Given that the sciences have rather sprawled out nowadays and people tend to study more for depth than breadth, I expect there's not much out there that tries to be very broad. And the content is changing a lot in many fields, so your best bet is probably to find resources that are discipline-specific. Of these I know of 3.

Environmental science:
Encyclopedia of Earth

Biology (species and taxonomy-based):
Encyclopedia of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2008

I used to work with someone who commuted about 30 min from Indiana to Ohio. So in the summer his house and family were an hour behind work and colleagues. It meant he got up an hour earlier because he lost an hour in his morning commute. And it meant he gained an hour on the commute home, which he saw as the payoff. But it seemed to suck generally. I think he kept his watch on Indiana time. He may have tried two watches for a little while but it was just more confusing? Either that or he... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 3:20 PM on July 28, 2008

I don't know how much he makes, but I know someone who's head of horticulture at a botanic garden. He has an Associate's though. I think he started out with a strong interest (and skills in) flower arrangement and gained experience in the horticulture side by degrees, so it may bear resemblance to what you're thinking of doing. For what it's worth he's been offered a much more prestigious job than his current one many, many times but it would strictly administrative, so he always turns it down.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 5:43 PM on July 3, 2008

Sometimes the networks respond to fan support in the form of a movie. After Firefly was canceled, fan outcry helped get the followup movie Serenity made, which was intended to tie up loose ends from the show.

This isn't true. And I realize that Joss Whedon himself has fed into this myth, most notably in the intro to the movie. And it is still believed by much of the fandom. But it just isn't true. Serenity was already in early stages of development... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 11:19 PM on May 5, 2008

Unless Serenity was greenlit before the campaign (which I doubt), then it seems like the campaign can accurately claim credit for Serenity.

From an interview with Joss Whedon (podcast, transcript):

AH: You mentioned Universal got it, there, was part of the reason they wanted to make the film the fact that there was this sortof fanbase for the show, or did you.. was it just purely the strength of the script and the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 11:00 AM on May 14, 2008

Bioquip, Carolina Biological Supply, Forestry Suppliers, and Fisher Scientific are my offerings. They're already listed but I heartily second them.

One of my teacher friends used to have a catalog with every weird cheap toy you could ever think of, all sold in bulk. I think it was basically everything found in vending machines in the U.S., all of it made in China. Bouncy balls priced by the thousand, etc. Unfortunately I can't remember the name if it. It was fun to read.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 3:15 PM on April 28, 2008

You can't prove that one song is the most misogynist song ever to be written in English, only that it stands as a modern example of a song with very strong misogyny. There are so many obscure songs, so many variations of traditional songs, and so many songs that were never written down or left a certain region. It's impossible to prove something is "worst ever" or "best example in existence," because there could always be something else out there. Even... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 8:14 AM on April 4, 2008

Good point, Kattullus. Answer songs may yield a lot of examples. The wikipedia article isn't great, but there was an old blues tradition of writing songs to answer other songs, often with men answering women's songs about men and the reverse. It's where "Hound Dog" comes from (written by Big Mama Thornton). It's also an ongoing tradition in R&B. "Hound Dog" isn't a great example for your context, but there were much nastier similar exchanges between musicians of both... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 10:17 AM on April 4, 2008

My cat does this if I'm not playing with her enough. She has a high energy level for a cat, but any cat will react badly to being alone and bored. Cats just vary in their tolerance level for it and their reactions. 11+ hours a day alone and bored, such as you've described, would be beyond the limit of most cats. If not every cat. I'm amazed that you have a cat and not cat-fishing toys. If your cat is entirely indoors, and is alone much of the day, interactive playtime is as essential as the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 3:06 PM on March 15, 2008

Also: if you can't or won't give him enough attention, do find him another home. My cat has cleverly secreted herself between me and the laptop to bring you this addendum. I have to go now.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 3:17 PM on March 15, 2008

I shop on Sat or Sun and usually cook several meals Sunday night. I put them in tupperware and they're my lunch and dinner for most of the week. So every week I have a grocery list that's staples (things like milk and fruit that are perishable and I use up every week) and also the ingredients I'll need to cook the meals. I've learned to make certain dishes that I like a lot, and I mix them up to keep myself from getting bored with what I'm eating several days in a row during the week. I give... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 9:40 PM on March 3, 2008

My dad liked the Air Force museum in Dayton. Be forewarned: it is ginormous. And free, IIRC.

