Ahem, I'll just go first to get the ball rolling.

(1) home & garden – I have one physical space (with venting and gas hookup possible, industrial sink, and no 220 voltage available or easily extendable) for either stackable washer-gas dryer combo (with plumber coming in to extend and hook up gas line) or the washer-dryer combo discussed on AskMeFi previously (http://www.lgwasherdryer.com/combos/wm3431hw.htm). Assume at least five years of use and crazy San Francisco labor and energy costs. Which one?

(2) shopping – Where can I buy Galvanino Italian soda, blood orange flavor, by the case?

(3) home & garden – Anyone know a realtor for the Ukiah, California (Mendocino County) area?

(4) health – I’m taking a break from drinking alcohol for up to 30 days (the masters) or 90 days (the Ph.D) or perhaps forever. I’m on day (counting) 20. Any tips for deciding whether I can be a more moderate drinker or if I need to be a teetotaler? (Oh, put this one down as anonymous)

(5) health – I’m taking a break from drinking alcohol for up to 30 days (the masters) or 90 days (the Ph.D) or perhaps forever. What the hell is up with my (now raging) sweet tooth?

(6) parties – Every year I host a Pride brunch on the Sunday of Pride weekend in the Castro. What theme should I have this year? Last year the theme was 1986. I’m thinking about princess – tiaras and pink food. Or maybe goth – temporary tattoos and black food.

(7) home & garden – Anyone know a good handy-person in San Francisco? I have a long list of basic repairs and improvements for my apartment (e.g. kitchen flooring, painting, etc.). How about a plumber who will actually call back and show up?

(8) lady parts – Each month during my period I get crazy interference with my bowel functioning. Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramping. Any tips for food, drink, etc. for minimizing these symptoms?

(9) computers & internet – My HP computer (4 years old) is working pretty much fine, except that over the years a lot of crap has migrated onto it (probably due to user stupidity). E.g. something attached to the (legal) Word program that makes it give zillions of error messages before opening up. Programs attached to the start-up feature that makes starting up take up to 10 minutes. Any suggestions for a program that, or a SF computer person who, could come in and strip off all of the gar-bahge?

(10) computer & internet – I have unlocked WiFi set up in my apartment. The guys working at the store across the street use it, as does my downstairs neighbor. I think it’s sort of nice to let people use it . Should I care?

(10) You should care. Someone could hack into your computer, delete your files, steal your personal information, perhaps even your credit card etc etc. If a passer-by uses your WiFi connection to look at something nasty or illegal, the Feds will come a'knockin at your door, and you will find it very difficult (not to mention time-consuming) to prove that it wasn't *you* looking at illegal sites.

But letting your neighbours use it is a nice thing to do, so I suggest securing your network (with WPA, which is nice and secure, unlike WEP) and giving the neighbours you trust a password. There's plenty of stuff on AskMe about this, and it won't cost you anything or take much time.

Answers for Claudia:
5. My completely uneducated guess? "No alcohol? Fine give me SOMETHING!! ANYTHING!" I quit smoking and had all sorts of weird cravings. But I'm not a doctor. I'm not even sure how to perform basic first aid.

8. Try some google fu.
It yielded some decent (I assume) results.

10. As long as you've secured it so that they can't get into your computer's files, then I'd say no. Up until the RIAA comes a knockin and asks you where all the pirated music you downloaded is...

My questions:
1. Is there the remotest possibility that I am responsible for my exgirlfriend's apparently "loose" behavior, which we have been talking about lately? She's pretty much violating all of The Rules (from that book of the same title) and always seems to get so wrapped up in whatever guy she's currently dating (I was no exception). Does her almost obsessive behavior have anything to do with her giant lists of phobias and her anxiety problems? How can she fix her pseudo-obsessed behavior?

2. What's a good way to motivate myself? I'm a complete procrastinator at times. I put off editing photos for friends, put off taking showers (only at school though), I've put off going to the gym THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR... etc. In the winter it made sense, because I'm pretty sure I had S.A.D. or whatever, but now, even as the weather is warming up and the days are downright gorgeous, I find it still hard to get up and out. My birthday was the one exception. I practically leaped out of bed, was in a great mood all day, took my bike out, took a lot of photos, etc. What's up with me?

3. Does this look infected to you?

(8) Lady Parts

I have this problem too! Lay off the meat and dairy products altogether. I've seen cod liver oil suggested, but haven't had the guts to try it. Exercise helps, I swear. Drink more water.

