I'm a 19-year-old female going to New York, alone, for a night. I would like to shop, have fun but preferably not get injured/mugged/killed.
posted to Ask Metafilter by elisabethjw at 9:24 PM on July 14, 2008 (29 comments)

What (ideally web-based) game would you suggest to non-game playing business folks to teach them that games are (a) fun and (b) more than just the stereotypical shoot-em-up or puzzle game they vaguely remember from their Atari 2600 or their kid's DS?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blahblahblah at 10:31 AM on September 2, 2008 (19 comments)

Looking for a new musical toy to supplement your current studio setup? You may already have a MIDI-via-WiFi-enabled* sequencer (1, 2)/drum-and-bass groovebox/audio sampler & scratcher/Mod Tracker in your pocket!
*a wired version is also available.
posted to MetaFilter by lekvar at 8:20 PM on May 22, 2008 (13 comments)

A rap education for an picky atheist feminist weaned on indie, punk and new wave - primarily music but books/essays would be good too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by carbide at 3:45 AM on April 25, 2008 (76 comments)

Are there any services that will stream my music collection to my WM6 smartphone?
posted to Ask Metafilter by PandemicSoul at 7:50 PM on December 23, 2007 (1 comment)

Haj activities - open all year, 24/7?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Meatbomb at 3:17 PM on December 21, 2007 (13 comments)

In Slate's Explainer column today, they have the unanswered questions of 2007. Most are inscrutable, unanswerable or ridiculous... but I've wondered this one myself too many times to let it go: "Very rare to find a hotel room with a light on the ceiling, they're usually floor lamps or desk lamps. Is there some structural reason for that?"
posted to Ask Metafilter by eschatfische at 8:56 AM on December 20, 2007 (14 comments)

In Mario Party 7 for the gamecube, when Yoshi wins a minigame, does he yell 'Woo Hoo!" or "Yoshi!"?
posted to Ask Metafilter by selfmedicating at 5:45 PM on December 17, 2007 (39 comments)

What are some good and/or insightful and/or illuminating business-related documentaries?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mooders at 12:43 PM on December 1, 2007 (15 comments)

What podcasts will make me more intelligent just by listening to them? I enjoy the BBC's "In Our Time", which features serious discussion of historical events and people by academics working in the field, and also quirky, thought-provoking programs like WNYC's "Radio Lab" and "This American Life". I'm not so keen on some of the podcasts I typically get from newspapers that gloss over the surface of a subject with little analysis. What other highbrow podcasts are made by people who really know their shit?
posted to Ask Metafilter by nowonmai at 9:01 AM on November 20, 2007 (61 comments)

Just saw Eastern Promises. Kirill was sporting an interesting looking watch. It often happens that some item of clothing, a watch, a doily, or slipcover catches my eye in a movie, and then I spend way too long trying to track it down online. What websites do y'all rely on to answer these and other harrowing questions more expeditiously? Many thanks in advance.
posted to Ask Metafilter by subajestad at 11:28 AM on October 29, 2007 (9 comments)

How did 60's mobile phones work?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mkultra at 11:14 AM on September 6, 2007 (13 comments)

What do I absolutely HAVE to eat in Washington, DC?
posted to Ask Metafilter by exceptinsects at 7:58 PM on May 23, 2007 (56 comments)

How can I pull this off? I would like to start a communal shop for metal-working, wood working, electronics, etc that also helps kids?
posted to Ask Metafilter by drezdn at 7:17 AM on May 18, 2007 (28 comments)

Closing credit music for this evening Sopranos?
posted to Ask Metafilter by DieHipsterDie at 8:16 PM on April 15, 2007 (12 comments)

I just bought a new HDTV. Why am I getting HBO?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mmcg at 5:57 AM on April 11, 2007 (7 comments)

I want to make delicious collard greens, but I want them to be healthy and vegetarian (so, no pork fat). I've tried a couple recipes I found online, but the results have been uninspiring (and the greens didn't strike me as nearly tender enough, even after an hour of boiling). Any advice? Any recipes?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Plutor at 12:23 PM on April 3, 2007 (29 comments)

