The audio books for Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy were recorded with a full cast of characters. Easily the most exciting audiobooks I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. The first one is here on audible.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 1:35 PM on July 7, 2008

I wanted to second Steve Solomon's Gardening When It Counts. Besides not being a total crackpot on the survivalist subject, Solomon also provides a fantastic amount on information on how to efficiently and effectively raise crops on very little water, complete with easy to grasp diagrams of root structures, and suggestions on types of food to grow.

It's a great book for the average gardener, survivalist or no.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 1:05 PM on July 7, 2008

Oranges! Whole ones, even. Peel an all. [disclaimer] recipe blog self-link.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 6:07 PM on June 2, 2008 marked best answer

What the SFSU website doesn't tell you immediately is that open university classes are charged at a rate of $220 per unit, meaning that a regular 3 unit class is going to be $660. Ouch.

/bitter future sfsu grad student currently forced to take open university classes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:12 AM on May 27, 2008

Do you like cookbooks at all? There are some GREAT vegetarian cookbooks out there. If you're willing to ignore the somewhat hippy vibes the name evokes, The Passionate Vegetarian would probably be right up your alley. The book has a ton of hearty recipes for stews, soups, casseroles, you name it.

Some favorite hearty meals of mine are tamales stuffed with veggies, shepherd's pie (with Quorn's soy free grounds) I'm also pretty into cooking up a huge batch of mixed... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:45 PM on May 19, 2008

Also, a lot of the meals suggested here are best served hot. If you're looking for some cold dishes: I recommend:

Pasta salad with either rotini or cellantini, pesto or olive oil, black beans, canned corn, peas, zucchini, diced carrots, and tons of pine nuts.

Lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwiches with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the bread.

Quinoa cooked in vegetable broth or with bouillon cubes, then after... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 5:34 PM on May 19, 2008

The dimensions and weight of the painting would be very helpful in answering this question.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 2:02 AM on May 16, 2008

This is a complex question. For one, they both have professional stylists to do their hair and makeup before their show (and probably before any big public appearances.) For another, they've spent enough time in front of a camera to know what makeup brands/colors/styles look good on them, and they have the money to buy it. Also, they probably get their hair colored and cut on a more regular basis than the average person can afford, and they probably have better quality hair stylists.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 1:03 AM on May 16, 2008

I'll second PSPrint on color quality and fastness. They print digitally, and you can choose from a variety of paper weights and types. If you're not sure what you're looking for exactly, why not have them send you a sample pack of stuff they've printed. Then you can get a feel for what they offer and go from there. The samples are free.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2008

I have days when I feel completely dull and can't think of anything interesting to talk about; it makes interacting with people intensely frustrating (and makes me feel like a terrible conversationalist to boot.) One thing that has helped me on those days is listening to a podcast, or npr, or reading the newspaper or something similar.

If you have any special interests (politics, current events, science, history, books, whatever) chances are you can find a program to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 10:40 PM on April 30, 2008

If she loves traveling, chances are she loves regional foods as well. Does your town have any well reviewed/renowned/popular restaurants for any of the places she's been? You could give her a gift certificate for a dinner out. The nice thing about getting something like that is it encourages you to go out and (hopefully) have a good time with a friend/partner/date.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:20 PM on April 30, 2008

Definitely start with the first series. I have 1-3 and love them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:15 PM on April 30, 2008

To add another data point, the driving times on the sf bay area signs never estimate anything faster than the speed limit when traffic is moving at speed or above. I routinely beat their posted times by a 15% margin; evidently, I speed a lot.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:03 PM on April 29, 2008

My ex and I swore by the lifestyles XL condoms. Also, spermicide is bad news for the ladies and when added to the lube on condomsdoesn't help protect against pregnancy or stds. And if you need lube, O'My natural lube is ph balanced to help maintain the balance of friendly bacterias in the vagina (doesn't taste too bad either.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 9:29 PM on April 29, 2008

Sounds like you could use some Earth, Born, or Dansko mary janes.

I have a pair of earth shoes which I love. And one of my friends who is diabetic (sensitive feet) loves her dansko and born shoes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 2:05 PM on April 19, 2008

Don't know of one off the top of my head, but I suggest hunting around the serif category at dafont you're bound to find something similar enough.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 5:07 PM on April 14, 2008

Also, when you browse on dafont, it's helpful to use the custom preview option, in your case, typing in Washington University in St Louis yields some similar fonts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 5:10 PM on April 14, 2008

My esthetician recommended PFB Vanish, I used it after waxing and it definitely did help relieve some of the issues. Also, as far as treatment: if you can see the hair underneath the skin, my esthetician told me that it's best to squeeze hard with two fingers just around the edge and force the hair to pop out. From there just pull it with a tweezer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 8:12 PM on April 13, 2008

I don't know if my store is more laid back, but at the store in my town the employees bring in their own music.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 3:02 PM on April 10, 2008

lastminute.com is a great place to check for spur of the moment trips you can pick a general region of the world (South America for example) and get results for a number of destinations. I haven't ever booked through them, but I ocassionaly search the site and dream.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 5:06 PM on March 31, 2008

2. It could cause confusion if the person had a follow up question (here or to go? drinks? etc.) but if you were otherwise going to order in English anyway, I think it's safe to order in Spanish and switch to English if there's any confusion.

