Well I guess I'll be the one contrarian on this thread. I don't think one can be consistently Christian and vote for a candidate who supports abortion. Here's my reasoning: Yes, there are many other important issues besides abortion, just as there is much more to a house than its foundation. But as the foundation goes, so goes the rest. It is an absurd society which advocates tolerance, acceptance, and love of neighbor...yet denies these very same neighbors the right to even be born. How can... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:10 AM on September 25, 2008

I'm seeing a lot of people saying that Jesus would be liberal because liberalism is for the weak and downtrodden. I agree. But Jesus would not be "pro-choice", because, unlike modern liberalism, He would consider the unborn person part of the weak and downtrodden and would not subject the well-being of an entire class of persons to the choice of another.

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. (Mt 25:40)
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:20 AM on October 1, 2008

I don't know any studies, but I highly recommend the work of William Sears, MD and Ross Campbell, MD. From my own experience (I'm a father with four children ranging 0 to 12 years old), children will grow up to model the behavior which they experience. They will grow up to mirror your emotional habits. If you want a kid that "loses it", then "lose it" with your kid. I think that firm, yet patient is the way to go. You can discipline--have real consequence for crossing... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 4:19 AM on September 23, 2008

Cinderella Man
Howl's Moving Castle
Spirited Away
300
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Kingdom of Heaven
Witness to Hope
Sophie Scholl
The Burmese Harp
Chariots of Fire
The Scarlet and the Black
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:01 AM on September 21, 2008

I would think that Chesterton's sound advice about drink would apply to smoke as well.

"The sound rule in the matter would appear to be like many other sound rules—a paradox. Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 10:21 PM on August 30, 2008

I've forked out the dough for a doula for my wife on three separate births and never regretted it one instance....though I suppose it depends on the doula. A doula is experienced at comforting a woman during childbirth in a way which no man can. If Mom is not going for a natural birth, I wouldn't think a doula would be as beneficial, but she is a godsend if Mom is fighting the pains of natural childbirth. Be aware that different hospitals have different policies about who attends a birth, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:58 AM on August 26, 2008

I'm surprised no one's mentioned xylitol.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 4:26 AM on August 9, 2008

2nding Ross Enamait's Never Gymless. The ultimate home workout book. Also check out his website for info on homemade equipment. And don't feel shy about emailing the guy with your questions. He's notorious for answering all emails.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 4:27 AM on July 29, 2008

Although a mash-up of several songs, Extra Golden's promo video has some uber joyful moments.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:56 AM on July 22, 2008

more crazy African joy here and here
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 4:12 AM on July 22, 2008

I don't the the experience (data) of free-will and choice is accommodated in a naturalistic worldview (theory). A materialistically determined brain state is a materialistically determined brain state. In other words, there is no room for free will--it's just atoms and chemicals arranging themselves in this way or that to give you this or that thought or sensation. Check out Charles Taylor on this here and here.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:23 AM on July 22, 2008

If you like wine, Hermann, MO is a must.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 1:50 AM on July 11, 2008

Woodie Guthrie has some great children's music which my whole family loved when my children were smaller. The Trout Fishing in America video is very, very good. Beyond that, they start to get on my nerves though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:02 PM on July 8, 2008

If you HATE long cardio workouts, then check out Ross Enamait's work. He's a down-to-earth guy who trains boxers and he highly advocates high intensity over long cardio. (Apparently it's even better for you.) His book, Never Gymless is a complete home work out regimine with little to no equipment. HIGHLY recommended.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 1:25 PM on July 6, 2008

You sound like me and I wasn't homeschooled (but I homeschool my kids because I thought it was school that effed me up). Really, I think a lot of it is temperament. Study the temperaments. I'm guessing that what you idealize as "social" is a sanguine personality type--which you don't have. Relax and be yourself. Not everyone can play a starring role in Friends. Look around. You'll find, lurking in the background, some less perfect people...like yourself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:33 AM on July 6, 2008

I got my wife this boombox for exactly this purpose. Audiophiles will cringe for sure, but the thing sounds halfway decent, and there's the added benefit of portability. We take ours camping, etc. (The thing is tough as hell.) It has a line-in specifically for the purpose of plugging in mp3 players. It is big, but setting it on the floor in the corner somewhere will actually accentuate the bass response.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:06 PM on July 1, 2008

There are gold mines here and here. There are several more good Catholic podcasts here. Podcasts which I find exceptional:
The Catholic Forum
Defenders Podcast & Reasonable Faith Podcast
Peter Kreeft (doctor of philosophy)
The Catholic Hack
The Catholic Underground
The Veritas... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 1:32 AM on June 29, 2008

