[If this question is going to stay open, it needs to be a question and not an extension of a bar fight. ]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 9:50 PM on June 17, 2013

Yeah, I'd change the belt at least. Rubber does degrade over time - it's not just mileage. And if it is an interference engine, you do not want to have one break on you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 1:11 PM on June 17, 2013

Sounds more like a mild allergy to me - I'd get something like that if I spent the day cleaning a dusty house or spending too long around a smoky campfire.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 9:00 PM on June 16, 2013

I have a friend who was involved in an acrimonious parting of ways with a very large company, and her interpretation, via her lawyer, of the non-disparagement clause coincides with Empress's - nothing in writing, nothing to the media, otherwise no one really cares.

This is third-hand reporting at best, mind you, but you get what you pay for.

(And yeah, it's pretty standard, I think. I'm pretty sure I'm under at least one at the moment, and if I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:07 PM on June 16, 2013

[Folks, this needs to not become a back-and-forth argument. Thanks. ]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 12:56 PM on June 16, 2013

I'm happy to point you in the direction of my martial arts school - it's great, and it's in Chelsea. Nice bunch of people, and it's great for developing balance and general coordination (and getting to consensually punch people is awesome, although you have to stick with it a while before you get to do that.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 10:01 AM on June 15, 2013

Why would you trust this guy to give you a good referral? If you think he is actively cheating you by mishandling your issues in order to get more money, then you shouldn't take his advice on anything. You certainly shouldn't see him again, or agree to any additional procedures.

Check your insurance company's website and call around to find someone new. (I've had good luck in the past asking for recommendations from coworkers, since they'll be working off the same list.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:38 PM on June 14, 2013

[Constructive answers, not one-word reflex responses, please. ]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 1:14 PM on June 14, 2013

Is he a beer guy? Billy's Brew N Que is good barbeque and home-brewed beer, and my beer snob friends approve. It's also quite central.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 7:13 PM on June 12, 2013

Also he is totally invited to post a meetup wherever he decides to go, if he wants some random Mefite company.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 9:29 PM on June 12, 2013

Are you applying for entry-level QA jobs in the game industry, or design/programming jobs? Because it sounds like you're not at all too inexperienced for QA, and it's a traditional way to get your foot in towards more senior jobs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 8:13 PM on June 12, 2013

Yeah, to be totally clear, I think trying to get into the game industry is a terrible idea, but in general applying for programming jobs with no serious programming experience is just not going to happen, and design jobs are even worse. If you really want to get into games and want an excuse to move somewhere else, QA is a path. It's a path with shit pay and terrible hours and only a marginal chance at advancement, but not a bad way to spend your mid-twenties compared with a job you hate at a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 9:27 PM on June 12, 2013

I use a "fake" last name in my day-to-day life for nearly every purpose, but even I use my legal last name on resumes. I usually note in the cover letter that I can mostly be googled under the other one. People change last names, especially women, and it's probably not a big huge deal, but I wouldn't do it the way you're describing at all. It's just too confusing.

What your friend could do, if they have a reason to want this name attached to them, is either... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 1:24 PM on June 11, 2013 marked best answer

She sounds just sort of hyper and flaky, which leads to communication weirdness. You didn't agree to anything other than hanging out.

Whether or not she likes you That Way is hard to tell - it's certainly possible. But she also may just generally be insecure, which is equally possible. You are going to either have a very passive-aggressive conversation in which you talk about how you're not into girls, or just say, casually, "Just want to be clear, I want to be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 6:44 PM on June 9, 2013

maybe (if possible to do so un-awkwardly) bring up a male recent date, or desired male of some sort.

Just to be clear - that doesn't work. Bi women exist, plus the OP says she's already talked about dating guys.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 6:48 PM on June 9, 2013

Final update from the OP:About six months after asking this question I figured it out, mostly by a close reading of truck enthusiast forums. This truck has a short wheelbase, the result of a short bed combined with a non-extended cab. The short wheelbase means the driveshaft angle between transfer case and differential is too extreme for standard U-joints. Instead, a combination of U-joints and a constant-velocity joint is used. The CV joint was the squeak culprit here. It's basically a metal... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 5:42 PM on June 9, 2013

Maybe How to Solve a Murder? Or one of the others on this list - it seems like a popular sub-subgenre.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 12:38 PM on June 9, 2013

[Loli is probably a step too far, sorry. ]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 5:38 PM on June 8, 2013

Final update from the OP:
Hi, I wanted to thank everyone for all your responses and provide an update since I feel like there are many graduating High School seniors who will be in my position in the future, although I doubt many if any of them will come across this post.

