Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with look

Help me gain the wit that Iain M. Banks thinks I should have.

Nufkin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:42:13 -0800

In Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks there is a part where one of the Estodiens say to Quilan, 'I hope you have the wit to realise you past two little tests there, Major, not one'. It appears that I do not have the wit. Possible spoilers inside. This comes after Quilan's training when he first meets the second Estodien. One of their helpers circles around behind him and instead of him taking the hand offered in front of him. He spins and crouches down in his 'defense position'.

One test he passed was to know that he was about to be attacked; but what was the other? Was it as simple as him spotting someone who was out of place and a potential threat? But doesn't that just link into the 'first' test?

How can I recognise more languages?

devnull — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:16:00 -0800

How can I recognise more languages? How can I recognise where people come from? I'd like to be able to recognise more languages - not to understand them, but just to think "ah, that's Albanian". I'd also like to be able to do this for looking at people: "she looks like her family are from Namibia".

How can I achieve this? Is there some kind of CBT course I can do to help with this?

investing on losers

SirStan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:44:32 -0800

Investing/Day Trading -Why is it bad to pick stocks off the losers of the day assuming they will rebound? I have been casually watching stocks on Google's daily losers list, and playing with $1000 of pretend money and Excel.. and so far I am up 50% on three weeks (not counting $9/trade fees).

So -- Why doesn't this system work? Bonus points for any investing research that shows its a bad idea (tm).

Naturally there are some mega losers.. but even back when Fannie May tanked.. there would have been money to be made by buying at the crest of the loss, and selling the next day.

For example... If I had invested $1000 in Fannie May at the end of trading on September 8th, and sold it at the end of the day on September 9th I would have netted $356 (minus trade execution fees). I caught Foundry Networks as they started to go up a second time on the 24th of October @ $10.85 and now they are at $12.39.

Naturally there are really bad examlpes of this (like the drug company Savient, but even that might go up tomorrow! It seems like people overreact on large percentage sales.. and then it rebounds.

Am I playing with fire that will burn me? Is this how day trader junkies get hooked?

Workplace IT gems?

keep it tight — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 20:40:55 -0800

What technology practices in your workplace really seemed to make a difference? What I am looking for is ideas for improving the office. I am the IT manager for a sales company and want to implement tools to make us more efficient and streamline the process.

What have been the best things to happen in your workplace in the last year that you'd like to share?

Old-fashioned eyeglass frames

sharksandwich — Thu, 18 Mar 2004 11:54:00 -0800

I have been looking for years for a pair of eyeglass frames like the ones Harry Caray used to wear, or the type Larry David's TV father wears. You know, the thick black boxy "television sets" that seem to be worn by older types in the entertainment business. I've come up empty handed, even after asking several eyeframe dealers. I suppose I could just fly down to Boca Raton and ask a wearer in person, but does anyone have a a name or manufacturer or style for these type of classes?