December 2006 Archives
December 31
Can't Remember this Children's Book - Help
Looking for the title to/author of a series of children's books. I can only remember a few details about these books. Help! [more inside]
Private label LinkedIn-type service?
Alternatives to http://www.xing.com/ and http://www.collectivex.com -- business networking services/software for groups? [more inside]
A happy Eid Al Adha?
A happy Eid Al Adha? [more inside]
Help me get my life together
How do I fix myself on the cheap? [more inside]
Help me utilize my home theater.
How can I wire my home theater correctly? [more inside]
How can I make this beautiful for my dad?
What should be done/said when the family gathers to witness someone's passing? I need planning to distract me. [more inside]
Where can a girl go to get her head clear for free in this country?
My girlfriend wants somewhere to, in her words, "detox" in the USA. But it's not drug or booze related. She wants somewhere go, chill, clear her head, be quiet for a while and concentrate on starting her life again. And she wants to do it for free. Any ideas? [more inside]
Have you tried turning it off and then on again?
It's the oldest computer question in existence... My computer won't start. Help me. [more inside]
Seeking the Holy G(rail)|(raid)
Trying to keep my data around with a minimum of bother, and also looking for a long-term solution. Is there such a thing as a (slowly) growable RAID array? [more inside]
I'm a radio. Turn me on.
What's the perfect song to play on the radio, first thing in the morning, New Year's Day? [more inside]
Pray for public transportation.
How can I prove to the DMV that the lien on the car I just bought has been paid off? The secured party listed on the title (a bank) was bought by FCNB bank and then by BB&T bank. [more inside]
"Dog Whisperer" type business management book filter
"Dog Whisperer" type business management book filter [more inside]
Not-the-Exorcist movie?
MovieTitleFilter: There was some movie trailer I saw this year about a youngish demonic/antichrist girl... [more inside]
what to buy for my girly-friend?
what do I buy for a beautiful, single 30 year old woman?
Under $100. [more inside]
Wanted: Rich expression in music
Music with an edge - terms to characterize this, where to find/learn more? [more inside]
SoftwareFilter: help me find a good way to view Firefox pages offline for MacOSX.
SoftwareFilter: help me find a good way to view Firefox pages offline for MacOSX. [more inside]
nye fireworks
Baltimore or DC fireworks tonight? I hear the Inner Harbor fireworks are great, and so far haven't found anything indicating downtown DC fireworks. Any suggestions?
20/20 Hindsight Advice
Moving to a New Country - if you had to do it again, what would you do? [more inside]
How to Live with Mailing Lists?
The problem: I'm subscribed to 20-30 high volume mailing lists (e.g., Ubuntu, Python) and the gmail account I'm using is now 80% full! I subscribed to them to ask a question once in a while, but I really have no interest in following every post to the lists. My question is how do others handle this situation? Is there a solution to mailing lists that I'm missing? [more inside]
What's a noun that means "something not valued until missing"?
Is there a word for a thing that — until it is missing — is not fully valued, but that — once gone — is seen to be invaluable? [more inside]
Doesn't a maybe really mean no?
Why does someone still insist on saying maybe I'm in love w/you? [more inside]
where to live in georgia?!?!
i'm going to be moving to georgia in may with my fiance. he's from augusta and would like to move back there. i personally would like to be somewhat closer to atlanta. i want to live in a town with culture and i would like to be able to have some land (acres away from neighbors). please help me decide where i should move.
Hot in Manhattan?
In 1990 (as a non-USAnian) I visited Manhattan. At that time, SOHO was the new "up-and-coming" area: money moving in, interesting shops, galleries, bars, restaurants. What's the hot-spot now? And what's SOHO like now?
Airtunes-like function on the cheap?
How can I make my music play on two Macs simultaneously? [more inside]
Blip! Bloop!
Alternatives to junXion? I would like to use my cheapo Saitek P990 gamepad as a MIDI controller on OS X. junXion is not working reliably and is too expensive for my purposes.
Books that are easy to read for those with attention problems?
What are some good books for people with mild ADD? By this I do not mean, books about attention deficit disorder, I mean books that are short, or easy to read. [more inside]
2007 UPDATE: breaking up the day? what are the best five minute 'break' websites you visit?
This is one of my favorite posts: internet mental breaks (Thanks eatdonuts) but it's almost a year old. How about another round for 2007? [more inside]
Why do parents have to turn into people?
I think my parents are on the road to divorce. I'm away at college in another state- my younger siblings are not. Warning, much, much- [more inside]
How to deposit checks that are wildly out of the ordinary for me?
I have two personal checks, both VERY large, to deposit into my checking account. This is slightly freaking me out since I've never done such a thing in my life (and I've had unusually low account balances for 6+ years). Can I just do this without making my bank suspicious or causing any problems? [more inside]
Computer & Internet news round-up 2006
Computer & Internet news round-up 2006. What do you consider to be the biggest or most interesting tech and web news of the last year? [more inside]
passing of a dog...
My mother's dog (part of our family for 10 years) passed away last night of major sudden medical problems. My mother is in her late 50s, divorced, and lives alone - and considered the dog practically one of her children. How can I help her through this better? [more inside]
Why can't I format my SD card?
Why can't I format my SD card? [more inside]
Reformatting pasted text
Coding question: What is the best/easiest way to preserve typographical formatting (like nbsp's, line breaks) of pasted text that will be stored in a database and later displayed in boxes of arbitrary size? [more inside]
How to meet people and make friends at a party
I'm going to show up at a new year's eve party by myself. It'll be a huge party, and I will only know one person, who'll probably be too busy to talk to me all night. [more inside]
Help! Still trying to get my Xbox 360 to play nice with my PC
Help! Still trying to get my Xbox 360 to play nice with my PC [more inside]
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed.
Getting better in bed - how? NSFW inside... [more inside]
Help me become a Fine Arts Professor, or else help me back away humbly.
What can you tell me about excellent grad schools for the fine (visual!) arts in Eastern Canada... and about the job field for visual arts professors? [more inside]
Common denominators for common denominations?
I'd like to read about the beliefs and lifestyles of denominations in the US that teach about Christ. Basically, their beliefs, history, and organization in the US, focusing on who they are today and how they got there. [more inside]
Are they taking them to the whale weigh stations?
Whalefilter: What are the Japanese whaling fleet researching? [more inside]
Help me move just the songs I want
How do I move only songs from a certain playlist from my external hard drive to my computer? The easy way, please. [more inside]
December 30
Recommended on-line retailer for bedding?
Which is the best online retailer to buy bedding (sheets, etc) that ships internationally? [more inside]
DYC into something useful?
Mission Impossible? Converting ICUII video to AVI or MPG or MOV? [more inside]
Savory Crepes
Can anyone suggest some savory crepe fillings for a new year's brunch. I'd also like to avoid cheese if possible. Meat is appreciated though.
Identify this hip-hop song please?
Does this hip-hop song ring a bell? It was produced in the last two years. It talked talked about either dead rappers, or famous rappers. The style of music was similar to those by K-OS or Common. Please hope me?
Help me save some DARK home movies!
I have some home movies that I need to brighten up. [more inside]
Which "Toy Hauler" to Purchase?
I'm considering the purchase of a trailer, and more specifically a Toy Hauler like the Wells Cargo GetAway IV.
I know nothing about these types of trailers but would appreciate brand and model recommendations. [more inside]
Another remembering question. Song lyric: "I think I've got blood poisoning!"
Another remembering question. Song lyric: "I think I've got blood poisoning!" An obscure band, probably in the early 90's, sparse and clanky percussive music. The vocalist is telling a story, not really singing, yelling perhaps, and repeating a lot of his sentences twice. [more inside]
What Does Pee Have to Do With Meat?
Strange TV show question: What does eating meat have to do with pee? [more inside]
reading effectively and efficiently
when i read one book i usually read it once to enjoy it, read it a second time to pull out the bits i need to remember and then a third time to fully understand those bits. This is ok when i only have one book to read in one month but when i have 3 books per week to get through how do i make retention more effective. I would ideally prefer to just do one read but im sure id forget everything or be confused byt the end of the first read. Ive thought about using stickies to help me highlight the most important of things but not sure what i should be doing with em. has anyone got a good system of annotating or reading quiclky effectively? That may sound like a simple question but i always thought the to do list was simple untill getting things done showed how primitive it was, perhaps theres something for anotating that will speed up finding the juicy bits of info 2nd time roudn. Ive heard of speed reading but know little of the method. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
I can't find this anywhere, but I need to burn some Anime episodes to a DVD using a Macbook.
I can't find this anywhere, but I need to burn some Anime episodes to a DVD using a Macbook. More inside. [more inside]
Low-budget auteurs
I really love the works of low-budget auteurs like Hal Hartley, Gregg Araki, and Jim Jarmusch (also, although they don't fit so much in the low-budget category, Richard Linklater and War-Kong Wei). Are there any other auteurs out there whose movies I should watch? To refine your suggestions, I'm not looking for classic directors like Godard or Bergman, or big names like Wenders or Greenaway or Tarantino or Von Trier. I'm interested in learning about directors who are not big names. Basically, I'm looking for interesting young directors whose films are available on DVD but have not emerged into the national spotlight.
I'm looking for the perfect moisture-proof, quick-warming electric heating pad for my eyelids.
I'm looking for the perfect moisture-proof, quick-warming electric heating pad for my eyelids. [more inside]
What do I do about my stalker?
I have a stalker. This young woman is 26 and we were friends at work, and became friends outside of work. I don't know what to do next... will the police help me? There is no threat of physical harm... just the mental stress from her not leaving me alone. [more inside]
Is there a generic way to reference the location of a user's Windows desktop (like ~/Desktop would for OS X)?
Is there a generic way to reference the location of a user's Windows desktop (like ~/Desktop would for OS X)? [more inside]
Vegas, Baghad, and the NCAA: Name that tune!
While on a road trip through Texas, I heard a song on the radio about watching the NCAA tournament on one TV while the bombing of Baghad was happening on another TV in the Las Vegas Airport. Can anyone name the artist/title of this song? It was a nice, bluesy song. [more inside]
Is there a specific term for the rotating sets used in some theaters?
I'm thinking of a rotating platform in the floor of the stage. The platform has many partitions to make rooms, with a different set in each room. When the setting of the play changes, the platform is rotated to reveal a different set. While the actors are using one setting during the play, the partitions facing backstage are re-arranged and prepared before they are used. Is there a term for this, or is it just referred to generically?
Im going to kill him.
Flying without ID (CA to OR)? [more inside]
C-c-c-c-old F-f-f-futon
I sleep on a futon mattress directly on the (carpeted) floor, in the basement. I think the coldness of winter seeps through the basement floor and into my mattress. How can I keep from freezing when I want to get to sleep? [more inside]
What should I do from now until August?
What should I do from now until August? [more inside]
Mac OS X RAID Concatenated Disk Set Update
How long should it take Disk Utility in Mac OS 10.4.8 to update a concatenated RAID when two new drives were added to it? [more inside]
what's up in Cincinnati on New Year's eve?
I'm going to be visiting in Cincinnati this New Year's eve, and I was curious if anyone could suggest something fun for an out of towner to do?
own brand compilations CD's - how does the licensing etc work ?
I've noticed that quite small radio stations, shops etc now sell compilation CD's which are badged as their own ("SmallTown FM - 20 Greatest Hits" etc). How do these deals work ? [more inside]
What do I do with my journals?
Should I burn the books or make them electronic? [more inside]
Make my iPod nano visible again!
Why does my IBM laptop hate my iPod nano? [more inside]
What is the Big O of the slowest algorithm in P
What is the Big O of the slowest algorithm in P [more inside]
Should I skip frames when learning javascript
Should I skip learning frames in conjunction with javascript (as a newbe javascript self taught student) due to the depreciation factorof frames with correct html? I'm really new at script writing / javascript etc... and appreciate your feedback. Thank you in advance...
Winning More Spider Solitaire Games
What are you spider solitaire strategies? [more inside]
James Brooowwwnn, James Brooowwwn
JamesBrownNewYearsPlaylistFilter: What are some great, obscure gems from deep in the James Brown catalog? [more inside]
"Gophers"
can you help? in 1990 there was a television series called Gophers. In short it was a comedy about a common type gopher family living next door to the very prim and proper rabbit family and the characters were all life size puppets. i have searched long and hard to find any information possible on this series and so far have managed to find only a short cast list and a small snippet from the theme tune and no one i know seems to remember it at all. Is it possible anyone has any information on what happened to the series and whether it was ever released on video?
PDA filter
Okay, so I'm looking for a small PDA that can run Java, preferably Java SE, and has WiFi.
Uni? Multi? Whip? Band? Huh? Wha?
WIFI-Filter: My brother and I would like to build a wireless network between our two homes to create a secure network, but we have no idea about radio antennas, signal strength, line-of-sight, etc. [more inside]
Should I rewrite my undergraduate thesis?
I studied philosophy in college. By my senior year I had decided that I wanted to pursue a career in academia. I had co-founded a conference. I was writing a thesis. I had intentions of applying to graduate schools. However, during my last semester I experienced a crisis of faith and delayed my thesis for six months, eventually earning a "C". I want to go back and do the job right, but I don't know how. [more inside]
Tax preparer near Seattle
Tax preparer in the Seattle area? [more inside]
Army Jeep, anyone?
My father and I are looking to sell his 1969 m151a2 Army Jeep.
It's in good condition, but we're in a town that only has so much selling potential (Birmingham, AL). Putting it on Ebay seems like an obvious choice. I was also thinking of putting it on craigslist for towns that, though far, might include some willing to pay more to have the jeep transported.
I've googled about for websites selling Army jeeps but haven't come up with much.
Do you have any suggestions for selling this? Online or offline, overall, we'd just like to get the best mix of convenience in selling and price.
In advance and always, thank you for reading my question, for thinking about it, and if posting, thank you even more. This really is a great forum and I hope to be a part of it for a long long time.
What to do when you're broke, in jail and all the local law offices are closed for the holiday?
My sister's boyfriend is apparently being held in jail without charges. Is this legal? [more inside]
Need help teaching a young dog new tricks.
Need help teaching a young dog new tricks. [more inside]
How can I turn notes into something useful?
I've been noting down ideas for a potential novel for over a year. Problem is, I now have so many that it's tough to keep track of it all. How can I organise and consolidate them into something workable? [more inside]
What to do in Montreal?
Mayor Curley and his wife are in suddenly in Montreal and need general advice. [more inside]
Become a wedding photographer in 2 months
It's been suggested that I take wedding pictures at my friend's upcoming wedding in February as the bride and groom are doing a nice low-key affair. What camera do I get, and how do I get good decent at it in 2 months? 3 parts inside [more inside]
Was Saddam the wealthiest person ever executed?
Is Saddam Hussein the wealthiest person ever to be executed? [more inside]
Where to learn Italian in the Bay Area
What's the best places to learn Italian in the Bay Area? [more inside]
HP Tech Support Hold Music?
Does anyone know who performs or where I can download an MP3 of the Guitar riff/song that is played on hold for HP Technical Support? [more inside]
December 29
john lennon in the rolling stones video?
In the sympathy for the devil video posted by stavros... does anybody else see John Lennon in there? Is it my imagination?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=waFOyhezIPA
What to do this summer?
I'm twenty years old, in college, and I feel like my life is standing still. Help me find something to do this summer that will change my life. [more inside]
How do I know if a prospective manfriend is the type to, um, pull my hair?
How do I know if a prospective manfriend is the type to, um, pull my hair? [more inside]
How do I get everything off of a CD?
I want to make sure that the next time I rip my CD collection is the last time. What should I know? [more inside]
Dealing with well-meaning but obnoxious people.
At a party the other day, there was a guy who lived in China until about a year ago, who was behaving obnoxiously (invading personal space, being too loud), but I felt that he meant well, and just didn't know how to behave. How to deal with this? [more inside]
Thngs to do in Texas when you're . . .
January-in-West-Texas-Filter: visiting Alpine, Marfa, and Big Bend for a week. Suggestions for food, art, cultural wonders, and Big Bend trails that are particularly nice in Winter are earnestly sought.
Any street noise reduction tips for a new apartment?
I've lived in L.A. for several years. I've just signed a year lease on a place I like very much, except there's an increase in street noise both sporadic and repetitive that's got me worried. All of my windows face the street and all but one have wooden frames with old-timey latches that don't do a great job of blocking out noise. Does noise-reduction moulding work? Heavy curtains? Any tips for dealing with street noise/apartment building noise in general? [more inside]
Religion in World Vision
How heavy a role does religion play in the work of World Vision? [more inside]
Let's make life fun and easy.
What small indulgences or habits do you have that make your life so much easier? [more inside]
Is the Free Money Worth it?
I'm being offered free money to try a Chase service out. Should I take it? [more inside]
Efficient drinking technique?
Frat boy wisdom(?) filter: When I was in college, it was common beer drinking wisdom that dropping by the lou too early in the evening was ill-advised and known as "breaking the seal", the idea being that you would be dashing to the bathroom all evening long as a result. Is there any physical or psychological reason why this would be true?
Forgotten heist filter
I saw a British film on TV in the early 80's
a group of criminals conspire to be in prison during the big football game in order to break out, print some huge quantity of pound notes in the royal treasury itself, and break back into prison. What was the name? [more inside]
What can a Linux fan use for consistent note taking and archival?
I am studying in human science (psychology), and I'm starting university next month. I have been using a laptop running Linux to take notes and write assignments during the past two years or so, but I feel my current technique for note taking is unsatisfactory. [more inside]
Golden Age Sesame Street
Help me find a Sesame Street animated short! [more inside]
Who Needs My Help?
I want to volunteer and help my community. But there are some caveats. [more inside]
Feral Kittens--What to Do?
I have five kittens living with their mom in my backyard. They're old enough now that I want to trap them and find homes for them. But I need suggetions on traps (they're very wary of humans) and suggestions on where to go to get the mom fixed (I plan on releasing her back into the yard and provide her with shelter and food).
I'm in Red Hook, Brooklyn, without a car, so any extremely cheap vets and/or cat rescue groups nearby would be great.
Thanks!
(Yes, I already have two rescued beasts that live with me, so I'm not keeping any of the new kittens--although I'd like to.)
Weekend killer computer game?
Recommendations for a <$25 computer game to kill the long weekend? [more inside]
I'd like to tell people not to front without speaking
Uniqueness
No two snowflakes are alike. True or false?
XM Radio and iPod, shall they be as one?
I just got a Pioneer Inno XM2Go Satellite Radio with MP3. Woohoo! But I also have a video iPod. Seems I should be able to put all my MP3s on the Inno. I have about 1000 songs and all are on iTunes. But XM likes to work with Napster.
How can I manage this? Can I transfer all the iTunes MP3s to my Inno? Will I have to use Napster from now on to download songs?
How clean is my house?
Do you worry about how clean your home is when people visit? Do you notice imperfect cleaning at others' homes? [more inside]
Question for web developers/ designers/ people in the industry..
Question for web developers/ designers/ people in the industry. I have a few questions. [more inside]
Who hires boats in Cabo?
Anniversary experience for a couple staying in Cabo San Lucas -- specifically someone to take them out on the Sea of Cortez? [more inside]
Is there a weight limit on dating
Just wondering what weight/BMI (considering height) is the dealbreaker for most straight men when they date a woman? Mine is 25 which is overweight but sure as hell don't feel like it! [more inside]
Why does Nero insist on stretching my files?
Help me make good looking movies with small picture dimensions. [more inside]
How do you edit your company's Wikipedia entry?
How do I make a correction to a Wikipedia entry? [more inside]
Poo
A girl I'm dating recently revealed her secret fetish: she wants me to take a dump on her, but I have an aversion to poo. [more inside]
Free tax preparation software??
1. Is there free tax preparation software?
2. If not why? when so many people have to file taxes every year.
External analog to digital converter suggestions!
External analog to digital video converter suggestions, please? [more inside]
American beer in a red can?
Calling all boozers! Are there any popular brands of beer in the U.S. that come in a red can? [more inside]
elementary school cuisine
Where can I find Sloppy Joes in New York City?
Favorite place to throw a round / drink a round in Chicago?
Where's a good place to play darts in Chicago? [more inside]
A second stab...
How can I get "ripped" in a month? [more inside]
Can my mom receive back rent for an apartment and storefront she didn't know she owned?
My aunt lied about my grandfather's will decades ago. Can my mom receive back rent for an apartment and storefront she didn't know she owned? [more inside]
When is Microsoft going to put the new processor in the Xbox 360?
When is Microsoft going to put the new processor in the Xbox 360? And does anyone know of any future price-drops for the console? [more inside]
affiliate marketing that doesn't suck
affiliate marketing program: white label vs. roll-your-own? [more inside]
iTunes7 mystery number
Help me consider the pros / cons of different cameras.
Travel Photography Filter: Take the good, clunky camera or the less good, compact one? [more inside]
What to do on a college admissions interview?
What to do on a college admissions interview? [more inside]
creating a gallery with mootools, can someone help?
Since all sorts of very clever people frequent metafilter I figured it would be worth a shot to repost this mootools related javascripting question here. [more inside]
Pinball in Durham
Where can I play pinball in Durham, North Carolina? [more inside]
Is there a linux distro that can run without a harddrive?
I have a three year old HP laptop with no hard drive. Is there some sort of cd I can pop in it to see if its working otherwise? [more inside]
Food Bank Feast
What interesting and nutritious meals can I make out of items regularly given out from the food bank? [more inside]
Ah feel like ahcid
The best films to see while tripping?
LSD, HDTV, surround sound, on DVD?
Looking for visual effects, chromakey, 3000 miles from home, set controls for the center of the sun, etc. [more inside]
Suggestions for a Digital Camcorder
What's a good camcorder-like device that can take video and quickly dump it to a computer to post online? I'm going abroad and want to reassure my parents that I haven't died with periodic videos of the trip. [more inside]
New Leatherman! Where can I bring it?
Am I setting myself up for any trouble by tossing my new Leatherman tool in my bag and forgetting about it? [more inside]
Spending more for less
How is our government education funding spent? [more inside]
How could you describe the Japanese word "setunai" in English?
How could you describe the Japanese concept of "setunai" in English? [more inside]
Madrid on a Friday night
It's Friday evening in Madrid, I got some money cause I just got paid. Oh how I wish I had somewhere to go to... [more inside]
SwollenFingersFilter (say that 5 times fast)
Why do my fingers swell up in the morning? [more inside]
Can a geek girl buy her own car without getting screwed?
Buying my first car as a female engineer -- do I need a male buddy to go with me? [more inside]
Revisiting cost of living in European cities?
I'm in a little bit of a bind determining the cost-of-living in European cities vs US cities... [more inside]
NewYearsDinnerFilter
Help me find a good meal that I (a non-chef) can cook for my girlfriend (loves poultry, asian food, dislikes shellfish) for New Years' Eve. [more inside]
Does Apple use poor quality disks?
Does Apple use poor quality disks? Does Apple's filesystem suck? How do you get a bad drive to give a smart error sooner? [more inside]
Help me buy some pearls.
I need some help buying a pearl necklace, like, today. [more inside]
Looking for songs and movies that can teach abusers about relationships
Looking for popular songs and movies that can be used to educate people in the system for abuse related crimes. These examples will be used to facilitate discussions about relationship boundaries, male entitlement, and inappropriate behavior. [more inside]
Why does my Western Digital MyBook 100 GB HD insist on being recognized as an iPod?
My Western Digital MyBook has a folder on it called "iPod control." I have tried deleting it, but it always comes back. This hard drive has had this "feature" since I bought it."
As a result of this, my Rhapsody software keeps thinking I have an iPod attached to my computer when I don't.
I realize this hard drive is only trying to be helpful, but this quirk makes me want to beat it with a hose.
Let's Dance! Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
Good place for old farts (~44 yrs old) to go dancing in New Haven on January 13th? [more inside]
Best NYC Winter Restaurant Week venue?
I've got a night in NYC on 24 January and want to take advantage of the Winter Restaurant Week USD 35.00 prix-fixe menus somewhere in town but where? [more inside]
What's the quick gasping noise that Danes make while conversing?
When talking, Danes sometimes make a quick gasping noise that's very distinctive but difficult to describe. Can anyone explain this odd habit? Does it have a name? (More details inside.) [more inside]
Long Exposure with DSC-W70
Can my Sony DSC-W70 do long-exposure photos? [more inside]
Am I going to get sued for not changing my name back after a divorce?
Am I going to get sued for not changing my name back after a divorce? [more inside]
Switching from POP email to Exchange
We're making the switch from POP mail to hosted Exchange mail, and it isn't as much fun as it should be. [more inside]
Every video DVD I burn has audio/video glitches.
I cannot, for the life of me, burn a DVD on my MacPro of an 8.5 minute video without 2-4 video/audio glitches. Details of everything I've tried within. [more inside]
nixon's last mistake?
nixon's last mistake? [more inside]
Help me find a video camera that’s jacked!
I’m looking for a video camera and can’t seem to find one with the features I need—a microphone input jack, records direct to digital formats and good enough quality of video for web stuff. [more inside]
December 28
No database for the average Joe
Librarian type question: how on earth can I get access to the National Security Archive database by Proquest? I am writing some articles on the Cold War on Wikipedia and want to see some of the documents in this collection, but Proquest/Chadwyck doesn't deal with individuals. They even offer free trials, which I can't get because I'm not an individual. Am I out of luck? [more inside]
If you're in college what is "better" a relationship or keeping your options open?
