October 2012 Archives
October 31
Wet dog smell, bad. Dewy oriental rose, good.
Can you recommend a ladies' raincoat that won't make me sweat? [more inside]
Help me find a jerb
What companies in the SF Bay Area (Preferably close to SF/Oakland) do work that requires electrical hardware design, and firmware programming? Then also produce a product that has a serious positive impact on society? [more inside]
Flamenco Recommendations
In need of some exquisite flamenco music - give me your recs.
Are there any free online self-paced courses that will actually help me find work?
Are there any free online self-paced courses that will actually help me find work? I want to hear about all possibilities.
I was thinking of brushing up on my coding skillz, but I read varying reports on whether one can get a programming job without a CS degree. Opinions on this are welcome. Extra snowflake stuff inside. [more inside]
You can wear long skirts, which are very pretty. Same kind of length that men wear.
For those better at recognizing voices than me: who is the woman talking about clothing in the Jon Kennedy song, 'Style'? [more inside]
Which of these CS courses should I take?
Which introductory computer science course should I take? (I am a very special snowflake.) [more inside]
Dia de los Muertos for Beginners
I'd like suggestions for assembling an altar in memory of my father for Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. [more inside]
Is a homemade gift a good way to show a guy I'm interested?
I like a guy. I don't know how he feels about me. Would it be weird to make him a gift? [more inside]
Driving from NYC to NJ this Friday. Crazy?
Driving from NYC (Chelsea) to Piscataway, NJ, this Friday afternoon with a return on Sunday. Is this realistic? [more inside]
Help me fix my feet!!
What is the best thing for my feet when I walk all day? And had foot issues before? [more inside]
cheesy like david hasselhoff
Are there any cheeses which are worthwhile to make myself? [more inside]
How bad is the smoking in Paris?
So, SuperAwesomeGirl and I want to got France for a short vaca.
I HATE cigarette smoke and she is incapacitatingly allergic to it - like - walk through a cloud of cig smoke and cough so bad she can't walk for a few minutes. Will we hate our time in Paris? [more inside]
Flying the Friendly Skies?
Is it "safe" to fly American Airlines again? [more inside]
How do I stop being so negative and gossipy?
I know that almost everyone has issues with negativity, gossip and drama but I believe it's becoming a dangerous habit - and sometimes scary tool - for me and I'd like to stop or at least better control my own behavior and contributions. [more inside]
What happens to prisoners after the end of the war on weed?
What happens to people locked up for weed in a post legalization state? Amendment 64 in Colorado and Initiative 502 in Washington state both seem to have a decent possibility of passing, and would make the posession and consumption of marijuana legal for adults. What would happent to people jailed in either state for possession or distribution of marijuana if either of these pass? [more inside]
Help me find downloadable resources for election night betting!
I'm looking for a site that offers downloadable spreadsheets or forms for all House seats and all states, that could be used for election night parties. I know about applications like this one from CNN, but I'm specifically looking for forms that can be filled in and then printed, ideally in table form, so a group of people can easily make and compare predictions as the results come in. These things must exist somewhere, so please point me towards them!
What a crock.
My partner and I are both working 9 to 5 for our first time together, and are hoping to embrace the slow cooker as a way to have a hot meal on the table not long after getting home with minimal post-quitting-time effort a couple of times a week. Looking for some advice and suggestions! [more inside]
Disease model of Addiction?
Do I have to believe in the disease model of addiction to be successful in my recovery? I go to this counselor and he says in order for me to be happy I need to buy into NA and make friends there to live a happy healthy and normal life. I dont like NA and dont believe in the principles. Why cant I just say I was on drugs and now I am off without having to talk about it all the time? Is this the only way to happiness? He said I am fighting my disease and will never be happy if I dont try it. I have been sober for 5 months and I have real bad days and some good days. I am always overanalyzing things. I started CBT and that has seemed to make me more anxious at the moment. He also says that in my case CBT wont work unless I stop fighting my disease. I dont see how that makes sense.
Toilet training dramas. Daughter hates potty.
Daughter SCREAMS when I try to put her on the potty to pooh. She knows she is about to pooh, and I know it too, but when I try to put her on the potty she completely freaks out. Not sure what to do. Details within. [more inside]
Proprietary R&D makes terrible resume-filler.
How does a scientist doing R&D work in industry maintain a Linked-in profile or have a great resume, when the work in question is company-confidential or proprietary? [more inside]
Looking for Horror/Apocalypse book reviews.
Websites for Horror/Apocalypse book reviews? [more inside]
How is life in Abuja?
My friend is moving to Abuja, Nigeria! What should she know? [more inside]
What are things to get a college grad
What are presents/things I don't know I want? [more inside]
should i get counselling
I am failing in most aspects of my life - should I get counselling? [more inside]
Food safety during power outage
Can I eat this? Sandy power outage edition. [more inside]
What do you call an overly protective facebook creeper?
What is the name for the phenomenon of creepy guys being overly protective of women they barely know on the internet, in particular on facebook? [more inside]
Streaming video from my PC, not the cloud.
Help me set up video streaming from my Windows computer to my TV with a minimum of fuss, expense and wires. [more inside]
My brain is resistant to learning circuit analysis. Get it? Resistant? Like a resistor? Ahhh hahaha! Help.
I'm struggling in Electric Circuits 1 - particularly with analyzing series-parallel circuits, thevenizing and superposition. Before I look for a tutor, can anyone suggest some resources to learn it myself? [more inside]
Let the rhythm pump!
What's some good, preferably obscure, music for an urban foot chase video? [more inside]
Help me finish unlocking my iphone, please!
I live in London and will soon be travelling to Melbourne, Australia. I have an iPhone 4 and a contract with Three UK; this week I paid Three fifteen quid to unlock my phone so that I can use a local sim when I'm abroad.
Three sent me a text telling me my unlock request has been processed, and to finish the unlocking process I need to insert a non-Three sim card and connect the device to iTunes. I don't have another sim card and am not sure where I can get one before I catch my plane on Saturday. Help? [more inside]
Trying to find the best option to get more Photoshop savvy
What sort of course should I be looking at to hone my Photoshop skills? [more inside]
Where to buy shade-grown organic coffee?
Coffee drinkers! Can you help me source shade-grown organic coffee (I'm not interested in certification, but rather in those principles) from a US roaster that will roast and ship to me within 24 hours? Your personal recommendations only, please. [more inside]
Articles into Kindles
Any experience with selling an article, as opposed to a book, for Kindle on Amazon? [more inside]
tired of roast chicken
tired of roast chicken! Give me recipes and meal ideas are: elegant ( you would serve it at a fancy dinner party), winter seaonal foods, intensely flavorful, beautiful, whole food ingredient based (ie probably no tins of condensed soup), have that wow factor that impresses guests, and bonus (but not super important) are 'paleo'.
Miami Beach for Thanksgiving Weekend
I'm going to be in Miami Beach with my mom for Thanksgiving weekend. Any suggestions for your favorite places to go in the Miami Beach area? My mom really wants to take a day trip to the Everglades, and I'd love to find some fun twentysomething things to do. [more inside]
Advice about a traffic violation, mandatory court appearance.
How much will this traffic violation cost me? [more inside]
What could be causing regular neck/shoulder/bicep pain and spasms?
I started having regular pain through my right shoulder down to my right elbow a few months ago. Today, I keep having muscle spasms in the same bicep. Too broke for a doc visit...anyone else experienced this? [more inside]
I Wasn't Sent by the Agency, Sir: Hiring an Independent House Cleaner?
Help me hire an independent house cleaner. [more inside]
Let me entertain you and quiz you on random trivia!
I'm in charge of hosting a trivia & talent show night for a fundraiser. Need your advice and a few recommendations... [more inside]
My preschooler is super-smart and super-wild and I'm out of my depth
My 3-year-old is super-bright and super-high-energy. I am super-lost. (Sorry, this got super-duper long.) [more inside]
Spouse with chronic illness - support for me.
I'm trying to find some kind of online support, such as a forum, for people whose SOs have chronic health problems. When googling for this, all I find are forums for people who are caretakers of their ill SOs. My husband can take care of himself for the most part, but his illness has a significant impact on our marriage. I'm trying to find others in similar situations. Any ideas? Many thanks in advance.
windows phone
Windows phones: Does anyone know when the Samsung Ativ S come out? [more inside]
Are there any good any online lectures on Ulysses?
Are there any good any online lectures on Ulysses? [more inside]
Crossing over with art
House of Leaves and Haunted are works in two different mediums (book and album) by two different artists that deliberately accompany each other. What other examples of this are there? [more inside]
Stepping down to ez-mode.
I need a new career. Special snowflake factors: I like my current career, I've been very successful -- but I've been diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder and can't take the stress anymore. Details very slightly obfuscated. [more inside]
Charming small-town stop between Atlanta and Kansas City?
Where should we stop for the night between Atlanta and Kansas City? [more inside]
About to be on the poor man's canned bean diet... need work!
Help me figure out why I'm not getting any bites on jobs-- I get callbacks. I get interviews. But when it comes down to obtaining the job and subsequent paycheck itself, I'm failing. [more inside]
I had a $500 MoneyPak stolen via hacker. I have some information. Can I catch em'?
A hacker redeemed my MoneyPak after viewing the scanned copy on my computer. They cashed it immediately via internet. Can I pursue a claim to obtain details and press charges? [more inside]
If I were looking for print comics, Bone or Fables could fit the bill
I need more story-based webcomics (or at least, comics available online)! Ever since I stumbled across Gunnerkrigg Court recently, I've been on a long-form webcomic kick. However, I've now made it through all the archives, and it's going to be cold and rainy here for a while yet - so what else should I be reading? [more inside]
But I swear I am a first time homebuyer... he just isn't!
First Time Homebuyer (Canada) Plan-filter. Can he NOT be considered my common-law spouse? [more inside]
Why trust other people?
I have just ended a long term relationship due to a breach of trust. This has, however, added to my increasing lack of trust in other people -- which was little to begin with. Why should and how do I learn to trust people again? [more inside]
Looking for experiences with pessaries
Do you have a pessary for urinary stress incontinence? What's it like? [more inside]
Leaving the office?
Did you leave the office job for a year or more of trying to make it on your own? How did it go? Would you do it again? What would you go back in time and tell yourself? [more inside]
Everything is Amazing and The Bestest
What are other modern fiction titles with superlatives? I'm thinking of "Everything is Illuminated" and "Everything Here is the Best Thing Ever". [more inside]
Use person vacating the post as a ref for my app for same?
I am applying for a job, and of course references are requested. One of my best potential references, who I have worked with fairly extensively, is also the person vacating the position I am applying for, and for all I know could be interviewing me. Is it weird to use him as a reference? [more inside]
who will design me a t-shirt?
I want to buy a shirt with a slogan on it, but no shirt with that slogan exists. Thus, I wish to cause its existence. Because my skills of an artist are meager, I don't want to do this myself on cafepress/spreadshirt/etc. Thus, I wish to ask YOU, metafilter, these questions: (a) where can I go or whom can I ask for my t-shirt-slogan-designing needs? (b) how much is this sort of thing likely to cost? (If too much, I'll just pass.)
Broken Laptop Screen
I recently broke the screen on my laptop and I need to get it fixed. What are some good computer repair places in Baltimore?
And I was really looking forward to this trip, too!
I'm supposed to be at a B&B in Philadelphia tomorrow evening, and right now I'm in Brooklyn. I don't have a car, rail isn't running, busses leave from parts of the city that are extremely difficult to access and I'm not even sure I could get a ticket. Suggestions? Am I not thinking of something? [more inside]
How will they fix New York?
How long will it take NYC to fully recover from Hurricane Sandy? [more inside]
Facebook to Blog
Getting Facebook page posts into a blog? [more inside]
Blogs that chase trending social media topics?
Some blogs/sites are specifically set up to grab trending topics from social media and post about them. Examples would be MSN Now and Newswhip. Do you know of others?
Enterprise backup for a small office full of non-savvy people.
Kinda-managed backup for a small office. Help me make a choice between several options? Challenge: broke ass non-profit. [more inside]
I want cellular voice & data - but only on the days I ask for it.
Cell phone plans filter: I want a cell phone-sized Android device to mostly use on WiFi, and the Nexus 4 may be the right one. But I might use occasional cell voice & data - help me get that voice & data as cheaply as possible. [more inside]
Unincorporated
Potential freelance client wants to hire me; their lawyers say they can only work with incorporated vendors, not sole proprietors. For a variety of reasons (see inside) I'd rather not go through forming an LLC if I can avoid it. ISTR there are umbrella organizations freelancers can sign on with to handle this sort of situation, but am failing to google them up now that I need one. Potential difficulty factor: rural Massachusetts. [more inside]
One eyed black scottishmen that love explosives are funny right?
How would you describe the style of humor displayed in team fortress 2? [more inside]
Using a cellphone for an office LAN
In the aftermath of Sandy, my office in Stamford, CT, is still out of elecrical grid power and out of internet. Now, the building has diesel power and is letting workers back in today, so I'm trying to brainstorm a way to get them online. [more inside]
Vocal in 8 Lust Songs
About 3:26 into this Michael Nyman piece (8 Lust Songs, NSFW is you speak Italian) the vocalist starts doing something strange and (to me) unpleasant. Can someone with more knowledge either singing or the composer explain what she is doing and what it is supposed to evoke.
mentally paralyzed, but I need to write and present a talk in two weeks: help?
I have major writer's block compounded by panic, anxiety, plummeting self-worth and a whole host of problems, but I have to deliver this talk in two weeks. Snowflakey details within. Please help. [more inside]
Eternally unhappy parents with a stagnant and unhealthy marriage--I am in the middle. How to deal?
Please help me deal with my parents ever-strained and unhappy marriage, my fathers refusal to seek marriage counseling, my mother's emotional affair, and my grandparents horrible influence. This has been happening forever--now that I'm 20, my parents are divulging more and more. It's too hard to deal with. Any suggestions welcome. [more inside]
Free instructional videos on sex?
Best free videos on how to have sex? (NSFW) [more inside]
What should I charge as an online marketing freelancer?
What should I charge as an online marketing freelancer? (Details inside) [more inside]
Threaded forum software
Anybody knows the software for this THREADED FORUM? [more inside]
Is there a design term which describes the aesthetic, "things which show the details of their construction".
Is there a design term which describes the aesthetic, "things which show the details of their construction". Examples inside. [more inside]
yet another clothes question
Where am I NOT looking for great women's clothes which aren't too expensive? I'm a UK size 18 (US size 16, I think), and shop in all the usual UK high street places that go up to that size. I'm looking for clothes which are a little quirkier and more interesting than what you can find there. [more inside]
Sleepy Koala asking "what the hell is wrong with me?"
(asking for sister) Why am I so tired? I feel like my brain is cotton wool, I wake up tired, all I want to do is sleep, and my short term memory is terrible. [more inside]
October 30
Feminism or bust
Boyfriend is not a feminist. I am. We don't see things eye to eye and we have long disagreements about it. Is this healthy? [more inside]
Looking to ship a couch across the Juan de Fuca strait without it costing an arm and a leg. How?
I've apparently been gifted with a couch and a chair from relatives in Victoria and I need to figure out the best way to get them to the Fraser Valley. Are there any movers that will move such a small number of items for a not-crazy price? [more inside]
Does anyone know a quicker or more automatic way to get articles downloaded on Mendeley desktop?
My boss (neuroscience professor) wants me to import all of her authored online journal articles (in PDF form) into Mendeley desktop. So far, I’ve been using PubMed to click on each article of hers, then accessing the PDFs through the specific journals (behind the paywall), and then downloading the papers one by one. Does anyone know a quicker or more automatic way to get articles downloaded on Mendeley desktop? Perhaps through an API? Also, does anyone know a way to quickly / automatically import citations that are used within an online journal article?
Given the Hurrican, should I drive from Toronto to New York?
Is it totally crazy to drive to NY tomorrow, Wed, Oct 31st? [more inside]
No shenannygans
We want to run a background check on a potential nanny. The online services I've found are all setting off my sketch alarms. Are any of them any good?
How to control (choose) when I cry and when I remain stoic.
I want to be able to control when I become emotional and when I hold it together. Ever since meeting my first Russian orphans in 1999, my heart has grown progressively more tender and I "come to tears" very easily. In the Russian culture, a man crying is extremely rare and frankly not at all understood by the typical Russian young person. Once, during a tearful conversation with a precious girl I met in '99 and consider as a daughter, she actually asked my interpreter, "Is there something wrong with him? Maybe a neurological or psychiatric illness of some sort?" Can someone suggest how I can develop mastery over my emotional expression? A book? A therapist? Hypnosis? [more inside]
I need music that says, "Make a move on me already!"
Songs that say--"hey, come and get it already!" [more inside]
A list of political domain names for blocking?
Do you know of a master list of active political domain names being used in the current American election? I need it so I can block all ads pointing to those sites. [more inside]
BC Makes me crazy, and I'm going to have to take it anyway (PCOS). If you're crazy on some, can you be OK on others?
Just Diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)... BC makes me crazy, but am going to have to take it... eep! Anyone else crazy on some BC but not others? Tell me there's hope! [more inside]
Why does BART not allow bikes in the first car?
Why does BART not allow bikes in the first car? [more inside]
How to latch a swinging door?
What do you call a deadbolt with two levers? [more inside]
uh... I... uh.... I.... Ilikeyoutoo.
I'm a terrible communicator in relationships. If we're talking about feelings, I freeze up and can't say the simplest of things. How can I get past this? [more inside]
Help me decide what business to get into
Help me decide what business to get into? I have some ideas to choose from. [more inside]
What do I do with this machine?
My boyfriend just got me a juicer from Walmart (GE model I believe) since he occasionally does juice fasts and also uses them as meal replacements. I've never really used one before. [more inside]
The Old "Foot in the Door" Conundrum
Plenty of education, but no experience--how do I break into health information management or roles as a trainer in a healthcare setting? [more inside]
Pale red head seeks halloween costume ideas...
I'm tall, thin, pale, and short dark red hair. I have a great wardrobe and a floor-length black hooded cape. What can I be for Halloween? V1.36(million) with some limitations... [more inside]
Stories of dumper regret? Get him back? (Not interested in manipulation)
indecisive ex -- how do I handle this and do they ever come back (for the right reasons)? [more inside]
Bus Maps MTA
MTA Bus Maps: Looking for cached images or scans of hard copy NYC MTA bus maps. MTA website is not loading maps on it's temporary website. Would prefer recent 2012 maps. Have found some on mappery.com am unsure of accuracy.
My first windows 8 confuzzling
I just installed Windows 8. While most of the computer is preforming acceptably, there are a couple significant issues. The most prominent is that of connection speeds. Regular desktop programs are fine, but Windows 8 apps are really really slow! [more inside]
Perhaps this Santa is too Secret
Secret Santa gift for a girl that I don't know too well. I can't provide too much information, but she's 21, college educated, has a fairly bubbly personality, and likes the Ravens. What are some good generic gifts for someone in this age range with this extremely vague set of descriptors? I'm trying to avoid gift cards. Price range is $20 to $30 dollars. [more inside]
clinically significant ambiguity
How successful is "too successful" for a person to have untreated adult ADHD? On the CDC website one criteria is "IV. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, school, or work functioning." What counts as a "clinically significant impairment"? [more inside]
What costume can I base around white super-high-heel boots?
I'm looking for Halloween costume ideas (for a man) based around an awesome pair of white, patent leather, lace-up, knee-high boots with about a seven-inch heel. Thought of this but Emma Frost is already not a super-well-known character, so I feel like it'll fall flat. But that's the vibe: cross-dressy / gender-bent or straight-boy-drag, rather than full drag.
Best Hybrid like a Scion XB?
The next car I buy will be a hybrid but I can't find a good one. Want something like my Scion XB. [more inside]
Songless in Seattle
I'm considering taking singing lessons to increase overall confidence, voice volume and projection, and get some musical fix. Recommendations for a private singing teacher in Seattle? [more inside]
How do i get back in school?
I'm trying to petition to get back into my college. [more inside]
Password Protect Flash Drive
Is there a free downloadable mac program to password protect my entire usb flash drive? I've already tried TrueCrypt and using a .dmg with Disk Utility.
Can you identify this spider?
Basque Country or south of France?
Basque Country of south of France for post-Christmas vacation? [more inside]
Headphone pitch phenomenon
If you take off a pair of headphones and lay them down somewhere, the music sounds like it's in a different pitch than when they're on your head. Why?
Baby sleep redux
Yay, it's a baby sleep question! About the best little three month-old this side of anywhere! (Basically, my wife and I are mightily confused about where our boy is now and where we need to start planning to get him.) (Picture of pulkes inside, of course. If it's good enough for a cat question it's good enough for us.) [more inside]
Where can I buy wedding bands *in person* in the Austin area?
Where can I buy wedding bands *in person* in the Austin area? [more inside]
Entrepreneural Advice - What business to start?
Advice Wanted: I'm a MBA graduate with 10 years of business experience and $50,000 in cash and am looking to start my own business. What would you do in my situation? Advice? [more inside]
Driving Oregon Route 5 in December
I want to drive [in a Scion Xb] from San Francisco to Eugene OR this winter, around December 20. Are the passes going to be dangerous, or closed, or unpredictable? If open, will I need chains or other special equipment? How much time should I budget?
If the passes along route 5 are unpredictable or worse, is there an alternate coastal route that will be guaranteed to be passable? I will be traveling with a small [15 pound] well-behaved dog. Are there particular hotels along route 5 or any alternate route that you might recommend?
Help us find the Whoa oh song!
Help me find this song! My wife and I have been trying to find a song we keep hearing in commercials and in Football stadiums, but can't figure out what it is. The main part of the song is a chorus singing "Whoa oh, whoa oh ohhh oh, woah oh ohhh oh, woah oh". [more inside]
I feel trapped from being too different?
Pretty sure I don't want to get married or have kids. Problem is, almost all my friends are doing so and it's just getting to the point where I am the only one who isn't doing either of those (not a bad thing).Help me not go crazy if I hear one more person say the words 'I'm engaged" or "I'm pregnant". [more inside]
Can someone recommend a startup-friendly tax/business attorney in LA?
I'm transferring my consulting business from out of state to west LA and I need to find an attorney to help with:
- Forming the company
- Helping me put together contracts for my clients
- Coming up with a tax strategy
Does anyone have a recommendation?
What kind of matress do I want?
Please help me figure out what mattress I might want. I really know nothing about mattresses except I think I prefer a minimal set-up. Oh, and I'm on a budget. [more inside]
It smells so nice, what is it?
Laser printer won't share itself
Are some laser printers wholly resistant to sharing? [more inside]
I need some interview help. Badly. Thanks.
Crazy stressful job opportunity filter. [more inside]
Tren? Ou et le billet? Wait, What?
Where can I book a train from Paris Nord to Beaune, returning from Beaune to CDG a few days later? [more inside]
judging a flop
What percentage (either of a movie's production budget or of the final receipts) of a movie's box office receipts are expected to be produced in the opening weekend?
What is this on my shower walls and how do I clean it?
How do I clean the weird textured surface of my apartment shower? [more inside]
There will be whiskers
I'm looking for a newer digital camera in the $300-$600 range with decent native zoom (12x) and stitch assist.
I'm looking for a newer digital camera in the $300-$600 range with decent native zoom (12x) and stitch assist. [more inside]
Good metal fab shops, either online or in SF Bay Area?
Can you recommend a good metal fabrication shop for custom parts, either online or in the SF Bay Area? [more inside]
Help me define and write a scope for my job!
Help me plan a Tier I HelpDesk implementation/startup/Scope [more inside]
Music like The Seeger Sessions
Music filter: More music like Springsteen's The Seeger Sessions [more inside]
Box my life, please.
I'm looking to produce a very limited-edition chipboard CD box set of about 100 numbered copies. I don't need Megalodon's minimum of 500. Does anyone else produce these boxes? How about obtaining blanks?
Make-up tips for a makeup-phobic manager?
I have dark hazel (green/brown) eyes that look green up close, generic brownish from a distance. I also have lips. What do I do with them? [more inside]
Female-friendly porn, please
Please help us find some positive and empowering sexy movies, stories, and/or assorted other porn-ish materials. [more inside]
Wisdom tooth words of warning?
I'm 34, and currently have all my wisdom teeth, but one broke over the summer and got an infection a while back. I'm on heavy duty antibiotics now to minimize that and the extraction is scheduled for Friday morning. My regular dentist will be doing the procedure, and it sounds as though I'll just be getting a local anaesthetic. He said I wouldn't even need someone to drive me to the appointment, though I probably will, just to be on the safe side. What else should I know before going into this?
Similar to Eurythmics' Julia?
Can anyone recommend songs similar to (and possibly less "mainstreamy"* than) Eurythmics' Julia? [more inside]
How should I get my graphic novel out to the world?
I'm working on a graphic novel. Should I submit it to publishers, or just run it as a webcomic? And if I were to submit it, I have a bunch of secondary questions. [more inside]
You don't need permission to dress up as a copyrighted character, but do you need permission to write about it?
My novel involves a costume party with some guests dressed as recognizable characters from films, TV, etc. I'm clearly not trying to claim them as my own and it's just all Halloween costumes, but am I asking to get sued? [more inside]
Best way to wash dishes by hand?
What's the best method for washing dishes by hand? Tips, tricks and product suggestions for the dishwashing process using a double sink (and no dishwasher in sight). [more inside]
Wait, I'll take the blue pill!
Within the last year, I've come to consider myself a feminist. I haven't felt this impassioned by anything in a long time. But my new perspective doesn't mesh well with coworkers and friends, and I'm constantly aware of things that never used to bother me. How can I cope with the frustration? [more inside]
Why do women work so much?
I know several women who have multiple jobs. I know their first full time job pays pretty well. I pretty sure they make just as much as me or more. I feel like I am very comfortable in my finances. But yet several of them have a second job, some even have a 3rd job. [more inside]
New Kid to Over the Block
Can anyone explain what the term "Over the Block" pricing means, specifically as relates to wholesale cheese prices?
Best practices for editing RTL languages for the Web?
What tools do you use to edit Persian for the Web, preferably, but not necessarily, on a Mac? [more inside]
Medical Miracles in TV or Film?
Can you share examples of unrealistic health care "miracles" in media? [more inside]
Does anyone remember "U Film"?
Does anyone remember U-Film? [more inside]
Seeking the best stories, across all genres, about coming to terms with the world in the early adult years.
What are the best stories that feature young adults coming of age/coming to terms with life's imperfect realities? By "young adults" I mean "adults who are young," probably roughly 19-30, not "young people who are becoming adults." This maturing process can be central to the work or peripheral. One example: "The Great Gatsby." Short stories, novels, nonfiction, film, television and any other genre are all welcome.
And Step Two Three Four
I've recently seen people doing synchronized movement (dance?) on the UC Berkeley campus. What's going on? [more inside]
Don't send me passive aggressive emails during a hurricane please. It is the last straw.
Requesting assistance with how to explain in interviews why I am leaving, how/who to ask for references, and maybe just a gauge on whether it really is toxic or not. [more inside]
How can we both tie each other up?
I'm submissive. He's submissive. Now what? [more inside]
What do Australian expats do about their super?
I'm an Australian living in the EU (I'm a resident for tax purposes). How on earth do I contribute to my super back in Australia? Google is no help [more inside]
Snowy accident mystery film
I would like to find the name of a film I saw a decade ago. To my recollection, it came out in 1992-1993 and had a male lead whose name I recognized at the time. A couple are driving in a snowstorm and go off the road. The wife disappears and the man makes his way to town (in Colorado, I believe).
He tells the sheriff and others that he doesn't know what happened to his wife, but she shows up and it is revealed that he tried to have her killed for financial gain.
Charlie, Bones, Caffrey... Who's next?
I've come to realize I really like smart procedural-type tv shows where the two main characters are an FBI agent and their talented sidekick. I've burned thought Numb3rs, Bones and am half way though White Collar. What's next? [more inside]
iTunes Replacment for Android/PC
Looking for recommendations for an iTunes replacement to sync podcasts with an Android phone. [more inside]
What are the one liners or thoughts that you use to prevent you from eating that pastry or piece of candy?
What are the one liners or thoughts that you use to prevent you from eating that pastry or piece of candy? [more inside]
How do I relearn high school/early college math?
Former liberal arts nerd planning a return to university for Computer Science. How can I best catch up and prepare after years away from math and science curriculum? [more inside]
hot paintings
What would happen in an art gallery fire? [more inside]
Am I able to walk across any of the East River bridges today?
Am I able to walk across any of the East River bridges today? [more inside]
Loose oil cap fix?
[Carfilter] The oil cap on my car vibrates itself loose, causing oil to spill out onto the engine and thus wreathe my hood in some lovely smoke. Oil cap has been replaced once already to try and fix this, to no avail. What are my options? [more inside]
Help me with my iPhone 4 Calendar....missing info.
iPhone 4 calender questions - deleted information [more inside]
Help me find out more about photographic route atlases
I'd like to know more about a type of photographic route guide used in the early 20th century, definitely in the US if not elsewhere. They're a series of photographs of junctions with an arrow drawn over them. Librarians, map lovers, can you help me? [more inside]
How else can I make tuna salad?
As somebody who is trying to change what he eats to better choices I still love some tuna salad, but really get skeezed out by the Mayonaise now. I've been looking for some alternative binder for my tuna when I want to make a sandwich. What else can I use to make tuna salad?
I just moved from Movable Type to a category-based Wordpress site and am now having redirect issues. Help me push my users to the right place!
I just moved from Movable Type to a category-based Wordpress site and am now having redirect issues. Help me push my users to the right place! [more inside]
Giant CSV Files Needed
Where can I find publicly-available scientific data to use in an Excel project? [more inside]
All Hands Heave Out And Trice Up
Navy rack (bed, not ribbons) kit I saw a few years ago. Now I can't seem to find it. Also looking for other tips and tricks in regards to ship life. Help? [more inside]
Riddle me this.
I need riddles and puzzles for a bright bunch of high school students.
Like the ones below that they taught me... [more inside]
Which Business Model should I pursue?
Quick and Dirty Business assessment feedback for women who want to lose weight:
I'm trying to get some real market feedback (a focus group of sorts) on which program a potential client would invest in, which they would gain more value from and whether my prices are on target. (Details on the business model inside) [more inside]
Hiking in Shasta area
What are your favorite hikes in Shasta Trinity National Forest? [more inside]
Excel Help
Excelfilter: How do I find and replace (e.g. replace 17 for 18) a set of numbers in the format: 17-01-06 without it being recognised as a date? [more inside]
October 29
How do I review my manager without repercussions.
How honest can I afford to be in my upward manager review when he will know instantly that it's me? I have real issues to address but fear repercussions. And yes, it's supposedly anonymous. [more inside]
Teaching After JET
I'm completing my last year on the JET Programme and am interested in learning about teaching jobs and alternative licensing programs open to about-to-be-finished-with-JET seekers of teaching positions. [more inside]
Brooklyn flooding/storm surge question
flooding / storm surge question: Flood waters in fiance's Brooklyn/Greenpoint location are about 2' away by depth, half a block by walking. Is water likely to rise more? [more inside]
2 broke streaming
Where can I (legally) watch 2 Broke Girls online, for free? [more inside]
Driving right on the left side of the road
Canadian wishing to drive in Scotland and the Hebrides - never drove on the left side before - how to prepare? [more inside]
Looking for animated GIF Pac-Man sprites!
Looking for animated GIFs of sprites from Pac-Man! Hoping for all four ghosts (looking sideways is okay), a blue "oh no" ghost, Pac-Man, and big Pac-Man from the cutscene. Failing that, anyone able to point me toward an easy way to put together animated GIFs in Mac OS?
Competitors who compensate their staff differently?
I am looking for examples of companies in the same industry that have very different compensation structures. Can the hivemind help? [more inside]
Music for Drum/Bass Accompaniment?
With what music software can I easily play along with drum/bass loops on piano? [more inside]
Not afraid of a little rain
Stuck in DC, suggestions for fun things to do Tuesday and Wednesday? [more inside]
Corporate Fitness Challenge?
Corporate wellness challenge tips, tricks, websites? Smallish company (150 employees, scattered across country, many in one area, however) Looking to do a combo weight loss challenge (and healthy challenge for those not looking to lose weight). Mostly virtual, thoughts on administration, non-weight loss competition, tips, tricks, websites?
Tips for working with recruiters?
I am looking for a job and am starting to work with some external recruiting firms. Do you have any suggestions/advice/wisdom for me? [more inside]
How to get from the rental car office to the airport at OMG o'clock?
How can my partner drop off a rental car and get to the airport terminal when his flight boards almost before the rental office (and their shuttle to the airport) opens? [more inside]
Kindle
Kindle fire -- I'd like to listen to stitcher for a half hour until I fall asleep. I'd like the app to stop and the kindle turn off.
Identify this children's book
Asking for a friend: "I read a book when I was very young, a fantasy story for kids, that featured a character called Airy Bear, who would inflate himself and thus leap and bounce about. I cannot remember the name of this book and I really, *REALLY* want to know what it is. Help? The internet (or at least my search-term-crafting-fu) is failing me."
Nature documentaries for young children
What are some of the best nature and science documentaries for young children? [more inside]
What's some of the best, most illuminating, and most entertaining writing about conservation bio on the net?
What are some of the best technical blogs out there in conservation biology, biogeography, evolutionary biology, and ecology? [more inside]
Help me clone this T-shirt.
This is my favourite T-Shirt of all time. I live in terror of it wearing out. Where can I find another one? [more inside]
Books to help a recent divorcee avoid common mistakes?
I'm almost done with my divorce and in the process of starting a new life. Are there any books out there that might help me steer clear of making the more common corny-recent-divorcee' mistakes? Stuff related to love, the kids, housecleaning, finance, alcohol, furnishings, loneliness, stress, etc.
41 yo male living in the US, three preteen daughters on 50/50 time, comfortable financially, stressful job, amicable split from STBX, big D because I ended up being an employee and not a husband/man.
How can I prevent my history of money from hurting my marriage?
My history with money, coupled with recent life challenges, is affecting my marriage. I am stressed and angry; my partner is (probably) depressed and overwhelmed. How can we grow together, not apart? [more inside]
Stompity Stomp Stomp Boots
I love my boyfriend's motorcycle boots and I want my own stompy boots. These Dr. Martens were incredibly comfortable, but the multitude of buckles really aren't my style; I prefer much sleeker lines. What I really want are these Jimmy Choo boots--even my boyfriend thinks they're the best fit for my style and needs, except for the price--but they're out of my budget for now. Internet suggestions are great, but I need to be able to try them on in person for free--so it's best if Zappos, Nordstrom, Macy's, etc carry these shoes. (I'm located in Seattle.) [more inside]
Costume ideas for the creatively challenged
It's been over a decade since I had to dress up for Halloween and I am not very creative. Is there anything I can reasonably do using this flowy green 1930's style dress? [more inside]
Your ADHD stories and strategies
You have ADHD. You've made serious improvements and your life is better now. Tell me your story - not just the tools, but where you came from and where you are now. I need to believe this is possible. [more inside]
Health Insurance suggestions for a Los Angeles freelancer?
Health insurance for a 40 year old male freelancer in Los Angeles. Help me Obi-Wan-Ask-Metafilter, you're my only hope. [more inside]
Early morning Chicago breakfast suggestions?
I'm looking for somewhere exciting to eat breakfast VERY early on a Sunday in Chicago. The more ethnic the better. [more inside]
What can I do to help my aging alcoholic father?
Is there anything I can do to help my alcoholic father? He is retired, getting older, and the issue is getting progressively worse. [more inside]
Someone, save my life tonight. Or at least inform me of a date.
Surely some mefite is an Elton John enthusiast who can tell me when he played a show at (probably) Exhibition Stadium in Toronto in the early nineties, or else set me right on this. [more inside]
The Flattest Sound
Help me decide between several studio monitors for home studio use. [more inside]
Help me out with my fantasy basketball auction draft!
I'm participating in my first fantasy basketball league (I've done FFB) and another first for me is the auction draft. Help me not look like a fool. [more inside]
PC repair in Seattle to breath life into my desktop box
Recommendations for desktop diagnosis/repair in (North) Seattle? My newly-(self)built box will not POST. [more inside]
Help me find a doctor for my mom in Grand Rapids, MI.
Help me find an excellent primary care doctor for my mom in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
What should my parents do in Dallas, Texas?
What can I put together for a Christmas present to help my parents make their farewells to the Dallas/Fort Worth area? [more inside]
Why is there patriotism only when you can see it?
Why are you supposed to take the flag down at night? [more inside]
Stop my ass from ghostwriting!
Is there a case that can hold both my Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and not allow buttons to be pressed? I carry this around with me and use it habitually in tandem with my laptop and magic trackpad because they save me considerable finger, neck, and wrist pain. However, because of how I store the keyboard in my Timbuk2 Command size medium messenger bag (in the red sleeve flush against my laptop), the buttons get pressed, and the battery degrades when it isn't in use (by me). Does anybody have suggestions for how to get past this?
FWF, STV? WTF.
Help Me Become The Cat Lady from the Uncanny Valley
Halloween CostumeFilter: My idea this year is to dress up as a literal incarnation of a Cat Lady: e.g., regular human clothing in conjunction with as hyper-realistic a cat head/mask as I can come up with. Difficulty: must be finished by this coming Wednesday morning so I can wear it to work! [more inside]
How do I find a financial planner in the Chicago Western Suburbs?
Is there a best way to go about finding and hiring a financial planner? I'm in the Western suburbs of Chicago and am not sure where to start the process or what are the key things to look for. [more inside]
Not uninvited, just never invited.
Baby Shower Etiquette: My bestie is throwing me a baby shower at her Aunt's house. It is a tiny event of only 8 people- all adults (Our Moms, mother in laws, my sister in law & bestie's Aunt). I didn't really expect anyone to throw me a shower, so I am super grateful the she and her Aunt would take this on! My Mother in law sent me an email last night asking if my 8 y/o niece was invited... [more inside]
My child one month too young for public school, what to do?
With the changing of the California kindergarten enrollment age cutoff, my daughter will be a month too young for enrollment in public schools in 2013. What are my options? [more inside]
Reading to a classroom
Book suggestions for reading to my child's grade three class. [more inside]
to drive (or not) in Europe
I am relocating to the UK. I do not have a driver's license. Should I get one? [more inside]
How do I make myself a good mother?
I'm a crappy parent and my daughter doesn't like me--now what do I do? [more inside]
LIVE coverage election night 2012 - on the internet?
LIVE coverage election night 2012 - on the internet? [more inside]
What's the best tech-y resources & resource locations for an Android Nexus 7?
I recently decided to pick up a Nexus 7. However, I'm entirely new to the whole Android ecosystem. What are the best resources for finding the best which Android has to offer? (If you can point me directly to the 'Android best-of', that works too) [more inside]
Advice on choosing a grad program
My friend is interested in graduate programs on humanitarian work and development related issues. What schools have good programs in these areas? She is interested open to studying anywhere, but currently resident in the US/East Coast. [more inside]
How high's the water mama?
[sandyfilter] Can someone explain storm surge and sea levels? [more inside]
Make me the cool gift giver!
Christmas gift shopping for ladies in the office, need help with ideas and online shops! [more inside]
Why can't I drive?!
Having real difficulty learning to drive. Give up altogether, start again in an automatic, or can you think of anything that would help me to improve? [more inside]
Broken hearted for my friend.
I'm having a rough time dealing with the recent suicide of a dear friend; looking for some resources. [more inside]
Please help me rid my hotmail account of spam.
Any suggestions for helping me get rid of annoying spam emails that show up constantly in my hotmail account? [more inside]
Reactive Music Apps
Are there any reactive music apps for Android? [more inside]
Sandy got me all wet
Sandy's dropped almost 3 inches here already. Our roof (over 22 yrs old, original, already had quotes to replace it in the past 2 weeks) decided to leak. So I'm looking for general knowledge/hints/tips on fixing things after a roof leak. [more inside]
Good resources for nutrition information
I feel awful. Please share your resources for reasonable, safe and sane information about nutrition. [more inside]
Emergency Kindle rations needed, stat!
Need sub $15 Kindle book recommendation to weather the Big Storm. [more inside]
ISO humorous comebacks to midlife crisis jokes.
What are some witty comebacks I can use when being accused of having a midlife crisis? [more inside]
I'm trying to sell a consultation without sounding sketchy
You have your own business (or like me, help manage one). You have an initial consult fee which is lower than your hourly rate but still a high number ($250). When you receive cold calls, how do you broach the number without clients freaking out. We do not to any free consultations. Examples inside. [more inside]
in search of lost time book
What was this book I read? Published in last 10 years, it had something like an explanation in layman's terms of the physics of
time & why time is perceived by our consciousness as a flow.
Can't recall much more than that I'm afraid.
More info on amputation please?
Practical advice on lower leg amputation? IKYANMD [more inside]
Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte. Yea or Nay?
My friend says my Halloween idea might be racist. This took me completely by surprise. I was skeptical, but after stewing over it I'm now looking for a second opinion. [more inside]
Bad Handwriting problems
How do I deal with my bad handwriting, especially when it comes to thank you notes? [more inside]
Is your voice like handwriting? Can you improve the quality and pleasantness of your default voice (pitch, intonation, etc) like you can with penmanship so that the changes you focus on become the default? Or will you always be in some way "singing" your words?
Is your voice like handwriting? Can you improve the quality and pleasantness of your natural voice (pitch, intonation, etc) like you can with penmanship so that the changes you focus on become the default? Or will you always be in some way "singing" your words? [more inside]
No self control
I love the idea of AirParrot to get my Mac's screen on my TV through AppleTV. But I want more. I want to have my keyboard and mouse too. Problem: Bluetooth limits and my iMac is upstairs while the TV is downstairs. [more inside]
Gift ideas?
My dad is turning 60 - any great gift ideas? [more inside]
How to deal with a furtive, trespassing neighbor?
My neighbor encroaches on our property and leaves garbage. The police haven't been particularly helpful. What to do? [more inside]
I think I'm coddling my inner child.
Please recommend resources for turning off distractions, looking inside of myself and taking better care of myself. Vague flurry inside. [more inside]
Walt Disney Playlist?
Our family spent a week in September at Walt Disney World (Florida), staying at Pop Century, visiting three of the parks. How can I find the soundtrack to the holiday? [more inside]
Gift in LA
Friends (couple and their gorgeous 2-year-old) are moving from the UK to LA (via NYC for a month or two). Do you have any fabulous gift ideas? I don't want to get them a physical thing to lug around so maybe a pre-paid something, or an experience - something I could buy online and give them a printout tomorrow would be perfect. Thanks!
Arabic Podcasts Recommendations
Can you recommend podcasts in arabic ? [more inside]
Is phenibut a safe, effective, treatment for social anxiety?
Is phenibut a safe, effective, treatment for social anxiety?
Almost willing to give the emails in my spam folder a shot...
Currently seeking a safe, reliable courier through which I can order medication online on the cheap and with little hassle. [more inside]
Look for good but durable earbuds.
These earbuds are basically the best headphones I've ever used. However, their cord is way too thin, and I've broken at least half a dozen pairs of these over the last few years, usually by having the wire tear straight off of the plug. I've never broken any other kind of headphones this consistently. These are my back-up pair, and are tough and sound okay, but I'd really like ones as durable as the Skullcandies and as crisp and rich as the Thinksounds. The 30-50 dollar price range is preferable. Any suggestions?
What happened to neopolitan?
Why is neopolitan ice cream no longer popular in the US? [more inside]
October 28
Looking for fun day plans for home-schooled kids.
Looking for fun day plans for home-schooled kids. [more inside]
Living with post-recession stress disorder
I've landed in a dead-end job, but it's hard for me to overcome my anxiety about retraining or changing the direction of my career. How should I perform an objective, reasonable risk-reward analysis in the face of imperfect options and information? [more inside]
I have a DSi XL question.
Can you play a 3ds game (the 3-D kind of game) on a DSi XL? [more inside]
Onion-free, garlic-free, tomato-free tasty soups, please
Freezable, tasty soups or stews without onion, garlic or stewed tomatoes. Is this possible? [more inside]
industrial design for a mechanical engineer?
Advice for a mechanical engineering student who might want to pursue a career in industrial design? [more inside]
Homemade pantry basics as gifts
Another food gift question: ideas for homemade pantry staples [more inside]
Help me help my soon to be hoarder husband!
My husband of 30 years has been increasingly getting to be a total slob. He lays papers, clothes, anything on every horizontal surface! Our house is not small, he has one of our kids' old bedrooms as his office, and it is packed. Yet still he comes home everyday and lays all his 'stuff' on the kitchen table, his clothes on the only chair in our bedroom...I am so frustrated! When he's gone I often go through his 'stuff', tossing what I don't think is needed...but if he finds out he flips! I have set aside time to go through things with him, but he always finds an excuse not to follow through. He is good about doing other household chores, putting dishes and laundry away... I have gotten rid of extra tables and other things he could clutter up, but it absolutely does not help. I need your help before I go bonky. Thanks!
Where can I get that Haagen Dazs Moon Ice Cream Cake?
Does anyone know if the Haagen Dazs Moon Ice Cream Cakes will be coming to America this Holiday Season PLEASE and where they can be found or do I have to fly to the UK to eat this thing?
You're over the line!
Why does the city ignore the possibility to write lots of easy parking tickets? [more inside]
Convert this quick cut-shot filled video to an actual recipe
I absolutely love this recipe by Gordon Ramsay but need to know the actual proportions to use, a good side-dish, an alternative to brill and a wine recommendation (both to use for cooking and to pair with the dish)
Where to get the latest news on Startups
How to find start up companies in a region? [more inside]
Even my lightning gets too fast
I rent an apartment. I like to cook. My kitchen is more-or-less (see below) unventilated. So I have grease everywhere. What can I do? [more inside]
Sci-fi books that are jam packed with ideas?
What are some good science fiction (ish) books that are crammed with lots of interesting little ideas? [more inside]
"I really want to go out on a date with you. How about the third of Never?"
Since I've hit my mid-late 20s, a pattern has developed: A woman and I express mutual interest; I ask for her number or she gives it to me on her own; a first date is arranged; at the last minute, she cancels it. I know this isn't unheard of, but it's happening so often and so consistently that it's making me paranoid and demoralized, and I'm not sure how to proceed. [more inside]
Where can we take a winter vacation in the Pacific Northwest?
My girlfriend and I live in Portland, Oregon. We'd like to take a week-long vacation over Christmas, and are looking for somewhere to visit in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, BC, or western Montana. We're looking for someplace romantic-ish where we can be active and adventurous, but also curl up together to read. The rub? We'd prefer it weren't too crowded. We're willing to spend up to $150/night, though we'd prefer to pay $120 or less. Any suggestions? [more inside]
I need a new wardrobe - Help!
Style filter: Help me build a new wardrobe that is low-key, humble, and comfy, but polished and not disheveled. [more inside]
what do you call 2 girls in prom dresses and pumpkin-heads?
halloween question: we're 2 ladies wearing these ridiculous orange sparkly pouffy prom dresses, and we're thinking of putting pumpkins on our heads. what clever thing could we be? how could we make our costumes super awesome? we're thinking "pump-queens" or something. can you be more creative than that? something clever or punny would be fantastic! thank you!
How can I get my city to improve traffic signal timings?
I live in San Diego, and I hate the traffic lights along a particular road that I always drive on (Genesee Avenue). I'm regularly astonished at how soul-crushingly stupid they can be, and I'm constantly yelling at them from my car like an idiot. What can I do about this? My dream would be to talk to the traffic engineers in my city, really pick their brains and offer my observations. How does one go about making this happen? [more inside]
Does a director on the level of Paul Thomas Anderson make much money at all?
Does a director on the level of Paul Thomas Anderson make much money at all? [more inside]
Divisive things are hard to Google.
I'm working on a project where I've got 2 union talent already booked and one Fi Core talent on deck. I have questions. [more inside]
How do I deal with my short-tempered husband?
How do I deal with my short-tempered husband? [more inside]
Stormy Tuesday?
What if there's a natural disaster on election day? Are there state and/or federal contingencies?
Appearance fee for me?
How much should the appearance fee be? [more inside]
Keeping it grimey?
[MusicRecommendationFilter]I really enjoy the soundtracks to Ill Manors and Adulthood. Looking for similar dark British hip-hop. [more inside]
british art illustration icon
Anybody have any examples of iconically British artwork and illustrators? [more inside]
Dating advice for shy people?
Dating advice for introverted/shy women (or men!)? [more inside]
Is he flirting? Trying to get my attention?
Is he flirting? Trying to get my attention? [more inside]
what (ugh) electronic piano should I buy?
thinking of buying a piano: getting a real one is logistically impossible, but I hate most electronic pianos. recommendations? [more inside]
Need mask suggestions *not* for halloween
Just lost the eye mask I purchased from an airport Brookstone years ago. My last purchase was due to necessity. This time, I would like to do my best to make an informed choice. Also, to get me through the next few nights, what piece of clothing will be the best substitute? [more inside]
Career Advice for the Semi-Arts-Inclined?
