Shopping

I have noticed that most people don't know how to shop economically. They just go to the store and buy whatever they want and don't pay much attention to the price. Sure, if something is on sale they might buy it even if they weren't planning on getting it to begin with but I would guess that most people don't save nearly as much money as they could if they shopped the right way. I have compiled a list of pointers that I think all grocery shoppers should follow.

• LOOK AT THE AD - Go through it, page by page, and find stuff that is on sale.
• Only buy things that are on sale - I know it may sound tough but if you only but things when they are on sale you will save a lot.
• When something is on sale buy a lot of it - most things go on sale every 3 - 5 weeks so when something is on sale that you either want or need buy enough of it to last for a month or so.
• Just because something is on sale doesn't mean the sale price is good - Sometimes a sale price is only $0.20 cheaper than normal price. Wait until the sale price is a good percentage off. 50% off is really good. 30% off is just about right. 20-15% off is about as low as you want to go.
• Don't go to the store hungry - Eat before you go because if you are hungry at the grocery store you will end up buying more food than you need because you think you need it.

These are only a few rules to follow and there are many more that I just can't think of right now but if you follow them I guarantee you will save money at the store. I spent $30 this week at Meijer with a total savings of $20. $50 worth of food for $30...not bad at all.

Cash Cab

Cash Cab has become a sort of tradition in my apartment so far this school year. It's on every day from 5-7 PM and we almost always watch it while eating dinner. I love to watch it and so do all of my roommates.

I can't begin to describe to you how awesome it would be to get in that cab and go for a ride. I am pretty good at trivia if I do say so myself and my roommates aren't that bad either. I think if all four of us made it on the show we would do quite well...at least $1000. We would most likely go for the double or nothing video bonus question and, hopefully, get it right.

Whoever came up with the idea for the show is a genius. It is so simple, ride around in a cab and get money for answering questions. Ben Bailey is a perfect host for it. Basically everything about the show is perfect, except that I haven't been a contestant!

TV

Television is a huge part of American lifestyle. Millions of people watch TV every night. I am no different. These are the shows that I will be watching this fall.

Monday

How I Met Your Mother - Funny show. Jason Segel is the man.

The Big Bang Theory - Love the nerdy humor in this show.

Monday Night Football - During the commercials of the other shows then full time once they are over.

Tuesday

Tool Academy 2 - Good, old-fashioned make-fun-of-people "reality" show.

Wednesday

Glee - New show, really good.

South Park - I usually forget to watch it but it's hilarious

Thursday

Flashforward - New show that looks really interesting.

Grey's Anatomy - It may be a girl's show but I have watched it from the beginning.

The Office - Quite simply the funniest show on television (Good thing I have a DVR at home!).

Community - Saw it last week and it seems promising (Once again...DVR).

Friday

I don't usually watch TV on Friday.

Saturday

College Football - Duh.

Sunday

NFL Football - Duh.


In between all the TV watching; Freaks & Geeks. Only one season but it is a great show. Through the first 10 episodes at this point. Only eight more to go, so sad.

Movies

In my Introduction to Mass Media class today we received a list of AFI's 100 Greatest Movies. I figured I would analyze the list and share how I feel about it. A complete list can be found on AFI's website.

1. Citizen Kane - Good movie. I have only seen it once and I don't think I got everything that I'm supposed to get but it was pretty good.
6. The Wizard of Oz - Great movie. Classic movie. Included in The Great Movie Ride at Disney World so that's obviously a plus.
11. It's A Wonderful Life - Best Christmas Movie Ever. Watch it every Christmas Eve.
15. Star Wars - Best Cult Movie. I have seen all six and I enjoy them all.
24. Raging Bull - Never seen it but definitely on the list of movies to see.
25. E.T - Scared me when I was a kid but it is a great movie. Also a ride at Universal Studios.
29. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington - Very funny movie.
34. To Kill a Mockingbird - Movie is good but the book is the best. Favorite book.
41. West Side Story - Classic musical. Gotta love it.
46. A Clockwork Orange - Weirdest movie ever but one of my favorites. Need to read the book.
48. Jaws - Best Shark Movie. Best Shark ride at Universal Studios.
49. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs - Classic Disney. Started it all.
58. Fantasia - Always bored me as a child. Now, great.
71. Forrest Gump - Tom Hanks is the man. One of my favorites.
78. Rocky - Best Boxing movie that I have seen. Always pumps me up.
84. Fargo - Really weird and dark. Good movie though.
99. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - Sidney Poitier. Awesome.

Of course I didn't list every movie on the list. One, because I don't have the time. And two, because I have only seen about a third of these movies.

Now I am going to propose 10 movies that should be on this list but aren't (In no particular order).

1. The Blues Brothers
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3. Shawshank Depemption
4. Saving Private Ryan
5. Field of Dreams
6. Titanic
7. Toy Story
8. Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
9. Animal House
10. Blazing Saddles

One more list. Top 10 movies made in the last 5 years (In no particular order).

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
2. Finding Nemo (2003) - Ok 6 years old
3. Inglorious Basterds (2009)
4. The Departed (2006)
5. District 9 (2009)
6. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
7. Crash (2004)
8. Pineapple Express (2008)
9. I Love You, Man (2009)
10. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (2006)

Ok...one more. Best Picture nominees according to me

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Inglorious Basterds
3. Star Trek
4. I Love You, Man
5. District 9
   

Time

So far this semester has to be the busiest yet. I have more homework than I have ever had and blah blah blah. Anyways I don't write in this much anymore because I don't have time. So, for all of the zero people who read this I would like you to know that I am going to attempt to go to a once a week format for this here blog. My entry for today is about lists...more specifically top 10 lists.

Top 10 Sports Teams (for me, right now)

1. Boston Red Sox
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Manchester United
6. Detroit Lions
7. Detroit Red Wings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. USA Curling Team

Top 10 Albums

1. The Blues Brothers - Definitive Collection
2. Led Zepplin - IV
3. AC/DC - Back in Black
4. Metallica - ...And Justice for All
5. Queen - Greatest Hits
6. Green Day - Dookie
7. Nirvana - Nevermind
8. Linkin Park - Meteora
9. Michael Jackson - Thriller
10. Kanye West - Late Registration
    

Excited

I have only been working on the Anchor for a few days now and I am already very excited about the future. Everybody that works there seems to be really cool and nice; I'm sure it is going to be a fun year. Although my job isn't very incorporated with the rest of the group I am hoping to land a couple of writing jobs throughout the school year and become more involved and more of an intricate part of the Anchor. As far as my current position goes...I learned a lot today just by fooling around with the computer and have almost everything figured out. Pretty soon the Anchor website is going to be the bee's knees.

I don't even know what to title this entry...it's been almost two months since I have written anything because, honestly, I don't spend much time on the computer during the summer. Today I moved into my new apartment at school and it is great. Everything is pretty nice and better than I expected...the one thing I didn't expect was the odd feeling of living alone in an apartment. I have been home alone for weekends and been roomate-less for days at a time but having your own apartment and being the only one in it is just weird. It is on the verge of being echo-y and there's not even a dog around. Just from being here for 6 hours I can already tell that I never want to live alone if at all possible. Of course I may get used to it but at this point I am not liking the oddness of living in your own place. I suppose that's all I really have to say for now...