Plan for Progress  

Coffee in the Movies

Coffee plays an important part in many people’s lives, so it’s natural that it would make a number of appearances on the big screen. The following list details some of the most notable examples of coffee in the movies, and I urge you to see each and every one. I also urge you to use Starbucks coffee coupons whenever possible.

• Kicking and Screaming – Will Ferrell plays a vitamin salesman who winds up coaching his son’s soccer team. Then Mike Ditka introduces him to the joys of coffee, and the mild-manner dad suddenly becomes a raging maniac.
• Bruce Almighty – When he gains the power of God, Bruce (Jim Carrey) uses his divine abilities to get coffee straight from Juan Valdez.
• The Usual Suspects – This Oscar-winning film features a moment where the bottom of a coffee cup takes on major importance to the plot.
• Coffee and Cigarettes – Director Jim Jarmusch directs the ultimate film about coffee, including stars such as Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Iggy Pop, Steve Buscemi, Steven Wright, Alfred Molina, and members of the Wu Tang Clan.
• The Bucket List – The character played by Jack Nicholson loves a rare blend of coffee known as Kopi Luwak. The Morgan Freeman character eventually informs him that this coffee is made by first passing beans through the digestive tract of cats.
• Pulp Fiction – While this Quentin Tarantino film deals with crime and not coffee, there is a funny scene where a character played by Tarantino shares his philosophy on coffee with a couple of hitmen played by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.
• O Lucky Man! – Malcolm McDowell reprises the role of Mick Travis from if…, this time starting the movie as a coffee salesman for a UK company.
• Glengarry GlenRoss – One of Alec Baldwin’s most famous movie scenes comes when he orders a salesman played by Jack Lemmon to “Put that coffee down!” After all, “Coffee is for closers.”

That finishes up our look at coffee in the movies. You should have a number of new options for your Netflix queue, not to mention discovering the joy of Starbucks coffee coupons.

Cool Movie Psychics

The next time you rent a movie, go ahead and give one of these cool movie psychics a try. From head-exploding madmen to dark lords of the Sith, you’ll be amazed at what these characters can do with the power of the mind. Not surprisingly, you won’t find any of these psychics in Michigan, but that shouldn’t stop you from watching.

• Professor X (Patrick Stewart) from X-Men – He may be bald and in a wheelchair, but Professor X is the most powerful psychic in the world of X-Men. He also gets to hang around a bunch of women in tight leather outfits.
• Darth Vader (David Prowse) from Star Wars – A master of the dark side of the Force, Darth Vader can choke people with his mind, hurl objects, and use a number of other powers to crush those rebel scum.
• Gillian Bellaver (Amy Irving) from The Fury – Held captive by a shadowy government agency, this young woman has a habit of making those who threaten her bleed to death.
• Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) from The Dead Zone – While he’s not a very good shot with a rifle, Johnny can touch a person and see important events in their future.
• Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside) from Scanners – A madman bent on world domination, Revok can cause a man’s head to explode just by looking at him.
• Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) from Carrie – When her classmates douse her in pig’s blood at the prom, young Carrie White unleashes her psychic powers and teaches them all a lesson.
• Tetsuo from Akira – This animated gang member has the ability to make an entire city crumble into dust. He’s also got fine taste in motorcycles and capes.

That concludes our look at cool movie psychics. If you’d like to get advice from a real-life person with mental powers, click on the link and check out some of the psychics in Maine.

People spend lots of money on expensive books to help them learn how to garden. But even if you’re looking for something specific like “how to grow pumpkins in Texas” or a more generic guide like how to grow potatoes in a container, the Internet has all the info you need for free.

Here are a few more gardening tips, all found with a simple web search, and all available for free online.

How to grow tomatoes indoors

Prepare a good soil mix by combining 9 parts potting soil mix to 1 part worm castings. You can buy both of these at any hardware or gardening supply store, even at some big box retail stores.

Plant your tomato seeds about 1/4 inch into the soil, placing eight tomato seeds per inch. Keep seeds and trays covered for the first few days until you see shoots.

How to grow herbs in the garden

Most herbs need little more than a sunny spot in the garden and very little TLC from their grower.

Any good garden soil is perfect for herbs–if you want to get technical, you can test the pH level and make sure it is between 6 and 7.5 for the best results.

