List Your Specialist Subjects [Archive] - Page 3

Hip-Hop-a-potamus

07-28-2009, 11:29 PM

Hi all-

I'm new but I'll help how I can. I know quite a bit about the following:

- Controlling, manipulative mothers

- The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of MS (I have it)

- Genealogy- I'm not certified, but I know my way around quite a few archives, how to request certificates of various types, exploring graveyards, and digging up stuff very few people have put together (I'm writing a genealogy of Smiths, and have about 1300 pages right now).

- Art History (I have a BA in it; know quite a bit about Medieval, Rennaisance, and from about the 17th Century forward European)

- I grew up in Austin, Texas (my family moved there in 1971), and I pretty much know the entire city, although it has changed in the last few years. Also spent three years in San Antonio, several years in Denton at college, time in the Rio Grande Valley where I had family, and 13 years in the Dallas metro area. So if you've got Texas questions, I can probably help.

- Losing a father in early teen years and dealing with monster stepfather

- Living (or not living) with a much older sibling (12 years)

- Courting and meeting your spouse over the internet and marrying (we've been married 9 years now)

- Record store work back in the day (when they were still called that). Seen High Fidelity? That was my life in the 1980s.

- Also was very into the 80s alternative music club scene- Deep Ellum in Dallas, and Austin's live music scene in the 80s and early 90s.

Ya'll PM me if you have questions. :D

RedStringSoul

07-30-2009, 06:59 AM

What I've got to offer:

5+ years experience in IT support
(Want silly user stories? I got tons of experience there ;) )
Filipino-American but detatched from culture
Domestic abuse survivor
Anime subculture

xhellakojimaru

08-03-2009, 06:10 AM

I can help with these subjects:

Boxing: raised in a home surounded by profesional boxers throughout my childhood and training as a boxer.
Basketball: played varsity, and varying sports in general.
Injuries: broken arm, broken leg, broken hand
Homeless: my family was homeless when I was very young and relatively poor up until I was about eleven.
Manga/anime: I draw it, research it, live it.
Resportory problems: Asmtha, infection, swelling tounsils
Sleeping problems: Insomnia, and child insomnia

As well one thing is about cancer and living as a poor family. My mom dropped out of school when she was eleven living as the poorest family in her hometown within Louisana to take of her mother who had cancer, and five other siblings. Living in a poor household with strong morals so raised with little materialistic need.

semilargeintestine

08-03-2009, 06:29 AM

I posted a while ago, but I wanted to update as some stuff has changed, and I can't remember what I put down.

Anyway, my biggest specialty subject is probably Judaism and Israel. I am an Orthodox Jew with Lubavitch beliefs, and I have done a lot of research on Israel.

My secondary subjects that I feel comfortable giving advice for are:
Panic Disorder/Germaphobia: I had both for a while, and I got over them both
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: studied for nearly 10 years, and a world champ
Music: I play guitar, bass, drums, violin, and piano. I also sing.
Photography: Been a photographer (amateur, and I've been paid for some stuff) for 4 years

gkb

08-11-2009, 12:40 AM

I can offer some insight on the following:

software engineer for 10+ years now (C++, Java, OOA & OOD, Perl, etc....)
assistant Taco Bell manager for a few years
father of three beautiful (but naughty) children

Sarah W

08-18-2009, 01:46 AM

I'm a research librarian, specializing in genealogy and local history---which includes where city, county, state, and federal records might be found---or not---and what information specific records may or may not have. And if you want to know how a public library works, I can help.

I also have some knowledge (first hand or not) of the following eclectic topics:

pregnancy (after 2003, both natural and C-section)
The Black Hawk War
eating disorders
the early history of chiropracty
Bix Beiderbecke (the jazz musician)
The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River
Psychology (my dad is a retired psych professor and clinical therapist)
Basketweaving (my mom teaches at basketweaving conferences)If any of this is remotely useful to you, feel free to PM me!

sommemi

08-20-2009, 11:50 PM

Hmmm. Don't know that I'm an 'expert' at anything. I'm definately your 'jack of all trades master of none' kind of person. But I'll try to list some topics that I might have decent experience with or mastery in. I'll try to list the ones I have the MOST knowledge about first... (like I said, jack of ALL trades...)

SEX (just kidding lol... ...mostly)
Roller Skating
Baby wearing (baby carriers and what not - not attachment parenting per se)
Nursing/breastfeeding
ADHD
Sewing
Child learning disorders
Bachelor's in Psychology
Masters in School Psychology
Masters in Organizational Psychology
College requirements and admissions (work at a University)
Basic computer assistance (Excel, word, etc.)
Gymnastics (and other forms of dance... including 'exotic')
Haunted Houses and Halloween effects (ran a local one for 4 years)
Percussion (played since I was in 4th grade until senior year - section leader in marching band - GEEK.)
Plantars warts (ugh dont ask)
Motorcycles (own and ride one)
Dreams
Endometriosis
Big Foot (read a lot)
Bubbles
Hot air balloons (homemade ones)
Dying material
Tea - making it, uses, types...
cross stitch
crayons (used to work for crayola)
screenprinting
exercising and health (to a point...used to work in a gym)
Codependency, OCD and Tourettes
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Fall-out shelters
Mothering lots of boys... and step kids
Divorce
little bit of web experience (have a website, know basic html, took some web design courses...)

Don't know if ANYONE will actually need any of these topics, but just in case... there ya go!

Dicentra P

08-21-2009, 12:50 AM

Hmmm
Spent a decade in a convent, not cloistered but did hang out with a couple of cloistered communities in that time.
That's pretty much the only really unique experience I have.

Daveh

08-27-2009, 06:54 PM

I've spent 40 years in IT, starting on machines built "in-house". Done most things in the IT field.

I am probably one of the few IT people who understands how an IT system works from the molecular level of the chips to the System level, i.e. including the people whom the system is intended to aid/augment. I've programmed in many languages, used many design methodologies, many different computers for many different applications.

I run my own server which hosts my own and other peoples' web sites and email.

I have worked on secure systems for government use which gave me some exposure to the world of highly classified information and how to handle it (probably rather outdated by now). Spent 3 weeks on a warship doing sea trials of the computer system I had installed on it.

Some other stuff:

Motorbikes - own & ride & have written a HubPages article on the subject.
Italian - I lived in Italy for several years and am fluent in the language.
DIY (UK-style!) I've done plumbing, gas and electrics in several houses that we've owned and also for friends.
A fair bit about car mechanics - I've rebuilt engines, suspension and braking systems, including on some somewhat old & esoteric vehicles.
General electronics - a fair bit of general knowledge of the subject. I built my first valve (tube) amplifier about 45 years ago. I've designed and built printed circuit boards for computer peripherals.
Photography. I've been taking photographs for over 50 years.Although the knowledge is now fast becoming obsolete, I understand the photographic process from the chemistry of film through the physics of optics to the artistic side. I've been told I'm pretty good at the artistic side although I've never understood why :) I still have several film cameras as well as digital cameras.
Technical writing. I've written literally millions of words in the course of my work. The intended audiences ranged from other techies through senior management to government ministers.
Once designed an exhibition stand.

V. Greene

08-31-2009, 10:43 PM

After skimming through this a bit, I started to feel as though I know very little about anything at all, but here's one that's distinctive:

Search and Rescue dog handler, five years or so. This is long enough to know what writers like to get wrong. For instance, there was a TV show a while ago where it wasn't worth calling in dogs to find a buried person because "it hasn't been long enough," which implied cadaver dogs -- in California, land of post-earthquake and post-mudslide search dogs sniffing for live finds. *headdesk*

I'll be happy to help you work out what the dogs can, can't, and might do, ideally without killing your plot points. I've worked alongside several sporting and hound breeds; my own dog was a shepherd. Breed of dog will matter.

BlueMouse

09-04-2009, 07:27 AM

Dang, we has some talented folks up in heah!

What I have knowledge of and would be happy to help with:

Horses, in particular care and handling, also how they would behave in various circumstances and the things that might/might not bother them.

Knitting/crochet. I am a fiber fanatic and have a lot of experience with many and varied forms of alpaca, wool, silk, cotton, etc., etc. I love lace knitting and do a lot of it.

Baking. I am a decent cook but a very good baker (according to my husband, who buys me cookbooks and then waits hopefully).

Also, my husband is a Texas state trooper and I can always prevail on him to answer questions on offenses, points of law, etc.

That's about it. PM me any time - I will respond within a few days tops (can't get online reliably every day, but WILL respond).

Libbie

09-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Exotic animal care, animal behavior.
Birds, especially raptors.
Painting, esp. oils, acrylics, watercolor, pastel.
The history and mechanics of magic, escape art, mentalism/spiritualism, and vaudeville.
I'm your go-to skeptic, too, with lots of resources for debunking things like ghosts, UFOs, psychics, etc.
I know a fair bit about New Kingdom Egypt.

Elegy

09-15-2009, 07:40 AM

When I first read this topic, I was thinking about how terrifically useless I am in this regard, but the more I thought about it:

I was in the Army on active duty for two years. I got injured pretty badly, so I never deployed, but that just means I know a lot about what they call "working the road" (I was an MP). It also means I know what kind of injuries you can easily sustain while in military service, and I've got a TON of experience dealing with the less than stellar medical system and Humana's Tricare.

I then switched to the reserves, but I haven't been there very long. Still, could answer a few questions.

I know all about the rank structure.

I know a great lot about sociopaths (I married one, soon to be divorced).

Which means I will soon be an expert on divorce.

I went to school to be a paralegal, and worked on live cases. I still have all my reference books.

I'm a painter, so I can help with graphic art questions, traditional art questions and the like.

A lot of my family is bipolar, so I know a great deal about that.

I have a five-month-old daughter, so I can help with questions about small children and parenting (and what I don't know, we can ask my mother, who's had five).

I was homeschooled, so I know about how that's done, the legal aspects, and the isolation that comes from a lack of socialization... and how beneficial that isolation can be in a world like this one.

I worked in a photo lab.

I have degenerative joint disease in my back, SIJ dysfunction and tendons in my shoulder which tear according to their own whims. I can help with those injuries.

I know the whys and hows of being a hardcore Republican (who knows when that might come in handy).

I've been through marriage counseling (which does not work with a sociopath), and regular therapy for depression. I know a great deal about narcotic pain medication, and medication in general.

And if I think of anything else, I'll keep you updated. Feel free to PM me if there's anything you'd like to know.

:tmi

Richard L. Sutton

09-17-2009, 09:49 PM

I'm a sailor with more than 38 years experience in my own boats.
I've been an active trader in American Indian arts & crafts since 1985 and am a recognized appraiser of Southwestern handmade crafts, particularly.
I have had a home in New Mexico since 1989, and have researched adobe construction extensively.
I'm a fingerstyle guitar picker for over 40 years, and have pretty extensive knowledge of blu8egrass music, traditional delta blues and guitar construction and lutherie.
I've been married to the same3 woman for more than 36 years. That alone must qualify me for some expertise...or not.
I'm a grandpa.

TxAuthor

09-21-2009, 03:07 AM

Can't think of a better place to actually jump in:
Homeowners and auto insurance (policy interp, claims and some underwriting)
aromatherapy
Tarot cards and readings (moderate)
sports training (some)
Start ups -- assisted one (i.e. marketing materials, biz plans, investment meetings, etc.)
As CaoPao (sic) said, I might not know it, but I know where to find almost anything.
Probably some other things I'll think of after I get off, but now have to get off and have a pre-dinner Pinot.
Deb

DLAndersen

09-21-2009, 05:50 PM

Nice thread. I'm not sure what, if anything, I can add.

I know that I would like to see if anyone knows a lot about small-town (backwoods) life.

I live in a small town in Illinois and have worked as an interepreter in an early American historic home. I am currently writing a novel about family that lived in this home so I've done a bit of research both on early settlements and backwoods life. I would be happy to offer any information that might be useful.

I also have these areas of expertise:
teacher of music, general ed and special ed
church organist/pianist/choir director
theology / Biblical studies
all forms of needlework and historic costuming
camping/fishing

Diane

charlotte49ers

09-22-2009, 11:42 PM

I'm an elementary school teacher.
I'm also a photographer.
My husband played Division I basketball and played pro overseas, so I know a lot about the recruiting process, sports agents, politics in sports, etc.
I'm also a mom and run a parenting website.

Architectlink

09-27-2009, 05:11 AM

I have written several speeches that were listed number one in their conference category. Now I am trying to publish those speeches into How-To Books. Here are the titles (books are already written, but you all have said not to self publish).

Completed books:

"How to Save a Million Dollars in Flooring" (powerpoint sells for $250-$700 per copy)--duped into sending the manuscript to Joan Mayer in NYC--hope she isn't on your 'forbidden' list.
"How to Get onto HGTV"
"How to Design a Pool for Less"
"How to Design the Outdoor Living Room"
"How NOT to design your first house (by an architect)
"How to Market Your Estate House to Location Scouts for Movies & TV
"How to get your kid off of Ritalin and Raise his test scores by 351%
"Earthquake Signs and how they relate to the End Times"
Specialty:

Articles I am passionately writing about
Letters to the Editor--How America has lost its balance
Design
Facility Management
Life Cycle Savings (The real stuff)
Architecture
Grapefruit Recipes--Sauces, Salad Dressings
The TRUTH about how Grapefruit could reduce the Healthcare Budget--it REDUCES your needs for Medications by 1/2 to 1/4
Location Scouts for Movie Sets
Historic Preservation Defeats. Cash for Clunkers
Party Planning with Saavy Savings Tips
How to Plan your 30th High School Reunion
How to Homeschool with Ease
Ways to teach Kids to learn and have fun
How to Preserve your HOA neighborhood
@PresBaldwinPark
@SuzFinds
@Architectlink

MAP

10-05-2009, 10:21 AM

I have a Ph.D in Biochemistry. If anyone is writing anything on microbes, genetic engineering, or scientific research in general, I would be happy to help.

Rufus Coppertop

10-05-2009, 11:41 AM

Latin, ritual magic and demonology, some medieval, renaissance and classical history, some mythology, music theory - both modal counterpoint and diatonic harmony, 20 years experience in psychiatric nursing, harpsichord construction, tuning and playing, some knowledge of tanks, mainly world war II.

Stanmiller

10-08-2009, 08:43 AM

This is a really cool thread. I wish I'd found it years ago.

I can help with:
Modern Firearms, specifically combat pistol and long range rifle
High performance driving, sports car racing
Motorcycles, specifically sportbikes and sportriding
Geology , interested amateur level
Physics, same as above
Astronomy, refractor and reflector telescopes (I've built both)
Native American tribes and cultures (Southeastern Tribes, Cherokee mainly)
US Navy, Aircraft Carriers

RobinGBrown

10-12-2009, 03:59 PM

British
Motorcycling
Photography
Software development
London fetish scene
Kinky sex

JoshEllingson

10-15-2009, 06:10 AM

Paganism (particularly Norse and Celtic)
vampires
Scotland
Kilts (wearing and tartan designs)
Medieval combat (I am a SCA heavy combat fighter, and have dabbled in rapier fighting and live steel combat, archery and spear fighting. I also own several swords)

Dawnbird

10-20-2009, 07:43 AM

I'm a fiber-fanatic and I'll do just about any craft involving thread or cord.

Crochet
Lucette weaving
Tablet weaving
Rug-making
Bookbinding
Pine needle Basketry
Chainmail-both functional and jewelry
Quilting-traditional, applique, paper-piecing
Embroidery
Felting
Ornamental Knotwork

Sadly, all my hobbies keep me firmly indoors.

rosiroo

10-23-2009, 03:14 PM

I have personal experience with....

Living in East Africa and Africa in general

London and UK perspective

History, specifically Ancient Greece

Mental health topics

* Depression
* Anxiety disorders
* General Anxiety Disorder
* Social Anxiety Disorder
* Panic disorders
* Panic attacks
* Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
* Antidepressants (e.g.: Sertraline)

Music: violin, piano, playing in an orchestra and solo

Europe, esp. Eastern Europe

Buddhism

Pepper

10-23-2009, 04:28 PM

Ok, lemme think.......

I worked in a (cheese)cake shop for a year, so I can say an awful lot about just how messy and mundane the job was.......

I worked as a qualified pharmacy assistant in a chemist with a corrupt boss. I know a fair bit about over-the-counter medications (and some prescription ones). I also know the sort of things a dodgy pharmacist/manager will do to his customers to save a nickel. We got ram-raided twice (druggies stealing the meth products) and went through many instances of mass shoplifting. I've seen the footage, so I could give fairly detailed descriptions of how they went down.

I worked as a ride operator for a year at a major theme park. Don't ask me about what it was like to "be a carnie" because it wasn't like that. You can ask me about the workings of the job, injuries on the rides, people being idiots on the rides and workers being idiots while operating the rides.

I'm an identical twin, so I could prattle on about that for a bit.

Two of my friends have committed suicide, my grandmother died suddenly, as did three other friends of mine, all within the space of 5 years. If you want to hear about grief surrounding death, unfortunately I can give you lots of different examples. One reacts differently to each death.

I almost drowned once when I was a kid.

I've dislocated fingers, knees and elbows. My body has trouble regulating the temperature and I faint easily from overheating (thus I can describe in detail what it's like to faint, and I can describe how people around me have reacted). Oh, I faint at the sight of my own blood too. But not the blood of someone else.

I've grown up in South East Queensland, Australia- home of sunny beaches, passing storms that can write-off cars and stifling summer air.

So basically, I'm not an expert in anything. :D

Pyrohawk

10-27-2009, 10:48 AM

This is a really cool idea for a thread. And could come quite in handy. I'll start by telling a little about myself. I'm a firm believe a person who has lived in New York City his whole life should not write a story about farm life and such. So....

I was born and raised on a small farm in Southern Ohio...... 4 year FFA member, drive a pick up truck even now, tractors, crops, especially cattle. etc etc. I currently live in Columbus Ohio and am a Junior at OSU. Thats my background and what I know of general knowledge.

My specialties:
Only two come to mind in particular.

Pyrotechnics and Rocketry...... I have been an amateur pyrotechnic for the last 5 years and am quite good at. If you for some reason need to know how to build a rocket, an aerial shell (like a 4th of July display), both low and high explosives anywhere from a firecracker to a demolition charge, fountains, wheels, tourbillions, the names of various pyrotechnic effects, chemicals, or just about anything to do with pyrotechnics at all. If I don't know personally I can introduce you to someone who does or at very least point you in the right direction.

