Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with guide

My manager always teach a specific individual within my department?

Mountain28 — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:46:11 -0800

My manager always teach a specific individual within my department. I find this unfair and annoying at random times. Am I too sensitive/jealous about this situation? What advice do you have for me? Anyone experience the same situation? Anyone here know what my manager is planning to do? Is it time for me to look for a new job? That individual gets extra assistance and help without asking. The "individual" I refer to is a coworker that started 8 months before I joined the team. He gets to learn twice as fast due to tips given by the manager.

Whereas, another coworker and I who started on the same day need to figure things out on our own. We do request for assistance sometimes however the conversation with the manager is usually very short, brief, and vague. Whereas, that individual gets extra attention and my manager would sometimes ask how is he doing, etc. My manager also assign more interesting tasks/projects to that individual to make him more well-rounded (as if my manager is trying to promote him to the next level).

I don't have a problem self-learning by reading internal documents. This is what I have been doing for a year or so. But, it's not enough to catch up to that individual's knowledge without actually working on a wide range of tasks.

Nutchance of making this succeed without help

MuffinMan — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:04:51 -0800

I'm looking for a guide to how to set up and use Nutch, Solr and Drupal. Particularly Nutch and Solr. I have never coded before. I am, as per the books, a complete dummy. I am competent in using Microsoft Office products, for whatever that is worth. I have a reasonable user understanding of what Nutch, Solr and Drupal do and have read up on them. I have worked on development projects in the content management space before as a project owner.

I now want to try them out for myself (before writing a spec to hand over to 3rd party developers) so I can at least get a sense of what is what.

Online tutorials like this assume more knowledge of the very basics than I have. For example, the instructions for setting up Nutch say:

1. Setup Nutch from binary distribution

- Download a binary package (apache-nutch-1.X-bin.zip) from here.
- Unzip your binary Nutch package. There should be a folder apache-nutch-1.X.
- cd apache-nutch-1.X/ [HUH?]
- From now on, we are going to use ${NUTCH_RUNTIME_HOME} to refer to the current directory (apache-nutch-1.X/).

I am using a mac, and am a recent switcher from PCs.

I don't mind paying for access to content or buying books. I already own the most recent Packt guide on Solr which makes sense to me as long as I ignore the parts that talk about coding. I don't mind paying someone to sit down and show me step by step how this works. Apparently you can set up a basic notch web crawl in one hour. I suspect this is not the case for me.

Is there a guide out there for complete beginners? Failing that, does anybody know a good, cheap London-based person who could sit me down and give me a basic tutorial in this stuff?

Recommendation for a guided tour in Beijing?

handful of rain — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:59:52 -0800

I have a free day in Beijing in March and am looking for recommendations for a guided tour. Can you help? In March I'll be on a long work trip through India and China, and will find myself with a weekend in Beijing free. For one of the days, a Sunday, I'd really like to see some of the highlights of the city. I've traveled/lived internationally before and usually love to spend a free day in a new city with extensive walking and exploring on my own, but the language factor for me (I speak no Mandarin and have never been to China) is very intimidating. Since this trip is very much a business trip, and I have a one-day respite from work, I'm just hoping to get a glimpse of the surface of Beijing (eg Forbidden City, The Great Wall, maybe a meal someplace) without being overwhelmed by the details and logistics of getting around. My ideal scenario would be find someone who speaks English well enough and can take me around the city in a private car.

A cursory Google search returns some promising hits, but I'd really love personal recommendations (or to tell me why this is a terrible idea, etc). The fact I'm a solo traveler makes my search a little odd, too - although I wouldn't be averse to joining a group tour, I suppose, I'd also be open to paying more for a private one. Thanks in advance for your help!

PS - just to head off the question, I'm trying to avoid asking advice from my Beijing colleagues because I don't want it to be interpreted as "please spend your Sunday away from your family and take me to the Great Wall." Even if they truly would be thrilled to do this, as I'm in the middle of a long work trip I would dearly love to not make work-related small talk for the whole day.

Best of the Best: Your Best Gift Guides

tenaciousd — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:42:30 -0800

I'm looking for more gift guides like these. What do you have? I usually get pretty short wish lists this time of year. Ideally I would’ve followed this advice from a related question, but here I am.

I’m looking for gifts ideas under $100 (no Robb Report gift guides please). The adults who I’m shopping for like to read, are into sports, gadgets, crafts, their dog. A couple are near retirement, like to garden, and are very Catholic.