Artsy/music-y/indecisive-y person seeking career advice. Help me help myself. [more inside]
Photo booth in or near Boston?
Old school photo booth in or near Boston? [more inside]
Help - halloween costume makeup for Poe's Lenore?
For Halloween, I'm dressing up as Edgar Allen Poe's Lenore. I have a really nice black dress and accessories (necklace, veil, etc.) somewhat Victorian/semi-formal style, but decent makeup continues to elude me. You wouldn't think finding a decent makeup tutorial would be so hard, and yet after days of googling, I've found practically nothing that looks good/appropriate. [more inside]
What should I do about this ethical issue at work?
Due to major recent changes in my field, I am now being listed as supervisor of most of the people I work with (including my actual supervisors), and this is due to my credentials. This is not information that is solely internal (since I am not actually everyone's supervisor) but actually is information sent to the third party funding sources, which I think raises a major ethical issue. Should I be allowing this to happen? What should I do about it?
Is there an application for OS X that can remote-control an Apple TV?
Is there an application for OS X that can remote-control an Apple TV? [more inside]
(RSSfilter) I I Am Am Seeing Seeing Double Double
The blog title is doubled in the RSS Feed How do I get rid of the duplicate ?
The blog is going to be a photo only blog, no titles - Is that a contributing factor ?
Is it a bad WP install to blame ?
The WP title ?
Where/how can I edit the blog title in the RSS feed ?
This thing is driving me nuts !
states borrowing money from who?
My state, like many, has referendum on our ballot requesting permission to borrow money. Where does the money come from? [more inside]
Mystery classical music
What is this piece of music (MP3)? My daughter's music teacher (it's an initiation class for 5-year olds) gave us the sheet music before leaving on vacation and I'd like to find a correct recording. [more inside]
What the heck is this plant bubble thingy?
What the heck is this plant bubble thingy? It's sitting in a vase at a restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana next to some little purple flowers (probably a different plant). It's pale green and purple with little hairs on it. It's about the size of a racquetball. [more inside]
Should I talk to my boyfriend about my food problems?
What are the ethics of disclosing an eating disorder to your partner if you're not prepared to tackle the problem? [more inside]
Fork in the road
Feeling ambivalent and confused in my relationship. Please advise! [more inside]
How Do I Block IWon on Safari??!
How do I block IWon while using Safari? [more inside]
What is the model of this old stove?
Can someone tell me the model and year on this old stove? Is it worth anything? picture [more inside]
Clash of teh humble Cute Utes
Dear Car Shopper, what would You choose? RAV4 or Outback, new base models. [more inside]
Should my money go to Wikipedia?
I'd like to donate some money to a charity. Is there a worthier techno-cause than Wikipedia?
Birds and windows don't mix
Calling fellow MeFi birders! What is this little fellow that hit my window? [more inside]
Can I seal my new fence posts even if they are wet?
I didn't seal my new fence posts and now the forecast is for rain all week. Can I seal them in the spring? [more inside]
How to get over insecurity about boyfriend's divorce?
What can I do to stop insecurity from boyfriend's from seeing into our relationship? The divorce isn't final, and it's placing a strain on our relationship. I'm afraid that my anger/confusion/fear may sabotage the relationship. [more inside]
What is this behavioral economics experiment I am thinking of?
What is this behavioral economics experiment I am thinking of? [more inside]
Two Far East Tokens For Translation
Readers of far eastern languages: what do these tokens say, and what country did they come from? [more inside]
Can this marrow be saved?
I have a crock pot full of grass fed beef marrow bones and vegetables that have been cooking on low for the past 30 hours or so. I'm about to strain the broth from the solids. The solids will include the bones themselves, chunks of marrow, and bits of assorted vegetables. Any things to do with the solids besides toss them out? Is there still any nutritional value in them or has it all been leached out into the broth? As for the broth, I'll refrigerate it and skim off any fat that solidifies on top. Uses for the fat?
Breastfeeding positions when you have a busted/bruised tailbone?
Breastfeeding positions when you have a busted/bruised tailbone? [more inside]
What charities should I donate to?
What charities should I donate to? Advocacy for your favourite cause welcome. [more inside]
Beach reading for 2012
Beach reading. 2012 edition. Difficulty - Must be available for purchase for Kindle in Australia. [more inside]
Is further education in at my age worth while?
Vaguely dead-end job is tempting me to return to and complete my BA (casually abandoned nearly a decade a go) so that I can pursue the University of Oregon's 'Applied Information Management' program and possibly advance within present company. Is this a good idea? Many a detail inside... (now that I'm typing them: there a many many details. proceed at will] [more inside]
CONTINUUM YEARS
There's a strange poster that's been posted all over my neighborhood in Vancouver. I can't figure out whether it's viral marketing, obscure religious propaganda or somebody's strange idée fixe. Can you help me figure out what it means? [more inside]
October 27
Best electoral bang for my buck?
What's the most effective way to donate to Obama this late in the game? [more inside]
Can future schools find out about my past education?
Can future schools find out about my past education? [more inside]
Spilled water on my MacBook Pro and it's still making noise. What's happening?
Spilled water all over MacBook Pro. I turned it off to dry it out, but it's making horrible crackling sounds. What's going on? [more inside]
Wherein We See Whether Mods Read Past Headlines...
Leggy Girl Needs Mary Jane Hookup in London... no, not that kind. [more inside]
Conference trip - business or pleasure?
I'm a Canadian software developer. I'm going to a conference in the US next month, and I'm not sure what to say when they ask if the trip is for business or pleasure. [more inside]
I want to write electronic music but I don't know what I'm doing.
I am trying to get into electronic music production but I don't know what I'm doing. What is the best way to get started? [more inside]
Best carpet for a high traffic
Can you recommend carpet for a high traffic sunroom in a home with dogs and young children? [more inside]
Poly to mono?
Polyamorous, yet want to focus on one person right now. How to tell the others? Is this even normal or should I start re-evaluating my orientation? [more inside]
L.A. landscaper needed
Looking for a top-notch Los Angeles landscaper. [more inside]
Cash and Carry
I'm looking for women's wallet with a separate pull-out sleeve to carry credit cards and cash. Prefer to spend less than $50. [more inside]
Can you safely evaporate radioactive water?
When radioactive water is evaporated, where does the radioactivity end up? [more inside]
Long term memory loss, not sure what to do and need help
For a while now, maybe several months or so (this only proves further how terrible my memory is) I have been experiencing long term memory loss. I have great trouble remembering my childhood, places I've been to, anything at all that i learned in school a year or two ago. I always forget what I say to people even a few weeks ago. They will talk about something I said or something I did and I won't remember. When I go to bed, the hours just before become unknown to me. When I try to remember what happened in the last hours of the night it is all foggy and fragmented. This is not something I normally experience, especially all the things I've done with family and friends, I can barely remember anything and it makes me very sad. [more inside]
Tattooed Eyelids
What's the name of the book where the main character is a swordsman who has sword tattoos on his eyelids? [more inside]
Help my iguana survive Frankenstorm
How do I keep my iguana alive during an electric blackout? All of her lighting and heating elements demand electricity. I don't have a generator or the funds to purchase one. I'm most concerned about her getting too cold. Under 80*F for extended periods is the danger zone.
Spending 10 days in Tokyo
What are some good things to do in Tokyo next week? I'll be staying in Shinjuku, and would appreciate a bit of guidance as far as stuff to do. [more inside]
What to do with a dying 08 Macbook Pro?
I have a early 2008 Macbook Pro that has just now come down with the dying logic board problem. I bought it outside the 4-year period (so no free replacement) and have a new MBP anyways, so how can I get rid of it such that maximize my return value? [more inside]
Is maintaining one's boundaries beyond the bounds of etiquette?
How does the etiquette concept that "The only thing ruder than rudeness is pointing out said rudeness" not imply letting oneself get walked all over? Help me understand this, if you would? [more inside]
Why are property taxes so much higher in Westchester County NY than in Fairfield County CT?
Why are property taxes in Westchester County, NY so much higher than in Fairfield County, CT? [more inside]
What goodies should we bring back to US from Hong Kong and Seoul?
My husband and I are traveling to Hong Kong and Seoul very soon. What are some things we should buy and bring back for ourselves and as gifts for family/friends/colleagues? [more inside]
Do I miss my boyfriend or not?
So my boyfriend went away for a week for work. I thought I'd miss him like crazy, but I kinda don't? Is this normal?? [more inside]
Simple mass-tagging interface for photos
Suggestions for a photo management software that will allow me to quickly scroll through photos and tag them with keywords. [more inside]
What are the odds that two randomly selected people share the same bank PIN?
Statisticsfilter: Given available information about the distribution of self-selected 4-digit passwords (specifically banking PINs), is it possible to calculate the probability of two randomly selected individuals having the same PIN? If so, what're the odds? [more inside]
Recommend me blogs or other websites devoted to family history and stories
I'm looking for examples of good blogs or other websites devoted to family history and stories. What sites do you guys like? [more inside]
Help keep us on the road this winter!
Winter tire filter: Looking for new winter tires for a 4-door Pontiac Sunfire. [more inside]
I get weird stabbing-like pains in my chest sometimes, that last for no more than a second. What's going on?
I get weird stabbing-like pains in my chest sometimes, that last for no more than a second. What's going on? [more inside]
Best homemade soups!
Please share with me your tried and true, passed down through the ages, made-with-love, illness curing soup recipes! [more inside]
Sending an e-mail countdown
I'm looking for an online service that will let me easily send e-mails to a single person (a friend) of the form "99 days until x", "98 days until x", etc. [more inside]
where to find cheap, funny theatre in NYC?
I recently saw "The Best of Everything" at HERE, and it was wonderful. What other Manhattan or near-Brooklyn venues can I check for cheap, well-done theatre that is funny and yet not without substance? [more inside]
Myths, legends, and a secret grandmother up a tower with long silver hair
Trying to identify a book my nanna had on her shelf and that I loved when I was a kid, but has been given away since. I thought the volume was called 'Myths and Legends', though one story I recall in particular strikes me as probably more of a fairy story. It might have been one of a set with a number of volumes. [more inside]
Nest-essary?
Programable thermostats - regular or internet style? [more inside]
Functioning with bad jet-lag?
Help me survive a flight overseas... [more inside]
Best way to manage huge amounts of data I get via email?
Please help me find an effective workflow to manage the metric ton of digital work-related information I get via email every day. I wish the solution was as simple as Evernote but, of course, it's not. [more inside]
I want to love sex again!
Help me regain my sexual confidence, after some bad experiences. [more inside]
Audio: Budget receiver with ability to connect to an iPod, or a CD Player/iPod dock combo I can connect speakers. Suggestions?
Audio: Budget receiver with ability to connect to an iPod, or a CD Player/iPod dock combo I can connect speakers. Suggestions? [more inside]
Royal Crown Pomade DFW, Tx
PomadeFilter: Anyone know where i can find Royal Crown Pomade in the DFW area? Ive looked everywhere and i cant seem to find it. Also, is anyone has any pomade recommendations throw them my way. I currently use Murrays, Dax, & Tres Flores. But like i said im really looking for some Royal Crown.
Help me find this NFL quote
Looking for (NFL player) Takeo Spikes quote from 9 years ago... [more inside]
Am I being legally surveilled?
My boss owns the apartment in which I reside. Above the front door is a large and ominous security camera replete with a bank of infrared lights. My comings and goings are recorded and accessible by not only the boss (who was unaware of its existence), but 2 other employees who have no right to watch what I do. Or do they? Can someone answer me: is this scenario legal?
Grad school endgame
Switching fields... not sure I'll get in this year to grad school... don't want to bore recommenders... but want to go.
What do I do? [more inside]
is my old boss giving me a bad deal?
I was terminated three months ago and have recently been offered to take over my old division as a new company. Details inside. [more inside]
Help me name my cat?
Help me name my cat? Three year old female burmilla.
Sweet, smoochy, playful personality.
What changed?
What changed about Florida's GOTV laws this year?
A story at Slate called The Fraud That Failed says that a new law restricted the time within which "churches [could] turn out the early vote." [more inside]
Explain 3rd Party Twitter Authorisers for me
Confirm/Deny for me that lots of 'log on with Twitter' instances involve handing over a lot of rights to your twitter account which aren't relevant ? [more inside]
October 26
image packing algorithm for photoshop
I have 200 scanned images of matchboxes. The matchboxes have different dimensions. I want to arrange the images automatically, with as few gaps as possible, into a large image to be printed as a poster. I think what I need is a "packing algorithm" but I don't know how to proceed. Is there a way I can do this automagically in Photoshop or with an existing freeware program? I don't need any special effects, just to simply arrange the images with the most efficient use of space.
They aren't pretty, but I need 'em!
A week or 2 ago, I came across a photo gallery on imgur.com of photos of Brazilian military police using APCs and bulldozers to tear down favela housing in preparation for the World Cup and Olympics. I think I found it via a link from mefi, or possibly reddit. I have searched both sites for it, and done some googling, but I just can not find it. Hope me?
What should I expect if I'm scheduled to fly into the heart of the Frankenstorm?
I'm scheduled to fly (home) from San Francisco to Washington, DC (Dulles) on Monday night. How screwed am I, what should I expect, and what plans should I be making right now? [more inside]
Quiet beaches in SD
I'm giving someone a ride to San Diego (downtown) tomorrow and have the entire day free. What is the quietest, least busy, most isolated beach nearby? The ideal would be go a few hours without seeing anyone else but I know that's not possible on a sunny weekend day.
In Excel, getting the MEDIAN of a set based on a text pattern match
In Excel, I have two columns. Column A has many rows of names (e.g., Mary, Maryjane, Maryanne, Anne, Jane) and in Column B I have their ages (e.g., 4, 20, 40, 10). I would like to find the MEDIAN age of all the "mary's"; i.e., both "mary" and "maryanne", etc.
Is this possible? I have been getting errors on variations of {=MEDIAN(IF(A1:A4="*mary*",B1:B4))} constructions...
I do not want to use VBA.
thank you!
Maybe if I rub some vanilla under my nose...
I'm moving into a new place! Hooray! But it harbors the scent of the last tenant. Boo. How do I fix this? [more inside]
HOW TO DELETE IMAGES FROM MY WEBSITE PERMANENTLY FROM SEARCH ENGINES
how to stop search engines from returning images from deleted pages on my website? [more inside]
Overly attentive girlfriend.
How do I ask my girlfriend to dial it back a notch without making her feel rejected? [more inside]
The trick is to get an appropriate treat.
What small, easily-transportable treats can I make for reverse-trick-or-treat this year? [more inside]
The past isn't dead. It's not even past
"The past isn't dead. It's not even past." Source? [more inside]
What determines the frequency of arc currents when arcs occur inside a microwave oven?
What determines the frequency of the arc current when an arc occurs inside a microwave oven? [more inside]
Sketchy on the Details
My sibling is getting really into sketching/pencil drawing. My other sibling and I want to get her some good art supplies for Christmas; a nice leather refillable sketchbook, a pencil set, and some paper. The problem is that neither of us knows the first thing about art and drawing paper. What's the best kind of paper to use for pencil/charcoal drawings, and where is a good place to order some online?
Marriage penalty for deductions?
Question about 2011 US federal tax deductions and married filing status: Trying to fix a problem with my tax return; please help! [more inside]
What's locking up my Laptop?
How do I find out which application on my old laptop is eating up all the CPU when I connect to a WiFi hotspot?
I've tried turning on Performance monitoring but of course it freezes up with everything else. [more inside]
Big Fish Games ... which ones are worth the time?
Which Big Fish games are worth playing? And within that group, which are fun to play on a laptop with only the touchpad? [more inside]
What do I do about my mom, and my 6 year old sister who may possibly have a mental problem? Long, snowflakey details inside.
What do I do about my mom, and my 6 year old sister who may possibly have a mental problem? Long, snowflakey details inside. My first question on Metafilter, please bear with me, I really need your help. [more inside]
Old hat with medicore mystery
Vintage hat question. Because I don't know about hats, let alone vintage hats. [more inside]
Cultural Center
Where's the scene? [more inside]
6 weeks in paradise
We have 6 weeks left in Oahu. What should we do? [more inside]
Is it zombie-Thyme?
What is the mystery plant growing in what used to be my (indoor, potted) thyme? (Pics inside) [more inside]
need some wire
I need to conduct a bit of heat. I only have aluminum wire on hand. [more inside]
buyer behaviors
I'm looking for any data that supports that conversion rates for trial offers are higher when there is a nominal cost for the product or service versus a FREE offer.
"Man, I need to find a johnny on the spot right now!" "What?"
Is "Johnny-on-the-spot" a common nickname for a portable toilet throughout the US, or it it just a regionalism? [more inside]
Ready, Aim, Fire
Let's say you have a miniature ironsides cannon, about the size of a medium terrier and quite heavy, capable of firing. Let's say it looked something like the second cannon from the top here. Let's say you were setting this cannon off to celebrate the Fourth of July or something and just wanted a big boom. What would you load the cannon with, and how would you load it? [more inside]
Never been at sea...help.
I've never been on a cruise, but will be going on one next year...would appreciate any cruise "hacks" I should take into account as a first timer. The cruise is on the Mediterranean and will be 9 days.
Harassed at work?
How to sort out my feelings and figure out next steps after a disturbing incident? [more inside]
Why is our toilet drain pipe so incredibly loud?
Plumbing filter: Why is there an incredibly loud noise on the first floor when the second floor toilet is flushed, and can this be fixed? [more inside]
Mixed Up Files of Newbery Acceptance Speeches
1968 Mixed Up Files Newbery Acceptance Speech online? [more inside]
The Magical Subway Do-Si-Do
Apologies in advance for a very niche question . . . I commute to and from work on the BDFM trains in New York City. I've noticed that between the Rockefeller Center stop (47-50th St) and the Bryant Park stop (42nd St) going southbound, the express trains (BD) switch sides with the local trains (FM). In other words, looking in the direction the trains travel heading south, at 50th st, the BD trains are on your right and the FM trains are on your left, whereas at 42nd st they are reversed. I've also seen both trains leave the station at the same time heading south and somehow switch sides between the two stations. My question is, how? I could see a switch in between the stations, but again, I've seen both trains leave at the same time and arrive at the same time, so that would seem to rule a switch out. Does one go above the other one? It's such a short distance between the stations I find that hard to believe, but that's the only explanation I've come up with. Am I missing something? Is there a switch and I just missed it? Is there a place online to see maps of the actual subway tracks underground?
Can I dim these lights?
How can I dim these lights? [more inside]
Old School Cake Secrets?
Last night I grated hard boiled eggs into a shortcake cake as per a super old family recipe. Why? [more inside]
If exercise is so good, why do so many ex-sports people have skeletal ailments?
If exercise is so good, why do so many ex-sports people have skeletal ailments? [more inside]
What song is this?
Heard this chorus to a song, but cannot for the life of me find what it's from. The lyrics in question are, "inside/into each other". If I was to try to replicate the melody it would be like, "iiiiinsiiide each ooother", or, "iiiintoooo each oooother." And it repeats a few times. If I was to write the lyrics for the whole song down, this phrase would be standing alone, and take its own line. Either the song is unknown, or I have the lyrics wrong, because what shows up on Google isn't the song. The song itself was sung by a female, and at a calm pace throughout with a melody of, or just a chorus melody of: Dooooo-doo, do dooooo-do. Thanks! This has been really bugging me.
Are USB adaptors interchangeable?
Can I use an iPhone or Kindle adaptor for my iAudio 9 mp3 player? [more inside]
Please help me think of improv scenarios for an audition I am running.
Please help me think of improv scenarios for an audition I am running. [more inside]
My Googling is useless.
Possibly a Prickly Peruvian
"Well," thought Gurgeh, "I will have sex with her. I am, after all... THE PLAYER OF GAMES."
I like Eurogames (think Settlers, Arkham Horror, etc.). I sometimes have a tough time getting along with the other players, and now I'm nervous about joining board-gaming groups. [more inside]
Neurobiology for the kinda-sorta initiated
Looking for the best neurobiology guides for non-scientists. [more inside]
Why is George Jean Nathan the only person in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five whose death does not merit a "So it goes"?
Why is George Jean Nathan the only person in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five whose death does not merit a "So it goes"? [more inside]
Application to maintain personal Medical Records - OFFLINE
Offline Personal Medical Records (desktop version of patientslikeme.com) [more inside]
Continuing forward from a disappointing, chaotic college experience
These were four miserable years, and they were supposed to be the best? I guess the best years still lie ahead of me? [more inside]
Completely average, completely delicious chocolate frosting?
Frost my cupcakes! Please suggest your best recipe for an excellent middle-of-the-road chocolate frosting-- not too dark, not too heavy, not too fragile, not too sugary. [more inside]
Help me prevent a macaron mess!
I went all the way to France and came back with a box of Alsa Macaron Mix. Problem: I don't speak French. How do I do this? [more inside]
Uncommon boundaries in relationships
Uncommon boundaries in relationships [more inside]
What should I do about this guy?
What should I do about this guy? I'll preface this by saying I have pretty much no prior experience, so I'm not sure about what's considered "normal" in terms of communication (FYI this is a little long)... [more inside]
______ Apparel
I need a clever play on words to spoof American Apparel, and I need it today. Help! [more inside]
Examples of non math uses for Excel
For a project, I'm trying to collect uses of Excel that do not include any formulas or other use of math.
What are some common documents that people use the format of Excel to create in an office setting? [more inside]
In Defense of Meat
What short stories, novels, or articles present a pro-factory farming perspective? [more inside]
How can I help a friend not make a huge mistake and give away all her inheritance to a cult?
Best friend brainwashed to join a cult overseas. She’s coming back for two weeks. How can I help her not make a huge mistake and give away all her inheritance? [more inside]
ptsd or just a memory?
PTSD flashback or just a vivid memory? [more inside]
Dealing with a US collections agency when not in the US?
Had a US collections agency pop up on my credit report saying that I owe them an amount less than $100. This question has been asked before, but one twist in my situation: I am currently living and working outside of the United States. [more inside]
Survival Skills for Required Courses that Suck
What did you do to get through required courses that you hated, but in which you needed to do well? Help me make mine more bearable. [more inside]
I look older than my age. How can I look my age?
I look way older than my age. How can I fix this? It's really starting to take a toll on me. [more inside]
Paid off the NY speeding ticket. Got additional fees. What do?
Paid off the NY speeding ticket. Got additional fees. What do? [more inside]
Who's got two thumbs and separates the heavens from the earth? This sky!
Piggybacking off this question, my original Halloween costume idea fell through BUT I just obtained some cloud pajamas and I'm trying to think of a way to build a costume around them. I'm a grown-ass man. Ideas? [more inside]
Help me quick freeze my pierogi
Every year, the slow part of my pierogi making process is freezing them. Help me freeze them faster. [more inside]
Name a celebrity that actually is an Alien from Omicron Persei
Hi! We're preparing an Hallowen party and we would like to make a series of posters stating that *celebrityname* actually is an Alien! Ziggy Stardust, Michael Jackson, Amélie Nothomb come to my mind..any other suggestion :) ?
Looking for drawn cats!
What's your favorite drawn cat? [more inside]
Went overboard on a personal training commitment, help me be firm in renegotiating!
Help me be firm in renegotiating my personal training contract at the gym! [more inside]
What are some unique examples of projects or organizations that are helping grow and improve your local art or music scene?
What are some unique examples of projects or organizations that are helping grow and improve your local art or music scene? [more inside]
Where can I Get My Juice Huff On in NYC?
Where is 'Fumehead Nirvana in NYC? [more inside]
October 25
Newly Single, New Neighborhood In PDX. Best Places?
New Neighborhood in Portland OR! New to me, anyway. I could use some help! I now live downtown. What bars, pubs, etc, are great for a casual first date? I'm in my late 30s if that helps. [more inside]
Sources for U.S. Music History Presentation
Sources discussing American musical history in relatively simple, chronological terms? [more inside]
Turns out they were novellas.
I'm ready to try and publish, but it turns out all my work is an unsaleable length. What are my options? [more inside]
What are something to talk about to strike a conversation with many girls as possible in college for a guy whose never been in a relationship?
What are something to talk about to strike a conversation with many girls as possible in college for a guy whose never been in a relationship? [more inside]
Please help me find the title of this book for a friend.
Please help me find the title of this book for a friend. It's about a woman and her husband who are involved in a plane crash. Everyone aboard was killed, except for the couple. The wife is an art dealer. [more inside]
Is being paid for billable hours only a normal thing?
How common is it for a full-time employee to be paid only for billable hours? [more inside]
Will carbonnade a la flamande be good in the crockpot?
Who is the rude one?
What is appropriate in terns of modifying a home cooked meal? [more inside]
Can a drink recipe be patented or copyrighted?
I accidentally (and deliciously) created and then named a drink that's catching on at a university and I was wondering if I could copyright or patent its recipe and name.
Thank you.
"Hall of the Mountain King", female singer, banjo accompaniment, who is it?
I think it's a cover of "Hall of the Mountain King" by Rainbow, sung by a female singer with banjo accompaniment. Unfortunately, I don't know who it was. [more inside]
Chinese music
Chinese pop music question. What is the background music in this video? It doesn't identify in Shazam or SoundHound. I looked through 50 pages of the YouTube comments and it's all a lot of arguing about HAARP and ice crystals, so I guess I'll need some help from Chinese MeFites. Thanks.
Square peg. Triangular hole. Doesn't work, but has to.
Asked for a friend: navigating a dreadful work situation. My friend is brilliant, extremely (as in four standard deviations above the norm) intelligent, socially not bad, with anger issues. She's in a clannish and overwhelmingly male-dominated tech organization, and she's been gradually demeaned and demoted from a technology manager (to which role she's well suited) to a super-tech. It is annoying her and messing with her confidence. [more inside]
Wabbit Twacks
I need an Elmer Fudd hat for a halloween costume. Where can I find something like this in New York? [more inside]
One of those nights when I miss Lester Black?
I was in Ernie Tubbs Record Shop in Nashville a couple weeks ago and they were playing a song whose only lyric I can remember is something like "one of those nights when I miss Lester Black." The lyric was repeated often as part of the refrain. It was a country song, it sounded sort of old and had a melancholic feel to it. That is, unfortunately, all I can remember. I can't get that lyric out of my head and I really want to know what song it is. Google hasn't been any help. Please satiate my curiosity, it is driving me nuts!
Should I be concerned about fiancees trivial, frivolous 'white' lies?
My fiancee is lying fairly often about trivial, frivolous things. Should I be concerned, or am I just hopelessly insecure? (special snowflake inside) [more inside]
You got facebook on my firefox
Where did these facebook buttons come from on my firefox? they just appeared this afternoon and I haven't added any add-ons in a long time. I'm running firefox 17.0 according to the about page.
Cat peed on my suit. What now?
How to remove cat urine from a dry-clean only suit? [more inside]
Best probiotic pills?
Best probiotic pills? [more inside]
How to root, upgrade to jelly bean, and carrier unlock my galaxy nexus SC-04D locked to docomo?
How to root, upgrade to jelly bean, and carrier unlock my galaxy nexus SC-04D locked to docomo? [more inside]
Romney's best cheerleaders?
What's the most persuasive recent endorsement of Mitt Romney you've read? [more inside]
Should a design company work for competing political candidates?
Is it ethical for a graphic design company to do advertising work for opposing political candidates at the same time? [more inside]
What shoes for a treadmill?
What kind of shoes should I get for walking -- and hopefully eventually running -- on a treadmill? [more inside]
Clothing for the Shorter, Wider Male
Where should a really short guy, especially a short fat one, look for clothes? [more inside]
OSX hacks, tweaks and cleaners.
Lay on me your OS X hacks, tweaks and cleaners. [more inside]
C-fly's?
C-fly's? [more inside]
Eh? Aye? I?
How does a Scotsman (or woman) pronounce the town Ae, Scotland?
This year, I'm thankful for conflict avoidance.
My mother and I are not talking. I am thinking about skipping Thanksgiving. How do I do this without causing even more turmoil? [more inside]
Ex-libris-publica depreciation of rare/valuable books
I saved some interesting books from being thrown out by my public library. Apparently they were discarding part of their local historical collection. I grabbed a bunch that looked cool/interesting and it turns out one or two of them have sold online for decent sums. I'm not interested in selling any of them (they are cool!) but I am curious as to how their ex-libris-publica condition affects their worth. [more inside]
Trees: Latin translation and etymology
Trying to find a list of tree names with common, latin, latin translation and etymology. The first two are easy to find, but it's the last two I really care about. [more inside]
From iPod to iPhone: why not?
How do you move songs from an iPod to an iPhone? Google is a bit scant on this and when I try to open the iPod as a drive on my PC it doesn't show the files. My Apple Zealot friend says it's like moving music from a cassette to a LP but I say digital is digital and this is another reason why Steve Jobs is a jerk. [more inside]
Is our friendship over? How can I fix things?
Got into a bad argument with a friend. Is the friendship over? How can it be saved? [more inside]
I need a new dusting tool.
What's better: Swiffer dusters or ostrich feather dusters?
Present ideas for globetrotting newlyweds
I need wedding present suggestions for a couple who are going traveling for 7 month immediately afterwards... [more inside]
How High the Arthritis?
My sober, drug addict husband was prescribed a cream for his painful arthritis. We always have a sobriety plan in place when he has to take strong pain medicines for legit reasons. Do we have to do the same thing for this cream? Also, what is in this medicine? [more inside]
Getting over my mommy issues
My relationship with my mother has deteriorated since the birth of my son, and the subsequent birth of my nephew. How do I deal? [more inside]
Where's the Gift of Fear for the workplace?
What did you first notice about your supervisor, coworkers, subordinates, or office environment when you were about to take a job that turned out to be a negative experience? [more inside]
Ho! Ho! Ho! - Aw, Hell NO!
Skipping Christmas, International Travel Edition: Where should we go?? [more inside]
Web Server Wording
"Serving-out" a web-based GUI: more natural wording? [more inside]
We need an audit to apply for funds. But we have no funds to pay an auditor
How can I get my nonprofit an independent audit pro bono? Is it possible? [more inside]
Writer seeks not-office Toronto cafe place
Help me find a great writing spot in Toronto, with some very specific requirements. [more inside]
Help My Sell My Beautiful Desk in NYC
Asking for a friend- [Furniture lovers/buyers/sellers in NYC filter:] How can I sell and get a great price for my midcentury modern desk? [more inside]
New Facebook messages is the straw that broke the camel's back
My old friends from high school and I have been using a Facebook message thread to stay in touch over the past few years since we graduated. However, the new interface is really driving us crazy. Help us find an alternative? [more inside]
...marked "beware of the leopard."
(US election filter) Is it unlawful for me to post some homemade additional "vote here" signs to make my polling place easier to find? [more inside]
It's hard to make a stove decision.
We love baking! We love pressure canning! What kind of stove is right for us? [more inside]
I once ate a salad as big as a man.
Can I eat as much salad as I like (assuming the salad doesn't have per se bad stuff in it)? [more inside]
Found boyfriend's masturbatory material, working on internal damage control
How common is it to masturbate to people from your past if you are in a relationship? [more inside]
NYC Marathon- Sitting Room for Spectators
I'm planning to attend the NYC Marathon as a spectator. I'm hoping to find a spot somewhere between the mile 20 & 21 posts (in the Bronx) where I can have a chair and a baby stroller. Will there be room? [more inside]
Make my daughter POTUS someday
What does a 9-year-old need to do now to become President of the United States? [more inside]
Synthetic People Having a Real Conversation?
I've created a promotional video for my website, which is currently listed as a Metafilter project called Conversus. The purpose of the video is to show how I can (with Google Translate) translate any conversation from most languages to most languages. I want to do this as part of the interview services I offer. In this video, I explain how this works by creating people using synthetic voice software, I give them names and I interview them. Since they are not real, am I being unethical if in a Twitter post, I say, "Rodney, Svetlana, Ying, Niles, Maria, Bridget, Nanette & Hassan talk about being interviewed."? I've been a journalist for a long time and ethics is kind of hard wired in, so I'm just checking a broader opinion base.
The Fallacy of "Brainstorming"
There was a study (or maybe it was just an article) that drew a lot of attention some time ago for challenging long-held tenets in the corporate world about brainstorming (e.g. "no idea's too dumb to offer", etc etc). Can anyone point me to it? [more inside]
Upcycle an old HP laptop for my kid?
Hey all - I have an old HP laptop from 2005, still working, but quite old now. I was tempted to recycle it, but I have a chance to give it a new life. I also have a kid on the way, so I was thinking about wiping it and making it the kid's computer in 2-3 years when he's likely to be interested in it. Thoughts, suggestions? [more inside]
Polk's Hobby Memory
Polk's Hobby Store
Irwin and Nat started Polk's Hobby as retailers in New York City in 1935 on Seventh Avenue, but quickly moved to a 5 story building.
Each floor represented a different category of the hobby field and was a show case for the industry.
As a child in the 1970's in New York City I vividly remember going to Polk's Hobby Store.
It was five stories of pure hobby fun with each floor dedicated to a topic, trains, planes, cars, boats, figurines. The cars floor was at the top and had a large, bring your own slot car track with a banked figure eight. The place was magical.
Now, with that said, I was young and the memories are sparse. There is a little bit on Polk's on the net as they are still around as a remote control hobby manufacturer.
The only photo on I could find was in reference to a scene from the Godfather that was shot at Polk's.
Anyone remember the greatest Hobby store in the land?
Services using Google Auth codes?
Gmail, DropBox, and Dreamhost are all set up to use the Google Authenticator app for two-factor authentication. What other common services or programs can I set up like this? [more inside]
Are supportive shoes necessary?
Do I need to be wearing a supportive insole in my ballet flats? Are flat shoes destructive for your feet? [more inside]
Which movie is this scene from?
Help me remember which comedy movie has this scene with a clerk who pretends to be deaf, then answers a ringing phone. [more inside]
Soothing a clotted leg?
I have a very sore leg from inflammation in surface veins. Went to the doctor last week, and they weren't alarmed but didn't have much to suggest for palliation, either. Do you have any experience soothing superficial thrombophlebitis? [more inside]
Doc, it hurts when I do this...
You know the joke about the man who shows his hyper-extended arm to his doctor, says "doc, it hurts when i do this," and the doc says, "well then don't do that!"? I am now that joke. Help me not be. [more inside]
HIPAranoia....
PrivacyParanoiaFilter: My employer offers a discount on my health insurance if my spouse and I take a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). I get the idea, but are there any downsides privacy-wise that they're not telling you? [more inside]
Please help me get this flea problem solved
How would you handle this? I need to get my roommate to: 1) accept there are fleas in the house and that his dog has a really bad case of them; 2) accept that if there are fleas, that it's a problem that we need to try to fix; 3) treat his own room. [more inside]
Where should we go for a short break from Ottawa?
I have some vacation time to use up, and I'd love to get away for a few days in November. Budget is a big concern, and there are a number of other snowflakes, too. [more inside]
Can I make the GoogleVoice connect invisible to a caller?
I've just set up a Google Voice number. When someone calls the number, the person hears something like, "Please wait while Google Voice connects you." Is there a way for the connection to be transparent to the caller, i.e. for them not to know that they're calling a Google Voice number? It seems like there should be but I'm not having any luck figuring it out...
What are some funny 2012 Halloween costume ideas?
I would like to request an update for this previous AskMe thread on this year's timely funny halloween costume, gender neutral version. [more inside]
Hi! My name is teragram, and have I got a deal for you!
How can I use LinkedIn to get a job in a new city? [more inside]
What to read after Empire Falls?
Help me choose what to read next! Am currently reading Richard Russo's Empire Falls and need suggestion on where I should head next. [more inside]
get it right
Any MeFites with experience adjusting to an imported right hand drive vehicle? [more inside]
How can I rebrand my neighbourhood?
What can I use as inspiration for cheap, creative ways to help change perceptions of my "bad" neighbourhood? [more inside]
Bring the spice!
Summer is coming and I'll have a lot of time on my hands. What are some of the tastiest spicy foods you've ever had? I'm thinking Indian, but Cajun, Mexican and so forth are all possibilities. I'm after interesting, involved recipes that can be spicy, but are above all TASTY. What should I make? [more inside]
What is an awesome thing/idea/gimmick your local cafe/diner/coffee shop does for regulars/locals?
What is an awesome thing/idea/gimmick your local cafe/diner/coffee shop does for regulars/locals? [more inside]
Can't send attachments from iOS apps
I have an iPhone and iPad, both on iOS 6. Email works fine, but if I try and send a file from within any app, it looks like it works - but it doesn't. This is the case for the two different mail accounts I have set up (one Gmail, one Exchange) and it's driving me round the twist. [more inside]
Anyone have success (or failure) with a Wartabater?
Has anyone used the Wartabater to remove warts with success? [more inside]
October 24
Boost your brain through games
Do "brain training" games work? [more inside]
Generally cranky - help fix?
I've feel angry and frustrated for no reason and I don't know what to do about it. I'm worried that I'm taking it out on my husband. Help? [more inside]
Looking for a film with people frozen in a car
I saw this film on television in the 70s when I was young; it was broadcast sometime before 1979. Some people are stranded after a snow storm. At one point they discover a car in the snow, and when they look inside the car they see the people in it were frozen to death. I think someone cried out, "Oh, no, it's the professor!" (or something like that). At another point in the film they come across a cabin in the woods and try to open a can of something they find, but they have no can opener. The film was in color, so please don't suggest something in black & white. It may have been made for TV or it may have been an actual film; I remember there being a lot of commercials for it because we had just had the great "Blizzard of 1978" in Boston. Any help finding this film would be great! One person suggested to me it might be "The Untamed" directed by Archainbaud, but it is not that. PLEASE HELP!
Can't I be the "dad"?
My SO wants kids and would make a great dad. The trick is, I don't want to be "the mom." [more inside]
Complete phone cloning
Hypothetically, what are the practical results of completely cloning a GSM phone-- not just the SIM card, but also the radio fingerprint and any other method used to differentiate two mobile devices? [more inside]
It's certainly not "myself"
Which version of this sentence is grammatically correct and why?
A: "Try not to be as bad as J. and I in the Masters semis last year."
B: "Try not to be as bad as J. and me in the Masters semis last year."
Make up you mind now. Arguments for each inside. [more inside]
Nothing on my bookshelf was written by a woman. Help!
I looked at my bookshelf recently. Nearly every writer on there is dead and male. I should rectify this. Which books by women, living or dead, might I like? Details inside. [more inside]
Harry Dean Stanton fighting Robert De Niro?
For some reason I have it in mind that one time Harry Dean Stanton got into a fistfight with Robert De Niro in public. Maybe at a restaurant. Is this a thing that happened? Anyone have the story? Have I fabricated hearing a great would-be story?
Yes I'm ask metafiltering nineties techno. Don't judge.
In the mid-ninties, there was this techno song with a vocal instructing the listeners to raise up their hands, "raise them up." His voice was calm and could've been sampled from a movie (it was not like the more cliched sample of a dj or singer revving up the crowd, it felt almost religious). What was the name of this song? [more inside]
The House of Possums
Please identify this tree (3 photo imgur album) growing in my backyard in Sydney, Australia. [more inside]
What was this cookbook?!
I'm trying to identify a cookbook I once had. Difficulty: I remember almost nothing about it. [more inside]
Feeling better about myself...
Posting for a friend: Feeling unproductive and down, recommend an activity for me to pick up. Requirements within. [more inside]
I see your feline friend, and I raise you one kitty companion...
I need to name my kitten after a term in (contract) bridge or something card-related. I feel like I've exhausted most options... [more inside]
Please share your "dark and stormy" recipe with me!
Please share your "dark and stormy" recipe with me! [more inside]
or, is this part something besides a subtitle?
Is there a name for that Victorian(?) thing where a work, usually a novel, has a second, alternate title? [more inside]
Where should I stay in Colombia?
I'd like to use AirBNB to stay in Colombia on vacation. Medellin vs Bogota? Favorite neighborhoods? [more inside]
Why is my family being so cold to my SO?
Deeply in love with someone who I'm pretty sure is a keeper. His family is warm & welcoming to me. My family hasn't lifted a finger to make him feel welcome. I'm humiliated. Help. [more inside]
How often do you talk about personal things?
How often do you talk about personal topics with friends, co-workers, etc...? [more inside]
What's the skinny?
What is it like to work as a Buyer or generally within Purchasing/Procurement? [more inside]
Segregation in the oven
Help needed on my first tenderloin. My apples touched my pork! Now what? [more inside]
Bioshock
Quick question:
I have never played Bioshock.
Just now I'm buying into the MacHeist 4 bundle, which contains Bioshock 2.
Is it a bad idea to start part 2 without playing part 1 first?
No spoilers please :^)
How can I find banks with the lowest non-customer ATM fees?
Is there a way to find a list of what banks in a given area (for example, search by ZIP code or address) charge non-customers to use their ATMs? [more inside]
Am I on the fast track to esophageal cancer?
I have had acid reflux for about a year which is mostly controlled via Zantac but still flares up occasionally. It's basically okay, but I've now realized that it's something I'll have to live with. How worried should I be about getting esophageal damage or cancer? [more inside]
How can I keep this friendship, and should I even try?
What to do about a close friend who seems to have become an alcoholic--and cemented his new status of "repeatedly gets so drunk he black-outs" in my mind by telling me details of his sexual fantasies involving myself and his wife (my former best friend)? Bonus features: super long background story! [more inside]
How can 15 people cook together in San Francisco?
How can I cook Thanksgiving dinner with 15 other people when none of us have a big enough apartment? [more inside]
Close these credit cards?
Credit cards - which to keep open, which to close? [more inside]
January Baja Whale Watching?
Looking for information about budget whale watching vacations in Baja in early January. [more inside]
What remedies exist for a cat beflea'd?
What remedies exist for a cat beflea'd? [more inside]
Moving to the Steel City!
I'm moving to Pittsburgh, but I'll be working in Vandergrift. Can you help me with Pittsburgh neighborhoods and its environs? [more inside]
Please help me to see if I'm overreacting or not...
My boyfriend and I met with a female friend of his last night, and he started behaving very uncharacteristically distant with me while we were with her. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill or was something more going on? [more inside]
Is my kid's talent predictive of artistic talent? If so what should I do about it?
My daughter is almost seven and is a bright kid in most ways, and I think she might be exceptionally gifted in drawing. She is enrolled in a school which is great in some ways, but art is not an area of its focus (I have my own reasons for this prioritization, although maybe it's time to rethink them.) I want to do right by her and nurture her talent, if it is exceptional. Help me figure out if she's unusual, and what to do about it. [more inside]
How to tell parents you're not ever coming home?
How does one tell dysfunctional parents that you're not planning on ever coming home after being away for a work contract (i.e. a supposedly temporary absence is going to turn permanent)? [more inside]
No elbow macaroni please...
Seeking your ideas for free or inexpensive crafts for adults that can be completed within 2-3 hours with very little instruction required. Striving for a fun process and a pleasing end product. No worthless, ugly or junky, please. [more inside]
Essence of Foul
pharmacology question: what does it mean that I reacted so very badly to a single dose of Lunesta (eszopiclone, 3 mg)? [more inside]
It's so hard to say goodbye.
Please help me plan a retirement party for my friend's uterus. [more inside]
Local DJ submits his vote to a vote!
What are the ramifications of putting one's voting franchise up for a vote? [more inside]
It's Like Kickstarter Meets Charity Blackmail
Is there a website that lets ordinary non-millionaires do charity blackmail stunts, a la Donald Trump? For example, suppose I'd like to set up a page where individuals can pledge $X to charity if Donald Trump goes 24 hours without talking. The website would take credit card numbers in advance; if the Donald keeps his mouth shut, the cards would be billed and the money passed on to charity. [more inside]
Bang Bang
What sub-culture is depicted in the Sonos speaker commercial with the nicely dressed women and men dancing in their living room? [more inside]
How do I stay open to a relationship without going nutsy thinking about guys? Late bloomer here!
How can I allow myself to be open to a relationship and not go nutsy thinking about guys, and/or how do I cultivate relationships with men without constantly screening them for evidence that they may "like" me? [more inside]
How do I deal with a big mistake in my last job?
I burned a bridge. Will I ever work in this (academic) town again? [more inside]
Summer in Japan. How can I make this happen?
Traveling to Japan this summer with my sister. Help me make this the best trip ever and not lose my mind. [more inside]
Money Honey If Ya Wanna Get Along With Me
Is it illegal for my employer to withhold wages from me? "Delays" in "processing" pay changes have gone on for weeks. [more inside]
fall date ideas for when the sun is down?
Casual weather-appropriate evening date ideas for two nerdy 20-somethings? [more inside]
Ladies need male or androgynous costumes to look hot in
Gender bending costume ideas for a formal-ish occasion for two ladies: one on the tallish and thinnish side, one on the shortish and curvyish. [more inside]
Smile Bright Store: worth it?
Does anyone have any experience, positive or negative, with the Smile Bright Store and their teeth-whitening products? [more inside]
Guidelines needed for troubled youth moving in with heart of gold grandmother
Quick version: My elderly neighbor "Ruth" needs help creating a contract with her grandson. He is 25 and has had a history of drug abuse. He has been through rehab. She has agreed to let him move in with her so he can get his life back on track. Another neighbor and I are close to "Ruth". Against our recommendations she has decided she must do this. We have convinced her that she needs to create a contract of house rules, expectations and timeline for him to agree to and sign. We are concerned for her health and safety. [more inside]
Making myself my own job...
I've sent so many resumes out by this time that the word resume has lost all meaning, and cover letter makes me sigh. Aggressive job hunting since July has turned up bupkiss.
I need money. I really do. Social services gives me enough to not starve and that's about it. Not being able to do much other than go to my job experience job and to the grocery store is sucking the life out of me. So I sat down and tried to come up with a way that I could make money and still look at myself in the mirror.
I want to do a Mixed-Media Art Workshop aimed at the art-curious, beginners, just liked art class in high school, and people looking to kill an hour without it being a dating set up. [more inside]
A memorable teacher
I'm looking for the name and author of a story I read in the early 1960s about a family of migrant workers in the US or Canada. They live in their truck. The young daughter is the central character. [more inside]
Help me find a humble black dress.
Simple, casual, short-sleeved black dress. Do you have one? Where'd you get it? [more inside]
"I wouldn't miss it" won't work either...
Introvert needs help with social niceties at a funeral. [more inside]
finally flattening
Recommend an HDTV, late 2012 edition. [more inside]
Help me find a YA Halloween book?
Asking for a friend: trying to remember a YA Halloween-themed book from her childhood. [more inside]
Why do they not use the chinstrap properly?
What is the deal with the chin strap resting in front, rather than going under the chin, in a lot of ceremonial hats? Like the typical British Bearskin hat. Having the strap sitting in front like that seems totally useless and impractical. [more inside]
Paintball sans bruises?
Paintball for a bachelor party — is this a horrible idea? [more inside]
Social anxiety?
What is wrong with me? I have trouble talking to people like they are judging me. Then I get nervous and then I beat my self up over it. I see a CBT therapist and he says I just have mild social anxiety. Its like this feeling sometimes I cannot control. Somedays it is better than others. I have been practicing CBT for about three months. I tell myself that I know I am not looking stupid, but I still feel like I am when talking to people. Some days it is not bad at all and on others it is horrible. I am sick of fighting this. My therapist tells me to just let it go, but the feeling is so unnatural I cannot.
Primer on Islam
Looking for a good primer on Islam, emphasis on the distinctions and history between Sunni and Shia branches [more inside]
clueless supervisor
As a supervisor, what can I do to help my assistant feel more needed or is it a lost cause? Lots of snowflakiness inside. [more inside]
Can I grow herbs in an indoor wall-mounted planter?
Can I grow herbs that hang on the wall indoors and make them look nice too? [more inside]
Spend the Dough to Make it Go?
1. The truck's broke. 2. It would cost about half it's meager value to fix. 3. I'm ready for a new vehicle. So, do I........? [more inside]
Prying my stuff out of Facebook
I'm in the process of emptying out my Facebook account. I appreciate any tips on this, but there's a couple of things I'd like to know in particular. [more inside]
Pinterest and Copyright Law
Help deciphering Pinterest and copyright law, please! The short story is that I'm a food blogger. A picture from my blog was pinned to Pinterest, then someone else used the "embed" feature on Pinterest to put it on their site. I say this is not okay, she says this is totally kosher. What say you? [more inside]
Blocked from PayPal
How can I open a new PayPal account when mine was blocked because someone else tried to hack into it? [more inside]
Should I disclose my mental health issues to a prospective (and former) employer?
Last year I quit my job due to depression and anxiety. I now have an interview with my former employer for the same job. Should I disclose my mental health issues during the interview as an explanation for my progressively lazy work attitude and subsequent quitting? [more inside]
I know he WANTS to behave...
Help me solve the behavioural issues that have cropped up in my five and a half year old. [more inside]
The simple weight loss spreadsheet that eludes me...
This simple weight loss/calorie defect spreadsheet from years ago eludes me...hivemind, help! [more inside]
Why did she tell me she was raped?