Martial Arts............... while I am something of a beginner myself in actually practicing I do know a great deal about them. My grandfather was a sensei of Karate, he actually achieved the statues of master and has been featured in several books. As a kid he would often teach me basic techniques...but more importantly we discussed philosophy and history as he was to old and poor health to train anymore. Since I have been in college I have been practicing with an excellent sensei for a couple years now and am learning a lot about the physical aspect as well. So feel free to ask about martial arts...especially Karate, and especially about the history/philosophy of martial arts.

One other small thing I know some about:

Falconry.............. when I was in school I was absolutely fascinated by falconry. I read every book I got my hands on and own quite a few as well. I also had a friend (middle aged man) who was a falconer and he would sometimes let me fly his hawk with him, help him do little things, etc. Like I said I have never been a falconer but I do know a decent amount about it and beings as its an obscure subject someone might find a need for.....here I am.

sdevonh

11-12-2009, 01:30 AM

I'm an RN. Most of my experience is OB/GYN related, but I've also been a school nurse, done life insurance exams and am now involved in research.
I'm a big attachment parenting, breastfeeding, natural birth and cloth diaper advocate.
I used self-hypnosis for the birth of my first child.
I'm crunchy...Can you tell?

laharrison

11-14-2009, 02:45 PM

I live in the UK, and I'm a migraine sufferer.

I work in tech, and have done for the past ten years. I spent several years as a systems administrator / database administrator, but since 2006 I've been self employed.

I can talk about free/open source software development, computer games, and the 'hacker' culture.

Giovanni_Spada

11-18-2009, 05:28 AM

There's not much I'd really consider myself an expert on but, due to my current WIP, I've read literally dozens of books on the history of Italy between about 1500 and 1600 (mostly focussing on the decades on either side of 1590), so I might be of some help there.

Somehow, though, I suspect that I'm the only person here who cares about that particular subject, LOL. ;)

K.Bristow

11-18-2009, 06:22 PM

Thought I'd add to this wonderful list...

Anything about Glass Blowing - chemical make up of raw materials, temps, tools, building your own studio, the business start to finish, furnace glass and bead making, risks and hazzards too. Being pregnant and a glass blower in July in humid New England!

Stair Building

Miniature Horses - breeding, training, showing (lived on a Mini Horse farm for 3 yrs.)

There are tons of other things but most have been listed already.

Great thread... Thanks so much!

Bookewyrme

11-20-2009, 05:12 PM

Lets see.
I am a Master's student specializing in Ancient Egyptian Women. I'm also familiar with other aspects of Ancient Egypt, including Middle Egyptian hieroglyphs (beginner but learning fast), Religion, Government, Everyday life, and Literature.
I am also a multi-language student (have taken but am not fluent in Ancient Greek, Latin, German. Conversational in Arabic.)
I have been a summer camp counselor and all that entails (boat driver, ropes course supervisor, life-guard, archery instructor etc.)
I am an huge anime, manga and SciFi/Fantasy (books specifically) Geek!
I have a working knowledge of the process of student immigration from the US to the UK.
I've recently planned my own wedding from scratch (advice: don't do it!)
I know Renaissance and Medieval Faires from the inside.
And lastly, I have traveled throughout the united states, having lived or at least driven through all except Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, Main, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Edit - Nearly forgot. I've also worked full-time for a Starbucks inside a Barnes and Noble for a year. I know coffee, and some of the Bookstore side of things!

Most of this is pretty esoteric, but I'm always willing to help. The least I will do is point you in the direction of websites and books which can tell you more than I can.

MichaelZWilliamson

11-23-2009, 01:16 AM

24 years US Army, USAF, active and Guard. Mechanical Section Chief for Airbase engineer unit. Small arms instructor. Armorer. Weapons courier. Range chief. General maintenance. HAZMAT NCO. Material Control NCO.

I generally know how a unit is put together. I know quite a bit of logistics and support. Quite a bit about how and why certain systems/materials/weapons are used, and

ahem

I personally have more firearms than the nation of Barbados.

I've been a bladesmith for 25 years, and I've also manufactured, repaired and restored firearms dating back 130 years and blades dating back 1300 years.

If you put a safety on a revolver I will hunt you down and strangle you:)

Because you should have asked me, first.

Proviso: Short answers are easy. Lengthier answers depend on my writing schedule.

Dave Willhoite

12-05-2009, 01:39 PM

Wow, Hi Mike.

I really know very little.

I read gas meters in north Mississippi. I had seven thousand meters to read every month.

I have been a sword fighting instructor for the SCA for 19 years. Doesn't mean I know anything about sword fighting, but I do know what all the armor bits are called, and I can tell you pretty much if you are getting the wrong bits in the wrong century. Hey, it's a hobby.

I live at the Graf Training Area in Bavaria, and I can tell you quite a bit about being a civilian on a military base during war time.

I was a road musician for four years. I played with the Gael Force Band, playing "Celtic" music across the American south east. This means that it is unlikely that you can hurt my feelings without special training, and I can open locks without keys.

I can pass a bribe.

I can drive, and have driven on the autobahn for years. I have been a school bus driver.

I taught Shotokan Karate.

I love beer and can tell you about bavarian Lagers.

I bake bread without one of those bread makers.

Dave

Elias Graves

12-12-2009, 12:03 AM

There seem to be plenty of literature experts around, so...
I do have some bits of off the wall knowledge:
Wheelchairs, custom wheelchairs, seating and positioning systems, power wheelchairs, alternative drive controls for power wheelchairs and about anything related to assistive technology.
Disabilities, disability rights and law, neurological/musculoskelatal disorders and how they relate to mobility.
Insurance/Medicare/Medicaid and how they relate to assistive technology and mobility devices.
Guitars, especially electric as well as guitar amplifiers.
Sherlock Holmes.
Rifles and shotguns, ballistics, ammunition.
Archery, particularly recurve bows and longbows.

EG

Collectonian

12-12-2009, 01:36 AM

For my little bit:

* Over 10 years experience in web design and web application development, particularly with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ColdFusion, and PHP. Both by hand and using tools like Dreamweaver, HomeSite, ColdFusion Studio etc. Have done presentations and talks on it; wrote and taught our departments ColdFusion training course.
* Experienced DBA in PostgreSQL, mySQL, and to a lesser degree MS SQL. Certified in Access (shh...don't tell anyone) and I can generally explain to you why Oracle is the most ridiculously over priced DBMS in the world :-P
* General computer technology regarding basic software and hard installations, having configured and assembled multiple desktops (including "fancy" geek ones with glowing lights and see thru panels); primarily Windows, with basic Linux and Mac info (and access to a Mac geek)
* Photography from doing it since high school; former president of a photography club, and my current beau is a total photography nut so if I can't answer, he probably can :-P
* Raising and training dogs; over 20 years of doing it and have three dogs currently (including one deaf dog that was born that way and whom I've raised from puppyhood so can speak in particular to their unique nature); can expound at length on the evils of backyard breeders and puppy milling and animal cruelty. Wrote a small book on them in high school.
* Bryan-College Station area of Texas and anything within a 50-100 mile area from living here the last 10 years; ditto Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Durham NC where I was born and raised (though I haven't been home in 10 years)
* Anime and manga - total fanatic, tons of books, over 600 volumes of manga and tons of anime; have also done extensive research for articles on Wikipedia (see below)
* Wikipedia - extremely active editor with over 90,000 edits

I also work for a university, so I have access to their journal databases and article request system and am generally happy to use it to get research materials for others so long as the requests are reasonably made :-)

Xemmy

12-15-2009, 06:36 AM

I have a M.S. in Computer Science, concentrating my studies in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Yes, they are different.

As a side effect, I can do most computer related tasks at some competency, such as build a webpage, assemble a computer from parts, troubleshoot, etc.

I participated in hacking when I was younger. I will not go into details of specific exploits, and times have changed a little in fourteen years, though I could provide general information.

I work in the investment banking industry. I am familiar with common business practices and the day-to-day operations of an equities trading desk.

I have successfully brewed about thirty cases of beer and unsuccessfully brewed about five. I've also made a batch of prison-style hooch.

I have a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and am an intermediate level (one step below amateur fighting) in Boxing and Muay Thai kickboxing. I am not ranked, thought I've fought a number of exhibition matches at my gyms. I've also taken classes in Karate, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Systema, and Krav Maga.

I used to work as a bouncer. I was the head of security for over a year at a gay club. I am not gay, by the way.

I have taken a lot of illegal drugs.

I've played many different pen-and-paper role playing games. I also go LARPing about six times a year.

I was freegan, vegan, vegetarian, a raw "foodist" (hate that word), ate only soup for a week, and only peas for three days. In case you don't know, freegan means I dug through the trash to find food to eat for fun or to promote some political message. I can easily afford food and I do this for fun.

You can probably surmise that I have been single most of my adult life. :tongue

Shilma

12-16-2009, 06:32 AM

I have BA in Political Science, focusing on Asia-Pacific region, Japan, China, and a bit of Israel-Palestinian conflict, dutch-indonesian people history during colonial period of Dutch East Indies, mesopatamian myth and religion, and gnosticism, classical music history (baroque to impressionism), and japanese sexual fetishes.

Feel free to ask help :D

B Neil Brown

12-17-2009, 06:34 AM

I have 11 years in Fire/Rescue experience. I worked for a small town department, we had 4 or 5 big burners a year, a lot of ambulance runs, and a lot of extraction (car wreck - amkus- jaws work). I spent quite a bit of time as an asst chief of a rural county rescue squad. My certified areas of expertise are as follows:
Structure fires
Brush fires
high angle rope rescue (rappel rescue)
SAR (search and rescue)
Urban SAR (searching, cribbing buildings/areas after natural disaster, earthquake, etc.)
Water SAR (OK, this is mostly cadaver recovery from lakes ponds and rivers)
Wilderness SAR (Grandma wanders off, it's 25 degrees out, and you can't find her, or a
toddler walks off, etc.)
Emergency Med Tech (EMT-B.. no meds or intubate for "B,s" in my state)
Farm rescue (rolled tractors, grain bin caves w/subject trapped inside, etc.)
Confined spaces rescue

I am also a certified entomologist. I am a "working" entomologist, not a research entomologist. I identify and come up with effective control plans for urban pest management. And I have spent a lot of time in all manner of crawl spaces. (No, I didn't bury any bodies, that's why I have an industrial freezer..lol)

If I can be of help, please let me know.

marnanel

12-29-2009, 11:09 PM

Hm, what do I know about that could come in useful in a story? Some of these may sound a little odd, but:

I've worked as a programmer for well over ten years, though I see I'm hardly alone in this.
I was one of those gifted children who doesn't know what to do with it and has the county psychologist and the special needs department constantly asking them questions to find out what's wrong. I doubt I'm alone in that, either.
I've studied both at Cambridge and at a former English polytechnic.
I know more than most people about English heraldry. I've read about it fairly extensively, met several heralds, visited the College of Arms, have arms of my own (via cadency, from my grandfather), and I used to be president of the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society.
I was very involved in the Internet talker scene in the early nineties.
I've lived with two romantic partners (as a triad) in the same house for a number of years and we're raising a kid together.

If anyone wants to ask me questions about any of those, ask away.

Wavy_Blue

01-09-2010, 05:26 AM

I've been learning Latin, and I'm quite comfortable with it. So if anyone needs any Latin translation help, let me know! :D

Ace Spyder

01-15-2010, 08:38 PM

If I can be of assistance, I can offer my expertise in the following areas...

-Child Abuse. Went through it.
-Moving from House to House. Been through three houses in six months--I know what a pain in the butt it can be.
-Death of a Child. Lost my baby girl when thirty weeks pregnant.
-High School Life.
-Young Love. Going on a year and a half with my boyfriend.

I'll edit if I think of more.

akmacca

01-17-2010, 05:22 AM

Happy to help out if needed:

Infantry soldier Australian Army 25+ years.

Military parachute instructor.

Tour guide in China, Russia and Mongolia.

Frequent trips on Trans Siberian Railway.

Mature university student.

Masters in Conflict Resolution.

Mediator and conflict coach.

Prison officcer in Auistralia's largest maximum security prison.

Experience in living and working in a remote Australian Aboriginal communities.

A good knowledge of Australia, its traditions, customs and people.

Been an expatriate several times.

Ask away if needed.

justAnotherWriter

01-21-2010, 10:38 PM

While I have a passing expertise in several subjects, the only thing in which I am a bona fide authority is medieval combat in 14th and 15th century Europe. If you want to know how people killed each other (and fought for fun) using swords and other period weapons, I'm your man.

tricksterpython

02-06-2010, 09:36 PM

I, or my immediate family members, have experience with the following.
Crafts: carding wool, spinning wool, weaving, crocheting, basket weaving, pottery, sewing, pine needle basketry, ceramics, soap making.
Cooking and baking: almost anything you can think of, including cheese making.
Art: painting and drawing with a variety of mediums, photography.
Gardening: for food and pleasure.
Living on a farm.
Languages: German, as well as a smattering of Spanish.
Computers: basically anything you want to know, from programming, to the management side of the business.
Animals: horses (esp. miniatures.), cats, rabbits, goats, dairy cows, chickens, ducks, geese, llamas.

Also, as a young child, my family visited old order Amish families several times. I can give you info on what it’s like to be the outsider child, what their church services are like, and the experience of an outsider in an Amish school near Easter time.

As for more current things, over the past year I’ve had some experience living in a household with more than two… “adult figures”, where there are two males and one female. I can’t really say much about how the relationship itself works, but I can give you a teenager’s perspective on this sort of change in the household. Feel free to pm me

SaraP

02-10-2010, 04:06 AM

I work as a doula, so I'm pretty much up-to-date with all things concerning giving birth. I can answer most questions regarding hospital birth, home birth, OBGYN assisted vs. midwife assisted birth, in the US or UK, and sometimes other locations as well. If I don't know the answer, I know where to get it. I also know quite a lot about breastfeeding and newborn related subjects.
If you have a birth scene in your work, make sure it makes sense. Most movies and TV shows are horrible at depicting what it really is like. "Children of Men" is a wonderful example of a birth scene that had everything to be perfect and they completely screwed it.

I run a baby signing business, so I'm knowledgeable on that area as well.

I'm a mother of two girls so I can help with family dynamics.

I was born and live in Lisbon, Portugal, so I'm as fluent in portuguese as you can get. Anything you want to know about the country or the city, ask.

ricketybridge

02-10-2010, 10:55 PM

Here's what I'm experienced with:

having a father with (probably) Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder
having two younger siblings
growing up in Los Angeles
molestation (as a teenager)
being in a cultic relationship
depression/suicidal thoughts
working as a teacher at an SAT prep center and as a tutor
years of babysitting
struggling as a wannabe actor and screenwriter in Los Angeles
majoring in English at UC Berkeley
working as an assistant to a producer
temping
lived in London for a few months

Cheers,
rickety

Chris P

02-16-2010, 09:18 PM

Let's see. I have a PhD in Entomology and Toxicology, so anything about biology or pesticides. I've done a bit of research on East Africa (and have been there twice) for a WIP. I'm reasonably well read in American history from 1776 to Vietnam. Go ahead and try me on anything else. Why the heck not?

wysewomon

02-19-2010, 02:45 AM

neo-Pagan witchcraft and religions
Tarot
Dance Therapy and somatic psychology
Abnormal psychology in general
Celtic music, especially flute
Fairy tales
Fairy lore and legends
mythology, especially Greek and welsh.

Oh yeah, and my husband was a stucco contractor for ten years, so I can probably tell you about that, too.

WW

xtine

02-19-2010, 07:20 PM

Hi, I'll only list areas of expertise I have from doing/living. I've read up on alot of stuff....but that doesn't count.

The fashion business. Fabrics, patternmaking, knitting, corporate structure in the schamtta trade, phrases like "shmatta trade" that fashion people use. Importing from China/Asia. Sweaters sweaters sweaters. I am NOT an expert the front end glamor side (the shows, the dinners, the models, the drugs).

Also, the NYC club scene in the 90s. Slam dancing (but this was so long ago I might disappoint you). Alphabet City and envrions before it was too expensive to live there. Same with Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Getting around on the subway, getting a cab on which corner and when walking is just your only best option.

Trucks. Diggers, dumpers, dozers and buncher fellers.

Some aspects of film production, contracts, filmic writing and just how freaking tough it is to get a movie made. But there are more knowledgeable folks than I who have written at greater length.

PM me if I can be of service.

eurodan49

03-12-2010, 12:40 AM

Between me and wife: languages (German, Italian, French, Russia, Romanian and some Hungarian and Bulgarian); East-European politics, law, history, literature, arts; some international and military history.

cscarlet

03-15-2010, 07:18 PM

In college I researched the epidemiology and surveillance of West Nile Virus and the neurological manipulation of La Crosse Encephalitis on disease competent vectors (mosquitoes).

I worked in an Anthrax diagnostics laboratory in 2002 after 9-11 (Wash. DC).

In graduate school I got my Masters in Public Health (Epidemiology and Health Administration) and completed a separate certification in Tropical Medicine (concentrating on vector borne diseases).

For several years I worked as an Emergency Planner for the State Dept. of Health. Biggest thing I had to respond to there was an ESF 3 tornado.

Now I work for a private company in Biodefense and Anti-bioterrorism (training and selling bio identification equipment to military and first responders).

ChristinaM

03-28-2010, 08:30 AM

mother of teenage boys
degree in accounting--cpa
beekeeper
herbalist
soap making
performed weddings & baptisms (non-denomination)
paganism/wicca
massage therapy, reflexology, reiki
native Californian (northern)

SirOtter

03-28-2010, 12:57 PM

I could've sworn I'd posted here, but I can't see where I did so here it is, maybe again:

I was raised in Nashville, Tennessee and have lived in or near there for almost fifty years. You want to know anything about Music City, I know it or can find it out. Yes, I have known several country music folks, although none of the current crop. I went to church with Webb Pierce and often swam in his guitar-shaped pool. And for a couple of years I was Minnie Pearl's regular waiter at the Green Hill's Shoney's restaurant on Hillsboro Road. Don't go expecting to erect a shrine there, though. It's not there anymore.

I played football my sophomore year in high school. I didn't care for being a tackling dummy for the seniors. Maybe the less said about that the better.

I grew up Southern Baptist, but converted to the Episcopal Church after marrying a Whiskeypalian. I'm much happier now. I'm on the vestry of my current church. We've turned our twenty acres of unused land over to a large contingent of refugees from Myanmar for farming, as they can't survive on what they make at their slave-wages jobs. If you want to know habout the Karen people and their long-term conflict with the ruling Burmese, I can ask them for you. Their English isn't very good yet, but it's coming along gradually.

