulder. If it's further out than that it's probably too big - when the arms go too low and/or are baggy it isn't flattering. However, some T-shirts are just put together weirdly and the seam is further out. But in almost every case this is a solid rule
  
  
• Use striped T-shirts with caution, they're not flattering on everyone
  
  
• Learn what colours go with what. Personally I can intuitively see what works with what but if you can't just look at what colours compliment one another. Some general rules for colour: a) avoid having your lower and upper half in the same colour, unless it's jeans and a blue shirt which is usually fine as long as it's not the same shade of blue. b) avoid colours that would stand out in a crowd (really bright or neon). A bright red or green in particular stands out a lot
  
  
• Don't ignore the shoes. Often people have a good outfit on but the shoes don't match and it ruins it. Some blue or black low top converse or vans are EXTREMELY versatile and will go with almost any casual outfit. It's important you find something comfortable, though. Something like this would be good, although you obviously don't need to get any that expensive. For the winter I recommend Timberland boots. They look good and are EXTREMELY comfortable, and should last you years.
  
  
• Accessories aren't just for girls. A watch is good. Doesn't have to be an expensive metal thing, I use a retro one like this. Other options include wristbands (e.g. if you've been to a festival recently), any other wrist accessory that wouldn't look silly on a guy, scarves, hats, sunglasses
  
  
• Speaking of sunglasses, get a frame that matches your facial shape: http://i.imgur.com/kleafiE.jpg
  
  
• It's hard to go wrong with jumpers really, you can go baggy or fitting as long as the colour/pattern is reasonable and matches everything else. A grey hoodie (not zip-up) is fine in a casual setting and will go with pretty much anything. Bear in mind that unless you specifically follow that item's instructions, jumpers will usually shrink a fair bit in the wash. I always go one size bigger than I need for that reason.
  
  
• If there's a lot going on with what you're wearing above the waist, wear something very basic below the waist. And vice versa.
  
  
• If you're wearing a jacket, it's not something you just throw on on top of your outfit, it's a part of the outfit and so should match it. For that reason, get something that works with nearly anything like this
  
  
• Get a good haircut. Too much to really go into but as I'm sure you're aware undercuts are extremely popular right now. Make sure it's something that compliments the shape of your face and head.
  
  
• If you have a beard, keep it tidy and keep it groomed.
  
  Overall, it's easy to look good and like you care about your appearance without spending a ludicrous amount of money and without looking vain. If you see any expensive clothes you like the look of, you can EASILY find a cheaper version online. Nobody will be able to tell the difference unless they're into fashion and brands. A lot of people shy away from buying clothes online but as long as you know your basic measurements you'll be fine. However, I would recommend not buying off-brand shoes. It's one of the few items where buying off-brand is significantly worse in quality, durability and comfort.

>Note: I did not write this:

I've shaved my mashers and bang/taint/funhole for years and years, so let me contribute.

So let's assume you've never blessed yourself with a shorn scrotum: There are two methods you can use to rid yourself of hair. I'll go over both, since I've done both extensively.

---

>Shaving:

USE A NEW RAZOR FOR THIS. Old razors deteriorate and the blades get bent/dulled. You don't want dull blades tugging at hairs and nicking you up down there.

1. Trim up. Get a body-hair trimmer like a Norelco Bodygroom or just a regular hair-trimmer and take care most of the bush. Go with the shortest guard it'll allow-- Not using a guard is a good way to get a few nicks, not something you want down in your dangly bits. You want to get yourself short enough where a razor won't get caught and cut you up in masses of hair.
   
   
2. Get in the shower, and get that bitch nice and hot. You don't want to try shaving dry, hell no. Wash your hair, brush your teeth, do all of your regular shower things to give your pubes a bit to get wet and soften up. This'll make it so much easier, trust me.
   
   
3. Start shaving WITH the grain. Make a few passes. Don't press down on the razor, just let it do its job. You won't get it all in one go, and that's fine.
   
   
4. Go across the grain. If your hair looks like this: |||||, shave in this ---> direction, or this <--- direction. The best would be doing a pass of each.
   
   
5. Go against the grain. Now, at this point, if you feel smooth enough, feel free to stop. Going against the grain may cause irritation and ingrown hairs, so know your body and know how your hair responds. The biggest lesson is DO NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE RAZOR. You will only irritate your skin and nick yourself. Be patient and take your damn time.
   
