Assuming you're allowed to use your cell in between calls, I recommend subscribing to a few RSS feeds for short bursts of reading. Picking up and dropping off the same materiel over and over again can get tedious.

Not sure if it's available in print where you are, but a brief stint in a call center in college was made bearable only by The Onion.

Seconding crosswords and answering Ask MeTa queries.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 3:51 PM on July 17, 2008

I found this list of providers a minute ago. Some are giving discounts to TWC/Verizon customers left in the dark.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 4:37 PM on June 25, 2008

Ah, I completely missed this relevant and recent posting on the blue. Check it out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 5:15 AM on June 26, 2008

Is there a reason I should invest in a plan that has SSL?

Also, read the comments in the above post on the "death" of usenet from the blue a few weeks back. Gorgeous and classic.

Metafilter really is what I wanted usenet to be 10 years ago. I wonder if, 20 years from now, Metafilter will suffer a similar fate and evolve into a porn/warez delivery system built over a social community and dipped in secret sauce?
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 5:49 AM on June 26, 2008

Something I am finding helpful is to keep a daily journal. Write whatever you want in it, but be sure to devote at least a small portion to what you did that day and what you are going to do tomorrow or the next week. Don't think of it as an extension of your endless to-do list, but as something separate. An overview of your life including your responsibilities.

When you fall really far behind, a lengthy to-do list eventually reaches a point of no return. I would look... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 10:00 AM on June 17, 2008

I used to get a lot of writing done at Oslo coffee in Williamsburg. No wifi = no technogeek beepers and wires to trip over. Plus, they have phenomenal coffee and a friendly staff in a quiet corner of brooklyn. Just don't go during the weekends or any time in the early mornings. It's overrun with hipsters and their little children wearing ironic baby shirts in their SUV-like strollers. Oslo won't be silent, but no where in the city will, save for the occasional museum. Here's a list of free ones... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:45 AM on June 17, 2008

Bonus points for anyone who knows of a way to watch major league games online (I ditched cable five-months ago).
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 8:19 AM on June 9, 2008

Yes, those conditions are acceptable for a cat. I would not recommend two however, since the smell, hair and overall level of activity - especially if you get young cats - could be a bit much for that small a space.

Most cats function well-enough on their own for long periods of time provided that you give the animal proper care and attention in the hours you're home. Also, cats are smart and will figure our your schedule pretty quickly, especially if you are the one... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 1:05 PM on May 26, 2008

jadepearl: Windows XP, OS X, & Ubuntu depending on where I am :)
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:23 AM on May 20, 2008

Remember the Milk
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 8:39 AM on May 20, 2008

Counter Culture Coffee's cupping and espresso trainings are excellent. I believe they have one in DC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 10:37 AM on April 9, 2008

Sweet Jesus, I wish we were using basecamp. But that's a bit too foreign for these folks. Sticky Notes can work as my to do list or just a document, I'm ok with that.

What I need is a central place for information sharing. Collaboration will be minimal, I mainly need an easy place where 6 other folks can go to to see a shared google spreadsheet that can be updated by me in real time. That's the functionality I'm looking for.

Really, I need to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:45 PM on March 29, 2008

Dreamweaver CS2 or CS3 is what you want. Big bulky and expensive. But it's also dead simple to use. Just try to learn CSS and HTML basics along the way as Dreamweaver makes it almost too easy to make web pages just by dragging and dropping.

I'd also invest in Lynda.com's Dreamweaver tutorial DVD. The cost is moderate, but you'll be making web sites after a week of solid work with their web videos.

1) Depends on the website. Static websites (this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:07 AM on March 19, 2008

Oh, if you want to update the site regularly and your needs are not all that much then you should consider Wordpress or some similar CMS as unixrat suggested.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:10 AM on March 19, 2008

You'll be fine. I'm guessing from your lifestyle that you're a young man and, as such, your body will be able to handle pretty much anything you throw at it.

Is it heasthy? No. Is it a good idea? No. Will it make you healthier or help you loose weight? No.

Will it kill/hurt you? No.

Also, when it comes to wierd eating schedules, what you're eating is much more important than when or how much you eat.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 8:59 AM on March 19, 2008

1965 - 1980. But areas with a younger demographic, like mine, will sometimes play stuff from 1995. But anything from 1985 - 1995 is debatable.

I've considered switching to the oldies station frequently now that Soul Asylum is considered "classic."
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 6:59 PM on March 16, 2008

Abiword is a nice word replacement as well. Not quite as fully functioning as OpenOffice's word processor, but easier to use.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 2:51 PM on March 16, 2008

My girlfriend had bad cluster headaches and migraines... still does from time to time. But they didn't involve epidermal pain like you're describing.

