Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with head

Head lice ethics.

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:30:15 -0800

Teenager with head lice. How/who to notify without embarrassing her? After about a week of wondering, we got visual confirmation tonight that my daughter's itchy scalp is, indeed, caused by head lice. She asked to stay home tomorrow while we do the shampoo treatment and wash a hundred loads of laundry, but here's the rub: she slept over at a friend's house on Saturday and used one of her friend's pillows. I feel that I should call her friend's mother and give her a heads-up, but I also remember being 15 and know how utterly humiliated I would have been if any of my friends had known I had lice. Any advice on whether and how to broach this conversation?

Help my son become a model

IndigoSkye — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:15:10 -0800

We just saw the proofs for our 6-year old son's head shots. We've signed up with an agency in town that doesn't charge a fee and only makes money when our son gets a gig. What else can we do to help our son launch his modeling / acting career? Ever since he was an infant everyone has told us to put our son in modeling or acting. We were told by those who have their own kids who did modeling or were in the industry themselves that he has the perfect temperament and was damn cute to boot. But we waited until we knew it was something he wanted to do. It's clear now he wants to be a performer.

So we went and found a reputable agency and got some great head shots. We've started to take him to some commercial shoots (but without compensation, so there's no pressure) to get him accustomed to whats involved in being a model. If at any time he wants to quit, we quit. We're not going to push him, or do the pageant thing, but we want to be as supportive as possible. We hope to use any money he makes from modeling to build his college fund and start him in acting classes outside of school.

What's next? Are there important websites we should list his head shots on? Precautions we should take?

Get this damn tune out of my head

hungrysquirrels — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:23:53 -0800

Any tips for getting a tune out of your head? There's this damn ice cream truck which makes several passes a day with like a 5 second loop of a tune, and it's been struck in my head for about a week. Can't concentrate on my work. I can only imagine how insane the poor driver is by now.

Head Meets Wall a Little Too Enthusiastically

bunnycup — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:03:37 -0800

I just returned from the ER where I was cat-scanned and screened for a concussion. I need some help. One nurse got the call from radiology and said "[my lastname] is a mild concussion" - not to me, but I overheard. About 30 minutes later, a different nurse came and told me my CT was negative, and gave me discharge papers for "head injury". I was told to return if I started throwing up, to have someone wake me every 2-4 hours overnight and to follow up with my GP in 1-2 days. This arises out of hitting my head in an embarrassing manner at about 3am this morning (sober). You are not my doctor and I am not asking for medical advice. I will call my doc in the morning to make the f/u appointment.

But, in the meantime, I am trying to figure out how to keep myself comfortable tonight. The problem is, I don't know whether I have a mild concussion, or just a bad bump, and I don't know if that difference is significant. Also, since this morning, I have been getting a very sore throat and feeling just off - almost but not quite a little flu-ish. Does that HAPPEN with head injuries? Any suggestions on the best way to keep comfy? How long should I expect to feel this way - should I anticipate (will ask my doc in the morning, but want to prepare accordingly) being out of my (office/desk) job for a day or so?

It hurts SO bad, aleve didnt help much, and I am so freezing cold I really would rather not ice it (unless essentially I "have" to). Obvs no one is my doctor, and I will not accept (because you are not offering) medical advice - I will follow my discharge instructions to the letter. I just don't even know WHAT to google, right now.

Auburn drapes

mwhybark — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:58:46 -0800

Wild hair, related to this. I am of truly unknown Northern European ancestry (closed adoption). My hair was brown with auburn highlights before charging on to grey over the past couple years. My abundant beard was always about 30% bright copper red. Am I a redhead gene carrier?

Why is my scalp sore?

cranberrymonger — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:57:40 -0800

Why do I have odd, sensitive patches on my scalp? Sometimes when I wake up, I have feelings of sensitivity in certain areas of my head. These patches are often (but not always) where my hair has been mussed or formed into cowlicks. I have short hair (1-2" long) and the feelings of soreness last for 30-60 minutes. There aren't any tangles.

Can anyone explain why this happens? Please get into as much detail as necessary.

Tips for people with large heads?

zaebiz — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:53:29 -0800

I have always had a large head. The rest of my body is normal-sized but I always takes the largest size hats. I guess I am looking for some perspective now that I am a bit older on how unusual it is, what are the causes, who else has a large head and how they deal with it. It's ok - I don't have any sort of hangup about it - my life is very normal and happy and it was never much of a hindrance (any more than other aspects of my personality were!) but I do wonder how other people view it. I have read for example that there is some demonstrated correlation between autism and head size. I am far from autistic but I guess I exhibit some signs - perhaps difficulty shutting out external input in social situations for example. I have also heard anecdotally from several sources that there is some correlation between intelligence and head size. Any other known medical knowledge? Anyone famous with an over-sized head? Anyone else have such a head? Any fashion tips?

