Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Training

Can you stop my dog from humping other dogs?

gwpcasey — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:23:48 -0800

DogBehaviourFilter: my 15 month old Lab has become addicted to humping other dogs. Keeps hopping up there, doesn't understand the "no" signals from the other dog. This needs to stop, please help! My Lab is currently boarding with a few other dogs while I'm away for Christmas. Apparently he won't stop jumping up on the girls and "humping" them (no actual sexual contact involved).

They aren't in heat, some are sterilised, some aren't, he doesn't care. He won't stop, even when he's exhausted himself - the lady looking after him has been forced to separate him to give both him and the other dogs a break.

She has tried rewarding him for the rare moments when he doesn't launch a humping attack but is mostly at a loss at what to do.

More info about the dog: he was trained for obedience using basic positive reward and operant conditioning techniques. He was extensively socialised as a puppy and has always a bit slow to understand when other dogs are saying "no" unless they say it really emphatically. His testicles have never dropped and the vet has recommended against going in there to get them out (the plan was always to remove them - I guess they heard the plan and stayed put). He is getting lots of exercise.

I've never seen the problem this bad although I have seen him bother his cousin unreasonably, but it's always stopped after the first 30 minutes or so of hanging out and I just thought it was an unfortunate example of his enthusiasm.

I know it's almost impossible with dogs but does anyone have any surefire ways to stop this? I feel terrible that I've left him there and he's acting up like this.

Where is the BEST place to learn Thai yoga massage?

LivinginYes — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:41:31 -0800

I'm a yoga teacher and have long been interested in learning thai yoga massage. 2010 is the year for it! I live "overseas" so will have to travel to take a course and it would have to be an intensive (2 weeks rather than a number of weekends over a period of months for example). I'm boggled by all the options out there ...where in the world to go - who are the best teachers? I'm drawn to Saul David Raye....but would appreciate your suggestions. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

How to train for a 5K in two weeks

Cogito — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:44:19 -0800

What can I do to improve my 5K with very little time to train? I'm going to run a 5K on New Year's Day. I'm in pretty decent shape from playing ultimate regularly, but the season is at its nadir and I've never actually run a 5K race before. I tried running the 3.1 miles on a treadmill last night at a moderately difficult, though not excruciating pace. Result: 26:10 with an average heart rate of 176.

With only a couple weeks to train, how would my time be best spent? Like I said, I'm in decent shape, so I'm not too concerned about a moderately aggressive regimen.

Also, what are some suggestions for pacing strategies during the race? My plan is to find a heart rate that is sustainable and use my HRM to try to stick to that on race day. Also, it seems that going out reasonably quick, then taking the second mile somewhat easier before really pushing the last one is a decent way to get a good time without exhausting yourself too early. But maybe there are much better strategies. I'm all ears.

Help me mediate this age old rivalry

pilibeen — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:09:32 -0800

Is it possible for a dog with a strong prey drive be trained to not kill my cat? I'm moving into a small guesthouse which is situated on another property where a large dog has the run of the place. I have an overweight, outdoor cat who I'm worried might not be able to escape if she has a run-in with the dog. The dog is amazingly well-trained and well socialized when it comes to other people, but when he sees small animals he completely loses it.

Is it possible to train out this instinct - I'm guessing not? Is it at least possible to let the dog know that this specific cat is part of the family, and not food?

Right now my only idea is to have some controlled encounters with the dog on a leash. Any other suggestions or experiences would be appreciated...

thanks!

Am I the pack leader?

nitsuj — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:42:04 -0800

Am I the pack leader? We got a new dog -- a rescue from the pound -- and he's a wild one. Over the last month or so, I think we've done a pretty good job taming him: two walks daily, time out in the yard, discipline and rules, and, of course, lots of affection.

When I first started our daily walks, he was constantly pulling on the leash. Now, I've got him to a point where I can walk him with a loose leash 90% of the time, but he's still at least a few steps ahead of me, sniffing the ground. When I tighten the reigns to keep him closer and attempt to either be in front of (or at least beside) him, then he's tight on the leash probably 90% of the time.

