Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dark

What might one see hiking in the woods at night that looks like glowing eyes?

weston — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:31:52 -0800

What might one see hiking in the woods at night that looks like glowing eyes? A couple of years ago I was part of a hiking party of three to some hot springs in Utah (Diamond Fork). We started late and took a trail we didn't know well. Two hours into the hike, not only were we not finding our destination, but the woods were getting denser and darker, blocking the moonlight, and we were getting progressively more spooked. About 1 am, we stopped to discuss turning around and giving up. This was when a random flashlight probe into the nearby trees revealed... two spark-ish points light that looked for all the world like eyes.

We held the beam there for a moment and asked amongst ourselves to see if everybody thought the same thing. Each of us confirmed this.

Now, at this point, we were pretty much thinking/hoping it might be reflections of dew, or maybe some woodland creature like an owl or a deer. When we moved the flashlight beam away for a bit to test the reflection theory... the points of light remained.

We moved the beam back. The points were still there. We stared for a bit and again asked each other for visual confirmation, getting increasingly nervous. Then they were gone.

We decided to get back as quickly as possible.

Any ideas what we might have seen?

(While I appreciate the fact that the human mind has a large capacity to play tricks on itself, I'm particularly interested in other explanations.)

I want him to know I can relate to his dark side but how to bring it up after the fact?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:25:45 -0800

How do I properly initiate contact with a person who dumped me because he thought I may not sexually accept the way he is? How can I let him know that I'm the same way too? This is hard to ask but I am not sure how to go about it. For anyone who has advice... how would you go about letting the friend who dated you but distanced away due to dark sexual matters, know you are actually into the same thing? You see, I lead on to make him believe that I don't have the capability to be into S&M, however, part of me really is. I just need to trust them first. I noticed he was trying to incorporate some subtle hints but was too scared to go all the way with me. He never bothered to ask. It was less than 4 months of dating but I truly feel he doesn't know that I totally get him. I was just scared to go there with him. We check on each other once in a while but I want to go to the next level to tell him I can relate to his dark matter. Is there anyone here who understands the distance and embarrassment of what he might be going through? I know I may not be asking correctly but if you need more detail you can email me at IamNotHere87@gmail.com

I'm too old for this $#!&

the NATURAL — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:30:47 -0800

My bedroom creeps me the #%^* out. What can I do to alleviate my (somewhat) irrational fears? (hacks, consumer products, etc.) I'm 9 months into living in an old, ollllld house -- one with lots of creaks and cracks. Add that to my incessantly hyperactive and paranoid imagination, and I have a lot of trouble sleeping.

For a while at first, I was sleeping with the light on. Then, I ended up taking care of my cousin's dog, and things got a lot better. However, I still have a flagrantly hyperactive imagination. After I saw The Ring and The Grudge in fits of self-masochism, I had trouble sleeping for weeks. Even now, I don't even need to see the previews of movies like Paranormal Activity for me to start getting creeped out. Right now, the dog is sound asleep on the bed, but here I am typing (and jumpy)...

As such, it's not really burglars/criminals/etc. that I worry about (humans, I can deal with), but the imaginary (and not-so imaginary) hibbidyjibby creepers. When I used to live in urban Philly, the ambient street noise at night was an excellent lullaby. Now, in suburban Honolulu, the quiet just accentuates the bumps.

I've read a little into the previous MeFi posts on this topic, and while they're somewhat useful I still can't seem to dispel the feelings of vulnerability and fear that I feel when I turn the lights out. For me, that period between lights out and sleep is one of the most stressful times of my day.

What can I do/buy/try to make me feel better?

You're one of us now! You don't belong to them anymore. Accept your fate!

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:40:57 -0800

Can anyone recommend some good books, TV shows, movies, or video games about people who battle it out with literal inner demons? I've noticed that I'm drawn to a particular plot: I really enjoy stories in which people with a dark side struggle against their darker half.