If you're in college what is "better" a relationship or keeping your options open? [more inside]
Loud-mouthed coworker shares TMI...
How to deal with a loud-mouthed coworker? [more inside]
Song from CSI trailer
I'm trying to find the name of the song they play on the trailer for next weeks (Jan. 4th) episode of CSI. [more inside]
My browser is sick!
I'm having some really strange cookie issues with Firefox (2.01). For starters, I can't access www.google.com... [more inside]
I Need Love! (Boyfriend withdrawing affection.)
My depressed boyfriend is withdrawing affection; I'm miserable. [more inside]
How do I handle my mentally unstable father?
How do I handle my mentally unstable father? [more inside]
NTLOADER is missing.
I have two SATA drives installed on my machine. My computer works fine except for the fact that roughly every two or three weeks my computer will fail to boot with a message reading "NTLOADER is missing. Press CTRL ALT DEL to reboot." I can fix the problem temporarily by opening up my computer case and swapping the drives around on the motherboard (putting the cable for Drive 1 into SATA 2 and vice versa), at which point Windows will boot up fine and function without a problem but as I said, within the space of two to three weeks, the problem comes back. Hope me, please! System specs inside. [more inside]
How do I go about finding proof of residence from 1940's
My mother is 94. I recently found out that she has unclaimed assets from a long time ago. The state says that in order to claim the money, she has to prove that she lived at the residence listed on the claim. We think she lived there in the 1940's. How do I go about finding records from so long ago?
Using an air compressor for spray-finishing
Can anyone direct me to a good online (or book) resource for learning basic spray finishing with an air compressor? [more inside]
Buying a new computer on which credit?
Buying a new computer: which of these options will be better for my credit in the long run? [more inside]
Mistakenly failing a course?
I think my professor mistakenly failed me, and I cannot contact him. Now what? [more inside]
Do the top investment banks in NYC drug test their new recruits?
I am looking to apply for an entry-level position at some of the large investment banks in NYC (Goldman Sachs, Bear Sterns) as well as some smaller ones. I have friends that work in banking and are encouraging me to become a junior analyst. Do they drug test? How extensively? [more inside]
What kind of conditions would be good for a betta?
I got, as a Christmas surprise, a betta (Siamese fighting fish) and the accompanying pet-store setup. I'd really like to keep it in conditions that are not just horrible-but-minimally-survivable -- but Wikipedia's standards seem amazingly high. What should I do? [more inside]
How to move to Montreal legally with future spouse and pet
Help me find a way into Montreal in a legal fashion. I am a US citizen and I want to live there only to write my novel but I have no idea how to get a job there. [more inside]
Mac Mini Keeps Looking for Bluetooth Mouse But I Don't Have One
My Mac Mini shut off when the powerstrip got unplugged.
Now when I power it on it loads up the "Bluetooth Setup Assistant" and keeps searching for bluetooth mice - which I don't have any. The Dock is gone and the top white menu bar is only partially painted. [more inside]
Turntable owners vs. Audiophiles
I received a new turntable for Christmas. I’m having a hard time following the owner’s manual and on-line resources that explain how to achieve the best possible sound quality. If my LPs play fine, to my ears anyway, how important is it to perfectly adjust the cartridge, tracking force, azimuth, etc.? Besides offending obsessive audiophiles, do I run the risk of damaging the records or turntable? [more inside]
Can this person legally get anything from me?
If someone wants money from a vehicle accident three and a half months after it happened, can they still get insurance to take care of it? [more inside]
Best mobile device for web-browsing?
Which phone/PDA/super-gadget is the best for mobile web-browsing? [more inside]
Long distance engagement?
You don't have any more information, do you, Nina?
The type of self-defense demonstrated on the Fox series 24 is quick, brutal and decisive. Although obviously make-believe TV, it strikes me that this probably an accurate portrayal hand-to-hand confrontations when somebody knows what they are doing. What style of self-defense does the character Jack Bauer employ in subduing or neutralizing his targets?
sashimi and shopping
The best (inexpensive) sushi and shopping in Hermosa Beach, CA? [more inside]
What is a good history of the Israel/Palestine conflict
I would like a definitive view of the Israel/Palestine conflict that doesn't take sides (even most of the factual histories I've read omit some facts to give a certain slant to one side or the other). This could come in the form of a book, website, documentay, torrent, .pdf, podcast, or miscellaneous other media forms I haven't thought of. [more inside]
Help me organize my pictures. Without Picasa.
I like Picasa, but I really like open source. Like digiKam, only on Windows. Can you help? [more inside]
Google Apps for anyone, at my domain?
Google Apps for Domain-style service for non-organisations? [more inside]
Safari: Failue to Launch
Safari 2.04 will not boot on my Dual 2 GHz G5 mac (10.4.8). [more inside]
Thunderbird won't recognize newly created folders
After an automatic update, Thunderbird won't recognize newly created folders. Why, oh, why? [more inside]
T-Shirt Screenprinting!
I want to get a large quantity of t-shirts made for my start-up company.... any recommendations? [more inside]
What are some of the best layman's books on the latest advances in physics?
I've read a few really good works on quantum physics and other cutting-edge sciences, and I'd like to know more. However, I'm coming at this topic from a decidedly non-scientific education. Can someone suggest a few titles?
tap that glass
I'm interested in fitting odd lenses -- and making custom lenses -- to/for digital cameras and digital video cameras. I'm not terribly concerned with the electronic side of things, so you shouldn't be either. What I'm looking for is a crass/crash course in optics -- something (a book, a video, a class, a kit) that will teach me the basics of optics and allow me to force photocopier lenses, telescopes, and microscopes onto unsuspecting recording devices.
Where can I find a global network of amateur stock detectives, as used by Christopher Carey of Mark Cuban's http://www.ShareSleuth.com ?
Where can I find a global network of amateur stock detectives, as used by Christopher Carey of Mark Cuban's http://www.ShareSleuth.com ? [more inside]
Financial concerns about attending law school.
I will be starting law school next fall, and I have some financial concerns. [more inside]
Man, the beltway sure is a pretty octagon!
Is there a geographically accurate map of the DC metro system? Like this London tube map?
Where to go in Latin America -- some restrictions apply
What are the most affordable, non-touristy places to travel in Latin American for someone who has already spent considerable time there? [more inside]
who watches the watchees?
Can anyone recommend easy to install, cross platform monitoring software for Mac OS X - that is, something that would allow a parent, employer or teacher to, from their PC, monitor the screen of a Macintosh? Will remote desktop do this? Is it relatively easy to install?
Widescreen laptop with widescreen-unfriendly video card?
Strange problem with a new laptop (WXGA display) and a video card that goes from 1024x768 right to 1280x1024. [more inside]
Help me import my old podcasts into Itunes 7!
I am new to the Itunes world (but not to Ipod ownership). I have a ton of Podcasts I got through Ipodder.. [more inside]
Sitcoms without the laughter
Are there videos of typical sitcoms that use canned laughter without the laugh track? [more inside]
iPod abuse
Stop me hitting my iPod! My 4th gen iPod requires frequent slapping to encourage it to unfreeze (try Googling 'slap+ipod' to see what I mean). What does this particular 'fix' actually do? How do I fix my iPod in a more permanent way? [more inside]
mileage vs. age in used cars
All other things being equal, do I pick the older car with lower mileage or the later model with high mileage? [more inside]
Montreal or San Jose?
Studying Abroad? Montreal or San Jose [more inside]
Don't let me be misunderstood
Please help me find movie scenes that feature miscommunication/ misunderstanding. [more inside]
I have decided to go!
How do I schedule interviews for a new job while I'm employed full-time? [more inside]
martial arts for exercise?
what is the potential of practicing martial arts as form of exercise...and what style? [more inside]
20,000 Leagues Under the [South China] Sea
UnderseaCablesFilter: I am in Indonesia and I cannot access my Gmail account through normal means post-Taiwan earthquake. [more inside]
Creating a city wiki.
I've been thinking of creating a wiki for my city. Is it worth it? [more inside]
Why is China so afraid of Folun Gong?
Why is China so afraid of Folun Gong? [more inside]
Truck air compressor busted?
The air compressor on my 2002 Ford Ranger is making a really loud clicking sound every ten seconds when the heater or AC is turned on. The mechanic says this is normal. Is this normal? [more inside]
Where do New York City street vendors (hot dog carts, etc.) buy their supplies?
Where do New York City street vendors (hot dog carts, etc.) buy their supplies? [more inside]
Help me buy a horse trailer
Talk to me about horse trailers. I need to buy a horse trailer before horse show season starts in the spring. I'm interested in advice / recommendations from anybody that has a horse and/or trailer. [more inside]
What will I likely pay for millwork?
What should I expect to pay for some custom millwork? Assuming, of course, that the hive mind doesn't tell me I'm an idiot... [more inside]
Need term life insurance, need to get in shape
I need to buy term life insurance ASAP, but I'm out of shape. What's the smart thing to do? [more inside]
Bluetooth headphones
Recommendations for bluetooth headphones, primarily for music so not interested in the single earpiece products. [more inside]
making a hackintosh
Has anyone here been able to run OSx on non-Macintosh parts (Thereby cutting the cost of a Mac in a third)? [more inside]
Secret Storage
I'm looking for an anonymous physical storage solution. [more inside]
Writing for TV? Am I crazy?
How can I get into writing for (British) television? [more inside]
Get the inside scoop on Israel
My sister and her boyfriend(Jewish) are talking seriously about moving to Israel. What books, articles, ect. do I need to read to form a rounded opinion about this state. [more inside]
Setting up my own DRM-free music store
What's the best way to sell my music online on my own site? [more inside]
Help me out folks.
I need the hive help. Where do I find a AA group and an Anger Management group in Calgary, AB? [more inside]
Bargain-bin computer parts near Washington, DC?
I'm looking for a good computer-parts store in or around the DC Metro area; 'good' meaning one that has "junk bins" of parts that can be pawed through, lots of used gear, no salespeople, etc. Specifically not a big-box store. [more inside]
December 27
Why's my old school winamp broke?
My winamp (v2.95) has just started to do something strange; it's creating id3 tags on it's own! [more inside]
How much will a 4th year middle school teacher make working in LA?
How much will a 4th year middle school teacher make working in LA? [more inside]
Does anyone have experience with MMI
Looking for a Debt Management solution. Is MMI any good? [more inside]
What's mine is mine
I bought a 348 piece tool set from Craftsman to work on my car. This is usually a group effort, multiple tool boxes involved. How can I mark my tools to insure at the end of the day, I have all of my sockets and wrenches. (more inside) [more inside]
What kind of Daisuke Matsuzaka gear can I get for a baby?
What kind of Daisuke Matsuzaka gear can I get for a baby? [more inside]
It's a nice place to work, but do I want to live there?
It's a nice place to work, but do I want to live there? I'm seeking advice, stories, etc. on an issue I've been struggling with for some time now on whether it's worthwhile to keep a good job that's far away from where I grew up. It's kind of a work vs. family issue, although I'm talking about "family" in the extended sense of cousins, parents, etc, as opposed to spouse 'n' kids. Of course, this is a very individual topic, and of course, there is ... [more inside]
Looking For the Perfect... Shelves
This is a long shot, but I'm looking to purchase shelving units that match, or at least come very close, to those pictured here [more inside]
Roasting a little fella that's cute, yellow, and chubby...
What is your favorite recipe for roasting duck? [more inside]
I need my keys!
How do I get my keys back from someone staying in my apartment, not in person? [more inside]
Why isn't ONE of my emails working?
I have a home network that is working fine except for emails from one server. The problem is not the server. What else could it be? more inside... [more inside]
Who is trying to login to my OSX laptop?
OSX Security: I followed the instructions on this MacOSXhints article to setup my shiny new MacBook Pro to take a picture using the built-in iSight whenever there's a failed authentication attempt. I've noticed that every night at 9:53, there are multiple failed login attempts, but it's while I'm using the computer, so I end up with pictures of me. [more inside]
How do I get softer jello shots?
I need advice from a Jello shot head chef. [more inside]
What's the real story of Target and Wii?
Why would Target employees not be truthful about when they have had/will get Wiis in stock? Is there a secret handshake I can do to figure out the real story? [more inside]
Who do I sue?
I was hit by a bus while my car was not moving. Who do I sue in small claims court, the driver of the bus, or the private company that owns the bus? [more inside]
Push Light Lite Brite?
How can I wire a bunch of push lights together and run them off of regular power? [more inside]
Make up fortunes for fortune cookies!
Querying the hive wit: Help me come up with fortunes for homemade fortune cookies. [more inside]
What can I do to lift my mood a bit?
CheerUpFilter: I haven't exacty been the brightest ray of sunshine lately, and as it's 3:30am here and my mum's in the other room sleeping, I need something I can do that'll cheer me up without waking her up. [more inside]
Finding a sequencer that my grandfather can use.
I need to find a Windows based sequencer or music making program that my grandad can understand. [more inside]
What to do with found guns?
What should my friends do about the three guns (one possibly Russian) they found in their new apartment? [more inside]
Ringing in '07 in Seoul
Entertainment for two megooks in Seoul on New Year's Eve? [more inside]
Wall frame for multiple comics?
Wall frame to hold multiple comic books? [more inside]
Fennesz's gear
What gear does Fennesz use? [more inside]
Help an out-of-towner see the best of Richmond, VA
What are some unusual/interesting/generally missed by out-of-towners spots in Richmond, VA that I should visit?
is this swelling bad news?
My partner is being treated with antibiotics for an infected root canal but has developed a tender, golf-ball sized swelling between his jaw and his cheek. Do we need to go back to the emergency dentist before flying home? [more inside]
Law school Q
I'm applying to law school this September (after finishing school in may) and I have a question. [more inside]
How do I avoid buying stocks in companies that fund terrorism?
How do I know if a company I want to buy stocks in funds terrorist groups? [more inside]
No more highlights for dead people
I once heard that newspapers (and/or magazines) before publishing pictures of people who recently passed, would color in the highlight on their pupils. Is this a myth or a truth?
How can I be a good boyfriend?
How can I be a good boyfriend? [more inside]
Look into my mouth, tell me what you see
After an uncomplicated lower wisdom tooth extraction, what can you see with an ordinary flashlight & mirror? [more inside]
How is Google giving me access to this page?
How come if I search for this page and click on the Google link I get to the page, but if I copy the link that Google gives me and try to access it directly, I'm taken to a login page? [more inside]
How to crack the poetry code if you're overly literal-minded?
How can I crack the code of poetry without going insane? [more inside]
I need an office, but need a clue as to how to pick one
I need to lease some commercial space. There's [more inside]
What happenend to Vanilla Coke/Pepsi Vanilla?
What happened to Vanilla Coke/Pepsi Vanilla? I can't seem to find it anywhere any more, and I'm really missing my Cola Vanilla fix! (I live in Massachusetts, if that's important)
Christmas Miracle!
Christmas Money: I just got a modest check for Christmas, and am actually considering a responsible way to spend it. What should I do? [more inside]
Excel help.
Excel question: I'm looking to pull a months and years worth of spreadsheet information to a summary report. The days work is saved as reportxxxxxx (month/day/year) [more inside]
Starting 2007 with a clean slate?
I'm looking for ideas or suggestions for some kind of ritual or tradition to do on New Year's Eve to really symbolize starting the new year off with a clean slate. [more inside]
Good, basic cooking ingredients, please!
AlwaysPreparedFilter: What are ten (give or take a few) ingredients that are handy to always have on hand to cook a good meal? [more inside]
Red fish, blue fish, big breasted fish
If a mermaid were to have a scientific classification, how would I go about building the name so that it sounds half believable? [more inside]
Who should we hire to secure our network in NoVA?
Network Security: I'm looking for recommendations for an individual or company that can come check out our network and make sure it's secure. In Sterling, VA (NoVA/DC). [more inside]
Cooking Schedule Software
Looking for a cooking time calculation program... [more inside]
Benefits of established checking account
Is there any benefit to keeping a checking account open? [more inside]
Annoyingly noisy handbag
NoisyStrapFilter: I splurged on an expensive handbag last week and am now surprised to find that the leather and chain shoulder strap is surprisingly noisy. What can I do to make the strap quieter ? [more inside]
Putting Wikipedia on an iPod?
My brother would like nothing more for Christmas than to be able to put some or all of Wikipedia onto his 5th-Generation Video iPod. Is this do-able? [more inside]
St. Louis New Years Fireworks
St. Louis New Years Fireworks: I'm going to be in St. Louis over New Years Eve. Where are the fireworks? Googling has found a fireworks display at First Night St. Louis at 9:00 PM and another in Westport Plaza at 6:00 PM. Surely there's more than this (and at least one show at midnight) right? [more inside]
Crew cut at home?
Need help finding a good set of electric buzzers to give myself a crew cut. [more inside]
Particle Board, Particle Board
Is it a Bad Idea to cut particle board? [more inside]
Learning to ride horses
How do I learn to ride horses as an adult? What to look for in an instructor, school, and horse? I am in the DC area. [more inside]
St. Louis Ice Skating over New Years
St. Louis Ice Skating: I'd like to take a date ice skating in St. Louis for New Year's. Where can I go? My assumption is that it's not cold enough for an outdoor rink, so I'm probably looking for an indoor rink. [more inside]
Merging Excel Sheets (With a Macro?)
MS Excel help needed. I need to set up some sort of automated merging macro in excel and am having trouble tracking down the best way. The details, and much [more inside]
What do I do with pepper jelly?
I received a jar of homemade pepper jelly as a Christmas present. What do I do with it? What is it good to put on?
My experience with homemade jelly is limited to what you would put on toast or peanut butter sandwiches, neither of which sounds appealling with anything involving pepper.
Ideas?
Recommend Photography Tours and Travel Workshops
I would like to find out about good providers of photography tours and/or travel-based photography workshops abroad. Preferably, the workshops should be pitched at the level of an intermediate photographer. [more inside]
Dryer sheet conundrum
How can I prevent/elminate static cling without dryer sheets? [more inside]
Should I get a beagle?
Should we adopt a beagle? [more inside]
Serving with style
Waitressing crash course: I have the opportunity to work in a high-end restaurant/live music club but I have no previous waitressing experience. I'm taking the job to make extra money and I want to maximize my tip potential. [more inside]
Dressy Bessy's little brother?
Please help me find dressy bessy's little brother. [more inside]
how can i use my gps when skiing?
I have a pocket pc and gps device and i'm off to switzerland skiing over new year, is there some way that i can combine my favourite geek toy with my favourite sporting passtime? [more inside]
How can I replace this teddy bear?
grrr
Why do so many mac people love Growl? [more inside]
How do you stop feeling guilty for having what you have?
How do you justify how much to spend on yourself when there are so many out there without? And, how much should you give to charity? [more inside]
ASF --> MOV?
Can I convert ASF to a mac-friendly format for editing? [more inside]
My tracks rule. The world needs to see them.
Have you played the linerider game? If not, you should. It's incredibly fun. If so, I have a question about it.... [more inside]
Stuck on you 'till the end of time: getting glue residue out of my optical drive.
My DVDs are stuck, part two: I figured out what's wrong with my optical drives, and now I'm wondering if there's an easier way to fix them. [more inside]
Career Change to Social Entrepreneurship
Is it possible to break into social entrepreneurship/development without getting a MBA? Especially when you already have a master's degree? [more inside]
Why gold?
Gold. I'm looking for an interesting read, preferably something short, that explains why gold has the role it has in the global economy and how that role came about. [more inside]
December 26
Poker By The Bay
Playing poker in San Francisco [more inside]
can you help me find GREAT books?
Looking for more fantastic reads, now for 2007. Please help. [more inside]
Source for a quote
Source of "I ask merely for informational purposes."? [more inside]
Feeding the starving artists.
What are the most effective ways to monetarily support my favorite artists? [more inside]
Danger Will Robinson!!!
How do you give a stranger warning that the new woman in their life is really a bad person? [more inside]
How can I find out relative market share of online applications?
How can I find out relative market share of online applications? In particular, I'm curious to see how Google Calendar is faring against Yahoo! Calendar. I've found this blog post, which shows stats from May 2006, but I'd like something that's more up-to-date, and broader (i.e., includes calendars).
Water temp to maximize hydration speed?
What temperature water will hydrate one fastest? [more inside]
New Cellphone
Can I get a cellphone in Canada that will also work in SE Asia? [more inside]
Help me get from here to there
I have a Garmin GPS unit, I would very much like to get some maps on it. [more inside]
Flip Flip Flip Damn I wanted to see that!
Broken TVfilter? We have a Phillips TV which keeps turning itself off. A vicegrip and more are inside. [more inside]
My jeans NEED to have rhinestones on them
I have a pair of jeans. It is a normal pair of jeans. I would like to have a line of rhinestones going along the outseam on either leg. What's the best method? [more inside]
Daytrip from Chicago
Fun touristy things to do just outside Chicago? [more inside]
Solve THIS, Algebraist!
[Iain M Banks Filter] In The Algebraist, much is made of the lack of supralight communication with the rest of the galaxy thanks to the collapsed wormhole portal. (And now we get spoilerish.) [more inside]
How can someone learn to be thrifty and not be a sucker for ads?
How can one learn/be taught to be thrifty and to not be sucked in by advertising? [more inside]
Squirrels in basement?
Help identify 4 legged house intruder eating birdseed in package in our basement. [more inside]
I need help with meth
Does anyone have first or second-hand experience (good or bad) with any drug (specifically meth) rehab facilities in the DFW area?
With $450, what digital video camera should I get?
With $450, what digital video camcorder should I buy? I really like the Sony DCR-DVD 105 but I'm unfamiliar if that's the best camera for my money. [more inside]
What do I need to take great snowboard photographs?
I want to get in to snowboard/ski photography. I'm new to DSLRs, but have a good eye and lots of time. I have a Nikon D40 and want to spend about $1200 on good glass. What do I buy? Filter recommendations? Any tips for shooting in the snow?
Help my baby not get broke! Delicate musical instrument as airline baggage.
The great musical-instrument-on-plane paradox. How do you prepare (what case[s] do you buy and what strategies do you develop) when you need to travel on many different kinds/scales of airlines, with a delicate wooden instrument that MAY or MAY NOT be allowed as carry-on baggage (depending on circumstance, how full the plane is, and how much or little the inspectors care that it looks large, solid and "middle eastern")? [more inside]
Which muscles used to recover from heelside snowboard fall?
What muscles are used to recover from a heelside snowboard fall? If one were bad at getting up from such a fall, which exercises at the gym would you recommend to improve?
how does cumulative voting work in a public company for directorships?
cumulative voting: so a small number of shares could affect a proposal by stacking the votes? [more inside]
Roadtrip: Hogmanay
So we're testing out the other side of the road and driving from London to Edinburgh for Hogmanay. What's to see on the way? What's to eat? What rules of the road should we, naive Yankees, know before striking out? [more inside]
Help me conate regarding this personality profiling instrument
Does anybody know anything about the 'Kolbe Index' personality classification system? [more inside]
Please help me toast myself!
Any recommendations for a natural sun lamp? [more inside]
Possession & the Art of Strategy: Legal advice and karma adjustment?
This happened to somebody I care about, who could really use a break. I'm trying to help him figure out his options. Money is the biggest factor, the cheapest solution is best. Story: On Xmas day, a young guy is on his way home from family holiday drives a pickup truck with big tires through a snooty part of town. He gets pulled over for littering (flicking a butt out the window). [more inside]
getting the writing off my windshield
Whats the quickest easiest way to get the serial number markings off the windshield of my recently towed car? [more inside]
Help my friend find an apartment in NYC
Asking for a friend: Help me find a cheap, safe, and convenient apartment in the Big Apple. [more inside]
Has anyone ever changed from apathetic to motivated? What happened?
Since developing bipolar disorder, and subsequently being out of work since April 2005, I find my motivation and concentration has gone to be replaced by apathy and what must seem to others like laziness. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and got themselves out of it, and if so, how? [more inside]
Sending a postal letter via the internets?
Is it possible to send a postal letter (to a UK address) through the internet? [more inside]
Why does San Francisco suck?
Beyond the cost of living, earthquakes, and fog, what are the cons of living in San Francisco? [more inside]
No, that's not a "laundry rack"
NewYearsResolutionFilter: My husband and I want to cash in on the New Year's savings and buy an elliptical machine. Right now, we feel like we're in a little bit over our head. [more inside]
Help me get consistent color between my digital camera, Lightroom and online.
Help me get my color photographs to look as good (or at least the same) online as they do locally. [more inside]
How to set up a PC as a file server for a Mac?
I want to set up a PC as a file server for my Mac. I'll also use it for light video gaming and website testing. What OS should I run? What else should I consider? [more inside]
Help me get off the beaten path in Prague
Help me get off the beaten path in Prague. [more inside]
On/Off Switch?
