On December 1, Pope Benedict met with students and faculty from Parma in Northern Italy. An article on Vatican Radio notes that the pope mentioned that "Our era ... is signed by uncertainties and a lack of unifying principals. Academic study ... should serve to qualify the formative level of society, not just scientific research. It must offer young people the opportunity to mature intellectually, morally and civilly, by confronting themselves with those great questions that cry out the conscience of modern man."

Additionally, the pope mentioned that "today’s younger generations are exposed to a double risk, largely due to the widespread use of new technologies: on one hand ... there is a danger that the students' capacity for concentration and mental application on a personal level are reduced; on the other hand there is a danger that the students isolate themselves in an increasingly virtual reality."

Regardless of your religious affiliation, the speech sounds interesting. Make sure to check out the article for more details and to find an audio link to the speech itself.

On December 1, Northampton Community College announced that, if you live in Northampton or Monroe county and have "recently become unemployed due to business or industry plant closing or layoff," you may be eligible to take up to 12 units of free classes at their institution.

This is excellent news for several groups of folks. For you working students out there who may have been laid off, this is a great opportunity to focus on your education -- tuition free. For those of you who have been laid off, this can be a great way for you to head back to school. And for everyone else, this is a great reminder that there are often more ways than you might think to finance your education. Even if you don't live in Northampton or Monroe County, there may be similar programs in your area. It never hurts to ask, right?

An interesting story was posted on the AP Mobile News Network on December 1. (Gotta love getting news stories on your phone ...) Apparently, "A fragrance developer says it has made a perfume and a cologne inspired by Pennsylvania State University's blue and white colors and its campus vegetation." For $60, you can buy a bottle!

The fragrance developer also has a scent for sale for the University of North Carolina and will add 6 more schools to the list next year.

Crazy talk! But also, possibly, an interesting holiday gift ...

Many retailers (and other businesses) count on receiving applications from college students over Thanksgiving for open, seasonal work during the holidays. If you're in town over the Thanksgiving break and are planning on applying for positions, make sure you're as prepared as possible.

Things you'll need:

• Resume
• Nice clothes (doesn't have to be a suit, but should be professional-looking)
• That winning smile of yours
• Inside scoop about good holiday jobs for college students

Good luck!