I speak little to no Spanish myself, but I try to use what little I do have when eating at my favorite taco trucks/Mexican restaurants. I always say hola and gracias even if the rest of the conversation is in English. If the fact... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:31 AM on February 22, 2008

Do any of your friends have good cameras and some photography talent? That could be a good free option. There are lots of photographers trying to build a portfolio, you could always post your availability as a model on craigslist and ask for copies of any photos taken as payment.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 12:13 PM on February 4, 2008

I haven't volunteered through Taproot but did apply for a job there once. They're really, really cool and good at matching people with solid experience with non-profits that need them. They also help with the project management side of things and act as a go between (sometimes business speak and non-profit speak needs some translation.) Their application process is relatively simple, and they'll do a skills assessment and match you up with a project. They especially like people with lead... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:51 AM on January 30, 2008

Not a man, but I did have breast reduction surgery. Your doctor is the only person who will be able to answer this question with any degree of accuracy. S/he will be a much better judge of whether you would end up with an ungainly amount of skin after a lipo treatment and whether a traditional male breast reduction procedure would be more appropriate.

As far as doctors go though, definitely shop around. Before I considered the surgery I asked my regular doctor for any... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 7:20 PM on January 29, 2008

Books:

Nick Sagan's Idewild/Edenborn/Everfree trilogy.

Y The Last Man comic book series is about a lone guy in a world of women, not a small population, but still devastated.

Vonnegut's Galapagos

Jonathan Lethem's Amnesia Moon

See also: this wikipedia list of post-apocalyptic novels

TV Shows:

Battlestar... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:38 PM on January 25, 2008

I like parmanparman's suggestion of giving him a role before dinner. If it was his job to set the table, or if you could give him a dinner making task (honey, can you rinse the lettuce and finish the salad?) then you would have him in the kitchen when dinner's ready.

And, for what it's worth, I would be upset/annoyed/mad too; dinnertime when I was growing up was the main family time for checking in, talking about the news, and talking about school. If my mom or dad was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 10:32 PM on January 24, 2008

I was in a minor bus incident in Prague in 2006 in which the driver put on the brakes to avoid rear ending a car and people went flying. Sitting in an aisle seat, I actually flew about 4ft and smacked my face on one of the metal poles. Got a black eye and a pair of broken glasses for the trouble, we weren't going terrifically fast, we didn't even hit the car in front, and the bus driver just kept going after it. I'd say that over half the people on the bus were knocked over, and I don't know if... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 7:08 PM on January 21, 2008

2. I think Marlena exploded, like the guy they showed on the gurney a minute or so before she got quarantined.

3. It looked the real monster to me.

4. We can assume that she escaped, although her helicopter could have been downed too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:15 AM on January 21, 2008

I'm from Santa Rosa and in the interest of full disclosure: my dad is a lawyer, one of his officemates is a family law/divorce attorney. He's very good and I've known him for 15+ years but I'm not sure I would call him a pitbull. I can however, ask him/my dad for recommendations if you want. My email is in my profile.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2008

This is a silly question. Most vegans have chosen to be vegan because they don't want to consume products that harm animals. If you can point me to a study on oral sex harming the humans receiving it, maybe I would stop swallowing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:33 PM on January 20, 2008

I have it on good authority that Justin Timberlake has a weird shaped head1 and no one seems to notice it when his head is shaved. And I bet the ridge on your head is also more noticeable to you than to anyone else. Also, I have at least 2 male friends in their 20's with thinning/bald heads and can honestly say that it's never once crossed my mind as something bad/ugly/or even all that noticeable at all.

1(one of the lead Toni and Guy stylists who had... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2008

Going out of your way to demand equality in all things, you are giving off a vibe that says, "I will take deliberate steps to manage your expectations. I will not be in debt to you. I refuse to be placed in any situation where I might even appear to be vulnerable. I will not take risks."

I don't think paying for dinner has anything to do with vulnerability. Economic parity =/= vulnerability. One thing that seems to be left out of the paying... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 6:38 PM on January 18, 2008

I don't know if anyone is reading this, but I talked to my friend and it sounds like we're going to be sticking around Peru, so any suggestions on things to see/do near Lima are greatly appreciated!
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 2:53 PM on January 18, 2008

Huh. That's kinda cool/weird. I've been 100% deaf in my right ear since I knew how to communicate that I couldn't hear anything on that side (possibly since birth). Is it just speech that trips you up, or do you notice any difference in say, listening to stereo mp3's with your ear buds switched?
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:08 PM on January 17, 2008

This best of craigslist cover letter format was really helpful to me when I was looking for a new job. I had a response rate of approximately 75-80%% with that one, as opposed to <50% with a boring about/monster/whatever.com recommended cover letter formula.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 2:07 PM on January 17, 2008

I'd pair it with a colorful pashmina (color to be determined by our skintone & haircolor) and some fun non-black heels: gold/red/black&green are all god options. You canalways take the pashmina off, or leave it artfully wrapped.