Let's see, what else...

I spent ten years in the restaurant industry, mostly as a waiter or fast-food/family dining manager. I spent enough time in construction to know I didn't much care for it. And I managed a collectibles store for a couple of years. Comics books, baseball cards, movie posters, stuff like that.

I worked for Social Security Disability Determination for twelve years, which required not only being an expert in applying the Byzantine laws concerning same, but a more than passing familiarity with some basic medical knowledge. I now work for Vocational Rehabilitation. I work with people with virtually any disabling impairment you can think of, and a few you probably can't. I spent over a year working closely with people with visual impairments. I am a trained sighted guide. I can't read Braille, but I understand the basic concept and know several people who can read it, because they have no choice.

My wife has MS. We will be married twenty-nine years in May. We have three daughters and a granddaughter. We also have five cats. God help me.

I've owned my own home for twenty-three years. When you buy a home, you buy a hobby. Our house has about 10,000 books in it. Six people, five cats, 10,000 books - yep, it's a big house, and something always needs fixing.

I have a BA in History from the University of Tennessee. My emphasis in college was in Imperial Britain, but most of my reading since 1985 has been American political, social and popular culture history from the Gilded Age to about the 1960s.

I have at various times collected comic books, baseball cards, pulp magazines, old time radio shows, Big Little Books, movies, the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs and a wide variety of pop culture artifacts. I can speak intelligently about silent films, classic films, hard-boiled mysteries, the history of baseball and the Golden Ages of comic books, newspaper comic strips, science-fiction, fantasy, radio, and TV. If you have a story set in 1939 and want to know what your hero hears when he or she turns on their radio, I can tell you that and probably help you get a recording of it. I know what evil lurks in the hearts of men.

I have a vast knowledge of film, and what I don't know, I know where to look it up. I've probably seen close to 10,000 movies - good, bad, old, new, French, German, Italian, Japanese, scary, sappy, short, long, animated, live-action, silent, talkie. I like movies.

I like cars, too, but I'm only passionate about the ones from before about the mid-70s. They got real boring about then, and have only gotten uglier since. My first car was a 1961 Ford Falcon. I fixed the carburetor with a safety pin early one morning on Briley Parkway in Nashville after working the graveyard shift at Opryland and drove it that way for another year. Try doing that on a modern car. Oh, I drive a modern car, but I miss the great old cars of the 60s. Except the 1963 Chevy Corvair I traded the Falcon for. That truly was a POS.

I remember seeing JFK when he came through Nashville in May of 1963. He is still the only president I've ever seen. I remember the day he was killed. I was in Kindergarten. I have a long memory.

Dad was an architect before he retired. I used to run his blueprint machine. Damn thing stank like an over-flowing litter box. I think I did learn an appreciation and some basic knowledge of architecture. Nothing I could base a career on, though.

I'm sure I'll think about lots more as soon as I hit the send button.

D.C. McLaughlin

04-01-2010, 04:37 AM

I don't know if I'm a EXPERT in any of these but I know something about these subjects.

-Twenty years experience as a stable groom to racehorses and show horses. I've also been an equestrian midwife helping out under the expert tuteledge of one of the best reproductive equine vets in the country. I was also caring for, at that time, many horses going through embryo transfer, meaning : big, fat, blonde, Belgian draft horse mare was pregnant and caring for the baby of an expensive racehorse mare while blood mama continued to race.

-Involved in equestrian historical re-enactment. PLEASE don't try to tell me knights rode Budweiser Clydesdales! It never happened! I can really get on my soapbox and rant about that.

-Some esoteric knowledge. As I have said in my profile, I'm a tree-hugging carnivore. Shocking hunh? We DO exist!

-Special area of interest and research: Epona. Need to know about the Celtic goddess of horses? Ask me.

-I have a fascination with snakes. No, not the huge ones that show up on T.V. taking over the Everglades and biting stupid people that try to dance with them! The little, tame, harmless ones that come in pretty colors. Need to know some snake facts? Well, if I don't know, I know where to track down the proper "herp" geeks that will get you those answers!

-A little knowledge on wildlife stemming from a dad who was a wildlife biologist and being raised on a wildlife refuge with a mother who did animal rehab. I grew up with raccoons, possums, squirrels, rabbits and lots of hawks and owls.

As you can see I had a perfectly normal upbringing and live a perfectly normal life.

Now. Anyone wanna pet my sand boa?

D.C.

TameraLynnKraft

04-01-2010, 05:17 AM

Here's my list:

Know a lot about 19th century America

Lived in Ohio all my life

Took tap and ballet lessons for 20 years

Children's pastor for over 20 years with expetese in drama, puppets, church staffing, outreach, bus ministry, writing curriculum (published), skit, praise dance, praise flags, human video, power point, gospel illusions, object lessons, teacher training, etc.

Know a lot about the Bible

Know some about music (took piano lessons, son majored in bass, daughter sings and plays violin)

Husband works at the post office & knows a lot about electronics

Husband used to repair TVs

Used to do research for land title office

Know a lot about blimps

Live 1 hour away from Amish

Am pentecostal and know about that

Was a teenager and stuck out in the country during blizzards of 76, 77, 78, 79 & 83

Old movie buff

I can't think of anything else.

Insana D

04-02-2010, 08:31 PM

I don't know if these topics will ever come up for most of you but here's some of what I've been through that might give some insight into an experienced voice if needed.

Mormonism-37 hard ugly years

Physical Abuse-only 16 years but I know some good stuff about how it works

Emotional Abuse-hey, I'm still inflicting it.

Passive Agressive-I am not so good at it but I know it when I see it. My mother and daughter are queens at this stuff. If you don't believe me it's because you don't love Jesus.

Home Design-I've designed over 400 homes from the rebar to the turtle vents on top. I can talk construction speak and cuss like a plumber.

Unemployment-see above. It ain't coming back for a long time folks and when it does, I'll be too broke to notice.

Spoiling grandkids and eating steaming piles of ripe feces in order to stay in good graces with kids- I got that down. When my DIL called me a lazy apostate I just smiled and offered her some more potroast.

Empty marriages-I only had one but I've seen plenty.

Good marriages-I've only had one and it all boils down to just dumb luck. I don't know what I did to deserve this man but I'm not going to take this for granted.

Utah and the west, water issues, irrigation, loathing Las Vegas, living among Mormons in tenuous peace, big families, sibling issues, resentment, faking Morgasms to get along with family, Danish frugality and stubborness, being short, plump, heart disease, not reaching tall shelves, standing on swivel chairs to reach tall shelves and the inevitable comedic antics, sore feet, sore muscles, gardening, yardwork, living on nothing, what not to do...

Burns-fortunately only on about 50% of my former four yr. old body. I know about the treatment, pain, scars, itching, bleeding, infections, ridicule, and curiosity

Miscarriage-fortunately only three, two mid term and one early. Mid term is bloodier

Euthenasia-hopefully one experience with this is all I'll ever have to live through. My daughter was born with pretty severe genetic defects and was very ill. We let her go when she was three months old. It was the kindest and bravest thing I've ever done.

Stillbirth-not fun. For some reason the contractions just so quickly you don't have time to breathe between. Purply black oxygen starved babies look like aliens. They put them in a big ziplock bag full of saline solution. Weird eh?

Broken leg, near lethal sledding accident, pushing mother over cliff for fun, torn hamstring, riding 12' wave and crashing on beach, flying over handlebars of bike, clausterphobia, step parenting, and other life threatening misadventures too numerous to list.

Doing dumb stuff numerous times hoping for a different outcome, that I know and can describe in intimate detail.

Most important thing I can offer to the whole wide world, "Friends don't let friends buy old houses". I'm a chronic, incurable, terminal owner of a crappy old house that can hear change jingling in my pocket and something will break or fall down or rot or just spontaneously combust in order to suck down every dime in the vicinity. Even more twisted than that, I see other crappy moldy ratty tumble down houses and fantasize about fixing them up. There's no known cure and it can be contageous. Please don't let this infect you. Practice safe sects and stay away from old houses.

shadowwalker

04-02-2010, 08:58 PM

Jack of all trades, master of none, but I can help out with depression (from the patient's angle); genealogy; tales of growing up in 20s and 30s (older parents); small town life (as in 3500 people and less); single parenting; empty nesting ;-)

Beth Light

04-04-2010, 06:49 PM

I am a registered nurse on the labor & delivery, post partum and newborn nursery units of a major, highly-respected, big-city hospital. Our hospital has a level 4 NICU, so we take a lot of really sick babies and moms. I can answer questions in any of the following areas, and if I can't, I know who to ask:

Normal (hospital) labor and delivery procedures
The birthing process
Medical conditions of mom and baby (Pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, fetal distress etc...)
Pregnancy and drug addiction
Infant withdrawal from maternal addictions
Prematurity and severe prematurity
Fetal death in utero and how it is diagnosed
Delivery by c-section
The list could go on and on.

I'm also well versed in general nursing procedures.
PM me if you have any questions that you think I might be able to answer.

Aheïla

04-07-2010, 03:00 AM

Here is my list.

French (my first language)
Video games (from a developper stand-point, it's my job)
Quebec city (where I've always lived)
Witchcraft and paganism in general (the related mythos, magical properties of rocks and plants, symbolism, tarot, etc.)
The stress of having your body give up on you (had a heart surgery, at 20. And am now having low blood pressure problems, at 23.)
Teaching (I've just started part-time so I have a different point of view than a well-established teachers)
Acting (did that for over 10 years)

These would be the main ones, I guess. I also sing, play the piano and flute (and am just starting violin) but I'm not a pro. ;)

lachlan

04-09-2010, 02:16 AM

Growing up in rural Canada in the 60's

Managing a team of eccentric experts who are all smarter than me and they know it

Roleplaying games

Bushrat

04-12-2010, 07:17 AM

-bilingual, my other language being German
-cabin building
-living off-grid
-living out in the bush
-bears and moose
-domestic ducks
-stained glass
-medicinal wild herbs
-flatwater kayaking
-bush skills

lcla28

04-18-2010, 01:52 AM

Hi guys

I can help with:
- Investment banking
- London
- Spanish

AnkleSneeze

04-20-2010, 02:31 AM

Most of these I can help with to some degree, (*Advanced level)

Professional experience:
*Electronics- 35 years in field basic, solid state, tube, IC's, hybrid, etc
*Radio Communication- 30 years commercial, theory and practice
Repairs in unusual places, Max security prisons, Nuke plants, Football stadiums, etc.
*Repair business-Many experiences
Remote worker - for larger corporation
Entrepreneur- started 3 small businesses, 1 successful, 2 fails
Cellphone early start-up
Pre-Cellular Car Telephones (IMTS)
*Computers- mainly hardware, also early home computers started in 1981
*Digital Signage- 6 years
Sales- 6 years in technology sales
Dishwasher-
Pizza delivery-
Poverty survival and unemployment this could go under 'Entrepreneur'

Personal:
*Bible - History, bible cannon, bible prophecy.
Jehovah's Witness - Door to door ministry- (no negative inquiries please)- I've spoken with people of nearly every religion, and most non-religion beliefs. (Including a guy who told me he'd attained x-ray vision from eating right, but lost it when he broke down and ate a Twinkie)
Successful parent of three excellent teenagers!
Successful marriage- 28years
Public Speaking - to up to 5000 people
My father was a policemen my mother a portrait artist.

Lived in Michigan lower Peninsula various places- most of life and currently
Lived in New York City -early 80's
Lived in Iowa - 5 years (00's)

Hobbies:
RC airplanes and cars
Photography
Photo Manipulation
PC games- early mainly
*Computer hobbyist
*Home improvement (fixed up 2 houses)
Fish- Freshwater, aquarium and game
Michigan history

My wife wanted me to add her main skill:
Cake Decorating

Griesmeel

04-20-2010, 02:15 PM

Just in case it's useful here's my handful of knowledge:

Merchant marine academy graduate although not too much practical experience.
11 years as a MS Windows server administrator, though pretty broad emphasis was on email servers .
Small boat sailing instructor.
Hobby photographer.
Native Dutch speaker, moderate at German and working on my Portuguese (I just moved to Portugal, might be a while before I'm able to answer anything big about that. :) )

Oh yeah, I worked conveyor belt at a meat slicing factory for 2 years. (it was hard getting a job as a starting mariner just after the iron curtain came down) :D

Will be glad to help. :e2salute:

Empress_Isis

05-09-2010, 04:44 AM

I work for 000 (the Aussie equivalent of 911) as an emergency calltaker and dispatcher, so if anyone needs any info on what it is like being on the other side of the phone, I'd be happy to help.

I'm also good with Australian culture, both historical and modern.

Dolohov

05-27-2010, 08:05 PM

What a fantastic idea. I may be bothering some of the people I'm seeing here :)

For myself, I'm happy to answer questions about my own areas of expertise:
Robotics (I have a PhD in multi-robot coordination and control, and stay more-or-less current in the field)
Computer networking (From the basics of how the internet works, to the particulars of how network monitoring is done.)
Cooking (Do a lot of it, watch a lot of TV, have a lot of very good reference books)
Coffee (I roast my own, and collect coffee-making apparatus)
Programming (professional software development, research programming, and hobbyist -- includes mobile devices, embedded devices, specialized sensors sensors, custom file systems)

Personal experiences I'm happy to talk about:
I grew up in north-central West Virginia, and currently live in New Hampshire
I spent 6 years as a graduate student in engineering, and can give you an earful on how that works and on the feudal system of graduate advising
Have worked as a professional software developer
Have attended a number of academic and professional conferences

Hallen

06-10-2010, 01:33 AM

-Aviation: I'm a former military (Army) pilot in both helicopters and fixed wing. I have a good working knowledge of civil aviation. I was also a trained helicopter and airplane mechanic.

- Land Surveying: I work for a company who makes survey equipment so I am fairly familiar with general surveying principles and terminology.

- High Precision GPS/GNSS. See above.

- General Army/Military stuff. US military rank, protocols, general life...

- Sports car racing. I'm a big fan and I have my own track car that I drive on road courses.

- Oregon: I was born and raised here although I haven't seen everything, I know quite a bit about the place.

- Logging: I've done a bit of it, mostly small scale.

tinkerbell

06-21-2010, 05:14 AM

Musicals and plays - reference
Acting
Singing
Show choir
Band, esp. trumpet/jazz
Music (and music theory)
The college application process
Baseball, esp. baseball history and the Boston Red Sox
Chicago and the Chicago suburbs

If you have questions about any of the above, feel free to message me! :)

lenore_x

06-25-2010, 01:20 AM

Ooh, yay, I love talking about things I know. :D Probably nothing new under the sun in my list, but...

I have a B.A. in linguistics, which does not mean I'm multilingual. If you want help with the basics of linguistics, I can help. I'm also knowledgeable about English phonology/dialects, and psycholinguistics (language development and learning, aphasia). I've conlanged before and I have the linguistic typology knowledge to make it realistic, so if you're making up a language and want some input, I can help.

I've lived in Washington State my whole life, both rural and city (Seattle). Love my home state, so I can tell you a lot about it.

I'm a graduate and employee of the University of Washington. I've temped in several different departments. I can help you with UW specifics or the general inner workings of a large university.

I've worked a lot in eldercare and childcare. My mom has owned a small care home since I was a young child, and I've worked in a nursing home and a day care center.

Various personal things:
-I'm the child of a gay parent. (And STRONGLY pro-lgbt rights, so if you're looking for some kind of horror story go elsewhere. :P)
-I attended a small alternative high school.
-I love camping and other outdoorsy stuff.
-I'm in an interracial relationship. (I'm white, he's mixed Asian & white.)
-I've been to a lot of weddings and I'm a bit obsessed with wedding planning.
-I volunteer with homeless youth (of which there are over 1 million in the US alone).

The best way to get in contact with me is EMAIL! lenore.x@gmail.com (mailto:lenore.x@gmail.com) I do answer PMs but sometimes I don't log in for several days at a time.

KBlooms

06-25-2010, 01:27 AM

American Politics, American History and World War Two and events leading up.

Lyra

06-25-2010, 02:52 AM

I have a diploma in astrology and a Masters degree in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, specialising in history - if it's to do with the practice of astrology and cultural position of it chances are I can answer.

More obscurely, I am an expert on the history of the Theosophical Society and have been published and lectured on same.

And I have two terms of paleography.

That's probably enough to be going on with...

Maraxus

07-02-2010, 02:29 AM

Iron Age Europe (Societies, Mythology, Warfare), basics about bronze and early medieval age.

Also math and (theoretical) computer science - but no idea what that would be good for. ;)

kyliesmiley16

07-17-2010, 11:05 AM

Feel free to ask questions, although I wouldn't really think I'm an expert in any of these, but might just have the basic stuff you're looking for :)

- Currently in my first year at uni studying Creative/Professional Writing.
- 3 siblings. I'm the youngest and only girl. Family expectations.
- Separated parents.
- Prone to being called the "teacher's pet" throughout primary and high school. How it felt and changed.
- Growing up with internet from the time I was 8, and having/meeting internet friends from the age of 11/12.
- The impact of being shy (advantages & disadvantages, many of them.)
- Planes (brother a pilot, friend a flight attendant).
- Teaching (sister-in-law works in childcare, another works in primary and long distance teaching and tutoring, mother works in teacher aiding at high school... having a mother work at your school).
- Having a school with a bad reputation.
- Horses (minimal).
- Cats (own 2).
- Art & IT
- Aussie stuff.

conspicuouschick

07-18-2010, 12:46 AM

I feel like I should just tack a link to my Job Profile, but I'll refrain.

- BA in Psychology
- M.Ed in Counseling
worked in:
- HIV community
- community mental health center (and all that implies)
- domestic violence, specifically as a legal advocate, so I know my way around the legal system too
- troubled teens
- drug and alcohol treatment (no, I'm not in Recovery myself)

- 8 years as the Co-Publisher, Content Editor of an online rock music magazine
- Owner of an ecommerce business (yes, I'm a bit of a tech-head)

- Parented and volunteered in retired racing greyhound adoption since 1996
- Community theater (acting and the like)

- My mother died when I was 17

- Living kidney donor since 2008. If you ask, be prepared to get real info and answers and not just some Pollyanna point of view. See www.livingdonor101.com for a preview.

- curly hair (hey, a lot of folks with straight hair have no idea of the reality of curly/wavy hair!)

