March 2005 Archives
March 31
mon oncle
Why are "aunt" and "uncle", emplyed in a nonfamilial sense, used as terms of endearment and honorifics in so many societies?
posted by deafmute at 10:21 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by deafmute at 10:21 PM PST - 17 comments
I should've named him Sparky.
Any tips for getting rid of static electricity in big, furry dogs? My Old English sheepdog is always rubbing against the couch and rolling around on the carpet. Every time I scratch him behind his ears, I get a slight jolt. I've tried rubbing down his favorite pillow with a Bounce sheet, but of course the static always comes back. Thanks to everyone in advance.
posted by invisible ink at 9:02 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by invisible ink at 9:02 PM PST - 5 comments
DJing with a laptop
I'm thinking about upgrading my laptop and use it for amateur DJ'ing in parties. What software and hardware do you guys recommend? Is the Indigo DJ PCMCIA soundcard a good choice or should I go with something external like the Hercules DJ Console?
The Most Awesome Movie Training Songs?
I'd like your help in compiling a workout mix-cd of the most Awesome Cheesily Inspirational songs from movie training sequences. Think "Eye of the Tiger"... or even better, "Hearts on Fire" from the Rocky IV training sequence. And quite possibly the apex: Joe Esposito's "You're the Best" from the Karate Kid. (YOU'RE THE BEST! AROOOUND!) Stuff where you can't help but start going, "Yeah! I'm going to totally train in this montage to kick that guy's ass!" Doesn't even have to be from a training montage, just have that 'feel.'
Vampire aliens from... heaven?
I've recently gotten very interested the science-fiction/horror-with-a-religious-tint genre. Can you think of any good books that could fit that description? [more inside]
Karaoklichés
What are the worst karaoke clichés? [more inside]
Commercial Leasing
Any commerical leasing people in the crowd? I'm about to lease office space for the first time, and I'm not sure how to go about it or what the lingo means. [more inside]
posted by SpecialK at 3:13 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by SpecialK at 3:13 PM PST - 5 comments
Speaker noises
Speakers. I have a new set of computer speaker. I'm really happy with them, except they make a loud popping noise anytime I or any of my neighbors turn off a light. (I live in an apartment building.) So I have two questions: Is this harmful to the speakers? Is there anything I can do to eliminate those noises?
Soccer or Football
Non-Americans: Having recently purchased FIFA Soccer 2005 here in the U.S. I was wondering if they reprint the cover to say FIFA Football 2005 for the rest of the globe (or if the American version is the reprint).
AIM blocking and spellchecking
Is there any program out there that will let me a) spellcheck AIM messages and B) show myself as being "Away" or even offline to only certain people on my buddy list?
Soda water and hydration?
It seems that soda water (i.e. water with bubbles) doesn't hydrate me very well at all, even when consumed in great quantities. This is true of club soda, seltzer water, and sparkling mineral water. Is it all in my head or is there a good scientific explanation of this?
DSL Data rates at office versus home
I've never completely understood why my work's Internet connection, which is supposedly "3 megabit DSL", seems so much faster, shared amongst many more users, than my home's "3 megabit DSL". What am I missing here?
What are good books to buy for a Clive Barker fan?
My brother's birthday is coming up and he has worn his copy of WeaveWorld by Clive Barker into pieces from constant re-reading. I want to buy him some similar books, could you recommend some similar books he might like? [more inside]
Honda Accord Hybrid
Is anyone out there driving the new Honda Accord Hybrid? If so, how do you like it? Is there a monster waiting list? I'm impressed by the design and the 39 MPG, which seems very high in these days of 15 MPG rollover prone SUVs...
Oh my god, it's Justin!!!!!
What gifts appeal to 13-year-old girls? [+] [more inside]
posted by aberrant at 1:44 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by aberrant at 1:44 PM PST - 29 comments
Best April Fool's Day jokes
That most hallowed of foolish holidays is upon us, minus one. So you've got time... What's the best April Fool's Day joke you've ever heard or been a part of? I need some ideas. [more inside]
What PC software to use to remove noise from a radio recording?
I record several NPR radio programs with my RadioSHARK and am happy with the process except for the vague background noise. What can I use to filter out the noise without the sizable investment in MY time? [more inside]
put him down before it gets worse?
Assuming my dog has a brain tumor, should I have him euthanized? (I found some good advice here, but it just wasn’t enough). [more inside]
Starting Sorority Products Website
I starting making some crafts to sell at a sorority store around campus, and realized there would be a pretty good online market, so I was wondering a good way to get in contact with product wholesalers to sell online? Any other web start up advice would be appreciated.
Also, annoying second question: Is it possible to pour your own pewter keychains? Each sorority has their own symbol (lyre, crown, arrow, kite, etc.) and I was wondering they would be possible to make.
Frozen dinner replacements?
Inspired by a post on the blue, I'm looking for recipes to replace frozen dinners. They have to be impossible to screw up and can't require any fresh ingredients. Frozen or pantry only. No involved prep allowed for the frozen stuff either. Ideas? [more inside]
Dining in Denver
I'm looking for a restaurant in the Denver area that will satisfy both meat eaters and vegetarians. I would like it to not be too pricey, but I'm willing to spend a bit more to get an epic meal. I would prefer to avoid Boulder, if at all possible. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Please DeLay my death
I would like to name to DeLay as my "Enduring Power of Attorney" in the event that I somehow reach the same state as Terri Schiavo. Would this hold any ground in court? Could he legally refuse the EPA?
How do you explain heartbreak?
What is the psychology/biology/(insert)-ology behind what we commonly refer to as "heartbreak?"
And I didn't see a single tentacle!
Do you love your alarm clock?
I dislike my alarm clock and I want a new one. I'm tired of sleeping too late because the power went out or I couldn't tell if the alarm was set for AM or PM. I'm tired of jumping out of my bed in the morning because the alarm decided to it's awful impression of "the ocean" instead of beep at me. But mostly, I'm tired of taking 5 minutes to set my alarm an hour earlier. Desired feature list and picky UI concerns inside. [more inside]
car repair diagnosis
How can I figure out what's leaking from my car? (And other maladies...) Does anyone know of a site -- like WebMD, but for cars -- where I can type in symptoms and narrow down what might be wrong with a car? I know that I can go to a mechanic, but sometimes the first question is whether it's even safe to drive the car to the mechanic. [more inside]
posted by xo at 10:02 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by xo at 10:02 AM PST - 10 comments
Is 128kbps AAC enough?
Do you think that 128kbps AAC files are good enough? [more inside]
Gay divorcee?
I am a gay man who recently broke up with my partner of 15 years. I am about to head off to my 20 year high school reunion. I haven't seen any of my classmates since graduation. How should I refer to myself? Divorced? Separated? [more inside]
posted by Futurehouse at 9:04 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by Futurehouse at 9:04 AM PST - 21 comments
Name that painting
Looking for information on a painting commonly seen on the walls of Mexican restaurants and sometimes sprayed on the hoods of low-riders. It is a scene of what I believe is an Aztec warrior holding a naked woman above his head. It might be a sacrifice scene.
What is the name and origin of this painting? Link to a picture would be appreciated. Muchas gracias.
Breaking the news to your ex(es).
What is the kindest way to tell an ex (or exes) that you've gotten married? [more inside]
posted by veronica sawyer at 8:42 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by veronica sawyer at 8:42 AM PST - 16 comments
Moving to SF.
I'm moving from NYC to SF in June, to take a job at UCSF. I'm a little daunted by the prospect of yet another transcontinental move, so I thought I'd just ask for general advice, as I'm not even sure I know the right questions to ask. What do you know that you think I ought to know about moving cross-country to SF? [more inside]
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:40 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:40 AM PST - 13 comments
What is the best way to procure red sox tickets?
I need to get four Red Sox tickets for a weekendish game in July. Anyone have experience with online vendors? Is it a rip off? Is one better than another? Comments and ticket acquisition suggestions are greatly appreciated. [more inside]
A Quiet Night in Vegas
CounterintuitiveFilter: Where can a guy read a book and get a good cup of coffee in Las Vegas, Nevada? [more inside]
posted by Saucy Intruder at 8:02 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by Saucy Intruder at 8:02 AM PST - 4 comments
Mac-to-PC File Names
I am trying to transfer a large number of files (mostly word documents and excel files) from older Macs (G3s and one '02 iMac) to a Windows Server 2003. The problem is that most of these files were created several years back on OS 9.x and have file names with characters the server does not to recognize as valid. This then stops the transfer of all files, shutting down the whole transfer.
Short of going through 1,000s of files one by one to check the names are valid or moving each file over one-by-one, what can I do? Does anyone have any suggestions or experience?
posted by jeffe at 7:52 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by jeffe at 7:52 AM PST - 7 comments
Layered Images and changing them with Javascript
Does anybody have an easy way in HTML (or CSS) to layer two images on top of each other, while maintaining the ability to switch the bottom image using a javascript event? [more inside]
posted by stovenator at 7:30 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by stovenator at 7:30 AM PST - 7 comments
Overnight trip from tokyo
I will have a few days free in tokyo and am looking for an interesting overnight trip, I am not so interested in getting a tourist ticket punched. [more inside]
I Can't Find My Favorite Deodorant
My favorite deodorant is Borotalco Deodorante, which is sold in Italy. I can't find it in the States and I can't seem to find it for sale on the internet either. I'm down to the bottom of my last can. Does anyone know where I can buy Borotalco?
Where to live in Seattle?
If I were to work in Bellevue, Washington, where would I want to live? We love where we currently live so we would want to replicate it as much as possible. [more inside]
Tire Blowout Risk
I nailed a pothole yesterday, and when I got back to my place, I noticed a sizeable bulge in the sidewall. Would I be OK to drive it for a few days? Whats my risk of blowout?
posted by Mach5 at 5:14 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by Mach5 at 5:14 AM PST - 16 comments
Music Theory/Chord Progression
Music Theory/Chord Progressions: Bm + F#7 + ???
I'm trying to compose my first song on a guitar; being unused to most chord progressions I need some help figuring out what the hell key I'm in and what progression I need to use. [more inside]
Fast file transfer between a mac and PC on a network?
I've got a mac and a PC sharing the same desk, both on a 802.11g network, but file transfer between the two is atrociously slow, like only a couple hundred kb/sec. Is there any way to transfer lots of data quickly between the two (like several Mb/sec)? A crossover ethernet cable between the two? USB? Firewire?
posted by mathowie at 12:47 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by mathowie at 12:47 AM PST - 12 comments
Reputable tax preparer in metro DC area
Does anyone know of a reputable tax preparer in the metro Washington, DC area? [more inside]
Minor Key
Does anyone have any favorite popular songs in a minor key that they can suggest to me? More Inside. [more inside]
posted by Slimemonster at 12:02 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by Slimemonster at 12:02 AM PST - 25 comments
March 30
Where to start for reading classic crime/noir fiction?
I'm a pretty dedicated reader, but one of the genres I haven't explored much is classic crime/noir fiction. (I do love James Ellroy, but that's about all I've read.) I know that the big guns are Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Jim Thompson. Any suggestions as to which titles to start with (The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man, and The Grifters all come to mind first, of course, because of the films), as well as other authors to consider? I'd also be happy to entertain suggestions of really high quality true crime, though my hunch is that In Cold Blood is probably unbeatable.
How Do I Empty Powerbook Trash?
My new Powerbook's harddrive is full (93 GB) so I tossed many huge DVD files. Now I can't empty the trash. How do I force it to empty the trash?
posted by Toolshed at 10:45 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by Toolshed at 10:45 PM PST - 8 comments
Help Save My Plants!
Some sort of mite is attacking my houseplants, tiny, tiny white specs all over the leaves, how do I stop them and save my plants?
How to count freckles.
I have many freckles. What's the best way to count them?
posted by swift at 10:33 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by swift at 10:33 PM PST - 21 comments
Baby gift for Wicca religion
I have been invited to a "baby presentation" for a Wicken friend. I asked what is customary to bring to it (as a gift), and she said "something that will help the child through this world and is spiritual in nature". Help! [more inside]
posted by 6:1 at 8:51 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by 6:1 at 8:51 PM PST - 18 comments
How do I turn a translated haiku into Japanese calligraphy?
How can I turn a translated haiku back into Japanese calligraphy for printing and framing? [more inside]
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:05 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:05 PM PST - 5 comments
Raleigh on a shoestring
RaleighFilter: I'm heading to Raleigh, NC for the summer. How do I find a sublet, and what should I do while I'm there? [more inside]
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Weddingfilter: Church ceremony from 2 to 3pm; reception starting at 7pm, less than a half hour of travel in between. Is it too long to make people wait? Out of towners will have hotels nearby; friends might not really have anywhere to go. [more inside]
Promoting a Garage Band
I'm the webmaster (well, host is more like it) for a band of talented young men with whom I attend high school. They're having a concert in an auditorium with seating for over 500 and I'd like to see it filled. How do you go about promoting a small local band's concert? [mi] [more inside]
online multiplayer games
The online community is awesome in every area that I search except I am having an awfully hard time finding fun and interactive online multiplayer games. Can anyone help? [more inside]
posted by foraneagle2 at 6:43 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by foraneagle2 at 6:43 PM PST - 6 comments
Who pulls the plug on me?
Help me choose who gets to pull my plug. [more inside]
How can I get individual download windows in Firefox?
I hate the Firefox Download Manager. How can I bring back the individual download windows from my Mozilla 1.7 days?
Capital gains relief
TaxFilter: Do I meet the "unforeseen circumstances" requirement of the Taxpayers Relief Act for capital gains on my house? [more inside]
Death of the Living Room Stereo?
Does the wired home spell the end of the living room stereo system? [more inside]
Are all chiropractors quacks?
Are all chiropractors quacks? Are there good ones and bad ones, or is the whole professional a big scam?
Unidentified IBM PC Motherboard
Out of boredom, I have decided to cobble together a bare-bones computer (read: pile of wires and parts on a desk). Something seems to be atwitter with the BIOS on the motherboard, and it won't progress beyond the standard bios screen. We are not talking anything life threatening, just the end of my boredom buster, but does anyone know how I might identify the motherboard, and prod the BIOS back to life?
Eating in Austin
This question is for a friend of mine: Good eats in Austin? [more inside]
2046 US release date?
When will Wong Kar-Wai's movie 2046 be released in the US? [more inside]
posted by Vidiot at 3:48 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by Vidiot at 3:48 PM PST - 12 comments
Fun with Treos
What's the coolest use for a Palm device you've ever seen? [more inside]
Why is my dishwasher clouding up glassware?
Why did my dishwasher suddenly start clouding up my glassware? The water hardness didn't change, I didn't change the type or amount of soap.
Oh god, bridesmaid dresses
I'm maid of honor in my sister's wedding in a month. The dress we ordered to match the other bridesmaid's dresses doesn't fit AT ALL. [more inside]
Locally mounting physical Mac OS X drives/volumes in a Windows machine?
Locally mounting physical Mac OS X drives/volumes in a Windows machine? [more inside]
Johnny Appleseed and allergies
I have a clear childhood memory of being taught that Johnny Appleseed spread ragweed or some other allergy-inducing "weed" in addition to apple trees. Does this ring a bell for anybody else?
posted by NortonDC at 2:35 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by NortonDC at 2:35 PM PST - 11 comments
How do I get a Sainsbury's-style cookie outside London?
I lived in London for a while and fell in love with the fresh-baked cookies from Sainsbury's. They came in a pack of 5 for .99p (as I remember). There were double chocolate and chocolate chip versions and they always seemed to be soft and delicious. The problem is I just can't seem to find a cookie that stacks up to the ones from Sainsbury's. Anyone have any recommendations? I live in New York City. Or, even better, anyone know the recipe for Sainsbury's cookies? Even just knowing the name of these cookies (if there is one) would help in my quest. Thanks.
Is Microsoft watching me?
Is Microsoft watching me? I was going over the web statistics for my small website and the number one url that traffics my site is located at One Microsoft Way in Redmond Washington. The rest can be explained by friends and family, what's going on here? [more inside]
Helping a friend with bipolar disorder
I think my ex-boyfriend may be bipolar. He refuses to admit that, or seek help. His mother and I are both worried, and both want to help, but we don't know what to do. Does anyone have any experience convincing someone to seek help? [more inside]
posted by occhiblu at 2:10 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by occhiblu at 2:10 PM PST - 29 comments
How do I pay off my student loan?
I owe around $18,000 to Sallie Mae in student loans. I live in the UK. And, now, Sallie Mae has decided to not accept credit cards... [more inside]
posted by Katemonkey at 12:26 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Katemonkey at 12:26 PM PST - 6 comments
Sniffing HTTP traffic
What is the easiest way, in Windows, to sniff the HTTP (and HTTPS) requests and responses back from the server for an application that won't let you tell it to use a proxy? [more inside]
Places at the forefront of research in their fields
I need the names of some institutions (schools, hospitals, colleges, whatever) that are at the forefront of medical research in their fields. [more inside]
MP3: Excellent Attorneys
Anyone know where I can find MP3s of succesful oral arguments of skilled attorneys? Okay, so I should ask a law librarian, but y'all are just so handy! [more inside]
Home for sale by owner
I want to consider selling my home myself. There are a number of Internet services that provide multiple-listing services, which should I consider? [more inside]
keyboard strokes and mouse clicks to background
Is there a program that will send keyboard strokes and mouse clicks to a program that is in the background? [more inside]
Wanted: Podcast Recommendations
I want to listen to some Podcasts on my way to work. Any recommendations of a good site that has a listings of various shows would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Digital Voice Recorder for Mac
Yet another voice recorder question: I suddenly have potential access to a reasonable grant (theoretical max. $1000) to purchase a digital voice recorder. I'll be using it primarily for interviews, although recording focus groups are a possibility. I'd like it to be Mac compatible, and hopefully mountable without drivers, so I can just drag the files off of it onto my hard drive. [more inside]
posted by carter at 9:17 AM PST - 22 comments
posted by carter at 9:17 AM PST - 22 comments
What programming/IT blogs do you frequent?
I love TheDailyWTF and read /. every day. Without signing up for some members' only site, are there any IT-related blogs/sites you check out daily? Personally I'd love to read about programming (PHP/Python/Ruby/hell even VB script), databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL/MSSQL), and network administration. For general science news, I already check out Google Sci-Tech News and Technocrat on a regular basis.
I'm not looking for l33t XHTML/CSS-hacks but rather blogs that discuss emerging programming trends with meaningful discussion. Maybe something that is a mix of Ask, Developers, and IT on Slashdot. If there's a demand for such a site maybe I'll start one. But I'm too lazy to create something if it's already out there.
posted by chime at 9:07 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by chime at 9:07 AM PST - 20 comments
Where did I read this?
Sorry to bug, but this is driving me crazy: I recently read a passage (in a novel, I think) where the narrator or one of the characters says that you can tell a lot about a culture based on what they drank to avoid dehydration before the advent of reliably potable water. (mi) [more inside]
Automatically set XP folder permissions.
I have problems sharing new folders on my home LAN. I have an XP pro box, my wife has a WinME laptop. [more inside]
Are free business magazines worth it?
Are free business magazines worth it? Magazines.com and a couple of other websites are offerring free magazines to "qualified subscribers." Has anyone signed up before? Do these magazines generally have valuable content or are they created just to gather names and addresses for advertisers?
posted by yevge at 8:13 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by yevge at 8:13 AM PST - 7 comments
Life after death
Where am I physically going to be in 2 million years. Say I am hypothetically buried in a suburb of Boston, MA tomorrow....where am I physically going to end up? Dissolved into the ocean? A couple hundred feet down in dirt? Some of my ashes might be part of the construction of another animal? Where will I be in 10 million years too. Guesses and educated guesses welcome.
The Happy Happy Fun Bag.
I picked up 50 digitech guitar pedal bags at the local thrift store, cheap. My wife is laughing at me as I try to get rid of them. [more inside]
Am I paranoid, or am I just being paranoid?
The thought frequently hits me that people I'm talking with seem to "know more than they should" about me or "know more than they're letting on". Without fail, I logically work through the thought and conclude that this is highly unlikely and that I'm just being paranoid. So, while I'm not, in the end, truly concerned that there is any sort of conspiracy afoot, the fact that I keep having these thoughts makes me wonder: how normal is this? [more inside]
Address format for International yellow page searches
I'm working on a Web site where users will be able to search for events occurring on or around the same day across the World - US, Canada, Mexico, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia etc. and am looking for a decent way to do such a search. [more inside]
children's science books
ten-year-old girl, reading at the twelfth grade level, with an abundant interest in the natural sciences. i'm trying to pick good books which blend science, history and cultural perspectives (along the lines of The Great Influenza, Krakatoa and Guns Germs and Steel) that won't be too grown-up for her. despite her reading comprehension and general intelligence, she is just a little girl (with the short attention span of most kids) and one who spends most of her time in rural appalachia. i have asked my children's librarian, but i hope y'all have some suggestions, too.
How to retrieve copied data
I copied a slab of text to add to an email but before I pasted it I then copied the intended email address. Is there someway to retrieve the text ? Or is it lost forever?? [more inside]
Wind-Up Wendy's?
Question about Murakami's Wind-Up Bird and 1980's Japan. [more inside]
How do you reconcile your values with the need to protect your family?
The debate surrounding this post on Infoshop led me to a series of reflections on my personal choices. I am a 25 year old woman, and one of the reasons I have not had a baby, and probably won't, is because I don't want to be forced, as the Infoshop server owners have been forced, to make a choice between the well-being of a dependent family and my personal values. Have any other MeFi users taken their political circumstances into account when deciding whether or not to have a family? [more inside]
posted by By The Grace of God at 5:59 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by By The Grace of God at 5:59 AM PST - 16 comments
Large Capacity CDs
I have a CD with some software on it. When I copy the files from that CD, the size of the files on my hard drive are far greater than the capacity of the 700mb CD it came from! [more inside]
posted by viama at 2:06 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by viama at 2:06 AM PST - 13 comments
March 29
What sort of average is required for the top Grad programs?
What sort of averages (GPAs) do top graduate programs in the humanities in the English-speaking world look for? [more inside]
posted by ori at 9:06 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by ori at 9:06 PM PST - 13 comments
Shatner and Nimoy as the Lone Ranger and Tonto?
I have tried everything. Why can't I find that painting of Shatner and Nimoy as The Lone Ranger and Tonto? [more inside]
posted by punkbitch at 8:27 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by punkbitch at 8:27 PM PST - 3 comments
How to disconnect a thermal fuse?
My dryer is dead, and based on some google searching I suspect it may be my thermal fuse. I want to test it with a multimeter, but I can not figure out how on earth to disconnect the leads.
I am guessing there is some trick, but I can't figure it out and I don't want to keep yanking on the wires and have them break on me.
Is there a trick to disconnecting the leads, based on the second picture on this page?
posted by AhBook at 7:58 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by AhBook at 7:58 PM PST - 6 comments
What does japan smell like?
Finding a Roommate
How to find a roommate: I need to find a place to live. I've always lived with friends, but that's not an option right now. I'm looking for a room on craigslist and bostonapartments.com but pickings are slim. I feel like there must be some other big sites out there, but I don't know what they are, and googling only turns up paid sites. Where else should I be looking? [more inside]
Is there a word to describe suddenly becoming aware of a new word?
You learn a new word, and suddenly you see that word everywhere. Or you have a new experience, and suddenly it seems the media is filled with other people talking about that same experience. Is there a word for this phenomenon?
posted by Badmichelle at 6:17 PM PST - 27 comments
posted by Badmichelle at 6:17 PM PST - 27 comments
OFFLINE blogging software
Is there such a software critter that one can keep an offline (read completely private) blog or journal, readable only to the author, in HTML format stylee, with features that allow for easy input of pictures, links, backups, etc ...? [more inside]
Looking for a particular screensaver
I saw a simple, but stunning screensaver on a Mac, which was a slow zoom into images, and I'm trying to find something similar for XP. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by tomble at 4:51 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by tomble at 4:51 PM PST - 11 comments
transporting UGOs
GarlicFilter: I have a tremendous, if petty, dilemma: Everytime I go to ol' Ess-A-Bagel here in NYC on 21st/1st (best bagels in the country, hands down) and eat a delicious, creamery bagel, I want to buy a few more Everything or Garlic bagels to take home. Problem is, they stink my bag up something terrible. [more inside]
Camping bass?
What is the best bass for a camping trip, short of an upright? I have one, but can't haul and house it in the woods. I also have an acoustic/electric guitar style Washburn bass, but it provides no bottom whatsoever. [more inside]
Reviving a PowerBook battery?
On Good Friday, I came to the sorrowful realisation that the battery in my 12" PowerBook was kaput. How can I make it rise again? [more inside]
Should I buy a house in San Francisco?
Is there going to be a correction in urban real estate prices in the United States? [more inside]
Googling for plagiarists
To those (2 year/4 year) college instructors out there: what experiences have you had with "course tools" to allow students to electronically post assignments? [more inside]
posted by beelzbubba at 3:45 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by beelzbubba at 3:45 PM PST - 14 comments
Mars needs porn!
I have a need for porn. I've been tasked with doing an 'adult' site and while I have no ethical problem with it, I've never done one before and am having a hard time finding inspiration. [more inside]
Anyone know treatments for wall plaster?
I need some ideas for a finish for a semi-rough interior wall plaster made from sand, portland cement, and masonry cement. It's pretty beautiful already... [more inside]
Designing Women
Somehow, I've managed to take a liking to haute couture. As in, fashion design has begun to interest me greatly. I am seriously thinking of a career path in it, or at least willing to pursue it to see how much interest I can maintain beyond, "that's really neat looking." Some basic, naive questions lay within. [more inside]
Why haven't I ever had a good dream?
In my entire life, I have never had a good dream (that I can remember). What can I do about this? Every morning I awake feeling like I've just endured an extremely intense work out. These nightmares terrify me and are incredibly vivid. It feels like I am dreaming all night long, without ascending and descending through all of the stages of sleep. Is it possible to get too much REM sleep? If so, what causes this? Any sort of suggestion, outside of recommending therapy (done that), would be helpful. [more inside]
posted by crapulent at 1:20 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by crapulent at 1:20 PM PST - 21 comments
A place to meet folks for iChatting and/or iSighting
So I'm interested in finally using my iChat to meet and hang out with folks online, as well as use my iSight for something more than scanning books. Does anybody know of fun ways to meet folks in iChat? Perhaps a community or two? [more inside]
broken lighters
Why do my disposable lighters somewhat frequently break? [more inside]
posted by nobody at 1:08 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by nobody at 1:08 PM PST - 14 comments
Rapist
I need help dealing with a serial rapist. [more inside]
searching for a entertainment unit
So I bought a TV, and now I need an entertainment unit in which to hide it so that it's not the focal point of my living room and so I don't have to look at something that resembles a big ugly dead eye when not in use. I'm having trouble finding one that meets my super-specific criteria. [more inside]
Need help organizing my digital life!
I need help organizing my digital life! I am an academic who works on three different XP computers... [more inside]
posted by LarryC at 11:31 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by LarryC at 11:31 AM PST - 10 comments
Football (Soccer) Training
How do Premier League football coaches keep their training sessions fresh? It can't be easy training every day throughout a nine month season. How do they structure their sessions? What drills are most productive?
Summer High School Student programs like upward bound
Does anybody know of any websites that offer pretty comprehensive categorized lists of summer programs, like upward bound programs, sports camps, learning tours, etc., available for high school age students. All the searches I can think of haven't produced any. Thanks
posted by rabbus at 10:52 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by rabbus at 10:52 AM PST - 3 comments
Dieting: how to stop notions of comfort food, and food as reward?
Need to lose weight: How can I stop thinking of food as comfort, as a reward, or as the main event of any celebration? [more inside]
Identifying a religious order
When shooting photos of the protest outside Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas, I encountered a distinctively ornamented religious group. I've never seen anything like this before, and Google is inconclusive -- an ID would be appreciated. Pictures inside. [more inside]
posted by cmyk at 10:35 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by cmyk at 10:35 AM PST - 11 comments
Stated Income Home Loans
My wife and I are applying for a home loan. I recently started my own business while she has a normal job. Should we choose a "Stated Income" or a "No Income Verification" loan? Our loan broker suggests using a Stated Income loan by adding our two real incomes together and saying it is her wages. This seems like lying to us....what do you think? A No Income Verification loan is $10,000 more....
Road Trip
I'm getting married in October, and our honeymoon is a long leisurely drive up to Massachusetts. We know we'll be stopping at Niagara Falls for one night, but are there any other places we should stop and see, weird roadside attractions, etc? We've already been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland...any roads less traveled to consider?
Gainful employment?
Have you ever driven/operated an ice cream truck, coffee cart, burrito wagon, or the like? Was it a fun way to spend some time or just mind-numbing? Did you make any dough?
Hickory Nuts -- where to get 'em?
Anybody know a by-mail source for hickory nuts?
And are they worth it? [more inside]
High fall on soft surface or lower fall on hard surface?
Basic physics. Sitting on a 2,5m (8.2ft) high boulder without shock-absorbing footwear, should I prefer jumping down 2m (6.6ft) onto a flat rock or the full 2,5m onto a softer forest surface? [more inside]
posted by Akeem at 8:46 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by Akeem at 8:46 AM PST - 14 comments
Shape of a Zulu Shield?
Fun things in the mid-south
I'm taking a road trip to the south this weekend. What are some can't miss places -- for eating, shopping, experiencing, or simply tons of fun -- in and around Nashville, Memphis, or Little Rock? [more inside]
Best source for last-minute tickets?
What's the best way to get the best possible seats for a concert at the last minute? [more inside]
Straight answers about BritRail, please.
TravelFilter. Where can I get the best answers, strategies and deals about BritRail? [more inside]
End-of-ski-season blues question.
Has anyone ever found a resort with a reasonably large and varied out-of-season ski area? Anywhere in the world that isn't outrageously inaccessible would do... [more inside]
posted by Decani at 6:35 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by Decani at 6:35 AM PST - 9 comments
Interlinked pages for search engine optimization
I need help researching the effects of interlinked web pages in search results... [more inside]
How can I change my body clock?
Things to do in PIttsburgh.
I'll be in Pittsburgh, PA, for a few days next week on business. Any places I should visit, things to do, places to eat, drink, etc.? [more inside]
posted by trox at 6:15 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by trox at 6:15 AM PST - 19 comments
How can I find decent seasonal work?
Lately I've been hearing from people who support themselves on a low budget doing seasonal work part of the year: ski bums in Canada who plant trees up north in the summer, punks here in Pittsburgh who work the cranberry harvest out east each fall. I'm curious about this sort of job. [more inside]
My brother loves not getting paid overtime
My brother needs some advice on breaking into the games industry (different than this question, since he's not asking SHOULD, but HOW) [more inside]
house renovation resource needed
Bought a house last year (1901) with a lot of old ceilings and woodcraft. Some parts really need a good renovation. Are there any good resources for these specific operations?
Cheapest way from Arizona to Anchorage?
I'm from Arizona, and am going to Anchorage this summer to work. What's the cheapest way to get there?
An Orbitz search says the cheapest flight is $497; are there other, cheaper alternatives? I'm open to driving up to 5 hours (i.e. Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix, etc.) if it will get me a cheaper flight, and also open to alternative methods of transportation (renting a car, train, etc.), as long as they get me there relatively quickly.
posted by joshuaconner at 1:52 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by joshuaconner at 1:52 AM PST - 5 comments
How to deal with information/art/life overload?
I often feel that there are tons of books interesting books I want to/need to read, exhibitions to see, websites to visit, movies to watch, news items to research etc. just to keep in touch with the world and not enough time whilst handling everyday life. How do you deal with this feeling or the problem in general without panicking about it? [more inside]
posted by keijo at 12:38 AM PST - 47 comments
posted by keijo at 12:38 AM PST - 47 comments
Beauty products: grocery stores vs salons.
BeautyFilter: Is there a marked increase in the quality of salon or department store makeup/hair/skin products over grocery and drug store items that makes the higher price worth it? [more inside]
posted by lychee at 12:05 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by lychee at 12:05 AM PST - 10 comments
March 28
Working out and Testosterone
Does working out increase you testosterone level?
Suggestions for Parsing Blog Feeds Using PHP?
Can anyone suggest good PHP books or existing scripts that can help me successfully parse RSS 1.0, 2.0 and Atom 0.3 feeds, then save them to a MySQL database? [more inside]
What's the best pet insurance?
I am looking to get pet insurance for my dog, and I'm looking for advice/recommendations. [more inside]
By the lamp's flickr
What are the alternatives to flickr? [more inside]
Starting to build credit
As a young person with a pretty much blank credit history, I'm looking for ways to start building solid credit for the future (more inside) [more inside]
posted by ubernostrum at 8:12 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by ubernostrum at 8:12 PM PST - 22 comments
OS X Login Screen Sleep
How can I control the amount of time before my G5 sleeps while at the log-in screen? My computer has two user accounts, both of which are set to never sleep. I'd like to set things up so that the computer will go to sleep 10 minutes after logout. Detailed steps for any sort of Terminal wonkery would be greatly appreciated.
How often do people object at weddings?
So how often do people object before the fatal I-do's are spoken at weddings? Either shouting something like "Ellllaaaaine!" or the more understated going up and conferring with the clergyperson and celebrants. [more inside]
posted by Mercaptan at 7:25 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by Mercaptan at 7:25 PM PST - 20 comments
Does taking multivitamins every day help your body maintain fitness, especially when you are in your 20s?
Does taking multivitamins every day help your body maintain fitness, especially when you are in your 20s? How about if you excersize every other day? What else are multivitamin supplements good for? [more inside]
Where to buy large eyeglass frames
Are there any brands of eyeglass frames with an extended size range for those of us with large head and high nose bridge? Or a source for custom frames at a reasonable price?
Moving! To sell or not to sell the truck?
MOVING! I am moving to Seattle in May. I have an old truck and a 14 hour drive. Do I sell the truck and fly? [more inside]
The wedding and The Game
I'm getting married on Saturday. In Michigan. And, well, there's this baskeball game on.... [more inside]
Looking for a better sound scheme for my PC
Ever since I've had a PC I've either had to endure the MS Sound scheme or some amatuer wavs that were horrific. What I'm looking for are pleasant sounds that say like, when you have a critical error, you hear a chorus vocal by Enya instead of "DING!" [more inside]
posted by Hands of Manos at 6:15 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Hands of Manos at 6:15 PM PST - 6 comments
how does an ollie work?
Identify this song, please
What recent song features a female vocalist, with lyrics like "The better you feel / The more you'll heal / The better you'll be / The more you'll see"?
Changing Windows XP SP2 Product Key
Does anyone know if there is an easy way to change the product key for a copy of Windows XP Pro SP2 that has already been activated? [MI] [more inside]
posted by sixdifferentways at 5:07 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by sixdifferentways at 5:07 PM PST - 8 comments
Learning to burp
Teach my girlfriend to burp. [more inside]
Is it fair that manufactured bands sign terrible contracts?
Boyband/LawFilter: Is it fair for manufactured bands (NSync, American Idol-ers, etc) to have questionable contracts when they sign to a label? (+) [more inside]
Can I skip out on a return leg of an airline ticket?
One-way airfare is expensive -- it can be up to five times as expensive as a normal round-trip flight during certain times of the year. What I'd like to know is this: can I skip the return flight on one of these cheaper round-trip tickets, or would that be asking for a visit from the friendly folks of the TSA? [more inside]
How to get Word to open the next drop-down automatically?
I have a Microsoft Word document template containing many drop-down form field elements. How can I get Word to advance to and display the choices for the next drop-down automatically when a selection is made? [more inside]
Generating new comment counts
What's the most efficient way to provide a MeFi-style x new comments count for a MeFi-style chat board? [more inside]
bebo.com: good or evil?
I've gotten a couple e-mails from bebo.com recently as friends have signed up with the service. Should I join as well? [more inside]
What are my options for private student loans?
