Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with scales

I hate getting on the scale.

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:43:30 -0800

I've have boycotted getting on scales for a while now. However, I hate going to the doctor because I hate getting on a scale. This started when I was a child (I'm female) and has gotten worse throughout the years. For the past couple years, I've boycotted seeing the doctor, but I can't do that forever. What should I do? I'm a pretty healthy, female, late twenties. No major health concerns, but I do need to see a doctor again. But nonetheless, I am literally phobic of getting a scale. More inside. I have suffered from eating disorders/body dysmorphic stuff in the past. Right now I'm seeing a therapist and working on it. I haven't been on a scale in a couple years. It's fine with me, I have always hated weighing myself because although I don't look overweight, I've always been at the upper range of my weight range because I have bigger bones and a lot of muscle mass. However, just knowing that I've put on any weight has left me completely scared to see a doctor because I do not want to get on a scale, period. I'm OK with the way I look most of the time, and I've been exercising regularly, and just trying to be more accepting of my body. But truly, I can not bring myself to see a doctor for a physical or a couple other things I need check on because fear of getting on a scale. What should I do? Can I tell a doctor I do not want to get on a scale? Should I tell the nurse? I haven't had a regular doctor as an adult, so it's not like I have a doctor I really trust or feel comfortable talking to right off the bat about this. I've just gone to community clinics, planned parenthood, school doctors in my 20s. I feel like as long as I don't weigh myself, I'm dealing OK with this, but because of childhood stuff, and the way I was made to get on scales a lot (crazy mother), it's just a bad idea for me right now. Has anyone ever gone to a doctor and requested this? I haven't seen a doctor for about 2 years. My weight has fluctuated since then, although I know from feedback I'm more or less at a healthy weight right now, but still.... it's really causing anxiety.

Craft filter: I'm looking to make an object appear as if it has 1/4" scales (like a lizard) with spray paint and painters tape but I don't know if it'll work. They scales have to be uniform in size and shape.

alrightokay — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:12:39 -0800

Craft filter: I'm looking to make an object appear as if it has 1/4" scales (like a lizard) with spray paint and painters tape but I don't know if it'll work. They scales have to be uniform in size and shape. I'm working on a project to make a rounded object look like it has scales like a lizard or dragon. My idea was to take painters tape and cut out hundreds of little "U"s, cover the object uniformly in the applicable pattern, and then spray paint the whole thing. After the paint dries I would then remove the painters tape "U"s. I believe this would produce the desired look but I have a few problems:

1) Cutting out 100's of "U"s from painters tape would take a long time
2) Consistency would be an issue because one can only be so precise, particularly if each scale is about 1/4" tall and wide.
3) I would like to avoid having custom stickers made up as I want to keep costs low and a deadline is nearing (my fear is this is the only way).

Maybe I'm approaching this task the wrong way. Keep in mind that I want it to look professional - almost as if it were manufactured. I'm willing to take some time with this project but I don't want to waste time if there's a better way to do this. Can the hive mind assist?

Help me learn to play the blues...

stenseng — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:49:20 -0800

Help me learn to play the blues... Basically, I'm looking for info - scales, riff cheat sheets, etc. that will allow me to build a basic repertoire of blues chops like this man plays: Now, obviously, I'm not expecting to be able to play like Buddy Guy anytime soon (or in my lifetime,) but I also recognize that what he's playing isn't very complicated. It's *how* he plays it that makes it so compelling.

Anyway - if you know of any good web resources to help one get started building some basic blues guitar chops, send em my way...

'Grand Form' Piano Scales?

The Confessor — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:29:30 -0800

PianoFilter: I'm a long-time pianist, but for some years (since an aborted college education), I've focused on popular music - or my own pop/rock compositions - to the exclusion of almost anything classical. Now I'm looking to remedy that error. In working on Mozart's K. 545, his 'Don't you dare try to audition with this' Piano Sonata in C Major, I've discovered that my left hand lags alarmingly behind my right in technical ability. The problem is not so apparent in the second movement's arpeggiated bass as in the first movement's left-hand scales following the F-Major restatement of the initial theme.

If I recall my piano teacher's advice, the best remedy for that ailment is Bach and scales. Since a relatively trivial Scarlatti Sonata commands all of my baroque attention at the moment, I've decided to focus my attention on scales.

I found fingering charts for all major and harmonic minor scales online, but I've forgotten the exact composition of the four-octave parallel and contrary-motion 'grand' scale form as practiced in conservatories. Can anyone here describe for me exactly how it goes?

C Majority

billtron — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:51:36 -0800

Why are C and F the notes without corresponding flat keys on the piano? Or, conversely, why are B sharp and E sharp enharmonic with C natural and F natural?

I have tried to find the answer on line and through my musicologist friends, but to no avail. Everyone's perfectly willing to explain whole steps and half steps and the rudiments of music theory, but what I want to know is why the exceptions to the rule are C and F? Why not D and G? Was there some moment in music history when the Catholic Church declared C flat the devil's accidental? Was it an arbitrary decision among keyboard makers? Is it based on some ancient Greek tombstone?

Book on microtonal scales?

lunkfish — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 07:30:44 -0800

Can anyone recommend a book on musical scale systems/microtonality? I’m looking for something that doesn’t assume the reader has a lot of knowledge already, and explains the maths in a clear way, but is complete enough to use as a practical guide for experimenting with the scales. I’d like it to spend time on modern tunings and scales from around the world, rather than loads about the history of even temperament.

If there’s anything on the web along these lines I’d be interested as well.

Do gyms deliberately set their scales to underweigh?

Duck_Lips — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 15:35:37 -0800

Do gyms deliberately set their scales to underweigh?

What are your favorite guitar scales and chords? Web resources?

baphomet — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 12:23:48 -0800

Guitarists: What are some of your favorite scales and chords? How about guitar-related web resources? Finally, are there any other lefty guitarists in Metaland, or am I the only one?

Recommend an accurate and reliable scale for dieting purposes.

oissubke — Mon, 01 Mar 2004 22:26:12 -0800

Looking for recommendations on an accurate and reliable (but affordable) scale for dieting purposes. The usual bathroom scales just don't seem to give consistent results. Any recommendations?