I've only heard it as an accidental alert, as in, "We can't put 'Better Tasting' on the can! That's an accidental alert to people who've never tried it. Let's go with, 'New, full-bodied recipe' if we can squeeze that in the character count." But I don't think it's a universal. The industry is phenomenally good at coming up with terms that only exist within a particular agency.

I taught advertising copywriting for years - and have read far too many books about... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 12:50 PM on July 3, 2008

One step better is the place that advertises "Fresh" Seafood, leading to grammar snobs like me being very concerned about the quotes and why they're there.

As someone who's written for shelf-stable salsa and beer, be more afraid of "the fresh taste" or "fresh tasting" than scare quotes. Legally, quotes don't do a thing. The difference however between "Chocolatey topping" or "rich chocolate taste" vs.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 12:53 PM on July 3, 2008

On top we've got a lamp, a Chumby, a DLP projector (for watching movies in bed) and typically a glass of water or Coke Zero.

The top drawer is the same thing as everything else, the grownup playtime drawer.
The middle drawer is mine. I keep a dream journal, pens, my passport.
The bottom drawer is my husband's. It is one of the few places in the house that are none of my damn business.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 10:28 AM on July 2, 2008

I moved from a major college town with minor tech job opportunities (UIUC) to silicon valley and then we recruited a lot of friends and friends of friends, etc. The only people who regretted jumping before they got a degree were people who were uncertain that they really wanted to be software/hardware/web folks and then weren't motivated enough to accomplish projects in the work world.

You get a degree to get a good job that you're interested in and that gives you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 10:21 AM on July 2, 2008

Open Me. I'm a dog. by Art Speigelman. Awesome book.
(I'd second The Stinky Cheese Man as well.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 3:58 PM on June 30, 2008

Are you using the same giant jar of vitamins? I've found that the smell/taste of some vitamins got me sick when they got older. I don't know whether or not vitamins can totally go bad, but they went bad for my stomach. New jar, did just fine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:01 PM on June 30, 2008

Great Schools has ratings that include parent reviews, test scores and more.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 3:12 PM on June 27, 2008 marked best answer

The child of an acquaintance of mine was diagnosed with ADD and after they worked with the doctor to select medication, the child had a terrible reaction to it - aggressive, sick, etc. Then they tried another - speedy, couldn't sleep. Then the third after two days worked like a charm (and isn't in your list).

My adult ADD friends have related similar stories to me. That finding the perfect med is great, but it's trial and error and the reason they have so many is that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 6:40 PM on June 19, 2008

Once again, the collective you is truly awesome.

My daughter will be jazzed about it as well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 2:54 PM on June 19, 2008

The face is so remarkably German Shepherd, I'd be amazed if she wasn't a bit of that.

And Lab, German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever are all active, trainable dogs. I second the classes suggestion. Good luck. And congrats, she's painfully cute.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 11:46 AM on June 19, 2008

Not a recipe, but a presentation suggestion: Depending on how formal your wedding is, every large party I host, I set up a cupcake "bar" and it seems to be the biggest hit.

A beautifully arranged stack of unfrosted cupcakes of various flavors, typically marked (they sell cupcake stands cheap at Bed, Bath & beyond and similar). Bowls full of a large variety of frosting types and other things that are good as toppings (marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:41 AM on June 19, 2008

In San Francisco, after months of hunting for an apartment that I could afford, I found a house with a backyard within my budget. The landlord had no interest in my credit report, asked for no deposit for my dog and gave it to me because I was "a good person with a good soul" over the other people who had come to see it.

Glitch-free, I'm still there, the landlord is still nice and I'm way below market rate in rent still.

Look at the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 4:34 PM on June 12, 2008

Without a doubt, double sink with the best garbage disposal that fits.
Drawers the right height for spice containers. Once you go with drawers with labels on the top, any other method of spice rack/sorting seems barbaric.

The best thing I *did* do was sand the heck out of the pantry door and paint it with Crayola chalkboard paint. It was great for jotting down groceries, phone messages, etc. Every kitchen I've been in needs more communication space. When we... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:21 AM on June 11, 2008

"Control" by Traci Lords. Actually, anything off of "10,000 Fires".
A lot of Love and Rockets, when it's not killyourself-a-riffic, has a sexiness to it.
"Plain Song" by The Cure has a triumphant romance to it that's very sexy.

