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February 2012 Archives
February 29
What is the etiquette for contacting a former (short-term) supervisor about new job leads?
[more inside]posted by MsMartian at 11:52 PM PST - 4 comments
I love(d) Instapaper. I really did. But I like Readability even more. Unfortunately I have seventeen thousand articles saved in Instapaper. How can I export / import?
posted by GatorDavid at 10:05 PM PST - 4 comments 
A friend of mine is looking for a Buddhist-friendly out-patient alcohol rehab place in NYC. AA is out--he quit drinking for health reasons six months ago, but now the hospital requires a formal treatment program at a place that isn't anonymous. Any suggestions? Anyone with an opinion on
The Realization Center?
posted by J-Do at 9:54 PM PST - 4 comments
Need to build quick & dirty static website from scratch, with some audio, preferably wsiwyg. Is there a service that does what I need?
[more inside]posted by bitterkitten at 9:15 PM PST - 4 comments
My Google-Fu has failed me. Help me remember the name of an iPhone restaurant app that produced a clever single take demo video in front of a large pool.
[more inside]posted by beautifulstuff at 9:14 PM PST - 1 comments
I think I'm going to try to make a living out of graphic design. But I'm experiencing a lot of anxiety over this decision and doubting my abilities to succeed in the field. And other stuff. Please talk to me.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:50 PM PST - 11 comments
Can I go scuba diving with extreme fish allergies? So, I'm taking a scuba diving class in a pool, mostly to get over my deep water fears. Now I'm thinking about getting my open water certification but I had some concerns. I have extreme fish allergies. Meaning if a fish bites me, touches me, or stings me it could cause me to have an anaphylaxis reaction (trouble breathing). That all given, can I go diving without troubles? Will I need special gear?
posted by snow_mac at 8:11 PM PST - 18 comments
eBay transaction from hell has now screwed me as a seller after 12 successful years selling. It's not my primary source of income but something I really enjoy doing. I started selling when I quit drinking 12 years ago and it gave me a focus and helped me stay sober. Now what?
[more inside]posted by hrhcc at 7:49 PM PST - 55 comments
Is it possible to cash a life insurance check (for a large amount), without having a bank account? What if the person has outstanding student loan debt?
[more inside]posted by charlie22 at 7:43 PM PST - 11 comments
Help me bring sunshine into my new windowless office! I and my plants will be moving into a windowless office soon, and those SAD lights look so, so awful (also, I don't need that level of intensity). I thought I might just find some nice lamps and find special magical daylight bulbs for them. If I get very ambitious, I might make a rice-paper "window" fixture to put on the wall. What bulbs should I get? Do I need fluorescents or incandescents? What specs should I be looking for?
[more inside]posted by elizeh at 7:36 PM PST - 6 comments
I need a dead-simple static website to promote my real estate services and serve as a landing page for Google AdWords ads. Since I'm just getting started with my business, free is best. What are some good options?
[more inside]posted by iamisaid at 6:24 PM PST - 9 comments
A friend of mine has 20+ old arcade games in his basement. He has essentially set up a small arcade museum at his house. It's pretty sweet! The games are split between several circuits in the house but power is becoming a concern. These old electronics are sensitive to spikes and low voltages and we want to keep them running as long as possible - most of the circuit boards are not made and difficult to replace or repair. What should we consider for 110v line conditioning?
[more inside]posted by rwheindl at 5:55 PM PST - 6 comments
Taking children, ages 16, 15, and 10, to see Romeo & Juliet. Should I explain it to them first?
[more inside]posted by Flood at 5:54 PM PST - 22 comments
My poor, overworked, lonely, non-English-speaking immigrant mother is approaching 50. Her daily existence is a living hell. Short of winning the lottery, what can I do to improve her quality of life?
[more inside]posted by Nomyte at 5:45 PM PST - 23 comments
I have a final interview for a Project Manager position. This job is awesome. One of the questions they would like me to answer is "Why are you the best candidate for this position?". How do I blow them away with my answer? The role requires someone who is passionate about work and life, can juggle multiple projects, and can managed a range of different stakeholders. I can do all of this like nobody's business. But I am sure a lot of the other candidates can as well. How do I approach answering this question and winning this position?
posted by trinigirl at 5:28 PM PST - 5 comments
What's the best device (case, perhaps?) or method (common household item?) keep my ties and pocket squares in order in my suitcase when I travel?
[more inside]posted by Apropos of Something at 5:27 PM PST - 6 comments
Looking for a story identification about cybersex, strokes and intercontinental lag.
[more inside]posted by dragoon at 5:27 PM PST - 0 comments
I love peanut butter cookies. I love them when they are very peanutty, and slightly moist. I love them when they don't have peanut bits in them, or chocolate chips in them. (I love them when they do have peanut butter chips in them, but I have trouble finding peanut butter chips.)
[more inside]posted by jeather at 4:38 PM PST - 23 comments
I am way short on my estimated quarterly federal taxes this year, am freaking out, and need some honest insight into how much trouble I am in.
[more inside]posted by 4ster at 4:33 PM PST - 24 comments
I'm trying to choose between two programming jobs. One company is very, very unusual for its field, and the features which attract me to that company are rare or even unique within its field. I'm worried about how taking my first job there will limit me in terms of experience, stereotypes, and networking if/when I have to change jobs and/or fields. Are my fears valid?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 4:25 PM PST - 17 comments
I'm casually critical much of the time. I'd like to change that. I'd especially like to stop casually criticizing and reflexively disagreeing with loved ones.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 4:25 PM PST - 20 comments
25-year-old SoCal native looking to make the move to NYC. Writing background with freelance web/graphic design experience, would like to work in graphic/web design or creative direction. Kind of a unique situation (read on) - any advice is much appreciated. Should I do it?
[more inside]posted by shotinthedark at 3:56 PM PST - 6 comments
My dad's wife, a clinical psychologist, says he is paranoid and mistreating her. Um. Now what do I do?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 3:32 PM PST - 22 comments
Once a man has reached enlightenment, and finds the ultimate peace and bliss merely sitting in meditation, regardless of his surroundings, does he have motivation for leaving this position and doing anything at all in the world? See extended explanation...
[more inside]posted by mondotwistedmojo at 3:04 PM PST - 40 comments
Home buying: modern, super convenient, and soulless or old school charm without the conveniences and all the potential pitfalls?
[more inside]posted by whoaali at 2:45 PM PST - 9 comments
A guy just walked in and asked for a key to the men's room. I'm absolutely certain he's an actor of moderate fame (this is in a Hollywood office building where actors are in and out all the time, so it's nothing out of the ordinary), but I'm really bad with actors' names. Help me figure out who he was! Details inside.
[more inside]posted by katillathehun at 2:44 PM PST - 60 comments
What books and short stories would you use for a class trying to teach about science by reading science fiction?
[more inside]posted by straight at 2:20 PM PST - 16 comments
Your favorite Chicken Casseroles with real vegetables and no hash browns? What is in them? How much? Double points for links to recipes that you love. Please limit my need to think or experiement.
[more inside]posted by bilabial at 2:14 PM PST - 20 comments
Please help me explain why a racist joke is still racist. I have a (now ex-) friend who is still friends with some of my friends. He thinks it's okay to tell "jew jokes" because "jews are white like us so it's not racist". Never mind that I'm of mixed heritage (not "white like us"); though I don't believe I have any Jewish ancestry, I know quite a few of my friends do.
[more inside]posted by _paegan_ at 1:46 PM PST - 36 comments
Looking for a lesbian/bisexual lady bar in Chicago. I'm in my mid-20s and looking to meet other women.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:18 PM PST - 6 comments
I think i might have narcolepsy... Are there any drawbacks to getting checked and diagnosed?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:58 PM PST - 5 comments
Our web developer has left our department, and our email templates are suddenly breaking!
[more inside]posted by Sreiny at 12:58 PM PST - 3 comments
Our company receives numerous requests for sponsorships mainly from non profits. Since funds are tight and other projects are taking priority, we're looking to move away from further sponsorships, but need justification. Is there a way to measure efficacy of past sponsorships? Any reading on how to measure retroactively? Please keep in mind, past sponsorships have rarely been tracked. Does anyone have experience in this particular type of situation?
posted by paulinsanjuan at 12:04 PM PST - 9 comments
Why is the caulking coming off around my bathtub? Am I somehow showering wrong, as my property manager suggests?
[more inside]posted by Sternmeyer at 11:34 AM PST - 31 comments
In the last year, I've made unbelievable progress in my career and life. I'm unbelievably optimistic and excited about my future. My wife (who is super supportive) and I are about to have our first child, I make a great salary in a field I truly enjoy. And now that I'm not worried about the everything, it has finally become clear what I want...what I really want.
[more inside]posted by rickim at 11:30 AM PST - 14 comments
He ended it a couple of weeks ago and I have to see him tonight. Any suggestions/tactics on how to handle myself/this situation?
[more inside]posted by patientpatient at 11:16 AM PST - 60 comments
After scary "you may have breast cancer" tests over the last year and a winter of too much flu and allergy-induced misery, I need a long-weekend getaway to a beautiful, allergen-free or almost free retreat in our majestic country. For a very affordable price. I feel like I need physical and emotional healing and restoration on this trip. I like restorative (or Iyengar) yoga, organic food, massage, hikes/walks outside, swimming in warm water, etc. I want to be around DOWN TO EARTH, interesting (not spooky spiritual) healing people. In a lovely place. I can do a house swap or retreat swap and a barter thing - I have good massage therapy skills and license....and a charming place in a hip village in a cool-to-visit city with a lovely guest room to rent. Ideas?
[more inside]posted by sleeping beauty at 11:09 AM PST - 8 comments
I’m leaving Tucson, AZ tonight for a last minute solo road trip to San Francisco. I have 7-8 days to drive, so obviously I’ll be taking the scenic route. Where should I stop? What route should I take? What should I do? What should I eat?
[more inside]posted by skewed at 10:54 AM PST - 16 comments
Humans can supposedly sense acceleration. So what would piloting a spaceship in deep space feel like? General confusion about relativity inside.
[more inside]posted by parallellines at 10:38 AM PST - 29 comments
What is going on right now, that in fifty or a hundred years, people will be saying "damn, I wish I was part of that"?
[more inside]posted by jayder at 10:27 AM PST - 54 comments
Looking for a dystopian short story that made the rounds around half a year ago about intellectual property. It was (I believe) a father and daughter who go through emails and have to make micropayments for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, etc. Any thoughts? I may have seen it on MeFi or Boing Boing, and my google-fu is failing me.
posted by evadery at 10:01 AM PST - 5 comments
Very happy owner of Ipad2. But, inspired by
this AskMeFi, wondering if I should be eager to acquire the new Ipad3. What say you, well informed hive mind?
posted by bearwife at 9:32 AM PST - 18 comments
I've been waiting for the new iPad 3 but I've never bought an Apple product when it first comes out. What is the usual procedure? Can I pre-order online March 7 after the announcement so I get it the day it is released or will I be forced to stand in line the day it comes out? Standing in line may not be possible depending on work...
posted by TrickyLib at 9:25 AM PST - 8 comments
I see there's a jailbreak for iOS 5 that will work on my iPad2. However, I'm having no luck finding a good tutorial on how this process works. I have a lot of questions, and so far all the tutorials I have found are either "click the button and you are done" (I don't trust that!) or are geared for people who have jailbroken 100s of devices and assume a lot of prior knowledge that I don't have.
[more inside]posted by jcdill at 8:53 AM PST - 5 comments
I have major depression. My therapist is pushing for meds like crazy and I am kind of scared. Several general questions about antidepressants inside.
[more inside]posted by Tarumba at 8:24 AM PST - 46 comments
High School-esque Drama Filter! My friend recently told me that a friend of hers is interested in me. With my consent, she's arranged a group dinner on Friday and invited both of us along. There's no reason that this thing should faze me, but the amount of freaking out I'm doing right now is ridiculous. Help me calm down before I cancel out of sheer panic!
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:15 AM PST - 12 comments
I was recently married to the father of my child (almost 3) and I had serious trepidation before, assuming it was cold feet. Now I know I'm incredibly unhappy. I had cheated on him and had come clean. He wants to stay and work at it. Most of me wants to leave and have a co-parenting relationship with him, but I feel like it's unfair and selfish. Confused.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:55 AM PST - 22 comments
What laptop do I need for photo and video editing (and playing Minecraft at a higher framerate)?
[more inside]posted by msbrauer at 7:54 AM PST - 12 comments
[Asking for a colleague] Question about share classes in terms of equity held in a start-up they used to work for. Differences between Class P and Class B, and implications of conversion.
[more inside]posted by weaponsgradecarp at 7:50 AM PST - 6 comments
Hey Mefites! Please help me become more financially responsible. I don't think I live particularly extravagantly but I don't even know how to start budgeting. I live pretty much paycheck to paycheck. I feel really bad about this, and could do with some ideas about how to build up a money-tracking and budgeting plan from scratch.
[more inside]posted by Ziggy500 at 7:37 AM PST - 26 comments
Is it still possible to discover popular social bookmarks
by topic in the post-delicious age?
[more inside]posted by mateja at 7:34 AM PST - 6 comments
Basics of DIY spouts? I accidentally sprouted yellow peas while over soaking them for a craft with my son (pea and toothpicks to build structures) and popped a few in my mouth. Yum. So I have questions about the basics of sprouting.
[more inside]posted by beccaj at 7:31 AM PST - 8 comments
Can my landlord require that I add them to my renter's insurance when I renew my apartment lease? And is this normal? (Michigan, USA)
[more inside]posted by Vorteks at 6:42 AM PST - 7 comments
I don't technically live in the US anymore; I've sold my house, dropped my auto insurance, etc, and I need to figure out how to deal with my US bank accounts.
[more inside]posted by digitalprimate at 6:22 AM PST - 10 comments
Dramatic change in life has rock my foundation of self. I need to figure out who I am now that I lost my main identity. I’m in therapy to help with the change, but was wondering if there were any online (preferably) or offline workbooks, tests, or X activity that I can work through that will help me find myself? I’m at a lost.
[more inside]posted by bleucube at 5:23 AM PST - 7 comments
SuperMarioBrosFilter! Which version of Super Mario Bros. (I believe on Super Nintendo, could be wrong, though) had the feature where you could also play a quick two-player game of Mario Bros.?
[more inside]posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 5:01 AM PST - 8 comments
How do I buy an iPhone app for a friend in another country? also Travel & Veggie growing apps you can recommend would be very welcome.
[more inside]posted by Wilder at 3:30 AM PST - 1 comments
Credible academic books that look at psychology behind "UFO religions" or people that believe in ancient astronauts?
[more inside]posted by Cwell at 2:23 AM PST - 14 comments
Greek scholars: If an epithalamium is a poem "upon a bedchamber" what would a poem "upon wine" be? An epoinon (ἐποἶνον)? An epoinion (ἐποἶνιον)? An epoinios (ἐποἶνιος)? And how would you Latinize in a manner historically and stylistically concurrent to that of "epithalamium"?
Has no Greek poet ever written a poem "upon wine" before?
posted by punkbitch at 12:30 AM PST - 2 comments
February 28
What are the best blogs ABOUT WordPress? I'm especially interested in bloggers who specialize in sharing tips and tricks, etc. Plugins, widgets, tutorials, development... That sort of thing.
[more inside]posted by 2oh1 at 11:36 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm giving a talk next month at a professional meeting. While researching/preparing online, I've come across some Flash videos that I'd like to use in my presentation. Anybody know how I might go about recording them? Thanks
posted by BadgerDoctor at 10:13 PM PST - 7 comments
We are traveling in less than a week with our five-month old son to Austin, TX by plane from Philly. We are hoping to get general tips on traveling with a young baby, as well as some Austin-specific tips.
[more inside]posted by dancingfruitbat at 9:13 PM PST - 14 comments
I've watched almost all of Terry Jones's history documentaries--what next? What I like about them and what I'm looking for is mainly the humor (enthusiastic but lighthearted, not taking itself too seriously) and the element of looking at things from a different angle. Many of Jones's docs look at the lives of "regular people" in periods of history where most people are familiar with the rich and famous, and others look at civilizations that are overlooked. Sort of the way Mythbusters approaches science, and I'm also a large fan of QI. Recommendations? (I'm looking especially but not exclusively for history.)
posted by sarahkeebs at 8:48 PM PST - 14 comments
Phone died. Phone is also my alarm clock. Left my charger at work. How do I make my computer into a reliable alarm clock?
[more inside]posted by thebrokenmuse at 8:26 PM PST - 11 comments
Help me revel in the splendour of Canada. I'm looking for songs that reference Canadian provinces/territories by name.
[more inside]posted by kanata at 8:12 PM PST - 44 comments
Visiting El Paso for a (work)week, seeking interesting and worthwhile activities for the off-hours.
[more inside]posted by MimeticHaHa at 6:13 PM PST - 4 comments
I've lost interest in sex with my boyfriend, and find things increasingly uncomfortable in that department. What should I do?! I'm a 28 year old female, and have been in a long term committed relationship with my current boyfriend for about 3 years now. I'd been a virgin up until about 2 and ½ years ago. My upbringing was uneventful, and I've never had any traumatic experiences that I can recall involving sexuality, however I have always felt embarrassed about sex related things, which is why before my current boyfriend I always just made out with whoever I felt like.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:01 PM PST - 15 comments
Short film featuring stationary, miniature figurines in realistic landscapes?
[more inside]posted by Cortes at 5:11 PM PST - 4 comments
I asked a question awhile back about relocating to Denver. Mr. Anonnymoose and I just booked our reconnaissance trip for this weekend! Looking for current suggestions for a two-day itinerary.
[more inside]posted by anonnymoose at 4:27 PM PST - 11 comments
I'm looking for walking tours of Atlanta available as CDs or (ideally) as MP3s that I can stick on my iPod. So far, I have only been able to find these
two driving tours, but I'd really like to find a walking tour. Anyone know of anything available, either for free or for purchase?
posted by arnicae at 4:08 PM PST - 3 comments
What do I need to do to make sure all my affairs are in order in case I die? I have no kids and don't own property.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 3:59 PM PST - 19 comments
What small details on a person or surroundings would indicate a person's personality / job / background?
[more inside]posted by SRMorris at 3:29 PM PST - 19 comments
When a sentence includes a date (month, day, and year), is it always proper to set off the year with commas?
[more inside]posted by southern_sky at 3:26 PM PST - 9 comments
My cats "played" with a bat in our house that was either sick or hurt. They're up to date on all shots including rabies. Is this a cause for concern?
[more inside]posted by OnTheLastCastle at 2:50 PM PST - 17 comments
Took my dog to the vet today, she is part lab/retriever, 5 years old. She has always been stocky and wide, her height is 20" at her back, she weighs 66 pounds. Vet recommended I put her on a diet, she suggested to cut back on her food daily.
[more inside]posted by just asking at 2:41 PM PST - 22 comments
I'm dressing a baby up as Nyan Cat - where can I buy a pink shirt with darker pink dots in an infant size?
[more inside]posted by mirirose at 2:35 PM PST - 8 comments
Is there a name for the type of argument style where the other person simply repeats back the accusation to you, for example: "I think you are being aggressive", reply: "No, You're being aggressive", or "You're being silly" reply: "No, you're being silly" and so on and so forth? How does one overcome this type of reply whilst exerting your strongly held opinion?
posted by bootlaces at 2:05 PM PST - 26 comments
How can I arrange action to be taken against a mentally ill woman who is harassing my family?
[more inside]posted by v.barboni at 1:55 PM PST - 9 comments
What is the best place to go for a new computer science graduate in mobile development? General advice?
[more inside]posted by nathanm at 1:51 PM PST - 4 comments
Can anyone suggest a great bridal seamstress in the NYC area that can do a wedding dress from scratch using a picture as reference? Adding difficulty, this would need to be done for less than ~$1000, and the wedding is May 6, so it would have to be done (with fittings, etc.) before that.
[more inside]posted by daisyace at 1:34 PM PST - 3 comments
I've been hired for a development position in an institution of higher ed. I've been told by my supervisor that a lot of staff and faculty are not very happy with my hiring. I start Monday. I need advice.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:12 PM PST - 15 comments
Does anyone know of a truly unscented hand lotion? Not "fragrance free" or what's typically sold as unscented (no scent added, but the ingredients still smell), but a lotion with
literally no scent?
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 12:45 PM PST - 26 comments
question about immigration related name changes, also immigration k1 visa related- details inside
[more inside]posted by saraindc at 12:36 PM PST - 6 comments
What is the name of the classical piece played in the background of the Act one segment
here? I know I've heard it before.
posted by nickhb at 12:29 PM PST - 6 comments
I train in a martial art at a place with an active competitive team, which I am trying to join. The other person there who is my size/skill level and on the competitive team goes very hard with me in sparring and always leaves me injured/bruised to a greater degree than any other student. How can I work around this situation or have a mature and productive confrontation about it, given that I still want to compete so I cannot avoid working with this person 100%?
[more inside]posted by zdravo at 12:24 PM PST - 33 comments
I would like a thing (greasemonkey script, add-on, bookmarklet, etc) which will let me easily add events to my Google calendar from within Firefox.
[more inside]posted by bluefly at 12:18 PM PST - 3 comments
Please share with me your favorite simple and healthy recipes for my picky sister with self-imposed dietary restrictions.
[more inside]posted by onhazier at 12:11 PM PST - 14 comments
I'm considering purchasing a Kindle DX, but the current version is two years old and two hardware generations behind the regular Kindle. Is there functionality in the newer versions of the regular Kindle that I would miss when using the Kindle DX? Is it likely to be replaced or discontinued in the near future? Is there anything else that I should know about before buying a Kindle DX?
posted by theclaw at 12:07 PM PST - 14 comments
What is the actual timeline for interviews, notifications, etc. for the SES selection process in US government employment?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:04 PM PST - 3 comments
What are some good compendia of recipes that contain meat, but are mostly beans or legumes?
[more inside]posted by KathrynT at 11:42 AM PST - 18 comments
I've got an Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 and a 32GB microSD card. The contents of the card don't appear to be accessible to the device, though it's a bit more complicated than that...
[more inside]posted by Pope Guilty at 11:33 AM PST - 4 comments
Why are certain Netflix shows jittery on certain devices, while other combinations of devices/shows are not?
[more inside]posted by kosmonaut at 11:11 AM PST - 7 comments
What should I do in Seattle with kids aged 1 and 4 next week? Staying downtown near the Convention Center. I will have a car.
[more inside]posted by carpographer at 11:00 AM PST - 18 comments
Are there any satirical documentaries relating to religion like
Kumare? I know there was a popular series on Atheism on BBC and several others like Religulous, The Root of All Evil, etc., and I am curious if there are others which, instead of taking a serious note on educating us what atheism/religion means, evoke laughter throughout dealing on these subjects?
posted by godugu at 10:42 AM PST - 7 comments
Lifelong asthmatic, and at age 36 I now have osteoarthritis in the knee due to sports injuries (meniscus is frakked). Realizing now that NSAIDs aggravate my asthma...what other options do I have for relieving the pain & inflammation with minimal side-effects?
[more inside]posted by wutangclan at 9:57 AM PST - 24 comments
In the spirit of "rectum, damn near killed 'em!", what are other words that can be followed with a joke/punchline?
[more inside]posted by neilkod at 9:33 AM PST - 98 comments
First-time cat owner. Adopted a 7-month-old kitten from the local Humane Society. The only problem we’ve had is that she’s not real sure about her litter box.
[more inside]posted by rbf1138 at 8:49 AM PST - 32 comments
I'm concerned my rather long notice period at work (3 months, UK) will harm my chances for finding new work. Should I quit before finding a new job and hope for the best?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:46 AM PST - 9 comments
Please recommend good books that discuss the theory of food taste and design—analyzing flavors and textures, figuring out pairings, that sort of thing. Either savory or dessert-centered would be fine.
[more inside]posted by Bardolph at 8:39 AM PST - 11 comments
Is it a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea to try ecstasy if I have a history of depression?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:28 AM PST - 42 comments
I'm trying to add drawers to my inconveniently deep kitchen cabinets. After hours of searching online, I finally found some that matched my desired dimensions, and look sturdy.
[more inside]posted by purpletangerine at 7:33 AM PST - 6 comments
Please recommend a good home inspector in the Boston area.
posted by Behemoth at 7:13 AM PST - 5 comments
Looking for success stories of older PhD students (mid to late 40s) who succeeded. Particularly interested in personal experience of was the pain worth it. Similar to
this, but I already decided to jump in with both feet. More details inside.
