The only thing I would add to iminurmefi's excellent answer is that doing a cardiac stress test in an asymptomatic person who is at increased risk for coronary artery disease is currently a gray area and would be considered a "reasonable" thing to do by many physicians, although it is not, in my experience, routinely done by most primary care physicians.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 4:49 PM on August 4, 2008

I would politely ask to talk to the office manager and explain that you are having personal differences with your doctor but like going to the practice, like the convenience, etc. and that you would like to switch doctors and if you can't, you will have to find another office to go to, something neither of you would like.

We have this situation in my office (4 doctors). One of us (the senior person in the practice) is, um,... weak... in the interpersonal department and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:46 PM on July 30, 2008

Lots of stuff by Michael Franti and Spearhead would fit the bill.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 10:04 PM on July 22, 2008

I used to have the opening riff to the Violent Femmes' Blister in the Sun. It would just loop continuously without the expected pause for the 2 double snare drum accents. It would annoy the hell out of everyone around, which absolutely delighted me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:56 PM on July 22, 2008

Yes, it was a blast.

Before they take away my medical degree I had to come back to correct myself. It's an ulnar neuropathy, not median. I'm an idiot. Please don't tell ikkyu2.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 8:28 PM on July 20, 2008

Anticipating this problem before the ride, I have great gloves and I did do the "shake out" frequently. It is a newish bike and I never went back to get it properly fitted because the fit seemed so perfect on shorter rides. I'm going back to the shop to get things adjusted, I think I need a shorter stem, and probably I'll try some aero bars. I was mostly concerned about being this disabled a week afterwards. And just when my guitar playing career was about to take off...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 10:00 AM on July 21, 2008

No one's mentioned Patsy Cline? I don't know if it's exactly "girly" but it's the epitome of "feminine" (for me).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 2:48 PM on July 18, 2008

Oh jesus, what about the Pretenders?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 2:55 PM on July 18, 2008

Explosion has it. Convection is much more efficient for heat transfer than radiation. So which is it, Spyder's Game? Do you want to know what cools the temp of the room air better, or do you want to know what keeps the occupants of the room cooler? Your wife may be right about the room air temp, but even if she is correct, it's probably a small effect compared to what air moving across your skin does.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:48 PM on July 15, 2008

Oh, and your wife is always right. You must be newlyweds.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:49 PM on July 15, 2008

"I don't believe in Science" = "I'm not curious to know anything I don't already know. In fact, it is not possible to know things I don't already know."
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:30 PM on July 15, 2008

Currently sitting on the Bartfast toilet tank: The Hypochondriac's Pocket Guide to Horrible Diseases You Probably Already Have. The section on intestinal worms seems have a particular appeal while the bowels move.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:51 PM on July 9, 2008

Well, you could read the profile pages of the people who posted in the meetup thread to come up with conversation starters. Or read their recent posts.

"I like the story about how you came up with your name..."

"So have you always been interested in civil war history..."

"Did you ever get your husband to stop spending so much time looking at internet porn?"
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:27 PM on July 3, 2008

Another good meetup question is "Who is your favorite poster (present company excluded)?"
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:28 PM on July 3, 2008

Possibly herpes, possibly not. Herpes almost never looks like herpes. You have to wait for the test result.

Like everyone else has said. Herpes prevalence is very high, actually antibody positivity is probably closer to 50% among sexually active people. It's an annoyance but it's treatable and no one is going to die from it. And the test might be negative. Now go to sleep.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:36 PM on June 19, 2008

oh, picture please, LSK.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:21 PM on June 19, 2008

I just did a PubMed search and I would have to say it is unknown whether symptomatic hypoglycemia warns of the future development of diabetes. In my practice, it has been reported by patients and so I've assumed that it *can* happen. And it makes intuitive sense: Type II Diabetes is basically characterized by a sluggish hormonal response to a glucose load, it makes sense that the counter regulatory hormone response that prevents blood sugar from diving too low would also be sluggish. In fact,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:12 PM on June 19, 2008

I can't believe no one has mentioned the Taj Mahal. I am going to give you some other recommendations, but seriously, go see the Taj Mahal. It's sooo touristy. It's hot, the trip there is terrible, it's expensive, there's so much street hassle, and you know what? It is still completely mind-blowing. And I can say this without worrying about you building it too far up in your mind because you will still be floored by it.

