I'll be interested in this question because I'm in pretty much the same boat as you- 2-6 a night for the past I can't remember how long, just gave it up last week. I think for me it really comes down to a question of motivation- I've wanted to cut back/quit for a while, but it was always too easy to find a reason to go buy another 6-pack. Now, though, I want to get into better shape, and understand how bad alcohol is for your metabolism. With that in mind, I haven't even really noticed any... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:08 AM on October 6, 2008

Oh, and by the way, for what it's worth I found quitting smoking to be infinitely more trying than giving up the sauce. Take that as a source of inspiration. You were able to stop using one of the most fiendishly addictive substances on the planet, and if you can do that, giving up drinking isn't (IMO) nearly as difficult, although of course everyone is different, YMMV, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:13 AM on October 6, 2008

Advice from a previous thread: If you find yourself running into social pressure to drink, such as being invited to a bar, having friends over, etc., I thought it was a good suggestion to go privately order a glass of cranberry juice & soda (or some such) and just sip on it all night. That way the subject doesn't come up, and when people really get into it they'll probably not notice you're still on your first round. If it comes up, "I've got my sauce right here" is all you have... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 1:07 PM on October 6, 2008

Great post for Digg, MeFi not so much...

Flagged.
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 9:36 AM on October 5, 2008

I can speak to the certitude of troy's statement that a Realtor is not in any way required to transact real property, although you (as he says) will need to retain the services of a real estate attorney. I Am Not Anything For Which I Would Need To Disclaim Myself, but I'd imagine if you call around and find an attorney who's dealt with this situation before (it can't be that uncommon), you'll be able to sort it out without too much hassle.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:56 AM on October 5, 2008

There's a what in the where now?
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 11:28 AM on October 4, 2008

What's this internet thing I keep hearing so much about on the telegram line?
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 6:35 AM on September 30, 2008

Dress up like a quaalude.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:22 AM on September 30, 2008

.

The story goes: In the 80's my mom's work sponsored a celebrity car race. One of her co-workers had the responsibility of checking in the drivers. She walks up to Paul Newman's car, looks in the window, and says, "Name please?" Mr. Newman, being one of the more recognizable celebrities of his time, incredulously replied, in deadpan, "Paul Newman." The woman with the clipboard supposedly asked, "Is that with a W or a U?... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 7:44 AM on September 27, 2008

Very true but there is a very high chance that you will smell like it. And if it is smoked in the house there's also a very high chance that your nice work clothes will smell like it too. So when you go into work, you get to smell like it whether you smoke it or not. If you smell like it day after day, to your employer, you might as well smoke it.

Um, have you ever seen, smoked, or been around marijuana? I'll admit that if he's sitting in your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:46 AM on September 27, 2008

Born and raised in Minnesota, and those sounds are identical.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 3:33 PM on September 26, 2008

Why would she need to know? What are you trying to tell her about yourself by disclosing this?

10 years is a long time. It's OK to leave the past in the past.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 1:18 PM on September 26, 2008

One of the big things Realtors talk about WRT the attractiveness of your home is how well a potential buyer can picture yourself inhabiting the space. For this reason, empty houses tend to sell better than houses being lived in, because all of the people stuff we have creates a barrier to that perception. Since you most likely have to live in this house until you sell it, the best way to reduce this barrier is to not only declutter, but also to reduce the number of personal effects you have on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 9:49 AM on September 25, 2008

- Be there for viewings - helpful and friendly but unobtrusive is the way to go. Chat to them at the start and then leave them to explore at their leisure. Agents get paid to do this, but they're all the same and buyers see right through the patter.

With respect, DO NOT DO THIS. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT. Studies over the past 25 years have consistently shown that unattended properties show and sell better than properties attended by the seller at... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 11:01 AM on September 26, 2008

Buying a hobby-related gift for someone who is serious about a hobby may be a fools game, but giving them cash with stipulation is not. Example: your boyfriend loves tattoos, his birthday is coming up, so are you going to run down to a shop you saw an ad for in the paper and pick out a badass looking panther for him to get, or are you going to find some creative way of telling him that you're putting up some cash for his next tat?

