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www.warmshowers.org is a lifesaver, especially if you get stuck in bad weather or find yourself with no real camping options. Everyone on the site is a touring cyclist and familiar with what it's like to get stuck, and it's a community that's incredibly generous putting people up for the night. I've never failed to get a quick response.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 1:29 PM on May 2, 2015

+ + + + to what grouse said. i don't know nearly enough about the criminal justice system to be confident in giving feedback. however, when I had a friend in jail for a relatively minor offense, a bunch of us rallied to try to provide support. things that were important included: 1) friends, family, and employers writing letters testifying to his good character, 2) rallying friends to *show up* to sit in the back of the courtroom whenever he had a court date and 3) presenting a clear… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 6:17 PM on April 28, 2015 marked best answer

I'd like the mail too. Specifically for someone who is familiar with OCD / intrusive thoughts.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 3:26 PM on April 27, 2015

Jotform and Wufoo (both pay services)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 7:52 PM on April 22, 2015

Bike the NCR trail to York PA

Rent a paddleboat, try to paddle across the harbor

Pack a lunch and go sit in the rainforest at the National Aquarium

....that's actually all the athletic things I can think of to do in Baltimore...
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 7:18 PM on April 22, 2015

Caveat: I have never had a real job in my life.

My trajectory was similar, if shorter: I left halfway through a Ph.D. in English due to all the usual reasons. I loved academia but hated the very wide gulf between the secure, reasonably sheltered world of grad school and the realities of the job market. I wound up deeply invested in something that I wasn't willing to do in partial way, and so left. It sounds like you are maybe a more balanced personality… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:55 PM on April 21, 2015

It's masonry
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 7:27 AM on November 22, 2013

No, I mean they are working on the brickwork.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 7:43 AM on November 22, 2013

Thanks all. Some quick responses:

1) Lying flat on my stomach helps, as does lying on the opposite side. Mostly the pain is concentrated on the left side, behind and around the rib cage, so lying away from it helps.

2) I have friends who now driving me places and also a partner who is around pretty much all the time who would notice if I started turning blue.

3) I would also stop taking the atavin if I had a… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 5:30 PM on October 24, 2013

For the record, I haven't been asking for narcotics --- I've been taking ibuprofen (a lot of it), but it hasn't been particularly helpful. It's frustrating to have obvious difficulty breathing and have the doctor shrug and tell you to take ibuprofen and drink fluids. I know it's not their fault, but it's still frustrating.

Anyway, I'm going back today, so we'll see how it goes.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:22 AM on October 25, 2013

I'd be surprised if there aren't google spreadsheet templates for this
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:47 AM on October 24, 2013

nope, more colorful
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:26 AM on May 3, 2012

Go to the "resources" page for City Life / Vida Urbana - www.clvu.org - and take a look. I'm almost positive the document you're looking for is on that page.

I don't know what kind of anti-foreclosure groups are active in Oregon, but if there are any (google 'bank tenants association) it's worth getting in touch, as they can often provide free legal aid. This kind of shit - lost papers, multiple owners, no documentation provided, etc etc - happens all the… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:16 AM on February 25, 2012

Kousa dogwood?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 6:08 AM on September 28, 2011 marked best answer

It's ok for people to take you seriously if you're doing serious things (says my partner, who is not creepy but does listen to bright eyes)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:20 AM on September 13, 2011

The original plans are here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-lightsaber/

There are updated versions (many!) which will be posted on or around our website (www.partsandcrafts.org) with whatever sourcing details we have once we hammer down the best and cheapest way to make the swords.

Thanks for these links, fake! It looks like we've got our work cut out for us, but these are helpful.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:57 PM on February 22, 2011

We have a machine shop in the basement where we run science workshops for kids. There's an art gallery upstairs that's strictly secular, and the church in general seems pretty awesome and progressive (to me, this means non-preachy and politically engaged).

In terms of "what's the goal?" it could be directed to specific projects (a la lemonade sale I guess) or a cool thing to add to events (shows or openings) or just a hangout space for different people… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 5:39 PM on August 30, 2010

Work as a summer camp counselor for a program that's doing really interesting things. There are a bunch of summer programs that double as alternative education centers - Camp Kaleidoscope or Parts and Crafts in Boston, Open Air Circus, the Tinkering School is an obvious one (if overpriced and probably crazy exclusive), BEAM Camp in New Hampshire /Brooklyn. Volunteer until they're hiring. Find a place where the interesting college / career dropouts went when they realized that they liked… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:00 PM on August 5, 2010

1) You're not a shitty GF. First, you're not under an obligation to share unless you feel comfortable doing so (if they are happy, supportive, annoyingly excited, in a way that adds stress, maybe that's something to address), but in terms of just sharing, it's totally up to you, and if they're good people, they'll respect that.

