Ask MetaFilter

Due to a surprisingly large amount of rain in the past few months, my lawn is absolutely bursting with weeds. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by oissubke at 10:25 PM PST - 23 comments

While out house-hunting, my wife and I encountered a very charming fixer-upper in the mid- to high portion of our price range. How do we determine how much it would actually cost to, you know, fix 'er up? [more inside]
posted by willpie at 8:46 PM PST - 23 comments

Hmm.. A friend linked me this critque of the Pentagon 9/11 event. I was wondering if there was any official or unofficial debunking of the claims made here? [more inside]
posted by Mossy at 8:26 PM PST - 29 comments

Help Identify a Hip-Hop Sample. The artist is MF Doom, the album is MM...Food?, the track is "Kookies" (Amazon link; listen to track 15). I'm fairly sure it's from Sesame Street (or some other children's show, circa 1970s) -- if not the main theme, than an outro or something else. [more inside]
posted by kmel at 8:16 PM PST - 12 comments

The TV Tome entry for Reading Rainbow is an extended attack on the show and those involved with it. What gives? I never realized the thing was a source of so much controversy. [more inside]
posted by punishinglemur at 7:58 PM PST - 15 comments

I'd like to become skilled with gardening and maintaining indoor plants and stuff. What's a good way to develop a green thumb? Book suggestions, websites, personal anecdotes, cost saving tips, good nursuries in Los Angeles, etc are all welcome. [more inside]
posted by sirion at 6:19 PM PST - 9 comments

How old is Barbie? I know the toy first appeared at the Toy Fair in New York in 1959, but how old is the character Barbie meant to be? [more inside]
posted by Crushinator at 5:47 PM PST - 17 comments

I am purchasing a new computer. With the amount of heat generated by today's PCs, I am concerned about the heat inside our enclosed desk cabinet. Can anyone suggest a cooling method which would allow heat to escape from the desk? I am willing to modify the furniture to mount a fan, but I'm not sure what to do or what options are available.
posted by y0mbo at 5:27 PM PST - 11 comments

Going to S. America in four weeks and will be doing some white water rafting. I'd like to find a waterproof digital camera... [more inside]
posted by moonbird at 5:08 PM PST - 4 comments

Grand Canyon is on TV right now. It's one of those perennial reruns I enjoy enough to try to watch, but not enough to stick with it -- I always end up flippin' channels when a commercial comes on. So as a result, over the years, I've caught bits and pieces of it but never seen it from beginning to end. One story arc confuses me: did Mack (Kevin Kline) sleep with his yummy secretary? Did it happen on screen or was it just alluded to? What is the chronology of events between Mack and said delectable secretary?
posted by randomstriker at 3:17 PM PST - 1 comment

When starting Firefox 1.0.3, I get "access to the port number given has been disabled for security reasons." When I click OK, Firefox opens but with a blank tab. I can then surf as normal. [more inside]
posted by schoolgirl report at 3:12 PM PST - 2 comments

I would like to make an effort to read more books by women authors. [more inside]
posted by corpse at 1:30 PM PST - 52 comments

What approaches do you have for transferring/receiving large files from friends over the internet? [more inside]
posted by blueyellow at 1:16 PM PST - 18 comments

I run a website for a college organization. We can't run server-side scripts so we use Blogger for news and updates, but I'd like to have a calendar of upcoming events as well. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by stopgap at 12:03 PM PST - 8 comments

We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary later this year. Seeing as how we've never been in a position, economically, to do anything wildly special over the years, we would like to make this one really special... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 11:37 AM PST - 19 comments

I've got a jar of organic applesauce that started smelling sour about two weeks after I bought it. Should I eat it? [more inside]
posted by breath at 11:22 AM PST - 15 comments

Help! I'm in L.A. It's Saturday. I need to get a bottle of champagne delivered in Manhattan on Monday morning. Any recommendations for a good wine store I can call to arrange this? [more inside]
posted by scody at 11:14 AM PST - 2 comments

I am taking a difficult test Monday morning and it is very important that I pass. I'm pretty much prepared, and I'll be cramming all weekend, but I'd like to know if any of you kind souls have had any tangible good results in memory enhancing supplements such as Ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, or Gotu kola. If so what seemed to bring the best results? Also are there any types of foods or eating habits that have a positive effect on memory and testing performance? Will anything help on such a short notice?
posted by sublivious at 10:40 AM PST - 17 comments

I am a 30-year-old Chicago male, and I am still a virgin. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:06 AM PST - 61 comments

Another lost movie. Last seen 1973 in Europe, presumably made that year or slightly earlier (it may never have reached America). Setting: Britain (mostly London?) Pre WWI and just after. Cast: Attractive, British, youthful. No big names that I recall. General themes: I think- women's rights, problems of romance & politics, the pity of war. Two scenes vividly remembered: Young man appreciatively watching a woman on stage, she singing con brio "Votes for women, votes for women, la de da de da da dee!" Final scene young woman sitting in an art gallery post WW1 watching with emotion some "modern" art. I think her young man has died in the war. Scenes less well remembered (VERY POSSIBLY misremembered) generic love scene, generic romantic argument, suffragettes being run in by the police, young man getting a fleeing suffragette out of the way. A UK production, more art house than mass release, but wonderful atmosphere, which is probably why it sticks in my mind all these years later.
posted by IndigoJones at 9:46 AM PST - 6 comments

The last bit of snow is finally melting in my backyard (yes, I live in Canada) to reveal a pile of dog shit, courtesy of my young black lab. Any ideas on how to melt that too? Any substances (preferably non-toxic) that I could spread on the lawn to speed up the process?
posted by thejimp at 9:26 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm in the throws of another cold handed to me by my ever-vigilant cold-bearing offspring, and it's occurred to me again that I've never satisfactorily asked whether or not the drugs I use to combat the common cold are doing me any good, or if they're just making it worse. [more inside]
posted by thanotopsis at 9:14 AM PST - 18 comments

Most kid's bikes are crap. I've looked at the bikes sold in the major chain stores and they are poorly designed and constructed. My 4 year old son rides his 12" bike without training wheels, but he has nearly outgrown it. So I am looking for a well designed and constructed, moderately priced, 16" bicycle that can stand up to the abuse that a 4 year old will put it through, and hopefully be in good enough shape for child number two to use it in a few years.
posted by tcskeptic at 7:51 AM PST - 14 comments

This is my first 'AskMetafilter' question, but browsing around here, I've noticed that several other people have posted similar queries, so here goes: Sometime in the late '70's, I recalll seeing at least one episode of some British ITV-produced show about a clutch of people who were floating around the galaxy in the British Museum. Yep, THE British Museum. However absurd, I remember that the Earth had somehow been destroyed, and this clutch of heroes was charged with preserving the remains of human civilization en route to a new, undetermined home. While this scenario bears many similarities to 'Space:1999', 'Journey to the Far Side of the Sun', 'Blake's 7', 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Silent Running', I know it is none of those, and it was British. I distinctly remember aliens -actors in costumes, flowing robes, leather, that sort of thing - pursuing the human protagonists within the museum. It very much seemed an episode of a television show, in a hip, Quartermaas key, but with the better production values of the live Gerry Anderson/ITV shows. Any ideas? I really don't think it was Doctor Who...
posted by vhsiv at 6:23 AM PST - 10 comments

I've been searching for the name of a film I watched several years ago on late night TV. The film takes place on a train. In one scene the two main characters grease the tracks so that the train is forced to slow down, allowing them to climb on board. Near the end, there is a bloody battle, and the train guard's hand is chopped off with an axe. Can anyone help in identifying this film? [more inside]
posted by Boo! at 5:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I have encountered a website that records my IP address on my messages that I post for all to see every time I post. This makes me paranoid because I feel that even though most of the people on the board are cool; someone with malicious intent may try to use that information against me. How can I post to this board anonymously? And if I can't... is there a way to "mask" my IP address of fake another one in it's place? BTW, I am using Mac OS X TIGER (if that's any help).
posted by Livewire Confusion at 4:29 AM PST - 11 comments

Aiie! I lost the bookmark of a webshop of sorts. I remember it was very white with black lines, made in flash, sold a cd or two, a book or two, some toys and it had a jukebox with four songs in it, one of which was of Joshua Ryan. One of the cd's they sold was Joshua Ryan's "By Design", but searching for that on google doesn't lead me anywhere useful. What is this website?
posted by Skyanth at 1:41 AM PST - 0 comments

Why does bitTorrent run SOOOOO slow on my computer? [more inside]
posted by ebeeb at 11:40 PM PST - 16 comments

I have an English final coming up, and I need to make a presentation on Franz Kafka. As a reinforcement activity, I would like to give my class a puzzle of some sort that is either impossible to solve, or at least very difficult. My goal is to frustrate everyone in order to make a point about Kafka's life, as well as his writing style. [more inside]
posted by Amanda B at 11:19 PM PST - 16 comments

I've stumbled across the google cache results of a site. The brief text results after each link tells me that google can read it ...so why can't I? More curiously, why does trying to look at the google cache result spit me to the site's own generic default page?
posted by leotrotsky at 8:24 PM PST - 8 comments

How should I go about selling a hive of bees? Who would be interested and how would I find them? [more inside]
posted by nickerbocker at 7:59 PM PST - 6 comments

My dog has just been diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front right leg, and has to have her leg amputated. We live in the second story apartment, with no elevator. I need to figure out how to help her up and down the stairs. She's a Rottweiler/Lab mix (100lbs) so she's too big to carry. Currently, I put her in a Ruffwear harness and hold up her chest a bit when we go down the stairs to ease the pressure on her leg, but I don't think this harness will fit her once her leg has been removed. Does anyone know of a harness that is secure and comfortable for a dog with only one front leg? I need to be able to grab it from her back (ideally between her shoulder blades) and that the force is evenly distributed across her chest. All the harnesses I can think of fit "under the armpits", so to speak. Other suggestions are welcomed, as well. Yes, moving to another apartment is medium term option, but I need to figure out a short term solution. (Our front door is on the first floor, which opens to an internal stairway. I've thought about building a ramp down to the front door, but there are still 10 stairs from the door to the street.) Thanks for your help.
posted by luneray at 7:14 PM PST - 5 comments

Three months ago, my then-girlfriend and I broke off a 2.5-year relationship. We were doing it long-distance for the entirety of it, though that never hurt us. Two summers we lived together, too. We had started to fight a lot later—usually about stupid things—and basically just started to drive each other nuts while we were apart. When we were together in person, things were wonderful, but we had to support each other across the hundreds of miles, too. It was a mutual break-up for the most part: she wanted to take a month off, but I said it was inappropriate for us to pretend to be with each other when we're really trying to get away. This may have been the biggest mistake of my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:19 PM PST - 46 comments

Yes, another physical fitness question. I, like some others in the green of late, need to find my fitter self. I am going to turn 35 on Sunday, have two beautiful and energetic young daughters, and so…my lack of fitness is bumming me out, man. [more inside]
posted by Richat at 6:14 PM PST - 15 comments

So I'm kind of stuck in Oporto, Portugal for the weekend and need some fun and exciting things to see/do. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by lazywhinerkid at 3:43 PM PST - 3 comments

Crap. Just got diagnosed with vitiligo - a small pale patch on the cheek and one mostly-white eyebrow. Help me keep from ending up like Michael Jackson! (Although I am a honky.) Seriously, I'd love to hear from anyone who's had experience with it.
posted by gottabefunky at 3:28 PM PST - 8 comments

It looks like I'm going to be moving to Nashville for work next month. I'll be working in the Brentwood area. Does anyone have any recommendations of places to live or cool things to check out once I get there?
posted by ttrendel at 3:09 PM PST - 6 comments

I've undertaken some data compression research and have been looking for publicly available data sets of large integers without much success. My research is in the same general area as this paper, and I have contacted the authors but unfortunately their data is lost in the mists of time. Can anyone recommend any publicly available data sets of large integers?
posted by harmfulray at 2:41 PM PST - 13 comments

Name my two new ferrets! [more inside]
posted by MostHolyPorcine at 2:22 PM PST - 73 comments

BatteryFilter: I've got a Dell Latitude C800 that I've been nothing but happy with, until recently. Of late, the power seems to be iffy at best, switching at random between AC power and battery power... [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 1:58 PM PST - 4 comments

Is my yeast unhappy? Beginner's homebrewing question inside. [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:50 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a car stereo with a removable faceplate. After a couple of years of lugging the plate with me every time I left the car, I finally did what I knew was coming all along and lost the darn thing. Given that the entire reason for having the plates removable is to deter theft, should I accept it as a given that there is no place to buy a replacement unit, and go buy a whole new stereo?
posted by blindcarboncopy at 1:26 PM PST - 13 comments

Does anyone know of Hyde Park (Chicago) apartment buildings with children's playrooms or an otherwise kid-friendly environment? [more inside]
posted by MattD at 1:18 PM PST - 8 comments

What are your recommendations for an online printing service? I want to be able to send or upload a PDF file and have the service print paper copies, binding them, etc., as needed. [more inside]
posted by yclipse at 1:12 PM PST - 8 comments

Why, in this modern age of file sharing, do some musical artists seem to openly welcome live audio recording/sharing of concerts but appear reluctant, if not actively opposed, to live video recording/sharing of the same events?
posted by RockyChrysler at 1:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Why are there frequently no non-emergency stairs in office buildings? Is it so unheard of that one would want to take the stairs, and not the elevator, from the first to the second floor?
posted by kenko at 1:04 PM PST - 28 comments

What's the best way to find a translated English version of a Japanese newsweekly article from 1994? [more inside]
posted by inksyndicate at 12:57 PM PST - 2 comments

So, if it's really true that Geeks and Nerds Are Worth It, where does one find them? [more inside]
posted by INTPLibrarian at 12:31 PM PST - 64 comments

I'm researching why and when people use online dictionaries instead of (or in addition to) paper ones, and vice versa. I'd love some feedback from MeFites as to which they prefer and why. [more inside]
posted by esperluette at 11:44 AM PST - 52 comments

Anybody know where I can get another copy of the Drive By Truckers' live cover of "Hey Ya" that was making the rounds of the music blogs last year? [more inside]
posted by felix betachat at 11:36 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for software that helps make electrical schematics. [more inside]
posted by cardboard at 10:52 AM PST - 16 comments

What are the best resources, online and/or offline, to help a hearing person learn to read lips (lipread, speechread)? I'm interested in hearing about personal experiences.
posted by rwhe at 10:50 AM PST - 1 comment

Tech advice: CDR drive stopped working, replacement drive didn't work either, I'm trying to figure out my next move. [more inside]
posted by donovan at 10:46 AM PST - 9 comments

What is the best deodorant/antiperspirant for sensitive skin? [more inside]
posted by radioamy at 10:24 AM PST - 20 comments

Heh. I may be asking for trouble posting this here. I'm having trouble with the Fark website. In Firefox, when I click any of the links, I get a popup window, but it is blank white, with the word "Stopped" in the status area. Help me see boobies! (It's actually all links, not just a couple that have been "farked" by a traffic spike). [more inside]
posted by scarabic at 9:25 AM PST - 8 comments

One of my clients is running a linux firewall. (FC3, Kernel 2.6.10-1). Occasionally, the firewall box will stop passing packets on the internal interface for what seems to be no reason at all. [more inside]
posted by SpecialK at 8:42 AM PST - 4 comments

Has anyone carcamped along Interstate 5 in the Mt. Shasta/Castle Crag area? [more inside]
posted by Danf at 8:31 AM PST - 3 comments

Where can I buy trench coat fabric? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 8:28 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a business card scanner for a friend, anybody have experience with these? [more inside]
posted by crazy finger at 8:26 AM PST - 4 comments

Strollers have become a source on contention between my wife and I. We have kid 1.0 coming in a few months and need to get one. She wants a Bugaboo and I think that is a crazy waste of cash. Does anyone have any experience with these "world famous, prize-winning, celebrity-favorite" strollers? Or recommendations for something else? [more inside]
posted by GrumpyMonkey at 8:23 AM PST - 46 comments

What word would you use to describe this person? Young, British, male, upper middle class; no regular job, career or profession; probably has some talent(s) or other and gets by doing odd bits of work for friends, friends of friends, or friends of daddy. A bit of a slacker really, but not someone who lives off their parents or spends their time partying. Any ideas? The quainter the better. [more inside]
posted by cillit bang at 8:17 AM PST - 65 comments

Alternative-energy junkies : help! Solar / kiln question... [more inside]
posted by Slothrop at 8:12 AM PST - 13 comments

I've lived in Washington DC for 5 years, so you'd think I know what good stuff there is to do. And I guess I've done a lot of it, but now I want to take my girlfriend out on a fun date that isn't the monuments, the (national) mall, a movie, or 'just dinner.' Any good suggestions for Saturday evening? There has got to be a boatload of fun non-tourist stuff to do here!
posted by clgregor at 7:34 AM PST - 30 comments

I am looking for short videos | animations that show good information design. They could be scientific, engineering, educational or even artistic, as long as they provide clear demonstrations and explanations about dynamic processes, and do so with some graphic / 3d / animation flair. [more inside]
posted by signal at 6:52 AM PST - 6 comments

I recently ran the OSX utility 'Delocalizer' and my mac has been screwy ever since. I think I've found the problem in this MB thread. I need advice on how to recover from this. [more inside]
posted by adamkempa at 6:15 AM PST - 6 comments

My intern needs summer housing somewhere on the north side of Chicago. He is a single college junior and I am paying him peanuts, so it has to be cheap. Rogers Park/Andersonville/Edgewater would be ideal. Any suggestions?
posted by ednopantz at 6:11 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm using Outlook 2000 and the built-in"keyword" spam filtering is a joke. ("viagra" is on my list, and a search of my inbox finds 29 emails with that word, even after running the rule manually.) What are people using on the client side to filter spam with Outlook (using POP, not Exchange)? No challenge/response, please, as this is used for business. The free-er the better.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 4:43 AM PST - 16 comments

I want to buy a brand new sealed R1 DVD from an Ebay shop, but it's described as a 'NEW DVD IZ', which I don't understand - what on earth is 'IZ'?
posted by timpollard at 2:56 AM PST - 9 comments

Am I right in thinking that there exists a certain contraption that can be used to squash the remnants of various bars of soap into one large bar of soap, thereby utilising all those little slivers of soap that are always left over? If so, what is such a thing called? And where can I get hold of one? (pref in UK) Thanks
posted by juniorbonner at 2:08 AM PST - 14 comments

How do I convert a word pro file (*.lwp) to something that MS-word understands? [more inside]
posted by Thug at 1:10 AM PST - 3 comments

Can anyone else reccommend low-cost or free psychology clinics in NYC? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:23 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm going to graduate in a week or two and, well, I don't think the person who is rumored to be doing the address ought to be respected. At all really. I was just planning on not attending, but I'm not really sure if that's right. Should I go and shut up? Go and make a scene? Not go at all? [more inside]
posted by SomeOneElse at 10:48 PM PST - 62 comments

A couple of recent new acquaintances have strabismus (I don't like the term "lazy eye," sorry; it's a deviation of the alignment of one eye in relation to the other). Do people with strabismus generally prefer that the folks they're speaking with focus on one eye over the other? If it's not uncommon for one of the person's eyes to develop more strongly than the other, would it be polite to simply ask a casual acquaintance if they prefer that I look into the left or right eye as we talk together?
posted by mediareport at 10:25 PM PST - 23 comments

How often do pedicurists turn down a really nasty looking foot? [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:25 PM PST - 9 comments

I am an Indian cuisine virgin. All I know is that there's curry involved. What is the best way to get introduced to it with a representative sampling? Are there single dishes that will give me a good idea whether I will like the genre as a whole? [more inside]
posted by attercoppe at 8:03 PM PST - 24 comments

In the book _Cryptonomicon_, the author's generated emails from Randy Waterhouse, a main character of the book, contain GPS information which refers to a "Nearest Geographical Feature". This mythical NGF seems to work worldwide. How would you practically implement such a feature using today's technology - are there any free datasets that would do the job? Having just purchased a GPS receiver I am very interested in locating data sets that can accomplish a similar set of functionality.
posted by arimathea at 7:53 PM PST - 5 comments

How should a woman make it clear to a man she has just met that she is interested in being friends, even good friends, but not interested romantically? [more inside]
posted by cmyr at 7:08 PM PST - 42 comments

My girlfriend is getting ready to start grad school this summer, and is having a hell of time figuring out what needs to be done for financial aid. Obviously, time is running out. [more inside]
posted by cosmonaught at 6:07 PM PST - 4 comments

Where can I find extended electronic music sets online, or what CDs should I look for offline? [more inside]
posted by rkent at 5:54 PM PST - 13 comments

When I download files with "Bits On Wheels" the torrents remain in a folder on my drive, but they are inactive. How does one keep them 'seeding' and searchable by other P2P people? When I search for programs, it appears only recent episodes are available. I'd like to make all my older torrents available too.
posted by DickStock at 5:51 PM PST - 6 comments

Enrolling in a debt counseling program automatically cancels credit cards without warning. This is unacceptable. Is it possible to back out of the program and restore the credit card accounts? If not, does the debt program block the ability to get new credit cards? This is not an issue of wanting to live on credit cards, but instead to have a safety cushion in times of emergency fiscal need.
posted by anonymous at 5:33 PM PST - 15 comments

What is the best cellphone for my grandparents? [more inside]
posted by tumble at 5:16 PM PST - 4 comments

A recent burst of unseasonably warm weather kicked me Proust-style back to the childhood joy of well made Kool-Aid. Who hear would care to share their personal favorite recipes for Kool Aid, Jell-O drinks, etc.? Eccentric and unexpected combinations happily welcomed; I would like to keep things on the Shirley Temple side, though, so no Kool Aid cocktail recipes please.
posted by boombot at 4:49 PM PST - 6 comments

Kendall Hailey wrote a delightful book and was a talented stage actor in Pasadena a few years later. It surprises me immensely that she seems to have done no writing or acting since then (or at least none that I can find out about). Anybody know what she's been up to?
posted by bac at 4:43 PM PST - 1 comment

I've got a 689MB AVI on a machine with a CD burner, and I'd like to create a VCD that I can watch on my home DVD player. [more inside]
posted by nonemoreblack at 4:40 PM PST - 6 comments

Electronic music fans: I am looking for artists and tunes that are primarily in a major key or progression... [more inside]
posted by icetaco at 4:37 PM PST - 18 comments

I have this embarassing problem related to being a 40 year old male. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:26 PM PST - 59 comments

Isn't there some simple way to list out all the fields in all the tables in an MS Access database? [more inside]
posted by jasper411 at 2:36 PM PST - 3 comments

In my new apartment, the outlet I have to use for my computer system is hooked up to a lightswitch that also controls the room's lights. Any good ideas on how to undo this situation? [more inside]
posted by edlundart at 2:27 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm thinking of some artist who put together graphic renderings (orthogonal?) of various famous news photos -- the King assassination, the Buddhist monk immolating himself in Saigon, the beating of Reginald Denny -- and made them look like stills from computer games. Does this ring a bell with anyone?
posted by Shanachie at 1:48 PM PST - 5 comments

Can you think of blue foodstuffs for a party? [more inside]
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:59 PM PST - 44 comments

I tried a US manufactured product (skincare) not available @ home.How should I approach them with an aim to being an agent/distributor ?
posted by johnny7 at 12:27 PM PST - 1 comment

So I'm about to embark on the journey that is Strattera - What can I expect? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:49 AM PST - 8 comments

I want to propose to my girlfriend before she moves with to me attend grad school, but I want to make her ring myself, but won't have the equipement to do that until I get to grad school. Should I... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:49 AM PST - 24 comments

How can I erase an ex's name (or more to the point a series of name-oriented terms) so that I don't inadvertently use them in my current relationship? [+] [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:48 AM PST - 17 comments

I have breast implants. Should I acknowledge them to my new lover? If so, when & how? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:48 AM PST - 23 comments

Combinations and permutations are something that's starting cropping up a lot in my work and I need to rapidly elevate myself from utterly rubbish to vaguely proficient (example included). [more inside]
posted by forallmankind at 11:07 AM PST - 10 comments

My father-in-law, who recently became ill, moved in with us last weekend. My wife and I have two young boys. My father-in-law has guns. I don't like guns. I was perfectly happy not having any guns in my house. Now I'm worried. I know my father-in-law will rattle off fifty-two reasons backwards and forwards and upside down until we're all blue in face why it's important to have guns around. It won't matter - I'll still hate knowing there are guns in MY house. What should I do, grow up and get over it? Or can a compromise be reached? Any advice?
posted by michaelbrown at 11:06 AM PST - 54 comments

