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January 2006 Archives (all archives)
January 31
Name that tune please :: PBS is great, and the songs in their promos are actually just as good. Currently running is a promo that ends with the words; "Be More ~ ThirteenHD" (this is PBS Thirteen's High-Def channel which they broadcast in NYC & possibly elsewhere?). The music which accompanies it is a piece that I'd classify as sort of a Blues/Rock/Jazz instrumental.
My Question:
Name that tune!?!
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posted by Jhaus at 11:18 PM PST - 2 comments
I picked up an HP LaserJet IIIp printer a few days ago. Its great, I love how the output looks, but any paper that goes through (regardless of which output tray I use) gets ruffled. I just tried an envelope, and the envelope came out with ridges every 1/2" or so. This can't be right... any idea whats wrong and how to fix it?
posted by devilsbrigade at 9:15 PM PST - 7 comments
I have a friend here in New York who has a major personal injury case starting very soon dealing with his child. Involved is a major chain, and some serious plastic surgery. Is there a database to check out some of the lawyers who are in contact with my friend - about their history, wins / losses, etc?
posted by eatdonuts at 8:48 PM PST - 18 comments
Is there anyway to find the real names of current authors who use pen names? presumably, the author isn't deep undercover.
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posted by lalalana at 8:12 PM PST - 5 comments
How can I become more handy? I suppose based on my upbringing, I never had to, or had the chance to be.....handy. For Christmas my brothers get tools, and I get...not-tools. My roomate MacGyver has no problem taking apart the engine on his boat, installing something on our roof, or building an elaborate tunnel to escape the throws of our evil landlord. I feel inadequate. I feel intimidated and overwhelmed just walking into Home Depot or Autozone. Could it be possible that I don't have the right stuff to be handy, or do I need to just put my 'hand' in something. I would love to have the confidence and skills to build a tree fort with full electric and plumbing. Help a brother find his handy-ness!
posted by jasondigitized at 7:23 PM PST - 26 comments
I can't identify this video card. Help! Windows 2000 won't autodetect it, and I can't find any markings on it to help me figure out what it is so I can install the proper drivers. The only clue is the ATI logo. Two pictures:
Front,
Back. (big jpgs)
posted by atom128 at 6:32 PM PST - 7 comments 
My soon-to-be fiance and I are both quite in love. However, we met and had a child when we were both younger then we wanted to be to settle down with one person. She suggested (and I'm considering) dating other people while still being together.
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posted by TrueVox at 3:45 PM PST - 79 comments
I know that the US has lower per capita arts funding than comparable countries. How do countries outside the US characterize arts funding and subsidies?
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posted by ao4047 at 2:57 PM PST - 8 comments
Help me destroy a junk car and my electoral opponents! (Well, actually, I just need help to obtain the car... we can handle destruction...)
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posted by SuperNova at 2:04 PM PST - 14 comments
What are your favorite websites of political candidates and why? What do you like about them - hate about them?
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posted by tozturk at 1:40 PM PST - 5 comments
What are some interesting places that have the name "devil" in them (like devil's tower, or devil's postpile)? I'm thinking about visiting as many as I can.
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posted by 445supermag at 12:48 PM PST - 76 comments
CellPhoneServiceFilter: My wife wants a cell phone. Whats the best deal right now regarding minutes/price? She wants to do text messaging with her friends and relatives and id say most of her friends use t-mobile. We also want to spend as little as possible.Thanks!
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posted by flipmiester99 at 12:16 PM PST - 14 comments
Are there any polished open-source typing tests, either for Windows, or as a web app?
posted by Jairus at 12:02 PM PST - 5 comments
I have a first generation iPod which no longer charges. It is long out of warranty. I have opened it up and found that the FireWire port has 'come unstuck'. Apparently this is a common problem with these iPods.
As far as I can make out, the rest of the iPod works fine. It'd be handy to have it functioning again. I'm thinking of repairing it but I don't want to spend a lot of money on it. I also don't want to repair it and have it fail again.
Do people have much experience with these repairs? Do they last? Are there any reliable repair companies based in Ireland or the UK? Shipping the iPod to the US and back will probably add a lot to the cost of repair.
posted by Grinder at 11:24 AM PST - 13 comments
How do I figure out what program is using what network connection on a windows machine using the win32 api?
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posted by delmoi at 10:56 AM PST - 14 comments
How do I tell Thunderbird what folders to check for new mail?
Situation: I use procmail on my mail server to filter my incoming mail into about a dozen mailboxes. The mail ends up in ~/mail/new/mailboxes Thus, my mail never ends up in the default IMAP inbox. It seems Thunderbird only checks the inbox for new mail.
Desired Outcome: I want Thunderbird to check my dozen different mailboxes for new mail. How can I do this?
posted by fief at 9:49 AM PST - 6 comments
Has anyone had success connecting a PC (DVI output) to a TV (HDMI input)? I, myself, have not tried it yet, but have a couple of questions before I do...
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posted by omair at 9:30 AM PST - 9 comments
I have terrible luck shopping for shoes, and need to get some new dress shoes (for business casual attire) for my somewhat oddly-shaped, and small, feet. NYC-specific help if possible.
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posted by cyrusdogstar at 9:13 AM PST - 7 comments
I'm looking for a tool I can use to prevent users from shutting off the computers in the public library.
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posted by madmath at 9:07 AM PST - 15 comments
This past summer I read about the
amazing resilience of the Jerusalem Date Palm, a plant with legendary medical powers that was thought extinct. I have been searching for news and updates about this little guy since then, but I haven't had much luck. Are there any updates on the progress of this miraculous seed?
posted by djacobs at 9:02 AM PST - 5 comments
Help me escape from SXSW! In live in Austin and for reasons I won't get into, I find the city intolerable during the week of SXSW. The music portion of the conference (March 15-19) is the most miserable and nearly impossible for me to avoid, and I'd like to just leave town and skip the whole thing this year. Any ideas on where to go for a few days? Something relatively cheap?
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posted by lunalaguna at 7:52 AM PST - 26 comments
NameFilter: We have a non-profit project called "MemoryWiki" (the "encyclopedia of memories.") We are thinking about changing the name to "MemoryArchive." Should we? Have a better idea?
posted by MarshallPoe at 7:15 AM PST - 22 comments
As a college sophomore, I plan on studying abroad in France for a full scholastic year in the fall. To anyone else who has been in Europe for an extended period of time: I am trying to pack light, but what sort of things would you consider bringing that are either necessities or very helpful? Also, any other tips on getting along with the French, or helpful hints about Europe in general?
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posted by amicamentis at 7:06 AM PST - 27 comments
Does anybody know of, or how to get hold of a work by: Arbuthnot, John: Proposals for printing a very curious discourse, in two volumes in quarto, intitled, Pseudologia politike; or, A treatise of the art of political lying?
posted by acrobat at 6:58 AM PST - 5 comments
Why is it that whenever I put a dialup profile in Control Panel > Network, Windows sees it as an opportunity to pop up a dialup connection panel whenever (1) I try to connect to a bad domain name or the server isn't responding and (2) I'm already on a DSL connection? This is getting annoying. I have Win2K.
posted by chef_boyardee at 6:51 AM PST - 7 comments
Chinese writing help! I need to convert some Chinese characters from a menu into HTML characters...
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posted by derbs at 2:51 AM PST - 11 comments
A few years ago I read an online article that explained that the common belief that the moon appears larger at the horizon because the Earth's atmosphere acts as a magnifying lens is wrong, and that this effect is due to an optical illusion caused by moon's visual proximity to much closer objects on the horizon. However...
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posted by planetthoughtful at 2:20 AM PST - 34 comments
Photography question: an article in Spin in the 80s discussed a French photographer's blurred pictures of jazz musicians in motion. Very similar to Charles Peterson's photos. I wrote to the gallery then, but I have no idea who it was now. Any clues to who this was? My Spin collection has long been sold to Half-Priced Books.
posted by AArtaud at 12:29 AM PST - 8 comments
Anyone know how to mix a cocktail called an "angry martini"? I ran across the reference in a movie, googled it, found more references but no recipes, checked DrinkBoy and Webtender, no luck.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:23 AM PST - 13 comments
January 30
My great-grandpa never opened his huge display bottle of Benedictine in a fancy wooden cradle. How can I find a buyer, or at least valuation, for this rarity?
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posted by Scram at 11:14 PM PST - 5 comments
I realize that there have been variations on the "best PDA" theme before, but hopefully others will find this question (and it's answers) usefull: My wife wants a PDA for all the basic PIM functions, but also to occasionally browse the web via wifi (it's a lot easier to hold out of reach of our 1-year old son than her 20lb. Dell laptop). Do I have to plunk down $299 for a Palm Tx, or are there more affordable options? Do you have a favorite PDA (we're not wedded to any particular OS) that may not have built-in wifi, but can accept a wifi expansion card, perhaps coming out cheaper even with the xtra $$ for the wifi card? Obviously, a used one would be cheaper still - are there any 2003-4 models you would recommend for this purpose?
posted by ericbop at 10:16 PM PST - 9 comments
i know that you can take an engine and put two turbochargers on it, my question is can you take an engine and put a turbocharger and a supercharger on it?
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posted by quin at 9:57 PM PST - 13 comments
I am turning 17 Friday and I am wondering about driving curfews. I have a Louisiana driver's license which lifts the curfew completely at 17, but I do 95% of my driving in Florida where 17 year olds have a 1 a.m. curfew. Am I bound by Florida law or Louisiana law?
posted by SuperCoolZane at 9:00 PM PST - 17 comments
Has anyone seen a non-Konfabulator Windows Start Menu replacement that allows the user to enter the names of programs to run?
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posted by yclipse at 8:21 PM PST - 13 comments
Re: binoculars. What do I look for and what is the best for my money? We are hiking/mountaineering with kids.
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posted by snsranch at 8:03 PM PST - 9 comments
What is the font used in the blue banner at the top of the facebook website?
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posted by dead_ at 7:48 PM PST - 8 comments
My girlfriend's birthday is coming up. She's into choral music. I'd like to take her on a trip or special experience somewhere.
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posted by arimathea at 7:23 PM PST - 13 comments
What type of router typically has a gateway of 10.1.9.1, I'm used to seeing the typical router use 192.168.*.* but I'm trying to figure out what routers the local apartment unit is using to run their wireless.
posted by skEwb at 7:22 PM PST - 18 comments
I work as a contract employee at a large corporation. The company has provided us with laptops. Because I won't be there long, I don't have Internet access. I noticed, though, that I can ping yahoo. But I can't otherwise connect to any websites. Any suggestions as to how I might read my e-mail, other than leaving the office and going to a cyber cafe?
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posted by tesseract420 at 6:46 PM PST - 13 comments
Theatre Audio Filter: I'm looking for stereotypical "award show" music, the kind of thing they'd play at the Emmy's when an acceptance speech runs to long. Or perhaps the kind of thing you'd here as the contestants walk on stage during a beauty pageant. More Inside!
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posted by phrontist at 6:15 PM PST - 4 comments
What can I expect on a mini road-trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco/Palo Alto on a Sunday night? Very detailed insides..
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posted by wackybrit at 5:48 PM PST - 48 comments
Name that Book TV speaker: British author, late 30s/early 40s, spoke about West & rest international politics, looked roughly like a bearded Kevin Kline.
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posted by cosmonaught at 5:42 PM PST - 9 comments
In 4th grade, We sang a song where the title sounded like "Massalanga Nay Nay". It was an African song, but not like real African, just cheesy grade school multicultural. Anyone have any inkling as to the real title or spelling, or where I can find the sheet music to this song?
posted by potch at 5:23 PM PST - 5 comments
Could rfid chips implanted in Americans working in Iraq save them in the event they were kidnapped?
posted by sswiller at 5:18 PM PST - 20 comments
Adobe PDFMaker and its attendant Word toolbars only work on an Administrator Account. Is there a way to make it work on a Limited User account? I'm on Windows XP.
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posted by stopgap at 3:49 PM PST - 5 comments
Did actors and directors use slow-motion movements in live theater before moving pictures? What about movements of exaggerated speed?
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posted by ontic at 3:09 PM PST - 7 comments
A friend of mine from Ireland did some things that were a tad bit illegal when he lived in California about seven years ago. Now I live in California, and he's considering visiting, but he's worried. Should he be?
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posted by anonymous at 2:51 PM PST - 14 comments
Has anyone dropped out of school or taken a significant amount of time off and done something exotic? I can't stand college anymore. I know that most jobs I could get out of the US, or even in remote and interesting places within the US, would require some sort of skill, so what sorts of things should I work on now? What kinds of opportunities should I know about?
I went to college for two semesters, decided that I was sick of being schooled after 19 years and took a semester off to travel through Asia by myself. I did, and came back full of fervor for learning and seeing my friends again.
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posted by anonymous at 2:51 PM PST - 17 comments
I met a girl in December and have been seeing her for a couple of weeks. While I enjoy hanging out with her, it doesn't seem totally amazing like the beginning of some of my previous relationships. A few months ago I would have just ended this here but now I am not so sure.
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posted by anonymous at 2:50 PM PST - 15 comments
Does anyone have experience with Seattle Mental Health's Northwest Counseling Institute in Redmond, Washington?
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posted by anonymous at 2:50 PM PST - 2 comments
I want to become an investment banker, badly. After finding out as much as I can about what i-banking actually is, the more I want to do it. There's a short list of about 5-10 "top 40" institutions that I think make a good match in what kind of culture I want, what I'm looking for in a company. I'm a senior (err, graduate a semester early in December). The problem is I'm at a non-top tier college.
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posted by anonymous at 2:49 PM PST - 17 comments
Firefox 1.5 + Outlook: cut-and-paste becomes cut-and-hate. Copying
any text (URLs, content, source) and pasting into the content of an Outlook 2000 message instead
attaches the text. Help?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 2:47 PM PST - 7 comments
I run a t-shirt site, and have received a "cease and desist" letter from Chuck Norris's lawyers. Anyone have experience with something like this? What are my rights?
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posted by thebbxx at 1:37 PM PST - 31 comments
Why are my Google skills failing me when searching for help with a specific puzzle in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel? (Caution - may be spoilers!)
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posted by Chunder at 1:37 PM PST - 6 comments
Has anyone tried an infrared camera to detect rodents? I'm trying to figure out where flying squirrels are entering my cabin roof or walls. Please don't tell me about traps, poisons, electronics, strobe lights, etc. I'm interested only in use of infrared for detection purposes.
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posted by nancoix at 12:20 PM PST - 8 comments
A pupil at my Mum's school head-butted her today. She lost a tooth. She doesn't like teaching, and I don't want her to have to go back to that school ever again...
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posted by godawful at 12:18 PM PST - 19 comments
Sugar Filter: I'm looking for chocolate bars to use as favors for my wedding and I need some suggestions!
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posted by catfood at 12:06 PM PST - 23 comments
Is it unreasonable for me to be unwilling to put work-related travel expenses on my personal credit card?
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posted by macinchik at 11:37 AM PST - 34 comments
Where can I find an official source for popular vote results for U.S. House of Representatives elections?
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posted by onshi at 11:35 AM PST - 1 comments
Does anyone still make 720K 2DD floppies? If so, where can I get some?
posted by monkey closet at 11:35 AM PST - 16 comments
TV Commercial Filter: I swear that "You can't always get what you want" by the Rolling Stones was in an Airline Commercial a couple years ago, but I can't seem to validate this claim using my Google skillz.
posted by matimer at 11:23 AM PST - 6 comments
For those who pay for web hosting: I'm about to look for my first web host. What information, be it about privacy, or questions to ask, or really anything, should I have/look for as I shop around? I'll gladly take anything, I'm quite green.
posted by boombot at 10:34 AM PST - 14 comments
When I was in jr high I had wry neck. The pain is intense and you can not move your head. Anyway, two other times I believe it has come back. I did not return to the doctor. The second time was years ago when I fell on some ice. This time I think it's because I started lifting weights again (after a long time off) and I dorked something up in there. The pain is almost as intense but extends a little down in to back behind the shoulder. It takes a few days before the pain lets up enough to be manageable but even after a weak I can turn my head and still feel it. There is also like a "click" or twitch or something when I move my head a certain way. What should I do about this? Is it worth going to the doctor and paying some money for them to tell me what? Deal with it? What kind of exercise can I do for those muscles? The only thing I do is pop tylenol (how much can you really take before it dorks your liver?) and take long hot showers.
posted by arh07 at 9:53 AM PST - 24 comments
Is there a site on the internet where I can type in an html tag or attribute and get an explanation of what it does?
posted by dial-tone at 9:25 AM PST - 10 comments
I have blonde highlights - well, I *had* blonde highlights, until I used my friend's color depositing shampoo...
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posted by KAS at 9:14 AM PST - 19 comments
Taxfilter: This year I used a simple quit claim deed to share ownership of my home with my SO. Now that I'm filling our our income tax returns, I need to know if this impacts either reutrn. [ for reference, I'm in Florida ]
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posted by gyrom at 8:38 AM PST - 1 comments
Obscure 80's tune--been looking for an answer for years! I used to be a DJ, and play a track by a guy who *sounded* like Springsteen. (Trust me, this wasn't Bruce) The only thing I have to go on is partial lyrics: "...what's it gonna be tonight? Red wine, maybe white. And if we're gonna fight, then we're gonna fight...(something something) down on the corner..."
