random6x7

Is there a specific name for the cotton fabric that already has one half ruched with elastic? It's used for sundresses, and Joann's calls it garden party fabric, but I have no luck doing an internet search. What online fabric stores carry it, if any? Here's a link to what it looks like: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat13... Thanks.

I was tested for hypothyroid, and I'm a bit confused about the results. My doctor says that I am fine, which surprised him, since before the tests, he was pretty sure I had a thyroid disorder because of my symptoms. My TSH test came back 3.035, which he said was borderline and sent me for a thyroid peroxiase ab test, which was 23.0, well within normal. Because the second test was normal, he said I was okay. Is this accurate? It's kind of hard to find good answers on this, since it seems to be so hard to diagnose. I don't want to beat a dead horse if this isn't a problem, but if it is, I want proper treatment, you know?

This is such a long shot, but... It's one of those pieces that everyone knows, and it probably has shown up on Loony Toons and many commercials, but I can't remember what it's called or who it's by. It goes DA dada DA dada DA dadadadada, which repeats, I think down a fifth. I know you know what it is. Everyone knows this tune. If I could record me humming this, anyone who couldn't name the song would at least sing along with me. Alas, though. It's definitely classical, all instrumental. Thanks!

Today, I was driving along a long, fairly flat stretch of highway, and my car started having problems accelerating. I had my foot steady on the gas, and the RPMs would drop very low, once to almost 0, and my car would slow, then it would all speed up again. I was going between 55 and 65 mph at the time. There was a long hill after that, so I stopped using the gas as much downhill. The problem stopped for awhile, but started up again about 20 minutes later, when I was driving down a long, flat city street at about 25 mph. No warning lights came on, and she wasn't overheating. It's been really hot lately, and I was driving a lot today. My car was inspected a few months ago, and there was nothing wrong then. The oil was changed recently. I haven't had any other problems with this car. She's got about 70,000 miles on her. Does anyone have any ideas about what's up?

I'm trying to repair an old bike, and it's missing some parts, and I'm going crazy trying to figure out what they are called so I can go online and order some. It's a washer-like thing that goes on the tire bolts that has a little hook to attach the tire to the frame so it doesn't fall off. What the hell are those things? Thanks!

I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for good grad schools. I want to get my PhD in archaeology. I've a BA right now, and I'd prefer not to do a terminal master's and just go for the doctorate. My primary interest is prehistoric North American archaeology, but that's as specific as I get. I have vague leanings towards education or working with the public, but I might just stay in CRM. I've been looking at UCLA and UC Berkeley and the University of Wyoming. Anyone have any other ideas or any thoughts on those choices? Thanks!

I'm on my second pack of the blasted things, and my periods are wretched. They're even longer than normal (last month lasted nearly two weeks), and my cramps are at about the same level as they are when I'm not on the pill. I've read that this sort of thing is normal, but does it ever even out? Half the reason I'm on the pill is to help with my period. Should I just start saving to go back to the doctor, again?

In a discussion of awesome foreign words and phrases (schadenfreude, jolie laide), someone told me of a German (I think it was German) word that meant, basically, "I take pleasure in my sorrow" or something along those lines. Terribly emo, but quite a wonderful concept. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Also, how would you pronounce this word? And do you guys know any other foreign words or phrases for concepts that English can't express? I'm really fascinated by these.

I keep reading in some of your answers that you're mad that feminists aren't addressing male problems. I totally agree that the way child custody disputes often play out is stupid and unfair. There are, I'm sure, other issues, too. My question to you is, why do you expect us to do something about it? Now, I know, I make the case that feminism helps men, too. But we've got our hands full right now, and most feminist organizations have obligations to fulfill. We're awfully busy. Why don't you men start the lobbying organizations and then ask us for support? Why are you sitting back, whining about an unfair situation, but then not doing anything about it? Feminist groups and blogs have so much to deal with, what with rampant sexism and violence and the erosion of our health care rights, that those issues can't possibly get the attention they deserve. If you started the groups that address these concerns without being hostile towards feminism, I'm sure we could work together.