I've been reading the ongoing series of articles in the New Yorker about global warming, and quite frankly, I'm freaked out. Further reading on the web only confirms this. So here's my question: is there any good news? [more inside]
posted by danny boy at 11:02 AM PST - 19 comments

To all Philip K. Dick fans: Dick seems to have published a formidable amount of work, and rather than trying to read all of his novels/short stories, I'm wondering if any MeFites are familiar with his books and could recommend his best 5 or so. [more inside]
posted by Malachi Constant at 10:56 AM PST - 38 comments

I'm looking for recipes and techniques for authentic southern fried chicken. [more inside]
posted by rorycberger at 10:42 AM PST - 11 comments

Recently, when I turn on my shower in the morning, the water runs clear for a few minutes, then a spurt of black inky water comes out for anywhere from two to 10 seconds, then it starts running clear again. I haven't noticed this with any of my other faucets/water sources. What might be causing that black water (I assume something's collecting in the pipes somewhere) and is it something I should be worried about? As a side note, my hard, hard water does seem to eat through my plumbing like it was made of spun sugar.
posted by willnot at 10:25 AM PST - 2 comments

Has anyone had any luck with any of the commercial car selling sites? eBay motors? craigslist? [more inside]
posted by TimeFactor at 10:22 AM PST - 13 comments

What's your verdict on digital picture frames? I have been largely unimpressed until I came across this -- a steep investment but tempting nonetheless for a photophile like me. Right now, I'm loving the slide show screensaver on my PC but it still sits there in the office, apart from the mainstream of the house. I have more than 10,000 images and it would be nice to display them dynamically in a classy setting. Tiny table top frames just don't seem to cut it. Would I be throwing too much at this? What works for you?
posted by terrier319 at 10:19 AM PST - 9 comments

I love the way FireFox automatically shows the little orange button to indicate that an RSS feed is available from a web page I visit. Is there anything comparable for Internet Explorer? An alert or something that automatically displays? I use Bloglines Toolkit but what I want is a visual alert.
posted by garyduke at 10:00 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a way I can still get my new mail notification even though I have Outlook closed? [more inside]
posted by thefinned1 at 9:28 AM PST - 11 comments

I need help in finding the names of newer music genres. Especially those with interesting names. Examples of this would include "Screamo" (Hardcore Emo) or "Math Metal" (Metal written around complex rhythmic patterns). [more inside]
posted by sourwookie at 7:36 AM PST - 32 comments

Our Nvidia 6600GT claims to be sending a 60hz signal to the television, but the TV won't budge from 50hz. [more inside]
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 7:30 AM PST - 2 comments

My girlfriend was rear-ended a few days ago and the rear of her car is damaged. It's still very driveable, but she has to do a ton of little things like meet with the adjuster, get estimates for repairs, etc. The insurance company of the guy who hit her has been decently accomodating so far, but I'm wondering if she's eligible for compensation for the time it will take to comply with their procedures? And how do we go about asking for that if indeed she is?
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:21 AM PST - 17 comments

I have been searching for sunglasses that do not have separate lenses. I have a lazy eye and a bulky nose piece or any kind of separation that blocks my peripheral vision, ( is it still "peripheral"l if it is the vision from the side of the eye toward the nose?) screws up my depth perception and gives me headaches, not to mention causing me to trip. What I need is a strip of lens material that wraps seamlessly across both eyes. I have looked at bikers glasses but they all undulate at the nose which causes a visual obstruction. They need to provide protection from uv, uvb exposure, it would be nice also to have halfway decent optics.
posted by flummox at 4:16 AM PST - 8 comments

I have started using Copernic Desktop Search after testing a number of search products. Now, I would like to learn the various tips and tricks, or undocumented features to become a power user. How does one go about doing that? [more inside]
posted by tuxster at 2:45 AM PST - 0 comments

What's it called when the villain of a story dies without the hero actually killing anyone directly? For instance, in Spider-Man the petty thug trips over a pipe and falls out the window and the Goblin becomes his own victim when his final attempt to kill Spider-Man backfires.
posted by will at 12:25 AM PST - 22 comments

I just finished reading All in My Head by Paula Kamen. Her chronic headache seems to be worsening over time. I have a headache all day every day, but haven't noticed any long term worsening over the roughly 5 years I've had it. Should I worry? [more inside]
posted by birdsquared at 9:52 PM PST - 14 comments

AppleFilter: I have an old tower G3 that I'd like to update, but I have no external monitor. Can I use another Mac to access the G3? [more inside]
posted by anarcation at 9:17 PM PST - 10 comments

So, my (post-partum) wife had a really whacked-out dream tonite that provoked some health-related thoughts of my own tonite. What do you do when your wife/child/SO has dreams like this? [more inside]
posted by PeteyStock at 7:59 PM PST - 6 comments

My boyfriend and I are driving to Niagara Falls for the day (Canadian side). Where should we have dinner? [more inside]
posted by orangskye at 6:49 PM PST - 12 comments

Anyone out there ever taught first-year college composition? [more inside]
posted by hifiparasol at 6:18 PM PST - 10 comments

Anyone here with experience/treatment options for Spinal Stenosis? [more inside]
posted by TomSophieIvy at 6:01 PM PST - 7 comments

We are using Xdrive as the hosted storage/collaboration provider for our workgroup, but performance and access is inconsistent enough to warrant complaints. Does anyone have any experience with using another solution for a similar purpose? [more inside]
posted by Mrmuhnrmuh at 4:49 PM PST - 3 comments

My friend's mother died of breast cancer in November, and this is her first Mother's day without her. Any recommendations on gifts or other things to help her through this tough time? [more inside]
posted by forforf at 4:45 PM PST - 19 comments

Here's a question for the mathematically minded. A lot of the work I do involves rolling materials such as paper or plastic film onto rolls. Now, while I normally can guess by sight or weigh a roll to determine how much is on it, I got to wondering... [more inside]
posted by tomble at 4:39 PM PST - 24 comments

EtiquetteFilter: An undergraduate professor of mine invited his entire class to a traditional Indian dinner at his house tonight. It is somewhat mandatory, as we will lose points on our final paper if we don't show up. Should I bring a gift, and if so, what? Dinner is in 1 hour, so hurry please!
posted by muddgirl at 4:01 PM PST - 43 comments

I just need nice white round rug (8-10 foot) for my cherry color hardwood floor. I have found serveral good deals at Overstock.com. But [more inside]
posted by curiousleo at 2:59 PM PST - 7 comments

Programmers: where did you learn all the aspects of programming besides actually writing code? [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin at 2:59 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm not good at flirting. In fact, when I am interested, I tend to be somewhat distant, for fear of embarassing myself. How do I get better at flirting? in a nice way
posted by theora55 at 2:50 PM PST - 45 comments

Recommendations on a free, lightweight media player (video, audio) that can run on a very slow PC running WinXP attached to a TV? [more inside]
posted by aberrant at 2:03 PM PST - 11 comments

What's a good way to make friends when moving to a new city? My baby sister is graduating from college this spring and relocating to Chicago. I'd really like to help her find her way once she gets here. [more inside]
posted by Sully6 at 1:57 PM PST - 20 comments

My battery acts funny. It always says I have over three hours when it first gets charged. Then after just a few minutes it says much less, like an hour or so. Then within minutes it is off. I have charged it completely and let it drain to completely of which I have been told resets the power manager. Do I need a new battery? If I do, are any of the after market batteries better than the Apple battery? The computer is two and a half years old.
posted by snowjoe at 1:52 PM PST - 8 comments

Help an ingnorant canuck out, how likely is Jeb '08 or Hillary '08? [more inside]
posted by Mitheral at 1:50 PM PST - 36 comments

Gross Body Filter: I am female and have primarily straight brown, fairly fine hair. However, I frequently find these very curly, coarse black hairs growing on my scalp. (Dare I say pubic-like hairs?) What the hell are these hairs? Is this a hormonal problem or some sort of disorder? If so, what is it called? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:49 PM PST - 9 comments

What (preferably good) songs shift back and forth between fast and slow? I'm trying to put together an iPod playlist for a workout that goes back and forth between slow, steady jogging and spurts of sprinting. (Yeah, I know--I could just alternate slow songs and fast songs--but then the tempo would only shift every 3 minutes or so.) All genres are welcome, although I have a slight bias towards either jazz/swing or indie rock for this particular mix.
posted by yankeefog at 1:31 PM PST - 49 comments

Frequently when I blow my nose, my ear will pop. Immediately following my ear popping I feel extremely faint, I've never passed out as a result, but certainly feel light headed enough that I've thought that I might. Does this happen to anyone else? Is there anything I can do to alleviate the light headed feeling?
posted by TuxHeDoh at 12:31 PM PST - 11 comments

I dumped a week's worth (about 1400 rows) of successful connection data from my company's VPN concentrator logs into a .csv file containing the following columns (A through D): Date, Time, Username, Source IP. I am trying to filter the list in Excel so it only shows the most recent connection data per username, but I can't figure out how to accomplish this programmatically. [more inside]
posted by pmbuko at 12:24 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a Windows 95 pc on my network at work. The pc runs some software which operates in a dos window, which will only run in fullscreen mode. I need to set up remote operation of this pc from a number of Win2000 & XP pcs on the network. [more inside]
posted by kenchie at 12:06 PM PST - 15 comments

I did some freelance work for a company last year and have a number of unpaid invoices. It's been too long, it's time to cross over to Bad Guy. Unfortunately, I'm a terrible Bad Guy, so I need someone else to do it for me. Does anyone know of a reputable collection agency? How does one evaluate them?
posted by o2b at 12:04 PM PST - 15 comments

My 18 lb. dog has been escaping from the yard during the day and running in my (annoyed) neighbors' yards. I keep nailing up boards, but after trying to keep her in the kitchen with a dog gate, I found she's actually leaping over the low portion of the fence. How can I keep her from fleeing? [more inside]
posted by Gucky at 12:02 PM PST - 23 comments

IEfilter: I'm sick of it. The most random bugs appear in IE when designing standards compliant pages. Like on this page I'm working on for a friend. On tabs two and three of the page, there are photos in the top right corner. These images show up in firefox just fine, but in IE, they're invisible. HELP! [more inside]
posted by slhack3r at 11:00 AM PST - 3 comments

Which dictionaries would you recommend as a gift for a writer friend? [more inside]
posted by hootch at 10:33 AM PST - 35 comments

Two questions about sites for individual books: What are some great examples of book sites (i.e. sites that promote and have info on a specific book that has been published recently)? And: What do you look for in such a site (i.e. excerpts? message board?)
posted by gwint at 9:58 AM PST - 6 comments

Cartoonists in the movies? [more inside]
posted by Robot Johnny at 9:48 AM PST - 24 comments

MovieSexTriviaFilter: Does anyone know of any movies where a couple is sitting in bed after sex and the guy is sitting there with his chest showing, the woman has the sheets pulled up perfectly covering her breasts? [more inside]
posted by plemeljr at 9:45 AM PST - 11 comments

I was in Philadelphia last week and saw an odd looking "truck" parked near the on/off ramps of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. It was a dull yellow, very boxy with large flat windshields front and back. You can almost make it out in this Google Satellite map: Map It's NOT the Ducks, I saw and ID those without problem. This looked like a highway or railroad service truck. What was it? Thanks!
posted by mhm at 9:40 AM PST - 3 comments

i'm starting to travel a little bit for work soon after many years of only jumping on a plane for holidays to see the family and wondering if the AskMe community has any hard learned lessons they can bestow on the young padawan learner (sp?) that is me? How best to fly with a laptop and a digital slr? Suit case for clothes that won't make me look like i just picked my clothes off the floor (per a normal day)?
posted by joshgray at 9:26 AM PST - 20 comments

Help! I need a full coverage foundation that looks more natural. My skin tone is fair with a pink undertone and very red cheeks. While the yellow foundations cover the redness very well, I think the yellow makes me look too peachy. [more inside]
posted by renyoj at 9:14 AM PST - 22 comments

Little birdies keep banging into my large window. I want to make some decals to apply to the glass to scare them away. You can buy these, but I'd like to cut some of my own from a sheet. The material is pliable plastic which sticks to the glass via static charge. Anyone know what it is called (and where to buy it)?
posted by kk at 8:52 AM PST - 15 comments

I'd like to make op-art style backgrounds for posters. I've been doing it with french curves by hand, but I'd like to use a computer to cut down the amount of time it requires (and the steady hand— curse you, strong drink!). [more inside]
posted by klangklangston at 8:49 AM PST - 4 comments

So the honeymoon is set. Banjo and I are flying out for a narrow boat cruise along the Llangollen canal. However, our flight gets in Friday morning and our boat will not be ready until Sunday afternoon. What to do between then? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:44 AM PST - 11 comments

I would like to learn to play the card game bridge. What is the best website or software providing, preferably a free, interactive beginners bridge instruction. Thanks.
posted by rabbus at 8:14 AM PST - 8 comments

I'll be going to the hospital for a CPAP fitting tomorrow night, which is a follow-up to a sleep study I had a few months ago. I've been reluctant to schedule the follow-up because in the previous sleep study I barely slept at all. I'd really prefer not to repeat that... [more inside]
posted by emptybowl at 8:02 AM PST - 16 comments

Q for the webserver admin folks out there. I have a few web pages which are dead (old, retired, moved, etc). As a courtesy to some folks who were still linking to them (some dynamically generated javascript) I just left the files in place, but made them into tiny text files, preventing 404s and hanging pages. The question: which is better for the server (cheaper, less intensive) in this case? Serve up a tiny (or blank) text file - or - just delete the files and return 404s to all requests? [more inside]
posted by kokogiak at 7:41 AM PST - 6 comments

Like a lot of women, the top portion of my inner thighs rub together when I walk. (No, i do not normally discuss this in public.) As a result, the inner thighs of the pants I wear most often get worn out way faster than the rest of the garment. I'm tired of replacing pants so often, or of not being able to wear my favourites anymore. Are there any products/methods out there to prevent this wear from happening so quickly? [more inside]
posted by Kololo at 6:31 AM PST - 17 comments

I’ve been assigned to evaluate the feasibility of using Lucene for our website, a large, high-use government site with rapidly-changing data. [more inside]
posted by MrMoonPie at 5:36 AM PST - 3 comments

I have what I think is a simple question: how much money is there in the world? Both on paper and in cash, all countries combined, has anyone ever calculated this? Is it possible to calculate this?
posted by zardoz at 4:48 AM PST - 15 comments

I have a Dell laptop with a dead battery and no AC adapter at hand. Can I network the Dell to a Vaio and run the Dell off the Vaio's power supply?
posted by Toolshed at 4:19 AM PST - 18 comments

Why must I "wait 6-8 weeks for delivery" of a new magazine subscription? [more inside]
posted by skyboy at 3:14 AM PST - 8 comments

I find that learning from visual reference (diagrams, animations, movies) is very effective for me. I'm looking for some good online resources that will help me utilize this. [more inside]
posted by foraneagle2 at 12:01 AM PST - 11 comments

Does anyone have any experience with DentPro for removing/fixing dents on a car? Why are their estimates so much cheaper than an autobody shops, and do they really do as good a job? Any additional info is welcome.
posted by ruwan at 11:42 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a minimal amount of credit card debt. I was wondering whether, in the event of my death, my wife would be liable for its repayment.
posted by haelen at 11:40 PM PST - 13 comments

My Mac won't recognize my DV deck... [more inside]
posted by jtron at 11:25 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm in process of learning Japanese, and wondered if anyone had ever heard of a course of teaching through anime (something like the spanish teaching series Destinos. I've seen Japanese through Comics and another japanese grammar through manga, but those seem to be more advanced. I do have other books that I'm using - the Pimsler set and Japanese for Busy People but I thought it might be fun to watch something as well as to practice comprehension. I do realize that the vocabulary in most anime is likely to be of questionable use in real life. Regrettably, "Quick! We must use the time machine to defeat the space pirates!" seldom comes up in my conversation.
posted by korej at 11:20 PM PST - 12 comments

Please help me identify a horror tele/movie. It's shot in black and white. I saw it late at night on TV a couple of years ago so details are vague but I think it goes something like this. [more inside]
posted by tellurian at 11:01 PM PST - 1 comment

I found a site a while ago, where you would enter AOL/AIM screen names to monitor, and it will store data on when the name is online/away... now it's been long enough to get some nice data but I can't Google my way around to it.
posted by adzm at 8:54 PM PST - 8 comments

Where I live, I can't use a regular smoker. So, in order to be able to smoke meats, fish, and such, I am considering buying a stovetop smoker. But I have my doubts. [more inside]
posted by lackutrol at 8:34 PM PST - 7 comments

The only reason I keep Mozilla around (I use Firefox mainly) is for Mozilla Composer. It's the only thing I've found where I can paste in foreign-language text (with accent marks and special characters) and then have it give me the HTML to properly reproduce those special characters on a web page. Anyone know of a more stand-alone equivalent? If I could get an app (preferrably free or shareware) for OS X that can do this, I can ditch the Mozilla suite.
posted by mrbill at 8:25 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm a big fan of the British version of What Not to Wear. I've been watching it for years. Trinny, one of the presenters, has always worn dresses over pants. I always thought it was one of those things only she could pull off, but in a recent episode, she tried that look on someone who is built very similar to me (tall, wide hips, narrow shoulders), and it really worked. I tried on one version of this in a dressing room this weekend, and I think it's a look that could really work for me, but I'm having trouble working out what type of dress will work the best. I think I get the type of pants that work best (flat-front without any bulky details around the waist, flared leg, etc.), but the dress part... I can't quite imagine it. Any ideas? I'm 35, so I don't want to look like a trendy little girl. You know, like this. [more inside]
posted by abbyladybug at 8:21 PM PST - 20 comments

Are there any debt-free countries? What about countries with very low/payable debt? Are their economies better or any more stable on average than those that aren't?
posted by ontic at 8:20 PM PST - 13 comments

I am being sued for damages related to an auto accident. The lawyer from the insurance firm is representing my case. Should I get my own lawyer? [more inside]
posted by sophist at 7:29 PM PST - 13 comments

I recently saw a MasterCard commercial set in a gas station/convenicence store. In it, the cashier (in the trademark "Priceless" voice) rings up their items, etc. Is that really the guy behind the voice, or some clever dubbing? If so, good for that guy, leveraging voice talent into an on-screen role and all. [more inside]
posted by potch at 6:43 PM PST - 14 comments

Tomorrow is Secretaries Day and I need a latin saying to go on the cake I am baking. [more inside]
posted by madandal at 6:24 PM PST - 11 comments

I may be able to grab an old Mac from work (dumpster dive). It's a PowerPC, 266mhz, 32meg and 4gig HD. I'm not sure what the operating system is, or version number. [more inside]
posted by Marky at 5:50 PM PST - 15 comments

sometime in the last week or so, there was a thread on the blue that (i seem to recall) had something to do with growing vegetables... or horticulture... or something. and in the comments i'm nearly sure i saw a link to some sort of software that would let you mess with the pH levels in your soil, lighting levels, etc... like a "sim-'growing things'" kind of software. [more inside]
posted by radiosilents at 5:47 PM PST - 2 comments

I'd like to switch from smoking cigarettes to smoking a pipe... [more inside]
posted by cmonkey at 5:41 PM PST - 8 comments

I was in a car accident about four years ago where I rear-ended another vehicle. AFAIK, it was my fault, but no one seemed injured at the time, and now I'm being sued for thousands more than my liability auto insurance will cover. If they are awarded what they're asking through arbitration or through a judgement, what are my options for paying the portion which my insurance won't cover? Background and other related questions inside. [more inside]
posted by xiojason at 5:27 PM PST - 12 comments

Managers, employers, and workers with this experience: should I tell my boss about my bipolar disorder? I'm about to enter a situation where it might disrupt my work... [more inside]
posted by veronitron at 5:12 PM PST - 18 comments

16 yo college Senior found out last week she is doing second year of intern work at a lab in Childrens Hospital in Boston. Last year she had a place to stay, this year she doesn't. Need help with finding lists for appropriate living arrangements [more inside]
posted by mss at 4:56 PM PST - 6 comments

I need to book a romantic table for two in Paris for this weekend and really need a recommendation. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:55 PM PST - 15 comments

First I had a really bad case of scabies on my hands and feet. Then, I got a really, really bad sunburn on the entire back side of my body (damn you, tanning salon!). Now, I have been diagnosed with dermatographia- and it's been here for about three weeks. Doc says it's not serious, but I'm still curious how on earth I got it and whether or not it will ever go away.
posted by anonymous at 4:54 PM PST - 7 comments

Are there any precursors to the science-fiction genre that appear earlier than Frankenstein? Essentially, I want to know: what is the first ever appearance of science-fiction?
posted by monsterhero at 4:19 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm asking on behalf of a fellow law student who is having a big, fat laptop problem as we fast approach the zero our for our finals. She copies some lines of text in Microsoft Word. When she pastes them, Word pastes literally a thousand pages of the same lines of text into the document. This isn't happening in any other programs, but her computer does seem to be running pretty hot for no reason that we can discern. What the hell is going on? [more inside]
posted by jennyb at 3:02 PM PST - 7 comments

My Bravo bagless vacuum cleaner, which I bought for around 80 bucks to clean the one carpeted room in my house, is making scary noises. Should I take it to a vacuum repair shop for a check/tune-up, or are lower end models like mine not worth the cost of repair? [more inside]
posted by bibliowench at 2:55 PM PST - 2 comments

Ok, so I got the cool new Springsteen DualDisc CD. Only the cd/DVD player in my PC pretty much sees it as a plain old CD. I gather it's supposed to provide some new level of security and 5.1 surround sound. Do I need new equipment? Why can't I see or hear any of this stuff? Is there an app required to play these things? The DualDisc website is particularly uninformative as is the Springsteen site.
posted by Red58 at 2:41 PM PST - 10 comments

Looks like I have to learn Flash. Suggestions for programs, learning materials, etc. Any "war stories"?
posted by petebest at 2:11 PM PST - 8 comments

Does a certain amount of money exist in your mind as a mental cut-off when buying that does not require you to report your purchase to your significant other? Does exceeding that limit stop you from impulse buys etc. and make you consult on the expense? [more inside]
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 2:10 PM PST - 18 comments

What is the least expensive way a student with a good deal of date-flexibility can travel between Omaha, NE and London? Tricks, vendors, websites, any advice will help. [more inside]
posted by herting at 2:04 PM PST - 11 comments

I like Hard Science Fiction novels. Does anyone have any authors that they recommend? [more inside]
posted by wahootim at 1:53 PM PST - 46 comments

Which two or three books are in your opinion the most important in your collection. Im talking about books that had you not read them, you would be different today. Rank the reality shattering literature.
posted by pwally at 1:24 PM PST - 99 comments

A friend of mine wants to become a permanent resident of the US, and get a job in finance. [more inside]
posted by mosch at 1:05 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm pretty sure this is a scam, but I'm a little confused... [more inside]
posted by PhatLobley at 12:40 PM PST - 18 comments

teen girl psychology filter: I'm acting in a production where I do a short monologue in which I ask God to please make my period come. I understand in a sort of surface way why a girl would want that, but not really. Are any of you women or girls who couldn't wait (can't wait, if you're young enough) to get your first period (menstrual cycle)? If so, why? Please make me understand. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 12:37 PM PST - 26 comments

I have to design some labels for a product to be sold in, among other places, Quebec… [more inside]
posted by Chrischris at 12:27 PM PST - 14 comments

We have a Denon UD-30 minisystem with CD player and radio. The CD tray will no longer open. Help? [more inside]
posted by Marquis at 12:16 PM PST - 3 comments

The parental units want to organize a long-weekend in the Monterey/Santa Cruz area (but preferably Monterey/Carmel) in the middle of June. Anybody have any ideas of a cool place to stay that would be relatively inexpensive and still available? [more inside]
posted by billysumday at 12:12 PM PST - 1 comment

Take a look at this screengrab This is annoying as hell, and here's how I tried to fix:
-Reinstall of Office 2003
-Reinstall of Acrobat 6.5
-Deleted all Adobe PDFMaker.dot files
Then went to the Adobe knowledgebase and found this. Nothing has worked yet. What do you think it is? fyi - This is a Dell PC running XP pro sp1
posted by stevejensen at 11:54 AM PST - 14 comments