What are my options for private student loans? [more inside]
Desperately seeking list of "hardest" email addresses
A while back, there was a funny little list of the hardest email addresses to communicate to someone else. I can't remember specifics, but things like: bobatyahoodotcom@gmail.com, etc. Anyone know where to find this list?
posted by provocateur at 12:32 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by provocateur at 12:32 PM PST - 9 comments
Accibump on road bike. New helmet required?
I had a minor accident on my road bike this weekend, and fell over whilst moving at a very low speed. Do I need a new helmet? [more inside]
Recommendations for cordless headphones?
I'm about to get a roommate, and she's warned me that she tends to play her music loud, and late (she's a bartender, so she works until about 2am). I'd like to buy her some cordless headphones; any recommendations? [more inside]
Skin care tips
Other than using sun screen, what should I be doing to keep my skin healthy as I age? What do all these anti-aging products actually do, anyhow? [more inside]
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:13 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:13 AM PST - 13 comments
Is my external hard drive dying?
I have a hard drive in an external enclosure. Recently, it (sometimes) has been making disturbing noises. Is my hard drive dying, or is it my enclosure? [more inside]
selling jewelry, specifically platinum
What is the best way to sell personal jewelry or metals? Specifically I have a platinum band that I've had for a few years and havent worn in ages that I'd like to part with. Is there a fixed value market for this similar to gold? How do you prevent getting a rotten deal from a reseller? Does anyone have personal experience with this? Really, what's the best way to go about doing this? Thanks as always for your responses.
I LOVE BOILED PEANUTS
I've been trying to find green Spanish (or goobers) peanuts, in the shell, that I can boil at home. I've searched the web and found many sites that have them green out of the shell. I live in Florida and every so often my grocery store will have the big Virginia peanuts. However, they are not as sweet. I'd even take green in the shell Valencias. Anyone know where I can find some?
Why is dental insurance so lousy?
Why is dental insurance so lousy? My wife and I have managed to get decent (though too expensive) health coverage, but the only dental coverage we can find provides only a few hundred more dollars coverage per year than you pay for it. And it's not just a self-employment thing: when I worked at a pharmaceutical-related company, the medical and vision coverage was fine but the dental was similarly lousy. Is there some structural reason for this? You'd think some company would offer better service in the hope the masses would flock to it.
posted by languagehat at 10:40 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by languagehat at 10:40 AM PST - 14 comments
SXSW Robert Plant video coverage?
I'm on the lookout for video coverage of Robert Plant's keynote at SXSW this year. SXSW's website has some video coverage, but nothing involving Plant. If video is completely non-existant, I suppose audio will do. Any ideas of where I can find this? Thanks.
What Video Card?
I have a 19" LCD monitor w/ a DVI-D port on order. What video card should I get? [more inside]
What fits you to a tee?
I’ll be launching a new t-shirt site over the next several months and am looking for insight into what makes a good shirt (our fearless leader, for example, likes American Apparel shirts and the designs from Protoculture, nerdnyc and glarkware). So what do you look for? Comfort (cotton? cotton-poly blends?)? Funny or clever slogans (you bet your ass there’s a difference between funny and clever (and witty, too))? Artistic value? Originality? Retro styling (or do you think retro's going back to the grave)? What’s your favorite t-shirt? Where and how did you find the shirt/seller?
Please don't get all riled up about "self-linking": I emailed #1 twice for an OK and got no response and of course am not including any link (here or in my profile).
First ESL Lesson Nerves
Any ESL 'graduates' out there? What did you love or hate about your tutors? What should I attempt, or avoid, in our first few meetings? [more inside]
WinXP - Limited or No Connectivity, wired box.
WinXP, limited or no connectivity, wired box. Can't connect, tried everything I can think of, pretty close to trashing the whole install and starting over. [more inside]
cheap fancy food for 200?
I'm going to be making the food (a table of hors d'oeuvre type stuff for about 200 people) for my university's student art show opening. I'm pretty much stuck at hummus. Ideas/recipes/tips?
Perceptions of Time
Have perceptions of time changed in the last few hundred years? Did people used to speak more casually about periods of time? I'm reading Jane Eyre, and Charlotte Bronte uses "ten minutes" in an odd way. I suspect she means (by today's standards) 30 seconds. Is this sloppy writing, cultural difference or what? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee at 8:56 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by grumblebee at 8:56 AM PST - 20 comments
Unusual musical notes
Neotones: As I understand it, a note is not a pure frequency but a combination of a prominent frequency and various overtones, which are multiples of the fundamental frequency, of diminishing contribution. Is there a device, that can generate alienesque tones, where one can freely manipulate the various overtones?
posted by Gyan at 8:49 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by Gyan at 8:49 AM PST - 13 comments
High Interest Investment?
I would like to set aside initially a modest amount of money for young children to be used at least 10 years out or much later, for college expenses or some other use. What do you recommend for the best return? Will entertain a small to modst risk.
Pricey Prescription Panic
I have not paid for glasses in years, and was shocked to learn that my glass lenses (-8 nearsighted...) are going to cost me $400. I have only heard of one other person who ever paid that much, so maybe I'm just looking to whine and pity myself, but any other empty walleted blind-ish folk out there? [more inside]
Is my iTunes possessed?
Every once in a while, my iTunes just seems to start playing without any reason (I have it running in the background with no music playing). This seems to happen when I mis-type something, leading me to think there's maybe some weird key-combo set to "Start playing music in iTunes", but there's no such setting possible, afaik. There's nothing in the CD-Drive, either. If it's any help, i'm on a Mac mini.
A couple of Cultural Studies questions...
Well, one might be Cultural Studies, at least. I've had a couple of ideas for papers in the last couple days but I am having trouble digging up some preliminary research sources on them and the offerings at my university library are a bit meagre. [more inside]
Good general computing-related forums (fora?)
What are the best general purpose computing/tech-related forums? Though people here have been remarkably enlightening when faced with tech type questions I don't want to constantly use up my one question per week asking about such banalities as browser problems and php CMSes and suchlike. [more inside]
March 27
Acronym for this breed of software?
There's a breed of software which you point at a database and which then generates an add/edit/delete web interface for all the tables. (examples a, b) I've seen a four-letter acronym used to refer to it, but I can't come up with it and I'm spending way too much time surfing to find it. Help!
posted by Tubes at 11:21 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Tubes at 11:21 PM PST - 10 comments
Apropos of Nothing
How can I obtain a copy of Eduardo Paolozzi's short film The History of Nothing for home viewing in the United States? Any format is acceptable.
What sort of features would you look for in a local music website?
What sort of features would you look for in a local music web site? The standard reviews and show listings are pretty common sense, but can you all think of any other features that would be appealing for a local music community website?
Know any good Spanish jokes?
Know any good Spanish jokes? [more inside]
Costarring? Featuring? With?
What is the rationale behind television shows (mostly older ones) and some movies listing the actors in the program in "groups"? Usually they list the main ones as "starring" or "costarring", but sometimes there's also some people that are "featured", and some go so far as to list someone at the end with a "With...". Something like "Special Guest Star" is obvious, but I'm curious as to the rules for how they pick who is a star, who is "featured", and who is barely a "with".
Better Windows XP Backup?
I've used standard MS Backup with DLT and it's really getting old (just snapped a tape and lost a 5 hour backup session). [more inside]
posted by nj_subgenius at 9:46 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by nj_subgenius at 9:46 AM PST - 7 comments
Pug vs. City of Chicago
My dog nearly died this weekend after my vet discovered he was bleeding internally. It turns out the culprit was rat poison. I live in an urban area (Chicago), where the alleys are heavily baited. How would I go about lodging a complaint to the city or is there any other recourse I can take? [more inside]
Streaming media
How does IE decide whether to stream a media file or download it fully before opening it? How can I get players other than Windows Media Player to properly stream mp3s with a browser click?
Preparing for Media Server
What is the best (easiest) way to convert an IFO DVD file to MPEG4 which I am prepping to get something like this for my home network.
Instructions for Singer sewing machine 328K
Does anyone know how to wind the bobbin on a Singer 328K sewing machine? Can anyone give me simple instructions please? [more inside]
posted by sconbie at 3:45 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by sconbie at 3:45 AM PST - 10 comments
Christian art?
Come Easter, I've been listening to a lot of religious music, not least Bach's passions. It got me thinking as to whether there was any art totally outside of faith that was equally sublime. (Disclaimer: I am an atheist) [more inside]
What to do in Philadelphia
I find myself with an afternoon to kill in Philadelphia. I'd like to see City Hall (the whole Rocky thing), and partake in an artery-clogging cheesesteak. Is there anything else in the City Hall vicinity that I should take a look at? What's the best cheesesteak place near City Hall (Pat's seems to be far in South Phili)? Any travel advice on transport in Philadelphia and between downtown and the Wissahickon/East Falls area? Any other general input also appreciated.
March 26
How do I transfer my Firefox settings to a new computer?
Firefox question: I recently bought a new computer and want to transfer the Firefox settings from the old computer, namely the bookmarks. What file(s) should I copy over to my /Firefox folder in the new computer?
Radio station synchronicity.
Why do two different radio stations sometimes have the exact same song playing, often in complete sync, or only a measure off? [more inside]
The Number of the Beast
Why was (is) 666 the number of the beast? Revelation says that the number of the beast is six hundred threescore and six; I know the verse, but I'm curious as to why that's the number and not, say, 555, 637, or 8. [more inside]
Locating "Battery" energy drink in Canada.
I remember a few years ago I purchased "Battery" energy drink at a 7-11 in Ontario. I haven't seen the drink anywhere since, but I do know it exists here. Does anyone know where in Ontario I can find it? [more inside]
Tan B Gone
Will a glycolic resurfacing peel make a tan go away faster, or are there proven methods to reduce an accidental tan? How long does a one time tan last?
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 6:37 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 6:37 PM PST - 4 comments
Ethics: Spyware and Adware
What are your opinions of the ethics of spyware and adware? ..and do you think they play an important role in e-commerce? [more inside]
Icing Recipe?
I'm in dire need of a chocolate icing recipe. I know the basic ingredients but need the ratios. 2 cakes await! [more inside]
Why is my butt cold?
hoping to find some good authors
I'm trying to get into reading again, and am looking for fiction authors who write well-defined characters and seem genuinely to like people. [more inside]
Free e-mail reminders
Can anyone recommend a good, free "reminders by e-mail" service? [more inside]
posted by exhilaration at 2:00 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by exhilaration at 2:00 PM PST - 7 comments
How many kinds of news stories are there?
Do editors choose and assign feature news coverage based on archetypal stories, and, if so, how many types are there? [more inside]
Networked Scorched Earth?
I loved Scorched Earth. I want a networked version of Scorch for Windows. I think Scorched 3d is nearly unplayable as-is, though I love the concept. I want something like xscorch but for Windows. Something like Pocket Tanks, but networked. Any ideas?
posted by jojopizza at 10:40 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by jojopizza at 10:40 AM PST - 8 comments
Freeware movie annotation
Is there any freeware (W2K) that I can use to annotate a movie clip? I just want to stick a copyright string at the bottom of the picture (for the whole clip).
posted by Ferrari328 at 8:12 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by Ferrari328 at 8:12 AM PST - 6 comments
Portable road entertainment
What's the coolest thing I can buy to keep my kids entertained on a 15 hour road trip to Oregon, for $200? I will probably try to find a decent portable dvd player but it occured to me that there might be a portable gaming system or something that would improve the bang/buck ratio. [more inside]
Where can I find "modified" inkjet printers?
Scientists (and others) are using modified inkjet printers to print a wide range of really nifty things, such as working electronic circuits, 3D architectural models, and living tissue like organs and skin. My question is, do you have to modify one yourself, or are they for sale? Where would I get an inkjet printer that was capable of printing out a layer of resin or wax or whatever? The only one I can find is the kind that prints out edible birthday cake photos.
posted by RylandDotNet at 7:32 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by RylandDotNet at 7:32 AM PST - 9 comments
xp annoyance
In WinXP SP2, I can no longer drag and drop files from one folder to another, or from Explorer onto applications. Nothing happens, either right- or left-clicking. To move files around I have to cut and paste.
Any idea how to get my drag and drop back?
Expanding musical horizons
I haven't bought a CD in over 6 months - not because I'm downloading them, but because I can't find anything I like. Help me find more music? [more inside]
Curry stain removal
Does anyone have a tried & tested way of getting curry stains out of clothing please? [more inside]
posted by kenchie at 12:04 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by kenchie at 12:04 AM PST - 7 comments
March 25
Special Mexican Cocoa
Does anyone have a good recipe for mexican hot chocolate that involves melting cocoa butter with ...ahem, smoking tobacco?
posted by hautenegro at 10:56 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by hautenegro at 10:56 PM PST - 29 comments
MySQL Fulltext searching
Is it possible to implement full-text substring table searches in MySQL? [more inside]
I'm in Notebook Buying Hell - I need T42 advice
I've finally decided to breakdown and buy a T42 Thinkpad to replace my quickly fading HP desktop. I'm so confused and I think that I've screwed up. [more inside]
Will Post For Food
My friend Lisa is a brilliant young woman in a terrible professional situation. She has been working at her job for the last three years---everyone there acknowledges her for the talented person she is. She has been promoted four times---she is now manager of research and ad sales marketing---and she still makes the same money she made when she started AS AN ASSISTANT. I want desperately for her to find a job that pays her what she deserves, but it's hard for her to find opportunities that speak to her skill level and current position. She's tried monster.com and many other job sites. What else can she do to find good meaningful work that will pay her what she deserves? THANKS!
Furniture shopping in Los Angeles
I'm moving into a new place and beginning the search for furniture. Anyone have any favorite sources of good deals on good furniture in LA? How close to a gigantic selection of good quality/looking stuff at garage-sale prices can one get in this city? [more inside]
bali or southern costa rica?
we are thinking about finally getting away for a belated winter/spring vacation ... to southern costa rica or perhaps to bali - i still think sri lanka sounds wonderful - can anyone speak to the conditions in either locations in early mid/apri? more inside [more inside]
Getting Mail from the Antarctic
Do you know where I must send mail to get it forwarded from the British Antarctic? [more inside]
Transferring between LGA and JFK airports
I am trying to book a flight for my honeymoon. I live (and will be departing from) Toronto, and there is a stop in NYC. The flight is scheduled to arrive at La Guardia at 9am and my connecting flight is scheduled to depart at 12:30pm. I do not travel very frequently, so I am not sure how long it will take to get out of the airport at LGA (customs, baggage, etc), how far it is between airports, how bad traffic is on a Sunday morning/afternoon in NYC, and how long it will take to check in at JFK. How can I determine whether the 3.5 hours I have are a long enough time? I don't want to book this flight until I am reasonably sure. Under normal circumstances, I would be adventurous and take the chance, but I don't want to risk any problems for the honeymoon!
Meaning of Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work"?
Does anyone know what the song "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush is about?
posted by Muffpub at 4:59 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by Muffpub at 4:59 PM PST - 2 comments
Keeping insurance after quitting your job
My girlfriend is planning to quit her job shortly, but needs to have continual health insurance. [more inside]
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:29 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:29 PM PST - 15 comments
What should I do in South Beach this weekend?
What should I do in South Beach this weekend? [more inside]
posted by killdevil at 4:23 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by killdevil at 4:23 PM PST - 6 comments
How long do you want the feeding tube?
Has the Terri Schiavo situation led you to tell a loved one how long you'd wish to to be kept alive if you're completely incapacitated? If so, how long? [more inside]
Creating Little Buttons/Banners for Blogs
I have a feeling that somewhere online is a place where I can easily create those little buttons (or banners or whatever they are called) that live at the corners of everyone's blogs. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here for an example.
What I'm imagining is a site where I can put in my text, select colors, then quickly create one of these. I'm sure I could do it in Photoshop, but the little tool I'm imagining seems so likely to exist that I thought I'd start by asking here.
By the way, what DO you call those little things?
posted by abbyladybug at 2:34 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by abbyladybug at 2:34 PM PST - 9 comments
How to rent an office for one night?
Let's say I want to throw a party in some disused (or, ideally, distressed) office space in Manhattan. How can I find some, and how much would I have to pay? Is it even possible to rent office space by the night for a party?
posted by paul_smatatoes at 2:33 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by paul_smatatoes at 2:33 PM PST - 10 comments
I'm looking to buy a record player
I just received a load of great records from my parents. Of course, I don't have anything to play them on. I have a stereo receiver that I'd like to plug the record player into. Basically I'm not looking for something top-of-the-line. I just want something decent and/or used. Please see extended.... [more inside]
Advanced civilizations on various continents
Pre-industrial age: the Egyptians in Africa, Chinese in Asia, the Aztecs/Incas/Mayans in South America.
Why did an equivalently advanced civilization never develop in North America?
Looking for a Canon rangefinder 35mm f/1.8 lens
Does anyone know where I can find a '50s-era Canon 35mm f/1.8 or the later f/2 rangefinder lens in good to excellent condition?
Should I sit or should I bend?
I have a mountain bike on a resistance roller that I use to workout, and I also use a heart rate monitor to keep my heart rate at 145. If I workout in a cycling position with my hands on the handlebars, it takes much more effort to maintain 145 than if I sit upright with my hands by my side.
Why is this, and does this mean my upright workout is less effective than my bent over one, even though I'm maintaining the same heart rate?
Is it harder to keep your balance in the dark?
I'm a pretty good balancer (e.g. can stand on one leg for extended periods of time without falling over). However, I've noticed that my balancing ability degrades significantly in the dark (really dark, not just dim). My theory is that it's harder to keep your balance when your eyes don't have something to focus on. Thoughts?
posted by noahv at 9:48 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by noahv at 9:48 AM PST - 23 comments
What happens if I write a check with disappearing ink?
If I go to a store, and 'inadvertently' write out a check, useing a pen that has disappearing ink, what will happen when the check can't be processed?
I know that with the new 'Check 21' program, the actual checks aren't sent to my bank, but if the ink disappears before the check gets scanned by the stores' bank, what happens?
completely original story title?
A friend has asked me to find out if a particular title she wants to use for a short story has ever previously been used in published story. I have no idea how to find this out, or if it's even possible to find out, so I am asking you guys. If you wanted to title a story, say, "Mr. Jones Learns to Pogo," and you wanted to absolutely sure that title hadn't been used before, what would you do? (Personally, I could care less if my titles have been used before, but my friend is a bit obsessive--and quite brilliant.)
Thanks.
Lustra
Trying to identify a ~30 y.o. children's book
I read a book in school when I was in 1st or 2nd grade (around 1975). [more inside]
Measuring temperature from heater?
Where can I find a thermometer which will accurately measure infrared heat in 10 seconds or so, and reads in the 300-1000 degrees Fahrenheit? [more inside]
Games for a Dinner Party
We're having a dinner party that should go on to the wee hours. We want games. [more inside]
groupwise to ical?
Best way to transfer Groupwise calendar items into iCal without a PDA?
Advice for buying a cheap used car in NYC?
I'm in NYC/Brooklyn, and we're looking to buy a cheap used car for the first time. Advice? [more inside]
That fresh feeling
Memphis recommendations
I'll be in Memphis for the first time April 8 - 10. Any recommendations for off the beaten path places to hear some good blues? Bonus points for acoustic sets.
Once thought to be legendary, now known to be real?
What are some things once thought of as mythic, legendary, or folk tales, but know thought or known to be real? [more inside]
March 24
pad thai yum yum
What's your best recipe for pad thai and tips for cooking it? [more inside]
posted by melissa may at 10:32 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by melissa may at 10:32 PM PST - 12 comments
Free / open statistical software
Help me find free and/or open-source statistical software. [more inside]
Internet site blocking
Does anyone have recommendations for good software/methods to block certain overly addictive websites for say, the revision period prior to exams? [more inside]
Where are our lines?
One of my bright fourth-grade students asked me something she said has been bugging her for a while: "Why don't people have lines? Like in the cartoons?" Not as in lines of dialogue; lines in the drawing, to mark our feature. [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 8:59 PM PST - 45 comments
posted by argybarg at 8:59 PM PST - 45 comments
Seat height filter
I'm a pretty tall guy, and the chair I have doesn't adjust high enough. Is there any way (I was thinking of some sort of caster extensions) to make my existing standard office chair a couple of inches taller?
Wedding Planning Software
Is there any good Wedding planning software or web services out there? I'm looking for something like Business Plan Pro or Basecamp, but for weddings.
posted by Jairus at 7:23 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Jairus at 7:23 PM PST - 4 comments
Where can I find good pants?
Who makes pants that can take a beating and still be comfortable? I have a few specific requirements.... [more inside]
Erhlichia
My 9-month old puppy has been diagnosed with ehrlichia. Has anyone had experience with or knowledge of this disease, treating it, and the fatality rates? :(
Subterfuge Art
Today's article about art snuck into a museum reminded me of another story about a sign snuck onto a highway. Does anyone know of similar stories?
What are news anchors scribbling?
What are news anchors scribbing down on their pieces of paper at the end of a broadcast?
posted by Stan Chin at 6:57 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by Stan Chin at 6:57 PM PST - 16 comments
Appendectomy Recovery
How long does it take for one to completely recover from an appendectomy? [more inside]
Candy of the '80s
Today, the image of a horrifying candy from my childhood flashed into my mind, and I felt a tremendous urge to get my hands on some. I have no idea what it was called. [more inside]
posted by leapingsheep at 5:45 PM PST - 23 comments
posted by leapingsheep at 5:45 PM PST - 23 comments
Can the web community help improve machine translation?
Babelfilter: Machine translation still sucks. Why isn't there a system that allows members of the public to collectively help improve the quality of computer-produced translations? [more inside]
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:52 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:52 PM PST - 11 comments
Clickity
I want to buy a 35mm camera and learn how to develop film. Should I buy a new one? A used workhorse? Tell me. [more inside]
someone's reading my email!!!
stop reading my email filter; I type an email, I send said email to person X, I immediately delete said email from sent folder, and I delete said email from the deleted folder. I can no longer see said email. Now the fun begins! Fast forward 24 hours. Person Y tells me that he is looking at my screen and said email and can quote from email. [more inside]
posted by busboy789 at 2:23 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by busboy789 at 2:23 PM PST - 21 comments
Mexico Vacation Filter
My husband and I want to take a 7-9 day vacation in July-August. I am looking at La Isla Mujeres in Mexico and want to know if anyone has been there and what you thought of it. Also, do you have places you love in Mexico? We are looking for off the beaten path places. We are into hiking, snorkeling, ruins, stuff like that. (Not the Cancun type of people.) It must be on the water.
San Francisco bachelorette party suggestions?
San Francisco bachelorette party suggestions? [more inside]
Amount of money needed for hobo stay in North America
How much money would I need to bring if I'd want to spend 6 months without work in 1) New York, NY 2) Portland, OR, 3) Toronto, Canada? The amount should cover all expences, from housing and food to beer and fun.
Under-25 Car Rental
I'm going to Phoenix for a couple of days in June and will need to rent a car. My only problem is I'm 22 and most rental car companies have strict policies about renting to those under 25. Those that will rent to those under 25 (Thrifty and Dollar), charge excessive surcharges ($20 a day when the rental is $25 a day). Is there any way of getting around this?
How to find #1 song on my birthday outside US and UK?
The latest silly (but harmless if you don't take it seriously) method of trying to classify people's personalities is Popstrology. (Also see this website which has a more extensive list of songs, plus the UK #1's, but no analysis.) But... I was not born in the US or the UK--I was born in a US Army Hospital in Germany. I want to figure out what the #1 songs were in my birthday in Germany, or on Armed Forces Radio. I googled, and was able to come up with the current German #1's, but not anything in the past. So I turn to you, O Wise Denizens of AxMe. I figure other MeFi'ers who weren't born in the US or UK might like to participate in the goofiness, as well.
posted by Shoeburyness at 12:24 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Shoeburyness at 12:24 PM PST - 6 comments
Blinded by the light
I was in a white room with florescent lights, writing on a yellow sheet of paper, when suddenly, I could no longer see anything I focused on. [more inside]
Authors Similar to Muriel Spark
If I like the works of Muriel Spark, who else would I like? [more inside]
posted by dame at 11:42 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by dame at 11:42 AM PST - 12 comments
Portable Jump-Drive Copier?
I have in mind a device: it is portable (battery-powered); you plug pen/jump/thumb drive 'A' into it, and then plug pen drive 'B' into it. Press a button, and 'A' is mirrored to 'B'. Does this device exist?
posted by everichon at 11:36 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by everichon at 11:36 AM PST - 4 comments
What is Heretical.com?
Do "The Rules" have any validity whatsoever?
Do The Rules, Why Men Love Bitches, and He's Not That Into You have any truth to them? There are so many out there now, and they all seem to have the same basic message - I'm wondering if anyone here actually has read them, thinks they are valid, or has other experiences/opinions? I'm especially curious as to what men think. [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:38 AM PST - 52 comments
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:38 AM PST - 52 comments
De fog, boss, de fog!
tooth whitening
Has anyone used Klear Action or a similar product to whiten their teeth? [more inside]
posted by iconomy at 9:10 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by iconomy at 9:10 AM PST - 10 comments
Productivity? Gasp!
I've turned my office onto Basecamp in a massive way and now I'm on a quest for other web services that share information beautifully like this. [more inside]
intense / complex classical music
What classical music is complex, more intense, or moving? [more inside]
posted by mdn at 8:48 AM PST - 80 comments
posted by mdn at 8:48 AM PST - 80 comments
need some beach music
im putting together a compilation of songs for a trip to the beach next weekend. any suggestions?
Japanese language downloads for iPod
I'm looking for Japanese language study materials to put on my iPod. [more inside]
posted by jeffmshaw at 8:06 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by jeffmshaw at 8:06 AM PST - 10 comments
List of Books - update?
BOOKS. In 1988, Frederic Raphael published "List of Books" -- a guide to essential reading on a variety of topics (economics, history, philosophy). But it's almost 20 years old. Does anyone know of a similar updated list (equally trustworthy and well researched), either on-line or in book form?
Make a living by learning?
Is it possible to make a living by learning? [more inside]
How and where to sell "vintage" books?
Where's the best place to sell "vintage" books, and how do I find out about pricing them? [more inside]
posted by tommyc at 7:35 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by tommyc at 7:35 AM PST - 9 comments
MAT Test...what to watch for?
I'm taking the MAT (Miller Analogies test) today. Any mefites give me some pointers or at least some idea what to expect?
How to get un-blacklisted from Google
I run a popular regional community site that I believe was banned by Google due to practices of the former owner of the domain name. Yahoo!, MSN and other search engines send users my site's way - but not Google since the Googlebot won't visit. It's as if my site doesn't exist as far as searchers on Google are concerned. [more inside]
posted by kmartino at 5:46 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by kmartino at 5:46 AM PST - 13 comments
Advice on area in Inwood, Manhattan
Need quick advice! My girlfriend and I looked at an apartment last night on Sickles Street off Nagle Avenue, a few blocks below Dyckman street, in Inwood, Manhattan. We've been advised before to stay west of Broadway in Inwood. Can anyone comment on the area? [more inside]
Horses boiled at ten thousand degrees?
So, my new roommate brought a cat with her, and she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I want her to eat wet food as well as dry (she seems to love it), but everytime I open the can I retch. Has anybody found a way around this?
posted by jon_kill at 5:01 AM PST - 26 comments
posted by jon_kill at 5:01 AM PST - 26 comments
Why did Gmail lock me down in sector 4?
Yesterday morning, when I tried to collect my Gmail messages, Thunderbird told me the server had reponded "Lockdown in Sector 4!". I couldn't get into Gmail (POP3 or webmail interface) all yesterday and all today; it's come good tonight. Has this happened to anybody else? If so, have you ever found out why? [more inside]
CD burning
Is there a way to stop XP's built in CD burning tools (I'm currently burning stright from Media Player) leaving a small gap between tracks? Failing that, cheap/free software that will?
posted by monkey closet at 1:17 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by monkey closet at 1:17 AM PST - 6 comments
March 23
Best of Youth?
I recently saw the first half of Best of Youth, and only the first half (the second half was sold out). I have to see the second half, it has lingered in my head, and by the time it is out on DVD in the US I will have lost interest, I'm sure. Any ways of getting my hands on a subtitled version of this movie? Help! [more inside]
I can't find the title of a movie I saw as a kid in the 80s
As a web developer I can usually find what I want on the Internet. This however, has stumped me for over five years. Please help me find any info about this movie. I saw it in the 80s, possibly the early 90s. For the amount of detail I recall about the movie, I can't believe I've never found anything on the net. The description follows: [more inside]
posted by pelletierm at 9:29 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by pelletierm at 9:29 PM PST - 9 comments
Found in thrift store: Coin from 300 B.C.
My sister-in-law found a 2300 year old Greek Drachma coin at a thrift store for $4.00. She knew what it was because they found one just like it at an archeological dig in Bethsaida, Israel that she was on a while back. [more inside]
Best beginner music production software and tutorial?
I'm hoping to start playing with home production of music on my pc, and am wondering what would be a good tutorial for the basic basics (e.g. using MIDI or not, a good combo of software sequencer, drum machine, synth, etc.), and some examples of the software mentioned above. I know next to nothing about it, but am a relatively experienced 'analog' musician. Where to begin? [more inside]
Solo cello recordings
I'm eager to find recordings of solo cello that could be classified as ambient/minimalist/moody. Help?
DVD to XVID converter
I used a dvd to xvid, divx converter constantly until I had to reinstall windows. I can't remember the name of it for the life of me! [more inside]
posted by null terminated at 7:15 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by null terminated at 7:15 PM PST - 3 comments
fight and flight?
Is there a term for a moment when both the fight and flight response occurs? [more inside]
What to do in DC?
DC Filter: My flight leaves for home tomorrow (Thursday) at 4:15pm. I will wake up early in the morning and plan on setting out to enjoy the city for 4 or 5 hours. What should I do? Tours? Museums? Attractions? I am open to almost any suggestion, but realize that my options may be limited due to my limited time here.
Council of Advisors
I know this is a longshot, but has anybody ever been contacted by a group calling itself the "Council of Advisors" from an investment firm called the Gerson Lehrman Group? [more inside]
posted by punkfloyd at 5:35 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by punkfloyd at 5:35 PM PST - 6 comments
WebTV: What is it good for?
WebTV equipment absolutely clogs the computer sections of my local thrift stores. Is there anything cool that can be done with it? (In my view, anything that involves a dial-up connection is not cool.) [more inside]
posted by box at 5:28 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by box at 5:28 PM PST - 2 comments
Help me get fat for free.
I need help finding websites for restaurants that offer the "finish this gigantic meal in an hour and it's free" type of special. I'm looking for restaurants anywhere in the world, if they even exist outside of the US.
Lip piercing acceptable for a professional internship?
I currently have my lip pierced in the middle, with a ring. I'm going to be doing a legal internship with a barrister in London this summer for four weeks. I don't want to lose the piercing, just yet. (The Man can own me in a year or two when I graduate law school).
[more in the extended] [more inside]
How do I provide encryption for all the data in a public application?
How should I keep data encrypted in my database? (php, mysql help) [more inside]
posted by miniape at 3:44 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by miniape at 3:44 PM PST - 10 comments
And How!!!
What is the Etymological origin of the phrase "And How!" used as an exclamation. [more inside]
posted by Megafly at 3:01 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Megafly at 3:01 PM PST - 7 comments
No gaps
I need a way to make a CD from my iTunes library with no gaps between songs. Ideally it would fade one song out and fade another song in, just like it does when I use 'Party Shuffle.' [more inside]
Why is my WiFi connection spontaneously dropping?
I need some information on a WLAN card problem, if anyone can help. [more inside]
Simple Photo gallery with comments
I'm looking for simply photo gallery software that i can install on my web-hosting provider that will allow me to upload photos and have a very simple gallery that allows comments. Everything i seem to find is trying to throw in the kitchen sink. I just want a simple photo gallery. Something like flickr, but hosted on my own server, without all the doodads and gizmos.
Sonic Youth recommendations?
So, I've always kind of meant to get into Sonic Youth, but never really have. I saw them a few years ago on Sessions at West 54th on PBS, and really quite enjoyed it, especially when the drummer went all spastic. So, my question is, what is a good place to start to really get into Sonic Youth? What's their best album? Best song?
mp3 cut utility
I need a (free) (command line?) utility for XP to cut a 2 hour recording into 10 sections. Something simple that can take a file, cut, and save the smaller files with a new filename.
Audacity works - but it takes a lot of time and CPU cycles.
posted by bright77blue at 2:08 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by bright77blue at 2:08 PM PST - 3 comments
Painted canvas stretching.
Is it possible to get an already painted canvas "stretched" over a frame? [more inside]
Do Dogs Smile?
My wife maintains that our dog smiles in response to being happy. I maintain that she smiles because she is panting (my dog, not my wife). I concede that there is a smile-like movement on the dog's mouth but, since she is part beagle and has a skin flap over her mouth, she is doing this to enhance her air exchange. Also, since she seems to pant more when she is excited, I think this "smiling" mechanism can be confusing because it happens on occasions when we would expect a smile.
I'm not sure what evolutionary purpose smiling would provide a dog (or a cat for that matter…she thinks the cat smiles, too). My guess is that smiling in humans serves a sexual/propagation purpose and, since dogs spend their time with their noses up the ass of other dogs, this would not make sense. Maybe that's why they wag their tails?
Anyone have any thoughts on this important matter?
Pronunciation of Wieseltier
I am a great admirer of the writings of New Republic literary editor Leon Wieseltier, but I am shy about recommending him to friends because I can't pronounce his name. How do you pronounce Wieseltier?
making cement outdoor plant containers
we have a deck on our house where I've planted tomatoes in the past. we wanted to get a custom plant container that is 3 feet high, 6 feet long and 2.5 feet wide custom made for that space. it is prohibitively expensive. i thought I remember reading somewhere about making plant containers using concrete and peat moss or something to make it lighter in weight. i think i read it in martha stewart or something. i can't remember how to do it. it's not a big deck so the dimensions are really limited. any suggestions?
Font for Grant Application
I'm submitting an NIH grant application, should I use Arial or Times New Roman? [MI] [more inside]
archive my apple mail mailboxes?
is there anything like this available for apple mail? i need a way to archive my huge mailboxes so i can search them later...
Are travel agents obsolete?
Does anyone still use travel agents? [more inside]
How do you determine a gay-friendly city?
How do you determine how gay-friendly a city is? [more inside]
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 11:31 AM PST - 31 comments
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 11:31 AM PST - 31 comments
Combine RSS feeds into new feed?
I know there have been several RSS-related questions, but I couldn't find the answer to the specific scenario I'm looking for. I want to combine several of my published RSS feeds into a single combined RSS feed. [more inside]
posted by pzarquon at 11:13 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by pzarquon at 11:13 AM PST - 11 comments
Design Magazine Suggestions to Replace Communication Arts
Designers: our marketing/communications department has had a Communication Arts subscription for a while now. The past few issues seem to have taken it into a new editorial direction. Much less inspiring stuff there. Is there some hot new contender that we should look at subscribing to instead? We'd probably only get just one.
lightweight chat
Whats a good, public, lightweight, web-based chat service? Some friends of mine and I will be traveling around Asia, meeting up in different places, then diverging, then meeting up again etc. [more inside]
posted by vacapinta at 10:49 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by vacapinta at 10:49 AM PST - 13 comments
How does the W32/Sumom.C worm propagate?
