Where are you planning to go?

A whole bunch of places. Los Angeles, Gothenburg, Indonesia, Greenland, Papua New Guinea. . . a whole bunch.

I'd imagine the experience varies widely from country to country and continent to continent.

No doubt.

READ THE REVIEWS!!!! . . . Read reviews from several sites in case a particular place is stuffing... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 10:27 PM on July 21, 2008

These answers are awesome! I've got a lot to go on here and I feel like I have more options when I start to travel.

Thanks, guys! I appreciate it!
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 10:36 PM on July 22, 2008

Also, I rather suspect (though I'm not sure, and don't take this as legal advice) that U.S. age discrimination law wouldn't apply to the U.N.


IANAL but I do know that the UN complex in Midtown Manhattan is considered an extraterritorial enclave, like an embassy, which may (or may not) exempt them from such anti-discrimination laws.

It sucks, though. I do remember being in the exact same position a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:45 PM on July 21, 2008

My symptoms are: slow, foggy thinking (almost like being drunk), low motivation, physical weakness/heaviness, emotional flatness, irritability, low interest in sex, low interest in much of anything, a general feeling of "drugginess"... feeling like an altered state.

(IANADoctor)

The combination of brain fog and reduced libido seems characteristic of a low testosterone level, especially in light of your age. Most... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:32 PM on July 8, 2008

My Dad and my Step-mom live in Mexico full-time, having emigrated there from the States.

It's been a while since I talked with them about the details, but if I remember correctly, the special visa program that allows foreigners to live in Mexico requires you to have an income of c. $1000-1100 a month.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 1:54 PM on June 30, 2008

Does a company like this fight an unemployment insurance claim?

They might. But my experience (in NY State, learning more about the UI system than I ever cared to know) has been that most employers prefer not to contest the claim. Contesting the claim takes up time and resources that could be better spent on money-making endeavors.

Also, if they're claiming that you were fired for "incompetence", that's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:44 PM on June 25, 2008

1. Sublingual melatonin. Much more effective (and quicker!) than the regular kind.

2. Warm-to-slightly-hot bath before bedtime.

3. No vigorous workouts after, say, 9:30-10:00 at night.

4. If you find yourself lying awake more than a half hour, get up and read something at least moderately challenging, something that demands that full focus and concentration in order to follow the material.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 12:05 PM on June 20, 2008

I too have met NH and can vouch for his non-creepitude and great hospitality.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 9:09 AM on June 6, 2008

How can I deal with the dishonesty of the world?

Lower your standards.

Accept the limitations of your fellow human beings.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 9:07 AM on May 30, 2008

In my experience, frozen chicken breasts have been pretty bland. Not exactly poison but not exactly gourmet eating either.

The exception to this are the organic chicken breasts I get from Trader Joe's, all of which have managed to remain tasty even after freezing and thawing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:16 AM on May 30, 2008

Ephemeral
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:10 AM on April 24, 2008

Why hasn't someone stood up and taken actions against the corporations that rule our country?

Short historical answer: there was a radical wing of the labor movement that did stand up and take action during the Depression and WWII. The government smashed them in the post-war era. The government then convinced most of the more moderate remnants that they were "middle-class" and that their interests and those of the corporations were one... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 11:50 AM on April 16, 2008

I guess I just want to know what other people who feel this way do to cope with these thoughts.

I like to listen to music. Like this song:

I thought IBM was born with the world
The US flag would float forever
The cold opponent did pack away
The capital will have to follow

It's not eternal
Interminable
Oh, yes, it will go . . .
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 12:00 PM on April 16, 2008

And the smartest-kid-in-the-class Alex P Keaton thing can get tiresome.


Nthing the Economist.

Because I prefer smartest-kid-in-the-class, with all of its occasional arrogance, to shallow, populist, lowest-common-denominator crap.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 11:41 AM on April 1, 2008

Dude, relax. The reference to shallow, populist rags was to Time and Newsweek, not to any of the higher-brow alternatives you suggest.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 10:13 AM on April 3, 2008

Use gymnastic techniques. Gymnasts are the experts at developing upper body strength through bodyweight exercises.

Two gymnastic resources to start: Beast Skills and Drills and Skills.

Articles about gymnastic ring training.

Ring Pushups

Rope... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 9:15 AM on April 2, 2008

"I don't plan when I'm going to pay rent. I'll get to it when I get to it."

Holy fucking shit. How old is this guy -- twelve?