Does it make any sense to buy a home if you won't be able to get any equity from it for 30 years? [more inside]
posted by amarynth at 11:53 AM PST - 16 comments

What would happen if either Pepsi or Coca-Cola stopped advertising (in America) for their regular Pepsi and regular Coke products? [more inside]
posted by sharksandwich at 11:50 AM PST - 20 comments

"Where do you want to be in 5 years?" How do you answer this question when it is asked of you in a job interview? [more inside]
posted by suchatreat at 11:37 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm getting sick of the limitations of my web hosting provider, so I'm striking out on my own. I think I've got the hardware, OS (some linux flavor) and webserver (Apache) figured out, but what about apps? I'm looking for good, free webmail and photo-gallery software, and any other tips.... [more inside]
posted by gurple at 10:51 AM PST - 10 comments

Why does my laptop freeze up a few minutes after the power cable is disconnected? [more inside]
posted by nobody at 10:19 AM PST - 5 comments

What sort of guns (by model) were issued to United States soldiers in the first world war? Smaller guns in particular.
posted by dagnyscott at 9:58 AM PST - 10 comments

Starting two weeks ago, e-checkin machines at airports have stopped letting me check in for a flight. I can no longer print boarding passes from the web, either. I now have to wait to talk to a ticket agent, who then has to make a lengthy phone call before I can check in, because I am on "the list". What is this list? How can I get off it? What is that phone call about?
posted by rajbot at 9:53 AM PST - 15 comments

My wife is in the very early stages of pregnancy and mother's day is coming up. I'd like to get her something that would be the right mixture of sweet and useful. [more inside]
posted by RustyBrooks at 9:41 AM PST - 21 comments

I'll be teaching a small group of 11-year-old students (bright, literate) a class on life sciences, especially animal sciences. I need books or other materials they might connect with. [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 9:20 AM PST - 13 comments

Is there any free, public resource that will tell me who owns a particular block of 800, 866, etc. phone numbers in North America?
posted by gimonca at 9:16 AM PST - 2 comments

Can someone give me a reasonably simple explanation of why e raised to the power of i times pi is equal to -1? I've always had trouble understanding this and thought I'd try the green.
posted by ORthey at 8:41 AM PST - 11 comments

Why are all of the logos for major fast food chains red and yellow? Is this psychological, readable, an offshoot of McDonalds? The ones I have seen are McDonalds, Carl's, Wedy's, Burger King, In and Out, Sonic, KooKooRoo - I'm trying to find one that is not yellow/red.
posted by jonah at 7:55 AM PST - 27 comments

Banks are bad! I need to escape from all their predatory policies and fees. So, I am looking for a good credit union in Northern Virginia. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Irontom at 7:10 AM PST - 5 comments

What's a good, free database designing/administrating tool which works with postgresql? I've been using pgAdmin III, and while that does the basics, it doesn't have useful features like a buffer of previous queries and their results. [more inside]
posted by orthogonality at 5:55 AM PST - 5 comments

Hi all, I'm asking this on behalf of my girlfriend, who has an MA in design from Moscow but has worked here in London for the past 2 years as a web designer / traditional media designer (dreamweaver, photoshop, illustrator, flash, director, etc. She's looking for guidance on how best to move into an IA role -- any suggestions much appreciated! [more inside]
posted by kiwi.es at 12:38 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm recommending splitting up our company's webhosting and email services. I'm looking for a group that has a 100% uptime, phone based support - allows us to add/remove emails/mailing lists, and supports webmail.
posted by filmgeek at 9:20 PM PST - 10 comments

Most online sources for massage techniques are clearly aimed at someone from another planet who has never encountered laying hands on another being. "Try massage oil" or "light some candles." I'm looking for more intermediate information, primarily going towards anatomy and musculature. Which muscles groups should you work first? How do you progress to deeper and more persistent knots? What about connective tissue vs. muscles? Any sites or books you could recommend? My girlfriend thanks you in advance.
posted by aaronh at 9:13 PM PST - 13 comments

I spilt some water on my keyboard and now my 'f' key likes to go off a lot. Is there anyway to disable the key untill I get it fixed (Windows XP)?
posted by jmd82 at 9:06 PM PST - 5 comments

Dog Ailment Filter: Our 5-year old chow has developed an odd limp. [more inside]
posted by Krrrlson at 8:25 PM PST - 10 comments

Can you tell me what the mythological creature on the case back of my Omega Speedmaster is? [more inside]
posted by sled at 7:41 PM PST - 16 comments

I want to do the opposite of this. I want to make many documents from one document in Microsoft Word. [more inside]
posted by schnee at 7:10 PM PST - 4 comments

When you're getting yourself out of debt, how can you be sure that your credit is actually improving? [more inside]
posted by bingo at 7:02 PM PST - 18 comments

I've always played music through my PC & PC speakers, or through a cheap boombox/stereo. I get decent quality through my PC, but I'd really like to separate it out and get some good speakers for just for music. The problem is, I don't exactly know how to go about this. [more inside]
posted by devilsbrigade at 6:32 PM PST - 7 comments

Where could I find transcripts for the congressional Enron hearings?
posted by Scottk at 6:25 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for a community-editable database. Philosophically similar to a Wiki, but with some webmail-like features, including the ability to sort and filter various things, show and hide columns when there are too many to fit on screen, and edit a single record by itself, rather than the whole massive body of text. [more inside]
posted by Myself at 5:23 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm thinking of building my own kitchen counter-tops from concrete. I have some how-to books and have talked to a friend who is doing it as well, but thought I'd put the question out to AskMefi. What has been your experience? Any tips or tricks? Any special materials or sealers? Thanks!
posted by jacobsee at 4:53 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm going to be in Las Vegas this weekend with friends. Coincidentally, the new ultra-luxe Wynn casino and hotel is also opening there this weekend. The mainstream media has been "prohibited" from publishing photos of its super-secret interior until at least a week after the next issue of "Vanity Fair" hits the stands May 4th, since VF got some sort of exclusive deal with Wynn. But ordinary Vegas tourists--and, presumably, our cameras--will be allowed in starting this weekend. If I take and upload photos of the hotel's interior to my blog or to a site like ourmedia.org while I'm in Vegas, the photos will beat VF by several days and the mainstream media by almost two weeks. If I license the photos under a non-commercial Creative Commons license and won't be profiting from them, would/could I get sued for breaking the media embargo?
posted by Asparagirl at 4:37 PM PST - 18 comments

Do you use BlackBoard Learning System? I want to hear your *usability* problems. Blackboard is complained about alot around here (the U of Washington) As a school project, I will take issue with its usability and redesign it. [more inside]
posted by uni verse at 4:22 PM PST - 24 comments

Inspired by grumblebee's recent question about graphic novels, I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions about worthwhile manga. [more inside]
posted by LeeJay at 4:14 PM PST - 24 comments

I would like an online resource that recommends the correct glue to use, given the two materials you would like to attach... [more inside]
posted by cadastral at 3:53 PM PST - 11 comments

I was wondering what experiences people (both male and female) have had with taking Viagra recreationally. Not looking for the dirty details, just an overview-- Did it work? Did you have a good time? Would you do it again? Side effects, etc. [more inside]
posted by brevator at 3:04 PM PST - 6 comments

I want to make a widget. Where do I find people who can help me make such widget? In this specific case, I want to make a co2 powered gizmo that goes around and around. [more inside]
posted by striker at 2:56 PM PST - 4 comments

Suppose you are talking to someone (an acquaintance, a workmate, a person at a party) who you are pretty sure is gay. This person is talking about someone s/he is dating and is being completely gender neutral. What is the appropriate response? Do you maintain gender neutrality with your questions and comments (which can get awkward and feel silly)? Do you make a comment that includes the phrase "he or she" to indicate that you're aware that it may be either and that you're nonjudgmental (but potentially putting this person on the spot to pick a gender and out him/herself)? Do you pick the likely gender and continue the conversation blithely the way most people do in assumed-heterosexual conversations (again with the potential outing)? For the purposes of this exercise, assume no one else is in earshot.
posted by xo at 2:56 PM PST - 51 comments

How do I find a "quality of life" law firm? I'm in the middle of this exciting JD program and I want to figure out how to craft my career so that I don't hate my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:32 PM PST - 18 comments

I found out a few weeks into a job that my employer had installed spyware (VNC) on my work computer and had been watching what I've been doing (screen mirroring) since I started there. Is this legal? Should I confront him? This all makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:32 PM PST - 24 comments

Any recommendations for car stereos with an "audio in" 3.5mm mini jack for my iPod? .....The iTrip just sucks in the LA area and listen to podcasts during my commute...
posted by stevyb at 1:49 PM PST - 7 comments

In the 90s there was a small store specializing in industrial and goth music a few doors down (east) from the Abbott hotel on Belmont in Chicago. It is no longer there but I don't know when it went out of business. Does anyone remember the name of it?
posted by ArcAm at 1:43 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm a snob. What graphic novels should I read? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee at 1:31 PM PST - 67 comments

I want to transfer my pay as you talk phone from Vodafone to easyMobile, but I can't seem to find out how to get my Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) from Vodafone, so that I can keep my existing number. Calling their helpline just gives me a bunch of automated menus that don't apply. Has anyone done this before?
posted by Orange Goblin at 1:13 PM PST - 3 comments

Looking for camp sites within a two hour drive of NYC that have a lake and allow fishing. [more inside]
posted by spicynuts at 1:01 PM PST - 5 comments

Do bats have clitorides?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 12:51 PM PST - 12 comments

A number of restaurants in my neighborhood have under-rung my purchases (each) more than once. [more inside]
posted by Kwantsar at 12:50 PM PST - 11 comments

So I've been noticing for some time that whenver I'm on the highway and encounter some kind of construction or whatever that forces one to merge, that if I dutifully merge over as quickly as possible I then watch as people in the lane that is bound to run out move past me. I'm wondering why this is so -- why people are rewarded for merging at the last possible moment. As it seems that usually at the merge point the two lanes take turns as far as which car moves forward, it seems that the two lanes should move at the same speed. Can anyone explain why this doesn't seem to be so?
posted by jgballard at 12:40 PM PST - 60 comments

I just read an interesting article regarding long term mortgages. Basically fixed rate, 30 yrs = Good. 15 year = bad. What are some counterpoints to this argument. Drawbacks to long term mortgages? Advantages to paying it off early? [more inside]
posted by rschroed at 12:39 PM PST - 20 comments

A friend of mine runs a radio show on XM and is looking to pick up a couple sponsors from magazines and other sources. We have the contact information, but need to put together some type of persuasive sponsorship proposal. We think this should look almost like a shareholder or investor proposal letter, but include information like why they'd want to sponsor his show(s), what he wants from them, etc. [more inside]
posted by furiousxgeorge at 12:30 PM PST - 1 comment

What practices/ tools do you use to ensure you reply to important e-mails within a respectable amount of time, while still having a life? [more inside]
posted by skylar at 11:51 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm turning 30 in October, and I want to do something interesting to celebrate. However, I don't want to make the guests have to spend a lot of money or travel long distances, and they are of varying ages and physical limitations. I'm thinking of something along the lines of "How to Host a Murder," but I'm open to pretty much anything. [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects at 11:16 AM PST - 4 comments

When I gas up my car, I don't squeeze the lever on the pump handle, but, instead, I slide the lever into the little notch so that my tank will fill itself up while I squeegee the windows. When the tank is full, the pump shudders, the lever dislodges itself, and the filling ceases. However, probably half of the time, the filling ceases much, much too early. The result is that I can't tell when my tank is full, nor can I squeegee while my car fuels itself. What gives? [more inside]
posted by waldo at 11:15 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm sure there will be some who disagree (and that's good), but I think it's safe to say that when it comes to sloppy joes, the Manwich Sloppy Joe has clearly been the benchmark for this food-favorite for a couple of decades. I've tried a bunch of alternatives over the years, from home-made to store-bought, but they always seem to be lacking something. So which one of you is hiding the best sloppy joe recipe?
posted by Witty at 11:00 AM PST - 8 comments

How should I set up several small, wireless spy cams to monitor damage to my property? [more inside]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:51 AM PST - 9 comments

there was a post a few months ago that involved a guy throwing a party and distributing walkmans to everyone there and having pre-recorded tapes that instructed the attendees to dance and sing and such. anyone remember this and maybe still have the link??
posted by shminny at 10:09 AM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for an easy and cheap way to get from Raleigh (RDU airport) to the ECU campus in Greenville, NC, the weekend before Labor Day weekend. Appreciate any ideas you can offer. [more inside]
posted by vignettist at 9:40 AM PST - 3 comments

Windows 2000/XP has three options for setting desktop wallpaper: Center, Tile, and Stretch. Unfortunately, these are all kinda dumb. If I want to set a photo from my digital camera as my wallpaper, I'm stuck with a bad fit (Center), repeating images (Tile), or an incorrect aspect ratio (Stretch). Is there any third-party utility that will intelligently resize my desktop wallpaper? [more inside]
posted by waxpancake at 8:43 AM PST - 14 comments

I remember reading a book about a young girl living in an underground city. She decides to escape for some reason, and ends up taking a young boy with her too. They journey up to the surface, evading capture by some sort of authority figure. Help me! I want my daughter to read this. (It's a young adult book) [more inside]
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:28 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm using MT for a few web projects, and my only beef so far is that the Entry Body box is difficult to work in, because it's so small. Is there any way to expand that?
posted by adampsyche at 7:37 AM PST - 13 comments

After reading this article and hearing a story on BBC radio, I was left wondering - is Putin really 'deploring' the collapse of the USSR? Or by 'catastrophe' did he just mean 'important and far-reaching event'? Russian speakers please help! [more inside]
posted by altolinguistic at 7:31 AM PST - 10 comments

Anyone here ever kicked off their "back to the world of employment adventure" by using a temp agency? [more inside]
posted by jeanmari at 6:15 AM PST - 23 comments

A friend and I are considering marrying so I can get health care benefits. [more inside]
posted by goofyfoot at 4:58 AM PST - 19 comments

Can you identify this tune? It's really bothering me. [more inside]
posted by cbrody at 4:36 AM PST - 12 comments

I administer 50 computers in one room, all of which have synchronized clocks. I have a perverse need to make them all chime on the hour. But what sound? [more inside]
posted by squirrel at 11:35 PM PST - 37 comments

I'm looking for a boyhood book. [more inside]
posted by bshort at 9:32 PM PST - 6 comments

This is a venting chimney running through the center of the house. We just replaced the oil furnace, so the chimney is no longer needed, but the space it takes up in the kitchen is. So far things are going pretty well. I've been able to get it down below the roof line and then can start removing bricks from in the attic. After that, though, I'll be in a bit of a tight spot, and I might resort to dropping the bricks into the chimney itself as a I work my way down (I can get those later when I'm down in the basement.) I was thinking that it might be worth thinking about mitigating the soot and dust somehow before starting to drop bricks in. I considered misting in some water, but I don't want to risk having a black river running thru my basement. Ideally, there would be some substance that would wet the stuff down and then maybe dry up and leave the soot somehow clumped up and easily/cleanly shoveled out once I'm removing stuff out of the basement. Unfortunately, I have not seen this advertised on TV, so I turn to you. Any ideas?
posted by jbradley at 9:28 PM PST - 10 comments

I work at a university .. my university's web mail console pretty much stinks .. i would like to create a server-side filter to have my email automatically forwarded to my gmail account. Problem is that my university's control panel doesn't allow me to do this. Is there another way ?
posted by jason9009 at 9:15 PM PST - 5 comments

The article was about a game that was played amongst a few teams, almost like a scavenger hunt, insane clues were given and the mastermind teams unlocked them and went on quite a journey. I remember one clue led them to a party with about 40 people and they all turned out to be actors or something. Quite a fantastic tale. It said that these games take place all the time. I'm looking for the article from RS, or a link to anything remotely close to this. Thanks you
posted by AMWKE at 9:05 PM PST - 8 comments

What recordings of Bach are considered essential? Which ones do you think are the best?
posted by ori at 8:46 PM PST - 21 comments

Firefox dislikes my trackball. I have no idea how to fix this, and I'm hoping you do. [more inside]
posted by cmyk at 8:21 PM PST - 5 comments

My wife has an interesting business idea which involves the manufacturing of a music compilation CD. Does anyone know the process of paying royalties to specific artists and/or record companies? [more inside]
posted by tfmm at 8:14 PM PST - 5 comments

I would like to read Homer, Virgil and Ovid - but have trouble getting through prose - what should I do?
posted by stbalbach at 8:13 PM PST - 21 comments

Has anyone here successfully challenged the use of securexam or other computer-locking tools on the grounds that your school's honor code already provides sufficient protection against cheating? [more inside]
posted by socratic at 8:04 PM PST - 8 comments

What's the story of Hunter Thompson Chemical, Inc.?
posted by Tlogmer at 7:36 PM PST - 2 comments

I use Mail.app on OSX. Is there a way to have a reference/resource link/shortcut to a particular email. Ideally, I'd like to be able to click on that link, have it fire up Mail (if not already up) and pop up the email. Possible?
posted by vacapinta at 6:57 PM PST - 7 comments

Lovely vase of spring daffodils, inquisitive feline. Spilled water splashes lovely Toshiba Portege 3500 tablet PC. [more inside]
posted by erebora at 6:54 PM PST - 4 comments

I love beef jerky, but it is so very extremely expensive... [more inside]
posted by ac at 6:44 PM PST - 17 comments

Can anyone figure out the name/artist for this song. It's based heavily on the following piano riff. It's very recent and sounds like it's roughly in the genre of Train or Coldplay. [more inside]
posted by shannymara at 6:35 PM PST - 5 comments

A friend of mine has a nice and fairly expensive engagement ring that he would like sell. The jeweller from which he bought the ring (Tiffany's) does not buy back rings, and it seems like "used" rings get only pennies on the dollar on eBay. Given that he is intent on selling it, can anyone recommend a method for recouping as much of the original expense as possible?
posted by karen at 5:11 PM PST - 12 comments

Where can I find electronica as good as the stuff I download from Camomille Music? Extra points if it's available to download for free like at Camomille.
posted by sveskemus at 4:31 PM PST - 7 comments

My Google-fu fails me - can anyone find a MP3 of the infamous "f&$king merlot" clip from Sideways?
posted by tr33hggr at 3:53 PM PST - 8 comments

I broke down and went HD, buying a Toshiba 44NHM84 (new DLP chip), a Samsung progressive-scan HD player, all the THX super-special Monster cables. In order to definitely not go outside this summer I'm also getting TimeWarner's HD box. What movies should I get to go with this awesome setup? My DVDs aren't HD oriented, what movies would look jaw-dropping in HD? Also, do I need to buy the Monster $200 surge protector that was aggressively pushed upon me? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 3:40 PM PST - 17 comments

I always get bed head. How do you stop bed head from happening, or fix it once you've got it?
posted by donkeymon at 3:38 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm a 24 y/o college student with a relatively inactive lifestyle - I don't work out, but I'm not a couch potato. My right knee had been popping while walking to class this semester, especially uphill. On Friday, I went out dancing... ever since, it feels swollen and hurts to sit "Indian-style" or straighten it completely. Should I be worried? [more inside]
posted by trinarian at 3:04 PM PST - 13 comments

I am wondering if there is an adapter or something for my Marshall footswitch to plug into my amp...? [more inside]
posted by rooftop secrets at 1:35 PM PST - 5 comments

My girlfriend has a fairly new Dell laptop that has suddenly developed a few problems. [more inside]
posted by tomorama at 1:00 PM PST - 12 comments

There was a message board posting about this album cover, and I'm curious what the origin might be. I know that the Beach Boys' Brother Records used the cute little red man (evidence here) but is there an actual painting this comes from? Bonus points if I can get a print!
posted by angry modem at 12:51 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm at a conference for work, and have just had a very disturbing incident. I wonder if I should worry about my job... [more inside]
posted by nprigoda at 12:37 PM PST - 30 comments

What is the process for getting a book published? [more inside]
posted by Rothko at 11:37 AM PST - 7 comments

Can anyone recommend a good digital thermometer for humans? We have several, which we bought at the drugstore for $10 or so, and they all suck. They all give readings that vary by as much as two degrees when you take your temperature twice. Often they seem to under report temperature. I just took mine with a new one we bought, and typically, it reported my temperature as 94.5 the first time, and 97.9 the second. My wife got similar results. We have a new baby, and would like a good thermometer. We'd be willing to spend a lot more on it than ten dollars if it works well. Can anyone recommend one?
posted by Alex Marshall at 11:37 AM PST - 7 comments

Is there an easy way to find out if such and such laser printer is compatible with OS X? I'm talking old printers that aren't manufactured anymore and pre-date OS X. [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 11:07 AM PST - 14 comments

Advise and information please on an affordable bed and breakfast in Oxford, UK. [more inside]
posted by adamvasco at 11:05 AM PST - 5 comments

Are there any agencies or organizations that hire Canadians to do IT work in Antarctica?
posted by Jairus at 10:03 AM PST - 5 comments

When(ish) do Appalachian Trail walkers pass through New Jersey? [more inside]
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 10:01 AM PST - 11 comments

I just finished watching Titanic (again), and I'm wondering how common it was historically for a captain to go down with the ship? Are naval captains today told to go down with the ship? Is it inherently honorable, or just an antiquated concept?
posted by surferboy at 9:24 AM PST - 11 comments

I want to use Excel's mail merge feature to make students ID's. In order to do this, I must be able to insert photos into specific cells. When I insert a picture it just lays on top across whatever cell happen to be behind it. Is there a way for me to get pictures into specific cells?
posted by leapingsheep at 8:44 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a bunch of mp3s in an open directory. I want to create a podcast of them. How do I do it without having to manually blog each post which automatically creates the RSS file...?
posted by ajpresto at 7:43 AM PST - 3 comments

My husband and I live in Manhattan, in Yorkville. We don't like it: lots of screaming-brat offspring and loud frat-type partying. Finding this $1500 one-bedroom was very hard, and I now see, looking at Craig's List, that you can't find even a Mahattan studio for $1500. So we're thinking of Jersey City, since he works way downtown in the financial district. Neither of us knows anything about Jersey City. Is it lovable? We'd like easy access to PATH train, restaurants, a minimum of shrieking children, and to pay $1500 or less. Is this possible?
posted by Lizzle at 7:42 AM PST - 21 comments

I have an enamel top table from the 30'2 or 40's that I am trying to restore. I've gotten all of the rust stains of the top and its looking very nice, unfortunately the metal legs are nearly rusted out. The legs are shaped like an elongated u that curves out at the bottom. Is there anywhere I can get replacements? Would a creative night with bondo do the trick? Any other ideas?
posted by a22lamia at 5:43 AM PST - 3 comments

Does anyone know which digital cameras either have the least (or no) shutter lag or some kind of audible feedback to let you know the picture's been taken? [more inside]
posted by pjern at 3:51 AM PST - 17 comments

Is there a single word which means "buried alive"?
posted by seanyboy at 3:26 AM PST - 21 comments

Micro payments online - can they be profitable? [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 1:46 AM PST - 9 comments

I need a new computer desk solution. The closest thing to computer desk nirvana I have found online is the IKEA Jerker desk, but IKEA hasn't seen fit to move into my area yet and they don't sell all the accessories online. [more inside]
posted by xyzzy at 12:34 AM PST - 11 comments

It seems like divx, WMP, and this other program called PowerDVD are all running problematically on my computer, and they all started doing it today. Specifically, they play movie-type files too fast or too slow, they stop suddenly, the audio/visual synchronisation disappears or one disappears, and WMP specifically jumps around from chapter to chapter unpredictably when I try to make it skip forward. What could be causing this?
posted by clockzero at 10:47 PM PST - 4 comments

I live in a condo complex with a pool, and there's a key to get into the pool. Naturally, I've lost the key. The condo management wants $150 for a new one, which seems a little excessive. Unfortunately, it's a Medeco key, and from Googling around, it looks like they've done a good job of locking up the market so that people like my condo manager can jack you up. [more inside]
posted by spacewrench at 10:37 PM PST - 15 comments

occasionally there are links that lead to a video on the net. a case in point is a recent post on metafilter on Uzbekhistan that has such a link. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3944.htm is there a mac application or any way that one can save that video on harddisk for later viewing ?
posted by kryptos at 9:18 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm planning on hopping on a plane to London to see the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy film next weekend, either Friday or Saturday. Not being familiar with the city's cinemas, I need to know a couple of things. [more inside]
posted by gentle at 8:51 PM PST - 10 comments

