Carnegie Mellon University's interdisciplinary programs: Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts, Bachelor of Science and Arts, Bachelor of Humanities and Arts.

I hold the latter degree and had a very good experience with the program.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:49 AM on October 6, 2008

Ha, that's Christopher Hintz. He is a nice guy. The photo is on his myspace. Here's a direct link to the image.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:50 PM on October 1, 2008 marked best answer

The Lucksmiths - Fiction

"Written down here, gentle reader
It seems too good to be true
But there’s a girl in Kansas City
With my favourite tattoo
Oh why would I lie to you?"
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 11:00 AM on October 1, 2008

I was also going to link to vorfeed's recent comment. Do what he says.

I'm 23 and went from 145 to 160 lbs. bodyweight and got a shit ton stronger on a couple of months of the stronglifts program, which is basically Starting Strength. There are lots of good pictures and videos and explanations of the various lifts on that site.

Also check out the Starting Strength wiki FAQ.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:08 PM on September 30, 2008

Or better yet, pick up GoldenEye and an N64. I'd wager a large portion of the console 'elite' cut their teeth on that game alone.

If you want to get good at Goldeneye, do this. If you want to get good at the current crop of FPS games, don't waste your time.

Play Call of Duty 4. The difficulty is adjustable and you'll have gained plenty of skillz by the time you finish the single player campaign.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 12:20 PM on September 29, 2008

For abortion, I'd drop Juno and use Palindromes instead.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:35 AM on September 29, 2008

I recommend The Spy (Part 2) by me. I'm indier than all of those dudes.

I also endorse The Lucksmiths.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 5:52 PM on September 2, 2008

Sweet! Congrats on the engagement!
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 4:16 PM on September 28, 2008

Pete Townshend may have been known to do it, but I don't feel like the move is necessarily associated with him anymore. As someone who has been known to perform this maneuver, I'd call it a rock jump.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:49 AM on September 28, 2008

You need to learn music theory. Go to musictheory.net and work through the lessons there. You can ask me if you have specific questions.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 6:58 PM on September 27, 2008 marked best answer

Thanks everyone. It seems like there's a fair number of people who think you're "just born with it"

These people have no idea what they're talking about. Of course you can learn it.

I agree with invitapriore that although knowing music theory might help, I don't necessarily think learning it is going to get you where you want to go. You need to train your ears.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:37 AM on September 28, 2008

If the smoke is the primary reason you're uncomfortable, ask him to use a vaporizer. No smoke, no odor, no messy cleanup. No issues with tar consumed through second-hand smoke. Vaporizers look like weird consumer electronic devices, rather than bongs, to prying eyes.

Consider the vaporizer as a win-win solution for both of you.

This is the best answer. Do this and everyone will be happy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:47 AM on September 27, 2008

I have a degree in music composition and I teach guitar full-time, so every day I try to get average Joes with no musical training to understand music.

This question is not well-defined enough to be answerable. You need to clarify what it means to "hear part of a Mozart phrase and hear, in their head, where the phrase is going," because I can't imagine what you mean or how that would work.

Musicianship tests include things like being... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 7:19 PM on September 23, 2008

Now, if the question is more along the lines of "Can Average Joe Blow predict where a predictable phrase is going?", then yes. Of course he can. There's a reason "good" music sounds "good".

Can someone explain what this means? Is the contention that if you play a melodic phrase and stop it at any given point, they'll be able to sing the next note of the melody? Or the next several notes? Or only if you stop right before... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 11:22 PM on September 23, 2008

flug, I think you're really fudging the details here to make it work out. I disagree with the notion that Twinkle Twinkle is somehow a representative Mozart melody, I think the assumption that your average Joe "can sing and carry a tune somewhat" is a pretty big leap, and your qualification that you sing the melody "as many times as necessary, and taught it to Average Joe until Average Joe actually knows that portion of the melody and can sing it back" is also a big one. I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:15 AM on September 25, 2008

Almost every song from the past few Of Montreal albums.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:04 AM on September 24, 2008

iminurmefi nails it with regard to cognitive dissonance. And I second the recommendation for Mistakes Were Made, co-authored by Elliott Aronson, a prominent researcher of cognitive dissonance.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:40 PM on September 22, 2008

I agree with the general sentiment that it sounds promising. But I feel compelled to ad that I have gone on dates that went exactly as you describe -- met through the internet, good flirty bar conversation, came back to my place and got stoned, she said she'd like to see me again -- and I never saw her again. People can be weird. So I say you should proceed confidently but try not to have expectations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:16 AM on September 15, 2008

Man, you didn't fuck it up by texting and calling or whatever. She fucked it up by being a weirdo. Like I said, it happens. Just keep on keeping on, my friend, a modern gentleman has no time for such grab-assy games.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:46 AM on September 18, 2008

"In your view, what are the ethics of running a campaign? Where is the line between doing everything you can to win, and engaging in unethical behavior? What is something that another campaign has done that you wouldn't have done?"