"OK, if you don't want to plan this, let us plan it for you. Give us your share of the rent every month on the first of the month. That's the plan."
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 4:13 PM on March 12, 2008

A few months ago, she did try to contact me - perhaps she wants to make up, but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks she just needs the cash.

She needs the cash.

I am no longer mad, but I don't think I can go back - I tend to hold a grudge.

I wouldn't characterize this as a grudge; I would say that your therapist's inconsiderate and unprofessional behavior alienated you and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 2:08 PM on March 2, 2008

Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies And Their Journey
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 11:52 AM on February 26, 2008

You almost certainly have Step Into Liquid on your list but in the event that you don't, I'll mention it here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 3:19 PM on February 25, 2008

Thank you all very much for your help with my question.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 3:03 PM on February 25, 2008

Nthing Barilla Plus.

And contributing a BIG FAT THUMBS DOWN on whatever shit brand it is that Whole Foods sells.

Barilla Plus is the absolute best on the market.

The whole foods house brands sucks like the proverbial swedish vacuum cleaner.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 6:12 PM on February 22, 2008

nthing Parmalat, which we like to call "bachelor milk" here at chez j_p
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 4:41 PM on February 20, 2008

You're overtraining.

Sleep disruption is a classic sign that you are overtraining, that you are pushing your body beyond its capacity for recovery.

Reduce the volume of exercise and then work up to the level you want over a period of several (like 4-6) weeks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:26 PM on February 18, 2008

I'm not the best judge of my own character.

This is part of being young. Very normal, in other words. It will improve with time. As you get older, you will know yourself better, your strengths as well as your weaknesses, and become more comfortable in your own skin.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 9:27 AM on February 9, 2008

When I worked at a hot dog factory, the process went a little something like this:

1.) Big cardboard boxes filled with sides of beef would arrive in the morning.

2.) Said boxes would be dumped into gigantic grinders -- I mean, like three stories tall.

3.) At this point, the meat would be a pinkish/brown paste which never failed to remind me of baby shit.

4.) Nitrates and other apppetizing... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:21 PM on February 6, 2008

I'm not aware of him being particularly litigious, but if he were feeling litigious, it would be bad news.

Any asshole can file a lawsuit alleging any damn thing whatsoever. I could head down to my local court and file a lawsuit against, I don't know, the Knights of Columbus or something and claim that they were beaming thoughts into my head with microwaves or something like that.

I've known him for 10 years and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:53 PM on February 3, 2008

OK. I'll check these places out.

Thank you very much!
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:20 PM on January 26, 2008

For people who might be encountering this via a search engine:

I wound up eating at Maxie's, which is on Sutphin Boulevard, just south of the LIRR station.

Good eatin'. Friendly staff. I recommend it highly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:53 AM on February 3, 2008

When I bench, I place these sawhorses on either side of me, paralell to the bench itself, perpendicular to the squat rack I use to hold the bar.

These are my safety backup, my version of a power rack.

They seem to work pretty well. They haven't failed me yet. (knock on wood)
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 6:29 PM on February 2, 2008

I feel that this jealousy is unproductive because it is preventing me from being friendly with my ex and it is beginning to intrude into other areas of my life through rumination and anxiety.

You know, it's not fair that you should have to do all of this CBT work when your ex could simply demonstrate a little bit of common courtesy and not go on about how hot those other women are.

You might want to mention to him that this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:35 PM on January 25, 2008

I really, really care for this man, but how hard is society going to make it for me to pursue this?

Go for what makes you fluttery in the stomach and tell society to kiss your ass.

You only have one life to live and the people around you, many of them being oh-so-quick to come up with reasons to judge your life, most certainly don't care about your happiness and fulfillment.

You do.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 1:17 PM on January 25, 2008

I am a atheist too. During a two-year period attending the local Y, nobody, but nobody bugged me about religion.

I mean, no one. There was nothing overtly Christian at all about the place, except for a ban on swearing which I could certainly live with, even with my potty mouth.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 11:39 AM on January 24, 2008

I was raised an only child by a father who was pretty reserved and unemotional, and a mother who was chronically depressed and extremely hypersensitive. I made her cry on numerous occasions, during what I now think were normal parent-child disagreements.

These experiences seem to have left you with the idea that interpersonal conflict is somehow capital-B Bad, something extremely anomalous, something that Nice People don't do with each other.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 11:05 AM on January 21, 2008

Markovich, I don't want to "use my Western way on him", or change who he is essentially; I want to change only the intellectual/philosophical elements of his belief system that prevent us from being happy together.

