We're celebrating our 20th anniversary this summer (yay!) and we're trying to find a place to stay for a week in the western/northwestern US to celebrate this milestone. The catch is that this destination needs to be some place new to us. A few other particular requirements below the fold.
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posted by mosk
on Apr 24, 2013 -
9 answers
Many early sailboats were fore-and-aft rigged, e.g. Egyptian Nile sailboats of antiquity. But soon enough, boat designers moved to square-rigged ships.
Then, just before the end of the Age of Sail, at the beginning of the 20th Century, come these ships with multiple schooner-rigged (fore and aft) sails, for example the seven-masted
Thomas Lawson and all of
these six-masters and all of these
five-masters.
What was the advantage of the many-masted schooner, and why did it come so late in the development of the commercial sailing vessel?
posted by musofire
on Apr 24, 2013 -
7 answers
We're planning a kitchen renovation for our century-old house this summer and have been working with an architect who has so far given us a kitchen layout and rough design. We're now getting quotes from general contractors. The GC we met with last night, who we've worked with before and trust, said further work by the architect will be a waste of money because the progress of the project will depend on how construction goes. Is he right?
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posted by chickenmagazine
on Apr 24, 2013 -
11 answers
My work computer is a laptop running Windows 7. I am working far from my office this week (as I often do) and I connect to my work server through Remote Desktop Connection. Typically this is pretty much problem-free, but for the last two or three days, when I log in to the server, I am seeing the server's desktop not as a full screen, but in a window about 10" wide on my 17.3" laptop screen. As well, while the laptop's screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio, the window looks to be 4:3. Attempting to resize the window through the Maximize/Restore Down icon avails me naught: I can mouse over the edges of the window and drag it to a new size, but it maxes out at the size that I mention, which covers maybe 60% of the screen's real estate. Numerous reboots and resets have not rectified it and I am at a loss as to how to proceed.
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posted by ricochet biscuit
on Apr 24, 2013 -
6 answers
dear administrators of the universe simulation, please fix this minor continuity error:
When I was learning to read, Elmer (the story about a patchwork elephant) was one of my favourite books. I read it many many times, now the internet is claiming this is impossible. The internet is claiming that the first Elmer book was first published in 1989. Come on, I was nineteen in 1989. Given that I completed high school in 1988, I have documentation to prove i was reading big books without pictures prior to 1989.
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posted by compound eye
on Apr 24, 2013 -
5 answers
So I'm going to be in Reykjavik for my birthday this year! Where's a good place to get some drinks and have a nice dinner on a Sunday night?
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posted by msali
on Apr 23, 2013 -
11 answers
Does anyone sell a low-emissions (Euro 3
or better) under-800 cc motorcycle or scooter in the US?
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posted by morganw
on Apr 23, 2013 -
7 answers
What I thought was my dream full-time job has turned into a nightmare after only three months. Help me leave ASAP.
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posted by Anima Mundi
on Apr 23, 2013 -
8 answers
Interested in a Netbook or lower power laptop that runs cool (doesn't require external cooling like
this) and has long (6-8 hour) battery life. Would like to run Windows 7 so Chromebook is not a good candidate for me. And of course want to come in around $200. I know there a lot of candidates here but would really appreciate user's real life experience. Thanks.
posted by gilast
on Apr 23, 2013 -
6 answers
I've been seeing someone semi-casually for about five months -- not quite a proper relationship, but definitely not just casually dating either. Recently I met someone else whom I now want to date exclusively. What's the script for this?
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posted by modernserf
on Apr 23, 2013 -
12 answers
MacBook Pro Retina running Mountain Lion.
In any application, if I hit cmd-C twice in rapid succession, I hear a click and the selection gets appended to the clipboard.
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posted by chazlarson
on Apr 23, 2013 -
3 answers
I've been given a $50 gift card to the iTunes store, and I'd like some help spending it.
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posted by gladly
on Apr 23, 2013 -
15 answers
We will be putting our family dog to sleep this afternoon, and I'm having a hard time dealing with it/interacting with people when I'm so sad inside. What can I do to get through the work day?
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posted by thisismyname
on Apr 23, 2013 -
30 answers
Last week a friend of mine insulted me behind my back, which then got back to me in a convoluted way. I am having trouble getting over this, and I want to know if I am overreacting.
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posted by thereemix
on Apr 23, 2013 -
92 answers
I've got three new baby kittens with no mother, and I need to feed them. I don't have access to any good pet stores or veterinary clinics, but I do have lactose-free baby formula and a plastic syringe with the needle removed, which I've been using to feed them so far. But is there a foolproof method of holding them or something to get them to drink from it? I can usually get them to drink, but only about half of the amount recommended. More details inside.
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posted by ferdinandcc
on Apr 23, 2013 -
20 answers
She sent me a friend request on Facebook, which I declined, and a tweet on Twitter, which squicks me out even more as I have followers there that I don't want to shut out.
