(1) A Small Good Thing's Slim Westerns is an obscure masterpiece of music that sounds like it is the soundtrack to a forgotten Spaghetti Western. Sparser and less dramatic, but beautiful and wonderful.

(2) John Zorn is a huge fan of Morricone, and has released work that faithfully covers, radically arranges, or is heavily influenced by his work. For starters:
- The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone (arrangements of EM tracks).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 3:32 PM on July 19, 2008

Read this.

The take-home message? Don't get attached to the original price you set the house at; instead, listen to the market. The market is telling you that, right now, your house is worth $285K. Its very difficult to predict where it will go from here, and you are unlikely to get reliable advice here or anywhere else on the internet, because no one really knows what is going to happen in the future. Don't bet on the market going one way or another; take the best offer... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:36 PM on July 17, 2008

Learn a language! You are in the perfect situation to utilize spaced repetition (e.g., flashcards)\ to do so.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 12:41 PM on July 17, 2008

Not sure why, but these tracks come to mind:

KRS-ONE, Higher Level (lyrics).

Nas, Halftime (instrumental) and "It Ain't Hard to Tell."
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 11:20 AM on July 16, 2008

(1) Good socks. You will likely be on your feet a lot, and high-quality, comfortable socks can make your life a lot better by keeping your feet warm, dry, and blister-free. Smartwool or something similar are a good choice - you can get a couple of heavy pairs and a couple of lighter ones for different weather conditions.

(2) A rudimentary first-aid kit. You can buy one at your local drugstore, but its cheaper to simply make your own. If you're going to be doing a lot of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:26 PM on July 10, 2008

(1) Divorce the application from the applicant. Just as brilliant students can hand in crappy work, brilliant colleagues can turn in crappy applications. Clearly state that the applications will be judged on their merits alone, without regard for previous record or accomplishments. This ensures that the best applications pass, and will also help avoid bruised egos, because you are saying "X's application is better than yours" rather than "X is better than you." In this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 5:57 AM on July 9, 2008 marked best answer

Consider this program: Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholars.

Pros: its mission is to train people in the determinants of health and health inequalities; it gives you tons of free time; they would love to have someone with your background in the program; RWJ is fairly prestigious, so it may enhance your case for a sabbatical; it pays.

Cons: it runs two years; the sites are all in the US.

I did the program a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:33 AM on July 6, 2008

Thanks for the links, backseatpilot and tinkertown, I'll keep my eyes on them in the next few weeks. And thanks for the ATC lesson, dinger. Your description matches what happened pretty closely. I grew up in DC, so I have long been aware that their spacing can be extremely 'aggressive' - but this was especially close.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:22 PM on July 3, 2008

I do have a specific recommendation for the Boston area that should be perfect for you.

I originally learned yoga from Billie Jo Joy, who is a fabulous teacher and wonderful person. She teaches and practices Iyengar yoga, which focuses on developing and perfecting yoga poses, rather than stringing them all together in sun salutations. It also encourages the use of props (belts, blocks, and so forth) to help in developing the poses, so you won't feel singled out if you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 12:19 PM on June 25, 2008

Since she is technically a straight girl, she doesn't want to tell people that we're together because she doesn't want to explain that, yes she's with a girl right now, but I'm the only female she's ever been attracted to.

Red flag! You're dating a user - and a closet case - who has essentially told you that you are a temporary dalliance that she doesn't want the world to know about. This is wreaking havoc on your self-esteem, which is compounding... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 8:39 AM on June 25, 2008

These two might be helpful:

- The various tadasana poses (on this page) are simple but surprisingly good, because they stretch out the whole body, including the midsection. I find these very rejuvenating. You can also do a side stretch (leaning from one side to the other with your hands above your head).

- Back bends of different sorts (here) of various sorts may also provide some relief, though be careful if you don't regularly do yoga, as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:59 PM on June 12, 2008 marked best answer

Hi loiseau. The conventional wisdom on yoga is that you shouldn't hold positions any longer than feels comfortable. Don't prolong a pose (or do a pose at all) if it doesn't feel good, and don't stretch any farther than is comfortable.