In the house, I feel I am leading him and he acts accordingly. He normally doesn't get wild or run around like a bucking bronco as he did before. He responds to commands, knows his boundaries (and is breaking those boundaries less and less each day), and is generally a well-adjusted dog considering what he was only a month ago.

But those walks -- that's where I lose confidence.

Since he is physically leading me on those walks, is he seeing himself as the pack leader? If so, what can I do to reverse that, as I feel it is while in the house? Any other tips or tricks for this situation?

Thanks!

Best LOC training games online

wowbobwow — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:27:02 -0800

What online quizzes or tools do you know of that train people in the dark arts of LOC call number sorting and shelving? The trainees are university students who work here a few hours per week. We only have a demo version of LC Easy, and I don't have the purchaing power to get the full version. The demo quits out after 5 minutes, so the trainee has to restart several times. Rather disruptive and annoying. Are there any free programs or websites that are really comprehensive and useful for teaching this stuff? Not holding my breath, but I guessed maybe one of you might have some tips.

Best ideas for computer training at a non-profit?

playmobil — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:41:54 -0800

I'm looking for ideas on how best to implement computer training for a 70-person non-profit. In charge of finding best practices for computer training at the local government non-profit where I work as the sole help desk/trainer. I am part of a three-person IT staff (boss, programmer, me) which is heavily Microsoft-software-based on PCs. Most, if not all, of the users have at least a basic competency in the software they need to use to get their jobs done. The apps are pretty basic: 2007 versions of the Office suite, Microsoft Dynamics.

I've explored having something like lynda.com available to all the staff but I was wondering how computer training is provided where you work? Does anyone have any experience with having awesome training experiences at your job?

We could provide limited offsite classroom training but I'm not sure how effective that would be long term. We don't have a large budget for outside classes anyway.

I am aware of the most obvious methods, i.e. internal classes, bring in an expert, cheat sheets, but I am mostly looking for examples of methods or processes I might not have considered.

Help me become a better professor!

Cody's Keeper — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:11:44 -0800

My University's Engineering Faculty offers a certificate program entitled "Prospective Professors in Training." Please help me inventory similar professional development programs at other institutions that prepare soon-to-be faculty members (i.e. grad students) for the ins-and-outs of an academic position. Details about the program from the PPIT website:

The Prospective Professors in Training (PPIT) program aims at preparing soon-to-be faculty members to the rigors of the academic position, and how to best manage their time and resources between teaching, research, and university administration. Participants are selected among students applicants nearing the completion of their Ph.D. degree based on their demonstrated research abilities and their passion for teaching and mentoring.

Engineering focussed programs are of the most interest for me, but those based on other professional disciplines are also welcome.

Thank you!

Self-conscious perfectionist wanting to change so she can train better

Chrysalis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:24:38 -0800

Please help me be less self-conscious at the gym This is really sabotaging my workouts. I've training for 4 years now (various gyms) and am still ridiculously self conscious about it. The gym I'm currently at is both a normal fitness and a boxing gym, and I use both sections every day. In my boxing training, if any of the pro boys are training at the same time as me I get self-conscious of my technique and fitness, despite the fact that they've all been lovely and helpful. I'm currently trying to get my conditioning back after a bit of a lay-off from injury and I'm so embarrassed about my fitness/strength at present. I find I sometimes avoid working on my weaknesses or doing exercises that are difficult for me or unfamiliar (even when I totally need to do them) because I'm embarrassed about how bad I am at them and don't want anyone to know - which is totally self-defeating. Or I'll try to do them at home rather than at the gym so no-one else sees. Because there's only one other girl boxer at the gym (and she doesn't train with the same group as me) people sometimes really *are* looking at me, more for curiosity than anything else, and when it happens it throws me off a bit.

Also, when my trainer puts me through a really tough workout sometimes I waste energy being afraid that maybe I won't get through it and will have to stop - which is my biggest fear. This is even worse when other people are there but even when I'm training by myself I'm always terrified that I won't be able to complete a challenge I've set myself.

I want to stop being so self-conscious and feeling like I have to be really good at everything cos I can actually feel it lowering my energy levels and it's not what I should be focussing on. And I know if I keep doing these things I will eventually become good at them, but how can I stop feeling like an idiot in the mean time? Even when I was using the weights room I was self-conscious of the fact that I wasn't lifting much weight, I know everyone has to start somewhere but I felt embarrassed and it put me off doing it.