I miss Skyline Chili a lot. If you like a laid-back bar, I recommend Arnold's in downtown Cincinnati. It's been in continuous operation since 1861. Their claim to fame is the bathtub upstairs where they supposedly made gin during the Prohibition. You can go see the tub if the upstairs dining room isn't occupied.

Also in the Cincinnati area is the National... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 9:36 PM on March 3, 2008

If I had left this out overnight, and it looked and smelled ok, I would dump it all back into a pot together and heat it to low boil for a few minutes. Then I'd put it in clean containers and back into the fridge, immediately. I'd made sure I ate it all in 2-3 days, assuming the first meal of it didn't make me sick. Which, for the record, only happens once in a blue moon when I eat out. But I tend to cook with a lot of acidic and spicy ingredients, and most often vegetables... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 1:37 PM on February 25, 2008

I've heard that jars of peanut butter are (or maybe were) considered strange in the UK and difficult to find. If your friend is adventurous with food, maybe throw in some packs of various dried chiles from your local Latin American food market. Also there is a brand of Mexican hot sauce (Valentina) that is my favoritest thing ever and is extremely cheap (~$1/bottle).

Grits and corn meal are also good suggestions, but I find that people who aren't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 8:52 PM on February 18, 2008

To improve your skills, retain them, and keep yourself interested, it's really important to find people to speak German with on a regular basis. It could be a German-speaking lunch group once a month or a book club that reads books and talks about them in German. You will learn best and improve fastest if you include conversation with other people, because it will challenge you to not only retain content but also use it to express yourself and comprehend others.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 8:33 PM on February 11, 2008

Also I suggest you read "Ein Tisch ist ein Tisch" if you haven't already, and maybe the original German versions of any books you might have already read as English translations, such as Die Verwandlung.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 8:49 PM on February 11, 2008 marked best answer

As mentioned already, I think the texture's a bit different due to the chemical treatments that conventional bananas go through. I find that the peel is sturdier and the strings bit harder to get off. I'm used to it at this point after years of buying them.

That said, I often don't notice flavor/texture/quality differences between organic and conventional produce when all else is equal. I find that fresh and local trumps all else in terms of flavor. Organic is usually... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 9:35 PM on February 7, 2008

That is to say, the organic bananas have sturdier peels and I'm used to the strings.

Also I have more than one friend. I swear.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 9:38 PM on February 7, 2008

Nthing introducing them on neutral ground. You never know with dogs. Sex and age play a role, but they're not dealbreakers in the mysterious equation that determines whether two dogs will get along. I'd try something more easily restrained (someplace without other dogs around, both on leashes) and then if results seem promising, try something more interactive (maybe a dog park, off leashes, see if they'll play with a new toy together).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 9:27 PM on February 7, 2008

In the U.S., we have historically and systematically eliminated natural predators of deer in most places. More recently we've also extensively transformed the landscape into habitat that boosts deer numbers. Deer thrive in forest fragments because they shelter in the forest during the day and then graze outside the forest (crop fields, lawns, gardens, golf courses) at night. The more we fragment and urbanize the landscape, the higher the proportion of forest edge to land area. Translation: lots... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 10:59 AM on February 3, 2008

As a father with a young daughter, this thread is a very depressing read. I always thought it would be the perfect time to let her have a first (small) glass of wine at dinner, just to sort of say, "you're a grown-up now".

I would have really liked that. I was sad to learn other girls' parents would actually celebrate it like that. My mom helped me deal with the practical points, no big deal, but my dad's reaction was quiet panic and kind... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 10:44 AM on February 3, 2008

Counting Crows -- "Four Days" (this one and Foo Fighters "Learning to Fly" are the two songs I associate with flight)
Indigo Girls-- "Airplane" (about being nervous on a flight but upbeat and hilarious)
Lizz Wright-- "Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly"
Joni Mitchell-- "Amelia" (sad)
Nickel Creek-- "When You Come Back Down"
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (only if your friend likes... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 2:14 AM on February 3, 2008

Return of the Red Baron, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 2:21 AM on February 3, 2008

