Member Since: October 23, 2003
Answers: 187
Last Update: November 18, 2005
Visitors: 17623
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i need to think of some good cheap ways to stay warm on a camping trip this weekend. it's gonna be really freaking cold, and I don't want to buy and expensive -80 degree sleeping bag because i don't go camping all that often, but i'm afraid i'm going to freeze to death. what should i bring to keep me really warm? i know about wool but are there other really good fabrics to be sure to wear? (link)
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Layers are where it's at: undergarments, then something snug that wicks sweat away, then something heavy (wool is good), then something weatherproof (with a bit of insulation). Remove outer layers if you start to sweat noticeably (otherwise when you stop moving you'll cool down rather uncomfortably and maybe dangerously).
Sleep in socks and the two inner layers in your sleeping bag (again, if it feels hot, shed a layer so you don't sweat)... carry extra dry socks and under-layer in case your first set gets damp.
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I know this person who has really annoying habits on the internet. There are no periods, so it takes forever to try to understand her, and she uses numbers in the middle of words(c u l8er, g2g, etc) . It wouldn't really bother me too much except she goes on forever, and she can't spell. She also capitalizes random words and uses ... or ! after every other word. What can I do to tell her that is annoying me? She is one of my closest friends, but it is driving me crazy! (link)
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I'm guilty of excessive ellipses... once in a while... it... makes... one... sound... like... James... T... Kirk...
Write back in English. With lots of uncomprehending "sorry?" and "come again?" notes where the 1337 SMS LiNgO gets 2 b 2 much. :)
Like all bad habits, it may just be one of those things that'll prove to you what a good friend you've been, putting up with it all this time. But you may be able to gently her out of it... or it may take over your brain if you correspond too much. Only time will tell...
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do pop tarts qualify more as a "breakfast" or "junk food"? i'm aiming for breakfast here, don't let me down. (link)
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They could be part of a balanced breakfast along with a little cheese and fruit and coffee or something. (The coffee's really important!)
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so I got a little drunk at last weekend's halloween party (okay, more than a little, but that's another issue) and did some stupid funny stuff (okay, more stupid than funny but whatever). The problem now is that everyone in my office knows and keeps coming around... "feelin' alright, steph?" and all that. It is so not cool. Is there anything I can do to stop the gossip, or do I never get to live this down? Got any witty comebacks for me for when everyone's making fun of my oh-so-exciting performance? (link)
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Blackened has it right: you don't remove yourself from the gossip chain, you get replaced. But ignoring it helps.
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I'm always turning my monitor off to save electricity. Lately sometimes when I come back and turn it back on, it doesn't come on. I mean, the power light lights up and everything, but the screen stays back until I unplug it and plug it back in. I move the mouse and hit the keys and nothing fixes it. It's been happening more and more lately... is my monitor about to turn to dirt or should I just get a switch on the power cable so it's easier to unplug and plug in? (link)
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I had an NEC SyncMaster 14" that did that all throughout its natural life. Never got better or worse for five years... gave it away and it's still working as far as I know. It may just be a quirk of your setup... but if it's getting to you I don't know what to do about it.
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so i like this guy. teh only problm is that he is an atheist and i am a christian. but we talk all the time n he makes me laugh. i cant explain it we just click. will the whole religion thing be a bg deal? (link)
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There's a Bible passage about uneven hitching about which a big deal was made in my churchgoing days. Now, as an atheist, I still take it seriously, as there can be some real differences in views of reality, priorities and approaches to truth and relationships.
If he's a Dawkins-thumping atheist and you're a Christian of some commitment... be prepared for some difficult questions. If you're asking about religious differences with an atheist then chances are Christianity is a pretty big part of how you see the world. How will you feel about going separate ways for church stuff? How will you reconcile any differences on dos and don'ts of dating? Are you OK with him staying atheist, or will you try to change him? Will he erode your faith and good Christian habits?
There are plenty of happy mixed-faith couples out there, and they make it work, but be aware of the potential difficulties. I tend to be reluctant to enter a relationship with someone whose faith is drastically present, but if both of you are OK with the other, maybe things will work out. It's not like neither of you can break it off if it turns out to be a bad idea.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but there's my two cents.
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I have a savings account that pays like 2% interest and a car loan that's costing me 6% interest. Obviously I'm not coming out ahead. I'm at the point now where I could basically empty my savings account into my car loan and be even all around, but I'm afraid to live life without that "safety cushion" of money in savings. How much should I have in savings in case something awful happens, like I lose my job? Is there a rule of thumb or is it just whatever I'm comfortable with? (link)
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I think the standard, somewhat unrealistic answer is 3-6 months' basic expenses in the bank... if your employment situation's more precarious, I'd try to keep that level up. If it's more stable, whack as much of that car loan as you're comfortable with and build your savings back up. I live one month from insolvency as a working student, and I survive pretty well with a little help from my friends and family.
