The only thing I can think of doing is actually saying to someone 'Hey, you seem cool- we should do (NAME ACTIVITY HERE) together sometime'. If you are in a meetup environment, you can accomplish this without them thinking you're hitting on them.

But honestly-it's not just you. If you don't know anyone in an area, it becomes even harder to meet people.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 4:06 PM on September 25, 2008

.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 7:29 PM on August 27, 2008

It's not that unusual to glorify your first serious relationship. . . but it's also not too difficult to have the self control and not hook up with a man that already broke up with you once.

You seem to be self-aware enough that this might be a problem, and also that there were problems in the earlier relationship. You're probably good enough to figure out that hooking back up with him is a bad idea.

And hey-you never know, your ex might have moved on too
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 8:17 PM on August 17, 2008

It's sad that it takes thirty people to try and undo the actions of one idiot, but at least they tried.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 10:52 AM on August 16, 2008

This is assuming that the definitions of 'white' and 'minority' stay the same. Remember when Italians and Eastern Europeans used to be grubby minorities? Who's to say that we won't start considering Latinos 'white' in fifty years?
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 5:52 PM on August 14, 2008

Distasteful as that indoctrination is to most of us today, it meant that a mostly white Protestant culture was transmitted,that in war a platoon consisting of Pulaski, Jones, O'Flynn, Schmidt and Cohen could function as a unit, and that after the war they'd all come home to work for United Steel and eat burgers and drink Coca-Cola.

Except we also eat pizza and bagels and have no problem pretending we're all Irish for St. Patricks day. Someone's... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 7:46 PM on August 14, 2008

I'm interested in the logistics of this: If measures like this one are pretty, good for the environment, and help save on utility bills (as the Chicago City hall link claims), why isn't this done more often? High start-up costs? Not many people having roof access to their homes? You need a stable, flat roof? Fire hazard if you don't water the grasses?

What's it like to put these things in/what would the upkeep be like?
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 12:39 PM on August 9, 2008

32-guessed most of the English-as-a-First-Language ones (but didn't even think the Chicago woman was from the US-and I'm from there), but did horribly on guessing which Germanic country (in terms of language) the person with the kinda-German accent was from.

About the Indianapolis woman-the difference between northern AAVE and southern AAVE is pretty tiny-I think it's in the pronunciation of the A's. All I know is that she sounded more like someone from the South Side... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 6:53 PM on August 3, 2008

a five- or six-year separation is doubtless not the best spacing between two kids growing up in the same household.

What? Who is he kidding? Has he ever met any siblings that are only a year or two apart? They spend the first fifteen years stealing each other's toys/books/clothes, tattling on each other, resenting each other, and otherwise fighting whenever possible. Maybe-and only maybe-when they no longer live in the same house will they be... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 6:16 PM on July 31, 2008

Terpia-the mooch sets don't need to get a job through temp agencies-they can be hired by a friend of the family. Networking at its lowest form.

I can't help but feel a little bitter when reading articles like this- I'm twenty-two, and when I asked for some help covering move-in costs as a birthday present so I could take a job offer in NYC, they refused to even cosign the lease. I was looking for a room in Brooklyn or Jersey City, but was having difficulties finding... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 5:45 PM on July 25, 2008

I won as bacteria-I concentrated on having the highest infection rate possible with only one symptom (fever) until it had finally spread to every country, and then went and made my virus lethal.

Nobody seems to panic until people start dying. Sure, a couple of borders will shut down, but not enough to completely seal off any part of the globe.

Still, the only way I was able to finish was playing the game in the background while doing something... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 8:21 AM on July 20, 2008

....close, but not quite. It has a similar tune and instruments, the Reading Rainbow version has a single baritone. These might be the same lyrics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 5:48 PM on July 9, 2008

At first glance, I thought this post was about Beverly Cleary. It made the incident fifteen thousand times more traumatizing.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 8:54 PM on July 1, 2008

Network. People look at experience as proof that you can do certain tasks and fit in to a specific environment. If you can convince someone that you're a responsible person who'd be a great fit in by meeting them in person, it goes a long way.

Or temp-that's what I ended up doing (I fulfilled my work-study working as a barista instead of gunning for a cushy office job because I liked the early mornings, and I was an idiot).
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 4:48 PM on June 25, 2008

What I'm wondering is why there's never any discussion of going back to small 'main street' towns in these articles--most of the niceties of living in the suburbs, but with more of the walkability of a city. You know, the way most people in America lived before the age of the automobile.