If you're boyfriend was born 100 years ago, G. K. Chesterton would be right up his alley. (Even now, no reader, intellectual, lover of ideas, etc. can rest content w/o confronting Chesterton.) Chesterton was an English journalist who wrote over 4000 newspaper essays and 100 books. He debated many of the celebrated intellectuals of his time: George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Bertrand Russell, Clarence Darrow. His writing has been praised by Ernest Hemingway, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Jorge... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:20 AM on June 25, 2008

I've worked at one of the major shipping companies for 19 years. Colgate is right: the people who are going to handle your package are basically minimum wage kids who are just trying to git er dun. I would call and ask how you need to pack your package in order to get it insured for the amount you want. And while you have them on the phone, ask them how you go about making a claim if the item is damaged. (Do you need to examine the contents in front of the delivery driver?) And unless your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 1:56 AM on June 25, 2008

My wife just had our fourth. I'd have her answer this, but she's nursing the little dude right now. My advise would be to definitely get a good multivitamin. After that, eat a wide variety of natural foods. As long as your wife's eating some fruit, some veggies (a good salad) and a solid three square meals, she'll be fine. If she's concerned about weight gain, cut out the empty calories--desserts and stuff. Also, the last trimester is primarily about the baby growing, so eat extra protein... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:02 AM on June 24, 2008

Seconding RateBeer.com. They have this great page which helps you find the best brews in your area. I also recommend that you read about beer--how it's made, its history, etc. All that helps you at least respect what you're trying to choke down until you learn to love it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:20 PM on June 22, 2008

I didn't learn to like coffee until after my friends were already drinking it black. Now, I love love LOVE coffee--the blacker the better. I would recommend starting with good coffee first. Buy or borrow a coffee mill and grind some quality beans up right before you brew them. Use good water! If your water doesn't taste good warm, then the coffee you make with it won't taste good either. Use bottled or filtered water. It makes a huge difference, I think. I would experiment with different... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:05 PM on June 22, 2008

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Off the Map (2003)
Manna From Heaven (2002)
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:04 AM on June 18, 2008

I live in KC (BBQ heaven). Forget KC Masterpiece. The real deal is Arthur Bryant's, WoodYard, and Oklahoma Joe's. Any serious connoisseur should try all those sauces.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 8:21 AM on June 12, 2008

It's vegetarian, but it makes this meat-eater happy when his wife doesn't cook dinner:
Put some corn tortillas on a cookie sheet (I prefer the sprouted kind--better texture)
Grate your favorite cheese over them (I prefer pepper jack)
Hot sauce to taste (I prefer Habanero Tobasco)
Broil in the oven 'til cheese melts
Right before eating one:
place a cold, crisp lettuce leaf on top
dust with parmesan... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 9:21 PM on June 7, 2008

Not necessarily pop/rock/indie, but definitely fun & uptempo:
Extra Golden
There's some french stations over at Deezer that might have what you're looking for.
Cruise Stern's catalogue for cool international music.
Check out eMusic's international stuff. Here too.
Hope you get to feeling better soon.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:49 PM on June 7, 2008 marked best answer

Check your library for Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:28 AM on June 3, 2008

Classic Tales Podcast
Biography Podcast
Great Speeches in History Podcast
re: katydid: Yes, Librivox can be spotty, but I've gotten used to it. I recommend at least giving it a try (it's free) before you decide to pay for something in lieu of.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 1:34 AM on June 3, 2008

I would avoid vaseline. I work blue collar and when I feel the chafing coming on, I apply liberal amounts of hydrocortisone cream. Always works for me. That lubes things up and helps aid healing. I'm going to check out bodyglide, though, as a preventative measure. Powders never worked for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 5:35 PM on June 1, 2008

This is the guy you want to ask.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 9:18 PM on May 29, 2008

I wouldn't mess around here. Call the gas company and query them about it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 5:20 AM on May 28, 2008

You may be interested in the work of Dawn Eden, a former sexcapading rock journalist who recently wrote a book on the joys of chastity, called The Thrill of the Chaste.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:19 AM on May 28, 2008

There could be a problem, but my guess is that there isn't. I'm a homeschooling parent; one of my kids learned to read on her own around the age of six after we gave her a 10 minute phonics lesson. She went on to become a rabid reader; for instance, she read the whole Harry Potter series in one week. I have another kid who, at eight, is just now starting to read after a little more prodding on our part. It's quite alright if your kid learns to read later. The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:56 PM on May 25, 2008