I *think* the name of the track was "On the Corner". (No, not CCR!)
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posted by g4zilla at 8:36 AM PST - 8 comments
Looking for pop music in the last 20 years that make use of a choir where normally it is just a single singer, examples below.
U2 - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Madonna - Like a Prayer
Rolling Stones - Can't Always Get What You Want
posted by gfroese at 8:18 AM PST - 37 comments
Lacie hard drive problem - Mac OS Panther. For the past couple days, I was ripping CDs as MP3s via iTunes and writing them to my Lacie 160 Gig Firewire hard drive (the Porsche one). This morning, the drive "is unreadable by Mac OSX..." What gives?
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posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:55 AM PST - 12 comments
Email attachments - I want to strip attachments based on the email subject line and then save the attachment to disk under Linux or using Outlook. How can I do this?
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posted by gd779 at 6:22 AM PST - 9 comments
MusicFilter: I really seem to have a thing for bands that combine two vastly different genres. For example, Dimmu Borgir combines an orchestra and a death metal band to form an excellent mix of metal + symphonic. What other bands should I check out?
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posted by denimflavored at 5:16 AM PST - 63 comments
On the way to work today a light on my car said "trac off." Is this a serious issue to the point that I need to take my car to get looked at?
posted by superbird at 5:04 AM PST - 11 comments
Your suggestions for China news sites in English (Chinese equivalents of Al-Jazeera, CNN, BBC, etc) and/or any other good sources of China news?
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posted by Voyageman at 3:15 AM PST - 4 comments
January 29
I have a 1024x768 resolution. When I run programs which are native to 800x600, instead of stretching to fit the whole screen, they show in 1024x768, but in a small box in the middle of my screen with a huge black border. The same thing happens when I manually change my resolution to 800x600 - resolution stays the same, but the viewable area shrinks, leaving a small rectangle in the middle and a large blank space around it. How can I fix this?
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posted by djgh at 10:16 PM PST - 8 comments
I am looking to order prints of various album covers for a collage to go on an empty wall. Advice is needed on some of the logistics.
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posted by charmston at 9:12 PM PST - 7 comments
When I was a (very) broke college student, I somehow scrounged enough money together to pay for a one year subscription to
Harper's magazine. At one point they offered me a lifetime subscription for a few hundred dollars, but I did not even have enough money to pay the rent... much less a lifetime sub to a magazine. Many years have now passed, and I have tried to no avail to get them to make the "lifetime sub" offer again, now that I can afford it. How do I get them to offer me a lifetime sub again?
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posted by crazyray at 9:00 PM PST - 10 comments
My significant other and myself find ourselves in social situations that we'd rather not be in.
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posted by bigmusic at 8:40 PM PST - 28 comments
My friend's wife is having an affair. What are the prospects at this point for my friend?
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posted by zek at 5:39 PM PST - 33 comments
How do I add a foreign language (Hebrew) input to X, and how do I switch keyboard layouts? This was easy to set up in Gnome and KDE, but I've since left those for Fluxbox, which doesn't (seem to) have a proprietary configurator. I'm running Debian/Testing, xorg 6.8.2dfsg.
posted by ori at 4:46 PM PST - 1 comments
I am always bored on the weekends. I like to be really busy all of the time, but I am not very good at finding things that I enjoy that aren't also expensive (I have very little disposable income). Also, I dislike doing things alone, but I'm single and most of my friends are in relationships and hang out with their sig other on the weekend. What do YOU do on the weekends? I'm one of those people who likes work-type things more than play, but I don't really want to get a part-time job or anything. I guess what I'm saying is that I like things that are challenging and "suck you in."
posted by mintchip at 4:43 PM PST - 28 comments
Biopsychology extra credit question and I have no idea...
"Why do you suppose activation of the first synapse of the parasympathetic nervous system produces excitatory post synaptic effects, but activation at some target organs produce inhibitory post synaptic effects (i.e. slowing down organ activity)?"
posted by j-urb at 4:33 PM PST - 10 comments
I'm looking for a Tuxedo-friendly restaurant in Austin (preferably in or around Downtown) that can accommodate a group of 8-10 people. I'm looking to spend $60/couple. Thanks!
posted by mr.dan at 4:33 PM PST - 8 comments
Someone purchased a car from me and never picked it up. How long must I wait before I'm legally entitled to keep his money?
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posted by MegoSteve at 4:26 PM PST - 27 comments
Help me find the title of a movie about some friends that have a contest to see who can be the most sucessful.
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posted by hokie409 at 4:17 PM PST - 2 comments
What is the best band-aid ever? (In terms of effectiveness, not-falling-off-ness, etc)
posted by sdis at 4:17 PM PST - 16 comments
I am looking to switch my blog to TypePad a hosted Movable Type, but am having problems transferring the style sheet.
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posted by apetpsychic at 3:50 PM PST - 2 comments
Is it possible to dye only the few white hairs I have, without also dying my very dark brown hair?
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posted by amro at 3:39 PM PST - 12 comments
Can anyone point me to hi resolution fly-by videos in quicktime? I'm looking for nature-scenery-lanscape flying, but google is not being responsive.
posted by icetaco at 3:11 PM PST - 10 comments
Would you want to know the gender of your baby before (s)he was born? Why or why not? Help my friends decide.
posted by heatherann at 3:07 PM PST - 48 comments
Please help me translate this message into as many languages as possible: "This is an important notice. Please have it translated."
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posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:32 PM PST - 51 comments
I backed into this woman's mailbox about eight months ago and now she wants me to pay for it. What am I legally/socially obligated to do?
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posted by deep_sea_diving_suit at 1:52 PM PST - 24 comments
Where can I find nice athletic shoes (skate, running, or basketball shoes) that are sweatshop free?
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posted by raddevon at 1:32 PM PST - 9 comments
How far down will/can a cat jump? Mine is up on a shelf 7/8 feet off the floor and I'm wondering if its worth distressing her and hauling her down or just let her get bored and get down herself.
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posted by gilsonal at 1:31 PM PST - 16 comments
I received an unsolicited copy of TaxCut in the mail. Has anyone else? Am I just lucky, or is something up?
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posted by clearlynuts at 1:23 PM PST - 17 comments
Need your assistance in comparing 4 vehicle GPS systems before purchasing one of them. Units include Garmin Streetpilot C340, C330, Magellan RoadMap 360, and TomTom Go 700. Pl provide feed back on screen size and ease of viewing while driving, anti-glare sceen, backlight at night for viewing, ease of use. Your pro and cons would be appreciated. If you have a unit not mentioned but believe it is better than those listed above, let me know. Leaving soon on a trip and your responses would be appreciated ASAP. Thank you.
posted by Scanner at 12:37 PM PST - 6 comments
I'm *considering* dropping Googleads from my site because of their dealings with China. Should I stand up for free speech and drop them?
Can someone recommend alternatives to Google Ads for my site?
posted by Blake at 12:05 PM PST - 29 comments
Is my (month-old, Christmas gift from my mom) Le Creuset dutch oven still usable?
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posted by stefnet at 8:56 AM PST - 9 comments
I dropped my MXL 990 condenser mic. The grill is slightly dented and the capsule inside has come loose. Can I repair it myself? Can I get it repaired in London?
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posted by ludwig_van at 8:41 AM PST - 4 comments
perianal cyst treatment. I have a perianal cyst which periodically becomes inflamed and then returns to normal. I usually get a prescription from the doctor for an antibiotic which helps reduce the inflammation. I take fiber supplements to loosen the stools so bowel movements are not so painful. I have recently had an inflammation which hasn't responded as quickly as usual. I'm aware that surgery is the treatment of choice for this problem however I've had a number of surgeries in the last 5 years that make me very reluctant to once again return to the hospital. I've had triple bypass surgery, emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix, a carotid scraping which was somewhat bungled and resulted in my losing my voice for 6 months, shoulder surgeries... well you get the picture. I'm looking for recommendations to alleviate the pain and help treat this without surgery at this time, such as sitz baths etc... I just can't bear the thought of another surgery right now.
posted by malhaley at 7:53 AM PST - 3 comments
Help me figure out the name of an alien-related mid-eighties children's TV show...
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posted by greycap at 7:01 AM PST - 3 comments
I take a lot of short business trips and I don't really like hotels that much. I would prefer to stay in an apartment. Does anyone know of a nationwide group which rents apartments for just a few days? Failing that, such a group in Chicago or Toronto would be great. In Montreal I found a hotel that had some apartments in a building around the corner, and that was a pretty good solution.
posted by shothotbot at 6:21 AM PST - 12 comments
Fonts in Mac OSX. I have 4 TTF fonts which should belong to the same font family, but don't. How do I combine them into one family?
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posted by seanyboy at 5:11 AM PST - 3 comments
Which are the best search engines that aren't Google or Yahoo? I want to find one that is good for searching but which also isn't in the business of turning
this into
this.
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posted by reynir at 3:55 AM PST - 23 comments
I have a urinary tract disorder that makes it difficult for me to enjoy alcohol. How can I keep this from affecting my social/dating life?
Warning: [more inside] contains discussion of my "man parts."
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posted by anonymous at 1:44 AM PST - 28 comments
WoodenClockFilter
Saw a link a few months ago, lost it now. Guy who built a wooden clock with no gears, ONLY LEVERS. Help me find it again.
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posted by asavage at 1:19 AM PST - 10 comments
January 28
My friend is being deployed to Iraq and I want to get him a nice sending-off gift, something that will help make the year suck a little less. Ideas?
posted by joshuaconner at 8:51 PM PST - 23 comments
Will I have any problems with getting Apple to print an iPhoto bound book with nothing but nudie pictures?
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posted by ColdChef at 7:46 PM PST - 10 comments
What cookware should I buy? I've always had cheap non-stick cookware. I'm looking to buy my cookware for life, and I think I'll lose the teflon. Help me choose.
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posted by duck at 6:13 PM PST - 36 comments
Partition
Magic Tragic destroyed a partition on my hard drive, is there anyway to get the data off of it?
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posted by Mijo Bijo at 5:50 PM PST - 9 comments
A while ago I bought some protein powder; work and study conspired against me and it never got used. The best before date is February. My question is will the expiry of the best before date make it any less effective? Is it possible for it to go off?
posted by Rc at 5:45 PM PST - 7 comments
I have a WordPress blog (linked on my profile page if that's helpful). It is set up to notify me when there are comments on postings. I've been getting spam comments and deleting them. They disappear from the post where they appeared. However, they DON'T disappear from the "recent comments" module on my homepage. This module contains a link to the spam URLs they are propagating. I know some SQL but almost no PHP. Is this a common problem? Any suggestions?
posted by scarabic at 5:32 PM PST - 11 comments
Where can I buy a power supply for a Macintosh Powerbook WallStreet?
posted by DreamStar at 4:53 PM PST - 7 comments
Who did the Pet Shop Boys-esque cover of
Take Me, I'm Yours? I thought I heard a spacey, warm new wave version of it awhile back, but it definitely wasn't the bouncy Squeeze version. Maybe I'm imagining things. The Wiki article says there were several covers done.
posted by rolypolyman at 4:36 PM PST - 11 comments
Anyone has information on possible electromagnetic field inside the Prius (Toyota Hybrid) from the large battery pack?
posted by semmi at 4:21 PM PST - 5 comments
Is it true that commercial airlines are safer than cars or is this just one of those things that people say?
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posted by crapples at 3:16 PM PST - 30 comments
I dutifully label "conversations" in Gmail, and would now like to e-mail everyone with whom I've ever corresponded with on one such labeled topic. Is there any way to automatically generate a huge cc/bcc list from all the conversations under a label?
posted by pzarquon at 11:31 AM PST - 6 comments
I was at a college women's basketball game last night, and two of the players had on clear plastic masks covering the top half of their faces. Any idea why?
posted by The Pusher Robot at 10:46 AM PST - 10 comments
Why does cat A have evil red eyes when I photograph her and cat B have evil green eyes when I photograph her?
posted by DeepFriedTwinkies at 10:34 AM PST - 10 comments
I have a 3G iPod 20GB, been working great for 2 years now. I am an avid song rater, and I always find myself going to rate songs, only to find out I already rated them! (I have my iPod docked in my car so its easy to rate songs while listening).
So, is there a software hack out there that will allow me to see the rating of a song while it is playing?
posted by Chuck Cheeze at 9:27 AM PST - 7 comments
How to transcode files from flac and shn to aac or mp3 using OS X? What UNIXy tools will help me?
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posted by nowonmai at 9:04 AM PST - 7 comments
Mamtakim: Do any native Israelis remember a children's radio show or audio tape in which bacteria living in your mouth sang and talked about the dangers of sweets, sugar, and not brushing your teeth?
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posted by yonation at 7:26 AM PST - 6 comments
WindowsXPFilter: How can I make the power meter icon on my new laptop display the time remaining in addition to the percent of battery power left?
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posted by richardhay at 6:50 AM PST - 8 comments
I have a strange question, and maybe an answer, and am questioning whether I made the answer up, or actually read it somewhere...
What does Superman do with his "street clothes" according to the cannon? I have a weird memory, but I may be totally making it up...
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posted by jpburns at 6:31 AM PST - 15 comments
I was just setting an alarm for 08:45 on my cell phone, and as I pressed those numbers, I noticed that the tones were highly reminiscent of the opening notes to "Funkytown". Can anyone teach me to play the rest of the opening to "Funkytown" on my cell phone?
posted by jimmy at 2:54 AM PST - 4 comments
January 27
Trouble with the in-laws: How can I convince my wife that we should not risk bankrupting ourselves to pay off her mother's credit card debt? What should we do to help them get out without endangering our own financial situation?
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posted by anonymous at 8:21 PM PST - 6 comments
How do I do a convincing New Zealander accent? And how do I do a convincing Australian accent? And how do I manage to not make them sound the same?
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 7:56 PM PST - 22 comments
I want to build a comparative index of translations for a specific book of poems. How should I do this?
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posted by selfnoise at 7:05 PM PST - 11 comments
Many years ago, (late 1950s?) I read in Yankee magazine that the Edgar Allen Poe story "The Cask of Amontillado" was based on an event in Poe's life. The article went something like this: Poe had joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Independence in Boston Harbor. While he was there he heard a tale about a very unpopular officer at the fort that had been walled into a room by some of his men and left to die. When the fort was modified for harbor defense in WW1, the engineers saw a room indicated in the original drawings that did not seem to exist. They broke through the wall at the point where the drawings showed a room and found a skeleton dressed in an Army uniform of the 1830s. Can this be verified or is it BS?
posted by Raybun at 6:41 PM PST - 13 comments
I just opened my mailbox to find a large envelope from the U.S. Census Bureau stamped with this friendly notice: The
American Community Survey Form Enclosed -
YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW
What's the worst that could happen if I don't respond?
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posted by slhack3r at 5:14 PM PST - 26 comments
Thanks to this week's featured article on Wikipedia about the Roman emperor Claudius, I have become obsessed with Ancient Rome, specifically the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
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posted by interrobang at 4:27 PM PST - 27 comments
I have a friend that's trying to remember the name of a TV show from a few years ago that Fox cancelled abruptly. It was a drama about a family that had moved into a fire station and was having financial problems trying to rebuild it.
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posted by bbrown at 3:58 PM PST - 9 comments
Is there someplace I can go to get a replacement box for the dvd box set I purchased?
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posted by jplank at 3:36 PM PST - 7 comments
Does anyone know of any "browser simulators" for testing web sites on different user agents?
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posted by bradn at 2:56 PM PST - 17 comments
Citrix Metaframe XP. I need to disconnect all the clients at a preset time without my involvement at that time. The rest of the server and services needs to stay running, including any Term Serv clients. How?
Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to, unpublishing the app, disabling the ICA protocol, and stopping the Metaframe server software. Client sessions will need to be forcefully disconnected. Data loss is not a concern.
posted by kc0dxh at 2:30 PM PST - 4 comments
My father has a problem with mold and humidity in his house. It grows copiously on the exterior walls of exactly one bedroom. Condensation appears on the windows, to the extent that there is a puddle of water on the window sill every morning; and this is a year long phenomenon. (Interestingly, the area around the windows does not get moldy. )The humidity in this room is literally palpable. We pulled up the carpet today, but it was always moist to the touch, towels don't dry, etc. The walls have to be cleaned with bleach every month or two.
There is an adjoining bathroom, and we've tried leaving the windows open but it seems to have no effect. In any case, there is another bathroom in the house which in never ventilated and there is practically no mold.
At this point we need to pinpoint the source of the humidity, and why it is only found in this room. Any ideas? If you need more info just ask.
posted by zorro astor at 1:57 PM PST - 12 comments
I'd love to be able to wake up at 4am every day... think of how much I could accomplish! But I also love those evening activities of going to concerts and watching movies and having dinner with my wife. Has anyone figured out a way around this? Is a daily "power nap" the answer?
