Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with memory

How to make periodic reminders from RSS/evernote?

insperatum — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:45:57 -0800

How can I make periodic, spaced reminders of items from an rss feed (or even straight from evernote) so that I know I will not forget them? I got an evernote account recently, and I'm loving how easy it is to add notes from anywhere (including my G1 =D). That said, what it seems to lack is the feature of reminding you of notes every so often (a feature which reQall does very nicely).

So what I'm looking for is some way of automatically reminding myself of my evernotes, perhaps from the rss feed which it lets me create. Something which would, for example, email me (or better yet feed me) a note reminder every, say, 4,16,64,etc days after note creation would be fantastic. Of course, something which would be able to import my evernotes straight into SuperMemo or some other spaced repetition software would be even better, though that may be a bit ambitious. Any suggestions whatsoever would be very useful though, since I'm at a complete loss.

While I'm here, do any of you guys have other systems for taking and remembering notes? It's just beginning to hit me that how quickly I forget all the little facts that I learn throughout the day, and so I'm trying to build an easy way of being able to say "Right, this little fact is important. Make sure I don't forget it until I tell you otherwise."

Many thanks,
Luke

How much memorization does art dance performance require?

Joe Beese — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:52:35 -0800

How much memorization does art dance performance require? I assume it varies between genres - and between roles within genres. But can useful generalizations be made about how much performance data retrieval per minute is involved compared with, say, playing in a symphony orchestra?

How to prevent alcohol-induced blackouts?

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:51:30 -0800

I find that it doesn't take very much alcohol for me to end up with a bit of short-term amnesia. Is there anything I can do about this? Is this a sign of Bad Things To Come? I know, if I drink less (or none at all), I'll remember everything. Let's take that off the table for now. I know the risks involved and I'm as responsible as I can be, given the parameters. That said...

This weekend, I went out and had some drinks and when I woke up Sunday morning, I didn't remember a huge chunk of the night. In this particular instance, it was annoying because apparently there was drama that I don't remember. This is frustrating because while I was told that I didn't do anything that I have to apologize for, I hate not knowing.

This isn't the first time that this has happened. I'd say that it takes four beers of average strength for things to get foggy and if you add a cocktail or two after that, it's like there's a huge hole in my memory. I'm 5'4" and about 200 pounds, so assuming that I have a decent meal beforehand, I don't feel like this is a huge amount of alcohol. I also don't appear drunk enough to people around me that I should have this kind of memory loss. In fact, when I'm more outwardly drunk, I tend to remember more of it.

It's frustrating because I genuinely like to drink. I love beer, I love whiskey. I know that I'm not running a risk of being an alcoholic, I just love the taste.

Are there any hacks that I can do to increase my odds of remembering everything the next morning? If I eat *while* I drink, would that make a difference? Should I pack a Clif Bar when I go to the bar? I already have about a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage that I have. Is this likely to cause bad brain problems down the road? This has been happening for at least five years and I don't find that my tolerance has decreased or that the memory loss is more frequent. It's just generally annoying and I'd like it to stop.

PowerMac life extension

omnidrew — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:08:59 -0800

Squeezing a bit more out of a PowerMac G5... I'm seeing the spinning beachball more these days... wondering if spending $85 on 2 more gigs of RAM (from 4GB to 6GB) will make it show up a little less often.

I know I'm not going to be able to move over to Snow Leopard with this machine, but hoping to get a few more years out of this hard-working box.

specs = PPC dual 2gHz / OS x 10.5 Leopard / 4GB RAM currently installed / model came out in June 2003 / upgraded video card

Thanks, hive mind!

I readed a story, but I forgetted it.

jrishel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:16:06 -0800

I'm trying to find a short sci-fi story I read over 10 years ago that I barely remember. It may have involved some or all of the following: bicycle repair, ripe banana smelling bacteria used as deodorant and anti-libido medication. I think it might have been from one of the "Year's Best Science Fiction" Anthologies, but I'm not sure, it could have been in a sci-fi pulp magazine I subscribed to for a few years who's name also alludes me. Here are the barely remembered things I can recall, in order of rememberedness, not actual relevance to the story's plot:

main character uses a bacteria application to prevent BO. He smells like ripe bananas.

main character is working a bicycle, perhaps a racing bicycle.

in order to concentrate on his work, he takes an anti-libido pill.

he meets a girl. she may or may not be some sort of spy. I think he nurses her back to health.

he lives in some sort of post crash world where his workshop is raised from the ground to prevent looters.

he receives nagging video phone calls from his mother.

So, Hivemind, can you give me a title and author?

massive Chrome memory leak

drlith — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:27:05 -0800

How to correct sudden massive Chrome memory leak? More like a memory hemorrage.

