Yardwork, using as manual a tool as you can find for the job. Mow your lawn with a scythe or one of those spiral-bladed push mowers. Exploring/walking. Transportation (bike, walking, etc).

They key in all of this is to make sure that you're doing the work, not a machine.

The one problem is that it's going to take you two hours of walking to burn the same calories as half an hour of hard cycling, and you aren't ever going to get the same worn-out/high feeling.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:33 PM on July 24, 2008

So, lots of people note the personal-experiences thing. That tends to be the reason for a lot of people.

But, one thing to keep in mind is the vestigial religious guilt that most people have to cope with. In the US (and much of the Western hemisphere), our societal ethics closely aligns with a sort of lowest-common-denominator Judeo-Christian morality. Not that anybody really intended for that to happen, but it does.

My dad's an atheist, right?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:18 PM on July 24, 2008

Public transit change machines++.

Also, an approach I've taken when looking for specific kinds of coins (for magic tricks) is to just ask everybody with whom I do a cash transaction. Every time I buy gum, cigarettes, soda, video games, handguns, I just ask the teller if they have any of whatever I'm looking for. Most cashiers just toss them in an unused change-slot, since it slows down their change-making to remember that there's one Susan B. Anthony sitting there.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:02 PM on July 24, 2008

They aren't "becoming", they are.

Buy the Wii. As people have mentioned, it's backward compatible with GC--all of your games and peripherals should work. Your local game store will probably even give you $20-30 bucks for the GameCube.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 10:43 PM on July 22, 2008

Other people have better packing lists than I'd come up with, but I would suggest going with the backpack instead of the rolling bag. The rolling bag will only roll on hard or packed surfaces. A gravel road kills that right quick. So does grass, dirt, mud, metal grating running the wrong way, etc.

And carrying one of those rolling suitcases, filled full of your worldly goods, is going to suck.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 10:41 PM on July 22, 2008

I can't pass through Oklahoma without stopping for a Johnny's Burger. In either Tulsa or OKC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 9:21 PM on July 18, 2008

Resale values on computers are terrible, since most people feel that they're buying essentially obsolete gear when they do buy a used box. Especially if it isn't one of those "I just bought it and don't like it, but can't return it" stories with a late-model machine. Basically, to move a computer, you've got to price it in the 1/4-1/3 range of the new price. Otherwise it doesn't look like a deal, and folks'll just save up for another couple weeks and buy the new one.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 11:09 AM on July 16, 2008

Nope. I'm thirding simplethings here. I would definitely notice if it were really-well defined junk. I might note its size, but would probably chalk it up to shrinkage. But, since it's not usually big enough (due to shrinkage) to show, it isn't an issue. I don't think I would ever notice the lack of well-defined junk. It isn't as if I expect to see everybody's cockandballs at the pool.*

Also, long boardshorts++. Don't wear briefs underneath them.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:29 PM on July 15, 2008

I went with Alpine specifically because they tend not to look completely stupid.

Also, you should be looking at the lower-end stereos if you want simplicity of interface. The more money you spend, the more useless buttons you get.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 4:09 PM on July 14, 2008

Might I suggest the Subaru WRX or STI. About the same price range, and arguably way more car if you go with the STI.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 6:07 PM on July 13, 2008

What about an alcohol (ethanol) enema?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 8:47 PM on July 12, 2008

A bag's about it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 11:20 PM on July 10, 2008

Niangua++. Jacks Fork++.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:37 PM on June 17, 2008

The professional VO people are, for the most part, awesome about reading things in just about whatever style you like.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:21 AM on May 21, 2008

To be perfectly clear: getting WiFi in your house (tapped from your Comcast internet connection) will not give you internet access all around Philly. It will only work in your house.

To get the all-over access, you'll need to get a cell-phone based solution as people have pointed out above.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 8:03 AM on May 18, 2008

Xbox 360 doesn't have cheats for most games because of the Achievements system. But, GTA4 has cheats, and so does the Orange Box HL2.

I've played a couple of games for Wii that have cheats; I just can't recall which ones they were right now. Part of the problem here is that cheats wouldn't make much sense in most of the casual Wii bullshit out there--how can you cheat at WarioWare?

