Are you very knowledgeable about a certain topic or creative? Self-publish a book and sell it on Amazon Advantage and/or your website.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:34 PM on November 11, 2007

Well, Boston has had an increasing problem with bedbugs, as reported here. If you already live there, that's one thing, but if you're going to be looking for an apartment then you may have real issues. The people who have gone through bedbug infestations report that it's extremely difficult to get out of them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:57 AM on November 4, 2007

I would imagine if you're flushing a toilet into the black water system then it's not going to be a problem. RV tanks do it that way just fine, and a bunch of sink and laundry water isn't necessary. Thumbs up on the gray water system -- we are doing that with a house we're building.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:51 AM on November 4, 2007

I depend on the Sequoia View program to see what's eating space on my drives. I use Win2K so I'm not sure if this works under Vista or not, but it might be worth trying.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 10:13 AM on November 3, 2007

Well, you didn't give any info on how exactly the failure occurred, so this looks to me like a $1350 lesson.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:37 AM on November 3, 2007

I don't feel like I have much of a handle on this.... it's not clear to me what sort of adventure we are talking about and whether other issues might be at play. Unfortunately rational discussion is likely not going to influence the father's views, and I doubt any leveraging by your boyfriend is going to change that, so I think you're down to picking your battles. You have no duty or obligation to handle the father. He's not family, and you do not need to deal with this.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:44 PM on November 2, 2007

Find who his employer is, who his coworkers and friends are, what websites he frequents, and so forth, and make lots and lots of calls. You may be able to get a detective agency in the US to get you some of this info. I can't say this will work or won't backfire, but it's the one option you have. Some people will tell you that there's debt collection laws regarding that, but you're in the UK so it doesn't make a bit of difference.

I don't agree with collection... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 4:23 PM on October 31, 2007

(also when I said "what websites he frequents", I don't mean call them... I mean log in there and post messages to draw him out)
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 4:25 PM on October 31, 2007

Bring the coins to a rolling boil in a large pot with a tiny smidge of detergent. Strain and rinse vigorously with cold water.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 4:05 PM on October 31, 2007

Be warned -- regarding the DNA tests cobaltnine mentioned (GeneBase/DNA Ancestry Project) there is an avalanche of complaints about this company. Caveat emptor.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:01 PM on October 30, 2007

Same people that get donuts at 3 a.m. I suppose.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:26 AM on October 28, 2007

FWIW I Googled some more and found this and it says 3-4 days. I am really sickened by the thought of throwing out good food, but I guess the risk of being laid up for a couple of days is not worth a dollar or two, especially when there's no anecdotal support here that it's safe and there was that bit of runniness. I guess I'll have to learn not to make batches like this again.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 7:31 PM on October 27, 2007

(I know commenting is a thankless job but I do want to thank you all.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 7:52 PM on October 27, 2007

Keep in mind that a pressure change of about 0.40 in Hg as a typical storm system approaches is the same change as driving up and down 400 ft hills. There's really no other effect at play here. Does driving up and down hills give her problems? If not you may want to look at perhaps allergens from, say, forested areas or weedy fields with the wind regimes that precede storms.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 2:22 PM on October 19, 2007

Well, Google pointed me right at this page talking about a cartoonist called Will Johnstone (fl. early 20th century) who supposedly "developed the famous character of an impoverished taxpayer wearing a barrel".
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:32 PM on October 17, 2007

Not only Lazlo Letters but Letters From a Nut (same premise) went through several sequels... I'm sure no permission was obtained and the company names were retained intact.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 5:16 PM on October 17, 2007

? Isn't a birkenstock a sandal?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 7:36 AM on October 17, 2007

I'm someone who does get irritated by neighbor noise, but if a neighbor talks to me in advance or at least sends an invite or handwritten note explaining what they're doing, then it's totally cool. It's the dicks that have no common courtesy that get my goat.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 7:07 PM on October 16, 2007

My usual pet peeve about survival lists is those what overlook an instrument of trade. If your outlook is grim, pack a few silver or gold coins; if not, stash away some dollars (I bet the ATMs weren't fully stocked as Katrina approached). Good proxies for money are cigarettes, coffee, and bourbon.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 12:28 PM on October 16, 2007

I don't think it is worth the possibility of poisoning yourself, giving yourself cancer or jeopardizing your chance to have kids. Or the danger you may be putting other people in.