[more inside]posted by bmorrison at 7:07 AM PST - 11 comments
If I have a click-type torque wrench (the sort that has a clutch so it clicks over when I get to the requisite torque) connected up to a straight socket, I can set the wrench for the desired level of torque and that's what gets delivered to the bolt when the clutch clicks over. What if I've got my torque wrench connected up to an offset crowfoot socket that's on my bolt? The offset presumably creates some leverage, so I'm delivering a slightly different torque force to the actual bolt than with a straight socket. How can I calculate this difference and figure out what the actual torque is on the bolt?
[more inside]posted by rmd1023 at 6:56 AM PST - 6 comments
I have lost my faith in full-time fundraising and would like to transition out of it. Here are some ways I have figured out doing this. Help me pick one?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:51 AM PST - 1 comments
I'm looking for an affordable mattress type for upper back and neck pain. I'm a bit clueless regarding types of mattresses.
[more inside]posted by svenni at 6:09 AM PST - 10 comments
We just got a new mattress to replace our king-sized memory foam mattress. I bought the old mattress a little too cheaply, and its not suited for further use on a bed. What are some creative ways to reuse the foam?
[more inside]posted by Kronur at 5:35 AM PST - 6 comments
After a one and a half year period of celibacy and a general holiday from romance I am starting to see someone I really like. Can you help me deal with a whole lot of anxiety and needyness surrounding this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:22 AM PST - 7 comments
I'm looking for ideas for activities to do during a pub quiz/activities evening for ESL/EFL adult students. In addition to having "what's that film?" or "name that tune" rounds, what else can we *do* that would challenge them to use more English, be competitive, and have a great time? This is in Poland, by the way.
[more inside]posted by mdonley at 5:17 AM PST - 5 comments
What is this (vintage luxury limousine)
car? We're guessing Rolls or Bentley; would be ideal to find out exact model and year.
posted by progosk at 4:22 AM PST - 6 comments
Gmail just asked me if I wanted to import all my mail from another email account of mine. How can I figure out if I've ever told Gmail I own this account? Or is this just google being creepy as hell again?
[more inside]posted by Diablevert at 3:39 AM PST - 5 comments
I dyed my hair red. Now I'm wondering if the instructions for redying/touch-ups are really correct, even for dye that has faded very quickly.
[more inside]posted by lollusc at 2:51 AM PST - 17 comments
Do cooking oils containing polyunsaturated fats peroxidize or go rancid before the smoke point? Common advice says that the smoke point is when cooking oils go bad, but sites like
and other websites for saturated fat and against polyunsaturated fat imply that free radicals are formed from sitting on the shelf in a clear bottle, heating it to less than the smoke point, and the refining process(which heats the oil). What exactly is the truth here?
posted by vash at 2:35 AM PST - 10 comments
An appeal to the tiny minority of Mefites who are Aussies: I'm taking my kids to Sydney this weekend. We're going to the Harry Potter exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum on Saturday afternoon. What else can we see/do while we're in Sydney?
[more inside]posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:27 AM PST - 16 comments
If I'd like to attend an event that starts at 7:30pm at The Met in New York on Wednesday, is a flight that's scheduled to arrive in LaGuardia at 4:35 likely to make me late?
[more inside]posted by weston at 12:11 AM PST - 25 comments
February 27
Name that Latin, Greek, or Italian poem... Can you identify this poem from my senile grandfather's sparse details?
[more inside]posted by BusyBusyBusy at 11:36 PM PST - 7 comments
What are the most successful Kickstarter projects, but success defined by the project goals, and not fundraising?
[more inside]posted by meowzilla at 10:34 PM PST - 5 comments
I have a blog that used to have some readership. I think I got people interested mostly by participating in food blog events (where someone hosts on their blog, names a theme, and then everyone makes something, blogs about it, and gets a link in the event post. There are so many of these that there are even blogs that aggregate all the food blog events). Then I had to move my blog and lost most of my visitors. Also I now post a lot more art/craft content than food. I assumed there would be similar things for my new topics, but I just can't find them. Do you know of any recurring art/craft blog events with open participation, or any websites that catalog such things?
posted by lgyre at 8:52 PM PST - 4 comments
My cat is old and is used to being the queen of the house. But my roommate is about to introduce her old cat to the house, and I'm concerned. What steps do I need to take to minimize problems and stress?
[more inside]posted by soonertbone at 8:40 PM PST - 8 comments
How can I learn how to efficiently manage eBay sales of large amounts of stuff?
[more inside]posted by diode at 7:52 PM PST - 4 comments
COBRAfilter: Do I make the check for the plan payment out to the health insurance company, or to my former employer? The info packet former employer gave me is woefully shoddily written and leaves out key details like that. I've never enrolled in COBRA before, so not sure what to do. Check is due by Thursday. HR at former company notoriously difficult to actually track down via email or phone to get an answer.
posted by thereemix at 7:35 PM PST - 17 comments
PharmacologyFilter: Realistically, can I take a small dose of dextromethorphan (cough suppressant) with my MAOI and not risk serotonin syndrome?
[more inside]posted by kitcat at 7:24 PM PST - 18 comments
What are some ways to accurately measure the volume of very small amounts of liquid without complex equipment?
[more inside]posted by WhitenoisE at 7:02 PM PST - 26 comments
Being the receiver in one-sided relationships and how best to handle that. Are there things I can do to balance it out? Make it less selfish and more friendly?
[more inside]posted by mossicle at 6:50 PM PST - 15 comments
There is no way to ask this question that doesn't make the person whose behavior I'm trying to figure out sound like a horrifying human being, which is problematic because that's not really what I think. I'm going to try to keep this simple, but bear with me, because I bet it will get complicated really fast, mostly because I'm going to be compelled to use examples.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:44 PM PST - 22 comments
Which ski resorts in Eastern Austria would one recommend? It seems the majority of recommended Austrian ski resorts are on the Western side of the country. However, we're traveling by car from Budapest, and in our wish to keep the drive under four hours, wish to stick with Eastern Austria. Flying is not an option. Also, with English-instruction on learning how to snowboard would be a plus. One of us is very well versed with skiing resources in France, but when it comes to Austria we are clueless!
[more inside]posted by peachtree at 6:14 PM PST - 2 comments
My father died recently. We're mostly past the grieving stage and into the dealing-with-his-lack-of-money stage. My mother has apparently been driving herself insane trying to figure this out. I just found out about it, and would like as much info, pointers, or anecdotes as possible so I can keep her stressfree. Details inside.
[more inside]posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 5:43 PM PST - 20 comments
I'm looking for good examples of experiments that have been set up where "art" has been put somewhere unexpected, and then had people's responses tested. I tried googling phrases like "can people appreciate art out of context?" but came up blank. Famous artworks in diners? Famous authors failing to get books published under pseudonyms? And what about the other way around — when have the art community been duped into accepting duds?
[more inside]posted by omnigut at 5:35 PM PST - 21 comments
Tell me your stories about/examples of people that either started college later in life (after 21) or returned to college after dropping out, and went on to become famous or wildly successful (or both!) in academia or their chosen careers.
[more inside]posted by Seiten Taisei at 5:13 PM PST - 16 comments
Remember that book you read at exactly the right time in your life? Looking for recommendations for books for a young man 17/18 years old.
[more inside]posted by Morrigan at 5:10 PM PST - 65 comments
What amount of my income can I claim as tithed/donated without having to have receipts or a paper trail?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 4:56 PM PST - 8 comments
Unfortunately
this situation got far, far worse. I'm exploring ideas about how to respond. Extremely long but worthwhile, likely the most shocking thing you've heard a "doctor" do.
[more inside]posted by R2WeTwo at 4:44 PM PST - 23 comments
Ecommerce starting out -
1. Can anyone suggest the best way to do a highly custom ecommerce web site?
2. I know there is Drupal, but haven't really seen any example Drupal sites that impress me. Is it possible to build a "from scratch" custom web site and still integrate ecommerce?
Thanks so much for your help and opinions!
[more inside]posted by kmurray24 at 4:28 PM PST - 5 comments
Is it true that Matthew Sweet's
Girlfriend album was rescued from the trash and/or "discovered" by a record label administrative assistant?
[more inside]posted by AgentRocket at 3:34 PM PST - 7 comments
Where did Google's advanced search feature disappear to this time, and why do they keep moving it around? Is there any way I can edit my settings so that it's always in a nice visible place?
[more inside]posted by codacorolla at 3:27 PM PST - 5 comments
If I could punch myself, I would. Clicked too fast and our beautifully organized Windows Live Photo Gallery has been emptied into Picasa. DO NOT WANT!!! Is there a site out there that will walk me through zeroing out and disabling Picasa and getting my old setup restored?
[more inside]posted by clever sheep at 3:12 PM PST - 5 comments
Recommendations for nonfiction books on women in Islamic cultures. Bonus points for books that touch on queer, feminist, or disability studies themes.
[more inside]posted by Lieber Frau at 3:06 PM PST - 25 comments
Will I have to undergo a credit check in order to form an LLC and open a business checking account for that company?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 3:02 PM PST - 11 comments
After some recent immersion in learning Spanish, watching Spanish films and going to Spanish conversation Meetups, I have realised I might want to have a go at teaching English as a Second Language in either Barcelona or Madrid. I have a few questions about the feasability of this at my age (42) given that the Spanish economy is not in great shape and my resume has a massive hole in it.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:31 PM PST - 1 comments
(I know this will end up being quite lengthy), but the main question is to ask for some advice on how to reduce the amount of saturated fat in my diet.
[more inside]posted by sockpim at 2:29 PM PST - 18 comments
Where can I send a letter to brilliantly underrated science fiction and fantasy author Jack Vance?
[more inside]posted by Avenger50 at 2:22 PM PST - 10 comments
Myopia: Is focusing on web browser text on a LCD screen about 8 feet away from me making things better or worse?
[more inside]posted by Diag at 1:49 PM PST - 3 comments
Is it illegal to post photos of children on the Internet without both their parent's permission?
[more inside]posted by doomtop at 1:39 PM PST - 32 comments
I'm thinking of selling most of my books. Have you done something similar? Do you regret it?
[more inside]posted by Paquda at 1:36 PM PST - 41 comments
What are the best resources and online communities focused around WWII veteran research?
[more inside]posted by aheckler at 1:27 PM PST - 6 comments
Scare me please!
I am looking for the scariest book out there. I have read most of Stephen King, The Exorcist, etc. But i want to find something new that will frighten me even more than the evening news...
posted by keep it tight at 1:14 PM PST - 55 comments
Let's say, hypothetically, I downloaded an old TV episode via a filesharing site or bittorrent. Could it be traced to me if I download it from a public access point?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:05 PM PST - 9 comments
Ancient Rome filter! Any good ideas for a short activity based on: the fall of Rome, Roman Britain, and/or Rome's impacts in the modern world?
[more inside]posted by jetlagaddict at 12:56 PM PST - 8 comments
Help! I need to scan these watercolors ASAP and this damn thing's not working. I'm using an HP Photosmart 4400 and a Mac.
[more inside]posted by CrazyLemonade at 12:13 PM PST - 9 comments
Help me find resources for elementary age children regarding the modern Native American experience.
[more inside]posted by RajahKing at 12:04 PM PST - 13 comments
Our school is being asked to remove the stage curtains to comply with fire codes, since we do not have documentation proving they are fire safe. Rather than buy new curtains (gulp), is there a way to send a piece of the fabric out for testing and to get back the necessary fire code certification? I'm in MA, if that matters. Thanks!
[more inside]posted by Jim Biancolo at 11:53 AM PST - 5 comments
I want to download an entire website to my computer for off-line viewing. I'm using OS X 10.6.8 with Firefox, but I'm fine with Chrome or Safari. I've studied the offerings on Google and CNet like SiteSucker, WebDevil, WebCopier, Getleft, etc. I'd prefer a free download since I plan to use it only once. A browser feature or add on would be great. Before I decide I'd like to know of other's experience with this task in hopes of avoiding pitfalls. Thanks.
posted by partner at 11:48 AM PST - 7 comments
Ageism in the workplace: I'm in my late fifties and need to hear some inspiring stories of people who have successfully changed careers in late mid life (or should that be just before getting a seniors card)
posted by sparkle55 at 11:40 AM PST - 2 comments
How do I get a new job? What kind of jobs do I even qualify for? How do I get over the fact that I didn't graduate from college and present a more confident self to potential employers?
[more inside]posted by krakenattack at 11:25 AM PST - 11 comments
Looking for a Hunter S Thompson story/column/allegory(?) about shooting a wolf. Little help?
[more inside]posted by elr at 11:25 AM PST - 1 comments
Where could I find very short (2-3 paragraph) interesting stories or anecdotes in the public domain that could be recorded for an informational video?
[more inside]posted by mimo at 11:03 AM PST - 3 comments
Any suggestions for jewelery stores in the NYC area that have unusual wedding bands? The Clay Pot in Brooklyn is a perfect example of what we're looking for. Also maybe interested in vintage. Where should we go? Thanks!
posted by SampleSize at 10:47 AM PST - 11 comments
FirstDateFilter, Tokyo Edition: I've been out of the dating game for some time and am looking for some creative afternoon date ideas in Tokyo. (I could also use any general first-date wisdom to help me regain a little bit of my dating confidence.)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:44 AM PST - 8 comments
A friend of mine was looking for a job. I knew that the company I work for was looking for someone in his field, so I offered to forward on his resumé to a recruiter and some of my contacts. What do I do if he doesn't get hired?
[more inside]posted by deathpanels at 10:43 AM PST - 16 comments
How do I learn to smile naturally, on command? I've started a performance art and need to be able to smile on command without it looking forced. Exercises, tricks, and explanations of
how to "smile with your eyes" are all welcome! (Previous questions about smiling revolve around smiling in everyday life, which isn't exactly what I need.)
posted by philosophygeek at 10:01 AM PST - 13 comments
What other types of scratchy things can I give to my cat? How can I train her (an infrequent scratcher) to use it?
[more inside]posted by freshwater at 9:15 AM PST - 13 comments
We were at the local watering hole this weekend and one of the servers brought us a comment card that a customer had filled out. In the comment area, the customer put "This place is pie chops!!!"
No one could figure out what this could possibly mean. Any ideas? We tried googling the full phrase and just pie chops, but came up empty. The customer seemed happy so we assumed it was a compliment.
posted by jshort at 9:15 AM PST - 11 comments
How on earth do I pick a camping stove when I have no idea what the hell I'm even looking at? Requested features inside.
[more inside]posted by sperose at 8:57 AM PST - 15 comments
How can I stick to eating healthy and exercising in a household full of sedentary people who practically live off junk food?
[more inside]posted by never nice at 8:42 AM PST - 27 comments
Relatively new Canon dSLR owner planning a trip to some Really Beautiful Places. Looking to invest in a lens that will help me take some amazing shots while I'm there as well as on future adventures.
[more inside]posted by bondcliff at 8:41 AM PST - 17 comments
Which areas of law practice might be attractive to a JD who wants to use her smarts plus a strong sense of empathy and a warm personality in her future work?
posted by Hellebore at 8:30 AM PST - 20 comments
Trying to decide on possible merits of choosing Alaska v. Hawaiian Air for flight from Portland to Honolulu...
[more inside]posted by docpops at 7:51 AM PST - 5 comments
Attention cheese, butter and cider-lovers: Where to go in Brittany or Normandy?
[more inside]posted by Liesl at 7:41 AM PST - 5 comments
Microsoft Word with chapters and numbered subsections: I was a good boy and wrote my dissertation draft with well-organized hierarchical headings. Now that I am going back to fine-tune the format, the numbering has gone completely haywire, the spacing is off, and I am literally pulling out my hair trying to fix it. I don't even know where to look for help.
[more inside]posted by imposster at 6:57 AM PST - 16 comments
Do you have Polymorphic Light Eruption (PMLE), where your skin breaks into an itchy rash at least once a year when you're out in the sun? How do you deal with it?
[more inside]posted by Viola at 6:31 AM PST - 7 comments
I'm an American in Bangalore. Tomorrow, major unions have called for a nationwide bandh (strike). I'm having a major personal crisis about what to do. Listen, I know this isn't my country. And it's not my strike. But I'm very, very, very uneasy about what role I should be playing.
[more inside]posted by TheNewWazoo at 5:39 AM PST - 29 comments
I need help finding uptempo contemporary/progressive bluegrass tracks for my running playlist.
[more inside]posted by drlith at 5:18 AM PST - 10 comments
An issue of Q Magazine in 1994 or 1995 came with a cassette tape called
The Greatest Driving Songs or something like that. I played the tape constantly while driving my first car, but the tape has been gone for over a decade now. I can't recall all the tracks which were on it.
[more inside]posted by Harald74 at 4:47 AM PST - 9 comments
Is there an online RSS feed reader, with a Readability-like feature, that takes me straight to formatted text when I click on a news item? No extra clicks on readability or instapaper buttons please.
[more inside]posted by Juso No Thankyou at 3:35 AM PST - 4 comments
Help me remember a young adult novel I read as a kid. The main character was a teenage girl and there was an upsetting incident involving a kitten and a doormat.
[more inside]posted by embrangled at 2:36 AM PST - 3 comments
February 26
When a person with schizophrenia plays several different radios tuned to different stations at once, as
Roky Erickson did in the documentary about him, how does it affect them? Is it soothing?
Independent of how a person with schizophrenia may feel about this practice, is it considered helpful or therapeutic by medical professionals?
Finally, how common is this practice among people with schizophrenia?
posted by ignignokt at 11:52 PM PST - 6 comments
So...I'm thinking my Mac has a virus. I have a Mac OS X 10.5.8. I keep running out of hard drive space and deleting files constantly, so I got Disk Inventory X to see where my space is. Turns out there is 20 GB of 130,000 text files on my computer in a hidden file marked "private". I can't see this "private" folder from the file manager...only from Disk Inventory X. What do I do?
[more inside]posted by HylandErickson at 9:26 PM PST - 9 comments
Should I lease a car in order to lower my monthly car payment and have an extra $100 a month or suck it up and pay off my car in three years?
A local lease special I qualify for would have my paying approx $200/month to lease a sedan which I neither love nor hate. I know leasing is not a great long-term financial plan, but would trading in my current car for a lease to have a little breathing room be worth it in the short term? My current car I've had for two years and it's "right side up" by about $1500. My payment is $330 with a 3.5% rate (In November I refinanced down from 7%). I like this car a lot. Aside from some dings, it's in good shape. Runs well; loan is up in 3 years.
*Snowflake stuff inside*
[more inside]posted by ShadePlant at 8:40 PM PST - 20 comments
Can someone tell me what the Weight Not diet program consists of? It's mostly to satisfy curiosity.
[more inside]posted by PussKillian at 6:56 PM PST - 6 comments
What does a candidate having a research program "that complements the department's existing strengths" really mean in a job announcement?
[more inside]posted by SandiBeech at 6:47 PM PST - 14 comments
My girlfriend and I recently spent several hours in our typical U.S. city looking for some new pants for myself, an adult male. Almost none of them fit. I wear a 34" waist (36" was always way too big) and a 34" inseam, but in most of the pants my abdomen showed upward-pointing "smile lines." From looking at some sewing blogs, it looks like this means the crotch is cut too high. My girlfriend says I have a "perky" rear end, so some of the pants were giving me wedgies too, especially the ones made from thinner fabrics. After trying on lots of pants at Nordstrom Rack, Gap, J. Crew, and Banana Republic, we were only able to find a few pairs that actually fit (a pair of khakis at J. Crew, dressier slacks at Banana Republic, and a pair of Levi's 505 straight fit corduroys). I couldn't find any jeans that would fit me at all, but maybe I can find somewhere with 505 jeans.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:40 PM PST - 23 comments
Should I agree with my wife to spend $1000 or more to recover an external hard drive?
[more inside]posted by ljs30 at 6:07 PM PST - 35 comments
So I completely understand that prices of stocks, like anything in a market, arise from supply and demand. But at the end of the day, why does demand for a stock increase when a company's earnings increase? How does holding the stock of a company whose earnings have increased since purchase benefit a stockholder? It can't
purely be that I care about earnings because I know everyone else cares about earnings because they know everyone else cares about earnings... can it? What is the ultimate source of this caring about earnings? If dividends were more common, I could understand all this as a jockeying for a good deal on a dividend. But as it is, it sounds no different than betting on a never-ending horse race with earnings arbitrarily picked as the indicator of which horse is in the lead.
posted by the jam at 5:47 PM PST - 24 comments
My parents are getting older and I'm thinking of ways to help them out. Can you share some gadgets/lifehacks/changes in way of life that might have helped out your older parents?
[more inside]posted by althanis at 5:13 PM PST - 18 comments
I need to create memorial page in an elementary yearbook for a student who passed away. What are some ideas to make it as meaningful and tactful as possible?
[more inside]posted by texas_blissful at 5:12 PM PST - 8 comments
I really don't want to end up alone. What can I start doing to break this generational cycle?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:05 PM PST - 13 comments
Calling all artists: which paint should I use for vintage-style lettering on leather and treated canvas?
[more inside]posted by aquafortis at 4:41 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm looking for (on behalf of my friend) for
this butterfly pendant. He got this 2 years ago, but when he went back recently to the departmental store where he got it, he was told they didn't carry it anymore. Would anyone happen to know where he can find another one exactly like it? I (and my friend) thank you in advance!
posted by titantoppler at 4:39 PM PST - 2 comments
What do I need to know to evaluate a termite problem, and how do I find it out? What else should I look for when inspecting a early 1800s wood frame house?
[more inside]posted by sepviva at 4:17 PM PST - 7 comments
In my house, we have three macbooks and one external hard drive full of media. Please help me figure out a system for sharing the hard drive, setting up a media server, and wireless backup.
[more inside]posted by Nickel at 3:00 PM PST - 9 comments
My long term relationship has ended. It was so long overdue. Even still it didn't happen the way I would have hoped. My partner raged at me for hours over who knows what. It wasn't the first time. Things turned physical and it was the ugliest scariest situation I can remember experiencing.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:39 PM PST - 18 comments
Living abroad and job searching in the USA (CA Bay Area, to be specific): what job-listing websites should I be browsing regularly, or where else should I look online to find job postings?
[more inside]posted by dahliachewswell at 2:32 PM PST - 6 comments
Renter's Remorse Filter. I moved into a new place and I cannot stand it (upstairs neighbor sounds like an elephant, asinine condo regulations, horrible parking, etc.) Is there a countdown timer utility (Mac OS 10.6) or email service that I can use to count down the weeks I have left to live here? Ideally, I would like to receive an email at the end of every week, saying I have X number of weeks left.
posted by invisible ink at 1:59 PM PST - 4 comments
Please help me come up with a clever name for my 9 year old's geology-related web site which will feature his gem and mineral collection. THANKS!
posted by punkfloyd at 1:47 PM PST - 11 comments
What effect do my Ask MetaFilter searches on behalf of others have on data miners' sense of who I am?
[more inside]posted by MonkeyToes at 1:43 PM PST - 9 comments
I have a rather...sticky situation happening in the bathroom regarding poop and my new toilet. Please help before I die of embarassment!
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:13 PM PST - 33 comments
I'm looking for suggestions for science fiction/fantasy/fairy-tales/etc. for young(ish) girls. I'm especially interested in epic stories that are similar to the ones I devoured when I was that age (Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, superhero comics, Dragonlance, etc.), but which are centered on female protagonists and which don't reinforce sexist social messaging about female passivity or objectification.
[more inside]posted by gerryblog at 11:35 AM PST - 48 comments
1. What is the plot size of a typical bungalow and a 2-storey house in Toronto? I am trying to be knowledgeable about this so I can compare different houses on the MLS site.
[more inside]posted by musicgold at 10:42 AM PST - 9 comments
What rights does a 16 year old in Texas have regarding pursuing her own health-care, specifically mental health?
[more inside]posted by MuChao at 10:35 AM PST - 6 comments
Asking for a friend: where can I get a clean recording of the NYC subway "door closing" chime? Ideally it would be something better than just a field recording with background noise etc. The cleaner the better!
posted by hermitosis at 10:05 AM PST - 6 comments
WorkoutFilter: More Bruce Lee, less Schwarzenegger. More Pacquiao, less Tyson. How can I get strong without getting big?
[more inside]posted by damo at 9:54 AM PST - 17 comments
I own two monitors with twine inputs - HDMI and VGA. Why can't I find a graphics card with twin HDMI outputs? Are HDMI connections inferior? Or expensive? Or uncommon? Or splittable like USB? Or...?
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 9:06 AM PST - 10 comments
What's the "correct" way to compare yourself to other people on the questions commonly found on job applications?
[more inside]posted by Pericardium at 8:41 AM PST - 3 comments
What is the best comprehensive Spanish grammar text in a single volume? What other books are indispensable for self-teaching Spanish?
[more inside]posted by edguardo at 7:49 AM PST - 8 comments
Please hope me prepare for pregnancy this year. 36 years old, 40lbs overweight. I know I need to lose weight, but I'd also like to start trying sooner rather than later because of my age. I know there are no quick fixes, but I still want one.