I guess my main concern is being bad at something/failing, especially in front of other people. How can I get past this?

From the career perspective is there money in the online/e-learning space?

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:32:20 -0800

From the career perspective is there money in the online/e-learning space? If so, where is it, or where will it be in a few years? I specialize in software training and education and am looking to get my foot in the door if it is worth it. Posting anonymously because in my relatively small world of software training there's a potential for colleagues to identify me and this could jeopardize my position.

In the (admittedly narrow) world of creative software training in the US, I am somewhat well known (think Lynda.com, Deke McClelland). I have published a few books and have been doing trainings for corporate customers and in the classroom for 10 years or so. My personal "brand" centers around digital imaging, web technologies and digital video. The money is ok, but I am employed full-time by a training company and this necessarily limits how far I can go financially and professionally. To get a sense of the "ruler" I'm using for financials: I currently make around $85k a year with some supplemental money dribbling in from the books. I would love to hit over $100k for this next position, but would also be wllling to take a hit on that if there were some startup companies who had some potential.

So I'm looking for the next step, one thought is to leverage all of this experience into doing online trainings or consultations. However I don't know what sort of market there is for this, if there are established companies in the space or how profitable this might be. Alternatively, if there are larger businesses doing this sort of thing in-house, I'd love to hear evidence of this. I'm looking for any insight Mefites might have and would love to hear from people connected to the e-learning, web training or online education space.

Conferences with less synergy?

hijinx — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:25:47 -0800

Please recommend conferences dealing with leadership, management, and the like that aren't buzzword-tastic snoozefests. If they exist. The deal is that I'd definitely like to learn more about management (having been a manager for a year), improving communication skills, and leadership goodness. I've been to internal training sessions which have been invaluable thanks to practical examples and keeping light on fluff. We looked at case studies, blue ocean strategy, etc. and I liked this a lot.

I work for a medium-sized tech company, and deal primarily with the UI. I'd prefer for the conference to be in the midwest US but will look at others in the US.

For reference I've been to An Event Apart (very good, obviously more of a tech focus) and Webvisions (very good.)

Are there any such conferences? Any advice? Thanks.

Best places to become an LPC in Texas?

D+ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:19:58 -0800

I'd like to become a licensed professional counselor in Texas. How do I figure out what the best schools are? My bachelor's degree is in English, not psychology or a related field, so this is a bit of a change of field and I could use some pointers. For LMFT licensure, I can at least find a list of COAMFTE accredited programs here, but I haven't found a starting point like that for LPC training.

Where does that list exist? What other resources are there for filtering through graduate counseling programs? Do you have a personal recommendation?

Thanks!

how can I play with my dog?

canine epigram — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:18:42 -0800

how do I teach my dog to play? We adopted a retired greyhound from a rescue group, and he's an adorable and very mellow boy. He loves his walks (and gets very excited about going) and trips to the dog park (although he's still trying to figure out what to do with other dogs besides sniff them).

Sometimes he grab a squeaky toy out of his basket, squeak it madly and catch it when we toss it around. Then, just as abruptly, he'll be done and walk away without a second glance. If he's not in the mood, he'll just look at you quizzically.

We plan to take him to obedience class soon, and have started some basic clicker training (which he enjoys.) What can we do to teach him how to play or engage his mind in a small condo (or local dog park)? chase a ball? a toy?

Obviously being a greyhound, no rough and tumble games.

I'm looking for a playful way of interacting with him, rather than just filling a kong with treats and watching him go at it (still funny!).

Help me, hivemind! Bonus for grey-specific knowledge.

Can I get a location?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:36:36 -0800

Improvisers: I'm an actor with some professional improv background. I'd like to brush up on my improv skills and get back in the game. Where should I go to train? I spent time as a second string improviser for a well known improv theater. Did touring, corporate shows, understudying, and stuff like that. I'm also a well trained actor with some screenwriting experience.