Electronics for dummies? I need something very simple. There is one switch and two wires. When the switch is open, I want wire A to be grounded and wire B floating, when the switch is closed, Wire B should be grounded and wire A floating. Simple as that. What's the very very easiest way to achieve this (preferably using household equipment)? [more inside]
Older Woman? Too old or just right?
Older Woman. I'm 21 and she is 25. We went to high school together and I was a freshman when she graduated. Is the difference in age still as big of a factor? [more inside]
Print quotas for a small mixed network
What is the most striaghtforward solution for setting up user accounts with quotas for printing on a small closed office network, mixed Mac OSX 10.4 (mostly, PPC and one Intel) and Windows XP (one machine), printing to a HP 3390 laser all-in-one? [more inside]
Fashion for New Year's party
So, I'm going to a New Year's party at a club/restaraunt in NYC this year. I've never gone to a bar in a big city let alone a New Year's party, so I'm in need of some help figuring out what is appropriate to wear. [more inside]
Cell Phone Plans for Gmail App
Cell phone confusion: I need a good family plan with support for the Gmail java app. [more inside]
Where in SoHo is there a clothes store with gold foil-wrapped columns in front?
Somewhere in SoHo there is a women's clothing boutique with columns in the front wrapped in gold foil. Where is it? [more inside]
Good web-based (tablet-oriented?) art/drawing games/apps?
I'm looking for fun web-based drawing/art games and toys and apps. [more inside]
Why do I call a pacifier a "goots"?
Anybody else grow up calling a pacifier, a "goots"? I'm not sure if I'm spelling it correctly, but that's how it sounds (rhymes with boots). I'm not Jewish, but that word sounds Yiddish to me. Now I've got a kid of my own, and everybody thinks I'm crazy because I call it a goots. Is it a name brand? West Michigan Polish/Italian slang? Or what?
Blackberry Pearl Accessories in Manhattan?
Where in Manhattan can I find a large selection of Blackberry Pearl accessories? [more inside]
House purchase advice
I would like to find out how much a particular house was sold for and, in general, what economic conditions are like for a purchase. [more inside]
Hello Mini? This is Katana!
Will Mini Talk To Katana? I've got a intel mac mini with bluetooth, and a Sanyo Katana cellphone with bluetooth. Is it possible to get them to talk to each other? [more inside]
Elementary Elements 5.0
I received the new Photoshops elements (5.0 I think) for Christmas but never really used photoshop (only simple things like Picasa, etc). [more inside]
Do I give my grandchild a car?
Do I give my second car to a grandchild? [more inside]
Fixing a water-logged cassette tape
I have an audio cassette tape which has been waterlogged and soaked in dirt for over 10 years. What are my options for respooling/fixing the tape with its contents intact? [more inside]
"Say cheese on three! One, two--oh, shoot, the battery died."
Is it safe to use a non-Panasonic CGA-S005 battery in my shiny new Lumix DMC-FX8 camera? What if there are stipulations? [more inside]
Promposal!
Beautiful, quiet, or out-of-the-way locations in San Diego one might go to should they want a special place to propose to someone? [more inside]
How can a 21 year old from Taiwan live in South Africa for a year?
A friend of mine from Taiwan (and living in Taiwan) wants to move to South Africa. She has no idea how to do it, though, and so I thought I'd ask the crew here for ideas! Read on for more info... [more inside]
Bein' green
Why do card dealers and bankers wear green visors? [more inside]
Can I leave Incheon International on a layover?
I have a long layover at Incheon Airport in South Korea. Can I leave the airport during that time? [more inside]
Safe to eat leftovers left out for a while?
XMAS DINNER: Is it safe to eat these leftovers? [more inside]
"Windows gaming on Mac" website?
Is there a website that reviews Windows games for Mac users? [more inside]
Help me become a small business owner
I would like to explore the idea of opening a copy center. Where do I start? [more inside]
When we are away, the cats will.....turn into catsicles?
CatComfort Filter: We are leaving our three cats alone in the house for three weeks. At what temperature should we set the thermostat? [more inside]
Installing monitors in a vehicle
I am looking for an installation guide/diagram of how to install Myron & Davis headrest monitors. The vehicle actually already has the monitors installed, but I would like to know how to get power to them. I supposedly have all of the parts that I need, just no directions. Any help would be apprecialted. Thanks
How do I work with Bluetooth on an older Mac?
General questions about Bluetooth on an old Mac (400mhz g4) and specific questios about bluetooth with a Sony Ericcson Z525 phone using Bluetooth on said Mac. [more inside]
I don't like having peoples' fates in my hands!!
I've just been informed of some things that are going to happen in the office, and will involve several people losing their jobs. I've been given the heads-up so that I can choose if I'm to be one of those people, or if I'm going to get the jobs of 3 or 4 other people when they get laid off. [more inside]
Can I give a string Viagra?
Afetr years on dial-up we almost have broadband, the trench is dug, the cable guys are coming, there is only one problem. Help me get a string through 200 feet of flexible pipe. [more inside]
Which mobile plan to choose in anticipation of the Apple phone?
I need to pick up a mobile phone this week, but I plan to dump it the very moment Apple releases its mobile phone. Which plan and phone should I pick? [more inside]
From Mini to Nano : will iTunes be a problem ?
iPodFilter : In 2005, I bought her a Mini. Now, she has a Nano. Not sure how to deal with it the iTunes way. [more inside]
Why do MSN and skype drop out?
Network oddities with XP, MSN and skype. [more inside]
Can I help my sister?
My sister is in her late-30s and a single mother of one little girl. She's stuck in an endless series of crummy jobs, severely dependent on our mother, and she is incredibly defensive and vitriolic about pretty much everything. I'd like to help her somehow. [more inside]
Looking for a 1970's book with drawings of cats
I'm looking for a book of funny drawings of cats from the 1970s.. I've been passed this question at christmas time by my mother, who was asked by a fellow librarian.. A friend read a picture book while at school at an Australian High School in the early 1970s that she loved and has never fogotten. She does not know the title or author but says it was about an artist who drew a cat every day and each day the cat was different. One day it was very thin and slid down grates and through bars, then the next day it was a completely different shape and so had different experiences. Does anyone remember this book?
What is the average salary for assistant media planner?
What is the average salary for an assistant media planner position and what are some tips in salary negotiation? [more inside]
Motivation, Leadership, Learning, Change
December 25
21 and 16 year olds dating, is it okay?
Is it okay (socially and legally) for a 21 year old guy (me) to date a 16 year old girl? [more inside]
Northern California Backpacking in January
Is there a good place to go backpacking in January in Northern California that doesn't involve a lot of snow? [more inside]
Please Hope Me, Metafilter!
Help me repair a hole in the (vinyl? leather?) armrest of my car. [more inside]
Tip for NYT Delivery Guy?
What am I supposed to tip the New York Times delivery guy? I only get the Sunday edition.
I've lost my light installing mojo.
We decided to replace an ugly old chandelier today. After turning off the breaker and taking off the chandelier, I noticed there are black, red, white and green wires. The house is circa 1968. From what I can tell there used to be a fan/light. So I hooked up our flourescent dome by matching the wire colors and capping the red wire. Unfortunately, it didn't work. [more inside]
The Doings of Denver
Looking for fun/easy/cheap things to eat/see/do in denver. A bit [more inside]
What does "karmacoma" mean?
What does "karmacoma" mean? [more inside]
How do I improve my ability to form mental images?
How do I improve my ability to form mental images? [more inside]
What's up with my Archos Jukebox Recorder 15 ?
How can I get my computer to recognize the Archos Jukebox Recorder 15 as an external drive ? [more inside]
How do I perceive you?
In Eddie Izzard's Dressed to Kill, he says that how people respond to you is based 70% on how you look, 20% on how you sound, and 10% on what you say. What branch of psychology studies these reactions? [more inside]
How to start-up a small summer lawncare business?
Hi MeFi! I'm a motivated college student who wants to do more than just work for the man to earn my tuition this summer. I've decided I want to start up my own lawn mowing business but have no real business experience whatsoever. To the entrepreneurs out there, where do I start? Is this a worthy business venture? If so, how do I aim for success? [more inside]
What is the physically smallest and cheapest laptop capable of running OS X?
What is the physically smallest laptop capable of running OS X? I'm only interested in word processing and light web browsing, so I have no prejudice against old models -- in fact, I'd prefer an older model if it's cheaper. [more inside]
Save Christmas
5mb file on old computer needs to get transferred to new computer. Of course there is [more inside]
Mac right-click problems with firefox 2.0
Mac right-click problems with firefox 2.0 [more inside]
Question about Mini-DVDs
How do I copy Mini-DVDs without a DVD burner? (more) [more inside]
Does a waterproof MP3 player with a reasonable capacity exist?
Does a waterproof MP3 player with a reasonable capacity exist? [more inside]
Remote access to grandparents' computer
A few months ago my grandparents bought a computer. To help them fix problems without us driving all the way out to their house every time something comes up, I'd like to install something that would allow us to view their screen and control their mouse and keyboard from home. Both systems involved would be running Windows XP Home Edition, and we both have broadband connections. What is the best, preferably free, way to do this?
What's the name of this song?
What is the name of the song that starts with the sound of a clock ticking? [more inside]
Arabic aliens? Gollum in Gaelic?
Recently I've been fascinated with the way a good actor doing good voice acting can convey a very specific character in movies or video games. (This may seem dumb, but the Demonhunter Illidan in WarCraft III has a particularly memorable voice). What I'm really wondering about, though, is the fact that all the examples of really effective, specific voice acting seem to be English-based. [more inside]
Best Linux Laptop?
What is the best laptop to run linux on? I need it to be fast and to support at least 2 monitors - three would be better.
Papa needs a brand-new answering machine (RIP James)
My answering machine/fax combo has joined its compadres in the big electronics graveyard, and I need a state-of-the-art answering machine-type thingy now. [more inside]
Video sharing solutions?
I have a website with a small community of members. I'd like to let them upload and share videos with each other. [more inside]
Song From the movie DINER?
Song From the movie DINER? [more inside]
December 24
Imovie transitions won't
I was cranking out the family christmas email, complete with links to crappy home movies, and I can't get my last little clip made in Imovie. Specifically, Imovie won't let me insert transitions. Regardless of the length of the clips I'm transitioning, the "add" button is all greyed out.
Oh, and Merry Christmas!
Cleaning Breastpump Parts?
My wife wants to know if it is safe and advisable to clean Medela breastpump parts (tubes and other plastic bits) in the dishwasher. The tubes and so on. Not the pump itself, obviously. [more inside]
Unlock and load!
What could stop me from using an unlocked GSM phone with a Tracfone SIM card? [more inside]
Wildlife Porn
Is there a species (mammal, reptile, amphibian, etc.) that has two functioning sexual organs? [more inside]
Fix the Rental?
what if someone who was renting a car, uh, hypothetically, ran over a curb and damaged a tire rim? would they be smart or stupid to just have the tire replaced before turning the car in?
Convert Video to be played on a sony cybershot?
How can I encode a divx file into the proper mpeg format in order to play it on my sony cybershot digital camera? I have a 2gig memory stick on here and want to use it as a media player. [more inside]
Luggage storage in London
I'm arriving in London on Thursday morning and will have 9 hours to spend in the city. Unfortunately, I will have three big, heavy pieces of luggage with me. I need a convenient place to drop it. [more inside]
ADSL and Gibraltar (the place, not the firewall)
Problems configuring a modem/router in Gibraltar [more inside]
c'mon and pimp my board.
I run a very dynamic web forum, but I need suggestions for how to make it really shine. [more inside]
Please help me find a long-term umbrella
Can anyone recommend a folding umbrella that will last for many years? [more inside]
Traveling to Los Angeles
Los Angeles Filter: I'm going to be in Los Angeles for the first week of January 2007 and it will be my first time there. What are some things I should definetely see/do around the area while I'm there? [more inside]
New and better browser for an old computer?
What browser would you recommend for an iMac running system 9.2? [more inside]
You can tunafilter, but you can't tune a fish.
Why don't my mother's cats like tuna? [more inside]
A Persian in Peru
I just finished an excellent book-- An African in Greenland by Tété-Michel Kpomassie-- which details an Togolese man's interactions with the Inuit. I was wondering if anyone could recommend other books which are one non-Western culture's take on another. (To me, at least, the more apparently unrelated the two cultures the better.)
Any experience with seismic upgrades?
Anyone know anything about seismic upgrades? We own a 40 year old house in the SF Bay Area, love it, and plan to live in it for years and years to come. However, it's a 1.5 story house built against a hill, with the majority of the house sitting above a two car garage. There's... [more inside]
DJ Gifts?
Looking for 3-5 $5-15 gifts for a DJ girl. Optional difficulty: I'm in Amarillo and ideally could get stuff here. [more inside]
Bangkok Tailors
I'm leaving for Bangkok in a few days. Although there's info online already , I'd like MeFi specific recommendations on good tailors. I'm looking for business & casual clothing. I am fashion-challenged, so any advice on materials, cuts, and what clothes look good on a not-very-tall guy are appreciated as well. [more inside]
Unwanted Connection
Something verycurious is going on in the bowels of my PC. [more inside]
the other man in her life is dead : forgive her or break-up ?
Here is a tough one : the girlfriend has been seeing two men simultaneously. Me and another one. Now the other man she's been seeing is dead. Should I drop her or should I forgive her ? [more inside]
Music to listen to with the top down
Music in the style of "Little Lies" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Crockett's Theme" by Jan Hammer. [more inside]
Sue infidels lover?
Question about infidelity?
My spouse recently disclosed an emotional affair with a coworker that has been escalating for the last few months. There hasn't been any sexual contact so far but there is a fear that it's not far off. She wants to end the affair and has told the lover many times to back off. He basically ignores her and continues to persue, recently telling her he loved her etc. She is afraid of repercussions if she were to file a sexual harassment claim, and she also says she doesn't want to destroy his career. Unforuntately we can't afford for her to leave her job (government employee) and she can't avoid seeing him at least for a couple hours each week. There involvement is becoming workplace knowledge so I am expecting it to get easier for her to claim harassment. It's my understanding that once she told him to back off he is legally in violation if he continues to pursue. My question is can I sue him for trying to break up my marriage and my family, if so what grounds?
Out in paperback yet?
Is there a website that will let me know when books I want go from the undesired hardcover to the coveted paperback?
Looking for music by the original Ozma.
I want to listen to music by Ozma. [more inside]
December 23
Should I go to Kansas City?
I am thinking about a visit to Kansas City one of these days. Aside from the delicious BBQ, is there anything else worth taking a look at in this fair city? [more inside]
How do you get over almost dying?
How do I get past almost dying? Much much more inside [more inside]
Java?! More like molasses.
Why are java apps so slow on OS X? [more inside]
Second date filter: How long to wait for the second date phone call?
Second date filter:
How long to wait for the second date phone call? [more inside]
How Do You Handle Ovarian Problems On No Insurance?
Girlfriend has been told by doctor to have a vaginal ultrasound. He suspects either an ovarian cyst or endometriosis. We live in Seattle; she has no health insurance. Options & advice? [more inside]
Does there exist on the Mac a picture/video viewer that is as easy to use as ACDSee on the PC?
Does there exist on the Mac a picture/video viewer that is as easy to use as ACDSee on the PC? [more inside]
Take money from estranged dad?
What should I do with a monetary Christmas gift from my estranged father? [more inside]
PersonalStainFilter: Help for Pyridium stains
Do you have any solutions for the stains Pyridium leaves? [more inside]
How do repo guys work?
This evening some repo guys and a Rentway truck showed up briefly asking for the people that lived here a year ago. This got me to wondering. Wikipedia only talks about the contract aspect. What I don't understand is (a) why don't repo guys take it to court, and if they did why isn't a peace officer or deputy involved in seizures; (b) what keeps them from asking for -my- ID to prove I live here; (c) and what happens if the people they're looking for say they can't enter? I just want to understand more about who showed up expecting to come in my house and how my own rights relate to them. I think they were after the plasma TV that we saw when touring the house last year.
You'll love this question...
Does anyone know of a research paper that states recommendations for a product/service/company are liked more? For example, if I recommend a book to a friend, they will end up liking it more. It seems to make sense to me, but I was hoping there was some research that confirmed this.
Cheapest place to live?
where is the easiest place (US or otherwise) for three guys to live off the income from an entry level job? food, shelter, internet, basic utilities
Where can I find history content on iTunes?
Interesting history lectures on iTunes? [more inside]
How to delete/edit files on XP network
I know this almost completely defeats the purpose of administrator privilege, but is there any way to delete/edit data and cache files on an XP network without logging in as the administrator?
Ticket Predicament
MyFirstTicketFilter: What should I do? [more inside]
Why don't fighter planes have backwards pointing guns?
Why don't fighter jets (in real life or in those classic movies) have backwards pointing guns and missiles to shoot down their chasing adversaries in dog-fights? [more inside]
How do you get there from here?
Route/restaurant/attraction recommendations for a mid-20s couple on their first mini-road trip, which will be from home in Chicago to a wedding in Kansas City? [more inside]
OS X kernel panic after HD added
OS X kernel panic after adding new HD. [more inside]
Can you be prepared for sexual assault?
Can people be trained to better withstand or recover faster from sexual assault? I'm thinking specifically of people being sent into situations where being sexually assaulted is a high risk (e.g. law-enforcement undercover in the sex-trade, humanitarian aid workers in combat zones, soldiers)... [more inside]
I want to (opportunity) to buy a bunch of stuff I don't need.
Any Woot-like on-line stores that sell/ship to Canada?
Breakups in fiction
What are some great novels and movies about breakups and divorce? [more inside]
Boy Meets Grill(guard)
I'm considering a grill/brush guard for my mini SUV. Apart from their main purpose as off-road accessories, are there any real benefits to be derived from installing one on a vehicle mainly used in daily urban commute (collision protection, etc.) aside from cosmetic? Do they void any insurance protection or add to gas consumption? I believe form must follow function hence this query. Thanks for your time.
Shit, still in Saigon.
Who holds copyright to Hearts of Darkness^, and why did they block inclusion of the documentary in the recently-released Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier DVD set?
How long does Levaquin stay in the body?
How long does it take before Levaquin leaves your system? [more inside]
How do I get deep furniture impressions out of my carpet?
How do I get deep furniture impressions out of my carpet? [more inside]
I left my iPod in the seat pocket!
I left my iPod in the seat pocket on a flight from SFO to IAD (I changed planes and went on to ROC) yesterday. I've made some attempts to locate it, but with the holiday travel and the huge backup due to Denver being closed, I'm having little success. I'm jumping through the hoops with the airport and airline, but having a tough time due to the heavy traveler volume. Has anyone else lost an item by leaving it in the seat pocket and got it returned? Any tips?
I'd lik-sang THAT for a dollar.
Now that Lik-Sang is dead, where do I turn if I want to import games, or even better, electronic gadgets, computers and such. There was one big site I remember seeing (but, of course, can't remember the URL) that seemed to have quite a few laptops and cameras. Where do you import your gadgetry and games (to the US)?
Magnetron Torture
My microwave is driving me nuts! [more inside]
Info on a old egyptian print
I have a old print I would like more info about. I is by Luc Oliver Merson. The name on the bottom is "Le Repos En Egypt" It has a woman sleeping between the front legs of a Spinx, man asleep on the ground, donkey standing with it's saddle on ground behind it and a fire that is buring out and just smoldering. Any info on this print woud be appreciated.
SD card case for nerdy guy with too many cards
I need a small case for carrying SD cards on my keychain. Suggestions? [more inside]
December 22
Low-light photography with an old digital camera?
Please help me make the most of my old point-and-shoot digital camera in low light situations! [more inside]
Popular expat American actors?
Are there any popular American actors/actresses that do mostly productions not targeted for Americans? [more inside]
How can I speed up my thought processes in a foreign language?
How can I speed up my thought processes in a foreign language? [more inside]
Estate/Inheritance Tax Question
How long does it normally take to get approval of the filing of a federal estate tax return? How about the filing of an Iowa inheritance tax return? eg, how long does it take to receive the tax clearances from the feds and the state authority? If it matters, the returns are being filed by a major financial institution for an estate with substantial assets.
Wii are Japanese, if You Please
Is the Wii marketing campaign the first game console campaign to make such a big deal about its Japanese heritage? (In the U.S., anyway.) [more inside]
How cities are made
I want to learn the basics about urban planning, road planning, and how buildings are put together. Everything from skyscrapers to single family houses. I always wonder about the reasons roads are built where they are given the terrain. I'm always staring at high rises under construction to figure out what principles and methods go into their construction. My ultimate goal would be to create a program for generating random terrain/roads/towns/cities etc..
What to do with a nativity set created by a pedophile?
A friend recently found out she owns a nativity set painted by a local priest who has been convicted of child molestation. As a victim of abuse herself, she wants it out of the house but would prefer to somehow sell it and donate the proceeds to a relevant advocacy group. Is this reasonable or should she just smash it up and toss it? [more inside]
Where is my food going?
Why is my food not making it to my stomach? [more inside]
Tip of Headphone Plug Stuck in MacBook Jack!
I was using the headphone jack on my macbook and moved it around slightly when the sound suddenly cut out. I soon realized that the very tip of the headphone plug had broken off and gotten stuck inside the jack, and the rest of the plug remained intact. I tried using a small refrigerator magnet to see if it would draw the broken bit out, but it didn't, and i didn't want to try a more powerful magnet because I don't know where the hard drive is in the computer. I was thinking maybe getting some pointy tweezers and taking the battery out so I don't electrocute myself while poking around in the jack? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Help me find a short story published in Harpers.
Help me find a short story published in Harpers in the last two years. [more inside]
Do you know a chocolate chip cookie recipe that doesn't use butter or shortening?
I'm making chocolate-chip cookies tonight and I have no butter or shortening. Can you suggest recipes without either? [more inside]
Christmas Tree debate?
Christmas Tree debate - Can this tree be used/saved? [more inside]
Well, the Germans would say...
Is there an English word for the feeling one gets while seeing a familiar possession in an alien environment? [more inside]
Help me use my Garmin GPS device with my Powerbook
I just bought a Garmin Forerunner 205. I love it, it's neat, wow, awesome. But I use an Apple and the software isn't compatible. Can someone walk me through how I can get my PowerBook to recognize the unit (and download the data) when I plug it in via USB and if there are any programs I can use that are similar to the "Training Center" software included?
Question regarding the way TV commercials are aired on local cable systems
Question regarding the way TV commercials are aired on local cable systems. [more inside]
ColdFusion designed websites
A question for ColdFusion gurus. A guy in our company has used ColdFusion to design a password protected website, and I need to know how it works as ColdFusion is a total unknown to me. [more inside]
How to automatically lock workstation upon logon in XP?
I'm trying to find a "lost" tweak that automatically used XP's "lock workstation" feature on boot. [more inside]
Installing Linux on my Mac's external hard drive
Is there anywhere I can find step-by-step instructions for installing a Linux distro (Ubuntu in particular) on my PowerBook G4's external hard drive? [more inside]
Moving to Dominica
How is the living/lifestyle for US expats and travelers on the island of Dominica? [more inside]
What's the world of legal work like?
What's it like to work in a patent law office? A law office in general? I'm considering applying for an entry-level patent secretary job in Northern Virginia.
Where to go in Stockholm for New Year's Eve?
My wife and I will arrive in Stockholm on New Year's Eve, and since we don't have any friends or family in the city we're at a loss over where to go. I'm a student and she's a medical resident so the posh venues that reveal themselves on Google are out of the question. Where should a young-ish couple go in Stockholm to celebrate the New Year?
Solution comparable to Windows Media Center
Are there any standalone apps similiar to Windows Media Center for Windows 2000? [more inside]
Do you know this animated musical short film?
I am trying to find an animated musical short (possibly Italian? - it had subtitles) which I saw on television at least ten years ago. It may have been an Oscar-nominated short animation, but I can find nothing at imdb. Description inside.... [more inside]
Linux/LAMP for dummies...
i am a complete Linux Noob and i've decided to go a few rounds with a simple LAMP server. Where can i find helpful resources and suggestions? [more inside]
How can I speed up my ever-slowing PC?
Windows PC keeps getting slower and slower--what to do? [more inside]
Where can I download an obscure cd?
Not-on-Itunes-Filter: Where can I download the entire cd Twila Paris' 1991 It's the Thought? [more inside]
Help me advocate for hospital patient relative
How to get the best hospital care in a time sensitive situation. [more inside]
Phone home from Ethiopia
How much does it cost to phone Canada from Ethiopia? Is it possible to buy a long distance calling card in Ethiopia for calling Canada?
What CD am I talking about?
I saw an CD yesterday in a music store, but now I can't remember the artist's or the album's name. It's electronica (I didn't listen to it long enough to be able to name the sub-genre). The album cover was bright yellow, with a photo of a guy (the artist... I assume) in the middle. He had thick black make-up under his eyes. Oh - and I think it came out in 2005. Please help!
Help me preserve my deliciousness
Help me preserve my deliciousness (i.e. disappearing del.icio.us bookmarks) [more inside]
Compact flash card capacity
We are dragging and dropping picture files from a Windows XP PC onto a 256 MB Lexar compact flash card in a SanDisk card reader. The card no longer accepts data after around 125 MB have been transferred to it. How can we fill the card to its full 256 MB capacity to view digital photos in a digital picture frame device?
