In Secretary there is a scene where Maggie Gyllenhaal is putting on blue eyeshadow, her hair is braided, and I swear it's familiar, also later she's setting a rat trap and the 'movie deja vu' happens again. Is this scene supposed to echo another movie or am I imagining things? Also, are there any other movies that have a decent portrayal of D/s relationships?
posted by nile_red at 11:30 PM PST - 14 comments

Online dating diplomacy. If you decide after an email or two that you are not interested in the other person, either because the conversation is uninspiring or the pictures they send are unappealing, should you actually write to tell them "sorry, but I'm not interested?" Or is that worse than falling silent and letting the correspondence die? Some people persist if you don't respond, and ask "what's the deal? you didn't like my pic?" I honestly don't know what's the best thing to say, if anything. Honesty is not the same as full disclosure, and I just feel that random people really don't need to hear that I find them undesireable / uninteresting. I figure if I just stop writing, most people will simply write me off and move on. What do you think?
posted by scarabic at 11:04 PM PST - 38 comments

How dangerous is it to drive with earphones? I drive a noisy, noisy little car with a crappy stereo, and the tempation to just listen to my flash mp3 player with some Koss isolating earbuds is pretty strong, yet I don't want to endanger others or die in a fiery wreck. But at some point, with the car as noisy as it is, what's the difference?
posted by anonymous at 10:49 PM PST - 26 comments

Tonight, one of my housemates checked into a safehouse. Unbeknownst to anyone else in the house, he's been cutting himself, and he's suffering from heavy depression/suicidal thoughts, mostly due to school and being away from home.

What can I do to help out? Things to do when he gets home? What would be nice to bring him while he's getting help? For anyone who's been in this situation, what did you find especially helpful/uplifting?
posted by anonymous at 10:49 PM PST - 18 comments

Molefilter: the removal of. Looking into removing a harmless (yet unattractive) mole. Cheaply. [MI]
posted by sarahmelah at 7:23 PM PST - 21 comments

Borders administers some type of psych test when you apply online (or in store). What is the test and (of course) what are the best responses?
posted by Jim Jones at 7:23 PM PST - 31 comments

Can someone please explain to me the argument against genetically-engineered foods? If science can increase our agricultural output, why shouldn't we take advantage of it? What are the hidden consequences of growing GE crops and raising GE animals?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:22 PM PST - 39 comments

Firefox and favicon.ico: Why does the Firefox bookmark toolbar pick up the favicon.ico for some sites but not others? How can I make it pick up the favicon.ico for my site? [+]
posted by sciurus at 6:47 PM PST - 11 comments

Globalization on Film: I’m looking for suggestions for recent films which deal with the topic of globalization in interesting ways. [MI+]
posted by tulseluper at 6:47 PM PST - 20 comments

Uploading images to a digital camera. Can it be done?

I have an HP Photosmart 435 digital camera. I have the Unload settings such that the images are deleted from the memory card every time they are downloaded to the PC. I want to take advantage of the Target print-your-own-photos kiosk that allows you to plug in your memory card to download photos (and I don't want to burn CDs every time I want prints). Is it possible to put images back ON my memory card in the camera? I know all about using Ofoto and Shutterfly. (I suppose this is a fairly narrowly phrased question).
posted by trey at 6:42 PM PST - 6 comments

An elderly relative was just diagnosed with spinal stenosis. [+]
posted by grateful at 6:15 PM PST - 3 comments

Anyone know the origin (if one exists) to the phrase "Well sir..." -- you know, when it's spoken quickly, with the emphasis on the WELL word. My friend and I use it all the time and are nearly certain that it hails from a TV show, movie, or some other cultural touchstone. Ideas?
posted by davidmsc at 5:06 PM PST - 19 comments

TrumpetFilter: A long shot I know, BUT.. I'm a 17 year old trumpet player of reasonably high student standard, and I have recently been asked to consider performing a concerto sometime in the summer with my local youth orchestra. Could anyone suggest any suitable repertoire? (Not Arutiunian, Mozart, Haydn or Hummel).
posted by Lotto at 4:02 PM PST - 12 comments

Another obsecure 70's TV movie question....[mi+]
posted by keep it tight at 3:00 PM PST - 5 comments

What's up with scratch tickets? Are they just as much of a scam as the regular lottery? Are some a better gamble than others? Does anyone ever make any money off of those things?
posted by agregoli at 1:56 PM PST - 26 comments

This has puzzled me for a long time. People who've been blind since birth - how can they dream images? Do they? Without a visual history for reference, how can it happen?
posted by davebush at 1:48 PM PST - 7 comments

2 iPod users, 2 Macs- how do we share music? [MI]
posted by mkultra at 1:44 PM PST - 13 comments

London Historical Site Filter (come in, come in)
posted by LarryC at 1:30 PM PST - 8 comments

I dropped my PB this morning (truth be told, I slipped down a couple stairs and landed hard), this time really badly. The top aluminum panel has a corner bent (about 2 degrees from about 2 inches in) and the bottom case is so badly bent and warped that I was astounded the machine booted up. More inside...
posted by o2b at 1:26 PM PST - 9 comments

Wanna-be librarian/archivist filter -- I'm looking for advice or personal experiences on how long library experience "lasts", if a MSI can "expire" due to immediate use, etc. (more inside)
posted by birchfield at 1:25 PM PST - 7 comments

Broken Gmail account: I have GmailStatus installed which tells me i have 4 new messages, but whenever I try to open my inbox it tells me that "[my] session has expired. Please sign in again." Has anyone found any resources for fixing or reporting a problem with Gmail?
posted by garethspor at 1:20 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for recommendations on networked mp3 players for a home stereo. [+]
posted by skwm at 12:54 PM PST - 8 comments

A friend’s car sat parked legally* on the street outside our house for approx 6 months. It was towed last week for being “parked on the grass” and for not “possessing a valid parking permit.” While there may have been other valid reasons for it to get towed, it was certainly not parked on the grass, nor did it need a permit to be parked there. The towing company denies wrongdoing (obviously) is doing everything possible to avoid responsibility. [MI]
posted by fourstar at 12:47 PM PST - 24 comments

I love some of the commercials for PBS. There is one playing currently that is constructed around the story of Little Red Riding Hood's wolf. Philip Glass' music from The Hours is throughout, a father is reading the story to his daughter, then gets interrupted by Lara Spencer, Charlie Rose ("In my interview with the wolf, he said he does his own stunts to add more realism to the story"), Jim Lehrer, Bernadette Peters and a couple others who I don't know, who all have comments about the wolf. Is this commercial available online? Does anyone know who made this?
posted by scazza at 12:16 PM PST - 4 comments

How to sell a non-moving car? [MI]
posted by defcom1 at 11:50 AM PST - 10 comments

What's the best way to find cheap flights (Harrisburg, PA to San Jose or San Francisco, CA) for this weekend? I know about Priceline, but would prefer to at least have some say in what times my flights are. Orbitz, Expedia, etc. are all showing really expensive fares.
posted by rorycberger at 11:45 AM PST - 15 comments

What's involved in being a sperm donor? I was recently approached by a friend of a friend, and don't really know what to say besides I guess I'm flattered. Any legal/emotional/financial/logitical concerns, pitfalls, and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
posted by gottabefunky at 11:44 AM PST - 11 comments

Where to study or read in NYC? [+]
posted by lorrer at 11:30 AM PST - 11 comments

Age and (physical) flexibility. [MI]
posted by TiredStarling at 11:13 AM PST - 12 comments

I used to love to play pachinko, but it's been years and years since i've seen one. Where in canada or america can i get my fix? (Proximity to toronto preferred but not necessary.)
posted by psychoticreaction at 11:10 AM PST - 1 comments

Is posting an ad on Monster.com worthwhile?
posted by faustessa at 11:05 AM PST - 18 comments

I'd like to automate some sort of synchronize process to run every time I start/close a separate application in Windows. It should download a data file on launch and upload after exiting, without having to think about it. Is there any easy way to do this? Preferably using SFTP or another secure method.
posted by sfluke20 at 10:38 AM PST - 13 comments

Help us Find That Flick! It's a scary movie from the 1970s that may in fact have been a TV pilot for a show called "Ghost Story." (Open the creaking door, come inside...)
posted by GaelFC at 10:37 AM PST - 6 comments