[more inside]posted by heffalump at 7:10 AM PST - 36 comments
UK tenant adivce-filter: Stuck with a "dangerous" boiler that perhaps isn't, between estate agents, mistrusting landlord and two different gas/heating companies. How do we keep ourselves safe (and warm)?
[more inside]posted by menialjoy at 5:02 AM PST - 9 comments
My last name got attached to a blog post. I asked my friend to delete it. She did, but the blog post still shows up in Google with my full name attached. What is going on?
[more inside]posted by colfax at 2:18 AM PST - 10 comments
I am a caucasian male, who has always been very attracted to asian girls. Specifically Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese. I am a member of the regular dating sites okcupid, eharmony and chemistry, but I am not having a lot of luck finding my true love. Any tips?
[more inside]posted by digividal at 1:54 AM PST - 37 comments
Follow up to
this question… I'm going to have my CELTA in two weeks and want to teach English in a Spanish speaking country…where should I go?
[more inside]posted by saul wright at 12:46 AM PST - 3 comments
February 25
Previously happy work environment has started to show signs of toxicity. I loved my job until recent weeks. Is it time to look to getting out now or can this be salvaged?
[more inside]posted by houndsoflove at 9:57 PM PST - 18 comments
Should I even bother looking for a car at a dealership? If so, how can I tell which dealerships will try to rip me off?
[more inside]posted by rebent at 7:13 PM PST - 19 comments
I would like to create an online troubleshooting "tree" in which users needing tech support get directed to different pages with further suggestions and questions depending on their answers to earlier questions, similar to (but hopefully more useful than) the Microsoft Windows troubleshooter. If they are unable to resolve the problem themselves, I would like to be sent an email or for a ticket or spreadsheet row to be created with the answers they provided.
[more inside]posted by espertus at 7:01 PM PST - 9 comments
My almost six-year-old son has fallen in love with the
Step In Time (youtube) ensemble dance scene from Mary Poppins. What other movies should we get for him? Remember, he's not quite six years old.
[more inside]posted by alms at 6:35 PM PST - 25 comments
Help me find some quality books that would be easy reads for my 15-year old female cousin.
[more inside]posted by JannaK at 5:42 PM PST - 29 comments
When riding in the passenger seat in a car on the freeway, do the trees sometime look like they're rotating backwards?
[more inside]posted by oonh at 5:34 PM PST - 8 comments
I need a bedside clock which emits zero light in that dark, but can be read at a touch, or push of a button.
[more inside]posted by Danf at 5:00 PM PST - 37 comments
I enrolled in a veterinary technician program this past fall, and I've realized that I don't want a career in this particular field. The main reason I actually returned to school was not to pursue a career I want, but just to get away from my previous job, which I hated. If I choose to quit the program, how do I tell those supporting me, specifically financially, that I don't want to take this path anymore even though I appeared so sure of it before? Also, where do I go from here?
[more inside]posted by DanielleT at 4:49 PM PST - 16 comments
What are some radio shows/podcasts/TV shows by funny tough guys? (Repeat of
this question, 5 years later.)
[more inside]posted by lunchbox at 4:40 PM PST - 7 comments
What are your tips for conducting freelance journalistic-type interviews for articles/non-fiction essays/books?
[more inside]posted by holdkris99 at 3:21 PM PST - 8 comments
grad students and former grad students/postdocs/academics (or pretty much anyone who has experience going to conferences): trying to figure out if I'm making an unreasonable request about room sharing at a conference, or if colleagues are.
[more inside]posted by captain cosine at 2:36 PM PST - 27 comments
There's a keyboard solo technique used in funky, upbeat tunes that is based on simple, high-pitch synthesizer chords, played really fast. I don't remember any specific tunes with this technique, but I'm thinking of 80s bands like the Commodores, for some reason. Can anybody help me find examples and maybe some theory so I can emulate it? Probably involves some pitch bend, too.
posted by circular at 2:34 PM PST - 27 comments
Where do you keep your emergency fund? All in a savings account, or do you put some of it in CDs or other investments?
[more inside]posted by crLLC at 2:17 PM PST - 18 comments
Long story short, I have a Macbook Air that is completely formatted. I'm trying to install Lion from a USB drive and I'm getting an error that my Apple ID is not associated with a copy of Lion. I'd like to buy Lion with my Apple ID, but apparently I need to get to the AppStore to do this. I do not have access to another Mac, but I have the following: Windows with iTunes, an iPhone, an iPad. Is there anyway I can buy OS X Lion on these devices so I can continue my installation?
posted by geoff. at 2:04 PM PST - 10 comments
I have two half-whiskey-barrels that I want to use as planters. How can I prevent them from rotting out in a few years?
[more inside]posted by jquinby at 2:00 PM PST - 7 comments
The screen of my LCD computer monitor has started emitting a high-pitched sound and then going to black seconds after I turn it on. The power button light is not affected. What is happening and is it fixable? Thanks.
posted by Memo at 1:30 PM PST - 11 comments
I still have my eyesight (for now), but the diagnosis has triggered serious anger and midlife crisis issues.
[more inside]posted by bad grammar at 12:46 PM PST - 25 comments
Thermodynamics Filter: I understand that we do not know the absolute Gibbs Energy (G) of anything, only changes in G associated with processes such as a chemical reaction. Most tables of thermodynamic data list "Delta G of formation" values for various compounds and I understand all that because the values refer to the reaction forming the compound from the elements in their most stable state.....a change. But other texts list these same Delta G of formation values as just "Mu" (chemical potential), not Delta Mu. So do we actually know absolute chemical potentials of things (Mu) at a given T and P, or is that just sloppy use of symbols in the text? I have my undies all in a bunch about this because, like G, I always thought we don't know the absolute chemical potential of things either. Help.
posted by Seymour Zamboni at 12:08 PM PST - 3 comments
You own or have owned a BMW Z3. Tell me about your experience.
posted by MoonOrb at 11:56 AM PST - 9 comments
What is this very pleasant sensation I feel when hearing certain specific songs, and what are some more songs/artists that might produce it?
[more inside]posted by jbickers at 11:35 AM PST - 23 comments
What restaurants would be good for a vegan and a non vegan in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens?
[more inside]posted by ridogi at 10:43 AM PST - 19 comments
We are having a brunch reception following a church wedding - the groom and I will likely be delayed by 30-45 minutes by photos and greetings so we want to have some sort of cocktail hour. We have the drinks sorted out, bloody marys and a mimosa bar, along with tea, coffee, etc, but we are stuck on what to serve as a light, savory snack during that time.
[more inside]posted by cessair at 10:18 AM PST - 28 comments
It's tax time and we're having a problem again. Last year when we went to file our taxes electronically, they were rejected due to someone borrowing our daughter's social security number and using it to file taxes. We filed police reports, IRS reports and submitted our taxes by paper.
The same problem is occurring this year. What can we do to fix this and prevent from occurring next year. Is there a specific number, agency or method to request help from? The IRS is closed over the weekend, so we'll be calling them this week, how should we go about doing it?
posted by lynnshaze at 10:13 AM PST - 4 comments
Classical / opera music help: My partner has set up an beautiful slideshow of pictures and film of his parents' wedding in their village in Italy as a present for their 50th wedding anniversary. Help us with the music!
[more inside]posted by girlpublisher at 9:42 AM PST - 7 comments
Looking for an old Windows game where marching figures (like Smurfs but not blue) appeared at the top relentlessly ever onward.
[more inside]posted by lungtaworld at 9:03 AM PST - 9 comments
What are examples of ethnic groups being labelled or identified as an item of food (e.g. 'cracker')?
[more inside]posted by Slothrop at 7:44 AM PST - 61 comments
How do I stop paying vehicle excise tax in RI when I haven't lived there in years and I don't even own the car anymore?
[more inside]posted by d(-_-)b at 7:40 AM PST - 4 comments
Is this a Short Sale dream, or nightmare?
I put an offer on a house back in September, a short sale. It was approved by the owner in September and selling bank in December. 10 days before closing, the loan officer I had been working with discovered that his bank doesn't write mortgages for anyone that has had a loan modification in the past 4 years. I modified under making home affordable in 2009.
[more inside]posted by bricksNmortar at 7:15 AM PST - 2 comments
Help me diagnose problems with my Macs/Apple TV now that I have an XFinity wireless router please!
[more inside]posted by bodgy at 7:08 AM PST - 6 comments
I work as an administrator for a university and am based on a branch campus. My department would prefer it if I would spend the summers on the main campus, which involves a more arduous commute for me. My commute would bump up from 40 minutes to 1h20minutes. I would prefer to remain on my branch campus. My "higher-ups" like to frame things in terms of "let's negotiate something that works for everyone," but the power differentials tend to mean that I usually just go along with their preference. Are there tried and true methods for underlings to resist persuasion/coersion?
posted by anonymous at 6:51 AM PST - 7 comments
I want to merge 5 or 6 photos into a single 1300x160 px image (banner) for a web site. I've already edited my photos and resized them to a height of 160. Now I need a way to "glue" them together. How can I do that without spending money on new software?
posted by 14580 at 5:36 AM PST - 13 comments
How and when did manicure rituals begin? I understand anyone might want to trim their nails, but I mean the rest of it.
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 5:14 AM PST - 9 comments
CAT-FILTER: Where are the cutest and coolest online stores selling cat toys, cat costumes, cat furniture, etc.? Googling brings me boring stuff. Etsy and eBay stores are good too.
[more inside]posted by KLF at 4:09 AM PST - 8 comments
I want to contribute with my programming ability (software developer) to free software. I could be developing another tower defense game but prefer a small project which might be mildly useful to somebody and possibly teaches me something outside of programming.
What would be a useful to you and a good project for me?
[more inside]posted by EuroBunny at 1:35 AM PST - 10 comments
My high school transcripts have major errors in them and no one in the school system wants to help me fix them! I'm pretty sure I had more than a 0.0 GPA and I know wasn't on the girls' tennis team! (I'm a guy, I think I would remember the skirts!) Will this effect my chances at returning to college?
[more inside]posted by aristan at 1:11 AM PST - 21 comments
I love
Kikki K diaries but convenience has led me to use Google Calendar instead. Is there some sort of magical combination of the two - an online browser-based diary with nice fonts and graphic elements that are designed to look cute / quirky / artsy, rather than computery and minimalistic?
[more inside]posted by lovedbymarylane at 1:02 AM PST - 7 comments
My crazy dream: A good but relatively inexpensive cream/creme eyeshadow, preferably from the UK (or maybe Asia), without glitter, gleam, glimmer, glint, glitz, scintillation, shimmer, twinkle, or other sparklysparklespark. Can you help?
[more inside]posted by taz at 12:39 AM PST - 15 comments
February 24
For a foreclosure to be legal and proper, what documents must be present and authentic from each and any parties?
[more inside]posted by Slackermagee at 9:37 PM PST - 6 comments
Have you or anyone you know ever been a United Nations Volunteer? What is it like?
[more inside]posted by naoko at 9:19 PM PST - 8 comments
Molecular Biology / PCR Gel Electrophoresis Help? Help in elucidation of source of spurious banding?
[more inside]posted by Benzle at 9:17 PM PST - 8 comments
How can I stop messing with my cuticles and nails? I don't want sad-looking hands forever!
[more inside]posted by sucre at 8:55 PM PST - 26 comments
I have been trying to deal with the shadows, or dark reality, of life: sex-trafficking, war crimes, war rape, rape, hatred, familial abuse, child pornography; even the "lighter" shadows of infidelity, corruption (of the 3rd World and 1st World), hard drug use and dealing of financial elites, etc.; and perhaps maybe even more importantly: the lack of public-moral outrage that would seek to eradicate such an infestation (strong words, sure - I don't mean to imply I want a 21st century witch hunt).
[more inside]posted by SollosQ at 7:19 PM PST - 27 comments
I shouldn't have eaten it filter: I ate a couple of handfuls of raw soybeans. Afterwards, I googled for things to do with raw soybeans. That's when I learned that you really should not eat raw soybeans. Am I in any danger?
[more inside]posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 6:19 PM PST - 7 comments
Hello. I'm facing a big career dilemma and I would love some feedback. The short question is whether I should call a job I already declined to ask for it back (it's been 5 weeks), but in order to best explain what is causing this dilemma and (hopefully) get some advice, I think I should give some historical context. My apologies in advance for the long question and thank you for any perspective and/or advice.
[more inside]posted by curiousone at 5:23 PM PST - 13 comments
Do you recognize
this cat illustration? It's a Victorian/Edwardian looking picture of a cat wearing a monocle, labeled "Masher". I don't think it's Louis Wain, though I think it may be Wain-inspired as he did some very similar images (right down to the "masher" title). Mug came from a now defunct Cafepress shop. There's a small, mostly illegible copyright mark on it that says "J. Meyer [something with 4 letters]" that may or may not be contemporaneous with the image.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:19 PM PST - 3 comments
I recently went to the Chiropractor for the first time, who told me I have no curve in my neck where there should be. He adjusted me, which did hurt a little, but my question is: is there any danger to adjusting the cervical vertebrae. A coworker was telling me she had heard that you can be seriously injured, is this true?
[more inside]posted by biograd08 at 5:02 PM PST - 40 comments
I have a fondness for songs that incorporate crackly snippets of old movies/audio recordings, or things that sound like old movies/audio recordings. What are the best tracks in this genre?
[more inside]posted by itesser at 4:45 PM PST - 40 comments
A professor I worked with last year just informed me that he cannot write me a letter of recommendation for graduate school because I didn't take a class with him. This is reasonable, but how do I respond? Also, what other professors could I ask to write a recommendation?
[more inside]posted by oxfordcomma at 4:25 PM PST - 13 comments
What's the best - and ideally free - way to get a LOT of AAC's onto a memory card that will play in my car?
[more inside]posted by rileyray3000 at 3:21 PM PST - 9 comments
tl;dr: I’m an easy restaurant patron who tips well. How can I benefit from that fact at the beginning of my meal?
[more inside]posted by ericc at 2:50 PM PST - 37 comments
I'm looking for high quality mace/pepper spray that also has some sort of high-pitched alarm on it. Any suggestions?
posted by wooh at 2:36 PM PST - 1 comments
Know of any webcam chat sites for gay teens that are NOT chatroulette / cam4 style?
[more inside]posted by audio at 2:07 PM PST - 1 comments
I live in a pre-war (1920's?) Brooklyn apartment building. Recently, the ceiling in the kitchen collapsed due to a leak in the pipes above, spreading plaster, dust, and wet and dry gunk everywhere. Now the landlord has completed a shoddy-looking repair, again leaving everything in the kitchen covered in dust and powder and sticky gunk. Every. Single. Thing. Two questions: how do I find out if we are in danger of asbestos exposure? How do I proceed if we are?
posted by jennyjenny at 1:49 PM PST - 7 comments
What (ideally XKCDesque) dangers would threaten a person stuck in a human-hamster-ball?
[more inside]posted by ch3cooh at 1:22 PM PST - 54 comments
A motor vehicle accident occurs in which one driver makes a left turn while another car is in the intersection, not giving the other car enough time to stop. The left-turn maker is cited at the scene and apologizes. His insurance company offers a certain amount as a settlement, minus 25% (~$1,000) for "comparable negligence", meaning the not-left-turn-maker was 25% responsible. Is it worth it to get a lawyer to argue/negotiate on the basis that 25% is a unfairly high determination of responsibility?
[more inside]posted by bleep at 1:19 PM PST - 19 comments
Hi well traveled mefites! My husband and I are taking the overnight bus from Lencois to Salvadore tonight and it arrives at something like 5am. We have ~6 hrs to kill in Salvadore before we catch our flight to Rio. Are there any places we can go to hang out early morning? I'm guessing the Market isn't open that early but maybe there's a restaurant that's open 24 hrs or a section of town that's nice in the early morning maybe.
posted by lannanh at 1:19 PM PST - 3 comments
Last year, I asked
this question about innovative and original public service announcements, and I got some very helpful answers. I was wondering if any new ones have come out that I should know about.
[more inside]posted by TrarNoir at 12:54 PM PST - 6 comments
how to get over a breakup when you don't want the person back, but feel no closure? (note:very long)
[more inside]posted by teaforone at 12:51 PM PST - 23 comments
Why would my dad feel worse after getting his Type II diabetes elevated blood sugar under control? It doesn't seem to be an adjustment-period thing - he's been in the proper range for almost two years and still feels far worse than he did with high sugar.
[more inside]posted by dust.wind.dude at 12:44 PM PST - 18 comments
How can I transfer funds from my French bank account (which I can not access online) to my American bank one?
[more inside]posted by kettleoffish at 12:27 PM PST - 9 comments
Do you know of any websites, book or documentary about various stereotypes and how they originated?
[more inside]posted by KogeLiz at 12:26 PM PST - 3 comments
Mom died, left us a 500k mortgage,, no will, no bad blood between us two audit siblings. Some standard questions. What next?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:06 PM PST - 12 comments
My husband and I would like to be able to travel, but he has a felony conviction that makes things a bit complicated, and we're having trouble sorting out what options we have, what needs to be done, and in what order of operations. I would like to buy an hour or two of a lawyer's time, but I first need to know what kind of lawyer we need.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:04 PM PST - 13 comments
You're 3 years old. You love holding up your plastic microphone and looking at yourself in the mirror as you sing along dramatically to diva women with big voices. Who are you singing to? Give me names and songs for this compilation, and make a little girl super happy!
[more inside]posted by anitanita at 11:42 AM PST - 47 comments
So in a week I'm starting a gig writing questions for a tv quiz show! Where are your favourite online (or offline!) repositories or trivia and amazing facts?
[more inside]posted by yellowbinder at 9:41 AM PST - 20 comments
Have you seen the musical (not the movie) "Sister Act"? If so, you may be able to help me.
[more inside]posted by ubiquity at 9:36 AM PST - 3 comments
I recently got my old negatives and prints digitized, including many that were on APS film. APS film has time stamps embedded in it that are typically printed on the back, but they weren't saved in the digital version (checked the EXIF tags too). Is there any way to get the time stamps from the negatives without having to get reprints of every photo?
posted by Nikolai at 9:25 AM PST - 3 comments
Hitting a brick wall in my marriage and I would appreciate some different perspectives to help me figure out how to move forward.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:24 AM PST - 50 comments
We're coming out to Portland, OR in early may for the HP Lovecraft film festival. We have been before, but I'm wondering (a) where to stay and (b) what's new in the past 3 years.
[more inside]posted by JoanArkham at 9:16 AM PST - 10 comments
I'm meeting all my responsibilities but I don't feel invested in my own life. All I care about are fictional characters.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:14 AM PST - 20 comments
Weird fiction writers other than Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft whose works are worth reading?
[more inside]posted by GlassHeart at 8:53 AM PST - 30 comments
We cluelessly fed our 4-month old baby three or four 4-oz bottles of formula made with lukewarm water from the tap over the last 7 days. Should we have her tested for lead?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:41 AM PST - 24 comments
What's the name of the cat in the "Life is Good" merchandise? I know the guy is Jake and the dog is Rocket but I can't find the name of the cat.
posted by ivey at 8:41 AM PST - 2 comments
Recommend me a decent, cheap hard drive for my HP netbook (or at least a reliable site to shop from)
[more inside]posted by Brodiggitty at 8:38 AM PST - 7 comments
Since the Xbox 360 doesn't have a browser I am unable to connect to Xbox Live on a public internet connection because the 360 cannot give me access to the user agreement (if anyone knows a way around that, I'd like to know). Does anyone know if the PS3 has a browser capable of going on a public wifi and agreeing to the user agreement? I ask this because I am considering purchasing one for the library I work at. This will allow me to download updates for our games.
posted by zzazazz at 7:57 AM PST - 3 comments
My ex-boyfriend informed me recently that he got engaged. He and I were together for almost four years (the last of which was spent long-distance), and broke up early in the fall. We both agreed that we would do our best to maintain a friendship, as we had been good friends before we entered into a relationship. Aside from the fact that this announcement of engagement comes less than six months after our relationship ended, I am most upset that he
emailed this information to me. My question is this: do I have any right to be upset by his choice of communication in this matter?
[more inside]posted by singinginmychains at 7:28 AM PST - 54 comments
How do I get my iMac to wake on demand when it's asleep and asked to do so?
These instructions from Apple are pretty straightforward on how to set it up for Bonjour, but I can't get it to work when it receives a request from Apple TV to wake up. It's an iMac running Lion with a Time Capsule set up as the Base Station. The iMac supports Wake on Demand over Wi-Fi and ethernet (it's connected over Wi-Fi). Time Capsule and Lion have the latest updates. I've found recommendations on Google but nothing has worked. Any troubleshooting pointers? (Bonus question: how can I get it to wake up from outside my network?) Thanks.
posted by jroybal at 7:18 AM PST - 1 comments
I've been with a wonderful man for 4 years and I'm panicking about ending the relationship for no good reason. I still get smiley when he texts me and he makes me laugh, he's gorgeous, but I have these sudden adrenalin rushes and an overwhelming panicky feeling that I have to end the relationship immediately. I asked for three weeks apart to clear my head, and we made it to two before I wanted him here again... but the panicking is back!
[more inside]posted by Anne Onymouse at 6:20 AM PST - 30 comments
Is there an app, combo of apps or app/email combo where I can send a calendar event from my mac to my wife's iPhone - and then the event is added to a calendar app on her iPhone?
[more inside]posted by lalochezia at 6:12 AM PST - 10 comments
My Macbook's Mini-DVI port stopped working with an HDMI adapter, but it still works with a VGA adapter. Baffled.
[more inside]posted by signal at 5:11 AM PST - 11 comments
As part of my interview process, I have been asked to kick-off a project to a pretend client. This is for an interactive agency in LA. There will be 5 people acting as stakeholders. I really want this job and want to leave an awesome impression. What things can I do to set myself apart? What are your tips for awesome kick-off meetings? I need to demonstrate my skills as a meeting facilitator and project manager. I am looking for anything that will set me apart including handing out candy / fruit, using an awesome
slide deck, or simply facilitating a awesome kick-off. Have you seen anyone do something awesome in a meeting that wasn't borderline cheesy? I need to demonstrate imagination but also an ability to drive and get things done. Links or videos appreciated as well. Help me get this job!
posted by kaizen at 5:07 AM PST - 7 comments
I'm going to be in Helsinki next month - hooray for me! However, I'll be there on a Sunday. Is the city pretty much closed, or will things be open?
[more inside]posted by mippy at 4:39 AM PST - 9 comments
Please recommend me a well-designed iPad feed reader that doesn't require Google Reader to use.
[more inside]posted by Georgina at 4:38 AM PST - 9 comments
How safe to use is a gas range that got a little bit waterlogged previously?
[more inside]posted by drea at 2:29 AM PST - 5 comments
February 23
Where to start with teaching a bright 13 year-old programming? His interest comes from wanting to code Minecraft mods.
[more inside]posted by grubby at 11:18 PM PST - 19 comments
My googling is inadequate. I need a woman's watch, a small one, with TWO OR MORE daily alarms, for a friend who needs reminders to take her medications. I'm hoping to find a watch that costs less than $30 (the
only one I can find is $70)
[more inside]posted by anadem at 10:42 PM PST - 5 comments
Looking for advice about how to deal with spending a disproportionate amount of time at one person's house when in a relationship ... while my situation may be unique, I'm hoping others have done the dating-while-living-with-folks thing, or the dating-with-a-horrible-roommate thing, or dating-someone-who-doesn't-drive thing. I can feel myself getting resentful, and that's not fair - it's no one's fault.
[more inside]posted by athena2255 at 10:00 PM PST - 22 comments
Help me identify a blotchy red spot I noticed on my girlfriend's back which now has her freaked out.
[more inside]posted by cassini at 9:11 PM PST - 18 comments
For lent, this year, I'm giving up looking at sardonic pictures on the internet. Help me find those
amuse yeux that lack the mocking overtone and yet aren't just kitties and other insipid cuteness.
[more inside]posted by Cold Lurkey at 9:02 PM PST - 14 comments
I'm moving sometime soon to pursue a screenwriting career. By default, I'd be relocating to Los Angeles, but would it be a bad decision to relocate elsewhere?
[more inside]posted by signondiego at 9:02 PM PST - 35 comments
I'm going on a business trip to Bangkok. What do I do with my two extra nights?
[more inside]posted by Elcee at 9:00 PM PST - 10 comments
I was told last minute that I was doing an interview with a small local business owner (a new bar in a college town). I am not from a journalism background, and need some advice. See below the cut.
[more inside]posted by hillabeans at 8:51 PM PST - 4 comments
Why are traffic lights in New Jersey horizontal in many cities and vertical in the suburbs?
