Some people seem to be confusing small companies with start-ups. If you've mostly done the small company thing, try the big company! A big company will offer a more defined career path, more support, more interaction with the world.

There are two kinds of small companies, small-and-stagnant and small-and-growing. I worked for one small company for 5 years, it was fine, but there was never going to be a new challenge to take on or a way to grow because I was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 4:58 PM on March 3, 2008

I live and have lived for 5 years in this Hollywood/Fairfax/Melrose/West Hollywood area that everyone loves so much and I have a different point of view. I like it, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

1) This is a pointless conversation unless you know exactly where your wife will be working. If she's going to work at all the studios, it's a crapshoot because they are in several areas.

2) This area has fairly lousy freeway access. The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:05 AM on February 28, 2008 marked best answer

You can do this the reverse way and get a caterer who will then help you find a location. This is no help at all if you want to bring in Pizza :)

You might want to look for listings of locations/studios. These are usually for photo shoots or misc video production, but you can often hire them for events if you seem normal and responsible and it fits a space in their calendar.

Most traditional venues will want you to use an actual caterer with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 3:18 PM on February 25, 2008

Most unconferences have concurrent sessions (more than one room going at a time) so if you aren't able to offer that, make sure you are clear about what "option b" is. It could be a chill room or break area where people can chat informally.

This is important because the law for most openspace types of things is that if someone isn't adding or getting value from what is going on they should leave.

One other "method" not yet... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 2:37 PM on January 11, 2008

I finally found that discussion group again. OpenSpace email list
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 2:22 PM on February 25, 2008

Clive Thomson wrote an amazing article a few years ago for a weird magazine that talked a little about economics of games and also talked about how MMOG are little petri dishes for economists and political scientists.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 3:34 PM on February 19, 2008

Kidnapped (with Jeremy Sisto and Dana Delaney) plays well on DVD and wrapped itself up in a satisfying manner. It's like a mini-series. They knew they weren't being picked up, and had enough time to close out the plot. I really enjoyed the show originally, and I like it even more on DVD.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 11:57 AM on February 12, 2008

(This information may be outdated) In general, the first person to file gets to claim the deduction for the offspring.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 1:47 PM on February 7, 2008

your clip didn't explicitly sound like anything I recognize. But it felt a little like the instrumental score music of Great Expectations (the one with Ethan Hawke). And while I don't think it sounds like Last of the Mohicans, I often find that the music where I'm like "that was in another movie" turns out to be Last of the Mohicans.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 3:13 PM on February 1, 2008

There is at least one agency in Boston for convention temps. AP Conventions, part of a bigger company I think.

Anyway. The nice thing about Convention temping is that you can work days that you want to, and work a lot one week and then not at all the next week. They also usually expect that you are taking public transportation. You might also enjoy catering work. Or just trolling the "gigs" section of Craigslist.

In... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:01 AM on January 29, 2008 marked best answer

There is a Tequila liqeuor you can pretty much only get in Mexico (or at least you could only get it there a few years ago). Agavero is the name I think. It's a little tourist-y, but it has this wonderful smooth, aged, spiced flavor. I looked all over for it... and then bought it in the airport.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 5:08 PM on January 25, 2008

The Hilton Garden Inn there is perfectly fine and they are easy to work with. They have a good amount of space.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:52 AM on January 25, 2008

There's no magic formula or set of places. I made most of my friends here by meeting people who loved the same cult TV show I did.

Machine Project is a good place for meeting interesting people.

Taking a class at Santa Monica College is also a good method. I'm not outgoing really, so I need repeated contact with people. I find it can be really hard in LA to get connected to your specific location. For that, nothing beats being a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:44 AM on January 25, 2008

There's an interesting job in the meetings/events field called "Travel Director" where you travel to the location of a meeting or (and this is better) incentive trip to help with the logistics and customer service. You are put up in a nice hotel (usually) and you work hard (often 12 hours each day). But you are working in Costa Rica or Paris (or Dallas, or Detroit) and often you'll get to babysit a nice tour that the group is doing or some other activity that lets you get out of the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 2:49 PM on January 22, 2008

You don't say when the cool trip is going to happen, but in case it is soon.

