Coupon Queen

I like to save money. I enjoy getting the Sunday paper and sifting through coupons. But that is about the extent of my search for ways to spend less at the grocery store. This lady, however, is a coupon master. She should be. It took her 37 years to become a pro, according to this CNN video report. 

Grocery shopping with her would be like a love/hate relationship. Actually, grocery shopping with her might actually take as long as the average relationship lasts. But, for under $10 per cart load of groceries, she could sweep me off my feet any day. 

Could you imagine being the next person in line? Think about it.

Who Would've Thought?

I have recently discovered something. I am graduating in two weeks, and I don't have a job. 

Don't judge me, Mr. I-Have-A-Law-Degree-And-Am-Now-Working-At-Trusty-Bill's-Used-Car-Lot. 

I have spent countless hours sifting through jobs that I am either overqualified for (smile for the camera little baby! No photography experience required!) or waayy underqualified for (Senior Executive Director for External Communications. click here to apply: click.) 

So, because I have no interest in waiting tables or having my resume laughed at by senior executives, I have made the decision think more seriously about getting a master's degree. I know what you're thinking, but Irem, you hate school and you really aren't a good student. This is where you are wrong, people. (Actually, you are right. But the times, they are achangin', and achangin' I am too.) 

State of Play

I have to admit that I was slightly upset that State of Play didn't get better reviews. Now, I wasn't expecting it to hit number one in the box office. I was even surprised it got to number two (actually, there was nothing else good that came out). But to see that it fell to 17 Again?! Come on. I know this country is in need of some laughs (assuming the audience was laughing AT the movie, and not with it) but when print journalism is going the way it's going...Ok, maybe I am biased. Where was I? Right, State of Play. Russell Crowe plays the stereotypical know-it-all investigative journalist that everyone hates to love. Ben Affleck plays the stereotypical good-looking-liar Congressman (also stereotypically sleeping with a member of his staff) that everyone assumes is just looking out for his fellow American. Oh, and we mustn't forget the adorable blogger, Rachel McAdams. And, didn't Ben Affleck's movie wife, Robin Wright Penn, once say she wanted to fly like a bird, far far away? That's neither here nor there. 

I feel if I explain what the movie is about, I will give away the ending. So, I'll say this. I got slightly lost in all the twists that were created out of thin air. The actual story gets lost by the end, and turns into a movie about the characters. Kevin Macdonald, the director, seemed to just let it all slip through his fingers, or maybe he just got lazy and said to the writers, "Let's just end this thing already!"  (And he was so brilliant with The Last King of Scotland!) Speaking of brilliant...whoever cast Jason Bateman as the stereotypical "I-don't-care-about-anyone-but-myself" unethical PR guy was genius. If this movie was any worse than it was (which, really, it wasn't bad) then Jason Bateman would have saved it (even though he was only in the movie for > 10 minutes). 

So, in conclusion, it's a great movie, and you should all see it, but it is one of those movies where you think "Umm, I'll wait until it comes out on DVD." or "Umm, I'll wait until I can watch it online for free." 

2014 Anyone?

I have a top five list of countries that I want to go to (in no specific order). Don't we all? If you don't, I can share my list with you. (I'm feeling very generous today.)

1) Czech Republic - More specifically, Prague. 

2) Spain - More specifically, Spain. 

3) Switzerland - Who doesn't want to go to to Switzerland? 

4) Holland - No, I'm not one of those OMG-I-Have-To-Go-To-Amsterdam-To-Get-Super-Stoned kinda girls. 

5) South Africa* - More specifically, the 2010 World Cup games. 

=   

En Buyuk, Turkiye!

As you might have realized, this blog is mostly about the World Cup games. I have, unfortunately, come to terms with the fact that I might not be able to make it to South Africa next year. (I haven't given up entirely.) It has recently came to my attention, however, that Brazil was named host (or hostess, if Brazil is a feminine word) for the 2014 World Cup games. Now, I'm no geographer, but I think it's safe to say Brazil is much closer! And therefore, much easier to get to. So...2014, anyone?

*Side Note: I would say this was my list of European countries that I want to see. Don't feel bad, China, Japan, Australia, Egypt and most of South America...I want to see you too. 

Any Suggestions?

Today is a very rainy Monday, and I decided that I would dub today a productive one. But it's not going so well. I can't concentrate on writing my 15 page essay about my life in Istanbul compared to my life in Muncie because I'm not feeling very creative. I can't work on my 15 page paper about diversity on campus because my interest on the topic has dwindled to nothing. I can't read essays from a book called "The Best Creative Non-Fiction" because I get jealous. If I don't get jealous, I find myself wondering why the crappy essay was picked to go in this collection. 