Can someone explain to me, in simple terms, the meaning behind the big/small blinds in texas holdem? [more inside]
posted by asavage at 8:20 PM PST - 13 comments

Where can I get books printed? [more inside]
posted by paulrockNJ at 7:22 PM PST - 9 comments

How. Does one sew pants? [more inside]
posted by Count Ziggurat at 7:21 PM PST - 10 comments

I've recently noticed my face is flushing frequently, with the appearance of a few red blemishes I can't get rid of (like a blocked pore surrounded by red). I live in a cold country, so the weather might have something to do with it, and I've tried eliminating any of alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, marijuana, and other more heinous substances, but they won't go away. Does anybody have any advice as how to eliminate these blemishes, or prevent more from showing up?
posted by jon_kill at 4:52 PM PST - 9 comments

Have the film rights to Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon been sold? In general how does one discover the answer to such a question (what the kids call google-fu is weak with me)?
posted by OmieWise at 3:06 PM PST - 22 comments

I've been sedentary all my life and have, just this month, started to get serious about exercise. The problem is not that I'm weak, which I of course still am, but that my joints--especially my right shoulder--crack a lot on pushups. [more inside]
posted by Tuwa at 1:25 PM PST - 15 comments

Why do car companies and luxury hotels have a vernacular of aggressively bad web design? [more inside]
posted by Nelson at 1:22 PM PST - 14 comments

What's some good advice to follow for purchasing engagement rings on eBay? [more inside]
posted by thewittyname at 12:58 PM PST - 5 comments

Okay, what's up the Polyphonic Spree? Are they a cult or what? Interestingly, this same question came up on Ask Yahoo! and comes up as the fourth link on a Google search, so I know I'm not the only one who's wondered. [band link is heavy with Flash]
posted by tommasz at 12:35 PM PST - 17 comments

Is it overly-morbid to thank a (still-living) relative for including you in their will? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:13 PM PST - 6 comments

Marijuana is said to have the potential for psychological addiction. I just started using it, and I'm hyper-paranoid about such things (even when not high!), so I'm wondering about this. Has anyone here struggled with this? How do you tell the difference between "psychological addiction", and just wanting to do something fun, because it's fun? Is psychological addiction a bunch of anti-drug scaremongering? How do you tell if you're starting to become addicted?
posted by anonymous at 12:13 PM PST - 39 comments

So, as it turns out, my laptop links to someone elses wireless network at here at home. What are the implications of surfing via someone elses internet connection?
posted by Keith Talent at 11:36 AM PST - 13 comments

My Google-Fu has failed me. I'm looking for a way to create animated sprites and/or tiles for old-school 16-bit-style games... on a Mac. [more inside]
posted by wanderingmind at 10:55 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm reinstalling Windows XP for a buddy of mine, and I have a question for you lot, namely, what software should I install with it? What great piece of software do you need to have on every pc you use? In particular, what do you more creative types use? Free is best, since I'm not spending any money, but if you know of any good demo stuff I should install so he could try, that's fine too.
posted by KirTakat at 10:46 AM PST - 19 comments

AskMefi entomologists: what's this insect, and should I do anything about its presence in a house? Pics within. [more inside]
posted by casarkos at 10:29 AM PST - 12 comments

I have 30,000 Mileage Plus airmiles on United and about the same number of Dividend Miles on US Airways. Both are members of the Star Alliance. Can I combine both sets of airmiles to buy a transatlantic flight on either (or another) airline? Both airlines say the airmiles are 'not transferable' yet their websites say I can use airmiles earned with any Star Alliance partner to buy other products or services.
posted by essexjan at 10:18 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for one of two things: 1. A shower mirror that actually doesn't fog up, ever (without in-line installation or electrical installation), or 2. An anti-fogging spray that works well on, say, cheapy suction mirrors without giving me, say, lead poisoning over the course of a year or something. Any suggestions?
posted by sirion at 9:59 AM PST - 16 comments

Giftfilter: My best friend graduates this week from nursing school, and I want to get her something relatively inexpensive, clever, life-changing, useful and/or meaningful. [more inside]
posted by gatorae at 9:15 AM PST - 5 comments

I have been using 2 methods to generate my web galleries: Picasa to Blogger.com or the web gallery tool within PhotoShop 8cs. The Picasa is nice, but displaying the images in blogger sucks- the images are all in one VERY long column. Photoshop's templates suck, and the resize has limitations on size. Is there an easier way to take my full res images, resize them, enter description, then publish to a html table format?
posted by phredhead at 8:33 AM PST - 9 comments

When I was a child, the diner my family frequented had a tiny spike by the register where your bill would be impaled after you paid. I'd like the same spike in my home to hold receipts (I have two people using one debit card, eek...) but I can't find it anywhere. I've tried google, restaurant and office supplies sites. I'm a good searcher, but I have the feeling that my inability to find it stems from not knowing what it's called at all. Can anyone help?
posted by FortyT-wo at 7:20 AM PST - 16 comments

Which films by Alfred Hitchcock are his best?
posted by jimmy at 5:18 AM PST - 38 comments

I just got a new broadband connection and a new SAGEM modem to go with that. All works fine with my Powerbook when I connect it directly, but I also bought a new Airport Express Base Station that just won't recognise the connection. [more inside]
posted by keijo at 5:07 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm in need of several anonymous IPs. AOL DSL used to allow you to get many IPs that weren't tied to a specific region. For example, I want a way to get 20 ips that are not just : Same.Same.Same.Different Best would be : Different.Different.Different.Different, but anything in between would be ok. They must be broadband, but can be located anywhere in the world. Using a VPN to tunnel to the IPs is also fine. This sounds sketchy and illegal, but it's not. It's for my business, which has unusual requirements.
posted by cornrow at 10:53 PM PST - 4 comments

So I bought a truck from my brother-in-law and brought it over to Chicago from San Francisco last August. I have a transfer of title from him but I have never registered the vehicle (oops). Now I'm leaving the country and selling the truck to a friend. What's the easiest way to transfer title to him? [more inside]
posted by onalark at 9:46 PM PST - 7 comments

I saw (and actually bought) some business cards and now cannot find the site. They were hip, modern, retro: there were various designs that you could choose from, and had stars, a girl with a gun, coloured squares, and others. Anyone? [more inside]
posted by fionab at 8:17 PM PST - 7 comments

Since my wallet was stolen, I've been trying to get a particular inaccuracy on my credit report corrected with no luck. I have written to the company that owns my report using their own online dispute form and via snail mail. It's been 6 months and I don't know what else to do to get them to respond. [more inside]
posted by melissa may at 7:01 PM PST - 10 comments

Is it possible to convert a standard JPEG into a progressive one without losing quality? If so, what can I use to do it?
posted by Nikolai at 6:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm going to a party tonight, where they're collecting books to donate to a library in Western Samoa. I have two questions: which books would you consider accesible and very helpful to readers in such a community? And second -- are there any NGOs that work on this problem, and do this sort of thing on a regular basis? [more inside]
posted by weston at 5:37 PM PST - 2 comments

Double-barreled nineties independent musician question: what ever happened to the band Guv'ner and the singer Jenny Mae? Guv'ner's third album was re-released in 2003, but as far as I know there hasn't been a new peep out of either of these acts since 1998. Does anybody know anything different?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 5:15 PM PST - 6 comments

Is there server-side software that that I can log into to give me a directory listing of all the pages and folders on my web server and allow me edit the text and upload binary files? Even better would be to have it allow me to put a little edit link somewhere on the page if it knows via cookies that I'm logged in. I'd like to be able to easily edit my site from anywhere. It's not exactly a wiki because they seem to have their own directory structures, I don't need their special formatting syntax, and it wouldn't be communal. Of course, free is preferable.
posted by bitpart at 4:13 PM PST - 8 comments

Owning a home is fun! Our latest adventure in homemaking involves our heating and cooling system, so we're having to make some long-term decisions with very little first-hand experience. [more inside]
posted by grabbingsand at 3:46 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm attaching paper labels to cardboard boxes and I need a super-strength glue that bonds and holds, preferably one that sprays or brushes on. Have you ever tried to remove a label from a box and it just strips away fruitlessly into tiny pieces? Now we're talking. Where can I get glue like this?
posted by rolypolyman at 3:42 PM PST - 14 comments

I want to print some custom playing cards. I want them to be playable, and I want to not go broke. [more inside]
posted by cortex at 3:31 PM PST - 7 comments

So insanely busy me and my insanely busy SO want to take an overnight trip out of New York with only three requirements for the destination. 1) Close enough where we can leave NYC in the morning and return the next night without feeling completely rushed 2) There has to be a lighthouse nearby 3) A B&B or a hotel that is not your average boring hotel. [more inside]
posted by lips at 2:57 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm visiting New York next week in the company of a friend who's vegetarian, and need suggestions for places to eat. [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 2:20 PM PST - 25 comments

Is there a picture of Starlee Kine from This American Life on NPR anywhere? [more inside]
posted by andrewzipp at 1:56 PM PST - 7 comments

My partner is going on a Summer Language Bursary program to a Cegep in Jonquiere, Quebec (Canada), but we can't find an airport that flies there! We found an airport code for the city (XJQ), but no airline seems to fly there. Can you help us find a way to travel from Lethbridge, AB to Jonquiere, QC. We are willing to depart from Calgary if need be.
posted by arcticwoman at 1:53 PM PST - 12 comments

Anyone remember those brown leather sandals from the 70s which used a slab of old tire for the sole? The top straps were linked with rivets and metal rings. They were very common then, but apparently not so today. Can anyone out-Google me and find some for sale?
posted by Tubes at 1:47 PM PST - 7 comments

Can anyone help me sort out some particulars regarding how whitelisting and blacklisting works with SpamAssasin? [more inside]
posted by spilon at 1:08 PM PST - 6 comments

When buying a used computer from a all sales are final location, what do you check and how do you check it? [more inside]
posted by cm at 12:53 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm moving this summer. I'd like to get a new mobile phone and service plan based in my new city a few months before I move so people, and potential employers, can call me via a number that's local to them. Never having done this before, I have many questions. [more inside]
posted by alana at 12:19 PM PST - 14 comments

Clinical social worker and clinical psychologist. What might the functional differences in treatment be between the two professions? [more inside]
posted by Netzapper at 12:16 PM PST - 25 comments

I have to work with a number of audio interviews saved as .DVF format using a Sony digital audio recorder. Are there any tools to convert these into a more civilized format so I can burn them as .AIFF files? [more inside]
posted by docgonzo at 11:49 AM PST - 4 comments

Comparing MP3 to WMA, when ripping cds, what format and kbsp results in the highest audio quality when file size is not a consideration?
posted by lola at 11:32 AM PST - 10 comments

I have an 11 year old son who is active in a couple of Yu-Gi-Oh message boards. There are a group of people who frequent these places and post inappropriate web links on occasion. One time, someone posted a porn site disguised as a harmless link. Doing that seems like there is a some kind of law being broken yet I did not know where to turn to report it (yeah, like going to the city police will really help...pppthhh). Another time, someone posted this link (this just can't be legal): http://www.bonsaikitten.com/ My kid was very upset about the bonzai kitty thing and the porn. I want to be able to do something about this but do not know what, where, how. I am wondering if there is an online mechanism to turn to. These Yu-Gi-Oh sites are otherwise great for my kid and I do not want to restrict his access just because of a few perv's and/or freaks.
posted by SparkyPine at 11:21 AM PST - 27 comments

What would be steps for someone to take who wanted to move into a journalism career but is very far from that field? [more inside]
posted by xmutex at 11:06 AM PST - 17 comments

A recently purchased iBook comes with Zinio, an application that allows for the onscreen reading of print magazines. I like the concept, and the interface is decent, but their selection is paltry and it all seems a bit too pricey. Still, I might be willing to give it a go. Does anyone use the service regularly? What do you think of it? Is there a comparable service out there that might be better? [more inside]
posted by aladfar at 10:58 AM PST - 4 comments

We're getting conflicting advice on this one. We're planning to rent a car in Mexico, Los Cabos specifically, for about a week. Insurance through the rental car company will more than double our total bill. Can we use the coverage offered by our U.S. credit card? Any experience with either option? [more inside]
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 10:13 AM PST - 6 comments

I'd been planning to go to E3 next month with a friend. We planned on driving out to California, doing the whole road trip thing across the west, seeing the sights in California and geeking out for a few days. Until Disaster Struck! [more inside]
posted by boo_radley at 10:12 AM PST - 8 comments

In the 1980s I came across a slim book about people with language-related mental disorders, such as a person who had a phobia of English and chose to speak French for the rest of his life. This book was NOT Lunatic Lovers of Language by Marina Yaguello. Can you identify it? [more inside]
posted by rwhe at 10:02 AM PST - 5 comments

If memory serves, there was a flash based website that was streaming audio tracks from movies - not soundtracks, but the actual audio track. Anyone have a url for this or a suggestion of another site if the original is gone? We need Fletch for our office for Friday afternoon fun.
posted by jperkins at 9:55 AM PST - 4 comments

Depending on how my remaining job leads pan out, I'm considering joining the United States Coast Guard. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who has ever served in the Coast Guard. So I'm wondering if anyone has any personal experiences in the Coast Guard or advice on how to make the most of joining?
posted by drezdn at 9:41 AM PST - 11 comments

I have an old Handspring Deluxe. While it doesn't seem at all deluxe these days, it does most of what I ask of it. One bit still baffles me though. I want to take my RSS feeds on the road with it. Here's how I envision this working. I have a Bloglines account. Since I doubt this will be able to directly provide content for my Palm OS device, I'll take the OPML file and pull it into some locally installed aggregator software. Then when I hotsync, my handheld will pull down unread articles. I don't really care if it categorizes articles, though that would be nice. I don't want the hotsync to mark transferred articles as read. Can this be done? How?
posted by kc0dxh at 9:17 AM PST - 3 comments

We're planning a family trip to Iceland in June (3 adventurous kids 3 to 8 yrs). Any suggestions on how to spend a week?
posted by vega5960 at 8:19 AM PST - 9 comments

Post-hoc stats testing: Is there a difference between the Fisher's PLSD and Fisher's LSD? Or is it just a different name, and the "protected" is implied in the second one? I don't have anybody to ask at work, and my google searching can't explain. And please don't give me advice on a better post hoc test. I know this one is not conservative, but it's not my analysis.
posted by gaspode at 7:59 AM PST - 5 comments

My kitchen sink is very slow to drain. The pipes are clear and the garbage disposal is new. When I run the disposal, all the water/other stuff in the sink drains out without too much trouble. Is there some way to adjust the spinning element in the disposal to make sure the drain holes inside it are fully open? [more inside]
posted by clgregor at 6:54 AM PST - 12 comments

Is it legal to post someone else's email address on a public website? [more inside]
posted by sjvilla79 at 6:50 AM PST - 10 comments

What's your trash can of choice (for the kitchen)? I'm convinced they all suck- please, tell me I'm wrong. [more inside]
posted by mkultra at 6:48 AM PST - 22 comments

I really enjoy the song "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, both the original and the Rufus Wainwright remake. I'm planning on playing it at a gig, but can you help me with some lyric interpretation in case someone asks "what the hell was all that about?" [more inside]
posted by Dag Maggot at 5:53 AM PST - 52 comments

I commute and run to books on tape. Every so often, I will get a spate of too fast, high pitched Alvin Chipmunk playback. Flip the tape to side B at the same point- no problem. Flip it back- Alvin. Change tape player- same thing, so it seems not to be the machines. At worst this can go on for an entire side. A solution would be welcome (slapping tape firmly does not help, nor does rewinding), but mostly I'm wondering, what gives here?
posted by IndigoJones at 5:07 AM PST - 10 comments

What is the best coating to apply to a new pressure-treated wood deck? [more inside]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:30 AM PST - 10 comments

My daughter's having a sleepover tonight for her 11th birthday. Six friends are coming over. I had lots of outdoor activities planned for the dusk and early evening hours, but now it looks like it's going to rain all day so the backyard will be a mess. Any suggestions for fun indoor activities? Nothing worse than a chorus of "I'm booooooored," you know. [more inside]
posted by SashaPT at 3:30 AM PST - 20 comments

Can anyone identify the country of origin of these bladed weapons, approximate age, and who what military units would have used them? [more inside]
posted by keswick at 11:06 PM PST - 15 comments

I occasionally interact with someone who uses a device for speaking. She holds something about the size and shape of an electric razor up to her throat, and it synthesizes (or probably just amplifies) her speech -- but the output is an electronic, monotone sound, similar to the voice of the Cylons in the original "Battlestar Galactica." Three questions: What's the unit called? Is some surgical implant required, which works in conjunction with the unit's pickup? And what happened, that she needs this to speak? [more inside]
posted by Rash at 9:20 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for indie comic books that feature one or more young, deeply sexy/seductive female characters. [more inside]
posted by trevyn at 9:11 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm running low on personalised cheques, and since I don't use them very often anymore, I'm not inclined to order more. A colleague at work said 'why not make your own?' So I'm pondering working some up on the computer following one of my cheques sitting here on my desk. [more inside]
posted by Savannah at 8:55 PM PST - 11 comments

A client is asking me about iPayBill.net as an alternative to PayPal. They don't seem to have much info on their site or presence on the Web. What's the scoop?
posted by caitlinb at 8:28 PM PST - 6 comments

What would be good services/organizations etc to help young children in need, here in NYC? [more inside]
posted by carmina at 8:27 PM PST - 4 comments

Simultaneous bee swarms: why would bees be swarming at various locations at the same time along a 50km stretch of highway? [more inside]
posted by Jimbob at 7:48 PM PST - 6 comments

I have around $20k in private student loans. I get an ad in the mail about every 10 seconds offering to consolidate my federal loans, but I don't get a lot of information about consolidating private loans. [more inside]
posted by anjiro at 7:43 PM PST - 5 comments

What lightweight graphic editors would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by signal at 7:17 PM PST - 5 comments

My Sony DVD player is being obnoxious about playing Brit DVDs. I'd like to convert my BBC DVDs from their native PAL signal to the North American NTSC signal, region code-less, all on a Mac, so that I can create working DVDs... [more inside]
posted by AlexReynolds at 7:11 PM PST - 17 comments

My wife and I are going to Maui, Hawaii for a week in June. There's a million things to do there. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by entropy at 6:52 PM PST - 18 comments

I have an Apple 20" Aluminum Cinema Display. What do I need if I want to use it as a TV without a Mac attached? [more inside]
posted by josh at 6:52 PM PST - 6 comments

As a burgeoning tequila snob, I have two questions: 1) What are your favorite tequilas (especially, let's say, moderately priced ones) and why? Second question inside. [more inside]
posted by StopMakingSense at 6:50 PM PST - 22 comments

What kind of mats work well outdoors? I want to buy something for my balcony that is aesthetically pleasing but hardy enough to weather the elements.
posted by dydecker at 6:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I don't know anything about keyboards, but I want to get one for my sons and I to fool around with. We want to be able to do hip hop/rap stuff. The boys are 6 and 7 and think they are Eminem. I would like a solid drum machine feature to help me compose guitar and bass stuff. I've seen lots of things at GuitarCenter.com and musiciansfriend.com but I'm not interested in a midi controller, just a good, fun music tool. Willing to spend about $1000.
posted by snsranch at 6:14 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking to upgrade to Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) when it's released next week, but have one fear that's holding me back from doing it as soon as my delivery arrives: does anyone know if Tiger and the current releases of MySQL 4.0 play well together? [more inside]
posted by delfuego at 4:11 PM PST - 6 comments

What should we do for our honeymoon? The soon-to-be Mr. Supafreak and I are planning to get married in summer '06. We have somewhat limited funds, speak only English, and want to learn about the world when we travel. [more inside]
posted by croutonsupafreak at 4:00 PM PST - 22 comments

I have sifted through everything and can't find any way to decide which cheesy design to pick. Anyone know any cool check design sites? There must be something out there. [more inside]
posted by scazza at 3:57 PM PST - 17 comments

How did you come out to your parents / friends / family?
posted by anonymous at 2:58 PM PST - 34 comments

Medical question: How dangerous is taking unprescribed antibiotics? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:56 PM PST - 26 comments

In March 2004, I purchased a 20 gigabyte iPod at Future Shop (major Canadian electronics chain, owned, I think, by Best Buy). I added on the extended warranty, after the salesperson told me that it was a replacement warranty and if anything went wrong I could bring my iPod in and they'd give me a new one. [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 2:49 PM PST - 17 comments

My company has 37 sites in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and we deliver a lot of training/hold a lot of meetings using Webex. To my mind, Webex is a bloated money-eating hot pile of pig goo. What else do you like? [more inside]
posted by pomegranate at 2:16 PM PST - 6 comments

I have two pop3 e-mail accounts (ISP and university), and I want to automatically forward all mail I receive in these accounts to my Gmail address. Is there a way to do this? [more inside]
posted by kaufmajm at 2:13 PM PST - 4 comments

Have you or a family member gone through an ectopic pregnancy? How long did it take you to recover? [more inside]
posted by rhapsodie at 1:59 PM PST - 2 comments

How do you get a splinter out from under a fingernail? [more inside]
posted by googly at 1:39 PM PST - 13 comments

What is the most affordable way to design an office miniature golf course? What reasonable obstacles or challenges would you build? [more inside]
posted by brent at 1:34 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm going to be visiting Chicago next week with my 3 year old son. I know lots of fun places to go when you're over 21, but even with a fake ID and a stick-on 'stache my boy won't be getting into B.L.U.E.S. Any suggestions for fun kid destinations in the Windy City? (Or even southern Wisconsin; we're planning on lots of driving & train riding.)
posted by maryh at 12:55 PM PST - 17 comments

Moondoggie and I are getting married in June and we need some advice on buying good tasting wine in bulk. [more inside]
posted by SheIsMighty at 12:00 PM PST - 23 comments

Is there a way to share voice and fax on one line without continually hooking and unhooking wires?
posted by bjork24 at 11:52 AM PST - 9 comments

For some reason I can't stay logged into Flickr for very long. Do they have some function that kicks off users after thirty minutes or so? I find that if I click on other users' photostreams or want to add them as a contact (or add a photo my favorites, or do anything else that requires me to be logged in), I have to login again. Anyone else having this issue?
posted by Vidiot at 11:45 AM PST - 5 comments

What is the easiest country to immigrate to in Europe? [more inside]
posted by Livewire Confusion at 11:42 AM PST - 13 comments

Are the more-expensive Yoga mats worth the extra $$? [more inside]
posted by lilboo at 11:14 AM PST - 6 comments

A Palm Tungsten C and Windows XP. With which should I sync: Outlook, Palm Desktop, or something else?
posted by tranquileye at 11:10 AM PST - 8 comments

What should I do when magazines I subscribe to fail to show up? Who do I contact, what do I say? And is this just one of the drawbacks of living in Brooklyn? [more inside]
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 10:56 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm taking a trip to Seattle this weekend and wanted to know what geeky things I could do while up there. I have about a day & half of free time to explore the city. suggestions? [more inside]
posted by zyfly at 10:38 AM PST - 20 comments

Should I take a course in Italian, or in French? [more inside]
posted by tepidmonkey at 10:25 AM PST - 43 comments

How do I get bike-chain grease stains out of my girlfriend's car's upholstery? [more inside]
posted by goatdog at 10:23 AM PST - 12 comments

I had a staph infection – and though it has healed, it has left a dark spot. Unfortunately, that spot happens to be under my eye. I would like to talk to a professional about making this fade as quickly as possible. Would a dermatologist be the best person to see about this? If so, can you recommend a good dermatologist in Austin (Google Groups didn’t return any current/pertinent results)? [more inside]
posted by fourstar at 10:20 AM PST - 7 comments

With the election of a new pope, I'd like to take this opportunity to permanently distance myself with the Roman Catholic church and I want them to know about it in an official manner. So what is the process that I must follow to become excommunicated? [more inside]
posted by furtive at 10:09 AM PST - 32 comments

My mother works with underprivileged and at-risk teenagers and wants to use play currency in group therapy. I'm supposed to be 'the creative one' but I'm having a hard time coming up with anything that would be suitable and work for everyone involved. [more inside]
posted by littlegreenlights at 9:52 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm interested in picking up an annotated Bible--something that treats it as a cultural document rather than the revealed word of God. [more inside]
posted by adamrice at 9:50 AM PST - 16 comments