[more inside]posted by daninnj at 8:47 PM PST - 6 comments
My friend's knuckles get red and hot after she eats. She has no other symptoms. What could be causing this? Has anyone else ever experienced it?
posted by holympus at 8:31 PM PST - 6 comments
Can't believe I'm using a question for this, but -- 30 Rock filter: Why doesn't Grizz ever have any lines anymore?
[more inside]posted by BlahLaLa at 8:24 PM PST - 8 comments
I would like to get up to date with the most cutting edge modern orchestral music being composed today.
[more inside]posted by hanoixan at 8:09 PM PST - 7 comments
I was at a fast growing, exciting company for over a year and half. I had started there right after college and after a year or so, had a yearning to go out, explore, and try something else. Don't get me wrong, I loved working at this company and they loved me. But I still left since I felt like I was young and able to take the risk. My new job is slightly higher paying and in the same industry but does not challenge me whatsoever. Although I have less responsibilities and less work, I feel like there is more I am capable of. Long story short, it is boring and unrewarding. I also don't fit very well into the culture. I am only two months in. What do I do? Stop wasting time and find a new job? Give it more time? Try to go back to my old position? What are the downsides to going back to an old employer?
posted by cm1088 at 7:48 PM PST - 11 comments
I have a dilemma regarding wedding venue. Months ago, I decided on a wedding venue, mom put down the deposit, the end. I am in the south and both the church and the reception were downtown historic buildings, very ritzy and high-class looking--what I envisioned a wedding should be.
The rub is about a month ago, my aunt volunteered to help with the decorations, we bring her buy the place, and she starts finding fault, telling us about this other place that's so much better supposedly.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:47 PM PST - 32 comments
Are there any experimental teaching methods that focus on students teaching each other?
[more inside]posted by unmake at 7:34 PM PST - 17 comments
I'm expecting a formal job offer soon, but the salary is well below market. What "soft" benefits should I ask for instead?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:21 PM PST - 10 comments
Creative-gifty-diablo3 filter: What else could you put in a DVD/game case where the CD/game usually goes?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:20 PM PST - 5 comments
Which literary critic had "Today" inscribed on a plaque on his desk?
posted by R. Schlock at 6:51 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm looking for house cleaners in the North Seattle area for a one-time
very thorough cleaning of a house that hasn't been cleaned in years, before new people move in. The job is too big for just one person. Any recommendations?
[more inside]posted by The corpse in the library at 5:46 PM PST - 4 comments
Academic Jobs Filter: What is a reasonable amount of time to ask for to make a decision about a job offer?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:30 PM PST - 11 comments
Recently I entered a discussion about the following scenario: If a college student at a state university says they can't take a test on Friday, because of their religious beliefs, should their professor be required to honor that and reschedule the test for that student? I am talking about some sort of a formal requirement, as opposed to the professor being an accommodating sport. Read below for details.
[more inside]posted by josefk at 4:36 PM PST - 33 comments
I recently moved and went to a new dentist. My old dentist used a probe to find cavities - I haven't had a cavity in a decade. This new dentist used a Diagnodent and told me I had 5-6 areas of decay that he wanted to drill into and fill. He said he didn't know if they went into the dentin or just the enamel, and wouldn't know until he got in there. What's up with this Diagnodent business? Is it legit? YANMD, but is a Diagnodent really better than a probe, and does it sound wise to get them filled? Thanks.
posted by baltimoregirl at 4:11 PM PST - 11 comments
Vegetarian. Depressed and lethargic. Psychiatrist suggested eating meat again. Is this something I should seriously consider?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 4:02 PM PST - 53 comments
Online Book publishing: ebook, kindle, epub, ibook - can this be done without a million different programs and converters?
[more inside]posted by artlung at 3:56 PM PST - 13 comments
My wife finds herself quite unexpectedly facing termination from her job and needs legal/employment advice quickly. Some details after the link.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:46 PM PST - 9 comments
I live overseas. I like music. I want to purchase and download MP3s from Amazon.com, which are literally half the price of the same album sold by iTunes Japan. Amazon doesn't want to let me do this.
[more inside]posted by zachawry at 2:28 PM PST - 6 comments
Help me choose from among a few transportation/lodging options for a St. Louis-Columbia-Knoxville trip.
[more inside]posted by jessamyn at 2:27 PM PST - 7 comments
I was approached by a teacher of mine, who says a friend of a friend is looking for a graphic artist, and he thinks I'm more than capable and wants to give me the opportunity to try and get some professional work into my portfolio. I'm a freshman, and have no idea how to navigate this situation, or what to expect. Help?
[more inside]posted by FirstMateKate at 2:21 PM PST - 18 comments
What are the benefits of Google's Search History?
As I understand it, Google is changing it's privacy policy so that my personal search history (which was previously kept separate), will now be tied to my Google profile for other Google products (Google+, Gmail, Google Voice, etc.). In other words - my search history will now be associated with
my actual name and
personal phone number.
So - I'm thinking about removing my search history, but I don't know what I'd be giving up. According to Google - it uses my history to "personalize" my search results. But - does this really make a difference?
[more inside]posted by stuehler at 2:11 PM PST - 12 comments
I'm thinking of making custom costumes to sell. I have an opportunity to advertise through a local comic shop and I suspect many clients will be looking for replicas of existing heros/heroines. What legalities do I need to be aware of in terms of copyright infringement?
[more inside]posted by Carlotta Bananas at 2:06 PM PST - 6 comments
Can anyone offer me recommendations, guidance or personal experiences in choosing a "Rescue Alert"-like service? TL;DR inside. (I will never, ever use the term "snowflake" that way.)
[more inside]posted by BleachBypass at 12:04 PM PST - 9 comments
An older couple asked me to care for their condo & exotic house plants for three months while they're traveling. Two of the plants are struggling, and I don't know what to do! More info inside.
[more inside]posted by eenagy at 11:52 AM PST - 22 comments
Dfwhvacfilter: looking for a recommendation for a good honest reputable air conditioning service business. My ac at my house is running but no cold air. I live in the North Dallas area.
Thanks in advance.
posted by flipmiester99 at 11:44 AM PST - 4 comments
I have just inherited about one hundred boxes full of 40-100 year old stuff from 2 or 3 generations. I can't really use any of it and some of it may be very valuable. How can I best assess the values of the thousands of items so that I can sell/donate/throw out everything?
[more inside]posted by meantime at 11:31 AM PST - 8 comments
I need to create a schedule for many, many one-on-one meetings that are all happening in the same day, between two groups of people. What's the best way?
[more inside]posted by pemberkins at 11:29 AM PST - 4 comments
What are your favorite apps, tips, and techniques for getting the most out of photography with your iPhone? Difficulty: I'm a proficient SLR user looking for something new creatively.
[more inside]posted by fremen at 11:25 AM PST - 6 comments
My company's website is having a bizarre experience: our links have stopped working, suddenly, in IE8 only. They focus but don't trigger the target URL to open. Naturally, most of our clients use IE8. No changes have been made recently. The site is DNN-based, and we've opened a support ticket with DotNetNuke, but I'm stumped. What should I be looking at?
Memail me if seeing the site would be helpful and I can give you the URL.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:17 AM PST - 12 comments
How do I invite my Facebook friends to like my Facebook page? For some reason the Invite Friends option is not there. What am I missing? Is it something in my settings?
posted by tomcochrane at 10:13 AM PST - 5 comments
Am I repeating my abusive relationship? I had an extremely triggering fight with my boyfriend tonight, but he was the one describing me as "violent."
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:12 AM PST - 29 comments
I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy in December. I was put under twilight sedation during the procedure, and when it was over, I went home. Now my insurance company is claiming that this outpatient procedure counts as surgery, which has a copay of $150. Are they right?
[more inside]posted by two lights above the sea at 9:43 AM PST - 14 comments
How does Poste Restante work? Need to send gift to Geneva, Switzerland next month but no fixed address for recipient yet...
[more inside]posted by veryape at 9:37 AM PST - 4 comments
Raging ED-filter: My eating disorder is back with a vengeance. I need to find a way to finally deal with it (or at least make a tangible start on recovery) before my entire life gets turned upside down when I leave the country for graduate school in September. Advice? Encouragement? Kick in the pants? All are welcome (and needed) here...loooong story inside.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:10 AM PST - 18 comments
Should I seek a second opinion about possible physiological sources of my fatigue, depression, and anxiety before contacting a psychiatrist?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:08 AM PST - 17 comments
Is there a word for this? Independently coming up with a "breakthrough idea" that turns out to have been previously discovered and explored.
[more inside]posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:57 AM PST - 20 comments
How can I make a wired connection to a wireless network? I'd like to use my external hard drive wirelessly with my laptop and DLNA-enabled BluRay player - the hard drive is made to be plugged into a router and used in this way. Problem: I share internet services with another apartment in my building and I do not have access to the router, which is in the other apartment.
[more inside]posted by mskyle at 8:54 AM PST - 7 comments
What's a good Android App that will allow for inline picture additions into a text document and does not require an internet connection to work?
[more inside]posted by deezil at 8:53 AM PST - 1 comments
What should we be thinking about and considering when re-plumbing an entire house? Plumbers and experienced homeowners we welcome your advice.
[more inside]posted by pixlboi at 7:39 AM PST - 11 comments
I'm pretty sure I've found a guitar that was stolen from me at a music store franchise near me. They open in two hours. Any tips on how to handle this?
[more inside]posted by MrVisible at 7:02 AM PST - 34 comments
Is my skin flaking because I am overexfoliating or because it is still adjusting to the chemical exfoliants?
[more inside]posted by teragram at 6:15 AM PST - 14 comments
If an alien located on a planet 100 light years from here was to switch on a big, multi-frequency radio receiver, and record all the noises coming from outer space for the
next hundred years, on all frequencies, how many soap operas, advertisements and new broadcasts would they pick up from Earth? Would a mass-market radio, similar to our Earthly equivalents, pick up anything? Over time, as the number of Earth transmissions increases exponentially, would the alien pick up a cacophony or a damp fizzle?
[more inside]posted by 0bvious at 5:09 AM PST - 11 comments
I would like some advice. I would like to send test data at intervals from a client to a cloud server and measure the time taken for it to arrive at the server. At the same time, pinging the cloud server at intervals and measuring the roundtrip latency.
[more inside]posted by conrad101 at 3:23 AM PST - 8 comments
Any suggestions for a document database that runs on Windows, offers categories, tags and full-text search for a collection of PDFs, PowerPoint and Word Documents and images?
[more inside]posted by starzero at 2:22 AM PST - 7 comments
I'm not looking for project management, nor time tracking, nor (necessarily) to do lists, but more of a way of assembling all the different project components and work in progress in one interface. Is there such a thing?
[more inside]posted by outlier at 1:17 AM PST - 7 comments
Recently moved apartment, and found that two of the rooms are filled with negative energy. Guests concur: when you're in these rooms, you'd rather be elsewhere. Therefore I'm looking for tried-and-tested home improvement tips to clear rooms of negative energy and fill it with positive. (I've looked into feng shui, but interested to know what specifically has worked for the community.) Thanks!
posted by scrm at 1:02 AM PST - 33 comments
We may be moving to London. If so, I'd be working at an office near Southwark Bridge. Where should we live?
[more inside]posted by hazyjane at 12:43 AM PST - 17 comments
February 22
I'm looking to sort an entire folder alphabetically by name, but Windows 7 insists on always keeping files and folders separate.
There was a solution for XP
earlier, but under 7 that option is nowhere to be seen. I'm open to 3rd party file manager solutions, just as long as they don't look like a programmer with ADHD designed it
ala.
posted by a. at 11:40 PM PST - 3 comments
Plumbing/Science Equipmentfilter: I have a process air heater that I bought from Omega but I have no idea how to connect the 4in non-threaded duct and the 1in threaded pipe outlet from my blower. Help please!
[more inside]posted by wuzandfuzz at 10:03 PM PST - 8 comments
What kinds of document-editing scenarios produce the time and date information stored in "Properties" for a Word document? Regarding a college student's fishy paper submission.
[more inside]posted by ms.codex at 9:52 PM PST - 27 comments
I need to get some prints done at a fairly large size. The final output will be maximum 3 feet by 2 feet. I've never done prints this size but everything I've read has said that the 5D MkII can produce that size just fine. What I'm unsure of is how to set my file up in Photoshop. The largest prints I've done in the past is 18x12 which is more or less the camera's largest output at 300dpi (which is plenty sharp). For larger prints (like the ones I want to do) what resolution should I be using? 72? 150?
posted by Joseppi at 9:14 PM PST - 6 comments
How could I get a Hanshin Tigers New Era 59FIFTY hat in North America (Canada or US)?
[more inside]posted by smitt at 8:02 PM PST - 2 comments
I have a two-plug outlet with a three-plug adapter, meaning that I have four things plugged into the outlet. Am I going to set my sublet apartment on fire? Or rather, how can I keep from doing so?
[more inside]posted by kensington314 at 7:32 PM PST - 10 comments
What is the difference between the effects of witchhazel, salicylic acid, and acetasalicylic acid on the face?
[more inside]posted by denverco at 7:28 PM PST - 5 comments
I'm a supervisor, and one of my staff was out sick all last week with the flu. This week she is back, but coughing, hacking and sneezing loudly. When asked about it, she stated that she had allergies. I don't want her to infect the office, but am not sure how to pursue the conversation with her. Help?
[more inside]posted by It's a Parasox at 7:25 PM PST - 32 comments
How to cope with anxiety while waiting for bad news, especially when you don't know when the bad news is coming.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:21 PM PST - 15 comments
I am returning from Chicago to NY on a foodie's birthday. What, if anything, can I bring back for him? Limitations/details inside.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:20 PM PST - 20 comments
Flares but no wheals. What does this mean? Also, casein-milk allergy, but no allergies to cheese, cheddar-type, and cheese, mold-type. I've been unable to locate even a single discussion or explanation of these phenomena online. Any ideas?
[more inside]posted by Violet Blue at 7:20 PM PST - 13 comments
A wonderful friend was just diagnosed with life-threatening cancer recurrence. What can I send as a care package to support her and her family?
[more inside]posted by goggie at 7:06 PM PST - 4 comments
How do I make my passwords available to loved ones if I die suddenly, but keep them secure while I'm alive?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:48 PM PST - 25 comments
[Singing Filter] I was just cast in a musical. I generally sing alto but the role I'm playing (Rapunzel in Into the Woods) is soprano. I'm having some difficulty getting her highest note - it is one or two notes out of my range, depending on the day. Looking for tips, tricks, advice - anything!
[more inside]posted by firei at 6:09 PM PST - 18 comments
Someone close to me is going blind. What kind of screen reader and other software should I set them up on so they can continue to read and send email?
[more inside]posted by Mitheral at 6:04 PM PST - 4 comments
I am a recent graduate. I want to visit to design firms and do short, factual profiles of them on a website for students. What questions should I ask, what will firms not answer, and is this a good idea?
[more inside]posted by bluelight at 5:38 PM PST - 9 comments
Is it acceptable -- in a legal sense, I suppose -- to see multiple doctors and have them prescribe different medications?
[more inside]posted by apip at 4:59 PM PST - 25 comments
Just broke up with my BF 2 weeks ago; need advice about how to busy myself and move on and how to meet new people (friends or potential dates). Thinking about meetup.com and match.com, need advice from anyone who has used these sites.
[more inside]posted by CheeseAndRice at 4:54 PM PST - 11 comments
My cousin puts all her business on Facebook. She's around 18 years old and puts all sorts of drama on her wall, mainly centered around her boyfriend. I'm concerned not only for her well-being with this guy but also finding a decent job once she decides to grow up. She's very cool and comfortable with me. Is there any way, I can approach her with this, without making her feel like a 2-year-old?
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 4:40 PM PST - 25 comments
Help us downsize! Moving from 2400 sq ft to 1200 sq ft and .25 acres to .00000000025 acres.
[more inside]posted by no bueno at 4:34 PM PST - 17 comments
Can you keep this old house from falling down -- or help me stop pointlessly worrying about nothing -- by helping me ask my licensed structural engineer this question the right way? (Long.)
[more inside]posted by slidell at 4:20 PM PST - 11 comments
Is my tailor giving me the true skinny? Can the arms of an expensive sports jacket really be removed in order to cut the shoulder length?
[more inside]posted by yoyoceramic at 4:09 PM PST - 14 comments
I'm looking for a free program/app/webpage, etc that will allow me to create 6 or 7 rounds worth of golf foursomes with as little repetition as possible.
[more inside]posted by jenny76 at 4:08 PM PST - 6 comments
Where can I get a bar feed unit for a Pultra 1550 capstan lathe or information about it?
[more inside]posted by dugnorth at 3:57 PM PST - 2 comments
Help me think through whether we ought to find a new home for our dog. Long, special-snowflake details inside.
[more inside]posted by linettasky at 3:56 PM PST - 18 comments
I need help finding a 2D game about running a restaurant- and it involved a lot of mini-games and menial tasks. Very simple graphics, too.
[more inside]posted by Askiba at 3:22 PM PST - 8 comments
BookFilter: Book which I'm pretty sure was about sleep and wakefulness at different times of the day; what's the name?
[more inside]posted by epersonae at 3:15 PM PST - 4 comments
I just saw a thought provoking movie the other day, and I'm dying to talk about it. Where is a good forum for discussing movies without either a lot of silly chatter about the cute boy actors, or a lot of art school theory stuff.
posted by thylacinthine at 3:07 PM PST - 9 comments
I have one foot that is 1/2 inch longer than the other. Are there any good ways to make the shorter foot fit my shoes better?
[more inside]posted by lizarrd at 2:57 PM PST - 10 comments
On a whim my husband and I booked a trip to Zion National Park for mid-March. We love hiking and photography, and we're excited to visit Zion for the first time. Our 8 month old daughter will be with us, and we're looking for advice on getting the most out of the park with a baby in tow.
[more inside]posted by eliina at 2:36 PM PST - 7 comments
I am going to buy an iPad 32 gig, but am thinking of waiting until the 3 comes out ('early March', apparently) to see if the price drops. However my brother is coming over from Australia next week and it would be nice to have the 'pad so we can make music on it. Is my hope of a price drop reasonable? Or is it more likely to be confined to the bottom end, based on past Apple pricing behaviour?
posted by Sebmojo at 2:24 PM PST - 20 comments
This is a long shot, but I'm trying to identify a painting that I saw at the Philadelphia Museum of Art about 4 years ago. All I remember is that it was a large painting that looked like a forest scene - at first glance it looked simply like a river within the forest, but upon looking at it again, you can see that the river is made up of hundreds upon hundreds of babies. I've tried googling, and exploring the Philadelphia Museum of Art's webpage, but to no avail. I am hoping someone knows this crazy painting!
posted by Neely O'Hara at 2:17 PM PST - 4 comments
If I'm applying for a junior developer job in a web company, and they ask for a code sample along with the resume, what sorts of things would make a good sample? How much code is just enough/too little/too much? What would make a sample supergood, or the opposite?
[more inside]posted by jsturgill at 1:22 PM PST - 8 comments
Illustrator filter. Is it possible to mirror several objects at once, but have the mirroring axis be the center of each individual object? Picture explanation below. Please hope me!
[more inside]posted by PardonMyFrench at 1:10 PM PST - 3 comments
What are some well-designed web apps that dynamically add/remove content (notifications) to pages
without using lightboxes/overlays?
posted by phrontist at 1:02 PM PST - 5 comments
I love V for Vendetta (the graphic novel), but I hate
the coloring job. Years ago, I borrowed a monochrome line-art-only version from a library. I would really like to own such a copy, but my Google-fu fails me.
posted by Zarkonnen at 11:42 AM PST - 10 comments
I used to take pictures a ton, but I'm working all the time now. I want to try and go out and shoot photos during my lunch break & after work (near Montgomery St. Station).
I'm looking for suggestions of good photogenic or interesting places in San Francisco to go that would help me jumpstart my old hobby.
[more inside]posted by ejfox at 11:34 AM PST - 17 comments
What are your experience with aftermarket cruise control? Specifically I'm asking about the 2012 Subaru Impreza hatchback base model, which doesn't include cruise control.
[more inside]posted by czytm at 11:19 AM PST - 15 comments
Trying to find a reliable and reasonably priced carpenter/handyman in Arlington, Virginia
[more inside]posted by gemmy at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments
What's going on in someone's head when they blatantly, casually litter? What justifications do adults use for dropping their trash onto the street?
[more inside]posted by Narrative Priorities at 10:52 AM PST - 97 comments
Stolen car, undercarriage damage, and an auto insurance claim. What do I need to know?
[more inside]posted by clearly at 10:51 AM PST - 10 comments
My home-made HTPC running Windows 7 shuts down without warning, first after prolonged use playing HD (720) videos with VLC. Then it stopped twenty minutes into an episode, and switching to Media Player Classic seemed to be the answer. Then the computer shut down after about 20 minutes of simply being idle. And there's never a "sudden shutdown" error message when I reboot. How do I diagnose this, or what could be wrong?
[more inside]posted by filthy light thief at 10:46 AM PST - 20 comments
Mid/late 80s-90's comedy/horror flick. Seems very B movie esque. It actually reminds me of something that Troma would churn out. It had to do with a high school reunion. Everyone had quirky tendencies and maybe they were all murders? I remember a murder happening in a school cafeteria kitchen and think someone was decapitated with something silly.
posted by baconandvodka at 10:45 AM PST - 6 comments
Can you find an example from before 1979 of the "crazy string wall" used in movies and television?
[more inside]posted by Mo Nickels at 10:00 AM PST - 2 comments
Handwash Only?! How do I manage the increasing tendency for professional women's clothing to demand very special, labour intensive treatment?
[more inside]posted by Phalene at 9:23 AM PST - 41 comments
I've inherited my father's 1967 rangefinder camera. The metering doesn't work anymore. Help me take pictures with it again.
[more inside]posted by jgwong at 9:18 AM PST - 11 comments
Librarianfilter: I think I'd like to be a cataloger. Librarians, tell me about it! (Also, tell me how cataloging is changing as Library Science becomes more Information Science-y, and about jobs in other fields that use similar skills.)
[more inside]posted by naturalog at 9:14 AM PST - 19 comments
Help me stop raging about a difficult work situation.
I got promoted. My boss's stepson is being hired to take my place. He is incapable of taking over my responsibilities. Looks like this is actually going to happen and I can't stop obsessing. How do I stop thinking about this and just focus on myself??
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:20 AM PST - 20 comments
I gave birth via emergency c-section over the weekend. The baby and I are both fine, but I wouldn't be querying the hivemind if I didn't have a too-long and too-detailed question about what happened.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:10 AM PST - 42 comments
I'm looking for a place to take the extended family this summer. About 20 people, ages 3 to 83 want to spend a week at some beach. Level of difficulty is we need 3 cabins/cottages/trailers/whatevers, and the location should be about 200 miles or so from Buffalo NY. So that would put us someplace between maybe Syracuse and Cleveland, and anywhere south of Toronto in Ontario. Closer to Buffalo is better. We're hoping to stay on a beach or as close to a beach as possible.
[more inside]posted by Blake at 7:54 AM PST - 6 comments
When I save MS Word docs, a lot of my spacings between words are being eliminated. In just about every sentence, it happens at least once! To be clear, instead of something like "and the", it will say "andthe". Could it be a faulty flash drive?
[more inside]posted by Eiwalker at 7:52 AM PST - 10 comments
What are the best books, articles, or websites that act as a kind of "writing coach" for fiction, which walk you through, like an encouraging but demanding mentor, the psychological, technical, and purely logistical issues of writing and then publishing short stories or novels?
posted by shivohum at 7:50 AM PST - 14 comments
Quotation/Proverb: returning to the drudge of work after holidays is so painful that it's better not to take holidays, just plough on. Has someone said this in a more well-known/profound/general way? Maybe something about caged birds being happy because they've never known freedom?
posted by Gomoryhu at 7:17 AM PST - 2 comments
Need help setting up a simple Access database. I'm trying to reconcile a bunch of inventory, which is all recorded in multiple Excel spreadsheets. I want to import all the Excel files into an Access database so I can match them up all at the same time.
[more inside]posted by smoothvirus at 7:02 AM PST - 8 comments
My partner and I are currently living on separate sides of the Vancouver/Washington state border - I would very much like to move to be with her, but the job prospects for my specialties are low. One option is to work for a local company which produces bible software. From a technical standpoint, their products are excellent, the jobs pay well , have excellent medical and retirement benefits and they regularly hire from outside the faith. The catch? I am a staunch atheist, and bordering on actively anti-religious.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:40 AM PST - 32 comments
Where, around Tokyo, can I have my blood tested for specific genetic mutations? Specifically, protrombin 20210 and factor V (5) Leiden.
