Yes, I know Google is my friend, but I'd rather ask you.

[Eaquae Legit]

That... certainly sheds some light on a recent Two Lumps comic. I was really confused.

*marks off May 21 as a day the Rapture won't happen*

[Mich]

Wow, the radio guy's math is completely different from the eBibleFellowship's, which is what I found upon hearing about this new end of the world.

[Bean_wannabe]

I love that, from a Christian perspective, times like this Saturday and the end of 2012 are the few times you can pretty much guarantee the Rapture WON'T happen. 'I will come like a thief in the night', and all that.

[Rei]

I do get a kick out of that. And then some part of my mind thinks, "If most of the world discounts it, God might surprise us anyway!"

Really, though, I don't subscribe to the idea that all Christians get a free pass on tribulation, so whenever it's predicted I tend to write it off on those grounds.

[Dr. Mobius]

You guys should help me put together a appocalypse playlist for this weekend, otherwise it'll just be REM on repeat. Not that that's neccessarily a bad thing.

[Rei]

If you're open to multiple types of apocalypse:

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, parts I and II (The Flaming Lips)
All We Have is Now (The Flaming Lips)
They are Night Zombies!! They are Neighbours!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhhhh! (Sufjan Stevens)
The Cat with Two Head (Aquabats)--this one is a bit more mad science than end of the world, but those two things aren't TOO far apart.

That's what I've got from a cursory glance at my collection. I'll let you know if I find anything more.

[Eaquae Legit]

Rei doesn't like it, but I happen to think the Great Big Sea version is a lot more fun than the REM version of The End of the World As We Know It. You should listen to that one instead.

[Rei]

If it weren't horrifically cruel, this would seem like a hilariously good idea.

[Mich]

I also suggest Dave Matthews Band's "When the World Ends", preferably the Oakenfold remix that's on the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack.

[neo-dragon]

If it weren't horrifically cruel, this would seem like a hilariously good idea.

My cruelty detector must be broken.

[zeroguy]

Oh, man!

Well, this article says the actual end of the world isn't predicted to occur until October. Duke Nukem Forever is currently slated to be released in June, but it might get postponed until October... if we hear another announcement of a delay, there may be something to worry about.

[Wil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8rYotiiFP8

[Mich]

Google has NOT been my friend in this case, thus my asking you, oh P-Web, ye of ancient truths and mom-like wisdom:

Last Thursday I woke up with what appeared to be a large mosquito bite on my back, about halfway up my ribs on my left side. Not being a stranger to night-time spider bites (although almost always on my knuckles), I wrote it off an paid it no attention, other than to force myself not to scratch it. Well, yesterday I noticed that it was now very red at the tip and covered about an area 1 inch in diameter. I did some research into spider bites and concluded it must not be serious, as I still feel perfectly fine, just itchy there. Today, however, I realized that it wasn't a bulbous tip, as you might describe it, but a scabby pock mark. To be fair, it may have been like this from the beginning, as I don't have any mirrors that would get me a close look at it, and I didn't risk even touching it until this morning. However, deepening my concern, I started feeling slight flu-like symptoms today, although I am also no stranger to even considering I might get sick and then later feeling nauseous and dizzy.

So, to summarize, anyone know anything about spider bites and if I should bother consulting a doctor? I'm keeping a very close eye on the pockmark to make sure it isn't getting any bigger, and I haven't been able to find any spiders in my apartment at all. When I first moved here I joked that the 19th floor would be too high up for them, but I really have no idea. Also, there are now three smaller bumps that have appeared outside of the red area, but they just look like goosebumps.

The internet says to IMMEDIATELY SEE A DOCTOR IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY ANY SPIDERS, but that's stupid and overreacting.

[Jayelle]

Flu like symptoms? Are you sure it's a spider-bite and not... chicken pox or something, or a tick bite??

I think you should go to the doctor with symptoms like that.

[Mich]

Probably not a tick bite, but I guess it's possible. I really hadn't been anywhere but my apartment and work (which is two blocks away) for the few days prior to the bite showing up, and it didn't look like the tick bites that I've seen.

And really, the "flu-like symptoms" I have are just dizziness and nausea. Possibly lyme disease, but lots of things can possibly be lyme disease.

Basically my conclusions thus far are "if I feel bad tomorrow, call the doctor," but I wanted to check with you guys.

[ender1]

The tick bite I had wasn't that big.

[powerfulcheese04]

Most people who self diagnose spider bites actually have staph infections. So, I would say see the doctor.

[Petrie]

How accurate are the methods currently used to determine body fat percentage?

More specifically, since I know there are a number of ways to measure, I had mine measured using something very similar to this:



and calipers, using what I believe to be the Durnin/Womersley method (bicep, tricep, subscapular, and suprailiac).

The scale told me one figure, then entering the caliper numbers into a website that does it's magical equation thing, I got a hugely different number. Can either be trusted at all, let alone more than the other? Are they both, especially the caliper method, as prejudice as I think they might be (or am I wanting to make excuses for being fattier than I like)? That is, is it possible they actually take into consideration/could know lean body weight and all that?

ETA:

In case it matters, there was a 7% point difference between the two measurements and I got the lower on the scale.