The girl I've been dating for two months told me she was raped five years ago. What could be her motivation for telling me now? [more inside]
We're no strangers to love / You know the rules and so do I
How to properly pursue a budding romance when hoping for some kind of fairly serious relationship. Difficulty level: I am young and foolish and what is this. [more inside]
MP3 streaming in the sky?
It's about 6 AM. I'm leaving my house at about 7 AM. I'm getting on an airplane at about 9 AM. While on that airplane, I'd like to listen on my iPhone 4 to an .mp3 file that will be posted onto the internets at about 7:30 AM. [more inside]
Gaming on a microPC
Windows boots from the wrong drive's bootloader, but is it worth fixing?
I bought a new laptop that has 2 hard drive bays. It came with a hard drive with Windows 7 preinstalled. I bought an SSD, installed Windows and Linux fresh onto it, wiped the old hard drive and used it as a data disk, but something is slightly out-of-whack in the boot sequence (and a partition is marked "System" when it really isn't). Is it worth fixing? [more inside]
Technical writing for a physicist?
I might be hired as a technical writer soon. I'm not sure this would be the right job for me. I need some advice. [more inside]
How do I remove "jucheck.exe"?
How do I get rid of the virus (?) jucheck.exe which keeps popping up on my computer, telling me to update Java (which I know is already up to date)? [more inside]
The birth certificate says the presidential candidate is 28 years old?
Peta Lindsay (born 1984) is an American anti-war activist and presidential nominee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, despite being ineligible to become president due to her age. How can she appear on my Washington State ballot as a candidate for U.S. President if she isn't at least 35 years old?
Canadian area code/rate centre VoIP DIDs
VoIP: How much should I really be paying for Canadian DIDs in major metro areas? Currently paying $2/mo for US numbers and $5/mo for Canadian. [more inside]
My Places on My iPhone (aka Google vs. Apple)
What is the best way to see and use Google's "My Places" on an iPhone 4S that still has iOS 5? [more inside]
Winter Damp Solutions?
Damp Mouldy London Flats: Cheap simple solutions? We moved in to a new flat in May and now that the could winter is coming the flat seems to be getting rather damp and there are some mould (mold) issues. What do we do? [more inside]
Game of Thrones - made on film or video?
Hi, does anyone know whether 'Game of Thrones' is filmed on actual celluloid film or just on some digital videoformat? Thanks
Solving life's problems - how do you do it?
Where do you turn for advice in solving life dilemmas?
I know about therapy (been there, done that) and asking the hive mind (and you guys are great btw!) I love my family dearly but I feel like I know what they are going to say before I even ask.
So tell me:
-- where else can I turn for new, fresh advice on big life issues (career, jobs, relocating, relationships etc)?
-- how can I really shake up my way of thinking and challenge my own perceptions?
-- how can I help myself solve my own problems with needing to ask other people?
hope that makes sense!
Filipino != Asian in California?
Does anyone know the origin of why, in California schools, the state has a a separate ethnic classification of "Filipino" yet major ethnicities like Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans are lumped into an "Asian" subgroup? [more inside]
October 23
What could top Bodean's?
Christmas-work-meal-filter – where should eight gents go for a Christmas work meal in central London? [more inside]
How do I deal with this money related situation with an ex-roommate?
How to deal a money issue with roommate who has just moved out- never contributed to household cleaning/supplies and did not clean after moving out their things. [more inside]
Unless guys are all dunderheads, I should be able to ask them out, right? Or not?
I've read about 50,000,000 assorted peices of dating advice and there's one rule that I've followed religiously: Girls (who want LTRs) Should Never Ask Out Guys. This advice has some seemingly-reasonable justifications backing it up. You can respond to the justifications or skip the whole thing and just tell me whether or not it's legit. I would especially like to hear from men about this. Have you ever willingly entered a happy, functional, long-lasting relationship with a girl who asked YOU out? [more inside]
Portable face masks for sub-1-micron materials?
Face masks: the smallest/lightest option that's effective against sub-1-micron materials? [more inside]
More femme, please
How can I build confidence to incorporate more femme elements into my gender presentation as a young straight(ish) man? [more inside]
110 Shades of Grey
Is it a good idea to buy a grey-market SLR lens? [more inside]
should I tell someone who is going to get penalized
If you know someone is going to be penalized for something they rightly deserve, but you are friends/business partners with them, should you let them know? [more inside]
overthinking shelves
I have too many shelves and no hanging space in a small room. How do I maximize the space I have and keep work clothes and dresses organized and wrinkle-free? [more inside]
Explaining science to non-scientists
Scientists of Metafilter: How do you answer the question, "What practical purpose does your research serve?" [more inside]
Hiring a remote research assistant: is this even a real thing?
How do I find and hire a remote research assistant for a one-off task (in Goshen, IN)? [more inside]
Whose etchings are we going over to look at?
Your place or mine? My place or his? [more inside]
Inter-office conflict
Please help me manage/cope with this grad school inter-office conflict. [more inside]
What does John Berger say?
From the essay"Portrait of a Masked Man" by John Berger.( American Essays2009) I literally understand English,but I can't get what he actually says. Could you explain them intelligibly? Well,is there anyone who has read this book and could help me to read some of them? [more inside]
I want to be RuPaul, except opposite.
If I were to become a professional drag king how would I do it? [more inside]
How hard is it to build a toy control panel?
I want to build a control panel for my sons - how much do I need to know about electronics? [more inside]
My cell phone is a very expensive paperweight.
Should I get a new phone? And if yes... which one? [more inside]
Iphone 5 playlists
How to get playlists on the iPhone 5? [more inside]
make the most of my pregnant and unemployment in nyc!
i am five months pregnant, in NYC and just got fired from my job... now what? [more inside]
Why won't my SDS-PAGE stacking gel polymerize?
LongShotFilter: My SDS-PAGE stacking gel will refuses to polymerize. Copious amounts of fresh APS and TEMED are being used. I've spent a week on this and desperate measures are needed so the rest of my lab work can progress. [more inside]
Things to do in Melbourne and Perth.
I will soon be visiting Melbourne and Perth. Please tell me about your favourite hangouts and gin joints! [more inside]
Bowled a Googley
Help me prepare for "Geo for Good Down Under" at Google HQ Australia. Details on my spatial tech knowledge inside. [more inside]
Books that are like a movie...
Asking for a friend: "I'm looking for the equivalent of American Beauty the movie in a book. Any suggestions?" [more inside]
Does King Tut Wear No Clothes?
How good a banjo player is Steve Martin? [more inside]
Good Skype Phone
Recommendations for a standalone Skype phone? [more inside]
Chicken salad, on rye, untoasted...and a cup of tea.
Lately, I've been fantasizing about pulling a George Costanza---realizing that if every instinct I've had have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right. In my case, I want to just abandon my "ethics," stop thinking I'm special, and going out there, and trying to make some serious money.
Has anyone just pulled a George Costanza and taken the 'opposite' approach to life?
For example, have you walked into a job interview and just said exactly what's on their mind, like George does when he meets Steinbrenner, or confessed that you're unemployed, balding and living with your parents when an attractive person hits on you?
If people don't have personal experience of doing these things, I'd love to read accounts of others doing them. Thanks!
Help a road warrior stop feeling exhausted
As a business traveler, how do I stop feeling tired all the time? [more inside]
Tokyo flea market this weekend
Tokyo flea market this Sunday? Google-fu dekimasendeshita! [more inside]
Where to get fun tops that actually fit?
Where can I find appropriately swanky evening wear (specifically tops) for a no-longer twentysomething with an active social schedule? [more inside]
What freelancers' groups sell health insurance to members in Portland, Oregon?
I need to buy health insurance in Portland, Oregon and I'm wondering if there are any professional guilds or Freelancer's Union-type groups that sell health insurance. [more inside]
Does the foam padding in most vintage furniture contain flame retardants?
How long have furniture manufacturers been dousing foam padding with chemical flame retardants? My husband and I would like to start a family in the near future and we're trying to eliminate and replace our PBDE-saturated furniture in order to create a safer environment for baby. All the new organic/ natural latex padded furniture we've found is way out of our price range, so I'm wondering if vintage finds (sans lead paint) might be another safe alternative?
I just got charged for some other jerk to send mail.
This morning I collected mail from my PO Box, and was told there was another item with postage due. I paid the $1.50 and then was given three copies of form 3547, 'address forwarding service' for mail I never sent. How can I get this refunded and stop whoever sent it 'in my name'? [more inside]
Why have case endings and gender endured in language?
Case endings and gender in language: why? [more inside]
return policies
how common or uncommon is it for shops/companies to prohibit individuals from making returns? [more inside]
Happily he's the second time come to them
Historically, what were stereotypical views of the elderly? [more inside]
How are your (previously cataracted) lens replacements?
How are your (previously cataracted) lens replacements? What kind did you get? [more inside]
I'm not left handed, but am I this not left handed?
Is it possible that switching my mouse to my left hand is messing me up enough to cause physical symptoms? [more inside]
Dr. Whooooo, hey! And other songs for a Dr. Who themed birthday party
Help me compose the perfect playlist for a five year old's Dr. Who themed birthday party! [more inside]
Take the money and drive?
I've been asked to speak at a student group at my old college, which is about 100 miles away. They've offered to pay for my gas; should I accept, or would it be more charitable to decline?
is this how it's supposed to work?
Am I wrong about how primary care vs. specialists works or is my doctor's offfice badly managed? [more inside]
UK Medical School - Teach Me Everything!
Tell me everything you know about applying and going to medical school in the UK! Also, about possibly going back to the US after medical school. [more inside]
Taking son camping for the first time. It will also be my first time.
Please help me take a first-time Cub Scout on a group camping trip with family in tow. [more inside]
I'm not overqualified, I'm unemployed and looking for part-time work.
I'm having a difficult time finding part-time work. I think it's because I'm overqualified. Um, help? [more inside]
Help me find the hoodie from Prometheus
I have finally seen Prometheus and am now involved in a difficult emotional relationship with that movie. I feel that this relationship would be a lot easier if I could have something like the hoodie this idiot wears. My twitchy, obsessive googling has not borne much useful fruit as to anywhere that I could currently purchase such an item to be worn.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: MEN'S XXL SIZE.
Secret Society - Late 19th Century to Present Day
What is "The Organization" [more inside]
Elderly / Power of Attorney Abuse
What can I do to protect my elderly mom from my abusive and greedy sister? [more inside]
White background standard?
Does everyone expect white backgrounds on websites, even an artist's personal page? [more inside]
Make Food Now Dot Com
Does such a recipe website exist? [more inside]
Road trip from California to Chicago in late December. Are we crazy?
Is planning a late-December road trip from California to Chicago madness? Mr. Quince, our sweet pup, Lincoln, and I would like to take a road trip from Northern California to Chicago and back. We've done it several times taking I-80, but always during non-winter seasons. (more inside) [more inside]
What's this weird bathroom cabinet-like thing for?
My friend's apartment had a small fixture in the bathroom that I've never seen before. Help me identify it. [more inside]
Help me not have really lame mime makeup
How do I get vivid red and black makeup over thick white makeup? [more inside]
Exericse/therapy spots near Shinjuku, Tokyo?
Living in Shinjuku, Japan. I have been rather stressed lately due to a variety of factors. Please help me find both exercise locations (cheap gyms, jogging routes) and inexpensive (but decent) counseling/therapy around the Shinjuku, Japan area. [more inside]
Looking for a coin dealer in Toronto
A relative reently died and left me a bunch of gold coins. Some "real" coins (minted by governments) and a bunch of Franklin Mint specimens. I can find lots of plaecs that tell me the price if I can want to buy them, but nowhere to find out what they are worth to sell. Can someone recommend a reputable dealer in the Toronto area where I can take tham?
Radiomouth
Please help me understand radio mouth noise. [more inside]
Frequent flyer miles . . . you need lots of money, too?
Are big-time charges now routine when redeeming frequent flyer miles for overseas flights? [more inside]
WordPress redirect from "post" to "page"?
WordPressFilter: My WordPress blog uses Atahualpa. I have "posts" which I would like to appear in the menu bar where "pages" appear. Is there a "right way" to do this? [more inside]
Windows 7 text setting gone suddenly tiny
After restarting Windows 7 (SP 1) today, my chosen Small text setting (100% at 100 dpi on a 1920 x 1200 resolution) had been replaced by Medium (125%). Text everywhere looked huge. I switched back to Small, but now a lot of my system text (like title bar text and context menu text ) is extremely small, much smaller than before, and some other text, like the listing of subject headings in my Thunderbird email client and the tab text in Firefox, is also incredibly small. How to get back to my original Small appearance? [more inside]
a membership in the jelly-of-the-month club won't do
Please help me find levenger-esque (or other) options for executive/board gifts using gift vouchers. [more inside]
Please explain cat weirdness
The feline herpes virus also attacks owners' sanity
For months my one-eyed kitty has been battling flare-ups of the herpes virus in her remaining eye. We’ve been the vet countless times. She appears to have other issues including anxiety and possibly allergies. I’ve spent a small fortune, spent hours worrying, and most of all don’t want to be responsible for my cat going blind. Anyone else have experience with this? [more inside]
Adding pins to an image
Looking for software or a website for this specific function: I have an image, a map from several hundred years ago. I'd like to put pins on it, marking addresses of people. Ideally, I'd be able to label these pins with names, and then be able to search through those later on. [more inside]
Drowning not waving
I am so overwhelmed and struggling right now that it feels like I have no options and I'm intractably stuck. I know logically that I do have options but I can't sort out what I could do from what I shouldn't, what might work from Just Don't Go There, and getting objective, realistic advice is difficult. [more inside]
what are good halloween costumes for black vinyl catsuits?
i have a black vinyl catsuit (from when i was the baroness a few halloweens ago) that i'd like to use in this year's costume, except that i don't know what this year's costume is going to be yet, and i'm trying not to be lazy and just do the baroness again. please hope me, ask metafilter! [more inside]
How do I calculate the energy usage of radiant heating?
How do I work out the energy usage of built in radiant heating? [more inside]
Where can I find some good halloween background images for a photo booth?
Where can I find some good halloween background images for a photo booth? [more inside]
Writings on gentrification
What are the best articles and books on the complications of urban gentrification? What about the relationship of artists and bohemians to this process? [more inside]
How to establish emotional boundaries but still help depressed friend?
How to establish emotional boundaries but still help depressed friend? [more inside]
Good government services
International Mefites! What are some government-provided services that you use that you are shocked Americans don't have? (Besides healthcare) [more inside]
I'm new to China and I have a tax/deductions question...
I'm new to China and I have been told by my employer that I can only deduct laundry and restaurant bills from my income tax. that sucks since I was planning to purchase a lot of photography/computer gear that's relevant to my job. is there really no way for me to get a tax deduction on these items?
Can you help me find a unique foot rest for under my desk?
Help me find something comfortable, functional and maybe fun or unique to rest my feet on under my desk. [more inside]
Incorporating a Red Union Suit into Fancy Dress!
Costume ideas revolving around a red union suit? [more inside]
How many times can someone rip off your art work?
Asking for a friend. How long can a piece of art work be used for, if initially only being commissioned as a one off? [more inside]
Should I tip my contractor/carpenter?
I just had a significant amount of work ($80K) done on my house due to storm damage. My insurance is paying for all of the repairs, which were significant and required that I move out of the house for six months. I got very lucky and have an amazing contractor, who hired an equally amazing carpenter who turns out to be a perfectionist and has done impeccable work. Should I tip them or buy them something to say thank you? [more inside]
Paperwork Galore
JapanVisaFilter - My visa period is almost up, and my contract is extended but not for a whole year. What's up? [more inside]
How do I stop getting sick on tour?
How do I stop getting sick on tour? [more inside]
How to find, or get over, The One?
Think I saw The One, over three years ago, while in another relationship. How do I find him again, or get over it? [more inside]
Should I teach guitar lessons "under the table" or create a legitimate business?
Should I teach guitar lessons "under the table" or create a legitimate business? [more inside]
October 22
What's the meaning of this seemingly nebulous phrase?
What does it mean to "know Linux"? [more inside]
How Do I Decline A Gift Offer In Exchange For Working With Someone?
Someone has asked to send me gifts in order to work with them, and I want limited contact with this person. How do I respond? [more inside]
Tablets for tots
I'd like to repurpose an old Nook Color tablet for some preschoolers. What are my best options? Rooting and installing educational apps? Which apps would you recommend? Staying w/ the stock OS and loading it up w/ kids books? Other options I'm missing? [more inside]
Paging amateur Miss Manners..
Miss Manners filter: What to do when I feel like my friend/roommate is trying to drive a small wedge in my relationship. I can't decide what the "I'm afraid that won't be possible" is for this situation. Small wall o' text inside. [more inside]
Ceiling Cat has nothing on Ceiling Bugs!
With the first real rain of the season. it is now time for BUGS TO DROP OUT OF MY CEILING! What are they? (pix inside) [more inside]
Safety precautions for removing a stuck ground pin?
Safety precautions for removing a stuck ground pin? [more inside]
Origin of this gif? [nsfw]
Origin of this gif? [nsfw] [more inside]
Trees Don't Molt, Do They?
Is there a verb in the English language that describes the process of leaves changing color, withering and falling? [more inside]
Recurring motifs
What's the word for the re-deployment of a story element (character, object, motif, action) that was introduced earlier in the narrative? [more inside]
Should I use the "courses" section on LinkedIn?
Should professionals use the new(ish) "courses" section on LinkedIn? [more inside]
Poop is not a food group.
Nearing end of rope: dog edition with complicating factors of dog eating poop (his own and the wild rabbits who poop in our yard), dog pooping in the house, dog eating said house poop, and I'm 8 months pregnant with a boisterous 2.5 year old toddler. [more inside]
Cookie Monster Watches TV?
sci fi story - man dies in a car crash, nobody can see him
Name that sci-fi book/story! This week's edition: man dies in a car crash, nobody can see him, sailors and baddies abound in this ghost-world. [more inside]
What should I do about the colleague I slept with?
I had sex with a female colleague and her husband. Now I think she regrets it. I'll be seeing her at work tomorrow. What should I do? [more inside]
Should I ask my coworkers why I wasn't invited to hang out with them?
Today there was a picture of eight of my coworkers hanging out together on our day off on Instagram, and from the instant I saw it I was filled with anxiety about it: why wasn't I invited? [more inside]
Are twice daily twice a week workouts for me?
Fitness experts, especially those with scientific background, I'm looking for impartial advice about a scheduling glitch in my classes. I'm a 44 year old woman with a BMI right around 24. I've never been athletic, but my functionality and appearance are important to me and I enjoy exercise in general. I do a boot camp style class in the evening twice a week, and an intermediate non-apparatus Pilates class twice a week. Starting in November, Pilates is scheduled for noon on the same days as Boot Camp in the evenings. How much will I loose/gain by doing two a days like this? I'm thinking of doing it and doing a light cardio/weights hour on Fridays. What can you tell me that my self-interested as business people instructors won't about this plan of action?
Empty Tomato Can Smells Fishy
I opened a store bought can of tomatoes and poured it into a pot of chili. Now that the chili's simmering, the empty can smells like fish and I noticed a dent at the bottom near the seam. [more inside]
America's Next Top Monster
Have paleontologists found any circumstantial evidence for extinct predators that, perhaps due to lack of a complete skeleton, are merely conjecture at this point? [more inside]
In Congress assembled ...
How can I find a specific politician's voting record online, going back 50 years or so? [more inside]
I always hit my stride-but I'd sure like to do it sooner!
Can I hit my running strider earlier? And how? [more inside]
Missing. Please Help.
My sister's husband has probably had a psychotic break in Southern California and has gone missing. Please advise. [more inside]
MtF but not all that femme. So now what?
I'm a tomboyish, low-maintenance, fashion-averse woman "stuck in a man's body" as the godawful cliché goes. I'd love to transition, but how the sweet tap-dancing monkey fuck do I make this work? [more inside]
putting the trois in ménage à trois
Where to find thirds? [more inside]
How can I become more healthy and fit?
I've never eaten too healthy in my life. I feel like it's taking a toll on my body and my mood at a relatively young age. More details inside. (long and some things about my past) [more inside]
Looking for a particular satin pillowcase
Where can I reliably find nice satin pillowcases where the satin grain goes up and down, not side to side? [more inside]
I want the inside on how the commercial air industry works!
How is the market for a commercial air route determined? [more inside]
story-oriented video editing resources
I'm looking for some really good how-to guides on making videos, especially on documentary style and story-oriented pieces. [more inside]
Ain't no Cherokee princesses here!
Recommendations for geneaology help, please (involving Hungary and Germany) [more inside]
I'm Dating Jerry Seinfeld's Bitter, Bitter Twin
Stressed, incredibly sarcastic and refuses to cuddle: Is this guy dateable? [more inside]
Seeking future shock.
Where can I find summaries of historical developments, technological breakthroughs, political and social changes etc. in a similar style as the Afterword in Charles Stross's anthology Toast (free download here)? I am interested in stuff that has happened in the last 30 or 40 years.
"Companion themes" for Tumblr and WordPress?
Is there (a) such a thing as "companion themes" for WordPress and Tumblr and, if so, (2) where do I find them...?
Yeah, so, my new personal project is about writing, not design (which is where all the time goes that I think I should be spending writing...) I want to collate images from Tumblr blogs onto my own Tumblr blog, then write about (some of?) the images and post it on a WordPress blog that's parked at my personal URL.
Since I can't go all designery and both platforms are theme-based, I'm wondering if anyone's seen what I'll call "companion themes," for lack of a better term: themes that are adapted for the specific features of each platform, but that share at least a common aesthetic, if not full UI.
Knee replacement surgery for a parent. What to expect?
Parent is getting knee replacement surgery. What should I expect? [more inside]
Will Write for Food (and Rent, and Utilities).
I'm pretty sure I'm about to lose my job. How do I identify and pursue freelance writing opportunities in short order? [more inside]
How do I best make a splash with a Twitter and Facebook announcement?
How to best make a splash with a Twitter and Facebook announcement? [more inside]
Holiday time in New England
Looking for a terrific holiday experience in New England. Quaint lodging with bonfires, snowshoeing, etc, the weekend after Christmas? [more inside]
Recommend me a mascara upgrade from Max Factor Masterpiece Max.
Recommend me a mascara upgrade from Max Factor Masterpiece Max. [more inside]
Help a shy girl recruit a wingwoman
How to make a best friend in university [more inside]
My, what big racks you have...now let me use them
I have 2 audio cassette racks that are now cassette-less. Looking for something to do with them around / in the house. Could I use them to grow plants? Any ideas welcome, unique, strange, crazy, stupid, they're all good. [more inside]
Publishing my first novel - what should I be doing?
I just got an offer to publish my first novel. I know very little about the publishing industry and the business aspect of being an author. Help! [more inside]
Funniest debate live tweeters?
Who are the funniest people to follow on Twitter during the presidential debate? [more inside]
Can someone tell me how I can confirm my location (in the UK) of where I was a couple/few weeks ago please. At the time I was using an HTC Hero phone on the O2 network.
Can someone tell me how I can confirm my location (in the UK) of where I was a couple/few weeks ago please. At the time I was using an HTC Hero phone on the O2 network. [more inside]
How can I fix my credit report if I don't know what's wrong?
I was turned down for a new credit card. The issuer said I can clean up my credit report and re-apply, but I don't know exactly what the problem is. [more inside]
I wanna eat these leftovers! Just not right now.
If I freeze this soup, will it be edible once defrosted and warmed up? Difficulty level: squid. [more inside]
Take a loan from my 401(k) to pay off my student loans?
Take a loan from my 401(k) to pay off my student loans? [more inside]
How do I hang curtains from the ceiling?
Have you ever hung curtains from the ceiling? How did you do it? [more inside]
Help Me Download this Album England Doesn't Want Me To Have
I would like to buy and download a specific album (with no scheduled or rumored or hinted at American release date) from any reputable English purveyor of music. Yet my lack of a UK mailing address and/or UK payment method seems to block me from doing so. Is there any legal way I can purchase this music digitally and download it to my American desktop? [more inside]
No more bursting bottles!
I like to keep a case of bottled water in my car, for emergencies and inconveniences. During the winter months, the bottles tend to freeze (and thaw). What is the most burst-proof brand of bottled water, or what sort of shape/style of bottle should I be looking for? [more inside]
Closed casket, closed records?
failover in adoption records opening requests: what happens if a party is deceased? [more inside]
Help me help a customer find the right product
Joe goes to webpage. He answers a few A-or-B questions. After Joe answers the last question, the page shows him which product he should buy.
a) What do I call this decision-making tool?
b) Where do I learn how to make it?
Need reliable US address package forwarding (to Canada) recommendation.
I'm trying to find a decent, reputable company that offers a US address and package forwarding / reshipping to Canada. Seems like there are a LOT of options (myUS, shipito, viaddress, BongoUS) but not a lot of information on which ones are good, and lots of sketchy 4 star reviews.
How To Use this Big Change/Trip in My Life To Practise Social Skills/Build More Intimate Relationships?
I'm a 20 year old girl who has had little experience with real romantic relationships. I also have trouble with friendships---though I am super extroverted and can mix and mingle in parties with ease, creating sustainable friendships is very difficult for me. I'll be going on exchange in France for 5-6 months in January. I'd like to practise and build intimate friendships and romantic relationships (short-term, but meaningful!) when I'm there, and try to get a handle on WHY I usually have trouble. How can I do this? More deets inside. [more inside]
Weird Midieval-horror from my childhood
Time for another round of "name that obscure, weird movie I saw as a kid"! [more inside]
Our neural pathways have become accustomed to your sensory input patterns.
What does a "robot voice" sound like in languages other than English? [more inside]
Shallowest water in the ocean
Where can I stand on the ocean floor, with my head above water? [more inside]
Stupid Bike Questions
I've started my bike a little more seriously, and I have a few questions for the more experienced cyclists of the green. [more inside]
To learn from the people around you, you need to know what to ask.
How can we help event attendees show their expertise? [more inside]
Should I cast a provisional vote even though my registration is inactive?
I am registered to vote in Illinois, but when I went to check my polling place online it said my registration is inactive. I called to inquire and was told that because I had changed addresses without updating it that my registration is inactive and I was also past the time when I could update it. Should I/ Can I show up at my local polling place and cast a provisional ballot? [more inside]
Subscription Services for Daily/Weekly Presents by Mail
What are some fun things I could have delivered by mail that will satisfy my urge to have a package waiting for me when I get home? [more inside]
How can I help deal with my girlfriend's depression?
How can I help deal with my girlfriend's depression? [more inside]
Word processor with good type handling for book layout?
Is there a word processor with better type handling than Microsoft Word for a CreateSpace book? [more inside]
Water damage issues.
Water damage due to an defective appliance. Unit is a townhouse, property management company won't file claim, saying it's my responsibility. Do I have any recourse? [more inside]
Which mortgage should I pay extra to each month?
I am not wonderful at math. I am trying to figure out which mortgage I should pay an extra principal payment to each month. Will you help me? [more inside]
College Costs
How much of the budget for the average American college or university is allocated to salaries & benefits? [more inside]
Dealing with insecurity in the BDSM/poly life
BDSMfilter: Newbie male bottom + experienced poly top = insecurity vortex! Help! [more inside]
Should I go back?
How do I let go of my relationship without feeling tremendously guilty for not trying again? [more inside]
wherefore art thou MAMP
OSX comes with Apache and MySQL pre-installed. Why does MAMP exist? Is there any reason to prefer it to the native installations?
Can you help me find a cap that would keep me comfortable at night?
Bald man seeks a sleeping cap. Can you help me find a cap that would keep me comfortable at night? [more inside]
If this doesn't work, can I trade her in for a kid who sleeps through the night? *sigh*
Please help me keep our 4.5 year old insomniac daughter from crawling into her parents bed in the middle of the night before I lose what's left of my mind from sleep fatigue. [more inside]
Building website for math students, first-time programmer, need some guidance.
Building website for math students, first-time programmer, need guidance. [more inside]
Taking the black
I want to be a night's watchman (from Game of Thrones) for halloween. It's not too hard of a costume, considering I just get all black stuff and wear it, and try to find some black fur looking stuff too. However, in the tv show everyone's outfits are pretty faded and covered in snow. How can I replicate that? Any other suggestions? [more inside]
Best Temp Black Hair Dye?
Best temporary black hair dye for Hallowe'en? [more inside]
What's life like in a swing state?
Ohioans: with the election approaching, what is it like to be living in Ohio right now? [more inside]
Do I need to be medicated or am I just a lazyass?
Should I maybe get evaluated for ADD or ADHD? [more inside]
A moving company to get from Chicago to Boston.
Asking for a friend: What's a good moving company to go from Chicago to Boston with the contents of one bedroom apartment? (Clothes, kitchen stuff plus dining table, bedroom furniture, living room stuff like a big couch and some chairs, a bookcase etc. Might also include the moving of a Honda Civic.)
Best practices for applying powder foundation from a compact?
Most efficient way to get makeup from the compact to my face? [more inside]
What covers our needs without going overboard?
We own a house. Two of the floors are rented out. What is the best home insurance for us? General home insurance questions to follow. [more inside]
With your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!
Clueless guy needs help finding makeup and ingredients for Captain Planet Halloween costume! [more inside]
What is this effect for the guitar?
What is this new guitar effects device or pedal that has become popular in the past few years? [more inside]
Purging all of the things
Have you ever done a large purge of your possessions? How did you do it? [more inside]
International Toll-Free Telephone
What is the best (least expensive) way to setup a toll-free international business line in Canada? [more inside]
Help with web monitoring of my nonprofit's name and logo?
Help me set up a Google Alerts, Analytics or other search to spot sketchy use of my nonprofit’s name and logo! [more inside]
How to help an aimless high school graduate
My Little Brother is directionless after dropping out of college. He spends every day sleeping until 2, waking to smoke up, and then watching TV. I'm worried that weeks of complacency will lead to months of inactivity and eventually years of a pattern of self-defeating behavior. But I don't know what else I can tell him. [more inside]
How to get over being insulted (if I was?)
I'm wondering if I'm being too sensitive regarding a perceived slight from one of my friends at a party? I have a mild case of social anxiety which may be exacerbating this. Details inside. [more inside]
What to do when to depressed and anxious to get therapy for depression and anxiety?
What to do when too anxious and depressed to get therapy for one's anxiety and depression? [more inside]
Hotels and fun stuff in San Francisco
My girlfriend and I are visiting San Francisco in early December. Neither of us have ever been there. Please help us find a reasonably priced (less than $150/night preferably) hotel in the city. [more inside]
Gadgets, and gizmos, and gear, oh my!
I spend a lot of time cruising the web during my slow days at work. One of the things I love are websites with cool "gear" for guys. Help me find more! [more inside]
Please help me identify where I might purchase this teapot for serving chai.
Tea detectives: I need your help. On a recent trip to India I was served chai in this magnificent tea pot (or chai pot) or perhaps it has some unknown name . . . I should have looked for identifying manufacturer marks while there, but alas too late. My google-fu has failed me so far, please help me identify a source where I might purchase said item. (Image inside). [more inside]
FB to Twitter, yay. Twiiter to FB, boo.
My Facebook posts appear on my twitter feed, but my tweets dont appear on my Facebook feed (which is what I really need)... [more inside]
Where can I get a physical exam?
Where can you go to get a very thorough physical exam? [more inside]
Help! I have to interact with my ex while I'm still hurt and angry.
One week after our (non-mutual) breakup, I have to work with my ex at an event. How should I carry myself? [more inside]
October 21
Holding burnout at bay
Considering asking my doctor for modafinil; concerns and questions. [more inside]
Menschy Seattle Therapist, please
Recommendations for a good (please note my definition of good) therapist in Seattle [more inside]
retirement home for old robots
How do I sell "old" computers for their parts, without fuss and fairly. 2004 iMac & 2002 HP laptop. Both have minor operating issues. I don't know a lot about computers, so I don't want to get into specifics with eBay sellers. Prefer walk-in to computer shop and get a fair price. In Chicago if that helps. Thanks!
hostess gift in a hurry
What's an appropriate hostess gift in this situation? [more inside]
Recommended anti-histamines for year-round allergy sufferer?
Allergy filter: I have year-round allergies. Loratadine works wonders for me, but I develop an immunity in about a month or so. Which other non-drowsy antihistamines would you recommend? [more inside]
Hello Austin, Where are my people?
Hello Austin, Where are my people?
I recently moved to Austin, TX from Fargo, ND (of all places).
I've quickly discovered that this place is flooded with awesomeness, to a point of being mildly overwhelming.
Thus, I am asking for help with finding things and people with similar tastes.
I am, a maker crafts person type, I mostly sew and knit but I have a background in sculpture and some interest in learning electronics.
I am also a cyclist, who loves chill coffee houses and a sense of community.
I'm looking for:
1. a place to consign/wholesale goods I make, mainly plush toy monsters, before the holiday season. also craft fairs
2. a couch, or a place to find a couch (secondhand); thrift stores dont seem to have much in the way of furniture.
3. a good, non-chain, hardware/surplus store.
4. a good fabric store
5. a job
6. fellow makers
Magical pillow for ear pain?
Is there a pillow out there that won't hurt my ears and won't puff up in my face? [more inside]
The Conical Asian Hat. Filipino.
Anybody know where one can purchase a "Conical Asian Hat" in San Francisco or East Bay? We are particularly interested in getting a Filipino-style one because they are very attractive. [more inside]
What kind of fungus is this?
Fungusfilter. My parents cut down a tree several years ago and had the stump ground up. About 2 years ago, this red fungus started growing up through the grass. It starts off as a beige foam and then solidifies and turns into a rubbery red color. It grows around the grass before solidifying. I thought it might be reishi but that just doesn't seem right. Here is an image. Thanks all.
The great American stroopwafel may not be great enough
What are the best (and most authentic) brands of stroopwafels, and where can I obtain them? [more inside]
Books for the Future
What books would be essential for a post apocalyptic library? I've just seen a film where someone walks through a post-apocalyptic landscape delivering a precious book to a haven where they plan to collect the knowledge necessary for rebuilding. Now not to get spoilery or anything but it did seem to me the book in question wouldn't do anyone much good. [more inside]
I might have ADHD but I can't take the medicines typically used to treat it.
I think I might have ADHD, but I also have a heart condition. Now what? [more inside]
What happens next?
I recently met a guy at a party, and figured that we hit it off. But I have no previous experience in this area, and I'm unsure about a couple of things... [more inside]
Can prediabetes cause weight gain?
Can prediabetes cause weight gain? [more inside]
Adding context menu entries in Win 7
In Win7, how do you associate an app with a file type without making it the default "open" tool for that app? [more inside]
Should I continue to push for a relationship between my husband and his son?
Should I continue to try to have a relationship with my husband's son from his ex-wife? [more inside]
Books about cities?
Can you name me some books that are somehow about the city where they take place? [more inside]
What happens if I turn on sharing in iPhoto 11?
If I allow iPhoto to share photos with my Facebook and Flickr accounts, will I regret it? [more inside]
I'm afraid I just made the biggest mistake of my life (Breakup filter)
My boyfriend of five years couldn't commit fast enough, but things were improving. Was I an idiot to break up with him? Is it wrong to hope fervently that we'll be together again in a few months? [more inside]
Please suggest a great buyer's agent in Tampa
Can you suggest a great buyer's agent in Tampa? Mr. Doodley and I are looking to move to the Central/North Tampa area (roughly from South Seminole Heights up to North Lowry Park/Manor Hills neighborhoods). [more inside]
Best/cheapest internet cellphone solutions!
Need some solutions for temporary cell phone re-routing. Thinking Google Voice might be the solution somehow but looking for brainstorms. [more inside]
How do I make this job change?
I work in high finance but dream of doing something creative. I don't know how to do this. Do you? [more inside]
Fostering collaboration online
Have you ever collaborated on a project with someone you met on Mefi or elsewhere online? How did that happen? Was there something about how the online environment that made it easy to reach out or be approached?
I'm interested in learning what kinds of dynamics or aspects of online communities foster collaboration. [more inside]
a hop, skip, and a jump away
So...I am currently in my last year of law school (woo!) and I want to plan a wonderful winter holiday as a last hurrah before I enter the work force and having substantially less time off. Guidance and sage wisdom needed! [more inside]
Is there any flaws in my plan to get a phone from Craiglist and Switch to Straight Talk and Google Voice?
What is the recommended way to buy a phone on Craigslist, switch to Straight Talk, and port numbers to Google Voice? [more inside]
At this rate I'll be a doctor at 65...
I'm an adult working a full time job and I have my BA already. I'd like to start working toward medical school by taking an evening class next semester in NYC. I do not want to stop working and enroll in a post-bac pre-med program. Help me figure out my options. [more inside]
Where do I find reasonably-priced patio stone?
What's the best way to install a patio on the cheap? I've been checking out big box stores, but I feel like I'm doing it wrong. I'm in Southwest Louisiana. [more inside]
Getting to/from SFO airport?
What are some inexpensive, yet reliable modes of transportation, to/from SFO airport and the South Bay? [more inside]
Making AppleTV work with an old TV
I have a Sony flatscreen TV: KLV-26HG2 LCD WEGA Color TV. It is a couple of years old. I would like to use Apple TV with it, but the Sony lacks the HDMI port that I need. Is there some sort of device that I could plug into the Sony that would have the HDMI port on the other end, so that I could then plug that into the Apple TV?
How do you get over all the reasons not to make things?
Hope this isn't triggering or anything, but I've got a ton of immediately convincing reasons to never open my mouth or pick up my guitar. Is anyone's up for contributing to my list of less-than-persuasive counterarguments? [more inside]
Cleaning boots that may or may not be nubuck
I bought these leather nubuck/suede boots (in brown) last year and wore them throughout the fall and winter. Due to my ineffective attempt at waterproofing them and lackluster cleaning, they have some lighter spots and dark stains. Some of this is just wear on the leather, I know, but is there a way to get the rest of that off? [more inside]
Where can I host fair use vids w/o getting hit by copyright nonsense constantly?
Where can I host videos for my Shakespeare play comparison website that won't a) cost me tons due to hosting and b) be YouTube knee-jerky on copyright violation? [more inside]
How can I improve myself when it's difficult to find better people to be around and when being around better people doesn't really seem to help?
How can I improve myself when it's difficult to find better people to be around and when being around better people doesn't really seem to help? [more inside]
Motorcycle message boards?
What are the best motorcycle forums? Too many hits from a Google search, so I'd love some specific recommendations. Looking for active members, friendly to relative newby questions. General is good, but some specifics about me: In the Northeast US, recreational rider (not racing), grown-up, older "standard" bike, very interested in riding safely with proper gear. Thanks!
How to achieve my ambitions?
I feel stuck in an unfulfilling job which I am not progressing in. Leading to unhappiness and questioning my overall state of mind. What should I do? Warning: a lot of detail inside. [more inside]
Best Camcorder for me?
Best Camcorder for under $300? [more inside]
I'm thinking about ditching work today. Aaand I've only been there for a week...
I do NOT want to come in to work today. My shift begins in 3 hours and I'm seriously considering just not showing up. One week working there and I already want to quit - HELP! [more inside]
John Lennon, Freud, James Joyce and mid-career Gloria Steinem
Who else had/has signature glasses frames? [more inside]
My sister is separating and likely divorcing her husband after 15 months of marriage, and my family strongly disagrees with her decision. Do we tell her this?
My sister is separating and likely divorcing her husband after 15 months of marriage, and my family strongly disagrees with her decision. Do we tell her this? [more inside]
GSEC vs CISSP
Just finished taking the SANS training course SEC401 in prep for the GSEC exam. Can I take the CISSP using the GSEC training course as prep? [more inside]
What do you mean you don't have any formal logic t-shirts?
Recommendations for Baltimore-area screen printing or online that delivers within a week? [more inside]
How to adopt a Boston Terrier, without waiting months?
What's the best way to adopt a Boston Terrier (without waiting months and months)? [more inside]
This cat video better be worth the hassle...
Can you fix my streaming/download issues? [more inside]
Simple saving
I want a super-simple iPhone app that will let me keep track of my discretionary spending. [more inside]
An old, slow cyclist is baffled by today's MTB technology
I haven't ridden offroad for more than 20 years. Please help this large, slow, stately cyclist get his mountain bike on. [more inside]
How can I leave now and not later?
I have a very promising general management internship opportunity lined up in the summer. I am currently employed in a secure full-time position however I would like to leave my current job and take a short-term contract position in order to boost my salary and leave a toxic environment ? Would this make sense? If so, how do I go about it? [more inside]
First hand accounts of revenge?
I'm looking for first hand accounts of revenge and vigilante justice. [more inside]
Help me dye a sweatshirt without damaging the decal?
I bought a heavy light grey cotton sweatshirt with a plastic-y large round decal on the front. I want to dye the sweatshirt black but not mess up the decal. Any advice on how to do it? Complication: the sweatshirt is used and older. [more inside]
Scooter 101
I am buying a 50cc motor scooter. I have never owned or ridden a scooter. What do I need to know? [more inside]
Christmas in Bavaria
Can you help us with cool things to do in Germany (specifically Munich - Nuremberg - Rothenburg - Frankfurt) in early December? Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
How would a prepaid sim work with my iPhone?
What should I know about using a prepaid sim in my iPhone when overseas? [more inside]
What should I do for my first haircut in a decade or two?
For the past ten years, I've been giving myself buzz cuts. Now that I want a real haircut, what should I ask for when I go to the barber?
Tips for urban cycling as aerobic/cardio workout?
Tips for urban cycling as aerobic/cardio workout? [more inside]
Seeking your advice on donate-by-SMS services
What are your experiences with using a service to receive donations via SMS/text message at your charity? [more inside]
Asus Laptop Left Click Button
Hi! I can't use the left click button on my Asus A53E laptop anymore. Do you smart computer folk have any suggestions to help me get back on track? I can use an external mouse just fine, and I can use the right click button on the laptop just fine. It's the left click button on the laptop that's the problem, and I can't get it to respond in any way. I have restored my settings to last week, and it still won't work. Thank you very kindly for any suggestions.
My present is destroying my future.
Parent is the one with the terminal illness, but I (child of parent) feel that my own life is in danger. Career life, social / love life and general happiness of life are all at stake. Would like suggestions / advice how to proceed further. Warning: blizzard ahead. [more inside]
Exercise classes for fat people
I'm fat. I want to take an exercise class that meets 2-3 times a week to help with weight loss and have fun doing something active. What class should I take? [more inside]
Workplace self-help book recommendation?
Has anyone read a good self-help book about dealing with stressful jobs/workplaces? [more inside]
Do I need to put my nationality on my CV?
I'm going to be on the hunt for tech jobs in London soon and I'm putting together my CV. I read here that people with foreign sounding names (me!) should put 'British Citizen' somewhere near the top. Is this actually still an issue? It feels awkward to stick it in there next to my contact details.
Help me find a well priced beach stay in Bali
Quality accomodation in Bali? [more inside]
A girl named Claire (or a variant of) from an 80's band
30 years ago, next week, my daughter was born. I need a soundtrack for an early life slideshow I have made. [more inside]
And I always thought the customers were the problem...
Help me cope with retail hell. [more inside]
Feeling lost in my life. What do I do? *Que the snowflake*
Feeling lost in my life. What do I do? *Que the snowflake* [more inside]
October 20
Numbers and figures make me panic
Any methods for instantaneous number recognition in foreign languages? [more inside]
Retailer Makeover Needed
A friend owns a children's boutique in NYC. She recently confessed that business has been tanking. She overbuys, she doesn't do any sort of inventory management, she has no online presence (apart from a neglected Facebook page). What advice would you give her?
'Boss Hog' from Rolling Stone
Is there any way I can read the "Boss Hog" article from Jeff Tietz/Rolling Stone Magazine? [more inside]
Dayton International to Cincinnati?
What's the cheapest way to get from Dayton International Airport to downtown Cincinnati? [more inside]
How do I get my friend to stop "joking" about things that aren't funny?
I have a friend who makes a point of expressing how much he likes really poisonous people from my past until I lay out for him the precise reason I (often) find even the mention of said person upsetting. These people are his acquaintances at best. He does this for every/any person he knows I find really upsetting. What should I do? [more inside]
What to see and do in Indian Rocks Beach, FL over Christmas?
What is there to see and do in Indian Rocks Beach, FL over Christmas? [more inside]
House hunting tips
House hunting tips please. [more inside]
Visualize 6 Pages in 1 Slide?
How do I visualize the content of six pages on one PowerPoint slide? Graphical palpability preferred. [more inside]
What to do in these two great UK cities on two great holidays?
Halloween (Edinburgh) and Bonfire Night (London) in the UK for the first time! I would like your suggestions. [more inside]
thomas aquinas
Ad pulchritudinem tria requiruntur [more inside]
Help me not dress like a slob anymore
Dressing as an adult... for men.
I've spent a bunch of time randomly googling and browsing through clothing regailer sites and blogs, but haven't come across quite what i'm looking for. As a man who doesn't like to shop, I would love to find a web-site that has photos of people wearing clothing that I like... along with links to where I can purchase those clothes. Seems simple, right? Well, not so fast. [more inside]
Donations, anyone?
Charities in Southern California that accept appliances (a dryer) that ARE NOT the Salvation Army? [more inside]
Clothing culture shock: getting a woman from the lab to Capitol Hill
Business clothing for female scientist working in Washington DC. [more inside]
A scifi book about kids who traveled to an alternative universe?
I'm looking for a sci-fi book about young people who traveled to an alternative universe on multiple occasions. There was something about a power station and the story may also have mentioned a triangular symbol. It turns out that their switching between universes was limited for some reason. [more inside]
No you CANNOT poop behind the refrigerator
My 8 year old cat (The Dude) fairly recently decided that pooping in his very expensive litter robot is just not for him. Instead he poops just outside of the robot, and this morning he decided to go in around the same location but much more frustratingly located: behind the refrigerator.
I've tried various solutions, and there is a lot more to the story... [more inside]
What type of electrical outlet is this?
What kind of locking electrical outlets are in the Jacob Javits Convention Center in NYC? [more inside]
The greengrocer snaps!
What is it like to realize you live in a totalitarian system? [more inside]
necessary documentaton for international flights and auto travel.
Last minute check list for US citizen with departing flight from Canada to Iceland to UK to Ireland, no return ticket and a car retuning with a different driver. [more inside]
Seeking a fresh new 'do!
What kind of haircut or style might breathe new life into my boring old curly hair? Pics inside! [more inside]
Is it normal for psychiatrists to require urine tests while taking Adderall?
Is it standard operating procedure for psychiatrists to give urine tests while using Adderall to treat ADHD? [more inside]
How can I deal with lingering feelings of blame and attachment following the end of a long-term relationship?
I was with my boyfriend for 3.5 years and we lived together for much of that time. We had built a home and a family (albeit a two-person family), but two months ago he left me. On paper, I'm doing really well. But I still struggle with blame and attachment. Can you offer advice that will help me let go? (Lot's more detail inside. Hope it's not too much). [more inside]
By any other name?
Book Filter: I'd like to reread a book that I read sometime in the 80s. I was sure that it was called 'Corner Store' and was in a Reader's Digest Condensed volume, but Wikipedia, Google, and Amazon seem to disagree. [more inside]
Weird giant fig-things
What the heck is this mysterious fruit/vegetable? Pics inside. [more inside]
Buying doubanjiang (豆瓣酱) in or near northern VA?
Where can I find doubanjiang (豆瓣酱) for purchase in or near northern VA? [more inside]
Pet Urine Soaked Carpets — Cosmetic or Sanitary?
Urine (pet) saturated carpets in our new apartment. Merely cosmetic? Or is this an un-sanitary living condition? [more inside]
Live acoustic party music
Looking for a list of old-timey popular standard songs to play (guitar/banjo/mandolin/harmonica, etc) with friends in the living room while we drink beer and let the kids jump around. [more inside]
Help me find stiff vegetarian oil painting brushes.
I've recently got hooked on oil painting and in trying to be more vegetarian about it I'm looking for recommendations for synthetic brushes which replicate the stiffness of hog bristle brushes. Any ideas? [more inside]
Can a second accident affect a yet-to-be-settled case?
YANML, but please help me weigh the benefits of filing a police report about a car-bike accident when a settlement is still in process from a previous accident. [more inside]
"Congratulations on getting married a SECOND time!" ... sigh.
Divorcee getting married for the second time and a full wedding's to be planned, mixed feelings on the wedding part. Tell me the personal side of your 2nd (+) wedding experiences. [more inside]
Awkward + shy + no date
Help a shy girl socialize at a wedding where she knows nobody [more inside]
Looking for a Big Ten friendly sports bar near Laguna Beach
Where can I watch the Mich/Mich State game somehwere near Laguna Beach CA? Looks like it's only on the Big Ten Network (For some reason I thought there was major network coverage). Any ideas of a sports bar so comprehensive as to carry the Big Ten network?
Where can I find an opaque white v-neck t-shirt?
I've been trying to find a suitable white women's v-neck for about three months now with no luck. [more inside]
Where to find a good online vendor for hard-to-find DVDs?
Any recommendations for an online vendor for out-of-print/never-released films on DVD, specifically classic musicals. I'm looking for copies of The Big Broadcast, The Big Broadcast of 1936 and The Big Broadcast of 1937. I've seen a few vendors online, but have no idea of their reliability or the quality of their product.