I hate to be such a downer, but I speak from experience with your current problem. There are no answers to headaches. Doctors will begin to prescribe whatever scattershot remedies they think might lessen the pain, frequency or duration of the headaches. But you'll be lucky if they do more good than harm.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 3:01 PM on March 15, 2008

Yikes, I never cease to be astounded at the amount of bad advice given here on matters of credit.

1) Get a credit card, but not a student credit card. NEVER get anything marketed to students. That's asking to be taken advantage of. You have no income, moderate debt, and very little savings. Anything you would qualify for would be a scam set up to take advantage of poor young.
2) Don't get a credit card until you have job. Seriously.
3) If you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 7:51 AM on March 15, 2008 marked best answer

jacquilynne: Students are both poor and bad credit risks.

Secured credit cards are an excellent, and sometimes the only, way to build up your credit as a young person with little savings and no real credit history. Get in to trouble with one of these and you have the initial deposit to fall back on. No scam.

Get one from a credit union and eventually you will qualify for one of their credit cards, probably at a much better rate than you're... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 11:09 AM on March 15, 2008

Why do you think credit card companies set up tents on the quad? Is it because they want to see you succeed? No! They want you get a credit card, spend spend spend while you're on the government or mommy/daddy's dime and then when graduation rolls around and the job offers don't come rolling in like you thought they would, you miss a few payments and POW, interest rates go through the roof. They prey on the vulnerable. EVIL.fucking.credit.companies.

The way to beat the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 1:45 PM on March 15, 2008

Facts and Statistics

Students and Credit Cards:
* In 2001, fully 83% of all undergraduates had at least one credit card, with the average student carrying four.
* 71% of young adult cardholders do not pay off their balance in full each month compared to 55% of all cardholders.
* Balances among college student consumers have shot up 134% in the last decade.
* College seniors are graduating with an average of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 2:47 PM on March 15, 2008

Nashville is better. Nowhere near as much fun, but a better choice all around. LA is a tough place to live. You really need to be rich or young and willing to live VERY cheap in order to make it. On the upside, you'll have a blast in LA. It's just that LA is a lot like DC and parts of Manhattan in that it's a "make it" city where there are a lot of young talented people gunning for the same few opportunities and willing do anything to succeed. Everyone's hungry and everyone knows... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:01 AM on March 15, 2008

Oh, also check out peripheral places for singer songwriters.

Athens, GA
Chapel Hill, NC
Boston, MA
Omaha, NE
Austin, TX
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
or a handful of other towns/cities with established scenes.

I forgot to ask you if you're just beginning your career. If so, stay away from LA and Nashville, at least for now. Life is long and both of those places will be there in 5 - 10 years when you're on the verge of busting through.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:06 AM on March 15, 2008

Yeh, I was thinking of making a stink about that, but it's my fault for not reading the lease closely enough. I have a google-cash of the advertisement which included lawn maintenance still saved on my hard drive. I suppose that's another question, should I press the property manager on this?
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 7:57 AM on March 15, 2008

I loved The Corner. You should check it out if only because half the cast of the wire is in it. Fair warning, it is even more bleak and depressing than the Wire.

I don't know how it will be to watch these other two shows only after seeing the Wire. I see the Wire as a perfect combination of everything that worked in Homicide and the Corner.

Homicide: Life on the Streets was the best cop show until the Wire came around. Sure, it's not as gritty or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:03 PM on March 10, 2008

jack_mo: Yes, check out the Subway episode from 1997. It will be everything you need to know about the show.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:06 PM on March 10, 2008

Telemarketing for a reputable firm or a non profit. That's what I'd recommend. Good money if you're good at it. Flexible hours. Lots of political and non-profit work in DC for capable professional phone folks. I can recommend one for you if you'd like.

Tutoring is another great option if you're academically inclined and don't mind kids. There are always underachieving rich kids with pushy parents in the district. Craigslist is, of course, the way to go for that one. You... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 6:21 PM on March 6, 2008

The only windows XP cd I found was for a different computer, a laptop from 6 or 7 years ago I think. Will that do?
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:20 PM on February 27, 2008

Oh hell, now I need to know the administrator password? I suppose there's no quick workaround for that is there? It's doubtful that my girlfriend would know that one either.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:24 PM on February 27, 2008

Guessed it!
Yes #1

Zed Lopez, that fixed it!
Yes #2

Relationship... saved.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:26 PM on February 27, 2008

You seem to want to review the scene in various towns, correct? I recommend naming it along those lines. Scenester would be a good name, despite its negative connotations in many circles. Perhaps scenerific?
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 6:13 PM on February 24, 2008

travel/mini board games, a few good paperbacks, iPod, good earphones (with some sort of noise cancellation if you can afford it).
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 5:23 PM on February 24, 2008

Here is what you're looking for, I think. Click on whatever picture you fancy and select "full-size" above the picture. Save the pic and then you're on your merry way. Good luck!
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 6:15 AM on February 21, 2008 marked best answer

Options to contribute to the field? Sadly, not many.

