This issue isn't just going to go away. To start the conversation, try not buying any wine, and mention when she asks where the wine is, that you just haven't bought any because you didn't fancy any. If she pushes the issue, you figured that she'd get some if she wanted some.

Or, buy a nice bottle of wine, make a big fuss about keeping it as a treat, and leave it lying about. If she drinks it, there's your opener. Even better if she's only drinking it because "it's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:58 PM on July 25, 2008

MagnetoboldToo? Here's today's posting. NSFW.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:18 AM on July 24, 2008

I have a mattress cover. Apparently, it serves to help keep the mattress clean. I too loathe wrinkled up sheets, so I use Grippits on my bed, and they work fantastically. The sheets (and mattress cover) are always pulled night and taut.

I launder it with the sheets as normal. It appears to be made out of some kind of poly/cotton blend. You can get plastic ones, but unless you're incontinent, I don't think they're really necessary.

As to their... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:10 PM on July 22, 2008

If you don't know whether or not it has been treated, I would say that it's not worth the risk. There are too many nasty chemicals in fence preserver to stick it on a fire.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:06 PM on July 21, 2008

This might sound a bit woo-woo, but try keeping a dream diary, and working out what each dream means to you. If there is a connection, maybe that would help you figure out a solution?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:00 PM on July 20, 2008

The Life Collection. I'm in the process of watching this entire series right now. It's taking ages, but it's amazing.

Life In Cold Blood.

Wild China.

How about Ray Mears? Or, just jump on Netflix, punch in David Attenborough, and rent everything. That guy has never made a bad documentary.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:52 PM on July 20, 2008

Do you actually want to masturbate? Or are you doing it out of habit?

When I do it out of habit, I don't enjoy it, I don't necessarily feel aroused, it takes ages and it's not worth the hassle of clearing up. If I get to that point, I know I'm doing it too often.

Kegels exercise the same muscle group that is used when you ejaculate. Strengthening that muscle gives you a much more powerful orgasm, and it gives you better... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:45 PM on July 20, 2008

I doubt that using a friends dongle would work. If that were the case, someone who found your dongle would have access to that software, wherever it was installed.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:45 AM on July 20, 2008

It sounds to me like she's never going to come to a mutual understanding. That said, if you tryt o couch it in scientific terms, as opposed to emotional ones, she might understand it better.

Have you considered seeing a marriage counsellor on your own, to get their advice?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:16 AM on July 20, 2008

I'm familiar with it, but I don't know what it's called. I bet it has bright yellow flowers that look a lot like a dandelion, only smaller?

It's going to be very annoying when it seeds itself. Thankfully, there isn't a huge tap root, so you can just pull them up quite easily.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:13 AM on July 20, 2008

It's using the killawatt that set me on the track of reducing the usage. My old monitor would use 12w even while it was turned off, which is why I changed it to the new one.

The base unit uses ~150w on startup, then settles down to about 90-100w. Removing the additional hard drive cuts out about 15w, but it's still using more than I'd like.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 9:14 AM on July 19, 2008

It might be that all the different chemicals you put on you skin are causing the problem.

Your skin produces a certain amount of sebum. You remove it completely. So your skin produces more, and overcompensates. So you go get some other treatment that removes all that sebum. So your skin produces more. Ad infinitum.

I used to suffer quite badly with spots during puberty, and in the end, I gave up using lots of different chemicals to try to deal... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:18 AM on July 19, 2008

I've never done it, but I'd give it a go. They're quite vigorous trees when all said and done, so I think it would make it. Just make sure to take as much soil with it as possible, and water it in well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:52 AM on July 16, 2008

I can't directly answer your question, but my gut feeling is that a fan isn't going to have that much of an effect on the air pressure in the room.

I solved a heating problem in this way: I created a "tunnel" with 2 rooms and 2 open windows. It went sort of like

|window|--|room|--|room|--|window|

and I used the motion of the wind to drag cooler air in. It seemed to work OK. I've tried using fans, but I've never... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 11:26 AM on July 15, 2008

He's probably expecting things to go south again, and is preventing himself from feeling that pain pre-emptively.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:49 AM on July 14, 2008

Well, your hearing probably isn't going to get any better, and if you can't tell the difference now between 1141kbs and 320kbs, then you probably wont be able to in the future.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:54 AM on July 10, 2008

I once worked for a boss who pulled his weight, who was great. If you had a problem with a customer, or some stock, or whatever, he'd come and help you sort it out.