What is this puppy's name?
Name my scrappy survivor terrier puppy? [more inside]
Sun, sand, bland?
How can I entertain myself at an island resort? [more inside]
Confusing landlord situation
From a friend: I received a letter stating that my landlord has not paid the outstanding expenses due for the apartment and that I am now required by law to stop paying him for rent and send my rent directly to this debt collector. What should I do? [more inside]
Help me find a LINE (in) on a cheap laptop
I need a cheap laptop that runs Windows 7 (or 8) and would be good for audio recording. Basically, it needs to run skype and have mini-jack inputs for headphones and a mic. Can you help? [more inside]
Blow The Lid Off
Why does President Obama's mug have a lid on it during his appearance on The Daily Show from last night? [more inside]
October 19
Parking lot scrape - what's the procedure?
Parking lot scrape - what's the procedure? [more inside]
Metal with "clean" vocals?
Recommendations for a metal-noob? difficulty: "melodic" vocals [more inside]
Does anyone make mass-produced but unusual hooded sweatshirts?
Are there any companies making unusual mass-produced hoodies for screenprinting? [more inside]
Work experience now or later?
Future healthcare-administration graduate: Should I try to get administrative experience while I'm in school or stick with patient-care jobs for now? [more inside]
iRegretful?
Current Droid Charge user. Contemplating a move to my first-ever iPhone. Mistake? [more inside]
Liberal magazines for my Mother Jones-loving Mom?
Last year, I got my mom (a dedicated Northeastern liberal) subscriptions to several liberal magazines for Christmas. She loves Mother Jones hugely, and is OK on American Prospect and The Nation. This year, I want to renew the magazines she likes and send her more as well. The Atlantic is definitely in the mix, but are there others that I'm missing? Liberal books are good as well. [more inside]
Did I imagine this scene from My So-Called Life?
So, I absolutely loved My So-Called Life as a teenager. I recently bought the DVD and just watched the pilot episode again, but a scene I vividly remember is missing. [more inside]
Can you help me create a list of example of "Immersion Cinema"?
Can you help me create a list of example of "Immersion Cinema"? [more inside]
Have you had parathyroid disease or severe vitamin d deficiency?
I'm having a couple more tests this week to determine if my medium-term pain and feelings of crapiness are down to severe Vitamin D deficiency or parathyroid disease. If you have been diagnosed with either, could you share your initial symptoms, how you were diagnosed, and how your treatment went? [more inside]
Tshirts and tops when short and curvy - how?
Tshirts and tops when short and curvy - how? [more inside]
Help me make an impact.
Help me put together an engaging and enlightening workshop about gender and sexuality! [more inside]
Looking for article about journalism and political savvy
Looking for article about journalism being too concerned with political "savvy" [more inside]
How do I stop being prideful?
How to be less...prideful and more open to outside suggestions? I guess? [more inside]
Percentage Calculation
I know the price of something now and what the price was 2 years ago - how do I calculate that as an annual percentage increase? [more inside]
How do I help my friend find a boyfriend?
DatingFilter: What dating advice do I give to my friend? [more inside]
Asparagus from seeds
As a novice gardening is it crazy for me to try to grow asparagus from seeds? [more inside]
I feel a calling to learn more about my religious faith and lead a more spiritual life. How can I do this in a meaningful way when my partner does not share this interest?
I feel a calling to learn more about my religious faith and lead a more spiritual life. How can I do this in a meaningful way when my partner does not share this interest? [more inside]
i'm not my own grandpa, but i would like to know more about him.
how hard is it to get a birth certificate from the philippines (possibly malaysia) when you don't know all the information? [more inside]
Where can I study bonobos in the United States?
What U.S. research labs conduct bonobo research, preferably at nearby research facilities? I'm looking into summer internships and graduate schools. [more inside]
Seeking awesome notepad
I'm looking for a notepad to use with a fountain pen with binding and paper similar to moleskine large (5x8) pads, but at 8x11 size. Moleskine does sell 8x11 pads but they have a less smooth paper that does not work well with fountain pens. Clairefontaine is pretty good but it has thicker, smoother paper. [more inside]
What should we name our hedgehog?
What should we name our hedgehog? My boyfriend and I just got a pet hedgehog and are having trouble deciding on a name. He's a boy, and we're thinking about a New Orleans-y name since we just moved here. Please help. [more inside]
Sorry I took your job.
I recently joined a company as a specialist in my field. My role is part of a new specialist team internal to the organization. My team has been tasked with creating new products as well as improved versions of old products that have been poorly received. And now the generalist I am "replacing" is acting out towards me. [more inside]
Publicly discussed promotion might not happen. What next?
Can I stay on at a job when promised promotion is being withdrawn? [more inside]
A game and a book
Can you recommend an excellent board game (preferably involving some skill and thinking, and not an e-game) and an excellent illustrated book with a girls' sports theme (preferably soccer but not necessarily) as gifts for a 4 year-old girl? [more inside]
Am I outsmarting my smartphone?
Do Jelly Bean push notifications work with apps shut off? [more inside]
Help plan my road trip in south PA!
Road Trip (sort of) with my boyfriend this Monday from Pottstown, PA, to Hanover, PA, to Chambersburg, PA, then back to Pottstown. Any Mefites know of things to do/places to go along the way to make it fun? [more inside]
Cost of living in Groningen
A friend of mine in Asia is wondering about becoming an exchange student at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. She is wondering whether the cost of living as estimated by the University folks is correct. One link here. More specific questions below the fold. [more inside]
Insurance double-dipping?
Our storage unit was broken into, and about $5000 worth of stuff was stolen. We purchased an insurance policy with the unit (it was mandatory), and we also have renters insurance (with our auto insurance company). Can I file with both of them? [more inside]
How do you keep track of your marketing as a freelancer?
How do you track your marketing efforts to potential clients as a freelancer? [more inside]
Wrap damage...
Car Wrap Filter: Do car wraps damage the paint underneath the wrap? [more inside]
How do I bank sperm for later use?
How do I bank my sperm for potential future parenting desires? [more inside]
Is there such a thing as a pocket MBA?
Please help me acquire a working simulacrum of an MBA. I'm currently undergoing a career transition into a field where many if not most of the folks have MBAs, and MBA-related knowledge- specifically related to investing, public and private equity, and enterprise funding- is part of the air the profession breathes. Getting an MBA isn't really an option for me for a number of reasons, and I'm wondering if it's possible to assemble a syllabus for myself- through online and print resources- that will be a quick and dirty way to acquire some of the knowledge and rhetoric of the field- a kind of pocket MBA, if you will. [more inside]
How to convey enthusiasm on the job hunt?
I just moved to a big city after graduating college in August. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do, and I'm not the most ambitious or confident person, to say the least. I have a somewhat untreated case of ADD, but I don't take my meds anymore; I'm finding coffee and exercise are much better.
Anyways, I have gotten two different pieces of negative feedback on my phone behavior with people who had the potential to give me a job; they both basically said I sounded unenthusiastic. What is a good way to remedy this? [more inside]
Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Can you get in trouble for publicly fantasizing about the death of a (still-living) former President of the United States? Asking for a friend.
Thanksgiving II: The Recluckening
I need to make the best turkey you've ever tasted this Thanksgiving. My pride is at stake here, people. Help me! [more inside]
Hosting a guest with limited English?
We're hosting a grad student from Thailand tonight who speaks very little english and has some trouble following conversation. What do we do to be good hosts? [more inside]
How do you recognize a gifted chemist?
How would a graduate chemistry student distinguish themselves as more gifted than their classmates? [more inside]
How do I make my clean clothes look clean?
How do I get rid of residue on my clean clothes when I'm using a shared washer in an apartment building? [more inside]
What legal recourse is there for a seller who backs out of a completed auction?
What legal recourse is there for a seller who backs out of a completed auction on Flippa.com? [more inside]
Can employer restrict my use of portfolio samples?
I'm a graphic designer, employed full-time with a marketing agency. Yesterday my boss said I have to take down examples of work I've done while at the agency. In trying to determine if I can legally show these samples, searching the web is providing conflicting info.
Things worth mentioning (a) My portfolio specifies that the work was done on behalf of my employer (b) I never signed anything restricting the use of these images and (c) The images are of works that have appeared in public (stores, events, etc).
Is there something "official" I can refer to that shows where the rights to these images lie, especially as they apply to a personal portfolio?
how to care less?
How can I avoid the destructive path I've usually taken after breakups? [more inside]
Re-upgrading a home computer for Revit
A little over a year ago, I posted this question about upgrading my home computer to be able to run Revit. I successfully monkeyed with my box to be able to run Revit 2012, but now my firm has upgraded me to Revit 2013, for which my video card no longer works properly. The major complication now is that I got the only video card I could find that worked with Revit and fit my motherboard, so this time it won't be as simple as just switching out the card. What's my best course of action to remedy the current situation? Technical stuff, specs and further questions after the jump. [more inside]
No true scottsman?
Is it fair and accurate of me to believe that my liberalism is not tainted by the massive harm caused by communist dictators and other historical "leftist" movements that have caused great harm? [more inside]
little independent agents
Besides gametes, are there any other animal cells or cell groups that live and function outside of the originating animal? [more inside]
Please give me a job. And a Master's degree.
Be my career counselor: Help me tailor my resume toward a job in higher education administration or research, and a couple of questions. [more inside]
How to turn grandma's handwriting into gift.
Can you help me think of a great xmas gift for my mom that incorporates my deceased grandmother's handwriting? [more inside]
Lyme disease: just how screwed am I?
LymeDiseaseFilter: Have you or someone you're close to had Lyme, had it treated, and more-or-less lived to tell the tale? I'm seeking anecdata to help me calibrate exactly how freaked out I should be about this diagnosis. [more inside]
iPad email issues
iPad email connexion problems. [more inside]
What are non-clinical, location-independent jobs that advance (or could advance) the cause of reproductive health?
What are non-clinical, location-independent jobs that advance (or could advance) the cause of reproductive health? How do you get the skills for those jobs? Do they exist? [more inside]
Kasasa
What does kasasa mean? I heard a lot of it this morning in radio commercial, but did not understood what it means. [more inside]
Thanks for nothing, Disney.
We are about to have a baby. The name we are favoring turns out to be the same as the next Disney princess. What should a good feminist mom do? [more inside]
A 3 year old's strange phobias
Over the summer, my 3.5 year old developed a bunch of odd aversions/phobias. And now, over the last three weeks or so, he seems generally anxious when we go out.
I'm wondering if it's just a phase related to his age, and I should keep him mostly at home till it passes? Or is this the start of a more serious anxiety condition? Or a sign that our city life is too much for him? [more inside]
Too Soon?
Searching for photo from Comic Con (I think!) - please help! [more inside]
Lucy just wants to have fun!
What do puppies do for fun? [more inside]
6 monitors 10 pc, how to hook it up
So this involves a whole bunch of computers (Linux, Windows (server), Windows (7) and Macs and 6 monitors a keyboard and a mouse.
I am trying to find a way to dynamically assign a computer to one or more monitors, and change it around whenever needed. (So no monitor should be hardwired to a single machine)
I am thinking of a super duper KVM switch but I havent been able to find one yet.
Drug-dealer Problems
A man in my neighborhood is selling drugs, and from what I can tell its something hard. I want to report this anonymously to the police. I'm afraid of retribution if he or any of his associates find out about this. I'm confident I've identified him on Facebook. What materials should I include with my report? How likely is it to be followed up on?
OMG how come you don't complete tasks in exactly the same manner I would?
I am an inexperienced manager with one experienced employee and one inexperienced employee working under me. We are in a technical field; I do some of the technical work, but it is very time-consuming, so they are meant to be extra 'hands' and free me to do planning and analysis of the team's work. What are reasonable expectations to have of them and how can I ensure they meet these reasonable expectations? [more inside]
Making reasonable font
I would like to create a font using someone's handwriting and am looking for a good software with which to do this. I'm not an expert in this, so it would have to have a small learning curve, unless it is really worth it for me to spend time learning so I can get reasonable results. [more inside]
What are good iPad games for newbies?
What are the best "gateway games" on the iPad for a complete newbie? [more inside]
What was this song?
Name this song: female singer, sounds kinda new, on an indie radio station. Lyrics say something about "the worst" or "what's worse?" and "people say I'm _____ because I have no plans to settle down." [more inside]
Unhealthy conspiracy theories
A friend of mine has become so wrapped up in conspiracy theories that it's ruining his life. Help! [more inside]
October 18
Tonight's gonna be a good night
Help me compile an all-star, best ever, awarding winning wedding playlist. [more inside]
Do I need to see a doc for plantar fasciitis treatment?
I know I have plantar fasciitis. I'm stretching and working to decrease my inflammation. Do I need to see a doc? [more inside]
You got your carbide in my fuel oil! No, you got your fuel oil on my carbide!
In 1980 Mark Knopfler watched the object of his desire turn and walk away in a roar of dust and diesel. Was that a reference? If so, to what? [more inside]
Why were airplanes flying the wrong way over LA today?
Why were airplanes flying the wrong way over LA today? [more inside]
Funny Autodesk Maya t-shirt needed
Autodesk Maya users who wear t-shirts: I need your help finding a Maya in-joke t-shirt. [more inside]
That's some synchronicity there
Slightly NSFW lyrics question below. [more inside]
Confused by the singular "they"...
GrammarFilter: "Would [my friend] rather have their significant other think they find them ugly, or think they find them stupid?" Is this ambiguously worded? Help me settle a dispute. [more inside]
I want to have this video forever!
How can I save the LA Times' time-lapse video of space shuttle Endeavour's journey across LA for posterity (on my own computer)? It's really beautiful, but I'm afraid they'll take it off the LA Times website at some point. I'd like to save it for personal viewing later. I don't know much about these sorts of things (flask, etc.). I have an older Mac and no video capture card. Is this even possible? (Nevermind whether it's legal). Thanks all! Answer in the hypothetical if you prefer. ;-)
Awesome shuttle video
Help me ID this TAL background song!
Where should we go for a weekend out of New York?
Where within a short (less than 3-hour) drive from New York City should we go this weekend? [more inside]
Dating with ADHD
How to handle disclosing ADHD when dating? How would most people react? [more inside]
Help ID women's boots
Please help Mrs. exogenous identify these short leather boots decorated with an embroidered tree. [more inside]
A Font with a View
[font/typography filter] Can you ID the font from the titles on the TV show "The View" as in this image? It's that simple.
Dr. House, you're wanted in podiatry.
I'm having a foot flexibility problem that I can't figure out. YANMD, unless you are, hey doc! It's the end of a long string of problems that I got over, but this last thing is hanging on, and i'm not sure how it is related to past problems (achilles tendonitis and some arch issues in that foot). [more inside]
How does one go about selling a collection of old stamps?
How does one go about selling a collection of old stamps? [more inside]
A Blu-ray player that can make friends with my iMac
Help me find a (cheap!) Blu-ray player. I have an iMac, and want to stream video from my computer to the player to the TV... [more inside]
Move my new Wordpress site from subdirectory to root?
Blog/website tech support needed!
How can I move my newly designed Wordpress site from a subdirectory to the root, while somehow archiving the old indexhibit site which currently dwells on the root? I only have a couple of days in which to do this! [more inside]
RSVP not required...
My coworker is having a birthday party and invited everyone except me I think. I don't "GET" this, but I would rather sort of have an explanation in my mind.... Is this just a thing about work friendships? [more inside]
How can I help after a death in the family?
The mother of the family I work for just passed away after a long illness. What can I do to help? [more inside]
How can I argue more civilly?
How can I argue more civilly? [more inside]
Not stirring additional sugar into wort
Have brewed a 5 gal batch of beer which due to old yeast did not begin to ferment til better yeast was added, resulting in 72 hrs of bad things floating to the surface. Now fermenting nicely, don't want to discard the batch, but don't want to stir it when I add the sugar water at the end to carbonate in the bottle. My question, do I need to stir it in or will it achieve the same level of sugar dissolved by itself, and how long should I give it before bottling ?
[academic filter] know nothing, must give comment on it, on the fly. how to be OK with this?
I suffer from extreme performance anxiety but have been yanked in at the last minute to talk on something I know almost nothing about. Not performing is not an option. Need help. [more inside]
What happens to all this STUFF?
What happens to surplus goods? [more inside]
undocumented narratives
Looking for first-person narratives from undocumented immigrants to the United States. [more inside]
A nice thesis theme to my website
Where To Find a Thesis Wordpress Theme Designer? [more inside]
But I thought you asked *me* to the dance!
Is it standard practice to offer someone a job and then post that opening? [more inside]
Where can I buy Mo Yan's book online (in chinese, not translated)?
Where can I buy Mo Yan's books "Red Sorghum" and "The Garlic Ballads" in traditional Chinese? (not the English translation)? [more inside]
What are the must-hit events for a San Francisco Halloween?
Please help us experience an American-style Halloween in the San Francisco Bay Area (ages 20s-30s). For us I think this means finding the most highly recommend of: 1). A big event crammed with people in their best arty / sexy outfits (like SEAF Seduction, or Decompression if it were reinvented as a Halloween event), 2) An amazing haunted house, 3) Maybe a corn maze or similar? What are your strongest recommendations? [more inside]
Only thing that's on my mind
Who is going to run this town tonight? [more inside]
Smartphone for Travling/Living Abroad
Smartphone filter: I will probably be moving to South Korea for a year when I graduate in May. I want to get a nice, new smartphone now. What is the best option for a phone to use overseas? [more inside]
What is going on?
What is this strange smell sensation that happens to me every Fall around this time? [more inside]
Help me understand Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease - what should I be asking my consultant as a newly diagnosed patient? [more inside]
Couples therapy in NYC?
Couples' counceler or therapist in NYC? [more inside]
How to look like something you can't see?
How do I dress as a black hole for Halloween? [more inside]
Help me buy a MacBook Pro.
Help a lifelong PC user who Knows Computers and considers himself a Savvy Consumer buy himself a non-retina MacBook Pro. Technical and budgeting questions inside. [more inside]
What do I look like?
Looking for Classical art of the human form of the Ancient Greek primordial deity of darkness Erebos/Erebus/Erberus. [more inside]
Furminator for people?
Is there any particular type of hairbrush (or other trickery) that will help me shed my hair in a controlled manner? Like a furminator, for people? [more inside]
What should we explore around the SF Bay area on short notice?
A few months ago, I booked an incredible deal on a flight to spend 4 days next week in or around San Francisco. Life got busy, and I still haven't made any actual plans for what we're going to do, or where we're going to stay. We've been to SF a few times before, and want to rent a car and explore the area surrounding the city this time around -- particularly to the North. Any budget-friendly suggestions? [more inside]
It's one of those things that you're always vaguely aware of, but never quite grok...
Explain broadcast television in Canada and the US to me like I'm five. [more inside]
Who's paying for this?
What percentage of my monthly ISP bill pays for the internet infrastructure? What percent of the internet is paid for by home users and business users as consumers, versus business users who are serving content, like Facebook or NetFlix Streaming? I would love a pie chart, but whatever you got is appreciated...
Sales as a bridge to other careers?
Is a job in sales a good way to jump from academia to the corporate world? [more inside]
What is the Google Search of other countries?
What are the best non-English or non-U.S. search engines? Google is the leader in the U.S., but Russian users prefer Yandex from what I understand, and Baidu is the top choice in China. What other search engines prevail in other countries or locales? [more inside]
Best available, will call
Suggest examples of websites that do a great job of selling event tickets? [more inside]
SuperPAC Hell
Why is Safari on an iPad running iOS 5.1 ignoring my PAC file for https URLs? [more inside]
Should we move back to Boston after a month?
My fiancee and I moved to Chicago from Boston, a couple of months ago, and the both of us are just longing to go back to Boston. We can afford to move back, and she has job prospects out there. Should we go or wait it out? [more inside]
How to turn Google Forms results back into the forms that were submitted?
Using Google Forms, is there any easy to to turn a form response (displayed as a line on a spreadsheet) back into the form that was submitted so it can be printed or saved as a PDF? [more inside]
Books or articles on the history of the EU?
Looking for a great book/article/essay on the history of the European Union and the current economic crisis there. [more inside]
Upstate Punchlines
I'm looking for a New Yorker cartoon that references Utica, NY. [more inside]
Be my oasis in the desert!
Looking for first-person accounts of, or other non-fiction writing about, the experience of seeing an oasis mirage in the desert. [more inside]
How to manage the relationship with Mom
How do you enforce boundaries with a needy parent? [more inside]
I have material needs
What stores in the Seattle region are like TAP Plastics but for other materials? [more inside]
Help with focus when reading dull, dry, and lengthy scientific papers or texts please. Yet another attention deficit question.
How do I maintain my focus and make sure my comprehension is maximized when reading (required) heavy or something I don't find terribly interesting? [more inside]
Looking for fun party games like Telephone Pictionary
Looking for fun party games (other than Telephone Pictionary) that can be played with 20-25 people and involve little (or no) supplies, explanation, organization, or complex thinking. [more inside]
Sick of the cite of this thing.
How do I cite a legal case in Microsoft Word? [more inside]
Hangups with Hang-ups
What's the proper way to accommodate a chair rail (dado rail) when hanging items on the wall? [more inside]
Cultural Outreach in the Greater LA Area?
Tips for finding out about diplomatic cultural outreach events in greater L.A. area? [more inside]
Do my bidding, PICASA!
How can I get Picasa to organize the way I want? [more inside]
how to rig a stuck piano key
How can I jerry-rig my stuck piano key so it it returns fully? [more inside]
I am trying to track everything I listen to over several years through iTunes. Help.
I would like to access my entire iTunes library (stored at home) at work in such a way that when I listen to a track, its play count in iTunes goes up. Am I missing something easy or is this harder to do than it should be? [more inside]
Toddler YAK costume?
Costumefilter, Toddler Edition : My friend's 2 y.o. has his heart set on being a yak for Halloween. Help? [more inside]
Looking for the best software and tools for academics working with digital files
I'm giving a workshop to a group of humanities scholars (historians, philosophers, etc) on how to work with digitized sources that they have collected from various archives. What killer software/apps should I highlight? [more inside]
Help me work with green high density foam
I am at the "what have I gotten myself into THIS year?" portion of the costume making season and am struggling with my material choice - 1 inch thick green high density foam. [more inside]
Help Kief-er get his smoke on
I'm a moderate pot smoker to help with my insomnia and back pains. My local medical marijuana dispensary is selling stellar kief at great prices (less costly than pot, even.) I love to 'snowcap' my bowl of herb with kief, but lately I'm thinking maybe I should skip the herb and just burn the trichomes. My current glass pot pipe isn't going to do the trick - what's the best pipe these days for kief?
Anyone switched from herb to just kief? Experiences? Drawbacks?
Help me find this watch and maybe I'll engrave it with your name.
Where can I purchase a Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military watch? [more inside]
Cubital Tunnel of Hate!!!
Ulnar nerve anterior transposition surgery experiences. Have one? Please share! [more inside]
I might need a larger desk, too...
I just acquired a Wacom Bamboo Create. Do you have any advice/tutorials/program reccomendations for me? [more inside]
Did people overseas get to see Sinéad rip up the Pope?
In 1992, when Sinéad O'Connor ripped up a picture of the pope on American TV, did TV news in the UK and Ireland show the clip? [more inside]
I'm addicted to spacing out.
I'm shocked and embarrassed to admit how quickly my life has begun to fall apart after discontinuing ADHD treatment. Is anyone aware of a physician in the greater Columbus or Cleveland metropolitan areas that A) is not opposed to specifically prescribing Adderall for ADHD - please, no "you don't need medication!" pep talks or alternate treatment recommendations, B) is sufficiently reasonably priced that an uninsured person could afford treatment, and C) is accepting new patients without long waiting periods? Your help is sincerely appreciated.
Please recommend quality humour concerning Halloween.
What are some of the best Halloween sketches/standup/longform jokes that you know? [more inside]
Awkward RPG Sessions - Should This Girl Gamer Find Another Group?
I joined a gaming group about 6 months ago - and, well, things are awkward. I am wondering if I should keep going or if I should just chalk this up to experience (no pun intended)? [more inside]
10 pounds of carrots? SOLD!
Looking into buying 10 pounds each of the following--carrots, potatoes, onions--and if I do so, how do we store them to minimize spoilage? [more inside]
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
I plan on being Miss Argentina, the blue-skinned, slit-wrist Afterlife Receptionist from Beetlejuice for Halloween. What free typeface should I use to print the sash? [more inside]
What is your job like, really?
Between the hours of 9-to-5, or whenever you work...what are you doing, specifically? [more inside]
Help Me Make a Dietarily-Constrained Feast Great!
So, I need to do some vegan cooking, but there are extra limitations. Help me come up with some ideas for a fun Thanksgiving [more inside]
Looking for something snazzier than “print this thread and show him”
Metafilter, today I held my first positive pregnancy test. Help me tell my husband in a memorable way. [more inside]
How to say no to Cultural Education?
Help me make arguments against cultural education programs in Korean schools. [more inside]
Job interview in a few days. Help me speak banking?
What sites or articles can I read to cram for a job interview at a large consumer bank? [more inside]
Excel colour schemes are making me go blind
How do I permanently change the colour scheme in Excel (2010) so that I don't keep on going blind due to other people's spreadsheets? [more inside]
tv transpo
How heavy/bulky/awkward is a 32" flatscreen TV, freshly purchased in the box? [more inside]
October 17
Plastic roast twine?
What's up with the plastic strings on my roast? [more inside]
Mysterious Skull Logo
Help me find recipes that are interesting to eat with your eyes closed.
I want to treat my girlfriend to an unusual dinner. [more inside]
Investing the $$$ I have?
Help me invest my money in ways that might be less obvious than the normal CDs or stock market. [more inside]
Help me get my Pfeiffer on?
What short stories and essays and what methods could I use in mentoring incarcerated youth who would like to improve their writing? [more inside]
Why is Ozzy = Ossie with Black Sabbath?
Why is Ozzy Osbournes name spelled as Ossie Osbourne on Black Sabbath's debut album? [more inside]
Meddling mother
How do i stop a caring but meddling mother interfering with my relationships in life? [more inside]
Is this a termite?
Do we have termites? Here is a picture. We are in the bay area of California, and these appeared for the first time tonight after it got dark. They are swarming around our porch light.
We ain't got no budget!
CHALLENGE TIME! You are lent some expensive, professional grade video equipment for 18 hours and told that you may use it as you see fit in the time you have. Assuming little to no preparation beforehand, what do you do and/or film with it? Ideally you'd like the owner (or anyone else who sees your work) to be mildly impressed, knowing that you have no actual solo film making experience whatsoever. [more inside]
I just moved within the same county, can I still vote? (Colorado)
I was registered to vote in Weld county in 2008. Earlier this month I moved a few miles away to a town that happens to be in Weld county (Firestone, Co to Frederick, Co). Can I still vote in the 2012 election? Do I need to change any information before I vote?
Last Will and Testament of the an Artist
Artists, what will happen to your writings music and artworks if/when you die? Any ideas? Do you have a will, and a clause with some legal language? [more inside]
Best way to use a Concept2 rower
I just purchased a Concept2 Model D rower with PM3 monitor. What's my best way to use it given my condition and goals? [more inside]
Does anyone remember a website called "Ask the Gurus" or something similar? Looking for info or ANYone else who remembers this website. (It was video game characters answering advice column type questions)
I'm trying to track down any information about an old website that's been offline for years. I believe it was called 'Ask the Gurus'. People would write in with their questions, and they'd be answered by video game characters. Karsh from Chrono Cross was probably the most frequently used avatar by the site's author, but many other characters showed up too. [more inside]
Can you tell me the name of what I want to do?
Career question, think what I'm looking to go into is analysis, not completely sure. Metastable cubic ice crystal details in extended. [more inside]
Do iTunes security question failed attempts reset after a wait time?
Apparently, I didn't keep the answers to my iTunes security authorization questions. I think I can guess my answers with a few more tries, but I might get locked out before I get there.
Will the wrong answer count reset back to zero after a wait time? Meaning, can I try again tomorrow, or will I still get locked out? [more inside]
Question about cat P.U. surgery
Question about cat P.U. surgery [more inside]
I keep getting rejected or ignored and want to quit trying to date
I want to give up trying to date, I just keep getting rejected, can you guys help me stay motivated and not quit trying? [more inside]
Good beginner MIDI controller?
Good beginner keyboard/MIDI controller for Ableton newbie making music in spare time? (primarily EDM, but other genres as well) [more inside]
Recent nicknames: Sickie, Boogernose
This cold is making me crazy. Help me feel better! [more inside]
Beyond Kripalu
What is the best workshop or retreat you’ve experienced? [more inside]
How do I avoid defaulting on my student loans?
I have a little more than $30,000 in "Stafford" federally subsidized student loans which have been in forbearance and/or deferment as I have been unable to find steady work since I finished school 3.5 years ago. At this point I am flat broke, living off food stamps and credit cards, and it appears my loan servicers are no longer willing to grant me further forbearance. What are my options? [more inside]
Where can I live in Philadelphia for 4 months?
Where can I live in Philadelphia for 4 months? [more inside]
Seattle > diner > Walla Walla
Driving between Seattle to Walla Walla: best diner? [more inside]
Help me survive my twenties without completely losing my mind.
I'm a 24 year old lady with failed relationship woes. Help me stop feeling so crummy about myself and give me day-to-day ways to feel more centered, happy, and not-desperate. [more inside]
50% of students are below average, right?
What approaches might be effective for motivating an underachieving U.S. high school student? [more inside]
Where to live in coastal Oregon?
Where to live in Northern coastal Oregon? Vernonia? Astoria? Manzanita? Portland with a wicked commute? [more inside]
Would crazy glue work?
I have a question about a crack in the body of an acoustic guitar. [more inside]
Help me recreate this dish!
At a restaurant I had an amazing dish with the following description, "vegetarian black bean chili, seasoned rice and steamed vegetables." It was spicy and I loved it, but couldn't describe it beyond being traditional American, perhaps a bit with a Mexican flavor. This seems like a really simple dish, any ideas of dishes like it or how to recreate it?
Polycystic ovaries that are not pathological... what?
My "ovaries are polycystic, but this is not a significant pathological process" -what? [more inside]
Mac Powerpoint Weirdness. Help!
Weird snowflake Mac OS X font issue. I've already tried all the usual suspects - deleting duplicate fonts from Font Book, etc, etc. But this one has me stumped. [more inside]
Kilo-What?
In my flat here in the UK I have four electric storage heaters that are kaput. What electric heating should I replace them with? [more inside]
To share or not to share
My counsellor tells me that I need to stop enabling my wife's anxieties; my wife tells me that my not sharing what I'm talking about in counselling sessions is making her anxious. How do I square this circle? [more inside]
Crawling back up the ladder.
New to PhD candidacy and tanking fast - academics of MeFi, help me figure out how to get through this mess. [more inside]
Help me make sense of my EI entitlements
Can someone explain the EI benefits period to me? [more inside]
Scented candles in the british isles
Where can I buy decent scented candles in Dublin or London? [more inside]
Diagnose my leaky pipe!
Can you help me to understand what the problem with my sink and washing machine pipes is? A heavy load of draining water spills out from near the U-bend. [more inside]
How to move on (and out?)
[heartbreak/confused sexuality filter] Recently admitted my romantic feelings toward a close friend, but have no idea how to pick up the pieces of my actions and move forward. Somewhat messy details within. [more inside]
"i miss you." "UGH, really?"
How to deal with feelings of revulsion when others are expressing their need for your time and care? [more inside]
Bilingual blogging layout in Urdu and English?
What do I need to know to create a bilingual blog that uses left-to-right and right-to-left languages simultaneously? [more inside]
Lenna, the Utah Teapot, and...?
There is Lenna, the go-to image for testing image processing software, and there is the Utah Pot, the standard with which to test 3D modeling approaches. Now Michal Migurski proposes that Oakland's Lake Merritt may be a GIS instance of a "Lenna".
What other Lennae are out there, in other fields? Standard test instances in other domains?
Why do some types of people tend to work in certain types of places?
Why do I so rarely see first-generation Chinese immigrants working in ethnically diverse businesses, while I so often see Latino immigrants working in just about every type of business? One thousand qualifiers and anecdata inside. [more inside]
How do I get this sadness/anger meld to stop?
[emotional blathering filter]
YANAT, but I need a little help untangling my jumbled feelings.
How to deal with deep feelings of resentment and sadness and get back to focusing on what's really important to me? [more inside]
NEITHER RAIN NOR SNOW NOR GLOM OF NIT
Help me find a bag suitable for an Ankh-Morpork Postmaster General! [more inside]
Mirena and acne... is it forever?
IUDs and acne. How long should I wait before seeking serious acne treatment? Will the hormone acne subside? [more inside]
Mote in my eye!
About 3 weeks ago I started having an annoying issue with my eye/eyelashes. It has not diminished at all and is driving me bonkers. [more inside]
Two wheels in Vancouver
BC locals, can you get around Vancouver (and Burnaby) by scooter? Will I be able to use it during the winter? [more inside]
Firefox is possessed!
Firefox keeps going back to previous page, but I'm not hitting the back button! [more inside]
god i hate scrubbing tile
Recommendations for housecleaning services in Philadelphia? [more inside]
Former Account Exec with MBA pariah for data jobs?
Looking for how to get skills that would make me qualified for a data analyst position. [more inside]
The slowest game of peek-a-boo on record.
Could Alpha Centaurians detect planets around Sol? [more inside]
If you use a coupon at a chain hair salon does the stylist get paid any less?
If you use a coupon at a chain hair salon does the stylist get paid any less? [more inside]
Essential business iOS apps
Transitioning from a Windows laptop to a Macbook Pro at work. Yay! Need software recommendations. [more inside]
How can I make a lamp brighter?
I bought a great looking lamp for my nightstand. But the max (60 watts) isn't nearly bright enough. What are my options? [more inside]
How to capture a set of posts and comments from Face Book?
A friend would like me to save her some posts and comments from FB in a less ephemeral way. I'd like to copy them and make them into some sort of book or pamphlet for her. Have you done this sort of thing before and if so, how? I've seen Fonicle, which I think is a bit of overkill for this situation. [more inside]
Living a more entrenched life
What does it mean to be committed to your life? How can you become committed to yourself? [more inside]
Engagement ring or bridal set?
Do I give her the whole bridal set or just the engagement ring? [more inside]
The campaign for more slacking off as a family.
Are there corners to cut that we should be cutting? What tasks do you skip, consciously or not, as a family? Washing dishes? Putting laundry away? IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING? [more inside]
Mo' Money
Help me get a good exchange rate and tell me when to exchange. [more inside]
And the moon will be yours to do whatever you like
Help me find this poem that involves the moon! I can't remember it but can remember the feeling I had when reading it! [more inside]
Want to be a network admin. How to gain credibility so I can work with the expensive stuff?
I finally got an entry-level IT job. Now I have time to be more picky about choosing the next one. I'm interested in becoming a network engineer, but there seems to be a massive gap between being trusted to work with low-end managed switches and being trusted to work with McMansion-priced gateway routers.
How do/did network engineers bridge that gap? What are the in-between career steps that could get me to a sufficiently high level of proficiency and trust to do high-end networking work? [more inside]
What poetry should I read?
Can you suggest a poet or two to me? I'd like to have some poems to read at night before I go to sleep. I don't know anything about poetry and I'm afraid that buying something at random or because it has won a prize will leave me with poetry that is too dense and unapproachable. [more inside]
How to discuss price range with a tattoo artist?
[for my boss] I need advice on tattoo price ranges. [more inside]
Financial Adult
Although I'm a highly educated woman in my late thirties, when it comes to money I'm basically a fourth grader. Tell me how you managed to be a financial grown up. [more inside]
Difficult Client - Can/Should I Fire?
I started a design project with a new client and the whole process has turned out to be very difficult due to communication problems. What can I do to resolve this situation? [more inside]
Should I pay my NC traffic fine or go to court?
I got into a minor parking lot accident in North Carolina the same day I moved out of state for a new job. Should I pay a $25 traffic fine or hire a lawyer to represent me in traffic court and therefore keep a clean record? [more inside]
Gift for the friend who officiated my wedding
MeFites, can you help me think of an appropriate gift for the friend who officiated my wedding? [more inside]
After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes.
I'm looking for a Lynda Barry comic that ran after 9/11, illustrating Emily Dickinson's Poem #372 which begins, "After great pain, a formal feeling comes." [more inside]
Blue? Only in color, Michael. Oh, also in mood.
I have self-diagnosed low-level depression and anxiety-- so low-level and constant that I think of it more like my personality than any disorder. Still, the days where it ebbs are pretty awesome. I've never been on psychoactive pharmaceuticals before. Experimenting with antidepressants (with a MD's supervision, of course): good idea/bad idea? Alternatives? [more inside]
10: Print "Hire me" 20: Goto 10
I have an interview for my dream job next week, help me not screw this up. [more inside]
Goldilocks searches for a wedding ring
Wedding (and other) rings: is it better to go for the size that feels too tight, or the size that feels too loose? [more inside]
Tea tree oil fumes to treat sickness: crazy?
Is there any danger associated with inhaling steam from tea tree oil extract? [more inside]
help installing an ethernet jack.
help installing an ethernet jack in an HP pavilion tower. [more inside]
Is soft water worth it?
The truth about soft water? We recently moved into a house with a water softening system (the water in our area is normally pretty hard), and I really dislike the way it fails to rinse off soap when I'm showering or washing my hands. The information online often seems mixed and contradictory. Are the benefits of soft water big enough to outweigh the discomfort? Or is it feasible to do "partially softened" water? Any relevant personal experiences? Thanks.
How to help a friend find love when they're not equipped for it?
How can I help my extremely unattractive (physically and relationship-wise) friend either find someone to date/love, realize he needs self-improvement, or come to terms with not finding it? [more inside]
Program for kids about music, hosted by an african american trumpet player.
Looking for a TV program for kids about music, hosted by an african american trumpet player. [more inside]
Arcane RAM question
Trying tp revive (as an educational exercise) a 17-year-old computer with an unusual memory structure. [more inside]
October 16
Book recommendations: biographies that detail the relationship of interesting historical figures (preferably happy relationships).
Book recommendations: biographies that detail the relationship of interesting historical figures (preferably happy relationships). [more inside]
Please help me pick a pair of PA speakers for a music practice room!
Please help me pick a pair of PA speakers for a music practice room! [more inside]
How can I mattify my skin without making the flakiness more obvious?
Makeup Filter: What are my alternatives to powder when trying to mattify my shiny skin? (On a drugstore budget) [more inside]
% of out-of-wedlock births ca. 1880?
I'm looking for the percentage of out-of-wedlock births per capita in the United States in 1880 (or, failing that, 1890). So far I'm coming up empty-handed.
Specific stats for the District of Columbia will be even better, but I'm fairly certain that they're not available online.
Help me figure out why my car is making horrible sounds?
I am worried about the sounds emanating from my car. Could it be an alignment issue? [more inside]
Logic, Arguments, Legal Reasoning
Hi there,
Can anyone recommend me materials (books or online resources) on logic which is pertinent to/useful for legal reasoning? [more inside]
Can I Use A Legitimate Windows 7 CD Key with an Illegal Copy and Not Run Foul of MS?
I have a genuine copy of Windows 7 Ultimate which i have previously installed and activated through Microsoft. I wanted to reinstall Windows today but I've found the DVD has somehow been scratched and my DVD drive refuses to read the disc. If i download a copy of Windows 7 from BitTorrent and install it using my genuine CD key, will I get into any trouble? Will it even work? If not, what are my options?
More YouTube please!
I have really been enjoying watching the channels I subscribe to on YouTube. I want more great YouTube channels to check out! Please suggest your favorites. (A list of the ones I already watch after the jump.) [more inside]
My oven won't turn on.
Why won't my oven turn on? [more inside]
A nice acoustic bass guitar at a reasonable price?
What are some suggestions for a nice acoustic bass guitar (not a stand-up bass fiddle; not an acoustic-electric) that I can purchase for my son at a VERY reasonable price? [more inside]
Ain't no zombie crawlin' outta that!
What are the biggest tombstones around the US & Canada that are located in cemeteries rather than large tombs themselves? [more inside]
Plus-size, professional, don't want to freeze to death.
This is the first winter I've routinely been going to work in a suit (mostly skirts, sometimes trousers). I need a winter coat that's going to work with this, and also with the fact that I'm a size ~18. [more inside]
A second chance to turn back time
Today, a time capsule was opened after 20 years buried in the Denton Town Square. It was not what we expected. [more inside]
Category: I'd Kill For Your Problems
Should I go for the fun-but-not-serious sure thing or the potentially-serious long shot? [more inside]
Help me not ruin my shoes so fast!
My favorite pair of shoes in the entire world, this pair that there only seems to be one of in existence, are just a smidge too narrow. They're 11D, and feet would fit best in an 11E. That smidge is giving me one mean callous, but more importantly the widest part of my foot, tipped with that callous, has already worn through the leather lining and might have burst through the calfskin outer if I hadn't caught it in time. What can I do to not ruin these beautiful, expensive shoes any further? [more inside]
How can I cope with celibacy?
I'm a heterosexual American man in my mid-20s. I have no relationship experience, never had sex, never kissed, never held hands, blah blah blah. I'm not looking for help approaching women, I just need some ideas on how to cope with a life of loneliness. [more inside]
Cross border independent consulting- how's it work?
Cross border independent consulting- how's it work? [more inside]
You think you deleted me, but no
Dropbox weirdness. Any ideas? [more inside]
How to stop erratic mouse pointer/cursor behavior?
Without warning, my mouse pointer has developed a mind of its own. It drifts across the screen and activates (clicks on) whatever it is hovering over. I disabled the touchpad and this behavior still occurs with a USB mouse. I'm running Windows 7. It is still happening in Windows Safe Mode.
Encase my laptop-- please!
Does anyone make a stylish laptop case? [more inside]
Please help me get my data back!
Have you successfully retrieved your contact data from an older CRM? [more inside]
GERD/Tequila/Hiccups, Any scientific knowledge of the connection?
Does anyone have knowledge of the connection between acid reflux (GERD), belching, hiccups and heavy alcohol consumption? I would like scientific/medical theories as to what is happening and why. (further explanation included) (Dr appointment made) [more inside]
Car or no car in Aspen/Snowmass?
Should I ditch my car for the winter while working in Snowmass Village? [more inside]
Debates Delivered to your Door! Or something like that.
While I've seen this older thread, it's also a bit long in the tooth. I'm wondering if there's a better way to record video (or audio) of tonight's Presidential Town Hall debate or download a copy of it? [more inside]
Building a sane classroom after school
I have been asked to volunteer with an after school homework program for young grade schoolers, and I need help with classroom management. [more inside]
she believed she could so she did
"She believed she could, so she did." I'm starting to see this aphorism (?) a bit all over the place. Where does this phrase come from? Is this a quote? What's the source? (Thanks hive-mind!)
Eye sun protection options for short sighted person?
I'm short sighted and trying to choose between options for protecting my eyes in the sun. Here's what I've come up with: [more inside]
Looking for a vintage poster
This National Library Week poster has made the rounds a few times on places like Tumblr and Ffffound — does anyone know where I could find a copy for sale?
What to do when your kid won't nap at school
Our pre-kindergarten son is not a napper, but the school expects him lay down at nap time. This is becoming a big problem. [more inside]
Help me find a warm coat for my small self.
Please help me find a WARM winter coat for a VERY petite woman. [more inside]
a job for a salesman
A young man I know has had some bad luck this year with medical issues. He's on the mend, but is out of a job. I need your best ever advice for how a personable 30-year-old who is bright but not an egghead, liberal without being extreme, a born salesman, and a masculine man can get a job with some sort of future to it. [more inside]
Automated method for adding the same header to multiple Word documents?
Is there an automated method for adding the same header to multiple Word (.doc) documents? [more inside]
Roommate's GF has effectively moved in... what to do?
At what point is a roommate's SO effectively considered "moved in"? And how do you deal with that? [more inside]
I've locked my keys in my hard drive
I've locked myself out of my external hard drive! Halp! [more inside]
Can you help me think of creepy clown tricks?
Can you help me think of creepy clown tricks? [more inside]
What are YOUR list of tasks that you do daily, weekly, monthly, annually of anything home/cat related?
I'm bad at cleaning up after myself and keeping things tidy/clean. Please help me change this. How often do YOU clean things? [more inside]
What to do with old 45s?
What to do with old 45s? [more inside]
If I hear Smells Like Teen Spirit one more time...
Help me understand how music is selected for modern radio airplay. [more inside]
Help me not hate my new Aeron chair
Due to long-standing back/shoulder/neck pain, I received an Aeron chair at work a couple of months ago. It has helped in one way (namely, the armrests can be adjusted lower than any other chair I've had, which has helped my shoulders) but otherwise has completely aggravated my lower and mid-back pain. Help me figure out a hack so that I can actually sit at my desk for longer than 10 minutes at a time without going nuts. [more inside]
Seeking info on nutrition/exercise routine for a Woman who wants to see more definition (and has so far failed at her attempts)
Please help a woman gain some muscle. [more inside]
Any Zotero experts in the house?
Using Zotero in a pre-existing Word document: help. [more inside]
Need a vet on the west-side of Manhattan
I need a veterinarian in Manhattan (Washington Heights, UWS or Inwood preferred). Please come inside if you have a good one. [more inside]
Help me feel better while exercising
How can I keep from passing out and vomiting during workouts? [more inside]
Can a U.S. notary public practice in a foreign country?
Does any state in the United States allow its notaries public to practice abroad in a foreign country? [more inside]
Better than burying my savings in the backyard
What do I need to know about hiring a stock broker or financial advisor? [more inside]
Hybrid story-essay works?
Kierkegaard's Either/Or, Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Nathalie Sarraute's Tropisms, Roland Barthes' A Lover's Discourse - what other authors or works consist of this kind of smattering collection of short, plotless, hybrid essay-prose poems?
Tracing ancestry to Syria
My great-grandfather was born in Syria circa 1886 and came to the US in 1907. I know the city he was from. Any ideas on how to find his relatives in that city? [more inside]
Maybe brunch is the most important meal of the day?
I don't like breakfast. But it's supposed to be so good for me... [more inside]
This sound is coming like a ghost sound.
What do the cool dead kids listen to? I'm looking for vintage spooky pop with a particular flavor: that sparse, echo-y Day-O/Ghost Town mournful message from beyond-the-grave sound. With a beat. [more inside]
How to find 24 hour nursing care for a parent?
My father has recently moved to an assisted living residence, but we think he may need more constant care. Is 24 hour nursing or live-in caregivers affordable? How do you find the right person/service? This is in Toronto, Ontario. [more inside]
StackOverflow hasn't answered iOS question. Can you?
I am desperately seeking help with an iOS programming problem and my StackOverflow question has not been (satisfactorily) answered 14 hours in. Can someone here help? Or tell me how to renew interest in the question in a way that doesn't violate etiquette? [more inside]
Stupid Usability Question! Duplicating Navigation Elements
Web navigation best practice: I'm managing a newly relaunched website, and my superiors want me to duplicate navigation options in a couple practices (clarification after the jump). Something in my Krug- and Nielsen-lovin' soul cringes at the thought. Am I overreacting? If not, can you help me assuage their concerns elegantly without compromising the information architecture? [more inside]
Rebutting minus the full frontal assault?
Tips and tricks for writing non-rebuttal "rebuttals" on the web? [more inside]
GIMMIE SONGS! (for a mix)
GimmieSONGSFilter: Need happy/peppy hopeful "i hope you might like me, because i like you." songs for a mix cd. [more inside]
Everything fell apart, again. Now what?
I'll try to make this not too long-winded, but basically I find myself at square one for like the hundredth time in the past 6 years, and I'm just flat out of resilience. Help me form a plan for getting through the impending long dark winter. [more inside]
You down with CFP? Yeah, you know me!
Looking for a financial advisor/planner (accountant, CFP, something else?) in or around Boston for a married couple with good saving habits (see my previous question) and a reasonably healthy-sized nest egg. A couple of additional salient details inside. [more inside]
Find a set of recordings based on an example
I found an audio file years ago that talked about the long-distance phone network in the USA in the 1970's. Can anyone tell me where it's from? [more inside]
Headsets save necks! (need a headset for cisco phone)
I need a recommendation for a headset to buy to use with my Cisco IP Phone 7960 series, ideally over-the-ear (not over-the-head) and around $50 or less. [more inside]
Halloween week in Chicago
My partner will be visiting Chicago at the end of October, arriving the morning of the 27th and departing the morning of the 31st. She's interested in checking out anything Halloween related that may be going on in the city during this time. [more inside]
I set my axe down 40 years ago, can I find it again?
Is it realistic to expect to be able to pick up an instrument after 40 years and relearn to play it? [more inside]
Sharing vs. Privacy: Showdown
How much should you expect to share in a relationship? [more inside]
iPad keyboard recommendation
I need a recommendation for a cover/keyboard setup for my iPad 3. I will be using this to replace my clunky laptop when I travel. [more inside]
3d spacer textile/fabric mattress recommendations
I am interested in buying a spacer textile mattress. Anyone out there who has used one or knows where to buy one?
