Good grief - I own a few of these and didn't think of them at all (including Stranger in a Strange Land, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Neverness, Lords of Light etc). I appear to be brain-dead, obviously.

Thanks so much for your suggestions - I'm settling down to go through them and find copies now. MeFi never ceases to amaze me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 5:04 PM on July 18, 2008

Another vote for leaving the skin on. My first ever bacon had nipples and everything, which was somewhat off-putting. I left it alone, proceeded with the salt cure and smoked with the skin on. This is the rind on your regular-cut rashers, and are a tasty treat normally given to whichever animal is begging the hardest. I like ewagoner's suggestion very much - beans can take a bit of smokey fat and this would be ace. I'll be filing that piece of info for the next smoke-up.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 8:25 PM on July 16, 2008

Hothouse by Brian Aldiss. Earth, but a million or more years in the future where plants are the dominant life form and take all sorts of horrible and unusual shapes and habits. The book has dated badly with some of its concepts but the setting is beautifully bizarre. I'd suggest borrowing it or finding it cheap second hand.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:26 PM on July 12, 2008

Personally, I'd mulch with something like pea-straw and then plant a green-manure crop at the end of the growing season. Nitrogen deficiency isn't good, but neither is having your crop succumb to weeds and drying out.

However, what about a non-organic mulch like rock slabs or pebbles - they'll suppress weeds, prevent evaporation, and can be removed (although not as easily as the dreaded black plastic). I'm sure I've seen (but I can't find the book - they're still all... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 12:12 AM on July 8, 2008

Try reading some Phil Rickman: his Merrily Watkins series has a female priest training as an exorcist and the books are all murder/supernatural thrillers. There's some mother/daughter angst and a little bit of romance but other than that, it's all about hauntings of people and places, and all the little things that go bump in the night. Light stuff but well written.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 5:14 PM on July 2, 2008 marked best answer

I vaguely remember this but can't pin it down.

Have a look through here: something might jog your memory...
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:56 PM on July 2, 2008

My usual is soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic to fry (adding the oil last because its a flavouring oil) and then thicken with a little cornflour and some water just before serving. Sprinkle with finely shredded spring onions.

You can also thicken cornflour with rice-wine instead of water to add an extra level of flavour. Be careful, though, because the rice-wine will have a lot of salt in it, so check before adding extra seasoning.

Mess around... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 7:54 PM on May 27, 2008

Not quite right, but try Victor Victoria. Close to Some Like It Hot in concept, it's one of my favourite musical-ish movies and the best Julie Andrews ever. EVER!
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 1:29 AM on May 26, 2008

I buy a $1.50 small tube of liverwurst and embed the pills in that - works like a charm. I've never had a cat that wouldn't go nuts for it. It's cheap and pain free although a little messy. Try and pick one that doesn't have too much filler, but small quantities won't do much harm. There's something about the smell makes most cats lose all self-control and become pill-begging freaks.

Bonus: also works for dogs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 9:19 PM on May 17, 2008

Franz Kafka's "The Trial" as directed by Orson Welles.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:50 AM on May 17, 2008

I cook rhubarb with a used vanilla pod to lend a little flavour when I make it as a compote. Sweetened and served with unsweetened cream or a thick yoghurt, it's VERY good. I like cooking little puff-pastry cases (muffin tins are a great size) and filling them with a cooled rhubarb mix when they're golden. Serve with custard, cream or ice-cream. It's a lazy, individual pie.

Alternatively, I've found that rhubarb's acidity is a great accompanyment for really fatty or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 11:49 PM on May 16, 2008

For cleaning out really layered grime (particularly in the loop of an "e" or an "a"), I found that a bamboo toothpick could sort out the worst of the junk before applying solvent.

