Mom is in Istanbul now, flying to Athens on Saturday for 5 days. She's heard about civil unrest/protests in Athens recently. The news reports I've found (which aren't many) describe a 24-hour general strike yesterday, with shutdown of public transportation, flights, and other services. She knows to steer clear of any protests, don't talk politics, etc, but what else should she know?
[more inside]
posted by jshort
on May 12, 2011 -
18 answers
Another kitty question.
My kitten will shortly have been with me for two weeks, and I plan to start letting her go outside. At first it will be supervised sessions only, but I want to eventually put in a cat flap and let her outdoors during the day time whenever she wants. What can I do to keep her as safe as possible?
[more inside]
posted by lollusc
on May 9, 2011 -
27 answers
Fire Safety: I have a 16 month old son. If there is a house fire while I'm sleeping is it better to try and rescue him or get out of the house and wait for the fire department to rescue him?
[more inside]
posted by bingwah
on May 3, 2011 -
32 answers
How dangerous is Potomac Ave Metro area of DC (East Capitol) compared to the rest of Capitol Hill, Eastern Market or Columbia Heights?
[more inside]
posted by whoaali
on Apr 29, 2011 -
16 answers
Visiting San Francisco next week. Would it be safe to walk down 9th Ave (from Lake St.), through the Richmond District, to Golden Gate Park and back, in the early evening and then back around 10:00 after attending the Nightlife event at the Academy of Sciences? Any advice about this event? Is it ridiculously crowded?
posted by gidja
on Apr 10, 2011 -
12 answers
(Posting for a friend, on behalf of their friend, all three of us equally un-D.C. savvy:)
A friend of mine is thinking about renting in an apartment in Washington DC, near P St NW and 4th St NW. Based on some internet research, it looks like this is the Truxton Circle or Shaw neighborhood, but we're not quite sure about that. She's a single white female in her mid-twenties, and will be a student keeping irregular hours. She has a car, and has lived in major cities before, though always in relatively safe areas. How safe is this neighborhood? What is the crime situation like? Will she be comfortable walking around alone at night?
[more inside]
posted by dixiecupdrinking
on Apr 3, 2011 -
13 answers
DisasterFilter - What steps can I take to ensure my pets survival in the case where a disaster strikes and I can't get home?
[more inside]
posted by MShades
on Apr 2, 2011 -
7 answers
I got a mild shock while putting together a seed starting light set-up in the unfinished basement of my rental apartment. The light was
unplugged when I received the shock. What gives?
[more inside]
posted by Knicke
on Mar 26, 2011 -
6 answers
MythFilter: I get these chain emails every once in a while about how dangerous it is to heat water in the microwave. I can't seem to get a straight answer from anybody! Is microwaving water really that dangerous?
[more inside]
posted by JMB1138
on Mar 21, 2011 -
18 answers
Childproofing hacks for traveling? I'll be traveling in Mexico with my 2yo and 5.5yo, staying in a variety of places (rental houses, condos, B&Bs, and hotels). Given my experience with hotels in general, I think I'll need to childproof on the spot without knowing in advance what the trouble spots are and without having access to lots of supplies. Will the traveling parents of MeFi lend me their hacks?
[more inside]
posted by Yoshimi Battles
on Feb 17, 2011 -
6 answers
Can I Eat It: Part 7,934 in an ongoing series. In a fit of industriousness, I made
Cannellini Minestrone this morning! I put part of it in a container for my lunch, and part of it in a container to store in the fridge. I realized once I got to work, however, that the container to store never made it to the fridge, and is still sitting on the counter in my apartment. The soup was made at 8am, and I won't be getting home until 8pm. Can anything be done to salvage the soup into something edible, or at least usable?
posted by ocherdraco
on Feb 16, 2011 -
27 answers
I've been looking around at lighting options for my bedroom, and my geeky self decided that custom LED strip lighting would be awesome. Then I read previous
AskMe's and want to make sure I can do this without burning down my house! Questions and a search for the easy way inside!
[more inside]
posted by Mister Fabulous
on Feb 9, 2011 -
4 answers
Microwaved food safety question - help me argue with (or gracefully capitulate to) my hippie friends!
[more inside]
posted by Frowner
on Feb 1, 2011 -
26 answers
I'm considering subletting a home in the East Lake Meadows area of Atlanta, between the two major golf courses. I realize that this area was once extremely crime-ridden and poor, and was wondering if anyone could speak to the safety of the area today? What about the surround neighborhoods, if I were to be going to Midtown, Decatur, etc.? Thanks
posted by rbf1138
on Jan 27, 2011 -
3 answers
Fire safety filter: My husband thinks that a lit candle left unattended on the back of our toilet in the bathroom is not a fire hazard, and I disagree. Please help us settle this argument with facts and figures.
