Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with beginner

Is this game the right birthday gift?

MinusCelsius — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:12:22 -0800

Game: Benoît Sokal's Sinking Island. Unknowns: Mother, potentially her laptop. My mother loves thrillers and murder mysteries and likes PC games with easy controls. I'm considering to get her Sinking Island (a disc version tho).

My questions:

Will the game run without issues on her laptop? Win 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1, Easynote LS 13 HR, Intel-Core i5 2430 M, Cpu 2,4 Ghz, RAM 3,85 MB, 64 bit, which doesn't match the game recommendations.

Reviews I read recommend the game for "beginners and casual gamers" - how beginner friendly is it really? This about controls/interface, not the riddles or story.

old peugeot road bike make sense for a beginner

cmp4Meta — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:49:49 -0800

I am looking to get into road cycling, but I cannot afford even the basic entry level bikes (with the Trek 1.1 running at $700 - and the others going on up in price). I found several old Peugeot bikes from the 70s and 80s on Craigslist in my area that are available for under $200. My question is would one of these old high quality bikes work or would I just be riding an albatross (so to speak)? I want to be able to keep up with my buddies if we ride together - so would I be too slow and/or worn out on an older bike? If people in the 70s could bike long distance on these things, why can't we today?

Explain the Diva Plavalaguna song to me, please?

Solomon — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:44:31 -0800

Please explain, in simple terms, the Diva Plavalaguna song, from the film The Fifth Element to me. I'd like to know more about the technical aspects of the song. I'm looking for the terms I'd need to plug into Google to find more music of the same style. I'm specifically talking about the first part of the song where the singer is singing in Italian, not the electronica-y second part. Also, I'm looking for recommendations for other similar music. Things I like about the song:
1] Female singer with a strong voice.
2] The singer's voice is front and centre. The instruments are in the background and less relevant.
3] She holds the notes over different words and even changes notes during a given word, during "discesa", "nemici" and "t'assidi" for example.

Opera as a search term isn't really cutting it, mainly because (I'd guess) it's either not correct or not specific enough.

Get me up to speed on baseball as quickly as possible

vogon_poet — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:25:49 -0800

So I've decided, for various reasons, that I'd like to follow baseball this year. What can I read to get up to speed ASAP? I have a decent understanding of the rules; I can follow a game. What I don't know is what's going on in the league right now: who's good and bad (and why), what teams are angling to do what. How can I get up to speed on this kind of information?

I am not a super-fan of any one team but family history says I should be a Boston fan. I am also fond of the Marlins after seeing their magnificent home run sculpture, but my impression is they are terrible and have an owner who doesn't care if they win.

Basically anything to read that will let me quickly understand what's going on in the league, and make following the games and the teams over the course of the season interesting to me.

Meat 101

booksherpa — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:14:54 -0800

All my protein cooking is either baking or slow-cooking chicken breasts, or things made with ground turkey (chili, meatloaf). Help me learn how to cook other meats! I don't know how to pan fry or broil, I don't know what I'm looking for at the supermarket in the meat department, I never use beef or pork, I don't know what to ask for at a butcher counter - educate me! I also need to start saving money and cooking at home way more, and it would be nice to branch out and have more variety in our repertoire. My preference is to use my beloved slow cooker and make something with lots of leftovers that I can take for lunch and/or freeze, but I can try other methods. Mr. Booksherpa and I are omnivores, I'm adventurous, he's mostly a meat and potatoes kinda guy.

Questions:

I seem to recall hearing that you can take a cheaper (and tougher) cut of meat and throw it in the slow cooker to tenderize it. Perfect! What cuts of meat should I be asking for, and do you have any favorite recipes? I'd love a variety, but a slow cooker pulled pork recipe in particular.

Should I find a local butcher, or will the guy behind the counter at the supermarket be okay?

What special equipment might I want? I've got a broiling pan that came with my stove, I think. Haven't used it in years.