I also worked for a boss who would sit his office all day, making us wait nearly an hour before we could get change in our tills. His excuse, on the occasion I asked him why I had to wait an hour to get some money so I could, you know, serve people, was that he was drinking a can of coke.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:45 AM on July 9, 2008

I've no answer to the earphones question, but you might like to check out pzizz.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:12 PM on July 7, 2008

I wonder if something like a hot compress would help expel the sebum?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:43 AM on July 7, 2008

There's a difference between being an introvert and being shy. You to me sound shy because you're not aware of "the rules" of socialising (in any sense).

Just keep practising. Get out there, meet all different kinds of people, and have some fun. Try doing something different, such as a pottery class. See how the people in that environment behave. Compare and contrast with people walking their dogs. Etc. There's a subtly different set of rules for each kind of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:25 PM on July 5, 2008

If she doesn't want help, she'll just refuse it. Let her get to the point where she wants it, and then you can get her the help she needs. If you keep getting her out of fixes, she'll never learn what it is to get herself out of that fix, and still be dependent on you for years.

To hit rock bottom, she's going to have to have some kind of disaster. It's tough love, but I think you need to let that happen to her.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:32 PM on July 4, 2008

Quiet.

Clearly laid out shelves, where I can easily find what I'm looking for.

Some kind of obvious alphabetising system, perhaps with tabs that stick out showing where each letter of that alphabet starts.

Somewhere I can go to to look for a specific book, and get told exactly which shelf it's on.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 6:50 AM on July 4, 2008

I can do a similar thing, but it starts at the soles of my feet. I relax, and sort of "turn on the tap", or whatever, and it's like I'm reaching orgasm. The feeling moves up my body in a split second, focused in the soles of my feet and solar plexus. The feeling itself is as intense as orgasm, but it's a different sensation. Almost like an electric shock.

I have no answers for you, but I figured I'd throw the information out there anyway.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:58 PM on July 3, 2008

WHSSmith sell something like this. It's a card you buy for (I think £9.95), that you then add cash to.

I've never used one, I've only seen them in the store, so this isn't a recommendation.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:42 PM on July 3, 2008

What I would do is walk away.

Not because of the prenup itself (though that would freak me out a lot), but because of the way he's handling it and the fact that he's calling it a "test". A test of what? How much you love him? Whether he can do things that make you feel awkward and still get away with them? Only he can answer the question of what it's a test of, but I'd really have to think twice about getting into a relationship with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:48 PM on July 1, 2008

If they're on your property, hide some large concrete blocks in the grass.

It sounds harsh, but if they weren't on your property, they wouldn't get themselves hurt but the concrete blocks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:20 AM on July 1, 2008 marked best answer

1] Put the note up on passiveaggressivenotes.com.

2] Post a pic of the shed - it sounds like a really neat idea!

3] Ignore the neighbour. 4 years of not talking has happened for a reason. :)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:07 PM on June 30, 2008

There are feeders out there that have a mesh tube in the middle, and are surrounded by a large cage with holes in it that are small enough to stop anything bigger than a blackbird, but big enough to let tits and finches through.

Vary the food you put out. Anything with wheat seeds in it will attract pigeons. Grated cheese, mashed potato, bacon rind and sliced apples will all attract different bird types.

One thing I found useful was to not give... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:11 AM on June 30, 2008

I know this doesn't directly answer your question, but have you considered blackout curtains? The one's I have are a thin layer of what appears to be very dense foam. They hang behind the normal curtains, so you can't see them in the room, and they're pale cream in colour, so they don't look odd from outside. I mention them because I have 2 rooms on a SW facing exposure, and only one room has the curtains installed. There is a real and quite appreciable difference between the temperature in the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:09 AM on June 30, 2008

How do you get over someone you [rightly or wrongly] blame for your misery?

I forgave them. I realised that they too were only human, and no more or less messed up that I myself was. They were given a hand of cards, and played a game with them. So did I.

By resenting them and hating them, etc, I put all the attention back onto them. I gave them power over me, if you like. Once I realised I was doing this, I took steps every... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:17 PM on June 29, 2008

I work with a group of 8 females, whose job roles go from my own level (ie, lowest) up to supervisor, and one guy who is the manager.

