Displaying comments 1 to 50 of 997
Ask post:
Move to Springfield, IL?
Move to Carbondale. College town, mellow vibe, lovely outdoorsy woodsy rolling hills & lakes & rivers & forests with none of the prairie deadness of upstate.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 11:29 AM on October 8, 2008
Ask post:
Fun activities at a community fair?
Teach the kids about non-newtonian fluids by filling up a baby pool with cornstarch and water. They can be ducks as they walk across in bare feet, and their "webbed feet" allow them to walk on top of the "water" as long as they keep moving, but when the stop, they sink.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 12:59 PM on October 7, 2008 
marked best answer
A video of the above idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:24 PM on October 7, 2008
Ask post:
Yep, another economy question!
It is greed, but if you define greed as "always wanting more," greed is the engine of progress and our economic system couldn't function without it.
The problem, as in any closed system, is how you moderate tendencies toward one extreme or the other. Unmitigated greed -- ethics and duties toward others go out the window, transgressors go unpunished, secrecy is the norm -- is the deathknell of an economy, as it depends on transparency and the perception of an... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:48 PM on September 26, 2008
Ask post:
This is just the tip of the iceberg
I'm so sorry these things happened to you and your SO. The answers above cover it. But you need to get professional advice in helping you strike a balance between self-awareness and self-loathing. You're waaaay to far in one direction. Life's shorter than you think and you don't need this roadblock in your path.
(mods, fix tag?)
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:44 PM on September 22, 2008
Ask post:
Piano on a Budget
I don't know where you are geographically, but in Philadelphia there's a Craigslist listing for a free piano at least a couple of times per month. That's how we got ours. We just had to move it, which was a matter of getting a couple of strong guys and a truck. (One of those guys was me, but it would have been someone else had the move not been first floor --> first floor.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 8:28 AM on September 19, 2008
Ask post:
Is he a cheater?
Come on. It's totally conceivable that he had something going on that he didn't want to share with you that WAS NOT cheating -- such as volunteer work he doesn't want to be ostentatious about, or a minor inpatient procedure done that he didn't want you to worry over.
Kidding. DTMFA.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 11:01 AM on September 18, 2008
Ask post:
Help Me Fix My Soap Dish
Don't worry too much about the discoloring, as long as the wall behind it is solid. Scrape both surfaces as best you can, glue it up, and do a good job with the caulking around it, and you'll be good to go.
Your wife will hopefully learn to feel a little more shame as you become more experienced homeowners.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 12:55 PM on September 16, 2008
Ask post:
Differences between the midwest and the eastcoast?
I'll agree with the characterizations of New Englanders* as standoffish, rude, unfriendly and hard to get to know, I'll shake my head in wonderment at those who think that's a minor quibble, and I'll stand up for NYC & Philly in saying emphatically this is NOT just an East Coast thing because there's so little personal space, you know(?). It's a Boston thing. Living there about 10 years I never got used to being grunted at by cashiers or being intentionally put at risk on my bike by... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 6:29 AM on September 15, 2008
Ask post:
Deconstruct this Invitation?
Looking at the song titles, many sound like incidents in or episodes of a specific career.
these four work for dylan:
NNB - 1967-68 withdrawal was seen by some as a breakdown of sorts (?)
band on the run - he's been touring nonstop for like 20 years now
stairway to heaven - he had a heart infection a few years ago that took him off the road for a while :)
Black Magic Woman - he was married to a black woman for many years... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 11:35 AM on September 10, 2008
These songs have so little in common, other than their boomer timeframe, that I'm thinking there's something else we're not getting, possibly in the photos in the invite or something else about the packaging, like how the Paul Simon invite came in a Kodak box. Is it possible these could be scanned & put on flickr, or at least described in more detail?
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 7:56 AM on September 11, 2008
what artists have had well-publicized "nervous breakdowns?"
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 11:20 AM on September 11, 2008
and experienced religious conversion and had alcohol issues and dabbled with mysticism/magic and have had visa issues and toured a lot and walk funny?
There's your guest right there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 11:32 AM on September 11, 2008
The dates fit perfectly, the Sam Zell party is obviously the one we're talking about, but the artist makes no sense as an answer. Because the invitation/clues were assembled with such care and expense (photo shoots?) I think the quality of the puzzle itself is going to be consistent with the overall spend. I'm putting my money on a Zell-funded disinformation campaign.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 9:11 AM on September 13, 2008
Ask post:
Paving? Sealcoating? What am I doing?
It looks like you need more than sealcoating, but less than full tearout down to the gravel.
You should ask contractors for their opinion. While they theoretically have a reason to overestimate the job, they also want to be the low bidder.
And you should find those contractors through references, not through the phone book. Easiest way is to drive around your neighborhood, find the newest-looking driveway, and knock on the door. Some of those... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:16 PM on September 5, 2008
Ask post:
Is there a situation when its good to give into an aggressive man?
