December 2004 Archives

December 31

Kneed a Knot Book

Any recommendations for a book on knots? [MI] [more inside]
posted by thewittyname at 8:07 PM PST - 15 comments

Volunteering for Tsunami Victims

Does anyone know of any charities/aid agencies in the London area that are in need of volunteers for the Tsunami Earthquake Appeal? [MI] [more inside]
posted by floanna at 6:55 PM PST - 3 comments

How risky is it to default on your student loans when living overseas?

How risky is it to default on your student loans?
I have a friend/in-law who has been living abroad (England) for the last 10 or so years. They never repaid their student loans before moving but do visit the U.S. fairly frequently. Is there any risk of them being caught entering or leaving the country?
posted by anonymous at 6:41 PM PST - 10 comments

Is This Umbrella Fixable?

I bent my Wookie umbrella! (More has found shelter from the rain inside.) [more inside]
posted by lychee at 6:25 PM PST - 3 comments

What happens when a healthy female takes viagra?

What happens when a healthy female takes viagra?
posted by Scottk at 6:07 PM PST - 8 comments

What's the easiest way to synchronize text files between two computers?

I maintain lists of to-dos and other information in a lot of text files. Currently I've been having to shuttle them between work and home via my FTP server, which is about a five step process and rather annoying, espcially when Dreamhost is slow. What is an easier way to synchronize text files between two Windows XP machines that are NOT on the same LAN... with a big emphasis on EASY, preferably two steps or less?
posted by hansbleep at 5:56 PM PST - 16 comments

How can I learn Flash online for free?

How can I learn Flash? I'd prefer some free online resources. I know programming. (MI) [more inside]
posted by Turtle at 4:03 PM PST - 15 comments

How do I help a friend who just gave birth prematurely?

A friend just had a premature baby at 32 weeks (just below 4 lbs), and to complicate matters further, she was on vacation with family out of state and will likely be stuck there until the baby is healthy (if they were home, I could go right over and help make food, etc). I'm kind of feeling paralyzed wondering what an appropriate gift would be though. Small baby clothes? Send money/gift certificates to help offset travel bills? Flowers? I'm guessing it'll be a month or so before she comes home.
posted by mathowie at 3:35 PM PST - 15 comments

How do I get a spoof website down quickly?

Any ideas on how to get a fraud spoof website down quickly? (MI) [more inside]
posted by Pufferish at 2:55 PM PST - 25 comments

ID some art

Trying to identify two things. The first is an image. I think it was a drawing, though it might've been a manipulated photograph. Innumerable warplanes (bombers) crowd the sky, flying (I think) to the left. Some people on the ground are also evident, if I recall correctly. The second is a rather famous work by a prominent artist whose name escapes me. He cast his body, I think in bronze, and welded tremendously broad wings resembling an airplane's onto the sides. The title has something to do with angels.
posted by ori at 2:47 PM PST - 6 comments

A public school music teacher finding a private school position?

I'm a public school music teacher. I'm thinking about moving to another part of the country. How do I go about finding a position teaching at a private school? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by the_bone at 2:47 PM PST - 4 comments

No moon at night, everyone take flight!

What could obscure the moon temporarily at night? The ghost thread reminded me of this weird event, and I wondered if you clever folk might be able to speculate.. [mi] [more inside]
posted by wackybrit at 1:23 PM PST - 9 comments

What are your New Year's resolutions?

Are you making any New Year's resolutions? If so, list them here and be accountable to all who read them. If you are not making resolutions, feel free to comment [MI]
posted by seawallrunner at 12:53 PM PST - 24 comments

Children's Books

AnotherLostChildren'sBookFilter

I am looking for two children's books by the same author. One is about a carved wooden indian in a canoe that makes an amazing journey. The other is about a hermit crab as it makes its way through various new shells. My 3rd grade teacher read them to us, and I loved them, but I can't remember anything useful like author or title. Thanks!
posted by omphale27 at 11:20 AM PST - 8 comments

NYC Weekday Church

I want to find a church in New York City that has services on days other than Sunday. [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:16 AM PST - 7 comments

SMTP Gateway

SMTP Gateway? My ISP just (an hour ago) stopped forwarding email from subscribers unless the "From" address matched their own mail service. This means I cannot use my own domain name (hosted elsewhere). Any solutions? I can't change ISP (it's the only cable company in this part of town); my hosting company doesn't provide SMTP, only POP for incoming mail; I used to send email out directly from my own server, but these days many people block mail that's not from a machine with appropriate naming info; setting the "Reply-To" header works, but is really ugly and might not be respected by all mail clients. Thanks.
posted by andrew cooke at 10:52 AM PST - 21 comments

Where to get clay poker chips in Manhattan

Where can I buy a decent set of clay poker chips in Manhattan?
posted by turaho at 10:20 AM PST - 12 comments

ID this Japanese film with origami and snow

ObscureMovieFilter: DagMaggot's question jarred a memory I have of a film I saw several years in a row in grade school (late '70s). It was a Japanese film in which a boy loses his mother to some disease (possibly cancer)? As I recall, the mother used to entertain her son by folding origami, and I remember a scene with lots of snow. I also don't remember much, if any, dialog.

It's not a lot to go on, but that's all I remember, and I haven't been able to find it since. Pointers appreciated.
posted by aberrant at 9:38 AM PST - 3 comments

Name that movie about space cadets!

Name that movie (possibly a TV movie) about space cadets. (More inside) [more inside]
posted by inksyndicate at 8:32 AM PST - 8 comments

Percussion Music LP With Black Dots On Cover

Percussion Music LP of Childhood With Black Dots On Cover Filter. Recently, when my mom sold her house, I was sad to learn that she garage sale-disposed on an LP I was hoping to rediscover [+] [more inside]
posted by ParisParamus at 8:11 AM PST - 12 comments

Video Editing

Video Editing. What is the best solution on a Windows platform for video editing and burning to DVD? I am considering purchasing a Mac for this function, but if I could do it on Windows, it would be good as well.
posted by benjh at 7:30 AM PST - 8 comments

Indie Movie

Movie Question: An indie movie I saw on the Independant Film channel in the States, in 1996. Once I found it on IMDB, and then lost it again. Teenage prank in small town Minnesota. Fake a gang shooting. More inside [more inside]
posted by Goofyy at 5:27 AM PST - 5 comments

Find this Children's Book

My daughter is 7 and getting to the point where she is reading for enjoyment - I also enjoy reading more advanced books to her. I'm trying to remember the title of a children's book I read myself, back in the early 80s. [MI] [more inside]
posted by Dag Maggot at 3:48 AM PST - 32 comments

Have you, personally, seen a ghost?

I know many otherwise-skeptical people who believe in ghosts. Further discussion often leads to anecdotes, or a single bizarre happening from a long time ago. Perhaps my skeptical mind closes me off to the experience. So I wonder, has anyone here personally, preferably recently, experienced the paranormal? [more inside]
posted by adzm at 1:28 AM PST - 52 comments

How can I get motivated?

MotivationFilter! I'm interested in improving my personal motivation, and I'm looking for advice. [more inside]
posted by onalark at 12:57 AM PST - 19 comments

December 30

Oil painting advice requested

Artistic Metafilter users, I need your advice! I have recently acquired some oil paints and a brush, and am very much enjoying using them so far. I wonder if anyone has some advice about the non-obvious stuff regarding oil painting. I've already discovered some things that I didn't know before (i.e. a bit of red paint and an equally-sized bit of yellow don't make orange, they make slightly lighter red), but please post obvious things anyhow - I probably don't know about them. I (to my shame) have spent almost the entirety of my artistic life using Photoshop and Lightwave, so this is very fun and confusing territory for me.
posted by GriffX at 10:24 PM PST - 23 comments

Is outsourcing a problem in your country?

Is outsourcing a problem in your country? [more inside]
posted by airguitar at 10:11 PM PST - 13 comments

Costa Rica and Panama

vacation filter - has anyone traveled in southern costa rica? (osa peninsula, pavones) and northern panama (bocas del toro etc.)? if so - specific recommendations/suggestions/warnings for travel in the region?
posted by specialk420 at 8:50 PM PST - 3 comments

Name this movie: B&W, fugitive, hallucinations...

What Movie Was That? Old B&W. Wounded gangster/crim on the run. Holed up under a bridge or similar in the city. Kid kicks ball in gangster's general direction and runs to retrieve it. Crim hallucinates that the kid is a cop.
posted by TiredStarling at 8:24 PM PST - 2 comments

Seeking advice for migrating to the big smoke?

In six months time, I'm going to move to London (from Wakefield, West Yorkshire). A few of friends of mine (housemate, old friend, college friend) plan to get a house/flat together. I graduated this Summer (BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing), and am working in a bar and doing freelance web design in the meantime. I want to know what I should be doing now to get ready; when and where should I start looking for a Real Job, and when and where should I look for places to live? Does anybody have any other advice for migrating to the big smoke?
posted by armoured-ant at 7:32 PM PST - 10 comments

Big Shoes to Fill

I have needed men's size 14 shoes since middle school, and finding good footwear has always been a problem. Does anyone have any pointers to stylish and comfortable big shoes?
posted by crunchburger at 6:44 PM PST - 11 comments

Louisville neighborhoods

It looks like my bf and I may be moving to Louisville sometime this summer. Does anyone familiar with the area have any recommendations of cool areas of town to check out when we go looking for apartments in the next few months?
posted by Elaisa at 6:07 PM PST - 5 comments

What happened to the special edition Kill Bill DVDs?

So early last year, we were informed that Miramax would be gouging fans as much as possible on Kill Bill DVD releases, and that a special fancy edition would come out for Christmas. For that reason, I held off buying it. Now here it is almost new year's eve and no fancy edition. What gives?
posted by Capn at 5:14 PM PST - 9 comments

Oil fondue ideas.

Fondue filter: Every New Year's Eve, I make a cheese fondue, but this year, I'd like to try an asian oil-based version instead. Besides beef, carrots and mushrooms, what else can I dip? (More recipe info. inside.)
posted by sophie at 4:57 PM PST - 16 comments

name an art house movie about two gay HIV positive blokes

YetAnotherHalf-RememberedMovieFilter. So I saw this film, probably in 1992. It was an American, art-house dealie, with two gay HIV positive blokes, who meet, hook up, and drive across the US. [You'll never guess where I put the more] [more inside]
posted by pompomtom at 3:36 PM PST - 13 comments

Palm Springs

Things to do in Palm Springs when you are not dead. (MI). [more inside]
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 3:12 PM PST - 9 comments

Identify this cartoon and video!

CheatingBarStewardFilter As I'm limited to one posted question a week, I'm, erm, gonna cheat (but both questions are kinda the same sort of thing):

1) Trying to remember a cartoon from the 50s, that I'm pretty sure was called "Bottles". It had a Disney-Fantasia-esque feel, with the medicine bottles in a shop coming to life on a stormy night, brewing up a potion in a standard cartoony chemical set (bottles and tubes and the like)...

2) Also trying to remember a recent Indie video I saw (OK - I saw it recently) where the screen was split vertically throughout the song, and on each side you had a girl going through her day, doing identical things. The clincher was that one of the girls was going backwards, so when one gets out of bed in the morning, the other one is going to bed at night, but backwards - both clean their teeth together (one out of bed, one before bed, etc). They pass at some point in the middle and end up on the other side of the screen getting to the (identical) end/beginning of their days.

So, either of these things ring a visual bell with anyone?
posted by benzo8 at 2:45 PM PST - 12 comments

Buying a custom built, OS-less PC online?

I grimace to think of the possibility that this has been asked before, but I can't find it. I would like to buy a custom built, OS-less PC online. What are the best/most reputable dealers?
posted by selfnoise at 2:17 PM PST - 13 comments

Accountant or Turbo Tax?

Who should do my tax filing? The accountant who's done my taxes for the last 13 years? Or, should I give Turbo Tax a go? Last year the accountant charged me $450. Turbo Premier costs $69.95. [+] [more inside]
posted by pinkkitty at 1:10 PM PST - 23 comments

Thunderbird Extensions

Thunderbird Extensions: I love thunderbird, but I miss OE's ability to download lots of stuff from binary groups. I used to like being able to click on ten subjects lines and it woiuld download the lot, while thunderbird only gets the most recently clicked, and seems to attempt to redownload every time you select a subject line. Any suggestions?
posted by twine42 at 12:48 PM PST - 5 comments

not-Pod recommendations

Looking for suggestions for iPod alternatives for my 12-year-old daughter [MI]. [more inside]
posted by jpburns at 12:43 PM PST - 39 comments

Recommend a small portable computer!

I need a wireless mini-computer that can connect to AOL instant messenger, play MP3s, surf the web, and word process (removable keyboard is fine). Hopefully something with a windows operating system (windows CE?). I know nothing about pocket PCs or palm pilots or anything smaller than a full fledged laptop, anyone help me out? [more inside]
posted by outsider at 11:41 AM PST - 15 comments

Factchecking my financial advisor on mutual funds

I am presently working with a financial advisor to select mutual funds for my retirement plan. He has explained the differences between Class A, B, and C funds to me, and also suggested that Class A is probably the best option. Is he correct? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by ajr at 9:40 AM PST - 14 comments

Can one withdraw a guilty plea before setencing?

Legal question

Can one withdraw a guilty plea before setencing? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by LouReedsSon at 9:37 AM PST - 39 comments

Photo Smart Scanner

I have an old first generation HP Photo Smart scanner that has a SCSI interface. It came with a proprietary HP SCSI / ISA card that won't work in my newish Dell since the motherboard has only PCI slots. Third party dealers want $175 for the old, refurbished SCSI / PCI cards that I need. HP sells them directly for $92. Do I need to stick with the proprietary PCI card, or would a generic SCSI / PCI card that I can pick up for $15 work just as well?
posted by crank at 9:30 AM PST - 11 comments

Cheapest way from NYC or DC to Managua, Nicaragua?

I'm going to Nicaragua this summer for the entire summer, and I'm looking for the cheapest way to get there from NYC or DC, to Managua. I'll leave near the end of May and return mid-August. Besides Expedia and the usual set of online price comparison engines, is there a good source for cheap fares abroad? (are there student discount places?)
posted by jare2003 at 9:25 AM PST - 7 comments

Is it okay to leave pour spouts in liquor bottles over time?

I bought several liquor bottle spouts to make pouring easier for a recent holiday party. Now I'm wondering if I can leave them in the bottles or not. I've got some cheapo $.75 diposables and some $5-ish automatic 1 oz. pourers that are much nicer. Assuming I use a given bottle only once a week or so, is leaving the pourers in a bad idea? Will my hooch evaporate? Will cooties crawl into the bottle (my apartment is largely cootie-free)? Is it just bad manners to leave them in? Please advise.
posted by etc. at 9:15 AM PST - 13 comments

Who coined the phrase "Cultural Cathedral?"

Who coined the phrase "Cultural Cathedral?" MI. [more inside]
posted by Miko at 9:02 AM PST - 8 comments

How can I make changes to ID3 track tag metadata with iTunes 4.7 on WinXP and have those changes stick?

How can I make changes to ID3 track tag metadata with iTunes 4.7 on WinXP and have those changes stick? [mi] [more inside]
posted by grimmelm at 8:48 AM PST - 14 comments

How can I prove that someone owns a PO box?

How can I prove that someone owns a PO box? [more inside]
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:37 AM PST - 27 comments

Keeping Records

What is your personal records retention policy (taxes, paystubs, account statements, receipts, other important documents)? What an exciting topic! More inside. [more inside]
posted by internal at 7:32 AM PST - 18 comments

How would I go about finding an investor for a game I'm working on?

How would I go about finding an investor for a game I'm working on? [MI] [more inside]
posted by Savvas at 3:14 AM PST - 12 comments

Groupware Calendar on OSX

Mac OS X Groupware Filter: A friend of mine is switching to Mac from Windows and is looking for a groupware calendar.[mi] [more inside]
posted by Ironwolf at 12:09 AM PST - 4 comments

December 29

Glorious War

I hate movies about/with war, or more precisely, battles that depict how horrible and bloodsoaked and gory wars are. Hate hate hate them. Watch them. Hate them.
So, having watched the extended cut of Return of the King for about the infinityinth time today, I still find myself with goosebumps and tears streaming down my face over the incredibly bittersweet glory depicted during the battle on Pelennor Fields.

Are there any other movies that depict war as glorrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeuhhhhssssssssss (/John Colicos) that I should see?
posted by WolfDaddy at 10:44 PM PST - 45 comments

What is the penalty for escaping from prison if you prove your initial innocence?

DrRichardKimbleFilter:

A man is arrested for murder, and appears absolutely 100% sure to be convicted. He then escapes from prison (assume no one is hurt or property damaged in the escape,) tracks down the real killer, and proves beyond any doubt whatsoever that he is innocent as all hell, and all murder charges were dropped.

How much trouble is this guy going to be in for escaping? What fate awaits him?

Asking both the strictly legal answer, and thoughts on what would actually end up happening.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 9:57 PM PST - 15 comments

Aimless

I'm a 35 year old male and am smart, single and fit but find myself feeling like time is running out. Perhaps too smart; I have a high IQ, whatever that is worth, but am not a college graduate and I find I still have a bit of a complex about this despite having been gainfully white collar employed for most of my adult life. I never started college and wouldn't even know where to begin. I meet people easily and am told that I am good looking. I was 30 before I realized that I had coasted so far on charisma. With an opportunity to make a life change in the next year what should this American do? Long term and short term answers are all welcome and travel is a possibility if your answer deems it necessary.
posted by anonymous at 9:42 PM PST - 38 comments

How can I find a boyfriend in the gay community while still being myself?

I'm a gay male in my early thirties nearing my sixth year of singlehood, and long since ready to be with someone. However, I've had the hardest time trying to relate to the the gay community. I'm a bit eccentric and will often go to the gay club to write and probably get too wordy with personal ads. It seems that emotional and spiritual depth, along with a lack of care about materialism, just doesn't jibe with the "gay mainstream." My question is this: how can I continue my joyously weird existance, and attract the right person, without diminishing my personality and belief system? What sacrifices must I make with my 'kookiness' and still be me? Thanks!
posted by anonymous at 9:41 PM PST - 29 comments

Teaching computer skills to grandparents

What's the best way to teach basic computer and internet skills to two grandparents with an iMac who have only used WebTV? [More Inside.] [more inside]
posted by esd at 8:27 PM PST - 14 comments

How to best invest $10K for my newborn?

InvestmentFilter
You've got $10,000 to invest for your 6 month old child. How do you invest it for security and growth? (+) [more inside]
posted by fenriq at 7:58 PM PST - 27 comments

Deja Vu

DejaVuFilter: I dream events that will occur to me in the future, on a rather erratic basis. I recognize these dreams when they repeat in the real-world, and sometimes recall the rest of the dream, making it possible to change the outcome of the experience. Does anyone else experience this? Know anything about it? Opinions? [MI] [more inside]
posted by id at 7:09 PM PST - 57 comments

Seances in the San Francisco area?

Where in the San Francisco Bay area can I attend a seance?
posted by bac at 5:25 PM PST - 2 comments

Estimate how many people who have MeFi accounts are now dead.

Actuary Filter: How many MeFites are dead? [MI] [more inside]
posted by biffa at 4:56 PM PST - 25 comments

Garden Design Software

Any Landscape Architects/Designers with advice on design software.

Looking for something aimed specifically towards Garden Design with a pretty intuitive interface, but designed for the professional end of the market
posted by JPD at 3:30 PM PST - 1 comment

Films Featuring Arguments

Can anyone suggest polemical films, documentary or fictional, that would be good in a college composition course on writing arguments? [MI] [more inside]
posted by bibliowench at 3:01 PM PST - 23 comments

Looking for a web app to allow my users to draw

Seeking: a web drawing applet that can save files to a server. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by rafter at 1:39 PM PST - 9 comments

Hack a PC power cable to fit iMac

I brought my flat-panel Imac home from work over the break, and forgot the power cord. It's a two hour round trip, so I was wondering if it's possible to hack a PC power cord and get it to fit into the Imac's clover-shaped receptacle. Or, if there's another way around this. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 1:19 PM PST - 8 comments

What can you do in Vegas if you're not gambling?

My wife and I will be in Vegas next week (for a conference). We've been there before and done the casino/gambling thing, which we're not really into. What else is there to do? Note: we won't have a car (but we can take taxis as long as we don't run up a zillion dollars in fares). Also, we're smart enough to find out what shows are playing. We're more interested in stuff that isn't obvious.
posted by grumblebee at 1:02 PM PST - 34 comments

Near-Death Experiences

We've all seen reports of Christians in fiery plane crashes or otherwise at death's doorstep experiencing visions of Christ showing the way out of the wreckage/beckoning them into heaven/etc., etc.

Do members of other religions report the same kind of experiences?
posted by felix at 12:51 PM PST - 4 comments

Does anyone know why the Mac OSX property list (pflist) file format is such a bastardization of XML?

Does anyone know why the Mac OSX property list (pflist) file format is such a bastardization of XML?

It looks like XML, except it doesn't form a proper tree.
posted by robinw at 12:36 PM PST - 15 comments

Tsunami Relief

Aside from Amazon and Apple, are any other prominent commercial web sites turning over significant portions of their home pages to tsunami relief? This is a good thing, but I'd hoped there'd be more by now.
posted by baltimore at 12:21 PM PST - 19 comments

Comment spam on my blog?

Comment Spam question. Recently I've been hit with hundreds of comment spams to my weblog (MT 3.0 w/ mt-blacklist). The funny thing is the links aren't to the normal kind of sites. The domain names are randoms letters that don't resolve and the text is usually a person's name. For example the link might be 'Lucille' with the domain of xzxesfseor.com.

Why are the comment spammers doing this? Are they attempting to overwhelm the blacklist systems with nonsense? Any explanations?
posted by Argyle at 11:14 AM PST - 16 comments

Firefox Help

Need Firefox help. Somehow all my extensions and bookmarks have disappeared from Firefox, and I cannot figure out how to get them back. Firefox help and Google have not given me the answers I need. Has anyone else had this problem?
posted by smich at 11:05 AM PST - 8 comments

Need to get rid of squirrels

Any help and insight on the following:
Diogenes Syndrome. Geriatric self-neglect. My dad's house is inhabited by 8-12 squirrels (estimate), he won't let us in the house and I'm the last one of five sons to confront the immediate issue. He's lucid, 82. Help!
posted by nj_subgenius at 10:34 AM PST - 19 comments

What should I ask my brother to bring me from Italy?

My brother is in Italy (Venice and Vicenza area, mostly) for the next two weeks. What goodies should I demand he bring back? I'm not into coffee or wine.
posted by Soliloquy at 10:32 AM PST - 22 comments

PostFix Mail

PostFix: I've done the typical searching around on Google, and I'm not having much luck, I'm setting up a mail server using PostFix, with Courier-Pop, procmail and Spamassassin, and my mail isn't being delivered into $HOME/Maildir. Instead it's going to /var/mail/spool. I'm running Debian Woody and the latest version of everything else. I've double checked every config file I can find but there's something I'm missing...
posted by jackofsaxons at 10:14 AM PST - 3 comments

need third party email and webmail hosting specialists

Email hosting redux! Looking for 3rd-party email-hosting specialists. Require: own-domain, I manage DNS, no incremented billing per mailbox/user. Web-based control panel. Under $50/year, I hope. Anyone got a lead?
posted by mwhybark at 9:46 AM PST - 7 comments

XP/Dell laptop display problem

XP/Dell Lapop Question: Why do white fields display a sickly blue on my screen? [+] [more inside]
posted by LarryC at 9:23 AM PST - 10 comments

Xbox game recommendations and tricks?

I bought myself an Xbox for Christmas. What are the best games to pick up? Are there any cool things I can do with it without installing any chips or risking ruining the thing? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Otis at 9:10 AM PST - 32 comments

What are your favorite indie label websites?

I run the website for a very small indie music label, and I want to make it better. What are your favorite indie label websites, and what makes them so good?
posted by buriednexttoyou at 9:10 AM PST - 17 comments

What's with the ubiquity of Scarface posters?

Why does every home featured on MTV Cribs have a poster from the movie Scarface?
posted by gwint at 8:30 AM PST - 21 comments

Can internet gossip = stock market success ?

Anyone successfully used internet rumors/information to make money in the stock market?
posted by smackfu at 8:28 AM PST - 15 comments

What champagne should I buy for under $100?

Champagne! I've volunteered to buy a nice bottle o' the bubbly for a small New Year's Eve gathering. Trouble is, I hardly ever drink (mostly, in fact, champagne at New Year's) and have never actually chosen the champagne. So what should I get? Let's keep it under $100, please. (And yes, I'm aware that only sparkling wines from Champagne should really ever be called "champagne," but I'll consider wines from elsewhere as well.)
posted by kindall at 7:26 AM PST - 41 comments

People come to me for computer help. How much should I charge and/or how can I get out of it?

I work partly as IT/network support for a company whose focus isn't specifically IT. As such, most of the employees are not very knowledgeable in this area and come to me for help on fixing issues on their home computers. I'm not really into this, but I'm not sure how best to decline to help. I don't mind advising people on things, but when they ask me to go their house to fix their home computers I balk. Today, someone asked how much I charged to "reformat" their hard drive, which I suppose is better than just asking if I can fix something, but what if I don't want to run a half-assed consultancy?

On the flipside -- if I did want to start charging, what do you think would be a normal rate for this kind of stuff? Should I bother setting up a business name? I had thought about such a business before I got this job, but now that I'm a full-timer, I'm not sure I have the interest in doing this as a sidejob.
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 7:14 AM PST - 17 comments

Scuba Diving

[Scubafilter] My partner and I need some advice on learning how to scuba dive...[MI] [more inside]
posted by googly at 6:50 AM PST - 9 comments

Are there any foreign-language films set in the United States?

I'd be interested in seeing foreign-language films that are set in the United States. Are there any? [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 2:40 AM PST - 27 comments

Dial Up connection problems - bad phone line?

Dial-up modem connection woes [+] [more inside]
posted by pissfactory at 2:24 AM PST - 9 comments

what is the 5v standby alert when booting windows?

When I'm booted into Windows, the motherboard sensors always flash up an alert: the 5v Standby is below it's threshold at 4.2v. All I can do is kill PC Alert. I presume this isn't serious, since my PC has happily worked for years, but what is going on? What is the 5v Standby?
posted by salmacis at 2:21 AM PST - 5 comments

The ettiquette of complimenting co-workers.

a question of ettiquette: it's not uncommon for me (bloke, straight, 31) to compliment co-workers - both male and female - on their clothes, hair, shoes etc. If a woman at work is wearing a string-strap tank top which will always leave her bra-straps exposed, is it bad form to say (if it's true): "hey, nice bra."? it's not like it's been ACCIDENTALLY exposed or anything, but... I dunno... what rules apply here?
posted by bunglin jones at 12:17 AM PST - 62 comments

December 28

What segments or content should I host on my AM radio show?

Emergency guest-hosting a tiny, AM radio show..... [+] [more inside]
posted by oflinkey at 7:11 PM PST - 16 comments

Feel-good Movies?

Inspired in part by this question, I'd like some suggestions for feel good movies please! I've been bogged down by many amazing (but serious) documentaries lately, and would like to enter 2005 with a list of movies to lift my spirits.
posted by katie at 6:26 PM PST - 67 comments

Old Internet Explorer can't log onto Hotmail anymore.

There's probably an obvious answer to this one. My dad has an older pentium running Windows 98 and IE 5.0 connecting to the net via a cable modem. He does three things on the net 1) play chess 2) check email on Yahoo 3) check email on Hotmail. Three weeks ago he stopped being able to log into Hotmail. (MI) [more inside]
posted by dismitree at 5:34 PM PST - 12 comments

Is Ignorance Bliss?

If you were cheated on and broken up with, would you want to know that you were cheated on or would ignorance be bliss?
posted by anonymous at 4:30 PM PST - 37 comments

Gift Card Given for Unfixable PDA, But Fixed -- Ethics?

A while back, my Palm died and I took it back to Best Buy. I had an extended warranty, and they said they were unable to fix it, so they gave me a gift card for the price of the PDA. I just got a call from their service department saying they got the PDA back and it works fine and I can come pick it up. Should I go pick it up? I know it's not exactly scrupulous, but I really hate Best Buy. Consequences?
posted by anonymous at 3:59 PM PST - 24 comments

How do I adress public hygeine issues?

What is the best way to tell a potentially over sensitive co-worker that clipping her fingernails is not an appropriate thing to do in the office?
posted by anonymous at 3:39 PM PST - 40 comments

Tell me everything about being hypnotized

Does anyone here have experience being hypnotized? I'm interested in maybe having someone poke around in the sub-basement, maybe even do a past-life-regression. Since I was about three I've had vivid, detailed dreams that take place in a time at least several centuries past. Cobblestone streets, etc. Also, about twenty years ago I had a terrible time with a suicidal friend, and directly afterward my life became so hectic that I never really dealt with my emotions about the experience, just "stuffed" them. I'm interested in maybe having a hypnotist poke around and see what s/he can find or set loose. I'm not sure what to look for in a hypnotist or if this is a good idea, etc. Tips/opinions? Thanks.
posted by anonymous at 3:39 PM PST - 20 comments

What should I do about my credit card debt?

Four credit cards. Two owned by the same company. Total debt about 70,000. No mortgage. No student loans. No job. No car. No kids. No rent for the next few months. I I could work for seven+ years to pay it off. I could quit paying. Interest is more than $300 a month. I have been paying one card with another for a year or two when I was out of work. Bankruptcy isn't something I wanted. Interest rates going up. My question is 'what happens'? Collections, harassment, embarrassment, garnishment? What's that like? Is that a fair price to pay for a fresh start? I get lost wanting to understand the spiritual significance of fractional reserve lending systems. If you have any perspective/experience on what its like to quit paying, this would help me see more clearly what I think I'm headed for. I guess my big concerns are collections people. How long does it take before my bank account gets seized? Can I still use it? Will they call my parents? Call me at work? Visit me? My bills go to a pobox and I my phone is a voicemail box. I just thought I could do something better with my life than give up another eight years to this. Don't ask where the money went. It's all been used wisely and judiciously.
posted by anonymous at 3:39 PM PST - 32 comments

Fired! How to Deal?

About a year ago, I was unjustly fired. My employer was careful to do it in a way to avoid any legal disputes. How does one get over thoughts of revenge and confrontation. I've considered sending a letter to the person responsible, explaining exactly how I feel about it all. I was never given a proper explaination and the whole thing feels unresolved. I realize a letter is somewhat juvenile and unproductive but I feel this might help me cope. I really want to put this all behind me.
posted by anonymous at 3:39 PM PST - 20 comments

Criterion Collection: Worth It?

What is all the fuss about Criterion Collection DVD's, and why are they so expensive? I wanted to buy Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" today, but it was like $60CDN! Are they (as a whole) worth the money?
posted by Quartermass at 3:16 PM PST - 19 comments

How long is "beta" supposed to last?

How long is "beta" supposed to last?
posted by brent at 2:58 PM PST - 14 comments

In the context of optical amplifiers, what's the difference between gain bandwidth and amplification bandwidth?

In the context of optical amplifiers, what's the difference between gain bandwidth and amplification bandwidth? [more inside]
posted by spacewrench at 2:43 PM PST - 6 comments

SIze 12 Shoes

Does anyone know of a good, not horrifically expensive place to get feminine, cute shoes in a women's size 12? I can find really crappy shoes (payless.com) or drag queen shoes (do your own searching) or really expensive ugly stuff (anywhere on the web) but I was wondering if anyone out in mefi land has a good resource. I am at the end of my rope.
posted by u.n. owen at 2:41 PM PST - 15 comments

Have you ever dated a Suicide Girl?

Have you ever dated a Suicide Girl?
posted by orange clock at 2:22 PM PST - 38 comments

Any good resources for Open Source Architecture of the Mike Brady variety?

Any good resources for Open Source Architecture of the Mike Brady variety? [+] [more inside]
posted by mds35 at 1:55 PM PST - 3 comments

Author! Author!

After reading this fascinating thread, I'm curious: How many published authors are among our number? I'd love to see who's here and what kinds of books you've written.
posted by Vidiot at 1:34 PM PST - 46 comments

Over-Insulating an Attic

What problems can be caused by over-insulating an attic? [+] [more inside]
posted by grateful at 12:35 PM PST - 15 comments

I need to design and put up a website for a small business but have never done this before; what are the basics?

Designing, programming, and administering a website from scratch. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by rocketman at 11:34 AM PST - 13 comments

US dollar bill with a URL for a hotel in Domincan Republic?

Dollar bill spam? I just got a US dollar bill with a URL on it. Going to said URL brings up the web site of a hotel in the dominican republic. Is this an actual thing? Or is this just someone having some fun? [more inside]
posted by o2b at 10:57 AM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone recommend a printer for short run, full color business cards?

Brought on by the business card thread, can anyone recommend a printer for short run, full color business cards? The ability to do interesting things, such as die-cut and odd substrates is a plus.
posted by quibx at 10:21 AM PST - 11 comments

Commercial insertion in nationally broadcast television

I am curious as to how an hour-long nationally televised program in the U.S., like say E.R., is actually broadcast. Does one person in New York or L.A. push a play button to start the show and all the commercials, or is there coordination between NBC and local affiliate technicians? For that matter, how is the entire programming day coordinated? What goes wrong to create “technical difficulties”? (Ignore the feed into satellite and/or cable TV for my purposes).
posted by punkfloyd at 10:05 AM PST - 10 comments

Firefox settings

When I open a new window in Firefox, it opens to my home page. In Explorer, new windows opened to the same URL as the existing open window, which I much prefer. How can I change my settings so that Firefox will do the same and I'm not forced to trudge back to Explorer?
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 9:55 AM PST - 16 comments

Dealing with music dealers

I'm pursuing selling some of my songs. Anyone have any experience good/bad with Taxi?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:37 AM PST - 4 comments

Moving to St Louis. Where to live?

St. Louis housing: I'm moving to St. Louis in May, but I don't know the neighborhoods. [more inside]. [more inside]
posted by gd779 at 7:29 AM PST - 9 comments

Where to go for reviews of flatbed scanners?

Where to go for reviews of flatbed scanners? It used to be that I'd pick up PCMagazine or something like that, but I'm looking for something more photo- rather than business-oriented. Do you have any trusted resources, online or off?
posted by owen at 5:49 AM PST - 5 comments

Want to get involved in voiceovers? Best ideas? Classes (are they a scam?)

I'm interested in getting into the field of voiceover and vocal acting. I've seen the ads for classes that offer to help you get started (check the Google ads to the right, most likely), but I don't know if any of these are helpful or just a waste of money. Anyone here involved in voiceovers? [more inside]
posted by al_fresco at 5:23 AM PST - 7 comments

What's the best way to donate to tsunami victims?

What's the most effective way to help Tsunami victims with a donation? CNN lists 25 groups willing to take a donation. How do you decide who to give to?
posted by donovan at 1:10 AM PST - 24 comments

December 27

Best/Coolest/Most Memorable Business Cards You've Seen?

What are the best/coolest/most memorable business cards you've seen? Bonus points for pictures.
posted by cmonkey at 11:52 PM PST - 27 comments

Fun for under $100

A friend just gave me $100 for Christmas with the express instructions that I wasn't allowed to spend it on anything that I needed, only fun stuff. What would you buy?
posted by ttrendel at 11:26 PM PST - 25 comments

PS2 Returns

Where/how can I return shrink-wrapped Playstation 2 games for store credit without a receipt? I've tried both EB Games and Toys R Us, and they both have strict receipt-only return policies.
posted by waxpancake at 10:31 PM PST - 12 comments

quality astronomy/telscope websites?

Any mefi's out there able to point me to some quality astronomy/telscope websites? Small/niche/indie sites also welcomed. (mi) [more inside]
posted by efalk at 10:08 PM PST - 16 comments

Can we get a decent set of 5.1 speakers for the Onkyo TX-SR500 receiver for <$200?

We are looking to buy a set of 5.1 speakers for this receiver, but we're pretty clueless. Can we get something decent for around $200?
posted by muckster at 4:12 PM PST - 19 comments

Hauling Furniture to Baltimore

I have the opportunity to acquire some nice furniture from my folks, stuff I'd (as a student) could never afford. I don't know how to drive, nor do I have friends who would help with this. I'm looking for people who shipped things like 45lbs office chairs and large wooden desks to recommend a freight carrier that will pick up in boston and drop off in baltimore. Or even suggest a moving company. Basically, I know what to look for, I just want anecdotes and recommendations on the best (read: cheapest, I can wait a week so long as it gets here cheap) way to do this. As far as budget goes, I'd like to not spend more than $200 and if I can do it for $100 I'll be ecstatic.
posted by Grod at 3:49 PM PST - 9 comments

What business do you start with $60,000?

You have $60,000 and want to start a business. What do you do?
posted by stevis at 3:14 PM PST - 34 comments

What are the things in life that everyone should know?

KnowledgeFilter: What are the things in life that everyone should know? More inside. [more inside]
posted by eatcherry at 3:10 PM PST - 82 comments

Tips for an inspirational slideshow?

I'm putting together a video/still shot slideshow for our company's annual "We Did Really Well Last Year" video. I'd like to make it as visually appealing as possible... [MI] [more inside]
posted by bryanzera at 2:21 PM PST - 9 comments

What's with all the different antifreeze colors.

What's with all the different antifreeze colors. My GF took her car to the quicky-change for an oil change. They tell her that she has the wrong kind of antifreeze - her's is green they say she needs orange. I bounced around on Google and found a lot of conflicting information. Most say that there are differences in antifreeze and that the different types are made for specific makes of vehicle. What I couldn't find was agreement on whether or not it is critical that the correct type be used. Some say change immediately, others say it's best to use the proper type but it doesn't really matter and others say it doesn't matter at all. The vehicle is a 99 GMC Yukon. Any advice??
posted by Carbolic at 1:13 PM PST - 8 comments

How should I find an apartment in Columbus, OH?

Columbus (OH) filter...

I just arrived a a hotel and rented for a week; I'm starting work at my new job on Wednesday. Any MeFi'ers from around here? Where and how should I go about nailing down an apartment?
posted by alumshubby at 1:08 PM PST - 6 comments

Has anyone noticed traffic information painted directly on the streets outside of Mountain View?

I was in Mountain View recently and noticed speed limits painted directly on the streets. Anyone else seen this kind of thing? [+] [more inside]
posted by Jeff Howard at 12:45 PM PST - 10 comments

The Amazing Logo

I need some help finding a -large- picture of The Amazing Race logo. I've looked everything -- Google images, cbs.com, around the Web.

Anyone know where to find one? Or have any ideas on where I should search? Thanks for the help. (I want to print my own clues and hence need the logo to fill the back of the envelope, as in the show).
posted by seinfeld at 11:44 AM PST - 6 comments

Need a New Heater

What can you tell me about getting a new, gas wall heater/furnace?

The old heater (gas floor furnace), which is original to the house (1940's) has gone kaput. Apparently they don't even make replacement parts for floor furnaces anymore, we don't want to install forced air/heating, so a wall heater it will be. I just don't want to get ripped off in the process. Any advice on approximately what it should cost for installation? Do we have to pull a permit for this? Also, your experience with regard to brands. I am willing to pay for a good quality product, I just don't want to pay twice the going rate for labor. We're in L. A., if that colors your answer. Thanks.
posted by vignettist at 10:23 AM PST - 2 comments

Autopayments After Expiration

I signed up for an AOL account (don't ask) in March with a debit card that expired in March. I assumed it couldn't be charged after it expired. Then I left the country until December, only to discover on my return that it had indeed been charged after it expired. My bank is not willing to help beyond the last charge, and AOL says it can do this with no problem. Visa said I have to talk to my bank. Does anyone know what further recourse I might have? Are there laws I can cite?
posted by dmo at 10:21 AM PST - 14 comments

How do I fix damage from snow on my car?

Broke the car, now what?
Due to rather large amounts of snow and ice being piled up around my son's car, which was parked on the street, the act of getting it out has caused some damage. [more inside]
posted by kamylyon at 8:50 AM PST - 17 comments

Need help booting off of a SATA drive

I have been unable to boot from my brand new SATA hard drive. If I boot from an IDE drive, I can read from and write to this drive with absolutely no problems whatsoever. But when I try to boot, I get a "DISK BOOT FAILURE" error. I've tried many things to get this to work, and I'm quickly running out of ideas. List of things I've tried and hardware details inside. [more inside]
posted by Plutor at 8:37 AM PST - 14 comments

What does "fifty dollars for the powder room" mean in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"?

I grok that Holly Golightly is a call girl in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but what does 'fifty dollars for the powder room' mean?
posted by pieoverdone at 7:48 AM PST - 12 comments

Where can I find robot kits that are 'beyond' the basics? Soldering OK.

I'm looking for robot kits that are a bit more interesting than the basic line trackers. The ideal kit would combine soldering with some building. Any suggestions?
posted by drezdn at 7:41 AM PST - 8 comments

Choosing Men's Shoes

I pretty much just wear sneakers, but what with being 35 and all, I've been thinking that maybe it's time to start wearing adult shoes. The problem is that whenever I go into a men's shoe store, I see row after row of essentially the same looking style. I'm sure there's a difference between cool shoes and not cool shoes, but I don't have any idea what that difference is. Outside of wanting something cool, comfort is key. I'd mostly be looking for casual wear it with jeans types of shoes (not ready to graduate to adult trousers just yet). So, what's the difference between good and bad shoes?
posted by willnot at 7:20 AM PST - 40 comments

Smelly Office

How would one go about eliminating the odor of vinegar from one's office? [+] [more inside]
posted by jdroth at 7:18 AM PST - 11 comments

Need a Linux media server

I wish to rip DVDs to a Linux server and then watch them at my leisure on my TV via either a wired or wireless network. There appear to be countless devices that will stream videos (like this) but I haven't been able to tell which will play DVDs off a network (with menus and all) and which just stream plain-old-MPEGs. Has anyone got experience with a digital media gadget that will do this?
posted by jewzilla at 7:09 AM PST - 5 comments

William Blake

EnglishPoetryFilter:

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

How did Blake get away with this rhyme? [MI] [more inside]
posted by altolinguistic at 4:35 AM PST - 31 comments

Wireless home theater, possible?

In considering the home entertainment setup for the house I've just purchased, I'm looking for suggestions and advice on going wireless and streaming music from a PC to, well, everywhere. How best to do this? The main PC doing the work can be located anywhere, but I'd sure like some sort of control over what's playing in each of the main locations. Stereo in the living room, maybe some small speakers in the kitchen and upstairs... whatever. Your experience and product recommendations, please.
posted by danwalker at 4:34 AM PST - 12 comments

December 26

Movable Type Problem

Movable Type Problem: I have a problem with Internal Server Errors and mt-comments.cgi after upgrading from version 2.6x to 3.14 [MI]. [more inside]
posted by gyc at 10:51 PM PST - 6 comments

Agoraphobia

Has anyone ever had a significant other or loved one with agoraphobia? How did you come to understand their situation? How did you deal with it? Is there anything the one that isn't suffering from it in the relationship can do to make it easier? "It" could be either the relationship or the agoraphobia itself.
posted by anonymous at 10:23 PM PST - 7 comments

Did Christmas Become Less Holy Once It Was Associated with "Merry" or "Happy"?