I'm only cooking for two, but leftovers are fine (see above). Recipes that reheat well from frozen?

What do I do with the meat once I get it home from where I bought it? Take it out of the package? How crazy do I go trimming it?

I've got Bittman's How to Cook Everything already, so if there's specific recipes/pages in there you recommend, point me at them. Other cookbook suggestions or relevant websites also welcomed.

Seriously, I need explanations like I'm a big 5 year old allowed to use a stove.

Mindless Knitting

exceptinsects — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:23:52 -0800

Hi all, I think I want to knit something again! I am trying to watch more movies but I need something to do with my hands. What should I knit? Particular requirements inside. Things to know about me:

1. I have made a few scarves before
2. I have more than enough scarves
3. I can knit and purl but I am not a very good knitter
4. In fact I barely know anything about knitting at all
5. I don't want to have to count anything

I was thinking maybe a big blanket, just all in garter stitch? Maybe with big stripes?
But how would I do that? On circular needles? What size yarn or needles should I use?

Or do you have another idea?

What are the "beginner pianist" cliche songs and melodies?

davey_darling — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:43:57 -0800

I'm looking to compile a list of those piano songs that "everybody" learns because they are simple, memorable, or good skill builders. Any genre is acceptable. I am a decent guitarist and singer and I would like to learn piano.

Right now my biggest obstacle is that I obviously don't want to learn badly enough that I am willing to work very hard at it. I understand how to play chords and can bang out the chords of songs I know on guitar, but I feel pretty wooden in that I'm not able to get my hands moving to play melodies or bass lines. My sheet music reading ability is pretty basic - again, I know it's something that I will have to work at, but I'm hoping this "shortcut" will give me faster success to help motivate my playing.

What I am looking for is a list of all of the beginner piano cliches - the songs that sound difficult or complex but aren't, the easy songs that every beginner pianist can play the first dozen bars of, the old pop chestnuts that everybody knows and are easy to play. My theory at the moment is that I will be able to learn these parts as building blocks for my eventual piano mastery. Ultimate goal is to be decent enough to play for friends and family in casual settings.

So, lets hear it piano teachers and music store employees. What is the "Smoke on the Water" of the piano? What song do you wish you never had to hear again?

(I promise I will use this knowledge for good, not evil)

Where can a new skier go on a day trip near San Francisco?

aloysius on the mixing boards — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:43:09 -0800

I just went skiing for the first time in Colorado with some friends and loved it. Now that I'm back in the Bay Area, where can I go skiing that's beginner friendly and close enough to make it a day trip? I realize it's a lot of driving, but I know a few people do it. I also know about the ski buses, but I'd rather drive myself. I suppose I could be convinced to stay overnight, but I don't know if I want to do that right away. I'd rather get my feet wet, so to speak.

Since I'm new (to skiing and the area), it's hard for me to tell which places are good for beginners and which are easiest to get to. It'd also be great if it wasn't so crowded. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I might take some private lessons, but not right away and not every time I go. Are some resorts better than others with their ski schools?

(This question was pretty helpful, but the asker rules out Tahoe specifically.)

Best tips and advice for a sewing beginner?

mireille — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:20:37 -0800

Sewing-filter: Top 5 tips for a beginner working on my first real project from a pattern? Bonus question: can I do this? Pep talks welcome. I'm about to start my first ever project-- this reversible apron. I could use some tips before I get started. If you're relatively experienced at sewing, what would be the top five tips the now-you would give to the earlier-you before you began your first project?

Here's what I can do:
Reliably thread the machine, wind the bobbin, iron, and sew a reasonably straight line. I've practiced on scraps of fabric and I've also made this practice apron out of a sheet which came out pretty well.

That's it.

Here's what I have:
Beginner's machine (Brother), appropriate amounts of (beautiful!) fabric, coordinating thread, seam ripper, good scissors, pattern and written instructions with some (but not many) pictures and drawings.
Also: lots of motivation (and quite a bit of apprehension).