Sycophant is also correct - I've found that a fresh ribbon needs to wear in slightly before it gives a good impress, particularly on an old machine. I inherited a pre-war job and the vowels were in particularly horrible shape by the time I got it. I imagine that they... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 3:00 AM on May 11, 2008

Oh my goodness - you guys are goooooood. Do you know how long I spend swearing at Google??
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 3:38 AM on May 10, 2008

Aha! My memory is less trashed than I originally expected! Thankyou for that info!
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 5:55 PM on May 10, 2008

I have Private cover for optical and dental but not hospital (I'm relatively young and healthy). The only time I've been in hospital was a recent gallbladder attack that had me screaming in pain. I went to Emergency at the local hospital (also one of the largest in the area). There was only two people ahead of me (a VERY quiet night) and I was seen in under an hour and put into a bed. There was a further delay before I was given morphine as a woman was admitted with chest-pains and bumped... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:03 AM on May 2, 2008

I can't help with the article, but have a look here: they deal in trade-only flavourings and spices and there are a wide variety of interesting items on the site. Perhaps something will jog your memory??
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:17 PM on April 26, 2008

These are a few of my favourite things:

Blue cheese (gorgonzola is good), fresh figs, prosciutto or bacon. Mushroom, garlic, parsley and mozarella. Figs, rosemary, ricotta and honey (for desert, serve with cream). Kangaroo (or venison), aragula, goat-cheese and garlic. Tomato, garlic, thyme, fresh basil, feta and ground beef. Tomato or BBQ sauce, diced bacon, shredded mozzarella, fresh eggs. Add vegemite to that for "the Aussie". Olive-oil and garlic,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 9:57 PM on April 8, 2008

My emergency mixes for this summer were cranberry juice or guava juice mixed 50/50 with a cheap sparkling mineral water and plenty ofice. Choose a mineral water with low salt/sodium content. I find cranberry to be tart and refreshing and it's very good for you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 3:48 PM on April 2, 2008

I think part of the problem with depression is that it is with you ALL the time - there's no break or breather and it wears you down. Getting out and exercising is the usual recommendations, but there are days when I just can't make myself go outside so I know where you're coming from.

Apart from the usual treatments, I started trying to stop the overwhelming brain-wreck by by trying to do one fun thing per day to cheer myself up. The idea is that it gives you a bit of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:05 PM on March 5, 2008

I had a dog that would eat absolutely everything not nailed down. Green grapes directly from the grapevine, cabbages out of the garden, pecan nuts (the shells made her foam at the mouth somewhat) and fallen stone fruit. We made our own dogfood and she seemed to prefer the batches that had garlic in them (basic components: meat, rice, carrots, cabbage, overgrown zucchini, garlic and whatever was too old in the garden boiled up and kept in a fridge until needed).

We... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 2:20 PM on March 2, 2008

Sorcerer's Apprentice by Tahir Shah - he goes to India to study with a stage magician and learn the tricks of the trade of being an indian god-man, or fakir. Filled with skeleton theives, boy fakirs, gods (one of which worked in a bank), baby renters, it is one of my favourite books.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 3:27 PM on February 7, 2008

Ok, assume that I've sorted out the 43 songs (I haven't but Audacity looks like it might solve the issue once I redownload the whole shebang again). How do I not get in this mess again?

I want to grow my library via download. Where do I go from here? I know there are a ton of music stores online, plus a multitude of players and such. What will require the least mucking about with re-recording, converting and other shenannigans? Part of the lure of Itunes for me is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 7:05 PM on February 2, 2008

Amazon is not available to non-USians at this time, which is a shame. Any other non-evil places that don't ignore Aussies?
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 11:24 PM on February 2, 2008

And in further news, a quick comparison of my music to the store's history has found that I am short by about 30 songs that I KNOW I got from them but which don't appear on my download history. Customer service are "looking into it". Wankers.

With a hand on my heart, I swear that I shall never use another DRM-crazy service again as long as I live, and I shall never, EVER have anything to do with Bigpond (herafter known as Bigpong) ever again.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:02 PM on February 3, 2008

One remote possibility is a duo called E. S. Posthumous. A lot of their album has been comercially licensed. Although a lot of it is choral, at least one song (Nara - used as the credits on Cold Case) has been remixed minus vocals. Another possibility is a similar group called Era who do similar choral/orchestral stuff.