The kids (8 and 6 years old) love Legos, are creative/artistic, active, and like games.

I also need a white elephant gift for work.

_______ 101

Yiggs — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:39:13 -0800

I love when people put together "syllabi" as introductions to obscure or prolific artists or media, that specify the "proper" order a body of work should be introduced in order to get the best experience. This was inspired by this recent comment; a similar one I remember is here. The AV Club's Gateways to Geekery feature is also quite good. Please provide me with more of this type of guide! I'm primarily interested in books, music and film/TV (genres, artists, etc.), but am also open to other subjects. (I also enjoyed Witold Gombrowicz's A Guide to Philosophy in Six Hours and Fifteen Minutes, for example.) I'm interested in both published guides like this and personal guides to people's pet interests.

Rune priest ability tracker?

Aanidaani — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:41:57 -0800

Nerd alert: I'm playing a new rune priest in D&D. The class has tons of active and passive area effects to keep track of, which makes it both fun and challenging. Does anyone know of a worksheet I can use to make this easier? Something that I could glance at quickly to see what effects are active. I can certainly write one myself, but I'd like to save time if possible. Thanks!

Recommend a surf instructor / school for one-time intermediate "lesson" in Santa Cruz?

ElGuapo — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:56:44 -0800

Recommend a surf instructor / school for one-time intermediate "lesson" in Santa Cruz? I've got half a day and want to get wet, and want some local knowledge to help pick the equipment & spot, plus help me improve. I'm headed out to San Francisco for work next week and will have Friday off. I want to get in the water on Friday before spending the weekend with extended family. I'll have a car and will be staying in Santa Clara for the weekend.

I'm a reasonably skilled but mediocre surfer - no airs or buckets of spray here, but I've spent multiple vacation weeks in Nosara CR and can handle myself in surf up to about head high. OTOH, I'm really uncomfortable paddling out at an unfamiliar location solo.

I'm considering paying for a 2-hr lesson so I'd be hooked up with board / wetsuit / spot selection appropriate for the swell and my skill level. Pie in the sky: I'd like the opportunity to surf decent (non-extreme) waves in a reasonably mellow lineup with some feedback.

I've found a few places on Google, but they all advertise as catering to beginners. I'm willing to pay a premium (but not too much) for a fiberglass/epoxy board rental and local knowledge to somewhere besides Cowells.

Any suggestions for a reputable / fun outfit? Should I look up the coast a bit, like Pacifica?

How do you get into Nature? Publish, publish, publish!

bluefly — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:15:14 -0800

Can you recommend a good book/guide to writing scientific research papers (for publication)? I've always written papers with experienced collaborators, but I'm now writing my first paper where I'm by myself. So, I thought I might see what the latest advice is for writing journal papers - advice in book/written form (as opposed to the live, experienced human form I've had before). I'm writing in the biomedical/statistics field. Thanks!

Order my zombie.

Frasermoo — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:15:38 -0800

I have three folders on my Kindle.. Fiction, Non-fiction and Reference. Where do I place 'The Zombie Survival Guide'?

Can anyone provide resources for learning to be in a healthy long-term relationship?

just.good.enough — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:33:32 -0800

Can anyone provide resources for learning to be in a healthy long-term relationship? It's been two months since I came out of a three year relationship and I realized a lot of it was unhealthy. I came out of this one with a lot of my core beliefs tossed around. I realized I'm more sexist than I thought I was. I can be emotionally manipulative. I realized that the relationships I see my family have are not as healthy as they could be.

It seems like people figure out what they want in a relationship by piecing together some messy amalgam of what they see from family, friends, and media (books, movies, etc). This can be good and bad, depending on what they seed that pool with.

So I remember flipping through a copy of the Five Love Languages by Chapman. I thought a lot of it was applicable and not too hokey.

So can anyone provide good books or websites that at least give the spectrum of how to proceed in a relationship? I just want to see more examples of what people consider to be healthy habits so I can add it to my existing pool of data points.

I understand that it ultimately comes down to talking to your partner and coming to an agreement about what you each expect, and I'm not looking for rigid guidelines. I know the spectrum is wide. There are polyamorous people. There are insanely jealous people that make it work. There are different levels of dependence.