Should Christmas really be "merry"? Can't the origin of the decline of this sacred day, as a sacred day be traced to couching it as a "merry" or "happy," rather than something "good" or something similarly sober?
posted by anonymous at 10:23 PM PST - 12 comments

Certification for Teaching English?

Ok, I apologize in advance for this being a not-entirely-original question, but my girlfriend and I are looking to teach English somewhere in Europe starting this fall (we're thinking mostly of Spain and Italy, but we're open to suggestions), and I was wondering how important certification is, and how to obtain the correct sort of certification from a reputable authority. Thanks, AskMeFi!
posted by clockzero at 9:34 PM PST - 12 comments

Could someone kick 75 yard field goals with a 10% success rate?

Does there exist a suitably gifted living individual (in the entire, bitchen world) who could kick 75-yard field goals successfully on ten percent of his attempts? Please note that an assessment of the kicker's worthiness for any other pursuit, or a discussion of the utility of such a person, is irrelevant to my question.
posted by Kwantsar at 9:25 PM PST - 21 comments

Poopoo Comedy Skitch

SketchFilter: I need help remembering where I saw a particular comedy sketch. The one portion that I remember was Fred Schneider (of the B-52s) or someone who was supposed to be him following a person around and while the person is going to the bathroom in a public stall, Fred pops his head up over the door and sings "Everybody's taking a poopoo!" I think this was during the early 90s. I thought it might have been the Ben Stiller show, but I just saw the DVD of that show and it was not, in fact, on that show. Help!
posted by stefnet at 7:18 PM PST - 4 comments

The origin of "Pillar of Autumn"?

I have always considered the name of the Marine ship in Halo, Pillar of Autumn, to be terribly poetic. Is this phrase original to the talented game designers at Bungie, or does it come from the Western Canon somwhere?
posted by jimfl at 6:58 PM PST - 11 comments

Disappearing Cursor on OS X

Disappearing cursor on OS X. Recently my Powerbook's cursor keeps disappearing when I unplug my mouse. It won't reappear (even when I plug the mouse back in) unless I reboot. It's freaking nervewracking. Any ideas?
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 6:11 PM PST - 12 comments

Insurance continuation question

Insurance continuation question: You are laid off of work and go onto COBRA insurance. You get hired for another job that comes with health coverage and start work on the 4th of the month. If you do not pay your COBRA payment for that month, do you have a lapse in coverage for 4 days? I have tried googling but the fact that the original company is a Delaware corporation which operates in California is confounding my ability to detangle the mess, especially as the deadline for COBRA payments for a given month is on the 5th of the month.
posted by hindmost at 5:15 PM PST - 11 comments

What should I do while I'm in Boston?

I’m going to be in Boston for a few days. I’ve never been before & I want to make the most of it. [MI] [more inside]
posted by fourstar at 4:53 PM PST - 37 comments

Is my Windows Disk Defragmenter broken, or is it me?

I ran the Windows Disk Defragmenter overnight on my hard drive, and it didn't really work. Fragmentation is still rampant, and clicking Analyze tells me that I should defragment the drive. Hmm, I thought I just did. Is there anything I can do, or does the Defrag tool just suck?
posted by punishinglemur at 4:24 PM PST - 7 comments

Proper absinthe technique.

OK, head management question ... Kids away, new man, gift bottle of Absinthe from Parisian friends. Is it the 'right' nectar for a romantic evening? We are, um, experienced drinkers dying to try it ... on the other hand, we want to create the right, you know, buzz. Will this do it? How do we cook it?
posted by thinkpiece at 3:03 PM PST - 28 comments

Why can't I connect my Tivo to my wireless network?

Why can't I connect my Tivo to my wireless network? [MI] [more inside]
posted by Cyrano at 2:42 PM PST - 6 comments

In Thailand? Help me contact my brother after the earthquake.

I'm sure you've all heard the news that thousands are dead in Asia after a massive earthquake struck near Indonesia. My brother is among the missing and we're desperately trying to find out if he's OK. If you're in the region or have experience with contacting loved ones after an event like this, please read on. I need your help [more inside]
posted by blockhead at 2:22 PM PST - 22 comments

Recipe Search: Migliaccio

I've been searching for years for a recipe for something that I can't spell. Since I can't spell it, I'm having a lot of trouble running searches for it - there are way too many returns when I try searching the ingredients. It's a breakfast dish that my grandmother used to prepare. -------> [more inside]
posted by iconomy at 1:31 PM PST - 9 comments

Swapping a Gift Card

I received a $50 gift card from my parents for Christmas. From Sears. I think the intention was that I would buy underwear and socks. I'd like to swap it for one from a book store, but all the gift card swapping sites seem suspicious or they take too big of a fee. Recommendations?
posted by Mo Nickels at 7:19 AM PST - 47 comments

December 25

Spam filter for Mac OS 9 with Outlook Express?

SpamFilter: My Dad is using a Mac G3, OS 9.2 with Outlook Express. He is in need of a good anti-spam program. He is a smart guy, but not the most computer savvy. I use Mailwasher on my computer (PC). I think it would be good for him (easy to use, straight-forward interface), but there is not a Mac version. Any recommendations?
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 10:09 PM PST - 9 comments

Will a 56k modem work well on a 256k ADSL connection?

I have ADSL. If ADSL is active and I hookup an old 56k modem to a filtered voice line, a) how fast would I be able to connect, and b) would it affect my 256k ADSL connection?
posted by krisjohn at 8:47 PM PST - 5 comments

Abnormal Cycles

I have had irregular, painful menstrual cycles from the age of 14, but in my 20s they basically became inverse periods: a few days of not bleeding, with most at a low, constant flow, and a few like a normal cycle. When it’s bad, I feel like I have a constant low-grade flu, with fatigue, muscle ache, mental fogginess, and wild moods of sadness and anger. Several pelvic exams and sonograms have shown no fibroids nor anything anatomical that should be causing this. I’ve tried birth control pills (that caused weight gain and nausea, even at low doses), and the ring and the patch, which didn't help at all. I spent a few years on Norplant with no cycle at all, but terrible problems with weight gain that I am still struggling with. The only product I have had luck with was Lunelle, which is no longer available in the US. Has anyone else ever dealt with this and found something that worked? I’ve seen many gynecologists over the years and none have an answer. I'm in my early 30s now and seriously considering a hysterectomy because I can't live like this anymore.
posted by anonymous at 8:32 PM PST - 8 comments

Depo-Provera and Pregnancy

If someone became pregnant while on the shot, what would happen? This PDF says that the effects are minimal, but also sternly warns one to get off of Depo Provera immediately if pregnant, which leaves me thinking they're leaving something out. What are they afraid will happen? If birth controls change the uterine lining, doesn't that affect the fetus too? What happens to the children of the 3/1000 women who get pregnant on D-P? [more inside]
posted by heatherann at 6:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Finding contact information for birth mother.

I've recently been given new information about my birth mother (i was adopted at the age of two). The information includes her first and last name, her social security number, and more. Using her name and the beauty of the interweb, i have found that she has married and is probably living in California. Is there any easy & reputable way to get a mailing address for the purpose of a brief "dear you" letter ? [more inside]
posted by redsparkler at 4:51 PM PST - 6 comments

Tagging

Can anyone help me find a personal information management utility that will let me "tag" different items (with multiple tags), much as one can do with photos in Adobe Photoshop Album? I'd like to be able to keep track of things by tags, not just a simple hierarchical tree and searching. My Google-fu is not powerful enough to find what I am looking for - the closest I have come is finding flags in ActionOutline, but they aren't customizable or useful for finding things.
posted by beth at 4:39 PM PST - 4 comments

RCA vs Coax Cable

Stereo/home theater cable question(s): Can you use a "regular" RCA cable as a "Coaxial digital" interconnect for digital audio from, say, a DVD player to a receiver? The plug seems the same size, but don't know if it carries the same signal. Similar question: can you use a standard AUDIO RCA cable (red or white) to carry a standard VIDEO RCA signal? Or does it have to be the yellow-labeled RCA?
posted by robbie01 at 4:06 PM PST - 27 comments

Second date advice sought

I've gone out with this girl on one date which went “ok”. And, at the time, I figured on going out with her at least once more since first dates can often be unrepresentative of other dates. [MI] [more inside]
posted by Handcoding at 2:08 PM PST - 45 comments

Liquor Shelf-Life

What is the shelf life of open bottles of liquor? I've read from eternal (vodka) to six months (rum). [+] [more inside]
posted by Frank Grimes at 11:58 AM PST - 22 comments

How can I get my mom to start smoking pot?

How can I get my mom to start smoking pot?

A few years ago my mother was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic and very painful disease. I've thought a number of times that marijuana would be able to help soothe her muscle pain. After researching it, I found a lot of people with fibro do smoke and it helps tremendously. She's rather religious and not really open to new ideas. She's very into herbal solutions, but I know she'd turn down this particular herbal solution because of the hype of anti-drug commercials and its legal status in the US. Is there any way I can approach the subject which may convince her to at least try it? I want my mom to feel somewhat normal again and I believe this may be able to positively change her life.
posted by anonymous at 9:36 AM PST - 20 comments

Charge hasn't appeared on my credit card - what to do?

I made a fairly subtanstial online purchase from a very large, well-known online vendor, with a credit card. Although the goods have long since arrived, my card has not been charged nor had a hold placed against it for any amount. A full billing cycle has passed since the purchase, and I'm wondering if they've just misplaced the bill. Should I contact their billing department, or just hope it never gets charged? And, if it doesn't get charged soon, how long should I wait until I can be reasonably sure it never will?
posted by anonymous at 9:36 AM PST - 26 comments

How do I fix my car's ignition?

Locked out of my own vehicle's ignition. (More inside). [more inside]
posted by reishus at 7:41 AM PST - 12 comments

Wireless router problems

So I just set up a wireless router in our house, but something's awry. We have two wired connections--one PC and one XBox Live--and one wireless Apple laptop. If the XBox is off, the PC has a fine connection, but if the XBox is connected, the PC gets a spotty connection at best, and usually can't connect at all. The laptop connects wirelessly with no problem regardless of the other things. Can anyone tell me 1. why the XBox would kill the PC connection and 2. how to fix it? [more inside]
posted by The Michael The at 5:35 AM PST - 9 comments

What to do about my car that caugh fire?

Driving home from my Christmas Eve dinner at my Mom's house tonight my 1997 VW Golf 'threw a rod', caught fire slightly, and died. Merry Christmas! We put the fire out with no damage to the car (outside of the already ruined engine) ... right now the best option seems to be getting a new engine rather than replacing the whole car. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Please share!
posted by anastasiav at 12:48 AM PST - 13 comments

December 24

Christmas Gift Inequity

I spent my first Christmas with the boyfriend's parents this year. I showed up empty-handed, after a late "oh, mom got you some stuff, too." I came away with more in presents than I'm going to get from my own parents. Now I feel like an ass. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by billybunny at 9:20 PM PST - 13 comments

What's the name of the new Ying Yang Twins song where the guy whispers?

Musicfilter: does anyone know the name of the new Ying Yang Twins song where the guy is whispering? It's sort of the exception that proves the rule, if you know what I mean.
posted by symbebekos at 7:57 PM PST - 3 comments

Health Insurance and Adderall

Seven years ago, I was in college and on my parent's insurance, which included mental health coverage. I was diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Adderall which did wonders for my concentration and my grades. When school was through I lost my coverage and my prescription. (MI) [more inside]
posted by cilantro at 6:15 PM PST - 14 comments

It's a Wonderful Life!

It's A Wonderful Life Filter: Who was Clarence?[MI] [more inside]
posted by funkbrain at 6:08 PM PST - 12 comments

Website with complete lyrics to Chrsitmas songs?

I'm looking for a site with complete lyrics to traditional Christmas carols like "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "The Wassail Song." Just one or two verses won't do-- I want the whole thing. Any suggestions?
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:55 PM PST - 3 comments

Suprnova replacement?

I know Suprnova was the absolute best in bit torrent-ing, but now that it's gone, does anyone know of any other sites that are a) anywhere near as extensive and b) not down all the time? [more inside]
posted by Slimemonster at 4:49 PM PST - 13 comments

Runaround closing my 401k account

In California, upon leaving a job, an employer has under most circumstances at most 72 hours to pay the leaving employee their final paycheck or the employer gets fined.

Are there any similar laws which require investment/financial institutions to give the investor their funds within a certain amount of time of the request? (MI) [more inside]
posted by cactus at 4:20 PM PST - 3 comments

What is the font used on these covers?

What is the font used on these covers? I've tried the usual online automated font-identifiers, with no luck.
posted by majcher at 2:57 PM PST - 8 comments

Fire! Fire!

Can anyone give me advice on the best way to ignite a brushpile before the drying days of summer? (MI) [more inside]
posted by docpops at 2:19 PM PST - 10 comments

DVD Ripping software

You want to rip a 60-second (or so) clip from a DVD, substitute the audio with an MP3 of your choosing, and save the result in a format suitable for Internet distribution. What (downloadable, easy-to-learn) software do you use?
posted by Aaorn at 10:02 AM PST - 3 comments

How do deal with racially-based questions about appearance?

What is a firm but uninsulting answer to the myriad of possible questions and comments about one's "racial appearance"? Examples of such questions are:
"What race are you?"
"Are you mixed?" [Are you black, indian, mulatto, etc.]
"Your skin is so pretty! You have an ivory complexion! Do you have caucasian in you?"

Thanks for any help you can give me, because I've been searching for a good answer to this stuff for years!
posted by Jenesta at 8:51 AM PST - 103 comments

Lou Rawls

I'm looking 2-3 Lou Rawls songs. One is a cover of Girl from Impanema, the others are songs from Garfield's Halloween . [more inside] [more inside]
posted by weston at 8:13 AM PST - 3 comments

Duchess of B---

I've finally started reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and I've come across a passage that reads:

"You will not regret it, my dear sir!" cried Drawlight, "for three weeks ago I chose a set for the Duchess of B—— and she declared the moment she saw it that she never in her life saw anything half so charming!"

I don't know any English teachers, so Ask Metafilter is my best hope: what's the deal with the "Duchess of B——" thing?
posted by schustafa at 6:40 AM PST - 14 comments

Is there any good advice to help my sister recover her carry-on bag?

My sister had the worst travel experience the other day, resulting in an airline losing her carry-on bag. Her carry-on! She's been playing mad phone-tag with ambivalent airline personnel, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience or advice that would help her. [mi, natch] [more inside]
posted by kittyb at 6:11 AM PST - 13 comments

Understanding fashion photography

I would like to understand fashion photography better. What should I do? [More] [more inside]
posted by ar0n at 6:04 AM PST - 12 comments

Best practices for getting my bag back from the airline

One of the airlines I flew yesterday lost my bag. Best practices for getting it back? [more inside]
posted by lbergstr at 5:57 AM PST - 3 comments

I haven't found Mr. Right yet; help me get my relatives to stop bugging me

How do I get my relatives to stop bugging me about why I don't have a boyfriend yet? (mi+) [more inside]
posted by invisible ink at 5:09 AM PST - 39 comments

Zippo Lighter Information

Looking for more info on my Zippo! I received a brass Zippo lighter with a bas-relief design on the front that depicts the mechanical inner workings of the lighter (very cool!), and I'd like to find out more about it. [+] [more inside]
posted by taz at 4:16 AM PST - 9 comments

USB Drive

So I just got a 512MB USB key drive as an early christmas present, and I'm looking for interesting things to put on it (other than, you know, files). I know about Portable Firefox and Portable Thunderbird, but is there anything else I should check out?
posted by kaefer at 1:28 AM PST - 11 comments

December 23

Car accident

I'm pretty damned sure that it was the District Attorney of this town that almost hit me with his SUV the other day. Should I write him a letter? [more inside]
posted by interrobang at 7:17 PM PST - 40 comments

Tips for the various English Scholar applications

I am starting the application process for the Fulbright, Marshall, Luce, and Rhodes. All in England. Anyone have any suggestions or tips? [more inside]
posted by moooshy at 7:14 PM PST - 13 comments

Christmas Shopping for 18-year-old

You're an 18-year old guy six months out of rehab with a creative mind and a severely disfunctional family. You've got a GED and a job in sales. You're going to be spending Christmas with your aunt, because you're mom is too messed up to deal with you. What two or three things do you want for Christmas that can be bought for roughly $20 each?
posted by croutonsupafreak at 6:52 PM PST - 19 comments

What should I do with the infomation I got from the person who hit my car and ran

A hit-and-run accident. I was in one today, after being rear-ended by the idiot. After the guy takes off onto a nearby freeway onramp, I follow him and he exits at the next offramp. He then runs a red light, sideswiping two cars in the process, and I lose him. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by shoos at 6:32 PM PST - 28 comments

Any way to install the Adobe Acrobat printer without reinstalling the whole package?

Any way to install the Adobe Acrobat printer without reinstalling the whole package? I grabbed the entire application dir from my computer at work via VNC, and that works like a charm. But I can't "Print to PDF" Suggestions? [W2K/Acrobat5] [more inside]
posted by idontlikewords at 5:54 PM PST - 4 comments

How can I become a paparazzi?

What if I wanted to become a paparazzi photographer? How does one do that? [mi] [more inside]
posted by arielmeadow at 1:35 PM PST - 11 comments

Too Many Perfume Choices: What Appeals to You, Guys?

I need to get opinions on perfume, specifically from men, but women's experiences will help as well. (MI) [more inside]
posted by Ugh at 1:02 PM PST - 52 comments

Internet Traffic Reports

Internet Traffic Reports? I know there's a site where Internet Traffic figures are posted, but is there a site that offers news about Internet "incidents." For example, right now, the Yahoo Group I belong to is either very impaired, or completely down. And, while it's somewhat pointless (sort of like schedules for the subway--hey it comes when it comes), I'd like to know WHY.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:24 AM PST - 9 comments

What's the cheapest way to get an SSL certificate?

What's the cheapest way to get an SSL certificate (for serving HTTPS connections)? Obviously I'd want the company selling these certs to be listed in most browsers as a trusted authority.
posted by LukeyBoy at 10:52 AM PST - 12 comments

Icebreakers

I'm trying to stop asking, "So what do you do?" What are some more interesting conversation starters? What do they ask or say in your area?
posted by callmejay at 10:08 AM PST - 80 comments

Where can I find free dialup in Switzerland?

Free dialup internet access in Switzerland? (mi) [more inside]
posted by letitrain at 9:59 AM PST - 5 comments

Transitioning Out of Risky Life: STD Screening Details, and Anything Else to Check?

What's involved in getting a full STD screening? Where do you go? How much does it cost? Can it be done anonymously?

I have led a foolish life, and it's finally become neccessary to see if the damage is permanent. Is there anything else that somebody who has engaged in a lot of high-risk activities should have checked before proceeding on with life?
posted by anonymous at 9:50 AM PST - 14 comments

New Years in New Orleans

New Orleans. I'm going next week with a couple of friends to celebrate New Year's. While we plan on doing some of the typical touristy stuff (Cafe du Monde, Bourbon St., Preservation Hall, etc...), I was wondering if there was anything some locals (or non-locals familiar with the city) can recommend that's off the beaten path. [MI] [more inside]
posted by AlisonM at 8:40 AM PST - 33 comments

Name That Christmas Tune

Can anyone identify a Christmas song (with real limited information)? [MI] [more inside]
posted by rtimmel at 7:40 AM PST - 7 comments

Grinding My teeth

I'm tired of having big horsy teeth. So I was going to do a Tom Cruise. How much is it going to cost me to have my front teeth ground down?

The worst part about this is that dentists in my experience never give quotes over the phone so I'd have to choose one place and that's it. What kind of office should I look for the best prices (Montreal if that helps).

I'm not crazy but where could I get a file so that I could do it myself?
posted by Napierzaza at 7:16 AM PST - 23 comments

Danish Christmas Trees

Any Danish Metafiltarians? The Danish Christmas tree is partially decorated with small strings of flags and I'm trying to figure out how to put them on the tree without making them look like ass. Anyone with non-Danish Christmas tree flag decorating experience feel free to chime in . . .
posted by jeremias at 6:10 AM PST - 6 comments

Are color calibration devices generally a worthwhile investment?

Are color calibration devices generally a worthwhile investment? I'm a photographer, and I'm tired of holding my breath every time I print. [+] [more inside]
posted by neilkod at 5:56 AM PST - 14 comments

What was this toy wand from the 80s?

Help me remember and/or locate a semi-obscure toy from the 1980s! [I'm nosier, Ed] [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:01 AM PST - 15 comments

Broken dishwasher

My dishwasher isn't draining properly... help please? [more inside]
posted by daver at 12:56 AM PST - 8 comments

December 22

Unicycling in San Francisco

UniFilter: Someone brought in a unicycle at work (something he bought ages ago, never learned how to use, never touched again, the usual) and I made a stupid bet that I could learn how to ride it in a week. Yeah, I've been practicing, but I have a feeling I'm screwed. Anyone in the Bay Area able to help me prevail over long odds? [more inside]
posted by aspo at 11:18 PM PST - 9 comments

Big (Broke?) Lebowski

I just finished watching the horribly mangled version of the Big Lebowski on Comedy Central. I never really thought about in all the times I watched it til now, but how do you think Lebowski pays the bills?
posted by angry modem at 9:57 PM PST - 20 comments

How long could humanity survive if the sun is destroyed?

Terrorists destroy the sun.... How long does humanity survive??? (the inside... there's more???) [more inside]
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 9:08 PM PST - 33 comments

Pop-culture material about professor-student romantic relationships?

I'm in the early stages of writing a paper on professor-student romantic relationships/affairs and am looking for some pop culture to back me up. Can anyone suggest any novels, movies, etc., that deal with this topic? I'm looking primarily for male professor/female student, but the other way around works, as well. Thanks.
posted by Zosia Blue at 9:08 PM PST - 44 comments

My roommate's drug habit is affecting me adversely...

In what gentle manner have you informed a roommate that his/her chemically affected behavior is affecting you? More inside.
posted by goofyfoot at 8:59 PM PST - 26 comments

Bitbeamer, wherefore art thou?

Augh! What happened to Bitbeamer.com? (No link 'cuz it's gone.) Bitbeamer was the shareware successor to freeware LeechFTP. I just tried to reinstall my (paid for!) copy, and the registration routine failed when it could not connect to its home base. Google reveals nothing. Has anyone noted what happened -- did it get acquired by another company? Did the author abandon the product? Do I have any hope of using my favorite ftp client again?
posted by Tubes at 8:22 PM PST - 9 comments

Auto-Combine Folder Contents

I'm looking for a script/hack/widget/thingie that will do the following: open lots of folders and extract the files contained in said folders to one single folder. [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by deborah at 7:53 PM PST - 9 comments

How to fix the signature on a debit card.

The signature has worn off of my debit card. Should I resign it? With what? Or, should I just get a new one from the bank?
posted by graventy at 7:34 PM PST - 24 comments

Where to get a M.A.T. in visual arts?

Where can I find a comprehensive list of US schools offering an M.A.T. in visual arts? Also, will it make things difficult if I receive my M.A.T. in a state I do not intend to teach in?
posted by Marit at 5:30 PM PST - 3 comments

What are some good cocktails and other concoctions for Bailey's Irish Cream?

What are some good cocktails and other concoctions for Bailey's Irish Cream?
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 3:54 PM PST - 26 comments

How do we set up two distinct sets of preferences in Firefox?

Firefox question - I have a situation where two people share this computer, and each of us want our browser set up OUR way - bookmarks, toolbars, look and style, etc. Is there a way to set this up in Firefox? Compromise is not likely, and I don't want to have to kill them to keep them from replacing my toolbar links. Nor do I want either of us to go back to IE and its gaping security holes again. Any ideas?
posted by John Smallberries at 3:36 PM PST - 5 comments

help with ceremaic floor heating

Ceramic tile floor heater question. Not hot water circulating through tubes, but a resistance heating wire in thinset mortar under the ceramic tiles. It just don't get very warm. (MI) [more inside]
posted by fixedgear at 2:52 PM PST - 15 comments

Help me find this Christmas song!

LongLostChristmasMusicFilter: I am trying as hard as I can to help a friend track down a specific version of this song. Please help. [MI] [more inside]
posted by quasistoic at 2:30 PM PST - 5 comments

Crud-tolerant DVD players?

Crud-tolerant DVD players. My new-ish Sony commonly locks or hiccups on Netflix discs, but I've read that other people go years without problems, and googling reveals that Sony players may be particularly prone to this. What models or brands of DVD players (not PC drives) are good at handling worn/scratched/dirty discs?
posted by NortonDC at 1:59 PM PST - 29 comments

comparison engine for books

I'd like to build (or have built for me) a comparison engine like FetchBook or BookkooB. Basically, a comparison engine that compares prices of books, and then if the user clicks over to buy the book from one of the affiliates, the program would append my account code, getting me a kickback on the referral.

I have no idea how to do this, or what it would cost to pay someone to do it. What would be the best way to figure this out? Are there any open source comparison engine scripts? If I had to pay someone to build something like this, what should I expect to pay? (I can do all the frontend work, just not the backend.)
posted by Alt F4 at 11:26 AM PST - 19 comments

What's the origin of "Long time x, first time y?"

What is the origin of the awkward sentence fragment construction "Long time [something], first time [something else]?" I've been seeing it written (here and elsewhere) with increasing frequency over the last couple of years. It has the ring of a catch phrase being parroted, but as someone with a patchy at best grasp on pop culture, I'm unable to determine its roots. [more inside]
posted by majick at 11:25 AM PST - 36 comments

CSS popups?

CSSPopupFilter. I adore parenthetical comments, but they clutter up my writing, so in one of my projects, I pulled them out as endnotes. Then I discovered a clever way of doing them as css popups. But am I happy? No. [mi] [more inside]
posted by Karmakaze at 11:04 AM PST - 10 comments

Can i word count without Microsoft Word?

Does anyone know of an application that does word counts for Microsoft Word files without actually having to open up Word? I'm thinking of a handy right-click menu in Windows Explorer for example that also allows you to select multiple files and get a total word count. Many thanks in advance.
posted by jonathanbell at 10:40 AM PST - 6 comments

How can I recruit job hunters to talk to me for my thesis?

Finding Job Hunters : I need to get 30-50 job hunters to talk to me about their job searches. I've tried recruiting in all the obvious (to me) places, but I'm not having much luck. I need ideas on how/where to find job hunters and what i can do to encourage participation. [MI]
posted by duck at 10:31 AM PST - 23 comments

Fat Cat Food

Can anyone recommend a good cat food for our three fat cats? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by jennyb at 9:52 AM PST - 28 comments

My PS2 is having intermittent trouble reading disks.

Speaking of dying Sony products, my PS2 has issues. [+] [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin at 9:47 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm dreaming about work

Work dreams. I work as a bartender, and after particularly busy shifts, I often dream all night of work-related scenes. [More inside] [more inside]
posted by vito90 at 8:55 AM PST - 37 comments

Do birds fart?

Do birds fart?
posted by Mayor Curley at 8:54 AM PST - 23 comments

Toddler Parenting

My two-year-old niece doesn't like guys anymore. That wouldn't be such a big deal, but she also rejects her dad, which makes him sad. My sister wants to know, what can be done?

I remember reading an AskMe about ways to cope with a kid who prefers one parent over the other, but I couldn't find it (and I looked pretty hard).
posted by Turtle at 8:42 AM PST - 12 comments

Can a payee charge bounced check fee on top of my bank's fee?

Additional bounced check fees? I deposited a check that ended up bouncing. Before I figured this out, I wrote a check on the account that subsequently bounced. So, I get a $25.00 fee for the deposited check, another $25.00 fee for the check I wrote, but now the institution I wrote the check to wants to tack on an additional $25.00 fee. Can they do this? [more inside]
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:30 AM PST - 23 comments

Why do I associate Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree with great tragedy?

Why do I associate Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree with great tragedy?
posted by cillit bang at 8:18 AM PST - 34 comments

Building a Real Estate Portal

I'm interested in learning to build a real estate portal site and/or do web work for real estate brokers (in the U.S.). This appears to involve tapping into the MLS IDX of listings for a given area. Can anyone point me to (or share) any good info on the way into this knowledge/market? (I understand web site design/servers, just want to know about the real estate IDX thingie.) Not a lot found via the Google-fu.
posted by spock at 8:05 AM PST - 7 comments

Do you tip your building's super during the holiday season?

Do you tip your building's super during the holiday season? Your postman? How much. I'm interested in practical advice on the local customs in Toronto, but stories from around the world (Hamilton, Scarbrough, Oakville, etc) invited too.
posted by Capn at 8:03 AM PST - 7 comments

Snoop Dogg, Inc.

What are all Snoop Dogg's business ventures? The man puts his name on so many products it's sickening. [more inside]
posted by hendrixson at 7:57 AM PST - 6 comments

Is it folly to marry someone with a drinking problem?

Is it folly to marry someone with a drinking problem? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:54 AM PST - 78 comments

Help me with the Jaeger podcaster?

Anyone out there using the Jaeger podcaster?

I was hoping that I could use it to listen to the Teenage Wasteland archives from WFMU. But I'm not sure how to set up a feed, any ideas?
posted by lilboo at 7:52 AM PST - 10 comments

Terminology for on/off state on a push button?

User Interface terminology question. If we are describing the state of a push button (that is, a button that can be toggled between an on and off state), what is the most universally recognized terminology for the two states of the button? We've come up with pressed and non-pressed, depressed and non-depressed, checked and unchecked, etc... (obviously, enabled and disabled doesn't work). Anybody know the official guidelines for this? We're stumped.
posted by jon_kill at 7:20 AM PST - 20 comments

Highly Visible Alarm Clock?

After an unintended sleep in due to an incorrectly set alarm clock, I decided that what I really need is a highly visible clock. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by tomble at 4:24 AM PST - 10 comments

Software Development Methodology

Software Development Methodology/Process. I am seeking advice/resources/experiences which could improve a small software company's ability to deliver quality software on time and on budget and the lives of the people who work there. [+] [more inside]
posted by kenaman at 3:30 AM PST - 20 comments

My Sony LCD monitor has failed. Help!

My Sony LCD monitor has apparently failed, in what I think is a very odd manner (details inside). Has anyone else encountered this? [more inside]
posted by mr_roboto at 12:08 AM PST - 5 comments

December 21

Reward My Mom!

My mom's got over 90000 (yes, ninety thousand) Wells Fargo Reward points. What do you suggest? Anything she should know? Any personal experience?
posted by ruelle at 11:44 PM PST - 16 comments

Winamp lowers the volume after every song.

Winamp lowers the volume after every song. So, I'm constantly turning it all the way back up. How do I get it to stop that? They may be trying to save my ears, but my headphones are dying and I have a slight hearing problem. I listen to a song, and the next one is suddenly just a whisper. So frustrating.
posted by FunkyHelix at 10:06 PM PST - 6 comments

Festive, Non-Premade Christmas Dishes Serving 3-4 for Non-Cook on Limited Budget?

I need a Christmas dinner menu for 3 - 4 people. I don't cook, so I need easy to prepare, festive dishes. I'm on a limited budget, so the dishes have to be inexpensive to prepare as well. Purchasing a pre-made meal is not an option. [+] [more inside]
posted by Juicylicious at 7:58 PM PST - 32 comments

A late gift for my cool uncle. What to do?

MissingGiftFilter: You have your coolest uncle in the family holiday gift draw. It looks like the gift you carefully chose for him will be late - what do you do? [+] [more inside]
posted by deliriouscool at 6:48 PM PST - 15 comments

Where Should I Study Abroad?

I’m studying abroad in September, and I’m considering (in order of current preference): Hong Kong, Oslo, Singapore, Uppsala (Sweden), University of the West Indies, and a variety in Australia/New Zealand (likely Melbourne). I can figure out which school suits my needs best, but I’m looking for information and advice on the locales themselves. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by evadery at 6:44 PM PST - 13 comments

Exact opposite of a lat / long position?

If I know the latitude and longitude of where I live, how would I find out the name of the place exactly opposite it on the globe?
posted by reklaw at 5:38 PM PST - 14 comments

Small Claims Suit Question

I got had in a recent car purchase. Basically I'm out $500 after wrestling the other money back. The guy is no longer in this country (Canada) my lawyer says to go ahead and file a small claims suit. Since it is quite a hassle to file a suit, anyone have experience with something like this? All the details inside... [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 4:16 PM PST - 12 comments

External USB Hard Drive FAT32 corruption via Mac OS 9!

External USB Hard Drive FAT32 corruption via Mac OS 9! Help me Obi-Wan Kenobe! (More inside) [more inside]
posted by loquacious at 2:55 PM PST - 2 comments

How do you get embedded .wmv files to play in Firefox?

I just started using firefox, and for a while all was good, but recently firefox has stopped playing WMV files that are embedded in web pages. I'm not exactly tech-savvy, so anyone know how to get them to play? It was in this link that the problem first popped up.
posted by dazed_one at 2:52 PM PST - 6 comments

Alarm Clocks

I'm having a bit harder time adjusting to winter in the pacific northwest than I initially thought I would. It's not the rain so much as the shorter days -- I find I really have a hard time getting out of bed in the mornings, even when I get a full 8 hours the night before. I'm investigating something like a progressive wake up alarm clock, which is supposed to simulate sunrise. Anyone used anything like this? Are they worth the $50? Is there someplace other than Hammacher-Schlemmer to pick one up?
posted by jimray at 2:49 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm looking for applications that take advantage of Rendezvous.

I'm looking for applications that take advantage of Rendezvous (or the open platform name equivalent). I ran across Spike, which allows me to share a common clipboard between computers (Mac and Windows). Of course, there's iTunes which allows for sharing music. I'd love to have something like SubEthaEdit for Mac/Windows collaboration.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 1:43 PM PST - 2 comments

Car Stalling

Because I'd Rather Ask You Asshats Than Call Click & Clack: Unexplined car stalling: '96 Taurus, after driving a long time in warm weather, when idling (more under the hood) [more inside]
posted by wendell at 1:06 PM PST - 20 comments

Help Me Find a Hunter Thompson Poster

I want a christmas present for myself. Specifically, a Hunter Thompson for Sheriff Poster. It doesn't have to be an original, but I'd like it to be of decent enough quality to justify framing.

I found one on ebay for $150, but I haven't been that good this year. Any ideas about obtaining a reasonably (<$50) priced, decent-sized (bigger than 18" wide) version?
posted by jmevius at 1:00 PM PST - 3 comments

Should I give my boss a Christmas present?

WorkplaceEtiquetteFilter: I plan to give my boss his Christmas gift tomorrow. But now I've seen some people on some other sites (fark, ahem) saying that getting a gift for the boss is "ass-sucking" (they sure have a way of talking over there!). So I'm wondering: is my rather nice gift going to be perceived as my being an ass? [+] [more inside]
posted by u.n. owen at 12:50 PM PST - 33 comments

Where could one sleep for free in Florida?

Where could one sleep for free in Florida? Is it illegal to sleep on all beaches, or are there certain public places where you can? What are the laws regarding parking in, say, a Wal-Mart parking lot and sleeping in your car?
posted by borkingchikapa at 12:40 PM PST - 19 comments

Returning the favor

So I completely underestimated the generosity of my co-workers. I'm a part-time employee, still in school, and not exactly at the top of the food chain. But a bunch of people I work with (some above me, some in different departments) gave me holiday gifts. Keep in mind that I'm making just enough to make ends meet. What should I give them in return? [more inside]
posted by SeizeTheDay at 12:34 PM PST - 20 comments

Where would you go to be completely alone for a year?

If you wanted to be completely alone, by which I mean away from people, for say, a year, where would you go? The pacific comes to mind... [more inside]
posted by phrontist at 11:45 AM PST - 17 comments

Can I get some advice on a computer filter for a 14 yo boy?

Parental Filter Software: My 14 year old boy is receiving a computer for Christmas. It will be in his room, so I would definitely like to put some sort of parental filter software on it.

Can anyone comment on these programs? Specifically, are they compatible with Firefox and Trillian Chat? Many of them tout that they filter newsgroups. Does this mean that they block newsgroup access or do they filter objectional content in the newsreader?
posted by MotorNeuron at 10:50 AM PST - 65 comments

Bible verse that justifies confrontation?

I'm writing a story (set in the 1920s) about a deeply religious teenage girl who tries to rescue a friend from his abusive guardian. She consults the Bible and finds a verse or parable that she (mis?)interprets as justification for her actions. What is a good verse or story that one could use as justification to confront an abuser? Preferably NT, King James translation preferred.
posted by pxe2000 at 10:35 AM PST - 9 comments

Driving from CA to Ontario

Travel route advice please. I'll be driving from Southern California to Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in late January or early February. A native southern californian who has never driven this far, I'm much worried about the weather. I've read up on various winter driving advice. I'm wondering about the route. Most directions show a straight shot (through denver, chicago). But would it be better to stick south till like Tennessee, then do a straight shot up north?
posted by rexruff at 10:22 AM PST - 13 comments

Is it truly possible to improve eyesight through eye exercise programs?

On my way home from work yesterday I noticed an ad for EyeSchool.com which claims that you can "get rid of your eyeglasses for life without laser, surgery or drugs and save thousands on laser costs!" [+] [more inside]
posted by purephase at 10:02 AM PST - 18 comments

Where Can I Find Older Microsoft Office Updates Online?

Where are old copies of Microsoft updates (specifically for Office v.X) stored online? [more inside]
posted by greasy_skillet at 9:47 AM PST - 6 comments

Any tips for making Yorkshire pudding?

Any tips for making Yorkshire pudding? [MI] [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 9:41 AM PST - 16 comments

Happy Days

Besides the standard answers (births, graduations, weddings, etc.), can you pinpoint a happiest single moment of your life? What was it? [more inside]
posted by Jaybo at 9:35 AM PST - 52 comments

More 3 minute pop song bands!

Inspired by this question , any suggestions for great "3 minute pop song" bands, in the vein of The Lemonheads, Teenage Fanclub, and the like?
posted by ShawnString at 8:58 AM PST - 43 comments

iBook sounds terrible on my home stereo.

When I plug my iBook into my home stereo, it sounds horrible. Way bass-y and mumbly. I can tweak it - setting the iBook volume way low and messing with bass and treble on the stereo - so it's passable, but I'm wondering if I'm doing it wrong. (I plug it from the headphones jack into the Phono input.)
posted by booth at 8:20 AM PST - 13 comments

Animal footprint identification

Animal footprint identification. On an August beach camping trip in the Apostle Islands (Lake Superior) we awoke to find these footprints (1, 2) in the sand near our tent. What kind of critters were checking us out?
posted by luser at 8:03 AM PST - 22 comments

My Sony TV is discolored in the upper corners

My TV is discolored in the upper corners -- reddish on the right, and greenish on the left. It looks like typical magnet damage, and it's especially apparent on a solid blue picture. Is there a way to fix this? [MI] [more inside]
posted by knave at 8:03 AM PST - 16 comments

Window essentials updates

I'm off back to the parents in a couple of days time for Christmas and will invariably need to tune up their Windows PC. My USB key-chain currently contains Firefox, Thunderbird, AdAware, Spybot S&D and ZoneAlarm updates as well as service packs and virus definition updates. What else should I include?
posted by ralawrence at 7:59 AM PST - 7 comments

PG-13 Scary Movies

ScaryMovie filter: My 12-year-old son likes scary movies. Can you recommend some non-R rated ones? (mi)
posted by barjo at 7:23 AM PST - 37 comments

Advice for Moving

Moving mistakes? I'm looking for generalized moving advice, apartment to apartment. There are great threads (this one on moving to NY is really a classic) but what about the nuts and bolts of getting things into boxes and out again? What did you screw up last time? What do you know now that I don't yet?
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:41 AM PST - 64 comments

Windows XP crashing

Win XP Problem: Windows Explorer (and My Computer) keep crashing. If I bring either up, it crashes immediately (the computer doesn't crash). Around the same time, I noticed I'd acquired some spyware. So I ran Ad-aware, and it seemed to get rid of the bad stuff. But Explorer still crashes. I ran Norton Anti-Virus, which claimed it found viruses but couldn't fix them because I needed to adjust the properties of some of the Norton files. But I can't adjust these properties, because I can't get to the files (because Explorer crashes). Help.
posted by grumblebee at 6:31 AM PST - 13 comments

Is being summoned for jury duty random?

In the US, is being summoned for jury duty really a random process? [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:22 AM PST - 23 comments

Indie Pop Playlist

I'd like to put together a collection of new (i.e., unfamiliar) music for a friend who gravitates toward the more wistful moments of Belle and Sebastian, James, et al - Brit indie pop that often falls under the dubious label "twee." Any recommendations?
posted by stonerose at 6:21 AM PST - 37 comments

Looking for rock music with strings

I need some music reccomendations. I really enjoy instrumental string music, but have no idea who some of the really good performers are. In particular, I like the style presented in the theme song to "Angel" by Darling Violetta, where strings are mixed with a modern rock sound.
So can anyone reccommend some good artists/albums to check out?
posted by aclevername at 5:59 AM PST - 7 comments

How can I improve my balance?

How can I improve my balance? [+] [more inside]
posted by john-paul at 5:57 AM PST - 20 comments

How do I remove spray paint from a maple tree?

Some bright spark spray-painted the large maple tree in front of my house. I'm trying to figure out how to remove the white paint without damaging the tree or leaving a permanent impression of the tag in the bark. Any ideas?
posted by sagwalla at 4:44 AM PST - 8 comments

What 2 films have you always wanted to see together?

Film Double Bill Suggestions. I'm putting together a season of double bills of great films. The double bills could be linked by actor, director, cinematographer, editor or genre, or they could be linked thematically - 2 films about childhood/set on a runaway train/sharing a common influence and so on. Anything goes, although both films must appeal to a broad audience, and should be generally recognisable as 'classics' of their type. What 2 films have you always wanted to see together?
posted by gravelshoes at 4:40 AM PST - 57 comments

Writeable DVD applications

I have an xViD .avi movie, 119minutes, that I'd like to put onto DVD. Toast claims that it can't fit it on (5.7gb required, 4.4gb of my 4.7gb writeable DVD available). What I'd like is to be able to requantize the movie so that it fits onto the DVD. Bonus points for an OS X application. Super bonus points for a free one. That I don't have to find a crack for.
posted by armoured-ant at 4:34 AM PST - 3 comments

What was this Japanese movie about kids being forced into a deadly competition?

