No next move- just let it go and forget about it. I think you jumped the gun on the whole "where is this going?" conversation by a few weeks, and it set off his alarm and he bolted. If he contacts you later and wants to hang out, say yes if you feel like it, but don't initiate any get-togethers. Don't dwell on it or beat yourself up about it either, just try to forget about the whole thing and move on.

Another piece of advice for the next guy you meet....... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 4:34 PM on July 26, 2008

"Daughters" by John Mayer makes me want to murder someone. Him, specifically.

Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Gross.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:41 PM on July 25, 2008

I'm a bridesmaid in 2 weddings this year, and currently a 6th year grad student with about $50,000 in debt, so I feel your pain!
Here's what you do. Do not ask permission. Decide excatly what you are and are not willing to pay for, then stick to your guns. Tell her how happy you are for her, but tell her than due to your financial situation, you
1. Are going to do your own hair and make-up for the wedding. She'll get over it, or she'll offer to pay.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 10:02 AM on July 15, 2008

Bridal sweet? Make that bridal suite!
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 10:04 AM on July 15, 2008

I read a magazine article once that described how Johnny Depp got waaaay into his role as Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

no time to Google it right now, though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 9:48 AM on July 15, 2008

Um, are you a biologist? Were you a biology major in college?
I would recommend that you contact the department head of biology/science at all of the local high schools in the area. If someone's going on maternity leave or whatnot, you might be able to get a long term sub position even without the certification. My sister is a department head and occasionally sends frantic emails like "our school needs a Spanish teacher for the rest of the year, starting tomorrow!... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:51 PM on July 14, 2008

I'd look into getting a bank loan before going the credit card route. Many banks, especially credit unions offer smaller loans with decent rates.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 5:02 PM on July 13, 2008

First off, I think what you're planning to do sounds great! I feel like your exercise schedule is a little bit ambitious and I also recommend taking 1 day off a week for rest/recovery. Maybe you prefer a stricter schedule, but for myself, I like a little flexibility. I'd recommend something like this: 3 days cardio (HIIT, swim, bike), 1 day akido, 1 day yoga, 1 day weights, 1 day rest. Each workout should be 1 hour total. That way you can schedule your workouts around your other activites... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 11:54 AM on July 6, 2008

Animal Farm and 1984 are great suggestions.
I loved Poland by James Michener..it's long but fascinating, and definitely paints a bleak picture of far-leftism.

I really think Animal Farm is exactly what you want, though. Or maybe something about how Cuba sucks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:27 AM on July 3, 2008

Drop your price.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 3:57 PM on June 25, 2008

The Back Bay Yoga studio offers a 2 week trial for beginners, for only $25. I guess you can go to as many classes as you like during the two weeks. I've never been but a bunch of my friends go to that studio and love it, and the intro program is appealing for novices because you can try a whole bunch of different styles and different instructors to see which ones you end up liking best.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:33 PM on June 25, 2008

As for beers...I'll reiterate the above suggestions to just try a whole bunch and decide for yourself what you like.

How about wine? Especially if your wife likes it, it might be fun for the two of you to start sharing a bottle. A nice red goes splenidly with meat and potatoes!
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:17 PM on June 22, 2008

Wait a minute, you're feeling bad about ending things because she's depressed about breaking up with the guy with whom she was cheating on you?

Do you live together? Move out and get your own place. Like, yesterday. Even if you do try to stay together, it sounds like this woman needs to learn to clean up her own messes. I also think you should break up with her, but obviously I'm just going on what you wrote. I don't mean this to sounds as harsh as it may come across,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:13 PM on June 22, 2008

Second the MIT suggestion. Send an email to Caroline Ross- most professors are happy to help out students and potential students with something as simple as suggesting names of people/universities doing a specific type of research.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:10 PM on June 17, 2008

She could work at an animal facility at a biomedical research center (think any university with a medical school) or a biotech or pharma company.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 7:06 PM on June 16, 2008

If you do go with just a shower, make sure it has a nice shelf for a woman to prob her foot up on when she's shaving her legs. I never take baths, but I hate shaving my legs in a walk-in shower.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:18 PM on June 16, 2008

Call the ethics hotline and leave an anonymous report. That's what it's there for. I agree that it is your business, in that the other person's activites are impacting your work performance, and also, since you know what's going on, put you in the uncomfortable position of being complicit to your coworker's lying to management.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:13 PM on June 16, 2008

Afternoon ceremony, evening reception at the World Trade Center.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 9:53 AM on June 12, 2008

