As many others have said, I think you are being overly critical of yourself. While my father was making his ten year trip towards dying, had any of the people I worked with and only saw a few times a year had even remembered there was something big and bad going on with my family and asked about it, I would have been stunned. Even the people I worked with every day never asked how my family was doing or how anyone was holding up. I would have found it really touching to have someone ask about... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 1:20 PM on June 13, 2008

Now, I believe that turning 30 closes the door on some opportunities that I missed out on.

This is the thing I can't figure out: what is it that a 27 year old can do that a 29-30 year old can't do? After college, my 20's downright sucked on a million levels, and I felt I'd missed out on some things too, but then I went right ahead and did them in my 30's without ever having to lie about my age. A difference of two years doesn't even seem like enough... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:38 PM on June 8, 2008

I don't know what brand my mom's camera is, but hers does this when the battery is getting low. The first time it happened, she freaked out and thought it was busted. She could still take photos and look at the ones she'd taken, but when using the screen for snapping new shots, it was just black. Putting in a fresh battery brought it back. As I recall, the manual said nothing about this happening either. Just something to try maybe?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 10:12 AM on June 2, 2008

Mine does, particularly if I have been sitting on a hard chair or surface for a while and when I do some yoga positions. I asked a chiropractor friend about it once, and she told me that sometimes the joints on that end of a person's spine are fused and sometimes not, so they can pop just like any other vertebrae. Mine's been doing it for ages, and my butt is still alright. A little wider perhaps, but my tailbone hasn't broken or caused me any grief yet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 7:31 AM on May 29, 2008

I'm pretty lenient about leaving up comments from people who are somewhat crazy, but I don't have any problems just deleting them if they really bother me. It is my blog, after all, and if I wouldn't want someone sitting in my living room saying something like that, I certainly don't want it on my web site. So delete, delete, delete ... and feel no guilt. You aren't obligated to provide a platform for every nut on the internet or to bother condemning or refuting their comments.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 4:05 PM on May 9, 2008 marked best answer

I have dried potatoes, including sweet potatoes, for storage, and they can be done in the oven, but only if your oven has a setting lower than 200 degrees. It needs to be about 130-140 degrees, and you'd want to prop the door open just a bit for air circulation. They'd need to be cut about 1/8 inch thick and take anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on moisture content and how crisp/chewy you want them. The more moisture you leave in, the more chance of spoilage, but if you don't make a lot and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:40 PM on April 27, 2008 marked best answer

They had the flags of all 50 states there, and that one happens to be the flag of Mississippi.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:31 AM on April 22, 2008

25 years ago at the state institution I attended this was the rule as well. Also, guests had to leave either their drivers license or student ID card at the front desk and declare what room they were going to ... and they had to be escorted by the person they were visiting to and from the room. The reason we were given for this was very valid: they needed to know who was in the dorm. Jane Doe may think her boyfriend is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but he might be a thief (or worse). We... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 3:11 PM on February 19, 2008

I was looking into topical vitamin C a while back, and what I recall was that since it supposedly also blocks UVA and UVB radiation, using it during the day would give you that benefit as well. Several of the brands I was looking into said you could use it in the morning or at night. I don't think it really matters. I mean, I don't think it's going to mess up your skin or anything, not that I have started using it yet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 11:16 AM on February 10, 2008

I had to do this recently in a pinch, so no time to buy attachments or anything, what I did was use the loudspeaker option on my cell phone and record to my computer. It was rough, but it worked and was audible even though I was only using the built-in mic on my iMac. If I'd had a separate mic, I could have gotten a much cleaner recording I am certain.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:53 AM on January 24, 2008

One of my friends used Krylon Fusion to paint some plastic outdoor planters, and they have been outside in the elements for about a year now and still look great.

And wow, thanks for that earthbox plan! Way too cool!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:48 AM on January 24, 2008

I have had one filled with plain white rice for about 15 years now, and it hasn't ever attracted bugs or gotten moldy. I always figured if it did get messy in some way, I'd just open it up, wash it, and put in new rice (which is really cheap), but it's been used a lot and not gotten messed up in any way in all this time, even though it has spent it's whole life sitting on the back of my couch for regular evening use. Also, it seems to hold the heat longer than any of the others I have had.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 2:24 AM on January 22, 2008

We are in the process of transferring ours to DVD. Actual store bought movies get sent to charity stores or Freecycle, and the home movies I have been knitting and crocheting into shopping bags, hats, purses, and floor mats, which is probably sort of odd. :D
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 11:44 AM on January 4, 2008

Well, yeah, we are doing them ourselves with a vcr and a DVD player/recorder. After we found out how much it cost to transfer, we went ahead and invested in a moderately priced recorder, and we've been transferring them at night, one a night, while we sleep. It'll take a while, I guess, but it'll get done.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 4:08 PM on January 4, 2008

