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May 2011 Archives
May 31
RaceWIN? Native American-written dystopian/fantasy/science/ speculative fiction. I am looking for the name of the text and author of a contemporary Native American novel that is satirical and dystopian.
[more inside]posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 11:56 PM PST - 13 comments 
People who live in Melbourne, Victoria (are you out there?). I need a recommendation for a women's hairdresser in the Fairfield/Alphington/Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy area.
[more inside]posted by jojobobo at 11:50 PM PST - 7 comments
I caught a mouse and tried to drown it. It tread water long enough to make me think twice. Can one keep an ordinary house-mouse as a pet?
[more inside]posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 10:50 PM PST - 50 comments
Is there a way to find out when a specific computer model was first released by the manufacturer, and when new machines stopped being sold?
[more inside]posted by woodman at 9:58 PM PST - 7 comments
Looking for a hair stylist in Vancouver, particular punk hairdo information follows....
[more inside]posted by tiamat at 9:27 PM PST - 4 comments
What's the best way to write this SQL job? I have a table with browser session information collected. I want to clear this table and store the information in another table.
[more inside]posted by zephyr_words at 8:39 PM PST - 7 comments
What's the cheapest way (speed not an issue) to ship a 2400lb milling machine, roughly 5'x5'x8', 700miles from Albuquerque, NM to Austin, TX?
[more inside]posted by hanoixan at 7:46 PM PST - 10 comments
Am looking for a screen share service that allows me to play audio live from my computer. (Any OS and any price will do.)
[more inside]posted by Dr. Fetish at 7:29 PM PST - 6 comments
Occasionally, my boyfriend makes remarks about womankind that I find sexist and hurtful. Last night, I called him out on such a remark. Was I overreacting? How should I handle this the next time it happens?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:07 PM PST - 109 comments
Science Explanation needed: Trying to get a better understanding of 'temperature'. While discussing whether it's safe to eat from a non-stick pan I pointed out that Teflon doesn't start to break down until it hits around 300 degrees; if you kept the pan temp lower than that it should be fine. I was told that I'm wrong because 'temperature doesn't work that way'.
[more inside]posted by artof.mulata at 6:56 PM PST - 24 comments
Seeking the state-of-the-art in location-based smartphone (iPhone & Android) apps.
[more inside]posted by Tufa at 6:28 PM PST - 5 comments
My irresponsible father's health is declining and relatives are trying to get me to move him in with me, but I don't think I can cope with it.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:38 PM PST - 50 comments
OldMacFilter: I've found myself in the possession of a PowerMac G4 and a Harman Kardon iSub. They both work, but when I adjust the system volume with the keyboard the subwoofer goes quiet. What's the deal?
[more inside]posted by neckro23 at 5:36 PM PST - 3 comments
Even though I have central air, my large and sunny room is too hot for my heat-sensitive self. What strategies can I employ in order to keep it more tolerable in this hot, humid Jersey summer?
[more inside]posted by rachaelfaith at 4:05 PM PST - 27 comments
StatisticsFilter: Range restriction and the strength of linear and non-linear relationships. Help?
[more inside]posted by tybeet at 3:40 PM PST - 6 comments
If you use cloth napkins, do you wash them after every meal or try to keep them for multiple meals (when they're
not super gross or dirty)? Where do you store them and how do you make sure everyone gets theirs back?
[more inside]posted by theredpen at 3:37 PM PST - 35 comments
I've got a pile of old Zip disks I'd like to investigate... but modern computers haven't got RS232 interfaces, which is what my Zip drive has. Boo! However, I discovered that my wife has a USB ZIp drive! Yay! But there is a problem...
[more inside]posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 3:19 PM PST - 10 comments
I have been filled with an overwhelming desire to decorate my concrete loft as a level in Portal. While the Valve store was awesome for some artwork, I really want to have a personalized instruction guide for my level (see example
here). I'm not a graphic designer, and I don't want to spend a fortune on this, but it's well outside my capabilities- particularly since I'd like to have it large enough to make an impact. So, my questions are 1) how do I find someone who can design this for me? and 2) am I going to run into copyright issues commissioning someone to do this?
posted by Zophi at 3:07 PM PST - 7 comments
Who is the artist/photographer whose work deals with issues of resources, population, human consumption, etc.?
For example, I remember a giant photo/collage that looks like lots of colored boxes from far off, and then up close it is revealed to be made up of freight containers that represent the amount of some type of goods used by the US in a certain period of time, or something like that.
posted by chr1sb0y at 2:20 PM PST - 4 comments
Motion JPG does everything I need it to do, effortlessly. But only in Chrome. IE doesn't natively support it.
[more inside]posted by dirtdirt at 1:43 PM PST - 6 comments
(medfilter) asking for my girlfriend who's beginning to think she's crazy after the 2nd emergency room visit in less than a year where she's been told there's nothing wrong. Her primary complaint is stabbing pain on her right side, right at her ribcage. Sometimes radiating into her chest. Pain can go from annoying (most of the time) to debilitating. She states that she's had some kind of pain there for most of her adult life. I know you are not her doc but I'm hoping that the symptoms might ring a bell to someone.
[more inside]posted by screamingnotlaughing at 1:42 PM PST - 28 comments
Gave admin privileges to my Imac to a housemate, who installed some bootlegged software.
As I would like to be sure that i don't have a keylogger or trojan installed I think a clean reinstall might be best
Any links to careful, beginner level discussion of this process? In particular, how can i back things up without the risk of re-infection?
Thanks!
FYI I do have little snitch on and running and review of programs running seems to be OK, and I use 1 password , but still..
posted by dougiedd at 1:33 PM PST - 4 comments
What e-book vendor offers the widest selection of technical titles with reasonable DRM that I can suggest to my employer?
[more inside]posted by wenestvedt at 1:22 PM PST - 7 comments
Music Video ID. A year ago I saw a youtube video from Japan. Two girls, rock-ish, rap-ish? They were each leading a gang, one dressed like circa-Thriller MJ, the other gang dressed like a metal punks. I think they had a dance battle on a pier.
[more inside]posted by special agent conrad uno at 1:15 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm a below average looking guy to start with. In photos, though, I look like the troll from under the bridge. I'm going to sign up for online dating soon. How can I obtain a picture of myself that doesn't scare small children and pets—or, more importantly, 18-25 year old girls?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:33 PM PST - 48 comments
What can/should I do to help a friend on the other side of the world who seems to be starving herself?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:33 PM PST - 8 comments
I've got a memory of seeing a long list of books, either recommended reading or as acknowleged sources of material, in an early edition of the Warhammer 40K rulebook. In my recollection it neatly sumarised all the works that influenced WH40k. Did this actually exist? What were the books on the list?
posted by Artw at 12:28 PM PST - 8 comments
Do skater helmets provide better protection for bike riders than vented bike helmets?
[more inside]posted by musofire at 12:18 PM PST - 9 comments
Which is the best gaming platform (wii, xbox, etc) and software to learn how to dance, yoga, cardio, and strength training? Oh yeah, I also want to run Netflix through it.
posted by Juicylicious at 12:12 PM PST - 9 comments
Where to get an inexpensive eye exam in Los Angeles? Preferably in the Hollywood/Silver Lake-ish area or red line accessible, but if it's totally worth it to drive to some place in Pasadena or something, then we will.
[more inside]posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:43 AM PST - 6 comments
Is there any actual, scientific, peer-reviewed truth to the supposed link between antiperspirants and cancer/Alzheimer's?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:55 AM PST - 12 comments
Fashion/fabric/color/clothes/shoes literacy for dummies for writers?
[more inside]posted by Zed at 10:55 AM PST - 3 comments
Ridiculously stupid question: I dropped a fresh blueberry inside my chaise longue, in an area I cannot reach without shredding the whole thing. How much is this going to suck?
[more inside]posted by mylittlepoppet at 10:50 AM PST - 11 comments
Help me find...an article about the owner of a small debt collection agency. Came out within the past few years. Described the business from his perspective.
[more inside]posted by quinoa at 10:37 AM PST - 2 comments
I love the Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse novels. The subject matter is fun and compelling, but what I most appreciate is Sookie's
voice. What else will I like?
[more inside]posted by giraffe at 10:33 AM PST - 15 comments
Maltese puppies? What is a reasonable price to pay for a female Maltese puppy (pet quality) from an ethical breeder? What low or high price requests should be warning signs? Any other tips on buying Maltese for a long-time dog owner who hasn't looked at purchasing dogs since long before the internet became a major market for pets?
posted by jjcurtis at 10:16 AM PST - 11 comments
My Windows 7 laptop says "Installed RAM 6.0 GB (2.87 GB usable)." What? Why is some of my RAM not usable? I have a 4-GB stick and a 2-GB stick, but I'm only getting 3 GBs of use of out them?
posted by jackypaper at 9:57 AM PST - 6 comments
Can you lead me to any good textual analyses of the biblical story in which Jacob wrestles the angel? I have looked around but still haven't found what I'm looking for.
[more inside]posted by Clotilde at 9:54 AM PST - 13 comments
After Tex Avery died, one year the Tournee of Animation included a tribute to him. I'd love to see one of those again, but I can't find it.
[more inside]posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:46 AM PST - 1 comments
I'm looking for video clips of television news stories in the sensationalist youth-at-risk genre. You know the format: "
[Dubious-sounding youth trend or other phenomenon] is sweeping the nation. Could
your children be at risk? Up next on
[triflin-ass station desperate for viewers]!".
[more inside]posted by ixohoxi at 9:30 AM PST - 22 comments
I plan on buying a new HP PC from Best Buy with Windows 7. Of course, it comes loaded with every junk program imaginable. Plus I want to "optimize" it for best performance.
[more inside]posted by Rad_Boy at 9:17 AM PST - 15 comments
Thinkpad users -- talk to me about the trackpoint (also known as the little red eraser thingy on the keyboard).
[more inside]posted by missjenny at 9:12 AM PST - 31 comments
I would like to find a developer with whom to build simple, fun web apps. The catch is that while I am prepared to invest some cash, I would prefer to find someone who will work in an entrepreneurial way and end up with some ownership of what is created. Where do I find a potential collaborator?
[more inside]posted by skylar at 9:07 AM PST - 9 comments
In WinXP, why is it that the file browser within Nero9 is able to view the home dir of a disk pulled from a different WinXP PC, but Windows Explorer isn't able to?
[more inside]posted by gluino at 8:56 AM PST - 2 comments
I have a question about liquid cooling my PC, which I guess is not a mechanical question about the process as much as it is a physics question about the nature of heat transfer. I think.
[more inside]posted by kbanas at 8:41 AM PST - 12 comments
I was raped by someone I thought was a friend. I finally reported him to the cops, but I live alone in a city where i walk everywhere. He knows all of this, along with my daily habits. I don't want to change my lifestyle, but I need safety, especially at my apartment (which is where he raped me). Pepper spray (which I already have), tasers, stun guns--I've seen cops use these things on men of his size & it makes no difference. I feel like I have no choice but to get a gun. Please help me think of another option.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:21 AM PST - 76 comments
This stackoverflow post suggests budgeting $150 per dev hour for a top quality iPhone app, and a total cost, including design, of $50,000 to $150,000 for the project. What can I expect to happen to this cost if the app is meant to link, bi-directionally, to a geodatabase of user observations, and display them over an e.g. google map layer? And how might this change if the app were Android?
posted by cromagnon at 8:08 AM PST - 6 comments
I've got wee, 1-2mm holes in a viscose jersey dress. What's the best way to repair them?
[more inside]posted by mippy at 7:57 AM PST - 4 comments
I recently got a nice camcorder (
this one) as an early Father's Day present. I've got the basic operation down but really know nothing about shooting video. What suggestions do you have to help me make my home movies better?
[more inside]posted by TedW at 7:34 AM PST - 6 comments
Renter's insurance and travel, special libelous snowflake edition: I live in New York City and want renter's insurance that (a) covers libel and (b) will cover my wife's nice (~$2k with lenses) camera *when she is travelling*. I can't get a straight answer out of any insurance companies on what their policies actually cover. Can anyone recommend a company?
[more inside]posted by novalis_dt at 7:31 AM PST - 11 comments
I'm looking to build a couple of storage platforms in my tiny art studio in Manhattan. I got flaked on, and am now scrambling to find someone else to help me out and build this. Does anyone know of a carpenter or friend who can do a simple, functional job?
[more inside]posted by thegreatfleecircus at 7:13 AM PST - 4 comments
Asking-for-a-friend-filter: my friend is doing Bachelor's in Computer Science and has a final year project to the tune of 'website with database'.
He doesn't want to make something as generic as a regular shopping website; so any interesting, offbeat ideas for database websites would be more than welcome.
Catch: Shouldn't be very difficult. And should be SFW.
posted by Senza Volto at 6:55 AM PST - 22 comments
Looking to build a Intel Sandy Bridge Windows 7 machine that will primarily function as a centralized repository for mp3s, movies, and photos. Anyone have any hardware recommendations?
[more inside]posted by decrescendo at 6:36 AM PST - 6 comments
One of my few habits is that I have no regular routines/habits. Is this something I definitely need to change or is there a way to leverage this to do everything I want to do in life?
[more inside]posted by thorny at 6:32 AM PST - 19 comments
You are not my doctor, but I'm writing in the hope that someone has had a similar experience and might be able to help me see my way through this difficult situation. I've had a month of extremely strange experiences with psychoactive drugs, and I'm wondering if someone might reassure me that this situation is reversible. (Warning: long, messy situation ahead.)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:32 AM PST - 13 comments
Can somebody give me a in-a-nutshell overview of how small-run DVD duplication works? I'm looking for 50-300 discs and want professional results that aren't simply DVD-Rs with labels stuck on top. Is this possible? I'm in the UK.
posted by deeper red at 5:43 AM PST - 5 comments
30 something caucasian male living way up top in North America was diagnosed with transverse myelitis recently.
I'm full mobile again miraculously but experience crazy neuropathic symptoms... I was told that my chances of having MS down the road are about 30%.
Should I move as close to the equator as possible to reduce my risks? if yes, where exactly?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:42 AM PST - 10 comments
May 30
Why/how did Facebook track what I searched on Google? And how do I stop it from happening again?
[more inside]posted by fishmasta at 10:54 PM PST - 12 comments
Trying to recall a fantasy novel I read at an inappropriately young age called "Wolf" something or other, which was the name of the hairy, sexy barbarian "wolfman" who is the bodice-ripping "hero" -- it might be based on Celtic mythology and has monsters and demons in it.
[more inside]posted by unicazurn at 10:41 PM PST - 6 comments
I can't find a definitive answer on the use of 'post' as a prefix. In particular with 'post approval' meaning 'after approval'.
[more inside]posted by unliteral at 10:38 PM PST - 17 comments
Book ID: Trying to find a sci-fi trilogy or series I started in the 90s. Set on earth, there was a black plague that had something to do with an alien race. The pyramids were involved. I think a pyramid may have been on the cover. Very vague I know, but that is about all I can remember. Thanks!
posted by meta87 at 10:36 PM PST - 3 comments
Hey everyone. I'm going to Australia for 23 days in July, and would dearly love some advice as to how to spend them.
[more inside]posted by Kirn at 10:21 PM PST - 25 comments
You know how sometimes you find a single object that makes travel
so much less inconvenient, uncomfortable, or disorganized? I'm going from the US to Russia (St. Petersburg) in a few weeks - please tell me what I would buy now if only I knew of its existence. Stuff for plane trips, packing, or just living out of a suitcase are all welcome.
[more inside]posted by you're a kitty! at 10:15 PM PST - 68 comments
How do I find freelance web designers who will create a website for me similar to these ones:
www.the-weeknd.com
www.caldecottmusic.com
Also, how much does it typically cost to hire someone to do this??
posted by mememix at 9:13 PM PST - 2 comments
If you or your partner gave birth to a stillborn, did you choose to see/hold it after the delivery? How did you make that decision, and if you did decide to see/hold the child, what did you take away from the experience?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:54 PM PST - 24 comments
Help me plan a relaxing Father-Daughter vacation in Mexico during the second half of July.
[more inside]posted by OLechat at 6:56 PM PST - 4 comments
Lumber / Carpentry Filter - Should I use cedar on this fence project? Is my carpenter right about the design?
[more inside]posted by Mid at 6:53 PM PST - 23 comments
There are numerous web sites reselling ebooks or even offering memberships for unlimited downloads (generally for a seemingly nominal fee). One example of a site like this is http://www.thereadingsite.com/join.html
So assuming any of these sites are legally doing this, how do they get the rites to resell the ebooks? How would someone go about getting similar rights?
posted by Monkeyzulu at 6:52 PM PST - 11 comments
GuitarFilter: Multi FX vs. Pedals. In particular, I'm trying to figure out whether I should buy a $100 floor controller for my Line 6 Pod XT, or stump for a couple of pedals instead. Lots of snowflakiness inside.
[more inside]posted by unSane at 6:38 PM PST - 12 comments
How do I handle the imminent return of a supervisor with whom I feel I have a toxic relationship?
[more inside]posted by Effigy2000 at 6:35 PM PST - 7 comments
What should I hit in Montreal and Toronto? I have two weeks available and I want to bend them around unmissable events in each city. Aug/Sept.
[more inside]posted by roobot at 6:02 PM PST - 10 comments
Can an Aussie buy Adobe LightRoom (boxed) from USA and install - and subsequently upgrade - on an 'Australian' computer?
[more inside]posted by puffmoike at 6:00 PM PST - 3 comments
For the California folks:
I go to school out of state, and I accidentally let my vehicle registration expire. I'm trying to figure out how I can get it done quickly and remotely. My primary concern is the smog test - I'm due for one this year. Searching the internet has given me mixed responses, with some saying you have to go back to CA to get smog tests, and others saying you can waive it in absentia. I need to drive as soon as possible, so I'd really appreciate a prompt response!
Thanks!
posted by howgenerica at 5:17 PM PST - 5 comments
Yet another special snowflake question about what bike to get, from a bicycle noob. I'd like to get out and bicycle in our (hilly) neighborhood. If I love my bike to be, I may commute on it to the train, about 7 miles from our home, or for errands. I haven't really biked since I was a kid and owned a racing 10 speed. I'm a small fairly thin woman (5'2".) I'm fine with staying on roads and hence am not taken with mountain bikes, which strike me as clunky. A little more inside.
[more inside]posted by bearwife at 4:55 PM PST - 43 comments
Did Boards of Canada, in "An Eagle in Your Mind" sample Autechre's "bronchusevenmx24"?
[more inside]posted by symbioid at 3:56 PM PST - 3 comments
Being a very generous and open person, how do I deal with a person who has in the past seen these qualities as insincere or manipulative?
[more inside]posted by supernaturelle at 3:36 PM PST - 31 comments
What options can you suggest for replacing carpet in a "catbox room" with something moisture-resistant and easily cleaned? Some of the cats occasionally get confused and miss the boxes. The sub-floor is plywood. I've been thinking along the lines of the 2-part epoxy coating I applied to the concrete garage floor several years ago, but don't know if it works well on wood, which flexes. Flooring companies have pointed out problems with conventional floor coverings either absorbing or being etched by cat urine. The room has a wood-burning stove in it, so something that won't burst into flame if exposed to an occasional ember would be best. X/
posted by Death by Ugabooga at 1:15 PM PST - 15 comments
How can I find a list of stocks that have fallen a given percentage in value? Is there a website where I can screen historical stock prices according to a criteria I define?
[more inside]posted by sitecoach at 1:00 PM PST - 4 comments
I want to set up a webcam so I can watch my tortoise via Ustream while I'm at work. Any suggestions for a good quality webcam with a good frame rate (30 FPS would be nice)?
[more inside]posted by sleepykitties at 12:17 PM PST - 13 comments
Help me identify a quote. In an old Simpsons commentary, Matt Groening was quoting somebody when he said, "Comedy is watching a dumb man think." At least this is what I thought he said. Who originally said this, or something like this?
[more inside]posted by i8ny3x at 12:14 PM PST - 4 comments
Help me make the BEST beach wedding CD ever! I'm putting together goodie bags for my best friend's bachelorette party. She's having a destination wedding in Aruba. The ladies are going out after the rehearsal to celebrate, and we are all in our late 20's early 30's if it matters. Indie, pop, 80's, 90's - anything related to a beach theme would be much appreciated!!
posted by luciddream928 at 11:52 AM PST - 15 comments
What kinds of government-sponsored assistance programs or support exist for new mothers in countries around the world?
[more inside]posted by cymru_j at 11:37 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm in my early 20s and female. Recently, during my first adult relationship, found out that I cannot physically have sex (...yet) and will probably need surgical intervention to get that working. How can I handle the dating scene as I work on getting this fixed? In other words: how to one, deal with the fear of being rejected for being "broken," and two, how and when do I tell guys that vaginal sex is totally off the table?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:14 AM PST - 26 comments
Are there any content management systems that easily support an educational game site where the main function is automatically awarding users visible badges for providing a correct answer to a prompt?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:14 AM PST - 0 comments
Need help with a story point, involving creative ways in which a cahracter might locate and track an unregistered helicopter, after having viewed it flying overhead.
[more inside]posted by np312 at 11:06 AM PST - 12 comments
I would like to delete certain lines in a text document.
It's an SRT file, which is basically a TXT file that contains subtitles and in & out points.
I'd like to delete all the timecode numbers, and leave only the text.
Example inside...
[more inside]posted by Silky Slim at 11:05 AM PST - 9 comments
How do I get my ten-month-old daughter to tolerate her car seat? I have a baby that despises being in a car. With a trip to Los Angeles (aka The Land of Car Transportation) coming up, I'm wondering if there's anything we can do to make her hate car transportation a little less.
[more inside]posted by JuliaKM at 10:53 AM PST - 20 comments
Complicated situation involving current boss, potential new job and a drug test I'm not sure I can pass. I really need advice!
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:52 AM PST - 20 comments
Does anyone have experience with ZT Systems computers, sold through Costco?
[more inside]posted by maryr at 10:25 AM PST - 6 comments
Will augmenting my evening p90x workouts with a 45 minute pre-breakfast LISS cardio session expedite fat loss?
[more inside]posted by mizrachi at 10:04 AM PST - 12 comments
I have a job offer with a deadline, but I'd like to apply elsewhere. How should I manage the process?
[more inside]posted by jeatsy at 9:50 AM PST - 11 comments
How to back up the information from the Notes app on an iPhone 3GS that crashed?
[more inside]posted by wooh at 9:33 AM PST - 4 comments
My partner and I are in the early planning stages for a three-week vacation to California this November, and we need help with the hiking parts!
[more inside]posted by sabotagerabbit at 8:59 AM PST - 19 comments
L.A. Noire has lots of references to Bioshock -- namely (heh), Fontaine and Ryan.
Why?
[more inside]posted by bardic at 8:47 AM PST - 9 comments
Ex-boyfriend and I are trying to be friends and don't have good boundaries between us, at least from his end. He's been reluctant to set them in the past. How do I encourage him to set boundaries? (long, snowflake-y)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:59 AM PST - 26 comments
Does anyone remember a music video from the early 90s where a woman with really long braids walks through a city street and sings about a break-up.
She might be wearing a trenchcoat, and she might be on a subway car.
[more inside]posted by cloeburner at 7:51 AM PST - 6 comments
Layover in Burlington, VT - Where can I check my bags so that I can just walk around with my laptop. Where should I go hang out for four hours or so?
[more inside]posted by Twinedog at 7:17 AM PST - 5 comments
Help me ace this job interview, where they're looking for someone to "support a bazillion printers and MFDs for a crap-ton of users and offices all over the world."