[thoughtreader]

from my experience mainly from wrestling....
They used Calipers for wrestling weight certification, you weigh in and get a body fat measurement and they take those numbers and say home much weight you can loose healthily. most years in HS i was aloud to go to 112, one year they said i could only go to 119. Meaning i would be a sick non functional thing lost any more weight. i ended the season at 114 while trying to keep weight on to compete. So thats my way of saying calipers can be bias both ways. all depending on where you carry your fat, how hard/how much they pinch, and because its only 3-4 measurements.
Now Body Fat Scales, they take the measurement by sending electricity through your body and work best with bare feet. They measure resistance because fat conducts the charge differently then muscle, bone , or other body tissues. I have one and have owned many over the years and for me the tend to measure consistently and fluctuate as expected. loose weight % goes down gain weight percent goes up. I've heard they are more accurate than the calipers (especially if you have an uneven body fat distribution; for example boobs) because the measure your whole body.
The most accurate way to measure body fat that i know of is a submersion test. You are weighed dry on a normal scale. Then submerged in water with as little air in your lungs a possible. Then fancy equations and poof body fat %. The measurement here is based on the fact that fat floats and everything else sinks.

So short answer, of the two methods used I like the scale better because it measures the whole you, not just 4 spots.

[CezeN]

Can anyone here speedread?

Near the beginning of the summer, I decided I'd try to learn. But I'm finding it hard to motivate myself to do the excercises, because 80% of me feel's it's a useless endeavor.

[ender1]

Can anyone here speedread?

Near the beginning of the summer, I decided I'd try to learn. But I'm finding it hard to motivate myself to do the excercises, because 80% of me feel's it's a useless endeavor.

I could before my parents got us the material for it. It's been so long I don't even remember what the material covered

[CezeN]

The main excercise I decided I'd pratice was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPOIZ6DGXWE

Also, something about chunking text together when you read.

But wait, so you could speedread before whatever excercises your parents got you, but afterwards you couldn't? I'm confused.

[ender1]

The main excercise I decided I'd pratice was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPOIZ6DGXWE

Also, something about chunking text together when you read.

But wait, so you could speedread before whatever excercises your parents got you, but afterwards you couldn't? I'm confused.

No, I could before, tried the exercises then quit because I didn't notice an improvement.

[Mich]

We had a conversation about this a long time ago and I remember it made me feel greatly inferior in terms of my previously-thought great reading skills. I learned, on that day, that reading one word at a time and hearing a narrator just doesn't cut it, even if that narrator talks very quickly.

[Dr. Mobius]

Screw speed reading if I have to sacrifice the narrator. I happen to like having my internal monologue narrate stories for me.

[Syphon the Sun]

Morgan Freeman is my narrator. Beat that, suckers.

[Young Val]

I can technically speed read, although I usually only do it (consciously) for work-(previously school-)related stuff.

I read tremendously fast normally, and I don't sacrifice a "narrator" at all. When I'm actually reading it doesn't FEEL fast. Oftentimes it feels quite leisurely. But the clock says otherwise.

[CezeN]

I always believed I read fast, but that's only when I get really into a book. The pages just breeze by. However, I've never timed myself. I should probably do that.

I just assume since I still have my inner narrator, it would be average.

Either way, I feel like this would be a great skill for college. I remember my History of SouthAsia professor had us reading 200 pages for almost every class...*shudder*

Syphon The Sun- I could swear Morgan Freeman was the one narrating Go The f*** to sleep, but nevermind it's Samuel L. Jackson.

[Luet]

I don't understand this "inner narrator" business. Does that mean that I don't have one?

[megxers]

I'm not sure if I speed read, but I do read quite quickly and actually spent some time focusing on slowing down after I graduated, because I just wasn't enjoying what I was reading because it wasn't relaxing! I have slowed down to about 100-120 pages of fiction an hour, with 10 minutes of that hour generally on Facebook and what not, lol. Does anyone have suggestions for being a less distracted reader??

[CezeN]

I don't understand this "inner narrator" business. Does that mean that I don't have one?

The inner narrator thing is the fact that generally most people internally say the words they're reading, whether they realize it or not.

Some people go as far as to actually say it outloud, under their breath.

Most people say it in their mind, which still works their larynx, even thought their mouth isn't moving.

To test it, read this post, and notice whether you say each word internally.

[VelvetElvis]

I don't understand this "inner narrator" business. Does that mean that I don't have one?

The inner narrator thing is the fact that generally most people internally say the words they're reading, whether they realize it or not.

Some people go as far as to actually say it outloud, under their breath.

Most people say it in their mind, which still works their larynx, even thought their mouth isn't moving.

To test it, read this post, and notice whether you say each word internally.

You are insane.

[Luet]

Yeah, no...I don't think I have an inner narrator. I think the words go directly to my brain.

[mr_thebrain]

my internal narrator is a slightly handicapped stutterer named ephram.

i am a painfully slow reader.

[Mich]

I actually have a slightly different voice for each of you. As is usual in cases like this, I can't really imagine it not working identically for every single other person in the world, although I have no inability to logically think "well, people can probably do it different, I just have no concept of how it would work." But basically I see it like this: remember when we did the Vocaroo thing? Where we all talked? If you posted something like "Man, that's not how I imagined X sounded at all!" then I figure you hear a voice when you read.

I joke and call it a narrator, but it's not like it's an individual voice. It's just, like... words are translations of sounds, just put into a different format so that it can be sent without sound waves. Why wouldn't you translate it internally to a format that your brain comprehends?

Of course, this was how I reasoned before we got into the "reading blocks of text at a time" thing. I tried applying that to reading Huck Finn and got mediocre scores on the tests.