Small Time Operator is a nifty book that goes over a lot of the sort of thing you need to do to keep your small business organized.

I would say you definitely, definitely need to keep track of your business expenses - both for tax purposes and to know whether you're truly profitable. As to paying yourself a salary, that's up to you - a small business can often choose to go either the salary route or the cash draw route, but either way, you will need to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 11:56 AM on November 27, 2009

Check out The Lazy Person's Guide to Investing (probably available at your library). Note: you DO NOT need to read the whole book. Just skim it, and in particular look at the various "lazy portfolios" they present. The takeaway: a handful of indexed mutual funds (they specify which ones) are your best best for whatever amount of money you want to invest in the stock market.

Something that works well for me: pick an amount of time you're... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 2:25 PM on November 25, 2009 marked best answer

Check out the Baen Free Library - dozens of science fiction and fantasy titles available completely free, and legit - put online by the publisher.

Also, check with your local library to see what ebooks they might have available for reading on your computer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 11:56 AM on November 21, 2009

I really like Books (open-source book cataloging application for MacOS X) for cataloging my own collection.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 11:44 AM on November 21, 2009

I have brain churn.

Things that have worked well for me:

* ultra-simple meditation. No rules, no books, no sense of failure if it only lasts 13 seconds. It's just this: when I notice my mind chattering, I focus on my breath, thinking: "In. Out. In. Out." I do this a lot while I'm walking. I bet it'd work well while you're exercising, if you get brain churn then.

* relaxing things to think about. Especially when... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 2:28 PM on November 19, 2009

I haven't worked with Harvest or Highrise, but I have worked with Basecamp, and I find it pretty good but not great. I like a lot more control over tasks, personally.

Before you commit, do you have time to spend a day or two with OpenGoo? I don't know how well it would cooperate with Harvest and Highrise (if at all), but I like it loads better than Basecamp - and it's free, and the data lives on your server, which I also like.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 1:38 PM on November 19, 2009

Just adding to brambory's excellent books on tape suggestion:

Check your library. My library has a ton of great audio books for kids - including Stephen Fry reading Paddington, which is awesome. It's a great way to get her a huge variety of different stories for free.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:59 AM on November 18, 2009

You could add a dash. I have firstname-lastname.com and also f-lastname.com (firstinitial-lastname.com).
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:27 AM on November 14, 2009

Here's one way you could embrace your own enthusiasm for logically viewing a problem without scaring others or stripping them of their sense of purpose:

Random Person: Did you see the latest news about climate change? It's worse than we thought! I'm so committed to stopping this crisis. I've started walking to work and I'm even recycling my bottles now!

Schmichael: You know, I think a lot about climate change, too. I'm afraid I've gotten pretty... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:02 AM on November 13, 2009

Sometimes old-fashioned behavior modification reward systems do the trick.

If you're so inclined, try this:

Write up a system of points for yourself.

Completing x task gives you 100 points.

Completing x task without giving in to the urge to distract yourself gives you 200 points.

Checking your email costs you 25 points.

Use your points to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:15 AM on November 12, 2009

For a rather different dialect, see Broken Flowers (starring Bill Murray); the next-door neighbors (pretty clearly the main character's best and perhaps only friends) are a black family. I wouldn't call their speech AAVE; it may be an interesting contrast, or it may be completely outside of the scope of what you're looking for.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 8:49 AM on November 12, 2009

"White Lightning and Wine" by Heart:

"This night's gone, we're moving on
Highway's calling out loud ..."

Maybe "You Had Time" by Ani DiFranco:

"you'll say did they love you or what
i'll say they love what i do
the only one who really loves me is you
and you'll say girl did you kick some butt
and i'll say i don't really... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:46 PM on November 5, 2009

Oh, geez - also, much of Paul Simon's One Trick Pony:

Paul Simon's "God Bless the Absentee":

"Lord, I'm a working man
And music is my trade
I'm travelin' with this five-piece band
And I play the ace of spades
I have a wife and family
Who don't see much of me
God bless the absentee"

Paul Simon's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:07 PM on November 5, 2009

Seconding jonnyploy's suggestion of making music. An atheist I like and admire once said he had truly transcendant experiences singing choral music (which he noted was especially odd considering a lot of it was Christian music - Bach, for example - full of ideas he didn't believe).

