MetaFilter

Ok, this may come off harsh and I don't intend it to... You have no advanced degree. You have no solid work history from what you've posted. You're entering an economy (assuming you're in the US) where unemployment is on the rise and competition for jobs is getting harder.

Your best bet is to look for an entry-level clerical or office job. Temp agencies like Express or Manpower can get you in the door of a lot of companies and you can do basic work. Writing well... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by arniec at 9:09 AM on October 7, 2008

This will vary a little bit depending on whether you have insurance and what you have. My insurance, for example, does not make me get a referral to see a psych. doctor. I can just go for a certain amount of visits and it will be covered. Figure this out in advnace because nothing makes you more anxious like unforseen medical bills if you're me.

step 1: figure out what your insurance will cover

step 2: either go to psych doctor [as yourself: do... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jessamyn at 1:50 PM on October 6, 2008

I'm reading all of these soft "go volunteer in an inner city" responses, and, honestly, at first blush, I'm thinking "oh come on folks just answer the man's question."

And then, on the other hand, I'm a different guy than I was a year and a half ago. Completely different.

About that long ago, I packed up my comfortable life into a 10x10 storage unit (I've eliminated some of it since, but I'm still amazed at how much crap I... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by allkindsoftime at 10:45 AM on September 24, 2008 marked best answer

You can download Dale Carnegie's book if you wish, for free. Go here, and then click the Download Here link in the text. It's a ZIP file, and the only thing in the file is the PDF of the book.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Houstonian at 2:36 PM on September 23, 2008

The moment you start to resent a person, you become his slave. He controls your dreams, absorbs your digestion, robs you of your peace of mind and goodwill, and takes away the pleasure of your work. You cannot take a vacation without his going along. He destroys your freedom of mind and hounds you wherever you go. There is no way to escape the person you resent. He is with you when you are awake. He invades your privacy when you sleep. He is close beside you when you drive your car and when you... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by netbros at 8:05 AM on September 22, 2008

"The accuracy was 99.6%"

When it comes to population wide testing, 99.6% is not as good as you would think. I remember doing "false positive" calculations in my population genetics classes. I googled some of these numbers so they might not be 100% accurate (hah!)

Incidence of Down Syndrome (DS): 1 in 800 to 1 in 1000. Let's go with 1 in 1000.
Total births in the US: 4.25 million
Total births with DS... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by wilky at 11:09 PM on September 15, 2008

Factors in the Democrat's favor this year: a disastrous economy, an unpopular war, an incumbent president with a 30% approval rating, far more money and better organization than the other side, a candidate who is charismatic, smart, accomplished and eloquent, an opponent who is old, out of touch, disliked by a large portion of his own party and a Washington insider when people want change.

Factors in the Republican's favor this year: the Democratic candidate is black.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by ND¢ at 8:31 AM on September 15, 2008

1. If someone is willing to lie to you about something major, they will lie about anything, including saying anything possible to win you back. I know this firsthand.

2. In the future, if you feel ANYTHING is wrong in a relationship break it off immediately. I have had this problem more than once (not cheating, but pathological levels of deception, living two separate lives, secret debt, hidden drug usage, making excuses that literally make no sense at all)... from men I... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Unicorn on the cob at 1:34 PM on September 15, 2008

Not an article but a radio show: This American Life on how the mortgage crisis happened.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by PatoPata at 7:58 AM on September 15, 2008

Ah. Thanks for the wonderful post desjardins. As a female Buddhist, the topic of women in Buddhism interests me. I say that after having many reservations about Buddhism as an organized belief system with all the corruption, hierarchical power games, superstition, elitism and bs that goes on when any group or nationality collects and solidifies around a belief system, usually accompanied by both overt and covert misogyny.

There are a bunch of things I'd like to add to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by nickyskye at 12:05 AM on September 13, 2008

.htaccess is enough, if mod_rewrite is available AND you're not using virtual hosting (i.e., you have your own IP address). Cheap hosting often uses virtual hosting (many domains on one IP address), and in that case this won't work.

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-3513-6042903.html

Your hosting provider sounds a little clueless, which is not really a good sign.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jellicle at 7:11 PM on January 30, 2007

desjardins - "Irish settlers - both voluntary and forced - were crucial to the Australian colonies from the earliest days of settlement. The Irish first came over in large numbers as convicts (50,000 were transported between 1791 and 1867), to be used as free labour; even larger numbers of free settlers came during the nineteenth century, partly due to the Donegal Relief Fund. Irish immigrants accounted for one-quarter of Australia's overseas-born population in 1871.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by rtha at 3:16 PM on September 10, 2008

http://www.learnclubdance.com/ The one for guys is cheesy in presentation, but, overall, it's surprisingly reasonable and un-lame.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zeek321 at 2:56 AM on September 10, 2008

Great post.


