Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with mods

The 'brary mystique re: MARC, etc.

10ch — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:57:36 -0800

Dear AskMeFi Librarians and Librarian-Wannabes, can you please explain-slash-distinguish between MARCXML, MODS, METS and EAD in terms of why one is better (or even different) than the other? I've never worked in a library and I'm only familiar enough with MARC records to know what they stand for and that they presumably need something like MARCXML, MODS, METS or EAD to make them more system-shareable and human-readable.

There internet is in no short supply of definitions and discussions about these standards, but I need someone to explain it to me (or point me to an explanation) that is in layman's terms and without presuming I have an MLS.

You folks are as bad as us webbies with the acronyms, sheesh!

Thanks.

How can I turn my Sony Clie into a simple word processor/ebook reader?

sallyann — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:48:51 -0800

How can I turn my Sony Clie into a simple word processor/ebook reader? I have an old Sony Clie PEG-NX60 (with swivel-out keyboard, no wifi) and I want to turn it into something useful if possible. Specifically, I would like to be able to read and edit text files on the device and use it as an ebook reader, and sync or at least transfer those files to my desktop (I run Ubuntu linux), but how? I haven't been able to get the desktop to recognize the PDA, even with jpilot sw installed. (Note that I'm willing to hack it to death if necessary as I paid nothing for it and have no interest in using the PIM utilities.)

Mod me up!

juv3nal — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:03:20 -0800

TES: Oblivion. Mods. Which ones should I get? I'm already familiar with these recommended/must-have lists, but it's all a bit much. I have shivering isles and all the official mods, so I went ahead and grabbed the unofficial patches for all of those, but what else? Bonus points for hair mods other than that Ren's thing which, while they look nice, are all kinda long for my taste.

A World of Warcraft mod to make life easier to quest?

spinko — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:06:17 -0800

World of Warcraft filter: Is there any mods out there that show you where to for the quest? instead of searching for hours... ...
I've been playing wow since beta, and played it to death. I've got 2 lvl 70's at the moment and levelling my priest.

The mods Im using are:

Monkey Quest
Cartographer

To make life easier, but is there a mod that when you pickup the quest it puts a mark on the map showing you where to go for the quest.

Or other mods to make life easier.

Sorta-Kinda Fast and the Furious Filter: Ideas for tuning my 2001 Toyota Camry XLE?

Cool Papa Bell — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:17:49 -0800

Sorta-Kinda Fast and the Furious Filter: Ideas for tuning my 2001 Toyota Camry XLE? I'm interested in dipping my toes into the water of car modification and tuning. I don't want to actually become the life-my-life-a-quarter-mile-at-a-time guy, but I'm interested in simple modifications I can make that will pay off in overall performance and style.

The car is a 2001 Toyota Camry XLE, automatic transmission. Everything is stock right now.

If you were making suggestions for a tuner car newbie with this car, where would you start? ECU mods? Suspension? Wheels? Exhaust? I have only a B+ level understanding of the mechanics involved, but I am eager to learn.

What are the best Half-Life 2 mods?

chunking express — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 13:22:06 -0800

What are the best Half-Life 2 mods? I just installed Half-Life 2 on my Mac. I didn't realise there were so many mods for the game beyond Counter Strike. Zombie Panic looks cool. What are some of your favourites?

(An aside: how long do you think it'd take to finish the original Half-Life?)

DaVinci or Darwin? How crazy is aesthetic gun modifcation for non-gunsmiths?

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:08:52 -0800

Gun modification safety: I'm a geek that likes to customize and modify gadgets. Can I extend this to guns and ammo, without killing myself, by taking great care and following reasonable precautions, or should I STOP RIGHT THERE! ARE YOU CRAZY!? More specific examples inside. I would look deeply into the safety and safe methods of doing something before performing it, but getting an overview here, of the safety/sanity beforehand of many different things, will help me decide whether to not bother, or to start that more serious learning.

I do not have a gunsmith background, and while I've grown up with guns, I've never been "into" them, eg never done my own reloading, never had a range membership, etc.

Like a computer case-modder, I guess I'm interested in style over substance (yeah, I know that's kind of dumb), so I'm not going to be trying to supercharge a gun, or convert a semi pistol to auto, or stuff like that. If anything I'd be reloading shells erring on the side of too little bang, rather than normal or too much.

So, some more specific indications of stuff I'd be likely to do, so you can tell me which are ill-advised or illegal:

(assume, say, a semi-auto pistol, state of WA, USA)

-Anodising, electroplating, engraving, etc various non-mechanical parts (eg the outside of the grip).

-The same, with mechanical parts, but not those critical to safe operation (eg modifying the ammo-clip, but not the firing mechanism). "Safe operation" does not mean reliable operation, it means will-NOT-blow-up-in-my-face operation, with the necessity for successful operability coming in a distance second. I'd prefer to accidentally render a gun useless than render it unsafe.

-Hacking electronic systems (eg those safety systems that render a gun inorperable unless the person is wearing a certain ring), to be triggered by a different authorization system.

Ammo modification (the danger-flag side):

-engraving or etching the brass? Before it's live of course. (From time to time I've seen people fire a shot that cracks open the brass, and I suspect engraving would make this occurance more likely. It didn't seem to be an injury risk, but I don't really know).

-Reloading... with various powders, or with additives in the powder? (eg, perhaps to make something smokier, NOT more powerful), and so loading a lighter-than-usual charge, to leave a higher safety margin to cover my ass for deviating slightly from the script.

-engraving/messsing with the bullet? Or even casting your own bullets? (reminder: for a modern pistol, not a black powder gun)

What kind of pistol/calibre/features would be a good choice for this sort of thing, primarily from a safety standpoint?

[posted anonymously because some workplaces these days get nervous when an office worker takes a sudden shine to guns.]

Have you used a low cost ($20-$50) Cold Air Intake on your car?

skyguy14 — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:18:08 -0800

Have you used a low cost ($20-$50) Cold Air Intake on your car? I am looking at the numerous cold air intakes for my vehicle for anywhere from $20-$50 on eBay, and I am wondering if they are any good. I am most concerned about the quality of the air filter, as to not allow any contaminants into the engine. I am skeptical of them as name brand intakes from AEM, K&N, and Neuspeed fetch $200 or more. Any opinions or experiences?

Where can I get cool PC cases?

scarabic — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:50:04 -0800

Who makes sweet-ass PC cases? Note: I don't want anything neon green with gills and a tail, or an aquarium built-in. I am building a media center PC and can't find a slim, tasteful case that will look good in the living room. I prefer horizontally-oriented and absolutely require two 5.25" bays in front (behind a door is okay). Silent-running features are a plus. Any suggestions?

Any Use for a Hollywood Plus DVD-Player Card Using EM8300 MPEG2 Decoder?

Keyser Soze — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 23:50:04 -0800

I have a Hollywood Plus DVD-player card, PCI. It uses the EM8300 Mpeg 2 decoder. Are there any hacks or mods for this card to do cool things, or should I throw it away? Sounds like its going out.