Artists not carried by i-tunes?
What are some of the more well-known artists that the i-tunes store does not carry? [more inside]
I can't find these Birkenstock/Birki Trinidad sandals in a size 43 in black online? I bet you can't...that's a challenge. :)
I can't find these Birkenstock/Birki Trinidad sandals in a size 43 in black online...I bet you can't....that's a challenge. :) [more inside]
Volunteer work on Christmas Day, Chicago
Last minute Christmas Day volunteering in Chicago? [more inside]
How do I deal with check fraud?
A warrant is going to be issued for my arrest in an hour-and-a-half for passing off bad checks I didn't write. That is, someone has my old checks from a bank account I closed over almost a year ago, and they're now using them. What the hell do I do? [more inside]
I've got a rocket in my pocket!
I'm looking at get a Doc Johnson Pocket Rocket as a stocking stuffer for my girlfriend for Xmas. Ordinarily I'd order it online but as we're only a few days away from the holiday, can anyone tell me where, besides an "Adult Shop," I might be able to buy this? [more inside]
Looking for examples of stylish freeze-frames in movies
I’m looking for films or movie trailers the feature a specific style: I guess you’d call them “freeze-frame action stalls.” [more inside]
Fast User Switching is fast, but it won't swtich users
Fast User Switching isn't working for me in Windows XP Pro. [more inside]
Wolf in fleece clothing
What was this wolfskin/fur fleece jacket? [more inside]
Yippie Kai Yay Mr. Falcon!
"Yippie Kai Yay Mr. Falcon!" In a censored version of Die Hard II, a dubbed over Bruce Willis exclaims these words as a final FU to the bad guys. Anyone know where I can download this tidbit?
Does helping others succeed hurt your own success?
Can helping aspiring authors succeed somehow help me, or does it hurt my own chances of being published? [more inside]
Dumbed Down Ditties
I was fascinated by this post about the changes made to the lyric of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" between the original and Sinatra's saccharine version. What are some other popular songs which started out with morbid or otherwise dark lyrics only to be "happied up" before hitting it big? (Not necessarily limited to Christmas Carols.)
Traumerei and Russian History
Help me understand the connection between "Traumerei" and Russia. [more inside]
it's a small handkerchief?
A Mexican friend of mine recently used a Spanish phrase that literally translates out to, "The world is like a handkerchief." He says it means the same as "it's a small world." However, he doesn't know the origins of this phrase or why it means that. Being mathematicians, we think it's that any point on the handkerchief can be brought arbitrarily close to any other point on the handkerchief. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?
I want to datarock
[BedroomRockStarFilter] How do I start making music on my PC? [more inside]
Christmas Every Day, but Maybe Not This Year
Years ago my wife and I read a story by Heinrich Böll which I remembered being titled "Christmas Every Day," but its real title is apparently Nicht nur zur Weihnachtszeit (Christmas Not Just Once a Year). This year we'd like to read it to our son, who is now old enough to appreciate its black humor. I thought this would be easy to find in print or online, but I've looked up web and down Foyles, and have had no luck. Can anyone tell me the name of an anthology where the story appears ... or scan it and be my friend forever?
Why might a cat have no ears ?
I met a cat in the street tonight and didn't have any ears.
I was walking down a quiet street and saw a white cat sitting in the middle of the street, it didn't move as I approached.
I got to abaout 10 ft and stopped, and called to it. It came over and was clearly not afraid.
It did not have any ears, it had holes where ears would be and the holes were clean, no flaps or raggedy bits.
We bonded easy enough, I was able to lift the creature onto my lap, it was purring.
It was skinny and I think under fed, certainly my own cats which are lean, are much fuller in body.
Why might a cat have no ears ?
Is it an act of malice or surgery ?
Disese or cruelty ?
Birth defect ?
It made me very sad.
Can I record police officers performing their duties in public?
Can I use a video camera to record police officers performing their duties in public, in Illinois? I was threatened with jail tonight by a police officer if I didn't shut off the camera that was filming him. Here is the video with his threats. [more inside]
December 21
Pregnant or just fat?
Is my cat pregnant or am I just paranoid? [more inside]
Space sucks.
Relationshipfilter: My 5month girlfriend suddenly realized she needs space to grow on her own, outside of a serious relationship. How the hell do I do it? [more inside]
How do I deal with new online competition?
Will my site be destroyed by a competitor? [more inside]
Be My Own Barista
Any resource recommendations on learning to be my own in-home barista? Where do I buy those syrups? [more inside]
I don't want to be creepy, but...
Is it totally creepy to ask out someone I who I met at a museum ticket counter yesterday? [more inside]
How to deal with extremely nosey/creepy neighbors?
How to deal with extremely nosey/creepy neighbors? [more inside]
How do I get certified to teach an official defensive driving class in California?
How do I get certified to teach an official defensive driving class in California? [more inside]
Help me find this song please!
During Tuesday Night's CSI:NY (the one with a girl stabbed by an ice-bottle), there was a song about midway through that had a catchy, reggae/hip hop beat to it. Vaguely remembered lyrics include something about people struggling, "my feet keep hurting," and "we have had enough." Despite those sort of downtrodden words, it had a very upbeat sound to it. Can anyone help me find it? Google searching has gotten me nowhere. It sounds new and like it would be popular, but I couldn't find it in iTunes top 100 songs either.
Car Stereo Blues
What's the key-sequence to unlock my car stereo? I know the code but how do I enter it? [more inside]
Orgins of "keyed up" and "keeping my nose clean"?
What are the origins of the terms: "keyed up" and "keeping my nose clean"? [more inside]
Awesome ipod -> car connector cable?
I'm looking for a cable that has the ipod connector on one end and both a cigarette lighter adapter and two male RCA's on the other end. Does such a thing exist?
Can you name this painting?
What is the name of the John Collier painting pictured on this book cover? (link opens Amazon reader): [more inside]
How do you get that rich gravy like texture in Indian dishes?
How do you get that rich gravy like texture in Indian dishes?
Whenever I make Indian food at home like a Dal or Masala dish I can never get that rich creamy gravy-like quality I get in restaurants. I suspect its because I dont use dairy in my cooking but I dont think they do in Indian food either (aside from the obvious like paneer). I know they use Ghee which is clarified butter but could that be what it is? I thought ghee was more like clear and not very thick.
Arabic tapestry?
I am the grey market
Seeking advice about selling to the UK on eBay. [more inside]
Where to find opera glasses in DFW?
I want to get a pair of opera glasses as a gift for my wife. There are plenty to be found all over teh internets, but I'd like to buy from a brick & mortar retailer somewhere in the DFW area. Problem is, I have no idea who would even sell something like that. Any suggestions?
When a forum isn't a forum, it's kinda like MeFi. How would you put it together?
Where can I find code for a question-and-answer webpage, like Ask.Mefi? [more inside]
Do I Grab the 24" iMac In Front Of Me Or Wait For Its Bigger Sister?
Please tell: Is it worth waiting 4 whole weeks for the 2GB RAM, 500 GB HD 24" iMac I want to arrive, if Apple here in Lisbon can bring me the standard 1GB, 250 GB set-up tomorrow? Is the spec difference worth the wait? [more inside]
What books would be good for learning English?
What recreational reading books would you recommend for a Spanish-speaking adult to work on her English? [more inside]
To underscore or not to underscore?
Is there an advantage to having an underscore in a file name? [more inside]
Strange engine odor
Why does my engine smell like butterscotch? [more inside]
can i alter a sweater?
can i get a sweater altered? it's a beautiful piece of clothing, but bunches a bit under the arms. otherwise it fits fine. would a tailor be able to take it in or does this call for a specialist?
.htaccess with MAMP
.htaccess with MAMP [more inside]
A desire to join...
I just recently turned 25 and have a new desire to join some type of organization. I was never part of a fraternity or any organized social "club". I feel like I missed out. I'm looking for something that is oriented towards personal growth of some type (non-religious), could possibly be service oriented, and has some kind of traditions or rituals. Having to be inducted is a plus, but not necessary. It could be for men or men and women. I would prefer that people would be people near my age as well as older. I know it's a little vague, but I want to leave my options open. What types of groups are out there?
Low volume of credit card transactions without huge monthly fees?
I'm handling a lot of the financial aspects for a small organization that would like to process credit card transactions. It's a non-profit with a small, part-year-only revenue stream. What's our best bet for avoiding insane fees? [more inside]
Eating after my workout?
I've heard from 3 independent sources now that there is some benefit to eating within 15 minutes after a strenuous workout. What are the benefits of this? What's the basic physiology of it? [more inside]
What is the pi symbol?
For those of you who live in Western Washington: For the last 5 years or so, I've noticed graffitied pi symbols all around the Seattle area (North to Everett and South to Tacoma). What is up? [more inside]
American seeks an open Canadian work permit
How to get an open work permit for Canada (working in Quebec)? [more inside]
Can I determine the speed of a car from its skidmarks?
A speeding driver just about rear-ended my delivery truck. I know how long her skidmarks are. Can I determine how fast she was driving? [more inside]
Help me ski cheaply!
I'm watching the weather coverage on the news with envy. Can you help me make it out west after new years alone on a budget? [more inside]
My computer doesn't like my mouse!
Recently (and I know its obnoxious to not be able to pin it down to a single event), I've been having an issue where my Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer USB (It's optical) will freeze up for a few seconds and then start working. It seems that my XP machine thinks it is being disconnected, as I heard the sound cue for hardware being removed, and then 5 seconds later the re-connection sound.
The thing is, I've had this issue before, and I believe it was resolved with a registry hack, or uninstalling a bit of software, I just can't for the life of me remember which. [more inside]
Can Flash play back synced audio clips?
Can Flash/ActionScript play multiple audio clips simultaneously, while maintaining sync, over a timespan of, say, 4-7 minutes? Preferably while presenting only one set of playback controls (stop, play, pause, and maybe positioning) to the user? [more inside]
Leather jacket care?
How to care for a leather jacket? [more inside]
Trying to minimize travel headaches due to the Denver Blizzard.
I'm scheduled to fly out of Seattle (SEA) tomorrow (Friday Dec 22) on my way to visit family in Ohio (columbus, CMH) for Christmas. However, my layover is in Denver (DEN), which seems to be under a couple feet of snow. They say the airport might not even open until tomorrow afternoon... What are my options to make my trip less of a headache? [more inside]
Doggie Footprint Art
I need advice about a craft project that will involve taking pawprints from my dog. [more inside]
Avoiding Open Flames
Is there any where I can buy a furnace in the DC area and pick it up today? It needs to be all electric, and not a heat pump. [more inside]
Translating Pinyin to English?
Can anyone help me translate Pinyin to English or know of a site that can translate phrases? A friend of mine was sent this, 'Wo zhen de shang ni chu, yen wei wo xi huan ni pe wo de shi zhen' and he has asked my help in finding out what it means. For all I know it could be totally insulting, inappropriate, etc... so apologies in advance if its offensive. Anyone?
What's a good recipe for menma?
JapaneseFoodFilter: Help me make menma! [more inside]
Stripping a cast iron skillet.
I picked-up an old, cast-iron skillet which has seen better days and needs to be stripped and re-seasoned. Problem: I can't get it stripped down sufficiently. [more inside]
How do i keep my bed room warm and fresh at the same time?
How do i keep my bed room warm and fresh at the same time? [more inside]
NYE 2007 in Philly. Ideas?
A friend and I are going to be in Philly for New Year's Eve, 12/31/06 - 1/1/07. What should we do? Neither of us have ever been before.
Recommend a USB headset
Recommend a USB headset to use for voice-chat in games (mainly WoW). [more inside]
All out invasion from overseas telemarketers...
I made the unfortunate mistake of ordering medication from an overseas pharmacy; it was for a drug that I'd originally been prescribed in Europe, which was not available in the US (then.)... [more inside]
Electrocution in a pool
Is it possible to be electrocuted by jumping into a pool that has a light that has short circuited? [more inside]
Influential novels of each decade
What were some of the most influential novels of each decade of the 20th century? [more inside]
Architecture Book Suggestions
I'd like to learn more about architecture and design - any book suggestions? [more inside]
How can I get this interview?
Specific questions about work at a library... [more inside]
Balancing a Rotisserie Chicken
What's the best way to balance a chicken on a rotisserie? [more inside]
What are the chances (of rain)?
Why do weather forecasters say there's an 80% chance of rain when it's raining right now? [more inside]
What would you have loved to learn about in a high school travel and tourism class?
Travel & Tourism filter: I've been tasked with teaching a travel and tourism course for the rest of the school year. What would you have loved to learn about in a high school travel and tourism class? Conversely, is there anything that you wish you did learn?
Video transparency/opacity solution?
Help me watch anime while I work [aka video transparency/opacity solution?] [more inside]
Calling all web-based solutions!
My company needs a miracle...and by miracle I mean a web application that can juggle 801 different things and still look nifty. As always, there is... [more inside]
Please suggest great books for girls.
Books for nine year old girl? [more inside]
Determining "sameness" of documents
I'm writing a load of content for a client and a condition I need to meet is that each of roughly 50 pages must be at least 30% unique. How can I compare them? [more inside]
Mac video encoding
I ripped a DVD with Mac The Ripper. I have a collection of IFO and VOB files on my hard drive. I want to get a movie file that I can then import into iMovie to cut up. What program do I need and what file type should I shoot for? [more inside]
Linux compatible MP3 player
Linux compatible MP3 player. I would like to get suggestions for a good quality, Linux compatible larger MP3 player, and it would be nice if it also played Oggs. [more inside]
Casual Christmas side dishes?
This year, my family is doing Christmas with ham sandwiches in lieu of the traditional dinner. What are some casual yet impressive side dishes I could bring along to go with this theme?
Windows RSI reminder program
I need a program that reminds me to take breaks [more inside]
Pray for Mojo
Pray ... for ... Mojo - wav/mp3 sample needed! [more inside]
On Aperture and missing my photos.
I switched to Aperture from iPhoto and love it, but I miss feeling connected with my old photos like I used to. Help develop strategies to stay in touch with them in Apple's grown-up photo client. [more inside]
Mp3 plagiarism How to tell?
Given an mp3 file by student. He says he wrote the music. I doubt it. Can I look inside and find if the details have been edited? [more inside]
December 20
Just like the tag examples... but with a twist.
Are there really no in-dash hard-drive based car MP3 players (er, under $2000) or single-DIN 6-disc changers on the market anymore? Help me with my broken changer. [more inside]
Vacationing in LA's east-end?
Stuff to do in the eastern reaches of the Los Angeles vicinity? [more inside]
Just got a pup and have a few questions.
I rescued my pup from a local animal shelter Monday and I have a few questions I was hoping someone with some puppy experience could answer for me. She seems to be a lab/pit bull mix and the shelter estimated her age at about 4 months. The vet that spayed her says she is probably closer to a year, but her small size (malnourished at 25lbs) and the small size of her teeth make me think she might be closer to 4 months (the vet the shelter was using seems to be a moron, I'll never take my pup there again).
More inside.... [more inside]
Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music - Сергей Васильевич Рахманинов
Can anyone transcribe this into Cyrillic for me? There is [more inside]
English translations of Control Machete lyrics requested.
Do nutria build dams like beavers do?
Do nutria (aka coypu) do the kind of water works that beavers do? [more inside]
How do we split profits for our startup?
SmallBusiness Filter: I need help with how my business partners and I get paid. [more inside]
I want to volunteer on Christmas in NYC.
I want to volunteer on Xmas in New York City, instead of sitting on my fat lazy ass. What are some good organizations I should contact to offer my services?
Turning HTML into a book?
I'm trying to turn someone's blog into annual books for them as a gift (not Christmas). What's the best way to do this? [more inside]
Inbox privacy at work.
Inbox privacy at work. [more inside]
Who did the beautiful concept art for Elebits?
IGN.com posted some of the original concept artwork for the new game, Elebits, and it's graphically stunning. Do you know who the artist is? What other work is he/she responsible for? (Be nice; I'm new!)
How many sides does a circle have?
How many sides does a circle have? I always assumed the answer was an infinite number of sides. My boyfriend disagrees with me and thinks that the answer is zero. My brother seems to think that it depends on your definition of what a side is. I have searched all over but can't seem to find a definitive answer.
What did he do?
I was at a business hotel a couple of days ago, sitting in the Business Center, when an employee came in with a key or something and touched it to a small metal circle on the casing for the (metal and glass) door. Then he split. What did he do and why? (WAGs are OK but knowledgeable answers preferred.)
Cruise ship travel questions...
I won a cruise to Baja, Mexico!! Now what do I do when I get there?? Help me by Suggesting things to do at the ports of call… [more inside]
What to do in Bogota?
Looking for things to do/see in Bogota, Colombia, over the coming holiday week. [more inside]
Help me name our restaurant something other than "The Restaurant"
namemyrestaurantfilter: My husband and I have been planning on owning a restaurant for the last 15 years. Now that we are finally at the stage of getting incorporated, we can't come up with a name. [more inside]
If my computer is a fan heater, when will my fan heater be a computer?
How efficient is my computer as a means to heat my apartment? [more inside]
What is the science behind Camel's new non-spit oral tobacco product?
How is it that Camel has achieved in marketing a non-spit oral tobacco product when typically, that type of product has to be spit? [more inside]
What's the best approach to building a lightweight database app?
I have been asked to write a database application that will be running in a storefront situation and will allow the user to enter data on what is sold (in this case, bicycles and bicycle accessories and parts) and generate basic bookkeeping reports (i.e. end-of-day sales, quarterly sales, that sort of thing.) [more inside]
Shooting guns in NJ
I'd like to spend a nice New Jersey day shooting a rifle. Can I? [more inside]
Gift: Help me replace a Samsung HT-P38 DVD Home Theater
GiftFilter: My brother's Samsung HT-P38 DVD Home Theater receiver is broken. I'd like to fix it or replace it with something equivalent/better/the same thing. Advise! [more inside]
What are some skilled apprenticeship programs I can participate in?
I think I'm finally done with undergrad. I have no interest in grad school right now. I don't want a career in my area of study. How does one go about finding a good apprenticeship/internship in an interesting trade? I've been going to school now for around 20 years and I've yet to learn a skill that I can earn a living with. [more inside]
Reliable cab company in Berkeley?
I need a recommendation for a reliable cab company to take me from Berkeley to Oakland Airport. I do not want to use Super Shuttle or BayPorter because they make stops and pick up other people. I am traveling very early in the morning and would rather spend a few extra dollars on a cab. Suggestions?
Serendipity not rendering well.
SerendipityFilter: Great globs of text [more inside]
incomplete mp3 email
A friend of mine always receives just a fraction of the MP3 that he is sent via email. [more inside]
Inconceivable!
Is there another book like "The Princess Bride"? [more inside]
In OS X, USB Drive also mounting non-existent CD-R
In OS X, when I mount this new USB drive, a dialog appears with "You inserted a blank CD...." How do I get this to stop showing up? Also, what Volume Format should I use to allow the USB drive to be mounted on both OS X and Windows? [more inside]
I am looking for a web-based sales order system.
We currently use a very broken system that is barely chugging along. Its server based. Due to our business, we would like to find a web-based system that does all the usual stuff- vendors, customers, inventory, shipping, receiving, etc. It doesn't need accounting as we do that separately. Ideally it would allow us to hook a shopping cart software into it later so that orders placed by our seales people or via the online store would dump into the same order bucket for processing.
I am not looking for an ecommerce shopping cart. I am looking for a sales order system.
please identify this image
i am looking for any information anyone may have about the following image
Using an unknown quote in artwork
If I use a quote from an internet source (not famous, but from a blogger, etc.) in an art collage, without crediting the source (because I cannot find the source), what possible trouble could I get into? Does this sort of random, "I heard this" violate any kind of copyright law or anything like that?
I'll make it through customs with some help from Johnny Walker red.
I want to ship some possibly sketchy items to Suriname. How can I get them there with a minimum of fuss? [more inside]
My refrigerator runneth over
EtiquetteFilter: I had surgery last week and my lovely, sweet friends have signed up to bring a home cooked meal each night until the 29th of December. How do I get them to stop? [more inside]
Why does the brain use up so much energy?
Why does the brain use up so much energy? [more inside]
How do I dispute two dubious parking tickets?
Help me prove I am innocent of a parking infraction. More inside [more inside]
How to transfer a domain name from a non-existent entity
Domain ownership transfer question, with a few... Complications. [more inside]
What should I do about my college transfer situation?
*Sigh* I'm having trouble with a college transfer. In short: was going to transfer from a small liberal arts school in GA to GW in D.C. for the Spring. But I found out (probably should have known) that they have nothing left to give me in the way of scholarships/grants. Now what? [more inside]
Question about a remote starter for my car...
I'm thinking about installing a remote start system for my car. I'll need to buy an immobilizer bypass for it to work according to my friend... [more inside]
What to do in NYC for ten days around NYE?
I'll be in New York, staying in a subletted West Village apartment, from Dec. 27 to Jan 6. Although I have plenty of friends who I can hang out at night, most will be working during the day.
I'm looking for either some possibilities to keep busy during the day... these include finding other travelers to go to some more obscure sights, short term volunteering, info about watching taped shows, etc. If anyone has suggestions, or places I can look for activities, events, people, that'd be great. I just don't want to waste my time there. Thanks!
Can anyone recommend some good stops on Highway I95 between NC and Florida?
Can anyone recommend some good stops on Highway I95 between NC and Florida? I'm driving to Florida after Christmas on Highway I95 and thought I'd consult the mefi hive for some suggestions on good stops for food or other things that are worth pulling off the road for periodically. I've driven the route before but I've always wished I knew of better places to eat than the usual chains/fastfood (ugh!) that have saturated the highway offramps. Roadside attractions are welcome, too (but not Pedro's tourist trap emporium at the NC/SC border).
How to connect an X-Box 360 to a wireless network.
I am trying to come up with a solution to play by X-Box 360 on a TV that is downstairs while my router is upstairs. Is it possible to buy a second wireless router (I currently have a Linksys WRT54GC), set the second router near the 360, and then connect the Ethernet cable from the 2nd router to the 360? [more inside]
What should we get the car salesman as a sign of gratitude?
We got a great deal from a car dealership. What should we get the salesperson as a sign of gratitude? [more inside]
What is that portal on the bumper?
Bumper question: It seems on many newer vehicles with plastic bumpers there is a 2.5" square that looks like a mini door somewhere on the bumper. What is its function? [more inside]
hair in embarressing places
Hair inside laptop screen? [more inside]
How can I make the best of a self-imposed period of celibacy.
I think a period of celibacy is in order. How can I make the best of it? [more inside]
Dell spontaneously powers down...what should I do?
My Dell Inspiron 8600 has been spontaneously powering down. Your advice: fix/replace/other? [more inside]
Girlfriends against drunk driving
Where can I find statistics about drunk driving on New Year's Eve? [more inside]
How did people describe "electric" experiences before electricity?
How did people describe "electric" experiences before electricity? I got to wondering when someone described the feeling of being pressed up against someone as "electric"...surely people had that experience (for example) before it meant "like invisible power" or "tingly all over"? [more inside]
Point me to a place to buy a handheld GPS.
My husband wants a handheld GPS for Christmas. HELP! I don't know where to get one, how much to spend, will it need tech support? My husband has a Lowrance GPS on his boat so he knows how to use it although he isn't good in other areas like using the computer or even his cell phone. I am thinking of getting him Lowrance, but can I go to Circuit City or Best Buy or should I go to a sporting goods store?
Party like it's 1956? Help plan my retro New Year's shindig.
Party like it's 1956? Help plan my retro New Year's shindig. [more inside]
How to cheaply furnish a Manhattan apartment?
How can I cheaply furnish a Manhattan apartment? [more inside]
Generation to generation debt
Is family debt passed on from generation to generation anymore? [more inside]
I HEARD her, loud and clear.
My athiestic leanings make me feel extremely unwelcome in my workplace. It's a public school. No one there even knows I'm an athiest. I need advice. [more inside]
Ways of coping with fibromyalgia?
My wife's been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Other than prescribed medication (pain pills, sleeping aids, etc) what else is worthwhile? [more inside]
Are layers really warmer?
If layers are better for warmth (as I have been told as long as I can remember), why isn't there a blanket made out of a bunch of thin layers fastened together?
Christmas Lights
Where is the best place(s) to look at christmas lights in and around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area?
The best kind of Ph.D. is a finished one ...
I have one year left on my Ph.D. and still have six chapters to write. Does anyone have any advice on writing and time management strategies to help me make sure that I don't run out of time? [more inside]
December 19
My photos in iPhoto are living on the wrong disk - how do I move them without pain?
I've imported photos to my iPhoto library, but left the originals on the wrong disk (external HDD). How can I move the originals to the iPhoto library without having to start over? [more inside]
Books about Argentine financial crisis of 2001?
I'm looking for a good book about the political and economic crisis in Argentina (particularly Buenos Aires) in 2001. Documentaries would be good too. [more inside]
When vanilla isn't vanilla...
I bought some Mexican vanilla at an import shop, but after some reading I'm sure that it's synthetic. Is there any way to tell if it's safe? [more inside]
I want to...sing!
