Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with resources

From 0 to multiple orgasms in 60 days

jdfan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:20:45 -0800

I've met a delightful young woman who floats my boat in many, many ways. Through a variety of circumstances, she has almost no experience at sex. She is a quick and avid learner. Please help me find resources for practical virgins who don't know much about their sexuality that want to figure out what works for them. Lean towards fun, open, smart. I want our discovery process to be a delightful, fun, awesome experience for her. Books, websites, video suggestions?

What are some good resources about digital publishing?

jonathanstrange — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:19:39 -0800

What are some good places to get information about digital publishing? I'm looking for some good places to find out information about digital publishing, especially in regards to developments in tertiary academic publications.

What are some good websites or podcasts etc to keep me informed?

I'll be reporting to my entire department about my research, and I have very little idea where to begin.

I read Smashing Magazine, which has some good information about designing iPhone applications, and stumble across other articles occasionally, but I'd like to be kept more informed on a regular basis.

Please hope me!

I hate The Office

bobber — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:01:00 -0800

What can I do with an business degree if I don't want to work in a typical business setting? In about seven months, I will have a degree in Human Resource Management. While working on this degree, I have been employed by the IT department of my university and have had to sit a desk while editing policy manuals. When I graduate, I do not want to work at a desk, tied to a computer all day long. What jobs are available to a person with an HR degree who does not want to work in an office setting? I love working with people and I love fixing problems. I love teaching so I'm definitely exploring the training route. Any other ideas?

Resources on herbivore men?

parmanparman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:07:39 -0800

What are the best online or print resources in English language about lifestyle and individuality of soshoku-danshi (grass-eating/herbivore men)? Not looking for news articles, thanks!

What style of armchair did I buy?

angels in the architecture — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:08:35 -0800

What style of armchair did I buy? Also, what are some good books/websites for answering this kind of question? I bought a chair the other day at a thrift store, and I'm trying to identify its style/period. Pictures here and here--the chair is actually much brighter in reality, a loud marigold yellow.

I'm thinking it must be a mishmash of styles from the '70s or '80s, based on the color alone, although it's in pretty good shape except for some fading so it may newer than that. So, my secondary question is, what are some good reference materials (online or off) for answering this kind of question? Is there something like A Field Guide to American Houses, but for furniture?

Seeking good reading material for a friend.

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:39:26 -0800

Cervical cancer filter: seeking blogs and online resources. A friend was just diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 34. I don't know what stage cancer she has, nor what treatment she'll need or choose. I'm looking for online resources to share with her: blogs, advice, etc. In particular, I'm hoping to find some blogs by cervical cancer patients and survivors written in a very personal, warm, maybe humorous tone. I'd like to share things that will help her feel hopeful and optimistic, rather than alone with a vast ocean of cold facts.
Personal stories from hive members would also be cool if anyone feels like sharing.
Thank you.

You're in law school, right?

913 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:59:20 -0800

You're in law school (or have recently graduated) - what online resources/websites do you use the most? Which are the most helpful in terms of research and studying? I'm working on a project that will, hopefully, be of use to law students. Any thoughts or ideas would also be greatly appreciated. Feel free to MeFi/email me, if that's your style.

You're in med school, what sites you lookin' at?

913 — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:53 -0800

You're in medical school (or have recently graduated) - what online resources/websites do you use the most? Which are the most helpful in terms of research and studying? I'm working on a project that will, hopefully, be of use to med students. Any thoughts or ideas would also be greatly appreciated. Feel free to MeFi/email me, if that's your style.

Cheap, efficient way to learn German online.

ekpyrotic — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:21:01 -0800

Cheap, efficient way to learn German online. Hey guys, I'm a physics/philosophy double major in the UK. My specialism is philosophical logic, to gain postgrad admission to my top institutions I'll have to be a competent German reader (speaking, listening would be nice, but not essential).

I have a year and a half.

I was looking for some good online resources to learn the language. I'd be especially interested in good, thorough treatments of the grammar.

