MetaFilter

The only thing I can think of that has clearly and quantitatively made my life more awesome in the past few years in terms of work/time/etc is: lay out clothing the night before. It is so worth it. When time gets tight and even an extra 15 minutes in bed is a glorious thing, laying out clothing while you're awake and functional the night before makes the groggy blurry-eyed morning that much faster.

Set up your bills to autopay.
Use your calendar.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by sciencegeek at 5:12 PM on September 17, 2014

I came in to say more or less the same thing as Nerd of the North. I pity people stuck in a Windows environment. So much of this is so easy straight from the shell in most flavors of Unix-like OSes. Need to do some tasks all the time? Just write some scripts.

For those who saw my MeTa: yes, I'm using Lynx right now.

Also, for those who could use this all the time who are stuck with Windows at work: check out Cygwin.
posted to MetaFilter by [expletive deleted] at 11:22 PM on September 17, 2014

I am filled with the overpowering urge to snark here along the lines of "those who will not learn from Unix tools are condemned to reinvent them, less flexibly" but, hey, different strokes for different folks -- I'm sure quite a few will find this useful.

Nevertheless, tools to do virtually all of this, quite easily, have existed for decades. So if this is the sort of thing you find yourself needing to do often.. when you outgrow the browser-based approach, or... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Nerd of the North at 10:41 PM on September 17, 2014

I think the dress is gorgeous. You didn't mention which day you're going to the races - different days have different dress codes, so it would be worth checking those out first.

Accessories should suit the dress AND suit your colouring (especially the hat because it's near your face). I think nude shoes might look a bit odd because the dress is so dark, unless you have light coloured hair.

If it was me, I would go for a hat that's small and dark... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by girlgenius at 9:18 PM on September 16, 2014

Well - lately (1.5 years or so), I have been liking Intel's "Next Unit of Computing" (NUC).

You can choose your RAM memory and storage options - and for what you want, probably the "mSATA" is the best route.

They are solid, well-built machines.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jkaczor at 1:45 PM on September 16, 2014

There's also the Intel NUC

http://m.intel.com/us/en/intel-products/nuc.html
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Poldo at 11:24 AM on September 16, 2014

Needs a Basilisk tag. Just saying.
posted to MetaFilter by The Bellman at 4:19 PM on September 16, 2014

Ableism is that belief that everyone who is able-bodied is “normal” and everyone else is abnormal.

As I'm pushing my wife around in wheelchair, while remembering that our first date involved us hiking for miles, I'm pretty sure that being able to walk is what the majority of the populace is able to do. So yeah, it's defined as normal. That's not necessarily good or bad, it just is. I'm stating the obvious in that doesn't make anyone with a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Brandon Blatcher at 6:33 AM on September 15, 2014

The thing is, blind people don’t need second sight to be cool. We don’t need to fix what isn’t broken, and we don’t need to imply that someone needs an extra compensating boost to reach the level of badassitude all those sighted people naturally attain by virtue of fully functioning eyes. It’s demeaning.

I don't understand this, never have, and probably never will. I wouldn't think to suggest that a blind person is somehow less human or inferior as a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by eugenen at 6:15 AM on September 15, 2014

Sorry, but there are things that 99% of the population can do that I can't, but could once. It impacts what I can and can't do every hour of every day. I'm going to regard that as abnormal and a problem. I don't need others to define that experience for me, or tell me what sort of language I should use about myself.
posted to MetaFilter by tyllwin at 5:46 AM on September 15, 2014

Constant exposure to international news feeds will get you up to speed on the small stuff pretty quickly, but be prepared to do research on the fly to fill in any unexpected gaps. I remember coming back to the international desk from a months-long secondment on a local story, and finding that suddenly none of the news coming out of Papua New Guinea made sense. Turns out, there'd been an election while I was gone and I had completely missed it. That feeling of "huh, that's weird" is a... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by embrangled at 4:50 PM on September 14, 2014

To get a survey of the issues, I'd go back and read the 2-3 page "The World This Week" section in the Economist. Start 10 years ago and read every one up to today - it won't take you that long, and will give you a good foundation for identifying what you know and where you need to spend more time getting smart.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:15 PM on September 14, 2014

She got the same response when applying to be a writer on The Colbert Report.
posted by themanwho

Citation needed? First page of Googling Kathy Griffin and Stephen Colbert turns up nothing. (Or I could be missing a joke, I suppose.)
posted to MetaFilter by aureliobuendia at 2:36 PM on September 14, 2014

For me, now firmly in my tenth year single, it's been about letting go without giving up. Life's hard to plan for anyway; think of all the things you've been through that were unpredictable. Some are enriching, others are traumatizing; we do what we can, but life is life.