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posted by math at 1:48 PM PST - 8 comments
A colleague of mine, as well as a fellow blogger, used BlogFlux's MapStats to track hits and referring addresses with his TypePad site. Now, he's switched over to LiveJournal, which doesn't allow Javascripting, so he's lost the ability to track referring addresses. Does anyone know of a free HTML counter that he can use that will track referrers? He's found some HTML counters that can log hits, and some others that can track referrers with Java, but he's looking for the best of both worlds. Thoughts?
posted by shallowcenter at 1:44 PM PST - 2 comments
Almost twelve years ago, did you watch OJ's drive in the White Bronco? I didn't, but have a couple questions.
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posted by Rash at 1:40 PM PST - 39 comments
I want to set up Firefox and Zoom Player (or any other good media player) so that when I click on a .mpg or .wmv link, it starts streaming in my media player. I don't want it to download first.
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posted by rxrfrx at 1:00 PM PST - 6 comments
What are various methods of displaying external RSS feeds on my site?
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posted by o2b at 12:49 PM PST - 9 comments
How can my housemate turn down a job offer he's verbally accepted?
So my housemate (not me...I wish) was offered a job this fall at Bank of America after doing an internship in cash equities sales there last summer. He verbally accepted it but hasn't submitted the signed contract yet. While he liked what he was doing he wasn't completely smitten, so this winter he interviewed for other jobs at various firms and today landed a job as a consultant at Bain. How can he gracefully get out of the BoA job without pissing too many people off or facing potential sanctions?
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posted by reflexed at 12:48 PM PST - 30 comments
I recently found out at the dentist's office that I have "retained deciduous teeth." (I still have a bunch of baby molars, and their adult counterparts are still up in my face and behind my furthest-back current teeth) I have to go in for more x-rays next month, but the dentist mentioned orthodontics and seemed amazed by the whole thing, so now I'm anxious. Anyone ever deal with this?
posted by juniper at 12:26 PM PST - 22 comments
Inspired by the 250th anniversary of his birth, I want to put together a nice collection of Mozart's music. However, I have no idea where to start. Can anyone recommend favorite recordings of Mozart's music for me to start with?
posted by alms at 12:20 PM PST - 15 comments
New laptop filter. If you were going to purchase a new PC laptop - at the high end of the spectrum - which one would you pull the trigger on? primarily a desktop replacement - wide screen and bright screen, good graphics card are the most important features
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posted by specialk420 at 12:04 PM PST - 27 comments
Has anyone ever successfully revived a hard drive after it started making that dreaded metallic clicking sound? I've already tried whacking it, and putting it in the freezer. Any novel ideas out there before I add it to my paper weight collection?
posted by moseymose at 11:55 AM PST - 6 comments
I need help identifying an obscure, ancient-looking sculpture. A picture of it appears pinned to the inside of a door in a photo of Jim Morrison holding a gas mask.
Here is the photo of Jim
My interest is in the photo over his left shoulder. Try not to be distracted by the one over his right shoulder.
If you crop out the item and turn it right-side up,
you get this.
So, all you classical history buffs, recognize the statue??
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posted by swlabr at 11:01 AM PST - 12 comments
I want to make a mix CD of songs with harmonica in them for a friend of mine. What's your favorite?
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posted by pelican at 10:58 AM PST - 59 comments
Does anyone have experience with online counseling/therapy, either from the giving or receiving end? What was good or bad about your experience?
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posted by lisaj32 at 10:34 AM PST - 3 comments
Can using an electric iron for a long period of time and then washing your hands with cold water (or opening a refrigerator and standing in front of it) kill you?
I know this question sounds whacky... more inside->
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posted by Gankmore at 10:21 AM PST - 17 comments
A stomach bug is making its way through my system and the puking part is approaching. Best pre-puking practices?
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posted by poppo at 10:01 AM PST - 45 comments
How can I better motivate myself to go to bed and not browse the web, play Xbox, watch TV, etc?
posted by joshua at 8:13 AM PST - 24 comments
Around 2000, there was an album released from a French band that sounded like what would happen if
Kind Of Blue Miles Davis and Portishead were to meet in a dark alley and get on really well. (In fact, that's basically the description given by Other Music ages ago, when I purchased the album.)
I managed to lose it within a month and it's been bothering me for the last four or five years. I remember that the cover was blue and I really liked the record and that's basically
it Any help, members of the green?
posted by beaucoupkevin at 8:04 AM PST - 32 comments
My gorgeous wife and myself will have a 5 hour stopover in San José, Costa Rica (from 1:25pm to 6:10 pm). Is it worth it to go into town, grab some lunch and hang out, or should we just hole up at the airport and gaze vacantly into space? If we head into town, whither shall we go?
posted by signal at 7:13 AM PST - 23 comments
Botanicals Gift: I'm looking for aromatic gifts made from botanicals (especially flowers) that go beyond lotions, candles, etc.
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posted by defreckled at 6:08 AM PST - 10 comments
Traveling to Ireland in Sept. Will be renting a car in Dublin and seeing the countryside for a week. Any suggestions for affordable (<100 eu per person per night) castle accommodations? Recommendations on B&B's also welcome. Also, what are the must-see, non-"touristy" attractions.
posted by unccivil at 6:03 AM PST - 27 comments
January 26
Some friends and I had a rather long, somewhat alcohol-fueled debate and could come to no real conclusion to the question "how much money is there in the world"?
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posted by zardoz at 11:28 PM PST - 21 comments
Is it possible for Radio Shack to "not guarantee" an "allocated" online order can be cancelled?
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posted by oflinkey at 11:07 PM PST - 10 comments
ApartmentFilter: Is it financially safe to not clean up impeccably when moving out of an apartment, or will a landlord normally go after you for money over and above the security deposit, if they think enough work was involved?
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posted by -harlequin- at 8:53 PM PST - 17 comments
Not to be a total "hipster doofus"
(are we still using that one?), but I got a pocket-sized
Moleskine for Christmas, and I'd like to get a pen that would be forever with it. Like, hooked onto the cover or something, so that I always have a pen with my notebook. Suggestions?
posted by MrZero at 8:43 PM PST - 23 comments
Why is it that I feel nauseated when I hear other people rattle their phlegm (you know, that pre-loogie sound), but my own throat feels somehow "better" when I hear someone else clearing his?
posted by kittyprecious at 7:29 PM PST - 8 comments
I run a small local computer repair business. I have a website and i have acquired a DBA (assumed name) in the name that i use for my business. the problem is that my website, lets call it computer repair man for example, i own THECOMPUTERREPAIRMAN.com. the site without the word "the" infront of it is taken by someone else. If they havent trademarked "computer repairman" can I? Or if they were using it first without TM do they still have the rights to it? If they have already done it, can i trademark "the computer repairman"? How else can i protect my companies identity??
posted by Bjkokenos at 7:11 PM PST - 12 comments
i will be renting a car while on vacation in arizona next week. should i opt for the auto insurance? i currently own a car and have both liability and collision insurance. i live in massachusetts, if that makes a difference.
posted by brandz at 7:05 PM PST - 11 comments
I have a campus job delivering newspapers, and must keep track of how many were left over from last week as well. The problem has two facets: one, I sometimes forget how many I just picked up less than 5 seconds after picking it up. I normally do not have a problem with this, except with names. Two, I lose the sheets where I record the numbers about one out of every two weeks.
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posted by austin5000 at 7:00 PM PST - 4 comments
Did Dwight Eisenhower ever say this about leadership... "I'm not sure how to define it, but I know it when I see it"?
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posted by peppermint22 at 5:57 PM PST - 15 comments
Where can I find out information about gun availability. I recently heard that handguns are no more available than they ever have been, but that doesn't seem right. I found some stats on the
Department of Justice site, but these stats don't exactly cover what I'm looking for. It seems to me that over time, there would of course be more guns available, since guns don't stop working and more are always being made. Unless guns are destroyed, it seems the numbers are always going to rise.
posted by abbyladybug at 5:34 PM PST - 21 comments
My lovely wife and I will be spending about a week in Miami starting next week. What should we see, where should we go?
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posted by skree at 4:34 PM PST - 16 comments
Mac NotWorkingLikeItShouldFilter: PB 12”: i) Pointer disappears upon closing mac after connected to video projector/monitor. ii) Battery not registering charge loss – machine shuts down unexpectedly. Haylp!
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posted by lalochezia at 4:24 PM PST - 3 comments
Excel problem. How do I convert the following number format.
106026 where from left - first digit is CENTURY. Next two are YEAR and last three are JULIAN DAY. So last example is CENTURY 1, YEAR 06, and 26th Julian day of the year.
I would like to convert to to mm/dd/yy. Anyone have good Excel-fu for this?
posted by thimk at 2:37 PM PST - 10 comments
Yet another request for help selecting a web host - but this one's a little different. I'm not trying to move a small personal site but something bigger.
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posted by mikel at 2:19 PM PST - 16 comments
Inspired by
this post regarding the early days of our beloved Leper Messiah, does anyone know how I might find images or footage of a late '90s Conan O'Brien sketch that included a fictional David Bowie alterego named the Bucktoothed Wizard?
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posted by scody at 1:15 PM PST - 3 comments
Graph theory seems hot right now. Don't know much about it, though. If one wanted to learn some of the most practical, useable, and interesting results from the field where would one turn? Bonus points for applicability in social sciences and/or web apps. And, tangentially, if one was potentially interested in focusing on graph theory and the social sciences, where would one look at grad school?
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posted by namespan at 12:59 PM PST - 12 comments
Is there an easy yardstick for judging spiciness pre-cooking? Especially re: chili recipes
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posted by e^2 at 12:06 PM PST - 18 comments
I need to buy a new cell phone. It should have a text keyboard, work with a higher-speed EDGE/GSM network and most of all sync (address & calendar) +
act as a bluetooth modem for my Powerbook. That last bit is a problem apparently: I am having trouble finding good actual info on which phones can do this.
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posted by neustile at 11:25 AM PST - 19 comments
HR Question: My company currently pays 100% of our health insurance premiums, even for dependents. However, due to rising costs, they must amend this. The current plan is to cover 50% of the health insurance premium, including dependents, the employee to cover the rest. The kicker and question I have about the legality is this:
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posted by psususe at 11:23 AM PST - 27 comments
What's the best way (non-spam) way to market a flash/micro fiction publication and community? (no, there are no gratuitous self-links inside)
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posted by aebaxter at 11:03 AM PST - 1 comments
We have a family
GameCube and the kids want a dance game. Apparently Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix will be unavailable in North America for several months, and when I go to Best Buy and look at all of the stuff I feel old and confused. Could you suggest a good GC compatible dance pad (that I could pick up retail) as well as DDR-type titles for the GC so my kids can get happy? Thanks --chris
posted by cgk at 10:40 AM PST - 15 comments
Digital camera upgrade! My Canon S400 is slowly dying and now is the time to start exploring options and saving. Sorry if this topic seems rehashed but the most pertinent thread I can find is
two years old (ancient in terms of technology I think).
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posted by like_neon at 10:33 AM PST - 20 comments
Please recommend an interesting hotel or B&B in the Angels Camp / Murphys, California area. Also looking for things to do in the area after exploring Moaning Caverns. Other caves? Hot springs?
posted by luriete at 10:00 AM PST - 5 comments
I'm planning a menu for a family do (12 to 20 people expected) and I need three specific types of recipes.
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posted by orange swan at 9:43 AM PST - 18 comments
What are the most successful/engaging/popular events you've seen put on by campus activist groups? Any general tips for organization or planning? A new campus pro-choice group has sprung up to fill an ideological void, and a friend is running the show.
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posted by electric_counterpoint at 9:38 AM PST - 16 comments
I'm refinancing investment property with my fiancé. The deed is currently 100% in my name, and the bank wants her name to go on the deed before loaning the money. We have a choice of Joint Tenancy or specifying a percentage interest. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each choice?
posted by letitrain at 9:37 AM PST - 8 comments
LAonFootFilter: my friend in LA (West Hollywood) is having guests next week who don't drive, so he's looking for ideas for places he can drop them off in the morning before work (in Santa Monica), reasonably leave them there for the whole day, and pick them up at night (or perhaps they could cab home).
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posted by nwhycgirl328 at 9:04 AM PST - 9 comments
How will grad schools and employers react if I take a year off to work after college?
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posted by bargex at 8:17 AM PST - 29 comments
It's time to sand and varnish the floor in the front room, ground floor. We'll be replacing a few worn out floorboards but we're not totally confident about the best way to fill the gaps between boards. Some people say use resin, some say use a sawdust/pva mix, some say use filler, some say use wood fillets. The floorboards are 1" thick tongue and groove, solid pine. Any good suggestions? (Based in the UK)
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posted by gaby at 7:51 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm looking for more online descriptions of how various comic book, cartoon, and animation artists produce their work.
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posted by NewGear at 7:40 AM PST - 5 comments
I need an OSX app that will make use of my G4s internal modem to receive caller ID information and log the time of the call.
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posted by Wild_Eep at 7:26 AM PST - 8 comments
Anyone know a recipe for a homemade refill for a Braun Syncro electric razor cleaning cartridge?
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posted by ND¢ at 7:10 AM PST - 8 comments
Email stumper (for me, anyway): A site I consult on uses the IIS ASPMail module to send email confirmations for e-purchases. The customers seem to get their confirmations okay, but the site owners get theirs only intermittently...
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posted by bricoleur at 6:44 AM PST - 4 comments
My son is a runner for his high school. He has bad feet but has no problem with custom designed orthotics. He just bought some new Nike Frees, which are designed to resemble running nearly barefoot and which are supposed to strenghten legs and feet and make them "sounder." But if he uses these new shoes without orthotics, and then switches back to orthotics for racing etc, don't the two different methods defeat what is trying to be done?
posted by Postroad at 5:04 AM PST - 6 comments
Looking for a macro program or method that captures and pastes text among different browser windows?
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posted by Fishing Nut at 1:14 AM PST - 3 comments
London Sightseeing: My mum and dad (American and not well traveled) are coming to visit around February 20 for a week and a 1/2. Help?!?
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posted by k8t at 12:15 AM PST - 34 comments
January 25
Is it cosmic coincidence that the moon spins once on its axis in exactly the same time it takes to orbit the earth (hence the dark side we never see from earth) or is there some reason why this should be more likely?
posted by humuhumu at 11:19 PM PST - 23 comments
I wanted to read the sledging quotes said by Pakistan cricketers to Indian batsmen in the recent ongoing India-Pakistan series ? Is there any website or blog where I can find them ?
posted by inquisitive at 11:12 PM PST - 9 comments
Two-part question about waking up: I'm looking for something that functions like the
iPod alarm clock (but without having to own an iPod) or better yet, this
"peaceful progression wake-up clock." The catch is I'm kind of a cheapskate, and have no idea whether an expensive alarm clock will really help me wake up earlier & more easily. (Secondly, any good advice on how to drag myself out of bed in the morning is more than welcome, too!)
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posted by soviet sleepover at 10:51 PM PST - 12 comments
Is anyone familiar with the comedy routine of Little Red Riding Hood told backwards? A teacher I had in jr. high just died and that was one of his trademark stories. I always thought it was an original, but then I heard it years later and now can't remember who did it. It basically involved telling the story straight but mixing up the sentence structure. At least that's what I recall some 22 years later.
posted by DonnieSticks at 10:24 PM PST - 14 comments
Does anyone have a recommendation for a tattoo shop/artist in either the Kansas City or St. Louis metropolitan areas?
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posted by hototogisu at 9:32 PM PST - 3 comments
Why is "some of my best friends are black/jewish/gay/whatever" seen not only as unconvincing when it comes to disclaiming bias but also as a stereotypical response by one who is biased?
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posted by Firas at 9:31 PM PST - 42 comments
Oh God, my wife is going to drag me from our home in NYC to live in Philly. Where should I live? How will I survive?
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posted by Hobbacocka at 8:53 PM PST - 23 comments
So I am living in a hotel for the past month. Every day the maid leaves a standard hotel branded chocolate on my bedstand. Every night when I arrive I put the chocolate on a drawer.
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posted by falameufilho at 7:42 PM PST - 24 comments
I'm looking for something pretty specific, but not all that bizarre: Downloadable sheet music (say, PDFs or GIFs) of duets (public-domain music) for two soprano recorders. Where?
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posted by soyjoy at 7:37 PM PST - 8 comments
How can I find out what's causing this laptop to power down during startup?
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posted by moift at 6:37 PM PST - 6 comments
INSPIRATIONFILTER:I need suggestions and inspirational stories on how to balance a full time stressful job and grad school.
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posted by TheLibrarian at 6:35 PM PST - 15 comments
I'm a health-conscious college student who would like to spend less money eating out. The problem is I don't have much time, or resources (like a full scale kitchen), to prepare "real" meals.
Ideally, I would like something that I could cook in bulk and then take with me to microwave at work for lunch, or at home for dinner. But I'll need some variety.
Keep in mind, I prefer vegetarian dishes and maybe an occasional fish meal. Absolutely no red meat. :) Low in saturated fat, and easy on the budget.
Any ideas are welcome.
posted by blueplasticfish at 5:47 PM PST - 13 comments
I am looking for an extra long exercise DVD. I need one that is at least 1 hour long, but preferably closer to 2 hours.
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posted by crapulent at 5:43 PM PST - 7 comments
Where can I find appropriate verbiage to sell people sets of my artwork for use as clip art?