- born, raised and still live in Ohio. I'm a midwestern girl. We're not as assbackwards as folks on the coasts like to think.

When in doubt, ask. I tend to be a fount of useless information, so you never know!

junestarr

07-18-2010, 11:47 AM

I'm 16 and will be a junior this fall, so I don't have any college degrees or anything, yet! But I am knowledgeable in these areas:

AREA:
- Kansas City, Missouri and other Missouri and Kansas cities.
- Boston, Massachusetts (though, I really haven't LIVED there)

Things I do and know well:
- Cross Country/Running (I have a blog devoted to this)
- Competitive swimming
- Soccer (high school level, I don't watch a lot of soccer games on TV)
- Theatre/Broadway. I am wicked obsessed with it and know a lot about the shows. I act and am also a techie, so I know stuff about the backstage life and have plenty of stories to share. I especially love Rent, Wicked, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth...
- Used to be in GSA (gay straight alliance) before the sponsor went to another school
- In SGA (student government association. kind of like student council)
- In almost all honors classes but I'm not the smartest, or at least I don't always apply myself.
- Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals fan and any baseball terms and whatnot.
- Expert on the movies Goodfellas, My Girl, The Sandlot, Say Anything
- Know the events for Track and Field
- Knowledge of ABC soaps, especially of General Hospital.
- I used to be in orchestra at my old school. I played the violin, viola and bass. These days I just play the piano.

Personal:
- being called 'crazy' pretty much every day in biology class.
- having low self esteem issues about looks and weight
- making up an alter ego (no, i'm really not insane, i just have a great imagination)
- I don't do any drugs or drink. But I've had my fair share of friends who did those things.
- always wanted to go to boarding school. I got accepted into this private school but couldn't afford the tuition. I can share my experience.
- I had/have close family members who have been in jail, mental institution and have mental problems and OCD.

Hmm. If you think I might know something that is not listed or want to talk to me more about these things please PM me! There are so many other things that I thought about listing but seemed useless, but who knows!

imsleepy

07-24-2010, 12:46 AM

I just posted some of my "expertise" in someone else's thread and it made me realize that I should post something in here, on the off chance someone needs help. I wouldn't call myself an expert, because I'm sure someone out there knows more than me, but I've had a lot of experiences and am more than willing to talk about them.

Areas I am remarkably knowledgeable in:

-Drawing (tools, experiences, feelings about it, teaching it, learning it)
-Sewing and fashion
-Baking and cooking from scratch
-Travel (been all over the united states, in many different ways, planes, trains, and automobiles, you know. I've hitchhiked short and long distances, I've slept in hotels, hostels, people from couchsurfing.com, people's houses who I didn't even know. I've seen almost every major city from a traveler's perspective, and many, many small towns, suburbs, and farms.
-Florida (it's where I was raised, and where I'm living now.)
-Homelessness (homeless shelters, laws, how to find a good spot to squat, how to eat)
-Hippies (you never know)
-Getting your GED (got mine when I was 16)
-Learning Disabilities (I have dyscalculia)
-Drugs (don't do them, have done a lot of them, particularly pyschedelic drugs, have experience with family members abusing drugs)
-Restaurants (worked at them for years)
-worked at a gas station, too
-I've been to (women's) county jail, and had close family members and friends in jail and in prison. I can tell about life inside, and life after you get out.
-Indie Music (you can't find anyone more knowledgeable than me!)
-Sexuality (the act of, the stigma behind, the biology, anything you want to know about it, including things you never thought to ask)
-Bullying, especially cyber bullying (I can tell you about the bullies, the bullied, the reasons behind it, the way it's carried out, and the repercussions the bullies have to face)

I don't know if any of this will be helpful, but you never know what a person is going to write a book about! You can send me a pm, but if you want a really fast response, send me an email itsnottoolate @ gmail.com

Tippecanoe1841

08-03-2010, 04:54 AM

I have been a property and casualty insurance adjuster for 20 years, handling auto physical damage, Kentucky No-Fault, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, general liability, homeowners, commercial property, medical malpractice, and workers compensation claims. If an insurance claim can be filed on it, I've probably handled it. I have worked on my company's catastrophe team after hurricanes and tornadoes. I've won numerous awards for my claims handling. If you have a question about insurance coverages or insurance claims, I can probably help.

I am also a semi-expert on the ninth President of the United States, William Henry Harrison.

PsychicToaster

08-03-2010, 08:05 PM

I have professional/pro-sumer/hobbyist knowledge of the following, arranged in descending order of my confidence in my ability to answer questions:

- Theatrical acting and directing
- Cinematography, cinema directing, life on set
- Video game design, level design and narrative architecture
- Tabletop RPGs, specifically rules and systems design
- US national politics
- US political campaign organizing
- Feminism
- Evolutionary theory
- Current topics in atheism/non-theism
- Catholicism
- Buddhism and the history of Buddhism
- Radio, club, and event DJing
- Dark ages folklore
- C++/C# programming
- Kyushuu, Japan
- Autism-spectrum Disorders (including Asperger's Syndrome)
- Pre-Renaissance art history

According to many people, I have one special skill, and that is the ability to put any concept in terms others can understand.

mattias

08-11-2010, 02:45 AM

I have a very good knowledge in the following areas:

Sweden
Swedish
Software Development (including several programming languages)
Linux
Amateur Astronomy (I also know all northern constellations)

Rammstein

08-11-2010, 11:05 AM

Sweden/Swedish (hello mattias)
French
Swedish government agencies
The UN system and its bodies
International humanitarian operations
Aircraft (civilian and military)
Airline disasters
Travel
Scuba diving
Conspiracy theory (more of an outsider looking in)
Religious sects
Atheism

midgedear

08-15-2010, 11:54 PM

I'm an expert on life in rural Alabama, and unfortunately through personal experience, domestic violence, child abuse and recovery from aloholism.

Joanna Hoyt

08-20-2010, 03:30 AM

I'm not quite a specialist, but could offer info on the following, on the off chance anyone needs them for a story:

Homesteading in the northeastern US--organic gardening, goats, cheesemaking, pigs, poultry, very basic wildcrafting and herbal medicine
Homeschooling / Unschooling
Forming and getting tax exempt status for a nonprofit corporation (the tax part is nationwide, the incorporation process I only know for NY)

Earth to Alex

08-21-2010, 07:16 PM

Not much of an expert, but I could provide some insight. Being a biracial, believer in straightedge. A stuttering, extremist in nonconformity. A devout Catholic in a small Catholic school in a different state from which I live in. Being a female shy teenage boy.

TheMindKiller

08-27-2010, 05:35 AM

I can definitely provide some insight into life in the U.S. Navy, including things like living in foreign countries, learning cultural sensitivities (especially Greek, Japanese and Australian), extensive travel and living on a ship for an extended period of time.

Guardian

08-27-2010, 06:08 AM

All I have is life experience right now. :D PM me; I am more than willing to answer whatever you like to the best of my abilities.

I'm 17 so I can offer some insight into the teenage mind of today, perhaps. I'm a little out of the loop but I know how my peers behave. I'm just... not in the mainstream crowd.
Experience growing up with a schizophrenic and epileptic mother.
Self-harm (mentality behind it, habits and methods)
Some experience with mental health services, from experiences with my mother and personal.
Maine, and elementary schools in Kennebec county.
Coming out as a lesbian at about age 14
Marching band, band, chorus
Web design, HTML, CSS
Taking advanced courses and college classes in high school
Math team meets (lol)

The only places where I've "worked" so far, aka volunteered, are the city hall for the Sustainability Committee and a local soup kitchen.

Kricket

08-27-2010, 08:21 AM

I like to be helpful so here's what I can do. :)

I'm Mormon/LDS (however you'd like to refer to it) I'm open to any and all questions on this subject.
I've been working at a credit union for 2 years as a teller and a loan interviewer.
I'm a new mommy
Been married for two years.
Grew up in Georgia, USA
Am now living in Utah, USA
I'm pretty well versed in anime/manga and the culture surrounding it.

You're welcome to PM me with questions or e-mail me at ksiemens86@gmail.com

LBlankenship

09-09-2010, 04:20 PM

The insufferable know-it-all in me just loves to answer questions! ;)

- 15 years of experience as a graphic designer, heavy on the Photoshop and on prepress (ie getting it from the computer to a printing press, though I did catch the tail end of the film-stripping era.)
- a bachelor's in Biology, specializing in molecular genetics. That was a while ago, but I can still translate scientific papers... it's like riding a bike.
- Knitter and crocheter of some experience. Ask me about fibers!
- Lifelong experience with cats, including about five years (and counting) in cat rescue and rehab.
- grew up fat, living fat, going to die fat.
- got mild depression, and am married to someone with major depression. Maybe not the most dramatic mental illness, but it's a grind.
- currently living near Washington, DC, and familiar with the area.

See you around!

K.C. Robertson

09-11-2010, 09:18 PM

I'm ABD in Medieval Lit. My superduper specialty is Middle English Romance, but I'm very good on the Arthurian Legends (specifically from England, Wales and France), High- to Late-Medieval Church issues/literature/culture as well as most aspects of lived religious life, the Monarchy, Medieval ideas towards marriage, Chivalry (both idealized and as it was most likely practiced), linguistic aspects of Middle English, and most anything 14th-Century related.

The other areas of my expertise:
- Grad School - what it's like being there/taking classes, what the people are like, etc
- living far, far away from one's family
- beer
- teaching college (specifically English)

southernwriter

09-14-2010, 01:42 AM

Astrology.

LGwenn

09-17-2010, 03:56 AM

Hmmm...lets see

Tibetan Buddhism (as practiced in America) ( but I don't want to get into big philosophical arguments with people or have to explain minutia)
I'm a certified Personal Trainer
Moved every two years as a kid, so I know what that's like
Being a step mom
Tattoos, Tattoo Shops and Tattoo Culture
I'm a certified Holistic Health Counselor

Tallent

09-17-2010, 04:01 AM

General Science, physics and Math.
Optics
Programming - integrating machines into a system

Youth Coaching - Football, Lacrosse, baseball

Marathons
Triathlons

Dyslexia

LoriToland

10-05-2010, 04:11 AM

My specialist position would be: going through the US immigration system for the past 5 years. While I'm not an attorney, I can clue you in on the sleepless nights, the way no one understands what you are going through and more. Please feel free to e-mail me at lori@loritoland.com to chat with me about it because nothing irks me more than seeing the US immigration system misrepresented.

I'm also a CEO of a small to mid size company.

TechieMoe

10-14-2010, 06:01 PM

I have 6 years under my belt as a database administrator and Java software developer for local government, specifically criminal justice applications. I'm also available for the following:

Living in Texas (Houston as well as piney woods east, Jasper)
The Linux Operating System
Building and repairing desktop computer systems
Premature babies (helped raise two preemies)
Marching band and the football culture of Texas high schools
College in the Texas Hill Country (Texas State)
Living with a deaf sibling (one of the two preemies)
Growing up with a different cultural influence (my case: Japan)

Let me know if any of that is useful for you. I've been told I love to hear myself talk. ;)

BRDurkin

10-16-2010, 04:06 AM

Here's a list of my experiences:

Office Depot: Sales associate, cashier, customer service (You know, in case you're writing something like the TV series "Chuck" it could come in handy. You never know!)

US Navy: Arleigh-Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyers, 5-Inch caliber gun mount, small arms (M16, M4, Mk18, M14, M9, M203, Mk19, .50-caliber machine gun, 25mm chain gun [assault rifles, pistols, machine guns, grenade launchers]), hand to hand combat, small unit tactics, ship boarding and suppression tactics, anti-piracy, life at sea, foreign countries (South America and the Caribbean), how to look like you're working when you're really not.

Wildland Fire Suppression Specialist: How to fight various types of wildland fires, different types of equipment, including pumps, hoses, vehicles, hand tools, etc.

quixotic!fantastic!

10-18-2010, 02:14 AM

Hello! I'm not sure how useful any of these are, but who knows!

- Cerebral Palsy: My older brother was born with it. I can tell you why, what he's like, vague medical details, and what it's like growing up thinking it's normal for someone to not be able to talk/eat/walk/etc.

- Compulsive Lying: In high school I got addicted to lying to everyone. I had this whole extra life I made up and I kinda started to believe it. People got hurt because of it - I actually gave a friend a panic attack and I still feel awful about it. It got pretty bad and then I fixed it. I was painfully honest for a while after, and now I try to use my judgment. Writing helps.

- Old Theaters: I like to explore inside really old, Vaudeville-era theaters. I'm attached to one in particular and I can tell you all sorts of things about them. That said, I'm very good at getting INTO these buildings and into the back walls/catwalks/ceilings/roofs of these places without getting caught. I also know what it's like to GET caught and exactly how to climb to the top of those awesome vertical marquees.... spiders and all.

- Orphanages in Tamil Nadu, India: I can tell you the problems they face, the inner conflicts, how the corruption evolves, and where the main areas of sexual/physical abuse exist and how it works. It's not something I'm ready to write about yet in my own work but I'd be happy to help inform other authors.

- Refugees from Eritrea, Iraq and Bhutan: Culture, difficulties, learning to live in America starting from the time they get off the plane. What refugees need, in order, and how to get a SS card, job when you're FOB, to the point in time when you stop getting governmental assistance.

- Working in a dinner theater. And how weird it is and how the magicians are all divas and how everyone's absolutely insane. And how you get really fast at putting on a Victorian dress, top, and bustle in under a minute!

vonbuchholz

10-25-2010, 08:34 AM

Here are the areas of expertise I'm willing to be interviewed about:

Internet strategy, user experience design and digital content design -- I'm a Certified Usabilty Analyst who has provided services to many businesses and government agencies since 1994. This year I'm teaching a university course and publishing a book about content strategy.
Dark fiction and poetry - I'm a published author of dark fiction and poetry who is currently working on a horror/thriller novel. I am also publishing a new book in 2011 about "dark glamour" and "gothic romantic" styles in the arts, fashion and culture.
Edgar Allan Poe - I'm a published Poe scholar and founder of Poe International who produced the very successful multimedia site EdgarAllanPoe200.com in 2009.
Anyone interested in getting in touch can email me at my general mailbox: webmailroom@gmail.com

idempotent1729

11-18-2010, 11:38 PM

I can help out with math and physics (I was trained as a mathematician, so I know zilch about experiments, but if you want general relativity or quantum theory, bingo). I have some knowledge of Bengali language/culture and of what Kolkata is like (and access to lots more first-hand info), and I lived in The Netherlands for 3 years, so I can describe Amsterdam or Utrecht closely and many other Dutch/European cities to a certain degree. I grew up in a rural small town in the northeast US surrounded by chickens and cows, so I know quite a bit about them, especially chickens, and I have general backwoods knowledge like natural history of plants, insects, and birds. Also maple-syrup making, cider pressing, apple-butter making, etc.

mack

11-30-2010, 02:17 PM

I am a Police Officer and I can be of assistance in many areas of police procedure with an expertise in youth violence and street gangs.

Jessica Denoire

11-30-2010, 02:47 PM

I'm a medical student, so if you need anything on
-Anatomy
-Physiology
-Pharmacology
-Human development
-Embryology
-Psychology
-Surgery
-Pathology
...Or anything else in medicine, let me know. I'm pretty lame in the sense that if I don't know, I'll go and look it up anyway. We'll call it studying (:

- Jessica

Martin Rose

11-30-2010, 09:42 PM

If anyone wants info on the following topics, I'll help:

- Schizophrenia
- Social Engineering. Which is a polite term for confidence tricks/hacking/lying/social manipulation. The reason I know these things? See first listing above.
- Graphic design: website, pre-press, photographic processes, etc. Oh, and propaganda.
- Occult. Anything from demons to angels and everything in between. (Please keep in mind, because I've made an investment of time in this arena does not mean I believe in it.)

I am chock-full of utterly useless knowledge, from dendrology (the study of trees) to funerary practices to anesthetics to Civil War trivia. They come in handy for the speculative genres . . .

leeblewb

11-30-2010, 10:22 PM

I know lots of info on the following topics, if needed:

Nursing, I was a nurse for 16 years
Childbirth , I am a birth and postpartum doula
Breastfeeding
being the wife of an alcoholic / addict and going through recovery with him

tarak

12-11-2010, 08:42 AM

The more I read these lists, the less I think I know about anything. But here goes:

criminal procedure and law (specifically Pennsylvania law, but I know a bit about federal procedure as well)

the tunnels underneath the city of Harrisburg

Rhubix

12-16-2010, 02:52 AM

I'm just a pup at 25 but I'll help anyone I can

Art and Animation
art fundamentals
drawing
less adept at painting but I do work in Gouache
formal education in:
Art fundamentals
2D classical animation , and 'flash style' animation
3D animation in Maya
History of animation - (sleeping beauty is not the first full length animated feature that's a dirty lie!)

Industrial embroidery and screen printing - job for 5 years.

North American cartoons of the 80's 90's and now! Very little anime knowledge, though I do dabble.

Growing up!
Small town youth in lower class neighborhood
Newfoundland
Living by the ocean
Jelly fish fights
Catching crabs with a key on a string
Tomboy

Moving to 'the big city'
Culture shock

Teen pregnancy (sister preggers at 14)
Delinquent sibling!
Same sex marriage (same sibling- go figure?)
Teen weight gain- injury led to 60 Lbs weight gain in grade 12 >.<
weight loss

Boomerang love! - The if you love someone let them go effect. 6 month fling + 5 years of separation + Reunion = getting married in May!
Attraction to large men / borderline macrophilia

Information by association

Aircraft mechanics - my man-toy's specialty.

Orion11Bravo

12-17-2010, 04:23 PM

College dropout

Brief stint as a Home Depot guy

6 years National Guard, one tour Iraq

College un-dropout

BA English/Psychology

Brief stint as a staff member at a kiddy lockup

MS Secondary Education

Current HS English teacher

Brother with hemophelia

Wife from Kolkata.

I'm out of stuff...if any of this helps, let me know.

PinkAmy

12-19-2010, 10:07 PM

I have a Master in Social Work and A Doctorate in Psychology.

I have lots of knowledge and personal experience in all types of childhood psychiatric disorders and the impact on siblings and families. I've also worked extensively with abused kids and those from divorced and single parent households.

I spent years working with parents and doing parenting education. I know lots about child development and age appropriate milestones and behavior.

I've also worked with adults with affective disorders including depressive and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, PTSD/Sexual Abuse/Rape I have some experience with major mental illnesses like schizophrenia and substance abuse but they were not my areas of expertise.

I am familiar with different therapeutic modalities with individuals, couples, families, and groups.

