30-somethings aren't really that much younger than 40-somethings. If they really are making comments about anyone over 40 being ancient, they're being completely ridiculous. God willin' and the creek don't rise, they are going to be 40-somethings very very soon, sooner than they think, and if they think that 40-something is ancient, they are going to freak right the hell out. Let's just say they won't be nearly as graceful and self-possessed as you are.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 2:54 AM on June 28, 2008

This is FASCINATING. As a woman, I rarely get schooled in the bathroom protocol of the opposite sex. My understanding of the rules was that talking, especially at the urinals, was absolutely NOT ALLOWED. I also understand there are spacing regulations and other elaborate rituals.

What I have to contribute, then, is why WOMEN talk in bathrooms - it's a private area that lends itself to more open expression of things that are "inappropriate" beyond its... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 11:05 PM on June 23, 2008

What precautions do you take to conceal your activities from the authorities? What have your arrests taught you about the success and failure of your techniques? How do you reach your intended audience, given that you have to conceal your business to some extent?

In what format are they distributing their pornography? Is it solely via athe internet, or are there actual copies of videos/DVDs, magazines, photos and whatnot? If there are, do they export them? There must... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 3:10 AM on June 23, 2008

I'm glad I looked at your question, and at jamaro's answer. I have a similar injury in my right wrist - fell hard with most of my weight on the palm of my hand in a silly and embarrassing way in front of a lot of people, thought I sprained it. Now, save for the fact that the injury was more recent, my symptoms are almost exactly like yours. Feels fine most of the time, unless I try to lift myself up with it, or do something that exerts twisting pressure on the thumb side of the wrist, like... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 2:55 AM on June 23, 2008

I've just been shopping for vintage and vintage style frames myself, and had great luck with eBay. I took a few minutes and searched, and came up with some frames that are close to the style on that page:

1 , 2,3,4, 5,6,7,8, and in red.

Hopefully at least one of those will work for you. They should all be able to take prescription lenses (I use this site for the lenses.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 2:49 AM on June 20, 2008 marked best answer

Another option is to check out local musician oriented message boards. This may take some patience, as you will have to do some searching to find a community that seems a good fit, and some lurking before you post, but it can be an invaluable networking tool for someone in your situation who doesn't necessarily have time to be glad-handing in the bar scene.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 12:44 AM on June 20, 2008

"Falling back to aesthetics" isn't really a failure. This is visual art; if a work of art doesn't speak to you when you look at it , reading more about it isn't going to impart that understanding. Reading a statement or manifesto may tell you in words what the artist was attempting to do, and may make a person feel like they "get it," but if the piece doesn't communicate in a purely visual way than the failure is not necessarily that of the viewer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 10:19 AM on June 6, 2008

Doing something really nice and unexpected for a complete stranger.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:50 AM on June 6, 2008

Pretending never to have met, and hooking up at a bar, can sometimes work wonders.

That or pretending to be strangers "randomly" encountering each other on the street at night, not saying anything - just slowly walking past each other, turning around and doing a slow double take, circling around each other, exchanging looks, gestures... eh, I think y'all can take it from there - preferably to the nearest semi-concealed alleyway or sleazy hotel.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 2:12 AM on May 28, 2008

Well, it appears the link to the original 4chan post is dead, and Aeron at Monster Brains is also looking for information on the artist. I went through and saves all the pictures before I posted this question, and might post more later.

I have yet to contact the people I know with expertise (a friend of mine is a forensic pathologist, another is a special effects artist) but they do look to me like wax and latex are heavily used - I've been able to make credible... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 6:15 PM on May 25, 2008

Another update! Mystery solved.

A Monster Brains reader identified the artist: Ludovic Levasseur
Blog
Flickr page


Not to say that these images won't rear their weird little heads in their mythologized form somewhere down the line. I'm reminded of forwarded emails about Patricia Piccini's work or the Camille Allen "marzipan babies" that so scandalized the internet, and quite likely continue to do... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:53 PM on May 25, 2008

I have a bag that is a BAG. I can fit my laptop and a few books, a full set of gym clothes and a towel, bike gear and lunch, or a twelve pack of beer in the thing. It was sold as a men's carry-on bag/business case and nobody would bat an eye if a man were to carry it. IT IS A BAG. NOT A PURSE. I have gotten into numerous arguments about the nature of my BAG. There is no reason to call it a purse except that a woman is carrying it, rather than the man it was made for.

... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 4:22 AM on May 25, 2008

Oh, so you're in security...

This is tough, because I can't actually give real answers to a lot of questions, since, well, it's security. Fortunately, I have answers for the FAQs :

-do you have a gun?
Would I tell you if I did?
- do you catch any theives ever, like all coming down from the ceiling on ropes setting off laser beams and shit?
Oh, yeah. Every night.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 11:31 PM on April 29, 2008

Veronica - Elvis Costello
Both sad and terrifying - Johnny Hit and Run Pauline - X
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 6:16 PM on April 18, 2008

I donate online about once a month to various causes, sometimes just a little (my ACLU donation is an ongoing monthly withdrawal) sometimes 50-100 dollars at a time if I have it to spare. I really, really don't like to receive "gifts" in return, mostly because I have too much crap as it is, and it has absolutely nothing to do with why I give to a particular organization in the first place. I would appreciate as little paper mailed to me as humanly possible.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 10:30 PM on April 16, 2008

Thanks! I haven't gotten a chance to play with Motion Dive, but Arkaos is a LOT of fun so far, and I feel like I could use it right now.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 3:27 PM on April 16, 2008

She may have a problem with emotional lability. If this is the case, she probably wants to be able to control her crying as much, if not more, than you want her to stop, because it's an embarrassing problem that has many, many negative social consequences - being labeled a manipulative psychic vampire, having trouble maintaining relationships and being taken seriously at work and school, etc.

I don't know how much you want to get involved with this as a roommate, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 1:14 AM on April 16, 2008

I don't get the impression that the OP's roommate is crying to shut down communication, because there is little or no advantage to her "getting her way" in either of those situations. It seems more frustrated or submissive than openly manipulative. I don't doubt that there are people who use crying to get what they want, be it attention, sympathy, or the upper hand, but this doesn't seem like the kind of situation that would prompt that behavior.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 1:37 AM on April 16, 2008

If you sit down with her and have a heart-to-heart about why she cries all the time, she will probably cry then too.

I'm almost positive she will, but don't let that stop you, if you do want to help her and be her friend. Be prepared for her to cry when this comes up, because if this is an ongoing problem for her it's going to be a painful subject. Don't let the crying stop you.

Whatever you decide to do,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 3:20 AM on April 16, 2008

The problem is not you, and you should not be blaming yourself. Nor is she the problem. Neither of you is a problem, she just might have one, and that problem doesn't devalue her as a person. She just might need help overcoming that problem, or you might just have to work around it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 8:24 AM on April 16, 2008

A few more things:

- Don't "walk on eggshells." Don't avoid topics or discussions just because you think they might make her cry. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't want you to do that, and if she knows you are, it will likely make her feel terrible, much worse than when she was crying before. You don't really have to worry about your stature either. I don't think this is an issue of being physically intimidated.

- I can't say for sure,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 8:43 AM on April 16, 2008

Don't drag it out. Do it quickly, cleanly, and honestly - don't make up excuses for what you feel. Don't leave any room for ambiguous interpretations of your intentions that could be misconstrued as "Well maybe someday..." Leave the "let's be friends" part for a few months from now, when he's had time to heal from the romantic breakup, even if you are genuinely interested in his friendship. You can even state that explicitly - if he asks if you can be friends, tell him it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 1:02 PM on April 14, 2008

I imagine it's a similar effect to this.

You've been staring intently at an illuminated screen with a series of colored disks that are moving steadily away from you. When you pull your eyes away from the screen you get that strange effect because the sensors that detect that type of movement are fatigued from overuse.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:49 PM on April 12, 2008

Similar to the Post-it prank - you could obtain some removable mounting squares, double sided removable tape, or removable adhesive, and cover the car with pretty much anything that's light enough to stick to the squares - postcards, nekkid pictures, small toys, pictures of other cars, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 6:44 PM on April 12, 2008

Your answer is in this paper.

