My boyfriend has had some awful experience with the Seagate FreeAgent drives - completely fried after ripping over onto the carpet (and he's not the only one [disclaimer: his site is the first result]) - and warns everyone away from them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:33 PM on April 20, 2008

My mother sang to us all the time. She even sang me awake every school day morning until I graduated high school, some made-up thing about it being a beautiful morning to go to school. My mother, father, sister, and I all sang together in the church choir, but not really at home together.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:30 PM on April 19, 2008

Spring Orzo Salad (photo, self-link). Yumm.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 12:29 AM on April 12, 2008

As a data point, my Firefox will play .swf files just fine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 1:34 PM on April 6, 2008

Why not ask your PCP why he wouldn't prescribe it?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 9:34 PM on April 1, 2008

Hang fabric.
Hang old doors or windows.
Folding screen.

Google DIY Room Dividers for more ideas.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 10:05 AM on March 30, 2008 marked best answer

My 10lb dog COMPLETELY freaks out with hair cuts. The moment the scissors come within two inches of her body she becomes jumpy, bite-y, and scream-y. It's quite unpleasant, and turns the job into a 3-hour-long ordeal. And don't even think about using electric clippers. I tried some training with the scissors - bringing them within her sight but not using them on her, giving her treats, much like what inatizzy talks about, but as calm as she was though all of that, the moment the scissors... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:38 PM on March 22, 2008

They make dog leash attachments for bicycles that are exactly for this.

And here's an article from eHow on How to Bike With Your Dog Safely.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 1:43 PM on March 9, 2008

Did you try searching for the history of sunscreen? The Wikipedia article is right there near the top.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 9:14 AM on March 9, 2008

New Orleans?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 7:18 PM on March 2, 2008

Standard medical advice has been 1. more foreplay, and 2. more lube. Neither help much.

This is bullshit. Has a doctor diagnosed you with vestibulitis, or is this a self-diagnosis? I suffer from it as well, and once I found a doctor who believed me and knew that this wasn't something that would be solved with foreplay or KY or relaxing (like so many other doctors told me), we were able to work together to fix it.

Here's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 4:04 PM on March 2, 2008

Just thought of a book that really helped me before I found a doctor who took my vulvar pain seriously: The Vulvodynia Survival Guide. It was a really big help to me when I felt crazy or the only woman going through this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 7:14 PM on March 2, 2008

Just about any place in Alaska that isn't Anchorage.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 4:10 PM on March 2, 2008

Or you could use some home recipes to insure you know what is in the stuff you slather all over your body. Avocado, yogurt, honey, eggs. Search for homemade beauty recipes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 8:03 PM on March 1, 2008

I lived in Fairbanks for 7 years until I moved to Anchorage last summer. I have never sold a car in less than a week in Fairbanks.

Subarus are well-loved in Fairbanks. They are durable and can handle the cold weather and icy roads just fine. There are also a ton of them for sale, but if yours is in tip-top condition then it might sell. It would go quicker at a dealer, but you won't get much money for it. You could get more with a private sale, but Fairbanksans... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 12:31 PM on February 12, 2008 marked best answer

Forgot to add: as for dealerships, you should contact one in Fairbanks and ask them how feasible it is to sell your car in a short period of time. Try Affordable Used Cars - I've had great dealings with them over the years both in buying cars and trading mine in. Their site looks down now, so here is their contact info:

Affordable Used Cars
2525 S Cushman St, Fairbanks, AK 99701
907.452.5707 - 877.811.4235
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 12:38 PM on February 12, 2008 marked best answer

Yep, I did this last year too. They just sent it back to me (after April 15, incidentally) asking me to sign it. It did delay my refund a bit.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:19 PM on February 2, 2008

Yeah, you probably just overfilled it. Check the level in a few days.

Anecdotal: I drive a 2002 Dodge Neon RT and had a bad power steering leak a few months ago. I was getting a high-pitch whining every time I started it and turned the steering wheel. It was spraying all over everything under the hood, and I was refilling the fluid every three days or so. Horrible leak. After a few months of this (yes, months, and I had no problem with fire) I finally got it to a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:11 PM on February 2, 2008

What areas of your face are more prone to the breakouts? Your t-zone (chin, nose, forehead)? Is the skin underneath the acne flakey and itchy?