I'm assuming you want something a little dated teenager as opposed to current teenager.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 4:40 PM on June 3, 2008

I've got it! The stripper favorite "I would die for you" by Garbage, complete with the fake orgasm noises.

Is there a strip club that doesn't have that on regular rotation?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 4:01 PM on June 10, 2008

I've had multiple in my life. I highly recommend the Kenmore, not the cheapest one, but midtier (some heating, water jets, etc.).

Just as all dishwashers are not the same, the same goes for portables. (They don't have to be necessarily smaller than a built-in.)

You put a little connector on your faucet and just link it up. The one with the butcher block top served as a kitchen island/cutting table for years.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 3:49 PM on June 10, 2008

I tend to dislike the questions that are obviously just kiss up questions. Don't try to demonstrate how much you know with a question if you don't want the honest answer.

The questions that show someone is carefully considering the position make me feel better about the person.

The question I'm most happy I asked in an interview was, "From what I've heard, the position sounds great. What's the downside?" I proceeded to hear someone who... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 6:56 PM on June 8, 2008

I speak from far-too-similar experience that he will not be going through any turmoil and having him there will make it far more difficult.

This is not penance or purgatory. He will not learn. He will not love you the way you need to be loved. You are better off with a caring stranger than someone you're obviously conflicted about. You will not look sexy, or tragic, or whatever and you shouldn't have an inkling in your mind of trying to do anything except hold yourself... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 5:54 PM on June 7, 2008

"In the Middle" by They Might Be Giants

Don't cross the street in the middle in the middle in the middle in the middle of the block.
Use your eyes to look out. Use your ears to hear.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 3:50 PM on June 6, 2008

If you're in a relationship with either party, don't do it.
If they're in a relationship together and you'd feel bad if they broke up, don't do it.

I only know from having to explain to my daughter why a playmate went from having one mom and dad to having two moms and one dad to two moms and a dad who lives on the other side of town but still pays for the old house plus alimony plus childcare.

If they're two girls who you just met and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:13 PM on June 2, 2008

Invite, or at least talk to, your neighbors. Especially if you have downstairs neighbors. The drum kit is a killer.

We're by far the nerdiest people on the block with the least number of parties. So imagine our surprise when the police stopped by in the middle of Karaoke Revolution "Bohemian Rhapsody."
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 7:36 PM on June 1, 2008

My husband and I do this all the time. He started it, but we do it with everything. What happens, though, is we don't repeat it the second time we're there. We play off the last reference we made. It devolves until we speak in a sort of twin language meets cockney rhyming slang sort of cluster of references. (Willard Scott's Woods becomes Ridley Scott's Woods becomes Riddlemethis Woods becomes, I dunno, something equally weird.)

I would never do it in front of someone... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 5:57 PM on May 31, 2008

I would take a pay cut to bring my dog to work. In fact, I've nearly begged a company smaller and less powerful than where I work now to hire me just because I heard they allowed dogs. I also met someone who was forced to leave a job because all her coworkers hated her after she raised her allergy issues as a reason to stop the "dog-friendly office" policy.

Some non-standard benefits I've had (not all in the same place):
- Happy hour from 4-5pm... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 2:16 PM on May 30, 2008

My dad had lots of "great" stories. To this day, I find myself pissed off that he was incapable of saying "I don't know." And I'll occasionally find that things I thought to be true without a doubt are urban legends or just plain evil. (He told me my grandmother Margaret was called "Peggy" because she walked like she had a peg leg because of her polio.)

So, "I don't know, let's look it up!" is one of my favorite phrases with my kid.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:29 PM on May 30, 2008

This site offers white board material and chalkboards as removable wall stickers, although I've only tried similar chalkboard ones.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 3:52 PM on May 29, 2008

Think of it as your tagline, because multiple words are still available (but you'll need to buy with and without the dash).

I'm not quite sure what you're aiming for, but if you run multiple words together, you can get things like:
excusemeyouredumb.com
dearstupidpeople.com

But as I'm not quite sure what you're aiming for, I could be really off.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 11:14 AM on May 29, 2008

A therapist I went to for a while told me to tell my mother, "I understand that you want to discuss (my ex). But discussing (my ex) doesn't make it better. It makes me want to avoid talking to you. And I like talking to you. So, if you discuss (my ex), I'm going to hang up the phone/leave."