Case in point, gaming. Just get him a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 4:22 PM on September 20, 2008 marked best answer

The WoW expansion is actually called Wrath of the Lich King. The Frozen Throne was the Warcraft III expansion pack.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 7:24 AM on September 21, 2008

That should probably be amended to "religious tracts of any sort".
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 7:21 AM on September 21, 2008

Senuti is good. I've pulled data from iPods on both Mac and PC and with the right software it's a simple and straightforward process, despite the fact that it involves circumventing the design of the device. As long as your iPods still work you have at worst an hour or two of data management work on hand, certainly preferable to the extensive process of ripping the vinyl again.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 11:59 AM on September 20, 2008

karellen08
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 11:30 AM on September 14, 2008

For reference:

"Bacteria, or other germs, need time, food and moisture (or wetness) to grow; but they won't grow when the temperature of the food is colder than 41º F or hotter than 140º F. The temperatures in between 41º and 140º are in the "Danger Zone." Keep potentially hazardous foods out of the "Danger Zone!" For example, when food is left in the "Danger Zone", bacteria can grow fast, and make poisons that can make your customers... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 12:55 PM on September 12, 2008

I may have mis-recalled something from a server training on food safety I had years ago, I freely welcome correction on the point.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 3:46 PM on September 13, 2008

Profile indicates OP is in DC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 10:33 AM on September 11, 2008

I really don't see what MetaFilter has to gain by bringing discussions on this topic here:

This is being discussed all over the blogosphere and there are plenty of places to indulge in the wild, rampant speculation about what's being called "BabyGate". But, you might say, the discussion at MeFi is so much more intelligent, so it deserves to be debated in that atmosphere. Actually, though, the Palin thread proves that (in this particular case) MEFI IS NOT. We... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 12:30 PM on September 1, 2008

Sorry the lead sentence is unclear, I specifically refer to giving the discussion about the maternity of the child its own thread (not discussing this topic in MetaTalk).
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 12:31 PM on September 1, 2008

I also saw them at Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku. You'll pay a premium but if that's the bag you need you can get it there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:52 AM on August 31, 2008

Do that which fulfills you. As wavering said, as long as everybody involved is GGG, there's a clear regard and respect for safety, you have a pre-established safe word (something that will immediately kill sexual arousal- "Dick Cheney" is perfect), and the participants respect one anothers' boundaries, by all means have fun by whatever means possible.

Submission and degradation are so commonplace that they barely register as fetishes anymore unless taken to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 6:50 AM on August 31, 2008

MSP is the airport code for Minneapolis.

I'm down for a meetup, but want to stay the hell out of the cities during the convention. St. Louis Park would be reasonably close to the city but not quite in it, although I'm at a loss to come up with decent watering holes in that neck of the woods. Anybody else willing to go slightly suburban to avoid the convention mess?

Also, the Republican MeFites can stay away. Go rub elbows with the rest of the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 2:29 PM on August 28, 2008

Ok, ok, sorry for the excessive vitriol. I'm just not entirely excited about the upcoming republican invasion of my favorite only-state-to-vote-democratic-in-every-presidential-election-for-the-past-30-years homestate. It's sort of like having a root canal scheduled for next week, except the dentist is showing up at your house, strapping you to your bed, and there's no way to get out of it.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 8:17 PM on August 28, 2008

Seriously, I feel bad and I know I shouldn't have said that. As an act of contrition, I will now insert this carnivorous earwig into my brain. Kind of tickles.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 8:22 PM on August 28, 2008

This is not how these drugs are intended to be taken, in fact this is the textbook definition of abuse. You understand that there are consequences and somehow think you can avoid them. You cannot.

When I was in college the first time around I was taking Adderall, and I ended up failing miserably, because I didn't care. I haven't taken any in 6 years and I'm back in school and doing great, because I have the motivation to succeed. Speed doesn't give you motivation, it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 7:19 PM on August 28, 2008 marked best answer

You'd have to be completely insane to want to have that many shitrats running around. Or any, for that matter.

If nothing else, they need to put those things to work. Hitch them to a turbine or something.
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 6:44 PM on August 28, 2008

Definitely chat up the artist. Like others in body service professions (like hair styles, etc.) most of them are very good at small talk-type conversations and if you get to know them beyond that cursory level are very interesting people. Just try not to make them laugh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 9:28 AM on August 28, 2008

Nintendo DS and a pair of games.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 5:47 PM on August 27, 2008

I can't believe nobody has mentioned The World Ends With You. It's a Square Enix game set in Shibuya, Tokyo and is one of the most original and fun RPGs I've ever played. It's definitely not a tactical RPG like FFTA2 (which I love) but has a great, refreshing story and incredibly fun gameplay. One of the big sleeper hits this year.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 3:16 PM on August 27, 2008

Cellphones, unlike video game systems are becoming the principle way that people get online, but those devices are locked down for the express purposes of making incombant cellular providers make more money.