If it's mostly your cheeks and forehead that's itchy-dry and your chin and nose that is acne-prone, then don't spread drying acne products over your whole face (most of the super powerful zit-fighting chemicals are over-zealous and dry everything out, like you've aready noticed). And don't spread thick moisturizers over your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 4:31 PM on January 25, 2008

Heck, if you live in a large-ish city and have a Sephora nearby, go down and ask! Ask for samples! Try products in the store and then walk away to see how it will work on your face!
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 4:32 PM on January 25, 2008

I've got really dry skin too - tight and itchy even a half hour after washing it - and I've recently found that Philosphy is teh awesome. It's a little spendy, but this set has already lasted me four months and will be good for another one or two. Worth every penny.

For the rest of my body, I keep a bottle of baby oil gel in the shower... just a dab will cover my entire skin and stop all of the nasty itching.

My makeup is simple, but I've... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:15 PM on January 22, 2008

Having lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for 7+ years, I can verify that it stops snowing around -35° (and -40 is the same in C and F). The air does fill with ice fog, however, which is very pretty but not too fun on the lungs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 8:38 PM on January 17, 2008

Anecdotal: When I wake earlier than my normal schedule by a few hours, I feel sick to my stomach. The idea of eating breakfast makes me even worse, and even getting up at my normal time I put off breakfast for a good three hours to combat the ill feeling I get.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:55 PM on January 16, 2008

My coworker has some foam swords that he and a friend use to beat on each other. He'll sometimes even put weights on his ankles and wrists to make it more of a work out, and they will often leave bruises on each other. They love it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:35 PM on January 10, 2008

My ex and I did this in August in Alaska. We had no kids, no property, no disputes. The court fees were about $100, and we were able to download PDF version of the forms with instructions from the state's website. The hearing was about 10 minutes long, which I attended over the phone because I was not able to be there in person.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 10:47 AM on January 10, 2008

You could try a pawn shop, I've seen some nice vintage rings in places like that. I know someone who found a gorgeous ring in a pawn shop that had a green emerald in it for not much money at all because the shop owner thought it was fake. But if you do go that route, do your homework and compare to make sure they haven't jacked up the prices.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 9:24 PM on January 5, 2008

It could also be a factor of where you grew up. My boyfriend grew up in Philadelphia, and since moving to Alaska was teased for his pronunciations of certain words until they were shamed out of him. Like woo-der instead of wah-ter for water; egg-sit instead of ex-sit for exit. He still says urr for error, and it drives me nuts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 1:05 PM on December 30, 2007

I go through the mail as soon as I get it.

Bills that need to be paid get set in a designated spot next to my computer after I write the due date on the envelope in big numbers. When it gets closer to the date, I pay it and write the payment information on the bill (date, amount, check#,etc). I then file it for about a month to make sure they get it; then I shred it.

Important papers that need to be filed get put on top of the filing box to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 4:51 PM on December 26, 2007

Matt Costa's Cold December?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 12:12 AM on December 26, 2007

You want to do cardio to burn fat, and weights to build strength and tone muscle. Alternate days you do strength training - don't do upper body two days in a row, for example. Mostly, I'd try a bit of everything. Don't let your body and muscles get too used to one routine. Try the elliptical and the pool and the stationary bikes. Try a class. Don't be intimidated by any of it (which I was when I first started a month or so ago).
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 12:58 AM on December 24, 2007

I've used hooks over the door before, and my brother has used a coat tree which tucks nicely into a corner. Currently I use an ottoman that I'd love to use for sitting on for shoes and stockings and the like, but there's a ton of clothes on them. My boyfriend uses the floor.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 12:02 PM on December 18, 2007

David Lanz - the song starts around 1:03
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:50 AM on December 16, 2007 marked best answer

Definitely ice cream, but a little bit of grounds goes a long way - I've made a half gallon with just a few Tablespoons of grounds.

Save them for fertilizer or compost.

Cover them in chocolate and give as gifts?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 7:50 PM on December 1, 2007

Does the shirt have any washing guidelines on it? Have you tried hang-drying it?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 9:38 PM on November 27, 2007

A DSLR, either a Nikon or a Canon, would let you shoot in RAW format, and then you can output to any size image for sending to magazines.

