Help this mom understand the difference, in coaching youth sports, between being competitive and being an asshole. [more inside]
posted by Sweetie Darling on Nov 30, 2009 - 22 answers

Can someone explain to the layperson why the Windows op. sys. has no competition yet. Why is it not like any other consumer product?
posted by larry_darrell on Nov 5, 2009 - 43 answers

If someone enters a scientific "Theoretical Challenge" under my name and wins the competition, would that come back to haunt me even though all intellectual property rights would be relinquished to the company running the challenge? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 24, 2009 - 5 answers

What are some examples of "pretend" business competitors? I'm thinking of brands that appear to be separate businesses and appear to be in direct competition, but are in fact owned by the same company. [more inside]
posted by teg on Sep 18, 2009 - 76 answers

How do Olympic gymnasts (and other gymnasts at the elite level) train for their routines? Do they break their choreography into segments? Is there a set, systematic schedule or program used across the sport? A way to measure their progress? How might this compare (or apply) to the way a musician might prepare for an audition or a competition? [more inside]
posted by Busoni on Jul 30, 2009 - 4 answers

I am looking for any and all food festival / competitions that happen in southern LA that are open to the public. [more inside]
posted by matthelm on Jul 27, 2009 - 2 answers

How does prize money effect entry to free to enter competitions? [more inside]
posted by lilyflower on Jul 10, 2009 - 1 answer

Romeo & Juliet: I seem to remember a portion in the play where someone exhorts "wit" to help them out, or says they're running out of wit—but I can never find it when look through the stuff. Is it just a false memory, or maybe something mentioned very much in passing? [more inside]
posted by Non Prosequitur on Jul 9, 2009 - 8 answers

Which other musical styles besides rap have battles, and for how long have they been around? [more inside]
posted by bjrn on Jun 27, 2009 - 35 answers

What sport suits a thirty-five year old man built like a hot water heater? Everything I like is made for the lithe and long-limbed, not the squat and powerful. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Harvey Jerkwater on Jun 17, 2009 - 60 answers

How do you deal with/accept that you are merely mediocre? [more inside]
posted by arniec on Jun 14, 2009 - 47 answers

The local taxi company charges more if they know you're on your way to catch the competing airport shuttle. Is this legal? [more inside]
posted by joe vrrr on Jun 1, 2009 - 14 answers

The Federal Reserve just ended its College Federal Reserve Challenge Competition, which I have always enjoyed competing in. What other economics, public policy, or problem solving collegiate-level competitions can you recommend? [more inside]
posted by BusyBusyBusy on May 6, 2009 - 1 answer

Help us design a fair exercise competition! [more inside]
posted by bristolcat on Apr 27, 2009 - 8 answers

Can you suggest prizes and trophies for a software/hardware hacking competition? [more inside]
posted by godawful on Mar 8, 2009 - 5 answers

I began an internship at a very small commercial arts organization about a month ago. A week or so into the job, one of the 5 person staff left on good terms for another opportunity. Following her departure, the possibility of a full time position opening up (as replacement) was presented to myself and the other intern, mostly in a friendly manner to make sure we were both interested. Obviously, both of us were very enthusiastic about the opportunity. So here is my question... [more inside]
posted by shrimpsmalls on Mar 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Help me do crossword puzzles FAST. [more inside]
posted by Dormant Gorilla on Feb 19, 2009 - 16 answers

EconomicsFilter: how do many businesses selling the same things at the same prices stay in business without differentiating themselves or asking a lower price? [more inside]
posted by chrisinseoul on Jan 12, 2009 - 10 answers

Help me find a new board game to gift my family of sore winners. [more inside]
posted by olinerd on Dec 1, 2008 - 55 answers

I can run 6:30 miles for an hour, a little uncomfortably, or 7:00 miles pretty easily over the same interval. What would it take, training-wise, for me to run a sub-3-hour marathon? [more inside]
posted by killdevil on Nov 2, 2008 - 9 answers

Searching for a business term I cannot remember... [more inside]
posted by rokusan on Oct 23, 2008 - 5 answers

I need help planning a Wii Sports and Guitar Hero competition. [more inside]
posted by kidsleepy on Aug 20, 2008 - 6 answers

My friends and I are about to embark on a 6-week push-up training program. Obviously, this has to be a competitive event. The problem, though, is finding a fair way to measure who wins... [more inside]
posted by um_maverick on Jun 23, 2008 - 14 answers

Why does the person who sobs and complains loudly about how they think they "failed" every test and that they are doing/did "horribly" in school (but ends up being #1) bother me so? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 19, 2008 - 41 answers