I graduated from Texas A&M this May, and have zero regrets about my decision. I don't know how I calculated the debt I would accrue here, but was able to slash it basically in half from... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:57 PM on June 8, 2013

From an anonymous commenter:I'm you six months into the new job. My last "boss" was a nightmare - the title is in quotes because the department was in disarray and the nuances and complications of who was or was not actually my manager are too lengthy and bizarre to get into. Anywho - the person who caused most of my pain and suffering was a complete mismatch for my personality and talents and pretty destructive to my self-esteem etc.

Due to other reasons not... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:48 PM on June 8, 2013

I could go to meetups or take classes but I don't see how me attending a pottery class would change anything.

You'd meet people! People are interesting! They tell fascinating stories and know good restaurants and sometimes like the same sports and play the same games and hate the damned traffic just as much.

Your problem with women sounds like a problem with people. Figure out why other people are interesting,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:36 PM on June 8, 2013

From an anonymous commenter:I've taught Ancient Greek at university level and have won prizes for Greek composition. My translation would be καὶ τοῦτο ἀπορρεύσεται (or if you want caps, ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΤΟ ΑΠΟΡΡΕΥΣΕΤΑΙ). This means literally "This too will flow away". It's a bit hard to find an exact Greek equivalent for "pass" in this sense (the verb wrabbit used above means something more like "come to pass, be fulfilled", so is probably not what you want). If you prefer... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 7:49 PM on June 7, 2013

Mine are "really," "very," and "pretty" or "pretty much". There are infinitely better ways to intensify a sentiment than any of those words.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 8:01 PM on June 6, 2013

Advice that I have often heard (and have yet to put into practice) is to read it out loud. Hearing prose can help you catch repetitions and infelicities that your eye scans over, and it's particularly helpful with dialog.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 12:07 PM on June 7, 2013

Compare "he spoke enthusiastically" with "he spoke with enthusiasm".

That's not what that advice means at all. The correct comparison would be "He spoke enthusiastically" with, say, "He enthused," or, more advanced, ""That's right!," he said, pounding the table for emphasis."
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 4:11 PM on June 7, 2013

Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 4:03 PM on June 6, 2013 marked best answer

All suitable equipment should be outfitted with references to blinkenlights.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 8:58 PM on June 4, 2013

I went to the Museum of Natural History in NYC last year and was reminded just how awesome dinosaurs were by their spectacular exhibit. If you live in or near a city that has something similar, I strongly recommend it - one of the coolest things about them is their sheer size, and seeing their bones in person made me feel like a five-year-old again.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 12:54 PM on June 3, 2013

[I am assuming queenba is being sarcastic, but in any case "are you making this all up?" isn't the greatest way to approach a question. ]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:52 PM on June 2, 2013

She was not dreaming, that is a real story that I will now rack my brain and scour my library to find.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 6:59 PM on June 1, 2013

In my personal experience, "waiting" for someone really means "I am not ready to be in an actual relationship so I will fixate on this basically unavailable person so I don't have to deal with my own issues." That is, it doesn't work out, but not because of them, because of me.

Honestly, I don't recommend it. Disengage, process your own stuff, and only get involved with people who actually want to be involved with you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 4:05 PM on June 1, 2013

My friends and I take a variety of angles on the birthday party, from the "we love throwing house parties" people to the "dessert and drinks for five or six of my closest friends" to my personal strategy, the "tell everyone on Facebook I will be at X dance club on X day and they are all invited to drop by and buy me a drink." I particularly like the latter because I don't have to massage the guest list, plan in any way, or worry about my friends not getting along... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 10:23 AM on June 1, 2013

Meat. If you eat it at all, get the locally-raised, organic, grass-fed, heirloom whatevers. Not just for the environmental, health, and political reasons, but because oh my God they taste so much better. I thought I didn't like chicken until I started getting farmer's market chicken.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 8:45 PM on May 31, 2013

[This needs to stay a question about resources and not become a debate. Thanks. ]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 8:01 PM on May 31, 2013

Vibrams are fantastic - just make sure you get one of the kinds specifically aimed at outdoor activity, because some of the casual ones have ultra-thin soles that handle gravel trails poorly.

It really is amazing how handy toes can be over rough terrain. It's probably the only situation in which I really prefer Fivefingers over a barefoot-style but non-toe-pocket shoe.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:30 PM on May 31, 2013

I've gotten pants and shirts from Makeyourownjeans.com (jeans, linen pants, and one button-down.) The quality is just fine, but the big takeaway is you have to kind of know what you are doing with the measurements. I have managed to screw mine up in different ways both times I've ordered, and that was a minor bummer when I had to get the pants hemmed and a major bummer when the shirt was hilariously proportioned. I'm going to try again soon, though, because other than the goofy rear rise that's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 12:47 PM on May 31, 2013

The secret seems to be "don't try to tape measure your own back" which is where I went wrong. Next time, I will find a friend and get them to measure me in a relaxed position. I'm sure it is totally possible to get a good, normal result (and if you have a shirt that fits well, you can always just measure it - they have that option, too) but it's also possible to get it really wrong.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 1:14 PM on May 31, 2013

I went to my ten, sort of. The people nominally in charge of the reunion rented out a party room and asked something like $75/head for dinner and two drinks, and all of the people I actually wanted to see said "fuck that" and picked a bar to hang out at instead.

