If you're not to straggly, you can try walking into a hotel and just tell them that your flight isn't for another few hours and if they'd be kind enough to hold your bag for you (basically under the premise that you are a guest).

If that doesn't work, try a museum. Most places you can check your bag in before entering the ticketed area, so you don't really need to see the museum (although you should). ..it's dirty, but that's what a broke backpacker is, right?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 5:38 PM on July 2, 2008 marked best answer

Good call on the Imageshack, here's the space in question.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:45 AM on June 6, 2008

Are atriums just open spaces, or are they open spaces located in the center of the building? I always thought it was the latter.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 12:03 PM on June 6, 2008

Atrium it is.

My own definition has always been something like a wide-open receiving space, which is why I was so hesitant to use atrium for this side space.

optovox, I haven't studied there enough, but personally I haven't noticed the sounds of footsteps as you move away from the atrium. And in the end, I feel the spirit of the space outweighs any cons 'cause the few times I go there, it always makes me feel really studious.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:24 PM on June 6, 2008

IANAMeFiFemale, but the Social Issues Research Centre's Guide to Flirting has been linked multiple times in previous threads.

Might gain something out of it, but the best way is to just go out. Listen to all the female advice here but realize you're still gonna crash like a B-2 stealth bomber in Guam at some point.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:58 AM on June 6, 2008

I'd leave an actual comment on the photo page.. sometimes it's hard to see that little envelope in the upper-right. And if you still don't get a response, the Nikonians forum is a better place to field your question.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 2:03 AM on May 1, 2008

Six months, is listed on the official Canadian citizenship and immigration website.

The re-entry thing is another matter.. some Google Groups thread mentions that it's what the border patrol guard believes are your intentions. So if you're making monthly business runs, I don't think it'll be a problem, but if you're consistently popping back and forth only bi-annually, they'll think something's up.

(I'm not an immigration lawyer, etc.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:26 PM on April 30, 2008

Thank you PinkButterfly.. it's been bugging me for the past hour or so.

stefanie, my friend uses punchy, too, but delirium was the one on my tongue.

Thanks everyone!
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 10:45 PM on April 29, 2008

^fwiw, each Borders books has a unique barcode. Pick up two copies of the same book and you'll see this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 2:58 PM on April 29, 2008

Gerard, yeah. I dunno if Borders would take a book that didn't have their sticker without a second look.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 8:13 PM on April 29, 2008

And they all would have lived happily ever after... except she died in childbirth, screaming his name, as he crashes his motorcycle trying to be by her side at the hospital - yes, the same motorcycle that saved them earlier when they escaped their captors. The End.

krippledkonscious, I must know the name of this movie.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 5:27 PM on April 29, 2008

1) Check out IndiaMike if you haven't already. The Indian Railways section is most useful.

2) Stay in Pahar Ganj if you want to meet up with other backpackers and travel from there, otherwise stay in Connaught Place (CP) and do your own thing.

3) Take the metro/subway in Delhi. There's a stop at the western end of Pahar Ganj and it'll take you into CP and most of the other places as well.

When I first arrived in Delhi... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 12:28 AM on April 28, 2008

Santa Monica College offers two sections for the summer. Unfortunately, they're both Monday-Thursday classes (don't know what your schedule's like).

Check their summer schedule for the CS classes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:09 PM on April 16, 2008

Can't picture the exact move, but are you talking about dive bombers?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 10:00 PM on April 16, 2008

Dive bombers are a good upper-body workout, but they won't due anything for your lower-body at all. I'm not doing them regularly anymore, but when I did, they worked the triceps more than a regular push-up along with the shoulder muscles at a different angles.

When you first start out, see how your elbows, shoulders, wrists feel. Also be careful of your back when you're in that up-dog position.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 10:42 PM on April 16, 2008

Would you mind posting an example photo for those of us more visually-inclined?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 7:16 PM on April 10, 2008

^ the subjects are too far away.

kindall's advice is pretty much it. You're gonna end up with blown out skies and soft edges, though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 7:30 PM on April 10, 2008

If you're handy in Photoshop, shoot at the lowest possible ISO (which shouldn't be a problem), do it in RAW, and actually underexpose. The reason being is that you can recover underexposed pixels, whereas white pixels (overexposed) will just be white (no data). Later on in Photoshop, you can lighten up the areas that need to be lightened.