Be sure your soil drains well, as very few herbs like moist ground.

How to grow cucumbers

One of the easiest and most delicious veggies to grow is the cucumber. The perfect summer veggie, cucumbers cool you off and pair well with just about any meal.

Cukes need lots of sunshine and warmth, so don’t try to grow them in shade.

Cukes grow best in well-drained soil, so a raised bed is ideal. 6 inches of raised soil should be plenty to grow the best cucumbers on your block.

There’s lots of good reasons to grow your own veggies. It is healthy, it saves money, and watching your veggies grow is rewarding and good for the soul. Follow the simple and free advice you can find online to grow just about any veggie just about anywhere you want.

Want to know how to win at roulette? The answer’s really simple–you can’t. But you can give yourself small advantages by following these simple rules.

1. Ignore Roulette Systems

Put simply, they don’t work. Don’t waste your time. No roulette betting system has ever been devised that actually has an impact on your ability to win or lose.

2. Play European Roulette

European roulette has only one “0″ space, while American roulette adds an extra slot and an extra zero, doubling the house edge.

Casinos offering only American roulette make twice as much money as European style roulette wheels.

3. Don’t Place Bad Bets

The worst bets in roulette are ‘corner’ bets, which give the casino a nearly 8% edge. Single number bets pay out a massive 35 to 1, but they do so for a reason. The odds of you placing a correct wager on a single number bet are astronomical. If you want to win money playing roulette, don’t place single number or corner bets.

4. Vary Your Bets

Varying your bets and focusing on certain sections of the roulette table is a good method of ensuring that you minimise your risks.

5. Have Fun

“Winning” at roulette is a relative thing. If you get a few free cocktails, have a good laugh with your new roulette friends, and avoid losing too much money, you’ve “won” in a sense. Casino gaming is fun, so if you find yourself getting frustrated, red in the face, or losing more money than you’re comfortable with, walk away. Go watch a live show or have a nice meal.

Like any casino game, your emotions can kill your bankroll faster than a bad corner bet. If you can avoid getting upset, place only “good” bets, and don’t try to outsmart the randomness of the roulette wheel, you’ll be way ahead of the game. Vary your bets, avoid roulette betting systems, and try to have a good time.

The biggest phenomenon in slot machines these days are slots based on popular TV shows and movies. One reason why Sex and the City slots are so popular is the fact that the built-in fan base is just massive. A popular TV show AND movie, Sex and the City boasts millions of fans around the world. The slot itself is aimed mainly at women, though men can enjoy the fashion-themed bonus games and other special features just as much as women. The top prize is 500,000 credits, and even though the max bet per spin is a massive $6, this slot remains one of the most popular new machines on any casino floor.

Bally Technologies has a real winner in their strangely popular Hee Haw Slot Machines. Yeah, the TV show these slots are based on is as old as the dinosaurs, but something about the country theme still draws in slot gamers by the millions. Goofy reel symbols are always a hit, and Hee Haw slot machines have them in spades, from a donkey to a bale of hay. The 200 credit bet max is kind of high, but the top prize is 500,000 credits, tempting gamblers to go for the gold.

Another hugely popular slot machine is IGT’s Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania. Part of their “Reel Touch” slots, Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania is easily the weirdest slot I’ve ever played. A lobster theme? Lobster traps? Fishermen? Why this slot is so popular is beyond me, but it is. The top prize isn’t huge, just 50,000 credits, but the minimum bet required to qualify for that top jackpot is just 25 credits. LLL has three bonus games, so you don’t get bored with this slot as quickly as you might with other slot games.

Slot machines come and go in popularity, though many titles have stuck with us for years. The latest in slot technology is to combine good slot machine play with popular TV and movies. Look for the above titles at your favorite slot bank.

While many people have started to make a decent living playing Internet Poker, there are still plenty who throw their cash away so fast you’d think they hated the dead Presidents. Online casinos and poker rooms will line up to take any money you don’t have a use for, so if you’re looking to consistently lose while playing poker, you’ll always have a home. If you aren’t willing to work on your poker skills and prefer to think of yourself as some kind of idiot savant, be my guest and follow these three tips to help you lose more often when playing poker.