My brother's PC has become infected with the W32/Sumom.C worm. I'm resigned to re-formatting and a re-install to remove it, but how did it get there to deliver the payload? He's sure it arrived via MSN Messenger, as his kids use it heavily. Wishing to use this as an educational experience as well a chastening one, (no more Messenger!), I'd like to know if there was anything he or they should have done differently. Did they have to explicitly run the Messengered file(s), or was it all entirely automatic?
posted by punilux at 10:49 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by punilux at 10:49 AM PST - 16 comments
Tufte's Beautiful Evidence
Edward Tufte was supposed to be coming out with a new book, "Beautiful Evidence" I believed scheduled for last fall. I haven't seen anything about it; does anyone know its status?
need advice for subletting my apartment
I am going to sublet my apartment for the last three months of my lease. I saw the question and comments here , but have a slightly different set of concerns about how to do this [more inside]. [more inside]
posted by picklebird at 10:04 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by picklebird at 10:04 AM PST - 11 comments
Good field recording devices?
I am a sort-of musician (lo-fi ambient-ish- real marketable stuff) and I want to start going out into the crazy world about me and recording various sounds. I'm looking for tips on a suitable microphone for field recording and, just as importantly, a good (quality + convenience) digital sound recording device so that I can come back and transfer my sounds without losing quality.
posted by xmutex at 9:30 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by xmutex at 9:30 AM PST - 11 comments
Pre-built kitchen cabinets
Following up on my question last week, I'm looking for recommendations for companies that sell pre-built kitchen cabinets, where we can choose from various types and sizes. [more inside]
Water softening
Our new house has hard water, and my skin is really starting to dry out. What's the most economical way to soften water for your shower?
Improving memory and concentration skills?
I'm only 30, yet I find that my memory, concentration, and ability to focus ("tunnel vision") aren't near as sharp as they were five or ten years ago. What do you do to retain or improve your mental abilities as you get older? [more inside]
posted by mrbill at 9:08 AM PST - 27 comments
posted by mrbill at 9:08 AM PST - 27 comments
Jazz quote?
Quotefilter: I've been introducing my girlfriend to jazz lately and half-recalled a witty quote I read once about traditional jazz vs. avant garde jazz. More inside. [more inside]
Non-standard examples of standardized designs
Light bulbs for public places like subways are designed with threads that run counter to ordinary light bulbs, so that the subway bulbs couldn't be stolen and used at home. I've been thinking about other examples of designing against standardization for a particular purpose (not necessarily preventing theft). Other examples might include clothes hangers in hotels, or the screws that hold together public restroom stalls. I'm trying to compile a collection of other examples. Any ideas?
Back-panel and memory help needed by new Mac Switcher
Received the shiny iMac G5 yesterday, along with 512 mb RAM from Crucial. Can't get the memory to fit in the slot. Replaced back panel for the meantime but couldn't get it flush again. Newbie nerves, indeed. Help!
posted by desuetude at 7:32 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by desuetude at 7:32 AM PST - 15 comments
Old pop charts
Thanks to this, I'm trying to find out what the top-selling single was when I was born (Dec. 4th 1982).
posted by Tlogmer at 7:11 AM PST - 48 comments
posted by Tlogmer at 7:11 AM PST - 48 comments
Software for two year olds
Is there some software I can let my 22 month old daughter use and so not screw up my computer? [more inside]
posted by shothotbot at 5:37 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by shothotbot at 5:37 AM PST - 13 comments
photographing Death Valley in bloom
Death Valley in Bloom: where and what would you photograph if you were going? [more inside]
Tattoo you.
Has Shelley Jackson's tattoo story been published anywhere?
March 22
Solo Acoustic Guitar Gigging
I am having a mid-life crisis and would like to become a professional restaurant musician who plays James Taylor songs for baby boomers eating their filet mignons - help me. [more inside]
posted by Dag Maggot at 11:03 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by Dag Maggot at 11:03 PM PST - 12 comments
Eyesight Improvement Exercises
I use reading glasses for reading (obviously) and when using the PC. They're low-strength (+1.5). I wondered if anybody here has tried any eyesight improvement exercises which have caused a noticeable improvement in their eyesight.
no-fault divorce in Arizona?
Is it possible to be divorced (no-fault) in Arizona before a settlement is reached regarding the property and custody of kids? [more inside]
posted by j at 8:35 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by j at 8:35 PM PST - 9 comments
What happens to film when it ages?
A friend just gave me twenty-one rolls of 35mm film of various speeds and types. All of the rolls are old; most of them have "use by" dates of 1989 or 1991. What is the likely condition of this film? Can any generalizations be made? What happens to film when it ages? (I'm secretly hoping that the film is still useful, but that it'll create bizarre chromatic aberrations.)
CPU Hogging
Why do certain Windows applications eat up 100% of my CPU processing capacity, and what can I do about it? This just happened when I started up Zelda Classic, and happens with my SNES emulator. Additional clues and oddities under the fold, Cartalk-style. [more inside]
(Yet Another) Help Me Find This Book
I would really like to locate a hardback picture book I loved as a child. It has to do with 3 children who find this whole fantasy world up a tree. Different areas on each stretch of branch, and the tree is hollow so they can slide down it's centre to get to the ground. [more inside]
posted by aclevername at 6:02 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by aclevername at 6:02 PM PST - 4 comments
How would you break into the video game industry?
I don't have formal training in Video game Programming. I do have two Bachelors degree in Computer Science and Biomedical/Electrical Engineering. Is it worth it to go to pigpen for 2 years and two years of high-interest loans to get a Masters Degree in Computer Science at 29-30 to get into the video game industry or is there another way? [more inside]
posted by countzen at 5:50 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by countzen at 5:50 PM PST - 20 comments
Inspiring Adolescent Architects
Which is the best PC-based software approach to allow a 12-year-old boy (who is bright, but not necessarily ardently studious) to explore the basics of CAD and/or architectural design principles? [more inside]
Which bluetooth headset to use with Mac OS X?
Which bluetooth headsets are definitely compatible with Mac OS 10.3.8? I'd like to use one for Skype. [more inside]
Favourite Sony Playstation Games
I picked up a used original Sony Playstation (PSOne) at a flea market yesterday. It's all working OK, but the only game I have is Resident Evil 3, and I was wondering if anyone could suggest some of their favourite games that are worth seeking out. [more inside]
More turntable trouble:
What's the best way to keep a record player from skipping? [MI] [more inside]
Mozilla Page Jump
How's your HTML-fu? Mine is failing me. I've created two dummy pages Jump 1 and Jump 2.
In Internet Explorer, these pages are identical except for their length. However, in Firefox, 2.html isn't in the same place horizontally as 1.html even though I think it should be. Am I missing something obvious? Thanks for the help.
posted by tayknight at 2:51 PM PST - 6 comments
In Internet Explorer, these pages are identical except for their length. However, in Firefox, 2.html isn't in the same place horizontally as 1.html even though I think it should be. Am I missing something obvious? Thanks for the help.
posted by tayknight at 2:51 PM PST - 6 comments
Getting All Versions of a File from SourceSafe
Is there an easy way to get all the versions of a file from the history in Microsoft SourceSafe 6.0? [more inside]
Bird Flu Pandemics
I just read a wire story stating that, "hundreds of thousands of people may die and one quarter of the work force could be absent if Britain were hit by a bird flu pandemic said."
How seriously should we be worried?
How do I find my wifi benefactor?
I am at my parents vacation home in Florida for Spring break. Today I found an open wifi connection which I am using now. Since am here quite often, I would like to ask permission and even pay for access. (Maybe access in exchange for securing this person's router :-)) How do I physically locate the source of a "free" open wifi connection?
Why are seemingly no IM clients compatible with each other for anything other than simple chat?
Why are seemingly no IM clients compatible with each other for anything other than chat? (i.e., file transfer, image insertion, file transfer, oh, and also file transfer.) I'm not talking about Y!IM vs. AIM here -- I'm talking about the various clients that all use AOL's IM service. Even the open-source clients have this problem. Why wasn't this problem solved years ago?
posted by tweebiscuit at 2:32 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by tweebiscuit at 2:32 PM PST - 9 comments
What is a word?
WordFilter: I'm using Microsoft Word as my word processing software for a very, very large project (my PhD). I have a strict limit of 100,000 words to follow, and although it seems as if that's a lot, I'm feeling the pinch right about now. The issue I'm having is that I get conflicting reports when I do a word count, using 2 different methods... [more inside]
Portable / Home Backup Solution
Backup / Storage: I have a picture of an ideal product in my head. It connects via USB or Firewire, it contains two IDE drives that mirror each others. They're hot swappable, so if one fails, you just by another standard IDE drive of the same size and throw it in. All this is transparent to the machine accessing the device. It's under $300. Does this exist?
Warehousery
Let's say some friends and I want to purchase an old warehouse and refurbish it into something great, like living/art/performance space; how would we go about doing that? [more inside]
posted by deafmute at 1:27 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by deafmute at 1:27 PM PST - 9 comments
Building a stable loft
Engineers, architects, contractors, and woodworkers -- I need your help to prevent my untimely death in some terrible lofted-bed incident. [more inside]
Windows locale troubles
?????! I can type in Japanese and have a slightly broken OS as a result. [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin at 1:01 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by squidlarkin at 1:01 PM PST - 6 comments
Best place to live
What is the best location in the USA to live? [more inside]
Identifying a childhood book
Fuzzy Memories Please help me identify a book I read as a child. [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 12:32 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by orange swan at 12:32 PM PST - 8 comments
Investing advice
I'm a college student with about 500 dollars to invest. I was wondering what would be the best use of this money. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jelly-goodness
The management of my office building is holding a contest: determine the number of jelly beans in a container. Prize: $500 at Best Buy and all the beans. [more inside]
Tivo DVDs
DVDs burned on my Humax Tivo machine aren't read by my Sony DRU DVDRW R+, R-. Why is this? Is there software I can use to edit my Tivo DVDs?
Staying in Troncones? How about Quinta d'Liz?
I'm spending a little time in June in Troncones, Mexico, and I'm looking for advice on where to stay. I really just need place to sleep at night and keep my luggage, nothing fancy; I'd like a private room, though, not a hostel or other group arrangement. Anyone been there and have some advice or suggestions? [more inside]
Losing high-speed Internet
Losing high-speed Internet. We're moving from Austin to an area of rural Texas, and I am trying to find any last option for having high-speed Internet. [more inside]
Weird Japanese Notepad Origins?
I'm looking for information on the origins of a small Japanese notepad I've acquired. Primarily I'd like to know who the characters in the illustrations are, and why one is examining the other's backend. [more inside]
posted by adamkempa at 10:22 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by adamkempa at 10:22 AM PST - 3 comments
Can anyone recommend a custom postcard printer?
Can anyone recommend a custom postcard printer? [more inside]
posted by paulrockNJ at 10:01 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by paulrockNJ at 10:01 AM PST - 5 comments
Splitting large MP3's into smaller files
I'm trying to split up big mp3's into smaller ones and my usual tricks aren't working either because either the track information I have is wrong or the CD is not listed on freedb. Do I have to suffer some number crunching or is there a better and easier way to break them up? [more inside]
Trademark registration services
I'm looking to register a trademark. Searches on here have revealed some great answers on how to check if a trademark has been registered, etc, but I have not seen any recommendations for actually doing it. I'm thinking I'll need legal help to get it right, so can anybody recommend a moderately priced service or firm that they have used?
WordPress plugins?
WordPress users: What plugins have you found useful? My wife and I are both new WordPress users, after an arduous battle to wrest our previous entries from Blogger's paws. I'd like to extend the functionality of our sites, but the number of plugins available is a little daunting. What plugins do you use?
posted by monju_bosatsu at 9:09 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by monju_bosatsu at 9:09 AM PST - 8 comments
Best registry cleaner?
What's the best registry cleaner for windows? [more inside]
posted by BigPicnic at 9:08 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by BigPicnic at 9:08 AM PST - 5 comments
What must I see/do in NYC?
I'm in New York City until Sunday. I've been exploring mostly without direction so far, but I thought I'd throw it out to you guys. What should I see or do before I leave? [more inside]
How do I get my Fuji FinePix zoom A204's "PC CAM" feature to work on my Mac?
I have a Fuji FinePix zoom A204 digital camera that I use with my iBook 14". The software that came with it for Mac OS X 10.3.x only allows me to download photos from the camera and then organize them. I can not use the "PC Cam" feature on my Mac, just on my PC. Here's my question... Is there any free or cheap software out there that will allow me to use its "PC CAM" feature on MAC OS X 10.3.x?
Finding good bagels in London
Is there any place in west or central London to buy fresh "NY style" bagels? And is there anything to the story that bagels don't taste the same outside of NY because the water is different? [more inside]
March 21
XE Trade recommendations ?
Has anyone out there in hyperspace used the services of XE Trade (www.xe.com/fx/) ? I want to transfer a $30k+ figure from a USD to a EURO account without incurring the ridiculous foreign exhange charges of my bank. This service looks good, but is it trustworthy ? Thanks !
In search of palatable fish dishes
We have decided as a family that we need to lower our cholesterol levels, and want to add fish to our diet for the omega 3 fatty acids. But we all hate the taste of fish. [more inside]
posted by Soliloquy at 9:56 PM PST - 45 comments
posted by Soliloquy at 9:56 PM PST - 45 comments
Dreamweaver Template Options?
Within a Dreamweaver MX template I built, I want to insert a line of code which looks like this: [!-- InstanceParam name="pagename" type="text" value="index" --], only when I go under Modify > Template properties, the words are greyed out. Anyone know why? Is there another shortcut I can use to insert that line? [more inside]
Testing the drive of an iPod and changing battery
I bought a used iPod. It won't hold a charge. (It's a 3rd gen 40gb.) The guy has offered me my money back but can't meet me for 2 days. I got a good deal on it and I'd keep it if the battery were fine. However, is there a way for me to check this to make sure the battery is the only problem with it? [more inside]
Amazon's Statistically Improbable Phrases
Do you know of a page or project that will show a list of Amazon's statistcally improbable phrases, live-linked to the Amazon content the are found in? Options for sorting by source date, title, author, subject, or other classes are what my inner librarian really wants. [more inside]
T-Shirts, Dyeing and Otherwise
Joy of joys, I've finally found a t-shirt I love (Jockey Classic, tagless, crew neck). That said, I hate wearing a white t. So, then, a two parter:
1) Can anyone discuss dying a t-shirt? I'm concerned not only with a simple process I can easily follow, but also with the color both remaining solid (as opposed to streaking) and also not running off in the wash onto other items.
2) Simpler still, can someone recommend a colored t-shirt similar to the Jockey? I'm looking for something that comes in a variety of colors and is lightweight, inexpensive, 100% cotton, preferably tagless and lacking the seam running along the rib/shoulder line that so many color t-shirts have.
LCD Recommendation
LCD Qustion. So I'm in the market for an LCD monitor/TV... [more inside]
Photo Permissions
A major publisher has approached me about using a photograph that I posted on my website that was originally taken by my dad (who, for reference, passed away a few years ago). According to the person who contacted me, the image would take up about a half-page in the interior of the book and they are interested in a quote for both world and North American rights. Can anyone give me a notion of what sort of compensation would be normal for this sort of thing and what the correct procedure might be? Thanks!
How can I get fresh okra in the US, outside of the South?
I want to cook with okra, but I live in the Pacific Northwest. Help with this specific dilemma would be great, or more generically -- any tips on finding produce that seems, at first pass, to be unavailable in a given area? [more inside]
Radios and Record Stores
I'm part of a Chicago-based band, and we're on the cusp of releasing our first full-length studio album. We're not on a label, so we have to find radio stations to play our stuff and record stores to carry our CD's ourselves. Are there any good resources out there to help indie bands find these? Can you share any indie-friendly stores/stations in Chicago yourself?
trade or fix up piano
I have a 1950's Chickering piano that plays 'bright' Nice touch, etc but loud in it's current home. Piano tuner says 900.00 will voice it, fix hammers, etc. Piano store says that vintage not worth the money and should trade it.
I am looking for suggestions. Others tell me to just put blankets, etc as sound absorbers. Not sure what to do. I play classical stuff.
Disney World: Stay on or off the property?
Thinking about taking the youngins to Disney World in June. Daughter will be 11 and it will be her second trip. Son will be 4 1/2 - first time for him. Last time, we stayed at a Disney property: rode the shuttle buses, swam in the myriad pools, drank $2 cokes, etc. This time, cash flow is more of an issue so I'm looking at Kissimmee hotels. Just wondering, though, if the low price is worth losing the on-site amenities and convenience. Been there? Done that?
Photo of kayaker+whale
Foggy photo of a kayaker with a whale surfacing alongside. Anyone remember where? [more inside]
I was drunk, where was I?
I was drunk in the Quarter, where was I? [more inside]
How to cheer up mother who has cancer?
I have recently moved in to help my mother who is battling cancer can I do to make this process a bit more enjoyable for her? I want to cheer her up and bring some humor back. [more inside]
Nonstandard negative scanning
I have inherited approx. 100 very old family photo negatives, many of highly nonstandard sizes, some non-square (seem to be hand-cut with scissors, perhaps), etc. I started scanning a few and fell in love with them not only as heirlooms but as Americana--they're dynamite. But I'm getting lost when I try to figure out how to get the lot safely & archivally hi-res scanned. [MI] [more inside]
Finding politicians's staffs.
I am trying to find a list of staffers and the issues they focus on for specific U.S. Senators and Representatives. [more inside]
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 2:59 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. at 2:59 PM PST - 5 comments
Copyright violations
I saw a website once where you can enter a URL and it will use Google or whatever to find similar web pages that the page may have derived from, based on word match frequency. It is useful when looking for copyright violations, or the source for someones work. What is that website?
posted by stbalbach at 2:25 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by stbalbach at 2:25 PM PST - 2 comments
Kid-friendly anime?
My kids (6, 9, 10) have thoroughly enjoyed running through the catalog of Ghibli/Miyazaki films that are available in English release. Now that we are running out of titles, I was wondering if any MeFi people could suggest more kid-friendly titles that are kind-of-like the Ghibli films, if you know what I mean. [more inside]
What are some great books about political marketing?
I'm looking for a few good books or articles - either on the web, or in paper publications - about political marketing. [more inside]
Don't laugh. I want to learn how to ride a bike.
Okay, you can laugh a little bit. I'm 24, I moved to a more urban area a year ago, and I want to learn how to ride a bike to get around the city. [more inside]
Preferable digital camera battery type?
Digital cameras: rechargeable battery vs. one-time use (AA) batteries. Which is preferable and why? [more inside]
posted by suchatreat at 12:51 PM PST - 32 comments
posted by suchatreat at 12:51 PM PST - 32 comments
Stephen Fry's Disappearance
Has Stephen Fry ever given a full account of the time he ran off to Belgium and away from the production of Simon Gray's play Cell Mates (as angrily related by Gray in the highly enjoyable Fat Chance)? It's been ten years, but I can't find anything other than passing references in interviews to his "little wobble". He's been amazingly candid about his past before, and I'd love to read his version of events.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:32 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:32 PM PST - 8 comments
Saving towns in Animal Crossing
I am addicted to the GameCube game, Animal Crossing. I want to make a copy of my town, and send it to my sister, who is also addicted. It won't let me copy the memory card - is there a way to do this? [more inside]
How should I ship two vinyl LPs?
I just bought two records as a birthday present for a friend, and I realize that I have no idea how to ship them. The post office doesn't seem to sell anything appropriate, and I asked at Amoeba Records and they didn't know either (they said they typically ship only in large numbers). Does anyone know of a better solution than a 14x14x14 box filled with packing peanuts?
posted by symbebekos at 12:11 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by symbebekos at 12:11 PM PST - 11 comments
non-profit fundraising ideas needed
My wife is on the board of a non-profit organization. We live in a retirement community that has all kinds of fundraisers,plays, fun runs etc. We need ideas for an annual fundraising campaign that is different, will grab new attention and attract substantial local donations annually.
How to handle multiple iTunes libraries.
We have four computers that we want to keep music on, but the collection is too big to just copy the whole library everywhere. What are our options? [more inside]
Taking screenshots of video?
Anyone know of the best way to take screenshots of video on a PC? I notice that DVDs and mpegs and avis all seem to do a weird matte screen thing where video is projected "above" the video player on your screen, so all screengrabs are blank. There must be a hack to get a simple grab every now and then off this sort of video. Anyone ever figure this out?
posted by mathowie at 11:23 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by mathowie at 11:23 AM PST - 8 comments
Online Casino Bonuses
Is there any reason why this method of collecting bonuses from online casinos wouldn't work? [more inside]
Widget Co.
In addition to the math class, I’m in charge of instructing the violent repeat, juvenile offenders who have earned their GEDs in “experiential life skills.” We have a rewarding brief daily class in money management, employability, independent living, etc. The rest of the day the offenders have jobs around the facility where they’re supposed to be practicing responsibility, initiative, and other workplace skills. In reality, they’re doing mindless chores six hours a day. I’d like this time to be spent more professionally, more business-like, so they can learn something about inventory, cooperation, deadlines, marketing, technology etc. and feel proud doing it. [more inside]
Ultimate emergency kit
What would be in your ultimate one-person emergency kit? [more inside]
on the stereo
A comment in this thread reminded me of something I've always wondered about:
What about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if he talks like an ordinary guy. [more inside]
posted by koeselitz at 8:38 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by koeselitz at 8:38 AM PST - 21 comments
Best used Scooter Recommendations
I bought a Twist n Go scooter last year without the research and it turns out that its very hard to get parts for this scooter when repairs are necessary. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a manufacturer(honda etc...) of a scooter that if bought used could still be quickly repaired with parts that are still made or easily ordered. Or a scooter that is new, but cheap and will last long. I would like to keep my purchase under $1000...
Tile and Grout Cleaner
If there's a badass tile and grout cleaner out there (for the bathroom), can you tell me what it is please? I can't seem to find "it". I don't mind letting "it" sit and soak. I don't mind scrubbing. But I want results. Gracias!
Filing US taxes from out of country with no income to claim?
I'm not sure how to file my taxes. I am a US citizen living in Canada. I am a stay-at-home mother and I have no income to claim this year. [more inside]
Lost Digital Camera Software
I lost the software for my Canon Powershot A75. Try as I might, I can't get the camera to work with just the Windows 2000 TWAIN drivers. [more inside]
Burning 100 CDs
What's the best way to burn roughly 100 CDs? Banjo and I are going to be giving mix CDs as wedding favors and would like to know the best method of going about this. Burn at home, or get someone else to do it? How much would that cost? [more inside]
Recommended Form Upload Component?
A client wants to enable fiile uploads via their web site. The web site is hosted outside the company and the files need to be uploaded to their FTP server which is hosted within or on-site at the company. Thus far all the components I've looked into upload to the web server. Is this simply the only option? Can anyone recommend a good component or alternate method? PHP, ASP are fine.
Zelda Windwaker Help!
Zeldafilter - Can anyone tell me where Makar goes if you die in the wind temple and then save? [more inside]
Linux server with GUI
Free server-oriented Linux distribution with GUI config tools? [more inside]
posted by Mwongozi at 7:01 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by Mwongozi at 7:01 AM PST - 4 comments
Anti-virus scans: bad for your HD?
My 160 gig HD is being scanned daily by Anti-Virus Guard. Seems like all this wear-and-tear would add up. Does this reduce the life span of a hard drive?
Bonus if you know how to make Grisoft's AVG Free Edition scan less frequently.
posted by agropyron at 6:30 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by agropyron at 6:30 AM PST - 9 comments
Pinstriped Suits with Colored Shirts?
FashionFilter: Is there a "rule" about wearing a colored shirt with a black pin-striped suit? Are there other rules about female business attire that a soon-to-graduate-undergrad should be aware of? [more inside]
What's up with kids toy packaging
Lately, if you open a packaged kids toy, you're faced with the daunting task of unwrapping and untangling the toy from its own packaging. This is a daunting real task when faced with a kid who simply wants to play. Why all the wires? [more inside]
posted by dhacker at 6:15 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by dhacker at 6:15 AM PST - 10 comments
Metaideas
What are good ways to generate new ideas for something you’re thinking about when you’ve hit a brick wall? [more inside]
Who is subscribing?
Bloglines lets you see who is publicly subscribing to your RSS feed. But can you also find out who your current subscribers are with Feedster, MyYahoo, MyMSN and Newsgator?
posted by timyang at 12:55 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by timyang at 12:55 AM PST - 4 comments
March 20
How to put a smaller door in a larger door frame.
I need to rip an extra-wide door out of our shed and put in a new narrower one. The door frame consists of substantial timbers -- I'm guessing around 3x8 (actual measurements). The floor is cement, there's no bottom frame member. What's the best way to replace the door? [more inside]
Should graduate students buy houses? And if so, how?
Despite MetaFilter's members' fantastic advice for my boyfriend to choose MIT over GA Tech, my guy is most likely going to stay in Atlanta. He's talked about the possibility of buying a house in ATL, but living on a student stipend, and without substantial savings, how would that work? (He's curious, too, not just me.) Renting in Atlanta is expensive, so a house payment could very possibly be lower than rent . . . and we've heard sometimes people buy without down payments now . . . but we're not sure about the logistics. Any good info is appreciated. : )
I'm looking for a flower pot.
A particular flower pot. [more inside]
35mm Film Scanner
Can I scan 35mm film negatives with my Canon LiDE 30? Other flatbed scanners come with an adapter that allows for this, but this scanner didn't. Is there an off the shelf widget that will work?
My Turntable needs to be soldered.
My Turntable will only play through one channel. I have a soldering question, because I have to replace the RCA cables. Can someone teach me how to properly solder audio equipment?
I have never soldered before, but I am handy with electronics. The Turn Table in question is a Pioneer PL-10, a nice older one that goes well with vintage reciever.
I bought it for $30 along with some scratched up first pressing Beatles albums. Basically, when the needle is down you can only hear one channel. There is absolutely no signal from the left RCA cable. When I reverse the plugs, the dead RCA cable is still dead.... just on the other channel. [more inside]
posted by Dean Keaton at 9:29 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by Dean Keaton at 9:29 PM PST - 13 comments
Information on Edison discs?
Today, at an antique mall, I found, for $2 each, three Edison discs (also known as "Edison diamond discs"), big, thick (1/4"), 78-size records. I'm quite sure they're not valuable or anything, but I'd like to know more about them: when they were made, what the serial numbers etched into them refer to, who the artists were, etc. Does anyone know how to learn more about these things, either online or in print? [more inside]
Origin of card game "The King of Hearts Has 5 Sons"?
Can anyone tell me where to find the origin of and definitive rules for the traditional American card game The King of Hearts Has Five Sons, mentioned in the article Deduction Games in the December 2000 issue of The Games Journal? [more inside]
I am going to Southern CA desert and need advice
Due to a lucky alignment of stars, I have a 5 day vacation slot appear out of nowhere. I semi-randomly picked a destination: on Tuesday night I am flying out to Los Angeles, renting a car and driving into desert. What must I see/do? [more inside]
What video game supports the most simultaneous players?
What video game supports the most simultaneous players? [more inside]
posted by Sibrax at 8:27 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by Sibrax at 8:27 PM PST - 12 comments
Cost of Paris
How much will it cost my wife and I to spend four days in Paris? [more inside]
BrakeFilter
BrakeFilter: My dad and I need to settle a bet about driving habits affecting brake pad life. [more inside]
posted by AlexReynolds at 6:14 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by AlexReynolds at 6:14 PM PST - 13 comments
Founded by Scientologist reject, family abuser, and tax avoider all in one!
The Landmark Forum / est, courtesy Werner Erhard, has stolen my friends. Please help! [more inside]
posted by lorrer at 5:10 PM PST - 28 comments
posted by lorrer at 5:10 PM PST - 28 comments
iPhoto won't load
iPhoto help: I was importing photos and when it was complete, it wouldn't let me go to the library, so I had to restart my iBook, and now iPhoto won't load. I looked in the Apple help forums, but they're no help at all. This ever happen to you?
AC off car/marine battery -- tips?
I want to take my Mac G5-based sound system on the road, including setting it up outdoors, using my own power source. I understand a deep marine battery is the best source for silent, portable power, and delivers AC via a converter. Anyone have experience with such a setup? [more inside]
Unknown instrument
A few years ago my mother picked up this traditional(?) instrument in Hungary. What's it called and how do you use it?
The ending of
At the end of the movie "The Good Thief"... [SPOILERS INSIDE]
posted by nicwolff at 2:46 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by nicwolff at 2:46 PM PST - 4 comments
Is there a site with a ukulele tuning guide?
Is there a site with a ukulele tuning guide? I have seen one for guitar were you press the button and it makes the sound the sting is supposed to make when strummed. I cant seem to find one like that for my ukulele though.
posted by Suparnova at 2:18 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by Suparnova at 2:18 PM PST - 8 comments
Old refrigerator?
How do I dispose of an old dorm-style cube fridge that has died a horrible death and is not worth repairing? [more inside]
How long are you supposed to keep bank statements, tax returns, etc. on file?
I'm trying to organize all that paperwork that's piling up in my home, but I'm also trying to simplify my life and reduce clutter. [more inside]
Soundtrack Issues
After recently having seen The Life Aquatic, I noticed that the soundtrack missed a song from one of the key scenes in the movie. This is not the first time I have come across this phenomenon and I wondered if anyone knew whether it was a legal issue with copyright or something as mundane as CD capacity. After all, if an artist/label allows their song to feature in a movie, why not on the soundtrack too?
posted by ulanbator3 at 1:10 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by ulanbator3 at 1:10 PM PST - 13 comments
Playing Audio Input on OS X
My dad just bought me an XM radio receiver, and I'm trying to run it through the audio input jack of my Powerbook. I know the sound comes in, because I can record it -- but I can only actually listen to the recordings, and not the sound in real-time! Or, at least, that's all I can figure out how to do. How do I listen to audio input without recording?
posted by Coherence Panda at 12:53 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Coherence Panda at 12:53 PM PST - 4 comments
T-shirt management
Over the years, I've collected a whole lot of t-shirts, and as I'm something of a slacker nerd, they're pretty much the only thing I wear. The problem is, I keep them in stacks in a big rack of square cubby-like containers, so I wash them, I fold them, I stack them on top, and then inevitably wind up wearing the same dozen shirts over and over again. I've been trying to devise an ingenious way to get a better rotation, but I'm coming up blank. (I share a closet with the girl, and pretty much all of the hanger space is hers, so that's out.) Anyone have a brilliant method of managing shirts like this?
Personal Finance Software for Mac OS X?
Recommendations for personal finance software for Mac OS X? [more inside]
Magazine page layouts
Can anybody recommend some magazines with good page design? [more inside]
Where to find News
I'm a non USAian who spends about 4 months a year in USA. Where can I find in depth news about anything that happens outside this country. [more inside]
Why does laser light
Song from TV show
Does anyone know how to find the name of the hiphop song playing in the background of the most recent Las Vegas episode?
Any suggestions on a good Heinlein discussion site?
I am a fan of Robert A. Heinlein. I am also a fan of Jane Austen, and I like reading the discussions of her works at pemberley.com. I haven't found a site that discusses Heinlein's work in a similar way. Do you have any suggestions? [more inside]
Anticipation..is making me wait...
In Neverwhere Neil Gaiman describes a Christian abbot thusly:
The abbot had known that this day would bring pilgrims. The knowledge was part of his dreams; it surrounded him, like the darkness. So the day became one of waiting, which was, he knew, a sin: moments were to be experienced; waiting was a sin against both the time that was still to come and the moments one was currently disregarding.
Is anyone aware of any Christian teaching that anticipation is to be avoided? To modern ears Gaiman's passage sounds so be-here-now Buddhist. I am aware of the passage in Matthew where Jesus says "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself," which is pretty explicit, but has this notion ever been taken up and turned into formal doctrine by any branch of the church, or has any historically important theologian ever grabbed this particular ball and run with it?
Beef and guns
I am: vegan, mildy exercise-induced asthmatic, non-car owning & often-biking, slightly scoliotic (not visibly, but there's back pain here and there), have virtually no access to exercise equipment other than a set of ancient free weights, weight bench, and mat, without much money. I desire hulking guns and beefiness all over. [more inside]
Is there a free secure wiper for Macs?
Is there a free multi-pass wiper for Mac (like BCWipe on the PC)? [more inside]
Electronic music production tools?
ClickCutCrunchFilter. I'm an amateur musician who wants to start producing electronic music on my PC. [more inside]
posted by gentle at 12:08 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by gentle at 12:08 AM PST - 19 comments
March 19
Daily Show booklist?
Has anyone compiled a list of books promoted on the Daily Show?
posted by krisjohn at 11:11 PM PST - 1 comment
posted by krisjohn at 11:11 PM PST - 1 comment
Is it okay to escape from prison?
Is it true that absconding from prison is not a crime in the Netherlands? [more inside]
Matthew Lesko Books dumb or not?
Ok, I'm terribly curious...I've seen the Matthew Lesko infomercials for years. Some of you have got to have picked them up. Are they worthwhile. It's not the cost, its the time investment that I'm talking about.
posted by filmgeek at 7:43 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by filmgeek at 7:43 PM PST - 11 comments
Show removal at airports?
I am ready to Fight The Man and refuse to remove my shoes at airport security *unless and until* they set off the metal detector. Help my defense. [more inside]
One day in Tokyo
I am going to Tokyo for a week of work and have one free day. What would people recommend in my one free day. I have some interests such as Japanese consumer electronics, toys, and sneaker/streetwear culture but really want to make sure I have the best day possible. Any advice?? Any great sites to use. (Already using superfuture.com.)
Browser problems
My brother says that he can't use websites which have some kind of "logging in" type function e.g. online banking, Hotmail etc. He's kind of resigned to it but asked me why it happens. Has anyone any ideas why this happens? Browser settings? Cookie problems? [more inside]
Living on the Cheap
Any suggestions on how to cut spending on food and other 'discretionary' items? [more inside]
posted by nj_subgenius at 3:49 PM PST - 28 comments
posted by nj_subgenius at 3:49 PM PST - 28 comments
Vagina Question
Famous vagina-centric feminist artists out there? I know Judy Chicago is pretty famous for her Dinner Party and Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues is a good one too. Any others?
I know there have been a few male ones too, can't remember. Google is not easy to search for this stuff! [more inside]
Defecting to OS X recommendations
I've taken the plunge, and purchased a Mac Mini. I've used Windows primarily for most of my life, with a bit of Debian Linux. What recommendations do you all have for general use, software, etc etc?
How do I refinish a much-abused table?
I need advice on how to refinish a dining table that is badly damaged. The table is walnut and about 50 years old. The wood is very dry, enough so that the grain is visibly raised, and the finish has been completely gone for years. The stains are dark (including one large spot stained by persimmons). [more inside]
posted by cali at 1:50 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by cali at 1:50 PM PST - 6 comments
Trying to source a dialogue sample:
I'm trying to track down the source of a dialogue sample used most prominently in several My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult tracks and Meat Beat Manifesto's 'Acid Again'. It appears to be an interview with a girl describing her experiences with drugs. My Google searches have resulted in a lot of people talking _about_ this particular sample, but never the source itself. (Quotes inside...) [more inside]
posted by djwudi at 1:27 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by djwudi at 1:27 PM PST - 5 comments
Grammar Filter:
Which statement is correct?
Does either of you recognize this person?
Do either of you recognize this person? [more inside]
posted by pelican at 12:48 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by pelican at 12:48 PM PST - 19 comments
PC needs to read Mac documents
I need a free and solid document reader. I have a PC, the documents I need to read are from a mac. Any suggestions?
posted by pwally at 11:04 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by pwally at 11:04 AM PST - 6 comments
DIY screen printing.
Looking for general advice in regards to DIY silkscreening tees. [more inside]
posted by Count Ziggurat at 10:49 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by Count Ziggurat at 10:49 AM PST - 3 comments
My iBook went damn crazy.
MacFilter: My iBook froze last night and displayed some very unusual colors, and now it won't boot up. Is it fried? [more inside]
Selecting a Quality Watch.
I would like to purchase a quality watch that will last my lifetime and potentially beyond that. [more inside]
Forwarding an e-mail address across domains?