You can also always "upgrade" to expedited service if it looks like your passport isn't going to make it. You can do this by calling. I had to do this when it was 10 weeks after I had mailed in my paperwork and still no passport.

Also, you can get a passport in one day with proof of travel in the next two weeks. You can only do this at a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 11:58 AM on January 21, 2008

I like Yahoo. It works, it offers some flexibility, it doesn't crash my computer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:55 AM on January 18, 2008

I plowed through Stumbling onto Happiness. It is readable and useful. Sort of Mind Hacks for your happiness meter. As a bonus, the book validates that using AskMeFi is the best way to make yourself happy. (He says that the thing that works best when needing to make a decision about what will make your future self happy is to ask advice from people who had to make a similar decision.)

I'm also working on Happier. Which is based on a class the author teaches at Harvard.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:50 AM on January 18, 2008

First time around I thought this was a woman trailing-spouse, and I had really specific advice. Then I realized the trailing spouse in question was a man, and I decided I should still give the advice.

While people should make sacrifices and plans to build a life together, each partner should ensure that they have the ability to flourish outside the partnership.

The FSO life is very specific, and it is hard to guess if a person will like it or not.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:59 AM on January 17, 2008

As long as you are happy and not being asked to give up anything you resent, relax and ENJOY.

I met my husband when I was 19. I always say that if someone had told me when I was 16-19 that I would be married at 22 I would have asked them why the hell they didn't stop me. That's how much of a mistake I would have thought it was. But it was the best thing I ever did, I've never been so happy, and we've been together 11 years. Do I regret I couldn't date more people or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 12:51 PM on January 16, 2008

I'm a conference organizer.

Your talk should have some structure to it. In your preparation, you should ask yourself, "people will leave my talk knowing __________? And feeling ________? And wondering __________?" And fill in the blank somewhat specifically.

The exception is if you've been brought in to present on a project that is yours, or otherwise do a case study. The question aboves still applies, but you are also storytelling,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 12:32 PM on January 10, 2008

The baskets are really the most successful model for your sort of thing.

I'd go farther and suggest you solicit individuals for stuff. Crafty stuff, etc.

You could also get approved to do a raffle, have vendors donate money, use the money to buy a nice item, and raffle it.

Going after local restaurants, movie theatres, etc, *that are local to the conference* can be nice.

Find out if your vendor... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 11:53 AM on January 10, 2008

Re: the Rock Band/Guitar Hero suggestions above, is that something you'd have to get RIAA permission to do?

I think this falls under the category of stuff that your basic ASCAP blanket license covers. If your company has a lot of meetings, they have it covered already (they pay an annual license fee based on the number of meetings and number of people where music is played/performed). The venue may even have it covered.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 11:17 AM on January 10, 2008

Maybe try Palm Springs and take the tramway? The forest at the top often has snow. The tramway itself is super-cool, and it's a nice day trip (you can even stop at the concrete dinosaurs in Cabazon.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 2:07 PM on January 3, 2008

The circumstances you are in right now are not ones that you will be in forever. This is the nature of relationships over time. There is an extremely good chance that she will get stabilized, get on the right meds, get the right therapy and learn to manage her illness better. It sounds like she wants to do that, she wants to get better. She also could have been fine for ten years and then had a serious breakdown in her 30's. Your life isn't always going to be like this. I promise.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 1:56 PM on January 3, 2008

Can you do hotel front desk or pbx (operator)? The Renn may or may not hire you with no experience, but some of the other hotels might need help (Orchid, Best Western). You could work 3-11, leaving your days free for interviews. It's interesting work to do short-term.

I also suggest Trade Show Temps. Where you work events and trade shows. You can get to the LACC on the subway, and most of the other convention centers are on mass transit of some kind. The work is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 12:43 PM on January 3, 2008

Remember, the key thing is that you pay, in whatever fashion (withholding, estimated quarterlies) 90% of what you owed overall the previous year. So you might get a free pass on 2007 and just have this be a lesson for 2008.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 3:32 PM on January 2, 2008

Mostly Filler
Sunnydale Compendium
Wishing it was 1997
What's a Thesula?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:39 AM on January 2, 2008

If you want safe and easy/painless. Stubhub is the way to go. They help you price your ticket, shipping is paid, it's all really easy and low risk.