Those intellectual/philosophical elements ARE, in fact, who he is essentially.

I feel like a shitheel typing this because I know you love this man very much but there's just no way you will ever... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:43 AM on January 19, 2008

Is living in New York really that hard?

Yes, it is. But if this was really meant to be your home, you won't care how difficult it is.

Me, I've been here fourteen years. I've experienced all kinds of frustration and heartbreak. Never had two nickels to rub together. And I can't imagine myself living anywhere else. This is my home. It's just that simple.

That's the kind of mentality you have to have in order to live here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:17 PM on January 14, 2008

I truly want to respect her request to not contact her.

Then do not contact her.

It's that simple, really.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 9:19 AM on January 12, 2008

Am I just being manipulated into coming back?

If you have to wonder if you're being manipulated, you are.

nthing what everyone else upthread said so eloquently.

This is a shitty situation.

This woman is taking advantage of you. I'd wager that she doesn't think of you as a separate human being, but more as an extension of herself.

A little bit... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 10:53 AM on January 6, 2008

Not exactly taming the shrew, it's more like tolerating her.

The very title of your question belies your description of her as a friend.

Friends are people whose company you enjoy, whom you actively seek out.

You don't tolerate your friends. You like them. You love them.

"To tolerate" is the kind of verb you'd use to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 3:14 PM on January 6, 2008

Here is the web site of the Port of Progreso (Merida) translated into English which lists some freighter lines that run between Houston and Progreso, such as Maersk Mexico.

You can always contact them to see if they take passengers on that route.

Hope this helps.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:58 PM on December 12, 2007

For us, the falsity of a judgment is no objection to that judgment—that’s where our new way of speaking sounds perhaps most strange. The question is the extent to which it makes demands on life, sustains life, maintains the species—perhaps even creates species. And we are even ready to assert that the falsest judgments (to which a priori synthetic judgments belong) are the most indispensable to us, that without our allowing logical fictions to count, without a way of measuring... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 10:06 PM on December 5, 2007 marked best answer

Head to Chinatown -- the Manhattan Chinatown.

They'll hook you up with some cheap meat and fish.

There are also several stores devoted to the sale of various jerkies. Pork, beef, etc. I wouldn't call it cheap. The market price appeared to be about $16 a pound. But it's certainly easier to obtain there than in other parts of the city.

New Beef King.

Ling... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:14 PM on November 25, 2007

Western Beef doesn't have the best quality meats but their prices are pretty reasonable.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:52 AM on November 26, 2007

You need to add more variety to your workout regimen. You should do this to make it compelling enough to hold your interest and also to keep it productive. When your workout becomes as predictable as your morning commute, it's going to be lame and you're not going to want to do it, especially on those days when your energy and motivation are low. Also, your body will adapt to a stimulus, if that stimulus is repeated day after day, at which point the exercise won't provide the same results as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 9:26 AM on November 16, 2007 marked best answer

What's wrong with my girlfriend? I've recently become aware of what seems to be self-obsession and a nasty mean streak.

You just answered your own question.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:48 AM on November 15, 2007

(Either one of those two traits by itself would be a deal-breaker for me.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:49 AM on November 15, 2007

There is a rare genetic disorder out there called Fatal Familial Insomnia which causes the sufferer to die from lack of sleeping. One day, in middle age, you abruptly lose the ability to sleep. And that's it. You never sleep again. Eventually, the sleep debt kills you.

FFI in the New York Times.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 7:22 AM on November 12, 2007

High school was traumatic and I had no friends.

If they spent four years in your company and decided not to befriend you, why would you waste a perfectly useful evening and your hard-earned dollars trying to get them to change their minds? What exactly do you hope to gain by attending this event?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 8:55 AM on November 9, 2007

I need examples of things and secrets only a very in the know sort of person would know about . . . I am writing a story where the main character is very cool.

Invent some things. You're writing a story, right? You're not bound by the vulgar conventions of the real world. Go buck-wild. You're the lord and master of that realm; you can do anything.

According to some of the web accounts I've seen, the rumors about... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 5:32 PM on November 7, 2007

How do I make time for self-cultivation amidst the never-ending responsibilities of normal life?

Your decision to pursue a real education, to aim for the best that our culture has produced is pretty much a decision not to lead a normal life.

With that in mind, why not reframe those "never-ending responsibilities?" How much of your time and headspace are you going to devote to them? Are they really that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jason's_planet at 12:51 PM on November 2, 2007