I recently registered a domain name through GoDaddy.com and now I want to forward e-mail to an address on my domain to another e-mail address on another domain. GoDaddy's help files don't explain how to do this. Help! [more inside]
posted by Servo5678 at 8:40 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by Servo5678 at 8:40 AM PST - 6 comments
how to get to lint off towels
How do you get the lint and fluffies to come off new towels so they don't leave fluffies all over you?
thanks dudes!
Online collaborative software
Does anyone have any experience with online collaborative spaces, i.e., websites that allow users on different computers to work on the same document, whiteboard space, etc.? I've found links via Google and will be trying to explore, but if you have a favorite—or not!—it would save me some time. [more inside]
Which Linux Certification?
I am trying to break into the Linux Server Administration field so I have been doing quite a bit of studying lately. I figured while I am studying the subject I might as well work towards a related certification. I am leaning towards the Linux Professional Institute Certification. Other certifications I am considering are CompTIA’s Linux+ and Red Hat’s RHCE. So which Linux certification is the best? I would say Red Hat is the most reputable of these three but I am concerned that their certification might be too Red-Hat-centric, and I don't want to be locked into one distro. Which one is the easiest/cheapest to obtain? Which is the mostly highly regarded in the industry? Are there others that I missed?
March 18
How to recover incorrectly deposited money?
If I attempt to make a payment to someone by direct deposit into their bank account, but deposit it into the wrong account, what legal means do I have to recover the money? [more inside]
PC won't sleep or shut down, only restarts
I've built a PC with a Shuttle AN35 mainboard (with Award BIOS) and it won't shut down or standby. When I shut down (through software) it goes through the motions of shutting down, but then instead of ultimately going black & quiet it just reboots. Same with attempts to make it standby - it just reboots. I have checked the connection of the PC case's PWON connector to the motherboard, diddled with Windows XP's power settings, and poked around in the BIOS a little but am not sure what to do. This sucks because when I ultimately have to shut it down to move it or something, I have to do it the ugly way: with the mechanical switch on the power supply. help!
FireWire?
An iPod question that has me stumped. I have an old firewire only iPod (2nd generation). I would like to sync it to a Windows computer that has an absolute lack to slots for a PCI card, but has four open usb 2 slots. I cannot find any sort of converter. Does anyone know if such a thing exists? They seem so similar.
CLEP exam advice?
I'm going to college...about 10 years late. My employer will pay for school, but not for another 6 months, and I want to get started now. My school will accept up to 45 credits through the CLEP exams. Anyone take them? Any advice on studying or strategies for taking them? Helpful books?
posted by horsemuth at 8:28 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by horsemuth at 8:28 PM PST - 8 comments
Do you tag stuff in the most individual way possible, or do you let tags overlap?
Tags. They're used everywhere on the Web now to categorize stuff, but not everything has a unique name. Do you tag stuff in the most individual way possible, or do you let tags overlap? For instance, if I post a picture of my computer screen and one of my house, do I tag them both "windows"? Or do I tag one "Microsoft Windows" and the other "house windows"? Is someone named "Chris Smith" stuck with being conglomerated with other people with the same name, or should I ask Chris Smith what his middle name is and add it to the tag? It's easy for New York City to get the tag "NYC", but should photos of Springfield, Illinois be "Springfield", "Springfield, IL", or "Springfield, Illinois"?
Favorite credit card rewards?
What's your favorite credit card and why? I'm currently using a Bankone Amazon.com Visa, which corresponds to 3% back for amazon purchases and 1% back for all other purchases in the form of $25 amazon gift certificates. I pay off my balance in full every month. Anyone particularly happy with the rewards they're getting from their credit cards?
Top open source projects?
I am putting together some research, and wanted to poll fellow MeFiers about what they think are the five (or two or ten) most influential or important open source projects, currently being worked on and why. Linux and Firefox are obvious, so what others would qualify -- Gaim? OpenCRX? I want to know your list, and why these would make it. [more inside]
Alex P. Keaton was an Auspie
My daughter came home last night with her school newspaper (written, designed, etc. by 4th and 5th graders). They interviewed a kid from their school who has Ausperger's syndrome, which I thought was very cool. I know just enough to recognize the name and the basics behind the syndrome. At the end of the article though they list a "fact" about Auspergers is that Bill Clinton, Albert Einstein, and Bill Gates are fellow Auspies. This is news to me, how about you? I can't seem to find any information that successfully contradicts or supports this unexpected claim. [more inside]
web-based DNS maintenance product
I'm looking for a web-based tool to allow customers of my ISP to manage their zone files. [more inside]
Mademoiselle Nation
Anyone know of any good books, plays, or other material about Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, a.k.a. "Mademoiselle Nation"? She was an eleven-year-old girl adopted by the French revolutionaries after her father's murder by a royalist. Her portrait by Jacques-Louis David is currently on display at the Getty in Los Angeles, and as the book blog Romancing the Tome says the story of her life would make for excellent reading. Surely she's found her way into print by now?
Disappering hard drive...
I hate to use AskMe for tech support like this but this has me scratching my head. Ok this is the set up...G4 (AGP) has the stock drive(20GB) and a Maxtor 150Gb drive on a Sonnet PCI ATA/100 card. Sporadically, and I emphisise that word, the big drive will either not be recognized at all or not mount because the drive shows up as having 0 Bytes as the drive size. What is the cause? --> [more inside]
posted by ShawnString at 2:39 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by ShawnString at 2:39 PM PST - 7 comments
iSucks
I recently purchased a 30GB iPod photo... as in purchased it a week ago. I love it to death except my case is horribly scratched! I'm obviously careful with it and have kept it in my pant pockets but the front and back have all these tiny scratches. It's like they made the case to scratch easily... any ideas that help reduce the tiny, albeit annoying scuffs? [more inside]
mov to mp3
Anyone know how I can create an .mp3 of the audio from a .mov video file on the same pc?
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 1:34 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 1:34 PM PST - 6 comments
five boro bike ride
Thinking about doing the five-boro bike ride in NYC this year. I'd like to hear experiences, opinions & advice from anybody who's done it. Is it too crowded to be fun? What kind of shape do I need to be in? What should I bring? How long will it take to finish?
Will this lead to Gangrene?
Every single morning when I wake up, my left hand and forearm are 'asleep'. Am I doing any long-term damage to the flesh/nerves of that hand by letting this continue to happen? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav at 1:17 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by anastasiav at 1:17 PM PST - 16 comments
Diabolical Brainstorm: what are ways, either real or imagined, that one could erase almost all human life on earth?
Diabolical Brainstorm: what are ways, either real or imagined, that one could erase almost all human life on earth? Don't worry. I'm not actually planning something. I'm curious about compiling a list of ways that humanity could be wiped out. This could be a real-world threat or a science fiction-type threat. [more inside]
Chris Rock routine?
I'm looking for a Chris Rock stand-up routine from several years back. He does a rant on Fried Chicken.. [more inside]
Where can I find a sack suit?
Where can I get a sack suit (in the style that was fashionable around 1860) for fairly cheap? [more inside]
Open link in new tab on doubleclick
Is there a way to make Firefox open a link in a new tab by double-clicking it? [more inside]
Needed: blocking software.
Looking for website blocking software. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by itchie at 12:17 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by itchie at 12:17 PM PST - 2 comments
What kind of sampler...?
Say you played synth semi-competently with a band. And say your responsibilities were to play fuzzy, low-end bass melodies, but occasionally you wanted to trigger noisy textural sounds simultaneously and manipulate them with effects--would you run your synth through a rackmount sampler, play with two synths, or buy a tabletop device (ex: Electribe) to add texture? [more inside]
IE Processes Gone Mad
When I run IE6 on my Win 2000 at work, over the course of the day I end up with about 25 ghost IE processes hogging up my RAM even though I have exited all IE windows. [more inside]
posted by Mid at 12:01 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Mid at 12:01 PM PST - 6 comments
Work + Theft + Insurance = ?
An associate, while returning from a work site after 5 p.m. and was on a personal errand, had his car broken into and along with personal items, his work laptop was stolen. His homeowner's insurance covered his personal items, but obviously would not cover his work owned laptop. His employer, on the other hand, is demanding that he pay for the cost of the laptop (a 3 year old Dell bought for approximately $700, which they consider to be worth $590). He works for a fairly large non-profit located in Maryland. The laptop was purchased with a technical grant, which I expect would have demanded insurance. And he doesn't believe that he signed anything that would have made him liable.
What are his rights?
What's a good gift for my newly employed friend.
My buddy just got hired, right out of university, by a big-shot consulting firm. What's a good, cheap gift I can give him? [more inside]
posted by sid at 11:37 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by sid at 11:37 AM PST - 18 comments
What are some 'newer' classic french films?
I'm looking for French films that could possibly be considered classics, but are also newer than the 40's/50's/60's gems. [more inside]
Is there any way I can have calls to my office forwarded through the Internet so it rings to my PC at home?
I want to work from home. The only thing stopping me is my damn office phone. I'd like to have that number forwarded through the Internet so I can answer it via my PC at home or wherever I happen to be (via wireless). [more inside]
A sad, sad song?
Is the Merle Haggard song "That's the Way Love Goes" a break up song? [more inside]
Moving to Dayton
I just found out yesterday that I will be moving to Dayton, OH. Lots of info is needed. [more inside]
Songs In The Key Of Bush
Songs about George W. Bush? [more inside]
Kurt Vonnegut: Where to begin?
What should I wear when I'm running?
I am not currently "in-shape". In past months, I've been thinking that it would be pretty awesome to run a marathon. Think big, right?
What do I need to go buy before I start? [more inside]
leaving on a jet plane
I've decided to go on vacation this year and I'm in the early stages of planning it. My style is backpack/hostel/budget travel. Yes, I already know about Let's Go and Lonely Planet. I'll be leaving 9/2 and coming back the 14th. I've got my destinations narrowed to the following: Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, or Moscow. Any experience/advice please.
CSS Help Request
Strange CSS problem with my departmental website when using cookies to set text sizes. On any font size but the standard, content is (correctly) centered. Using the standard size, content is left-justified. Both XHTML and CSS* validate. This is killing me. [more inside]
Automotive woes. In need of guru.
I need an automotive guru. I'm losing my mind. See if these symptoms add up to anything to you.
I've got a wobble in the front end. Here's what I know so far...(it's a bit of a saga)
If you figure it out, I'll buy you a beer. [more inside]
posted by gummo at 8:32 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by gummo at 8:32 AM PST - 11 comments
Good Historical Action Hero Movies?
Normally, I'm not a big fan of historical or period films, but lately I've been enjoying a few. Recently, I watched Braveheart and Gladiator, and now I'm wondering if anybody has any suggestions. I do enjoy epics, and I don't mind older films, so any ideas would be welcome. What historical hero movies do you recommend?
Burning Fat: Cardio or Fat Burning?
So I go to the gym semi-regularly and use the Elliptical machine. It has some built-in routines. One is called "fat-burning" and one is called "Cardio Workout". The fat burning sets a target heart rate in the 120's (number made up) while the Cardio sets my target heart rate somewhat higher -- maybe the low 140's. My question is, which will actually burn more fat, the Fat Burn or the Cardio?
posted by petestein1 at 8:08 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by petestein1 at 8:08 AM PST - 21 comments
renaissance florence reading?
NovelFilter: I just finished Romola, by Eliot, and didn't love it, but want to learn more about Florence in the era--a very interesting time, to put it mildly--with the Medicis, Savanarola, etc. Any good novels or non-boring non-fiction on Florence in the late 1400s-early 1500s?
Which sewing machine to get?
I am utterly convinced that I need a sewing machine. But I have absolutely no idea where to begin. [more inside]
What's your favorite music to exercise to?
What's your favorite music to exercise to?
Computer Software for Recording
I'm looking to record on my PC ( I have adequate Hardware) some music using guitars, bass, vocals, and some other instruments. I need suggestions for a good software program to use (money is not a problem) for the basic recording/tracking and a good program to create drum tracks from scratch. Please see extended explanation for more details. [more inside]
How can I get my site off internet filter blacklists?
I have a website that I maintain for my middle school soccer team. It has the usual stuff: practice schedules, game schedules, rosters, stats, etc. Sometimes I will post fun things related to soccer on the site. For some reason, the site is being blocked by internet filtering software at the school, the public library, and even in some homes.
What can I do to get my site unblocked by filtering software?
Custom built computers
What are some good companies that build customized notebooks? I'm looking for a level of customization/options like VoodooPC.
Why do links to anchor tags in my pages turn the # into %35, and thus break?
Why do links in my anchor tags turn the # into %35 and thus break? Any idea why - and (most importantly) how to fix it. (yeah, I know I should scrap this cumbersome system and move to WordPress - it's my plan, but I don't have time at the moment). [more inside]
Itchy fingers.
Every so often a finger on my left hand twitches involuntarily. Why is this? [more inside]
I want to start programming under OS X. Where to start?
I've done some programming in my time (Basic & Turbo Pascal way back when), shifted more to the web side of everything about 8 years ago (procedural PHP server-side and HTML&JS&CSS client-side).
Having recently purchased a mac mini, and hearing the gospel of how easy it is to program with carbon & cocoa, does anybody have any recommendations (books) on where to start? [more inside]
To lint or not to lint -
Maybe this should be titled 'To de-lint or not to de-lint.' My Dad is living with me for a few weeks and we've had some heated discussions about dryer lint. In the interest of peace (and the possibility of not having to do any dishes for a week) - please share your knowledge or opinion. [more inside]
Where should I attach a pick-up on my violin
Where is the best place on a violin to attach a DiMarzio Acoustic Model Pickup? The band's got a gig tonight, the pick-up is new and we want the best sound possible from the fiddle. [more inside]
Help us raise $10,001 for Relay for Life!
I'm on a fundraising team for Relay for Life. We've set a fundraising goal of $10,001. Other than hitting up family, friends, and local businesses, what are some good ways to raise a lot of money quickly?
March 17
Proportional programming fonts
Following Bjarne Stroustrup's lead in The C++ Programming Language, 3rd edition I've for several years programmed in a proportionally spaced, not a fixed-width, font. What's a good font for this? [more inside]
Does anyone experience weak hands after laughing hard?
Every once in a while, after I laugh long and hard, I lose strength in my hands and even a little in my arms. Does that sound familiar to anyone? [more inside]
Suggestions for DV Camera Purchase?
I'm looking for a Digital Video camera but am at a loss as to what to look for, what technologies are on the horizon (that are, perhaps, worth waiting for), etc., etc.. [more inside]
posted by Lactoso at 11:12 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Lactoso at 11:12 PM PST - 10 comments
Staying in touch with old friends
Despite my best intentions, I'm not especially good at keeping in contact with people. How do you stay in touch with friends after you've parted ways? [more inside]
Homeless or incarcerated?
I live in a city with a fairly high homeless population, and sometimes I wonder why the *really* destitute people (those seemingly beyond any help) don't just commit a crime bad enough that they would get put in jail for several years, where they would at least receive 3 meals a day, regular lodging, medical attention and the chance to learn some sort of skill or get a GED or something. I imagine a great majority of the homeless have a drug and/or alcohol addiction that they realize couldn't continue in prison, but is that the driving factor? If you were beyond hope and had to choose to either be homeless or incarcerated for the better part of your life, which would you choose?
Poem interpretation...
So I found this poem that, back in high school, I found in one of the poetry books I was obsessed with. It brought back great memories! I'm 28 now and still love it. Just curious to hear anyone's thoughts. [more inside]
posted by camfys at 9:29 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by camfys at 9:29 PM PST - 12 comments
Is longer better?
The decision is made, and a Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag pistol I will buy. But, is the longer barrel better? [more inside]
posted by Wulfgar! at 9:19 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by Wulfgar! at 9:19 PM PST - 16 comments
How much does it cost to release an album that's already been recorded?
How much does it cost to release an album that's already been recorded? [more inside]
laptop numlock problems
how do i stop numlock being on from being the default when i logon to my IBM laptop. MI [more inside]
Why do dogs sing?
Why do dogs sing? [more inside]
Answer cell phone without opening?
I have an LG 6000 cell phone, and I want to be able to answer it while riding on my bicycle, but not have to fumble to open it. [more inside]
Can't adjust the Date and Time on my pc {mi}
When I try to adjust the date and time on my pc, I get the ol' " Not responding" message. As a simple crustacean with limited skills, I need some help. {MI}
posted by lobstah at 7:44 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by lobstah at 7:44 PM PST - 8 comments
Setting up a spoken word studio environment with a Mac
I have the latest PowerBook G4 and would like to set something up in my home to record spoken word. I'm looking for recommendations on preamps, microphones and maybe software. From what I have read GarageBand can record vocals just fine. Does anyone have any experience they could share on that subject as well? Cost isn't really an issue, but I don't need anything super fancy or complicated.
posted by whatevrnvrmind at 4:49 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by whatevrnvrmind at 4:49 PM PST - 7 comments
How do I get php working in Ubuntu Hoary
So I upgraded from warty warthog to hoary hedgehog and something broke PHP on my box. Any ideas as to where I should look to fix this.
I already have:
DirectoryIndex index.html index.htm index.shtml index.cgi index.php
and
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
in my httpd.conf file.
posted by outofpaper at 4:38 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by outofpaper at 4:38 PM PST - 5 comments
Legal post-broadcast online TV
The combined public broadcasting networks in the Netherlands put a lot of their shows online to be viewed (legally) after they air at Uitzending Gemist (Missed Broadcast). Do broadcasters in your country offer a similar service?
Voice chat software?
Does anyone have recommendations as to voice chat software for a forum? We'd ideally like to have a regulated chat room in vbulletin where one person has voice control (for a lesson type environment), but standalone software could work too (except paltalk). Ability to control who can enter the chat is a must.
How to load new documents in a single instance of SciTE
I've decided to move on from my favourite UltraEdit to the up and coming SciTE. However, I have one annoying "feature" that's stopping me from falling in love with SciTE. I have yet to figure out how to stop it from creating separate instances when loading multiple documents. [more inside]
posted by furtive at 2:20 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by furtive at 2:20 PM PST - 3 comments
That movie with the animated corpse
More "please identify this movie for me:" I'm trying to track down a horror movie featuring a taxidermied old lady and a maze. [more inside]
CSS Help: Weird IE bug when displaying DIVs
CSSfilter: Help with weird IE bug when displaying DIVs? [more inside]
How do I get my mitts on good, local, legal email lists?
I'm trying to market cool events happening at my (reputable) workplace to families with young children, and some other cool events to young professionals. We have a lovely and responsibly kept email list here of our own constituents, but we want to expand into new territory to promote events. [more inside]
posted by By The Grace of God at 1:19 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by By The Grace of God at 1:19 PM PST - 2 comments
Offbeat Sans Fonts
Lately, I've taken an interest in simple but slightly offbeat sans fonts, such as Rotis, Indosans, Elemental, et.al.
What other sans fonts would you recommend that have clean, simple shapes, with some quirkiness and character mixed in? [more inside]
Weight loss and vertical leap
BasicPhysicsFilter: Everything else being equal, how much would my vertical leap improve if I lost 10% of my weight without losing any muscle?
posted by callmejay at 12:16 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by callmejay at 12:16 PM PST - 11 comments
musician/non-musician collaboration tips
Tips for a musician collaborating with a "non-musician"? [more inside]
Build a little birdhouse.
My mother-in-law has a new hobby: building (upscale) birdhouses out of salvaged materials. She'd like to sell a few pieces, but needs a catchy name for her enterprise. (Um, something better than my contribution, "Birdhouses by B.") Suggestions? Thanks.
Counting coins
A friend needs to deposit sums of money in US quarters, and the bank wants him to count it himself and tell them how much exactly is there, or they'll charge him a fee for the wrong amount. It is usually about 50 pounds (about $1,000). He will not use the stupid "Star" machines and pay 6 or 10% "counting" fees. Any ideas of how to quickly count sacks of money? (he does not have kids)
New York City - Recommended Hotels or Hostels
Dear New York City Mefites, I've got a bit of an unexpected trip to your fair city and am looking for recommendations for hotels or hostels. I'm hoping you can recommend places that I'm missing because they either don't have a web page, or are buried beneath massive piles of seo inflated sites. [more inside]
posted by lpqboy at 10:10 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by lpqboy at 10:10 AM PST - 19 comments
Neck cracking
Is it a bad idea for me to be popping/cracking my neck? [more inside]
Any fashionable plus size shops for women in New York?
I'm coming to New York in August and want to take advantage of the dollar to top up my wardrobe, however my googleing for shops for the larger lady have not been fruitful. Can any ladies in NY give me any pointers? [more inside]
Learning JAVA
I would like to start teaching myself JAVA and SQL but I'm not sure where to start in terms of what I need on my computer. [more inside]
NCAA Tourney
What site(s) would you recommend using to listen to live streaming audio of this year's men's NCAA tournament? Preferably free sites, but any recommendations are appreciated. Thank you.
Afternoon Exhaustion
Every day I leave for work feeling energetic, spend the morning the same, but by afternoon I am exhausted. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by leapingsheep at 9:08 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by leapingsheep at 9:08 AM PST - 25 comments
Candy & Quitting Smoking
I have recently quit smoking and thanks to the oral-fixation soothing powers of Altoids, I've been doing fairly well. Unfortunately... [more inside]
posted by headspace at 8:26 AM PST - 40 comments
posted by headspace at 8:26 AM PST - 40 comments
OS X upgrade question
I'm thinking about buying my first Mac, an iBook G4, 12". If I buy it today, with OS X "Panther", will I have to pay to upgrade to "Tiger" next month? [more inside]
BPD Treatment
Has anyone had any success with treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder?
Salvia Divinorum
I was wondering what the side effects and dangers of Salvia Divinorum are. Are there any mefites out there with experiences and/or information related to this plant? [more inside]
UNIX Recursive file renaming based on patterns
Unix folks: How can I recursively find all files with a certain string in their filename, replace that string with another string, and rename them with the new filename? [more inside]
posted by turaho at 7:34 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by turaho at 7:34 AM PST - 19 comments
Why is this the universal representation of a factory?
Why does the universal representation of a factory include a series of right triangles on the roof? (warning, .gifs inside) [more inside]
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:59 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:59 AM PST - 18 comments
What to write in people's birthday cards?
As the fourth "collectively-signed birthday card for a colleague" this week passed my desk today I realised that I just couldn't come up with anything clever, trite, humourous, etc. to say.... [more inside]
posted by lazywhinerkid at 6:48 AM PST - 22 comments
posted by lazywhinerkid at 6:48 AM PST - 22 comments
How can I automatically remove unused styles from a Word doc?
Some of my MS Word docs (Microsoft Word 2003, Windows XP) have been through many hands and have many styles defined. Lots of these styles are garbage. Other than doing it manually (stepping through all of the styles one by one, checking whether each style is in use, and then deleting the styles I don't need), is there a way to remove all styles that are not used in a document?
March 16
Why is mint the premier flavour for dental hygiene?
A question from the young 'un I couldn't answer. There are lots of clean crisp flavours out there: why are toothpaste, floss and other dental/oral products stereotypically mint-flavoured, and not, say, clove or cinnamon? Is it simple popularity, or is there a technical reason?
A good name for an event
We are staging a fundraiser for a community radio station, based on two programmes; Black and Blue (The lowdown of beats and forgotten soul nuggets. Funk starts here) and Giant Steps (Jazz for the 21st Century)
We need a good name for the event. Something that sums up the styles of music and is catchy enough for a poster. Any suggestions? [more inside]
Short final for Red Square
Is this photograph of Mathias Rust's plane faked? [more inside]
BBEdit equivalency?
On the Mac, if I need to munge text in extremis, I prefer to use BBEdit. Recently, on the PC, I am finding myself in need of a text editor which is similar to BBEdit. I will use it both for coding and for text-cleaning. I prefer freeware and shareware but that's by no means the deciding factor. Which programs should I check out? Which should I avoid? [more inside]
Yee-haw movie within movie?
YEEEEEE-HAW!! What movie did I see in the last ten years, in which our characters are watching a western in which people say the above approximately thirty times in succession? [more inside]
posted by Aknaton at 7:06 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Aknaton at 7:06 PM PST - 6 comments
Extra rails
HP Commercial Effect
Deconstruct-the-magic-filter: In the latest series of HP commercials, there is this really neat effect where people wave photographs around and they meld seamlessly with the footage, and vice versa. How do they accomplish this? I'm not easily stumped by this kind of thing, but I really have no idea.
Wedding ceremonies
WeddingFilter: My wedding ceremony will be secular. A friend will officiate. So we need to plan out the ceremony on our own. What is your advice for planning a meaningful ceremony? [more inside]
International E-Commerce?
I helped a friend set up a couple PayPal buttons to sell some things online, which worked great until we ran into a new kind of customer: the international. How can people outside the US who don't want/have Paypal accounts buy her stuff online?
CD Club fun!
I've been thinking of joining a CD club, like Columbia House. [more inside]
How to Find a Pinball Machine?
After reading this metafilter thread, it occured to me that I would love to have a pinball machine in my rec room. [more inside]
Who's the comic book housewife?
The last wive in the Desperate Housewives titles. Who is she? Is she from something? Does this style of cartoon have a name?
posted by cillit bang at 4:27 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by cillit bang at 4:27 PM PST - 10 comments
Adoption and foster parenting
What can you tell me about your experiences giving/raising/being an adopted child? [more inside]
Do your eyes pop?
Me and my boyfriend have discovered a strange thing - those little bobbles on the inside corners of your eyes will "pop" sometimes. Obviously everyone has the bobbles, but do yours "pop"? [more inside]
Sweater Issues: Wizard's Sleeve and Hanger Shoulder
I hung up a wet sweater on a hanger to dry, and now it has ;ugly hanger lumps on the shoulders. A few other sweaters are starting to flare out at the sleeves. Any tips on how to fix these without buying new sweaters? I don't have an iron.
posted by brownpau at 3:35 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by brownpau at 3:35 PM PST - 9 comments
KVM Recommendations for Mac and PC?
Can anyone recommend a good KVM that will allow me to share my SVGA monitor, USB keyboard and mouse between a Mac Mini and PC?
Where can I find Oprah torrents?
Where can I find torrents (or other downloadable media) of Oprah's daily shows? Not surprisingly, Oprah isn't carried on most of the tv torrent sites.
vacation filter - sun and warmth
vacation filter: recommendations for vacation spots in the next couple weeks? - off the beaten path, sun, surf, adventure, tranquility. [more inside]
Need help with Wordpress/CSS
My Wordpress-based site looks perfect in Firefox, but terrible in IE. Can someone with a few minutes give me some advice? Here's my index.php and the CSS. The problem seems to be the with my supernavcontainer div (which contains my menu at the top).
The Guardian in the US
What ever happened the the plan to begin publishing an US edition of The Guardian?
How can I save a hosed Windows partition from Linux?
My FAT32 Windows partition melted the other day; attempting to boot it now results in errors citing "nonvalid links" for most files on the system, unspecified errors, and a reboot. Fortunately a Linux partition on the same disk was unaffected and I've been able to use it to back up my data. Since the data is still accessible (nothing I've checked so far seems to be corrupted) I'm wondering if there is a way to rebuild the index/toc/whatever it is that's resulting in "nonvalid links" from Linux rather than having to reinstall everything.
I've never really used Linux for anything other than playing Tuft Racer and growing disillusioned about the promise of open source, but my guess is that the solution involves fsck. My efforts in that vein have been stymied by the error:
fsck: fsck.vfat: not found
and I don't know how to rectify that. Thank you AskMe I love you all in advance and I was just kidding with the open sores jab.
Please, I am writing this in emacs, send help whatchamacallits - where can I get one?
I had one when I was a kid, and I want one again. What do you call the tablet/thingy where you write or draw on a piece of plastic which is atop a waxy piece of cardboard, and when you don't what you've drawn or written anymore, you can peel the plastic up and make the thing you wrote/drew disappear? It came with a plastic writing implement. Does anyone make a smallish version that I can use at my desk?
posted by iconomy at 2:02 PM PST - 26 comments
posted by iconomy at 2:02 PM PST - 26 comments
the trouble with dvd players
Why don't most DVD players have arrow keys on the face of the unit? [more inside]
Hey programmers? Any experience on switching from full time to consulting?
After 5 years working my full time corporate programming day job I'm almost ready to give up the security to spend the majority of my time on exciting non-profit open source projects. But for various reasons I want to keep the corporate job on a consulting basis. Any advice on how to negotiate going from full time to part time? [more inside]
posted by lips at 1:12 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by lips at 1:12 PM PST - 6 comments
Email Misdirection
I've received an e-mail addressed to someone else. How or why might this happen? [more inside]
How do I transfer passwords from Mozilla to Firefox?
How do I transfer my saved passwords from Mozilla 1.7.1 to Firefox 1.0.1? The "Import" option under the File menu didn't work.
I need new headphones
I need new headphones. Which ones should I get? [more inside]
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:02 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:02 PM PST - 17 comments
Living in Oregon
What can you tell me about Portland, OR? The good, the bad and the indifferent? [more inside]
.WMF/.EMF to .EPS Conversion
Please offer your recommendations on the best cheap/free .WMF/.EMF to .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) conversion utility. Win98 or XP. Application: getting t-shirts silkscreened. Thanks.
mouse-trainer needed
How does this work? Momus led my horse to water, but she refuses to drink. [more inside]
posted by red cell at 10:09 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by red cell at 10:09 AM PST - 5 comments
PCRDist where art thou?
Where is PCRDist and what has become of the source? [more inside]
Looking for two movie titles
I'm going to jump on the 'name that movie' bandwagon and ask for help in identifying two movies from the mid-80's (I think) --> [more inside]
posted by widdershins at 9:49 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by widdershins at 9:49 AM PST - 20 comments
Child care vs. Nanny
Which is better for a short term (3+/- mos): Hiring a nanny or sending your infant to child care? The child is coming on 15 months, and a second income is imperative. [more inside]
Independent internet media
Examples of news websites that are are independently owned? I'm interested in sites that generate news (as opposed to just commentary), and that are not owned by traditional media outlets (as opposed to sites like Slate, which is owned by Washington Post).
Can a Mac and PC ever learn to live together?
I just bought a new PC and would like to set it up so I can wirelessly share a cable internet connection with an older mac. [more inside]
posted by Kellydamnit at 9:19 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by Kellydamnit at 9:19 AM PST - 5 comments
Fassbinder recommendations?
You've never seen a Rainer Werner Fassbinder movie. Where do you start? Keep in mind that maybe some of your favorite German movies are the solemn and detached poetics of Werner Herzog, esp. the flawless (in your opinion of course) Aguirre, the Wrath of God. But you're not sure if this applies.
Online movie listings
Is there a reliable, region-specific, and, most importantly, FREE source for movie listings that can be incorporated into another website (i.e. RSS feed)? [more inside]
CMS for Newspaper Sites?
I'm working on a project to bring a relatively new local GLBT newspaper online. Is there a CMS product (preferably open source) out there that I can setup for this purpose? My web skills are minor, so I'd like something as out of the box as possible that won't have me in fits trying to set it up. I know there are several options for non-open source software, but they get very expensive, very quickly. [more inside]
Removing about: blank
My computer has been jacked by the about: blank bug. [more inside]
Help, my browser's resizing images!
Hello all. I have a problem that on some sites that hotlink images directly to me, the images are coming to me resized. For example, the page is doing a width="500" on every image, making larger images smaller, and smaller images larger. Is there a way to prevent this from happening? Happens in both IE and FF. And I'm not talking about the automatic image resizing option. [more inside]
posted by eas98 at 8:51 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by eas98 at 8:51 AM PST - 6 comments
Calling all songwriters
How do musicians write songs? Do they typically write the words then the music to those words...or the other way around? Or does it happen spontaneously so that some artists do it either way depending on their influence?
posted by SparkyPine at 8:30 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by SparkyPine at 8:30 AM PST - 17 comments
Conspiracy Theory
What is the origin of the often-used phrase "conspiracy theory?"
Warming Tortillas
Does anyone know of an easy, quick method for heating up refrigerated corn tortillas? I love corn tortillas, and have found some great ones here in Brooklyn that I buy for a buck a package. (I like to eat tortillas and scrambled eggs for breakfast.) But I have had difficulty coming up with some way to warm corn tortillas both effectively and quickly. One way I have tried is to do each one on a hot iron skillet without grease. This works well, but takes a lot of time, about a minute or two per tortilla. I have tried heating them in a toaster oven, but this dries them out. A microwave makes them kind of chewy. My sense is that some method involving steam might work, but I haven't found it. Any ideas anyone? I'm sure that there exists an easy, simple method somewhere.
posted by Alex Marshall at 7:53 AM PST - 32 comments
posted by Alex Marshall at 7:53 AM PST - 32 comments
Noise canceling headphones?
I want to get a nice set of noise canceling headphones, and would appreciate some first-hand reviews. [more inside]
What Balzac book should I start with?
ClassicLitFilter: I've been wanting to try out some of Honore de Balzac's books but don't know where to start - suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Napa Restaurants
My boss and wife are taking a trip to Napa and asking this ex-Californian for good restaurants, where would you send them... [more inside]
gmail
does anybody have a gmail invitation which they could please forward to me? & if anybody else is interested, perhaps we could pay it forward again? [more inside]
International Money Transfers
MoneyFilter: I get paid in the US and I live and work pretty much everywhere (mainly Europe). I've had it trying to transfer chunks of cash between the US and abroad: it's slow, expensive and a pain-in-the-neck. Any electronic/web-based solutions to this that people have been happy with? [more inside]
MPEG standards
The MPEG website seems pretty dead. Is anyone doing anything interesting with MPEG-7? Is anyone doing anything interesting with MPEG-21?
PCs: Is Random Really Random?
I have set my screensaver to play "My Pictures Slideshow" and notice that some pictures appear much more frequently than others. I have noticed this with other programs as well. Is there a process or formula the processor uses in these cases. Is random really random?
Quick SQL Primers
After a year of employment, my boss is suddenly asking me to use my skills in SQL. It has been a year since I used them, and I need to brush up. [more inside]
Printing encrypted PDFs
I have a PDF file that doesn't want to print. The print commands are grayed out in Acrobat Reader. The lock symbol appears indicating that the document is encrypted to prevent modification of "certain aspects". However, I have other documents which appear to have similar encryption that print fine. Is the encryption causing this problem? If not, then what is? How can I work round the problem?
posted by nthdegx at 3:49 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by nthdegx at 3:49 AM PST - 10 comments
Dealing with post-traumatic stress
How do you deal with post-traumatic stress? An incedent happened to me a couple of days ago that I just can't seem to shake... [more inside]
Quick
Is there a way to "quick copyright" a musical composition? [more inside]
Help me find a specific clock for my house...
Some years ago I saw a clock, which appeared to be made from 'valves' sticking out of a metal block...inside the valves was an old fashioned illuminated number. So the clock was digital, with old fashioned (think 60's space programme) orange digits...it was quite expensive, and now I have gainful employment and a half-decent house to put in, I want to track one down. Any ideas?
posted by mattr at 2:28 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by mattr at 2:28 AM PST - 6 comments
Phonetic Swedish
Phonetic Swedish: How do I pronounce the words of this song? [more inside]
posted by monkey closet at 12:41 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by monkey closet at 12:41 AM PST - 4 comments
How do I keep my speakers from muting when using headphones?
How in the world can I keep Windows XP from automatically muting the speakers when headphones are plugged in? [more inside]
posted by Stunt at 12:24 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by Stunt at 12:24 AM PST - 9 comments
March 15
program for autofire click?
Is there a macro program that will auto fire click for me? [more inside]
Superior free software?
What examples are there of consumer-grade open source software whose quality surpasses that of closed source, proprietary software? [more inside]
Coffeshop Wifi Social Networking Application
In the last week or so I came across a tool online for coffee shop owners who want to offer wifi to their customers. It was a mix between friendster, plazes, and a generic login system, where the user would create an account, tell the system a little about themselves, upload a photo, etc., and they'd be able to see who else was there at the coffee shop using the WiFi connection, and information about them too. I think it was open source and it seemed like a cool idea. I cannot find the link now, can anyone help?