These are my favorite places. Keep in mind that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:43 PM on June 15, 2008

So, if I understand this correctly, that urn thing is sealed and as it heats up, the pressure increases but nothing "pops" until you release the pressure? That is *so* cool.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:43 AM on June 14, 2008

1. buying a $400 cranial-electrical stimulation device; 2. undergoing a $700 genetic test for hormone deficiency.

Maybe I'm not getting the whole story, but there is no word in those phrases that doesn't scream quackery. My advice: do a little research on your local dermatologists. Find someone that you think you are going to have faith in and stick with them. I know it's hard, but skin conditions like this require *patience.* Dry, flaky skin... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 7:18 PM on June 6, 2008

Science fiction deals with this theme a lot. You would think there would be hundred of youtube clips of Data struggling with the concept of humanity on Star Trek, but this is the best I could find for you. It was a terrible movie, but I thought Asimov's short story Bicentennial Man did this exquisitely well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 8:08 PM on May 30, 2008

- The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Oh lord, how did I miss that one?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 10:10 AM on May 31, 2008

In the four years of medical school, there were perhaps 8 weeks dedicated to psychiatry and they were the easiest 8 weeks of medical school. There is a bit more devoted to neurology, and of course some exposure to neurosurgery. But my point is that if you do decide to go to medical school, you will be spending *a lot* of time studying subjects that you may not be interested in.

But it's true that having an M.D. will probably open more doors and will definitely assure you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 10:23 AM on May 25, 2008

For posterity, we went to Cafe Luxy. It was perfect. Huge helpings of freshly made pasta and the staff was happy to make a reservation for 9 of us on a Saturday night. Each of us finished the race and we had a great weekend. Thanks, sanitycheck!.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 8:36 PM on May 23, 2008

Just for posterity, the standard of care in my community is that all dog bites that penetrate the dermal layer (i.e. a millimeter or so depth in the skin) should start oral antibiotic prophylaxis within 8 hours. Actually, the most important thing you could do to prevent infection is to wash the wound with lots and lots of clean running water and *perhaps* an antiseptic scrub. The same thing goes for cat bites. Scratches are a different issue, generally they can be treated like ordinary cuts... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:56 AM on May 19, 2008

Find a training schedule like this one. Enter each day of training into your calendar of choice and stick to it. It's pretty simple really.

That Hal Higdon site has lots of good training advice: stretching, eating, cross training. I think the number one thing really is to be firm in sticking to your scheduled work outs. Before you know it you'll be there.

Also, join Runner+ and participate in the Metafilter challenges.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:56 AM on May 17, 2008

Synchronicity!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:57 AM on May 17, 2008

I would maybe try to see what the other students are using, that way if there are problems she might have some help trouble shooting.

Palm OS has been the standard in the medical world, at least in my experience, and I am on my 5th Palm device (a Treo 680). When I was in residency, they actually bought us Palm devices (III iirc). If your g/f doesn't have one already, I am guessing she is the kind of person who isn't drawn to these devices generally, so you should... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:16 AM on May 17, 2008 marked best answer

Gramcracker answered this perfectly. The only thing I would add is what one of my Medical School profs used to always say: "Any test you order that isn't medically indicated, will be positive." It's a curse that says in essence, if you're not using your brain when you order a test, you are sure going to use it to deal with the result. It probably took me the first 5 years of my career to realize this; if a patient is asking for some test, I always want to be a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 2:17 PM on May 13, 2008

Nearly every place in India is ungodly hot in August. Seriously, think hard. 125 degrees F. No electricity. A billion people. Animals roaming the streets. Open sewers.

Nevertheless, India's lovely, I am sure you'll have a great time.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 12:40 PM on May 12, 2008

FWIW: hardwood floors, many rugs, 2 cats, Dyson, very happy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 4:20 PM on May 7, 2008

I was going to talk about my Martin Dreadnaught and how much I cherish it so it's funny to see that's the consensus. It's impossible to imagine anyone thinking "Oh, what a crappy guitar" about it. It will hold its value. I disagree that it's a bad idea to buy an instrument for someone else, especially a beginner. It's totally possible to do your research and come up with something that will make your friend happy, assuming he or she isn't some virtuoso with very particular tastes. (My... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:25 PM on May 1, 2008

Take up smoking.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:32 PM on April 30, 2008

Good luck! I've seen you on Runner+ and you've been working hard. You're going to be great.

I have my first full marathon this weekend. These last few weeks, I have been experimenting a lot with nutrition and hydration, trying to figure out what will be optimum *for me.*

My experience has been that gels help *a lot* in preventing my legs from turning to total jello at 16 miles in. I also find that gelling earlier and less frequently (at one hour,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 10:47 AM on April 27, 2008

This question comes up so often, I keep a list on my PDA (in fact I think I may have posted here before:

Things to show out of towners in Seattle:

Pike Place Market and brunch at The Athenian

Sci Fi Museum. Not as big a waste of money as you might think.