Arbitration or bust?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:18:07 -0800

The company I work for has announced the adoption of a "alternative dispute resolution" program. HQ is telling us that by continuing to work there after a certain date, I agree to be covered by this ADR and forfeit my right to take them to court. What are my options, beside quitting? I work for a large, well-known multi-national corporation. Recently, said company announced the adoption of an "alternative dispute resolution" program to address employee complaints and disputes.

By and large, this new program doesn't appear much different than the current process--except that if the dispute in question can't be resolved in the normal process, it goes to binding arbitration via an external mediator.

The training material is specific: "...by choosing to continue to work for the Company aftey July 1, 2009, you are agreeing to be covered by [the new alternative dispute resolution system] after July 1, 2009." It goes on to point out that all covered claims that advance to a certain point must go to arbitration, they cannot be brought to court and will not be heard by a jury, and no class or collective actions are permitted.

"Covered claims" are those claims that a court would have authority under applicable law to resolve, such as employment discrimination & harassment claims, tort claims such as defamation or privacy invasion, wage-hour claims, claims under employment contracts, and trade secret or unfair competition claims.

I've been more-or-less happily employed by this company for nearly two decades. I don't have any beef with my employer, though who knows what may happen between now and retirement? I want to keep my options open, and arbitration seems designed to make sure I don't have options.

Between the current economy and some family health issues, I'm extremely reluctant to leave my job right now. At the same time, being told I have to give up my constitutional right to a jury trial raises my red flags. In addition, from what I know about arbitration in consumer products, it's always heavily stacked against the consumer. So here are my questions:

(1) What, if any, recourse do I have here? Should I go to our HR rep and express my concerns about this new dispute procedure? Can I just tell them, "Sorry, I do not agree to this"? (I suppose I should add that I am a full-time salaried employee; my department is non-union).

(2) Is arbitration in the workplace as bad as it is in the retail sales environment? I've seen articles in the CivilRights.org archives that lead me to believe this is the case, but if anyone else has experience or information that demonstrates otherwise I would appreciate hearing it. I'm trying to remain open-minded here and not let my emotions get in the way of any relevant data. Thanks in advance!

Programming MFC applications

that girl — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:16:25 -0800

Where can I find good information about programming with C++/MFC in Visual Studio? I've currently found myself in a job where I'm doing a lot more (small-scale) software development than I expected. This is not too bad, as I have a reasonable programming background. However, one of the things I haven't done much/any of is gui-based programming.

Where I'm working currently seems to mainly focus on MFC-based programs, which I have minimal clues about, so I'm looking for resources to help me get going. I tend to work best off of basic sample code sets, and can extrapolate pretty well once I've figured out the baseline things like "How do I get this button to open up a new window?" (this is a particular sticking point for me at the moment) or "How do I make a slider bar that will affect this picture here?"

I'd prefer digital resources, as I'm in Japan and getting English books is a bit of a pain (and I'm not sure I'm up to the level of comprehension that's required for Japanese programming manuals), but if there's one out there that's really good, I would be up for considering it.

30 Helens agree

Nathanial Hörnblowér — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:13:11 -0800

I'm looking for statistics on rate of information retention of video vs. print. Where can I find this? We are putting together a document for potential clients and want to emphasize that information presented in video format provides a better retention rate than print or still images. I've searched online and all I can find is research on video advertising, projected trends, number of online video viewers, Nielsen ratings, etc. Any site recommendations or suggestions would be great.

new MLIS student looking for some good reading!

ginagina — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:30:10 -0800

What are good blogs and resources for MLIS students? I just found out I was accepted to Drexel University for my MLIS with a nice fellowship. My background is mostly in law and psychology (looking to be a law librarian possibly), so I want to update my RSS reader with some new relevant blogs and resources.

Who should I be paying attention to? What websites should I live by? Anything else you can recommend to better prepare me?

Thanks I look forward to your responses!

