Here is a link to Triple J's Hottest 100 from 1997 - it's a massive yearly poll by an alternative Australian radio station. There are a few Australian bands in there, but most of it is American/English stuff - maybe it will give you some ideas/spark some memories.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 2:55 PM on May 22, 2008

One little thing that has (and continues to) have a very positive impact on my life is writing every day. I decided that even if it was only a sentence, I would do it daily, and bought a durable book that always goes with me. I'll be honest and say that since starting around February of last year I have missed a few days, but much fewer than I expected when I began. Generally I don't write much more than two paragraphs, but there are days when I end up with pages and pages.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 12:37 AM on May 21, 2008

Many of these recipes are very easy to put together - as far as work lunches go, most would be fine if you had a microwave handy in your lunch room.

I particularly like these (also pretty good at room temperature), this (such a fabulous salad), and for something a little more time consuming, but totally gorgeous, try this.
I've made probably half the recipes on this site (found at the start of a big "bean thing" that continues to this day) and have... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 11:48 AM on May 20, 2008

Absolutely, we ended up tying a pair of tweezers on a string to the top of the television. I've also had the same problem with an old oven in a house I was renting - it had it's own set of on top the fridge.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 4:46 AM on May 14, 2008

(I can't type)

it had its own set of pliers
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 4:47 AM on May 14, 2008

This is hardly epic, but in my mind certainly qualifies as impressive.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 2:24 AM on May 14, 2008

I'm a full time student and can attend a clinic (through my university) that bulk bills, meaning I simply make an appointment, show up with my health care card and pay nothing, and as was mentioned further upthread, every prescription I've ever had to fill (bar some innoculations for going overseas) has been covered by my health care card - medication that would normally be $50+ has cost me about $3.50 - it's a very good system, particuarly if you consistently need a particular drug (birth... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 5:07 AM on May 3, 2008

agh
needs room for improvement
by which i mean has room for improvement
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 5:09 AM on May 3, 2008

I'm guessing people who don't wear helmets on the whole have never found themselves in a situation where one has done what it is intended to do. Two years ago I was riding through my quiet part of the 'burbs, lights on both ends of my bike (it was early evening), wearing a jacket with reflective patches and obeying the road rules - that's everything you're supposed to do to stay safe on a bike, right?
As I passed through an intersection, a 4 wheel drive drove straight into me,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 5:16 PM on April 27, 2008

Seconding the suggestions about rich, dark chocolate and expensive sweets - the only way I've managed to successfully tame my sweet tooth is by allowing myself two pieces of dark chocolate a day (which is probably still too much, but given how I used to eat it's a huge improvement). It's been made much easier to stick to by actually going to a chocolate shop once a week and buying a small amount of something decadent - it becomes a ritual and makes you savour the experience so much more. As... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 3:01 PM on April 21, 2008

Thank you so much for your suggestions! I had a look around online to see if I could hear some samples of some of this music, and thought I'd link it back here in the event that it might be useful to someone else.
I couldn't find an online recording of Phillip Glass's The Light, but the score is (sort of) available here.
An excerpt from Terry Riley's Sun Rings is hosted at youtube here. The Kronos Quartet site has some great... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 6:29 PM on March 6, 2008

FWIW I found myself in a similar situation nearly three years ago - moved in with someone I met at school and her partner, they broke up and she moved out, and then shortly afterwards I split up with my long term boyfriend, leaving me single and living with a relative stranger who was also dealing with a breakup and whom I didn't know very well. I was in a similar frame of mind about not really being sure if I wanted a new relationship, but one thing led to another (as they always seem to) and a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 1:00 PM on January 4, 2008

Dario Argento's Opera (a.k.a Terror at the Opera).
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 5:26 PM on January 1, 2008

Check out Stepmania - it's a free Dance-Dance Revolution style game that you can play on your PC with a USB dancemat. I bought one for the Xbox from ebay for about $A30 and then got a USB adapter for about $A15. You can also play it with your keyboard, which will give you an idea of how it works if you're not familiar with DDR.

It's a massively fun way to get an excellent cardio workout (without leaving your house in the colder months), and because it rates your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 6:47 AM on November 11, 2007

I just recently finished watching Simon Schama's BBC series - The Power of Art, and it was fantastic, I highly recommend it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 6:37 AM on November 11, 2007

my (mechanic) ex taught me, and i only really got my head around it when he explained to me the mechanics of what was happening. it might not work for everyone, but if she has some basic understanding of what the clutch is actually doing, it could make it easier.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 9:51 PM on September 17, 2007

waxpancake: that was awesome! particularly the bosch bit, very reminiscent of some hangovers i have had.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 2:50 AM on September 12, 2007

i've been riding one to and from work for about 18 months now, and i absolutely adore my bike. by now i probably could handle the ride without using the motor (though i definitely couldn't have when i first started riding) i must admit i do still use it, especially on the ride home after the last nightshift.

the only negative thing i'd have to say about my bike (here) is that the battery is pretty expensive to replace, and upgrading to a lithium one for longevity, even... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 12:22 AM on September 2, 2007

i had the same problem at o of the p, tried using expelliamus! on the jerks but it didn't work.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sleep_walker at 4:01 AM on July 20, 2007