Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Reccomendation

Strange uses of Moving Pictures

phrontist — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:49:09 -0800

I'm looking for film recommendations. Films (of any length) that use approach their subject matter in abstract or otherwise unusual ways. Some of my favorites in that vein are Koyaanisqatsi and Baraka, Outside In, Powers of 10, Gantz Graf, Der Lauf Der Dinge, C'etait un Rendezvous, Fast, Cheap, and out of Control, and The Fourth Dimension. Things like this that, in their own weird way, impart some understanding. Bonus points for no dialog.

St-st-st-st-ut-ut-tut-tut-tut-errrrrrrrrr

phrontist — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:10:46 -0800

I'm looking for music that features really good stutter processing of vocal sounds (any really good stuttering of other sounds is welcome too, but I'm especially interested in vocals). Benchmark tracks would be Trentemoller's Moan, Modeselektor's 2000007, Funkstörung's Fat Camp Feva, Ellen Allien's Sehnsucht, and Look at Me by Villeneuve. Bonus question: Someone once told me there was an autechre track where they start with a kick drum and glitch it until it reaches audio rates, then play a melody... what is that called?

Funky Fugue?

phrontist — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:20:37 -0800

Can anyone recommend music that makes use of somewhat advanced counterpoint but doesn't have the rhythmic feel generally associated with baroque music? I love the idea and sound of contrapuntal music, but all of the examples I've heard (and identified as such), Bach and other baroque composers, are somewhat boring rhythmically.

I'd be interested in hearing examples of syncopation or anything else rhythmically unusual in works of that era (perhaps interpretations of traditional pieces that take liberties?). More broadly speaking, I'd like to hear counterpoint in genres where it's not expected (you know, not associated with centuries-dead white guys). Pop, funk, jazz (particularly), hip hop, avant-garde electronic, even guitars, it's all welcome.

I realize what qualifies as true "counterpoint" is somewhat subjective. I guess I mean a strong sense of voice leading... multiple interesting rhythmically awesome melodies over one another.

Pimp my HTPC?

gergtreble — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:43:02 -0800

Mobo Filter: Help me find the perfect motherboard (and possibly PSU) for my HTPC. Now Uni is done for the year I have decided that my sumer project will be to build a low power and low noise HTPC. I've already bought this case, swish eh! But I'm stuck now. I need reccomendations for a motherboard as there are so many out there and I cant find the perfect one. Here are my requirements:

HDMI? - My HDTV will take a VGA connection or a HDMI connection. Do I really
need HDMI? Onboard graphics will be cool, and probably prefered as I wont
be using this for gaming. HD resolutions are a must though.

Digital audio output - This will go straight into my AV amp. So coax or
optical are fine.

IDE/ATA - I have an old DVD-RW drive and a 320GB hard drive I want to put
in it so IDE would be nice. Of course SATA would be nice to for any future
upgrades.

The case can fit ATX and micro-ATX but I would prefer to have ATX so I can
expand in the future.

Also what wattage PSU should I go for? I'll probably have 2 hard drives
and two optical drives in it (IF I get a blueray drive). Would 350W be too
little?

So! Reccomendations? Anything else you would suggest? Any ancecdotes about your own HTPC project? Any Ideas about coooling or noise elimination?

Thanks a lot Hive-Mind.

Recommend a Toronto Financial Planner

gavia — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:19:49 -0800

Toronto money filter: Two full-time students, recently common-law (under the CRA definition) looking for financial planner recommendations. So, we're not rich by any stretch of the imagination and somewhat rudderless when it comes to future financial goals (other than the amorphous "save for retirement" & "buy a house" ) partly due to the uncertainty that comes with pursuing advanced graduate degrees--in both the "we're broke" and the "we don't know where we'll be in five years" department.

I'm in my early 30's, my partner in her late 20's. We don't have friends who are in similar situations to provide us with an already-in-place planner recommendation. We've invested ad-hoc to this moment and want to add some rigour to the process, establish some goals and have a plan. Points for a Financial Planner who has some experience dealing with full-time students. Bonus points for someone who can offer Tax advice.

If you don't have a specific recommendation, I would appreciate what I should be looking for. For example, I think I would feel like I was getting honest advice from someone who I paid, rather than made their money on commission. But perhaps I'm way off on that.

I've found posts that deal with similar questions, but nothing that really offers suggestions for someone in my (our) situation. Merci bien.

Help me find a good commuter bike.

Toekneesan — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:06:37 -0800

I need a new bike for commuting to work, what should I get? It's 8 miles each way. I do it usually 3 times a week. Durability is more important than comfort and speed. Had my last bike for over 8 years, and it was about 10 years old when I got it. (A Ross, if you give a care. Frame cracked on the way home today.) The terrain is rather hilly, mostly bike paths but a few sections forcing me into the street. Prefer a mountain bike, don't like those big-butt coaster bikes with all the springs and shocks. Also not a huge fan of road bikes, I'm a big guy and they're so small and fragile. Would prefer simplicity so I can do minor fixes and maintenance myself. Suggestions?