Kamal Hassan on the bus, dancing, on the road to Kashmir. Which Hindi film? [more inside]
Strange Sensation
Sometimes a spot on my scalp crawls. [more inside]
Is this arrangement common in screenwriting?
Can a barebones film concept be shopped to screenwriters? [more inside]
Blackberry 8703e vs Treo 700p?
Blackberry 8703e vs Treo 700p? [more inside]
Help me with search in Tiger
I'm having some trouble constructing a search in the latest iteration of my favorite operating system. I love the idea of Smart Folders, and I keep coming up with cool ways to implement them. But I keep running into problems of two main kinds - not being able to use NOT logic and it not finding things. [more inside]
Man shoots pillow in cold blood!
WeegeeFilter: Help me identify a photo by the late, great Arthur Fellig. [more inside]
We want to take a few months off and travel the country - are we crazy?
Would it be crazy for a family of three to take 4-5 months off to travel the country? What are the main issues we'd have to look out for (I know health insurance would be a big one). And lastly, if we do go ahead and do this, what should we see? [more inside]
Cumming but not cumming
Sexual anhedonia is a condition where you 'cum,' but don't have an orgasm. I have it, and would like to not have it. [more inside]
pop my ride
I want to teach myself 3d modeling and am looking for the easiest package to learn that is closest to Adobe Illustrator. [more inside]
wtf
After running CrapCleaner, I experienced browser crashes in both FireFox and IE when visiting certain sites (e.g. pages with videos like this one, or when opening several MySpace profiles at a time). Also, my Windows Live Messenger shuts down by itself every once in a while. What's going on? I should mention that I've run antivirus/spyware scans. [more inside]
Where do I buy a platform bed?
Help me find a queen sized bed. [more inside]
There is one on now! I am sure of it!
How is it that I can always tell there is a television on in the house, even when there is no sound coming out of it? [more inside]
Brian Wilson and "I am the Walrus"
I recently heard a rumor that after listening to the song "I am the Walrus", Brian Wilson decided to shelve a project that he was working on. The rumor continued, as rumors are wont to do, stating that "I am the Walrus", with its intricate production, finally pushed Brian Wilson over the edge and into Crazy Town. This rumor . . . it's true? So far, the Google has failed me. MeFi music historians, please help me.
the family truckster
Help me choose - I want an all wheel drive wagon, leather, sunroof, navigation, etc..:
BMW 328xi Wagon
Audi A3 Wagon
Audi A4 Wagon
Volvo S50 T5 Wagon
Subaru Outback
and why?
The world is big, and I'm small
I want to find some art (for my wall) which has a humanist nature. It should capture that feeling you get when you realize some deep truth in physics or math, or when you're contemplating the universe. Know anything that fits the bill? [more inside]
Sharing two monitors with a one-monitor switcher?
I'm trying to add a second monitor to a PC/Mac hardware-sharing scenario. [more inside]
In/Out board replacement.
Where I work we use a web-based "in/out" board to track where employees are, but people are already entering their info into Outlook/Exchange. Is there an easier way to do this? [more inside]
Showing them what I'm worth
A company has asked me to serve as a "lead generator" for them. I will be paid an hourly fee to call potential customers, and then turn interested leads over to the sales team. How do I show my employer what the potential benefit would be vs. the cost of paying me? [more inside]
What handtools should I register for?
I have been tasked with registering for hand tools. I have a general idea what kinds of tools to get, but need suggestions on what I'm missing, where to register and how much to spend. [more inside]
Reading into my cat's nose bumps
Just curious. If I am sitting on my couch, or lying on my chair, sometimes my cat will come up to me and bump noses with me. I recognize this as a sign of affection or a friendly greeting. Sometimes, it is a prolonged (4-5 second) nose bump.....Now if I should happen to approach my cat who is an another part of the room, and initiate a nose bump, will my cat look at it as a greeting/ form of affection, or will she be thinking 'what is this guy doing?'... Is it a two way street? Or do they only accept affection in forms of scratching their head and behind their ears?........is the prolonged nose bump their way of being super affectionate? I have researched several websites on cat behavior, but havent found a answer close enough to what i was looking for....
Books/writing on death, loss and grief.
Books/writing on death, loss and grief. [more inside]
Help me choose guitar strings
I need to buy my first pair of replacement guitar strings. Any suggestions? [more inside]
how much does an escort make?
what is the going rate for an escort that is working for an agency? [more inside]
what is the most efficient hankerchief use method?
because i hate disposables, i use a hankerchief. my current method is sloppy, and mostly inolves scrunching it up a lot... i've noted in the past that some "gentleman"-types have a method of folding hankerchiefs to allow for many blows while avoiding ever having to accidentally touch (or even see) snot. any of you have a great method for getting the most blows out of one hankerchief?
CO and the Internal Combustion engine
At what CO concentration would a generator stop running? [more inside]
Employment forms and requirements?
I work for a small company with less than a dozen employees. We currently have no formal hiring process, forms or other documentation. Scary? I think so, and I need some help to remedy the situation. [more inside]
Is our smelly closet a lost cause?
We have a large closet in our apartment that has always smelled of cat urine. Despite taking every measure we possibly could to eliminate the odor, it still smells, 2 years later. Is there anything left to try? [more inside]
Touchy co-workers
I have a coworker who not only invades my personal space when she talks to me, but also tends to grab my arm or make other physical contact when talking to me. It puts me into immediate defensive 'fight or flight' mode. Should I bring it up with her directly? [more inside]
Horrible timing or chance of lifetime?
Dream job in the wrong place at the wrong time. Previously on FlamingBore's questions: You'll remember I was looking at relocating to Portland, OR for a lucrative job being tailor made for me. Then it fell through. [more inside]
Coldplay copycats?
What is the Bola Sete song that sounds very similar to a track from one of Coldplay's recent albums 'X and Y' or 'Rush of blood to the head'? Not Kraftwerk + computer love/talk - this is certainly something different.
Where/when can an amateur classical pianist perform?
I'm an amateur classical pianist. I used to give solo recitals at college, and I would like to start performing again out here in the real world. But what sort of group/organisation/event do I need to get involved with to have this kind of opportunity? Could I organise a little independent recital for myself, or is that weird and too egotistical? [more inside]
Tell me anything about this lullaby
IdentifyThisSongFilter: I have a recording of this song being performed by a local DJ a few years ago. He called it "The Lullaby Song" Searches for the lyrics give me nothing at all! [more inside]
How do I get out of market local channels?
I live in Minneapolis, and I'm trying to determine how I can get the local Chicago channels on TV. I do have Direct TV, but with the Minn/St. Paul channels. Is there any way to do this through Direct TV, and if not, is there any other way to get the local Chicago channels?
What's the word for the kind of character Piglet is?
English majors? I'd like to read about how elements of narrative are categorized and labeled [more inside]
Designer (not artist) for Jeff Beck Group's "Beck-Ola"?
I need to know the cover designer for the Jeff Beck Group's album Beck-Ola. Please note that I do not need to know the artist of the cover image -- I'm aware that the painting on the cover is The Listening Room by Magritte. What I need is the name of the person who designed (or art directed) the sleeve itself. Alternatively, if there is no designer or art director credited on the sleeve, that would be helpful, tpo. Thanks!
Massage in St. Louis?
Please, anyone know of a good massage place in St. Louis? [more inside]
Need help finding a Far Side cartoon.
Need help finding a Far Side cartoon. [more inside]
Where to find Alphonse Mucha in Seattle?
Where can I find a nice framed Alphonse Mucha print in the greater Seattle area? [more inside]
Should I be worried about my grandmother?
My grandmother was acting very strange last night and now I’m worried. [more inside]
How can I be a good Dad-to-Be?
We've just found out that my wife is pregnant. What can I do to be a properly supportive husband? [more inside]
cleaning mineral deposits out of a possible valuable vase
My mother needs to clean what appears to be hard water mineral deposits from an old Van Briggle vase without damaging it. Vinegar? [more inside]
Pimp my veggie tray
I've been asked to bring the ubiquitous veggie tray to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas Day. What can I do to pimp it up and make it more interesting? [more inside]
Comparison/Tester Websites for the UK?
Are there any product test/feature comparison sites other than 'Which'? [more inside]
Breakfast of Working Champions HOWTO
Good recipes for food to make in a batch at the weekend then take into work? [more inside]
How much should I pay to have my fence hauled away?
Hauling away debris: in a recent windstorm, my old rotten fence blew down. How much should I pay to have it hauled away...? [more inside]
Boneless Trout
Anyone know of a method to bone-out a whole trout? [more inside]
No Happy Endings!
NYCFilter: I am interested in purchasing a massage/spa package as a gift for my female roommate. Preferably located 60's east side or along the PATH route. Any suggestions?
Watch Babylon help five order in me chronological.
I have never seen "Babylon 5," but intend to watch the series via Netflix. However, I'd like to watch the DVDs in chronological order. I believe through a bit of research that I've sorted the discs into chronological order, but would appreciate any die-hard Babylon 5 fans' corrections. The order I'll be putting them in is in the "[more inside]" (Similarly, if said fans see any major problems in watching them in this order, I'd appreciate a non-spoiler heads-up.) [more inside]
Using an insulin pump
I just bought an insulin pump. I've been using it for about a month and would love to hear any tips, hints or suggestions from other pumpers. [more inside]
Any bicycle historians in the house?
Going by the style of clothing, the age of the man, and the make/model of the bicycle can you help me date a picture? [more inside]
How to disable Firefox spell check when context menu is stolen?
How do I disable Firefox's spell check (for a specic field) in Google Docs when on right click I can only get the Google Docs' context menu? [more inside]
Help me help my almost 99-year-old grandmother read again!
Help me help my almost 99-year-old grandmother read again! Excessively epic story inside. [more inside]
Kid-friendly computers
I'm playing Santa's elf this year, and am setting up 2 computers for my siblings that Santa is bringing them. I need suggestions on software to equip it with. [more inside]
Ideas for finding this specific lightbulb?
ISO dates
Where can I find good quality dates? I recently went to a local Islamic temple open-house and they had free dates which were so good I realized I had never had a decent date before. Thanks to God I am now a date convert, but the local stores carry a pale shade of the real thing.
I've been disappeared.
IdiotFilter, Windows XP. I was trying to make it stop telling me, every single day, that my password was about to expire and would I like to change it. [more inside]
Looking for a song.
Is there ANY version of Seven Spanish Angels by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson that does not fade out at the end?
Online ipod repair
Anyone have experience with mail-in iPod repair? [more inside]
Settling in to New Orleans
I've recently broken off a 2-year relationship and come to New Orleans as a disaster relief worker (housing inspector). I'll be here for 6 months or might move permanently if things work out. I need help finding places to go, things to do and nice people to meet to help take my mind away from the old life and begin anew. [more inside]
APY on CDs
Please help me understand APY vs. interest rate on 6 month CDs so that I can stop being paranoid about getting ripped off. [more inside]
Name my cats!
Name my cats, AskMe! [more inside]
Name that job!
JobTitleFilter: What would be your suggestion(s) for a job title for a quality manager + process improvement manager position? [more inside]
Converting Itunes to non-Apple players
I'm new to Ipods. Could someone please explain how I can convert music I've bought on ITunes to mp3s playable on other type of non-Apple devices. When I backup purchased music, it comes out in mp4 format, which isn't transferable or playable in anything but Itunes or Ipods.
Friend needs to get seen by a doc
Getting a free or cheap checkup in New York City. [more inside]
I inhaled what??
With all the news lately about carbon monoxide poisioning on the West Coast, I've laid in bed wondering about the carbon monoxide testers we have in our house. How do I know they REALLY work?? [more inside]
Preparing to go to China
I'm going to China next year to study for 12 months. I am concerned about getting sick over there, particularly, contracting Avian Influenza (bird flu). My question is, how concerned should I be? [more inside]
SCART-hate and a mysterious Freeview signal
I have disconnected the SCART connector between our television and PVR. I did this in part because I think Freeview sends some signal at 4am which wakes up the TV and therefore everyone in the house. Is it really a disadvantage not to use a SCART connection? [more inside]
New to MT
I want a private, metafilter-like blog for a group of friends. So I installed MT. Works great, but the default install isn't the best for people who are not great with computers. All I want is for "post" to be at the top of the displayed blog and it should only allow authorized users to post. How can I do this? [more inside]
Are these people crazy? A copyright law question.
Copyright-filter: "The Public Domain status does not give you the right to resell material unless you have access to the original source and permission from the owner to reproduce the material" What? [more inside]
Evidence against DMR
I recall (and might be wrong) that there was a recently released report on how Digital Rights Management didn't work - put forward in the UK, or possibly the EU. Any references appreciated (on behalf of a small colony somewhere in the south pacific, currently investigating similar DMCA type legislation) [more inside]
When's best to get the train home for Christmas?
When will the UK passenger rail service, particularly journeys on Virgin Cross Country via Birmingam New Street, be quietest: Thursday evening or Friday morning? I'm getting the train home for Christmas from Oxford to Sheffield, and am keen to avoid the annual ordeal of fighting for seats and sitting on the floor outside the toilets.
Name the tune
Name that tune. This [mp3, 100 Kb] is a shamefully crude MIDI reconstruction of part of the tune in question. I'd place it around 1975, Moog type Top 100 pop music; sounds something like Hot Butter but is not. Any ideas what it is?
Sneaking around?
Bizarre-roomie/iTunes-filter. (It's kind of convoluted, so let's just leave it at... [more inside]
December 18
Gifts for capitol hill aide?
I have a friend who's going to become a democratic aide on capitol hill. Any ideas for gifts that would inspire, educate, enlighten, or just plain lighten up the situation? Preferably ones that could be gotten easily in a major retail store of some sort.
What can I learn from comic books?
I like to learn things, but textbooks are boring! I find comic books gripping in ways that normal books aren't. Can you all offer examples of educational, information-rich comic books (or, if you prefer, "graphic novels")? [more inside]
Hive mind, PLEASE help me replace a jade bracelet my friend lost!
I need some help finding [somewhere to purchase] a piece of jewelry that was lost. It was originally purchased at TJ Maxx in Orlando. [more inside]
I become dull and emotionless for stretches of 3-5 hours at a time. What's up?
I become dull and emotionless for stretches of 3-5 hours at a time. I don't feel depressed, I just feel absolutely nothing. I can play my favorite, rock-out song and it feels the same as listening to CSPAN. I can kiss my girlfriend and I might as well be kissing my hand. It happens regularly, usually in the afternoon, but not every day. Sometimes coffee or food can snap me out of it, sometimes not. The difference between being in or out this "mode" is very distinct. When I'm not in the "mode", I experience a pretty full, normal range of emotions and I'm not what you'd call depressed at all. Have other people experienced this? Any ideas of what causes it or how I can beat it? I hate missing out on experiences while stuck in this zombie-land.
Synch program for iriver T10 2GB
I have an iriver T10 2GB and want to find another program to sync music other than windows media player. Can anyone suggest a different program?
drier sheets.
how do we get a five year old boy to stop wetting the bed? [more inside]
Work Christmas Cards - If I give out one, do I have to give one to everyone?
OfficePolitics/Etiquette Filter: Christmas Cards - If I give out one, do I have to give one to everyone? [more inside]
Writing in lingua LA
Is this the right way to write to a Los Angeles-based potential client in the entertainment industry? [more inside]
Help my Dad celebrate Christmas by poking gentle fun at Christians
SomewhatObscureGiftFilter: I'd like to buy a Darwin Fish bumper plaque/emblem, and I'd like to have it by December 24. I'm in Ontario (Niagara region). The online options I've found have slow or super-expensive shipping to Canada -- anyone know of a bricks-and-mortar source?
Where to buy Kenneth Cole in Ottawa, Canada?
What stores in or near Ottawa carry Kenneth Cole's clothing lines?
We Need Good Bakeware!!
My wife once threatened me with death if I ever dared present her with housewares as gifts. "I want real gifts" said she. Fifteen great years later, she wants good bakeware for Christmas. Good is defined as "won't ever rust" and "not that floppy silicone nonsense". So, Mefites, Hope Me! [more inside]
Hybrid audio/power cable for iPod?
iPod connectors: I recently added an AudioVox FM modulator to my cars stereo so I can play my iPod over the radio more reliably than with an iTrip. It works great, but now I have a new annoyance to deal with - two cables coming out of the iPod. One for charging via the cigarette lighter, from the bottom, and one from the top for the audio connection to the Audiovox. I'd like to combine the functionality of these two cables and use a single cable from the bottom of the iPod. How? [more inside]
Polka recommendations
Moving to Europe: Cell phone?
CellPhoneFilter: Moving to Austria. What do I do about my cell phone? [more inside]
Cat Scratch Fever: Help Me Help my Friend
CatScratchFilter: My friend just got mauled by our cat when he became frightened. Help me treat her wounds. [more inside]
Help me fix my subwoofer
I have a passive NHT SW2 subwoofer being driven by an NHT SA-2 amplifier that is supposed to control the volume. Lately, however, the volume for the sub plays at full, irrespective of the actual volume setting on the knob. When it first started, tinkering with the volume control could sometimes get the correct volume, but now it's just at max all the time. [more inside]
Can I make AJAX work with HTTP authorization?
Is it possible to make an AJAX request work with an HTTP authorization-protected server script? [more inside]
Can you identify this Peter Drucker quote:
Can you identify this Peter Drucker quote: "The future can not be planned..." [more inside]
Should I send out 200 holiday cards?
Please help me with holiday card logistics within a law office. [more inside]
Partitions, windows’ and linux, Oh My!
I’ve got a new 400gb drive heading my way, plus a free copy of Vista. What is the best way to rebuild my system, with XP, Vista sharing files etc. with maybe a little Ubuntu thrown in? There’s [more inside]
The Purple Protagonist??
For a friend: Name the heroine - similar (looking) to She-Ra but with a purple outfit. Hair: Black/Brown with purple in it. May have ridden a white horse. Help?
How do I get vaccinated for travel to West Africa?
I have the opportunity to visit West Africa, but I do not have health insurance or a doctor. How do I go about getting the vaccinations needed, and how much will it cost? [more inside]
50s competitor to stereo in Easton, CT
A number of years ago, I looked at a house in Easton, CT that included a huge barn that had been a factory/research facility for an electronics company, I believe in the 50s-60s. The technology was supposedly a competitor to stereophonic sound or something. Does anyone have any ideas about what this might have been or any brainstorms about how I might find out more?
Will my (someday) Wii still be fun in 2008?
WiiFilter: Long-term love or short-term crush? [more inside, obviously] [more inside]
Help me find that song, you know the one...
Can't find that song filter: There is a song that I've been looking for, from the mid 90's, something having to with bohemia. [more inside]
Where do they get all those wonderful data?
WhereTheHellDoTheyGetAllThatData Filter: When someone wants to start a site that requires huge amounts of data like IMDB or Pandora or Last.FM, where do they get the data? [more inside]
Where can I find cheap semi-long-term parking in nyc and boston?
Where can I find semi long-term parking in NYC and Boston (2-3 consecutive days each) without paying too much? [more inside]
How can I replay a campaign on Advanced Wars for Gameboy Advance?
How can I replay a campaign on Advanced Wars for Gameboy Advance? [more inside]
Florida Executor Fees
Would a member know what is considered a reasonable and just fee acting as a legal Executor for a person's Estate in the State of Florida? Is there a web site that would provide an estimate of Executors fees handling the disposition of a Florida Living Trust? Thank you.
Xbox games for 7-year-old boy?
Xbox games for 7-year-old boy? [more inside]
Laptop on the cheap. What are the minimum specs?
Shopping for a cheap used laptop: What are the minimum specs I should be looking for with respect to CPU, RAM, HD? I'm planning to use WinXP (maybe I'll settle for 2K), Open Office, and FireFox (including some AJAX-heavy web sites such as gmail, Google Docs, del.icio.us), with a wifi card. And not much else. I want to avoid "I'm always waiting for this stupid slow computer!" but not spend much more than the minimum needed to avoid that.
Random missing non-Latin fonts in Firefox on OS X?
How can I get certain non-Latin fonts to show up as display options in Firefox on a Mac? [more inside]
Terminology in nutrition
I use Fitday (the Windows program downloadable from Fitday.com) and I don't understand the difference between "oz" and "oz, raw, yields" in things like "Onion, mature, raw" and "Cabbage, red, raw". The "oz, raw, yields" includes "raw" a second time (redundant, right?) and what's with the "yields" as opposed to just "oz"? Anyone know? (Fitday is not the only one with the usage, I believe.)
Got to get those numbers
I run operations for a fairly large retail chain in Europe with shops all over the continent and beyond. I need to capture some basic data from these shops that either doesn't exist in our (incredibly complex and fragile system infrastructure,) or lives in systems that don't talk to each other. As is often the case, there's [more inside]
Easy Windows backup software using remote storage?
I'm looking for very easy to use Windows backup software that backs up to a remote (FTP or SFTP) site. Essentially, something as dead-simple and friendly to use as Mozy, but that allows you to specify your own storage. [more inside]
Help with my 12 year old son
Help, am I crazy? I am concerned over my 12 year old son. He has always been a sensitive kid, has a lot of stuffed animals in his room and cries easily, but lately he has started to become very effeminate in his mannerisms. He does play a lot of sports, but he is the least aggressive kid on the team and always afraid he is going to get hurt. [more inside]
Lrn2Pastry
I just had a last-minute flash of inspiration for an Xmas gift for my fiancée: she is interested in making pastries and candies and has an innate knack for it. I'd like to get her some lessons from a pro. Possible? [more inside]
Artists inspired by U.S. national parks?
Who are some relatively modern (1950s+) and famous artists whose work was inspired by national parks in the U.S.? [more inside]
Typical contribution to med benefits in nonprofits?
Where can I find statistics on what percentage of medical premiums are typically paid by employees of nonprofit organizations in the US? [more inside]
Set of oil pastels & inspiring book
[GiftFilter] I need a good set of oil pastels, and an inspiring book. [more inside]
The New Oldies
MusicFilter: Help me make a mix CD of hip indie bands for my baby-boomer mom. [more inside]
I hope I get a helmet for Christmas.
Are there any laws that pertain to how much time an employee is given to consider their insurance options? [more inside]
Song suggestions for retrospective slideshow?
Need song suggestions for an end-of-year company slideshow. [more inside]
Turpentine Smell-Be-Gone?
How to get turpentine and its smell out of a worn-out old cork floor? [more inside]
I need Kranky
How can I get my hands on some Kranky? [more inside]
Online electronics store that ships to Canada?
Where can I buy electronics online (a cordless telephone specifically) and ship directly to Canada? I tried a few websites: the US based ones don't ship to Canada, and the Canadian ones don't take a credit card with US billing address...
Obviously I am in US.
Will these specs be the answer to my problems?
From Thailand with love
How long should I expect postcards and small packages sent from Bangkok to New York and Los Angeles to spend in transit?
US Email Archive Law
Are American companies required to archive all incoming and out going email? [more inside]
Plant-Sitter Please!
Please help me find a plant-sitting nursery! I'll be unable to care for my wonderful plants for about two or three months starting in January and I would love to find a florist or nursery in or around New York City that could care for them for me (for a price, of course). My google-fu is not strong, and is failing me. Does anyone know of such a thing?
How to start investing
Looking for good information (ie. a book, not a basic article) on how to start investing a little bit of money every month. [more inside]
What do I call my cookies?
Cookie exchange in one hour! Need punny/clever name for my chocolate-covered peanut butter bars. The more political the better. [more inside]
0% Credit Card?
We need a 0% interest balance-transfer credit card. We used to get such offers weekly -- no more. Does anyone have a source?
peter piper picked a pepper
is there such a thing as a phonetic thesaurus? [more inside]
What motivates a person to start an email chain letter?
I am curious why some email chain letters exist? Why would someone feel compelled to send out an email often expressing a sad or sympathetic event only to inform you of your impending doom if you delete it and do not forward it? Is there some profit to be made for such a thing? I recall snail chain mail where you were to put a dollar in it and pass it which made sense but I am baffled by electronic version of the chain letter. If you pass this on to 10 people you will have a Merry Christmas if not WHOA!!! Good luck!
How do I handle this delicate work gift issue?
WorkGiftExchangeFilter: Got a gift, unexpectedly got another gift, should I return/do something charitable with the second? Of course it's way more complicated than that, so for the brave there's.... [more inside]
Hotels for a honeymoon in Rome/Venice?
Hotels for a honeymoon in Rome/Venice? [more inside]
Pre-Beat/Beat Poem hunt
I need the text of a poem I can no longer recall, one dedicated to William Everson (Bro. Antoninus). [more inside]
parents just don't understand
aol optimization on the parental computer... [more inside]
December 17
Gifts won't arrive in time for holidays.
Gifts won't arrive in time for holidays. What to do? [more inside]
A suitable suit
I would like to buy a suit. But I don't know what kind of suit I want. I'd love some help with deciding. [more inside]
Blackberry Blindside
Can an employer enter into a contract for which the employee is responsible without his permission? [more inside]
Should I legally be getting a pay rise?
I work in a company that seemingly doesn't believe in pay rises. Does Australian law allow this? [more inside]
Heal my acne cyst fast, please!
I poked at a painful blemish on my forehead and now I have a big lump. What's the best way to fix this? [more inside]
What's the name of that piece?
