So, like, I'm this guy. And like, I do stuff...
Chemist, musician, artist, programmer, coach, husband, dad, uncle, etc.
So yeah.
Advice-wise? There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
Website: Not My Site!
E-mail: sporkopolis2001@yahoo.com
Gender: Male
Occupation: Chemist
Age: 32
Member Since: October 16, 2003
Answers: 1249
Last Update: June 1, 2006
Visitors: 134340
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any tips on how to improve your improv or improvisation skills? thats what i really need, cuz our leader makes us do that and im not good at acting without scripts (link)
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Improv in general comes from having a good "vocabulary"... and by this, I don't mean knowing lots of words, but knowing lots of situations and typical things said. Improv in acting is much like improv in music - you must be aware of the action around you, and you find a way to fit your part in, making it up as you go, possibly quoting other things in a way to reference (pay homage) to the original, but making it your own.
Really, the best way to learn improv is to watch and listen to lots of influences - in your case, watch movies, read books, see plays, etc... and then, once you've done that, it is all about practicing. Improvisation is not an instant thing - it takes lots and lots of work - to get better, practice a lot.
Get some friends together who also act and try doing random improv situations - write down differnt scenarios on pieces of paper, throw them into a hat, and pull them out at random, with people pairing up having to act out the scenes. Then have the others who are watching give feedback afterwards - that way everyone can learn improv together and learn how to respond and act with each other spontaneously.
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What should I charge people when I babysit their children? Preferably I'd like the answers in English pounds not American dollars. (link)
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If you have friends who also babysit, I'd check with them on the rates they ask. Sometimes, you'll want an hourly figure, other times, you'll find it better to offer a bulk price for a whole night. Keep in mind that smaller children can be more difficult to take care of than older ones, so that is a good basis to ask a little more for infants and toddlers. Likewise, the number of children you're watching is a factor to consider.
I would suggest some prices and convert from USD to Pounds, but the thing is, it really depends on your neighborhood. Some areas pay a lot more than others, so I have difficulty giving you some generic flat rates.
I can say that my wife and I have payed $40 USD for 4 hours out on a Friday for someone babysitting our 2 boys, who were 1 and 3 at the time. Take that as you will ;)
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i just recently had sex and im worried im pregnet...what are some signs that your pregnet? (link)
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"morning" sickness - nausea that can last all day
loss of energy
heartburn
forgetfulness / ditzyness (the hormones released during pregnancy really do cause this)
random, unusual pains in the abdoment
change in appetite
foods suddenly taste different
But all that said, if you suspect it, go buy a pregnancy test, pee on the stick, and see what it tells you. These tests cannot give a false positive - if it comes out positive, then you ARE pregnant. These tests CAN give a false negative - if there aren't enough of the hormone in your system yet, it might not register on the test.
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Can I Give My Kitten Infants Tylenol? (link)
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I would highly recommend not doing that until you've consulted with a vet. Some medicines that people can take are leathal to animals. Get an expert's opinion on this.
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hey okay im a 14/f and im home sick from school today...i have a stuffy nose, really bad cough, and a super sore throat. my whole back and neck are really sore, and it hurts to move my neck really bad. is this just from being sick or do i have something else wrong? (link)
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You probably have a flu. Influenza is really not bvarfing and all that - that's a stomach/intestinal virus. The flu is a really awful cold, basically. Take your typical head cold, make it 5x worse, and add new things like aches, pains, high fever, etc...
So, you either have a nasty cold or a flu. Either way, get lots of rest, drink lots of non-soda-pop fluids, and then rest some more. If your sore throat gets worse or you notice (as gross as this sounds) bad breath going along with it, get check out by a doctor for strep throat. Also, if you notice nasal drainage being greenish, bright yellow, or having blood in it (yes, I know, very gross) go to a doctor because you probably have a sinus infection. Also, when you have lots of nasal and sinus drainage, watch out for ear infections, as the drainage can block the inner ear and cause problems for you there.
Hope I didn't freak you out - I just think it's good to know what to watch out for when ill.
Hope you feel better soon.
p.s. - for someone to say "mono is going around" makes no sense - we have people on this site from ALL OVER THE US, and THE ENTIRE WORLD. If you have a mono outbreak in your town, that doesn't mean that everywhere has a mono outbreak. Think about it.
