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Popular Posts Across MetaFilter (5 unread)

Ask MeFi: When I grow up I want to be Adam Savage.

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 12:36pm PST by bondcliff

I want to possess the knowledge, tools, materials, and workspace to make whatever the hell I feel like making, whenever I feel like making it. Because I can’t do this overnight, I want to start with the most versatile tools and skill first.

I want to be able to build a Stratawhovius violin one week, a steel trebuchet the next week, a Stormtrooper uniform (Galactic Empire or WWII Germany, doesn’t matter) the following week, and a Construction-Worker-From-The-Village-People costume for my cat the week after that. I don’t want to be “a woodworker”, “a metalworker”, “a computer guy”, or “a guy who can sew”, I want to be all those things. I don’t need to make money from any of them, nor do I need to be an expert at any one thing.

I want to be a human Swiss Army knife.

I’m off to a pretty good start. I have a decent collection of hand tools, electronics tools, and a couple power tools. I have a Dremel. I have a basement with lots of space to put stuff. I'm geeky enough to install and futz with Linux. I know how to breadboard.

I already subscribe to Make Magazine, which is probably one of the greatest things ever, though I prefer the more practical things. The artsy “this will be awesome at Burning Man” stuff, not so much.

I have nothing specific I want to make, nor do I have a specific skill I want to focus on. I really enjoy building things that require different skills. I built a MAME emulator arcade cabinet that required some woodworking, electronics, computer skills, etc. Same with the Death Star costume. I probably wouldn’t want to build a wooden chair unless it’s part of a flight simulator cockpit.

I’m looking for:

General tool advice. What tools are the most versatile? What tools should no shop be without? For example, I keep thinking a tabletop sander could be used for working with wood, metal, plastic and pretty much anything else. Is this true? Can a bandsaw be used for anything but wood?

Book advice. What should a maker’s library not be without? What is The book for learning woodworking? Electronics? Plastics? Whateverthe hell?

Skills to possess. What can I learn from a book vs. what would I be better off taking a class in? What skills carry over to other things? Like if I learn basic woodworking would that help me if I learn about metalworking some day?

Where to learn. Interesting places to learn interesting skill in the Boston area.

Materials I should have on hand at all times? I think I’m starting to get a fetish for angle brackets I’m finding so many damn uses for them. What else is like that? Don’t say duct tape. Duct tape is overrated. Electrical ties, now there is a versatile thing to have.

General shop advice. How best to organize a multi-use workshop? How do you organize your shop? Build or buy workbenches? Where do you get cheap little parts organizer thingies.

I'm also happy to hear of fun projects that might require learning a mix of skills.

Sorry this question is so vague. It’s kind of like one of those “Help my outfit my kitchen and pantry, and oh yeah I also want to learn to cook” questions only with a greater risk of eye injury.
Ask MeFi: Seriously, if he kills me one more time, we are going to break up.

Posted: January 24th, 2010, 8:29pm PST by kerning

Yet Another Video Game Question: What are good video games for couples?

Recently, mr. kerning and I got an Xbox 360 for Christmas, and somebody was nice enough to give us Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe along with it. We were very excited to play, and play we did until, after a particularly brutal round involving Katana and Batman, we realized that we are both just too competitive to play against each other. (Except we're okay playing each other at Mario Kart)

So I'm looking for games that we can play together, not against each other. We've been playing the co-op part of Left4Dead and we enjoy that, but first-person shooters aren't exactly my favorite type of game. We like Rock Band, but would never buy it because our apartment is tiny and it's just the two of us. Games like Super Mario Galaxy (which is one of my favorites) aren't great because the second player isn't really participating. He likes Zelda-type games, but i hate them. We both enjoy puzzle games like the Professor Layton series.

We have an Xbox and a Wii. We have most of the Mario games out, including the latest one, and all of the Lego games (except for the Rock Band one). We have the Katamari game for the Xbox (my favorite!), Arkham Asylum, MKvsDCU and Left4Dead.

Bonus points for Xbox Arcade suggestions!
Ask MeFi: How can I get myself to stop rationalizing bad behavior?

Posted: November 30th, 2009, 1:05pm PST by dumbledore69

There are a lot of goals that I am working towards, that are easily within my reach if I just stick to some simple routine tasks. However, I always wind up sabotaging myself by making excuses for or rationalizing getting off track, and ignoring the reminders and cues I have created for myself to stay on track. How can I knock it off so I can reach my goals?