"Do you believe it's better to lose an election by sticking to ones principles, or win an election by mortgaging ones principles?"

Similarly, I'd like to hear his response to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:58 AM on September 14, 2008

All of the games by Ben "Yahtzee" Crenshaw, of Zero Punctuation. I particularly recommend 7 Days a Skeptic.

Also the classic Escape Velocity.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 5:49 PM on September 13, 2008

Just keep doing what you're doing. It'll get easier.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 7:43 AM on September 13, 2008

Poor kid. Of course you shouldn't tell your parents. Reply that it's not his phone anymore and be done with it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:04 AM on September 12, 2008

The Magnetic Fields - Nothing Matters When We're Dancing

The Magnetic Fields - The Book of Love
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:54 AM on September 12, 2008

I don't know man I can't really think of many songs that have acoustic guitar in them but I'm going to go ahead and recommend Nick Drake.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:44 PM on September 11, 2008

This can be a complicated question, but I'll try to keep my answer simple. If you're interested in this you'll want to start reading up on music theory. Try the lessons at musictheory.net

The first and last chord in a piece of music is often, but not always, the tonic, or home chord of the key. You can also try using your ears and listening for when the song feels resolved or at rest.

Beyond that, eightball has it for most simple music. You'll... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:25 AM on September 10, 2008 marked best answer

eightball, there's no difference between playing a B minor scale and a D major scale over a given chord progression. They're made of the same pitches.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:56 AM on September 10, 2008

One other thing I should've mentioned -- if you extend the chords from triads into seventh chords, you get this: IM7 iim7 iiim7 IVM7 V7 vim7 viim7b5. m7b5 chords are also known as half-diminished chords.

So if you saw CM7 FM7 G7 CM7, that'd be a regular I IV V I in the key of C, with no outside notes. But if you saw, for instance, C7 FM7 G7 CM7, that's a V/IV IV V I in the key of C, as the C7 chord uses a Bb, which we see in this case as being borrowed from the key of F.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 2:53 PM on September 10, 2008

You should use your ears and learn other people's licks. But there's a more straightforward answer to your questions.

The I7 chord contains the 1, 3, 5, and b7 scale tones. Therefore those notes will sound the most consonant. The typical blues scale is a minor pentatonic, which contains all of those notes except it has a b3 in place of the 3. Experiment with using both major and minor thirds over the I7 chord. The 5th and 1st scale degrees are good places to end a phrase.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:57 AM on September 10, 2008

PS For any given key you can move the "blues box" down three frets and make it the "country box"

I'll point out that what mundy refers to as the "country box" is the major pentatonic, as opposed to the minor pentatonic of the "blues box."
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:59 AM on September 10, 2008

Take lessons. You need to learn good technique, and since you're asking this question, your ears probably aren't developed to the point where you're able to properly judge and correct yourself. A good voice teacher will probably charge more like $40/hour.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:31 AM on September 10, 2008

What Loto and ch1xor said. As I understand it from reading various sources: you don't need to do that many lifts or that many reps and you don't need to be doing isolation exercises. Isolation lifts are for when you're already strong (check out the strength standards here) and need to focus on a particular weak point. Right now your whole body is a weak point so you're wasting your time with isolation exercises. I second the Starting Strength recommendation and I'd also recommend Stronglifts,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:12 PM on September 8, 2008

Leonard Cohen.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:56 PM on September 8, 2008

Seconding Leonard Cohen, Will Oldham (aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy aka Palace Music), and Mountain Goats. I think Nick Drake is quite different, but he is excellent.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:23 AM on September 8, 2008

I'm sure people will have suggestions for you, but man, this is not the way. Cover a song that you love, a song that you feel an affinity with, a song that you can bring something original to with your band's particular arrangement and abilities. Nobody here can tell you what song that is. It's also going to be hard to do much rocking out if you don't have a drummer.

But anyway you should do Time of the Season by The Zombies.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:18 AM on September 8, 2008

Make sure you truly understand the rhythm of each part. This means you can clap the rhythm while speaking the count, or perform the part while tapping the beat. Ideally you'd also be able to notate each part. I've seen many players that are confident they know a part because they can play the right notes, but when they try to play the part while tapping the beat it falls apart because they don't actually know the rhythm.