If staying in one position doesn't feel good, you might want to try "sun salutations," which are a series of basic postures that you do at a relatively leisurely pace that follows your breathing. This site explains one pretty... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:23 PM on June 12, 2008

Seconding Wallace, Powers, Carter, and Saunders. Also Martin Amis, Julian Barnes, and J.G. Ballard.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 8:40 PM on June 10, 2008

The Silver Lake/Twin Lakes trail (out-and-back) is beautiful. Brief description here (you can get more with a free trial to Trails.com)
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:57 PM on June 9, 2008

James Gilligan's book, Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic provides one, oblique answer your question. Gilligan argues that much of the violence that people - especially men - commit is the result of perceived disrespect. People with extremely low self-esteem and internalized feelings of shame have a much lower threshold for taking offense, and often respond with disproportionate anger or violence to seemingly trivial insults.

In this view, umbrage is a form... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 12:40 PM on June 9, 2008

This is not exactly what you asked or, and it depends upon this being a heterosexual crush, but it's the first thing that came into my mind:

The Waitresses, "I Know What Boys Like."
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 4:37 PM on June 3, 2008

The problem here is your neighbors. They have already tried to shift payment for their electricity onto you; now they have done the same with cable. I would do the following:

(1) Obtain some kind of documentation from Comcast verifying that your neighbors were stealing your cable. If possible, this should include some approximate dollar amount that it cost you.

(2) Send a note to your landlord explaining the situation, with a copy of the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:08 AM on May 31, 2008 marked best answer

On the funk side, look into D.C Go-Go music. The entire genre is based around a particular beat, and features lots of polyrhythms and drum breakdowns. Some classics:

Trouble Funk, Pump Me Up.
Trouble Funk, Drop the Bomb.
Experience Unlimited, live, Part 1, Part 2.
Rare Essence, live.
Junkyard Band, various.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 11:28 AM on May 30, 2008

Two observations:

(1) Relative size is probably just as important as absolute size. Thus, for example, someone above cited Reykjavik. This is a very small (~100K) city by most standards, but is by far the largest city in Iceland. If anything creative or entrepreneurial is happening in Iceland, its happening in that city, so it will attract the creative and entrepreneurial types from all over Iceland. Ditto Dublin. Even a smallish city that is a state... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:40 AM on May 29, 2008

Yes, I took my birth certificate to the post office and they said two weeks minimum. I called for an appointment in NY and DC and there is nothing until next week.

There may still be hope. Last year I misplaced my passport a few days before a vacation and was able to get a passport within a few hours at the LA passport office. I had to call multiple times to get an appointment and bring proof of my travel (e.g., a plane ticket). I know things have... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 2:48 PM on May 23, 2008

Additional data point:

Computer: Dell Latitude X1 laptop.
Input device: trackpad.
Organism: cat, black, short-hair.
Limb: paw.
Result: Success.
Conclusion: this explains all the cat-scanner sites in my browsing history.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 4:33 AM on May 16, 2008

Buy ten more mannequins and ten more storm trooper hats, and position strategically outside their office.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:28 AM on May 14, 2008

You haven't been studying the blogosphere long enough to recognize that this is not what Ask Metafilter is for.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 12:28 PM on May 7, 2008

Farm Sluts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:40 AM on May 7, 2008

Somehow I think that providing that answer is going to get me in trouble somewhere down the road...
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:46 AM on May 7, 2008

Banky_Edwards: "Don't forget that by asking this question on AskMe, you're polling a very small and specific segment of Americans. Rest assured, people who make minimum wage are more than inconvenienced by $4 gas and increased food costs."

This is a good observation. Macroeconomic changes like recessions, changes in the unemployment rate, or downturns in the economy do not equally impact the population. A moderate increase in the cost of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:49 AM on May 5, 2008

You might want to have a look at the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which includes 166 places noted for their spectacular natural beauty.