   
6. Finish the job. If you shave your dick, you must also shave your balls, otherwise you might as well just not even do it. It may be scary the first time taking a razor to your jumblies, but it's simple and quite safe, if you're careful (For the record, I've never nicked myself shaving down below, yet I can butcher my face when I'm not careful). Just take the sack in one hand and GENTLY pull it to stretch the skin, and run the razor lightly over it, front and back, starting the stroke from the underside of your dick and dragging down towards your feet. Don't bother too much with grain direction here, it won't matter that much.
   
   
7. The Gooch/Ass/Asshole: You should also run over these areas with a hair trimmer/bodygroom before you go at it with a razor. The secret here is the same as the rest of your sensitive bits: Go slow, don't press down with the razor, and relax. The taint is tricky, but you can navigate it by feel pretty well. The ass/asshole is simple, except for the hole. If you're shaving your ass, you aren't gonna leave the hole hairy, so when you shave it, shave starting from the pucker and stroke AWAY. Do not shave ACROSS the sphincter, else you're just asking for a rough ride. Remember: DO NOT PUSH DOWN ON THE RAZOR.
   
   For your balls, you might want to make a run over them later when you're dry. Helps get those stray hairs.
   
   >Post-Shave Care:
   
   Once you get out, pat-dry the areas you've shaved. If you get razor burn, get some Vitamin E cream or moisturizer and spread a little down there. This will help the skin heal, and probably cool things off. I like to pat a little Gold Bond down there, because if I'm going to be fancy enough to shave my balls, I'm going to powder them like an English Nobleman.
   
   Itching: This is normal if this is your first time shaving/it's been a while since you've shaved. You shouldn't itch as bad or even at all the second time around, so just tough it out.
   
   Farts: You'd better be ready, because you can no longer sneak these fuckers. The bare skin will amplify your ass air to trumpet-like levels. Be prepared to use your flesh-valve a lot more efficiently after this.
   
   Sweat: You might feel like your ass/gooch is a lot sweatier than usual. It's not, you just lack friction from your now-missing hair down there. Invest in some boxer-briefs if it bothers you. You get used to this as well.
   
   ---
   >Depilatory Creams
   
   Alright, so now that we've covered shaving, let's discuss using chemical hair removers. I wouldn't use Nair on your private parts, you will burn yourself. You have to find something for sensitive skin (Which I'm sure Nair has now). I am a fan of Magic Shave. It's a powder you mix with water, then slather all over your crotch, wait a while, then rub off gently with a washcloth. You can get if off Amazon, or find it at most any drugstore in the shaving/hair removal aisle. Takes the hair right off and leaves you SMOOTH AS FUCK. It's messier and takes a little more time, but it's worth it in the end.
   
   They do sell it as a pre-mixed cream, but ever time I've used it it's been very lackluster, even after leaving it on for several minutes past the recommended time.
   
   
8. Test it somewhere like your inner thigh. Mix a small bit, put it on for the prescribed amount of time (7 or so minutes, in my case), and wash it off. Wait a day to see if there are any adverse effects. Skipping this step is not recommended, seeing as a small allergic reaction on your thigh is a lot easier to handle than one all over your fucking dick.
   
   
9. Mix. I use a mason jar, put in equal parts of the power and water, and shake it up. The I use something like a rubber spatula to scoop it out and slather it from dick (Try to limit getting any on the glans. It won't kill you, but you don't generally want depilatory cream on sensitive membranes like that) to asshole. The more you use, the better. Be sure to place a towel under you/do this in the tub to catch any that might drip.
   
   
10. Wait. Set a timer and just stand around a bit. Brush your teeth. Floss. I don't care, just wait out the 5-7 minutes.
    
    
11. Hop in the shower. Lukewarm water is the best for this stuff, I'd avoid going really hot though. Grab a washcloth and slowly rub the stuff off in a circular motion while under the stream. You might have to give some hairs a gentle tug to get them out, but it shouldn't take you any real effort. You may miss spots, and that's okay, you can get them next time. You should probably have a set washcloth just for this, because Magic Shave does have a tendency to stain.
    
    
12. Pat dry. If you left it on a little too long, it might feel somewhat like razor burn. Use some Vitamin E/Moisturizing cream on it and dial the time back a little next time.
    