Hope this makes your day desjardins: Buddhism in the U.S. map and U.S. Sexual Orientation / Gender Identification rights map. Yo do the overlay :)
posted to MetaFilter by dirty lies at 5:50 PM on September 8, 2008

omg, how could I have forgotten the maps?!

Oh, there's maps dear desjardins.

Lismullen, County Donegal, Ireland where he grew up. Darjeeling, right between Nepal and Bhutan, where he met Sangharakshita. And Rizong Gompa in Ladakh, 73 kilometers from Leh, where he lived as a novice.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by nickyskye at 5:57 PM on September 8, 2008

Wouldn't recommend it less u get caught but sometimes discretionary browsing is required even for simple tasks like email checking soo...

Use Firefox with the Stealth extension
OR
use Google's Chrome in the Incognito mode

both can be carried around on a thumbdrive - firefox - http://portableapps.com/news/2008-07-21_-_firefox_portable_3.0.1
and
http://www.downloadsquad.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by bbyboi at 9:05 AM on September 6, 2008 marked best answer

Is there a difference between "discover your passion" and "discover what you want to do"?

I ask because I hear people talk about their Passion (with a capital P), as if everyone has one whether they know it or not. As it it's a special glowing ball inside each of us. Yet I see no evidence that this ball necessarily exists.

To me, it's more likely that we have things we like and things we dislike. A like becomes a passion when... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by grumblebee at 12:22 PM on September 4, 2008

Alot of people have spoken to this, but this whole experience pissing match is just too stupid. Plus it took me a long time to type, so i'm going with it...

I am saying that it is wrong for the Democrats to claim Palin is less qualified than he. It is a ridiculous argument and it's time to drop it.

Despite totally disagreeing with you completely, I have a bit of respect for your input konolia. If only because you have stuck... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by billyfleetwood at 11:52 PM on September 3, 2008

Uh-huh. 44 years old and four kids aren't enough? Did she not get the memo about the high chance of Down's Syndrome for babies born by older (over 35 I believe) women? I imagine wanting to have as many kids as possible has something to do with her religious beliefs. Probably everything to do with her religious beliefs.

Sarah Palin appears to be an inexperienced politician chosen primarily for short-sighted demographic appeal. But (imho, of course)... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pardonyou? at 8:20 AM on August 29, 2008

Or maybe it's just that people on average are getting fatter and fatter and as a result fat people are seen as regular sized and regular sized, healthy people are seen as being underweight or "too skinny"?
posted to MetaFilter by gyc at 1:08 PM on August 27, 2008

"False reports of rape, a much more serious issue, run 2-50%."

Sweet Jesus, what a misleading statement. It should read: In reports from local police departments that are forwarded on to the FBI, the FBI has determined that roughly 8% of accusations are unfounded, intentionally or accidentally. Journalists have given, and no citation is given for these "journalists," or articles, which may well be opinion or anecdotal pieces,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by klangklangston at 1:57 PM on August 26, 2008

What gyusan and tybeet said. Seriously, giving away your TV was putting a band-aid on your addiction issue. Now you're contemplating impairing your wife's ability to do work efficiently at home?

Get help. Get help from a cognitive behavioral therapist.

Removing things from the path of an addiction is not treating the addiction.

Please notice that all of the "solutions" you propose have HER changing her... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Sidhedevil at 1:05 PM on August 26, 2008

Pony up for the recovery software that's showing promising results.

Recover as much as you can to an external hard drive (on your dime).

Present the hard drive with as many recovered files as possible to the owner along with an explanation of what happened. The fact that you're handing him -some- of his recovered files to him at the same time you're telling he has lost other files will mitigate his anger.