I'm a breast cancer survivor. I've had chemo, mastectomy, hysterectomy (and lots of other ectomies as a result).

I have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue so I know a lot about autoimmune illnesses and coping with chronic illness.

I'm familiar with a many different social service agencies particularly agencies that work with mental health and the poor. I know how the system works vs. how it's supposed to work, LOL.

I'm always willing to help.

WEM

12-20-2010, 12:04 PM

My specialist areas are:

Radio waves and radio propagation.
Radiocommunications in general.

I have worked in these areas professionally for amore years than I would care to admit.

The sorts of things that can trip people up are:

Generally speaking, radiowaves do not travel under water. They do at frequencies around 9kHz, but that's only good for morse code, etc.
Radiowaves take time to travel. From the Sun to Earth would take, on average, around 8 minutes. Jupiter to Earth about 45 mins, depending on the relative orbits.

Cheers,

Rufus Coppertop

12-20-2010, 12:17 PM

harmony & counterpoint,
music history - Baroque & Renaissance,
Latin,
naughty farming out in the bush,
some classical, medieval and renaissance history,
harpsichords,
psychiatric nursing,
Vajrayana Buddhism,
Judaeo-Christian ritual magic,
coal fired power stations - boiler attendants' certificate of competency,
The Latrobe Valley and environs,
Melbourne,

STKlingaman

12-20-2010, 12:24 PM

Humm . . .

The ways of the Force
Being rejected from Clown college
popsicle stick houses
finger painting
lather - rinse - repeat
taking a knee to the groin as a NO
knowing my ABC's
the best finger to pick your nose with (well my nose)
waking up on the wrong side of the bed
putting one foot in front of the other
green means go
red means stop
yellow means go faster
hitting the reset button
finding loose change in couches
bathing cats
completely ignoring the topic
squeezing peas between my fingers
which end of the broom to stick . . .

Damm, I really do know a lot
but don't ask me to prove it

PinkAmy

12-20-2010, 07:08 PM

Humm . . .

Being rejected from Clown college

Too bad the market is oversaturated with this specialty or you could have made some really money :D.

PrincessofPersia

12-20-2010, 07:25 PM

Uh...

I'm deaf

I play a few musical instruments (bass, guitar, drums, some piano, dulcimer)

I have Panic/Generalized Anxiety Disorder

I know pretty much everything about The Beatles :P

Being homeless

Oh yeah. I forgot probably the two things I know the most about: Ancient Egyptian, both the religion and the language (though I'm most familiar with Middle Egyptian, I can help with others too). I keep the religion and currently align myself with Isis. I also use the language daily.

jkababy

12-21-2010, 04:21 AM

Uh...

I know pretty much everything about The Beatles :P

Wheeee! me too me too!

1. The Beatles
2. an American living/working in London
3. Metaphysics (tarot cards, talking to the Other Side)
4. Intuition

Cyberpunk cowgirl

12-25-2010, 09:43 AM

The one thing that really irritates me when I am reading Important Novels is when they get details about fashion design and luxury marketing wrong.
If you have any questions about French, Italian and American fashion from the last 70 years, please ask me.
I also have enough contacts in the historical costuming and vintage fields that I can give some insight into 1750s-1940s clothing.

Also, my masters work was in consumer culture and the rise of the luxury market in France and England from 1800-1830, so if you would like insight into the money markets of the Regency - how much a dress cost or how to maintain a household in the English countryside or Bath, I can contribute some.

Elle

12-25-2010, 10:13 AM

-Chronic depression
-Social anxiety
-Unsupportive families
-Single-parent households; having a parent die when you're very young
-Abusive relationships (in one for 2.5 years)
-Long distance relationships (Is U.S. to Greece far enough? :p)
-Teaching

iLion

12-25-2010, 10:50 AM

- American living in Venezuela in 1950s-1960s
- Five yrs in two different military academy boarding schools in USA
- Dealing with Latino mafia-style thugs
- Bribing soldiers/police in So. America

KQ800

12-27-2010, 03:14 PM

Roleplaying geek, computer games geek during my teens and twenties.

Draft sergeant in Swedish army during the early nineties. MOS-equivalent was KQ800 which translates to squad leader for encryption specialists in signal corps (REMF).

learned stuff about sidearms, long arms, machine guns, antitank rifles, encryption systems, higher staff administration, Batallion staff administration, EW, ECM, RadioCOM,

Martial arts training: Jujitsu black belt in Hokku shin ruy. Blue belt in WJJF. Training in military HTH, Jeet Kune Do, Kali Silat, some Wing chun, but no expert knowledge. Italian school of longsword fighting (beginner)

M Sc in Computer Science. Working the last for twelve years at the Defence Research Agency in Sweden in the area of Information Warfare, Computer network Attack, Computer Network Defence, and lately in the area of defending Critical Infrastructure such as SCADA-systems from Computer attacks. This ties in to the technical side of antiterrorism, with regards to targeting and consequence analysis.

Hobby is military history, especially military technology and development. Explosives, firearms, projectiles, armour (both the personal version and the tanks), artillery, aircrafts

through my workplace I can get tons of interesting reports on high tech developments such as beyond-corner-looking radars and stuff. If you ask, I am quite willing to see what I can find. the reports might be in Swedish though so you might have to take a summary as the best result.

serabeara

01-14-2011, 05:21 AM

I was raised and went to school in an ultra-conservative evangelical christian environment. I'd be happy to answer questions about what it is like going to a small strictly religious private school (for both elementary and high school). I know YA fiction is currently popular, so I figured my experience there might help some writers.

rainsmom

01-14-2011, 06:54 AM

Clicker training of dogs (and, to a certain degree, other species)
Operant and classical conditioning
Dog behavior

MCLowell

01-16-2011, 10:48 PM

I'm a first-year grad student in theoretical mathematics, and can answer questions about basic undergrad math, topology, complex analysis, manifold theory, and abstract algebra. I can't answer questions about physics, applied math and stats, set theory, and complexity theory, but I might be able to find somebody who can.

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda for two years, and can answer questions about both the Peace Corps experience and East Africa.

And I know a lot about H. P. Lovecraft, but there are probably better people to ask then me posting here. Similarly Plato and the other ancient Greeks.

chuckgalle

01-18-2011, 08:15 PM

I too feel I have too little to offer, but want to contribute, so here goes:
I was a Beatnik poet in Wa DC latter part of the fifties and most of the sixties. A serious user of drugs also, thirteen years worth, and had an unusual social mobility. Was a petty street criminal, a friend of a made man, knew and hung around great (and not so great, of course,) artists, musicians dancers, theater people, children of the high and wealthy. I know the streets, many of the people, some the history - some of the esoteric history. I also know a bit about recovering from drugs, and moving into relatively mainstream society carrying that stigma, and being an uneducated kinda smart guy who worked in the drug rehab industry - developed training programs for NIDA - and somehow crossed over and became a systems analyst programmer and built enormous data bases that operated on old main frame systems. As a former con man, I am also a veritable warehouse of useless information, and also usually know how to find out stuff. Have done volunteer work in max security prisons including directing a theatre troupe made of serious heavies for five years. I know and have known a bunch of murderers, stay in touch with two who have been released (amazingly, let me add) and are doing very well after over thirty years in. I soothe sad souls, understand loners, lift low spirits. I'll talk to anyone.

Discord

01-22-2011, 06:41 AM

I don't want to offer expertise on anything if I can't follow through, but the one thing I can be really helpful about is live theatre - the theatre world, the people in it, actors and acting, directors and directing, Shakespeare, fringe festivals, technical aspects (lighting design, equipment, sound engineering, etc).

Oh, and slightly random, but... I work in the AV industry - Audiovisual equipment - speakers, microphones, mixing boards, projectors, monitors... basically, if you've ever been to a seminar or conference, all the tech that the speaker uses to make his point is called "AV equipment". If you need information on that sort of tech, I'm your girl.

Skyler

01-24-2011, 12:31 AM

Electrical/electronics engineering (both as a student and as a lab assistant)

That's circuit design, some theory, and applied math/algebra.

I also have some knowledge of Christian theology/church history, mainly Protestant.

elmoie

01-27-2011, 02:56 PM

I can offer expertise on the following:

- I live in Ireland, so anyone from abroad looking to include Ireland in their story could consult me (places, people, politics etc). I also speak fluent Irish (gaelic).
- BA (Hons) in English Literature - particular areas are Shakespeare, Chaucer, Modern Irish Womens poetry, some knowledge of old English and would know who to consult.
- BA (Hons) in Sociology - Sociological research, sociology of sport, sociology of mental health, sociology of the media.
- Three years experience working in a bookmakers (not a place that makes books - a bookies ie gambling).
- Over 10 years of working with the public (shops, restaurants, hotels, bookmakers, college).
- Currently working in a university for the past 4 years.
- Diploma in Marketing, Advertising, PR and Sales - basic questions relating to any of those welcome.
- Over 5 years event management experience.
- Excellent knowledge of alternative/indie music.
- Professional artist (mainly acrylic and some oils).
- Good insight into the Journalism industry (through family and friends).
- Good knowledge of urban fantasy novels.
- Migraine sufferer (and no, it's not just a headache!)
- B12 and iron deficiencies, have also had about 20 kidney infections in 10 years.

That's all I can think of for now. My life reads like a CV, makes me sound very uninteresting.

MollyParrot

01-28-2011, 03:24 PM

I'm more than happy to help out with any geology related questions or concerns. My academic background is in geochemistry, but I have extensive contacts and don't really need an excuse to go chat them up about specifics outside my zone. I am not a gemnologist, but can help with gemstone topics as they pertain to the sourcing and minerals. I am also a certified high school earth science, chemistry, and physics teacher, so I maintain a pretty good collection of web resources for those subjects.

Also: veganism/vegan cooking, parrots (conures and macaws), opera (Russian or Italian only), and poker (mostly Hold 'em, Razz, or Omaha), and I am a walking 007 trivia encyclopedia, although I doubt that that is a very useful talent.

Harley-Davidsons and women bikers. I'm not a mechanic or an expert on company history or sports bikes, but I ride and know the current bikes.

I studied Egyptology at the U of Chicago before I wised up and switched to geology. I'm probably a bit out of date on some things, but I can help with the basics or where to start research.

I'm new here, but already know that I will be pleading for help on some boating and diving issues, so I'd rather start by offering my own assistance.

lizbeth dylan

01-28-2011, 05:14 PM

Thought I would add what little I know to the list. I'm a "jack of all trades-master of none" kind of person. Keep in mind everything has been self-taught. I've done all sorts of things to make extra money while my kids were little so I could stay home with them.

I have:
-worked as a cashier in a grocery store
-apprenticed at a flower shop
-sold makeup (not Mary Kay, but like it)
-sewed and embroidered / cross-stitched for people
-made porcelain dolls and fairies
-had my own doll shop and taught classes
-worked as a secretary and bookkeeper (for a small business and then a small school district)
-sponsored a dance team of 24 teenage girls for 3 years(and put up with all the mama-drama that goes with it)
-took up the hobby of photography then started a portrait studio (photograph high school seniors and weddings)

Things I know about:
-photoshop & cameras
-dealing with a parent who had and died from Alzheimers
-growing up in a crazy but loving family with 4 sisters
-being the bullied kid / misfit
-being molested/abused by relatives and a neighbor (both personally & helping friends who have been)
-dealing with a child who at one point was suicidal and diagnosed with depression

Lia_joy

01-30-2011, 12:51 AM

areas I have experience/above average knowledge:

- Childbirth & childbirth culture (mostly US.) I'm a doula, mom to 3 boys born unassisted at home and have been researching/writing about this for years

- Breastfeeding, natural parenting etc

- Unschooling

- Self-injury

- Termination of parental rights/step parent adoption

janwyl

01-31-2011, 12:24 PM

I've been a safari guide in Africa for the last year so I know some stuff about African wildlife. And if I don't have the answer there's a good chance I've got the book that does.

Before that I was a management consultant for fifteen years, so I know how to make it look like I know more than you.

I did learn one or two other things about running companies, reading accounts and the like, so I'll help if I can, but you're probably better off speaking to a specialist...

Nick Blaze

01-31-2011, 12:44 PM

Hm....

Chinese military strategy
Japanese martial arts (particularly, jujitsu, aikido, and iaido)
Self-harm, in a masochistic way
Customer service manager at a Walmart
Probably lots more I'm forgetting.

Pyekett

02-01-2011, 09:41 AM

I have some greater than typical grasp of the following:

- medicine and health, both history of and current
- pharmacology, medications, drugs
- academic philosophy
- Canadian/US immigration patterns
- Leonard Cohen: history, books, and lyrics
- through a series of inexplicable circumstances, the detailed appearance and genetic distribution of 108 species of wild violets in the United States
- bourbon
- dovetail joints

oldhousejunkie

02-02-2011, 08:18 PM

Ok, not for hire, but I would be happy to provide feedback on certain historical time periods.

I'm a bit of an anglophile, so I have general knowledge on various topics in social history, including the Regency period (Jane Austen) and the Victorian period.

In America, I know a lot about the day-to-day life of women during the Civil War, and during the Gilded Age. I also know some about espionage during the Civil War (through research for my current MS).

I also have a lot of knowledge on fashion history, so I can take a stab at that too.

I'm a historic preservationist/architectural historian, so I can help you out with pre-1940s architecture.

I don't get on here very regularly, so it would be best to e-mail me at oldhousejunkie at yahoo dot com. Hope I can be of assistance!

Rachel Udin

02-12-2011, 03:27 AM

PM OK.

Adoption--Particularly International Adoption
Korean Adoptee--so I can give you the rundown on being an adoptee. (This is different from the Adoptive Parent experience.)
I know the history of Adoption (loosely) and the specifics of the history of International adoption (in particular) the history of Korean adoption in detail. (As well as the attitudes of adoptees from Korea depending on how and when they were adopted and to where.)

I'm also well-connected to an Adoptive Parent community to give you a larger range and I have some basics on first parents and portraying them.

Korean History (loosely--I know more than Amazon can give you.) If I don't know I know where to ask.

Korean Saturi. (Dialects of Korea, particularly Kyeongsang and Jeolla)

Korean culture--traditional and Pop culture. Current state of Korea.

Japanese Intermediate, more emphasis, again, on usage and dialectal usages.

Japanese culture--non-anime/manga-based (And the parts that aren't martial arts)

Modern Japanese History

Upstate NY.

L.M. Montgomery (I'm a geek.)

Crafts: Knitting, sewing, making Jewlery (wire wrapping, gemstones, etc--lower end). crochet, designing your own clothes without a pattern.

Manga--I did a HS Senior thesis on the subject and have been studying it from an academic view since. I also worked at a translation company. I know the History, etc expansive view, rather than recent cultural movement.

Graphic design, particularly in information communication and website design.

Half a cultural Anthro degree. (Particular interests are in art and cultural exchange of art. Especially food, website design, language, etc.)

Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas. (I watched a whole ton of each, no melodrama questions though... 'cause most of them suck and I can summarize them.)

What it's like to grow up with white parents when you are not.

Racism against Asians first hand experience. (Female, though I know the male POV through my brother.)

Adoptism.

History of publishing.

Informal Judaism.

Breaking off contact with parents.

Dealing with neglectful parents. (And a borderline/narcisstic, non-severe, mother.)

I'm also a foodie.

I actually read the Bible beginning to end. I'm better with Old Testament.

History of Ethnic studies. (Loosely) Especially non-black. Need an origin of a slur? I probably know it off the top of my head.

Apple Computers from the 1980's to present, plus popular games for it.

Sad, but true: Lifetime movies During 1980's-200o's. (I watched a lot) Christian Channel stuff and probably most of the 80's television. (If I don't know, I know someone else who does.) Especially children's programming.

quicklime

02-12-2011, 04:41 AM

wine and beermaking

biology, especially kinase biology and/or drug screening

growing mushrooms

boletusedulis

02-14-2011, 02:33 AM

Ooh, so many people with useful knowledge...

Here's my humble offering:

-mental health (depression and bipolar), particularly as it pertains to young adults (I've published a book about bipolar for young adults, see sig line)

-music theory/piano (associate of the Royal Conservatory, Toronto)

-Canadian French (grew up speaking it)

-Catholicism (grew up immersed in it)

-Hitchhiking

-Living in vans

-Wild edibles of Western Washington

that's all I can think of for now :)

Lady Domino

02-14-2011, 09:22 PM

I live on a narrowboat on one of the canals in England - we cruise the canals for 8 months of the year. If I don't know the answer, I know where to look!!

I also have a very non-useful Phd in European Environmental Law (although that was 9 years ago!) - but used to teach european law and comparative law.

I've also works as a florist and a law costs draftsman (the person who recovers solicitors fees from insurance companies - great boring job for a charector :D).

Oh, I should add - I was adopted from birth, I'm bi-polar, a "dry" alcoholic and I had a hysterectomy when I was 31!

Taryn Blackthorne

02-20-2011, 10:35 AM

Hey all,
I'm not a master, per se, but I do know a bit about:

Cree culture (Aboriginal/First nations of Northern Canada)...actually, could at least point you in the right direction about the Nations across Canada
Cold weather survival
Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI) area of Canada
Teaching, especially Behaviourally Challenged classes (dontcha just LOVE jargon?)
Mining Towns
Northern Canadian living

and that's about all I can think of right now. Hope I can help someone

kathleea

02-24-2011, 03:05 AM

My day job is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner on a locked inpatient unit so anything psych related is fine including meds, disorders, ECT.
I have degrees in Social Work, Teaching, Children's Literature and a doctorate in nursing.
I am well-versed in:
Tudor era
King Arthur
Irish legends/myths/folklore'
cats
classic rock and roll (grew up in 60s)
anything Pagan including Wiccans and Celtic lore
Tarot cards
YA fantasy
actiing (former theatre major)
teaching at all levels
nurses and nursing

There is probably more but those are off the top of my head.

Guardian

02-24-2011, 03:32 AM

If anyone needs to know about the trials and tribulations of losing a tooth and getting it replaced? ugh. I'm an expert now.

MeretSeger

03-01-2011, 05:35 PM

I have a masters in ancient Egyptian archaeology. Enough of the language to be of some help too. Happy to help anyone who needs accurate info...

MsArtwriter

03-07-2011, 05:36 PM

-Master Gardener: I never met a flower I did not like!
-"Green" design
-Professional recycled glass sculpture artist
-Expertise in how to become a professional artist/teaching a class in a few months (how to apply to juried shows, etc.)