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I've never been to Baltimore so all your info is helpful.
I'll probably bring both a long dress and a short one, and if it's over 90 degrees, I'll definitely wear the shorter one.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 1:40 PM on June 12, 2008

I didn't realize that belts are normally worn with pants until after college. Maybe Steve Jobs never realized. More likely, he knows that one should wear a belt, but he just doesn't care. Scientists and engineers generally don't have to adhere to the dress standards of the business world.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 5:57 AM on June 11, 2008

Sounds like she and he were just drunk and horny, and it had nothing at all to do with you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:31 PM on June 8, 2008

Slice it in half, brush on some olive oil, salt, garlic powder, musrooms and feta. Throw it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to toast. Yum!
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:01 PM on June 3, 2008

No Country for Old Men.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:13 PM on June 1, 2008

I like L'Osteria on Hanover Street.
If you get a bottle of wine, you're looking at $60, minimum. It's a beautiful afternoon in Boston. I'd say it's worth it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:46 PM on May 30, 2008

oops, L'Osteria is on Salem St.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:47 PM on May 30, 2008

I'm a 5th year Ph.D. student in microbiology. Based upon your interests, I'd recommend getting an M.D. You'll still have the benefits of direct patient interaction, and you can do as much or as little research as you like. At my institute, there are plenty of M.D. who run research labs because they enjoy that aspect more than clinical work. An M.D. is a more flexible degree in that respect (M.D.s can do basic research, but PhDs can't treat patients), and generally has a much higher earning... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:52 PM on May 25, 2008

I think the alterations are due to a lot of the reasons mentioned above, primarily being that someone else chooses the dress for you. When you pick out a dress for yourself, you select one that fits, right?

If you foresee yourself being in more than one wedding, I would recommend finding yourself a seamstress. I am tall and thin, and therefore have had to take bridesmaid dresses out at the hem and in at the bust, and I found a woman who will do that for me at $15 a pop. Yay!
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 8:24 PM on May 21, 2008

I lived in Nicaragua for two years and also spent time in Honduras and Costa Rica. If you go to Central America in June or early July, you'll be at the start of the rainy season so you'll get some sunny days and the greenery. Those three countries have similar weather patterns, but in general, the Carribean coast is wetter than the Pacific during the rainy season.

I absolutely love Nicaragua, and yes, it's cheap, but I wouldn't recommend it for a family vacation. The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 7:07 PM on May 21, 2008 marked best answer

Proper comma usage. Scientists are notoriously poor at it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 6:39 AM on May 21, 2008

Call!
Did you interview with anyone else besides the HR person, like your potential supervisor? I would recommed calling him or her directly and bypassing HR, if possible. "Hi, you may recall that I came in to interview last week. I'm still interested in the job but haven't heard back yet. Do you know if any decisions have been made?"

Be persistent (in an enthusiatic way), but be sure to keep it polite and friendly. No offense, but you sound a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 2:18 PM on May 19, 2008

There are never any guarantees. You could date someone in your home country who would use you then lose you, and you could date someone in a foreign country who would be a great boyfriend.

A word of warning, though. This goes for everyone, everywhere, but especially to those living in countries with high HIV rates- use barrier protection! Always!
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 10:45 AM on May 9, 2008

Is she paying for the wedding? If so, then maybe you should reconsider what she wants. Personally, it might be easier for you to just let her do it rather than hurt her feelings, but if you're certain it's not what you want, then, yeah, break it gently. Don't pin blame your husband, though- that will certainly cause you problems later.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 2:50 PM on May 5, 2008

I run a soccer team for a co-ed adult soccer league. You can't get your money back. It sucks, but injury is always a risk, and much more so in a contact sport. Your only option is to convince someone else to sign up in your spot and have them pay you directly.

Think of it like this- if you had tickets to a concert but something came up and you weren't able to attend, you couldn't get a refund from the band or the venue. You could, however, sell the tickets.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 7:56 AM on May 5, 2008

Me: "I'm a microbiologist."

Other person: "Oh."
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 4:19 PM on April 28, 2008

Here's my advice:

1. Get the new shoes, ASAP. Walk around with them for a day or two, then run in them. As long as you run in them 3 or 4 times before the race without any problems, you'll be fine. The wear on your shoes makes a HUGE difference and using old shoes can lead to or exacerbate stress and impact related injuries. Take it from someone who has dealt with plantar fasciitis.

2. I never use gels or supplements but that's because I'm... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 8:52 AM on April 27, 2008

I have a bunch of friends from Spain who have all been caught trying to smuggle ham back into the U.S.