Perl, CGI, and Apache
I have a Perl script which is supposed to handle user registration. It works fine from the command line (perl blah.pl "username=blah&password=blah") but doesn't modify the file it's supposed to modify when run as a CGI script in Apache 2.0. [more inside]
posted by IshmaelGraves at 9:56 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by IshmaelGraves at 9:56 PM PST - 2 comments
Two player card games
One deck of cards. Two of us. What's the best game to play?
help me see again
I'm shopping around for good sunglasses to replace my battered old A Wires. I'm thinking about getting prescription lenses for whatever I buy. Anyone have any experience buying sunglasses with prescription lenses? [more inside]
Sniffin' Sticky-Tak?
I've gotten carded at a grocery store for buying Sticky-Tak, otherwise known as adhesive putty. There has to be an explanation for it, but I don't know what it is. Send help.
Attention Deficit Disor... what?
I've got a kid 'round here recently diagnosed as very likely ADD. What now? [more inside]
Custom cabinets or DIY?
Can it be cost-effective to build your own kitchen cabinets from scratch vs. buying and installing them yourself? [more inside]
A Good sounding phone for VOIP?
VOIP Saga, Episode IV. I've got a VoicePulse VOIP account. It's stable and doesn't sound bad; better than the cheaper BroadVoice(BroadVox?) account I canceled; and better than a cell phone. But is it possible that certain telephone brands/models will actually make it sound better; closer to classic telephony?
What does air do to your heart?
So what happens when you accidentally inject 2 mLs of air directly into a vein via an IV? [more inside]
posted by bh at 7:12 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by bh at 7:12 PM PST - 12 comments
Non-U.S. Politics
Are there political weblogs that do not discuss only U.S. politics? [more inside]
Engaing in Viral Marketing, yea or nay?
Say you've got a political action website that you fund out of your own shallow pockets. Say that in addition to helping bring about what you see as positive political change, one of your motivations is to maybe find a name and/or good job for yourself in the future. Pretend it's successful, but in intangible ways. You're still poor and still hope to someday get out of your dreary 8-5 shit job. Say your site got noticed by the right people and is having the sort of effect you wanted it to, but you have a decision to make... [more inside]
lyrical confusion
I don't understand the lyrics of a Billie Holiday song and a Robert Johnson song. [more inside]
posted by rdr at 5:38 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by rdr at 5:38 PM PST - 12 comments
Imprting Thuderbird into OSX Mail.
I am trying to import Mail Folders from Thunderbird into Mac Mail. [more inside]
posted by seanyboy at 4:48 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by seanyboy at 4:48 PM PST - 4 comments
papers please...
I was asked for identification today, to purchase a gallon of mineral spirits at WalMart. Does anyone know if this is due to new legislation, or is WM doing this on their own? The clerk told me I could expect to be ID'd for many other items in the future.
I'm also curious if they think I'm making bombs or drugs.
posted by pekar wood at 4:08 PM PST - 36 comments
posted by pekar wood at 4:08 PM PST - 36 comments
Piss On You, originally what?
Was Dave Chapelle's R. Kelly "tribute" song, "Piss On You" based on an actual R. Kelly track? [more inside]
posted by jimmereeno at 4:00 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by jimmereeno at 4:00 PM PST - 7 comments
Gender in French language
Please explain to a clueless person how genders are decided in French language... [more inside]
Customizable geek schwag?
I've recently trained a person in each of our branch offices into roles where they will be the IT Liaisons for the 40 or so people in that office. What should I get them for "graduation?" [more inside]
Penetrating Wagner's Ring
As the result of there being 3 simultaneous Ring Cycles going on in London right now, all of which I have been attending and enjoying immensely, I have become worryingly addicted to Wagner's tetralogy. Any recommendations for further reading that will deepen my understanding of the work? [more inside]
HTML editor
What HTML editor would you give your dad? OK, it's not my dad, but you get the point. I'm looking for a very simple WYSIWYG Windows HTML editor that will allow a computer novice to easily edit static pages on one of my hosted web servers. [more inside]
posted by rolypolyman at 1:47 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by rolypolyman at 1:47 PM PST - 17 comments
How do you put a positive spin on
Long story short, I have my yearly evaluation tomorrow. While I've rocked my way through 80 percent of my duties, there are two areas my new boss has marked for improvement in the coming year. How do I get the most out of the part of the evaluation where we discuss my shortcomings? [more inside]
Ethnic maps?
1. Are there maps anywhere that show the geographical distribution of ethnicities and religions accross different regions?
2. Or, does a program exist where I could plug in preference for different feilds (example: religion, climate, geography) and it would spit out the closest region to such specifications? [more inside]
posted by scazza at 1:09 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by scazza at 1:09 PM PST - 4 comments
That scary tingly feeling
So today, I was driving down the road in pretty thick traffic and had to hit my brakes really hard to avoid a crash. As always, with every adrenaline related incident, I got this very sudden tingly feeling all over, most notably in my neck. What is the physical cause of this? Muscles tightening, increased blood flow or something completely different?
Talking alarm clock
I'm looking for a specific funny alarm clock that I saw about three or four years ago in Target. [more inside]
posted by daninnj at 12:54 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by daninnj at 12:54 PM PST - 5 comments
Speeddating
Speeddating advice. I've been roped into an event at the end of this month and on reflection I'm looking forward to it. Some tips and advice would be useful though. [more inside]
posted by i_cola at 12:30 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by i_cola at 12:30 PM PST - 13 comments
Help me pick a laptop!
I've decided to buy my first ever laptop of my own (ie not a cast-off from a parent.) I know what I want it to do/have in functional terms, but I don't know enough about hardware to really make a truly educated choice. [more inside]
Graphic novel form of Paradise Lost
I am intrigued by Paradise Lost, but looking over it quickly in the bookstore … well it looks hard. Is there a nice graphic novel version which will gradually ease me into it?
Can you tighten laptop screen hinges?
Please help! My laptop's screen hinges just recently became really loose--is this fixable, or am I screwed? [more inside]
Why does crying when you have PMS make you feel better?
Why does crying when you have PMS make you feel better? [more inside]
posted by stoneegg21 at 11:50 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by stoneegg21 at 11:50 AM PST - 8 comments
books on british colonialism
i am interested in recommendations for novels about british colonial period (india, africa, etc). what are your favorites?
Catholicism in *Anti-Intellectualism in American Life*
As a non-Catholic, I have a (very long) question about the depiction of American Catholicism in Richard Hofstadter's book Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. [more inside]
What's a good long distance carrier for Toronto?
Can you recommend a good long distance telephone provider? I'm in Toronto, I make perhaps 1-6 long distance calls a year, I call only within Ontario, and getting billed for monthly network fees regardless of whether I've called long distance that month really gets my tailfeathers in a twist.
Mapping URIs as Drives with Python and Win32
I've fallen hard for Python and have been searching for a project to really learn the language with. I'd like to create functionality similar to Windows "Map Network Drive" for URIs using Python, urllib, etc. My questions are: does this seem possible for someone with a decent programming background (but no formal CS training)? Is it a good idea? [more inside]
posted by yerfatma at 11:22 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by yerfatma at 11:22 AM PST - 8 comments
Buying a car
I am looking to buy a car for around $5-6000 dollars. What's the best way of finding a car online? Also, I know nothing about cars. What suggestions do you folks have for brands, features, etc. I should look for?
SQL 2000 Monitoring
I am trying to implement SQL mail fonctionnality for monitoring purpose under win2k / sql2k, only problem is to be configurer properly it must first obtain its parameter from Microsoft Mail API (MAPI) thru an already configured mail account, these are production servers and i don't feel too good about installing Outlook or Outlook express just to get an account configured so i can use this fonctionnnality. is there a way around this ?
I am aware of several monitoring solution offered by third parties and i accept proposition (please no astroturfin') but I want to get that build in feature to work first.. anyone ?
Thanks
Selfsck
posted by selfsck at 10:46 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by selfsck at 10:46 AM PST - 4 comments
Kids TV
I need help remembering a kids TV show where the main character was painted on a juice glass. [more inside]
posted by helvetica at 9:47 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by helvetica at 9:47 AM PST - 9 comments
Best Vegan places in San Francisco?
Help us celebrate a joyous reunion! What are some of the best restaurants for vegetarians and vegans in San Francisco? [more inside]
Decrippling a Blackberry 7100t?
I just upgraded to a Blackberry 7100t, and in my (crappy!) research totally missed the fact that the Bluetooth is crippled. [more inside]
posted by Mutant at 9:05 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by Mutant at 9:05 AM PST - 2 comments
Can I charhe my Shuffle on other computers?
iPod ShuffleFilter - can I charge my shuffle on a computer without iTunes? I'd like to leave it to charge on my work computer while out for lunch, but despite my Google Fu cannot find out if this is ok for the device.
MFA-filter: photography or writing?
Movable Type Installation Error
I managed to install movable type to my server without a hitch, but on the mt-load.cgi page I got a long error... [more inside]
T-shirt cotton conundrum
I have a lot of cotton t-shirts, of the medium-to-heavy weight kind that usually have something printed on them. There seem to be two distinct kinds of cotton fabric in the shirts:
Good: After a few washes, the shirt becomes soft and kind of broken in. Bad: the shirt never really becomes soft or broken in, and worse, inevitably comes out of the dryer with (clean) lint and cat hair all over it. So I have two questions about this:
1. What accounts for the different outcomes for two 100% cotton shirts?
2. Is there any solution, ASIDE from using fabric softener? Any non-nasty alternatives to fabric softener?
posted by everichon at 8:29 AM PST - 9 comments
1. What accounts for the different outcomes for two 100% cotton shirts?
2. Is there any solution, ASIDE from using fabric softener? Any non-nasty alternatives to fabric softener?
posted by everichon at 8:29 AM PST - 9 comments
Accessing very old Mac files
I have been asked by a friend to open and archive some very, very old Mac files. [more inside]
Page layout software?
Any recommendations for inexpensive, effective page layout software? [more inside]
Chipotle recipes
I've fallen in love with Chipotle peppers (specifically those packed in adobo sauce)...i'm looking for a few good, simple, recipes using these smokey and slimy little delights... [+] [more inside]
Looking for The Roots/The Seed Remix?
I heard a track on the local radio that has the lyrics from The Seed 2.0 by The Roots. It's a track on Phrenology, but the sample on Amazon sounds nothing like what I remember. [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke at 5:27 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by andrew cooke at 5:27 AM PST - 11 comments
Where to get postcodes and map them to distances?
I'd like to store people's postcodes and work out distances between them. I think I need a postcode-to-coordinates database, and then a way of working out the distances... [more inside]
Wound that could have healed cleanly, but ended up as a very ugly scar
Is there a word in any language that means "wound that could have healed cleanly, but ended up as a very ugly scar"?
CMS on Microsoft servers
I'm working for a large, well-known organisation, which is looking for a content management system that will run well (and securely) on Windows 2003 servers. [more inside]
Coin Laundry start-up
I'm considering starting a coin laundry business. Can I have some suggestions for a good name? (It would be in Australia, so international pre-established names A-OK) Also has anyone here been in the business? Pitfalls, potential? [more inside]
posted by Dag Maggot at 3:44 AM PST - 36 comments
posted by Dag Maggot at 3:44 AM PST - 36 comments
March 14
Emigration to Australia or Ireland
As an American, how difficult is it to emigrate to either Australia or Ireland? [more inside]
posted by mexican at 10:10 PM PST - 23 comments
posted by mexican at 10:10 PM PST - 23 comments
orange taxicabs labeled yellow
Why do some American transport companies named
"Yellow" paint their vehicles orange? [more inside]
posted by Rash at 9:14 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by Rash at 9:14 PM PST - 12 comments
twee twee twetwetwe. badabadump.
So, the Office Season 2 episode 1 opens up with a little impromptu song performance. What song and what is it from? [more inside]
posted by graventy at 8:25 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by graventy at 8:25 PM PST - 10 comments
Help me avoid being homeless in Baltimore
Calling Baltimore Mefites!!! I'm in a serious bind, I need a 1room place to live this week in Charles Village. All online resources are aimed at Hopkins kids and way over priced. [more inside]
the name of that one place
I was in this restaurant/bar a few weeks ago, but I don't remember the name. It's in New York near Rivington and Suffolk. Any ideas?
posted by airguitar at 6:35 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by airguitar at 6:35 PM PST - 9 comments
My shins burn when I walk.
My shins burn when I walk on a treadmill. Please tell me how to make it stop. [more inside]
Bicycle Lock Recommendations?
So I'm living Chico, a great bicycle town, and I got my treasured cruiser (over 6' long, black & cream, whitewall tires) out of storage. Bike theft and vandalism is a pretty big problem here, and I was wondering what people are using to lock their bikes in the wake of the Kryptonite lock issues. Bonus points for something that doesn't make my cruiser much heavier than it already is.
Detroit-Area Live Music
I'm wondering where one can go in the Detroit area to hear live music, specifically jazz, lounge or alt-country. If responses could provide a parking/dress code/vibe snapshot, I'd be grateful.
How do I clean up my hard drive before giving away my computer?
My google-fu is failing me on this. I'm getting a new computer and my dad wants my old beast of a Dell. I don't need to clean my hard drive to DOD-specs, but it does seem reasonable to do more than just delete my files. It's not busted, the Windows 98 is pretty beat up, but it's still usable. What's the sane minimum of clean-up before it leaves my house?
posted by desuetude at 4:49 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by desuetude at 4:49 PM PST - 9 comments
Insuring the goods (photo/video)
Photographers and videographers: How are you insuring your gear? I've started to look into insurance for my recently-acquired DSLR, and I'm having trouble finding insurers that cover photo equipment, particularly equipment that goes to other countries with me. [more inside]
HELLOMOTO
I just got a Motorola V600 to replace my old and quite-literally-busted cell phone. For any fellow V600 users on MeFi: do you have any tips and tricks, fun hacks, or other useful inforrmation for this phone? [more inside]
What to do with an eye of round?
So on Saturday at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market, Prather Ranch had a special on Eye of Round beef. Being a sucker for getting a giant piece of meat at less than half-price, I am now the proud owner of a 5 lb Eye of Round. So, uh, now what should I do with it?
How do I buy a treadmill?
What are the caveats for purchasing a treadmill? [more inside]
posted by friarjohn at 3:46 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by friarjohn at 3:46 PM PST - 15 comments
baby question
My wife and I are having a son in a few months. We've been working on doing something special for his bedroom. I've noticed that a theme can be forced on you if your not careful (someone gets your kid an Elmo doll and next thing you know, it's all Elmo all the time.) I'd like to avoid that. I was thinking about doing something sorta retro sci-fi... rockets and stuff...
Anyone know a good source for 50's sci-fi decor? I know it's a little early to go crazy but, it's not everyday you have a son...
posted by Shanachie at 3:33 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by Shanachie at 3:33 PM PST - 13 comments
Streaming music
What are some of your favorite choices for finding streaming music on the internet? [more inside]
Easy-entry engineering bachelor's?
I have decided on a much-needed career change, and find that the list of schools willing to take on a prospective second-bachelor's engineering candidate is quite short. Anyone know of good EE or CE programs on the west coast which are more open to second-bac students? [more inside]
I finally have that healthy intestinal flora I've been dreaming of
Based on this thread, I have overcome my lifelong hatred of yogurt, and eat it daily. What do I do now? [more inside]
posted by grateful at 1:44 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by grateful at 1:44 PM PST - 29 comments
60s gothic scifi movie title
I've been searching for the name of a gothic horror movie from the late 60s or early 70s. A number of astronauts land on a planet that is populated by tall upside-down-carrot-shaped creatures that have an infrared eye. One by one the astronauts meet terrible deaths. One astronaut is burned to death by one of the carrot aliens in a very graphic way. Another walks into a sphere that appears near the space craft and is flash-frozen. I recall seeing this gore-fest on television as part of weekly horror/scifi movie time. The movie has some of the same feel as Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969). Does this movie sound familiar? Does anyone know the title?
curious CSS/IE problem
Italicizing one certain paragraph in a page with CSS layout causes IE to break the layout. Moz/Firefox, however, remain unfazed. [more inside]
posted by Tuwa at 1:25 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Tuwa at 1:25 PM PST - 9 comments
fonts and that
I am looking for a free font that can be used royalty free (ie. 100% free in all respects) in potentially commercial material. [more inside]
Meatmen lyrics question
Okay, so I'm looking for the name of the album a particular bit of spoken word is on. I did I search on Google, and the only match said that the bit in question is from The Meatmen. Unfortunately, they didn't say what album it was from. (warning: text is of questionable taste, so I put it in the "more inside" section) [more inside]
posted by NewGear at 1:16 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by NewGear at 1:16 PM PST - 4 comments
manufacturer reconditioned...
I am currently shopping for a scanner and cordless power tools. I am considering factory reconditioned models. What are peoples experiences, good and bad, with this?
posted by flummox at 12:22 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by flummox at 12:22 PM PST - 8 comments
Samurai Filter
I'm looking for the title of a Japanese TV serial, circa 1985. [more inside]
TiVo noise
Does anyone else have a problem with the level of noise their TiVo produces? [more inside]
Where should I buy gas for my car?
I am trying to be more conscious of the political ramifications of my spending habits (ie, Target instead of Walmart because Walmart == Republican, and Target seems civic-minded), and now it occurs to me that I should do the same for gas. Most places are priced about the same (within 2-3 cents) and since I drive a Toyota Echo, gas mileage isn't really a problem (I average around 37 mpg), so price isn't (much) of a concern.
So, based on past failures and forward-looking research, factoring in politics for a left-leaning gay man who cares about the environment and progressive social causes, where should I spend my gas money so that it won't be used for evil? [more inside]
What is ontology?
Philosophy 101: What is 'ontology'? For a while now I've been using the word ontology to mean an unspoken and taken-for-granted theory of the world. I've used it as a kind of opposite to epistemology, and congruent with the distinction (in my mind at least) between tacit and explicit. Last year I was mugged by some philosophers who said that I just could not do that. Am I right? Am I wrong? Useful resources? Help! [more inside]
posted by carter at 10:40 AM PST - 22 comments
posted by carter at 10:40 AM PST - 22 comments
Has 'Spooks' jumped the shark?
WTF is happening to the tv show known as MI-5 here in the States and as Spooks in the UK? Spoilers inside if you haven't yet seen season 3, especially episode 10 'The Suffering of Strangers'. [more inside]
How do I buy a mattress?
My wife and I are in the market for a new queen-sized mattress for our platform bed (Valencia platform bed from Pottery Barn). [more inside]
Learning to snowboard
Is learning to snowboard inherently dangerous? Is there anything you can do to make it safer? [more inside]
posted by smackfu at 9:08 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by smackfu at 9:08 AM PST - 23 comments
Extended warranty/accidental damage coverage for laptops?
I just bought a spiffy new HP laptop. I declined the third-party extended warranty at the time of purchase... [more inside]
posted by enrevanche at 8:57 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by enrevanche at 8:57 AM PST - 2 comments
Losing faith
Atheists, when did you lose your faith? [more inside]
Fighting the Evil Credit Card companies
My credit card company just pulled a quick one on me. Despite my best efforts to resolve the situation with their customer service, I am going nowhere. What should be my next step? [more inside]
posted by tuxster at 8:42 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by tuxster at 8:42 AM PST - 23 comments
Asthma
Anyone here get asthma? [more inside]
Uh, didn't get the email?
I have gmail. Is it possible for people using applications like Eudora, Outlook, etc. to know if/when I have "opened" and read emails they have sent to me?
Man looking for a good bag.
Can I get recommendations on a high quality, stylish side bag to be used day to day for business? Needs to be rugged enough to withstand travel and fashionable enough to be able to bring into a business meeting. [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 8:15 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by jeremias at 8:15 AM PST - 21 comments
Digital photography workflow on a Macintosh
I am a Macintosh user who has just acquired a Nikon D70 digital SLR. Most of my photography experience is with film-based equipment; I have no experience maintaining a collection of digital photos. The software bundled with the camera seems questionable, and iPhoto drives me nuts. What do other amateur (or professional) photographers use to manage their photographs? Will iPhoto do the job? What habits should I develop? What software should I use? Any tips or tricks to help ease me into the world of digital photography?
posted by jdroth at 7:18 AM PST - 28 comments
posted by jdroth at 7:18 AM PST - 28 comments
Songs About Songs
Chatting with a muscal friend, I was stumped on a topic we wandered into: Excluding the obvious (American Pie, Sweet Home Alabama) what are your favorite songs about other songs (or failing that music in general)?
Help me pick my poker chip set colors
I am buying a set of 500 poker chips online. I have an option to customize the number of chips of each color and need help please... [more inside]
Flash preloader with external file?
I've plowed through a lot of Flash sites, but haven't found an answer to what I thought would be a simple question. Y'all are a buncha geniuses here, so I thought I'd ask you. [more inside]
posted by jpburns at 5:08 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by jpburns at 5:08 AM PST - 6 comments
March 13
Slovenia and Croatia
Two active thirtysomething guys, two to three weeks in Slovenia and/or Croatia this (late) summer. What should we do? Ideally mix up the vigorous outdoors with the culture and the relaxing. Offbeat/non-guidebook advice is particularly welcome.
Open-source journal software
Does anyone know of a software package, preferably open source, that would be good for managing an on-line academic journal? I would need it to handle both presentation on-line and submissions through a complicated back-end. [more inside]
posted by ontic at 10:35 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by ontic at 10:35 PM PST - 15 comments
Is there a free, online database of lawsuits filed in the US?
Is there a free, online database of lawsuits filed in the US? My Google-fu is no match for awesome super-powerful search engine spam... [more inside]
Betting Tips
Even with the big March event coming up, this is a hypothetical question. In a state like California, is there a legal way to bet on sports? Also, are there grey areas in betting, such as internet betting?
posted by jonah at 9:52 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by jonah at 9:52 PM PST - 4 comments
How to get a light buld to light momentarily.
I want to turn on a 60 watt light bulb when I press down on a switch. I bought a RadioShack Momentary Pushbutton Switch. Can I splice a an extension cord, and use this switch? It is rated at 3A at 125VAC, 1.5A at 250VAC. Dangerous? Wrong switch? [more inside]
fixin 0s nine
My PC died and so I took all my CD saved files to place on my Mac. Here's the rub, many of the files (esp. media files) now have truncated and extremely garbled names. Mac OS9 has a 31 character limit, while PCs have a lot more. Is there any tricky way to increase the size of filenames on OS9? Its hundreds of files, so renaming them is out of the question.
Dumping AIM
So, now I want to dump AOL Instant Messenger, and convince all of my friends and relatives to do the same. I want something that isn't too fly-by-night, so I can be sure it'll last, and it's gotta have a little higher usability-quotient than I recall ICQ ever having. Ease of use on-par with AIM (so non-tech-savvy family can install it and set it up) is important, too. Any suggestions?
unexpected traffic in server log
I'm seeing wierd things in my server logs. [more inside]
Buying a house
We're looking to buy our first house. New or old? Dual agency? [more inside]
Chaos Control Needed
I admit that I am the daughter of Chaos. I seem to have zero organizational skills when it comes to objects, use of space, and clutter. I would like to hire someone to come organize my house, create a logical system whereby things are stored, and walk me through clearing the detritus of my mad packrat tendencies. To whom do I turn for this sort of skill set? [more inside]
posted by dejah420 at 7:10 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by dejah420 at 7:10 PM PST - 11 comments
Transitioning from a Citronella Collar
I have a dog who loves to bark at one household member. Nobody knows why. I bought her a citronella collar and this has helped greatly. But now she barks to her hearts content any time she's not wearing it. How do I train her to not bark even when she's not wearing the collar? [more inside]
posted by duck at 7:09 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by duck at 7:09 PM PST - 17 comments
Harold and Maude sample in a song?
I just watched Harold and Maude for the first time in several years. The intense "and there was a blinding flash!! kill!! kill! " monologue by Uncle Victor triggered a synapse in my brain and I KNOW this is sampled somewhere in a song. [more inside]
posted by glenwood at 7:00 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by glenwood at 7:00 PM PST - 7 comments
What was the first match played using Football Association rules?
What was the first match played using Football Association rules?
posted by Dreamghost at 6:53 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Dreamghost at 6:53 PM PST - 4 comments
Where to find a dictionary of words that are spelled backwards?
Where can I find a dictionary of words spelled backwards, listed in alphabetical order, preferably accessible via WWW? This kind of book used to be a common tool for cryptographers back before everything was done by machine, but I'm not a spook; I just like Oulipo-style wordplay. I used to know what this was called, but no longer do, and have googled "reverse dictionary", "backwards dictionary", "yranoitcid", and many more terms with no success.
Suggestions for similar dictionaries, such as ones in which all the letters of the words are sorted alphabetically (mouse->emosu) are also welcome. Thanks.
posted by rwhe at 6:42 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by rwhe at 6:42 PM PST - 24 comments
Need javascript help
I'm having a problem with some javascript, and comp.lang.javascript has not been much help. Any mefites care to try their hand? [more inside]
posted by smcniven at 6:18 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by smcniven at 6:18 PM PST - 10 comments
In the market for a moped / scooter
In the market for some sort of non-car auto-transport, need help... [more inside]
Should I enter the games industry?
I'm a graduating senior and am considering getting into the Computer/Video games industry. I've seen a few comments from insiders/ex insiders and could use some advice. Should I enter the industry? What should I look for in companies that I apply to? [more inside]
Miter Saw Projects
I just bought a Ryobi miter saw for a couple small home improvement projects (hand rail installation and base board cuts), so the saw will pay for itself in pretty short order. Still, I don't want to watch it collect dust when I'm done. [more inside]
I hereby ask this, a question in the form of a performative utterance
I've been fascinated for a while by actions that we can take simply by saying that we're taking them. I recently found out these are called "performative utterances"; the classic examples are firing someone by saying "You're fired", or getting married by saying "I do (take him/her to be my...)". These things pop up all the time in mathematics (in fact one might say that mathematics consists almost entirely of such statements). What are some other arenas where they arise naturally? Are there other parts of life that are almost completely performative in this sense? Any favorite examples? [more inside]
posted by gleuschk at 10:07 AM PST - 71 comments
posted by gleuschk at 10:07 AM PST - 71 comments
Locally-installed Basecamp-type solution?
My fiancée and I are currently in the thick of planning our August wedding. Is there something like Basecamp that I can install on my home server to help us keep track of the thousand-and-one-details? [more inside]
How much dough for dough?
I'm thinking about buying a bread machine. Should I pony up the extra cash for an expensive brand like the Zojirushi? Is anyone happy with a less expensive model? (please say yes) [more inside]
posted by bibliowench at 9:18 AM PST - 28 comments
posted by bibliowench at 9:18 AM PST - 28 comments
Spell Check and Post to del.icio.us for Firefox
I'm trying to make the switch from IE to Firefox but I'm needing a couple of extensions before I can dump IE. I use IE Spell to spell check web forms and right-click post to del.icio.us to bookmark pages in del.icio.us. Does anyone know of any similar extensions for Firefox? Thanks in advance!
posted by nalihasan at 8:28 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by nalihasan at 8:28 AM PST - 4 comments
French-door Fridge
Does anyone have experience with French-Door Refrigerators? [more inside]
You were wrong.
In Built to Spill's song "You Were Right" (from 1999's Keep it Like a Secret) Doug Martsch samples the lyrics of many Classic rock tunes. He steals from Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Stones, Bob Seger, the Beatles, Kansas and so on. I pretty much know all the references, save one. From which classic rock gem is the line "do you ever think about it" from? This has been bugging me for many years, as I should know it. [more inside]
So you want to be a project manager?
I've recently decided that I want to change my career path from an IT technician to project management. [more inside]
posted by shawnj at 7:31 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by shawnj at 7:31 AM PST - 13 comments
March 12
Death by allergies!
My allergies, the eyes, the sneezing, the Jekyll and Hyde reactions to most meds, the more inside... [more inside]
How do you get to Iqaluit?
This summer, I'd like to travel to Iqaluit, the capitol of Nunavut in Canada. I've been fascinated with the place for years, and this spring would be the perfect chance to go see it. What's the best way of getting there? [more inside]
Brain hemisphere separation
Is it possible to safely separate the hemispheres of the brain? If so, can I ever have such a surgery done?
posted by jimmy at 6:03 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by jimmy at 6:03 PM PST - 22 comments
Kitty, stop biting!
How to stop a cat from biting so much when playing? [more inside]
posted by heatherann at 4:42 PM PST - 26 comments
posted by heatherann at 4:42 PM PST - 26 comments
Lawyers and Employment Termination (USA)
Trusting soul I am, I expect a decent severance package from my employer. HR said I was entitled to a severance package (14 weeks). Should I get that in writing? And have any of you had to use a lawyer to get what you expect, to make sure there are no 'misunderstandings'?
posted by inchoate at 4:35 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by inchoate at 4:35 PM PST - 8 comments
Interpretations of Bach's Chaconne
BachFilter: I've been listening to John Williams' phenomenal rendition of J.S. Bach's Chaconne. So what other must-have recordings of this masterpiece (not just violin/cello/guitar...) should I seek out?
Fight the commies
Wanna subvert an authoritarian regime? Help me get around the Great Firewall! [more inside]
I need a good desk (task) chair for under $200
I'm currently using an Office Max $79 special that's doing horrible things to my back. Candidates must swivel, tilt, have adjustable arms, etc., but I'm not expecting an Aeron. Either mesh or standard cushion (not leather or similar) acceptable.
How to get a Windows XP
I know Windows XP has some sort of restore feature, but how about a good independent program that can let me take a "snapshot" of my new clean WinXP installation + Documents and Settings + Program Files so I can maybe burn to (probably multiple) DVDs and then easily restore at some point in the future. (This must be a common thing, but my googling proved unfruitful.) [more inside]
Langston Hughes query...
Does anyone have some good info on writer Langston Hughes, aside from obvious Google sources? Any information gotten off the beaten path? I'd love to get some relatively unknown info on him, if anyone has it, or some particulary good access sites/books. Writing a paper and am tired of following everyone elses footsteps with information access.
posted by codeofconduct at 1:32 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by codeofconduct at 1:32 PM PST - 15 comments
Working with knob and tube
My house still has some knob and tube wiring. I am concerned, in particular, with the ceiling light fixture in my home office where I just installed a new light. Neither wire was marked as hot or neutral, and my voltmeter read the same thing no matter which way I touched the wires. So I figured I had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right. Will anything bad happen if I got the lamp wires connected to the wrong source wires? How can I tell which wire is which in the future?
posted by booth at 12:54 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by booth at 12:54 PM PST - 12 comments
Best Windows macro recording software?
I've taken on a little mini project and I think the best way to get the job done will be to use one of those little bits of software which can copy and then simulate mouse movements etc. [more inside]
Pitching a New Feature
How would a nobody consumer go about contacting a major corporation about adding a new area to an existing piece of software? This software in question is already updated all the time, it seems like it would be easily implemented, and would bring in new revenue. [more inside]
Mysterious object
Mystery object: we bought this ewer (or pitcher?) 10 years ago in a flea market in France and we haven't been able to figure out its purpose, origin and age. [more inside]
posted by elgilito at 11:07 AM PST - 26 comments
posted by elgilito at 11:07 AM PST - 26 comments
CookieFilter
Coffee Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Originally known from David's Cookies, in NYC. Recipe? [more inside]
How do I get a durable gloss wood laquer?
I want to find out how to get a durable glossy lacquered(?) wood finish for pseudo wooden instrument cases. I know almost nothing about varnish/lacquer. My last attempt resulted in this, which is definitely the right look for the finish, but the problem is that it's far more prone to damage than it should be, such that I now feel I should try to keep the surface covered and protected, which makes me reluctant to actually ever take it out of the closet or use it. [more inside]
posted by -harlequin- at 9:48 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by -harlequin- at 9:48 AM PST - 11 comments
Microsoft Access screen size
How can I get Microsoft Access 2000 to default to full-screen mode when I open a second instance? [more inside]
posted by frykitty at 8:35 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by frykitty at 8:35 AM PST - 4 comments
On a 25 ans, on est déjà vieux
Looking for a french melancholic song in the "Chanson française moderne" style, with one perhaps two voices singing. The only line in the lyrics that I vaguely remember is "On a 25 ans, on est déjà vieux". I heard it about 6 years ago. Does this ring a bell for someone?
900mAh AAA
Does anyone know a store in the Perth (Western Australia) metro area that sells 900mAh NiMH AAA batteries?
Anyone use or know a LP Ripping Service?
I've never had great results ripping vinyl. I still have my 1980 vintage Pioneer turntable, and a receiver that has phono inputs, but the files never sound that good, and noise filtering didn't do much.
Also, I really only need to rip about 3-4 albums. While I'm sure the gods of karma will arrange for some to finally be released on CD or iTunes just after I go to the hassle of copying, I'm also sure 2 will never be "officially" released.
Anyone have a vinyl ripping service they would recommend?
posted by Marky at 3:47 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by Marky at 3:47 AM PST - 8 comments
Lost vital music.
I used to own a tape of Marty Balin's "Hearts", recorded live on a TV show, with a guitar solo that would peel paint off a wall . . . [more inside]
bloglines trouble
anyone else having difficulty getting into bloglines at the moment? Nothing seems to be there right now. Is this the result of being taken over by the load of idjuts at AskJeeves?
Office mail system
I'm looking for a small network mail app (freeware, preferably) to use in a small business. [more inside]
March 11
Midwife recommendations for New York City
Looking for a good midwife in NYC for a first time mother. [more inside]
Can anyone identify this photo in the New York Metropolitan Art Museum?
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, in the modern art/photography section there's a photo (from 1997 or thereabouts) of a man standing in a hotel room in a rainy day. It's a huge print, probably 5'x4', and is lit from behind. It's not on the Met's website. Does anyone know the name of the photo/photographer?
posted by incomple at 10:38 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by incomple at 10:38 PM PST - 4 comments
Where can I find the old-style Levis 501s?
Please help me find a store that carries the "original" (pre-2002 or so) original Levi's 501 jeans. [more inside]
Help identify this painting...
I saw a great unsigned print tonight, and am really curious to know who the original artist was. The print was roughly 4'x3', with a dark seductive background. Two women were seated at a table, one was staring toward the viewer at a candelabra, the other was leaning away from the viewer, over the table, provocatively, drinking from a glass of wine. [more inside]
posted by togdon at 9:56 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by togdon at 9:56 PM PST - 10 comments
Viking movies!
Are there any good Viking movies? Total cheese OK.
posted by argybarg at 9:23 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by argybarg at 9:23 PM PST - 22 comments
What's causing my lights to pulse?
The lights in my house occasionally pulse--that is, they'll rapidly get noticeably dimmer and brighter numerous times within a matter of just a few seconds. I'd say "flicker," but they never seem to actually go completely dark. Does this indicate faulty wiring, or something else? [more inside]
Social networking via mobile phone?
Tech/Business: Say I were to conduct a feasibility study for social networking via mobile phones. I would like the service to enable people to define their relationships and be alerted when a specified contact is nearby (e.g., within 30m/100ft) - provided that contact has set themselves to be "findable" to that person. Is this already being done? If so, where can I find more information? If not, is this viable? Do we have the technology? How do I turn it into a profitable venture? [more inside]
posted by Lush at 8:40 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by Lush at 8:40 PM PST - 8 comments
A little ways from Shanghai
Anyone know of useful resources regarding travel to/in Xinjiang Province, China? [more inside]
posted by numble at 7:41 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by numble at 7:41 PM PST - 3 comments
LCD text legibility distances
I am trying to track down information on the distance from an LCD screen where text of a given size would still be legible. [more inside]
Urban bicycle purchase tips.