I really don't know what to put here for this...

Mastercheddaar — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:19:02 -0800

My favorite beer commercial ever... I remember it but can't find it. Ok, this was a few years ago. Think mid 90s maybe. This commercial I believe was for a lower level beer like miller high life or maybe Milwaukee's best. Anyways the commercial starts with a curly blond haired floating guy's head floating down a beach talking about poetry. He sees a young couple on the beach setting up a picnic with the beer. The head floats on over and asks nicely for one. The girl freaks out and starts running. The guy grabs an umbrella and starts poking the head with it. This results in the head "head butting" the guy into the beach.

That is the commercial. I would like it if someone could say "Hey I remember that too!" I would love it if someone would say "go here!" My google fu has failed me. I need a great master of the arts to find it for me. Help me Metafilter you are my only hope.

Is there someone in Santa Cruz who can fix my Marine Head?

Ekidnagrrl17 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:24:16 -0800

My Sailboat is in Santa Cruz harbor, I have been having issues with my marine head. Does anyone know someone I could have come out and look at it?

It's like a grapefruit on a toothpick!

murrey — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:39:00 -0800

Help my neighbor name her new rescue dog with an enormous head! He's a black dog with white markings here and there. But the really distinguishing feature is his HUGE cranium! He is a super-sweet pit bull mix and is looking for something that will not add to the fear some will feel just by looking at him because of his breed. You all helped me name my kitten (jersey cat) so I thought I would look here for help. Sorry, no picture.

What to do with an inherited tiger's head?

omnigut — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:26:09 -0800

We inherited a tiger's head from our dead grandfather, which was hunted around 1940. We'd like to know how much it is likely to cost, and what people think we should do with it; donate it to a museum? to an art college? to an insane asylum? Any suggestions appreciated. Photos are here, here, and here. You can see photos of it here, here, and here.

What is the nature of my headaches?

raikkohamilonso — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:11:17 -0800

I get headaches that start at the base of the back of my head, then seem to radiate over my brow. Warm compresses almost always help. What is the likely cause of this? I've had this situation since I was a kid, off and on in varying degrees of intensity/re-occurence. I'm trying to determine if it's muscle based, sinus, stress, chemical, etc. The thought that a warm compress almost always helps I find curious and indicative of "something", but "what"?

There once was a time it was so bad that I wouldn't go out of town unless I knew the hotel room I was staying in had a microwave so I could heat up a moist towel....

Head for the holidays

Cat Pie Hurts — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:56:48 -0800

How long could one expect a human head to stay "fresh" in a typical hotel mini-fridge? I have a highly active imagination and I'm in a somewhat sketchy hotel in the middle of Pennsylvania. I'm also loopy after 10 hours of driving. My eyes wandered to the mini-fridge and I convinced myself that there was a human head in there. Since the maid didn't do a terribly good job cleaning the room, it's not too far a stretch to assume that they didn't check the fridge. I eventually got myself to open the fridge, and of course, there was no head. This had me thinking: if someone WERE to put a freshly removed human head, how long would it "keep" in a functioning mini-fridge?

Note: I have no intention of acquiring a human head and putting it in a fridge, not have I ever done this before. I am just curious (and it may be leading into a creepy story idea).

Some Kinda Fun?..anybody?

bonobothegreat — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:15:21 -0800

The band Teenage Head was HUGE when I was in highschool in the early 80's. Were they popular anywhere outside of Southern Ontario?

Do head gasket sealers in a bottle work?

bystander — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:58:33 -0800

Do head gasket "repair" liquids work at all? I think I have a head gasket problem (related 1, 2) in my 1998 Subaru Outback. The only symptom is an overheating engine that hasn't been fixed by a new thermostat and 'checked' radiator.
I don't really want to spend $thousands on replacing head gaskets if it can be avoided. Do the fixes in a bottle work at all? I don't particularly want to link them here if they are a scam, but the brands I have found are Thermagasket, Steel Seal and K&W Permanent Metallic Block Seal.
This wiki article at Answers.com says maybe, but is obviously vulnerable to bias.
A medium term fix would be a win for me.
I would rather hear about real world experience, rather than an apprentice mechanic saying they would never risk it.

Im getting acne(?) on my arms, whats wrong!

freddymetz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:36:56 -0800

Im getting acne(?) on my arms, whats wrong! Im 17 years old, and zits on the face aren't a big deal for me. But over the last year or so theyve started spreading out just under my neck, on my shoulders and upper arms (i included a pic to be helpful and more precise :p)

My main question is, what caused this? Im probably looking for a cause like wearing sweaty t shirts or the sort. Could something like that have caused it? Or not enough oxygen to the arms?
I THINK it gets worse in summer but im really not sure.

Does anyone else hear odd noises in their heads when they are hungry?