Do what you enjoy. If you want to do something, and there's nothing concrete (as opposed to "what would other people think?") that would prevent you from doing it, then do it.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by fraula at 6:45 AM on September 14, 2014 marked best answer

I wrote about this a couple of years ago. Rather than cut/paste, just going to link to it click here.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by dancestoblue at 2:08 AM on September 14, 2014 marked best answer

Practically speaking, sink as much into retirement as you can. Save money so that you can outsource things a partner might usually do that you don't want to ask friends for; anything from in-home post-op care to mowing the lawn. Don't shrink from taking on responsibility or adventure that seems too big for one person; buying a house, getting a dog, traveling. Build a strong support network of friends of all ages.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by stellaluna at 12:20 AM on September 14, 2014 marked best answer

I think to some extent, all the print-outs they give you is to protect themselves from liability and other legal reasons. I think if they could cut costs by not printing all that junk out, they would've by now.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by AppleTurnover at 11:36 PM on September 13, 2014

So, it turns out I have a little perspective on this, as an anglophone immigrant to Quebec, with a child in the French school system (by choice; she actually meets the stringent rules for being allowed into the English system). Quebec has language laws openly and explicitly designed to exclude and discourage languages other than French, and especially English.

Of course, I don't get remotely the full effect of this kind of thing. English is still a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Hizonner at 12:43 PM on September 13, 2014

Marriage certificate (at least, in FL, where mine is from) requires...

Full name, address, telephone number, and $5. No birth certificate needed. Marriages are public record in Florida.
posted to MetaFilter by one more dead town's last parade at 7:44 PM on September 13, 2014

Or you can present a W2, 1099, paystub, marriage certificate, etc.
posted to MetaFilter by jpe at 4:37 PM on September 13, 2014

One of the reasons the court allowed the law is that the ID is free and doesn't require a birth certificate.
posted to MetaFilter by jpe at 4:23 PM on September 13, 2014

The response of one executive to her query: "They're not considering females at this time," she recounted.

"You realize that's illegal to say in a business meeting?" was Griffin's comeback.
Surely her agent was the person told. Did Elber get an exclusive interview with Griffin? When did she make the snappy comeback?
I wonder which exec made the statement--Nina Tassler? Wendi Trilling? Tassler is pretty... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Ideefixe at 3:22 PM on September 13, 2014

It's probably within the realm of possibility that, given the extreme vanity and low self-esteem married to easily bruised ego of the stereotypical person in entertainment, the guy at CBS thought it prudent to avoid saying, "Kathy Griffin, we think you suck and are not funny, and would never consider you."

"Bob, we don't like Kathy Griffin. She's crass, and unfunny, and we can't sell her in Des Moines."
"Look, I know this. But we... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gsh at 2:58 PM on September 13, 2014

As a group, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with them, just as there's nothing fundamentally wrong with all of us. I think people forget, in their embrace of and desire to normalize the ethics of their various subgroups

very good point ...

I have often felt that some of the most vocal proponents of certain "takes" on things on Metafilter are really, probably, the least credible. ever notice how these people seem... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by jayder at 7:03 AM on September 4, 2014

Huh. I read jayder's comment as (rather dark) humor, a satirical riff, not meant to be taken seriously. Can I at least get points for not being one of those stereotypical feminists-with-no-sense-of-humor by giving him the benefit of the doubt there?