"Simulaneously, (with other physiological actions) the eustachian tubes open up, which lowers hearing acuity briefly"
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 6:24 PM on April 12, 2008 marked best answer

Van Dyke's Taxidermy

Even if you don't order from them, it's good to know what a full size rhinoceros form will set you back, should you find yourself in need.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 7:56 PM on April 11, 2008

One of my crafty friends knit them into a kimono. Alas, she doesn't have a picture online.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:17 PM on April 8, 2008

I submit that pretty much anything by GG Allin or The Mentors would fit the description, though they barely qualify as "songs."

Nickelback's "Figure You Out" was the most accurate description of the power dynamics of an abusive relationship I'd ever heard. I guess the guy could be "playing a character" but it was a little too boastful and subtle (most songs that go that route are pretty ham-fisted.) The first time I heard it my jaw... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 6:19 PM on April 3, 2008

This site has suggestions on stitching cups into a halter dress. Now, whether or not this will be enough support depends on how the dress fits around the band, but if it fits as you say it does, I'm sure it will help.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 4:29 AM on April 2, 2008 marked best answer

Anyway, we had a long conversation on Tuesday that was mostly about what he felt was wrong with me, and how that contributed to the problems in the relationship. I admitted to most of the issues, and offered to work on resolving them.

This is really telling, to me. I've been there, sitting in the Shaming Seat and you know what happened? I stayed in relationships where I completely subsumed my personality and disappeared. And that was a metric ton of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 8:24 PM on March 30, 2008

I work in a retail store and the boss has made comments over the past year about having cameras but then said she was "just joking". She tends to be paranoid and she's not in the store a lot. She also has this thing where she seems to know about stuff that's going on but not in an obvious enough way for us to know she hears or sees us in the store. She makes remarks about intuition and being "a little psychic". Previous employees really thought she was spying and no... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 12:10 AM on March 29, 2008

From the o.b. brand tampons site:

Q.Can I flush o.b. tampons?

A. Yes. The components of o.b.® Tampons should be flushable in all types of plumbing systems in good working order EXCEPT SEPTIC SYSTEMS. Test results from the U.S. consistently show that these tampons pass easily through unobstructed systems. The testing is in line with the National Plumbing Code which specifies a minimum inside diameter of the pipe of 3 inches. Also, any... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:15 PM on March 22, 2008

The Museum of Menstruation also provides some contradictory, though entertaining, information. Most of the pamphlets, however, are produced by tampon and pain relief companies who want your burgeoning womanhood dollars.

An alternative method of disposal

A previous, similar question, with some sensible answers.

I think that the most correct answer is not to flush them - unless you know the pipes can handle it or don't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:44 PM on March 22, 2008

I highly recommend this Frontline episode - The Man Who Knew.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 4:25 AM on March 20, 2008

Some things I've noticed about anime that may contribute to your nausea:

Most of the anime I've seen seems to be shot with an eye toward economy, which means that the movement is going to be stiffer, as there are more frames per image. Your eye still perceive movement, but you aren't getting fluid persistence of vision. I've even been watching and noticed thing like people running with only one leg (I've seen Yogi Bear do this, too.)

... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 3:43 AM on March 13, 2008

It's associated with REM sleep - all mammals have a REM sleep cycle, and sometimes react to their dreams.

My cat makes little chattering and snerting noises when she is deeply asleep. I don't know whether the dreams are good or bad. I imagine if they were bad they would startle her awake, as a human nightmare would one of us.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 3:30 AM on March 13, 2008

Yep, it's gross, but cats really like the taste of ear wax. Mine will dig used Q-tips out of the trash, and I've seen my boyfriend's cat practically tear through his shirt pocket to get at his earplugs. I don't know how to solve the problem, but I did find what seems to be a plausible explanation as to why cats like ear wax.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 4:42 AM on February 25, 2008

Get a new cell phone. You may need to call friends or the police. Don't worry about money for the phone right now - your first concern should be for your own safety.