I want a bicycle for casual, here-and-there riding on city streets. I want to spend under $150 CDN (~$125 USD). I don't mind buying used. What should I look for? What should I know before I go shopping? I know nothing about bicycle repair & maintenance. Bonus for Vancouver-specific tips. (Other Bicycle threads were for different needs/budgets).
posted by ori at 6:03 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by ori at 6:03 PM PST - 24 comments
Two childhood cartoons I can’t remember the names of.
I'm trying to figure out the names of two different cartoons I watched when I was little. One was vehicle based and the other had a Frog Captain... this has been driving me crazy. [more inside]
posted by Neosamurai85 at 6:00 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Neosamurai85 at 6:00 PM PST - 4 comments
Kitty weight-loss
buying dress pants
i need a new pair of dress pants. the problem is that i can't find *anything* that isn't for chubby people! even when I go a waist-size down from what I am (to 30), the pants fit at the waist and then slightly balloon out until the legs taper. I've checked Daffy's, Sym's, Century 21, Banana Republic, Zara (all in NYC). No luck. Can a guy find a pair of slim, "sexy-ish" dress pants any more (ie 60s-style), or is our country just too fat? And i'm not talking about a pair of $300 Prada pants, those are out of the question. Can anyone help?
Instant-On Laptops?
I am exasperated. I ordered an iBook from Apple on February 23 and it still has not shipped. Each time I call, I am assured that it is shipping today. Regardless, as it has not happened since Tuesday, I have decided to look into PC alternatives. Apple's primary allure was its "instant-on" ability. Any PC suggestions?
posted by ajr at 3:54 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by ajr at 3:54 PM PST - 24 comments
[perlfilter] Is it possible to 'use' a perl module whose name is stored in a variable?
Example:
------------
my $include_file_name = 'include.pm';
use $include_file_name;
Torrent Filter
I've got a torrent file that uses the old Lokitorrent tracker, so it's unusable as is. This much, I know. My problem is that I can't figure out how to make it work otherwise. I have tried changing the tracker address, but I'm learning quickly that if the tracker I point to isn't listing this file, it's of no use. Is there another way around this problem? It's a file I've been waiting MONTHS for.
posted by LGCNo6 at 2:39 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by LGCNo6 at 2:39 PM PST - 9 comments
need help identifying a samurai movie
A friend recently told me about an old samurai movie he saw in high school. All he can remember about it is the basic points of the plot. The main character is a guy whose clan is killed by a rival clan of samurai. From what my friend tells me, the movie mostly consists of the main character training and preparing himself to get revenge. In the end, he goes to the rival clan and kills all of them except for their leader. The leader, in turn, kills the main character. I know it's vague, but does this plot sound familiar to anyone? What is the movie called?
Reading attention span.
I used to be able to read for hours. Now I'm lucky if I can read for ten minutes before checking my e-mail. What to do? [more inside]
posted by trey at 1:22 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by trey at 1:22 PM PST - 29 comments
DogFilter: Dog walker not walking dog.
So we set up this webcam to watch our puppy while at work. We were shocked to find out that the dog walker we hired never came to walk her. She continued to neglect her duties all week. What to do? Is there somwhere I can report this dogwalker?
On the plus side, our puppy does totally fine while being left alone for 8 hours, with paper to do her business and some water and lots of toys!
eBay sniper software suggestions
Can anyone suggest eBay sniper software. There's lots about but I'm leery about releasing either credit card details or my eBay login. If it's UK compatible that would also be a plus!
Do you know this artist?
I'm looking for an artist (Russian, I think) who paints landscapes with faces inside them. [more inside]
How do I fold up my Botero collapsible background?
Photographers I need your help. How do I fold up my Botero collapsible background? [more inside]
Steampunk Suggestions
I'm a newbie to the Steampunk genre looking for suggestions. I've been starting on some of the early speculative SF stuff, like Jules Verne, Wells and Burroughs. Where should I go now?
Care for Sensitive Plants (Mimosa Pudica) and other houseplants?
Any tips on how to make Sensitive Plants (the fern-like ones that close their leaves when you touch them) thrive? I can usually keep them pretty happy for a few months, but they gradually become more and more unresponsive and eventually die. I'm in Southern California and will be moving to a new place with a greenhouse, and am fairly ignorant in the ways of plant-tending. Another question, just for sucking as much possible information out of this as possible: Anyone have any indoor plants they really like? If so, how do you make *those* thrive?
Immigrating to Canada from Britain
I have a friend who lives in Canada while her boyfriend is just finishing up a psychology degree in England. He wants to move to Canada in the summer but there is the problem of not being able to get a job as a UK citizen. What are the requirements for British citizens to be able to work and live in Canada for an extended period of time (say several years at least)? They are not willing to get married yet. Any advice or previous experiences would be extremely helpful!
Is the baby alive?
A friend who is 8 weeks pregnant recently had an ultrasound. The computer said that she was only 6 weeks pregnant. She suspected that the baby might have died two weeks ago, which is why it has remained at a 6 week size. However, the levels of hormones in her blood continue to rise as if she were pregnant. Is more likely the the baby is just somehow undersized, or that the baby has died but the pregnancy has continued?
Where did stereotypical Asian music come from?
The New Wave classic "Turning Japanese" by the Vapors opens with a short musical phrase signifying "stereotypical Asian music". You've heard it in many other places, usually (these days) for comedic effect. Did this phrase originate in any actual Asian composition? Or is it purely a Western invention?
posted by jjg at 10:08 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by jjg at 10:08 AM PST - 18 comments
Where to download Public Domain general knowledge / trivia question bank?
I need a few hundred to a few thousand general knowledge or trivia questions that I can integrate into a application I'm writing. [more inside]
Help me program a Horror/SciFi Movie Night
Movie Night. I'm helping plan a Horror/SciFi Movie Marathon for a few friends. I need to come up with a list of 4-6 movies available on DVD in the U.S., and am looking for a theme to tie it all together. Any ideas? [more inside]
Dell Resources
Several days ago, my daughter dumped a bowl of cereal onto (and into, some) my Dell laptop. I have been trying to determine if I should just get a new one, or if this one is salvageable. . .it turns on, but is not sufficiently functional at this point.
I have exhausted all of the online info that I know if, including Dell's knowlege base.
I am not looking for tech support here, but does anyone know of a forum, or non-Dell knowlege base, or such, that they trust and find exceptionally helpful?
posted by Danf at 8:45 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by Danf at 8:45 AM PST - 8 comments
Why won't SBS 2003 decrypt my sql scripts?
I am having a problem with our account app / server; I need to apply a hot fix to the sql db and the files are encrypted. When trying to decrypt the file, I get varied error messages. Any MCSE / encryption Guru's in the house? [more inside]
DIY home improvement blogs
Can anyone recommend any frequently-updating blogs that cater to first time home owners/buyers, mostly geared towards DIY repairs and upgrades? [more inside]
DRM Software on Kings of Leon CD
I recently bought the new Kings of Leon CD. It won't let me play it without downloading some b.s. DRM software and it won't let me burn to iPod. How do I get around this? [more inside]
Can Safari work with Sharepoint?
Is it possible to configure MS Sharepoint to allow access from the Safari web browser? [more inside]
Must. Have. Email.
Can someone please help me access Gmail despite my companies officious blocking policy? [more inside]
Where to find a cheap digital camera?
Where to find a cheap digital camera? I want to sell some accumulated crapola on eBay, while keeping the overhead as low as possible. [more inside]
Star Wars 1-3 showings
Okay, despite my dislike for Star Wars, my father loved it. When I was about 3, he took us to a showing of the first three movies. I have not seen the fourth and fifth because I was waiting to do the same for the sixth. Now that my father has passed away (last year, don't worry) it reaffirms my desire to go to a showing of all three movies even though I'm not a fan of the series. Where/how can I get tickets before they degenerate into an eBay frenzy? Which is to say, I'd like to get them before they are scalped/resold, because I'm not interested in paying huge money. Any sites to watch/feeds I can monitor? [more inside]
Sports team owners
Could someone point me to a list of current professional sports team owners, especially owners of NFL and NBA teams? Googling keeps bringing up fantasy football sites. [more inside]
How to publicize a useful experience anonymously?
Let's say you've had an experience and written about it. And let's say it's something others on the internet might want to know about. And let's say you have it saved as a simple html doc and would like to get it out there, accessible via Google, etc. And let's say you'd like perfect anonymity. What can you do to get it out there and indexed but not traceable? Free? Anonymous? Publish and forget?
Obviously, this is about battling spammers at some point. Advice?
March 10
Music production: need a tempo-fluctuation-fixer.
Music production software: I need a beatfixer. I've got recordings of a live percussion ensemble. I've also got electronic/sequenced music that I want to mashup with the live percussion. The live ensemble recording -- what with the humans and all -- has tempo fluctuations: that's a big problem for mashing. I want a music processing tool that will "straighten out" the live recording so that the live track will stay in sync with the electronic track. [more inside]
San Francisco Akihabara?
I'm going to be in San Francisco for a conference from 3/14-->3/18, but sadly not the emerging technology conference. Anyway, I was wondering if there is anything like Japan's Akihabara--some sort of dense flea market with strange gadgets and such, that I might visit.
Any sort of robot-themed "performance" involving flammable materials would be cool too, but I've heard that Survival Research Labs isn't allowed to play in the city any longer.
In short, what would be some cool geeky/techy things to do while there that might not be available elsewhere and won't land me in jail? [more inside]
Are product tester promotions a scam?
Has anyone signed up for one of these sketchy-looking "get free stuff for being a product tester" sites? (example.) What disaster, if any, has befallen you? What expensive personal electronic devices, if any, have you received for "free"?
How do I disable Content Advisor
Everytime I try to use Internet Explorer a content Advisor box pops up asking for a password. The problem is I've never set a password and I have no idea why this has started popping up. It also pops up when I try to use solitaire or the Windows calculator. Does anyone know of a master password or some other way to circumvent this?
posted by berek at 9:04 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by berek at 9:04 PM PST - 9 comments
Why does Apache stop serving one file after I request another?
I have run into an unpleasant Apache concurrency problem, whereby the ongoing download of a large file spontaneously and silently hangs ~90 seconds after another request to the server is made. Error logging set at the highest level reveals nothing. Any idea what may be causing this? (Apache/2.0.52, Win2K Professional) [more inside]
Coversyl in Australia without a prescription?
How can I get Coversyl 4mg tablets in Australia without a prescription? [more inside]
How does a magazine interview work?
I have an interview at a national magazine next Friday and was wondering if anyone has interviewed at a magazine, and if so, if you could tell me what they ask. [more inside]
Batch renaming files
I'm looking for a good way to tweak bunches of files. I'm pretty sure there's been a question about this before, and "Batch Rename" was recommended. Looking for other recommendations, or advice on Batch Rename. [more inside]
posted by agropyron at 7:31 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by agropyron at 7:31 PM PST - 9 comments
How do I catch a newspaper thief?
Every Thursday morning without fail, I get my newspaper only to find that someone has stolen the Food and Drink section. This is my favorite section of an otherwise worthless paper (the AJC) and I want to catch the thief in the act so I can dole out the appropriate punishment and prevent this from happening again. I live in an apartment along a long corridor and the paper is delivered directly to my door. How do I catch the thieving punk who ruins my Thursday mornings?
People who can't seem to shut up at the movies
You're at the movies trying to enjoy a show, when much to your dismay, you discover you're sitting right in front of a couple of very noisy moviegoers (the annoying kind that don't even bother to whisper & feel the need to comment after every scene). You turn around and politely ask them to keep it down. Unfortunately, ten minutes later they're at it again. Short of getting up and moving to another seat, what do you do?
Geometric anomoly?
Why is a rectangle not called a quadrangle?
Looking for guitar music
I play rudimentary guitar and am looking for a book that will give me the chords and words for loads of the 'classic' tunes that people like to hear in the pub or round the campfire. (That's classic as in popular and timeless not classical...) [more inside]
Jobs in International Development?
I'm in the US, about to finish a graduate degree in about a year and a half, and I am interested in a career in international developmnent, and I was curious what different options I might have. Do any MeFiers have recommendations what areas I could go into? Pay is a concern for me, as I have fairly significant debt from undergraduate and graduate school, so I was not really looking at the nonprofit side as much. I was thinking of government or private sector, but I wanted to know what thoughts you all might have. Can I do private sector without working for some place that's exploitative? I'm really not sure what's out there past basic government jobs, so maybe someone has some suggestions. I've looked at books too, but i figured asking MeFiers might be good.
Call for bloggers?
Where do I post a call for bloggers? (This is not my call for bloggers.) [more inside]
What's the new South Park Commercials modeled after?
It's driving me crazy. There's these new South Park commercials on Comedy Central that's a take on some interstitial, show intro, or commercial from my childhood (born in '76). It's the quasi-pinball roller coaster ad, where the silver ball goes by and flips up 3 flags. What are these ads a parody of? [more inside]
The Sweater Song
My favorite sweaters are made of wool. They're dry-clean-only. And they're also stretched out and don't look that great anymore. How can I shrink them just a little bit to get them back to their original size? Oh, and any advice on preventing/removing pilling?
posted by SpecialK at 2:30 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by SpecialK at 2:30 PM PST - 7 comments
Know thy self's sugar level...
I want to try monitoring my own blood sugar levels and linking it with energy, mood etc. How to go about this? [more inside]
posted by BleachBypass at 2:12 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by BleachBypass at 2:12 PM PST - 18 comments
wifi amplification?
Is there a way to amplify a weak wifi signal? [more inside]
Keeping Two Copies of Entourage In Sync
At work I have two Macs that I use (An iMac and a Powerbook), one with Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, and one with Microsoft Office v. X. Is there any automated way to keep the contacts lists in both copies of Entourage in sync?
A Utility to Bookmark All Links?
Is there any javascript, Firefox plugin/extension or utility out there which would enable me to bookmark every link on a webpage automatically? [more inside]
posted by Dreama at 1:31 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by Dreama at 1:31 PM PST - 3 comments
Identifying a quote about scientific ideas
Help me find a quotation that I've seen in Slashdot signatures, and other places. It's a quote about scientific ideas, usually structured in three parts. Here's the paraphrase: "First a new idea is rejected as heretical. Then it is (I don't remember what). Finally, it is universally accepted." Any ideas?
posted by waxpancake at 1:05 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by waxpancake at 1:05 PM PST - 11 comments
Hey Mr. DJ, maybe we can have a deal.
Can anyone recommend a DJ in the Boston area for my september wedding? Perhaps a DJ is you. That's fine, too. [more inside]
Practical puzzle for math geeks
I have a circular patio table with four legs. The paving stones are uneven, so it has always been difficult to set the table in place so it doesn't wobble. I move it regularly, since the shadows from the trees change, and sometimes I want shade, other times sun. I used to mark small dots on the stones so I could set it down quickly. Then I discovered something very interesting--no matter where I put the table, if I simply rotate it around its center, I can very quickly find a steady configuration. But move it from place to place, and it takes all day.
This is like the four color map theorem. It works every time, but I haven't figured out why. It might even be tricky to put this into a mathematical format. The table doesn't need to be level, and all four legs needn't be the same height or "at" the same height. The table just can't wobble.
Go geeks.
Repairing M2V files
DVD ReEditing woes: The video stream from a DVD has bad metadata, and repairing the m2v file I've ripped hasn't worked. [more inside]
Audio Recording with my Mac Mini
I'm need some direction with this: I've been a PC guy all my life but decided to "switch" to the Mac mini(with KVM)to see if I like it better. However, I'm about to convert all of my mom's old LP's to CD's and want to use the Mini for this. I know it doesn't have an audio in but was hoping that someone could suggest a specific USB Audio Interface and audio recording software for the mac and any any other kind of tips or tricks for this project.
posted by stevyb at 12:28 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by stevyb at 12:28 PM PST - 5 comments
Trippy Filter: Costume for Burningman
I've got an idea for a costume for Burningman, but I'm going to need a bit of electrical help to figure it out. I want to use A set of LED's like these connected to cheap hobby quality fiber optic cable ala This sort of chintzy stuff. [more inside]
posted by Freen at 12:16 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by Freen at 12:16 PM PST - 16 comments
Not a sensitive man.
Noteworthy Architectural Websites?
What well designed architects' websites would you recommend? [more inside]
Gifts to take when travelling to India
What should one take as gifts for friends/family members when travelling to India from the States? [more inside]
posted by darsh at 10:55 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by darsh at 10:55 AM PST - 17 comments
Fried Harddrive
I've had a bad experience with two hard drives being fried by one computer. Unfortunately... [more inside]
Which Incredibles DVD, fullscreen or widescreen?
The Incredibles comes out on DVD on Tuesday, and there's nothing that will stop me from rushing out to acquire this jam-packed roller-coaster of a movie. But which version? [more inside]
Photoshop: Creating a Panorama
I'm trying to create a panoramic landscape view from several photographs in Photoshop. How do I go about making the colors/tones of the sky & snow match from photo to photo?
posted by skwm at 10:18 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by skwm at 10:18 AM PST - 8 comments
Toothbrush phobia?
Are you grossed out by your partner's dental care routine? [more inside]
Syd Hoff's Cartoon Strips
I'm interested in finding old syndicated newspaper strips drawn by well known children's author and illustrator Syd Hoff. [more inside]
Display Cell Caller ID info on Windows via Bluetooth or USB?
Does anyone know of software that will forward my cell phone's incoming Caller ID info to my Windows desktop? [more inside]
Images in HTML select form elements?
Is it possible to have an HTML select form element display images for each choice rather than text? [more inside]
Should I go to MIT?
I'm currently finishing a MS degree at Georgia Tech. I've been accepted to the GT PhD program, and will probably be accepted at the MIT Media Lab. Should I stay or should I go? [more inside]
moving advice sought, St. Louis to Minneapolis
Long and short of it: I'm going to be moving by end of April from St. Louis to the Minneapolis area. A handful of complicating factors in the usual the more, it is, etc. [more inside]
Can this iPod be saved?
Jazz Quoting
Are there any books, journal articles, or magazine articles about the phenomenon of "quoting" and other allusory / referential techniques in jazz? [more inside]
What's the name of single page joke sites?
Is there an official name for the new crop of gag sites like khaaan.com, sinkingship.com, dontforgetpoland.com and uweboll.com? With really low domain and hosting prices these days, they seem to be everywhere. [more inside]
posted by timyang at 9:09 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by timyang at 9:09 AM PST - 12 comments
Guess the number and win a sculpture!
Creepy Puppet Photographer
Who is the photographer/artist whose photo series revolved around a slightly creepy puppet/creature/thing in (often) compromising positions? [more inside]
posted by ScottUltra at 8:50 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by ScottUltra at 8:50 AM PST - 5 comments
How can I teach English articles to foreigners?
What's the best way to teach adult ESL students (Polish engineers) how to use articles ("a" or "the" or nothing)?
posted by pracowity at 3:09 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by pracowity at 3:09 AM PST - 7 comments
Phones with line out?
Inspired by the thread about Audacity. I'm currently recording interviews on my computer through the modem, but the available software is shaky at best. Help me find a telephone with a line out jack! [more inside]
posted by NekulturnY at 2:22 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by NekulturnY at 2:22 AM PST - 8 comments
Name of children's TV show?
Back in the early/mid 80's here in S. Africa the local TV station broadcast a live action children's series about two minitaure elves(I think they were elves) who lived amongst normal size folk in the modern day. What was it called? [more inside]
March 9
Becoming a bouncer
So, you're thinking of becoming a bouncer. [more inside]
Looking for fairytale book from childhood.
When I was younger my mom had a fairytale book she read to me all the time, and it has since been lost. What's the name/where can I find it again? [more inside]
50MB tiff files and memory hell in Windows XP.
I've been working with 16-bit grey layered tiffs lately, 50-250 MB each. When browsing a folder of 25 files, my machine chokes to the point of screen redraws becoming "wipes". What'd going on, and how do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by Jack Karaoke at 7:13 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Jack Karaoke at 7:13 PM PST - 9 comments
Rental Car Insurance
Is the extra insurance offered by rental car agencies really needed, or is it just a big scam? [more inside]
Ancient chinese messaging/encryption system
Needed: a photo or at least more information about a particular system of coded communication supposedly used in ancient china along the Great Wall. Either my google-fu is failing me or I dreamed this whole thing up. [more inside]
posted by fatllama at 6:05 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by fatllama at 6:05 PM PST - 2 comments
Dressing Professionally When It's Cold
I live in a warm climate, and I have a job interview in a cold climate in the near future. How do I dress professionally when there are a few feet of snow on the ground?
posted by abbyladybug at 5:54 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by abbyladybug at 5:54 PM PST - 18 comments
Fog Gun! Shower!
One of the features of Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion Bathroom was a fog gun shower. It was supposed to spray atomized water at high pressure, over 200 psi, and get you clean with less than a cup of water. Would this work? Has this ever been made? [more inside]
How do you tell a 5-year-old about divorce?
My husband and I are about to legally separate with joint custody of our 5-year-old daughter. How do we break the news to her? [more inside]
Who's Zooming Who?
Am I being ripped off? And by whom? [more inside]
Clothing worn in movies
How do I find out what clothing was worn by a character in a movie? [more inside]
Silly ten foot headphone cords!
I have a pair of headphones that I like, but the cord on them is ten feet long. As it is I have to wrap them up with an elastic band. Is there a way to cut the cord, remove a bit of the wire, and put it back together? [more inside]
Another forgotten book title.
Help me remember the name of a book about walking... [more inside]
posted by mudpuppie at 2:44 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by mudpuppie at 2:44 PM PST - 6 comments
Seeking Self Discipline
Any ideas on increasing self discipline with respect to personal habits? Particularly in a College/Academic setting? [more inside]
Any OS X IM clients supporting MSN video chat?
Some friends are considering making the switch to an iBook but they use MSN video chat to keep in touch with several friends abroad and this is a must-have feature for them. I couldn't locate any OS X IM clients that support MSN video chat, although rumors indicate the next version of the official client will support it. Does anyone know if any clients exist now for OS X that would work for them?
Update to my windup godzilla project
There was a request or two in my original question for an update about where to find bulk wind up godzillas. [more inside]
Microsoft Access Applications
How do I implement a more custom look for a Microsoft Access database? [more inside]
Calling all sommeliers
I recently turned 21 and I'd like to start learning about wine. [more inside]
Sample list for
I'd like to compile a comprehensive list of samples used in the Kleptones' "From Detroit to J.A.", similar to what Andy did for "A Night at the Hip-Hopera" but including the non-musical clips (like Brodie's line from Mallrats) as well as the musical ones. What samples do you recognize on the album?
Seattle on a Saturday?
What are some fun locals type activities in or around Seattle on a Saturday? [more inside]
Anyone know of a good public torrent tracker I can use when making torrents?
Anyone know of a good public torrent tracker I can use when making torrents? I don't feel like setting up my own and using Azareus's built in one isn't an option since my machine is off so often.
posted by daHIFI at 1:08 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by daHIFI at 1:08 PM PST - 5 comments
.htaccess multi-leveling
How do I set up .htaccess files in both a directory and sub-directory so they don't conflict? [more inside]
posted by mystyk at 12:56 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by mystyk at 12:56 PM PST - 5 comments
Ergonomic keyboard with trackpoint mouse?
I'm looking for an ergonomic keyboard with a built-in trackpoint (nub-style) mouse [more inside]
Curses! Foiled again!
Why are the aluminum foil sheets used at deli counters patterned (with dimples, crosshatches, diamonds, &c.)? Is patterned foil available in roll form?
foreign-owned US companies
Can anyone give me a website or a reference I can use to find out/get a list of US companies that are actually foreign-owned?
Does UNDEReating slow weightloss?
I keep hearing that while you're trying to lose weight, you should be careful not to UNDEReat. True? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee at 10:57 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by grumblebee at 10:57 AM PST - 17 comments
indoor vs. outdoor cats
Do your let your cats outdoors? Why or why not? [more inside]
carrot & stick
St. Paddy's Day? Or St. Patty's Day? The latter makes me grind my teeth. But I'm seeing it more often. (Google calls it even, more or less.)
drug test - male vs. female
is i possible to tell in a drug test if it is from a male or female?
paper storage
As a freelance graphics designer, I have several different paper stocks that I use daily for mock-ups (mainly sized 8.5"x 11" - 13" x 19"). Are there any fairly inexpensive storage units you other artists use to keep these stocks organized?
blogging in os x via rendezvous
What it the easiest way to create a blog locally hosted on my machine (OS X, Panther)? Can it be done with Personal Web Sharing and some wonderful Aqua app I don't know about? [more inside]
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 8:59 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 8:59 AM PST - 12 comments
stupid memory
There was a game screenshot of a guy about to get fragged. He was on his knees wearing a copyleft, or creative commons, or EFF t-shirt, something like that. Ring any bells?
posted by leotrotsky at 8:56 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by leotrotsky at 8:56 AM PST - 2 comments
Any danger sitting close to a large printer?
My office just bought a HP Designjet 815mfp large format scanner/printer. The only space we have for it is in my co-worker's office area and now he's sitting about 5 feet away from the device. Is there any health danger from sitting so close to this device? [more inside]
posted by Servo5678 at 8:50 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by Servo5678 at 8:50 AM PST - 2 comments
Audio enhancement question
What are the best tricks, using an audio program like Audacity, for improving a recording of a phone interview where the other guy sounds really quiet, but your voice is loud? What compression/decibal settings are typically best, and what other effects will bring the quiet voice up -- perhaps without making the loud voice much louder? [more inside]
How best to learn basic book keeping?
I'm the treasurer of a small non-profit organization who has been keeping track of our group's finances in a crude, checkbook-style format. I'd like to keep the financial records in a more professional way, as if we were a small business. What's the best way for me to learn how to do this? Can anyone suggest good books or software that will help me learn this?
Beware the titanium ring?
I am looking at wedding bands and want a titanium band. However, various jewelers are quick with the "it is very difficult to cut titanium and in the event of a bad happening you could lose your finger OMG!" But then, some unaffiliated individuals tell me that this is just their ploy to get me to buy the more expensive bling like the platinum and that titanium can rather easily be cut. Any tips? Information? Stories? Tales of the amputated finger and woe?
posted by xmutex at 8:21 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by xmutex at 8:21 AM PST - 20 comments
Power requirements of an unmarked electrical motor?
I picked up a whole box of unmarked motors at a garage sale for three dollars. How can I figure out how much electricity I need to use to power them? [more inside]
posted by the_W at 8:12 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by the_W at 8:12 AM PST - 3 comments
Digital projector for a small theater
My wife and I are opening a small, single-screen independent movie theater in April, and we need to buy a good digital projector... pronto. What should we be looking for as far as specs (Lumens, throw, inputs, etc.)? [more inside]
posted by bjork24 at 7:59 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by bjork24 at 7:59 AM PST - 9 comments
Microsoft Publisher Printing Problems
Microsoft Publisher has stopped recognizing my printer. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by iconomy at 7:16 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by iconomy at 7:16 AM PST - 6 comments
how to re-attach plastic panel in Saturn interior?
My friend has a 1995 Saturn (as do I). For some reason, the plastic paneling in part of the interior, around the doors, is falling away from the frame. [more inside]
Wheelchair Accessible Train Travel in Spain
How hard is it for a mostly wheelchair bound person to get around Spain by train? Our party of 4 includes one wheelchair user (who can make short walks on prosthetic limbs if necessary) and three people with no mobility issues. We're trying to determine if we can travel by train among Madrid, Seville, Toledo, and Cordoba, or if we should rent a car. First-hand accounts would be particularly appreciated, and any other tips on accessibility issues in Spain are welcome as well. [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 7:08 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by yankeefog at 7:08 AM PST - 9 comments
Wedding Speech - tips and guidance
Getting married at the end of April, and thoughts turn to the speech. Bought all of the usual speech books and etiquette guides, so have gathered who I need to thank and the like. What I'm looking for is that touch that will get the whole room going, be it a quote, a bit of poetry or something else. Not looking for jokes / one-liners in particular as think they come off corny. Help appreciated
Lonely street, heartbreak hotel
How can I help my 18 year old son cope with his first heartbreak? [mi] [more inside]
Defensive coordinator help
Any ESPN NFL 2k5 players (or football gurus) out there want to offer some advice about selecting defenses? [more inside]
OS-X TV tuner software
Anyone know of a decent software soultion for my Hauppauge USB tv card and my new Mac mini please?
posted by kenchie at 4:30 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by kenchie at 4:30 AM PST - 6 comments
Disk Space Checker
I am looking for a way to monitor the disk space remaining on several of our windows servers. [more inside]
Homosexuality in history
I want evidence of consensual practicing homosexual relationships (between, you know, relatively mature people) in the time of Moses; failing that, in the time of Jesus.
Song Mashups
What are some good mashups that you've downloaded lately? [more inside]
How do I find codec/media player for an .avi file?
How do I find correct codec/media player for an .avi file? [more inside]
posted by peacay at 12:17 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by peacay at 12:17 AM PST - 11 comments
March 8
Vieques vacation
Things to do in Vieques? [more inside]
what do do about acid etch graffiti on glass
The front window (5'x7') of my storefront was hit with acid etch graffiti last weekend. Does anyone have any experience with trying to buff out acid etch or will the window need to be replaced? I'd also like to hear about protective (read sacrificial) plastic coatings for storefront windows
Can I control roaches with a gecko?
Gecko-based roach control was mentioned in another AskMe thread. There must be something wong with this idea, but I don't know what. [more inside]
posted by TungstenChef at 6:00 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by TungstenChef at 6:00 PM PST - 9 comments
French doors: practical or just for show?
I'm starting work on a new deck and ideally when the project is finished, I'd like to swap out the standard sliding glass door that leads out from the kitchen with out-swinging double french doors (something like these). But can they also be practical? [more inside]
Cut finger advice
What makes for a good tisane?
TeaFilter: Recently my wife tried an herbal tea and much to her and my surprise, she liked it. It was just a cheap bag, and so now I'm interested in finding some better stuff. What are some good tisanes to try? Where should I get it? What's the necessary equipment for a truly great brew?
I should mention that I'm primarily interested in tisanes (herb tea), not traditional leaf teas. Thanks for understanding. [more inside]
Wireless Routers?
I'm in the market for a good wireless router. [more inside]
January Honeymoon Ideas
Where should we go on our honeymoon? We're getting married in September but can't get away for an extended period of time until Christmastime. She wants sit-on-the-beach; I'm a national parks type. [more inside]
Why does PBS have commercials?
Is public broadcasting really public if it has commercials? How and why did this happen?
posted by swift at 4:38 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by swift at 4:38 PM PST - 19 comments
Advantages of Pseudonymity
What are the legal and artistic advantages of having a pseudonym? [more inside]
Cheap music CDs online store?
A while ago (a few weeks, a couple months?) I found a online music store that had just been started as some sort of experiment by a larger company. It sold CDs at close to music club prices, but without the subscription. In fact, the parent company might have been BMG or Columbia House. Now I can't find my bookmark, and I can't find it on Google. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Alternatively, can you tell me the best places to buy music CDs online?
posted by tsackett at 4:19 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by tsackett at 4:19 PM PST - 7 comments
Leaving tapes in tape drives?
Is it okay to leave tapes mounted within tape backup drive mechanisms? [more inside]
Free on-line dictionary with wildcard function
I'm looking for a free, on-line dictionary that will let me do wildcard searches. For example, when looking up *ton* I want to come up with atone, acetone and cretonne as well as ton and tone.
posted by Cuke at 2:33 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Cuke at 2:33 PM PST - 9 comments
Capital jewelry
I'm looking for recommendations for a reputable jeweler in the Washington DC area. [more inside]
posted by thewittyname at 2:18 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by thewittyname at 2:18 PM PST - 7 comments
Drum circle strategies?
This Friday, my daughter and I are hosting a drum circle. This will be the first one in our small Midwestern town (that I know of, anyway). We are both still very much beginners; we know some rhythms, but aren't adept soloists. (So we're not really qualified, but we're not letting that stop us.) Please share your favorite strategies for a fun drum circle that gets everyone in the groove.
posted by bricoleur at 2:07 PM PST - 1 comment
posted by bricoleur at 2:07 PM PST - 1 comment
Slackware 10.1 hates me.
Help needed with linux (re)install. Managed to somehow kill my slackware 10.1 box, so I reinstalled - now it's not networking because it can't properly reference the hardware auto-detect features. Any help would be appreciated... [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs at 1:38 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by caution live frogs at 1:38 PM PST - 9 comments
Noisy toshiba fan
I've had a Toshiba 5205-S119 laptop for a little over a year now. About a month ago the system fan started to periodically make a grinding noise (or as one person on usenet described it "like running a matchstick up and down a comb"). Is there an easy way to make this stop without opening up the laptop case?
What to buy Mum for her 65th birthday?
My mum will be 65 on March 18. She can just about buy anything her wee little heart desires. I cannot because money is, well, in short supply. What should I get/buy/do for her birthday? [more inside]
Find me a poem.
Find me a poem: The subject is Satan, climbing up to view Heaven. God is just chilling, being all Godly, and Satan is jealous and sad. [more inside]
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 1:20 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 1:20 PM PST - 9 comments
Starting an online lit mag?
A cohort and I are starting an online literary magazine with a very specific vibe and mission. We have experience in writing and editing, but we've never actually run one of these crazy things before. What would be the best resources for us to learn the ins and outs before we jump right in? Does anyone have any informed advice or dire warnings?
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:11 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:11 PM PST - 5 comments
Rear Projection
I am doing visuals for a concert. I want to project the visuals using rear-projection but I am not sure what material will work. Money is an issue, as I have not budget to speak of. Is there fabric that I could get for pennies anywhere? [more inside]
a historic / an historic ?
"A historic occasion," or "an historic occasion?" [more inside]
How do I synch Audio in an .AVI?
I've got an .avi file whose audio has come unstuck in time. Is there some easy Mac OS X solution to re-sync this audio? Basically, is there any software out there that will let me take apart the file, and then glue it back together with the audio two seconds later?
posted by hughbot at 12:20 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by hughbot at 12:20 PM PST - 5 comments
Networks? Servers? Huh?
I need help to find out why my mother's website is down because I know nothing about networks, servers, or apparently anything else. [more inside]
Care package ideas for the recently widowed.
My father passed away from a rare cancer last week. I'd like to send my mother regular "care packages" to ease her through this transition and let her know I'm thinking of her. [more inside]
I need a Mac OS X 10.3.x driver for my HP ScanJet 5300c
I really like this scanner and it works fine under Windows and Mac OS 10.1 BUT for some reason HP decided not to update the driver for OS 10.3 so I am stuck with a scanner I like but can't use. Help a brother out? [more inside]
posted by Livewire Confusion at 11:56 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by Livewire Confusion at 11:56 AM PST - 11 comments
Should I get a lit degree early?
I can graduate in a year with a BA in literature. That would make it 2.5 years start-to-finish. Should I double major and stick around longer, or can I move onto grad school with just this? [more inside]
What mystery novels do you recommend?
Solve This! I love mystery novels and have a hard time finding some that I like. What do you recommend? [more inside]
Flyyyyyyyyying Away
What is involved in buying an airplane? [more inside]
How to go from couch potato to skinny tater stick.
Like a lot of people, I have managed to gain more weight than I would like to be carrying around. I have an idea, but personal obstacles I need advice in overcoming. [more inside]
Is it rude not to say,
Is it rude not to say, "Thank you" when someone says, "Bless you" after you sneeze? [more inside]
posted by agregoli at 10:19 AM PST - 83 comments
posted by agregoli at 10:19 AM PST - 83 comments
Need name of a region.
This is an easy one (I hope). Had some UK'ers over for a wedding recently, they were talking about a vacation region that I'd like to know more about, but I don't know remotely how to spell it or where it is. They pronounced it Mee-ork-ah. Once I know the spelling, I suspect Google will be able to tell me all I need to know, but if you've got information or stories, please share.
posted by Capn at 10:12 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by Capn at 10:12 AM PST - 13 comments
Safari URLs fail to load
Stoopid Safari question: URLs often only load on the second try. I type in the URL, hit enter, the URL disappears, no page loads, any URL that was there before reappears. [more inside]
Getting the latest iPod photo?