I mostly wanted to see the one friend I actually keep in touch with, but I like meeting random people and hearing about their lives and that was pretty much what this was. Even people I was pretty... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 10:27 AM on May 30, 2013

I have a female cat who had crystal issues early on. I have her now on the Before Grain food (wet and dry) and haven't had any problems in years. I switched because my other cat has allergy issues that made the vet-prescribed urinary formula impractical, but honestly I am inclined to think that the prescription food is kind of a scam. The grain-free food isn't all that cheap, but I can get it at PetCo and both cats are fit and happy on it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 7:49 PM on May 29, 2013

Nthing a separate email list for non-work chatter. That way you can both corral it and set up rules for it. (Or your boss/HR can, since it's not really your problem.) That way you can easily be a part of it but ignore it painlessly when you don't have time for it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 11:28 AM on May 29, 2013

I lost last weekend to Civilization: Revolution. If you like Civ games it's a great adaptation.
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 6:39 PM on May 22, 2013

My grandmother recently fainted on a plane, and the verdict was dehydration. She drank some water and took it easy for the rest of the day and was fine. She's 91. (But she may be made of some advanced synthetic material, we're not sure.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 4:51 PM on May 22, 2013

I had a roommate who had the same relationship with alcohol - daily drinker, trouble sleeping if she abstained but no other difficulty giving it up. She finally went to her doctor when she started to have other health complications, and they tried a few sleeping aids and ultimately went with, I think, Lunesta - and she stopped drinking except socially (and moderately,) lost a bunch of weight, and her other health issues resolved.

So, short version: you're self-medicating,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 8:02 AM on May 21, 2013

1. I find the ends harder and slower, yeah. There are more balls in the air to keep track of, and I can't get away with just fudging stuff knowing I'll fix it later.

2. In one book I mostly tried to keep the chapters the same lengths, but that went completely to hell once I started rewriting. In the next one, I'm making them a lot shorter and making every scene change a chapter break, which means some of them are longer and some are shorter. That may completely change on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:36 PM on May 19, 2013 marked best answer

From an anonymous commenter:

I'm about to transfer from a job for which I'm highly qualified and horrible at to one I have no qualifications for or experience in, but where I know I will shine.

Good luck!

posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:09 PM on May 19, 2013

From the OP:I deliberately chose not to get into specifics of the medical issue so I could avoid discussion of whether it’s a thing worth getting embarrassed over. The reality is I am to phobic levels of revealing it. I know it’s irrational, and even though I’d rather walk in front of a bus than discuss it with anyone, I have to anyway. Just writing this is giving me a panic attack.
That’s the thing I need help with.

So far, the most useful answers are... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 1:30 PM on May 18, 2013

From the OP:Thanks for the responses so far. I agree that my feelings are not about this woman, whom I don't even know anymore, so much as they are about myself. I ask your forgiveness if I seem to have told my story in overly dramatic terms, or to have gone too far in casting myself as the victim and her as the villain; I know that isn't really true, and that this is just life. That was likely the the product of these feelings being a bit raw for me in the past few days, and this having been... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 12:17 PM on May 17, 2013

My oldest cat has had this problem and it went away when we switched to grain-free food. (I switched to pine rather than wheat litter around the same time, too, so that might be related.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 3:58 PM on May 15, 2013

If you were a potential employer, would you see that as a red flag? (Or wonder why someone had listed a referee that "doesn't have an opinion" on their job performance?)

Maybe, but it's a true red flag, you know? I would worry that they either weren't great with business etiquette or maybe just didn't have anyone who wouldn't outright trash them - might be the first, might be the second. If it was someone who came across as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 9:49 PM on May 13, 2013 marked best answer

I've had friends out in that area, and I can report their findings - and I lived in northeastish Round Rock when I moved to the area, and even that had its... um, charms.

Georgetown itself is fairly rural, and has some modern rural problems - namely, meth and the crime around drug dealing. My friend who lived out there investigated the schools and was pretty horrified by the drug and gang issues. I don't remember your exact kid situation, but that'd be a major concern.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by restless_nomad at 2:28 PM on May 12, 2013