Several of my PS3 games have cheats. But, not as many as my... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:59 AM on May 18, 2008

I'm really confused. Why is everybody assuming that polygamy always results in 1 dude + N wives? I do know that the word frequently is meant to refer to that arrangement. But, I cannot imagine that the Supreme Court of any western nation is going to rule that polygamy should be granted as a right to only men, who are then allowed to marry only women.

There're numerous ways of organizing a marriage that involves multiple people. Polyandry has been practiced in a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:40 AM on May 16, 2008

I have been dealing with this for the last six months or so. Sort of a damn-I'm-married-the-next-thing-is-death realization that I'll not exist at some point. Especially painful is my expectation that, someday, there will be a generation of humans who doesn't need to die until they want to. We might be it... but, maybe not.

One thing that seems to help is to remember that, if my life has finite length, then spending time worrying about its finite length cannot... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 4:08 PM on May 13, 2008

Two-part epoxy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 9:52 AM on May 12, 2008

I have a Bible that loses a page about every three or four months.

I'm not dead yet, but the lack of gum kinda irritates me.

The gold leaf on the edge of the pages can't be good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 9:45 AM on May 12, 2008

These are called speech acts. The basic definition of a speech act is that it's an utterance that literally does something. Usually that something is abstract. We use them because, in most cases, there's not a particularly precise or clear way to convey these concepts without speech.

Other examples include: "You're under arrest", "I hereby swear to protect the Constitution of the...", "I object!".... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:01 AM on May 4, 2008 marked best answer

You can thank somebody without saying "thanks", you can congratulate without saying "congratulations", and you can greet without saying "greetings" (in fact, we normally do).

However, every time you deviate from the common constructs, you run the risk of people not knowing what the hell you're talking about. For instance, I sometimes thank people by saying, "Much obliged." This works great in Dixie, but only okay here in Philly.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 9:21 AM on May 11, 2008

We're going to be living basically in Indianola, which is like five minutes from Kingston. Getting to Seattle-side is easy, aside from the heavy ferry fares. I do know the geography pretty well, having spent lots of summers up there. I've just never had any cause to really meet people up there, especially to work with.

Please don't take my geographic wishes as constraints, merely as a preference.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 12:16 PM on May 10, 2008

I ask as soon as it appears that I might like to have the job.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:10 PM on May 2, 2008

Mr_Chips' idea seems brilliant to me.

Just build the shell out of concrete, fill with rocks, lead shot, sand, whatever.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 4:13 PM on May 1, 2008

I'd just make strong hot chocolate and then throw in something like this or some Guarana powder (as farishta suggests).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 2:53 PM on April 30, 2008

Please note: weigh your caffeine powder (if you go that route). Don't try to measure by volume. Get a scale.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:06 PM on April 30, 2008

I'm another voting for the talk-to-folks tack.

I've always found beauty in the camaraderie of the road trip. And, since I hail from the Midwest US, I've seen plenty of 'em.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 2:46 PM on April 30, 2008

Wow, Act! looks really neat. Are there alternatives for either OSX or Linux?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:05 AM on April 29, 2008

I wouldn't call the overall story of the joke racist, just the details used to flesh it out. Since I try to keep my jokes centered around uncharged issues (hair color, etc.) or groups into which people volunteer (the medical profession, the military, despots, etc.), I'd probably tell it with the scary dude as a giant ex-con done up in gnarly prison tats. And I wouldn't say a damn thing about the protagonist, since he's automatically defined by contrast to the Man Mountain.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 6:53 AM on April 29, 2008

I'd just saunter down to the local and get maudlin drunk.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 6:41 AM on April 29, 2008

My suggestion would be to research (then attend) the politico bars in DC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 12:55 PM on April 28, 2008

I usually go with a metaphor:

Me: "I program computers."

Them: "Oh, really? My computer is all fucked up?"

M: "I doubt I'll be able to help you."

T: "Why not?"

M: "It's like a racecar driver. He can drive the fuck out of that car, but he hired a mechanic. I'm the same way. I can program the fuck out of a computer, but I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 10:17 AM on April 28, 2008

A couple years ago, I actually had to help an old dude in a wheelchair. I had to help him down off the sidewalk, and then I had to help drag his heavy ass back up on the sidewalk.