Where can I get cheap 11"x17" poster frames? This size is really hard to find in shops, despite being a standard size for concert/theatre posters. The cheapest I've found in Toronto is CA$17 a piece, for a standard 2-inch pine bordered frame. Any reputable & cheap online stores? I'm looking to buy 10 frames.
posted by krunk at 10:05 AM PST - 12 comments

Music Practice: I recall someone describing to me a book that describes how to get into the proper mindset for practicing your instrument, and discusses the psychology of performing, stage fright, and how to achieve the right mindset before a performance. The person who described it said it had helped them greatly in practice and performance. This may not be enough to nail down the specific book, but does anyone have a book or method that has helped them with these things?
posted by agropyron at 9:40 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a DVD that I want to edit using a tool like Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere. How do I somehow get an editable file from the files on the DVD (vob, ifo, etc.)? I'm looking to retain as much quality as possible, so I assume this means I need an MPEG2 file? I've looked all over dvdrhelp and doom9, and if this is covered, it's covered using words I don't understand. In order of priority: Quality of final product/ease of use/price. Thanks!
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:35 AM PST - 7 comments

OenoFilter: When/where/how did the practice of wine tasting begin? More specific question inside.
posted by Miko at 9:09 AM PST - 21 comments

VideoFilter: When I take stills from a DV capture and use them in my Premiere Footage as a slide, sometimes they image will shake, as if the image is quickly switching back and forth between frames. What causes this and is there any way to cure it?
posted by bryanzera at 8:46 AM PST - 5 comments

VacationFilter: After 15 years of work, I'm ready for a real vacation. Do any of the DC-Metro Area Folks have a good travel agent they can recommend for planning a Cruise?
posted by ad hoc at 8:17 AM PST - 4 comments

For the last few days I think I've been suffering from a very mild stomach flu. Nothing virulent, just enough to make me at times mildly uncomfortable. A friend of mine wants me to meet him for a drink tonight. I've heard that whisky can kill microbes in the stomach. Is this true? If so, would a couple of fingers of whisky be a good idea tonight?
posted by sic at 7:48 AM PST - 13 comments

RoofingFilter: One reason we got our new house cheap is that the roof needs to be replaced (and the ventilation improved); unfortunately our inspector, who used to be a roofer and had good suggestions, didn't have any names to recommend and could only suggest we get as many bids as possible. Since I had good luck with my query about movers (and thanks, NorthCoastCafe, for recommending City Moves, who were great!), I'm rolling the dice again: anyone know a good roofer in Pittsfield (or the northern Berkshires)?
posted by languagehat at 7:34 AM PST - 9 comments

I went to see a foreign film yesterday and was dismayed that the subtitles were in white. Isn't it a proven fact that subtitles show up better when in yellow? Also, why are subtitles in a sans serif font? I read something sometime ago that printed text should be in a serif font because it's easier on the eyes. Something about the serif thingies allowing your eyes to flow from letter to letter easier than a sans serif font.
posted by NoMich at 7:16 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm 21. Should I start drinking? [MI]
posted by stopgap at 4:14 AM PST - 80 comments

Sometimes I am in a rush and run into a convenience store to buy lunch. Problem is, I want that lunch to be reasonably healthy (lowish fat, minimal chemicals), without resorting to buying the 'fake versions' of junk foods (like baked potato chips, low-carb candy bars etc). Those foods usually have too many ingredients with 7 syllables each for my comfort. (There's nothing healthy about 'food' created in a chemistry lab.) So basically I always end up staring blankly at the shelves, and then buy an energy bar.

So - what would you suggest for a healthy(ish) lunch from a convenience store?
posted by Kololo at 2:59 AM PST - 23 comments

I thought of asking this question in response to this comment, but thought it was better off here:
Why are legal drug prices so expensive. As a biochemistry major, I see first-hand how expensive very simple reagents and machines are to create simple research. It seems somewhat reasonable that in my naive on little world, drug prices are somewhat justified by the cost of r&d. Are there any reports out there of where drug companies spend their money. i.e., can I see how much are sent on salaries, equipment, court fees, etc to get more of an understanding of drug company costs and profits, especially since I'll probably being getting a job at one in a few months. Also, info on why drugs (beyond their being greedy) are so expensive in The States (or so I hear) vs. other parts of the world would be useful, too.
posted by jmd82 at 10:13 PM PST - 56 comments

its my understanding that stuff generally feels smells tastes or looks good because it benefits our survival. Fats and sugars have energy. Sex continues the species. Good interior design makes you feel safe - etc etc.

So why do flowers 'smell good'?
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 9:57 PM PST - 21 comments

Anyone know anything about sebaceous cysts?
posted by GriffX at 9:15 PM PST - 9 comments

All purpose text editor for the mac?
posted by Dennis Murphy at 8:48 PM PST - 21 comments

Are AMD CPUs prone to overheating?
posted by knave at 8:45 PM PST - 27 comments

Anyone else out there a foster parent? We are first time foster parents and are appalled by the system. A little girl has lived with us for almost a year. I can't find any internet support. Any suggestions?
posted by davenportmom at 7:56 PM PST - 12 comments

Name. This. Tune. Please. Short clip (218k); More (531k). I heard it many years ago on NPR, as background to a Joe Frank monologue. Fortunately, I taped it. I've tried every avenue I could think of to identify it, with no success. Can you? (Sorry if this is too specific—"could you get more specific?"—but I need want to know.)
posted by bricoleur at 7:50 PM PST - 15 comments

ElectronicaFilter: Inspired by a recent thread, I decided I'd ask to find the opposite: new electronica with harsh fast beats and lots of noise (more inside):
posted by pandaharma at 6:18 PM PST - 23 comments

On tonight's Simpsons, what was the song that Homer played on the trombone?
posted by exhilaration at 5:25 PM PST - 12 comments

A friend of mine is looking for a Construction Project Manager job here in Miami, and together we've googled to find what we think are decent job sites (also, we've been to the obvious, monster, careerbuilder, etc.). He's submitted his resume repeatedly but is getting no results and is now considering using a resume delivery service like resumexposure.com. Has anyone had any experience with that specific company or other similar services that they can recommend? Also, aside from networking in person (which is what he says works best in his field) and applying for every job that he can get his hands on, are there any other basic steps he should take?
posted by sa3z at 4:44 PM PST - 3 comments

Digital fullfilment/Photography Question:

My sister's wedding had a large number of photographs taken by their friend who's a professional photographer, on his high end nikon Digital. He gave them the photos as a wedding gift, and they want people to be able to order prints on demand online.

however, they wanted to see if it were possible to tack on a small fee per photo and have the profit go to their friend.

1. What are some good print on demand sites (ofoto, etc?)
2. Do any of them allow this kind of thing?

Thanks in advance.
posted by eljuanbobo at 3:54 PM PST - 14 comments

PocketPCfilter: My mother and I have the same model Asus 716 Pocket PCs. I tried to beam a file over to hers from mine by IR. Hers asked if I wanted to receive the file, but not where I wanted to put it. It didn't land in My Documents and Find File can't find it. It may still be taking up space and it's not small. Anyone know where it went?
posted by krisjohn at 2:34 PM PST - 3 comments

Is there a way to change device icons in WinXP? [click to expand]
posted by muckster at 12:31 PM PST - 11 comments

My brother (in-law) is having surgery tomorrow on his hands to help with his Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. He's a roofer, a general contractor and also a rock-climber, so you can imagine how not having the use of his hands for up to six weeks is going to drive him crazy. They live nowhere near me, but I'd like to present him with a list of things that he could do while bed-ridden and beyond. Points for originality, and thanks.
posted by grimley at 11:48 AM PST - 7 comments

So, I just got scammed for a couple hundred bucks. It's not going to break the bank, but does anyone have any advice for how to get over the emotional crap that comes along with getting bamboozled? (more inside)
posted by arielmeadow at 11:23 AM PST - 27 comments

Through rather fortuitous circumstances, it seems I have about a year and a half to do nothing but travel. How can I make money while doing this? [the inside is filled with more]
posted by borkingchikapa at 11:03 AM PST - 17 comments

Is there a word for 'dilettante' that doesn't have the same negative connotation? I'm looking for a way to express employment in a number of disparate fields in an artist's bio. Ideally a noun (the sentence reads: "So-and-so is a self-employed ______"), but other/better constructions are welcome too.
posted by xo at 10:49 AM PST - 32 comments