[more inside]posted by ovesh at 6:34 AM PST - 2 comments
I've read that a podcast becomes more popular on iTunes the more people review it. Is that true? Why is that the case? Is it worth it to ask listeners of my podcast to review it to improve the podcast rank?
posted by to sir with millipedes at 6:13 AM PST - 2 comments
What is the best Wordpress ecommerce plugin for digital downloads only? I am setting up a small store for digital goods (e-books, etc.) on a Wordpress site.
[more inside]posted by matcha action at 6:05 AM PST - 5 comments
How can I find, rig or code a self-control/freedom/leechblock-type solution for my android phone's browser?
[more inside]posted by feets at 5:35 AM PST - 5 comments
Obama SWAG in Chicago---where can I get some fast and in person? Leaving for Ethiopia in a matter of days and I've received a request from someone there for anything "Obama"...t-shirt, pins, posters, etc. But I don't have much time and anything ordered from the campaign store online will not arrive in time (they don't have an option for faster shipping.) Are there any brick and mortar stores in Chicago where I can pick something up?
posted by jeanmari at 2:14 AM PST - 14 comments
Please help me remember a crafty-type material I saw in a web article a month or two ago. It's some kind of plastic that comes in pouches, in various fairly deep colors, and apparently permanently hardens some time after being exposed to air.
[more inside]posted by Malor at 12:00 AM PST - 14 comments
February 21
Help me sort out the best way to approach language preservation, as an academic interest and as a guideline for volunteer work.
[more inside]posted by mammary16 at 11:32 PM PST - 16 comments
How do I keep my somewhat petty, probably vindictive boss from taking credit for writing all of the online content that I write for the company website?
[more inside]posted by KoiPond at 11:15 PM PST - 7 comments
Calling Bluesologists and/or Language Historians: Want interpretations of the meaning of a song, or more specifically, a specific phrase used in that song.
[more inside]posted by mreleganza at 10:27 PM PST - 5 comments
I need a DSLR camera that takes high quality pictures and video for $800 or less. I'll be using it for interviewing, artsy pictures, party pictures, "stand RIGHT THERE and smile, dammit!" pictures, short films, and everything else an amateur might get up to with a shiny new camera.
[more inside]posted by jingle at 10:17 PM PST - 20 comments
I want to use my iPhone 4s to film a 15-30 minute event, indoors, just three people talking, dark-ish lighting. It doesn’t have to be perfect – this is for personal use, not commercial. What’s the best way to go about it?
[more inside]posted by t0astie at 8:38 PM PST - 7 comments
Mac OS... I want a file I rename, that has the same name as another file, to automatically label it as 2nd, 3rd, etc. Windows does this automatically, but in the Finder it says I need to give the file another name.
[more inside]posted by DoubleLune at 8:25 PM PST - 8 comments
Driving from Minneapolis, MN to Portland, OR at the end of the week. Looking for suggestions on what to do along the way. Bonus: Yellowstone for a day?
[more inside]posted by JaiMahodara at 7:54 PM PST - 8 comments
My wife and I will be in London in two weeks and would love your suggestions on great pubs, gastropubs, bars and other nightlife activities. We are interested in fun places with local flavour, not touristy places. Inexpensive is preferred but not mandatory.
posted by cjets at 7:52 PM PST - 23 comments
Strategies for getting things done, especially when those things are deeply important, pretty scary, and you have no idea how to start.
[more inside]posted by lizifer at 7:24 PM PST - 19 comments
I'd always thought I'd be a nurse, and I finished all but the final pre-req before I veered off to work in insurance for a while. My question is, is there really a nursing bubble going on right now, and how is it affecting new grads and more experienced nurses? If there's no bubble, what are some of the reasons my more experienced RN friends are having problems finding work? Thank you
posted by Issithe at 6:44 PM PST - 13 comments
I want to work for companies like Tumblr, Kickstarter, Meetup, OKCupid, Yelp, and the rest of the hip NYC startup crowd. How can I become involved in the startup scene? What do I need to do to make myself a competitive applicant, especially when I have no idea what job title suits me?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:19 PM PST - 20 comments
There are pecans everywhere. Formerly they carpeted the backyard, now they're in huge container in the living room. Mostly. There are still more to pick up. A LOT more, the pecan tree has been surprisingly fruitful this year.
What the hell does one do with a ton of freshly picked pecans, besides eat them and/or give them out to friends and family?
[more inside]posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:10 PM PST - 37 comments
Very shortly, I will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to sit down with my soon-to-be ex-wife and discuss between ourselves the terms (and therefore set the tone) of our final divorce (married about 15 years). If this conversation fails to get us on the same fundamental page, it’s off to a mediator or even a trial. And I’d love to avoid that, but I don’t know the best approach for having the conversation I want to have.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:03 PM PST - 41 comments
Going to a job fair hosted by the local community college next week. My interest is I.T. (Network/Sysadmin, preferably) I'm going to it to gather information on how to get a job, rather than the actual job. What questions should I ask the company reps?
[more inside]posted by UrbanEye at 5:43 PM PST - 5 comments
I think I'm having a nervous breakdown. Should I pursue inpatient treatment? Any recommendations in Austin, TX?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:25 PM PST - 19 comments
Two years ago I bought a $500 business suit for use in my mom's wedding, job interviews, etc. It's a pretty nice suit and all, but I've lost almost a hundred pounds since then. What should I do with this suit?
[more inside]posted by Avenger at 5:20 PM PST - 21 comments
Is there any way I can replace the standard dictionary on my Nook Simple Touch with a Russian/English dictionary?
[more inside]posted by griphus at 5:19 PM PST - 2 comments
Help me identify a participant in a long-form debate on religion, who rebuffed a strict atheist.
[more inside]posted by Drexen at 5:16 PM PST - 9 comments
Who are good candidates for reasonably being labelled "The Brazilian Shakespeare"?
[more inside]posted by Bwithh at 4:50 PM PST - 5 comments
My partner recently moved to NYC from the Northwest. Help me help him (geeky, science-loving, and politically active) find friends that aren't already mine!
[more inside]posted by corb at 3:44 PM PST - 22 comments
Rookie Mistakes with New Cookware Filter: I was so excited to use my shiny new enamel Le Creuset oven pan that I forgot to wash it before using it to roast some vegetables. Aside from probably getting some warehouse dust in my food, is this in any way dangerous / unsafe?
posted by a small part of the world at 3:25 PM PST - 11 comments
I'll be in Seattle in a couple of weeks. Looked at the Kings Inn because its cheap and walking distance to the touristy stuff. Any other suggestions for cheap motels in the middle of it all?
[more inside]posted by Lindalou at 2:36 PM PST - 15 comments
Does this happen to anyone else: Long periods of concentration result in a creeping headache that eventually prevents me from functioning until I can take a nap. If so, what can I do about it?
[more inside]posted by Popular Ethics at 2:24 PM PST - 21 comments
I'm using DraftSight to make some circuit diagrams and I am looking for basic circuit symbols in DWG format. I've found a nice collections of circuit element symbols in WMF format, but am having a hard time finding a converter on a decent web site. Decent web site as in one that doesn't look like a malware factory.
[more inside]posted by nickerbocker at 2:16 PM PST - 4 comments
I love tumblr, but there are a few specific tumblrblogs I need to stop reading to keep my own sanity. I compulsively read a certain set of blogs dozens of times per day. I have unfollowed them, but keep compulsively going directly to their blogs to read them. (This question is one part about software and one part human relations)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:03 PM PST - 7 comments
At work, I get calls from salespeople. It's part of my job, but I really loathe dealing with salespeople...especially over the phone. Please help me to not be so psychotic about it.
[more inside]posted by Elly Vortex at 1:23 PM PST - 34 comments
I have a pretty stable non profit job and plenty of free time. I'm considering getting a project management certification, is this a good idea? Any other recommendations?
[more inside]posted by Tarumba at 1:09 PM PST - 6 comments
Need book recommendations for improving communication in marriage as a substitute for therapy
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:58 PM PST - 14 comments
Tell me how a web startup like Pinterest or Kickstarter
happens. I'm most emphatically not starting a web company of my own, but I'm in the industry and am curious just what exactly goes into making a recognizable and successful site like that.
[more inside]posted by relucent at 12:24 PM PST - 18 comments
I'm trying to get out of my lease 13 days early. I have sent my landlord's company 2 letters, made 16 phone calls, left 11 messages, and no one has responded. What do I do? What can I assume?
[more inside]posted by nothingsconstant at 12:15 PM PST - 18 comments
I think my ex-partner just walked out on our mortgage. Please help me navigate this new world!
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:53 AM PST - 18 comments
I'm looking for examples (biographies, documentaries, blogs...any format, really) about people who made the decision to completely change the direction of their lives, particularly folks who went from a typical "day job/corporate career" into something less mainstream.
[more inside]posted by xingcat at 11:43 AM PST - 13 comments
I am going to a Brazilian wedding (in Anapolis, near Brasilia) this summer. As a non-Brazilian guest, what do I need to know? One more specific question regarding dress inside.
[more inside]posted by ocherdraco at 11:32 AM PST - 8 comments
I accidentally melted a plastic ladle on my cooktop this morning. It smoked profusely and the fumes smelled horrible. How concerned should I be about toxicity? All windows are currently open, but there's still a lingering odor. I did call the poison control center, and the operator told me that 1) yes, the fumes could be toxic, and 2) in the absence of symptoms, just air out the house. Does the hive mind have anything to add?
posted by Wordwoman at 11:28 AM PST - 12 comments
I need to a formula that will calculate accumulated points based on the number of sales an employee had during a quarter, when there are certain milestones he or she has met.
[more inside]posted by desjardins at 11:27 AM PST - 8 comments
If I wanted to live in a city where a room goes for under $300/$400, and I don't need a car, where should I look? Assume USD, don't care about weather, and safe-ish. Youngish people who like to do things other than watch TV is also preferred.
[more inside]posted by shinyshiny at 11:15 AM PST - 42 comments
Our roller derby team needs to stop talking derby on Facebook and into its own forum. We'd like it to be a "members only" area of our Wordpress self-hosted website. What's the best, easiest forum platform these days that integrates with Wordpress and doesn't require yet another complicated login (preferably people can sign in with Facebook, Google or YahooID).
[more inside]posted by iamkimiam at 10:25 AM PST - 9 comments
I am reading a couple of books concerning Jungian psychology. They slip in a lot of quotes with Latin. Is there a go to website for Latin phrases or translation that is workable on an iPhone? Is there a good app for this?
posted by kanata at 10:21 AM PST - 7 comments
What can you tell me about event insurance requirements for a small-scale one-off theatre production in Ontario?
[more inside]posted by transient at 10:14 AM PST - 2 comments
Traveling AMS-IAH-MSY on Friday: can I exit the terminal in Houston and get back in during my 3-hour layover?
[more inside]posted by knz at 10:04 AM PST - 8 comments
Is the number 6 lucky in Chinese culture?
I am confused.
I read
Numbers in Chinese culture and it is not conclusive. It can be both.
So when is the number lucky and when is it unlucky?
posted by rsol44 at 9:49 AM PST - 11 comments
Moved from US to Hong Kong. Mover shipped some boxes we explicitly told them not to ship--items we needed in our first 10 weeks here while waiting for the boat to arrive. Final payment now due, we want more compensation. What's our recourse?
[more inside]posted by dust of the stars at 9:49 AM PST - 5 comments
True or False: If you're supposed to receive a refund from the IRS, but you file an extension and submit it at the very last, the IRS has to pay you the interest that has accrued on your refund, just like you'd have to pay any interest to the IRS if you owed taxes.
[more inside]posted by chara at 9:41 AM PST - 8 comments
Two adults and a 7-year-old on an 9-hour Amtrak ride from Philly to Fayetteville, NC. Tell us how how to survive and not kill each other.
[more inside]posted by HeyAllie at 9:39 AM PST - 26 comments
Helping a friend try to find funding for a photo project involving LGBT refugees. She's located in the New York area. Does anyone know of any funders we should be applying for grants from?
posted by Enneking at 9:18 AM PST - 2 comments
My wife's going back to work after a year worth of maternity leave (we're in Canada). I expect a large amount of separation anxiety from both the baby and the mom. We've talked about this a bunch already. Basically we both acknowledge that's it's going to be hard for her. What can I do to be more supportive? What has/hasn't worked for you? Is there anything I can do to ease the transition?
posted by aeighty at 9:07 AM PST - 12 comments
I have a late 2010 Macbook Pro (MacbookPro6,3) running Lion (10.7.3) and an iMac of indeterminate vintage (iMac11,3) running Snow Leopard (10.6.8). I have a Thunderbolt cable. Neither mac supports Thunderbolt; both have MiniDisplayPort connectors. I want to run the iMac in Target Display Mode as a second display for the MacBook Pro. Can I make this happen?
[more inside]posted by Alterscape at 8:58 AM PST - 6 comments
I backed the open door of my old beat-up pick-up truck into a tree (yeah I know) and now it won't close. Everything looks reasonably intact and the hinges move except that the whole door has been displaced forward about a 1/4 inch. Any suggestions on getting in back into position?
[more inside]posted by ennui.bz at 8:43 AM PST - 15 comments
In Chinese culture 88 is considered to be an auspicious number. Are there any special presents, food, or activities that are considered particularly appropriate for an 88th birthday?
[more inside]posted by Jabberwocky at 8:31 AM PST - 4 comments
I need to redact some information in several pdf files. It doesn't need to be secure just obscure. Is there a way to do this without buying software ? Open source option?
[more inside]posted by srboisvert at 7:58 AM PST - 12 comments
Car buying out of state:
I have a NJ license, am staying with my parents for a while in NH, but my job will be in MA and I intend to also live there eventually.
I need to buy a car to commute to work ASAP. I haven't had a car in 4 years. What is the best way to proceed in this situation, i.e., should I get a NH license right now, buy the car in MA with my NJ license, no idea. Will the dealer provide temporary tags and insurance, if so, for how long?
I changed my address with the post office but I still own an apartment in NJ and I don't want to start paying rent ( and moving to MA) until that sells, which might take over a month.
posted by spacefire at 7:07 AM PST - 7 comments
I'm looking for a super-automatic coffee/espresso machine (no pods) that is around $1,000 (or cheaper), and meets a few specific needs. I'm eyeing a Jura or DeLonghi, but are there others I should be considering?
[more inside]posted by mrhaydel at 6:31 AM PST - 21 comments
What tips, hints, recommendations, and tricks can the hive mind offer for two adults going to Disney World (FL) in March?
[more inside]posted by Classic Diner at 6:26 AM PST - 30 comments
I'm looking to replace the back glass panel of my iPhone 4. The options seem to be
cheap ($2-$10) options from Amazon, or
$80 from iFixIt. I'm mostly interested in the quality of the glass covering the lens. Mine is tremendously scratched, rendering my camera useless. I'd prefer to not pay $80, but I also don't trust the $2 knock-offs from Amazon. I've heard that the cheap ones have very crappy lens coverings - essentially just plastic wrap, not clear glass at all. Any advice on getting a quality rear backing at a decent price?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:23 AM PST - 15 comments
Do products like Nivea coenzyme Q10 face protector (or the DNAge) do anything or are they just a mix of fancy soap/lotion + marketing hype?
[more inside]posted by mateuslee at 1:42 AM PST - 12 comments
I'm looking for a famous photo from the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention: a policeman, carrying a club, has his arm back ready to strike the photographer. The cop has a helmet, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and a bored expression, looking right at the camera.
[more inside]posted by xil at 12:09 AM PST - 4 comments
February 20
On a whim, we added a 27 hour layover in Miami to our impending mid-March vacation. What should we do with our day, and where should we eat dinner?
[more inside]posted by toxic at 9:37 PM PST - 13 comments
Left my leather handbag on the ground during a sporting event and now it's soaked through with beer. Now what?
[more inside]posted by sestaaak at 7:49 PM PST - 6 comments
Despite my minimalist style in general I have wanted a bed like the one in
this article for as long as I can remember. Can you help me find one that doesn't cost $1000?
[more inside]posted by magnetsphere at 7:43 PM PST - 19 comments
I am starting a long term contract position and am unsure as to how to properly reflect this on my resume/LinkedIn profile - but want to be up-to-date since it's not a guarantee that the contract will go perm. How do I update my resume/profile in this circumstance? I'm new to the world of contracting.
[more inside]posted by thereemix at 7:03 PM PST - 7 comments
An acquaintance from high school recently died at the age of 22. His family decided to keep the cause of death private. Help me out here -- why would they choose to do that?
[more inside]posted by victory_laser at 6:47 PM PST - 67 comments
My friend has a drivers license from the state of Pennsylvania and is currently living in Los Angeles California. They got a ticket for J Walking and the officer took down their name, License # and home address in Los Angeles. Then my friend recently receive a letter from the CA DMV saying that if they don't pay the fine then they will suspend/revoke the license.
Can CA suspend/revoke their Pennsylvania license for J Walking in Los Angeles, CA? Yes/No and how did you resolve it or get out of it?
Thanks!
posted by HBomb at 6:26 PM PST - 19 comments
I am looking for a high-res logo or a high-res scan of the Block Parent graphic of the adult holding the child's hand. If the "Block Parent" text is included then all the better.
posted by heybudday at 6:11 PM PST - 2 comments
This is a slightly strange one, so bear with me if you will!
I have been building a rubber-band ball ever since I read the Warren Buffett biography "Snowball". I wanted something in my office that symbolized the snowball idea -- little achievements that gradually grow into something big -- and that I had made myself. It is growing pretty big right now.
It occurred to me the other day that a successful strategy requires a dual approach. So now I am thinking that slow and steady is only half the picture. The other half is impulse, intuition, go-with-your-gut and, as my handle indicates, seat-of-my-pants!
My question: What can I put in my office that symbolizes this spontaneous trait. The ying to the yang of snowball. The quantum-leap approach, if you will!
I want to have something that is either interactive or made by myself so that it is not just an inanimate glump sitting on a shelf.
Thank you for indulging me and I look forward to your insights.
posted by seatofmypants at 4:17 PM PST - 37 comments
Any recommendations for a vet in the Philadelphia/DelCo area? Little old kitty needs a teeth cleaning.
[more inside]posted by angrycat at 4:00 PM PST - 5 comments
My parents (who are in Savannah, GA) are looking to buy a new car, but recently moved away from where they knew who to go to and who to trust. Now they are looking at those websites that offer to contact dealers around and get you the best deal before you go looking on the car you want, with no haggling.
[more inside]posted by katers890 at 3:52 PM PST - 6 comments
Data on office layout & team collaboration? My workgroup needs more conference rooms, and I'd love to have studies to back up my suggestion.
[more inside]posted by samthemander at 3:25 PM PST - 2 comments
How do you prepare yourself for failure before it comes? What do you read or watch to allow yourself to let go when a labor of love has failed?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:50 PM PST - 12 comments
I can log onto my Ameritrade account and find the percentage of a company's stock that is "Held by Institutions". How often is this information reported and what constitutes an "Institution"?
[more inside]posted by Rafaelloello at 2:23 PM PST - 4 comments
We live in the sticks. I'd like to take my 7-year-old out to where the people are! Can you help me conceive an awesome, week-long-ish trip for $1000 or less?
[more inside]posted by youandiandaflame at 2:20 PM PST - 18 comments
Ideas for what to do with a (moderately fast) spare PC in 2012? (Intel C2D 3ghz E8400, 8GB RAM, etc) HTPC comes to mind, but open to more creative suggestions.
[more inside]posted by petah at 1:43 PM PST - 11 comments
Was there a difference in the iTV versus PBS airing of the Christmas Special (last episode) of season 2 of Downton Abbey?
[more inside]posted by gregoryc at 1:22 PM PST - 2 comments
Really, totally confused about my relationship. Suddenly, I've lost all desire to see her, and I don't know why. I honestly don't. I would really appreciate any insight. I'm just lost.
[more inside]posted by Sine_Agraphia at 12:55 PM PST - 45 comments
I'm beginning to look into propane barbeques. Now, I have a natural gas outlet/line already installed on my deck, and I'd much rather use that than deal with propane tanks. I see plenty of gas BBQ conversion kits available online, but A. How safe/easy is this conversion to do yourself? B. Does it need to be done professionally / follow some city code?
[more inside]posted by Barmecide at 12:39 PM PST - 7 comments
Please help me understand this court case (if it is one). I have made some attempts to try and find help with the California court noted here but I've been told "that's not us" and am a little embarrassed with my attempts to chase this down. I've also emailed the attorneys and other people involved but they are not responding perhaps due to the controversial nature of the case.
[more inside]posted by uhom at 12:28 PM PST - 6 comments
I love my new kitty, Agent Cooper, beyond all reason. He's 1 year old and was a stray, and he's been living with me for a month now. The problem is, he's a biter. I'm pretty sure it's an OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, CHOMP! kind of bite, but I want to be sure I am reading, and handling, his behavior correctly.
[more inside]posted by pazazygeek at 11:26 AM PST - 27 comments
When and why did pitch invasions/court-storming/rushing the field end in professional, american sports? I see highlights in the 70s from Hank Aaron's 715, Yankees winning their division, even the Celtics winning an NBA championship in the early 80s where the fans celebrate with the players (or try to take hats off of their heads).
In my sports lifetime,(post 1992), I cannot recall a single moment of this happening in pro sports (in America).
posted by sandmanwv at 11:23 AM PST - 11 comments
Got a call from someone who said he got my number from someone else I don't remember meeting. Should I pursue more info or let it drop?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:16 AM PST - 22 comments
Know a good plumber in seattle? Faucet's pivot-stopper is broke where it connects to drain stopper inside pipe, where i can't reach it. Should be easy for a pro. Know anyone, or have other recommendations? Sorry for the question but I don't want to go in blind here.
posted by uni verse at 10:44 AM PST - 7 comments
I need to buy a double stroller and some diapers for my out-of-state niece and her two kids, aged 1 yr and 2 weeks old. I know nothing of such things and I feel a little overwhelmed. Help please!
[more inside]posted by SoulOnIce at 9:51 AM PST - 19 comments
Are there any good novels that use Greek trade in or around the 6th c. BC as a way of exploring ancient cultures? Also, how far did Greeks travel during that time? Did they make into India? To the British Isles?
posted by jwhite1979 at 9:44 AM PST - 17 comments
HRfilter: How do I apply for a supervisor position in my field without any supervisory experience? I fulfill and exceed all other requirements, and I just need to convince HR that I'm very ready to lead. Please help!
[more inside]posted by sundaydriver at 8:41 AM PST - 6 comments
I'm looking for recommendations on great over-ear headphones I can use with my iPhone. I've been using Klipsch earbuds, but they don't stay in my ear that well, and I'm concerned about hearing loss, so I'd like to keep a small distance from my sound source.
I've seen in previous questions that the Sennheiser HD-280 and Sony MDR-V6 have been recommended for general use. I'm not sure about the viability of a hugely long cord for using these while walking around, however, nor do I know if the iPhone could drive these cans. I'm looking for accurate sound reproduction (no pumped-up bass, please) and comfortable wear. I'll be using them both outside and indoors, but they don't need to be sound-canceling.
posted by the sobsister at 8:10 AM PST - 13 comments
I grew up always loving a children's book titled
Throw a Kiss, Harry. The author is Mary Chalmers. She wrote a number of children's book and illustrated for several other authors. I have been able to find several of them through Alibris, but I have been unable to find much info on this great author. I believe she is still living and would be in her eighties, but other than that, I am at a loss. I would love to find out more about her and her work. After and an extensive web search I have no leads. Any ideas?
posted by flesti at 8:03 AM PST - 6 comments
I am planning on returning to school for a 2-year associates degree in biomedical equipment technology (AKA medical equipment repair). Does it have to take 2 years?
[more inside]posted by The Dutchman at 8:01 AM PST - 1 comments
I'm trying to remember a web-video series that was mentioned on the blue a couple of times in the last year or two. All I can remember is that they were hosted by a woman (maybe light brown/blond hair...?) who was giving a funny/feminist take on various things in pop culture. Does that ring a bell with anyone? I think maybe one of the topics she talked about was yogurt commercials aimed at women. I know, not much to go on!
posted by trillian at 7:58 AM PST - 3 comments
Seeking Dear Abby, handholding and guidance for Dummies. Yes, this is about a man and yes I'm feeling totally clueless. Help.
[more inside]posted by infini at 7:39 AM PST - 66 comments
I’m looking for a shared hosting plan from a major/well-established/reputable web host that allows SSH tunneling (SOCKS5), which is cheaper than the $9.95 per month shared DreamHost plan. Note; I am asking about SSH tunneling, not just SSH shell access.
[more inside]posted by disguise at 7:38 AM PST - 9 comments
I can't justify the cost of photoshop. What freeware/shareware/open-source image editor for Windows comes closest in terms of capabilities and/or interface?
