Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with point

What music played in the intro of today's episode of NPR's On Point?

niles — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:09:17 -0800

What music was used in the intro on today's episode of NPR's On Point? You can here it by clicking the "listen to this show" button on the top of this page. It's the drum/guitar piece that starts at 10 seconds in.

I know shows like This American Life list out songs that they use, but I can't find any corresponding list for On Point. The words spoken over the music also prevent me from using any music identification programs.

Anyone recognize it? Thanks!

Cheese! Wanted a Sigma DP2 but having doubts, recommendations?

doctor.dan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:54:12 -0800

I've been thinking of buying a new point-and-shoot camera for a while. I've had some lame experiences with previous point-and-shoots (blurry photos, bad colour balance, etc), so I'm asking the green for some advice. I initially had big hopes for the Sigma DP2 because of its SLR sized sensor, but have been reading some very mixed reviews.

Any recommendations for a small-factor camera that shoots gorgeous pictures, as the DP2 does, but without the supposed downsides?

I've had a read through a similar previous question, but don't really know what I'm looking for.

Cut while skydiving will a person bleed faster?

Sully — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:11:47 -0800

So my buddy and I watched that old Keanu Reeves film Point Break the other night, and we got to talking. We're thinking that more air pressure causes you to bleed at a more furious pace. So if someone's in a knife fight in a plane, is cut, say across the arm, then jumps out of the airplane to parachute to the ground - will they bleed to death before they hit the ground because the air pressure is causing them to bleed so quickly? It doesn't have to be skydiving, it could be on like, Everest. Will you bleed crazy fast higher up? I know that there are a lot of variables here, but I'm just curious if the thinking is sound.

How do I do a good presentation?

RajahKing — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:52:57 -0800

Can you help me provide a good keynote presentation with your insights and suggestions? In a couple weeks, I will be the closing speaker at a national conference. The audience of about 200 will be made up of social workers and direct service workers who support local groups of families. The goal of my presentation is to suggest how the work my organization does (arts/media stuff, with a services bent) could collaborate with their program.

I am planning to use a powerpoint as well as audio examples of my organization's work. The speaking space is a standard, tabled conference room. I have an hour and 15 minutes to use, and I plan to use the last 20 for Q&A.

Can you give me some tips on how to best engage a group of 200, at the end of a conference, for an hour and a half? I am a decent enough speaker, I get nervous like anyone does but not overly, but I also usually only provide smaller, more casual presentations, to about 20-50 folks. What makes a larger, longer presentation more exciting, engaging, rewarding for the audience?

I hope the lack of specificity regarding the organizations is okay. Thanks in advance.

Help fix a cafe's wireless setup!

geos — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:21:12 -0800

Any advice on setting up a wireless access point for a cafe for a budget of under $200? I am trying to set up a wireless access point for a cafe. There is likely to be a maximum of 30 users. Here are four options for a set-up given a budget of under $200:

a) consumer wireless router, say the Linksys WRT600N running dd-wrt,

b) 'pro-sumer'/office wireless router like say DLINK 724GU

c) 'pro-sumer' wap like say NETGEAR WAG102 paired with a consumer router to do NAT and minimal firewall

d) 'pro-sumer' wired router ala CISCO SMB RVS4000 paired with a cheap consumer wireless router used as an access point.

The WAN would be a DSL line. This is a free service so nothing is going to be 100%. Right now the cafe is using a consumer dsl-modem/wireless router and it is, not surprisingly, not dealing very well with the load. In particularly it seems like it doesn't like routing that many users, but signal strength is basically fine.

I guess the basic question is whether managing the wireless connections or the routing is the weak point for a cheap setup.

The mind is willing but the math is weak

Ookseer — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:41:19 -0800

Long Forgotten Mathfilter: I have a point and a line segment in 2d space. How do I find the closest point on the line to the point? Say that I have a line segment going from 0,0 to 20,100. And I have a point at... say 70,30. What coordinates on the line are closest to that point?

Great appreciation to anyone who keeps it simple and shows their work since my math skills have degraded to the point where I can just about calculate a tip. (Depending on how much wine is on the bill.)

Finger-lickin' acknowledgment?

asras — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:36:58 -0800

Help me find out more about this gesture, where a person licks their finger and either points to the ceiling or draws a line in the air. I'd like to find out more about the origin of this gesture. It's not hard to deduce it's meaning from the context, but I'd also be interested in a definition of it.

It's easier to show than explain; Viggo Mortensen does it towards the end of this awesome interview with Jon Stewart while Colbert rattles off facts about Aragorn.

Also, here, J.D. [the guy in the white jersey] does it right after he says, "Thank you, football for dummies." [at 0:27]

I've seen it a few other places too, and I've always been curious about it. Links to other instances of this gesture in pop culture also appreciated!

I'm being sniffed!

wastelands — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:54:14 -0800

Should I worry about a WiFi access point owner spying on me? When using a public Wifi access point, should I assume that the owner of it could be viewing all of my traffic as it passes through? If so, does viewing encrypted content (e.g. https pages) help at all?