JapaneseMovieFilter: I caught 20 minutes of (what I believe to be) a Japanese movie one night on public access television. The show abruptly ended without giving any details. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by quadog at 12:33 AM PST - 13 comments

How can I use multiple page numbering styles in one Word document?

MS Wurd formatting problem: page numbering. [+] [more inside]
posted by RavinDave at 12:22 AM PST - 11 comments

December 20

Wong Kar-Wai Poster

I've searched and I've searched but I can't find some place to buy this poster from Wong Kar-Wai's "As Tears Go By." Can someone help me? The link says it's a French poster, but my limited European language ability suggests that it's German. The picture is from my favorite all-time WKW scene, so I must have it.
posted by alidarbac at 10:19 PM PST - 8 comments

Ocean's Twelve doesn't make any sense to me

Oceans Twelve. Am I an idiot or does this movie not make a lick of sense (spoilers inside--DON'T READ if you haven't seen the flick). [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 9:47 PM PST - 24 comments

Why do book reviews include long plot outlines?

Why do so many (newspaper, magazine, mainly non-fiction) book reviews spend most of their space recapping the book's content rather than commenting on the quality of the writing and insight? For instance, this WaPo via Mercury News review of a new PG Wodehouse biography uses the first third to relate a single, albeit significant, incident from his life. Maybe three paragraphs total of reviewer commentary. Why?
posted by billsaysthis at 9:30 PM PST - 11 comments

How to fix RF modulator noise?

I'm running my DVD player thru an RF modulator (my TV's fairly old, without RCA inputs). The problem: visual noise in the form of faint diagonal lines. Sometimes, repositioning the modulator will improve things somewhat but I'm never happy with the picture quality. How an I fix this? It's driving me nuts.
posted by davebush at 7:41 PM PST - 6 comments

Help me identify this game from the 1980s.

ObscureComputerGameFilter [mi] [more inside]
posted by grimmelm at 5:31 PM PST - 9 comments

Minimize Skiing Soreness

Going skiing/snowboarding in about a week with no real experience save two painful days last year (but I have the basics down now) - any suggestions how to minimize the pain this time around?
posted by casarkos at 4:47 PM PST - 22 comments

African beer in the DC area

African beer - does anyone know a liquor store that sells it in the DC area? In particular I'm looking for Guinean (Guinea-Conakry) beer, but would settle for Senegalese, or Ghanian beer.
posted by Amizu at 4:01 PM PST - 8 comments

Swiss-Army USB Drives

More xmas-shopping: Does anyone know of a store in NYC I can buy those swiss army knives with USB hard drives? I know they have them at thinkgeek and amazon etc, but I need it, like, yesterday. Other weird USB devices are also of interest.
posted by edlundart at 3:11 PM PST - 11 comments

HDTV in Flux

HDTV filter: (Seems like I ask quite a few electronics questions...) We bought a new television about 3 months ago, direct from Samsung (refurbished), and it seems to work fine, with the exception of a waviness around stark vertical lines and text. For example, when the TiVo menu is up, I can see the text sort of fluxing a bit. It's not horrible, but I find it distracting.

I've been doing some reading about similar problems and have been told to try unplugging the cable, which I've done, to no avail. That solves nothing. I've also read about how it might be a problem with grounding, so I've opened the outlet and connected the green screw to the metal outlet box... also, no luck. [And yes, I shut of the power first.]

Any other ideas here? I'm getting this problem from all the inputs on the TV (including the DVD player) and can't figure out anything else to try, short of dragging this heavy thing across the room and plugging it in elsewhere to see if that helps. Any good advice from those in the know?

I also can't return the television-- it's too late.
posted by yellowcandy at 2:50 PM PST - 14 comments

Microsoft SP2 problems

So I installed the Microsoft Service Pack 2 on my Tablet PC, and now I got a world o' trouble . . . [+] [more inside]
posted by Kat Allison at 2:06 PM PST - 7 comments

Opening up the dashboard of a Hyundai Tiburon

Anybody know how to get into the dashboard of my Hyundai Tiburon? I am getting an aux adapter cable to plug into the back of Pioneer head unit, but poking around doesn't show any easy way to get the dash off. It might be there are some screws on the front of the head unit that will release it without taking apart the car. [more inside]
posted by mzurer at 1:57 PM PST - 7 comments

Getting a refund on a non-refundable airline ticket?

I bought a roundtrip plane ticket from the US to the UK for the end of January that I now wish I could get rid of. British Airways is telling me that it's non refundable. Is there anything that I can try to do to get my money back? (i.e. constant nagging, lies about extenuating circumstance, etc, etc).
posted by TurkishGolds at 1:32 PM PST - 13 comments

Where can I find blue shoe polish

I'm looking for blue shoe polish. Kiwi apparently makes it, but after checking local shoe stores, discount department stores, and drug stores, I can't find it. Any suggestions for where else I can look (either general store genres or specific places if you're familiar with the Detroit area), or, if that fails, a place to find it online without exorbitant shipping costs?
posted by Nikolai at 12:55 PM PST - 6 comments

Dealing with Christmas

How do other Jewish members here - whatever their affiliation, if any - deal with Christmas? [More inside.] [more inside]
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:52 PM PST - 53 comments

Can I make money with an idea for a restaurant but no experience?

I've got (what I consider to be) a great idea for a restaurant, but no knowledge or experience in the restaurant industry. Is there any way for me to profit from my idea?
posted by goethean at 11:56 AM PST - 22 comments

Can I get decent quality prints from 640x480 digital pictures?

DigitalPrintFilter: Can I get decent quality prints from 640x480 digital pictures? [+] [more inside]
posted by jewishbuddha at 11:41 AM PST - 15 comments

Finding a mortgage broker

Finding a mortgage broker? [more inside]
posted by jca at 11:35 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm considering writing a metawishlist program.

I'm considering writing a metawishlist program that would allow you to save items, descriptions and price information from a bookmarklet and add metadata/tags ala del.icio.us to your items. I find that I have a lot of things I run across that I want, and so I have wishlists scattered from Amazon to ThinkGeek, and lots of other items on sites that don't have wishlist functionality that I lose track of... I think that a central repository would be cool, and the social aspect might have possibilities also. What do you guys think? What other features should something like this have to make it a good app?
posted by hansbleep at 11:10 AM PST - 18 comments

Seeking web-based hosted calendar that will support Palm synching and ICal

I'm looking for a hosted calendar solution, web based, that will support Palm syncing as well as iCal compatibility, maybe through an export type or something. Does anyone use something similar, free or otherwise? So, a web based calendar that I can host that allows syncing to palms and iCal date crossing sharing export match sync.
posted by orange clock at 11:00 AM PST - 8 comments

How can I contest a debit card charge from a bar if I don't have the receipt?

How can I contest a debit card charge from a bar if I don't have the receipt? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by kirkaracha at 10:31 AM PST - 22 comments

Club Access

My parents bought lifetime memberships to American Airlines' Admirals Club and Continental's Presidents Club the year I was born. My parent and I have the same name. Can I get away with using their card when I travel alone? Would it be out of the question for a young 20-something to possess such a thing? Does anyone know what information is available on screen to the desk attendants? I know it might be against the rules, but really, what's the worse that could happen?
posted by anonymous at 10:22 AM PST - 25 comments

Can anyone recommend any independent, niche oriented documentaries that I could buy/rent/download?

Can anyone recommend any independent, niche-oriented documentaries that I could buy/rent/download? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by armage at 9:48 AM PST - 40 comments

I need a freeware that will scan an NCSA logfile

I want a utility (freeware?) which will scan an NCSA extended logfile and create a simple report on which referrers generated how many sales transactions.

Any recommendations?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:36 AM PST - 3 comments

How do I get some vintage coins appraised?

Vintage Coin Appraisal: My father passed away a while ago and he had inherited a shoebox of coins from his father, which I have now inherited. I collected coins as a child and remember nothing other than I always got a bad vibe from coin dealers and the like. What is the best way to get my coins appraised and then what is the best way to sell them without getting taken for a ride?
posted by spicynuts at 7:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Where can I buy Cadbury Chocolate Oranges?

Anyone know where I can get some Cadbury Chocolate Oranges? I buy them for my family every Christmas, but this year, I've checked all the usual suspects (supermarkets, CVS, Rite Aid, Target, Wal Mart, K-Mart) and have come up empty. I've tried asking at the stores, and they look at me like they have no idea what I'm talking about. Have they stopped producing them? [more inside]
posted by emptybowl at 7:18 AM PST - 31 comments

Help me understand the intricacies of medical testing

What books/sources are recommended for learning about the intricacies of medical testing i.e. randomized trials, double-blinding, p-values..etc? I understand the basic concept/methodology, but am looking for the history & also the philosophy that justifies these methods as reliable instruments.
posted by Gyan at 6:49 AM PST - 8 comments

Help me find out what this movie is

Moviefilter: My officemate just described a movie he saw part of once, and I would like to find the complete version. Here goes: "It's about disaster tourism and time travelling. People from the future travel through time back to various tragedies: collapsing bridges, earthquakes, meteor strikes, etc." Hope me, please!
posted by Irontom at 6:42 AM PST - 13 comments

Suggestions for New Years in Chicago?

This is the first year in 3 years that I can actually do something for New Years with my wife. I am thinking of going to Chicago for the event as I have friends & family up there. Any suggestions for what to do on New Years Eve in Chicago for 2 or 4 people? Something that doesn't cost more than $100 per couple would be great.
posted by thebwit at 5:36 AM PST - 5 comments

What is Your Dream Job? Are You Doing It?

What's your dream job? [+] [more inside]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:42 AM PST - 82 comments

Help me get this Wacom tablet to work

My mother-in-law has lent me a big Wacom tablet (UD-1212). Unfortunately, it's a little old, and I may not be able to get it to work without some AskMe help. [MI] [more inside]
posted by Plutor at 4:04 AM PST - 4 comments

Recommendations for computer books

What computer books should I buy? i've been given 250 Euro's of book tokens for Waterstones (large UK chain). As I'm in Brussels, I can't thumb through the shelves, but will have to order them, I would appreciate any ideas.

Primarily I am interested in dreamweaver MX, Photoshop 7.0, PHP, asp and website and network management etc.
posted by quarsan at 3:44 AM PST - 10 comments

Help retag my mp3s

Concerning a large batch of mp3s and their id3 tags: I have about 5 GB of music that I downloaded from Emusic about a year ago. Due to an exceedingly stupid maneuver on my part, I accidentally stripped all the id3 tags from the files, which ended up physically renamed to something like "Untitled Album - Untitled Track 1," etc. -- so I now have about 500 songs like this.

They're organized in folders by artist and album name, so that much information I have -- I'm now in search of a utility that will allow me to get the appropriate information from CDDB or something, and then batch rename the files so I don't have to manually, and painstakingly, do so 500 times. I have both Windows and OS X, so platform's not much of an issue. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.
posted by ticopelp at 12:15 AM PST - 18 comments

December 19

Where does the litter box go?

Cat owners - where in the house do you keep the litter box? We're getting ready to move into a new home, and are having a heck of a time figuring out where to put it so that its (a) easily accessible by our furry friends, and (b) out of sight, out of mind for any humanoid visitors.
posted by mrbill at 9:34 PM PST - 27 comments

Technology and the Bottom Line

For the IT/Corporate savy.....
What ways has your company made use of technology to improve the bottom line? One of my charges as IT Manager is to find ways to use technology to make the company more profitable. What have you found that worked well in your situation. We are a small/medium sized company that are basically manufactures reps for shelving/folders/imaging/fileroom management. What can I offer my sales force to make them more efficient?
posted by keep it tight at 9:29 PM PST - 13 comments

Savings Bond with Anglicized Name and Giver's SSN and Address -- Can I Still Redeem?

Incorrect information on US Savings Bonds... Some bonds that were given to me years ago are coming of age, and horror of horrors, there's one that's got just about every piece of information wrong. The last name has been Anglicized, the social security number is the giver's, and the address under my name is the giver's as well (I suspect this came from a well-meaning relative who used a not-too-perceptive messenger to actually get the bond).

Will it be a big hassle to redeem this bond when the time comes? I'm told that if it's just a name or a SS number that's incorrect, it's usually not a problem, but this seems like the next level.
posted by greatgefilte at 9:19 PM PST - 2 comments

What are some real scientific areas that would make good fiction?

I have to write something fictional about science that involves REAL science (as opposed to fake science, i.e. "Star Wars"). Since I'm a non-science person, what are some areas of science that are full of good story possibilities? [Note: many people are already doing DNA and cloning.] Thanks!
posted by adrober at 8:44 PM PST - 20 comments

Sidekick II or Nokia?

Cell Phone Filter: I'm trying to decide between a Sidekick II and a Nokia... [MI] [more inside]
posted by Heminator at 8:32 PM PST - 14 comments

Migraine Remedies

Anyone tried Chinese medicine for Migraines?

I am a materialist, I am not interested in mercury being in retrograde, or lead poisoning from ayurvedic medicine, but I can't keep eating tylenol three like they are f-ing red hots, it doesn't help my concentration at all! My materalism does not of course mean that I am entirely concious my own ignorance regarding 99.9999999etc% of the universe around me.

Thanks, PS, if you have any good practitioners in mind in the bay area, i'm all ears. [more inside]
posted by prettyboyfloyd at 7:59 PM PST - 27 comments

Helping people with bereavement...

I work for a funeral home and I'm looking for a book that will help people with the bereavement process. It should be easily available and fairly inexpensive (these are coming out of my own pocket--I just want something that I can give people who are having an especially hard time dealing with their loss). Most "self-help" books that I've looked at are too clinical and dull. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by ColdChef at 7:06 PM PST - 9 comments

Can Excel talk to iCal?

I have an Excel document listing dates times and other information. I'd like to import this "calendar" to iCal but cannot figure out to get the information imported properly. I found this tool, but couldn't get it to work. I also found this application, iCal Maker but it doesn't seem to work either. Anyone have an idea on how to import a bunch of events listed in an Excel document to iCal? [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by pwb503 at 6:27 PM PST - 1 comment

Should I go to the gynecologist if I'm a virgin?

Should I go to the gynecologist if I'm a virgin?[MI]

I'm 29, have never been to see one, haven't had genital contact with anyone, do not need birth control, and nothing's irregular down there except maybe the occasional period (and not so much this year). So I tend to think no, especially because the membrane in question is still mostly intact and I don't want the first penetration to be by speculum/doctor, or to ever happen. But maybe that latter concern, and my general feeling that the doctor's going to consider me a freak unlike anyone else, is coloring my perception of whether or not I need to go. So, is that a silly reason not to go? I'm pretty sure that the standard medical professional's response would be that I'm long overdue for a such a visit, but what would you do in my situation? Do I really need a pap smear given my background? Is this going to hurt? I posted this at a virgin forum but only got one response from a pro-abstinence guy whose comments didn't have much bearing on my concerns.
posted by anonymous at 6:09 PM PST - 43 comments

Supplemental Mental Health Insurance in the U.S.

I am in search of supplemental mental health insurance (in the US). Does such a thing exist? I'm a full-time grad student about to lose my awesome COBRA benefits from my past job. I'm going on to my husband's plan, which has crappy mental health coverage (only 20 therapist visits a year vs. 45 with my last insurance). I need weekly visits, but there's no way to change the plan. I've googled for supplemental health insurance, but I mostly get sites for those on Medicare. I've checked several major insurance companies, but none have any specifics about their mental health coverage. Has anyone else dealt with this situation? Perhaps someone who works in the insurance industry can point me in the right direction?
posted by anonymous at 6:09 PM PST - 4 comments

Long Distance Conflicts

My best friend, who lives about 300 miles away from me, and I had made plans to get together for Christmas, along with our other best friend, for whom I paid 600 bucks to fly out here so we all could be together. Now 300-mile away best friend has e-mailed me with a weak excuse and cancelled his visit here. I know he's not adjusting well to his new home, and seems to be isolating himself from everyone, including me. I'm hurt and angry. How best to address this situation?
posted by anonymous at 6:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Sake in USA

Probably been asked, but I'm having trouble with the search: guidelines for buying decent sake at an American liquor store? [more inside]
posted by e^2 at 4:33 PM PST - 11 comments

Where should I get my jewelry appraised?

Jewelry appraisal : I have a rather unique piece of jewelry that I'd like to get appraised to find out what the gemstone is, and possibly the origins of the piece. What kind of place should I go to? Any specific questions I should ask? What should an appraisal cost? Thanks in advance.
posted by littlegirlblue at 4:32 PM PST - 3 comments

Best Linux build for my server?

Forced to reinstall my server, so I'm also optimizing it. Any suggestions on which Linux build I'd be best off using? Some specific issues inside. [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs at 3:01 PM PST - 17 comments

Industrial-grade paper cutters?

I've been doing lots of paper-crafty things in the last month - mainly bulk cutting and folding. Because of this, I've become interested in those super paper cutters I've seen at printshops over the years - the industrial kind that will chop right through a whole stack of paper. I've yet to hit on the proper word combination to find this variety of cutter with google [I'm currently using one of those long 'guillotine' arm cutters]. I'm also curious if there is some sort of contraption that similarly lazy-fies folding.
posted by adamkempa at 11:05 AM PST - 15 comments

Where can I get tagless high-quality long-sleeved t-shirts?

Can anyone recommend a source for long-sleeved t-shirts (not undershirts)? I'm looking for outstanding comfort and outstanding quality. Preferably no tags. I don't mind paying a premium for the comfort and the quality.
posted by yaquina27 at 10:45 AM PST - 23 comments

Questions for Hiring IT Staff

ManagerFilter: I am going to hire a technology person (keeps everything running, etc.) for a small public library. I know all the standard interview questions. What good technology related questions have you been asked or what questions do you like to ask?
posted by ?! at 10:12 AM PST - 16 comments

Verizon Wireless Motorolla V60s: how do I turn off the splash screen and keep the speakerphone off?

I want to turn off the dorky splash screen on my new Verizon Wireless Motorola V60s. Also, I want to know if there is a way to have keep Speakerphone mode off by default when I power up. [MI] [more inside]
posted by mds35 at 9:41 AM PST - 5 comments

GiftFilter

My SO and I need gifts for our families. Of course this is really late and we are kinda broke. [+] [more inside]
posted by jmgorman at 9:35 AM PST - 10 comments

Is this an online credit card scam?

Online credit card scams...[+] [more inside]
posted by ac at 9:06 AM PST - 5 comments

Online purchase problems. I didn't recieve what I ordered online. Now what?

I ordered something from an online merchant and when I received the package I found an empty box inside. An empty watch box, that is, as the item in question was a watch. When I called the company to complain, I could tell that the CSR was convinced I was a crook... (They promised a replacement, btw.)
Has something like this happened to anyone ? I was wondering how common this experience is.
posted by Finder at 9:01 AM PST - 15 comments

Setting up third party mail on a hosting account

MX-RECORD-Filter: About 8 months ago I signed up for two years of hosting, to get a price break. Since then, mail service has gotten messed up several times, to the point where I think these guys have a problem figuring out how to run it, and I'd like to be able to switch just my mail to another provider. I'd like to learn how to do this without learning in detail about the entire protocol stack. Any help? [MI] [more inside]
posted by lodurr at 8:48 AM PST - 7 comments

Is there a wireless media center that will work with Linux rather than Windows?

Wireless Media Centers. I've ripped all my CDs to mp3 files and am looking at 802.11b or g unit to connect to my stereo/tv to browse and play music. However, all that I've seen (netgear, linksys, creative) all require a Windows based server to drive the device. Are there any out there that will work with a simple shared volume off a linux server? [more inside]
posted by beowulf573 at 8:32 AM PST - 13 comments

How do we prevent our bags from being stolen from our car in France?

TravelFilter: We're going to spend about two weeks around New Years in Northern France (no specific itinerary yet). We're renting a car to get around, which is new for me and leads to my question: all the internet resources, guidebooks, etc say that the problem of theft from cars is significant in France. We will have a couple backpacks sitting in a hatchback, so they should be pretty easy to see if we leave them in the car.

Is theft as big a problem as "they" say, given our destination and time of year? If so, any ideas on what to do with the bags? Are there still luggage lockers at the train stations, or do those no longer exist? Any other tips and things to do in Northern France at that time appreciated as well...
posted by true at 8:22 AM PST - 11 comments

Beer-Of-The-Month club recommendations

I want to get my brother a Beer-of-the-Month club membership as a present. Any advice on good quality clubs or good experience with this type of gift?
posted by ronv at 7:58 AM PST - 1 comment

Shrinking Scientology?

I'm interested in how long Scientology can survive while Google produces results like this. Does anyone have experience of Scientology within their family, or has anyone seen signs that the organisation is shrinking?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:08 AM PST - 45 comments

Advertising Payment

Ethics question: obligated to pay up or not? More Inside. [more inside]
posted by crack at 2:54 AM PST - 46 comments

Have a Nice Day!

I'd like to be nicer to people. I'm generally anxious, socially awkward, and don't enunciate very well. I have trouble with spontaneous conversation and small talk, and get flustered by clumsy social encounters. As a result I've developed a reputation as aloof and unapproachable. What can I do to be a more pleasant person?
posted by anonymous at 12:22 AM PST - 48 comments

December 18

Choosing a Charity

I'm interested in finding a good charity to support. However, I've had worries... [+] [more inside]
posted by Saydur at 10:05 PM PST - 15 comments

Rust-proof my car?

Should I spend $250 to get my 5 year old car rust-proofed? I know that after-market rust-proofing has been discredited for new cars, but would it be valuable for a car that is old but hasn't yet started to rust? I live in Boston.
posted by alms at 7:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Does donating your car really work?

I have a car that is past its usable life. I'd like to donate it to charity A quick search yields a huge amount of organizations that will "take care" of it for me - so many that the whole thing is starting to feel like a scam. Has anyone donated a car to charity before? Did the promised tax deduction work out? Anyway I could choose a local non-profit to give the money to? The car is currently undriveable.

Tax laws change next year so I need to get this done quickly - by the way, I live in Massachusetts if it matters. [more inside]
posted by dhacker at 7:43 PM PST - 8 comments

Iceland Layover

10 hours in Keflavik/Reykjavik on the cheap?

I have a 10 hour layover in Keflavik (9am - 8pm) and want to see as much as possible without spending too much money. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by hugo at 7:27 PM PST - 10 comments

How do you clean your Mac Powerbook screen?

How do you clean your Mac Powerbook screen? Mine is dusty.
posted by cahlers at 5:43 PM PST - 13 comments

Which non US or UK city would you choose to live in and why?

CityFilter: You are preparing to {take over the world, choose a city to spend the rest of your life in, do amazing things, have some great life experiences} and you have your choice of any city outside of the United States or the United Kingdom in which to start. You come from a traditionally backwater part of the midwest US, but you've lived in some major metro areas in the US, also. Which city do you choose as your {place to live, base of operations, favorite city, place to find anything/everything}, and why? Inspired by Civil_Disobedient's comment about the most complicated square mile on earth.
posted by arimathea at 5:24 PM PST - 32 comments

I'm thinking about getting a negative scanner, but don't know what I should be looking for

I'm thinking about getting a negative scanner, but don't know what I should be looking for (more inside). [more inside]
posted by MarkAnd at 3:55 PM PST - 9 comments

Had Some Horrifying Mass Transit Experiences -- Tell Me Yours

After having 3 bad experiences commuting on the train in as many days, what nightmare stories have you had on your commuter grind? (MI) [more inside]
posted by floanna at 3:27 PM PST - 13 comments

Cheap hotels in Venice and Milan

CheapItalyHotelFilter: I'm going there in a few weeks, and need recommendations for 50 euros or less. Any ideas? + [more inside]
posted by amberglow at 2:43 PM PST - 35 comments

Have you used Camino? If so, what's it like?

Has anyone had experience with Camino? Does it make use of OS X services? I love Firefox, but I also love the "Make Stickie from Selection." Can both these great tastes taste great together?
posted by OmieWise at 12:30 PM PST - 10 comments

I need historical real estate sales data for a particular city

I am looking for a resource, preferably online, that will give me historical real estate sales data for a particular city. Ideally I would like to see the average sales price by month from the year 1974 until the present. Any ideas?
posted by tirebouchon at 12:26 PM PST - 5 comments

What's wrong with my fortune cookie's grammar?

FortuneCookieFilter - I recently ate at a Chinese buffet and my fortune cookie following the meal was slightly confusing grammatically. "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" I know what they are trying to say, but is this technically the correct way to say it?
posted by bakerwc1369 at 11:31 AM PST - 18 comments

Is there a program that will reconstruct an NTFS file?

WindowsXPsupportfilter: Wow. My hard drive is all kind of messed up. Looking for a program that will reconstruct an NTFS file partition. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by monkeyman at 11:30 AM PST - 6 comments

Looking for an online DVD retailer.

Can anyone suggest a good online DVD retailer? Amazon is out of stock on what I need (The Office: The Complete Collection) for several weeks. I'd buy locally but I'm broke and looking to get it at a discount.
posted by efalk at 11:10 AM PST - 8 comments

Baby Gear

Bjorns, Ergos and Slings Oh my! : So, you a somewhat “cool chasing” new parent who cannot afford the Bugaboo.
What reasonably priced must-have items have you found that stray from the run-of-the mill AssembledInChinaEveryoneHasItInPastel junk? [more inside]
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 10:28 AM PST - 9 comments

Knife Sharpening

Why won't my knife sharpener sharpen? [+] [more inside]
posted by dash_slot- at 10:25 AM PST - 19 comments

Why do people hide their http_referer?

Why do people hide their http_referer? [+MI] [more inside]
posted by dabitch at 9:55 AM PST - 31 comments

Keyboard ruined by coffee?

I spilled coffee on my keyboard; at least 6 oz. The caps are locked. The only way to type in lowercase is to hold down the shift key. My cpu keeps beeping. Is all lost? Is there anything that I can do to fix it?
posted by Stylistique at 7:52 AM PST - 16 comments

Customize My NYT Online

Lately, I am being driven mad - MAD, I tell you - by the poor use of screen real estate on standard online NYT story pages. I have begun wildly searching out the 'printer friendly' button, squinting through the thicket of blinking garbage and navigational chrome and the one-quarter or less of actual story, pausing only to note the advertiser name in my shitlist Moleskine.

Is there anyway to reconfigure the default links to redirect to the printer pages in-browser, so that my desparate seaches are ended, with the link being forwarded automagically?
posted by mwhybark at 7:07 AM PST - 20 comments

Has anyone seen this comic?

I recently saw a comic posted on a community centre's bulletin board, but it was removed before I could make a copy of it. Here's a description of it: A panel divided with a diagonal line - in the top triangle we see a fit beautiful women looking at her image in a mirror - she see's an overweight frumpy image of herself - in the bottom triangle we see a man, also in a bathing suit, who is overweight and dumpy - he see's a an image of himself that is fit and handsome. There is no caption. It seems to be in the style of the New Yorker comics, but I haven't been able to find it.

Has anyone seen this comic and/or know a source for it?
posted by fairmettle at 6:50 AM PST - 1 comment

What is a good, moderately priced way to listen to an iPod in a Hyundai Elantra?

My girlfriend recently got a new car (Hyundai Elantra) and I would like to get her something so she listen to her Ipod through her speaker system. Tried the iTrip, but the range is to small for the car (antenna in the rear), and the sound quality leaves something to be desired. What are some other more moderately priced solutions to this problem? [more inside]
posted by mhaw at 6:39 AM PST - 18 comments

I need a skilled NYC GP who takes cash.

New York City Doctors: I'm looking for a general practitioner who doesn't require insurance and instead takes cash and who is good at what they do? Anyone have any recommendations? My girlfriend has had a nasty cold for two weeks and she needs someone to help get rid of it.
posted by Stynxno at 6:13 AM PST - 10 comments

Outputting analog audio sources to a SPDIF connection

Outputting analog audio sources to a SPDIF connection (Part 1 of 2) [MI] [more inside]
posted by ed\26h at 5:52 AM PST - 3 comments

What are Moroccan drug laws and how are they practised?

A friend of mine is going to Morocco and I'm somewhat concerned about what's going to happen if he gets caught smoking marijuana. Does anyone know Moroccan drug laws, or even better, how it's practiced?
posted by klue at 3:31 AM PST - 21 comments

December 17

Portuguese pronunciation.

Portuguese pronunciation. I'm a fan of Brazilian singer/songrwriter Jorge Ben. How do you pronunce his first name? I've heard "Yor-gay", "Hor-hay", "Zhorzhj", and plain ol' "George".
posted by TiredStarling at 11:55 PM PST - 14 comments

Stolen Items from Checked Luggage

Unpacking from a recent flight back to the U.S. from abroad, I just noticed that a few things were missing from my checked baggage (a pair of high-quality outdoor jackets). I'm wondering which avenue of renumeration would be the best to pursue - the airline (Continental), my renter's insurance policy, even the TSA - and how? [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 10:25 PM PST - 8 comments

Unauthorized Piano-Playing in Melbourne

Unauthorized piano-playing [+] [more inside]
posted by Tlogmer at 10:24 PM PST - 17 comments

Zzzz....

Sleep tips? Ambien doesn't work, melatonin levels fine. Individual in question has a mind that constantly thinks about stuff.
posted by Mossy at 9:27 PM PST - 25 comments

Printing letters for a sign - use Word or is there better free software?

Printing Letters for a Sign: I have been asked to print up letters on paper for a church sign. The letters need to be 3" tall and 1 1/2" wide with 1/2" between each letter. Can I do this in Word (and how?) or is there a program (free) that I can download to do this?
posted by garypratt at 8:14 PM PST - 4 comments

Canada Labor Lawyer

Someone I know is being exploited. What can I do? [+] [more inside]
posted by ori at 8:05 PM PST - 18 comments

Dealing with anxiety.

How do you deal with anxiety? [+] [more inside]
posted by dame at 7:44 PM PST - 48 comments

Why is my car suddenly so shocking?

Recently, when my wife gets out of the passenger side of our car, she gets a little shock when she goes to close the door. Why is this happening, and what can we do to make it stop?
posted by Quartermass at 7:03 PM PST - 22 comments

Win Fabulous Prizes!

Has anyone here ever won either the grand prize or a major prize from one of those "instant win" games on cereal boxes, candy bars, fast food promotions, or soda cans? Has anyone ever known someone who has won or known someone who knows someone? [More inside] [more inside]
posted by ontic at 6:59 PM PST - 36 comments

Framing Holiday Gifts?

Being sick of Christmas consumerism, I'm trying to create as many of my holiday presents as I can. A semester-long photography course has allowed me to make a bunch of nice-sized prints for friends. I saved the best for my girlfriend, a portrait of a swan from our recent trip tp Strasbourg, France.

What I'm wondering is if it's presumptuous/precocious/obnoxious to have it framed for her.
posted by themadjuggler at 6:13 PM PST - 20 comments

Where does a lawyer have a better chance of finding a job: Seattle or San Francisco?

I'm moving to Seattle or San Francisco for a tech job. My girlfriend is a (mostly) non-evildoing lawyer. We need help figuring out in which city she'd have a better chance finding a job... [more inside] [more inside]
posted by jewzilla at 5:16 PM PST - 5 comments

Fixing Mom's Mac's Modem

Parental Computer (Mac) Assistance: Should I attempt to replace the internal modem or scour the web for suitable external modem for my mother's Powerbook G3? [MI] [more inside]
posted by sillygit at 3:47 PM PST - 6 comments

What to do in Washington DC over Christmas and New Year's.

Christmas Day and New Year's Eve in DC. Don't want to spend a lot of money, don't really know anyone in the area. What should I do?
posted by amandaudoff at 3:28 PM PST - 5 comments

Homer Simpson Drooling

How would you transcribe Homer's drooling sound into the written (or typed) word?
posted by thirdparty at 3:24 PM PST - 27 comments

Why the fuss over blurring license plate numbers in photos of cars posted online?

Whenever I see people post photos of their car online, they almost always blur the license plate, which seems an obvious protection, but then I thought: Who on earth besides DMV employees can ever figure anything out from a license plate number? Are there scary public apps that will pull my home address up if my license plate ever shows up in public? I ask because people with custom plates never seem to mind sharing them in photos, and only people running 3HJK23D seem to always protect their identity. Is it much ado about nothing?
posted by mathowie at 2:57 PM PST - 13 comments

Can anybody recommend a place to buy coffee beans in Seattle?

Here's an easy one, hopefully. Can anybody recommend a place to buy coffee (beans) in Seattle? [more inside]
posted by Hildago at 2:17 PM PST - 26 comments

Madrid Advice

MadridFilter: I'm headed off to Madrid in a month for an exchange program and am trying to gauge how to best take advantage of my time and get the most out of four short months. Any advice about Madrid in general? Things that can't be missed? Long Weekend trips that should be taken?
posted by buddha9090 at 2:15 PM PST - 14 comments

Safe Christmas illumination

How many strands of Christmas tree lights (100 lights/strand) can I safely plug into a single outlet and/or connect to each other?
posted by Dr. Zira at 1:50 PM PST - 12 comments

Insert the image of a vid's timecode onto the picture itself ?

How can I insert the image of a video's timecode onto the picture itself ? [MI] [more inside]
posted by bryanzera at 1:39 PM PST - 9 comments

What's the most confusing present you've ever received?

XMasFilter
What's the most head scratch inducing present you've ever gotten?
posted by fenriq at 1:23 PM PST - 85 comments

Variable-rate mortgage question

I currently have a monthly mortgage payment of $850/month. About $150 of that is mortgage insurance + property taxes.

If I get one of those fancy split 80/20 mortgages, in which the variable-rate 20% portion is used to satisfy the downpayment requirement and remove the mortgage insurance, am I going to get hosed at some point? Finding decent advice about this has been difficult.
posted by mecran01 at 1:04 PM PST - 13 comments

GameCube Games

For starters, thanks to everyone who responded to my question about taking the gaming system plunge. It was exceptionally helpful to my wife and I: now have the GameCube and accessories hidden safely for next week.

I was wondering if you have suggestions for titles that would be suitable for a first grade girl. The boys are easy, but our daughter likes painting/drawing and character/puzzle games like Spirit (about the animated horse movie) that are based more on helping. Harvest Moon was suggested, but I can't tell if that is too old for her and I can't get a good fix on the plot line. Any suggestions from the community would be much appreciated, thanks!
posted by cgk at 12:38 PM PST - 15 comments

Adding more RAM to a Sony Vaio.

I've been thinking of upgrading the memory in my Sony Vaio PCG-GR370 laptop for some time now, but recently it came to my attention that there may be issues with some vaios that do not recognize memory above 256Mb (which is what I currently have in it). I attempted a google for issues with it, but, well... Just try search for "sony vaio memory 512" on google and you'll see how useful it is.

Which brings me to my question: Does anyone know anything about said issues with vaios? If so, do they apply to me?
posted by ChrisR at 12:33 PM PST - 4 comments

Seeded Buns

How come McDonalds cheesburgers don't have sesame seeds on them? I think the Fish thing is the only other one that doesn't have them. So why not the lowly cheeseburger?
posted by zeoslap at 12:30 PM PST - 12 comments

Music to practice Salsa to

I've just taken my 2nd salsa dance lesson. I've been told to practice. Can anyone recommend a good CD to purchase and practice salsa? Or, how about songs that I could compile onto a CD? I need varying tempos and rhythms.
posted by pinkkitty at 12:10 PM PST - 2 comments

Who Sang "Bambalalao" on "Children Dreams: Traditional Lullabies from Around the Globe"?

Irma/Mana records? They just played this track again, so I emailed the station and got the reply Children Dreams - Traditional Lullabies from Around the Globe. There's an image and track listing here and the album is listed on various sites. There's no spanish track, so I'm guessing it was the brazilian one (Bambalalao). Now I need to find the company that issued the compilation to ask who recorded it. I don't think it's this IRMA (they don't list the CD in any catalagoue, as far as I can tell and the style seems very different). So I've hit a dead end. Where now? [mi] [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke at 12:02 PM PST - 7 comments

Roadside attractions along I-77?

WestVirginiaTravelFilter: Looking for a good road-side attraction along I-77 [mi] [more inside]
posted by Tallguy at 11:41 AM PST - 5 comments

DVD copy protection

DVD Copy Protection Question: I'm trying to figure out what the best program is to scan a dvd for copy protection. Before anyone goes thinking I'm illegally doing something: I have a GPS dvd "Map for the Eclipse Navigation System" that you keep in the car in order to help the device. The problem is that pulling the dvd in and out of the system is causing it to scratch. So I'd like to have a copy of it for the car (it'd be useless for anyone else anyways). The problem is that it didn't work as a copy the first time, so I'm thinking there's some sort of protection. I know there are cd scan programs which do the job for CDs (ClonyXXL and such), but is there such for DVDs?
posted by Drylnn at 11:39 AM PST - 5 comments

How is the word "merc" pronounced and what does it mean?

Pronunciation/Definition Filter: The "word" merc. (+) [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:21 AM PST - 22 comments

Raising Money for a Movie

What is the best way to raise money for the production of an independent movie?
posted by spaghetti at 11:21 AM PST - 14 comments

Blogspot harassment experiences?

Blogspot harassment. Anyone have any experience? Google's support response was less than helpful. [mi] [more inside]
posted by dhartung at 10:26 AM PST - 8 comments

zipcar and car donation questions

Does anyone have any experience with zipcar? I have to get rid of my car but would like an alternative to occassional rentals. Also, ancillarily, any advice on donating an old but much beloved car to charity? [more inside]
posted by helcat at 10:04 AM PST - 20 comments

Printing .jpgs

Printing .JPG images from the internets- help! [mi] [more inside]
posted by selfnoise at 10:03 AM PST - 7 comments

A 1 in 6 Chance

BarelyCompetentAdminFilter: I have 6 copies of MS Office 2003 installed on 6 computers at work. One computer went kaput and has been replaced. How do I determine which copy of Office to put on it?
posted by willpie at 9:07 AM PST - 5 comments

London Underground Church Ad

Does anyone know where that curiously preserved and unintentionally hilarious church advert on the London Underground is? Everyone seems to have heard of it - it's a large ad, on one of the stops, and is styled is a page out of a comic book, with various mustachioed characters with leather jackets saying stuff like, 'Leave us alone, man, we just want to have some groovy fun,' and a nun replying 'The true way to fun is through Jesus' teachings', etc. I can't remember what stop it's on or find any information on the web about it.
posted by adrianhon at 7:46 AM PST - 10 comments

Looking for Snowshoes

Snowshoes! I'm looking at getting snowshoes, and I've read this thread but I'm looking for a bit more information. [+] [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 7:42 AM PST - 9 comments

How often do you get xrays at the dentist's office?

How often do you get xrays at the dentist's office? Once a year? Once every two years? [mi] [more inside]
posted by fingers_of_fire at 7:12 AM PST - 17 comments

How can I read CR-Rs with labels on them?

CD-R problem: Anyone have any luck reading old CD-Rs that they were dumb enough to stick those printed labels on? [mi] [more inside]
posted by LairBob at 6:59 AM PST - 17 comments

Music insurance in the UK?

[UK Music Insurance] I always felt that my record collection was too personal/horrible/crap for anyone to bother stealing it, but a friend of mine who lives just round the corner has had most of his collection pilfered so now I'm not so sure. While my collection doesn't include many items that are in themselves valuable, just the number of CD's and records would make them very expensive to replace. Any ideas on what insurance options are available? [more inside]
posted by dodgygeezer at 6:53 AM PST - 4 comments

Upgrading Canon Lenses

I've got a Canon Digital Rebel. I'm interested in upgrading the EF-S 18-55mm zoom lens it came with to something a little more professional. Has anyone done this?
posted by Shanachie at 6:15 AM PST - 14 comments

Skeet shooting in UK?

Any UK Shooters? Inspired by an earlier question about shooting - I was reminded of a long standing ambition of mine mine, to take up Clay Pigeon (Skeet) shooting.

Does anyone know of a good place to begin Clay Pigeon Shooting - to the West of London preferably - and not exclusive/expensive - I know the West London Shooting Club and Holland & Holland...but both are prohibitively expensive...
posted by mattr at 2:31 AM PST - 5 comments

Help me identify this punk rock song

PunkRockFilter: I am looking for a song whose chorus includes the line "you got me p*ssing adrenaline"... [+] [more inside]
posted by LondonYank at 2:10 AM PST - 7 comments

Which of these software shopping cart possibilities is most user-friendly for a seller?

I've been roped into volunteered to design a website for my Mom's new business, as a means of selling her goods online. The hosting provider I chose offers CubeCart, OS Commerce, Zen Cart, Agora Cart, and Interchange. I do have PHP & Perl skills. Which will be the easiest for her to use and manipulate from time to time, (assuming she's only going to have 10-20 different items to sell)? Which one integrates easily to credit card, check, and P.O. processing, and what's the best way to get that ball rolling?
posted by stovenator at 12:04 AM PST - 7 comments

December 16

How can I make my dual 1.25GHz Powermac quieter?

My Dual 1.25GHz PowerMac G4 (like most) is REALLY loud. I had the power supply replaced, which helped some, but the fans run constantly and it sounds like a wind tunnel.

This was a pretty big controversey in 02/03, but it seems to have died down. Well, now my Mac is driving me crazier by the day. Does anyone have any tips on how to make this thing quieter? Barring that, is the G5 quieter (say, in the Dual 2GHz variety)? I'd be willing to sell my current Mac on eBay and spend a few hundred bucks for an upgrade I really don't need, basically to get a quieter machine.
posted by b_thinky at 11:15 PM PST - 10 comments

I need to find a 12" iBook cover that's waterproof.

Can anyone suggest a waterproof sleeve for my newly ordered 12' iBook? I'm looking for something I can slip the iBook into before putting it in my backpack. The backpack itself offers good protection from rain, but isn't perfect. The MacCase Sleeve says it has a waterproof fabric, but the flap only covers 90% of the opening,
posted by will at 10:42 PM PST - 9 comments

Evolution test: Is this a joke?

Is this a joke? Officials from the College Board, the nonprofit entity that administers the Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT, have announced that they are producing a new version of the test for students who live in school districts where creationism rather than evolution is taught in science classes.
posted by lacus at 9:41 PM PST - 16 comments

Where should I go to develop film in Toronto?

Anyone know any super-awesome places in Toronto to get film developed? [M.I.] [more inside]
posted by chunking express at 8:51 PM PST - 9 comments

Credit where credit is due!

[Filmfilter] Why are some people listed with their character's names and others not in film opening credits? [MI] [more inside]
posted by googly at 8:50 PM PST - 15 comments

Where can I get a crash course in calculus?

I need a crash course in calculus. Something easy to understand, but decently thorough. It can assume some basic knowledge of the subject (I'm talking went-to-class-for-two-months-then-decided-to-sleep-in basic). [more inside]
posted by billybunny at 7:48 PM PST - 20 comments

Suddenly, everything tastes sweet.