I'm trying desperately to remember the name of a piece of music (and its composer). It's a twentieth-century piece, and fairly famous. It's quite soft and mournful and titled something like "Miss ______ Died Today." I've known this for years and it's just slipped out of my head.
When is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?
When is a little knowledge a dangerous thing? [more inside]
What's up between Taylor Hicks and American Idol?
What's up between Taylor Hicks and American Idol? [more inside]
Cheap No-frills Cellphone
Last Minute Gift: I need a cheap cell phone. The fact I don't need a plan is making that hard to find. [more inside]
Help me solve everything always
Looking for the title of a book which I recently read a review for. Something related to algorithms for solving common problems or situations. I think it's about applying geekish logic to a non-geek scenario. Unfortunately there's no
Wandervogel literature
Nicholas Mosely's Hopeful Monsters has an extensive section dealing with the German Wandervogel movement. Can you suggest any other novels (preferably in English, but auf Deutsch is also acceptable) deal with Wandervogeln or related themes?
Bad roommate wants to do good
BadRoommateFilter: in which I am the bad roommate. [more inside]
Are there good avoidance or coping strategies for fainting at blood?
I faint all too easily at blood/gore. How do I avoid or at least cope better? [more inside]
Help me identify an old watch!
Lint Magnet Overcoat
Can a black wool overcoat be made less of a lint attraction? I have a overcoat that I am about to give to the Goodwill, because it is like a magnet to lint. I can have it proffessionally dry cleaned, but in about four hours of normal use, I look like a homeless person. Is there a way to treat the fabric so it would be less likely to attrract so much lint?
Russian History in Book Form: A Quest for a Gift
Can you help me find a book which traverses Russian history from, well, as far back as possible up to the Russian Revolution of 1917? [more inside]
How do you find someone when you think that's what you're missing?
Helpful advice on breaking cycles of loneliness and relationships? [more inside]
What's better: hitting a car or hitting the ditch?
What kills people when they drive into the ditch? Is it rolling over, or just the high speeds of the highway? [more inside]
to iud or not?
Tell me about your IUD experience? [more inside]
What are some examples of efficient, non-linear page layout?
We're trying to design a choose-your-own-adventure holiday planner in our magazine. What are some examples of efficient, non-linear page layout we could use?
Word slowdown after installing CS2 on Mac.
I recently installed Adobe's Creative Suite CS2 on my MacBook Pro. Since then, I've experienced an almost unbearable slowdown in Word. There must be some connection--anyone else have this problem?
How can I score some green goods?
Where do sites like ThinkGeek get their expansive inventory, and how can I do the same? [more inside]
how should I sell my laptop?
How should I sell a used laptop (when I have no eBay reputation)? [more inside]
I need epic music.
1812OvertureFilter: I need epic music. [more inside]
Help my wife do something cool for some cool kids.
Help me get thirty inner-city kids into a movie for free. [more inside]
Print double-sided posters on demand?
Cafepress doesn't make double-sided posters. Is there anywhere like cafepress that does? [more inside]
How do browsers work?
How does a browser render a website? [more inside]
My first post about my genetalia. :)
I have a few white lumps on my scrotum. What are they? [more inside]
Deferring the School
I am closing in on my high school graduation and I'm at a loss for the next step. I think I want to take a year off. There's [more inside]
How can I make my sleeping (read crappy-futon) experience more comfortable?
Comfortfilter: Help me sleep better- My futon is old, lumpy and I am currently too broke to replace it. [more inside]
It's like saying, 'errr...' with added apathy.
Help a non-Turkish speaker unlock the key to the universe
Please tell me what Turkish psychedelia singer Selda Bagcan is singing about in her song "Ince Ince" because this song blows my mind. [more inside]
Where should I study Spanish in Cuba?
Can anybody recommend a school to study intensive, intermediate-level Spanish in Cuba for two weeks? [more inside]
Photogravure in Chicago?
Photogravure resources in Chicago? A link posted in the blue and a look at some Steglitz photogravure prints at the Art Institute has me interested in the process. [more inside]
Need new internet security programs
I need advice for buying a new internet security suite (or individual programs). [more inside]
Oh why oh why did I do that.
oh CRAP filter: I just waxed off a huge chunk of skin from my upper-lip and eyebrow. Help! [more inside]
Garnier Fructis Ad Song?
What's the song in Garnier Fructis commercials? And where can I find it? [more inside]
Is there an optimal selection strategy for a white elephant gift exchange?
Mathematically speaking, is there an optimal strategy towards gift selection while opening gifts during a white elephant gift exchange? [more inside]
Thy game is over!
Asian language translation help
My daughter found this small plaque at a garage sale, and wants to know what it says on the back. [more inside]
Does anyone know the kind of book I'm aiming for?
Are there any books you think a smart, grieving preteen would find comforting or of use? More details inside. [more inside]
Mathematicial inefficiencies of sports betting markets
Mathematicians, I've always suspected there is a real opportunity to exploit the inefficiencies of the online sports betting markets and amateur bettors and make serious money. Have you felt the same way or am I kidding myself? [more inside]
Do these pants make my shirt look big?
My clothes never fit. How can I make them fit? [more inside]
Can I re-freeze thawed french fries and hash browns?
Can I re-freeze thawed french fries and hash browns? [more inside]
How to find the case wire pinout arangement for an old MoBo?
What's the spec for the pinouts to the case switches/LEDs on an ATX motherboard? [more inside]
How to stop my cats chewing wires?
How do I keep my two cats from chewing through every wire less than an eighth of an inch in diameter? They eat every pair of headphones that I buy, no matter how well I keep them hidden or protected. Please help!
What Theme Music is used in the Ad?
Theme Music is used in this Ad? thanks
Searching for hyphen or minus sign on Google
How do you search for minus sign (the "-") in Google? [more inside]
Looking for used Motorcycle Dealer in LA
Help me find a good used motorcycle dealer in LA. [more inside]
Cat Eats Own Puke
How do I get my cat to stop eating her own puke? [more inside]
From Mail to Filemaker?
How can I automagically parse the oddly-formatted text from the body of an email so that Filemaker can use it? [more inside]
Volunteer vacation near Texas?
I need ideas for (very) short-term volunteering/vacation opportunities this winter [more inside]
stationery in new york city!
hey folks! I'm a new to New York-er (the city, that is), and have done some serious googling and asking around in the "real life" and have not had any luck finding smallish stationery/gifty stores that carry paper goods-- along the lines of what are fairly common on the west coast where I'm from. a little bit.. [more inside]
Umm, hi!
How do you ask someone out on myspace? [more inside]
Flashlight up my sleeve?
Help me find a wristwatch with a built-in LED flashlight. [more inside]
My eyes taste like burning.
Help, capsaicin on contacts. [more inside]
More than just BlackBerry
Is it possible/practical to have multiple server-side mobile messaging solutions running on our Exchange server simultaneously? [more inside]
Are home warranties worth it?
Does anyone have an opinion on home warranties? [more inside]
Remote keyless entry problems
Remote keyless entry problem. [more inside]
Pi-ta-go-ra su-i-chi!
In this collection of clips of Rube Goldberg machines for NHK's Pitagora Suichi, was CG animation used? [more inside]
"Louisiana SOS" Shirt?
About a year ago, someone was selling a t-shirt with a red background and a white state of Louisiana with "SOS" carved out of it. Who was selling it and are they still available? EBay returns nothing and Google searches mostly bring references to the Secretary of State.
Streaming sound should stream seamlessly
OS X, Netgear DG834G, "Network stalled" message in iTunes is getting rather annoying! [more inside]
Lost my keys at Ikea
I lost my keys at Ikea (Atlanta) of all places... What steps can I take to recover them or start a new set of keys? [more inside]
Break the Wii 4-player barrier?
Are there any Wii games (released or announced) that support more than 4 players? [more inside]
Why is my USB storage device lying to me??
Why is my USB storage device lying to me?? [more inside]
name that children's book
looking for the title and author of a children's book about a polar bear. i don't remember the specifics of the story except for the fact that it ends, approximately, with the line:
"polar bear, underwear."
what i remember of the story is that the polar bear is on is way to the shower and involves him stripping down to his "polar bear underwear."
i remember the artwork being somewhat strange.
skinning rabbits
How do I skin and clean a rabbit? [more inside]
December 16
i just like to watch.
seattle / tacoma folks - i like to watch airplanes take off and land. Suggest a good spot to sit quietly and watch the air traffic at seaTac airport? [more inside]
What do penguins taste like?
Kind of a weird question, but... what does penguin taste like? [more inside]
"781." "Fuuuck you."
Has anybody on the Price Is Right, when overbid by one dollar, ever won because the actual retail price was exactly the amount they bid?
Suggested pianists?
Anyone have recommendations for some great jazz pianists that I could look into? [more inside]
What's the chemistry of playdough?
What's the chemistry of playdough?
The recipe for basic playdough is:
2 cups flour, 2 cups water, 1 cup salt, 2 tsp cream of tartar. This plus a little oil and food coloruing + low heat and stir until congealed.
What's the function of thee salt and the cream of tartar? The oil is obviously for lubrication the flour and water are what make the dough through the reaction of starch + heat.
How do I combine two identical damaged DVDs into one good one?
I have two DVDs with identical content, both damaged in different places. How can I combine the "good" data from each DVD to make one perfect copy? [more inside]
Yet another name that artist..
name that artist filter: Who's rapping in the Neon Genesis Evangelion Symphony Soundtrack? [more inside]
Looking for "an escape from L.A. filter."
Is there one database or GIS I can use to research several important features, to cull the possible cities I might want to move to? [more inside]
Architecture Europe 2007
My fellow architects: what new buildings should I not miss in Europe this winter? [more inside]
What's a good newbie PDA?
I'm looking for a good, entry-level PDA. [more inside]
If I have to carry my own food to my table, it doesn't count.
Anybody know of a good restaurant for lunch in London, Ontario? [more inside]
Should I accept this job offer? How can I get them to sweeten it?
Should I consider a job offer after only a month at a pretty good job? If so, how can I get them to sweeten their offer? [more inside]
Make Dell laptop work with Verizon DSL
Any ideas why my Dell laptop's wireless gets 'limited or no connectivity' to a new Verizon DSL wireless modem? Verizon says its a problem with the Dell computer and I need to get Dell to sort out the fault. Dell wants me to pay for the information. I figure Dell and Verizon must have encountered this problem before and hope there's some folks here who know where to get the information to change settings or otherwise set up a configuration to make it work. Suggestions?
Vanilla porter?
HomebrewFilter: How to best go about brewing up a vanilla porter? [more inside]
Wii!~
So I wish to purchase a Wii for a Christmas gift. However, there are problems. Taking up residence in front of Zellers might not be an option, and I don't think I have the necessary funds to negotiate a purchase on eBay, with the scarcity premiums and the "Giant expensive package" traps. I live in Canada, and thus the WiiFinder sites I've found cannot seem to help me. Is there anything I can do to acquire a Wii, or do I have to wait until they can actually be purhchased like any regular consumer product? [more inside]
Money saving tip for our church
How can my mom's church save money? [more inside]
U.K. Christmas
As a child, I was an American expat, growing up in Scotland. This time of year I have many fond memories of Christmas Pantomines, Christmas Pudding, Paper Crowns & Crackers, 'Cadbury's Christmas Selection Boxes,' etc.' I also remember getting copies of year-end "annuals," particularly the 'Beano Annual' and the 'Blue Peter Annual.' There were many others, but I am at a loss for remembering their titles. What are/were some of the others published at Christmastime?
need to rent a car
do car rental companies do a dmv check before you can take the car?
Where do I submit an idea?
I have an idea that involves cell phones, a web service, and participation from OS developers and designers/printers. It would be a time saver for many people and I am sure could provide profit to major players in these industries. Who/where/how do I get my suggestion out there? [more inside]
What is the standard dress for a company Christmas party?
What's the standard dress code for a company Christmas party? It was unspecified in the invitation. The company is a relatively small technology start-up. 60-some-odd will be attending, including some of the (wealthy) founders. Help a clueless non-girly girl who comes from very little money. [more inside]
Unlocked smart phone
Any problems using an unlocked Treo 680 on T-Mobile? [more inside]
NewCarFilter: Changing car dealerships.
I'm living in Calgary and ordered a 2007 VW GTI in October. I'm expecting delivery in February or March. I'm applying for work in BC and AB and there's a chance that I might be in BC by then. What's involved with changing dealerships? [more inside]
Multitasking the new phone
GSM cellphones: is there an easy (and legit) way to integrate two phone #s from the same provider on one SIM card so I don't have to lug around two phones? [more inside]
I'm looking for suggestions for instrumental music to be used in the background of a radio piece.
I am working on a documentary radio piece and I'm looking for some instrumental music to use in the background. I've stumbled across some great instrumental stuff, but most of it is incredibly sappy. The problem with this is that my story is not. I'm looking for relatively upbeat music, not music to break up to. Can anyone suggest some interesting instrumental artists or collections? Maybe a movie soundtrack?
Photo Book Reccomendations
What are some good ways to create an affordable hard-bound photo book online? [more inside]
What's the easiest way to network my Windows PC with my Xbox 360 to stream music from PC --> Xbox?
What's the easiest way to network my Windows PC with my Xbox 360 to stream music from PC --> Xbox? [more inside]
WWA-Contractor-D?
HOME CONTSTRUCTION FILTER:Should I build a house from the ground up or buy a fixer? [more inside]
"California, California, oh yeah" song?
Stupid and ridiculous song (not main theme) that I've seen once on Baywatch that goes, "California, California, oooh yeah". The singer sounds like Bon Jovi or Brian Adams. What is it called?
What's a movie like Bourne Identity but with a woman?
I'm trying to identify a movie that has a plot very similar to Bourne Identity but with a woman in the leading role. [more inside]
flashing cursor in xp
Flashing cursor problem (XP). Easily replicated, easily worked around, but highly annoying. [more inside]
Cyber stalking?
On the Internet, maybe somebody does know you're not a... [more inside]
How do I sleep on my back and not my face?
I have the habit of sleeping on my face, and I wake up looking like I've gone 12 rounds with Clubber Lang. How can I ensure I sleep on my back at night? [more inside]
Go North, Young Woman
I want to buy 20 acres in Canada so that I have a refuge and a windfall when the coming global apocolypse comes down, I'm ready. Where can I buy now that would be the best investment, esp. for not much money? [more inside]
Overcoming constant accusations and insinuations of infidelity?
What to do about accusations / insinuations that one can't be trusted hanging out with other people's girlfriends and/or they can't be trusted hanging out with you? [more inside]
Dodging a nice person
I need help non-hurtfully brushing off someone who wants to be friends with me. [more inside]
What is this 'iPod' you speak of?
So, I've got my lady an iPod for christmas, and I'd like to preload it with some vids - help me understand Apple's way of doing things... [more inside]
How is one to know a Vancouverite from a Haligonian?
Why doesn't Canada have more regional English-language accents? [more inside]
To Touch a Child
Looking for guidelines on physically handling children at school. [more inside]
Help me build a christmas tree
I'd like to make my own cheapass christmas tree. [more inside]
Very complicated potential real estate transaction
Real-estate lawfilter: Is it possible to lend money towards the cash purchase of a property by a family member, and then be handed ownership by a quit claim deed, and then take out my own mortgage on that property? [more inside]
My vote goes for marzipan.
Having read the ying, I am now curious about the yang: fellatio aficionados, what does it taste like to you?
How to deal with idiot kids?
So I've got some alleged neighbors who apparently don't understand the rules of civilized society. How to deal with them? [more inside]
Seriously seeking satin sleep shorts
Where can I find womens' satin or silk sleep shorts? [more inside]
December 15
Best places (beyond ebay & Craigslist) to sell old PowerBooks and other used tech gear?
Right now, what are some good places -- in addition to ebay & Craigslist -- to sell used tech gear (such as old PowerBooks and any other excellent-condition but old stuff)? [more inside]
ogg -> mp3
Please suggest a Windows or Linux tool to batch-convert ogg files to mp3. [more inside]
Alt-tab is asking too much! Help me help my computer!
DualMonitorFilter: What am I missing? Two-cards, two monitors to get an extended Windows desktop. [more inside]
How to show off my smoker's skill in a bar?
Ok, I'm a cigar smoker (no cigarettes), so I'm at a bar, got a girl in my eye, she's looking toward me--I wanna show off--so how do I shoot off a smoke ring? [more inside]
I lost my turkey recipe...who took my turkey recipe...I'll find my turkey recipe
I'm looking for a recipe for rolled / stuffed turkey breast that was published in (a Christmas edition of?) Australian Better Homes and Gardens magazine some time in the last few years (which I've since lost). Please hope me! [more inside]
Who plays the Cingular guy in the Alltel food court commercial?
Who plays the Cingular guy in the Alltel food court commercial, and why have I seen him in so many commercials recently?
How does this photographer do skycam shots? (NSFW)
How does this photographer do skycam shots? (NSFW) [more inside]
How can I get Preview and Aperture to share a single color space?
Why do my photos look different in Aperture after I white-balanced them with Preview? [more inside]
Do DVI-out PCI-Express cards work?
Sleep Shock
Sometimes before I fall asleep (but after I've started to doze off), a strange electric shock runs through my body and wakes me up. [more inside]
Raptiva: good, bad, or other?
Do you have first-hand experience with Raptiva (efalizumab), for psoriasis? [more inside]
Can one company buy all the stock of another?
How can one company buy all the stock of another public company? [more inside]
To bill or not to bill?
RecurringBillingFilter: As a small-time hosting provider, we bill every month using ModernBill. MB Stopped working about 5 months ago, so about 12-15 clients went unbilled for that time... Where do we land re: back-billing? [more inside]
Recommendations for Paris reading?
Recommendations for historical fiction about Paris? I'll be there for a couple of weeks, and have found that historical novels can really help me sink my teeth into a place. I have no particular era in mind, so the period is less important than the setting and the writing.
Why won't my BIOS recognize a SATA drive?
Why won't my BIOS recognize a SATA drive? [more inside]
How do I build a cheap, temporary fence?
Temporary fencing question : I'm going to foster a retired greyhound for a few weeks but have to somehow put up a fence on one side of the yard so he won't get over. The length needed is around 8 metres and runs along some hedges on the border of the neighbour's place. Probably needs to be about 5 feet high. I want to do this myself as cheaply and quickly as possible. Any suggestions?
What do you do with a BA in English?
What are some possible career paths or jobs suitable for a helpful, problem-solving, researching, decision-making, disorganized, short-attention-spanned recent college grad? [more inside]
Advice for visiting and living in India
I will be leaving in a month for Jaipur, Rajasthan, to study abroad. I'll spend the spring living with an Indian family, studying international development, and doing an internship at an NGO in or near the city. Afterwards, I may travel around India for a while with a friend. Please give me any and all advice you have about traveling and living in India. [more inside]
Summary of Vietnam War Casualties
Where can I find a chronological summary by month of America's Vietnam war casualites for the entire war? I've seen a few such summaries for limited years, but nothing comprehensive. Extra credit for a matching public opinion polls on support for the war.
How do I give a good seminar?
How do I give the best instructional presentation ever? [more inside]
Ooops.... I spent it all..
How likely is it for a company to make you pay back the sign on bonus? There's [more inside]
4 month old scar still hurts..
4-month old leg injury filter: I scraped up my leg really bad 4 months ago. It healed, it scarred, it still hurts. Now what? [more inside]
Where can I buy these Chinese nuts?
Windows networking problems for modem connection
I'm trying to set up an non-internet-connected Windows XP computer to receive incoming connections via modem. Somewhat reproducibly, the "Incoming Connections" icon in the Network Connections dialog goes away after a reboot. [more inside]
Where can someone host a few mp3s to link to from Blogger?
Free + easy hosting for a few media files? [more inside]
Is Doxycycline A Bad Idea?
Doxycycline used for eye surface repair: Safe? Worth it? [more inside]
More career questions! Who doesn't love that? Am I right? Am I right?
Should I dumb down my resume? [more inside]
Help with cripped hard drive
How can I get my crippled computer to communicate with the outside world? [more inside]
Help me be a better dad
My 15 year old is starting to slack off at school. Help me make her understand that she needs to straighten up! [more inside]
Is it okay to mix foundation with your sunscreen?
Is it okay to mix a dab of foundation with your sunscreen to make an ersatz "tinted moisturizer"? Or will it create a rip in the very fabric of space and time? [more inside]
My My daughter is addicted to vicodin
My 25 year old daughter is worrying me. She self medicates with vicodin to help her through her depression. Lately she has become comatose, falling asleep at the wheel, talking with slurred speech and denying that she is doing any drugs. Her mother took her to the hospital and they advised her to see a psychiatrist. I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that she is clean but she has a history that can't be denied. My latest thought is that she is doing but is in denial. Is there a definitive test that I can purchase from the pharmacy that would be conclusive. The part about her slurred speech, can anything else be causing this (she is also bulemic). As you can see she has alot to deal with. Any suggestions? I know she needs psychological help but I can't force her and since she is an adult she would not let her mother speak with the doctor.
Should I store my truck?
Going out of town for 3 months...should I store my truck? [more inside]
Voices in my PC
My PC is literally trying to tell me something [more inside]
All I want for Xmas is my PowerBook Back!
Merry Christmas, Your personal laptop's been stolen at work. Now... how do you handle replacing it? But wait... there's [more inside]
My belly puzzles me.
How come I get acid reflux from fatty foods, but not from dairy-based high-fat foods like ice cream and cheese and not from foods cooked in olive oil? What is my stomach doing differently?
Artifacts: The TV, or the Broadcast?
Are the display artifacts I'm seeing in our plasma screen due to the low broadcast resolution, or due the the tv itself? [more inside]
Version control
How does a wiki store revisions? [more inside]
Kid-Friendly Corner Fittings for Sharp-Cornered Frames
I'd like to find some kid-friendly corner fittings for sharp-cornered frames. [more inside]
How big a performance hit will I take running CPU heavy programs in 32-bit WOW emulation?
How much of a performance hit will I take if I install the 64-bit version of Vista and run, for instance, my Digital Audio Workstation in 32-bit WOW emulation rather than running it in native 32-bit? [more inside]
Montreal juke joint
Looking for a good Montreal bar [more inside]
Need a graphic metaphor to illustrate progress
I am helping a volunteer group collect donations. I need something other than a thermometer or a mountain climber to graphically illustrate our progress. HELP!
Stay at or leave my part-time job?
I've always been a late-blooming underachiever. Is it time to get off my butt and get out of my lousy part-time job, or should I keep my lousy part-time job because it gives me time to work on my book (I'm writing a novel)? [more inside]
How do I remotely install windows 50 times?
How do I remotely install a Windows xp based disc image to ~50 PC's at the same time? [more inside]
Tips for finding a good deal on a car rental this holiday?
Tips for finding a good deal on a car rental this holiday? [more inside]
What is electronica, anyhow?
I often see artists such as David Gray and Dido, or specific cd's such as Bright Eyes' Digital Ash in a Digital Urn listed as electronica. However, when I look at Wikipedia's entry on electronica, the stuff listed there seems to be a much different genre. How would you classify the above music, and what are some similar type artists or cd's?
Photography classes in SF?
Where can I find classes in San Francisco to help me become a better photographer? [more inside]
I need a humane mouse trap, that works on smart mice.
I was attacked by a house mouse. [more inside]
New classic Christmas songs?
Which songs or renditions from the last 10 years have entered the "canon" of classic Christmas songs?
old people + radiation = disturbing graphic novel
Help me find the name of a graphic novel, in which a naive elderly couple deal with the aftermath of an atomic bomb. . . [more inside]
Writers and Blackberries et al?
Writers: do you benefit from Blackberries, PDAs and other nifty handheld devices? [more inside]
Girl with burnt angel wings - what's the movie called?
Vaguely remembered movie filter:
Girl is dressed as angel, running from a fire (house is burning down). [more inside]
Stories that involve shadows?
Novels, short stories, movies--all are welcome. I find shadow stories spooky and interesting. My fave was a kid book called "The Shades" which explains how the shadows of people live their own lives. Know of any others?
Misbehaving technology!
Help me troubleshoot my printer &/or computer, which is refusing to print! I suspect it's something simple, but there's... [more inside]
What is the best sub-compact digital camera du jour
What is the best small digital camera Du Jour? I know this has been asked before, but 6 months can make a big difference for these sort of things.
What I'm looking for is a smallish, light digital camera with a big viewfinder, that takes really good pictures. That isn't too much to ask is it? [more inside]
Why is entourage in my code mangling my wordz?
Why is Entourage mangling email text in email newsletters? [more inside]
Trying to figure out green tea
I'm now trying loose leaf green tea instead of supermarket green tea bags. It seems to be coming out weaker. Is that normal? [more inside]
Moving to LA...help!
Within the next year I will most likely be moving from Central New Jersey to Los Angeles, CA. I need a lot of insight, suggestions and recommendations in all areas. This is going to be a big big question with lots of little questionlets. [more inside]
Drunk @ Work again
[LegalDrinkingFilter.] My hotstuff girlfriend lawyer wants to get an engraved flask for her firm partners. She's trying to think of something witty to engrave on it like "BB&W where it's legal to drink". (Actually more witty than that). Please help us!