My laptop is basically toast. I guess I need a new laptop. I was heading toward an iBook/Powerbook, but it suddenly occured to me that a Thinkpad with Linux or BSD might be good. Whatchall think?
posted by five fresh fish at 9:10 AM PST - 24 comments

I need to find the name of a musician. All I know is that he has a song or album called "Slide", that he's male, and that his last name has a hyphen in it. [more inside]
posted by redteam at 9:06 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm going to be in Tucson from 24 Apr to 14 May. I'll be working during the week, won't have my own transport, and will be staying near the main interstate (just south of the centre). I'm thinking of getting on a Greyhound Fri 6 May and going to Phoenix for the weekend. Any other suggestions? I like wandering round cities, looking in shops (especially books + music, since these are not easy to find in Chile), and museums of art/design/craft. But I'll have my laptop, so if there's a cool place to just sit around in and program one weekend, that could be good. Live music might be an attraction too. Oh, and during the weekdays I'll be up in the university campus. Thanks!
posted by andrew cooke at 8:17 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm visiting Seattle in May. I'm taking suggestions, ideas of things I SHOULD do and see while there. Yes, you can suggest the typical tourist stuff. In fact, please do. But I'm basically looking for all the fun stuff I can do in 5 days.
posted by bamassippi at 8:06 AM PST - 27 comments

Can you help me get the most out of my upcoming trip to New York City, Italy, Greece and Zurich, Switzerland? [more inside]
posted by willnot at 7:53 AM PST - 11 comments

I would like to send someone a thank you email after I have presented a proposal for doing business with them. A note in the mail will take to long - and they are a bit far for a hand delivered note. (Or should I hand deliver a note anyway?) Does anyone have a nice example "Thank You" note? Thanks!
posted by bright77blue at 7:50 AM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone identify an old piece of clothing for me? (pics inside) [more inside]
posted by fire&wings at 7:44 AM PST - 2 comments

CV/resume advice: I've just completed four messy years at university and I'm not sure how to summarize it for employers. [more inside]
posted by cillit bang at 7:42 AM PST - 8 comments

Mathematically, can a speed of zero be considered a "constant speed"? [more inside]
posted by Chanther at 7:33 AM PST - 64 comments

My 14 year old dog died yesterday. I also have a 3 year old dog who is puzzled and sad; what can I do to help him adjust? [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:15 AM PST - 14 comments

Is there a Firefox extension that will let me mouseover some text on a webpage and tell me what font is being used, plus all its properties (size, line-height, padding, color, etc)?
posted by frenetic at 7:04 AM PST - 9 comments

What should I do with my new hard drive? [more inside]
posted by jewishbuddha at 6:00 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm teaching English conversation to my French colleagues, and I'm looking for fun ideas to help us have enjoyable, engaging conversations. These students range from intermediate to advanced. I've looked on some TEFL forums and gotten a few ideas, but I'd like to hear your suggestions as well. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 5:39 AM PST - 5 comments

Need help finding my own voice for tribute cd of Evan Dando songs. [more inside]
posted by kenaman at 5:21 AM PST - 8 comments

Suggestions on a good bike bag? Other comments on commuting by bike to work? [more inside]
posted by cahlers at 4:58 AM PST - 19 comments

I have just been diagnosed with osteopenia in my femur and lumbar spine. Any tips on increasing bone density? [unlike my bones, more is inside] [more inside]
posted by naturesgreatestmiracle at 4:33 AM PST - 13 comments

Where in the UK (preferably online) can I buy tractor-fed paper for a dot-matrix printer? [more inside]
posted by Mwongozi at 3:32 AM PST - 4 comments

I have about 100 copies of a wonderful little "keepsake" booklet that contains 100% of the unabridged US Constitution text and nothing else. I want to give them away (and not to any schools) and am trying to think of a fun way to do it. [more inside]
posted by limitedpie at 11:09 PM PST - 11 comments

If anyone can help me with my Mac problem, I will be eternally grateful and may even send brownies. Really, really good brownies. [more inside]
posted by LittleMissCranky at 9:23 PM PST - 27 comments

God found my wife, now what do I do? [more inside]
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:54 PM PST - 49 comments

In the UK we have what are called Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) who, funnily enough, give independent financial advice, either for a fee or commission. Collectively the IFAs run ads in the major papers and have a website where you can find those local to you - you can go and see a few if you want, getting a second or third opinion. I now live in California - is such a service available here, and if not, how do you guys go about getting trusted advice on major financial decisions?
posted by forallmankind at 8:05 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm 21 years old and I'm tired of sex... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:04 PM PST - 24 comments

How would someone go about finding about the estate and/or will of a relative you just found out died? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:02 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm getting a group together on Friday night to go out for my birthday in NYC. But I'm having trouble figuring out where to go. I have a dream idea in my head. Help me figure out if it actually exists. [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Once upon a time in the early 80s we were shown these videos in grade school. I believe this show was also on PBS occasionally, but no one else remembers it. The host was a woman, and I believe she had long blond hair and may have had them in braids. Her companion was this white puppet cat. There was also a song at the beginning of the show and the only one I specifically remember watchine was one about the 4th of July. The whole series may have been about holidays. I don't know. What is the name of this show? Does anyone else remember it?
posted by pieoverdone at 7:32 PM PST - 3 comments

Does anybody have tips on how to elevate blood pressure? [more inside]
posted by stray at 7:12 PM PST - 19 comments

Is there a reason why I pee more when I stay up all night working?
posted by srboisvert at 6:59 PM PST - 12 comments

Wondering if anyone has herniated a disc in the lower lumbar spine. If so, how long did it take to heal? What did you do to alleviate the pain? I have had pain for 2 years now and am wondering if I should have surgery, or what other routes I should take to get rid of the pain. Any suggestions?
posted by Maishe at 6:48 PM PST - 13 comments

Two directors whose work I greatly admire, François Girard and Whit Stillman, have been MIA for quite some time. Can someone tell me where either has been, what they've been doing since their last films and what their future plans are? I've heard whispers and seen snippets online, but am hoping some industry-savvy MeFi-ite can provide something more substantial. Is this a case of lack of profitability completely trumping quality and forcing these two out of the director's chair?
posted by boombot at 6:16 PM PST - 4 comments

Windows XP SP2 says: "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process." How can I find out what "another process" is?
posted by punishinglemur at 4:06 PM PST - 12 comments

Is Tiger (OSX 10.4) worth the upgrade price? [more inside]
posted by SeizeTheDay at 4:03 PM PST - 20 comments

I want to cultivate some good mental exercising habits. For that, I need some good, diverse sources for puzzles and activities. Specifically, I'm looking for, preferably free, sites with a decent database of verbal, logical, spatial, lateral thinking games. The format can be flexible, so crosswords are included. Also, games that test and hone reflexes and reactions are also welcome. Additionally, ADHDers are also advised to stimulate the cerebellum. Any help on that? Basically, I'd like a list of resources for complete brain workout, that can be performed atleast once every day. Obviously, I'm not looking for one site to include all of the above.
posted by Gyan at 3:23 PM PST - 25 comments

My custom 404 error page under IIS loads fine in IE, but firefox tries to download it instead of displaying it. [more inside]
posted by CaptApollo at 3:17 PM PST - 4 comments

I just bought a smokin' new laptop with a 60GB hard drive, replacing my aging-but-serviceable desktop. I have about 90GB of files in total--too large to fit on the laptop. My just-replaced desktop is running XP Home, while my laptop is XP Pro -- can I use my desktop as a file server, or is XP Home too limiting/insecure? Am I opening myself up to a world of hurt? [more inside]
posted by kables at 2:58 PM PST - 8 comments

This weekend (Friday, actually, hopefully before the rain), we will be taking 6 kids out for a campfire on the beach. The problem is that we don't know where we can do this. We live in Marin County, north of SF, and would prefer a place up here. Any place here or in SF will do, though. Any recommendations? Any thoughts on where I should look to find out if we can have a beach campfire?
posted by xorowo at 2:33 PM PST - 10 comments

I need to roll over some 401K savings into an IRA account - any major differences and recommendations between Fidelity vs Vanguard?
posted by rookiewookie at 2:12 PM PST - 14 comments

I've started working out in the past two months in order to gain weight and muscle. It's definitely working, but I need help developing the muscle more evenly. [more inside]
posted by scody at 12:55 PM PST - 10 comments

I am recovering from a three month virus/cold/minor hit to my immune system that aggravated both my asthma and Sparky the Mystery Muscle Disorder. I've seen a doc for this. I've just finished a run of antibiotics (Zithromax) a couple weeks ago, and have also just finished a month-long run of prednisone to treat the asthma. Consequently, I haven't exercised, and now I feel like a sloth. I'm also laid off from my job for the next 100 days. Financially, I am OK for the duration, and that includes paying for COBRA, so I don't have to get another job right away. I'm also in Seattle, which has beautiful summers. So, I have this time to try to get back into shape and start exercising again. [more inside]
posted by spinifex23 at 12:46 PM PST - 7 comments

Multiple Sclerosis: what tips, tricks, medications, supplements, treatments or therapies are worth trying? [more inside]
posted by mdn at 12:29 PM PST - 20 comments

Norwegian Divorce...anyone done it?
posted by svenskjenta at 11:58 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm thinking of going into business for myself and need practical experience-based advice. [more inside]
posted by Specklet at 11:50 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a strong memory of seeing a video clip of Rowlf the Dog swearing on Late Night television. Can anyone help me find more information? [more inside]
posted by jazon at 11:00 AM PST - 9 comments

What can you add to a cubicle to make it less cubicle-like? [more inside]
posted by idlemind at 10:53 AM PST - 30 comments

I see a hundred interesting people on the street every day, but I'm too introverted to photograph them. I have this weird fear that they'll attack me or something, like "Don't take my picture, dammit!" How do you take street photography while remaining unobtrusive? [more inside]
posted by selfnoise at 10:49 AM PST - 46 comments

So, a co-worker situation has reached the point that it's giving me dyspepsia, and management isn't going to do anything about it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:31 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a sexual relationship with a woman who really enjoys dirty talk. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:31 AM PST - 25 comments

Are any of you familiar with Netbux.org? They supposedly pay people for searching the web, but a review of the About and Questions pages make it sound like a spamming pyramid scheme.
posted by Serena at 9:44 AM PST - 10 comments

My sister-in-law has purchased a Creative Labs Zen Touch 40gb music player. She'd like advice on how to fill it with music. I'm a Mac user who uses iTunes and an iPod, so I don't really have a good answer for her. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by jdroth at 9:43 AM PST - 10 comments

How do I keep one goldfish from terrorizing another? I have two goldfish in a 5 gallon aquarium. They were the same size when I got them, but now one is bigger than the other. The big one bullies the little one. [more inside]
posted by duck at 9:37 AM PST - 15 comments

I am under a tremendous amount of stress lately due to factors with my health, job, and homelife. I have tried all sorts of natural ways to control this but with no luck. My doctor has prescribed Ativan, which works, but gives me an endless headache. A past experience with Xanax proved similar. Buspar did nothing. I am already on an anti-depressant. Is anyone aware of any other prescription drug that I could suggest to my doctor as an alternative to the benzos?
posted by jswanson19 at 9:28 AM PST - 13 comments

Children'sLitFilter: I am looking for the title of a long ago read children's book that is sort of "Alice in Wonderland"-esque. It involves a little girl going into a fantasy world, but instead of going through the looking glass, she goes into a snow globe. [more inside]
posted by Futurehouse at 9:26 AM PST - 5 comments

My summer trip to England will include a three-day, forty-mile hike through the westernmost part of Cornwall (Lands End and some on either side). Advice on the area and the hike would be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by anapestic at 9:13 AM PST - 13 comments

How do you take your bike along when you ride the bus/train/plane? [more inside]
posted by airguitar at 9:02 AM PST - 11 comments

So my wife and I are walking in the park in SW Oregon, and there in the creek is a little starling-lookin' bird on a rock. Brown-black, no markings. The bird jumps in the water, and swims upstream under the water, looking perfectly natural. It came up with a little twig or something, then did it again, and again. It was swimming for distances of 3 to 6 feet. What kind of bird was this?
posted by everichon at 8:51 AM PST - 10 comments

Computer A has a HDD and loads of software on it. Computer B has no HDD, but all new hardware. If I take HDD from Computer A and put it Computer B, how many aspirin do I have to take? [more inside]
posted by eas98 at 8:37 AM PST - 15 comments

There seem to be a lot of zippers in my life beyond the ones attached to my pants. What's the best way to keep them zipping and unzipping smoothly and easily? [more inside]
posted by de void at 8:33 AM PST - 12 comments

I wanted to begin the tracking of my family tree. Has anyone used any online tools that were worth the cost?
posted by keep it tight at 8:15 AM PST - 7 comments

On the recommendation of some AskMefites, I started using Dreamhost as email/web provider for a small-business. Pretty serious email downtime (undeliverable messages, 24+ hour lags) in the last month necessitate a switch. [more inside]
posted by piro at 7:36 AM PST - 13 comments

There was a single released in mid 2004 by a young white pop-act rapper, who we were told was going to be the next new female eminem. She may have sung about being a serial killer, but that didn't suit here, more like MC Britney S, then she disappeared without trace. Who was she?
posted by ugrndhg at 7:34 AM PST - 13 comments

Funfilter: I just joined another band. Help me name it. [more inside]
posted by sourwookie at 7:27 AM PST - 66 comments

I am looking to use the services of a Career Coach. I live in downtown Washington, DC. Has anyone had a positive experience with a coach they can recommend? Also, what kind of rate can I expect to pay? [more inside]
posted by juggler at 7:19 AM PST - 0 comments

I need to go to a nightclub in a few weeks. What should I wear? [more inside]
posted by handee at 7:18 AM PST - 15 comments

When I have a question, I ask it. Simple enough, right? Are there any psychological/educational repercussions to having endless access to information? Are we becoming less intelligent because we are not seeking answers for ourselves, and instead relying on the vast database of knowledge on the Internet to answer questions that could be better answered via actual physical reasoning? It seems that I remember there being a "term" for this phenomenon - if it actually exists. Any help? [more inside]
posted by nitsuj at 7:13 AM PST - 16 comments

I like to have a pair of jeans to wear for smart but casual occasions. I want to maintain the unvarying blue appearance they have when they're new. Are there any laundering secrets to keep that look for as long as possible?
posted by TheManticore at 7:01 AM PST - 19 comments

I just found out that Dinosaur Jr. a) just got back together with their original lineup and b) played on the Late Late Show the other night. Anyone know where I could find a video of said performance? [more inside]
posted by emptybowl at 6:41 AM PST - 10 comments

After a trip to BestHongKong, I find myself with 1000 5mm red LEDs. What should I do with them? [more inside]
posted by Neon at 3:58 AM PST - 10 comments

On the Budapest Metro there are signs hanging from the ceiling that show train times - they have analogue clocks at one end and, at the other end, a digital display counting upwards, apparently in minutes. They're not minutes past the hour and they're not minutes since the last train arrived, so what the devil are they for?
posted by jack_mo at 3:08 AM PST - 6 comments

For the last year or so I need what seem to be enormous amounts of sleep to feel rested. Last night for example I fell asleep at about 23:00, "woke up" at 7:30 (half an hour late) and still had trouble getting out of bed. I'm 26 years old and feel that I should be able to sleep less than that to feel rested. [more inside]
posted by Skyanth at 1:14 AM PST - 24 comments

If a contractor terminates a job with a client before 100% of the work is completed, and has been paid a portion of their fee up front, is the contractor obligated to return the portion already paid, or a portion thereof? [more inside]
posted by Jesus Fucking Christ at 11:07 PM PST - 8 comments

Help us identify this book/movie: The only thing we can remember is something along the lines of, "Losing one parent was understandable, but losing two just seemed careless." I seem to remember it's from one of those British children's fantasy novels that start with the kid's parents dying off — or from a parody of one of those novels? But really, we're both just stumped.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:57 PM PST - 7 comments

I just moved in to newly built condo... I have spent a lot of money to option IN for SHAW Brazilian Cherry Hardwood floor..(100% covered 1300sq.ft (according to my research it maybe engineered Durashield coated ones like most hardwood floors now days)... Just before I moved in I saw a builder employee cleaning the floor.. He told me he is using PINE-SOL type cleaner... It did look shiny at first.... But I have been here for 3weeks now... The white films would not go away... even now my socks are yellowish oil all over when ever i step one or two steps.... foot marks are eveywhere... now it looks dusty and smudged all over... (there is no dust... but looks dusty with smudges).... I tried to clean it off with No-Was Bruce hardwood cleaner.... No luck... I tried little bit of water in the corner with about 5 small towels... it finally came off (it took me about 1 hour to do 6sq.ft..) it was very hard work.... I contacted the manufacturer.. they said NO oil based cleaner or wax should be used on these.. especially Pine-Sol and Pledge.... They said It was coated like clear coats in new cars..never needing wax... so basically putting pine-sol on these type of floor is like spraying Armor-All on paint of new car....At least new car can be washed off with a lot of water and soap... [more inside]
posted by curiousleo at 9:26 PM PST - 25 comments

Is it a bad idea to run the Folding@Home client on a laptop? [more inside]
posted by knave at 9:22 PM PST - 11 comments

My wife and I were struck by a car as we were crossing the street on Monday. We have health insurance, and have no intention of suing the guy, but what should we expect in regards to insurance? [more inside]
posted by jackofsaxons at 9:11 PM PST - 25 comments

BookFilter: I'm looking for a book with a sort of Lovecraftian tone, than I remember being called "The Man with the Staff of Light", except it sounded cooler than that does. It involved a traveller in the Wandering Jew archetype whose distinguishing feature is his glowing staff, and who seems to act as a witness to the decay of all around him. [more inside]
posted by scrim at 7:30 PM PST - 2 comments

I need to buy a printer in a hurry. I would like a wireless printer, but I've never use one. I've also heard that you can get adapters for that will make printers wireless. Can anyone explain this to me and tell me what to look for when shopping? [more inside]
posted by pinkkitty at 7:27 PM PST - 7 comments

I am scheduled for LASIK surgery on Thursday and wanted to hear from anyone who has had the surgery. [more inside]
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 6:42 PM PST - 25 comments

I am about 7 weeks pregnant, and still at the stage where we're keeping it a secret from almost everyone. I feel fine, except I'm so mind numbingly tired that I can't seem to function normally, which is increasingly becoming a problem at work. My midwife has made some suggestions, but none have worked for me. Any suggestions for foods/supplements/strategies that can help me feel less exhausted and non-functional would be greatly appreciated.
posted by anonymous at 6:42 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm trying to rent a home and things have gotten weird. [more inside]
posted by Optimus Chyme at 6:38 PM PST - 23 comments

I love MacTheRipper for OSX. Could someone tell me what is a comparable piece of software that will compress the ripped files so they will fit on one 4.7 dvd disc.
posted by vronsky at 5:08 PM PST - 11 comments

I've got some Chinese paintings from my late grandfather, and I'm having trouble finding more information about them. Here's what he had to say about them (image, transcript inside) and here's a scan I made of one of them (image). I don't know enough about this subject to make educated guesses, and the information from my grandfather is either inaccurate or just a dead-end. So basically, I'd like to know anything that you know about this. I'd be happy to scan more of the prints as well if someone needs additional information. [more inside]
posted by j.edwards at 4:40 PM PST - 6 comments

In the "links from external pages" section of my blog's statistics, I'm getting hits from a lot of different poker websites. They don't seem to actually be linking to me, though. Is this some sort of strange spam thing? What is going on?
posted by buriednexttoyou at 4:26 PM PST - 8 comments

I remember a few early anime series in the 70s and 80s that were anglicized under the name Force Five (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Five). They were separate series based on the Shogun Warrior toys (or maybe the other way around). I only saw them as movies (on the proto-cable outlet, WHT) which abridged the series: Starvengers, Grandizer, Gaking, Dangard Ace and Spaceketeers. All were giant robot anime, except for the last one. Anyone know when I could find the complete series or original movies, preferably on DVD. [more inside]
posted by Dante5Inferno at 4:20 PM PST - 1 comment

How do I learn what to say to a friend in need? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:19 PM PST - 18 comments

Can a child remove a parent from a nursing home to live with the child if the parent's spouse (from remarriage) approved the nursing home placement? I've googled but am having trouble finding resources that aren't about nursing home abuse and neglect. [more inside]
posted by onlyconnect at 4:08 PM PST - 9 comments

The better business bureau seems to be kinda worthless. Is there a generic website where I can go to rate local businesses that isn't awash with tons of ads or filler? I'm thinking something craigs-list-ish, but searchable, with Amazonian filtering (the website, not the large women, although that would be cool too). I think I just got ripped off by a tire store, and I'm tired of going through life a victim. Lazyweb, take me away! [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 3:40 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm going to be on an all-liquid diet for an undetermined amount of time in order to give my diseased and angry intestines a break. What are some good sources of protein that can be taken in liquid form? [more inside]
posted by Servo5678 at 3:35 PM PST - 32 comments

Friday I'll be near Calistoga, CA. I need to be in San Francisco by Saturday late afternoon. What kind of outdoorsy-scenic-type thing can I do between the two. Bonus points if there's a cool place to stay near by. [more inside]
posted by FreezBoy at 3:04 PM PST - 5 comments

I've got quite a large number of photos on my hard drive date have a generic date because the date was not properly set on my digital camera. Is there an easy way to change the dates of these (preferably in a batch process)?
posted by Yukon at 2:54 PM PST - 5 comments

I need a new screen name. I've got low standards. Go nuts! [more inside]
posted by Hildago at 2:51 PM PST - 65 comments

Can someone suggest a cheap and reliable place to recover data off my hard drive? I crushed a pin(IDE) in the 40-pin area and it broke off from the circuit board. AND for some reason my drive doesn't even spin when its plugged into the power source. This was a fine drive, only a couple of months old, until this day when the pin got crushed.....any help will dooooo! [more inside]
posted by matthelm at 2:37 PM PST - 4 comments

HELP! A laptop died, the drive is fine, I put it in a usb enclosure I have so that I could access the data. The problem is, I can navigate the drive up to the directory I need. At that point I get told I don't have permission. I'm logged in to an XP Pro SP2 box as an admin. The files I need are in the My Documents directory of the administrator account installed on the disk. How do I access them?
posted by Grod at 2:33 PM PST - 9 comments

What is the easiest way to set up an online collaboration session between three people in different offices in which one person can draw on the document being viewed by all three? All three are on Windows XP, T1 lines, and a WAN. Solution could be hosted in-house or by a third-party (secure). [more inside]
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 2:13 PM PST - 5 comments

what is the shortcut through staten island [more inside]
posted by alkupe at 2:07 PM PST - 6 comments

Over the summer I'm going to be setting up a computer and electronics lab for undergraduate art students at a private college. Any advice? [more inside]
posted by puppy kuddles at 1:47 PM PST - 11 comments

When wearing a T-shirt do you tuck it into your jeans and why? [more inside]
posted by thomcatspike at 11:48 AM PST - 68 comments

I'm a long-time shutterbug. For the past five years, I have used a digital camera, but before that, it was all 35 millimeter. I have a backlog of thousands of photographs I'd like to scan. I'd like to find a scanner that has an automatic feeder so I can batch-scan lots of pictures at once. My photos are mostly the standard 4x6 size you get at the local photo store. For the record, I am more focused on really cataloguing my life, so I have a large quantity of photographs rather than lots of super high quality art shots. Sure, I want a quality scanner, but I don't need top of the line. I'm more interested in a really top rate feeder mechanism. Tell me what you know!
posted by abbyladybug at 11:32 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm a military member who's looking for a cheap way to vacation in Japan for about a week. [more inside]
posted by mystyk at 10:47 AM PST - 10 comments

We have a few stacks of 80s-era VHS and VHS-C tapes that I'd like to both digitize and edit as a gift. Goal 1: Digitize and burn all footage to DVD for archive purposes. Goal 2: Edit the worth-watching footage into a small DVD set (the gift). [more inside]
posted by johndavi at 10:46 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm not sure if there's a PC way to ask this, but here goes: why are the properties of the economically disadvantaged so often replete with a miscellany of objects of questionable utility and/or value? [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 10:25 AM PST - 36 comments

I'd like to get a new Motorola Razr. But I have questions regarding my existing account, unlocked phones, etc. [more inside]
posted by o2b at 10:25 AM PST - 10 comments