Are there any really good examples of this plot that you can recommend? I'm particularly interested in books, but other types of media are fair game. Despite the speculative nature of my request, I'm also open to more "metaphorical" examples of this idea.

I've noticed this trope is very common in shounen anime and manga. The Vizards of Bleach have the sort of quality I dig. When Ichigo had just discovered he was a Vizard, there were several tension-filled chapters in which he constantly fought for control of his human senses.

Another example is the Prince/Dark Prince dynamic of The Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. I love how the Prince is forced to push against the Dark Prince's advances--and how much the Prince acquiesces at first.

Obviously, the seduction of the Dark Side of the Force is a classic idea.

Vampire and werewolf stories are OK, but I'm picky. Lament of the Lamb has the type of vampire plot I like: subtle and more psychological.

I'm finding what I'm searching for a little hard to describe. I suppose here are two ideas to keep in mind: stories in which the hero is taunted by the darkness he's transforming into ("One of us! One of us!") and stories in which the hero fights against something monstrous from within.

If you have any fanfic recs of some of the series I've mentioned that focus on the inner turmoil, I'd love them as well.

Dark circles under the eyes

page123 — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:36:33 -0800

What is the best treatment for dark circles under the eyes specifically for southasian skin type?

Shooting video in the dark on a budget

segatakai — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:37:46 -0800

Please help me prepare for taking video in the dark next month! I know very little about taking video and I need help preparing for an event where I won't have any second chances for re-shooting. I am going to an event at the beginning of May. It is an event to which I have been before, where people parade through the dark down a mountain path carrying paper lanterns, while chanting/singing. The scene is, IMHO, breathtaking, and I would like to record it, if at all possible. I have had some (minor) success getting some still shots, but it's video, really, that I most want here, as the bobbing and swaying of the lanterns in the dark, along with the chanting, is really magical.

What can I do to record this event? I don't need to get the whole thing -- if I can get even a 30 second stretch, I'll be very pleased (of course, the more the merrier), and I'm willing to try (the same or different things) over and over during the 20-30 minute event. I can't use any extra light source, as it will ruin the atmosphere for other participants. I will have a tripod, but often won't have time to find a spot to set up, as I'll be trudging through the dark on a sloped, rocky mountain path along with everyone else, but from time to time I can try to move ahead and get set up for when everyone comes past. I know I can use the "nightshot" feature on my video camera, but I'm not happy with the "space-video" look that results. I haven't tried it out yet, but I suspect the infrared mode will have similar odd-looking video, and probably won't carry far enough anyway.

What would a professional filmmaker do? Would they have a "million dollar" camera that would do this (in a way that my consumer model simply can't)? Would they do this mainly in post-production (if so, what kind of things would they do)? What are the important settings on my video camera in this setting: obviously exposure, but white balance? ae shift? wb shift? anything else? The camera is a Sony HDR-HC3. Know any good tutorials for making these kind of adjustments to exposure (etc) settings? Any and all suggestions most welcome! Thanks!

HOW IMAXED THE WATCHMEN IS

mwhybark — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:25 -0800

Has anyone seen both the IMAX and general-release versions of Watchmen? -> I'm trying to decide which version to see and searching Google for direct comparisons, clearly stating how the IMAX version differs from the large-release version, is, well, let's just say it's not something that runs like clockwork.

SPECIFICALLY:

was the IMAX version recomposited to fit the IMAX aspect ratio (a la Apollo 13 IMAX)?,

OR

was the film been treated more like the recent Dark Knight film?

The Dark Knight II Electric Boogaloo (or whatever the official title may be) was shown in the standard wide screen ratio until certain set-piece FX sequences were presented in the IMAX format and once the set-piece sequence was completed the film returned to the standard ratio.

Please to hope me, film geeks!

Don't let my jeans go light on me.

simplethings — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:35:02 -0800

Can you recommend a brand of jeans that doesn't fade (or fades relatively slowly)? I'd also appreciate any tips you have to maintain color. I love dark denim. I only wear dark denim but I find myself regularly buying new pairs of jeans (more often than I can really afford) because the color fades too quickly.

