Address it now--don't wait. And don't make a big deal about it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 2:09 PM on July 25, 2008

When I was a UCLA student I had a few friends in the screenwriting program. They all were very pleased with the coursework, the professors, the advising, and the connections they were able to make. One got a great internship cum full-time job and the others are doing quite well freelancing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 3:04 PM on July 23, 2008

It happens to me a couple times a week, always when I'm on my stomach. It doesn't really cause me any concern, but it has startled my bed partners.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 3:02 PM on July 23, 2008

I have been having wonderful experiences hosting couchsurfers and I'd highly recommend you try it. There are many couchsurfers over the age of 35, though the majority of the participants are younger. Browse the site and see if it interests you. There are plenty of users closer to your age who are happy to host.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 5:07 PM on July 22, 2008

I guess you can be car-free in LA, but you'd feel like a prisoner.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:58 PM on July 22, 2008

All of Feist's videos make me smile.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:18 PM on July 21, 2008

Check your sheets for tiny red blood spots, which come from bed bugs getting squished when you shift in bed at night.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 6:32 PM on July 20, 2008

There's some useful info in this NY Times piece.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 6:37 PM on July 20, 2008

There's a Playboy channel on Sirius satellite radio. Not sure how steamy it is, though. Might just be a bunch of buxom women talking about achieving their dream when they were featured in the pages of the magazine.

A search for "erotic audio" brought me to this: http://www.eroticast.net/
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 6:35 PM on July 20, 2008

I could eat gruyere for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What about some fresh mazzarella? People who have only had string cheese mazzarella are always pleasantly surprised when they try fresh mazz. Provelone, while it has a great texture, doesn't have much flavor, so I'd skip it if you're trying to introduce people to something new and exciting.

I like the butter idea, too. Buy or make a couple compound butters to add some extra flavor.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:48 PM on July 19, 2008

My memory of The Wave is foggy because I read it in junior high, but it sounds to me like it's the book you're thinking of.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:21 PM on July 19, 2008

We covered the basic tenets of major world religions in my high school philosophy class. Mythology, esp. Greek and Roman, is addressed in the high school English-Language Arts content standards in California.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 1:57 PM on July 19, 2008

If it's about spaceships, aliens, or Republicans I won't read it. If the dialogue is contrived, aimless, or flat I won't read it. If it's written by Nora Roberts, Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, or James Patterson I won't read it. Books by those authors alone account for almost 50% of the shit that's on the shelves at bookstores.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 2:57 PM on July 18, 2008

Teachers who are meant to teach are the happiest people I know, and teachers who aren't meant to teach are the most miserable creatures on earth. People who are meant to teach know they're meant to teach.

Does your husband realize he'll need to take a year of full-time classes to get his certification? When he starts student teaching he will have no time for anything else. When I student taught, I had to plan lessons, teach those lessons, grade... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:52 AM on July 18, 2008

Workshops, by the way, are not that onerous. I spend about a week per year at mandatory workshops.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:54 AM on July 18, 2008

Beirut

Girly? Huh?
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:22 AM on July 18, 2008

Some of these suggestions from a previous AskMe might help you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:15 AM on July 18, 2008

A former boyfriend used to keep a block of ice in the freezer and press it against my back when it was time for me to jump out of bed. Brutal, but effective.

You're caffeine free, but what if you get a coffee pot with a timer that will automatically brew a cup of herbal tea at a certain time every morning? That might give you something to look forward to and will entice you out of bed. Fill the reservoir with 6-8 ounces of water and drop a tea bag into the carafe. Presto.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:30 AM on July 18, 2008

If 10 years of professional speech therapy didn't improve your speech, I don't know what someone can suggest on MetaFilter that would help. An inability to pronounce r's properly might be something you have to accept about yourself, just as Barbara Walters and everyone from Boston has done.

a co-worker of mine assumed I was from England without asking me because she said I "sounded" like I was from England

You... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:30 PM on July 17, 2008

My grandfather's friend signed him up for monthly sausage deliveries from sausageheaven.com. He loved it, but had to terminate his club membership because his doctor told him sausage isn't renal diet-friendly.

Or you can just give your friend a Playgirl calendar.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 9:03 AM on July 17, 2008

I should add that my grandfather isn't a foodie and thinks Stauffer's frozen dinners are the height of haute cuisine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 9:06 AM on July 17, 2008

Mary Poppins. Blech.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:20 AM on July 17, 2008

Float On by Modest Mouse.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:13 PM on July 16, 2008

This post in the Blue has some good stuff.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 1:54 PM on July 16, 2008

Ebay. I have found so many cheap mags there. I have a ton of subscriptions thanks to Ebay. Time=$6 for 5 years, Harper's=$12 for 3 years, Atlantic Monthly=$9 for 4 years, American Prospect=$6 for 3 years. I only got scammed once and I've bought about 50 subscriptions over the past 5 years.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:56 AM on July 16, 2008

Oh, I also bought a multiyear sub to the New Yorker on Ebay for less than $10 a couple of years ago. All mags take at least 4 weeks to get started.

Rolling Stone used to offer a lifetime subscription for $99. Call customer service to check it out at (212) 484-1616.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 11:01 AM on July 16, 2008

Layers would look nice, but don't create a layer of butter cream, pudding, or anything else dairy based. I doubt freezing would make any difference, as it would thaw in no time, esp. given the low density of cake.

