Qchan05

When I was more active on this site, I would get pretty excited when I got the email saying I'd gotten a best answer. But then when I'd see what question it was from, I'd get confused. Why is THIS a best answer? I wasn't thinking when I wrote it, and I didn't even directly answer the question! Oh well. No accounting for taste and/or opinion, I guess. And the bragging rights aren't bad either.

Anyone else have this experience?

I need your help, Answers. I am writing a little parody of something (an episode of Death Note, to be exact), and there is a character in there whom I want to look like a spoiled little brat. And for that, I want her to order the longest, most complex order for a Starbucks latte EVER. The problem is, I'm not good at that sort of thing, because I've never actually ordered anything like that for myself, and I am unfamiliar with the proper terms. So what I want you to do is to post the longest, most ridiculous latte order you have ever encountered, either in real life or in your own imagination. I will even credit you in the parody itself if you wish.

Thanks a bunch, and have fun!

The microwave on the first floor of my dorm building is absolutely disgusting. Whenever you open it, there's this foul smell, presumably of burnt, old food, and there's crusted-on, carbonized crap covering the bottom, as well as set in stains on the sides and top. One time I even discovered this terrible-smelling gray slime coating the bottom. The kitchen is our responsibility, so I want to take up the task of cleaning this thing. The problem is, I haven't a clue what to use. I know I'm gonna need some heavy-duty stuff, but nothing that'll be harmful to the microwave or to the residents (in other words, no toxic fumes). Has anyone here had experience with this? What can I use that will safely and effectively clean this thing?

Thanks in advance!

We all have opinions. Sometimes, these opinions are shared by others. Sometimes they're not, and we're told that it's best just to accept that. But is there a particular opinion on which you just can't stand it when other people disagree with you? I'm not necessarily talking about controversial issues (like abortion). I'm mostly talking about petty likes and dislikes; things where you don't have a convincing argument against it other than "'Cuz I said so!" but you think it anyway. What is this opinion? How do you deal with it? Do you passively wish harm upon those who dare think such vile thoughts? Or do you whine and kvetch about it?

I'll post my own childish opinion later, but for now, I'd like to see what you all say. Have fun!

I have a headache, and I have a bottle of generic ibuprofen in front of me. But I'm also on birth control - your typical, multiple-hormone birth control pill (Levora, to be exact). Can I still take the ibuprofen? Are there any side effects? If so, what are they?

I just started on the pill, so I want to make sure that I don't do anything that'll accidentally make me sick. Some info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I work at a fairly stressful job on the weekends (the restaurant I work at is the busiest in the state). In the morning, before I go to work, I will often experience bouts of extreme nausea and fairly violent dry-heaving. I have not vomited (yet), but it makes me not want to eat anything in the morning before work, and I've come very close to calling in sick. So, what are these? And more importantly, what can I do about them? I'm starting to lose weight because of it.

One of my favorite books in my collection is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. When I first bought it, I expected that it would have interesting bits in it, but also (being a nonfiction book) be somewhat boring. When I read it, however, I found myself unable to put it down. For a nonfiction book, this is rare. That's because it has a rather unusual style to it; that is, it reads rather like a novel. There is actual dialogue between the participants in the story (and that's what it seems like; a story), and elements--such as foreshadowing--that are normally found in fiction. At the same time, though, it also presents the facts in a no-nonsense fashion. And that is why it has quickly become my favorite nonfiction work.

Now, it's your turn. What's the best nonfiction book you've ever read, and why?

I think the above should explain it all, but can you die of fright? Can you become so distressed that it disrupts the heartbeat and/or brain function, or stops it altogether? You hear about this kind of thing all the time in books, movies, etc., but I've never heard of it happening in real life.

Thanks!

Wasn't quite sure if this was the right place to put this question, but I think I'm in the right ballpark, at least.

Now, the answer to this question doesn't have to be that realistic (but let's not involve, say, magic or fairies, 'kay?), but if you fell full-distance from an airplane onto some sort of surface, what kind of padding (and how much of it) would you have to have on the ground in order to survive? Or is survival possible at all? I ask this because I know that even relatively non-solid surfaces (such as sand or water) would have no cushioning effect whatsoever--from that height, there's little difference between those and concrete.