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posted by oogenesis
on Apr 22, 2013 -
14 answers
Anyone got clues for where I (a) get hold of SimLife and (b) get it running in OS X?
I'm happy to put together a Wineskin or it, or run it in VMWare, if the Windows version is the way to go.
posted by unSane
on Apr 22, 2013 -
9 answers
I'd like a resource, be it a website, blog, book, etc. for learning about money, such as explaining inflation, compound interest, types of savings accounts, etc. I'm basically trying to learn how money works. Thanks. :)
posted by Cybria
on Apr 22, 2013 -
7 answers
I sent my resume for a job that I am very qualified for but just received a message that my expectations are above the scope. They did not provide a range, just a requirement to include expected salary in the cover letter. I stated my salary and said that it is negotiable. I have plenty of wiggle room, I am in a new market that is a bit lower than others I've been in (I did lower it from past compensation, but not enough apparently). What can I say to convey I still want to be considered & am willing to take up to $15k less without sounding desperate? I am worth every penny that I asked for, and that is not just my opinion. I am very very good at what I do but again, I realize it is a new, different market so I am ok with lower...
posted by Snackpants
on Apr 22, 2013 -
8 answers
Can you suggest some works of fiction where an entire family (except a small child) is murdered, and the orphan then grows up to eventually encounter the person(s) responsible?
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posted by 99percentfake
on Apr 22, 2013 -
31 answers
Trying to track down the title (and copy) of a book I had when I was in second or third grade (1980/81?) that showed kids how to do simple monster makeup and how to create a "spookshow."
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posted by Unsomnambulist
on Apr 22, 2013 -
3 answers
I bought a bat house and I am planning to put it up in my Manhattan garden. But now I'm hearing that there aren't any bats in NYC because of a disease? and that it's a stupid idea anyway because where would the bats be coming from?
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posted by DMelanogaster
on Apr 22, 2013 -
16 answers
I have a MacBook running OS X 10.6.8 and a Brother HL-2270DW printer. This morning I had to reset my entire system using Time Machine; everything else is up and running, but the printer doesn't work. I've tried reinstalling it with the printer setup disc, but the laptop won't detect our wireless connection when I get to that step (it suggests disabling my personal firewall, but I don't have one set up.), and the laptop won't let me add any printers in System Preferences. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated, because I've spent all afternoon trying to figure this out.
posted by The Card Cheat
on Apr 22, 2013 -
5 answers
I'm road tripping thru the Pacific Northwest. I'll be vetting bookstores for my upcoming book tour in Boise ID, Bend OR, Eugene/Corvallis OR, Portland OR, Seattle WA, Spokane WA, and Missoula MT — and any towns in between that warrant it. :-) I'm hoping y'all might have bookstores to recommend!
Aside from Auntie's in Spokane and Powell's in Portland, I'm relying on Yelp — but I'd much prefer your
personal recommendations for bookstores that host
author events, have a great
vibe, and friendly
staff.
posted by silusGROK
on Apr 22, 2013 -
24 answers
You live in (or have lived) in the Twin Cities. We (two childless 30-somethings currently living in Washington, DC) are considering relocating there. Tell us what your experience with the Twin Cities has been like and what someone considering relocating there from the Washington, DC area should expect by relocating there.
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posted by playertobenamedlater
on Apr 22, 2013 -
44 answers
How do you drill a 3/8" hole into a 1/2" hole having the same center without a drill press?
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posted by gauche
on Apr 22, 2013 -
15 answers
I am translating a text which contains a sentence about someone who is "coloured". People in the US: what is an acceptable way to translate this?
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posted by miorita
on Apr 22, 2013 -
31 answers
My 10 year old daughter has done awesomely at school, and was promised a new Xbox game as a reward. She has no ideas of what she wants, and is excited by the idea of being surprised. What is something I can give her that she will love, but that won't make me want to write strongly worded letters to game creators?
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posted by corb
on Apr 21, 2013 -
38 answers
I heard a PSA on a local college radio station of a book being read, but remember too little about it to find either the ad or the book. Help?
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posted by CitrusFreak12
on Apr 21, 2013 -
6 answers
I'm a student of Speech Language Pathology with a child client this quarter I'm doing a lot of picture description tasks with. I'm looking for websites/blogs/tumblrs/pinterest boards/etc with lots of pictures of varying complexity and familiarity.
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posted by Ideal Impulse
on Apr 21, 2013 -
4 answers
I have two versions of the same PDF, both annotated in Acrobat Pro, and I need to make them into one document.
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posted by bwonder2
on Apr 21, 2013 -
4 answers
What is the best lens for a trip to Europe, for a Canon Rebel XS, that is
budget-friendly?
I'm looking for a lens that will give me a good range of wide shots (buildings, landscapes, etc) as well as the nice details in closer shots. I would ideally like to carry only one lens with me, since I'm traveling light and don't really want to change out lenses all the time.
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posted by lockstitch
on Apr 21, 2013 -
24 answers
Which television series started the tradition of special excellence in Christmas episodes? We're revisiting some of our shows and wonder how this tradition began.