2) I'd be surprised that you were worried about it enough to withhold it. I'd probably react to the seeming paternalism -- "wait,… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 1:12 PM on June 12, 2010

Please forgive me, and I"ll be honest from here on out.

That seems to be suggesting that the poster is to blame, and the boyfriend is the victim, and that the poster wholly responsible for being stressed out. Also, that lying is somehow more of a problem than not paying attention? (or creating a stressful environment?) (or not being cognizant enough to get that something's wrong, and ask?) which are all presumed, on his end, by this being a… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 1:25 PM on June 12, 2010

Egg seed bombs! That's a great idea (added bonus: plants that hatch!)

Five minutes of further research reveals that Guerilla Gardening has thought about it a lot since then - I just found this page, which is pretty thorough on the subject.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:21 AM on June 12, 2010

Wonderful, thanks everyone!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:25 AM on June 12, 2010

It may or may not be necessary for you (though judging from the fact that you've bothered to write a post about it, I'd say it probably is). I spent a summer in exile after a really shitty semester, and found that the thing that helped me the most (aside from writing sad metafilter posts and journaling and occasionally having traumatic conversations with friends) was going to yoga every other day.

Why? Because it's a designated space where you can be in your… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:43 AM on November 22, 2009

Commuting by rollerblades will take longer, unless you're wicked fast (it took me about 4x longer to get around the park on roller blades than bike, due to modest hills). I found biking through midtown to be too much of a hassle -- you might want to consider going down the west side (at least below 34th street, I remember it being relatively bike friendly) but for most of the way you'll be battling traffic.

If you haven't checked out this site yet, you should… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:30 AM on November 15, 2009

Visiting or reaching out to his family might help -- I know you said you don't want to see anyone, but they would have a very clear sense of what you're going through (and are probably very much in need of support). Making dinner for them might be totally exhausting, or it might be a nice distraction -- either way, it would be a concrete task to focus on for awhile.

I know its hard, but just sitting with friends might help. Even if you don't say anything, it may… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:27 PM on November 10, 2009

To people advocating the "tape yourself / watch the tape / cringe" method -- has anyone actually done this outside the context of professional school? Or in school, for that matter? I can't imagine this doing anything other than making yourself MORE conscious of bad mannerisms (taking the data you already have -- "Christ, I can hear myself fucking this sentence up AS I'M SAYING IT" -- and giving you strong visual evidence to support that yes, you fucked up that sentence,… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:20 PM on November 5, 2009

also: I've been told that trying really hard to be clear and get your sentences straight and failing can be an endearing trait. c.f. David Foster Wallace. I'm inclined to believe it's true.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:24 PM on November 5, 2009

Barbes on 6th and 9th (avenue and street) has free music most days of the week.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:57 PM on October 27, 2009

Thanks for the great answers so far!

Just to clarify on expectations -- yeah, three days is quick -- we're not going to be doing extensive editing (I'm basically going to be introducing them to Audition, and doing a lot of legwork in the hours between sessions) -- which I think is totally do-able, but much easier if there's a kind of overarching structure. Less radio rookies, more 826, with the emphasis on quick delivery and being able to go home with tape.… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 12:03 PM on October 23, 2009

Just to chime in -- it's easier to hang out with people when you live with them, regardless of whether you're partnered up. Part of why people wind up being more social when they're younger is that they tend to live communally -- in dorms or coops or with with roommates -- because it's cheaper and easier to make friends. As previous people have pointed out, cohabitating means built in spaces to hang out, which makes socializing that much more convenient.

I love… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:22 PM on October 22, 2009

is this just speculative? Googling trademarks suggests that claim is established by priority of use, not by registration. If he's scrawling his name everywhere in the neighborhood, it sounds like you'd have a hard time establishing priority of use.

Also, it's not nice to steal from other people.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 7:16 PM on October 8, 2009

Diving Bell and the Butterfly
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 12:02 PM on October 8, 2009

I have a friend who is in his second year doing this. He's fluent in French (and seemed a little baffled that non-fluent speakers sign up for this, but they do). He said it was sort of a mixed bag -- it's not a particularly intimate teaching environment (I think he has a rotating schedule of hour-long classes with 8-10 different groups, so keeping track of names is a bit of a problem) -- but that it's an interesting way to learn how to teach, and he gets paid a living wage for it.… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 11:54 AM on October 8, 2009

a bookshelf?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 4:03 AM on September 8, 2009

People are going to tell you to volunteer. You should take their advice.

