I did enjoy Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, but somehow I don't feel like it has the same sort of gleeful self-indulgence that I'm looking for...I think Connie Willis is probably a better example but unfortunately I've read all of hers already! (Same with Le Guin)

I tried reading The Historian but I couldn't really get into it.

I'll check out Cadigan, Fowler (I did read The Jane Austen Book... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 2:52 PM on October 6, 2008

Oh, that sounds interesting, louigi! I'd heard of the book but I just assumed it was the one that that stupid Tom Cruise movie was based on. Thanks!
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 11:21 AM on October 7, 2008

I like Khandro and Tamdin.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 8:38 AM on September 30, 2008

You can turn off the sidebar that suggests songs to buy. So you don't have to worry about the impulse-buying problem.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 12:51 PM on September 26, 2008

How about these Swiss Cheese Fritters from FX Cuisine?

They take some assembly and you have to sort of eat them as you go.
In fact he has lots of fun recipes for having people over to cook--I really need to cultivate a friendship with that guy!
You could probably put together a whole menu just from that site, and the Swiss/German/Italian flavors are often very autumnal.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 12:42 PM on September 26, 2008

Yeah, I've never gotten this whole "I need something else to do while in the bathroom" thing, either.
I just don't find myself with a lot of downtime while in there--are you waiting for something to happen? Why not just wait to go in there till you actually have to go?

BUT if you do need to do something, I think reading or video games are fine. Talking on the phone, absolutely not.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 10:58 PM on September 22, 2008

I'm a Jennifer who goes by Jenny, even professionally--it's on my business cards and everything. I hate being called Jennifer, but I'm glad Jenny isn't my real name. I always think it's nice to have options.
(Also, I totally agree about having a very common name--I was always having to be Jenny B. or Jenny 2 or something and I hated it.)

Is it just that you don't like the name Abigail? Maybe you could use something else that could shorten to Abby. Abilene?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 6:10 PM on September 19, 2008

Fred Astaire's tie-as-belt look? Of course now I can't find any pictures, but he would use a striped tie as a belt, and leave the ends jauntily hanging down.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 10:45 AM on September 14, 2008

As long as they aren't saggy or dingy or weird, you should be okay. Maybe stay away from white.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 6:52 PM on September 11, 2008

It's kind of just not as MUCH as LA.

Not as many restaurants
Not as big of museums
Not as much excitement
Not as much traffic
Not as many people who are obsessed with being "in"
Not as many freeways
Not as stressful
Not as cliquish
Not as many celebrities
Not as much smog

Seriously though, what is your situation? How old are you,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 9:36 PM on September 10, 2008

I do this all the time, including right now.
You just find a comfortable surface (bed, lounge, grass, towel, etc.) and stack up a couple of pillows.
Lie down on your stomach, rest your chest and elbows on the pillows, and move your laptop close enough that you can reach it to type. Voila!
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:25 PM on September 10, 2008

I LOVE this site, but it would be nice to have a little explainey thing somewhere that tells you what moonbats and wingnuts and so on are.
posted to Projects by exceptinsects at 10:08 AM on September 7, 2008

Awesome.
posted to Projects by exceptinsects at 4:31 PM on September 7, 2008

I'm not against it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 4:22 PM on September 7, 2008

There are still several Music Trader locations, and as far as I know they still buy DVDs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 1:57 PM on September 7, 2008 marked best answer

For canker sores, putting some baking soda (or baking soda toothpaste, which tastes better) on them at night seems to really help. Usually they are nearly gone by morning.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 4:17 PM on September 6, 2008

Also, if the corn is already kind of old, it will often be starchy and tough no matter how you cook it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 2:33 PM on September 6, 2008

The library probably doesn't want them either. My library has a complete run going back to 1918, all from donations, and we specifically have a sign on the door saying we don't accept them any more!
I don't know how NG got the idea into everyone's heads that their magazines should be preserved forever--my dad did the same thing.