What's the loving thing to do?
When to tell other people when someone is very very ill? [more inside]
Best Music Writing 2012
What are the best pieces of music journalism/criticism that were written in 2012? [more inside]
Bipolar + ADHD = SOL?
Probable ADHD, probable bipolar II. Unhelpful psychiatrist. Help! [more inside]
Best present ever?
Amazing Christmas presents bound to make kids more rad. [more inside]
Sir, more than kisses, letters mingle souls.
Help me find letters written between close female friends. [more inside]
New Voter Registration?
Voter registration in NYC. My husband and I just moved from lower Manhattan to the UES. Do we need to submit new voter registration forms? Or, can we just go to the local polling place.
My coffee cup just got much more useful
Sometimes little details make you smack your forehead and say, "Of course! How clever!" What are some little-known useful features and small but practical design elements built into everyday things that people either take for granted, or aren't aware of? [more inside]
Everything about (first/bilingual) language acquisition
Tell me everything about teaching kids how to speak and read and write. [more inside]
What mattress to buy from Sleepys?
New mattress from Sleepy's suggestions? (spending around $800) [more inside]
What's the quickest way to code this data?
I have an Excel spreadsheet with just over 3000 sentences in column A. I need to go through looking at each one and entering some data into columns B-F. The first thing I have to enter is whether the sentence is in the past tense or present tense. If it is past tense, I can ignore it and not have to enter anything in columns C-F. I just move on to the next sentence. Is it going to be quicker if I go through the whole spreadsheet filling out column B first (past/present) and then do a second pass to fill out the rest of the details for the present tense sentences, or quicker to do it all at once for each sentence? Or is it a wash? [more inside]
Is CBT just not for me? Or am I not giving it a fair shake?
Is CBT just not for me? Or am I not giving it a fair shake? [more inside]
21+ actually?
There's a Boston-area shoegaze festival called Deep Heaven Now happening this weekend, and I'll be in Boston. The ads say 21+, and I'm not 21. How likely is it that I'll actually be carded? Is there a "draw Xes on your hands" option? (Also, if I can't get in, do you have any other recommendations for good live music on Friday night?)
What is the legal situation with regards to my ceiling falling in?
My kitchen ceiling just fell in, as a result of a month-long leak that has been building over time. About 2-3 square metres of inch-thick plaster came down at once - would certainly have caused injury if not worse had we been underneath it. The owners of the flat above have repeatedly stalled in taking any action - as far as I know they have still not called a plumber. They explicitly stated on Thursday that they were getting an emergency plumber in and hoped for Saturday morning but weren't sure. This is Tuesday and we haven't heard anything. Prior to this they were repeatedly contacted by our letting agent but claimed that they'd "been having trouble with" both their mobile and landline. Are they liable for this in any way? How do I proceed? (Further details: I'm in Scotland in the UK.)
What are some examples of other products that are presented as being American in some way but really arn't?
I am fascinated by both the ubiquity of American sauce in Western Europe and the tangy substance's complete lack of apparent relation to any of the many sauces that are authentically American. Examples of American products sold as being of dubious foreign styles are easy for Americans to think of, but what are some examples of other products that are presented as being American in some way but really arn't? [more inside]
God save the lost music video
Can't find a music video on youtube...google-fu failing. [more inside]
What's happened to my tastebuds and tongue?
Why does my tongue feel furry and my tastebuds seem wonky after eating a salad?? [more inside]
October 15
An' be sure it ain't kitten!
How can I make my creepy meat themed Hallowe'en party as weird and fantastic as possible? [more inside]
Long lighters don't last long
Are there any refillable long lighters that do not suck? [more inside]
Kids Post Cancer Diagnosis?
Diagnosed 3 months ago with incurable (but treatable) lymphoma. Deciding on children - Has anyone decided to have kids post cancer diagnosis? [more inside]
Best way to approach/move forward with this situation
Went in to a clothing store, cute girl around my age who works there comes up to me and offers to help me out. She seemed interested in me (asked a lot of questions about me) but I'm not sure if it was because she was just being nice because she worked there or was really interested in me. I was however oblivious to any of her body language in the moment. She then goes as far as to offer me a job and told me to fill out an online application. Her immediate supervisor called me before I even had a chance to fill out the application after she told them about me (assuming she put in a good word). I did not get her number. I feel like I wasn't able to read her signals being in the moment. How can I salvage this and is it worth pursuing? How would I go about moving the relationship onward and upward in the best way?
Thanks!
Bringing lamps to the lightless
Potentially-nonexistent-product-filter: Is there such a thing as a light system that emulates dawn-to-dusk daylight? Something that brightens and dims relatively closely following actual sunlight? [more inside]
The Greek equivalent of a drink called a John Doe?
Is there any familial or other relationship between Ioannis Metaxas (the Greek dictator) and the maker of Metaxa, a Greek liquor used in sidecars? [more inside]
When will light therapy start working for my depression?
Light therapy for depression that gets worse in the winter: when does it start working? Any tips? [more inside]
Needing Physically Active Job
Hi -- looking to retire soon but am planning to continue working. Interested in a job that is more physically active -- most likely part time and in the AM. I searched for similar questions in the archives -- this one comes very close. Working in a bar or at UPS probably not for me -- hoping to find something that keeps me moving -- perhaps walking 2-3 miles per day. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Seeking Justice, Pro Se
YANYL: how do I ask for attorney's fees on a motion that was involuntarily withdrawn? [more inside]
It's so damn catchy.
Please help me identify this song. [more inside]
Do I have to go to Las Vegas or can I stop in Phoenix?
I have a round trip flight later this year on US Airways that has a layover in Phoenix and then continues to Las Vegas. It turns out that it would work out better for me to just leave the Phoenix airport instead of going on. My return flight would be unchanged ( leaving from Las Vegas ).
If I do this ( intentionally miss the second hop of my flight ) will I have problems later? I'm concerned about the possibility that the airline might cancel my return flight or something else along those lines.
If you have done this kind of thing (especially on US Airways) please let me know how things went. Thank you.
Please help me name a long form sports journalism aggregation site
I am thinking of creating a blog that focuses on longform journalism about sports and I need a name. Any ideas? [more inside]
Help us shop!
Moving with nothing, where should we shop for pretty much everything? [more inside]
How can I make sure past unrequited feelings never return and just try to remain friends?
I really need help in dealing with a situation of unrequited love with a best friend, to becoming complete strangers, and then back to best friends again. [more inside]
Puzzling rebus: giving lovers?
RebusFilter: on the left, the word "giving" printed four times in a column. On the right, the word "lover" printed four times in a column. What is the solution? [more inside]
I want a cuddly varmint.
I want a rabbit and I'd like for it to be lethargic, friendly and cuddly, medium-to-large size, not driven to constantly chew cords or bite me, not super sheddy, and litter trainable. And if you know of reputable rabbit breeder near NYC, I'd love to hear about him or her. [more inside]
Guarding my (naked picture) privacy
Say I have a girlfriend who sends me naked pictures, how best can I safeguard those on my Android phone? [more inside]
What are these mechanical components?
I'm participating in an Alternate Reality Game and two hidden packages have been located that contain the following components:
Package one:
http://i.imgur.com/1jH4a.jpg http://i.imgur.com/MldGC.jpg
Package two:
http://imgur.com/a/br1Fr#9
Both were found on opposite sides of the planet and have the same silica pouch. What the heck are the metal components?
None of them are ferromagnetic, despite the included magnets in the one package.
Which Department Store Clothing Sections Sell the Most Over the Holidays?
My girlfriend has applied for work as a sales associate at two upscale New York City department stores and has been offered a variety of clothing departments to work in at both. She wants to work through the holiday season and to earn as much as she can in that period via commission. Assuming that all departments offer the same rate of commission, can anyone advise us as to which departments would have the highest sales in Oct/Nov/Dec? Or point us to any internet resources with such info? I've been unable to dig up any on my own. Thanks!
Doggone again ...
Help me foil a canine escape artist. [more inside]
Seeking Houston attorney to do a simple will
Looking for someone to do will/spillover trusts in Houston area. [more inside]
Musician filter: Please help me assemble a rig.
Musician filter: Please help me assemble a rig. [more inside]
Making Sense of Prop 31
Help me understand California prop 31 on state budget reform [more inside]
he's not a fixer-upper
My boyfriend cleans up nice! Yay! But...how do I get him to clean up, just a wee bit more frequently? And should I? [more inside]
Help for the spouse of someone with mental health issues
I really need help with being married to -- and raising a young child with -- someone who's living with long-term anger issues, depression, anxiety, and OCD (obsessive fear of doing violent things). I feel alone, sad, exhausted, and in way over my head. [more inside]
What is the best electronic device for this task?
Help me find a device (or two devices) that will take pictures, and then easily convert these pictures to PDFs. Alternatively, persuade me to buy an iPad! [more inside]
salary question
how much shall i sell myself for? [more inside]
Things to do in Richmond when you're bored
I'm going to be visiting family in the United States next week, specifically Richmond, TX and Chicago. There have been previous many posts on Chicago, so I think I have that covered but does anyone know if there is anything interesting for this potentially bored Londoner to do while hanging out in Texas? [more inside]
A portable device for reading and drawing.
Please recommend a device (or devices) for two activities: reading and drawing. And by reading, I don't just mean plain English text. I also have some special demands regarding drawing. [more inside]
Gluten free, lactose free and portable
Can you suggest easy to make and carry gluten and lactose free recipes for my two day trip? [more inside]
Please help with a Chinese translation!
Can someone help me translate this wall scroll written in traditional Chinese characters? (photo inside) [more inside]
How can we interact more with people with developmental disabilities?
How can I help my daughter interact with people with developmental disabilities? [more inside]
Pictures of cute kids? Can't I take pictures of spiders instead?
Volunteered to hover around company Halloween event & take pictures of cute kids in costume. Turns out that I am Designated Photographer. Help me take some decent pics! [more inside]
How to use a sewing machine?
Have sewing machine. Have kids that need Halloween costumes. Have no knowledge of how to use said sewing machine. Help! [more inside]
Need to reframe my thinking and comparing self to coworkers with families.
How can I reframe my thinking so that I stop comparing myself to coworkers who do all they do AND have families to take care of at home? [more inside]
Explain it to me as if I were four years old...
How do I "start over" with my Macbook Pro without reinstalling the OS? [more inside]
Make our broke road trip awesome!
How to make the cheapest road trip fun and comfy? Sleeping in the car snowflakes inside! [more inside]
Buzz off! BOOM! Exploding yellow jacket nests?
Why are yellow jacket nests in my area (Great Smoky Mountains, East Tennessee) apparently exploding? I have found four nests within ten miles of each other that are completely, well, exploded. What's doing this? Pictures inside. [more inside]
Padding a convertable futon
My neighbor put this awesome converting-futon-chaise-thing out by the curb, and I snapped it up. After some rehabilitation, it is now in my library. I've never seen one like this before: in addition to folding up into a couch (with a ratchet system), one end folds up into a chaise (also with a ratchet). The only downside: If it is in chaise form and I lay in the center, there isn't much padding between my butt and a wooden support beam. Are there, like, specific converting-futon-chaise-thing pads that I can add, perhaps under the washable cover? What would I search for? I know I could just sit on a pillow or on one side or the other, but I'd really like a built-in kind of solution.
How can I prevent my duvet cover from balling up in the dryer?
How can I prevent my duvet cover from balling up in the dryer? [more inside]
Can you identify this statue of a man holding a tetrahedron?
One of a number of painting/pictures I acquired recently is of a statue in which a man is holding a tetrahedron (pic 1 | pic 2). I am fascinated by the image, but have no idea about actual information about the statue. Artist, title, location, intended subject matter, etc., etc. Any help in identification and/or additional info would be great! [more inside]
Mouse on Wheels
It looks like we won't be able to afford flying for our Disney trip this November, so we're driving. Point of origination: Madison, Wisconsin. Drive time is 22 hours. [more inside]
local chapter of your favorite political party abroad
What rights (if any) do legal immigrants and/or lawful residents and citizens in the USA have to create political organizations in support of foreign political parties? Could you please point me to relevant legislature or communicate your own experience.
How did you break social habits that were hurting others and you?
You had the habit of being sarcastic, mean, harshly opinionated (and/or some other problematic interaction) as a form of intimacy or bonding. You were able to break the habit. How, specifically, did you manage to make this change in your interaction style? [more inside]
Gmail doesn't come with instructions per se. They're more like guidelines.
Is there a "Google-approved" Gmail workflow? (or several workflows?) [more inside]
The Rolling Kinks?
Talk to me about mashups. [more inside]
Vegetarian Thanksgiving in Charleston
I will be in Charleston, South Carolina on Thanksgiving Day as a tourist. I am a vegetarian. Help. [more inside]
Any homey bars in Boston or Cambridge?
I'm a recent transplant and need a new local haunt. Does anyone know of any good homey bars in the Boston or Cambridge area? [more inside]
Heathrow to Cambridge with lots of luggage
I need to get from Heathrow airport to Cambridge, with lots of baggage. [more inside]
Are vests too much?
Are 3pc suits considered too formal and stuffy? Are they just a fad experiencing resurgence? Is the vest a crowning touch or a fashion police felony? [more inside]
Must-sees in the Twin Cities!
I'll be in Minneapolis, Minnesota in November for a conference over a weekend. What should I do, see, and eat while I'm there? [more inside]
How to restore default sound settings on new laptop?
Is there an easy way to restore ONLY default audio settings on a Lenovo Thinkpad running Windows 7? [more inside]
Moving personal items to the USA
Looking for transportation options and advice on moving from Canada to the USA. [more inside]
Help me keep helping people tell stories
I work at a publisher, in the production part of the business. I organise editors, designers and projects on the one side of things; printers, print runs and shipping on the other. It's clear to me that at least one half of these activities will soon diminish greatly, as paper publishing winds down and web / ebooks take over. So: What skills and talents do I need to develop to keep helping people produce and share content in the future? [more inside]
Failed Esophageal manometry due to a strong gag reflex. Any suggestions? Gag reflex training?
Failed Esophageal manometry due to a strong gag reflex. Any suggestions? Gag reflex training? [more inside]
Los Angeles Travel advice needed!
Visiting Los Angeles this weekend. In need of some suggestions and tips and tricks! [more inside]
Posting pics: to the left or the right of the article?
I need to know about a design and layout notion. [more inside]
With a better [thing], then I'd be a real pro...
Confusing the tool for the output: a term for it? Examples also requested. [more inside]
Is this a scam?
Is this a scam? I am a wedding photographer and received an email that I have doubts about being legitimate. [more inside]
Help me, AV nerds. You're my... well not really but I'd appreciate it.
What AV cables should I pull through my wall while I have the chance? [more inside]
Team Doper: How large was the Lance Armstrong conspiracy?
How large was the Lance Armstrong doping conspiracy? [more inside]
This COULD be ADD, right? RIGHT?
At this point I’m 90% convinced that I have inattentive ADD. I’m going to see an expert soon, and now I’m freaking out thinking that I’m deluding myself and just looking for a cheap excuse for being such a mess. Also, what could I do if it’s really not ADD? I feel like I’ve exhausted my options. Long and snowflakey. [more inside]
What are the risks in taking sudafed if you have controlled high blood pressure?
Is it really that big of a deal if you take Sudafed/Pseudoephedrine to treat cold symptoms when you have controlled (via medication) hypertension? YANMD. [more inside]
Barking me into a corner.
Friendly Neighbor Version: Barking Dog is driving me crazy. [more inside]
Austin travel tips?
Thinking of a January trip to Austin, and I've got a few questions... [more inside]
How to find crew for a 48 Hour Film Contest
48 Hour Film Contest - Toronto... Best way to fill a couple crew roles, especially sound person? [more inside]
Life choices are hard.
I have one daughter, she is 5.5. We always planned on having 3 children, but spacing turned into fertility issues turned into daughter will likely be 8 by the time we actually manage to have another offspring. Help me figure out the various pros/cons of having 2 more kids v. having 1 more kid/adopting a school age kid/ having 1 more kid/ leaving well enough alone. [more inside]
I knew quitting would be hard, but...
I quit smoking a couple of weeks ago. I think I'm over the initial hump, but the second wave of side effects is making me CRAZY. Please help me :( [more inside]
How to Highlight All Cells Containing Future Date in Excel 2007
In Excel 2007, is there a way to highlight all cells within a certain range (in my case, five adjacent columns) that contain dates in the future? [more inside]
Living with Psychopaths. Need Help.
Dealing with Psychopaths. The textbooks please. [more inside]
New Mac, meet Old Mac
I'm upgrading my late-2008 Macbook Pro. How can I take advantage of Migration Assistant AND get a "fresh start" with my new machine? [more inside]
oh god, it's too early for this stuff
Every morning I make idle chit-chat on the bus with a young man around my age. Lately I've been getting the impression that he wants a more personal relationship between us. Me, not so much. Keeping in mind that this is someone I will have to see every weekday morning for the next three months at the very least, how can I minimize the number of uncomfortable bus rides in my life? [more inside]
Should I break up with the man I want to marry?
There is a deal breaker and mismatched wishes about marriage to work through, but neither of us really want to break up. Can we, or should we try to work it out and stay together? [more inside]
Tolmasos? Vignazos?
Canarian Spanish slang filter: On a recent trip to rural Tenerife I found some graffiti on a water pumping station wall. It reads:
"Tierra Guanche - only local - no nos hacemos responsables de posibles tolmasos o vignazos"
'Tierra Guanche - only local" seems pretty clear; a (possibly non-literal) identification with the Guanche (pre-Castilian indigenous people of Tenerife) and a comment on tourism or immigration. My rudimentary Spanish says the rest runs "we take no responsibility for possible ..." but 'tolmasos' and 'vignazos' seem to be local slang. Does anyone know what they mean? There's a photo (not mine) here.
Ben Franklin's weekends
Did Benjamin Franklin have a weekend schedule? Looking at his daily schedule makes me curious as to whether he adhered to it seven days a week or if he did something different on Saturday and Sunday. [more inside]
Self-medication with booze - good idea?
Does alcohol ("booze") have medicinal properties? what illnesses might it help? (Or is this just a myth?) [more inside]
Desperately Seeking Geometr231 Bd BT et al.
Trying to acquire as cheaply and efficiently as possible some fonts I don't have on my current computer. Working with a book/design project made in Quark XPress ten or more years ago, then put on the back burner and just now re-opened. The file opens fine in Quark XPress 9, which is the latest version, but a number of the fonts used in the original file are missing. [more inside]
PBS Cooking Show - Can't Remember Title
Trying to find an old cooking show but cannot remember the title. I believe it was on PBS. It was a very straightforward program. We would see a different chef/kitchen for each recipe, usually different restaurants around the USA. It was "hosted" only in voice by a woman with a strong Southern Accent. [more inside]
Help my kid make friends
Please help me help my 10 year old to make friends. [more inside]
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood... and I took the one where I went crazy for a month to raise my score 40 points... and that uh... has made all the difference?
GRE-Filter: I was happy with my GRE scores. Then, I received word that I have the opportunity to get into a super-duper-top-tier doctoral program previously inaccessible. However, my Quantitative Score--while still in the range of accepted scores over the years for this program--is now less-than-stellar relatively speaking. Is it crazy to think I could study intensely for about a month and improve my score 30-50 points? Am I overthinking this? [more inside]
Help organise my house hunting
I will be viewing several flats in Luxembourg later in the week - I will be there for three days. Looking for strategies for asking questions, taking notes and so on, so I that I can remember what I saw! [more inside]
How much wood could a Boy Scout work?
I've been asked to lead a Boy Scout troop of about 20 boys towards earning their Woodworking Merit Badge. The troop does not allow the use of power tools so can you help me to come up with a suitable project? [more inside]
I'd like to destroy his ego...but help me be a gentlelady instead!
I have a function this upcoming weekend I have to attend. My ex, with whom I have so very many unresolved issues, will be there. Help me not talk to him? [more inside]
Madrid and Paris events late October 2012
I'm visiting Madrid from 25 October till 1 November and Paris from 1 till 5 November. Any suggestions for evening entertainment such as raves or halloween parties? [more inside]
How does this chest strap heart rate monitor thing work?
Are chest straps that come with heart rate monitor watches interoperable with other devices / a different brand of watch? What wireless technology is allowing the chest strap part to communicate with the wristwatch part? [more inside]
Learning more about China - where do I start?
Can you recommend me podcasts, books, TV documentaries, articles or journals (in English) where I could learn more about China, such as Chinese politics, history, culture and other important things?
October 14
Tool to track 100% of my time?
What's the best tool to track all my time? [more inside]
Identify This Children's Book
I need help identifying a children's book that may have been illustrated by someone whose style was similar to that of Maurice Sendak, Audrey Wood, and even Tomie dePaola. [more inside]
Unobtanium suddenly becomes obtainable; drat! complications!
I have two romantic interests in my life: one who adores me and is giving herself to me wholeheartedly, and one who seems to be a better match but lives 850 miles away and is just getting out of a relationship. What should I do? [more inside]
The very model of an extended cut of a much-beleaguered semi-masterpiece
In the extended cut of Ken Lonergan's Margaret, there is a new scene in which Lisa's high school drama club is rehearsing a play. What play are they rehearsing? [more inside]
Maximizing energy:exercise ratio.
What kind of exercises should I be doing to get more energy throughout the day? [more inside]
More How It's Made
I want to watch more shows like How It's Made. I like that it's dry and information dense. What do you suggest? [more inside]
To rub or not to rub?
What makes contact solution "no rub"? [more inside]
These inches suck.
LIPO-Light: Does it work? Would I be able to get it without my boyfriend noticing any side effects (besides inch reduction)? [more inside]
Help me figure out what in the world I should do with my life.
Should I change my major? Drop out of school to become a plumber or electrician? I need some advice. [more inside]
Lazy University Student? Guilty As Charged. How can I change? And is this normal?
I'm an intelligent 20 year old University student with good-ish grades and overall, I get all the important stuff done. However, I have such frequent periods of lazy and unmotivated lack of productivity that I feel tremendous guilt for on a daily basis--Should I feel guilty? Is this common / normal? [more inside]
Help me make my niece even cuter (in pictures).
So my niece's first-year photos have almost all been taken on iphones (some on a 4, some on a 4S). I'd like to do some basic editing, have them printed, and assemble into a book for my brother. The resolution is horrible on a lot of the photos. Is there anything I can do to improve these pics? (Note: very basic skills only here but willing to learn/hire if necessary.)
Theorizing Facebook
Could you point me in the direction of interesting scholarly work being done on social networking sites, especially Facebook? [more inside]
Are these mixed signals intelligible?
Are these mixed signals intelligible? Are they even mixed signals, or just a polite way of telling me to get lost? [more inside]
Car problems--should I take it to a dealer or a regular repair shop?
I have a 1994 Nissan Altima. It is in great shape but has two problems. The cruise control does not work at all, and as of this morning my key does not work in the driver's side lock. [more inside]
IANAA, RU?
Accounting puzzle: how to log cash transactions for accounts held in a foreign currency? [more inside]
How to learn to ride a bike as an adult
Four-year-olds can do it. Grannies can do it. My mom can do it. I could do it myself thirty years ago, but it isn't true that you never forget. How can I re-learn to ride a bike? [more inside]
hobo baby needs clothing help
For the first six months of his life, baby machine has lived pretty exclusively in onesies & sleepers. Now that the weather is turning colder he's still in sleepers but I'm wondering whether they are going to be enough. So mostly he's been a hobo baby with many wraps and sweaters and blankets that make going places slightly daunting. What did your small child wear that worked for fall/winter? [more inside]
Which languages is claimed to have switched families?
Which language is claimed to have shifted between language families? [more inside]
Does your significant other ignore you when she/he's upset/mad?
When my SO is upset/mad at me, she would ignore me for days. Is this normal? Does your SO do this? [more inside]
No broken bones, so for me that's an improvement
YANMD filter - did something weird to my knee, but I don't know what. and 24 hours later it doesn't hurt - just feels "different." What, if any, first aid should I be doing? [more inside]
70s toy - ball glides back and forth on ropes you pull
Looking for the name of a toy I had in the 1970s that had 2 long ropes with handles on both ends, one person would pull their ropes apart and send a football shaped ball with the ropes running through it flying towards the other person. The ball on ours was red, the handles were blue - but who knows, it may have come in different colors. My sister swears it was called the Woosh, but I haven't found it via that name. I want to buy one for my niece & nephew if I can find it - and I think having the name will be the key to locating one. But if you know where I can get one, even better.
Professor, isn't it time for your nap?
You’re an academic, and every now and then, often on short notice, you’ve got to put together an application which includes your papers, your grants, your service (and so on) and it’s in a different format and order to the last time. Would you pay someone to keep track of this stuff AND format your application/review? What do you need them to keep track of? Tell me more. What do you want?
How to implement a token reward system for kids?
Looking for recommendations on how to implement a token reward system for a 4- and 6- year old. If you've done this, what's worked best for you? [more inside]
Chukka chukka choo choo
Men's boots. I want something classy, understated, and durable that will stand up to snow and bike pedals. Under $200 if possible. [more inside]
literary star beings
Besides Maia in Mary Poppins and Ramandu in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, what other stars in literature take human form?
Seeking supplements for a dog that only eats human food.
Seeking supplements for a dog that only eats human food. [more inside]
Looking for copy-paste musical notes
I want to copy-paste musical notes into Word. [more inside]
Money from Nothing?
Ideas, theories, facts, about how online sites are making money when I no longer see banner advertising or Google ad links -- old stand-by methods from five years ago seem to have evaporated? [more inside]
Managing the transfer of a company to a sibling
I have an acquaintance who is an only child and who works for a company (with around 60 employees) that is wholly owned by his father. As his father gets older and bored with the day-to-day workings of the company, he plans (while still healthy) to turn the company over to his son. This must happen all the time, so I am wondering whether people have written about different ways such a transition might be managed.
Help me find a name for my new rescue dog.
Help me name my new rescue dog. Obligatory pic after the jump. [more inside]
Shouls I apply for an artist in residence program?
Can you tell me about artist in residence programs? For photographers, specifically. Having trouble finding answers to the questions I have anywhere online.. [more inside]
Help me travel!
Where can I rent a campervan/RV in Dubai for a road trip around Eastern Europe? [more inside]
Are there any 2G internet phones that can't display JPGs?
Are there any 2G internet phones that can't process JPGs? [more inside]
Get me far on $25 in Portland
Portland foodies! I'd like to send friends a thank-you in the form of a small ($25 or so) gift certificate to one of the fine food establishments in your fair city. Please help me out with suggestions. Due to the price limit I'd be interested in places where they could get a delightful snack, dessert, or drink rather than a full-on meal. [more inside]
Recommend me simple, high quality brands/items with little or no visible branding.
Recommend me simple, high quality brands/items with little or no visible branding. Every day that I live in the city (London) I feel myself becoming a little more like Cayce Pollard in my reaction to the torrent of branding/advertising that I endure. I like muji products for offering simplicity & high quality with no visible branding or advertising. can you recommend other brands or items that are similarly high quality and "no-branded"?
How to tell your SO about a big life change you'd like to make
How to tell your SO about big, possibly life-changing plans (i.e., applying to medical school in a couple of years)? [more inside]
Remote control for iTunes Match on iPhone?
I have an iPhone and an iPad. I want to dock the iPhone on the stereo and use the iPad as a remote to control what music plays. [more inside]
How have you gamified your life?
How have you gamified your life? [more inside]
House Swap?
Vacation home swap for Hawaii? [more inside]
Can you help me get hired at SpaceX?
Can you help me get hired at SpaceX? [more inside]
The End of the Universe is Neigh!
What would be the correct equation(s) to draw on a sandwich board to be worn that prophesies doom, gloom, and the heat death of the universe?
Help me decode PC system requirements.
Help me decode PC system requirements. [more inside]
All he wants for Xmas is a DS
For the last two years my (now) 6.5 year old has been begging for a Nintendo DS. I've resisted this long but with the holidays around the corner I'm starting to bend. However, as I look at the options I'm torn. I play casual games but have never been a gamer. What should I buy, if anything? [more inside]
How to monitor order or work progess
Is there a software where clients can view the status of their work ordered from me? [more inside]
Does pain build or distort character?
Should I fly with Emirates or save money with China Southern/China Eastern/Aer Lingus Airlines?
I will be flying Sydney to London, London to NYC, and NYC to Sydney. [more inside]
I feel like he's making a fool out of me.
I think my boyfriend is hitting on his best friend's (adult) daughter. I am hurt and angry and upset and I don't know what I should do. [more inside]
Recommendation letter help
Recommendation letter wording help: how to tactfully ask a professor to decline my request for recommendation if they cannot provide a "strong" recommendation. [more inside]
spoon & needle
Practical street drug question: in 2012, what drugs do you cook for injection? [more inside]
Why can't I just stay in Neverland
University was the best experience of my life. Now it's over, and the post-college depression is hitting me hard. How do I navigate the murky depths of the early 20s-crisis? [more inside]
Am I passive aggressive?
Am I passive-aggressive? I've always felt that I am not, but more than one person recently has accused me of it, and where there's smoke there might be fire... [more inside]
Things to do in/around Norwich
My wife and I are going to Norwich next weekend. We'll spend four days there. What should we do? Challenge: we'll have our small dog, but she can stay in our hotel room for a few hours, while we tour stuff. We just can't go too far out that we'd have to leave her all day. [more inside]
I got what I wanted but the doctor is a quack and I don't trust him. Help?
The doctor I just saw is a quack. I knew he would be, but I set up an appointment anyway. I've been dealing with fatigue and chronic pain, and regular doctors haven't had an answer. So I set up an appointment with a doctor that practices "functional medicine" as a last ditch effort. How do I reconcile what this doctor told me with what I know about real medicine and the load of bullshit I was just fed? [more inside]
October 13
Web page about recording research path, pre-computer age?
Machine for recording research path, pre computer-age? Library books on a waterwheel device? Please point me to the right web page... [more inside]
How do I get a bus ticket from Dubai to Oman?
Anyone here who lives in / transits to Oman regularly: How can I book a bus ticket on the national bus line, ONTC Oman? Their official website hasn't worked for months. [more inside]
How do I get a software internship?
How do I get a software internship? I feel like I have too little experience and won't be "good enough" [more inside]
Yes you can still write me. . . I think
Does blocking someone on google+ also prevent them from sending you email? [more inside]
Celebrating the Death of Arthur
Has anyone ever written an Arthurian novel with the Round Table as the bad guys? I am specifically *not* talking about books from the perspective of Mordred or Morgaine (or any of their cognates.) There are lots and lots of those. [more inside]
Online games for two
What are some good online two player games? [more inside]
Emergency child care
How do parents take care of sick kids when they MUST go to work? [more inside]
How much stuff are they cramming in there, really?
Why do 32GB MicroSD cards cost more than 16GB cards, which cost more than 8GB cards, etc? [more inside]
Finding your people in SF
Just moved to SF. What can I do to meet like-minded people and make friends around here? [more inside]
Arf? Quack?
Does any science support alternative medical treatments for dogs? [more inside]
excel income tax calc help
Excel help: I'm trying to input a dollar value into a cell and have the output be the federal income tax for that amount (just using the brackets). Federal income tax is calculated such that the first x dollars are taxed at rate R, the next y dollars are taxed at rate S, and up through several different rate brackets. I can do this calculation with a simple IF statement using multiple cells by summing the result of 5 separate bracket calculations. I'm not sure if I can cram it into one giant formula. Suggestions? [more inside]
Are women who had breast enhancement at ages 20-30, still happy with the results as they age?
I need information on the long term satisfaction of women who have have had breast augmentation. [more inside]
Should I Stay Or Should I Go (Here We Go Again)
Going round and round in circles in a relationship that has me asking 'what's the point?' and thinking 'why bother, he doesn't care'. Add to this my freelance work pattern, cohabitation but sleeping in separate rooms, his eating disorder, my issues with child abuse, his distance geographically from his family... and it's all just a big mess. I don't know what to do. Perhaps you can help me untangle things? [more inside]
How do I make myself look like Archer for Halloween?
Make me look like Sterling Archer for Halloween. I want to look just like the "animated" version of him. I don't just want to wear a tux and color my hair. Need tips on "animating" a suit, painting my face, getting contact lenses, and getting my hair just right. [more inside]
Fast-typing wired keyboard for PC
Can you recommend a good keyboard I can connect to a USB port in my work PC? I'm a Mac person who types very fast, so my ideal would be the Apple keyboard. Is there a Windows-compatible equivalent of that? [more inside]
How to cope with losing my fiance to alcohol, two weeks before our wedding?
My fiance went on a massive alcohol binge this week, two weeks before our wedding, and has left me. Any suggestions for coping with the devastation and loss I am feeling? Portland, OR-specific suggestions are especially welcome. [more inside]
a stitch in time returns 18% annualised over 40 years
welfare and social spending is usually discussed as a cost, a substantial cost.
can you suggest any good resources that analyse the economics of welfare and social spending as an investment? or that examines funding cuts as a kind of borrowing? [more inside]
Adding laptops to a Windows 2008 domain
What is the best practice for setting up Windows laptops inside and outside of a domain? [more inside]
The Making of the Mask
What material can I use to cover the eyes of my paper-mache mask?
Details inside. [more inside]
False damage claims a motel far from our home?
We were falsely accused of a damage claim at a motel far from our home. What are our options? [more inside]
Help me find live plant keychains?
Live plants, in capsules, on keychains (or attachable to jewelry)... Where can I get them, retail? [more inside]
Stimulants and building up a tolerance
Why don't people with ADHD build up tolerance to their stimulant medications, unlike people without ADHD who take them? [more inside]
Let My Sewer Flow
Home Maintenance Filter: When I purchased my home three years ago, during the inspection, the sewer lines were found to be clogged (not completely) with tree roots (5 mature elm trees on the 10,000sqft lot). The seller had the line 'rooted' and we did an inspection of the sewer line afterward. All good. My inspector told me the line would have to be 'maintained' for tree roots. How often should I do this? [more inside]
It's the body's biggest organ, you know.
Please help me figure out what's going on with my skin. I have either a rash or acne or something on my face and I don't know why or what to do! I've used Dr. Hauschka skincare for years and would like to stick with that if possible, but I am getting desperate. Details and gross skin photos within! [more inside]
What tablet should I buy?
Should I buy an Acer Iconia A200, if I mainly want wireless capability and the ability to watch my .avi and .mp4 (and occasional .mkv) media files? If not, then what should I be looking at? [more inside]
Humankind's making it out to the stars
What are early references to interstellar travel or starships in literature? [more inside]
Advances in Lobster Neuroscience
Lobster neuroscience: What new findings about pain and nociception in crustaceans have been made since 2004? [more inside]
Group Purchasing For Non-Profits?
Non-profit group buying? Do it myself or use a service thats out there? [more inside]
Need to eat some roses.
Best way to buy or otherwise acquire edible (not treated with any kind of sprays, basically) rose petals in Chicago. Nope, can't grow roses myself (condo with no yard) and can't ask someone to grow them for me. Is this even going to be possible? [more inside]
What is Munich like at the end of November?
What is München (Munich, Germany) like at the end of November? [more inside]
MRI's are loud.
Will MRI machines ever get softer? [more inside]
Book recommendations: Zadie-Smith-ish, but not Pynchonesque.
I'm currently loving Zadie Smith. For various reasons, I don't like most of the authors she tends to get compared to. (DeLillo and Pynchon give me hives. Rushdie and Nabokov are just okay. Etc.) Who else should I read? [more inside]
Bring home an 11-week old Weimaraner puppy?
Is 11 weeks too old to bring home a Weimaraner puppy? [more inside]
Treating BV without health insurance.
Treating recurrent bacterial vaginosis without health insurance? [more inside]
Forget Westlaw
You read a lot of administrative court decisions. Which court has the most user friendly system for searching and finding decisions? [more inside]
I keep saying things without meaning to!
What is wrong with me? YANMD but freaking out. [more inside]
What did you wish you'd known before renting a particular apartment?
When checking out potential new apartments, what problems do you wish you hadn't overlooked? [more inside]
How can I watch The Walking Dead online?
Dish Network has unfriended A&E, so how's a guy supposed to watch season three of The Walking Dead? Do I have any options to watch episodes online? I know I can either (a) get rid of Dish, or (b) wait a year for the season to show up on Netflix, but are there any choices out here? I am willing to pay for the content, if necessary. Thanks!
It's a spider poop remover AND a dessert topping!
Do you have any recommendations for the tough job of removing spider poop from vinyl siding? [more inside]
German Intelligence during the second World War
If true, why did German Intelligence pale so much in comparison to the British and Russians during WWII?
replacement for a non standard tap cartridge
What is the replacement for this ceramic tap cartridge? http://www.imgur.com/2RtXj.jpeg
We cant find at B and Q, the sticking point seems to be that the upper part is 25mm from the shoulder instead of 30. This is in the UK.
How to get the exact amount as it was sent via wiretransfer?
How to get the exact amount as it was sent via wiretransfer? I noticed that even an amount is sent by setting that the sender is paying the fees of the transfer, still there is some amount less which arrives to the receiver destination account.
What is the reason for this? How can I minimize this loss and how can I find out where this loss happened?
I noticed so far a loss of $30, but last time arriving of an about $250 less was a bit shocking for me. This difference is a bit strange for me, mainly that I do not have a clue where exactly this loss happened to park.
Thanks for your suggestions!
likeable bastards
Help me find a therapist in NE Portland
I would like recommendations for a therapist -- preferably in NE Portland -- to help me work through my feelings about the recent death of my father, and related difficult family dynamics surrounding his death.
How to explain mortality to a 4 year-old
How to explain mortality to a 4 year-old. [more inside]
ADHD acceptance; nobody's problem but my own?
I've just been diagnosed with ADHD, and have started an initial stimulant-based management plan. I'm in my mid-forties, and work in a very traditional industry and come from a not-very-accepting Old World culture. How open do I need to be with colleagues and friends that I'm doing this? [more inside]
Examples of co-creating websites?
Which websites do the best job of involving community members in helping the site evolve? [more inside]
Can you recommend shops for a woman to find masculine formal wear in London, UK?
Can you recommend places for a woman to find masculine formal wear in London, UK? [more inside]
Postmodernism online
Where I can I read about the internet seen from a postmodern / post-structualist perspective? [more inside]
Do pressure drain cleaners work?
Anyone used a drain cleaning attachment on a high pressure water cleaner? Do they handle tree roots? [more inside]
Strip-hop? (Ugh... sorry I couldn't resist.)
What's the best downtempo/trip-hop/lounge type song for a striptease? [more inside]
October 12
What was I going to ask?
Tips and tricks for dealing with fibro fog. [more inside]
Just don't use the bathrooms
Woman, alone, traveling through upstate NY via Greyhound. 5 hour "layover," between 1am and 6am, at the Syracuse bus station. Is this safe? If not, where's a safe place to kill time at this hour in Syracuse? [more inside]
How to keep a new computer from getting bogged down over time
How can I set up a Windows 7 PC to be clean and stay clean? I don't want file bits and temporary files to clog it up, I don't want a million image files the size of a dot. I don't want this computer to run like molasses after a few years of web browsing and use. What is the best way to do that? [more inside]
Apricot moisturizers?
Where can I find natural apricot moisturizer and/or soap? [more inside]
What are some upbeat songs by happy, playful musicians?
I love songs of any musical genre that feature multiple musicians sitting in a room together, playing upbeat music, and clearly having a very good, very playful time doing so. The musicians’ pleasure is infectious, and I can listen to these songs on "repeat" endlessly. Can you recommend some songs like this? (Examples within.) [more inside]
Run! she's got scissors!
How can I tell in advance if a knitted fabric will run when I cut it? [more inside]
Termites?
Procuring Web Based Services
Your team or department has found a great web based tool for project management that costs ~$10 per user per month. What are the hoops you have to jump through to get management to ok the purchase? What could the software developer do to make the purchasing decision as simple as possible for you as a team leader/member?
Finding a Novel that is Strange but Also Everyday
I'm looking for a novel that strikes a tone between the strange and the intimate/everyday. I've been watching a lot of Fringe lately and I've been in the mood for a book that provides characters interacting with Lovecraftian, Lynchian, or Cronenbergian horrors while the characters themselves remain (or attempt to remain) relatable and slice of life.
My wife has absolutely no credit history. She is a permanent resident. How can we build a credit rating for her?
My wife has absolutely no credit history. She is a permanent resident. How can we build a credit rating for her?
Volvo - What to do with the engine?
I have a 1991 Volvo 740 with a 4 cylinder engine that was rebuilt less than 3000 miles ago. Car was just in an accident that totaled the car but didn't affect the engine. So I figure I'll look for another Volvo that needs an engine. Does anyone know what year & models can take that engine? Or point me in the direction of where to look. Or just part the car out and start fresh? Thank you!
History of the halogen oven
History of the halogen oven [more inside]
How do I go about renting a mini-van in Las Vegas?
I've never rented a car before. What is the best way to go about doing this in Las Vegas, NV? [more inside]
Is my suit out of date?
I have a wedding tomorrow. I have a suit that I bought for my high school graduation in 2000. Does it look out of date (picture)?
Monitoring network usage with multiple SSIDs
Please help me solve my router management issues. At my house I want multiple SSIDs (at least two), AND the ability to monitor network traffic by device or by SSID. [more inside]
Dorco or Safety Razor?
Any ladies out there shave old school, as in, with a safety razor? [more inside]
Why do so many people have the same dreams?
Are there any physiological explanations for why so many people have the same dreams? [more inside]
Audio in tumblr won't play on iPad - why?
An mp3 embedded in a tumblr post; iPhone plays it, iPad doesn't. Why? [more inside]
Looking for a good store in Toronto for baby gifts
A friend of mine recently did me a huge favor. I'd like to get him something for his newborn baby to say thank you. He lives in Toronto, I live in California. Are there any Toronto baby/child stores you'd recommend? Ideally ones that offer gift vouchers that I can order online.
Am I going to nee dto move this ground wire?
I have a question about my house's ground wire, and may need recommendations for an electrician in Minneapolis. [more inside]
ARRRRRRticle One defines the powers of Congress as...
How can I find out if and when a particular clause in the US Constitution has been invoked? [more inside]
MicPhone App Quandry
How do I take audio files off MicPhone app on my IPad [more inside]
family support during divorce?
My family has taken a side in my amicable divorce. And it's not "my" side. How do I get support from them when I am isolated and depressed and really need them? [more inside]
Excel Formatting(?) Question
There must be a simple solution to this Excel issue I'd like to fix. [more inside]
Portfolios of the Poor but covering the US?
The book Portfolios of the Poor details the financial lives of people living on less than $2/day. Where can I find similar studies/narratives/stories about poor people in the US? [more inside]
But what if I can't live in the present tomorrow?
The times when I am most content and at peace are the times that I am most able to live in the present - unattached to outcomes, not falling into "what ifs", not "writing the script", etc. I've also been at my most successful when I've had that attitude. Unfortunately, it's also pretty rare that I'm able to get there. What books, recordings, techniques, anything else help you reach that "it is what it is and it's all ok" attitude?
What is the cardinality of the set of all people who shall expel us from the paradise that Cantor has created?
Sweet descriptions of the empty set? [more inside]
In search of a decent prepaid card
I need a card I can charge with money, online, for someone else's use in grocery stores, department stores, gas stations, etc. They don't need to be able to get cash with it. It shouldn't be possible for them to take out more money than I put in. This will be an ongoing thing, so I'd like to minimize fees. Has anyone had any experience with something like this that they liked?
vehicles
new verses used vehicle and when to sale most economical [more inside]
Help me recall the name of some software
Name the obscure torrent client [more inside]
Please recommend stuff to do in Los Angeles during the day in October.
Please recommend stuff to do in Los Angeles during the day in October. [more inside]
Needs clear rules
My 18-month-old suddenly has very specific ideas about what she wants or doesn't want to do RIGHT NOW. And boy, does she holler when she is thwarted! I end up not being as consistent as I want to be. Please help me come up with a strategy. [more inside]
Comedy Film About RPGs?
A comedy film about table-top gaming. [more inside]
Why is N.J. transit so delay-prone?
Why is N.J. transit rail so bad, so delay-prone? [more inside]
Soy-free moisturizer for acne-prone sensitive skin?
Can someone recommend a moisturizer for acne-prone sensitive skin that doesn't include any of these things? [more inside]
MS Word Cross-Reference Woes
Need help updating MS Word (2010) cross-references to reflect the order in which they appear. [more inside]
Caption contest
I need a fitting caption for wierd artwork on a birthday card I'm sending. [more inside]
How should I negotiate?
I have two initial interviews next week at two different companies. Both with the HR person for basically the screening interview. I am very well qualified for both positions and I don’t want to not even get past the first interview because my salary expectations answer is wrong.
I am looking for actual scripts on what to say because I don’t know how to phrase this and I want to practice this weekend. [more inside]
Where there's brass...
What is the smell at Bank station? [more inside]
Building an alumni network
Does your High School have a fun and effective way of staying in touch with the alumni? How do they do it? Class agents?, Mass emails?, Facebook groups?, Annual events?, Online or hard publications? I am looking for your advice and ideas. [more inside]
How to remove personal info from fraudulent DNS listings?
I've stumbled on a couple of internet domains registered in my name and contact information that I've got nothing to do with - not sure how to proceed. [more inside]
Do I "owe" him a ride home if he pays for the date?
Do I "owe" him a ride home if he pays for the date? [more inside]
Should I consider purchasing this 1991 Honda Nighthawk?
Is this 1991 Honda Nighthawk 250 worth considering as a beginner's biker? [more inside]
Ancient boiler/modern thermostat: help me end the freeze/roast cycle
I need some thermostat programming tips. I moved over the summer and now I have a thermostat after many, many years of living with landlord-controlled heating systems and other curious and quirky forms of heating. Problem: the boiler takes FOREVER to heat up the radiators and then overshoots the target temperature dramatically. Details within. [more inside]
Metafilter: How do I credit card?
This is embarrassing: I'm 25. I don't know the first thing about credit cards and building credit. I do not have a credit card, and therefore, no credit. Where do I even start? [more inside]
All gone a bit pear-shaped
How does a pear-shaped person look good in men's trousers? [more inside]
How do I follow through on removing subletters?
I've given two subletters three months notice to move; they are arguing that I "don't have the power" to ask them to move out, and are demanding "proof" that I can do so. Details inside. [more inside]
Need ideas for a Titanic-themed birthday party for an obsessed 7-year-old boy!
My Titanic-obsessed son is turning 7 in a couple months. I want to throw him a party he'll remember forever. I have the cake planned -- a friend is baking a Titanic-shaped masterpiece. For the rest, I need AskMe's help. [more inside]
Talk Talk Talk
My friends and I need a free or cheap place to talk online. Any ideas? [more inside]
Counseling for man involved in an unplanned pregnancy
A friend of mine just found out that his ex-girlfriend is several weeks pregnant, very likely with his child. It's a very messy situation. He is panicked and doesn't know what to do. He needs guidance, but none of his friends are equipped to provide it to him. Who can he turn to? [more inside]
How can I figure this all out?
My self esteem is at an all time low. I have a huge case of impostor syndrome. I feel like I half ass everything, this has got to stop, it's making my life miserable. [more inside]
Faber College is not on the shortlist
Help a high school senior pick a public Virginia university! [more inside]
My 65-year-old mother was just diagnosed with a benign tumour on her heart. She feels okay but says she will need surgery. What kind of surgery? What will this involve?
My 65-year-old mother was just diagnosed with a benign tumour on her heart. She feels okay but says she will need surgery. What kind of surgery? What will this involve? [more inside]
Techniques for developing a better sense/continuity of self?
Techniques for developing a better sense/continuity of self? [more inside]
NYC Luggage Repair
Where can I get luggage wheels repaired in New York? [more inside]
Any way to combat spam in Outlook Web App?
How can a regular low-privilege user of Outlook Web App stop the incoming flood of spam? [more inside]
Where does the phrase "Flippin' Henry" come from?
Where does the phrase "Flippin' Henry" come from (to express exasperation)? [more inside]
(UK) Southwest trains advanced tickets - Ashurst or Brockenhurst to London
(UK) Southwest trains advanced tickets - Ashurst or Brockenhurst to London [more inside]
October 11
Actor portrayls of noted authors & or philosophers
After viewing the excellent "A Man for All Seasons" IMDb and the BBC's Kierkegaard - Sea of Faith YouTube I'm in want of viewing other portraryls of noted authors & philosphers. What are your recommendations? [more inside]
Taking the LD out of an LDR
Advice for long-distance partners finally settling together? [more inside]
Ideal ranges in excel charts?
