"Straw man" or "Straw purchase"- What's the origin of this term? It currently refers to firearms purchase by someone legally able to buy, who deliberately diverts guns to people who are unable to legally purchase guns (typically for a fee). It can also describe alcohol sales to adults who deliberately pass the booze or beer on to minors.
What does "straw" have to do with it?
posted by citygirl
on Jan 4, 2013 -
9 answers
This is a name-that-song. There's a somewhat recent song that is sort of similar to the refrain from Air's "Surfing on a Rocket" - the chords that start the song's main progression seem to have the same intervalic movement as the beginning of the refrain in SoR, and both songs have staccato clean guitar parts, though the guitar in the more recent song is more busy & sounds like it has the sharp string-on-fret attack of hammer-on playing (I could be wrong about that).
I know I know this song & it is driving me crazy. For sociocultural context, I heard it last night in a bar/restaurant in Silverlake (Los Angeles).
Thanks, amazing people!
posted by univac
on Dec 22, 2012 -
8 answers
What is this song: slow, dreamy synth song with programmed drum beats that played, in the last year or so, over a commercial that I
believe featured a beach and was perhaps on MTV?
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posted by stresstwig
on Sep 22, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm starting work soon, any ideas on how I could best spend my time before it starts in one month? This is my second fulltime job since I finished my degree last year, and I'd be far away from home this time.
Just wondered if there are worthwhile things to do in this not so short, but not so long period of time.
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posted by vastopenspaces
on May 23, 2012 -
8 answers
My apartment building and apartment smell strongly of barbecue, like meat cooking. Sometimes I can smell good food smells from my downstairs neighbors as I walk by, but I can't usually smell it from inside my apartment. I guess what I would like to know is, um, is there some way I will know that my apartment building is on fire before it's too late to escape? Am I over-reacting?
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posted by bleep
on Dec 16, 2011 -
7 answers
This is a bit beyond my computer abilities...
I am running mac OSX 10.5.8. I am trying to find a version of adobe air that will run on my machine but am just having the hardest time locating or even finding out what version works with my OS. Some love here would be appreciated.
posted by citybuddha
on Nov 13, 2011 -
3 answers
hi, i live in south west victoria, Australia. i am about to put a color bond roof on my weather board house, has any one done this lately? I am at a loss, of who to start shopping with for the sheets, hardware needed and the insulation. Which is my other problem i have been told to use sisalation (not right spelling i know) but i have had good reports on foil board, what have others used? i do have fiber blow in insulaion, but some of its damaged due to rain getting in, would it be better to replace this with pink bats or more fiber fill or what? i hope some one can help thanks
posted by the finishing post
on Nov 10, 2011 -
4 answers
I broke up with my first girlfriend of 2 years last night; did I do the right thing? / What am I doing with my life? *CAUTION: WALL OF TEXT *
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posted by Snorlax
on Oct 18, 2011 -
25 answers
I'd like to get hold of a long list of all the songs that have been on the "Now That's What I Call Music" music compilation (from number 1 right up to the current 79). Is that possible and, if so, how?
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posted by mr_silver
on Sep 15, 2011 -
7 answers
What bug is
this? We have a bunch of them, and they seem to like fabric (and they like to hang on for dear life). Are they going to eat our clothes?
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posted by sdis
on Aug 6, 2011 -
4 answers
StephanieMillerFilter: Help me find a sound file she used (burnout girl saying "Wut?") on her show.
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posted by Rykey
on Mar 30, 2011 -
6 answers
Webcomic, drawn in a typical newspaper cartoon panel style, sort of raunchy, with a douche-bag main character who is sex obsessed. Ongoingstories, not gag panels Every weekend there is a retro strip, of the same character as a boy. What is it?
posted by PinkMoose
on Feb 19, 2011 -
4 answers
bunch of questions/confirmations about getting a reading device., mainly about formats and what is possible on the different devices. Despite reading a number of articles about the different devices, i still can't figure it out.
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posted by alkupe
on Nov 6, 2010 -
6 answers
Can anyone identify one of these songs I have stuck in my head? (Links below) - Please help!
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posted by cdenman
on Oct 27, 2009 -
6 answers
What's that movie in which two male thieves synchronise the timing of their heist by whistling jazz songs?
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posted by oxit
on Aug 23, 2009 -
14 answers
I am having a devil of a time locating a Language Log post that is almost impossible to search for. It's on the declarative "what," and all the keywords I thought I was remembering aren't turning up the right result.
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posted by dorothy humbird
on Oct 6, 2008 -
3 answers
Name this children's book and TV series from the 80's...? It's Lord of the Flies meets Follyfoot. Kinda.
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posted by ticktockdoc
on Sep 16, 2008 -
2 answers
Help me find this logo... Earth, or a stylized globe, clutched in a fist... think SPECTRE, SMERSH, or KAOS, but it's not any of those... Where have I seen this? Subgenius art? Anyone?
posted by stenseng
on Aug 7, 2008 -
14 answers
I have been working steadily and consistently for the last three years but not at jobs that show growth or project development (which everyone seems to want to know about). How do I find a new (better) job now?
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posted by project 2501
on Apr 2, 2008 -
1 answer
What do I do with my life after college? I want to do something I don't hate, and might even like. I want YOUR suggestions and ideas.
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posted by rybreadmed
on Feb 7, 2008 -
8 answers
What are my rights as a freelance writer? If I'm writing about employees competing on a company-sponsored team, do I have to clear everything I write with their PR people??
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posted by mariokrat
on Aug 20, 2007 -
13 answers
What is
this device? Some sort of sewing gadget? We found it at a dump, and my girlfriend was intrigued, so we bought it (for ten cents), but want to know what it is! It seems to have some sort of fibrous strands on some of the metal loops, but otherwise, we have no idea. Any input would be appreciated!
posted by rawredmeat
on Jul 1, 2007 -
8 answers
What is it called when a brand name becomes so ubiquitous that it becomes a descriptor for the action or item itself, e.g. Xerox and Kleenex?
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posted by lazaruslong
on Feb 26, 2007 -
11 answers
Please help me remember this movie. I think it was made in the 60's or 70's. The things I remember: It had women that had normal features but later looked really ugly either do to an operation or drugs.
There may have been a "mad doctor" involved. It may have been set near "the water".
Thanks in advance for helping me remember. I want to watch this movie again no matter how bad it was!
posted by santogold
on Dec 1, 2006 -
7 answers
I am 32 and I recently decided that I would like to become a veterinarian. As I am getting on in the "picking a career" years I have a few questions. I only have a B.A. in Psych to start with. Would it make sense to go to school to become a vet technician or vet technologist first? I'm a little lost on how to get started with the whole thing.
posted by josher71
on Aug 9, 2006 -
16 answers
