Yeah, for me it's all diet. When I pay attention to my diet and eat high fiber, sometimes adding psyllium husk, I am quick comfortable, and clean. That's not to say I don't linger in the john, it's an excellent place to read. When I relax my diet my bathroom trips range anywhere from normal to frustratingly futile attempts to finish and clean up. Hydration and salt intake also play a role, as does the volume of food eaten. I have a 'friend' who made some homemade protein bars, which weren't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 8:04 AM on July 24, 2008

And then a large body of water to throw that sodium into.

I like the idea of the hand units. I used those, from a different vendor, in undergrad courses a lot; you can do a huge variety of projects with them, just be sure to research the models you buy well. I'd also suggest some nice infrared thermometers, scientific calculators if they're not already required by your school, a spectrophotometer would also be pretty cool, even a used older one from a local university/laboratory.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 5:10 PM on July 22, 2008

Oh, and whatever you decide to buy, try not to ever buy at list price. Call the customer service line for whatever vendor you choose and ask for the representative that covers your area. Then call that rep and introduce yourself and say that a someone at the local university gave you their name and that you're interested in X. Work with that rep to get a discounted price, it won't be as good as the local university/research lab gets but it should be better than list. Appeal to the rep's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 5:15 PM on July 22, 2008

I've had good luck removing the puffiness with lots of water intake and a little time. If you normally workout, and feel OK a good sweat may help, it'll also help you focus on the day - just don't go overboard and be sure to cool down and de-stress. Get started soon, and remain cool and calm. thinkingwoman is right on mixing sports drinks with water, you don't want the full strength sugar and salt they have, just enough to rebalance you system.

Have fun today. I've... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:26 AM on July 19, 2008

If it was printed somewhere, and you got a manager to understand the concept, the company would just point to the fine print of their ads that says "not responsible for misprints". Who knows who added that period? The artist? The sales manager? The layout guy? The printing company?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:57 PM on July 17, 2008

sixcolorsPoster: "I did think about building plant stuff, especially in basements or bottom floors...but some areas appear to be something completely different. The closed off areas in the library and education building have keyless entries and opaque windows on the doors."

Ask administrators of those schools/buildings. The world isn't so horrible a place that you're going to be disappeared for asking what's in a room, when you have access... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:17 PM on July 17, 2008

I waste so much time playing solitaire on my iPod. It's not really that fun and the interface kinda sucks, but it's available and it beats just sitting doing nothing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 12:06 PM on July 17, 2008

If you're accepting 'Minority Report" you have to accept hacking the Gibson in 'Hackers'. Better: Whistler playing with a Braille interface in 'Sneakers'.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:20 PM on July 13, 2008

A scavenger hunt with lots and lots and lots of blatantly obvious clues/answers (that can be found by more than one group, like find "an oak leaf") plus a decent collection of pretty hard clues that are worth a lot more. Then the teams have to reason between getting a ton of the easy clues that everyone else is going to get or just a few of the really hard and high value clues.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 3:20 PM on July 11, 2008

Is this it? It's certainly not the original, but are the lyrics the same?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:35 PM on July 9, 2008

Ten minutes! Nuts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:35 PM on July 9, 2008

Read about and stuff by Ray Kurzweil. I think he's pretty smart and on the money about some stuff, and he is devoted to living to the Singularity. But read the nutrition section on the wikipedia page for some far out stuff he does to extend his life until we reach immorality through technology.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 11:50 AM on July 9, 2008

Robson: "Vice Magazine's compilation of their fashion Dos and Don'ts."