Displaying ideal ranges in the plot area of an Excel 2007 chart. Possible? [more inside]
My computer isn't working properly
I went away for the weekend and when I returned this is what I get everytime I try to access the internet. Can't use google at all so IE is my only option. I'm freaking out a bit. I keep getting pop ups from "System Progressive Protection" that is trying to sell me stuff but I'm not buying into what I see as a scam. Every program I open is said to be infected. Everything was fine 3 days ago. It won't even let me Skype. Help, please
Ignore warnings and visit that site in the current state (not recommended). [more inside]
Car insurance comparisons
Why do car insurance prices vary so much? [more inside]
Looking for a good small watch
Looking for a new watch like the Timex Ironman Sleek. [more inside]
Macbook Air with Time Capsule or Asus UX31a with external hard drive?
Macbook Air with Time Capsule or Asus UX31a with external hard drive? [more inside]
Sorry, another Halloween costume idea...
Halloween costume filter - I have the dress, now what should I be? [more inside]
I'm broken; please find media to fix me.
I am in need of a very specific type of catharsis. Media suggestions, please. [more inside]
iMac vs Macbook Pro Screen Size
Why does the resolution on the 17" Macbook Pro seem so much bigger than the 21" iMac? [more inside]
Give me your best Moderator tips.
I've recently become a mod (on a photography site) and would like any advice how to be fair and successful in the role. Especially when there are some members who's primary interest seems to be one of disruption and argument.
Fighting the (insurance) man!
Got rear-ended and am thoroughly unhappy with repair results. Any tips for negotiating with the insurance company re: how they're handling this? [more inside]
Pro tips needed: ethnography / design research using pragmatic tools
Hidden cameras or microphones - on the go, or installed for long term capture. What are your pro tips? [more inside]
So, where are you from?
Is picking people up at the gym a thing? How about at hotels? [more inside]
Can a rescue organization claim a dog as their own for its entire life?
How much legal weight does a shelter dog adoption agreement carry if the original adopter (who signed the agreement) has died? [more inside]
Why'd it take us so long to find Madagascar?
Madagascar was only settled around 2000-2500 years ago by peoples from Borneo who travelled thousands of miles across the Indian Ocean in canoes. Why wasn't Madagascar colonized earlier? [more inside]
Gimmicky to the point of distraction
What is the most efficient paper-based data storage format? Is this available to the public? And if not, is there a reliable format that would be able to be used in a real world scenario for say.. an incredibly gimmicky album release? Massive volume of paper necessary not a concern.
What wine course would interest you?
My friend is starting a wine education company in Canada. He's trying to come up with a list of courses that would appeal to the widest audience. Right now he has a course on VQA wines, Italian wines, French wines, "How to find value wine", pinot noirs of the world (Oregon, Burgundy, California, New Zealand...) and is contemplating a course in Cabernets. Can you think of something that is missing or that would interest you more than what he has?
What do I put on my CV for the person who is writing me a recommendation to grad school?
What goes on an academic CV, especially when one doesn't exactly have a huge academic history to draw from? [more inside]
I'm looking for blogs where people suffering from illnesses share their experience.
Where can I find personal blogs from people suffering from illnesses? [more inside]
How to deal with a hopeless dreamer?
My BF suggested that I ask this question here, as I am at a loss as to what to do: A 'poet' came up to me the other day at the university, asking me if i could tell him more about a poet from my (Asian) country. After that, we met twice, all he is talking about is his poems (which he has been planning to publish for years) and "inventions" on paper. After 30, he still lives with his parents and is not working (he is a mature student). After learning i've got a boyfriend, he seems to have become so upset and heartbroken and told me that relationships never happened to him for many years and he doesn't know why. He writes me long and emotional text messages. He doesn't seem to have many friends and he obviously lack confidence. Now he has told me he loves me and wishes to spend his life with me but he can't meet with me ever again as it upsets him too much. I wonder if I could help him in anyway, he obviously needs to do something to get out of his rut, perhaps join some student societies to socialise more with other people, but I don't know if he would take well to receiving such advice from me.
Cheap House Detroit: motive, make art
I want buy a cheap house, make art, and not die in Detroit. What are the right zipcodes to plug into Zillow? FWIW, white male, older but street smart, handy, commute some and sell in California, love vintage architecture (and ruins, and access to cheap, plentiful materials).
Help me help Mom.
Mom is depressed. She has always been depressed. Is there anything I can do to help? If not, how do I cope? [more inside]
"I want my two dollars!!"
Salary negotiating ninjas—throw me a bone! [more inside]
What is a reasonable salary increase to move from LA to NY?
What is a reasonable % salary increase for a move from LA to NY, figuring in cost of living as well as an actual raise in salary? [more inside]
This hellish tech startup trafficking in souls needs a name
Halloween Filter: Help me with a name and tagline(s) for my 'business' of getting people to sign over their soul to eternal damnation. Tech startup parodies most welcome. [more inside]
Looking for best NYE party in UTC+5.
NYE in UTC+5 (West Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan) for two late-twenties Americans. Which country to pick, where to go, what to do? [more inside]
I feel like my body is falling apart.
Boston Area student looking for medical help - specifically, I'm developing tinnitus, cloudy vision, and I think maybe my wisdom teeth are coming in. All of these problems are giving me severe anxiety, and I have no idea where to start getting medical treatment. [more inside]
Do you ever just click without reading the fine print?
Do you ever just click without reading the fine print? I am wondering a few things about the old "Click here to signify that you have read and understood the blah blah blah" directive, particularly the type found in software downloads/updates. [more inside]
What's the credit card for me?
Should I switch from the HSBC Premier World Mastercard to the Amazon Visa? If not, which credit card will let me save the most money rather than be rewarded for spending more? [more inside]
Am I going to break my crock pot?
Is it safe to keep a crock pot in the fridge overnight before cooking? [more inside]
Where can I find music classes?
I live in Brooklyn and want to take classes on electronic music composition. [more inside]
my toilet is talking back to me
After fixing a clog last week, my toilet is making loud gurgling sounds each time it flushes. Can you help me fix it? [more inside]
Generating multiple short URLs
I need a way to generate multiple (5, to be exact) unique short URLs for a single long URL, and I need to be able to track basic click metrics for each of the unique short URLs. Is this possible in bitly or any mainstream URL shortener that offers fairly robust analytic capabilities/tools?
Wardrobe Therapy
Are there any books out there in the vein of The Artist's Way and Apartment Therapy, but for clothes? [more inside]
Network in style
Business Card Holders! Do you have recommendations for business card holders? I want to get my husband one for his birthday. Thank you so much!
They will know what you look like now
In the US it's frowned-upon to attach a picture to your resume for a non-performance position. The reasoning is that companies would rather not know what you look like so they can't be accused of discrimination. How does this work when applying via LinkedIn? Does your picture get transmitted automatically or do they have to make a choice to view it?
New York State Sales Tax headaches for a clothing retailer
How do you handle the labyrinth of New York State sales tax? I'm launching an online business that sells goods (some clothes, some non-clothes). We're located in New York State. We need to collect tax in New York State... gorey details inside. [more inside]
Open relationship friendly therapist in Vancouver, BC?
Can you recommend a good therapist in Vancouver, BC with experience with open relationship/marriage and LGBT issues? [more inside]
Is there a way I channel my Marijuana use positively?
Is there a way I channel my Marijuana use positively? [more inside]
Pls recommend an electronics timer that can run for a minute, shut down for a minute then restart..and continue looping that pattern.
Pls recommend an electronics timer that can run for a minute, shut down for a minute then restart..and continue looping that pattern. [more inside]
Who can sign-off on a Building?
Does New York State law allow anyone other than a licensed Architect to sign off on a building project? [more inside]
I don't know how to be athletic.
I was never an athlete. But now I might be? Help me actually be. [more inside]
I don't want Facebook, but facebook wants me
Am i destined to get facebook spam for the rest of my days? [more inside]
You Can Go Home Again... right?
Moving back after 10 years: what to watch out for? [more inside]
Is a hybrid water heater more efficient than oil?
Help me analytical-types! Do I upgrade my current water heater to the GE Geospring Hybrid for practically free?? [more inside]
Generic calendar --> Date-pegged calendar
Calendar scripting to create a generic Week 1-10 structure and then mapping the generic to actual calendar dates. What tools can I use for this? [more inside]
How can I learn Spanish by immersion inexpensively?
Year off between undergrad and dental school. Optimally, I would like to go to South or Central America for the purpose of learning Spanish. Best way to do this? [more inside]
Sadfilter: Helping an elderly parent/grandparent realize they can never go home.
Strategies for helping an elderly parent, who is living in assisted living, realize/come to terms with the fact that moving home will never be an option and it is now time to sell that home? [more inside]
What books make the best audiobooks?
What are some audiobooks that work extremely well in the format? Any that are narrated especially magically? [more inside]
Attack of the temporary killer tomato face!
My face is a mess thanks to prednisone. Tips on covering up/reducing the zits as best as possible, pre-job interview? [more inside]
mixed up texts
Why did my husband receive a text from me that contained an ending sentence different from the one I sent? [more inside]
T-Shirt Printing NYC
T-shirt Printing NYC [more inside]
Desktop PC Recommendation
Seeking Desktop PC Recommendation [more inside]
Maybe Flavor Flav can help...
I'm looking for these clocks (or more precisely, three of them) to purchase from within the UK. Can anyone help?
Applejack Cocktails
Applejack cocktail ideas? [more inside]
Microsoft Outlook's default search functionality sucks.
Please share your recommendations for the best Outlook e-mail/desktop indexer search tools out there. [more inside]
Free HTML hosting site
Can someone please direct me to a free HTML hosting site? [more inside]
Identify these shells?
Can you identify these shells? [more inside]
Need an awesome cycling jacket
Help me find a good lightweight cycling jacket for surviving bitter Midwestern winters. [more inside]
is it possible to book a cheap flight the same day you want to leave?
is it possible to book a cheap flight the same day you want to leave [more inside]
The microwave is dead! Long live the pot rack!
Pot Racks! I would like to buy one, but I have questions! [more inside]
How to categorize curve patterns?
Statistics filter: How can I categorize time series curves into pattern categories? [more inside]
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Cash Reserves
What am I missing?-filter: I feel like I have a lot of the pieces of this notion that companies are holding onto enormous cash reserves and waiting to see how the election shakes out, but I can't quite put it all together. [more inside]
Can I save a secure form in Reader?
How to get Adobe Reader to save a secure form? [more inside]
Recommend leather boots for men that will last a million years
Looking to buy men's boots of extremely good quality, under $300 [more inside]
I guess some people really do read it for the articles.
Asking for a friend: what is this bawdy folk-ish story involving a criminal, a judge, the judge's wife, and forced sex with a goat? [more inside]
Oh, so you're flipping videos now? That's cool.
We're using iPads for users to post videos directly to our Wordpress site through the official Wordpress app. The videos are being recorded on the iPads, and posted through the app's media upload feature. When we do this through the HTML4 options (which uses embed) there are no controls to start the video playing. When we do this through HTML5 the videos are rotated 90 degrees. Any ideas what's causing this video weirdness and how to fix it? [more inside]
UK Employment LawFilter: missus made redundant during maternity leave
I'd like some advice on whether it's worth pursuing an ex-employer to tribunal for unlawful dismissal. [more inside]
Insert recipe suggestions here!
Recipe suggestions for chaotic new family lifestyle with a number of dietary restrictions. [more inside]
How to quiet the "think about other women" impulse and become faithful in thought as well as action?
How to quiet the "think about other women" impulse and become faithful in thought as well as action? [more inside]
Laid back to fall over
Starting a new job soon; unless I can manage my chronic motivation problems, it's all going to go wrong.
Help me mefi's; what's wrong with me, what can I do? What do you do? [more inside]
List of Criterion Movies on Hulu?
Is there a full list of the Criterion movies available on Hulu? Hulu recently borked the searching on their website making it impossible to search on directors or genres (or almost anything). You can browse to the Criterion section of but there doesn't seem to be a "show me all the movies" subsection. Is there a 3rd party site actually that lists them all?
Does [Insert name here] write book blurbs? If so, for which books?
Is there a book blurb search engine, or something that will let me see if someone has ever written a book blurb, and what it was? (Or some clever way of googling Amazon's Editorial Reviews sections) [more inside]
This language is not what I think it is, but is it art?
What is a good resource for understanding art theory - book recommendations, websites, things of that nature. I keep finding myself realizing that there's uses of language in art that doesn't match up with what I think it should be. [more inside]
Cleaning up black gunk
I have black gunk growing in my stainless steel sink, also different black gunk on my plastic bath mat. What cleaning products and procedures do you advise?
Help me do barra better
Cooking barramundi- your retrospective help please? [more inside]
Automated Craigslist searching?
I often check craigslist (Tokyo, where I live) to look for deals on various things I'd like to buy. I tire, though, of clicking through the different categories, sifting through all the silt to find a nugget worth asking about. Is there any way to automate searching through craigslist? [more inside]
Wandering in inland Brazil
Wandering in inland Brazil. [more inside]
October 10
Excel: Pivot tables with Line Graph with outside data
Excel Pivot Table + Line Chart Help [more inside]
Help understanding how prints are framed.
I want to hang some Edward Hopper art on my walls. It is as simple as buying some prints and framing them? [more inside]
Where to Park near LAX?
Best, cheapest, safest-for-my-car LAX parking? [more inside]
Looking for software to aid with streaming via an unreliable connection
Is there a music streaming program that will continuously cache a stream while a connection is available and play from that cache on demand, in a first-in-first-out manner? [more inside]
work free(lance) or die
New Employer wants to hire me part-time and will forbid me from working other part-time jobs in same professional field in my city. I don't know yet if I'll be "freelance" or "on staff", but the (low) quantity of work and (low) pay equals freelance status in my mind, but freelancers should be able to cobble together many jobs in their field and city, right? How do I get around New Employer's so-called "noncompete" agreement? I want to work for this (prestigious) company but cannot quit my other jobs yet. What is my bargaining position?
I feel manipulated by my partner. Am I?
I feel manipulated by my partner. Am I? Or am I a total nut hatch? I feel like a total nut hatch sometimes. I can't quite put a finger on what's wrong with what he does in the moment, but I feel annoyed later on. To illustrate my case in favor of control and manipulation, I present Exhibits A through G. [more inside]
I thought glasses would help me see more clearly not put everything into soft focus.
Why are my new glasses scratching so quickly? [more inside]
I'm not biking this whole way just to take a picture in front of the White House.
Biking to Washington, DC, arriving Oct 19 and leaving the 21st. What should I do (bike-related and not) while I'm there? [more inside]
help us find a new kitty doc
Recommendations for a vet for cats in San Francisco? [more inside]
What did I just write there?
I can barely read my own writing! Help! [more inside]
Do I have to wear makeup to a job interview?
Do I have to wear makeup to a job interview? [more inside]
.mkv to .mp3 conversion
How can I keep these .mkv to .mp3 conversions from getting screwed up? [more inside]
Their OLD kentucky home
How do i buy thoughtful and (kinda) inexpensive wedding gifts for people I don't know that well? [more inside]
Accept Credit Card offers with Free CASH$?
Is there any good reason not to take advantage of free cash back offers from credit card companies as long as I pay my monthlies promptly?
FOr that matter, free miles offers?
I have been doing so for some years and my credit score seems to stay strong and yet I was always told that there is no such thing as a free lunch/.
Riding with the moving company?
Can I ask to ride with the movers? [more inside]
Save the Skateboards
How can I bring my two skateboards on a US Airways flight?? [more inside]
pocket pen!
Looking for a sustainable pocket pen solution (for a girl)!-- I need suggests/recommendations/ideas for a pocket pen that is thin in diameter and short. It needs to either be extremely cheap and easily replaceable, or easily refillable (fountain pen ink, pencil lead, or non-proprietary refills). I would ideally like to carry this in my pants pocket, and will probably carry it all the time. I can't spend more than 20 dollars on this, and really, less than 10 is even better. [more inside]
What do I need to have on hand after abdominal surgery?
You had a minor laparoscopic abdominal surgery. What supplies did you find most helpful? What items did you think you needed but ended up regretting? [more inside]
Can I migrate the entirety of my iphone text messages to winmobile if I changes phones?
smartphones question: Can I migrate my iphone text message history to win-mobile should I decide to do so? [more inside]
What to do with a sexless marriage?
Is sex vital in a marriage? Do I need a new perspective, a new conscience, counseling, or a divorce? (NSFW) [more inside]
Would it be a mistake to buy cheap American Airlines tickets right now?
Would it be a mistake to buy American Airlines tickets right now, for the upcoming December holidays? [more inside]
Cleanliness: On tap!
What's the best system for cleaning a kegerator? [more inside]
Recommendations for patent attorney?
Asking the hivemind for recommendations for a patent lawyer. Friend (lives in Chicago but willing to consider lawyers from any jurisdiction) has questions about patentability of his idea and potentially needs a patent attorney to help him with the prior art search and nonprovisional patent. Please post your recommendations in the comments or send me MeFi mail. Thanks!
Why would you want someone to say that to you?
Why are humiliation and/or degradation sexually exciting for some? [more inside]
Dump that dump?
How do I know it is time to get rid of a rental condominium I own? [more inside]
Gynecologist in NYC who takes Family Health Plus?
Gynecologist in NYC who takes Family Health Plus? [more inside]
Student loan forgiveness for people who actually have been paying their debt down?
I feel like I've paid enough interest on my student loan. Do any student-loan forgiveness plans exist for middle-class people who actually pay their bills and are not in default? [more inside]
Website crashing - is it Wordpress, my site, or the host?
Wordpress site crashing throughout the day. Webhost says I need to upgrade to dedicated server... is there another option? [more inside]
Today I would like to look THIS professional
There is a hole left in my life where the Academic Chic blog used to live. Help me find new inspiration? [more inside]
Avoiding mudslinging preemptively
Campaign tactics: how can my dad, a first-time candidate, preempt last-minute mud-slinging? [more inside]
Removing incorrect data from a credit report
How to get incorrect credit cards off my credit report? I've tried just about everything. (Involves companion cards on a family member's credit card.) [more inside]
how to respond to a guy who invites you on a date and wants you to pay?
A guy who i've been dating asked me out and made sure to include how much the event would be per person (ten bucks). We've been dating for a few months now and he has always paid. How do I decline and let him know the reason why, which is that I think it's pretty tacky to ask me out and expect me to pay, in a tactful manner? [more inside]
Do corks for bottles have a direction?
When wine bottle corks are cut from the cork bark, is the cork cut vertically or horizontally through the section of bark? In other words, is there 'grain' directionality in the cork bark that matters in terms of it's function as a wine bottle cork?
Help me find a rare USB part
Where can I find this seemingly non-existent USB receptacle? [more inside]
The Strange Case of Mitt Romney's Massive IRA
How did Mitt Romney manage to amass $102 million in his IRA? [more inside]
Another costume question
Please help me win an office Halloween costume contest. First prize is 3 day in Cabo! [more inside]
Retreat for the Medicated Soul?
Where should I go to detox from a psych med roller coaster disaster? [more inside]
How to Start Over in America
How to help my girl stay busy / find work in our quest to move to the United States and start over. Lengthy soul-searching after the jump. [more inside]
Dress nicely
FashionFilter: Help me find an awesome coat. This one on Etsy is the best one I've found so far, but I hesitate to buy something I can't try on before I buy or return if I don't like. More details inside. [more inside]
Is it really this hard to find preschools/daycare?
How to go about actually finding a preschool/daycare. [more inside]
light card game recommendations
Seeking recommendations for light to medium difficulty card games from one to 8 players. No boards, no game pieces, just cards. Yes, I know there is Boardgamegeek, but I would like current recommendations from the mefites. And I thank you.
P.S. I like No Thanks, Coloretto, The Great Dalmuti, Rat-a-tat-cat, Rook. I don't like Bohnanza, Apples to Apples, Skip Bo, Hearts, Blink, Rage.
Help me know more about Israel
Can you please recommend a good book on the formation of modern Israel? [more inside]
Storytelling on film
Can you give me some examples of short films that are primarily monologues or someone telling a story? [more inside]
WordPress, where to start?
Can you recommend a good set of tools, books, blog posts, or videos to get into WordPress? I have functional knowledge of HTML and CSS, but most of my experience is a decade out of date.
Skincare for Dummies
I want to start taking good care of my skin now, but I don't know where to start with all these serums and toners and moisturizers and creams...what are the basic products I need to establish a good routine? [more inside]
Hardwood floors: can an amateur do a decent job refinishing?
I need some advice about refinishing hardwood floors. Is this something I can do on my own? I've done plenty of research but I want to try and collect input from DIYers with actual experience. [more inside]
Ideas for Vampire Dinner Party
Ideas for a vampire-themed dinner party [more inside]
Need examples of textual graphics
Please suggest book covers (or others) I can look at that are extremely text-heavy images. [more inside]
Is altreing trousers hard? If not, what sewing machine should I get?
Can I learn to make alterations to my own pants? If so, what kind of sewing machine should I get? [more inside]
Am I depressed?
Am I depressed? [more inside]
How to address fear of ending up with another alcoholic partner.
How do you know if someone might drink more than you are comfortable with if you do not live together? Or am I still bruised from my previous relationship? [more inside]
Sick Kitty
Can you help me figure out what caused my cat to have an allergic reaction? [more inside]
Too much white noise from speakers!
How can I reduce the noise my speakers are spewing out from the various electronic things on my desk? Even with nothing playing, there's so much noise. [more inside]
How to spend two days in San Diego
Two days in San Diego ... how to spend them? [more inside]
Door Knobs
What is the best and cheapest way of being able to lock your door from the outside with the minimum amount of alteration made to either the door and frame? [more inside]
I just landed in Budapest, what can you recommend me to see over the next few days?
I just landed in Budapest, what can you recommend me to see over the next few days? [more inside]
Total health of US Investors
How would you measure the total health of individual investors?
So the U.S. has a large number of individual investors actively managing their money. Does anyone measure that for both number of accounts and total amount in them? Trying to see if we can track are people more actively investing or less actively investing as opposed to parking their money in mutual funds.
I want to lust after some 'cycles.
Can you recommend a nice motorcycle coffee table book? [more inside]
Outlook Search from Anywhere?
How do I set up searchable outlook archive that I can access from anywhere? [more inside]
Computer for parents
What's the best, fastest way to set up a computer to do nothing but surf the internet? [more inside]
What's happening in this GIF?
What's going on in this GIF?
I keep on looking at it and people assure me something awesome's happening, but I am still confused? [more inside]
Breaking Time Warner Biz Class Contract...
Anyone broken a Time Warner Business Class contract? What are the penalties? [more inside]
I laughed, I cried, etc
Storytelling as an art form/performance- I can't get enough! Point me towards podcasts, events in NYC, etc. [more inside]
Why can't we pay rent by EFT
Landlords of AskMe: Why won't most landlords accept rent by way of electronic transfer? [more inside]
"I love you!" "[insert appropriate reply here]"
Best way to respond to an unrequited "I love you"? [more inside]
Nice restaurants near Kiawah Island
Spending the weekend on Kiawah Island, SC. I'd like to find a nice restaurant for Friday night, hopefully not all the way back in Charleston. Details inside. [more inside]
I guess we can't get married in a cardboard box.
Help two budget wedding dorks make the most of appointments, touring venues, etc. What questions do we need to ask in person? How do we get it all done in a weekend? Can we get discounts on entry fees for looking at all these places? [more inside]
Missing ISP
What's the best way to find out if your ISP has suddenly gone out of business? [more inside]
I want to be a normal person
I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm kinky, but I feel like my life is over and I wish I could just cut this out of me and get rid of it. [more inside]
Gender therapist suggestions in SE Wisconsin?
Asking for a friend: suggestions for good, AFFORDABLE (read: sliding scale goes down to <$20/session) gender therapists in Milwaukee or Madison?
Voltage converter for heating pad
220 volt to 110 volt power converter for use with a heating pad that will be on for several hours [more inside]
Recommendations For Books On Writing Generally
I need recommendations for books on writing that address general craft issues - help? [more inside]
I want a new mug One that won't make me sick One that won't make me crash my car Or make me feel three feet thick
The weather is getting colder and I need to find a new insulated mug for my commute but there is more...I ride my motorcycle year round and I need one that is absolutely leakproof (it gets thrown in my bag) and keeps it hot and is easy to clean [more inside]
Dark & Stormy Night, Bro!
How to critique 'bad' writing? [more inside]
Hotel blues
Last minute London hotel booking on the cheap - is it even possible? [more inside]
What's with the red motorcyle?
What's the story with the red motorcycle/porn spam on public Facebook pages? [more inside]
October 9
I need a nice modern bedspread that isn't a comforter.
We have a California King bed and live in a warm-most-of-the-year climate. The bed is the focal point of the master bedroom. I want the bed to look nice and "made", but all I come up with when I search for "bedspreads" are comforters, which are too warm and bulky for year round use. Do pretty, thin/lightweight bedspreads exist? I know about quilts, but that style (anything country or old fashioned) won't work in our house. What's the magic search term I should be using?
opals are a girl's best friend
JewelryFilter: Please help me identify the stones and settings of two pendants. [more inside]
Is it safe to use any antibiotics on only an occasional basis?
Is it safe to use any antibiotics on only an occasional basis? [more inside]
What are your suggestions for blogs appropriate for 6th graders.
Asking for my 6th grade teaching sister-in-law. She's teaching her kids about "blogs" and is having a hard time finding blogs that would be appropriate for that age group... suggestions?
Live together? No, apart.
Couples who lived together, then moved apart: did you end up together in the end? [more inside]
It's always open season on princesses.
Can someone help me find the Roman Holiday screenplay? [more inside]
Should I continue this fight with my landlord?
Towards the end of September, I realized that the property management company did not cash my rent check. I called the company and asked if they had received it, to which they said they had not. I feared it lost in the mail, so I called my bank to ask how much it would cost to cancel a check, which is $15. Trying to save myself some money, I went down to the office to talk to the property management company in person. The surly man at the front desk informed me that my rent was overdue, that I should cancel the lost check and write a new one. I explained to him I didn't want to have to pay for it, and could he take a new check to cover my rent and not cash the old one if it arrived? I had brought with me a letter I had written which very clearly stated the problem with my rent not being paid on time and the costs associated with cancelling a check. I detailed which check # was lost in the mail, which was the new check # and to please DO NOT CASH the lost check if it showed up. He said he would give it to the rent manager. Fast forward to a week later when both checks have been cashed. It was so much money that my account went negative and now I've been charged a bunch of fees by my credit union! Should I fight my landlord to get them to pay for these fees? [more inside]
Music for the Midnight Hour
I'm trying to build my Halloween YouTube playlist, and I'd love recommendations for some haunting and eerie, yet beautiful music. This piece is exactly the kind of thing I have in mind, yet I haven't been able to find much that really measures up to it. I'd prefer instrumental and choral pieces, and they must be on YouTube. Classical recommendations are welcome. Mozart's Requiem Mass is on the playlist already.
Where to buy clothes for my wife in Barcelona?
I'm going to Barcelona next week on a business trip, and I'd love to buy my wife some nice shirts, possibly some jewellery as well. Also some cute baby stuff for my son would be nice. [more inside]
Need help finding an easy-to-follow Algebra textbook
Introductory Algebra Course - book recommendations? [more inside]
Help me see what I'll be seeing
How will a new external monitor work with my old PowerBook G4? ie. Help me unnerstand screen resolution. [more inside]
which tablet for my husband?
I want to buy a tablet for my husband for Christmas, but am unsure what would best meet his needs. Details inside. [more inside]
Who "owns" it?
For sake of discussion, let's say that I am an expert on "widgets". Particularly, I review a lot of reports about widgets for my word-of-mouth consulting business. This is a side business - - by day I work in the public sector - - in the widget business. Approximately 6 years ago I purchased the domain "widget review.com" with the hope of using it as I neared retirement and transitioned to a full time consulting role with a full fledged website. Well... In the interim time, another expert in the widget field has had a consulting business and a website named "widget review.org" I know you are not my lawyer, but might I run into some sort of legal trouble when I bring my website online... even if I owned the dot com url first? To be clear, my competitor and I provide the exact same service. I am also operating under the assumption that he probably looked for the dotcom version of the url, but since I owned it, optioned to the dotorg version.
Is there a connection between the Pill and food allergies?
Could there be a connection between a food (yeast) allergy and birth control pills? [more inside]
movie theater on the john
I'm thinking about buying a tablet to watch streaming video from Netfix, HBOgo, and other such services. What devices should I check out? [more inside]
Finding a couples counselor in Houston?
Does anyone have recommendations for a couples counselor or marriage/family therapist in Houston, TX -- or, at least, what resources I can use to find a good one? Thank you in advance!
Drawing or painting of a beagle puppy eating a businessman?
When I was a kid in the late 80's/early 90's, my favorite booth at Hardee's had a big print of a drawing or painting of a beagle puppy eating a businessman. There were little legs sticking out of the puppy's mouth in suit pants and business-type shoes, kicking around. Can you help me find this again? [more inside]
Cheaper alternatives to Eileen Fisher?
I am a 42 year old, plus-sized (18 US) woman who wants to dress in nothing but Eileen Fisher clothing. I cannot afford Eileen Fisher clothing. What brand do I wear/where do I shop? [more inside]
Admin and Research, switched.
A cartoon about academia from the 1990s (or even before). Is it online, offline, anywhere? [more inside]
.com.au | .com
What is a quick and cheap domain registration and mail forwarding option from mybusinessname.com.au? [more inside]
It's a sailboat!
Maybe you know this art print? Years ago I lost a piece of art that I loved but didn't know anything about. It was a sketch of a dry-docked small (single-person? in the perspective it looked to be about a 12-foot craft) sailboat, sail down, in a field of waving shore grass, looking out towards the sea and the back of the boat. The surf was far away, maybe 100 yards or so, and the boat was positioned in the lower right-hand quadrant of the piece though not in the corner. The original medium was was pencil or charcoal on paper. When I see it I think "New England coast" and "loneliness". It was a yellowish-greenish-sepia tone, or perhaps that was just the paper it was litho'd on. I recall it was an official print numbered in pencil on the matting and framed in a low-profile chrome frame. Do you know the work? Can you speculate on the name of the artist? I'd really like to be able to attempt to get another copy. [more inside]
Ohhhh, Dreaaaamweaaaverr
Easy-to-use templates (or something?) for a visual arts portfolio site? I already have a domain name and hosting, so I'm not looking for DeviantArt/Tumblr/CargoCollective, etc. [more inside]
Do I need to pony up for the JE vaccine?
How to decide if we need to get Japanese encephalitis vaccine for travel to SE Asia? For us? The kids? [more inside]
Finding a set of Kandinsky prints
Place to buy high-quality Kandinsky prints? [more inside]
Bus Power Only
What does "bus power only" mean as regards to power requirements? [more inside]
What an I negotiate for in my new job?
I was told the job was salaried, they offered to me but as a freelancer. Can I use this as a negotiating strategy? [more inside]
Contacting a person on OKCupid a second time, after they'd left and returned?
I messaged a woman, who seemed a fantastic match, on OKCupid. She didn't respond, and 2-3 days later deactivated her account. Some months later, she shows up again in my favorites list - same profile reactivated, again listed as single. The optimist in me thinks that last time I messaged her was perhaps just unlucky timing and she might be more interested now. Is this an exception to the general rule of "message a woman exactly once, and, if she doesn't respond, write it off and move on"? [more inside]
How do sites that feature curated content get their curated content?
CONTENT CURATION: How do apps like flipboard and sites like Hypebeast, Slamxhype, etc, generate their curated content? I often see the same content on each. Surely they're not downloading images and writing blurbs by hand. Right? I assume at least part of the process is automated. But how? [more inside]
This was stressful enough the first time!
I declined an offer from company A to work at company B. My contract was cut short due to rebudgeting/reprioritizing projects, totally out of the left field. I ate humble pie, and asked company A if they are still looking to add to their team. They said they'll get back to me in a week. In the meantime I've been contacted by and interviewed at company C and discovered that I love them to death. They love me. They're going to make an offer in the next few days, and I so badly want to take it. I just don't want to appear a crappy offer declining jerk to company A! Argh! [more inside]
Hablo un poquito, pero solo apprendando.
Best structured cheap or free Spanish conversation classes in Toronto (better yet, at the University of Toronto)? [more inside]
Size XL, he likes them baggy
I recently travelled 8,000 miles home to visit family and see my sick grandad for possibly the last time. I brought $150s worth of gifts across for them from Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Lorraine, and Iceland. Now my mum is demanding an extra, more expensive gift that I post to my brother because his car broke down after he'd given me a lift to the airport. Reasonable or unreasonable? How would you navigate this? [more inside]
Use the Schwartz for Halloween!
Halloween Costume Advice - Help me BARF, Lone Starr! [more inside]
How can I get this music file to play out of both speakers?
Brain cloud? I knew it!
How can I test my memory and keep track of how I'm doing? [more inside]
Everybody loves HOAs
What's an ideal budget for an HOA? I think I need to make a proposal for a dues increase but I'm not sure if I've thought of everything. [more inside]
What does this Italian phrase from 1634 mean?
Anyone know what the Italian in this quote from a book about Commedia dell Arte means?
"Aldeano in 1634 expected these lawyers of Francolino to have an oily toga, loose hair, and 'habiti alla ciala bardessa'." [more inside]
New Paperweight Anyone?
My Android phone, a Samsung Nexus S, operates on Jellybean 4.1.1. Since the latest update, I've noticed a dramatic decline in the battery life--it will go from fully charged to dead within 3 hours of intermittent use, regardless of whether I'm on a 3G or Wifi connection. How can I optimize the battery life on my phone without losing its functionality? [more inside]
Help me make mag spray and save $20 (SAIT)
Calling all chemists: I'm trying to recreate a store-bought magnesium gluconate elixir spray and am having some trouble. [more inside]
Damn it!
Hit save instead of save as in garageband and lost 90% of a song. Any chance to recover lost files? DO NOT HAVE TIME MACHINE OR ANY OTHER BACK UP AVAILABLE. This is on a powerbook
Verizon prepaid plans and the internet?
Question about phones and plans for Verizon prepaid - do you have experience with them, and with the data plans, especially using the web on the $50/month plan? [more inside]
What are some cognitive hacks to interrupt yourself when you can tell you're falling into a borderline obsessive behavior?
What are some cognitive hacks to interrupt yourself when you can tell you're falling into a borderline obsessive behavior? [more inside]
PDX running filter: help me find the safest, prettiest 10 mile route in NE Portland?
I'll be in Portland, OR for a wedding this weekend. I need to complete a ten mile run to keep up with training for a half marathon. I'll be staying on the NE side of Portland. I'm a lady running solo. Are there streets/areas I should avoid? [more inside]
With this BBQ I thee wed...
My partner is planning to propose in a matter of a few months. I want have something that I can surprise HIM with when he proposes to me! Is it acceptable for a woman to give a reciprocal proposal gift to the man? And if it is acceptable, would a barbecue be a little too bizarre? [more inside]
Engineering design mistake
I can't find a Wikipedia page I saw a while back. It was about a sort of design error or cognitive bias whereby designers or engineers reject as irrelevant (or are unaware of) a relevant factor in the requirements of a design because it is outside of their field. It gave an example which was about designing and providing water supplies in Africa. There were known ways to prevent a certain disease in the water, but the engineers were not familiar with them, so the disease spread.
Boy Meets Girl. Boy is Awkward.
Met a girl who could be perfect for me. I'm not generally 'good' with women or relationships. How can I best attempt to make something work with this one? (Special snowflake details inside) [more inside]
Health Insurance on my own in NH
Cheap individual health insurance for New Hampshire [more inside]
Rotten Tomatoes for Jazz?
I'm buying CDs for a friend to fill in his jazz collection. What are good online resources to help me pick the best discs? [more inside]
God only gives you as many kittys as you can handle
Bequeathed a feral adorbs kitten. Will be arriving tonight. My two cats and angrycat have some questions for the wise ones. [more inside]
Talking to Mom about moving in.
I've been thinking about asking my mother to move in with, or closer to, me and my wife (and maybe future baby). I'd love to hear your thoughts, and any guidance you can give to make it a good experience for everyone. Lots of specific questions inside, but any anecdotes are very welcome. [more inside]
If we get married, does she lose social security?
My fiancée and I are thinking of getting married in a few months and we're both still in school, I work part time and make about $20,000 a year. She does not work but receives vocational rehab and Social Security (SSI) for her permeant disability she was born with. [more inside]
Another one rides the bus
What's the correct way to ride the bus and get off at a certain stop? [more inside]
Starbucks water at home
1. How exactly does Starbucks treat their water? I've seen references to "famous triple-filtered" and "reverse osmosis" but nothing definitive or comprehensive.
2. Can this process be duplicated at home? If so, how?
3. Objectively, how is water that has gone through that process different from tap water or bottled water?
4. Subjectively, how would you describe the taste and mouthfeel if you wanted to say that I want water that is.... To me it feels both cleaner and more minerally, somehow fuller, maybe more alkaline? [more inside]
Help wanted - finding a job in Duluth
Jobless in Duluth (MN). How to become job-ful? [more inside]
My whole time service
My employment contract has the following line in it "Employees are expected to devote their whole time service to the work". Can anyone explain what "whole time service" means in respect to employment? I'm a teacher in the UK.
ET, phone...someone else?
My phone wasn't working this morning because someone had activated another phone using the same number. Is this a scam? How do I protect myself? [more inside]
For the price of a cup of tea
Torontofilter: Where can you comfortably eat a packed lunch and read a book, for free or the price of a bad coffee, indoors, in the Financial District? Bonus points if this gets figured out before lunch time. [more inside]
Moving to Austin. What next?
My partner and I plan to move to Austin, Texas, in January. We’re looking for recommendations about neighborhoods, information about the housing market, or any other useful information. [more inside]
Novels about restoring houses
Please tell me of novels where restoring an old house is an important part of the plot, and where there is also a happy ending. [more inside]
How many students are enrolled in comoputer science at Canadian universities?
My google-fu is taxed to the max. I want to find out the number of computer science students enrolled in 3rd and 4th year Computer Science at Canadian universities. Where would I find it?
Covering social media for a non-profit
My organization has allowed me to hire a social media/digital communications coordinator. It's been going well, but now I need to ask for some equipment and I'm not 100% sure what to ask for. [more inside]
IUD failed - what now?
My copper IUD was removed a month early - because I got pregnant. As it's been five years since I had to think about it, I was wondering what contraception to go for next. [more inside]
Great Astronomical Discoveries of 2012?
[Astronomy-filter] Giving a speech about Astronomical Discoveries of 2012 to an informal group of friends. Looking for suggestions on 3 main points to cover. Your input greatly appreciated! [more inside]
How to stop being so anxious when my boyfriend is experiencing financial difficulties?
How to stop being so anxious when my boyfriend is experiencing financial difficulties? [more inside]
the search for the next phone
What is the lay of the land of with Sony Ericsson phones these days? I used to have their Walkman phones up until five years ago, and they were fantastic, with features I miss almost every day since I transitioned to the iphone. I could do video editing on those things, even adding a soundtrack from songs I had on the phone! Plus, I could leave messages to myself on the front screen, and other super-helpful things-- and that was all before they even had micro SD slots, which sound great. Now that my iphone is almost kaput I thought I'd investigate a bit, but I can't find a good overview of the different phones. [more inside]
Reducing my margin of error
How can I reduce my margin of error on the job? [more inside]
Fit from drinking water too fast
My 14 year old daughter had a short 'fit' after drinking water too fast, does anyone know what could have happened and should we do any medical follow up? [more inside]
Driving in Germany and low emission
What's your advice for a driving holiday across Holland into Germany, particularly regarding low emission zones in cities? [more inside]
Can you recommend any good resources (online or otherwise) for teaching yourself Bridge?
I'd like to learn bridge - preferably online, although I'm happy to pay for a book or DVD or similar if there's a particularly good one. There seem to be LOADS of things for beginners - can anyone recommend one? [more inside]
Please just go away!
Pulled away from a friend and now he's pestering mutual friends about me. How do I tell him (nicely) to back off? [more inside]
How do I print Braille onto metal?
How would I go about printing Braille on to metal? [more inside]
Not feeling very smug.
Desperately seeking alternatives to SmugMug. Emphasis on password-protected galleries, the ability to proof photos and seamless customization (so as to integrate with a pre-existing Wordpress-backed portfolio). [more inside]
ThorConnWndClass is getting serious
ThorConnWndClass is getting serious. Anybody have a solution? [more inside]
Tiny and powerful flashlight
What is a good flashlight that is small and light enough to clip to my dogs leash yet strong enough to identify where he poops when it's dark outside?
How do we expose the way our manager has been treating everyone?
When is enough, enough? Manager of my workplace creating havoc on a daily basis, responsible for high turnover rate, and abusing her perks on top of it? What do you do when it is unanimous that you have a horrible boss? [more inside]
October 8
Hey, I Just Met You....
I am rather awkward when it comes to matters of the heart and I am unsure how to proceed in this particular situation. [more inside]
Another Favorite Book
Trying to find a beloved book from childhood. I believe it was a true story told in the first person of a British man, about his young friend, a precocious five year-old girl from the streets who said things like "nuffink." It may not be specifically a children's book.
Best 100 mm menthols?
Calling all MeFi smokers! What is the best/your favorite brand of American-brand 100 mm menthol cigarettes? [more inside]
Social anxiety and addiction
Is it common when trying cognitive behavioral therapy for you to become more anxious when challenging your thoughts? Does cognitive behavioral therapy work for drug addicts? I have been a drug addict, and I have been trying CBT and sometimes I feel like I will always feel like this because I dont have something in my system. I have bad Social anxiety when i try to talk to people. It happens almost everyday. I hope CBT will eventually help, but I do not know if this is just the way I am because of a lack of dopamine in my system?
Am I an architect and my mind forgot to inform me?
Pseudo scientists, humor me: What does it mean/say about me that I dream about buildings? [more inside]
Please help my old tired brain recall a beloved childhood toy.
Nostalgia Zone - Does anyone remember a little yellow duck/duckling toy that had a cocoa or chocolate scent? It's from the early 80's and was a hard toy but it was really soft and fuzzy. PLEASE HELP because I can't sleep until I figure this out. Thanks!
Who did the stand-in secretary comic skit?
Who was it that did the comic send-up of the secretary of an organization as a stage performance in the 1930s-1950s? [more inside]
How to talk to professors for grad school applications
How do I talk to professors I hope to work with before submitting my applications for graduate study? [more inside]
Am I going about online dating correctly?
This online dating thing is sort of working out, in that I'm getting dates with great people, but it never seems to move beyond 3-4 dates and I'm getting the kind of vagueness I got when I was in high school. How aggressive do I need to be? [more inside]
Duck, duck, horse
Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck? That's not my question (much as I might like it to be). I'm trying to find the origin of this question, which was asked to President Obama recently. [more inside]
From Paris to Geneva in a week - where to stop?
Where would you go in France if you had a week to get from Paris to Geneva? My husband and I (early 30s) are planning a trip and am not sure how to fill that space or where to go. We would prefer trains to renting a car, and the only restriction is that we'd like to spend a night or two in Annecy. [more inside]
How does this GPL licensing issue play out?
Are WordPress and Drupal themes, plugins, extensions, etc. legally obligated to be released under the GPL? [more inside]
Identity crisis
Hacking gmail to show me recently viewed messages? I am worried about identity theft after seeing an "open from 1 other location" message. [more inside]
Help us...RIG ANOTHER BARREL!
You're going to need a bigger boat...er... barrel...er... WHAT!? [more inside]
Why do Google and Adobe seem to want me to give Apple money for a new OS?
Chrome requires, via yellow pop down box, that I manually allow Flash to run on nearly every webpage I load (presumably just the ones that use Flash), each time I load it. How can I stop this? Complication: Chrome is no longer supported for my OS. [more inside]
Tablet for a one-armed friend
A friend has lost their (non-writing) arm in an accident. We want to buy them a tablet. They are not familiar with computers and have, until now, lived a nomadic life. What should we buy and are there extras which could make the learning and use easier? [more inside]
Vegan in Vegas Hotel
Family trip to Vegas. Mostly plan on lounging around the (downtown, not strip) hotel and environs. One member of the party is vegan, the rest happily eat everything. What's the dining outlook for the vegan? [more inside]
Tendin' the Tendon
Frustrating physical ailment filter. Help me find temporary relief. [more inside]
The Other Eternal Triangle
I'd like to read novels about, or at least involving, mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships. Conflict/rivalry preferred, but I'm open. The only one I can think of is "The Wedding Group" by Elizabeth Taylor. (And which I highly recommend.) Any other suggestions?
They're nice in person, but a fanatic online. What do I do?
I've been an introvert for a long time (still am, but I'm faking it), so I'm not used this whole "group of friends" thing, and I don't know how to deal with one of my new acquaintance's dual personality. [more inside]
Law academia: tell me about it!
Law academia: tell me about entering it and what it's like when you're there! How similar is it to humanities academia? How difficult are the jobs to get, compared both to academia and to law firms? [more inside]
How do I clean this necklace?
What is the best way to clean this necklace with intricate filigree? The stone is simulated amethyst and the setting is silver (back) and marcasite (front). [more inside]
i must win at magic!
Help me beat a friend at magic: the gathering. Money is on the line. I'm a noob. [more inside]
A Laptop To Study Monkeys By
I am looking for a relatively rugged laptop (or tablet?) that I can use for data entry, word processing, internet browsing, and music playing while in the US, and then use for data entry, arcGIS, and music playing while in the rain forest in West Africa. It would be wonderful if it was less than $700. I do not want a Mac. What should I be looking into? [more inside]
Grotesque Paintings of Talking Penises
On a deadline: Help me find the name of an amazing, bizarre, crude, disgusting artist whose childish paintings of people in extreme situations surrounded by thought/speech balloons/bubbles I saw in a Lower East Side gallery around 2010-2011. [more inside]
help me pick a car
"Snowflake" car purchasing question: Ford Focus vs Mazda 3 vs Honda Fit vs Hyundai Elantra. [more inside]
Ed Ruscha's watch
I was wondering what kind of watch the artist Ed Ruscha is wearing in this photograph. The detail isn't great, but thought someone out there might be able to identify it. Photo is here.
Thanks in advance.
Can you suggest a cool neighborhood in Seattle that is fairly easy to get to from the airport where I can have a great lunch followed by a pleasant afternoon of exploring?
Hanging out in Seattle next Sunday. Looking for an amazing place to eat lunch/dinner and some cool stuff to do. I've read through the archives, but I've got some specific parameters and I was hoping some of you locals could help me out. [more inside]
Could somebody please fire this schmuck?
How can I deal with a co-worker who doesn't pull his weight but will probably never get fired? [more inside]
Help us find the right open-source license
I am a software engineer, and my company has decided to open-source my project. Yaaay! Please help us find the right open source license. [more inside]
Help me outfit a budget home gym
I have $800 in "stay-fit" benefits to use before the end of the year for my job. Help me put together a simple home gym for going into the winter. [more inside]
Help me find warm dresses this fall/winter
Help me find winter dresses! [more inside]
I'm a designer taking a Treehouse course on iPhone app-making and the code part doesn't seem to be sinking in. Any tips or tricks to get myself into that kind of headspace?
I'm a designer taking a Treehouse course on iPhone app-making and the code part doesn't seem to be sinking in. Any tips or tricks to get myself into that kind of headspace? [more inside]
How to recover files deleted from Mac trash and also deleted from CF card during reformat?
Is there a way to fully recover files from emptied trash on Mac 10.8.2? Or from a formatted Sandisk Compact Flash card? [more inside]
Rights to Mr. Armstrong's music?
How to I find the copyright owner of "Louis Armstrong´s 50 Hot Choruses For Cornet" which was published by the Melrose Brothers, Chicago in 1927?
I tried to contact the Armstrong Museum in Queens, NY to no avail. Thanks in advance for the help.
Should I move to San Francisco?
Should I move to San Francisco? Every reason in the world to move, and one reason not to. [more inside]
What's the difference between a depression and a recession?
Depression vs. recession [more inside]
Can a docx ever be an xlf?
Hey translators, can I convert a docx to an xlf? [more inside]
Maybe Chinatown's my best bet.
Good place to sell a designer bag in NYC? [more inside]
Git dat hair outta da'er
Hair removal using Sugar Wax: I have looked up a number of DIY sugar wax recipes so I don't have to buy hair removal wax anymore. But I've tried a bunch and they aren't thickening enough to grab the hair and pull it out. Are there any tried and true online recipes? [more inside]
Eyeglasses ID / Suggestions (Metal cylindrical posts)
I am looking for a pair of glasses / companies which produce eyewear which have two metal cylindrical posts as their style. Brands appreciated. I have so far been looking at Oliver People and Salt Optics but would like to broaden my research and options. Any history (who originated it)/name to this style would be appreciated! Cheaper alternatives will also be considered. Examples: 1, 2. Thanks!
Should I get a fatbike?
Should I get a fatbike? [more inside]
What comes after Plan B?
I’m finishing a Ph.D. in political science. I don’t want an academic career, and I’m having trouble figuring out what to do next. Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
How to run a faster mile?
How can I run one mile faster? [more inside]
Identity theft and fraud - former employer?!
