thanks for the responses so far, everyone. Very helpful. And yeah, we will be taking these responses and other research to craigslist as well as considering buying new.

Just to clarify - yep, we don't have a car and won't be getting one, but we will have a carseat for the few occasions when one is necessary. I think the cost-benefit ratio of getting a carseat-adaptable stroller or frame is not optimal though - I don't see the kiddo being in the carseat very often.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 11:53 AM on July 11, 2008

I am assuming you will have a car seat, how will you get the baby home from the hospital (unless you are doing a home delivery I suppose)?

Cab or subway.

Despite what hospitals may tell you, they can't actually arrest you and lock you up and prevent you from leaving if you don't have a car seat (as told to me by the head nurse where we are delivering). Of course, legally you have to have one if you are driving yourself, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 12:37 PM on July 11, 2008

...and of course, just so we don't confuse being "in heat" with menstruation, estrous manifests at the midpoint of the cycle, when ovulation occurs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 7:27 PM on July 1, 2008

IMO (not a nutritionist, but a scientist who has read a bit of the literature), if we were talking about soda for example, given the amounts of soda that an average person consumes, i would say that HFCS is worse. I drink diet myself (even when pregnant).
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:38 AM on June 16, 2008

A subscription to Time Out NY.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 8:01 PM on June 15, 2008

I used to fake it sometimes when I was a lot younger. Eventually I realised that it was counterproductive in terms of getting what I wanted, ie. it was giving the wrong feedback to the guy. Now I never fake it, probably only have an orgasm about 50 % of the time, but am always happy with the sex.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:39 PM on June 14, 2008

It doesn't sound exactly right but could it be Wizard's First Rule, by Terry Goodkind?
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 6:01 AM on June 9, 2008

I have done this several times with friends, using vrbo.com., most recently last month in Clearwater Beach, FL. It's always been excellent, properties as described and no problems with deposits etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 5:08 PM on June 8, 2008

Baked beans on toast. Fiberiffic and delicious!
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:00 PM on June 6, 2008

(yep, a CD - certificate of deposit - is a term deposit. different countries, different jargon)
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 7:01 AM on June 3, 2008

I grew up in a tiny town in rural New Zealand and I've lived in New York City for 3.5 years now. For me, the best way to come to grips with it was to treat it like a collection of small towns. Each neighborhood is self-contained - its own little place with its own downtown and cool areas to check out. So just take the city a neighborhood at a time.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:02 AM on May 20, 2008

I've been hunting around pubmed, but can't really find anything of substance about solanine per se. I did find this interesting article (using 7th day adventists as a study group) showing that the vegetarian 7DAs (who ate more tomatoes, legumes etc.) actually had a lower rate of arthritis...
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 4:55 PM on May 16, 2008

Congratulations!

We picked each other's engravings. Mine has our initials, the date we met, the date of our wedding and "TBC". His has the first line of Prufrock: "Let us go then, you and I".
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:12 AM on May 15, 2008

We are picking baby names at the moment, and I looked at the 2015 list with some tredipation. Two names that we had on the short list (discarded last week) are on there. Luckily our current front-runner is not.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 5:17 AM on May 12, 2008

Thanks everyone. I was googling around for lists, and I did see the washington post one but personal recommendations are always better IMO. Looks like Ben's for sure. And thank you tittergrrl - that's useful. We're staying at the Hilton on 16th and S(?) so will be getting there via some sort of public transport.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 1:17 PM on May 9, 2008

Yeah, I agree about the habituation thing. I find that if I do happen to wake up in the night, even if I don't have to pee, if I get the thought into my head, then I can't fall back asleep without going to the bathroom because I'm thinking about it. So some re-training or a mild sleep aid to get you through it might do the trick.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 8:10 AM on April 30, 2008

I'm a post-doc working in the field of reproductive neuroendocrinology. I tend to try and evaluate the person's level of interest and/or knowledge before I even tell them what I do, and try and pitch my answer appropriately. For some people saying "I'm a scientist" will answer the question and not engender any follow ups. For others, that's an invitation to a load of questions about the discipline and my research topic etc. etc., so I try and answer more specifically straight off the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:45 AM on April 28, 2008

I say this from my experience and those of many, many women I know. Plan a date and ask him out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 10:04 AM on April 18, 2008

I think it's pretty much confirmed in Season 5.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 3:30 PM on April 17, 2008

(What's the pitcher throwing next? Fatball? Breaking pitch? Changeup? Was that slower pitch away just setting him up for a moving fastball on the hands?)

Hee. Fatball.

I love watching pitcher's duels. I love watching games go to extra innings tied up 1-1. It's the tension - you're waiting to see who's going to break. You're seeing how the bullpen will hold up to longer stints, and you're seeing which starter is going to be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:00 PM on April 17, 2008

I should add that yes, I am sitting down with my post-doc mentor tomorrow for a long talk, as well as asking advice from various other friends who have faculty positions. But I figure the more info the better!
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:56 AM on April 14, 2008

Thank you all so far. To clarify, yes I am and will be staying in the USA. What if they ask me directly if there are any impediments to me starting in the fall semester? I can't lie...
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 10:18 AM on April 14, 2008

I marked a few best answers, but you have all been very helpful. Thank you so much!
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 7:59 AM on April 15, 2008

I thought I would post a quick update in case anyone uses this thread as a future resource:

I think the interview went OK. I don't really have any context, but I had something to say for everything they asked, and once was told that they'd heard enough (!) It was my impression that they were looking more to see that I had thought carefully about the questions they posed rather than my specific answers per se.