DistortedPenguin

03-13-2011, 05:42 AM

"Expert"? I don't trust anyone who refers to themselves as that, lol. Nevertheless, I do know a couple things about the following subjects:
-being a high school outcast (for you "for-teens" novelists out there)
-werewolf lore (especially French)
-animals in general (I work at a zoo... and not as a hotdog seller!)
-exotic pet care
-the anthropomorphic community ("furries")
-anime

Haha, not much, but I'm available if you need me and I'm always willing to help!

Intergalactic Walrus

03-14-2011, 10:39 PM

I'm an Infantry soldier with some decent experience in Afghanistan, so I can help with
- Any aspect of firefights and IED blasts (dismounted)
- On the scene treatment for injuries ranging from blast wounds to gun shot wounds just about anywhere on the body.
- Reconnaissance, basically methods of being sneaky in the bush.
- Environmental survival, anything from celestial navigation to making string out of bark or starting fire with sticks.
- On a completely unrelated topic, cricket!

crunchyblanket

03-15-2011, 03:41 PM

I can't claim to be an expert in anything, but I have a decent amount of knowledge in the following subjects:

- Phlebotomy, blood tests (I work in a pathology laboratory)
- Romani (gypsy) culture (particularly Angloromani + Kalderash)
- London life and culture (particularly South London and council estate life)
- Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis + living with chronic pain
- Cats (I've lived with cats since I was a baby)
- Rats (domestic and wild - I used to work at the London Dungeon, go figure)
- Sicilian/Southern Italian culture and food (my husband is Sicilian)
- Being a twin
- Cryptozoology

clare

03-18-2011, 07:13 PM

"Hindu" is a very broad designation which encompasses thousands of very diverse philosophies and practices. While they all share a common source and many cultural similarities, many "Hindu" groups are as different from one another as Christians are from Jews or Muslims. (And, most "world religions" books and even "Hindu" sites are often very generalizing, misleading, and often just plain wrong)

I am pretty knowledgeable about the teachings, saints, and schools of thought of one Hinduism's larger sub-groups, and I have more than average (even among Hindus) knowledge of most of the others.

I can also answer basic questions about Sanskrit; name meanings, etc. My husband is a Sanskrit scholar and would be able to answer trickier questions about syntax etc.

Some unrelated subjects I might be helpful with:

natural childbirth
modern village life in India
henna or mehndi ( I'm a certified henna artist)
homeschooling
Indian cooking
string figures (like cat's cradle)
Detroit
traveling with kids

I hope I can help someone! This forum has been very helpful for me.

Ophiucha

03-19-2011, 10:52 AM

Food. Italian, Mexican, and cheese in particular. Been a foodie since I was five, and I've been cooking for a fair few years.

Norse mythology. In the general sense. I've read all of the collected Norse and Icelandic Sagas, the Prose and Poetic Edda, the Nibelungenlied, and done some fair research on the history and culture of the Vikings. Pretty much any medieval history, for that matter, I can help with. I did a two year program at my university for it.

Linguistics. I don't speak any languages fluently, save perhaps Latin (though the linguist in me would argue whether or not you can really be fluent in Latin), but if you are looking to make a constructed language or have a foreign character, send a PM.

Fantasy literature. And I do mean literature, as opposed to 'books'. Victorian, Edwardian, Ancient Greek, pre-Meiji Japan, etc. If it came before or around the time of Tolkien, odds are I have read it and can give you some recommendations and information.

Rhonda9080

03-26-2011, 12:01 PM

For reptile and amphibian help, habitat help (particularly southwest and southern US), I recommend sunshineserpents.com

Alessandra Kelley

03-28-2011, 06:55 PM

I'm a professional artist (not actually a writer, oddly enough). I've done a lot of research and have practical experience in doing and teaching various historical and modern art techniques:

Making your own paint starting with rocks and flaxseed
How oil paint is made and used
How egg tempera paint is made and used
Fresco techniques
Making glue out of animal skins
How paintings are made
How drawings are made
How illuminated manuscripts are made
How comics, comic books, and newspaper comics are made
The studio system of the Italian Renaissance

Chicago Expat

03-31-2011, 12:13 AM

I think I've got a decent foundation to offer information on these general subjects:

-Accounting
-TV production
-Anything that happens in a bar on either side of the counter
-Music, especially jazz.
-Animal welfare, especially cats
-Sports, most
Eh, probably some other stuff, too, that's not coming to me right now.

I read the stickies. I'll err on the side of silence if I'm not feeling confident about it.

feather

04-05-2011, 11:54 PM

Since I got so much help the last time I was here, I want to give something back.

My expert area is venues and concerts, everything from security to bartending in a beer joint to PR for small venues (350 people). I also have some experience working backstage at festivals, where I was a stage manager or band liaison, and learned a lot about touring in Europe and all the details needed to hold a concert.

Note that my experience is mostly with smaller bands (everything from those playing their first live gig to ex-stadium bands), and Europe/Norway centric, but I've worked with bands from almost every part of the world and almost every genre (singer/songwriter to black metal to 90s britpop bands). Please PM me if you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them :)

mcamp

04-07-2011, 08:11 AM

US Marine Corps 1969-1975 (vietnam)

Cowboy 6years working and rodeo (not just the clothes)

A fur trapper for many years

lived for one year alone in the remote Alaska wilderness

commercial fisherman Gulf of Mexico for a few years boat captain

J Whisketosky

04-08-2011, 05:55 AM

I can help with the following:

American history (specifically 1865-1920)
American women's suffrage (same era, yes I know who Alice Paul is)
Victorian era fashion (1870-1875-British, American, some French)
Civil war civilan/widow day to day life (American civil war)
First trimester abortion, and abortion in general (specifically studied NC laws, but can direct you to the laws for any state)
Modern marriage laws (online ordinations, declaration of marriage)
Martial arts (Shotokan, Isshn Ryu, Brazilian jujitsu, 2 black belts)
Medicalese for the 19th century (British/America)
British slang 18-20th centuries
Neo-Druidiry, general Paganism, Wicca, Goddess worship
Goddess names/places of worship (for instance, later Egyptians during Cleopatra VII would have referred to Isis as Isis Pegora, and Venus as Venus Gentrix)
Gnosticism
women's rights in Afghanistan
BDSM, particularly mental stimulation, but physical as well (bondage, piercing, wax play, etc)
BDSM etiquette and behavior

Qualifications:
I have a BA in History, I minored in Women's Studies, specialty Civil War, subspecialty, suffrage.
I have studied world mythology for 16 years
I've written several papers on abortion, women's rights, women's rights in Afghanistan (RAWA)
I studied martial arts for 12 years
I AM Gnostic
I studied Victorian fashion and have access to primary documents
I also have access to primary documents for nearly anything historical I've listed.
I've been both a domme and a sub, and anyone who is interested in writing a BDSM novel who's new to the scene should definitely talk to someone who's been on the scene. I see a lot of people screw up basic elements. It doesn't have to be me, but do your research and talk to someone who's been there!

sonyablue

04-12-2011, 03:02 AM

I am a former flight attendant / stewardess and flew mostly the international routes, so I am happy to answer any questions about that job and lifestyle.

euclid

04-13-2011, 05:05 PM

Mathematics
Golf
Chess
Anything about Ireland since 1960
Irish Catholicism
Medieval History (especially The First Crusade (1096-1099))
Computers (the real ones from the 60's, not these toys we all use nowadays)

And Asperger Syndrome (my son has it)

Did I mention Golf?

Always glad to help if I can.

Steve Collins

04-13-2011, 08:26 PM

20 years London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard)
Everything UK Police
Special Operations
Hostage Rescue
Counter-Terrorism
Investigations
Police Corruption
Police Slang
Terminology
Equipment
Vehicles

You name it!

alhefner

04-19-2011, 12:04 AM

Hi writers,

I'll be very happy to offer my experience in the real world...here is what I have done:

20 years as a U.S. Navy enlisted man
While in the Navy, I performed geographic survey aboard the U.S.N.S. Chauvenet (T-AGS-29) as part of Oceanographic Unit 4.

I am very familiar with navigation, shipboard security, and various locations in Southeast Asia, central America, and a couple of other misc. locales.

After retiring (transfer to the Fleet Reserve) from the Navy, I have spent time working as an IT tech and industrial mechanical maintenance technician so mechanical issues are very familiar to me.

Currently, I have a neat little job that gives me lots of time to explore the Nevada wilderness and I blog about my outings on an "off and on" basis. I am very well versed in outdoor survival, animal habits, and high power pneumatic rifles.

So, pleas do not hesitate to ask me for assistance! I'll tell you what I know and if I don't know, I'll tell you that too but will try to look it up for you! PLEASE ask for help before you put something like this in print:

"Sig Sauer 9MM service revolver with extra clips"...I just recently read that one in a NY Times best seller! If you're curious as to what is wrong with the above it is the following:

Sig Sauer does not sell a revolver...all their handguns are semi-auto and, a revolver does not take a "clip" which is actually a "magazine". Though Sig Sauer is a very popular manufacturer of fine handguns, they are not the most popular nor the most prevalent among law enforcement or criminal ranks.

OK, ask away!

Maryn

04-19-2011, 12:08 AM

Ah-ha, I happened to be in on what got you to come here. Welcome!

Just so you know, it may be a while before anybody needs your specific expertise, or the questions may start coming right away. You never know. But you can be sure there will come a time when a writer with no background in the navy, or firearms, or desert survival, whatever, will need to pick your brain. Thanks so much for offering.

Maryn, whose few areas of expertise are real common

jjdebenedictis

05-26-2011, 09:48 AM

I have a master's degree in physics. I studied high temperature superconductivity.

My husband's field is black holes and quantum gravity, so I can also occasionally pick his brain about those (far sexier than mine was) subjects.

I also know how to rock climb, i.e. I can tell you how the gear works, what various things are called, and the basic techniques for keeping yourself stuck to the wall.

Darren Frey

05-27-2011, 12:28 AM

I dont know if youd say Im an expert but I know quite a bit about vampires if anyone needs help

skunkmelon

05-29-2011, 11:09 PM

I've been working for 6 years at a program serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Ideas of what info I could provide:

Dynamics of domestic violence
Power and control in abusive relationships
How to assess danger in a relationship
Characteristics of batterers
Sexual assault statistics
Emotional/psychological impact of sexual assault
What happens when you go to a DV/SA program for help.
Shelter life
Philosophy of empowerment
Importance of confidentiality
Sex trafficking
Sex workers/prostitution
Why do victims stay? (A loaded question, but one people often ask)
Impact of DV on children

I have access to a lot of good resources too, so it's just a matter of digging through the material

Long ago I worked as an inbound telemarketer--I was the one answering the phone when someone saw a "Totally Awesome Chopper Cutter Knife Tool you GOTTA have!"

I'm the mother of three boys
I took care of my mother for four years--she has dementia
I was a respite care provider for two kids with FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) and RAD (reactive attachment disorder)
I can also hook you up with my sister if you need more indepth information about FASD.
And if you need to know about the Nebraska panhandle . . . I'm living smack dab in the middle of it and could always send pictures if needed for any research you're doing.
I crochet

missouridalton

06-03-2011, 09:09 AM

I am always willing to help on the following subjects:

Art conservation (Specifically the Italian school) - Certified art conservator

Art History (minored in)

Fine Art techniques ranging from watercolor, metalwork, jewelry making, welding, ceramics, printmaking...etc (BFA)

Knitting/Crochet (Yes, you do have to do it right)

Crafts

Polytheism (Practicing)

Paganism

Christian Baptist

Fairy Tales

Werewolf/Vampire Lore

Music (French Horn players unite!)

Lizardmaker

06-04-2011, 06:15 PM

I've teach the following topics at the college level:
music theory
classical music history (ancient Greek through 20th century)

and have an interdisciplinary grad-level certificate in Medieval studies and an undergrad degree in Classical languages/culture

Happy to help if I can.

gan_naire

06-12-2011, 08:47 AM

No expert, but I know a bit on the following . . .

Tattoos, a bit about piercings and branding
Drugs (legal and not so much so)
Bikers and bikes
Depression (not from a psychologists or psychiatrists point of view)
Guns (pistols mainly)

I know a bit about a bunch of other randomness, usually the stuff no one else ever cares about. Oh, and I am damn near an expert at being a smartass and pissing people off. In case that helps anyone out.

Orianna2000

06-16-2011, 02:51 AM

I know a great deal about historic fashion, particularly the Victorian era (1850s-1900), but I can give you an overview of other eras, too. I can tell you what it actually feels like to wear a corset, to walk in a trained petticoat, and to sit in a bustle! I have done research into the various types of dresses that women wore throughout the day, such as wrappers, visiting dresses, at-home dresses, walking dresses, dinner dresses, evening gowns, etc., and what sorts of accessories a well-dressed Victorian woman would wear.

I'm a dressmaker, so I can tell you a lot about sewing--especially how to sew historic clothing.

I'm knowledgeable about some mental health issues, particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder, aka Multiple Personalities. I'm bipolar, so I know a little about that. I also know about PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and dealing with the after-affects of child abuse and sexual trauma.

I also know a great deal about chronic pain, especially living with fibromyalgia and migraines.

tedi.s

06-19-2011, 09:03 AM

If you need useless information, I probably know it. At least that is what everyone tells me.
I have a Master's degree in Science Education and taught lots of Biology and such. Even have some published textbooks that I co-authored.
I have Asperger Syndrome so I can discuss that, as well as paranoia, anxiety, and depression. I have a DS with severe delays so I can discuss parenting and home-school in that area.
Sadly, I can tell you all about what it is like to be physically and emotionally abused as a child. I wish I was not an expert in that.
Also since my DH is military, I can give you some insight into that lifestyle.
Last but not least I know what it is like to be taller then 99% of all humans on the planet!!!

senka

06-19-2011, 12:53 PM

I could help with the following topics:

1. Languages. This is my field of work, study, I've got one university degree in that subject, I'm working on two more degrees at the moment and it's my greatest hobby (except for writing). "Languages" is a bit broadly spoken... so I'll explain. I do a lot about language families and language structure so I can provide some basic knowledge about many languages on this planet, which means I can tell you where it is spoken, what languages it is similar to, where its origins are, how many people do speak it and what the very very basic structure (grammar) is like. There is no specific area I'm restricted to, the only field I've never worked with are the languages of Native Americans. Mostly I worked with Balto-Slavic, Germanic, Romance, Finno-Ugric, Turkic, Mongolic and Semitic languages.
I do have some further knowledge in Russian and German (fluent), Persian, Estonian, Mongolian (intermediate), Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Norwegian, Ukrainian (very basic).

2. Cultures. Of course you can't do so much with languages without getting to know the culture of the linguistic area you're working with. And it's the most interesting part, anyway :) So I'm quite familiar with the cultures of Europe (especially Northern and Eastern Europe), Russia (European+Asian part), Central Asia and Middle East, and a bit East Asia (China+Japan). I might know more about World War II and German/Russian/European history than most people in the USA do as well.

3. Interpreting/translating. I'm working for the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators in my country of residence so I know much about how translations are done, what common specialisms there are, what to do if you want to work as a translator/interpreter, what to do if you want to have a novel translated... and so on.

4. Mental illness, especially autism, depression, anorexia, bulimia, transsexuality, borderline, deliberate self-harm, schizophrenia. I'm not an expert but I personally know people with all of the above (I mean, different people, not one person with all of the above ^^). I know them quite well, it's not like someone I just met once or twice. I have some theoretical knowledge about it as well. Happens if your mom is working at a psychiatric hospital...
I also know about intellectual giftedness which is, of course, not a mental illness, but I don't know where else to put it and it occurs with the above from time to time anyway.

5. Organic farming. Just something I'm interested in so I read a lot about it and worked at a farm for some weeks. And I grew up on countryside. I know some stuff about goats and sheep, especially for milk production, and a bit about poultry, cows, pigs... No knowledge about mass production, though. Just organic farming, mom-and-pop operation size...

6. International adoption. Again, just out of interest I read a lot so I know some stuff about it...

7. Torture experience, PTSD - At my second job I work with torture victims (refugees, mostly). So maybe I could help with some info...

That's it, I think.

Vivi

06-23-2011, 04:01 AM

Hi there!

I can provide in-depth information on:

- German language (native speaker)
- German culture (Eastern Germany and Berlin, post-reunion, middle-class; especially school system and life as a university student)
- biology, especially microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology (genetics): I’m currently working on my Bachelor’s thesis, but have already attended a number of grad-level courses (Germany’s higher education system just changed dramatically to split a longer Diploma degree into Bachelor and Master level). My studies are more focussed on microbial biochemistry and genetics at the moment, with a bit of plants at the side. But I still can make an educated estimation on whether your bio-terrorism or human cloning plot is complete bull or really puts back the “science” in “science fiction”.
- working in a research lab (university-attached, non-medical, lowest level of security; still involves stuff like handling radioactive markers and highly toxic compounds)
- working in retail during the Christmas season (large book / music store)
- being asexual (and quite possibly aromantic, too, though I haven't given up hope yet)
- being a born and bred atheist / apathetic agnostic (“Don’t know, don’t care.”)
- being the child of parents of fairly advanced age for their generation (father 42, mother 39 at time of birth; that was very late in the 80's); having your father die when you're 17

Other stuff I know a fair bit about, due to personal interest:

- natural sciences: I’ve had basic courses in inorganic chemistry, botany, plant and animal physiology, evolution, paleothology (just reptiles) and ecology (I’ve also had courses on organic chemistry, physical chemistry, experimental physics and math, but I’m not very strong on those subjects.) I’ve read up on geology, human anatomy, basic astronomy (more the “How does a black hole work?” than the “What’s that constellation?” side of it)… Basically everything that strikes me as interesting or useful for authentic world building,
- history: pre-historic (i.e. stone age anthropology), Roman (more general life than battles and emperors), whatever I can remember from high school on German / central European history from the middle ages up to WW II (history was one of my ‘A levels’, but it’s been a while)
- mythology: bits and pieces from various occidental cultures: Greco-Roman, Egyptian, Nordic/Germanic, Judeo-Christian (I’m one of those people who have never been to church except for sight-seeing and their grandparent’s funerals, but who is baffled if other people don’t know what a seraphim is. I’ve read the bible, not for religious education, but because it’s the basis of my culture.); German fairy tales, too. The original Grimm stories, a few well known ‘artificial fairy tales’ from the romantic era, as well as other traditional tales.
- I’ve travelled quite a bit around Europe and the Mediterranean as a teenager, so I might relate an impression or two if you want to set a scene in some Moroccan souq, Turkish ruin, Roman catacomb or Norwegian Viking theme park or whatever and can't find a native to give you more in-depth information. I still have all the travel guides, too.

