Ask MetaFilter questions in the sports, hobbies, & recreation category

Balls.

messica — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:09:22 -0800

How do you handle doing in public something that you are objectively bad at? Pool, bowling, bocce...if it involves tossing around balls or sending objects on a desired trajectory, I suck at it. Which is fine, except that some of my friends really enjoy the hurling of balls as a social activity.

Most people are not jerks about it and my usual approach is mild bemusement and light-hearted self-effacing jokes. I only run into trouble dealing with competitive types and with random guys* and their "pointers." Any strategies or even one-liners for dealing with people who seem frustrated by my suckiness even when I'm not?

*MeFites, on the other hand: provided that you are not drunk or condescending, I'm not averse to hearing your pointers. This isn't something I care enough to invest lots of time in practicing, but if there are simple ways to suck less, I'm game.

A mile-long scarf?

kristi — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:15:55 -0800

Easy knitting or crochet project using 8 skeins of cotton 8 yarn? I just re-learned basic knitting and crocheting last week. Yay!

With a couple of days off coming up, I'd like to do something the materials on hand ... bought years ago, with little idea of what I wanted to do.

I have:

* an H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
* a 24" circular pair of knitting needles, size 1
* a 24" circular pair of knitting needles, size 8

* nearly 8 skeins of Mayflower "Cotton 8" yarn, ca. 170m / 50 g
* 1 skein of variegated green Red Heart Classic worsted weight 4 ply acrylic yarn (85 g)
(I'm actually looking for a use for the 8 skeins of red - I don't want to combine the two, but if there's nothing good I can do with the cotton, I'd be happy to get a backup suggestion of something I can make with 1 skein of acrylic.)

I vastly prefer useful things (scarves, hats) over decorative things (stuffed toys, doilies). I don't know any babies, so no baby or kidwear, please. I think I would prefer a knitting project over crochet, but I'm open to either.

I'm pretty happy with the practice squares I made last week - lots of half-double crochet, and lots of plain knitting and purling combos (so, stockinette, ribbed, checkerboard, but no increasing or decreasing or cable). All the knitting was done with a different skein of Red Heart worsted weight on the #8 circular needles, just using them as if they were two regular needles.

Should I make a big red scarf with this? Would it feel weird (being cotton)? Will either the #1 or #8 pair of knitting needles work okay with the thin-seeming cotton yarn? Is there something cooler I could make?

Bonus points for links to patterns or project instructions.

Thanks!

What tips do you have for a new winter runner?

gocubbies — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:31:42 -0800

What tips do you have for a new winter runner? I'm a fairly seasoned runner (about five years experience on the treadmill), but I have never run a race longer than five miles. I am training for my first half marathon this May which means I will be doing most of my training in the winter and I want to get outside and run on the street.

I live in Illinois so snow will be constant. Most of my long runs will be through cornfields. What tips do you have for running in the snow? What about gear? Besides a great pair of shoes, all my gear is for warm weather and running indoors on the treadmill.

I do have an iPhone I always take with me for music and safety in the event of an injury.

Thank you in advance!

what to do with a broken guitar?

beammeup4 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:58:16 -0800

What to do with a broken guitar? I found the post on repairing it, but it's going to be too complicated/expensive to fix given the value of the guitar (it's a Mitchell MD100).

So my question is what can I do with a guitar with a snapped headstock besides mount it on my wall like a relic?

Sing It Slant

Sully — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:27:14 -0800

I am curious about karaoke musicians. What I mean by that is that I have noticed that a lot of karaoke music are re-creations of the original recordings. I am interested in the business, process, and culture of the musicians who re-create that music. We often get articles from reporters "embedded" in the entourage of a popular touring band - I was hoping that someone might recommend a feature article or book about the lives of these *ahem* unsung musicians. Thanks!

Do I have to sharpen my new skates?

LarryC — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:57:17 -0800

Do I really have to sharpen my new ice skates? If so, and I do it myself? We just went out last night and bought ice skates for the family. There is a frozen pond two blocks over. But damn, the skate packaging says the skates must be sharpened before use, and the two places in town that do this are swamped and can't get the skates back for days.