Get the authorities involved, if only to have a record of the incident. Then arm yourself. If you're truly four hours away from any kind of law enforcement, then for all practical purposes you are responsible for your own protection. I am stridently pro-gun-control, but I don't believe individual gun ownership should be illegal, and yours is a perfect example of when it makes sense. Get a gun and learn how to use it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 8:09 PM on September 1, 2008
Ask post:
outlook is sending my meeting planners everywhere but the right place
One other thing -- I tried creating a rule that when meeting invites or updates come in, they should be moved to the Calendar in the Exchange group. The rule doesn't work, although I can open up a meeting in the PST calendar, pull down File/Move To Folder.. and it moves just fine that way.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 6:39 AM on August 19, 2008
I checked, the exchange account already is the default.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 12:12 PM on August 19, 2008
And SirStan, I use a new pst each quarter because my exchange account keeps filling up and preventing me from sending new mail. Instead of waiting until it makes me move old messages to a pst folder, I just work exclusively out of pst folders now and Exchange stays off my back about space issues.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 12:14 PM on August 19, 2008
yes, it does. :(
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 2:28 PM on August 19, 2008
Ask post:
teen crush time
The harder you try, the less attractive and more frustrated you'll be.
Corollary: The opposite of trying hard is not indifference.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 4:11 PM on August 14, 2008
Ask post:
Aim for the stars, then whatever you achieve you can feel like a failure.
To answer your original questions, "good enough" is a result you're happy with. It sounds like you're OK with your input, but your results fall short. You're going to have to work with a therapist who can help you look past short-term pain in order to achieve satisfactory long-term results.
My understanding of perfectionism, informed by my having a daughter who fits the profile, is that objectively excellent results are never enough, and your abillity to meet... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 6:58 AM on July 31, 2008
Ask post:
Who said it first?
Maybe a derail, but how does Jimmy buffet get to copyright a common everyday phrase? Does Aimee Mann get royalties on every I'm With Stupid t-shirt?
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:31 PM on July 30, 2008
Ask post:
Make me take a day trip.
re: philly -- the R7 goes to West trenton, completely different trainstation from Trenton. Not sure if NJ transit goes to WT also.
You could also take the amtrak direct from penn station to 30th street station in Philly, puts you directly in University City (Penn, Drexel campuses) and also walking distance (1 mile or so) of all the things previously mentioned (Art Museum, Schulkyll bike/jogging paths, restaurants, etc.).
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 11:18 AM on July 30, 2008
The Straightener is correct. Thanks for straightening me out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 12:10 PM on July 30, 2008
Ask post:
Explaining a unique and ubiquitous kind of stuttering on public radio?
The other NPR sort of affectation, used by almost every sort of academic bloviator on their air, is that sort of ruminating, meaningless wordwaster "sort of." To be fair to NPR, though, I hear this from people in real life a lot. It seems to be limited to, but mandatory for, everyone with any kind of postgraduate credential.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 6:05 AM on July 25, 2008
whoops, quick rethink -- take back the "mandatory for" part.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 6:06 AM on July 25, 2008
Ask post:
The odds of winning lotteries?
You can't improve the odds, but you can (very very very very slightly) improve the odds that you'll split a quickpick jackpot among fewer people. Just avoid using any number between 1 and 12 as your first two numbers, because many people use birthdays for their "lucky number."
Of course, by eliminating those numbers, which may come up randomly, you also decrease your odds of winning. So this is an "advantage" that is so slight it may in fact be a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 6:01 PM on July 15, 2008
Ask post:
How do I convince someone that (S)cience is real?
It's a theory, that means it hasn't yet been proved (if it can) that it actually exists/happened.
No, that's not what a theory is in the world of science. Wikipedia:
In science a theory is a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise verified through empirical... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:31 PM on July 15, 2008
Ask post:
Best format for ripping CD's?
What's with the saving two versions (FLAC for storage and MP3 for playback)? What's the problem with just ripping to a lossy playback format, and for archiving, just tucking the CDs away? I know storage is not an issue for the OP but certainly time must be? I would think you could sleep just as comfortably using a media server to playback your MP3s, with the knowledge that the original disks are available in case your hard drive ever fails.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 12:18 PM on July 10, 2008
Ask post:
I thought it may be good, but maybe it's snot.
Couple of thoughts. First two are in conflict-
1. It's in your nose because your body is trying to get it out. If you defeat this mechanism you may get more bacteria, germs etc. than you otherwise would, and may get sick more often.
2. If you expose yourself to more bacteria, germs etc. than you otherwise would, you may build up your immune system and get sick less often.
Make up your own mind about this one.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 9:32 AM on July 10, 2008
StickyCarpet, nice job on the science there!
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 10:38 AM on July 10, 2008
Ask post:
I should've done that years ago...
Switch from bar soap to body wash and your shower will stay much, much cleaner. Most of the gunk in a dirty shower is the residue of the stuff in bar soap that makes it hang together.
I learned this on Metafilter.
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 7:42 AM on July 10, 2008
Ask post:
Bathroom entertainment
Jon Stewart's America: The Book and Cobert's I Am America! (And So Can You) are both good ones for dipping in and out of, so to speak. But the all-time best book for this purpose is An Incomplete Education, which I first read in 1987 and still think of as the The Internet on Paper, just because it's so damn interesting, random, and funny/snarky. As Amazon says, it's 'a whirlwind tour through 12 different disciplines, from American studies to philosophy to world history," giving you the all... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 1:02 PM on July 9, 2008
Ask post:
Reading recommendations for a 14-year-old girl?
The OP's asking for a book that would expose the girl to ideas she might not get in a left-of-center household. To assume that will damage the friendship assumes a lot about the nature of both the friendship and the friends. Imagine, if you might, someone who both votes Democratic and is open to interesting, counterintuitive ideas -- astounding, I know, but these people exist. It doesn't have to be Ann Coulter, FFS.
Anyway, how about In Praise of Prejudice: The Necessity... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by stupidsexyFlanders
at 2:42 AM on July 3, 2008