Here's what I'm missing:
Rotary cutter/mat (not an option just yet), chalk something-or-other to mark with, sewing skills and pattern-following experience.

Given these details, what should I know? What are your top beginner's tips? Also-- can I even do this in the first place?

Lentement s'il vous plaît

Mister_Sleight_of_Hand — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:05:02 -0800

I need movie, video, podcast, etc. recommendations in French. I've finally begun to learn French. Yay! I've been at it for about two months now and it's going fairly well. I can understand pretty much anything I read now. There are still plenty of words I don't understand, but I understand enough that I can get the gist of most things.

What I really need now is practice *hearing* French. My girlfriend, a francophone, and I speak French at home a fair bit but more would be better.

What I'm looking for are any French movies, videos, podcasts, etc. where there's not a lot of noise. And by noise I mean things like: multiple people talking over each other, very very fast speech, and actual noise that obscures the words. I realize that I won't be able to completely avoid these things and that's fine. But, as much as possible, I'm looking for stuff that's clearly pronounced, and at a steady, measured pace. It doesn't have to be slow, but also not super fast.

Subject matter is more or less irrelevant. I'll watch or listen to pretty much anything. However, to be clear, I'm not looking for "learn French" type material. The learning part I've got under control. I just need stuff in French that a beginner can get a handle on without feeling too overwhelmed.

Bonus points for Quebecois material, though stuff from outside of Quebec is fine too.

Exercise needed: Growing old gratefully... but a little grace wouldn't hurt either

taz — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:03:17 -0800

I'd like recommendations for books, sites, or online or downloadable videos for gentle yoga or similar exercises for increasing flexibility, that I can do at home, starting at rank-beginner level. Age is catching up with me, and I notice with alarm that I'm way more stiff and physically inflexible than I used to be (also fatter, now that work means a lot of butt in chair time, and I'm not able to take long walks every day -- but I don't expect this to fix that).

However, I've been lucky and I don't have back, knee, neck, etc, problems even though people 20 years younger are complaining of such things. I'm so grateful that I don't have any chronic pain like that... and I'd rather not borrow any by attempting overambitious or ill-advised positions or repetitions!

I just want to spend maybe a half-hour every day (should be more, and I may opt for more, but I want to be realistic about what I will actually follow through with) with a gentle routine focused on flexibility that I can do in a small space, without equipment other than a mat and maybe small barbells or other small item(s). I'm pretty much starting at zero, and would like to begin with really basic stuff and grow to more/better, without wrecking any part of my body, which has been very, very kind to me, despite myself. I'm not interested in going to a class or gym.

(I also wouldn't mind any similar suggestions for at-or-near-the-desk exercises for during the day.)

An old, slow cyclist is baffled by today's MTB technology

scruss — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 10:39:25 -0800

I haven't ridden offroad for more than 20 years. Please help this large, slow, stately cyclist get his mountain bike on. I would like to get a mountain bike. Last time I rode, U-brakes, Biopace and white bikes with neon highlights were (regrettably) quite the thing.

Key points:

I'm a big dude: 181 m, 112 kg.

I would likely be riding trails in the Toronto ravine system.

I'm not big on spending hours on pre- and post-ride maintenance — although I'll happily do what's required to ensure I have a safe bike that won't be an immovable pile of oxide by the next ride.

I'm not bothered about bike weight one bit. I'm heavy enough, and my commuting bike likely weighs twice as much as the new purchase will.

My riding style is best described as “stately”. My ideal bike would be something like a Cleland, but it doesn't look like they'll ever be made again.

Rim brakes are right out. I'm not about wheels as consumables, and I'd like to be able to stop somewhere short of Lake Ontario if it's muddy.

Budget is up to about $1500.