Ha! I read their site for that same reason when I'm wasting time on the net. I didn't know there was a book format available! Without having read it I'll second that book then.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 10:29 AM on July 9, 2008

"Just Dial a Number" by Edith Maxwell? Read the first review on this Amazon page makes it sound exactly like what you remember, but there's not a lot of information out there about it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:12 AM on July 9, 2008 marked best answer

Sub, Midwest.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 8:40 AM on July 8, 2008

Check farm supply stores. Bam!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 7:12 AM on July 4, 2008 marked best answer

I rarely browse bookstores, I go to buy a specific book I want, or maybe to compare a few when I don't have an exact title in mind.So the ability to have pretty much any book (new or used) into my hands within the week, is very important to me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:45 AM on July 4, 2008

I've used t-mobile prepaid for years and it has suited me fine. It's cheap, flat rate/minute and I think it does do roaming as sometimes a different provider appears on my phone's screen, but I can still make/get calls.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 10:47 AM on July 3, 2008

Arthur Bryant's is great, Gates is pretty good, the Nelson-Atkins museum is there, there is a zoo and other cool stuff at Swope Park. If you're gonna hit up a bar there are some cool, some mediocre and some divy type bars in Westport. I've never been to the Power and Light District, but it's really not my kind of place I tend to frequent the low end bars in Westport, there are also tons of places to eat there. I highly recommend Jerusalem Cafe. 39th Street just North of Wesport also has cool... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 10:20 AM on July 3, 2008

Oh, if you're into pizza Waldo's is the best, Minsky's is good too. Heading out to Lawrence is a good idea, it's summer so most of the students are gone and it's a bit more relaxed.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 10:32 AM on July 3, 2008

Oh, pick up a free copy of The Pitch from a shop and check it for many many more ideas. Never been to the Crossroads, but it's something.

Here's some stuff a sales rep from the area forwarded to all his clients. Sorry for the formatting.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 10:43 AM on July 3, 2008

What comics strips specifically? Lots of comics, especially those created by Mort Walker are written/drawn by teams that have worked on other comics with other artists and even with relatives. The authors/creators know each other and have worked together, they could very well be adding these hidden bits to comics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 9:00 AM on July 2, 2008

How big are the fish you're eating? I absolutely detest large sardines (bigger than about 3 inches long), but I absolutely love smaller fish especially canned in the cheap mustard that most manufacturers provide.

Take a mustard coated sardine, apply to a saltine cracker, enjoy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 7:47 PM on July 1, 2008

Estrous
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:46 PM on July 1, 2008

I just finished Larson's Thunderstruck and I thought it was very good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 9:12 PM on June 29, 2008

Would she be cool with getting ordained?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 2:38 PM on June 24, 2008

Tons of people are going to tell you never to drink a specific type of beer, or brand, or regional brew or whatever. Screw them. Drink everything you can get you hands on and find stuff YOU like. If anyone ever gives you shit, online or in real life, about drinking a specific beer look them in the eyes, take another drink and say "Dude. It's just a beer." put your arm around your wife and bask in the glory of the unpretentious life you've built for yourself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 5:08 PM on June 22, 2008

catcatwomanmanPoster: "OP here - I should mention that I live in the beer capital of America. Yep, St Louis. Home of Bud and toasted ravioli.

Can anyone recommend beer I've find locally?"

SCHAFLY PALE ALE FTW!!!!!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 5:46 PM on June 22, 2008

He could use the iTunes Store shopping cart. Browse through the library and click the little arrow that takes you to the music store, add the album to the cart, return to the library and do the same for the next album. Then go to your shopping cart and look at the total.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:21 AM on June 20, 2008

Are you sure it's not This American Life? This story sounds like it. "Act One. Ich...Bin...Ein...Mophead"
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 2:56 PM on June 16, 2008

All of the above, but also this: a person interested in identity fraud may not be up to sifting through bag after bag of people's trash looking for an SSN themselves. However, they can easily offer a tweaker 5 bucks per number found, and there are plenty of addicts out there who would happily spend hours and hours sifting through your junk knowing a fix was just a short time away. It's easy and safe, a much better option than a lot of people have for feeding their dependence.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 2:15 PM on June 15, 2008

Alternatively, does anyone have any quick and easy destruction method for about 50 pounds of paper that doesn't require the ability to burn or shred and can happen without paying some professional?

Fill giant plastic tub with water, soak a pound or two of paper at a time for several hours until it becomes absolute pulp. Mix or agitate until there's not a hint of intact paper left. Filter out pulp, add more paper.