90% of my jeans are from Express Mens. I find that their jeans fit me really well. Of the jeans I purchase these fade the fastest. After only 3 months the jeans are no longer dark navy, but a medium, worn out, grey-ish blue. (Side note: most of the jeans I buy from there warn that the jeans will fade for a worn-in look... for some reason I keep telling myself that maybe this pair won't fade as much as the last pair)

I recently bought a pair of Calvin Klein jeans that are a bit too loose and baggy but have mostly maintained their intense dark blue color for a good 6 months. I'll probably check out more CK jeans in the future but I'd like some other suggestions.

I take decent care of my jeans. I wash them in cold water (with detergent and fabric softener) approximately every other week or once a month depending on use.
Sometimes I iron them, but I'd be willing to stop or increase ironing if that helps maintain color.
I store jeans that are dark enough on hangers in my closet.

A few more notes:
I'm male
Color and fade resistance are more important than fit... but I still like a good, fitted pair
I'd prefer not spending more than $75 on one pair
I'd want to try before I buy so stores near me would be awesome (I live in the US. Illinois to be exact.) ... on-line stores, not so awesome.
I will not not wash my jeans. I heard some people suggest this and just aggressively Febreeze... but, I prefer cleanliness.

Rough sounding European folk music?

Baby_Balrog — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:02:01 -0800

Help me identify this band I heard. Hungarian / Russian / Czech / Other Easter European folk orchestra? It was very dark and haunting kind of folk ensemble. First you might hear a solo female voice, very ... warbly. And then a whole chorus would come in, also very rough sounding. There were cymbals, bass drums and tubas. Almost all in a minor key. Sounded like something you'd hear during a 19th century peasant's funeral, maybe.

I've been searching for this music forever, it was so beautiful.

Any ideas? FWIW I heard it when I was living with British expats overseas.

Give us a soundtrack for our walk away from the apocalypse

millipede — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:47:46 -0800

I am looking for songs that call to mind (music-wise, rather than lyrics-wise) the rather specific feeling of walking or driving away from a great disaster that has left one greatly scarred, but alive: Post-apocalyptic victory songs. My roommate and I are having concurrent miseries. We were putting together misery playlists and realized that we didn't really want SAD songs, per se, but songs more of this strange nature. She described it as music that calls to mind driving away from something, through a desert. I'm thinking it's music that is a fitting soundtrack for walking over a bridge away from a burning city that nearly consumed you and that you helped destroy. We are being figurative.

Some examples of music that fits:
"And I" by Portugal.The Man
"Malagueña Salerosa" performed by Chingon
"Gold Dust Woman," Hole's version
"The Show Must Go On" by Queen
"House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals
"I Luv the Valley OH " by Xiu Xiu
"Zoo York" by Paul Oakenfold
"Every Me Every You" by Placebo
"Silence Is Golden by The Tremeloes

Basically, we are looking for dark, churning, vaguely hollow-sounding songs with a sad or bittersweet edge. Lyrical content is not especially important--it's that sound I'm looking for.

Utah after dark

slightlybewildered — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:30:29 -0800

My husband is going to be staying in Provo, Utah, next week for work (visiting from New Zealand). He's busy during the day. What are the highlights for dinner food and things-to-see-at-night? He has a rental car. He probably won't want to drive more than an hour from the hotel in Provo. But he doesn't want to spend his evenings channel surfing either.

True or false: blonde hair will regrow darker if plucked?

Ampa — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:02:47 -0800

True or false: blonde hair will regrow darker if plucked? My partner is reluctant to wax or tweaze her body hair because a 'professional' told her that any light / blonde hairs would regrow dark / black.

Is there any truth in this?

Where can I take a vacation for epic stargazing?

BuddhaInABucket — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:31:32 -0800

Where can I go for the awesomest stargazing possible? I randomly had the idea to take a vacation for the purpose of going stargazing. I understand that I'm asking for something contradictory, but what are the darkest places on earth that are not extremely difficult to get to? I want to see the milky way like our ancestors saw it before electricity. I've only ever seen the milky way in the sky once, in 1989, and when I visited the same spot in 2003, there wasn't a star in the sky (outer Tehran, for those curious).

