It's commonly called an audio switch, here is a bunch at Amazon < $20. Don't mess with two soundcards or any software solution, external hardware switch is cheap and fast.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:41 PM on August 29, 2008

British Psychological Society report on the Nature of Hypnosis
International Journal Of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
American Journal Of Clinical Hypnosis

Is it "real"? Yes, there is definitely something going on, hypnotism is not just stage magic. What exactly is going on and how it works is not well understood though. Peer reviewed articles, as in any field, do not undertake to survey the entire discipline but rather focus... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 9:49 PM on August 27, 2008

Drupal is the most fully featured open source CMS I know of. From my short cursory perusal of the site, I did not notice anything which it wouldn't be able to handle. Are there specific unusual capabilities you require?
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 1:32 PM on August 22, 2008

Big dreams are great, but I would focus on accomplishing real world objectives. Have them pick out their top five or ten schools. Get them a common application and have them fill it out. Get them loan some counseling. Fill out the FAFSA. Make them take some practice SATs. Get them involved in the process to the point that they realize this is a realistic possibility for them. This gets the initial hurdles out of the way, such as information gathering, recommendations, tax form information,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 12:05 AM on August 20, 2008

I think your background gives you a certain degree of authority and credibility. However, you definitely want to affiliate yourself with someone else who is beyond reproach, ex-law enforcement would be best. Reminds me of a TV show I recently saw, check out It Takes A Thief if you haven't seen it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:47 PM on August 19, 2008

New Balance, if you are looking for sneakers.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 2:55 PM on August 15, 2008

You might be interested in this recent article from 1UP regarding the current state of pro gaming in the US. It also references a new book out called Game Boys: Professional Videogaming's Rise from the Basement to the Big Time, about the current turmoil in pro PC gaming concerning the rise of DirectTV sponsored Championship Gaming Series which has usurped many of the sponsors of the formerly disparate video game competitions.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 2:37 PM on August 15, 2008

Sorry, the book is actually more about two particular teams' rivalry in the pro Counterstrike: Source tournament circuit, but has great info on many aspects of current pro gaming in the US.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 2:41 PM on August 15, 2008

The primary research on this topic was that of Elisabeth Loftus, who was the first to rigorously test and analyze false memories. She found that it is surprisingly easy to implant false memories in people. This has been followed up with a huge amount of research, all of which expands on the original findings. A lot of people think hypnotism is a great tool for unearthing "repressed memories". Conversely, people under the effects of hypnotism are particularly susceptible to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:21 PM on August 12, 2008

As a mental health professional, I am mildly surprised you aren't familiar with this research. It was covered multiple times in different psychology classes I took.

Specifically, from article I linked earlier:

Harvard University psychologist Richard McNally tested 10 people who said they had been abducted, physically examined and sexually molested by space aliens. Researchers tape-recorded the subjects talking about their memories.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:26 PM on August 12, 2008

A lot of this is how you approach and present it. If you feel genuinely ashamed that you weren't able to get your novel written, and present it that way, people react accordingly. From the feedback here, I think it is clear that most people will find it pretty cool that you took a risk like this and ended up actually meeting with some success. Hey, I would love to get some short stories published! Come to terms with the path you took, and when they ask you, you can answer without remorse.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:30 PM on August 7, 2008

Oral with condom is kind of like going swimming with your clothes on. It's still fun, but you have this sneaking suspicion that maybe it would be better if you just took them off.

I would just go get yourselves tested and then you can proceed with the much preferred uncondomified oral. Most people in my experience do not use a condom for this purpose, although it is by no means unheard of to do so. If one of you is positive and that is the reasoning behind condom use,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:20 PM on August 7, 2008

As to the delay, for a hand-written note I would send it the very next day. A prewritten card is just weird and cheesy, and takes any potential value out of the handwritten note itself. The next day is natural. A few days later is "Was he too busy or just lazy?" To be honest I would echo what others have said and urge you to simply focus on nailing the actual interview itself, as that is what will really get you the job.

Regarding the hand written note... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:03 PM on August 7, 2008

Just FYI, this is the series of HDs that ships with current MBPs. The seek read time is 12ms, just like all the other drives listed, even though it is a 5400 rpm drive.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:41 PM on August 4, 2008

Get an electronic kit. It broke my heart when I sold my Tama kit, but I picked up a Roland V-Club off E-Bay and have been quite happy with it. Apparently that model isn't made anymore but anything Roland, Yamaha, or even Alesis should be pretty fun. Anything from Target is going to be a toy, and probably break if treat it like a real drum kit. You definitely want a mesh snare and some decent hi-hats, go to Guitar Center and play around on some to get a feel for it. Get some good headphones... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 7:26 PM on August 3, 2008

Cityseach, Yelp, Cinema Treasures, JudysBook. If you haven't been already, I highly recommend the Jordan's Furniture IMAX experiene for new blockbusters and Chunky's grungy recliners and beer bins for second tier movies.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:05 AM on July 27, 2008

Disclaimer: I live in Boston, but I am not a girl. Take my links as general suggestions.