When playing games with my friends, I tend to get very competitive and bitter. In that moment of frustration, what are some things I can tell myself so I calm down? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 22, 2008 - 26 answers

I'm a scientist. My ex is a scientist. We study similar things, and their name is starting to turn up in my literature searches. What to do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 16, 2008 - 27 answers

Is there any decent free or cheap online contest judging software out there? I'm looking for a tool to help people submit and judge media contests (specifically photo and multimedia contests) for a non-profit organization. The closest thing I've seen for this is this Omni Contest site: http://www.omnicontests3.com/ [more inside]
posted by jkl345 on Dec 4, 2007 - 2 answers

Help me win a pie making competition. [more inside]
posted by djstig on Oct 23, 2007 - 8 answers

In China, what (unique) challenges do the locals face in getting a good job? [more inside]
posted by gttommy on Sep 16, 2007 - 7 answers

Help my dad win accolades for his photography. [more inside]
posted by serazin on Aug 19, 2007 - 8 answers

What is this sporting event? Teams compete to move a functioning artillery cannon from one end of an obstacle course to another, requiring them to disassemble, move, and re-assemble the cannon. [more inside]
posted by frogan on May 29, 2007 - 6 answers

What is the strategy behind gas station pricing? Frequently I'll see two gas stations across the street from one another. Basic sales logic would tell you that the two stations need to be price competitive with one another to earn business, since both are equally accessible to customers. Yet often I'll notice that one station's per gallon price is a good $.10 higher than the across the street competitor. Is there a strategy to this than I'm missing? Or just illogical greed?
posted by The Gooch on May 16, 2007 - 30 answers

What's the best way to handle sub-contract work when you're actually doing the work for a competitor? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 18, 2007 - 5 answers

What's the best way to deal with an office rival? [more inside]
posted by Sweetie Darling on Apr 14, 2007 - 14 answers

What, precisely, constitutes a film premiere? [more inside]
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup on Apr 12, 2007 - 5 answers

Will my site be destroyed by a competitor? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 21, 2006 - 12 answers

I'm starting a photography competition between my friends. Help me out with subject and grading ideas! [more inside]
posted by JackarypQQ on Jul 25, 2006 - 9 answers

I've written a play. What should I do with it? [more inside]
posted by scarylarry on Jun 27, 2006 - 12 answers

Is there a standard or generally accepted methodology for determining the optimal number of byes needed, and in which round they should occur, in a single-elimination tournament? [more inside]
posted by dafair on Apr 28, 2006 - 13 answers

Is this a scam?
posted by ajbattrick on Sep 6, 2005 - 15 answers

What is the best way to defeat someone in a competition who already believes that they have won?
posted by alpinist on Jun 26, 2005 - 13 answers

My company is considering sponsoring a website design contest for grades K-12, with an informational theme. (We're a public utility.) I'm trying to find out how many such contests we might be competing with. Where do teachers go to find contests/competitions like this for their students? So far, I know about ThinkQuest, Global Virtual Classroom, and CyberFair. In addition to these large national/international contests, are there any Midwest-area website competitions for kids/teens?
posted by Joleta on Mar 6, 2005 - 1 answer

How do I get into competitive sailing? Primarily multi-hull open ocean regattas? (mi) [more inside]
posted by omidius on Jan 26, 2005 - 4 answers

For an e-mail to management, I need some quick examples of technically superior products that lost out in the marketplace to inferior competition, much as Beta did to VHS. I'm drawing a blank, and my mad google skilz suq.
posted by mojohand on Oct 12, 2004 - 14 answers

What international tournaments exist that might be thought of as "mental" Olympics? (That is, they contain a range of competitions based on intellect, strategy, problem-solving, mental arithmetic, etc...)
posted by badstone on Aug 17, 2004 - 7 answers

I recently competed in the College Bowl National tournament (check out www.collegebowl.com) and I'm kinda hooked on this academic competition thing now. Does anyone know of any competitions or clubs or groups in the Seattle area that deal with this kind of competition (College Bowl, NAQT, Quiz Bowl, etc.)? I don't want to have to wait a year to do this again.
posted by Slimemonster on May 20, 2004 - 5 answers

I missed American Idol (not that I, um, watch, or anything), who was voted off tonight?
posted by Grod on May 19, 2004 - 16 answers

Anyone have any experience submitting a website to coolsiteoftheday.com? Is it worth the expense? How stiff is the competition?
posted by banished on Feb 8, 2004 - 5 answers