MysteriousTasteBudChange!Filter: Everything I drink tastes sweet to me now. Even water and salty broth. Strangely enough, I can still taste salt in food, and a pinch of salt on the tongue tastes exactly as it should. What the hell is going on? Am I going to die of a brain tumor or something?
posted by calistasm at 7:05 PM PST - 11 comments

What are some good 7200 RPM 60GB+ 2.5" drives that are suitable for installation in an Apple TiBook?

What are some good 7200 RPM 60GB+ 2.5" drives that are suitable for installation in an Apple TiBook? Recommendations on where to buy?
posted by namespan at 7:05 PM PST - 8 comments

Where can I find this specific type of 8.5x11 paper?

Paper question. I'm looking for 8.5x11 paper that is gloss on one side and matte on the other. I asked kinkos and they said they called it CC1 and got it from xerox but I can't seem to find it. And every product I find at computer or print supplies stores have gloss but the back has a watermark or logo printed on it.

I'm printing up headshots with my acting resume on the back for an upcoming audition and i'm pricing my options.

What is the name of that paper or where can I find it online or otherwise?
posted by freudianslipper at 7:00 PM PST - 8 comments

How to play chess on linux?

Linux and Chess: Looking for something with a painfully simple UI that still allows me to enter custom board positions. [check] [more inside]
posted by bingo at 6:37 PM PST - 21 comments

Chocolate Linzer Cookies

Got a good recipe for chocolate linzer cookies? Specs inside. [more inside]
posted by Miko at 5:24 PM PST - 2 comments

Kid's Book Highlighting Moms

Children's Books: Earlier this year, my wife bought our toddler this book. Our son (22 months) loves this book right now and is alway getting one of us to read it to him.

Now my wife is feeling a twinge of jealousy over him being a such a daddy's boy. As her birthday is coming up, I'd like to find a similar book geared towards mothers. Any suggestions?
posted by smcniven at 5:02 PM PST - 28 comments

Car Stereo Mysteries

Why is my car stereo cutting off and on? [+] [more inside]
posted by lynda at 4:43 PM PST - 16 comments

SXSW

Should I go to SXSW? (mi) [more inside]
posted by Vidiot at 4:04 PM PST - 13 comments

graduation party location in SF

So I'm planning a big party in the SF Bay area for a friend's graduation (he graduates in the off-cycle - January). But I need a place. (follow me to the party -->) [more inside]
posted by danny boy at 3:51 PM PST - 7 comments

Subjects and Verbs

From this thread:

... you're probably aware that Clear Channel own ...

What is the DEAL with verb/subject disagreement when it comes to corporate entities?? Clear Channel is an IT! Likewise band names. I can't remember how many articles I've read with phrases like "Metallica are..." or "Led Zeppelin are..." Why is this OK in the music business? I know this is mostly rant-y, but I'm genuinely curious if anyone has, like, the Rolling Stone Style Guide or something.
posted by rkent at 3:38 PM PST - 38 comments

XP install: how do I find my sound card's drivers? And what programs do I really need?

Laptop Clean XP Install:
1] My (on board?) sound card is unrecognised. How do I find out what drivers to use?

2] What programs do you really think I need? I already have VNC, VLC, Firefox, Thunderbird and AVG installed. What else should I add? (Freeware/OS appriciated but not needed.) [more inside]
posted by twine42 at 3:23 PM PST - 9 comments

New Years Resolutions

What are your New Year's Resolutions this year? [this is it; no more inside]
posted by Doohickie at 3:06 PM PST - 23 comments

Is there a good online dictionary of idioms and phrases?

Is there a good online dictionary of idioms and phrases? I know there are online thesauri, but they don't have the colorful expressions from the original Roget's I.
posted by inksyndicate at 2:22 PM PST - 6 comments

Should our child learn skiing or snowboarding first, and when?

Should we start our toddler out on skis or snowboard? We are avid snowboarders and want her to ultimately take up boarding. However, is skiing easier for kids because they can hoof it along on the flats and it's like walking, and they can snow-plow? Any first-hand experience? Recommendations?

Also, what age is best for her to begin? (I started at 4)
posted by aacheson at 2:12 PM PST - 21 comments

Does anyone know where I can get the basic code for a hot-or-not type of site?

Does anyone know where I can get the basic code for a hot-or-not type of site? Preferably in Perl or Python, and preferably code that lends itself to modification. [more inside]
posted by agropyron at 2:11 PM PST - 5 comments

How do I compensate my hosts?

Hypothetical: You're abroad, temporarily resident in the home of strangers. Not a vacation. The shelter was voluntarily offered at no cost. You are vastly rich by comparison to your host/hostess. But you know they will refuse any money you give them, no matter what--it's not a coy negotiation technique. Gifts of baubles and luxuries aren't needed so much as basics. You can give the children sweets, but if you do anything more appropriate, such as buy meat for the household or pay to have the well pump fixed, your hosts will truly be insulted. Yet, you cannot leave without doing something: your religion/conscience/mother/employer requires it, and you might be back. There are no "oh, s/he's a foreigner" excuses. How do you monetarily or otherwise successfully compensate your hosts so everyone retains honor?
posted by Mo Nickels at 2:04 PM PST - 26 comments

Travel to Japan

My husband and I want to take a vacation in Japan. He's been there once and speaks some Japanese, but I was wondering if there is a kind of guided tour where they don't babysit you everywhere, but do help organize English-speaking tours of things that might be hard to do on our own (Fuji, Hiroshima, possibly even Okinawa). We really don't want to sign on for the traditional guided tour, but would love to be able to have some guidance when needed. Any companies like this out there? thanks!
posted by GaelFC at 1:27 PM PST - 2 comments

Tell me the great stretches, the ones that have not received their due.

Mudpuppie posted a great stretch for your back a few questions ago. So what are your favorite stretches...? What really helps your tired or sore muscles feel better? [more inside]
posted by humuhumu at 12:48 PM PST - 12 comments

Is joint cracking harmful?

Every freaking joint in my body cracks, and I have a (pseudo-) neurotic need to do so on a daily basis. With the knuckles, it's just habit; with the neck and back, I genuinely feel very stiff unless I do so. Am I damaging my body in some way? Most of the advice I've heard on this issue has been from people with an agenda (i.e., they are annoyed by it) so I don't trust them.

Previously noted here, but didn't see the answer to my specific question.
posted by norm at 11:26 AM PST - 41 comments

Using News Footage for Parodies

Inspired by the question about publicly available news footage: Is it possible to download somewhere all 7 (?) parts of Frank Capra's WWII series "Why We Fight"? I know it's in the public domain, having been produced with taxpayer dollars, but all I can find is people selling it on DVD and VHS, with the exception of the final title, which Prelinger has. Are there MPEG-2 or avi versions of the other titles somewhere?

Also, if I could sneak in a twofer -- Where do Jon Stewart, SNL, etc. get the video and stills they use in their news parodies? I know parody is protected, so they probably don't have to clear rights, but do they just copy it down from regular programming? Or is there some kind of archive they're tapping? Does CBS, for instance, just give you this stuff if you ask for it?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:24 AM PST - 8 comments

Fix my betting system.

What's the flaw in this horse racing betting system? [MI] [more inside]
posted by Dreamghost at 11:23 AM PST - 42 comments

Blind me with science gift ideas

ScienceGiftFilter: I'm looking for an interesting science-related Christmas gift for a marine biologist friend of mine. [MI] [more inside]
posted by beaverd at 10:12 AM PST - 15 comments

Sore Back

Some muscle in my upper back, on the left side just inside my shoulder blade, has balled up and is really sore. I don't know how I injured it, but I do know I had trouble sleeping last night and this is the fourth day in a row it has hurt. I know a guy who is training to be a chiropractor, but I'm a little suspicious of going to a chiropractor, let alone a not-yet-quite-certified chiropractor. What would you suggest? A deep massage? Just wait for it to work itself out? See a real doctor? Or just keep popping the ibuprofens?
posted by billysumday at 9:23 AM PST - 26 comments

Do you name a plant? Is it the same as naming a boat?

Do you name a plant? Is it the same as naming a boat?
posted by brent at 9:22 AM PST - 33 comments

What should a healthy and fit human body be able to do?

What should a healthy and fit human body be able to do? [+] [more inside]
posted by departure lounge at 9:18 AM PST - 42 comments

Music for jogging

What are the best songs to jog to? [more inside]
posted by grrarrgh00 at 9:00 AM PST - 31 comments

What is the minimum amount of funding you would ask for in a proposal for a multimedia history website?

I am helping to write a proposal for a multimedia history website; the donor is a capricious individual with potentially deep pockets. What is the minimum amount of funding you would ask for?
posted by butternut at 8:08 AM PST - 13 comments

Loud exhausts and motorcycles

Why are motorcycles with EXTREMELY loud exhausts allowed to be built and used in this country (US)? I'm talking about those Harley types that can be heard for a mile, and are so loud that they literally hurt your ears. I can be in my house with the windows closed and when one goes by, I can't hear anything but the noise of the exhaust. And forget about driving and having one next to you -- it's simply deafening.

Aren't there any noise laws to prevent this??
posted by eas98 at 7:58 AM PST - 56 comments

Toyota engine issues

CarFilter: My wife's old Toyota (1996 Tercell) is having an odd problem. I know very little about engines, and Google has turned up a variety of possible answers [mi] [more inside]
posted by sixdifferentways at 7:22 AM PST - 16 comments

MP3 player specifically for the car?

XmasGiftFilter: I would like to get my sweetie an MP3 player for the upcoming holiday ... but what he really needs is a player that is built exclusively for use in his car. I've tried stuff like cnet reviews with little success -- any suggestions?
posted by anastasiav at 7:12 AM PST - 22 comments

Ready, Aim, FIRE!

For our monthly new experience, my wife and I decided to "shoot guns." That is the extent of the plan at this point. Neither of us has ever fired a gun before and, barring some unforeseen development, neither of us will ever fire a gun again after this. How do we go about this? [MI] [more inside]
posted by probablysteve at 7:06 AM PST - 36 comments

Is there any way to alleviate sleep paralysis?

Sleep Paralysis: Is there any way to alleviate it?
[more inside] [more inside]
posted by substrate at 5:23 AM PST - 16 comments

Did I ruin my brakes?

AutoFilter: In a moment of terrible mental absence this morning, I drove about half a block in second gear with the hand brake engaged. While the right rear wheel smoked and the brake glowed visibly red, there seem to be no other consequences an hour after the fact. Does this merit a call to the mechanic to check it out if other malfunctions haven't arisen?
posted by Verdant at 4:06 AM PST - 19 comments

Grammar Skillz

I lack l33t grammar sk1llz. If two words are spelled or misspelled differently, if they sound the same, and if they mean the same thing, then what are they. Monosemy comes close, Homonym, Antonym and Simile are miles off. Derivation is OK, but not accurate enough. Please Hope me.
posted by seanyboy at 3:53 AM PST - 13 comments

What's a good source of historical film clips on the web?

I'm looking to put together a DVD compilation as a small christmas present and was hoping to include a bunch of historical film clips. It might include things like the moon landing, Louis Armstrong, presidential speeches, anything and everything really from the significant to the minutiae of everyday life. Does anyone know of a good source for this sort of thing on the web? Would have to be free.
posted by figment at 3:12 AM PST - 4 comments

What's changed in Cincinnati in the past 10 years?

Moving back to the greater Cincinnati area temporarily. What's changed in the last 10 years? [more inside]
posted by kamylyon at 12:31 AM PST - 9 comments

December 15

Finding a juicer that will work in Australia

My very organic wife wants a juicer for Christmas - She likes the style, but it seems quite expensive. Any suggestions? - Also I am in Australia, so if possible, someone who ships international and supplies a 240 volt version
posted by Dag Maggot at 11:02 PM PST - 15 comments

No Phishing

I get a phishing e-mail on a daily basis. It probably accounts for 10% of my spam. The FTC and private industry groups are up in arms, but the problem keeps getting worse. Given the little old ladies who are losing their pensions by clicking on these links, why can't anyone catch these guys? What's the technological barrier?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 10:47 PM PST - 15 comments

Lies and the lying employers who tell them.

Lies and the lying employers who tell them. Many workers at my small company were given written assurance at the time of our last pay review that we would be enrolled in a health insurance plan on a stated date. Six months later, the promised benefits have not materialized. Do we have any legal recourse? [more inside]
posted by 12XU at 10:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone tell me about Thai cooking or recommend a good web or book resource?

Can anyone tell me about Thai cooking or recommend a good web or book resource? (MI) [more inside]
posted by arse_hat at 9:44 PM PST - 14 comments

Muscle Fatigue

I've been having muscle fatigue problems for several years. It's mostly specific to my legs, which rules out Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (according to my doctor).
Recently, I tried eliminating various categories of food from my diet again, because I've had problems with certain things before. When I mostly eliminated cow's milk from my diet (I think I slipped once and accidentally had some ice cream), the problem mostly disappeared. Last night, I had a big mug of my friend's real hot chocolate, which she makes with milk for that extra unhealthfulness. Today, I could barely operate the clutch in my car. My doctor says that he's never heard of a connection like that before. Could a protien in milk be causing muscle fatigue in a particular part of my body? [more inside]
posted by SpecialK at 8:14 PM PST - 11 comments

HTML problems

HTMLFilter: I'm trying to produce HTML 4.01 Transitional compliant code, but I'm having a problem with , Mozilla-based browsers and Real Networks media files. More inside... [more inside]
posted by McGuillicuddy at 7:34 PM PST - 14 comments

Brian Wilson Pics

I'm looking for two photos of Brian Wilson circa the original Smile sessions (that is, around 1968). [MI] [more inside]
posted by Frankieist at 6:01 PM PST - 5 comments

Foot mice?

My typing hands hurt. I'm doing what I can. Has anyone used a foot mouse? Or even a foot mouse? Can you really control the cursor with your feet? Does it hurt your feet after a while? I'm looking for some first foot experience, so to speak.
posted by kk at 5:53 PM PST - 5 comments

What composers write music that sounds like Henryk Gorecki's 'Symphony No. 3'?

What composers write music that sounds like Henryk Gorecki's 'Symphony No. 3'?
posted by Jairus at 5:39 PM PST - 11 comments

Ska Song in "Y Do You Think 'Lick'" Anti-Tobacco Ad?

I want to find out the name of the song that's playing in the Y do you think "Lick" anti-tobacco ad? Its a catchy ska song i remember from high school. I probably even own it, but i don't know where to look in my own collection. If anyone can help... oh MAN this place will be the best!
posted by indiebass at 4:12 PM PST - 2 comments

arrival of the New Yorker

New Yorker subscribers: When do you get your issue? (+) [more inside]
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 4:06 PM PST - 28 comments

Double-Meanings

What's the name for the type of sentence construction where you use one verb for two of its meanings at once? i.e., the word "fell" in the sentence "He fell down the stairs and in love." I know there is a precise technical term for this type of sentence, I've just forgotten what it is. Thanks!
posted by Aaorn at 3:33 PM PST - 11 comments

Hair Removal

My wife is thinking of buying this electric hair-removal gadget. It purports to burn the hair off at the root and, over time, reduce the overall amount and regrowth of body hair. We can find no online references to the apparatus other than sites selling it (in Chile), which in itself makes us suspicious, and wonder if anybody has tried similar gadgets, or knows if this kind of system can have any sort of unwanted side effects.
posted by signal at 3:31 PM PST - 5 comments

Wishlist strategies

Has anyone been following the American Express My Wishlist?I have tried to buy 4 items and still haven't otten any of them. Has anyone won something that can share strategies? [more inside]
posted by renyoj at 2:06 PM PST - 4 comments

Has anyone found a definitive fix for the Half-life 2 "memory could not be read" error?

Has anyone found a definitive fix for the Half-life 2 "memory could not be read" error?
posted by damnthesehumanhands at 1:51 PM PST - 3 comments

Is Pre-Paid Legal a scam?

Is Pre-Paid Legal a scam? A friend of mine just became a Sales Associate, and I'm wondering what sort of risks are involved.
posted by waxpancake at 1:31 PM PST - 15 comments

Firefox Alerts

I'm using the latest Firefox, with a few basic plugins. In the past few days, I had these alert boxes that popping when clicking a link that only display a single digit and the 'ok' button. What's a' happenin'? [more inside]
posted by moonbird at 1:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Have any of you had the flumist vaccine this year?

Have any of you had the flumist vaccine this year? How did you react to it-did you get sick? (MI) [more inside]
posted by konolia at 12:35 PM PST - 18 comments

Weaving-related gifts

My mom has recently graduated from obsessive knitter to obsessive weaver. Any weavers out there with good weaving related xmass suggestions in the way of books or other weaving related swag?
posted by puppy kuddles at 12:33 PM PST - 4 comments

UK iPod

Buying an ipod for niece in UK from the US [MI] [more inside]
posted by stuartmm at 11:49 AM PST - 16 comments

Unix Scripting

Unix scripting question- how do I automate an interactive command-line application? [MI] [more inside]
posted by mkultra at 11:37 AM PST - 9 comments

Should I be worried about my daughters' weight gain?

Kids and weight: What I thought was my 10 yo daughter's body transitioning (you know how sometimes they chunk up before they have a growth spurt) seems to be staying put. [mi] [more inside]
posted by SashaPT at 11:01 AM PST - 54 comments

Vacation Scheduling

I work in a fairly small office where we are cross-trained on other positions in order to provide coverage when one of us is out of the office. Because of that, we are supposed to be careful about scheduling vacations. I have noticed my back-up person has scheduled vacation time on top of some of my own. Should I tell my boss, or just let it be a nasty surprise?
posted by omphale27 at 10:52 AM PST - 5 comments

Overstretching muscles and how to treat pain

Not that this ever happened to me. But suppose one went to a weight-lifting class, which happened to have quite a few pretty women in it. And suppose that one tried to be all he-man and lift a lot of weight. And suppose that the next day this person could barely move his arms. What could this person do to get his arms bending again? My ears itch, and it's killing me!
posted by patrickje at 10:50 AM PST - 27 comments

What is there to do in Tucson?

I'm going to be in Tucson over Christmas. Anything that is just not to be missed? Any resources besides Citysearch and The Tucson Weekly ?
posted by elsar at 9:40 AM PST - 15 comments

Portal/CMS script for giving an email address to people registering on a domain?

CMS/Portal development question: Anyone know of a portal/cms script that will give the folks registering an email address at that domain? [magis insum] [more inside]
posted by angry jonny at 8:24 AM PST - 11 comments

Any recommendations to replace Lotus Agenda?

Do we have any former Lotus Agenda users? I worked for Lotus at the time [around 1988] and loved the product. I'm looking for a package similar in functionality. Any recommendations?
posted by lometogo at 7:57 AM PST - 11 comments

Knitting Projects

No more scarves or hats! Looking for non-hippydippy crochet or knitting projects. [more inside]
posted by pomegranate at 7:53 AM PST - 33 comments

Things to see and do in Greece

My mom and I will be travelling to Greece in early June. We're hoping to drive (and ferry) around and stay at a variety of places. I'm looking for recommendations on must-see destinations and any out of the way spots to check out. [more inside]
posted by nprigoda at 5:10 AM PST - 21 comments

Writing software to control signal and modulation for a budget radio transmitter hooked up to my computer

I had the idea of hooking my computer up to a fairly budget radio transmitter in order to have a little radio station. Would it be possible to write specialist software to create the signal and modulation, rather than doing it with an electronic circuit, in order to minimize things? [more inside]
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:04 AM PST - 8 comments

Are bibliographies copyrighted? (related to Google Library)

In regards to this sentence from a recent press release about the Google library scanning: As it does with new books already included in its search engine, Google will only allow its users to view the bibliographies or other snippets of copyrighted books scanned from the libraries. --- Question: Are bibliographies not copyrighted?
posted by stbalbach at 1:16 AM PST - 9 comments

December 14

How can I make the del.icio.us bookmarklet open on TOP of my main Firefox window instead of popping under?

How can I make the del.icio.us bookmarklet open on TOP of my main Firefox window instead of popping under?
posted by rio at 11:59 PM PST - 10 comments

Buying a fun car

I would like to buy a car. Fun to drive (think handling, not necessarily pickup) is paramount, everything else is negotiable: 2-seaters are fine, I'm willing to shift for myself. My price tops out at $16k and I live in Los Angeles. Recommendations? I'm leaning towards a Porsche Boxster, which Consumer Reports says is surprisingly reliable. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by lbergstr at 10:52 PM PST - 58 comments

Family Guy lyrics

"Laugh and cry" or "effin' cry" [mi] [more inside]
posted by sequential at 10:47 PM PST - 38 comments

Gimme a Beat!

My friend wants to make beats, but he is unhappy with Fruity Loops, which is all we have at the moment. He is considering the purchase of a drum machine, but I tend to lean towards software. Any recommendations or advice in choosing a new program/drum machine?
posted by buriednexttoyou at 10:13 PM PST - 19 comments

Side Dish for Garlicky Chicken

What's a good side dish to go with the traditional "Chicken & 40 Cloves Of Garlic" recipe? (A recipe for the sidedish would be greatly appeciated too.)
posted by keswick at 10:06 PM PST - 13 comments

Does anyone here have a Griffin Powermate? If so what do you use it for?

Does anyone here have a Griffin Powermate? If so what do you use it for?
posted by zero at 9:56 PM PST - 10 comments

California Gift and Taipei Diversions

Two questions: What would make a good California-related trinket/gift? And what's there to do in Taipei? [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by numble at 8:33 PM PST - 14 comments

What's a good lesser-known anti-war song to cover?

What's a good lesser-known anti-war song to cover? [+]
posted by drezdn at 7:50 PM PST - 61 comments

clean a lambswool sweater

I have a nice J Crew lambswool sweater that I spilled a Starbucks Frappacino all over. What's the best way to clean the sweater?

Thanks.
posted by seinfeld at 7:36 PM PST - 12 comments

Turbo listers for eBay?

I'm looking for a good turbo listing program for ebay (I know I know) that works with Macintosh (OS 10.3). I have found one called GarageSale. Does anyone have experience with this or any other turbolister? I would prefer a shareware/free program, but am willing to pay if the program is highly recommended.
posted by getupandgo at 7:28 PM PST - 2 comments

Recording audio from Flash movies

I was inspired by this great post to make some of my own songs, using Harry Partch's virtual instruments, and record them into ACID Pro 4.0. How do I make those Flash movies my audio source? [more inside]
posted by dhoyt at 7:07 PM PST - 4 comments

Why can't I post to Metafilter while at work?

I'm not able to post while at work. Do I need to log out at my home computer first? Also, I can't access MeTa or AskMe. I use same versions of Firefox at both locations, both accept cookies. Thanks.
posted by docpops at 6:33 PM PST - 7 comments

iTunes problem

iTunes problem: I get a lot of intermittent static-y, crackling sounds when I play certain tracks in iTunes. The same track, played at the same volume in Winamp does not give me such problems. This seems to happen with about 1 in 10 files. What causes this and what can I do to fix it?
posted by skwm at 4:37 PM PST - 6 comments

NYC Galleries Recommendation for 12/14/04 11:30-5:30, 12/15/04 to 12:00p

NYC Galleries Tomorrow? Taking the early Accela from Boston, getting into Penn Station at 11:30. Hitting the new MOMA for some art absorbtion - but are there other things / galleries that I should hit before the Pixies show? I'm meeting up with a friend @ 5:30 who's treating me to the concert. I'll be staying through the next noon, so that's also an option for hunting.
posted by crankyrobot at 4:19 PM PST - 17 comments

Clipping Microphones

I have a set of phantom-powered microphones (MXL 990 and 991). I plug them into my Fostex VF160, the digital multitrack recorder I love so much. They clip! Even when I play quietly, I get clipping. What am I missing?
posted by Polonius at 3:53 PM PST - 5 comments

Hats for my pumpkin head in NYC

I have a large head. I love hats. I've only ever found one hat that fit my head and didn't look goofy as all get out. One size fits all never does! So... a: Hat store recommendations in NYC? b: Hat styles that don't look ridiculous in x-large?
posted by 4easypayments at 3:34 PM PST - 15 comments

Blog back-up recommendations

How do you backup your blog(s)?
posted by jellybuzz at 3:20 PM PST - 22 comments

Databases needed for looking up song years of release

I have been given the task of looking up the year-of-release for a large number (~8000) songs. Many of these titles are European, Latin American, and South American. Allmusic.com is okay, but slow and not as comprehensive as I require--esp. for uncommon titles. I'd bet that I have to find some specialized databases. Anyone have a suggestion?
posted by mdpc98 at 2:49 PM PST - 9 comments

Helping friends recover from a fire?

Some friends lost absolutely everything in a house fire, and I'd like to help them out somehow. [+] [more inside]
posted by Dreama at 1:46 PM PST - 43 comments

large size warm socks

I need to find socks for size 15 mens feet that are warm and unusual, i.e. wild colors/patterns. I just checked Marshall Fields and it has aprox. 3 pairs to pick from - all navy blue. I seriously can't drive around town looking for these like I did last year for the Crayolas that my brother wanted (those damn 64 boxes are hard to find). Any ideas?
posted by Juicylicious at 1:37 PM PST - 12 comments

Identify this kitchen gadget/hand chopper (Kuhn Rikon Twist & Chop)

KitchenGadgetFilter: after literally begging my sister for weeks to tell me something she'd like for Xmas that didn't just involve stuff for the kids, she finally mentioned last night that she saw some cool hand chopper for onions and shallots in a recent issue of Saveur. [+] [more inside]
posted by scody at 1:21 PM PST - 9 comments

When is it ok to microwave metal?

How come some microwavable containers contain metal? When is it okay to put metallic stuff in the nuker? [more inside]
posted by mudpuppie at 1:19 PM PST - 19 comments

God is a kindergarten student

Another book finding thing--this one's a short story I read at maybe age seven or eight. God is a kindergarten student and his universe project isn't very good and his teacher tells his parents he's very slow. [mi] [more inside]
posted by u.n. owen at 12:45 PM PST - 9 comments

Name That Photog

I am looking for the name or a link to a photographer who shoots pictures of store shelves filled with products, and then photoshops out all the branding / logos etc. so that the shelves appear to be filled with blank products. [+] [more inside]
posted by id girl at 12:40 PM PST - 13 comments

Birth Control Side Effects

BirthControl filter: Does anyone else experience fairly extreme side effects from hormonal birth control? I'm on Ortho-TriCyclen Lo (the low estrogen version) and have been for a year. Cons include complete loss of libido, about thirty pounds of weight gain, monthly morning-sickness type symptoms (during the first week of the cycle) and mood swings. Pros seem to be that the anxiety that hit me at thirteen and never lifted seems to be negated while on the pill. In fact, there is about a three-foot thick wall between me and any emotion whatsoever (unless I'm on the placebo). So...am I just a freak? Or has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm especially concerned with the mental side effects - the extreme distance from emotion & enjoyment.
posted by anonymous at 11:56 AM PST - 39 comments

Gift for travelling mom?

GiftFilter: My mother will be traveling to Honduras after Christmas as part of a medical mission. She’ll be working in extremely remote areas. I’d like to get her something for Christmas that would be useful for the trip. [mi] [more inside]
posted by bibliowench at 11:32 AM PST - 16 comments

Why would anybody adopt children?

The responses to this question got me thinking: Why would anybody adopt children? The strong urge adoptees seem to have to return to their birth parents seems like a recipe for guaranteed heartbreak for their adoptive parents.
posted by jjg at 10:47 AM PST - 44 comments

Caring for Parents

I need ideas on how to help an aging parent losing her eyesight. [mi] [more inside]
posted by FunkyHelix at 10:37 AM PST - 8 comments

Arabic Translation

LanguageFilter, round 2: Arabic speakers -- I've got another line to translate. The phrase today was sent to me as "taapanh min el donia wo machglha", and is spelled somewhat phonetically rather than with any kind of Arabic alphabet -> English alphabet conversion. [More inside.] [more inside]
posted by symphonik at 9:52 AM PST - 5 comments

Fax Spam on my cell phone

Fax Spam on my cell phone - does anybody else get this? Every once in a while, I get a call on my cell and when I pick up I hear a fax machine on the other end.

So I called Bell and they can't do anything about it unless they know the number. So they made me pick up the Call Display option. However, even when it isn't an unlisted number when I call it back Bell gives me a message saying "the number is not in service."

This is driving me nuts and I have a feeling I don't have any recourse.
posted by RockCorpse at 9:40 AM PST - 14 comments

iPod compatibility with tray-loading Mac?

Was there any generation of iPod that was compatible with a tray-loading iMac? If not, what mp3 player/software would you recommend for such a user?
posted by blueshammer at 9:39 AM PST - 6 comments

Making career moves

VocationalGuidanceCounselorFilter: A new job position has opened up at my current place of employment and I’m thinking about applying. My question is two-fold: 1) How and when does one convey this interest to one’s supervisor and 2) Is moving from Communications to Information Technology a good or bad career move based on today’s (U.S.) business climate? [please step inside for more] [more inside]
posted by Otis at 9:37 AM PST - 8 comments

Map of Europe in .WMF format?

Anybody know where I can find a current map of Europe in .WMF format? Needs to be editable ...no bitmaps please. Need it for PowerPoint.
posted by punkfloyd at 9:15 AM PST - 7 comments

Do people not experience side effects from SSRI antidepressants?

Anyone been on antidepressants (SSRIs, specifically) for a while (more than a year) and not gained weight and/or experienced sexual side effects?
posted by fabesfaves at 9:15 AM PST - 32 comments

Computer Clocks

Why are computer clocks so BAD? I know about time sync programs, but why should I need one? Why can I get a watch in a Happy Meal that's only off by a second a year, but the clock in my fancy Pentium IV desktop loses a minute a week?
posted by bradhill at 8:55 AM PST - 13 comments

How to make an updatable CD-Rom

Making an "updatable" CD-Rom (lots of linked, searchable pdfs/ docs) that needs to check the web for updated documents and download them to user's hard-drive, subsequently seamlessly showing data from HD/ CD as necessary. Any resources on coding said beast? Google-fu fails me. [more inside]
posted by Pericles at 8:30 AM PST - 8 comments

Wearing corrective lenses for near-sightedness while spending hours looking at LCD computer monitor

I'm near-sighted and wear contact lenses to see stuff far away. I also work at a computer all day. Is it damaging to wear my lenses and stare at an LCD panel? Should I not wear my lenses when I'm working?
posted by ao4047 at 8:23 AM PST - 10 comments

How do you format "cataloging in publication" data? Is there a standard?

Typesetting. I'm typesetting a children's book that'll be available to libraries. One of the components to the book is the "cataloging in publication" data (the frontmatter with the Dewey classification for the book and other pertinent info). Right now, the CIP data isn't much to look at. I'd like to make it a bit more attractive, while not modifying the content. Have any of you (librarians? publishers?) had any experience with this? I've looked for some sort of formatting standard, but I can't find anything that spells it out.
posted by Alt F4 at 8:21 AM PST - 3 comments

Last minute marathon prep?

Marathonfilter. In about 3 weeks I'll be doing the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll marathon in Phoenix. This will be my first marathon... and while I'm not really that concerned about my time as long as I make it across the finish line, is there anything else a person can do in the final weeks to prepare?
posted by ph00dz at 7:19 AM PST - 8 comments

Explain pasta to me

Why is fresh pasta made with eggs as the liquid, while dried pasta is made with water? And how do egg noodles fit into the equation?
posted by smackfu at 7:08 AM PST - 11 comments

Upgrading Video Card

Can you upgrade your laptop's video card at all? I was curious as I have a 32mb NVidea card on it however I'd love to upgrade it. Is this possible or is there a way to enhance it's performance? (I'm 99.9% the answer is "NO" but I thought I'd ask)
posted by Hands of Manos at 7:04 AM PST - 11 comments

Any resources, online or print, that can give me a good grounding in Oracle databases - admin/design.

Any resources, online or print, that can give me a good grounding in Oracle databases - admin/design.

Need to gen up for an electronic records management system that my company wants to buy.
posted by the cuban at 6:01 AM PST - 1 comment

What is this song with gunfire in it?

I've been trying to identify a song (from the late 1970's-early 1980's) that I heard on the radio as a small child. I was under 4 at the time, so the memory's fuzzy, but I would appreciate any ideas out there as to what it is. This has been quite the musical mystery for me. (MI)
posted by Radio7 at 5:03 AM PST - 23 comments

Help me find this book

Another lost book for you: a book that tells you how many minutes of your life you spend on average waiting for the elevator to come, waiting in front of red traffic lights, sitting on the toilet, etc. Probably depressing to read, but I'd still like to find it.
posted by Skyanth at 4:55 AM PST - 5 comments

Can you ID a sci-fi book set on a prison planet?

Since the AskMe crew seems to do so well at finding long-lost books, give this one a crack (MI). [more inside]
posted by tetsuo at 3:42 AM PST - 3 comments

LA County small claims court advice

I have to sue someone in small claims court in Los Angeles County. Has anyone been thru this process?
posted by goofyfoot at 3:36 AM PST - 4 comments

Does WinAmp sound better than iTunes playing the same MP3s?

Is it my imagination or does WinAmp sound better than iTunes, everything else being equal (talking MP3s of course)? [mi] [more inside]
posted by Witty at 1:35 AM PST - 23 comments

Ferdowsi poetry online archive

Google-Fu has failed me. I seek a searchable archive of Ferdowsi's poetry online. Something where I can type in a few words (either in farsi or in pinglish) and get back the poems that have those words.
Failing that, can anyone find me the full text in farsi of the poem that ends "har aan kas ke daarad hoosh va rai va din/ pas az marg bar man konad aafarin".
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 1:22 AM PST - 1 comment

Best (dinner) food for a LOTR Marathon?

LOTR Marathon and Dinner. Suggestions for food? [MI] [more inside]
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:25 AM PST - 25 comments

December 13

Nail Fungus, what to do?

FungusFilter:

I have nail fungus on one foot. It hasn't been a problem until now. However, I've started taking ballet classes, and after class, the big toe (with the fungus) hurts like a mofo under the nail. (It's not due to ill-fitting ballet slippers, I checked that with the teacher, and we're not doing pointework, so it's not that either.) This is annoying, and I'd like to get rid of it. (I also don't want to drop the ballet classes.)

Is there any homeopathic/OTC stuff that'll work on nail fungus, or is this a situation that's best handled by a doctor? Anyone have experience with this? I occasionally get Athlete's foot on that same foot, but I've been diligent about making sure it's kept at bay with foot cream. Many thanks!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:58 PM PST - 36 comments

International codes for the US

What is the International Postal Code for the United States? And what is the Country Code for the United States (for dialing phone numbers). [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by banished at 11:46 PM PST - 8 comments

How do I read the dipstick on my home heating oil tank?

How much oil is left in my 300 gallon underground home heating oil tank? I stuck the measuring stick in, and it came up wet from 15" on down. Assuming a standard, what is the general rule(r) of thumb?
posted by ValveAnnex at 11:00 PM PST - 7 comments

Hiking in North Carolina

I'm going to be in North Carolina for two weeks over Christmas and, well, bored out of my mind. I want to do a few day hikes or something. Preferably it'd be in the mountains, as I like mountain views and I've never really been to them in NC, but anywhere is fine. I'll be in Chapel Hill, so anywhere within about 2-3 hours of there would be great.
posted by borkingchikapa at 10:59 PM PST - 15 comments

Prescribed Amphetamines

How come prescribed amphetamines do not cause health problems like amphetamine psychosis or those horrid pictures of the woman who looks like a skeleton after so many years of abuse? I know people who take 80mg of Adderall a day (prescribed) and I've heard of up to 120mg a day users. Are these doses too low to cause ill effect? If they stopped using would they be subject to the same withdrawals as street users? I realize street users must take more, and a different kind, but the basics are still there, unless they are taking a lot more. It seems like 10+ years of daily Adderall take would produce similar effects. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 10:32 PM PST - 21 comments

Recommend "end of the world" fiction.

I would like recommendations for "end of the world" fiction books. [more inside]
posted by cmonkey at 10:20 PM PST - 72 comments

Is Bigger Better?

In Korea, the thinking seems to be 'the bigger the piece of fruit or vegetable, the better'. In western countries where I've lived, the opposite tended to be the case -- people seem to value the little tender baby ones the most. Is this merely fashion, or is there any nutritional basis to the preference, either way? [more inside]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:18 PM PST - 10 comments

Stain Removal

In the small kitchen, the gas range is butted up against the refrigerator. After a few years of cooking, a brown stain mars the otherwise-white vinyl side of the refrigerator. How do I remove the brown stain?
posted by tomharpel at 10:09 PM PST - 8 comments

How can I tell if my stove is slowly leaking gas?

GasLeakFilter:
This evening, I installed the 1963 Kenmore Griddletop I'd purchased a few weeks ago into my kitchen. At the re-sell shop where it was purchased, I was shownthat all the burners worked, that there were no leaks (some sort of geiger counter). At any rate, I suddenly have a weird sort of sore throat, and I'm wondering if the damn thing isn't leaking. So: first, how do I determine if it's leaking, and two, what are the signs of low-level natural gas poisoning?
(I *did* shut off the gas valve and have range hood fan going, just in case)
posted by notsnot at 9:48 PM PST - 14 comments

Congestion Charge Fine in London

If you fail to pay the congestion charge in London, how long does it take for the fine to come through? 'A friend' may have done this a few weeks ago, and he/she is now wondering if they got away with it...
posted by ascullion at 9:41 PM PST - 4 comments

Why would a car have a tow-ball on its front bumper?

Strange sight seen recently in a car park: A small car (a Toyota Echo, I think) had a tow-ball sticking up from the left-hand side of its front bumper bar. Why could this be?
posted by Jimbob at 9:00 PM PST - 9 comments

Adopted person searching for biological parents - give me your anecdotes

I am an adoptee, and this AskMe post motivated me to ask- to any of you who are A) adopted and searching, or B) adopted and have found Bparents or siblings or C) have anecdotes on how friends have found parents or siblings.... How did You/They eventually find their kin?
I am all over message boards, registries, etc. I'm looking for other options. Any input appreciated.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:09 PM PST - 19 comments

A Sobering Thought

Have you discovered any quick way to sober up? No, I'm not looking to get behind the wheel of a car or anything. I just had a few glasses of wine with dinner and now I'm a little too out of it to be productive on some creative projects I want to tinker with. [more inside]
posted by damn yankee at 8:06 PM PST - 21 comments

Mascara Tips

MascaraFilter: I have teeny lashes, bad mascara-ing technique, and a need for bigger, non-streaking eyelashes. Would prefer not to go into debt over it. Ladies and some gentlemen; what mascara (non-waterproof) rocks your world?
posted by Haize at 7:49 PM PST - 23 comments

Best Vodkas For Connoisseurs?

Any vodka connoisseurs or haters around? My usual partner in booze snobbery hoboynow and I have a bit of a debate. I'm interested in pursuing vodka as my drink for the next few months but he isn't. To his taste, "tequila and whisky varietals (along with any of the more complex-tasting beverages) are more worth investigation than vodka." What are your thoughts? Also, what vodkas have you found to be the best purchase?
posted by ArcAm at 7:02 PM PST - 35 comments

Soundtrack song

Looking for this song on the soundtrack of a Michael Moore film... [more inside]
posted by Slimemonster at 6:39 PM PST - 2 comments

How to get a video screenshot

I know I've done it successfully in the past, but I just can't seem to take a screenshot that includes a Windows Media or Quicktime video that's playing.
posted by davebush at 6:08 PM PST - 6 comments

Is it wrong to have an affair?

Is it wrong to have an affair?
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 6:06 PM PST - 57 comments

Name this book: whales and dolphins talking with humans.

On the "I can't remember what book this was..." kick, I've been trying to find a book from years ago that was so bad that it was phenomenal. It was sci-fi that began with the premise that whales and dolphins could speak human languages. We discovered this when a dolphin being trained for the Russian military finally broke and began speaking to humans as it feared for its life (I think). The book then goes on to silly detail about different cetaceans and how they talk (Blue whales being stupid and inarticulate, orcas talking in something resembling old english saying "Ye of the lande" and such - yes, the extra e was added in on some of those words). The whole thing comes to a head as we attempt to make contact with giant Jovian Space Whales and to do so construct our own gigantic robotic space whale with the brain of a blue whale.

I know this sounds like a crack-trip, but I REALLY want to find this book so that I can give it to a fellow marine ecologist as a gift for christmas. It's the funniest thing EVER.
posted by jearbear at 5:39 PM PST - 16 comments

Why don't humans squirm when their heads are cut off?

Why don't humans squirm when their heads are cut off? I know chickens and pigs do, but I can't find any reference to this happening during the French Revolution or any other times that people were getting decapitated.
posted by borkingchikapa at 4:39 PM PST - 13 comments

How to donate toiletries to a shelter or charity?

Homeless shelters/charities in DC? I have a gazillion little hotel shampoos and lotions as well as some other unused regular toiletries I'd like to get rid off. Rather than chuck them or leave them in the lobby for my neighbors, I'm thinking a shelter for women might want them. Any recommendations? Googling brings up several but I have no idea which to choose.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:07 PM PST - 6 comments

Mono on OS X

I want to monkey about with Mono on OS X. I've found a few installation tutorials via google, but was wondering if anyone here had a preferred set of instructions they use (before I go and break my computer).
posted by alana at 3:59 PM PST - 1 comment

What Movie or TV Show is This From?

What Movie or TV Show Is This From? A man plays catch with a kid. Then HALF A KID riding on a skateboard rolls by. He passes by a Doberman, who breaks from his leash and chases after the half a kid. The dog starts attacking the half a kid, who cries for help. The man playing catch hears his cries, and beats the Doberman, saving the half a kid. Then we see the Doberman...and now it's a man! And he's been beaten! (No, I didn't hallucinate this. It's from a TV Carnage tape.)
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:50 PM PST - 10 comments

Sovereign remedies for hiccups?

What is your personal cure for the hiccups? [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:48 PM PST - 57 comments

Please recommend books about casinos for in-depth research.

Can anyone point me to informative books, websites, documentaries, and etc. regarding casinos? I'm about to begin researching them heavily and I was hoping for a head start. Thanks a billion.
posted by argh!spiders! at 3:37 PM PST - 8 comments

Pick Me Up Some Smokes

If someone is a non-smoker, and is very much against smoking, and their friend says, "while you're out, pick me up some smokes", and you're not terribly comfortable with contributing to their habit, is it ok to not purchase the cigarettes, or is it 'judging' their habit by not picking them up while you're out?
posted by benjh at 3:36 PM PST - 52 comments

iPaq Advice

I recently got an Ipaq for an early xmas present. It's neat and all...but I really don't like that you cannot use an alternate web browser or email client. Does anyone know if Mozilla has their web browser ready for the Ipaq yet? Or an email client? Or does anyone have any software advice for Ipaq?

