I work in a small shop in a male dominated trade. I am 26 but read younger (by up to 10 years if you have a weird idea of how teenagers look) small, blonde, and need to dress casually (jeans and a tshirt and sneakers) due to the nature of my work. Customer's ask me on a near-daily basis if I'm my boss's daughter. I hate this, I feel it undermines my value as an employee who has worked hard to be in the position I'm in. I'd like to think of a response that makes them feel like a ninny for one second, without offending customers.
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posted by euphoria066
on May 17, 2013 -
47 answers
I suspect my partner may be an ectotherm. Is there such a thing as the combo full-spectrum lamp + heat rock that you'd get for a lizard tank but for adult humans? Anyone have any success making one?
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posted by Wretch729
on Apr 12, 2013 -
12 answers
I'm looking for a nice, inexpensive task lamp to put on my desk at work. It should have adjustable brightness (low/high is fine) so that I can have either a little or a lot of light, as required. Free-standing, not clamp-on. $30 or less would be ideal. Help?
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posted by Scientist
on Apr 9, 2013 -
8 answers
A few months ago, my car's check engine light came on. They fixed it, it came back on again, they fixed it again, and now it's back on. I'm looking for possible explanations so I'm more prepared when I take it back yet again.
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posted by misskaz
on Mar 29, 2013 -
33 answers
A friend introduced me to f.lux for Mac, and I'm hoping to find a way to adjust the color of my iPhone screen to be more in line with my circadian rhythms.
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posted by ladypants
on Mar 17, 2013 -
1 answer
When shooting and preparing an image file for print, I've always tried to set things up so that the highlights are bright, the shadows are dark, and everything else is in the middle. At work, I've occasionally been told by my immediate superior that I'm overexposing my images, and that the highlight detail is, in their words, 'blown away'. Checking my files, the highlights in the images in question cut off around 245, sometimes as low as 240! Is there a reason why they'd want the highlights even greyer?
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posted by rhooke
on Feb 28, 2013 -
12 answers
Need a bare bone light weight fold able wheelchair - But with the normal size wheels. Not the little casters qll round.. My wife uses a wheel chair 30-50% of the time, other wise she walks with crutches. I see beautiful chairs with great construction AND DESIGN , and lightweight
products like this for $4k that perfectly fit the bills. problem is this is isn't an acceptable price for us (if that what we have to pay so be it )but i bet there is a minimalist wheel chair maker out there (coming from a guy who put almost 5K into fitting up a Tommasin sintesin bicycle Frame) its hard for me to believe there isnT a high quality wheel chair out there with some degree of the workmanship for less thaN $2k
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posted by Carbolic
on Feb 6, 2013 -
11 answers
I feel like I understand a thing or two about light, but I can't figure out how/why this particular phenomenon happens.
This photo I took shows a shadow line cast by my bank (on the right) that seems to just hang in the air.
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posted by heyho
on Jan 26, 2013 -
16 answers
What kind of equipment could I purchase within a $300 budget for the backdrop and lighting? My house is naturally very dark. I use white plates and minimal props for the food. My camera is a Canon 40D. I don't have much time lately so I'll spend a little more for convenience.
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posted by sunnychef88
on Jan 17, 2013 -
15 answers
I'm looking for major theatrical plays, set no later than 1950, that feature a lamp, flashlight, or other luminous prop as important to the story. If possible, please summarize the prop's usage including where in the story the prop is used. Thanks in advance!
posted by landonmoon
on Nov 12, 2012 -
10 answers
Can I use a CFL or LED bulb in an outside flood light type fixture that is hooked up to an in-wall Intermatic timer? I was told no but I would like to confirm. If that is the case, I'd love a short explanation in plain English. I tried Googling but I'm still confused.
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posted by dottiechang
on Nov 10, 2012 -
11 answers
I've lost power in my bathroom (and adjacent room) and it will be a week before it gets fixed. What's a good battery-powered lantern I could use while I shower?
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posted by Wossname
on Sep 15, 2012 -
9 answers
I'm looking to buy a "light box" to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'd love some recommendations on a good quality unit. Suggestions from those who have tried and tested would be much appreciated!
posted by LivinginYes
on Sep 15, 2012 -
13 answers
Looking for a LED light that gives an equivalent brightness and spectrum as a 40W incandescent. Can you help me?