I would start by emailing the seller and asking what happened to the item and when you will get your payment back if not getting the item, since they have good feedback. I'm not sure what the next escalation would be, probably eBay abuse?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 10:55 PM on January 2, 2008

All the previous advice is great and are things you should try first, but when I had this exact same problem once, what I ended up doing was cutting out the bad bit, matching the grain on a scrap, and patching that in. Afterwards, I carefully pulled as much of the "fuzz" out of the patch's seam to get it as fluffy as possible and then pressed lightly (with appropriate velvet protection). Depending on where the problem is, this may not work for you, but it worked well enough for me on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:13 PM on December 24, 2007

I had the same thing happen last year. I was losing so much hair, I was starting to panic about having some horrible medical condition or going bald, but no matter how much hair I lost (and I lost a lot in every shower and every time I brushed my hair), I still had hair months after it started. What I finally did was put down my irons and blowdryer and I didn't wash my hair at all for over a week (yeah, it was a little icky). Then I got a good shampoo and conditioner and only washed my hair... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 8:41 AM on December 17, 2007

Yes, using two forms of birth control at the same time is a good idea and increases your chances of not becoming pregnant, but ... in most equal partnerships, each partner chooses a form of birth control for themselves that they are comfortable with, so the stress of not becoming pregnant isn't all on one person. Right now, you are the only one keeping a pregnancy from happening. She needs to consider doing her part and using a diaphragm, sponge, gel, pill, or whatever.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 8:07 AM on December 17, 2007

How about no gift at all? Why are you require to buy him a gift? I don't spend any time, money or effort trying to come up with ways to annoy or belittle people I don't like (in my family or elsewhere) by buying them a purposely bad gift. Nothing at all works just fine. It shows I didn't put any time, money or energy into that person.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 1:54 PM on December 9, 2007

If he drank more milk than you, and there wasn't milk there when you or he wanted some, wouldn't you just make sure to buy more milk in advance? Buy half gallons of both kinds if ice cream, if you don't both like the same things. If we bought pints at my house, there'd be bickering too. Your husband, like mine, likes to eat sweet, cold treats more than you do. Therefore, I buy more. Sure, having more in the house requires some will power, if you are diet conscious, but it doesn't go bad that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 1:48 PM on December 9, 2007

I wasn't thrilled, excited, infatuated or enamored with my husband the first time I hung out with him. Oh, he has some looks, was intelligent, educated, funny, charming, considerate and all those things I was looking for, but there wasn't a huge giant spark of "OMG, I have got to be with this person!" In fact, I didn't think about him too much unless he was sitting right in front of me. He was just some new guy I met and had played pool with. By the second date, I knew I liked him... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 3:21 PM on December 4, 2007

We have been having this very problem with one of our kitties. She has just never shown any interest in treats of any sort, and for the last year, we have tried just about everything. Her brother goes crazy even for a bit of his regular food if I am handing it to him, but she won't go for anything. She doesn't even seem at all interested in food in general (cat or human food).

But just last night, she finally had a reaction to an edible item. I was sitting on the couch... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:12 AM on November 20, 2007

I was just at the craft store the other day (buying yet more yarn) and a lady staring at the needles asked me this very question!

I learned to crochet when I was about five, and kept at it off and on since then. I tried learning to knit a few times, and never had much success. Then, one day a few years ago, I asked my mom to try one more time to teach me to knit, and I finally got it, and then fell in love with knitting.

I think crochet is easier... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:04 AM on November 20, 2007

Have you tried cleaning it with anything at all, like per the manufacturers suggestions on cleaning? Most LCD screens can be cleaned of all manner of gunk with a solution of 50% distilled water and 50% isopropyl alcohol (70% dilution). Or maybe try a screen cleaner specifically designed for LCD screens. Use a soft clothe like microfiber or an old tee shirt rag (clean, of course). I'd certainly try to clean it properly first before trying anything like talc or before just replacing the thing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 2:19 PM on November 5, 2007

He did mention if I am ever unfaithful to him, he will have in the contract that I get nothing.

See, this is one of the things that needs to be discussed with a lawyer, as you too need a clause covering what happens if he should be unfaithful.

Step one in a pre-nup should be you and your intended sitting down together and talking about it, going over the proposed agreement together, discussing each other's terms, asking each... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 2:04 PM on October 6, 2007

I do both a first reading that goes quickly as the story pulls me along at whatever speed it wants to, and then I reread it slowly, already knowing the story and savor the actual writing (provided it is worth savoring). But then, I'm weird when it comes to reading and don't mind reading books twice (don't always do both readings right after each other, sometimes read another book in between and alternate -- my stack of books-to-be-read or in-progress is huge).