Thanks!
posted by Hands of Manos at 3:15 PM PST - 12 comments

Advice on flying with a toddler?

Advice on flying with a toddler: we're taking our two-year-old on a 13-hour flight to LA, then a bunch of domestic flights between LA-Philly-San Jose. We've flown a zillion times, but not with a child. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by tracicle at 3:05 PM PST - 17 comments

Young Adult Short Story

I, too, am vaguely remembering a short story. It was a young adult sci fi dealie, where, in a grim future, orphan teenagers are used in a Pavlovian experiment. Most of the novella takes place in a seemingly endless tangle of stairs...
posted by Specklet at 3:04 PM PST - 6 comments

cheapest quick way to get from LaGuardia to Harlem on a weekday afternoon?

On a weekday, mid-afternoon, what's the cheapest quick way to get from LaGuardia to Harlem? All methods of transport acceptable except rickshaw.
posted by Kwantsar at 2:07 PM PST - 8 comments

Do you remember an old PC puzzle game called 'Revelation?'

Do you remember an old PC puzzle game called 'Revelation?' [MI] [more inside]
posted by suchatreat at 1:48 PM PST - 4 comments

Good Non-eBay Source for Old Mags (Scenario Screenwriting)?

Getting old issues of mags? Wanted: Scenario Screenwriting Magazine. This mag went out of biz a good while ago (though details are sketchy) and I have a number of issues but would like to acquire the ones I'm missing. I get the occasional one through eBay but am curious if there's a source for old mags or if anyone has suggestions on how I might get my hands on them.
posted by dobbs at 1:04 PM PST - 3 comments

Cleaning Kitchen Air

Well, our new old apt (it's new to us, but it's old) has no range hood. Looks like the previous owner decided to make a HUGE pass through. What solutions/options do I have (besides some sort of bizaare way to hookup an ordinary rangehood). Do the somewhat reviled ionic breeze / ionic cleaners work well enough to clean the air? It's a 600 sq ft apt.
posted by eurasian at 12:45 PM PST - 11 comments

Did Maggie Hendricks (of the Rayletts) Ever Do a Solo Album, or Noticeably Contribute Elsewhere?

Maggie Hendricks. She was one of the Rayletts. Anybody know any albums she did on her own, or if there are any albums she was a particularly notable part of?
posted by Amizu at 12:40 PM PST - 2 comments

Gifting a pregnant friend

I've just learned that one of my closest friends is pregnant. Since the circumstances surrounding this are a bit unusual, I'm turning to my AskMe comrades for ideas...[mi] [more inside]
posted by Vervain at 12:32 PM PST - 24 comments

RSI Exercises

My job involves a lot of repetitive motion and I type way too much outside of work. I've had RSI issues in the past, and I want to strengthen my wrists/arms/shoulders so that they don't flare up again. Any recommended books or web sites where I can find RSI-specific exercises?

(Yes, yes, I know. Just Type Less. Assume for the moment that's not an option).
posted by Jeanne at 12:31 PM PST - 14 comments

Recommend a contraceptive pill that won't cause me to gain weight

Pill weight gain? I went on the Pill to get rid of severe cramps years ago. [more inside]
posted by transona5 at 12:30 PM PST - 35 comments

Does Windows XP make it clear and easy how to format and install on C: while leaving a second drive untouched?

TechFilter: The other day, my home machine fall down, go boom. After a "hard" shutdown, I rebooted and everything had gone to 600x400 and the system didn't recognize my mouse. Since I lost my system CD when I moved (and it's time to upgrade anyway), I'm picking up a copy of XP Home tonight. My main concern is this: I have two hard drives on my box. My 40GB C: drive, where I intend to install the OS (after formatting it) and a secondary 100GB drive where I have all my music files, documents and other stuff. Does XP make it clear and easy how to format (since my fubared system isn't allowing me to get to a DOS prompt to do it the old fashioned way) and install the OS on the C: drive while leaving the second drive unchanged. Thanks in advance.
posted by jonmc at 11:16 AM PST - 16 comments

Removing cat hair from mouse?

I have one of those ancient so-uncool mouses with an ACTUAL BALL in it... and we have a cat. Though I clean this thing every damn day, I know there is a ton of cat hair in the parts I can't reach. How do I get it out without destroying the mouse? [mi] [more inside]
posted by heatherann at 10:55 AM PST - 20 comments

Travel questions: Flights & layovers

I have a fourfold question regarding an upcoming trip from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Manila (MNL) via six-hour layovers at New York (JFK) and Dubai (DXB). I'm flying Independence Air IAD-JFK, and Emirates JFK-DXB-MNL, and I'd like to know about the possibilities in the air and at each stop. More. Inside. [more inside]
posted by brownpau at 10:25 AM PST - 7 comments

Food budgeting

How much do you spend on food a week? What is the ratio of eating out and eating at home you do to arrive at that number? What is the least a couple can spend per week and still eat well? How does one transition from eating out every meal and being pretty clueless in the kitchen to eating in (saving lots of money) but without spending hours and hours making food and cleaning up? How do we do this without TV Dinners, microwavable foods etc?
posted by wtfwjd? at 10:12 AM PST - 31 comments

Has anyone ordered from Lik-Sang? How'd it work out for you?

My wife is dying for a limited-edition pink GameBoy Advance SP. I don't trust eBay for that sort of thing. Has anyone ordered from Lik-Sang? How'd it work out for you?
posted by schoolgirl report at 10:09 AM PST - 8 comments

Windows Freeware/Shareware to Rip DVD Audio?

How can I dump DVD audio to make it editable? I have looked everywhere for an accurate soundtrack of White Christmas however the closest one I've found had the songs recorded after the movie ran - and is not the exact same dubbing as used in the movie. [+] [more inside]
posted by bkdelong at 10:01 AM PST - 7 comments

Help me get tickets to a soldout NYE party, please.

What is the best way to get tickets to a sold out New Year's Eve Party? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by rorycberger at 10:01 AM PST - 7 comments

What's a good e-mail spam filter for Outlook on Windows 2000?

I need recommendations for e-mail spamfilters for the PC. I use (and love) SpamSieve on the Mac, and now need something similar for a friend running Outlook 98 (or 2000, can't remember) on Windows 2000. What's the best PC spamfilter?
posted by jdroth at 9:49 AM PST - 8 comments

Tight as Hell

"Dag! That is tight as hell!" It used to be (c.1999) that if you went to the URL www.tightashell.com you'd get a weird picture of a fabio-looking guy with girls hanging all over him and the caption "DAG! That is tight as hell!" It seems the site has changed hands several times over the years, and is now some weird blog. Anyway my question is two-fold.

1) Reality Check: Does anyone else remember this site?

2) Does anyone have a cache of it? =)

Thank you, that is all...
posted by idontlikewords at 9:49 AM PST - 4 comments

What interesting stuff is happening in NYC tonight?

What interesting stuff is happening in NYC tonight? [+] [more inside]
posted by codger at 9:44 AM PST - 10 comments

Home Heating

Another heating question!

We just moved to another apartment. It turns out this landlord has the furnace set up oddly: usually the filter goes between the burner/blower and the ductwork to the rooms, but here he's put it on the incoming vent before the furnace. Does that make sense?

Generally, my experience with forced air makes me really miss radiators. I don't like the idea of having dust mite poo blown up my nose, for one thing. Is it that radiators are more efficient and/or cheaper than forced air, or is it that gas furnaces seem more "modern"?
posted by davy at 9:24 AM PST - 10 comments

Mass personalized emails from Outlook?

Mass personalized emails from Outlook [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Coffeemate at 9:08 AM PST - 5 comments

Eggshell vs Flat Paint?

MoreAdventuresInPaintFilter Since the common wisdom is that eggshell-finish paint is perfect for walls, why is flat paint still commonly available? And If I mix equal parts flat and eggshell paint of a given color, what will I get? [mi] [more inside]
posted by ParisParamus at 9:06 AM PST - 25 comments

Readings on how to communicate requirements to our developers?

ChangingRolesAtWorkFilter: I am moving from a pure development role into more of an integration/product manager role. I need advice on things to read that will help me learn to write requirements documents. [more (requirements?) inside...] [more inside]
posted by GrumpyMonkey at 8:46 AM PST - 10 comments

Mac Operating Temps

Mac operating temps...MI [more inside]
posted by damnitkage at 8:02 AM PST - 8 comments

What book has fruit and vegetables made up to look like silly faces?

Looking for this book. [more inside]
posted by turbanhead at 7:53 AM PST - 6 comments

Why are radiators so often painted white?

Why are radiators (the things connected to your hot water system that heat a room) usually painted white, when white is the worst colour for heat radiation?
posted by Mwongozi at 7:27 AM PST - 19 comments

Boosting FM transmitter signal

I need to boost the range of a FM transmitter from CCrane. Folks on Amazon suggest... (more inside) [more inside]
posted by jwells at 7:25 AM PST - 4 comments

Home Heating

For all of you who live in Northern states/areas that get very cold in the winter--what temperature do you leave your house or apartment at in the wintertime when you're home (I don't mean during the day when you go to work and turn it down, etc.)? I'm having an argument with someone who thinks that "normal people leave the thermostat at 65 degrees in the winter."
posted by fabesfaves at 7:13 AM PST - 76 comments

Tipping at Gas Stations

I have an etiquette question: I moved to the Boston area about a year ago from Oakland California. I've never seen a full service gas station in CA (I've seen them before, just not in CA). Here in MA, most of the gas stations are full serve, which rules in the winter.

My question is this: is it appropriate and/or expected that I tip the attendant that fills up my gas tank?
posted by jaded at 6:51 AM PST - 26 comments

Power supply going?

Power supply going? My desktop makes noises that sound like the fan speeds up then slows down. Sometimes as often as 3 times in a minute. I tried switching wall outlets, still with the same surge protector, though. Nothing else plugged in to that surge protector seems to waiver. The desktop is about 2.5 years old, used all day everyday. Is it the power supply? and if so, how difficult is replacing it, and would I have to re install a bunch of shit?
posted by yoga at 6:19 AM PST - 15 comments

classic books on Egyptian history

What are the classic books on Egyptian history? I'm looking for titles that might appeal to a fan of Edward S. Creasy and Alfred T. Mahan. Ambrose and Goodwin need not apply.
posted by cribcage at 6:09 AM PST - 2 comments

Barter Websites

Suggestions for swapping-goods web site? I've done the eBay thing, but looking for swapping goods for goods. [more inside]
posted by benjh at 6:07 AM PST - 4 comments

Why do my PC and TV images simultaneously wobble?

Strange picture wobble: we have a PC monitor and a television in the same room, and sometimes their pictures wobble in unison. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 4:48 AM PST - 12 comments

Best / worst online holiday ordering experiences?

Want to share your good and bad online holiday ordering experiences? (no peeking until Dec. 25) [more inside]
posted by iconomy at 3:55 AM PST - 12 comments

Chafing

Joggers, Hikers and Marathon walkers, your attention please! I love to walk, but experience troubles with chafing. For particularly long walks (5 hours and beyond), I used to use a product called Chafe Eez, manufactured by a now apparently defunct company called Second Wind. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by tomble at 3:04 AM PST - 11 comments

Why won't my Powerbook G4 battery hold a charge?

My 2.5 year old Powerbook G4's battery seems to have suddenly lost the ability to hold more than a 40 minute charge. What's up with that? What should I do about it?
posted by donkeymon at 2:37 AM PST - 6 comments

Firefox and DNS

I have managed to install my beloved Firefox on my "heavily secured" computer at work and told it to use the company proxy server (we can only go through port 80). I'm not supposed to be using anything other than IE, but, well, you understand. The problem is that I can't access any .net domains (.com, .org, .co.uk and any other TLD works as it should) with Firefox, while this is not a problem in IE. Using the IP number of a .net website brings me to the site just fine, so it seems to be a DNS issue, but I have never heard of a TLD requiring its own DNS server or a special port. I can't ask the company IT people as I'm not allowed to use FF in the first place, and the FF support forums have never even answered my question. Any ideas?
posted by Skyanth at 2:25 AM PST - 9 comments

Lord of the Rings Questions

IDontHaveTimeToReadTheBookFilter - I have some questions about the LOTR movie trilogy that can only be answered by those who have actually read the books. (mi+) [more inside]
posted by invisible ink at 1:30 AM PST - 43 comments

Online Print Shops

Online Print Shop Services: I'm looking to do a couple runs of flyers in the 1000-5000 range. What's the cheapest online service you've found for this? [more inside]
posted by fishfucker at 1:06 AM PST - 8 comments

Mighty Hercules cartoon

The Mighty Hercules cartoon had a theme song that was parodied in my elementary school. Can you help me figure out the lyrics? (More inside Herc! Herc!) [more inside]
posted by joelf at 12:18 AM PST - 12 comments

Caricature software

I'm looking for software that will produce a caricature from a photo. [mi] [more inside]
posted by stuart_s at 12:08 AM PST - 4 comments

Red lines from a projector when the iBook gets closed

One of my professors uses an iBook and an LCD projector for her lectures. When she closes the lid of her iBook, red lines of varying lengths flitter across the right side of the projector screen, against a black background. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by LimePi at 12:04 AM PST - 2 comments

December 12

Moving Far Away

Drastic measure: hitting the reset button on your life.

My wife and I are, shall we say, in a slump. Our relationship is great, but our careers and general lifestyle are not satisfying. So we were talking about moving... far, far away [+] [more inside]
posted by C.Batt at 10:28 PM PST - 28 comments

Question re: "House of Flying Daggers"

So I recently saw House of Flying Daggers and I have a general question. [MI with a spoiler-free scenic question] [more inside]
posted by bshort at 9:50 PM PST - 4 comments

Electrical Compatibility in Kyoto

I'm going to Japan in a few weeks and I'm wondering about the differences in electrical outlets and how my laptop (powerbook g4) will be able to handle it, and if there is a special kind of adapter I need because it's a computer. All the power adaptor kits i've found thus far have been for hairdryers and what not. Anyone know?

And while I'm at it, anyone know anything good to do in Kyoto, especially for New Years? heh.
posted by atom128 at 9:38 PM PST - 18 comments

What do I do with this Grappa?

A friend who just job back from Italy gave me a really nice bottle of Grappa as a present. Last time I had any was 10 years ago and back then alcohol was something I drank because it made me walk funny and helped me get laid. What do I do with this alcohol? Stick it in the freezer and drink it straight?
posted by aspo at 9:22 PM PST - 14 comments

Allergic reaction to latex bandaids?

Two days ago I had an allgergic reaction to two latex bandaids I had on my arm. It's red, has a very bumpy texture, and itches like mad. 1. Is this normal? 2. Now my entire arm occasionally gets covered in goosebumps. Is that bad? [more inside]
posted by puke & cry at 9:22 PM PST - 33 comments

I have a couple of questions about Sudoku.

I have a couple of questions about Sudoku. [mi] [more inside]
posted by obiwanwasabi at 9:18 PM PST - 3 comments

3rd party POP3

Say you've got a domain and a server, but the account didn't come with any POP3 setup. Assuming you're not going to abandon that hosting provider for one reason or another, what's the best 3rd party POP account provider? And is this a huge headache?
posted by paul_smatatoes at 9:08 PM PST - 8 comments

What souvenir should I ask for from Scotland/England?

SouvenirFilter: Sister-in-law and her husband are going to Scotland/England for a week. They asked what should they bring us (me and wife) back? any cool suggestions? Less then $10US and easy to find, but the more odd the better.
posted by ShawnString at 8:30 PM PST - 14 comments

PCMCIA 802.11b (or g) WiFi adapter for a PC laptop that doesn't protrude beyond the PC card slot?

One of the things I like most about my iBook is that the wireless adapter is internal and doesn't protrude from the system. Does anyone know of a PCMCIA 802.11b (or g) WiFi adapter for a PC laptop that doesn't protrude beyond the PC card slot?
posted by mrbill at 8:18 PM PST - 11 comments

In Bauhaus Song, Lady Sells Her Soul for Rock Career -- Sample from Movie, or Self-Recorded?

In the Bauhaus song "Party of the First Part", there is what sounds like a movie sampled wherein a woman sells her soul in exchange for a career in rock music.

Is this actually a sample from a movie, or did they just hire people to record it themselves? Googling isn't helping me.
posted by interrobang at 8:05 PM PST - 6 comments

Hotmail times out

Since I put in a Linksys Firewall/Router on my Cable connection, I cannot access Hotmail...it just times out [more inside] [more inside]
posted by keep it tight at 7:52 PM PST - 4 comments

Political Philosophy

Keynes? Hayek? Galbraith? Burke? I'm reevaluating all of my political stances and I'm trying to find a few books that will give me a decent understanding of the basis for today's Conservative and Liberal philosophies. What are the 3 to 5 best books per side to get a reasonably strong overview of what they're about?
posted by frankenklein at 6:45 PM PST - 15 comments

Your favorite long (and long-lasting) wool coat?

Inspired by this thread, I'm thinking of investing in a real winter coat, of the long, wooly variety. Is anybody out there really, really satisfied with a long wooly coat that's held up for years and years and was affordable? [more inside]
posted by josh at 6:25 PM PST - 20 comments

Is my ISP throttling my p2p bandwidth?

p2pFilter: Is my ISP pulling a fast one on me? [mi] [more inside]
posted by drpynchon at 5:31 PM PST - 16 comments

What interesting things are there to do/go to for New Year's in London / the south east of England?

What interesting things are there to do/go to for New Year's in London / the south east of England? Not necessarily big well known events (not that I can find any), but anything interesting, quirky, underground, whatever.
posted by wackybrit at 5:30 PM PST - 3 comments

What're the most useful/productive/amusing/geeky voice-activated apps?

I've always had teeny microphones kicking around, but never used them with my PC. Now that I've got my hands on a USB mic, though, I feel a burning need to justify keeping it on my cramped desk. In your experience, what're the most useful/productive/amusing/geeky voice-activated apps?
posted by onshi at 4:36 PM PST - 4 comments

Deciphering Arabic

LanguageFilter: Any Arabic speakers here? I'm trying to decipher an Arabic phrase: "Baashake ya halo." I might have spelled it wrong, but I know it's not a common Arabic phrase so much as it is slang. Any ideas?
posted by symphonik at 3:08 PM PST - 9 comments

Minimizing Beard Mess

FaceFurFilter 4.0:

I have a full beard and have been leaving sinks full of offerings for the Shaven Yak for about 15 years now. I never really worried about clean up too much (I did it, just didn't worry about it). However, it's starting to annoy me in my old age, and I was wondering if any of my Bewhiskered Brethren have any tips to share on minimizing the mess.
posted by ad hoc at 2:48 PM PST - 19 comments

Why does our dog smell after being in the sun, and what can we do about it?

StinkyDogFilter: Our 4-year-old vizsla gets really, really stinky after being outside in the sun for a while, to the point where it's almost unbearable to be in the same room with her when she comes inside. After 15 minutes or so the stink subsides and she's tolerable again. Any ideas?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:37 PM PST - 11 comments

Directing novice actors

I'm directing The Vagina Monologues here at my university. Rehearsals are going well, for the most part. The younger women, all students, mostly theater students, listen when I speak, take direction well, and are basically a dream to work with. My problems are with the older women, who are all professors or health care professionals who have never acted before(MI). [more inside]
posted by cilantro at 12:30 PM PST - 18 comments

If you stole "Steal This Album" or "Steal This Book", would you get in trouble?

If you got caught stealing Abbie Hoffman's "Steal this Book," or System of a Down's "Steal this Album," or any other item that says "Steal This" somewhere on it, and charges were pressed against you, would you have any legal basis for saying that you aren't responsible because the merchandise told you to steal it?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 11:43 AM PST - 17 comments

How can I find a home for a troubled pet?

How can I find a home for a troubled pet? [more inside]

I am at my wit's end and don't know what to do. The problem started when my girlfriend moved in over two years ago, bringing two adult cats along. My two adults did not get along with hers, and we've tried just about everything to get them used to each other. Eventually, we had to just separate them, but it broke my heart to have cats barricaded in my basement, so we decided to just open the basement door to let the cats come and go. It's been like that for about a year without many problems, and I thought I was making some progress when one of my cats started coming upstairs willingly and tolerating the others (being able to sit in the living room with the other cats while we watch TV).

The past month or so has been different, though. My cat started peeing (and worse) on our bed. I draw the line there, because I cannot afford to buy all new bedclothes and mattress pads every couple of weeks.

I would like to find this cat a new home, because I think the basic problem stems from having too many cats in a small space. I know if I take her to the animal shelter, they will have trouble adopting her out, given her past and her age (nine). I doubt an ad would work because she's very skittish (and I cannot in good conscience give a cat away without telling someone about her problems).

Does anyone have any suggestions?
posted by anonymous at 11:35 AM PST - 13 comments

Credit Score Question

CreditFilter: Two years ago, not really understanding the importance of good credit behavior, I let a department store card slide for 180 days, twice (I KNOW!). This impacted my credit history greatly. I had previously had 4 years of good payment on two credit cards. Over the past year, to help recover and instill good habits, I pay my credit cards in full every month (read: no personal debt) and added a paid off car loan to my reports (15K). My CC limits have slowly increased but my score has remained somewhat the same (10 pt increase).

What can I do to get out of this rut? Some collegues I know have a sizable CC debt (around 15-20K) with less income than me but have great scores and could buy a house tommorrow with no problems. What am I missing and no, credit-fixing agencies are NOT an option.
posted by anonymous at 11:35 AM PST - 11 comments

Help with my apartment-mates rage problem

My apartment-mate has a rage problem. It used to be once a month or so he would have a tantrum that involved smashing dishes and lightbulbs, overturning furniture, tearing down posters, and ripping up papers. Lately it's gotten to be a weekly thing. I used to feel sympathetic and I talked with him about his problems, but I've lost my patience and I'm sick of being caught in this. Several of his friends have tried getting him to go see a college counselor but he won't go. If I could, I would just leave the apartment, but it's impossible until my contract is up in June. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting him to chill out when he's in the middle of a tantrum? Or any suggestions for convincing him to get counseling, try medication, anything?
posted by anonymous at 11:34 AM PST - 22 comments

Recommend a Boston therapist

I need a therapist. I recently moved to the Boston area, I don't really know anybody, and Psychology Today isn't doing it for me. I know that I'm clinically depressed (runs in the family, and relatives who are docs say so), and it's gotten worse of late. It's ruining my job, my life, and my sleep. Where do I find a top notch psychiatrist/psychologist?
posted by anonymous at 11:34 AM PST - 8 comments

Is "weightlessness" an artifact of a free-fall orbit?

Science hour question: My niece asked me this and I didn't have a good answer. People in orbit around the earth are "weightless." But what would happen if an object in space were kept stationary at 150-200 miles up? Would an astronaut in such a stationary but very high station in fact feel significant gravity? Is "weightlessness" (in near-Earth space) an artifact of a free-fall orbit? C'mon rocket scientists, I know you're out there.
posted by socratic at 11:28 AM PST - 20 comments

Men's Haircut in DC

Recommendations for a place to get a good men's haircut in the Washington, DC/Arlington, VA area? I'm looking for somewhere a little better than your run-of-the-mill SuperCuts/Hair Cuttery but not a totally intimidating/fancy salon.
posted by chos at 11:17 AM PST - 3 comments

Modern Home Design

Apart from "modernist, very expensive, and very good", what words does one use to describe the kind of home architecture/construction in which there are no baseboards or traditional moldings, everything fits together perfectly, floors and walls meet seamlessly, etc.? What terms do I need to know in order to find someone who does this type of work?
posted by stonerose at 9:02 AM PST - 10 comments

Cigarette Changes

Are cigarettes being made differently than a few months ago? Normally you light a cigarette and if you put it in the ashtray, it just burns up to the filter. I notice that about 6 months ago, the cigarette no longer does that but extinguishes itself if I don't keep puffing. Has anybody else had this experience? I smoke Marlboro Ultra Lights. No preachers, please.
posted by zorro astor at 7:56 AM PST - 21 comments

Updating AVG Antivirus

Is anyone else having trouble getting their AVGFree antivirus to connect for its update? [mi] [more inside]
posted by FunkyHelix at 7:06 AM PST - 4 comments

Good data-recovery companies?

My 4gb MicroDrive died. Of course, I have about 100 pictures on it from a paid photo shoot. Must. Get. Pictures. Back.

Any recommendations on trustworthy data-recovery shops?
posted by neilkod at 6:54 AM PST - 3 comments

New Year's in SF: what's a no-host bar, and what are some bar scene alternatives?

I'm looking for something to do on New Year's Eve in San Francisco, and I've scoured the web to find every possibility, from all night dance parties to upscale black tie affairs, and I have two questions: 1) what exactly is a "no-host bar"? 2) What other options are there, particularly in regards to the bar scene? [a bit more inside] [more inside]
posted by rorycberger at 2:55 AM PST - 3 comments

Friendship vs Attraction

How does one best handle attraction to friends of the appropriate sex, in rather complex situations? (vastly more inside) [more inside]
posted by justin at 2:32 AM PST - 13 comments

December 11

Please identify this painting.

I need help identifying a painting. It depicts a grey bearded man in a reddish fur trimmed cloak sitting by his writing table immersed in thought. He faces us, but is turned sideways from the table upon which he rests his right elbow. In his right hand, held up toward his beard, is a quill pen. In the other hand held low just above his left knee is a carpenter's square (L square). Anyone familiar with this painting? Thanks.
posted by crack at 11:57 PM PST - 8 comments

Body Shop "Leap" perfume

Another perfume question: I figure it's a longshot, but does anyone remember the Body Shop's perfume called "Leap"? Apparently they don't make it (or sell it in Canada) anymore. Does anyone know where I could get some, or if it has been re-branded or co-opted by another store? Failing that, does anyone have any recommendations for something similar? Thanks.
posted by loquax at 11:51 PM PST - 9 comments

How to set clock on JVC stereo?

I have a JVC FS-6000 micro stereo system that I plug into my reciever to play cds. I'd like to know how to set the clock on it. I lost the manual years ago, but I can turn the clock off, but everytime I play a cd, the clock comes back on, and I have to turn the display off again. I've tried every sort of combination of buttons pressed on both the unit and the remote, but can't seem to get it to work. Anyone know how?
posted by corpse at 9:37 PM PST - 2 comments

How do psychics work?

How do psychics work?
posted by moooshy at 8:42 PM PST - 41 comments

Why was Half-Life 2 written in VS C++ .NET?

I've been messing with the Visual Studio 2005 betas, and the .NET framework, and am wondering why Half-Life 2 was written in VS C++ .NET? From what I gather, .NET applications require the framework to be installed on the system, and don't actually use .exe files (correct me if I'm wrong, the whole .NET framework is hugely vague to me still)? So is HL2 just a plain vanilla C++ application that just happens to use VS C++ .NET? And if so, could it even be ported to target .NET and/or be written in say, Visual Basic or J#, since I've also read that there's now no performance difference between anything since they all target the CLR.
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 8:15 PM PST - 5 comments

How do I style a definition list so it appears as an ordered list?

CSSFilter: I'm creating a glossary list on a webpage. So I'm using a definition list markup. But the list is long so I'd like the list to be ordered. I tried using CSS in an attempt to display the definition terms in an ordered way. But my CSS-foo failed me. Can the CSS wizards here tell me what I should do? [Markup Inside] [more inside]
posted by timyang at 7:55 PM PST - 3 comments

Commitment

How do you help somoene terrified of committment get through their fears and into the relationship you think you both were meant for?

This might just be a general "what's the best way to approach someone with emotional baggage" question; be sympathetic, caring and understanding or trying to help them get over it? I know what it is that causes this for him/her but I don't know how to best make them understand I'm not trying to "fix" them when I approach it.
posted by anonymous at 7:22 PM PST - 10 comments

Financial advice for a rough breakup.

You are not my attorney, and I'm not asking for legal advice. I would like an opinion, though, on the financial situation of a rough breakup. I've been with my girlfriend for seven years, and we're splitting up. It's gotten ugly. She has $10k in credit card debt, some of it for things she's bought for me/us, some not. She's telling me now she wants $5k from me, or she's going to start selling the things she's bought for me (such as the PowerBook I got last Christmas). I was going to be the bigger man in this, and help her pay her debts off a bit at a time, but now I'm extremely angry. I want to find out if there is any legal grounds for me telling her that no, we were never married, she gave me these things as gifts, and I don't owe her a dime. I live in Texas, for what it's worth, and I am looking for an attorney locally.
posted by anonymous at 7:21 PM PST - 33 comments

What's a good perfume to give a 22-year-old woman?

I need to buy perfume for a 22 year old girl who wants me to pick it out. I have no taste, and I know whatever kind I pick out she will probably hate or it will turn out to be some sort of old lady smell. What brand is safe to go with? Bonus points if I can order it online and avoid the mall.
posted by anonymous at 7:21 PM PST - 34 comments

How seriously do people take customs forms?

How seriously do people take customs forms? When coming back to the US from Europe this summer, my SO and I argued extensively on how important it was that we follow the written instructions on the customs cards handed out on the plane. I started diligently trying to recall everything we were bringing back, including foodstuffs, but she thought that wasn't necessary at all and in the end we just went through the "nothing to declare" line. How much trouble could we have got in, if we only had a few knicknacks and some Turkish Delight? What is supposed to happen, really?
posted by anonymous at 7:21 PM PST - 10 comments

Can you recommend some ambient DVDs to me?

Ambient dvds? So far I've found these. Other recommendations appreciated - I'm new to the concept. [more inside]
posted by yoga at 7:17 PM PST - 10 comments

Streaming Boxing in UK

I'm in Britain and don't have satellite or cable... is there a legal way I can watch or listen to the world championship boxing on the net tonight? Or, is there a non-legal way that maybe you want to email me about?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 7:06 PM PST - 3 comments

What can I do with the persimmon in my fridge?

We have a persimmon in the fridge and I tried a piece of it tonight. It's very astringent and made my mouth dry. We Googled recipes for persimmon cookies and persimmon fudge, but are unsure of how well they'd turn out. Anyone know of something tasty we could make with this thing so it won't go to waste?
posted by dotComrade at 6:26 PM PST - 9 comments

Green Coffee Beans

I'm looking for sources of high-quality green coffee beans for roasting. Christmas is coming (yikes), and I just learned my little brother has gone gourmet. Googling turns up plenty, but I've no firsthand way of separating the wheat from the chaff.
posted by vers at 6:23 PM PST - 8 comments

Downloaded WMV files have video but no audio in Windows Media Player for OS X

Problems with Windows Media and OS X. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by Cryptical Envelopment at 4:29 PM PST - 8 comments

OSX File Sharing

Best peer-to-peer file sharing program for Mac OS X? I'm using Limewire now, and am wondering if there is another program offering a better selection, ie, with more members. I'm mostly interested in audio files. Is there software allowing the downloading of entire albums at a time?
posted by cahlers at 3:52 PM PST - 9 comments

Dutch Oven Repair

Dutch Ovens, pt. 2: Repair. How to fix chipped enamel before the iron rusts? [+] [more inside]
posted by rxrfrx at 3:37 PM PST - 9 comments

Online Education

Does anyone have experience with online courses / distant learning ? [mi] [more inside]
posted by swordfishtrombones at 1:50 PM PST - 14 comments

Scandinavian Languages

What's up with Scandinavian languages? Norwegians tell me that Danish and Norwegian are written the same, but spoken much differently. Swedes tell me than Danes can understand them but not the other way around. I've also heard that on some European airlines they use a simplified version that all Scandinavians can understand. What's the deal?
posted by borkingchikapa at 1:26 PM PST - 28 comments

How to transfer between airports in NYC?

NYC Travel Help: I need some advice about transferring between NYC airports. [+] [more inside]
posted by jewishbuddha at 12:24 PM PST - 11 comments

Exploring Toronto

Going to Toronto next weekend for the first time, for three days and staying at the Canadiana Backpackers Hostel in downtown Toronto. We are three college students - can anyone recommend free/cheap things to do and explore? We'd prefer to avoid touristy spots, have a high interest in walking everywhere, exploring ethnic neighborhoods (where'd the best place for good, authentic dim sum in Toronto?)
posted by jare2003 at 11:35 AM PST - 21 comments

Wineries near Oakland

Recommendations for wineries for a daytrip from Oakland CA? [details inside] [more inside]
posted by allan at 11:03 AM PST - 9 comments

Background information on the concept of indigo children?

I keep hearing about 'indigo children' and how these special children are the next chain in human evolution. Are there any child-care professionals on AskMeFi familiar with the concept that can give some background information? Is this just a trend to sell books?
posted by ao4047 at 10:54 AM PST - 33 comments

How much to tip staff at my building?

EtiquetteFilter: how much to tip? [mi] [more inside]
posted by psmealey at 10:33 AM PST - 4 comments

Looking for Historical Fiction Recommendations (Newer is Better)

What are your favourite historical fiction novels? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:28 AM PST - 47 comments

Tell me how you met your gay partner

Gay men in relationships: how did you meet your significant others?
posted by adrober at 9:59 AM PST - 14 comments

How can I get a tape adapter out of my cassette player?

Help. I am having trouble finding anything on google that actually works and I am otherwise useless as far as cars go. I have a 99 Toyota Camry that has managed to get a tape adapter stuck in the cassette player. (MI) [more inside]
posted by Restlessavenger at 9:58 AM PST - 6 comments

What are your favorite DVD commentary tracks?

What are your favorite DVD commentary tracks?
posted by gluechunk at 1:51 AM PST - 68 comments

December 10

Was NYC always "Gotham City"?

Did Batman use the phrase "Gotham City" first? Or was it a reference to NYC beforehand? What's the history of the phrase?
posted by xmutex at 11:43 PM PST - 4 comments

Intel Fab-4 - what does it mean?

fab-4 - what does it mean? Is that where Intel made the 4004?
posted by Kwantsar at 10:49 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I transfer Yahoo groups messages to gmail?

Yahoo Groups. Their search interface, to put it mildly, sucks. Does anyone have any bright ideas as to how one could, say, transfer over a few thousand messages to gmail?
posted by Mossy at 8:09 PM PST - 7 comments

Good/cheap rental cabins in West Virginia? Related activities?

West Virginia Filter: Any suggestions on where to find good/cheap rental cabins in West Virginia? What about activities? [MI]
posted by kscottz at 8:09 PM PST - 9 comments

Freezing PC

My PC is having intermittent freezes. More inside. [more inside]
posted by Keyser Soze at 7:38 PM PST - 12 comments

What to do with my out-of-warranty iPod with a HD failure.

Looks like my out-of-warranty iPod had an HD failure. Any ideas what I can do with it? [details] [more inside]
posted by ori at 6:48 PM PST - 16 comments

Keystrokes for ffi, ffl, ff ligatures in OSX?

[Typography-filter] Keystrokes for ffi, ffl, ff ligatures. Adobe Garamond Pro. OSX. How? How? How? Ideally I'd love to hear about utilities like PopChar, but right now I'd rather just eat the fish.
posted by Jeff Howard at 6:24 PM PST - 9 comments

How do I follow through and finish software projects?

I can't ever seem to finish personal software projects. I'll usually get half of the code written, but then my attention moves to another idea and the software never gets completed. I don't have this problem when someone else is working on it with me. How can I motivate myself to follow through with these solo projects?
posted by cmonkey at 6:24 PM PST - 17 comments

New Yorker Calendar

BigFatFavorFilter: one of my close family members has a photo in the calendar insert of the New Yorker (Dec. 13 issue). The calendars apparently only go to subscribers, though, so I can't acquire it from a newsstand issue. Would anybody be willing to send me their copy of the calendar insert? Please comment -- I'll email you with a mailing address -- and I can reimburse you a couple bucks for postage, too. [more inside]
posted by oldtimey at 6:03 PM PST - 18 comments

Database-driven web sites using using Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, etc?

I know how to make database-driven web sites using Windows servers, Access, IIS, and ASP.

I want to learn how to do the same using Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, and... whatever you use instead of Access.

Where do I start?
posted by Mwongozi at 5:25 PM PST - 18 comments

desktop wallpaper

I need help finding a desktop background - from a site that had some amazing options. [MI] [more inside]
posted by fionab at 4:55 PM PST - 10 comments

MusicFilter: finding a specific Christmas song

I am trying to track down a Christmas song I've heard about. It is called something like "Zooma The Santa Claus from Mars". Googling and allmusic'ing have turned up nothing. Have any of you heard this? I'd love to know who performs it, or just confirmation that my friend isn't playing a joke on me.
posted by shotsy at 4:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Giant Insect!

I found a giant 2" insect in our car port about a month ago and took a few pictures of it but let it go. Did I do the wrong thing? [pictures and more inside] [more inside]
posted by hindmost at 4:37 PM PST - 32 comments

Why are my feet still growing?

Did your feet grow as an adult, and did you figure out why? Please hope me! [more inside]
posted by naomi at 4:01 PM PST - 18 comments

Two Papers Due Simultaneously, No Extensions, and Utterly No Will to Work

I hate all forms of work (hence the anon. post) and the only way I've found to finish papers etc. is to stay up all day and night procrastinating until the last possible instance writing a bit here and there--an agonizing process--until, as the last chance deadline aproaches, something takes shape. These papers are usually final papers and usually earn me between a B+ and an -A... which is probably why I never learned how to do work in a painless and organized fashion... at any rate, I have two papers due on the same day and no chance of an extension on either one and am incapable of forcing myself to work. WHAT DO I DO?
posted by anonymous at 3:53 PM PST - 55 comments

Video/Audio Codecs

I'd like to learn how to control and manage all the video/audio codecs on my Win2K and XP computers. There's no control panel for this, unfortunately. I know sometimes I have several codecs installed that can play a particular video, but one has priority. How do I control which one, or disable/suspend others? How can I even tell what all I have installed? Gspot is helpful for peeking on a per-movie basis. What else is out there? Thanks!
posted by scarabic at 3:34 PM PST - 8 comments

Cat Barf

Point one: We are beginning to look for our first home.
Point two: Hardwood floors are pretty.
Point three: We have a kitty we lovingly call "Madame Barfary".

I've looked and looked, but can't seem to discover whether cat barf is harmful to hardwood floors. Anyone have experience in this area?
posted by frykitty at 3:18 PM PST - 30 comments

incoming cell calls

When receiving an incoming phone call on a cellular phone, is there any way to differentiate between in-network and out-of-network?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:08 PM PST - 3 comments

ID this SciFi Novel

Trying to recall the title of a sci-fi book I read [mi] [more inside]
posted by Ryvar at 2:09 PM PST - 17 comments

Streaming MP3

MP3 Filter: I've got a large MP3 collection at home that I would like to be able to access from my office. I'm too cheap for an IPod, and it's too big of a collection to be able to mirror on my office computer without taking up gigs of space. I've been looking for a program to stream my mp3's from my home computer to my office computer... [MI]
posted by SweetJesus at 2:07 PM PST - 29 comments

What's the best way to find an apartment in NYC?

NYCaptFilter: I'm moving to NYC (yay!) and sorry, but I'm going to drive you all nuts with questions for the next few weeks. #1: Best way to find an apartment? I know the city, but would like tips on finding a good place. Broker? Classified listings? Pitfalls to avoid? How do I find something rent stabilized? Any opinion about rentdirect.com? I promise to host a meetup when I get settled.
posted by CunningLinguist at 1:34 PM PST - 37 comments

Moving On Up... or Not

My manager is resigning. Her position, by all rights, should be mine. I have recommendations from all the various people I work with on a daily basis, and at least two managers (my own, soon-to-be-gone, and another in a related department). The CFO doesn't think I'm ready, however, and is currently trying to head hunt....apparently with some success.

Should I resign if he ignores all these folks and doesn't even at least discuss the issue with me? I think it shows pretty clearly I don't have a future with this company....I've been here for years and can do the job.
posted by taumeson at 1:33 PM PST - 23 comments

Restoring calendar functionality in Outlook 2003 (updraged from 2000)?

My office just upgraded all of us to Outlook 2003 and I've lost functionality that I found very helpful. In Outlook 2000 I was able to display both a portion of my Calendar as well my Tasks in the main view of my mailboxes. I've gone through numerous options to find this functionality, but no luck. Any suggestions for restoring said functionality?
posted by FlamingBore at 12:42 PM PST - 6 comments

Design Resources

I am looking for books and/or magazines with lots of photos of pre-20th Century living spaces. Why, you ask? Because I'm trying to paint the walls of my 115 year-old brownstone apartment in a color that (1) I like and (2) complements the architecture.
posted by ParisParamus at 12:33 PM PST - 16 comments

Do iMacs, Palm Pilots, and Windows all play well together?

imacs and palm pilots and windows systems - do they play nicely together? i'm trying to help a friend figure out if his soon-to-arrive imac (his first mac since 85) will be able to sync with the calendar and contact software on a palm pilot. he currrently uses ACT at work (WIN), but is willing to change that to a different calendar/contact solution that will allow him to sync the palm pilot at home too, (and add info at home). any advice on simple solutions or best practices?
posted by chr1sb0y at 12:12 PM PST - 4 comments

Photo management software for OS X.

I need help finding a good photo management tool for OS X to use at work. iPhoto can't hold enough photos and I haven't found much else that is similar. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by capndesign at 11:55 AM PST - 15 comments

Buggy Flash Scrollbars

I just finished programming a Flash site for a client. During tests, the client insists that scrollbars sometimes lose their ability to scroll. I can't recreate the error. Furthermore, I'm just using Flash's built-in scrollbar (I didn't alter it). This is the scrollbar component that came with Flash MX (not the MX 2004 TextArea). Has anyone encountered this (bug?) before. The site is here (sorry about the self-link, but I don't know how else to get help on this one). To test the scrollbar, click "Production Designers" and try the various names. NOTE: some names won't have a working scrollbar, because there's not enough text to scroll.
posted by grumblebee at 11:52 AM PST - 15 comments

Anyone know of a Christmas story that can be performed by three female co-workers for an office Christmas party?

Anyone know of a Christmas story that can be performed by three female co-workers for an office Christmas party? Nothing too long or foolish, just a nice story that can be spoken (not acted out). [more inside]
posted by KathyK at 11:24 AM PST - 10 comments

What are things like these days in the p2p universe?

What are things like these days in the p2p universe? I've been using BitTorrent exclusively for a while but friends and family have asked for my help with p2p but BitTorrent is overkill for the small files (songs, ringtones, etc) they're looking for. Also, BitTorrent has no search facilities which they'll need. What programs are out there? How spyware-ridden are they? How corrupted with bogus files? And, are there any sites you'd recommend to keep up-to-date with p2p?
posted by TimeFactor at 11:20 AM PST - 14 comments

Which t-shirt manufacturers manufacture in the US?

american apparel is getting the glory, but what other t-shirt manufacturers make shirts in the US? i think there are several in LA alone, but i don' t know where to look for them.
posted by subpixel at 10:57 AM PST - 4 comments

Air Quality Issues

Los Angeles is making me sick. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Asparagirl at 10:33 AM PST - 18 comments

Do you have experience using a crate for a puppy? What did you feel the pros/cons were?