I have been doing a lot of work lately on some of my goals, mainly weight loss and getting my finances in order (paying off my credit cards and stop overdrawing my frigging bank account).

I know exactly what I have to do, I know exactly how to do it, and I have done both of these things with fantastic success before. My problem is that whenever I become sidetracked with something else that I consider urgent, or stressed out and cranky, I am really good at either ignoring my big picture goals, making rationalizations for not working towards those goals, or even lying to myself or others about my behavior towards reaching those goals.

I think this is one of my biggest issues, and I just do NOT know how to knock it off.

For example, let's use weight loss.

I have lost large chunks of weight before and kept it off for a good amount of time. I know exactly what to do so that I can do it in a way that is pleasant for me.

To lose weight, basically all I need to do is the following:
- Eat breakfast at home instead of on the run.
- Bring lunch & snacks to work instead of eating out or running to the caf.
- Take 10-15 minutes each evening or morning to plan out my meals for the day (and total the calories or WW points).
- Take 30 min - 1 hour most days of the week to do any workout I choose, whether it's a Wii workout or a video or the elliptical at the gym or a walk outside (and I enjoy all of these things!).
- Remember to face the music no matter how the week went and weigh myself & track my weight every week.

There are other things I try to do, sure, like looking at the balance of the types of foods I eat and taking vitamins and getting enough rest, and so on. But these are the basics.

However, I typically start slipping after a month or two. Usually it's little things at first, but then as other things start stressing me out, I turn to food (or excessive spending, on the financial end) to soothe me and cheer myself up.

And I will recognize this and set up ways to keep myself accountable, like setting up bets with friends (I'll pay them $5 a week if I don't exercise 3x) or websites to nag me daily to remember my goals, etc. I have tried SO MANY awesome tools, and had so much great support from my friends (who despite the fact that they would profit from my failure, always encouraged me).

But it doesn't work, because I will just ignore the email reminders or lie about my workout sessions. It's awful, and I really, truly hate myself for being like that. I even lie to myself sometimes about what I've eaten or readjusting my priorities.

But it always comes back down to the fact that I really do not like where I'm at ... I'm 100+ lbs overweight (though I am a bit down from my high weight), still in credit card debt (though I have paid off quite a large chunk of it so far), and I have like no faith in myself to really keep trying because nothing can keep me honest.

And I know the response is often that I must not want it badly enough or I would just do it and stop lying to myself. But it's NOT that I don't want to lose weight & pay off my credit cards badly...I do. I want it more than anything. Failure to do these things is preventing me from starting a family or to feel secure in my life. Not a day goes by when I don't hate those things about myself.

But it's like a different person takes over when I fall off the wagon and just want to be left alone to eat or spend. It's not me, that person has no goals except to get a little fix from food or spending. It's so stupid, but I seriously do not know what to do.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deal with this?
Ask MeFi: Come on over and have all this fun

Posted: October 22nd, 2009, 12:04pm PDT by neca

Tips for entertaining: I'd like to have more friends over to my apartment, but it's boring in here!

It seems like I don't have a lot to do when friends come over except watch a big dumb TV.

I'm looking for ideas such as activities to do (play Celebrity!), but I am really wondering what "hooks" you have to make your place a destination. Classic examples might include a pool table or a poker night, and a more modern example would be a Wii. Along the same lines, Rock Band is great, but another friend has that covered. The less expensive, the better!

For some context, I am a mid-twenties male, and my friends are all around my age.
MeFi: WWII Veteran Speaks on Equality

Posted: October 21st, 2009, 11:31pm PDT by pashdown

The woman at my polling place asked me, do I believe in equality for gay and lesbian people? I was pretty surprised to be asked a question like that. It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, "What do you think I fought for on Omaha Beach?"

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Popular Posts Across MetaFilter (5 unread)

Ask MeFi: When I grow up I want to be Adam Savage.

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 12:36pm PST by bondcliff

Ask MeFi: Seriously, if he kills me one more time, we are going to break up.

Posted: January 24th, 2010, 8:29pm PST by kerning

Ask MeFi: How can I get myself to stop rationalizing bad behavior?

Posted: November 30th, 2009, 1:05pm PST by dumbledore69

Ask MeFi: Come on over and have all this fun

Posted: October 22nd, 2009, 12:04pm PDT by neca

MeFi: WWII Veteran Speaks on Equality

Posted: October 21st, 2009, 11:31pm PDT by pashdown