What influences trends in baby names? And why have popular girls names changed more over the past 20+ years than boys names? [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at at 9:19 PM - 28 answers

Seating at a restaurant. I understand that in one-on-one situations, etiquette suggests that lady is offered the seat with the view into the room, and the gentleman takes the seat facing the wall. This and other sites seem to agree. But what if the "wall" is floor-to-ceiling glass with nice views of the outside? [more inside]
posted by NucleophilicAttack at at 12:15 PM - 15 answers

What's the name of that guy who does videos of game reviews; whose visuals are made entirely of stick cartoons, and who is hilariously funny? [more inside]
posted by By The Grace of God at at 2:59 PM - 6 answers

PugetSoundFilter: We're relocating to Kitsap County, from Philadelphia, in a month. I need to find the other hackers and tinkerers. Help me build a new network. [more inside]
posted by Netzapper at at 11:52 AM - 8 answers

Tell me everything I need to know about Nobb Hill, San Francisco that will make living there this summer easier and more fun! [more inside]
posted by thebrokenmuse at at 6:21 PM - 9 answers

I recently came across freecycle.org and now it seems to be popping up everywhere I look. Among what I'm finding are some controversies about the founder taking corporate money and being a little too fussy about who uses the name. Some people think this is against the spirit of the endeavor. [more inside]
posted by mockdeep at at 9:34 AM - 8 answers

Will I go crazy if I move from New York to Chicago? [more inside]
posted by zoomorphic at at 8:11 AM - 30 answers

pursuant to this excellent post, what other repositories of historic/interesting/important periodicals exist online?
posted by Chrischris at at 9:06 PM - 10 answers

Is anyone familiar with ancient Native American legends of giant frogs riding people? [more inside]
posted by kittens for breakfast at at 1:02 PM - 3 answers

BurningManFilter, sorta...I swear that I once read a fairly lengthy lecture or essay by Larry Harvey (founder of Burning Man) specifically about the community aspects of Burning Man. And... [more inside]
posted by Ziggurat at at 11:58 AM - 3 answers

My wife's birthday is May 18th (not this Sunday but next). I have gotten her a Mac laptop. I should receive it today via Fedex. Should I give it to her this weekend or wait until the official day? We don't have a party planned, ie it'll be just us. I could give it to her early and give her smaller gifts (e.g. a music CD) on the 18th. or I could wait ....
posted by allelopath at at 7:44 AM - 22 answers

What is the best Austin, TX newspaper? [more inside]
posted by pedmands at at 6:38 AM - 11 answers

Looking for examples of temporary asceticism. [more inside]
posted by Cucurbit at at 8:28 PM - 15 answers

LatinDancingFilter: Where do any of y'all go salsa/latin dancing in NYC? [more inside]
posted by bitterkitten at at 3:05 PM - 2 answers

TorontoFilter: I've just moved to an apartment on Queen, just west of Spadina. I'll be here for two months - until the end of June - and I'm really excited. What should I do, where should I eat and drink, to make the most of this neighbourhood?
posted by Dasein at at 9:09 AM - 21 answers

Emma Thompson TV series? Late 80's? Did I hallucinate this? [more inside]
posted by bartleby at at 3:11 PM - 10 answers

I love history, and I love adventure. What real-life historical adventurers were awesome, and have books written about them worth reading? [more inside]
posted by WidgetAlley at at 12:28 PM - 39 answers

When I die, I want to make sure that my body is stripped down and recycled much like an automobile at the wrecking yard. How do I go about making sure this happens? [more inside]
posted by davey_darling at at 10:02 AM - 14 answers

Something that's always confounded me about Manhattan and San Francisco in particular: Where do the middle-class families live? Suburbs, obviously, but surely there must be some that live in the city proper. But where?
posted by yalestar at at 6:25 AM - 31 answers

Help me identify the man in this photo. [more inside]
posted by bigcheesegump at at 9:18 PM - 10 answers

Best episode to introduce someone to This American Life? [more inside]
posted by exhilaration at at 1:49 PM - 43 answers

I am a newly minted gay boy (out for a few months) who has missed the gay train. I don't know any show tunes, any famous gay icons in queer lore, how to properly do a flower arrangement, etc. Point me to any resources out there that can help me catch up. [more inside]
posted by Advocate, I at at 12:43 PM - 36 answers

I'm looking for a Peace Corps that doesn't suck. Does it exist? [more inside]
posted by loquacious at at 5:39 PM - 24 answers

What's so special about Indie culture? [more inside]
posted by jne1813 at at 5:21 PM - 28 answers

Is anyone familiar with Polish language/surnames, and also able to read really sloppy handwriting? I'm trying to make out this one name off a census form. It's the bottom name in this picture: http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/6120/tillieek2.png
posted by Ashley801 at at 9:27 AM - 5 answers

How do I meet people with similar interests? [more inside]
posted by clcapps at at 3:44 PM - 8 answers