Maybe they check everyone coming in from Spain, and assume that those who claim to be flying ham-free are lying.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 3:18 PM on April 14, 2008

First off, congratulations! You should be pleased with and proud of your accomplishments.

Secondly, I'd mention it again to your family. Something like "Hey, I know you're busy, but it's really important to me, and I was hoping that someone from the family could attend." As for the siblings, maybe suggest that they come and leave the spouses and kids at home, thus making the trip easier.

However, I think that asking a couple of friends... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 5:05 PM on April 5, 2008

Crazy Train- Ozzy Osbourne
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 7:37 PM on April 4, 2008

I think you're right- if you live in a mostly white suburb, it's the ignorant assumption that you and your darker skinned pal are relatives. This seems to happen all over the world- when my white sister lived in a small town in Japan, if she was ever seen with another white person, people would ask if they were related. Same thing happened to me when I lived in Nicaragua. So, yeah, it's annoying, and you definitely have the right to feel annoyed by it, but it's definitely not a rare phenomenon.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 5:52 PM on April 3, 2008

Well, the viral marketing campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force didn't go quite as planned in Boston.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 2:22 PM on April 3, 2008

I wouldn't worry about what hypothetical potential new girlfriend would think. As others have mentioned, it depends on the situation and depends on the girl. Hey, maybe H.P.N.G. is sleeping with her ex right now!

However, it might raise this red flag: Are you really over your ex? If you've recently been sleeping with her, H.P.N.G. might take that as a sign that you're not completely over her, in the romantic sense.

Sleep with your ex if you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 2:32 PM on March 31, 2008

Ignore it. It will go away. If you make a big deal about denying the rumor, it will only give people a reason to continue talking about it. And who knows, maybe next week someone in your department will start banging his or her TA.

Also, not much that you do as an undergrad really impacts your career, aside from failing out or getting expelled.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 10:41 AM on March 31, 2008

Take it from a Bostonian...the price won't drop. Especially over Patriots' Day/Marathon weekend. The sooner you buy them, the better.

Another much less expensive option is to take a tour of Fenway Park. I've done this with visiting friends several times, and it's a lot of fun, for about $12 per person.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 2:15 PM on March 30, 2008

Maybe those sort of books "work," if success means postponing the eventual break-up.

Ask yourself this: Do you really want to be in a relationship with someone who no longer wants to be in a relationship with you?

Cut your losses, move on, and start searching for a guy who actually wants to be in a relationship with you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 1:11 PM on March 30, 2008

Take it from a grad student- for the cheapest most delicious food around, head to Pho Pasteur on Stuart Street. That is, if you like Vietnamese cuisine. They serve beer, too, but nothing fancy.

Lunasol, sadly, that sandwich shop you praised no longer exists, due to construction.

Lots of good selections above- I'd avoid the Pulick House because I always end up spending a lot of money there. Bukowski's is a better value for a similar atmosphere.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 2:40 PM on March 27, 2008

bl1nk- thank you for the news about Chacarero- you just made my day!

zaphod- Totally forgot about the Squealing Pig, great suggestion! Same with Flann O'Brien's. The area's not bad- I used to work in Longwood and went there often at night and never felt sketched out.

Re: Bukowski's- you're right, prices have gone up a bit, but I still think it's a better deal than the Publick House.

Another thing to be on the look... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 9:04 PM on March 27, 2008

My favorite music blog is Can You See The Sunset From the South Side?

I recommend it highly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 7:42 PM on March 25, 2008

I'd suggest going to a local wine shop and asking a staff member for recommendations. Internet searching is helpful, but speaking to someone will get you more personalized suggestions.
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 1:00 PM on March 24, 2008

First off, is there anyone you can talk to about your situation, either the chair of your department, a graduate student advisor, or another faculty member in your department? They will probably be the best source of advice. Secondly, there is nothing wrong with switching labs...it happens quite freqently, and it usually takes more that a year to figure out that one is in a dead-end situation.

Re: the masters. Keep in mind that in many institutions, if you start off... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 8:26 AM on March 24, 2008

I agree with dawdle...she's just being nice. There is no conflict! Nothing is expected of you except to smile, accept the gifts, and say thank you. She probably appreciates the fact that your kids play with her son. Maybe they don't have family in the area, and your kids are the closest thing that they have to nieces/nephews/cousins.

It would be rude to start refusing gifts. If you don't want your kids to eat a lot of junk food, just monitor their consumption once the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by emd3737 at 12:30 PM on March 20, 2008