Bikes I've looked at and not been entirely horrified by include: Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29, Devinci Wooky XP, and the Surly Ogre. The Ogre looks almost perfect (steel frame! no suspension!), but the component specs are much lower than other bikes in this price range.

from making books to making websites

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:17:45 -0800

Looking for a path to front-end web development as a career I work in book publishing as a production editor/copyeditor/project manager-type person. I'm feeling burned out and in need of new challenges, and I'm thinking of re-training myself as a front-end web developer.

I taught myself HTML and CSS for ebook production, and I find that I really enjoy structuring documents and doing markup. I've also dabbled in a couple of programming classes over the years and had an aptitude for it, although I never really did anything useful with it. I can imagine how my skillset would be useful in a web environment, but I need to bone up on some current, in-demand tech skills to get in the door of a new industry. Ultimately I'd be interested in exploring content strategy, information architecture, UX design, but I suspect that I need to put in some time on the basics first.

I figure I need Javascript, and to get a personal site or two up as portfolio pieces. What else should I have in my pocket to take me from "no relevant experience" to "worth the trouble to train"? Python? PHP? Drupal? Ruby on Rails? Is actual coursework necessary, or is learning on my own just as good? Assuming I really focus on this, and work on it solidly in my spare time, I'd like to get up and running within 6-9 months.

A couple of caveats: I don't want to be a web project manager. Owning the schedule and coordinating everything is probably my least favorite part of my job. I'd rather do the work than give someone else a deadline to do the work. I have a good eye for design, but I'm not visually creative enough (nor skilled enough with Photoshop) to be a web designer. We'd like to move to a smaller market area, where I'm guessing the available jobs will be more generalist in nature, so nothing too specialized or esoteric. I also have schemes of starting up my own thing, but for now I'd like to be in a position to be hired by someone else, ideally a startup or agency with good quality-of-work-life, nothing corporate or sketchy.

I'm especially interested in enabling technologies that help put it all together -- like git, for example -- but that I might not have heard of as someone who doesn't do this stuff for a living (yet!).

Trying to find a resource for an adult who wants to beef up their computer skills

timpanogos — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 21:11:17 -0800

Browser say what? Trying to find some learning material (online or books) for a 35 yo adult. 1. Learned the definition of "browser" within the past two years
2. Doesn't have familiarity with formulas, etc, in Excel
3. Does mass sends with Salesforce for work projects so has some experience with learning a program.
4. Wants to become more familiar with tools, and programs (a writer so uses Word a lot)
5. Feels on the outs with technology stuff and wants to be more in the loop, in a scalable, easy way, learning programs/shortcuts.
6. Doesn't know how to navigate basic computer architecture, ex. where to find the download folder if it's not already popping up.

What do you recommend? Any good software or classes you've heard of? Websites or books to read through?

Give me some beginner cycling advice.

LouMac — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:14:58 -0800

What advice would you give beginning cyclists interested in getting exercise as a couple? Bonus points for Rhode Island specific recommendations! Mrs. LouMac and I are thinking about getting bicycles as a way to get exercise together. For the most part, we will be taking short rides (an hour or less) in residential areas and bike paths/trails. We will be buying from a bike shop to get properly fitted, etc, but feel free to recommend bikes for us. She's completely open, but I'm leaning towards a commuter/hybrid style bike.

What advice would you give new cyclists? What would you tell a couple to help them maximize the enjoyment of the ride and each other's company? What do you recommend for beginner cycling resources? What are the gear/bike accessories you cannot live without? We understand the importance of a helmet and promise to wear one.

Rhode Island-specific advice (bike shops, favorite ride routes, etc.) especially welcome.

Will my feet explode if I wear my old sneakers to run?

specialagentwebb — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:18:03 -0800

What's the difference between minimalist running shoes and slim sneakers? I want to start running this week. Minimalist/barefoot running seems to be the way to go, because when I've run in the past it was hard on my heels and knees, and because I've seen so many minimalist converts. But I'm not sure that I want to drop a hundred dollars into an activity that I may not stick with. What I do have is a pair of very cheap but very comfortable Champion sneakers (pretty much exactly like these).

