I asked a question about stencils a few months ago. You might find some good ideas there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:35 PM on August 31, 2008

Experience with other vegetables is that food pulled fresh out of a garden has more intense flavors. I had a slice from a radish that I picked this afternoon that set my mouth aflame--and I love heat.

I haven't tested this theory on onions specifically. I've got three small ones that were also pulled out of the ground today waiting in my kitchen. Maybe I'll post an update tomorrow.

If you don't know anyone with garden onions to share, you could... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:29 PM on August 31, 2008

The Quiet Earth. Not many people have seen this New Zealand film, but most people who have rave about it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:08 AM on August 31, 2008

I am not an art restorer, but how about acid-free linen tape on the back?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 10:57 AM on August 26, 2008

PP Arnold - The First Cut is the Deepest

If you've got a morbid sense of humor (and it sounds like you do), you could go with The Velvet Underground's Lady Godiva's Operation. I'm sure a story of a botched sex-change/lobotomy will steel his nerves.

Also:
Brian Eno - Blank Frank (riffing on "shooting blanks")
Iron and Wine - Free Until They Cut Me Down
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Sowing... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:26 PM on August 25, 2008

Kid Creole & the Coconuts - Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:51 PM on August 25, 2008

When my plastic garbage can won't give up the funk, I put in in the tub, fill it up with water, and add a few tablespoons of bleach and let it soak for a couple of hours.

I spent the weekend trying to salvage my failed worm composting project. (A note to potential vermicomposters out there: two inches of reddish-brown liquid on the bottom of the bin means you've got anaerobic decomposition going on, which is not what you're going for.) I started by drilling a drainage... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 4:49 PM on August 25, 2008 marked best answer

One restaurant we loved in Athens is Cafe Abyssinia (Kynetou 7, Platia Avysinnias, Monastiraki), tucked away in a quiet square just off the loud and tacky flea market. Great food and staff. Ask them to recommend an ouzo, and try the octopus.

The Cycladic Art Museum's collection of their namesake art--geometric figures in white marble that could pass as modernist--is on the modest side, and you'll see other examples at the National Archeological Museum (which is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 5:58 PM on August 24, 2008

Lee Hazlewood - I Move Around
Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra - Elusive Dreams (probably too much pathos)
The Zombies - I Must Move
Bobby Bare Jr. - Stay in Texas
Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks ("Going to Chicago")
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:24 PM on August 23, 2008

My girlfriend recommends The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:56 PM on August 21, 2008

Foam is often an essential ingredient of a successful Halloween costume, so start your planning now. Ninja turtle, weightlifter with dislocated wrist, giant walking cowboy hat (get two friends to go as a giant pair of go-go boots), giant walking air freshener, walking mattress....there's a lot of possibilities.

An electric carving knife works great on foam, by the way.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 3:17 PM on August 18, 2008

Each book in the Complete Peanuts series has an exhaustive index; pretty much every subject matter and story element is listed. It wouldn't be hard to find the collection in a bookstore and look up 'crayon.'

I tried Amazon's search inside feature, but the text is too small. But I'm sure there's a Mefite out there with the complete series.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:40 AM on August 18, 2008

How about the Nuggets compilations for some psychedelic garage rock? There's a box set and at least two best-of CD's, but A Classic Collection... would be a good one to start with.

If that goes over well, there are greatest hits collections for The Seeds, The Yardbirds, and The Animals. The Dave Clark Five too, but it looks like they're out of print.

The Cars' greatest hits usually goes over well.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 2:39 PM on August 16, 2008 marked best answer

2nding A Short History of Everything. Science is full of wonderfully odd characters and Bryson is a funny, engaging writer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 11:17 AM on August 15, 2008

I used Starving Artist Movers and my experience was similar to Metroid Baby's. Late, plus one mover flaked and I paid more for two guys taking longer. Someone else at work hired them and said they were terrible, but I didn't get the details.

When you make your arrangements, make sure you ask what you'll be charged for transportation to the job. The guys I hired came in from a job in the suburbs, and somehow I part for their extra miles.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:48 PM on August 14, 2008

I used to have wrist pain when my main ride was a mountain bike. Since I've switched to a road bike it hasn't been an issue. Drop bars offer a variety of hand positions, and most of the time your wrists are straight, not bent back. Your wrist pain could be very different than mine, of course.