Help me be an informed remodeler.

medusa — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:59:56 -0800

Please recommend resources for learning about home remodeling, particularly basement finishing. I am starting the process of getting the basement of my house finished. (Note that I will not do most of the work myself; I'm planning to hire a contractor.) I would like recommendations for books, websites, or other resources to learn about the remodeling process, what questions to consider, common problems and how to avoid them, what to watch out for, etc.

So far I have read information at www.buildingscience.com, which I think is great. It has specific recommendations about basement finishing that I found helpful.

Other building science resources would be helpful, but I also want to learn about design and planning, budgeting, finding a contractor, negotiating with the contractor, dealing with construction, and anything else I should know but haven't thought of yet.

Resources about Oil for High School Students?

lily_bart — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:29:13 -0800

Can anyone recommend some good resources (articles, books, DVDs, websites) about oil that are appropriate for a secondary school curriculum? These can be from any perspective (technical, economic, historical, etc) and resources with some bias are welcome, as I always want to sharpen students' critical thinking skills. With resources become obsolete so quickly, I need some pointers on where to look for contemporary perspectives! Thanks!

Would a Canadian really want to emigrate?

brandnew — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:18:33 -0800

About how many people emigrate from each developed nation annually, and what are the common reasons for doing so? Are there any online resources or databases that track the number of people that emigrate from one developed nation to another? I'm also looking for the reasons why, both anecdotal and categorical. I assume that a lot of them are emigrating for marriage, political, or professional reasons, but I'd like to know more about their reasons in depth. I'm seeking to understand why they do it, but also the overall outcome of their experiences: were they generally positive, negative, or neutral? Was the emigration worth the effort in the end? Also are there any developed nations where immigration is easier (from US, in particular)?

Seeking Online CBT Resources

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:51:11 -0800

I am looking for Cognitive Behavior Therapy websites to supplement my independent reading and work. I have been working through the book Feeling Good for the past few months (after reading many recommendations for it here on AskMe), and it has been making a big difference in my life. I don't have health insurance, and make very little money, so I am trying to find extra resources to supplement what I'm doing on my own. I figure I am sitting in front of a computer all day at my bookstore, and maybe I can apply this time to online exercises or worksheets, or things of that nature. My life is about to experience a new set of difficult complications in a month, and I want to be in the best mindset possible. (Also, if anyone knows of very affordable CBT therapists in NYC I would be indebted to you for the information!) Thanks.

therapists after hours

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:17:45 -0800

How do I find a therapist who will see me after work hours? I'm in need of a therapist but am having trouble finding any that are around after-hours in my area. Are there resources I should be tapping into that could assist in this kind of targeted search?

I've generally been getting no response from those I've tried to contact. Therapists who have gotten back to me do not do after hour visits. I live in MA and have health insurance.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

If I'm working, I might as well be working TOWARD

OrangeDrink — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:08:02 -0800

What are some good, specific resources that can help me figure out what job I should have? I am unemployed at about the worst time in the last 20 years to be so. Let's find the silver lining around the top ramen and tontino's pizza that is my future.

Is there anything that will help me figure out what I would enjoy doing career-wise? My complaint thus far is that when I run quizzes or read through a book, the answer is "writing!" or "non-profit!" or "use some numbers!" What I'd like to be able to get out of this is "Editorial Assistant within nonfiction press" or "Human Resources Director at online doctor's... thing" or something.

Perhaps an online questionnaire? A book with a scantron that will shunt me into a specific block of people, maybe?

I know, it's asking for way more and I probably won't be happy with the results, but since I'm getting a job soon (oh for the love of god let it be soon) I'd like it to be something where I'm going in the right direction.

PS - career coaches get a resounding 'meh' from the Hive Mind, so I think I'll keep my money on that, thanks.