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posted by sciencegeek
on Aug 25, 2012 -
9 answers
What can I use to trigger a strobe light or a flash that is small, handheld, wireless, and not too expensive?
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posted by crookedneighbor
on Aug 3, 2012 -
4 answers
Please help me understand this bizarre home electrical-wiring problem, and how to fix it. I've got a mid-50s house. I wanted to put an outlet into the second bathroom, which has none, and it looked like the easiest way to do that would be to replace a wall switch with a combination switch/outlet (specifically,
this one).
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posted by adamrice
on Jul 30, 2012 -
10 answers
I always hear that the traditionally heavy US diet ( or any " traditional" cuisine, really ) was developed for people working long hard hours of manual labor, farm work, etc., so what did the people who had sedentary, less active jobs eat? What were the historical diets of people who didn't haul lumber through the woods or dig ditches, but recorded numbers or did accounting or translated documents?
posted by The Whelk
on Jun 22, 2012 -
37 answers
My fridge is hot, not just not cold but actually hot. Can I fix this or am I shopping for a new fridge?
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posted by Saminal
on Jun 8, 2012 -
10 answers
Summer SAD-- this constant light is killing me. Anyone have any ideas for getting through the next couple of months? Blizzard ahead-- you might want to put some chains on your tires before proceeding.
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posted by Because
on Jun 7, 2012 -
41 answers
What is the smallest, lightest mosquito tent available in Australia (or to be shipped to Australia within three weeks for a non-ridiculous price)?
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posted by lollusc
on May 30, 2012 -
8 answers
Fringe S04E22; William Bell's (Leonard Nimoy) jacket. Recommend anything similar that is purchasable online?
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posted by porpoise
on May 11, 2012 -
9 answers
Are there types of laser light, color or wavelength, whole beam can be seen in daylight conditions with a special eyeglass filter?
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posted by pallen123
on Mar 6, 2012 -
11 answers
If an alien located on a planet 100 light years from here was to switch on a big, multi-frequency radio receiver, and record all the noises coming from outer space for the
next hundred years, on all frequencies, how many soap operas, advertisements and new broadcasts would they pick up from Earth? Would a mass-market radio, similar to our Earthly equivalents, pick up anything? Over time, as the number of Earth transmissions increases exponentially, would the alien pick up a cacophony or a damp fizzle?
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posted by 0bvious
on Feb 23, 2012 -
10 answers
Whats a good way to get hard, directional, intense lighting indoors? Preferably for not too much money.
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posted by Hither
on Dec 24, 2011 -
5 answers
I've been invited to a Solstice party. The invitation says, "Please come with a symbol of light, wrapped to give away, and something to read about light, original or found." Nothing is popping into my head except a candle... and I already know someone bringing a candle. Ideas? Ideas for readings? I could do a Google search for either thing, but I'd be overwhelmed with results, I think. (And maybe there is a way to wrap the gift that goes along with the theme?)
posted by trillian
on Dec 2, 2011 -
53 answers
Help me MeFites! Help me find the books that will allow me to space out during the holidays.
I'm looking for some engrossing, non-taxing, but not stupid, novels to read that will take me away from my ordinary modern life and its attendant pressures. Can you help?
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posted by A Terrible Llama
on Nov 22, 2011 -
48 answers
I've got an idea to fix the crappy automatic brightness sensor on my Android phone. Will it work / screw anything up?
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posted by anthill
on Nov 2, 2011 -
8 answers
School me on light bulbs! My lamp and overhead light bulbs just died, and I'd like to use the opportunity to rethink the type I'm using. I'm totally ignorant in this area, so I'll give as many details as possible, inside the fold....
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posted by UniversityNomad
on Oct 25, 2011 -
10 answers
My cousin long ago found some coal along the tracks and tried to light it in the wood stove. It wouldn't light but now it makes me wonder how you can take a piece of coal or a pile of coal and light it? Maybe I could make a small outdoor oven to bake bread with coal.
Any ideas?
posted by CodeMonkey
on Oct 10, 2011 -
10 answers
I've never had a garden before. I recently bought a house in Canberra with a small established garden, mainly native Australian plants. It has a drip watering system. There isn't a lot of room, but there are a few things I have always wanted to grow, and I've got no idea whether it is possible to fit them in somehow, or where I should put them. I know I can't do anything until just before spring, but I want to start planning now.
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posted by lollusc
on Jun 13, 2011 -
9 answers
