At the risk of sounding self-promoting, I wrote an article on making hard cider for the October '07 issue of Mother Earth News. You may find some pointers in there.

Basically, get the soft cider into a clean, sanitized, food-grade plastic bucket that has a lid (raid your local hippie grocery store -- they routinely have them laying around and will part with them for free), add a packet or two of wine yeast (per five gallons of soft cider), punch a hole in the lid and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:43 AM on October 3, 2008

electroboy, yeah. That article was one of the first things to spring to my mind when I saw this question. Keep in mind that the author of that article preserved his finished hard cider with sodium benzoate and goes on to say, "A word of caution, wild yeasts are notorious for variability. One year the cider may be award-winning but could equally be putrid."

For the record, I've had a couple decent results w/wild yeast, but most of my wild yeast ciders have been... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:56 PM on October 3, 2008

From one avid mycophage to another; DON'T EAT IT. Doing so is just a terrible idea. I know it's hard to let such a seemingly nice find go, but cooking will not destroy the urushiol. Toss it and, although it's probably too late by now, wash up with hot soapy water. Tomorrow, go to a pharmacy and buy some calamine lotion and Benadryl. You'll probably need it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 7:23 PM on September 24, 2008

From The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase, Saying, & Quotation:

No good deed goes unpunished.
modern humorous saying, sometimes attributed to Oscar Wilde but not traced in his writings.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 3:25 PM on September 24, 2008

Oven-baked spiced chickpeas. I've made variations of a recipe in Taste of Eritrea (using dried chickpeas, not canned). They're quite tasty.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 3:13 PM on September 24, 2008

It's typically used for brewing, but you could use malt extract syrup.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:41 AM on September 15, 2008

Local Harvest is your friend. Here's a search for "orchard" centered on Minneapolis. It doesn't look like any of them are certified organic, but several use "naturally grown" farming practices. Here's Local Harvest's definition of naturally grown: "Some of our farms prefer not to pursue an organic certification, but do follow organic principles in growing their produce.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 6:37 AM on September 8, 2008

The insanity that is PuliRula.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 2:24 PM on August 22, 2008

Not history, not literature, but a cartoon: Peace on Earth.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 1:19 PM on August 22, 2008

Ultimately, I think a book is overkill. But, if you really must have an excellent introduction, the Kellogg Foundation's Logic Model is an excellent framework on which to build not just a grant application, but entire projects/programs. And the text (PDF) is free.

My former employer has an excellent set of links to grant proposal development introductions and guides. Most of them are practical guides, and they cover a wide range of proposals,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 8:01 AM on August 22, 2008

I overused the e word, there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 8:16 AM on August 22, 2008

The headliners: Are CNN's anchors real or just fantasy?

Check your MeFi Mail.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:23 AM on August 19, 2008 marked best answer

A couple years ago my wife and I stayed a few nights in a cabin in Bay View state park. It was not all that isolated, but close to Padilla Bay. We really enjoyed it.

If that doesn't grab you, here's a list of all WA state parks with yurts, cabins and other rustic shelters. Several of them are not too far from Olympia.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:50 AM on August 18, 2008 marked best answer

You had the intention to do so, and the opportunity is now presenting itself. The bottles may have a few years left in them, but the intersection of your intent and the wine being damn good is right now.

Pop 'em and drink up.

(Maybe save a bottle for when he gets married/graduates college/has his first kid/whatever.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 3:55 PM on August 16, 2008

That answer was based on the assumption that you have a couple/few bottles of each. If you only have one of each, then just pop them and enjoy it in the here and now.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 4:03 PM on August 16, 2008

Lindeman's Kriek or Framboise.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 7:09 AM on August 15, 2008

Lambic would be gross with the bacon, IMO.