WHY DO YOU ALWAYS ASK ME ABOUT MY IDEAL DREAM JOB?

shipbreaker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:26:06 -0800

I've been going to a lot of job interviews, and the Human Resources people always like to throw in "What is your ideal dream job?" In the past I have slipped up on this trick question, by ACTUALLY ANSWERING IT and telling them what my ideal dream job is. Now I'm older and wiser, and I think I'm beginning to catch on. They want some kind of a neutral, politically-savvy, bland response. Right? I am supposed to say something not too pie-in-the-sky, ideal or dreamy, yet something demonstrating that I do have ambitions and aspirations? Actually, I am quite confused. Why the hell DO so many HR types like to ask this question?!?

I know there are several "job interviewing" and "self-help" books out there, and one or two of them must have a thorough and deep explanation of the "ideal dream job" trick question phenomenon --- can anyone recommend a book with such a chapter?

Busy, professional freelancer websites

low_horrible_immoral — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:25:52 -0800

Looking for freelance translation/editing resources Hi all!

I am researching the field of freelance translation and/or editing but a cursory google brings up lots of agency stuff and empty websites.

Can anyone recommend any good resource sites about editing and/or translation with busy message boards, up to date info and advice - sites that are used by professionals and are not just full of questions from newbies about starting out? (Although that's helpful too. :-)) A previous answer brought up www.proz.com, which is fantastic - are there any other sites like it?

Thanks!

What's a good rapid reaction strategy to implement before leaving the office for the last time?

tenaciousd — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:05:11 -0800

"We're going to have to let you go." What do you do before leaving your boss's office? Two of my coworkers were let go last week, and the company said that there will be "significant shifting of responsibilities in the near future." I live in Illinois, where the unemployment rate in August reached 7.3%, compared to 5.4% nationally. Although I'm not in finance, the events of last week certainly made me think even more about job stability.

I don't think my job is in jeopardy, but if it were, and I went into my boss's office tomorrow and found out that I was being laid-off, what would you say? I was thinking it would be helpful to have a wallet-sized card to pull out right after they deliver the news. I would imagine that the element of surprise works in favor of the employer, and the laid-off worker looks back days or weeks later thinking, "I should have done this" or "I should've asked for that." I'm not talking about telling off your now-former employer, although that could be reasonable.

But are there certain terms and conditions you should demand before leaving? Local and state laws might influence what you say, and if you were a union member there would be another set of considerations. But I'm talking about across the board considerations. What's a good rapid reaction strategy to implement before leaving the office for the last time?

Resources wanted - cultural diversity, youth, arts

divabat — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:20:02 -0800

Cultural diversity, youth, and the arts/creative industries - where do I start looking for resources? I'm doing a work placement with an Australian youth arts organization (non-profit) that provides advice and services to young emerging artists. I've been tasked with preparing a cultural diversity strategy, both to get more young people from culturally diverse backgrounds using their services, and also to make their current programs more respectful of cultural needs.

I've never actually written a strategy paper before, but I personally find the topic interesting so I'd like to do as much work as possible. I'd like to know where I can get more information.

I'm guessing this is largely a question of terminology, as searching for resources in my local libraries haven't given me much - what should I be looking for? So far I can think of:

* Brisbane/Australia's policies re: cultural diversity and the arts sector
* How other countries and cultures regard the arts and creative industries (no idea how to search for this)
* Examples of strategy papers
* Efforts in integrating different cultures, not just with young people and/or the arts world

What else should I be looking at? What resources fit the above list and what else should go on that list? Are there any universities/organizations that would be helpful?

How does a strategy paper look like anyway? It seems like right now I'm writing a plan for a strategy paper. (This project is only a week old so far so there are opportunities for adjustment.)

The org is Queensland-based and has offices in Caboolture and Brisbane, but resources from anywhere in the world are fine. My supervisor's worked in Eastern Europe and USA, and I'm from Malaysia, so we're all pretty good at taking our multicultural backgrounds and incorporating it into our work. I don't want to rely on stereotypes though, so I'd like to look at as much info from everywhere.

