Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with down

Up, up, down, down...

LSK — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:58:02 -0800

Having an issue with a dance mat on PC - down button works, but left + down and right + down don't. I'm using Red Octane's Ignition 3.0 dance mat (for Dance Dance Revolution games) on Windows Vista using the USB plug. While all individual buttons operate properly, if I press left and down at the same time, or right and down at the same time, only left or right (respectively) is read by the computer. Is this an issue with the hardware itself or is it something that can be addressed within the OS?

It should be noted that this isn't the more common opposite-axes issue; left + right works properly, as does up + down.

How to deal with "I can't be in a relationship right now"?

mattsweaters — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:34:58 -0800

How to deal with "I can't be in a relationship right now"? I've been seeing a girl for a few months now and we've been getting really close and I've begun feeling very excited about us and attached. Until..I get the whole "I can't be in a relationship right now, can we just slow down?" talk and I'm having a hard time with it.

Now I should say I believe her and right now we're living a few hours apart. She has a lot to deal with and I wanted to see if we could slow things down, but the second this happened it felt like it just killed all the intimacy and fun from what we had [trips canceled, visit to my city no longer staying with me] and I feel like I should just move on.

So my question, Is it cold to just move on and cut off contact as as if this is a break up? Any mefites here have any experience in a similar situation? I've been feeling like a jerk for cutting her out because she does say she would like to try for something real in the future and that she needs to figure some things out in her life. And to be clear, the only reason I'm doing it is because I'm pretty heartbroken and I don't want to sit around waiting for someone to change their mind about how they feel about me. thanks!

Looking for a keep-feet-warm in bed device (to keep on the bed, not just socks)

lrodman — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:44:05 -0800

I want something to put at the foot of my bed to keep feet warm - a throw would work, but something more designed for the purpose perhaps- like a giant "sock" that slips over the end of the comforter that you slip your feet into or something like that. down or equivalent preferable, but post whatever you have!

"Oh look, the sun went out."

MoreForMad — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:08:19 -0800

Gmail was down this afternoon. What, exactly, is happening when gmail is "down," and what are the kind of things that can cause something like Google/gmail to not work?

Ultrasound Down Syndrome Testing - Any experience?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:08:40 -0800

My Wife is pregnant. We just completed the ultrasound test for Down Syndrome. We had a normal result for Nuchal Translucency (2.5mm for 13 weeks pregnancy). However the ultrasound did not detect the presence of a nasal bone. We are going for the CVS. Should I freak out? Does anyone have similar experience and how did it turn out?

wirless connection slow down

tangyraspberry — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:39:50 -0800

Can anyone suggest a remedy for a slowed up wireless connection? My p.c., laptop's wireless connection has mysteriously slowed way down even though my wife's connection speed (we both work at home) remains strong. I purchased and swept my laptop multiple times with an anti-malware program which found and rid my p.c of several viruses. The program now shows my system is free of all viruses yet the problem continues.

Is it technologically feasible to shoot down a North Korean rocket/ ICBM?

crazyray — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:15:48 -0800

Could the US or Japan shoot down the missile that North Korea is planning on launching next week? In recent news reports such as this one, and this one, it is clear that the US is not planning on shooting down the missile North Korea is firing for the somewhat dubious stated purpose of a satellite launch.

My question is a bit more direct: Regardless of intent, are the US ships in the area, specifically the ones with Aegis systems, actually capable of shooting down and destroying a multi-stage rocket? In other words, regardless of whether we decided to do so, is it even technically feasible to do so?

Cannot shut down OSX 10.5.6?

silsurf — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:19:59 -0800

Desktop G5 under 10.5.6 cannot shut down? recently my G5 Tower running 10.5.6 has lost its ability to shut down.

When I issue the shut down command I am greeted after a few minutes by a "unable to time out" dialog box. It is not always the same program, but no matter what I do I cannot get the computer to shut down. Even if all the programs are closed, even the finder.

I have run many maintenance programs such as Onyx, Cocktail, Xupport, TechTool Pro 5, but the problem persists.

The only change I recently made which I believe is related to the issue is that I added and Airdisk to my Airport Extreme and created and auto login time in the Accounts/Login items of that disk.

Any thoughts?

Henry

Slow Down Ricky Bobby!

toaster — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:17:51 -0800

I go too fast at work. How do I slow down? Literally, I go too fast. I rush through things, and then the quality of my work suffers. I try to slow down, but I end up getting comfortable and speeding back up again. And then I get yelled at. And then I'm frustrated.

How can I permanently slow down, so I'm paying attention to detail, reviewing my work for stupid/silly mistakes, etc.?

I don't mind lumps in my mashed potatoes, but none in my bed please.