I'll be travelling to Israel in several months, and have a couple of questions that I can't seem to find answers for: where to find good used bookstores, and whether it's possible to visit an Orthodox home for Shabbat dinner.
posted to Ask Metafilter by greenmagnet at 2:03 PM on April 3, 2007 (12 comments)

Does anyone know the origin of the term, 'carving nature at its joints' when used to describe the process of dividing up a territory into its constituent parts? I believe it goes back to Ancient Greece, but I don't know much more than that...
posted to Ask Metafilter by barbelith at 5:35 AM on March 6, 2007 (5 comments)

Luigi Colani, Biomorphic Designer — This prolific master of plastic has been creating organically streamlined planes, trains, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, ships, cities, homes, computers, cameras, televisions, furniture, pianos, ceramics, shoes, eyewear^PDF, pens, airbrushes, and other wonderful stuff (including the kitchen sink) for some 60 years. Wherever you need to go, you can reach your final destination in Colani style. More designs here, here, here, and here. [Brits and touristas take note: London's Design Museum will host a Colani exhibition, Translating Nature, from March 3 to June 17, 2007. Bibliophiles can check out the book Colani: The Art of Shaping the Future.]
posted to MetaFilter by cenoxo at 1:04 AM on February 18, 2007 (14 comments)

Kulning: "Kulning is an archaic style of singing/cattle call, traditionally employed outdoors in the grazing pastures of Scandinavia from the Middle Ages to this day. It consists of shepherdess's tunes, calls and tones of enticement, mainly used to keep contact with, and to call the cattle, but also to communicate with other people over long distances". Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. (related MeFi post)
posted to MetaFilter by dhruva at 10:06 PM on February 14, 2007 (17 comments)

When I was a kid, my dad, who grew up in London, during the Blitz, used to play this old record: a song called "The Laughing Policeman." It always put a smile on my face. According to Wikipedia, it was written in 1922 by Charles Jolly, who wrote "numerous other laughing songs (The Laughing Major, Curate, Steeplechaser, Typist, Lover, etc)." If you want to hear the happiest policeman ever, here's the mp3. The song has inspired cartoonists, mystery novelists (great series, by the way!), filmmakers, a more-recent recording (mp3), and, inevitably, some scary people on youtube. Speaking of youtube, this is how I remember the song.
posted to MetaFilter by grumblebee at 12:05 PM on February 11, 2007 (41 comments)

The evocation of dystopian space with contemporary settings. One of the many challenges faced by directors of low- or no-budget SF films is the convincing depiction of futuristic space, especially where it needs to appear oppressive or totalising. What are you to do, when you lack the wherewithal to create elaborate sets, and even the cheesiest CGI is well out of reach?

You use extant buildings and artifacts, and you crop carefully. But which ones? Frank Lloyd Wright's Marin County Civic Center appears particularly popular in this context: here it is in THX1138, and here in Gattaca - the latter a film which also featured the Citroen DS and Studi Avanti to precisely evocative effect. (What's so sinister about this poor building? In real life it's stunningly pretty.)

Jean-Luc Godard had a field day in Alphaville, with the anomic architecture of mid-60s, high modernist Paris, and again with the same sorts of mainframe installations Lucas relied so heavily upon in THX. Even (cough) Logan's Run found low-rent dystopia in various Dallas and Fort Worth settings, here Fort Worth's Water Gardens.

Maybe the poor Marin Center's a bit played out, huh? As an aid to future directors, then, let me ask you: What are some dystopic settings near you?
posted to MetaFilter by adamgreenfield at 9:11 AM on September 27, 2004 (48 comments)

Help! What movie was filmed in this house pictured in the latest issue of The Atlantic?
posted to Ask Metafilter by awenner at 11:28 PM on November 9, 2006 (17 comments)

Untranslatable words- The word I'm looking for means [roughly] "feeling embarrassed for someone else", and I think it might be in Portuguese. Anyone?
posted to Ask Metafilter by exlotuseater at 5:40 PM on October 2, 2005 (27 comments)