My wife and I are going to Europe this summer and I want to avoid looking like tourists. We are also looking to avoid being stereotyped as stupid, fat Americans. [more inside]
posted by bryanzera at 9:06 AM PST - 56 comments

What is the protocol for establishing who's next in line to the British throne? I understand that being an actual royal may get you into the Top 20 or so, but how do I find out if I'm 13,000,000th or 40,000,000th, or maybe not even permitted to rule this noble land for one reason or another in the case that there were some kind of Establishment-culling freaky accident? [more inside]
posted by uk_giffo at 8:54 AM PST - 9 comments

Is my laptop (win xp) using the wifi or ethernet cable connection when I plug it back into the docking station after having worked wirelessly? [more inside]
posted by alball at 8:48 AM PST - 3 comments

Okay, so it's been nearly 9 months since I saw my wife and we are still trying to sort out the visa and the work permit for her to come to England... [more inside]
posted by longbaugh at 8:33 AM PST - 9 comments

I have been subletting an apartment in Wisconsin for the past few months, and I just found out that my sublessee hasn't paid any rent. He was evicted a month ago. Is it possible for me to recover the rent (for which I am ultimately responsible, according to the lease terms) from him in small claims court? [more inside]
posted by UKnowForKids at 8:20 AM PST - 12 comments

Could someone please explain to me the factory process of making peanut butter filled pretzels?
posted by askmatrix at 8:19 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm interested in an M.A. degree in education, specifically in curriculum design for on-line/distance learning. Here's an example from Univ. of Maryland (M.A. in Distance Learning) . Has anyone pursued this degree? If so, did you do your coursework in person or on-line? Is the job market good? Which institutions are most respected in their programs? Any info appreciated.
posted by nancoix at 8:07 AM PST - 3 comments

Within a day or two after 9/11, there was coverage on network news of some person (and possibly his brother) in the US who was suspected of being an important figure in the attacks. A few days later it turned out this person had actually died some time earlier and was in no way involved. Anyone know who this person was?
posted by shoos at 7:54 AM PST - 14 comments

Here are two pictures of a kind of rather large (1" long body), nasty spider that I'm finding all over my apartment [scary pictures warning]. Please help me identify it. [more inside]
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:14 AM PST - 28 comments

My cat is a psycho. My wife is pregnant. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by Armitage Shanks at 7:05 AM PST - 43 comments

The sticker in my Malibu Maxx prescribes tire pressure of 30 psi; the sidewalls on the tires list a maximum pressure of 44 psi -- is it OK to run them at 35 psi, or higher, to gain better gas mileage, or will the money saved be nullified by shortened tire life? [more inside]
posted by beagle at 6:51 AM PST - 14 comments

Farly new HD clicks, then does not click, is not completely recognized by my system. It contains very important data. Recommended diagnostics, options, or services for professional data recovery? [more inside]
posted by Jack Karaoke at 6:34 AM PST - 11 comments

Going to Cuba at the beginning of May on my honeymoon. Simple (hopefully) question about currency. Should I take USD / Sterling / Euro's? Checked the thread on Lonely Planet but that just seems to give contradictory information.
posted by lloyder at 6:18 AM PST - 6 comments

Beyond Excel: I need a 2D data plotting tool that not only plots but has the ability to quickly measure things like maximum, minimum, delta between peaks... [more inside]
posted by toftflin at 6:08 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a question about Spirited Away. Spoilers within. [more inside]
posted by obiwanwasabi at 4:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I do a lot of hill hiking in hot weather, up and down on both paved and unpaved trails. I have a high arch and underpronate. How can I zero in on some good trail shoes? I don't want full-fledged hiking boots, just cushioned trail runners with toe & sole protection for the pebbly & stony parts.
posted by mono blanco at 12:10 AM PST - 6 comments

In Fireworks it's a one-click process to export an image slice individually (ie. right-click and select "export selected slice"). Is is possible to do the same thing quickly using Adobe ImageReady? [more inside]
posted by bruceyeah at 11:00 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm the 'lone programmer' for a small business, making an app that will log when inventory is received, and also used, at a remote location, via serialized barcodes. What would be the best way to transfer this usage data to me, preferably daily? [more inside]
posted by Mach5 at 9:46 PM PST - 17 comments

Anyone know where to find a clip from Jon Stewart's appearance on Oprah?
posted by x_3mta3 at 9:23 PM PST - 7 comments

How do I exclude HEAD requests when using Analog Helper to analyze site stats? [more inside]
posted by neuroshred at 9:11 PM PST - 2 comments

A friend is moving to DC and is trying to find a 2 bedroom apartment in a cool, trendy area (read: in DC/NW, metro-accessable) but she doesn't have a lot of money to spend. Any tips for finding a good place at a bargain? She's exhausted craigslist, the Post classifieds, the City Paper...any suggestions?
posted by chos at 8:38 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm interested in hearing from people who have taught English as a second language in a foreign country. Share your experience with someone who is considering entering this field. [more inside]
posted by Ritchie at 8:37 PM PST - 15 comments

How does one properly dispose of a small, single-use propane cylinder in New York City? [more inside]
posted by Oddly at 8:06 PM PST - 10 comments

What are your recipes for being a good guest, for weekend or overnight stays? [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 7:37 PM PST - 27 comments

Is there any online postage-printing site that doesn't require a monthly fee? I mail books periodically and I'm at least 15 miles from the post office. [more inside]
posted by craniac at 7:14 PM PST - 9 comments

So, if I took Tokyo, flipped it upside down, and shook it, would feral giraffes and hippos (and other non-native animals) really fall out? [more inside]
posted by graventy at 7:12 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm shooting my sister's wedding. I don't have experience shooting events like this. What should I know about shooting weddings? [more inside]
posted by mullingitover at 5:40 PM PST - 30 comments

My friends and I are organizing weekly croquet matches in a nearby park. What would be a good title for them? [more inside]
posted by deafmute at 5:09 PM PST - 11 comments

I recently purchased a Marantz 2245 receiver from eBay which I intend to use in conjunction with my PC for audio playback. The unit doesn't appear to have suffered any damage during shipping, but I cannot seem to get any sound out of it. So far, the seller has not contacted me back about this. [more inside]
posted by jenleigh at 4:21 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for a science fiction story. [more inside]
posted by stoneegg21 at 4:08 PM PST - 11 comments

Looking for a street shape file of London that is readable and useful in ArcView 3.2. Oh yeah, it would be nice to find it for free. Any takers?
posted by kuperman at 3:19 PM PST - 2 comments

København, aka Copenhagen. Is it pronounced ko’p?n ha’g?n OR ko’p?n hä’g?n? [more inside]
posted by Crushinator at 2:59 PM PST - 22 comments

Photograph and portfolio questions ... [more inside]
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:49 PM PST - 5 comments

Many years ago someone told me the name for the quotey fingers gesture (the one where you make you index and middle fingers into little crooks and visually bookend whatever you're talking about). I've long forgotten the name, and it's been driving me crazy for years. Help Please!
posted by mrs.pants at 2:34 PM PST - 27 comments

Looking for some recommendations for enterprise-level (or so) CMS that plays well with Word. A large client list is looking to be able to use a CMS to make website posts (similar to blogging), but they must be able to copy and paste directly from a Word file into the tool, without going to Notepad. Who out there allows that?
posted by fijiwriter at 2:14 PM PST - 7 comments

I am about to buy a new Macintosh. How can I most quickly understand the pros and cons of the video cards in various models? [more inside]
posted by alms at 2:12 PM PST - 12 comments

For the second time in as my years, my Timex Expedition watch has stopped working. I put up with it because I like the style, and re-setting the time every few hours wasn't that big of a deal. I'm having trouble finding another (non-Timex) watch with an analog face AND a small digital display... do any MeFites have any recommendations? (Another Timex with the features I want... and a Swiss Army one with the look I want....) [more inside]
posted by ruwan at 2:08 PM PST - 10 comments

Why do journalist not investigate the many fantastical claims of the Church with the same fact checking veracity as they would political or corporate stories? Do journalist just give religion a free pass?
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 1:46 PM PST - 17 comments

I'll be in a developing country this summer, and most likely wont have access to any sort of gym with weights. (i do a lot of cardio and lift too) I've looked into travel weights andI've looked around, but all I have been able to find so far are $50 Aquabells water-fillable weights, which have a max of 16 pounds each. How can I keep my strength up this summer, while not having ways to lift? I've always done cardio and lifting with machines, so i know I can work out without them, i'm just not entirely sure how. Thanks!
posted by jare2003 at 1:44 PM PST - 16 comments

Going through a major life/social shift, how do you find the balance between being social and well, "me time"? [more inside]
posted by Gucky at 1:44 PM PST - 12 comments

On the preferred format of college admission recommendation letters: Are general, "to whom it may concern" style letters given as much credence as letters targeted to a specific school and situation? Also, any general tips for recommendation letters from a previous employer? [more inside]
posted by dustinAFN at 1:26 PM PST - 8 comments

The sun is out and I want to be riding my bike. Help me get it ready to roll. [more inside]
posted by papercake at 1:18 PM PST - 11 comments

Any info on MFA programs in and around Chicago? [more inside]
posted by garethspor at 12:53 PM PST - 5 comments

Does anyone know of a reputable computer repair shop in Minneapolis? On a related note: What are the odds that a laptop that had a quart of water spilled on it (that was running on its AC adapter) is salvageable? I envision fried chips and fused boards.
posted by rtimmel at 12:51 PM PST - 6 comments

John McNulty, a newspaper "rewrite" man and writer for the New Yorker died in 1956 (his 2nd wife, Faith, just past away a week ago). He was good friends with the humorist James Thurber, who writes warmly about him. I'm looking for other contemporary mentions of McNulty. [more inside]
posted by cptnrandy at 11:52 AM PST - 3 comments

Where can I purchase an upscale ant farm? I'm not talking about one of those Uncle Milton's or similar cheap, plastic varieties. I want something a little sturdier and more aesthetically pleasing. On the other hand, I don't think I want to spend more than $100.
posted by crapulent at 11:27 AM PST - 6 comments

How do I address an envelope for something going in the mail to Ramala, Palestine? Asking this for a friend...
posted by fabesfaves at 10:44 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm thinking of spending a couple weeks in the Solomon Islands diving this summer, and am looking for suggestions and recommendations of places to go, things to do, and people to see. [more inside]
posted by soda pop at 10:40 AM PST - 2 comments

Nobody wants my 100 year old concert upright piano. I have to absolutely get rid of it. But how? [more inside]
posted by subatomiczoo at 10:28 AM PST - 27 comments

What's the difference between the various frequency bands for portable phones? I wish to buy a portable phone / digital answering machine for my home (not a cellular phone), and have noticed they come in 900Mhz, 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz versions. Is there a difference between these that I should know about before buying a phone?
posted by jacquilynne at 10:28 AM PST - 18 comments

Severe hand pain (arthritis) is hampering a friend's note-taking abilities. What are her alternatives? [more inside]
posted by sixpack at 9:53 AM PST - 6 comments

weekend feeders appear to constipate my office goldfish. i know how to treat him, but i'd like to stop this vicious cycle. recommendations for how to feed the goldfish over the weekend? [more inside]
posted by crush-onastick at 9:42 AM PST - 8 comments

Anyone know of a source for third-party/aftermarket seats that can be safely installed in a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport? The "factory" seats in the truck aren't very ergonomic at all, and give my wife pretty bad back pain even on moderate (~150 mile) drives. She's got a 1200-mile trip coming up in two weeks, and I'd love to find a solution other than "keep using a lumbar support pillow" which is barely adequate. My Internet searches haven't turned up anything at all, and a "truck accessories" shop I went to in Austin (I'm now in Houston) said "Sorry, we can't help you."
posted by mrbill at 8:51 AM PST - 9 comments

Where should I live in Palo Alto or environs? I'll be going to grad school at stanford starting in the fall and want to live off-campus but am not that familiar with the options, especially in areas not actually in Palo Alto. I'll have a car.
posted by kenko at 8:39 AM PST - 17 comments

Is it widely accepted that The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was an outright fabrication?
posted by Kwantsar at 8:21 AM PST - 5 comments

So recently, I've started chatting with some old friends in Germany, and while I can speak fluent german, it's a real pain typing the umlauts and other special characters using the character map (the application is Yahoo Messenger). Is there any easy way to type foreign letters on a standard american keyboard?
posted by patrickje at 8:09 AM PST - 13 comments

I would like to enroll in a MBA in a good school in the US or UK, but I can't really stop working for a couple of years right now. And since I live in Brazil, nighttime courses are not really an option. So I am seriously considering an Online Distance-education MBA. Several schools offer this and I am a little lost with the huge offer. Any experiences or recommendations to share?
posted by falameufilho at 7:52 AM PST - 9 comments

I love Google mail, but I also love my email address. Is there a way I can use gmail as the client for my email (accessible via POP or IMAP) so I can have both?
posted by skryche at 6:15 AM PST - 12 comments

Earlier yesterday, I was about to translate into SVCD the newest episode of Doctor Who for my roommate, when I was simply unable to find the file. My media folder only shows files and folders from 0-AL, and nothing else. The funny thing is that the other files have not been deleted. When I have a direct link to a file, it plays perfectly. A direct link to a folder displays all the contents, but the folder itself doesn't appear in the root. Some investigation showed that there's a couple of bad sectors on the disk. Any suggestions so that I can get the main directory back, if only to make a backup of everything in case of a possible crash? [more inside]
posted by Pinwiz at 5:15 AM PST - 6 comments

I hate buying pants. None of the Docker-type khaki's fit me. Either the waist is too big or the, um, butt is too tight. I usually wear jeans to work but find the need for a slightly more professional business-casual look. I need help. [more inside]
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 5:08 AM PST - 12 comments

A pair of swans are nesting on the river near my flat, is there anything I could do which might help them and their cygnets to survive? Any food I could provide, etc or would I be helping them best by just staying well away?
posted by biffa at 2:59 AM PST - 9 comments

FootFilter: about a month ago I noticed two small, itchy red dots [JPG] on my foot. At the time I passed them off as an insect bite and promptly forgot about it. Well... they're still there. [more inside]
posted by sbutler at 1:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Whilst travelling in Russia recently, I heard what I think is a cover version of a Momus song called 'Hairstyle of The Devil' - I'd really like to track down this cover. [more inside]
posted by mattr at 1:48 AM PST - 3 comments

First, help me ID this one from my friend's description: it's this one done by this old man up in the northwest somewhere. he built his own cabin and lived there for something like 50 years by himself--completely by himself. All the camera work is done soley by him. the man is amazing. he does everything on his own. it's the most relaxing thing i ever watched Next, recommend your favorite interesting and well-made documentaries. I'll start with Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth and the PBS Evolution series.
posted by foraneagle2 at 11:09 PM PST - 42 comments

My IBM T42 has an infrared port on the front, and I've tried finding software that will allow me to control my tv with it. Does anything exist that will let me do this?
posted by borkencode at 9:25 PM PST - 5 comments

A friend of mine, who lives in Dallas, is looking for somebody to paint a mural in her home. She needs advice on how to find an artist who has done this type of work before, and who can do a good job. Where should she be looking, and what questions should she be asking?
posted by mosch at 4:00 PM PST - 10 comments

In the Nation of Gods & Earths (AKA 5 Percent Nation) there are 120 questions and answers you have to be able to answer on demand. I'm trying to lean them.... [more inside]
posted by thefinned1 at 3:58 PM PST - 9 comments

At the top of a 50' tree hanging over our house, there is a very large (perhaps 1' by 2') bees' nest. Enough bees live there that it's become quite a problem for us. It is impossible to climb anywhere close to where it is. How can we get it down? [more inside]
posted by waldo at 1:11 PM PST - 35 comments

I found a bag of Zonolite insulation in my garage attic today, and I remember that the one time I was in my house attic, the floorboards were covered with loose fill insulation. Has anyone had to deal with this before? [more inside]
posted by sleslie at 12:49 PM PST - 5 comments

A friend of mine needs a new computer desk to make her home office more ergonomic. She's shorter than most people, though--about 5'0"--and most computer desks aren't built with people of her stature in mind. [more inside]
posted by cerebus19 at 12:05 PM PST - 6 comments

Are gay men less likely than hetero men to contract prostate cancer? [more inside]
posted by hellbient at 11:55 AM PST - 12 comments

Why don't people in texas have basements?
posted by delmoi at 11:48 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm trying to figure out the name of this one series of classroom movies that I remember from when I was a kid. They all begin with this guy singing a song that goes like, "I am the storyteller, and my story must be told," and then he goes on for a bit, talking about what names he is known as among different cultures, and he ends with "and in America, I'm John." They were all short films, probably 30-60 minutes in length, and usually fairytales or cautionary tales. I'd imagine that they were made in the 1970s or early 1980s, and they were on actual filmstock, not VHS or anything. I think they were all narrarated, and I am not sure if the actors themselves had any dialog. I remember enjoying these movies a lot when I was in elementary school, and would love to find out more about them. [more inside]
posted by afroblanca at 10:16 AM PST - 6 comments

OK, another lost movie title: Around 1970, on late-night TV, I caught most of a very compelling, very depressing story about an immigrant family in the slums of New York (I think), but was never able to learn its name... [more inside]
posted by dpcoffin at 9:58 AM PST - 1 comment

Attention Graphic Designers: What specific lessons or exercises (whether in school or self-taught) had the most impact on your development as a designer?

[more inside]
posted by jeremias at 9:50 AM PST - 11 comments

Recently upgraded to a newer bike, with clipless pedals. I realized that these are great for riding, but what about just tooling around town - is there such a thing as an adaptor for regular shoes? [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs at 9:39 AM PST - 13 comments

My sister lives in a small town in NH that started offering free wireless access in the center of town. I'd like for her to be able to connect to the internet from her house, which is about .5 miles away from the antenna but with tall buildings (church steeples) in between. She has a desktop, her husband has a Centrino-equipped laptop, and I visit with a 802.11-able laptop. My brother-and-law and I are thinking of building a cantenna or the like and mounting it on the roof . But what do we attach the antenna to? All the routers/"access points" I've looked at so far assume a cable (ethernet) connection as input signal which is then output as wireless or ethernet or both. But we want to both receive and dispense wireless. I know there are "repeaters" that can do this but all the affordable ones I've studied only output using proprietary protocols, not 802.11(g), which would require buying proprietary equipment for all the computers in question. Any inexpensive solutions?
posted by TimeFactor at 8:35 AM PST - 8 comments

How do I save my trees from a destructive neighbour? [more inside]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:33 AM PST - 21 comments

A year or two back I saw the most pure-hearted movie about all the tragedy and joy of a little girl's quest to buy a goldfish. It took place in an Islamic country and the movie was in that country's language...I don't think it was Arabic but it could have been. I really really want to show the movie to my husband, but I don't know its name. Help me, MeFi!
posted by leapingsheep at 8:16 AM PST - 5 comments

What are some good punk/alternative/indie-esque groups that sing in Spanish? [more inside]
posted by Stynxno at 6:37 AM PST - 28 comments

I am looking for literature on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict... [more inside]
posted by tcp at 5:27 AM PST - 15 comments

I saw it in a theatre in the late 50's or more likely early 60's. A young girl watched cows being branded and was horrified. She went to her dad and he told her that it didn't hurt them. She found a branding iron and was going to brand herself. Her father saw her just in time, stopped her, and agreed not to brand the cattle. Not the typical western of the time.
posted by Meconopsis at 4:14 AM PST - 2 comments

Has anyone tried to fight the RIAA and Movie Studios by arguing that copyrights can be interpreted laterally instead of just horizontally? [more inside]
posted by trinarian at 2:53 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking for good parks in Bergen County, New Jersey where I can run. Preferably around Paramus, NJ. [more inside]
posted by exhilaration at 10:35 PM PST - 5 comments

So I was watching BBC's Blue Planet documentary, a chapter of which covered deep sea life... [more inside]
posted by Rothko at 10:04 PM PST - 7 comments

How can I get a dent out of a stainless steel refrigerator?
posted by johnny7 at 9:36 PM PST - 5 comments

I'd like a recommendation for a clear (non-opaque) sunscreen lotion. Neutrogena had one (SPF 30, I think), but I can't find it anymore (store or on the web). Does anyone have a recommendation (or a source), for that or a similar clear sunscreen lotion? [more inside]
posted by WestCoaster at 8:27 PM PST - 10 comments

I suspect that my sprinkler system is going off EARLY every morning without my permission. How can I find out if it is, and make it stop? [more inside]
posted by RustyBrooks at 7:20 PM PST - 15 comments

My beloved Wacom Intuos 4x5 is starting to flake out a bit, owing to my cat mistaking the tablets's USB cable for a chew toy a few years ago. It's only a matter of time now, and the Wacom Intuos 3 beacons. However, I'd love to be able to pass it on to my son so he can fool around with Painter Classic. Since the damage is all on the cable itself, can I splice together a new cable like I could with a table lamp's electrical cord?
posted by Scoo at 6:48 PM PST - 5 comments

My friend was sadly rejected from all of the physics grad schools to which he applied. He wants to apply again next fall, so in the meantime. . . What should he do to make himself a more appealing candidate the next time around? What fun adventure of a life should he have in the next year? These two things may hopefully be one and the same. [more inside]
posted by mai at 5:45 PM PST - 27 comments

My mother cannot remember the name of a movie. It involves a mother and son and a flight of steps. [more inside]
posted by itchie at 5:04 PM PST - 4 comments

ShaolinFilter: About to start looking for apartments in Staten Island; still traumatized from having had to do this in NYC a while back. Any advice/experiences? Are the brokers in SI as bad as the brokers in NYC? Do they want to kill me? Etc.
posted by Polonius at 4:58 PM PST - 2 comments

While in the middle of doing my taxes the other day, my monitor went to displaying a weird character over and over over the entire screen. The computer wouldn't respond at all, so I shut it off manually via the power switch on the back. Since then, whenever I've attempted to start it up, the fans come on, the hard drive clicks a couple times, as usual, and then nothing. The fans keep whirring but there's no beep, no usual startup process, and nothing ever gets displayed to the monitor. [more inside]
posted by DyRE at 4:38 PM PST - 3 comments

I just bought a 1999 Honda Civic Ex coupe. The front grill "H" emblem was missing. The salesperson ordered one and told me that it was easy to replace as it affixed with double sticky tape, or something like that. The H arrived, but . . . [more inside]
posted by Juicylicious at 4:35 PM PST - 11 comments

If I have AC power at 50Hz, does it mean my lightbulb is flickering 100 times a second and I just can't see it? Is this why, when passing a street light in a speeding train, it can appear as a series of dots in your vision?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:07 PM PST - 11 comments

Thanks to the Intolerable Beauty post, I followed a link to Edward Burtynsky's site, where I saw this. Does anyone know what the spheres in that picture are?
posted by Cranberry at 3:27 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a content management system /w "shop" functionality to post a few hundred pictures that can be ordered and paid for via paypal. Requirements are that the site can be set up in different categories that can have a different theme or skin applied to. I've tried Mambo /w PHP-SHOP but that doesn't allow for great enough theme differences for the categories. Gallery and it's look-alikes don't really meet the needs because an ordering part of it is really needed. Any suggestions? I found something that might meet the needs but it's in java. Perl or PHP would be best, ASP, ruby or python would work as well.
posted by joshgray at 3:14 PM PST - 4 comments

How does Sigur Ros get that sound?
posted by Tlogmer at 1:47 PM PST - 19 comments

I have True Image 8 and Norton Ghost 9.... They both do fine job in cloning hard drives.. but I can not trust incremental backup and images... I tried about a half dozen time trying to restore files using both software.. absolutely NONE of them was successful... damaged images, files... etc.. I already lost serveral pictures and data... So.. I am looking for file to file backup type software that can incrementally copy files/folders to another networked computer's harddrive without compressing or imaging.... This way... I can always have two exact copies all the time... SecondCopy was one that was suggested... Is there more popular well known.. proven software like this?
posted by curiousleo at 12:43 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a friend coming in from China in a few weeks and they offered to get me anything I wanted (cheap of course). But I'm stumped, what is really good that is made from China that I can ask for?
posted by Napierzaza at 11:03 AM PST - 28 comments

I must destress. I need some good pre-bedtime, hanging out, or typing-into-the-night music. If you suggest it, I will download it. [more inside]
posted by saysthis at 10:44 AM PST - 41 comments