Do you have any friends who aren't telling you to "ignore it?" Friends are going to be an invaluable resource - my friends were my saviors when I was in a situation somewhat similar to yours. Some of them didn't believe me at first, but as things escalated they really came through for me and I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 2:28 AM on February 25, 2008

Do you have to post a picture of yourself, or can you post a picture of something you find humorous, beautiful or interesting? If you do that, you can still have something shiny to catch the eye of a curious lady or feller, while still maintaining your relative anonymity.

I don't have any experience with dating sites per se, but it's my preferred MO for social networking sites in general.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 12:15 AM on February 25, 2008

I would say steamed dust mixed with various random funks and a dash of industrial cleaner from the bins the items are stored in. It is correct that thrift stores do not clean donated clothes, but the bigger ones steam dresses, suits and jackets before pricing them and putting them on the racks. If they use any kind of delousing agent, I never saw it in action - one place I worked used a sonic pest control system. Knick knacks, dishes and electronics sometimes get a perfunctory dusting while... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 12:01 AM on February 25, 2008

AHHHH! I have this very same problem, and it gives me the howling fantods. It generally happens if I need to get in touch with somone in an emergency, or has to do with a work related crisis; either something terrible is happening at work, or I can't get to work because I'm in Iowa, but it's not really Iowa because there are penguins with teeth and also I'm not wearing pants. Sometimes I simply can't dial the numbers properly, sometimes there are only 2s on the keypad, sometimes the phone turns... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 7:57 PM on February 22, 2008 marked best answer

Lots of flashing gifs that make no sense and a slowed down midi version of Kelis' song. And exclamation points. Don't forget the exclamation points.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 5:28 PM on February 21, 2008

I'm with the people who say to bill her. Not so much to be compensated for your time, but since you are barred from calling her out on her neglectful attitude toward the dog and her underhanded way of getting you to care for it while she's away, a detailed invoice might be the only way you have to communicate that you know you were being taken advantage of, and that her behavior was inappropriate and harmful to her pet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 2:16 AM on February 21, 2008

When someone burps- "You're such a delicate flower."
When someone trips or otherwise does something clumsy - "You move like a cat."
When someone, especially someone annoying who is hitting on me, gives me a superficial compliment, like "You're really pretty" or "You are sooo cute!" - "Thank you. Someday I hope to have other redeeming qualities as well."
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 7:49 PM on February 16, 2008

When someone asks if I have children or why I don't, as if it's any of their business - "Oh no. I don't like people, and I refuse to make any more of them."
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 7:51 PM on February 16, 2008

North Minneapolis is the most notorious, but there are certainly other parts of the city that have had problems with crime. Studying information like this - Minneapolis Crime Maps - for an extended period of time can probably give you a better idea of what neighborhoods are actually bad versus subjective public perceptions, especially since those perceptions can be skewed by recent news reports and other factors.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 12:39 AM on February 15, 2008

The spoon and the cherry.

VIDEOTAPES OF THIS PERFORMANCE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE WALKER ART CENTER GIFT SHOP DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.


In other words, not so much. Anywhere around a museum or library has monitored cameras everywhere.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 7:14 PM on February 10, 2008

Spoonbridge and Cherry is monitored 24 hours a day by closed-circuit surveillance cameras, and there are speakers nearby where security guards can bark commands at you. Not recommended.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:25 PM on February 10

Wait...that was you?

Also, to be more helpful, the more industrial areas of NE and SE Minneapolis offer a wide variety of not terribly well travelled or well lit nooks and crannies for adventures and shenanigans.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 7:25 PM on February 10, 2008

Well, looky here. There are some nearby.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 9:24 PM on February 10, 2008

I laugh a lot more than I used to. Maybe you just need to hang out with funnier people.
posted to Ask Metafilter by louche mustachio at 1:21 PM on February 10, 2008