(8), It's believed that prostaglandins released by the uterus cause diarrhea. Also, some theorize that raised progesterone levels can affect the gut. Bowel dysfunction during menstruation is a normal phenomenon. Not much is known why there is dysfunction, but plenty of women experience it. I'm with bilabial, exercise, water, and fiber.

I have some questions, but they're mostly of the angsty, self-reflecting sort and I'm afraid they would bore all to tears.

CF, (3), It looks terribly infected. You'd best do something about that stat, or else endure an amputation!

CitrusFreak12:

(1) No, you are not responsible. My three major exes all live in the Bay Area, and years later all have the same flaws and strengths now as they had before and during my relationships with them. (I, of course, continue to be perfect.)

(2) I was always a procrastinator in school. I only became more responsible and semi-motivated when I became an adult and had more structure (job, etc.).

(3) Good god! Do you want to talk to a bunch of strangers on the internet or Save Your Life?

1. I like beer very much. I've got plenty of expensive, time-consuming hobbies already. Knowing these two things, is homebrewing for me?

2. What houseplants will best flourish with minimum attention in a dark, sometimes-smoky room? Major bonus points if they clean the air, as in that NASA study.

3. Rock music doesn't usually do much for me. But I like old Bob Dylan, and Nick Cave, and some lo-fi, and some psychedelic music, and some other stuff, I suppose. What else might I enjoy?

4. I want to listen to audio files from my local network while sitting on the back porch. But I want it to sound good (say, at least as good as my budget-audiophile headphones), be controllable from outside, stand up to heat and humidity and be both cheaper and more convenient than buying, say, a secondhand laptop and a tiny amp and speakers.

5. What's the cheapest, most user-serviceable form of motorized street-legal transportation? What if you remove street-legal from the equation? I don't care if it's practical or safe or whatnot--this is more of a potential fun-time weekend hobby kinda thing.

6. Mine is a 'business casual' workplace, which, I always kinda figured, includes covering tattoos. Am I right about this?

7. What should I bring for a single-night overnight trip? Usually, I manage to both forget something important and bring too much stuff.

8. Let's say that you were going to visit me, and we were going to play Atari games. Would you prefer to play every game ever developed, with USB gamepads, on a computer, via emulation, or would you prefer to play a smaller (but still pretty big) selection of games, with the original hardware?

9. So, you know how LiveJournal lets you make polls? I don't suppose there's any way to make Vox do the same kind of thing, huh?

10. What should I put in this omelet? I've got green, red and hot peppers, and green and regular onions, and garlic and ginger and a small selection of fresh spices and a big selection of dried ones and bacon and a few kinds of cheese, but I'd make a quick trip to the grocery if I had to.

box, (2) I was going to ask a question about improving indoor air. Have you tried the pathos ivy? It will survive anything.

box:

(2) As I recall I coleus plants and spider plants are pretty much impossible to kill.

(3) Based on the old Bob Dylan reference, try: Gillian Welsh, Richard & Linda Thompason, Richard Buckner, Iron & Wine, the Dead Man Walking soundtrack, the True Romance soundtrack.

(6) We don't cover tattoos in my semi-business-casual office. But I'm in SF.

(7) I try to bring an extra pair of undies, a regular t-shirt, a warmer t-shirt, and a hoodie.

(10) red peppers, green onion, cheese. I'd skip the spices. If store pick up tomatoes plus spinach, mushrooms or avocado.

box, (1) I just started homebrewing a couple months ago, being in the same situation you're in. It's actually not nearly as time consuming or expensive as you might think.

If you can commit one long afternoon every 3 weeks, say, you can have an overabundant supply of homemade beer. My starter equipment kit was about 65 bucks and ingredients run about 30-35 dollars per 5 gallon batch. 5 gallons will make you about 4 dozen, twelve-ounce bottles (so stop recycling and start hoarding!).

Also, (5) I suppose an old scooter is what you're looking for. Something like a Vespa, with a two-stroke engine. Or, even better, put a two-stroke on an old bicycle.

I've lost track of numbers...

Drugs that stop menstrual cramping often also (for me) stop bowel problems. A male friend of mine actually used this knowledge to stave off traveler's diarrhea in Southeast Asia by borrowing his travel companion's Midol.