I'm going to buy the 60gig iPod photo tomorrow. How can I ensure that I get the latest model with the better battery life? [more inside]
posted by ralawrence at 9:54 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by ralawrence at 9:54 AM PST - 4 comments
What is the poem associated with a painting I don't know the artist of?
I was at the MoMA the other day and came accross an amazing painting called The Diver. I am trying to find out the artist and the poem associated with it. Art history mefites? [more inside]
How do stars work in Google?
How do stars work in Google? David Beaver describes a series of searches using multiple asterisks in this Language Log post; specifically, he says:
"there is * * * * a house in New Orleans" gets, at time of writing, precisely the same number of hits, 3560, as "there is a house in New Orleans"
But when I click on the former, I only get two hits. What's going on here? [more inside]
posted by languagehat at 9:28 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by languagehat at 9:28 AM PST - 16 comments
Hotels in Charlottesville Virginia?
I will be visiting Charlottesville, Virginia for a conference at UVA and I am looking for a hotel within walking distance of campus and downtown that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions or am I better off staying at a cheap motel further out of town?
wireless between buildings
Have dsl in building 1 with linksys gateway providing a wireless connection. Need to use dsl is building 2. What is the best/cheapest way to accomplish this? [more inside]
Where to eat in Berlin?
My girlfriend and I will be in Berlin for a week starting tomorrow, and we love to eat good, interesting food. Unfortunately our budget will be pretty tight. Any restaurant or cuisine recommendations? [more inside]
What's your cool family tradition?
I'm a new dad and I want to create some cool, happy family traditions. What traditions do you most remember and treasure? [more inside]
Secret of the Lotus Seed Bun
After having a delightful dim sum experience this past weekend, my wife and I are trying to figure out how to make what I believe is called a steamed lotus seed bun. [more inside]
posted by picea at 6:58 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by picea at 6:58 AM PST - 8 comments
iTunes woes
Who can help me with a sudden iTunes for Windows problem? [more inside]
XP is an x-pain in my ass
Windows XP Home Networking Problem [more inside]
Nasty English Sparrows
Could you give me any ideas for ridding my horse barn of English Sparrows. Their population has reached plague proportion. They have driven away the barn swallows, phoebes and robins that used to nest in the barn. we would prefer a live trap as we would like to keep our native birds and bats, but we are frustrated enough with the sparrows’ mess, that we wouldn't be fussy about what traps we set during the winter.
posted by Daddest at 4:56 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by Daddest at 4:56 AM PST - 7 comments
Google going downhill?
Is it just me, or is Google search going downhill? [more inside]
Family Guy in Japan?
Is the show "Family Guy" on the air in Japan at all? Do the Japanese like it?
Is any American animation popular in Japan? [more inside]
Exercise and Pollution
If I exercise in a polluted environment, is the net result positive or negative? [more inside]
Favourite dip recipes?
DipFilter! What are your favourite dip-recipes? And what do you dip with? [more inside]
Are there novels like Raymond Carver's short stories?
I love Raymond Carver's short stories because they're complete and perfect without much happening in them, in terms of action and plot development. What I'd like to find is some novels that are similarly "plotless"? Do they exist? [more inside]
posted by bunglin jones at 1:05 AM PST - 38 comments
posted by bunglin jones at 1:05 AM PST - 38 comments
The beautiful music of B2B commerce
Business today is beautiful! Sprint is in here, Sprint is in there, Sprint is everywhere! This commercial aired every week this summer during Meet The Press and I miss it. I find myself getting disappointed and depressed during every Meet The Press commercial break now because I may never hear that wonderful song again. I’ve been unable to find it posted online anywhere, only message board & blog posts celebrating it (or sometimes wrongly suggesting it’s terrible.) I’d love to find a video of the commercial or an MP3 of the song. [more inside]
March 7
What's wrong with my computer?
What textbook or study shows that it is considered normal for a child to not only be sexually ambiguous, but that it is normal for children to dress up or act in the opposite gender?
What textbook or study shows that it is considered normal for a child to not only be sexually ambiguous, but that it is normal for children to dress up or act in the opposite gender? [more inside]
posted by Dean Keaton at 10:34 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Dean Keaton at 10:34 PM PST - 10 comments
Becoming more efficient
I'm giving a presentation on things that people can use to be more efficient. I've already covered things like google maps, google calculator, google dictionary, and metafilter and (of course) basecamp. Do any of you have any little thing you do to make your life more efficient. [more inside]
posted by sirsteven at 10:27 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by sirsteven at 10:27 PM PST - 21 comments
Something to cover my office wall
What can I use to cover my large and unfinished and unpainted cinderblock wall at work? [more inside]
I hate Red Hat
The Fedora Core 3 installation crashes on my Red Hat 9 PC, and posting to Bugzilla has yielded zero results. Is there any way to get my system up to date without upgrading? [more inside]
Lost Book: British travel writer spends time in the Alaskan fishery
Last month, a British travel writer appeared on the Daily Show to talk up his new book (single-word title, a fishing-related verb) about his winter in the Alaskan fishery. What is the author's name, and what is the book's title?
posted by tomharpel at 7:55 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by tomharpel at 7:55 PM PST - 6 comments
How to Deal With a Bad Nurse
My grandmother hired a woman to help out with my grandfather in the evenings and to put it bluntly, she sucks. How should we deal with it? [more inside]
QuickTime objects and IE6
I am searching for help in dethroning a QuickTime object from the authority it has been given by Internet Explorer 6. [more inside]
Illustrator's portfolio website with great flash work?
This is a long shot: I'm looking for a digital illustrator's portfolio website that I saw previewed on a portal a while ago. His/Her work was soft edged, used lots of color and almost watercolor-type brushes (digital). The site was done in flash and had amazing "watery ripple" transitions in between sections, almost like a dream sequence on tv shows. I also remember you could pickup a mock brush and play with it as well.
Transforming XML with XSL
I need a new way of transforming XML with XSL. Till date I've used PHP's Sablotron, which I absolutely love and is simple to use, but my host keeps forgetting to enable and include it each time they recompile Apache, so I was wondering if someone here knows of a way to do the same with either Perl or JSP/Tomcat or even PHP as long as it is without Sablotron's xslt_create(). [more inside]
The Pedals in my Truck
Why aren't the pedals in my truck flush with each other? [more inside]
posted by joelf at 5:00 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by joelf at 5:00 PM PST - 5 comments
Caffeine, Taste & Sleep
Two caffeine-related questions regarding its effect on taste and sleep. [more inside]
posted by Gyan at 4:54 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by Gyan at 4:54 PM PST - 19 comments
1,378 Deliver Status Notification Emails can't be good.
I have a domain hosted through a pretty reputable hosting company. The associated email that I check about once a week and usually yields no more than five to ten offers to refinance my home now has 1,378 "Delivery Status Notification: Failure" emails in it. Is this bad? What should I do?
posted by jennyb at 4:37 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by jennyb at 4:37 PM PST - 7 comments
How long does it take to adjust to a new job?
How long does it take to adjust to a new job? I just (4 days ago) started a new job and I feel like I'm in outer space, or the 13th level of hell, or something, but this has to improve, right? Any anecdotal or otherwise comments are helpful; right now, I think I'm drowning. I'm sort of the only person there, doing marketing among other undefined things and I really need to know if feeling like a complete idiot is going to stop. I haven't changed jobs in a while, and I was thoroughly courted and headhunted, oddly enough, for this one, and it's significantly more money. [more inside]
Setting text vs HTML message composition in Hotmail
How can I help others set their default message format to "text" in Hotmail? [more inside]
Registering an Iceland
I'd like to register an ".is" domain. I have no connection to Iceland - I just really like a particular domain name. Is this possible? If so, where can I host it?
Republicanism 101 for Teen Liberals
CogentRightWingThinkerFilter: A friend of mine has a younger sister who is a well-educated and politically savvy 16-year-old liberal Democrat. In the interests of broadening her horizons, what sources for Republican or right-wing politics would you recommend for her? [more inside]
Software to track multiple projects
Can anyone recommend a decent piece of software to keep track of multiple concurrent projects? [more inside]
posted by TonyRobots at 2:08 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by TonyRobots at 2:08 PM PST - 6 comments
weather reports, archived?
I need to find archived weather reports from Michigan for the month of February of this year. [more inside]
posted by tweak at 1:55 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by tweak at 1:55 PM PST - 6 comments
Books like HBO-series Carnivale?
I've been enjoying the first season of HBO series Carnivàle on DVD, and I'm interested in finding some related fiction. Can anyone recommend books with similar genre/setting/themes?
Where should I sell my motorcycle?
I live in the SF Bay Area and I need to sell my motorcycle. I've heard advice from Cragislist to Ebay to Cycle Trader, all of which seem fine, but no one I've talked to can make comparisons -- They've all used just one service. Turning to the MeFi community to help, does anyone have anything to offer besides just individual anecdotes? Is there a resource that compares selling services for bikes (or just vehicles in general) that could help with the decision?
posted by wolftrouble at 1:14 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by wolftrouble at 1:14 PM PST - 4 comments
Vin Diesel's shoes in Pacifier
Does anyone know what shoes Vin Diesel is wearing in "Pacifier"? Not that I fall for the film/product-placement thing, but they looked like nice shoes.
Where are the Peter Puck videos?
My 1st question ever! Anybody know where to get videos of the old Peter Puck NHL animated cartoon spots? [more inside]
Apostrophe or no?
In the phrase "I'm going to milk this for all it's worth," which is it? Its or it's? (I.e., apostrophe or no apostrophe?) [more inside]
Can you name the poem and the author?
The poem involves a war-time scenario (perhaps Revolutionary War) with a wife being accosted and probably raped by the enemy in her own home. Her husband is away in the war. [more inside]
Thank-you notes?
Do thank-you notes matter? [more inside]
Juicer suggestions
So getting into 'juice'ing, I'm wondering what kind of fruits and vegetables do what. I mean I've tried the obvious carrots, but do more exotic combinations exists? Is there a website about juicing? Somewhere that describes the benefit and taste of various fruit and vegetable combinations.
16thC Italian Law and The Merchant of Venice
I saw The Merchant of Venice over the weekend and have a question about the legality of Shylock's action. Since the question involves spoilers, it is inside one of these three caskets the thread. [more inside]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:51 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:51 AM PST - 6 comments
Web video resizing/compressing/formatting?
So, I've bitten off more than I can chew. I've been handed a 60mb VOB file of a television commercial that I want to post to the website of said company. [more inside]
Auto repair/service shop forums?
Where can I find an online forum for owners & managers of auto repair/service shops? [more inside]
Shopping cart question
My friend has a skateboard shop he runs out of his garage. He has an online shopping cart set up but the person who did it disappeared and left no documentation. He want to update the cart but has no idea how to find out which cart he uses or where to go to find a control panel. Is there an easy way to tell which service he uses?
But are they really dead?
A friend recently posed this question, and I had no answer: How come movies always have blood trickling out of the mouth to show that someone is really dead? Does death by physical trauma always cause internal bleeding and your lungs to fill up with blood and eventually work its way out of your mouth? Or is it just that a trickle of blood from the mouth is more dramatic than just a dead stare?
Mercedes Audio
Does anyone know how to program the Mercedes audio (COMMAND) system so that the radio volume does not automatically adjust itself according to (the car's perceived sense of) background noise. I expect it is a series of codes that can be input through the radio.
Resume for a temp worker
For the past several years, comprising the bulk of my relevant work experience, I've worked through temp agencies almost exclusively. Now suddenly I need an up-to-date resume. How? [more inside]
Stop the flatulence!
How can I stop being so flatulent? [more inside]
Piggybacking Avon
My wife sells Avon. I had the idea that since she goes door to door delivering Avon books and has created a decent client base, I could make up a snazzy flyer with cool products that the men in her customers' lives would find interesting, but probably would not have seen before (i.e. cool stuff found on the net). I don't have a ton of money to pre purchase lots of product, but probably enough to get started small scale. The men would be 30-60 I'd say. Any product Ideas? [more inside]
Why is my home PC on????
How can I know when an XP pro system has been switched on (as in: at what time did it start up *today*)?
posted by magullo at 9:38 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by magullo at 9:38 AM PST - 11 comments
Intro to Flickr
I am about to set up a Flickr account. Is there anything I need to know before doing this... tips, tricks, or whatever would be very helpful.
Automatic backup-to-server on Windows XP
I'm looking for a way to automatically back-up specified directories to a web server under Windows XP. [more inside]
Gutar Man
My 13 yr. old son has been taking electric guitar lessons for about a year and is getting ready to spend his hard earned money on a new guitar. (more inside) [more inside]
Summarise Gentry Lee's sequels to the Rama series
I've just finished re-reading the 4 books in the Rama series by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee, and was wondering about the sequels by Lee solo, set in the same universe, which by all accounts are not very good. Has anyone read them, and would you like to summarise? [more inside]
Learning to paint
What's the best way to learn to paint in watercolors? [more inside]
posted by icetaco at 7:41 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by icetaco at 7:41 AM PST - 10 comments
Pampering a Pregnant Wife for her Birthday in NYC
My very pregnant wife's birthday is next saturday and I want to give her a day of pampering, but I need some tips and pointers. [more inside]
posted by sd at 7:24 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by sd at 7:24 AM PST - 13 comments
internet textbooks
i read somewhere that people were taking textbooks and scanning them in and could be read on the internet. i was looking for some medical textbooks where i could just download them. is anyone doing this?
gmail overlords the system!
When I click on a link from a website, gmail comes up rather than thunderbird. Tbird is set as the default mail application. What gives and how do I fix this? I don't want gmail as the default mail application.
Why are medical costs so ridiculous?
Can someone with experience in the medical field break down the incredible costs of an emergency room visit for me? [more inside]
How do I create an online poll?
DIYPollingFilter. For an article I'm writing, I need to request some demographic info from about 900 people via an online poll. [more inside]
posted by grabbingsand at 5:36 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by grabbingsand at 5:36 AM PST - 2 comments
VOIP: now, where do I plug in my computer?
I just received my second install kit for VOIP, but unlike Episode I, there's no second LAN jack for my computer on the phone adapter. [more inside]
Turn signal noise stuck on
The turn signal "click" noise on my 97 Honda Civic is stuck on. This will shortly drive me crazy. How do I shut it off? [more inside]
What Do You Look for In A Resume?
I'm interested in hearing about different techniques people use when they have to go through a large stack of resumes for a job opening. Is there a specific process you use to weed out the best candidates to then bring in for a face-to-face interview? Are there specific things you look for? What's your process?
March 6
Email into the Future
How can I send email to myself in the future? Or, more broadly, is there a way to do so reliably? [more inside]
Kava kava
I want to buy some kava. Looking on the internet, it seems it'll run me about $12/lb plus shipping. Is the stuff I'm getting going to be crap? Has anyone tried it? What's it like?
Internet Connection Problem!
I need help fixing a problem with my internet connection. [more inside]
Cheap network storage?
I have a small network with a couple of Dell servers (6300, 2450, 2650), all loaded up with 18.2GB SCSI drives in RAID5 configs. I need more space but the cost to u/g the SCSI drives is pretty steep. Is there a cheaper way to gain great gobs of storage space on the cheap? [more inside]
posted by Lactoso at 10:35 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Lactoso at 10:35 PM PST - 10 comments
Currency exchange for a Europe trip six months away
USAsian traveling to the Continent this Fall -- should I buy some euros now? How? [more inside]
How do I treat Molluscum Contagiosum?
I am a healthy guy who caught Molluscum Contagiosum from a sexual partner. I have gone to a dermatologist many times about the virus and he has given me Aldara as treatment. It seemed to work all right at first, but I just keep getting them and am looking for alternatives to Aldara. I have had them frozen off, but doing that tends to leave scars. I only seem to have them on my stomach an a couple on my inner thigh. I've read about some other treatments that I found on Google, but I would rather hear about how someone else treated it. I'm getting really frustrated by it (and so is my girlfriend). I would like to get rid of them once and for all.
Graphing Email
I'd like to graph a large database of email (tracking the amount of email received per day from a variety of addresses over several years), ideally in MS Excel. The data is currently in Entourage 2004 for the Mac. Thoughts?
Converting cassette tapes to mp3
Does anyone know of a self contained device that can convert cassette tapes to mp3 or burn them to a CD? If not, what is the best software and setup to use with computer? I've got a zillion cassette tapes. Help!
ancient greek lexicon and grammar
Language-filter: I'm looking for a no-nonsense ancient greek lexicon and grammar... any suggestions? [MI] [more inside]
posted by Frankieist at 7:57 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by Frankieist at 7:57 PM PST - 8 comments
Revealing minimized windows in Linux
A very silly Linux question: How do I get a window back after minimizing it? [more inside]
posted by MotorNeuron at 7:54 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by MotorNeuron at 7:54 PM PST - 7 comments
Fixing Drywall Around Shower
In trying to fix the joint where my wall meets up with my shower, I wrecked my wall. What do I need to do to fix it? [more inside]
Does anybody remember laughter?
Some albums are quintessential. Off the top of my head, I can think of Moby's Play, Beck's Midnite Vulture, kd lang's Ingenue, St. Germain's Tourist. These albums cut across genres, have mass appeal and can be found in almost everybody's collection, be they electro-freaks, punkers, or style-mongerers. In my opinion, and I may be completely wrong and out of touch, there hasn't been an album in recent times like those above that has touched us as deeply. Where are these new and fantastic cd's or have I simply missed the latest and greatest?
What makes you flip political allegiences?
What makes you switch sides? There's the old saying that if you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, and if you're not a conservative by 60 you have no money/brain... but what events actually make people change? I'm pretty liberal myself and don't really see myself changing, but obviously people do. What event made you change, from one perspective to the other?
Squeaky shoe
How do you get a shoe to stop squeaking? I have a pair of tie shoes (Danskos) that I've worn for months without problem. But a few months ago, the right shoe suddenly starting squeaking on any surface, in any temperature. And it's loud. People look at me when I walk through the "quiet" floor of the library at school. Is there anything I can do to make the squeak go away?
How differently do people think?
Richard Feynman described thinking as basically just talking to yourself. Then a friend told him to picture a part of a car and then asked him how he explained to himself what the part looked like. He then realized that you can see when you think as well. Then later on he tried counting up to 60 and seeing how accurate his perception of time was. He usually counted to around 48 by the time 60 seconds had gone by. Then he figured that he could count pretty much all of the time and not get distracted, but he couldn't talk and count at the same time. (+) [more inside]
Breaking the Rumor Mill
How do you stop a rumor from being spread about you once its started? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav at 1:07 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by anastasiav at 1:07 PM PST - 19 comments
Homemade tshirts help, experience counts.
Suggestions on how to do handmade tshirts better? Or ideas on how to make them better that isn't handmade (let's avoid small or large run online tshirt places - too much cost. Labor is cheap) [more inside]
What do you do with old notebooks, letters, pictures, home movies?
What do you do with old notebooks, letters, pictures, home movies?
How to get Mod_Mp3 to read directories?
I'm running Apache 1.3, with the latest version of mod_mp3 to stream mp3s. It is pulling mp3s from 2 directories, one of which has a collection of mp3s not in subdirectories, and the other directory only has sub directories which contain mp3s. Mod_mp3 will read the mp3s from the first directory, but not the second one that only has subdirectories. What the duce?
How do I remove moisture from inside camera lenses?
Recently somebody broke into my car, took my camera equipment, and dumped it in the bushes. The stuff sat there for nearly two weeks before we found it this morning. Everything's there (or seems to be), but I'm worried: all five lenses are cloudy. They seem to have collected moisture inside. How can one effectively remove moisture from inside a camera lens? Will time take care of it?
Travelling Bands Problem
My friend is (foolishly) trying to start up a record label. He wants to be able to schedule various bands at various venues, and optimize the bands' schedules to minimize travel cost. How would he do this? [more inside]
Sourdough Bread
Bakers, help! How do I get my sourdough sourer? [more inside]
Website design contests for school children
My company is considering sponsoring a website design contest for grades K-12, with an informational theme. (We're a public utility.) I'm trying to find out how many such contests we might be competing with. Where do teachers go to find contests/competitions like this for their students? So far, I know about ThinkQuest, Global Virtual Classroom, and CyberFair. In addition to these large national/international contests, are there any Midwest-area website competitions for kids/teens?
RSS feed blog
Is there a way of getting an RSS feed to post itself automatically inline into a 'Blogger' weblog? [more inside]
Cataloging Music CD Collection
What's a good low-cost software that will archive my music cd information? [more inside]
posted by B_Sovereign at 9:43 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by B_Sovereign at 9:43 AM PST - 7 comments
Temporary Positions
What is the reasoning behind temporary positions, and is "Temp to Hire "usually a line of bullshit to get you excited about a job? [more inside]
Upright Bass question
Will a 3/4 scale Upright Bass fit in the back of my car? [more inside]
posted by drezdn at 7:58 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by drezdn at 7:58 AM PST - 7 comments
Dilbert Question
There is a Dilbert cartoon, one of the daily ones because it had 3 frames, that involved Wally and Dilbert in a meeting with thier boss discussing what they did that week. Wally said something about "transferring 1,444,000 bits of data onto a removable medium." Afterwards, Dilbert asked Wally if he just took credit for transferring a file to a floppy disk...which he did.
Working in the IT field, this is one of the funnier strips I can remember (next to the "shut up and reboot" one from Catburt's call center). However, I cannot find this strip on the Dilbert website.
I don't suppose anyone knows where I can find this?
posted by SparkyPine at 7:00 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by SparkyPine at 7:00 AM PST - 9 comments
audio text
What are your favorite audio poems, books, plays, etc?
posted by mono blanco at 4:03 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by mono blanco at 4:03 AM PST - 19 comments
Book about Time
I once read a book that talked about Time and how the concept of time is different in each culture. It mentioned this: In the US we would make a doctors appointment at 3pm and we made sure to show up at this time and would expect to be served at or close to this time...in another country you set the appointment for 3pm, but your would arrive about 4pm and the doctor would get to you until 5pm and thats how life is there... [more inside]
HotSyncing an old, old PDA
Where can I find software to sync my vintage USRobotics Pilot 5000 to my Windows 2000 PC? [more inside]
posted by S.C. at 1:13 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by S.C. at 1:13 AM PST - 2 comments
How can I get a good kick drum sound?
I have a Shure Beta 52 and a really good preamp. The kick drum sounds OK "I guess" live. When I put the mic in front of the kick drum, it sounds like poo - soft weak poo that can't be turned up without distorting either.
I want a tight sound that hits your heart. Good lord, this is a vague question - but give me your magic bullet!
posted by mildred-pitt at 12:30 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by mildred-pitt at 12:30 AM PST - 10 comments
March 5
In the future, will we all be incarcerated?
Sometime, say within the last 4 years, I read an editorial which answered the question of what accepted practice of our society would be viewed by future generations as morally reprehensible. The editorializer (who I believe was a person of some note) proposed incarceration as punishment for crime as an answer. Does anybody know who this was or where it appeared? [more inside]
posted by cosmonaught at 10:23 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by cosmonaught at 10:23 PM PST - 3 comments
What kind of big headphone should I buy?
So I have decided I need new headphones for use with my iPod and occasionally on my computer. I'm looking for big, art-school style headphones that are ear-enveloping and comfortable to wear, and also happen to sound awesome. I have the Sony MDR-V600s, but they are unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. What I really want to know is: do any of y'all know of some big, nice headphones I can buy for less than or equal to $100? [more inside]
Where to find the fantasy impact?
Any places to find out the costs or studies on fantasy sports or virtual communities that generate real world income or value opportunities? [more inside]
What does this dongle do?
I was just cleaning my new truck, a 2003 Ford F150, and I noted that there is a coaxial cable and what looks like a power cable near the floor in the middle. What does it do? [more inside]
I'm sorry, Mr. Jobs, I just prefer WinAmp!
Wireless networking and music: Apple AirPort (or something else?) meets WinAmp... [more inside]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 6:43 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 6:43 PM PST - 3 comments
Time to Cut The Cord
I want to have my Panasonic ReplayTV ShowStopper (PV-HS2000) make its nightly outgoing calls to download the showtimes via my cell phone so that I can dump my landline. I have a Nokia 3650 and am using ATTWS/Cingular. How do I do this? [more inside]
How do I make my laptop an extension of my desktop?
I recently bought a laptop, and would like to know the easiest way to allow everything on my laptop to be acccessible on my PC, and vice versa. Windows file sharing won't cut it. [more inside]
Turning a touchpad into a pen-iput device
I've been racking my brain (and the internet) trying to figure out how to turn the touchpad on my new laptop into a defacto pen input device. Any ideas? [more inside]
Using a Mac in Korea
I was going to be traveling to Korea shortly, and wanted to bring along my Mac. I was wondering if it's possible, using my regular iBook G4 with Airport, to access the Internet if the hotel (or somewhere else) has an open wireless network in place. Or are there all sorts of compatability issues? I'm guessing I also need a power/plug adapter (I'm in the U.S.) thanks...
How were you punished as a child?
How were you disciplined as a child? [more inside]
Marriage of convenience?
At least from the perspective of US and UK citizenship, is there such a thing as a marriage of convenience any more? Do any AskMeFites have knowledge of the relevant laws, or experience of having been married to people from across the pond? [more inside]
Peru and Bolivia
I'm going to Peru and Bolivia in late May, with a small group. We're starting in Cusco and winding up in La Paz, with Macchu Pichu and other relatively well-known archeological sites on the itinerary. Have other MeFites had experience in that area? How about wonderful, off-the-beaten-track recommendations or practical tips? Google is remarkably short on substance on this.
Rap/Dance music w/arabic influences?
So I'm a pledge at a fraternity here at Cornell university, and we're throwing a party whose tentative name is "Rock the Casbah". We're hoping for a mid-eastern/indian feel to the party, from decorations to music. Anyone know some good arabic/indian dance music or american rap music influenced by the sounds of the mid-east/india? [more inside]
What are the implications of becoming a cosigner on a mortgage?
My parents asked me to become a cosigner on their house purchase (they don't have enough credit to get the house themselves). I am fully willing to accept the financial responsibility, but am wondering if there are any hidden caveats (especially with regard to IRS) that I should be aware of? [more inside]
MS-DOS Formatting on iPod
I'd like to know if there's a downside to formatting the iPod as MS-DOS. I want to keep podcasts and the like on the Mac and my music collection on the PC... then switch back and forth between the two according to my whim. Should I format the iPod as MS-DOS ?
posted by garyduke at 8:34 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by garyduke at 8:34 AM PST - 9 comments
Need QUIET Vacuum for my Cat!
Since spring is almost here I would like to get a small vacuum to use on the cat. I have used my big vacuum with a long hose and a soft brush on the end on the cat and that was acceptable to the cat ;-) so I would like to get a small QUIET hand held one that wouldn't freak the cat out. I tried a Shark? one that was advertised as quiet but it was everything except quit! Obviously I only need one with fairly low suction, don't want the cat stuck to it..
/Peter
posted by Ferrari328 at 7:45 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by Ferrari328 at 7:45 AM PST - 15 comments
I need project management help!
I am looking for a simple way to keep a client informed on what projects I am working on for them, and what their current status is. A service like Basecamp is a possibility, but it is much more than I need. Their free TaDa list site is useful, but too simple. I need something a bit more informative, but easy to maintain. Any suggestions?
Do crossword puzzles cost more to make?
Why is it so hard to find a magazine of 100% crossword puzzles? Do crossword puzzle creators charge more than other puzzle creators? [more inside]
Killing Roaches
What's the most effective, least toxic way to kill the hordes of cockroaches that have infested my kitchen? [more inside]
Theoretical explanation for kinkyness.
So has anyone tried to explain sexual kinks and fetishes? I don't mean in a cataloguing sense, but in the same sense that an evolutionary biologist explains a fish's tail shape. Where it came from, what purposes it serves, that sort of thing.
posted by kavasa at 12:25 AM PST - 29 comments
posted by kavasa at 12:25 AM PST - 29 comments
March 4
Car Repair filter. Leaking radiator help.
Car Repair filter. Leaking radiator help needed. [more inside]
Editing photo metadata
I've decided to start editing metadata in my photographs. I want to add keywords via Photoshop CS. My question is, if I add keywords to a JPG, when I save it, will it recompress the image and thus degrade it?
posted by keswick at 10:00 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by keswick at 10:00 PM PST - 12 comments
Digital Piano Recommendations?
I'm selling my upright piano in order to get a digital piano - what recommendations do you have? I'd like a piano that is portable enough to take places in my car, but also has that "piano feel" and a good number of voices. Also, any amp and headphone suggestions?
posted by joshuaconner at 9:15 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by joshuaconner at 9:15 PM PST - 15 comments
Espresso makers
After years of unsatisfactory espressi at home via a Moka, I'm in the market for a good espresso machine. Not a milk frother - I can make my own decent caps if I have a good base. I'd welcome any unreserved recommendations from Mefi.
dancing etiquette question
What is the etiquette with respect to dancing at say, a rave party? [more inside]
big stud
My wife's problem with a stud that's too big. [more inside]
DVD recording and playback
I bought recently a DVD recorder and burned a few of my old video tapes on DVD. I played them back on my laptop's DVD drive but when I tried the same on my desktop's DVD drive, I couldn't play it. Can anyone explain why?
Can you deduct losses due to crime?
Followup to an earlier question: Can you deduct financial losses incurred due to a car break-in on your taxes? [more inside]
posted by knave at 6:09 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by knave at 6:09 PM PST - 5 comments
More on Migraines
Another migraine question. I'm wondering if any chronic migraine sufferers have had success with preventative medications. [more inside]
posted by btwillig at 5:21 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by btwillig at 5:21 PM PST - 12 comments
DVD won't play
I just added a new DVD-Rom drive on my PC. Popped in a DVD film and it can play, but the images are jumpy, halting, and not really viewable. [more inside]
places to stay near things to do in oregon
I'm trying to organize an Easter trip for 8 adults, a 16-month old toddler, and 3 dogs for the dates Fri, March 25th - Sunday, March 27th. I'd like it to be roughly equidistant from Yakima, Washington and Oakland, California. This places our vacation spot in central to mid/south coastal Oregon. I've already googled for pet-friendly Oregon vacation rentals and haven't had any luck (off-season, or already booked). [more inside]
Printing stuff causes lights to flicker
Why is it, when I print anything, that for minutes after the fact, the lights in my room continue to flicker?
TracFone?
TracFone. Anyone here have anything good/bad to say about TracFone? Google shows very mixed reviews, with the worst of them dating 2-7 years ago. To complicate things, a lot of the negative reviews are written poorly or involve ignorant customers. Amazon reviews are useless since everyone is spamming the reviews trying to do referrals ("why, sure the phones are great!"). [more inside]
Any forthcoming Nick Drake reissues?
Since the Nick Drake compilation Made to Love Magic came out last year, and the Fruit Tree box set is out of print and used copies are selling for exorbitant prices, I couldn't help but wonder if there might be a reissued/remastered CD version of the other albums being planned. [more inside]
posted by matildaben at 2:22 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by matildaben at 2:22 PM PST - 4 comments
Where to by Pro audio equipment?
ProAudio Filter: I'm looking to purchase the new portable Marantz CF recorder. What's the best online retailer for this kind of gear? There are so many to choose from that it's hard to decide.
Free congressional database?
Is there such a thing as a freely available database of Congresspeople? Names, districts, party affiliations, etc. Preferably easily loadable into a MySQL database. You'd think with the success of grassroots politics on the web someone would be offering one, but everything I've found wants me to pay a significant amount of money for one.
posted by crawl at 1:29 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by crawl at 1:29 PM PST - 7 comments
How does VOIP work for big bandwidth users?
How does VOIP work for big bandwidth users? I like to play online flash games and watch streaming video from time to time. My boyfriend plays games like Everquest and World of Warcraft. Is VOIP realistic for us, or should we stick with our landline and calling cards?
Too good to be true?
On eBay sometimes they list products as extremely cheap because you are paying for "information" to get free products (e.g. a laptop or ipod for 5 cents). Are these things ever legit? [more inside]
Migraineurs: Can a neurologist really help?
Chronic migraine sufferers, have you seen a neurologist? Did it help? [more inside]
What's the best way to set up blogs for my students?
I teach computer literacy to 9th graders at a small independent school, and we're currently trying to figure out the best way to give our kids their own blogs. They'd blog assignments and observations for several subjects, and we'd leave comments and feedback on their entries. It would need to be private (only for students and their teachers), customizable (to allow for individual creativity), and public-web accessible. Any suggestions? We can probably host our own server, if need be, but we have limited funds.
Surviving the Pandemic
Assuming the Avian Flu pandemic become reality within the next year or two, what preparations should a rational first-world citizen undertake? [more inside]
How do I edit the notes section of iCal automatically using Applescript or anything else?
Simplified scenario: I have a text file called "blah.txt" with some text in it. I also have a To-Do item in iCal named "Blah". I'd like to be able to doubleclick something to make the contents of blah.txt appear in the notes section of the Blah to-do item. [more inside]
Caller ID on cell phones
Do any cell phones do name & number Caller ID for numbers that aren't already in the phone's address book? Or are all cell phones number-only?
Googling a non-alphanumeric whatsit
Give me a fish: What does this symbol mean? )'(
Teach me to fish: Is there any way to Google a non-alphanumeric string like that? How about other search engines? [more inside]
Dangers of swim goggles: true or false?
When I was young, I was instructed not to wear swim goggles for any water activity that could force water at them, like waterskiing or diving headfirst off a diving board. The theory was that strong contact could pull one's eyeball out of its socket as a result of the suction and vacuuming that would occur on impact with the water. Fact or fiction?
Selling Photography or Getting It Displayed
I'm an amateur photographer, but I'd like to see if I could sell it to someone, somewhere. If not that, maybe enter it in online or local photography contests. How do I get started? [more inside]
Visio opening many copies of the same document
Visio weirdness: if I open any Visio document on a network drive the program opens several identical copies of that document (15 to be precise). This doesn't happen if I open a document on my desktop's HDD. What's going on? [more inside]
I burned my mouth and it's driving my crazy.
I burned my mouth on some very hot chicken about a week ago and Wednesday night, after eating some very good, but very spicy jambalaya, the burn on the left side side of my palate is so raw and irritated. Does anyone have any remedys to stop the pain? [more inside]
Sites with registration lists?
Can anyone direct me to a website with usernames / passwords for public consumption for sites like NY Times, WSJ, etc? [more inside]
Early SciFi
Suggestions for a friend on a speculative fiction / early Sci-Fi kick (stuff along the lines of H.G. Wells' "The War in the Air" and John Jacob Astor's "A Journey in Other Worlds")?
Suggestions for outfitting a home hospice?
HomeHospiceFilter: my father is coming to live with us in the midst of his battle with mesothelioma and melanoma. I have a couple of months to furnish our teeny-tiny (10x10 plus closet) guest room with stuff that's comfortable, practical, and homey. Of course, I have a teeny-tiny budget, too. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by whatnot at 7:59 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by whatnot at 7:59 AM PST - 6 comments
importing address book from hotmail to entourage
Can I import my address book from hotmail to entourage? [more inside]
band name etiquette
What is the etiquette involved in using a band name that is similar to one already in existence. [more inside]
posted by Kellydamnit at 7:32 AM PST - 26 comments
posted by Kellydamnit at 7:32 AM PST - 26 comments
MP3 Players with Linux and/or Win98SE
My elderly PC boots up into either Win98SE or (preferably) Linux. I'm thinking of buying an MP3 player, such as the 20GB Rio Karma or Archos GMini XS200. I've just sent off for a USB2.0 controller card, as it seems this is the interface of choice for peripherals these days. Will I have any issues seeing the MP3 player? Will it show up as a removeable drive, or will I have to install extra software? Do I need to check which MP3 players are compatible with linux?
posted by salmacis at 7:24 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by salmacis at 7:24 AM PST - 14 comments
Financial Advice / Investment Community sites, forums etc
I am looking for good, active websites for financial advice, tips...community run unbiased sites where members are free to post their views would be good. I did a search and cannot find anything interesting. I am already aware of fool.com. Any others?