*Crossing my fingers and hoping I'm the Mefi recipient of your cake*
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 5:17 PM on July 13, 2008

I have a great idea that I learned in a workshop for teachers of writing. Break students up into groups of 5 to 8. Give each person a different photograph of a person, preferably a magazine advertisement with a sheet of paper paperclipped to the back. Then ask the students a question about the person and give them one or two minutes to write one sentence. For example: What does s/he do for a living? Where does s/he want to go on vacation? What does s/he do for fun? What is s/he afraid of?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:43 PM on July 13, 2008

Here's another:
Write down a bunch of words on post-its that are different in degree but related. For example: scalding, burning, hot, warm, simmering, tepid, cool, lukewarm, brisk, cold, freezing, frigid. Give one word to everyone. Everyone stands up and works together to put the words in order on the wall or chalkboard. It's called a linear array. They all have to discuss why they think the words should be placed in a certain order and negotiate the placement with their peers.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:48 PM on July 13, 2008

Your predicament is similar to one in which I found myself several years ago. My younger sister was getting involved with using a lot of drugs, driving drunk, hanging around with pond scum-types. When it was time for her to graduate from high school, my mother asked me if I could take her on a trip and have a heart-to-heart with her because she thought I was the only one who would be able talk some sense into her. (Incidentally, you probably should disregard this comment for the time being.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:32 PM on July 13, 2008

Get out of his way like you would an oncoming train. Hide your wallet, car keys, valuables. Keep your doors locked. Be supportive, but never bail him out or rescue him. He has not hit bottom yet and as heartless as it may sound you must get out of the way. Just do it, don't try to rationalize or reason with him. Sorry, that is all I can offer.

Agreed. But always make yourself available to listen.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:34 PM on July 13, 2008

My girlfriend wants to bring her chinchilla to our apartment

So the chinchilla is currently living in an apartment of its own? Lucky bastard.

Can you hang the cage from something, similar to a birdcage setup? Like this.

What's the best way of cleaning this poison out of our sink?

Bleach.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:14 PM on July 13, 2008

Maybe you should check with a tax prep expert to see how much supplemental income it would take to bump you into a higher tax bracket. You don't want to waste your evenings and weekends working retail, only to discover on April 15 that you now have to pay a hell of lot more in taxes. It might make a difference in deciding what type of work you'd be willing to put up with. Do you want to work at Target, for example, and net less than minimum wage? Probably not.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 4:05 PM on July 13, 2008

I felt like I was the best version of myself when I took ecstasy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 3:52 PM on July 13, 2008

I download Howard Stern a few times a week. The guy has a knack for making anyone he speaks with more interesting than they actually are.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:54 AM on July 13, 2008

My bank charges me a fee for using convenience checks because they're treated as cash advances. Careful.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 10:54 AM on July 12, 2008

The best Mexican food is at a place called Monte Alban in West LA on Santa Monica Blvd. It's Oaxacan and it's amazing. You must must must try the mole.

Massaman curry from President Thai in Pasadena.

Merkato, an Ethiopian restaurant in Little Ethiopia on Fairfax.

The Farmers Market on Fairfax.

The view from the Getty, Runyon Canyon, Mt. Hollywood Trail

Hiking through... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 1:30 PM on July 6, 2008

Giant evening picnic and film screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It's really grown over the past couple of years, so get there 1-2 hours early. So fun. Bring wine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 7:10 PM on July 6, 2008

The Central Library and its courtyard
The Bradbury building downtown
Background Briefing hosted by Ian Masters on 90.7 every Sunday morning from 11-1 is the best public affairs show on TV or radio.
Writer's Bloc
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 7:15 PM on July 6, 2008

Track lighting, comfy chairs, knowledgeable staff, more than bestsellers in inventory, warm colors
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 7:10 AM on July 4, 2008

Exercise doesn't tighten skin. If you're already thin and having this problem, seems like cosmetic surgery is the only remedy. Gaining weight certainly won't help. You can try losing even more weight at the expense of looking gaunt and sickly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:43 PM on June 30, 2008

George Lucas has tried to add contour to his jaw with that beard, but instead it just looks like a random strip of hair in the middle of his neck. Not the most flattering look.
It does look like he has a goiter, but it must be fat because he surely can afford the medical care necessary to treat a goiter. If you're thin, you definitely won't ever look like that. Lucas has a very large fat deposit in his neck. The skin would probably still be loose if he lost weight, but it would... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:48 PM on June 30, 2008

If you need a free place to stay for a little while, you can check CouchSurfing. There are tons of us who are glad to let strangers stay on our couches.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 1:35 PM on June 30, 2008

There was a period when I wanted to pursue a move to Canada and found this book helpful. Unfortunately, there aren't enough Canadian jobs in my field, so I'm stuck in the ol' US.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 7:45 AM on June 29, 2008

Yes. Amy Sedaris on Letterman is a must watch.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 1:55 PM on June 26, 2008

Leno turns even the guests with great potential into snoozes. Rosie Perez is always funny and quirky, esp. with Conan.

And I agree with Zambrano re Howard Stern.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 1:58 PM on June 26, 2008

You can buy one of these puppies. After you use up the ice cream mix, you can throw juice into it and make slushies, make your own soft serve ice cream mix and whip it up, and even make soft serve frozen yogurt. What a fun way to spend the summer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 2:54 PM on June 25, 2008

Stuyvesant High is excellent, as is Hunter College's high school. Check out insideschools.org for some really helpful info on NYC public schools.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 8:54 PM on June 23, 2008

Respectfully: have you considered the possibility that she doesn't wish to be contacted?

We teachers relish any opportunity to hear from a former student, especially when s/he is doing well and thinks we had something to do with his or her success. Do whatever you can to find her and let her know how much she meant to you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 3:26 PM on June 23, 2008

I want to like coffee so I can use it to feed my caffeine habit

If you hate the taste so much, why not just keep drinking the liquids you do like and then chew caffeine gum or pop a caffeine pill?
posted to Ask Metafilter by HotPatatta at 6:36 PM on June 22, 2008