This thread has been pretty....cantankerous in tone throughoutl. Really ugly, in fact. I'm pretty sure one single comment upthread had more expletives in it than I would use in a year. Which, hey, that's how some people roll.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by misha at 9:21 AM on September 4, 2014

"This reads like a dystopian novella to this European woman. I cannot imagine having to have this debate with anyone. A woman's body is hers to deal with. A woman's health is her own. Having to justify my health decisions - heck, my decisions - to utter strangers feels utterly alien to me. How terrible and how awful that you guys in the States are still having to have this fight. I feel so sorry for any woman making a tough decision and then having to deal with strangers' vitriol... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Ivan Fyodorovich at 7:35 AM on September 2, 2014

Christ, what an asshole.
posted to MetaFilter by shen1138 at 12:31 PM on May 2, 2014

Also, consider this: if you send them a sum of money with interest attached, you are simply begging them to raise the question "Is this the right amount of interest? Could I have done better with it in my own account?" even if the answer is no, some of them will think it is yes and that may cause a problem for you.

If you just matter of factly tell them what happened, that you kept a small portion as a hedge against unforseen claims or expenses, and then... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by toomuchpete at 12:15 PM on January 10, 2014

Having spent time in Sweden, your question is replete with sweeping generalizations and little of nuance. Jokkmokk (north) is very different from Stockholm, and so on.

Men are highly individualistic (as the women) in Sweden - many enlightened and some going the other way (esp in some areas). It would be wise to know the background of men you meet. I suggest reading Stieg Larsson and similar, or travel throughout Sweden and get a proper firsthand understanding of Swedish culture.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Kruger5 at 7:38 AM on June 11, 2013

I'd take kind of the opposite approach. I'd treat this as an exercise in helping my child (not to mention myself) learn about different cultures, and how boundaries vary across cultures and generations, and how sometimes our own discomfort is just a reflection of our own biases, rather than an indication of an intent to invade one's space.

How I'd deal with this? I'd probably start by asking myself honestly whether the discomfort was a big deal and whether I was perhaps... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by pipeski at 2:36 AM on June 11, 2013

How much money are we talking about being lost?

You should budget that, and the sense of injustice you are fighting (fwiw) and any punitive award they will give you (does eeoc?)
vs

the likely tens to hundreds of hours and lawyer fees you will have to spend to deal with it.

Its a cruel calculus, but one you should do.

tl;dr Laywer.....
posted to Ask MetaFilter by lalochezia at 2:22 PM on June 10, 2013

Even heart rate monitors are not always terribly accurate. But for the average person, they're better than exercise machines. I'd recommend getting one that asks not only for your weight and height but also your maximum heart rate and resting heart rate, since those are important factors. (Other things being equal, someone whose resting heart rate is 50 will be exercising much harder at 120 than someone whose resting rate is 80.)

The Compendium of Physical Activities... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by brianogilvie at 12:51 PM on June 10, 2013 marked best answer

nthing that machines are inaccurate for calorie burn. The most accurate way to find out how many calories you are burning during exercise is with a heart rate monitor.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by bedhead at 11:53 AM on June 10, 2013

Calorie counts on machines are notoriously inaccurate

Counting calories burned is not as easy as 1-2-3
Lies, Damn Lies and Calorie Counters
Putting Very Little Weight in Calorie Counting Methods

How well averages work for calibrating calorie counters depends to some extent on the type of exercise you're doing, says William Haskell, an exercise physiologist and professor of medicine at Stanford University.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Comrade_robot at 11:33 AM on June 10, 2013 marked best answer

Ignoring whether the actual calorie counts are accurate, some machines are more efficient at burning calories than others. In my experience, the hierarchy of Precor machines is when it comes to ease of burning calories (according to whatever their formula is) is:

o Stairclimber (fastest)
o Treadmill
o Elliptical

I've never used the recumbent bike, but my impression was that you couldn't burn calories on it very quickly.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by deanc at 11:33 AM on June 10, 2013

When I was new to Asheville, something kept knocking my 55 gallon trash can over.

One night I heard it happen. Angrily, I slammed the door open, stepped onto the carport and righted the trash can before looking around. I thought it was the neighboring dogs.