I need some help: I am almost convinced my former Executive level manager stole my identity and rented an apartment under my name where he is presently residing....what to do? [more inside]
Falling Down the Custom ROM Rabbit Hole
I have a rooted Samsung Galaxy S 4g (model t959v) running Gingerbread. I need assistance with learning about custom ROMs, could you point me in the right direction please? [more inside]
KVM Switch
Want to share just a monitor between XP and W98 systems. None of the KVM switches I have researched mention W98 compatability. Some are XP only. Just need a dumb SVGA/SVGA switch that is not interested in what operating system is used. Suggestions?
Mother in law can't listen to her AM radio in the retirement community... and my life is a living hell as a result...
Mother-in-law loves AM radio...but... her new home in a retirement community is a mish-mash of fluorescent lights and steel beams so she only gets static on her trusty AM radio... I need a solution - perhaps a simple IP radio? Details after the jump... [more inside]
Please recommend a CRM for a plumbing company.
I need a CRM solution for a plumbing company. [more inside]
Help me outfit my mom's ipad to include photography tools she will like
Getting mom an iPad. She says she wants a camera connector (she has a Canon EOS 40D) and "Photoshop" for it. She uses Photoshop on her iMac. I see Photoshop Express and Photoshop Tools. Should I get both/neither/something else? Are there good ipad-based tutorials for how to use Photoshop or similar tools for the ipad? Any other suggestions? [more inside]
Lift ALL the weights!
My husband has recently started using the weight machines at the Y. He wants to build strength and muscle mass as quickly as possible, while hopefully also losing some fat. What is the best strategy if we assume that for the time being, he is not going to switch to free weights? [more inside]
How do I leave my firm and take my favorite clients?
Lawyers making a move to a new firm, how do you handle approaching clients about coming with you? I'm especially interested in details from attorneys who have done this and clients who have gone with an attorney making a move, especially in the last three years. [more inside]
Wasp nightmare comes to life. Help me wake up.
Nightmare Filter: After arriving home Saturday night I noticed a bee/wasp in the house. I mentioned to my partner that I was worried about a nest. Sunday morning I awoke to my nightmare. Our small half bath right off the master bedroom was filled with up to 70 or so wasps. I think they were paper wasps. Help. [more inside]
...well, I kinda have a bit of everything, doc.
Which issues do I bring up in a first session with a new therapist? Snowstorm inside. [more inside]
Stupid is a stupid does.
This is a long and stupid question about an old friendship and its affect on my family. Very, very special snowflake. [more inside]
I don't know what to be when I grow up... for the 5th or 6th time.
I desperately need to take my career in another direction, but my degree, training and experience are ridiculously specific. Is it the right time for grad school (again)… or something else? Help me think outside the box. [more inside]
Call me once you've forgotten why you didn't like me
Is reconnecting with casual dates/flings ever a good idea? [more inside]
How does one actually gentrify a building?
How does the world of raising capital for large scale property improvement and investment work? [more inside]
Avoiding the bitbucket.
Best way to archive voicemail from Verizon Wireless? [more inside]
Google interview booked. Now what?!
I've got a job interview at Google? What should I expect? [more inside]
Edible steampunk cupcakes
How does one make edible yet metallic looking/steampunkish cupcakes that resemble these earrings? [more inside]
Remixed for the better
I'm looking for examples of remixes that are better than the original songs from which they are remixed. [more inside]
When is a marriage worth fighting for, and when to move on?
When is a marriage worth fighting for, and when to move on? [more inside]
At least it's a polite, supportive boys' club...
How do aspiring stand-up comedians who aren't straight white men find success at open mics? [more inside]
Emily Dickinson's Weirdest Poems (or Portions Thereof)?
For a project I'm working on, I need to find some of Emily Dickinson's most bizarre, inscrutable, puzzling, borderline-disturbing poems (or just single lines/couplets/stanzas etc.). Rather than go through all her poems trying to find them, I thought I'd ask her to see if anyone knew of any. I'll also accept poems where she talks about writing or language--I have some quotes but not anything full. [more inside]
Do technophile jobs exist at large companies?
Does this job exist: new technology expert to help identify and implement cool stuff like bring your own device, cloud computing, virtualization at large organization. [more inside]
Help me maximize the awesomeness of this trip
I am taking a trip to Salem (MA) this weekend with several friends. The general goal is to have lunch together and see some of the cheesy haunted house attractions. What else should we see while we are there? Are there any non-cheesy attractions that are simply too good to be missed? [more inside]
Broadcast TV over coax for free?
Is broadcast TV supposed to come in over coax when you're not paying for it? (or is it not actually coming over coax in the first place?) [more inside]
Locations on the York Monopoly board?
What are the locations on the York, England version of Monopoly? [more inside]
Thrown away
My ex-lover and "best friend" blocked me on Facebook and I'm having a hard time dealing with it. [more inside]
Wording conditions of use
Can anyone help me write some conditions of use for a book of my designs I need to lend to clients? [more inside]
More money would be nice, but I'd rather a better job.
In a couple of days I will be going to my boss's boss to ask for changes to my work. In the last ten years I have generally either freelanced or worked in government jobs where this is simply not done. How do you actually go about this kind of negotiation? [more inside]
Trying to attach section markers to content rather than pages in CS4.
Adobe InDesign CS4: I've got a very large document, divided into sections (chapters). Currently, there are section markers on various pages, with each section defined by a labelled submaster (so I can see from the Pages panel where each section begins and ends). When I add content to various sections, the section markers no longer align as the pages reflow (because the markers are attached to the actual page numbers and not the content). How can I fix this so that adding content to sections continues within the submaster style / section marker for that section and not reflow over the pages?
Who are the Yogi Berras of other countries?
Who are the Yogi Berras of other countries? I recently learned about Sepp Herberger, a German soccer coach known for Yogi Berra-like sayings ranging from the obvious ("the game lasts 90 minutes") to the confusing ("the ball is round so that the game can change direction"). Who are some other Yogi-like figures from other countries/languages, and what did they say?
Specific slider for wordpress
I want my wordpress page to have a slider like this one [large image]. Specifically, I need tabs/titles at the bottom, which are always displayed no matter what image happens to be displayed at the moment. [more inside]
Showcase site for beautiful AND functional webdesign?
I am looking for websites showcasing beautiful webdesign that is not too 'out there'. If I Google for 'great / beautiful webdesign' I mostly get examples of sites that are indeed very beautiful to look at but would never be accepted by the sort of clients I work for (mostly small business owners that need their website to communicate the info on their products very clearly - i.e. they are not artists or brands that are just out to project a cool image). So I guess I am looking for examples of excellent webdesign for relatively boring sites.
Any tips on how to stop being a pessimist or on how to stop being pessimistic about optimism?
Any tips on how to stop being a pessimist or on how to stop being pessimistic about optimism? [more inside]
Should I just ask for a fake-Gucci purse or what?
My friend is going to Malaysia and the Phillipines for a business trip and wants to bring me back some souvenirs. Let's ignore what I might normally like and just phrase it as "What is some cool stuff that he could bring back?" [more inside]
October 7
Help me ID this bike
Yes, it's a bike. It says Bianchi. How do I identify what kind it is and what it's worth? [more inside]
Mini dumpsters? Are they a thing?
My mom is coming to help me clear out excess stuff from my apartment in a few weeks. In my ideal world, we'd be able to rent a rollable, roughly refrigerator-box-size mini dumpster for the stuff we're not donating, which someone else would take away when full. Does anything like this actually exist? I'm in Brooklyn. [more inside]
I'm a Filipino citizen in the Philippines, how can I get an ITIN?
I'm currently a contractor for a U.S. based website which has just changed owners. The new owners now require all contractors to send updated IRS forms 8233 and W-8BEN. I'm a Filipino citizen residing in Manila. I do not have an ITIN - this was never required of us before. The new requirements presuppose that I have an existing ITIN. [more inside]
How to keep my clothing in tip top shape?
My sweaters are pilled. My shoes are scuffed. My skirts have random threads coming out. My thin knit tops have pulls. My favourite shirt has a small salad dressing stain just to the left of my belly button. Your sweaters look new, your shoes look immaculate, you generally look pulled together. How do you do it? [more inside]
How to cope with grandma's dementia.
Looking for resources regarding dementia/Alzheimer's for my family. [more inside]
Kyoto via iPod/smartphone/tablet
I'm going to Kyoto for a two-day visit in November, but with only an iPod Touch 4 in my jacket pocket as I'd like to avoid bringing a heavy guidebook/backpack as I walk around exploring all day. What PDFs/docs/apps/downloads can help make my visit amazing, or at least easier? [more inside]
Tell me how to leave graduate school and still be successful
I am current a first semester history MA student at a highly ranked public university, and I cannot stand it. I'm planning on contacting the department secretary soon to tell her that I'm leaving the program. What can I do now? [more inside]
How do I have open windows in Manhattan without making my apartment grimy?
I live in Manhattan. Now that it's Fall, I want to have my window open without having a black layer of dirt coating all the surfaces near the window. Do they make air filters that I can just fit into my open window to let the fresh air in and keep the dirt out? Should I have find an adjustable HVAC filter and jam it in there?
How do you keep your windows open while not having your apartment look like a tail pipe?
Suddenly gourds!
What sort of success rate would one have growing gourds by just leaving gourds outside to do what they will? [more inside]
Animals and Their Bodies
How do animals (in the wild) maintain their weight? [more inside]
Name my far-out software project!
I wrote a bit of software that intercepts keystrokes and composes music, with some semantic awareness for programming. What should this be called? [more inside]
I lost my wallet. Someone found it! Is there any reason not to just go get it from them?
I lost my wallet. Someone found it! Is there any reason not to just go get it from them? [more inside]
What is the current status of energy self-sufficiency for a homeowner in 2012?
I have a home in Louisville, Kentucky that I want to possibly put solar panels on but I need to know the whole process for 2012. i have read where solar panels cost are lower now given the glut from China.
How can I remove some stains from unsealed slate tiles?
I recently purchased a used coffee table with unsealed slate tiles. There are a few small dark stains on the tiles, perhaps from beer or soda. I tried scrubbing a stain with dishwashing soap and a sponge, but it didn't work. Are there any simple solutions or products that I can use?
Zines of the War of the Rebellion
"THE UNION" - a pre-1990 Civil War history and/or hobbyist newsletter? [more inside]
Help me replicate this smooth, spicy salsa
How can I replicate this amazing smooth, spicy salsa when all I can find are chunky salsa recipes? [more inside]
Riding intercity trains, dressed in European grey.
How and where can I shop for neat and tasteful men's clothing while staying within a responsible budget? [more inside]
Are ACOA meetings worthwhile?
I'm thinking of attending an Adult Children of Alcoholics meeting, but I don't really know if it's worthwhile. I'd love opinions from those with experience. [more inside]
Bad Relationship Anxiety--And I'm Utterly Single Right Now
How reasonable is it to expect my future/potential boyfriend or husband to NOT fantasize / masturbate to other women? Is it off-my-rocker to expect this from a man I'm in love with? [more inside]
What's the sample at 0:06 on Into the Stars (Firebirds Remix) on Radio Soulwax Pt 2?
What's the sample starting at 0:06 of "Into The Stars (Firebirds Remix)" on As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt. 2? I know I'm going to kick myself when someone answers this question, but I can't name it for the life of me now.
RSS emaildigests slowerweb slowweb
RSS to email using Gmail (and w/out much tech knowledge) - is this possible? [more inside]
Unwelcome bed partners
A week in five minutes via GoPro
Go Pro? How to record a video of a week in life... [more inside]
Is sleeptracker still the best in 2012?
Is there something better than the Sleeptracker watch now for waking you up when you are in the least deep part of the sleep cycle? Original Sleeptracker watch broke and I want to upgrade. [more inside]
What type of internal usb computer cable do I need?
What type of internal computer cable do I need? [more inside]
Iconic clothing or accessories for twentieth century...
I've got to come up with 10 or more simple things (accessories, clothing, etc.) that are indicative of each decade from 1910 thru 2010. Can you help? [more inside]
Spider energy requirements.
What percentage of a spider's energy diet is spent on spinning web?
Best practice for "other content" link placement
Most Read Articles | Related Articles | Recommended Articles: These kinds of things that you see on news websites, what are they called? Is there an all encompassing UX term for this? How do content managers decide what is placed where? Do users even click on these links or are they just used to make sure search crawlers get to deeper content? [more inside]
Can you share ways of sounding less direct and polite while contradicting / disagreeing / sharing ideas in a business context?
Can you share ways of sounding less direct and polite while contradicting / disagreeing / sharing ideas in a business context?
For example in a scenario where one wants to say : Why don't we have a website for this product a more polite way of saying the same thing could be: I am new here and was wondering if there would be any value in having a website for this product.
I would love to hear ideas around how individuals can sound polite and make their point in business setting where often times you need to make your point to senior management.
Also, Any books or websites that can help with this?
Need to learn about candy making, horror stories, etc welcome
Got a sweet tooth? Well then, I need to pick your brain. Tell me everything you know about homemade candy (caramels and chocolates) making and the candy industry. Do you have experience working in a candy shop or making candy at home? [more inside]
Does a mechanic sell and install car tires?
Looking for a place where I can buy new tires and have them installed. Since we are also looking for a new mechanic for regular car service, I was wondering if a car mechanic typically also sells/installs tires and if it is a good idea to have that done there? Or would they charge much much more than a "tire place" (I've seen BelleTire, DiscountTire around here and the archives tell me Costco is good as well...) [more inside]
How to deal with sexual harassment in the work place and my feelings about it?
I have been sexually harassed at work on two separate occasions, I need help deciding what to do about it and understanding my own feelings. [more inside]
Left counterparts to ALEC?
What are US Left counterparts to ALEC? I mean this ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. Any national or state organization that coordinates efforts in multiple jurisdictions would interest me. Actually, I would be interested in non-US examples too.
I'm not cut out for modern dating. Please help!
I'm not cut out for modern dating. Please help! [more inside]
What is the best free (open source) Office software for Mac Snow Leopard?
I just installed a new hard drive in my older (early 2008, 4 GB ram) macbook pro laptop and installed Snow Leopard. I need an office application, something like Open Office. What's the best current "stable" version of this OSS software for Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)? [more inside]
comment dit-on?
is there a sophisticated word for altering your partner's appearance? [more inside]
How to handle husband's suicidal thoughts
After discussing marital separation my husband searched online for what happens to life insurance in the event of suicide [more inside]
Accountability for wireless devices in our home?
We want to add some accountability to the use of mobile devices on our home wifi - what are our options? Ideally we just want to be able to review how the internet is being used. [more inside]
Playing Alone, Together.
SO has a frequent long, boring train ride. He also has a brand new Android phone, like I do. What are some two-player games that two people could play together over an android phone to help ride out the train monotony?
Psychoanalyze my cat
Calling all amateur Jackson Galaxy-wannabes: why is my cat such a jerk toward guests, when he's a bundle of love the rest of the time? [more inside]
Less packaging, more deliciousness?
I drink nondairy milks (mostly almond, some soy) and eat tofu. When I have made these things in the past, I have enjoyed the results but ended up with a lot of dirty dishes. A friend recommended the Soyajoy G3, which is a countertop electric appliance that heats and grinds the nuts/beans (previously in 2005, about an earlier model). Does anyone have experience with electric soy/nut-milk makers?
Where can I buy a simple but high quality small silver locket?
Where can I buy a simple but high quality small silver locket? [more inside]
Where can I (a woman) shop for simple but fashiony/interesting/structured basics?
Where else can I shop for structured, simple-but-fashiony basics? I am a woman in my late-20s. [more inside]
does late payments affect credit scores?
I made several payments to my credit card but it wasn't the full amount and it appears I got charged interest for the stuff I forgot to pay - does this affect my credit score? [more inside]
What do these songs have in common, and where can I find more like them?
I'm an huge Everlast fan. Finding others songs or artists that are like his rap-heavy songs is easy; please help me find more like his acoustic guitar-heavy songs. [more inside]
Help me find a good, inexpensive place to buy HP toner cartridges
Best place to buy replacement toner cartridges for home HP Laser printer? Buying the HP toner costs arm and/or leg at your typical big box stores. Would like to find a cheaper, reputable place to buy toner. Can't find one among all the sketchy places that look like cheaptoner.biz and buy-toner-from-us.com. Please help
Just moved here, may I walk your dog/serve your burger/tutor your child?
Just how tough is the minimum wages and/or temping jobs market? If I were to move to Chicago tomorrow, how long would it take me to get some sort (any sort) of employment? [more inside]
Ideas for memorials in Austin, TX?
Ideas for memorials in Austin, TX? [more inside]
What's making my tap water smell weird?
What could be the cause of this distressing chemical smell in my tap water? [more inside]
From "Four Eyes" To "Gramps"
I walked away from my last visit to the optometrist with a prescription for bifocals. All for the low low price of $20. The bruises on my ego were free. [more inside]
Simple MIDI record/playback on OS X?
I need a super-simple MIDI record/playback app for OS X. [more inside]
shall i make this move?
finally got a written offer, but now i am really torn: [more inside]
Oh, what a mess.
Supposed to be getting married to my long-term girlfriend, developing feelings for someone else, unsure of how to proceed. [more inside]
Help me remember the title of this pulpy novel about a military nurse named Honor?
Help me remember the title of this genre novel about a military nurse named Honor? [more inside]
Sci-fi books with nanochips from the 80s/90s
[book-filter] Need help tracking down a sci-fi novel(s) read in the late 80's or 90's containing special abilities provided by nanochips. [more inside]
It's just a sweater... or is it?
3 months of dating and haven't determined the relationship yet. Is it too soon to give him a $40 gift? [more inside]
Trapped in a pigeonhole
How do you draw boundaries when you don't have the grounds to? Specific to first-gen East Asian immigrant family... [more inside]
How do I get a trade focused book published? Should I get an agent?
How do I get a trade focused book published? Should I get an agent? [more inside]
Is there someone or something in my house?
Who do I contact in Houston to help with a spirit/presence/ghost in my house? [more inside]
How do I start dressing like an adult?
How do I start dressing like an adult? [more inside]
Genre-fluides francophones, aidez-moi, vous êtes mon seul espoir!
Are you a francophone genderqueer person? What pronouns do you use? What language changes have you made? [more inside]
October 6
So when you enter a recently occupied bathroom, you really have to just put up with smelling the poop? Sucks to be you.
Can you turn your sense of smell on and off at will? [more inside]
How to evict a non-paying tenant that isn't under any sort of contract?
Evictions issue -- domestic dispute between my mother and her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend. Police claim they can't remove him. What to do? [more inside]
Fridge fits in tight space, but will it be dangerous?
Fridge filter: squeezing a fridge into a space which doesn't quite meet the suggested air clearance minimums - what might happen? [more inside]
Help me make a CD about driving off into the West
What are some songs about escaping or getting away (specifically to California)? [more inside]
Ultimate planning calendar
Is there some sort of online calendar that can help me pick out weekends when people are most willing and able to attend an event? Obviously it's easy for me to look up Thanksgiving but more difficult for me to figure out things like NBA playoffs, school semesters starting, conflicts with popular wedding dates, airfare peaks, etc.
IPv6 help on Windows 7 with Airport router
After several years away from Windows, I built a PC with Windows 7 and I'm using it with an Airport Extreme router. On my wireless icon in the tray is a small yellow shield and when I right-click for status I see "IPv6 Connectivity: No network access." I'm getting slow speed tests on my new PC and I think this may be the cause of it.
Otherwise, my status shows that my IPv4 has Internet, speed is 130Mbps, and my connection is at high strength. I'll have a long enough ethernet cable to test that out next week but I'd like to get my Wifi up to the speeds that my Macbook gets routinely. My wifi card is the Asus PCE-N15.
My Airport has updated firmware, as does my PC wifi card. I'm on Comcast cable internet with a 30mbps tier. Thanks!
understanding mediaplex
How do I remove a Mediaplex virus from my computer? [more inside]
How does Db Major differ from D Major?
Do the keys of 'D major' and 'Db Major' sound different on a modern piano? [more inside]
Customizable fitness gamification, or other ways to motivate myself to do slow-result physical therapy?
How do I gamify my daily physical therapy, or otherwise help myself to stay compliant? [more inside]
I have a B.S. in Engineering. How can I get into a great Computer Science PhD program?
I have a B.S. in a mostly unrelated field. How can I work towards getting into the best Computer Science graduate program possible? [more inside]
Of making many books there is no end
How catalog my library?
.
I need to get information on 400 titles into a list. Title, author, c date, ISBN or other standard code. And I don’t want to type a bunch of stuff. [more inside]
It's all about the kitteeehs
Is it time for a kitty? Or two? Am I really ready? [more inside]
To tip or not to tip
Do we tip our caterer and her staff? If yes, how much? [more inside]
Is there a quiet restaurant out there?
Do quiet restaurants and bars exist? Any recommendations wanted. [more inside]
can't find this song!!
can't find this song!! [more inside]
I want to be an awesome manager. What books should I be reading?
I want to be an awesome manager. What books should I be reading? [more inside]
Where can I download video of OK Go's "Needing/Getting" video from This American Life's "The Invisible Made Visible" show?
Back in May I went to the This American Life live-recorded show "The Invisible Made Visible". I'm trying to find a place to download video of the segment with OK Go's "Needing/Getting" - the one with the DDR-style animation for the audience to play along with smartphone handbells. Does the video exist online? [more inside]
when does sexual attraction become objectification?
when does sexual attraction become objectification? [more inside]
Best crash course for general office software?
After a year off after graduating from art school, my friend needs to find a job and is contemplating a temp agency to look for general office work. I know that agencies typically run prospective hires through computer based proficiency evaluators, and we're wondering the best/quickest way to polish up these skills before hand. [more inside]
Staging an MMA fight is illegal in NYC; so how can I see one?
It's currently illegal for promoters to put on an MMA (i.e. 'mixed martial arts,' or 'ultimate fighting') bout in NYC. I'm sure these matches go on nonetheless, even if it's just skilled fighters fighting before spectators, gratis. Anyone know where/how I can see a fight? Or what types of places host fights (I imagine boxing gyms?) in other cities?
Vinegar in your nose: Yes/no?
Is it safe to do a sinus rinse with vinegar? [more inside]
What part of the earth gets the most moonlight?
Is there any place on Earth that gets the most moonlight? [more inside]
Do I dare to crunch some data?
Are you a data quality analyst? If so, tell me more... [more inside]
Blindfold Before Leviathan?
Does Siri Hustvedt's The Blindfold take place before or after Paul Auster's Leviathan? [more inside]
I want to make a web-page which will track if UK political parties' election manifesto promises once they are in power.
I want to make a web-page which will track if UK political parties' election manifesto promises once they are in power. I don't want to devote my life or income to this and i'm only doing it because i think i ought to=i am lazy. Comments? Suggestions? Need to know? Sarcasm? Thanks^_^ [more inside]
Garage teardown suggestions?
Best way to tear down a garage? It's about a 1 and a half car and completely wood.
The (little) Voice
I am interested in finding out what you say to yourself to snap yourself out of inertia and get or stay productive. [more inside]
How soon is too soon to seek a new cat?
(tl; dr: Cat person expectedly but unhappily cat-less; lucked into having a wonderful cat for years; wondering how long to wait before seeking out Next Cat.) [more inside]
Amicable Break Up CinemaTherapy (and BiblioTherapy)
I am looking for book and movie titles for stories (fictional or not) which show amicable break ups. [more inside]
Help me find the right "learn Spanish" app!
I spend a lot of time sitting around waiting, with my iPhone. I also spend a fair amount of time having very similar conversations, in my very poor conversational spanish, with native-speakers who (usually due to tragic life circumstances) lack education in their own language. What I don't do is expand my vocabulary or learn proper grammar. As a consequence, while I can usually understand the gist of what people say and make myself generally understood, I don't understand the details, can't express myself precisely, and I'm not getting any better at any of those tasks. [more inside]
Would you forgive your mother for this?
Would you forgive your mother for this? [more inside]
Insert Disk 53 and Press [RETURN]
I was having one of those "I walked to to school uphill both ways" discussions with friends and the question came up: What software product shipped on the largest number of floppy disks? I'm having trouble tracking it down, but I have some recollection that A/UX shipped on some insane number of diskettes, like 20 or 30, before Apple started selling it on a hard drive.
a la mode?
What flavor ice cream is best with Blackberry Pie? [more inside]
Nice solo NYC dinner
Where to get a very high quality but casual meal alone this Sunday evening in NYC? [more inside]
Help me build a modern-day website.
Please recommend me some guides about building a modern, lightweight, easy-to-maintain website. [more inside]
Alone after an obsessive relationship, having trouble making friends in a sea of the elderly...
How do I make friends in an unfriendly place for young folks (18-20), and how can I make him believe that I've made changes to myself? [more inside]
Help me find cold vegan foods.
I'm doing the Eat to Live diet, which is basically vegan, and am having trouble coming up with interesting ways to prepare green vegetables so they taste good cold. [more inside]
I don't want people to only be able to spell "asphyxy"
How many jello shot letters of each kind do I need for maximum drunk-yum spelling? [more inside]
You are not a bad person for wanting to break up, and neither is he.
Any resources for healing after a breakup when you're the one that initiated it? And that doesn't demonise either party? [more inside]
Another song maybe?
I have Call Me Maybe stuck in my head. What can I sing, hum, or listen to that will remove it? What is your best earwig remover?
You can't sit under your apple tree unless you gimme dem apples!
How best to ask my neighbors if I can gather their apples? [more inside]
What is wrong with me?
Why am I so unattractive to women? [more inside]
I want to win the golden skillet!
Help me win the office cooking contest! I need a main dish recipe that will knock their socks off. [more inside]
How does sleeping on my stomach affect my scalene muscles?
Physical Therapists, Chiropractors, or anyone else who might know: How does sleeping on my stomach with my neck turned to one said affect my scalene muscles? [more inside]
My father is acting weird. What's regular old man crotchety behavior vs. pathological behavior?
My father is getting up in years, and on a recent trip I noticed he's been acting differently. I don't have many elderly contacts so I'm unsure how much of this is normal old man behavior and how much is possible pathology. [more inside]
Friendship, Stewardship
What to do with an awol friend's large object? [more inside]
Where can a fat girl find a 3-season/All weather jacket? Help!
Where can a plus size girl find a 3-season/All season jacket? Help please! [more inside]
Childrens' educational book series
I'm looking for recommendations for childrens' educational book series. It's for a 4-5 year old, but writing level is not important, as long as it has good pictures we can talk about (e.g. the DK Eyewitness series). Preferably, each volume is devoted to a single subject (no encyclopedias), and be available cheaply second-hand. Thanks! [more inside]
Into the flood again: Hair Permanents/Body Waves -- I want one.
What is the state of chemical curls these days? Who makes the gentlest product (Aveda?) What options do I have? Any comments/advice/direction is apprecited! [more inside]
Should this be a nonprofit?
Do I need to register my new web project as a nonprofit? I want to donate ad proceeds from a website to animal shelters. Does that mean the site should legally be a nonprofit? If so, does anyone know of good free resources to learn about what nonprofit registration entails?
How do I avoid the munchies?
What strains of cannabis are least likely to cause the munchies? [more inside]
How to split the costs over uneven incomes?
I want to fly out to see my boyfriend, and can afford to cover all costs myself. Should I? [more inside]
So how worried should I be by these fumes.
I just bought a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. I'm having some issues with fumes. [more inside]
Help me find a children's book, frog and dragon image.
Help me find a children's book. All I remember is the cover image, there's a frog standing up on two legs, holding a sword or a spear, beside a dragons tail that has been cut into sections. I remember the sections showing the bone, cut sort of like a sliced loaf of bread. [more inside]
Can you help me connect to a wifi router?
I'm having problems connecting to a wi-fi router. I've tried connecting both with my iPod Touch and my PC without any luck. Other computers have not had any problems connecting to the router and I have never had any problems connecting with other routers. I can connect using an ethernet cord. Can you help? [more inside]
Hatless cultures
Are there any ethnic groups that don't wear hats?
How to stay warm outside but cool inside?
Practically and stylishly dressed men of Metafilter (and those who shop for them): how do you stay warm outside and cool inside in winter? [more inside]
Salad ain't cutting it, I want protein!
I commute by bike, and ever since my commute tripled in distance, I've been coming home tired and hungry and and wanting to EAT ALL THE PROTEIN. Can you recommend some tasty, high protein vegetarian or pescetarian meals which I can either prepare in advance or throw together in the 20 or so minutes before severe post-workout hungry-crankiness sets in? [more inside]
How to swim? Rather, how to exist comfortably in water?
Help me learn how to swim. No, scratch that; help me learn how to learn how to swim. [more inside]
October 5
Triumph of the Will
What are some movies that deal with the theme of self-discipline? [more inside]
what does this old guy mean by "take advantage of" a young woman?
An old guy (friend/acquaintance) kindly invited me to sleep at his house when I needed a place to sleep one night. I'm a female in my 20's and he was probably in his 60's.
He told me he had a couch and a bed (his bed).
He said I can sleep on the bed.
So I said "oh, you can sleep on the bed." of course implying that I would sleep on his couch.
He misunderstood and apparently thought I meant we would sleep together on the bed. So he says,
"Oh no, I don't want to take advantage of you, so you sleep on the bed and I take the couch."
I was a little weirded out by him saying this. Is this normal?
What do you think he meant by "take advantage of" me?
...umm have sex? No, right? I just have a hard time believing that he would even think of something like that to do with someone that is so much younger than him.
Is this creepy or not really?
I ended up not going, btw.
Where should I sell my art online?
I want to open an online store where I sell my paintings, and possibly prints. Should I go with Etsy and/or Redbubble? [more inside]
How to deal with a boyfriend who is "needy"?
How do I help my boyfriend, who I think has adult separation anxiety disorder? How do I deal with his neediness without feeling unhappy or guilty? [more inside]
Help me give out the best treats this Halloween!
Halloween treats to delight all ages! What would your child want to get from trick or treating? [more inside]
How can I pass as a normal person?
Pretending to be normal. [more inside]
Scanning many old, thin pages
I have inherited a 1,000+ pages of my grandmother's writings. I would like to scan them, OCR them and (after fixing OCR mistakes) share them with the rest of my family online. My question is this: what's the best way to scan so many pages? Also, I should point out that many of the pages are on thin typing paper. Maybe this is carbon paper? or onion skin paper? I'm not sure but I don't want to damage the originals. [more inside]
from making books to making websites
Looking for a path to front-end web development as a career [more inside]
I'm aware that networking and meeting people is the key to getting jobs, I just can't figure out which career field to network with.
Careers/jobs that combine quantitative skills, creativity, problem-solving, and big-picture thinking? [more inside]
Recently promoted...how to handle former peers who are being difficult?
Recently promoted...how to handle former peers who are being difficult? [more inside]
Chance of pregnancy with IUD?
How likely is it that I'll get pregnant with a Mirena IUD and no condom? [more inside]
Natural bean bag chair?
Where can I get a 100% natural kids bean bag chair? [more inside]
Car Battery Conundrum
I have a brand new car battery. My car has some issue that is (still) draining the battery, after I already had a mechanic look at and fix what was supposedly the issue.
What can I do so that my battery doesn't go dead and get ruined over the winter while the car is idle? [more inside]
Emerging Cuban artists in exile
Can you help me with Cuban musicians and/or artists who are still suffering from being banned/censored in Cuba?
I've read that Celia Cruz and many others are no longer banned in Cuba. Are there still artists (either musicians or visual artists) that the country can't abide? [more inside]
$130 to audition?
Is NAfME, the National Association of Music Education, legit or worth it? [more inside]
Was it a bat bug or a bed bug?
Every picture I've seen suggests that I found a bed bug. But no bites or blood can I see. Was it a bat bug instead? [more inside]
Pat, I'd like a P, B, F, T, L, S... ?
In a story I'm writing, one character (an old lady) blows a raspberry at another character at the very end of a scene. I'd like to indicate this sound as a direct quote. What's the proper way to spell this?
Can I join the Free Syrian Army?
Can I join the Free Syrian Army? [more inside]
Typeset my equations--as vector graphics
I am trying to create math worksheets in Adobe Illustrator. I would like to not manually build the equation layout. Is there a math typesetting program (like LaTeX) that creates vector graphics I can plug directly into AI? Free/stupidly easy to use/OS X compatible are the key requirements.
I took the plunge...but still can't struggle to the surface!
2012 has not been my year - it has been 5 steps forward, 4 steps back (sometimes 6 steps back) trying to rebuild my life. I'm left now where i was at the beginning...broke, unemployed, frustrated, depressed. What am I doing wrong? Or is the Universe really just hating me this year? [more inside]
What's that Wedding Planning Movie?
What's that movie? filter: I'm looking for the title of a classic movie where a couple plans a wedding and it makes everyone unhappy. [more inside]
It's like cake on a fork!
Hivemind, please help me come up with weird sayings for the RPG I'm in. [more inside]
Travel to Cuba - last minute worries.
Cuba Travel Filter: I will be going on vacation to Cuba next week. I am finding conflicting information online about a few things, and would love some clarification before I spend the weekend worrying too much. [more inside]
Best Route from DC area to Indianapolis?
Road trip with my wife next week. I'm looking for practical experience with routes from Fredericksburg VA to Indianapolis IN. [more inside]
What to do with Big Box of Ex-boyfriend Bad
My ex-boyfriend and I broke up in May. We started off as friends, and he really wanted to remain friends after the break up. This week he did something so beyond the pale that he is absolutely no longer a part of my life. I have items-gifts from him as well as a few pieces of his clothes. I'm not sure what to do with them. [more inside]
Germs germs germs
Is there a pediatrician in the house? Questions about whole house air filtration and infants. [more inside]
How do I equip this high school knitting circle?
I need to acquire supplies for a knitting circle for high school kids in Harlem. My problem is that the budget is $60. [more inside]
Can a healthy marriage last?
How do I regain my trust in marriage when my role models of healthy marriage are separating? [more inside]
Where can I find respectful discussion and articles about Warhammer 40k?
Where can I go on the internet to find good articles and discussions about Warhammer 40k? (read on for qualifications of "good") [more inside]
What Used to Happen With Baby Pee?
How were babies' excretions handled before "modern" diaper technology? [more inside]
Small business banking: are great customer service and international wire transfers mutually exclusive?
Seeking new bank for our growing small business. Our priorities are great customer service and seamless international wire transfers. [more inside]
Please god what color is my parachute.
I am an engineer, and my wife is a business major. She is more miserable with her job and entire career than she has ever been, and I do not know how to help her. It's easy for me to search for jobs - I look for "mechanical engineer" or "robotics" and find positions matching my specialist skills. My wife is a generalist, and seems to hate the people that are attracted to the jobs she is qualified for. Her career unhappiness is taking a serious toll on her personal life and our marriage. Please help us figure out what to do! [more inside]
Names in My 1st Song
Who are all the people Jay-Z is name-dropping/calling out at the end of 'My 1st Song' [more inside]
How do I calculate price?
Introduction to Markets/Auctions: I need a short book or paper that covers bids / asks [more inside]
Who to tell and where to go in early pregnancy?
Two linked questions about early pregnancy. [more inside]
How does Hollywood do this camera trick?
How does Hollywood film a scene without taking the camera off of the character and then you realize that the character has changed (but the camera never left them!)? [more inside]
Give me specific examples of great conversations?
Conversation as art form? Can you show me specific instances, available free online in audio/video, of discussions which go beyond the ploddingly serious back-and-forth or airy jokiness or superficiality of a typical interview or panel or debate? I'm looking for masterful demonstrations of how the conversational form can uniquely educate, entertain, provoke honesty, and even reveal new truths. [more inside]
What's the best way protect myself from online snoopers?
What's the best way to scrub my online presence for protection from a potential-future snoopy boss, etc? [more inside]
How to Run a Booth at a Fair
Have you ever manned a booth at a carnival, fair, or expo? I'm running a booth and selling items at a weekend fair that will benefit a volunteer organization. What do I need to know? [more inside]
pax mexicana
I'd like to read more about Mexico's narco-war (both the inner workings of the cartels and violence against civilians/journalists/law enforcement). Both articles and books are welcome--nonfiction and journalism preferred, but academic texts OK. English preferred, but Spanish is OK too.
Friends of exes - always off limits?
Briefly dated someone - is his friend off limits? [more inside]
Help Me Network!
Inside line on a job opening - what is the most effective way of sending an unsolicited resume? [more inside]
Queen of Nothing
Can this shirt be found again? [more inside]
Help me find an events website!
Please help me find a website I used last week that shows you public Facebook events for your city, broken down by date, and - rather uniquely for such websites - lists the confirmed attendees by their self-selected Facebook gender! When you clicked on an event, it would pull up a map, and a list of the attendees, and then give you the option to click through to the Facebook event page. It was such a great resource and it's killing me to not be able to find it anymore!
I love Outlook Rules!
I have a shared folder with one of my bosses where he dumps emails for me to file. I would like to create a rule in Outlook to alert me when something has been placed in this folder. Help? Can you set rules for shared folders? I have Outlook 2007
In search of the elusive omega 3 fat
Are you a vegan who has successfully balanced your omega 3/omega 6 fat intake? How did you do it? [more inside]
Resources for reaching large numbers of scientists?
Where can I find Listservs/message boards/mailing lists that include working scientists (of any field)? [more inside]
Bug on my neck!
What is this bug? It was abut half an inch long, I found it crawling out of my hair onto my neck. Gah!? [more inside]
DVD region switching workaround for macbook
Watching European and US DVDs on a macbook pro: To avoid the region problems, can you keep your internal drive set to region 2 and use an external drive for region 1 DVDs? [more inside]
Looking to Hack my Bra and Stop the Chafing
How can I make my bras more comfortable? [more inside]
Does one get charged on how much they have in the bank
Does one get charged on how much they have in the bank? For example, let's say that I make $800 a month, which I assume is too little to file for taxes (is it?), but I have like $50,000 in my bank (not earning enough interest to consider for taxes). Will the government charge me a lot more and make me pay taxes? I was talking with a friend (who's not an expert with finances btw) and he claimed that his dad used to make a negative $30,000 income a year, yet he still got taxed because he had tons of money stored in his bank. And then my friend claimed that the only way not to get taxed is to keep the money outside the bank away from where the IRS can see it. I am confused. I thought you get taxed based on what you earn, not how much you have just sitting around in a bank. My theory was that one can have million dollars in the bank but if they don't earn anything that year, not even in interest, then they don't pay or file taxes. Can anyone clear up for me?
October 4
New kinds of stories on the Internet?
I've been enjoying the Emmy-winning High Rise online documentary project and things like the Hackney Hear geo-locative app - looking for recommendations of other cool experiments in the realm of storytelling. Film, online, audio - whatever! Just NEW and DIFFERENT. Level Two request: recommendations of websites or blogs that discuss or review these sorts of projects - I just want to keep up with this sort of thing! Thanks all!
I have a pink suit, now I need a costume idea
Usually I love Halloween and think of a costume months in advance. For some reason I felt stuck this year until I saw a totally awesome bubble-gum pink suit at Goodwill. It fits me perfectly and I want to wear it, but... what should I be? [more inside]
How can I switch career fields with this gigantic roadblock?
Why do so many universities have such an outright ban on applicants seeking a second bachelor's degree? Is it all about logistics and preventing overcrowding? What about those of us who find our real passion later in life, and wish to do a complete 360 from our original college degree? If you have a 2nd bachelor's degree, why and how did you do it? Special snowflake details inside. [more inside]
Building a carrer
So let me explain my situation, I'm a junior in high school, almost 17, and am starting to think about the future. I have found my passion, building. I'm taking a shop class, and I freaking LOVE it. I used to be at the top of my class, and then I started doing very bad in high school, not sure what happened. It became like a confidence spiral where I wouldn't do something cause it was hard (laziness), get behind, miss more, etc etc. Fast forward 2 years. I took shop, where I became good friends with the teacher, have 100% in it, make amazing things, and absolutely love it. I only have it every other day, and its all I look forward to. I think it's what I would like to do for the rest of my life. [more inside]
Nocturnal cat steals HIS sleep during the day
Cat is driving us crazy! Please help us get some sleep. [more inside]
How to invest in Vancouver housing without buying a whole house?
I would like exposure to the Vancouver (BC) housing market in my investments, without buying an individual unit of housing. Can this be done? [more inside]
What surgery did I have as a toddler?
As a toddler I had some surgery. I was always told that it was for a hernia, but I'm not so sure, and I'm not sure what the first steps to looking it up are. YANMD medical advice on the issue would be appreciated, as well. [more inside]
How can I tell how many listeners a given band has?
Is there a music service that shows the number of listeners a given artist has (besides last.fm)? [more inside]
buying used books on Amazon vs eBay
First time buying used books via Amazon. Is the process the same as that of eBay's? [more inside]
Engineering blogs: Best-of?
What are the best blogs written by unusually successful engineers? [more inside]
How to tell if you're allergic to medicine without re-taking it?
How to tell if you are allergic to medicine without re-taking it? [more inside]
Raise the roof (but make it cool, please)
My 10' by 10' bedroom has HUGE 14ft ceilings. Most of my floor space is taken up by my queen-sized bed. What interesting things can I do with the extra head space? [more inside]
Is there such a thing as minor appendicitis surgery o
Is there such a thing as minor appendicitis surgery or am I going to be calling 911 for a student in the middle of a midterm tomorrow? [more inside]
Help us keep the water in the tub
Need your experiences with bathtub door/screen that doesn't cover the width of the tub. [more inside]
Not trying to be in control for the actions of others is frequent and good advice. How do you put that into practice? Where do you draw the line?
Not trying to be in control for the actions of others is frequent and good advice. How do you put that into practice? Where do you draw the line? [more inside]
What is the best way to keep your web access on a network untraceable?
What is the best way to keep your web usage on a network hidden from anyone who might be snooping packet traffic? [more inside]
Fillin' in the Nilsson Schmilsson
Who do you think sounds like Harry Nilsson today? [more inside]
Name that 1960's S&M Flick
My mom remembers going to a drive-in in 1964(ish) in Abilene, TX with scenes of a woman climbing innumerable stairs on her knees and a man sticking knives in his arms. Any idea what this is?
Set it and regret it?
Can I combine different chicken parts (thighs, legs, breasts) in the crock-pot, or will it be a disaster? [more inside]
Medical Science Diluted and Shaken
What is this bizarro machine used by a quack, fake doctor to determine dietary deficiencies? [more inside]
I want to learn to visualize better. Is this possible?
I don't seem to have the capability to visualize things in my head. I'd like to. Is this possible to learn? If not, how can I get more out of meditation when I lack this ability? [more inside]
No, I don't have a TV or a landline...
Is there a way to get a cheaper Time Warner Cable deal for internet only in Los Angeles? And what are the alternative providers? [more inside]
Photo of mother/father/child sleeping spiral-style?
What's that image of the happy mother/father/child sleeping spiral style? [more inside]
Can I quit my job?
Should I quit my job? Much more inside. [more inside]
Best way to commute...Palo Alto to San Francisco
Have a (literally) last minute one week project in downtown San Francisco, Financial District, starting on Monday (hours 7am to 8pm)--I'm not from SFO. I'm going to be staying in Palo Alto. Suggestions wanted for "best" transportation to and from the project given those hours, eg car or mass transit or combo. I see daily parking rates there are $32/day or so. Any advice you San Francisco experts can offer???
Please help me organize my family reunion
I've somehow been tasked with organizing a family reunion for my HUGE family. There could be up to 75 people there if everyone comes with spouses/SOs and kids. I plan large events for work and have done travel events like this (bachelorette parties, ski weekends) for smaller groups, but this is a real challenge for a group this large. Advice? [more inside]
Are latex gloves the newest must-have hipster fashion accessory?
Why do I keep finding individual latex gloves on the sidewalk in my neighborhood? [more inside]
I need extremely basic help with meal planning and grocery shopping.
I need extremely basic help with meal planning and grocery shopping. I don't even know where to start. I have a psychological block against cooking to the point where actually I'll forgo eating if it's going to be more difficult than microwaving something. [more inside]
"And right here I decided to use lens flare..."
What are your favourite DVD extras? Which DVD movie/TV shows have the best extras/bonus material? [more inside]
What can I do about crow's feet around my right eye?
I'm developing pronounced wrinkles and crow's feet around my right eye only. Help me figure out what's causing this and how to stop and/or reverse the process. [more inside]
Fish tacos: Intersection of quality and ocean proximity in San Diego
Best fish tacos closest to the ocean in San Diego? [more inside]
Looking for Buddhist text
What's the text in which the Buddha tells his disciples to not believe something just because it's written in a book, but to search within the heart?
Is it okay to separate a 9 week old kitten from its mother?
What is the right age to separate a kitten from its mother?
Is it okay to separate a 9 week old kitten from its mother? [more inside]
Youre not funny.
Getting constant grief from a chronic troll whose favorite put down is "youre not funny", "who told you you're funny", "you think you're funny but you're not" and other putdowns of the same stripe. Assuming that all the people I make laugh arent humoring me, what is a good retort to this? [more inside]
How fat DOES a man have to be to stop a runaway trolley?
How fat DOES a man have to be to stop a runaway trolley?
Check my math/physics please. [more inside]
Cat Conflict Resolution 101
CatFilter: I know this question has been done to death but... three cats, one apartment, two microconflicts. What is to be done? [more inside]
What side of Mount St. Helens is best?
What side of Mount St. Helens would you go to on a day trip if visiting both wasn't an option? [more inside]
DIY publications in Greensboro?
What are the best stores in Greensboro, NC to buy zines, mini comics, micro-press publications, etc.?
Oops
I accidentally left my favourite (white, lace) top in a plate of salmon lasagne and left it for a week. It's covered in mould. I suck at life. [more inside]
Help me not be a pain in the ass in the morning.
Help me be a morning person! Or at least a waking-up-like-a-goddamn-adult person! [more inside]
Inspire me to quit smoking.
How did you (or someone you know of) beat smoking with clean living? [more inside]
Outdoor fitness classes in Pittsburgh
Outdoor fitness classes in Pittsburgh? [more inside]
Unforeseen obstacles to intercultural marriage?
What do you wish you had known before you embarked on an intercultural relationship/marriage? [more inside]
Has Apple abandoned iWork?
So I'm trying to find details on the next versions iWork - but no one seems to know anything. Has Apple given up on it's office suite? [more inside]
Begin the gamification!
How can I best introduce her to nerdy-ness, and nerdy games in particular? [more inside]
Should I stay or should I go?
I have an iPhone 4. It is not jail broken or anything and I have no plans to do so. Is the upgrade to ios6 worth it? I understand that applemaps is pretty awful, and I'm not sure if the rest of ios6 is worth the loss of google maps. If you have ios6, what else does it do? [more inside]
Need a gay-friendly doctor in Tampa area.
Gay-friendly doctors in Tampa/Pinellas county? [more inside]
Oh noes. This time, it's Slverlight.
Please help me install Silverlight on my wife's MacBook. [more inside]
Alt.culture hip-hop recs?
What hip-hop songs or spotify playlists should I listen to? (Given that I'm a feminist, folk-music-loving, poetry-loving, queer/bi-identified, geeky person who likes a lively beat and dislikes high-pitched noises.) [more inside]
CHECK ALL THE THINGS!
Organizing my life through checklists - recommendations? [more inside]
Hot happenings in Queens?
Where can I find event listings for the greater Queens area? Before I moved to Queens, I would check out places like Time Out NY, the skint, and Nonsense NYC to find interesting things to do on the weekends. But now I'm realizing just how Manhattan- and Brooklyn-centric the listings are. Does anyone know of any good sources for more local events? (We have a car, so Long Island resources are welcome too.) Or do I just suck it up and ride the F train 25 stops to go where the good stuff is happening?
Online communication tool for small team
What is a good online communication tool for a small group? [more inside]
Do I have to get my mom to measure all my artwork that's in storage at her house?
When creating an art portfolio for graduate school admissions, which may end up online or submitted digitally, is it completely necessary that I include measurements for all the pieces (especially if the original work is several states away at my parents house)? I am not applying for uber-competitive MFA programs, but arts administration/education/museum studies where the portfolio is usually not strictly necessary but can be helpful, I hear.
Dog and Cat relationship
How do I get the dog to play with the cat like its a cat? [more inside]
Scream Metafilter Scream!
What are the actual good, worthwhile, non-ironic, non-self-referential horror films of the last ten years?
App to Familiarize Myself With a Word List?
I have a list of several hundred words that I know and like, but often forget to use in conversation or in writing (I compiled it by jotting down words I find myself fishing around for). I'd like to better familiarize myself with them, so that they're more in the "front of my mind" for regular use. Can anyone suggest an appropriate iOs app or Web app I can access on my iPhone? [more inside]
Education as Heresy in the Middle Ages
Did the Catholic Church actively suppress literacy and education during the Middle Ages, or was it simply a byproduct of the era? [more inside]
Pump up Prime!
Mom just gave me a $100 Amazon gift card for my birthday. I'm thinking of taking the Amazon Prime plunge. But, I already have Netflix and am very happy with that. "Fringe" is my main reason for wanting Prime and even though it would save me money over renting the show, I wonder if there is other Prime exclusive content to help push me over the edge. [more inside]
PhD vs ME
So, I just started my PhD program. Are my feelings normal? I'm worried that I'm not working enough and that my ideas are bad. [more inside]
Where's my money, auction house?