Personally, I would recommend Iceland, which has an extraordinary range of different beautiful environments in a relatively small area: spectacular coastlines, active volcanic areas, breathtaking glaciers, and remarkable fjords. Its worth it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 11:36 AM on April 29, 2008

Let me see if I can boil this down to the basic facts:

(1) Your adviser asked you to do an unpaid favor for another researcher.

(2) You gave it your best shot, but after putting in a good deal of time you find yourself unable to complete the task because the original data is not in good enough shape.

(3) You politely informed the researcher that this was the case.

(4) Said researcher demands that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:06 AM on April 28, 2008

k8t, you're right. This isn't that unusual. However, that doesn't make the OP's situation any less tenable, nor the adviser's behavior any more excusable. My main points are that the OP can take steps to make this situation better, and that the adviser's behavior in this case should give them a bit of pause as to how they might be treated in the future.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 10:37 AM on April 28, 2008

We rented a car when we went to Dominica a few years ago and had a great experience. Some points for you:

(1) As for convenience: having your own car makes everything a lot more accessible - particularly hikes on the interior like Boiling Lake and the various Falls. It also allows you to do several activities in a single day, rather than relying on the (spotty) public transport or hiring a driver.

(2) As for cost: it wasn't cheap, but didn't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:26 AM on April 27, 2008

One of the most difficult things for a grieving pet owner to deal with is the sense that many others simply do not understand the importance of their pet, and the depth of their grief. I think that a nice card with a note mentioning your appreciation for them and for their cat is a remarkable gift in its own right, and more than enough.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:45 AM on April 26, 2008 marked best answer

The only legal and cheap way that I can think of is to find a very good, trusted friend who does not mind having their name attached to the project. Their name will be on every form that is filled out, they will have legal rights to the music, and they will receive all of the revenue and then pass it on (minus a small percentage, if they so choose) to you. You will relinquish all rights and connections to the material, but still collect revenue. You could also sign a contract stating this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:16 AM on April 21, 2008

A former coworker of mine used to respond to gripefests with the following, perfect one-liner:

"Beats pumping gas."

Worked for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:19 PM on April 17, 2008

Good bibliographic software allows you to:

(1) Convert between different citation styles. This might not seem like a big deal as a humanities grad student, when you only have one style to contend with. But a few years down the road, when you are revising your dissertation chapter for publication in a history journal with an unusual citation style, it can save you a lot of time.

(2) Easily cut-and-paste complete, formatted citations into email and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 5:21 PM on April 16, 2008 marked best answer

If the wash is indeed alcohol-based and does not contain triclosan or other antibacterials, then your coworkers who say it won't contribute to resistance are correct. Even if it does contain triclosan, the risk is minimal. A recent study found the following:

(1) There is evidence that, in the laboratory, exposure to antibacterials such as triclosan can lead to higher pethogen resistance.

(2) "No evidence suggests that use of antibacterial... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 11:02 AM on April 9, 2008

So I'm well aware that the problem here is mine, not his.

This is very generous of you, but it is wrong. I have a few tics that drive my GF up the wall. This makes them my problem as well as her, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

This doesn't mean that the responsibility for solving the problem is wholly mine or my GF's or even ours mutually. But it does mean that, just as she has a responsibility to make an effort to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 10:40 AM on April 9, 2008

TurkishGolds is on the right track. Let me add something else: any formal agreement that you come to should also stipulate who has responsibility in case of damages to the space or equipment. What happens if the roof leaks on their great stuff? What happens if they inadvertantly burn your studio down? This means some slightly amended options:

1. They pay you a flat fee for use of the space. Basically, they pay rent. Since you're friends, you have an understanding that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 10:24 AM on April 9, 2008

Go against type.