Craigslist is a different animal, you'll probably have to field phone calls for a few days, etc. For craigslist, the folks should pay in cash, and you should meet in a public place. We always pick a fast food place near the stadium on the day of the game. It doesn't need to be the bank unless you are talking about a lot... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 8:39 AM on December 18, 2007

It depends on your state. Illinois used to not allow individuals to re-sell tickets for higher than face. (or possibly at all, my memory is fuzzy) so you'd see a lot of eBay auctions for a smashing pumpkins CD and if you won the auction you'd get tickets to a concert.

I believe that Illinois re-wrote the law so that re-selling on the internet was OK (they did something anyway, and as soon as they did the White Sox launched their on-line ticket exchange).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 2:32 PM on December 27, 2007

I suggest researching credit unions in your area and then joining one. Credit unions tend to have fabulous programs for these sorts of things. You can have a conversation with them or attend a class without there being a lot of pressure. It's ok that you aren't ready to buy right this second and just want to see what the options are.

These loans still exist, but they are a bit harder to find, and you will have the best luck getting them from a place where you have a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:40 AM on December 27, 2007

Because you have some time, and because you are a bit of a sentimental packrat (you still have those instincts, even if you are recovering) you may want to add a step and get a bunch of little colored dots, and stick the dots on things when you use them, enjoy looking at them, or even when you think about them. You don't need to be ruthless, you just want to make sure that everything you own and choose to move is useful, brings you joy, is worth the physical and psychological costs of keeping... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:27 AM on December 27, 2007 marked best answer

My husband did this. He went back to college and graduated from private university at 28.

On the one hand, it was good. He was very focused, knew exactly what he was doing, knew that he was playing a game to get a degree. He'd seen what life was like without the degree and he didn't want that. I always was envious that he could be so clear.

On the other hand, it was the start of a lifetime of being behind. It was hard to connect and make... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 8:40 AM on December 24, 2007

Unemployed people like to go to the movies, but cannot always go to the movies. Get him a gift card for Edwards cinemas, which has the most nice theaters in that area. I think telling someone to go to the movies on you is a nice and thoughtful gift.

I also second the idea to buy some hard liquor. Or an assortment of weird beers, like Arrogant Bastard.

You can also give Angels Bucks, since single-game tix are not yet on sale. But that's a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:38 AM on December 21, 2007

There is more traffic. Rents are higher. There is still rent control in LA but they raised it 5% this year. Downtown is finally gaining some traction as a real place to live/visit.

There are plans to expand light rail to Culver City by 2010.

If you want to get back into being a guide, let me know. Or if you think you might want steady temp work in an office (which would be flexible and flow from part-time to full-time), please let me know.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:41 AM on December 20, 2007

It all depends on your scene.

The LAPhil is doing this cabaret thing. It might be the only thing at Walt Disney Concert Hall that you'd be tempted to go to.

Lots of clubs will have special events. If you want more low-key, try El Segundo or the Hermosa Beach pier. Hermosa usually has some fireworks I think, and there are a few different bars there.

I also think everyone should do the rose parade once, you can do the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 10:17 AM on December 20, 2007

One key thing I haven't seen mentioned is this:

Talk to the couple about what kind of wedding pictures they want. Maybe look through some albums on-line together. As a more-established photographer, you'd have a body of work and people would know your style and what they were "booking." You have talent, but don't have a style in this genre. If the couple is expecting you'll zip around recording whatever strikes you as pretty, and doesn't want you to get... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 8:30 AM on December 18, 2007

What you are struggling with is something that all couples struggle with. Many successful couples have one person who is the spender and one who is the saver, and that is part of what makes the partnership work.

It sounds like she has expensive tastes, but it doesn't sound like she's some scary out-of-control person. You aren't pointing to a lot of specific problems, just this general feeling of unease.

The way a lot of people resolve this is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 4:33 PM on December 10, 2007

Just trust your instincts. If you find something funny/interesting, your penpal probably will too. Chatty stuff about movies you've seen and TV shows you are watching are fine.

If there is serial intrigue at your workplace or in your family, that is fantastic. Share that. By serial intrigue I mean your friend who has a crush on the courier and needlessly sends documents by courier so she can see him, or the new VP who was brought in, but drinks too much at client... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:41 AM on November 20, 2007

I use it for keeping notes about a project in one place. For example, brainstorm ideas, which turn into copy, which then get graphics, and maybe some price quotes.