(my translation of the HR-speak) [more inside]posted by HopperFan at 6:46 AM PST - 5 comments
May 29
My girlfriend gets very wet during sex, so that there's no friction for my penis. This makes it hard for me to orgasm. Any techniques to solve this issue?
[more inside]posted by stedman15 at 10:21 PM PST - 17 comments
Where might I find a certain quote from the end of Midnight in Paris, the new Woody Allen film, without having to see it in the theater again?
[more inside]posted by cotesdurhone at 10:00 PM PST - 6 comments
How best to assemble bastard-pop/mash-up style mixes from source material with heavily compressed dynamics?
[more inside]posted by Lazlo at 9:57 PM PST - 4 comments
Am I being scammed? Philippines-based distributor wants to import products (DVDs) from my site and sell to their retail clients over there. They asked to purchase "one of every title" in two categories of interest. Is there a risk they just take those and copy them? YANML
[more inside]posted by Elminster24 at 9:32 PM PST - 10 comments
Help me (please) soundproof our new home against the trains that run right behind our house. Materials, strategies, tips: all are appreciated.
[more inside]posted by theNonsuch at 8:26 PM PST - 24 comments
What movie did I just see a scene from where a guy uses magic to fly a rocket powered car?
[more inside]posted by brownbat at 8:15 PM PST - 13 comments
My husband is about to graduate from grad. school, and I need some advice about strategies for repaying our loans.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:09 PM PST - 13 comments
Is there an app so you can have a Swype function on the iphone 4?
posted by grak88 at 6:05 PM PST - 4 comments
Please help us identify this flower that I just paid money for, that my parents claim is a scourge upon their yard at home.
[more inside]posted by Mizu at 5:31 PM PST - 12 comments
I'm a newly-diagnosed teeth-grinder. Should I get the custom night guard my dentist wants to make for me or should I try one of the cheap guards available in the drugstore? And while I'm making up my mind about the appropriate path, what can I do in the meantime to reduce stress and grind less? Relevant physical and financial details inside.
[more inside]posted by wexford_arts at 5:11 PM PST - 30 comments
Long distance relationship: How can we make it work? How can we work it out so that we both feel fulfilled?
[more inside]posted by thegmann at 4:47 PM PST - 21 comments
Should I stay in my current place and feeling trapped or move out and risk getting something worse?
[more inside]posted by litleozy at 4:29 PM PST - 7 comments
I need advice on the topic of dog liver issues and nutrition for this kind of disease. YANMV , yes. Description of symptoms and test results as well as background follows.
[more inside]posted by spacefire at 4:16 PM PST - 3 comments
I'm planning a trip to Phuket, Thailand in October. What should I expect from the weather since it is nearing the end of the 'rainy' season?
[more inside]posted by ejames at 4:09 PM PST - 10 comments
Is there a website that has a wide selection of male bracelets, will allow me to have a symbol of my choice engraved, and delivers to the UK?
[more inside]posted by Spamfactor at 4:07 PM PST - 3 comments
what technology is involved in developing a web card game (or any game) so that users can see each others screens?
[more inside]posted by xetere at 3:54 PM PST - 5 comments
Looking for suggestions for a novel for Jewish/Christian 7th graders that explores religion-- extra points for sci fi!
[more inside]posted by akabobo at 2:38 PM PST - 31 comments
About a month ago, I noticed a problem with my toenail. It was discolored, and my toe hurt. The problem went away, and I didn't worry about it. But now my strange things are going on with the toenail. Should I be alarmed? Should I tell my doctor? Pictures inside!
[more inside]posted by craichead at 1:01 PM PST - 20 comments
I'm looking for a list of players in the Phillies' all-time roster, organized by jersey number.
[more inside]posted by moviehawk at 12:59 PM PST - 2 comments
I think it is time to upgrade my PC, can I get by with just upgrading the graphics card or am I seeing bottlenecks elsewhere? Also, what's the card to get? Specs inside.
[more inside]posted by geoff. at 12:13 PM PST - 14 comments
Babyjbenben is 7 weeks old - now what? I want to know the intimate details of hanging out and having good times with my son! I'm looking for reference sources and first-hand accounts that aren't annoying, and instead, inspirational feel-good fun. Please help.
[more inside]posted by jbenben at 12:10 PM PST - 13 comments
What do you do when taking a shower? Do you wash your entire body and your hair? Only the body (and the hair every couple of days)? Only certain spots on your body?
[more inside]posted by Omnibenevolent Supercherub at 10:39 AM PST - 116 comments
Name that band: I think it was a Toronto indie rock band with a music video that was comprised entirely of stop motion figurines that were either lego figures or something similar. The song or the band name either used "horse" or "pony" or "sparkle" in the name because my brain keeps telling me "sparklehorse" though I know it's not them.
[more inside]posted by windbox at 9:49 AM PST - 9 comments
I need to shred a bunch of papers with sensitive information on them--credit card statements etc. Problem: my
cat peed on a bunch of them a while ago. (They're dry now.)
[more inside]posted by liketitanic at 9:06 AM PST - 17 comments
Wedding week, visiting parents, close quarters: my parents helped me buy the apartment my fiance and I live in. They'd like to stay on our couch for three nights before the wedding. I love them, like spending time with them, and would want them to stay with us... any other week except this one! Am I being a jerk?
[more inside]posted by sestaaak at 8:18 AM PST - 20 comments
Trying to figure out whether to call my dentist's emergency number, see if this is something that can wait until Tues. or if it's something an urgent care could handle.
[more inside]posted by TravellingCari at 8:11 AM PST - 9 comments
Starting Inorganic and General Chemistry at Uni with no prior knowledge! How do i catch up with the rest come exam time?
[more inside]posted by freddymetz at 8:09 AM PST - 3 comments
How inappropriate would it be to prevent my boundaries-challenged mother from visiting the hospital upon the birth of my child?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:53 AM PST - 55 comments
Why would it be a bad idea to build more nuclear reactors in areas which have had nuclear disasters?
[more inside]posted by devnull at 7:28 AM PST - 10 comments
What country lies exactly in-between Sri Lanka and Mali? I'm trying to find out a country in the middle in terms of pure miles and also in terms of flight time.
[more inside]posted by leecohen at 7:22 AM PST - 16 comments
I recently upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7. I'm trying to find and download gadgets for my desktop. When I go to the Windows Live page, I only see gadgets compatible with Vista. Why does Windows Live think I'm still running Vista?
posted by allison00 at 6:49 AM PST - 4 comments
My husband had a Last Will and Testament drawed up from LegalZoom.com, our residence is in Tennessee. Now we need to get it notarized and witnessed. Can we get this notarized and witnessed in another state (Kentucky)?
posted by sandyp at 5:42 AM PST - 1 comments
How can we go curling one afternoon on our Canadian Ski Trip next winter?
[more inside]posted by Flood at 5:29 AM PST - 8 comments
Where can I purchase customized home tables/desks like this (
pic 1 /
pic 2) in a "L" corner shape? I want to customize it so that one side is longer than the other. I also need it to have an open back like in the pictures (at least on the longer side) to allow for built in cabinets to open underneath where it will go.
[more inside]posted by jameslavelle3 at 5:10 AM PST - 6 comments
Gravel on one side, grass on the other. What's a good border that's kid friendly?
[more inside]posted by smelvis at 5:08 AM PST - 4 comments
I haven't been to Manchester, UK in like ten years, what's changed and what should I do?
[more inside]posted by The Whelk at 12:42 AM PST - 4 comments
I'm peeing a LOT and drinking a ton of water. All blood work has come back normal. So what could it be, besides diabetes?
[more inside]posted by tamagogirl at 12:35 AM PST - 44 comments
Databases: is it better to spend money on faster disk I/O or partitioned tables? Which has more influence on the speed of a SELECT query?
[more inside]posted by Ritchie at 12:34 AM PST - 9 comments
Is there any way to save my relationship with a relative who has suddenly distanced himself after marriage?
[more inside]posted by timsneezed at 12:08 AM PST - 14 comments
May 28
My mother just sold her condo. After looking at her closing statement I see she was ripped off for at least $600.00 maybe as much as $1000.00. I know this because I own a title insurance company and I know some of these fees were illegal. My sisters don't want me to say anything because they are afraid the sale will fall thru. I know that confronting the title company won't make the sale fall thru but still don't know what to do
posted by cellar at 10:50 PM PST - 18 comments
I get black stuff on my teeth. Anyone heard of this? I haven't been brushing my teeth regularly for a while, and that might have something to do with it. I easily get a black film over my teeth, and it doesn't brush away easily. I just scrape it off with a nail, but it's hard to get it all. It's like black plaque. I'm not eating anything unusual, so I don't know why it's happening.
posted by vash at 10:34 PM PST - 20 comments
Something is eating the plants in my garden. I don't know what it is or how to stop it. Photos inside.
[more inside]posted by celerity at 9:54 PM PST - 13 comments
I have a Dell Vostro 1500 that has good build quality and I have loved it for the past 4 years. However, the sound amp has gone out and I'm needing a new keyboard, plus it's still running XP so I thought I'd check out new laptops. ALL Dell laptops now come with "truelife" (glossy) displays and I can no longer get a matte display like I have on my Vostro. So.....is it worth it to try to get mine locally refurbed or should I bite the bullet and get a new laptop? I have no idea what a rehab would cost versus a new laptop. More than anything, I just love the way my current laptop "feels." (You know?) FYI, I have an iPad and it does most everything I need to do anymore, but still need a laptop with Windows for work-related things. Thoughts?
[more inside]posted by Gerard Sorme at 9:52 PM PST - 5 comments
When a mentally ill person begins to talk about other people being "possessed by demons" is that a red flag?
[more inside]posted by LarryC at 9:26 PM PST - 30 comments
My work computer that I am connecting to through a remote connection is freezing on the log in screen. When I type the password, it gives me the welcome screen, but the little welcome wheel keeps spinning infinitely. I want to restart it to try to solve this. But the only way I know how to restart remotely is using the cmd prompt, which I can't get to until I'm logged in. So how can I restart?
[more inside]posted by chocolatemilkshakes at 9:02 PM PST - 6 comments
Dramadramadramadingdong. If your friend is pretty much over you, or just doesn’t have bandwidth in her life for you, what do you say when she finally calls?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:08 PM PST - 40 comments
Any tradespeople out there? I'm trying to narrow down what trade I'd like to go into & have a bunch of questions.
[more inside]posted by mingo_clambake at 8:04 PM PST - 6 comments
I can't seem to get rid of my phlegm. For a couple of months now, I tend to always clear my throat because there's phlegm in there and sometimes its easy to expel it, sometimes I will have a hard time as it's sticky. It gets really sticky especially in the morning upon waking up. Also, two weeks ago, I had an episode of blood spots in my phlegm, I had sore throat then and I was eating a spicy meal. At times, again, especially in the morning, some of the phlegm is dark. What's wrong with my throat and what can I do to stop it?
[more inside]posted by LittleMissItneg at 7:27 PM PST - 14 comments
I remember seeing a picture (I think in National Geographic) of a gigantic hole -- in Australia, I am virtually certain. It was naturally occurring,
not a mine, and very deep and mysterious. Now there is only a giant pit in my memory, and fear of a growing sinkhole called dementia -- can't find it anywhere. Am I just imagining this hole?
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 7:25 PM PST - 20 comments
Help me figure out what computer science book I heard about on the web a while ago.
[more inside]posted by silby at 6:56 PM PST - 7 comments
What's a professional way to let a customer (or even a potential customer) know that they're taking advantage of your kindness with their assumption that "try before you buy" is a given?
[more inside]posted by iLoveTheRain at 6:43 PM PST - 10 comments
What are unnecessarily formal "academic jargon" type words that I should seek and destroy in my papers?
[more inside]posted by lollusc at 5:48 PM PST - 69 comments
How can you change how you think and analyze things? How do you think and analyze things in different ways?
[more inside]posted by markbao at 5:38 PM PST - 14 comments
[WWII/Band of Brothers filter] At the end of BoB, we're told about each of the characters' lives after the war. I can't help but feel a bit... disappointed? to hear that, say, this soldier returned and worked as a cab driver, or as a mill worker. It feels anticlimactic and un-glamorous. Yes, I realize that may be a by-product of the hero- or myth-building that (intentionally or not) goes into WWII movies. Are there any books or articles that explore this area?
[more inside]posted by TangoCharlie at 4:56 PM PST - 35 comments
I need to make the case to my ultra non-techie boss for upgrading our ASP.net 1.1 website to an ASP.net 4.0 website.
[more inside]posted by therubettes at 4:17 PM PST - 6 comments
Argh, someone linked to a web host that happened to have a $10 a year price for basic hosting (Like ASmallOrange's $25 yr plan.) I can't find that link after looking at a bunch of answers! Not pay as you go like NFS. Anyone know that $10 year host that was mentioned? Or an alternative with PHP and MySQL for similar price?
[more inside]posted by SantosLHalper at 4:08 PM PST - 12 comments
How would one go about exporting a whole MediaWiki installation as an ebook?
[more inside]posted by dmit at 3:31 PM PST - 1 comments
USA folks. We are driving on mountain roads, me following you, you traveling more slowly than me. You kindly pull in to let me pass. After I pass I switch on my hazards briefly as I pull away. How do you interpret this?
[more inside]posted by Disco Moo at 12:48 PM PST - 53 comments
My partner and I are a lesbian couple. One half of our happy couple is pregnant with our first child, the other half is a transsexual woman, and because of that we have been able to conceive a child that is genetically related to both of us. We know one other couple in the world who has dealt with these issues. Is anyone else out there?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:07 PM PST - 21 comments
What ground cover will best defy the incursion of my nemesis, grass? Shady (under tree) area in Quebec, Canada.
[more inside]posted by Shepherd at 11:47 AM PST - 10 comments
Song ID: female vocalist, not particularly engineered, lyrics include "spice markets of Marrakesh" and "the coasts of tripoli".
[more inside]posted by lettuchi at 10:46 AM PST - 8 comments
I'm working on going back to school for Astronomy/Astrophysics, but I need help figuring out what classes to take at the Community College level here in San Francisco and how best to apply to a school like UC Berkeley. Complicating matters is the fact that I went to school for 4 years for film (don't ask) at Drexel University but didn't graduate. Luckily I spent my first two years at Drexel on a general science track. What I really need help with is figuring out what classes I should take at a school like City College of San Francisco. Also, when is the soonest I can/should apply to UCB? Alternately, what San Francisco adjacent schools have really good astronomy/astrophysics programs?
[more inside]posted by runcibleshaw at 10:15 AM PST - 11 comments
I ordered
a product that can be damaged by heat. The company I ordered it from shipped it from Arizona, and as I just found out, did not include an ice pack with it. It's been in Arizona, where temps are over 100 for two days so far according to the tracking information. I'm thinking of returning it. Is this unnecessary?
posted by long haired child at 9:17 AM PST - 7 comments
Help! I'm in Denmark, and I have no jeans to wear for the rest of the week! Where can I buy plus sized jeans in Copenhagen?
[more inside]posted by santojulieta at 8:58 AM PST - 5 comments
So, I have nearly a terabyte of photos of my daughter stored on a computer which has been taken over by tr/crypt.xpack.gen (if that is your real name). It would probably be best that I store the photos on some sort of server somewhere (clouds?), but I know nothing of such things. Any advice on online storage, computer security, and not shooting in raw would be greatly appreciated. Please help, as we would rather not have to force my daughter back in the womb to recreate the photos of her birth.
[more inside]posted by defreckled at 7:20 AM PST - 13 comments
I have an American Scientific TempCon oven I was hoping to use to bake enamel painted parts...the low temp (200F) it operates at is perfect for that. However, after a minute of use it trips my GFCI outlet. What should I look at?
[more inside]posted by maxwelton at 4:15 AM PST - 9 comments
I just bought a racing bike. I know next to nothing about cycling. Where do I start?
[more inside]posted by wolfr at 3:25 AM PST - 16 comments
I need protein. I have just started (re-started) weight training and I have very limited funds, but I cannot afford lean steak or chicken or fish. I have some protein powder and can afford chicken thigh meat, canned tuna and any amount of pulses. Which is best? I'm trying to build lean muscle.
[more inside]posted by evil_esto at 3:24 AM PST - 29 comments
My closest friend keeps telling me that we're not going to have a physical relationship. How should I handle this? Possibly NSFW.
[more inside]posted by Solomon at 2:22 AM PST - 32 comments
Dystopian short scifi animation film seen in the last year, about a man who is the last living member of dirty, trashy spaceship / plane that seems to have been abandonned a long time ago, and finds out that he is infected by the virus that killed his entire team. Then..
[more inside]posted by Jireel at 12:55 AM PST - 5 comments
May 27
Please help me with audio as if I'm a n00b.
I have a couple components from the mid-90s and a 2007 iMac and I want to do a few specific things.
[more inside]posted by bendy at 9:19 PM PST - 8 comments
As long as the user, say, presses a key on his/her keyboard in sync with, say, a flashing light onscreen, a sound file will continue to play. If he/she stops pressing the key, the song stops until the in-sync keying resumes. Can I get/program/build this?
[more inside]posted by Rykey at 8:30 PM PST - 6 comments
Can anyone point me towards examples of authors (or other artists) who have produced work with a theme that runs contrary to their own established political or social views?
[more inside]posted by MShades at 7:55 PM PST - 26 comments
Via Javascript or PHP, I want to fetch the page source of an external URL. The catch: the URL is another php file.
file_get_contents and
curl don't work, and neither, seemingly, does anything else I try. Help?
[more inside]posted by hiteleven at 7:47 PM PST - 6 comments
Examples of impressive projects, done impressively fast? Looking for a snappy retort to the commonplace "Rome wasn't built in a day."
[more inside]posted by mahorn at 7:03 PM PST - 40 comments
I'd like to make an aluminum frame over my zero gravity chair to support my computer monitor and rig up something that would make the mouse easy to use in a reclining position. Can anyone tell me what the name of the aluminum frame joints are, and where would would I find the aluminum tubes and joints?
[more inside]posted by ConnieL at 7:00 PM PST - 6 comments
My girlfriend recently got a job in Bolivia teaching for a private school in Cochabamba. This is great and everything except I have no clue what to do in terms of planning for our move, how to get a job in Bolivia or what needs to happen in the two months before we leave. Snowflake goodness after the jump.
[more inside]posted by Dauus at 6:57 PM PST - 8 comments
Some of my best memories, when I think back on them, become more cinematic than linear, more musical than factual. They are a flowing montage of events, energy, motion. Often the memory is of an adventure or journey. Why does this happen? Who has written or made art about the capacity for our memories to be transformed in this way?
[more inside]posted by victory_laser at 6:22 PM PST - 1 comments
I need a quick and awesome reco for a Thai restaurant in LA for tonight! Anywhere near Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, or downtown. Less than $30 per person. Casual attire.
posted by JPowers at 6:00 PM PST - 10 comments
I recently received a gift of "44 Years of the Fantastic Four," which I think has one heck of a lot of PDFs of old comic books on a DVD-ROM. Regrettably, my computer cannot read it and thinks it's a blank disk. I am running Vista and Adobe X. Am I out of luck because my setup is just too modern? I wouldn't mind shooting a bunch of these over to my ipad, but obviously won't be able to do that unless my Dell can actually read the damn thing. How will I be able to relive the day that Galactus walked the earth?
posted by Mr. Justice at 5:10 PM PST - 4 comments
I'm looking to buy a bike, but I find myself paralyzed by the large number of choices available. I'd like to get a Hybrid bike to do some recreational riding around my neighborhood, in the park, and on local trails and bike paths. I want a bike that feels good to ride, is sturdy and reliable, and allows for customization if I want to swap out some component in the future.
[more inside]posted by braveterry at 3:23 PM PST - 24 comments
My best friend and I (living in New Brunswick, Canada) want to take a road trip this summer and we were thinking maybe doing a musical festival/camping adventure. Any suggestions for excellent festivals where two young women would be safe and have an amazing time?
[more inside]posted by gwenlister at 2:28 PM PST - 12 comments
What is the best way to support a close friend that has suicidal tendencies and to handle the feelings I have about it?
[more inside]posted by sucky_poppet at 2:23 PM PST - 24 comments
I have a Western Digital Elements 1 TB External Hard Drive. I uploaded files onto it from a Mac, and want to put those files onto my PC. Problem is, my PC doesn't recognize my hard drive now when I plug it in, and instead asks me to reformat the whole drive (which I previously had to do on the Mac).
[more inside]posted by matticulate at 2:22 PM PST - 15 comments
I'm feelin' some etouffée, but I'm tired of faking it with shrimp.
Retail seafood markets are few and far between. Where can I find crawfish tail meat (even frozen and/or Chinese) in Los Angeles, the closer to the San Fernando Valley the better?
posted by DandyRandy at 2:22 PM PST - 7 comments
Suggest me things to do when arriving in Dubai Airport at midnight for 9 hours please! I'll be taking a 7-hours flight from Glasgow to Dubai, arriving at almost 1 am. This is followed by another 7-hours flight from Dubai to Singapore at 9:30 am. What should I do to pass the time? Should I even try to leave the airport and go to the city?
[more inside]posted by joewandy at 2:06 PM PST - 5 comments
I am looking for a particular reverse graph paper notebook company I read about some time ago. The idea of the graph paper was that it was reversed out - that is, white gridlines and slightly darker blocks. The theory was it made photocopying or scanning your work easier.
[more inside]posted by artlung at 2:04 PM PST - 6 comments
A third-party website has created a "profile" for me on their own site, using my main Facebeook picture, which turns up on the first page of Google hits for my full name. It seems to be some kind of cheesy dating site and I really don't want it up there. I've never used the site, or interacted with it in any way (I don't use any FB apps at all, and am savvy enough not to click on spammy links). Do I have any recourse for getting this taken down?
posted by decoherence at 1:18 PM PST - 15 comments
[NashvilleCountryMusicFilter] I will be attending a wedding in Nashville on the weekend of July 9th. I also love country music. Clearly, I need to take advantage of this.
[more inside]posted by Metasyntactic at 1:05 PM PST - 8 comments
What restaurant/businesses e-lists have given you the best birthday swag/deals/freebies from? I want to know the perks you've gotten from birthday lists you've signed up for-- whether it be a free cup of coffee, a % off a meal, or better!
[more inside]posted by UsagiBride at 12:55 PM PST - 17 comments
I have an interview at a market research company next week! Which is great, except that I've been in school for physics for the last 7 years and I know next to nothing about the field. Can you give me resources, tips or tricks to prepare for this interview?
[more inside]posted by auto-correct at 12:52 PM PST - 7 comments
What movie takes place at/has a line mentioning Chester, Wisconsin University... "Chez Whiz U?"
[more inside]posted by cmoj at 12:39 PM PST - 2 comments
I'll be away from my friends for the summer while working, and I'd like to pick up a hobby. I don't even know where to start.
[more inside]posted by Echobelly at 12:30 PM PST - 11 comments
My fiance and her lady friends and family are getting together tomorrow for a bridal shower in our Brooklyn apartment.
That leaves the guys (all different ages and all different interests) in the family with the chance to go hang out and do male-bonding stuff. I'm going to check to see if there are any interesting sporting events on tv tomorrow afternoon, but that aside, what should we do that will be fun and low-key? Bonus if the place is relatively close to a G train stop.
