What are the most efficient foods for the body to process? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 22, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm going through a spreadsheet or a hand written list which requires me to check off each item as it's completed (common boring, repetitive work). I find that the process of switching back to that original list and checking/crossing out/deleting each item as it's done is the most time consuming part due to the context switch (having to move your eyes to a different interface/screen/paper). Are there any tricks (ruling out additional data entry to consolodate the data into a single interface) to minimize or eliminate this inefficiency?
posted by parallax7d on Sep 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Is there a smarter tar or cpio out there, or a smarter way to archive, to efficiently retrieve a file stored in the archive? [more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Aug 27, 2009 - 20 answers

Tanks have long, high-friction tracks - good for going forwards, not so good for turning as the tracks would have to skid. What do tanks do to overcome this problem? [more inside]
posted by Mike1024 on Aug 4, 2009 - 20 answers

Dishwasher vs. hand washing. Assuming we run the dishwasher only when it's full, which method uses less water and fuel?
posted by markcmyers on Apr 10, 2009 - 11 answers

Ultra-low-flow showerheads: Can you recommend one? [more inside]
posted by ssg on Mar 19, 2009 - 5 answers

UbuntuFilter: Help me find a well-organized note-taking or notebook program. [more inside]
posted by nayten on Feb 12, 2009 - 9 answers

Given, for example, a table and a deck of cards or numbered sheets or whatever, what's a good way to put them in order? I feel like this is the sort of knowledge that would be passed around as tricks of the trade among secretaries, but, more generally, is there any field that makes systematic study of algorithms for humans instead of computers?
posted by d. z. wang on Feb 3, 2009 - 20 answers

Especially now, during this time of economic downtown, it would seem to me that many small cities across the nation are probably struggling with budget shortfalls. Are their online resources, forums or blogs that deal with collecting and discussing creative cost-saving measures for small cities ? I'd be especially interested in internal measures as opposed to citizen-related (external) programs, but any good links for either type would be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by jmnugent on Jan 13, 2009 - 1 answer

Looking at getting a freezer for a loft. What are the benefits of getting a chest freezer or stand-up freezer in a situation like this? How much of an issue are things like cost, floor space, counter space, efficiency?
posted by sirsteven on Nov 9, 2008 - 6 answers

Why is work not fun? [more inside]
posted by brandnew on Oct 23, 2008 - 60 answers

What are innovative ideas for healthcare to save money, increase efficiency and improve outcomes? [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Oct 18, 2008 - 14 answers

Article about "efficiency" software that ended up taking over somebody's life? Very interesting read but I can't recall the keywords. [more inside]
posted by ®@ on Sep 20, 2008 - 2 answers

Why should energy supply companies bother making people houses greener when they are essentially reducing demand for their good? (quite a UK based question) [more inside]
posted by henry.oswald on Sep 8, 2008 - 11 answers

How to I keep my sanity while balancing school and a full-time job? [more inside]
posted by chicainthecity on Aug 20, 2008 - 19 answers

Is it cheaper to buy or make 10 pounds of ice cubes? [more inside]
posted by zerobyproxy on Aug 18, 2008 - 14 answers

Does anyone have tips for a speedier getting-up routine in the morning? [more inside]
posted by stenoboy on Aug 17, 2008 - 21 answers

We have two (okay, four) window air conditioners. How can we best use them to cool our house? [more inside]
posted by LolaGeek on Jul 5, 2008 - 8 answers

Why does a lack of sleep make me markedly more efficient the next day? [more inside]
posted by freya_lamb on May 28, 2008 - 20 answers

I want to be better at making to do lists. [more inside]
posted by afu on May 8, 2008 - 16 answers

Please help me with oganization of daily tasks at home and at work. [more inside]
posted by mintchip on May 8, 2008 - 10 answers

I sometimes want something I send to reach the recipient as quickly as possible, but I don't care to pay for priority service. How can I find out what the quickest local US mail dropoff would be? [more inside]
posted by tomwheeler on Feb 3, 2008 - 5 answers

For database usage, is it better to store data in XML or serialized format? In particular, PHP serialization. [more inside]
posted by destro on Jan 18, 2008 - 10 answers

how to explain the lack of... uhm work... at work? [more inside]
posted by barrakuda on Nov 20, 2007 - 14 answers

I've got the skills and knowledge, mostly, but I'd like to get a better workflow with PHP/MySQL development. [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Oct 11, 2007 - 15 answers

What can I do, from the big changes on down to the minutae, to make a difference? I want a more environmentally conscious lifestyle! [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam on Jun 13, 2007 - 33 answers