Bonus, make... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 2:19 PM on June 15, 2008

Check out the ingredient search on Allreipes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 7:11 PM on June 14, 2008

Thanks folks, I'll check out those links. And yeah, I too am looking forward to Totenberg's reports, she is primarily responsible for getting me hooked on the court.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 8:51 AM on June 14, 2008

You can take it to a locksmith and ask them. You can also report it to the police, but be sure to make it clear that you found it and it is not yours. Possession of picks in some states is illegal for non locksmith types. If you haven't handled it too much the police might want to fingerprint it, or your door if there is reason to believe a break in was attempted.

Have there been similar events in the area? The police would know.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 7:45 AM on June 11, 2008

And yeah, it's far easier to smash a window and get into a house than it is to risk being seen picking a lock. It could be some people, who don't know much about what they're doing, getting thrills by trying to break into places without being caught. That's still a crime.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 7:48 AM on June 11, 2008

You can cook them fully. I understand the east coast is baking in some nasty heat, but you could certainly make a hot dish and be OK.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 2:29 PM on June 10, 2008

Thomas Hart Benton?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:10 PM on June 9, 2008

So, is the calorie count in any way accurate? How do I test it without spending lots of money?

It's a guess. If it's a good guess its calculated with decently researched equations. Google calories burned per hour and stuff like that for an idea of the wild variability of equations people are using for this kind of thing. Some running sites say I should burn 100 calories/mile at a moderate pace, but I've seen others that claim it's close to 300.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 4:20 PM on June 9, 2008

Yeah, keeping score makes games a lot more interesting. It's kind of odd, but it works. It would also be a good way to expose yourself to all the stats available to play with.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 8:09 AM on June 9, 2008

Close calls are what convinced me that wearing a helmet in traffic is a good idea. I hope your child never even has a close call, but perhaps you could put him in touch with riders/skaters who have been in accidents or just really scared. Speaking as a former 14 year old boy, it's a lot easier to accept and follow advice when it comes from just about anyone other than your mom.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 9:54 PM on June 6, 2008

Whoa, I totally second Gular's advice to expose him to the injured. That comment just reminded me of something my mother used to say all the time about being safe. It was that if I were ever in an accident and left paralyzed she would keep me at home and take care of me for the rest of my life. Most boys will have a pretty visceral repulsion to the idea of their mother bathing and feeding them by spoon for the next sixty years. She never went into detail about injury or care to be provided,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 10:02 PM on June 6, 2008

Yeah I remember those bases, not covering the whole lower half just 3-4 inches. They made the bottles more stable, but really were an enormous waste of plastic.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 1:18 PM on June 5, 2008

I've mentioned it before, I find Tank Riot hilarious. They cover EVERYTHING!
sorry, I was going to fill out "everything" with links, but those examples and the main page will tell you all you need.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 7:07 PM on May 31, 2008

I've seen one launch, and it was a night/early AM launch. It was a whole lot of delays, family threatening/begging to go home and then it finally took off.

It was all amazingly worth it even from my vantage point miles away. I was watching a site lit by the flood lights from miles away expecting to see nothing and for hours saw nothing. Countdown reached 0 and everything got awesome. We couldn't make out any details, but just being able to see the enormous rising... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:42 PM on May 31, 2008

From other people's descriptions I bet I was in Titusville as well. We watched the launch from a park, and were separated from the site by a body of water. There were tons of other people who had been there long before we got there, and it was a public area of some sort. Just to emphasize, I was miles away and was still stunned.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:47 PM on May 31, 2008

I'd go with Apple's online store if those refurbished models are still in your price range. Otherwise I'll second Powermax. I've only purchased from them once, but they were very nice, very helpful, and even months after the sale were eager to help me deal with Apple on an issue that came up.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:21 AM on May 31, 2008

Valley of the Wolves
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 9:54 AM on May 30, 2008 marked best answer

All of those answers are straight on, really they are, every single one of them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 6:12 PM on May 29, 2008

Billy Collins may be too harsh, but I loved this poem a whole hell of a lot. The last two lines make it clear that it's written by a dog lover.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Science! at 11:02 AM on May 29, 2008 marked best answer