Category: Q & A

Questions, and Answers, from the man himself

Deano’s answer to: “My co-founder just had a baby. What would be a nice present to get him?”

Posted on by Deano in Q & A

Dean’s official short list of great presents that no one else will probably give new parents, which they nonetheless really need:

  • A Nerf Football ($10 http://amzn.to/jJE1LE). Babies like to play with balls regardless of gender. Footballs have an odd shape that allows babies to learn more about their world – you can roll it along the floor along its widest point, tilted so it wobbles side to side, or even end-over-end. Various types of spins are also really easy to do. A lot more variety in the ways it can entertain compared to a simple sphere. Also, I only advise Nerf because it’s soft enough for newborns. Leather footballs have vastly superior rolling ability, and are potentially safer/more durable chewables.
  • A Large Box Spool of Bubble Wrap ($16 http://amzn.to/ldX5Ml). It kills the Earth with indestructible plastic waste. It has the potential to suffocate your child. Still, babies are stressful. They drive you insane sometimes. For the first year, having that box as a way to “pop out” the everyday stresses of parenthood will be a surprisingly effective balm for most that ails. Then, once the little duffer can get in on the action, it’s one of the cheapest babysitters-per-foot money can buy. GREAT FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
  • Baby Signing Time DVDs ($17 ea. http://amzn.to/mowa2e). Not Singing, Signing. Crying is great the first few months, because you know it means one of two things. But, eventually, those screeches become “one word that means everything”… Sometimes it’s hard to know what an older baby wants, because they simply cannot speak yet. Enter simplified ASL sign language! Once they get the motions down, you’ll revel in the ability to have actual conversations with your kid, and if you’re lucky, see them make their first pre-verbal joke! Really cool stuff… And yes, putting that DVD on might earn you a 15 minute nap as an extra bonus.
  • A Bubble Machine (~$20 http://amzn.to/jo6qHY). I recommend the Gazillion Typhoon, but it’s nearly impossible to find (Try Costco). More on why it is the best here: http://www.waynesthisandthat.com… — This guy is a one-man Quora of bubble machines. Simply put, babies love bubbles. Battery powered (8xAA, WTF?!?), so you can take it to the park. Rock the coolest stroller in mommy-land.
  • A WeeRide Kangaroo Bike Seat ($50 http://amzn.to/mN2vtz). Okay, it’s not really a “birth-age” item, but if the parents like to bike, this will work from whenever their kid’s neck will support the weight of the head, and is legal not too terribly long after that. The central placement makes biking less of a struggle compared to rear seats, allows you to keep the extra weight entirely within your center of gravity, and the lil’ tike can take in the scenery, instead of an increasingly-sweat-stained view of your back.
  • A Roomba Cleaning Robot ($200-600 http://amzn.to/iZTXWR). This is pretty straightforward: parents got no time for cleaning, and yet need everything to be cleaned and disinfected constantly. Also, babies tend to be at least somewhat enthralled by anything that moves and doesn’t try (hard) to eat them. It’s the priciest item on my list, good as a “group buy” within an office/team. These are great for crumbs and dust, the higher end ($300+) models are programmable, and can be set to vacuum just before wakeup, while you’re out of the house during the day, or even overnight.

I wouldn’t worry too much about giving a gift that pays off 6-12 months down the line. New parents are constantly tired, busy, and stressed. Having toys and distractions that their kid can “grow into” will be a total relief… Plus, odds are they’ll probably get all the newborn stuff elsewhere. 😉

This answer originally appeared on Quora: My co-founder just had a baby. What would be a nice present to get him?

Deano’s answer to: “Did R2D2 meet Yoda prior to Empire Strikes Back? If so, why didn’t R2D2 and Yoda recognize each other?”

Posted on by Deano in Q & A

Racism.

In the Star Wars universe, the Jedi are the epitome of the natural world — in touch with all living things through the force. Droids, on the other hand, are an entirely artificial life form… And while Jedi may manipulate the physical aspect of their bodies, they will never be able to see into a droid’s thoughts, or manipulate its will. And this causes an almost unconscious distrust or dislike of droids within the Jedi.

Among the regular citizens of the galaxy, droids are typically seen more as tools to be used — again, relegating them to a secondary class hierarchy, one in which slaves (on planets which allow them) are seen to have more rights/respect by and large.

Thus, when Yoda doesn’t recognize R2-D2, it is more because what Yoda sees is “an astromech with a blue head,” much the same way in which one of us may not call a piece of Ikea furniture by its proper name (Kløotvär) and instead merely call it a “table”.