What happens if we just put on the skates and go? Or alternatively, can I sharpen them myself? I have basic woodworking tools and an somewhat handy.

I want to skate now!

I have 15-20 minutes to spend on guitar a day, every day. How should I use this time?

iftheaccidentwill — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:38:35 -0800

I have 15-20 minutes to spend on guitar a day, every day. How should I use this time? Experience: I've been 'playing' for several years, but I mostly just learn parts of songs and either get bored or frustrated, and move on to something new. I have no prior experience with any other instrument and no real background in music theory. My rhythm is, also, not so kick-ass.

I don't have the money for lessons or to buy much of anything new. I have an acoustic and an electric.

What I want: A few things! I'd like to be able to make my own music and to play with other musicians. The latter isn't really going to be part of my practice routine and will be, at best, an infrequent occurrence for the next year. I'd also like to not suck - to be able to play, in general, a lot better. I listen to a lot of genres: indie, punk, rock, metal, blues.

Any help you can give in letting 2010 be an awesome guitar year would be awesome!

Simpler Pokemon

Eddie Mars — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:00:25 -0800

My twin nephews love to collect Pokemon cards, but are too young to really get the rules. I think I have the basics down after reading instructions on the web, but I'm only visiting for the week, and when I'm gone none of the grown-ups will remember the rules.

Is there a simplified rule set that they can use to play the game? If not, does anyone have a recommendation for a similar card game that might be easier for them (and their parents) to pick up?

Wife-friendly PS3 games?

entropic — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:08:33 -0800

Suggestions for good (local, not just online) multiplayer games for the PS3? Other non-gamer friendly suggestions welcome as well. (Two similar questions, but both are 2+ years old.) I'm looking for games my (non-gamer) wife and I can enjoy together. She doesn't care for modern/realistic shooters. Multiplayer co-op suggestions especially appreciated, perhaps with an emphasis on more free form stuff - she doesn't like "dying" in the same place over and over on a level. Bonus points for cheaper titles. For instance, I'm probabaly going to grab Burnout: Paradise since it's only $20 (even if it doesn't fit all of my criteria). Other "wife-friendly" suggestions welcome, as well (I know that's a stereotype, but in this case she fits it - only using it for that reason).

Looking for card game software with smart bridge partners

marble — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:57:51 -0800

Know of any good card game software with computer bridge players who know how to bid? My mom plays Hoyle Card Games 2008 on Windows XP and is eternally frustrated with the choices her electronic partners make. I don't know much about bridge, but I'm looking to help my mother find some card game software that won't frustrate her (so much, anyway) with the lack of skill her computer partners show when playing bridge.

When I asked her to describe more specifically what one of the issues is, she described it thus: "The players pass when they have a 6 to 8 card suit with 3 honors. They don't respond - I open and they never tell me." (This is incomprehensible to me, but hopefully means something to those of you who play bridge).

Can anyone help with ideas for games she could get where the bridge-playing partners are more skilled?

(She is not interested in playing with humans online, but if you wish to share information about this, perhaps a future searcher would find it helpful if you decide to comment in this thread.)

Inexpensive recreational bike?

odayoday — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:00:34 -0800

My boyfriend and I spent a lovely afternoon this Christmas riding around his old neighborhood on his mom and stepdad's bikes, and would now like bikes of our own. We'd basically just be riding around the neighborhood or occasionally on bike trails, and would like to spend under $250 each, if possible. Any recommendations? I'd like the bikes to be able to shift gears, since we have some hills in our area, and I prefer cruiser-style bikes because they have wider tires and you don't have to bend over while you're riding.

More Wattage please.

gypseefire — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:36:01 -0800

I have cycles of creativity. The more stress or responsibility in my life the harder it is to achieve those creative places in my mind. I am looking for unusual, insightful and helpful ways to rekindle my creativity, in spite of any real or self made diversity I'm experiencing. Please don't hold back with your suggestions, I have personal projects and goals that require this passion and creativity, help!

Ruidoso gear rental

crookedgrin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:44:18 -0800

Best places to rent ski/snowboarding equipment in Ruidoso? My GF and I are going skiing/snowboarding at Ski Apache in a couple days. Any recommendations on where to rent gear? We need boots, skiis, poles, and a snowboard.