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posted by edheil at 5:23 PM PST - 1 comments
My Dad is getting older and is beginning to have problems keeping track of all the bills. Mom just called and said the phone had been turned off again and that the car insurance had lapsed. He obviously needs a little bit of help, but gets pretty defensive at the mere suggestion. I cannot imagine how bad things would have to get before he agreed to let us help. To make matters worse, while my Mom agrees that he needs help, she's entirely passive in their relationship, and would happily learn to live without heat / lights before daring to make my dad (the heart patient) unhappy. Anybody have experience with handling this type of situation delicately? How can I convince a stubborn old coot to let somebody help him? My parents planned well for retirement, and I have no reason to believe that they're in any danger of losing everything, but it seems to me that this is a situation that we'll have to address sooner or later.
posted by richmondparker at 4:08 PM PST - 15 comments
My eyelids itch. Really badly. All the time. The family doctor said it might be eczema, but I'm not sure. Should I go back to her, see a dermatologist, or see an eye doctor?
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posted by Jaie at 4:01 PM PST - 19 comments
I want to purchase a bike trainer so I can ride indoors during the winter months. What sorts of things should I look for?
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posted by 40 Watt at 3:40 PM PST - 20 comments
A question about body weight, intake, and output. It requires an experiment on your part, so thanks in advance for your participation.
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posted by ferociouskitty at 3:36 PM PST - 23 comments
ExerciseFilter: I'm not a gym going guy and I'm not "out of shape", but I'm looking to clean up a little bit...
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posted by GilloD at 3:35 PM PST - 14 comments
LAPTOP HELP!? I have an alienware laptop, whose warrenty just expired and am now having problems with the removable cd/dvd reader burner.
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posted by nosophoros at 2:44 PM PST - 2 comments
Inspired by
this question and a whim, I'm considering dance games as a possible path to improved fitness. I have a modern Macintosh, but no PC and no game consoles. Though I can't find any commercial dance games for the Mac, I have found
StepMania. Based on this info, what is my best option? Should I buy a console, a dance game, and dance pad? Can somebody recommend a good Mac-compatible dance pad? Are there other inexpensive solutions? This really sounds like a fun way to exercise, but I don't know where to start.
posted by jdroth at 2:40 PM PST - 14 comments
If there's anyone here who groks physics and math and astronomy and astrophysics here's a great big what-if for you.
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posted by Grod at 2:19 PM PST - 14 comments
Does anyone have any recommendations for free, Win98-compatible software that will help me design a community garden for my non-profit organization? Am I looking for a CAD program? If so, which of the thousands out there should I use?
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posted by schroedinger at 1:56 PM PST - 6 comments
Please help me diagnose a dead computer. The missus' computer was just dead one morning. Pressing the power butten results in absolutely nothing.
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posted by The Carolingian at 1:11 PM PST - 13 comments
I'm scheduling a meeting with 17 different people via email. It's a recurring nightmare.
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posted by mecran01 at 12:14 PM PST - 28 comments
Where can I find someone who can design an advanced typepad template for my blog for a reasonable price?
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posted by IndigoSkye at 11:55 AM PST - 9 comments
CSS help: If I have an element that contains two other elements that add up to less width than the container element, should the container element's background color not be visible between those elements?
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posted by Al_Truist at 11:54 AM PST - 7 comments
My all of my cotton shirts seem to perform origami in the wash and I can't recover them. What's happening?
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posted by twine42 at 11:11 AM PST - 18 comments
I've been hunting unsuccessfully for a sound clip (.mp3 or .wav, pls) of a drunk talking incoherently. Looking for 5-15 seconds worth. Any help would be appreciated.
posted by jbradley at 10:38 AM PST - 18 comments
Are classic tales such as "Three Billy Goats Gruff", "The Tortoise and the Hare", and "Little Red Riding Hood" in the public domain and available to be reused?
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posted by bjork24 at 10:10 AM PST - 9 comments
Good U. S. Supreme Court histories? I really like the Supreme Court. I like to hear about it and read about it. I love the place it occupies in our national politics, the deliberative position it holds. I'm interested in reading books of history about it, how it has evolved, major trends, what it used to be like. Any suggestions?
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posted by OmieWise at 9:05 AM PST - 15 comments
I get crippling anxiety attacks in any situation that requires me asking for anything. This is predictably ruining my life.
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posted by anonymous at 8:58 AM PST - 30 comments
Assume you had a list of different animal species, and you wanted to order it from most intelligent species to least. (1) What measure of intelligence would you use to compare different species--average number of neurons, for example, or ability to solve certain kinds of tests? Or something else entirely? (2) Can you give some examples of how some common farm, food, or pet animals might rank on the list?
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posted by yankeefog at 8:55 AM PST - 17 comments
I'm interested in buying / resuscitating a "dead brand". Something fairly old, but that would be interesting to consumers. Think Barbasol, or something like that. Any ideas on where to find a good catalog of expired consumer products that have been forgotten?
posted by mtstover at 8:41 AM PST - 12 comments
RealEstateFilter: Short version: I need to sell a house in another city that I will never see. I know nothing about the process of finding a broker or selling a house.
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posted by al_fresco at 8:32 AM PST - 6 comments
I'm looking for classic "Saturday Night Live" sketches that might not have made the "Best of..." DVDs. Namely, John Belushi performing as Joe Cocker WITH Joe Cocker! But there were far too many good ones to let them all fade into oblivion! Is there any way to find these classic sketches to save them for posterity?? Thanks!!
posted by Misciel at 8:05 AM PST - 10 comments
I stepped out of the house this morning, 'bout 6am or so, and gazed into the glow of a rather stunning crescent moon, crisp and pure. Sitting atop the moon, a distance of about one moon's diameter, dead center, was a star. Was it a star? Was it a planet? Oh how it twinkled... and the combination made for a curious astronomical alignment.
posted by Witty at 7:20 AM PST - 9 comments
I have an old laptop that I took on vacation to do some writing..........
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posted by lee at 7:16 AM PST - 6 comments
A close friend of mine has a job interview today for a permanent-placement position through a personnel agency.
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posted by Makebusy7 at 6:57 AM PST - 5 comments
I am looking for recommendations for books, textbooks, magazine articles, websites, etc. on network theory and social network theory. I am interested in "high theory" as well as the very practical "this is how you model a network that does such-and-such". I'll be happy with anything, however, as a beggar I be.
posted by mrmojoflying at 6:45 AM PST - 8 comments
Mac network/backup/storage questions. Any Mac gurus willing to throw their 2 cents at me?
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posted by Richat at 3:54 AM PST - 9 comments
The unthinkable has happened. My primary laptop was stolen (along with my PDA, numerous key cards, my checkbook, and a prescription pad -- oh yes, some seattle crack head scored tonight). Aside from the obvious closing of bank and credit accounts, changing sensitive passwords, what else could a savvy scumbag come back to hurt me with?
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posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:05 AM PST - 10 comments
What's the best path via roads between Portland, OR and Houston, TX this time of year, keeping potential winter driving conditions in mind?
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posted by SpecialK at 12:43 AM PST - 11 comments
January 24
iTunesFilter: When I type in the search bar, how can I get iTunes to search songs' comments areas as well as the other areas?
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posted by booksandlibretti at 9:15 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm very interested in learning to compose electronic music, but don't know where to start.
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posted by p3on at 7:34 PM PST - 14 comments
I have a not-insignificant amount of Polish zlotych. Help me figure out if and how I can exchange it...
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posted by deafmute at 7:26 PM PST - 7 comments
What's the best wiki I can run on
my server and use as a public-facing "customer FAQ"?
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posted by subpixel at 6:55 PM PST - 5 comments
About a year ago I got a traffic ticket which I thought was totally absurd. I didn't pay it. Not smart, I know. My registered address and living address have been different for all of that time, and so now that I'm ready to pay the ticket (since my license is now suspended and I have no insurance) I have no idea how to find out how much I owe and who to give it to so I can get my license reinstated. I'm in the USA...anybody had a similar experience?
posted by baphomet at 6:50 PM PST - 6 comments
I vaguely remember a music video in the 80's with Darth Vader on a subway car. The musicians played on a stage, and had alien heads that I remember being disc-like. Can you help me identify the video?
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posted by quibx at 6:47 PM PST - 6 comments
My question has to do with MediCal (which terminology doesn't show up as other than "medical" when I search tags.) So.
My mother is applying for MediCal for her 90-year-old mother. The problem seems to be that until MediCal comes through, my mother will have to pay for a nursing home. Which luckily enough she can do, but: will she actually be reimbursed by MediCal? And how long will that take?
I'd appreciate hearing others' experience in this really murky area.
posted by goofyfoot at 6:46 PM PST - 7 comments
A9 browser bar weirdness. A thin horizontal white line appeared one day beneath the A9 toolbar, and now it's useless. Any menu I click on will not drop down. What's going on? I'm using firefox 1.5.
posted by bingo at 5:53 PM PST - 4 comments
A statistics / scientific convention question. I've noticed in scientific journals that often when a set of data is presented with values normalized to one of the sample groups, and the value for that sample group is arbitrarily set to 1, 10, 100 or whatever, to simplify interpretation, the variability/error data for that one sample group is left out. Is there a good statistical reason for that or is it just some random convention with no good reason?
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posted by shoos at 3:37 PM PST - 17 comments
In
this photo, does anybody know what these bicycle riders are transporting in the giant sausages? Does the Russian caption (which I don't read) explain it?
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 3:22 PM PST - 14 comments
Projector question: Does any know of a consumer level digital projector with a fairly long throw distance? Or any DIY solutions for increasing the throw distance on a projector?
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posted by Silent Thomas at 2:49 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm a student on a budget and considering a trip to Japan. How much money can I expect to spend?
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posted by Candide at 2:47 PM PST - 23 comments
I have found programs that allow you to apply partial transparency to a window (in windows), but I'm looking for something a little different: chroma keyed transparency, like what is used in visual effects or on the weather report.
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posted by RustyBrooks at 2:43 PM PST - 1 comments
Save professional psychiatric help, how do I learn to enjoy sex more? (ProbablyNotSafetoRead@Work...)
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posted by mercurysm2 at 2:30 PM PST - 12 comments
For our next staff meeting I have been asked to come up with a brief exercise that will help a group of fairly experienced business writers sharpen their research/writing/editing skills. Can anybody share an exercise that worked for them or point me to resources on the Internets?
posted by punkfloyd at 2:12 PM PST - 7 comments
Can anyone share recommendations for software or "least-effort-techniques" for adding ID3 tags and album art to large sets of unsorted, untagged MP3s?
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posted by stuckie at 1:58 PM PST - 17 comments
Arrested Development based gift desired. Where can I buy Lindsay's "Slut" T-shirt for a friend with a good sense of humor?
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posted by slapshot57 at 12:41 PM PST - 12 comments
Can someone tell me how to get
EtherPEG for OSX to work on my PowerBook? It seems that out of the box, it will only work with wired connections, not wifi. Please point me to the appropriate download or instruct me how to recompile it.
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posted by pwb503 at 12:40 PM PST - 7 comments
I have loads of work. I dont want to do it no more (than once) With batch files, there are things that i could automate right now, but i want to get more complex, with loops and ifs and error handling and all the rest. What would be the most beneficial short term / long term routes, what do you do?
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posted by ugrndhg at 12:15 PM PST - 18 comments
I'm looking for a tool similar to
Noteworthy Composer in that I can open up MIDI files and extract sheet music from them, but I would like to be able to export the sheet music to an image format. Is there some sort of plugin or alternative software out there?
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 12:10 PM PST - 6 comments
Noisy nightclub filter: What are the appropriate steps one should take to efficiently address, and ultimately stop, repeated noise violations from a neighboring nightclub?
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posted by quadog at 10:47 AM PST - 18 comments
I'd like to buy an inexpensive, second home (a summer place) in either New Hampshire or Maine. Someplace we can go for vacations/weekends with the kids. But I have no idea how to go about finding such a place, or what options there are for paying for it. Any suggestions?
posted by GernBlandston at 10:00 AM PST - 6 comments
MonsterFilter: I've had my resume up on Monster for at least 6 months now and I've only had 17 hits - is this normal, are there a bunch of tricks I don't know about, or are employers only using Monster to post vacancies, as opposed to using it to search for prospective employees?
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posted by forallmankind at 9:47 AM PST - 10 comments
Black pepper: delicious, delightful innocuous condiment or hideous lurking spicy gastronomic menace?
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posted by felix at 9:35 AM PST - 29 comments
Single dad with almost 4 yo son. For those with older children, looking back, what do you wish you would have done/started when your child was young. I'm thinking along the lines of "take more photos, buy life insurance, force them to learn an instrument, save $50/week for college, etc."
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posted by crosten at 8:21 AM PST - 67 comments
Please share your best ideas on showing the man/woman/etc. in your life that you love them, day-in day-out.
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posted by iurodivii at 8:09 AM PST - 36 comments
I'm getting married this summer. I'm also currently seeking employment. At what point should I let possible employers know that I'm going to need time off for the wedding and honeymoon? (The date is already set.)
posted by saucy at 7:11 AM PST - 10 comments
Help my friend download her contacts and calendar information from Outlook Web Access.
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posted by forforf at 6:36 AM PST - 6 comments
After using software update to get to OSX 10.4.4 and uninstalling some older helper apps and reinstalling one other app, I know have "glitches" all over every edge on my screen, and a 128 pix grey box follows my cursor around. Pic inside
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posted by Brainy at 6:22 AM PST - 11 comments
When I was in Japan, I bought something which was cuboid shaped which I asked to be gift wrapped. The shop assistant wrapped it in such a manner that only one piece of sellotape was required. The paper was also arranged pleasingly diagonally across the gift, and seemed to be evenly spread around its surface, rather than having densely-folded sides like more common (western) wrapping. How can I learn that technique? Does it have a name?
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posted by cogat at 5:08 AM PST - 14 comments
Are there incidents of mental retardation in the animal kingdom? If so, how does it manifest itself?
posted by ubueditor at 4:31 AM PST - 21 comments
I'm an eBay newbie, and would like to post some items up for sale. Is it a good option to post my starting bid at $0.99 instead of my lowest selling price (about $10-15)?
What are the pros and cons of either options? Would love to hear feedback from experienced eBay sellers / users.
posted by arrowhead at 1:59 AM PST - 30 comments
January 23
My DirectTV with TiVo receiver died tonight. The HD actuator (I'm guessing from the sounds of it) had been clicking for a few weeks, and I'd been getting intermittent read/write errors. Tonight after a power outage, it's stuck on the powering up screen. Should I:
1. Get a New One
2. Try a new hard drive (or some other potential fix)
3. Get the PVR that DirectTV is starting to push
4. Switch to Comcast cable and get one of their PVRs
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posted by willnot at 11:56 PM PST - 12 comments
Adobe Indesign: I'm hoping to design a vocal recital program in Adobe Indesign. By that I mean a booklet given out before a classical music performance with song texts, translations, and notes. Can anyone find any example indesign files for me to learn off of?
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posted by sirion at 11:17 PM PST - 12 comments
Is there an OS X app that will do what Apple's backup does but without having to be a .Mac member?
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posted by photoslob at 10:42 PM PST - 13 comments
I want a
kotatsu, but can't afford to ship one from Japan. I'd like to make my own if possible, but don't know where to start.
posted by Electric Elf at 9:21 PM PST - 11 comments
Looking for a job in Dubai (for a friend). Does anybody know of any good companies with operations in Dubai or Qatar for internship or full-time work in public relations (or marketing, investor relations, event management etc...)
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posted by onalark at 9:09 PM PST - 9 comments
So, I have been frequenting a small karaoke club for the last year, and I need to find specific CD-G's that match my taste.
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posted by Radio7 at 9:07 PM PST - 2 comments
What is shower gel? Is it liquid soap? is it moisturiser? How am I supposed to use it?
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posted by wilful at 8:49 PM PST - 52 comments
I'm curious what Warren Buffett did after buying Berkshire Hathaway. He shut down the textile business and converted it into his holding company. In the initial stages was he in stealth mode or a publicity hog?
posted by Izzmeister at 7:49 PM PST - 2 comments
I sent my (original) passport, divorce papers and a form with all my identifying information to the social security office. Too bad FedEx delivered it to some random house. What do I do now?
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posted by Gucky at 5:33 PM PST - 13 comments
I'm looking for very simple WYSIWYG web development software package like JAlbum, Freeway and RapidWeaver. Are there more packages out there that are very similar and very good for the Mac?
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posted by brokekid at 5:19 PM PST - 7 comments
Please recommend a Washington D.C. restaurant for a couple of adventurous foodies on a budget, but who want to have "that one really good meal of the trip."
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posted by iconoclastic flow at 5:07 PM PST - 41 comments
I just turned some Mormons away from my door, but I said it was because I was busy, so they said they'd come back later. Ack. I feel bad. What'll I do?
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posted by Rubber Soul at 4:31 PM PST - 94 comments
I just tried to
make homemade ricotta cheese with a gallon of whole milk (
to avoid burning) and a quart of buttermilk. Nevertheless, the majority of the ricotta burned to the bottom of the stainless steel stock pot I used, and the cheese which didn't burn, had that burnt-flavor. What gives?
posted by fourstar at 4:21 PM PST - 10 comments
Need a venue in Manhattan that will seat 100 and is able to serve booze for a charity
singles trivia matchmaking event. Any suggestions?