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posted by R2WeTwo
on Apr 21, 2013 -
4 answers
For my birthday I treated myself to a Fitbit One, and I'd like to try counting calories for a while, mostly for funsies, although I do have a few KGs to lose (I'm still in a healthy BMI, but want to halt any weight gain before it gets out of control). Trouble is I don't tend to eat packaged foods. What's a good option?
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posted by nerdfish
on Apr 21, 2013 -
7 answers
My DSL internet connection went kaput on Thursday. I rebooted my modem with the help of my ISP and all was well for a few hours. I figured it was my ancient modem that finally died. So, I pick up a new modem and plug it in and nothing happens. All the lights light up, my ipod touch and laptop see my wireless network but there's connection. I plug directly into the modem via ethernet cable and still nothing.
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posted by vespabelle
on Apr 20, 2013 -
12 answers
For reasons of being an international same-sex couple, we want to be as married as we possibly can get. For the same reasons, the legal status of our relationship is giving us a headache. What we are currently trying to figure out is, if we have a California certificate of registered domestic partnership but want to get a Massachusetts marriage license, do we have to get domestic-divorced before we can get Massachusetts-married?
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posted by harujion
on Apr 20, 2013 -
4 answers
I want to trade my car in and buy a new one. The Kelly Blue Book value of my trade-in is $7500, but the dealer's "Black Book" value is $3000-4000.
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posted by Right On Red
on Apr 20, 2013 -
18 answers
I need help remembering this book that I read probably between 1988 and 1994. It was a horse story, probably very young adult age. There were horses and a girl named Nat (short for Natasha, I believe).
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posted by Sassyfras
on Apr 19, 2013 -
4 answers
Ok, so it sounds like a bunch of fireworks just went off downtown. I have never had such a hard time finding info on fireworks as I have in this city. Why did they go off and where can I find any info on ones coming up? (not the 4th, got that, thanks)
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posted by Jacen
on Apr 19, 2013 -
4 answers
How do I answer coworkers' routine questions about what I have planned for the weekend, what I did on the weekend, and if I'm going anywhere for my vacation, when the answer is personal? My coworkers are all very nice people, and I wouldn't call them intrusive, but it seems that this is a basic question for all of them when, for example, I run into them on the elevator. They themselves are always ready with a typical answer, e.g., I did this with my kids, I went on this trip, went on a yoga retreat. Would it be a bad idea to make up a bunch of innocuous stories? I'd also like to stay friendly with them and not appear cold (or boring by constantly answering "not much"), but becoming actual friends with them is very unlikely.
posted by waterandrock
on Apr 19, 2013 -
47 answers
It looks
thusly. My issue is that, despite the fact that it was originally barely taped down at all, I am unable to successfully,
reliably reattach it using the same method. ("it" in this case being the printed black strips on the left). I am reasonably sure that lack-of-contact is my problem, because if I physically hold the cable to the board, it will reliably work when I push a button.
Best I can do is that sometimes, after putting it all back together for the Nth time, one button will work. Maybe other buttons on its side will work, maybe not. Maybe it'll work for a few presses and then quit.
The cable looks fine, the board contacts look fine, no amount of scotch tape is helping me out here. How do I affix these suckers but good?
posted by curious nu
on Apr 19, 2013 -
7 answers
I was changing my iTunes email address, which is my iTunes I. D. My old email address is going away, necessitating the change. I got to looking in my purchases, and all of them were there, under the new I. D. but there were a handful of songs (6 or 7?) listed as purchased by me that I DID NOT purchase. A bunch of show tunes (not that there is anything wrong with that).
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posted by Danf
on Apr 19, 2013 -
6 answers
My father just had double bypass surgery and is recovering. As part of his recovery he needs to walk - where can I take him to get some decent walking shoes in the Raleigh/Cary, NC area? Cost is no object, however I was thinking of going to REI first.
A few less than fun facts - he's overweight and has bad circulation in his feet at this stage of the game if that impacts things.
posted by Farce_First
on Apr 19, 2013 -
15 answers
Where to live, what am I overlooking, huge step and pivotal moment in my life. I need to know where to look for apartments for rent in Chicago in a safe, student friendly neighborhood that won't cost a fortune.
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posted by lunastellasol
on Apr 19, 2013 -
25 answers
Where can I find paints for kids that are "professional" quality yet not "professionally" expensive? I bought Crayola paints and they are
terrible. I am looking for something (a) reasonably priced but pigmented enough get my toddler excited about colors, (b) doesn't require swirling a brush for a good long minute to get the color going, (c) available on the internet. I don't mind if they are messy/unwashable.
I don't know anything about colors so please specify both the brand and the type of paint in your recommendation. If the paper makes a real difference, please recommend that too!
posted by rada
on Apr 19, 2013 -
13 answers
Looking for gripping, scary page turners, fiction or non-fiction, that
DO NOT contain a supernatural element.
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posted by foxhat10
on Apr 19, 2013 -
25 answers