[more inside]posted by Jagz-Mario at 12:21 PM PST - 8 comments
Any tips/places to see for a first solo road trip? (Los Angeles - New Orleans -- maybe a bit of the blues trail as well)
[more inside]posted by quirkychowder at 12:05 PM PST - 10 comments
Bay Area Bike Commuting Filter: So I recently got a bike and was all excited about biking part of my daily commute (to and from my home and work BART stations), but then I discovered that the
bikes on BART rules are such that non-folding bikes pretty much aren't allowed on the train during normal commute hours--"those trains shown in highlighted areas" cover nearly the entire range of the morning commute for anyone who has to be at work between 8:00-9:00am. I'm having a hard time accepting this because surely in a place with such a thriving bike culture there are people who work normal business hours and take their (non-folding) bikes onto BART. Are you one of these people? How do you swing it? I commute from Downtown Berkeley to San Bruno for a 9-5 job and can't seem to find a way to make it work.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:54 AM PST - 10 comments
Suddenly and out of the blue, when I try to open Microsoft Word documents, even ones that I opened a few days ago, I can't. Help! Please!
[more inside]posted by tacoma1 at 11:51 AM PST - 10 comments
What is the equivalent to Craigslist in Japan, perhaps the Osaka area specifically?
[more inside]posted by krilli at 11:05 AM PST - 9 comments
Suggestions, please, for provocative, informative, hilarious, and/or disturbing documentaries about religion and social/moral/ethical issues?
[more inside]posted by devotion+doubt at 9:43 AM PST - 25 comments
Are we wrong for not visiting my family while being on the east coast for my wife's brother's wedding?
[more inside]posted by ljs30 at 9:07 AM PST - 37 comments
What can I do with my 13 year old daughter while I'm at work all day during the summer? Additional difficulties inside...
[more inside]posted by trinkatot at 8:56 AM PST - 69 comments
Utterly delusional letter sent from my ex to my current partner (stating I belong with the ex, am being kept from him, and am currently in love with him). Here is our plan; what do you think?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:49 AM PST - 58 comments
I've been lied to by someone I love and trusted, and it's causing me chest pains and way too many tears. What can I do to cope or process it healthily and get over it as quickly as possible?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:48 AM PST - 27 comments
I am soon starting a job for a small business that forms LLCs. What do I need to know?
[more inside]posted by griphus at 8:24 AM PST - 6 comments
Mechanic Engineering undergrad seeks transfer to a more competitive, research-oriented school. What should we know?
[more inside]posted by citygirl at 8:18 AM PST - 13 comments
Those anti-fatigue mats and bead seat covers really work. I guess the uneven surface keeps the muscles stimulated. Is there anything like this for a mattress or mattress cover for my bed?
[more inside]posted by dino terror at 8:13 AM PST - 4 comments
I'm speaking at a technical conference in about 2 weeks and my slides (in openoffice) are using black as its background color. But recently in a
podcast, several people commented that for conferences, it is mandatory that slides use white for the background to enhance the legibility. On
this previous question, the commented used white text on an almost black background. Should I reformat my slides to use a white background ?
posted by lahersedor at 7:18 AM PST - 22 comments
I bought a set of four microfiber cleaning cloths. Help me pair them to the things I want to clean. (Also, come up with more things to clean.)
[more inside]posted by anaelith at 6:57 AM PST - 11 comments
Having our Murder Mystery Party tonight, and trying to button up some last minute things. I need some music suggestions for ambiance. The setting is 1930's France, in a casino. Lot's of secret agents and what not.
posted by JonnyRotten at 5:15 AM PST - 8 comments
I'm currently working on a research project that will lead to a written product (an article or report, either published in a magazine/journal, or released online). I want to create an appendix to the report that has the names and descriptions for books referenced in the report. This will be an extensive list, so I don't want to create the descriptions myself. Can I use the product description that is put out by the publisher (the one that is used by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book sellers)? If not, what are my options?
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:06 AM PST - 6 comments
[Philosophy/Language/HistoryFilter]: What's the name of this rhetorical or logical technique, where you explain a subject by making a lot of lists?
[more inside]posted by gallusgallus at 4:44 AM PST - 6 comments
Help me make a presentation of how I would change a website to make it better (copywriter expertise appreciated.)
[more inside]posted by modoriculous at 4:34 AM PST - 12 comments
I upgraded Snow Leopard to 10.6.7. Now my WDTV Live media player can't see the folders on my Mac I was sharing with NFS. Please hope me.
[more inside]posted by obiwanwasabi at 4:20 AM PST - 2 comments
Looking for an article about artists living in a New York museum as installation.
[more inside]posted by Su at 2:33 AM PST - 5 comments
Saturday morning movie type cartoon, (I don't believe it was a series)...late 80's or early 90's...kids play in backyard (specific memory of them playing on a swing set) and they venture into some caves. The caves were mostly red. Here's the key: One of the girls had a pet snake that she kept hidden in her shirt..I think it was named slimey.
Any ideas? I remember a weird feeling I would get when watching this "movie"....like it was almost scary, but then I knew there was nothing to be afraid of.....
Thanks! :)
posted by AltReality at 1:06 AM PST - 6 comments
I may purchase some train tickets that would have me staying at Cologne Hauptbahnhof from 0200-0600 early on a Saturday morning in August - is this a horrible idea, or might it actually be a positive experience as layovers go?
[more inside]posted by mdonley at 12:52 AM PST - 15 comments
I have a visa and passport question regarding entry into Australia. Are there any Aussies/travelers who have been there recently able to answer this?
[more inside]posted by Tenacious.Me.Tokyo at 12:50 AM PST - 11 comments
May 26
Overweight and out of shape, looking for something that's an intense full body workout that isn't injury prone
[more inside]posted by mbird at 10:48 PM PST - 43 comments
Would it be in bad taste for me to bring wine to a dinner party hosted by two recovering alcoholics?
I know at least 3 of the other 5 guests are drinkers, so it's not like I'd be drinking the wine alone.
Should I just bring a plant?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 10:10 PM PST - 56 comments
Find my friend's book (by plot): Explorer describes seven(-ish) cities he visited... but in the end, it turns out they were all different descriptions of the same city.
posted by sibilatorix at 9:58 PM PST - 4 comments
My recently retired father is consumed with anxiety that I am not married (or interested in dating at all, really) and constantly badgers me about it. If he only asked once and then stopped, that would be OK. But there is overwhelming judgment/criticism that something must be wrong with me and he seems to think this gives him the authority to tell me how to live my life. This has been going on for a while and, at this point, I am ready to completely sever my relationship with him due to the constant badgering. How can I talk to him about this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:49 PM PST - 43 comments
Need help in identifying a song from the 80's (I think). It is about Hollywood's golden age, rather long, with some spoken word, that got a lot of airplay. Apologies for not remembering any of the lyrics, but they are just outside the reach of my memory.
posted by notcostello at 9:05 PM PST - 5 comments
Could someone point me to an online source to download/purchase Garrison Keillor's story about the Lutheran Ministers on the Pontoon Boat?
posted by tomswift at 8:59 PM PST - 2 comments
I have very thick, very straight, fine-ish hair. It is way too long and needs to be cut. What should I do with it? (Pics and more details after the cut.)
[more inside]posted by naturalog at 8:19 PM PST - 13 comments
We've just moved, and I'm working on the backlog of laundry. The problem is that one of the hampers apparently was close to the oil furnace of the old house, and now the entire basket smells like oil. How do I get rid of the smell?
[more inside]posted by mephron at 8:10 PM PST - 9 comments
Hair Filter: Help a grad student living frugally to make her curly hair fabulous. Moral support for going curly would also be appreciated!
[more inside]posted by sunnychef88 at 6:59 PM PST - 41 comments
I grown fond of a brand of apple whiskey that comes in these sturdy glass bottles (
image), and now I have quite the collection of empty bottles. Right now, they're just sitting around my house making me look very much the alcoholic hoarder, but I can't bring myself to toss them, and I'd like to do something with them. Any ideas for some basic decor/crafty suggestions would be appreciated.
[more inside]posted by bibliowench at 5:54 PM PST - 14 comments
PhiladelphiaFilter: Tell me about your excellent experiences with a tailor in Philadelphia. Bonus points for east of Broad Street in Center City.
[more inside]posted by midatlanticwanderer at 5:08 PM PST - 13 comments
Looking for specific suggestions of particularly innovative successful/popular US national-level grassroots right-wing civics activist groups (can be conservative, libertarian, religious, non-religious etc. etc; but not extremist) for an academic research project. We are especially interested in youth-focussed/web & new media-savvy/participatory culture savvy groups. Any research report (academic or non-academic) recommendations are most welcome too.
[more inside]posted by zresearch at 4:54 PM PST - 6 comments
Weddings: can we invite some of my second cousins without inviting them all? And how to minimize the fallout it we don't?
[more inside]posted by joshuaconner at 4:33 PM PST - 30 comments
Who are the After Market Services (AMS) providors in South America (esp. in Brazil), in Spain and Portugal, as well as in Italy?
[more inside]posted by Doggiebreath at 4:23 PM PST - 1 comments
How can I search for a particular user's comments in response to articles on a particular newspaper's website?
[more inside]posted by PhatLobley at 4:18 PM PST - 2 comments
Asking for a friend re Northern California situation. A friend's close relation was struck by a car while walking in a crosswalk and was seriously injured. She has had several surgeries and will need several more. The family has a personal injury attorney for the claims against the driver. My question on behalf of my friend and her relation is about how to prevent the hospital from discharging her (seemingly) without an appropriate discharge plan.
[more inside]posted by ClaudiaCenter at 4:13 PM PST - 9 comments
Can anyone recommend some good, relatively cheap places for an overweight fellow to get clothing in Brussels?
[more inside]posted by dhens at 4:00 PM PST - 0 comments
I am interested in the problem of outing and coming out as it relates to mental illness. Can you point me to any good resources (books, articles, blog posts, anything) on this subject?
posted by prefpara at 3:29 PM PST - 10 comments
I am not (exactly) a lawyer. I need to write an appellate brief. Where can I find a hypothetical that doesn't come with answers?
[more inside]posted by cereselle at 3:13 PM PST - 7 comments
Howdy, We're in the early stages of developing an online directory site that will include online booking capabilities similar (if not exact) to something you might see on a vacation rental site. Due to my limited knowledge on the subject, I thought I might plead for some help answering a couple simple questions.
[more inside]posted by ISeemToBeAVerb at 3:05 PM PST - 3 comments
How do I find closeout sales on action sports goods or bulk buys of last seasons goods?
[more inside]posted by matimer at 2:59 PM PST - 3 comments
My friend, Hilary asks, "Does anyone have any idea what
these are? They were found, strung together like this, in the pocket of a Japanese soldier's overcoat during WWII. My Mother's friend worked for the Red Cross during the war, and found them, and they eventually came to me. I'm guessing they are coral....but what was their use?"
posted by nickyskye at 2:11 PM PST - 9 comments
My Meetup group has grown too large for our regular trivia night. Help me brainstorm ideas for a group of 10-15 people (sometimes more, sometimes less) to play trivia, drink beer, and socialize.
[more inside]posted by aabbbiee at 1:36 PM PST - 10 comments
Is there a place online where I can look up GPS Coordinates of famous photos? For instance, if I want to find where Ansel Adams stood to photograph Half Dome, could I find this somewhere?
posted by ShootTheMoon at 1:34 PM PST - 1 comments
It's taking my
brand new Thinkpad a full two minutes to boot (and an additional 30 sec to get my browser open). What's up?
[more inside]posted by kitcat at 1:12 PM PST - 30 comments
My wife and I are traveling to New Orleans between June 14th and June 18th for our 1st anniversary. What should we do there? Relevant details: we're both vegetarian, both like jazz and beer and museums, I love funk music, she's into fancy cocktails and cool-looking old buildings. Neither of us have ever been before. Any recommendations for vegetarian restaurants would be especially appreciated.
posted by IjonTichy at 12:58 PM PST - 23 comments
What is the legal process for a non-US citizen protecting their copyright in the US?
[more inside]posted by jihaan at 12:57 PM PST - 2 comments
We have an oldish (~90 years or so) house with a gas furnace and forced air heating. We're thinking of replacing the furnace and adding an AC compressor for cooling. I'm looking for recommendations for specific furnaces and compressors (brands or models), especially ones that are long lasting and/or energy efficient. We'd also like to hear stories and or warnings about setting this up in an old house.
[more inside]posted by Deathalicious at 12:52 PM PST - 7 comments
I'm founding a startup! Yaaay! I have some friends who like my idea and want to help me. However, I have no money to pay them, so I'm guessing that I'll need to give them a piece of the action. I don't want to get screwed, but at the same time, I don't want to be perceived as a jerk. What is the most fair way to divide up the pie? What's the best way to approach this discussion without coming off as a jerk?
[more inside]posted by Sloop John B at 12:11 PM PST - 24 comments
Can i use the OSX startup disc option to 'move stuff from old computer' more than once? I want to put old imac and old laptop all on my new laptop.
[more inside]posted by JJkiss at 12:05 PM PST - 3 comments
Can you help us analyze some of the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of a hypothetical compressor-and-tank system? Diagram and explanation provided.
[more inside]posted by Juffo-Wup at 11:43 AM PST - 8 comments
Aussie Filter! Looking for a picture of a particular Aussie/NZ moving company's Cat-arrific logo!
[more inside]posted by salem at 11:18 AM PST - 6 comments
I love everything about my bike except the brakes. Can my bike, which used to have coaster brakes, be converted to have both front and back hand brakes?
[more inside]posted by pluma moos at 11:15 AM PST - 17 comments
I recently picked up Sam Prekop's latest album,
Old Punch Card, expecting something at least akin to his previous solo albums and work in The Sea & Cake. Instead I got
this, and
this, and
this—and it's blowing my mind. What else can you tell me about experimental electronica 'music' that goes BLEEP BLOOP FIZZZ HUSSSSSSSSSSHHHH BOOM in no discernible order?
posted by carsonb at 11:13 AM PST - 22 comments
On the TV show Fraiser Niles' wife Maris is referred to often but never seen. What other show have a character(s) that the never seen? On M*A*S*H the characters refer to family members back home. So they would not count as they are not local to the shows primary location.
posted by tman99 at 10:30 AM PST - 78 comments
We just got back soil test results for our new garden, and the lead levels are unfortunately pretty high (around 800 ppm). Now what?
[more inside]posted by tau_ceti at 10:23 AM PST - 12 comments
My networked work PC was infected with what appears to be XP Shield. Questions about this specific piece of malware...
[more inside]posted by Dr. Zira at 10:04 AM PST - 10 comments
What games are good to keep kids occupied on a long car trip? Looking for ds, psp, cellphone games etc.
[more inside]posted by mudkicker at 10:04 AM PST - 15 comments
One of my coworkers lost his spouse this week, 24 hours after she gave birth to their baby. At work we created a sign up sheet for us each to bring food to him over the coming weeks/months. Today I found out that he's both lactose intolerant and vegetarian. Please give me your best recipes (for 4-6 servings and up) that fit this criteria.
[more inside]posted by corn_bread at 9:53 AM PST - 35 comments
I love couchsurfing.org. What websites would you recommend where you can stay with people in their homes, in exchange for a little bit of money - specifically, for England, Scotland and Ireland?
[more inside]posted by ashtabula to opelika at 8:51 AM PST - 5 comments
I'm looking for a graduation gift for a math and geology nerd. My best friend just got dual bachelor's degrees. She's going to grad school for geophysics in the fall. I know approximately zero about her areas of study and would like to get her something nice.
[more inside]posted by desjardins at 8:15 AM PST - 15 comments
InstructionalDesignFilter: Already have a master's in another discipline, do I need to get one in Instructional Design to qualify for positions, or would a certificate be enough?
[more inside]posted by clone boulevard at 7:58 AM PST - 5 comments
A friend is looking for a five-paragraph essay that instructs the reader on how to write a five-paragraph essay. My Google-fu has failed me in this self-referential task. Can you help?
[more inside]posted by perrce at 7:35 AM PST - 6 comments
How do I travel cheaply from Budapest, Hungary to Kaunas, Lithuania next month?
[more inside]posted by KMH at 7:35 AM PST - 5 comments
I'm throwing a small outdoor party tomorrow (25 people) and now there's rain in the forecast. It being graduation season, I don't want to spend all day calling party stores to find someone who can still rent me a tent. So, will a pop-up canopy
like this protect people from the rain or is it a waste of money?
[more inside]posted by cabingirl at 7:22 AM PST - 14 comments
Have any MeFites signed up for Mediabistro or any similar service and if so, was it worth the sign up fee? How about the Mediabistro Marketplace -- has work actually found you through it? I'm not especially interested in their health insurance or classes; I'm purely looking for leads for freelance writing assignments.
[more inside]posted by yankeefog at 6:07 AM PST - 6 comments
I'm getting back into playing my electric guitar. Two questions: 1) how do I tell whether it's worth throwing money at the existing guitar vs. getting a new one (details inside, I'm in Boston); and 2) what's a good effects processor these days (details also inside).
[more inside]posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:56 AM PST - 16 comments
Help find me a Book of Short Stories that you could use as introductions for various talks/discussions/presentations...
[more inside]posted by fozzie33 at 5:47 AM PST - 6 comments
Do you know of a hashing or encryption function that produces results of varying length depending on the frequency of the input?
[more inside]posted by outlier at 5:33 AM PST - 14 comments
Am I the only leftist that doesn't believe in the connection between social justice and animal rights?
[more inside]posted by Jon_Evil at 4:59 AM PST - 41 comments
I have my first stand up gig coming up (10 - 15 minutes) and wanted to know if anyone in the Green knew of any 'must read' articles, pages, books about the subject? I'm also interested in first hand experience stories.
[more inside]posted by Nufkin at 4:46 AM PST - 14 comments
I'm looking for a creative writer to help me turn a dry, technical proposal into a compelling narrative and sales story.
[more inside]posted by Lleyam at 2:36 AM PST - 5 comments
May 25
Going to Chicago/St. Louis for the first time during the second week of June. Tell me the hot spots.
[more inside]posted by goalyeehah at 11:17 PM PST - 22 comments
There's a nail in my tire, what's the best course of action for the circumstances at hand? Quick responses welcomed.
[more inside]posted by RolandOfEld at 11:16 PM PST - 22 comments
What are the best English-language books about life in the Siberian gulag
at the end of the 1930s?
posted by Marquis at 10:01 PM PST - 10 comments
Sewing machine filter: I can't get rid of thread monsters and my bobbins aren't winding properly. Normal troubleshooting tips not working.
[more inside]posted by luckynerd at 9:17 PM PST - 9 comments
Having trouble moving on after a murky break up, and berating myself for my mistakes. How do I move forward?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:44 PM PST - 23 comments
Does anybody happen to have an LG Lotus phone for Sprint and a few minutes?
[more inside]posted by zug at 7:07 PM PST - 4 comments
Please share your resources and tips for analyzing a compromised Linux system for information about the attack.
[more inside]posted by odinsdream at 7:06 PM PST - 20 comments
There are several open and WEP encrypted networks around my apartment complex. A neighbor has allowed me access on their WEP network, but I'm worried about the security. Is there a way to make my web traffic safe?
[more inside]posted by apip at 6:58 PM PST - 10 comments
Please help me save this pot roast!
I have a grass fed chuck pot roast that was about 2.5 lbs that I put in the crock pot on low exactly 5 hours ago. I tried it right now and it seems tough. The internal temperature is 150 degrees. If it cooks longer will that break down the collagen and make it tender? Or is it ruined? Thank you!
posted by skjønn at 6:47 PM PST - 17 comments
Posting for a friend. Job-change-filter: currently I'm a Biology Research Associate working in a lab in a medium sized bio-tech company. This job has been fun while it lasted but I need to move on. Ideally I'd like to get into medical/science writing, but I have no experience in the field.
[more inside]posted by pyro979 at 6:33 PM PST - 4 comments
My dad is looking for the name of a cartoon and all he can remember is that a wolf or coyote is a schoolteacher. It may only be an episode of a series. The time frame for this would be US television up to and including the sixties.
I don't think it's the Roadrunner series, but I'm not sure.
posted by tatma at 5:39 PM PST - 4 comments
How can I learn more about social media (prefer interactive contests/blogathons) and how I can learn more about the potential for small businesses that blog?
[more inside]posted by Wolfster at 5:21 PM PST - 4 comments
Which adaptation of
The Last of the Mohicans is best? I see that there are many film and TV adaptations of the book, but which ones are worth watching?
posted by NoMich at 5:14 PM PST - 21 comments
Dead cat in stream. Kids play in same stream a couple hundred meters downstream. Public health hazard? Should I remove the cat to keep kiddies safe from pathogens? If not, I'm perfectly content to let dead cats rot in peace.
posted by zachawry at 5:08 PM PST - 23 comments
I can't smell roasted seaweed, but my coworker says they stink. What's going on here?
[more inside]posted by curagea at 4:57 PM PST - 31 comments
The full version of Adobe Acrobat has a way to OCR scanned images, so that the image is still viewed in the PDF, but you can search for text in the document. How do you do that
without Acrobat?
[more inside]posted by AzraelBrown at 4:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Neighbor behavior filter: I hear my neighbor's baby (definitely a baby) crying. I hear the sound of a man yelling things like "shut up" or "stop crying". And then I hear the sound of a smack. This makes me feel horrified. But is it any of my business to try to help?
[more inside]posted by your mom's a sock puppet at 4:13 PM PST - 44 comments
I'm looking for a book that will give me a full and complete sense (down to the nitty-gritty) of what it's like to be paralyzed from the waist down and to live life in a wheelchair. I've looked at some very clinical manuals that do explain things, but the wording is very dry. I'm looking for an account that is more personal. I'm hoping some of you could suggest some good ones you have read.
posted by Sully at 3:57 PM PST - 15 comments
Wifi pitifully slow on my laptop at home, when laptop everywhere else is OK and other devices at home are OK. What do I do?
[more inside]posted by CruiseSavvy at 3:25 PM PST - 6 comments
Where can I get a detachable sheet-music holder for acoustic guitar, similar to the lyres used for instruments in marching bands?
[more inside]posted by herbplarfegan at 2:37 PM PST - 10 comments
My coworker (and friend) just got an amazing new job, I'd like to get him a small gift... but what?
[more inside]posted by RubyDoom at 2:29 PM PST - 9 comments
I would like links to safety videos that are public domain and/or creative commons licensed.
[more inside]posted by jsturgill at 2:23 PM PST - 2 comments
Should I be concerned that my SO is already scared of feeling "trapped" because of our long-term/forever potential after 2-3ish months of dating (and 7 of close friendship)? He mentioned noticing other women more than normal and equates it to feeling scared of eternal monogamy. Is this a giant red flag? Or am I picking a fight with someone willing to be honest with me about his feelings? Or both?
More details inside.
(anon because he and mutual friends are aware of MeFi handle)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:00 PM PST - 25 comments
What is being an assistant district attorney like? How does it differ from civil litigation?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:59 PM PST - 5 comments
OK. I may be totally misremembering this, but where did I see an online gallery of expandable frame graphics for web design?
[more inside]posted by sandra_s at 12:49 PM PST - 1 comments
What is the law in Japan regarding seating a child at the front and a child at the rear of the bicycle?
[more inside]posted by ovesh at 12:35 PM PST - 14 comments
I need some help writing my resume. Anyone know someone good? Someone who works by phone/email preferred, but in-person in NYC is ok too. I know I can search Craigslist, but I'd prefer a person recommendation. Thanks!
posted by SampleSize at 12:09 PM PST - 5 comments
I am looking to design a web site with shopping cart functionality and I have no real experience, but I know what looks good. Is there anyway to find out who designed a website like "Etsy.com" so that I may implement something similar? and is there a product I would purchase to do this Thanks for any help with this.
posted by kmurray24 at 11:54 AM PST - 8 comments
Please recommend a great simple e-reader for an extremely a-technical elderly non-computer user.