That isn't entirely much different from the chemicals this exterminator is bringing in. My only concern is that the poster seems woefully underprepared and appears to be researching this largely through word of mouth, and I am doubtful anyone will know the exact... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 8:54 PM on October 15, 2007

I'm seconding/thirding/fourthing/whatever the gallbladder. But I'm surprised nobody has mentioned intestinal gas. It does sound funny, but there is strong overlap between appendicitis and gas, and differentiating the two is something that ER physicians routinely have to do.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 1:02 AM on October 14, 2007

If aesthetics aren't a big thing, try aluminum foil. When I was up in Barrow AK I noticed it was the light block material of choice there. For something less tacky, we've had excellent luck with dark felt, which you can buy relatively cheap at any department store. It's highly light-absorbent and can be fashioned into something curtain-like.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 12:55 AM on October 14, 2007

I speculate that nails and sharp things don't get picked up right away but are blown around and tend to collect in depressions, holes, and cracks. Then they're in a better position to point upward.

Of course what I wonder is what nails are doing on roads to begin with. I squarely blame the bubbas who have pickups with no tailgate, and have the bed chock full of hoses, rope, beer cans, plastic bags, dogs, screws, and nails. Of course that stuff falls out eventually.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 11:58 PM on October 11, 2007

Many credit card processors are set up to overnight supplies to you. Mine will overnight one for $18 out of Sacramento plus shipping. Give them a call. Other than that I would find some used office supply / restaurant supply stores, or dig through Google and call places to see if they can overnight this. Yes, places like Office Depot and Office Max are inexplicably useless for credit card supplies, like what you'd use in, uh, an office?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 11:14 AM on October 11, 2007

I'm someone who tinkers with electronics, and in the past I've discovered that keyboards and other damaged items can harbor water for -weeks-. There just isn't the circulation inside a closed shell to air it out. Considering all the nooks and crannies that water can get into, this can be a serious safety hazard.

There is no way I would use an AC appliance like this without doing a partial disassembly and drying the parts for several hours in front of a fan. The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 7:54 AM on October 9, 2007

This depends on whether the creditor reports you, which if it's a megacorp probably will. Unpaid debts usually turn into collections, which then can turn into judgements, which are significant credit strikes and never go away unless (A) the creditor decides to write them off or (b) you discharge them in bankruptcy. Without A or B, the creditor can keep renewing the debt and harm your credit rating forever. If A or B occur, then it largely disappears after several years.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:50 AM on October 8, 2007

You are a tenant at will. Unfortunately as far as the court is concerned, you and the landlady have not reached any agreement regarding the lease, so you have no rights and can be forced out by one month's written notice. You'll have to chalk this one up as a learning experience.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:33 AM on October 6, 2007

It's easy to join the "get a lawyer" chorus, but the time and expense of forcing this into court would be staggering and there's no guarantee the voicemail is even admissible. The best one can hope for is intimidating the landlady, but that's brings the risk of getting kicked out right away. There's nothing wrong with spending $100 to see a lawyer though, but the writing is on the wall as far as this is concerned.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:55 AM on October 6, 2007

According to Boeing, the jury is out. But this resource is certainly more insightful than CYA drivel from the airlines.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 12:22 PM on October 5, 2007

Lots of 1990s vintage Rush Limbaugh Show clips on YouTube. That's the first thing that came to mind. I've seen some very ostentatious "young suits" in the crowd worth looking at.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 8:51 AM on October 5, 2007

Is your family doctor averse to continuing a regimen prescribed by previous doctors? I'm not understanding that. I find that it's easy to persuade doctors to prescribe something as long as it's not a DEA scheduled item. As far as obtaining the Zonegran, the Internet will supply what you need. This place has it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:30 AM on October 5, 2007

I'm a meteorologist, but not YOUR meteorologist (or whatever the lawyers say). The lake temperatures at Lake Ontario are about 16C and your air temperature in the city is about 15-16C. Also the air mass is very humid, as dewpoints are about 15C (which is a prerequisite for very low clouds). I am not exactly sure what is going on just picking through Internet charts but it appears you're getting development of low-level stratus due to cold advection off the lakes in a humid air mass. The air... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 3:24 PM on October 4, 2007 marked best answer

Clarification: the rising motion of the air is due to colder temperatures coming in off the lake, which acts a lot like a cold front. Air likes to conserve its potential temperature, so it rises a little bit to higher altitudes as the cool air comes in, and rising air leads to increasing humidity, and if the air mass is very humid, saturation (and cloud) occurs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 3:28 PM on October 4, 2007

jamjam: The problem is that the air coming off the lake is not warm; it is 16C and has travelled over the cool lake waters for many hours. There is really no other explanation for the cool temperatures in Toronto this past afternoon, as areas surrounding the lake are in the 20-25C range and Toronto was 16C. I considered the possibility of a "lake effect" cloud pattern coming onshore but that is a "frigid air mass moving onto warm lake" scenario.

As... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 5:57 PM on October 4, 2007

I'm going to have to recommend "reporting" your experiences to a medical ratings site like this one. Speaking as someone who has grown more and more distrustful of the medical system, I am becoming quite an advocate of consumers taking things in their own hands to put sucky practices out of business.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 3:36 PM on October 4, 2007

I've attended about 50-60 conferences, usually as a vendor, and I would have to say that your networking results hinge on what you do between sessions, during lunch, and after hours.

Some ideas:
- If lunch is served, definitely get in line for that since it forces everyone randomly to sit together at the lunch tables.
- Check the hotel bar in the evening to see if any conference-mates are hanging out there. Beer isn't called social lubricant for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 4:52 PM on October 2, 2007

I am going against the grain here and say "don't eat it". It's one thing for the sandwich to be sitting out at room temperature; it's another for a mayo-slathered sandwich to be sitting in a car that was probably about 90F... this is a mad house party for all the bacteria.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 9:55 AM on September 28, 2007

Do nothing. The ball is in her court. If she makes no conciliatory overtures, then think about it: is this someone you want to be involved with? If she does apologize, is it genuine with an offer to reschedule?

You have been blessed with an opportunity for insight here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 2:33 PM on September 27, 2007

I do the same thing. Usually I'm just as comfortable putting a leg up on something. My guess is that the body does not have to work as hard against gravity to maintain blood pressure in the head and torso (which it does by vasoconstriction in the legs -- maybe that feels uncomfortable).
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 12:58 PM on September 27, 2007

Holy cow, who has room for dessert on Thanksgiving? After the big sledge hammer of starch and carbs, I would trend down dessert to something light or refreshing like this or this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 12:33 PM on September 23, 2007

Dear Friend, I must say how pleased I am with my new home. A dog really is a man's best friend. Maybe I'll teach him a few tricks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 1:03 AM on September 12, 2007

Oh.. the miracle of YouTube.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 1:07 AM on September 12, 2007

Does this floor have some sort of stain on it? I live in a 110-year old house and any scuffs on the hardwood floor seem to expose bright wood. That kind of mark is a lot more of a pisser than a messed up wax coat.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:46 PM on September 10, 2007

The appeasement of Hitler, which assured that the 1940s would be a peaceful era for Europe. I don't know though whether that will be a popular pick or not; depends on what the class has been studying, I suppose.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 5:32 PM on September 10, 2007

Sulfur dioxide originates from industrial pollution and is closely linked to haze. The more there is of it, especially in the presence of water vapor, the paler and dimmer the sky is. Google seems to be useless for finding global sulfur dioxide maps and seems intent on returning crap in the searches.

But this is a nice map showing nitrogen dioxide, which is a similar pollutant. As you can see, there are many more sources in the northern hemisphere, while the southern... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 1:33 AM on September 10, 2007

1. Yes, I agree, stay the hell off the Interstates (pardon my French). Doing that one little thing will magnify the experience..

2. Do NOT skip US 90 through southwest Texas (especially between Del Rio and Marathon). It's what I'd call the last frontier. Remote and bleak. There's a fantastic bridge over the Pecos River near Langtry, and in Marathon there's a fairly nice old-school, upscale hotel/restaurant called Gage Hotel. The desk clerks sucked, but the ambience... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 6:23 PM on September 8, 2007

IIRC about $1100.00 per month, and there may have been no more than a half dozen "lines" available, and you usually had to wait for a line.

I'm curious how the operator knew you were a $1100-paying customer. One would think that back in those days you could just carry around a patched transceiver in your car and place calls like a big shot.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 2:18 PM on September 6, 2007

frosty_hut: Any chance you can update this thread to tell us how it worked out?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 11:31 AM on September 6, 2007

I have a parasitology background and can tell you it's an excellent way to get pinworms. Many people have them and are asymptomatic, and the prevalence rates are actually quite high, not just limited to children either. If they are carrying tapeworm or some sushi-borne parasite you may be looking at contracting cysts. Just something to think about... if that doesn't bother you, go right ahead. I don't know much about bacteriology but there may also be some E. coli concerns -- one bowel... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 7:54 PM on September 5, 2007

Skip Cinema Obscura... yeah there's a signup button but then it says "This forum is not accepting new registrations."
posted to Ask Metafilter by rolypolyman at 12:40 PM on August 29, 2007