Just because some shithead had decided to park his Ninja across 80% of the sidewalk.

Don't park your motorcycle, bicycle, or "small car" on the damn sidewalk, regardless of legality.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:01 AM on April 28, 2008

(By the way, both the wheelchaired guy and I both spat on the handlebars. Keep that in mind.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:02 AM on April 28, 2008

To be super precise about our local solar system: everything (all planets, the sun, asteroids, etc.) orbit around the center of mass of the solar system. We wobble the sun.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 6:55 AM on April 28, 2008

Blackalicious++
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:32 AM on April 25, 2008

In general, you won't find a replacement for your instrument cluster. When my friends have decided they need new instruments on whatever car they're building, they tend to just tear out the old stuff, order each individual gauge from whatever performance parts outfit they like, and mount them in a piece of plywood that then gets screwed into place where the old cluster was (or not).

The gauges aren't cheap. There are cheap ones, but they aren't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 5:25 AM on April 25, 2008

You might talk to your wife and see if she wouldn't let you take a lover on the side. You don't talk about wanting a man in your life romantically, and that you're happy and comfortable in your marriage, only that you'd like to fuck a dude. See if your wife won't let you do so. Maybe she wants the same thing? Maybe she wants to join in?

You might want to read The Ethical Slut. It works very hard to provide you with an idea of the sorts of emotions... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 11:56 AM on April 21, 2008

1) Yes. The compressor is the expensive part of the equation, requiring a much beefier motor than the fan. Beefier = more voltage, more amperage. More wattage.

2) Way, way more power.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 9:55 PM on April 18, 2008

First, I assume that most US governments aren't interested in regulating big business any more than they have to. I've only seen the regulation of utility companies when some individual company has a monopoly, or to prevent a return to monopoly.

Utility companies frequently have regional monopolies. And the regions that don't have monopolies regulate the owners of the infrastructure to ensure that they can't price competing providers out of the market.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 9:49 PM on April 18, 2008

Lucid dreaming++.

It's like a holodeck in your head.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 7:51 PM on April 17, 2008

There once was a man from Cancun.

"There once was a man from Verdun" works way better.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 1:10 PM on April 17, 2008

Take a small round file, in some hard steel. Insert the tip of the file into a hole in the mesh. Torque upward. File the inside-bottom side of the now-bent hole. Repeat for all other holes.

Grate cheese.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 3:57 PM on April 16, 2008

The Glock trigger system serves its purpose as a drop-safety, but doesn't provide any real disconnect between pulling the trigger and discharging the weapon. If the trigger moves backward a quarter inch, the weapon will discharge (and at least partially cycle). This means that maneuvering the weapon through everyday life gets a little bit riskier, as there are certainly protrusions out there that can enter the outrageously-oversized trigger guard. When it's loaded, you gotta be double careful,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 4:06 PM on April 15, 2008 marked best answer

On a slight tangent, a friend of mine had an old Walther PPK that was really fun to shoot, too

Don't get that. You should be looking for a modern firearm.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 1:06 PM on April 16, 2008

miss_lynnster, nilihm is talking about receptive aphasia. It's the inverse of what your mother had. Instead of losing the ability to construct sentences, one loses the ability to understand sentences spoken to you. However, you can still speak fluently.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 4:08 PM on April 15, 2008

Drunken, tired, obligatory sex. It was, how you say, verruh niiiice.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 8:35 AM on April 14, 2008

I've always liked Robert Frost's definition from Death of the Hired Man:
“Home is the place where, when you have to go there,
They have to take you in.”

(Please note that this is a definition of "home", not a description. Just because you call a place "home" doesn't mean they have to take you in.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 1:46 PM on April 10, 2008

It'd be pretty cool if you built it on Amazon's Mechanical Turk infrastructure. Listening to and transcribing a 30-second phone message is something somebody could easily do in a couple minutes, if they were a native speaker but weren't trained.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Netzapper at 4:56 PM on April 8, 2008 marked best answer