A good friend just received a brain cancer diagnosis with an estimated one year survival time. She wants to talk about death and time. She thinks I have something to teach or tell her worth hearing. I'd like to be helpful, but have no confidence in my ability to say or do anything meaningful. What I've said so far she appreciates. What can I read that might help me frame discussions. I don't need pop psychology stuff, or advice dealing with the health care system or funeral arrangements. I like the idea of Zen notions of letting go but am too ignorant to know what to say. Advice, experience, suggestions for gathering information please.
posted to Ask Metafilter by NorthCoastCafe at 3:12 PM on January 7, 2008 (65 comments)

how do YOU go about making a difficult/complex decision?
posted to Ask Metafilter by genmonster at 2:06 PM on September 11, 2007 (27 comments)

Crush the Screamin' Beans!
posted to MetaFilter by Robot Johnny at 8:52 AM on July 31, 2007 (15 comments)

How do I become a usability professional?
posted to Ask Metafilter by AceRock at 2:46 PM on July 12, 2007 (9 comments)

The Paisley Underground. From about 1982 to 1985, the Los Angeles club scene featured a bunch of guitar bands on the verge of being the next big thing, including The Dream Syndicate, Green on Red, The Long Ryders, The Rain Parade, Game Theory (later known as The Loud Family) and, of course, The Bangles (the only ones who managed to actually become a big thing). Michael Quercio of The Three O'Clock and Salvation Army inadvertently named the scene "Paisley underground" when he made an off handed joke during a radio interview. Most of the bands are now, to borrow a phrase from Game Theory leader Scott Miller, languishing in national obscurity, as opposed to local obscurity.
posted to MetaFilter by Joey Michaels at 3:28 PM on July 9, 2007 (30 comments)

I'm soon to be 22, and I've never had a relationship... I seem to very consistently turn all my dates and potential girlfriends into girl friends and my therapist, family and friends seem to be running out of ideas. Any suggestions? Of course, complications and some potentially funny stories inside.
posted to Ask Metafilter by StrikeTheViol at 3:29 PM on July 7, 2007 (46 comments)

What do you do with your life if you never get married or have kids?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Anonymous at 4:52 PM on June 27, 2007 (82 comments)

Heterodoxy is by definition not widely popular, and so it goes in the field of economics. Lately, though, the orthodoxy has been on the defensive against a faction that's named itself post-autistic economics. Arising in France, it has spread around the world, capitalizing on the widespread feeling that all's not well in the field of economics. [more inside]
posted to MetaFilter by Kattullus at 4:58 AM on May 29, 2007 (57 comments)

How do you learn to write quickly? I have a good number of 5-15 page papers due in the next couple of days and they're killing me. I have no lack of ideas, I have no lack of outlines and notes I can create. But somewhere between holding the notes and writing the sentences down my brain sticks and I spend an hour writing and re-writing the first paragraph. What to do?
posted to Ask Metafilter by schroedinger at 5:07 PM on December 6, 2006 (40 comments)

Students are now using the internet to criticise their teachers behind their backs by using a popular new site called Rate My Teachers. While some 'feedback' left at the site is relatively tame, many teachers are not spared from a flood of insults (which isn't surprising when a group of venting teenagers are involved). The owners of the site are calling it a useful teaching critique tool, but teachers groups are labelling it "a vengeful smear campaign." The site is available in a host of international flavours, such as the UK and Australia, to name but two. Hmmph. Back in my day, we used to just write our 'critiques' on the blackboard while the teacher wasn't in the room...
posted to MetaFilter by Effigy2000 at 6:29 PM on March 18, 2007 (67 comments)

Is it totally creepy to ask out someone I who I met at a museum ticket counter yesterday?
posted to Ask Metafilter by chefscotticus at 10:21 PM on December 21, 2006 (29 comments)

Attraction is not a choice as the saying goes in the PUA community, and their main discussion forum provides plenty of instruction on meeting and seducing women. Stop asking the questions of an AFC and step into a whole different level of male/female interactions. Instead of pickup lines and techniques, start reading the field reports posted by new and veteran PUAs. (via)
posted to MetaFilter by Tasty Like Your 9V Battery at 6:54 AM on December 15, 2006 (206 comments)

How can I use iTunes smart playlists to fill my iPod with a good mix of new, favourite and random albums (not just songs)?
posted to Ask Metafilter by chorltonmeateater at 8:02 AM on November 25, 2006 (6 comments)

Do research scientists have social lives?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mayfly wake at 5:55 PM on November 12, 2006 (16 comments)

RelationshipFilter, for a female friend who's writing about this sort of thing: What annoying things do women do in relationships?
posted to Ask Metafilter by ibmcginty at 5:16 PM on October 22, 2006 (100 comments)

Help me find love/sex/companionship. Here's a summary of my situation with more detail to follow inside: I'm middle-aged, male and heterosexual, haven't been involved in a serious relationship in five years, haven't slept with anyone in over a year, am formally disabled and mobility-impaired and use a cane, rely on social security disability income during this period while I use the related Medicare coverage to have several major joints replaced, am a native of the city I live in but have lived here this time around for only the last two years.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ethereal Bligh at 6:49 PM on October 14, 2006 (47 comments)

I'm in an enviable position, I guess. I am a freelance writer, with a free schedule (no outside commitments), an outside office to work in, no immediate financial pressure. So what's the problem?
posted to Ask Metafilter by different at 5:06 AM on October 3, 2006 (14 comments)

Today I find myself in a precarious situation. I am a college student who happens to live in a four bedroom apartment with two other guys; however, I have discoverd that one of my roommates is flying his internet girlfriend in from Alaska on Saturday morning so that they can live together (The story gets better/worse - they developed their relationship through playing Warcraft).
posted to Ask Metafilter by j-urb at 12:39 PM on September 29, 2006 (107 comments)