Gloves do help, and there are some that are supposed to specifically address wrist pain. Checking your seat angle too. It should be horizontal or not far off; if it slopes down you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 1:50 PM on August 11, 2008

Sprinkle it on popcorn, and give some to your cat.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 10:38 AM on August 11, 2008

"Je t'aime...moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg, not so much for the lyrics but the moaning at the end. I can't decide which one is hotter, the original with Brigette Bardot or the version with Jane Birkin that became a hit, despite being banned in several countries.

"Get Down" by Curtis Mayfield , again not explicit lyrics, but I find myself skipping it at work so that no one walks by my office and wonders what exactly I'm up to.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:56 AM on August 11, 2008

It's pretty easy to be car-free in Chicago. We've got a decent public transportation system, a mayor who supports bike transit, and a couple of well-established car-sharing services (iGo, Zipcar). When you're looking for a neighborhood, consider proximity to an el line and grocery store (sometimes rare in the funkier neighborhoods). There are some suburbs that aren't serviced by the commuter trains, so if you're working out there, driving is the only option.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:27 PM on August 7, 2008

Heaven 17 swiped their name from a band mentioned in A Clockwork Orange.
Girl Trouble
My Bloody Valentine
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:02 PM on August 7, 2008

Sounds like overwatering to me. Is the soil soaked all the way through? Has it been wet for a few days now? If so, pull the plant out of the pouch. Take a look at the roots if you can see any without disturbing the root ball. Pull away any rotted roots (they'll be mushy) and repot it in a pot that has good drainage.

If it's not overwatering and you're worried about the excess fertilizer, repot it as above, or poke a lot of holes in the pouch, then put it in the sink and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 10:58 AM on August 1, 2008 marked best answer

Gary Hustwit, who brought you Helvetica, has a new film in the works about product design, called Objectified. The web site includes a blog, although it's a little light on content so far.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:40 AM on July 29, 2008

Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 3:11 PM on July 25, 2008

Commuting can mean cycling, running, in-line skating or even kayaking.

Habitat for Humanity? Volunteer to mow your elderly neighbors lawns?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 3:34 PM on July 24, 2008

Daniel Johhston - "Story of an Artist"

They sit in front of their TV
Saying, "Hey! This is fun!"
And they laugh at the artist
Saying, "He doesn't know how to have fun."

Extra charming for the messed-up meter. I watched M. Ward sing it at Pitchfork today and got all choked up.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 12:09 AM on July 21, 2008

Tortoise, especially on "I Set my Face to the Hillside"

2nding Lee Hazlewood, and Requiem for an Almost Lady in particular
There's an nice album of Hazlewood covers with the awful title of Total Lee! Look for the tracks "Come on Home to Me" by Madrugada, "Sunday Morning" by Kid Loco, and "Sundown, Sundown" by (surprise, surprise) Calexico.

And there's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 11:02 PM on July 20, 2008

Before Sunset
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 1:16 PM on July 18, 2008

The "real time" entry in wikipedia has a list.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 1:19 PM on July 18, 2008

It's all pretty mundane and boring, but fascinates people. What did you expect to find?

One time, poking around and trying doors (and climbing out a window and jumping up to an outside parapet) led me and a friend to the cupola of the Wisconsin State Capitol. There was a nesting box for peregrine falcons (thankfully empty) and a few disembodied pigeon heads scattered around.

Another time, poking around my dorm, I found a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:31 PM on July 17, 2008

Was the noise still there when you laid the bike on its side? Did it still disappear when you turned the cranks?

Brakes have a release mechanism so you can open them wider to take the wheel off. If you open your brakes do you still get the noise? Can you take the wheel off the bike and spin the gear cluster, then spin the wheel while holding on the both ends of the axle. Anything?

Is there any play in the axle, as in this video?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:31 PM on July 16, 2008

What is it you want out of birding? Your question isn't really that clear. Do you need help spotting robins? Are you seeking to understand your local ecology better? Compile a life list a mile long? Be a master of identifying birds by just their calls or flight patterns? Or do you just want to enjoy looking at birds?

The best thing I got out of birding was the increased awareness of my surroundings. I went from barely knowing what a robin, cardinal and pigeon were to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 4:51 PM on July 14, 2008 marked best answer

The cigarette lighter will not provide anywhere near enough power to run a conventional portable AC unit.