What additional steps should I take to get money an auction house owes me? [more inside]
JavaScript question
JavaScript question: Here in the U.S. myDate.toLocaleDateString () returns Thursday, Oct. 04, 2012. Can anyone give me an example of the date formatted for another locale?
This is an expensive city!
I'm moving to Boston for a new job in a month, and wondering what's the best way to go about finding a place to live. [more inside]
Working after quitting, when should you ask to get paid?
Quitting my job and I know they will be calling me after I'm gone. Nobody is left here to do the work and they have products to ship. Where do you draw the line on friendly help vs paid subcontracting? [more inside]
Help me replace my favorite (long lost) winter coat
I had this Marvin Richards Stand Collar coat and I was madly in love with it. Tragically, it was thrown away by accident three years ago. Help me find something like it. [more inside]
Not quite shellac, but close
So I used some evil nasty hair product for a while that built up like crazy. What are some good ways to get it gone all at once? [more inside]
A framer has damaged my beautiful painting. How much discount should I ask for?
A framer has damaged my beautiful painting. How much discount should I ask for? [more inside]
Refinancing an FHA loan
Advice on re-financing an FHA loan? [more inside]
How do I word my reason for leaving this ministry job
I'm applying for new jobs and struggling to figure out how to word my "reason for leaving" in an unusual situation. [more inside]
33 going on 17
Is there anything I can do to help my brother who seems to be in arrested development? He seems lost in life (mid 30's still lives with my parents, no real job), and while he has a lot of strengths, can be is a difficult personality to be around..it breaks my heart to see his life slipping away, and I wish I could help him. [more inside]
What overcoat should I buy?
What are good recommendations for semi-formal to formal winter coats? [more inside]
Looking for short film featuring mysterious black cube
I'm looking for an online video from a couple years back. It is a short scifi movie shot in the first person, which features a scientist waking up in a lab, looking out the window to see a giant tower shooting a beam into the sky, and then grabbing a black cube with lights on it, which appears to have some sort of strange powers. It was hosted on a website which had some other seemingly related material. I don't know if it was from an ARG, or a standalone video, or what, but I'd really like to watch it again.
What was this spigot attached to?
What was this spigot attached to? It was found underneath the floorboards of part of a late 19th century luxury hotel in Montana (operating from 1889 to about 1940), along with many champagne and beer bottles and other alcohol-related paraphernalia. I can't find any examples of spigots that have similar valve hardware. I was thinking it was a beer or wine tap, but I have no evidence to support that.
Name Two Sister Kitties!!!
Help me name two adorable sister kitties! [more inside]
How best to shut up loud cellphone yappers on public transportation?
How best to shut up loud cellphone yappers on public transportation? [more inside]
Help find missing iphone icons.
Recently been experiencing lost app icons on iphone4. The phone is not jail-broken and has not been updated to ios6. The apps are still there & can be found in the search function. I did a hard reboot and some icons returned (not all), but worse, the reboot blew up my folders and screen setup. I also tried turning on & off the restrictions. No luck. Not sure what happened but is there any way to restore the icons without major disruption? Thanks.
Easier than EZUp?
I'd like to find a screenhouse/shade structure that I can set up by myself. [more inside]
Mysteriously greasy silicone bowl
Why would a silicone food bowl, used mainly for hot soups and oatmeal, eventually feel greasy, even after washing?
I am much too uncool
Where are all the cool plaid shirts from? I have been wanting to dress more business casual, and I can't seem to find the kind of plaid shirts I see on people. [more inside]
My Wordpress blog subscribers aren't getting updates.
Blog at Dreamhost, using Wordpress - After many months of posting with few to no email issues, the last two posts did not send emails to my subscribers. Suggestions? [more inside]
Suggestions for 2D man/woman animation toolkits/software
I am looking for a 2D animation toolkit that helps me animate various actors, like man, woman, cat and helps in realising various actions like sleeping, running, etc. with programmatical ease. I have looked into processing.org and started to toy with simple geometric shapes, but yet to stumble across an animation with man/woman actors. Could you help me find some good resources where I could learn to animate such things? TIA.
Wilde Liebe? Or something?
What are the German equivalents of the Savage Lovecast, This American Life or Judge John Hodgman? Doesn't have to be a podcast, but I do need to be able to listen online. [more inside]
Oh the Humanities!
What qualifications do I need to teach humanities, beyond the normal education teachery qualifications? Victoria, Australia, to be specific. I am a Spanish/English methods teacher, but would love some more advice on applying for all those English/Humanities jobs out there. [more inside]
To stay or not to stay in Japan?
My search for an ideal job in Japan continues: To go back to America and attend the DISCO Boston Career Fair or to stay in Japan? [more inside]
MIRANDA
What's the best SF series broadcasting right now? [more inside]
What is this half-remembered poem about motherhood and peaches?
What is the title/who is the author of this half-remembered poem about a mother/child relationship and peaches (I think)? [more inside]
Why are slowly increasing prices considered stability?
Why do most central banks target a small non-zero inflation rate rather than zero?
- Bank of England target is 2% CPI
- European Central Bank HICP target is "less than 2%"
- US Federal Reserve target is 2%
Why don't they all target zero if the ultimate aim of policy is actually "Price Stability" as most officially state. [more inside]
Do I support a family member taking drastic surgery or not?
I’d like to know if any has had gastric sleeve surgery or has a family member who has undergone this type of procedure? Can anyone tell me their experiences, pros and cons, what to expect and how to come to terms with and support someone who thinks this is the right choice for them? [more inside]
NYC: Where can an out-of-towner work for the day? Willing to pay.
NYC: Where can an out-of-towner work for the day? [more inside]
October 3
Undergraduate essay examples
Looking for examples of basic undergraduate essays [more inside]
What is the best way to start trading stock options?
Thinking of stepping foot into Stock Options trading while in college full-time. Any advice on where to start? [more inside]
Duh-na na-na na-na na-na. Bass.
Aspiring bassist, and advanced guitarist, wants to know: what are the canonical rock and roll bass riffs? [more inside]
bone graft tooth implant expert?
Dental tourism? I want to have several dental implants and bone grafts done in the next year and am willing to travel for excellent dental service. I am looking for truly amazing dental implant experts in Europe and the United States I should be looking at. I am based in England. English recs welcome.
Who's bust is this?
Make. It. Stop.
Lady-filter: ladies, have you experienced formication (not fornication, alas) possibly due to perimenopause? If so, how did you treat it? Itching is making me crazy!! [more inside]
Kitty needs a name
What should I name my new cat? She was rescued by a co-worker buddy of mine here in Jersey City, and is about 2 years old by the vet's guesstimate. [more inside]
Looking for a Ghurka-quality travel pack.
Looking for a Ghurka-quality travel pack. [more inside]
what's a people-loving introvert to do for a career?
What's a good career or job for an introvert who enjoys working with people? [more inside]
Keeping my Nexus 7 Tablet charged while on the move.
Need a recommendation for a travel battery for a Nexus 7. [more inside]
Selling stuff on ebay
Explain Ebay to me like I'm six years old. I need to sell some expensive lenses and a camera. How do I sell something without being taken to the cleaners by scammers? [more inside]
2012 debate live commentary
Looking for live commentary on the 2012 presidential debate because I don't know much about politics. Suggestions?
Boot cut girl in a skinny jeans world
The era of skinny women's jeans has been here for a while, but I've still got a closet full of my perfectly good boot-cut and flared jeans. Can I wear these judiciously (even among young people) without looking embarrassingly out-of-touch? If not, should I try to alter them, or is there a chance they'll come back into style in a year or two anyway? [more inside]
Enable my television problem
Please help me find new great television dramas! [more inside]
Computational biology vs. bioinformatics vs. biotech ...
I am a college freshman in my school's the College of Letters of Sciences. Currently, I'm pursuing a B.A. in Computer Science. I'd like to pursue a more technical understanding of software engineering as it applies to biological system, but need help maneuvering the many subfields. [more inside]
Are there small towns on Oahu?
Is there a town on Oahu that has that small-town Kauai feel? [more inside]
How to applying for biotech faculty and industry jobs simultaneously?
I am applying for tenure-track molecular biology faculty positions in the US. My skills are also in high demand in industry. Offers for faculty jobs I apply to now should come anywhere from late Feb to early May with a lot of flexibility on how long I have for acceptance. I suppose that biotech industry positions will have a much shorter timescale from application to their decision and how long I have for mine, but I'm not entirely sure. If I want to maximize my options in the spring, when should I start inquiring about industry jobs? [more inside]
Should I practice without pay?
I've discovered through some digging that I can not pay (but still hold) practice insurance at my new bar and still practice as a lawyer if I'm not doing it for profit. WHO on earth would want to practice and not get paid? Maybe me. [more inside]
How to make PowerPoint presentations 508c compliant.
Making PowerPoint presentations 508c compliant, specifically complicated charts? [more inside]
How to politely tell a student that he should find another tutor.
I have a student that I tutor and I want to find a polite way to tell him that I want to stop tutoring him. [more inside]
How much would a person weigh who would be unable to jump?
How much would a human have to weigh to be unable to jump (lift both feet off the floor at once at least a couple of inches)? [more inside]
Is it ironic?
Irony is difficult to understand, and it's driving me nuts. Please tell me which of the following situations is ironic (and why): [more inside]
Can a diaper pail not stink?
Can a diaper pail be made to not stink? [more inside]
Cool digital camera?
Fun, artistic digital camera for a gift? [more inside]
What vitamins aren't a waste of money?
Are there any vitamins/supplements that are actually worth taking? [more inside]
Academic mefites: is this plagiarism?
What to do when, as a peer reviewer, you figure out an author self-plagiarized? [more inside]
Sexual awakening: From vanilla to firecracker?
Personal experiences where your partner was initially not very sexually adventurous, but now is? [more inside]
Computer slow and messed up after power failure
I am tired of this damn computer and its numerous problems. Before this, I've had to replace newly bought RAM and a new HDD, a motherboard and oh so much more. Anyway, moving on. After a power outage I had while running my computer, it has never been the same. [more inside]
Food traditions for new mothers.
Does your family (origin, creation etc.) have any postpartum food traditions? [more inside]
Gel foam mattresses: thumbs up or down?
Gel foam mattresses? Any experiences/info/opinions? [more inside]
Dual Citizenship Concerns
What did you wish you knew before you became a dual citizen? What would you tell prospective US/French dual citizens? [more inside]
Investor relations websites
Where can I find a list of investor reporting websites for various banks? Not just general investor relations, but places with searchable asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities information. [more inside]
Where does one start to look for a (trustworthy) part-time personal assistant?
Where does one start to look for a (trustworthy) part-time personal assistant? [more inside]
Help me find a debate bar in NY
[NYC Filter]: Suggest me a bar to watch the presidential debate tonight! [more inside]
My eyeball is trying to kill me.
Eye cancer filter: how tired am I likely to be when undergoing plaque radiation therapy for choroidal melanoma? [more inside]
What's better: salt water or chlorine pool?
I'm planning to have an in-ground pool installed in my backyard. Which would be better: a chlorine system or a salt water system? [more inside]
YANMD, but are my multivitamins making me bleed more on my period?
YANMD, but are my multivitamins making me bleed more on my period? [more inside]
San Francisco's greatest portals
SFFilter! I have a friend who has a photography assignment due on Monday -- six photos, with the theme of portals/entrances. They need to take photos of six distinctive entranceways/ doorways/ portals/ passages in San Francisco. Places that open up to amazing, distinctive sights and vistas... possibly even some outdoor locations, garden gates, etc. that are semi-enclosed, and have interesting subjects behind them. They'd especially appreciate Art Deco subjects and locations within walking distance of the downtown.
Can the MeFi hivemind recommend some great portals to shoot, with a sense of mystery, wonder, and excitement on what lies beyond?
Long Beach to Valencia, CA: which route will suck less?
Ahoy, Los Angeles commuters! Out-of-town friends are heading from Long Beach to Valencia this Friday afternoon and have tasked me with recommending whether they should take the 405 vs. the 710 to the 5. (In terms of mileage, they're basically identical.) Help me steer them right. [more inside]
How does scuba diving work?
Explain scuba diving to me like I am six years old. [more inside]
Mature student looking for admissions advice
How do I find a consultant or service to provide admission/application advice to an adult returning to university? I am in Ontario, Canada. [more inside]
Is insurance mandatory for dependents?
Is an employer in New York required to extend health insurance coverage to the employee's spouse and dependents? [more inside]
Where to go to camp, learn, eat, and have fun between NYC and Colorado.
My boyfriend and I will be driving from New York City to the Colorado Rockies via Appalachia, MO, and KS, and would like specific suggestions of things to do and places to eat along the way, camping style! [more inside]
Should I being my toddler to the Obama rally?
I am fortunate enough to have a VIP ticket to tomorrow's Obama rally in Denver. Should I bring my 2 year old? [more inside]
Hot Tub has an internal leak. Not sure how to proceed. Details inside.
Hot Tub has a internal leak. Hot Tub company quoted $3500 to fix it. I decided to move & take the foam out myself. Some advice needed. [more inside]
I will never pay for anything on a flight again ever.
I lost my wallet on an airplane for 24 hours. I started the process of cancelling accounts but it was just recovered. Should I cancel my cards and bank account anyway? [more inside]
I've got some real estate here in my bag
Long bus / train trip with a couple of long stopovers. How to amuse myself? Things to do in Buffalo & Chicago? [more inside]
What should I pay the neighbor kid for chores?
Neighbor kid wants to do chores for money. What should I pay her? [more inside]
in many ways "babysitting" is a misnomer; sitting on babies is no longer recommended by the APA
How old was your child when you first started leaving her with babysitters who weren't relatives? How long would you leave them for?
Halloween Costumes to show off Makeup Skills?
Need ideas for Makeup-centric Halloween Ideas. [more inside]
Does living near a wind farm blow?
What's it really like living near a wind farm? [more inside]
You mean *I* get a say in salary talk? Wha?
I was recently contacted by a recruiter and in the last month have been through several interviews, the last taking place today. Now, the recruiter's called to ask if I am ready to take the next step and has asked about my salary expectations. What? [more inside]
Ethics of web-design and copyright
What is a reasonable amount of 'look and feel' to copy from another website? [more inside]
Life Among the Prickly Pears
So, I asked Google this question, but all it turned up were a few outdated lists full of broken links. Here goes: I know that life in widely-beloved cultural centers like Portland (and San Francisco and New York, etc.) has been examined in minute detail by millions of bloggers writing from those cities. I'm looking for interesting blogs written by folks who are based out of the Phoenix area. [more inside]
I need a reliable download host that I can 'hotlink' for my band's website to download a zip folder of mp3's
I need a reliable download host that I can 'hotlink' for my band's website to download a zip folder of mp3's [more inside]
team building exercises redux
What are some creative team-building exercises or problem-solving scenarios that could be used at a development/fundraising retreat for a staff of 35? Not looking for cheesy icebreakers (to minimize eye-rolling from the terminally cynical), but rather exercises that actually entail collaborative thinking and strategy.
Previous MeFi questions have been useful but looking for more ideas from the Hive mind...
Help me start my new awesome hobby!
I would like to start learning how to make leather journals. I really don't know where to start. More inside. [more inside]
Help me navigate the myriad of Drupal hosting options
Need to find a reliable host and occasional support for a Drupal site for a non-profit. Questions abound! [more inside]
Cleansed, folded and manipulated.
Beginner at PHP: Inserting form data into MySQL. I need to strip special characters out, for security and MySQL compatibility, but the options are overwhelming me and I've spent far longer on this issue than the whole project so far. [more inside]
Does Indy have raceway speeds on the internet?
Are there any reliable, local high-speed options in the Indianapolis area without data caps? [more inside]
Haircut needed asap!
I'm starting to look like a shaggy dog!!!! Need recommendations for a hairdresser in Toronto! [more inside]
How long is the line for The Colbert Report?
When should we show up for a taping of The Colbert Report? [more inside]
Fixing a water-damaged piece of antique furniture?
Strategies for fixing a water-damaged piece of antique furniture? [more inside]
Tell me what to believe!
What’s the best, scientifically-supported mindset for success, resilience, confidence, and rebounding from stress and failure? [more inside]
Please help me navigate a bizarre love triangle.
My girlfriend might have a girlfriend, and we might have a problem. [more inside]
You say Good Buy and I say Hello
TMobileUSA is merging with MetroPCS. Does this mean I can take my ATT iPhone4 or ATT iPhone4S to TMobile / MetroPCS now? [more inside]
Puzzling relationship pattern
General relationship pattern question about the end of limerance as well as some specifics, with some concerns about monogamy/nonmonogamy. Somewhat long. [more inside]
MPD/network mp3 playing alternatives?
What is the best way to play MP3s on one computer, but controlled (prev, next, play, volume, etc.) by an interface on another computer. Complication level: there shouldn't be one because there is Linux and FreeBSD and NFS and shit everywhere. Why is this harder than it should be? [more inside]
Renting bedding in New England
Is it possible to rent sheets, towels, blankets, and pillows for about 150 people? Has anyone done this before, and if so, can you point me toward a good service in New England? [more inside]
Gay friendly cities?
Help me evaluate the gay-friendliness of various cities, particularly Houston, TX. [more inside]
Abu Dhabi or Dubai?
My mum and I are flying to Latvia next year (hooray!) and we are considering where to break up the massive flight ex Sydney. Currently we are tossing up between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Anyone have experience with either of these two places as stopovers (no more than a day or two)?
What's it like to be an adult swimming beginner?
Adult swimming beginners: what motivated you to learn how to swim? What techniques did you find useful in swimming lessons and what things made you uncomfortable? [more inside]
Used lithium-ion batteries sold as new?
I suspect that unscrupulous dealers buy used Lithium-ion batteries, reset or replace the circuitry so that the capacity and charge cycle count are as-new, and then resell the batteries as new. How can I collect evidence for or against this hypothesis?
October 2
In sickness and in health
What are your expectations for your boyfriend/girlfriend caring for you when you get sick with a cold? [more inside]
Who actually walks around with a giant alligator embroidered across his breast?
The last of my high school shirts are starting to go. What would be a good thrift store in Manhattan or Brooklyn where I could get well-sewn men's cotton shirts with a plain, subdued appearance? I am not a "fashion-forward" sort of person; think Goodwill, not Buffalo Exchange. I like deep solids or very subtle patterns, perhaps accomplished in the weave of the fabric rather than by dying. Removable collar stays would be great; they make laundry so much easier. [more inside]
Trip hop song with male vocalist stuck in my head
Downtempo/Trip Hop/Chillout song stuck in my head in a huge way. It's something I've heard dozens of times before but now, of course, I can't identify it. It's got a male vocalist, possibly British-sounding. The song is somewhat popular - it may be on a bunch of compilations and chillout/downtempo internet radio stations. [more inside]
Dealing with unwanted guest
How do I deal with an unwanted guest/"unofficial roommate" living on our couch? Asking this as a strictly interpersonal relations question. [more inside]
Help me turn my interests into a career!
Please help me figure out potential careers based on my interests and the best paths to obtain them. Psychology, economics, statistics? Market research? Psychometrics? [more inside]
Moving, or moving on?
My boyfriend of one year just learned that he'll be laid off in the next few months. He's now applying for jobs in our hometown, as well as dream jobs that are halfway across the country. We need to discuss what we'll do if he moves out of state -- Do I go or stay? LDR or break up? -- but I'm trying to sort out my thoughts and feelings about what I want first. What questions should I be asking myself? [more inside]
This is the wrong summer for a broken a/c
How much (roughly) is it going to cost to fix my car's air conditioner? [more inside]
Lookin' Out My Backdoor
What's the deal with the doctor in The Big Lebowski? [more inside]
Long shortcuts
Tell me your recipes that get much easier with a little bit of advance planning! I like cold-brew coffee and this recipe for hash browns, not just because they're tasty, but because they're less work than regular coffee or hash browns, as long as I remember to do a tiny bit of preparation the night before. What else is like that? (If you have some non-food tips that fit the theme, that's good too...)
How to schedule a phone call?
Phone Call Scheduler: How can I schedule a phone call to automatically call me every morning? [more inside]
[Name-that-plant-filter] What is this potted plant/tree?
Egyptian Arabic Translation into English, please.
Egyptian Arabic Translation needed, please. [more inside]
Streaming video to Apple TV
I have a 1st generation Apple TV. I also have an Intel iMac. I want to be able to stream video from the iMac to play on my TV. Is this possible? [more inside]
As a dream upon waking... except not.
I've had twilight anesthesia for minor surgical procedures three times. The first two times everything went fine -- I have no memories of the procedure, woke up happily and felt back to normal within an hour. The third time I "woke up" in the middle of the surgery, still have fairly vivid memories of feeling pain and being operated on, and it took me eight extremely unfun hours to completely recover. What happened that third time? [more inside]
2012 election debate bingo cards and drinking games?
The presidential and vice presidential debates are coming up quick, with the first one on tomorrow, Wednesday 10/3. What are the best debate bingo cards and drinking games you've seen this season?
I would probably just eat albacore for every meal if I didn't think it would kill me
I eat a lot of fish. Since I took over dinner duties for myself and my SO, I've been thinking about the health risks and environmental impact of the stuff we eat. I need some help figuring out the risks of stuff like mercury and the environmental impact of fishing, particularly as compared to eating chicken and pork, which are our other main meat sources. [more inside]
Emissions problem and low oil
My car, for the first time in 12 years, did not pass an emissions inspection in California. Right before this, my oil light had started to periodically blink. On inspection, my oil was very (very) low. I filled it back up after the test. What are the chances that this caused the high emissions levels? [more inside]
Do I really need an accountant, or can I handle filing my LLC taxes on my own?
How important is it for me to get an accountant now that I'm earning most of my income as a freelancer? Can I handle taxes on my own? [more inside]
Presidential Managment Fellowship for STEM graduates
What does the Presidential Management Fellowship entail? [more inside]
UK bdsm / fetish dating sites?
Are there any genuine fetish / bdsm dating sites in the UK, or are they all weird fronts for dating farms? [more inside]
Do you know any affordable hotels that offer suites in Berlin?
Do you know any hotels worth recommending in Berlin that offer multiple bedrooms in one suite? [more inside]
Accidentally deleted audio driver on Windows XP machine. How do I get it back?
I accidentally deleted my audio driver software on my XP machine. How can I remedy this? [more inside]
Gauging recruiter reliability or effectiveness?
Gauging recruiter reliability or effectiveness? How do I tell if they're any good? [more inside]
h2o2 gum?
Is there a gum or chewable version of hydrogen peroxide mouthwash? [more inside]
a methy situation
I just found out my landlord is a meth addict. How worried should I be? [more inside]
Oh god, I don't want to be hat guy
Oh god, hats. The fedora thread has made me aware that, as a baldish and getting balder guy, I should be wearing a hat outside, especially when driving as during the summer I'm inevitably in a convertible. Problems: (a) I don't want to be "that guy in the stupid hat" (b) I have a giant, round head. [more inside]
Help me be a better online shopper
Tell me about fabrics to help me do better online shopping. [more inside]
DIY Tech Accessory Projects
This video for a DIY iPhone 5 dock got me thinking about other tech-accessories I could be building myself. Since I have some spare time on my hands, please share some of your own DIY tech-accessory projects.
Is this part of my quarter-life crisis?
Is this part of my quarter-life crisis? (a blizzard inside) [more inside]
Please recommend me some hair removal cream for the private area of a man.
Please recommend me some hair removal cream for the private area of a man. [more inside]
one pill makes you larger, the other makes you small
[costume filter] My toddler daughter and I are going as Alice in Wonderland this Halloween. I will be representing Alice after she has eaten the cookie that makes her grow, and my daughter will be Alice after drinking the drink that makes her small. What visual techniques can I use to enhance this? [more inside]
Recipe for spicy frog soup chinese
I'm trying to find recipe for spicy frog soup I had in Shanghai. [more inside]
Doctor Doctor Pull Me A Tooth
Do Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeons require medical degrees (Relevant undergraduate + med school + residency) like, for lack of a better term, "real" surgeons? [more inside]
Dressing kid as Psy for Halloween
Gangnam Filter. I'm dressing my 4-year-old as Psy for Halloween. Ideas welcome. [more inside]
RIP toenail. Now what?
Gross/TMI: Dropped a shelf on my big toe. Now the toenail is falling off. Is this something I have to go to the doctor for? Anything else I ought to do? [more inside]
not spreading yourself too thin
I'm overambitious. I spread myself too thin and it's crazy-making. Now what? [more inside]
How can I help my husband stay focused and on track with things that are important to both of us
How can I help my husband stay focused and on track with things that have to get done and are important to both of us. I don't want to nag and just want us both to be happier. [more inside]
Should I accept a position at a company under a hiring freeze?
Is it way too risky to start a new job at a small tech company under a hiring freeze? [more inside]
Re-interpret and rock (and roll)
I'm a huge fan of science fiction book cover art (especially the 50s through the 80s) and I like to use ideas from them to make posters for my band.
If you need examples: this should explain what I'm looking for.
I'm wondering if there are existing resources for science fiction cover art or general science fiction art that mirrors this sort of style and substance? I especially need resources that are fair use, free to modify etc. etc.
We use these posters to advertise our shows at places which usually have a cover charge -- so I will need content that I can modify to use "commercially". [more inside]
Hi! Remember Me?
How do you know when to resubmit a job application? [more inside]
Are there any good zombie strategy games?
Are there any good zombie strategy games? [more inside]
What is this music from PBS Masterpiece?
Help us furnish our indoor-outdoor space!
My partner and I are considering an apartment that has a private patio that's as large as a room. We'll be furnishing the new place mostly from scratch and would love to get living room furniture and dining set that work equally well on the patio or indoors so we can switch things up a lot. Can you help us find the perfect stuff? [more inside]
Possibly Screwed?
My best friend bought a motorcycle out of state (seller in OR, we're in WA). Seller claimed to have 'misplaced' the title and would send it to friend ASAP. Trusting the guy, my friend didn't even get a Bill of Sale.
Two months later, tabs have expired, no title and seller AWOL. I suspect he bought a salvage title bike and since he (facepalm) didn't get a Bill of Sale, he might be out several thousand dollars.
Does anyone know of any action my friend can take?
NYC student discounts for older part-time students?
What are the best student discounts in New York City for non-traditional students? [more inside]
Skype
Alternatives to Skype for video teleconferencing -- bummed out by crappy audio quality. [more inside]
conditioner for dry hair
I need a good deep conditioning treatment for my dry, brittle hair. [more inside]
Remix Software
Inspired by Tiger and Woods' Gin Nation (sampling Imagination's Music & Lights), if I wanted to create some remixes of favorite old tracks, what software package would best enable me to do this?
Cost is not so much of an issue, but I don't want to buy some package that I'll drown in and don't necessarily need all the bells and whistles of. I know there's a lot out there - that all come in basic/ normal/ whizz-bang versions - but need some help navigating. [more inside]
Help me get this thing shipped from Los Angeles to Wisconsin, please!
How can I get something shipped from L.A. to Wisconsin when the seller won't ship it, asks for cash, and I don't have any friends there? [more inside]
Better than Aerosoles?
Really flat interview flats? Or less dressy alternatives (for women) in black? [more inside]
Collaborative on-line note-taking tool?
Please recommend an on-line collaborative note-taking site to encourage a conference audience to creatively respond to presentations. [more inside]
Recommendations on New Years apartment/home rentals in CT or RI?
Looking for suggestions on a place somewhere between NYC and Boston to stay over New Years weekend. [more inside]
Take my deductions -- PLEASE!
Does Romney want to remove deductions for 401k to help pay for his 20% "across the board" tax cut? [more inside]
Positivity, activate!
Feel-good poems/quotes/music/activities--basically seeking an avalanche of positive stuff! [more inside]
Metaphor of Jamiroquai song
Deeper Underground: What's this song about? [more inside]
Toddler Dog Songs
My toddler loves dogs, doors and singing. I would love any suggestions about kid friendly songs that feature dogs or doors. [more inside]
How to heal like Wolverine in only four short payments
Abdominal surgery in four weeks - how best to prepare my body to heal quickly? [more inside]
Project Management Exploding my Head
In search of Project management software, and loosing my mind, I need something to help organize this mess, and also not make it worse. [more inside]
Marriage in Spain
Can a foreign non-priest officiate at a wedding in Spain? [more inside]
How do I make friends without creeping them out?
How to make new friends: socially awkward version. Or, have I slipped up here? [more inside]
How to get out of employer request I'm uncomfortable with?
I work at a business of a type that gets rated on sites like yelp and google. My boss has always been concerned about the low ratings we get (which are honestly not that bad). I'm pretty sure the boss is taking it personally and I have trouble believing that the business could be losing money due to low ratings.
Yesterday, at the boss's orders, all the lower-downs in the clinic, including me, were handed instructions to post positive reviews on some specific sites, pretending to be clients. We were each assigned a day to do it and told which sites "really needed" a positive review and which ones didn't matter so much.
I think this is pretty pathetic, also against these sites' policies obviously, and I absolutely don't want to do it. What can I say to the boss or to my manager that will get me out of this assignment?
Slow cook me some healthy complete meals
Bought a slow cooker and I love it so far, but dear god is it hard to find slow cooker recipes that are 1) healthy (no cans of cream of ____ soup) 2) taste good 3) include vegetables.
Help. [more inside]
Catwoman comics for a 4 year old.
My 4 year old daughter is going as Catwoman for Halloween. Can you suggest comics with Catwoman in them which would be appropriate to read with her? [more inside]
I didn't know you could stuff so much cheese into a room this size!
Minneapolis bars filter - needed: one smallish private party room with audio & video capabilities at a bar in Minneapolis. [more inside]
I hate talking about money...
How to fairly split up expenses with an S/O on an upcoming trip? [more inside]
How to deal with emotions about past abuse?
What is the best way to get through/past/over the rush of emotions that come up when I think about abuse that happened to me in my adolescence? Also, how to deal with ambivalent feelings towards a relative who treated you badly in the past? Are there any books about this, fiction or non-fiction? [more inside]
Tamarinds and lemons say the bells of near south Minneapolis
Give me your recipes containing lime! Or lemon or tamarind! Certain restrictions may apply. [more inside]
Pleasurable pens?
What are your favorite affordable drawing supplies - especially pens? [more inside]
Should I take my baby on this trip?
Car trip from Massachusetts to New Jersey with a 16 month old. Staying two nights in a hotel. I'd like to day trip into NYC with the toddler. Is there a way to make this work or is it just a bad idea? [more inside]
How do I re-find my calling?
Career change advice! I'm considering changing jobs over the next 2-3 years. Give me some great ideas given what I'm good at and what I know. [more inside]
Time for a new Droid?
Android question: Despite the fact that it is now owned by the Google itself, Motorola has decided that my Android (Atrix 4G) will not be upgraded to the Ice Cream Sandwich OS (which isn't even the most recent OS). Is it time to change phones? [more inside]
What are these three pictures from?
Truck or trailer?
Keep the pickup or get a trailer? I bought a Ford F-150 pickup truck about 9 months ago for using out at a rural property I co-own. It's been helpful for moving materials, towing travel trailers out there, picking up straw, transporting heavy machinery, but I feel like I might be able to get by with my Subaru and a 6x8' or so utility trailer. [more inside]
I will hug him (ouch!) and squeeze him (crap!) and I will name him George.
I went a little nuts at Home Depot last night and bought 7 tiny cacti/succulents. Please help me to not kill them. [more inside]
To Pay or Not To Pay
Do people usually pay a relative for babysitting? [more inside]
Help me rent out my NYC-based events space for workshops, seminars, presentations, parties, mixers, etc.
Help me rent out my NYC-based events space for workshops, seminars, presentations, parties, mixers, etc. [more inside]
What should I do to make my "aquarium stand" look nicer?
I'm in the process of setting up a planted aquarium and I'm trying to figure out what to do with the furniture it will be sitting on from an aesthetic standpoint. [more inside]
You don't wanna go in the desert.
Does this figure of speech from Spartan have a real-life antecedent/basis in military or law enforcement vernacular? [more inside]
styling problem
Why won't <colgroup> style properly? [more inside]
Please help me organize my entire life.
Launching a freelance career, starting a training program and planning a wedding. Please help me get organized before my life spins out of control. [more inside]
You'd be crazy to miss out...
Your favorite recording artist / group is performing at XXX, an intimate, awesome, Bay Area venue. Where is XXX? [more inside]
These boots were made for looking awesome
Help me find edgy, yet simple, high-quality boots for this upcoming Boston winter! [more inside]
An application fee for college?
My son is a senior in high school, and has been very lazy about applying to colleges. He's an art major, and is interested in attending the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago. So, he started the application last night, and then asked me for 50.00. They charge for applications? Should that be a warning sign about the quality of the school? [more inside]
Looking for audio from a talk show's musical guest performance.
Do you know where I can obtain a recording of Wilco's performance of "Laminated Cat (Not for the Season)" on the July 26th taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon? [more inside]
Where to purchase Jorinde Voigt art
My wife and I went to the ROM in Toronto last week and stumbled onto an exhibition of Beethoven 1-32 by Jorinde Voigt. Does anyone know if it is possible to purchase a print or reproduction of her work? Both my wife and I were blown away by the delicacy and symmetry of the drawings.
How do I get the most mileage out of my manual-transmission car?
Can you help me understand, once and for all, what I need to do to get the best mileage out of my manual-transmission car? [more inside]
Cisco Split-tunnel VPN config help
Split-tunnel help! How to limit my Cisco VPN clients to connect to a single server (via DNS) while at the same time allowing them Internet access to Google Maps? [more inside]
Condom missing, now what?
I (a man) was just having sex with a ladyfriend, and reached down to make sure the condom was in tact. Low an behold, it's missing. We can't find it anywhere, and she insists it's not inside of her (I tried feeling around down there and couldn't find anything either). But we've looked all around the bed and it's not turning up. Is it possible for the condom to have slipped off inside of her without her knowing or feeling it, even after looking? How long is it safe to wait-and-see? [more inside]
Help us get rid of this house!
We have an old, unlived in house that is disintegrating. We need help fixing it up, emptying the junk out of it and selling it. We are overwhelmed and find it hard to face this problem. Advice needed. [more inside]
Can anyone suggest how we can celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary?
Our ninth wedding anniversary is this Thursday (4th October) and unless he's planning a surprise without telling me, we have made no preparations. Can anyone suggest something we can do to celebrate? [more inside]
Like something from Yoda, but not...
Quote suggestions from science fiction/fantasy books or stories related to teaching? [more inside]
A person cannot live on oatmeal alone...
QuakerFilter: reading materials (books, blogs) on how the principles of S.P.I.C.E. could inform food/dietary choices? [more inside]
Help me remember this artsy film about the American south.
Help me remember this artsy film about the American south. It came out within the last 5 years I think, I believe there was a number in the title and the theme was something like the modernization of the south. It had 'Koyaanisqatsi' - like composed shots and voice over by a man with a southern accent. I remember a shot of a canoe filled with books inside a flooded building.
Stories where someone learns something ridiculously fast
Can you recall stories where a character learns an enormous amount of information in a short amount of time and performs an amazing feat? (The Matrix: Neo learns kung fu, Superman: Superman reads a library of medical texts and performs a life-saving surgery, etc.) [more inside]
Name That Song
Identify this song please! I'm making a mixtape of songs with distinctive vocal flourishes and there's a snippet going through my head that I just can't place. This song's building to a crescendo and the singer yells "Whoo!" followed by three piano chords that sound almost like percussion (bum! bum! bum!) before continuing on. [more inside]
How do you handle your wardrobe while losing weight?
How do you handle your wardrobe during a period of (fingers crossed!) on-going weight loss? [more inside]
Best Spanish language tv/radio/podcasts?
Recommend some good Spanish language media (TV series, online radio, podcasts etc) for my girlfriend to immerse herself in while she learns Spanish. [more inside]
Does anyone have experience of Core Process psychotherapy?
Does anyone have experience of Core Process psychotherapy? [more inside]
Hit & Running!
Our parked car was involved in a Hit & Run accident. Their car was undrivable and abandoned at the scene. There are witnesses! Yay!
The owner of the car claims to the detectives they did not hit our car. She lives a block away from us and works in our industry.
Our Insurance company (AAA) is moving slowly.
Now what? It's complicated. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
santa baby
Please share your non-traditional Christmas/winter holiday traditions. [more inside]
What can be done with fraudulent attorney?
This is happening in California. I am helping a friend find his way through a legal morass. He hired an attorney who came highly recommended by two acquaintances. His attorney agreed to sue a mortgage bank for fraud, prevent foreclosure, make a new loan workout, and sue for other damages (incredible emotional distress). Unfortunately, the attorney has completely flaked; committed multiple no-shows (fined four times by the judge and referred by judge to State Bar for sanction); and my friend's case was actually dismissed by the judge for the last no-show, only to be reversed by the judge because my friend accidentally happened to be in court that day to watch his proceeding, and pleaded for a continuance. The judge in this case even suggested my friend get another attorney, as she (the judge) reversed the dismissal. [more inside]
October 1
#wrapper { smart-level= 0% }
Please help me overcome this weird language hump I have with CSS. [more inside]
Disability benefits in Canada
In Canada, what kind of (government) disability benefits can a separated, self employed person qualify for and how? [more inside]
Therapist recommendations for laziness/procrastionation in greater LA area
Therapist recommendations in Orange County / South LA. Specifically for procrastination and laziness issues. [more inside]
Musical spiders
My family has an ongoing joke about finding the Christmas spider. Help me find songs that mention spiders! [more inside]
Where should I live and teach?
Where should I live: Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, or Utah? Or beyond? [more inside]
Am I too worried? Not worried enough?
For how long and in what unforeseen ways will the making of a fake ID continue to haunt me? [more inside]
Help us decide if we should move to Edmonton?
Edmonton, Canada! That's where we (me, husband, 13 month old daughter and our trusty dog) are considering moving. We currently live in sunny Perth, Western Australia. What should we know? [more inside]
How to assign keyboard shortcuts to browser bookmarks.
How can I create keyboard shortcuts for browser bookmarks on a Macbook Pro? [more inside]
How is DirecTV so cheap compared to "Cable?"
DirecTV seems too cheap to be true. Is it really a good deal vs. cable vs. fiber? [more inside]
Audition piece for a high alto?
I need an a capella audition piece for an alto on short notice. [more inside]
White wine gift above and beyond the ordinary
What do you get a super white wine connoisseur that's more special than a really great bottle of wine? [more inside]
How can I route hotspot traffic through my phones VPN?
How can I route hotspot traffic through my Android phone's VPN? [more inside]
Looking to explore time and space in my downtime.
Looking for recommendations of a particular kind of "exploring the unknown" SciFi book. [more inside]
Adobe Lightroom workflow on a laptop
How do I work with Adobe Lightroom, massive amounts of images, a modest laptop, and a simple backup scheme? [more inside]
How to teach filmmaking to children
Looking for help figuring out ways to teach a tween how to make films. [more inside]
iPad to Macbook
I took several long videos (25 - 50 minutes each) with the camera on my new iPad, and now I would like to transfer them to my Macbook, so that I can convert them to .avi files and give them to a friend. Dropbox will not upload them ('upload pending' forever). Backing up the iPad results in many folders with random numbers, none of which look big enough to be the videos. What should I try next?
Hardware prototyping advice?
I have a design for a new keyboard. Any ideas/advice on where to look for help with the circuits, driver programming and anything else I'm forgetting? [more inside]
Help me identify this movie?
I've had this vague memory of a 1970s-80s crime movie in the back of my brain. Can you help identify it? [more inside]
Nice Food/Music Eaterie near Parker/Denver, CO for noob?
Just moved to Parker 5 days ago for new job. My wife's birthday is Friday and we are celebrating that/new job. I am looking for a restaurant w/ live music (jazz perhaps) near Parker, CO & Denver. I don't know the area well but would like to surprise my wife with a nice place and accessible parking. $80-120 budget. (Gluten free menu a plus for me...). I will also settle for a nice restaurant w/o music if you would like add those as we hope to live here a lonnnnnnnng time. Thanks, everyone.
Is it still good?
Can I still eat this?
2 small avocadoes, mashed
juice of 1 lemon
about 1/4 cup "lite" mayo
salt & pepper
One week ago today I made a spread for sandwiches. I actually ended up not eating any yet. Is it still good?
I crossed marriage boundaries with co-worker -- now what?
My friendship with coworker evolved into something which is apparently neither "just friendship" neither ethical behaviour. [more inside]
Reputable Boston-area coin dealer?
Can anyone recommend a decent coin dealer in the Boston area. I have a few Peace dollars I would like to sell. Nothing very valuable I know but would just like a quick easy transaction.
Inquest Magazine 100 Books and 100 Movies lists
Sometime before the summer of 2000, Inquest Gamer magazine (the collectible card game/role-playing game offshoot of Wizard, originally just called Inquest) ran a pair of articles listing 100 movies you should watch and 100 books you should read in order to improve your DMing ability. I'd like to read those lists again. Does anyone know which issues had them? [more inside]
Take a math course to overcome math fear?
Math is sexy! But I am afraid of math. What class should I take to overcome my fear and get cozy with numbers? [more inside]
Contract Attorney Jobs
What are the best websites for contract lawyers to find work? [more inside]
Is learning golf hopeless for me?
Can a non-athletic person become a non-terrible golfer? [more inside]
shy guy
(Does-he-like-me filter) : How do I proceed with this shy, younger guy? [more inside]
need to know
YANMD, but does my doctor need to know about a previous vaginal birth in order to insert an IUD? [more inside]
How soon should they tell donors they're spending the money?
Scientists / medical researchers (and donors), how long should a nonprofit take to publicize new grants? [more inside]
Help me paint or stain this table.
I'm about to purchase a cheap dining room set at IKEA that is unstained solid pine that I am planning on either staining or painting. What colors might fit, and what kind of stain or paint should I use? I confess, I don't know what I'm doing. [more inside]
Secretary job interview secrets?
I would like some help preparing for job interview. Are there any secretaries here that can please help me out? [more inside]
Tell me this thing isn't about to bite me.
[NameThatBug Filter] Please help me figure out what this little bug is that I found on my bed this morning (and hopefully put my mind at ease!). [more inside]
I mean, it's just kicking the ball, right?
Explain non-American football ("soccer") to me like I'm a 6-year-old. [more inside]
Songs from American Dad
I really like some of the songs in the "Hot Water!" episode of American Dad, performed by Cee Lo Green. I'm especially thinking of the songs starting at 0:09 and 3:36 in this poor quality YouTube medley. What genre of music is this (70s? 80s?) and can you suggest songs for a playlist with this feel.
Fuel injection huh?
Mechanic-filter: AAA just fixed my car and I don't understand how. Explain it to me like I'm 5 years old. [more inside]
Name that tune Fringe edition
Does anyone know what the piano piece is in this Fringe fan video?
Please help me find a good Toronto-area optometrist or ophthalmologist
Can anyone recommend a good, central or west-end Toronto-area optometrist or ophthalmologist?
Four free evenings in San Diego. What to do?
I will be at a conference in San Diego this week. I arrive Tuesday around noon, and leave on Saturday at noon. My evenings are free and I'm looking for suggestions of things to do on my own without a car. [more inside]
Yet another 'help me narrow down job fields' question.
Job/grad school planning filter: health-related jobs editions. Nursing, public health, social work, or something else entirely? Help me narrow my options and get myself on a better career trajectory. [more inside]
I thought diapers were supposed to, you know, actually contain the pee.
Is everyone changing diapers at 3am and I just didn't know about it? [more inside]
How can I catalog and assess the value of a coin collection?
What is the best way to catalog and estimate the value of a coin collection? [more inside]
Who gave us powered eggs in 1974?
I'd like to find out more information on a 1970's US food program. [more inside]
Information on Higher Studies in Environmental Science
Looking for some information on Higher Studies in Environmental Science [more inside]
Film making in Northeastern England
What does the documentary film making scene look like in Northeastern England? Where would one start looking for a community? jobs? opportunities?
Powerful & Fast Computer for around a grand
I need a new Desktop PC and I want it to run well. First, what are good combinations of processor and memory? Intel's Ivy Bridge I7 processors look the best, and I'm guessing 10 gb of ram would suffice, or would it? I'm not buying an Apple, but HP? Compaq? Dell? What combination of processor/ram/brand would you recommend for a desktop somewhere around a thousand dollars? Thanks! [more inside]
Help an American to understand Indian satire
CricketFilter...or IndianHumorFilter: Help with decoding some Indian humor on a satire website, namely with acronyms? [more inside]
iTunes Viewing Options for a Table or Spreadsheet?
What Mac program should I use for a chart to keep track of my upcoming job applications? You know how in iTunes, you can see the same music library listed alphabetically by artist, or by album, or by genre, and so on? I'd like to be able to view the same bunch of jobs listed by deadline, or by ad number, or alphabetically by requirements. [more inside]
We Want to Hear About Your Anniversary Traditions!
What are your anniversary traditions? [more inside]
Where do they compile a list of interesting outlets?
Is there a web resource I don't know about for finding one-off or few-off outlet stores? [more inside]
How Can I Access a Youtube "Channel" Through an Apple TV?
Youtube has a politics hub where they are going to be live streaming the US presidential debates. Despite my Apple TV's (2nd gen, jailbroken) YouTube app, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to access a particular channel through it, short of using the dodgy jailbroken browser which tends to drop out. Am I missing something obvious?
Gmail Archive feature - it seems excellent and scary.
Will I regret aggressively using Gmail’s Archive function? [more inside]
How do I get my Apple wireless mouse to work?
How do I get my Apple wireless mouse to work? I was typing away on my iMac (18 months old, software up-to-date) when I got a message to change the batteries. I did. The batteries are new. Nothing. I tried another set of batteries. Still nothing. I've looked at all the forums and can't figure out what's wrong.
Any thoughts, please???
My refrigerator is buzzing loudly. I rent. What can I do?
The refrigerator in my apartment is buzzing loudly but otherwise works. I rent. What can I do about it? [more inside]
agape
Can the adjective "agape" be used only to modify "mouth" or can it be used to modify other things? Like ... "The jewelry box was now agape." That's maybe not the best example as perhaps you could think of a jewelry box as having a mouth. I'm aware that it's almost unheard of in common usage for anything but a mouth to be agape, but would it be incorrect to use this adjective on something else?
I NEED BREAD!
My SO has an issue maybe with gluten and maybe with just the processed flours...snowflake details inside... [more inside]
What should I ask my CVP?
I am a software developer at [a big software company]. In a few hours here, I've got a one-hour meeting with my retiring-this-month corporate vice president. We are both women in tech. What should I ask her? [more inside]
Customized weather alerts
Where can I get a customized weather alert? [more inside]
Am I going to be cheek to jowl with other family vacationers during Vacances de la Toussaint?
FranceFilter: Vacances de la Toussaint (fall midterm holidays) have what effect on traveling? Are trains, family-oriented sights, indoor pools, etc. packed, or is it mostly status quo? [more inside]
Jobs for an anxious introvert
Career suggestions for a recent grad with social problems? [more inside]
Help me help my brain learn how to scale up and down with precision in Adobe Illustrator.
If I scaled the artwork up by typing 173.95% into the scale dialog box in Adobe Illustrator, what percentage do I scale it down by in order to get it back to its original size. Is there a simple equation that will do this operation? [more inside]
Generals gathered in their masses...
"Rich man's war, poor man's fight" goes back to the US Civil War and illustrates how it's the poor who do most of the actual fighting in any conflict. What other catchy or classic phrases illustrate how careers involving legalized violence (military, police) frequently draw in the economically disadvantaged? [more inside]
Public Radio Fundraising Changeup
Our local public radio station has switched up their fundraising tactics for their fall fund drive, and I'm curious about the change. Anyone have any insider knowledge in public radio fundraising? [more inside]
What could be wrong with my hip/leg?
YANMD, I know, but my doctor hasn't been very helpful, so I figured I'd try asking the hivemind. [more inside]
£1000 for a sealed box?
So I've been watching a lot of buying/selling based reality TV lately and one thing has me curious: can people really make a living from buying abandoned storage units and selling on the contents? And how like the reality is the TV version? [more inside]
How does theft happen at the supermarket checkout?
How do supermarket employees steal from the store and/or customers at the checkout stand? [more inside]
Will He or Won't He?
My wonderful long-distance boyfriend and I have discussed him moving in with me and my kid. But I'm starting to wonder if it's really going to happen and I need some hivemind advice here. [more inside]
Adivce on significant change in working environment!
Advice wanted: I'm moving from being the "IT guy" in 4 man company to IT managment in a large ogranisation (60k+ employees). [more inside]
Kingsquest can be cool again.
I need a new quest or adventure, I'd rather like it to be focused on a particular event. I was temporarily obsessed with the idea of tour skating and the 11 cities tour, but it seems it hasn't happened since 1997 so locking in a multi-month preparation in 2012 seems a little optimistic. So I'm looking for other unusual events that I might be able to participate in, or locations where tour skating is still viable. [more inside]