[more inside]
posted by frecklefaerie
on Jan 23, 2011 -
76 answers
Are there any safety risks to 9V AC applied to the skin? I'm building musical instruments that conduct audio through the skin in the form of 9 volt square waves from about 30-1500 Hz. I can sometimes feel the buzz in my fingertips. Soon I'm going to make a bigger one for dancers to use, and the electricity in this case may be passing from foot to hand or across both arms. The dancer's skin may be sweaty and salty, increasing conductivity. Are there any health risks? References appreciated.
[more inside]
posted by moonmilk
on Jan 18, 2011 -
11 answers
Asking for a friend: "I've got a 2005 Corolla. That year/make is one of those selectively affected by the Toyota recall re: random stalling. I never received a notice that my car was affected, but I did buy (and transfer the title) fairly recently. Anyway, my car stalled--basically on the highway at rush hour..."
[more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake
on Dec 29, 2010 -
10 answers
How can I logically – and without turning into a shrill, emotive, drama queen or a growling mother bear – educate my daughter to the danger she put herself in by giving out her cell phone number to someone she met in a kid's online chat room – and help protect her going forward?
(Detail and more questions below!)
Useful feedback is welcome with open heart and ears; mocking my parenting decisions just means you want Karma to kick your ass too.
[more inside]
posted by lostinsupermarket
on Dec 26, 2010 -
42 answers
[Philadelphia filter] - Does anyone have any knowledge of the Point Breeze neighborhood in South Philly?
[more inside]
posted by WeekendJen
on Nov 24, 2010 -
15 answers
I really, really like fish, but I've been scared off of it for years due to the mercury, PCBs, et al that seem to be present in every fish nowadays, both wild and farmed. Are there still non-polluted/toxic fish to eat? Are there any fish species - or even particular runs or farms or "brands" - that are just, you know,
clean?
[more inside]
posted by curious nu
on Nov 22, 2010 -
15 answers
Are you a tall, female, pear shaped runner? I really want to start running but my body type seems problematic. How can I make it work?
[more inside]
posted by lblair
on Nov 4, 2010 -
27 answers
In a few weeks I'll be giving a talk to my research group about chemical safety. Please help me find stories, videos, and photos to make it interesting, awe-inspiring, and informative!
[more inside]
posted by you're a kitty!
on Nov 2, 2010 -
19 answers
The SRS light on my 2003 Honda Civic comes on when the ignition is turned on and remains on while the car is being driven. I googled this and understand that Hondas as well as other cars have this problem. I can take it to a mechanic to have it diagnosed and repaired. Or I can turn it off myself which I'm tempted to do since it appears that Honda has a faulty system that has nothing to do with the airbag --just the light. But there is a small part of me that wonders and is concerned if something could be wrong with the airbag. Does anyone have experience with this?
posted by Tziv
on Oct 28, 2010 -
11 answers
What are the potential risks of leaving things plugged in on one end (to an outlet, to a computer) and free on the other end?
[more inside]
posted by neuromodulator
on Sep 26, 2010 -
8 answers
In light of last year's extensive recalls and "runaway vehicle" issues, is it safe to buy a new Toyota?
[more inside]
posted by DMan
on Sep 18, 2010 -
16 answers
I want to understand the science of different kinds of helmet foam and how it protects brains. Specifically: is a helmet with hard (EPS) foam always preferable, or is there scientific evidence that in some situations soft foam may provide better protection?
[more inside]
posted by davar
on Sep 15, 2010 -
6 answers
I'm considering switching to a Safety Razor. What's the difference between Open Comb and Closed Bar? I've never seen these and scouring the internet has yielded no real usable explanation.
[more inside]
posted by rwheindl
on Sep 12, 2010 -
15 answers
My girlfriend and I are considering a trip to Egypt this November. The conventional wisdom seems to be that a visitor to Egypt is more likely to be bitten by a camel than be the victim of any violence. Is there any reason for special concern in light of the threatened boycotts of an election for Mubarak's successor or the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, etc.? We're a white unmarried couple traveling on U.S. passports.
[more inside]
posted by dam1975
on Sep 10, 2010 -
6 answers
Someone has been harassing & trying to get into a friends house for over a year. Police/cameras haven't stopped him, what can we do?
[more inside]
posted by ben5757
on Aug 29, 2010 -
28 answers
I am emotionally attached to an old Sigg aluminum drinking water bottle (ie, I've had it for many years). But now it's badly dented. Is it still safe to use? The metal is unbroken, but I'm concerned that any kind of coating on the inside may be cracked/compromised. Any advice please from water bottle gurus.
posted by Xhris
on Aug 3, 2010 -
16 answers