[more inside]posted by eytanb at 11:38 AM PST - 16 comments
Earlier this month, there was a fire in the house my boyfriend and I were renting. Basically the attic fan caused a fairly extensive fire which moved through the ducts and damaged the roof and ceiling. Not much damage was done to the ground floor, other than smoke and water. My boyfriend and I are now considering buying the house, and are looking for advice and experiences you might have for this situation.
[more inside]posted by odayoday at 11:23 AM PST - 14 comments
Please suggest a good Drupal 7 theme for a website with some pages of content, forums (fora?), and eventually e-commerce. Low budget.
[more inside]posted by msalt at 11:00 AM PST - 3 comments
What are saltines supposed to taste like if you eat them really slowly? I've been waiting for the answer for 18 years.
[more inside]posted by tchemgrrl at 10:48 AM PST - 19 comments
Where can I find software that will convert a video in .exe into an actual video format like avi...etc?
[more inside]posted by kal0kagathia at 10:16 AM PST - 7 comments
I am reading "The call of the wild" and my question is ...about "sacredam"-----"Sacredam!" he cried,when his eyes lit upon Buck.---- When you native speakers hear this word,do you understand its meaning easily? I couldn't find it on any web dictionaries.Will it come from [sacred + damn] ? Could you give me more information about it?
posted by mizukko at 9:54 AM PST - 14 comments
I'd like to know who or whom first coined the term "red, white and blue" and if there was a purposeful differentiation from "blue, red and white" or any other combination thereof other than linguistic value.
[more inside]posted by jsavimbi at 9:48 AM PST - 17 comments
Can anyone recommend a medicalert/panic button that allows you to program in family phone numbers, rather than calling 911 or the company that sold you the service/product?
[more inside]posted by Mavri at 9:46 AM PST - 5 comments
I got a new Windows machine. It's been a while since I used Windows (never Windows 7). What do I, as someone paranoid about viruses and malware, need to download and set up in order to be 99.99% sure that nothing untoward happens to my machine?
[more inside]posted by Busoni at 9:35 AM PST - 21 comments
Help me find the new hometown of my dreams: quiet-but-not-dull coastal northern California community with a slightly hippy-and/or-artsy vibe and awesome schools. Alternatively, convince me that my desires are self-contradictory and the place I'm looking for does not exist.
[more inside]posted by ook at 9:34 AM PST - 25 comments
I once read an answer on AskMe where the respondent said their study guide was so good they felt like they were cheating on the GRE. I want that study guide! I can't find that question, but any recommendations on study guides, materials, preparing for the test or anything at all related would be greatly appreciated.
[more inside]posted by provoliminal at 9:20 AM PST - 10 comments
I'll be spending the month of June in the US. What are the options for short term mobile phone service? I gather that sim cards in the US are different from Europe & that I can't simply buy a local SIM card for my Euro phone. Please tell me if I'm wrong! Can I buy a cheap local phone and "pay as you go" credit?
posted by LivinginYes at 7:14 AM PST - 13 comments
Some heavy shit went down this week and I've become the unwilling party to a new family secret. I want to tell one or two trusted family members because it affects them to a lesser degree. Can people with calmer heads and more perspective help me sort through this and figure out the best line to take?
(Caution: longwinded)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:00 AM PST - 62 comments
My fiancé refuses to let his parents help pay for our wedding. Should I say anything, or am I walking into a minefield?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:59 AM PST - 33 comments
Post-Tonsillectomy Question: Any tips on making swallowing liquids/solid foods easier, sooner?
[more inside]posted by smitt at 6:52 AM PST - 9 comments
My new obsession is argyle socks. Please recommend places I can find quality argyle socks for men, suited to brown / tan slacks and jeans. $10 / pair or under preferred. Bold, bordering on obnoxious, colors get bonus points.
posted by Apropos of Something at 6:42 AM PST - 14 comments
Can anyone recommend a good place for full-colour business cards in Toronto? Ideally, I'd prefer some place that can work with a Photoshop .PSD file, but I can provide JPEG if necessary. Thanks!
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 5:43 AM PST - 5 comments
Can anyone provide a source for
this creepy screencap of two men dressed in formal white clothing preparing a child to present to a disembodied goat head lurking behind a plastic curtain?
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot at 4:37 AM PST - 18 comments
What percent of Facebook profiles are public? Trying to figure out why everyone talks about the danger of having your information visible online -- don't most people use privacy settings?
posted by lastwomanstanding at 4:03 AM PST - 16 comments
Cooking-for-a-date filter: cooking for one has made me lazy, and there's a good chance a date this weekend will involve some making of food at my place. Creative, easy-to-cook, impressive-tasting dishes please!
[more inside]posted by chrisinseoul at 2:22 AM PST - 21 comments
CareerChangeFilter: Lost generalist in a land of specialists. Editorial book publishing work solved the problem. (As an editorial specialist I could work on general-interest projects in a range of subject matter.) Then it became the problem. My wrists can't handle the tight deadlines and the industry's been a mess for years. I've got lots of skills and experience, but editorial is my only expertise, and it's just not transferring. I'm reaching a point where I don't even know what category to click on craigslist. So I'm depending on the wisdom of the Green. What jobs haven't I thought of?
[more inside]posted by Violet Blue at 1:27 AM PST - 11 comments
May 24
How can I make the most of a loved one's unwanted hospital stay? I want him to get the best care possible, I want to avoid insurance conflicts, I want to support his recovery efforts, and I want to avoid going insane.
[more inside]posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:56 PM PST - 24 comments
Could someone explain to me what's happening in the guitar solo in "You Wear It Well" by DeBarge?
[more inside]posted by germdisco at 11:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Looking for a forgotten Sci Fi book - a slower-than-light and sentient ship is running a circuit of human colonized worlds. It occasionally transports one or two people in cryosleep from their world to one of the next, generally as refugees. Over the thousands of years, the colonies have diverged in random directions and the ship is getting lonely.
[more inside]posted by codswallop at 10:32 PM PST - 14 comments
Travel tips/hacks for long international flights to China? Travel pillow and video recorder recommendations?
[more inside]posted by cycleback at 9:06 PM PST - 20 comments
Why has this WinXP machine recently started to play Youtube videos back at roughly 10% faster than the proper speed?
[more inside]posted by richyoung at 8:52 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm looking for the perfect closed headphones for under $100 that fold up for portability. I am currently trying out the Sony MDR-V6. I like the sound and they're comfortable enough (a little tight) and the size is right. The problem is the stupid
coiled cable - it's driving me crazy.
[more inside]posted by kdern at 8:49 PM PST - 12 comments
What sequencer+daw on the Mac handles clips/phrases in a song as links back to a master instance of the clip, rather than as individual copies?
[more inside]posted by txsebastien at 8:39 PM PST - 8 comments
What does the mocking expression "chorizocracia" mean in Castillian Spanish? I get the literal meaning: "Sausage-ocracy" but I think there's a slangy connotation that I, as a non-native, am missing here. What does the term "chorizo" imply in a political context? Thanks!
posted by jason's_planet at 8:17 PM PST - 7 comments
I'm considering going electric and purchasing
this bike. It has pretty much everything that I'd want: pedal assist, throttle and go, extended range, nice suspension, it looks durable and it qualifies as a pushbike in Victoria Australia.
[more inside]posted by michswiss at 8:14 PM PST - 12 comments
So if tattoos all over the arms are called sleeves, are tats all over your legs called stockings? socks? I'm serious.
[more inside]posted by jfwlucy at 8:12 PM PST - 8 comments
Worth reporting a hit and run? Someone backed into my legally parked car even though they had a TON of room. i jumped out of the car but they ignored me and drove slowly away.
[more inside]posted by ziggly at 7:05 PM PST - 19 comments
How concerned should I be about audio hallucinations while smoking weed? And who do I even ask about this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:55 PM PST - 24 comments
I'm thinking of applying for jobs that require a security clearance. I'm a US citizen. My wife is from a former Soviet country (not Russia), and her father was briefly in the KGB. Is this going to poison my chances of getting clearance?
[more inside]posted by AlexanderPetros at 6:18 PM PST - 15 comments
Google transport and Houston's crappy metro map won't route me from Hobby airport to downtown. This can't be right. Can it?
[more inside]posted by cyndigo at 6:02 PM PST - 4 comments
How do I replicate my MacBook onto my Mac Mini? (I have a time capsule backup for the MacBook)
[more inside]posted by ejfox at 2:44 PM PST - 7 comments
Our little baby boy has been in the NICU for the past 8 days and should be released in a less than a week. He was born 6 weeks early and before we had bought anything (even a car seat) so we're rushing to prepare for his imminent arrival. We came up with a few questions while shopping for baby stuff...
[more inside]posted by exhilaration at 2:32 PM PST - 55 comments
Is there a point where it makes more financial sense to backup home PCs to personal offsite storage (via FTP) instead of using something like Mozy, Backblaze, Crashplan, etc...?
[more inside]posted by teg4rvn at 1:49 PM PST - 9 comments
What do you think is the fairest way to handle rental applications? First come, first serve, or best application wins?
[more inside]posted by Crashback at 1:33 PM PST - 38 comments
I'm probably doing it wrong, but what is the best way to rip DVD's and DVCAM tape to use with Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro?
[more inside]posted by wcfields at 12:57 PM PST - 4 comments
How do I handle being in a group interview for a job tomorrow? I understand that more and more employers are interviewing this way lately, and I've never been interviewed for a job this way before.
[more inside]posted by JustDerek at 12:54 PM PST - 11 comments
Do you take Amitiza? Does it give you horrible heartburn 35ish minutes after every dose? How do you control that? Zyrtec and Tums aren't doing the job.
[more inside]posted by nadawi at 12:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Translation services: How do I get a Ukrainian birth certificate officially translated into Czech(!) in Los Angeles? (Plan B: Get it officially translated into English, and then have the Czech embassy officially translate THAT into Czech)
[more inside]posted by sdis at 12:18 PM PST - 4 comments
Me and a buddy of mine are starting a vending company in Texas...we are trying to come up a name for our business....please help!
posted by flipmiester99 at 11:58 AM PST - 18 comments
What reggae would you recommend to someone who likes it but doesn't have much more than Bob Marley and The Wailers Live! in their collection.
[more inside]posted by StimulatingPixels at 11:37 AM PST - 43 comments
Quick! I need the most entertaining, delicious, absorbing, and distracting list of summer reading ever.
[more inside]posted by yarly at 10:53 AM PST - 25 comments
I was recently accepted to Ryerson's midwifery education program, a lifelong dream of mine. However, now my partner and I are faced with planning a long distance move and feeling a little overwhelmed. Details inside.
[more inside]posted by owlparliament at 10:45 AM PST - 5 comments
The Lady and I are taking our first cruise this Sunday. Leaving New Orleans and heading to Belize, Roatan, Costa Maya and Cozumel. I've been to N.O. before, but neither of us have been any of the other places. Any pro-tips, suggestions or amusing anecdotes about any of those places? We really have no idea what to expect...
[more inside]posted by indiebass at 10:19 AM PST - 18 comments
Can you recommend a camping chair that is compact/collapsible, durable and comfortable?
[more inside]posted by aeighty at 10:04 AM PST - 15 comments
Chicago caterer? Nope,
not for a wedding. Just a cocktail party not held at home. I've tried looking through the google (and reading the wedding boards anyway), but seriously, it's way too much information with no quality filter. Have you hired a local (to Chicago) caterer for a small event in the last year or so that you would recommend?
[more inside]posted by crush-onastick at 10:03 AM PST - 11 comments
What advice can you offer a community-college student who wants to maximize her chances of transferring into a top social-sciences program at a four-year school?
[more inside]posted by hypotheticole at 9:54 AM PST - 9 comments
In middle english, how is
chaumbir translated? Is it a variation or inflected form of
chaumber (meaning bedroom)?
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:41 AM PST - 5 comments
I have heard that during the past decade the US government began to restrict journalists from publishing images of wounded and dead soldiers, as well as coffins. The goal, arguably, is to both manipulate public perception of war and respect the privacy of soldiers. This is in contrast to the Vietnam era, when images of the dead and dying were commonly published. Are there any great websites or articles about this phenomenon? Are these restrictions still in place under the Obama administration?
posted by mortaddams at 9:27 AM PST - 4 comments
Planning a vacation in Milwaukee and Chicago over the memorial day weekend. Any advice on
- What to do/see ?
- Restaurant/Food options?
Thanks :-)
posted by WizKid at 9:19 AM PST - 18 comments
Anyone know of a good upscale NYC catering company who can provide food and drink for corporate cocktail party this June for 150-200 people? I've used many of the larger, more established catering companies before, and am looking for something fresh and unique.
posted by elephant8 at 8:56 AM PST - 4 comments
Will I regret having eaten expired canadian bacon? What's the worst thing that could happen? I think I'm experiencing phantom food poisoning symptoms, help!
[more inside]posted by loquat at 7:41 AM PST - 14 comments
What language / framework should a beginning coder use for a text-based game that will eventually be ported to twitter?
[more inside]posted by moonmilk at 7:28 AM PST - 12 comments
How do we get a (music) celebrity to help promote an event in a YouTube-type video? Our community nonprofit is having a month-long event in June, and my daydream is to get some (recognizable) musician/band in a video that we could post on our very popular Facebook page. Ideally, he/she would say something like, "If I weren't on tour in [wherever] right now, I'd definitely be at [event name]! Don't miss it!" How do I even attempt this? I'm in a medium-sized city on the East Coast.
posted by trillian at 7:22 AM PST - 10 comments
Name That Song Filter. Last Saturday on the Rapture that wasn't, I kept remembering a song that I heard waaaay back in my "growing up fundie" days that began, "It was in the nineteen-eighties/At the end of ages" and had a chorus that involved the words "And I saw another angel in the sky". This song (as the lyrics suggest) was probably recorded in the eighties, was performed by a female vocalist, was almost certainly a "Christian contemporary" category song, and seemed to be rapture-themed. It would make awesome mood music for the next scheduled rapture in October. Googling has availed me naught. Can anyone identify it?
posted by orange swan at 7:18 AM PST - 2 comments
I'm looking for a countdown app for the iPhone that does NOT count down to a specific event, using dates. I need to complete 4000 (very small, identical) tasks and I'd like to be able to watch the number go down as I complete those tasks in batches. An app that can be shared with another person would be even better.
[more inside]posted by nkknkk at 6:31 AM PST - 5 comments
My fiancée and I are hoping to spend a fortnight in New England for our honeymoon in October.
I'd love your advice on how to make our honeymoon run smoothly!
[more inside]posted by chrispy108 at 6:14 AM PST - 37 comments
I already had employment lined up for after graduation, but I just discovered that I won't in fact be graduating this spring. Now what?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:04 AM PST - 8 comments
Can't believe I'm using a question on this, but it's driving me mad...what accent is shared by
David Mitchell and the character
Maurice Moss on the IT Crowd (no idea if the actor actually shares this accent when not playing the role). Is it a regional accent, or just a peculiarly nasal way of speaking? Do Brits perceive them as having the same accent? Is it upper-class, nerdy, or what?
posted by sarahkeebs at 5:56 AM PST - 10 comments
What's the magic word to get long-term depression and Parkinson's Disease accepted as Service Related for the purpose of securing a Veterans Administration pension for an 80-plus-year-old Korea Conflict veteran?
[more inside]posted by toodleydoodley at 4:45 AM PST - 11 comments
I have found the root of (what is becoming a debilitating) phobia, now what do I do to get rid of phobia completely?
[more inside]posted by Faintdreams at 4:02 AM PST - 16 comments
May 23
How do I get rid of the smell of liquid smoke on my skin? I rubbed beef for homemade beef jerky with liquid smoke using my fingers, and now my hand smells delectable. I can't stop salivating and I'm about to start gnawing on my phalanges. Help!
[more inside]posted by halogen at 11:02 PM PST - 13 comments
I'd like some diverse ideas on how to "design" a study plan for final examinations. What works for you? What are your theories on the best way to study? (*example scenario inside)
[more inside]posted by KLF at 10:58 PM PST - 6 comments
Listening to NPR I heard them saying, a little too casually, that "Generation Y is preparing for a future without any Social Security benefits". REALLY?? I did _NOT_ get that memo.
[more inside]posted by shipbreaker at 10:38 PM PST - 47 comments
I am looking for a good VOIP provider for a medium size business - any recommendations or experience to share?
[more inside]posted by alcahofa at 10:32 PM PST - 9 comments
If an embroidery technique like the one shown in
this video can be done using a standard sewing machine, how?
[more inside]posted by cp311 at 10:00 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm getting tired of how my room currently looks. The walls cannot be painted. I want to pretty the room up with lights of various colors, patterns, and effects, so at night, when I enter my room, it feels like I'm entering a different space entirely. What ideas, suggestions, examples can you lend me?
[more inside]posted by Philipschall at 9:16 PM PST - 16 comments
I've seen a few freemasons post on metafilter, I am a freemason, I think I want to quit. Trying to figure out if I can expect much backlash. Can anyone share experience?
[more inside]posted by Intrepid at 8:36 PM PST - 10 comments
My parents are unusual, and, by virtue of being their daughter, so am I. Some of their idiosyncrasies and ways of doing things I appreciate and employ myself; others have alienated my friends and boyfriends for as long as I can remember. Are these things really so bad? How can I explain to my friends that this is just how my parents are?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:19 PM PST - 69 comments
I think one of my favorite movies has a double entendre in it. I don't speak German and the subtitles don't shed any light on the subject.
[more inside]posted by Elly Vortex at 7:15 PM PST - 9 comments
I want to take more long hot baths in the bathtub. How can I make this activity even more relaxing and indulgent?
[more inside]posted by taramosalata at 7:10 PM PST - 39 comments
The fish I bought at the grocery store yesterday came out of the fridge with inflated plastic wrap.
[more inside]posted by bleary at 6:58 PM PST - 8 comments
How do I take closeup photographs of my daughters' beautiful eyes using my limited photography skills and mediocre lenses?
[more inside]posted by AngerBoy at 6:15 PM PST - 13 comments
I have edited my HD video in iMovie, and want to export it (as whatever file type) in 720p, but at a much smaller size than iMovie is putting out. Help me shrink this movie!
[more inside]posted by zardoz at 6:05 PM PST - 6 comments
I'm going to be on tour around the UK for two weeks, but I want to use the gym every other day, how can I do this without becoming a member of every gym I visit.
[more inside]posted by rinsemedown at 5:59 PM PST - 13 comments
Have you had side effects from Clariton-D? I feel more energized, more focused, no brain-fog, and less appetite. I love it, but I am afraid it is way hard on my body.
[more inside]posted by shortyJBot at 5:57 PM PST - 17 comments
1. How old were you when you got bifocal lenses? 2. How difficult was it to adjust to them, particularly if you got contact lenses? 3. How many different pairs or combinations of lenses did you have to try before finding something that worked? 4. Are there new options in recent years that a near-sighted person with worsening close-up vision should know about? Thanks for helping me go to my eye doctor with good questions ready.
posted by mediareport at 5:36 PM PST - 29 comments
How do I find professional shoes that don't give me big bleeding friction wounds or crush my toes so they can't function AND are cute?
[more inside]posted by bleep at 5:26 PM PST - 22 comments
Need ideas on how to keep track of people making multiple payments for large trips or activities, with the ability to report how much they still owe. Much more detail inside.
[more inside]posted by kraigory at 4:59 PM PST - 5 comments
Yes, I'm a little ashamed. Yes, it's a can-we-eat-this question. This time: vegetarian chili left in a slow cooker.
[more inside]posted by supercres at 4:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Are my odds of working in a technical field substantially lower because I don't "buy into" the lifestyle?
[more inside]posted by Nomyte at 4:24 PM PST - 25 comments
Okay, so when I turned 40 last year I wasn't super-psyched about the direction my body was going. I started exercising a bit, and this year decided to set a goal. I decided to do this stupid "
Warrior Dash" thing. Possibly because it looked more fun than a standard race, possibly because I'm an idiot.
[more inside]posted by lumpenprole at 4:18 PM PST - 12 comments
My boss wants to fly me from Sydney to Perth to assist in training new employees. Should I ask "What's in it for me?"
[more inside]posted by robotot at 4:04 PM PST - 29 comments
IF, tomorrow, the world switched to blimps from jets for all but emergency travel, how much fuel would we save?
[more inside]posted by rileyray3000 at 3:45 PM PST - 18 comments
Mechanical keyboard aficionados say that ideally you should type without "bottoming out" the keys. What are the benefits of this technique, and how do I learn it?
[more inside]posted by brett at 3:27 PM PST - 11 comments
Does anyone know the name of this music video that was very popular in Turkey the last few months: the artist is a woman singing in Hindi (I think); the song is about 'different colors' (we are all different) and has diverse characters - with a lot of diverse styles. It is a real catchy song and a the video is full of beautiful colors.
posted by Surfurrus at 3:19 PM PST - 2 comments
I don't currently have health insurance but might be seeking prescription help for depression from a GP, which I will pay out of pocket. Might this preclude me from health insurance coverage at a later date?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 3:02 PM PST - 13 comments
What has helped you take criticism better, and avoid losing your nerve when you feel that your work is being evaluated?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:24 PM PST - 8 comments
What are some performances, tasks, or other skills where the really difficult, impressive parts actually look quite unassuming and may need a trained eye to appreciate? I'm not talking about "Oh, he makes it look easy/effortless" but rather watching something and then finding out afterward that you were looking at completely the wrong thing. E.g., in Rothfuss's "Name of the Wind," the protagonist snaps a lute string during an important audition and finishes anyway by re-arranging the rest of the song to use only his remaining strings. Half the audience thinks he passes the audition because he played a beautiful and difficult song, but the musicians in the crowd know it's because he improvised the end to a difficult song on a damaged instrument.
posted by d. z. wang at 2:03 PM PST - 50 comments
I'm looking to expand my "happy music" collection for summer. I'm thinking pop music that is fun to sing along to and scream that is catchy as hell. Suggestions?
[more inside]posted by lakerk at 1:34 PM PST - 37 comments
I have just begun running on a treadmill with some regularity. I've been running in general for about 3 years. Why is my treadmill experience the opposite of what I had expected?
[more inside]posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 1:33 PM PST - 12 comments
When a cancer diagnosis hits close to home, how do you avoid hypochondria yourself?
[more inside]posted by zadcat at 1:16 PM PST - 7 comments
Windows 7 has been installed over Windows XP and I need access to some files from the old OS, but there are some serious permission issues.
[more inside]posted by charred husk at 1:11 PM PST - 4 comments
Contemporary Israeli politics. Israel and Palestine. Point me to good resources.
[more inside]posted by Weebot at 12:43 PM PST - 8 comments
We need to hire an affordable NYC musician to play at our wedding. Ideally it would be a banjo player but I will settle for something traditional like a violinist. We're on a shoestring budget. DJ recommendations are fine, too.
[more inside]posted by Hwaet at 12:10 PM PST - 8 comments
There was a vaudeville dog act in the Broadway play "Sugar Babies" that I saw back about 1980. It was a comedian with a bassett hound. Does anyone remember who it was? Or a youtube link?
posted by JohnE at 12:01 PM PST - 2 comments
I am looking for a classical or instrumental song for our DJ to play while our wedding guests are being seated at our reception. What are your recommendations?