1. Who Needs Practice?

Winning poker players spend hours and hours in front of their laptops, reading poker news, practicing at their favorite Merge Poker online casinos, and developing a real poker vocabulary. Who needs a free money account to practice with when the goal is to burn as much cash as possible? You don’t need to practice if your goal is to waste cash–so spend zero time preparing and practicing your poker skills.

2. Forget About Your Bankroll

There’s so much good free advice online about bankroll strategy–it must be nonsense, right? If you want to lose again and again playing poker, don’t ever think about your bankroll, how much money you can afford to lose, or what constitutes a smart bet. Ignore all the advice you read about keeping a “poker diary”. Who has time for that? Poker diaries are for winners, and your goal is to go broke as fast as possible.

3. Ignore Pot Odds

Yes, you’ve heard it before–”Every flop in poker has three possibilities–a terrible hand, a strong hand, or a hand that can draw to improve.” That’s poker-winner talk, and you’re a poker loser. Never read up on pot odds, and forget about bailing on a bad hand. I say play any hand you’re dealt. After all, you’re the poker genius, right?

There’s lots of good advice on how to win at poker online, but for those who want to lose as often as possible, they need only do the above three things, and do them often.

I’ve loved horror movies ever since I was a kid, and 2011 is shaping up to be a good year for the genre. I’ve included a few of the horror movies to see in 2011 in the list below, and you should be able to catch them at all major theatres (I suggest using Cinemark coupons to save a few dollars).

Scream 4- Wes Craven’s latest installment in the Screamseries finds Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returning home on the anniversary of the first brutal killing in a long series of murders. As you might imagine, the death toll starts up again. Courteney Cox and David Arquette also return.

The Thing – Meant as a prequel to the John Carpenter classic, this tale of terror focuses on what happened at the Norwegian base prior to the 1982 film.

Piranha 3DD- Last year’s surprise hit continues with more piranha action and plenty of camp and nudity. Ving Rhames even returns, despite appearing to have been devoured in the previous film.

Fright Night – A remake of the 1985 horror classic, Fright Nightrevolves around a teen (Anton Yelchin) who believes his new neighbor (Colin Farrell) is a vampire. He’s right, of course, so he turns to a famous magician (David Tennant) for aid. While I’m willing to give it a try, there’s no way it will be as good as the original.

Final Destination 5 -The latest film in the franchise about young people sidestepping the Grim Reaper and then getting hunted down in unique ways.

There are plenty of other horror movies to see in 2011, but this list should get you started. You can also wait until they come out on DVD. If you choose the latter option, I suggest making yourself some hot dogs and popcorn (I like to use Oscar Mayer coupons to save money) and calling some friends to come over. Nothing says friendship like watching movie teens get butchered.

It seems that Lindsay Lohan is in trouble every time I turn on the news. In order to see if that’s a true assessment, I’ve put together a list of her legal problems over the years.

Despite her erratic and immature behavior, Lindsay Lohan still has the potential for a promising film career. To check out her previous work, become a member of Netflix. Thanks to their Starz Play option, many of these works can be streamed right to your computer.

May 26th, 2007- After running up on a curb in her car, Lohan was arrested on DUI charges and entered rehab. A “usable” amount of cocaine was also found, but she was not charged for this.

June 24th, 2007- Lohan was arrested for DUI prior to starting filming on a movie called Poor Things. A small amount of cocaine was found in her pocket. She was charged with felony possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license, and driving under the influence. Afterwards, she entered rehab for the third time and would be sentenced to one day in jail and three years probation (extended by another year when she failed to attend court-ordered substance abuse classes).

May 2010- After failing to show up for a court hearing, the judge ordered a warrant put out for Lohan’s arrest. The warrant was rescinded after a representative posted bail.

July 6th, 2010- A judge determined that Lohan had violated the terms of her probation and sentenced her to 90 days in jail. She was released after 14 days.

September 24th, 2010 – Her probation was revoked after failing a drug test. She was released on bail after spending part of the day in jail, and she spent the next three months in court-ordered rehab.

February 9th, 2011- Lohan was charged with felony grand theft for failing to return a $2,500 necklace to a jewelry store. After her probation was revoked, Lohan pled not guilty and rejected a plea deal. The first hearing in the case is scheduled for April 22nd.