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when should it be okay to have sex? (link)
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When you're responsible enough to raise a child.
When you're emotionally able to deal with having a child.
When you're able to live financially on your own.
When you realize that the only 100% sure-fire way to keep from getting pregnant is abstinence.
When you are able to deal with the potential of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
When you're in an emotionally stable relationship with a responsible partner.
When you're thinking with your head and not your crotch.
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a couple of my friends just got mono and i have been soooooo exhausted lately... randomly falling asleep in class, body aches, cold, fever etc.... so be4 i get tested...how do u know if u have mono? (symptoms?!)
thanx (link)
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Testing for mononucleosis requires a blood test. Get it done. There are three types of mono. 1 & 2 are pretty bad, but you'll get better. Type 3 is very difficult to treat and very harsh - it typically leads to anemia and other maladies. Get checked out soon.
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Ok well so far in school im failing ALL my classes except 1. Im in 10th grade and I just switched school. You have to turn in a PERFECT PAPER. And if you get 1 thing wrong you have a F. And if you miss 3 things you get a F. Its hard. So I feel like im going to fail this year. I miss school on the days I have tests on accident. Like i know im going to have tests but I get sick. I like taking tests because it keeps my grade up. And my friends arnt helpng they keep saying Im going to fail. Like im missing 14 assignments in math. So of course I have a F! I just cant handle all of this stuff. Its too hard and It gets me thinking of how I passed 9th grade at my old school. What should I do? How can I keep up my grades and do all my work? (link)
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All I can suggest is that you go out of your way to talk to your teachers and express your concern. Teachers generally like to see a student, even one that is not doing well, talk to them about what they can do to pick up slack and even moreso to discuss with them what you see as your difficulties. This would be especially important with you being in a new school. I know talking to them that candidly can be a little more difficult, but odd are that you'll find this approach well worth your while.
I would guess that your illnesses are tied to stress, thus you keep getting sick when stress is highest. For this, not only talk to your teachers, but talk to your doctor. Your teachers might well have some advice on things you can do to try to relieve the excess stress you keep suffering, and your doctor might have some ideas, too. Some people really underestimate the power of stress... I know I did in high school - I know better now.
Either way, good luck, and I hope from this, you can start to find a solution.
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My mom had bought regular olive oil since my brother says that regular olive oil is much better than e.v.o.o. I can't taste a difference between them! Is there supposed to be a taste difference? If not what exactly is the difference between them? Thanks. (link)
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There is a difference between the two. Extra Virgin is pressed less, and can have a little more edge to the flavour. "Regular" is more mild than extra virgin. I generally use regular in most cooking, but for some dishes, I'll use extra virgin to add a little more kick. I've also been told that extra virgin is better for making herbal infusions, but I've not tried this (when you soak dried herbs in the oil for a long time to impart the herb's flavor to the oil).
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I'm 16. I'm having a problem. My current boyfriend Scott is wonderful. He's a good friend of mine and we recently started going out. This monday will be two weeks. Anyways, I'm having problems getting over my ex. (We'll call him ****** okay? I don't want to give his name.)So me and ****** have been friends for a while too. We went out for a while but then we broke up and decided to be friends. The other day he decided to tell me that the only reason he initiated the break-up was because he's afraid that he'll break my heart or hurt me. He could never hurt me in the ways that he thinks he can. But we won't get into that. And he doesn't know I'm not exactly over him. I've told him how I felt during the relationship but I never told him that I still feel that way.
Should I tell him?
What should I do about Scott? (I really don't want to hurt him)
And what am I going to do if Scott and I break up?
-Sam (link)
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I don't want this to sound harsh, but have you considered the possibility of not being an official couple with either of them, or anyone for that matter? When things get that muddled, when things aren't clear anymore, then it is often the time to step back, get focused, and not worry about the boyfriend/girlfriend crap anymore. Take a break from those kinds of relationships and work more on general friendship. I really think that might be the best option given what you've said.
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IS there a healthy way to gain weight? If way can anybody give me advice. Im not looking for any diet drinks or anything just somthing I can do! Please Help! Thnkx in Advance (link)
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I would think going the protien route that a lot of people use when working out would do it... and obviously, I'd suggest working out, too. Others have already pointed out that muscle weighs more than fat - and it also takes up less space (muscles are nice and dense).