My own hotspot...

wongcorgi — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:01:55 -0800

What is the legality of providing free/cheap wifi to neighbors? I live in a townhouse complex, what is the legality of broadcasting an access point that gives free or possibly cheap internet? Barring your own internet providers' stance on sharing internet, are there any permit requirements, legal issues that may come up?

I'm thinking a redirected portal page that comes up, so no advertising other than the AP name. Possibly free low speed and nominal charges for full speed.

Would this be something that would warrant something more than a slap on the wrist or a letter from the homeowners board saying "don't do that?"

What to do and how to get to Fells Point, Baltimore?

Geckwoistmeinauto — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:44:45 -0800

My wife and I (mid 20s) will be heading to Baltimore tomorrow from Philly to enjoy the good weather, and get a change of scenery. We'll be driving in, and have got a hotel room as we quite enjoy the beer, and don't want to have to sober up and drive home (or pay $200 to take Amtrak home...) We've got daytime plans down, but I'd like to know more about nightlife. So here's the daytime plans:
Aquarium, Quick Lunch at a market -- lexington?, paddle boats, then head up to Brewer's Art on the light rail, and avail ourselves of the happy hour there. After that, I'd like to head back to the hotel, clean up, and then what?

Our hotel is in the inner harbor, and I figure we could spend the evening munching dinner and drinking beers in Fells Point without it being a big hassle to get home. The sorts of bars I like in Philly are the Bard's, Eulogy, Monk's, Good Dog, Dock Street -- not so much interested in the fanciness, but the friendly atmosphere and GOOD beer.

So how do we get from inner harbor to Fells Point? It doesn't look all that far to walk, my wife and I regularly walk multiple miles. That said, we'll be walking around all day so I figured we could take the Water Taxi out, but how do we get back? I figure we'll wind down around 12:30 or 1am. What's the taxi situation like? Will a bar call a cab, or can we hail a ride?

What bars in Fells Point do you recommend? As I said above, we like good beer, friendly folks, we don't particularly care for snobby hipsters, but if the place is right, we'll deal.

So, MeFi Baltimoreans, please help us!

Word for, less hassle to comply despite legal right to refuse?

vanoakenfold — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:25:47 -0800

Is there a term for a situation where, despite the fact that it would be within one's legal rights to refuse, simple compliance would save more hassle than arguing the point? I'm currently in an online discussion regarding my outright favor toward people showing their receipt to the receipt-checker at the exit of a retail store. Simple compliance with a hassle-free (if you have equal or greater manual dexterity than say, a manatee) request like this is far beyond any hassle that would occur than if one were to attempt establish the right as true and getting company security involved, etc., considering it is direct refusal to cooperate with a fatuously uncomplicated request (otherwise being a major red flag that you're being dishonest, despite whether you are completely innocent). It's like outrightly refusing to breathe in deeply when a doctor asks you to -- you don't legally have to, but umm.. hello. I digress.

Is there perhaps also a term to therefore describe a person who believes compliance to such an incalculably insignificant hassle is far simpler than to stir up trouble by refusing, demanding to speak to management, etc, despite the perfectly (but lesser known) legal right to refuse?

What is the strongest Wireless Accent Point that I can buy?

chime — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:49:42 -0800

What is the strongest Wireless Accent Point that I can buy? I need to cover about 100m radius inside a single building at a manufacturing company where we have lots of big machines running constantly. I would prefer one strong device over a mesh of 6 as the wireless barcode scanners we have apparently have some trouble switching from one AP to next smoothly. If it's impossible to have a WAP device with this much coverage, then what's a good WAP I can buy that will mesh well.

I have 6 LinkSys WAP54G (Firmware Version: 3.04) and they constantly cause the barcode scanners to connection or lock up.

Psychomatic sinusache?

WCityMike — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:18:59 -0800

Slightly weird one: I occasionally get what I think is a psychosomatic sinusache. It seems to be induced by looking at a sharp edge or point, and perhaps happens to me once every one or two weeks. I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this, and/or has any input into what's going on (mentally or physically) and any fixes or things that alleviate what's going on. As always, In such cases, it can severely increase in intensity, making it difficult to continue remaining focused on anything, requiring that I close my eyes, rub the bridge of my nose, and then try to return to staring at the screen. Taking off my glasses and rubbing the bridge of my nose, or blowing my nose, doesn't seem to alter the ache; it seems to quite literally be something changed by mental focus. I don't believe it's eye strain or mucus. I'm not sure if some underlying part of me imagines my eyeball being pierced or something, and the ache is an aversion thing, or if it's related to mental focus, or what. This has been with me for years, but it just occurred to me the other day to inquire with you guys as to whether it was just completely out of left field or was something other people had experienced.