Re: Trailer for The Patriot, it's entirely likely that the music is an original piece... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 2:16 AM on February 1, 2008

ncc1701d: I found it. The Patriot trailer uses a track called "Escape" by Craig Armstrong from the Plunkett & Macleane soundtrack. I don't think it's the one that the OP is after.

jwhowa: Can you give us any more info? Is it definately a waltz? Do you recall any particular type of instruments? Sweeping violins? Tinkly bells? Could it possibly have been a kids movie? Harlequin's suggestion of Edward Scissorhands is pretty darn... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 3:45 AM on February 1, 2008

If you got eye infections even with well-cleaned lenses, then wearing dailies and then cleaning them sort of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? I know you'll get extended wear but if the cleaning was not sufficient to prevent infection with your long-term lenses, will it stop it with these short-term ones? The sterility of the fresh pair is the whole selling point, after all.

That said, my last pair of long-term contacts lasted two years with careful cleaning and I never... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 10:27 PM on January 31, 2008

Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt is very like Jonathan Strange in feel but with extra steampunk. It's not London, but something very close.

For a completely alternative (Vampiric!) London, I'd also suggest Anno Dracula by Kim Newman. The book has cameo's by various characters both real and fictional. The book is out of print but easy to find second hand - it's a bit of a light read, but fun if you like... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:43 PM on January 31, 2008

I'm like you. I can smell milk in tea and lettuce on a sandwhich. I've done the old Hannibal Lector thing on my husband ("You've eaten curry, but not today...") when he came back from an overseas trip. Perfumes can make me physically sick and hot days with humanity are a torment.

Hormones do seem to make a difference, so I encourage you to at least consider it - a recent change in pill for me due to unrelated issues did seem to back off my sensitivity as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:33 PM on January 31, 2008

I once suffered through a week of The Bagpiper from Hell, so you have my sympathy. In the pipers case, the police ended up charging him on drug offenses and he hasn't been seen since. In hindsight, I'm amazed that people don't call in more to those anonymous dob-in-a-terrorist hotlines. Bad elvis makes waterboarding seem like an option, alas.

Get thee to a hardware store and buy the best in-ear ear-plugs you can get. Then buy the best ear-muff type ones as well. Be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:21 PM on January 31, 2008

I have, just the once, done the following to a friend of a friend (whom I loathed) at earsplitting volume in a crowded place;

Them: Yada yada yada, fat-ass.

Me (hysterical, at earsplitting volume): Fat ass? I'm fat? Oh my god, I'm FAT! WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME BEFORE? OH MY GOD - THAT EXPLAINS SO MUCH! OH JESUS, HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED SOMETHING SO OBVIOUS!! etcetcetc

Them: *turned red, stormed off past chuckling... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 9:00 PM on January 30, 2008

It might be hard to find but the movie The World, The Flesh and the Devil fits the bill. Harry Bellafonte is a miner who is trapped in a cave-in. When he digs himself out, everyone has vanished. He finds a woman, and then eventually another man. There's a whole race/sex undercurrent to the movie too.

In a less serious vein, Night of the Comet has a vaguely similar story but with, like, valley girls.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:47 PM on January 25, 2008

Idiotfactory: your link about preservatives is interesting and - to be honest - the dietary restrictions seem overly paranoid. However - it's not my liver that I'm worrying about (it's not his, either, I guess) so best to play it safe.

If none of the versions I'm about to try look suitable, he's getting plain salad.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 3:19 PM on January 25, 2008

Related story: I used to look after promotional merchandise for a variety of large corporate customers. One of the largest - a bank - went for employee t-shirts in white, aqua and orange because their research indicated that these were "power" colours that would make them stand out in the marketplace. However, its a combination that rarely looks good on people and they eventually switched to basic black on black. Power colours or not, apparently their research failed to take into... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:30 PM on January 20, 2008

Tastespotting is an aggregator of all things foody. I've found some excellent things via that place and they have a good mix of vegan/healthy/utter decadence. Caution: Food Porn.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:05 PM on January 20, 2008

You can get high-vis reflector cat-collars. I bought one for my mogget - it's your basic cat collar but has a strip of that ultra-reflective fabric that the road safety vests use so it will stand out in low light conditions. Mine had a bell but it was so damn annoying that I took it off.