MichaelJacksonFilter: how would one go about following the court case when located in Europe without access to American TV-networks?
posted by noius at 9:43 AM PST - 6 comments

Inspired by this thread on programming languages, I have a question on learning programming if you have no programming experience. (more)
posted by TeamBilly at 8:38 AM PST - 31 comments

How to go from slug to stud?
posted by drezdn at 8:16 AM PST - 31 comments

LegalMusicDownloadFilter: Why can't I download the albums I want from iTunes just because I'm in America? [MI]
posted by Lokheed at 5:07 AM PST - 15 comments

ElectronicaFilter. I really like Apparat, Mouse on Mars and Telefon Tel Aviv: warm, crunchy, melodic, intricately textured electronica that never, or rarely, assaults the ear with walls of noise. What else will I like?
posted by gentle at 11:39 PM PST - 60 comments

What's the original source of the phrase "we lose more [noun] that way"? Googling has failed me, since I'm not sure which of the many nouns I've heard inserted in there is the correct one.
posted by Johnny Assay at 8:58 PM PST - 6 comments

ProcrastinationFilter: Help me hack myself out of wasting time on the Internet. I want to only allow myself 2 hours of bloglines a day - is there a technological solution (that will work on my PowerBook)? [MI]
posted by cogat at 5:50 PM PST - 23 comments

I need some good, solid information about child vaccines. Everything I read either smacks of propaganda (the anti-vaccine side) or is cheerfully oversimplified (the pro-vaccine side). Is there a moderate, objective book or website that addresses the claims of both sides?
posted by recurve at 5:12 PM PST - 24 comments

TurntableFilter: In the never-ending battle against having too much stuff, I am looking to sell one of the three vintage turntables I currently own. (The jukebox, the 60s console and the 50s mono player all are staying.) Would appreciate any advice to help me choose which two to keep! [+]
posted by omnidrew at 3:03 PM PST - 3 comments

Language/idioms/etc: I'm wondering about the source of the expression "give it the old college try". Google offers tons of examples, but nothing concrete.
posted by cmyr at 12:38 PM PST - 8 comments

Apologies for CarFilter, however: some weeks ago my car stereo began behaving badly before finally dying. [mi]
posted by mcsweetie at 12:23 PM PST - 6 comments

Which is best: Gamefly or Gplay? Or a different service?
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:36 AM PST - 4 comments

I need help with attitude adjustment. I have trouble making compromises, it is usually all or nothing for me, especially when it is something important. As a result I often hurt the ones I love the most because of this flaw in me. I have tried to find ways to focus on what is more important, the love of the other person over having things my way. I know I cherish the love more, yet I can not seem to make compromises. How do I change this?
posted by anonymous at 10:55 AM PST - 21 comments

Bisexualfilter: I am a bisexual, Asian girl who is not quite out of the closet yet. Having a boyfriend kind of pulls me off any possible gaydar at the moment. However, I would like to know what physical "identifiers" there are to know whether someone's not-quite-straight, or whether I can do anything to let people clue in a bit without being too obvious. (So rainbow anything isn't really what I'm looking for, nor those badges that say attempt to be clever but come out trashy.) Thank you very much!
posted by anonymous at 10:01 AM PST - 38 comments

Any good alternatives to TypePad? It looks good, but I'm wondering if there are any other options for cheap blog hosting.
posted by punishinglemur at 9:58 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a Pioneer DVD-ROM drive and it was quite good at playing DVDs. I didn't use it for playing movies for a long while and eventually installed a DVD-burner (Pioneer too, actually). Now I can't play movies on my original DVD-ROM drive. It just spits them back out with an unceremonious "No Disc Detected". Data discs, even burned DVD-Rs work fine, as I use the drive for my main drive. Playing them on the burner works fine. Is this copy protection at work or just a strange coincidence? [MI]
posted by ontic at 9:58 AM PST - 11 comments

Having recently installed MoveableType (after a LiveJournal migration from hell), I'm looking to personalize my blog. I can deal with web design for the templates, but I'm curious as to how people like this guy get listening and reading lists on their index. Slaving over obscure plug-in sites isn't helping. Any suggestions?
posted by themadjuggler at 9:52 AM PST - 9 comments

SewerGasFilter. Help![+]
posted by nj_subgenius at 7:13 AM PST - 9 comments

my new-ish gas-fired water heater has started to cut out after maybe 10 minutes use. if i close and re-open the tap it fires up again. it's pretty basic - a box on a wall with electronic ignition that runs off bottled gas (propane or butane, i suppose). can anyone explain why this happens (the 15kg gas cylinder is no longer new, but certainly not near empty)? thanks.
posted by andrew cooke at 5:38 AM PST - 15 comments

Sometimes after a night of drinking, I will wake up after sleeping only about six hours, sometimes less, and no matter what I do I can't get back to sleep. What's going on? [+]
posted by Who_Am_I at 4:25 AM PST - 21 comments

I want to learn to code. I used to be a good coder - in 6502 assembler and VAX Fortran in 1988. I know nothing of the architecture of modern computers (OOP? kernal? shell? how one set of code on work on Linux and Windows). I guess I should learn C++ - what's a good resource (book I guess) for learning, writing apps compiling etc on my Win XP machine, and finally getting jobs?
posted by Pericles at 3:15 AM PST - 20 comments

Can you help me track down a volume of Nabokov's poetry? I know such volumes exist, you just can't buy them on any store I've looked at online. Thanks!
posted by adrober at 12:00 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm compiling a list of misunderstood song lyrics as a gift for a friend who has an obsession with, well, misunderstood song lyrics. [...]
posted by mudpuppie at 7:57 PM PST - 64 comments

Along with some foodie friends, we're having a "winter of offal." The idea is to expand our culinary horizons, and show respect for our food animals, by getting together every few weeks and learning to cook *excellent* food from organically raised trotters, entrails, and other bits commonly thought of as nasty. This week, I'm cooking beef tongue - so suggestions for that are particularly welcome. But any and all gourmet offal (not awful) recipes would be great.
posted by stonerose at 6:14 PM PST - 35 comments

Those of you with panic disorders, how do you handle your panic attacks? Can you prevent them? What mental or physical practices have you developed to cope with them?
posted by squirrel at 6:13 PM PST - 24 comments

U2 tickets are going on sale this Sunday morning, at least for the San Jose show in April. Not having any inside contacts, what's the best way to get a pair of tickets (Ticketmaster in-store or on the website)?
posted by billsaysthis at 5:52 PM PST - 17 comments

My wife and I argue all the time about financial matters, but the problem certainly isn't one that I have heard from anyone else. The thing is, we have plenty of money -- more than enough to be comfortable. Hopefully someone here has an idea to help me (us). [MI]
posted by bagels at 5:24 PM PST - 52 comments

My girlfriend lives in an old house in an even older city (Poughkeepsie, New York). The building has obviously been subletted and then rebuilt. We think it was a one family, then a two-family, and now it's a one-family again. The layout is so weird with five bedrooms (one being in the attic), two kitchens and no living or dining rooms that we're really curious to find out what looked like originally. How can we go about digging up these kinds of records? Is there any way to find old floor plans or building codes from public records online or off? Further, can we find out about past owners and tenants?
posted by tomorama at 5:24 PM PST - 15 comments

How do I compile C code into code to be run on a Motorola 68K ECB unit using its native TUTOR program? [MI]
posted by onalark at 5:00 PM PST - 11 comments

I need to make a Photoshop CS action/droplet that I can use to batch convert many dozens of mid-res b&w images. I've tried this a few times but my droplets end up doing 1 file fine and then nothing. [mi]
posted by luriete at 3:11 PM PST - 4 comments

RetreatingIntoAcademia filter: I've decided to go back to school to study and teach Media Studies. Except I have no idea how to find the perfect school/program for me. Suggestions? [mi]
posted by Gucky at 1:51 PM PST - 21 comments

Kleenex = any facial tissue. Xerox = any copy machine. "There are thousands of Milky Ways out there."