Debt sucks, get rid of it as fast as you can safely!
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I really like this guy. He has a great sense of humor and makes me laugh all the time and he is one of those "nice guys". He could go out with any girl and I just don't see how I would be good enough for him, but he flirts with me all the time. I know that that doesn't have to mean anyhing but I'm comfused. How do you tell if he is interested?
(link)
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If he's flirting with you, he's probably interested in some sense... flirt back, lick his forehead (if you think he'd be OK with that), see if he wants to catch a movie or a show ... it'll all become clear. Nothing's predestined, but it doesn't sound like he's uninterestd.
He's probably standing there, feeling unworthy of you and wondering if you're interested: give him a clue, and realize that worthiness doesn't have anything to do with how people interact ... words and actions do.
Go forth and have fun!
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how can i convince my friends to help me move? should i offer food? entertainment? a "i'll help you move" coupon? when's a good time to ask this sort of thing? i'm trying to borrow their trucks too, so i need to do some major sucking up here :) (link)
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Generally, keeping them well fed (pizza, tacos in bulk, etc.) during the move and throwing a party (with copious amonuts of beverage for them) among the cardboard boxes at the end is a good start. If you're borrowing trucks, you're probably on the hook for filling them up with gas at some point in the move.
Ask a week or two ahead... when they're happy and not too stressed!
You don't need to give them an "I'll help you move" coupon... they'll understand that you're willing to help (with roughly the same provisions) when it comes their turn to move.
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how do you know if you're addicted to the internet? (link)
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If internet use is messing with other parts of your life (family, friends, work, school, eating, sleeping, etc.) then you're addicted enough to worry.
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I'm going on a three day camping trip and want to pack a first aid kit, but it's gotta be really small. What are some of the more important things for me to carry? I really don't get injured much so I'm not that worried, it's mostly that everyone around me is like "you GOTTA have a first aid kit" and all that. (link)
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In addition to the stuff in the first answer: burn cream (Ozonol or some such -- this may well be the heaviest item in your kit), tweezers (for splinters), disinfectant swabs (come in nice little packets, like restaurant wipes) and a first aid manual. A small bottle of ASA (Aspirin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) might be handy and can take you from miserable to passable in certain situations. This and the bandages from the first answer can all be stuffed into a space roughly equivalent to an extra pair of warm, dry socks (which you should always carry)...
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I'm not a full-on vegetarian, but I try not to eat a whole lot of meat. Frankly I just don't think it's healthy, and I don't like depending on it. The problem is that everyone around me... my family, my boyfriend, etc. is of the opinion that unless you're poor or sick, you must consume meat at every meal or it's just not a meal. When I offer to cook black bean casserole or vegi pizzas, they're just like, "that's great... and what else?"
How do I get them out of this mindset that vegetables aren't "real food"? (link)
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Eggplant or stringbean stir-fry with bok-choy, shredded carrots, a little Japanese mirin cooking wine, tomatoes and dried chilies!
Sometimes doing something just over-the-top exotic is better than trying to redo the ordinary stuff without meat. Like the tofu-smuggling person was suggesting before, except if they can't recognize half the stuff in there, they may not realize none of it is meat :)
Tomatoes, carrots and chilies in a slower-cooked stir-fry with some other veggies make a nice, hearty sauce as the tomatoes disintegrate and pick up spice from the chilies and sweet-starchy from the carrots.
If you're just cutting back on meat rather than eliminating it, then you don't need to worry so much about supplements and stuff... we're designed to eke out from much less meat than a modern person gets, even when taking it easy.
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Should I dust my room when I can see cobwebs all over...well..everything? (link)
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Find and evict the spider. Then vacuum, wash the walls and floors... and then dust.
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What's the best thing to mix with vodka? (link)
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Two ounces of vodka in the bottom of a 12-ounce tall glass with its rim moistened and rubbed in salt. Fill with tomato juice, a good dash of hot pepper sauce, tentative dash of Worcestershire sauce. Add stick of celery as a swizzle and you've got the mixed drink that's almost a meal: the Bloody Mary.
Some people use clamato juice and call it a Bloody Caesar... but I'm not so big on those.
Someone recommended Red Bull... read the label, it's not a good idea. Probably fine for most people, but the warning must be there for a reason.
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I'm a girl, and I kinda like to bake stuff, because hey, it means I get desert. My question is this: I work with all guys. If I bake cookies or something and bring them into work, are the guys going to stop feeling like I'm "one of them" and start seeing me as this betty crocker homemaker type? We're all pretty laid back now, on the same level and everything, I don't want it to get weird. (link)
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Go for it... the guys may even surprise you by following your lead (some of us do get around in the kitchen... )! The laid-back presentation's a good idea, though: re-used tin or something lined with waxed paper is hygienic but unpretentious.
