A few months ago I read about French-Canadian immigration into the U.S. from the 1840s to 1930s. Evidently, some of these immigrants established "Little Canadas." I'd like to learn more about them. [more inside]
posted by Korou on Aug 31, 2009 - 17 answers

What is the real reason for [X]? [more inside]
posted by lunchbox on Jul 25, 2009 - 42 answers

How accurate are the media portrayals of young people engaging in risky sexual behaviors? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jul 8, 2009 - 54 answers

Books about Peru & Bolivia? [more inside]
posted by UbuRoivas on May 18, 2009 - 10 answers

Looking for variety of different podcasts or radio shows to listen to. Please give me many recommendations. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Mar 3, 2009 - 16 answers

Is it rational for me to become irritated when I see people with their windshield wipers on full speed when there is only a light drizzle? Does this irritate anyone else?
posted by ascetic on Feb 19, 2009 - 59 answers

Please help me learn more about cultures different from my own? [more inside]
posted by netbros on Jan 15, 2009 - 12 answers

What if we made a "week" 10 days long? [more inside]
posted by jasondbarr on Dec 11, 2008 - 34 answers

Who was the Ur-Paris? Who were the Paris Hiltons of yesteryear? Whenever I find myself in conversation with people-who-think-they're-smarter-than-everyone, I know that I will soon be subjected to a rant about how we now live in the most facile of times, obsessed with celebrities like Paris Hilton. I'd like to hear arguments for the opposing view: that this is nothing new, that, throughout history, it has always been human nature to be interested in the lives of certain people... [more inside]
posted by surenoproblem on Oct 5, 2008 - 50 answers

Looking for off the beaten path podcasts and ways to find podcasts online. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 15, 2008 - 10 answers

How do you fake American? [more inside]
posted by lpsguy on Apr 10, 2008 - 66 answers

I've decided that I want to research / work in the development of strong, sustainable local communities using social networks, web and mobile technologies and urban design practice (particularly new urbanism). The problem is, I don't know how or where to get started in this field. [more inside]
posted by pipstar on Mar 19, 2008 - 1 answer

I'm looking for books where the author immerses himself in an experience and then writes about it [more inside]
posted by reenum on Feb 7, 2008 - 54 answers

Are there any books that take a Freakonomics like approach to explaining and analyzing urban sprawl? [more inside]
posted by stedman15 on Feb 6, 2008 - 14 answers

Looking for books that talk about aspects of society or culture in new and interesting ways. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jan 10, 2008 - 20 answers

I'm considering applying for a maths PhD in Singapore. I'm from the UK. I'd like some thoughts on living there for an extended period. As far as I can tell there's been a certain degree of liberalization recently - any opinion on that?
posted by topynate on Nov 28, 2007 - 7 answers

Books about Burma? [more inside]
posted by UbuRoivas on Nov 19, 2007 - 17 answers

What was the greatest thing before sliced bread came along? [more inside]
posted by yellowbinder on Nov 19, 2007 - 30 answers

What are some good books and magazines related to social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, and the Fourth Sector? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Oct 9, 2007 - 4 answers

What's the difference between "society" and "culture"? [more inside]
posted by imposster on Sep 24, 2006 - 5 answers

What were some of the most idyllic communities to have ever existed? I’m not looking for opinions, I’m looking for hard anthropological examples or studies that have been carried out on such cultures. [more inside]
posted by heylight on Aug 29, 2006 - 9 answers

I'm having trouble tracking down information about a movement in Dada-ist Art I heard about a few years ago. From what I remember Dadaist idealism inspired a group of artists to contemplate the organic development of urban environments. Art, using the defined structure of the city, to reflect the chaotic order which arises from nature. Did this century old movement exist or has my brain made it up?
posted by 0bvious on Apr 26, 2006 - 10 answers

Using music to understand the French riots? [more inside]
posted by northernsoul on Nov 17, 2005 - 18 answers

Why are countries and most people against secession? [more inside]
posted by Hobgoblin on Oct 17, 2005 - 29 answers

Why is the marijuana usage rate in Japan (0.05%) so much lower than anywhere else?
posted by Tlogmer on Sep 9, 2005 - 36 answers

It strikes me that English doesn't have any good words for genitalia. I attribute this to our repressed culture. Any words for our naughty parts are either porn words, schoolkid words, or clinical. Can anyone think of some good words for the privates? (Obviously there will be some raw language inside this question.) [more inside]
posted by jojopizza on May 17, 2005 - 73 answers

Why are "aunt" and "uncle", emplyed in a nonfamilial sense, used as terms of endearment and honorifics in so many societies?
posted by deafmute on Mar 31, 2005 - 17 answers

I once read a book that talked about Time and how the concept of time is different in each culture. It mentioned this: In the US we would make a doctors appointment at 3pm and we made sure to show up at this time and would expect to be served at or close to this time...in another country you set the appointment for 3pm, but your would arrive about 4pm and the doctor would get to you until 5pm and thats how life is there... [more inside]
posted by matthelm on Mar 6, 2005 - 8 answers

Question about mental health and the developing world. More inside. [more inside]
posted by plep on Jun 20, 2004 - 7 answers

Has anyone found a place on the Internet that describes the culture of different places in the United Staes? (sorry if this is a bit US-centric). Having lived in eight states in my twenty two years, I've found a vast difference in many respects --- i was thinking that a neat project would be to start a web site where people could submit reviews and comments about cities/neighborhoods, etc....especially given how often people move to new, unknown places these days. Thoughts? is there something like this out there? (And i'm not counting something like epinions.com, they're almost always overwhelming positive, and not that helpful)
posted by jare2003 on Jan 13, 2004 - 8 answers