I saw this symbol or statement on a car recently. Can anyone help translate or tell me what it means?
posted by capcuervo at at 3:07 PM - 5 answers

HEY AMERICANS! What would be a good gift from a Canadian? [more inside]
posted by joelf at at 2:43 PM - 63 answers

Our bodies are shameful because the Puritans told us so: Yea or Nay? [more inside]
posted by reebear at at 3:38 PM - 33 answers

What's a "Japanese napkin," in historical context? For that matter, what's the deal with paper napkins? [more inside]
posted by zennie at at 7:43 AM - 6 answers

I'm looking for great websites that focus on the misconceptions that modern cultures have about one another. A (hopefully) better explanation, as well as a super-deluxe bonus question inside. (Including some begging!) [more inside]
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at at 5:52 PM - 17 answers

How can I make a new bookclub's first meeting an amazing success? [more inside]
posted by logic vs love at at 2:26 PM - 7 answers

An email from one of my wifes co-workers - "Last night when I picked up [Child], he was playing outside. I mentioned to one of the PT older caregivers that I was going to get him a tricycle and asked if he rode them there. She said no and pointed to the older kids’ side and indicated that they were all over there (these are kids ages 3 on up) and said that the funny thing about the boys is that they sit on the tricycle and try to push it with their feet…and don’t use the pedals. She said EVERY single one of them do that…" Why? My son does the same thing. He won't use the pedals.
posted by ducktape at at 11:17 AM - 20 answers

I remember reading about a subculture of vhs tapes in a northern African country (Ethiopia?), linked to its traditionally oral culture, a resistance movement, and (possibly) Haile Selassie. But it's all jumbled memories, now. Any helpful pointers?
posted by progosk at at 11:52 PM - 4 answers

Is the Wendigo purely a Northeast American (and Canadian) myth? If so is there a Northwest equivalent?
posted by Artw at at 10:36 PM - 15 answers

In the Art of Fiction interview in the current Paris Review, Kazuo Ishiguro says of his father: "He had a Chinese characteristic, which was that he smiled when something bad happened." Is that really considered a Chinese characteristic? Are there other cultures it's commonly associated with?
posted by Cucurbit at at 4:06 PM - 14 answers

Can you help me find a good working definition of civility? [more inside]
posted by mirepoix at at 2:17 PM - 7 answers

Sometime in the last year I read an article in a print magazine about Detroit becoming the model sustainable city of the future. Help me find it. [more inside]
posted by blapst at at 9:09 AM - 6 answers

I want to explain clearly and simply why a joke I was told is racist. Embarrasingly, all I can come up with right away is: If the joke needs to perpetuate racial stereotypes in order to be funny, then it's not funny. [more inside]
posted by reflecked at at 2:43 AM - 66 answers

I've decided to give away my economic stimulus check to a variety of charities and foundations. I'm trying to locate a particular charity which provided financial support to blues musicians in need of assistance with food, medical bills, home repairs, burial expenses, etc. I've located the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and it seems wonderful, but I do not think this is the organization I am looking for. I don't know much more except that I believe the org I am looking for was founded by one person and more recently than the R&B Foundation. I have lots of ideas for general donations but I'm looking to do something in this niche, so suggestions of any groups providing assistance to out of luck musicians would be great as well...
posted by rollbiz at at 8:49 PM - 16 answers

I am researching the growing occurence of pay-what-you-can, or pay-what-you-think-the-meal-was-worth restaurants. There are several operating both domestically and internationally, as explained here. In light of the Radiohead giveaway, the concept has been getting increasing, positive press. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at at 3:13 PM - 11 answers

{Hipster,Scenester}filter: What's up with all of the kids on fixed gear bikes these days? And why don't they wear helmets? [more inside]
posted by virga at at 7:58 PM - 55 answers

Can you identify the painting (or artist) that hangs over the mantle in Cate Blanchett's character's house in Notes On a Scandal? [more inside]
posted by lndl at at 8:26 AM - 2 answers

How to memorialize someone for only $75? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at at 5:47 AM - 11 answers

SimpsonsFilter: help me find this five-second clip of Homer singing a patriotic song. [more inside]
posted by cebailey at at 10:26 AM - 4 answers

Can you recommend good books and/or movies about New Orleans? I'm about to move there and want to learn about the city before we arrive! [more inside]
posted by luazinha at at 4:56 PM - 18 answers

Anyone know a good park in the south bay (California) in which to get married? [more inside]
posted by agentofselection at at 12:18 PM - 8 answers

Two parts: 1. Is it appropriate to give a gift to someone to thank them for donated services? 2. If so, what kind of gift? [more inside]
posted by Ruby Doomsday at at 10:09 AM - 17 answers

If you could ask Neil Armstrong any question, what would it be? [more inside]
posted by np312 at at 3:42 PM - 48 answers

Help me create easily readable Chinese typography [more inside]
posted by mule at at 7:20 PM - 3 answers