What mode are you shooting in? I'd also play with the AE-lock on your camera if you're shooting aperture-priority, or fully auto.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 7:43 PM on April 10, 2008

More comics..

xkcd - geeky/cute humor (nothing too profane, and updated M,W,F)
Married to the Sea - nerdy/geeky and always dark, crude, and sarcastic (hit or miss)
Toothpaste for dinner - just good all around, love the crude drawing style

There's also an old online comic using stick figures very similar to explosm, but I can't think of the name off the top of my head (old like y2k old).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:28 AM on April 1, 2008 marked best answer

als129, "seller's market" meaning that you're the seller and odds are in your favor.

"Hey, I'm kinda hungry, you feel like grabbing a bite with me?" And if he's brought his lunch, then set a date for next week. That, or just grab his tie in the hallway and push him into the office pantry.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 7:07 PM on March 26, 2008 marked best answer

Don't have one, but Charles Schwab offers a high-yield checking account that claims that they'll pay any ATM fees you incur. However they won't pay for currency exchange fees:

2. Unlimited ATM fee rebates apply to cash withdrawals using the Schwab Bank Visa® Platinum Check Card wherever it is accepted. ATM fee rebates do not include currency exchange fees; fees imposed by merchants for POS transactions; or fees for stamp purchases, balance inquiries, or any... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 10:16 PM on March 19, 2008

All Summe..

(Somewhat OT, but check out this photo posted a while back.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:36 PM on March 18, 2008

My friends had one at their party over the weekend.. candy + condoms + lube + squirt guns.

A few packages of lube got damaged, so you might wanna reconsider that. There was also a cock ring / tickler which caused much amusement to us all (no, we didn't take out of the package).

..and lastly, the water guns continued the chaos for the rest of the afternoon. Definitely get water guns.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:25 PM on March 18, 2008

^ugh, no. You'll be much better off eating at the food court in Mitsuwa.

And Rotofugi is awesome.. it's like Chicago's Giant Robot/Super 7.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:17 PM on March 18, 2008

Seconding infini's on North/South characterisitics and southof40's Agra tips.

I wasn't going to see the Taj as I thought it was too expensive and a tourist trap, but honestly, you can't go all the way to India not to see it. Go to the Taj, and do it at the crack of dawn when they open the doors, after that hop on a bus in the afternoon out to Fatehpur Sikri, spend the night out there, check out the ruins in the morning, take the bus back, and get the hell out of Agra..... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:01 PM on March 10, 2008

btw, the IHT Globespotters blog just ran a short entry on Mumbai. It's a nice 5-minute read, though I don't know how accurate some of its recommendations in the city are.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 5:10 PM on March 17, 2008

Seconding Costco.. best service short of a pro-lab. They'll put your negatives in sleeves (something many places no longer do) and scan your photos at a fairly high resolution (2000+ pixels on the long-side).
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 5:05 PM on March 17, 2008

Instead of asking your neighbors for a cup a sugar, ask 'em if you could borrow their card reader?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:05 PM on March 13, 2008 marked best answer

I'm reading a version 2 of the manual (caution, large PDF), and Appendix B Troubleshooting basically says you're SOL:

Forgot or lost the password: Contact SMC Technical Support for help.

Hopefully Cat Pie's way works. :-\
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 4:39 PM on March 13, 2008

Generalisations here, but in well-developed countries the besides eating healthier, the wealthy have the time to work out, obsess over their body-image, and visit a dietitian/trainer. As for the less-fortunate, they're stuck with fast food/microwave dinners before sleeping/heading to work.

Of course in poorer countries, it's the opposite as the poorest are simply malnourished.

I also believe the traditional image of fat==wealth is disappearing... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:27 PM on March 11, 2008

Janine Antoni licks and lathers chocolate and soap busts of herself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:34 PM on March 11, 2008

I'd say anti-cool is very much related to kitch. Of course nowadays kids are just trying to out-kitch each other (ugly 80s neon shoes.. ugh). The anti- is what sets this apart from merely being a dork.. so it's actively trying to be not cool versus just being not cool 'cause you don't give a damn (truly cool).
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 12:35 PM on March 11, 2008

Do not pay by credit card if you can't afford it. Like Asherah said, start a camera piggy bank and save up for it. By the time you can purchase it in the summer, the price will have probably dropped as well (saving you a hundred bucks or so). And if you're not making money of stock/photo gigs already, don't bank on it.

Also, do you really need this top-of-the-line model versus yesteryear's? I've been shooting with a four-year old digital and think I've done pretty... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:53 AM on March 11, 2008

Beyond photo-a-day, how about recording your voice for like 10 sec. everyday? Perhaps you could wake up, think for a second, then record an adjective.

(And I disagree with david about the self-portraits.. what so cool about Rembrandt and his self-portraits are the progression.. though I suppose one's hand expresses more change over the years than shutter-blades and photo-sensors.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 6:57 PM on March 9, 2008

I'm a sucker for anything from the 70s..