I've heard through semi-reputable sources (none of which I can currently remember) that the cravings for sugar and for alcohol are related. I definitely find that if I'm indulging a lot in one, my interest in the other wanes. The few weeks in which I gave up both ice cream and alcohol (and caffeine!) were a bit mind-altering. Not really in a good way, I don't think.

As for myself, I don't really have any saved-up AskMe questions, because I tend to ask the spur-of-the-moment ones here.

(5) health – I’m taking a break from drinking alcohol for up to 30 days (the masters) or 90 days (the Ph.D) or perhaps forever. What the hell is up with my (now raging) sweet tooth?

Alcohol contains tons of sugar, so if you give it up, you'll crave the sugar you're missing. In AA we always tell newcomers who're getting cravings to drink orange juice and honey, shaken up together. Chocolate, whilst satiating the craving for a while, will give you too many highs and lows and possibly headaches.

Box: for a musical recommendation, try Califone (I recommend them all the time to anyone who's interested in eclectic lo-fi stuff -- imagine a dreamlike mix of folky blues, alt-country, and murky electronica). I'd start with either Roots & Crowns (their current release) or Quicksand/Cradlesnakes.

claudia:

4&5. What's up with the masters/Ph.D. thing? I haven't heard those terms used that way before.

6. How about 1977? Punk, disco, etc. If nothing else, it would set you up nicely for a 1968 theme next year.

7. In some book I read about American expats living in France, somebody mentioned that, when they were getting some kind of major work done on their house, it was actually cheaper to fly American workers over, and put them up in a hotel for the duration, than it was to hire local servicepeople. Maybe you could cut out the hotel part, and do something like that with handy family members or far-flung pals or something. Heck, I suspect there are a few Mecha folks who would love to paint a room or install a floor in exchange for a few days of free lodging in San Francisco.

10. What matthew and CF said, except that I'd worry more about, ah, other criminal activity, than I would about downloading music.

CF:

2. Are you eating well, and getting enough sleep? Do you try to schedule a few days, at least, between binges? Do you get at least a little bit of exercise? If not, try to work on this stuff. More energy, and motivation, will probably follow.

A/S/L?

Other kinda-rock things I like: Tin Hat Trio, Sixteen Horsepower, Morphine.

Three more: Billy Childish, Last Exit, Naked City.

Three more:

11. Do you judge people based on the way they dress? What kinds of judgments do you make, and what do you base them on?

12. When I'm feeling optimistic, I think that Al Gore and Barack Obama will win the 2008 presidential election. When I'm feeling pessimistic, I think it'll be John McCain and, y'know, some kind of rabidly anti-abortion, aggressively Christian guy. What about you?

13. I want to download and watch a recent-ish movie. Tell me something you've liked lately.

1)where are my socks?
2)why won't you tell me where my socks are?
3) what have you done with my socks?

box: hey, I went to high school with Dave Edwards from 16 Horsepower! I wrote the very first review of his very first band (named, of all things, Pavilion Steps) for our high school paper.

Based on that, and some of your other likes, I double-recommend Califone. Seriously, I think they're going to be right up your alley. Also, what about Tom Waits?

As for a movie to watch, I was floored by The Lives of Others, but I don't think it's available yet.

jon: I'M IN UR DRYER, STEALIN UR SOX

scody: yeah, I like Tom Waits. My favorite albums are probably Bone Machine and Black Rider--I usually don't tell Tom Waits fans that, though, for fear that they'll make fun of me.

Oh, I like The Black Rider too! I finally saw a production of it here in L.A. last year and it was great.

1) How can I lose weight while not getting any exercise and increasing my intake of yummy, fatty, high-calorie foods?
2) I need to learn some new oral sex techniques. What works for you?
3) I have this cake and I really love the way it looks, and I don't want to mess it up by eating it. But if I don't eat it, the cake will go to waste. Help me get the best of both worlds.

I want to train for a marathon. But I don't want to . . . you know, run or anything like that. Any tips?

1. Help me disrespect my girlfriend. I was brought up as a sensitive sort of 90s guy, but my girlfriend would prefer I were a cad torn from the pages of one of her romance novels. What can I do?
2. What percentage of doors in the world have locks?
3. Can anyone link me to the conversation, either on AskMe or MetaChat, about the east vs. west highway naming convention, re: the definite article? Like, "The 101", but not "the 95". I can't remember the thread.