Stamp collecting is philately. Coin collecting falls under numismatics (perhaps as a subdivision). Rock collecting is not really geology in the same way as the above terms are used. Is there a similar term for rock collecting?
posted by Jahaza
on Nov 3, 2012 -
7 answers
Please explain to me as though I have lived under a rock: What are the modern norms among urban folk in the US regarding mobile telephones? SMS? Internet-capable phones and "apps"? When is it appropriate to take a call? To place a call? What do people do with their telephones that really pisses you off? When, if ever, has someone made your life easier by appropriate use of a telephone?
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posted by d. z. wang
on Jun 8, 2012 -
21 answers
English language friends: Why do we use the word “different” when it doesn’t appear to be necessary?
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posted by bryon
on Apr 17, 2012 -
18 answers
I need a Firefox or Chrome extension that tracks my bandwidth usage.
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posted by Zozo
on Dec 16, 2011 -
5 answers
How do I choose an image from a large collection of rare (or rare editions of) illustrated children's books at the public library? The Friends of that Library would like to use one of the images to promote a fundraiser for the collection, and I need some help navigating copyright and practical issues surrounding that choice.
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posted by saguaro
on Nov 2, 2011 -
5 answers
Why does the New York Times write "unemployment rose to 10% from 5%" rather than "unemployment rose from 5% to 10%"? I trip over this formulation and have to go back and reread the clause every time. Is the goal to increase clarity of avoid confusion in some way? How so? This doesn't seem to be standard American English, and it's certainly not usual in the UK.
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posted by caek
on Jul 15, 2011 -
14 answers
I'm trying to find public domain e-books of English language teaching material that I can adapt into online courses.
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posted by mammary16
on May 13, 2011 -
3 answers
ELT-filter: I'm arguing that "What's your favorite lunch menu?" is Japanese-English phrasing that shouldn't be included in an English textbook.
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posted by planetkyoto
on May 9, 2011 -
37 answers
Is there a web service that shows the geographical usage of a particular word from twitter?
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posted by seanyboy
on Apr 14, 2011 -
2 answers
I'm trying to come up with titles. Where is a site that I can find uses of words that aren't cliches or idioms but common usages?
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posted by rileyray3000
on Dec 17, 2010 -
5 answers
iPhone Filter: Now that my ol' flip phone is dying, I've decided to take the plunge this holiday season….
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posted by 5Q7
on Dec 6, 2010 -
22 answers
Looking for anecdotal data: when you switched to a time-of-use electrical meter for your
residence, what happened to your bills in the first year, and what changes did you make that seemed to have the largest impact?
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posted by davejay
on Oct 25, 2010 -
1 answer
Disputing a bill with the electric company: how to estimate electric usage of heater/central air.
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posted by samsara
on Aug 17, 2010 -
9 answers
Is the phrase "needs replaced" an English language regionalism? Is it an American English regional phrase? Is it of relatively recent vintage? Why does it seem to be gaining prevalence?
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posted by OmieWise
on Mar 15, 2010 -
47 answers
Which uses more electrical power: All of the hotels and attractions on the Las Vegas strip, or all of the hotels and attractions within Walt Disney World in Florida?
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posted by Mwongozi
on Feb 13, 2010 -
9 answers
Why do we precede acronyms starting with the letter U with 'a' instead of 'an', e.g. "a USB key" or "a UFO"? Acronyms starting with a consonant are frequently preceded by "an" because consonants' names have a different spelling than the letters themselves, e.g. M as em and H as aitch, therefore "an HIV outbreak" or "an MRI". However, U's name is spelled u, and acronyms that start with other vowels are preceded by 'an', e.g. "an ABC license".
What's the deal?
posted by BigSky
on Feb 12, 2010 -
31 answers
Given that Federal bailout monies are being tossed around to banks like sacks of rice from an aid truck, are there any emergent slang terms for one billion dollars?
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posted by Burhanistan
on Jan 15, 2010 -
14 answers
What do people do with seeds besides plant them? Examples: Watermelon seed necklaces, cherry pit spit distance contest...etc
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posted by bleucube
on Jan 2, 2010 -
16 answers
Quick grammar/usage question. Which is the preferred usage: "I'm buying this property on their
behalf," or "I'm buying this property on their
behalves."
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posted by crLLC
on Dec 8, 2009 -
17 answers
In the interests of science, please tell me how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) your house or apartment used last month and how much it uses in the middle of winter. If possible include variables like whether you use electric heat, air conditioning, electric or gas hot water heater, etc.
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posted by thewalrus
on Oct 14, 2009 -
27 answers
Having enjoyed my share of jet travel both locally and across the globe for the last couple of decades I was surprised last week on an interstate Qantas flight at the persistent use of the word "
customer" in the inflight communications rather than the usual "
passenger".
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posted by l'esprit d'escalier
on Aug 11, 2009 -
7 answers
Craigslist HD TV deal..it was $25. The rub being it "doesn't always turn on". The first week it was fine. Then it started not turning on until later in the evening. The boyfriend (possibly) diagnosed the problem and will attempt to fix it when it becomes absolutely necessary. However, until then we are leaving it on all the time.
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posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron
on Mar 15, 2009 -
20 answers
Need help from someone with Acrobat 8 Pro (or higher) to add "usage rights" to a simple PDF file
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posted by AstroGuy
on Jan 22, 2009 -
2 answers
Dear mefites, Is it legal to use creative commons stuff, properly licensed and attributed, on a political website that 1) expresses views that the original author might not like, and 2) raises money, such as for a candidate or a party's branch? Particularly interested in stuff that's got a non-commercial license but is okay to use for derivative works. This is in the U.K. Thanks!
posted by anonymous
on Jan 12, 2009 -
6 answers
My dad lives in a retirement village that provides a shared computer (in a common area) used more heavily by just a few people. Supplies (ink/paper) are covered by dues everyone pays. What's the best way to have those that use it more pay more, e.g. somehow track usage, or maybe have users pay a nominal usage fee to cover ink/paper supply costs (and cost when it's to be replaced).
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posted by idad
on Nov 17, 2008 -
8 answers
Tools for a scientific publisher to provide usage statistics for its subscribers? Is this a good idea?
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posted by chillmost
on Sep 5, 2008 -
3 answers
I'm looking for a bandwidth monitoring tool for OSX. I need it to do some specific things.
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posted by jammnrose
on Aug 21, 2007 -
5 answers
When filling in for a superior that has resigned, before a permanent replacement for the position is identified, is there any difference between a job title of "acting $POSITION" and one of "interim $POSITION"? Specifically, does one indicate that the temporary replacement is or is not in consideration to be the permanent replacement? (This is a position in a university office, if that matters.)
posted by genehack
on Aug 6, 2007 -
7 answers
Bruce Sutter's Hall of Fame plaque notes that he ..."lead the league in saves five times." Is this a typo? Or this one of those things that can go either way? ("led" or "lead" for the past tense of "lead")
posted by stupidsexyFlanders
on Jul 30, 2006 -
14 answers
Can anyone speak to acquiring a license (if it's even necessary) to use AP Photos on your web site? I've searched and I've searched and I've searched.
posted by xmutex
on May 20, 2006 -
3 answers