Frankly, though, red_lotus is right. I thought all cat-owners had the midnight-shuffle thing down pat. It's what I do now as both I and the cat dislike collars.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 12:12 AM on January 12, 2008

We have a bathtub/shower thing, so we shower with the plug in the tub and use a syphon to take the grey-water out the window and down the side of the house onto (currently) zucchini plants. Previous crop was green beans and then tomatoes. We're renting at the moment so that's as ambitious as we've got.

I thoroughly recommend the Bill Mollison permaculture books - he deals with grey-water, water-recycling, the joys of mulch and a lot of other stuff you might find interesting.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 2:26 AM on January 9, 2008 marked best answer

I'm seconding heavenstobetsy and Riverine on the Advantage. It kills a lot more in the way of nasties than most others (including mites, some worms, ticks and so on), you don't need to go to a vet to get it and - bonus - because it breaks the breeding cycle of fleas, you can wipe out an entire infestation. We had a flea plague in the house this time last year - the heat and humidity sent them crazy. I applied Advantage to the cat and the fleas were coming off her face within 20 minutes or so.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:50 PM on January 8, 2008

maid
maiden
colleen
sheila
chica
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 8:48 PM on January 6, 2008 marked best answer

I forgot: also "mother" and all the variations thereof (mom, mum, momma, ma etc)
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 8:58 PM on January 6, 2008

TryTheTilapia has an excellent point. It is easy to become inured to smells, and smell is a huge apetite stimulent. While I don't think you should go all "Silence of the Lambs" and put vapo-rub under your nose whilst cooking, taking a break before eating the food will help.

I noticed this effect last Christmas when I was cooking for friends. I'd made a fantastic roast with trimmings but by the time it was ready, I just wasn't hungry. My friends decided to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:02 PM on January 4, 2008

While we don't use Skype, we do have a Voip phone running via a wireless link (plus a hub so that we can use a regular handset), plus each of us have mobiles. We decided to do this after tangling with Telstra one too many times, and find that it (mostly) works well. When we moved house, the first thing that was up and running was our internet and phone, plus the phone numbers are portable too. Spam phonecalls from telemarketers have vanished, which is an extra bonus.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 8:05 PM on December 31, 2007

Angel at My Table by Janet Frame might possibly be appropriate - either in book or movie form. She endured shock therapy for a mental condition that didn't exist beyond a unique way of looking at the world.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:44 PM on December 29, 2007

I should add that the story is more self-discovery than plain discovery.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 6:46 PM on December 29, 2007

Every car gets a buildup of carbon inside the engine. This will manifest itself as a "pinging" or fluttering noise when accellerating (as noted by disillusioned above). I have a 99 Toyota Corolla and the pinging noise manifested 18 months ago. One mechanic informed me that I should have the carbon removed (at a price) as the engine tries to compensate and performance is reduced. My current (and more reliable) mechanic suggested that I should run a premium petrol through the car... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 12:50 AM on December 23, 2007

I'd like to chime in with an old favourite which is Rats & Gargoyles by Mary Gentle. It's fantasy but riddled with enough alchemy, sacred geometry, architecture and involved politics to keep the punters happy. It reminds me of Name of the Rose, for some reason.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 7:48 PM on December 19, 2007

I asked that question a while back (here) and got some great answers. What I actually did was to start running an online shop from home. So far - so good. Human contact is minimal (actually, it's probably a little TOO minimal) with the downside that start-up is slow. I'm looking for casual transcription work to pad things out - when the local uni gets back I may pick up some proofreading stuff from the International students.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 7:43 PM on December 18, 2007

When my dad (81) was diagnosed with kidney failure about four years ago and started doing home dialysis, I gave him my PC, bought him an internet connection and typed up some basic "how to" sheets. When he'd mastered the basics, I got him a digital camera. Then we got him a colour printer.

He likes the computer because it's not a passive occupation like TV and he feels that mental exercise helps keep him alert. He likes email because of the fast response... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:10 AM on December 18, 2007

I should also point out that the PC was my old P2 with some upgrades, the camera was about $120AUD on special (older model) and the printer was a $100AUD Canon cheapie (which, admittedly, doesn't always work well - we're considering setting fire to it at some point and buying something better).
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 4:12 AM on December 18, 2007

It's a great concept, but I've always wondered how they got the damn thing started...
posted to Ask Metafilter by ninazer0 at 1:13 AM on December 12, 2007