Long story short, I've been away a long time, but it's time to go home. I need to get from Troy to Ithaca ASAP, but don't trust my old map and my transportation is not always reliable either. Any tips for finding the best, most direct route and avoid annoying traffic snarls and other delays? Difficulty: No GPS. [more inside]
posted by Ody around at 12:10 PM - 27 answers

Help us make moonshine to celebrate Independence Day during our stay abroad! Recipes and methods welcome. Difficulty level: can’t leave campsite. We do have access to a stove.
posted by Bound4NeutralGround around at 11:24 AM - 5 answers

Me, my husband, and my precocious 5-year-old son are going to have the adventure of a lifetime this winter -- as caretakers for a massive historic hotel in the mountains during the off-season! It’s perfect because my husband, a writer, can concentrate on typing his novel out without disruptions... and as for me and my son, well, what’s more fun than having a whole empty turn-of-the-century hotel to yourself, what with its endless hallways and rooms to explore? But lately I've been thinking: without playmates his own age, how will I keep him -- not to mention myself and my hubby wubby -- entertained for a whole winter while we’re snowed in? (I’ll bring a baseball bat, for sure!) [more inside]
posted by Wendy Darling Light-o-my-Life around at 10:34 AM - 17 answers

I'm taking a new job as a bouncer at a pretty rough place. I know my car will be a target for people who want to get back at me. What's a reliable but dirt cheap model that can handle some smashed windows, slashed tires, (and gunfire?) and won't cost a fortune to fix?
posted by ddcooler around at 4:24 AM - 9 answers