They called and five people were on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:22 PM on April 16, 2008

What about if you proposed to him? Not just saying you want to get married, but an actual "occasion" proposal? You don't need to wait for him to do it, you know.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 1:14 PM on April 14, 2008

Sex, but we went back to our hotel room and did it post-reception, before going out, because I knew I would be too tired afterwards.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:13 AM on April 14, 2008

As a NZ-English speaker who has lived in the US for 6 years, I find I've stopped pronouncing the ts in the middle of words, and overemphasizing my rs. (Just to repeat what many people have said).
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:03 AM on April 10, 2008

hrm. I have been known to use satay sauce instead of marinara sauce, then a little cheese, some shredded chicken and some red and green peppers.

Is it still a pizza then?
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 6:32 PM on April 8, 2008

My mother was staying with us at around the time we wanted to tell her, so we just went with "guess what? you're going to be a grandma!" Then mr. gaspode called his parents and said "good news - [gaspode]'s pregnant!"

We're kind of basic like that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 12:41 PM on April 5, 2008

When I get emails like that I simply reply with a one line message: "unsubscribe".

It usually gets the point across.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 8:21 PM on April 3, 2008

A future boss once said he was 'wrapped' to hear that I'd gotten the job. That didn't make me especially eager to work with him.

Are you sure he didn't mean "rapt"? Pretty common usage in New Zealand, at least.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 6:00 AM on April 3, 2008

I subscribe to mine at Things from another world
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 3:40 PM on March 31, 2008

I too lend with Kiva, and have nothing really else to add to the above posts. I've been very happy with them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 10:01 AM on March 30, 2008

Another scientist here. Journal clubs, conferences, works-in-progress meetings where your newest data is talked about and suggestions and criticisms are thrown around...

Also peer-reviewing other people's work for journals is an excellent way to hone your critical thinking skills. But you have to wait to be asked for that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 7:29 AM on March 28, 2008

Congratulations! I planned our wedding without going near The Knot, but I did use Indiebride a lot. My only other resource was to go to Barnes and Noble and buy the single book with the best looking checklists in the back, because I was paranoid about forgetting something.

My one piece of advice: If you think you don't need it, you're right, you don't. You don't need flower arrangements on every table, you don't need favors, you don't need bridesmaids in matching... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:42 AM on March 25, 2008

I never take my wedding ring off, and I don't have an engagement ring. If I did have one, I'd sleep with it on, too, unless I tended to scratch myself with it or something.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 10:11 AM on March 23, 2008

I'm going to forward this question to mr. gaspode, who is a liver pathologist. Back soon.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 11:47 AM on March 21, 2008

All my husband had to say was 1) yes, you can definitely get herpes in the liver, because he's seen it; 2) It would only be in immunocompromised individuals and 3) he thought it would be possible (though unlikely?) to get it while being asymptomatic in the genital region.

then he got all paranoid about me saying medical things on the interwebs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:47 PM on March 21, 2008

Aitutaki. Specifically the Lagoon Resort and Spa. Looks like it has just what you want!

I've been working on my husband for this vacation for a while now...
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 11:50 AM on March 10, 2008

Or walk up Mulberry and get some good Aussie food (restaurant above, bar food in the bar below) at Eight Mile Creek.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 1:37 PM on March 5, 2008

nthing everyone who says to develop a regular cleaning/tidying schedule. Doing a little bit daily is a pain in the ass, but less of a pain than having 4 hours of cleaning to do on a weekend when you'd rather be doing something fun. 15 minutes an evening to straighten, do dishes and one other cleaning thing, and the place stays looking fine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 11:41 AM on March 3, 2008

Just anecdotally, I have 3 (three) friends who have had thyroid cancer detected on a routine physical. Makes me think they are a good idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 4:45 PM on March 1, 2008

You can take the septa then NJT from Philly, if you have a secure place to leave your car there. Return, that works out about $30 pp which is less than you would pay in tolls, gas, parking. Honestly, parking and driving around NYC is a huge pain in the ass. And expensive.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:13 PM on February 22, 2008

what we have here is a failure to preview.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:14 PM on February 22, 2008

Yeah, JonahBlack mentions monophasic vs. triphasic pills, and how it's not so recommended to do this with the latter. If you are taking triphasics (eg. orthotricylcen) you might get the breakthrough bleeding because when you start back on week 1, you're taking the lowest dose of hormones again, so you're getting a bit of hormone withdrawal.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 8:48 AM on February 22, 2008

This is the number one lazy dinner chez gaspode:

Get a bunch of deveined shrimp and sprinkle them with chili powder, salt, garlic powder, whatever floats your boat. Saute them a few minutes each side in a skillet.

Make a salsa with chopped avocado, chopped mango, a little tomato, and chopped red onion. squeeze over some lime juice and if you like it, add some chopped cilantro. Mix that all up.

Make delicious wraps, with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 1:04 PM on February 21, 2008

Why is your vegetarianism even an issue? Did you ask for help changing your diet or something?

Seems to me like she is just being thorough in her patient care. Knowing about your patient's diet is IMO an important part of whole body wellness or whatever you want to call it -- I commend doctors who make an effort to keep their patients healthy rather than just waiting for them to be ill. YMMV.

As to the question, I too recommend fitday to track protein intake.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 2:09 PM on February 20, 2008

I grew up in Dunedin. It's possible to see them, if circumstances are right. The 2001 display was particularly spectacular. (here's another great pic to go with hal_c_on's.) Go up Signal Hill, at the north end of town for a good view.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 7:57 AM on February 20, 2008

It occurs to me to add to my previous statement

if circumstances are right (and they rarely are).

As scodger said, in the 26 years I lived in Dunedin, I saw them a handful of times.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 11:20 AM on February 20, 2008

All in-laws except grandparents get called by their first name, in our family. I call my husband's grandma "Mrs. F".

I instigated the first name thing with my PILs to pre-empt any request to call them Mom and Dad because that would have skeeved me out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by gaspode at 9:18 AM on February 18, 2008