Space Needle. Way over priced and do *not* eat at the restaurant, but the view is pretty good on a nice day.

Take the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 6:40 PM on April 21, 2008

Sex, but it was with Herculean effort.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 7:33 AM on April 14, 2008

Oh man, in Seattle we are lucky. I thank god every spring and summer that KEXP and KUOW don't do their pledge drives during the same week. I'd rather have news in the morning and music in the afternoon but I don't mind switching it up to avoid the pledge drive.

But seriously, give money to both of these stations, they each do an incredible job. Just think if we lived in a city where our only options were corporate commercial radio. Ick.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 11:49 AM on April 7, 2008

The situations you refer to do not require hiding the tip, they are situations where everyone is tipping. In fact, it would look out of place if you didn't tip. The situations where you might hide it would be when you are getting a special favor that others aren't getting, i.e. a special table from the maitre'd or a certain vote on an appropriations bill.

But I see what you are saying about the awkward hand off of money.

Have the desired amount... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 7:35 AM on April 7, 2008

This is a great thread. Before I have to go back to work (if it hasn't been mentioned yet):

Battle Flag by the Lo Fidelity Allstars.

I think this rivals Battle without Honor or Humanity mostly because it has four letter words.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 3:43 PM on April 4, 2008

Brando is excellent. Captures our athletic prowess: lumbering and unstoppable. Plus people could shout things like "I coulda been a contender!" or "The Horror!"
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:59 AM on April 2, 2008

Interesting, I do believe there is a surgical instrument which goes by the name Nips.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 3:32 PM on April 1, 2008

I might consider moving out. I don't have time for racist fucktards and wouldn't want to look at this guy everyday when I come home from work. At the time of moving out, I might tell Maintenance Man and Landlord that Maintenance Man's comment led to this nice clean white boy to send his rent check somewhere else.

I understand being dumbfounded when someone drops a comment like that but your silence, in Maintenance Man's mind, is tacit agreement and I wouldn't want to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:12 AM on March 29, 2008

Ditto Hearst Castle, perfect time of year, all green. And, if you can squeeze it in, the Highway 1 trip through Big Sur and a stop in Carmel. Your eyes will pop out of your head. This is probably a 10 hour drive this way but you'll love every minute of it.

Yosemite is kind of cool but a bit of an anti-climax if you are used to the Ansel Adams pix.

What an incredibly odd statement. Yosemite is probably the one place I've been... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 8:47 AM on March 29, 2008

Could you take a picture of it for us?

I would say don't needle it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 8:38 AM on March 29, 2008

Trojan Records, 20 Reggae Classics volumes 1-4. I can't express how much these 80 songs mean to me.

I too will be watching this thread, I have no idea where to start with dancehall and dub.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 9:29 AM on March 22, 2008

I agree with all that was said about being gracious and just accepting the gifts. The only thing I might add is that it is probably a little weird for her to have her son and your kids play with each other while the two of you are essentially strangers (you're not even sure what language she speaks). Not that she expects you to get to know each other, just that she may be used to other cultural norms and this is probably unfamiliar territory to her.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:45 PM on March 20, 2008

OmieWise is well on his way to answering this question.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 8:06 PM on March 19, 2008

"Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today."

"If you save everything til the last minute, it only takes a minute."
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:41 PM on March 14, 2008 marked best answer

Ok, I was your girlfriend for like 7 years.

Mrs. Bartfast met me and married me knowing full well I was a pack a day smoker. She never expressed approval but it was only *after* we were married that I received The Ultimatum. Let me tell you, this is not the kind of thing you want to introduce as an ongoing issue in your relationship, *after* she is a confirmed, hopelessly addicted Smoker. If it's a deal-breaker, let her know, and if the smoking continues, follow through.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 1:50 PM on March 12, 2008

Take with food. Use Metamucil daily. Have something for nausea on hand.

Ginger extract may possibly be helpful but really no OTC substance works well for nausea. Promethazine or Prochlorperazine are the most commonly prescribed, but can be sedating and can cause extrapyramidal symptoms (ie make you very twitchy and feel like you are jumping out of your skin.) Scopalamine patches and metaclopromide *may* have fewer side effects. The really good drugs like ondansetron, you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Slarty Bartfast at 4:19 PM on March 10, 2008