If you know which beats all the notes of each part... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 4:38 PM on September 7, 2008

Comparing yourself to other people, let alone world-class athletes, is a losing game. But you can become fit and strong and healthy without training like an Olympian. You'll have to work hard, but you won't have to starve yourself (as the aforementioned Phelps diet makes plain). Have a look around stronglifts.com, read the various articles and get on the 5x5 beginner strength training program. You can get great results with about 3-4 hours a week in the gym if you do it right.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 5:21 PM on September 2, 2008

He's not saying "Can I have a fit body?" He's saying "Can I look LIKE MICHAEL PHELPS?"

And the answer is, no. You cannot look like an Olympic athlete without training like an Olympic athlete.

I disagree. If the question were "Can I swim like Michael Phelps?" you'd be right. But looks and ability are not the same. Have you not seen someone with a body like Phelps who wasn't an Olympic athlete?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:53 PM on September 4, 2008

How can the OP and I get some butt bulk while remaining trim? Lunges haven't seemed to do much. What's the hardcore way, barring implants, to get some bulk down south?

Full barbell squats. Make sure you do them with correct form (move your hips, not your knees, and go down until you hit parallel), start light, and increase the weight each workout. I started my squat at a few months ago 5 sets of 5 with 90 pounds and tonight I did 190. Last week I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 7:19 PM on September 3, 2008

I do squats and lunges all the time and find the butt only decreases...

Then it seems likely that your form is incorrect or you aren't using enough weight. I see plenty of both at my gym. If you don't squat to the appropriate depth and move your hips the right way you won't be hitting your glutes. How to squat with proper technique.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 8:49 PM on September 4, 2008

I know many people who smoke pot daily or close to daily who are highly accomplished, very successful, loving, decent people, not burned out unmotivated slackers. Many people.

Bears repeating. I'll also second DecemberBoy's comments and enthusiastically second the vaporizer recommendation. I've been enjoying this one for years. It's way better than smoking.

Also, be discriminating -- don't smoke the shwaggy stuff.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 6:19 PM on September 2, 2008

Many stories by J.L. Borges deal with the idea of a long period of time that seems to go quickly or a short period of time that seems very long. The Immortal might fit your criteria.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 5:54 PM on September 2, 2008

All people I know that do online dating have issues.

Plenty of "normal" people do online dating. And what kind of a person doesn't have issues? Nobody that I'd want to hang out with. My roommate met a guy on craigslist and dated him for a few months. That said, generally I'd advise against craigslist for dating. Still, you have nothing to lose by posting an ad. View it as a creative writing exercise. Come up with something interesting and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 11:27 PM on August 28, 2008

If you're not interested, don't respond. That's how it goes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 11:37 AM on August 28, 2008

Are they going to be using your music as their theme song or something, to be played on every episode? Or is this a music podcast and they're going to play your track on a single episode? If the former, $50-$100 could be reasonable. If the latter, asking them for money would be ridiculous.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 9:03 AM on August 25, 2008

Your husband's behavior sounds a little over the top. However, sculpin is absolutely correct. It sounds like your husband wants to feel like he has a supportive partner with whom he can share his frustrations, ideas, rants, whatever, and he feels hurt when he opens up to you, his wife, and your reaction is to become adversarial. If you want to make him feel better you should stop taking these discussions as an invitation to argue with him and work on being a better listener.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 5:54 PM on August 24, 2008

the second part of your answer ignores her right to express herself. If she stopped feeling like it was OK to talk to him honestly, it would be ultimately damaging to their relationship. Also enormously unfair and damaging to her.

The point is that in a close relationship there's a time to be honest and there's a time to be supportive. I think that being able to realize when it's better not to express yourself, even when you feel confident you are... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 6:56 PM on August 24, 2008

"The Notebook" was like that for me, because in real life that dude would be kinda creepy.

Along these lines (I'm assuming - I haven't seen The Notebook): The Graduate.

In his book The Gift of Fear, Gavin de Becker states his opinion that The Graduate taught a generation of men that discounting a woman's opinion is acceptable, that stalking women will bear positive results, and that given enough tenacity a man can... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 10:00 PM on August 23, 2008

I agree that he probably means what he said.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 11:47 AM on August 22, 2008

I was wondering if "let's be friends" was secret, generalized guy-speak for something else.

There is no secret generalized guy-speak for anything. Don't waste your time pursuing this guy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ludwig_van at 5:25 PM on August 22, 2008 marked best answer