We got the big ol tv, but let's make it sound nice
What is the best home theatre system for us? [more inside]
How to help lovely other eat better?
How can I help my picky-eatin' partner to choose healthier foods? [more inside]
Erectile dysfunction while using a condom because of a heart condition?
A boyfriend of a friend of a friend claims that he cannot maintain an erection when using a condom because of a heart condition. How likely is this to be true? Or is it just bullshit? [more inside]
It's the little things that count
What are some creative romantic ideas done on the cheap? [more inside]
Best Collaborative Content Management Software
I am about to create a website for a university class on collaborative ethnographies. What software would suit my needs best? Right now, ExpressionEngine and Drupal 5 are my top two choices. If I am barking up the wrong tree, please let me know. [more inside]
Why reinvent the SQL wheel?
Software design question - Why do people still write PC archiving and cataloging software? [more inside]
Save my job, please!
I need to create an employee manual using only Microsoft Word 2000. Help! [more inside]
Should I be concerned about missong a dose of my anti-malaria medication?
I just returned from an extensive road trip through Southern Africa including many malaria-prone areas. I took the anti-malaria medication Malarone once a day but missed a dose on the plane home. I received three mosquito bites in Mozambique (a malaria-prone country) the last day of the trip. Should I worry about contracting Malaria? Will the missed dose reduce the medication's effectiveness? [more inside]
O Holy Album
I've fallen in love with this rendition of "O Holy Night"[MP3] from last week's episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Now I want a whole Christmas album in that style - either already made or individual songs to make a mix. Any recommendations? I particularly like how the song is still totally recognizable and pleasant, despite having lots of soul to it and cool improvisations. Thanks!
How do you build a road?
Why does road construction take so long? [more inside]
Why is Drudge Pushing "Dreamgirls"?
Why has the Drudge Report been obsessively pushing the movie "Dreamgirls"? [more inside]
Serve me, server!
I work for a small non profit who is looking to add a central file server to bring our non existent tech infrastructure out of the stone age. The boss is looking to drop $2,500 on a complete package from DELL, but Im thinking there must be a better and cheaper way to accomplish this. [more inside]
Mobile Office for MotoQ?
Can I buy Microsoft Office Mobile? Where? [more inside]
Password skullduggery?
A friend of mine might be being spied on... [more inside]
Is there an easier way to get to "Save as PDF" on my Mac?
I really love the baked-in "Save to PDF" function that OS 10 has. I love it so much, that I often have multiple things that I want to save as PDF. It is a little inconvenient/inefficient to go through five or six pages, hit cmd-p, click "PDF", select "Save as PDF", hit return, hit return again, for each file. It would be much easier if I could punch in one key combo and have the "Save" dialog box come up, with "PDF" in the format. Please help.
Anyone know a way to make this happen?
Should your partner always be your priority?
In a relationship, should your priority always be towards your partner? [more inside]
Faith Online
Religion-Online-Filter: Help me find good religious websites, blogs and online communities. [more inside]
Set Your Own Salary
Within the past year, I read an article about a corporation where employees set their own pay. Other functions are similarly innovative. I vaguely remember a connection to Brazil/Latin America.
What is this company? Where can I find more?
Music, sweet music, I wish I could caress and kiss and find ...
Help me find industrial-strength software to catalog an extremely large CD collection. [more inside]
Vat?
What gets charged VAT and what does not when sending things from the US to the UK? [more inside]
Google says: Press Association, Personal Assistant, Penny Arcade, Pennsylvania
Need to put together a PA for a music venue [more inside]
You ever played jacks? Well, it's kinda like that....
What pick-up lines have you used, witnessed, or been the victim of that actually worked? Please include context.
December 14
Stop Mac's Spotlight from indexing!
Please! Stop the Mac OSX Spotlight from indexing. [more inside]
Where on god’s green earth can I find a decent media player to handle my (120gb+) MP3 collection?
Where on god’s green earth can I find a decent media player to handle my (120gb+) MP3 collection?
I have 120 gb + of music that I can’t seem to get any media player to handle adequately. Any suggestions on one to try? Or how to make the big ones actually work quickly with this many files? [more inside]
Help Me Camp
I am looking to get into some beginner back country camping, and I need some recommendations for gear and guides. [more inside]
Movies on your wrist. It's not just for friendship bracelets anymore
So I just got this super cool new watch that plays up to 2gigs of videos on it. It's like Dick Tracy minus the villains. Only problem? The program that comes with the watch makes you encode the videos into something called NXV format. And it's not working right. What can I do about it? [more inside]
How can I help the homeless?
How can I help the homeless? [more inside]
Can't stay on my antidepressant.
Can't stay on my antidepressant. [more inside]
Urine smells like food
Within an hour or so after eating or drinking, my urine smells strongly of whatever I ate or drank. Is this an indication that there is something physically wrong with me?
Did you know that yellow and blue make green?
I'm Chinese, and North-American hair-dyes seem to hate me with a passion. [more inside]
Laundryful in Seattle.
I have washed my last load of laundry. Never again. I'm looking for a good laundry service that will pick up/drop off in West Seattle, or if you don't know about Seattle share with me your tips/nightmares for finding a good laundry service.
Help me find a Bible and a Koran.
I'm an atheist -- help me find a study Bible and/or study Koran. [more inside]
PIRGThing
I need to catalogue my non-profit's library of books and videos. We want it to be accessible for students and faculty to easily see what we own and what is currently available for borrowing. I have been looking at LibraryThing, and am pretty impressed, but I can't see a way to incorporate our films, to give each item an id number, or to mark what is currently borrowed or available. Are there ways for me to do this, or would another site/software be better?
Who is the artist/musician in L.L. Bean's Holiday commercial?
Does anyone know the song/music/artist in L.L. Bean's Holiday commercial? It can be seen here.
How does one determine if they can be happy living in LA?
Job interview in west LA, never been to LA before, am spending a few days there. What's the best stuff to checkout in the area to tell if I can be happy living in LA? [more inside]
Typographyfilter: Help me figure out what typefaces Flickr is using
Typographyfilter: What typefaces are they using on the new Flickr Gift page found here: http://flickr.com/gift/ [more inside]
Netflix: Adding secondary account holders as friends
Netflix: If I am a secondary account holder, can I add another secondary account holder to my friends list? [more inside]
Save a bundle?
Is the Mac Heist bundle worthwhile? I'd really like to get TextMate but they're still short $37,000 and I'd hate to pay $49 for everything but the product I want most. Is there any speculation of whether they might just throw it in after all?
Academics: What's your filing system?
Academics: What's your filing system for academic papers?
As I finish up my undergrad degree and enter grad school, I'm reading a lot of papers. Currently, they're just in a tall stack on my desk and in a folder in my Mac.
I'm interested in hearing filing solutions -- both hard copy and electronic -- for academic papers.
Help me pay way too much to have a TV fixed. Or not.
My friend flung a Wii remote into my new 40" LCD TV during a heated session of Wii Sports Bowling. No, really. [more inside]
Radio Free Europe (Sport Section)
How can one listen to the Ashes and/or live UK football online in a country other than UK- given that the BBC screen out people abroad? [more inside]
Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners in NYC
My family and I will be in New York city for the holidays. My mission: to find great restaurants for Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners. [more inside]
My face is clean. But it looks dirty.
I dye (colour!) my hair black a couple times a month. I just like it better. [more inside]
Why haven't GPS units dropped as much as other electronics?
Most electronics drop dramatically in price. GPS units do not seem to have dropped as dramatically. Is there a reason, or multiple reasons for this? Are GPS receivers fundamentally harder to make for some reason? Is there a licence fee? Have the volumes been too low? Does getting new information for the maps, for car guidance systems, keep the price up?
What Are the "Hottest" Restaurants in NYC?
The NYC Chiliheads Meetup Group (http://hotnspicy.meetup.com/42/) wants to consider possible venues for its future gatherings. We're a group of individuals, drawn from a variety of backgrounds and industries, that simply LOVES fiery, spicy food. Recent outings have taken us to Cho Dang Gol and Brick Lane Curry House. Like-minded AskMeFites are welcome to join us!
What restaurants do you recommend? Why? What cuisine do they represent?
What was the odd music at Seaworld's puffin and penguin room?
What is the name and artist of that incredibly bizarre music that was played 6-7 years ago at the Florida Sea World penguin and puffin house? They might be still using it today but I would not know.
I asked several employees and they claimed to had no idea what it was, and they hated it because it played over and over again all of the time!
I can't really describe the music because I have never heard anything like it in my whole life. (it was fairly abstract)
Open source media contacts/relations database suggestions?
I'm looking for a free (or nearly) solution for storing an existing list of media contacts. [more inside]
"Scott" vs "Ephron"
FilmSchoolFilter: In terms of cinematography, what factors cause different movies to, well...look different? [more inside]
Online, customizable barebones PC vendors other than Monarch?
Can any mefites suggest some alternative barebones PC builders other than Monarch? Looks like they've fallen on hard times just as I'm gearing up for a new machine. [more inside]
identify this spider
Designer Sheep gift search
Trying to find specific designer sheep gifts seen in a store on Nantucket. [more inside]
What was that in the sky?
What was that in the Boston sky? [more inside]
How can I subscribe to an MP3 blog as if it was a podcast?
I'm in search of an application that can subscribe to mp3 blogs via rss (or even better html scrape). Any suggestions? [more inside]
Dancing under the Arch?
Where in St. Louis can I get good beginner ballroom dancing lessons for couples? [more inside]
Why don't more herbivores have sharp horns?
Why don't more herbivores have sharp horns? Some of them do, like the Cape Buffalo and the Kudu, but most have horns that do not seem very useful for defense. Given that the cost in keratin is the same for sharp and dull horns, and that sharp horns don't seem to cause intra-species injuries, why wouldn't all herbivores have razor-sharp horns to defend themselves?
Roaming Profiles on Windows XP what to do?
Looking for a secure Windows XP Roaming Profile alternative. What do you suggest? [more inside]
Suggest a Vancouver restaurant?
Vancouver Filter: Suggest a spot for my office Xmas lunch? [more inside]
WAP site converter?
Is there a service, besides Winksite, that will easily WAP-ify my sites? [more inside]
Slideshows for beginners. Absolute beginners.
Creating a podcast with synchronized images that will pop up at irregular intervals during the podcast. I'll also be showing some very unsophisticated users how to do this in a few months. Which tool is best for the job... [more inside]
Theme Song question
What theme song does the instrumental "First Snow" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra sound like? [more inside]
please help me get a media/arts job in NYC!
need an entertainment job offer in NYC, or a good writing or film program. [more inside]
What is the most likely to succeed and equitable method of teaching my fiancee to be responsible for her finances?
What is the most likely to succeed and equitable method of teaching my fiancee to be responsible for her finances? [more inside]
How to use my accelerometer w/ Parallels
I just got a new Macbook with Parallels and Windows XP pre-installed. I knew of someone who utilized the accelerometer to be able to flip between OSX and Windows by a slap of the side of the screen. How can I set this up on my MacBook?
How Can I Wrap My Brain Around GTD?
I've bought and read most of David Allen's Gettings Things Done. I've also read a ton of things on line. But I'm still having a bear of a time wrapping my mind around GTD. I feel like I understand it on one level but I don't know how to fit it into my normal daily workflow. What is it that I am missing? [more inside]
You can't have cashmere with out cash.
Suggestions on where to look for women's cashmere "lounge" pants in Chicago? there is of course [more inside]
Gang hairstyle
Is there a term for the close-cropped hairstyle (similar to buzzcuts, I suppose) that a lot of gang members wear? It's not a ball fade, but something like that? I'm thinking of mostly Latino gangs.
Divorce as cheap as possible.
How cheaply can I be divorced? [more inside]
I guess I'm not over her after all.
How can I get over the selfish jealousy I feel towards my ex-girlfriend who is also my best friend and her new man? [more inside]
How do you know when you're ready to go back to work after a nervous breakdown?
How do you know when you're ready to go back to work after a nervous breakdown? [more inside]
Help me Clean those URLs
How do I make my URLs not need the .php extension? [more inside]
Preparing a course of self-study in Philosophy.
I'm preparing a course of self-study in Philosophy. I need text-suggestions and ESPECIALLY secondary source suggestions. [more inside]
Books for parents. Which one is your bible?
Books for parents. Which one is your bible? [more inside]
Looking for a word
Is there a word that refers to 5 year periods as decade refers to 10 year periods (besides half decade)?
Do birds burp?
Do birds burp? [more inside]
Middle-school-art-teacher-filter
What region/country/division does the red & yellow flag seen in the upper left of Monet's Terrasse à Sainte-Adresse signify? [more inside]
How does Windows label hard disks?
How does Windows XP label hard disks? [more inside]
What's on your Flash Drive?
What should I put on a USB Flash Drive? [more inside]
Save money at Vail Ski Resort
I am going to Vail, Colorado this weekend. How can I save some money on a one day lift pass? [more inside]
Pet-friendly Austin hotels?
We're moving to Austin, Tx and need a pet-friendly, inexpensive, and centrally located hotel. [more inside]
REGEXpert help needed!
Regex experts: I need a regular expression to help trim some lines in a text file. I haven't done regex in some time and I'm not having any luck with this. Hope it'll be easy for a wiz. [more inside]
What assumption did Feynman see through about the electron?
In one of Richard Feynman's books, he talks about solving a problem by finding that a 'fact' about (I think) the spin state of the electron was really an assumption. I recall that it could be one of two values, something like T or V, and everybody had assumed it was T without any evidence. I know I got that all wrong, so what's the reality behind it?
Am I old?
Given today's global population sample, at what age are you older than the majority of people on earth? [more inside]
Is this actually global warming?
It's December 14th and 56 degrees here in Boston. Everyone is walking around saying, "this is global warming." Is this actually a direct effect of global warming or just part of an abnormal but not potentially life-as-we-know-it ending weather pattern?
If I want to leave, do I let anyone know
I have a goals & objectives meeting with my boss. Lately work has been hugely unsatisfying, and I feel, moreover, that promises have been broken or infinitely deferred. I have plenty of other work opportunities, it is almost hard to keep them away.
Do I mention that I am seriously considering leaving in this meeting in hopes that it might change things, or just be quiet and leap when the time is right? [more inside]
Can instructors distribute students' papers without permission?
Can an instructor enter a student's paper into one of those paper databases without telling the student? [more inside]
Multiline cell phones?
What cell phone providers will allow you to have two phone lines/ #'s on one phone? [more inside]
Outlook Blackberry Sync problems
My blackberry 7250 is not saving the contents of notes and tasks since upgrade to Outlook 2007. The only thing being saved is the title. In Outlook, everything looks fine, but once I upload the information to my blackberry, the message disappears. I have not been able to find very much documentation on this subject, and I was hoping someone here might have a suggestion. Of course, if all else fails I could downgrade again.
Second question:
Are there any opensource projects like Outlook that download to Blackberry? (This is what I would really like :) stupid Outlook, I hate you)
Lost SCTV episode spoofing "The Cisco Kid"
Help me find the lost SCTV episode featuring The Cisco Kid. [more inside]
How can I start being a source of inspiration rather than envy?
How can I start being a source of inspiration rather than envy? [more inside]
Keeping the Giant Warm
[bigfeetlongarmsfilter] I need to find a winter coat for a very tall man. [more inside]
Destination: Bariloche
Any tips on San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina? I'm going next week on a last-minute trip and would appreciate any pointers/recommendations. [more inside]
How much do TV shows really cost?
Imagine a world with no TV advertising, and no sponsorship with TV shows being view on demand and funded by pay-per-view by the viewer. How much would (or should) a TV show actually cost? [more inside]
What items should I get to fill up my living room wiht this Eastern theme?
I need help redecorating my house. I am going for the "Eastern" and contemporary look (Indian/ Middle Eastern/ Asian decor mixed with West Elm-ish contemporary style). I want to have Buddha statues, silk fabric for the window curtains, silk throw pillows, artificial plants and etc. [more inside]
December 13
What to do at a 49ers game?
SF Bay Filter: Going to our first 49ers game Christmas Eve, looking for traffic, tailgating and general advice. [more inside]
Why are people in coutries other then the U.S. mostly skinny?
Why are people in countries other then the U.S. mostly skinny? It can't just be the Mcdonalds. Could it maybe have to do with weather? or how we grow vegetables? I am in the middle of building a hydroponics plant system which uses nutrients (chemicals) and was wondering if we grow lots of our produce that way and thus are maybe causing more problems for our health? [more inside]
firefox display problem
help! I got some firefox display issues. [more inside]
Selecting the MODE of a group of data in Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access. An SQL "GROUP BY" query. How do I generate the mode of the values that it's grouping, when I want averages in other multiple fields? [more inside]
The life of a scholar for me?
What made you quit grad school? What was the deciding factor? How did you know it was time to go? Subtle signs? Did your advisor say 'go away'? If you stayed, when did you feel like quitting? [more inside]
Looking fer a Genki Japanese 1 lesson plan
I'm looking for some ideas to effectively use the Genki 1 textbook to start teaching myself Japanese. [more inside]
Did you know Leslie Harpold? Can you help me keep her sites alive?
Did you know Leslie Harpold? Can you help me keep her sites alive? [more inside]
Software that will let me create a Windows screensaver on a Mac platform.
A client wants us to create a promotional screensaver for them. The problem is we are on a Mac platform and they are on Windows. [more inside]
My LCDs got the blues
My 2-year old LCD has a blue vertical line for anything not white. Can it be fixed? [more inside]
What are your favorite books?
If you could buy any computer book(s) or subscribe to any tech-related journal(s), what would it (they) be? [more inside]
How can I replace Dashboard with Yahoo Widget Engine?
I'd like to know some specifics about replacing Dashboard with Yahoo! Widget Engine. [more inside]
How can I fix my CRT display's ghosting?
I just brought home a big o' 21" viewsonic P815 monitor. It didn’t have the monitor cable, so I used a crappy one I had. I’m noticing a lot of odd “shadow” effects, especially with black text on a white background- the text is clear, but there’s a very light grey echo to the right of it, then a lighter echo to the right of that, and so on. It reminds me of cable "ghosting." My question: is it a cable problem or a monitor problem? [more inside]
Horses have four legs, Bucephalus has four legs ∴ Bucephalus is a horse.
I am looking for a concise or idiomatic term that refers to a correct conclusion which is attained through some sort of invalid reasoning. Is there a debate or logic term for this phenomenon?
Which adjective best describes Inspector Javert?
Is there an adjective to describe a person who believes in absolute obedience to the law, as personified by Inspector Javert in "Les Miserables"?
Red Red Meat: Where can I purchase you?
I'd like to send some raw meat to my brother for Christmas. Web site suggestions? [more inside]
Online gift certificates (France)
I want to send my sister in France an online gift certificate. She has just moved into her new country home there. What sites (useful in FRANCE) would easily redeem the certificate and would also be interesting, ecclectic, fun -- and would give her the best value? [more inside]
Journey to the West
Monk and Monkey seek western paradise. Can you help us plan our Journey to the West? [more inside]
What game studios are based in the greater Seattle area?
What game studios are based in the greater Seattle area? [more inside]
Help me see a reindeer before Christmas (and save my career)!
Help me see a reindeer before Christmas (and save my career)! [more inside]
How to split a.iso into 2 .iso?
Can you split an .iso (DVD burn image) file in two? I've been ripping all of my Netflix movies into .iso files before realizing that my burning software (Nero burning rom) doesn't split an image file (.iso) that is larger than 4.7gig into two smaller files. All of these movies require dual layer blank DVDs, but since I have a 100 pack of blank DVDs I would like to try to see if I could split the movies to 2 different discs rather than buy the larger blanks. [more inside]
Dual-head remote desktop
How can I get to applications on a second monitor over Remote Desktop? [more inside]
Ich ben ein sufganiyah
Can you get great sufganiyot in Nassau County? [more inside]
How dumb am I, ya know, sexually?
Stranger, please pass judgment on our most intimate moments! So, my fiancee and I have been in a monogamous relationship for 8+ years, and the only method of birth control we use is condoms. Are we stupid? [more inside]
How do I force HTTPS in Tomcat (through Apache and mod_jk)?
I'm at my wit's end. I've been trying to configure tomcat (through apache 2 using mod_jk) to automatically re-direct all traffic to HTTPS from HTTP. More boring technical details to follow. [more inside]
MS Word date fraud mayhem
Is there a way on Microsoft Word to alter the file properties so that
the document appears to have been created on a different time/date? [This question asked on behalf of another member.] [more inside]
Floppy Laptop Lid Solution?
Floppy Laptop Lid: Toshiba Satellite 2450 (bought in Canada, FWIW). The lid is flopping around. Are there any online tutorials/instruction manuals for how to fix this annoyance? Can it be done without spending $ or ordering parts, etc.? Thanks.
Reddit Down?
Is reddit.com down? I've not been able to ping it or load the page all day.
that's with an R not an S
I'm looking for a file repository application suitable for managing a software collection plus storing metadata about each program (version, developer site, dependencies, that sort of thing - I'll need to have some custom fields also). This is for private use, I'm not recreating Sourceforge or Freshmeat, so lightweight is better. Must run under OSX or LAMP. Suggestions?
Help me make my pictures pictures again!
[Digital Camera N00b Filter] I took a bunch of photos on my new camera (Canon Rebel) in RAW, but when I use the software that came with the camera it uploads them onto the computer as .avi files that I can't open. At one point I managed to upload them through another program as .crw files, but I still didn't know what to open them with (photoshop didn't work). How do I make them pictures again?
Why are people using ellipses instead of a period?
What has happened to people being able to properly use a single period to end a sentence? [more inside]
My books are rotten
Wo to go?
What should I do this weekend in Germany? [more inside]
Designing printed forms in InDesign CS2
Any advice or resources on best practices when designing printed forms in InDesign CS2? I have a registration form to design (and will have several dozen others to redesign in the new year) and would like to do things right the first time. [more inside]
How do you learn to ask great questions like Chicago Public Radio's Gretchen Helfrich (Odyssey radio program)?
How do you learn to ask great questions like Chicago Public Radio's Gretchen Helfrich (Odyssey radio program, now cancelled ) ? [more inside]
How can I eliminate the smell of spilled soup?
I've spilled some chicken noodle soup in my car. I wiped up what I could with napkins, but some of it soaked down beneath the surface of the seat. I suspect my car will now smell like chicken broth. What can I do?
Farewell SkypeOut
Now that Skype is cutting off it's free service, what free alternatives are available?
Dandruff vs. Hat
Is frequently wearing hats a bad idea if you have dandruff? Some days it's cold enough to warrant a hat, but mostly I just like hats and not having to do my hair. Would styling it with hair product be any better or worse?
How can I play old Mac games on my Intel iMac?
How can I play old Mac games (for Systems 7 through 9) on my Intel iMac? [more inside]
Toenail torment
Does anyone know if it is customary for nail salons to trim toenails? [more inside]
work related abuse
work related question. A co-worker I work with very closely threatened my verbally and physically, claiming I was doing a poor job. I reported to my supervisor, and said co-worker denies it.
What should I do (other than quitting, but I like the job) I have been there 3 years and this came out of the blue. I feel now I have to resign.
Suggestions?
cross country auto shipping
I need to ship a car from New York/NJ to San Francisco area on Dec. 15. Online info for such services seem dodgy. Any recomendations or warnings? [more inside]
How to respond to incorrectly addressed email?
What's the best response to an incorrectly addressed email? [more inside]
Spreading cheer with festive food
(not cookies) food gifts. I'd like some recipes for not too expensive, not too hard to make, but stunning food gifts that are easy to package and give away for the holidays. Got any gems you'd be willing to share? [more inside]
Execute Remote Program Upon Remote Connection?
how can i modify an XP machine so as to allow remote program execution upon connection via windows remote desktop? [more inside]
Vitamin shopping
Where do you buy your vitamins? [more inside]
The $200 mass-market paperback
What's with some of the absurd prices I'm seeing with Amazon Marketplace sellers? [more inside]
Online dating mysteries explained (hopefully)
This question is for women who have used online dating : What are your most common reasons for breaking off an email exchange with a man who you met through online dating? Also, once you have given the man your phone number, and he calls you, what are your most common reasons for not returning the phone call? [more inside]
Need a download solution
How can I use p2p software behind a restrictive firewall? [more inside]
Stop Gap Measures
[Dental Filter] So, my gums are doing an awful lot of bleeding. It will be at least four months before I can go to the dentist. What can I do about this in the mean time? [more inside]
Should I put an alcohol treatment program on my health insurance?
What are the potential negative consequences for putting an alcohol treatment program on my health insurance? [more inside]
Korean Language XP Operating System
Korean Language XP Operating System
Can I buy a "Korean Language XP Operating System" here in the USA ?
I want to get a Laptop in Korean Language. Where can I get one ? I called Dell and they did not have one in the USA. From what I understand one has to buy it from Korea itself.
Thanks.
Who became the first Internet Video Star?