Toyota Corolla.. check out these classic ads and Tom's 71-74 Corolla Site.

Datsun 1200, 510, and of course the Z.

BMW 2002, or E9 (e.g. 3.0 CSi).

(And btw, this post just made me spend half an hour browsing the classifieds.. I've got a car that runs, and the economy is tanking, but damn is the 2002 tempting!!)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 12:43 AM on March 9, 2008

Ditto suedehead's experience with the Microns--mine have leaked all over on numerous occasions. Bring 'em in a Ziploc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 3:23 PM on March 3, 2008

If money were no object, then you'd have a parking spot in the Mission. ;) Or you'd be able to afford to live outside, but close enough, like Noe Valley or the Castro.

Also, if glass and steel are your thing, then Mission Bay's your place. Personally, I can't stand the scale of everything there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:56 AM on March 3, 2008

Yeah LionIndex, I checked out 511sd.com, and it looks like it'll be a transfer-fest from the airport to La Jolla. The plan is to bus it out there and kinda wing the rest of the trip. Thinking of walking along the shore at night, napping where ever, then ending up at Ocean Beach the following morning.

Keep 'em coming, and I'll let you guys know how things went on Sunday/Monday.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:20 AM on February 21, 2008

Ha, thanks for the interest.. I'm safe and back in SF.

For your entertainment.. planned on flying out of SFO on Thursday at 1:15pm only to have the rains and gusts delay our flight for 2 hours. By the time I got to San Diego, it was nearly 5pm, so instead of transferring about, I took a cab from San Diego airport to the Old Town Transit Center ($14.40). After that, caught the 30 bus to La Jolla, got to the MCASD, browsed around (pity it was dark already), and listened... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 2:44 PM on February 27, 2008

Oh, and from what I heard, Banana Bungalow is a bit nicer, but the people there could be snobs. Ocean Beach hostel was alright, it definitely had a quirky crowd, and was just a tinge dirty for me (coming from a guy who just spent a night on the street..). If I ever return, I'm gonna check out the HI Hostels.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 2:47 PM on February 27, 2008 marked best answer

You should list your itinerary (or at least your first country of entry) as countries may differ in what they offer.

Also, if you haven't searched for it, check out the SE Asia Essentials question for some ideas.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 3:11 AM on February 27, 2008

Okay.. skimmed the essentials thread and there's a lot of noise. Skip down to the OP's last post for the best.

Bring:
- a ziploc bag full of ziploc bags
- some packets of Emergen-C/Airborne (cause you don't wanna stop)
- headlamp
- first aid kit (neosporin + bandages in a ziploc bag)
- some sort of thingy to hide your money in your pants
- good pair of flops (there's a bunch of street vendors... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 3:35 AM on February 27, 2008

Have you heard of Grainger?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 12:01 AM on February 25, 2008 marked best answer

And also McMaster-Carr. I remember oogling over those catalogs after studio hours in the lab.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 12:03 AM on February 25, 2008 marked best answer

Kinda late to the party, but there's the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, and some Mystery House in SJ (dunno 'bout that). Maybe that's where the confusion is.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 1:26 AM on February 21, 2008

West Oakland's not as bad as East Oakland, imo.

As for SF, the Chronicle recently ran a two-issue feature on Sunnydale. I've ridden past it on the 9x, and got off earlier this week to check the place out. Some of the residents told me that the article was overhyped. It's not a good neighborhood, but it's not like what the article portrayed, either.

Later on I took the T-Third back downtown and we passed through Hunter's Point. I didn't wander... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 11:30 AM on February 15, 2008

Thanks Ziggurat for pointing out the photographer & article.

HotPatatta, I'd try e-mailing Damon Winter, but obviously it won't be cheap. :(

And lastly, I just recently came across a Thomas Dworzak photo of Obama that I thought was pretty "rockstar" (search NYC71978 at the Magnum Photos site if the link doesn't work).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 2:19 PM on February 8, 2008

microsoft was offering a lot more than it closed at yesterday

If Yahoo was doing pretty badly, and Microsoft offered to buy them out at a price that wasn't so drastically different, then instead of jumping, would prices pretty much remain the same?
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 3:00 PM on February 1, 2008

Gotcha.. didn't know the bit aboot Microsoft offering at a significantly higher price.

Thanks MeFi!
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 3:14 PM on February 1, 2008

Try calling the transit department and ask 'em if they could save one for your the next time they retire a streetcar.
posted to Ask Metafilter by hobbes at 2:48 PM on February 1, 2008