I used to be a reasonably good improviser, but I had a depressive phase that coincided with joining an established group that was out of my league. Early on I had a bad night, and my usual resilience was lowered, so it became a spiral down. I always felt like everyone was waiting for me to do poorly. This was not entirely in my head as they were known to be tough on newcomers. I consistently underperformed, just kind of froze up and got boring and safe. I was not proud of my work. Since then improv has made me tense. Now I want to get back in the game.

I guess I'd be high intermediate level at this point. I want tough teachers and detailed professional level feedback in an environment where I'd be onstage a lot so I have no time to psych myself out or dwell on bad scenes. Ideally it would be an intensive program with improv all day long, for many days in a row. Anywhere in the States or Canada would be fine.

I was considering Upright Citizens Brigade or Groundlings, but to be honest I'd rather get really good somewhere else and then go audition for them and maybe make a good impression as a polished newcomer, rather than have them meet me as the broken old horse I am right now.

Anyone know of any really good intensive programs where a guy can get back on the improv bus?
Thx.

Need recs for IT training in Seattle.

valannc — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:35:39 -0800

In the Seattle/Snohomish area. Which schools provide good training in beginning SQL, or database design, or IT project management? Needs:
- School should be well-regarded by hiring managers and look good on my resume
- Training should be rigorous. Prefer a fast-paced class.
- Location: North or central Seattle are good. Or Everett/Lynnwood area. I live in Shoreline/Edmonds.
- Hoping to start training asap. I am unemployed and have time to study. Don't want to wait until Winter semester.

Here is a listing of Seattle computer training schools. Which ones have a good rep and do a good job?

If it doesn't hurt, you're not doing it right...

Zé Pequeno — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:15:07 -0800

The old adage 'No Pain, No Gain' appears intuitive when it comes to developing physical prowess. I only started to see gains in the gym after pushing myself to the point where I'd wake up thinking I'd be crippled for the rest of my life. Is the same true for cognitive improvements too? I'm not normally prone to headaches but I've started to notice that after reading very difficult text books, I am left with a headache varying in severity from the mildly inconvenient to the unbearable. Since starting to play Dual N-back, an insanely difficult game scientifically-proven to improve fluid intelligence and working memory, it has got even worse.

I'll be the first to admit that I've not used my brain properly in a long time. Should I take this as evidence that my efforts are paying off or indication of a more serious health concern? I might be wrong but I doubt that it's the latter because I only have headaches when I engage in something that significantly pushes me to my limits.

A game of Dual N-back is normally followed by the need to lie down and rest for 15 minutes or so. I like to think that the headache is merely an outward manifestation of my brain producing new neurons and better connections. Is there any scientific explanation that might confirm this?

Can I still stick with my very active weekday activities while keeping a half marathon training schedule?

spacesbetween — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:11:43 -0800

I play group sports and do strength training almost every weekday, should I still keep this up when I start my half marathon training? I signed up for the ING Miami Marathon coming up Jan 31 2010. I'm going to be following this schedule starting November http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

I've been pretty active throughout the year because I play sports almost every day after work. I also try and go to the gym during lunch for about an hour for strength training every weekday minus friday.
Example of my week
Mon: Ultimate Frisbee, Tue: Basketball, Wed: Soccer, Thurs Volleyball, Fri: OFF

I've run on occasion, usually weekends, but never consistently. I've run two 5ks and completed them around the 32 minute mark.

Can I keep this schedule? What should I give up in order to be ready for the half marathon? I planned to run early in the morning before work so around 7am and Sunday to use as my long run practice.

Dog Training

flipmiester99 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:47:27 -0800

Dog(Pug)TrainingFilter: So....We have this pug which will turn 1 in November. Hes a sweet little guy however he has some very bad habits. CHewing on any and everything, darts out of the door at any chance and then plays a game having us chase him, barks all the time outside, and pees anywhere he likes. Heres my question....Is $850 in your opinion average, above average,under,etc...to pay someone to train him. The women that would train him takes him for Two weeks and then returns him home. I do know she is good because my brother took his dog to her 7 years ago and his dog behaves great. Just an FYI...we would try a class but to be honest the wife and i just dont have enough time between our jobs and having two kids.