What's the word for using the name of a specific thing to refer to all things in its class? It's metonymy, right, but is it synecdoche? Is it antonomasia? Help!
posted by goatdog at 1:46 PM PST - 36 comments

what does one do, if ones property has been resurveyed, actually all surrounding properties have been resurveyed, and he discovers that his neighbors house is within his newly corrected property lines? (original survey was done about 60-70 years ago - hence the errors)
posted by specialk420 at 12:42 PM PST - 31 comments

Windows Networking. Computer A can see B and C; computers B and C can both see A. How do I make B see C? [+]
posted by Asef Jil at 12:17 PM PST - 13 comments

Email forwarding problem within the domain: Trying to fix my boss's email account. He checks his email using Netscape 7.2 on a Win98 PC. (We can't convince him to upgrade). He can send mail and reply to mail fine. He can forward mail fine, except when it is to one of use within the same domain name. It appears to send successfully but never shows up. I've tried looking through the email headers but nothing sticks out and I don't relaly know what to look for. Was wondering if this situation rings a bell for anyone?
posted by jacobsee at 11:08 AM PST - 4 comments

FireFoxExtension/Theme Filter
I have been using FireFox for a while now and prefer it to other browser offerings but am having a recurring issue that I can't seem to find any help on. Everytime I try to download and install a new theme or extension, it downloads, FireFox asks me if I want to install it, it appears to install it but the extension or theme never shows up in the relevant window. Did I change some setting to break the extensions? (MI)
posted by fenriq at 11:07 AM PST - 7 comments

Why is wine snobbery fanaticism predominately limited to reds?
posted by xmutex at 10:49 AM PST - 43 comments

My Mom is selling her house, moving to a new place and given me an ultimatum. She says I have one year to get my crap from her or it is no longer mine. As a result, I need to ship a large, antique, wooden cabinet 2,000+ miles. It probably weighs about 100 lbs. How can this be accomplished for a reasonable cost? What is a reasonable cost for this type of job? How do you protect the piece of furniture during shipping? Are there any companies you have worked with and recommend?
posted by onhazier at 10:40 AM PST - 6 comments

This past year I’ve moved to an area where they use rock salt on the sidewalks and roads during the winter and it is tearing apart my dog’s paws. Does anyone have experience with this? Do the salves work? How about the booties? Do I have a chance in hell of getting booties on an eight-year-old lab?
posted by a22lamia at 10:10 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm a landlord and yesterday the violent crimes unit came by with a felony arrest warrant for one of my tenants, who wasn't home. They left me their card and asked me to call them when she was at home so they could come get her. My trouble is, I left a note on her door asking her to call the cops, which apparently she got, and apparently she did, though I haven't seen her at home any time recently. Have I just obstructed justice by trying to be fair to my (in my estimation) good tenant?
posted by anonymous at 10:10 AM PST - 22 comments

If one wanted to cross the Atlantic (west to east) on the cheap, and the time wasn't really a factor, how would one go about doing that? Are there still tramp steamers?
posted by Capn at 10:07 AM PST - 9 comments

Beer fans: what are you favorite brews? Are there any particular styles you appreciate more than others? If so, what do you think are the exemplary crafts of that style? Do you prefer bottle, bottle poured, or tap? What, to you, makes a good beer?
posted by baphomet at 9:38 AM PST - 57 comments

SUVFilter: My wife and I want a vehicle that will handle the rugged (and worsening, now they are no longer maintained) logging roads in this province, as we head out for dayhikes and backpacking trips. We're looking at the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota 4Runner. Zoom, zoom inside...
posted by five fresh fish at 9:35 AM PST - 26 comments

Sometimes I get a small little bump in my mouth that feels like a wart or something. I can pop it easily with my finger just by pushing on it and fluid comes out, and it goes away. What are these things technically? Is swallowing the popped juice dangerous?
posted by anonymous at 9:33 AM PST - 13 comments

I've wanted a copy of my personal FBI file under the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) for a while now, but never requested it. I have reason to believe that it may be slightly more extensive than the average dossier. My question is this, then:

Given the current "tone" in the US right now, is it unwise or imprudent to make the request now? Is it going to flag me for more intense scrutiny? (which is fine, I suppose, as I'm a law-abiding citizen) Has anyone had any experience with this? (I know how to apply, I'm asking whether I should.)
posted by anonymous at 9:12 AM PST - 10 comments

How do type an upside down question mark in Outlook Express? (for Spanish class)
posted by alball at 8:30 AM PST - 15 comments

Life insurance--where/what kind to get?
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:03 AM PST - 7 comments

My girlfriend and I are opening a savings account where we can put away some money to give to a charity for the homeless. We live in Boston--what organizations should we be looking at around here?
posted by josh at 7:46 AM PST - 10 comments

In my ongoing struggle against cable clutter, I've been on the lookout for short firewire cables. At both work and home I have stacks of firewire drives, and the one to three foot cables that they come with are far longer than is necessary. Since these drives are almost always daisy chained and stacked on top of each other, I think there's a real market for four or six inch firewire cable, but it's nowhere to be found. Am I missing an obvious source? Are there firewire cable kits similar to cat-5 kits?
posted by djacobs at 7:36 AM PST - 2 comments

The sound on my Palm Tungsten E switches randomly on and off. I'll set an alarm, test and hear it, but by the time it goes off, my Palm has decided to go silent. Under preferences / sounds and alerts everything is set to high. My battery level is fine. Even though I can't hear anything through the palm's speaker, if I plug in headphones, there's sound. Then, a few hours later, the sound comes back. I'm not sure, but I think it happens mostly at night, so I'm wondering if there's some hidden "switch sound off after 8pm" setting somewhere.
posted by signal at 7:34 AM PST - 2 comments

I recently returned to Macintosh after a long stint with Windows. I'd like to upgrade the memory and video card in my 1.8ghz g5. It used to be, long ago, that Macs and PCs did not share the same hardware. Is this still the case? What do I need to know about shopping for RAM and video cards? Can I go out and buy any 400mhz PC3200 RAM for my g5, or does it have to be a special kind? Will the g5 take any video card, or does it have to be Mac-specific? What other pitfalls will I encounter?
posted by jdroth at 7:27 AM PST - 14 comments

XPATH hell-I'm trying to XPATH out the (xml) contents of the processVXMLReturn tag in this document. The file contains the exact XML response from a web service; I have no control over the output. I'm just interested in the nested xml payload. Hope my terminology is correct.[M to the Izzay]

Positive Oracle karma offered in exchange!
posted by neilkod at 7:16 AM PST - 14 comments

Allergic to another person physically/sexually? Does this really exist? I've heard comments about it here, but do any of you have any experiences/more information on this? Thanks!
posted by eas98 at 6:55 AM PST - 12 comments

Best semi political protest songs? I'd like for them to be fairly recent if possible. Somehow relating to freedom of speech, etc.
posted by damnitkage at 5:45 AM PST - 23 comments

Do I need an accountant? [MI]
posted by monkey closet at 2:53 AM PST - 9 comments

English language question: what is the difference between intern/internship and trainee/traineeship? [+]
posted by elgilito at 2:39 AM PST - 19 comments

At least since I was a kid, there's been the joke/expression "underwater basketweaving." Namely as a joke college major: "What's your major?" "Underwater basketweaving." What is the origin of this expression? Anyone know?
posted by zardoz at 12:51 AM PST - 26 comments

After seeing this impressive sketchbook I'm wondering what others are out there. What extraordinary scanned sketchbooks have people found out there?
posted by gwint at 9:53 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm missing some songs from my MP3 collection that I'd really like to have, but don't seem to be readily available. Where do I find these rarities? Some of the songs were from CD's that the local radio station put out. Others were from artists who were smaller and the CD's aren't available easily. iTunes, Buy.com, Napster don't seem to have these type of things, and they don't seem to be on Kazaa or Gnutella. Am I doomed to never find them? Is there someplace that sells these CD's or MP3s?
posted by stovenator at 9:23 PM PST - 10 comments

QUOTEFILTER: Newly(-ish) married, ISO some good quotes to emblazon upon my groomsmen's thank-you gifts (flasks)
posted by prettyboyfloyd at 8:23 PM PST - 6 comments

TV program listings: how are they gathered, like in TV guide, or Yahoo TV, or TiVo? Is there one company who compiles the database (who?) and provides any taker with them for a fee, or is the data so ubiquitous that anyone can compile it now? If there is more than one source, is there any consensus on the better?
posted by kk at 7:55 PM PST - 6 comments

Help me find my dream DVD player [MI]
posted by quibx at 7:20 PM PST - 14 comments

I need some suggestions for some luggage. I am starting a new job in the tech field (laptop capability needed for sure) where I will be traveling 60 - 70% of the year. My visits will typically only last a week, but I tend to over pack. Any ideas on the perfect luggage for an IT worker?
posted by bobadoci at 6:36 PM PST - 26 comments

Native American scholars : I'd like some recommendations for good introductory books on Native Americans and their cultures. More inside...
posted by Slothrop at 5:01 PM PST - 12 comments

FinancialFilter. I'm looking to consolidate credit card debt and am not sure what my options are. Advice?