The only... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:10 PM on September 11, 2007

My husband and I will be celebrating 16 years together soon. If we had spent every waking moment together and every evening together over the course of all those years, we would have either killed each other or broken up ages ago. Familiarity breeds contempt, and wanting/expecting someone to spend every night and all their time with you is asking for resentment to set in, particularly when there's a child involved that one partner needs/wants to spend time with, but just in general, adults need... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 9:43 AM on August 21, 2007

I don't have any out-of-country experience to compare to, but a few months ago we started buying all our meat and produce at a local farmer's market. I was struck dumb by the intense smells of fresh fruits, veggies and meat when we brought the first load home. I had been buying just as much produce and meat at the grocery store as I did at the market, and never, not once, had I even noticed any smells at all while unpacking the groceries.

Now my kitchen and fridge smell... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 4:03 AM on July 17, 2007

With my two, I filled their bowls to overflowing and kept them that way when they were still growing and were super active. Now that they are getting older and aren't that active anymore (and had started getting chubby), I measure out exactly what they should have for the whole day in the morning (dry food). When they run out, they run out and don't get more until the next morning. There was a little bit of whining about it at first, but now their bowls aren't being emptied first thing in the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 8:08 AM on May 9, 2007

Thanks divabat. The responses to this question have been bothering me since they started rolling in, but I wasn't sure I wanted to respond in such a hate-filled room. Geez, people ... angry, bitter and jealous much?

Also not a celebrity, not wealthy, don't drink or do drugs, and am not so self-important as to think I have to go to a hospital for a vacation, and yet I have been in the hospital for exhaustion twice in my 42 years of life.

The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 8:09 AM on April 21, 2007

I want to ditto what milarepa said (and others) about allowing children to come to their own discovery of religion/spirituality. My parents were of very differing faiths, and those faiths changed a few times while I was growing up as my parents explored for themselves. They went about their daily lives and followed their beliefs, answering questions if I asked them but not sitting me down to teach me one, the other or either. When I got old enough to really start to wonder about god, the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 11:14 AM on April 12, 2007

My husband works on our TVs and monitors, because he knows what he is doing. His advice is that if you don't know what you are doing, please do not even open it up. The chance for significant injury is extremely high, and even when you do know exactly what you are doing, it only takes one small mistake to create a crisis. I know it's a hassle to take a large set to a shop, but it's really your best bet and usually doesn't cost too terribly much ... and it's much safer for someone like you who... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:32 PM on March 15, 2007

I bathed our last cat about once a month, because he was a long-hair, overly fuzzy, and he didn't groom as much as he should have. We have two new kittens now (short-hair), and as soon as they are healed up from their recent operations, I will be giving them a bath and will probably bathe them once every two months or so. Why? If I ever have need to give them a bath due to getting into stuff, needing flea or skin treatment, or self-pooing, getting a bath won't be some totally alien torture I am... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 6:27 AM on January 13, 2007

Free fortune cookie fortunes in a variety of topics in printable PDF format.

Some strange ones in PDF here.

And here's a really funny one I got from a friend's recent batch of cookies:

"If you think your life is stupid, try typing fortunes for fortune cookies as a career."
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 7:55 PM on December 27, 2006

Joey, dude ... do not under any circumstances give those cats to that woman. Do as others have suggested: change the locks, tell her when her stuff will be waiting outside, and then prepare for her to have a fit about it. The micro-chipping is a good idea too, just in case she gets crazy and does something sneaky (and/or illegal). I know you love those cats, and you have taken care of them all this time. She still doesn't have anywhere they can go, and either no one will take care of them if you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 11:30 PM on December 6, 2006

I once owned a large wave iron that worked well on my baby fine hair, but it was very hard on my hair, and it almost looked too neat and wouldn't get "tussled" no matter how much I shook my head. Now I just use a little mousse on slightly damp hair, about eight braids, and a good night's sleep. You can experiment about how many and where to put the braids to work with the natural flow and growth pattern of your hair. It'll look different depending on how you do the braids (as well as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:41 AM on December 6, 2006

I'm a stick-thin chick, and the ones with the rubbery stuff on the top band do that to me too. They do that on everyone, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't matter how much you spend on them either. Cheap or expensive, skinny or not, that kind of stocking just DOES that. Your best bet is to get a garter belt and wear regular stockings rather than the stay-up-by-themselves kind. They are way more comfortable anyway, and the garter is just plain sexy.

Garter belts can... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 1:55 PM on December 4, 2006

If your local library has old Pack-o-fun magazines on microfiche or bound on the shelves, from the 60's and 70's, they had tons of instructions for doing this with magazines and newspapers. Some of them are very complicated. Some not so much. I looked through the master index for 1967, and it must have been a good year for book folding. Most of the spring issues have at least one project like this.