Assume that I'll be working on my form first with 100ups. If I wear these to run for a few weeks until I decide to commit/save up the money for real minimalist shoes, am I going to completely wreck my feet/legs? What are the actual physical differences that make minimalist shoes "minimalist" instead of just "lightweight"?

Portable beginner telescope

chndrcks — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:29:12 -0800

Recommendations for a portable beginner telescope? Every year my family takes a trip to northern Minnesota. It's a pretty remote area with very little light pollution. I've often thought it would be a great place to bring a telescope and learn about astronomy.

Previous questions and other resources I've found recommend beginners get a Dobsonian such as the XT8. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of luggage space available on this trip, so I'm not sure I can make that happen.

I can find some constellations (and I have an app for that!) but that's about the extent of my astronomy experience (other than stopping by the local community college to see the transit of venus).

I'd have a hard time going much beyond $400 for this, and cheaper would definitely be a plus, since this is a new hobby.

I've been considering the Star Max 90mm (basic) and they seem to have the same telescope with a "planetary kit"

I also thought a computerized model would be good, since I lack in experience. I would consider stretching the budget if the computerized mount could be reused if I later upgraded telescopes.

These were the computerized ones I found:
NexStar 90
NexStar 4se

Will I be disappointed with any of these? Would it be better to wait until I can test more or up my budget? Would the dobsonians be worth making luggage space?

It's a kazoo with strings, right?

piedmont — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:22:42 -0800

How competent can I become at the ukulele in two weeks? I leave for my new job in two weeks. I have a ukulele, and I'm generally awful with stringed instruments.
Assuming I can sort of mostly switch between the chords C, G7, and F: how many songs can I learn in two weeks? What if I learn an extra chord? What chord should that be? Suggestions for songs to learn to keep myself and a van load of Europeans entertained around the campfire?
Note: I won't subject anyone to unwanted campfire songs. Especially cheesy ones. Especially if I can't teach myself anything good in the next two weeks.

How to teach an adult beginner how to drive?

schmichael — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:26:56 -0800

What's the best way for me to teach a beginner how to drive? I've been giving lessons to an adult beginner driver. I'm not a professional instructor, though I have held my license for a while and consider myself an experienced and highly conscientious driver. He works at a university physics department, and comes from a country where car ownership is very uncommon. He has had little experience, and is quite nervous, though he is sensible.

He owns an automatic transmission car. So far we've had three lessons, the first two in a quiet patch of city streets, the third out in the countryside on long roads. Understandably, he's a bit nervous, and hasn't got the feel yet for smooth turning, holding the car at a steady speed, or slowing down and pulling over or making sharp turns. The driving lessons have been okay, although today on the open road (although I kept him at a very modest speed) I had to reach over a few times to correct his steering when he seemed to be failing to take a corner.

This has left me a little apprehensive. After all, many professional instructors teach with cars with double controls to prevent accidents. I am of course not interested in being involved in a crash. But I am otherwise enjoying teaching him and would like to continue if possible. What options do I have to help him and stay safe? Of course, referring him to a professional instructor is one possibility. Another thing I thought of, which I recommended to him, is that he borrows a Playstation off a friend and rents a driving wheel and Gran Turismo. I think some time with a driving game might actually help. Any other ideas? Looking for anything, from specific tips for helping someone learn to more general suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Take me out to the ballgame, please.

kortez — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:00:15 -0800

I want to learn about baseball. I've been able to crack basketball and football, but not baseball. What should I read? What should I watch? Who should I pay attention to? I grew up without much exposure to popular U.S. sports--I played soccer and lacrosse, and I sailed competitively through high school. But I never picked up a football/basketball/baseball except once in a while in P. E.

I went to University of Maryland in the mid-90s, and my friends dragged me to the free basketball games in Cole Field House. I learned a ton about the game by watching it up close, and I really enjoyed the narratives that played out over the course of a season. I loved the anticipation we felt when Duke or Carolina was coming to town, and I learned a bunch by listening to my far-more knowledgeable roommates talk about the game. I fell in love with basketball.