Thanks!

I mean, I like CGI well enough, but I don't like that it's now being used in every single animated movie. I want them to bring back cel-animation (i.e. hand-drawn), because to me, it's just more...I dunno, artistic and personable. You get to see more of an artist's own style and personality, and it's just more pretty to look at.

Now, I'm not saying we should do away with CGI completely...on the contrary, it's great for a few movies...but I don't think cel should be completely abandoned just because we've suddenly got all this computer technology. I miss cel a lot.

Anyone else agree?

I mean, if you like him, fine, but I seem to be very much in the minority here when I say I'm not a huge fan of Sasuke. I mean, yes, he's good-looking, and I like watching him fight, but honestly I think he's kind of a jerk. If I went to school with him I think I would have a crush on him at first, but once I got to know him I would dislike him immensely.

Although I suppose I shouldn't talk, seeing as I'm a huge Gaara fan. Oh well. I guess being evil is better than being a jerk, in my mind.

What would need to happen is that the United States would have to approach just about every country with nuclear weapons and say "all right, here's the deal: disarm your nuclear weapons. WE WILL DO THE SAME (put in all caps because that's the important bit)." And then do it. We wouldn't wait for other countries to go first; we would disarm our weapons, and make it perfectly clear that we were doing so.

What would have to happen to make this work? Is this feasible? Would other countries warm up to us if we did this, or would they see it as an opening and attack us? Am I just being naive? I know it's probably not as simple as what I've just described, but I think that in order to truly get rid of nuclear weapons, the US would have to take the initiative.

What does everyone else think?

(Oh, and PLEASE no conservative/liberal bashing. I know it's hard, but you can do it. I have faith in you. Or something.)

Why is it that in cartoons, thunder and lightning happen at the same time? Not just in cartoons, either...live-action movies sometimes do this too. Does this create more drama? I've experienced plenty of thunderstorms, and I've found that lightning and accompanying thunder RARELY happens at the same time.

Thanks!

What were your first words when you woke up?

Mine were "I CAN'T FEEL MY FACE, YO."

Actually, it was probably more along the lines of "I CAUGHNT FUWL MUH FASZTHE, WO," because my mouth was a bit numbish. And, er, gauzeish.

Did anyone else say anything crazy or funny when you woke up from wisdom teeth surgery?

My own personal favorite is either Latin or Italian, because they're both singable and very expressive. My least favorite is either Icelandic, which is far too difficult to pronounce with too few open vowel sounds, or German, which makes me sound like I'm about to kill someone.

What part of it is "dry"? What does the "dry" refer to?

Whenever I heat up spaghetti in the microwave, I end up with droplets of the sauce splattered all over. Should I cover it, and if so, with what?

When we say the word "history," doesn't that imply that writing, or some form of documentation, is involved? Therefore, the word "written" in front of it would be pointless, since you're already talking about things that are written about anyway.

This is something that just kind of occurred to me just now. What are everyone else's thoughts on this? Am I just splitting hairs, here?

In black-and-white films in the forties and fifties, whenever there's a closeup shot of an actress, the edges are blurred ever so slightly, which creates sort of a glowing, almost dreamlike look. I'm guessing they do something different with the lighting as well. What is this technique called? Or does it even have a name?

And I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find any examples right now. If I find some, I'll add them in later.

I live in Minnesota, so it gets pretty cold here (though, granted, only in comparison to some other places). I think the coldest temperature I've ever experienced is around sixty degrees below zero (fahrenheit). Now, I know all you Siberians out there are thinking "Sixty below? Psh...that's not cold, that's bikini weather," but, well, that's what we call cold. It's actually kind of refreshing at first when you first step outside (and it wakes you up pretty damn quick!) but after awhile it starts to feel a bit like you've been slapped in the face, and your extremities start to feel numb.

It's your turn...how cold has it gotten where you live? And how did it feel?