Does this worry you enough that you want to go to the vet now instead of next time you're due to take your cat in for his annual checkup? If yes, go ahead and go. No one on the internet can tell you want the lump isn/isn't. It isn't necessarily cancerous though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 6:56 PM on February 2, 2008

To be honest, I find it a bit weird that you're using language like sex to ask this. This is not the same kind of boundary issue, unless you'd pack an SO off to the doctor for vaccinations unannounced and without consent. If your cat doesn't like the way you interact with it with the catnip, believe me, it'll let you know, and very clearly too. And it'll likely put up with your catnip behavior even if it does find it mildly annoying as long as you're including petting and attention in the deal.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 6:07 PM on January 31, 2008

I hadn't even noticed HICST's comment when I answered this. HICST: sure, there was some snark from other people after you commented, but I think comments here have generally been meant to answer hermitosis's question and not to disagree with you. I think you may be interpreting this more in light of your personal disagreement than is merited.

hermitosis: I feel I should add a disclaimer to my original answer after reading HICST's comments. I answered this based on how... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 6:48 PM on February 2, 2008

Something like the LTER directory may be a good place to start.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 6:29 PM on February 2, 2008

This and this may help. This is more technical and you'd need a PNAS subscription to access it.

I've read that the thing limiting insect size is the rate of oxygen diffusion through their tissues. Do arthropods have the same limitation? If so, why no coconut crab-sized cockroaches? (Not that I'm hoping for that or anything)

All insects are arthropods. Not all arthropods are insects. The coconut crab is an arthropod.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 5:29 AM on January 31, 2008 marked best answer

I should mention: the insect trachea deliver oxygen directly, not through the hemolymph.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 5:31 AM on January 31, 2008

The main question was a bit muddled by the insect/arthopod confusion. My answer was specifically about insects, even though I made a point about spider size and book lungs to answer some secondary questions. I don't know if anyone has investigated this question for other arthropod groups, including spiders. The answer I gave is the generally supported hypothesis for insects. I do not generalize that answer across arthropods as a whole, which are an extremely diverse array of animals. The coconut... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 6:00 PM on February 2, 2008

Sherman trap. It's what mammalogists use for live trapping of animals this size. You won't find a better track record. I suspect it's what those box-style traps linked to earlier are based on. The Hav-a-hart linked to earlier is for larger animals. You want something smaller.

If you try a Sherman, play with it awhile before baiting it. Since it's a flexible metal, you'll need to fiddle with it to make sure the door mechanism is sensitive enough to snap shut when the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 4:23 AM on January 28, 2008

Call your local emergency vet first. They'll be able to tell you whether you should induce vomiting and if so, how much hydrogen peroxide to use for that weight. There are some things that you aren't supposed to induce vomiting for. Good luck.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 8:04 PM on January 27, 2008

MST3K
Futurama
Farscape
Muppets from Space (if you like spoofs and/or Muppets)
Enemy Mine
Underworld (mostly horror but with some scifi elements)
Resident Evil (I like the first one)
The Fifth Element (meh to me but a lot of people liked it)
I, Robot
Spirited Away
X-Files
Dune

Currently on my own "to watch" list:
Blade... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 7:49 PM on January 27, 2008

And this may be the wrong kind of nerdage, but I found The Adventures of Baron Munchausen to be both extremely strange and awesome. There's a scene where Robin Williams is rambling around as the headless King of the Moon. If you are brave of heart and curious of mind, seek it out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 7:58 PM on January 27, 2008

Ask questions. And answer them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 12:42 PM on January 27, 2008

A fan posed a similar question at Fans4Writers.com and one of the writers answered:

You're allowed to attend, but not laugh.

No, here's the deal: You can go, but make sure you take a leaflet from the picketers and call all the numbers (or e-mail) on the back. That's the price of WGA-kosher admission.

I would add: tell them you support them as you take the leaflet.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 4:00 PM on January 10, 2008

From what I've read at UnitedHollywood and DeadlineHollywoodDaily, yeah, some writers are angry with Jon Stewart and the other hosts who went back on the air without writers, but I think most are similar to the ones you talked to-- focused on the AMPTP.