You're right on all accounts that, without formal education, no one will take you seriously in academic circles.

However, although you may not ever get published (and you would never be published with just an undergraduate degree anyhow) that doesn't mean that you cannot contribute to the field.

My idea: Start a blog, create an online community and contribute in any... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 2:16 PM on February 20, 2008

As usual, Lifehacker has your answer.

In short, it requires that you set up hotmail and gmail in outlook and then using IMAP to sych them all.

Good luck!
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:59 AM on February 10, 2008

You should vote for whoever you want to be president. If you're a Dem, vote Dem... Clinton or Obama (or Gravel).

buddha9090: I would suggest you ignore the polls - they have been notoriously unreliable this primary season

Nor quite true. Polling provides.
snapshot in time and not a predictor of the future. The polls have generally been accurate. NH polling was less an error than it was a reflection of Obama's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 10:43 AM on January 30, 2008

Hmmmm, all of these are wonderful bits of advice. Indispensable stuff. I appreciate it and it will undoubtedly help, however it is not exactly what I'm in search of.

I have a lot to talk about. What I read today on MetaFilter & ALDaily alone could start enough conversations to last the month. My problem is executing the conversation in a succinct and engaging manner.

I'm moving to a new city at the end of the month and I'm afraid that my... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 11:03 AM on January 19, 2008

Whole Foods will have a variety of fake Bacon products for vegetarians. The bacon flavor is easy to reproduce and most varieties found at whole foods do a decent job of it. Remember, BacoBits (the stuff at salad bars) isn't real bacon either. You should be fine with any of the Whole Foods products.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 6:41 AM on December 30, 2007

Joss Whedon: Has never had a hit show. Buffy and Angel barely hung on for most of their runs.

That's not quite right. If you view these things in absolute terms, no Joss Whedon has not had a hit show- like E.R.

However, Buffy was the centrepiece of the WB's lineup for many many years as they tried to outfox FOX in appealing to the younger demo. Buffy was on the cover of national magazines, there were toys and sountracks and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 8:01 PM on November 18, 2007

Ugh. Buffy was on for 6 seasons and switched networks after its fourth. From Wikipedia.

The WB (1997–2001)
UPN (2001–2003)
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 8:05 PM on November 18, 2007

If they are sports fans, even in the slightest bit, I'd recommend tickets to NC State, Duke, or (preferably) Carolina basketball. It's the best basketball in the country and a great experience.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 6:40 PM on November 13, 2007

No such group exists as far as I can tell. The lawyers and judges in Pakistan are keepers of the law and Musharraf's actions undermine their profession, democracy, and rule of law in general. This has resulted in massive protests over the last few months by those who work in the law.
It will be difficult to do anything other than express solidarity with the movement, an important action to be sure.
So Start Something!
I used to organize things like this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 7:47 AM on November 5, 2007

You can get a great lightweight and thin used laptop on craigslist in any major city. Even a three or four year old model will be fine for almost anything you need on Ubuntu. Then you simply wipe the Hard Drive and install whatever OS you like.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 8:11 AM on November 3, 2007

Annapolis or DC. Since I've lived in both AND went to college in Greensboro (briefly) I feel well qualified to answer this question. Whatever you do, leave Greensboro as frequently as possible.

Come on up to DC for a good time in the nation's capitol. Don't listen to the $$$ talk. DC's expensive if you're a moron who likes double-decker bus tours. Otherwise, if you play your cards right, you can get through your whole weekend on $500 without a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 5:41 PM on November 2, 2007

Are you political? If so, go work on a political campaign or two. Hillary and Obama are hiring like crazy now and you'll have the time of your life if you're ok with working your ass of and not getting paid very much.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 12:13 PM on October 28, 2007

What about the eggs cooked into Chinese food? Will they keep past a few days? I've thrown out decent leftovers for fear of bacterial baddies infesting my fried rice.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:26 PM on October 27, 2007

The GRE scores are fine but your GPA shows a lack of discipline and/or attention to your studies. That's how admissions staff at any school will see it. Beefing up your resume with solid work experience and perhaps some published research will help, but top programs like LSE, Harvard, MIT, McGill, etc. are concerned with scholarship and little else.

Perhaps you should set your sights a little lower. To achieve what you have outlined would be very difficult if you have... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 9:19 PM on October 27, 2007 marked best answer

I have not found a decent maid in DC, and believe me I've searched. I could go on and on about whom you should not use though. Most of all, I would say stay away from any company that contracts out their maid work. You'd be surprised how many cleaning companies do this.
I'd ask around town and stick with a local business that has a local reputation.

Check out some neighborhood bulletin boards, the physical ones rather than online. I've... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 5:34 PM on October 27, 2007

Are you a Democrat/Progressive? If so, send me an e-mail and I'll share with you a few listserves that cater to the progressive tech community in DC and elsewhere.
posted to Ask Metafilter by willie11 at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2007