Do you have experience using a crate for a puppy? What did you feel the pros/cons were? Anything in particular we should know if we get one?

Possibly pertinent details: We are hoping to get a puppy next week. We're getting it from a pound/adoption agency (Humane Society or similar), and it will probably be a male, medium-sized mutt of some sort. This will be the only dog in the household (at least for a while). We both work away from the house, but one of us generally spends a few hours at home in the middle of the day. We've had dogs before but have never used a crate.
posted by widdershins at 10:09 AM PST - 29 comments

Stupid House-sitting Mistake

Stupid House-sitting mistake: I've locked myself out of my friends' house that I'm looking after for the next two weeks. I think I've exhausted all avenues of possible help and am planning on going in through a window tonight. Is there anything I can do today to prepare or any precautions I need to take, in regards to safety, lawfulness, property damage, etc.? (MI) [more inside]
posted by lychee at 10:04 AM PST - 29 comments

Please look over my game manual and suggest edits, changes to organization, etc

Document design people!
Some months ago, I completed the first fairly rough draft of a (unofficial) gigantic manual for a half-life mod called Natural Selection. My manual sucks! I need help! (+) [more inside]
posted by kavasa at 9:53 AM PST - 14 comments

Recommendations/thoughts about engaging a "life coach"?

Recommendations/thoughts about engaging a "life coach" [+] [more inside]
posted by briank at 9:51 AM PST - 12 comments

Educating my nieces and nephews on India?

My wife went to India for work a few months ago and brought back some neat little trinkets--marble elephants, jewelry, etc--to give to my nieces and nephews (aged 7 to 12) for Christmas. I'd like to include a book, movie, or other gift to give them an idea of India's history and culture. (My nieces and nephews live in small towns, and I hope this can expand their horizons a bit.) Aside from Kipling, can you suggest any specific authors or age-appropriate titles I should consider?
posted by arco at 9:44 AM PST - 6 comments

I need a website-rating website

I am looking for a reliable website that ranks the top websites by hits, preferably with search or at least categories. I am working on a project, and I need to find the top online casino's.
posted by Quartermass at 9:43 AM PST - 3 comments

PS2 Games

PS2Filter: Help me pick a game for my mentally handicapped brother...[more inside] [more inside]
posted by MrZero at 8:55 AM PST - 19 comments

What is this story from Dragon Magazine in the 80s?

In the mid to late 80s Dragon Magazine published a short story about a woman playing an online computer game. She made friendss with a mysterious stranger in the game who got hugely rich and shared the money with her. It was a very entertaining and prescient story, well predating mainstream online gaming. Anyone know details of who wrote it, when it appeared, etc? Is there a copy online?
posted by Nelson at 8:23 AM PST - 5 comments

Not that I have any, I swear, but is CGI child porn legal?

Not that I have any, I swear, but is CGI child porn legal?
posted by anonymous at 8:15 AM PST - 29 comments

Driving Music

Tomorrow I have to drive from Asheville to Richmond, which is about six or seven hours in the car by myself. I need some good driving music. What do you use/recommend? [more inside]
posted by Who_Am_I at 8:11 AM PST - 21 comments

How can I get from Brooklyn to JFK airport with two pairs of skis?

getting to the airport with skis. i need to go to JFK from my apt in brooklyn with skis. 2 pairs actually, in a hard case. its big. how do i get one of those minivan cabs or something?
posted by alkupe at 7:02 AM PST - 7 comments

Bayeux Tapestry Resources

I am looking for either books or online resources for Bayeux Tapestry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry - style illustrations (or any other book/site that depicts depict medieval life.) So far, the illustrations on the web are of relatively small size or poor quality.
posted by turbanhead at 6:55 AM PST - 4 comments

I need exemples of geeky sites that use a weblog system for publishing, but have sections not related to the blog.

WeblogFilter : I want to convince someone that a site using a weblog tool can not look too weblog-y (= good integration on normal page, not "yet another template).
I know blog tools, I know templates & CSS, but I just need exemples of various websites (not weblogs per se, not techy/geeky, not news only) that implement a known weblog system (MT, WordPress, Dotclear...) for it's text publishing, and also has sections not directly related to the weblog.
OpenWeb seem to fit the bill, but it's too techy/ web-related to prove usefull here. Thanks!
posted by XiBe at 6:09 AM PST - 23 comments

Meeting Schedulers

What do people use to schedule meetings. I'm told it can be done with Outlook, but I hate Outlook. Is there a web site that makes this painless. I'm envisioning a calendar where people can mark the times that they can't attend a meeting so that it's easy to see when the meeting CAN be scheduled. Any help appreciated.
posted by Outlawyr at 5:34 AM PST - 12 comments

Resources for Dyslexic Students

I tutor a 6th grader (at an inner city homework help center, once a week, not paid) who was just diagnosed with dyslexia. I'm kind of relieved, because I knew there was some sort of larger problem than just being a little behind. He's pretty distraught, as he's going to have to switch schools for the rest of 6th grade, so he can get into a small special ed class. He feels like a 'dummy', since his teacher did a crappy job of informing him - including telling him first about the test results, instead of talking to his mom first. I know I can search out simple stuff like lists of celebs/successful folks who overcame dyslexia, but I'd love to hear any advice or book/resource recommendations from people who might have some experience with dyslexia.
posted by chr1sb0y at 4:50 AM PST - 10 comments

Mail error on Windows box

Browser works, POP mail doesn't. Possible TCP/IP problem in Windows XP. [+] [more inside]
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:35 AM PST - 21 comments

Sharp, twangy-sounding Telecaster pickups?

I just bought my first electric guitar (Fender Telecaster Mexican) and I absolutely love it. Ever the gearhead, I really want to upgrade the pickups to get a better, tailored to me sound. I've searched around to find some kind of guide, but I have come up empty. I'm looking for a really clean, sharp and twangy sound with less extra noisy buzz than I am getting now. Any suggestions/resources?
posted by bakerwc1369 at 3:25 AM PST - 14 comments

Find a prank call -- someone referenced star-69

I need help finding a specific prank call. [More inside] [more inside]
posted by Ljubljana at 3:04 AM PST - 5 comments

Friends with Typos

Friends who write books: My question is simple. If a friend has had a book published (not their first by any means) by a well-known publisher and one notices several typos in the text, is it best not to mention them? Or is it polite to commiserate with said friend over the lack of thoroughness on the part of the publisher? I don't want to be rude, but I want to show that I really have read the book.
posted by different at 1:53 AM PST - 16 comments

December 9

Christmas Gift for Teenage Boy

Christmas gift for a boy aged 13 going on 18? [+] [more inside]
posted by TiredStarling at 11:57 PM PST - 6 comments

Should we use a 0% intro rate to pay off some old credit card debt?

We have about $4k of credit card debt (the shame), primarily from financing some appliances and car repairs when we moved. So we are considering getting one of those 0% intro credit cards to save on interest while we pay it down.
1. Are there any serious drawbacks to this?
2. Is there an objective review site of credit card companies, something like Amazon user rankings, perhaps?
posted by anonymous at 10:25 PM PST - 20 comments

Out Darn Spot!

It’s laundry day: After doing my second load of laundry, I discovered some not-so-tiny black spots on one of my favourite shirts, as well as many other items in the load. [mi] [more inside]
posted by genevieve at 9:18 PM PST - 7 comments

Mix tape suggestions

Any ideas for songs to put on the quintessential Music to Fuck To Mix?
(John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Barry White need not apply.)
posted by Lisa S at 9:14 PM PST - 44 comments

Car Trouble

After having my car stolen a few months ago, I finally found a car that looked promising: a 96 Mazda Protoge. I had it checked out at a garage who told me that it needed all new breaks which was OK and even checked to make sure the check engine light was functioning. I purchased the car yesterday (the 8th) for $2100 from a small dealer who buys cars at auctions and resells them. The car drives great until today (the 9th) when I'm driving home from work and the check engine light comes on. I have scantool run on it and find out that the mass air sensor circuit or somesuch has malfunctioned to the tune of $200. I bought the car with no warranty in Georgia, but I mean i haven't driven it hardly at all, this is the next day! Do I have any recourse or rights in this situation or am I completely screwed?
posted by untuckedshirts at 8:59 PM PST - 16 comments

no, seriously: Why is New York City called "The Big Apple"?

OK, this may be stupid, but I've asked this of many people before and I've never recieved a satisfactory answer. Why is New York City called "The Big Apple"? Best answer I've gotten so far is "Because it is rotten to the core"
posted by Eekacat at 8:42 PM PST - 10 comments

Universal "Now Save"-style autosave utility for OSX?

[Mac] Back in the System 7 days, Now Save (part of the defunct Now Utilities) allowed for configurable autosaving. Even though NowUtils was often a buggy nightmare, that autosave was such a handy feature, especially after a crash. Despite claims to the contrary, modern applications and OS X still do periodically crash and the unsaved work gets disappeared *groan*. Although a few applications offer their own autosave option, VersionTracker shows no sign that a universal utility exists for OS X. Any suggestions for a good substitute?
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 7:23 PM PST - 1 comment

Should I be worried about verifying with PayPal?

I'm buying some phone accessories from someone on a web forum, and he insists on my being PayPal verified. As someone who otherwise does no business with PayPal, should I be leery of becoming verified? It worries me a little as it involves me giving PayPal my banking information.
posted by Mercaptan at 6:42 PM PST - 16 comments

Php / MySql Question

Php / MySql question. [MI] [more inside]
posted by Scottk at 5:55 PM PST - 15 comments

Origin of the phrase "parts is parts"

"Parts is parts". Have you ever heard this phrase? I acquired a few bumper stickers from a thrift store on the Oregon coast with said phrase on it- I thought it was funny. It was packed in with stickers making fun of Reagan, Qaddafi, Khomeni, and so forth. It's got to be from something, doesn't it? Do you know what? [more inside]
posted by thethirdman at 5:41 PM PST - 11 comments

What's a good tape adapter for use in my car?

What's a good tape adapter for use in my car? I'm using it to listen to my Rio Karma MP3 player. My second adapter is dying, and I need a new one. Both times, the cable seemed to wear out where it meets the plug into the MP3 player. How can I avoid that?
posted by punishinglemur at 4:53 PM PST - 8 comments

Halo Tips

I am going to be participating in a Halo 2 Kill-A-Thon tomorrow night. I do not own an Xbox myself, so i don't get much practice time. I am getting better at Halo, but i still seem to be an easy target for experienced players. Are there some basic techniques that i should know or other tips that will help me be a little more of a threat and less of an easy mark?
posted by mudhouse at 4:15 PM PST - 19 comments

Finding a Contractor

How do I find a contractor for an unusual job? The members of my condo association want to look into enlarging the balconies on our building. Should I start at the 'A's in the General Contracting section of the yellow pages and work my way down?
posted by bonecrusher at 3:11 PM PST - 8 comments

Eau de toilette nomenclature

What is the difference between eau de toilette and cologne? More importantly, why is it called "toilet water"?
posted by borkingchikapa at 2:17 PM PST - 13 comments

Dishwasher Repair

What's wrong with my dishwasher? First this happened and then this. Now the dishwasher runs continuously but does not spray any water. I was so proud when I "fixed" the disposal, so help is greatly appreciated.
posted by Lola_G at 1:51 PM PST - 12 comments

Does navigating your city make you crazy? What do you do about it?

UrbanAngerFilter: Do you get angry just getting around your city? What do you do about it? [+] [more inside]
posted by LondonYank at 1:50 PM PST - 36 comments

Experience with small towns?

what is your experience with small towns? [mi] [more inside]
posted by GleepGlop at 1:34 PM PST - 33 comments

Is there a useful online mailing address search tool?

StalkerFilter: Is there a decent, useful address search tool available on-line? I'm working on sending out Christmas cards, and I don't have anybody's address. [MI] [more inside]
posted by junkbox at 1:20 PM PST - 5 comments

Can anyone recommend a good instructional video to learn acoustic guitar?

Can anyone recommend a good instructional video to learn acoustic guitar? [+] [more inside]
posted by DakotaPaul at 1:18 PM PST - 10 comments

Streaming DVDs

Let's say I want store DVDs on my hard drive, and access them. I don't need the extras, just the movies/tv shows that are on there. Is there a piece of media access hardware that will (1) pull from ISOs of DVDs on another computer networked, or (2) allow me to stream video I rip from a DVD, and what software would I use to rip said DVD to a usable file. All legal DVDs and all that.
posted by benjh at 12:57 PM PST - 11 comments

Name This SciFi Movie

A society of averages is the norm. Students who raise above a C get a gadget/headband to wear that reduces their brainpower to producing only C level thought. One student continues to excel, despite being given a very juiced up band. He attacks the norm by taking over a radio station and playing "radical music." What in the world is the name of this movie??
posted by striker at 12:52 PM PST - 13 comments

Dutch Ovens

Etymology of the phrase "Dutch oven." (Stop giggling. The culinary sense, please.) I have a partial answer but am in need of authoratative confirmation. [more inside]
posted by stuart_s at 12:32 PM PST - 19 comments

What is this movie about an ex-military man against a police force, surviving a fire by hiding in a metal box?

Can anyone identify a movie for me? I saw it on television (it could have been on a movie channel), probably in the early 80s. The portion I remember had to do with a guy holed up in a house (or other building). [MI] [more inside]
posted by bucko at 12:23 PM PST - 11 comments

sez away from home in NYC

Where can you have sex (together, as a couple) in NYC when you can't do it at your place? In our case, it's hard to get wild when the babysitter is taking care of our baby daughter in the other room. We don't want to pay $150 for a hotel room when all we need is a couple of hours. What are our alternatives?
posted by anonymous at 12:08 PM PST - 17 comments

Easy Book Scanning

Book scanning. I don't like carrying around several pounds of college textbooks with me when I have a perfectly good laptop. I want to create really nice scans of my books, preferably in PDF so I can search through them and bookmark them. I don't want to rip open the bindings. Google looks like they have the ability to make nice scans. There are countless articles on robotic book scanning, and places to send in your books for PDF conversion. I need to be able to do this at home. Buying a scanner and using that is too laborious (scan, preview, adjust, save, flip page, start over, convert to PDF). [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 12:06 PM PST - 14 comments

Straterra and ADHD

Straterra and ADHD. My 13 year old son has just been diagnosed with ADHD and the dr. is recommending Straterra. Does anyone have any experience with young adolescents and Straterra, especially side effects, good, bad experiences? Any helpful hints on young adolescents and ADHD in general? Thanks.
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:56 AM PST - 15 comments

Skiing with Kids

What's your experience skiing with children? I'm planning to take my class of fifth graders to the local ski area in February, a grand fieldtrip indeed, and a first for me as a teacher. As I compose the parent-letter this afternoon, I'm wondering if AskMe readers have any tips, advice, etc. for making such an experience comprehensible to non-skiing parents and, moreover, thoroughly enjoyable for a crew of non-skiing 10-11 year olds. [mi] [more inside]
posted by RockyChrysler at 11:50 AM PST - 19 comments

What would a post-blood transfusion DNA test show?

If I received a blood transfusion, and then went out and committed a crime, and got cut...is it possible that they would do DNA tests and get the donor's DNA?
posted by graventy at 11:48 AM PST - 15 comments

Letterhead design inspiration

I am designing new letterhead for a small tech company. Does anybody know of any websites that show current/cool letterhead designs from which I can steal ideas? (Hey at least I'm honest). (8.5x11 inch)
posted by punkfloyd at 11:42 AM PST - 5 comments

Online selling to Europe from the US?

(E)URO-COMMERCE filter - i run a mail order business and web site and entertain fantasies of doing the same in europe. does anyone have any knowledge of the shipping/postage/tax/duties situation for inter-european shipping? are there examples of companies who serve europe the way small e-tailers are able to server the whole US via UPS or thhe US mail?
posted by subpixel at 11:16 AM PST - 7 comments

Can you excuse an artist "selling out"?

Inspired by this Ask(ed)Me further down the page: If an artist "sells out" a song to advertise a product, but uses the profits for charity or good works, is it excusable? Does it depend on the product? Do we all just ignore commercials anyway (since we're such enlightened, non-materialistic intellectual MeFites)? Let's say you're a financially and artistically successful artist: What's your price, if you have one?
posted by Shane at 11:13 AM PST - 22 comments

Richard Pryor Movie

Sometime in the middle of his career, Richard Pryor appeared in a movie that featured a giant middle finger on the back of his car. Anyone remember which movie that was? [more inside]
posted by jeremy at 10:58 AM PST - 6 comments

Any relaxation tips for dentalphobes going to the dentist?

Any relaxation tips for dentalphobes going to the dentist? I've tried them all, and I'm still the most tense, problematic, patience-testing patient at my dentist's office. I hate to be like this to dentists and I hate to scare myself out of revisits. So how do I overcome my fear and relax?
posted by mathowie at 10:55 AM PST - 24 comments

Do the police ever use the reality shows' footage to catch people who break the law on TV?

I've noticed that people on reality shows do stupid illegal things sometimes. However when they show this on tv, police never seem to be nearby and they never get caught. However do the police ever use the reality shows' footage as evidence to catch these people? [slighty MI] [more inside]
posted by EvilKenji at 10:54 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm shopping for in-ear headphones for use with a new iPod.

I'm shopping for in-ear headphones for use with a new iPod. Recommendations? Reviews? [MI] [more inside]
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 10:22 AM PST - 22 comments

SkypeOut for Mac?

SkypeFilter: Does anybody know if SkypeOut (PC to phone VoIP) is available with Skype for Mac?
posted by rubin421 at 10:14 AM PST - 5 comments

Specifying what we expect in an internet tech consulting agreement

I'm trying to build a consulting agreement for a internet technology research and development project. The deliverables are basically a functional spec and an architecture proposal. Does anyone have any experience with this type of engagement? How did you measure the quality on the deliverable? Where do you draw the line between what's acceptable work, and what's not?
posted by lilboo at 10:10 AM PST - 3 comments

Free service to spider a website and return a comprehensive site map?

Any personal suggestions for a free service that would spider a website and return a comprehensive site map? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by fijiwriter at 9:21 AM PST - 4 comments

Could a gay person from the US seek asylum?

This got me to thinking: Could a gay person/couple from the US seek asylum in another country (Canada, Sweden, etc) due to persecution/lack of civil liberties/some other reason?
posted by j at 9:12 AM PST - 13 comments

I need a low-end digital voice recorder!

Please help me purchase a reasonably priced, low-end digital voice recorder [m.i.] [more inside]
posted by naxosaxur at 8:42 AM PST - 8 comments

Selling Jewelry in TX

What would be the best way for a person to sell their antique and really rather pretty jewelry in Texas? Looking at ebay, the prices tend to be quite low and pawn shops are even lower.
posted by Mossy at 8:41 AM PST - 8 comments

The most egregious use of a song in a commercial/movie/tv series?

(1) what do you think is the most egregious use of a song in a commercial/movie/tv series, i.e., Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open the Door" during a commercial for J.C. Penney's, and (2) take a product and think of the worst possible song that could be used in an advertisement for it.
posted by lola at 8:26 AM PST - 72 comments

Get Me The Usual

How does one gain "regular" status, with all the duties and privileges associated, at a bar quickly? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:03 AM PST - 43 comments

Stretching Shoes

Is it possible to stretch canvas shoes? Just a little? More inside. [more inside]
posted by Shane at 7:53 AM PST - 10 comments

Name that ancient Roman passage

Help me rediscover a passage from an Ancient Roman writer. [let's go] [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 6:43 AM PST - 7 comments

Best Philosphy Departments for Ph.D study in the US or UK?

Which would you consider to be (or have heard to be) the best philosophy departments (for a Ph.D. tentatively on "Husserl, Time and Love") in the U.S. or the U.K. in a pleasant, interesting, social and cultural environment? [More inside.] [more inside]
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:14 AM PST - 22 comments

December 8

High Blood Pressure

I just found out my blood pressure is 160/100, and i'm only 21. I'm really scared, and I was told to stop putting salt on the foods I eat. Problem is, I don't add salt to things. I quit smoking today and I have been lapsing in my excersize but now I am out of excuses. Is this enough to reduce my blood pressure to a healthy level?
posted by anonymous at 11:23 PM PST - 19 comments

Blood pressure meds

Does anyone else notice a decrease in motivation and/or analytical ability when taking high blood pressure medication such as Hyzaar or Lisinopril? I seem to have bursts of productivity shortly after I run out of pills.
posted by anonymous at 11:23 PM PST - 10 comments

What is the plural of "presence"?

What is the plural of "presence?" [more inside]
posted by werty at 10:55 PM PST - 15 comments

Can letter-writers actually save tv shows?

Short question: has a letter-writing campaign ever saved a TV show? [mi] [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 9:49 PM PST - 36 comments

Telecommuting Team

Three continents, five time zones, fifteen+ developers, one million lines of code. What are the best tools to create a functional team in the age of telecommuting, home offices, outsourcing, cultural differences and twenty hours of time differential. [MI] [more inside]
posted by PissOnYourParade at 9:20 PM PST - 12 comments

Should I communicate to other that I have ADHD? If so, how?

I've just been diagnosed with Adult ADHD. (No, this isn't the person who inquired earlier, although it inspired me to get it checked.) I'm going to be getting therapy to get better, but I wanted to know how you would view a person who admitted he had ADHD to you? It's apparent to me now that I've messed up a lot of things in my life because of it (Failing out of college, frequent job changes, crappy social life). I want to be able to say, "Hey, I messed up because of this, but I'm changing for the better." If you were an employer or even a guy/girl I was asking out, would you accept this as an excuse for my prior mistakes? Should I even mention it at all?
posted by anonymous at 9:08 PM PST - 24 comments

Out of Africa

EvolutionFilter: Regarding the out-of-africa theory and skin color. [mi] [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 9:02 PM PST - 17 comments

How Can I Mirror Webpages?

I'm looking for an easy, automated, web-based way to mirror webpages. [a little more inside] [more inside]
posted by puke & cry at 8:47 PM PST - 4 comments

How will old credit cards affect my otherwise excellent credit score?

Credit Reports. I've just received mine from the big three via MyFICO.com. I've got above average scores (750+), but I see a bunch of old credit cards that may or may not affect my score. You see, I'm getting my finances in order to go home loan shopping for the first time. What's steps should I be taking to make loan officers like me?
posted by RobbyB at 8:36 PM PST - 11 comments

Looking for an anecdote to do with Fahrenheit 9/11's release

I'm looking for an anecdote I read around the time of Fahrenheit 9/11's release. It was about a young woman who is confronted in the queue for F9/11 after she lights up her cigarette. I believe it was from a Livejournal, and I think I saw it somewhere on MeFi, but damned if I can find it. [caveated inside] [more inside]
posted by Evstar at 8:32 PM PST - 4 comments

Can you recognize this book cover?

Here's a challenge. Anyone happen to recognize the book whose cover is partially revealed/shown here? I think it looks like Ralph Nader. My friend thinks it's Al Pacino. But neither panned out. Ideas?
posted by beingdaddy at 8:19 PM PST - 8 comments

Vector-Based PDF or High-Resolution Raster Image of DFW Airport Terminal Map?

Does anyone know where I can find a nice map of the DFW airport terminal? Preferably a vector based PDF. If not a high res raster image would be fantastic. [more inside]
posted by the biscuit man at 8:04 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for more art along the lines of Celia Calle's, but perhaps with more defined lines.

I'm looking for more art along the lines of Celia Calle's, but perhaps with more defined lines. I know there has been some great stuff posted on MeFi before, but I have no idea how to search for it.
posted by borkingchikapa at 6:48 PM PST - 1 comment

importing email to OSX

MailFilter: I've got a stack of old email stuff that dates back from when I used Outlook in OS9. I want to import it into an OS X mail client. Everything I've tried so far isn't working. [+] [more inside]
posted by Len at 5:32 PM PST - 6 comments

Need either 240V only or bicurious with 110V CD Clock Radio in NYC or online.

Global citizen looking for either 240V only or bicurious with 110V CD Clock Radio in NYC or via online sites. O' Wise Ask MeFi, where do I find the perfect alarm clock to wake up with when in Bombay? I'm not yet desperate enough to make exceptions for 110V clocks in drag using a voltage convertor. [more inside]
posted by riffola at 4:59 PM PST - 6 comments

Is it bad to accept one job while holding out for another?

I am unemployed. I recently applied for 2 jobs. I'm much, much more interested in Job A. I will find out if I got Job B on Monday, while the application process for Job A will drag on until early March. Would it be unacceptable for me to accept Job B, while holding out for the potential of Job A? Job B is a full-time, junior position at popular website with a small, close-knit staff.
posted by anonymous at 4:58 PM PST - 22 comments

PayPal

PayPal Filter: I recently started using PayPal--the first transaction was my 'donation' to MeFi. Then I sold a book on eBay and had $77.00 paid to me through PayPal. I, foolishly I guess, left the money there thinking I'd use it to buy stuff down the road. But yesterday within three minutes someone 'paid' me $660 and then paid out $723 which effectively deleted my balance save 31-cents. PayPal seems not too surprised and waffled shamelessly when I asked how this happened and if I could get my money back. It seems to me eBay could afford to make good on transactions gone wrong by their unsecured system. [I've mailed in an affidavit as they required.] I need $77 a lot more (for Christmas) than eBay does and yet IF I get my money back it's not likely to be in time to buy presents this year. Any ideas, suggestions, pointers to finding a remedy?
posted by NorthCoastCafe at 4:55 PM PST - 15 comments

Looking for a local mover

So we're buying a house (cheap) in Pittsfield, Mass., and will be moving from Peekskill, NY sometime in January. We got an estimate from a Big Mover and it came to thousands and thousands of dollars. We'd love to use the kind of local guys with a truck, careful technique, and impeccable honesty that we used in NYC; does anybody happen to know such people in either city (or vicinity)? Because if we just throw darts at the Yellow Pages I know we're going to regret it.
posted by languagehat at 3:31 PM PST - 11 comments

Who offers perks for logo wear?

Does anyone work for (or know of) an employer who offers "credits" for good performance that can then be redeemed in the company e-store for logo wear? Any info is good info. Thanks!
posted by clever sheep at 2:45 PM PST - 10 comments

Pyrex and Broiling

Why are Pyrex dishes so unsafe to use under the broiler? [mi] [more inside]
posted by ChrisTN at 2:42 PM PST - 16 comments

Help me find this video

My memory fails me - there's a funny video that made the rounds online (including mefi) that was a fake industrial film for a device with a name like "interociter". It was loaded with all kinds of nonsensical technical terms. I'd appreciate it if someone could point me to it.
posted by O9scar at 2:36 PM PST - 5 comments

Does anyone have a link to or scan of an English translation of the poem "Le Dur Desire de Durer" by Paul Eluard?

Can anyone supply me with a link to, or scan of, an English translation of a poem by Paul Eluard? Specifically, "Le Dur Desire de Durer" ("The Dour Desire to Endure")? Merci/Thanks.
posted by stonerose at 2:24 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I replace Outlook?

I'm looking for a personal organizer program or web service or whatever to replace what I currently use Outlook for. (More inside.) [more inside]
posted by billybunny at 1:46 PM PST - 9 comments

Many Happy Returns

What's a good site that outlines basic information and tips for filing a U.S. income tax return for the individual? I know about the one on Yahoo, and I'm looking for something along those lines.
posted by orange swan at 1:35 PM PST - 3 comments

Do you buy local products?

Do you "Buy Local"? Is there a price point for your principles? {MI} [more inside]
posted by madajb at 1:27 PM PST - 23 comments

Mac and PC Videoconferencing

What's the best solution for videoconferencing between a Mac with iSight and a PC with an USB webcam? [more inside]
posted by rubin421 at 12:56 PM PST - 5 comments

Moving to London

LondonFilter: Thinking about moving to London. More inside. [more inside]
posted by eatcherry at 12:33 PM PST - 30 comments

Using My Cast Iron Griddle

I have an electric stove with coil burners that heat very unevenly. I also have a Cast Iron Griddle. I am thinking of putting the griddle on the burner, and then cooking with other pots/pans on top of the griddle, which should heat fairly evenly. Is this going to cause any problems? Will it screw up either the griddle or the pan/pot on top of it?
posted by rorycberger at 12:20 PM PST - 12 comments

What Message Plays In Your Head, and Did You Choose It?

Do you have a mantra/motto/mission statement/internal worry stone? [M.I.] [more inside]
posted by katie at 12:13 PM PST - 81 comments

Staying Friends With an Ex

ExFilter: I recently (approximately 5 months ago) initiated a breakup with a guy who now lives in another city. We are still in touch and I hope to stay friends with him. I also recently (approximately 4.99 months ago) started dating another guy; that whole situation is going amazingly well and I am going on vacation with him soon. I have told the ex about the vacation but not about the company and definitely not about the dating. I am sure that he would be upset.
The question: is full disclosure (about the timing and everything) required if I want to consider myself friends with the ex? Even if it might make us not friends anymore? How about partial disclosure, not including the timing, or not including the intensity of the new relationship? I don't like feeling like I'm lying, but I don't think I actually am lying at this point, I'm just omitting information. Obviously partial disclosure would be lying. But is it justified lying? (Is there such a thing?)
posted by anonymous at 11:55 AM PST - 45 comments

Tall Houseplant Recommendations

recommendations, please, for tall houseplants that need little watering (we're sometimes away for a week or two), like the warmth (summer is warm, winter has central heating), and don't mind the shade (in summer there are blinds outside to keep the temperature down)? someone just recommended ficus alli to us, yet they are described on that page as "sun loving" - what's right? also, once bought, do we need to repot them into something larger? if so, what soil do we need? anything else plant-clueless people should know? thanks! [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke at 11:50 AM PST - 12 comments

Interfaith Holiday

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching as we all know. My fiancee is Muslim, and we have always celebrated religious holidays separately. This year, I would like him to be a part of the family celebration. For my family it is more of a family bonding time (and become more of an American Tradition) than a religious event. If I'm correct, the celebration of Christmas is for the birth of Jesus. From what my fiancee has told me of Muslims, they believe in Jesus as a prophet, but have many differences in beliefs from Christians overall about who he was.

So would there be a debate between the two religions over the actual birth of Jesus (how he was conceived, is he the son of God....etc.) that would be conflicting for him to join us for dinner and this particular holiday itself? I want to be well informed when talking to him about it, and try to find a way to celebrate the holiday.
posted by Gooney at 11:23 AM PST - 20 comments

What is the name for the artwork on currency?

About a year ago, someone posted a wonderful link over in the blue that detailed a certain aspect in the design of paper currency, stock certificates, and the like... it had a specific name, but I can't recall what it is — so I can't google for the Mefi thread.

What do you call the geometric drawing comprised of very fine lines and lots of repetition — they look a lot like spiralgraph output — that adorns paper currency, stock certificates, and the like?
posted by silusGROK at 11:22 AM PST - 11 comments

Asian Cookbook for my daughter for Xmas?

I am wanting to purchase an Asian Cookbook for my daughter for Xmas, any suggestions
posted by slew at 10:52 AM PST - 17 comments

Anyone Online or Off Offering XBOX Freebies That Aren't Football/Top Spin?

Are any retailers (online or otherwise) offering any freebies with the purchase of a new Xbox system other than (or in addition to) NCAA Football 2005 and Top Spin?
posted by jjg at 10:43 AM PST - 4 comments

Image centering with CSS?

Following some googling, I've found a few sites that claim you can't use CSS to centre an image vertically within a div. Does this mean that I can't get the images on this page to float in the centre of their respective grey box? At the moment, they only seem to be postioned in the middle at the top of the box and even the middle bit is only because there is a text-align:center in there. (I don't mind If I have to lose the title of the image to get this to work)
posted by ralawrence at 10:24 AM PST - 13 comments

What happens to the props when the film production wraps?

What happens to movie props and costumes after production wraps up? Films that must have a huge amount of these things, like say, the Lord of the Rings films, make me wonder where it all goes.
posted by picea at 10:19 AM PST - 15 comments

Affordable, but cool places to live?

Affordable, but cool places to live as a career/lifestyle choice: If your work/career/next life project is portable, could you find a place where a two-bedroom apartment is $300 a month? Houses for under $50 grand? Cultural opportunities a resonable drive away? Would you do it this way? Why or why not? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by weston at 8:50 AM PST - 46 comments

What is the marketing strategy of games consoles?

I don't know anything about business or whatever, so Sony's strategy for the PS2 makes no sense to me. My girlfriend wants to get me a PS2 for Christmas, but every place we've called has basically told us the same thing: everyone's sold out because Sony is shorting store's orders in order to drive up demand. They did pretty much the same thing a few years ago when the PS2 launched. It didn't make any sense to me then, and doesn't make any sense to me now. What kind of business sense does this make? What's the point of driving up demand for a product that they don't supply? Are they trying to set up sales beyond Christmas? But even then, don't they just risk people getting pissed off and something from their competitor? [more inside]
posted by emptybowl at 8:14 AM PST - 16 comments

Hypnotized?

Has anyone ever been hypnotized? Obviously it works to some degree, but what is it like? Do you remember what you did afterwards?
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:00 AM PST - 24 comments

How do I burn music CD's using AAC files?

Waugh! (Pronounced the Snoopy way or the Evelyn way.) My iTunes will no longer burn AAC files onto CD. I've followed Fearless Leader's lead and de-DMRed all my Apple Music Store purchases with hymn, but I can't burn protected songs that have been hymned, protected songs that haven't been hymned or unprotected songs that used to be hymned. (I guess I didn't try an AAC rip since I mostly rip to mp3, so there's a missing data point.) When I go to burn a playlist, it deselects all the AAC tracks, although it will burn mp3s made from unprotected AAC files. Does anyone know what's up? Is there another Mac app for making audio CDs from AAC files? I'm not much of an audiofile, but don't want to go through the quality loss of converting 128 kbps AAC to 128 kbps mp3 for all these songs.
posted by blueshammer at 6:26 AM PST - 3 comments

Programs Emphasizing GRE over GPA?

Grad School help for a (formerly, academically) poor student. I have an abysmal undergraduate GPA... very, very poor (2.064/4.0). I have a very high GRE (1430 quant/verbal). I'm looking for an interdisciplinary Humanities/Social Science hybrid sort of degree (lots of flexibility...) from a respectable school that will give the most leverage to the GRE. Additional info: Undergrad degree is in Geography, (AB, 2002), relevant work experience is virtually nil, social service/portfolio is just OK (can be padded). In summary, is there a resource that will spell out for me the programs that emphasize GRE (preferably to the exclusion of all others)? Many thanks.
posted by anonymous at 1:01 AM PST - 13 comments

December 7

Color Blindness

Paging all color blind users! I'm curious about the fact that some dichromats and anomolous trichromats can live through a large portion of their adult lives without realizing that they're color blind. When did you first recognize that you were color blind? Does the world look different to you now than it did then? Before you were diagnosed, did you use different words ('red' and 'green') to refer to perceptually similar colors? In general, I'm hoping to get the lowdown on the subjective experience of being color blind.
posted by painquale at 11:58 PM PST - 27 comments

A Literary Tour de Force

ClicheFilter: What's the deal with literary reviews and the phrase "tour de force"? Why do even great writer-reviewers continue to use this worn-out phrase? Is this some sort of big inside joke?
posted by vacapinta at 10:05 PM PST - 17 comments

Tips, recommendations, suggestions for a trip to Prague?

TravelFilter. Need tips, recommendations, suggestions for a trip to Prague. [more inside]
posted by swank6 at 8:53 PM PST - 23 comments

I would like to record a weekly two hour radio show onto my computer.

I would like to record a weekly two hour radio show onto my computer. (More Inside) [more inside]
posted by Apoch at 8:30 PM PST - 8 comments

Holiday "Family Adoption" - Which is Better, Money or Buying Gifts Off Request List?

Our office adopts a family and we're suppose to either give money or buy them items on the list they give us. They use the money collected to buy anything on the list that hasn't been bought. My question, is it better to donate money or buy things from the list? I'm going to spend the same amount of money either way, and I'd like to make what money I give work best. I know the HR department, and the women who run the program go out and buy the items at the end, it is not some faceless charity. They indicate no preference either way. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 8:10 PM PST - 13 comments

Pedantryfilter; subtopic, latin abbreviations

Pedantryfilter; subtopic, latin abbreviations: I've always been confused about the difference between op. cit. and its usage vs. loc. cit. and its usage. Is there an easy rule to remember a) the distinction of meanings between the two, and b) when one ought to use the one instead of the other?
posted by .kobayashi. at 6:50 PM PST - 11 comments

Facial Products for Men

MetrosexualFilter: Seeking gift recommendations on medium to high end facial products for men, particularly a good exfoliating scrub and maybe shaving stuff. I go here for great reviews of stuff geared to women, but have no idea about men's lines.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:40 PM PST - 21 comments

Seattle is half-staffed

I noticed that flags were at half staff around my area today (Seattle). I haven't seen anything in the news about why. Anybody know why?
posted by Crackerbelly at 5:23 PM PST - 12 comments

Help me find a lightweight laptop for basic lab work

I'm looking for a light laptop (< 4lbs) to do basic work when at labs. cd/dvd a bonus (not required), hd > 10 Gb, RAM ideally >= 256 Mb, wireless inbuilt or pcmia slot. Budget ~$500. Extendable battery availability would be nice. Does anyone have any recommendations on good 2nd/3rd gen models?
posted by Mossy at 5:22 PM PST - 15 comments

What is good etiquette for expressing my condolences?

My professor's father just died. Normally I wouldn’t care, but I really like this prof and it’s a very small class where everyone knows each other. I would like to offer some condolence, especially since this happened right before the holidays, even if it is just a short email message. Would this be appropriate? What should I say / not say?
posted by fourstar at 5:14 PM PST - 37 comments

What jobs let you retain your title after you've moved on?

Other than President, Military titles, and Dr. What jobs let you retain your title after you've stopped being employed as such? I don't mean being referred to as 'Former such and such'. I mean actually keeping the title as part of one's name or formal address.
posted by pieoverdone at 4:28 PM PST - 19 comments

Display/Render problem with IE5 on a Mac

IE5 Mac bug (I think): A site I am working on looks fine on all platforms except IE 5.2 Mac. Basically, it adds space around [p] elements and inside [td] elements which shouldn't be there, and misinterprets selectors in baffling ways.
Is there a well known way to fix this kind of behavior other than saying 'to hell with it'?
posted by signal at 3:21 PM PST - 9 comments

Collaborative Programming

Can you give me your collaborative tool recommendations? I and a friend want to write a program together, but alas, we can't sit next to eachother in order the use the power of pair programming. Is there a tool that would allow us to develop in realtime?
posted by grefo at 2:40 PM PST - 7 comments

Help finding a cool Christmas gift for my wife

GiftFilter: With Christmas coming up, I'd like to do something cool and special for my wife but am having trouble figuring out what that cool and special thing is. Anyone have some cool ideas? [MI] [more inside]
posted by fenriq at 2:26 PM PST - 30 comments

First impressions; can I improve mine?

If you met me for the first time, you'd probably think: 'He looks a bit odd'. Long, pointy nose, droopy eyes, distinct lack of chin, tall and gangly, often look sad or tired when I'm actually not. Usually, I am very unself-conscious about it, but I am aware of it somewhere in the very back of my mind. When meeting someone for the first time (in a social or work context), I'll probably not think about it at all and just attempt the usual small talk (another weakness, but hey, that's another potential thread). But later, I might dwell on the fact that whoever this person was probably came away thinking the odd/ugly thing. I still have a healthy circle of friends and there's no long-term effect. But is there anything I can do to lessen the short-term odd-factor - dress better? Sparkle with wit and intelligence? Tell jokes? Not bothered about this romance-wise (married), just social- or work-wise. Male, by the way.
posted by anonymous at 1:48 PM PST - 32 comments

Coffee Roasters

CoffeeFilter redux as a follow up to the linked thread, who/what are the best coffee roasters? [more inside]
posted by Grod at 1:42 PM PST - 15 comments

Japanese resistance to the Hirohito regime during World War 2

I think we've just about all heard about the Japanese internment camps of WWII. While I'm mildly curious to know if any actual pro-Japanese/anti-American espionage rings were discovered through that process, I'm really curious to know if Japan experienced the inverse-- that is, whether there was any sort of pro-American underground in Japan attempting to thwart the country's progress in its war against the US. I saw a documentary a couple of years back, probably on the History Channel, discussing how Japan had seen a lot of western modernism creep in in the 20s and 30s that then led to a strong backlash and trend towards nationalism, which helped lead to Japan's involvement in WWII. It occurred to me that some of those pro-westerners must have been plenty annoyed with their country; did any of them act on that anger?
posted by kimota at 12:58 PM PST - 7 comments

Should I wear a suit to a pre-job interview testing session?

I will probably be taking a test to determine whether or not I will get an interview for a job. The test-taking will take place in the offices of the company where I'm interviewing. Should I wear a suit?
posted by kenko at 12:51 PM PST - 19 comments

Why, in the ASCII extended code, are there characters for one half and one quarter, but not one third?

Why, in the ASCII extended code, are there characters for one half and one quarter, but not one third?
posted by mfbridges at 12:30 PM PST - 11 comments

Dissertation Search

I'm looking for dissertations and theses on a particular subject. UMI's Digital Dissertations, which as far as I can tell is the largest central resource, won't allow me to search for anything before 2003. Do I have a good single source option apart from visiting a university library and using Web of Knowledge? Coverage at Google Scholar seems a bit scattershot, but maybe I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
posted by lbergstr at 11:44 AM PST - 9 comments

Recommend free website poll scripts.

I'd like to set up a simple poll (3 choices + show results) on a web site I maintain. I would like to host it on our server and pleasantly integrate it into the site (i.e. customisable css would be good). I've looked into some free poll scripts and reviewed the read me files but am dealing with things I know nothing about. Thoughts? Assistance [+]? [more inside]
posted by Dick Paris at 11:34 AM PST - 8 comments

Hobbies for a 12 year old?

I've got a twelve-year-old boy in my life whom I'd love to coax into a new hobby. He currently only enjoys video games and collecting Hot Wheels cars. I've considered things like r/c aircraft or rocket building, but either my budget or his mother won't allow it. I want him to learn to use his hands, and maybe get outside a little bit. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by jpoulos at 11:34 AM PST - 50 comments

Trying to find a copy of the Wine Handbook 2004.

I am trying to track down a used copy of the Wine Handbook 2004. It is distributed by the Adams Beverage Group, and I cannot find a copy on Ebay, in my local library or even the Library of Congress. Can anyone help me?
posted by Irontom at 11:32 AM PST - 4 comments

What's the best file format to save an Illustrator image to be placed in a Word PDF?