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posted by toftflin at 3:58 PM PST - 2 comments
I have a Motorola Bluetooth wireless headset which I really like with my cellphone. But I'd like to also use it with my land line, which has a wired headset, detachable. In searching the net, haven't found what exists, if anything, that I can plug into the land line headset slot and adapt it for Bluetooth so I can use my wireless headset with it. Any ideas?
posted by rabbus at 3:55 PM PST - 4 comments
How do you avoid irritated skin around the nostrils when you have a cold?
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posted by cm at 2:31 PM PST - 31 comments
Is there a way to connect to gmail using pop from behind a firewall that blocks the ports they specify? Ideally over 80? I don't have broadband at home so setting up a tunnel or variation to a pc on the outside isn't an option. Thunderbird on WinXP connected behind a typical corporate firewall.
posted by Mitheral at 2:30 PM PST - 1 comments
Man I am a dumbass. I have a wonderful new boyfriend of about 6 months - who I absolutely truly adore - on the heels of surviving a really crappy five year marriage and divorce last year. Long story short, we were out over the weekend, drank a LOT, and he gave some (nice actually) girl that we were talking to a hug, told her that she felt "little and cute." I think the girl hugged me too. There was NOTHING lascivious there, he's just like that. Very warm person. Out of nowhere, I got very emotional. Told him that it upset me and we went 'round, tears and all. I am crazy about this guy, and really not a jealous person, this was deep, drunken, and came out of what seemed like nowhere from a dark place inside . We're cool, a little strained, it's weird things have been absolutley perfect up until this point, but no talk about putting the breaks on. I need help with two things one- how can I stop beating myself up over this and two-where in the hell did this jealousy come from? I really really like this guy...and we're cool, just mentally doing the equivalent of slapping my head with a shoe...I do not want to be a jealous person...
posted by mad_little_monkey at 2:25 PM PST - 30 comments
Law and Order: TOS: TNT runs approximately a million episodes a week. Why do they never show espisodes from pre-1992? (Episodes with Paul Sorvino and/or George Dzundza as Chris Noth's first partners)
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posted by crickets at 2:24 PM PST - 12 comments
Web Drama Filter: I liked
Broken Saints. What else would I like? ( I'm not looking for web comics so much as long-form dramatic pieces, with sound, 2D and 3D animation and possibly video.) Is there anything else out there using the web as a platform for viewing and distribution?
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 1:26 PM PST - 3 comments
Does anyone know of the name of the actress who played the elderly patient who's no longer sick, but refuses to leave the hospital on the 1/22/06 airing of Grey's Anatomy [entitled: Tell Me Sweet Little Lies]?
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posted by KevinKarl at 12:14 PM PST - 8 comments
I need to find a specific facial crème or lotion. I don't know the brand, all I know is that the particular line I am looking for includes a product (scent?) named "bamboo" and another called "lotus." "Lotus" is what I am looking for. It is quite expensive. And it smells good. That's all I have to go on.
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posted by Nothing at 12:10 PM PST - 10 comments
I'm looking to upgrade my mobile phone, and I don't want to be limited to my provider's (T-Mobile's) choices. I have specific needs for the phone, in extended. I'd like to know if anyone knows of a phone that fits these requirements, or, better yet (and more useful to others), what are some good ways to track down a particular model that fits my specific needs?
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posted by blingblong at 9:54 AM PST - 19 comments
Where can I buy large quantities of those plastic cups (with lids with straw-holes) that you get with iced coffee or tea in a coffee shop? (I'm in NYC.)
posted by rustcellar at 8:39 AM PST - 6 comments
Need help finding like-minded people with different skills. I have a couple of ideas for web-based businesses. Where are places to look for entrepreneurial-minded programmers/partners?
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posted by striker at 8:23 AM PST - 17 comments
What company do you use to run your external marketing email lists to customers? Would you recommend them?
posted by Macboy at 8:20 AM PST - 11 comments
The very tip of my 3/32" headphone adapter plug just came off in my Treo's headset jack. Any tips for how to extract it? I've tried: sucking it out (too much airflow coming from behind it); impaling it with a needle (won't impale); grabbing it with makeshift bobby-pin tweezers (no grip); and a toothpick tipped with Krazy Glue (didn't stick).
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posted by Eater at 7:51 AM PST - 19 comments
I there such a thing as a global best-sellers list? Every country has a very detailed best-sellers list, generally on a weekly basis, but is there a real global list, or at least a compedium of all lists from the world? Do I have any way to know, for example, if Ian McEwan's Saturday was a best-seller in Brazil or in Greece?
posted by dov at 7:38 AM PST - 5 comments
[Jet Grind/Set Radio filter] - very out of character but i love the music to the Dreamcast game "Jet Grind Radio." especially one song, who is the artist and what is this type of music called/what other albums are good and similar?
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posted by annoyance at 7:02 AM PST - 11 comments
I have a small LCD television hanging on the wall. I hung it in front of the power outlet in order to hide the cord, but it picks up a little bit of interference in that position. If I move it away from the outlet, the interference goes away, but you can see the cord. Is there a solution that will allow me to sheild the TV from the interference and keep it hanging where it is?
posted by spilon at 6:59 AM PST - 7 comments
Where can I find a good free online guide to using Adobe Premiere Pro?
posted by crewshell at 5:04 AM PST - 3 comments
In the show
LOST, a character who was previously paralyzed regains full motor skills due (presumably) to the plane crash. Is this possible, or has this ever happened?
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posted by spiderskull at 12:26 AM PST - 14 comments
I have 4 rolls of film form from honeymoon trip to vegas i have now been married 10 years would it be worth trying to get it devolved or are all pics lost
posted by starvinron at 12:22 AM PST - 19 comments
January 22
Nutrition filter: I am looking for unique ideas for making quick, easy, heathy, inexpensive dinners (in my case, for two) every night... or at least most nights. "Dinner Hacks" you might say. I feel like I've tried all the standard "solutions" already (for example, cooking a few big meals on the weekend and eating leftovers the rest of the week). There must be something else I can try.
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posted by zharptitsa at 11:22 PM PST - 51 comments
I'm toying with the idea of getting a display to use with my 14" iBook (1.33 GHz, 768 MB RAM), mostly to watch movies on (VLC, fullscreen). Ideally, I'd like to do this while using the iBook's screen for other things (internet browsing, word processing, etc) (and on second thought, I may want to run VLC on the 14" screen and do other things on the larger display -- but that's probably irrelevant).
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posted by rossination at 10:44 PM PST - 5 comments
I'm a 22 year old college student in a fraternity and have just been elected social chair, which pretty much means setting up parties with other organizations. To spice things up, we usually set some kind of theme for each bender. So far, we've been given ideas like:
* tour de franzia (drink just franzia wine)
* ultimate flip cup championship
* country club aka golf pros, tennis hoes
* walk of shame
* trends gone bad
* anything but clothes party
* gi joes and barbie hoes
* white trash trailer bash
GIMME SOME MORE IDEAS!!!!!!
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posted by deeman at 9:16 PM PST - 53 comments
I am looking for a recessed knob for a computer project. The type of knob I am looking for is like the sort used in old car radios(
here or
here); they can be clicked in when not in use to be flush with the surrounding area.
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posted by tysiva at 7:12 PM PST - 5 comments
OutOfTownerFilter: Looking for some good, affordable dining/entertainment in the Dallas/Irving Texas area.
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posted by hwestiii at 6:31 PM PST - 10 comments
Power tool reviews. I'm in the market for some power tools, but I can't seem to find a decent review site to help me decide...
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posted by Chrischris at 6:26 PM PST - 7 comments
My mp3 player was stolen from my locker, and I need to find the serial number to show it's mine. I registered it on the creative website when I got it. Is there some way to find whatever information about my player that I gave them? (I didn't write it down)
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posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 6:12 PM PST - 8 comments
How much money should we allow for cat veterinary emergencies? This is for our cat sitter or vet to spend to fix up our cat, without contacting us, if we're incommunicado. We're putting together a letter of consent for the cat sitter and vet.
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posted by amtho at 5:55 PM PST - 16 comments
CaptureFromMyPassengerSeatFilter: I've just got back from driving around my neighborhood with my webcam attached to the sun visor and linked to my laptop in the passenger seat. After about 3 mins shooting, the capture goes from super smooth to super jerky - what is causing this bottleneck?
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posted by russmail at 5:31 PM PST - 9 comments
I remember hearing once that someone in the audience at Johhny Cash's Folsom Prison performance - as a prisoner - was inspired by it to go on to a successful career as a singer/songwriter. Is this apocryphal? If not, who was it? Someone mentioned to me Waylon Jennings, but I don't think it's him. Google is inconclusive.
posted by oxala at 4:21 PM PST - 17 comments
What are some small or lesser-known software or IT consulting companies that have a reputation for being good places to work? Fog Creek Software has been mentioned here many times before, and they
brag about being able to hire the best developers. What small or lesser-known companies can you think of with similar reputations?
posted by komilnefopa at 3:56 PM PST - 8 comments
I was laid off recently and want to use my knowledge of AppleScript to do some consulting. I have a meeting this week about automating tasks for a local newspaper, but am uncertain how to bill such a project.
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posted by the biscuit man at 3:46 PM PST - 1 comments
Is it possible for a young teen (or anyone else, for that matter) with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome to thrive on a split sleep schedule (i.e., sleeping for five hours from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm and then another three hours from 3:00 am to 6:00 am)?
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posted by merejane at 2:32 PM PST - 20 comments
I am having overexposure problems with a webcam pointed outside. It's not pointed at the sky, and it overexposes even on rainy days. I think I need software that will do a better job.
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posted by zek at 2:27 PM PST - 3 comments
Identify this story about an unhappy man, an exclusive travel agency, and a magical transporting barn. Possibly from an old Alfred Hitchcock magazine.
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posted by cribcage at 2:12 PM PST - 7 comments
Basic Microsoft Excel question. How do I join two databases together when they share elements but are not coextensively equal? (More)
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posted by Mr. Justice at 2:02 PM PST - 8 comments
Are there good alternatives to Craigslist for selling furniture (in LA)? Ideally what I'd like is for a bunch of guys in a truck to come, give me some money, take my stuff all at once, and that would be the end of it. Does such a thing exist? This is nice functional furniture, not mid-century modern or anything antique.
posted by symbebekos at 1:43 PM PST - 4 comments
Posted for a relative: Should I get chemotherapy and radiation, or should I look into alternative methods?
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posted by agropyron at 10:10 AM PST - 36 comments
Where can I find the source to "/bin/head" for a Mac OSX 10.4 system?
posted by paradroid at 9:55 AM PST - 5 comments
Help! I'm looking for movers in San Jose, CA for next Saturday. I've heard so much about
scams that I'd really prefer someone who came with a recommandation over someone from the Yellow Pages or craigslist. My move should be easy: just to Sunnyvale and a 1 bedroom apartment with minimal furniture. I'm hoping to pay less than $100 per hour for less than 3 hours.
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posted by rorycberger at 8:13 AM PST - 5 comments
Now that I have a laptop, I'd like to be able to study away from home. The only problem is I print a lot of my documents to read hard copies. Is there a program out there (free, cheap or otherwise) that would allow me to press "print" on the road, save my print list and then when I plug into my printer, print it all out at once? If I try with the normal printing spooler, I keep getting error messages.
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posted by gilsonal at 12:19 AM PST - 15 comments
January 21
My eyebrows consistently have weird split ends, breaks, hinging. Does this happen to anyone else? Does it mean anything? Is there something I can do to stop this?
posted by weston at 11:59 PM PST - 18 comments
I have an old 12" G3 500 iBook. Someone has a 12" G4 800 iBook he's selling because the case where the battery goes in is cracked and the battery won't stay in. I'm wondering if the cases are identical and if I can buy his and slip it into my case. Possible? How would I find out?
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 11:16 PM PST - 6 comments
Website Content Management Q: I'm setting up a website for my online comic and have no idea what script is needed (or possible) to automate the "previous" and "next" navigation buttons to show a strip to my visitors on a page they haven't yet visited. Make sense?
Also, are there any easy to install scripts that automatically update my site by posting today's strip that I have previously uploaded (so I don't have to upload or change code every single day)???
posted by catcatwomanman at 10:34 PM PST - 7 comments
Unless it is followed by an even faster probe, will New Horizons become the most distant man-made object in space? If so, when? Are there any projects planned that would pass New Horizons before it passes Voyager 1?
posted by jepler at 8:55 PM PST - 9 comments
Can I just leave the airport during a layover and miss my flight to the final destination without incurring penalities on the way back? I know the usual answer is no but my circumstances are a bit different - I'll still be returning from the city I'm supposed to finally arrive at. I'm going from San Fran to New Orleans via Dallas, then six days later from New Orleans to Los Angeles. I just got in touch with a friend I really want to see in the Dallas area and I'd like to just get off in Dallas on the way to New Orleans and spend a day there, then road trip to New Orleans and spend the rest of my vacation there, leaving from New Orleans like I should. Can I do this? I'm interested in why I can or can't since I'm curious, but practical answers would be most appreciated, especially on how I can get my luggage checked only to Dallas (I have to check a bag - don't tell me only use a carryon). What do I tell the desk attendant?
posted by riverjack at 8:55 PM PST - 21 comments
Does anyone know of a website that has recent, regularly updated info regarding sales of top-selling DVD's?
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posted by Paul KC at 7:22 PM PST - 7 comments
Debt management. I'm considering seeking debt counseling but I'm affraid that it might be scammy. I did fairly well as a single guy with a full time job, but now I have a family, a house and seemingly insurmountable bills.
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posted by snsranch at 6:49 PM PST - 16 comments
A few years ago, I saw a TV-documentary about a man who was burning down luxury homes somewhere in the American west. The arsonist's best friend (brother?) was instrumental in capturing him. It was on 20/20 or Primetime or some similar show. I was riveted by the story, have never forgotten it, and I'd love to see it again. Which show was it on? Is it available on DVD? Transcript? Based on a book?
posted by grumblebee at 5:52 PM PST - 14 comments
I'm looking for a piece of neo-classical music called "The Locks" or "The Lock" but can't find it anywhere. Unfortunately I don't remember the composer. Anybody heard of it?
posted by culberjo at 5:50 PM PST - 5 comments
I am thinking about starting my own computer training business, which I think would be a good fit for me based on my passions, interests, and professional background. I have combed the internet and can't seem to find any information on the intricacies of the business. Does anyone have experience in the business as a trainer or entrepreneur? I would love to hear some intelligent opinions on how to become the worlds most successful independent computer trainer.
posted by jasondigitized at 4:24 PM PST - 11 comments
Crazy people, pseudoscience and cult pages, are there any on the internet with a following or are they just there to be amusing?
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posted by TwelveTwo at 4:22 PM PST - 9 comments
Stupid question: recent movie (last year or so) 4 kids are homeless? Without parents? Bringing themselves up?
What is it?
posted by leafwoman at 4:02 PM PST - 13 comments
I can't sing well. At all. What are some good methods I can practice at home to improve?
posted by Mach3avelli at 3:33 PM PST - 15 comments
Best price from a NYC airport to Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island. Going with a few friends to the Bahamas from March 18-25, 2006. Any suggestions on where to find the cheapest flight? I wish JetBlue flew to Freeport instead of just Nassau but we have a free place to stay (resort) in Freeport.
Not sure of where to look...so any ideas would be great. And if you have suggestions on what we should check out on GBI (away from the touristy resort crap and the spring breakers..)
posted by jare2003 at 2:58 PM PST - 4 comments
Yesterday I caused a car accident. I'm a college sophomore and I've never been in a car wreck before. I have liability insurance so it only covers the other persons car and its going to cost $1250 to fix my car which I have no choice but to fix. I also have to appear in court next month to deal with the ticket or whatever. The whole incident has just weighed on my heavily. I can't get any work done, I am having trouble sleeping. I just feel awful. Does anyone have any advice on dealing with this kind of situation?
posted by icespide at 2:26 PM PST - 24 comments
Is my chiropractor talking nonsense?
I have been seeing a cranial chiropractor since hurting my neck in a car crash. So today in my session she was gently fingering the top of my spine, base of my skull area, and she said that she had pinpointed the problem area because she could feel my nerves 'fizzing'.
I think she is right about finding the location of the injury cause thats where I get the most pain when she touches me. But can she really be feeling my nerves fizz. Is that scientifically possible?
posted by juniorbonner at 2:18 PM PST - 33 comments
How can you find out how many copies a book (published, say, in the last five years) has sold? Not necessarily a best-seller, either.
posted by gottabefunky at 1:51 PM PST - 4 comments
Something for (the latest version of) Safari that allows me to see which DIV I'm in by mousing over a section of the screen? Any suggestions besides webdevadditions (which doesn't work for me and the developer is unresponsive).
posted by Manhasset at 1:42 PM PST - 7 comments
My little sister is going to Cairo, Egypt. For a year! I'm looking for some tips and information on living there.
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posted by ruby.aftermath at 1:26 PM PST - 10 comments
What should I look for in an LCD monitor primarily for programming and web-surfing? (i.e. reading text.)