Help me get up the mountain!

youcancallmeal — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:39:14 -0800

What sort of training should I do over the winter in preparation for some intense day hiking? So, I have this goal of climbing a mountain next spring / summer. (Camel's Hump in VT will be first.) There's no real rock climbing, it's mostly just a 5 mile hike up a big hill. We also won't be carrying anything heavier than Camelbacks and hiking poles. I need to know what I should be doing at the gym to make this happen. Treadmill? Elliptical? Walking / jogging on the indoor track? Swimming? Weights?

Complicating factors are:
I live at around sea level and when I tried this hike about a month ago, the elevation made it hard to breathe.
I have arthritis in my hands and knees. (I'm only 28, so I think this can just be countered with a knee brace or something.) Are there knee-strengthening exercises that I can be doing?
I have weird balance issues which make it hard coming down the mountain. Are there exercises I can do to work on this?

I know, YANMD. But I don't have health insurance and feel like this is something that I should be able to tackle on my own.

How to assign Workshop Training Sessions?

Mrs_Eep — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:04:00 -0800

Organizing a Training Workshop: How do I easily/quickly assign Workshop attendees to their First Choice/Second Choice from a group of 5 topics? There's gotta be a better way than popsicle sticks! I'm organizing a Workshop for 31 attendees. (While attendance is low in this example, learning a smart way to assign people will help me greatly in the future.)

There are 5 Workshop topics and we're holding 2 training sessions - morning and lunch. I have the ability to repeat any popular sessions during the lunch period as necessary.

Each of the 31 attendees has listed 2 topics to attend.

Topic A has 11 people, B has 10, C has 17, D has 9, E has 15.

What is the smart/fast way to assign workshop to each attendee while optimizing the time and repeating as few sessions as possible during the Lunch period? I'd say a maximum number of 10-12 for each group.

Puppy and Baby?

brevator — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:16:05 -0800

Puppy and Baby? Long story (skip to the end if you like): My wife and I walked out of our apt. 2 weeks ago and found a miniature poodle trying to cross a busy 4 lane avenue. The little guy nearly got hit a few times and we felt that we needed to grab him before he hurt himself. We grabbed him and brought him inside. No colar, no ID, no chip. He was unkempt (matted hair on his underbelly, fleas) but very docile and domesticated. He was so small and nervous we figured there was no way he could have been on the street for long. We called local shelters and animal control and left a description with our name. No one called. Then we got him his shots and a flea treatment.
Then we fell in love.
Fast forward two weeks- we're out walking him, when a car pulls up and a couple gets out and asks us where we found the dog. He's theirs. They breed purebred poodles. He has a pregnant lady about to have a litter at home. My wife, despite falling hard for this dog, gives him up without hesitation. She knows that he should be with his people and his lady. The owners are so grateful that they offer us the pick of the litter.
We're still grieving, but seriously considering taking them up on a puppy. Here's the problem:

My wife is pregnant and due in mid March. The puppies are due this week, but we would have to wait another 8 weeks to take one, which leaves us taking the pup home mid December. After that we have about 3 months until our baby is born, at which time the pup will be 5 months old.

Is this fair to do to the puppy? The baby? As I said, were still grieving the loss of the poodle (yes I realize it was only a couple of weeks, but the first couple of weeks are usually very intense when you fall in love), so we're not exactly thinking straight. We have a couple months to figure this out, so I'd figured I solicit peoples experiences with puppies and babies.

Some specific concerns:

Poodles are reported to take longer to house train than other breeds. Will trying to house train a poodle (or any other breed) be significantly more difficult in the cold and snow of a northeast winter?
Puppy will be 5 months old when wife delivers -- this is when puppy adolescence begins. Is this bad timing to have a baby when the puppy is entering a difficult behavioral time?
The breeders are nice people, but, as mentioned above, the sire was not well kept. What do we need to do to ensure that they are adequately socializing/taking care of the puppy in its 1st 8 weeks of life so that we have a dog that will be ready to fit in well with a family?
Is it just too much to have a new baby and a puppy at the same time?

Positive mitigating factors:

My parents and my in laws will be here after baby is born to help take care of wife, baby & puppy (and me).
Wife is much happier with a dog in her life.
We can be home with the pup &/or take him with us most places we go.(Wife is also a grad student with very flexible schedule.)
Wife is very much looking forward to training the new pup, even with all the work and time that entails.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially regarding any potential problems and/or benefits we haven't thought of yet. Thanks.