Legal issues of writing a book about a video game?

joshrholloway — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:26:01 -0800

What legal issues might I run into when writing an instructional guide book for a video game? I'm interested in writing a tutorial/manual/instruction manual/guide book for a relatively popular video game. I'd like to publish the book in electronic and (eventually) physical form, and charge a nominal fee for it.

Am I allowed to use trademarked terms, such as the name of the game, characters, etc.? Am I allowed to use screenshots of the game? For an enhanced ebook, what about videos? I know that fair use can generally cover works created for educational purposes, but does that mean I can't charge for it?

Also, to throw another monkey wrench into the works, the developer of the game is not in the US, so are there special international laws that apply here?

(Yes, I know you are not my lawyer.)

But I know they're not Lost in the Trees

Issithe — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:00:31 -0800

I heard this band I really liked when I was at work around 11pm central standard time, on Jimmy Fallon, two Fridays ago. They were a mostly African American band playing rock. I had my husband check the cable guide when he got home and he says that they were a band called Lost in the Trees. I looked them up and they are a white blue grass band. My google-fu has failed me. Who was this band I liked so much?

Looking for a local tour guide to show me around Dhaka, Bangladesh

ghostpony — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:02:53 -0800

I am in Dhaka, Bangladesh for a few weeks visiting my girlfriend who is doing research on water and sanitation. While she is busy at work, I was hoping to do some exploration. She's asking around, but most of the people she works with are public-health professionals from out of the country, or Bangladeshis who are already too busy to deal with some non-desi like me. Given my lack of Bangla language abilities compounded by my overwhelming whiteness (6'3", blonde hair, blue eyes) I was hoping to find a guide to show me around some of the less touristed areas. Does the wondrous community of AskMeFi have any suggestions? Or, know any locals who might be up for the job? I don't have a ton of resources (read: $$$), but a little seems to go a long way here. AskMeFi, Help me get my adventure on in Dhaka!

Not your average NYC tourist guide

wolfr — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:58:36 -0800

I'm visiting New York City for the second time. The first time I was there for a month and travelled alone and did little of the "tourist" stuff. Now I'm going with my girlfriend who hasn't seem the city yet. I'm looking for personal experiences instead of general tourist guide style descriptions. This could be anything from your personal answer to this post or links to travel stories, people's travel blogs, etc. The regular websites (e.g. NYmag.com, NY Times) and listings about NYC don't tell me much. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places.

I'm purposefully not describing my interests or what I've already seen: I'm open to anything.

Thanks!

japan gift for a 12 year old

Snower — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:21:36 -0800

Japan-themed gift for a 12 year old boy. He's interested in anime, video games, and all things Japanese (even though he doesn't really know that much about Japan). A book with lots of photos would be great, but adult ones have too many words, and kids ones have too little real info. This book looks perfect, but it's not releasing until this summer.

Looking for Serious Bowling Online Resources

johnstein — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:42:07 -0800

I need serious bowling resources. (online forums, buying guides, technical discussions, SCIENCE!, etc) I've bowled a LOT in my life. My relatives owned the bowling alley in my small town and I worked there for years ($2 bucks an hour + all the free bowling I could squeeze in before leagues started, which was usually 10-20 games).

I've never really had any formal coaching/training except from my parents/uncles (who have bowled all their lives) and lots of practice with my brothers.

At my best, I probably averaged 190 or so and mainly used my Dad's old bowling balls after he upgraded (often yearly).

It's been almost 10 years since I've bowled in a league and I'm wanting to get back into it, but I haven't bought a bowling ball in over 10 years, and even then, I didn't do a bunch of research beyond price.

So, I've got a pretty good intuition on how to bowl and roughly the style of shot I want to throw (mid-range, stroker, not-a-crazy-hook-shot), but I honestly have no clue where to look for good technical information.

Ideally, I'd like to find a decent online-forum that encourages technical discussion of bowling mechanics and even have good information on the types of bowling balls available these days.

All of my google searches are flooded with flashy advertisements or cater to the complete beginner (here's how to hold a bowling ball and how to throw it, etc) or the "laser lights" type of bowling experiences.

Anyone know of any good resources?

Please suggest guides for a new homeowner

slavlin — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:28:49 -0800

I am a new home owner after 19 years of living in dorms or apartments. I want to make sure that I keep it in the best condition possible. I am looking for suggestions of guide books and websites which others have found useful for a new homeowner. I am looking to cover basic maintenance and lawn/garden care. I have found several but have no idea which ones are actually good.