2004 Olympics Opening Ceremony in HD?

thewalrus — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:23:22 -0800

I'm looking for a copy of the 2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony video in a high quality HD format (like x264 720p about 3GB/hour). One of my relatives was a participant in the games and would like to keep a copy of the video for posterity. I know the ceremony was recorded and archived in some possibly proprietary (Sony MPEG-4 on Digital Beta?) HD formats, but was broadcast mostly in SD/480p as HD direct-to-home satellite and cable services were uncommon in 2004. We can pay any reasonable cost for media duplication and shipping, but because this is for personal use, not for rebroadcast or any commercial purposes if it costs many hundreds of dollars to obtain that would be prohibitive.

Squier Strat Won't Stay in Tune

frankly mister — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:44:45 -0800

Urgent guitar tweaking help needed! I want to fix my brother's guitar before he goes back home in the morning... It's a cheap Squier Strat that he bought as part of a beginner's package deal thing online somewhere. As I feared, it doesn't stay in tune worth a damn. Took it to the local Guitar Center but they said they don't do that sort of repair/tweaking work anymore (I, of course, thought, "Then who does?") Anyways, I've got it taken apart right now, but I can't find any how-to tutorial thing anywhere on the web. A video would be ideal. The guy at Guitar Center said something about the tremolo unit, bridge, and the neck bend all needing to be tweaked. If you read this within an hour or two of my posting this (1:40am on the East Coast here), can you point me to any good videos or simple tutorials about how to do this work? Thanks so much.

So You Think You Can Play Drums?

spacewrench — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:33:46 -0800

Rock Band 2 - Spirit In The Sky - Drums - Medium: what's up with the end of Guitar Solo 1? So Santa Claus brought Rock Band 2 for the Wii. I'm an old fart, not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm having fun whacking the "drums." And Spirit In The Sky is a juicy, easy song, right? So I can play it OK on Easy, and I turn it up to Medium. And at the end of Guitar Solo 1, I simply cannot get the drum rhythm. I can struggle through at half speed, but only because my reactions are just fast enough to hit the pads as the notes go past the line. As I speed it up, I can't figure out what it's supposed to sound like.

Any help for a rhythm-challenged old man? All the kids only seem to be interested in playing at Difficult/Insane. Maybe the Medium track is just wonky there?

Fun with Sword-Carrying Mice

not that girl — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:10:33 -0800

Point me to resources for a beginning Game Master, Mouse Guard specific if possible. My family got the Mouse Guard RPG for Xmas. I played D&D extensively back in the day, but have never run a game, and that will be my role. I am reading through the book and things are very clear, and yet I feel uncertain about how to translate what I'm reading into effective game play. I really want to use this game to show my kids how much fun RPGs can be, so it's important I not be too bad at this. I'd like play to proceed relatively smoothly.

Anyone have any links to resources for beginning GMs that really break it down? Links to "how to GM for Mouse Guard"? Things that really lay it out for the novice?

Your own anecdotes and tips, what-I-wish-I'd-known stories, and so on would be welcome as well.

This feels like a vague question but that just reflects my lack of clarity about how to put the theory into practice.

How do I be in a band?

largecorp — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:50:19 -0800

I love music and over the past few years have taught myself to be pretty good as a ukulele player. I'd love to get involved with a band--old-time jazz, dixieland stuff--and really learn how to make music with others. But all I know is how to play by myself. I don't know how bands work in the slightest, nor how to find others who are better than me but willing to let me "play along." How do I get started getting started? Thanks!

Napa tips?

drpynchon — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:38:58 -0800

Help me plan my romantic trip to Napa Valley. So I managed to book several days in wine country and I was hoping for any advice on making the best of our time there on a couple's getaway. We'll be there this week Monday-Thursday. Our main interests are of course food and drink, but we are hardly wine experts and I was hoping for tips on how best to sample what Napa has to offer. We will be in downtown Napa and we will have a car, though I'd definitely prefer to avoid its use if we'll be drinking wine. Is the wine train a bad idea? Are there any other fun things or interesting sights you'd recommend in the area?