How can I re-socialize my dog-agressive dog?

roscopcoletrane — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:24:53 -0800

My dog slowly went from loveable goofball to dog park bully. He's been on probation for about 6 months, and I'd like to start the process of re-socializing him and (hopefully) someday return to the dog park. How do I do this without putting any other dogs in danger -- especially considering that I don't currently know any other dog owners, and I don't have a good private space for doggie playdates? My dog is a 3-year-old 50-lb. boxer mix. He might have some pittie-type genes in him, but it's debatable. Once upon a time, he was a happy-go-lucky pup who went to doggie daycare twice a week and never had any problems with other dogs. I took him to dog parks all the time, he chased his ball, he romped with other dogs and had a great time. Life was good.

When he was a little less than 2 years, he started to get into scuffles with other dogs -- quick explosions that were over as soon as they had begun. At that point, it never seemed like he was instigating, just defending himself from more dominant dogs that tried to bully him. No one was ever hurt, and most owners recognized it as normal dog behavior and weren't bothered.

It slowly got worse. He started getting into serious fights, always with intact males (he's neutered). He would instigate fights. He'd trot over to a dog, put his head over their shoulder, and if they moved their head toward him, BAM -- snarling, yelping, biting, owners screaming, dogs being pulled apart and me walking my bully home in humiliation. He seems like a pretty clear case of a socially insecure beta-male trying to prove himself. He hasn't seriously injured any dogs, but he's scared the bejesus out of me.

After 3 of those and a few other close calls, I finally admitted to myself that I couldn't trust him around other dogs. Some dogs he is totally fine with, but it got so unpredictable that it didn't seem worth the risk.

It has been about 6 months since he's been to a dog park. We walk every day, I'm starting to go running with him every day, we train at home, and through training he's showing definite improvements in his general behavior. We still don't have much contact with other dogs, and when he meets other dogs on his leash he's usually happy and does play-bows or jumps around and whines and wags his tail -- all great signs -- but I still get really tense. I try to breathe and calm down but it's so hard to quell that fear that he's going to hurt another dog. It might even be an instinctual response for me now -- he gets close to a dog and my lizard brain floods my body with adrenaline to prepare for the possibility of an attack.

OK, so here's what I need your help with:

I've read practically every dog book ever written. Patricia McConnell is my hero. So I know I need to relax, and I'll only be able to do that by getting practice seeing him play well with other dogs. I think my first step needs to be to set up a private playdate with a dog he gets along with, but I'm not even sure how to realistically make that happen. I don't have any friends with dogs, and I'm too shy to set up a playdate with other dog owners I see on the street.

Also, I live in Boston and don't have a good private space to host a playdate. I have a tiny yard but it's not big enough for 2 dogs to really run around. There are fenced dog parks but they're always crammed with dogs. There are fenced non-dog parks, but when I step foot in them with my dog I get yelled at by passers-by for having the audacity to bring a dog into a completely empty park.

I'm so frustrated, and so sad for my little guy, but I'm not ready to give up and doom him to a life of no contact with other dogs. Hive, do you have any suggestions or tips for me? How can I get him back to that happy, well-adjusted pup he used to be?

What should I do when I grow up?

LolaGeek — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:31:56 -0800

The future of my current job is uncertain (familiar story, I'm sure). What should I do to plan for the future? My background is in art, and ... pharmaceutical training and compliance. I'm a pretty much self-taught graphic designer and web designer. I graduated from college five years ago with a BA in Commercial Art. The program was woefully behind the times, so I actually learned very little about the software side of things, and our training in web design was nonexistent. (I ended up teaching HTML to half my class during that lesson.) While I can write up a nice HTML web page in notepad, and I'd consider myself an above average-level user of most standard design software (e.g. the Adobe Creative Suite), I feel like I'd be totally lost if I walked into a job tomorrow as a "graphic designer." My local community college has a Web Development certificate program that starts with the basics and works up to different server technologies. As a county resident, it would run me ~$4000 to complete, and can supposedly be done in a year, full-time.