I would recommend going somewhere like EMS/REI or order online from one of the many outdoor retailiers (Moosejaw, Backcountry) and find a shell. Something like this (cheaper) or this (more expensive). This is practical, warm, and eminently useful. It will stuff into a backpack if necessary, but keep you warm and dry in the most terrible of conditions. Do not skimp on this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:53 PM on July 21, 2008

Concise Guide to Macroeconomics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:29 AM on July 9, 2008 marked best answer

A quarter of a screen of Firefox or Excel isn't going to be very useful unless you have one very large or multiple monitors. Having multiple workspaces is something you might want to check out, I can't live without after them being introduced through Linux and OSX. You can still trade data between the applications as necessary, and everything is compartmentalized.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 11:38 AM on July 2, 2008

A fence? Spike strips? Liscense plate #'s and police? Honestly I would tend toward a fence. Escalating the level of conflict is going to be a losing battle most likely, unless you are willing to take it seriously and scare the shit out of them. Unless you do that, you are just going to piss them off more and make it into a game of oneupsmanship. Considering your exposed garden and their apparent lack of other important obligations, I am guessing this is not a winning position for you.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 12:54 PM on July 1, 2008

Empress has it. Dots ignored by gmail. Seconded here. Unbelievable but true.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 12:36 PM on July 1, 2008

Wouldn't mention it if this wasn't a question specifically related to vocabulary, but although your curiosity may in fact have peaked at the exact moment you asked this question, the homophone most commonly used in this context is pique. As in "to cause resentment or, more commonly, to rouse, excite, or stimulate".

And another vote for Infinite Jest.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:51 PM on June 10, 2008

If you intend to teach history, perhaps. If you want to take it in the political science direction, I would advise highly against. As others suggested, study it as a hobby. There is no future in Marx, Freud, or any blend of the two.

Everything I encountered in college and personal investigation indicated the solutions proposed by both Marx and Freud were fundamentally flawed. In fact they stick out in my mind as the two paradigmatic examples of famous thinkers with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 6:17 PM on June 10, 2008

Ravelinks New York is a decent source of upcoming gatherings, there used to a better listing around but I can't seem to find it. I do know that many of the big clubs when I was there have been shut down (Twilo, Limelight, Tunnel, etc) but I'm sure if you know where to look there is still plenty going on.

Unless you know how to play keyboard, you may want to look into stuff like a sampler, groovebox, drum machine, etc instead.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 9:52 PM on June 7, 2008

Is there a way you could move the tenants around? If there is an open apartment somewhere more secluded on the property perhaps the smoker could move there. Otherwise, yeah, I think you just have to inform him that if there are any more complaints, the police will be called. If he chooses that path, he has only himself to blame.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 8:36 AM on June 6, 2008

Moving Scam Guide and their Superlist for NYC. They highly reccommend Shea Moving, All Star Moving and Moovers, Inc, for NYC moves.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:18 PM on June 4, 2008

Definitely the C. The fact that you got an A the second time around (which may or may not happen), does not remove the fact that you still got a D the first time around. There are worse things in life than getting a C, in fact many of the college classes I took were graded on a curve and the majority of the students did get C's. You are trying to find an excuse to justify not working as hard as you should in the class, and that's fine, but it isn't going to look better on your transcript.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:04 PM on June 4, 2008

I'm not so up to speed on the older stuff, but you may want to check out Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Soulive or DJ Logic for a newer take on jazz. Allmusic is a great place for finding similar artists and culling out the good albums from the bad.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 6:30 PM on June 2, 2008

Gilgamesh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 3:10 AM on May 23, 2008

criagslist?
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 4:09 PM on May 22, 2008

oops
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 4:10 PM on May 22, 2008

Have you considered a mini-tripod? They come very small.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 3:59 AM on May 20, 2008

The Matrix, Office Space, and Fight Club all came out in 1999. That's more post-90's than generation defining. How can it define a generation if it came out when the decade was already over? Wayne's World and Trainspotting on the other hand is really more 80's... take a look at the soundtracks, there are no 90's bands on there.

Pulp Fiction is getting better, but for me an era is defined by the people who are of high school or college age during that period, Pulp... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 10:11 PM on May 15, 2008

I think developing a wiki for your major/classes would be invaluable. It seems like the other information is probably available somewhere else. A list/breakdown of good places to study is handy to have, and might be worth doing, but could just be a thread in your forums or a page on your wiki.