Jewelry wise, I'd go with some dangly earrings, colorful if you have any that would coordinate with your shoes and/or wrap and a mid length neckace that matches the earrings.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 8:56 PM on January 16, 2008

and I really meant good options up there, not god options. I love shoes as much as the next girl, but I still haven't started worshipping them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 8:58 PM on January 16, 2008

Being homeless isn't a vacation. It's not a fun adventure. It sucks. It sucks a lot and sometimes the only bright spots are the rare occasions that people look you in the eye. I volunteered with Food Not Bombs for over 5 years and have been doing street outreach for 6. I can't express enough how pissed I would be to find out that someone was taking advantage of the limited services and support that exist for homeless people when they aren't truly in need. Please, for the love of decency, do not... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 1:29 AM on January 16, 2008

I've noticed that when interacting with single straight guys, the moment I mention a boyfriend they either lose interest, or act insulted.

I'm kinda confused at this response honestly. I've never seemed to have this issue and I'm guessing that maybe your mentions have come off awkwardly. Honestly, I've never bothered to mention my dating status when meeting new potential guy friends unless they guy actually asks me on a date (at which point it's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 8:57 PM on January 15, 2008

With the color overlap between layers, and the overall effect I'm going to go with screen print. Screen printing's been around forever, and could easily produce an image like that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 10:23 PM on December 28, 2007

Having a kid is scary, it's a lot of responsibility and a huge time/moeny/emotional investment. Do you have any friend with kids? If you do I recommend offering to babysit them on a semi-regular basis. I used to hate kids until I spent time taking care of my friend's children on a semi-regular basis. After that I started figuring out how awesome kids can be.

I doubt anyone ever feels fully ready to have kids, but your best bet for getting more ready is familiarity. Don't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 12:44 PM on December 25, 2007

I'll second Christopher Moore. He's utterly hilarious, but I wouldn't recommend him for someone who is super conservative/religious. He's not offensive, but his book Lamb, for example is the story of Jesus and his stoner friend Biff. Utterly fabulous and great for someone smart who needs to read in smaller chunks of time. I literally laughed out loud.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 10:47 PM on December 21, 2007

I can't find my copy right now, so I can't guarantee that it caters specifically to kid-friendly rides. But I like Henry Kingman's Short Bike Rides Around San Francisco. He definitely rates the ease of each ride, and talks about points of interest along the routes. You can get it on Amazon, or head over to American Cyclery and browse through a copy in person (bonus to being able to ask the employees for advice as well)

On of my favorite rides in the city is out by Lake... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:09 PM on December 17, 2007

Also, when I googled for Lake Merced I found a link to a website called goCityKids. They have a section on bike paths which might be worth a look.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 11:14 PM on December 17, 2007

Gallery 2 also has a wordpress integration plugin if you want to have your gallery embedded into your website and want to use wordpress as content management system.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 7:04 PM on October 14, 2007

My vote's for the Original London Tour, which I took back in 2003 while living in London. The guides were all pretty knowledgeable, and being able to hop on and off at any stop to spend more time checking it out is a great feature. The tickets are good for a full 24 hours, you get a pass for a ride on the Thames, and the guides are on the bus with you and available for questions.

Also, if your brother is going to be in London before the 25th of September, he should... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 10:45 PM on August 20, 2007

Well, my friend's neighbors named theirs "poop touch" but that just made us giggle when we logged on, so I don't recommend it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 9:36 PM on August 20, 2007

Good artists will have portfolios on their waiting room tables for you to look at. You'll want to look for artists who have portfolios that reflect their experience doing good semi-photo realistic art. You'll also want to look at their color choices to see if you can find an artist that has a good blend of skills and an eye for color quality.

In terms of making your tattoo last, you'll want an artist who tattoos pretty deeply. Colors fade more than black ink, and can be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 12:51 PM on August 19, 2007

I really like the idea of doing something like a Penrose Triangle, it's similar to a mobius strip (which the recycling symbol is based on).
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 9:46 PM on August 18, 2007

Dude. I would be stoked to hear someone with hands on experience talk about any of your experiences. As for the web 2.0 theme, if you're feeling like it's more marketing than substance, you're probably right. I doubt that your audience of web savvy tech focused teens actually buy the whole "web 2.0/ajax saves the world" marketing speak anyways. So a 20 minute talk about who the web 2.0 trend isn't helping/affecting/making a difference to could be pretty interesting.
posted to Ask Metafilter by nerdcore at 4:00 PM on June 27, 2007