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I have a boyfriend, whom I have been dating for two years and 2 months. I started college this year. The college is just a couple of hours away from home. We seen each other two days before I left for college, but have only talked four times since then. I have tried to get together with him on weekends that I'm home, especially this past weekend because it was homecoming weekend and also his birthday was this past Monday. He doesn't seem interested in talking with me. I haven't received one letter or phone call from him since we have been down there, yet all the other girls in the dorm that have a boyfriend have either gotten a million letters from their significant other or got a phone call from him, or both. That would be my roommate. I don't know if I should ditch him or give him a little more time because he may be too caught up in school work. I'm too afraid to talk to him about it because I'm afraid of how he might react. Can anyone help me and guide me in the direction I need to go? (link)
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Definitely talk to him about this. Make sure he KNOWS that you not only want to talk to him, but that you NEED to talk to him. Fear is no reason to continue a relationship that could possibly be already over (I'm not saying that it is, but it remains of the possibilities). It isn't uncommon for two people to drift apart in a situation like this. But he needs to uphold his end of the relationship and talk to you. It is part of the responsibilities of a relationship.
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My mother-in-law is always accusing me of over-reacting to things, when I think my reactions are quite normal. She tells me to calm down when I'm only slightly frustrated about something, and her saying this to me repeatedly causes me to get more frustrated, then she's like "I told you so." For example, today she was giving my daughter a ride to school, and I went along because she was in her p.j's and it was a cold day and she was doing us a favor so I didn't have to walk her to school. Anyways, to get to the point, my daughter had made a suncatcher keyring for her teacher and I knew that I had put it in her backpack. My daughter wanted to show it to her grandmother, so she opened her backpack, and I reached back and got it. I looked in her backpack where I had put it and it wasn't there. So I simply stated "It's not here. I know I put it in here." I wasn't hysterical, just slightly puzzled. My mother-in-law immediately starts saying "Calm down, calm down. It's no big deal," as if I was totally freaking out, which I wasn't, and I kept repeating "It's not here," as I looked because she kept saying "Calm down." She was irritating me, and I told her so, and that I thought she was being rude. She just told me to "Drop it." She acts so smug and superior. My daughter found it in the back of the car, and handed it to me, which my mother-in-law didn't even notice because she was so busy telling me to stop going on about it. I told her she was rude and didn't repect my feelings and that anyone would say the same thing when they were looking for something and it wasn't where they put it. She probably didn't hear half of what I said because she was too busy telling me to shut up. I finally gave up, but I have a hard time dropping a subject when I think someone is unfairly judging me. I was trying to get her to understand my point of view. She is always treating me like this. I'm so sick of it. Does anyone have experience with a person like this? How do you handle it without making it look like the person is right about you? I know this is what I'm doing when I respond to her rudeness. But I don't know how else to handle it. She is hard to ignore. Any advice? (link)
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Yow... this really sounds like a "fun" situation. You really make me appreciate how good I have it with my in-laws...
It really sounds like a battle of wills, and your mother-in-law has an edge in years of experience, and she's really trying to stick it to you. I'm not going to speculate why she does this, but indeed she wants to make sure she feels superior when around you. About the only thing I can suggest is that you find a way to let her comments roll off her back. By responding to her, you let her know that she's getting under your skin and that she has the upper-hand. By finding a way to shrug her off, she loses that advantage and will likely chill out herself.
My other thought is to create a buffer about yourself. Keep your mother-in-law at a distance, and not physically - but socially and mentally. Such as in your example, had you filtered out your mother-in-law and concentrated on your daughter, her riding you would have been moot. Of course, I'm not going to sit here and say, "oh, yeah... just blow her off, it'll all be fine" because you and I both know nothing is ever that easy. But if you can make a concentrated, conscious effort to do that, to keep something or someone else as your focus when she begins her attitude with you, you'll better be able to deflect her, she'll end up getting frustrated, and you'll gain the upper hand in a sense. And by taking control of such situations, you'll better be able to defuse her and hopefully maintain your sanity.
Good luck!