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posted by callmejay at 11:37 AM PST - 26 comments
Needed: a good clipart graphic representing a database (shape of a cylinder) for a quick powerpoint presentation. There has to be something decent in the public domain. Any links? Thanks!
posted by queue_strategy at 11:37 AM PST - 8 comments
Dear Canadians, Brits, and other citizens of parliamentary democracies: Inspired by
this comment, how important is party affiliation to your vote? In other words, how much of an asshat does your party's parliamentary candidate have to be to force you to switch sides in an election?
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posted by Saucy Intruder at 10:57 AM PST - 40 comments
How much should be budgeted to redesign a small/medium sized association's website?
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posted by mulkey at 10:51 AM PST - 9 comments
A little help please in getting my computer to fully recognize an external hard drive.
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posted by gfrobe at 9:51 AM PST - 5 comments
Here's a technical question. Will this motherboard work with a G3 (Mac) power supply?
Gigabyte GA-6VTXD
Also in the motherboard is an AMD Athlon 900Mhz. Is that fast? What's the comparison to Intel chips? I've never really understood the conversion. I thought it would be neat to use an old, unwanted G3 case for something like this.
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posted by Napierzaza at 8:51 AM PST - 8 comments
How do I tell a crush from high school that I still have feeling for her? How do I act on those feelings?
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posted by nickerbocker at 8:27 AM PST - 45 comments
Are there any real, decent, and legit jobs I could work from home on for some extra cash?
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posted by JPigford at 7:40 AM PST - 7 comments
Where can I get an archival, museum quality photographic print from a 35mm transparency in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area? Also, what kind of print should I have made (Cibachrome or digital/ink jet)?
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posted by philmas at 7:16 AM PST - 7 comments
Artfilter: What is the name of the painting, and the painter, of the portrait hanging near the door of Will's apartment in Will & Grace? It's a portrait of a male, shoulders up, no shirt.
posted by Neale at 6:17 AM PST - 3 comments
Please please please can someone help me make my Network Solutions registered domain map to my Typepad site?
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posted by nthdegx at 5:13 AM PST - 5 comments
January 20
For the past few months I've had a light case of
Heat Rash (
prickly heat, miliaria). What can I do to get rid of it?
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posted by kjell at 11:22 PM PST - 6 comments
I have some 30 and 50 page articles from France, Germany, maybe Korea, and would like to read them. Are there people here who have experience with translators and translation services that could initiate me? What kind of prices and service times am I looking at? What are my options for this problem? Thanks.
posted by dgaicun at 6:36 PM PST - 14 comments
Hefty computer problems. My computer (Asus A8NX-E Deluxe) suddenly shut off one day. When I would power it up the fans would run for ~10 seconds -- no BIOS, nothing, then the fans would turn off. Replaced power supply, no difference. Replaced motherboard and the weird fan problem fixed. Placed everything in, no video now. And...
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posted by geoff. at 6:07 PM PST - 9 comments
How would one search out willing venture capitalists? A client of mine has a business plan, a good market, and a group of capable people, but just found her source of funding has dried up. If she can find one or more investors who can commit to funding, she believes that she can make it happen. But how would we find such people?
(For the curious, this is a non-tech venture.)
posted by megatherium at 5:04 PM PST - 6 comments
A few years ago, I saw a PSA narrated by what sounded like a black man in his 40s or 50s. It described how one summer he and his brother were told by their father to build a brick wall for no apparent purpose. He talked about how hot it was, how they didn't spend any time with their friends, and they had to rebuild parts that weren't up to snuff. At the end, the father said something like, "Now don't ever tell me there's anything you can't do." I loved the ad, and was wondering whether it was available online. Any ideas?
posted by ykjay at 4:01 PM PST - 6 comments
A friend of mine and I are going to Japan in a couple months and are getting our tickets now. We'll be leaving from Washington, DC and will be arriving in Tokyo and leaving from Osaka later. I'm worried about comfort, he's worried about price. We're both worried about the hassle of switching/transferring between the two Tokyo airports on the way back. Suggestions?
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posted by tittergrrl at 3:34 PM PST - 14 comments
I'm looking for a way to find out what keywords/keyphrases are being used on all search engines for my website. My stats program shows a few but there must be loads that I haven't found yet. Thanks for reading.
posted by spinko at 3:30 PM PST - 5 comments
I'm looking for web-based application that I can use to organize my todo lists. I need for it to be webbased and it also must have an RSS feed. Does anybody have any suggestions?
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posted by hubs at 3:11 PM PST - 7 comments
Songfilter: Name of the song played often at sporting events, simply repeats the word "Hey"???
posted by apark at 3:10 PM PST - 13 comments
PlumbingFilter: Help me understand my new tankless toilet with no shut-off valve. What do I do if it clogs?
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posted by WCityMike at 3:10 PM PST - 6 comments
Does anyone know any slang that waiters/waitresses use to refer to regular customers other than the obvious "regulars"?
posted by saraswati at 3:02 PM PST - 17 comments
Heading to Guadalajara and Manzanillo in early March for 10 days and wonder about tips for must-see things to do, see, restaurant recommendations and accomodations as well. ( no all-inclusives please)
posted by frizelli at 2:33 PM PST - 1 comments
I want to display images of stained glass windows on a church website. What is the best way, method, software, code etc to highlight details on the initial image and then have the user mouse over or click to get a larger shot of the detail, with a caption if possible?
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posted by Biblio at 2:31 PM PST - 6 comments
Is there a specific word for the varied detritus people leave between the pages of a book?
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posted by steef at 1:50 PM PST - 28 comments
What is the best resource, be it a site, book, whatever, to assist those unlucky enough to have to create stationery files for MS Outlook 2003? CSS supports seems inconsistent, and even table-based layouts don't behave as expected, or even as they do in IE.
posted by boombot at 1:42 PM PST - 0 comments
PHP under IIS doesn't serve default content page (index.php) when only GET variables are passed? e.g., /directory/?myvar=foobar ...I have a custom 404 error configured, and IIS is set to confirm file exists.
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posted by CaptApollo at 12:57 PM PST - 5 comments
I'm building a website for a local store; they want a small catalog to sell a few of their products online. They already accept credit cards on-site and have a merchant ID#; can a pixel-pusher like me set up a shopping cart system out of the box for them, or do I need to find a web developer?
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posted by junkbox at 12:02 PM PST - 8 comments
For a friend who is also doing a PVR project with an old machine:
I have a home made PC with an XGI Volari V3 128 mgb and a Magnavox (27MT3305/17) and I am trying to connect them through S-Video. The TV shows nothing but rolling grayscale ghosts of my desktop. I cannot find any means of configuring the video card to s-video, so I assume this is automatic.
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posted by Mayor Curley at 12:01 PM PST - 11 comments
Looks like the one story warehouse next door has been put up FOR SALE. Problem is that if a building goes up in its stead, two of my windows will be covered over. Do I have any rights or say in the matter?
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posted by Skygazer at 11:34 AM PST - 19 comments
Heading to Marrakech for a week, starting Sunday. Do any Mefites have tips, must-see places, restaurant recommendations (or places to avoid)?
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posted by darsh at 11:28 AM PST - 10 comments
CondomFilter: What is the best way to carry condoms around with you for use away from home? Looking around on the Net, you find advice that keeping it in your wallet or pocket is unsafe (heat and friction), so what other options does a guy have? Will your suggestions work for carrying more than one condom as well?
posted by anonymous at 11:01 AM PST - 16 comments
I'm looking to make some t-shirts, on an on-demand basis. Are there any alternatives to Cafe Press and Zazzle, preferably one that's not weird about owning people's designs, and copyright issues? I'd like to have unlimited designs available, decent prices, and decent quality t-shirts. I'm not interested in getting anything in bulk. Thanks!
posted by apetpsychic at 10:48 AM PST - 6 comments
Do I need to refrigerate vinaigrette?
I make a traditional vinaigrette: olive oil, vinegar, dijon mustard, herbs, salt, pepper. Do I need to refrigerate it?
posted by shothotbot at 9:34 AM PST - 13 comments
Can you see why my website's logo is messed up in Firefox but displays okay in IE
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posted by mickbw at 9:01 AM PST - 6 comments
[UmbrellaFilter] I'd like to get one of those snazzy umbrellas as seen in the Windowlicker video (by Aphex Twin). Does anyone know if it's possible, or where? For those who haven't seen the video, it's an old-fashioned-looking umbrella, white, with the logo on the cover of
Selected Ambient Works as shown in the link.
posted by ChrisR at 8:48 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm trying to set up a small network for some friends of mine. They have 2 xboxes (not 360s) and just got broadband internet specifically for Xbox Live. I picked up router (
a LinkSys WRT54G). They previously had the xbox system link bundle (4 port hub and 4 cables). Then came the problems (after the jump).
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posted by Ikazuchi at 8:06 AM PST - 8 comments
Why all the excitement over Google? I read in Wired Magazine that there has been a "breathtaking ascent of Google" in recent months, but I don't know what it's all about.
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posted by lisaj32 at 7:39 AM PST - 22 comments
Where can I find other webpages like
this one ? What blogs present other nice items (in terms of usability).
posted by vincentm at 7:33 AM PST - 9 comments
Whatever challenging and demanding mental tasks one has to perform, whether intensive games, tests, or problem saving, it just so happens that on some days the brain functions better during others. I am looking for tips on things to do to help keep a person's brain sharp, so that he feels "in the zone" during mind-intensive activities.
posted by gregb1007 at 6:22 AM PST - 16 comments
What is the *best* book you can recommend that covers diet and nutrition for a healthy pregnancy?
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posted by tpl1212 at 5:18 AM PST - 11 comments
US/UK Customer ServiceFilter: In your experience, in what instances does US customer service outshine that of the UK, and vice-versa?
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posted by By The Grace of God at 2:38 AM PST - 20 comments
Recently I've decided that I would like to take a service trip this summer, and would like opinions and ideas on where to go, who to go through, and who might help fundraise such a trip.
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posted by charmston at 1:00 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm planning on taking a Caribbean Cruise in April (my first cruise of any kind). Your experience, knowledge, and wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
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posted by gummo at 12:23 AM PST - 16 comments
January 19
How could I capture the steady stream of popularly ranked links on a web site (in this case http://del.icio.us/popular/). I thought it would be a snap with an RSS-enabled site - but after googling/trying different RSS readers, I am overwhelmed and have not found a solution. The idea is to capture the links on my hard drive so I don't miss anything if I'm away for a few days. (Bonus if I can weed out the repeats!)
posted by parma at 10:23 PM PST - 4 comments
Stupid Google tricks: I'm teaching a class on internet searching. Help me impress and inform by sharing your favorite Google or other search tool feature, trick, or hack.
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posted by cosmicbandito at 10:00 PM PST - 49 comments
Why are couriers featured in most cyberpunk stories?
posted by jimmy at 9:54 PM PST - 23 comments
I'd like to find a map of languages spoken in the Middle East. At least the major languages: Arabic, Farsi, etc. Anyone got better google-fu skills than me?
posted by zardoz at 9:09 PM PST - 5 comments
Is it possible to bypass a packet filter in order to log onto AIM from my school's network? Filtering is combination URL filtering via Sonic Wall and packet filtering via Packet Hound. We have tried proxies but have been met with little success, we need a simple lightweight solution.
posted by SuperCoolZane at 7:56 PM PST - 15 comments
I think I broke it...
I was attempting to apt-get install vsftpd when apt informed me that I need to upgrade certain packages...
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posted by jackofsaxons at 7:45 PM PST - 6 comments
Recurring foot muscle cramps. My fiancee has this weird
*foot thing* that happens about 3 or 4 days per week. In the evenings, she gets painful cramps in her foot, usually her left foot but sometimes the right one does the same. It usually takes 10 or 20 minutes to work itself out. It's helped by massage, but it hurts like the dickens while it's going on. What gives? Her diet and exercise habits inside...
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posted by zpousman at 7:35 PM PST - 13 comments
Is there a way I can find out if a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois has any health code violations?
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posted by super_not at 7:21 PM PST - 2 comments
Studyabroadfilter: I am a student at Texas Tech University and I am planning on studying abroad this summer but I do not know where to go. What do yall think?? I was thinking Spain, Italy, Norway, or Scotland. Please let me know if anyone has had prior experience with this type of program and what yall thought of where you went. Thank you very much.
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posted by flipmiester99 at 5:01 PM PST - 20 comments
Plasma Burn-in Filter:
I have a new Plasma 42" TV. The manual has a page in the front dedicated to burn-in and how it's not covered by warranty. How worried do I need to be?
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posted by SlyBevel at 4:58 PM PST - 23 comments
Shakespearefilter. One of my vices is collecting productions of Shakespeare's plays (particular Hamlet). I recently stumbled across
this theatre group who have put two shows up online for download and I was wondering if anyone knew of any others which are available anywhere online. I can't imagine that this is the only group doing this. Ideally I'm looking for those in the canon which are produced less often such as
Cymbeline or
Measure for Measure hopefully in mp3 format.
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posted by feelinglistless at 3:22 PM PST - 6 comments
My friend is traveling back to the US to deal with her estranged 83 year old acid-casualty father’s deteriorating health and living situation. Can she be held legally responsible for his debts?
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posted by zaelic at 3:21 PM PST - 13 comments
This might have been asked before but I couldn't find it in my search. My website has no advertising. Other websites have been displaying my content inside frames surrounded by advertising. How may I prevent this from happening?
posted by ig at 2:32 PM PST - 20 comments
My office has a lot of empty toner cartridges from laser printers sitting around. What should I do with them? I don't feel good about throwing them in the trash, but whenever I research selling the cartridges to a company, I can only get something like 1 dollar for each (and that will barely cover the shipping costs). What do I do??
posted by svdodge at 12:20 PM PST - 12 comments
Where can I go in New York to get
Nollywood films on DVD? What should I get? And should I be so overcautious/xenophobic to pay in cash?
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posted by j.s.f. at 12:06 PM PST - 1 comments
Many years ago in Boston when WBCN was a classical station, it broadcast a program called Dekovan (SP?) Presents. The commentator on this program made a distinction between Baroque and Rococo music. He did not elaborate on the differences between the two and implied they were too subtle for most of his listeners to understand. I do not remember after 40-45 years any of his examples of Rococo. Does Rococo music exist or was Dekovan the only one that recognized it? Do any elderly AskMefs remember Dekovan and know anything about him? The show was syndicated throughout the country.
posted by Raybun at 11:59 AM PST - 3 comments
Finding lost money filter. I was the executor for my Dads estate. The bulk of the work was done long ago, but I'm getting contacted by a company that says they know about some money still in his name. What can I do to find these funds myself?
posted by what-i-found at 11:49 AM PST - 42 comments
Are there any free/open source tools available to create web-based (HTML) tutorials that don't require server installation? I've played with IBM's Toot-o-matic in the past but it doesn't work with Java 1.5 and doesn't seem to be actively supported.
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posted by tommasz at 11:43 AM PST - 5 comments
Why is it that some videos won't play for me and I get this instead?
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posted by wsg at 11:41 AM PST - 8 comments
I've got a old dell laptop which, just before I retired it, I loaded up with NT 2000 workstation from a legit cd I had. And I've forgotten whichever username/password combo I cleverly used. Furthermore I can't find the orginal cd anywhere so that I could just reload the OS.
Does anyone know of a way I can access this machine? I want to give it to my young daughter 'cause it's free.
posted by thayerg at 11:40 AM PST - 8 comments
Apartments in Budapest, Ljubljana and Sarajevo? My roommate & I are heading to Central Europe in March, and we'd like to rent apartments for a week in each of those cities, so we can have a kitchen and enough space to not drive each other crazy.
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posted by cmonkey at 11:30 AM PST - 7 comments
How can I get a short-term, labor-intensive job in a field I'd like to start a career in?
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posted by itchi23 at 10:48 AM PST - 4 comments
Is there a simple app out there that will monitor when my Internet connection goes up and down? I've seen dozens of utilities out there that monitor a specific website, but I figure these utilities might just error out if my
own connection is down. Besides I should be monitoring 2 or 3 sites rather than just one to get a true measure of whether the Internet is down.
posted by rolypolyman at 10:40 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm thinking of buying a parrot, and I'm leaning towards a White-Bellied Caique. Does anyone own this type of bird? Can they recommend it?
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posted by Gamblor at 10:08 AM PST - 12 comments
What are the downsides of collecting unemployment (and giving the money to a friend)? Would it affect, for example, applying for a mortgage in the next two or three years? (I live in NYC).
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posted by nobody at 9:49 AM PST - 25 comments
My job requires me to travel roughly 1 week out of 4. While I enjoy this, it seriously interferes with my workout schedule. What exercises can I do with equipment that will fit in a large suitcase and won't disturb the neighbors?
posted by ttrendel at 9:17 AM PST - 20 comments
I desperately need (well want) a copy of 1987 Chinese movie "Soccer Heroes" aka "Beijing Soccer Heroes" aka ???? (Jing du qiu xia)
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posted by priorpark17 at 9:13 AM PST - 6 comments
How thick would a carbon steel plate have to be to roughly approximate the bending & deflection characteristics of 5/8" to 3/4" plywood?