Xianny — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:50:16 -0800

Does anyone else hear odd noises in their heads when they are hungry? When I get really hungry, as in stomach-growling hunger that makes you feel kind of dizzy, I also hear scritching noises in my head. I'm just curious about whether anyone else experiences this. These noises are kind of high-pitched and sound a bit like crickets chirping. They sound like they're entirely in my head, and they're pretty loud and not very pleasant. They don't really cause any discomfort but I really want to know if anyone else has this!

Mysterious sharp head pain is mysterious.

Memo — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:57:00 -0800

Head-pain-filter: 50 year-old woman suffers from pain both internal and external, in the right side of her head above her ear. The pain feels as a sudden prick that goes from the small circle to the big one.

Externally, the skin in the area feels painful to touch, similar to the oversensitivity after a burn. This dissapears and appears along with the internal pain.

The pain is not permanent. When it happens she can get dizzy if she opens her eyes. There are days when it happens more frequently than others.

She will go to the doctor in the near future, but before she would like to have an idea about what it could be.

How does one get on a headhunter list?

jseven — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:45:44 -0800

How do I get on a headhunter list? I am an executive in a major call center environment and I'm looking for something new. I would like to move on to something where I am responsible for the entire operation.

How does one get on a headhunter list?
Would one want to get on a headhunter list?

Help me sell my gold

mr. remy — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 10:54:42 -0800

I found a 1910 Indian head ten dollar gold coin in my childhood piggy bank. It looks like this. I have seen it listed online for different values between $400 and $1700. I am broke and (regretfully) feel like I need to convert it into cash. How do I do this quickly, fairly, and for maximum profit?

My head is the size of a melon, and it just snowed.

mecran01 — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:34:43 -0800

I have a huge head and need a winter hat. my head is 25 1/2 inches, or about 66cm. That's a wee bit bigger than a men's xxxl hat.

I'm trying to find a warm winter hat or balaclava that will stop the wind, is somewhat water resistant, and will fit. I will be bicycling, hiking, and cross country skiing in Utah with it. My ears protrude like Prince Charles so I have to have ear coverage.

Should I:

1. just get a stretch hat and wear good ear muffs

2. Make my own from Polartec fleece (I have family that can snow)

3. Find a good balaclava and trust that it will stretch to fit

Or something else? My budget is about $30.

head humping cat

ztdavis — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:49:14 -0800

Our new, ten-month old adopted male (but fixed) cat does this (knead, get down on his haunches, and hump). Unlike the previous poster, however, he does this to our heads whenever we lay down. Is there any way to get him to stop? It's not the best way to wake up. See here (illustrative self-link).

Is there anything we could do to convince him to stop? Or should we just resort to sleeping with the bedroom door closed?

What are those model heads called?

CliveDallas — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:21:45 -0800

i want to buy one of those heads made out of pottery that show different bits of the brain; i can't for the life of me find out what they're called, but you see them on telly in doctor's surgeries and they look mighty fine. anyone got any ideas what they're called, despite my rather lame description?

How to Achieve a Clean Face and a Clean Scalp?

WCityMike — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:10:09 -0800

I could use some shaving tips, with regards to two specific questions: (i) how to achieve a much closer facial shave; and (ii) tips, anecdotes, etc. on headshaving. First, whenever I shave my face and neck, I always seem to leave a slight stubble behind: enough so that the skin is slightly rough to the touch, and is not colored the same as "normal" skin, but not enough that we're talking outgrown hair. In the area of where a mustache would grow, there sometimes seems to be to be stubble "coloration" without any feeling of stubble. I would instead like to have an utterly clean shave -- in other words, the shaved face resembling the coloration and texture of skin where hair does not grow. How do I go about that?

Second, I have decided I really don't care for where male pattern baldness is taking my hair, and am planning to shave my head clean at some point in the next month. I am wondering if anyone has any advice on this, or any anecdotes. Did you make the same decision? Did you regret it, or did you enjoy it? Good change in your life, or bad? If you decided to "go back," how long did it take you to regrow? How did people react? Minor or major changes in your daily routine? Etc., etc., etc. ... just looking for a primer on the experience, basically.

I'm using a Gillette Mach 3 sport razor and Barbasol aloe shaving cream.

BrainScan filter

bunky — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:46:24 -0800

Is it possible to tell the difference between an old, long-standing injury and a more recent injury to the brain on a brain scan? Would a particular type of brain scan (fMRI as opposed to CAT scan) be better able to reveal the difference between the two? This question would be pertinent to the Peter Braunstein case: earlier in the news coverage, they showed Braunstein's brain scan on television, because the defense claims that the decreased activity shown in the frontal region is consistent with schizophrenia. However, I understand Braunstein hit his head while in custody, and I'm thinking that could cause a similar result on the brain scan. I'm also wondering, could a brain scan show whether he got dropped on his head when he was a baby and/or all three possible conditions and when, approximately, they developed?