[more inside]posted by werkzeuger at 7:37 AM PST - 26 comments
I have a hard time remembering operator precedence rules in JavaScript. Is there anything wrong with using parentheses to force the precedence I want so I don't have to remember the rules?
posted by markcmyers at 7:23 AM PST - 12 comments
I'm looking for the best sci-fi and speculative fiction written
by women in the past 10-or-so years. I don't care if it's hard or soft sci-fi, merely that it creates a realistic world and is well-written. If it helps, my favourite authors include Umberto Eco, Susanna Clarke, and George R. R. Martin. I'm still chewing through Perido Street Station, so I don't quite know if I like Mieville or not. Any recommendations?
posted by flibbertigibbet at 7:17 AM PST - 38 comments
I'm having a lot of trouble identifying the emotions I'm feeling and why. What techniques can I use to work through this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:59 AM PST - 16 comments
PhillyGayPhilter: Online dating through OkCupid hasn't been working out well for me, but I'm not quite sure how else to do it now that I'm out of college. How do I meet other young-ish gay men in Philadelphia, in either meat-space or alternative digital pastures? Anxieties, personal details, and candy within!
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:58 AM PST - 10 comments
If things go my way, I may be a Team Lead for a group of remote analysts soon. But this position was basically invented to keep me around. There’s no job description and I don’t really know what I would be doing as the Team Lead. Help me figure out specific actions I can take to make myself useful in this job.
[more inside]posted by Tehhund at 5:32 AM PST - 3 comments
I'm keen to add lap swimming to my fitness routine, but I haven't done it before and don't know the etiquette. Help me not commit any lap swimming faux pas.
[more inside]posted by gwenlister at 4:16 AM PST - 27 comments
How to set up a simple usability test station? I'm thinking a laptop with the webcam recording the user's face + a screen recorder. Anything like this already out there?
[more inside]posted by Tom-B at 4:08 AM PST - 4 comments
Hosting for videos so that they may be embedded in a school web-site ?
YouTube ? Vimeo ? Picasa ?
[more inside]posted by southof40 at 3:05 AM PST - 6 comments
Since about a week my work as a web developer has become incredibly frustrating due to intermittent but very frequent FTP problems. Making small changes in a remote stylesheet has become agony (7 out of 10 times the uploading fails, have to restart software and try again). I cannot find the root cause. It's not the software (tried several different applications), it's not the server (problems occur on all the websites I manage) and it happens on both uploading and downloading. I have turned off firewalls, antivirus software and things like DropBox but all to no avail. I don't have any other connection issues (I'm not on WiFi and web browsing and bittorrent work fine for example).
I'm on a 64-bit Windows 7 Professional (Service Pack 1 with all the latest updates installed) laptop. That is the only variable I cannot change, I don't have another computer at hand.
Does anyone have an idea what could be causing these problems? Is there something else I could try to fix it?
posted by dinkyday at 2:32 AM PST - 15 comments
I am going to be interviewing for jobs soon. My hair is currently a rather vibrant shade of purple. How much of a problem is this going to be?
[more inside]posted by btfreek at 12:47 AM PST - 44 comments
Diaper Filter! Please Hack my diaper issue. I don't understand the sizing at all. My current knowledge is that choosing a size has more to do with your baby's "output" than the recommendations for weight on the label. My son is slim, but large. His current size leaks. HELP!
[more inside]posted by jbenben at 12:32 AM PST - 30 comments
I would like to add a paypal 'Buy Now' button for a single item to a self-hosted wordpress website, with a drop-down selection list. I've created the button in Paypal but the code becomes messed once the html is inserted in the wordpress page - the options are all visible as if in a table, not in a drop-down. I've googled but can't find the solution.
[more inside]posted by Kerasia at 12:22 AM PST - 10 comments
February 19
Credit Union Filter: Have you attended your credit union's annual meeting? What was done there, and did you find it worthwhile?
[more inside]posted by koucha at 10:05 PM PST - 3 comments
What are your favorite books (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc) and films about contemporary life in Paris, Munich, and/or Zurich (or their environs)? (Translated into English, of course).
[more inside]posted by tully_monster at 9:51 PM PST - 7 comments
He's not over his ex. I suppose I just have to go away and wait to see if he ever pursues me...
[more inside]posted by GIRLesq at 9:24 PM PST - 39 comments
Move to New Jersey in the future (Princeton), I am looking for jobs but I have some specific interests. I know almost nothing about the area and what is based there. I am aware of its proximity to major cities but I would like to start with recommendations near Princeton and then outward. I really want to work in technology/creative groups.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:43 PM PST - 4 comments
My boyfriend and I are moving to San Francisco for his work. I'm in the middle of a second bachelor's degree in biochemistry/fulfilling premedical requirements. I'd like to enroll at the City College (community college) for a year and then transfer to a university after I've established residency. This will be fine, right? Have I missed anything that might enable a California university to deny me in-state tuition?
[more inside]posted by sunnichka at 7:33 PM PST - 22 comments
Where can I buy one of those old microphone things that tracheotomy patients put up to their throats, and when they talk they sound kind of robotic?
[more inside]posted by pablocake at 7:14 PM PST - 11 comments
I need more coffee shops/restaurants in the Durham/Chapel Hill area to study in. Requirements: decent seating and wifi. Plugs a bonus but not a requirement.
[more inside]posted by kingfishers catch fire at 7:06 PM PST - 17 comments
My partner refuses to consider giving up her unpaid internship in order to find a job and is furious with me for suggesting that she should. How do I approach this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:02 PM PST - 55 comments
I want to copy a DVD of home movies to my hard drive (mac) and be able to watch them (and possibly upload them onto the internet). Copied the DVD files, but none of them will open with any of my current applications. Please help.
[more inside]posted by The Pantless Wonder at 6:01 PM PST - 9 comments
How can a minimalist and a less-minimalist set up a homey and comfortable apartment together?
[more inside]posted by JoannaC at 5:34 PM PST - 11 comments
How do I get my artistic inspiration/mojo back? I have 3 primary artistic outlets: pottery, photography/videography and writing (primarily about my travels and linked to the photography. I seem to be crap at all of them and can't get back in the zone.
[more inside]posted by YukonQuirm at 4:52 PM PST - 12 comments
On Friday I grabbed a coffee with my sister, and the barista was the most lovely woman I'd ever seen. Love at first sight if I've ever known it. I stammered my order, paid with cash, and simply remarked to my sister on the way out the door that "wow, she was cute!" The next day I receive my match.com daily email with 14 "mutual matches" and BOOM, there is the amazing barista among the other women. Destiny! How do I go about asking her out - in person and not via match - without seeming like a creepy stalker?
posted by Hermanos at 4:35 PM PST - 30 comments
In NYC, never been to a music festival, but want to go to one this spring/summer. What's my best bet?
[more inside]posted by jourman2 at 3:49 PM PST - 11 comments
My young son probably has the flu, which could strike any day now. Dumb question, but is there anything I can do?
[more inside]posted by zardoz at 3:49 PM PST - 10 comments
A Belgian friend of mine's dog just passed away. Recently, when we lost one of our animals, a different friend made a donation to a shelter she had knowledge of & respected in our pet's name. I found that deeply touching, and now, I would like to do the same for this friend.
[more inside]posted by hilaryjade at 3:48 PM PST - 4 comments
Post-gallbladder surgery complications question - have you had your gallbladder out? (TMI inside, be warned)
[more inside]posted by Frowner at 3:43 PM PST - 11 comments
I'm taking 150 mg of Seroquel which has seemed to be helping. But i need to lose preexisting weight..about 40-50 lbs. All i read on the web are horror stories about people gaining 50-100 lbs even when they are doing cardio and weights. My question...anybody here either themselves or know people who have actually been able to lose weight while on seroquel if they followed the usual healthy eating and exercise 3-5 times a week?
posted by snap_dragon at 3:29 PM PST - 11 comments
What kinds of careers/fields of study should my music- and animal-loving STEM-student son consider?
[more inside]posted by headnsouth at 3:22 PM PST - 6 comments
I'm looking for some completely acoustic "orchestra" recordings. I went to see Steven Schick's NINE RIVERS Part II: Iosis performance at Columbia's Miller Theater back in September here in NYC, but I haven't been able to find an entirely acoustic orchestra performance since then.
posted by lrnarabic at 2:55 PM PST - 6 comments
I started a new yoga class and have found that I am unable to pull my knees to my chest. No one else in the class has this problem and I'm generally fairly limber. What do you think this could be and how can I work on it?
[more inside]posted by abirdinthehand at 2:34 PM PST - 18 comments
I love to climb. What other activities might I like? (Caveat: that are doable within NYC).
[more inside]posted by prunes at 1:50 PM PST - 10 comments
I want to learn to make motion graphics. Is After Effects a good way in? Whats a good way yo begin learning it?
[more inside]posted by Senor Cardgage at 1:45 PM PST - 9 comments
When using a custom Photoshop action to resize and save JPEGs to my desktop, something keeps happening occasionally that leaves a locked TMP file on my desktop that can only be deleted by restarting iMac.
[more inside]posted by slowtree at 1:31 PM PST - 7 comments
Where can I find an independent analysis comparing likely effects and shortcomings of the various campaign finance reform proposals that have been made in the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling?
[more inside]posted by ahaynes at 1:00 PM PST - 1 comments
What resources are there on the internet to help a senior grow more comfortable using her laptop?
[more inside]posted by Atreides at 12:28 PM PST - 5 comments
Trying to find houses, hotels, or other locations where multiple, unrelated homicides, unusual deaths, or disappearances have occurred over the years.
[more inside]posted by Unsomnambulist at 12:17 PM PST - 8 comments
Image-conscious MeFites: Please recommend a retinol cream for my sensitive, sun-damaged, shiny, combination skin.
[more inside]posted by elizeh at 10:54 AM PST - 13 comments
Can anyone offer a ballpark figure on the cost to exhume remains and rebury them in a different state? (in US). "Expensive" is not very helpful, I would like to know if it is closer to $10k, $50k or a $100K.
[more inside]posted by metahawk at 10:42 AM PST - 12 comments
I have been given a tiny "fish tank".
This one. What can I humanely keep in there? How much work would it be to keep it livable? I love the idea of having a creature or two at my desk, but realize there are some limits.
[more inside]posted by the christopher hundreds at 10:06 AM PST - 25 comments
How do I build a pergola on a hill. I have graded a small area, but can't seem to get it level. Couldn't I just build a platform that is level, then raise the pergola above that?
posted by merci420 at 10:05 AM PST - 6 comments
Happy DINK having doubts: How do you discern between real change in baby-making opinion and just temporary hormonal brooding?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:19 AM PST - 55 comments
Which are the best online courses for studying algebra and progressing up to trig, calculus, and differentials?
[more inside]posted by crapmatic at 8:39 AM PST - 14 comments
Our indoor cat got outside, maybe tangled with a feral cat. He came back inside and is now growling and screeching in the bathroom. Bad situation. This is a long story.
[more inside]posted by bobbyno at 5:35 AM PST - 23 comments
What are some nice relaxing songs I can play on the guitar for my son in the NICU ward?
[more inside]posted by Admira at 3:14 AM PST - 23 comments
I can't believe I'm trying to find an apartment in NYC, especially on such short notice, but I guess I am. Is there some kind of apartment-finding service anyone recommends? Am already looking at Airbnb - good? Probably need something cheap, tiny, convenient for a few months (one person working in Times Square), then something for two people and possibly a cat for the remainder of the year.
[more inside]posted by amtho at 12:58 AM PST - 12 comments
Sometimes when I sit at a strange angle or practice bad posture I hear a faint dripping sound, like a leaky faucet, coming from inside my throat, slightly to the right of my windpipe. It dissipates after a while on its own. Now what's going on?
[more inside]posted by Seiten Taisei at 12:10 AM PST - 3 comments
February 18
Which University/College should I go to if I plan to become a forensic pathologist? Specifics inside; looking for advice.
[more inside]posted by Angel of Khaos at 10:09 PM PST - 12 comments
I have an ACL injury from a motorcycle accident two years ago. I have noticed in the past 6 months it has gotten much worse. Should I excercise more or less? I don't have health insurance and have no way to get physical therapy at all and have already exhausted all free health-care options.
[more inside]posted by RampantFerret at 9:45 PM PST - 3 comments
I'm the defendant in a legal case and am being represented by a public defender. I feel I am not being represented fairly. My hearing is next week. What should I do?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:19 PM PST - 18 comments
I'm 20, and have since at least Middle School been living off of graham crackers, peanut butter, and milk. Tell me what's wrong with my diet and how to fix it.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:16 PM PST - 46 comments
What are your tips on maintaining a journal that is private, useful, detailed and organized?
[more inside]posted by twinight at 7:57 PM PST - 15 comments
Cartoon fashion IRL: Help me dress like Noodle from the Gorillaz. Stripey shirt - check. Still on the prowl for rad boots, funky hats and jackets/shorts/pants with cool asymmetry, weird pocket placements and military inspiration. In general, I just dig the style and am trying to figure out where I can shop for clothes like this - online or otherwise. I live in Portland, OR.
posted by red_rabbit at 7:04 PM PST - 6 comments
Sister in law just got engaged. I'm not super excited. How do I fake it 'till I make it?
[more inside]posted by kat518 at 7:01 PM PST - 43 comments
What, if any, horror films feature the retaliation of ghosts of enslaved Africans, similar in concept to movies that are built around Native American spirits taking revenge against (white) Americans?
[more inside]posted by thadman at 6:46 PM PST - 15 comments
I had reconstructive surgery to close a carcinoma wound this week and the surgeon rushed and botched the stitching. I did everything I could think of to have it seen. Now I don't want to see him for my scheduled appointment next week. I also have to keep things open with insurance and other area surgeons for a possible scar correction after a year. More inside.
[more inside]posted by R2WeTwo at 6:42 PM PST - 12 comments
What are good sources for finding out about new and forthcoming horror books? I'm not talking about anything with vampires and/or werewolves, I mean books that really inspire a sense of dread or fear.
posted by lirael2008 at 6:38 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm looking for songs that will help me incorporate fingerpicking into my guitar practice. What are some good songs to start out on?
[more inside]posted by quiet coyote at 6:25 PM PST - 14 comments
My familiarity with exercise footwear is limited to my running shoes. What should I be looking for in a gym shoe?
[more inside]posted by sillymama at 4:53 PM PST - 11 comments
Recommendations for a clean, simple, functional writing app that will sync documents between a desktop Mac, ipad, and iphone/ipod touch.
[more inside]posted by The ____ of Justice at 4:33 PM PST - 8 comments
Normally, an unexpected $10,000 check in the mail would be super. Not f it comes from a secret surprise student loan. Help me fix this please!
[more inside]posted by Salvor Hardin at 3:07 PM PST - 15 comments
How to deal with severe depression and delusions? Where do I go from here? Special snowflakes inside.
[more inside]posted by Gosha_Dog at 1:50 PM PST - 7 comments
I've had pretty much constant heartburn for a few months and I've completely miserable. What can I do and do I need a new doctor?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:33 PM PST - 16 comments
How do I get over the sudden fear, anxiety, frustration and embarrassment I feel when learning a new skill?
[more inside]posted by Shebear at 12:53 PM PST - 15 comments
Staff member's MacBook (four years old or so, probably running osx 10.4 to 10.6, I'm not sure on this) has a dead screen. I have a back-up machine for them, and want to migrate them to the new machine... The old computer boots,
I can JUST barely see the screen enough to log in, but after that, can't see enough to do anything. I can attach an external monitor (I've tried two different monitors, the result is the same), it boots to the initial starry background, and although I can log onto the computer as noted above, the external monitor never changes from that background. No windows, no menu bar, no dock, just that background and the cursor arrow.
[more inside]posted by HuronBob at 12:49 PM PST - 7 comments
Are there any words in English whose letters, when rearranged in every possible order, form a word in every case?
Example: son-- sno, nos, nso, osn, etc. Obviously this is not a correct answer.
If so, is there a word for it?
posted by bq at 12:31 PM PST - 24 comments
USA federal income tax question relating to AMT and state income tax refunds. Very much a #firstworldproblems sort of thing.
[more inside]posted by commander_cool at 12:00 PM PST - 3 comments
New runner...with 41-year-old knees. I am doing a decent amount of running for the first time ever, and have been pleased with how much my endurance has improved pretty quickly. BUT, I have a couple of questions: 1) does running surface matter a whole bunch; and 2) how to best prevent knee injury. (More below)
[more inside]posted by pantarei70 at 11:51 AM PST - 24 comments
How do you divide frozen foods, especially meat, between two freezers? We have a regular refrigerator-freezer in the kitchen for items used daily. Then there's a back-up refrigerator-freezer in the garage for beer and meats that we buy in bulk and freeze until we need them. I can't figure out a good system for deciding which meats get stored in the kitchen freezer and which get stored in the garage. Every method I try gets all confused within a month or two. So how do
you do it?
posted by DrGail at 11:16 AM PST - 12 comments
Has anyone ever tried to sit in an empty First Class seat on a flight when their actual seat is in economy?
[more inside]posted by zain at 10:59 AM PST - 18 comments
I wish I was a athletic/jogging/tennis shoe enthusiast: I need help in identifying the type/brand/shoe of this particular pair seen in a particular photo.
[more inside]posted by muymuy at 10:40 AM PST - 5 comments
I want to propose to my girlfriend. My budget is $750 or less, ideally $500 or less. She loves diamond solitaries or the 3 stone rings. She wants something less then 1/2 carat. My questions are:
[more inside]posted by snow_mac at 10:39 AM PST - 18 comments
I manage my contacts in Outlook on Computer 1. I manage my iPhone on Computer 2. I don't want to put Outlook on Computer 2, and I don't want to connect my iPhone to Computer 1. How can I best keep my contacts up-to-date on my iPhone?
[more inside]posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 10:17 AM PST - 6 comments
Investing for the Fearful: I have a fair amount of savings, but haven't been investing most of it for fear of another 2008-style stock market crisis. Is there a low risk way to start investing without feeling like I'm gambling on my life savings?
[more inside]posted by deathpanels at 9:53 AM PST - 12 comments
At univerisity in the 90s there was a book in the library which featured (as far as I recall) a man in a darkened room with electricity being passed through him sentried on either side by men in white coats (not an electric chair). The caption was "Odyssey of Pain". I have a feeling it was from a LIFE Magazine collection -- it suited their style -- but I was hoping someone might be able to confirm I've not been imagining it all these years.
posted by feelinglistless at 7:30 AM PST - 5 comments
Our cat isn't eating or drinking. He's been to vet, but doesn't seem to be getting better. Please help.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:22 AM PST - 15 comments
Any personal recommendations for Manhattan hotel that is clean and won't totally break the bank? I'm thinking ideally ~$200. It would be for Feb 25th (Saturday, a week from today). Private bath a must.
[more inside]posted by Stewriffic at 6:30 AM PST - 17 comments
My fiancé and boyfriend of several months has a troubled 10-year old who has been living with him in his studio apartment for two years, ever since her mother, with whom my boyfriend has no relationship, was hospitalized for mental health issues. The little girl has very low frustration tolerance and throws tantrums or starts crying at the slightest sign of not getting what she wants. On these occasions I try to keep out of the way and let her father handle her.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:17 AM PST - 32 comments
I'm thinking about getting an Obi110 VOIP appliance to replace our T-Mobile @Home service that's set to expire soon and keeping us tethered to an expensive plan.
Is Google Voice the best service to go with, or should I go for another SIP voip provider? 911, either built in or third party, is a must.
[more inside]posted by mccarty.tim at 6:16 AM PST - 4 comments
What is the name of this distorted guitar riff that's been playing the past couple months on a television commercial?
[more inside]posted by pallen123 at 6:05 AM PST - 17 comments
Metafilter, can you help me remember the name of this website/startup that is in the back of my mind that I saw about 6 months ago and now cannot find?
The site was a wiki style site that took a TV series or book and/or movie and extracted all the other books and music and films that were referenced in it. The site gave you summaries of these references and itunes and youtube links so that you could immerse yourself in the "universe" of a particular show/book. So kind of a similar idea to the madmen unbuttoned blog but more like a wiki.
I have it in mind that this was a startup of some kind that was just starting out and thought that it was called little monsters or little devils or green monsters or something along those lines. (but trying everything I could think of along those lines turned up nothing so that may be a red herring!) I've been continually amazed by the power of the metafilter hive mind to solve this kind of query in the past, so thought I would give it a shot. Thanks.
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 5:39 AM PST - 4 comments
Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, National Treasure, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec and even Tomb Raider and Sahara. I love all these movies. Recommend me more of the same, please!
posted by slimepuppy at 5:07 AM PST - 35 comments
My iPad 1 is stuck in a shutdown-reboot loop. I put it onto maximum brightness to use it outside, while attached to power. The app I was using, a graphically intensive game, drained it dry anyway. Now it is stuck in a situation where it charges up enough to start up, starts up, and being on max brightness, drains itself dry and shuts down again before I can get to the menu. The rocker switch is set to volume not brightness. I have tried various combinations of buttons. Any ideas?
posted by aeschenkarnos at 2:13 AM PST - 8 comments
February 17
How can I get my new subordinate to stop whining about having to do their job, and actually do their job? (Also - is it me?) Also - in an interview to replace this person, what kind of questions can I ask to ensure I don't get another person like this? Long, rambling details about long rambling e-mails inside....
[more inside]posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:40 PM PST - 62 comments
I am looking for as many examples of funny/absurd/head scratching political advertisement from the current US cycle. Video preferred but print/web certainly accepted.
A few (hopefully clarifying details below the fold)
[more inside]posted by edgeways at 10:21 PM PST - 6 comments
I am in the last two weeks of writing my master's thesis and I was wondering what herbs or supplements others have found useful for writing. Focus is part of it, but I also need to
produce and get in the flow, so to speak. It comes sometimes, but I can never force those really productive moments. I have a cupboard full of various herbs, but no time to experiment. Wondering what has worked for other, including combinations.
[more inside]posted by cejl at 9:01 PM PST - 17 comments
For baking cookies in a pot on the stove-top, apparently some kind of spacer like
this is needed. What is it called, and where can I get one?
[more inside]posted by exphysicist345 at 8:29 PM PST - 5 comments
There is a smoke detector in my building doing the low-battery chirp, and it's been going off for DAYS. How do I make it stop? Please, please help.
[more inside]posted by serialcomma at 8:19 PM PST - 25 comments
Looking to try rock climbing for fitness and mental health, but I don’t have many friends who do it currently and honestly not interested in a social experience if or until I get any good. It seems like it’d be a great sport for me but I’m daunted by the need for belaying partners and all that business. Is this a sport that you even can do solo, or are there other sports that involve a combination of strength and puzzle solving I should be looking at?
posted by migurski at 7:51 PM PST - 17 comments
Many years ago it was not unusual to give a newborn a U.S. savings bond as a gift. Does this still make sense to do, or has the economy and the political situation made this obsolete? In which case, what would be the current equivalent?
posted by Obscure Reference at 6:48 PM PST - 28 comments
3.5 years ago I posted a
question about looking for the kickass bible story book of my youth. I finally
found it today! Now, I'd like to find a good study Bible for me.
[more inside]posted by mdiskin at 3:08 PM PST - 7 comments
What's this Sci-Fi short story? A scientist working on gender selection technology is contacted by future potential outcomes of his work (a male-dominated world and a woman-dominated world) that end up corresponding to the woman he marries.
posted by ropeladder at 2:56 PM PST - 4 comments
I have an idea for a fun project I'd like to fund via Kickstarter, but I need to do some due diligence first. My idea involves a variation on an existing product. How do I learn if there are patents involved and who I need to talk to to license them if needed? Is this a job for a patent lawyer?
[more inside]posted by o2b at 2:56 PM PST - 3 comments
What books, blogs, online journals, etc. would be good reads in order to get a behind the scenes, nuts and bolts look at the television industry?
[more inside]posted by roosterboy at 2:50 PM PST - 7 comments
BF and I (straight mid-twenties lady) have a happy, loving relationship (2 years+). But, this is my first long-term relationship and I have an anxiety disorder. I want to "check in" with him and make sure we're still on the same page about us and the future, but this is my pattern and it has been unhealthy for me. To the healthy couples - do you "check in" with your partner? Should I? Snowflake details inside.
[more inside]posted by Paper rabies at 2:43 PM PST - 16 comments
What kind of video camera is best for mounting above a cooking demonstration island and cooktop?
[more inside]posted by webhund at 2:16 PM PST - 1 comments
Trying to plan a last minute trip to Vancouver and need some hotel recommendations. Also, it's looking like it's significantly cheaper to fly into to Seattle. Would that make sense to fly into Seattle and then make my way to Vancouver via rental car, bus or train, OR would it be smarter to just pay the extra cost and just fly straight into Vancouver.