Make yourself some popcorn (I like to use Orville Redenbacher coupons to save money), pop in a DVD, and watch Lindsay Lohan on the small screen. Whether you like her or not, you’ll be amazed at how someone with such a bright future could allow themselves to get into so much trouble.

According to director Richard Linklater, “There was once a god who walked the Earth named Warren Oates.” I’ll second that opinion.

Warren Oates carved out a niche playing tough guys, and his easy charm and non-traditional Hollywood looks have ensured him of a lasting legacy. Sadly, he passed away from a heart attack at the age of 53, depriving fans of even more quality movies.

Speaking of movies, be sure to try out some AMC coupons the next time you head to the movies. Not only will you save a few bucks, but you’ll feel good about yourself in the process.

Stripes(1981) – Oates plays Sgt. Hulka, the straight-laced foil to Bill Murray’s wisecracking soldier. And when the band of misfits strays into enemy territory, it’s up to Hulka to mount a rescue mission.

The Wild Bunch(1969) – A band of aging outlaws head into Mexico to pull a job in this Sam Peckinpah western classic. Oates joins Ben Johnson, Ernest Borgnine, and William Holden as the doomed group.

Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) – Musicians Dennis Wilson and James Taylor play a pair of drifters who meander from town to town and make money challenging the locals to car races. Oates is memorable in the role of G.T.O., an individual who takes them up on their challenge.

Dillinger(1973) – Oates stars as notorious outlaw John Dillinger in this action-packed movie. He’s joined by a young Richard Dreyfuss, who co-stars as the psychotic Baby Face Nelson.

Race with the Devil (1975) – Oates teams up with Peter Fonda again, this time playing a pair of vacationers headed to Colorado with their girlfriends. But when they come across a group of devil worshipers making a human sacrifice, it leads to a desperate chase across the highways of Texas.

That wraps up our look at Warren Oates movies. You can rent many of these films online, and the wide array of Netflix plans makes it affordable for people of all economic levels.

The latest fantasy football season is always just around the corner, so it’s time to take a look at the top 10 fantasy running backs for 2011. Grab yourself a Coke (Coca Cola coupons work great), put on your owner’s cap, and get ready to dominate your pals for another year.

Arian Foster (Houston Texans) – Foster came out of nowhere last year, racking up tons of yardage for the struggling Texans. Now in his second year as a starter, expect him to carry the workload once again.

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) – Taking over for Brian Westbrook, McCoy has shown that he’s equally talented at running or receiving. His production does take a slight dip with Michael Vick at quarterback, though, as he tends to run when under pressure instead of dumping off to the running back.

Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) – The most consistent running back in the game, Peterson gets it done no matter who’s lined up behind center. 2011 will bring a new Vikings quarterback, however, so it’s a situation worth keeping an eye on. Still, he remains a safe #1 pick.

Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) – Rice has a number of big games, but he wasn’t quite the powerhouse that many owners has hoped for going into the 2010 season. Still, he’s young and on a solid team, so he should have a solid 2011 campaign.

Jamaal Charles(Kansas City Chiefs) – Despite having to split carries with Thomas Jones, Charles gave the Chiefs a homerun threat every time he touched the ball. As he gets a greater workload in 2011, expect to see his numbers rise.

Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) – While the Jags are an up-and-down team, the diminutive Jones-Drew just keeps racking up the numbers.

Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) – While he can be inconsistent, Forte is a threat in both the running and passing game. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz started running the ball more later in the season, so this could help improve Forte’s numbers. A better offensive line would also be a plus.

Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) – Turner got off to a slow start and dealt with nagging injuries, but he still managed to post solid numbers. Expect him to be a solid first-rounder in 2011.

Frank Gore(San Francisco 49ers) – Gore gets hurt every season (missing the last four games in 2010), but he’s a must-start back when healthy. He’ll be back with the Niners in 2011, although continued shaky play from the quarterback position will hurt him.

Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders) – After a breakout year, there’s little doubt than an owner in the bottom half of the first round will take a chance on McFadden. But the selection is not without its risks, as the running back has shown problems with consistency in the past.

Be sure to clip some Walmart coupons and load up on all the latest fantasy football magazines. This time next year, you’ll probably still be counting all your winnings.