Chipotle...

Because I love you.

Maps and stuff...

If you're going to be at OSU in the nursing program, here's something you might find interesting. I made a map of everywhere I've studied and I hope it gives you some ideas of places you can go outside of Newton Hall.

View Larger Map

Saving money at Barnes & Noble...

If you go to a school like Ohio State your school bookstore is probably Barnes & Noble. Also, if you're any typical college student, you probably spend a few hundred dollars more on books and supplies than you'd prefer. I've got two methods which should probably save you some money.

Barnes & Noble Membership

For $25 a year, you can be a Barnes & Noble member. This gives you at least 10% off everything in the store. (If you read books as a hobby, (see the prior post's picture,) you'll save a higher percentage.) However, this discount only applies to non-textbooks. This may sound like a waste, but there are a lot of non-textbooks I've had to buy for school.

Giant Eagle Fuel Perks

Giant Eagle has a free membership plan you can sign up for which gives you $.10 off a gallon of gas for every $50 you spend in their store. (So, if you buy $150 worth of stuff, you'll get $.30 off each gallon at your next fill up.) Giant Eagle sells Barnes & Noble gift cards. Combine the two and you'll save money.

Some quick advice...

Last quarter, (OB & Peds,) one of my classmates had OB Peds Women's Health Notes from F.A. Davis Company. I used hers so much I went out and bought my own. I now own ECG Notes and Nursing Notes and I may buy a few more of them. They're sort of expensive at about $23 each, but they're really worth it. For those of you starting the quarter, I'd recommend either the nursing notes but they also have one called Assessment Notes. I wouldn't get more than one a quarter. (Definitely get OB & Peds when you have that clinical.)

Also, here's a picture of me in my new den. I own entirely too many books. Bonus if you recognize or have read anything I've got behind me.

Summer Quarter is starting...

First of all, I'd like to say I made about $1 in ad revenue during finals week and that means a lot to me that people are clicking my ads.

For those of you that are new, I'd like to welcome you to the site and give you a quick head's up about what we're about.

On the right is a big long column of stuff. The top thing is my Twitter feed. I update this way too often. It's basically whatever is going on in my head at the time. It'll often tell you I'm either at Stauf's of Hang Over Easy.

Next down is a link to my class notes. This is a compilation of all the notes I've taken for school. Supposedly it's really useful. (Yes, every class I've taken at OSU has my notes up there. You're welcome. Please click an ad.)

Next down is an ad. Please click it. I get paid about $.30 every time somebody clicks an ad. They're context sensitive, (meaning the ads have to do with student stuff most of the time,) so you might actually find something useful.

Below that is the search box. You can search the whole web, or my archive. There's a lot of great old posts in my archive if you're looking for some great way around something.

News from the web is probably my most updated section. These are links to stories I found interesting and had to do with college, learning or productivity on some level which I thought I'd share. A minor caveat though: around finals, these tend to become more and more goofy.

Below that is a link to my archive. You can go back by month and see the names of all my posts. You can probably tell how busy I was with school by how many posts occur in any given month.

Finally, below that is something called tags. All of my posts have little tags near the bottom. (Or mostly all of them.) If you're interested in any of those subjects, click on the tab and you'll find lots of information on how to get it cheap/free.

Hope to see everyone soon,
Michael

Extra hundred dollars...

Somebody posted a message asking me what they'd spend a few extra hundred dollars on so I thought I'd give you some answers:

1. Meds Pub: It's a web site where you can take pre-NCLEX questions. Supposedly when you qualify for the NCLEX, they send you a book of all your answers to study from. A lot of teachers use it badly where they make you spend an hour reviewing your answers, (which means you have Meds Pub open in one tab, and something you're actually interested in open in another tab.) I think it cost about $100.

2. PDA software: There are two programs you need. One is called Epocrates and the other is Thompson Healthcare. They both give you lots of great information on drugs and diseases. They're pretty handy in clinical when you actually give people drugs. I think this was one of the most expensive things I bought.

Randomly, Apple has a deal now for a free iPod touch. You can get Epocrates on it starting Tuesday of next week so you might want to hold off on buying a PDA if you can combine your PDA and your iPod. (Or get an iPhone, (also hold off until next week because they're releasing a new one,) and combine all of your electronics into one.) I think I spent $300 dollars because the college of nursing's contract for it ran out and we couldn't get it for free anymore. Looking back, it felt like a waste.

3. Hang Over Easy: It's a diner across the street from the college of nursing. You don't have to go there, but if you don't, you're not cool. Also, watch what you say there as it's bad to talk smack about your professors if they're at the next table over. They serve beer at 7:00 a.m. (PBR is only $1.) Their coffee is pretty good too. They get about $20 a week from me.

4. Gas: My clinical Autumn quarter was in East Bumblefuck. I had probably the best site, but if was very far away. (I walk or bike 90% of the places I go so I'm very sensitive to the price of gas because I rarely need to fill up my tank.)

5. I don't remember exactly, but it seems like I had to buy certain clinical supplies after the quarter started. I know any of the nurse practitioner people had to buy expensive equipment in the middle of Winter quarter.

Hope this helps. Click an ad.

Female empowerment...

I weigh roughly double what this girl weighs.

Good luck on finals!

(Yes, I understand this has nothing to do with either school, student stuff, or saving money, but it's a great picture.)

Also, please click an ad. I've made $24.95 and Google doesn't pay me anything until I reach $100.

Unbelievably off topic...

There's something weird about living in Columbus, Ohio.

Also, if you are writing a paper and need help with APA style, here's a a link to a great resource.