[more inside]posted by ericthegardener at 2:05 PM PST - 25 comments
At work I am often asked whether a news story on a website appeared in print, and we need to know within a quick timeframe. We do not have Lexis Nexis or any other such database for me to check against and there's no chance that we'll have money in our budget to buy a subscription. Usually I resort to using Press Display, but they don't have every paper. Is there an online resource for me to use to determine what was published in print?
[more inside]posted by forkisbetter at 12:51 PM PST - 12 comments
What benefit does a Negative Operating Cycle get you? Other than just cash on hand. Amazon has a lot of cash because they practice Just In Time inventory management & sell out of their products before the bill for that product comes due. Other companies pay the bill first & then wait for the stock to sell out to recoup their money. Aside from the benefit of having cash on hand, what benefit do you get from this?
[more inside]posted by MesoFilter at 12:19 PM PST - 19 comments
What color suits, shirts, and ties compose a basic professional wardrobe? (On Tuesday I'm starting a new job in which I will wear a suit and tie every day. I need to buy some clothes -- help me out.)
[more inside]posted by lewedswiver at 12:11 PM PST - 31 comments
Is there a technical terminology that could describe different styles of popular singing, in the same way that linguists might describe accents? Try your hand at a couple of examples inside.
[more inside]posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:08 PM PST - 4 comments
I have a PDF document and a spreadsheet in XLS format. We want to be able to put the spreadsheet into the PDF and allow users to click on the sheet's column headings to sort the data alphabetically depending on need. Is this possible? If so, what is the best way to do it?
[more inside]posted by Servo5678 at 11:58 AM PST - 5 comments
I have fine, long, wispy, ultra-ultra-straight hair and according to the hairdresser, lots of it. I would like to occasionally have some loose, simple curls or waves, for going out, weddings and other dressy events.
[more inside]posted by reshet at 11:56 AM PST - 13 comments
How does an ad-buyer get paid in an agency? And how does that information get relayed to the client?
[more inside]posted by rev- at 11:30 AM PST - 3 comments
I'm wondering about communications & technology staffing at organizations like the one I work for.
[more inside]posted by jdl at 11:18 AM PST - 1 comments
Ladyparts-filter. Looking for advice/experiences from women who were diagnosed with cervical dysplasia/cancer and had the LEEP biopsy and/or laser ablation.
[more inside]posted by radioamy at 10:36 AM PST - 14 comments
I'm visiting an old friend in Seattle this weekend, and I would like to bring her a little something. What would be a good gift to bring from Los Angeles?
[more inside]posted by ablazingsaddle at 10:28 AM PST - 11 comments
Cheap screencast app with simultaneous webcam and audio recording for OSX? A few more catches, too...
[more inside]posted by cmchap at 10:21 AM PST - 3 comments
I really need some pep talks right now. I've been on the hunt for inspiring, upbeat podcasts, but so many of them are phony or cheesy. What podcasts are real, helpful, and motivating?
[more inside]posted by ROTFL at 10:08 AM PST - 22 comments
I'm looking for a word or phrase that implies offering a solution to a problem created by the same entity offering the solution. Or even just a created problem in general (e.g. created by society).
[more inside]posted by jjbb at 9:57 AM PST - 12 comments
I am the IT Manager for a small public access tv station and I've been roped into doing a segment on our weekly news show and I have absolutely no idea what to do.
[more inside]posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:25 AM PST - 30 comments
what are the best practices for taking care of a macbook pro (specifically the battery) for someone who uses it intensively for 8-10 hours a day?
[more inside]posted by austere at 9:24 AM PST - 11 comments
Recently, I found out that a now deceased family member worked at a 'gay hotel' in Provincetown MA in the 1940's. I'm trying to find out more about what 'gay hotels' were like in Provincetown, and just generally more about gay life in Cape Cod during that time. Can someone point me toward some good resources? I'm particularly interested in the sexual identities of the men who lived and stayed in Provincetown.
[more inside]posted by shushufindi at 9:13 AM PST - 5 comments
Buying advice for audio equipment that can be used for both home video and for field recording?
[more inside]posted by facetious at 9:07 AM PST - 8 comments
I am looking for some new books to read, and it occurs to me that some of my very favorite books have excellent, well-developed, funny narrators. I'm looking for the kind of book where you might forget the plot, but you'll never forget the person who told you the story.
[more inside]posted by zoetrope at 8:59 AM PST - 56 comments
My IT Help Desk is stumped - can you help me? My computer is making what I can only describe as a
hardware beep that I can't turn off. Muting Windows and disabling all system sounds doesn't work. Yet the beep only happens when I do certain things with the software - at first, it was only when trying to save a document into my virtual system in Word, but recently it's every time an email arrives in Outlook, which is just awful. This didn't used to happen, but once, many months ago, I accidentally pressed a random combination of keys and it started. I have no idea how to turn it off - and neither do the IT people. System details inside.
[more inside]posted by Dasein at 8:30 AM PST - 10 comments
The heat guard around my oven door has come away slightly as seen
here. How can I fix this permanently?
posted by waraw at 8:29 AM PST - 4 comments
How can I go abut learning jewelry making? Real metalsmithing, not just stringing beads on wires...
[more inside]posted by juliewhite at 8:03 AM PST - 12 comments
I have a musket stock from a C. 1760ish Brown Bess.
The stock is heartwood walnut. The original wood, both on the outside and interior, is covered with small holes beween 1.25 and 1.5mm. in diameter. These look like insect holes. Is this seen in British muskets and other arms or furniture of this era? If so, what might cause them? Can a forum be recomended that might be able to suggest what had caused these holes?
posted by Raybun at 8:01 AM PST - 5 comments
I know it's not worth anything, but the sentimental value is through the roof. Is there any way I can restore a black velvet painting I have that's in pretty bad shape?
[more inside]posted by patheral at 7:54 AM PST - 6 comments
Doubting if I am cut-out for freelance/independent work. There seem to be quite a few independent professionals here; it'd be wonderful to hear your thoughts/experiences.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:35 AM PST - 10 comments
How do you keep track of and find new DJs and electronic music - the kind you would dance to at clubs and festivals? The rules seem to be different compared to album-based rock/pop music I'm more familiar with.
[more inside]posted by PercussivePaul at 7:25 AM PST - 17 comments
My coworker lost her son to addiction earlier this month, and she has a younger son who also struggles with addiction. She needs counseling for both grief and for dealing with children with addictions. She's not able to find a therapist right now so I told her I would help.
[more inside]posted by pwally at 7:22 AM PST - 10 comments
I have a GBP-denominated check that I need to deposit into my USD-denominated bank account in the US. My bank has quoted me a ridiculous conversion rate for the deposit. What are my options?
[more inside]posted by undercoverhuwaaah at 7:13 AM PST - 6 comments
Our
Noguchi coffee table is in need of some serious TLC. Does anyone know a good furniture repair place in NYC that could fix the broken leg and hinge, without overcharging us? We've already tried wood glue and failed, miserably.
posted by J-Do at 6:49 AM PST - 8 comments
Best way to get a law office to stop nickel-and-diming us to death, long after our case has been settled?
[more inside]posted by Rykey at 5:31 AM PST - 18 comments
Uses for an old Day Runner/Filofax? Looking for up to date ways to integrate a paper planner with online services.
[more inside]posted by wingless_angel at 5:27 AM PST - 3 comments
What's the best way to learning web-app development after working through Learn Python the Hard Way (or any other introductory Python book for noobs)?
[more inside]posted by rahulrg at 3:55 AM PST - 7 comments
18 year old daughter doesn't want to go on annual family vacation because of anxiety. How does a caring single parent work through this?
[more inside]posted by kinetic at 3:24 AM PST - 37 comments
Can anyone please recommend equipment or manufacturers of machines capable of full colour Print-On-Demand perfect bound books? I know they will be very expensive, but it is hard to find information and comparative reviews of the printers so I thought I would ask here.
posted by debord at 3:02 AM PST - 2 comments
I was baking a cheesecake and the spring pan leaked. I get that water will ruin the crust, but since mine has no crust, is my cheesecake still ruined?
posted by Yasuo at 2:40 AM PST - 13 comments
My friend found
this bronze piece in a field in the outskirts of Montady, a small town in the south of France. It's quite heavy, and seems to be solid. I've included a Euro coin for scale. Any ideas what it is?
posted by dbarefoot at 1:28 AM PST - 36 comments
February 16
Alright, so I'm not super talented, educated or driven... I should be happy with my less than fulfilling and menial day job, right? Please read further for possibly annoying details.
[more inside]posted by anoirmarie at 11:14 PM PST - 32 comments
After 2 years in a crappy job, I finally have an opportunity for more work with another company! So excited! Problem 1: the work is 1000 miles away. Problem 2: I’m afraid if I leave for periods at a time my husband might fall into depression.
[more inside]posted by feidr2 at 10:14 PM PST - 10 comments
How do I turn a TXT file to a Kindle file (with chapters), using OpenOffice in between?
[more inside]posted by lankford at 9:56 PM PST - 7 comments
I am a man trying to find some new jeans and I'm having difficulty. My go to brands have recently changed their cuts and I don't like their fit anymore. I've been researching online for additional brands to try, but haven't had a lot of luck. I have no interest in Raw and my preference is for designer jeans.
[more inside]posted by Jacob G at 8:44 PM PST - 10 comments
I'm looking for lists of TV shows and movies that have characters referencing numbered lists of rules.
As examples in Wedding Crashers they reference a random assortment of rules e.g. Rule #110: Never walk away from a crasher in a funny jacket. Fight Club has "First Rule of fight club is..."
What else has a set of rules like this?
posted by vegetableagony at 8:36 PM PST - 30 comments
What kind of magic does QString().setNum() do to convert -1413011644 to 2881955652?
[more inside]posted by crawl at 7:32 PM PST - 6 comments
I sit at my desk all day and forget to move, focus elsewhere, stand up, drink water, stretch. You get the idea. I want a regular reminder to take a moment to do these things. I've searched apps and freeware and have come up empty. Help?
[more inside]posted by AnOrigamiLife at 7:20 PM PST - 25 comments
I'm hoping to put together a relatively simple website on which to put various stories and essays my friends and I are writing. I'm aiming at imitating old journals and newspapers (
like this), fairly simple, mostly text. Do you guys know any great examples of this type of layout online that I could scope out, and if I wanted to start prototyping it myself relying as much as possible on CSS and javascript, what would be some resources I should consider?
[more inside]posted by BlackLeotardFront at 7:09 PM PST - 4 comments
Looking for some recommendations for serious fantasy books, especially those inspired by fairy tales. A couple guidelines inside.
[more inside]posted by houndsoflove at 6:21 PM PST - 59 comments
What are some strategies to stop being catty when surrounded by people who like to be catty and gossip?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:50 PM PST - 33 comments
Please tell me your experience with a small-for-gestational-age / intrauterine growth restriction pregnancy.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:50 PM PST - 13 comments
I watched my first NBA basketball game ever and I have some random questions.
[more inside]posted by Sully at 5:36 PM PST - 20 comments
Have any of you flown on an airplane the day after you got a wisdom tooth removed? My oral surgeon says it'll be fine, but I'm nervous.
[more inside]posted by Viola at 5:11 PM PST - 22 comments
What do you get the guy who has nothing? I'm looking for practical going-away gifts for a friend who's about to pack up his few belongings in his car and move cross-country, broke.
[more inside]posted by roger ackroyd at 4:42 PM PST - 48 comments
May be about to be offered a temp-to-perm job, but also may need to start 6 to 8 week voluntary medical process that will preclude working. What do I do?
[more inside]posted by primate moon at 4:22 PM PST - 9 comments
How can I best get cell data while in Japan? I've got a GSM Galaxy Nexus that I'd like to use while I'm in Japan. Is it possible to purchase a pre-paid SIM? If so, where would these be sold? I'll be in Nagoya, if that helps.
posted by VoteBrian at 3:36 PM PST - 14 comments
Asking for a friend: I'm in the U.S. and require the services of a stock broker licensed in Korea who speaks English and has experience handling U.S. clients. I'm looking for any referrals to firms or individuals who work with well known firms. Feel free to MeFi Mail me if you'd rather not post publicly. Bonus question: For circumstances beyond my control I need to take direct ownership of an interest I have in what will become a publicly traded Korean company. I plan to speak to my tax adviser, but are there any particular considerations I need to be aware of in obtaining and holding this investment? My understanding is that I need a licensed broker to take custody for me. I also understand that South Korea is a relatively friendly place for U.S. foreign investment. Thanks!
posted by chaiwawa at 3:30 PM PST - 3 comments
OK, I understand why the government keeps on making new bills, because they wear out. But why do they need to make new coins? No one would throw away a dirty old quarter, they don't disintegrate, they work fine in machines, etc. So why do we keep making new ones?
Not referring to pennies, which I guess sort of disappear because people don't think they have much value. I don't know why we don't just get rid of them, but that's a different question.
posted by mmf at 2:59 PM PST - 20 comments
Looking for a particular podcast I used to listen to, lost track of, then forgot the name of it or the people involved. It was by a man and woman, probably in their early to mid 30s. Friends, but not romantic (he was married). Funny, conversational, no set topic, but not necessarily a "comedy" podcast. Popular enough to have t-shirts for their show.
[more inside]posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 2:59 PM PST - 10 comments
I just got invited to spend a week or so with some friends in Sydney, Australia (yay!). But the flight is going to be long and painful enough that I'd like to go for longer, and probably get a little ways out of Sydney. But I do
not want to drive. Is the following feasible, doable without driving, and reasonable for an older (60ish) woman on her own?
[more inside]posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:48 PM PST - 11 comments
You all did such a great job of helping with my Black History Month question, that I am returning with another similar question about African American authors of fiction--specifically SF Bay Area-based, "classic", not controversial...
[more inside]posted by agatha_magatha at 2:47 PM PST - 8 comments
Our new and overly-swanky kitchen tap does not have an aerator. This creates a mess of tidal-wave proportions. Is there an after-market fix?
[more inside]posted by DarlingBri at 2:05 PM PST - 17 comments
I may be going to Los Angeles next week on a brief vacation with my Disney-Channel-oriented 13-year-old daughter. I have signed up for free tickets to a taping of 'Jessie' on Friday the 24th. Will this all work out?
[more inside]posted by expialidocious at 1:54 PM PST - 18 comments
I work for a small, educational game non-profit. We have out first trade show coming up! We're looking for cool, clever booth designs.
[more inside]posted by GilloD at 1:45 PM PST - 7 comments
How can I control my yawning tic, or at least make it less offensive? It seems to really put people off, and I feel terrible.
[more inside]posted by Wroksie at 1:35 PM PST - 18 comments
What does 'dieselpunk' mean to you in a story? With our without 'AU historical elements'. I'm just looking for wild ideas and scenarios that may fit into this oeuvre, especially a set-up that sounds blindingly awesome rather than simply appropriate for the fantasy subgenre.
[more inside]posted by reenka at 1:22 PM PST - 5 comments
Can soldiers in US accept awards/rewards beyond those within the military structure, such as cash rewards and such, for actions pursuant to their military duties? (I'd be interested in other Anglophile or closely-allied nations, too.)
[more inside]posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:21 PM PST - 7 comments
I keep reading rumors of Ron Paul supporters sneaking their delegates into state conventions.
How plausible is it that Ron Paul can get the nomination
with this strategy? And if it can't get the nomination, what
can he do with all the extra delegates?
posted by empath at 1:05 PM PST - 4 comments
Breakup customs-filter. I did my boyfriend wrong, by becoming an exhausted-complaining mess, on a recent depressive lapse I had, partially due to a physical condition. He left me, scared and confused, though we were madly in love, after 3 months of this. I wish to part in peace.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:30 PM PST - 52 comments
Want a long-term relationship, but I'm in a geographically unstable stage of my life and everyone prefers to be friends. This sucks.
[more inside]posted by kaibutsu at 12:26 PM PST - 25 comments
Project, workflow, and customer management tools for web design and service firm? I want to manage (many) small web projects through design, approval and launch steps, then have billing attached.
[more inside]posted by mtstover at 12:18 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm an artist, and I help run a non-profit studio-school. Our studio is about to file for 501(c)(3) exemption and seek funding, and we've reached the limit of our collective knowledge. Please point me in the right direction(s). Length and details inside.
[more inside]posted by amcm at 12:16 PM PST - 10 comments
I'm looking for examples from art, popular culture, mythology, and religion of what might be called the "soul switch": where one person's soul or mind leaves his body and inhabits a new body.
[more inside]posted by Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson at 12:04 PM PST - 65 comments
I need to figure out if my coworkers and I are owed overtime pay. I'm getting conflicting information everywhere I go, and if I need to refer to a lawyer in the end so be it. Maybe you guys can help though... We're salaried video game artists in California.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:49 AM PST - 19 comments
Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG and PwC filter. I have an interview up soon for an auditing firm and would like to fresh up my admittedly rusty accounting skills. I'm not asking for a way to pass my interview with the least amount of effort, but rather which topics they will expect me to know for a successful internship.
[more inside]posted by freddymetz at 11:03 AM PST - 12 comments
Graphic designer, currently using a 2.4GHz Core2 dual-processor MacBook Pro (2gb RAM). Considering a new i7 quad-core MacBook Pro; I could get either the 2.2Ghz or 2.4Ghz. Would rather save $400 and get the 2.2Ghz. Is this a step down because of clock speed, a step up because double the processors, or apples-to-oranges? Which would you recommend?
[more inside]posted by barefoot at 11:03 AM PST - 20 comments
I love contemporary classical music, but I don't know enough other people that do too. Aside from Sequenza21, what are some good resources for meeting people online that share this interest? Also, aside from attending local events (I live in Madison, WI), can anybody suggest ways to meet people in person who are also fans? BTW, if this is an interest of yours too, feel free to send a message.
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:49 AM PST - 9 comments
Small business owners: Is it possible to turn down a request for a raise from employees, yet maintain workplace morale? On the flip side, have you been turned down for a raise, but stayed in your position?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:39 AM PST - 42 comments
I have been approved for an essentially free gastric bypass surgery (Roux en-Y), but the extensive surgery/recovery scares me and I would much rather have Lap Band surgery. That won't be covered by my insurance so I'd be paying about $15,000. Can you help me evaluate my options? And personal experience with either surgery would be great.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:38 AM PST - 17 comments
I recently bought a camera from a third party retailer on Amazon (in the US). The retailer used Amazon's fulfillment service to ship the items and to give Amazon Prime members their free shipping. They also priced their wares at a couple bucks less than Amazon itself, so theirs was the default way to purchase the camera. My questions are: What is expected from the third party retailer in this case? Just buying the stock and cashing the checks? Is there anything to prevent, say, me from doing the same thing?
posted by CutaneousRabbit at 10:07 AM PST - 4 comments
[PunctuationFilter] When you are writing a list of people with their credentials, do you separate the person with their credentials from the next person with their credentials with commas?
[more inside]posted by Kimberly at 10:02 AM PST - 13 comments
I need a simple program (an SWF preferably) that will let me assign locally-stored sound clips to my PC's keyboard. Something like the
Jingle Keyboard freeware, or a flash soundboard, but will let me assign specific sounds to specific keys -- such as sound1.mp3 to C, sound2.mp3 to V, etc..
[more inside]posted by Quarter Pincher at 8:32 AM PST - 2 comments
How can I access a perfectly functioning Macbook hard-drive in an otherwise not perfectly functioning computer?
[more inside]posted by taltalim at 8:16 AM PST - 22 comments
Strange and fortuitous circumstance: Where should I retire to at age 30 with a $2.5 million nest egg, an adventurous girlfriend, no job and no obligations? How much should I spend/mortgage on a house vs. invest?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:57 AM PST - 47 comments
An employer decides to update their employee database and distributes a form with the usual name, address, emergency contact stuff on it. There is also a line for "Any medications you are currently taking."
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:55 AM PST - 14 comments
How do I allow myself to trust a guy I'm "seeing" given a previous relationship where I deluded myself into giving too much trust?
[more inside]posted by soulsteelgray at 7:30 AM PST - 15 comments
Where do the more fashionable young men in NYC get their slacks? I need some nice pants and I don't want to look like my father. Where can I get some fashionable, slimmer, non-break, pants in NYC?
[more inside]posted by Bengston at 7:20 AM PST - 23 comments
Business practicality filter: As a freelance designer, one man shop, what would I have to consider regarding taking on an assistant? Help my underdeveloped left brain...
[more inside]posted by ecorrocio at 6:50 AM PST - 1 comments
My annual eye exam is coming up. I've had a years-long string of not-quite-right corrective lenses. What can I do to get an accurate prescription this time?
[more inside]posted by yersinia at 6:26 AM PST - 24 comments
Has anyone ever been in a relationship with someone from another culture? How do you get over some of the fundamental differences in world views?
[more inside]posted by northxnorthwest at 5:59 AM PST - 30 comments
I'm really bad about using condoms consistently, and I don't know what to do to make myself be more responsible and safe.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:54 AM PST - 19 comments
Tell me about high-quality, (i.e. more than just a designer name) classic, luxury accessories.
[more inside]posted by ladybird at 4:51 AM PST - 23 comments
What is the correct order of operations when it comes to getting into the pool (in terms of showering and putting on your suit)?
[more inside]posted by sperose at 4:36 AM PST - 22 comments
February 15
This is one for the design-heads. I want to create a bound-book containing an email exchange - something along the lines of an epistolary novel. I've got a good
bookbinders lined up. And have a passble knowledge of how to physically construct a book. However I need some help with the presentation of the content.
[more inside]posted by dry-jim at 10:21 PM PST - 5 comments
I~m having an issue with my Mac keyboard not working properly with a PC running Windows XP. My punctuation is all screwy and I can~t figure out how to fix it. Hope me please!
[more inside]posted by biddeford at 9:47 PM PST - 8 comments
I am not in Canadabut I have a credit card loaded with 75 Canadian dollars. What is the smartest way to buy something in canadian dollars off of Amazon (amazon.
ca)? I will need any purchase shipped to the U.S.. Will there be crazy unforeseen delivery charges buying through amazon.ca? Is there a way to get this money onto my amazon.com account as credit? Is there some other smart way to spend Canadian dollars while living in the u.s.? Is there some way to get it transferred through the credit card company to an account of mine? The card says it is only for electronic use.
[more inside]posted by cashman at 9:04 PM PST - 12 comments
Guy Gift Filter - An old friend said he'd love to see pictures of us I still have. His birthday is coming up, so I thought it might be cute to make copies of pictures and cards he sent me way back when. I have one idea for putting them together, but it might not go over well. Ideas?
[more inside]posted by crankyrogalsky at 8:58 PM PST - 8 comments
what's the right take on food/sweets as a motivator in the office? My team has had a hard week and food is a common reward but I feel uneasy about it.
[more inside]posted by sweetkid at 8:41 PM PST - 67 comments
Are there any maps/resources to illustrate the neighbourhoods that Silicon Valley VC/PEs and tech companies are located in?
[more inside]posted by aherdofturtles at 8:27 PM PST - 6 comments
Looking for a CBT or similar therapist for a sixteen-year-old in the DC area, and help for dealing with parents. Snowflake details inside.
[more inside]posted by nonasuch at 8:04 PM PST - 4 comments
My Twitter account is displaying everything in bold. It's only on my home computer; my work one is fine. I have emptied my cache and deleted cookies but nothing is working. How am I able to fix this? It's driving me crazy.
posted by Joseppi at 7:24 PM PST - 9 comments
M-Audio Keystation 88ES Midi Controller -- a good choice at a reasonable price?
I got GREAT advice here a little while ago re: KWK speakers and this is the next piece to be purchased for my son at college (includes a Macbook & a DUET interface). Is this a good choice at the price? I like the fact that it has 88 keys.
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:17 PM PST - 15 comments
Second hookup/date tips for a girl who likes to pick up guys? (How to encourage said guys to make a move the second time around).
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:58 PM PST - 21 comments
How do I get over not feeling wanted? For a long time (since childhood for sure) I have never felt "wanted" by anyone. I am absolutely tired of feeling this way, especially when rejected for relationships, but I cannot honestly wrap my head around how to move forward. HALP!
[more inside]posted by MultiFaceted at 6:29 PM PST - 17 comments
Three months into a relationship, we're having communication problems. I want to talk all the time, she's ok without it, and this bothers me. I'm working to become less clingy, but should I look for a girl who's clingy too?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:04 PM PST - 26 comments
Where can I find a good contract template for a loan between two family members? What about the tax implications?
[more inside]posted by StickyCarpet at 5:12 PM PST - 1 comments
Does anyone know of any good anthologies featuring true stories, told in first or third-person, about (a) abortion in the United States before Roe vs. Wade, or (b) homosexuality in the United States in the 1960s and before, when it was very heavily stigmatized? I have some social conservatives in my family, along with some newly minted moderates and liberals, and I'd like to give the former some things to ponder, and the latter some talking points and fuel for their progressive opinions.