I just ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich on soft white bread. The bread on the honey side developed a kind of rough texture, almost like the bread had been lightly toasted on one side. Not unpleasant, but kind of odd. I noticed this when I was a kid and I've always wondered about it, and just now realized that someone here might know what's going on (I grew up in the South, and I have been known to eat molasses and butter sandwiches - the rough-texture thing doesn't happen with molasses, only honey. I don't know about other sugary syrup products).
posted to Ask Metafilter by cilantro at 6:08 AM on January 30, 2007 (30 comments)

I've fallen in love with this rendition of "O Holy Night"[MP3] from last week's episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Now I want a whole Christmas album in that style - either already made or individual songs to make a mix. Any recommendations? I particularly like how the song is still totally recognizable and pleasant, despite having lots of soul to it and cool improvisations. Thanks!
posted to Ask Metafilter by rorycberger at 7:57 AM on December 15, 2006 (10 comments)

The NYC Chiliheads Meetup Group (http://hotnspicy.meetup.com/42/) wants to consider possible venues for its future gatherings. We're a group of individuals, drawn from a variety of backgrounds and industries, that simply LOVES fiery, spicy food. Recent outings have taken us to Cho Dang Gol and Brick Lane Curry House. Like-minded AskMeFites are welcome to join us! What restaurants do you recommend? Why? What cuisine do they represent?
posted to Ask Metafilter by NYCinephile at 5:36 PM on December 14, 2006 (6 comments)

I'm looking for some good Mandarin Chinese online reading -- news, blogs, etc. Very simple -- no fancy academic language.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jruckman at 7:05 AM on December 11, 2006 (5 comments)

I want to fall in love (with Boston).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Meemer at 3:53 PM on November 25, 2006 (32 comments)

Does anyone know of a place in or around Toronto where I can get my Macbook Pro laser etched?
posted to Ask Metafilter by patr1ck at 8:00 AM on November 24, 2006 (6 comments)

What things are MUST-DO in Boston after living here for two years?
posted to Ask Metafilter by irisell at 4:12 PM on November 14, 2006 (35 comments)

Why would Google display a lesser number of results when I remove a word from my search?
posted to Ask Metafilter by gfrobe at 9:51 AM on December 31, 2005 (15 comments)

How do I clean my ThinkPad's harddrive so I can sell it WITHOUT having to reinstall XP?
posted to Ask Metafilter by phixed at 6:00 PM on October 21, 2006 (11 comments)

Comics question. Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the most powerful superhero of them all?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Gordion Knott at 2:05 PM on September 25, 2006 (55 comments)

Name That Thing! You know that feeling you get sometimes when you wonder what would happen if you did something outrageous- punched a cop, stepped off a building, peed on the dinner table? No? Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one, because both Daniel Clowes (in Eightball) and P.G. Wodehouse (in Carry On, Jeeves) mention it. The problem is, what do you call it? Does any culture have a word for this? I certainly can't think of an (American) English word or phrase shorter than "You know that feeling when...", etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by paul_smatatoes at 11:16 AM on September 21, 2006 (75 comments)

If a friend ignored your instant messages all day when you knew that they were online the entire time, would you consider that rude?
posted to Ask Metafilter by bbrown at 8:07 AM on September 20, 2006 (92 comments)

Does anyone know of the research paper (study) where they had people do a day-old crossword and they claimed that those people were able to solve those easier than new crossword puzzles? I saw it referenced in "Waking Life" and was wondering if it were a real paper.
posted to Ask Metafilter by tasty at 7:52 PM on September 16, 2006 (8 comments)

The inside of Farmer John's hog rendering plant in Vernon, California, is among the worst places on Earth if you happen to be a hog, which is why the outside of the building is such a case study in mural based irony. In 1957, perhaps as a trap to lure in unsuspecting piglets who had come to Los Angeles to make it in the movies, the folks at Farmer John's hired Hollywood set designer Les Grimes to begin painting a mural on the outside of the factory, a job that he continued until his death 11 years later. The result, entitled "Hog Heaven", depicts a pastoral wonderland, clearly a prime destination for any visiting out of town porcine rube. Surely one of the world's largest murals, the work stretches around the entire square cityblock worth of slaughterhouse, and (legend has it) is so large that not unlike the Golden Gate bridge, no sooner is it done being painted than the painter must begin touching it up all over again.
posted to MetaFilter by jonson at 12:17 AM on August 6, 2006 (36 comments)