You MUST have level ground to set the pool on. For the time we had ours up, it was super cool. Then it rained. The water turned green because the pool was under a tree. You need a Ph.D. in chemical engineering to figure out how to correctly apply the chemicals to keep the pool from looking like a lagoon. You'll probably fare better if the pool is out in the open, but you will still need to use chemicals for several reasons, the least of which is your pool will become a 3,000 gallon cauldron... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 6:46 AM on May 25, 2008

I clean houses. I've found that concentrate Citra-solv works good on these kinds of stains.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 11:15 PM on May 23, 2008

I thought Iron Man was good. Besides the obvious cool factor, what made the movie work for me was R. Downey Jr. and the fact that I'm a sucker for stories about the ne'er-do-well who rises to the moral challenge.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 9:48 AM on May 23, 2008

This isn't going to help solve your problem, but we wrestle with some of the same tendencies in our family, and we've made a mantra out of this quote by G. K. Chesterton: "If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly."
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 9:24 AM on May 23, 2008

Nthing buying only books you enjoy too. Get loads of stuff from the library, but only buy the ones that you find yourself enjoying with your child. Check out The Read Aloud Handbook. Besides some good book lists, it inspires by demonstrating that reading to your child is the best thing you can do for your child, because it gives him a love of reading, which in turn, makes him a self-directed learner on all levels of life. (It's true for my own children so far.) The VERY best list for young... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 6:15 AM on May 17, 2008

ORIGINAL POSTER HERE: In the past (3 prior births) my wife has enjoyed harp music, really mellow bossa nova (Joao Gilberto) and other mellow stuff--soothing, but not too spacey or ethereal. She loves Enya, Kenny G, and all that kind of crap. I'm just looking for something new to add to the mix in case she gets tired of the same old stuff. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 8:08 AM on May 14, 2008

I'm not familiar with Java Monster. I'm a black coffee guy. But my Brazilian father in-law does a DIY version of cafe con leche by stirring instant coffee granules and sugar into milk. I've tried it a couple of times. Pretty damn good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:39 PM on May 11, 2008

Seconding Erik Satie, particularly Gymnopedie No. 1
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:19 PM on May 8, 2008

A buddy of mine put WebChess on his server. It works great.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 10:51 AM on May 8, 2008

I clean houses. I've used a lot of vacuums. (But not the Roomba). I hate Dysons. The best vacuum for your money is the Eureka Boss SmartVac. It out cleans Dyson by 60% at half the price. It won some consumer awards. And it's easy to use. I love it so much I bought one for my business so I wouldn't have to use my clients' Dyson. On a side note, to get cat hair off furniture and other places, just wet the biggest sponge you can get, wring it out really, really good, and start wiping up... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:58 PM on May 7, 2008

While bits on machines are welcomed, free weights or other sorts of exercises (however many variations there are on pull-ups) are my primary interest. Just looking for what's basically an extensive encyclopedia of exercises, guru-free.

Check out Ross Enamait's work. He has a couple of books detailing a low-tech approach to elite fitness. (He trains boxers.) Never Gymless, is mostly body-weight exercises. (Massive pull-up... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 9:39 PM on May 4, 2008

Due to a malformed Eustachian tube, fluid tends to build up in my left ear. I keep it in check by popping my ears a dozen or so times a day per doctor's advice. (When I get up, I just set a 60 min. timer on my watch. ) It really keeps my ears fluid free...but don't force to hard or try to pop your ears if there is pain. It's just for preventative maintenance. For acute ear problems, consult the doc and take the drugs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:19 PM on May 3, 2008

Also...

gjc is right...drink lots of fluids to keep the mucous thin.

To thin mucous even further, take the maximum dose of guaifenesin. It's over-the-counter. Mucinex is the best brand.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 2:25 PM on May 3, 2008

2nding Metropolitan
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 7:25 PM on April 27, 2008

I contacted the manufacturer and the rep just said to send in the unit. I asked if they've ever heard of this problem and he said, "Blah, blah, blah....send in the unit." But I need to find out if I get a new player...will it do the same thing...is it a design thing? "Blah, blah, blah...send in the unit." I posted the question on a forum dedicated to the Cowon D2, but no answer yet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 3:16 PM on April 24, 2008

Perhaps there are some Berkey water filters that don't have any plastic parts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 6:29 PM on April 20, 2008 marked best answer

I cannot recommend highly enough The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Although nothing beats marking up your own copy, there is a great audio version read by the author. Inter-library loan it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by keith0718 at 10:51 PM on April 19, 2008