[more inside]posted by ieatwords at 11:36 AM PST - 16 comments
What are the best Twitterfeeds for air disruptions out of Dublin, Ireland, 26th May?
[more inside]posted by Wilder at 11:09 AM PST - 5 comments
Turning to a sleep center/clinic out of desperation, where should I go, what should I know/ask for? Have I always been sleep deprived and didn't know it?
[more inside]posted by Carialle at 11:07 AM PST - 4 comments
Tumblr attributions just lead me down a rabbit hole. Does anyone know where
this photo was taken?
posted by timoni at 10:50 AM PST - 10 comments
Any last-ditch yeast infection treatments that worked for you? Also, has anyone experienced persistent recurring yeast infections on Synthroid or other replacement thyroid hormones?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:44 AM PST - 29 comments
If an exoplanet had a light side and a dark side (like Earth's moon, slowly spinning in orbit to keep one face towards earth), might life evolve around the penumbra?
[more inside]posted by rdc at 10:20 AM PST - 14 comments
I work with a lot of teams who do concept development stuff for the web and for general interactive design. I'm always having to find visual references for our discussions and our present system of sharing is clunky and requires us to print stuff out all the time so that we can talk about stuff we like or don't like. This is pretty crazily wasteful as well as the fact that trying to convince graphic designers to get enthusiastic about a reference when they can't help fixating on the icky presentation format is getting annoying.
So, is there an easy and really nice looking app or programme for the Mac that allows you to save and illustrate pictures, web pages, articles and video in a browsable way? Ideally it would be something that was ipad compatible, if only because then it will have to be easily browsable in a visually attractive way. It would also be awesome if it allowed you to collaborate, so we could all contribute to a single place that would be awesome.
posted by rudhraigh at 10:05 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm looking for an observation tower on the top of a mountain or high area (not a skyscraper) that has/had a clear panelled floor in one small part of the walkway that let you see the valley floor below. No it was not the one at the Grand Canyon!
[more inside]posted by dukes909 at 9:15 AM PST - 10 comments
A few weeks ago, I put into my new Macbook Pro (2.3 i5) 8GB 1333Mhz DDR3 RAM in it from Crucial. The result was Kernel Panics and unstable applications. I reinstalled the (4GB) Apple RAM, and the problem went away. Crucial sent me replacement memory, I installed it, and guess what?
[more inside]posted by 4ster at 8:44 AM PST - 7 comments
Can I be sued for defamation if, in an anonymous comment, I specify that "...maybe I'm making this up," and post a reply underneath explicitly stating that the comments were not to be taken literally?
[more inside]posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 8:40 AM PST - 12 comments
How to fly internationally with an infant that is not your own? My nanny and infant will travel from Paris to Italy and meet us there. Does anyone have experience with this? I don't want to put her in a difficult position with customs.
[more inside]posted by Snower at 8:35 AM PST - 12 comments
I have a new job offer with a company that will pay a bit better than I manage now. The new company is likely to be a better working environment as well. However, the new job would be a step down from a manager/supervisor role into more of a coordinator role.
How highly should I esteem my current manager title/responsibilities? Enough to reconsider a move to a role that feels like a better fit in most other ways?
[more inside]posted by owls at 8:33 AM PST - 6 comments
My firm needs to tape and retain all mobile calls to be inlinewith FSA regulations from November 2011. What to do? Solutions?
[more inside]posted by priorpark17 at 8:29 AM PST - 4 comments
Been on Mercilon contraceptive pill for years. Have come off and almost immediately gained 2 kg (in 3 weeks) and when I weigh on my fat measuring scales my fat content has shot up. a) has anyone else had this on this particular Pill, b) do I have to work on the weight gain like you normall would (limit calories in, maximise calories out) or will it balance on its own. I was on a blood pressure pill while on the pill, thought it was that that was taking advantage of increasing my weight (my usual side effect on bp meds) so came off that and bp is fine. But weight still going up.
Have seen this http://ask.metafilter.com/74594/How-long-does-it-take-for-the-hormones-to-leave-my-system but is not specific about this pill / how to get the weight off / the fat thing.
Anonymous as a bit personal for me!
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:25 AM PST - 5 comments
Help a cycling newbie's bike love her as much as she loves it! I think I have a problem with my Shimano derailleur.
[more inside]posted by WidgetAlley at 8:25 AM PST - 12 comments
The earliest I could possibly retire is about 15 years away and I've been thinking about retiring in Canada somewhere. The catch: I'm a US citizen and I don't currently live or work in Canada. Am I kidding myself?
[more inside]posted by tommasz at 8:16 AM PST - 6 comments
Half-remembered board game ID question: In the mid-'90s, my family was visiting some friends who owned a strange board game involving evolution, species, a hexagonal grid, and lots and lots of dice. What was it?
[more inside]posted by Johnny Assay at 6:59 AM PST - 7 comments
VegetarianDietFilter: Please help me stock my fridge with pre-cooked and/or raw meals and meal components for a vegetarian trying to kick processed/junk foods ... and who doesn't like tofu, seitan, or hummus.
[more inside]posted by headnsouth at 6:41 AM PST - 29 comments
Where can I find board games for sale in New York City that, in addition to being tons of fun, could be considered vintage, collectible, obscure, quirky, what have you.
[more inside]posted by undercoverhuwaaah at 6:05 AM PST - 8 comments
Tips on moving! Have you moved across country / to a different country? With a wife and two kids? How did you organize it? I am looking for specific things that we need to add to our checklist / to-do list. Are there any good checklists out there already? We will need to line up housing. What did you forget about? What did you do that you shouldn't have done. How do you line up housing when your thousands of miles away. Specific packing / organization tips? I would like to prevent this move from becoming stressful. Please help our family move with the least amount of pain. Moving to Austin Texas if it matters.
posted by jasondigitized at 5:58 AM PST - 11 comments
In 2006, Norwegian petroleum company
Statoil was ordered by a US court to pay $21M in fines for breaking the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act when
paying bribes to an Iranian public servant.
While Statoil's primary listing is with the Oslo stock exchange, it is also listed with the NYSE. To what extent is Statoil's activities outside of the US subjected to US law?
posted by klue at 5:38 AM PST - 4 comments
How do you beat clutter if said clutter is sentimental? What methods do you use for evaluating sentimental objects or souvenirs?
[more inside]posted by mippy at 4:03 AM PST - 52 comments
I transferred a lot of savings into an ISA. They've gone out of my current account, but not into the ISA. How worried should I be?
[more inside]posted by Fen at 3:56 AM PST - 9 comments
Trying to find examples of musical lyrics being used in visual artworks (painting, print, film, etc).
[more inside]posted by aesop at 3:55 AM PST - 8 comments
Some colleagues and I are staying in San Francisco over 4th of July before a conference in Stanford. What's the best area (or hotel) to stay in for street parties, fireworks and All-American fun? We're Irish and Italians.
posted by hannahlambda at 3:11 AM PST - 5 comments
Question about the ethical, logistical, and medical implication of having a cat neutered that doesn’t belong to you.
[more inside]posted by Wroksie at 1:56 AM PST - 50 comments
I'm doing a song analysis on this awesome song, but I can't nail down one of the instruments.
It appears around
3:15 into the song, and also at the end.
I'm figuring its either a xylophone or a synth. Anyone care to shed some light (that will never go out)
posted by bodaciousllama at 12:39 AM PST - 7 comments
May 22
My sister is going to NYU in the fall, moving from California. What does she need to know/bring/have?
[more inside]posted by ckk88 at 9:51 PM PST - 28 comments
Is there any way to merge two Microsoft Word documents containing the same content in different languages so that one line of content from one document immediately follows the same respective line in the other? This is for subtitle translation, and I'll work with any word editor that can read .doc documents.
[more inside]posted by saysthis at 9:23 PM PST - 3 comments
So I'm writing a proposal in a mock NRSA (NIH) grant format and I used a Latex template I found
here. But for some reason, my figures are now not getting wrapped by text, and the figure captions extend well beyond the figure width on either side. What to do?
[more inside]posted by peacheater at 8:25 PM PST - 10 comments
My wife and I will have an evening of baby free time in Dallas, what are some things we can do (other than just a fancy dinner) that takes advantage of this opportunity we haven't had in over 7 months?
[more inside]posted by mulligan at 7:16 PM PST - 11 comments
How should I approach submitting a writing sample for a job when I don't have any related writing in the field?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:08 PM PST - 3 comments
Recovered bulimic/anorexic trying to lose weight in a healthy way -- any Mefites been there, done that?
[more inside]posted by imalaowai at 6:46 PM PST - 13 comments
How can I make money (or at least get my tab paid for) organizing outings and events at different local bars, restaurants, theaters, etc?
[more inside]posted by maloon at 6:13 PM PST - 2 comments
Found piece of plastic inside burrito at restaurant. What is appropriate to demand from waiter?
[more inside]posted by calm down at 4:59 PM PST - 33 comments
Say I use my Google account to identify myself when posting on Blogger. Can the person running the blog see my e-mail address or other details?
posted by Yakuman at 4:40 PM PST - 2 comments
For a book, I'm looking for descriptions of historical admission/matriculation procedures for a young man wanting to enroll himself at an English university. An 18th century source relating to Cambridge would be perfect, but anything that describes how things were handled 100+ years ago would be helpful. I'm having difficulty finding pre-Victorian information.
[more inside]posted by notquitemaryann at 3:52 PM PST - 5 comments
'Should I eat it?'-but-with-soap-filter: I left my Tide Free and Clear Coldwater liquid detergent out in the car for a day or two when it got hot. Now it smells just ever so slightly off- kinda winey/fermented. WTF, and will it still clean my clothes?
[more inside]posted by slow graffiti at 3:23 PM PST - 13 comments
[AzaleaFilter]We have a beautiful azalea plant in front of our front porch. It has amazing blossoms for about two weeks, which have now all fallen off. Best way to prune this bush (special snowflake details inside)...
[more inside]posted by kuanes at 3:13 PM PST - 7 comments
I'm going on a road trip next weekend from Chicago to Toronto. What cool things should see on the way there/back?
posted by Carillon at 2:34 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm setting up a website which must include a strong social component. Users will share and modify designs and there will be contests voted on by users, a forum, and a store. I would like this to be able to handle high volumes of traffic, and I'd like it to be built on a flexible platform. What platforms should I consider, and where should I look for developers?
posted by fzx101 at 2:18 PM PST - 6 comments
Please recommend three items of camping gear: A light weight compactable sleeping bag for a man 6'-2"/200 lb, a Thermarest for packing, and a head lamp. I'll be traveling 370 miles down the Connecticut river in my
Adirondack guideboat. posted by partner at 2:06 PM PST - 13 comments
I left off a job on my taxes when I claimed this year, and now I'm filing a FAFSA. What do I put on my FAFSA? Only the job I claimed, or both? If it matters, the job I left off I only worked at for a few weeks, but I feel like that doesn't matter to the government.
posted by trogdole at 12:54 PM PST - 15 comments
Question about the Swedish surname Ander, inspired by the Henning Mankell novel
The Fifth Woman (spoilers, I guess for those who really care about these kinds of things, but not really)
[more inside]posted by Ideal Impulse at 12:20 PM PST - 6 comments
could you help me identify these two species of plants I picked up? they were sold to me as hardy office plants:
image. That’s an indoor bamboo on the top left but there’s two of the same species on the bottom left that I’d like to identify, and one on the bottom right. Thanks!
[more inside]posted by the mad poster! at 12:18 PM PST - 9 comments
Last year I read an article online - I think in one of the quality US dailies - about how a significant number of babies die each year by being accidentally left in the back seat of cars while their parents ran errands. The point was that people are capable of remarkable, unintentional absentmindedness.
Google has failed me in my attempts to find it - does anyone recall it/have a link?
posted by ascullion at 12:15 PM PST - 9 comments
In the name of frugality, is this air return on my furnace efficient, or should I cut out the wood and replace with something allowing more air flow? ~650 sq. ft. 2 floor apartment (built ca. 1920s).
[more inside]posted by lowdirt at 11:36 AM PST - 5 comments
New music is released on Tuesdays in the US (
previously). However, multiple new CDs are being released tomorrow, the 23rd, which is a Monday. Why?
[more inside]posted by ataxia at 11:26 AM PST - 7 comments
Moving out of the UK in a week to travel abroad. Will move back to London in September. Where to keep stuff throughout this period?
[more inside]posted by noztran at 10:10 AM PST - 7 comments
Could someone give me good, colloquial definitions of guilt, shame, and the difference between them? Or maybe I'm looking for another word...
[more inside]posted by dogcat at 9:41 AM PST - 18 comments
I'm considering going by First Middle, and dropping my uncommon three-syllable Irish-ish Last name – a move that is significantly less common than going by Middle Last, or the like. What benefits and downsides might come up?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:18 AM PST - 17 comments
I am subletting a room in a four bedroom apartment from a person I met on craigslist. This person moved out/I moved in in March. He's still on the lease and I am also on the lease. Please help me understand how my landlord is handling our security deposits.
[more inside]posted by chichimimizu at 8:13 AM PST - 10 comments
Buying a Kindle as a gift for a new high school grad going on to college (Yale). To 3G or not to 3G? I would imagine that on campus WiFi is ubiquitous, and so 3G isn't required? Personally, I love my WiFi-only Kindle, but I'm a techy who swims in WiFi waves 24/7. This grad is a non-techy classics major.
posted by schrodycat at 7:17 AM PST - 45 comments
My wife and I will be in Moscow in the latter part of June and would like to learn of some reasonably priced restaurants from some of you who might be living there now or who might have visited there recently. We’re willing to consider most cuisines. Thanks in advance.
posted by NinaLee at 7:03 AM PST - 6 comments
In a screwed up vacation, I am going to Serbia for 7 days, mainly Belgrade from the 4-11 of June. Please give me some advice? I am staying at a hotel. I will have about $1000. I am thinking I want to do some hiking in the wine country...
posted by parmanparman at 6:58 AM PST - 2 comments
I have a real straw, made-in-Ecuador Panama hat. It's not stupidly expensive but it's nice enough. It has a cloth sweat band that, after a few months of wear in a tropical climate, has an awful sour smell. How do I best clean it?
[more inside]posted by m1ndsurfer at 6:26 AM PST - 9 comments
Female help, please. Ruptured ovarian cyst almost two weeks ago.... now having pelvic pain specifically early in the morning. Not pregnant. Was put on Nuvaring.
[more inside]posted by KogeLiz at 5:41 AM PST - 7 comments
Recommendations for a great portable music player that supports wma lossless files (ie: not an Ipod)?
[more inside]posted by ruelle at 4:36 AM PST - 5 comments
European Vacation! Zurich, Neuschwanstein, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz, Ljubanja, Bled, Trieste, Venice. Then Stockholm, Roslagen!
[more inside]posted by lundman at 4:08 AM PST - 7 comments
My LaCie brand external hard drive is in the process of failing. It's making clicking sounds, it's slowed down considerably, and I think the head is failing. It contains a film project we've worked extremely hard on, and it's important to me that we save the data.
[more inside]posted by JimBennett at 12:01 AM PST - 14 comments
May 21
As some might know, Lady GaGa is going to be at the Union Square Best Buy from 9-11pm signing autographs. I have finals until 7pm. Is there a way that I can somehow get an autograph? The first 450 people to be there that have bought the "Born This Way" album and get a T-Mobile upgrade check... just a check, not an actual upgrade... get a bracelet that let's you get an autograph. Is there any possible way that I can somehow get to meet GaGa at the least and get an autograph signed at the most?
[more inside]posted by antgly at 11:58 PM PST - 17 comments
I need help on detailing my car externally. Problem is, I don't know how to make it Gloss or Chrome
[more inside]posted by Johnkx at 10:08 PM PST - 3 comments
What are your tips for driving with a trailer for (relatively) long distances? Plus other ID-to-CA driving questions inside.
[more inside]posted by cobain_angel at 10:04 PM PST - 9 comments
HELP! There's a cat under my mobile home that's been crying for 24 hours. It's up in the insulation or ducts. What do I do?
[more inside]posted by threeturtles at 9:58 PM PST - 29 comments
My husband and I have been long pondering our next move as a family, whether to move overseas or not. Today Singapore came up and surprisingly enough the idea is quite appealing - I hadn't even considered moving to Asia. So we're going on a fact-finding mission in July with the kids. There are a few things I'd like to try to work out in advance though...
[more inside]posted by tracicle at 9:54 PM PST - 17 comments
I just noticed these bugs are eating the leaves on my coffee plant (Coffea Arabica), does anyone have any idea on what they are and how to get rid of them? Pics inside.
[more inside]posted by JohnBlaze at 8:43 PM PST - 7 comments
I'm tired of my shoes wearing out every six months. Are Vans slip-ons worth the extra cost vs. Payless Airwalk? Is there a cheap, durable alternative that I haven't considered?
[more inside]posted by randomname25 at 7:26 PM PST - 14 comments
Is it normal when processing an assault to get similar body sensations as the assault itself when journaling or contemplating it?
[more inside]posted by kanata at 7:21 PM PST - 19 comments
My Polar S610i heart rate monitor just died. I loved the download and graphing capabilities it had. Unfortunately, I do not like the polarpersonaltrainer.com website that the newer Polars download to. There's minimal graphing capability and I'd prefer to keep the data on my own PC.
I do not need GPS, temperature or altitude. I just need HR min/max, average and a nice visual representation of the workout. I'd also prefer not to spend more than $150-200.
Any suggestions?
posted by TorontoSandy at 7:20 PM PST - 6 comments
Trying to find a poem I read in the New Yorker 2-4 years ago -- using only one phrase and one image... help!
[more inside]posted by delight at 7:05 PM PST - 5 comments
So, I'm almost 90% sure that I'd like to go teach over in Turkey. I've applied for a passport, I'm looking for jobs, I have friends over there looking for jobs for me, and now all I have to do is finish this last semester of my Master's in English...
Wait a minute, what do they mean, I shouldn't bring my cat?
[more inside]posted by patheral at 6:42 PM PST - 11 comments
What 2 major European cities - that are relatively close to Thessaloniki, Greece - should I visit for a week?
[more inside]posted by bengalsfan1 at 5:55 PM PST - 4 comments
So disappointed with the Rapture. What real, life changing events are scheduled or predicted that I can add to my calendar?
[more inside]posted by cashman at 4:45 PM PST - 8 comments
I would like to know how often one letter is followed by all the other letters. For example: A is followed by R 20% of the time, while A is followed by Q only .1% of the time.
[more inside]posted by 47triple2 at 4:22 PM PST - 15 comments
Suggestions for finding affordable, short term (2 months) housing in the Detroit / Hamtramck area for 8 adults?
[more inside]posted by Unsomnambulist at 3:16 PM PST - 2 comments
How can I do a chargeback to paypal from my amex for an ebay auction without screwing the seller?
[more inside]posted by rbs at 2:41 PM PST - 10 comments
I have 6 year old cedar deck by the ocean that is aging quicker than expected, I have power washed and coated it twice with Benjamin Moore transparent deck stain. It's decaying, and the stain is not penetrating and peeling. Any ideas?
posted by daveo'h at 1:28 PM PST - 8 comments
Roofer wants to come back and request double the amount already paid on a signed contract, and are threatening a lien on the house, what can we do?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:17 PM PST - 20 comments
I haven't look at a new pen-and-paper RPG since sometime in the mid 90s, but I'm kind of curious what's happened in the past 10-15 years or so? What are the best fairly recent pen-and-paper RPGs -- what are the most popular ones that are new. I assume stuff like D&D and World of Darkness are still around, but what are some fairly recentish ones that have gotten big followings?
Have there been any that introduced really new mechanics or game play philosophies?
posted by empath at 12:48 PM PST - 12 comments
I am looking for a poem that I read in Time or Newsweek or some such magazine about ten years ago (probably longer). I am almost sure that the poet was Scandinavian and the poem was about the co-existence of good and bad things in the world. The poem illustrated this concept by talking about the existence of a tongue amongst sharp teeth and how a gentle heart is held by the rib cage. Any ideas? Thanks.
posted by harigopal at 12:44 PM PST - 3 comments
How or where can I get a hold of a copy of Sheldon Dick's "Men and Dust" short film?
[more inside]posted by Atreides at 12:19 PM PST - 0 comments
Please share your experience buying your kid their first multi-speed bike.
How did you decide when it was the right time to switch them from a single-speed bike (other than the fact that, say, one of their friends got a multi-speeder)? And especially for parents of athletically-challenged children: how difficult was it for your kid to make the transition to shifting gears and co-ordinating that process with hand braking? Was the extra complexity worth the trade-off in terms of easier biking up hills, etc.? I'd love to hear various experiences with this rite of passage. Thank you!
posted by Tylwyth Teg at 12:12 PM PST - 11 comments
I'm trying to edit the video shot with my Nikon P7000 in Adobe Premiere 5.03, but I get what looks like keyframe issues at the editing stage, rendered or not. iMovie doesn't have the same issue, but I have severe issues with iMovie. Please advise.
[more inside]posted by monocultured at 12:10 PM PST - 16 comments
I'm up for several jobs that have slightly longer hours than I'm used to, and I'm getting bummed out by the idea of potentially being a slave to the job. How do I get over this and not feel like my whole life revolves around my job?
[more inside]posted by gchucky at 11:40 AM PST - 24 comments
Where can one procure the absolute best clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl in San Francisco (or the SF Bay Area)?
[more inside]posted by stufflebean at 11:22 AM PST - 6 comments
Can anyone identify this
bird with its chick and does anyone know the breed of this
guinea pig?
Both were photographed in the UK, but the bird was at a reserve that has birds from all over the world. I believe the guinea pig is a recognised UK breed.
posted by Quillcards at 10:47 AM PST - 5 comments
Aaaaaaaaaargh! Doggy UTI! Please give me your advice for right now, and in the future.
[more inside]posted by taz at 10:19 AM PST - 19 comments
My Nikon D40 died recently. I sent it to Nikon for a repair estimate. I'm looking for any experience anyone has with having Nikon repair a camera -- and weighing that against putting the repair money toward a new camera body. If I want to go with something new, I need help with selection. More details within!
[more inside]posted by hansbrough at 10:06 AM PST - 12 comments
How can I get my neighbors to silence their constantly barking dog, considering I'm not sure how to communicate with them?
[more inside]posted by Spamfactor at 9:49 AM PST - 15 comments
Is there an online map that features a time axis? For example, a slider than controls year, and as the year changes, political boundaries and country names update to the appropriate values.
posted by steinwald at 9:41 AM PST - 4 comments
I'm considering a short-term - four to nine months - relocation to southwestern Connecticut (Norwalk area). It will be all work, with not that much time for whatever pleasures are offered by the East coast. I would like to know some practical things about a move like this:
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:19 AM PST - 6 comments
This is the sort of AskMe question I thought I'd never ask. I am having big problems with my best friend of 25 years (we are both men), and I think I need to walk away. Help?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:19 AM PST - 34 comments
My new Samsung Galaxy Ace memory is already full, but I'm probably doing something wrong with the social hub app. I'd really appreciate some help...
[more inside]posted by mateuslee at 7:08 AM PST - 2 comments
Help us find this Canadian children's TV show.
"It's Canadian, and they all wore beanies" "if it's Canadian, don't you mean touks?"
heaps more half remembered details:
[more inside]posted by titanium_geek at 6:30 AM PST - 12 comments
May 20
What are some "end user" products (preferably open source) or methodologies that allow complex queries of objects?