What's a good estimate for exercise requirements for the labradoodle breed?
My husband and I are considering getting a lab/poodle ("labradoodle") mix. I'm a little concerned about how much exercise the dog would realistically need. We have talked to a breeder about this and are pursuing referrals from her to current owners, but I'd like all the advice on this subject I can get since this will be a 15-year commitment. Any labradoodle owners out there? [more inside]
Guatemala Travel
My wife and I are planning a vacation to Antigua, Guatemala in April. Any tips on things to do or see, places to stay, etc? [more inside]
posted by alball at 6:38 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by alball at 6:38 AM PST - 8 comments
Getting rid of headlice
Genuine Itching Mites... [more inside]
Delusional Itching Mites
Delusional Itching Mites... [more inside]
plastic bits with framed canvas
I bought a small (20x30 cm) canvas (cotton on a wooden frame, pre-whitened) to paint on yesterday and it came with 8 pieces of plastic, each about 1 cm across, 4 or 5 cm long, with one end square and the other at 45 degrees. What are they for? [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke at 3:53 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by andrew cooke at 3:53 AM PST - 3 comments
How to make a Bottleneck slide
Does anyone know how to make a bottleneck guitar slide? I tried google and couldn't find anything reliable. Bear in mind that running to the hardware store and buying expensive equipment is out of the question. Obviously there'll be SOME expense, but things like electric belt sanders simply aren't going to happen. Thanks in advance.
posted by shmegegge at 1:35 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by shmegegge at 1:35 AM PST - 17 comments
March 3
Face Textures Too Real?
I saw a thread somewhere on a popular blog in the past year or so talking about how when the textures on the faces of video game characters (or possibly just CG) cross a line of looking too realistic, it actually causes people to dislike them or feel uncomfortable. Does anyone know what this is called, or can point me in the right direction to find out more?
posted by will at 11:38 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by will at 11:38 PM PST - 9 comments
Microsoft Word Add-On's
A few days ago, I saw a Microsoft Word freeware program that adds all sorts of little colored icons and functionality. Now I can't find it. Anyone know what it was?
posted by Quartermass at 11:07 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Quartermass at 11:07 PM PST - 7 comments
Anyone have experience with PC-based alarm clock software?
Does anyone have any first-hand experience with PC-based alarm clock software? I'm looking particularly for something that allows any number of alarms to be set, preferably on a schedule. Additionally, I need one that - this is key - unmutes the computer if it is muted. Bonus points if it integrates with iTunes playlists. [more inside]
posted by socratic at 11:01 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by socratic at 11:01 PM PST - 9 comments
Hot Roof
Cooling my apartment: advice needed from experts in the fields of air conditioning and building codes, and, as a last resort, lawyers. [more inside]
posted by Deepspace at 10:36 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Deepspace at 10:36 PM PST - 9 comments
Iron vs. Steamer vs. Cleaners
This is so corny. Years and years ago we stopped ironing. After a while I decided that my shirts should look a little less wrinkled and started taking them to the cleaners at a price that is now 2 bucks per shirt. I am getting tired of going to drop off and pick-up and pay for these shirts. A friend at work suggested a steamer. They say it works much better and much quicker than an iron. I can't go back to ironing....ever. I am looking for a solution. Do steamers work faster and more efficiently than irons? Is there another less time consuming solution? Should I wear wrinkled shirts?
Simple and addictive OSX action games
I'm fond of the products of Japanese studio ABA Games and am looking for similar stuff for my G4 iBook. [more inside]
Are Mephisto shoes worth the price?
I'm a man with big feet (usually size 14 U.S., size 48 European, extra-wide), and consequently have a really hard time finding good shoes that fit me. I've heard great things about Mephisto shoes, but have been wondering if they're really worth the price. [more inside]
posted by cerebus19 at 8:32 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by cerebus19 at 8:32 PM PST - 17 comments
Mystery effects pedal?
Awhile back I saw Grant Tennille (Trans Am, Idyll Swords, Black Taj, Jimi Hendrix Inexperience) play guitar through a big, red, kidney-shaped effects pedal. I'm a certified Music Junkie, but an Equipment Ignoramous. Any idea what it might be? He seemed to get a variety of sounds through it (echo, vibrato), and one of my mates commented that it was a popular pedal to have. Little did he know I was considering getting one for him as a gift, assuming it can be ID'd.
posted by jenleigh at 8:30 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by jenleigh at 8:30 PM PST - 9 comments
Mexican Vacation: Ixtapa vs. Zihuatanejo
Mexican Vacation Thunderdome: Ixtapa vs. Zihuatanejo. Two cities enter... One city leaves. [more inside]
Online survey tool recommendations
Half the blogs I read have links to the Blogads survey today, which reminds me that I've been meaning to do a readership survey for one of my sites. There are a plethora of web sites offering survey tools (if this page from SurveyMonkey, which is doing the Blogads survey, is any indication); which one(s) would you recommend? (Free or very nearly so is preferred, natch.)
posted by mcwetboy at 7:33 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by mcwetboy at 7:33 PM PST - 2 comments
Missing credit card data
My employer requires me to have a credit card for travel. The card is issued by Bank Of America. I had to provide my social security number and much personal data to get this 'official Government Travel' card. Recently BOA lost a whole bunch of data. Should I be concerned? [more inside]
Mastectomy
A dear family member is having a mastectomy/reconstruction/biopsy this friday. She's across the country, so I can't be there. I'd like to hear any success stories and warnings, plus any advice on how I can help or what I can send.
Is there anything to the popular theory about the USSR collapse?
Are there any serious scholars of Russian history who buy the "increased US military spending bankrupted the USSR" theory of the Soviet Union collapse? [more inside]
Modern-day Consumer Reports?
Where do you go for product reviews and comparisons? I recently bought a bunch of audio and PC hardware with mixed results. Consumer Reports is outdated, Epinions reviews are quite thin on the ground, and Amazon is trying to sell you everything. Google? Ha! Thousands of links to people with little "stores" fronting for Amazon...
How to determine possible identity theft
In light of the recent scamming of ChoicePoint, I want to know if my information has been compromised. [more inside]
training collars for dogs
We have 7 month old dog that needs to stop nipping and barking. What has been your experience with training collars? [more inside]
How to keep my husband from destroying socks?
My husband destroys socks. Every single pair he owns has holes in them, no matter how old they are. Darning is a neverending chore and buying new socks every week is expensive. Are there any socks that can stand up to him? Or are there any tricks to make his old socks hold together longer? [more inside]
Material to teach Introduction to Computers
I'll be teaching a smart, almost completely computer-illiterate person the basics of navigating a PC. Does anyone know of good material that I could use? [more inside]
Predictive text for Office
Anyone know of an add-on for MS-Office (or any other Office suite) that can do predictive text?
Mobile phone games
What sites or companies does anyone trust in regards to sending / downloading games to mobile devices? [more inside]
doubling up on medical benefits?
My wife works for the local school system and has excellent medical benefits through them. I'm starting a new job on Monday and will be allowed to enroll in their medical benefits program. Is there any reason to enroll at the job given how good my wife's medical insurance is?
posted by jperkins at 2:41 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by jperkins at 2:41 PM PST - 9 comments
Should I buy tailored clothes?
I'm at the point in my career where I'll need to buy more business attire. I've had a little trouble buying off the rack stuff that fits well, due to my build (athletic, but stocky, rather thick-necked. 10 years of rugby will do that). So I'm curious about tailored clothes What can I expect? In what price range should I expect to pay? Are there some things that just aren't worth seeing a tailor for?
PC game with Code Wheel
I was having a conversation with a couple of coworkers about old PC games and there was a game that we all remembered with a unique puzzle solving element, but none of us can remember the name. [more inside]
posted by Restlessavenger at 1:27 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by Restlessavenger at 1:27 PM PST - 11 comments
Selling a mac
What's the best way to sell an almost new computer? [more inside]
posted by justgary at 12:51 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by justgary at 12:51 PM PST - 11 comments
Does magnabar scratch knives?
I'm lusting after new cutlery and am considering forgoing the knife block for a magnetic knife storage device like the Magnabar. Will the bar scratch the side of the knives? I know it is totally cosmetic but after dropping a few hundred dollars on knives, I want the cutlery to look great on the wall.
How do you dial a collect call from the UK?
Dialing 0 doesn't give you an operator and I can't figure out how to reach one.
Namethatsongfilter
I know it's not a very "intellectual" question, but I can't figure out where else to look for the answer. I have a song stuck in my head, or more precisely 1 line of the song...and it's driving me batty! [more inside]
Help me with my vision!
My girlfriend's been having some problems with her vision and she's not really sure if her eye doctor(s) are understanding her adequately, or are thinking of things that could be less common that could be the problem. [more inside]
Does isosceles subsume equilateral?
Are equilateral triangles also isosceles? [more inside]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 11:11 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 11:11 AM PST - 25 comments
Historical difference between Canada and the United States
Can someone provide a good overview and possibly some links explaining what the difference was between the American colonies and the Maritime Provinces that led to their separation? [more inside]
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:04 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:04 AM PST - 9 comments
Is the iPod dock worth it?
iPodFilter: I'm on the verge of buying an iPod, and am wondering if the dock is worth it. [more inside]
Interior paint reference?
We found the house, and we'll be painting before we move in. I'm looking for a good reference book or website that covers wall treatments, painting in general, and color effects. [more inside]
Mexico all inclusive honeymoon
I am trying to put together a honeymoon in Mexico for July. We are almost sold on the El Dorado Royale Resort. Any experiences with this resort or suggestions for another? We would really like an all-inclusive, but it is not a requirement.
Portable word-processors
I'm looking for something small, simple and cheap to use for basic word-processing on the road. Something like the Alphasmart Neo, or some kind of bare-bones laptop. Suggestions/advice?
Seeking name of famous Westerns character actor
Looking for the name of an actor who was typecast in many westers as a "crazy old coot". [more inside]
posted by bkdelong at 8:28 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by bkdelong at 8:28 AM PST - 25 comments
Average face online quizz
Where can I find the online test where, presented with two faces, you would choose the most beautiful to you, and in the be presented with YOUR favorite face ? [more inside]
posted by XiBe at 7:44 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by XiBe at 7:44 AM PST - 5 comments
Fish restaurants in Charlotte
Charlotte, NC -- We'll be there for a long weekend and need recommendations for restaurants serving fresh/healthy grilled fish (or even fish tacos). Want someplace casual (not necessarily cheap, but where jeans are OK). Not interested in shrimp, crab or lobster. Thanks.
posted by nancoix at 6:41 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by nancoix at 6:41 AM PST - 6 comments
Apartment portable washer/dryer
Apartment portable washer/dryers? Any insight, recommendations, pitfalls. I'm looking for something liftable by me (~100lbs?) that can hook into a sink and uses 100V electric. It should also work well. I'm looking at this one: thor , but it is 180lbs, so I'm looking around.
Money isn't an object (within reason, under $1500).
Any advice?
EMDR
Is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (or EMDR) a load of bollocks or a legitimate treatment? Any pitfalls or unintended consequences to look out for?
How to tell your machine has been hacked?
I am looking for the definative method for determining if my machine has been hacked. I don't trust antivirus software and was thinking of looking into packet sniffers but wasn't sure if that was the place to start.
Bargain Stereo Component solution
I'm moving into a new apartment in a couple of weeks. It's completely wired for sound and has a rack in a closet for components. I know nothing about components, but think it would be great to hook something up. Help? [more inside]
March 2
How do I get Extensis Suitcase X1 to auto-activate fonts in Photoshop CS?
How do I get Extensis Suitcase X1 to auto-activate fonts in Photoshop CS? [more inside]
Origin of the term meatspace?
Where did the term "meatspace" originate? I know it entered the OED in 2000 (alongside "gaydar," "cybersquatting" and "Frankenfood"), and I see The Word Spy credits a 1995 article about John Perry Barlow as the "earliest citation," but I think I saw it in cyberpunk sci-fi before that. Anyone got an earlier appearance than 1995? [more inside]
posted by mediareport at 8:33 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by mediareport at 8:33 PM PST - 24 comments
Recommendations on a heart rate monitor?
Recommendations on a heart rate monitor? I'm 27 and I go to the gym four to five days a week with a ratio of about 80% weight training (3-4 days) and 20% cardio (1-2 days). I'd like to do more interval training to lower my percentage body fat and many of the online resources describe this in terms of heart rate. Not knowing a thing about heart rate monitors, I thought I'd ask here. [more inside]
How do I stop traffic on a major freeway?
How do I stop traffic on a busy freeway? [more inside]
Fender Bender
A fender-bender has, uh, bent my bumper. Torn the rear one off half the frame, specifically. The car is old enough that no one makes the right size bumper/brackets anymore. Plus the frame need a bunch of work before it can accept a bracket again. Insurance declared a total, but has left open the option to repair. Several folks have suggested unbolting the other end and running w/o a bumper. Is this safe?? Not to mention legal? What would you do? [more inside]
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 5:35 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 5:35 PM PST - 20 comments
Hypnagogic?
When you close your eyes as tight as possible, what do you see? I see patterns and shapes constantly changing and moving across my vision. I searched and one page suggested that this phenomena was 'hypnagogic vision', but all other references seem to suggest that this is a part of the sleep pattern, and not when fully conscious. [more inside]
Is zero a cube?
This page mentions, among other things, that "100 is the smallest square which is also the sum of 4 consecutive cubes." Obviously, this refers to the sum of 1^3 (1), 2^3 (8), 3^3 (27) and 4^3 (64). But it seems to me that the sequence can be pushed back to start with 0^3 (0), in which case you can get four consecutive cubes adding up to 36, which is a square. Is zero then not considered a cube? [more inside]
posted by ubernostrum at 5:16 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by ubernostrum at 5:16 PM PST - 9 comments
Best way to learn Spanish
I minored in Spanish in college about 10 years ago, but remember very little of it. Just went to Tijuana to and had the opportunity to be immersed in the language and culture for 5 days. A lot of it came back and I was able to communicate .. now I have a huge desire to be bilingual. I'm back in Tennessee now ( where I live ) and won't be able to go back to Mexico for awhile. Whats the best way to learn to speak fluent Spanish in Tennessee? More classes? Books? Tapes ? I don't have any Spanish-speaking friends.. any ideas ? Is it even possible ?
Apple hard drive
I have an old iMac that I want to get rid of and I want to erase the hard drive before I give it to someone/recycle it. The computer is screwed up (battery died, long story), and the only way I can erase it is to go up to the "erase" option in the drop down menu. I did that, and it seemed to work. Then, I reinitialized the hard drive. Does this mean it's really erased completely, or is the info still on there?
Living
My daughter is a freshman at UMN in Minneapolis and is beginning her search for an off-campus apartment. So far, she has seen only the huge industrial apartment complexes that have sprung up that offer a high-end dorm-like environment (at a stunningly high rentmay add). I know (and she knows) that it is not the kind of environment that she wants, but she is unsure of how to go about finding the right place. So, does anyone know the good sources for apartment classifieds around UMN? In Chicago, it would be the Reader. I don't know anything about Minneapolis.
Objective Truth.
For some reason I have become incredibly irritated with bad rhetoric. I'm talking about the obvious stuff, like lies told by politicians, but I've also become incredibly frustrated with half-truths and distortions told by groups whose causes I espouse. It's not that I want to be told what to think, I just want to not have to constantly churn through the layers of deception to get answers to even the most basic questions about empirical reality. I wish there was a special newsletter I could subscribe to, written by someone who was generous and smart and at least attempting to fairly describe the problems and solutions.
So, do you have any go-to publications that at least attempt objectivity, without obvious corporate/radical/religious/middle-earthian bias?
[disclaimer: let's not bring up postmodernism] [more inside]
What version of Linux should I try?
Outlook help
We use Outlook 2002 at work. The gentleman next to me refuses to learn Ctrl V to paste and would rather hit Alt+E, P. Recently, this stopped working for him. When he hits Alt+E it highlights Edit, but does not drop down the list. When I try it in my Outlook, it works fine. He says it stopped working a few weeks ago. I cannot figure out for the life of me what is wrong. Anyone? [more inside]
posted by mic stand at 1:58 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by mic stand at 1:58 PM PST - 11 comments
Converting Windows Event Viewer log files on a *nix platform?
DUMPEL from the Win2K Resource Kit takes .EVT (Windows Event Viewer) binary log files and outputs plaintext. I've searched high and low, and can't find a Linux/UNIX equivalent that I can use to process these saved log files. Any suggestions?
posted by mrbill at 1:57 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by mrbill at 1:57 PM PST - 7 comments
Putting the
Are there any web-based Playlist Editors? I'd like to export my song library in XML, put it on the web, and have friends pick songs for a playlist and save it. [more inside]
posted by FreezBoy at 1:50 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by FreezBoy at 1:50 PM PST - 4 comments
Mapping software, in color book form
At work we're looking for something that will allow us to color in a basic county-by-county map of the state. Is there any free/inexpensive software that would allow us to fill in different parts of a map with different colors? [more inside]
posted by gus at 1:20 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by gus at 1:20 PM PST - 12 comments
AnimationFilter
I'm trying to remember the title of an animated flick. The closest thing out there to it would probably be Ralph Bakshi. [more inside]
Tulips in spring
Is it too late to plant tulips? I am in Salt Lake City, Utah and it's already starting to feel like spring. I have a big bag of tulip bulbs that I meant to plant last fall. Little green buds are starting to show. Should I give it a shot now? If they don't come up this spring, is there a chance they will come up next spring? I'm not sure what type of bulb they are.
Quarter-Life Crisis: How did you handle it?
Quarter-Life Crisis: How did you handle it? [more inside]
MS Word replacement?
Tabbed word processing -- is it out there? I'm working on a very long writing project and need some way to keep track of notes, sections of the document, timelines, etc. I've been using a simple index card system next to my computer, but I find it disruptive to go from pencil to keyboard and back as I move along. So, is there anything available (cheaper the better) that is better than Word for this kind of thing? I'm on a Windows system.
My liver hurts
I am having a hard time getting satisfactory answers about why my liver hurts. I've been to a couple doctors and have done some searching online, and I can't really match my symptoms to anything. I thought I'd check here to see if anyone had any ideas I hadn't thought of yet. [more inside]
How do I ask co-workers to stop emailing me religious junk mail?
How do I ask co-workers to stop emailing me religious junk mail? [more inside]
Fishing near Seattle
Where's a nice place to take a 7 year old girl on her first fishing trip?
posted by poodlemouthe at 10:34 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by poodlemouthe at 10:34 AM PST - 11 comments
.IN Registrar.
I am looking for a good/reputable domain registrar that can register .IN domains. [more inside]
Podcast software
Looking for software recommendations for retrieving podcasts (Mac OS X 10.3.8). [more inside]
Austin shrinks
I'm looking for a reccomendation for a good psychiatrist in Austin. [more inside]
Creating large documents?
I'm working on a document that will eventually be very large...what's the best way to do this? [more inside]
posted by JoanArkham at 9:48 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by JoanArkham at 9:48 AM PST - 15 comments
How to deal with leukemia in the family.
My uncle is battling leukemia. What to do? [more inside]
Disabling caps lock?
How to require Caps Lock to be held down for a few seconds before activating? [more inside]
posted by BigPicnic at 9:22 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by BigPicnic at 9:22 AM PST - 8 comments
Diving into Buffy?
I have a friend who has never ever watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She is curious, after hearing about it from me and others, and wants to know what episode(s) to rent that would give her a good feel for it.
If I had to recommend, I would start out with The Body in Season 5 and then a couple episodes after that, as a "representative slice" of the show. It has more gravitas than earlier seasons but not over-the-top intense like most of Season 6.
Not that this is an earth-shaking topic but perhaps other fanboys and fangirls could weigh in.
posted by Danf at 9:18 AM PST - 43 comments
posted by Danf at 9:18 AM PST - 43 comments
Making a web page in Japanese
I'm trying to make a 1 page web site in Japanese using my computer (english windows 98). I'm unable to type in Japanese using dreamweaver. I downloaded the Japanese version. Still no luck. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by keithl at 9:10 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by keithl at 9:10 AM PST - 6 comments
Sappy Slideshow Music
I need some good song suggestions for music to accompany a slideshow of a child growing up. [more inside]
My little toy..
css in blogger
I'm seeing weird stuff when I try to make some css changes to my Blogger index page. [more inside]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:20 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:20 AM PST - 12 comments
How do you become a casting director?
How does one become a casting director? It doesn't seem like there would be classes in film school on becoming a casting director, so I'm curious as to what professional course one would take to attain this position. I have quite an eye for placing actors in roles that have yet to be cast, but I'm sure that's not all it takes. Is it all just nepotism and luck?
posted by bjork24 at 7:20 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by bjork24 at 7:20 AM PST - 4 comments
iCal Unknown Network Error...wha?
How do I debug (and solve) this iCal error: "Cannot publish your calender. There was an unknown network error (-2). " [more inside]
French VAT Repayment
Our company recently participated in the MIDEM conference in Cannes (and they didn't take me!). We were assessed a reimbursable Value Added Tax. However, MIDEM arranges this repayment through an agency which takes a cut. I would like to get reimbursed without anyone taking a cut. Is this possible to do directly?
How do I get rid of old computer parts in Toronto
How can I get rid of old computer components in the Toronto area? [more inside]
Getting On A Panel At A Comic Con
I have a presentation that I want to give at comic book and science fiction conventions. How do I become an official convention event, and what else do I need to know? [more inside]
Webcam chat between Mac & PC
I'm looking for an inexpensive pair of Mac and Windows compatible webcams to chat with my girlfriend -- she has a PC, I have a PowerBook. [more inside]
Am I being Watched at work via remote access?
[RemoteAccessFilter] Am I being watched at work? [more inside]
Nonlinar Music
Nonlinear music: where can I find good examples? I remember the Final Fantasy composer talking about one of the scores for a boss battle that could transition several different ways, for example. [more inside]
posted by Tlogmer at 1:50 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by Tlogmer at 1:50 AM PST - 11 comments
Microsoft Word Adds Thousands of Pages?
Anyone great with dealing with Microsoft Word problems? It's adding thousands of blank pages to my document! Please help...I'm in the middle of writing my thesis... [more inside]
posted by rio at 1:16 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by rio at 1:16 AM PST - 15 comments
What is this song?
Can anyone help me identify the song in this video of a man dancing all over the world (http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/)? It's a fun site, also.
posted by jb at 12:01 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by jb at 12:01 AM PST - 7 comments
March 1
Desperatly seeking hosting.
Need co-lo/server space where I can pay in Euros, but not a fortune as I'm not rich. I'd like to lease the line and the server but have a few 'special' needs. [more inside]
posted by dabitch at 11:47 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by dabitch at 11:47 PM PST - 4 comments
Where/how/what do I do to earn big bucks this summer?
I just got accepted into a graduate school program in Manhattan, which is great, but I'm going to need A LOT of money.
I have one summer to earn money before going back to school.
Where/how/what do I do to earn big bucks this summer? [more inside]
Living in close proximity with neighbors
How do you learn to live with your neighbors seeing you in your undies? [more inside]
posted by tinamonster at 9:45 PM PST - 25 comments
posted by tinamonster at 9:45 PM PST - 25 comments
Data from Flash interface
How can I get data from a Flash interface-based web page? e.g. When I click on an item in the interface, is there anyway to get info on what was selected, etc? For example, on http://homestarrunner.com/sbemail.html, how can I get the data on which selection was made from the list? I'd like to take that data into a PHP app and do something with it elsewhere.
How to secure a programming job after a long break?
How to secure a programming job after a long break? Should I mention that when I left my last job, they tried to keep me with a massive salary increase? [more inside]
Buying stuff online in Canada?
Calling all Canadians! My limited free and work time is being sucked up by really trivial purchasing problems. How does one efficiently shop online in Canada? More importantly, where? [more inside]
TENS/EMS recommendations?
After an accident a few years ago, I had a significant amount of physical therapy and they used a tens/ems unit both for muscle memory and for pain relief. I find some of the pain is returning, and I'd like to try one of these units before going the narcotic route. However, most of the sales sites I've found seem kind of shady. Does anyone have a medical supplier they recommend or any personal experience using one of the commercial units?
Where's the fun?
How can I get an upgrade on my flight?
In April I'll be flying to New Zealand, this flight is 23+ hours long, and nonstop. I got a great rate from Qantas Air, but it's economy class, and I'm 6'2". 23 hours in a small seat will be tough and I want tips on getting an upgrade to business class, or even first class without spending a lot of money. Anybody have any tips for this?
Help remember a CD based on album art
My boyfriend is having a hard time remembering a CD. [more inside]
posted by Coffeemate at 6:50 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Coffeemate at 6:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Beer can headaches, but why?
On behalf of my friend's dad: Why is it that he gets headaches from canned beer, and not beer from other sources, or canned drinks?
How to explain e-commerce to e-ignorants?
I need to explain how e-commerce is different from plain old commerce to business people with no e-background. What are your favorite resources (online or offline) for e-commerce information? I'm thinking of things like business basics, basic e-commerce concepts, shipping, digital photography -- essentially anything related to e-commerce from the business user level point of view. The hidden gems or the quality perspectives. Tutorials, books, online demos, graphics, statistics, whitepapers, or any other information suitable for an introductory-level audience.
How to find what a given author's next book will be?
Inspired by this question, I found myself wondering - is there any way to find out what a given author's next book will be? Sort of like those 'screenplay sales' pages where it lists what a given production company has purchased, I guess.
Train Scenes in Movies
I'm completing a lighting design for a play called "Last Train to Nibroc". The play's first scene takes place on a train heading east across the United States, just before dawn on December 28, 1940. In doing my research, I'm looking for movies that include interior scenes on trains of around this period. [more inside]
Bane of the teaching existence
I've got to grade a stack of student essays that is nearly two feet high, and my motivation is lagging. I feel obliged to provide good feedback and useful comments on my student's papers, but it's getting painful. When the task in front of you is distasteful, long, and boring, but you hafta do a good job anyway, what do you to do keep motivated (and/or tricks to make the job less laborious)?
Good electric guitars for an acoustic fingerstylist?
I'm an acoustic fingerstyle guitarist. I play a Martin OOOc-15e. Lately, I've been considering buying an electric guitar for similar purposes, as well as some heavier blues stuff. Suggestions? [more inside]
Is there a site for people moving out on their own for the first time?
Is there a website that has advice, information, facts, and maybe even a forum for people who are moving out on their own for the first time? Not to college, but getting an apartment or house for the first time? As an example, it might have everything from tips on dealing with a landlord to how to do your laundry. (I know how to do those things, just an example.)
Buying patchouli seeds
Where can I buy patchouli seeds right now? I'd like to plant them within the next couple of weeks, and the only online retailer I have found so far that offers them (a nursery in Indiana) had to toss out their batch and won't receive any more for at least a month.
The rich life...
Is it really that hard to be happy and rich? [more inside]
posted by hellbient at 4:10 PM PST - 28 comments
posted by hellbient at 4:10 PM PST - 28 comments
Arts & Crafts classes in NYC?
I've been looking forward to taking classes at the YWCA Arts & Crafts League in NYC, ever since I found out about it a few months ago. However, it turns out that they will closing after their current term of classes, possibly re-opening in the fall with a reduced slate of classes. What other reasonably priced options are there in NYC (Brooklyn, Queens or Manhatten) for arts & crafts classes? [more inside]
In-n-Out Gift Certificates
Is there any way to buy In-N-Out Gift Certificates from the East Coast? [more inside]
posted by trey at 3:11 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by trey at 3:11 PM PST - 2 comments
Curtsy for the Queen?
What is the proper etiquette/protocol for Americans greeting or addressing non-American people of title? Does one say "Her Majesty" or "Your Highness" or "Lady So-and-So" or other formalities, if one comes from a country with egalitarian and anti-monarchist roots and beliefs, where the non-recognition of titles is even a part of the Constitution? How about the whole curtsying thing? Where is the line commonly drawn between being polite to someone and being true to personal and national values? [more inside]
Emailing Photos to Picture Phones?
Is there any way to email a photo from a computer to a Verizon picture phone?
Life Question
I just moved to a new city, which in itself is exciting, but I am finding it a bit lonely. While some parts of my life are fabulous, they don't make up for the daily monotony that seems to escalate the longer I fail to do anything about it. I need advice. [more inside]
iSight as security camera?
Is it possible to rig up my iSight camera (Mac OS X) to essentially act as a security camera? I'd like to record the footage it sees for "x" hours before overwriting, and ideally have it motion-activated so it only records when it detects movement.
Stephenson's Baroque Cycle
Does Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle undergo any stylistic changes in volumes two and three that will make it more readable? [more inside]
Non-drowsy motion sickness remedies?
Besides chemicals that make me nap all day, what can I do to keep from hurling on flights? [more inside]
posted by Gucky at 12:46 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by Gucky at 12:46 PM PST - 18 comments
Creating a job for yourself
If you've ever approached a company and impressed them enough to create a postion for you, I'd love to hear how you went about it.
Taxes on marked down items
Oprah recently gave away cars to everyone in her studio audience, and some of the winners complained about the income tax burden represented by the car. Could she have avoided the problem by selling the cars to the audience for a nominal fee? [more inside]
Pens?! Pens?!
Recently I've been writing in a notebook and finding it less distracting more productive than a computer. Problem is: pens. My hands always cramp. Writers: what are your favorite pens? I fancy me a fine point as well.
Job Interview - Strengths/Weaknesses
I need some winning responses to the dreaded "What are your strengths/weaknesses" job interview question (Marketing Manager position at consulting firm). I am well-qualified and, of course, I know my own strengths/weaknesses, but I want two or three surefire BS responses that will knock their socks off. Euphamisms OK!
Whence comes the binding power of precedent?
I've got some idle curiosity-type questions about the nature of legal precedent. [more inside]
posted by kenko at 12:25 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by kenko at 12:25 PM PST - 6 comments
financing the Great American Novel
I want to spend three to six months writing a novel as my primary activity. I have savings, but not enough. What kinds of work can I pick up and do, wing in and out of, make money but have maximum flexibility to do my writing? I have published two books previously and have strong well-developed skills in technology writing, web writing, some copy writing, etc., if that matters to your answer. Many thanks.
posted by lustra at 12:14 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by lustra at 12:14 PM PST - 9 comments
Flash ActionScript Key.isDown Command
I have some ActionScript and I need to change the keyboard controls from the arrow keys (up, down, left and right) to a, z , comma and period but nothing seems to be working... Please hope me! [more inside]
posted by stringbean at 12:13 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by stringbean at 12:13 PM PST - 2 comments
What should 10 fine arts students do in San Francisco for Memorial Day Weekend?
10 fine arts students from Oregon State University are planning a trip to San Francisco for Memorial Day Weekend (arriving Friday night, leaving Monday morning). What museums or other art-related locations are worth visiting? Bonus points for hostel and cheap food advice!
Did
The show "24" has taken a lot of heat lately, mentioned recently in this Mefi thread and it got me to wondering.... [more inside]
What's the quote about current technology as a metaphor for the universe?
I am looking for a quote from an article. The quote discussed how the current state of the art in technology usually became the metaphor for how we understand and describe the universe. The article is probably 5-6 years old, but was posted on the web (I probably accessed it through Arts and Letters Daily). [more inside]
posted by Hildago at 10:41 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by Hildago at 10:41 AM PST - 7 comments
Mystery Medicine
This morning, I discovered a funny little pill. What is it? [more inside]
posted by grateful at 10:40 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by grateful at 10:40 AM PST - 19 comments
What advice would you give someone who is selling web development services?
I have been charged with training our retail representatives on how to sell our new web development services. Since I'm a code monkey, I have no idea about how to sell web development. [more inside]
posted by bryanzera at 10:39 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by bryanzera at 10:39 AM PST - 14 comments
Laptop dying at random.
I've got a Compaq laptop (Presario 735 US) that's lately started to die on me, almost at random. [more inside]
Best solution for a website for a christening present?
I have a friend whose baby is getting christened. As a little present I'd like to provide them with an easy-to-operate website through which they can store and display photos of the child as he progresses, and supply news (essentially a blogging factor). Though I'll be setting it up and am pretty good at tech-stuff, the operators of the website (the parents) aren't so it'll need to be as simple as possible for them to do things like upload photos and post news of the baby. PHP content management systems seem like the logical solution, and I've looked at a few ideas (like using Gallery for the photos, and embedding it in a site) but I was wondering what do you all recommend?
Juicer Recommendations
Any recommendations for a good Juicer? Durability, efficiency, and ease of cleaning are especially desired features, but I'd like to keep the cost under $100 if possible, or in that neighborhood if not.
Job Hunting
If you were going to start looking into getting a job in sales where would you start? More specifically how would you determain what type of sales you would do? [more inside]
traveling across europe
so in may, i'll be headed back to Central Asia where i've been periodically offering computer consulting to non-profit NGOs for the past 5 years. generally, i've gone, come home, and started working the very next day at my job here in the states. this year, however, i'll be spending one full month over in that part of the world, and was figuring to take a week tooling around Europe on the way home. [more inside]
How do I prevent OS X keybindings from over-riding my applications?
How do I prevent OS X keybindings from over-riding my applications? For example, when programming in Emacs the auto-complete feature is normally bound to command-tab. By default, if I press command-tab in my Emacs session it will try to tab out to other open programs. How do I let OS X know to leave command-tab alone? [more inside]
posted by onalark at 8:56 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by onalark at 8:56 AM PST - 5 comments
Where is the world's population centre of gravity?
Where is the world's population centre of gravity? [more inside]
Punk classics
I'm doing a DJ set at a party soon with a number of 40something punk fans there. What shall I play? [more inside]
Cool NYC hotels
NYC Hotel Splurge: My bf bought Spamalot tickets for a weekend in June and we are looking for reasonable deal on a high end hotel ($250-350/night) to live it up a little. Royalton? Sofitel? Other? Also seeking food recs. [more inside]
Vital, earth-shattering question...
When men wear pajamas, should they go commando or wear underwear? [more inside]
posted by jpburns at 7:48 AM PST - 39 comments
posted by jpburns at 7:48 AM PST - 39 comments
Gay New York
I am an English lady coming to New York in April with a gaggle of commited homosexualist men and one other female. The aforesaid dedicated homosexualists will undoubtedly want to explore the gay bars of New York, and probably the seedier the better. Can anyone advise me on which gay bars are women-friendly and which should probably be left to the boys? Which ones are the most fun? We will be in the vicinity of the West Village.
Best cheesburger
Which restaurant serves the best cheeseburger in the United States? [more inside]
How to open RAW files correctly
Just bought a Nikon D70. I shoot in RAW. Not sure I'm opening the files correctly. [more inside]
What materials do you recommend on the Edwardian era?
I'm trying to learn about the Edwardian era especially (but not exclusively) in England, Ireland, and Canada. What excellent materials (fiction and non-fiction books, movies, websites, etc.) have you read and seen about this period?
Stalin, Trotzki and Photoshop. No MetaTalk snark attempt.
As we know, Stalin gave order to perfectly remove Trotzki from older photographs. Are these pictures available somewhere? [more inside]
posted by tcp at 5:37 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by tcp at 5:37 AM PST - 10 comments
what's the difference between an apartment and a flat?
A neighbour who's learning English has to write an explanation defining the difference between an apartment and a flat... and I just couldn't help her, because I didn't realise that there was a difference. I figured someone here might live in or know of a place where there's a distinct difference between the two. Can anyone help?