Are there tours that cater to this desire? I'm based in Southern California and would prefer to stay in the western hemisphere if possible, but don't let that stop you from making your other suggestions.

What else sounds like the Quake soundtrack?

Black Spring — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:24:57 -0800

I'm looking for music similar to the Quake 1 soundtrack. I enjoyed Quake's threatening, ambient soundtrack of bestial breathing, eerie heartbeats, distant screams, blasts of wind, weird dronings...
What other music sounds similar?
So far I've found Lustmord and Sun O))), and I'd like some more suggestions. This stuff really helps me concentrate!

So SAD. Illuminate me.

desuetude — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:42:27 -0800

I've been aware of a tendency toward winter blues for many years, but this winter is really kicking my ass already. I think I'm ready to look into a little treatment, and I'd like some advice. Yep, I've read all of the previous AskMes on this. Has anyone found getting a "real" diagnosis of SAD from their doctor to be particularly helpful? (Or particularly unhelpful?) I get that the tendency is to say that of course one should see a doctor if one thinks one has a medical condition, but I am not suffering from severe depression, I'm not looking for an SSRI prescription, or even a therapist. Really, I'm quite certain that this is just Not Enough Light = Cranky and Exhausted.

I'm pretty sure that some light therapy will do the trick. I do wonder if insurance might partially cover the cost of a light-box? Anyone have any experience with this? It was mentioned in previous threads w/out follow-up.

Getting outside for more light and fresh air would be great...except that the resultant pain from my Raynaud's makes that prospect a bit...depressing.

Sorry to say that I can't go someplace warm for a few weeks, though man oh man, I wish I could.

Anything else to consider adding to my treatment regimen?

Shot in the dark about "Shot in the Dark"

sandra_s — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:13:13 -0800

Where are all of these covers of Henry Mancini's "Shot in the Dark" coming from, and where can I get them? One of my favorite pieces of music is Henry Mancini's "Shot in the Dark".

Over the past month I have heard no fewer than 5 different covers/versions of it. Among others, one was swing, one was more metal, one was very jazzy, one was almost a dance mix.

Unfortunately, I only heard them when I was in a store or restaurant, so I dont know who did them because there wasn't a DJ saying "that was the BlahBlahs with their cover of "Shot in the dark"

Now that I know that they are out there, can anyone point me in the direction of where I can purchase any and all covers/versions of it?

I've found a few live performances on youtube, but I'm looking for actual recordings I can purchase.

Thanks!

Dark skies in western Washington

0xFCAF — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:39:01 -0800

Where can I find some truly dark skies in western Washington state? My fondest childhood memory is sitting out on my relatives' farm in who-knows-where-South Dakota, staring up at a surrealistically bright Milky Way. These days I live in the Seattle area and it's a pretty rare sight to see more than a few stars.

But I now have 9 days of vacation, a week of what appears to be good weather, and a willingness to drive 6+ hours to get to a good place to see the night sky as I remember it (or something close). What are some actual locations (i.e. names, places, parks, whatever) with great stargazing? I'm also willing to do a strenuous hike if that's needed - pretty much anything is in. Bonus points if I can camp out in a bivy sack in said location.

Pre-emptive: The Dark Sky Finder applet is next to worthless - without roads or any other information about how to get there, all it really does it tell me that it's bright where I am (which I already knew).

Andreana Weiner: recent-ish pictures plz?

Quarter Pincher — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:43:57 -0800

Can you find me some more recent pictures of Andreana Weiner, an American actress, other than from the ST:TNG s07e07 "Dark Page" with which co-stars a young Kirsten Dunst? Perhaps someone has Adams Family Values or Red Dragon and could take screenshots? Thanks!

dark chocolate gift ideas

null terminated — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:27:35 -0800

A special lady in my life has an insatiable lust for all things dark chocolate. What outrageous dark chocolate related present can I get for her? If Hershey's 5lb Milk Chocolate bar came in dark, I'd get that. Crazy suggestions are welcome. Also she's far away, so I can't, for example, pump chocolate through her window with a concrete truck.