Giving them to some kids for art projects is probably your best bet, or winter kindling? You could shred them for extra insulation,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 12:56 PM on September 6, 2008 marked best answer

I noticed you didn't mention Dead Like Me in the ones you ordered, but I really think you will like it. Also, Veronica Mars.

If you like the idea of Spaced, then how about Red Dwarf?
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 6:33 PM on September 5, 2008

Hot air balloon ride?
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 12:26 PM on August 31, 2008

It's from the movie Gilda, where one character says "Statistics show that there are more women in the world than anything else--except insects."
posted to MetaTalk by exceptinsects at 8:43 PM on August 30, 2008

I think any kind of underwear is acceptable, as long as it isn't baggy.
The problem with the tighty-whities is that they tend to sag and look really pathetic if you don't replace them often.
I think boxers are fine, as long as they aren't all billowy on you; that just looks like you have something to hide, or possibly raided your dad's underwear drawer. and that's just creepy.
Boxer briefs are okay, but they can veer into cheesy.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 11:23 PM on August 19, 2008

Yep, I get that too, especially if I've been hearing someone talk with an accent.
I think it's kind of neat.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 1:42 AM on August 16, 2008

Børn!
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 9:35 PM on August 14, 2008

When my friend was getting married, we had a slumber party and put crazy makeup on each other and rented a karaoke machine and ate lots of candy. (These were non-drinking people.)
It was actually super fun and one of the best bachelorette parties I've been to.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 1:54 PM on August 8, 2008

I had a cat named "Of", once. She was awesome.
posted to MetaTalk by exceptinsects at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2008

Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series, about a 1920's flapper in Australia?
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 2:26 PM on July 26, 2008

You are all entirely, entirely wrong. The best chapstick ever is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Chapstick. It doesn't taste like anything, is smells vaguely chocolatey but not so people notice, and it comes in a big tube that makes everyone think you are putting gluestick on your lips. Amusing!
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 11:34 PM on July 4, 2008

I totally agree with this, and basically these kind of posts where like, each letter of a word is a different random link and you have no idea what the fuck is supposed to be so interesting, are the reason I just stay on the green.

Which, you know, is fine. I like it there.
posted to MetaTalk by exceptinsects at 10:57 PM on June 30, 2008

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer--it's YA but really good.

Basically what happens is an asteroid hits the moon and knocks it into a lower orbit. You can imagine what effect this has on the global climate, tides, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 11:41 AM on June 29, 2008

Oh, and Y: The Last Man!

I didn't even check because I thought for sure someone would have already mentioned it.

Graphic novel, by one of the writers for Lost. Basic premise: all the men on earth suddenly die except for one.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 11:44 AM on June 29, 2008

SO TOTALLY B IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY.
posted to MetaTalk by exceptinsects at 4:56 PM on June 17, 2008

I also recommend The Far Pavilions, can't say enough about it, it's the epic-est epic ever.

And anything by Sarah Waters, assuming you don't have a problem with books about lesbians.

In terms of fantasy, you might like Dave Duncan's King's Blades series, and if you like that kind of swashbuckliness you might also like The Prisoner of Zenda and/or Beau Geste, which aren't fantasy but are very romantic, in the extravagant rather than lovey-dovey... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 2:48 PM on June 15, 2008

I just made this chocolate rum cake yesterday for my friend's birthday, and it was pretty much ridiculous. It takes 2 cups of cocoa powder!
It was fantastic, and fantastically rich.
It's important to frost the cake ahead of time and let it chill for at least 8 hours to let the flavors meld.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 9:06 PM on June 10, 2008 marked best answer

The New York Times

The Cleveland Plain Dealers
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 10:46 PM on May 29, 2008

I want to second the asparagus pesto, but the way I make it is much simpler--go ahead and roast it in the oven at about 450 F with a little olive oil and salt and pepper, then cut it in 1-2 inch pieces and then puree it in a blender with more olive oil and salt/pepper to taste. Serve it on pasta with grated parmesan.

You will be amazed at how good it is; it really doesn't need garlic or nuts or anything.

