yup. that's it. i forgot to check arts and letters daily. thanks!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 12:36 PM on August 25, 2008

A close friend of mine went on Semester at Sea and HATED it. Have you spoken with people who have done the program and share your interests/goals? I'd ask around and see what others have to say about their experiences. I also agree with everyone else that 23k seems overpriced. I think there are much cheaper, and ultimately more rewarding, ways to see the world.

I taught English abroad for almost 3 years after I graduated college and it was an excellent way to travel.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:43 AM on August 7, 2008

Yup, that's it. I thought it was in the New Yorker but wasn't 100% sure. Thanks xo.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:10 AM on June 5, 2008

languagehat - would you recommend one of his novels in particular?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 8:36 PM on May 7, 2008

This could be me! I suffer from the exact same problem and it's not only embarassing, it's exasperating!

Are you actually listening to people's responses or are you already thinking about the next question and/or thinking about something totally unrelated? I find that I sometimes haven't even heard what someone has told me b/c my mind is either racing forward or off in some totally different direction.

To deal with this, I try to remind myself... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:30 AM on May 7, 2008

That's it! Thanks a lot!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:25 AM on May 1, 2008

I'd second trying to rent some movies through Netflix - the Yacoubian Building, old classics like Fi Beytna Ragl, La Anam, Da'oua al-Karawan, etc., etc.

I'd also recommend writings by Taha Hussein (his memoir, The Days), short stories by Ghalib Halasa and anything by Sonallah Ibrahim. Mahfouz is great (if you go to Alexandria, you must read Miramar) but there are a lot of other fantastic Egyptian authors who are often eclipsed by him.

Siwa will... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 5:44 AM on April 29, 2008

megatherium - can you elaborate on that a bit? what kind of charge could have been made and then reduced to 2nd degree aggravated harassment?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:18 PM on February 27, 2008

rokusan - that's not me. i haven't seen him yet. and, as i said, he came highly recommended by someone who has seen him since the charge was brought, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:19 PM on February 27, 2008

bottlebrushtree - i don't mean to be obtuse but can you clarify what you mean by "mail preferences no junk mail list?" is that something i do through the post office?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 1:34 PM on February 18, 2008

By "good" I mean reputable from an academic perspective. However, I'm not looking for texts for my own academic use - I don't study literature. I just want to know how I can choose a well-respected edition of a given work of literature.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 3:32 PM on January 9, 2008

It was definitely the Tiny Little House! Thanks saucysault.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:28 PM on December 31, 2007

Wikipedia entry on one-state solution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binational_solution.

There's a reference to Said's writing on the subject in there. He originally espoused a two-state solution but, like others, felt the breakdown of the Oslo Accords marked the end of its being a viable option.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 1:21 PM on December 11, 2007 marked best answer

Miss Lynster, I'd have to challenge your use of the veil as an indicator of the "militancy" or "religious pressure" of Egypt - or any country in the Middle East. The connection between the veil and "Islamic fundamentalism" or "Islamic extremism" is, like these terms, a fiction of the western media. It's a gross oversimplification of the reality and facilitates the kind of dangerous generalizations our government has been using to justify its presence (in a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by anonymous78 at 6:21 PM on December 3, 2007

Postal Service, Dntel, Telepopmusik, Air, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 5:35 PM on November 25, 2007

Okay, I think the posting is not quite clear b/c I wouldn't qualify Bjork, Radiohead, and/or Sigur Ros as "modernist classical". Or rather, if you're defining them as such, I think you will have to include a lot of pop and/or indie music. Do you want what is traditionally defined as "classical" music or do you want music similar to the groups you mentioned above?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 5:58 PM on November 25, 2007

What about buying one of those hypoallergenic mattress covers? You can get them for $10-$20 at linen/bedding stores.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:41 AM on November 9, 2007

i second the ipod (coupled with looking either at the ground or straight ahead). but i would turn it on - even if only for the 2 minutes it takes to get out of earshot. since you said it brings you down to have this happen right off the bat in the morning, actually drowning him out could help you feel less annoyed by it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:16 PM on November 6, 2007

That's it! Wow, was I off. Thank you languagehat!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 2:23 PM on October 28, 2007

Yup. That's it. Thanks!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:32 AM on October 1, 2007

That's it! Thank you both!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 11:17 AM on September 14, 2007

Yes! That's it! Thank you both!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:17 PM on August 24, 2007

It's entirely possible that you could sleep in a bedbug infested bed and not get bitten while the person sharing the bed with you was eaten alive. Apparently, body temperature is important to the bugs and even small differences can result in one person getting bitten and another not.