Effects of solar eclipse spanning decades?

Sevenupcan — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 12:49:00 -0800

Any ideas on the effects of a prolonged solar eclipse, say 10-30 years? We are trying to theorise the possible effects a prolonged solar eclipse would have on the world if it spanned several decades: ie the biological/organic changes that may occur, as well as any immediate effects it may have to human society.

A few ideas/thoughts we had were.

- 'How quickly would the earths natural energy resources deplete without the aid of the sun?'
- 'Would this create an acceleration in certain organic forms evolving/adapting at an increased rate in order to survive?'
- 'How would this initially effect the human biological clock, ie the adjustment from night and day to one constant state.'
- 'Also what would the world look like when the eclipse was over?'
- 'Looking at the current state of quickly using up fossil fuels, if this eclipse was to occur what would be the alternatives for creating new energy sources? ie solar panels dont work with the sun'
- 'Would this bring on an ice age?'

Thank you for your time.

Scared of the Dark

cornflake — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 05:39:08 -0800

Two part question. I'm afraid of the dark. When I go to sleep I either leave the TV going, or the door open and a nearby light on. If I don't do this then I lie in the dark and watch shadows move, I'm on edge, and I lay awake for hours. This would be fine if I was 8, but I'm nearly 30. Am I the only adult in the world with this phobia? I'm planning to travel soon and will be staying in places that don't have a regular electricity supply, so I'll need to be comfortable in the dark.

Catseyes

twine42 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:07:09 -0800

How quickly do other animals react to changes in light, and why are we so slow by comparison? If our cat is running about like a nutcase, and I turn off the lights, she can aparently still see where she's going. She doesn't run into anything or stop dead, yet I can't see a damned thing for a few minutes, and it's about 15 minutes until I can see really clearly.

Why is it that cats can switch so quickly from light sight to night sight? It's obviously not just a case of pupils dilating. And why have we aparently evolved to be so completely crap in the dark? What other animals are as good as cats or as crap as humans?

Do children see darkness as "blacker" than adults?

Bugbread — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 07:05:59 -0800

Do children see darkness as "blacker" than adults? When I was a child, I noticed that in supposed "pitch darkness", I actually saw a large number of really small red, blue, green, and other colored points (somewhat like if you look at a low res digital camera photo of darkness). As an adult, it seems that there are more of these points than there used to be.

I can think of 3 possible likely interpretations:
1) Adult eyes, for some reason, do in fact see more of these dots.
2) It varies from person to person
3) It's my imagination that the number has increased.

Which is it? And, if #1 or #2, why is it?

Why Does Burned Coffee Rule?

ParisParamus — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:06:39 -0800

Why does (what is the psychology of) Starbucks thrive(ing) selling coffee that, it would seem, most people find less than ideal? From speaking with a friends, family, and collegues, I can't recall anyone saying that they actually love Starbucks' coffee. Perhaps I travel in an atypical "coffee circle," but I wonder.

Specifically, why does Starbucks insist on selling medium-to-dark roast coffee exclusively, when, I suspect, most Americans would prefer a good light roast brew (or, why not sell both; dark roast does make sense for frappuccinos, etc.).

Is it that Starbucks has concluded that, given that most people put milk in their coffee, that "burned coffee" (what many call it) is, overall the best compromise?

Is it that people don't really go to Starbucks for the coffee but the ambiance and/or pastry?

Is it that dark coffee, psychologically, has a status/appeal BECAUSE most people don't actually like it? Something else?

trying to remember a childrens book i once read

butterball — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:30:55 -0800

Does anyone remember a childrens book about a place where its dark all the time except for one day a year when the sun comes out? In the story the little gets locked in a closet by other kids on the one day of sun? thanks!