I owe about $13,000 on four credit cards (14.9% - 19.9% APR), and about $35,000 on a consolidated student loan (4.5% APR). I've had a checking account with my current bank for over four years, but no savings account. I'm employed full-time, would be willing to close all but one of my credit card accounts when paid off, and although I don't know what my credit rating is, I know it's got to be pretty good. Oh, and I'm female, over thirty, if that matters.

What kind of APR could I expect from a signature loan? Is a signature loan a good idea? Should I leave my student loan as is?
posted by anonymous at 4:58 PM PST - 11 comments

ResumeGrammarFilter: When describing my current job in my resume, I am torn between using the past tense (which sounds better in sentences that start with a verb, e.g. "Performed extensive data analysis," as well as matches the rest of my resume) and the present (since the job is still going on, but sentences like "Perform extensive data analysis" or "Performs extensive data analysis" sound wrong). Anybody know what's correct here? [anonymous because I don't want my coworkers to know I'm working on my resume]
posted by anonymous at 4:58 PM PST - 12 comments

OwnershipSocietyFilter: Is this $50 trinket really the only way to get data from my bank account (Quicken Interchange Format) into Quickbooks? Intuit would like me to make a not-free call to ask the same question...
posted by subpixel at 4:50 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm trying to setup Firefox to stream MP3 files from my webserver rather than download them first. I know about creating an .m3u file with a link to the mp3 to do this but does anyone know an easier way, I'm not going to create .m3u files for 90,000 songs.
posted by Cosine at 4:26 PM PST - 7 comments

BeardFilter: Good ways to make facial hair softer and fuzzier? Do general hair conditioners work, or are there specific things for facial hair?
posted by namespan at 3:51 PM PST - 5 comments

If I'm planning on taking only simple black and white, or perhaps sepia, pictures, does the number of megapixels in a camera matter all that much? I'm not planning on being the next Ansel Adams, btw.
posted by icontemplate at 3:29 PM PST - 19 comments

Melancholy fiction for a dark season: here in the Northeast U.S. we're in the midst of a particularly miserable January. I'm looking for some contemporary fiction that echoes the bleakness of the weather. What extraordinary books have you curled up with recently that are elegiac, darkly funny or otherwise wintry in tone?
posted by killdevil at 2:40 PM PST - 50 comments

Has anyone tried eating a living foods diet? How long did you do it and . . .did you see a benefit from the effort?

I've enjoyed going demi-vegetarian the last 7 months. But when I looked through some raw foods cookbooks the menu and the plan didn't seem realistic.
posted by iwearredsocks at 2:15 PM PST - 20 comments

DigitalSanbornFilter - I need to get my hands on some NYC digital sanborn maps [m to the i]
posted by plemeljr at 1:58 PM PST - 5 comments

Is it possible to convert or otherwise use Photshop plugins from Windows to Mac? I have lots of legacy plugins and effects from the old Windows PC here at work. We switched to Mac but many of the plugins are not available for Mac.
posted by ooklah at 1:54 PM PST - 7 comments

After installing an .htaccess file to prevent direct image-linking, one of my readers pointed out that the alternate replacement image I specified was showing up in my Bloglines feed. Are there other popular web-based aggregators I should grant permission to in my .htaccess file? And does an .htaccess file prevent images from showing up in software-based RSS readers, or just web-based?
posted by Robot Johnny at 1:46 PM PST - 3 comments

Noxious cooking, chemical, and exhaust fumes at work [m.i.]:
posted by naxosaxur at 1:32 PM PST - 13 comments

I own a digital point-and-shoot camera, and was looking to upgrade to a "nicer" camera for some more ambitious photography. But I was wondering if it makes sense to spend a lot on a digital camera, as it seemingly will be a bit archaic, if not outright obsolete, in a few years. E.g., old Leicas or even manual Nikons still fetch fair amounts on Ebay, while digital cameras a few years old sell for a fraction of their original value. I know digital cameras are supposed to making analog obsolete, but I'm just wondering about the obsolescence factor of digital. In other words, should I buy the new digital Leica or a vintage analog Leica? Any thoughts?
posted by jgballard at 12:52 PM PST - 31 comments

I am looking for a good IM client for my Treo 600. [MI]
posted by bDiddy at 12:13 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm a full-time college sophomore. I'm working full time, 35 hours a week, to try and make ends meet but I'm having a hard time. I know there was another thread on loans earlier, but my situation is different.

The disbursement I get from the federal student loan programs is not enough to cover my tuition itself, and the extra cost of room, board, books and other necessities is eating in and I'm beginning to run up serious credit card debt. My parents make enough money to keep me from getting grants or financial need scholarships, but they will not help me with school, nor will they co-sign a 3rd party loan. I live in a very cheap apartment and take the bus to school, and I've cut food and entertainment expenses to the minimums. I talked to the financial aid office and they said that there was nothing they could do except offer me a position on campus (for less hours and the same money as my current job) or give me a list of 3rd party loan providers. I called the providers, but they all rejected me because I'm too young (21), single and don't have a cosigner.

What do I do? I feel like I'm being punished for trying to go to school.
posted by anonymous at 12:10 PM PST - 59 comments

A couple of people I work with and myself were having a debate on how big the Star Wars franchise is financially? With Lucasfilms being private they never release revenue. Does anyone know how many dollars of Star Wars videogames and toys are sold each year?
posted by rje7 at 11:36 AM PST - 7 comments

StartupFilter: What questions would you ask a startup you were thinking of joining? What questions would you ask yourself?

More about the startup: its a software company that has VC funding. They are just starting to create the product. There's less than ten people involved.

More about me: a corporate monkey who's looking for a change in life if possible but can stay put if that's best. I have a good job salary-wise right now, but I do not feel like I am moving anywhere with it. I have worked long hours in the past and am interested in the product being created. I felt the need to post anonymously because I have posted about my job here before.
posted by anonymous at 11:25 AM PST - 12 comments

iPhoto 5: I love the new iPhoto and I'm really impressed with the new photobook formats. I want to order one, but after using the auto-format, half the images did a nice full page bleed while others are tiny and centered on the page. I can't seem to figure out how to stretch the smaller photos into a full page bleed. The photos are all the same large size and bit depth. Anyone figure this out yet?
posted by mathowie at 10:36 AM PST - 8 comments

I snooped in my husband's e-mail account. I know that was wrong to do, so you don't have to point that out. What I found was a bit surprising. A co-worker of his sent him pictures of herself. All were dirty, and included "showing pink," sex with her boyfriend, and giving a bj to her boyfriend. I don't have a problem with him looking at porn; I regularly look at porn myself. But this seems odd to me since he didn't tell me or show me the pictures (for reference, some are from a few days ago, and some are from a few weeks ago). He had a different girl show dirty pictures of herself before, but he told me about that. I don't think he's cheating on me with this current girl because he is kept pretty busy, and I haven't noticed anything weird between them. So my question is: is this bad? should I "confront" him?
posted by anonymous at 10:26 AM PST - 56 comments

For the past few weeks I've had nightmares that involve demons (not the little guys that have red pitchforks and make you do the wrong thing...but very eerie spooky ones). This is freaking me the hell out because I can't sleep and when I do sleep I have nightmares!