A few days ago, my computer running Windows 64-bit Vista started having serious performance issues. I've tracked this down to the Chrome browser. As soon as I start up Chrome, memory usage starts to climb precipitously, and within 30 seconds approaches 95+% memory usage and the system grinds to a halt.

This occurs when running Chrome version 3.0.195.33. I tried re-downloading and re-installing Chrome without success. I don't recall updating Chrome on the day this started happening, but I also can't guarantee that I didn't. I have not had any problems with Chrome previously. I have no problems when running Firefox or IE.

St. Augustine Essay Ideas

howgenerica — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:27:59 -0800

I'm going crazy trying to come up with a topic for a paper on St. Augustine on Memory (ie, book X of the Confessions). I've been trying for days and I just am such a blank. Help brainstorming? I need to be arguing something. Thanks!

How do the chips on a memory module interrelate?

espertus — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:12:37 -0800

How is memory typically mapped to the different chips on a DIMM, and what are the typical timing characteristics, broadly speaking? For example, are bytes/words whose address is i mod 8 typically on chip i? In the case of reads, are results returned first from chip 0 (after the RAS and CAS latencies), then promptly on subsequent cycles from each of the next 7 (or 15) chips? How about from other DIMMs on the same motherboard?

Wait, sorry, what?

cereselle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:58:18 -0800

Call it procrastination, call it forgetfulness, call it disorganization, call it laziness-- whatever it is, it's affecting my work life, and I want it to stop. I forget things. Lots of things. All the time. Sometimes it just completely slips my mind, sometimes I decide to do it later and it gets lost in the mists, sometimes just the thought of doing it makes me cranky and I want it to go away.

I have tried to write things down on a list, which helps for a while, but I invariably lose the list. I am unable to keep my office clean or organized, which contributes to list-losing, but the piles of stuff make me feel guilty, and I am disinclined (almost afraid) to go through them. When I try, I am seized with the urgent desire to do almost anything else.

How can I stop this? It's almost like I don't want to remember things. I try to change, then I forget the changes I've made, and the problem is as large as ever.

It's starting to come to a head, as I've failed to act on assignments from my boss due to completely forgetting about them. I'm not in danger of being fired (yet), but I want to do the best job I can, and this fuzzy-headedness is not making it easy.

Remembering the name of a scifi book

Political Funny Man — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:34:25 -0800

I'm trying to remember the name of a sci-fi book. I read it like 10 years ago, so my memory of it's a bit fuzzy. One of the major topics was something about the religion of science. I remember a guy who was able to trick people, a traveling salesman of sorts, who sold someone a machine that turned lead into gold. The machine actually worked, but would stop working after he got away with his money. I don't *think* I'm imagining this book, but who knows...

Help me relearn how to learn!

spacefire — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:42:15 -0800

I have just started my PhD, full time on teaching/research fellowship, in the same field I did my masters and bachelors degrees. This is my first semester, and I am expected to take the qualifying exams in January. Problem is, I seem to have forgotten a lot. I have been out of school for five years since my masters, and, studying for the quals, even topics that I have covered before, nothing seems to 'stick' to memory. I do mock oral exams with my adviser and I can't seem to formulate a coherent thought even on topics I have covered in my previous academic life and also reviewed again days before!
True, I've had some stressful time in the beginning of the semester due to issues not related to school, and I read somewhere that stress
impairs short term memory, but I also feel that my capacity to for instance understand mathematical concepts and relate them to real physical phenomena has diminished a lot since I last went to school.
I am 30 yo male living and going to school in a major city.
I have two months left till my qualifier exams, written and oral with no reference materials allowed, and I really need to get my shit together and pass the quals on the first try, or else my fellowship might be revoked.

Where did this chimney sweep waltz?

thivaia — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:06:42 -0800

Please help me identify this scene/sketch. I am haunted by a memory of a scene/sketch from childhood. It was a chimney sweep waltzing with a woman in an elaborate pink satin ballgown in a Victorian-style parlor. This was not Mary Poppins. For years, I thought maybe I'd seen it on "The Electric Company" or some such children's program, but I've never found any reference to it. I'm pretty sure it was not in a movie. I've been trying to find this one my own for years, but I clearly need help. Does anyone else have any memory of this? I would be so appreciative.

Hello, McFly?

Fairchild — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:47:42 -0800

I'm very distressed that I cannot remember anything and do not feel sharp. How can I improve my memory and feel more with it? I have never had a good memory but lately it seems my head is empty. I can manage my day to day life reasonably well but still feel dimwitted. I cannot remember plots or characters of books I have read. I don't remember names very well. If a person tells me they are going on vacation/having surgery/buying a new house I will forget to ask about this major event the next time I see them. I'm not familiar with many things that other people seem to have no problem with. There are huge stretches of childhood and adulthood that I cannot remember. There are stretches of my children's lives that I can't remember. I cannot remember some simple facts. Is this normal?