How to find a reputable hunting trip guide or operator in southern California?

ccl6yl — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:30:07 -0800

How do I find a high-quality hunting trip operator or arranger, for California (preferably in southern California)? I was asked to arrange one for a bachelor party, but haven't the foggiest idea how to find a reputable guide or organizer. I've asked around and googled but with no success. We're looking for a hunt involving a larger animal, but could go smaller or with water fowl depending on the budget. I know there are many who find hunting objectionable (and I'm not exactly a fan, either), but this would mean a lot for the bachelor, and I'd love to make this happen for him. Thanks!

Is There a Guidebook for Being a Swiss Expat in the United States?

Xalf — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:00:13 -0800

Please recommend a guidebook for a Swiss person moving to the United States. I'm looking for this as a (slightly humorous) gift for an American who has been living in Switzerland for three years and is now moving back to the U.S. It should be something along the lines of Spain: The Expat Survival Guide, but for a Swiss person being an expat in the U.S. The giftee has been living in Lausanne, so something aimed at people from the French-speaking part of Switzerland would be best, but it's not a requirement.

Wait, so whitetail aren't arboreal?

Netzapper — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:15:47 -0800

Where can I find somebody to teach me how to hunt deer? (Next season, in Pennsylvania.) People who hunt seem to primarily be descendants of people who hunt(ed). Nobody in my family has hunted for several generations, and so it's been totally lost. But, I love venison, and I shoot (several hundred rounds a month), and goddamnit, I want to go deer hunting next year.

So, how can I find somebody who'll teach me to hunt? Obviously, I need to take the hunter education course. But, it's focused on how to hunt safely, and less on how to hunt successfully. I'm an autodidact in nearly everything, but I really don't think taking the course, reading a book, putting on the camo, and then wandering around in the woods with a rifle is really a good way to learn.

I'm not opposed to hiring a guide, if that's the best solution. But, are they really going to be able to deal with a 27-year-old first-time hunter who's likely to make fundamental mistakes before even showing up? Do guides even do deer, or would I then need to start with something more exotic (and out-of-state)? What might the price range be for something like this?

i'll leaf it up to you guys

kidsleepy — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 12:01:07 -0800

What's the best tree identification guide out there? Something pretty, but informative, but not too over my head, but not dumbed-down either. Looking for something a layperson can use when out on a walk. Eastern US would be best, but North America in general would also work. There's a bunch of options on Amazon, but all the commenters seem to recommend the other books and I can't decide.

I just know MeFi is harboring some amateur arborists that can point me in the right direction.

Apps for Airports?

The Whelk — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:48:38 -0800

iPad as Hitchiker's Guide: I've got a couple weeks of travel coming up and I want to carry as little as possible. To wit, I want to bring my iPad as my portable Internet Device and I was wondering what apps would make it the perfect travel companion. Which apps have saved your life enroute? What do you wish you had? Internet access may be spotty so I'm looking at more offline apps.

Need the best ACCUPLACER study guide!

senseofsurreal — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:01:39 -0800

What is the best study guide for the ACCUPLACER? I am returning to school after 15 or so years and I have to take the ACCUPLACER but really need to brush up on everything. There are a lot of study guides out there but I need to know which one is the best for my money?

What makes a great Walking Tour?

jontyjago — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:06:23 -0800

What makes for a good city tour? If you've ever been on a walking tour of a city, what made it great? What didn't you like? I'm going to be running some walking tours of Buenos Aires over the next few months. They will be for paying customers (25-40 year olds for the most part) and I'm free to decide the schedule (approx 4 hours) and route. I have some ideas on how to make the tour a little different, focussing on less touristy, but still interesting areas of the city and information on Argentine culture and language and what it's like to live here rather than be a simple tourist (I've been here on and off for nearly 2 years, so I know the main areas pretty well).

What things have you been shown on a tour that were a little different and made you feel you were seeing something that otherwise you would have missed? What sort of information were you given? What sort of thing would you like to be shown (not just Buenos Aires, but in general) when visiting a city for the first time? Was the guide casual? Formal? Funny?

giftfilter: compost guide for a noob

Ufez Jones — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:55:59 -0800

My Mom has a birthday coming up. She's very interested in beginning to compost at her home. Can you recommend a good book, guide, or other handy something something that would be especially handy for an older (retired) noob that I could give as a present?