What is the best file format to output an outlined logo from Illustrator v.10. for use in a Word (2002) document that will ultimately be converted to PDF? When I save the logo as an .EPS (as suggested in a previous post) I get a jagged pixilated image in Word. When I export as a TIF I get that inefficient, non-vector, slightly bitmappy look even when done at 300dpi. I am using Windows 2000 and yes, Word must enter the equation.
posted by punkfloyd at 10:58 AM PST - 11 comments

New Book for My Spouse

Need help with a gift for my spouse. She likes to read memoirs (not biographies) focused on food and/or travel. She's mined this category heaviliy, so titles published this year are a plus.
posted by mojohand at 10:46 AM PST - 27 comments

I need an Australian wine glass vendor who carries this model and will ship to Brisbane

Australia shopping filter: I'm looking for wine glasses that look like these for a friend who lives in Australia. They are an Xmas gift, so I would like to find an Australian vendor who would ship it to Brisbane. My google-fu and yahoo-fu are failing me. Anybody have any ideas?
posted by ashbury at 10:20 AM PST - 5 comments

Automatic Bookmark Organizer

I have 300+ bookmarks in my web-browser which are either organised badly or not at all. Instead of spending hours re-categorising them manually, is there anything automatic that can help? (Browser of choice is Firefox, but happy to covert back and forth to IE's favourites format if necessary)
posted by ralawrence at 10:12 AM PST - 13 comments

The science of being gay

Are there any reliable resources/studies that address the issue of being gay? (MI) [more inside]
posted by repoman at 10:07 AM PST - 8 comments

How can I overcome my aversion to using telephones?

I have an irrational aversion to using the telephone, even in the most innocuous and impersonal of situations (like calling to find out if some place is open, if a store sells a certain thing, if a musical venue is selling tickets to a show in advance, etc). I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "fear", though I do get somewhat nervous when forced to use the phone in such circumstances, which makes it inconvenient and somewhat unpleasant for me when I have to use the phone for whatever reason. So how can I overcome my phone aversion?
posted by anonymous at 10:07 AM PST - 45 comments

Images quit refreshing using iSight / iBook / EvoCam.

An iSight / iBook / EvoCam question concerning non-refreshing images and possibly firewire power inside ... [more inside]
posted by terrapin at 9:52 AM PST - 3 comments

Flat Screen/LCD Recommendations

My Mom and I are looking to buy my Dad a nice, bright new flat/LCD monitor. Anyone have any recommendations? [+] [more inside]
posted by deafmute at 9:50 AM PST - 11 comments

In Word 2004 for OSX, how do I disable the AutoCorrect button?

Word 2004 for Mac OS X - Anyway to disable the AutoCorrect Smart Button that keeps popping up to obscure the text right where I'm looking/editing? I figured out how to disable to Paste Smart Button, but there doesn't seem to be anyway to make the AutoCorrect Smart Button vanish.
posted by willnot at 9:42 AM PST - 4 comments

Fluid behind the eardrum

Fluid behind the eardrum. Anything I can do about it? [More inside] [more inside]
posted by frenetic at 9:11 AM PST - 15 comments

removing bumper stickers

How difficult is it to get bumper stickers off cars? Are there any tricks? Do the stickers get more difficult to remove the longer they stay on?

I just bought a new car and am considering putting a low-key sticker on for a cause I support. However, I've never put a bumper sticker on a car before, nor have I had to remove one, so my decision on whether or not to do it will depend on how difficult it might be to remove it later.
posted by widdershins at 9:05 AM PST - 20 comments

Cafepress Art Books

I want to use cafepress to publish a small book of black and white illustrations, maybe about 100 pages. I'm concerned that their 100mb pdf limit will result in poor image quality. This is a personal project. Has anyone made an artbook through cafepress? Were you happy with the result?
posted by quibx at 8:14 AM PST - 15 comments

How do I sell old comics as a batch?

I'm trying to clear up some of my clutter by selling a couple of boxes of comics. There's no Action Comics #1 in the bunch, but several 1st issues and runs from the 70's and 80's, in mostly good condition. I'm currently cataloging them, but does anyone have suggestions of methods and/or a good place to sell them as a batch for cash or credit (so I can get bound reprints or graphic novels)?
Thanks in advance.
posted by jpburns at 8:14 AM PST - 13 comments

Are cheaper TVs deliberately displayed incorrectly in electronics stores?

Last night the Spousal Unit and I went to a large electronics store in an abortive attempt to buy a television. In looking at the walls of monitors, it seemed like the sets were not adjusted to display optimally--or even adequately. In fact, it seemed there was a subtle (or not so) rigging of set adjustment to favor more expensive sets. This question is to someone who has worked at one of these shops or their ilk: is it carelessness, or is it marketeering? [more inside]
posted by frykitty at 7:46 AM PST - 24 comments

How can you simulate a right click on Apple's one-button mouse on the PC?

OS X geekery: I've installed Synergy on the PC and PB on my desk. I'm using the PB as the server so I can use my wireless keyboard and mouse (Apple's) to control the input of both machines. However, I haven't found a way to simulate a right click on the PC (with the one-button mouse). Any thoughts?
posted by o2b at 7:37 AM PST - 9 comments

Is Sex and the City a good thing?

Is Sex and the City, or is it not, a worthwhile pastime? Is it an assault on the very essence of our human-ness, or does it teach women to be strong and independent in a man's world, or is it neither of these things and something else entirely? And finally, can a man who hates the show and a woman who loves it coexist in the same romantic relationship? Can they have amazing sex, at least?
posted by radiosig at 7:32 AM PST - 45 comments

Garbage Disposal/Dishwasher

Garbage disposal/dishwasher part deux. [mi] [more inside]
posted by Lola_G at 7:17 AM PST - 8 comments

How do I get permanent Now Playing info on iTunes for Windows?

As far as I can tell, iTunes (Windows) can put Now Playing info onscreen, but it goes away after 10 seconds. What am I missing? Is it possible to get the Now Playing info to stay on screen? Bonus points if I can get album artwork up there too.
posted by luser at 7:16 AM PST - 4 comments

Comprehensive Shakespeare Experience

I would like to see all 37 of Shakespears plays (unabridged), what is the easiest, cheapest, way to do this?
posted by phrontist at 6:22 AM PST - 21 comments

What's the best coffee-maker?

CoffeeFilter: The best automatic maker, straight up -- no double-teaming, grinding or frothing -- please?
posted by thinkpiece at 5:42 AM PST - 20 comments

Converting MPG files to DVD for TV viewing.

Converting mpg to dvd for viewing on my tv. More inside. [more inside]
posted by thebwit at 5:07 AM PST - 6 comments

Hiring in the UK

Can anyone suggest a good place to post a computer programmer/web developer job vacancy within the UK?
posted by adrianhon at 2:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Who is offended by "Happy Holidays"?

Ok, who is offended by "Happy Holidays" replacing "Merry Christmas"? If you are, could you please give reason why? I'm trying to understand the mentality here, and not celebrating Christmas myself (well, other than getting a federal holiday out of it) I can't see the reason why anyone would.
posted by pemdasi at 2:16 AM PST - 68 comments

Is Brain Respiration a hoax?

Is Brain Respiration yet another New Age-y hoax, or what? (+) [more inside]
posted by mono blanco at 1:00 AM PST - 8 comments

Referral Bonuses

Any metafiltarians work for companies in the bay area [monterey to sf] that pay you big fat $$$$ bonuses for referring new hires?
posted by th3ph17 at 12:12 AM PST - 6 comments

Renting Art Films in VHS

Torontonians: Where can you rent art films on VHS these days? Generally Bay St. Video covers all my rental needs, but they only rent DVDs now, which is great for movies that are available on DVD, but less great for those that aren't. (+) [more inside]
posted by SoftRain at 12:03 AM PST - 14 comments

December 6

What happened to the music group Nimbus? And where did they get one of their samples?

The Chillout 2000 compilation album has made me very curious about a group called Nimbus, as you can see from the link. Google searches turn up very little about them, and I'd like to know, what happened to them? The album is from the UK, if that helps.

I have a second question about one of the quotes Nimbus sampled. I will post it inside the thread, since the quote is long. [more inside]
posted by A dead Quaker at 11:54 PM PST - 4 comments

Should sparkling wine be stored on its side or its end?

WineFilter. We have acquired some champagne, the real deal. I always thought wine bottles should be laid on their side to keep the cork wet and sealed, but one of these bottles actually says on the label to store upright. What's best for sparkling wine? On its side, or on its end?
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 10:18 PM PST - 12 comments

More inside the inside!

WikiFilter: I'm looking for personal Wiki software. (The more, they say, shall be found inside....) [more inside]
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:51 PM PST - 7 comments

Abnormal pap smear and colonoscopy

HPV has been discussed a couple times here before, but I have a new question. A few months ago my pap smear came back abnormal, and soon I'm going in for a colposcopy. I tried doing some research on this, but internet resources weren't very detailed, and I don't know if I have a good doctor (I'm a student on an HMO). I'm wondering: how painful is the biopsy/LEEP they sometimes do after a colposcopy? How likely is it they'll even do a biopsy or LEEP if the test came back with a mild dysplasia? And how common is it for a woman to have to go back for colposcopies later in her life, if her first abnormal pap was at 22? Does the virus just usually go away, or does it get worse? Any OB-GYNs out there?
posted by anonymous at 9:08 PM PST - 9 comments

Music to sleep by

SpaceFilter: I know about space and cryosleep music to some degree. I listen to lots of interesting things at night, including ambient/space music, but I've yet to hear anything like sound effects in ST:TNG, etc. I don't want something "scary", if that makes any sense, or anything unpredictable. I also don't want obvious "white noise" - I am looking for ambient music with a definite positive or neutral tilt to it. I am also not overly interested in drone music... Any suggestions?
posted by arimathea at 8:28 PM PST - 16 comments

Recommend Some Magazines

While reading this thread I began, for obvious reasons, to consider expanding my media collection. I have plenty of books, but I have virtually no magazines around the house. As I looked over potential subscriptions I realized that I know almost nothing about the world of magazines (outside of what I have learned from my dentist's waiting room). Do any of you have any recommendations?
posted by aburd at 8:25 PM PST - 59 comments

Apple Memory Upgrades

A long-time PC user, I am planning to switch to Apple, replacing my centrino laptop by a 12" ibook G4 (I want a small computer).

Most of the standard Apple configurations come with 256MB of RAM: is this because OSX needs less memory than XP (since most laptop configs today come with 512MB), or do I need to go for 512 (768?) megs?

I mainly use my computer to browse the web, send & receive e-mails, do some word processing, and manage my MP3, which I only store on my iPod.

Other question:
If I buy the computer at the local Apple Store (I'm in NYC), I'll only be able to get a memory upgrade, and not a hard disk upgrade. The laptop comes with a 30GB drive. For a Windows PC, I'd go for 60GB: should I do the same here? This would make me have to order it online, which is a bit of a problem (I'm not often at home...).
posted by rubin421 at 8:16 PM PST - 33 comments

Donating a Car

I'm going to get rid of my old car and I'd like to donate it, but google searches for anything remotely related seem to be gamed by just a couple organizations. If anyone knows of a Portland or Oregon based charity picking up and accepting cars, care to share them with me? I'm leaning towards charities that deal with health issues, animals, and teens (being areligious, I would lean toward secular charities).
posted by mathowie at 7:51 PM PST - 14 comments

PS2, GameCube, or XBox?

Well, the time appears to have finally come. With my kids starting to cross over the 10 threshold I am on the verge of caving in on the gaming console issue. As a kid who wanted an Atari 2600 but got a TI-99/4a it took me a while to realize that gaming consoles are now pretty much part of the background recreation matrix/social experience of kids and not an extravagant extra. Anyway, they get good grades and I wound up working for a while as a game programmer and it did not kill me.

So parenting aside, I was wondering if anyone could suggest some good sources of information on the three major platforms (XBox, GameCube, PS2). The kids told me that their friends mostly have PS2s and that they like the GameCube, but I just want to make sure that, say, in February the next generation of platform hardware won't come out and they stop production of titles for what we get. FWIW their tastes are Backyard sports games, Civilization 3, and Hobbit/Harry Potter type games -- but they remind me that playing those and Zaxxon on the family PC do not a gaming system make. Oh, and there any must-have accessories that we should take care of up front? Cheers.
posted by cgk at 7:32 PM PST - 26 comments

Boing! Boing!

The paychecks from my employer are bouncing. I live hand to mouth. Does that qualify me for unemployment in California? If I walk away from the company, does that mean I have quit and I am ineligible? Or am I laid off and eligible for benefits? The CA website is next to useless, and the phone number is consistently "busy" with a pre-recorded message stating that due to the volume of claims and calls, we need to try and call back later. What would you do?
posted by anonymous at 7:15 PM PST - 11 comments

Cartoons for Christmas? Where do I find them?

I need help finding a Christmas gift. My girlfriend mentioned recently that she was a big fan of a particular type of cartoon and I'm having trouble finding out 1) what they are exactly, and 2) whether or not they're available for purchase.

The cartoons had a very 1950's feel to them, and the subject matter always dealt with a prediction of the future. Like a cartoony take on what life would be like in the year 2000 from the perspective of the 1950's. They usually played with the classic Looney Toons cartoons on Saturday mornings when I was a kid.

Not much to go on, I know. Any leads?
posted by paulrockNJ at 7:13 PM PST - 9 comments

Any recommendations on quality photo paper to use in a photo printer?

Any recommendations on quality photo paper to use in a photo printer? Is there any good reason to buy from the manufacturer? [more inside]
posted by donovan at 7:07 PM PST - 6 comments

Looking for online band community with MP3s

Back in the day, I used to like to go slink around mp3.com, pull down a couple of mp3s based on bands' stated influences, and then, maybe, buy an album or two. Is there any sort of reputable band community offering free mp3 downloads of unsigned or indy bands now that mp3.com is dead? I found IUMA and SoundClick, but they don't seem to be as solid as mp3.com was.
posted by socratic at 7:02 PM PST - 16 comments

WinAmp Normalization

WinAmpFilter: The constant variation between too loud and too quiet is killing me. Which WinAmp plug-ins for volume normalization do you recommend? Yes, I know iTunes does it well, but iTunes doesn't play nice when I have a couple of other programs open.
posted by LouMac at 6:37 PM PST - 7 comments

Work Phone

My consulting business has gotten busy enough (knock on wood) to warrant not using my personal cell phone number as the first line of communication. What I need is a service that creates a local phone number, has a customizable voicemail system that can fwd to my cell, office, whereever.

Is there such a thing, or should I just get a second cell phone?
posted by omidius at 6:26 PM PST - 10 comments

looking for the old "Typewriter" widget

AnnoyFilter? Believe it or not, I'm looking for a PC utility that should've gone the way of the MARQUEE tag and animated GIFs. I need to assign a short WAV sound effect to each and every keypress on my PC. If anyone remembers the old "Typewriter" widget on old Macs, that's what I'm looking for. Shareware sites show me stuff from 1998 that costs $19-29, but I'm hoping there's an easier way -- even, a way built into XP (maybe an Accessibility tweak)?
posted by pzarquon at 5:11 PM PST - 11 comments

How can I keep my mouse moving without me?

My workplace has just instituted a system wide policy that locks machines after 5 minutes of inactivity, I monitor many machines, relogging in constantly is a pain. Does anyone know of a way to generate random mouse movements every minute or so or some other way of defeating this "security"?
posted by Cosine at 3:19 PM PST - 25 comments

Reporting recorded solicitation calls

If I've started to receive recorded solicitation calls on my cell phone, whom do I call to report this to?
posted by SpecialK at 3:12 PM PST - 5 comments

What are your favourite settings/formats for exporting short web-based videos?

What are your favourite settings/formats for exporting short web-based videos? [mi] [more inside]
posted by Monk at 2:48 PM PST - 3 comments

Customizing Win2K Menus

I want to customize my win2k context menus. Google found me this, which is great, but... [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin at 2:42 PM PST - 7 comments

Is replacing a bearing something that would be covered by my Hyundai's warranty?

I have a 99 Hyundai Sonata, that we purchased used from a Hyundai dealer. The remainder of the manufacturers warranty remains...and we purchased the extended warranty. I Took it to my friendly neighborhood repair shop to have the rotors replaced. They mentioned to me that we also might need to have a bearing replaced. Here's the question... if I take it to the dealer they want to charge me $75 just to look at it to tell me if it's covered by warranty. Does replacing the bearing sound like something that might be covered by my warranty?
posted by TuxHeDoh at 2:36 PM PST - 5 comments

PBS "On Tour"

Does anyone remember the PBS series "On Tour?" It was on late Saturday nights when I was in high school, and I remember it being sponsored by IBM. Each 60-minute program was composed entirely of different rock bands doing live performances (usually at very large venues). It was usually one or two songs per band. There was an occasional interview with a roadie, but otherwise it was all music. The show's page has been "retired" from PBS.org. Did these shows ever get put on VHS or DVD?
posted by rxrfrx at 2:20 PM PST - 1 comment

Similes

Is there a word for the literary concept of "a simile that uses paradox to exaggerate a comparison"? Similes like "quiet as a rolling sea", "soft as nails", "smart as a brick" [+] [more inside]
posted by deshead at 2:09 PM PST - 18 comments

Great Apes

A Planet Where Ask.Me Evolved From Mefi?! As many of you know, there are great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutangs, and (according to many) humans) and lesser apes, meaning gibbons.

If almost all of the apes out there are great apes, why on earth do people bother referring to them specifically as great apes? It seems to me that gibbons are the ones that aren't great apes, it would make sense to refer to the great apes as "apes" and gibbons as "lesser apes", or possibly "small apes".
posted by Captain_Tenille at 1:49 PM PST - 6 comments

Is the Toshiba RDXS32 DVR/DVD defective?

This is going to be extreme narrowcasting, but: People have reported that the Toshiba RDXS32 DVR/DVD recorder has a serious flaw when making DVDs -- namely, the black level is too low and everything looks washed out, making the discs only playable on that particular machine. The unit is on sale from Amazon, which I take to be an inventory reduction, meaning that these are those flawed machines ... but other reviews say the problem didn't affect them, suggesting maybe the problem was fixed along the way. Anyone know for sure? Or, does anyone want to suggest another standalone DVR w/ HDD that competes with this one in features and price ($370)?
posted by blueshammer at 1:42 PM PST - 0 comments

Thunderbird RC1 setup?

Setting up news with Mozilla Thunderbird. My ISP uses giganews and requires login. How do I get it to work? Works fine with OE. Using Thunderbird RC1. [more inside]
posted by AstroGuy at 1:34 PM PST - 6 comments

Writers block: web burnout?

I used to consider myself a decent writer. It was one of those things that I did well. Over the last few years though I can hardly seem to link two cohesive sentences together. Those last few years also seem to coincide with my entrance into working on the web. Does anyone have any tips for learning how to write again? [more inside]
posted by trbrts at 1:25 PM PST - 15 comments

US Customs Trouble

A friend of mine had some trouble with US Customs after traveling through Europe. As it turns out, Lush soap may violate US drug laws. Customs evidently took her soap, tested it and showed it contained trace amounts of THC. She was detained for five hours, threatened with imprisonment and fined $500. So my question is thus: Is Lush in anyway liable if they are putting marijuana in their products without proper labeling? Is there anyway to appeal or contest the US Customs fine? Has anyone had a similar experience? [more inside]
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:09 PM PST - 27 comments

How do you solve a problem like cat diarrhea?

Kitty has diarrhea, and has had it for about four days. It it is now abating, but not completely gone. We (forcibly) gave her bismuth, but not for two days and it seems to be drying up on its own (from great pools of near-liquid to soft stools that probably wouldn't seem suspicious without the forerunners). She's otherwise completely normal and we seem more concerned about it than she.

Getting her to the vet is a PITA. Is there anything else OTC we can give her to speed up the correction before one of us takes time off, schedules an appointment and pays the vet for the priveledge of giving advice that I might get here?
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:07 PM PST - 20 comments

Is this Amazon zShop deal a scam?

Is there any i can rationally believe a way too good to be true deal from an Amazon zShop dealer?
posted by lips at 12:58 PM PST - 13 comments

Was there ever a mafia related parsley racket?

I keep telling this story about parsley and the mob- about wolf-owning mobster Un Occhio's feared parsley racket, which explains why parsley was a ubiquitous garnish for so long- that my parents told me, and swear by. Finally, my roommate called me on it. A little searching turned up a mere two mentions: an article by Jimmy Breslin, and an article about Jimmy Breslin, which mentions that Un Occhio was one of his charming fictional characters. I accept that I have been at least partially snookered. Still, was there ever a parsley racket?
posted by paul_smatatoes at 12:53 PM PST - 5 comments

A Year in Italy

So I want to take a year off after college and ideally go to Italy. Are there any programs where I could do some sort of work (anything) and make enough money to feed myself? [more inside]
posted by stopgap at 12:46 PM PST - 13 comments

How do I slow down sound playback without changing its pitch?

I'm looking for a software that will allow me to take a passage of music and slow it down but not change the pitch. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:37 PM PST - 13 comments

Who does the US Government borrow money from?

ForgottenEconLessonsFilter - When the US Gov't says that they are going to borrow more money to fund an initiative, what entity is doing the lending? What is there to keep them from refusing?
posted by grabbingsand at 12:35 PM PST - 8 comments

Lexis Nexis: Check the Matrix!

Can someone check Lexis Nexis to see if this case is real: Sofia Stewart vs Andy and Larry Wachowski, Joel Silver and Warner Brothers, United States District Court of California? Boing Boing says that the Matrix was stolen by the Wachowski Brothers from Sofia Stewart and they lost a court fight but the only source is a college newspaper! The only thing I found on Google was some guy saying that the details were on Lexis Nexis.
posted by exhilaration at 12:32 PM PST - 8 comments

Best PDA applications

Must-have PDA applications?
posted by skwm at 12:08 PM PST - 10 comments

garbage disposal fail

Yesterday, our garbage disposal died. Then we ran the dishwasher and the food from the sink started to flow into the dishwasher. We didn't realize the extent of the problem until it started cooking during the drying cycle.

Has this ever happened to you? Is it simply time to call the plumber?
posted by Lola_G at 12:03 PM PST - 13 comments

Editing a PDF

I want to edit/reformat a pdf document. I don't have Acrobat. ... [more inside]
posted by noether at 11:38 AM PST - 10 comments

Moved to take dream job, now how do I find new friends?

I'm loooonely. I moved to Panama City, Florida for my dream job. And I love the job - that's no issue at all. But as someone who likes to keep a certain distance from co-workers outside of work hours (I've seen co-workers get people fired for personal reasons before), and without a car to get around, I have no way offhand of making friends. This troubles me greatly - I'm an extroverted, social person and I'm not used to the lack of social contact.

And to make matters worse, no mefites live in my area! It all makes me want to cry. Bah.
posted by u.n. owen at 11:38 AM PST - 21 comments

How to stop drinking without AA

So, I need to stop drinking. I'm used to drinking 8-12 beers every night, more on the weekends, so this will be a significant lifestyle change for me. I'm not interested in AA and would prefer to do this on my own. Any Mefites been through this process? Insights?
posted by anonymous at 11:22 AM PST - 28 comments

What should I do for New Years?

What should I do for New Years? [+] [more inside]
posted by drezdn at 11:06 AM PST - 8 comments

How can I find a lost contact in Japan?

How would I go about looking for someone I've lost contact with who lives in Japan, when google fails me? [more inside]
posted by joelf at 10:59 AM PST - 9 comments

Italics etiquette for CD inserts?

PunctuationFilter: I'm writing the copy for a CD insert booklet in which the title of a book is mentioned. Typically, I'd italicize it, but the entire piece is already in italics. What's the standard here?
posted by plexiwatt at 10:57 AM PST - 18 comments

Wiring a Dishwasher

Electricity: I'm wiring up a new dishwasher with the power cord from the old dishwasher. Just to make things interesting, the power cord has absolutely no indication of which side is positive and which side is negative. Is this because it's AC and it doesn't matter? I'm in the US on 110.
posted by yerfatma at 10:04 AM PST - 14 comments

Friend with a Drinking and Driving Problem

[Social consciense filter]
I know, for a fact, that someone is drink driving EVERY DAY. Not just a few pints, but at LEAST 8pints and then driving home. Mostly it's a short, five minute drive, but sometimes it's longer distance. I have tried to talk to him and get him to stop - to walk to the pub. His brother has tried to talk to him. He just won't. He is also diabetic, so the drink has adverse effects on his sugar levels, which makes him more dangerous. He can't even walk properly when he gets home, so goodness knows how he can drive. The problem is, this person is a relative - and he's given me somewhere to live when I had nowhere.

I just don't know what to do. Would you inform someone? Or would you keep quiet? I don't particularly WANT to 'rat' on him, but what happens if he hits someone, and I know I could have stopped it? What would you do?
posted by anonymous at 8:42 AM PST - 40 comments

A Grate Problem

I hate box graters. [MI] [more inside]
posted by frykitty at 8:34 AM PST - 25 comments

New Homes for 2 Cats

If you had two cats that you couldn't keep anymore, and your friends and relations all politely refused to take them, what would you do next? They're perfectly nice cats, but we are moving and they can't come with us for reasons that are too involved to go into.
posted by vraxoin at 8:12 AM PST - 45 comments

Exotic tea suggestions?

My aunt is really into tea, so I'd like to find some exotic tea to get her for Christmas. Last year I got her this, and she loved it. Anyone have any suggestions for a some nice unusual tea to get her this year?
posted by emptybowl at 8:11 AM PST - 26 comments

Cubicles = Sick?

I'm battling my third head cold this year, which is really rare for me. Usually I have one cold per year, maybe two. This is also the first full year I've had the pleasure of working in a cube farm. I'm wondering, is there a correlation between working in cubicles and the spread of diseases? Does anyone have any information to back up this theory?
posted by knave at 7:48 AM PST - 15 comments

US States List puzzle

Does anyone remember the US States List puzzle? Was it ever resolved? (More inside, thank you please.) [more inside]
posted by kev23f at 7:47 AM PST - 4 comments

What's the best Bengals bar in Chicago?

WhoDeyFilter: I'm in Chicago, on the northside. My buddy is visiting from Cincinnati this weekend, and I want to take him to a bar on Sunday to watch the Bengals' game (our CBS affiliate is showing "Showstopper American Dance" instead). There are lots of bars that have NFL Sunday Ticket, but I want to make it an experience and find a place that is Bengals-specific. There must be one. What is it called and where is it? And I thank you. [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 7:43 AM PST - 3 comments

Ladies: what do you look for in a guy's apartment? What would you hate to find?

Ladies of MeFi: You find yourself in a guys apartment. What do you look for, notice, or pay special attention to? Is there anything you look for that can cause an automatic, "I want nothing to do with this guy ever again!"? [more inside]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 6:51 AM PST - 124 comments

What were your favorite albums of 2004?

What were your favorite albums of 2004? The critics will be releasing their lists soon and I'm curious what Metafilter liked. [more inside]
posted by driveler at 6:21 AM PST - 85 comments

Is there publicly available actionscript which browses a hard disk from a flash page?

Browsing the hard disk from a flash webpage.
a) is it possible?
(I know it is - i've seen a component that does it. But i want the actionscript that does it)
b) help
(i just need some pointers - tutorials, actionscript snippets and so on) [more inside]
posted by FidelDonson at 3:18 AM PST - 14 comments

Great American Dream Machine nostalgia

Do any of you remember a PBS show, late 60's early 70's called The Great American Dream Machine? The last show had a segment about FBI involvement in bombings and fires on university campuses,presumably to justify on campus investigations by the FBI. By the next week this show was canceled. A very early leak of what later became COINTELPRO.
It was a favorite of mine,any one here remember it?
posted by hortense at 2:23 AM PST - 9 comments

December 5

Where to find acetate packaging material in NYC?

does anyone in the nyc area know where i might acquire retail quality acetate packaging or material to produce packaging? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by c at 11:49 PM PST - 5 comments

What Does "Jopogo" Mean?

Does the word "jopogo" mean something in other languages? A quick search shows a few pages in Czech, but the Babelfish doesn't give me any translation for it. Just wondering.
posted by brownpau at 9:56 PM PST - 9 comments

Why does everything have an aura when I look at it?

In good light, when I look at a blank white sheet of paper the edge of the right looks like RGB colors seperating. Red, then yellow, then the white sheet itself. If I look at the left edge, it appears slightly blue. What is wrong with me?
posted by Keyser Soze at 9:40 PM PST - 12 comments

Help me pick out juju beads for my Buddhist friend

A friend of mine is a fairly recent Buddhist convert, and his birthday is coming up. I (at least like to pretend to) know about Buddhism, so I thought of getting him some juju beads, which he doesn't have yet. What would be an appropriate style/shape/number/anything for juju beads?
posted by anarcation at 9:35 PM PST - 7 comments

Office Party Etiquette

I have just been asked to a female friends office Christmas party...If I was in High School and this was the prom, I'd have a corsage for her...any etiquette for a date to an event like this? Its a dressy-business-casual dinner...
posted by keep it tight at 9:15 PM PST - 10 comments

Streaming Japanese Radio

I'm looking for streaming Japanese-language talk or news radio. Specifically, I'm looking for a live feed rather than short clips (the latter of which I seem to find tons of), and preferably low-bandwidth audio-only rather than video. I don't read Japanese, so searching is difficult.
posted by tirade at 8:31 PM PST - 3 comments

What could be causing these drywall cracks?

Hairline cracks in my house. I bought a new home last year, and it's barely over a year old now, but we've noticed 3-4 hairline cracks (like this one, which is just above a sliding glass door) around a couple of the windows on the downstairs level. I've lived in a lot of old homes featuring cracks and figured that it was mostly normal house settling and we could easily patch the drywall when it comes time to sell, but my partner thinks it's a big deal and may point to problems with the foundation or construction. So I have two questions: 1) Should we be concerned? 2) If so, who exactly do you call to "fix" it or get to the bottom of it?
posted by mathowie at 8:23 PM PST - 28 comments

What was this movie?

I'm trying to find the title of a movie about a child dying of cancer who's father gives him a wish (More inside) [more inside]
posted by lucien at 7:56 PM PST - 4 comments

How An Independent Contractor Can Collect on Half-Paid or Late-Paid Bills from Clients?

CollectionsFilter: I am an independent contractor. I work with small, emerging technology companies. Recently, one company paid me late, the other has not paid me in full - how do I collect?

I am getting legal and collections advice, and am evaluating my options. In the future, I'll be more diligent about accepting 'interesting' work only after doing a full credit report and getting references. Independent MetaMembers - how have you solved collections issues in the past? Share your stories and solutions, TIA
posted by anonymous at 7:53 PM PST - 4 comments

Is there a Canadian company that will broker my DIRECTV account?

I am a Canadian resident who would like to subscribe to DIRECTV. This seems to be legal at the monent, and I have purchased a dish and receiver on eBay. Can anyone suggest a Canadian-based company that will broker my DIRECTV account? I understand that I will need to get a US address.
posted by anonymous at 7:53 PM PST - 3 comments

In the romantic realm, why people lead others on?

In the romantic realm, why people lead others on? [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:49 PM PST - 22 comments

Podcasts for Jaguars

I know it must exist, but I just can't find it: a Jaguar-compatible podcast receiver? [more inside]
posted by swift at 7:44 PM PST - 2 comments

Laptop Question

Another laptop question. [more inside]
posted by Juicylicious at 6:52 PM PST - 7 comments

What's the cheapest iChat-compatible camera available for OS X?

What's the cheapest iChat-compatible camera available for OS X?
posted by blueshammer at 6:42 PM PST - 7 comments

Online Book Publisher Wanted

I've almost completed a sort of tandem tag-team story written mostly while at work, where I'd write a paragraph, send it off to a friend, he'd write one, and so forth. Long story short - does anyone know of a company - possibly online? - that will take a text and make it into a small, pocket-sized book? Essentially, I want my crappy story to look like a real book without actually getting it published.
posted by ORthey at 6:34 PM PST - 4 comments

How do I get rid of cell phone interference in my computer speakers?

I know that the clicking coming from my computer speakers is probably cell phone interference. The question is, how do I get rid of it? [there is more, you know where]. [more inside]
posted by muddgirl at 6:27 PM PST - 13 comments

Have any MeFi technophiles tried one of the MSN Direct Smart Watches?

GadgetFilter: Have any MeFi technophiles tried one of the MSN Direct Smart Watches? If so, what were your impressions of the watch & the service? [SImoreDE] [more inside]
posted by Fourmyle at 5:48 PM PST - 5 comments

Why is Heinz 57 sauce so goldanged expensive?

CondimentFilter: Why is Heinz 57 sauce so goldanged expensive? I love the stuff, so I bought some last weekend. It was almost four bucks for a tiny bottle that barely got me through the weekend, much more than larger bottles of competing sauces. I checked the ingredients and din't see anything exotic to justify the price bump. Any clues?
posted by jonmc at 5:22 PM PST - 23 comments

Attractive and affordable sofabeds?

Sleeper sofas: Can anyone recommend a sofa bed solution that A) looks good and B) doesn't totally break the bank?
posted by o2b at 5:07 PM PST - 16 comments

If you live in Japn what is your take on the book "Dogs and Demons?"

Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Modern Japan. There seem to be quite number of MeFites who live (or have lived) in Japan, and I'm extremely curious about their take on this book, if they're read it. [more inside]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:55 PM PST - 4 comments

Levels of deviancy...

So I was looking at the dirty ads in the back of the weekly paper, and there was one for "different interests" including "BDSM, golden showers, young/old, and interracial." Are the latter two really on par with the former in terms of perceived deviancy? [more inside]
posted by dame at 4:49 PM PST - 24 comments

Does anybody know of any expansive polling of Canadians with respect to their feelings on foreign military intervention, particularily in Afghanistan?

Does anybody know of any expansive polling of Canadians with respect to their feelings on foreign military intervention, particularily in Afghanistan? Of course, the more detailed the better. If that's too specific, can anyone point me to general repositories of Canadian polling data that allow free access (if such places exist)? Thanks as always! [more inside]
posted by loquax at 2:13 PM PST - 3 comments

Physical Location to Buy 100-300 Cardboard CD Sleeves in Toronto?

Anyone know a place to buy cardboard CD sleeves cheap in Toronto? I used to buy from a place called Big Media Factory (10-30 cents each depending on qty) but they don't appear to be around anymore (web site is down and no one's answering the phone). I need them in small qty (100- 300). All the places I can find online only sell online. I need a place I can walk in as I need 'em Tuesday at the latest. And since the answers to the question will be so limited (due to my requirements), I'll open it up for future reference: where do you buy media sleeves/cases when you have time to have them shipped?
posted by dobbs at 11:51 AM PST - 7 comments

Online Calendars

As a follow-up to this question, I'm looking for an online application that will let me set up a calendar and will email me daily reminders of the day's events. I need to do this online, because I move around a lot and am constantly using different PCs (so an Outlook/Eudora/Etc. solution won't work). I would like to be able to get a reminder the night before and one the morning-of. Google suggests there are several such services. Are there any really good ones? Bonus: Has anyone invented one that will phone you or leave your a text message?
posted by grumblebee at 10:41 AM PST - 8 comments

Can I import some Coca-Cola Light?

NotQuitePepsiBlueFilter: Vacationing in Europe, I was surprised and pleased by the flavor of Coca-Cola Light, which is not made with the same formula as the rather dire-tasting American Diet Coke. The drink tastes pretty much the same as Coke's new C2, but instead of that soda's bizarre half-sugar, half-sweetener compromise, the European Coke Light does it with no sugar or calories. Why they don't sell this stuff in America is truly beyond me.

Thing is, I'd like to import some -- and while imports of other (slightly stiffer) European beverages are common, I can't find anywhere locally or on Google who will sell it to Americans. Then again, my EU language skills are lacking. Anywhere I can have a 12-pack of this stuff shipped to me?
posted by eschatfische at 8:59 AM PST - 27 comments

Spam, spam, spam

From the "...da hell?" department: I received this e-mail recently. Now, I live in Chicago, so I'm not too concerned about the warnings; but I'm wondering why in the world a spammer would send me this. [a little more inside] [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 8:51 AM PST - 26 comments

Drugs got back?

So, I have a drug screening to go to on Monday for a new job. My back started spasming Friday afternoon and not thinking as far ahead as Monday, I've taken 3 Tramadol for the pain over the course of the last 24 hours.
Am I screwed?
posted by kamylyon at 8:46 AM PST - 14 comments

Where can I find a "Bridget Jones' Diary" diary?

My daughter (18) is a great fan of Bridget Jones. On her Christmas list this year is 'a diary'. Putting 2 and 2 together, I have been searching for a Bridget Jones Diary er, Diary (if you see what I mean).

You know the kind of thing. Imagine a "Winnie the Pooh" Diary with pictures and information (as well as being a diary too). But with stuff from the Bridget Jones Film.

Can't find one anywhere. Have the marketing people missed this wonderful opportunity for Christmas and 2005?
posted by JtJ at 3:17 AM PST - 15 comments

The Incredibles

Let the Languagehat Signal shine upon the clouds of Gotham. Or Metropolisburg. [more inside]
posted by mwhybark at 12:34 AM PST - 23 comments

Where do I find US election results sorted by congressional district?

Is there any place where results for the recent US election are available, sorted by congressional district? This site doesn't seem to have them yet...anywhere else?
posted by Vidiot at 12:30 AM PST - 5 comments

Gmail Spam

I have taken specific care not to let my gmail address fall into the hands of anybody besides people I deal with in person- friends and family and such- and after several months of having this account be spam-free, today I finally got a few. How on earth do they find me?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:19 AM PST - 34 comments

December 4

Is there a place on the internet where movies are remixed?

Is there a place on the internet where movies are remixed, like the JarJarBeGone remix of _A Phantom Menace_, ostensibly to improve them (as opposed to simply shortening them)?

I can think of a number of films that would have been better with a little editing, a few flat spots taken out, etc. and I was just wondering if this has started to happen in an online community. I guess one example would be the 30-minute version of Planet of the Apes.

Of course, I wish someone had done the same thing with Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. Not a reader's digest condensed version, but perhaps an e-book that would warn me when a particularly long passage had no immediated relevance to the plot progression so I could come back to it later, perhaps. After almost 3,000 pages I'm exhausted!

I just like the idea of these sorts of remixes floating about but haven't found too many.

Thanks.
posted by mecran01 at 11:14 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I stop referrer log spam?

"Reffy is a Windows-based mass referrer spammer.... Reffy comes with a pre-generated list of 3047 active blog websites...." My blog is on that pre-generated list. These people are spamming my logs and filling my referrer page with crap. Paypal has, unsurprisingly, not responded to reports that they're being used to transfer money to spammers, and .htaccess deny blacklists are no good when your URL is being distributed to spammers all over the place. So, (1) how do I stop them, and (2) what legal recourse would I possibly have to get my cut of the money they're making by putting my website URL in their application?
posted by anonymous at 11:09 PM PST - 11 comments

Sleep in a Bra?

If I don't wear a bra to sleep, does this mean my breasts will start sagging at an earlier age?
posted by anonymous at 11:09 PM PST - 29 comments

Traffic Stop... and Go

I was recently driving and motioned by a police officer to pull over, and then told through my window to pull to the side, get out my license and registration. The officer was pulling over multiple cars, one after the other, for the same offense. I just drove off as the officer was motioning yet another car behind me. Am I in deep trouble, or is this not so bad? Should I avoid driving in the area for a few days, or is it all over?
posted by anonymous at 11:09 PM PST - 10 comments

Where can I buy a high-quality Godzilla suit?

Where can I buy a high-quality Godzilla suit? Bonus points for finding a miniature town for sale, suitable for stomping.
posted by Jairus at 9:21 PM PST - 18 comments

Explain da Massive, if you could help a brother out

I was watching da Ali G movie the other night, and the bit at the beginning where his "West Side Massive" faces off against the "East Side Massive" got me wondering: what the heck is a "massive"? I've heard the term used in similar contexts, but can't seem to Google or Wiki up any explanation. Respec!
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:42 PM PST - 9 comments

how to process poetry

How do you read books of poetry? [more inside]
posted by tomharpel at 7:33 PM PST - 14 comments

Where to find London air pollution reports

Does anyone know where one can access reports on air pollution in London as compared to Boston, Paris, NY etc?
posted by Mossy at 5:06 PM PST - 2 comments

How to make a ginger martini?

Have you ever made a ginger martini? How? Google isn't helping me.
posted by muckster at 5:00 PM PST - 11 comments

What do these stamps look like?

ok, this has been bothering me ever since I first started using THOMAS and saw these on the day's record: exactly what would an autism awareness stamp or a school safety awareness stamp look like?
posted by scrim at 4:15 PM PST - 3 comments

Cool Candleholders Wanted

Can anyone recommend candle holders that cast cool shadows?
posted by jeremias at 4:11 PM PST - 4 comments

Parking laws in NYC

parking meters and nyc. the law says 15 ft but lots of people park closer than that. is there a rule of thumb for this kind of thing? how close is too close? i live in brooklyn if that makes a difference.
posted by alkupe at 2:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Is the concept that 'the three (or bough, or branch) that does not bend with the wind gets snapped' a proverb shared across cultures?

QuoteFilter: is there a well-known phrasing of the concept that 'the three (or bough, or branch) that does not bend with the wind gets snapped'? I wouldn't be surprised if it's a proverb shared across many cultures.. it doesn't have to be limited to the three/wind metaphor. Bonus points for Latin or attributable quotes. [more inside]
posted by Firas at 2:51 PM PST - 8 comments

US drug testing - compliance, safety or morality?

Consider the following: As an American, you visit Amsterdam and partake of the (legal) local smokeable delicacies. You return to the States, apply for a job, and obviously fail the drug test. What happens? [more inside]
posted by Who_Am_I at 2:42 PM PST - 28 comments

I have a keyboard question. Is there a way in WinXP to change the definition of individual keys?

I have a keyboard question. Is there a way in WinXP to change the definition of individual keys? My new computer has a keyboard layout that is subtly different from the old one which results in a smaller space bar and as a result I regularly hit the Alt key by mistake which pops up a menu and often leads to loss of text I've typed. Is there anyway to change another key to Alt and make the Alt key give me a space?
posted by Doohickie at 2:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Sending Telegrams

I've discovered that you can still send telegrams. Has anyone done this recently? How did it go? What do received telegrams look like these days? Are there any services for this beside Western Union? Are they delivered with mail or do they still knock on the door and hand it to you? Do I have to send it from the internet, or can I do it from a post office?
posted by bubukaba at 1:51 PM PST - 12 comments

What software/hardware do you use in creating mashups?

What software/hardware do you use in creating mashups? [more inside]
posted by buriednexttoyou at 1:38 PM PST - 8 comments

What's so great about the U.S. constitution?