I want to allow both programmers and non-programmers to be able to access the data.
[more inside]posted by santogold at 9:25 PM PST - 10 comments
What can a common PHP/MySQL-based CMS package teach me about data structures and algorithms?
[more inside]posted by circular at 8:26 PM PST - 7 comments
I have two questions about the end of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie: one practical, one philosophical. Needless to say, major spoilers inside.
[more inside]posted by easy_being_green at 8:23 PM PST - 5 comments
I'm trying to remember the name of an American feature film from the late 1970s or 1980s. A quiet girl is the victim of violence so takes gun lessons and practises on a shooting range then (I think) takes revenge on her assailant. It's a thoughtful, rather than all action story though. The girl had short dark hair, at least while she's learning about guns. Sorry, that's all I can recall. Anyone have any ideas?
posted by joannemullen at 7:16 PM PST - 17 comments
Why is commitment so important? I can't seem to go into any dating situation without wanting a commitment.
[more inside]posted by mando at 6:43 PM PST - 12 comments
Why does my Subaru Forester smell like gasoline, and how can I make it not smell like gasoline?
[more inside]posted by escabeche at 6:40 PM PST - 9 comments
It was a restaurant that did seafood. There were a lot of semi-feral cats around. It was somewhere in Florida...
[more inside]posted by media_itoku at 6:12 PM PST - 5 comments
What is library school like? How does it differ from a "regular" MA education? How can I prepare myself best for starting school in the fall?
[more inside]posted by 1000monkeys at 5:51 PM PST - 9 comments
Which TV series featured a man with amnesia as its protagonist, following him as he tries to figure out who he is throughout the course of the series?
[more inside]posted by np312 at 5:27 PM PST - 26 comments
Can you help me find the name of an old cop show? It was on for two or three seasons in the 80's.
[more inside]posted by puddinghead at 4:19 PM PST - 5 comments
My 5.5 year old laptop is about to give up the ghost - can you point me in the right direction for a new one?
[more inside]posted by SNWidget at 3:10 PM PST - 23 comments
For the 10th time in a row, I've bought shoes that are too big, and wear them out after I can return them. What are your best methods on making large shoes fit better?
posted by sandmanwv at 2:29 PM PST - 8 comments
Help me plan my road trip from St. Louis to Los Angeles, likely with a short stop at the Grand Canyon
[more inside]posted by lewedswiver at 1:49 PM PST - 16 comments
I'd like to understand how plaster and lath walls work...and best practices for hanging a variety of things on them.
[more inside]posted by peachfuzz at 12:53 PM PST - 21 comments
I'm looking for an apartment in Nashville, and need help figuring out which areas are safe.
[more inside]posted by LizzyBee at 12:40 PM PST - 9 comments
Looking for 1) housekeeping recommendations and 2) dogwalking service recommendations in the San Francisco bay area.
[more inside]posted by cranberryskies at 12:31 PM PST - 3 comments
Looking for a new flat mate and now any tips or advice that help make the call on a person's character in a short space of time just that little bit better?
[more inside]posted by camerasforeyes at 12:31 PM PST - 20 comments
How do I grow a thicker skin and let things go with my passive-aggressive (or just aggressive) coworkers?
[more inside]posted by dawkins_7 at 12:30 PM PST - 15 comments
I want to design a weightlifting programme that can give me as much strength as possible, at home with not much equipment. I'm confused.
[more inside]posted by Not Supplied at 12:30 PM PST - 20 comments
NYC-filter: My apartment building's management is totally irresponsible and unresponsive. And they just raised the rent. Can I—or should I—take action?
[more inside]posted by functionequalsform at 12:25 PM PST - 20 comments
I want to quit my job, sell our house, and move our family to a house that has been in my family for several generations. My husband cannot get on-board with this idea.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:21 PM PST - 75 comments
Leather versus fabric furniture pros and cons. Is it worth the extra cost to get a couch in leather? This is regarding a Room and Board sofa, so if you have an opinion on R&B in general, feel free to join in.
[more inside]posted by oneirodynia at 12:04 PM PST - 19 comments
My tiled shower walls are water permeable, and it is messing up the adjacent drywall. Two tile guys agree - is a design issue, and re-grouting will not fix. Would cost a small fortune to fix right. I am redoing bathroom in five years or so, but for now, I need cheap waterproofness. What can I do to my walls that will keep water out?
[more inside]posted by juliewhite at 11:47 AM PST - 14 comments
I've got an ATV without a legible VIN number.
How can I get this thing road legal? As far as I can tell, new frames don't have a VIN, and you're expected to use the one from the old frame, so I can't just buy a frame.
Obviously I could buy a VIN and title from somebody with a dead ATV of the same year, but that's starting to get difficult and/or expensive and/or dicey.
Any ideas about how I can get myself all legal here?
posted by Stagger Lee at 11:44 AM PST - 7 comments
Please help me ease my anxiety about taking anti-anxiety medication. (This is not about fear of dependence, this is about fear of altering my mental state; a little long.)
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:25 AM PST - 16 comments
In Lessons Of Darkness by Werner Herzog, why do the oil well firefighters send lit torches into non-burning wells at the end?
[more inside]posted by sully75 at 11:06 AM PST - 5 comments
Is it normal to be asked to sign a Receipt of Beneficiary (and Consent to Discharge, and more) without receiving funds first?
[more inside]posted by cps at 10:59 AM PST - 2 comments
Looking for movies with a female protagonist who fights back in a controlled way. In other words, someone who stays within the rules of the system and is always considered a 'good girl' (even exemplary) even during and after fighting back. Personal info inside.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:43 AM PST - 41 comments
Tomorrow morning, 10 AM, Austin, TX: Where to go for a first date that is breakfasty that will not be PACKED?
[more inside]posted by TheRedArmy at 9:19 AM PST - 32 comments
My 2 year old Cocker Spaniel, Molly, is at the vet right now getting spayed. I know she's going to get fat, what other changes can I expect?
[more inside]posted by Carlotta Bananas at 9:07 AM PST - 21 comments
I snore. Loudly. Living alone I don't think about it much, but while visiting home my brother is stuck using earplugs to dim the noise through walls. What can I do to limit this? Looking for updates on a similar question asked a few years back.
[more inside]posted by gilsonal at 9:00 AM PST - 14 comments
How do animals think? I was watching a cat in our garden the other day, and I wondered how it thought as it doesn't have language to think in. Then I thought: yes, but when I am working on an (easy - not cryptic) crossword, sometimes I am not thinking in words (if this makes sense?)
[more inside]posted by marienbad at 8:51 AM PST - 35 comments
What do we need to do to prepare for and take fullest advantage of an upcoming magazine article that's going to feature our small, family-owned retail business?
[more inside]posted by webhund at 8:04 AM PST - 11 comments
Help me pack in a nice 3 day weekend in DFW with my wife. I've got Rangers tickets for Sunday's game 5/29. I think I want to stay at a Hilton with a nice pool situation. (I've got a boatload of points, so can likely stay at deep discount) I want to do a 5 mile run somewhere scenic on Saturday and maybe Monday morning. Other than that, I love to eat, drink, and spend money.
[more inside]posted by eggm4n at 7:41 AM PST - 10 comments
I have a scholarship to study anywhere in the world. Help me decide! Details inside.
[more inside]posted by mrfuga0 at 7:38 AM PST - 8 comments
I really like Mint, but it doesn't allow me to add on foreign banks. I have a particular need for a financial management system that can show my European and offshore bank accounts. Anyone know of anything?
Thanks!
posted by matrushka at 7:26 AM PST - 6 comments
The name of my university changed. How do I update the name in Facebook's "network" - we have a page with the right name, with org type set as University, but that apparently doesn't do it.
[more inside]posted by CaptApollo at 7:26 AM PST - 1 comments
A few weeks ago I heard a song coming out of my neighbor's window that I remember well from my youth in the late 90s -- or not so well, as it turns out. The singer is Janet Jackson or someone very similar, and the lyrics are something like, 'we can be freak (s) (y)/we won't get much sleep (?)/ blah blah blah early morn. Pretty sexy. Help!
posted by sideofwry at 7:23 AM PST - 6 comments
I would like to hang a pullup bar in my basement. The best thing would be to hang it from the floor joists. Could I drill a hole in the joists to hang the bar, or do I need to use some sort of hanger?
[more inside]posted by OmieWise at 7:02 AM PST - 17 comments
School me in engineering technology, engineering education, or just technology in education generally. Books, articles, blogs, and any other info is appreciated.
[more inside]posted by Silvertree at 6:58 AM PST - 4 comments
You Are Not My Neurologist: sometimes I have a strong, sudden spasm sensation in the lower back of my head. It feels like it's coming from inside my skull, as though my brain had suddenly smacked against the lower back of my head. It isn't painful, nobody else notices when it happens to me, but it's unpleasant and I want to know what is happening to me.
[more inside]posted by autoclavicle at 3:10 AM PST - 12 comments
May 19
Four days in Hokkaido - wanting recommendations for things to do, places to see?
[more inside]posted by mairuzu at 11:40 PM PST - 5 comments
Help me find this relatively recent German film about an old man who tricks his way out of a contract with Death.
[more inside]posted by small_ruminant at 11:23 PM PST - 3 comments
I've never really had many gay friends, or any that I wasn't actively dating actually. Being socially awkward and naive I don't actually know where to go to meet (non-sexytime) friends, who are also gay.
[more inside]posted by selenized at 10:59 PM PST - 10 comments
Help me identify this mystery song that played on my iPhone so I don't think I'm crazy.
[more inside]posted by xtine at 10:58 PM PST - 10 comments
Planning a vacation for one. Something within driving distance of my home. Something relaxing, interesting, surrounded by nature and quiet. Wouldn't mind a place that offers up meditation classes perhaps massages etc. I live in Iowa again prefer nature setting but am willing to travel. Anybody know of something in this area that fits that description?
[more inside]posted by gypseefire at 10:40 PM PST - 2 comments
Looking for some help for my friend who's decided to go into therapy for her depression, family issues and other BS in her life. What can she expect from these sessions? What should she ask in deciding the right therapist?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:12 PM PST - 7 comments
Why did I seem to pay much less taxes as an independent contractor vs. a regular employee, making roughly the same hourly wage?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:07 PM PST - 6 comments
I was recently promoted to developer relations at my company, and I'd like to keep better track of those developer relationships than I've previously done. I use a macbook pro, an iPhone, and an iPad.
What software do you recommend?
[more inside]posted by TimeDoctor at 9:55 PM PST - 5 comments
How far do you have to transport a field mouse before it's not going to find its way back?
[more inside]posted by warbaby at 9:02 PM PST - 21 comments
I am currently writing short form fiction rooted in the horror genre. I am interested in playing with the traditional archetypes of monsters in super natural horror. What hybrid-monster combinations (preferably three or more, I especially like zombies, vampires, werewolves, ninjas, and mummies) would create a compelling but tragically sympathetic main character?
posted by pickinganameismuchharderthanihadanticipated at 8:49 PM PST - 21 comments
I am a 22-year-old female who has just been informed that I have received a prestigious arts and culture internship in my Western U.S. city's government. This is my first real job, and I'm perplexed about what clothes to buy for a professional, yet comfortable summer wardrobe.
[more inside]posted by gothchick33 at 8:42 PM PST - 12 comments
How can I heat up milk for my coffee at work and without a microwave or stovetop? Is there some kind of stand-alone gadget that will heat (not just froth) milk, while being office-appropriate?
[more inside]posted by pourtant at 8:13 PM PST - 31 comments
What are some resources that are inexpensive or free for improving my French from Canadian public school level to functional?
[more inside]posted by Phalene at 7:53 PM PST - 8 comments
What plant should we put in the box out front? Next to our stoop is a raised brick box with maybe 20x20x10 inches filled with dirt, where we want to plant something for decoration. The problem is that no matter what we plant, after a couple of months somebody comes along and pulls it out.
[more inside]posted by postel's law at 7:49 PM PST - 18 comments
Looking for an affordable keyboard for live performance with GREAT piano, elecric piano and organ samples.
[more inside]posted by unSane at 7:45 PM PST - 9 comments
He's an ornery, suit-wearing, Iron Maiden superfan in his early thirties- and he's about to get a little older. Help me find a gift for my weird best friend!
[more inside]posted by Blisterlips at 7:27 PM PST - 5 comments
Good trip ideas for a 30-something guy traveling solo for 1-2 weeks in Sept, prefer somewhere where it's easy to meet other people
[more inside]posted by photo guy at 7:07 PM PST - 6 comments
Looking for a song or poem or short story or stand-alone chapter in a novel that has an emotional release or a suggestion on how to deal with anger/negative emotions, especially around family issues. Should be (fairly) appropriate for high school students.
[more inside]posted by guster4lovers at 6:53 PM PST - 14 comments
High-school-drama-filter:
I've recently been named one of two new editors-in-chief of my high school newspaper. Less than one week into my tenure, I already have to deal with nasty issues involving next year's EIC candidates, editor successions, and angry staff threatening to quit. Long and complicated explanation inside.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:45 PM PST - 20 comments
I'm going to Thailand to see a friend, who is on an island off of Phuket. I'll be there for about a week. Apparently this island has great beaches and is great for relaxing, snorkeling, and doing a whole lot of nothing. I'd like to take two or three weeks on this trip, but the problem is that I don't know where else to go in addition to this island!
[more inside]posted by emily37 at 5:55 PM PST - 19 comments
I have a friend who is 22 years old, has a part-time job, and wants to begin establishing his credit rating. He has a checking account but is having trouble getting a credit card with no annual fee due to his low income at this time. He is very money smart and will be using this card to establish credit, he plans on paying the statement in full every month. Is there any credit cards out there that he could apply for that would accept him with his low income? If his mother did add him to her credit card account would it build HIS credit rating?
posted by sandyp at 5:37 PM PST - 23 comments
I have just shelled out for a quite pricey IP camera for the office I remotely manage, but I'm having second thoughts installing it.
I run a small business, 3 staff, and I have moved away from the city and visit only once a fortnight or so.
I trust the staff, but it's the type of qualatative work where it is very hard to track the amount of time spent on each task, so I'm thinking of adopting some camera or tracking software.
Would it do more harm than good? I feel like I have a right to keep tabs, but also it seems quite disrespectful.
And I am wondering about the ethics of tracking keylogs or screen captures.
Any and all thoughts appreciated
posted by choppyes at 4:15 PM PST - 38 comments
In the novel,
The Road, the people are slowly starving to death due to a nuclear (assumption) winter. What is the reality of this situation?
[more inside]posted by fifilaru at 3:26 PM PST - 22 comments
Flying overseas, just bought crazy-expensive tickets to do so. Should we also buy a Travel Protection Plan at an extra $72 per person?
[more inside]posted by moira at 3:18 PM PST - 12 comments
Hi;
Does anyone remember those reading place cards form school?
They had a short story on one side,then questions about the story on the other.They all had a colour on the the right corner I think.
[more inside]posted by WOLF101 at 3:12 PM PST - 26 comments
Is there a reference document or scholarship somewhere that describes the fate of "nonbelievers" in various religions?
[more inside]posted by AgentRocket at 3:10 PM PST - 7 comments
My cat has stopped eating (for a couple of reasons) and I'm running out of ideas on how to get her to eat. Looking for advice and suggestions and anything which will help me quit worrying in the meantime.
[more inside]posted by hippybear at 2:55 PM PST - 42 comments
Arduino! I want to build a very basic network connected battery operated alarm system. What's the best kit for doing so?
[more inside]posted by 3mendo at 2:12 PM PST - 12 comments
How do I create a public wifi network that is separate from our corporate network while using the same internet connection?
[more inside]posted by talkingmuffin at 1:55 PM PST - 4 comments
On week three of the 4 hour body diet - high protein, beans allowed, no carbs/dairy (except butter), no sugar, no fruit - incredibly tired of all the recipes I know! Help? snowflake details -
[more inside]posted by needlegrrl at 1:52 PM PST - 16 comments
My wife doesn't get along with my sister. My sister is graduating. My wife discovers that I am buying her a graduation gift without her knowledge. She is upset I went behind her back. Where do I go from here?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:10 PM PST - 73 comments
My significant other is interested in attending a Landmark Education seminar. What should I know?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:09 PM PST - 53 comments
I need to brush up on and refresh my memory of various topics in the area of IT technical support for an interview. Can you help?
[more inside]posted by karizma at 12:56 PM PST - 5 comments
Need suggestions for a bush for a garden bed that features day-blooming black flowers and night-blooming white flowers, zone 5.
[more inside]posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:18 AM PST - 8 comments
How can I get a better grasp on US/World history so I will better understand current events/stop looking stupid?
[more inside]posted by geegollygosh at 11:09 AM PST - 30 comments
I'd like a men's wristwatch that is cheap, rugged, simple, comfortable, functional. Which watches are the best at this?
[more inside]posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 10:43 AM PST - 27 comments
I'll be driving from St. Paul, MN to the Grand Marais area (for a BWCA trip) on June 18th. Just so happens to be the same day as Grandma's Marathon. Route around Duluth or push through on I 35 like normal?
[more inside]posted by thatguyjeff at 10:10 AM PST - 8 comments
What would you do in this situation? Mind your own business, intervene, call the police, or something else?
[more inside]posted by seesom at 10:04 AM PST - 34 comments
My friend is currently out serving somewhere in the middle east for the next six months and would like some new computer games to play. The problem is that he has absolutely no internet connection so anything that needs to go online (eg. multiplayer or - more annoyingly - DRM) won't work. What good games can you recommend I buy and post to him?
[more inside]posted by mr_silver at 9:08 AM PST - 24 comments
I want to learn how to play soccer. I'm 30. I'm in pretty good shape, but I haven't played a sport of any kind in more than 15 years. Is it realistic?
[more inside]posted by corn_bread at 8:49 AM PST - 18 comments
I have 40 6' lengths of 1/2" steel rod. Is it possible to sell this in nyc and get money worth the hassle of transporting the rods?
posted by edbles at 8:25 AM PST - 12 comments
Going from homeowner to tenant - who do we use as references when talking with prospective landlords?
[more inside]posted by crazycanuck at 7:56 AM PST - 12 comments
I have installed Thunderbird portable on my USB drive and set up the correct server names and such. My ISP is RoadRunner. I keep getting the connection time out message and it won't download or send email. I went into "about:config" and changed my timeout time to 500--still no mail. My RSS feeds update perfectly in Thunderbird. Any suggestions on what to try for email?
posted by sandra194 at 7:56 AM PST - 7 comments
It's that time of year again - the great new pc games have started rolling out and last year's hotness will not cut it. I currently have a Radeon 5850 - Would you upgrade by getting a second card and running them in Crossfire, or would a slick, new, confusingly-named, single card be a better investment?
[more inside]posted by phylum sinter at 7:37 AM PST - 11 comments
I've had a Google Voice with an @gmail.com login. Since you can make call through Google Apps' mail now, how can I transfer the Voice account (or even just the number) to my Apps account?
posted by glibhamdreck at 7:35 AM PST - 3 comments
I've started using my HTC Droid Incredible as my main podcast player, and I'd love to hear how other people set this up, since other music players don't always resume playing mid-podcast.
[more inside]posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 7:23 AM PST - 14 comments
Asking for a friend: At the end of
Dirty Dancing, the characters dance to "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," which sounds much more a product of the '80s than the '60s. What other movies set in the past feature anachronistic music?
[more inside]posted by bethist at 7:22 AM PST - 57 comments
I would like to take an evening/night-time course in software development/computer programming in London. Where should I look?
[more inside]posted by CRM114 at 6:35 AM PST - 3 comments
I booked a flight from Stockholm to San Francisco, connecting in Frankfurt, through Continental Airlines website. However the flight from Stockholm to Frankfurt is operated by SAS, and from Frankfurt to SFO by United. Which airline should I check in with in Stockholm: SAS, United, or Continental? Will they give me tickets for both flights when I check in in Stockholm? Will they check my luggage all the way through to SFO? I can't find any info online, thanks for any help!
posted by mahamandarava at 6:34 AM PST - 16 comments
The last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony begins by recapitulating and rejecting themes from the first three movements. What is being symbolically rejected?
A friend of mine says the Ninth is about the Brahmaviharas, the four immeasurables. The first three movements represent compassion, benevolence, and equanimity, all of which are rejected by the fourth in favour of joy, hence the Schiller.
As a personal interpretation I think this works quite well, but the idea that Buddhist doctrine is what Beethoven (or Schiller for that matter) had in mind is surely bonkers.
So what did Beethoven have in mind? The sources I've found say 'nobody knows'.
posted by Segundus at 6:08 AM PST - 12 comments
I need help. Can someone provide a really, really non-smarty pants explanation of how the conduction through the heart changes for athletes (EKG) -- with an emphasis on 1st AV block.
[more inside]posted by learninguntilidie at 3:28 AM PST - 2 comments
Single female traveling solo for nine days in Kuala Lumpur and Bali. Please reassure me that I'm not going to be sad and lonely and freaked out the entire time.
[more inside]posted by ladybird at 3:02 AM PST - 16 comments
What kind of sander should I get to sand a variety of household projects? This weekend, I’ll be sanding the untreated pine interior of some fixed cupboards and shelves, with lots of tight, awkward corners. I'll also be sanding back spakfilla on masonry walls where I’ve filled in nail holes. I’m sanding so I can paint. Later on (in a few months) I might sand down some wood furniture. I don’t think I’ll use the sander for any exterior work. What kind of sander should I get AskMe – and why?
[more inside]posted by t0astie at 12:20 AM PST - 8 comments
May 18
I'm trying to fill out my bio section which anyone who clicks my name on the blog, and I'm wondering if there is a casual and witty, but sincere way of writing it to let people know that I'm available for unemployment (or should I mention it at all)?
[more inside]posted by beammeup4 at 11:25 PM PST - 12 comments
Any recommendations for Sci-Fi or Fantasy books with hot erotic content?
posted by goalyeehah at 11:06 PM PST - 29 comments
Conventional wisdom says that watching a lot of TV/Movies in another language helps with comprehension. What are some good movies/shows to help me with Mandarin? My current level is quite basic (2 semesters of college classes).
posted by joshwa at 10:55 PM PST - 9 comments
Any reason not to eat freshly popped popcorn out of purchased brown (lunch) bags?
posted by america4 at 8:59 PM PST - 22 comments
How to get a van-load of stuff from Flagstaff, AZ to Kansas City, MO with minimal hassle and cost?
[more inside]posted by jferg at 8:59 PM PST - 5 comments
The good news: I've been awarded money.
The question: I'm trying to figure out how best to keep it separate from my personal money.
[more inside]posted by resiny at 8:53 PM PST - 7 comments
I have four large, heavy items (furniture or similar) that I'd like to move from Philadelphia to Chicago, but I'm wondering if it's just cheaper sell them on craigslist and re-buy?
[more inside]posted by zeek321 at 7:51 PM PST - 9 comments
Looking for recommendations for digital dictation/transcription software and devices.
[more inside]posted by dpx.mfx at 7:25 PM PST - 5 comments
It's not nice to meet you. Help me find a way to respond to meeting someone in person whom I've dealt with via email for quite some time and who has gone out of their way to insult my direct reporting team, our product, and myself.
[more inside]posted by Draccy at 7:07 PM PST - 57 comments
How do I tell my sister she rambles on and on and on and on constantly, in a kind way and effective way? Help!!
[more inside]posted by *phoenix* at 6:58 PM PST - 27 comments
Lead me to your secret treasure trove of tops that won't make me look like a tattooed easter egg!