Routing between subnets

LordSludge — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:38:53 -0800

How to route between subnets and share one internet connection? (network topology pic inside) Last weekend, I setup a wireless bridge between Dad's house and my sister's house. They're out in the country -- no DSL or cable modem -- so my sister still uses dial-up internet access, while my dad uses a Sprint wireless phone hooked to a WinXP PC via USB, which is 3-4 times as fast. The end goal of the project is for my sister to be able to share the higher speed Sprint internet connection. The immediate goal is just to get the two networks working together.

Now, the wireless bridge works great, as advertised, with 2-10ms pings. The problem is that my dad and my sister are on two different subnets, and routing between the two is just a bit past my knowledge. I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with static routing, but I need some hand-holding.

Here's the setup: Network Topology. Pretty simple, but note that "AP1" on Dad's side has router functionality ("AP2" is a bridge slave), as does "Router" on Sister's side.

Using the PC at 192.168.11.2, I can ping across the bridge to 192.168.11.100. But I can't ping anything on 192.168.0.x. Nor can any system on 192.168.0.x ping any system on 192.168.11.x.

I thought that just using a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 for systems on both sides would make this work. No? Seems not to work.

I can put static routes into "AP1" on Dad's side and "Router" on Sister's side if I need to, but I'm fuzzy on this -- haven't setup static routes in over 10 years. What should the entries be?

Or... is it possible to make a USR5461 just act like a switch? There's no WAN connection at that house, so the routing is really not necessary and it's screwing me up. I wish I could just replace it with a hub/switch, but it's being used both as an 802.11g access point and as a print server.

For the end goal, sharing the Sprint phone for internet, I'm planning to setup WinXP "connection sharing" for the Sprint phone attached to the PC at 192.168.11.2, then just set 192.168.11.2 as the default gateway for any system that wants internet access. Thoughts?

Calling All Rocket Scientists

ryecatcher — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:27:55 -0800

Is it the impact that causes the missile/torpedo/what-have-you to explode? Or some sort of 'on-board' electronic targeting system that tells it to detonate? Like, could a missile slam into the earth but not detonate because of some electronic failure?

Tried doing a search of this on The Google but it did nothing. This specific, anyway.

Thanks.

Help me help someone else be the coolest guy at the meeting

killyb — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 08:18:11 -0800

I'm in the market for the host high tech PDA for showing power point presentations. I'm looking for a PDA or PDA/phone which has bluetooth and which can be used to cleanly display ppts. I've been looking at the Blackjack and the Dells, however I've very little experience with PDAs and have no where to try different models before I buy. I fairly certain I'd rather stick with Windows Mobile 5.0 as the OS, but will entertain other suggestions. Price is not an option and would like to hear the best of the best. I plan to pair the PDA with the iTech laser keyboard and iGo Pitch Duo for sending the display to a projector. Super bonus points if your recommendations mesh well with the above accessories. Thanks

What is a decent digital camera for 2006?

Old Man Wilson — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 11:34:33 -0800

Looking to upgrade my Canon A60 digital camera... So, I bought a Canon A60 digital camera in November 2003, about this time three years ago. I've gotten some great use from it, but it's about on its last legs, I think.

I'd like to get a new camera that would be considered the 2006 equivalent. I'm looking for something around the same price (~200/300$ Cdn), with similar features. I'd like to be able to control things like shutter speed, aperture width, and exposure levels, but still be using something within the point and click price range.

Any suggestions?

What's the use?

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:09:10 -0800

Don't roll your eyes but I think my soul, if there is such a thing, may be empty My wife has brought it to my attention that I don't have much going on inside that is for me. If we're not together, I really don't take pleasure out of anything. Together we really and honestly enjoy movies, and eating out. We laugh, joke and are together pretty much constantly. There is no one else I have any interest in really any level. I recognize that can make me sound like an obsessive-stalker type but that isn't true. Left to my own devices, OTOH, I sit quietly and stare at the wall, eating whatever is handy out of the packaging. I have no hobbies because I can't see the point of them. For example, I'd probably make excellent model airplanes but wouldn't know what to do with them. With nothing to do with them, I would wonder what the point of the wasted effort was. Professionally, I muddle. I work when I have to and take little pride in it. I like being a go-to guy at work but truthfully I ask, why bother? What's the point? Except for working to support and make my wife happy, it is like brushing my teeth or going to the bathroom- just a necessary activity.

This question arises because my wife thinks it isn't healthy for me to have no life outside our relationship. She is similar but to a much lesser degree. She does seek out fun and friendships outside of our relationship. Her concern is what happens to the survivor when the other dies or something. In my case she thinks I may become suicidal. In truth, I might. I've always wondered what happens to the ant or bee that gets stuck in your car and escapes when you get to your destination far from the hill or the hive. Do they just shut down?

Anyhow, my question is this. Why do you do anything for you? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? What animates you? What is your point? What makes you live for you?

Please no simple one-word answers like love/kids/jeebus/ponies. I just want to know what is in your soul.