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posted by true at 9:06 AM PST - 6 comments
Have we hit a low point for music at this time in history? Or is it that the great music which is out there is just not that popular?
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posted by GrumpyMonkey at 8:57 AM PST - 87 comments
My computer's hard drive died, taking my wireless access key with it. Unfortunately, I don't have a hard copy of it. Is there a way to re-set my wireless network's access settings without the original computer?
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posted by kevinmeyers at 8:56 AM PST - 5 comments
Another food/exercise/energy question: how do I arrange my life and diet so I can do two hours of a martial art every night for ten days?
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posted by bibbit at 8:48 AM PST - 7 comments
Excel Question: I have 2 lists of text data separated into 2 columns -- column A and column B. Column A is a significantly longer list (close to 10k cells) than Column B (5-6k cells), but many of the cells in Column A are identical to cells in Column B. What I would like to do is generate a Column C that only contains cells from Column A that are NOT also in Column B.
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posted by Soulbee at 8:31 AM PST - 7 comments
My daughter recently got my old play tea-set (cups, a teapot etc.). It is made from hard plastic. Is it still safe to drink from? There is no mention on the toys of the type of plastic it is made of. They are approximately 25 years old.
posted by davar at 7:31 AM PST - 7 comments
Researchers, academics, and readers: how do you deal with taking notes, recording passages, keeping a common-place book, and reading long books? What is your note-taking workflow?
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posted by josh at 7:10 AM PST - 30 comments
When reading long articles in Firefox, is there a simple way to mark your place so that you automatically start where you left off the next day when you reload that page?
posted by PurpleJack at 6:33 AM PST - 3 comments
I bought my wife a
Palm TX for pharmacy school (previously discussed
here). Are there any decent Palm forum/portal sites out there that don't suck? I'm looking for something like
ipodlounge but for Palm OS? I haven't been able to turn any up.
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posted by wheat at 6:31 AM PST - 4 comments
I've been an attorney for 4 years now, 28 years old, bored to death and uninsprired at my current job and completely clueless about my future. [long post]
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posted by workinprogress at 5:49 AM PST - 27 comments
How to break into science and medical freelance writing? High background in science, little background in writing
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posted by Wolfster at 5:39 AM PST - 14 comments
What is the optimum way in an ASP.NET Web Application with SQL Server 2000 to perform the following data correlation?
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posted by kenaman at 4:32 AM PST - 2 comments
I have been told recently that a short (say 20 minutes) series of sprints, hard workouts, is more efficient and better all around for fitness than slow long distance walking or running (jogging)...true or not?
posted by Postroad at 3:53 AM PST - 8 comments
So I have this oddly shaped head and I'd like to find eyeglasses that actually fit...
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posted by rdr at 1:44 AM PST - 13 comments
In job applications, I'm having trouble addressing the selection criteria - in particular, the one wanting to know my "Knowledge and commitment to OH&S standards and Equal Employment Opportunities Policy".
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posted by Jimbob at 1:08 AM PST - 4 comments
January 18
What is the best pool cue I can get for under 100 dollars?
Where is the best place online to get one? I'm thinking about getting one for a friend.
posted by petah at 11:43 PM PST - 9 comments
How can I set up a totally fuss-free default footer in Word?
I want to add a default footer to Normal.dot, so that if users doesn't specify their own footer they get mine, and people who get printed copies of their documents know where to go to find the originals.
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posted by flabdablet at 10:52 PM PST - 11 comments
I'm trying to figure out what to do about landscaping in a pine forest location. The problem is the soil is sandy and nothing has grown there.
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posted by chef_boyardee at 10:01 PM PST - 9 comments
Calling all fashionistas! Any one out there know of any good reference books for fashion designers?
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posted by phoenixc at 9:00 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm looking for a free online collaborative calendar/spreadsheet app to schedule volunteers. I'd like it to have time down the left side and 3 columns with titles and the whole thing can be group edited. I need 7 consecutive days of 1-hr slots from 8am to midnight.
[more inside]
posted by bagelche at 8:46 PM PST - 7 comments
Many times a "Greatest Hits" album is released and there is an extra new song or two added as a bonus (and they're usually not very good) . . Have there ever been any of these "bonus tracks" which themselves have gone on to become a greatest hit?
posted by jeremias at 8:35 PM PST - 28 comments
If someone who knows your name greets you by
not using your name, is that rude and/or disrespectful?
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posted by anonymous at 7:32 PM PST - 41 comments
I need recommendations for private alcohol treatment programmes in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island area.
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posted by anonymous at 7:31 PM PST - 5 comments
Do I have to represent myself with a flawlessly healthful past to be approved for individual (Blue Cross) health insurance?
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posted by anonymous at 7:31 PM PST - 14 comments
The chefs at my local Teppanyaki grill have these nifty knife holsters. Where can I get one?
[more inside]
posted by CrayDrygu at 5:54 PM PST - 11 comments
My '97 Saturn sedan is having speedometer problems...it gets stuck on 31 mph and sometimes (after a smack) gets up to the speed I am going, but never goes below 31 unless I smack the dash multiple times, and even park and take the key out of the ignition!
Any idea what the problem is and an estimate to the repair cost?
posted by psususe at 5:14 PM PST - 10 comments
It's my turn to have ipod woes. Has this particular problem happened to you? Please help before my ipod dream is tragically ended.
[more inside]
posted by Amizu at 5:04 PM PST - 16 comments
New PC system build, nearly new builder seeks the Volvo 240 of machines.
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posted by vers at 4:42 PM PST - 13 comments
I want to take a grant / proposal writing course online or at least learn a lot more about grant writing. Has anyone taken one or heard about one that is better than the rest? Is it something that is better taken in a classroom?
posted by k8t at 4:42 PM PST - 6 comments
Would adding advertisements to my site generate enough earnings to even bother in the first place?
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posted by sjvilla79 at 4:21 PM PST - 9 comments
I tried out Apple's Aperture for a month to see if I liked it and if it saved any time, but now that iPhoto 6 is out, I'd like to go back to iPhoto which runs loads faster on my iMac. This means I have about a month's worth of photos in Aperture I'd like to salvage in iPhoto. What I can't figure out is how to export photos from Aperture into iPhoto, instead of vice versa. Any tips?
posted by mathowie at 4:09 PM PST - 8 comments
I'm interested in writing a story set on a
texas tower,
an off-shore air defense platform used in the mid 50s to early 60s. However, I need an idea of how it was set up inside and I don't know how to get a map/plan/schematic of the tower. I don't every little detail about it, just how the space was set up and so forth.
posted by clockworkjoe at 3:51 PM PST - 5 comments
What's the easiest/best way to design a site that's meant to be viewed 4/3 while ensuring it looks right on even widescreen monitors? [more inside]
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posted by electric_counterpoint at 3:38 PM PST - 12 comments
Thinking about creating a website very similar to Metafilter. Have no php/mysql skills. What's the platform/CMS that comes closest to replicating the MeFi experience without requiring a lot of tech skills?
[more inside]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 3:31 PM PST - 13 comments
Firefoxfilter: I want to stop Firefox (1.5) from changing the focus of where I'm typing when I'm entering a URL on startup. See inside for a (hopefully) more coherent explanation of the problem...
[more inside]
posted by gwenzel at 2:20 PM PST - 23 comments
What's a good, free font for use on a 5-foot-across poster that will be filled with lots of text? (Body text will be 20-25 points.)
posted by Tlogmer at 1:43 PM PST - 9 comments
What would be a good, small utility for tracking my inbound/outbound DSL bandwidth consumption (as an end user)? All the tools I'm Googling seem to be for system administrators... I'm not running a server.
posted by hodyoaten at 1:40 PM PST - 10 comments
I'm trying to copy/paste a 5x5 PSD file into an 8x8 CD template PSD. Every time I do so, the original 5x5 shrinks to 3.8x3.8!
[more inside]
posted by Satapher at 1:16 PM PST - 14 comments
I'm a bad, bad husband. My wife's birthday is this Sunday, and I've not figured out what I'm going to do.
[more inside]
posted by thanotopsis at 12:25 PM PST - 24 comments
If I type or paste a link into IE or Firefox, I can click on the down caret at the right end of the address line and get a list of recent addresses. This persists even when I exit and reload. However, links I click on don't appear. Is there any setting or workaround (less clumsy than highlighting, copying and pasting) to get them into the list?
posted by KRS at 12:23 PM PST - 5 comments
I just got an appointment to get a henna tattoo. I'm not entirely sure what that means.....
[more inside]
posted by matkline at 12:15 PM PST - 21 comments
We're getting
married in October. We've always avoided drinking and dancing at other people's parties, and we'd like to avoid having our own wedding consist primarily of drinking and dancing.
What are some entertainment alternatives for a fun party? [more inside]
posted by dmd at 11:46 AM PST - 49 comments
I'm a twenty-one year old drop out who's looking to go back to school to get my English degree. My grades, while decent, weren't spectacular, and I can't afford NYU or New School. It's probably going to be CUNY (Hunter or Baruch) or Pace, both being fairly reasonably priced (especially, in CUNY's case, if you're a resident of NYC). BUT...
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posted by incomple at 11:33 AM PST - 9 comments
I've been looking for a one-hand keyboard. I've tried the
Frogpad but the learning curve proved to be too high. I was looking for a solution that would essentially 'mirror' the right side of the keyboard to the keys on the left when a modifier key was pressed (the G key would be modified to H, F to J, etc.).
[more inside]
posted by DandyRandy at 11:23 AM PST - 9 comments
Trying to use a Sony NW-HD3S with a G3 Mac. IS there any software or workaround to allow communication/ basic functionality -similar to what XNJB manages for Creative mp3 players- on a mac?
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posted by ClanvidHorse at 11:18 AM PST - 2 comments
How do you balance the risks you take with your career with the risk that you will be unsatisfied because you didn't take enough risk? (Further use of the work "risk" inside)
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posted by shucks at 11:04 AM PST - 12 comments
i've patched uxtheme.dll and I'm looking for good free Windows styles/themes. What do you recommend?
posted by mr_silver at 10:32 AM PST - 13 comments
I make music with singing, guitars, and somewhat fast/complex backing tracks that I sequence in Logic. How can I pull these songs off live with zero to one other humans?
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posted by thedaniel at 10:27 AM PST - 14 comments
Fellow graphic designers: I need help thinning out my collection of samples and portfolio materials. What should I keep? please hope.
[more inside]
posted by whatnot at 9:31 AM PST - 8 comments
"Stressed? Relax." Looking for this full page artwork found in Heavy Metal magazine (or maybe it was White Dwarf) back in the 80's. I vaguely remember it showing a guy looking at the reader, tearing a transparent sheet. Any ideas how to find it?
posted by indigo4963 at 9:28 AM PST - 4 comments
SciFiFilter: A while ago, I read a short story called (something along the lines of) New York vs. The World....and I can't find it again!
[more inside]
posted by gnomicPerfect at 7:38 AM PST - 5 comments
Introductory college-level textbook of Statistics ? I've got an half decent understanding of calculus I and some practice studying functions (stationery points, flexes, limits etc) , calculating finite and indefinite integrals and some background theory.
[more inside]
posted by elpapacito at 7:35 AM PST - 9 comments
What sort of useful stuff do you have on your refrigerator? I'm looking for cool things like notepads, calendars, utility magnets, etc. We're trying to spruce ours up and are looking for ideas.
posted by frenetic at 7:30 AM PST - 34 comments
So, I'm gonna DJ tonight using my 12" PowerBook as the source. I know the mixer requires mono--the question is how to do it. I don't want to ignore the right stereo channel. But do I use a stereo-mono adapter? Stereo-mono cable? Software?
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posted by kenneth at 6:34 AM PST - 7 comments
Burning DVDs: I want to get clips from (commercial and locked) DVDs and into a new DVD for class, with a menu system. I've seen
this explanation, but I have a Mac (OS X, I could be convinced to upgrade to 10.4 if necessary). What's the easiest and/or best way to do this?
[more inside]
posted by barnone at 12:01 AM PST - 11 comments
January 17
Super amateur musician-filter: I have a
korg microKORG, and it's great, but there's an issue that prevents me from doing anything useful with it, and I'm completely clueless as to how to resolve it.
[more inside]
posted by helios at 11:26 PM PST - 5 comments
IRSAuditFilter: If one were to, sayy, cash personal checks at the checkwriter's bank, would the IRS know?
posted by anonymoose at 9:18 PM PST - 17 comments
Fiction usually comes in two flavours: 1st person narrative or 3rd person description.
What short stories or novels have been written in
2nd person perspective (i.e. from the reader's viewpoint)? Also, are there any movies shot entirely from this angle?
posted by 0bvious at 9:10 PM PST - 63 comments
Im looking for online videos of how to dance at a club; failing that, videos of people dancing at clubs
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posted by GleepGlop at 8:48 PM PST - 26 comments
after watching tonight's daily show (1/17), i wondered what the technical word for "taint" really is...
[more inside]
posted by jadanzzy at 8:38 PM PST - 30 comments
I run a tiny record label. So far we have one release under our belt and book keeping has been relatively easy as far as keeping track of what outlets we sell the cd too, and keeping track of collections and what not...We have three releases planned for the upcoming months, and this is gonna throw a wrench into our book keeping.. I could very well, just adopt the same policy for every release as I do for our first one, but it seems like a lot more work then needs to be done.. I keep a simple ledger for each account with how may cd's they took in, what they ow, and when a check comes in subtract the payment from the existing balance. NOw with some vendors having two or three of our releases, and checks coming in for more then one of our releases, Im gonna need a better way to keep track of ... (more inside)
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posted by TwilightKid at 8:34 PM PST - 6 comments
PerspirationFilter: Is there anything I can do about excessive sweating (aside from staying completely still in a suitably cool environment)?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:11 PM PST - 14 comments
How can I become a financial advisor or planner? Is it prudent for me to consider entering this field at the age of thirty?
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posted by anonymous at 8:11 PM PST - 7 comments
Is "complete urinalysis" a euphemism for "drug test"?
I'm going for a physical tomorrow for a teaching job I'm going to be taking in a few months. The forms say I need to have a "complete urinalysis". So, I have a two-part question.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:10 PM PST - 15 comments
Previously paper-trained Chihuahua, now on the path to being house broken will very very occasionally do her business outside. If let out from her crate, she may go to the bathroom in the house, however, for some reason, she prefers to go to the bathroom in her crate (just number one)! Outside she will just stand around our feet, looking to be picked up or just looking up at us. Her Chihuahua friend, similar history with paper training, will do her business in a mater of seconds on the lawn…she learnt this in a couple of days. What are we doing wrong with the stubborn one??? I don’t want her to be in a crate every time we have to leave the room. All I want for her to understand is that when Chihuahua goes outside, does the business, Chihuahua can quickly go inside …
When she does go to the bathroom outside she is rewarded, but as mentioned, this is not often…
Any hints? Any Chihuahua specific pointers?
Thanks
posted by strangelove at 7:59 PM PST - 12 comments
I have a large mirror that my former roommates acquired via
dumpster diving. It measures 48" x 36". It has 4 small holes, one drilled in each corner, 5" diagonally from the corners and 3.5" from the sides. It's unframed and quite heavy. How can I hang it without using glue or mastic?
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posted by Famous at 7:16 PM PST - 14 comments
I am currently going through caffeine withdrawal. I have gone for three days without any caffeine and still feel bad. I don't have headaches, I am just fatigued, irritable, foggy headed and unhappy. Has anyone else gone through this? How long before you started feeling normal again?
posted by Sonny Jim at 6:47 PM PST - 23 comments
How can I fix my SiS onboard video? What did I even do to break it?
I recently reinstalled my girlfriend's Linux machine, adding a hard drive in the process. For some reason, the display shows horizontal glitches and every once in a while blinks black for a few seconds.
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posted by adamwolf at 6:46 PM PST - 9 comments
I've lost a website that correlates rewards in frequent flyer miles for money spent various retail partners.
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posted by sled at 6:08 PM PST - 3 comments
Should I violate this non-compete agreement? If I do, what's the worst that could happen?
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posted by lalalana at 6:07 PM PST - 20 comments
What's the best online bookmark managing tool?
Importance placed on being able to access them from any computer and an interface/usability similar to bookmarks native in firefox?
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posted by chefscotticus at 5:59 PM PST - 6 comments
Foreign aid: threat or menace? Help me track down this possibly apocryphal story.
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posted by richg at 5:11 PM PST - 12 comments
Help -- for Wacom Intuos GD users on windows IE - XP users: I bought an used Wacom tablet on e-bay and an ADB to USB. I hooked it up by slapping the wacom male to the ADB to USB and shot that into the USB 2.0 hub. The Wacom reacts with a green indicator light although the pen won't work. I've installed the download software and can not get the Wacom pen / device to work. Any idea's??? Many, many thanks...
posted by orlin at 5:00 PM PST - 8 comments
I've recently discovered a delightfully insane religion, and I want to buy their book. There are a couple of problems, though.
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posted by interrobang at 4:51 PM PST - 23 comments
Its been discussed many times before on MeFi, and I'd like to get a clearer picture of this issue: copyright and public domain.
