Unlike summer vacation, winter break is notorious for stressful holiday get-togethers, tight gift-giving budgets and unpredictable weather. So, whether you’ll be spending the upcoming six-week break working full-time, catching up on courses, or bored to death at Mom and Dad’s, there will come a point when you just need to mentally check out and get a moment of stress-free decompression. In order to make the best of your valuable "me time" this season, [X]Press Magazine presents to you a between semesters guide to the best of the world beyond 1600 Holloway that you may have missed out on throughout the stressful, homework-filled days of the fall. These activities will be sure to relax, entertain and inform throughout the upcoming six-week sabbatical from San Francisco State.

World Wide Weblogs

Surfing the web:
1.StuffWhitePeopleLike.com– This tongue-in-cheek site made its debut in cyberspace less than a year ago as creator Christian Lander compiled a list of the habits and hobbies of his pale skinned peers. From farmer's markets to yoga to raising "gifted" children, this growing list has since spawned a barrel of laughs, as well as a book and a national speaking tour including spots on several late night talk shows.

2.OverheardInNewYork.com– The content for this interactive blog comes straight from the streets to your screen, capturing a hilarious slice of American life through eavesdropping and posting the out-of-context, day-to-day conversations taking place on crowded Manhattan Island.

3.Wonkette.com– With the results of the November elections coming to fruition, let's prove to ourselves and the nation that "yes, we can!" remain informed about politics. This blog exposes the drama and tension in Washington, picking up where your favorite cable news network leaves off.

Radio/Podcast

Listen up:
1.The Tom Leykis Show– Monday through Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. Tom dishes the dirt, dispenses advice and directs young men down the path to getting "more ass than a toilet seat" with his list of Leykis 101 rules and shock-jock brand of honesty that advocates safe sex, higher education and financial success. Although targeted to the male demographic, this show is equally valuable for a female audience looking for some insider insight into how men think.

2.This American Life with Ira Glass– Indie-music icon Ira Glass has been hosting this weekly hour-long radio show for NPR since 1995. A mix of boy-next-door humility and journalistic credibility make Mr. Glass likable as host, entertainer and teacher, covering topics from the extremely serious—like Hurricane Katrina and the elections—to the lighthearted pop world as he mourned the cancellation of his and his wife's favorite teen drama "The O.C." Episodes are available for free through thisamericanlife.org as well as through iTunes podcasts.

3.Pandora.com– Also known as the "Music Genome Project," this website streams radio tunes that fit your own personalized preferences. Commercial-free and free of charge, just a pair of headphones can take you away into your own musical world with nothing more than a computer and internet access.

TV/DVD

For your viewing pleasure:
1.Mad Men– AMC is home to one of the most critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning cult hits to hit the small screen, and it's all on basic cable. With impeccable authenticity, Mad Men depicts life on Madison Avenue in the early 1960s in a New York City advertising agency with all the booze, broads and drama you can handle. Season two just finished it's initial airing, so you have time to put the first two years of the show at the top of your Netflix queue and catch up before season three starts to back up.

2.The Soup– Host Joel McHale "watches it all so you don't have to" as he sarcastically reports the best in television from soaps and reality shows to Nancy Grace and The Today Show. Nothing is off limits. Friday night at 10 on the E! network.

3.Cash Cab–The Discovery Channel’s mobile interpretation of Jeopardy meets Trivial Pursuit. With a three-strikes-you’re-out policy, contestants on this game show within a taxicab are invited to play three rounds of questioning for cash prizes, racking up as much as they can between pickup and destination on the streets of Manhattan. As the wacky host who drives from uptown and downtown, this show will keep you on your mental toes while the bright lights of New York City serve as the backdrop.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera:
1. Your local public library– It's amazing the things you can find here when you're not in a study coma. Of course its the place to be if there's a novel you've been dying to devour, but the library also subscribes to a huge selection of magazines that, unlike at the bookstore, you are free to browse without buying. If you're still too burnt out from school to read, bring your laptop in and upload CDs from the in-house music collection or listen to an audio book without paying for iTunes or risking piracy charges. Lastly you can take home one of the many classic or contemporary films that the library rents out for a fraction of the Blockbuster rate.

2.Craigslist Missed Connections– Whether you’re looking for a lost love or just a good laugh, you can keep it local or browse for hours going from city to city reading the desperate pining pleas. These unique personal classified postings make for a cheap thrill with content ranging from poetic to pathetic.

3. Exercise!– While the days get shorter and colder, the food seems to get richer and heavier. It's no news that regular exercise does wonders for both physical and mental well-being, but you don't have to be training for a marathon to reap the benefits of a little exercise. Little things like going out dancing, adding more steps to your day by parking at the far end of the mall when holiday shopping, or checking out the array of fitness-based YouTube footage showcasing everything from aerobic routines to strength training can all help to lighten you and your mood.