Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with blade

My server needs more space!

gregr — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:08:33 -0800

One of my servers needs more space, but due to several reasons I can't add space directly to the server... I have a server that I use for backup and restore. When doing a restore BackupExec uses the local hard drive to store the data while it is being read off of tape.

I have a giant restore that is using all of the space on the drive in the machine. I can't add another physical drive because the server is in a blade center and the blade only has one hard drive slot. (I might be able to use an external hard drive, but because of the way the Blade Center shares USB ports none of the other blades would be able to use USB.)

So, some of the other servers on the network have extra drive space, but BackupExec will not restore to a mapped network drive. I've also tried making symbolic links directly to the other servers on the network using Junction, MkLink, Junction LinkMagic, and several other tools. I've also tried mapping a network drive then making symbolic links to the folders on the network drive.

Does anyone have suggestions about how to trick BackupExec into writing to a drive that is not physically attached to the backup server?

Look sharp!

serazin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:16:13 -0800

I'd like to sharpen my knives and pruner, but how? Sharpening: why is it so expensive? Is this a super complex skill to learn? What are the basics I need to know about how to sharpen, and what are the essential tools I need to make things sharp? (A recent trip to the fancy Japanese tool store revealed about 25 different sharpening implements ranging in price from 20 to 100 bucks each!) Should I leave sharpening to the experts - or is this something I would be an expert on had I been a boyscout? Give me your sharpening wisdom here!

Which version of Blade Runner to watch first?

stovenator — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:55:54 -0800

Which version of Blade Runner is the best to watch for somebody who has never seen it? I have in my possession the Blade Runner 5 Disc Complete Collector's Edition Blu Ray set that include US Theatrical, International Theatrical, 1992 Director's Cut, Final Cut, and Workprint versions. For somebody who has never seen it, which version would you recommend to watch? (or if multiple, what order to watch them in? Please no spoilers, obviously.

How do I get my blade home?

iona — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:06:14 -0800

Long time listener, first time caller: Any globetrotting rowers or shipping pros out there? I need to transport a rowing oar overseas, and I don't want it damaged. I'm planning to check it on my flight as 'sports equipment', but any advice or alternate suggestions are welcome. More details inside. I have a trophy oar (a 'blade') in England, and I want to bring it home to Canada with me when I fly back in a few weeks' time (on Air Canada, if it matters). It's a wooden macon, ~3.5m long, and comes apart into two roughly equally-sized pieces. The oar was well-used before becoming a blade, so it's already a bit roughed up and I don't mind a few more dings on the main body of the oar. However, the blade face has been custom painted and varnished, and I definitely do not want anything to happen to it - scratching of paint or varnish, snapping of blade face, etc all would be very bad.
My tentative plan is to wrap up the two pieces separately, with bubble wrap and a cardboard shield around the blade face, and check them as baggage on my flight. I'm worried if I try to wrap the two pieces together they'll jostle and bang into each other and cause damage. I'm very keen not to incur any damage to my blade, but I can't spend a fortune on this (otherwise I'd build some fancy custom wooden crate) - so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

ObscureAudioFilter: Did you have a Blade Runner startup sound for your PowerBook Duo too?

metaseeker — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:33:36 -0800

ObscureAudioFilter: Help me find an old audio snippet from Blade Runner from early Powerbook days In the early 90's, I had the original Powerbook (lead-acid battery!) and the Powerbook Duo.

At one point, I found and downloaded an audio file that I used for my boot-up sound. I loved loved loved it. Even now, every time my MacBook boots up I hear it in my head.

It's from the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis.
- starts with shimmery drummy crescendo
- a saxophone plays C# C# E E (minor third interval up) luminously
- a piano/synth plays a trill of two F#'s an octave apart, fading out slowly

I guess I could get the soundtrack or movie, load it up into an audio editor (would need to search AskMeFi about a good one for beginners), locate the snippet, then figure out how to turn it into a ringtone (another AskMeFi search). Or maybe someone will recognize it by the description and send me a link to it all made up as a ringtone! A girl can dream.

Best saw blade to cut LDF?

howling fantods — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:43:49 -0800

What type of saw blade should I use to cut LDF (light density fiberboard?) We're installing new baseboard in our house and the type we've been looking at is made of light density fiberboard (LDF.) We saw some pieces at Home Depot where customers had (presumably) cut with the complementary hand saw and the ends were very ragged. At our Rona store the associate cut us a sample with a power mitre saw and the cut was much cleaner.

So my question is, what type of blade should I use for my power mitre saw to get nice clean cuts? Will the 40-tooth carbide blade (10") that came with my saw suffice, or is there something better-suited to cutting LDF?

If anyone has experience working with this material I'd appreciate your input.

It's not an easy thing to meet your maker.

lekvar — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:42:55 -0800

Bladerunner theatrical release: did he or didn't he? Gorey details and When I saw Bladerunner in the theatre, lo these many years ago, I swear that Roy Batty gouges Dr. Tyrell's eyes out while crushing his skull. A friend of mine is certain he saw the same thing. Every copy I've owned since just has the skull-crushing though. Did we imagine it?

I've got a sensitive skin, how to shave and what to use?

dcrocha — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:32:32 -0800

I've got a sensitive skin, how to shave and what to use? I have a very sensitive skin, and I can't shave more than once a weak, otherwise my face's skin will get irritated and very red. It'll look like a strawberry.

Currently I shave with Mach 3, one time following the hair flow and another against it, in order to get a close shave. If I don't do the second one, I won't get the it close enough, so i'll look like someone who's been using an old blade for ages.

Questions:
1) Any techniques I can use so I can shave every day without ruining my skin?

2) Which one should I use: a shaving blade or an eletric shaver?

sword fighting games

xteraco — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 17:51:00 -0800

I'm looking for PC Sword fighting games, in the style of the old boshido blade games... doesent have to be commercial

Pyramid blade sharpener - real or urban legend?

afroblanca — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 11:43:43 -0800

I remember reading a while back, possibly in Cosmic Trigger or some other such book, that the pyramid shape is naturally conducive to the sharpening of blades. According to this source, if you put dull blades inside a pyramid-shaped object, they will naturally sharpen over time. I don't think it matters what material the pyramid is made from, or how big it is. Anyway, as implausible as this idea seems, I know that I've heard it at least a few times, and cannot find anything about it on Snopes. So my question to the MeFi Mythbusters- real or urban legend?

Recommendations for Good, Non-Pricy Coffee Grinder, Top-of-Line Gourmet Coffee?

ferociouskitty — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 06:26:09 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for a good, relatively inexpensive (hopefully around $30) coffee grinder, and some top of the line gourmet coffee to go along with it for a gift for Mom. She usually drinks Folgers, but was quite impressed with Jamaican Blue Mountain. Forgive the cluelessness, I'm more of a tea girl.

3 serious hardware questions

sylloge — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 19:51:07 -0800

Three'fer:
(1) Is there a significant difference between running Linux on Opterons vs. Xeons? Is one clearly better? For MySQL? For Apache/PHP?
(2) Ever hosted with Cogentco? Is there anyone else with prices like that? (100Mbps at $1000/month)
(3) What's your favorite server vendor for typical 2-way 1U systems? (Looking at Dell, IBM, Penguin; where does Google buy them again?)