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I am 33 years old indian citizen now working in kuwait.I had a problem with the right leg and occationally with the left leg also.After resting/Sleeping I can not able to tough my right leg on the floor because too much paining on the heel. After some times walk the pain will be reduced/dissapperd.Please advice what will be the problem.What kind of medicine is needed for this.Pleaseeeee (link)
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I would recommend getting looked at by a chiropractor or physical therapist if you are able. This could be an impinged nerve in your lower back or legs. It could also be a vascular problem.
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Have any of you heard of this new diet that's come out? Something about it you only take 85 bites of food per day, you'll lose weight. If you've heard about it or tried it, let me know what you think! (link)
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This would clearly be a load of shit. "85 bites per day" is just absolutely stupid if you actuall sit down and think about it. First off, it says NOTHING about nutritional value. It says NOTHING about caloric intake. It says, in effect, NOTHING.
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i personally dont think it matters what people rate me because i think what i gave is good advice, plus i dont care if people have high ratings or not if i ask a question
so what is your opinion?
note: im not gonna rate you if you post here. (link)
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I've stated time and time again that ratings should not matter to people. But some people want to make this into a game, or think that getting ratings will make them a moderator here and that gives them POWER! And with that power must come something really cool...
...except they're wrong.
The reason we have ratings in place was because this site was going down-hill very fast. We needed some system to help us fix it. Ratings was the most logical answer - it, in theory, enables the users of the site to award those who give good advice and penalize those who offer crap for advice. We also have a way to moderate the questions themselves, so that really stupid things eventually vanish, and the better questions remain.
It doesn't help that people ask the same thing over and over again. People need to learn to use the damned search feature: http://www.advicenators.com/qsearch.php to find out if someone has already asked a similar question - because you know what? The advice given will be exactly the same. But we get the same damned "does he love me?" "how do I know if he likes me?" "I think I have scabies" crap over and over again... but I digress...
The ratings SHOULD not matter... this much is true. If people were here to actually answer questions as best they can, it wouldn't even be needed. But there are a lot of assholes and stupid people out there who like to either abuse the system or treat it like a game. So, the ratings aren't going away, and we can use it as a tool of sorts. But beyond that, for the average user of this site, you shouldn't even pay attention to them.
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Hey im the chick that needed advise on to go over my X's house or not..well i did go over yesterday..he told me he misses me..then he kissed me..well we were making out and i started to feel it wasnt rite..i dont like him anymore but i still wanna be friends with himm..hes like been my bestfriend since we broke up i dont want that to change but i dont like him ne more i dont kno wut i should do? help (link)
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Well, first off, you should not have let him kiss you knowing how you feel about him and the situation. That only causes him to have false hope and elevate his feelings. You need to stand your ground and not let that happen again, else you're only damaging your friendship further. Once you inform him that the romance cannot continue, you can expect your frienship with him to be impaired for at least a little while. But letting things, like him kissing you, happen will only make the eventual hardship worse. Tell him, tell him now, and start on trying to maintain your friendship with him.
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Help. When I order chicken wings in a fancy restaurant should I pick them up and eat them or use the cutlery provided? (link)
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Well, I would doubt that a true "fancy restaurant" is even going to offer wings on their menu. As such, you should consider the atmosphere and how your are dressed. A casual restaurant, fingers is obviously fine. Wings are generally considered a low-end, low-cost bar food or appetizer. You're not going to find it at many 3 and 4 star eateries. However, should you run across that, it would be appropriate to use a fork and maybe even a knife to eat it.
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i just spontaneously landed on your site and i read some of your answers (which i find are great and very helpful). and i just wanted to make sure it was ok to add you to my favorite columnists. thanks
--vickiooos (link)
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add away! glad to know I'm viewed as useful to someone ;)
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hey well i went tanning last week and on the 3rd day afterwards i would have an itchy like heat rash on my stomache and on the 5th day it was really bad. It was exactly like and alergic reaction. i had to take benadryl to stop the itching. Ive been tanning b4 this during the summer and this never happened to me. I did use a different lotion during the summer tho. Why am i getting this reaction? and its not because they dont clean the beds because i see them clean it and i lay on my back the whole time. What is this from??
Thanx!! (link)
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You likely have sun poisoning. UV radiation causes this reaction in your skin. the only way to avoid it is to avoid the sun... and that means not going tanning anymore. Odds are that once you get sun poisoning once, you'll have it your whole life.
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