My mom was upset, started making all sorts of excuses. I said, "No need to apologize. Now how are you doing?" And when she brought up my ex, I hung up the phone.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 6:25 PM on May 27, 2008

Also, now's a great time to keep your hairbrushes out of kid reach. Because treating yourself and a kid for head lice is a lot less fun than just treating a kid.

I wish I didn't know this from experience.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:16 PM on May 27, 2008

My two defaults for "themed" and "cheap" are always Oriental Trading Company and Archie McPhee.

Death:
Death themed 'barrel o' monkeys' keychains
Death Mints

Taxes:
Calculators
The most accountant-looking action figure
Bubblegum coins

Put stuff in a plastic coffin or a black bag. Tie it off with a ribbon of a paper receipt and you've got a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:55 PM on May 26, 2008

My father is amazingly talented. Since he was young, everyone has told him he was an artist, made a big deal over his art, blah, blah, blah. Now he lives in a barn in upstate New York raising pit bulls and doing tattoos.

Talent is not motivation. But sadly enough, talent is also not concept. Just because my father can draw anything you ask of him in a variety of styles doesn't mean he has anything to say, to convey or to share with the world. (In fact, the same could be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 11:48 AM on May 26, 2008

As weird as it may seem, the misdirection-style humor has never been stronger than in Woody Allen's early books, particularly Without Feathers. That's when he was going for absurdist and clever, rather than navel-gazing and whiny. It's broken up into quick little sections, so it's a fast read as well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 11:33 AM on May 26, 2008

I considered painting over wallpaper when I bought a house with ugly, metallic wallpaper in EVERY.SINGLE.ROOM. Everything I read, however, talked about painting over the vinyl surface. If you're down to the paper fuzz, you have to bite the bullet and strip it. You'll get an uneven surface and the paint will get absorbed into the paper. Unless you're going to somehow apply 18 coats of resin over it or something, you're hosed.

However, if you've got drywall rather than... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:22 PM on May 22, 2008

For an informed decision on the hypoallergenic cat front - I wouldn't recommend a sphynx.

I got a rescue sphyx (a retired show cat, so he was very hairless).

He didn't have fur. He was an awesome cat personalitywise. But you know how pet foods include lots of vitamin e to make coats "shiny"? He needed a bath at least twice a week or else housedust would stick to his oily lack of coat and he would leave spots on things where he sat.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:30 PM on May 22, 2008

We're not entirely sure he is happy or that this is what he wants and don't know how to talk to him about it.

You talk about it the way you talk about any major thing happening in someone's life that you're uncertain about. Don't say more than three sentences in a row. And that third sentence should always end in a question mark.

Or better yet, just be his friend. Take him out and do something that you've liked to do in the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 10:32 AM on May 22, 2008

A guy I like and JUST MET didn't show up for my birthday party? Whatever. The same guy who's performance I blew off? Super whatever.

Reading your question, it sounds like you're really not that into her until the point that she was ignoring you. That's fine. That's human nature.

You've made your case with her. Let it be a bit. As weird as it sounds, the only time I ever fell for guyswas when they expressed interest and then left me completely... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 6:54 PM on May 20, 2008

To be honest, it doesn't sound like a scam - at least given my experience with home buying and getting bait and switched on apartments because the landlord wants to be nice to the current tenant (and likely has to be given the renters rights in the state).

If it were a scam, it would be a bad deal for the scammer, given that you paid by check and have something in writing, as well as an email chain.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:12 PM on May 20, 2008

I was given Bonine the last time I had a short spell of vertigo. Even without the vertigo, I'm a queasy traveler, so I've continued to use bonine. I find it much more useful and less horrible than dramamine. I find buses, the back of the plane and cars with soft shocks to be the worst for me. I sit up as close to the front always so I don't get the double sway in the back. My motion sickness can trigger a migraine and vice versa, so I also use my migraine meds to keep things at bay.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 4:47 PM on May 19, 2008

I managed to get all three movies on laser and a backup LD player from the local hipster thriftstore for less than $35. I wanted my kid to see the movies without that Jabba-walking-around crap. They don't seem to be prone to any laserrot at all.

