The Frontrunner

I've been seeing a girl since late February, and as of the very beginning of August, it has been distance (Madison, WI and Chicago to be specific). I've come to realize over the past few weeks that things just aren't as good as they were when we were in the same city. While I know that's to be expected, there's no end in sight for the distance situation, and I've come to realize that we're simply two completely different people. As much as I know it's going to suck, I would like to be able to make it less sucky, so any help you can provide as to how to do that would be most appreciated.

I need a sample of Enterococcus for microbiology lab, but I don't especially feel like swabbing my own colon. Any hints on where I could find some instead?

I've been thinking about small pets I could get for my first apartment next year. Would anybody know how good hedgehogs are as far as that goes, in terms of behavior, cost and maintenance?

I have two friends who I'm a little concerned about. The first is not in awful shape, but is so impossibly lazy that I worry about what happens when his metabolism slows even a little bit. I'd just like to know what I could do to try and get him out of our dorm room and into a weight room.

The other isn't in great shape and has been trying to get into shape. That said, I feel his efforts are being hindered by the fact that he's a massive stress-eater. He also has horrendous knee and ankle problems that I believe stem from his weight problems. That said, how can I get him to stop putting too many calories into his body and can he get around his leg problems and still do some kind of cardio work?

I've a Razr for about nine months now, I haven't had any other problems with it, but I left it alone for about an hour this evening and it turned off and now won't turn back on. The battery was fine, and it was operating normally when I left, but when I came back, the screen's blank, and it won't turn on when I hold on the hang-up button. I did have it out in the rain today though, so did that have something to do with it? Any help's appreciated...

So, as just about everyone knows, all of our favorite NBC Thursday night shows are coming back April 10th! Problem is, though, I have an exam that night which is going to hold me hostage until well after the show starts. My question is, where can I find the episode that will be airing and watch so I might get my Scrubs fix for another week? Thanks much!

Can anyone tell me the specialties of all the non-surgical characters in the TV show Scrubs?

Looking at the model of DNA they show in the book, it really looks like an oxygen on every phosphate group in the backbone has a negative charge on it. My question is, obviously, is this the case, and if so, how is this molecule at all stable?

Ok, I'm in college, and my girlfriend also goes to school just a little ways away (like a two-mile walk, to be specific). It's been a rough few weeks for the two of us because we've both had a lot of midterms, homework and other stuff to do, so we haven't exactly seen each other as much as we would like. Our weekends have also been rather full as well, so I'd estimate we've seen each other perhaps three or four times in the last three weeks. Note that a normal week entails me going over there once or twice, then spending all weekend with her as well. We've been together for almost two and a half years now and we have all the seriousness that comes along with that. Here's where it gets not so fun.

Over this past summer, we hit a very rough patch and we decided we would see other people for a while. The guy she had a thing with over the summer got dumped because, according to her, he got far too needy for her.

I've been getting the same way right after the holidays until about March-ish for the last few years now, where I get kind of depressed, really tired, and I get a little short with my loved ones. I think it's seasonal affect, but I'm not a doctor, so, like Fox News, I report, you decide. I'm wondering if anyone has any good, solid remedies to get rid of it, because I'm getting a little sick of being depressed until the sun comes back out. Thank you much!

From what I've seen, absolutely nobody on this forum can use proper English grammar. Anyone care to prove me wrong?

I'm talking about a good atheist day!! anybody have any good stories?

I need a solid justification for capital punishment, why it should be used and why we liberals who oppose it are just babbling idiots who dont know what the deuce we're talking about. ALL ANSWERS WELCOME!!

Tell me why I hate the GOP! They suck pretty majorly!!!

In a biology class setting, what should we be teaching our kids, evolution or creationism? I have my opinion, but I want to hear yours. Explain well, please!! Hey, get angry about it if you want!

In a biology classroom setting, what should we be teaching, evolution or creationism? I have my opinion, but what are all of yours? Explain well, please!!

if you didnt have the bible to thump, could you find any good reason why gays shouldnt have the right to get married? "its not natural" doesnt count either, its only not natural because your bible says it isnt. gays and lesbians dont turn adopted or artificially inseminated children gay, their kids grow up just fine and completely well-adjusted, i have yet to find a gay-raised child who becomes an axemurderer, so what the deuce is the big deal?

I am an atheist. I am also pro-choice, pro-gay marriage (though I am straight), pro-seperation of church and state, anti-iraq war, and i believe in global warming. any of these things guaranteeing my entrance into the fiery gates?

I need to figure out exactly how melting points of different polymers differ, in terms of their length and chemical makeup. if there is some sort of correlation between how much the melting point goes up with the addition of a single additional carbon to the chain, or if double bonds or more opportunities for hydrogen bonding, then that can also be used. any ideas would be great, thank you!

I need to synthesize a polymer with a melting point somewhere around 20-25 C. It would need to have all the same sort of things people-friendly chemicals need (non-carcinogenic, preferably flame-resistant, if possible, etc.) Any help on this would be most appreciated, along with any on how one would go about making this polymer.