Maybe if you added a portable generator? Okay, maybe not.

A/C or no, those shades that you unfold and prop up in your windshield do help. A road map works in a pinch.

You could spend your days sleeping at air-conditioned motels and do all your driving at night.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:54 AM on July 14, 2008

Suey! Suey!
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 3:48 PM on July 13, 2008

Amoeba Race (scroll down). The site has suggestions for other games.

FWIW, the text for Amoeba Race is lifted directly from The New Games Book, which had a lot to do with popularizing these kinds of activities.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:06 AM on July 12, 2008

There is no set value for used records. They are worth whatever somebody is willing to pay you for them. Ebay results will vary wildly for the same record. Popsike lists ebay results of rarities.

New wave in general doesn't go for much, unless it's from a band that developed a cult following or you have something unique from an iconic band.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 5:09 PM on June 23, 2008

Vintage Schwinn collectors also call it "tank."
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 10:48 PM on June 21, 2008 marked best answer

Alcohol is pretty good at dealing with odors. (Destroys the esters, says a chemically-inclined friend of mine.) Febreze has a lot of alcohol; here's a recipe for a home-made version that contains vodka. Rubbing alcohol is cheaper, try that.

But c'mon, the alcohol isn't going to get everything. Wash your clothes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:10 PM on June 11, 2008

I work as staff and part-time faculty in a college product design program.

There are a lot of ways to present your design. There are control drawings that include orthographic views (usually front, top and right, like a plan and two elevations in architecture) and further details as necessary, like dimensions, section views, and detail call-outs. There are colored renderings, including the "money shot" of the product in its most favorable view, often with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:51 AM on June 11, 2008

11x17.com

I've ordered from them in the past and have been happy with their service.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:01 PM on June 9, 2008

Daniel Johnston - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 2:31 PM on June 6, 2008

Lightwell?

Can you load your photo up at Imageshack? People link to their own photos all the time in askme.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 11:24 AM on June 6, 2008

3rding Ti-Ti. It's cute and mirrors other terms of (Nana, Pop-pop, etc.) Plus, its etymology is obvious enough for anyone who's got an interest in language. You could try similar constructions like Zee-Zee, but Ti-Ti is easier for children to pronounce.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 8:15 AM on June 6, 2008

Serge Gainsbourg - Harley David
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 10:25 PM on June 3, 2008

A lot of landlords charge an application fee to cover their costs of running a credit check. Sometimes they're willing to refund it when you sign the lease by reducing the first month's rent. Can't hurt to ask.
Get any promised repairs or additions on the lease before you sign it.

The Illinois Tenants Union site is good to have bookmarked, just in case.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 9:42 AM on June 3, 2008

Chicago's venerable Jazz Record Mart has a great selection of must-haves on their killers rack. (They don't have the best web site. Note that the vocal section isn't labeled, so it looks like they're putting Sinatra in with the avant-garde stuff.)

At the risk of being redundant, I recommend:

Dave Brubeck - Time Out
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Charles Mingus - Ah... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:24 PM on June 2, 2008

Poly is a free program that lets you play around with all sorts of polyhedra, including geodesic spheres. You can print out flattened versions and scale them up. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to offer any help in determining the proper scale.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:39 AM on June 2, 2008

I was going to recommend Steve Reich.

Should I bother mentioning Tortoise?
I'll mention Tortoise, although they sometimes use electronics and they're not always percussion heavy. Here's another clip, and an mp3 sample. Their drummer John McEntire also plays in The Sea and Cake, and they have a few drum-heavy tunes.

Dub/funk/post-rock/etc.: The Eternals

Icelandic kitchen-sink pop group Múm.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 12:27 PM on May 30, 2008

Previously.

For other genres, check out MPB (Música Popular Brasiliera), which started in the 60's as a blend of samba, bossa nova and contemporary pop music. The line between MPB and bossa nova is often blurred, as with the wonderful Nara Leão.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 6:58 PM on May 28, 2008

You might like this interactive music map from this thread.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 7:00 PM on May 27, 2008

Night of the Hunter isn't a really a musical, I guess, but nearly every character gets a song.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hydrophonic at 11:27 PM on May 25, 2008