Though I suspect jobs moving to the suburbs would have this type of effect.

The exurbs are doomed, but how many people really liked them anyway?
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 4:40 PM on June 25, 2008

A quick Wikipedia search shows Douglas (which contains Bronzeville) to be 85.5% Black and 6.5% white-more diverse what it used to be, but still heavily African-American. I wouldn't be surprised if you faced a great deal of resentment when you moved in. I'd also second the horrible public transportation and lack of easily accessible necessities.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 4:15 PM on June 13, 2008

Jesus Christ, has nobody ever heard of bisexuality before? Straight non-IV drug using men might have less to worry about, but I don't see how this changes anything for straight women.

(lesbians are also safe, but we all knew that, so lets move on. . .)
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 4:29 PM on June 12, 2008

wait, can vegan children rebel and become carnivores? The longtime vegetarian/vegans I know can't go back to eating meat because they've lost the enzymes for it.

I think most of the 'veganism as child abuse' claims are bolstered by those in the vegetarian and vegan communities that keep on touting it as a healthier way of life. Sure, it can be healthier than eating McDonalds every day, but you can eat a healthier omnivorous diet with the same... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 2:10 PM on June 10, 2008

I'm 22 and I learned how to type on a typewriter-7th grade typing class. This had more to do with my junior high than anything else, since we did have a full computer lab that was almost never used for any type of schoolwork. I hated it-especially when I had to correct mistakes. Stupid correction slips.

Now I use a typewriter at work for preprinted forms, mailing labels, ect. and I'm still surprised at how different it feels. There's more weight underneath the keys,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 5:16 AM on June 6, 2008

Bison Bison Bison Bison Bison
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 4:45 AM on May 17, 2008

When my eardrum ruptured, I was pretty much deaf in that ear until it healed. Did the pain disappear immediately? The point of an eardrum rupturing is something you're likely to remember-the actual moment isn't that bad, but the hour leading up to it is excruciating.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 3:47 PM on April 14, 2008

Nothing specific, but I'd watch paper consumption. I'm still fairly new to the office environment, and I can't believe how often someone will print a something out for one tiny bit of information.

Give out water bottles/mugs and take away the styrofoam cups for coffee.

Encourage people to turn off their computers at night, instead of just logging off.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 6:16 PM on April 7, 2008

As long as Midwest doesn't go under (they've always treated me well, and I do like their gimmicky cookies), I'll be happy.

But I have a hard time convincing myself that other airline companies going under is a good thing-especially with airline ticket prices going up more and more every year due to fuel prices. I mostly fly to visit friends and family and I'd like to continue to do that. Say what you will about flying, but they're still more reliable than amtrak and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 3:55 PM on April 5, 2008

I think it depends a lot on the local high school.

I went to a Catholic school for four years, despite not being Catholic, just because the local public schools were so abysmal. Before that, I went to an elementary magnet school. The difference between those two places and the local public schools . . . you had parents who cared at least a little bit about their children's education, which usually leads to better behaved students, attracts a different class of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 3:22 PM on April 2, 2008

This is gorgeous. I don't know if I'd want any of it in my home (those alternating staircases would suck if you were left footed), but they're still pretty to look at.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 6:44 PM on March 23, 2008

I'm wondering why the centaur isn't using the superior longbow. C'mon, that weapon was practically made for centaurs! Also, we all know that centaurs are archers, not crossbowmen.

I'm a little disappointed that none of the women of Battlestar Galactica knew what a centaur or a minotaur was. I do appreciate the amount of thought Grace Park put into the question.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 3:17 PM on March 21, 2008

Target and Half.com-occasionally amazon marketplace.

I'm cheap.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 10:08 AM on March 21, 2008

I find it helpful to be doing something else that's fairly mindless but doesn't require eyeballs (knitting, maybe some instrumental music in the background). Something to distract the distractable part of your brain while making sure you don't wander off.

Take scheduled breaks-and stay on schedule.

If that doesn't work, try making up snide commentary as you're reading (you're on metafilter, you should know how that goes). You have to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 8:24 PM on March 20, 2008

They Might Be Giant's 'Minimum Wage'
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 8:29 AM on March 20, 2008

Agreeing with the pink superhero that it might be the office, not just the office experience.