Restaurant Reviews: Yelp

Professor Reviews: RateMyProfessors
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 9:40 PM on May 15, 2008

I would get yourself a decent way to rip files off web pages (I use flashgot for firefox) and check out the live music archives at archive.org. Many, many jam bands allow tapers at their shows and a lot of it gets posted at archive.org, with reviews and information. This is free, legal music downloading, encouraged by both the bands and the site, and a great way to discover the jam band scene.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 1:54 PM on May 11, 2008

I found The Princeton Review college finding site very useful for my college search. It has rankings among many traditional and non-traditional categories, student interviews and extensive breakdowns and information across many categories for all decent-sized schools in the US.

I would look at what type of intellectual environment you want to be a part of as a first consideration. Free form liberal arts? Cutting edge research? Training for the real world? The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 1:50 PM on May 11, 2008

I don't know much about MySQL, but you generally need to explicitly convert your code from a single thread to a multi-threaded approach in order to take advantage of the multiple cores. As mattoxic mentions, the slowdown on a database is generally the read/write operations, and optimization is achieved by minimizing reads/writes, sophisticated memory management techniques, and massive RAID arrays, although the new processor can't hurt.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 4:49 AM on May 11, 2008

I think you want to do this with cron. Googling cron and osx should lead you down the correct path, but here are a few top hits anyway [1, 2, 3] and here is a small utility GUI which promises to work although I have no firsthand knowledge of said promise!... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 4:38 AM on May 11, 2008

Dunno about crisis, but there are many open problems in cognitive science. Broad stuff like how we integrate all the discreet information we sample from the world into a unified consciousness to more concrete problems like a neural model of variable binding.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 1:35 PM on May 6, 2008

If there was evidence, it would be science and not religion. Focus on making the most of what time you have.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 3:44 PM on April 28, 2008

There are books written on the subject.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 12:53 PM on May 6, 2008

I have seen some evidence that overall happiness is linked more closely to genetics and experience, your personality or whatever you wish to call it, than extrinsic factors such as wealth, love, achievement, etc. The study I remember most vividly looked at a wide range of people, some of whom had won the lottery or had very positive events happen, others who lost a limb or negative "life-changing" events. What they found was that while individual events obviously effect people's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 2:51 AM on May 6, 2008

I think you are going to find better examples in the "Web 2.0" domain than stand-alone desktop applications. There are tons of applications built on Java or Python, such as Azureas and Eclipse, but I don't think this is the kind of gluing you are talking about. I would expect that sites like Amazon, Digg, Delicious, YouTube, Google and their many lesser known cousins are all using some open source pieces in PHP, Apache, mySQL, XML, etc with Python or Perl or some other scripting... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 1:43 AM on May 5, 2008

I do not regret switching at all, the only thing I do miss in the windowing system itself. When dealing with a large project, it can be a huge task accessing everything I need. For instance, when working on a coding project in Matlab I will often have the assignment and research articles open in Preview, Matlab and multiple coding windows open inside that, Firefox running for research/syntax lookup, another text editor running for writing my responses, IM client for conferring with my peers,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 1:09 PM on April 29, 2008

You may want to check out erotic4u. They do not host full movies but there is a large collection of softer movie scenes, and they do have this, or so I have heard. Unless you know specific titles however, it is going to be very difficult to locate among the rest of the stuff. On the plus side, you can search the archive without logging in. (Definitely NSFW)
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 12:24 PM on April 29, 2008

You could try to help her find someone so she doesn't feel so lonely. What has worked for you, what she could change/work on, making time for nights out to meet new people together, specific advice so that she has something to focus on something concrete instead of pining away for that ephemeral someone. All the comforting isn't doing anything to change a situation she obviously isn't happy with, she may be trying to ask you for help without coming right out and asking. If you also feel... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 9:56 PM on April 13, 2008

Try John M Harrison. Viriconium and Light in particular. Also, have you completely exhausted Gibson and Stephenson? Gibson has a large catalog and Stephenson's Baroque cycle isn't sci-fi but it is definitely worth slaving through the entire enormous thing. He isn't new, but Orson Scott Card is another writer whose collection is extensive, just when I thought I had read everything I stumble across something in another used book store from the days of yore.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 9:48 PM on April 13, 2008

If you need to transport all your data around, buy a 500 gig (or more) IDE drive for peanuts and put it in a good enclosure. For an mp3 player you want flash memory, that means nano, and that means ~8 gig. I have over 300 gig music and 100 gig video, it's all about making good smart playlists on the iPod and keeping the external drive handy when you need to travel far.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 8:14 AM on April 7, 2008

That's what friends are for.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 7:53 AM on April 7, 2008

Sorry, hit post instead of preview there, here are the full titles and authors.

Bumblebee Economics - Bernd Heinrich

Ever Since Darwin: Reflections on Natural History - Stephen Jay Gould

Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence - Carl Sagan

The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature - Matt Ridley

The Double Helix: A Personal Account of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sophist at 7:47 PM on April 4, 2008