But internet-capable cell phones wouldn't have proliferated except for the fact that they're heavily subsidized by cell phone companies. The reason you can go buy an iPhone (or insert new, flashy phone with the latest must-have features) for as... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 6:18 PM on August 26, 2008

Props to Metafilter for actually engaging in stimulating discussions!

You obviously haven't been around long. We just put on a good show for newcomers. For the first few weeks it's all flowers and sweet cards and delicate surprises, then BOOM! we punch intellectual conversation in the dick.
posted to MeFi Music by baphomet at 3:10 PM on August 26, 2008

2nding Ozium. Comes in several excellent scents. My favorite is vanilla. It's actually a bacterial air sanitizer, rather than a scented spray like the Glade and Febreeze you mentioned.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 1:44 PM on August 26, 2008

Do you have any tattoos? My understanding is that you can't give blood within 12 months of getting inked. If you do, just tell them "well I would but I just got this right here a few months ago and I'm still ineligible."

You could optionally just tell them that you recently got a tattoo, as long as you don't mind that perception. Or hey, you could go get a tattoo...perhaps something along the lines of NO I DON"T WANT TO GIVE BLOOD would get the message across nicely.
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 7:07 AM on August 26, 2008

I've always wondered what sort of a person wakes up in the morning and says, "Today I'm going to paste a bunch of bananas to a mask, insert firecrackers in them, and detonate them."
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 6:28 PM on August 25, 2008

Excellent post and a fascinating phenomena. This problem really cuts to the heart of modern urban hypocrisy: most people will tell you that of course we should do more to fight homelessness, or drug addiction, or to rehabilitate prostitutes, but when you want to actually do any of that in their neighborhood they simply don't want those kinds of people here.

In some ways it's understandable, but really it's amazing how willing people are to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 6:23 PM on August 25, 2008

Go figure that question 100,000 was asked on another's behalf.

And since it was a question about eating meat on AskMe, might I suggest that the OP find some good recipes for bacon milkshakes.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 4:32 PM on August 24, 2008

Tagging your own post with MODS DELETE NOW is just asking for a paddlin'.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 9:07 PM on August 21, 2008

I lost track of how many houses I own a long time ago.

Except they're all made out of Legos.
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 9:04 PM on August 21, 2008

My local NPR affiliate broadcasts in HD Radio, it may be a national NPR program and I'd imagine you will get better reception with an HD receiver than an analog one. Not 100% sure this will solve your problem but it's worth looking into. As an FYI they've been giving HD radio sets away with a certain level of membership during the pledge drives for my affiliate, yours may do the same/similar and I think it's almost fall pledge drive season. Hopefully you're willing to contribute if NPR is so... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 8:07 AM on August 21, 2008

I've been doing call screening as a broker's assistant for a year. The trick for me is that anybody who needs to speak to my boss has his cell phone #. As such, I assume that anybody who calls one of our sales lines asking to speak to him is a solicitor, as he would have given his direct # to anybody who legitimately needed to reach him. This is a great system to have for the phone screeners as it renders your system impervious to bullshitters who will claim, "Oh he just called me and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 11:08 AM on August 20, 2008

Also, your boss may not appreciate this as much as mine does, but if somebody is obviously calling on a sales call (IE the first thing they ask is, "can I be transfered to the person in charge of your web site marketing?") I fuck with them. Really, really hard.

For example, I'll listen to their scripted sales pitch, and then ask them if they like bunnies.
Me: That sounds really cool, do you like bunnies?
Them: What?
M: You... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by baphomet at 11:19 AM on August 20, 2008

For the record, the current profile pic of the chair-throwing pandas, while hilarious, pales in comparison to the previous profile pic, which was a photo of GWB.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 6:29 PM on August 19, 2008

So, how exactly do you apologize for maybe sort of unintentionally unleashing a global genocide?

Seppuku.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 9:12 AM on August 20, 2008

Subjecting domesticated animals to the Backstreet Boys is nothing short of animal cruelty.

The bird's got moves, though.
posted to MetaFilter by baphomet at 7:26 PM on August 19, 2008

And the H word rears it's ugly head in MetaTalk once again.
posted to MetaTalk by baphomet at 4:59 PM on August 19, 2008