Sometimes I fall short on sleep but mostly get adequate sleep. I exercise a few times a week but sometimes have stretches of inactivity. Maybe since I haven't worked in years has something to do with it. I stay home with my children and work very part-time in my chosen profession but it is a very laid-back environment that requires little brain power. I used to have a job that requires very specific skills. If I wanted to return to this type of job I would have a lot of brushing up to do.

I'm basically distressed that my mind feels very dull and empty. I don't have quick comebacks. Sometimes I have a hard time coming up with intelligent conversation. Sometimes I stammer and have problems expressing a thought. I just feel very dull and while my memory has always been average I feel duller and more forgetful than ever. (I don't have a problem learning new things. I learn and grasp concepts reasonably well but don't often remember them and have to look them up to refresh my memory.) I do have some social anxiety and have trouble living in the moment. Maybe I am too busy thinking about other things to remember what is happening in real life.

How can I improve my memory and feel more "with it"?

Want to purchase 1Gb SD Cards in Bulk - with no Retail Pacakaging

tniccum — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:08:52 -0800

Each year our company sends our customers holiday gifts as well as a calendar (we use employee photos for the calendar). The gift we want to send this year is a 7-inch digital photo frame. We'd like to pre-load an SD card with past calendar photos - for display on the photo frame. I would like to purchase (at lowest cost of course) 200-300 1 GB SD cards. I prefer no retail packaging (we'd just have to spend time tearing into that stupid theft-proof plastic). I've been googling around, and haven't found a good way to purchase SD cards this way. I've tried Alibaba, but can't really make head nor tail out of what I'd be getting. The quantity and zero packaging requirements seem like it should result in a low price if I can find the right supplier.

Any thoughts?

What was this weird temporary recognition failure

srboisvert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:07:46 -0800

This morning I suffered from a disturbing failure of my recognition memory. I couldn't figure out what Dexter or Californication were even though I had watched both series from start to end. Even after asking my wife the names of the shows seemed completely unfamiliar though I could recall the general content. I have had some trouble sleeping lately and am pretty tired. I am also on a calorie restriction diet with an aim to lose 1.8 lbs a week.

It recovered pretty quickly. I felt normal in about 15 minutes.

Anybody know what was going on?

Memory upgrade for Intel Xeon Mac Pro?

austinlee — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:12:17 -0800

Memory upgrade for Intel Xeon Mac Pro? I bought the base mac pro a few months ago planning to up the memory right away. When I went to do this I got confused by a few websites that warned about using only certain kinds of memory and in certain groups. Can someone tell me what they think is the best way without spending more than necessary?

The computer is a 2.66 Quad-Core Intel Xeon with 3 GB 1066 MHz DDR3.

Thanks!

What's your name again?

ASM — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:09:20 -0800

Needed: Memory hacks. I have trouble remembering names. How do you do it? I know that some people are simply born with the ability to remember names. Sadly, I'm not one of these people. In fact, my memory of names is very poor. So poor that it has become a bit of an embarrassment both professionally and socially.

Generally speaking my memory is just fine and I have no issues remembering faces, but when people introduce themselves I just can't retain their name. Sometimes I'll forget their name within 5 minutes of meeting them. More often than not, I need to meet someone multiple times before their name sticks.

Do you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions that have worked well for you in the past?

The following information is not necessary to answer the question, but it's the story that prompted me to ask this in the first place:

A friend's father once told me about meeting President Kennedy at a rally years ago. As the President worked his way down the rope he introduced himself to everyone along the way. My friend's father subsequently met the President and introduced himself.

On his way out, the President's eye caught my friend's father's eye to which the President said "Very nice to meet you, Andrew."

Obviously this could be a romanticized version of what happened, but this question still stands: How. Did. He. Do. That?

How can I remember to always put my mobile phone on silent before meetings and turn it back on afterwards?

grouse — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:10:43 -0800

How can I remember to always put my mobile phone on silent before meetings or seminars? And to turn the sound back on when the meeting is over? Any useful tricks? I don't seem to have a problem remembering this in artistic environments, only in work environments.

A ladder left behind

Funmonkey1 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:55:24 -0800

[FearFilter]: 15 years ago I experienced an imminent death/serious injury moment that turned out ok. However, I still feel physical chills and tingly feelings even thinking about it. Am I the only one or is this common? Thoughts and stories appreciated. The science is a huge bonus. Short background. Many years ago some friends and I decided to put a ladder out the 3rd floor house in order to gain access to the roof.