How so? The fruit flavor -- particularly of a Kriek -- would complement the chocolate extremely well, and the acidity would refresh the palate after the bacon. And no tannins or hop bitterness to interfere with the other flavors. Seriously, to me, it's almost ideal.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:27 AM on August 15, 2008

You know, a mild chili (Ancho or Chipotle-based) pepper-porter or -stout would probably go pretty well w/that cupcake. Chocolate notes in the porter/stout plus the chili flavor working w/the smokiness of the bacon. There are a couple commercial examples of very limited availability, but I haven't tried them -- just my buddy's homemade Porter for Pyros.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:50 AM on August 15, 2008

Or maybe, like uncleozzy suggested, even a regular smoked beer of some kind (porter or stout, preferably). You can search here for them -- select "Smoked" in the Beer Style drop-down menu -- and add your locale to see if any area available near you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:53 AM on August 15, 2008 marked best answer

it interferes too much to drink while eating the dish.

In my experience, it does not. You and I'll just have to disagree on this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:56 AM on August 15, 2008

A wingless wasp, perhaps? Here's another picture.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 6:35 AM on August 14, 2008

I would like a 24 ' x 24' pen, in which I intend to raise pigs then slaughter and process them into a canned meat product.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:25 AM on August 13, 2008

Get in touch with the Cellarmasters, the big LA winemaking club. Chances are -- if they're like homebrewers -- they love taking in new members and very likely will be willing to loan you equipment or at least let you use it on-site, if you share a bit of the end product.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:26 PM on August 12, 2008 marked best answer

Also -- and again, if they're anything like homebrewers -- they will gladly share their expertise with novices.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:28 PM on August 12, 2008

Couldn't find Pickerington, but the data for Reynoldsburg and Canal Winchester are freely available right here, specifically in the "Digital Line Graphic - Roads" column. But you can't really open that in Illustrator, and you can't open it directly in ArcGIS Explorer, so once you download and unzip it you have to convert it to a format they can use, then open it in ArcGIS Explorer, then export into a vector image format.

You can view those DLG files directly... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 2:33 PM on August 6, 2008

Rick Bayless's cookbooks -- particularly Authentic Mexican -- are very good if you're into Mexican. It has recipes but also cooking techniques, etc.

More generally, The All New All Purpose Joy of Cooking and On Food and Cooking have just tons of techniques, details on cuts of meat, etc. Also, Cooks Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen: recipes, techniques, what variety of potato works best for mashed potatoes, equipment reviews, etc.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:43 AM on August 2, 2008

Hey, this is still open. Neat.

So, as far as RPGs go, Neverwinter Nights 1 (plus expansions!), Baldur's Gate 1, and The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind (with or without expansions, but the whole shebang is cheap enough now).

Since you included Grim Fandango, I'm guessing you're looking for older somewhat older (Windows 98-era) games, too. So, if you're remotely into FPS games, do yourself a favor and find Thief: The Dark Project and Thief II: The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 10:22 PM on August 1, 2008

Also: Oblivion... *shrug*. I just played through it, enjoyed it, don't really regret the $10 I spent on it. It's very pretty, but virtually all the choices you're given as a character are:
1) Yes, I'll kick ass for your cause this very instant; or
2) I'll probably kick ass for your cause, but let me rest up a bit first.

Morrowind is much more fun, and has weirder creatures to boot.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 10:28 PM on August 1, 2008

Baker Hot Springs, perhaps.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:44 PM on August 1, 2008

The From Justin to Kelly soundtrack. Also, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.

(Linked to lyrics only, to spare you the soul-crushing horror.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:32 AM on July 25, 2008

Browse through This OAISTER search (if link doesn't work just go to the OAISTER search page and search for Switzerland and 1817) -- many of the results appear to be of interest to your project.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 7:48 AM on July 25, 2008

Split Lip Rayfield (MySpace page, Lawrence.com page). You can find some of their live shows on etree.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 1:34 PM on July 24, 2008

The Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs, is a remarkable hotel/resort. Remarkably expensive, too, but if I had money to burn, there's no other place I'd stay while in southern Colorado.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:28 PM on July 23, 2008

Well, that'll teach me to preview before submitting.