So before I go to a counselor to tell me that I'm a looney toon, is there any natural things I can do to have "pleasant dreams?"
posted by Hands of Manos at 9:29 AM PST - 47 comments

I always thought "Turing-complete programming language" meant you could write a compiler/interpreter/whatever for that language IN that language, ie. XML is not, XSLT is, C++ is for sure, I guess JavaScript could in a way...
Today I tried to check on that, and apparently it's much more abstract... or something... well I don't know for sure.
Was I wrong ? How is a Turing-complete/equivalent language defined ?
posted by XiBe at 8:05 AM PST - 27 comments

What's the best way for an almost-college graduate to find a job teaching Latin and/or Greek? I'll have a BA in Classics from a good school, but limited teaching experience. I'm not particularly looking to get certified because I don't want to do this for more than a few years.
posted by rustcellar at 7:59 AM PST - 7 comments

I saw the post on Willaim Christopher Baer in the blue yesterday and it got me thinking about how much I like slipstreamy mystery writers. There is Jack O'Connell, who has produced some of the best hallucinogenic mystery writing i've ever read. And Carol O'Connell, (no relation, I think) who has a much greater mainstream acceptance, has a touch of the strange in her writing. But, alas, I've read most all of their stuff. Any suggestions?
posted by rtimmel at 7:55 AM PST - 5 comments

Is there some sort of civic reasoning as to why sanitation workers generally make more than police officers?
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 7:21 AM PST - 26 comments

A friend and I have free tickets to Glasgow from around March 18-27. We may have a free place to stay in Edinburgh. Which city is more fun? Any insider tips for travelers or fun places to go that we won’t find in guide books? (more inside)
posted by amarynth at 7:18 AM PST - 21 comments

Something has gone horribly wrong with the spacebar on my laptop. You have to hit it in the middle to get it to work. If you tap it towards one side, nothing happens.

I admit, I removed it to clean it. Maybe this damaged it. But all the other keys on my laptop can be safely removed and replaced without damage. It's a Toshiba Portege. I'm weirded out.
posted by Polonius at 7:09 AM PST - 5 comments

NewsFilter: Looking for a monthly news source. More inside.
posted by eatcherry at 7:01 AM PST - 9 comments

UK Credit Law query : If a company lists a default on a payment is there any recourse to have the default amended? (M:I)
posted by longbaugh at 6:45 AM PST - 5 comments

PC Sound Filter: Can anyone explain why the sound on my pc becomes distorted / scratchy when the DVD Drive or the CD Drive is in use? Its starting to drive me nuts. (specs inside) Thanks.
posted by kev23f at 6:33 AM PST - 6 comments

My car CD player is driving me out of my mind! It skips like mad, but only when it is very very cold out. Today it is six degrees out and I couldn't get a single track to play straight through. It doesn't matter what the CD is, it doesn't seem to matter if the car is cold or warmed up, and the road condition doesn't seem to have an impact, as it does it while I'm at red lights, too. Is there a logical reason why this happens when it is at least ten degrees below freezing? More important, is there anything I can do about it?
posted by Kellydamnit at 6:16 AM PST - 11 comments

How do I encode hidden tracks on my CDs that appear before track 1. In my CD player I just hit backawards search to listen to them. Is there an easier way than recording a .wav and encoding that? Why aren't iTunes and Winamp equipped to find these?
posted by nthdegx at 1:43 AM PST - 11 comments

Windows Explorer has an option to display all the image files in a folder in "filmstrip" mode, which looks like this. I want to create a similar method of display on a web page. I figure I'll have to (unfortunately) use frames to create the bottom gallery of thumbnails and have it scroll like that but I would rather not have to create a separate page for each full-size picture. I would rather the page displaying the picture be dynamic and just change the picture rather than refer the browser to a different file. I figure this could be done with some scripting language (PHP?) but I don't know much about that sort of thing. Can anyone help me out? [+]
posted by DyRE at 10:01 PM PST - 15 comments

I want to put up letters from World War II in blog form. Is there software, or tweaked software, to post weblog entries with dates in the 1940s?
posted by inksyndicate at 9:23 PM PST - 7 comments

[evil midi filter] Getting a midi keyboard to work in Fruityloops [MI]
posted by EvilKenji at 9:16 PM PST - 5 comments

ElectrocutionFilter: Well, my overhead kitchen fluorescent fixture has gone out on me. I flipped the switch, there was a glorious spark, and now nothing. I replaced both bulbs and still no response. The circuit breaker did not blow, so it seems okay. My limited electrical knowledge imposes that it might be the light's ballast—predictably, this is the most expensive part of the fixture.

So I ask, is there anything I can do to troubleshoot and perhaps fix this bloody thing? I'm good with electrical devices, but just really don't know where to start with lighting. Difficulty: I'm a poor SOB at the moment, so that leaves out the electrician. Anyone?
posted by symphonik at 8:59 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm a straight male in a committed relationship that is washing up against the rocks of parenthood; ie she wants children and I'm not so sure. I am a depressive only child who feels that I *could* be good with kids, but maybe not so much when it's a constant never-turn-off reality. Please bless me with your wisdom.
posted by mookieproof at 8:40 PM PST - 29 comments

FinanceFilter: I recently experienced the wonderful epiphany of 'college student = poor' as I finished paying bills and checking my bank accounts today. It seems that I've spent almost all of my summer job savings, and by February 1st I will have the grand total of approximately $12 to my name.

My basic question is: what should I know before taking out student loans? I'm looking for personal experiences, warnings, recommendations, etc. I want to make sure I do this right so a few years from now I won't be posting an AskMe question about trying to get out of my many-times-deferred loans. I'm not hardcore set on taking out student loans, but it's an option that seems favorable at first glance and has been recommended and pursued by many of my friends. [MI]
posted by ElfWord at 8:27 PM PST - 17 comments

The wife and I are probably breaking up. We've been together for a few years for the benefit of one kid, and another one is due this month. The problem - her family is on one coast, mine is on another. We are near mine. I'm concerned that she might just pack up and take our kids.

Is there anything I can do to keep her from leaving town? We've just bought a house, and I have no job prospects if I have to follow her to be with my kids. She hasn't worked in years, and we're here primarily to make a good living. If she leaves, I feel she will find a way to use this against me.
posted by anonymous at 8:06 PM PST - 21 comments

Any serious drawbacks to using an external DVD burner (as opposed to a regular, "internal" one) I should know of? [more inside]
posted by kchristidis at 6:32 PM PST - 12 comments

My boyfriend and I are looking to take a trip somewhere in the eastern/midwest US for President's Day weekend. We're looking for either a city that is not a super popular tourist destination, or a small-ish ski resort. [+]
posted by orangskye at 6:31 PM PST - 13 comments

I know there is a Sopranos tour of Manhattan, a Sex and the City tour... but it got me thinking: what does a Beastie Boys fan do on his first trip to New York to feel the B-boy vibe?
posted by bering at 6:27 PM PST - 8 comments

I notice that conspicuously absent from public discussions about reform of the Social Security is imposition of a reasonable system of means testing. The idea whereby wealthy seniors, who don't need social security payments to keep themselves in a comfortable lifestyle, don't collect from the general fund which was created to protect the poor and disabled, seems reasonable to me.

Given the alternative solutions of payroll tax increases, elimination of benefits, and/or huge budget deficits, means testing along with Bush's proposed private investment accounts could lead to a win-win social security reform-- one that maintains the traditional safety net for low income seniors and disabled while encouraging savings and investment. What's wrong with this idea? Why is no one making this argument?
posted by NorthCoastCafe at 6:17 PM PST - 23 comments

My dog is starting to roam. Anyone have experience with electric dog fences? How well did they work for you?
posted by atchafalaya at 4:32 PM PST - 17 comments

Small Operating System: A ship that I work on has a VERY old computer (running Win 98) that is used as a public terminal. It's likely a P120, or some such thing. [MI]
posted by MotorNeuron at 4:13 PM PST - 18 comments

How do I get into competitive sailing? Primarily multi-hull open ocean regattas? (mi)
posted by omidius at 3:55 PM PST - 5 comments

If I have two XP machines on the internet in different locations, and each machine is running a virtual PC version of Windows 98, is it possible through some use of a tunneling protocol or whatever, to make those two virtual 98 machines appear to be on the same local network? In other words ...(more inside)
posted by gummo at 3:16 PM PST - 2 comments

Do you belong to a city club? Why did you join? Is anything useful included in your membership? What benefits do you get to compensate for your dues?
I am not interested in country clubs.
posted by Kwantsar at 3:12 PM PST - 3 comments

There is a very simple type of pasta made by sprinkling drops of water over semolina flour then using a sieve to extract the pasta from the flour. Little irregularly shaped and sized pasta nodules (no, not noodles) result. I think the name starts with an 'f' and the recipe is Sicilian. And no, I'm not talking about gnocchi. I seek the name and a more precise recipe.
posted by TimeFactor at 2:50 PM PST - 7 comments

I need comparative opinions on different content management tools [more inside]
posted by tdismukes at 1:17 PM PST - 7 comments

Yahoo is now offering domain name registration for $4.98 per year. I have my domains registered with GoDaddy but a couple are due for renewal soon. Is Yahoo's deal too good to be true? Have any of you had bad experiences with them? Should I switch?
posted by madman at 1:07 PM PST - 22 comments

MeFi Book Detectives: It's a young adult novel I read back in the 80s, about a melancholy girl who travels back in time to a shamanic tribal village and is initiated into womanhood there. I think she apprentices with the medicine woman. It has been lingering in my unconscious brain for a long time and I feel like I need to read it again. Do you know it?
posted by butternut at 12:46 PM PST - 8 comments

MacFilter: How do you make the screen fonts bigger in OS X? I've just upgraded my grandmother from a virus-infested WinME box to a 17" iMac G5. Unfortunately, the text is much too small for her to read clearly, and she wants her WinMe box back. I've changed the resolution down to 1024x768. Other than seriously degrading the image quality, it doesn't make the fonts much larger.