As others have pointed out, that string of bites is characteristic of bedbugs. If they are disturbed mid-feeding, they simply shift over a bit and bite again. This is why victims often find... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 3:44 PM on June 1, 2007 marked best answer

You might be interested in some contemporary Iranian cinema. The heavyweights are:

Kiarostami: Taste of Cherry, The Wind Will Carry Us, The White Balloon (Panahi directed), Where is the Friend's Home?, Ten

Bahman Ghobadi (Kurdish Iranian): Turtles Can Fly, A Time for Drunken Horses, Marooned in Iraq

Jafar Panahi: The Circle, Crimson Gold, Offside (just out)

Mohsen Makhmalbaf (his daughter is also... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 3:29 PM on June 1, 2007 marked best answer

I can certainly empathize with you - I didn't go to the dentist for six years and when I went, I had an alarming number of cavities. (It's genetic - I actually did and do brush my teeth twice a day.) The thing to do, as everyone has pointed out, is go as soon as you can. Don't think about it, just call and make the appointment. When you get there, explain that you were unable to get to a dentist for a few years and are subsequently feeling a bit nervous. I'm sure they will treat you gently -... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:56 AM on May 31, 2007

I just looked online and the piece is described as "rose gold vermeil". i confess i'm not sure what this means exactly, but im going to guess the neckalce is just plated. Given this, how can I clean it?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:03 AM on May 31, 2007

Wow. Thanks for all of the text recommendations! To clarify a bit, I want to argue that authenticity doesn't exist at the level of either material culture or experience. I'm looking at travel and tourism so I want to break down the idea of "searching for authenticity" abroad and argue that this is a chimera. Again, I'm coming at this from an anthropological perspective so, for example, the Taussig rec. was great. I hope this helps a bit.

Please, please, please,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 3:29 PM on May 17, 2007

Re-reading these comments, I have to say thank you again. A lot of them look really good - especially Baudrillard, Adorno, and Benjamin. Thanks!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 3:38 PM on May 17, 2007

thanks umbu! this is great. i know of these authors but am happy to have specific recs. thanks again!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:51 PM on May 17, 2007

Hans Wehr is really your best bet for an MSA dictionary. It takes getting used to, but once you start studying verb patterns and roots, it will make much more sense. I strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with it because it will figure prominently in your studies later on down the road. If you want an Arabic-English/English-Arabic dictionary, I think Al-Mawrid is your best bet. It's not as good as Hans Wehr because, as you will come to see, the translations it offers are sometimes a bit... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:14 AM on April 23, 2007

Thanks Phred182 and miss lynnster for the links. My googling skills obviously need some brushing up!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:45 AM on March 17, 2007

Vindaloo: If you're looking for a critique of Friedman, check out this piece: www.nypress.com/18/16/news&columns/taibbi.cfm.
It's pretty scathing, but I personally find it to be spot on. (Plus, I love the term "flathead"!) In my own experience (as a graduate student), I've found him to have limited clout in the academic community.

otherworldlyglow: If you are looking for online material, there is a wealth of stuff out there. I would check out... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by anonymous78 at 8:06 AM on March 8, 2007

If you're living on a grad student budget, I'd recommend Ikea's poang chair. It's comfortable and roomy enough for me to tuck my feet up under my legs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 9:45 AM on January 24, 2007

Thank you LobsterMitten. Ironically, I found the collection through the image gallery on that site - I remembered the cover. The book was Monster Festival edited by Eric Protter. I think the story was "Brenda" by Margaret St. Clair (although mattbucher, "The Squaw" is in this collection so I'll have to check it out as well.) Thanks!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 3:20 PM on December 11, 2006

Can you specify what department you are in and/or what your research interests are?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 11:03 AM on November 28, 2006

I would recommend you begin your dissertation research. However, you could also commit yourself to writing an article for publication (in case you haven’t already published) - it could be a first step towards starting your diss.