Whatever you do,... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by DWRoelands at 10:31 AM on August 26, 2008

The debt:
I'd prioritize getting the debt down to a lower interest rate. It's going to take some time to get the credit report issue removed, and that entire time, you're going to be paying an outrageous amount of interest. Debt goes away much faster at lower interest rates. Best option, I think, would be to get a 0%-for-the-first-year introductory balance transfer card, if you can. Here are the best balance transfer credit cards. Watch for the transfer fees, as you know, but iirc,... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by salvia at 9:59 AM on August 25, 2008

Here's a Yahoo Pipe for Maps+Art.
posted to MetaTalk by signal at 8:57 PM on August 22, 2008

You are not laid back, or willing to let things slide, and she is not a nag or emotional. In fact, you are making her be in charge of this stuff. You are making it both her fault and her responsibility for things to be done. If you wait until she either a) just does it herself or b) goes apeshit on you, well, gee you were going to get to it, right? Trust me, she does not enjoy nagging, she does not enjoy having to get emotional before you get up off your passive-aggressive ass and she sure as... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by nax at 7:53 AM on August 20, 2008

Seriously, the least you could have done was include some homoerotic fan fiction as well...

Eekacat shyly looked into Bruce Wayne's deep, probing eyes. "Are you sure, sir?" he asked nervously, his lips smacking together like soft, pliant leather.

"Call me Master Bruce," the large man replied, gently caressing Eekacat's thick, hard shoulders. "and of course, I'm sure. You see, crimefighting is hard,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Brandon Blatcher at 6:26 PM on August 14, 2008

This account of things made me feel like Craigslist is continuously monitored by people wanting to con/take advantage of others.

No, Craigslist is continuously monitored by people like Tornado Man (text potentially NSFW).
posted to MetaFilter by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 3:46 PM on August 14, 2008

You can't fight fire with fire, and wind will only strengthen the fire. Water will do wonders, lots of it. And what is water? It's love. It flows. It reaches all low places. It wears down the strongest rock and drowns out the low roar of flames. If you really want to be effective - you pour out your heart - through song, prayer, poetry and soft expression. The energy will counter any negativity they will be emitting. This is only a test. Who is stronger - the light or the darkness. Do not... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by watercarrier at 5:33 PM on August 14, 2008

Yeh, the good folks over at The US Dept of Labour can help.

I selected All Urban Consumers (Current Series) (Consumer Price Index - CPI) , then performed the following steps ( -> means I selected) :

1) Select an area -> 'Chicago'
2) Select one of more items -> 'All items'
3) Select seasonal adjustment -> 'Not seasonally Adjusted' (only possible option for this data set)
4) Get... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Mutant at 8:01 AM on August 14, 2008 marked best answer

Will no one think of the zygoat.se?
posted by maryh at 1:25 AM

I'm sorry.
posted to MetaFilter by louche mustachio at 2:51 AM on August 10, 2008

This is ridiculous. A plan is exactly what you don't need. The guy you want to be wouldn't be asking the same questions that you are asking. He wouldn't be talking about "career changes." The idea that you have to choose between "financial viability" and your soul is a total myth. In the Virgin Islands and Alaska, there are tons of people that gave up the workaday world, gave up drywall and plastic, and traded it for a far richer life. If... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by letahl at 5:09 PM on August 9, 2008

Three cheers for burlesque! I can't think of any reason two guys can't go out and have a couple of beers and have a good time anywhere though, to be frank.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by parmanparman at 5:54 PM on August 6, 2008

Social Explorer
posted to MetaTalk by carsonb at 8:18 AM on August 5, 2008

And actually, one can even see this lack of foresight in lesser kinks--branding, piercing, and tattooing, for example. Those who have a fetish for having hunks of their skin burned off and permanently scarred are focused on the pain and other physical sensations, and less on the long-term ramifications of what that kind of damage to your body will do, how you handle it socially, etc. Yes, part of it is reliving the experience, but I have been told by some people in the bodymod community that... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dirtynumbangelboy at 2:57 PM on August 4, 2008

I read that as steam graphs, and immediately thought "I bet they're just regular graphs with some brass doodads tacked on..."
posted to MetaFilter by UbuRoivas at 5:07 PM on July 31, 2008

I'm a gay dude and have been married to my husband for six years.

Man, take a breath. First, it sounds like your partner is nervous about satisfying you. His lack of experience is compounding this and accounts for his lack of confidence. It's up to you to make him feel confident and after such a long time it'll be tricky. A good start would be to close the open relationship for now -- if you really want to give this a go. Personally, I'll disagree with Cool Papa on... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Craig at 5:43 PM on July 30, 2008

I can see how a web 2.0 relationship could fail. While lying on their web platform tangled in their Cascading Style Sheets, their heads were always in the tag clouds never returning their friends asynchronous javascript calls. He struggled with a sense that she was a taxonomy while she hated spending time with his folksonomy. She wanted to be driven bottom-up in a user-centric way while he was hoping for a little top-down action with controlled vocabulary. He never used SOAP and she never... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by srboisvert at 7:19 AM on July 29, 2008

I don't think getting a loan to consolidate your debt is a good idea. It's not really the interest rate that's killing you, it's the debt, and moving it around doesn't address the source of the problem. It could even make things worse: if you move all your debt onto one card or one loan, suddenly you'll have all those other lines of credit open to you, which will make it super-easy to go even further into debt when things get tight.