What's a great thing to get someone graduating from medical school? [more inside]
posted by contessa at 9:47 AM PST - 17 comments

It is a very simple question. Can anyone identify the speaker in the beginning and during some of the songs on Choking Victim's album No Gods No Managers? I have no info on him, and I really enjoy some of the points made and would like to know who it is.
posted by Lockeownzj00 at 9:38 AM PST - 2 comments

Buying property in the country... Benton County, Oregon that is. What should I know about wells, septic systems, acreage, timber and the like? [more inside]
posted by pwb503 at 9:23 AM PST - 3 comments

Pretend you got drunk and said/did something stupid & embarrassing involving a friend of friends who you know but not well. When, in the cold light of day, you realize how lame you were, do you (a) apologize or (b) hope they understand you were drunk and just drop it?
posted by dame at 8:49 AM PST - 33 comments

I have to relocate under time pressure. Can you recommend what to look for (and avoid) for a house cleaning service, van line and the like? [more inside]
posted by nj_subgenius at 6:56 AM PST - 8 comments

We've had new carpet in our living room for all of two weeks, and our kitty decided to eat a spot of it, about the size of a quarter. [more inside]
posted by ferociouskitty at 5:49 AM PST - 10 comments

Cake emergency! Bakers please hope me! It's my husband's birthday, and I want to actually make him a cake for a change, but I can't find cake pans where I am for some reason... So, I finally got hold of a couple of pans that look like they might do, but they aren't the right size... [more inside]
posted by taz at 4:41 AM PST - 19 comments

I want to make the transition into professional writing, specifically feature story and/or personal column writing and I'm not sure which steps to take make this dream come true. [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 2:13 AM PST - 17 comments

WebTracking My Cell Phone? [more inside]
posted by freudianslipper at 12:47 AM PST - 3 comments

What works for repelling mosquitos, indoors and outdoors? I'm going to spend this summer in Vermont, where the mosquitos aren't full of deadly diseases, but extremely annoying and numerous nonetheless. What options have people tried with some degree of success? [more inside]
posted by sirion at 12:08 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm a good amateur beach volleyball player .. play a lot of tournaments such as this one : http://www.budlightbeachvolleyball.com/ . Problem is .. for a volleyball player .. im SLOW. I have make a lot of quick, explosive movements in the sand to go after shots .. but I don't get to enough of them. I think a lot of it has to do with my size .. im 6'3 210 .. its hard to get myself moving! [more inside]
posted by jason9009 at 11:47 PM PST - 8 comments

I am afraid of math. [more inside]
posted by Dean Keaton at 11:34 PM PST - 20 comments

I've reformatted my PC as of late, so I've lost the bookmark. The site has a very nice interface wherein you type in an artist/band's name and you are shown other acts which might be of interest , with samples. Very useful site. I remember that it was quite comprehensive and difficult to stump with obscure acts/artists. Please help. Thanks!
posted by theperfectcrime at 8:34 PM PST - 8 comments

What is this three-walled structure seen at the edge of an airport taxiway? I have seen these at more than one airport. They do not have any building attached. The configuration would suggest sound shielding, but I cannot figure out the purpose. See this satellite view (thanks to Google Maps) of the one I see most often, just south of the A concourse at Mitchell Field in Milwaukee.
posted by yclipse at 7:41 PM PST - 9 comments

I ride the Paris metro every day to get around the city, and I've only recently noticed a strange phenomenon. At two different metro stops I've seen homeless people repeating the word "seven" in English over and over again at random intervals. I can't think of any French words it could be that I might be mishearing, especially since the 'n' is very pronounced and the vowels sound English enough. Can anyone explain what's going on here?
posted by themadjuggler at 6:39 PM PST - 38 comments

Why do Briscoe, Logan, Sipowicz et. al loosen their ties and unbutton their collars when they talk to perps or walk the street? I can understand wanting to be comfortable working late or going out to the bar, but why would they do that while on the job? Doesn't it defeat the purpose of wearing a tie altogether? More to the point, do people do this in real life or just on TV?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 6:18 PM PST - 16 comments

My good friend is getting married this summer and her bridal shower is this weekend. I'm pretty new to this whole wedding thing. What sort of gift is appropriate? I don't want to buy anything cheesy or pornographic.
posted by amber_dale at 6:03 PM PST - 8 comments

Prompted by this thread. An Anglophile is fan of England, its people and culture. A Sinophile is a fan of China, its people and culture. Francophile, ditto for France. Is there a "phile" when it comes to America?
posted by szechuan at 5:14 PM PST - 28 comments

Is it true that good practice dictates one ought to separate program files from data files (onto different partitions)? What are some good ways you accomplish this? What about the problem of WinXP putting the "Documents and Settings" folder (containing user desktops, outlook .pst file, etc.) in the same partition as the "Program Files" and "Windows" folders? [more inside]
posted by parma at 4:55 PM PST - 13 comments

Inspired by this recent post, I'm curious, how many hours a week do you really work? [more inside]
posted by quadog at 4:16 PM PST - 27 comments

Hi all, I'm a senior technical project manager with specialist expertise in a vertical market inside the insurance sector, about to take on a 8-9 month project in Bristol but will be based (i.e. return twice a week ) in London. I'm a fulltime employee. What would be a sensible per-diem or equivalent package to ask for? [more inside]
posted by kiwi.es at 3:50 PM PST - 4 comments

What magic solution do you have for removing soap scum? [more inside]
posted by Hackworth at 3:37 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for a decent CMS to manage a webcomic. [more inside]
posted by Count Ziggurat at 2:54 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a hard drive based mp3 player player. question: can anyone recommend a good alternative to Apple's iPod? If you can please tell me the pros and cons of your choice. [more inside]
posted by horseblind at 2:04 PM PST - 22 comments

Howdy! Mac OSX folks: What's your favourite source for finding good Macintosh shareware/freeware? [more inside]
posted by NewGear at 1:48 PM PST - 13 comments

I need to start running again, but I haven't done it for almost half a year. In that time, I've gained a few pounds, and the last time I tried running after such a long delay, my right knee was in pain for months. How do I rebuild strength in my knees and when can I start running again?
posted by brownpau at 1:26 PM PST - 10 comments

I was just accepted into a position as a Residential Assistant for my sophomore year at Carleton College, a small liberal arts school in Minnesota. I've started keeping a file of ideas for floor or dorm programs, and I'm looking to add to it. So, MeFites: Can you suggest any particularly awesome events that could be run for a floor, preferably from personal experience? My floor will have 53 residents, including myself and a Co-RA. The building will have around 200, about evenly split between freshmen and sophomores.
posted by SemiSophos at 12:34 PM PST - 30 comments

Where to live in/around Durham, NC? [more inside]
posted by vraxoin at 11:18 AM PST - 21 comments

My lease runs out at the end of the month. Do I need to give 30 days notice, or can I legally move out (and stop paying rent) with less notice? [more inside]
posted by Four Flavors at 11:06 AM PST - 11 comments

I have tried everything I can think of, but my computer does not recognize my iPod. Therefore, I cannot restore it to its factory conditions, update the software, or add/remove music from it. (Specs: I have the newest update of iTunes, on a fairly new OSX, and a 4th generation ipod.) This has been going on for a while now, and to be honest I'm at the end of my rope. Yesterday I went into diagnostic mode and discovered there's nothing wrong with it. The firewire port on my computer is fine- I know this because I can charge the ipod via the firewire cable. My darling boyfriend even did something in Linux (?) no idea what, and didn't have any luck. And yes! I have looked at this post and all its related links.
posted by elisabeth r at 9:49 AM PST - 23 comments

We're getting married in June at the courthouse. Our parents, and anyone else who's around and wants to go, is welcome to come along but we're not formally inviting anyone. We are, however inviting people to the reception, and I have questions about what the invitations should say. [more inside]
posted by jennyb at 9:26 AM PST - 18 comments

What is a fair percentage to charge for royalties for the use of my photographs? [more inside]
posted by Il Furioso at 9:03 AM PST - 4 comments

We are going to NYC for a long weekend beginning next Thursday (April 21) and bringing our almost-four-year-old daughter along. I have a specific question and a couple of general ones for those of you who live in/know/have visited NYC with kids. [more inside]
posted by briank at 8:20 AM PST - 25 comments

What department/office/person should I be looking for when cold-calling companies about having our sales team visit them for a presentation? [more inside]
posted by chickygrrl at 7:56 AM PST - 11 comments

How much should I charge someone for a web/banner ad? [more inside]
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 7:41 AM PST - 2 comments

Let's say I've got 15,000 dollars and I want to double it in ten years but also not completely tie it up in the event I need it. No Real Estate Index Funds. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by spicynuts at 7:25 AM PST - 15 comments

Suppose a fellow has an interest in learning to play an upright bass. He doesn't have any illusions about being the next Mingus or William Parker, but enjoys the sound and feel of the instrument and would get personal enjoyment out of being able to play a few things. Further suppose that this fellow has very little money to invest in this endeavor. How would he go about learning?
posted by aladfar at 7:18 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm thinking of buying a Scooter, but I live in a northern climate. How much use will I get out of this thing? [more inside]
posted by hughbot at 7:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Which would be the best economy class seat to sit in on this Airbus A340, on a 13 hour flight from Shanghai to Heathrow? [more inside]
posted by chill at 6:58 AM PST - 12 comments

Inspired by the recent coverage of John Paul II's death, I'm looking for a book about the early history of the Catholic church. I'm more interested in an historical analysis than a religious analysis, but obviously there might be some overlap. Any suggestions?
posted by HiddenInput at 6:32 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking to buy a motorcycle sometime, so I'm trying to educate myself on the options. I've ridden a fair amount, but never owned anything more than a 150cc scooter. What I need is really just a bike for getting around town (Austin, TX, for what it's worth), but I'd like to be able to take to the highway when necessary. So, I'm looking for advice, be it specific models, "types" of bikes, or whatever. [more inside]
posted by abingham at 6:32 AM PST - 30 comments

I've recently signed a contract with a very large broadcast firm. I will be an Account Executive, and I must, must do well at this. I start in 10 days. Any advice on practical, contemporary sales methods from experienced folks in the field? I'm selling radio in all the m markets (sports and classic rawk). [more inside]
posted by Baby_Balrog at 6:29 AM PST - 7 comments

A friend of mine is "pretty sure" (*sigh*) that somewhere on the internet there's a site where people post ratings of local car dealerships, so one can tell the sleazebags from the good guys before one goes car shopping. I cannot find it. Anyone?
posted by JanetLand at 6:08 AM PST - 4 comments

Anyone know a good resource for free and/or paid access to satellite imagery of urban Australia? [more inside]
posted by sjvilla79 at 5:50 AM PST - 8 comments

What's the connection between a thought of regret, or of resignation to a negative situation, that causes humans to involuntarily fill their lungs and exhale slowly? Is such sighing learned behavior? Does every culture sigh for this reason? Animals sigh. When my dog sighs, is she laying there regretting she didn't roll in that dead skunk when she had the chance?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:28 AM PST - 19 comments

Why is it that Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) seems to make me more alert and improves my ability to concentrate? Am I getting some kind of "speed" effect?
posted by punkfloyd at 4:38 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm in position where every day I have to judge the character and abilities of people in order to do my job. I have to do it quickly and decisively. Although I have never doubted my ability to do so, in quiet moments, I wonder whether I've been right all along or whether I've just never been proven wrong. Can someone point me to studies of the validity of character judgements? What's the likelihood that I'm right when I judge people? [more inside]
posted by timyang at 2:48 AM PST - 16 comments

I've got a cool idea for a tattoo, which I may or may not actually get done. But I need your help. More inside. [more inside]
posted by Meatbomb at 1:04 AM PST - 45 comments

I need help with the name of a movie. It came out quite recently, within the last year. It's an low-budget indie thing about two guys who have some sort of technology experiment in their garage. They create a (time?) machine or something...the title is just one word. Looks rather cerebral. Ebert did a positive review of it I read once but I can't find it on his site. Anyone know?
posted by zardoz at 11:49 PM PST - 9 comments

· · · – – – · · · Need help understanding early telegraph system. ( – – · · ) [more inside]
posted by RavinDave at 11:16 PM PST - 11 comments

Knowing what you know now, how would you have spent the summer before you started grad school? [more inside]
posted by onshi at 11:11 PM PST - 21 comments

Daffodils - let them die back or dig out the bulbs?
posted by sagwalla at 11:01 PM PST - 11 comments

We've bought tickets to the southern tip of Baja, Mexico for the third week in May. We'd like to stay outside of Cabo San Lucas, maybe in La Paz or Todos Santos. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 10:26 PM PST - 4 comments

Does anyone know where I can get a freeware version of a font remarkably similar, yet non-infringing on, the Looney Toons font?
posted by keswick at 10:17 PM PST - 4 comments

Why do graphic designers work for free so often? [more inside]
posted by letitrain at 9:55 PM PST - 21 comments

Is there a name for the things you hold on to for balance on buses and subways? Not the poles, of course, but the pivoty things that replaced the old-fashioned straps. [more inside]
posted by greatgefilte at 9:55 PM PST - 5 comments

How do uncircumcised guys deal with condoms? [more inside]
posted by trevyn at 8:57 PM PST - 13 comments

Mr. Straight Arrow pays all his bills on time, works like a slave, and has a joint account with his spouse, but wants some fun money to splurge with his kid at a ball game, buy a scooter or go nuts at Sports Authority without his wife giving him grief over spending too much. Is this a separate stash in joint bank account, or something else?
posted by terrier319 at 7:12 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm trying to locate two cartoons (both possibly from the New Yorker). 1 - A group of lost hikers are examining a map. One, pointing to a mountain in the distance, is saying, "I've got it! We're on that mountain over there!" 2 - Tribal setting. A witch doctor wearing a mask and a weeping widow are standing over a dead villager. The witch doctor is saying, "There's still so much we don't know." I have the Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker CDs, but I can't find either of these cartoons using the search capabilities. If you can give me date and author information, that'd be great.
posted by painquale at 6:53 PM PST - 2 comments

I've just recently gotten my fingernails and cuticles under control, but don't know what I should be doing to maintain them. Can anyone recommend a particularly good manicure kit, and a brief description of how to use the manicure tools? Also taking suggestions for general fingernail care, cleaning, etc. (P.S. I am a guy, if that makes a difference.)
posted by Aquaman at 6:33 PM PST - 4 comments

My TV does this annoying buzzing sort of humming noise (vibrating?) a lot and I want it to stop. Should I take my TV in to get fixed? If so, how much would that cost? Can I fix it myself? Is it easier to just buy a new TV or to ignore it? It especially seems to do it when I have the volume turned down low (or else I just don't notice it when it's up high).
posted by toftk at 5:19 PM PST - 17 comments

I am looking to upgrade my cellphone (using Verizon) to one that works better with standard (non Bluetooth) headsets. Specifically, all I require is that the phone can both answer and dial (using voice) by pushing the button that is on the cord of my headset. I typically keep my phone in my pocket, so don't want to mess around with the phone itself while I'm commuting. After spending an hour with the Verizon stooge in his Circuit City booth without success, I thought that this would be a much more efficient place to find my answer. The phones that I saw seemed to answer incoming calls by pushing the button just fine, but they didn't seem to be able to make outgoing calls in the same way.
posted by jimmereeno at 5:14 PM PST - 6 comments

Many sites that utilize user-initiated pop-up windows for photos or other content have a little link on the pop-up window that says "close this window." Why is this? Can't people just click the big "X" on their browser window to close it? Everyone knows how to close a browser window, right?
posted by arielmeadow at 5:09 PM PST - 24 comments

A few months ago I saw a website of two college age guys on a bike tour across the US, or at least a large portion of it. The website was like a blog. I remember one of the kids had a mohawk. Anyone know the website? [more inside]
posted by Hall at 5:06 PM PST - 2 comments

Ever had several people offer their thoughts on how to "fix" your free design work? [more inside]
posted by davebush at 4:41 PM PST - 14 comments

I recently flew domestically in the US and had luggage damaged by a TSA inspection, anybody have a similar experience? [more inside]
posted by crazy finger at 4:25 PM PST - 6 comments

I've noticed that nearly all bathroom sinks have this : either one or two small holes located near the rim, facing opposite the faucet head. What exactly is their purpose?
posted by invisible ink at 4:22 PM PST - 19 comments

My wife and I are likely to be moving from the US to Australia in the next few months. I have a 2004 Audi that we would need to sell. I would like to sell the car to a private buyer, as opposed to a dealer, to make as much back as possible. How do people deal with having a lien on the title while trying to sell the car? [more inside]
posted by qwip at 2:20 PM PST - 15 comments

Rhyming Aphorisms/Superstitions/Pieces of Folk Wisdom: (ie. Wind from the east, fish bite the least). I can't get enough of them. Please tell me more. [more inside]
posted by cadastral at 2:06 PM PST - 88 comments

Where can I go to get a formal fair market value quote for a certain model PC? [more inside]
posted by sublivious at 12:13 PM PST - 19 comments

Any advice for a new writing tutor?
posted by Doug at 12:00 PM PST - 19 comments

My fiancé and I are having out bachelor and bachelorette parties on the same night. One of my bridesmaids plans to attend both parties. This really bothers me and I’m not sure why. Am I overreacting? [more inside]
posted by chicken nuglet at 11:56 AM PST - 77 comments

Is there a word for a female camel? [more inside]
posted by ori at 11:41 AM PST - 6 comments

Is there a way to make Outlook Express, or some other free or low-cost software download a large number of e-mails' attachments en masse? For OS 9.2, and/or OS X? [more inside]
posted by ParisParamus at 11:34 AM PST - 8 comments

I need to start eating at home more often but I inevitably start making "comfort" foods...mostly because I lack the knowledge and to make lighter foods...what cookbook do you recommend for light and delicious recipes? I don't care if the recipes are easy or not...just want good, fresh, "light" food....
posted by stevyb at 11:29 AM PST - 23 comments

Our small web development company is looking into project management software. I've been looking around, but can't seem to find something that really suits our needs. [more inside]
posted by frufry at 11:06 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a two-year scholarship that includes a thesis grant. Many of the recipients of this scholarship produce a thesis during that time, but since I'm working on a PhD I won't. What's the best way to use this money? [more inside]
posted by grouse at 10:58 AM PST - 17 comments

My brother is considering an offer from a Japanese company in Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan (he is in Ireland). The salary seems low, and there seems little information about the location. [more inside]
posted by clarkie666 at 10:07 AM PST - 8 comments

What's the most creative and/or cost-effecient idea you have for creating a smallish movie marquee for a smallish indie theater? [more inside]
posted by bjork24 at 10:07 AM PST - 16 comments

It seems like there is a diet for anything. I have heard about and seen examples of diets which consist of eating one thing. What I am wondering is, what effects there are and how effective a diet would be if a person only ate popsicles for a month or two. I'm not asking for dieting advice outside this question. [more inside]
posted by dios at 9:45 AM PST - 20 comments

Are there any good sources for free sound effects? Preferably free in terms of both purchase and royalty costs.
posted by too many notes at 8:08 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm going to be traveling from the US to Italy and Greece. Do I need a voltage converter or just a plug adapter to power my PowerBook and Minolta battery charger? [more inside]
posted by willnot at 7:46 AM PST - 8 comments

SVG Animation - is anyone doing it? What are the best resources? [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke at 7:43 AM PST - 4 comments

Does anybody have any experience setting up a Linksys WRT54GS with BT Broadband? [more inside]
posted by Jongo at 6:54 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm certain that somewhere out there, at least one of you has already seen an advance screening or sneak preview of "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy." I have to admit that the trailers look good, although I'm going to see it with low expectations and hope to be pleasantly surprised. Anyone seen it and want to share an advance review?
posted by TeamBilly at 6:20 AM PST - 5 comments

Where's a good place in Boston for about 75 internet geeks to get together for a party sometime this summer? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 6:17 AM PST - 8 comments

I need to get a domain name for a band called Clyde. Should I get clyde.cc or thebandclyde.com? Or bonafideclyde.com? [more inside]
posted by andrewzipp at 5:56 AM PST - 22 comments

Is there any way to reverse tv burn-in on a widescreen tv? [more inside]
posted by Mark5four0 at 5:46 AM PST - 6 comments

I once saw an alleged V.S. Naipaul quote to the effect that India owed much of its latter day poverty to Islam's incursions. Any notions where this comment might be found? Also, any other books on the history of Islam's spread into India (old, new, passionate, dispassionate, biased, unbiased- the more points of view the better) would be most welcome. Many thanks for your help in this matter
posted by IndigoJones at 4:54 AM PST - 9 comments

Are there anything in the rules or regulations of football (soccer) concerning the cleanliness and state of a players football kit (top and shorts etc)? [more inside]
posted by john-paul at 3:28 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm trying to find a decent 21" CRT with a DVI input, and am having little success. [more inside]
posted by Ryvar at 2:57 AM PST - 8 comments

Does anyone know of a software development tool vendor that provides free training (not online, but in person) , please share ? It doesnt matter what kind of software development tool vendor it is. Any will do.
posted by jaydedx at 12:10 AM PST - 2 comments

Are there any black food critics writing for major papers? What about other minorities? Is there any way to research this? Thanks!
posted by adrober at 11:38 PM PST - 6 comments

My wife is wanting to apply for a job as a Technical Consultant. She's pretty tech-savvy but the job description says they're looking for someone who can make "effective use of TRAX and Banner." Has anyone ever heard of these? I assume they're database management software, but my Google and Wikipedia search returned nothing! Also, any ideas on how to teach herself the software?
posted by JPowers at 7:46 PM PST - 12 comments

Today I thought of staging a team scavenger hunt among our friends at the end of school in June. The idea was mostly mine, and as such, I'm the most likely planner and organizer for the whole activity. I'm perfectly up to the challenge, but the problem is I'd also like to participate in the hunt. I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a way, possibly involving another person(s) also participating in the hunt, which would allow me to plan and organize the event (taking creating care of clues and/or placing specific objects, etc) and also participate on a team without creating an unfair advantage. Anyone have an idea on how to accomplish this, or if it's even possible? [more inside]
posted by thebabelfish at 6:58 PM PST - 11 comments

How is the term is determined for a native, thing or resident of a place? For example, an American from America or Italian from Italy seems simple enough, but Glaswegian from Glasgow? Shouldn't it be Moswegian and not Muscovite? [more inside]
posted by geckoinpdx at 6:25 PM PST - 37 comments

Every once in a while, as I'm drifting off to sleep, my entire body will twitch, as if in a short convulsion. Anyone know why? [more inside]
posted by jimmy at 6:21 PM PST - 23 comments

I'd like to watch the whole Star Wars series now that Episode III is going to hit cinemas. I was never really a big fan, and watched some of the installments with not much attention. In what order should I watch the episodes? 4-5-6, and then 1-2-3? Or 1-2-3, 4-5-6? [more inside]
posted by kchristidis at 6:04 PM PST - 34 comments

I can't find a link to some photography that I swore I saw on MeFi in the past few years. The pictures are aerial photos of huge mining operations, in Montana, I think. The photographer's site talks about finding beauty in pictures of huge monstrous mines and other ecological monsters. I think it refers to the idea of "reclamation"--reclaiming the messed up areas as something beautiful. Googlefu not working.
posted by Mid at 4:10 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a four year old son who simply refuses to eat his meals in a timely fashion. This has been an ongoing problem since he was two years old and we've been trying various approaches, but have mainly been hoping that he grows out of it. But it's at the point that every single meal has become unpleasant because of his refusal to eat. [more inside]
posted by Lactoso at 2:18 PM PST - 56 comments

So AJAX is the talk of the town and proponents generally showcase Google Map and Gmail as good examples of the technology. Are there any other ones out there? I'm working on putting together some demos trying to showcase how the technology can be a competitor to Flash so it would be nice to have stuff beyond Google's offerings.
posted by TNLNYC at 1:17 PM PST - 6 comments

Back when I was in gradeschool in the late 60's early 70's, I found this book in our school library that I think was called "Puzzles" (maybe more, maybe not). It not only had puzzles but other things like rhymes (Biddy Bodder bought bum butter. Blah said she, bum butter bitter, but it's blended with my batter. Maybe if I get some better butter, blend it with my bitter batter, it'll make my bitter batter better....etc., etc.). There were also these little cartoons in the margins that were very interesting. There were optical illusions and magical tricks and it seemed like each page had something different and interesting. I remember signing that book out all time. Now I have kids of my own and would really love to get my hands on a copy of that book. I know this is a reach but, has anyone ever heard of this? Or, anyone know where there is a repository of old books that I could look? Doing a search for "puzzle books" is very ugly indeed.
posted by SparkyPine at 1:07 PM PST - 8 comments