Specifically, find a group that does something social and time-limited. Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, after school tutoring -- anything where you can interact with other people in a very minimal way (ideally around some central project) for a set period of time, and then go home. That way you get to hang out, interact with people, maybe work on something fun, without being too exhausted… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 6:16 PM on August 30, 2009

Culture and Anarchy (Matthew Arnold), which is funny but definitely not....funny? (also a bit dated). Culture and Society (Raymond Williams) and The Making of the English Working Class (E.P. Thompson) are two of the standard New Left / Marxist readings (with Hobsbawm as the third wheel).

Williams is a literary history, but he's interested in "social novels," so there's some history there as well.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 6:04 PM on August 27, 2009

*literary historian
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 6:04 PM on August 27, 2009

I've recommended Barbes in Brooklyn on here a couple of times --- awesome music venue if you're at all into jazz, and very affordable.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 10:00 AM on August 22, 2009

Portland, after the economy recovers?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:45 AM on August 22, 2009

If you're willing and interested in learning French (as in, here), I have a friend who makes a pretty decent living wage teaching English in the French school system. He's fluent, but he says a lot of people aren't, and they get by OK.

It may not be the most respectful way to integrate into another culture, but it's at least designed for foreigners, and a good way to get your foot in the door.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:28 PM on August 19, 2009

You know, I kind of hate this question for just one line in there:
so I told her if it was truly what she wanted, we could keep it.

I think the poster's actually been very empathetic -- it's a scary thing, and a MUTUAL decision, and not something to be taken lightly or glossed over in the interest of not hurting someone else's feelings. Yes, you seem like you're in a relatively good position -- but no, this is not what you planned for,… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 11:16 AM on August 19, 2009

I know you said Manhattan, but in case you decide to head out to the boroughs, Barbes in Park Slope is brilliant -- live jazz seven days a week, pay what you want, cozy back room, decent beer on tap.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 10:58 AM on August 19, 2009

this makes me feel better when I start to panic about weight.

(there's something similar that got posted awhile back --- same basic idea, of a big chart of self-portraits organized by height / dress size)

you're beautiful, and self-perception is totally relative.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 5:38 PM on August 9, 2009

I love pleasing my partner. But that makes me understand how much a partner wants to please me, and how awful you feel when you can't.

Yeah. I did this for years. ::Huge hug:: It's not a fun place to be!

What helped, finally, was establishing a very simple rule. Each person is responsible for his / her own orgasm. Sure, it's fine to get a kick out of pleasuring your partner --- but ultimately, you… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:38 PM on July 25, 2009

I recently saw an artist who had "framed" photos against the back of a large piece of glass --- no actual frame, just the glass. I don't remember it well, but there were a lot of neat ways of attaching --- in parts, there were old wood frames (differently sized) glued around the pictures. Some were clipped to the edge? And others were just taped on. It was really neat. I liked the framing as much as the photos themselves --- it was really creative and elegant, and let them… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 9:47 AM on July 25, 2009

She may be depressed and need stability, but (speaking from experience) it's probably not great for her mental health to live in an environment where she has to constantly be watching out and paying attention to her parents reactions to this, that, and the other.

They don't like you having sex with her. They KNOW you're having sex with her. They don't like this -- ergo, they don't like you. It's a basic, knee-jerk reaction, and it's not going to change. They… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 8:59 PM on July 22, 2009

It's not their fault, really -- it's a small organization, there was a lot of miscommunication up front (on my part, as well as theirs), and yeah, a month is hard to plan for.

Anyway, I took the advice upthread and emailed directly, so we'll see what happens! My losses aren't very big -- and Philly's a nice place! So it's OK, if ultimately it gets chalked to experience...

Thanks for all your advice!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 6:17 AM on July 22, 2009

I'd be a little wary of getting swept away really early with romance. Yes, you've known her for seven years -- yes, you're really excited at having told her how you feel -- but all you've really done, at this point, is let her know how much you like her. You may WANT to marry her -- but you're way early for that stage!

What I'd do -- based on knowing nothing but your enthusiasm in the question -- is not push her for a response. You live 3000 miles away anyway -… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 10:00 PM on July 20, 2009

If it's the cutting -- the memory of it, the idea of it -- that's setting you off, you might want to talk to your friends about it (or, if you're not still friends with these people, maybe go online and read up on some internet resources about cutting). This particular practice is weird, because for a lot of people, the temptation of it is almost as frightening as the act itself. "Am I GOING to cut myself" becomes this big terrifying thing --- loaded with a ton of guilt and… [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 3:12 PM on July 11, 2009

This is old, old, old, but the thing that pops into my head is "egoistic" vs. "anomic" suicide, where the former is definitely correlated with intelligence. I'm a little shady on the details, though -- it's Durkheim on suicide, in the book of that title.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by puckish at 5:13 PM on July 10, 2009