Budgeting is definitely the way to... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by sportbucket at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2008

I broke up with her and married someone who has a sex drive similar than mine.

I say that not to dismiss your concerns, but to underline how fundamental an active sex life is for some people. Kudos to you for proactively looking to address this, rather than allowing it to be a festering sore in the relationship.

In my experience, there are a set of basic answers here.

First is that it takes compromise on both sides, not... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Forktine at 7:24 PM on July 24, 2008

"J E S U S
S A V E S
S T R I N G"

The one I don't get is:

"Jesus is God.
Read the Bible."

Why should I? You just blew the big surprise! That's like having a sticker that says:

"Darth Vader is Luke's father.
Watch The Empire Strikes Back."
posted to MetaFilter by drjimmy11 at 7:41 AM on July 24, 2008

For those who found this story to be thought/discussion-provoking, I strongly suggest that you take 20 minutes or so to listen to the most recent episode of This American Life where there is an absolutely haunting segment by an author who accidentally struck and killed a cyclist 18 years ago, and the effect that it had on his life. Really. Must. Listen.
posted to MetaFilter by scblackman at 8:15 AM on July 21, 2008

A & B) What you have to understand about interrogation is that it's a discipline with well-known methods. The Reid Technique defines the nine steps which you've seen in a hundred TV cop dramas; if you know them you can very often get a confession from a guilty person.

How do I know? On the one hand, I've been interrogated as a suspect before. I'm smart, and they were (provably) stupid. But I'm not an expert at being interrogated (or I wasn't then), and they were... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by nicwolff at 10:49 PM on July 22, 2008

Set up some appointed times to talk for a long time. A big block set aside on weekends or something, in exchange for a couple weekdays to yourself. Then stick to it - don't start flaking on conversations he's been looking forward to all week, and don't pick up the phone when he calls on "off" days anyhow. Consider sending him longish e-mails on the days you'd rather not be on the phone. Maybe the occasional naughty picture. Some sort of tangible proof that, while you're quite busy and... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by EatTheWeek at 9:44 AM on July 21, 2008

I've done the same thing over the years. This helped me: the now-popular video of Ira Glass talking about how the gap between your good taste and your still-sorta-crappy work causes people to quit. I'm now actively not quitting fiction writing.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by booth at 11:19 AM on July 16, 2008 marked best answer

When I lived in Calgary, so many people were into festooning their cars & SUVs with stickers bragging about all the stuff they'd bought - North Face, Salamon, Oakley, 5.10 etc... So for the back window of my van I made up stickers from the most banal, everyday things I could find in the supermarket, - Tide, Windsor Salt, Ruffles, and Barilla pasta.
Basically I was trying to take the piss out of this kind of consumerism, but it seems like these people really... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Flashman at 2:26 PM on July 11, 2008

I just dont understand men!!!!

There's nothing to understand. He's a prick. Some people have string after string of bad relationships and chalk it up to Mars Vs. Venus or "women/men are all asses" or some other bullshit. Or they've seen one too many Hugh Grant movies and believe in some "he's my soulmate, and my destiny is to fix him" mega-ultra-super-grand-bullshit.

The truth of the matter is that there are... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Skwirl at 10:42 AM on July 10, 2008 marked best answer

Smokey the Bear Sutra
posted to MetaFilter by homunculus at 6:49 PM on July 7, 2008

arcanecrowbar: When you click on the link for a map, you get this. That's just plain awesome.
posted to MetaFilter by nosila at 1:22 PM on July 8, 2008

Well, desjardins, I'll just say what everyone else is thinking but is too afraid to say.

You see, desjardins, you were banned. That's right, banned. Two days after you stopped checking the site, people started asking after you. Is she okay, omg what happened to her, etc. We were worried, quite frankly. But then some people pointed out that maybe you'd moved on to a better site. Maybe we weren't good enough for you. Then someone correctly noted... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Pastabagel at 2:14 PM on July 7, 2008