I also use it a lot for shopping. I'll keep clippings of things I'm thinking about buying, or to compare between different pieces of luggage.

When I have an event I'm planning, I'll use it to manage to-do's, keep ideas about decorations to buy, I'll also use it to store research about... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 12:09 PM on November 19, 2007

New Orleans

It needs people to live there and care for it's property and help build it back to a real city with a diverse economy.

New Mexico or Arizona-- Desert living.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 12:02 PM on November 19, 2007

I'm not sure that anything is "off the beaten track" in Monteverde. I *loved* it. But there's only so much of it.

Go on a night hike at the Children's Forest. You see lots of animals, this is the best night hike.

Go in, all the way in, to the cloud forest. Most people don't go on all the trails. One of the people I was hiking with took a little-used trail and he wished he had brought a machete. But the front part of the forest can... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 11:58 AM on November 19, 2007

My mother has undergone several rounds of treatment with this drug over the last 3-4 years. She has a non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She doesn't even refer to Rituxan as a "chemo" treatment. She views it as a separate thing, she had one round of true chemo previously, and so to her, Rituxan is nothing like that.

She has allergies and sensitivities and often has an allergic reaction when having the infusion which requires administering benadryl at the same time. She... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 4:25 PM on November 14, 2007 marked best answer

One of my professor's had this happen and contacted the author directly. The author had several boxes of the book. Between that and rounding up copies, he was able to get enough copies for the class. This was a class of 50 ppl though. We each "bought" a book from him, in the form of a check that would be returned to us on return of the book. This way, he would have copies for the next class as well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 9:35 AM on November 8, 2007

I say never, ever tell. Because you can't un-tell. And I've seen this go really wrong. In one case, the person went from being a good employee to someone who was characterized as not having enough "energy." Nothing had changed except the person had disclosed their condition.

If you have been at the company for long enough to establish strong performance, than you should be able to ride out 6 months or so of less-good performance.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 5:15 PM on November 7, 2007

If you are 90% of the population and have a regular job, and no weird incomes or deductions, just use the IRS calculator and be sure to also visit your state and use their calculator.

If you are too complicated for the IRS calculator, then you should have a CPA anyway IMO.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 1:32 PM on November 7, 2007

If you are not disciplined, just do the 401(k) now. You'll leave that job eventually, and maybe then you'll know more about if you prefer an IRA or a ROTH IRA and you can convert at that time if you'd like. Actual savings is always better than theoretical savings.

If you are disciplined, hedge your bets and do part in the 401(k) and part in a ROTH. There are benefits to both, we all agree on that. The big 3 companies will give you a good ROTH product with low fees,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 1:15 PM on November 7, 2007

When I visited the UK, my favorite things were the chalk figures. These figures, usually horses, were made by carving into the earth to display the chalk below. They require maintenance, since surface soil can move quickly to obscure the design. In one of the books I picked up on the subject, they talked about a famous horse that went from famous to "what?" in 30 years. The maintenance was not done, the figure obscured and then lost, and then forgotten. I could not conceive of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2007

I don't know what to tell you. But what we are all reacting to is that clearly, when you wrote this, you did not want to propose.

So in that way, I think we are all telling you what you wanted to hear. But that's your fault, you laid things out that way.

However, a lot of people ask me how being married is "different" from being in a relationship. [I got married years before most of my friends]. And I always say that it is different... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 1:20 PM on November 2, 2007

I will sometimes sign myself up for a "course" on something. It's been long enough since I was in college that I miss the practice or learning as a designed exercise.

I will pick the thing/subject. Design a syllabus and reading list, and make myself do assignments. The class usually lasts 3-6 months. I will also seek out a field trip or film or speaker I can go to as part of the "course."

When I am feeling lazy, I will take... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 12:48 PM on November 2, 2007

I enjoy serving a "blood bar" where people can have blood of Mary, Blood of a Virgin, Spicy Blood, etc. All the fixin's of Bloody Marys with some different sauces, spices, garnishes, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mozzie at 5:12 PM on October 23, 2007