    
    
    All in all, I much prefer using Magic Shave to rid myself of hair, because it leaves me MUCH smoother and isn't as expensive as wearing razor cartridges out. Enjoy shaving, and know that your girlfriend/boyfriend will REALLY appreciate it.
    
    Note: i did not write this

I recommend cooking! I was always kinda 'meh' in regards to it, but a few months ago my mother needed some help with making dinner and I was there, so I helped her. Since then I started picking up little things and parts of recipes before she decided to actually teach me. It's a pretty cool thing to do, and once you get the hang of it and begin making food for relatives/friends, you get to see their pleased faces. Always makes my day! There are people that say it's girly, but like /u/the_earl_of_grey said, it's a great life skill. Besides, you can make your favorite dishes instead of having to eat that horrible grub in your fridge.

If you're not interested in that, I also recommend reading a book or two. Maybe you can find some videogame-related books, like Ready Player One (I recommend it btw). If you're interested in history, I recommend A History of Knowledge by Charles Van Doren. Starts around 3000 BC, covers the revolutions, it's a great way to study History (especially in my grade) and teaches you interesting facts that your history teacher may have overlooked.

Other things you can do are:

• Learn a language in Duolingo (or at least start learning? :P);
  
• Read random articles in Cracked;
  
• Create pretty images in Silk.
  
  I was going to end this comment with 'We're in the internet, there's so much to do' but then I remembered I also get bored sometimes. Oh well.

That's awesome. You have skills that are super relevant in today's age and will prepare you to have a big impact in your career.

What will be most meaningful is if you can create something of value to people in a demonstrable way - in your arena the natural idea is an app. Just creating things by itself is impressive, but even more impressive is if people actually find it useful and you can point to something as proof (eg number of downloads, metrics on usage)

So I would encourage you to think: what can I create that will solve a real problem that people will care about? What do I wish I had that doesn't exist yet? Then you go from there.

One of the best books you can read on how to achieve this is [Lean Startup] (http://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898/), which will give you incredibly useful advice about how to test whether your idea is viable and push you to prototyping faster.

The most important advice I can give you is, don't be afraid of shipping. As a first time creator you will be so scared about getting a bad reception that you spin your wheels adding features or perfecting the app. Resist this temptation - the app will never be as good as you want it to be. Ship early (what Lean Startup says is the "minimum viable product") and get feedback on how you need to improve as fast as you can.

I think it all relates to one-another. You don't need schooling to be successful, but as a young adult, schooling is usually your primary responsibility. Your habits and intelligence begin very early on and I can almost think back to the things that influenced me to be the person I am now.

Just know that it's never too late to change your life. So, if now's not the time for you, then don't fret but maybe make some changes or read books from entrepreneurs. I've heard this book is good. I also like Mark Cuban's book.. I read a lot of informational blogs and articles online though. How people perceive you and respect is earned.

I think it's all important. At least for me, the busier I am with real responsibilities and goals, the better I do at all of them. So, doing well in school while creating something is probably the best recipe for success. On the other hand, student loan debt is a really bad trap most young adults fall into now.

In the end, if you're a hustler about the things you do, you'll find success. Entrepreneurship is more a mental stability game than anything else. I'm glad I had a decent job and consistent paycheck while I tried to do the entrepreneurship stuff. I wasn't a very good employee though.

EDIT: I think the most important thing is to also have "heros" or someone you really look up to. For me, that was my brother. He was naturally very intelligent, so even though I didn't keep up with him in school, I always had his influence for high accomplishments & goals.

Here's an ARF (Almost Ready To Fly) drone kit that's around your budget ($194) Make sure to add FPV if you want to see what your drone is seeing:

http://www.miniquadbros.com/collections/frontpage/products/miniquadkit?variant=5994973827
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You're also going to need some other equipment to get you up and running:

• Transmitter and Receiver ($52.99): You're going to need this to control your quadcopter of course!
  
  
• Soldering Iron ($19.99): An ESSENTIAL tool for building drones. This soldering iron melts something called solder. Solder is like metal glue that carries electricity through it! You connect wires to components by soldering!
  