I'm comfortable working with the command line and editing plists, so don't hold anything back.
posted by b1tr0t at 12:41 PM PST - 15 comments

I am looking for an article called "The Dreams Of The Blind" from Joseph Jastrow which has been published in the New Princeton Review in 1888. My Google-Fu and my university's database did not help...
posted by tcp at 12:15 PM PST - 7 comments

Visual Basic 6.0 and Access 2003 question.....(more inside)
posted by ttrendel at 11:49 AM PST - 4 comments

Cash Register N00b - looking for pointers on what to get a brand new small business Re: cash register, inventory control, etc.
posted by petebest at 11:47 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for a way to send a weekly email to a list of members of a nonprofit organization I work for. (+)
posted by Framer at 10:33 AM PST - 8 comments

I recently purchased an ATI Radeon 9600 AGP graphics card to replace the old AGP card in a Dell Dimension 4100. The new card doesn't work. I know I need drivers for both the card and the Intel motherboard, and I'm having trouble finding the motherboard drivers. [MI]
posted by Roach at 10:32 AM PST - 8 comments

Last night I was Googling on my laptop when I started getting non-expected results. The same spammy sites kept getting returned, even when different search terms were used. Repeated virus scans turned up nothing. The same search on my work terminal returns what I expected so I know it's my laptop. ?
posted by shino-boy at 8:59 AM PST - 14 comments

WeeGeeFilter/NYCFilter: Does anyone know where exactly the photo "Lower East Side" (also here) by Weegee (Arthur Fellig) was taken? I am interested in finding the exact street address. [MI]
posted by toftflin at 8:40 AM PST - 14 comments

My friend has a popular website that has a lot of technical problems. Frequent downtime, sub-standard performance, inconsistent feature implementation, and large numbers of bugs. The software is all custom-written, and clearly needs a complete re-write. He needs help but won't accept it. What can I do?
posted by mosch at 8:24 AM PST - 15 comments

Is there a Windows equivalent to Mac's OSX contact program? Something that is customizable and user friendly? Also cheap and (why the hell not?), able to be networked? I'm a lifetime Mac person who's being forced into using a PC at work.
posted by ColdChef at 8:24 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a script (perl or php, no MySQL because I don't understand it and don't want to learn it) that password-protects a webpage so that it can be viewed only by someone who logs in with a username and a password, and also logs that user, so that you can have a record (very important) of who's viewed the page? If so, where can I get me one?
posted by iconomy at 7:36 AM PST - 11 comments

Remote Desktop for XP: When I log into a remote computer using RD, it logs out the current user. When I end my remote session, the remote user is logged out but the original user (the only other user on the remote machine) is not logged back in. How can I set up XP or Remote Desktop so that, when a Remote Desktop session ends, the remote computer logs a specific user back in?
posted by gd779 at 7:36 AM PST - 9 comments

Math learning software for kids? Specifically, 4th or 5th grade level.
posted by TurkishGolds at 7:35 AM PST - 3 comments

Do you find that MS Office for OS X runs faster than MS Office for Mac OS 9...., run on an OS X Mac in Classic mode (or, whatever it's called...)
posted by ParisParamus at 6:05 AM PST - 9 comments

Help me with display ideas. I have a collection of probably 40 or 50 small laminated cards (picture backstage passes) that I would like to display in my apartment. I had them all taped to a wall forming one giant blocky collage, but was wondering if there's a better way.
posted by helcat at 5:52 AM PST - 16 comments

DogFilter: My dog has taken to waking me up in the middle of the night. Help.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:26 AM PST - 22 comments

I might have scammed my way onto local radio with the promise of a show dedicated to musical acts whose careers have been of a decent length, but who haven't lost their touch (e.g. Nick Cave will be in, Morrissey won't) - or those acts who've noticeably improved with time (I think Beethoven's the best example, but classical music won't be getting a run). Any ideas to fill three four-hour shows?
posted by bunglin jones at 2:04 AM PST - 77 comments

My girlfriend and I are friends with another couple whom we'd like to become, er, more intimate with. Unfortunately, they, like us, are very reserved, and don't tend to talk about sex, so we have no idea how to begin to broach the subject. The friendship is very important to us, and we don't want to ruin it. What should we do?
posted by anonymous at 12:35 AM PST - 38 comments

Gadget question: I like reading, and there's lots of stuff online. HTML books, PDA's of court rulings and studies, "work offline" site downloads... anything and everything you could want. I can't stay at home all day and read it, and I'm not stationary while I'm out running errands, so I'm looking for a small, portable PDA thingie with a color screen and PC browser/reader capabilities. It's good if it's got herculean batteries and best if runs on AA or AAA, it absolutely must be available online, and I like if it's cheap/secondhand. Googling reveals proprietary ebook readers and powerhouse PDA's that do way more than I need. Has anyone had any experience with these kinds of devices, do you know where to look for one, any recommendations on what to buy?
posted by saysthis at 11:54 PM PST - 16 comments

Umm, what happens at the end of the Big O anime series? Its such a great little sci-fi story that ends with an Evangelion-like mindf*ck. Does the Angel character ends up being a Megadeuce which controls reality? Was the entire show a Matrix/Dallas dreamworld?
posted by skallas at 11:12 PM PST - 13 comments

PC video to TV filter!
posted by freudianslipper at 10:13 PM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to shoot a series of shorts with security cameras, as well as some with lipstick cameras and the like. Nothing illegal or snoopy - I'm just going for the look itself in some films. Does anyone have any recommendations, or advice from experience?
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:10 PM PST - 5 comments

Website question. I'm helping a friend with a sports memorabilia site that sells merchandise. Currently he is using google adsense pay per click. Is there a simple way to track visitors who click from the ad to see if they are the ones who make a purchase? (MI)
posted by keithl at 5:40 PM PST - 7 comments

I just scored a bimonthly live dj gig, the theme of which is jazz. I am pretty well grounded in the classics, and am into modern bands/peeps such as Happy Apple, D. Krall and Charlie Hunter, I was wondering what people out there suggest looking at for brand new jazz, what is exciting nowadays?
posted by edgeways at 5:22 PM PST - 21 comments

Any experiences with pityriasis rosea? I seem to maybe in theory have a case of it.
posted by cortex at 5:08 PM PST - 11 comments

Is there any place online (or off) that will allow you to see the total number of books sold for a particular title? I happen to be interested in non-fiction titles, but a fiction list would be interesting too. Is this something book publishers make public? I'm primarily interested in a North American total and it would have to be granular enough to record sales of even a few thousand . . .
posted by jeremias at 5:06 PM PST - 8 comments

While in Vegas talking about the presence of legalized prostitution, my partner (female) broached the subject of a threesome (thus making it two girls and one man, myself). After I ascertained she wasn't joking, I realized I didn't have the first clue about how/whether to actually make it happen (i.e. how to get in touch with a call girl who does couples, what the proper etiquette is, how much would it actually cost, how to make sure you're getting a relatively attractive girl, potential pitfalls I wasn't seeing, whether my girlfriend would actually collapse into a ball of shame afterwards, etc). Does anyone have personal experience with this sort of situation, or have resources to direct me to regarding the logistics of couples with call girls? My girlfriend explicitly said she would only do it with a paid girl because then we'd never see her again and there would be no aspect of jealousy involved, so friends are out of the question. Please only respond with serious answers (esp. to the specific questions above), since I can think of snarky jokes on my own...
posted by anonymous at 4:51 PM PST - 23 comments