Thanks for asking this--I just ate a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 10:44 PM on May 26, 2008

Southern California upbringing. Growing up, there wasn't a particularly hard-and-fast rule about it, but my feeling is the same as many people above, that you don't take your shoes off when other people are at your house, and you certainly don't do it at someone else's house unless invited to.
Shoeless is like being undressed in some way, and therefore a bit rude or weird, like if you took your pants off and sat around in your underwear. Definitely more comfortable, but not for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:46 PM on May 26, 2008

What about The World According to Garp, with the Ellen Jamesians, a group of people who remove their tongues in solidarity with a girl whose rapist did the same thing to her?

Or in Y: The Last Man, where a group of women who call themselves the Daughters of the Amazon remove a breast like the ancient Amazons were supposed to have done?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:21 PM on May 26, 2008

Yep, at my public library in California, the difference in pay between a librarian and a library tech is substantial.
As you advance to higher levels of technician, you get paid more, but I think even Tech 4 doesn't get paid as much as Librarian 1. (This is unfair.)

We don't require a diploma for techs, and I don't even know of anyone who has one, so that might be something that's more common in other parts of the country (or other countries? yes, I see... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:12 PM on May 26, 2008

The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye is the epic-est of sweeping epics.
It's about a guy who is born in India to British parents but due to various circumstances is brought up thinking he's Indian...and then is sent back to England, and comes back to India in the military, and there's this princess...well, you should just read it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 9:50 PM on May 21, 2008

The North Park farmer's market (Thursday evenings) has a guy with fresh pasta. I just bought some but I haven't eaten it yet. I'll report back.
I think there's also a place in Little Italy but unfortunately I can't remember the name. (I rarely go there because there's nowhere to park)
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:20 PM on May 17, 2008

OK, so Peggy's Pasta I think it was called, it was fine but not amazing, but then again I always forget I don't like flavored pasta and I got the basil pappardelle. So maybe give it a try. I've also had the Whole Foods kind and it's pretty good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 8:38 PM on May 18, 2008

I might be in, depending on when.
posted to MetaTalk by exceptinsects at 9:14 PM on May 8, 2008

I have this problem when asking for directions, and I've had to train myself to visualize in my head the route that they're explaining. This stops my brain from racing on ahead, all "ok, so when I get there, I'll need to bring that big umbrella and get my extra foam finger out of the trunk, etc etc".

I think a similar technique would work in small-talk situations as well. When they tell you their goldfish's name is Boris or that they grew up on a commune or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 11:41 PM on May 7, 2008

OK, yet another librarian, but seriously the most common response I get is:
"Really?? That's AWESOME." or variations thereof.
And on the internet, it's like you just said you were a NINJA or something. Librarians are rock stars online, apparently.

The next most common:
Them:
"Oh, that must be so nice--working somewhere quiet!"
Me:
(inside: HAHAHAHAHAHA) "Oh, we gave up on that a while ago."
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 9:56 PM on April 28, 2008

The ice cream advice wasn't serious, I think zadcat was just poking fun at all the DH and DD and DS and so on in the original post.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:41 PM on April 20, 2008

I only have very mild migraines, but I've had two different doctors tell me that I shouldn't use hormonal birth control.
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:28 PM on April 20, 2008

I agree, Demco is the way to go.
I would suggest that you not use even the removable labels on really valuable books, if you have any. After a while, even easy-off labels can leave a residue.

If you want to be really hardcore, instead of printing the labels you should write them in library hand!
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 9:03 PM on April 13, 2008

A very wise man once told me:
Spend money on your shoes and your bed, because if you're not in one, you're in the other.

(okay, there are exceptions, but it's still a good rule of thumb.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 8:53 PM on April 13, 2008

Just wanted to chime in that I think you're cute, too. Don't worry too much about losing weight; as long as you have clothes that fit you right, you're fine.

Points mentioned above that I agree with:
--no pleated pants
--dark jeans, but not black
--the charcoal blazer sounds very nice
--logo t-shirts are fun, but not terribly professional. Black t-shirts are classic. Stick with that. Stay away from white.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 12:58 PM on April 12, 2008 marked best answer