  OPTIONAL:
  
  
• Video Antennas ($14.89): These are much better than the antenna that comes with your Video Transmitter. With these, you'll get much more range and a high quality video. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR ANTENNAS ON BEFORE POWERING ANYTHING UP. magic smoke will happen
  
  
• Video Goggles ($69.99): This allows you to see what your quadcopter is seeing through goggles with small monitors in them!
  
  The reason why this is optional is because there's two ways of flying a quadcopter.
  
  There's Line-Of-Sight (LOS) flying, where you don't see what the drone sees and fly it from your sight. This can save you money since you don't need video equipment.
  
  Then there's First-Person-View (FPV). This adds so much immersion and fun to your drone! However, you should keep in mind that adding this on will set you up for another $100-150 for something mediocre/beginner.
  __
  
  Yes yes I know, the hobby is VERY expensive, even for beginner equipment. But there's a saying that goes like this, "Buy it nice or buy it twice". I've spent easily $750 in my first months of drone building.
  
  If the price puts you off, you can purchase this which comes pre-assembled. All you need is to add your radio receiver and video antennas (if you're doing FPV).
  __
  
  Hopefully the amount of information supplied isn't too much. If you have any questions, just PM me! I'll be glad to help :) /r/multicopter

I know a little about this so maybe my opinion will help. Just take it grain of salt because cologne can be a little different on everybody.

Honestly I don't like any of the colognes you pick that much but if you get any of these the Di Gio is the best.

This is Eau De Toilette which essential means it's a lighter fragrance that won't last quite as long, still you're not meant to bathe in it and personally it lasts me the whole day. I get a compliment every time I where it and that's basically everyday. THIS

Also THIS smells great, on par with the one above just a little stronger.

Both of these are are fresh and smell really clean. If you have a store near by that you can get samples from I would stop in and see if you like one of these.

Also if you don't already know the way you put on cologne is super important in regards to how it smells and how long it lasts. Always put it directly on your skin and don't rub it like it set till it drys by itself. And out of preference I put cologne on my wrists and the back of my neck (One so when I walk past people they can smell it, and two because if someone (girls) hug me they will smell my cologne.

ArtisanPhonics EB-01s - really pack a punch for £30. On my second pair now after I started crying when I lost my first.

Really super impressed with them

• Beautifully mellow yet strong basses
  
• Vibrant and exotic mids and higs
  
• Functional (iOS, Android, WP) clicker and microphone. The microphone is of a superb quality and even when outdoors and windy the other person can hear me well. The clicker allows for different press combinations to change the track and pause it.
  
• They look really good - they feature a wooden housing unique to each pair as it's from recycled luxury wooden furniture.
  
• Selection of ear buds - whatever your ear size chances are they'll fit and create a nice suction
  
• Noise cancelling - you can have volume on full and the person sitting next to you will be oblivious to the fact you're actually immersed in heavy metal!
  
• Included carrying case
  
• They come with free sweets??? Is this not an incentive to buy them in itself.??!
  
• Kevlar reinforced cable (if it's good enough for police stab-vests then it's good enough for me). Takes a good few bendings without any sign of cable damage.

If you're in school you can join IBM's Master the Mainframe contest. They provide all the materials and access to a system for free. Looks like registration ends at the end of the month.
You can also emulate your own mainframe with the Hercules emulator.

Most of my training came direct from my company, but [this book helped me a lot.](https://www.amazon.com/Assembler-Language-ASSIST-Wilson-Singletary/dp/0574210857/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1503549483&sr=8-4&keywords=assembler+programming+with+assist
)
And going straight to the source is helpful as well.

Honestly though, while I love the platform, I'd say your time is best spent on more modern languages. While demand should be picking up for it as older developers retire there just aren't many companies out there looking for mainframe assembler developers, and the ones that are haven't been raising the incentives to compete with more popular development options. A lot of the other young people I know in the field are desperately trying to jump ship before they are branded as mainframe programmers. COBOL seems to have a lot more demand if you're interested in the mainframe as a platform and is included in Master the Mainframe as well.

Good luck!