[more inside]
posted by tetsuo at 4:33 PM PST - 19 comments
Has anyone ever lived in an ashram? If so, please tell me a little about your experience, positive and negative. Details such as location, work involved, costs, etc., also appreciated.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 4:19 PM PST - 5 comments
Can anyone reccomend resources for someone interested in finding work in Asia Pacific, preferably in a helping capacity?
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posted by sophist at 3:16 PM PST - 4 comments
BouncyBallFilter - I'm looking for a place where I can buy a large quantity of Superballs (like the ones in the Sony Bravia advert). I can find lots of them using Google, but not those that I want.
[more inside]
posted by lodev at 3:10 PM PST - 9 comments
Can someone find a serviceable digital version of
this Pulitzer prize winning photograph? I want to use it as a desktop picture...
[more inside]
posted by Infernarl at 2:13 PM PST - 13 comments
Am organizing a small & quiet low-key (no strippers) bachelor party for a half dozen guys. We are thinking of Sierraville hot springs, although it's a little newagey/hippie/meditative for us, as we might want to be a bit more social.
[more inside]
posted by luriete at 1:45 PM PST - 1 comments
Blacklisted from Microsoft- filter: Can I still find a job for my computer skills in Seattle if I can't work for the 800-pound Redmond gorilla?
[more inside]
posted by hincandenza at 1:21 PM PST - 15 comments
A friend of mine is trippin' to Houston, Texas in March with her husband and their nine-month-old baby son, and she needs some specific travel advice.
[more inside]
posted by orange swan at 1:01 PM PST - 11 comments
My 13 month old son is absolutely refusing to drink from a sippy cup (we have eliminated his bottles completely). Any advice on how to encourage him to drink? He's at the point where he actually throws a mini-fit if the sippy cup is brought near his mouth.
posted by Todd Lokken at 12:52 PM PST - 25 comments
Why do I learn better from a videotaped lecture than from reading a book? They both seem to be passive and linear in thought, but somehow I learn better from the video. Why is that?
posted by mrkohrea at 11:59 AM PST - 12 comments
I have tried google and message boards and the publisher's site to no avail. Any idea where I can get an official 2006 David Foster Wallace reading or book signing or appearance schedule?
[more inside]
posted by pissfactory at 11:47 AM PST - 3 comments
I'm a Canadian who has very recently bought a pre-owned computer for a business I'm starting. Can I claim it in the upcoming income tax? Should I have registered the business first, and then make the necessary purchases? What is the deadline for claiming small business expenses on income tax anyway?
posted by rinkjustice at 11:28 AM PST - 5 comments
I would like to travel and I recently realized that my wardrobe leaves much to be desired. I have read here that it is possible for a man to travel to an Asian country such as India or Thailand and have a suit of reasonable quality tailored for but a fraction of what an equivalent in the United States would cost. If it is indeed possible, how should I go about doing this?
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posted by davidriley at 11:11 AM PST - 13 comments
Was wondering if anyone knew the Australian name for a hurricane/tropical storm/typhoon/cyclone. I have tried google-ing this but can't seem to find anything but lists of hurricane names... it came up over dinner last week and has been driving me mad!
posted by dazedandconfused at 11:06 AM PST - 13 comments
Are there any land-line (PSTN) phones that are Bluetooth-enabled and can sync with
Address Book? I'm tired of manually transferring phone numbers from my home phone to my laptop and cellphone.
posted by eustacescrubb at 11:04 AM PST - 1 comments
Anyone placed a call from the US to a mobile phone in the UK? Or more importantly, been the recipient of such a call?
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posted by globetrotter30 at 10:42 AM PST - 18 comments
why is the question, "so have a special woman in your life yet?" always one of the first 3 questions a woman asks when you haven't talked to them in a while.
posted by goldism at 10:34 AM PST - 41 comments
GirlfriendFlushedHerTubeOfDeodorantDownTheCanFilter: Toilet clogged. As the statistically significant other, I have been enlisted to fix the problem.
[more inside]
posted by mdpc98 at 10:27 AM PST - 25 comments
Ack! My favorite bookseller, A Common Reader, seems to have vanished. The web page is blank, and calls to the 800 number are unanswered. Has anyone out there heard anything? How do you go about finding out if a company has gone under and what the heck happened?
posted by JanetLand at 9:36 AM PST - 9 comments
I'm looking for "charming", "special" or otherwise "interesting" lodging / hotel recommendations in Bangkok for a group of 5 persons + a baby in the 30-50 Euros/room per night range for between 3-5 nights in April. Two of us are not new to the place (in fact one is a native). More inside.
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posted by magullo at 9:22 AM PST - 7 comments
I was out of town for three weeks and left my car in the open (almost) and due to the cold weather I had tough time getting it started yesterday. The AAA guy said it was very likely moisture in the gas, etc. But eventually after much cranking and screeching and some initial smoke it seems to working ok again. However, I also noticed I get a thumping noise coming from wheels or somewhere close by when I brake. I was wondering if somebody can tell me if it is related to cold weather also. I put the car in the garage yesterday. But the noise seems to be still there. I am not sure if it has lessened somewhat or not.
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posted by flyby22 at 9:14 AM PST - 8 comments
A very dear friend has asked me to be God Father to his young daughter. My friend and I go back 20 years - he's like a brother to me. What is an appropriate gift to give my soon-to-be God Daughter?
posted by stiffpicken at 8:58 AM PST - 21 comments
I work for a medium sized software company with a significant professional services practice. This consists mainly of implementation consultants and project leads who do the hands on work of defining deliverables for clients and configuring the software to their specs. As part of a re-org last year we pulled a few people off of the line and set up what we called the Resource Team. This included a Knowledge Manager to organize all of our implementation articles and training, a project manager to build and rollout project management tools for the consultants, a design specialist to participate in the more complex projects, etc; about 8 people total that report to me. We recently did another re-org and I wanted to reconsider the name - looking for something a little more impactful. Any analogies out there or ideas for places to look? Thanks in advance!
posted by jbradley at 8:39 AM PST - 19 comments
I’m applying for a position at a community college that requires a teaching demonstration. I’ve held teaching positions before at the secondary level and never had to do any demonstrations and I'm feeling a bit nervous. Does anyone have advice on how to prepare, what I should expect, and how to get over feeling somewhat silly pretending to teach in front of a large group of people?
posted by a22lamia at 8:39 AM PST - 11 comments
PDAFilter: I've been using MarkSpace Missing Sync to sync my Clie's with my Mac Powerbook as well as with my XP work machine. But the sync doesn't do anything on the Mac anymore.
[more inside]
posted by fenriq at 8:32 AM PST - 5 comments
I'm looking for a book that I read when I was younger and I can't remember the title or author!
Details that I recall:
A girl (baby) raised by aborigines (?) and discovered by a couple. They take her in (she's a teenager) and she takes care of them. The wife dies, the wife has the girl promise to take care of the husband, girl goes to college, something about a albino who is related to the girl, stuck on a island, girl ends up marrying (?) or going to marry husband.
Anyone know this book? Help!
posted by Mike C. at 8:30 AM PST - 3 comments
Aqua Jogger -- I'm considering buying one. Is the revised model (about $60) better than the
original ($40)? Is it easier to use (as a beginner) if I buy the pool
hitch too? Any females out there who have switched to the women's version? Any buying advice is welcome.
posted by nancoix at 8:28 AM PST - 3 comments
Art Restoration : I have an old oil-painting that is pretty grungy due to decades of living with smokers and hanging near a fireplace. I'd like to get it cleaned, but I don't know the first thing about a) finding a restorer, and b) what I can expect to pay to have the work done.
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posted by crunchland at 7:55 AM PST - 10 comments
Since I figured "hey, I can do algebra!", I volunteered to be the treasurer for an academic conference coming up in a couple of months. Thing is, I've never been a treasurer before; what do I need to do?
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posted by rkent at 7:52 AM PST - 2 comments
Experiences with hardwood floors in the bathroom? I have decided I want to install hardwood flooring in my bathroom. If you have ever lived with wooden bathroom floors, please let me know if there is anything I should be aware of.
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posted by evoo at 7:10 AM PST - 25 comments
A friend has a band, the band has CDs, the band want to sell digital downloads of the music on those CDs.
Is there a web site that offers some kind of service to help with the problem of payment processing and hosting the files?
They already have their songs in the iTunes Music Store, but they also want to offer them from their own site. This would let them keep a bigger chunk of the price paid, and offer the songs to people not served by iTMS (for geographical, technological or ideological reasons).
They might be willing to use plain mp3s, without DRM, if this is what's needed to offer the songs on their site.
posted by sd at 6:52 AM PST - 8 comments
PAL v. NTSC Re:Mini DV. I need help choosing a new video camera, but have some concerns about my future.
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posted by medium format at 4:51 AM PST - 6 comments
January 16
If you had the following skills and job experiences and were an incredibly quick study, talented problem solver, organized, smart, almost 30 (trust me, this is not about me...), what kind of work would you do? Any specific ideas? I'm trying to help a friend. (more...)
[more inside]
posted by lois1950 at 11:53 PM PST - 10 comments
I want to visit NYC for a month in April/May.
Any tips for short term rentals? One bed or studio apartment. I hope to be working in the Tribeca area. I live in Australia so pls assume that I know nothing about the rental process and need to start from scratch!
posted by sconbie at 11:51 PM PST - 5 comments
The "new, state of the art" cardio machines at my gym always tell me my heart rate is unreasonably high (170 beats per minute) even though I'm working at a level where I can still maintain a breathy conversation. Occasionally, the machine will say my heart rate is something totally wacky, like 220.
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posted by Kololo at 11:34 PM PST - 9 comments
Dear NOLAfites: I have the opportunity to go to New Orleans for 2 weeks in February. The kicker is that I'll have to make it a sort of working vacation...
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posted by missmobtown at 10:41 PM PST - 6 comments
What powdered drink mix did they give my boyfriend in Japan to get him high?
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posted by c at 9:26 PM PST - 35 comments
Name that Egyptian hair style: the thin, elongated beards men favored. I think many were false wigs, and they even carve them into the masks worn on mummies. What was their significance/meaning? What were they called?
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posted by jruckman at 8:45 PM PST - 3 comments
Uploading pictures to Flickr via Treo? I just noticed this service called ShoZu that is an app for certain phones to easily up load cameraphone pictures to Flickr. I'm sad to report the Treo isn't listed as being supported.
So my question is, do any of you know of any palm apps that let you upload pictures to flickr in any way other than email???
posted by joshgray at 7:47 PM PST - 4 comments
What is the best way to finish a soapstone carving? I have tried car wax, mineral oil and linseed oil - all applied with a leather sham, and all based on recommendations, but all unsatisfactory. I sand in gradations from 80 grit to 1500 grit but nothing that I do results in that smooth, shiny, almost translucent quality that I have seen in other soapstone carvings. I do all my carving and finishing by hand, no Dremmel or similar.
posted by arcticwoman at 7:29 PM PST - 7 comments
Moving just a few bulky things halfway across the country ... what's the economical way?
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posted by SpecialK at 6:38 PM PST - 12 comments
I'm looking for a version of today's Al Gore speech I can put onto my iPod for the commute tomorrow. Does anyone know where I can find it in a format other than the annoying Real Media format?
posted by DragonBoy at 6:35 PM PST - 5 comments
as a civil-libertarian i greatly appreciated al gore's fiery speech on C-SPAN today. while the former vice-president looked a little heavier, i noticed his hair was much thicker than it was in the 2000 presidential race. did he get a hair transplant or is he combing his hair differently?
posted by brandz at 6:20 PM PST - 4 comments
Calling all DIY speaker enthusiasts! I'm packing off to college next year and my anticipated roomate and I are both interested in building a sound system of sorts. We are both somewhat experienced with audio systems (theatre sound techs) but have never tackled any sort of speaker construction project. More inside...
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posted by phrontist at 5:54 PM PST - 21 comments
Looking for a high end digital camera that is mobile, yet takes pictures with a high enough resolution to be blown up to about two feet wide. Ideally the quality would be good enough to hang in a gallery...
[more inside]
posted by xammerboy at 3:58 PM PST - 18 comments
GradSchoolFilter: After a lot of soul searching, I've decided I want to change careers. I think I'd like to become a Nurse Practioner. I've already registered for a few prerequisites and will begin classes in a few weeks.
The problem is, although I went to a top-notch school for my undergrad degree, I have less than stellar grades - about B- average.
[more inside]
posted by discokitty at 3:31 PM PST - 6 comments
I want to buy some fun, interesting "stuff" for my girfriend's nine year-oid daughter. Suggest away: toys, crafts, music, surprises....If it helps, she's in Ontario, and I'm here in NYC.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:15 PM PST - 27 comments
So the Florida kids who beat up three homeless men (killing one of them) were apparently outed to the police on a website discussion forum about street racing. Anyone know (or able to google) the site? I'm always interested when real-live criminal suspects have some connection to an on-line community. It would be interesting (maybe even worthy of the Blue) to see the web discussion forum that led to murder charges.
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posted by Mid at 2:52 PM PST - 12 comments
I just bought an optical audio cable to plug my PS2 into my receiver. I bought the cheapest one because they ranged as high as 180 CAD and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay that much for a 4ft cable. Is there a difference between the 31 CAD one I bought and the ultra-blah-blah-blah Monster cable that I could have bought?
posted by ddf at 2:51 PM PST - 14 comments
I'd love to add more fish to my diet. But I can't afford salmon or tuna steaks or swordfish or any of that yuppie crap.
I happen to live near a decent fish market. They sell all kinds of cheaper fish: spots and chubbs and mackerels and whatnot. Tell me about
those. How do I pick 'em? How do I cook 'em? Which ones are the tastiest? Which are the best bargain?
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:21 PM PST - 27 comments
I'm evaluating The Gimp for use in a corporate setting, and it's looking pretty nice. Now, however, someone in desktop software is saying it's not allowed because it installs naughty things...
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posted by mimi at 2:03 PM PST - 37 comments
hifi-lter: I want to add an extra pair of speakers to my Panasonic (sa-pm25) hi-fi. But each of the existing speakers have 4 wires (2x 2pairs).
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posted by blacksky at 1:59 PM PST - 9 comments
Do you have a super-tiny digital camera that cost less than 40-50 bucks? I am not getting a camera-phone anytime soon, but I am looking for recommendations for a really, really cheap and really, really small (the size of a lighter is about right) digital camera that I can carry everywhere, but not worry too much about losing or damaging.
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posted by chr1sb0y at 1:36 PM PST - 12 comments
I have a lot of still photographs and want to make a time-lapse movie. I am on a Mac.
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posted by p7a77 at 12:49 PM PST - 8 comments
Metatextualityfilter: When it comes to reading philosophy, critical theory, and other forms of argumentative writing, what sort of active-reading methods or practices have you found successful?
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posted by mikelly at 12:28 PM PST - 17 comments
Is the United States "at war" or not? If Congress only authorized the use of force against Iraq, and did not formally declare war, what is our status under the Constitution? What about Afganistan?
posted by sushrob at 12:23 PM PST - 20 comments
I am looking for the name/composer of a frequently-heard piece of classical female choral music.
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posted by everichon at 12:19 PM PST - 6 comments
We've got a couple last details to work out for our wedding in May in Boston. What we really need is a limo and someone to play classical guitar for our ceremony. Finding either of these isn't hard, what we really want is recommendations to try to narrow down the field to ones that people have had good experiences with.
posted by JonahBlack at 12:17 PM PST - 2 comments
Will a withdrawal from a course, and therefore a grade of "W" ultimately hurt my chances of getting into a good grad school?
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posted by almostbarefoot at 11:54 AM PST - 18 comments
My 5 year old jvc dvm90 minidv/still camera just gave up. It's my only digital still camera, so I want to get another, but don't have much money now. I was always disappointed by the low light filming any way. So, do I get an equivalent for ~$300 or go for a used "prosumer" like the canon xi, Panasonic 953, etc. for about$450 to $500 if possible(craigslist, ebay)?
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posted by 445supermag at 11:39 AM PST - 5 comments
I like wearing shoes during the winter with furry fabric on the inside and no socks. Add this to cold weather and I find myself extremely static-y. I shock everything; light switch plates, my car, my laptop. My question is...am I doing any damage to my iBook when I get shocked by it?
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:25 AM PST - 11 comments
I have a Sony Ericsson T616 currently locked and branded to AT&T's network. I am a current T-mobile customer and would like to unlock the phone to use with T-mob. Are there any places in SF or Sacramento that can unlock this phone for me, or where I can purchase the cable to unlock and flash it myself?
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posted by fishfucker at 9:53 AM PST - 7 comments
Can I use a 3D FPS game engine (i.e. Half-Life 2 or the like) to render and control virtual scenes in real-time? Game modders, is what I want to do possible?
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posted by chos at 9:30 AM PST - 8 comments
My father is retiring this week and I want to get him something special as congratulations (and thanks). Any ideas?
posted by xmutex at 9:06 AM PST - 7 comments
I regularly connect to my school and work networks via VPN. When I am not connected, Windows' VPN connection dialog always pops up while I am surfing. I cancel the connection, but it returns at random a few minutes or a few hours later. How do I get it to go stay away until I explicitly tell it I want to connect?
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posted by pheideaux at 9:01 AM PST - 2 comments
What resources exist to illustrate that an online credit card subscription is a sound financial investment for a print magazine? [