I broke my dominant arm on Sunday, and I'd like some tips for how to cope with the recovery process.
posted by cmonkey at 4:38 PM PST - 13 comments

I need help locating Vigenère cypher decoder. [more inside]
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 3:50 PM PST - 4 comments

I want to make my website more modular and easier to update. I have no CMS ability, and no interest in frames What I want is to have something like "index.html" look into some other text or HTML file and load up and display the information (Text, HTML, CSS divs, Links).
As an example I want to have one central text file that saves the banner and navigation buttons of the site so that I only have to update that one file to make site-wide changes.
To me this is somewhat like frames (but not passe) and like an array (I use one Java array to display images) but I want to display code etc. I haven't been able to tinker with it and make it work, and, though I'm asking for it, it doesn't seem to be on google. Anyone?
posted by Napierzaza at 3:23 PM PST - 19 comments

Gameboy cartridge carrying case. Looking for a way to carry GBA cartridges around without mucking them up. [MI please]
posted by Lizc at 2:59 PM PST - 10 comments

I am trying to find a cell phone suited to someone with osteo arthritis and reduced vision [more inside]
posted by tomble at 2:45 PM PST - 5 comments

Simplifying eps vector drawings. I'm looking for a way to eliminate overlapping paths in complex line drawings. Almost all of the lines are made up of multiple independent, straight paths sitting precisely on top of each other. To shrink the file size and make editing easier I'd like to get rid of this redundancy. Is converting to raster then back to vector the best solution?
posted by shoos at 2:36 PM PST - 18 comments

UK Towns/areas to visit in the spring? (MI)
posted by darsh at 2:32 PM PST - 23 comments

I need help selecting a new wireless card for my PC [more inside, obviously]
posted by The God Complex at 2:29 PM PST - 5 comments

What's your favorite online/brick supplier for blank tee shirts? hooded sweatshirts (with and w/o zippers)? baby tees/female-cut shirts?
posted by fishfucker at 1:54 PM PST - 5 comments

What does this mean? I'm having a hard time deciphering a line from last week's episode of West Wing [MI]
posted by m@ at 1:39 PM PST - 9 comments

Speaking of New Orleans, I am going to Mardi Gras with some friends but would like some off-the-beaten-path suggestions for things to do. Stuff like jazz, cemeteries, unique cuisine, etc. (with no major budgetary concerns).

From my memory of MG 2000, Bourbon Street gets pretty old pretty quickly.
posted by bikergirl at 1:19 PM PST - 4 comments

Dealing with suicide. No, not me, someone in my family, who is now dearly departed.

Comments, suggestions, advice? Thanks.
posted by anonymous at 1:15 PM PST - 10 comments

Our next door neighbor offered to split the cost of a cord of wood with us, and we agreed. However, it ends up our neighbor bought wood that is not quite cured yet. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we might speed up the curing process? Is this even possible?
posted by terrapin at 1:09 PM PST - 10 comments

So I want to retool the look of my resume… [MI]
posted by Heminator at 12:19 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a cellphone contract with J-Phone in Tokyo that just renewed itself for another year. The problem with that is that I'm no longer in Tokyo. The English J-Phone website says I must report in person to cancel my contract. This is not a possibility. Is there another option I have for canceling this contract?
posted by deafmute at 12:13 PM PST - 3 comments

A couple years ago I had a call back audition with a singing group called Chanticleer. Part of the audition was sight reading medieval notation [pdf]. Having never learned to read medieval notation, I failed this portion of the audition miserably. I am a very good sight reader of standard musical notation, but I find myself struggling very much with medieval notation. I have a liber usualis (I got mine free. Yes, I'm lucky.), and I found this great site with midi files of the tunes (They match, some of the time, I think.), but I'm still having problems. Any suggestions?
posted by Igor XA at 12:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Soooo, in the last 6 months, I've been pulled over twice for 'Suspicion of drunk driving', both times I've been given a field sobriety test and failed, both times I've subsequently blown a 0.0, because I was stone cold sober. What exactly is the field sobriety looking for? Why am I failing?
posted by patrickje at 11:56 AM PST - 33 comments

Do you know of a bar with a full-size pool table in Manhattan?
posted by nicwolff at 11:43 AM PST - 10 comments

What event in or relating to professional sports sticks out most in your mind? Why, and what does it mean to you? (+)
posted by cactus at 11:32 AM PST - 24 comments

Let's say you moderate a commercial message board. It doesn't get a whole lot of participation, but that's fine. Hopefully in time, usage will grow. Now one day, somebody comes along and posts a couple of messages that seem to verge on talking-to-yourself-on-the-side-of-the-road mentally disturbed. They're nominally on topic, but still sort of off. Do you delete them or leave them up?
posted by willnot at 10:39 AM PST - 7 comments

[OffensiveSlangFilter] What exactly does "shay," as in "shay whitey," mean? From whence does it come?
posted by callmejay at 10:12 AM PST - 7 comments

I would like to delve into the works of Bukowski. Where should I begin? I'm more interested in his poetry than his prose at this point, although I am open to any suggestion. I particularly like this poem. I've searched the archives, but only random references exist. Thank you.
posted by basicchannel at 10:12 AM PST - 9 comments

The Wife and I are having our first child this summer (yikes!, yea!). Anyone know of some groovy sites to shop for cute and tasteful baby stuff?
posted by ducktape at 9:40 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm interested in participating in a US-wide clinical medical research study. Have you ever taken part in one? Did you get any benefit from it? Any harm? Did you ever learn what drug (or placebo) you had taken?
posted by Alylex at 9:26 AM PST - 17 comments

Has anyone transitioned from rigid gas permeable contact lenses to glasses? Did your prescription stay stable? Why do glasses make me feel cross eyed and fuzzy headed compared to RGPs--do I just have to wait it out and get used to them, or was the prescription wrong? Can I wear RGPs part of the time and glasses part of the time? [NB: I've never gotten good answers on these questions from my eye doc.]
posted by insideout at 9:24 AM PST - 13 comments

Can dogs eat beef bones? My dog loves them (the raw discarded sort from butchers or rib joints) but when I give him one he goes crazy, actually consuming the bone and digging into the marrow. It worries me, but I've heard the marrow is good for them. But every time I've given him one I've had to take it away because he just gets too crazy. I know they can't have chicken bones (obviously, ow!) but what are the risks of giving him a beef bone as an occasional primal treat, even if it means he'll likely chew the whole thing up?
posted by Peter H at 9:12 AM PST - 19 comments

Looking for solid, basic client extranet tools... [+]
posted by LairBob at 7:16 AM PST - 13 comments

What are the best camera settings to use when taking pictures at a concert in a small club? Mine always come out really blurry. Canon S45 digital camera, if that helps any (4mp).
posted by adampsyche at 6:58 AM PST - 37 comments

Another music question: I'm learning french at evening classes and would like to get hold of more music (pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop...) with lyrics in french [+].
posted by handee at 5:16 AM PST - 51 comments

SAN FRANCISCO - We are flying into San Francisco (April). Can anyone suggest a good hotel for a couple of days that is easy to get to from the airport without car?
posted by Frasermoo at 3:51 AM PST - 14 comments

Grammar/ Style Filter:
I'm writing an undergraduate history thesis. Should I do all I can to avoid the passive voice? [More has been placed inside]
posted by PhatLobley at 3:47 AM PST - 55 comments

How do I promote my Windows based free SMS application without spending any money? (more inside)
posted by ralawrence at 1:48 AM PST - 13 comments

What's a good circuit board/breadboard simulator for PC?
posted by Edible Energy at 11:51 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a recent edition of Mary Poppins signed by P.L. Travers shortly before she died. How would I go about valuing such a thing and what would be the best way to sell it? I'm in South Australia if that makes a difference.
posted by Savvas at 11:35 PM PST - 3 comments

I need advice on a new humidifier. [MI]
posted by Caviar at 10:36 PM PST - 8 comments

FictionFilter: what are the legal ramifications of using living or dead individuals and corporations in fictional works, without obtaining consent and in ways which diverge from history?

L