I just want to know what feminist literature you guys are reading. I mean the up-to-date, current articles, not laundry lists of inflammatory quotes. I see that you think all feminists are man-hating and vile, but I don't get that impression in the things I read. I read Bust magazine and two feminist blogs regularly: feministing.com and feministe.com. I also read some other lefty blogs with feminist posters, like Daily Kos and Alas. In general, the only anti-male posts are submitted by a few bad seeds who are quickly argued against. What are you guys reading or watching that gives you this horrible impression of us? Do you actually read anything by real feminists who are active currently? Do you read anything that the less controversial women write? Not Robin Morgan or Andrea Dworkin, for a start?

I understand that there are a lot of people out there who think that the Bible is the true, literal word of God. I see where the word of God bit is coming from, but I don't understand why it has to be literally true. It seems that in the New Testament, Jesus tells a lot of stories to get his point across, but that no one thinks that there had to be a real good Samaritan or a mustard seed. Why, then, must there have been a six day Creation or a catastrophic flood? Why couldn't those also be stories that are more important for their lessons than their veracity? I don't mean to offend at all; I would just like to understand your point of view. Why do you personally believe that it has to be true?

I have nitrogen in my tires right now, and I don't want it anymore. I travel constantly for work, and it's hard to find places that have nitrogen. While my tires leak more slowly now, they do leak a bit. When I called my tire place to ask them about deflating them and reinflating them with air, they were really awful and condescending. They brushed me off with a "just use air". I just want to make sure, without having to deal with those jerks again, that that's right. Can I just use air in them now without getting all the nitrogen out?

I have a couple patches of a red rash around the inside of one of my elbows. They've got a few little blisters on the inside, but there's more rash than blister. It doesn't itch, and it doesn't hurt. I have noticed myself feeling a bit sick for the past hour or so, since I noticed the blisters. I've had the rash all day without them.

I work outside in some really weedy areas in Ohio. I've got poison ivy on my forearms, but those blisters look very different. What could these be, and how do I deal with them? I think there might have been poison parsnip where I was working earlier this week (Tues through Thurs). Could that be it?

I'm thinking about going to grad school, and it's overwhelming. I have a BA in liberal arts, and I've been working in CRM for three years now. I think I'd like to stay in CRM, become a boss-lady, but I'm not sure. I definitely want to study archaeology, and I have vague ideas about what I want to do. I know that I kinda need to figure that one out, but do you guys have any advice, besides "decide what you want to do already"? Should I just go for my MA, which is all I'll need to be a boss-lady, or should I look at the MA/PhD programs? Or should I just hang it all, move to DC, and become a banker like I keep threatening? Thanks!

I need to make a bridesmaid's dress this summer, and I was wondering if anyone knew where to find good fabric. I was hoping for a place a bit more upscale and with a better basic selection than Joann's, since I have to get the right shade of green and I have no desire to wear polyester to a summer wedding.

Again, since I have to match it, I can't go online, unfortunately. It has to be matched to a tartan, so a subtly different color could clash horribly. I live in Pittsburgh, but I'm going to be working in western Ohio, near Cincinnati. I'm willing to go anywhere between those cities, or even a bit further afield. Any ideas?

I recently got a great old book with the works of Shakespeare. The front cover came off, and, while I still have that, I don't have the title pages. I was just wondering about it, how old it is, all that. It's from Frederick Warne & Co Publisher's, the cover is red (cloth, I guess?), with gold leaf and black. They spell it "Shakspeare". The front cover says "Shakspeare" in gold and "Notes, Life, &c." in red with a black box around it. It's illustrated. It's 7"x4.5".

Also, the cover is really lovely. Will a binder be able to repair it and keep the old cover?

I want to make truffles to use as Christmas gifts this year. How well would they ship, though? They're awfully melty. What should I do to make it work better? Some would be going to Texas, and I understand it's hot there.

Okay, so I usually have a bad taste in my mouth and a brown tongue. A tactless friend with a keen nose swears I don't usually have bad breath, but it's still gross. Anyway, I heard of a cure for bad breath that involves gargling with a solution of one part salty water to one part hydrogen peroxide. It works wonders! So imagine my dismay to learn that even diluted hydrogen peroxide can irritate your mouth and cause a condition called hairy tongue. Everything I could find just said that repeated use does this, but they didn't say how often you need to do it to cause a problem. Is there any safe amount I can do this, like every other day or once a week? If not, do you have any other ideas? Regular brushing and tongue scraping don't work, nor does mouthwash.