For bonus points, I'd like to take the scenic coastal drive up to there from Los Angeles on the way in (I-5 coming back I guess). I'm willing to invest a whole day (starting early) for this, so if anyone has a good idea for stopping points (don't say San Francisco) or a route that won't run longer than about 10-12 hours I'd really appreciate it. Also let me know if PCH is just a bad idea to begin with.

Which games allow you to play on XBL with multiple local participants?

kuperman — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:31:27 -0800

Which Xbox 360 games allow you to connect and play multiplayer online with one Live account, but with multiple local participants playing split-screen? For example, Halo 3 has this feature. Do any other games have this feature - or even allow you to connect and play with two valid Live accounts?

CAD files for polyhedral dice

Bonzai — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:41:16 -0800

Does anyone know where I can find some CAD files of polyhedral dice? I would prefer if the little numbers where already etched into them if possible. Any 3d format would work if I can convert them.

A hike on X-mas morning in or near Los Angeles?

drjimmy11 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:24:46 -0800

A hike on X-mas morning in or near Los Angeles? Since I have no big plans, I'm thinking about getting out and going hiking tomorrow morning. Doesn't have to be a huge all-day thing, I wouldn't mind being back by the Lakers game at 2pm actually.

I'm just wondering if the local parks like Runyon Canyon that are (I think) closeable will be closed. Also just generally looking for suggestions of fun, nearby trails that would make a good solo Christmas day hike. (I know about most of the hiking websites and books, just wondering if anyone has any specific ideas to throw at me.)

Thanks!

Shouldering the burden of wearing armor...

GJSchaller — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:33:13 -0800

Looking for ideas to add shoulder padding & support under leather LARP armor. I have a leather breastplate that is held up by shoulder straps about 2" wide, which bear all of the weight of the armor. I have a belt for it, but due to the design, the armor doesn't rest on my hips well, keeping the weight mostly on my shoulders. You can see a pic here (Warning, extreme geekery involved.)

Ideally, I'm looking for a modern set of sports gear shoulder pads to slip under the armor, on my shoulders, to help distribute the weight and ease it a bit. I took a look at Modell's website for football pads, but even the light ones for QBs & Kickers are too large, and cover the chest as well as the shoulders.

The other trick is to keep it low-profile enough that I can slip a mantle or large shirt over it, so the appearance of (fantasy) medieval armor isn't ruined. I have a vision of a back harness with shoulder pads on it from somewhere, but I don't remember where I saw it.

Thank you!

How to entertain parents you don't get along with?

thegreatcokeolympics — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:29:58 -0800

Activities to do in San Francisco for mellow people... My parents and I will be visiting SF for christmas and staying a few days after. This is the first time in a while we are spending time together due to the inevitable drama and negativity that comes when we get together. I really want this trip to go well! I need some suggestions for activities that will keep us preoccupied (so we don't have the chance to argue or complain), but not annoy us, and by us, I mean my mother. This means nothing too loud or that has that "young person" vibe. I'm 28 and my parents are in their mid 50s, so I'm aiming for something age neutral.

I ask for suggestions because I seem to either find young person hot spots or family oriented spots (which inevitably means directed at kids), but nothing in between. Please point me in the right direction!

Also, nothing too expensive.

Thanks in advance for your help!

What are your favorite two-player Virtual Console/WiiWare games?

coraline — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:47:28 -0800

[WiiFilter] What are your favorite two-player Virtual Console/WiiWare games? Looking to find some fun two-player games for me and my boyfriend to play. I haven't been in the Wii Store for a while and am a little overwhelmed by all of the choices.

Of VC/WiiWare multiplayer games, I currently have and enjoy Dr. Mario, Bomberman '93, Bubble Bobble and Super Smash Bros - this also gives you an idea of what kind of games I like. (Also really love Mario Kart Wii, but of course that is not in this category). My boyfriend also likes shooter and strategy games, and I would also love some larger adventure type games which are fun to play together, so I guess it's all over the place. But since the Wii Shop games are so cheap, I'm open to trying out almost any game which has a great two-player mode.

Not VC/WW, but Wii-related question: I'm thinking about buying one of the Boom Blox games, but should I go for the original one or Boom Blox Smash Party?