On the other hand, for the past five years I've been in the pharmaceutical industry, working in compliance and training. So I'm now very familiar with compliance issues working in a highly regulated industry, and have lots of experience with training development and administration. Part of my job is that I'm the webmaster of a large, unruly intranet site, but that doesn't require too much specialized skill. Another large part of my job is being a glorified administrative assistant, and I do some customer service-type work, communicating with clients about training issues, and troubleshooting their technical problems (so I'm also a technology help desk, sort of).

There's really no specific career I'm interested in switching to (e.g. education, nursing, etc.), though I could if I needed to, if there was someplace my skills would be a good fit. I feel like my general skills (organized, good communication, highly technologically competent, etc.) would be desirable in a lot of areas, but in the current climate I'd want to make myself as marketable as possible. So should I focus on graphic design and/or web development, should I try to stay in the pharma industry, or should I totally change gears? And if so, what should I learn now to help me in a future career?

Curious Yoga Novice Seeks Guidance

EatTheWeak — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:55:21 -0800

Tips, advice, recommendations, insight, cautions, suggestions and matters unforeseen concerning the addition of yoga to my fitness regimen. I'm considering adding yoga to my weekly exercises. I know very little about the practice, but what I've come to understand about it makes it sound quite appealing indeed. From what I've heard, yoga can help one build strength, burn fat, build flexibility, ease joint pain, ease anxiety and stress and is, on the whole, a tremendous benefit to one's overall health.

However, what I don't know about yoga could fill a stadium. I've come to understand that yoga is practiced in several variations and sub-variations, some of these variations call for special equipment, that there are mats and appropriate clothing to consider, that there are a dizzying number of books, websites and videos available, and, well, it's all more than a little overwhelming. I was hoping the hivemind could help me find the ideal way to add yoga to my fitness regimen.

I am a thirty-year-old male at an average level of fitness. I do, however, struggle a bit with some stiffness and inflexibility in my hips and lower back. My current workout routine includes a lot of compound-movement weight training and resistance band exercises, favoring work on large muscle groups rather than bodybuilder-style muscle pinpointing. I ride my bike everywhere and, starting in October, plan to also add lap-swimming to my routine. The weights happen 3-4 times a week and the cycling is just about daily.

My overall fitness goals are the building of muscle, the burning of fat, increasing overall energy and the suppression of sedentary hazards such as depression and anxiety. My goals for adding yoga, aside from those just mentioned and, assuming I understand its potential benefits correctly, would be to drastically improve my flexibility and balance as well as control sundry aches and pains.

What I would like to know from you, AskMe, is how shall I set about as a yoga beginner? Is it best to dive right into a formal class, or to first learn some basics so I'm not the stiff, unbalanced buffoon tipping over in the back of the studio? Which yoga variant is best-suited to my goals? What clothing and equipment will I require? What books, websites and videos do you recommend? What qualities distinguish the best yoga instructors, groups and studios? Is yoga compatible with my current routine and exercise schedule - if not, what needs adjusting? And what do you wish you would have known when you first made yoga a part of your life?

Thank you very much for your help.

Reasonable Conditions For Overseas 3 Month Placement?

forallmankind — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:59:34 -0800

I’m meeting with my boss tomorrow to discuss his request for me to oversee specific departmental operations at our India facility for 3 (three) months. What are reasonable contingencies/ incentives to request in this situation? I’ve been to this facility before for a month, and it was a great – though thoroughly stressful - experience, but that said, a month was long enough.

I *always* grab opportunities such as these, but this time round I find the thought of going there for 3 months – this time alone also – reasonably unpleasant. The location kinda blows too – I don’t want to go into details, but it’s not like Paris or New York where you’d consider being assigned there as an enviable bonus. Furthermore, I can’t help but think that I’ll kinda lose 3 months of my life living in a city I don’t want to live in, not to mention the amount of re-adjustment time it takes when you return.

However, I will hear my boss out, and there’s still a tiny part of me that thinks that the character/ resume-building benefits could possibly make this worthwhile. So; were I to accept, what kind of conditions are reasonable to stipulate?

I’m single, live in LA, no pets etc – ie the ideal person to choose to skip town for a ¼ of year.