I get on with all the women, because I take their teasing one step further than they do. Once, they were discussing problems with menstrual cycles, in an effort to make me feel uncomfortable. When I involved myself in the conversation, and mentioned that I thought that amenorrhoea might be caused by a faulty diet, the conversation died.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:16 AM on June 28, 2008

A serious conversation when you've calmed down. Or find his biggest fear, and show it to him. Explain afterwards that that's how you felt.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:44 AM on June 28, 2008

I've spritzed begamot essential oil mixed with vodka around, and it really seems to freshen the air.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 11:23 AM on June 27, 2008

Read Love 101. The whole premise of the book is that you can be alone, and be happy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:16 AM on June 26, 2008

I actually deal with these magazines for a living.

We get charged for every magazine that is sent to the store, and then rely on selling those magazines to make the money off them. Any that aren't sold have to be accounted for, and then sent back to the supplier either a week or month later. We then get credited for the unsold copies.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:13 AM on June 26, 2008 marked best answer

I wonder if it's because the ex-military guys are used to expelling waste in one another's presence.

Personally speaking, I don't indulge in chatting in public toilets. I don't think people really need to hear the background noises.

Right now, I'm reminded of a sketch by the comedian Ben Elton. He mentioned in the sketch that guys don't talk in rest rooms because any opening to conversation gets translated to "can I have a look at your penis?".
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 8:27 AM on June 23, 2008

Check out the INEBG forum. Lots of clever folk there to talk to about this topic.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:35 AM on June 23, 2008

How can I mend things, assuage my suspicions, and how can I deal with my fiancee's friend in light of the new knowledge?

To mend things, apologise to your girlfriend for telling her that you think she is going to run off with someone else, and for thinking it in the first place. Suspicion is not the same as proof - if she's never been unfaithful to you, or shown any sign of wanting to be so, then you're being paranoid. This is your problem, which is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 4:03 PM on June 21, 2008

beachhead2 said: "I always found it odd that if you work in a grocery store, no one expects you to know how to bake a pie, but if you work in a hardware store, they expect you know how to fix their toilet. And get super irritated about the state of the world when you don't know how to fix their toilet."

You took the words right out of my mouth. I once had an old woman ask me how do a loft conversion. She blatantly had no clue about which end of the hammer to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 8:32 AM on June 21, 2008

That looks a lot like a dandelion head that's been caught in the rain. All the tiny filaments join together when they get wet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 8:08 AM on June 21, 2008 marked best answer

The looks like part Staffie to me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:45 PM on June 20, 2008

Pic of a Staffie, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 12:49 PM on June 20, 2008

I see more red in one eye, and more green in the other. I always figured that everyone's eyes were like that, what with 3D glasses and all.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 8:19 AM on June 20, 2008

I don't want to work at 2AM. I want to be asleep in bed. I don't want to start work at 2PM, and finish at 10PM. I want to be at home relaxing with my family.

I did work those shifts in a shop, for a period. We got very few customers compared to the rest of the day, after say 5:30. People were at home, or out doing other things, not shopping, or doing whatever.

There's a mindset that says "shops open 9-5", that's difficult to change.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 10:41 AM on June 18, 2008

Put some lemon essential oils on them? They wont smell too strong, but they help deter the cats.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:31 PM on June 17, 2008

Change them, if only for the peace of mind.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:34 AM on June 16, 2008

Buy a cheap shredder, then set yourself up in business shredding other people's personal data for them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:42 PM on June 15, 2008

Ask the groundskeepers if they ever have a fire?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 3:07 PM on June 15, 2008

Nthing NearlyFreeSpeech for domain registrations. You could perhaps get someone you trust to keep their mouth shut to register the domain for you, if you really want one?

Get a new email address, sign up for a new blog with someone other than Blogger/Google, and do it all via a proxy. Always remember that your IP address has the potential to be personally identifying information too.

I know you're posting as anonymous, but if you think I can help,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 1:44 AM on June 15, 2008

I drive an old classic car, that's instantly recognisable. I get lots of people coming up to me saying "I/my father/my school teacher used to drive one of these" or asking me if I know why the car was made in the way it is? And then invariably proceed to tell me why, even though I've already explained that yes I do in fact know.

Most of the time, I'm in no mood to stop and chat to complete strangers about my car. Asking for directions is one thing, chatting... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 6:58 AM on June 14, 2008