You can try youth counseling/casework--if anything, it's likely to be more interesting than your current job. Try looking through the Minnesota Nonprofit job postings for something.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 8:54 AM on March 14, 2008

I'm pretty sure Consumer Reports rates laptops/computers annually too. I don't know if they'll tell you anything about durability, but it might be a good thing to check out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 8:50 AM on March 14, 2008

I tend to wait a month or so after I've beaten a game to see if I still like it/would want to replay it. Then again, I also buy games that have been out for a while, so I'm not really worried about the value depreciating too much.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 7:59 AM on March 8, 2008

Take up needlefelting.

It's also a great stress relief.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 10:20 PM on March 5, 2008

Well, it does get better-but that doesn't mean that it's any good.. The characters will continue to do things that make no sense and Jack will continue to be the worst boss ever, but there are times when it is less horrible than it is in cyberwoman.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 4:18 PM on February 19, 2008

From what I understand, Obama's opposition to gay marriage, it rests on semantics more than anything else. Most people don't recognize religious marriage and civil marriage as two separate things, so he's using different language-marriage to refer to the sacrament, civil unions the set of rights you get from being married.

Part of me hopes that he is planning to follow that line of thinking to its logical conclusion and call all civil marriages civil unions. How you... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 8:03 PM on February 18, 2008

Why not Lakota?
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 2:41 PM on February 17, 2008

Seconding LeGuin, The Dispossessed is one of my favorite books of all time, and there are a lot of other wonderful stories in the Hainish cycle that are often overlooked.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 5:22 AM on February 8, 2008

Harass the temp agencies-don't be shy about calling them more often than once a week (especially the larger ones), and sign up with as many as possible (yes, I know you've tried a few-try a few more). If they aren't calling you for an interview, walk in to their office and ask for one.

Go down to a local university and check the billboards-people often advertise for small odd jobs-or medical research studies, which don't pay right away but might help down the line (not... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 7:39 PM on January 12, 2008

Originally from Chicago, went to school in MA, and now live in Minneapolis.

In general, the rest of the country doesn't think about New England half as often as they think we do. They have a hard time believing that there is life between the coasts.

Bostonians hate everything. The thing that they hate more than anything else are other Bostonians. This is why they try to kill each other with their cars.
There is no middle class in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 8:30 AM on January 2, 2008

Super Mario Galaxy has a two player mode-the second player doesn't do much other than help the first player pick up/fight things, but the game is good enough that it doesn't really matter.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 7:41 AM on January 2, 2008

You might want to check out Helen Levit
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 1:12 PM on December 27, 2007

When I was 14, I snuck out with a friend of mine and bought scalped tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins.

A few months earlier, my brother and I bought tickets to a Chicago Fire (soccer) game that had a free Wilco concert attached as an incentive. I don't know if that counts, because technically-we payed for the soccer game, and I went with a family member. They were good, but it was a weird crowd.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 6:18 AM on October 2, 2007

Navelgazer has a good point-while there seem to be a lot of people who prefer Hillary over the other candidates, I haven't heard of that many real Hillary enthusiasts, and that might catch up to her.

I went to a Clinton rally back in July, and that's exactly what it was-a Clinton rally. People were excited to see Hillary, but they were equally or more excited to hear from Bill. From the sounds of it, at least 60-70% of the supporters had been there in '91 and would... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 4:55 PM on September 26, 2007

You were killed by Helen Keller.

I don't know if a teenaged boy would like it, but it sounds pretty awesome to me.

Mr. Rogers works pretty well, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 12:32 PM on September 25, 2007

Cat Power's Satisfaction sounds absolutely nothing like the original.
Nirvana's Man who Sold the World
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 6:51 AM on September 24, 2007

I really like Tigris and Euphrates, even if it takes a while to get all of the rules down and actually understand what's happening. Ra is pretty awesome, too.

Guillotine (if technically a card game) is a very fun, simple game with hilarious illustrations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dinty_moore at 6:35 AM on September 24, 2007

Wait. . . who covered 'City of New Orleans'? The only version I've ever heard was one by Steve Goodman.
posted to MetaFilter by dinty_moore at 6:48 PM on July 13, 2007