Five years ago I decided I wanted to learn about football. I bought some reference books (ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia and NFL Record & Fact Book), but what really resonated with me was John Feinstein's Next Man Up (NYT review), Hard Knocks on HBO, and Inside the NFL, also on HBO. Again, narratives pulled me in. 2007 opened with spygate, New England had a perfect season up to the Super Bowl, and David Tyree made an incredible catch against his helmet to set up the winning touchdown against the Pats. I fell in love with football.

So, I want to love baseball, but so far I haven't had much luck. I think I need to find a narrative. I read most of Feinstein's Living on the Black, but it felt like a chore.

I've read this thread from 2008: Help me learn to love baseball, and some of the suggestions look really good. (Watching Baseball Smarter looks great, for example; so does Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball.) But it's been four years, and maybe there's more to add to the list.

I think this incredible answer from cashman to a similar question about the NBA is what got me thinking about baseball again.

Relevant info:

- I have a limited budget, and I no longer have cable.
- I live in Greensboro, NC, so several minor league teams are close by, but the budget really is pretty slim. I can imagine spending up to $30 on tickets between now and mid-August. Maybe $50 if I can swing it.
- I'm considering spending $20 on the MLB Gameday Audio package
- I don't have a team, but because I'm from Maryland I'm partial to the Nationals and the Orioles. I have seen the Orioles play twice; one when I was a little kid at Memorial Stadium, and later in college at Camden Yards.
- I have a Netflix account (DVD + streaming)
- I have a reasonably zippy internet connection
- I respond well to homework. I like to understand things/solve problems.
- I don't know if this helps as guide, but: I really liked the analysis of Inside the NFL, but I get bored/irritated with Greg Easterbrook's Tuesday Morning Quarterback. Maybe the latter tries too hard to be clever and also seems too fragmented/stream-of-consciousness.
- This is a real shot in the dark, but just in case (please, please, please): I'm going bananas over the game Economies of Scale (MeFi). Is there anything like this for baseball? Where I could push buttons and look at a chart or two, without it becoming totally overwhelming? (I know nothing about economics, but I can keep up with Economies of Scale, and I feel like I'm getting something out of it.)
- I have a knowledgeable friend who says he'll sit with me on his porch with a cooler and a game on the radio once a week and answer my questions.
- I'm male and in my late thirties, if that matters.
- I really want to love this game.

Thank you.

The new doctype is only interesting if you know what a doctype is

The Winsome Parker Lewis — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:03 -0800

I'm looking for an HTML5/CSS3 tutorial geared for complete beginners who have never built a single web page before. Everything I can find is written for people who have previous experience with (X)HTML 4 and CSS 2. Google finds lots of "what's new in version 5" articles written for people who are already familiar with the old technology.

I'm trying to teach an "uninitiated" someone the basics of web design with these newer languages. I think the timing is about right for HTML5 in 2012 so I don't want to waste her time learning (and complicating matters with) the old stuff. Can you recommend a plainly written introduction to the web landscape as it stands today, for a savvy surfer who's never touched a line of code?

I'm really looking for a free tutorial on the web, not a book or paid course. Bonus points if it's arranged in a series of lessons with little homework assignments at the end of each one. Also great if it's written for artists or print designers and not for, say, programmers or engineers. If I'm being overly specific, please recommend whatever you can think of that might still do the trick. I will be assisting my protege and I'm sufficiently skilled to do some hand-holding along the way; I'm just looking for a structured curriculum of sorts we can use as a road map.

How do I get into Twitter?

mccarty.tim — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:18:46 -0800

Are you into twitter? If so, how did you get into it and who did you follow? Do you use it more with friends or celebrities? I hear a lot of people say they like twitter, but I never seem to have quite gotten it. I'm curious about both who to follow, what software to use (I am currently using the browser version on both my phone and computer), etc.

