Many of us touch upon at least one piece of technology per day, and in this fast-paced, high tech world we live in, it’s an inevitable foundation in our lives. But when recent studies show that 7 percent of teens would rather lose their job than their phone, organizations and protest groups started to take a second look. Now ranked as influential as gambling addiction or kleptomania, technology addiction has taken the American population in its grip, having detrimental affects on our populations health and intelligence level. How can we collectively stand up to this addiction and cope with the immediate demands that require technology in our everyday lives?

The feeling of excitement and political opinion was tangible on Oct. 30 as the crowds gathered on the National Mall for the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, D.C. The rally, hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert from the Comedy Central network, was a call for the restoration of common sense in government, as well as a way for average, hard working Americans to come together to express their political ideals. It also served as a jilt to the more controversial rallies held in the recent months.

Boots have always been a staple for the fall and winter wardrobe, but this season they are back with a vengeance, making their style statement more prevalent than ever. While for the past few seasons we’ve seen the surge of the Ugg brand’s pull-on suede and wool numbers, this trend is slowly fading, and rougher, edgier styles have hit top priority in the market.

When hearing the word Kikini, one may think of a tropical island paradise and if so, then you already have something in common with its founders. While Kikini may not offer poolside drinks and island breezes, it does fill a niche in the market of online dating; it is a site created for college singles only, ages 18 to 24.

When walking around NOVA’s Woodbridge campus, you may come across a bevy of stylish students, at times dressed head to toe in the latest trends, sometimes painfully so. But if you keep looking, you’re likely to come across Heather Kirkpatrick, a NOVA sophomore and fresh face in the ever-changing fashion industry, walking the halls or helping students as part of her job with the Student Ambassadors.

Coco Chanel once famously quoted, “Before leaving the house, a lady should stop, look in the mirror and remove one piece of jewelry.” For the 2010 fall season, designers took this mantra to heart, paring down not only accessories, but entire collections.

While the weather is still beach-worthy, autumn is slowly creeping in, and students are trickling back into the busy schedule of classes, clubs, sports and social life. But even with this busy schedule, we can all take quick and easy steps to buy or use items from our closets to push the envelope and showcase the new season’s trends.