Otherwise, if teaching is not an option, see what profs. will be around and try to get a position as a research assistant.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 11:28 AM on November 28, 2006

That's it. Thanks rom1!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 1:37 PM on November 27, 2006

I feel your pain! I work in a similar environment with a comparable group of academics. As others have noted, insecurity is rampant in the academic world and produces some annoying and juvenile behavior.

Based on my own experience, I think WCityMike and geeky are spot-on. I would first ascertain if this situation is something you think you can change. If you determine that you cannot (very likely), then all you can do is protect yourself from the psychologically... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:38 AM on November 17, 2006

I second Sasha - especially his albums Involver and Airdrawndagger. They are brilliant!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 4:47 AM on November 6, 2006

I think the Wikipedia article offers the best information on the subject.

I would argue that the use of the term Persian as either an attempt to avoid a knee-jerk reaction among Westerners or an attempt to distance/distinguish Persians from Arabs is erroneous.

One thing to point out is that Iranian is the Persian word for the country. For example, Japan in Japanese is Nippon and Egypt in Arabis is Misr. English-speakers don't refer to these... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 6:54 AM on October 26, 2006

"The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert Service.

It's long and requires significant memorization, but it scared the daylights out of me when I was a young camper back in the day.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 1:04 PM on October 25, 2006

Rickety Tickety Tin:

About a maid I'll sing a song ……… sing rickety tickety tin
About a maid I'll sing a song who didn't have her family long
Not only did she do them wrong,
She did very one of them in, them in, she did every one of them in

Her mother she could never stand ……… sing rickety tickety tin
He mother she could never stand and so a cyanide soup she planned
The mother died... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 12:41 PM on October 25, 2006

New Year’s in Egypt could be great - I was there for two and though I was doing very different things, enjoyed both enormously. I spent one in Cairo and one in Sharm el Sheikh. If you are not interested in the resort scene, you can still spent the holiday in Sinai - there is plenty to see and do and many alternatives to Sharm. There is Dahab of course, but also Ras Shaitan which is supposed to be gorgeous and much less crowded.

Cairo would also be a great place to spend... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:33 AM on October 18, 2006 marked best answer

Yikes! I sound like I work for an Egyptian travel agency. I don’t. Just your average Egyptophile (or whatever) who spent some time living and working there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:35 AM on October 18, 2006

yes, it is at the edge and i do have more astigmatism in my left eye. however, i've never noticed a difference in lens thickness on older glasses.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:08 AM on September 27, 2006

Great. That's it. Thank you!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 2:01 PM on August 3, 2006

I third, or whatever, getting a new passport.

If you want to go to Cairo, you might check out Kalimat. It is a relatively new language school in Mohandeseen and I have heard good things about it from students who attended. It is generally considered more rigorous than ILI. However, having siad that, I attended ILI for two summers and while it wasn't great, it certainly wasn't a wash. You might check out classes at both places - they are comparably priced.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 8:50 AM on May 15, 2006

I would recommend you find a new dermatologist. Your current doctor does not sound like a good match given your condition. I would do some research and find a dermatologist specializing in acne and/or related research. He/she will probably be more aggressive in his/her treatment.Also, if I were in your position, I would also not limit myself geographically. I don't know where you live, but I would definitely look into doctors in the nearest major city. Good luck!
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 10:14 AM on May 8, 2006

Unfortunately, based on those pictures, I do not think it was Mysore Pak.It was very mushy and almost doughy (although not sticky like dough) - not hard enough to be cut into individual pieces, just lumps.
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 4:04 PM on April 28, 2006

PY: That sort of looks like it although what I ate was much darker - a deep, dark brown - and the consistency was very dense and thick, but sludge-like. Does halwa come in a form similar to what I have described? Also, would it be something sold as "street food"?
posted to Ask Metafilter by anonymous78 at 7:44 AM on April 29, 2006