From my perspective, many spiritual experiences have elements of awe, mystery, communion, service, or discipline (not necessarily all at once - birdwatching, for me, is just about awe).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:02 PM on October 31, 2009

Re phrakture's Superman suggestion -

I recently hurt my back (it was pretty minor compared to most back problems; I just wrenched it a bit and was sore for a couple of weeks, and had trouble standing up straight sometimes). The only thing I really tried to improve things was lying on my back with my knees up, either resting on the seat of a chair or a couple of really thick pillows.

It made a huge difference and made me feel a lot better.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:25 AM on October 28, 2009

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Drupal yet.

One of the better-known Drupal-based community sites is the Coulee Region Online, which has events and info plus blogs and forums.

LADrupal, a site for LA Drupal users, also features news and events, along with job postings.

Drupal is known for having a serious learning curve, but it has all kinds of great community features out of the box (the core feature set includes... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 6:24 PM on October 24, 2009

Re: StrikeTheViol's suggestion of a disclaimer: I've noticed a sign up in my local Goodwill that says they have not tested any of the products for lead (I think that's the wording; I can try to get a photo next time I'm in there, if you'd like). I have no idea how well that would protect you, if at all, but it kind of SEEMS like this Goodwill store is taking that route, at least.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 11:31 AM on October 24, 2009

Not a textbook, but I've immensely enjoyed dipping into the 11-volume Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant.

Here's the bit I like to quote to people to demonstrate what a fine writer Durant was, from Volume 8, The Age of Louis XIV:

"Prostitution was despised if it had no manners, but a woman like Ninon de Lenclos, who gilded it with literature and wit, could become almost as famous as the King.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:09 PM on October 22, 2009

If you're in the vicinity of the Symphony and the Opera, consider the San Francisco Conservatory of Music - they offer lots of performances, including free student recitals.

Also, check out the SF Gate Entertainment listings. The link I used there is for music events on Friday in San Francisco, but you can choose other settings too. I've used it to find all kinds of interesting events I wouldn't otherwise have known about (like the Russian Men's Chorus, Slavyanka, and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 3:32 PM on October 18, 2009

Two Hoosiers but no Breaking Away? Okay, I'll do it:

Breaking Away

3rding Groundhog Day. Just saw that again and thought it was just great.

Oh, also: A Little Romance.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 1:51 PM on October 8, 2009

I really like buying stuff from Sweetwater - I find their salesfolk are really helpful. I just use Martin strings, myself, but I'm just a hobbyist.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:26 AM on October 7, 2009

I was pretty taken with A. S. Byatt's Possession.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 5:02 PM on October 6, 2009

I'm late to the thread, but:

Last week I saw a job advertised, “experienced web designer and coder, graphic designer and data entry operator, $20 per hour”. (I charge nearly twice that now!)

One job advertisement does not tell the whole story on local pay rates. Lots of job ads require tons of skills and pay very little. That doesn't mean they're ever filled, or that they're filled with someone reliable. It's just a low-risk... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 11:49 AM on October 3, 2009 marked best answer

aparrish has a great suggestion.

In addition to the making-stuff/art approach, may I suggest thinking about "failures" from a scientific perspective:

Science is all about coming up with an idea and then testing it. "Hey, I bet cows with names give more milk than cows without names! I'll try it out and see."

Now, supposing it turns out different than you thought. The experiment is a failure, sort of;... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 1:51 PM on October 2, 2009

One note about rubber bands: they tend to disintegrate and (a) snap and (b) stick to things.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2009

Another in the list of band names: Styx is at Styxworld.com.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:34 AM on September 29, 2009

Owners of concrete firm plead not guilty to fraud, theft charges:

"In a costly and potentially dangerous case of alleged fraud, a San Francisco cement company passed off inferior concrete as stronger, more durable material, and it was used in critical structures in the Bay Area -- including retrofit work on the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge ..."

