Brad

A little backstory: I started having mild headaches around a year ago. I didn't think much of it at first, but the headaches have never really gone away and have become progressively worse. Over the past month the pain has become far worse than it's ever been. I was previously told by neurologists that my symptoms weren't severe enough for me to get a scan, but last week I finally got a CT scan and they found an arachnoid cyst behind my left eye.

However, they don't think the cyst has anything to do with the headaches, and some of my other symptoms have led them to believe I'm having mild seizures (muscle twitches and excessive blinking).

Today I was prescribed Vicodin and Topamax (Topirimate 25 MG). I was getting ready to take both before going to sleep when I found out about some disturbing side effects of Topamax.

Anyway, my question: is Topamax safe? I'm an 18-year old male and these headaches have been very annoying lately, sometimes to the point where I've had to miss school. I'm willing to do anything to get rid of the headaches, but I want to ensure Topamax is safe. Most of the stories of heard are about a higher MG (I was prescribed 25 MG), but I want to be sure. Thanks!

I'm doing a project for chemistry, and I need to know which of these six pieces of glassware is the most accurate, as far as measuring volume: pipet, buret, graduated cylinder, volumetric flask, beaker, or erlenmeyer flask?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and a question here on Y!A got me thinking about it again. As of right now, we have four pitchers who are pitching like aces: Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, and Randy Wolf, all of whom are 10-game winners. They're all pitching on a similar level right now, so it's tough to choose one of them to be an "ace." But I'd like to hear some opinions, whether or not you're a Brewers fan. Who's the ace of this rotation?

Not that I'm against it, I just think it's sort of strange. I haven't seen his ejection yet, but was it really that bad? Is he honestly going to retire?

So the other day I was watching the Brewers-Red Sox game. In the first inning, Jon Lester gave up back-to-back solo shots to Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart. After the homers, I looked at MLB's box score for Lester, and it said he had given 2 runs, but only 1 earned. Assuming this was a mistake, I waited until the end of the game to look again, but it said he had given up 4 runs, just 3 earned. So, if anyone knows, can you tell me why one of those solo homers wasn't earned?

And no, do not say to even the leagues out.

Bud Selig moved the Brewers from the AL to the NL in 1997. Before that, the leagues were even- 15 in each league. To this day, I still don't understand why the Brewers were moved; it just made the leagues uneven.

But now, the Astros are supposedly moving to the AL West. What is the point of this? The Brewers were in the AL, but Selig moved them. Now he's trying to move a different team back into the AL to even them out. Is this because Selig realized he made an idiotic move? I just don't see the point in this. Anyway, I'd like to hear a few of your thoughts on this whole thing.

Just out of curiosity. Personally, I think it's cool to see a team play a team from another league that they don't usually get to play. Plus, it's only like 12 games out of 162, so I don't really see what difference it makes. So I'd like to see a few opinions on whether you like interleague play or not, and why.

Trust me. I've tried to give this guy chances before, and sometimes he's ok out of the bullpen. But not nearly as much as he blows close leads.

I have two recent examples of him blowing close leads- the first against the Reds, where he gave up a go-ahead two run homer to Joey Votto, which would lead to an eventual Reds win. Then tonight, the Brewers are winning 2-1, and Loe comes in and puts up a 5 run 8th inning. He was lucky that the offense (primarily Prince Fielder) had his back, and now Loe probably won't be criticized as much because we still won.

So my question is, how long will it be before the Brewers cut Loe, or at least send him to the minors? I'm sick of seeing him blow leads, and I really hope Roenicke is too.

3-2, bottom of the 8th, Brewers winning by one. Kameron Loe is pitching with one guy on base. Then, Joey Votto steps up to the plate. Votto's career stats against Loe are 3 for 6 with 2 homers, which would signify that Loe has not had good luck against him. But what does Ron Roenicke do? He leaves Loe in, and, of course, Loe gives up a go-ahead 2-run shot to Votto. And the sad part was that everyone except Roenicke saw it coming. So, can someone tell me why this guy is such an idiot, despite being a coach under Mike Scioscia for 10+ years?

Alright, so maybe a little over a week ago I heard about May 21st being the supposed end of the world. So, here we are on May 21st- nothing's happened yet. But today, I decided to look up a few things about this and found that this is supposedly the start of a five month span in which earth will be ravaged by natural disasters and that dead people will start coming back to life, or something along those lines. I read all of this on a Bible site.

Now, before I go any further, let me say that I am very religious and a Catholic. I believe in God and everything, but this Judgement Day thing sounds like crap to me. I'm also somewhat confused.

First of all, I thought December 21st, 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world (I didn't believe in that either). Second, why did I only hear of the Judgement Day thing only a little over a week ago?

So now I guess the new end of the world date is October 21st, 2011, which is the end of that five month span. I can't say I believe in that, either, considering all of the times the world was supposed to end that never happened. Anyway, I'd like to hear people's thoughts on this. Tell me if you think that this true or not, and explain why or why not.

If you're a Brewers fan, you're probably going through the same pain and suffering I am. That pain and suffering is watching our "ace," Yovani Gallardo, attempting to pitch now adays. After that gem against Atlanta, he has given up 4+ runs in five straight starts. Now that is not ace material. Thank goodness Greinke is coming back on Wednesday otherwise I think we would be doomed.

So anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Personally, I think he needs to spend some time minor leagues in order to find his true self again. I know that's going a little far, but I honestly think that five straight starts like this must be driving Roenicke and Kranitz insane.

For those who didn't see the Brewers @ Astros game today, the Astros won, 2-1. The Brewers should have won, but a baserunning mistake by Carlos Gomez completely screwed up everything.

So that brings me to my point. Gomez sees Clint Barmes bobble the ball, then, after two seconds of deciding what to do, takes off from second to try and get to third. The throw from Barmes to third, of course, was in time, and Gomez was out to end the inning. I should also mention that had he been safe Ryan Braun would have been up to bat. And this isn't the first time this has happened.

I really hope Ron Roenicke has seen enough of Gomez and decides to start using him off the bench, because I know I (and many other Brewer fans) cannot take him anymore. He's a decent defender, but that's all he is. Hopefully once Morgan gets of the DL he'll get the privilege of starting center fielder. (Ryan Braun, Nyjer Morgan, and Corey Hart would be one of the most formidable outfields in baseball. Just saying.)

So, who else agrees that Gomez is worthless and should be benched once Morgan comes back?

So today my brother was watching the Cardinals and Dodgers game. As soon as I walked in the room, I saw that the Cardinals were winning 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th. Being a Brewers fan, I was hoping the Dodgers would win, but I didn't they'd have a chance. But, not even 10 seconds into watching it, Matt Kemp hits a walk-off homer off of Ryan Franklin, the Cardinals' so-called "closer."

That was Franklin's fourth blown save in just five opportunities, which is pretty disappointing. And, despite those numbers, Tony La Russa still seems reluctant to name a new closer. I guess I can't blame him, considering there isn't really anyone else in their bullpen who can take over. I would say Mitch Boggs, but they need him as a setup man, especially since Kyle McClellan moved to the starting rotation.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Do you think the Cardinals need a new closer, and if so, who would it be?

I have an Asus EEE PC netbook. Since it's a netbook, it does not have a built-in CD/DVD reader/burner. In other words, I cannot insert disks and listen to music or watch movies and things like that. I've heard of external CD/DVD readers/burners, and I think that could be my solution. Could someone explain to me how they work and where I could possibly buy one? I would appreciate an answer as soon as possible. Thanks. :D