Things I can easily ask someone close to me:

- pharmacy and pharmacology (effects of medication, herbs, toxic plants…)
- basic medicine (traditional remedies, pharmacy through the ages, and what will rub off when you’re married to a GP for the better part of two decades)
- taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s
- living with various and sundry allergies, and diabetes
- running and losing a small business in post-reunion Germany
- history and culture of the German Democratic Republic, and at least some bits and pieces about the rest of the Warsaw Pact
- experience with the German Reunion (I myself was to young to remember much.)
- gardening

seun

06-23-2011, 06:39 PM

Good idea for a thread. I haven't been through the whole thing so on the off chance nobody else has offered the same, I can help with any questions on working in a record shop, a library and as a hospital orderly. So if you want to know about music or booky stuff or how heavy an amputated leg is (very), I'm your man.

niknicnac

06-30-2011, 09:25 AM

I don't think I can claim any expertise in anything. However, I have had some rough experiences in life and can give you first hand insight into how it feels and effects your life to be sexually abused, trapped in a freezer in ninety degree weather, and stalked by a stranger (I can't say psycho but definitely mental.) Writing has been my self prescribed therapy so I'm no longer afraid to talk about these experiences.

Alessandra Kelley

07-03-2011, 05:48 PM

I have some practical knowledge of clothing from many time periods, including how it is constructed and worn and how it moves. I also have a collection of clothing-related ephemera to draw upon, engravings and magazines and catalogues. My strongest periods are the western 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, but I also can help with earlier periods and traditional Japan.

I have posted some 1918 photos of Red Cross Nurse uniforms (http://alessandrakelley.com/artblog/?p=224) on my blog.

Mfraser

07-04-2011, 02:06 AM

What a fantastic resource this thread is! No way to go through it all, but it's great to know it's there. Not that I'm not intimidated by all the knowledge out there in the forum, but I guess I'll throw mine onto the pile in case anyone wants it:
- Biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience (specialization neurology and neurosurgery), medical science in general (I was a researcher, grad student, and medical writer)
I'll keep my general interest stuff to myself - I have the impression there's an expert here already, for any of that.

missesdash

07-21-2011, 01:58 AM

I know a little about a lot of things, but I guess I'd put these down as the things I know thoroughly that not everyone has experience with.

drug use and experimentation
New York City
Paris
Nightlife/Clubbing and culture in both cities
French language
A variety of sex work (legal and illegal)
Bipolar disorder
hospitality industry
Childcare
Fashion Week in New York or Paris

lacygnette

08-02-2011, 03:35 PM

My areas of expertise:

Ballet: performance, costume, toe shoes, the works - I was a professional ballet dancer
Little theatre: rehearsals, set design, lighting (some), children's theater, touring
General ambiance for both

Computer programming

areteus

08-14-2011, 07:29 PM

I am a polyglot in terms of trivia and can sometimes come up with stuff I remember from a book I once read or a programme I once watched or a person I once talked too who was an expert... but I am specifically good at the following:

- Biology: specifically clinical biochemistry, cell biology (especially cell signalling), haemotology, endocrinology, anatomy and physiology, the immune system (specifically how steroids affect it and also how it ages) and gerontology (how the human body ages). This is based on degree knowledge (a BSc, an MSc, an MPhil) and experience in hospital laboratories.
- Research methods in biological sciences. Based on experience of working in a number of labs - industrial, academic and clinical - as well as attendence at conferences in the days when I was still a scientist.
- Diabetes Mellitus (specifically Type I but also know a lot about Type II) based on both experience of having the disease for more than 20 years now and also doing a research project on it as part of my MSc (and a General Studies AS project on the History of Diabetic Treatment).
- Teaching. It has been commented on that I have possibly the broadest experience of any teacher given that I have taught everything from UK KS2 (I think that's elementary to you US types - the 7 - 10 year old range) right up to KS5 (which is 16 - 18) and also having had experience teaching adults and special needs. Also, my PGCE essay scores showed that I am capable of writing critically and academically about a lot of education theory bullshit well enough to convince academics I understood some of it :)

- Live Action Roleplay (and to a lesser extent re-enactment). I have been a LRPer since I was 19, have organised and run my own system and assisted in the running of many more - both small and large scale. If there isn't a question about the UK LRP scene I don't know the answer to, I can certainly find someone who does know. I add this one after having watched Role Models recently and cringing all through the roleplaying bits (except the last scene which redeemed some of it :) ) and realising that there are few outside the scene who do understand LRP properly...

R Patrick

08-20-2011, 12:39 AM

Current Airline Pilot
Jet Aircraft and Turboprops
Corporate Aviation
General Aviation

ForensicWriter

08-29-2011, 04:14 PM

I'm a Forensic Psychiatrist. So all the medical knowledge that involves the specialty of Psychiatry and the subspecialty of Forensics and I have experience in Geriatrics. Also, general medical knowledge. The most FAQ I get is what's the difference between Psychiatry and Psychology and most people know, but for those that don't, Psychiatry is a medical specialty(medical school), psychology involves a PhD or PsyD.

Otter

09-06-2011, 10:22 AM

Dogs, including; behavior, training methods (both historical and modern), aggression issues, sled dogs, military dogs, and other working dog areas. (I'm a professional dog trainer.)

History of dogs and other animals in movies.

Working with animals on movie/TV/photo sets.

What it's like to work on film sets in general—I could answer some basics.

And, to a smaller extent, World War One, mostly from the British perspective. Not quite an expert on that yet, but I'm getting there. :)

Lord Hegemon

09-07-2011, 06:58 AM

Specialist stuff that I know.

Working on a Masters in Geology, that includes everything under the sun. Volcanos, earthquakes, carbonates (reef systems), paleontology, ground water, evolution etc.

Minored in History emphasizing Japanese History.

Lifelong Mormon so I can blather on religion, and I know several other religions decently (Islam, Catholicism, some Judaism)

Almost was an astrophysics major, so I know a decent deal of that.

I'm a con goes and massive networker, so I know a lot about Genre Writing that I've garnered from pros, editors, agents and so on. Specifically in the areas of publishing, editors, that sort of thing.

Feel free to ask me anything

Diana_Rajchel

09-08-2011, 05:04 AM

My expertise:
Occultism (actual practice), world mythologies, plus size fashion, blogging, tarot, social media and online networking, pranks, perfumery, herbalism, gardening/indoor gardening, urban homesteading, intercultural communication, world faiths, midwestern life, library use, local government, grassroots activism -
I also have a b.s. in mass communication.

FrederickS

09-08-2011, 09:46 AM

I forgot. I have a teen-age daughter who is an avid YA reader!

Kathleen_

09-09-2011, 05:32 PM

Female clothing from the years 1475-80 in the Republic of Florence... right down to what stitches were probably used (probably because of the lack of archaeological record.)
I also reenact this time and place so am ok with many general questions about food and material culture and food. Food gets extra mention not because I have extra knowledge but because it is extra good.

Historic clothing for females in general.
I am a costumer who does many historical dresses but also fantasy and steampunk etc.

I am a handsewer, as in I sew most things by hand. My handsewing is better and stronger than machine sewing. I might be able to help with "How long would it have taken to sew" questions.

I studied archaeology at uni so might be able to help with Archaeology questions, depending on the question.

I grew up in New Zealand in the 80s and 90s but now live in Australia, so can answer many questions relating to both countries. I saw the education system in both places but keep in mind the New Zealand schooling system changed for the year after me so I can't comment on current education stuff.

AlwaysJuly

09-11-2011, 06:58 PM

Military life, uniforms and practices, U.S. Marine Corps in particular. A bit of tactics and history.

Culture and setting of Iraq and Indonesia, two of my favorite places (and places I've been to that many haven't).

WW2 Eastern European history, especially of Poland. If you need to know something about Ravensbruck medical experimentation or the Katyn massacre or the Warsaw Uprising, I'm your girl (this never comes up in real life. I fail at cocktail parties).

MichaelScottMiller

09-13-2011, 06:03 AM

If I can be of any assistance, I would be more than happy to help anyone. My areas of expertise:

Business/corporate finance/accounting
Beer
Cooking
Travel
Music - rock, pop, some punk
Sports - baseball, football, basketball

Siri Kirpal

09-28-2011, 02:07 AM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Well, as you can tell from my greeting, I'm a practicing Sikh. I can talk at length about Sikhism (one of my books is Sikh Spiritual Practice: The Sound Way to God), what it's like to wear a turban, what it's like to be at risk for the 9/11 backlash, what it's like to found an interfaith organization, what it's like to live in an interfaith marriage, how to maintain a longterm marriage, what it's like being multi-gifted and high IQ (think "green monkey"), what it's like having Raynaud's syndrome, what it's like teaching and practicing Kundalini Yoga and meditation (my other book is Yoga for Prosperity), and what it's like being a vegetarian with food allergies/restrictions.

I also have some knowledge of Oriental rugs (including how to wash them), classical vocal training, painting in acrylics and colorpencil drawing. One of my avocations is house design, and while you wouldn't want to call on me as an architect, I can point you to some good references for period housing designs. Ditto with opera recordings.

I was raised in San Diego, specifically in Hillcrest, and lived most of my adult life in Salem, Oregon. And I attended UCSC in its early years.

I also had a New Age grandma who practiced automatic writing and can descibe what it looked like.

Feel free to contact me about any of these or anything you feel may relate to any of these.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

tlbodine

10-06-2011, 04:58 AM

This thread underlines one of my absolute favorite things about the internet, and communities in general....people ALWAYS know the most amazing things.

Tossing mine into the pot:
-- Rats! I've done rat rescue for years and know a lot about their personalities, behaviors, health, etc.

-- Insurance, especially car insurance. I work in a claims center so if you need to wreck your character's car, I can tell you all about the claims process.

-- Videogames and comic books. I happen to be living with an absolute master-geek who has an encyclopediacal knowledge of such things and would be happy to field questions on the topic.

Dani

10-21-2011, 03:34 PM

I thought since I got such a huge help in this forum, I'd contribute a little more heavily to it by listing what I know here.

Expert advice I can give is in:

1. MMORPGs - I know the people, age groups, how cultures etc. Pretty much any type of MMORPG

2. Swedish language and culture - I know quite a bit about it.

3. Growing up abroad - I've lived in Libya (ten years from 1970-1980), Indonesia, Saudia Arabia. I didn't move back to the USA until I was 14, so I have a good understanding of Muslim culture. Bear in mind that I have a mostly positive experience with Muslim culture. If you're expecting to hear about how awful it was, you're going to be disappointed.

4. Gay culture (thought this would be mostly the 90's version and Denver gay scene).

5. Pirating - as in computer not the argh avast ye mateys. Let me say here that I don't want to have arguments about pro or cons of pirating. I do not condone and I do not download books, movies etc. But I can tell you how it's done if you need it for research.

6. Living abroad as an American

7. Infertility and it's effect.

8. December - May relationship

9. Depression

10. Spondylolsis - degenerative back disorder (er disorder? I dunno what it is, but I have it and it sucks).

11. Beagles and Siamese cats

12. Living and working with handicapable people. (I love that word, it's awesome, so I'm using it.)

13. Teaching in urban areas

I have no idea if this is at all helpful. I hope it is because most of the people on this board have been such a godsend to me. If I can give back even a little, it's all good.

WhatTheWhat

10-29-2011, 04:49 AM

Ooh what a fun thread. I can help with the following:

- Teaching high school English (the horror...the horror...okay, not all of it)

- Living in a rural village

- Participating in community theater, esp. acting and costuming

- DIY renovation on old and not-old-but-beat-up houses

- Off-the-boat immigrant grandparents (Italian)

- Baking an apple pie from scratch (it's an art)

- Thyroid disease

- Being a member of a coven

- Attending Catholic girls high school

- First-hand experience of...the '80s!

Robbert

11-02-2011, 02:30 AM

I can help with the following:
- Plattdeutsch
- Living abroad as a German (common stereotypes)
- Germany
- Israel
- Morocco
- Living and working with people with special needs
- Bilingualism / Code Mixing
- SLA / ESL
Please note, country-specific information relates to cultural aspects / current affairs.

Becky P.

11-08-2011, 12:35 AM

I would like to toss my hat in the ring for offering my services to fellow writers.

Society has changed and evolved from what we know it as today, so knowing these item below maybe useful if you plan on using an earlier time frame:

I can offer first hand insight to being a birthmother in the 1980's
I can offer you first hand insight into adoption searches in New York State, OUTSIDE of NYC (NYC has it's own set of rules)
I can offer you insight into shady adoption lawyers and or black market adoptions.
I can offer you tips on how people search for adoptees/birthparents/biological families using the internet, and how some people have learned identities of adopted children (bio family members) by using contacts inside vital statistic offices.

Adoption search reunion from my own point of view and from other birth mothers that have been shared with me, over the years.

I can also point you to volunteer Search Angels to answer questions for specific states and time periods.

I can also give you first hand knowledge of being a forklift operator, both for production and for loading tractor trailers, and various manufacturing jobs.

I can get you information from my husband on: metals, welding, rigging heavy machinery, fabrication and the like. Also, being an Airman who held security detail on an airfield in the UK

Please feel free to message me here or by emailing me at aka.v.falkner@gmail.com

Damian Foyle

11-10-2011, 06:01 PM

I can give some insight into following areas;
Istanbul, learning a foreign language, martial arts (muay thai mostly), engineering and manufacturing.

Sasha_Delaney

11-13-2011, 08:10 AM

So. . . while I have a wide breadth of knowledge, it's pretty shallow on most subjects. In fact, many of the things I know about, you can probably find better information from other sources.

However, I may be able to provide valuable insight on the following subjects:

Drug-users and drug-dealers of various stripes; how they think, how they operate, and what effects the drugs have on their physical and mental states. Drug culture period.

Juggalos.

Homeless people and street-life.

Growing up in a large, tightly-knit, low-income family.

Living with a "survivor" mentality

These aren't the only things I know about; but like I said, these are things that I know enough about to be comfortable saying that I can give an EXPERT opinion.

Sasha_Delaney

11-13-2011, 08:13 AM

Message me, or e-mail me @ wind_sage21@hotmail.com if you'd like detailed information for these subjects.

MysteryRiter

11-15-2011, 08:08 AM

Well, I could be of use if you're a YA writer studying the mind of a teenage boy for your novel. I'm a teen and could answer a few basic questions but nothing too personal. ;)

LeylandCypress

11-15-2011, 09:38 AM

Nice thread. I'm not sure what, if anything, I can add.

I know that I would like to see if anyone knows a lot about small-town (backwoods) life.

I live in a one stop light town of 300, with surrounding farms bring it up to maybe 1,000. I live in South Carolina, so you can include deep south.

LeylandCypress

11-15-2011, 09:47 AM

I know quite a bit about herbology and organic gardening.
My husband knows dirt track racing, drag racing, and classic cars.

WyrdeDragon

11-15-2011, 02:50 PM

Guess I'll weigh in here, if people are interested. I'll go with an earlier comment, that i too know a little bit about a lot of things. But for areas i'd be comfortable calling myself an expert:

20+ years working in industrial chemistry
Especially: paint (mostly aerospace, but general paint questions too), inks, specialty coatings, optical fibers, lab processes and procedures, safety protocols, handling/shipping/ transporting hazardous substances, emergency procedures.
[If you ever want to lose a lot of sleep, ask me about industrial accidents and what they can mean for the surrounding community. Also, the terrorism applications of triggering said incidents (my current job is on Home Sec's watch list)]

Worked as a County Health Inspector
Food store/ restaurant safety
Home inspections (mainly well/ septic work in rural or rural-ish communities)

10+ years High Preist of a pagan coven
Retiered, but willing to talk about anything pagan or religous-related

Recovering Catholic, including several years at Catholic schools

Raising genius kids with ADHD

Polyamory, especially from a practical standpoint

Dealing with alcoholism, addiction, or mental disorders in the family
Though my wife's the one with the training in addiction counciling

Oh, and anything on anime/ manga. If I don't know it, my kids do.

Those should be the big ones. I'll edit in more later, if I think of it. Otherwise, consider me a fount of useless trivia. And a person who'd love to help find any answers I don't know.

PorterStarrByrd

11-15-2011, 03:18 PM

Sports officiatiing (Baseball, Basketball, Football)
Maple syrup making
Wafer (electronic devices) manufacture
Firing 16 inch guns
Small scale ice cream making
Food service operations (management)
Genealogy
Home wine and beer making
small scale rabbit farming
public speaking
some fishing and hunting
baseball history
Sandy, Oregon (that should draw a big crowd)
Salt water sport fishing off of the NJ coast
Arizona desert
Viet Nam era US Navy
Wyatt Earp (and brothers)
Ned Buntline
Plank on frame ship models
NW Huckleberries

GillianColbert

11-18-2011, 10:48 PM

I am a trained Diamond Grader and certified graduate in Diamond knowledge from the Gemological Institute of America.

I own, train and foster Pitbulls and can help with clarity and information on the breed and the culture surrounding it.

I am also an MBA and former Vice President for Technology and can help out on issues that go into business.

Thanks!

SummerSurf57

11-24-2011, 03:09 AM

I can help with a variety of subjects, including:
- Journalism
- Acting
- Singing
- Beauty
- Gymnastics
- Cheerleading
- Yearbooks

Lseeber

12-04-2011, 03:56 AM

I'm a geologist, so if you have questions about rocks, volcanoes, etc. I might be able to help you.

I'm also slowly working on a masters in geochemistry, so I might be able to help with that stuff as well.

I also have about six years of taji quan training and I know about 40 Mandarin characters. Loads of other stupid stuff :)

Laura

Overmuzed

12-06-2011, 05:45 AM

Computer programmer, web developer, stock and futures trader. Now, an aspiring writer wannabe ;)

Sea Witch

12-28-2011, 05:52 AM

What an interesting thread!

I could possibly help on topics related to the following:

quilting/needle arts
plants/orchids
dogs/dog training/dog behavior
aquariums
woodworking
grew up in Louisiana
lived in France for 6 years/fluent French
live in the Pacific Northwest now
cooking/French cooking
gifted children
ADD/ADHD
depression
MS
oil and gas business

PeteMC

12-28-2011, 01:11 PM

My "stuff I know about and/or have a pile of reference books on" is as follows:

Working for a huge multinational technology company.
Supporting a loved one through cancer.
Chinese martial arts.
Taoism.
Wicca.
Modern Occultism (Hermetic / Ceremonial / Chaos).
Historical / Medieval Occultism (a bit, not so much).
Bodybuilding & Powerlifting.