SpeculativeUsedLaptopFilter: If I wanted a laptop that was relatively, in order of necessity, cheap, fast, running an OS with an efficient but possibly low-tech GUI, and light, what might my optimal setup be, in both hardware and software? [more inside]
posted by poweredbybeard on Apr 20, 2007 - 16 answers

What's a reasonable amount of time for me to schedule for a written university assignment, including library research, online journal search, draft and actual writing, to get a better than pass mark? [more inside]
posted by b33j on Apr 19, 2007 - 16 answers

What are the most energy-efficient microprocessors currently available in mass-market PCs/laptops? [more inside]
posted by nyterrant on Apr 12, 2007 - 5 answers

What form of energy is used to heat a Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Costo store, and how much does it cost per month in the winter? [more inside]
posted by colgate on Apr 8, 2007 - 12 answers

Does leaving a pizza stone in the oven make the oven more or less efficient? [more inside]
posted by chefscotticus on Mar 23, 2007 - 15 answers

Does drafting a truck theoretically lower the truck's mileage? [more inside]
posted by condour75 on Mar 10, 2007 - 19 answers

What is the most efficient kitchen device for stirring a powder into a glass/cup of liquid? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding on Jan 10, 2007 - 42 answers

Is there an ideal or recommended proportion of management vs. staff salaries? I work at a non-profit, and management salaries are about 40% of total salaries. This seems high to me. [more inside]
posted by Mavri on Dec 6, 2006 - 3 answers

When your [furnace/water heater/sauna/time machine] burns natural gas, should you feed it hot or cold air? [more inside]
posted by spacewrench on Aug 20, 2006 - 8 answers

My old electric hot water service has sprung a leak, and I'm researching replacement options. Is there anything greener and more cost-effective available to this Australian than off-peak electric? [more inside]
posted by flabdablet on Aug 7, 2006 - 11 answers

What is more fuel efficient? Driving with your window(s) down, or with the air conditioner on? [more inside]
posted by chrisroberts on Jul 14, 2006 - 23 answers

I am trying to manage my time a little better, and I would like a way to automatically track what I do on my Mac - how many minutes daily I spend in various applications, along with, possibly, a breakdown of documents and web pages by time, as well. I don't want to enter anything manually, or use this for billing or anything similar. Does anyone know of such an application (especially one that is inexpensive or free - many of the programs that do this are aimed at business and billing, and quite costly.) Other suggestions on how to accomplish this are also welcome.
posted by soulbarn on Jul 11, 2006 - 8 answers

Should I buy a window / portable air conditioner for my home office? [more inside]
posted by cowmix on May 14, 2006 - 18 answers

I'm in a dorm in MA and my space is tight. I'm not going to need my long underwear (along with any other items) until Winter. Should I buy some Space Bags? How about a cheap, small, vacuum cleaner to go with it?
posted by jhscott on May 6, 2006 - 8 answers

Why do firefighters slide down a pole? Wouldn't it be easier to just have them wait on the same floor as the fire trucks? [more inside]
posted by flimjam on Feb 27, 2006 - 22 answers

How do your organize all your little stuff (ipods, wires, knick knacks, doojobbies, etc.)? [more inside]
posted by oissubke on Dec 5, 2005 - 12 answers

Help me break up with my mouse. [more inside]
posted by poweredbybeard on Nov 27, 2005 - 28 answers

Give me your best fast but healthy and tasty recipes. Cheapness is of secondary conern only. [more inside]
posted by poweredbybeard on Nov 5, 2005 - 33 answers

What is the fuel efficiency of an airplane? How does this compare to other vehicles, both in terms of quantity of fuel consumed and quantity of pollution created (since some fuels, I assume, create different amounts of pollution per unit volume)? I've looked around and can't find any more than some vague generalizations (mostly from airplane manufacturers). [more inside]
posted by abingham on Oct 18, 2005 - 17 answers

Are Daikin mini-split air conditioners really more efficient? I live in Puerto Rico where most houses are cement and central air is pretty much out of the questions. Average temperature is 92F. [more inside]
posted by thimk on Sep 25, 2005 - 1 answer

How energy (in)efficient is my gas fireplace? [more inside]
posted by crapples on Sep 19, 2005 - 4 answers

MefiEngineers: Shouldn't there be a simpler solution to hybrid vehicles? [more inside]
posted by pjern on Sep 12, 2005 - 20 answers

Are there any Federal tax credits or financial incentives (aside from the savings of minimizing fillup frequency) for buying a fuel efficient vehicle? [more inside]
posted by philmas on Aug 26, 2005 - 9 answers

Windows-E. Windows-R, Windows-M, Windows-L, they're all great. But, how do I start creating my own shortcuts? [more inside]
posted by kuperman on Jun 29, 2005 - 14 answers