Scriptable multiline voice menu system for a one-day event. Does anyone offer this service?
posted to Ask Metafilter by aubilenon at 3:59 PM on July 26, 2006 (4 comments)

In order to inspire my pupils, and demonstrate to them that studying science does not mean you have to become a scientist, I'm trying to compile a list of famous people with science-related qualifications (bachelors degrees and better, preferably). I'm specifically interested in those with physics, chemistry or biology qualifications (or variations thereof, e.g. biochemistry, astrophysics) but if it turns out that Orlando Bloom has a degree in geology or Christina Aguilera is an expert neuroscientist then I'll take them too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by alby at 7:12 AM on July 24, 2006 (70 comments)

A very New York-bred outlook at old-time Cuban music, recorded entirely with .. violas! This was my attempt to create asymmetrical but memorable melodies, clear textures crammed with material, and experiment with multitrack viola as a concept, an ensemble. The sound of the classic Cuban bands had all that - except the violas, that is. This track appears on my newly released CD, the VJOLA: WORLD ON FOUR STRINGS
posted to MeFi Music by barmaljova at 12:03 AM on July 9, 2006 (20 comments)

The astronomical clock in the French city of Besancon is quite a mechanical marvel. Built in 1860, its inner workings are comprised of more than 30,000 interoperating pieces, driving 37 separate clockface gauges. It is one of the finest intersections between art & mechanics that I've ever come across.
posted to MetaFilter by jonson at 2:26 PM on July 4, 2006 (12 comments)

Worldtripfilter: Is it possible to get fixed-price world trip tickets?
posted to Ask Metafilter by PuGZ at 5:38 AM on July 2, 2006 (6 comments)

Field recordings from Ringing Rocks Park, Pennsylvania
posted to MeFi Music by nylon at 9:12 AM on June 30, 2006 (7 comments)

Why do many syndicated articles and press releases end with "###"? And what is it called?
posted to Ask Metafilter by honorguy7 at 8:04 AM on June 26, 2006 (12 comments)

The incidence of petty crime, particularly vandalism of flower planters (even in daylight), is up lately in our (small city) neighborhood. The ratio of absentee landlords to owner-occupied has been increasing over the years, and the quality of life in the neighborhood is slowly declining (e.g., more trash in the street, petty vandalism, graffiti, outright theft). Fundamentally, the solution is economic, and the city is slowly working on that. But in the short term, what are effective crime reduction methods that can be implemented at the neighborhood level (i.e., we can't direct the police to patrol more or install more street lights, but we could organize a "neighborhood watch")?
posted to Ask Metafilter by juliewhite at 6:40 AM on June 23, 2006 (11 comments)

There's a quote by Schweitzer about chicks I'm trying to find... Or at least I think it's albert schweitzer. The basic jist of it is "When I think back on my accomplishments I realize how much more I could have done if I wasnt chasing women" That's close to it (I think) but I need the exact quote. And who said it. I think it's Schweitzer but that may have been my late fater screwing with me. One time he told me that Ghandi was the first one to say, "always leave a little hungry." I bought it. I was six but I bought it. If anyone knows this quote please chime in.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rileyray3000 at 11:35 PM on June 15, 2006 (3 comments)

Lamisil pills are extremely expensive. Lamisil cream is very reasonably priced. Lamisil cream applied topically does nothing for a fungal toenail infection; one needs to ingest the drug to cure that type of infection. Could someone eat Lamisil cream for the same effect as the pills? What kind of dosage and preparation would be required?
posted to Ask Metafilter by thirteenkiller at 9:11 PM on June 12, 2006 (13 comments)

Cayetano Ferrer is a Chicago based artist whose work involves (among other styles) painting street signs with the images of the items immediately behind them, to give the illusion of transparency (depending on what angle you're viewing from). The latest campaign by Amnesty International seems inspired by his work.
posted to MetaFilter by jonson at 11:31 PM on June 8, 2006 (14 comments)