I have some of them, but they are in a box at the moment. Give me a day... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:51 PM on November 30, 2006

magazines and newspapers

That should read magazines and books. And the 1967 issues of Pack-o-Fun that have the instructions are January, February, March, April, and June-July.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 1:02 PM on November 30, 2006

My husband has it. I don't. We've managed to keep it that way by just not smooching or sharing drinks (or any other sort of mouth activity) when he feels like he's getting one or has one. When we were younger, he'd get a sore every few months, but as we have gotten older it's gotten to be less often ... maybe once or twice a year, and usually when he's really stressed out/not eating right/not sleeping enough or sick with something else and his immune system is taxed. So as others have said, it's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:15 AM on November 23, 2006

You have gotten some good advice in this thread and some I would view as being WAY over the top, so as a woman who is also somewhat shy and reserved and faces this sort of thing every time I go grocery shopping, I thought I'd weigh in also.

I think she reacted perfectly in the example you gave. Then all she has to do is continue with her shopping. Pepper spray, squirting with other liquids, screaming, acting like a crazy person? That would be complete overkill and a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 1:52 PM on November 13, 2006

My last cat started peeing in the shower when he began having some serious health problems. In fact, it was the first sign that something was not right with the cat. It then progressed to pooping in the shower too, and a trip to the vet to get a very bad diagnosis. You might want to consult a vet, at least a phone call, to see if maybe you shouldn't have the cat looked at. Peeing in unusual places can be a sign of various cat health issues.

If the cat turns out perfectly... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:40 PM on November 12, 2006 marked best answer

A long time ago I spent a few years directing a gateway pageant to the Miss Texas pageant. I tried to find my old information on it to give you exact information, but who knows where all that stuff is now hidden in my house. I do remember that talent and interview were weighted more heavily than the "beauty" aspects, and it was entirely possible to win the pageant by scoring at the top in both of these even if your "beauty" scores (swimsuit/evening wear) weren't at the top of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:17 AM on November 6, 2006

Speaking as someone who went this same route after graduation (teaching art), I never had a doubt in my mind that I would work on my art as a career as well as my teaching of the subject. What I think you need to ask yourself is did you study art in order to become a teacher of art, or did you study art to become an artist ... or maybe both? When you can answer that question, you'll know which path you should take. I studied art to become a better artist, but I enjoyed teaching and passing on my... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:02 AM on November 6, 2006

Wrinkles and creases in leather should hang out. If ironing is necessary, place heavy brown paper over the leather and use a cool to medium iron. Take care not to overheat the leather, which will cause it to shine. -- From Wilsons Leather

I've lightly ironed my leather pants before this way, after a summer being folded in storage, and it worked well (with a very cool iron). I don't know how well it would work with a deeper crease. Maybe call a shoe... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 11:43 PM on October 12, 2006

As others have said, don't lose any sleep over it. If posting comments about people bouncing checks, not paying for merchandise, etc. were an actionable offense, eBay feedback would be the source of endless lawsuits. So long as you are telling the truth and can prove it, she doesn't have a leg to stand on.

I had the same thing happen to me recently, but luckily I was only stuck with 50 bars of soap in a scent my family loves. Guess what everyone's getting for Xmas. :D
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 2:04 PM on October 7, 2006 marked best answer

How do you know you won't get a thank you card for the wedding gift? I've been to countless showers, most of which I didn't get thank you cards for, but those same people sent cards for the wedding gifts, and some of them thanked me in those cards for both gifts (shower and wedding). Unless you're psychic, you can't know if their wedding stationary includes thank you cards they'll use.

As far as regifting the salad set as some form of payback for the lack of thank you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 10:05 PM on September 9, 2006

Here's what one company is doing with recycled disposable chopsticks. Might give you some ideas.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:05 AM on August 24, 2006

No, goats and sheep cannot look after themselves for a month or two. I wouldn't even leave them by themselves for a week without someone coming in and checking on them/feeding them. Most domestic goats and sheep cannot live healthily on wild grasses alone. They require feed and supplements and health care (parasite control, shots, sheering and so on). They are not low maintenance, and you had best really like caring for them and not mind the work that will involve. You'd also have to consider... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 5:35 PM on August 16, 2006

My mother (who I am not on great terms with either) has at one time or another accused me, my husband, and just about everyone else who has ever entered her house of stealing something she has shown them that "no one else knew about". In the end, the missing item has always turned up somewhere she put it but forgot about. She seems to not remember where she puts things after she pulls them out to show someone, and since SHE couldn't possibly be at fault (because she says she would... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Orb at 12:45 AM on August 8, 2006