I have been 23 for exactly one month now, and for 23 years and one month I have been the worst procrastinator I know. Yes, since the moment I was born, I put off doing anything that needed to be done. I have tried everything I could to get myself to do something ahead of time, or sometimes even on time, and it doesn't work. To be honest, probably the only thing I have tried is telling myself I will do it. I don't know...I guess I just work a lot better under pressure. 

Are there any little goody two-shoes out there who do their work on time, and can fill me in on how they are able to do that? If you prefer, I am open to the idea of you doing my work for me. Just kidding, just kidding (but seriously).

The Best Part Is...

There were a number of topics I wanted to write about today, but there was one story I read that caught my attention the most. Sure, a Turkish anchorman painted his face black while reporting on Obama. Of course, the pirates of Somalia are at it again. Naturally, Iran is accusing a journalist of spying. But Hugh Jackman's heartbreak* over the leak of his new movie, X-Men Origins?! What is the world coming to? {Insert sarcasm here} "Who cares?" That's what I always say. No need for tears, Hughey. "Your" movie will still be a big hit, and all those illegal-unfinished-version watchers will still pay the outrageous movie ticket price to see the real thing on the big screen. Me? I'll probably wait until I can illegally watch the finished version on one of those awesome Asian sites. But seriously...

The best part is at the end of the article. "A journalist for Fox News was dismissed earlier this week for posting a review of X-Men Origins based on a viewing of the illegal download," the BBC reports. Ha! I imagine this "established" journalist sitting at his computer, watching this video and thinking that he hit the jackpot. "Oh boy! I am going to post a review before anyone else," perhaps he said out loud to himself. "My boss is going to praise me for this! Fox News rocks!" Nice try, buddy. Good luck with the job hunt. 

* You will find that I most often will send you off to the BBC, as I prefer it over CNN. If this offends you in any way, you can read a similar story on CNN here.

I See You, May 9th!

At this moment, in exactly five weeks, I will have taken my last final. Literally. Last. Final. EVER. I took a look at my calender widget today (F12 for you Mac users, you) and I saw it! May 8th! And I could even see the next day, which is even better, May 9th! The big day where I will have officially grown out of classrooms and textbooks. I will wrap my gown around me, place my cap securely on my head, walk across the stage, shake my dean's hand and never look back. Not even a glance over my shoulder. Not even a wave goodbye. Not even a pause for remembrance. Not even a...well, you get the idea. 

After this long dramatic ceremony will be a party where my mother's entire backyard will be surrounded by me. You're all invited!! (If you get an invitation) May 9th, here I come and no Fs can stop me! (Ok, actually an F could stop me...crap. I probably just jinxed myself. Stupid blog post.)

Science advisor says Earth is overpopulated

I wanted to talk about April Fool's Day, but I chose this instead:

The BBC had an interview with Nina Fedoroff, science advisor to Hilary Clinton. In the article Fedoroff explains that Earth's population, which is at about 6.5 billion, is increasing too rapidly for the planet to handle. The BBC reported that China's population sits at 1.33 billion, while the USA is at about 306 million!! (But it's all in the article)

What I am hearing is this: When Fedoroff said "the planet can't support many more people," and stressed the importance of watching over our water supplies, I thought of my WWIII theory. With tension growing around the world, and scientists like Fedoroff saying we need to start paying attention to our water, a war is inevitable.** If there is a war, I think we all know what countries won't be siding with America (Let's see. There's Venezuela, they're dangerously close, Cuba, they're dangerously closer, North Korea, China, etc. Never England, but I must say, when I was studying abroad in London, my friends and I asked a man sitting on the bus what he thought of America. His response: "The world's greatest enemy." aand that was the end of that.)

I am reluctant to touch on the Middle Eastern countries. That part of the world is so messed up right now, and Obama thinks the best thing to do is leave Iraq and start in Afghanistan. He probably only thinks this is a good idea because Americans were asking Bush why we weren't in Afghanistan to begin with, but now...it's not such a good idea. Come on, Obama. Seriously. But Israel, the Palestinians, Iran: not gonna go there. I will say, though, that I don't see Turkey picking sides with America on this one. Sure, they want to be a part of the EU. Sure, they want to see themselves as "held together" as America and Europe. But they're not. And the idea of a Kurdistan being created, and the Kurds will want the more profitable piece of Turkey, is enough for the Turkish government to say "Nope. See you on the battle ground, America."

So, there you have it. My WWIII theory. Not entirely the most intelligent thing you have read, I am sure, but nevertheless, with tension growing and water diminishing, countries will soon run out of options and Clinton will run out of "peace talk" ideas.

** Everything I say in this blog is completely and 100% my own thoughts. I hope things don't turn out this way, and I hope Turkey and the United States will be best friends forever without US walking all over Turkey, which Turkey tends to let them do from time to time. But what are best friends for, right?