It's worth looking around. I still get amazing titles and never-released-to-DVD features on clearance-bin laserdiscs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 10:44 AM on May 19, 2008

If it's the lack of sincerity you're amused by, I'd suggest you might enjoy the flip construction - The Bird and The Bee "Polite Dance Song" involves typical dance lyrics (albeit made a touch more polite) and sweet indie music (and set to a video by Tim & Erik!).

A fun and competent song that mocks the genre with ridiculously over the top lyrics (as opposed to directly stating its dislike) is Electric Six's "Synthesizer":
Be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:14 PM on May 16, 2008 marked best answer

People can give you opinions, but only you have a definitive answer. Why? Because this is a brand architecture question and varies radically from company to company.

"Diluting the brand is bad" - that's not a 100% case. Does your master brand speak to the target audience well? Is it a space/brand/etc. that the company is known for, or is it a stretch? Are their a ton of subbrands, or just a few? What has brand equity? Is the subbrand descriptive or strong? How... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 1:26 PM on May 16, 2008

Without knowing everything you've ever seen in your life, some of my horror favorites:
- Dellamorte Dellamore (aka CEMETARY MAN) or DEAD ALIVE (aka BRAIN DEAD), DEAD MEAT or any of the Dario Argento or George A. Romero movies.

RAVENOUS is a perennial favorite. PARENTS is creepy and disturbing - if not gory.

What about the classic '80s cheesy horror like APRIL FOOL'S DAY, SLEEPAWAY CAMP or SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE 2?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 3:41 PM on May 13, 2008

Gatorade, oyster crackers, 7-Up, chicken noodle soup (from the can, not homemade), Otter pop popsicles.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 6:44 PM on May 12, 2008

We're in a more traditional firm than most and if anyone shows up in a suit for anything (except maybe a strategist position), there's the whole "cultural fit" discussion or there's a perception that the person is too eager/hungry/desperate.

The top creative directors here wear nice shirts - either white and heavily pressed with a stylish suit coat and dark jeans or a simple sport coat over a more "out there" shirt and Dickies-like slacks. Like anyone... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 12:15 PM on May 12, 2008 marked best answer

Google search balloon animal artists St. Louis. A few I hit right away:

http://higherhopeentertainment.blogspot.com/

http://www.cindyscc.com/

I'm sure they'd love to make a quick buck and make you something.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 4:10 PM on May 9, 2008

I've always carried a letter, but I've never been asked for it, heading to both Europe and Japan from the US. I'd carry it just in case, but I agree that if it's a super pain to get a notary, you're likely fine with just a letter with contact info.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 10:02 AM on May 8, 2008

This may be off the wall, but I've found whatever's in Multisymptom Pamprin that reduces "irritability" chills me right out. It makes me a little mentally slow, but just for a 3 count - enough to not freak out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:51 AM on May 8, 2008

You've got an army of people telling you what a pain vinyl is for the next home owners. I have to add to the pile.

I once owned a home built in the early '60s (they were all made out of ticky tacky...) and it had yellow vinyl siding on half the house.

The siding trapped moisture underneath, giving us quite a few problems. When I went to paint the non-vinyl half, it was obvious that all the previous owners had issues matching the color as it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:39 AM on May 8, 2008

I did an afterschool GATE program for two years and then was transferred to a gifted magnet school. Both experiences were awesome and a little bit intimidating.

I recreated Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" with paper mache puppets in third grade. Seriously awesome.

I only regret I went to the magnet school in 5th - much later than the other kids. By that time, I was used to coasting – being the smartest kid so I didn't actually have to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 9:25 AM on May 8, 2008

My mom's pretty progressive and didn't want me to send anything - carbon footprint and all. So I got her a Kiva gift certificate and I'll be sending a video (via a weblink) of us all saying hi.

I also bought her the URL for her small business as well (and hosting it at Dreamhost which is carbon offset), so I'm going to send all her mother's day presents to her new email address - forwarded to her Yahoo account.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 5:13 PM on May 6, 2008

Eat it. Make brownies or incorporate it otherwise may give you more of a mellow body buzz than smoking which will kick it into high gear.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gucky at 2:45 PM on May 6, 2008