I have read Patricia Highsmith's entire ouvre, and now I'm hungry for more. Does anyone know of other mystery writers that would appeal to fans of Highsmith?
posted by jgballard at 12:50 PM PST - 8 comments

AirFilter: I have a 92 Camry XLE with a dirty air filter. I bought a new one hoping it would help with the tobacco smoke smells, but I can't see where to install it... [more inside]
posted by icetaco at 12:46 PM PST - 11 comments

Hi all, for some unknown reason (I haven't changed anything) Firefox 1.0.2 (windows xp) suddenly stopped responding to my ctrl/shift-clicks (the keys are working fine outside of FF). This has made me *very* sad...I have tried pretty much everything and look to this great pool of knowledge to furthur my troubleshooting...maybe someone else has run into this? Is there an extension that could force the issue?
posted by gren at 12:28 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for a textad system for a site I run. I'm familiar with textads.biz, but I think I might prefer a locally hosted and run system, more akin to the fine MetaFilter Textads. Any suggestions?
posted by me3dia at 12:09 PM PST - 2 comments

Why do football scouting combines use 225 lbs as the weight to bench press? What is the significance of 225 lbs? Is it just some historical leftover?
posted by jikel_morten at 12:03 PM PST - 4 comments

I keep trying to come up with a generalized way to scale a webpage image in a gradual fashion using JavaScript. I can do it in a specific way (with one hard-coded named image); it's the generalized form (that would work with any rolled-over image) that's giving me fits... [more inside]
posted by jpburns at 12:01 PM PST - 10 comments

After reading the MeFi post "622 Music Videos (mixed media, mostly QT, many classics)" I re-discovered one of my favorite bands from back in the day: Sonic Youth. I know who everyone in the band is, but when I watched the video for "Bull in the Heather" I didn't remember who the brunette gal with the pigtails is/was/etc. and it's driving me crazy. Silly, yes, but still... Any ideas? I googled to find out, but apparently my GoogleFu is weak today.
posted by crankydoodle at 10:55 AM PST - 9 comments

Do you have a favorite frozen egg roll? [more inside]
posted by MeetMegan at 10:31 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a weird tax situation, and I'm not even sure where to look to find information about it. The tax accountants I've asked haven't known. [more inside]
posted by SpecialK at 10:24 AM PST - 7 comments

80's nostalgism: I need a bearded 80's pop culture figure to imitate for a party tonight. Bonus points for long hair. [more inside]
posted by Corpus Callosum at 9:53 AM PST - 31 comments

I'm trying to change the battery on my VW Golf. I've done this several times on my old Honda Accord, but with the Golf, I can't seem to find the mounting screws or clamp device after I disconnect the battery cables. Does anyone with this car know where it is?
posted by corpse at 9:25 AM PST - 9 comments

My friends and I were talking about building a cabin up North, and then we started talking like it was a 'heist' or a 'job', if you get the picture. So we designated someone as the Wheel-man, and someone else as the Grease-man, and then I asked: what's a grease-man? No one actually knew. I tried Google to no avail. Does anyone know what a Grease-man is? Are there any other *-man titles you can think up for a heist?
posted by indiebass at 9:22 AM PST - 39 comments

I'm going to vegas for a week (for a conference) on thurs. I really want to go to one of the high end shows, like O. I'm going to the show by myself - I'd like to know where to get a last minute ticket as cheaply as possible. [more inside]
posted by filmgeek at 9:18 AM PST - 5 comments

Can I free my hermit crab? [more inside]
posted by eas98 at 7:16 AM PST - 20 comments

Help save me from my hideous ingrown hair problem! I've always been prone to them but now for some reason in the past couple months it's gotten worse. I get them all over my legs and on the back of my arms and my forearms. [more inside]
posted by beth at 6:34 AM PST - 21 comments

I'm trying to find this bag that I saw on a post with What's in your bag on Flickr. The bag is orange, not sure if it's a messenger bag. http://www.flickr.com/photos/40732559549@N01/951558/
posted by kranje at 6:21 AM PST - 9 comments

Is there an Ampersand command for "@"? If so, what is it?
posted by C17H19NO3 at 6:12 AM PST - 10 comments

Which movies(s) have been available on most, if not all, the different movie formats? [more inside]
posted by icontemplate at 5:34 AM PST - 15 comments

Tonight on BBC2 is "The Apprentice" which i've been following for several weeks (the one with Alan Sugar not Donald Trump). Unfortunately I'm at a dinner party and will therefore have to miss it. Given that I don't own a video recorder/player it looks like I'm going to have to get hold of the divx torrent of it. Unfortunately most of the example sites for "broadcatching" seem to have only American TV. My question is: Any recommendations on sites/feeds or advice in general for trying to get this working?
posted by ralawrence at 4:45 AM PST - 14 comments

I seem to remember seeing a blog whose goal was to write a short summary of every Law & Order episode. I can't seem to find it now, and the huge number of blogs that discuss Law & Order in general makes it extremely difficult to search for. Anyone remember this at all? Is it still around?
posted by Plutor at 4:37 AM PST - 7 comments

In the last couple of weeks Gmail's normally-astute spam filtering has totally given up the ghost in one specific area: stock spam. It seems like every single stock spam slips past the filter and ends up in my inbox. At the moment every other time I get a new email it comes with a subject like "Leading auth0rity On l0w priced st0cks". Anyone else having the same issue? Has Gmail's spam filter started to show cracks?
posted by LondonYank at 4:35 AM PST - 12 comments

Are there any algorithms available for converting between Gregorian and Jewish, Islamic, Chinese calendars? [more inside]
posted by plep at 1:26 AM PST - 5 comments

What is the need for a human pharmacist in this day and age? [more inside]
posted by AlexReynolds at 1:11 AM PST - 18 comments

I bought a matted photo from Australia that says it takes "any standard A4 frame." What size is that in inches? [more inside]
posted by Ugh at 10:52 PM PST - 6 comments

Have you ever watched a television show from the studio audience? [more inside]
posted by airguitar at 10:14 PM PST - 33 comments

I'm thinking of donating money to Wikipedia, should I? [more inside]
posted by McBain at 9:41 PM PST - 18 comments

I once saw a catalog for a store/mail-order company that sells items for people who read: clip-lights, lap boards, book holders, pedestals, etc.. but I can't find it. Any ideas?
posted by stbalbach at 9:29 PM PST - 9 comments

Based on the recent contract negotiations for the Toronto Transit Commission (ATU 113) and the nearly averted strike, I was curious as to the average wage paid to other transit employees in countries that offer similar forms of public transit. [more inside]
posted by purephase at 9:14 PM PST - 7 comments

I've found the IP address of someone who's hacked my phpBB. now what? [more inside]
posted by mcsweetie at 9:09 PM PST - 10 comments

Rediscovering emusic - any mefiers use emusic? What are some stellar tracks or albums you've gotten there? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 7:44 PM PST - 11 comments

I want to make a poster of all of my old ticket stubs. Anyone ever done this before? Anyone have any tips? Google doesn't seem to help, although I'd have a lot of trouble believing that I'm the first person looking to do this. [more inside]
posted by loquax at 6:34 PM PST - 14 comments

Can you decode the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) jacket colors that are worn on the floor by traders? [more inside]
posted by ix at 6:33 PM PST - 3 comments

TaxFilter: Last year I opened an IRA (for 2003), and this year I want to do the same and put away the maximum contribution. Can I just transfer the money into the old account? Or do I need to open a new one?
posted by sd at 6:33 PM PST - 2 comments

My friend and I are taking a weekend trip to Vegas in 2 weeks. We're looking for good dance club suggestions. Specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by playtragic at 6:11 PM PST - 2 comments

What should I do when a local political campaign invades my front yard without my permission? [more inside]
posted by Alison at 6:09 PM PST - 30 comments

Motivational cliches please! I have a client that ends his emails with, "so you're going to have to knuckle down," or, "we need all hands on deck," which of course I ironically find utterly de-motivating. Can you think of others?
posted by forallmankind at 4:51 PM PST - 47 comments

What is the best non-cynical advice you have heard (or can offer) on how to excel within a government bureaucracy?
posted by profwhat at 4:22 PM PST - 29 comments

I want to spend some of my creative currency creating music using software such as Fruity Loops. However, I would really like to have a freeware/open source option since I am not sure if I will enjoy it or not. [more inside]
posted by jopreacher at 4:13 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm sick of paying Time Warner's unreasonable rates for cable TV. Has anyone in my part of NYC (Yorkville) had any luck with satellite TV? Or is it impossible here?
posted by Lizzle at 3:43 PM PST - 8 comments

I have plantar fasciatis and have been advised by my PT not to walk anymore than I absolutely have to. My commute includes a 5.5 block walk to/from the ferry everyday. I want to get a Razor-type scooter. What kind is best? What should I avoid? Thanks!
posted by dbmcd at 2:58 PM PST - 6 comments

Help me figure out how to attach this faceplate to this phone. (Samsung 660) [more inside]
posted by suchatreat at 2:47 PM PST - 4 comments

For several weeks I've had a snippet of classical music, really nothing more than what I think is a cello, running around my head. I feel confident that the clip is from a fairly popular piece of music, but don't know where to go from there. Any thoughts about how I can ID this music?
posted by boombot at 2:38 PM PST - 10 comments

What are some good gift ideas for a girl turning 18? She's a good student (I think 4.0), likes playing sports (volleyball and basketball) and is going to college this Fall to study microbiology. I'm willing to spend about $20-30. [more inside]
posted by friarjohn at 2:31 PM PST - 33 comments

When taking photos with my digital camera (Canon Powershot A75) images often look great on the LCD and then not-so-great when I actually get them onto my computer. Most notably, when taking B&W photos in relatively low-light they will look fantastic on the LCD and then just BLACK on my computer. I can usually make the image sort-of useable by photoshoping the levels, but then it gets real grainy. Is there anything that I can do to get a more accurate preview from the LCD or do I just have to accept the fact that it lies? Tips on dealing with this? [more inside]
posted by TurkishGolds at 1:20 PM PST - 14 comments

In the Spenser: For Hire TV series, what kind of gun did Hawk use? I'm referring to the big silver revolver that he would pull out of his coat. What kind of gun is that? [more inside]
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:05 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to keep plants in my apartment, but I keep killing them. Can anyone recommend hardy species that will resist my black thumb? [more inside]
posted by Vaska at 12:26 PM PST - 15 comments

Some friends and I are going to a classic arcade themed party (8-bit) and need ideas for custom T-shirt sayings... [more inside]
posted by Cosine at 12:23 PM PST - 37 comments

I've started making sorority crafts that have received a pretty good reaction from friends, and I've read a few online tutorials of how to start an online business, but I've found that posters here seem to give the best information. So what advice would you offer in terms of buying a domain, web space, shopping cart utilities, marketing, etc.?
posted by sicem07 at 12:03 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm having a strange problem with Firefox in relation to a single website. When I start the program, the site loads with no problem. I can reload the site several times, but after a few times, rather than successfully reloading, Firefox will just sit there, spinning the "loading" icon in the tab in question. This continues so long as I have this particular instance of Firefox open, but if I quit and restart the program, I can access the site with no problems. [more inside]
posted by mr_roboto at 11:33 AM PST - 10 comments

Divers of Metafilter, help us plan our honeymoon! We are taking three weeks this summer and plan to spend part of that time scuba diving, perhaps on a live-aboard. We are thinking South Pacific and/or Indonesia, but haven't managed to narrow it down any further than that. Tips, suggestions, and warnings welcomed. [more inside]
posted by ambrosia at 11:30 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for a retail source of Swedish Snus in Los Angeles. [more inside]
posted by redteam at 11:14 AM PST - 7 comments

How can I train myself out of being a light sleeper? [more inside]
posted by Specklet at 11:03 AM PST - 17 comments

What is the best way to get rid of ring around the collar from white (and light colored) dress shirts? [more inside]
posted by turbanhead at 10:24 AM PST - 7 comments

So I have 7 weeks in an office with basically nothing to do. How should I be spending my time? Resources: Computer, desk chair, phone. Goals: Enlightenment, Entertainment, and/or Fast Cash [more inside]
posted by slapshot57 at 10:22 AM PST - 8 comments

Did Henry Morton Stanley actually say "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" when he first met him in the heart of Africa? If there's no other sources than Stanley himself, is it likely that he did say it?
posted by klue at 9:39 AM PST - 9 comments

I am running away to sea. What should I take for my personal comfort and entertainment (project ideas)? Any other tips for a first timer? [more inside]
posted by AnnaRat at 8:51 AM PST - 29 comments

When using my sewing machine, large loops and tangles of thread are generated on the bottom side of the fabric. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to remedy the problem?
posted by kc0dxh at 8:42 AM PST - 15 comments

I am looking for a book that explains the history of how the Western Chinese regions of Xinjiang and Tibet came to be viewed as part of China and the process of their annexation. Any Chinese history mefites out there? [more inside]
posted by scazza at 8:19 AM PST - 6 comments

Last summer I had a pair of black dress pants dry cleaned. I didn't check them out until a month later, at which point I noticed that there was chalk-like stains all over the pants. I assumed it was dry cleaning fluid/whatever, and took it to another cleaner to get it sorted out, to no avail. Can anyone suggest how to fix my lovely trousers? [more inside]
posted by krunk at 8:10 AM PST - 1 comment

Expo 2005, Nagoya, Japan. Anyone been? Anybody going? Any tips for staying in/around Nagoya? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by carter at 7:35 AM PST - 10 comments

How is the sound of a sneeze written and pronounced in languages other than English? [more inside]
posted by dmo at 7:33 AM PST - 22 comments

TUCSON - what's the name of the little community tennis center on the south side of town? It has a small clubhouse and lots of outdoor courts. It is more of a public/municipal venture -- not a private club. Sorry I can't be more specific on location (that's part of my confusion), but I'm fairly certain it was south of downtown.
posted by nancoix at 6:49 AM PST - 4 comments

My wife is turning 30 in June. She wants me to do something memorable for her. While money is a slight object, time is the main stumbling block (we both are extremely busy). What are some suggestions to making a great to ring in the 30's for your sweetie? [more inside]
posted by Hands of Manos at 6:31 AM PST - 18 comments

I need a web service or data feed for real time currency conversion (where real time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a day). Google turns up a plethora of options, but I'd like to hear from people who have actual (or even anecdotal) experience, because a Google Ad and a nice web site do not a reliable service make.
posted by alana at 6:07 AM PST - 5 comments

TelecomFilter: I need a program for Mac OS X 10.3 that will allow me to use my iBook as a telephone. [more inside]
posted by Livewire Confusion at 5:25 AM PST - 7 comments

Yesterday, I discovered a bug bite that itched like a mosquito bite. Today, it hurts. Help me identify the culprit. [more inside]
posted by amro at 5:24 AM PST - 8 comments

Anyone have experience with ductless A/C? We're thinking about installing some in our house. [more inside]
posted by evening at 5:11 AM PST - 4 comments

I want to register a domain name that just happens to be the same as the name of a flavour of candy made by a major US company. Should I be worried about future legal issues? [more inside]
posted by good in a vacuum at 3:33 AM PST - 15 comments

Where can you get shoes for unfortunately-footed women in London? I'm looking for shoe stores that stock large sizes but also narrow widths. The person in question has a 11.5 or 12 US/CAN shoe size, which is about a 10 or 10.5 UK size, with an AA width, which often complicates matters. Bonus points if the store sells styles that actually look good.
posted by adrianhon at 3:32 AM PST - 7 comments

How do opinion polls work? You can't be forced to answer questions, so you must choose to take part in the poll - doesn't this make the sample self selecting, and therefore useless?
posted by Orange Goblin at 2:40 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a large (15ftx12ft) wall in my living room that I've kept bare far too long because I'm intimidated by its size and I want whatever goes up to be worthy of the space. My favorite pet solution is to create a modular "art grid" — rows and columns of open slots that would allow multiple pieces to come and go as my mood and preference changes. The smaller the grid squares, the more flexible and accommodating my grid would be. But how to do this without scarring my wall with a hundred nail holes? [more inside]
posted by Typographica at 12:18 AM PST - 12 comments

What makes something Interesting? [more inside]
posted by JZig at 12:09 AM PST - 8 comments

What publically available or easily obtainable records would contain someone's full middle name? [more inside]
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 10:50 PM PST - 9 comments

Bookfilter: I'm looking for books about the US written by non-USians for a non-USian audience. I'd like to learn how non-USians see the US and how US society is described to non-USians. I'm especially interested in fiction, but travelogues, memoirs, and cultural anthropology would be fine. Even well-written blogs would be ok. [more inside]
posted by luneray at 9:46 PM PST - 16 comments

Even at maximum phone volume, the output from the handsfree set that Nokia sells with the 6620 cellphone is too quiet for me. There's no volume control on the handsfree set. Does anybody make one that will let me turn up the volume? [more inside]
posted by bac at 9:07 PM PST - 4 comments

What's the best way to physically baby-proof my computer? Our 10-month old daughter is showing alarming signs of mobility, so we're baby-proofing our house. I really like having the family computer in the living room, but I have visions of my little girl doing chinups on my CD tray (or worse). We'll be watching her like a hawk, but she's already pretty quick and we'd like to limit the riskier possibilities.
posted by johnwilcox at 8:55 PM PST - 12 comments

Why does the US not have a general non-emergency police contact number? [more inside]
posted by attercoppe at 8:24 PM PST - 19 comments

What's the best used bookstore in Seattle? [more inside]
posted by agropyron at 7:47 PM PST - 8 comments

Where are some good, specific areas to stay in LA for a two-day visit? [more inside]
posted by cyniczny at 7:34 PM PST - 8 comments

My brother-in-law is new to Brooklyn and in dire need of a dentist. The one he stopped into one gave him a really bad vibe. Any Brooklynites care to make a dentist recommendation for him?
posted by Fezboy! at 6:43 PM PST - 5 comments

Is there a barbershop (or other shop) in Boston or Cambridge, MA where I can buy 'real' shaving stuff--e.g., Trumper's shaving cream or shaving soap? [more inside]
posted by josh at 6:38 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm thinking about entering into a friendly agreement over an apartment sublet with someone I trust completely. What sort of (mellow, low-grade, commie-loving) conditions should we have? [more inside]
posted by RJ Reynolds at 6:37 PM PST - 7 comments

What's a good baby crib for tall parents with bad backs? Our son is five months old, and we're finally getting around to buying him a real crib. What kind should we get? We both have bad backs. And I'm 6'7" and my wife is 6'2". We've heard that some baby cribs have sides that drop down, which can make it easier to get the child into the crib without so much lifting. Some may release with only one hand. Maybe there are other features we should consider. We both like good elegant design, but we may not find a crib for a tall person that works and is nice to look at. Any ideas? Our son is already 20 pounds. Looks like he'll be tall.
posted by Alex Marshall at 5:32 PM PST - 4 comments

My good friend Chris and I purchased an Infocus X1 in September, 2003, and guess-timately think we used around 3000 minutes of DirectTV/XBox fun. After a few whiz-bang sounds out of the unit and an eventual 'black-out', the bulb never turned back on and we continually receive a double blinking red led light. We have installed a new bulb and found the situation unchanged. On power up, a solid green led fires for 3 seconds, followed by a persistent double red led flash. Infocus tech support informed us that I should ship it to my nearest service provider. The fact that my roomate and I live in Bermuda doesn't much help our cause for your Mefi Sympathy or our exhorbinant domestic import duties.. Shipping the unit back to the States is economically redonkulous. Please help! Free room, beer, and board provided.
posted by jasondigitized at 5:19 PM PST - 6 comments

I am just finishing a stone sculpture. First time at this. I am wondering what kind of hand finishers, grit, sand paper, wax, etc does one use for the fine finishing and polishing work. I am just about done with rasps. And, do you know what links are good resources.
posted by lag at 5:01 PM PST - 3 comments

My 50 gallon (electric) water heater is on the verge of complete breakdown & it's time for a new one. You'd think living in Arizona I'd know somebody with a solar water heater, but no. Are they efficient? How much more initial expense than a conventional unit? Thanks!
posted by carriest at 4:23 PM PST - 7 comments

So I've always been a terrible sleeper... [more inside]
posted by hopeless romantique at 4:08 PM PST - 29 comments

I love any music that uses a Hammond Organ, whether it's 70s rock, gospel, jazz, whatever. The sound of it just makes me happy. There are some obvious artists that come to mind: Medeski, Deep Purple, the Doors, but I want MORE! The closest thing I've found so far is on All Music, there is a list of artist who use the organ, but it's mostly classical and jazz. I'd like a list that includes rock artists, too. Any suggestions for artists I'm missing or links that would help me to expand my listening options?
posted by abbyladybug at 3:43 PM PST - 39 comments

Shrunken clothing filter: is this fixable? [more inside]
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:08 PM PST - 11 comments

What do the spider web tattoos on one's elbows mean? [more inside]
posted by electroboy at 2:46 PM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for a device for employees to record their hours worked. It would need to have the ability to denote which hours were worked on what particular job. [more inside]
posted by JohnR at 2:43 PM PST - 6 comments

I've been asked to review a book and I think the book is awful. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by jeanmari at 2:08 PM PST - 35 comments

Does anyone know any specifics (equipment costs, where one gets movies, copyright, etc.) on how one would start up a second-run theater?
posted by Yellowbeard at 1:57 PM PST - 6 comments

I can't get a job I don't hate. As a result, working invariably leaves me too depressed to work, eventually. And yet, I need to support myself somehow. How? [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin at 12:21 PM PST - 40 comments

I want to use my powerbook's impressive mp3 library to DJ portions/all of my radio show. What hardware/software do I need to make it happen? Specifically, should I use Traktor or something else? What kind of external soundcard do I need? What should I avoid? [more inside]
posted by rfordh at 12:21 PM PST - 6 comments

Are there any good books that focus on the daily minutia of life in the late 1700s and/or early 1800s? [more inside]
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 12:02 PM PST - 18 comments

My monitor is finally dying on me. I'd like to spend up to $300 max for a decent flat screen monitor. I do some graphic work in Photoshop and play some video games on my PC. Any recommendations for that price (less would be preferable). Any advice on where to buy? Is Ebay ok?
posted by derekislost at 12:00 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a freelance graphic design and web development business that I'm working hard to make a living off of. I've been fairly successful thus far but I'm not quite there yet. Where can I advertise my business on a modest budget, either online or in print? Other ideas for promoting my work are quite welcome as well. [more inside]
posted by robotspacer at 11:56 AM PST - 12 comments

I need a older, smaller laptop that's reliable and that I can use for typing and internet - but older laptops are still really expensive as they get even very old, and i'm worried about reliaibility, esp. without warranties. Any suggestions? Any ideas for buying something that's maybe not a full function laptop that I could use for typing/internet that i could also get a warranty with? Looking for something under 450. I bought a refubished P2-400 laptop about three years ago for $420, so i know it's doable...
posted by jare2003 at 11:45 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for online discussion groups/forums/websites for talking about movies that are more film literate than "Mr & Mrs Smith - Brad and Angelina. OMG!" [more inside]
posted by Dallasfilm at 11:44 AM PST - 8 comments

In search of a decent digital camera for my daughter (5 yrs old). [more inside]
posted by kokogiak at 10:13 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm playing a wedding in May, after having responded to a CL post requesting a wedding guitarist who could play dylan. The bride and I have exchanged e-mails, and it seems that the only song she demands is "I want you" by Bob Dylan. I have carte blanche for the rest of the songs. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by The White Hat at 10:02 AM PST - 26 comments

The only window in my basement apartment faces north and is fairly obscured as well. I would really like a plant or two to liven the place up. [more inside]
posted by CaptApollo at 9:32 AM PST - 10 comments

Where did the theme music to the radio show Paradise Lost in Space, which aired recently on BBC7, come from? It sounds familiar, and I would like to obtain a copy.
posted by rwhe at 9:24 AM PST - 4 comments

What neighborhood should I move to in NYC? [more inside]
posted by spaghetti at 9:19 AM PST - 23 comments

I need advice on how to select a competent, reasonably-priced estate attorney knowledgeable in Maryland probate law. Ancillary question: how important is it that he or she be a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel [more inside]
posted by mojohand at 9:12 AM PST - 1 comment