Some of the best female super-villains concealed their evil beneath an innocuous exterior. Dress up in the most goody-two-shoes outfit you can procure, perhaps augmented by somethig just a little off. Channel Reese Witherspoon from Election or Kathleen Turner from Serial Mom (the scissors are a nice touch - you could add a different innocuous-seeming household object/weapon of your choice).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:29 AM on April 6, 2008

According the National Center for Health Statistics, deaths from Transport accidents among males aged 15-24 have been:

2004: 8113
2003: 8171
2002: 8471
2001: 8111
2000: 7890
1999: 7558

These are crude mortality figures, not rates, so its difficult to precisely answer your question. But there doesn't appear to have been a dramatic change.

Also, I agree with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 8:24 AM on April 4, 2008

Oops. Forgot to include a link to the data.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 8:25 AM on April 4, 2008

speef, as someone mentioned above a little more information would help us give you more informative answers. Specifically: what field are you studying? Do you intend to work in Canada or the US?

Nevertheless, given the info that you do provide, UW seems the obvious choice to me:

(1) More money and relief from teaching. Don't underestimate the time sink that teaching can be; pursuing a degree on a prestigious fellowship frees up your time and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:42 AM on April 2, 2008

If you don't want to read all of Godel, Escher, Bach (which is worth it!), take a look at Hofstadter's Metamagical Themas, which contains several excellent essays dealing with recursion in art, language, and programming.

If you can stomach the often substandard prose, much of Philip K. Dick's fiction uses recursion and Mise en Abyme to explore the relationship between perception and reality, albiet somewhat obliquely. See especially The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:08 AM on April 2, 2008

The Straightener's list is great. You probably find Godflesh's stuff a bit hit-or-miss, because, much as I love them, I must admit that Justin's vocals range from appropriately muted to cringeworthy. Other specific songs that you might like are "Slateman," "Bittersweet," and "Mantra."

You might also look into Justin K. Broadrick's other side projects, including the aforementioned Jesu (including their massive "Old Year"). I'm... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 10:44 AM on March 18, 2008 marked best answer

Robert Musil, Young Torless.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 7:14 AM on March 17, 2008

Let me respectfully suggest that making a bet regarding total weight lost eight months away may be counterproductive. I am basing this on these assumptions:

(1) You (and your brother) want to become fitter and healthier, part of which involves losing weight.

(2) Your ultimate goal is not just to lose x number of pounds by November, but to keep it off for good.

(3) Achieving (1) and (2) requires real - and, in your case,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:17 AM on March 12, 2008

From the incredibly obscure side of the tracks.....Head of David's "Dustbowl" was ruined by some muddy production from, believe it or not, Steve Albini. They later released their original recordings of several of the songs on "The Saveana Mixes," which sound much better to my ears.

Also, I have always wondered what might have been if Amebix's early work, particularly "No Gods No Masters" had received some decent production. That is one... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 8:49 PM on March 11, 2008

If I understand which sound you are referring to, I think it is indeed a snare drum with the reverb cranked up, sometimes with a bit of delay as well. The characteristic sound is produced by a very short regeneration time and a large number of regeneration cycles, often on an old analog spring or plate reverb (or digital facsimile therof). See here for a bit of further discussion.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 9:09 AM on March 7, 2008 marked best answer

I can't find a sound or video file, but Killing Joke's "Exit" is a very badass song with some dogs barking in it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 6:05 AM on March 7, 2008

One thing suggested to me by a trainer that has worked wonders is to simulate a deep massage by lying on a small, relatively hard object like a tennis ball. If a tennis ball is too hard, you can wrap a few socks around it to make it a bit softer. Have your husband lie with the ball immediately under the "knot" for about 30 seconds, and then move around a bit to stimulate the tissues surrounding the knot. He can vary the pressure by varying the amount of weight he puts on it. I used to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 4:58 PM on March 4, 2008

My first thought was that decorating it with colorful stuff will just draw attention to it, which might make it look worse. But then I thought that something functional would be nifty. And here is just thing: get some magnetic spice tins like these or these and stick them to the sides.
posted to Ask Metafilter by googly at 5:53 PM on March 3, 2008