Go to the dermatologist. If you already do, stick with it for a while and do what your dermatologist tells you, it will take a while. Trust me I started going about a year or two ago when my acne was getting pretty bad and I have gone through ALOT of different products and have really felt like giving up at times but seriously after trial an error over time my acne has really improved! I know for some it might be a little costly but it is really worth it.
Another thing i would recommend is buying one of these,
what it is is a facial steamer (kind of like a face sauna) and will open up and really clean your pores. It has also really helped me improve my complexion plus, it can "unblock" a stuffy nose!

hope this helps, and good luck! :)

Favourite: Oh, so many, but the most recently read favourite/book I waited the whole summer for (School was closed-too lazy and unwilling to sign up for shitty local library) is Code Name Verity. Was worth the whole six week wait, I assure you. A simply stunning tale of friendship, Gestapo, WW2, the French Resistance and flying. Also other things, but I suck at describing books.

Currently reading: A book called Butterfly Summer. Halfway through, current rating: Okay, would maybe read once again if extremely bored. I don't regret starting to read it as such, but wouldn't recommend too heartily to anyone else as the fundemental plot idea is good but the writing itself needs improvement.

Would recommend: White Crow, the aforementioned Code Name Verity.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams and the sequel to that (Both excellent reads).

Finding Cassie Crazy is quite good if you want something more teen-fiction-y, plot can get a bit confusing at times due to about six main characters but it's set out in a novel (excuse the pun) way- in the form of letters/diary entries/other stuff/ noticeboard notices all put together.

Torn is excellent- At first glance, the plot looks like it might rather predictable and done before. I assure you, it's not. The only annoying bit is the ending. The book seems to cut off a good chapter or two before I'd like it to, if you know what I mean, but I'll look past that for now.

About a month or two away from the exam, my teacher started giving us practice sections of the AP, mostly using this book:https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Placement-French-Preparing-Examination/dp/0133175375/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467751638&sr=1-6&keywords=ap+french

Each day was set for a different section of the exam so that we would finish one full practice exam each week. So we would do MC one day, essay the next, then the letter, etc. I can wholeheartedly say that it helped a ton since I knew pretty much no french going into the year (French 2+3 teacher didn't teach anything).

Other things that might be helpful are to read and listen to french everyday (which I didn't do but would've definitely landed me a higher score). Just listening to like 10 minutes of the rfi radio and reading an article would really help if you have the time. The best way to study for AP French is not to cram or use traditional practice methods, but just to try to use French as much as possible.

Also, study your idioms and transition words if nothing else on the day before the exam. They really boost your writing scores imo since it adds organization and proof of greater "control" over the language. Going over huge lists of translations won't help.

Finally, have a bunch of pre-planned fancy phrases to throw into the free-response sections.

Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.

Some Amazing Budged options for you

soprano ukulele: almost anything, it's easy to find good budget ones, id just stay away from plastic unless you do want it to be really durable

acoustic concert: M Y Fly Young Ukulele Meideal Ukulele Concert Acoustic 23 24 inch MUH-19 Butterfly Wood https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A5I8GJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_38M.zbTYJ9F8F

Meideal concert Uke: this one is actually my favorite uke, despite the price. it's even more beautiful In person. very pretty too.

tenor ukulele

http://www.caramelukulele.com/caramel-ct203-all-solid-acacia-acoustic-electric-tenor-ukulele-with-truss-rod.html

caramel tenor electric acoustic:

this one, once again despite the price, is my go to stage uke as it's electric acoustic. it sounds 2x the price. amazing.

And from the same brand

baritone ukulele

this: Caramel CB103 30 Inch High Gloss Zebra Wood Baritone Acoustic Electric Ukulele With Truss Rod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ANJGX8U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EeN.zbTVPZEEQ

Or this
Caramel CB500 30 Inch All Rosewood Baritone Acoustic Electric Ukulele With Truss Rod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AU3I8J6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lfN.zb62S3MN6

depending on what style you like. although the rosewood one might have a slightly deeper sound depending on what strings you put on it

once again, electric acoustic. it's very light, electronics are great, tuners great, and probably some of the only good baritone ukes you'll find for under $100

I could talk about how I got published forever, so, instead I wrote this blog post a while back. It explains the process of how I personally became published. Hope it helps answer your question! http://thedreamersadventures.blogspot.com/2012/02/self-publishing.html

Also, here is the Amazon link if you are interesting in getting a copy. http://www.amazon.com/The-Dreamers-Story-Sam-Kullen/dp/1460919513/ref=la_B005H7HJRI_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347141865&sr=1-1

Website. Amazon. My work here is done. Oh and cool book OP.