Advocate, I — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:27:07 -0800

How can I get the lumps out of my goose down mattress pad? I've had a goose down mattress pad on my bed for a while, and it has provided me with tons of comfy night's sleep. Today, while changing sheets, I decided to shake out the pad to get rid of some dust, in doing so I shifted the down in the pad and now the pad is lumpy. Does anyone know how to get rid of the lumps and redistribute the down in the pad to make it even and comfy again? Did I just ruin my pad!? Help!

Deep cleaning feathers

Xhris — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:14:14 -0800

Cleaning feather/down - I have several feather or down filled things (pillows, cushions, ski jacket, etc.) that over years have have various liquids spilled *into* them. Liquids like juice, pet urine, beer, gasoline, sweat, etc. (not all on the same item!). My point is these are not surface dirt things - this is stuff that seeps through the cover and into the feathers. I looking for a way to clean the feathers themselves. Is there a fluid that I can soak - say a cushion - in and it will clean the feathers inside? Or a vapor of some kind ? Or will just soapy water do the job if I can be sure to drying the insides properly? All and any advice please, especially on the pet urine soiled item - it'll have to go if I can't clean it 'deeply'. TIA

Feathers everywhere, and poking me to boot!

dancestoblue — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:04:24 -0800

So I had a regular sized (full) feather bed, I'm real tall, I thought to take the feathers out of the bed and put them into a king sized duvet and -- Viola! A king sized feather comforter! A good plan. So I bought the duvet, dumped the feathers in, and the thing is warm. But now, feathers large and small are poking through, and poking ME, there's feathers everywhere, I look like a chicken coop landed on me. So. It was a good plan. I intended to sew the thing closed and sew every six inches, as is done with a quilt, to keep the feathers/down from bunching up too badly. But the thing is poking the hell out of me, it's like sleeping with a porcupine (I imagine) or a prickly woman (experience). Is the fabric usually used for these things different, somehow tighter woven? The duvet *seems* as tight as the material that held the feathers/down before. Does this whole thing just need to go to the dumpster? How do 'they' make these things so the feathers won't come through? How do I do so? I'd love to have this thing to sleep under but so far it's just a mess...

Down or synthetic sleeping bag?

puffmoike — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:42:37 -0800

Down or synthetic? What insulation should I get for our new sleeping bags? They will be used camping, and probably backpacking overseas, but rarely - if ever - hiking, and likely never in below-freezing conditions, so synthetic sounds like it will be fine. But the old boy-scout romantic in me likes the idea of down ... And a related second part of the question: the (very old) rectangular and 'hoodless' synthetic bags I have joined with the zips down the side. Apparently the new 'hooded' ones join in the centre. Is this set-up as impractical for couples with different temperature requirements as it first strikes?

Seeking guidance with financial planning (loans, down payment, more)

mintchip — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:55:09 -0800

Seeking guidance with financial planning (loans, down payment, more) I've searched through the questions already asked but didn't see anything quite like this. My situation:

1. I am graduating with a very large student loan debt (more than 50k, less than 100k).
2. I have excellent credit.
3. I have no other debt or loans.
4. I have some retirement savings.
5. I don't expect to have a huge salary.
6. I am considering going back for another degree in a year or two--probably one that would result in a significantly higher salary

I'm going to move home for a year or two. I am considering using my cost savings to pay off a large portion of my loans. This appeals to me, except for a few reasons:

1. If I do go back to school (and this is by no means a definite), will having a large debt be to my advantage as far as getting need-based grants and other aid from my school?
2. It seems like housing prices are going to keep going down. Many of the people I know who are financially well off got that way by buying their home when real estate values were low. I could potentially save a large down payment (>20%) in a short amount of time. Also, although my loans are burdensome, the rates aren't horrible (they are all federal loans) and with inflation they will get a little less painful over time (in other words, a fixed monthly payment of $xx will feel like a lot less a few years into the future when money has less value).
3. Although unlikely, is it possible that the government would offer debt relief opportunities for people saddled down by student loans--let's say if the economy gets even worse?

I could also pay off a big chunk of the loans (but not all) and then start saving for a down payment.

(Is it worth it to see a financial planner?)

Advice on Hungarian down comforter

sirion — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:38:02 -0800

I live a short train ride away from Hungary. Does that mean I can somehow get a Hungarian Down comforter for cheap? Side question: How does one choose a down comforter? Question 1: I'm in Vienna, Austria

Question 2: Seems like:
-Closed-baffle-box construction is the way to go.
-High fill power is a good thing.
-Oversized is a maybe not good thing? I don't like feeling like my feet are trapped and unable to go upright (which happens a lot with my oversized, not very awesome comforter), however I also don't like cold air at my feet. (This is a question between king size and oversized king sized, since I figure I'm going to eventually be in a king size instead of queen sized bed and should be purchasing a comforter accordingly)
-Medium fill (~50 oz for King size) is about right for normal usage in non-burning-hot climates and not camping outside?
-Outside of that, I'm out of variables that I know of!

Who's the best Icarus?