And with moving subjects, the best kind of stabilization is a tripod or monopod. It will need to be strong enough to hold your camera and whatever lens you may want to use, but compact enough to fold into a large bag. However, if you are regularly washing the models out because of the bright lights, then your shutter speed is too... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:56 PM on November 27, 2007 marked best answer

Echoing all of the advice to get properly fitted - she doesn't have to buy anything from the place she gets fitted. I was wearing a 38D when I finally got fitted at Nordstrom's, and found out I was really a 34F. It's made a HUGE difference, and my back doesn't hurt as much as it used to.

Larger cup sizes should be made in a different way than smaller cup bras for more support. They will have less-stretchy material, probably a few more seams. Better support all around.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 3:04 PM on November 23, 2007

I got the first HPV shot and asked my doctor what would happen if I never got the other two. She told me that the first shot offers 95% protection, the second shot brings it up to 98%, and the third to 99.6% (I'm not sure how accurate her numbers were, but I follow her concept). After moving and losing insurance and other issues and such, I was not able to get the second or third shots.

You should really call her doctor and ask about this, you don't have to wait for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 2:53 PM on November 23, 2007

Ice cream. There is nothing - NOTHING - better than the sound of an ice cream maker slowing to a stop and then licking the paddles clean.

cookies, desserts of really any kind
popcorn
guacamole
pizza dough
pasta sauce
salsa
bruschetta
pancakes and waffles
pad thai
zucchini bread
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:41 PM on November 18, 2007

My boyfriend claims he used Billy Bo Bob Brain when he put on the long legs and had the fake accent.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 8:37 PM on November 7, 2007

A friend of mine defaulted on a student loan in the US, and not only did they garnish his wages but they nearly brought the default to court before he worked out a payment plan with them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:40 PM on November 4, 2007

But a retailer can date a quote for the current year even if you don't technically pay them until the next year. I've seen similar things done with non-profits having to spend grant money before the end of a fiscal year. A big-name retailer probably (like Dell) won't do this for you, but a smaller local business that would like to keep your business probably would.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:11 PM on November 4, 2007

I just recently divorced in Alaska with no lawyers involved. We had no children or property, weren't fighting over any possessions. There were different forms online as well, but they were divided into sections like "no kids no property" and "with children under 18".

We filled out a dissolution form stating how we divided things and that we were both fine with all of that and then filed it with the court for a one-time fee (I think it was around... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 10:45 PM on October 30, 2007 marked best answer

My CEO's daughter just published a book on this very subject. Which isn't that helpful since it's not even available yet, but it's all I've got because the only time I've been in a non-romantic roommate situation was my freshman year of college.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 11:29 PM on October 29, 2007

I've given a lot of stuff away on Freecycle, and I have always given the people my home address. My boyfriend expressed concern about it once when I was going to be home alone, but I just brushed him off. I had never thought that something wrong could happen. Now I won't arrange for pickups while he's not home, mostly for his peace of mind.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 7:14 PM on October 24, 2007

Try a crock pot: you chop up a ton of ingredients at night, store them in the refrigerator, first thing in the morning dump everything into the crock pot, turn it on low, and go to work. You come home to a yummy-smelling home and food ready and waiting. Usually with enough for leftovers.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 1:02 AM on October 21, 2007

I am appreciative of some trimming, but would be weirded out by going completely bald. But then I think bald nethers look funny on both sexes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 9:46 PM on October 16, 2007

I'm a female, too, but I don't have an anecdote for you. My hair is currently down past my butt and I have been considering cutting it. Everyone I know and everyone I don't know have opinions on my hair: strangers tell me it's beautiful and to never cut it, other strangers tell me it's beautiful and I need to donate it.

But the whole thing scares me. I've always had long hair, never ever cut it, and worry that I will hate it short. Or what if I get a bad stylist and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 2:22 PM on October 16, 2007

My dog did this for a while, and I broker her of it by telling her no, go back to bed. When I kept getting up to let her out, she kept getting the message that it was okay to wake me at 2 and then 5. Which it's not. It's only okay if it's an emergency, and I can always tell if it's an emergency.

It was a rough few nights of telling her to go back to bed before she stopped waking me up entirely and she slept all the way through the night.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 6:38 AM on October 15, 2007

nthing water. And much, much less ice cream.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 1:42 PM on October 14, 2007

I have never noticed this with my Gmail auto-save on multiple computers. Which makes me think it's your new monitor?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rhapsodie at 2:27 PM on October 13, 2007