What's so great about the U.S. constitution? From a political science perspective, a legal perspective, a historical perspective? Non-USians without a written constitution especially invited to reply.
posted by insideout at 12:29 PM PST - 33 comments

Transfering to a European University

I'm currently a university student in the US, and I'm seriously considering to transferring to a uni overseas. I know all about study abroad programs, but my school isn't very good with them. What would be the cost for an American to go to school in, say, Germany? How hard is it to permanently transfer to a university in Western Europe?
posted by borkingchikapa at 12:07 PM PST - 8 comments

Should I turn on "Frame Bursting" and does Airport Extreme support it?

Is "Frame Bursting" worth turning on in my 11g wireless network? If so (and perhaps more importantly), does Apple's Airport Extreme card support it? [more inside]
posted by deliquescent at 11:58 AM PST - 7 comments

Eyeglasses for the Gym

Eyeglasses and working out. [more inside]
posted by bingo at 11:54 AM PST - 14 comments

Please help identify this Napolean Dynamite intro food item.

In the opening credits to Napoleon Dynamite, what is the brown thing-on-a-stick, served with peas, ketchup and peach slices?
posted by punilux at 11:29 AM PST - 21 comments

Advice on transferring 8mm film to digital video.

Transferring 8mm film to digital video advice (+) [more inside]
posted by squirrel at 10:39 AM PST - 10 comments

Second-hand Smoke Filter

FabricSoftenerFilter. Will using fabric softener reduce the tendency of my clothes to pick up particulate matter from secondhand smoke? I usually avoid the stuff since I'm told the extra chemicals aren't necessarily good for you, but neither is tobacco. Any tips on the relative effectiveness of fabric softener/dryer sheets/vinegar/a piece of aluminum foil appreciated.
posted by grouse at 9:58 AM PST - 4 comments

What's a good way of getting rid of ear hair?

I am starting to sprout ear hair and would like to know a good way of getting rid of it.
posted by DeepFriedTwinkies at 9:56 AM PST - 14 comments

Help with spam filtering

SpamFilterFilter: Like you, I hate spam. I put together a system to deal with it by forwarding my e-mails through multiple accounts. It seemed to work, but somehow I'm getting other people's spam now. How is this possible, and how do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by drpynchon at 8:44 AM PST - 11 comments

Default browser settings in Microsoft Office 2003?

How do I get hyperlinks in MS Office 2003 (SP1) to open in my default browser (Maxthon 1.1) rather than IE? I'm on WinXP SP2. Hyperlinks on the desktop or in other apps (e.g., Eudora) open correctly in Maxthon.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:28 AM PST - 7 comments

Is Reason and other programs making music production too easy?

I have a question that relates to the recent announcement about Reason 3. Reason is a intuitive and relatively simple (probably the easiest) software based music program. Is Reason and other programs making music production to easy? Has it been demystified? Coupled with the internet there is certainly a lot of electronic musicians nowadays.

I just have trouble when I think about it because I make music (with Reason) and I'd like to believe it's original and everything, but maybe it isn't.

I have a friend who makes short movies and he says that it has happened to movie making because of Final Cut and Premiere. But I can't imagine this is so because films are (or should be) complex and there are so many things that have to be done right.

Is the musician not special anymore? [more inside]
posted by Napierzaza at 8:01 AM PST - 27 comments

Tattoo opinions?

What are your views on tattoos and the people that have them, both professionally and socially?
posted by gastevens at 6:24 AM PST - 88 comments

WWII Movies

WWIIMovieFilter: I was talking to my grandfather, who was a paratrooper who particpated in the Normandy invasion, about war movies. He mentioned how unrealistic he found movies like Saving Private Ryan and that he had only ever seen one movie that he found truly illustrated the realities of his experience. [MI] [more inside]
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:24 AM PST - 10 comments

WW2 Prison Camp Movie With Audience Escaping Using Applause Box?

"Stalag 17" and "The Great Escape" are rerun constantly, but this was a WW2 prison camp movie I saw 20-odd years ago, and have never seen since. [more inside]
posted by TiredStarling at 1:06 AM PST - 10 comments

Finely-ruled writing journals?

Does anyone have any reliable sources for very finely ruled writing journals (not datebooks)? I have a person on my gift list for whom narrow-ruled is not fine enough. I would prefer they not have pictures on the cover or quotes at the top of each page -- just plain and finely ruled. (Is there a standard name for ruling below narrow-ruled?)
posted by ontic at 12:45 AM PST - 14 comments

December 3

Moving to Honolulu

I'm seriously thinking about moving to Honolulu in a few months. [omnidesire] [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:11 PM PST - 10 comments

Boycott an organization, or work within to change it?

Philosophical question regarding opposition: When is it appropriate to leave or boycott an organization when one disagrees with its policies, as opposed to actively working with or within the organization to change its policies to your liking? Recent posts regarding gay ministers and Boy Scouts make me wonder whether boycotting organizations is the best approach, or whether one should remain within an organization in an effort to reform it?
posted by Doohickie at 6:22 PM PST - 28 comments

Gimme your best Office prank ideas!

Office PrankFilter: it's payback time. I used to be the prankmaster in my office, but I've been had, twice now. It's time for Revenge Claus to visit, but I'm out of ideas. [MI] [more inside]
posted by moonbird at 6:20 PM PST - 40 comments

What companies do you actively support, and why?

What companies do you actively support, and why?
posted by sugarfish at 6:08 PM PST - 44 comments

mp3 issues

Why is it that recently some mp3s I try to play don't work? The time keeps advancing, but the visualizer doesn't move and I can't hear anything. It seems to be a recent development, and it's not with all mp3s.
posted by taumeson at 5:53 PM PST - 6 comments

How can I change the color of an old Game Boy Advance?

GirlyGameBoyFilter: How difficult would it be to paint an old-style Game Boy Advance-- pink? My 4 year old stepdaughter has been coveting her older siblings' Game Boys, but we weren't sure she'd actually be able to play it, or not break it, so we didn't think buying her a new one was very smart. However, my son (her stepbrother) got a new SP from his uncle for his birthday, meaning that his old-style GBA would be sitting around unplayed. He agreed to give up the old one. I'd like to give it to the 4 year old, but spiff it up to make it something uniquely hers, and feel less like a hand-me-down. The pinker, sparklier, more Hello Kittyfied I can make it, the better. I've tried googling, but what I found wasn't helpful. How does one do this?
posted by Shoeburyness at 5:50 PM PST - 14 comments

Cosmetic Gifts for a Teenager

Ladies, I'd like suggestions on what cosmetic items are essential and what brands would be appropriate for a 15-year old girl. I drew her gift card from the charity tree and I need help.
posted by JDC8 at 5:29 PM PST - 18 comments

Tobacco Odors

I am a smoker who works at home. Now that the cold weather is here there isn't much air circulation and I stink the place up good. Have you had any success eliminating tobacco odors short of buying an expensive air purifier?
posted by Cryptical Envelopment at 5:25 PM PST - 21 comments

What companies do you boycott, and why?

What companies do you boycott, and why?
posted by swift at 3:13 PM PST - 101 comments

Restroom Keys

Why do all the local medical clinics require a key to use the restroom? Is this practice widespread? [MI] [more inside]
posted by hendrixson at 2:16 PM PST - 7 comments

possible consequences of IBM's sale of its PC division for IBM owners?

Apropos of my earlier inquiry regarding a new laptop purchase, can anyone here fill me in on the possible consequences of IBM's sale of its PC division for IBM oweners? If I buy an IBM laptop now, am I setting myself up for possible doom as far as warranty coverage and tech support go? [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 1:59 PM PST - 5 comments

Did I co-sign my life away?

A cousin of mine, who I was very close with during childhood, has spent the last decade or so since high school in and out of prison, for drug-related offenses. A while back, after being out for a while, and working steadily, he decided that he wanted to go to college. I was the only person in the family with good enough credit to help him get a loan - if I didn't do this, he wouldn't be able to go to school. He spent a couple years in school, had to take out two more loans, and finally graduated. He has since decided not to pursue a career in the field that he studied, and I'm not exactly sure how he's making a living these days.

Earlier this year, I started getting letters from the loan people that they weren't being paid. After many phone calls and a lot of cajoling, we got him a deferment for a while, which ends this month, but I just pulled down a credit report, and now I have three huge black marks against my otherwise pristine credit rating. I guess I really had no idea what was being involved in being a co-signer to a loan like this. This is unbelievably stressful for me. So, my question is, in two parts: how screwed am I? Is there any way that can have these (rather significant, and probably ongoing) dings to my credit removed? If my worst fears are confirmed, and he continues not to pay, do I have any recourse? I am not in a position to be able to repay the loan myself, and the rest of the family has become eerily silent on the matter.
posted by majcher at 1:56 PM PST - 29 comments

Liposuction advice sought

I have been thinking lately about getting some kind of liposuction done on the assal/upper thigh region (to clarify, nothing drastic, probably only a few pounds if that much). What should I look for in terms of price, doctor's qualifications, safety issues, etc.?
posted by anonymous at 1:53 PM PST - 8 comments

Keeping the Cat

HomewreakerFilter: A neighbor of mine has a cat door that allows her two cats unrestricted access to the outdoor world. Unfortunately, these cats don't get along, so the smaller cat can often be found hiding somewhere in the neighborhood trying to avoid the larger, bullying cat.

Over the past two years, the sweet, smaller cat has developed a special relationship with my partner and I. What started as infrequent visits and little pats has turned into the cat staying at our place for a minimum 20 hours a day, only returning to his rightful owner when we leave the house (banishing the cat to the outdoors) for several hours at a time. The owner knows that her cat practically lives with us and has never come over to retrieve the cat.

Recently, the cat became ill and needed medical attention. I notified the owner and offered to take the cat to the vet or to assist in any way I could. She refused my offer and took the cat herself. The next day, the cat was back on our couch, happy to be "home".

Both my partner and I are madly in love with the cat, and the cat seems to be madly in love with us. We're moving in a couple of months and the idea of having to leave the cat behind makes my heart break. Should we approach the neighbor and try to get her to give the cat to us? Should we steal the cat? Should we be adults and realize the cat belongs to someone else?
posted by anonymous at 1:53 PM PST - 17 comments

What kind of radio show would you DJ?

CollegeRadioFilter: What kind of radio show would you DJ, given the opportunity? [more inside]
posted by rfordh at 1:26 PM PST - 28 comments

Does this raccoon need medical attention?

Raccoon in a dumpster. Girlfriend's place of employment has raccoons caught in the dumpster like clockwork every Friday (pickup is Thursday night and no amount of effort will get the company to latch it.) She usually puts a board in and lets them climb out at their leisure. One has been sleeping in the corner all day and won't move even when prodded. Is he just being nocturnal, or does he need medical attention? (Animal control hasn't returned her call and she's worried for him).
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:33 PM PST - 18 comments

Fin-de-Siecle Belgium

I want to learn as much as I can about life in fin-de-siècle Belgium as I can, particularly from primary sources, art, music, and literature. What would you all recommend?
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

Worth it to upgrade from Flash MX to MX2004?

Flash users... Do you think it was worth it to upgrade from Flash MX to MX2004?
posted by drezdn at 11:09 AM PST - 6 comments

What's a good Weiss beer similar to Franziskaner.

Beer Filter: My local beer store introduced me to, and then stopped carrying, Franziskaner. What's another good Weiss beer that I have a chance of finding here in New Hampshire (where we cater to the NASCAR taste range)? [more inside]
posted by yerfatma at 10:43 AM PST - 42 comments

2-person board games

FollowUpFilter: This question about board games elicited some great answers. I really need a good game for two players, however. My wife is a big backgammon and scrabble fan, and I'm looking for something else that we can play together. Any ideas are welcome.
posted by selfnoise at 10:36 AM PST - 36 comments

The Cream and the Clear

What exactly do the "cream" and the "clear" do? A cornerstone of both Giambi and Bonds testimony was that the "steroid" just didn't work, is it possible there is some truth to that?
posted by djacobs at 9:31 AM PST - 14 comments

How can I get a bottle of German liqueuer in America?

There's a wonderful liqueur that I'd like to buy as a gift, but it's only available from a distillery in Germany. I contacted the distillery, and with my somewhat limited German, was able to ask about shipment to the US. They can ship it, but don't accept payment via credit card, but rather "mit Rechnung." This I believe to be "by check," but I'm not sure. Has anyone had experience with this kind of transaction? Some German sites I saw which also require that kind of payment have forms that ask for a password. Is this an EU thing only?
posted by icetaco at 8:40 AM PST - 17 comments

Where can I get a Pez dispenser t-shirt?

Longshot Filter: On the VH1 show 'Totally Obsessed,' there was a brief clip about a guy who is totally obsessed with PEZ. In it, he was wearing a royal blue t-shirt with the rectangular body of a PEZ dispenser screened on to it in white, giving the appearance that his actual, human head was atop a PEZ dispenser. I would love to give this shirt as an xmas gift, but my best efforts at determining the source / origins of this shirt (Google, eBay) have failed.
posted by adamkempa at 8:17 AM PST - 5 comments

Is there a better vacuum than the Dyson?

[VaccumFilter] My Wife wants a new vacuum for Xmas. Namely, she wants that bright yellow $400 vacuum that you see on TV all the time. That seems a bit excessive to me for our small house. Tell me mefities, what's the best vacuum for the money? Is it worth repairing an old vaccum instead?
posted by quibx at 7:20 AM PST - 49 comments

What is the most amazing invention created in human history? And why?

In your opinion, what is the most awe-inspiring, amazing invention created in human history? And why?
posted by grefo at 7:20 AM PST - 72 comments

When does an envelope become mail?

When, for the purposes of US law, does an envelope become mail?
posted by kenko at 7:07 AM PST - 10 comments

Holiday gift giving games?

What kinds of holiday gift giving games do you play with your friends? [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by Caviar at 6:59 AM PST - 12 comments

what is the best calendar ever

It's coming up to the end of the year, the traditional time for getting a new calendar. How do you use your calendar, what do you look for in one and why? What's the best calendar ever? [mi] [more inside]
posted by ModestyBCatt at 6:54 AM PST - 12 comments

RealPlayer Alternatives

My mother wants to use realplayer to listen to streaming audio from her browser. After looking at the latest version of realplayer, what with the ads and spyware, I suspect that it would be best if she were to use something else that can read real files. I need something that's integrated into the browser. She's fairly intimidated by computers, so ease of use is essential. What would be the best player/codec/whatever for her?
posted by unreason at 6:40 AM PST - 10 comments

How to change my parents' computer-destroying habits

Okay, I have parents that aren't the most tech-savvy people in the world. And that's okay.

The problem is that every three to four weeks, like clockwork, they will completely destroy Windows. The first time, it was very interesting and peculiar, because my Mother with no technically experience, managed to cause Windows XP SP2 to hickup into an NT boot screen and continously restart. Now, this is about the sixth time and I'm a little concerned.

I can't be there to watch them twenty-four seven, and they always call after something terrible has happened. Now they have some worm on their computer which has disabled Norton Antivirus, disallowed access to the Add/Remove Programs, disallowed access to the Administrator Tools, doesn't appear as any thread or process and closes Internet Explorer only when they try and visit Yahoo! In the past, after previous system wipes, I've tried installing FireFox, AdAware, and other utilities to help them, but then they destroy Windows or corrupt the file-allocation table.

What can be done to change my parents behavior or habits when on the computer or browsing the web so they can better understand how not to maim/corrupt/destroy/accost their computer?
posted by Colloquial Collision at 4:21 AM PST - 42 comments

What are the differences between Eufor peacekeepers and NATO's?

From the BBC:
"EU force starts Bosnian mission"


"A ceremony in Bosnia-Hercegovina has marked the start of the European Union's largest-ever peacekeeping mission as it takes over from Nato.

A ceremony in Bosnia-Hercegovina has marked the start of the European Union's largest-ever peacekeeping mission as it takes over from Nato.

About 7,000 Eufor troops will be deployed across the country to maintain peace and stability, nine years after the Bosnian war ended.

Nato will keep a small base to deal with issues including military reform and tracking down war criminals." [end quote]

So what are the differences between Eufor peacekeepers and NATO's? Like, how are their respective forces raised, maintained, and commanded? How does either differ from UN peacekeepers? How is it decided which of these bodies of armed persons will become peacekeepers in any particular place? And where would I look for more info and/or what search terms would I throw at a search engine?
posted by davy at 12:03 AM PST - 8 comments

December 2

Ebay Scam?

I am selling a minor item on ebay and just received a question from a member with 100+ positive feedbacks. It's odd enough that I suspect a scam [mi] [more inside]
posted by hindmost at 10:57 PM PST - 27 comments

Electric Furnace Help

Electric Furnace Help My parents' furnace began acting funny tonight. (More Inside...) [more inside]
posted by mds35 at 8:42 PM PST - 6 comments

What songs uplift and inspire you?

Most hopeful songs out there? What uplifts and inspires?
posted by Mossy at 8:37 PM PST - 38 comments

Wonky Electricity

I'm sitting in my living room watch my dining room light turn on and off, dim and brighten, turn off again, then turn on. I know the house isn't haunted, but what is happening to my light? Should I be worried? [MI] [more inside]
posted by pwb503 at 8:02 PM PST - 13 comments

Just Friends

JustFriends filter: A thirtysomething female friend of mine in the throes of divorce meets a guy via the internet. She's *very* clear the whole time that she just wants friends and does not want a relationship in any way, shape or form besides friendship. She likes talking to the guy and says that he's got a great sense of humor, but she's not willing to go any further. From the emails I've been forwarded, it seems that his big head gets it but his little head thinks she's just coy. Any way for her to turn him into the friend she'd like him to be rather than having to beat his advances off all the time? [more inside]
posted by SpecialK at 7:43 PM PST - 30 comments

What do I do when I am attacked by a big dog?

I'm being attacked by a big, vicious dog; what do I do? [more inside]
posted by deafmute at 7:24 PM PST - 48 comments

What was this website with Christian propaganda about sex, creationism, and rock music?

I'm looking for a website that I stumbled upon once that had a series of online Christian propaganda comic books covering topics like teen sex, creationism, and the evils of rock music.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 7:19 PM PST - 10 comments

Pillows

NotAPepsiBlueFilter(IPromise):Has anyone had any experiences (good or bad) with memory, water, or non-standard pillows ? [MI] [more inside]
posted by PurplePorpoise at 7:03 PM PST - 22 comments

Fax spam

Middle of the night fax attempts are driving me mad! [more inside]
posted by Dreama at 5:52 PM PST - 12 comments

Should I keep my dust jackets?

Should I throw away the dust jackets from my hardcover books? [MI] [more inside]
posted by BradNelson at 5:24 PM PST - 36 comments

How to clear red marks left over after acne

I used to have pretty bad acne, and I still get it occasionally. My problem isn't really the acne itself, but the discoloration it leaves afterwards. I don't seem to have any really noticable scars, since my skin is smooth, but it looks mottled and ruddy. Is there any way I can make what's left over from a year or so ago fade faster? Is there anything I can do to make new breakouts leave less of a mark? What are some good products for evening out skin tone?
posted by anonymous at 4:57 PM PST - 21 comments

Bright Green Bathrobes

I didn't think this would be my first post, but I'm in a jam. I need half a dozen bright green bath robes and I need them by Tuesday. Not hunter, forest, sage or dark ... but a bright or kelly green, like the "Y" in Ebay. Preferably under $75 with shipping. I foolishly though (G/Fr)oogle would save me, easy. But these are harder to find than I thought.
posted by chemoboy at 4:57 PM PST - 12 comments

Scanning service for Blueprints (in Chicago)?

I have blueprints that I need scanned on to disc. (jpeg, tiff, something like that) Any ideas where to go? (In Chicagoland) [more inside]
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 4:08 PM PST - 11 comments

Pants on Fire

When you're a kid, adults tell you fantastic stories. Which ones did you believe?
posted by Len at 4:00 PM PST - 54 comments

Men's Shirt Selection and Care

GrowingUpFilter: In the middle of changing my look (as previous thread attests). I want to go slightly smarter, and have been buying some shirts lately. Quite expensive ones (for me, at least). Except, I can't figure out how to iron the damn things. Sleeves askew, collars curled. Should I get them laundered instead? Also, what exactly defines a good fit on a shirt? Should it look like a second skin? Where should it puff and billow?
posted by Jongo at 3:33 PM PST - 19 comments

The perfect magazine?

[MagazineFilter] Say, oh, you were to start your dream magazine, what would you fill it with? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by LongDrive at 3:33 PM PST - 33 comments

I want to self-publish a 40+ page chapbook; does anyone have experience self-publishing?

I am planning to self-publish a 40 some odd paged chapbook sized book, but with a certain degree of quality (not a zine) and with black and white photographs. Does anyone have any experience with particular vanity/self-publishing outfits to share? I've been all over the net reading advice and checking out companies, but it's a tough call.
posted by undule at 3:15 PM PST - 4 comments

Best fundraising ideas for a student organization?

My student organization has been asked to raise about $5000 by mid-April. Our balance at the end of the semester will be aprox. $900. Our fundraisers tend to be of the carwash, bake sale variety. Clearly, we need something more. [more inside]
posted by asnowballschance at 3:08 PM PST - 15 comments

CSS: vertical align within divs that won't break IE and is scalable.

CSS: vertical align within divs that won't break IE and is scalable. [mi] [more inside]
posted by cmyr at 2:49 PM PST - 13 comments

Who is the (French?) man who swallows and regurgitates items at will?

In around 1986/87 (+/- two years), I saw an edition of The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross (failed UK attempt to copy the Letterman chat show format). One of his guests that night was a freakish guy, possibly French, who swallowed things and then extracted them through his stomach. So, he'd swallow some string, then stick a skewer or something through his stomach wall, and hook out the string. Yes, it was that disgusting.
1. Was this real or an illusion? From what I can remember, there were close-ups and it didn't look like it was being faked.
2. Who was this man?
posted by humuhumu at 2:38 PM PST - 6 comments

Creative ways to block out noisy co-workers?

I am one of those beset by egregiously noisy office mates. I have succumbed to earphones (bless that invention!!) but I am wondering if folks have any other creative suggestions for blocking out the annoying co-workers.
posted by omphale27 at 1:43 PM PST - 22 comments

What is the best way to sell tickets to a performance at the Paris Opera?

Selling Parisian event tickets: I may end up with an extra set of tickets to the April 16th performance of Tristan & Isolde at the Paris Opera. If so, what would be the best way to go about selling them? eBay? Is there a Parisian version of Craigslist? (aside from paris.craigslist.com, which doesn't seem too trafficked..)
posted by agropyron at 1:13 PM PST - 5 comments

Who was this stand-up comedian?

Several years ago, about 1989-90, a friend of mine lent me a cassette featuring a stand-up comedian [more inside] [more inside]
posted by icontemplate at 12:11 PM PST - 14 comments

I Don't Love My Partner's Children as Much as My Own

Question for step-parents.
My significant other and I both have several children from other marriages. I truly love this person, and their children. But I don't love this person's children anywhere even close to how much I love mine. Just looking at my children breaks my heart, I can never get enough time with them. It's not like my significant other's children aren't great or I don't love them. But there is a big difference in how I love them, compared to my own. My children just don't seem to annoy me the way my significant other's do. Is this a relationship breaker? Does anyone have experience with this?
posted by anonymous at 12:05 PM PST - 8 comments

Compulsory Military Service

What countries have compulsory military service?
posted by malaprohibita at 12:00 PM PST - 28 comments

Seeking Alternative to KnowSpam (75,000 Spam; Supplemental to Spam Assassin)?

My Knowspam.net subscription expired, good riddance. The lack of updates to the system made it rather annoying to use for most of this past year. I got about 75k spam emails this past year including the ones Knowspam couldn't catch, and spam assassin on it's own is not enough. Is there a better alternative?
posted by riffola at 10:00 AM PST - 18 comments

Jazz music recommendations beyond Miles and Coltrane?

I want to get into Jazz music further than Miles and Coltrane (which I have been steadily listening to for the better part of a year). The problem is, I am not sure where to turn to next. Suggestions?
posted by Quartermass at 9:52 AM PST - 70 comments

How do I prevent my dog from literally eating any crap she can find?

DookieFilter:
This is a serious request for help. My dog is approaching a year old now and is fascinated with eating shit. Cat shit is her favorite but she's now pulling dirty diapers out of the trash and licking them clean.

Helath issues aside, this is so incredibly disgusting to me that I simply cannot take it anymore.

My question is: what can I do to stop her from eating crap and what can I do to stop her from wanting to eat crap? [more inside]
posted by fenriq at 9:42 AM PST - 27 comments

Good sci-fi/fantasy series?

Book recommendation (more inside unless you are moz in which case, you cannot look.) [more inside]
posted by sugarfish at 9:31 AM PST - 58 comments

Usenet connection issues in NYC

I'm having trouble getting on the Usenet server for Time Warner Cable in NYC... [more inside]
posted by skwm at 9:29 AM PST - 4 comments

Quitting ALL smoking

Giving up smoking. I've been moderately successful in quitting tobacco. But I have a real problem with cannabis. Several times, I've quit the cigarettes for 6 months only to be scuppered when someone offers me a joint, and soon I'm back smoking cigarettes again. I've tried pipes of pure dope (not satisfying and too quick), I've tried eating it (great fun but needs to be done ~2hrs in advance), I've tried "herbal smoking mixtures" (taste like bonfires, don't burn well). But nothing comes close to that nicotine fuelled joint experience. So am I really going to have to turn down every joint for the rest of my life?
posted by anonymous at 9:21 AM PST - 19 comments

Elevator noise in our condo

We just bought a condo in a 4 story apartment. The one downside is that it shares a wall with the elevator, and it makes quite a loud noise when it brakes (stopping at a floor), but not when it's in motion.
What would be the best solution? Is there one? Is it too costly to buy whatever part is needed to quiet that elevator and have a elevator professional fix it? As we are new, I'm loathe to ask the strata to impose a levy (also because it's probably only a problem for the 3 other people who share a wall with the lift).
posted by eurasian at 9:20 AM PST - 17 comments

Where to have custom photo jigsaw puzzles made?

I was interested in getting my dad a photo jigsaw puzzle (from a digital file...) for xmas, and wanted suggestions from folks who have actually done this. There are quite a few sites selling them, but I'm looking for a recommendation. The final puzzle should be 500-1000 pieces.

Thanks in advance.
posted by jpburns at 9:11 AM PST - 1 comment

With Firefox, how can I copy all the link URLs from a webpage at once?

I need a way to rip all the links off a site on one go, instead of this crappy click-click-click. My finger is achy, and I am here. I'm using Firefox. Someone please hope me, I'm lazy.
posted by FunkyHelix at 9:06 AM PST - 14 comments

Happy music is when you start shakin something automatically

I'm soliciting your recommendations for happy music. What gives you that carpe diem, joie de vivre, dancing-around-the-living-room-and-singing-into-a-rolled-up-magazine feeling? Suggestions for whole albums preferred to individual songs, but as long as we're doing this thread go ahead and suggest singles too for posterity's sake. [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 8:48 AM PST - 89 comments

How do I fix a DNS issue without administrative priveleges?

How do I fix a DNS problem if I am not the network administrator? [Inside for more, please] [more inside]
posted by willpie at 8:45 AM PST - 7 comments

My screensaver exits for no reason after several seconds.

My laptop screensaver exits after a random amount of time, for no apparent reason - usually after less than 1 minute. Anybody know of specific programs that run in the background that might be responsible? Searching Google gives me a ton of free screensavers, but no help finding out why they won't work. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs at 8:34 AM PST - 5 comments

Books with gay protagonists?

ProposedAlabamaBookBanFilter -- As mentioned in the Blue, there is a piece of legislation proposed by Alabama State Representative, Gerald Allen, that seeks to ban "novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural" from publically-funded schools and libraries. If Mr. Allen's bill survives committee and passes, I cringe to consider just which literary classics would disappear from the shelves of Alabama libraries. Which, if any, of your favorites will become suddenly verboten?
posted by grabbingsand at 8:07 AM PST - 34 comments

The Clash Bootleg Recommendations

I collect The Clash bootlegs. There are a lot of them out there. But they vary in quality. Does anyone have any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:11 AM PST - 9 comments

Dead printed circuit boards for London art project?

Where can my sister (in London) find or buy dead printed circuit boards for an art project? The larger the better, the cheaper the better, what they used to be doesn't matter.
posted by armoured-ant at 6:41 AM PST - 6 comments

Radiator Help

RadiatorFilter. I live in a student flat in the UK built in the last two years, that has a radiator with a large turning knob and a small dial on the end of the knob. How am I supposed to set it? [more inside]
posted by grouse at 5:37 AM PST - 12 comments

Are you forgetful?

Are you forgetful? If so, what do you do to remember things? MI [more inside]
posted by ashbury at 5:34 AM PST - 23 comments

How Do You (Verbally, Not Telephonically) Call to the Citizens of Lao's People Democratic Republic?

How do you call, in portuguese, to the citizens of Lao People's Democratic Republic?
posted by guictx at 12:38 AM PST - 8 comments

December 1

Pomona Students

I've just applied to Pomona, early decision. I'd love to go there, but I'm kind of clueless about what kind of student you have to be to get in (outstanding academically, just interesting, rich). Were you accepted to Pomona or another prestigious university, and if so, what kind of student were you?
posted by supercommon at 10:39 PM PST - 14 comments

Firefox update broke my themes and extensions.

I broke Firefox. (mi) [more inside]
posted by felix betachat at 10:03 PM PST - 6 comments

Who's your Benedict Arnold?

What constitutes treason in your country?
posted by Cryptical Envelopment at 9:49 PM PST - 21 comments

Securing open directories on a website

Securing a website: I just bought a domain and some web space. My immediate question is: how do I "close" my directories, so that everyone in the world can't browse them just by typing in the directory URL. My larger question is: what are the best practices for securing a website or a weblog? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by gd779 at 9:26 PM PST - 11 comments

Protection for a snowboard on an airplane?

I'm taking a snowboarding trip to Wyoming this winter break and I will be using a plane at least three times during this period. Naturally, I will be carrying a snowboard and all my other equipment on the plane. How should I go about protecting my board? Should I just use a soft case to protect from scratches or should I be more concerned? Also, are there any products anyone can specifically recommend?
posted by cyphill at 9:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Why can some people recall their childhoods and others can't?

fff asked a really good question about how children think. Many responders wrote that they have no memories from their childhoods. This freaks me out. I remember my childhood more vividly than my college years. I have a childhood friend who also has no memories from when she was a kid, which is really odd, because I remember all sorts of things we did together. Have there been any studies that shed light over why some people can recall their childhoods and others can't?
posted by grumblebee at 8:09 PM PST - 16 comments

When did they stop worshiping the Greek gods?

AncientHistoryFilter: When did the worship of the gods of the ancient Greeks - Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and so on - die out? (+) [more inside]
posted by ikkyu2 at 5:02 PM PST - 18 comments

Temp Work in NYC

I'm looking for short-term (nine months or less) work in the New York city area. Any ideas? [More, of course, is inside.] [more inside]
posted by UKnowForKids at 4:24 PM PST - 7 comments

Help me find a spirituality-focused group weblog

I've been out-googled and out-kinja'd: I once stumbled upon a great group weblog focused on general spirituality and consciousness. Like a fool, I didn't bookmark. No matter the search terms, or guessing the url, no dice. I remember it was bluish-purple themed. Any ideas or suggestions? (I've also tried all the usual suspects: Technorati, Blogstreet, Eatonweb, etc)
posted by moonbird at 4:21 PM PST - 4 comments

Can I sync my Palm Zire memos to my iBook?

I have a Palm Zire that I sync with my iBook. Calendar and To Dos sync with iCal and Address Books sync well, but I have to view my memos in the big bloated Palm Desktop. Is there an app for Mac to sync with Memos? Version Tracker has this but I have always disliked Stickies, and would prefer a nice little app with a list of my memos all in one place if such a thing exists. Suggestions?
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 4:11 PM PST - 1 comment

what white wine to cook a salmon filet

What type of white wine should I use for a recipe for salmon filet pouched in white wine, lemon juice and capers? Please recommend brands, what kind of taste it has, i.e., fruity, woodsy, etc., and price.
posted by =^. .^= at 3:34 PM PST - 20 comments

Anybody have any tips for managing oriental hair?

Anybody have any tips for managing oriental hair? [MI] [more inside]
posted by Jongo at 3:26 PM PST - 11 comments

How can I combine mp3s and deliver them via MMS with a web interface?

ServerSideResearchFilter: A friend, who is a prominent Australian comedic voice talent, would like to dynamically stitch together disparate mp3s through a web interface and convert the resulting mp3 to suitable delivery for mobile phone voicemail recordings via MMS. While i can conceptualise the web interace and preview mechanism through flash, I am clueless to how the backend would work.

So, what specific technolgies should i enquire into to make this dream a reality (i am aware this kind of application development would be pricey), and also, are there any sites that you know of doing this at the moment?
posted by elphTeq at 3:26 PM PST - 7 comments

Fancy Bras

I've finally undergone a proper bra fitting, and it turns out I'm a 40J. While this would be okay if I was happy just wearing old lady bras, I want to wear nice sexy bras too. Are there any places that sell fancy lingerie for the overly large-breasted women? (Bonus points for online and/or in the UK.)
posted by anonymous at 2:53 PM PST - 50 comments

What was the title of this furniture show?

There used to be this show on furniture refinishing and reupholstering hosted by two guys, which I watched maybe 5 years ago. I think it was on PBS, and it had a comedic vibe that had me watching it even though I have pretty much no interest in that stuff. One of the guys kind of had a pockmarked face and a ponytail and sounded like he smoked a lot, and the other had glasses and a big mop of curly hair and a sort of adenoidal voice. Anyone know what show I'm talking about? [more inside]
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 2:31 PM PST - 14 comments

Recommend a laptop

Despite my fear of unleashing a deluge or being castigated for not paying attention to previous posts, I would greatly appreciate some counsel with regard to an upcoming laptop purchase. Previous posts on this haven't addressed some of the issues that I'm juggling, so please bear with me. (More inside) [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 2:17 PM PST - 22 comments

Anybody ever heard of saprizo.com?

[scamfilter] Anybody ever heard of saprizo.com? [+] [more inside]
posted by codger at 2:10 PM PST - 15 comments

What on earth is going on in children's heads?

What on earth is going on in children's heads?

I have no memory of being a child, and certainly none of what sort of things I thought about when I was a kid. As an adult, I see kids do inexplicable things and wonder just how the heck they thought to say/do such strange things; and I see kids witness/experience things that they have no framework whatsoever for understanding.

What goes on in a kid's brain? Is it noise, is it long ponderings, is it blank, is it confused, etc. Any idea what "it sounds like" inside there? [more inside]
posted by five fresh fish at 1:39 PM PST - 62 comments

How do I work out my net pay?

I’m thinking about switching jobs, and I’m trying to figure out what my net pay would be, but I’m stumbling a bit… [MI] [more inside]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:11 PM PST - 15 comments

Looking for high-quality senate videos

I'm looking for high quality video from the senate floor. Is there some government run (public domain) archive containing this? When I called CSPAN looking for an hour of video, they told me it would cost about $150 to get a copy on VHS. An extensive search of google and discussion with my school librarian revealed no other sources for senate video other than CSPAN. Any ideas?
posted by zelphi at 12:34 PM PST - 2 comments

Sorting Snail Mail

SnailMailFilterFilter: Are there any failsafe rules to separate USPS junk mail from real mail (or vice versa) without opening it? I know I needn't worry about an ink SoBig virus, but I just hate being suckered into opening an important-looking envelope only to find another Visa/MC application. [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by klarck at 12:26 PM PST - 15 comments

Any experience with the PlusDeck, or other cassette-tape-to-computer solutions?

Has anyone used/known anyone who has used the PlusDeck? It's a device for putting sounds from cassette tapes onto your computer. I want to do this primarily as a sampling of sounds into a sound-editing program, and possibly as a way to record entire songs onto the computer. Any reviews? Any idea of the quality? I'm clueless here.
posted by agregoli at 11:44 AM PST - 10 comments

Need a site counter

I'm not in the technology business, so this may seem like a fairly simple-minded question. I've a client who claims their website receives a certain number of visitors (not hits, unique visitors) a month. Is there a way to validate this - a non-illegal/non-hacking way of counting what interest one website may generate without them knowing it? Perhaps a website like google or the like that provides this service?
posted by eatdonuts at 11:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Windfall!

My latest paycheck is for double the amount I'm supposed to be getting paid. I get paid by direct deposit, so the money is already in my account. What do I do?
posted by anonymous at 10:58 AM PST - 39 comments

Are native Hawaiians Native Americans?

When applying for college admission, are native Hawaiians considered native Americans?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:41 AM PST - 24 comments

Problem syncing Treo 600 with Mac

I have a Treo 600. I was using Mac OSX Palm HotSync to sync the phone, and started to have some problems here and there. Went ahead and set up Apple's Isync to handle the task, and now my Palm "To Do" list does not sync in the process. Anyone know what gives or how to get my "To Do" to sync via Isync?
posted by sharksandwich at 9:53 AM PST - 2 comments

Film related news and commentary blogs please.

What's a good online source, blog, magazine, mailing list or other, for film-related news and commentary? I already know where to find reviews, I'm looking for frequently-updated insider stuff: gossip, projects, trends, theory, etc. US-centered is good, but so is Europe, Japan, HK, etc. English or Spanish-language, please. Free is always appreciated.
posted by signal at 8:54 AM PST - 19 comments

Am I ADD?

I feel like my brain has stopped working and I'd like to get it fixed. A whole hell of a lot more inside. [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 8:37 AM PST - 48 comments

How well does that new silicone bakeware work?

CooksFilter: Has anyone tried that new silicone bakeware that's popping up everywhere? My mom found a good deal on it and is itching to give it to all the family bakers. I'm leery (bake-curious?) but don't see anything on Cooks Illustrated's site or anywhere else. Reviews, please!
posted by mimi at 8:22 AM PST - 18 comments

What's with the truck noise in Toronto today?

I'm in Toronto, currently just northeast of Queen's Park Crescent. Why have there been trucks blowing their horns outside my window for the past two hours? [more inside]
posted by DrJohnEvans at 7:44 AM PST - 13 comments

Should I keep an external hard drive permanently connected?

Hey, is it better to keep an external hard drive plugged into and constantly running, or is it safer (for archiving and the health of the drive, avoiding power failures that might otherwise zap an entire machine, etc) to only turn it on and connect it when you use it? Thanks as always for your thoughts.
posted by Peter H at 7:40 AM PST - 12 comments

What are the odds of finding 20 needles in 270 haystacks?

Suppose there are 20 objects hidden in a collection of 270 haystacks. What are your odds of searching 100 haystacks (assuming that if you choose to search a haystack with an object in it, you'll find that object) without finding an object? My discrete math skillz have eroded to the point where any attempt to work this out myself yields preposterous numbers..
posted by COBRA! at 7:40 AM PST - 30 comments

US Playstation games USSR

Is there a difference between US and European playstation games? I want to get games for my nephew and brother-in-law who live in Moscow but my sister says that games bought here (the US) will not play there. I have googled and asked at a bunch of stores and have gotten many different answers. Has anyone here had any experiences with this? [more inside]
posted by GrumpyMonkey at 7:18 AM PST - 7 comments

Going to Zanzibar

GayBoycottFilter: It looks like I'm going to be stopping in Zanzibar for vacation. In August they passed a law punishing sodomy the same as murder. Are there ways to go to a country and still make sure that money only goes to places where it can help?

Basically, since it looks like this is (rather unfortunately) inevitable, what's the best way to get through this with a somewhat clear concious?
posted by hummus at 6:49 AM PST - 12 comments

Random footage needed ....chinese things ...mexican things..

Random footage needed ....chinese things ...mexican things.. [more inside]
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:44 AM PST - 2 comments

Tracking down copyright owners

Tracking down copyright owners... [more inside] [more inside]
posted by cedar at 6:24 AM PST - 13 comments

Timing airline ticket purchase

AirlineFilter: Is it wise to wait until the last minute to buy plane tickets? Robocop and I will be flying to London at the end of February. I've been tracking plane ticket prices on and off for a couple of weeks, and am alarmed that they've been climbing steadily (and I've been looking at every discount ticket site out there). On the one hand, I'm thinking "buy now before they get more expensive," but I wonder if the prices will drop the closer it gets to our departure date. We're only going for a weekend, so our travel dates aren't very flexible, which may be part of the problem. Any advice from seasoned travellers?
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 6:11 AM PST - 15 comments

Sore Throat

Sore throat. Uh-oh. My throat started getting sore yesterday around 3. Professionally, I need to be able to speak for the next three days (as I'm instructing a class all day long.) I already drink *tons* of water when I speak. What other things can I do?
posted by filmgeek at 5:15 AM PST - 23 comments

How can I print from my Mac to a Windows network printer?

Can you advise on printing to a Windows PC printer from a Mac OSX machine, over a network? [more inside...] [more inside]
posted by skylar at 5:10 AM PST - 9 comments

Roll-up cigarettes: Do you use a filter?

Roll-up cigarettes: Do you use a filter? I'm just learning to add a filter to my roll-ups. It's a bit fiddly. And I'm wondering what your experiences with it are and whether it's worthwhile learning. I've been told that by adding a filter, the smoke will be less carcinogenic. To me, at least. Thanks for the input!
posted by timyang at 3:55 AM PST - 12 comments

Why are Christians opposed to heterosexual pre-marital sex?

Why are Christians opposed to heterosexual pre-marital sex. I can find some Paul diktats but is that the only problem?
posted by Pericles at 2:58 AM PST - 38 comments

Combination lock recommendations (small, please).

Is there such a thing as a good, small, combination lock? [mi] [more inside]
posted by mdeatherage at 2:09 AM PST - 10 comments

What to do with an old busted PowerBook G4

I have recently acquired a busted PowerBook G4 Titanium with the 15" LCD. I've determined the logic board is shot, so it's really not worth much to me. I've pulled out the interesting parts—hard drive for an external FireWire enclosure, AirPort card for eBay or a friend's iBook, battery—but I keep looking at this beautiful LCD.

Is there anything I can do with this, interesting-fun-hack-wise, instead of just selling it off for parts? I'm very handy with electronics and soldering and all, but I wouldn't know where to start on a project like this. Ideas?

And hey, happy Decemberween!
posted by symphonik at 12:34 AM PST - 11 comments

Preparing for TSA screenings

I'm flying in a few weeks, and I'm majorly worried by some of the stories I've been hearing about physical TSA screenings. There are certain ways I am not willing to consent to be touched by strangers, no matter what.

Do I have any recourse if I am singled out for a physical search of my person, other than not to fly at all? How can I prepare in advance for potential conflicts?
posted by croutonsupafreak at 12:13 AM PST - 24 comments