Interests (off the top of my head) include:

Cooking
Politics (I'm a liberal and I tend to prefer nuance to pithy one-liners about how the other party is wrong)
Gardening
Programming (I really like python, but I'm familiar with a few more languages)
Motivational advice (mainly, just stuff to get me to get up from the computer and do something).
Knitting/Crochet
Electronics (as in DIY soldering, not shiny gadgets)
Some science (Preferably not the sensationalist type that claims AIDS cures are almost ready every single week).

If it helps, I also really like Google Plus and niche social networks like Ravelry and Good Reads. I use facebook to keep in touch with most friends, and only know a handful of people from real life on Twitter, and they're not very active.

I need more!

Emms — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:27:04 -0800

Good ski resorts for intermediate/beginner near NYC? So, I've been fortunate enough to recently learn how to ski on a very well respected mountain in northern New England, through friends who work there and are experts at it. Now that I'm back home in NYC (rain, boo) I've found that I think I've gotten even more into skiing than I initially realized, and I really wanna go again! Fortunately, my brother enjoys snowboarding and is coming home from college next week, and we've decided to take a day trip together. Yay! We have a few parameters.

-My friends who taught me agree that I'm pretty good for a beginner. After 9 ish days on skis, I was doing all intermediate runs, and a couple of black diamond runs (this was all on a large mountain that caters to a lot of experts, not a smaller local mountain), so any mountain that's mostly beginner runs wouldn't work; I want to be challenged a bit.

-Preferably within 2, no more than 3 hours away from the city at the absolute most. We definitely need this to be a day trip. We do have access to a car.

-As cheap as possible, please! We're both young and poor. We do have to pay for rentals (skis, boots, and poles for me, board and boots for him, helmets for both of us) so ideally the lift tickets for a full day wouldn't be more than $50/60 per person, is this feasible? The cheaper the better.

-Considering the sort of winter we've had (snow? are you there?), take into account that we need this resort to still be open in mid March, when we'd likely be going.

Thanks so much in advance! Also, any advice about where to get good snow pants and goggles for a female in NYC/Westchester (or online) would be greatly appreciated.

Strength Training/Stretch Routine for Runner ?

Carius — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:43:45 -0800

Strength Training/Stretch Routine for Runner? Beginner runner here. I have been running consistently for a month now to train for a 5k next month.

My question is what strength training and stretch exercises and would complement my running?
My current running and weight lifting routine consist of:

Running outside on the road Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during lunch break.
Strength training Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the afternoon.

My strength training consists of squat, bench press, overhead press, deadlift, and barbell row.
Basically, following Starting Strength with modification of barbell row for power clean.

Is there any other runner-specific stretch and strength training I should add to my routine? I don't do any stretch now.

I could run 2 miles now but I am experiencing discomfort in my right ankle after every run. My right knee was injured couple years ago while doing heavy squat but I went to the doctor and there nothing wrong with it.

Please show me where to get a simple, inexpensive DAC (USB) kit

amtho — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:50:15 -0800

Yay I can solder! Please show me where to get a simple, inexpensive DAC (USB) kit, preferably < $50. Inspired by krilli's earlier question. I made a "tactile metronome" kit and it worked perfectly! Having been forced to take E-Mag and that basic computer wiring hardware breadboard lab in college, turns out actual soldering isn't that hard. Now I want to make something useful, and my stereo is lame and failing.

So, connecting my old laptop to some speakers seems like a good idea, and I can easily whip up a wooden case using my router and drill and stuff. I think. Also glue and maybe SuGru.

I just need to find an easy way to make a digital-to-analog thingie. Analog connectors can be whatever, I guess. Digital side should probably be USB. Googling, so far, gets sites which seem to assume I know 5% more than I do (oh, jargon), or else kits to make lights blink or sirens.

Any ideas? Links? Tutors in the NC Triangle? Recipes? Apparently Radio Shack has what I'd need, but I'd still need a recipe.