Similarly, Obi-Wan may not have ever actually purchased, and therefore considered himself to have “owned” droids, despite at various times having droids assigned to his care as part of his duties as a Jedi Knight or later as a General during the clone wars.

The sad truth is, no one recognizes the droids because “all droids look alike anyway.” Yep. You got it.

Racism.

This answer originally appeared on Quora: Did R2D2 meet Yoda prior to Empire Strikes Back? If so, why didn’t R2D2 and Yoda recognize each other?

Deano’s answer to: “If gay guys do anal mostly, and straight couples do the missionary position, what is the preferred position for lesbians while making love?”

Posted on by Deano in Q & A

Disclaimer – I am not a lesbian*, but according to the fictionalized sex and sexuality education series “South Park”, this answers your question:

http://www.southparkstudios.com/…

Drawing more from my own education, I’d say the question is flawed beyond hope of a serious answer. There is no “most commonly used” position among gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered, lesbian, genderqueer, group, or other sexual participants. Anyone who says otherwise is lazy and needs to pony up for a Liberator™ if they aren’t going to hit the gym enough to manage pp. 201-223 (excl. 219) of the Kama Sutra unassisted.

Part of what makes sexual expression and connection so special, is that one person’s “meat and potatoes” maneuver can be another’s “dreamgasm”… And it’s finding what works (and what doesn’t) between the 2 (or 200) of you that winds up being the most fun. Want to be a better lover? Let people know what you want in bed, and encourage them to share the same without fear of judgment.

Now, having said all this, for those budding lesbians who encounter a dearth of education on “tactical pleasuring” in their current educational and social circles, there are the following excellent resources to catch up on some great methods for getting down:

In a pinch, I’d be shocked if episodes of “The ‘L’ Word” weren’t available via iTunes/Amazon Video/Netflix, etc.

Best of luck figuring out your own answers!

* For some reason, actually typing it out brings on a brief moment of wistfulness in me, every time. Go figure.

This answer originally appeared on Quora: If gay guys do anal mostly, and straight couples do the missionary position, what is the preferred position for lesbians while making love?

Aaron Greenspan says “Shut Down the Business Schools!”

Posted on by Deano in Q & A

Aaron Greenspan, the creator of FaceCash, wrote this excellent post on the trouble with MBAs, and more importantly the complete lack of culpability in business schools producing “Masters of Business Administration” who are anything but…

“I have a number of friends who are affiliated with business schools at elite universities in one form or another. Some of them are studying topics such as economics and sociology, with the goal of eventually earning a PhD. The following is not directed at those individuals or those particular programs of study. This is all about the most popular program at every business school, the MBA…”

Read more at the original Post on Quora

Deano’s answer to: “Is there any way to consume alcohol without your breath smelling of alcohol?”

Posted on by Deano in Q & A

There at least two considerations here – the consumption phase, and the digestive/expressive phase.

Masking smell at ingestion:

  • Many herbal cocktails will help mask the scent of alcohol on the breath. Avoid the fruitier combinations.

  • Jello shots (done right) pretty much hold onto the alcohol until the digestion phase begins, minimizing the amount that gets “locked in” at the mouth/tongue/throat.

  • Beer and straight liquor, of course, are both terrible as far as masking goes, and should be avoided if this is of primary concern.

Masking smell pre and post-consumption:

  • Activated charcoal (~$5 http://amzn.to/jEob5F), the type more commonly used and prescribed for reducing body odor, helps a great deal. A lot of what one thinks of as “alcohol breath” actually emanates from every expressive pore in the body, including the lungs, and mouth – but also the sweat glands, and even the skin itself! To oversimplify the science, it’s a bit like a bloodstream air filter, or a kitty litter box for your drinking habit – and seeing as both deer hunters and models seem to agree on this one for masking unwanted scents, I’m sold!
  • Sodium Bentonite Powder (~$13 http://amzn.to/iDcCkm), used extensively in various skin purification and even some digestive “cleanse” programs. It basically works like the charcoal, absorbing toxins in the bloodstream before they have a chance to exhaust through various organs. For bonus points, also try calcium bentonite powder (also known as ‘Psyllium Husks”, and see which works best for you personally.

The best bet? Take some activated charcoal before you go out, indulge in a few Mojitos, and arrive home smelling of pure innocence. Even so, best to double-check in the restroom mirror, on the off chance some of that stripper glitter has rubbed off on your face – otherwise it won’t really matter how much you had to drink…

This answer originally appeared on Quora: Is there any way to consume alcohol without your breath smelling of alcohol?