I'm glad you got to go and got to talk to some writers on strike.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 12:03 PM on January 26, 2008

If you want to see a black cat in the dark, you will need light, not a lighter cat.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 11:21 PM on January 25, 2008

Labs do seem to be particularly smelly. Especially so in old age. You are not wrong, striker-- there's a distinct lack of doggy-smell after professional grooming versus just removing the stinkier small by bathing at home. I've never understood it either. I do wonder if it's the anal gland expression after reading answers here. I'd always assumed it was the quality of the shampoo or a deodorizer, before.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 10:25 PM on January 12, 2008

The oceans are where there is likely to be a significant and deadly drop in O2. Water has lower and more variable O2 concentrations to begin with, and warm water holds less O2. Plus the pH is being driven down by the excess CO2 getting dissolved in the water. For terrestrial environments, people are still trying to figure out what's most likely to happen, but plants are what's generally thought to be the canary there. There's a bit on what's expected to be most affected by rising CO2 here. To... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 12:15 AM on December 23, 2007

I was on the same quest, finally gave up, and bought one of the velcro ones and used it without the velcro. Where I live now, I have an old wooden window that shuts like a vice. I used some thick twine looped around where the "legs" on the bottom meet the platform (so the twine is one big horizontal loop right under the platform), and I shut both twine ends in the window (after tying them together to make one big loop). So far it's working out. It's been up since October. I check it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 11:25 PM on December 22, 2007

The Colbert Report on August 10 and 14, 2006: the Geraldo dispute with Jon Stewart, the liquids Stephen carries on planes, his computer security advice, and his lamentation that WWIII was avoided. And I can't seem to find it, but if it wasn't on the 14th as well, then the episode where he talks about the Rapture Index is possibly my favorite ever.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 5:12 PM on December 12, 2007

January 18, 2007: Colbert interviewed Bill O'Reilly. Also, I recommend his address at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner, although I'm not sure how copyright works for that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 2:36 PM on December 17, 2007

Being able to talk other people into telling you exclusive and important things is more interesting to me than already knowing them. The method is very important in establishing the coolness. What impressed me most about Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan in the 2001 Ocean's Eleven is how they use social engineering to create a network of willing accomplices everywhere. Having resources and knowledge to start makes a character impressive in a Bond way, but being able to find them... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 4:08 PM on December 2, 2007

The unknown is what makes monsters scary. The thing you can't see fully but can imagine, or the thing you don't know very well, is always scarier than what you know and understand. Your imagination is usually more scary than reality. Good writers exploit that fully-- they give you glimpses and play out the suspense. Shelob doesn't scare me anymore. I'm still afraid for Frodo and Sam, but it's not the same thing.

I am re-reading LOTR now and the Ringwraiths are still very... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 1:25 AM on November 27, 2007

If his family is your potential in-laws, you should compromise visibly but very politely in their household. That's very important. I think, since you are worried about a step-by-step progression into a traditional role that isn't your choice, you want to make a small stand early on and show his family that you and he choose more egalitarian roles-- together. Especially since you are not from their cultural background, you need to be polite, but so do they. Just as you are accepting what they... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 3:52 AM on November 7, 2007

Coccidia is detected by spores in the cat's poop. The vet (or a tech) smears a fecal sample on a slide and looks for the spores. If the kitten has been infected awhile, there might be fewer spores currently visible in the poop, which makes it harder to detect. Even a well-trained eye can miss something if it's relatively rare in the sample. It's easy to treat, and it's common in stray cats, as Arqa mentioned, so it's high on the list of things to look for when a kitten is having diarrhea.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 10:12 PM on November 4, 2007 marked best answer

Jane Lubchenco and Bruce Menge. They're well-known ecology researchers with a significant body of work. They share a research lab and co-advise their graduate students. They actually split the workload and pay of a full-time academic position between them earlier in their careers, while raising their kids.

Jazz musicians and club owners Tiny Davis and Ruby Lucas.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 7:00 PM on October 23, 2007

Long answer: The statement's generally true. There's generally a spider pretty close to you wherever you are because they're already around (and abundant) in most places you'd be. Spiders are found in most habitats, including human-made structures like buildings. They're in most places you'd look*, and they're usually abundant as mentioned upthread. Many are quiet small, and as a group they tend to be cryptic in coloring and behavior, so you're likely to not notice most of them. Some species are... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 11:23 AM on October 19, 2007

Looks like milkweed to me, too. He's holding an individual seed.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Tehanu at 10:45 AM on October 19, 2007