Michael-Carson's Blogs

Almost everyone I know has access to a Netflix account. My access came from convincing my mom to buy the subscription years ago to watch a specific movie and then she forgot about it and we never cancelled, oops. However, now she and my dad use the account as much as I do. In fact, they use it so much that we had to upgrade to the highest option that allows three devices to stream at once. Netflix is great! But, I do have one problem with it; it gets boring. Netflix allows me to binge watch shows without any breaks. This is awesome when I am trying to power through a show so that I can discuss it with friends. Though I think that there is some benefit to having commercials. They allow you a mental break to get up and clean, do homework, or walk your dog. Sometimes the never ending stream can be trapping. Netflix is definitely the cheaper option for college students when deciding on what utilities they are willing to pay for. With an average of a $40 cost difference per month, even ...

I like to be able to go out and have a good time and not be concerned about how much money I have in my bank account. Last minute brewery day? I'm there (Terrapin please!). Want to go see a concert in an hour at the Georgia Theater? Sure, I can afford it. 2 am Insomnia cookies? Let's go! I am able to do this by managing how much I spend at the grocery store each week. Right now I am saving money to be able to take a trip to New Orleans at the end of October for GA/FL weekend. Since a lot of students travel on that weekend too and probably need to save money as well, I have decided to share some tips and tricks on how to reduce your college grocery budget right here in Athens that you may not have heard before, that I follow pretty consistently. Most of these tips have to do with Kroger, so if you don't shop there, sorry.(not sorry) A lot of students claim the reason for the hefty total at the bottom of their receipts is due to their choice to eat only organic foods. Wel...

 The other week with Hurricane Harvey we experienced alot of outpouring of help and support for those who lost everything in Texas as a result of the tremendous flooding. Social media acted as a first responder in some ways allowing for people to request for help not only from law enforcement but from other people who were in the area as well. This week we experienced similar scenarios however we discovered a whole new way to use social media for hurricanes as well. If you were on Social media at all you probably saw some events that people where interested such as "Point your fans at Irma so she will blow away from Florida" or my personal favorite that includes a meme from Sponge-bob Square-pants with Patrick star saying "why don't we take Florida and Push it somewhere else". The fun continued into the local Athens, GA area with other events involving the University of Georgia including "Going white water rafting down South Lumpkin During Irma". S...

Hurricane Katrina holds a special place in my heart. My dad's side of the family lived next to where the levees broke. Everything from my childhood summers in New Orleans was lost in a matter of hours. I went to see the house after the water had receded and the water line was well over my head. The children beds upstairs that my brothers and I would sleep in for a few weeks each summer, were dirty from the people who broke into the house to seek shelter from the storm. The beautiful piano I grew-up playing on laid in pieces scattered across the floor. In some ways I'm jealous of the people going through Harvey only in the way you can be if your family has been through the same thing. I am jealous of the information that they have. They have real-time information about what is happening to their belongings and for the most part, their loved ones from afar. This is due to largely in part to Social Media. Social Media has played an enormous role in hurricane Harvey. People who a...