Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with recommendations and advice

Timberrrrrr!

jeffamaphone — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:29:05 -0800

What should I look for in a tree trimming company? Anyone have good / bad experiences with specific Seattle-area companies? I've got some very large trees, 100ft fir trees, 40ft maples, etc, that need to be trimmed to reduce the amount of debris that falls into the yard and onto the roof, as well as some dead or dying Madronas that need to go. I've gotten two quotes from two different companies, both around the same price.

My father-in-law put himself through college as a lumberjack up in the cascades doing some pretty serious logging, and he'll be on-site while the work is being done, and he knows more about trees than your average person has any business knowing. But I'd like to pick the right company in advance, rather than tell them how to do it right once they show up.

What questions should I be asking? What red flags should I watch out for?

Becoming a Notary Public

calwatch — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 23:48:28 -0800

Has anyone ever become a notary? I'm interested in making some extra money and am wondering which notary schools you recommend, what tips there are to drumming up business, etc. (This is in California). If it matters, I'm an engineer so my work has virtually zip to do with notarizing documents. I would be working this as a part time job, no more than 15 or 20 hours a week, and not expect to be paid like I'm doing a full time job. Some notary schools have been advertising lately on the radio claiming of a huge shortage so I'm wondering how true that really is.

What should I know before buying a Playstation2?

meditative_zebra — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:45:06 -0800

I'm thinking about buying a playstation2, what should I know before I take the plunge? Knowing little, I assume the redesigned and shrunk ps2 would be preferable to the older model. Can I expect either version to actually work playing playstation one and two games as well as dvd’s? I know that the xbox is the way to go for modding and emulators, but are there any ps2 mods or emulators I should know about? Does the new model ps2 have any technical issues? Overheating? Anything else I should know? Any game recommendations that haven’t been made yet or that no one knows about?

Feline follow-up

oflinkey — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 17:41:54 -0800

Pets pets and more pets: http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/4681">Sorta tangental followup from about a year ago- re: feline urinary tract blockage. That wasn't likr thast on preview.

Anyhow,
Melon, our foundling kitty from the cold last year has just come out of the hospital after having had FLUTD- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. He had a urethral block that we caught very early, so good for that. Now we are faced with meal feeding all the kitties (three), which I know nothing about, but am currently looking into. On top of that, we are trying to increase everyone's water intake. We bought a Drinkwell, but Melon, being apart from the oter kitties as of now is not using it. The other ones don't like it as of yet, either. So we are having him take water from a feeding syringe. He also lost a good deal of weight in the hospital and is none too fond of the wet or dry presciption foods we are feeding him. So the point of my post is to tap into the vast pet knowledge here on AskMe and see what other suggestions you all have for keeping Melon healthy, unblocked, hydrated and well fed. We are also interested in how to keep the other two kitties sane when switching over to a meal-fed system.
(NB- the suggestions from a year ago were wonderful and helpful- Melon is the sweetest, most affectionate and cuddly little ball of fur to have ever graced our family. He is a wee bit spoiled, however, but this seems to add to his charm. He goes by many names: Slim, Mr.Silky-Pants, Melonius Snug, Melony (Snickett), Orangie, Orangino, Mr. Softee, Melboy and the Orange Paws of Doom... and so it loved and loved back. This hospital trip was really traumatic for him and for us. Thanks for all the help previously, and I trust AskMe will come through again.)

Help me pick a new monitor

eas98 — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 07:45:41 -0800

My Dell monitor died. Advice needed on its current condition or possible alternatives for next purchase (considering a flat-panel). --> My beautiful 19" Trinitron CRT monitor died. It's only 2 years old (warranty expired), and all it does now when I turn it on is powerup (green light), resolution check (that 'click' sound), powerdown (light off), and then start over again with the powerup. Over and over again. Have tried it both with and without the computer connected, so I'm pretty sure it's the monitor.

Unless someone can tell me how to fix it (I can only hope), I need to consider its replacement. I was looking at the flat-panels, but wonder if they are worth it. Much of my time spent on the system is for gaming, and I wonder about the perfomance and image quality of a flat-panel. I like the small footprint, and would be willing to spend a little $ if its worth it, but I am not sure.

Any suggestions?

Where should I buy actual gold and silver?

calwatch — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:52:03 -0800

What's the best way to buy tangible gold and/or silver? So many vendors from a Google search, but I'd like to hear recommendations as to specific coins and/or bars you like that hold its value. I'm also looking for reputable vendors with low markups on their coins and bullions from spot prices. I'm interested in gold and silver both as a hedge investment and as gifts for numismatic value.

Renting a Montreal Apartment

Succa — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 08:17:51 -0800

Renting an apartment in downtown Montréal [plus à l'intérieur] Is the rental market as bad as people say? I need to find a one-bedroom place by the end of October, preferably in the Plateau area, or somewhere within walking distance to the Peel metro station. I've been fed a lot of anecdotes about the place -- that it's impossible to find a lease starting on a date other than July 1, that the apartments in the Plateau are mostly crappy, that French landlords sometimes don't rent to the Anglos, demand in the Plateau is extremely high -- and am wondering which of these are true. Also, neighbourhood recommendations are welcome. Thanks.

Pros and Cons of an Economics degree

Sangre Azul — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 10:21:18 -0800

My friend needs help deciding on either a BA or BSBA degree in economics. He would like to work in international trade or something related. What are some pros/cons of each degree (and possible minors for the BA)? He would probably be working for a few years before pursuing a master's degree.

DIY Roofing

damnitkage — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 03:26:33 -0800

Roofing filter day

My wife has decided that we need a new roof and that we're going to do it ourselves. I'm not opposed to this, well, okay I am, but stilll....

How do we price this out for ourselves? Any denizens or askmefi have any experience in this? We have asphalt shingles now and will stick with same.

My wife says thanks in advance.

I need specific travel advice for a trip to Montreal: lodging, money, bars, parking.

TurkishGolds — Tue, 04 May 2004 08:40:46 -0800

I'm an American planning a trip to Montreal. I'll be there in the next few weeks, and I'm looking for some specific advice. Having never traveled to Canada, forgive me if some of these questions seem ignorant.

I'd like to stay in Montreal, get drunk and stoned and be able to get back to where I'm staying without driving (obviously). Where should I look to stay? Are there certain districts I should pay most attention to? Conversely, are there areas I should avoid?

How late are bars open? Do I need to change my money? I'll be by myself -- 24/male -- any good singles hot-spots?

How big is the city compared to, say, Boston V. NYC -- the two cities I'm most familier with. How much should I expect to spend on hotel/motel accomodations? What's parking like? Is there anything else I'm overlooking. And, finally, does anyone want to hang out?

Are Tempurpedic foam mattresses worth buying?

bluno — Sat, 01 May 2004 19:07:56 -0800

I need a new mattress. While shopping around, I tried one of those TemPurpedic, Swedish foam mattersses. They are about 4x more than I would ever expect to pay for a bed, but i am tempted. Anyone have any experience/advice/tips on these? Worth it or not? Any cheaper alternatives?

Is The Rabbit wine opener any good?

elwoodwiles — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 20:15:52 -0800

So I've been struggling with the christmas present issue - What to get for my parents? I've decided on a Rabbit wine opener, but it has mixed reviews. Does anyone have this device or an equivalent wine tool?