Regardless, The Grand America, in Salt Lake City, probably also fits your criteria. It's pricey, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:32 PM on July 23, 2008

It would help to know what time your friends arrive at DIA. Regardless, RE: Day 1, leave Lawrence at dark-thirty. You're looking at a 12+ hour drive -- not including time to get to/from the airport and time spent there -- from Lawrence to the Great Sand Dunes if you take I-29 out of Denver, 13+ if you take 285. (Traffic in Denver will slow you down, accept it.) (Personally, I'd take I-29 and stop in Colorado Springs overnight and head out for the dunes... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:33 AM on July 21, 2008

I made some Colorado Springs food/beer/recreation recommendations last year, here and here.

You're clearly after more outdoorsy stuff. Just off the top of my head (and in addition to Garden of the Gods) there's Helen Hunt Falls, Waldo Canyon, and Barr Trail (but probably not the cog incline, as it's really not all that fun) for hiking. If you take Barr Trail, you can camp at Barr Camp, which is about halfway up Pike's Peak. Then, the next morning, you can hoof it back... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:13 PM on July 21, 2008

Here's the Barr Camp website.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:16 PM on July 21, 2008

House of Leaves was pretty creepy, particularly the Whalestoe Letters section.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 7:37 AM on July 21, 2008

Also, The Turn of the Screw.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 7:39 AM on July 21, 2008

Another vote, albeit midwestern, for redtail hawks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:11 PM on July 18, 2008

Thank you!
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:45 AM on July 18, 2008

Why do we continue to let these companies stick it to us every which way, and continue to come back for more?

Because there are no real alternatives.

Is their anyway to reverse this trend?

Not on your own.

Do others share this view, are you doing anything about it?

Travelling less, taking bus/Amtrak, flagging chatfilter posts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:12 AM on June 30, 2008

Just a couple off the top: Earth Abides, Cloud Atlas (the middle of the book, at the very least, although the two or three parts before it set it up), and "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" (short story).
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:34 AM on June 27, 2008

A Canticle for Leibowitz is also just phenomenally well done.

On preview: 2nding Lokheed.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:36 AM on June 27, 2008

"The Quiet Earth" is a disturbing but compelling movie.

Roadside Picnic, while not truly post-apocalyptic, centers the eerie aftereffects wrought by an extraterrestrial visitation and their effects on the residents of Harmont.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 11:44 AM on June 27, 2008 marked best answer

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 2:27 PM on June 27, 2008

State Forest State Park is awesome. My wife and I spent a couple nights at the Crags campground a year or two ago at the height of summer, and it was almost completely empty. The campground was accessible by car, but the hiking around the site was amazing, especially being able to look over into Rocky Mountain National Park from Thunderhead Pass. State Forest also has yurts, cabins and maybe some primitive sites that you hike into. I highly recommend it.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 8:37 AM on June 24, 2008

"places people can confirm are _not_ still covered in snow right now."

Can't speak for the link that netbros provided, but the State Parks site has a "Conditions" link in each park's page and (a) contact phone number(s) and e-mail address.
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 9:00 AM on June 24, 2008

Go with the Peterson's guide. The big-ass encyclopedic books will be more all-encompassing and with better identification keys, naturally, but they're way too unwieldy to take along on forays, and Peterson's really knows how to make a field guide. All That the Rain Promises, and More is a pretty great little guide, too, but it's focused more on the western states.

I made a post on mushroom websites a while back. That may help you, too.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 2:23 PM on June 22, 2008

If you do spring rolls again, try pairing it with a ginger beer.

I mentioned wit beer above, specifically because it's not overly strong like many other Belgian beers and because it typically has citrusy notes and is regularly spiced with coriander, which would probably pair well with Mexican food.

Also, care to share that spring roll recipe?
posted to Ask Metafilter by cog_nate at 12:32 PM on June 12, 2008