WordCount

12-30-2011, 05:05 AM

I can help on Science Fiction and Pop Culture! As well as information on Star Trek. I doubt anybody would need it, (especially with Memory Alpha and Beta out there) but if you need help, I'm here.

kiwiviktor81

01-05-2012, 07:39 PM

I am a psychologist by profession, so I have insight into a wide manner of psychologically and psychiatrically challenged invividuals.

All I have 9 nears of barwork under my belt, and have lived and worked in Sweden and Germany for 3 years total.

Am I am 6'7" tall, so if want to write a character who is griping about his height I can well fill you in on some of the problems (and benefits).

TheCaleb

01-12-2012, 12:45 AM

Generally I'm a research fiend and if you are having a problem finding info I would be happy to throw my madness into it with you. Things I know a lot about:

Herbalism - since my grandmother showed me my first healing plant at 12 I've been an avid researcher and practitioner.
Wild harvester - Basically the same thing. Since my grandmother showed me my first wild edibles at 12 I have researched and practiced sustainable wild harvesting of edible plants.
Poisonous plants of North America - This falls in with the ones above but I can also tell you how many poisonous plants taste.
Religious Studies- I've been independently studying religions since I could read and the last few years have been making a point to start collecting religious texts from religions around the world.
Native Americans- With a focus on South East tribes (part of my ancestry), Plains and some North East. This coming year I'll be researching West Coast tribes.

logan9a

01-15-2012, 10:37 AM

There are some very interesting people who have posted on this thread.

I know a something of the following (though I am sure other individuals within this thread my equal or excel my knowledge). Disclaimer: I do not claim to have personally done or associated with anyone who has done or is planning to do any of the following activities. Any alleged knowledge purely seeped into my mind from osmosis.

Cold war spy/intelligence stuff
Occult studies
Firearms
Illegal activities such as: robbery, pick pocketing, lock bypassing (including bumping, bashing, picks), extortion, manipulation, kidnapping, etc.
Police activities (American only)
Deception (performing, detection)
Interrogation (excluding torture)
Being an international bum - living off of less than $30 per day and traveling around the world (though I haven't been everywhere...yet)
etc.

The one thing which I suspect I may know more about others on this board are LARP's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LARP Specifically, the NERO LARP (a fantasy genre) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERO_International
I don't know if anyone will ever feel the burning need to find out more on that particular topic but I thought I'd throw it out there on the off chance.

Edit: I also know a lot about 'pen and paper tabletop role playing games' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabletop_role-playing_game

AdamJohnSwenson

01-20-2012, 09:29 PM

Hi all,

wow, this thread is great. I can offer my services for:
Music related things, specifically electric guitar/bass drums, (I'm an electric guitarist and play in a band) recording, mixing live sounding
Minnesota! and Wisconsin!
Fishing Resorts up north
Photography
Some philosophy and theology (have degrees in those)

Awesome. I love this :)

wishflower

01-25-2012, 06:43 AM

After reading through some of these posts I have to ask myself what I've been doing with my life! For whatever it's worth though, here are the things I'm comfortable advising others on:

Things photography related: equipment, photography school, working in darkrooms, old school processes (cyanotypes, van dykes, etc), different genres of photography, gallery shows (start to finish)... or anything else you can think up! ^_^

I've worked freelance shooting a wide variety of things... antiques, jewelry, jam, etc. I also interned at a major clothing company as a photographer, so can give you insight on what that's like. I've worked as a retoucher, a photo lab technician, and a photographer in a retail portrait studio (you know the type--JCPenney, Sears, Walmart--small, cheap studios. I wouldn't recommend this, by the way.) Umm... I can also help with invoicing for freelance work.

I've lived in rural Michigan and Pittsburgh. If you need insight on what it's like to transition from being a country mouse to a city mouse, I've got you covered. (I honestly had to learn how to take public transportation. I'd never been on a city bus before I was 21.)

Random other jobs:
**Waitress
**Corn detasseling (I wish I was joking.)
**Retail camera sales
**Ren faires
**Bagel smearer extraordinaire
I also worked at my college in the AV equipment cage, and the media center taking calls from faculty to fix projectors, TVs, and pretty much anything AV related.

Also, my best friend is transgendered. I've been with him through the entire transition process, so if there's anything you need to know about sex reassignment surgery, passing, coming out, or how such a transition impacts friends and family I can help with that, too.

I've also had dozens of roommates, and so have unique perspective on that situation too. I've had roomies hold me at knife point, but I've had the best roommates on the planet, too.

In a few months I'll be working on a cruise ship as a photographer. I'll update this then, in case anyone plans on setting their next murder mystery on a cruise ship in Hawaii :P

I think that's it for my limited knowledge. I'm more than happy to share though!

CharacterInWhite

01-25-2012, 08:30 AM

I'd be delighted to consult on any of the following topics:

-Martial arts: Nine years of Taekwondo and a 2nd dan black belt before I "retired" (it was never really a "career"). Need words to describe a broken bone? How about the anxiety of facing a considerably more skilled opponent? Or perhaps you need to describe a relationship of respect and admiration between an instructor and his student? (I got both perspectives on that last one, as I spent the last three years of my "career" teaching as well as training.)

-Gender non-conformity: As a young boy I preferred baking, painting, "girly" cartoons, and had nothing but female friends until I was 10 years old. As a grown man I still prefer baking, the occasional romance novel, opera, fashion, and tomboyish women. I have a lot of experiences both good and bad concerning gender non-conformity, and I'm comfortable sharing some (if not all) of them.

-Gender equality or "sex-positivity": Tying in loosely with the above point, I've also done a lot of studies at University concerning rape culture, egalitarianism, and prejudice. Being surrounded by women on a daily basis probably fuelled this.

-Height based social ostracism: I'm not trying to earn pity points here, but I was bullied a lot in Junior High, not only for being "effeminate" but for being short. Yes, short (5'2" to be exact). Guys aren't supposed to be short, don't you know? If you need someone to describe what it feels like to be teased over a physical aspect that you can't control, look no further.

If you need a more mature outlook, I can still tell you that being a short guy garners plenty of discrimination in the "grown-up" world as well, though now I've got the back bone to tell people to shove it.

-Boy scouts: Or more specifically, hating boy scouts despite learning to appreciate some of their lessons later on in life. For example, I liked learning wilderness survival and that sharing leads to stronger friendships, but not that Christianity is the "right" religion to follow. On that note...

-Atheism & Freedom of Speech: I've meticulously studied morality and ethics in University from the perspective of an atheist--and I've arrived to the conclusion that being a "good" person does not have to involve a religion (and in many cases, shouldn't involve a religion). I love talking about this.

-Science!: My programs at University were all Science with a dab of Arts options (the aforementioned philosophy and women's studies in my case). I can shed some insight into the process of research, what it's like to work in a student's lab, what lectures are like, what the workload is like, etc. I can also describe some of my more eccentric or amusing professors if you need inspiration.

-Substance Abuse: Individuals who will remain unspecified have ruined their lives in front of me due to addictions and poor life decisions. If you want to know what that's like, I can help.

ShaylaElla

01-25-2012, 09:53 AM

This is crazy. So many people, so many stories. I'll toss in a few things that I might be able to offer some insight on. Of course, how do I know if some random experience of mine might be worth listing. I'm great at harvesting wild chanterelle mushrooms...

Anyway, here's a few things I've experienced:
• Growing up in rural, central Canada.
• Teen substance use (not abuse, mind) pot & liquor
• Teen pregnancy & abortion
• Life in downtown Toronto - and the associated culture shock of moving from a small town...
• Graphic design, design history, web design, etc. You got design questions, typography questions, I can help!
• Calgary. I'm here, so ask away.

That's all... for now...

LoneRider

01-31-2012, 06:27 AM

Here are my experiences:

- Military service (US Navy/US Army)
- Having attended a military school
- Near OCD interest in history (it goes by phases what historical era I tend to want to read about. Lately it's been British de-colonization from 1945 onward.
- Parachuted out of an airplane.
- Had the experience of going from couch potato to physically fit.

Carissa

02-01-2012, 03:36 PM

This is a neat thread! Here are some of my random experiences:

- Homeschooled until High School

- Lived on a small island in Washington State with a tourist based economy

- Undergrad at a private Christian university in British Columbia

- Masters and PhD at Arizona State

- Topics studied: environment, ecology, marine biology, sustainability, Environmental impact assessment, social justice, primary and secondary education, local food systems, agricultural sustainability, farmers markets

- Lived in: Orcas and Seattle in Washington State, Langley British Columbia, small-town Northern California, Belize, Hawaii, Phoenix Arizona, Sydney Australia,

- Worked as: Hostess, Waitress, Curriculum designer, Front desk & environmental consulting @ architectural firm

Rufus Coppertop

02-01-2012, 04:16 PM

Harpsichords, including tuning issues and technique.
Music history.
Music theory - harmony and counterpoint.
Latin.
A smattering of Tibetan language.
Buddhism
Ritual Magic
Pagan Mythology - mainly Greek and Roman.
History - some Roman, Greek, a little Medieval and Renaissance European.

Worked as a boiler attendant and a general dogs body in a power station and briquette factory.

Psychiatric nursing for 25 years.

AnneMayfair

02-01-2012, 05:29 PM

Not too much to tell, but...

- Born in Moscow, Russia, in the tough times of 1990's
- Experienced family troubles (alcoholism and business crash in 1998)
- Unhappy parents who couldn't have got a divorce
- Extremely bad and abusive teachers in Junior and Middle School
- Death of a classmate when I was 13 years (8th Grade). There's a bit more to it, but that's not for public.
- Really long and weird family history, connected to Russian history and Fate's Irony.
- Experience with bad Russia's educational laws
- Getting a degree in Russian State University for Humanities
- I speak Russian fluently, also a bit of Hebrew and a little bit of Yiddish
- I study Biblical and Judaical studies (can answer lot's of questions concerning traditions and religion)
- Had courses of history of Witchcraft and Inquisition in Europe in Early Middle Ages
- Well, though I don't really like Russian history, I'm well acquitted (is that how you spell it?) with it. Especially I'm good with 16th-20th centuries, but also I have a point of interest in the city of Novgorod.

Well, that's all.

DoctorK

02-01-2012, 05:32 PM

I'm a financial advisor (some people call me a stockbroker) at the top US advisory firm. If you have questions about that world or the characters within (some call them "evil bankers") please feel free to PM.

I've also worked as a radio news reporter and news anchor but that was 15 years ago and the technology has changed a lot.

Sam K.

02-01-2012, 10:41 PM

Half Iraqi, quarter Welsh and quarter English, and had a very confusing childhood spent with significant time in all these cultures
A Londoner, and have been all my life, living in both West and South
Spent a lot of time in Wales - specifially South Wales, Swansea area.
Suffer from OCD

Attended a single-gender high school and sixth form
Journalism student, including the history of, laws pertaining to, and the actual technical art itself
Freestyle and Latin American dance qualified
Ex-Drama student
Have also studied (and still remember a lot of): Psychology, Government & Politics (UK), Geography (demographics, physical geography etc.), Film Studies, English Literature
Inca history is my specialist subject

Religion wise:
Bought up as being Protestant during the week, and Muslim at the weekends
Later became a Pagan, and know much of the practices and history
Now an atheist

A bookseller at Waterstone's
Have worked as a bartender at three festivals

Jonathan.Bentz

02-11-2012, 11:00 PM

I have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, and can tell you how drugs and such actually affect us from a personal POV rather than the 'this works' POV of so-called professionals and/or parents. I'd wager some parents will also tell you that the kids sometimes become worse after having these drugs. I can tell you one reason that happens.

I also am someone who has grown up as a Mormon. Please note I am not referring to the Community of Christ or the sect that was/is led by Warren Jeffs. I'm talking about the mainstream Mormon Church. While I don't have any expertise on the temple ceremonies or what-not, I can tell you about whether something is part of Mormon culture or if it is nothing more than a myth. There are a number of them, so if you're confused, feel free to P.M. me.

theelfchild

02-17-2012, 06:20 AM

Points of Experience I'm willing to share:

- Cello (Nearly 20 years playing, Bmus student)
- Suzuki Music Education (both student and teacher)
- Classical Music
- Autism (little brother severely Autistic)
- Educational Psychology
- Knitting, Crochet
- Vegetarian, Vegan, and gluten-free cuisine
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Have a room-mate who's a zombie (she's biting me right now...)

Lhipenwhe

02-21-2012, 02:56 AM

Here's my mix of eclectic (and fairly useless) skills:

- Modern Middle-East with a focus on Israel
- International Politics
- Iaido, a little kenjutsu, and general fighting
- Buddhism
- Personal experience with depression, and a smattering of disability issues
- Fair knowledge of anti-semitism and conspiracy theories
- And the most useless one of all, tabletop role-playing games.

Mari

02-21-2012, 08:11 AM

i want to apologize for this being so long, but it is what it is. :)

English major
Journalism minor

grew up with my grandmother
raised on Social Security and food stamps
family raised a garden every year
great-grandmother was a bootlegger
lived in house with two aunts until they graduated and moved away
Appalachia (southeastern Kentucky)
coal mining
lost uncle to mining in 1980
was in the April 1974 tornado 'Super Outbreak'
total weather fanatic

used to have '80s big hair, wore obnoxious clothes, and talked like a Valley Girl
able to roller skate and chew bubblegum at the same time

divorced
left abusive relationship - two of them
two sons - one regular birth (with epiduarl) one with horrific c-section
oldest son has chronic kidney failure and is a transplant recipient on dialysis (know the agony of "hurry up and wait")
youngest son is a Marine living in okinawa

grew up southern missionary baptist, baptized chritistan, and went whole-hog Pagan 22 years ago
been practicing Gwyddon for 20 years, main focus ritual and ritual creation, Gwyddon history, and mythical lore

ADD with panic disorder (my apartment is very, very clean LOL)

was anorexic in high school and college
now have an emotional eating problem and am obese

am caffeine-free
able to name that tune in one note
got kicked out of a Hallmark store
total snoopy fanatic
started playing Dungeons & Dragons in early high school
have played Vampire the Masquerade since 1991 - own complete set of first edition books
was in 'gifted and talented' program from 8th grade through graduation, main focus was French, German, genetics, and creative arts

SFTor

02-25-2012, 04:57 AM

Hello guys, here are some areas I might be able to help with:
Vikings and the Viking Age
Norway, especially Oslo
Fly fishing in fresh and salt water
San Francisco
medical devices
video production
corporate advertising and marketing
Jaguar and Mercedes cars (limited)

Ophqui

03-04-2012, 11:24 PM

Well I'm a physiotherapist, i work in professional sport with a premier league soccer team, but I've also worked in the health service so i can field a lot of medical/hospital based questions should anyone have any.

Also boxed as an amateur for a long time, including training with the English national squad, could probably give some pointers (on writing about boxing, not beating people up)

And I'm a Jew, although a Jew of the more secular variety. I do have some interesting stereotypical Jews in my family though, should anyone be interested in such things

resulka

03-05-2012, 09:39 AM

Not sure I have much to add to the list above, but here are some fairly unique experiences I've had:

Born and raised in Utah, though I am no longer Mormon
Suicide in the family
Peddled carnival games at an amusement park for several summers when I was in high school
Worked as a contractor to the Air Force, writing technical manuals
Producer / Project Manager at a large video game company for several years
I've known at least three close friends or family who have been diagnosed with severe Manic-Depressive issues

Might think of a few more later, but there it is.

Lisella

03-13-2012, 11:10 PM

Education
Undergrad degree: Bachelor of Music - primary instrument voice, secondary instruments guitar & piano
Grad degree: MFA in Creative Writing - concentration in Writing for Children

Background
Have worked in NYC for 10 years, live in northern NJ all that time and grew up in that area. Went to grad school in the West Village of NYC.
First Generation American with an Italian background (parents are immigrants).

Random Info
Natural redhead (if you plan to write about about a natural redhead in depth and are not one, take a minute to touch base with one. Because the sheer amount of what's necessary to say go to the beach for an hour and not turn into a lobster is ridiculous).

Work Background
During high school was part of an NSF grant to study jumping genes in fruit flies.
During undergrad I worked as an audio engineer for the school of music. Have worked backstage at Carnegie Hall and interned in the publicity department of Columbia records.
Currently work at a non-profit putting together grant submissions for our research institute. I am knowledgable in compliance issues and regulations regarding research.

ShannonR.

03-24-2012, 09:37 PM

Here are some of the experiences I could provide insight about. I thought I'd posted this before, but I don't see it..so here it goes again. Hold onto your hats!

Majored in communication at NC State
Grew up on the beach in North Carolina (the Wilmington area)
Went to a small high school in a small town
Diagnosed with bipolar/ADHD, but went without a proper diagnosis or treatment for several years (see #12)
Strong family history of mental illness/substance abuse
Lost my mom to cancer in 1998
In an emotionally/psychologically/sexually abusive relationship in college
Went from having no religion/humanist/agnostic/deist/Christian, became a Christian when I was 15
Former Southern Baptist, now Episcopalian, have done extensive independent study about religion of all kinds
Moderated religion-based forums for the past nine years
have worked in foodservice, TV production, sales, HR, administration, retail, basically all kinds of customer service
Have had the experience of people thinking that my problems are due to a 'demon' or 'spirit'/lack of faith/unresolved sin-my ex-boyfriend and his family believed in what is now called Word of Faith/Prosperity Gospel, and gave me grief about my taking meds for, well, anything.
I have five cats
When I was 13, I learned for the first time that I had brothers from my dad's first marriage. I met the first one at age 15 (he died when I was 18) and just met the other one in 2009. My dad's first wife had a mental illness problem and did a lot of hurtful things in their marriage...after the divorce, she took my brothers out of the country and actively kept him out of their lives for more than 20 years...
On disability
In 2005, I was hit t-bone style in my car by a Dodge Ram and broke my pelvis. I spent a month in the hospital and still have the arthritis effects. I don't remember anything at all about the wreck or the two weeks after, but everyone who saw me and the car said I should have been dead
35 with no kids

As you see, I'm a train wreck. :) I might not have a lot of 'career' expertise like most of you do, but I've been through the wringer in other ways.

In addition to this, my husband is a gun collector (military rifles) and works in tech support, so he could give information on either subject.