NYC housing for very low income people with disabilities?

cmgonzalez — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:36:07 -0800

My mother needs to find a new place to live. The house we currently live in will be set to go up for sale early next year. But repairs need to be made first, so my family would like us both to move ASAP. I’m looking at a move to Queens, but my mother has Multiple Sclerosis and has a limited income. All she has are her Social Security disability payments each month, which only come to about $600-700, and food stamps. I can’t afford to take her with me. We’re currently living in Brooklyn, and that’s where she prefers to stay. She can’t get into those HUD housing lottery buildings because she doesn’t meet the minimum income level for a “low-income” apartment. Heh.

The city’s Section 8 application list has been closed since May ’07 (we’ve been looking since about July '07 - damn), so that’s out as an option. Public housing is likely out too, because the projects can be wildly dangerous, and you have no choice where they send you. You can only select two preferred boroughs, with no choice of buildings. There’s one housing project in a decent area where she has friends, but there’s absolutely no guarantee she’d wind up there. I wouldn’t want my mother sent to Brownsville or Jamaica. If anything dangerous would happen, she can't move fast to avoid it. Nevermind the potential of a years-long waiting list.

She’s contacted the MS Society and spoken to a social worker at the center where she goes for physical therapy. We haven’t found many options that aren't for senior citizens. What we have found are a building in Coney Island (Friendship, I think) she might try. And the Bishop Boardman building in Park Slope, which she is applying to tomorrow.

She needs a first floor apartment or a building with a reliable elevator. We currently live on the second floor. It’s hard for her to climb stairs, especially since she uses a walker to get around and has trouble taking it up and down. I assist her with things (big reason I still live with her), but she’s actually quite independent. She doesn’t need any sort of intense care type of situation. She uses the MTA Access-a-Ride, and she goes out frequently – an MS group, physical therapy, occupational therapy, classes, and sometimes doctor visits. She’s been with the same neurologist for over 25 years. And all her friends and family are here; moving someplace else all alone wouldn’t really be feasible.

What other options are there for someone who is very low-income and disabled as far as NYC housing is concerned? Is there any way to weasel somebody who isn’t a domestic violence victim or protected witness onto the Section 8 list? Brooklyn is highly preferred, but any suggestions are helpful. Since all her doctors and activities are in Brooklyn, it can't be far flung like Inwood.

Her sisters are the ones selling this house, and so far they’ve been way less than helpful. Suggestions included dumping her into the Staten Island trailer park, sending her out of state, or sending her to Queens with me. (I would if I could, but I can’t). One is harassing my mother a bit lately because she wants to get money from the sale already. The other lives in a million dollar totally redone house. Anyhow, Mom and I are determined to find her someplace decent where she can maybe even get one of those motorized scooters to make her even more independent.

I'm sure there are stones we haven't turned yet, so I come to all of you.

I looked at these already: http://ask.metafilter.com/52870/What-are-the-various-governmentsubsidized-housing-programs-in-New-York-City
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/7967 but they don't really help much, as the circumstances are different.

Breaking into Performance Art

divabat — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:45:01 -0800

How do I get into performance art? I've seen this video series and read some links, and find the concept of performance art interesting. However, I'm finding it hard to get more resources and help on breaking into performance art.

Whenever I try asking people about it, they think I'm asking about performing arts and start referring me to theatres and choirs. (Google does the exact same thing.) Trying to describe performance art is tricky too - "well, they do weird stuff. In all sorts of styles. And it has a concept."

I have plenty of ideas for potential performance art, but I don't know how to start putting them together. I'm worried about seeming wanky or pretentious, when really all I want to do is express myself in a mixture of mediums. (A large part of this involves creating a persona, which is also another hard subject to Google - I keep getting stuff about MPD or superheroes.)

How do I find a teacher to guide me? What resources are out there and how do I find them (without getting stuck into the Performing Arts section)? How can I develop myself and my art? How do I get my ideas out of my head and onto...well, whatever my stage happens to be?