Six feet away is this black bear standing on its hind legs. We are exactly the same height. I don't think mammalian expressions vary too much. The bear seemed as surprised as I was. I had an... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Mr. Yuck at 10:08 AM on June 6, 2013

Mature, has-it-all-together people tend to want mature, has-it-all-together people to date (or people much younger than them as trophies, but that's another story). Attract what you want by being what you want.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by xingcat at 3:06 PM on June 5, 2013

I'm also not really seeing scotch and water as a "feminine" drink. I'd feel differently if you ordered scotch neat and got a Cosmo and a slimy wink in return, but this just doesn't feel the same.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Diagonalize at 9:11 AM on June 6, 2013

I'd say yes, but only if I was sure I loved the track I was getting. Consular officers have a very different life from political and diplomatic types.

Also, the lifestyle is rather brutal on families, particularly if you get posted to a no-dependents location. Being an FSO can be a heck of a lot like being in the military in this regard.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by SMPA at 5:12 PM on June 4, 2013

I think you should stay, but only for as much longer as it takes to put together the plan you're going to come up with as your next step.

Even with savings, living alone on $12/hour is probably not feasible. (As a point of reference, I did it on $10/hour and lived by the skin of my teeth, and my apartment was $400. Because it was 1994.) Unless you are lucky enough to end up somewhere where you neither need a car nor hardcore public transportation, that's going to bite... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Lyn Never at 4:42 PM on June 2, 2013

Squat, drink milk. You can't not get big.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by wrok at 12:37 PM on June 2, 2013

I don't think you should make this decision at this point in time, given the seriousness of your relationship. You didn't get to a shared life with him or her by accident. I suggest you communicate your need for emotional space, and see if you feel the same about ending it once some of the shock wears off from the trauma, and you've had a chance to work through things a little more with the therapist. I understand your desire to turn off emotionally, and that this person is going to stand in the... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by letahl at 8:29 PM on May 31, 2013

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#1113509

4.0 Content Standards for Media Mail
4.1 Qualified Items

Only these items may be mailed at the Media Mail prices:

a. Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and containing no advertising... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by payoto at 3:42 PM on May 31, 2013

A lot of people are focusing on the parenting situation, and I agree that's part of the problem, but I'll deal with the other part.

I spent a fair amount of time fighting jealousy of some of my friends who had it easier than I did. Parents helped pay their tuition, they could afford their own cars (albeit used), better social lives, whatever. Until one day, one of them opened up to me and said how jealous he was of me. The way I handled stress, the way I could talk in... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by GhostintheMachine at 5:59 AM on May 31, 2013

Sadly, my experience in the emergency department is that most people don't say "she just came in, gotta go." Bizarrely enough, even though they presumably believe they are there for a potential emergency, many people will stay on the phone when I come into the room. I cannot perform an adequate history or physical with someone who is talking on a phone. My approach is that I will wait for a minute, and if they're still chatting away, I leave. In the ED, I have the ability to just come... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by treehorn+bunny at 8:45 AM on May 31, 2013 marked best answer

The key phrase for research on this is "confirmation bias".
posted to Ask MetaFilter by supercres at 6:34 PM on May 29, 2013

The "nosing out and hoping people will stop" method is not taught in any rules of the road course that I know of. It was her responsibility to only enter the intersection when her lane was clear. If that's not possible, the responsible thing to do is make a right turn and then turn around when it is safe to do so. They are saying it is her fault because it was. Sorry.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by gjc at 6:18 PM on May 28, 2013

1) Can they actually claim it is her fault without proof?

Yes they can, because the other driver clearly had the right of way. If your wife disagrees, the burden of proof is on her to show that the other driver contributed fault despite having the right of way (ex. they were speeding excessively, had no headlights on at night, etc.)

Insurance companies are not a court of law. There doesn't need to be proof beyond a... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by keep it under cover at 6:16 PM on May 28, 2013

It depends what field you want to enter.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by KokuRyu at 9:47 AM on May 27, 2013

Books can't teach you about Buddhism. Reading about Buddhism won't "cure" your depression. Buddhism isn't a philosophy, it's just "life".

Best thing to do is to dry seated meditation. It's taught in prison, for example, and I know CEO's who have used it to manage stress. There seem to be some Buddhist groups in Florida near where you live. Try them out, see if what they do appeals to you.

But, unless you are planning to get... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by KokuRyu at 10:38 AM on May 27, 2013