[more inside]posted by griselda at 6:54 PM PST - 13 comments
My sister would like to ride in a motorcycle sidecar before her 30th birthday (this December). I would like to make this happen! We live in the "tri-state area" (i.e.
whatever's in easy reach of NYC) but will also be traveling a lot over the summer and fall, so several states seem to be an option, even if the NYC-area is not, for some reason.
[more inside]posted by unknowncommand at 6:21 PM PST - 7 comments
I think I lost my Verizon phone. I had the same phone for the past 3 years, and I know that I was due for a new one for the past year. I do not have insurance, not that I know of at least. So, how do I go about replacing this phone? I am so confused... Will I have to pay for the new phone? (I am from another country, so I still do not fully understand how the cell phone stuff works here.)
posted by kuju at 6:17 PM PST - 7 comments
I'm trying to build a better campfire song repetoire. What are your favorite songs to hear / sing along to at a campfire?
[more inside]posted by kitcat at 6:02 PM PST - 40 comments
DC/RI DMV Filter: My car is registered in Rhode Island, and the registration and title are in my dad's name. I have been driving my car for years in RI and even gave my dad some money for it a few years ago. How do I register my car in DC?
[more inside]posted by catquas at 5:16 PM PST - 6 comments
An x-ray shows my cat has fluid in and around her lungs. What do I do now? She isn't going to get better.
[more inside]posted by waterandrock at 5:09 PM PST - 28 comments
What should I read for a solid but concise history of gagaku and/or the sho? I am also interested in court rituals in Japan generally. I read somewhere they served a significant legitimizing-of-the-court function in Japan ca. 700 or 800, and would like to confirm, deny, and learn more about this idea.
posted by andrewpcone at 5:08 PM PST - 3 comments
Several friends and I would like to rent out a house. Some of us have lived at apartments, but most have only lived at home with their parents all their lives. Most of us are 20-21 years old. We are all in the same fraternity...
[more inside]posted by Mach3avelli at 4:39 PM PST - 29 comments
I am an obsessive worrier. I've just booked short-notice tickets to spend a week with friends in London. I know where my towel is, but that's about it. Help me do this without losing my shit over the many other small things I need to figure out.
[more inside]posted by badgermushroomSNAKE at 4:11 PM PST - 41 comments
I'm looking for examples of ambitious, epic albums - ideally double albums - that stand as cultural and musical touchstones of generations or moments in time; albums that, while being of one genre of music, nevertheless won legions of fans outside that genre.
[more inside]posted by The World Famous at 3:46 PM PST - 82 comments
I have to print very detailed photos for my job. At times, the photos taken have information near the margin of the photo. When I import photos into iphoto and print them--whether or not I use preview--the margins are cut off. Is there a setting I can change to make sure that the entire photo is printed?
This is driving me crazy. Thanks.
posted by SpicyMustard at 3:32 PM PST - 7 comments
How do I project monthly revenue for my service business 12 to 24 months into the future if I am paid in lump-sum prepayments good for 6 months to a year of services? Also should I be referring to this as "cash flow" rather than "monthly revenue"?
[more inside]posted by Franzilla at 3:29 PM PST - 6 comments
Using free tools such as Inkscape, is there a way to turn my SVG into an EPS that a screenprinter can use to make jerseys?
[more inside]posted by Doofus Magoo at 3:21 PM PST - 8 comments
Was fiddling with the eject settings on my laptop (didn't solve my problem, cd is still stuck in the drive no matter what i do), when I decided to reboot out of ubuntu and disable the drive altogether in the BIOS. Now almost as soon as the BIOS appear, everything goes black, though the computer is still clearly on. Help!
[more inside]posted by parkbench at 2:26 PM PST - 4 comments
My financial situation is far from complex but like a lot of people I have (mostly) retirement investments scattered around in many different accounts. Some are IRAs, 401(k)s, 503(b)s, etc. for myself and spouse. Most of these still send me paper statements on a monthly or quarterly basis. Some of the statements are very confusing because they require things like "core" accounts, obscure funds that are provided through work, accounting schemes that seem to me overly complex, and just plain complicated statements. FWIW, I am good with numbers, science, and computers, but I still find personal finance frustrating and tiring.
[more inside]posted by Rad_Boy at 2:26 PM PST - 8 comments
How would you handle this? 16 year old boy breaks his Mom's cell phone in anger. Mom believes taking his phone away deprives him of the support of his friends, and has restricted most everything else, but not the phone. Eye for an eye or eye for an ear? It's a bit more complicated, though, so more inside...
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:25 PM PST - 19 comments
My friend & housemate has a big birthday weekend planned (London, Thursday – Monday). There's an itinerary, filled with lots of amazing things (spa days, aquarium, shows, etc.), but in the event that some of these places aren't wheelchair accessible, we need some back up events planned. What are some great places to go/see/party in London that are definitely wheelchair accessible, relatively easy to get to, and would be able to host a party of 3-8 people at the last minute with minimal hassle all around?
[more inside]posted by iamkimiam at 2:20 PM PST - 5 comments
Wedding music recommendations. Must be instrumental, serene, and suited to a "Zen" theme. A variety of genres is encouraged.
[more inside]posted by John Cohen at 1:56 PM PST - 34 comments
Blue-water sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and seafaring MeFites: what are good indicators that a sailboat owner/skipper is legit?
[more inside]posted by Quietgal at 1:37 PM PST - 12 comments
Neuroendocrinology filter: Suggested readings on the affects of chronic stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the amygdala?
[more inside]posted by Jacqueline at 1:32 PM PST - 3 comments
How can I create a video using Flash that incorporates zooming around in Google Earth?
[more inside]posted by nushustu at 1:28 PM PST - 1 comments
Fitness Filter: A male friend of mine is just about the same height as me and weighs 40 lbs more. Can muscle mass/being a dude really justify this weight discrepancy?
[more inside]posted by stormygrey at 1:24 PM PST - 23 comments
Google Apps Mail contact sharing, distribution lists, and sending newsletters Marketplace App?
[more inside]posted by jmd82 at 12:58 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm going back to school to take pre-med requirements (
previously). My current boss has agreed to write a recommendation for me, and has asked me to tell him "what I want him to say." What should I give him?
[more inside]posted by ocherdraco at 12:57 PM PST - 5 comments
If you Google your dates before meeting through online sites, how do you handle the knowing the answers to the mundane areas of their life before being told?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:33 PM PST - 70 comments
Simple scenario: I put parking receipt on dashboard, face up, and closed door. Air made receipt flip over. I didn't notice. Ding! That'll be $35. Any recourse?
[more inside]posted by Alaska Jack at 12:21 PM PST - 11 comments
I've been working out and seeing progress but everything seems to be like taking 2 steps forward and then 1 step back, making it hard for me right now to keep up the motivation. Just trying to figure out if I am doing anything wrong or if something could help.
[more inside]posted by loser8008 at 12:12 PM PST - 8 comments
Is there an organization that can provide some guidance on choosing a nursing home? I'm interested in moving my father from the one he is in now. This is in Northeast Ohio. If I'm on my own, how do I go about finding and evaluating potential nursing homes?
[more inside]posted by stuart_s at 11:49 AM PST - 5 comments
Please help me identify this plant, or what is the meaning behind my potential tattoo? (yes, these two are the same question)
[more inside]posted by ClarissaWAM at 11:37 AM PST - 26 comments
Inspired by
this FPP: Do we know anything about the individual people who attacked the Freedom Riders or otherwise stood on the wrong side of history with the Civil Rights Movement?
[more inside]posted by KathrynT at 11:11 AM PST - 11 comments
Can anyone recommend a website where I can get input from other men (and I'm not against input from women too) about problems I have with my wife with her excessive moodiness, total lack of interest in physical intimacy, and general verbally hostile and abusive ways? I'm thinking either a traditional forum or a more contemporary Q&A type site.
posted by Dansaman at 11:07 AM PST - 15 comments
Who in the Dallas, TX area (deliberately vague; I'm willing to drive) can repair my broken laptop AND answer my questions about it, especially how it got that way? Even just "this guy I know" would be perfectly fine; I've learned my lesson about the big-name places.
[more inside]posted by jinjo at 11:07 AM PST - 2 comments
How do I stay relaxed while playing a sport that requires incredible quickness and immediate accurate decisions?
[more inside]posted by alexgrey at 11:01 AM PST - 10 comments
A friend of mine has had Dom-Fem experience and wants to leave it in the past. He believes it ruined his marriage of many years (she wasn't into it), but also got addicted to internet sex sites and liaisons. He's asked me out....what do I need to know?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:29 AM PST - 21 comments
I have a few questions about a home server / backup / HTPC solution and I would really appreciate some help. Details inside.
[more inside]posted by decrescendo at 10:21 AM PST - 13 comments
Looking for a short animated film -- possibly from a Spike n' Mike's collection. I think it's called The Gift or something like that. The main character is a man who lives by himself in some barren, isolated place -- probably outer space. His only companion is a sorta-anthropomorphized tomato plant. The man is starving and has nothing to eat. When his back is turned, the tomato plant produces a tomato, but he doesn't see it, so he (sadly, reluctantly) eats the tomato plant. Later, he sees the tomato and realizes that he didn't have to eat his friend. This is the saddest film ever! Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. I've been looking for it forever, but can't seem to find it. Any idea what it's called or where I can find it?
posted by Afroblanco at 10:12 AM PST - 7 comments
What are the most awesomely beautiful camp sites in Zion and Bryce in late May? Also where's the cheapest place to buy supplies?
[more inside]posted by jcrcarter at 10:06 AM PST - 2 comments
Looking to start my own in-person depression support group, but have zero background in social work or psychology. What pitfalls should I be aware of?
[more inside]posted by sureshot at 10:04 AM PST - 11 comments
What is a ballpark cost for developing a mobile website and are there any specific CMS/blogging platforms that make it easier?
[more inside]posted by perhapses at 9:27 AM PST - 19 comments
In seven days I will be having back surgery: laminectomy, fusion, and fixation.
Yesterday, I attended the "Back on Track" class that the hospital provides for those about to have surgery.
They stressed the BLTPP rules: NO Bending, Leaning, Twisting, Pushing, or Pulling.
What are YOUR best tips and tricks (and best kept secrets) for adhering to these rules for my next few months?
PLEASE add any suggestions on how to make my life (and my wife's life!) easier during the recovery time. Any and all ideas are welcome!
[Yep, I know YANMD, but I hope you have good ideas.]
posted by Drasher at 9:11 AM PST - 12 comments
"Research Utilization" in the context of Public Health and prevention programming--what does it mean exactly?
[more inside]posted by Stewriffic at 8:30 AM PST - 4 comments
There are lots of stock-related iPhone apps available, but either I haven't found the one that does the simple thing I want, or I haven't conquered the learning curves of the ones I've tried to see that they already do it. Very simple requirements inside.
[more inside]posted by sourwookie at 7:53 AM PST - 1 comments
Need help setting and measuring new fitness goals, but don't want to train for a marathon or similar long race. Any other ideas?
[more inside]posted by the foreground at 7:51 AM PST - 11 comments
I'm a college student looking for a way for to pool essays with 20-30 of my classmates in preparation for finals. We've tried emailing, but it got unwieldy very quickly. Are there any good sites/easy to use cloud-based services out there which might fit the bill? I've looked at Dropbox but would prefer a method where we don't have to download specific software.
posted by emergent at 7:03 AM PST - 12 comments
I've found a bunch of YouTube videos of A Perfect Circle (Acoustic Sessions)
like this one. There's no video, really, just the band logo over the songs. What are these songs from? Are these from an album or a DVD that I can buy?
[more inside]posted by Eumachia L F at 6:32 AM PST - 3 comments
In what cases is it worthwhile, career-wise to take a certificate (e.g., non-degree) program in an issue that interests you and you'd like to work in? I am looking in particular at the
Food Security program at Ryerson.
[more inside]posted by ITheCosmos at 4:15 AM PST - 4 comments
I have control of a friends web domain. Any good ideas for some (good-natured) pranks we can play on him?
[more inside]posted by xanderbeedle at 2:40 AM PST - 15 comments
How do I license someone to re-edit footage of one of my projects for use in their video portfolio, without looking paranoid?
[more inside]posted by victory_laser at 2:05 AM PST - 4 comments
How do I fix this Firefox problem? I go to a website. I scroll down, click a link, decide to go back to the original page. I click the back button, and when the previous page loads it loads at the top of the page, not where I had been in the page when I'd scrolled down and clicked the link.
[more inside]posted by adrianna aria at 12:35 AM PST - 8 comments
May 17
Dear HiveMind, please help me think of a name for a new web project I'm building. It's essentially a "genealogy search engine in a box", based on a customized build of
Apache Solr. It will allow moderately tech savvy genealogy geeks, whether individual genealogists or small genealogy organizations, an easy way to index and search datasets of names and any related data, with a nice front end UI for doing searches. Notable features include faceted search (by record year, record town(s), record source, etc.), soundalike surname searching, customizable given name synonyms (i.e. searching for "Becky" also finds Rebecca), and pop-up Google Maps linked to record locations. And the entire project will be open source. The project is already about 90% completed, but I need something snappy to call it before I can release it. Ideas welcome!
posted by Asparagirl at 11:38 PM PST - 16 comments
Can anyone recommend a good, online, illustrated guide to various subcultures and clothing styles?
[more inside]posted by Telf at 11:07 PM PST - 8 comments
I got invited to play D&D with a couple folks I really like. Help me not embarrass myself!
[more inside]posted by GilloD at 10:31 PM PST - 22 comments
Do I really need a root canal on a tooth that has no symptoms, but that the dentist is suddenly *very* concerned about?
[more inside]posted by I_love_the_rain at 10:08 PM PST - 19 comments
I read a quote once, that is failing to come to mind... something like 'voila, la fenêtre', from a piece of french literature, or perhaps a play. it was meant as a darkly comedic response to a heartfelt expression, kinda like Catherine Keener's character did in Being John Malkovich. Anyone have an inkling?
posted by drgonzo at 9:15 PM PST - 3 comments
I'm trying to work out the tech for the visuals of a live event and would like to get the hive mind's advice as to which are the best applications to use.
[more inside]posted by mooza at 9:06 PM PST - 4 comments
Several dog walking services in my area of San Diego offer a range of services and prices, and I'd like to get a sense of what others considerable reasonable, and what services, if anything, people find worth the money for besides just the walking itself. In terms of pooch specifics, my obese italian greyhound needs a longer, more vigorous walk each afternoon/evening than I can make time for given my current work schedule. thanks
posted by BadgerDoctor at 7:08 PM PST - 10 comments
AEB on a Canon T2i. Is there any software to allow more than 3 exposures while using AEB on a T2i?
[more inside]posted by no bueno at 6:51 PM PST - 4 comments
A man might be cheating on his wife, but it definitely isn't with me. His wife says my number is on his phone records as having incoming and outgoing calls with his phone. Is it possible for my phone number to show up on phone records for a phone I've never called? Also, is it possible this is somehow connected with the fact that my debit card has been compromised?
[more inside]posted by smirkyfodder at 6:10 PM PST - 22 comments
Can I obtain a domestic violence restraining order in California against a person who lives in another state?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:59 PM PST - 5 comments
Sometimes I supervise graduate students who are not native speakers of English and their written and oral communication abilities are not that great. I can comment on drafts for things to be sent elsewhere, but the worst thing is that grammatical problems mean that it is sometimes impossible or difficult for me to understand one of these students. I think usually they don't understand the problem when I try to explain it. Are there any books I could suggest that they read? Can you suggest other things that I can do to improve this?
[more inside]posted by grouse at 5:55 PM PST - 14 comments
Can you tell me what is wrong with my vocal cord? Endoscopy photo included
[more inside]posted by mxmm at 5:48 PM PST - 4 comments
I'm on a company provided Windows 7 laptop. Here's what I know:
When using the "Windows Classic" Theme (right click on desktop>personalize>select "Windows Classic" theme), Windows Explorer does NOT hang/hourglass for ~30 seconds when accessing files/navigating folders. All clicks to save files, navigate through local and distributed files (our MyDocs folder is stored on the Company's distributed file system), etc., are immediately responsive.
When using ANY other theme, clicking on navigation of files (local and DFS, even when not connected to the company network) hangs for 10-30 seconds.
What gives? Do all of the themes (minus the "Classic" theme) have some sort of "network call" that look through My Docs (which is technically on the DFS/my company's servers, that has a 30 timeout if the network doesn't respond?)
Any ideas how to fix this (change a registry setting, ask the company IT team to make a change to a group policy setting, etc.)? What's so special about the "Windows Classic" theme? It's ugly, but it saves me 30 seconds every time I touch a file, open windows explorer, etc.
Thanks in advance!
posted by thankyoumuchly at 5:09 PM PST - 6 comments
What kind of recourse do I have when my company's new health insurance will be
charging me if I don't take a biometric screening and health assessment?
[more inside]posted by jillithd at 4:35 PM PST - 28 comments
Best practices for big, self-directed personal education project? I wanna learn something. How do I find the time and organize this?
[more inside]posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:35 PM PST - 7 comments
Digital Job Search, LinkedIn Filter: I'm shy when it comes to asking people for help. I want to expand my job search horizons by learning how to use LinkedIn more effectively, and by getting over my inability to network.
[more inside]posted by iLoveTheRain at 3:10 PM PST - 6 comments
I am going for a 110 mile, 6 day hike in Virginia's back country for the first time. What are some things (small or large) you always bring with you (not obvious like a multi-tool/knife) that make the experience much better? Looking for quick/easy tips!
(Thanks for being patient - first time poster)
[more inside]posted by LittleFuzzy at 3:03 PM PST - 42 comments
I am looking for practical (and preferably natural) solutions for emotional instability and insecurity during ovulation and pre-menstruation.
[more inside]posted by DeltaForce at 2:49 PM PST - 22 comments
Very happy owner of a new Ipad2 (with 3g). Are you an Ipad user/owner? What are your absolute favorite apps? And why? I have looked at a lot of prior threads asking for best apps for particular purposes, including
this one about best apps for gifting, but I'm actually just interested in finding out the apps MeFi people love the most.
posted by bearwife at 2:32 PM PST - 28 comments
I may be in the market for a tablet PC, and in the best of all worlds would like to find a model with an E-ink *and* LCD display with Wi-Fi. Does such a thing currently exist?
[more inside]posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 2:24 PM PST - 12 comments
I have recently discovered Brazilian Zouk and have lots of questions about the dance. Since I don't have a pro in the area familiar with the dance, I'll turn to AskMeFi.
[more inside]posted by philosophygeek at 2:20 PM PST - 1 comments
I love the outdoors! Particularly when viewed from a balcony at the Four Seasons, with a refreshing gin and tonic. The boyfriend thinks Mother Nature wants us to be uncomfortable. Please help resolve our camping conundrum.
[more inside]posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 1:44 PM PST - 48 comments
How can I use my money to make even more money? Investments? Stocks? Bonds? Mutual funds?
[more inside]posted by ascetic at 1:28 PM PST - 14 comments
My firm is about to send out a huge load of spam, thinking that they are "email marketing." I don't know how to stop it, or how hard I should try before I give up and sit back.
[more inside]posted by thebazilist at 1:11 PM PST - 32 comments
How much should I get paid as an inexperienced programmer doing Java web development for a US government contractor? I’m clueless.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:10 PM PST - 10 comments
My
2004 Tiburon GT SE needs a clutch replacement but I can't decide if putting that much money into the car is worth it. How much can I expect to pay a mechanic to perform the work? I'm guessing in the $1K range but I don't know. And if so, does it make sense to put that money into car that's almost 8 years old? I bought it used a few years ago and still owe $5K on it, so dumping it isn't an option. It has only 54K miles and is otherwise in very good condition. How should I proceed?
posted by Jamesonian at 1:06 PM PST - 10 comments
Does anyone have a handly list of reasons why one would get the error "The extract range has a missing or illegal field name." when using advanced auto-filter?
[more inside]posted by Lucubrator at 1:02 PM PST - 0 comments
Can you help me find more information about my transcendental experience while on laughing gas at the dentist? I recently had Nitrous oxide while at the dentist, and the side effects were deep insights into my life, and a crystal clear understanding of problems that were before vague. I'd like more information about this phenomenon and I'd like to hear others' experience with this gas.
posted by Patrick Leo at 12:59 PM PST - 20 comments
Highly Specific Guilty Pleasurefilter: What are your favorite coming-of-age movies about (broadly-defined) "alt" people in their 20s? Preferably not rom-coms. Bonus for being set in a New Englandy-type place in autumn. (Artiness, seriousness, etc. totally optional.)
posted by nasreddin at 12:55 PM PST - 51 comments
Emails are being sent from my gmail account to contacts by someone other than me. How do I figure out what's going on and how do I stop it?
[more inside]posted by friendlyjuan at 12:34 PM PST - 14 comments
I have: a bunch of selections from NYPL's Picture Collection; a group of artist-types who are gung-ho for basically anything; and a maximum of one hour. I'm meant to be leading some sort of physical activity. What now?
[more inside]posted by davidjmcgee at 12:13 PM PST - 6 comments
Can you honour your current partner and explore a potential relationship with someone new
without being deceitful?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:05 PM PST - 56 comments
Old car windshield has lots of tiny pits and scratches. Can they be polished out? (And could they have been prevented, e.g., with rain repellent or something?)
posted by coffeefilter at 11:44 AM PST - 8 comments
I would like suggestions for memoirs that focus on a specific period of time in the writer's life... say the summer they spent overseas, or their four years in college.
[more inside]posted by smoakes at 11:38 AM PST - 22 comments
My HTC Droid Eris is pretty much out-of-commission...6 months before my contract with Verizon is up (and I'm eligible for a discounted new phone). The warranty is up also. What are my options?
[more inside]posted by Lutoslawski at 11:38 AM PST - 11 comments
What is the best T-Mobile phone that is both: relatively cheap (sub-$200) and has a good QWERTY keyboard?
[more inside]posted by ejfox at 11:02 AM PST - 13 comments
Hi everyone,
I'm looking for financial software to analyze student loan debt. I downloaded "Pay It Down" which is excellent for credit cards. I love this software for its graphing capability and rollover feature, but it doesn't calculate payments that are graduated (i.e., x amount for 10 months, then x amount for 120 months, then another amount for 35 months). I am looking for a program that can analyze the principal x interest rate, and allow for graduated payments. A graphing feature would be nice, and rollover feature so I can see one payment paid down faster when I put more money towards it. Hope this makes sense...... thank you!!
posted by luciddream928 at 10:06 AM PST - 10 comments
Is there sheet music available for the newer production of Chess as performed two years ago at the Royal Albert Hall with Josh Groban and Idina Menzel (
http://www.chessinconcert.com)? Specifically I am looking for the arrangement of "Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)" (
youtube video here). All the versions of sheet music that I have been able to find are from the original concept album, which is substantially different. Not only lyrical differences, but the ending is completely different with a modulation and extended fugue with all four vocal parts. If nothing else, can anyone recommend a UK source for sheet music that might have something?
posted by Lokheed at 8:54 AM PST - 2 comments
My downstairs neighbor just told me he's been finding itchy bites on his legs, which he and his doctor believe are from bedbugs. What now?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:45 AM PST - 15 comments
I have passion for a non-profit idea, but I can't do this myself. Help me get started and ask for help in the best way possible.
[more inside]posted by halseyaa at 8:32 AM PST - 5 comments
Please recommend your favorite non-vocal, non-scifi soundtracks (tv or movies). I'm asking for suggestions that you love and have listened to repeatedly because it's so damn good.