I clearly recall the way back down the ladder and it is no mistake, balance was against me. That 1 second of fighting against of gravity while looking down is ingrained in my mind. The moment is etched forever in the brain and triggers immediate fear and physical response if I focus on it. WTF? After so long?

I can't be the only one that has such a memory that stirs such strong physical and emotion reaction. What is it called and how does one not be so jolted?

I need to run chkdsk on my brain...

Salvor Hardin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:35:01 -0800

My mind is blown, it's not my own, where did my idea go? I'm feeling fine, but I've lost my mind! Help? Three days ago, while walking somewhere, I came up with a cool idea. A really cool idea. I mean, an astoundingly awesome idea.

And now I can't remember what it is.

Do you have any tips for recovering memories like this? I was distracted by something immediately after getting the idea, and I guess it didn't get stored into permanent memory in my brain.

It probably wasn't as incredibly brilliant as I am remembering, but it's been persistently bugging me that I've forgotten what it is. I really don't remember anything about it, except that I was excited about it. This has happened before, but it's never been so frustrating for so long! It feels like a big pothole in my mind.

So, mefites, do you have any tips, tricks, mindhacks, etc, for remembering stuff like this? Should I stare at a candle cross-eyed while huffing ginkgo-biloba vapour? Hang upside down blindfolded and think about it as hard as possible? I've tried NOT thinking about it, but it hasn't worked, and it keeps coming back to haunt me. Have you found anything that works for this? I don't even know if there's anything that can help, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!

Is there any way to access the non-SD card memory in a G1 that won't boot up?

nomisxid — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:27:38 -0800

Is there any way to access the non-SD card memory in a G1 that won't boot up? I have a G1 that died last week. The problem seems to be in the power management circuitry; it won't charge a battery, won't turn on when plugged into the wall, and won't turn on with a battery fully charged in another G1.

T-Mobile stepped up to the plate and sent me a replacement phone quickly, and everything that was on the SD card survived transplanting. Thing is, I was using the app OI Notepad, which stored documents by default in the phone memory instead of the card.

Is there any way to get to those documents?

Help me build a nerd-ish virtual dollhouse

ollyollyoxenfree — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:31:20 -0800

Is there software that mimics a 'memory palace'? Lately, I've been using the open source flashcard software Anki (previously mentioned on this site). I've also been experimenting with memory maps. I've been using both as the foundation of Bloom's Taxonomy (using other techniques and tools for other areas). Both have helped with my study, but I've found that I'm more likely to remember things when visualizing my own memory palace. It seems I have a knack for remembering layouts of places. I can still draw the layouts from relatives and friend's houses from as early as five years old, so I think that a virtual simulator of a memory palace might be quite powerful for learning (more so than visualizing it in my head).

So, is there any software out there like this?

I've googled around, and found this guy's blog discussing Second Life as a memory palace. I was thinking along similar lines. Something like The Sims or Second Life, but for memory training would be great (alternatively, can you use these games for that purpose? I haven't played them, so not sure about their architecture for such a purpose). Thanks.

Supposes my toeses?

gallusgallus — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:32:45 -0800

Can someone help me figure out the meaning of this toe-based Eastern European nursery rhyme? This was a favorite one with my grandmother; she was Ukrainian/Austrian in lineage, so I'm guessing the language is Ukrainian, but it might also be a borrowing from Polish/Slovak/Russian/etc. neighbors.

It worked a little like the Five Little Piggies rhyme in English. Phonetically, it went:

Hodick (or "hodig"??),
Bubbick,
Chichinitchka,
Kookawitchka,
And staaatty chook, chook, chook!

As she said the first line, she squeezed the big toe, then onwards across the foot, until at the last line she grabbed the pinkie toe and shook it violently back and forth (much squealing ensuing from the child).

I'd love to know what these lines might actually mean, and if anyone else has heard of this rhyme. Oh, and apologies for my horrible, horrible transliteration-- I'll be happy to answer any follow-up questions about specific sounds, if it might help. Thanks!!

Locating data in memory

inquisitive — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:59:07 -0800

I need to access certain data loaded in memory by an application. There are certain application specific encrypted files, which the program decrypts and loads into memory. Can I see the data in the memory used by the application? Is it possible to search the entire memory footprint of an application?

If I know some keywords in the encrypted file, can I search based on those words and locate the decrypted data in memory ?

Are there any other techniques?

Can I get the addresses of all the memory areas used by the application including the EXE file, and save everything into a file?

Best Tempurpedic Alternative

gogomickey — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:46:30 -0800

Does anyone know of the best alternatives to a Tempurpedic matress? They are just too expensive for me to justify purchasing, but I love the way they feel. I have been researching memory foam mattresses, but it is very hard to filter out the hype and get real information. First hand accounts from the hivemind would be greatly appreciated.