Felicity Rilke — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:53:34 -0800

What are your favourite failed flight inventions? I'm doing research for an article on failed flight inventions, and I'm looking for stories of fantastic failures (specifically from the 19th and 20th centuries, but if it's really great and earlier, I might include mention of it).

Franz Reichelt, The Flying Tailor, was my inspiration, and while I've been reading up on albatross machines and early gliders, I'm most interested in flying apparatus which was meant to be worn (like Reichelt's overcoat).

So what are your favourite failed flying inventions/books about failed flying inventions? Help me include the most obscure, outlandish, and intrepid inventions (and consequently feel sad that they didn't work and I'm stuck with walking).

Problems shutting down Windows XP

quintno — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:58:56 -0800

I'm running Windows XP on a two-year old Dell Dimension 4600. For the last couple of months, I've been having trouble simply TURNING OFF Windows. I hit the Turn Off button from the START menu, and it often take 5 or more minutes to shut down--if it shuts down at all. Any suggestions? AOL (version 9.0) seems to be the biggest problem--I'll get a window indicating it's shutting down and then it will just stop. ONly if I hit the END NOW button while it tries to shut down will it successfully end. Oftentimes other program windows that I didn't even know I had open (such as Adobe Acrobat) will pop up and then also not be able to end. More often than not, the only way I can shut down is to just shut the power off. I've tried seeing if there are any new programs in MSCONFIG, but nothing new other than the 4 or so basic start up programs are clicked on. I've run Virus Scans and spyware and that doesn't help either.

Restore Down Word Wrap

NinaLee — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:20:48 -0800

Suddenly when clicking on "restore down" in Firefox, part of the contents of the web page now disappears off the screen. IE still adjusts the "restore down" screen to accomodate most of the original web page. Does anyone know how I can reinstall this feature in Firefox. Thanks.

Allergies and down filling

AMP583 — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:13:13 -0800

Any recommendations on allergy proofing a down comforter? I have a down comforter that i really love and enjoy but my girlfriend is completely allergic to it. She's allergic to down - im not sure if theres a broader explanation like if shes allergic to dander or whatever. I can replace the comforter and pillows but that would be expensive.
I found some allergen duvet covers on amazon but im not sure if they would work. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?

The life of a scholar for me?

mariokrat — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 22:29:44 -0800

What made you quit grad school? What was the deciding factor? How did you know it was time to go? Subtle signs? Did your advisor say 'go away'? If you stayed, when did you feel like quitting? I'm a year and a half into a social science Ph.D. program with about four and a half left to go. I've had the feeling that I might not be cut out from it early on, but minor successes kept me going, and I have a feeling I'd be able to scrape through. But I'm still not quite sure whether I want this kind of life. At the same time, I'm wondering whether these are just the normal thoughts that occur to future scholars in the middle of their education. If I'm to leave, then the best time to decide is now, so that I can get something together for a Master's project..

So, did you quit grad school? Did you ever feel like quitting? What was the deciding factor? How did you know it was time to go?

I need to be universal baby :)

crewshell — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 07:10:42 -0800

Can you help me recode one part of my blog / website so that it works in all browsers? (I think its an easy fix that I am over looking) I have a blog at www.mentaldribble.com. I love the new theme I found but there’s one problem. On the upper right hand corner where it says PAGES, CATEGORIES, ARCHIVES, when you mouse over it there is suppose to be a drop down list. It works in IE 7 but not 6, and I believe it works correctly in Firefox too but I would like it to work in all the browsers.

What can I change so the code works in IE 6?

Also - I recently added a few more categories and the drop down is interfering with the links on the left of the page and I cant seem to select any of the categories that overlap those permanent links on the left. Namely "virgin islands" category on the drop down overlaps the search box, and when I try to select that link the drop down list just disappears..

If you can suggest a better way to accomplish this drop down list, or can just fix the way it currently works, that would be AWESOME.

Thanks hive mind.

What do they have that I don't have?

Mapes — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 10:31:06 -0800

Why can I access Gmail with no problems on campus, but not at all at home? What can I do about it? (Problem arose today) From reading some other messages, I realize that I'm not the only person with this problem. I thought it would be useful to ask about workarounds.

the-underdogs.org down and gone??

strangelove — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:06:41 -0800

Anyone know what happened to the-underdogs.org, and where I can find a similar site?

Song lyric - "Getting Down to Business"

zachlipton — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 18:45:46 -0800

SongLyricsFilter: First line (and refrain throughout the song, I believe) is "Getting down to business." Sounds vaguely 70ish with a sort of pump-up beat. Google is getting me nowhere. Any ideas you may have are much appreciated.

Mybookmarks.com

johnny7 — Thu, 27 May 2004 15:17:15 -0800

Mybookmarks.com has been off the air for over 24hrs now.
Anybody else use this site and/or know whether it's gone forever?.Hoping I haven't lost all those mefi links!