And here's something similar in Massachusetts I found while looking for the San... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:55 PM on September 25, 2009

Seconding Ani DiFranco. She does amazing things with her voice, writes beautiful, beautiful lyrics, and is a phenomenal guitar player.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:38 AM on September 25, 2009

Excellent, excellent answers from everybody - really, everything's a best answer.

Brandon, special thanks for suggesting a book.

Sidhedevil, thanks for addressing my cholesterol question so well. I knew I was kind of grasping at straws there, and I appreciate having my misconceptions corrected sooner rather than later.

And Nathan, special thanks for all your great info. It was very reassuring to learn how common varying... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:27 PM on September 23, 2009

Prog that's not pretentious? I highly recommend Kevin Gilbert. I think everyone should listen to more Kevin Gilbert.

Also, if I can be excused for what is not actually self-linking anymore: I used to run a little indie record label, and two of my former artists may be right up your alley: klezmer-movie-music-British-invasion-pop band Zircus and amazing avant-cabaret-experimental-pop artist Amy X Neuburg. (Note: I don't get a dime out of any sales they get now; I'm just... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:13 PM on September 20, 2009 marked best answer

Steely Dan - Aja, Gaucho, and Royal Scam
Crowded House - Crowded House
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Johnny Hodges - Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 1:24 PM on September 16, 2009

You don't say where in Minnesota, but I would start with your closest community colleges.

CCs often offer telecourses in astronomy; the two I've seen most often are

Planet Earth, which "unifies Earth science, astronomy, and comparative planetology"; you can watch the episodes online from the learner.org link
Astronomy: Observations & Theories

I also found a link that lists a few online astronomy... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:36 PM on September 15, 2009

As the resident Styx fan, I must mention "Fooling Yourself." You are, after all, the one they can't beat - and you know it.

And mintcake! - you give a great list of Todd songs, and you leave off "Change Myself"? Sheesh. I am hereby recommending "Change Myself." AND "Second Wind," for that matter.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:45 PM on September 14, 2009

I know this sounds irrational, but is there any way to speed up this process?

Practice always makes new habits stick faster.

Look for any situation you can find to practice satisfying your own needs (as jon1270 described). The cake choice is a good example. What do YOU, right in this moment, MOST want? For the purposes of this practice, let go of what you SHOULD do and what anyone else might think. Also, remember that for many, many choices you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:23 PM on September 12, 2009

William Dement is one of the most highly regarded sleep researchers. A Google Books search of his The Promise of Sleep for the word "midnight" doesn't turn up anything about sleep before midnight being better.

In the book, he discusses research showing that sleep needs and cycles vary with age, and - if I recall correctly - even with gender.

I can't link to a direct cite, but several reviews of The Promise of Sleep mention its findings... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:13 PM on September 12, 2009 marked best answer

Thanks for the help!

Brool, I had seen that article, but I didn't see a lot of OS X-specific stuff in there, so I wondered if anyone had any Mac-oriented tips to share.

Pronoiac - sorry if I wasn't clear: I have disc images that I am indeed planning to merge into directories. I am not planning to merge TO disc images.

Lalas - thanks so much for pointing out how much I definitely do not want to use --delete. Your example was most helpful!

Thanks again!
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:51 AM on September 4, 2009

According to "Insured, but Bankrupted by Health Crises" (New York Times),

" ... as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured."
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:15 AM on September 3, 2009

I'm a big fan of Jim Macdonald's Emergency Preparedness posts on Making Light (scroll down a page to the four Emergency entries). Jim is an EMT in New Hampshire and has great advice on what to do in an emergency.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 2:07 PM on August 26, 2009

Here's another option: postpone the meeting for six months to a year.