[more inside]posted by The Confessor at 4:45 PM PST - 19 comments
Recommendations for calling services for background (extra) work is Los Angeles? What services have worked best for you?
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 3:36 PM PST - 3 comments
LateImperialRussianHistoryFilter: What penalties under the law might a Russian man or woman in 1890 face for adultery?
[more inside]posted by Pallas Athena at 2:41 PM PST - 4 comments
I realized recently, that I've lost somewhat of my network that kept me up to date on technology trends, software development methodologies and up and coming frameworks. I'm specifically in the enterprise JEE world. What are some software related blogs that you use as a Senior/Lead/Architect?
[more inside]posted by kookywon at 1:34 PM PST - 3 comments
I've had part of a Kate Bush (?) song in my head for days & can't get it to "finish" and identify itself. At the end (or beginning?), a man (her dad or brother?) sings the first lines of "You Always Hurt the One You Love"... "the one you wouldn't hurt at all..." Googling has failed me. What's the song?
posted by dywypi at 12:54 PM PST - 3 comments
Are you a woman who used to be invisible to physically attractive men, and now gets a lot of attention and approaches from them? What changed?
[more inside]posted by Sock of Silliness at 12:43 PM PST - 69 comments
Tell me where to live with a toddler in San Diego that's not too far from UCSD and isn't crazy expensive. Moving from North Carolina and everything seems so pricey.
[more inside]posted by JuliaKM at 12:10 PM PST - 17 comments
Are there any iOS podcast apps that will automatically check for and download new podcasts in the background without me having to open up the app and refresh it?
[more inside]posted by modernnomad at 12:03 PM PST - 13 comments
Roadtrip from the Bay Area to Hoover Dam and beyond at the end of winter... help us connect the dots!
[more inside]posted by kendrak at 12:00 PM PST - 10 comments
I sent a small package via priority mail and it never arrived. Probably due to me writing the wrong zip code. Is it lost forever?
[more inside]posted by cirrostratus at 11:40 AM PST - 13 comments
Is there any sequence of letters that spells out a number on a telephone keypad as well as indicating that same number in Roman numerals?
[more inside]posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:24 AM PST - 15 comments
Last summer we bought a
Cat Mate Pet Fountain for our cats. One of them ignores it and drinks from the old ceramic bowl, but the other is crazy about it. It's stopped working a couple of times (you can hear the motor running, but water does not move), but cleaning the parts has fixed it before; now it doesn't. Does anybody have experience with this? (In general, the product gets excellent reviews, so we'd prefer to avoid having to try another brand unless we have to.)
posted by languagehat at 11:05 AM PST - 12 comments
I have a house and a husband I'd like to keep. However, it seems like the only way to do this is to temporarily relocate myself 70 miles away where the job market is better. Is this a good idea?
[more inside]posted by Val_E_Yum at 10:43 AM PST - 27 comments
I am Gluten Free, work in a small office, we all bring our lunch, but others' lunches make me sick! What do I do???
[more inside]posted by glitrqn at 10:43 AM PST - 62 comments
I want to be prepared (tongue-in-cheek) for when I win 300+ million dollars in the Powerball lottery. The moment my winning numbers are selected, what kind of staff should I assemble to handle the $$$, protect my family's safety, and maintain the greatest anonymity possible and any other creative suggestions...all before I publicly turn in the winning ticket?
posted by teg4rvn at 10:34 AM PST - 21 comments
How can I overcome (or at least convincingly mask) my near-paralytic shyness and social awkwardness before my upcoming GradSchool visits? Help! I'm a very special snowflake...
[more inside]posted by Dorinda at 10:02 AM PST - 19 comments
For the sake of my dwindling sanity, can anyone point me towards the blog post I read about a "concentric" model for data-driven software architecture? I've googled like mad but haven't come anywhere close to it because the only search terms I can come up with are either vague or have additional meanings that pollute the results.
[more inside]posted by ElDiabloConQueso at 9:50 AM PST - 4 comments
Biggest longshot, but what the hell... The music playing in the bar/strip club in Outland (Sean Connery, 1981)?
[more inside]posted by Meatbomb at 9:22 AM PST - 15 comments
I want to spice up a couple of the panels of my work cubicle, tastefully. I have something like
this in mind but I'm looking at different fabrics online and realizing I have no idea what type of fabric to go with (there's printed cotton, faux silk, linen, wovens) or even what category (sold for quilting, apparel, interior decorating purposes etc.). Does anyone know what I should go with? I'm happy to go to a physical store but I want to make sure I know what I'm even looking for in terms of look and feel. I don't necessarily need/want advice about pattern, just type of fabric. Thanks!
posted by lovingkindness at 8:31 AM PST - 10 comments
Big changes are coming and I'm not sure how to make the best of them. I am not enthralled in the least in my current career and would like to take a chance on something new, but should I go for something that is very risky that I love, something practical, or something that uses my mind, or is there some kind of career that embraces all of this that I am not aware of?
Man this gets long!
[more inside]posted by stormygrey at 8:02 AM PST - 6 comments
Do sports creams with capsacin actually do anything to help healing and repair of inflamed tendons / ligaments or are they merely palliative?
[more inside]posted by BrooksCooper at 7:54 AM PST - 13 comments
Nonfiction books that are off-the-wall, of mixed-to-dubious accuracy, but which are also entertaining and insightful as works of literature, irrespective of the factual claims presented therein. Clarification and examples lurk within.
[more inside]posted by Sticherbeast at 7:47 AM PST - 44 comments
I read this article/essay that once compared long term relationships and the excitement of entering new ones with the difference between a small town and the exotic Istanbul / Marrakech (I no longer remember which).
Perhaps you can point me towards the right direction? Many thanks.
posted by drea at 7:16 AM PST - 3 comments
My ex broke up with me at the beginning of January. I want to give our relationship a second chance. Should I? How? Wall of text within.
[more inside]posted by fight or flight at 6:17 AM PST - 50 comments
A former acquaintance (non-close friend) from college continues to contact me regularly despite me ignoring his calls for almost a year. He calls me about once a week and occasionally he will call in bunches. He has probably called 40-50 times in about 9 months. The fact that he has persisted this long is freaking me out a bit. Should I just tell him to stop contacting me or has it gone beyond that?
More below. I’m a man btw.
[more inside]posted by Ommcc at 5:51 AM PST - 34 comments
Docofi:
Human Planet,
One Giant Leap,
Crossing the Bridge,
Baraka,
Playing for Change and the
Qatsi trilogy are all great examples of documentaries that don't follow a traditional narrative. I'm looking for more documentaries that are neither investigative (
Thin Blue Line,
Capturing the Friedmans) nor quest/mission based (
Catfish,
10 MPH), but rather paint a picture. If that's not clear enough, picture a nature documentary, but instead of animals the subject is "art" or "culture" or some kind of theme.
Bombay Beach,
The Gleaners and I and
Dark Days are sort-of good examples.
posted by omnigut at 4:10 AM PST - 13 comments
I've written some customizable interactive activity templates in javascript that work on tablets and I want to sell to publishers. How do I prevent anyone from stealing and re-using the code?
[more inside]posted by postergeist at 4:02 AM PST - 9 comments
My husband and I own a small house, and were originally planning on moving early next year. We got some good news over the holidays and I am now nearing the end of the first trimester of my first pregnancy. We'd still like to move, but is it easier to do this while I'm pregnant or should we wait until the baby is 6 months old?
[more inside]posted by smalls at 2:55 AM PST - 34 comments
February 14
Could an average person, sufficiently motivated, break through a wall built to current U.S. building code standards without the use of tools?
[more inside]posted by 2bucksplus at 11:33 PM PST - 38 comments
Can you help me come up with alternative ways to say happy birthday? I'm tired of writing the same old things when I send friends birthday cards/texts/etc. Looking for creative, thoughtful, and/or poetic ways to send someone birthday wishes. Bonus points for literary references or foreign language translations that have a slightly different connotation than "Happy Birthday"
posted by robverb at 8:35 PM PST - 34 comments
Could 3 to 4 pieces of sugar-free Dentyne Fire gum per day be giving me occasional episodes of gas, bloating, and diarrhea? If so, what kind of sugar-free gum should I chew instead?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:27 PM PST - 24 comments
Fellatio filter. Interesting topic for my first post ever... My wonderful boyfriend and I have a great sex life but he can only come from intercourse (and usually only when he sees me getting off from it) or from rough, consistent, deepthroating, the latter of which I struggle with severely and just cant seem to pull off even though I love performing "normal" oral sex. How can I give him what he needs in this area (which would make me SO happy) without feeling like I'm going to suffocate and die (dramatic, I know, but seriously what I feel). Modest details inside...
[more inside]posted by bostontina at 8:17 PM PST - 33 comments
Reverting to naturally curly hair after getting Aveda smoothing treatment twice over the last year. What do I do about how weird it's gonna look when the bottom 8 inches are straight? I don't want to keep blowing my hair out every other day and I'd rather not cut it off when I've been growing it out. Is there like a soft wave perm or something I could get on just the straight part?
[more inside]posted by sio42 at 7:58 PM PST - 10 comments
When applying for jobs online and you're asked to cut and paste a resume and answer a few questions, should you add a cover letter to the beginning?
[more inside]posted by cyniczny at 7:47 PM PST - 5 comments
Looking for a scenic San Francisco East Bay location that i can shoot a picture of my car, preferably something that catches a bay view.
[more inside]posted by NGnerd at 7:41 PM PST - 10 comments
Traveling to the Bahamas. Help me plan things that arent not just snorkleing and beach. I know it is a great island and I am so excited to go but I want to get some suggestions on what to do by people here. We are going to stay in Nassau but we could be coerced to another island with suggestion. It is just myself and my bf and we are 35.
[more inside]posted by femmme at 7:08 PM PST - 8 comments
How do I know which Ethnomusicology graduate program is considered better in the field? And how do I decide where to go?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:32 PM PST - 8 comments
My parents use to hang out with Claes Oldenburg back in the 50s and 60s. My father took a B and W silent film of one of his happenings, "Gayety", at U of Chicago in 1963. What to do with it?
[more inside]posted by Kazimirovna at 6:29 PM PST - 6 comments
I need the job, but am feeling unappreciated. How can I explain my situation to management without jeopardizing my career?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:25 PM PST - 17 comments
How do I wear
this blazer and not look like an idiot? I have absolutely no idea how I am going to wear this. I'd like to dress it up, with maybe a white shirt and tie, but what colors? And what color pants? I am totally confused as to why my mom would buy this for me as a gift.
posted by sushi69 at 5:54 PM PST - 35 comments
How does one get "licensed and bonded" for liability insurance with dogwalking/housesitting, and a bonus question about umbrella policies for a personal business
[more inside]posted by shortyJBot at 5:46 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm going to be taking a few graduate courses online while traveling abroad. I need three textbooks. All three are available for the Kindle through Amazon. Only two are available through Coursemart. I bought a tablet with the hopes I could use it for the texts and avoid carrying three more books with me when traveling. I see two potential problems, that being said my question ultimately has two parts:
[more inside]posted by Che boludo! at 5:37 PM PST - 3 comments
I have a media box plugged into a 480p widescreen TV. How can I get Windows to use the correct aspect ratio?
[more inside]posted by neckro23 at 5:31 PM PST - 17 comments
Two image printing questions:
1) Will Costco trim images (and if not, is there a similarly priced & equally high quality competitor who will), and
2) What are my options for turning images into print-on-demand postcards?
[more inside]posted by jsturgill at 3:59 PM PST - 7 comments
I would like to know what is the best approach for measuring a cloud provider's network latency and jitter e.g. Amazon EC2. While a single ping on the command line can achieve a round trip latency snapshot for that one moment, I was looking for something more comprehensive and thorough.
Are there any software tools out there that are particularly recommended and hopefully easy to use for measuring at intervals, network latency & jitter, preferably in Windows?
Is round trip latency or end to end latency the best metric to consider? Ping provides roundtrip although if the packet came back the same route it came, then end to end could be found by dividing by 2.
Latency and jitter increases in proportion to server load. How could I ramp up server load to let's say a specified percentage?
Many thanks!
posted by conrad101 at 3:59 PM PST - 8 comments
If I can find a way to come up with $150/week, I can quit my degrading retail job and hugely improve my quality of life.
[more inside]posted by Scientist at 3:55 PM PST - 46 comments
I need to find out the results, if any, of a pair of cases filed in the UK High Court of Justice, Queens Division, in 2004. I have the names of the claimants and the case numbers, but don't have access to (or can't find) the legal databases that might give me the info. Anyone in the UK legal world have any hints? I can provide details if you message me. Thanks.
posted by soulbarn at 3:51 PM PST - 6 comments
Can anyone recommend (from personal experience) a good, basic, durable sewing machine?
[more inside]posted by brownrd at 3:38 PM PST - 14 comments
Why are old, black&white films (seemingly) always presented sped up to a modern framerate, making them jerky and fast? The explanation I have of that is that they were recorded with a slower frame rate, so if you want to play it on a modern TV, you have to speed it up. But can't we do better than that now?
[more inside]posted by BungaDunga at 2:30 PM PST - 19 comments
We might have the opportunity to move to DC - but can we even afford to live there, in a nice, walkable neighborhood?
[more inside]posted by The Toad at 2:16 PM PST - 30 comments
I'm currently pregnant with my first child (whee!) and as a single-mom-to-be am kind of freaking out. It's been recommended to me that I investigate hiring a doula to help with labour and delivery as well as post-partum. I need recommendations if you have them on the who as well as what to look for in a good doula.
[more inside]posted by machine at 1:57 PM PST - 13 comments
Many mainstream US sitcoms often seem to have a very sentimental moment five/ten minutes before the end. This is rarely the case in UK sitcoms and as a UK viewer seems very much an American thing. When did this become a convention and why?
[more inside]posted by mippy at 1:27 PM PST - 51 comments
There is a pair of twins I interact with socially. I cannot tell them apart. It's awkward and I think probably very rude of me. Help?
[more inside]posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:12 PM PST - 30 comments
Help me find some riveting long-form journalism to read! I love thoughtful, explanatory, intelligent, slightly investigative single-topic pieces of writing. Can you help me find more? What are your all-time favorite pieces of long-form journalism?
[more inside]posted by firstbest at 1:03 PM PST - 37 comments
I really dislike my current job. I have a job offer from a company that would love to have me and is willing to accommodate all timing logistics. However, I still feel guilty about quitting my current job, for a myriad of reasons. Give me permission to quit.
[more inside]posted by Be cool, sodapop at 12:42 PM PST - 40 comments
I am planning on teaching a course on data visualization to some Ph.D. students in the social sciences, and could use some ideas about designing the syllabus. If you have taken or taught such a course, I would especially value your input, but I would also love to hear from any among you who have experience doing data visualization.
[more inside]posted by rapidadverbssuck at 12:36 PM PST - 8 comments
The community garden where I volunteer is planning their first ever seed swap and I’m the one organizing it. Help!
[more inside]posted by bCat at 12:33 PM PST - 1 comments
Do you know a great therapist in Brooklyn or Manhattan who helped you or a friend cope with depression? I'm trying to find a good fit.
[more inside]posted by jessca84 at 12:24 PM PST - 5 comments
I just found out I have an interview for a Systems Analyst (Developer) Co-op internship on Friday. I am terrified. Some questions on what I should wear and on whether they might have me write a test are within.
[more inside]posted by kitcat at 12:21 PM PST - 12 comments
When I asked my brother if there was something in particular he would like for his upcoming wedding, he told me not to give him anything unless it was cash. I have a few issues with this request.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:36 AM PST - 83 comments
I have a weird medical issue that has caused a couple internists to shrug their shoulders. It involves dizziness and an ability to hear my pulse when moving my eyes in a certain way.
[more inside]posted by balistic at 10:45 AM PST - 17 comments
Where can I find good websites, books, magazines, etc. that explain the principles of picking good paint colors to use when painting rooms in my house? I tend to pick a color and paint the room, only to find that I don't really like the color. Are there design standards/rules (e.g. the rule of 3s for photography)?
posted by GernBlandston at 9:56 AM PST - 8 comments
Small US non-profit (501(c)3) at its Whit's end. Are there opensource or online solutions to help me consolidate all my bookkeeping!
[more inside]posted by yoyoceramic at 9:55 AM PST - 7 comments
What are some "pet" names that
empower or
show confidence in the named party?
[more inside]posted by fake at 9:52 AM PST - 64 comments
I'm planning a drive from Calgary, AB to Victoria, BC this Friday, and I would like your advice.
[more inside]posted by mossicle at 9:07 AM PST - 12 comments
My friend would like ideas for a tattoo that would remind him to stop and think before acting and to remain calm. I've found
this image which comes close. Any other ideas?
posted by Hubajube at 8:52 AM PST - 22 comments
My car was illegitimately towed by the city in Vancouver, BC. Now that I'm disputing the ticket, is there any chance of fair arbitration or do these things also go in the city's favour? Way more details inside.
[more inside]posted by Nelsormensch at 8:45 AM PST - 9 comments
My role at work is growing from being a plain programmer to being in charge of our development process. Sounds great, but we don't have a process so I need to come up with one. I need techniques and tools to improve our end product.
[more inside]posted by borkencode at 8:41 AM PST - 13 comments
How did reading a biography learn you a valuable lesson, help you gain a crucial insight, change your worldview or impact you in some other, non-trivial way?
[more inside]posted by Foci for Analysis at 8:38 AM PST - 13 comments
Where can I find the star stud earrings featured in
this Ellie Goulding video? They appear to be shaped like 5-pointed stars, have gems at the base of each triangle, and one in the center. My wife loves starry earrings, stud earrings, and Ellie Goulding, and I would love to get them (or a reasonable clone) for her.
[more inside]posted by Xoder at 8:33 AM PST - 7 comments
DILF? DELF? DALF? Which French foreign language exam is right for me - and how should I prepare for it?
[more inside]posted by jph at 8:26 AM PST - 8 comments
I have a Canon G10 and want to create a stop motion piece where I won't be near the camera, how do I do it without breaking the bank?
[more inside]posted by rudhraigh at 8:23 AM PST - 5 comments
Just got a gift from a Metafilter-ian in Australia of ground wattle seed, which I'm super exited about! Now I need some delicious recipes to cook with it. I have a Valentines party to go to later today, so I'm especially looking something dessert-y to share (but other recs are also welcome!)
posted by kittenmarlowe at 8:12 AM PST - 5 comments
I've been living in a NYC apartment for six years without a signed lease. Now I want to leave. What are my obligations about giving notice to my current landlord?
[more inside]posted by zerbinetta at 7:40 AM PST - 7 comments
I got hooked on "Sons of Anarchy" reruns. Some great acting, and fine straight-ahead storytelling. How 'bout that Gemma! But tell me, is Charlie Hunnam (who I know is a Brit, by the way) swaggering as part of the role he plays (Jax) , or is he limping because of a real-life disability, or does he just walk that way? Once I noticed, it started driving me nuts. Have unearthed zippo on the web.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 7:17 AM PST - 5 comments
Reading a blog that reqires permission, but the author is anonymous
[more inside]posted by KRS at 7:15 AM PST - 1 comments
You are not my doctor, but I won't be able to see him for a few weeks and you might have some helpful sinus-related advice and tips that could really help me out. Long and slightly gross details inside.
[more inside]posted by jbickers at 7:12 AM PST - 20 comments
Why would a flight to the destination city be less expensive than the same flight to the connecting city?
[more inside]posted by sandra_s at 6:36 AM PST - 10 comments
Camper (motorhome) filter: we (me, my wife and kids (5-year old daughter and 4 year old son) and our small dog) are going to tour Europe in a camper van (
this one). I've never driven such a vehicle before and I've never lived in a camper before. I need your advice.
[more inside]posted by hat_eater at 6:31 AM PST - 12 comments
Any Mac gurus out there ready to predict when we can expect a MacBook Pro with a solid state drive, like the Air, as a standard feature?
[more inside]posted by Hobbacocka at 5:35 AM PST - 20 comments
Help me find a reason to exchange my iPhone 4s at the Apple Store.
I've got an iPhone 4s for Verizon and I love it. Last month it started making a vibration or rattle in the receiver earpiece. It is noticed when on a phone call and the other person is speaking. It's a pretty annoying vibration.
[more inside]posted by Jackie_Treehorn at 5:31 AM PST - 17 comments
Our family (with early teens) is travelling to Paris for a week in mid-March this year, and after perusing the many threads about Paris and France, we have settled on getting a Museum Pass and found suitable accommodations. We are now looking for some more offbeat Paris activities to round out our trip.
[more inside]posted by fairmettle at 5:18 AM PST - 23 comments
I have 5 hours of an audio (MP4) interview. I need to transcribe it as quickly as possible into a Word document. I don't have a foot pedal and can't get one quickly. Got any suggestions on how to speed this up?
[more inside]posted by malibustacey9999 at 3:58 AM PST - 20 comments
To what extent do cultural values affect foreign policy making between U.S. and China?
[more inside]posted by espada0 at 3:22 AM PST - 11 comments
Is there any store in the U.S. where I can buy (or mail order) "Romcaffe caffe filtro" coffee?
[more inside]posted by zerzura at 3:14 AM PST - 5 comments
Need help with song identification ! Can anyone identify what this song is from this midi version please? Joke valentines gift song has captured my curiosity.
video link here posted by Faintdreams at 2:47 AM PST - 4 comments
Looking for good depictions of people or characters with truly foreign, alien, or mutually irreconcilable views of the world.
[more inside]posted by Bufo_periglenes at 1:15 AM PST - 30 comments
I'm a beginner trying to get serious about running, but evil side stitches are thwarting my progress. What is causing them and how can I prevent them or relieve them once they start?
[more inside]posted by keep it under cover at 12:29 AM PST - 30 comments
February 13
What social network lifestream sharing and web marketing philosophy do you recommend for a freelancer?
[more inside]posted by jeffreyclong at 11:30 PM PST - 4 comments
Where can I find a crystal nail file that looks as close to this one as possible in NYC for Valentine's Day?
[more inside]posted by Brainy at 10:33 PM PST - 7 comments
I am interested in working for Apple as an AppleCare At-Home Advisor. Although the position works from home, the job description states that you must live within 100 miles of certain US cities (e.g. SLC, Columbus)
Do they ever hire anyone outside those cities?
Any other ideas for jobs supporting Apple products from home? If it matters, I'm in Pittsburgh, and I'm not a student.
posted by skidoom at 9:25 PM PST - 2 comments
Do my sister and I have to use the lawyer specified in my dad's will to handle his estate? More inside...
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:12 PM PST - 9 comments
1 - Is it a good idea to get pregnant when a close loved one is dying?
2 - If I decide to do it, how can I get my husband off the fence?
[more inside]posted by thelastgirl at 9:07 PM PST - 62 comments
I am doing a musical theatre revue in a formal gown. I am fat and there will be dancing. How can I minimize the look and feel of sweat and still stay fancy?
[more inside]posted by Madamina at 9:00 PM PST - 22 comments
APA citation filter: can I indicate the page number only once in a sentence that contains multiple quotes by the same author?
[more inside]posted by smilingtiger at 8:56 PM PST - 5 comments
I would like help in finding a book mentioned in passing during one of my lesbian literature in English classes in undergrad. This was ages ago in the early 90s. The woman fell in love with a diner.
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 8:43 PM PST - 3 comments
Mountain View (CA) has tons of restaurants, that to my untrained eye, are confusingly similar. I want to explore some of the rarer cuisines here, but most seem pretty veg un-friendly. Where here actually has good veg-friendly food?
As an anti-example: the Shabu Shabu place offers veggies & veggie broth, but it's not terribly compelling. I want places that actually seem to like vegetarian cooking.
posted by gregglind at 8:41 PM PST - 15 comments
We are cooking a Valentine's Day dinner of salmon together tomorrow. What are some good (vegetarian) sides to go with? Wine? Simple dessert? What else am I forgetting?
[more inside]posted by charmedimsure at 8:39 PM PST - 22 comments
I want to use my unfinished basement as a workout space and have laid down some interlocking foam tiles on the bare concrete floor. However, the floor under the tiles has started showing mildew after a few weeks in place. How can I set up a comfortable workout space in a typically humid but not wet basement without having to lift the tiles every couple of months to scrub out the mildew?
[more inside]posted by wexford_arts at 8:32 PM PST - 13 comments
Help my wife and I solve this minor ethical dilemma: What to do about a chair loaned by a neighbor and no longer wanted by either household?
[more inside]posted by crabintheocean at 7:52 PM PST - 30 comments
I don't know how to pick a perfume out for someone if they're not with me to test it on. How do I pick what I