[more inside]posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:57 AM PST - 95 comments
[Bookfilter]: A friend asks "HELP! About 20 years ago I found a picture book at the library. It was about a little mouse girl who was being raised by a bear in Paris. The mouse had a name like Angelina -- but NOT Angelina Ballerina. Got any idea what it was?"
Does this description ring any bells? Thanks!
posted by kbibb at 7:45 AM PST - 7 comments
A friend recently got a job offer, yay! When she spoke with the hiring manager at the time of the initial offer, she was told she'd receive a certain amount of money, with a percentage raise after the first year. But when she received the formal offer letter, the letter specifies only the first year salary, and says nothing about a raise. Should she say something to the hiring manager? Any suggestions on how she might phrase her concerns?
posted by lesli212 at 7:02 AM PST - 11 comments
Help me choose a new car: I'm in the UK, and I want a small 4-door with long warranty, low mpg and low emissions.
[more inside]posted by Coobeastie at 5:23 AM PST - 7 comments
Australia smart phone filter: I need to buy a new smart phone. I would like one that will allow me to occasionally connect my laptop to the internet. (Tethering?) Clearly I'm not that tech savvy so I don't want to jailbreak (?) etc. Is this possible with any smart phone on the market in Australia?
[more inside]posted by MT at 4:04 AM PST - 8 comments
Trying to find a myth or story about a god telling a family not to eat the marrow of his animals.
[more inside]posted by usagizero at 2:38 AM PST - 3 comments
May 16
Where can I find a relatively inexpensive standing desk? A relatively inexpensive adjustable-height desk? A relatively inexpensive platform designed to rest on top of a regular desk and turn it into a standing desk?
[more inside]posted by jsturgill at 10:03 PM PST - 24 comments
When I share one of my wordpress blog posts on Facebook (via status update), how can I get it to pull a thumbnail from the youtube video embedded in the post?
[more inside]posted by dcams at 9:52 PM PST - 3 comments
A cyst that was drained on my back 3 weeks ago is still a raised, long-ish bruise (after a doctor followup and cortisone shot last week). How alarming is this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:52 PM PST - 8 comments
If you had to work a few days a weeks in San Fernando Valley (Sherman Oaks, specifically), where would you live?
[more inside]posted by tacoma1 at 8:45 PM PST - 17 comments
What workflow should I use to make a compilation of DVD clips (with menus preferably) on a mac?
[more inside]posted by mtphoto at 7:41 PM PST - 10 comments
whats the best tent & sleeping bags for 2 persons on a 3 night camping trip in yosemite in august? asking for brands & models but also specs i should look for. specifically tents that are easy to setup. bonus points for any additional information about gear to bring, weather in august, and any experiences youve had there. we're going on the green tortoise tour from san fran if anyone has any stories about that... thanks!
posted by fumbducker at 7:37 PM PST - 14 comments
Help me settle a debate. It is very humid outside, and it will be drizzling all week long. The apartment has windows that allow for a cross-breeze. Which of the two options will make it feel less humid inside: windows open or windows closed?
[more inside]posted by hooray at 7:37 PM PST - 18 comments
I have a chemist friend who specializes in extracting compounds and chemicals from organic matter.
I was thinking of running some numbers around to find the feasibility of creating a profitable endeavor with his skill and lab equipment.
What is a very profitable plant extract that is legal (well.. legal to sell in most states in the US)?
posted by digdan at 7:14 PM PST - 15 comments
Am I doing something wrong with my pull chain light fixture, and/or do they just tend to be really crappy? Broke two of them in short order...
[more inside]posted by rkent at 5:56 PM PST - 4 comments
What kind of fork is
this? I've looked all over and I can't figure it out.
posted by Jayes8ch at 5:41 PM PST - 8 comments
How do I stop the faint but disturbing sound of what I believe is a Chinese-language radio station in the background on my computer?
[more inside]posted by ecourbanist at 5:30 PM PST - 12 comments
Identify this strange clamp thing.
Here.
It's black aluminum. It's pretty small. Just fits over my pinky finger. The upper left part there is held on with a screw. You can make out the rounded head of the screw. So by loosening and tightening the screw, the 'jaws' could grab something.
posted by gummo at 5:16 PM PST - 15 comments
Went on two great dates with a girl I really liked. Texted for a third date and didn't get a response. Move on? Or reach out one last time?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:13 PM PST - 32 comments
Please tell me your experiences with the birth control implant. Plus other birth control questions. I know YANMD.
[more inside]posted by triggerfinger at 4:26 PM PST - 12 comments
In his
TED talk, Sean Carroll very briefly discusses Feynman's explanation about how the universe we can see and experience is not a statistically lucky perturbation, before moving on to the rest of his lecture. In other words, Feynman seems to discount the "
Boltzmann brain" hypothesis, that we're not just the ephemeral product of a lucky shuffle of a metaphorical box full of marbles. Can someone explain this to me in words other than Carroll's, i.e., what evidence Feynman was using to prove his argument?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Our old, mouse-infested cabin-in-the-woods needs new beds. Any suggestions for mattresses that won't turn into instant mouse-nests?
[more inside]posted by aunt_winnifred at 3:46 PM PST - 12 comments
(Posted for a friend) A co-worker of mine and I were discussing a sticky situation that I think is pretty common in the IT field. We are both applying for new jobs and have been asked to submit sample code as well as documentation. Obviously code and documentation is intellectual property of the employer, even though the employee essentially wrote/designed/authored it. How would one go about submitting code and documentation in a legal and ethical manner that still displays relevant work experience?
posted by langedon at 3:26 PM PST - 11 comments
I have several email accounts, but use account1@gmail.com as the main account. I now want to use account2@gmail as the main - for chat, to store all of my emails, and as the main sender. How can I do this painlessly?
[more inside]posted by quadrilaterals at 2:53 PM PST - 6 comments
I believe that my wife has an inflated view of the male sex drive, which has been a bit of a source of contention over the course of our 12 year marriage. Due to a whole host of factors my wife believes "normal" men do nothing but chase their woman around the house 24/7. Are there any resources (web pages, articles, blog posts, forum posts, etc.) that might help me make my case?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:42 PM PST - 38 comments
Interviewing new dentists: please tell me about technologies or skills that are worthwhile but not universal, so I can ask potential dentists if they have 'em.
[more inside]posted by needs more cowbell at 2:42 PM PST - 17 comments
I make mailing labels by pulling information about specific real-world locations into small database files. I used to get MS Access-ready DBase files, but now I have to work with CSV files, which don't seem to play well with Access. Please help me get more use out of Access, find out how to convert CSV to DBase or similar file types, or figure out better ways to use Excel. Long version inside.
[more inside]posted by filthy light thief at 2:40 PM PST - 7 comments
Getting from Newark Airport to Jersey City, late night and with kids in tow? Bonus question about car rental (oh, the joy!)
[more inside]posted by mosk at 2:10 PM PST - 8 comments
What's the best software (free or commercial) for social network mapping for someone with a moderate level of Excel and XML savvy but no SQL/python/programming background?
[more inside]posted by athenasbanquet at 2:10 PM PST - 4 comments
Before I met him, my boyfriend was an active swing dancer. He no longer dances regularly but periodically would like to dance with me. I completely freak out.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:06 PM PST - 26 comments
How do large companies decide where to hold meetings in a big city like NYC? There are hundreds of options if not more. Has anyone participated in this process and can you please shed some insight?
[more inside]posted by brynnwood at 1:56 PM PST - 12 comments
I'm trying to remember the title of a movie set during the Great Depression. Two children are left in an apartment or hotel for the Summer while their father leaves to search for work. The most memorable scene involved the suicide of an elderly neighbor late in the movie.
[more inside]posted by Amaterasu at 1:38 PM PST - 3 comments
The other day I got a ticket entering the Lincoln tunnel for going 29 in a 5 mile an hour zone. I was cruising down the ramp and just sort of rolled through. All tickets given at the Lincoln tunnel require an appearance at the Weehawken Municipal Court. A fact that seems to be nothing more than an excuse to gouge you for additional fines.
There are lawyers who offer their services in the court and I'm wondering if anyone has done this or had any success using a lawyer.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
posted by Shanachie at 1:30 PM PST - 3 comments
Social filter: How does one deal with nicely putting: I'm chatting with this person now, can I catch up with you later?
[more inside]posted by TrinsicWS at 1:26 PM PST - 13 comments
I am going through a period of significant change at the moment where I am trying to address some long-standing problems in my life, and I think I am on the right track and making some real progress. My one big dilemma is related to my relationship. I actually credit a lot of my progress to my boyfriend and his unshakable support and the undercurrent of what I think is calmness in our house. BUT, I am finding myself kind of shrinking from him, and if I am being honest, feeling a sort of (shameful) disgust towards him.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:14 PM PST - 9 comments
For a friend: I'm trying to find a video of an advertisement that Wayne Knight (of Seinfeld fame) did for a anti-flu drug called Relenza in the early 2000s. This is for a marketing class. Any ideas? I've tried YouTube and the drug companies are stingy with giving out ads because the FDA forbids them from releasing outdated ads in any way.
posted by melodykramer at 12:35 PM PST - 6 comments
Why are so many sites these days switching to Facebook commenting systems? Am I really so unique in not wanting neither my real name/photo splashed across the pages of a thousand websites nor my opinions on various hobbies and secret interests published on Facebook for all my acquaintances to view? And what can I do to work around this system?
[more inside]posted by acidic at 11:23 AM PST - 24 comments
I've spent decades working on the same personal flaws, and despite clear goals and clever attack strategies, nothing ever seems to stick. Is it even possible to permanently "fix" specific aspects of one's character or personality? If so, how? and how long does it take?
[more inside]posted by gallusgallus at 11:10 AM PST - 27 comments
I need a recommendation for a reputable company to run a background check on a prospective employee. Can someone recommend a company, what a good check will actually tell me and an approximate cost.
posted by Jackie_Treehorn at 11:02 AM PST - 2 comments
I have been asked to provide a quote for digitizing a bunch of documents. What is the going rate for this type of work? More details inside.
[more inside]posted by archivist at 11:02 AM PST - 6 comments
I'm a scientist and wish my therapist were too, because I'm having trouble getting across to him what the research community's norms are and how I'm failing to meet them. How can I make the best of this situation, given that switching therapists, and especially trying to find an [ex-]scientist therapist, would be nontrivial? Looking for more in-depth answers than 'print this out and take it to your next session,' if possible.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:48 AM PST - 20 comments
If I compare the price of a box of raisin bran with the same company's boxes of bran flakes, I unerringly find the price per pound of raisin bran to be lower. Is this because raisins weigh significantly more and thus are actually cheaper by the pound than the cereal?
[more inside]posted by Obscure Reference at 10:39 AM PST - 10 comments
My dog was diagnosed with heart worms this weekend even though he has been on preventative! Can anyone offer any words of wisdom on successfully dealing with the treatment course, and where to go after?!
[more inside]posted by Quincy at 10:38 AM PST - 3 comments
I just spent a day at the spa at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. Help me find similar spas... anywhere.
[more inside]posted by jph at 10:27 AM PST - 7 comments
We (early 60s, slightly boho, non-yahoo couple) are considering a trip to Paris during the first week of July. Two questions: 1) Is it crazy to consider visiting Paris in July? and 2) Besides the D'Orsay and the Louvre, what are the don't-miss attractions?
Thanks for helping with the vacation of a used-to-be-young couple.
posted by Jenna Brown at 10:12 AM PST - 22 comments
Unusual restrictions or rules on campsites? Looking for examples of strange rules on camping or caravan sites.
[more inside]posted by mudkicker at 10:05 AM PST - 24 comments
I'm with a managed VPS webhost and apparently I've outgrown my current plan. Please help me figure out if it will be worth the added expense to move up a tier, or if there are things I can do to minimize my consumption of resources.
[more inside]posted by kmel at 10:03 AM PST - 12 comments
I'm looking for funny websites or blogs that aren't puerile. Any suggestions?
posted by markcmyers at 9:38 AM PST - 6 comments
Today, my SO went to the doctor about the stomach upset she's been experiencing over the last few weeks and was diagnosed with gastritis. Please help us deal.
[more inside]posted by utsutsu at 9:26 AM PST - 15 comments
The online database tool
DabbleDB is closing up shop this Wednesday. It's a great tool - excellent ui, cloud availability for data entry and access, easy RSS feeds. Any recommendations on another tool that offers the same? I've looked at Zoho and found it inferior in every way.
posted by boombot at 8:51 AM PST - 0 comments
I'm looking for an online email service that will allow me to access 5 different addresses on one screen. An online version of Outlook or Thunderbird per say.
[more inside]posted by TwilightKid at 8:29 AM PST - 20 comments
Today I noticed that Secret Garden's
Song from a Secret Garden sounds similar to the
Howl's Moving Castle theme. The strange thing is that the first song was released a decade before the film and Howl's Moving castle soundtrack is listed as an original soundtrack. I am kind of tone deaf so I wondered if any musicians could confirm or debunk this.
posted by jihaan at 7:29 AM PST - 6 comments
I'm writing a paper on (animated) GIFs and am trying to track down some of the most (in)famous. I suppose I am talking memes, but I'm more interested in the GIF as an archaeological reference point. I frequent sites like
dump.fm,
tumblr etc. so am quite tuned in to the glitchy/kitschy side of GIF culture. How theoretical have people got on these wonders of the web? How does one trace the history of an animated GIF?
[more inside]posted by 0bvious at 7:17 AM PST - 12 comments
I work from 9 to 5, but I want to immerse myself in German for the rest of the time. I have an iPod touch and a short attention span. What can I use to ram this language into my brain?
[more inside]posted by Acheman at 7:13 AM PST - 10 comments
I feel there should be out there, a site where people share their adm/admx files that they use to import custom controls for Group Policy, to avoid everyone constantly reinventing the wheel. Does such a wonderland exist?
[more inside]posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 6:18 AM PST - 3 comments
NYC filter: Can you recommend a print shop in NYC that is capable of doing custom die-cut business cards similar to
this?
posted by helios410 at 4:20 AM PST - 1 comments
My tooth broke recently, please share some advice with eating and what I should do about it....
[more inside]posted by sockpim at 3:42 AM PST - 19 comments
Nicaragua: Please give me your tips and thoughts about the country as a destination for a beach-based getaway next winter.
[more inside]posted by Gordion Knott at 2:49 AM PST - 3 comments
RADICA CUBE WORLD: When they click together with their little magnets, they become aware of their own neighbors. Each cube is self-powered, and it almost seems that you could connect an infinite number of them together. My question: From a computer-science point-of-view, how could this toy be 100 times better!?!??
[more inside]posted by shipbreaker at 1:45 AM PST - 6 comments
What's the correct etiquette for interrupting people in their office? What's polite when someone interrupts you in your office?
[more inside]posted by Acton at 12:19 AM PST - 19 comments
May 15
Old Flick Filter: In the wee morning hours on weekends, Channel 13 and Channel 21 (the two PBS stations here in NYC) run classic films. One of these films, which I caught about three years ago, was a quite overtly socialist-themed flick about a group of out-of-work men and women, likely in the throes of the Great Depression, coming together and forming a farming collective and generally living communally right here in the soon-to-be exceedingly commie-paranoid USA. It had to be made sometime in the 1930's, pre-McCarthy/HUAC freakout. What was this film? Is it now in the public domain? Any other suggestions on pre-McCarthy American socialist-themed films I might delight in watching?
posted by involution at 11:45 PM PST - 11 comments
What restrictions (if any) are there in the UK on selling antiques that contain ivory trim?
I have a couple of old silver teapots that I inherited from my grandmother that I would like to sell. Both have small amounts of off-white trim that I presume is ivory.
Are there any restrictions on my selling the teapots? Will I be challenged if I take them to a silver dealer? The teapots are quite obviously old, but I don't have any paperwork for them.
I have read the guidance for antique dealers linked on
this page of the DEFRA website but I can't figure out what it means for me. (One sub-question: if the teapots were made before 1947 does that satisfy the legal requirements even though I, the current owner, was born after 1947?)
posted by anonymous at 10:36 PM PST - 5 comments
In photoshop, when I run batch actions it breaks at the "JPEG Options" prompt. How do I override this?? It's really annoying
[more inside]posted by Like its 1997 at 10:28 PM PST - 4 comments
Where can I get a plastic removable bubble window to replace the glass rear window in my Toyota 4runner?
[more inside]posted by cda at 9:20 PM PST - 7 comments
How can I feel comfortable with a possible diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome when I've spent a year going to a doctor who doesn't believe in it and who has made me feel like there is nothing wrong with me?
[more inside]posted by rainygrl716 at 8:30 PM PST - 30 comments
Math and science geeks, does this fake equation make sense? 'delta' = c ... meaning "change is constant".
[more inside]posted by attercoppe at 8:26 PM PST - 35 comments
I am looking for examples of famous/semi-famous historical/current interdisciplinary artistic collaborative partnerships, such as John Cage and Merce Cunningham.
posted by ameliaaah at 7:09 PM PST - 19 comments
I was in a school play when I was in the first grade, in 1976. I would love to know what the play was, so I can find it and read it again!
[more inside]posted by tomboko at 6:58 PM PST - 4 comments
So I tried to get off of Facebook forever about a month ago by deleting my account (not just deactivating it) and was successful: no more profile or contacts. However, since graduating from my MBA program, I feel the pull to get back on it. This time I started to focus on only adding my close friends and business school classmates, but when I added a bunch of people today I was given a few warnings about 'annoying or abusive behavior.' I naturally stopped sending friend requests, but now I'm wondering how soon can I add friends after such a warning and how does one go about rebuilding the friend base when Facebook hits you with these warnings? Thanks in advance for the response!
posted by arizona80 at 6:27 PM PST - 5 comments
Is there a concise legal term or phrase to put into a will that will get this concept across?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:25 PM PST - 6 comments
I really love the Cuban jazz featured in the movie and album
The Buena Vista Social Club. I want more of this music. Help me make a list.
[more inside]posted by zardoz at 6:15 PM PST - 17 comments
Its been 15 days since the termination (without automatic renewal, as is normal) of my employment at a major university (in Canada). How worried should I be, as no one has informed me that I'm proper fired?
[more inside]posted by Slackermagee at 6:00 PM PST - 7 comments
Make up, let go, or put ball in other person's court: how to deal with absentee friend now returned?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:18 PM PST - 21 comments
Taking charge of, as well as micro-managing, your fertility. When is the best time to have a second child given our current choices? Scenarios inside.
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 5:18 PM PST - 16 comments
Good hosting site for a wedding website? My fiancee and I created a website on iweb for our wedding. We put it up on domainsite.com, and its been having major problems. Do you have recommendations for a good and affordable hosting site? Thank you so much!
posted by tessalations999 at 4:27 PM PST - 8 comments
Home Networking Help. For some strange reason my home network has stopped working properly. I have lost all connections between computers, can't print anymore, and some computers are having trouble getting IP addresses. I've been banging my head against the wall for a while on this and would appreciate some help.
[more inside]posted by sauril at 3:02 PM PST - 20 comments
ADHD and relatives: both my partner and I have ADHD and we both have problems with visiting my mother. How to deal with this conflict?
[more inside]posted by Flitcraft at 1:46 PM PST - 26 comments
Why doesn't mainland Europe produce as many popular music artists than UK / US? Is it purely down to the language barrier?
posted by nam3d at 1:45 PM PST - 18 comments
My hair has progressively been thinning at the crown for years and I finally want to shave it all off. What clippers and other accessories do you recommend I get?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:23 PM PST - 13 comments
Should a teacher with summers off and a little bit of savings mess with the Day Trading system to try and make some extra bones?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:23 PM PST - 35 comments
I'm looking at needing to rent out the house that I own (because of a move and the quiet housing market). What should I know before choosing a property management company? Any red flags to look for?
I'll be 1500 miles away after moving and will need a management company to handle the property.
[more inside]posted by jz at 12:21 PM PST - 6 comments
I'm looking for "manor house" mystery novels, that take place in a single location (including a manor house, but variety would be appreciated), and involve tracking down a killer.
[more inside]posted by codacorolla at 12:04 PM PST - 38 comments
I am all of a sudden an art director for a concert next week. What do I need to learn to learn to best understand the lighting system / communicate most effectively with my lighting engineer?
[more inside]posted by Brainy at 11:39 AM PST - 4 comments
Cliche alert: I'm thinking of starting a blog. However, since I don't have a specific theme yet (um, haven't picked something to do for one year that will result in a book contract:)..just kidding), I would prefer to have it only viewed by close friends at first. Is there a way to do this? I'm looking at blogger.com right now to start. I am not very tech, but I have a lot to say!:) so am looking for an outlet (secure at first, to prevent major embarassments if it doesn't work out) with which to do that. Any advice? (Basically I am planning on making a lot of changes this year, wish to document them, and any other random life observations/stories and have all of that readable/viewable by close friends at first and maybe expand from there.) Is this possible?
posted by bquarters at 11:22 AM PST - 14 comments
I dated someone off and on for a few months last year. We recently started speaking again after months of silence and he wants to try again. I told him not to wait for me and that I couldn't say for sure, but that I may be willing to try in the future. How do I now tell him that I'm seeing someone else?
[more inside]posted by Autumn at 11:05 AM PST - 17 comments
It'll be four of us (two couples) and we're planning to stay somewhere in Harbor County for a couple of nights before heading to another part of Michigan for a wedding. We plan to hit the wineries and do some general poking around and relaxation. Anyone had good experience with cottages/companies in that area?
I'm a bit overwhelmed by all of the offerings online, so would appreciate direction! Thank you!
posted by knmr76 at 10:48 AM PST - 2 comments
What is the likelihood that my car overheating yesterday is completely unrelated to the quick lube-type service I got the day before yesterday?
[more inside]posted by katybird at 10:24 AM PST - 22 comments
Is this pickle I've gotten myself into going to leave me in a vinegar-filled mason jar for the rest of my life? Can you help me redirect and find a decent life? I'm almost 35 years old. I'm a Meyer's-Briggs INFJ. Artist turned public interest lawyer, but really having a hard time.
[more inside]posted by Ventre Mou at 10:23 AM PST - 12 comments
I'm looking for a sniffer, but one that only reports links that are accessed behind the curtain, and not a true packet analyzer.
[more inside]posted by CarlRossi at 10:17 AM PST - 9 comments
Large, sweet, excitable puppy. Meeting new dogs at the park and on neighborhood walks-- help me with proper etiquette!
[more inside]posted by mireille at 9:38 AM PST - 23 comments
I'm from the US and I've gotten into a degree seeking program at a university in China. Student loans from the US, whether private or otherwise, are not available. Does anyone know how to get loans for studying in China as a foreign citizen?
[more inside]posted by ignorantguru at 9:11 AM PST - 4 comments
In one week, I've turned into a downright angry and rude and unlikeable person. How can I reverse this?
[more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:01 AM PST - 27 comments
I like math! I took an introductory undergraduate math course on DSP and, well, I want more.
[more inside]posted by Nomyte at 8:47 AM PST - 2 comments
I like short fiction with a strong sense of place. I particularly like reading said fiction while visiting its setting. I'm going to be in Kentucky soon. What might I want to read while I'm there?
posted by .kobayashi. at 8:34 AM PST - 12 comments
I overcooked chicken in my crockpot overnight and now it’s very dry and not so tasty to eat. How can I save my dinner?
[more inside]posted by watch out for turtles at 8:33 AM PST - 