In the meantime, read a few books. You might want to start with

* The Lazy Person's Guide to Investing
* The Bogleheads Guide to Investing

tl;dr: fees are a HUGE factor in how much your investments are worth when you're ready to use them (when your kids are ready for college, or when you retire). It's almost impossible for a managed fund to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 9:49 AM on August 26, 2009

Inspired by Savannah's "Straighten Up and Fly Right", what about some of the songs included on the "Good Night and Good Luck" soundtrack? It has "Fly Right," "TV Is The Thing This Year," and "Pick Yourself Up." I'm particularly partial to "Gotta Be This Or That."

Also, Nat Cole's "Orange Colored Sky."
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 7:35 PM on August 24, 2009

Everything on Richard Thompson's 1000 Years of Popular Music, but especially "Orange Coloured Sky," "Tempted," and especially especially "Oops! I Did It Again."
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:56 PM on August 22, 2009

I have a friend who has difficulty remembering proper nouns in particular (not nouns generally, just proper nouns), and I haven't noticed any change in it over the past two decades. It's a minor inconvenience rather than a major problem for him. (We joke about it; also, we complement each other - he has a much better memory of places and directions than I do, so I remember the proper nouns and he remembers the directions.) So, for you, it may just be a fairly new characteristic that won't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 12:26 PM on August 22, 2009

In Google's Webmasters/Site owners Help - Images, the example file name they provide is "my-new-black-kitten.jpg".

Matt Cutts recommends hyphens rather than underscores.

Also, I researched this for a client once, and I KNOW I saw a page on Google's support site where they explicitly said hyphens (dashes) are better than underscores in file names. Of course, I can't find it at the moment.

It doesn't seem to make... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 11:38 AM on August 22, 2009 marked best answer

Since you've discovered that you enjoy the development work, I'd incline toward that path. Everybody wants enjoyment in their work. Why not go with the path that you're enjoying?
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:06 AM on August 18, 2009

paulsc, I'm not getting the same math results you are:

"The conductor was paid a considerably higher salary at a daily wage of $3.85. ..."

$3.85 * 365 = $1,405.25

I don't know whether conductors worked every single day, but even if they did, that's still well shy of $2,550 a year.

wsp: I'm reading a biography of Jack London right now. Before he was able to make a living writing, he was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 3:43 PM on August 11, 2009

... and, paulsc, I just re-read your addendum, which didn't fully register in my mind before, so I apologize for not including that.

I do wonder whether that doubling or tripling was the norm or the exception.

Again, I say: fascinating.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 3:48 PM on August 11, 2009

Kind of seconding a lot of other comments (especially seconding freebird), but:

I finished high school a year early, went to the four-year college that my parents and I had selected based on its apparently excellent language program, discovered that the college was NOT excellent and not a good fit for me and dropped out after three months, came back home, got a full-time job, did two years of community college, then went to a more focused language school that didn't even... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 2:03 PM on August 7, 2009

Watermelon: 46 calories in 1 cup
Canteloupe: 53 calories in 1 cup
Honeydew: 61 calories in 1 cup

Seriously, you can eat a lot of watermelon for not a lot of calories.

Congrats on losing 45 pounds! That's awesome.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:12 AM on August 7, 2009

Some of the real estate blogs I read offer compelling evidence that prices will continue to drop. (I'm in San Francisco, one of the "special" real estate markets that "never goes down", which has seen significant price drops at all price levels in all neighborhoods.) There are still a lot of weird adjustable rate mortgages out there that will reset in the next couple of years (and even though interest rates are at historic lows now, some of those mortgages had insane teaser... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 10:18 AM on August 4, 2009

Also: good health is not necessarily directly related to health care costs.

An insurance company person once told me that the two highest categories of expenditures for health insurance companies are prescription drugs and pregnancy-related costs.

As I understand it (IANaM), Mormon teachings encourage having lots of children.

Employees who have lots of children may drive up health care costs considerably.
posted to Ask Metafilter by kristi at 1:13 PM on July 29, 2009