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Being of a very scientific bent, I'd like to go to college at a technical school. However, every one of these school I read about seems very traditional, with sororities, fraternities, and lots of drinking. They never talk about how liberal the student body is or how much activism there is on campus. Do you know of any quirky, liberal technical schools with character, preferably somewhere in or around the northeast? (link)
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Come to Montreal, Canada, see beautiful Concordia.
Good engineering (aerospace and computer, particularly), commerce, communications (technical and theory), digital image and sound, and mathematics programs.
Concordia's approach includes accessibility to working types and people for whom English is a second language, so you'll see a mish-mash of ages and origins around here, and plenty of evening classes.
Plenty of activism: student-run free vegan food project, Art Matters festival, (very) active Mid-east debate (with occasional... confrontations...), recycling, literacy projects, media literacy screenings, Peace Studies minor, bilingualism, three competing student newspapers, bike recycling, anarchists, missionaries... take your pick, it's all there. Montreal is probably among the most liberal cities in North America and Concordia is a pretty liberal school, even in Montreal.
Tuition is pretty comparable to state universities in the US, and you'll get to pay it in Canadian dollars (=76 cents US). Cost of living's pretty reasonable too.
Web site:
http://www.concordia.ca
See also The Link, student newspaper at Concordia:
http://thelink.concordia.ca
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Should I go out and buy really nice pans for cooking, or will the k-mart specials do it? (link)
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The midrange cast-iron pans are where it's at. Season them (wash well to start, brush on peanut oil, bake for an hour, let cool, wipe off residue, wash with hot water and no soap, brush again, repeat) when you get them and you'll get decades of loyal service with no worries about scratching the coating. They're usually cast in one piece, so the handle will never come off (without a hacksaw). You may be able to find them at k-mart, or you can probably find pre-seasoned ones at garage sales and auctions. They're basically indestructible, so old is as good as new.
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I'm eating too much unhealthy junk food. What are some healthy snacks I can eat instead of chips and sodas? (link)
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Whatever you do, don't get the "healthy" olean-based chips: olean is basically mineral oil, and it'll go right through you, loosining up everything in your digesitve tract, and... eww.
I'd have to say the apple proponents are right. Granny Smith (tart, wonderful) and Russets (neat, matte skin, mellw flavour) are my favourites. Another healthier snack which tastes fantastic is whole wheat pita or crackers with baba gannouj (Lebanese eggplant dip) or nice strong cheese (sharp cheddar, blue, stilton)... the fat content is there in the cheese, but it's an intense experience so you're unlikely to overeat.
A little brown or wild rice will fill you up quickly, as will celery and carrots.
Almost anything you bake yourself will taste better, and although it may not be low in fat or sugar (although there are some recipes which are), you'll miss or at least drastically reduce all those yummy preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers and artificial colours/flavours.
The trick is to eat in moderation. The trick to eating in moderation is to eat good, healthy meals between your snacks, stay busy, and eat tasty, filling stuff.
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ok heres my quesion .......i get good grades in school i look somewhat good......and i have a great voice....but i feel like i need to be somewht popularr.....and plez dont answer " who cares wht other people think" wht do i do? (link)
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Popularity, like love, happens when you're busy chasing something else. So keep busy, love what you do, and good things will probably happen.
Being polite and helpful is also good... as is being articulate. Choir may be good, but drama, student government or debating is better if you want that presence. Anything where you're working with people you respect towards common goals will have a good effect.
You may only become well-liked in your particular crowd, and depending on who else is there and your personality, you may wind up being a leader or a follower, but if popularity is being well-liked among people that matter, that should fit the bill.
If you want to become massively popular across the school, you should know that many of those types wind up serving donuts at a truck stop in an exotic part of the Canadian back woods after graduation...
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I'm an athiest, but i don't try to force people to believe what I believe. I don't challenge other people's beliefs. I've had this one guy bother me for 5 years about being an athiest. (I go to a PK-12 school distict). He's always asking me why I'm not religious, why I don't believe in God, etc, ect, and so on. i've done everything I can think of, including inflicting bodily harm on him (well - I dropped a book on his head. But I don't even think that hurt him) but he won't stop. how do I stop him? (link)
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Assuming you've already given him an answer... turning the tables on him may work if you don't mind listening to his take on Life, the Universe and Everything... once. Tell him no amount of the same questions over and over will change your mind. Become less good-natured about it, just walk away or continue what you're doing. Maybe throw in a one-liner or two from the answers here. "Giving up religion for Lent" is particularly nice.
Aside from that, it depends on how civilized a part of the world you live in and how inistent he is. Grin and bear it, and wait for him to get bored or attract attention for harassing you (if it's that serious). If your teacher can't deal with you being an atheist (doubling your annoying question rate), then it's time to talk to your parents (if they're sympathetic to your atheism) or to a sympathetic adult you trust, they may be able to go to bat for you.
If all else fails, wait a few years, then move to Canada. Atheism is giving the Beatles and Jesus a run for their money here, at least in Quebec.
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