What video clip out on the net is considered to be the first "internet video star", rising to making international news or headlines? [more inside]
MP3 Streaming How-to
Best way to stream mp3s in a standard LAMP environment without getting tricksy? [more inside]
Ephemeral Fillms
Ephemeral films: You know, those films by Coronet, Jam Handy, Centron, etc, that were shown in classrooms in the 1950s-1980s.... Where can I find scholarly literature / books on them? I'm really struggling on finding sources, and I'm writing a paper comparing them to Noam Chomsky's propaganda model in Manufacturing Consent. Any suggestions? I've got access to scholarly journals through the school library, but I'm uncertain as to what to search for.
What is the easiest way to convert e-mail to tasks or appointments in OSX?
I am considering making the switch to the Mac, and I am wondering how you all convert an e-mail to a task or appointment in OSX. In Outlook, I just drag it to the Calendar or Tasks button (or use one of the ClearContext buttons). I understand this does not work in Entourage. [more inside]
When function keys go bad
Is it possible to totally or selectively disable keyboard shortcuts in Google Talk? A hyperactive F11 key likes to initiate unwanted voice calls. Irritating!
Using acupuncture to treat recurring miscarriages?
Last week, I had my second early miscarriage. In addition to a battery of tests I'm trying to convince my ob/gyn to give me, I'm also considering treatment with acupuncture. [more inside]
Help me lose a tooth.
My teeth have been in disrepair for several years now, and I've been saving my money for nearly as long to have them extracted (and replaced by dentures) en masse. Unfortunately, I discovered yesterday that at least one tooth has grown impatient with that schedule. [more inside]
Where can I find an affordable phone without a plan?
Where can one purchase discontinued or used cell phones? [more inside]
Who's your favorite sportswriter?
I'm looking for some new reading. Specifically about sports. There's [more inside]
all inclusive family resort in Cabo?
We have a family of five;1,2&8 yr old boys and us. Can anyone recommend
a great all inclusive resort on the southern tip of the Baja? Kid friendly, beautiful, good food etc.
Thanks,
Gina et all
Saturn '98 SC2 idling problem after highway driving
Why does my '98 Saturn SC1 have odd idling problems after more than an hour of highway driving (i.e. it sometimes revs high, sometimes it drops to nothing and stalls)? [more inside]
May the force sensor be with you
What is this handheld "force sensor" Jamie Hyneman yields in the "concrete glider" episode of Mythbusters? [more inside]
Curious.....
"Olive Juice" looks like "I love you" by someone lip reading.
What is this called? [more inside]
who sings this?
Who sings this? "I'm the jauggernaut bitch, I'll hit you with your own pimp"
Is there a doctor in the house?
Listening to this story about hospital interns on NPR yesterday got me thinking about the practice of interns and residents working around the clock. What is the purpose of this? [more inside]
I'm going on an epic trip to the Mideast and I need some help!
Travel filter! Researching a trip next year to Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mideast and Iran. Any visa/general travel suggestions? [more inside]
Seeing Double or Seeing Nothing
Help my MacBook play nice with my Apple Cinema Display... [more inside]
Help me make my candy cute!
Cheap, cute, original ways to package the home made candy I'm giving as holiday gifts? [more inside]
optics on different cameras, how can I get consistency?
2 different cameras, 2 lenses, how can I get the closest possible recreation? [more inside]
Hypothetically speaking what if I were, uh, madly in love with you?
How do you communicate to a good friend that you love them? [more inside]
How do I get cheap healthcare fast?
My cousin appears to have an abscessed tooth. She's uninsured, broke, and in desperate need of a prescription for antibiotics so she can sleep and work. How can we do this as quickly and cheaply as possible? [more inside]
Subvert Christmas
Help me find subversive Christmas videos, music and other media. [more inside]
Printing/Saving Protected PDFs
Printing/Saving Protected PDFs [more inside]
How do I make it to Spain next June?
New to international travel. Sonar Music Festival in Barcelona, next June. How should I start planning? [more inside]
If I give up on therapy, how can I manage my depression on my own?
How can I best work on my depression & anxiety on my own if I choose to stop seeing my therapist? Is this a really bad idea? [more inside]
Faux Finishing retailers in Boston?
Where can I find a faux finishing retailer in Boston? [more inside]
Event hosting in Boston?
Help me find a good place in Boston to host a fundraising event. [more inside]
Oh that... it's just my transmission destroying itself
My '98 Honda Accord is intermittently making a rather loud clicking noise when I shift it in to reverse. Help me diagnose the problem. [more inside]
Graphical data representation
Help me work out how to represent data in an innovative way. [more inside]
December 12
How accurately does Auberge espagnole, L' depict the city of Barcelona?
If you've been to Barcelona and if you've seen the movie Auberge espagnole, L', would you say that the movie does a good job of depicting what the city is like? [more inside]
Vacation Panic
EmergencyVacationAdvice. . . Filter. Free flight to anywhere in the 48 states, but I have to decide time and place by tomorrow (Thursday) morning - including budget planning! Please lend me your wisdoms. [more inside]
I'm going to Mexico, and I want a new Ipod!
Would I be able to purchase an 80 Gig Ipod more cheaply in Mexico City than in the US?
Adobe Reader: any way to have highlighted text automatically copied into the comment?
Adobe Reader: any way to have highlighted text automatically copied into the associated comment? [more inside]
Recording live television onto a computer
Recording live television onto a computer? I'm NOT looking for a HD quality picture here. Just bare minimum; choppiness in the video stream is my enemy.
I've tried a tv-to-usb adapter on a couple of computers I have, with the recording software set at BARE MINIMUM settings (ie, about a 5 inch by 5 inch picture, with audio and video settings set very low if not on the lowest settings). [more inside]
Does six meals a day + green tea work for weight loss?
Diet&Health: Will six small meals and green tea really help my metabolism and weight loss - and what's the deal with fiber? [more inside]
'Cause I don't want a regular "tramp stamp!"
At Body Art Ink in Myrtle Beach, I saw a picture I really wanted as a lower-back tattoo--a lion lying on his back with a girl straddling him. Does anyone know the picture or where I can find it again? [more inside]
What's Wrong with a BUSY Signal!?!
TelephonyFilter: Is there any Internet telephony provider that will allow you to receive incoming calls, but does NOT require that you have voicemail service? When I spoke with representatives at Skype, they said that the voicemail feature can not be disabled. I would be more than happy to use Vonage, however, due to the way my Internet is set up, it doesn't work (a known issue with this particular ISP). All I want is some way to set up a phone number and receive incoming calls ONLY--with NO voicemail, NO forwarding, NO call waiting. Is there any such service out there?
What questions to ask a prospective babysitter?
What questions should we ask of a prospective babysitter? [more inside]
What is this song called?
SongFilter: I heard this song on the radio, but I don't know what it's called. It goes something like this... [more inside]
Desktop Cluster
How do I make one big, fast computer out of three smaller ones? [more inside]
interviewing while employed
What are the unwritten rules and conventions behind interviewing for a position at a different company while you hold a full time job? [more inside]
Should I pay off my mortgage early?
Should I pay off my mortgage early? [more inside]
Buying pizza boxes in Toronto
Looking for a place to buy pizza boxes (for mailing LPs) in Toronto. [more inside]
Forgive and forgetting
How can I forgive my SO for hurtful things done (and apologized for) in the past? I'm having a really hard time moving on and moving forward due to my inability to forgive. [more inside]
I need it to be Greek to me just this once
I want to use the myth of Pandora's box for a project. I was hoping to find some text written out in the Greek alphabet to use as part of the project. [more inside]
If I file my taxes early, when would I receive a refund?
If I file my taxes early, when would I receive a refund? [more inside]
iTunes for Flash assets/templates
Looking for an iTunes-like system that permits users to access a library of assets that can be swapped in and out of preset Flash templates. Must run a local dbase containing all assets and templates... [more inside]
Skin care products for eczema - are any particularly pampering?
What are some nice, pampering products for someone who suffers from eczema? [more inside]
How is "ease of use" quantified?
In product design, how do they quantify biomechanic or ergonomic "ease of use"? Do they measure forces or torques needed to use the product, and if so, how? Do they count the number of muscles involved in its use? Do they just try it out on a lot of people? [more inside]
Modal verbs can versus could
English grammar: 'could be Xing' versus 'can be Xing' -- how can we explain why one is correct and one isn't? [more inside]
Creating the definitive audio meme collection
I'd like to create the definitive musical collection of internet memes for my own personal library. I need your help finding the real gems. [more inside]
Is the Taylor 110 a decent guitar?
Looking for new acoustic guitar. Anyone have any experience with the Taylor 110, Martin DX1, or similar guitar? [more inside]
Quotation (About A Heart, I Think) From Toni Morrison's 'Beloved'?
In Toni Morrison's 'Beloved', there's some part where—I think a guy gets to sleep with someone he's wanted to in a shed or something—so a motif about this guy's heart being like a closed black tinderbox or somesuch is brought up and upon that moment, he feels that there's a beating heart in there with red blood & the works. Ring a bell? [more inside]
wants more knob
why did monitors switch to buttons with menus for controlling brightness and contrast, rather than knobs? knobs are so much faster and easier - it was like a dimmer switch for your desk!
How can I optimize an audio streaming setup?
How can I optimize the audio streaming setup that is the core of the low power radio station I work with? [more inside]
Volunteering for an HIV/AIDS Organization?
As part of my Peace Corps application procedure, I have been asked to do some volunteer work with an organization that assists people with HIV and AIDS. [more inside]
How to make pecan pie filling.
Does anyone have a recipe for pecan pie filling that doesn't involve the pie? [more inside]
a box inside a box inside a box inside a box
I've already got the xmas gift figured out, now I'm trying to figure out how to give it...so what are some creative/clever/funny ways you've given gifts? [more inside]
Where should we celebrate New Years in Los Angeles?
Where should we celebrate New Years in Los Angeles?
My friends and I are coming down from San Francisco for New Years, and we're looking for something fun and cool to do on NYE. Everything we've found so far is at some big mega-club and costs like $125 to get in. Yuck. [more inside]
Subclipse icons
I'm using Eclipse with Subclipse. Until recently, in Eclipse's Navigator window, there were little icons on each folder and file telling you if they had been changed since the last commit. The icons have gone. How do I get them back? [more inside]
Can you help me find free online English Translation of Cortázar's "La Casa Tomada?"
Can somebody please help me find a free, online English version of Julio Cortázar's short story, "La Casa Tomada" (A House Taken Over)? I had found one a couple months back but forgot to bookmark it and now that I badly need it, I can't find it. [more inside]
Solicit donations to a non-profit?
Where can I get handouts in Sydney? [more inside]
GPS unit is not exactly accurate. Is this normal?
GPS unit sometimes is sometimes a bit inaccurate... Is this normal? [more inside]
Make My Laptop A Light Sabre
(Thinkpad Filter) Just been given a T42 by work (thank you) and am looking for some fun stuff to do with the motion sensor [more inside]
Packrat conundrum
Moving in together: how do you deal with a packrat (and not much storage space)? [more inside]
Songs TO children, but not FOR children.
Playlist filter: Songs TO children (not FOR children). I am looking for songs written to a child or children, whether in fact, or in your perception. What I am NOT looking for is children's music. NO Barney, The Wiggles, etc.
Example: "Fix You" by Coldplay
How can we stop people from stealing exams?
How can I design an exam setting that will discourage cheating? [more inside]
How do I burn copies of an audio CD with a .cue file on OS 10.4.8 using either Burn or Firestarter?
How do I burn copies of an audio CD with a .cue file on OS 10.4.8 using either Burn or Firestarter? [more inside]
what defines a tv network
What is a TV "Network"? [more inside]
Wildlife adoption experiences needed
What are some good organizations from which to adopt an endangered animal? [more inside]
Darts in Manhattan
I'm trying to find a place to a really nice set of steel tipped darts/flights/case in New York City. There used to be a great store in the low 20's on the East Side. Does anyone know a place?
HIPPA
Do HIPPA rules apply to health care professionals when they discuss health problems/treatments of friends and family members when they are not professionally involved with their treatment?
Is a Blackberry 8800 on T-Mobile my best choice for a data-heavy cell plan starting in spring 2007?
My (non-existent) ideal device is a Treo -- with wifi, GSM/GPRS, and either EDGE or HSDPA -- on a service plan that includes flat-rate unlimited data, flat-rate international data roaming, and a small amount of voice usage inside the U.S. (say 100 mins/month). So, in the real world, is a Blackberry 8800 on T-Mobile my best choice for a plan starting in spring 2007? [more inside]
zip+4 to lat/lon? Where? & precision necessary?
I want a free-as-in-beer way to put in a ZIP+4 postal code and get back a latitude and longitude. Unless that's more precision than I need for terrestrial astronomy. [more inside]
Scripting the parallel execution of a tedious task
Calling all shell script gurus! Help me write a command that performs an action on items in a list in parallel (as opposed to sequentially). [more inside]
Make love, start a revolution?
I'm looking for a video I saw online a few years ago that I recall sending the message to "Make Love, Start A Revolution." There is... [more inside]
Why should homemade oral rehydration solution not be boiled?
Why should homemade oral rehydration solution not be boiled? [more inside]
To ski or not to ski. That is the question. (something about snowboarding too...)
I've never gone skiing or snowboarding before, but I'm going on a co-worker outing in January to a ski resort for one day. I've decided to take beginner lessons in one - but which one? What would you recommend and why? [more inside]
Mom-friendly massage in LA?
Los Angeles-filter: What's a nice, casual massage place near Eagle Rock/Pasadena? [more inside]
My precious pictures!
Flying With Film: I'm traveling to Vietnam next week. I've decided to leave the digicam at home and bring my ol' fashioned 35mm cam + film. Should I worry about x-ray damage to the undeveloped film? [more inside]
Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre
New Year's Eve in Paris... any ideas? [more inside]
Guidance from the squid?
This is driving me nuts. I'm trying to remember the name of a site that offers general how-to information and contains the word "squid" or something like it in the URL. In content it's not unlike makezine or instructables, but less specifically hands-on. Am I crazy? Was/is there such a site?
Need a new mac puzzle game.
My girlfriend loved the game "Big Kahuna Reef" but now everyone is playing and creating levels for "Big Kahuna Reef 2" - which is not available for macs (our only computer). Any ideas for similar puzzle based games?
Poetry books for girls
GiftIdeaFilter (sorry): I'm looking for suggestions for poetry books for an 8-year old girl. She's an excellent reader and likely well above her target reading level. I thought introducing her to poetry might be a nice change of pace... preferably something she won't finish by supper. Thanks!
Can I claim for damage from a pothole in the street.
A pothole ate my wheel. Can I claim against the city? [more inside]
What are the best video games for character customization?
What video games have the broadest, most flexible character customization features? [more inside]
Whoa, yes, wait a millisecond, Mr. Postman
New Year's resolution: get serious about a B2B direct (snail) mail campaign for my small biz. Recommended USB mailing label and e-stamp printer for my WinXP PC? [more inside]
USB2.0 PCMCIA for scanner
USB2.0 PCMCIA card recommendations - I would like to run a USB powered CanoScan LiDE 60 scanner on an X22 Thinkpad. [more inside]
Crawling through Monterrey
Please help with suitable nightlife (good bars) in Monterrey, Mexico. From the U.S. and looking for something cool/funky. No dance clubs please. Will be here for three nights and located downtown. Willing to taxi anywhere. Local flavor a plus. Thanks.
Bush and Civics
How do civics teachers handle their jobs? [more inside]
FSAfilter: help me spend $250 on useful medicines/ vitamins before the end of the year.
My Flexible Spending Account (FSA) has about $250 left on it to be used by the end of December - it's use it or lose it, so I'm looking for ideas on the most useful things I can spend this money on within the next 3 weeks. I am potentially interested in stocking a basic medicine cabinet items that would be useful for a baby/ small child. [more inside]
What, you mean TODAY is the 12th?
LastMinuteAuditionFilter: I have less than three hours to prepare for an audition I totally forgot about until this morning. [more inside]
Teaching in China for just a few months?
I'd like to teach English in China, but only for a couple months. [more inside]
Show me the money...
Where do sites like Pandora & Last.fm make their money? I use both sites and others that have no or limited advertising and I'm very curious as to how they can support good looking websites with some degree of infrastructure behind them (staff, music rights etc). Also I'm keen to find out how I would go about pricing up my idea for a site that works in a similar vein but with a twist... [more inside]
I needed that dollar.
Why did PayPal take a dollar from my bank account? [more inside]
IPOD Stereo Connection COAX
IPOD connection to stereo through RCA - COAX - RCA plugs. Does anyone have experience connecting an IPOD directly to the stereo over a 30 - 40 ft distance using COAX and the resulting sound quality?
Pan Sobao and Pan De Agua Recipes!?
Puerto Rican Food Recipe Filter:
I am a transplanted Boricua looking for recipes for Pan Sobao and Pan de Agua.
Google gives the wrong recipes!
I am looking for someone who:
1. Has had actual Pan Sobao from Puerto Rico. Pan Sobao from La Facciola is best.
2. Actually MAKES this, preferably in Puerto Rico, and has the right recipe. [more inside]
How do YOU get the data on the page?
I would love some examples of high end print design workflows, especially database driven ones. Store circulars, flyers, etc. The more complete the workflow you can describe, the better. [more inside]
What percentage of biologist accept evolution?
What percentage of biologists accept [unguided, non-theistic] evolution? Citation needed. [more inside]
Help me get over a car accident
My wife got into a car accident last week. I wasn't with her, The story is, someone cut her off and slammed on the breaks and she had to turn to avoid him, she over turned and someone else almost hit her so she turned again and the car started rolling. it was an SUV and that made the flipping so easy. She is unharmed, she did not hit anyone, but the car is totalled. [more inside]
First year necessary?
Battlestar Galactica question. The mini-series, season 1, 2, etc.? [more inside]
Is AIGA group insurance worthwhile?
Any AIGA members here who are using their group health insurance plan? [more inside]
Centralized Advertising for the Lazy Blogger
I run AdSense on my blog, and burn my feed with FeedBurner. I would love to advertise within my feed with AdSense for Feeds (AFF) rather than the Feedburner Ad Network but AFF seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. Does it still run, and how can I get into the program?
RSS feed to track an investment portfolio?
Looking for a site where I can enter a portfolio (stocks and funds) and generate an RSS feed that gives daily breakdowns of how each stock is doing. [more inside]
How do I find my best place to live?
Help me figure out how find my perfect place to live: someplace temperate to warm, with a low cost of living and a growing population and economy [more inside]
How best to workout at work?
Bit out of shape, me. Would like to fix that. Our office has a small gym. In this gym is an expected fleet of treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights and a single stair-climber. We've got shower, locker room and changing facilities as well. Given these tools available, what would be my best use of them? Workout before work? After? And which for how long? [more inside]
Top tips and advice for building a Shuttle barebones system?
Over the weekend, I shall be building a Shuttle SK21G Barebone PC system. Given that I've only built about 4 computers (all of which worked fine) and never a Shuttle, is there anything you can tell me or websites I should read which will make the building process go smoothly? [more inside]
Button Fly Jeans
Levis: Button fly versus zipper [more inside]
Celebrate Flash Video
Where can I find a flash video with the music "Celebrate" (Kool and the Gang) used?
Warranty of electronic items in the European Union (or "me vs. HP")
Warranty of electronic items in the European Union (or "me vs. HP"): [more inside]
Fuel System for a 1998 Honda Civic
My friend was just told she needs a "new fuel system" for a Honda Civic (1998). What should we be looking for? [more inside]
Give a dog something to do!
This doggy-dog needs a jobby-job! [more inside]
Creating a custom search engine from a set of bookmarks?
Trying to turn a set of bookmarks (del.icio.us) into a custom search engine. [more inside]
Web server hardware requirements
How to calculate hardware requirements for a load balanced web server cluster? The web servers will be running Windows 2003 with a back end DB server, I want to support about 1000 simultaneous connections per server. The web application is fairly AJAX intensive. Not sure how I go about determining what sort of hardware I need for the servers, any ideas or suggestions?
Juicy Sushi goodness
Sushi! Having read previous questions I'm full of enthusiasm for the end of my sushi-making virginity. To help make it a joyous occassion for all, what are you favourite sushi recipes? [more inside]
b0rked partition table! halp!
I have a SATA hard drive with all my data (yeah, I was just about to implement a backup scheme with rsync...), and my Ubuntu installation shit the bed. I'm back up, but the partition table on that drive is kablooey. It is formated ext3, and I have little reason to suspect that the data is not there.
Are there any good tools for restoring a partition table on ext3, or can this be done natively? Gparted shows the file system marked as ext3, but with a warning about not being able to open dumpe2fs. [more inside]
Zip Code Proximity Search
I need to add a zip code proximity search to a site. I have the registration form configured so that it stores a user's zip code with his/her profile. Now I want to give the option to "Show all users within X miles". Does anyone know if there is a web API to handle this? [more inside]
Who will assess me?
Looking to take some AS-levels as an external candidate in the UK. Help! [more inside]
What product can I buy offline what I can't online?
Offline vs. online shopping - is there anything (other than services) that you can buy offline, but not online? [more inside]
Why can't the 2 of you just get along?
Is there a way to have both Landscape and Portrait set pages in a Word document? [more inside]
Sudden fat around stomach - normal at 25?
At 25 (6Ft, 68KG), I suddenly developed a fat stomach that now goes a bit over my belt. This happened suddenly over 3 months, so fast that it feels all wierd, like it is not my body. I know that many guys have big stomachs, so I'm not sure if my case is normal or not.
That's my question - did you develop fat around the stomach suddenly, or did it come gradually? [more inside]
Seats with a view?
I'm flying from Geneva to New York tomorrow - what side of the plane should I sit on? [more inside]
What should I expect my first time skiing?
I'm going to visit my boyfriend's family with him over New Years weekend, and he just casually mentioned to me that there'd definitely been some skiing involved. I've never been skiing before, ever. What should I expect? [more inside]
December 11
Fat kid was Sirius
Is Sirius going to take over XM? The fat kid that smelled liked cabbage who works in the car audio section at Best Buy said it was likely.... [more inside]
Help Me Not Study For My Finals
Where can I buy Worms for my Mac (preferably pay for and download online so I can play it right now)? [more inside]
Hey Fido, hope me find the web.
Prepaid Fido (Canadian cell phone company) unlocked Treo 650 can no longer connect to the internet. There is [more inside]
Mysterious laptop screen death after tinkering around inside.
Is my laptop screen dead? [more inside]
How to began a career in internet marketing?
Need help breaking into the Internet marketing industry. [more inside]
Writing for web?
Looking for recommended articles on writing for the web. [more inside]
How do I keep my crappy memory from ruining my relationship?
I'm an irresponsible guy with a really horrible memory dating a very responsible girl, and I keep fucking things up between us by forgetting things, screwing up schedules and things like that. It's not just things like the date we started going out, her birthday, or whatever (this sort of info is on my calendar just not in my head). It's things like the time we're going to meet, or where she's going to be at a specific time. I've always been so bad with dates and times and schedules that if I don't have absolutely everything written down then SOMETHING will be completely forgotten. I write down when dates are going to be, I copy her class and work schedules into my calendar, all that sort of thing, but I fuck some things up and it really upsets her. [more inside]
Manga convention question: golden teardrop
One feature of the New Yorker's recent 'Cartoon Issue' was a two-pager by their regular, Roz, documenting her reaction to manga. So... what was that thing sticking out of her friend's head? [more inside]
Better way to clean muddy dog paws?
What is the best way to easily (or more easily) clean my dog's paws when she comes in from our rain soaked yard and they are all muddy? [more inside]
Love and Creativity
Name That Ornament!
Can you Name That Ornament? [more inside]
Online Gambling, No Really?
Can I legally gamble online anymore? [more inside]
Clean my fridge - I need beer
Dirty, gross refrigerator in garage. A bit of mold inside and lots of black stuff filling every crevice. Mechanically sound, but is it possible to get it clean enough to use again? [more inside]
Selling a High-Profile Site
I run a community website that receives around 2 million pageviews a month. I'm finding that I don't have the time to run it these days - and I'm considering selling the site. It's in kind of a "hot" area and I think I could sell it for $2 million. [more inside]
Why don't I feel like fucking my hot girlfriend anymore?
Lesbian Bed Death... what gives? [more inside]
Skim milk = Skinny?
A lot of the studies I've googled indicate that there is a non-intuitive relationship between skim milk and obesity, at least in children. Does this extend to adults? Could someone explain how whole milk makes you lose weight?
Christmas 2006
How do you classify the end of December? Is it Christmas time or something else?
ssh tunnel - allow remote connections on remote side?
How can I allow remote connections to the remote side of my ssh tunnel? -g doesn't work. Neither does GatewayPorts. [more inside]
Help me become a graceful nondrinker.
How do I gracefully become a (young) non-drinker? [more inside]
and no spotlights on the front of the house. mom did that when I was a kid and it was annoying.
Help me decorate the outside of our house for the holidays! [more inside]
Help my find my favourite shirt
Help my find my favourite shirt [more inside]
How do I know when my Bonsai tree is dead?
How do I know when my Bonsai tree is dead? [more inside]
Kvas?
Is it possible to purchase authentic Kvas around Boston or Chicago? [more inside]
What's the best way to backup/restore (on a Mac)?
What's the best way to backup/restore (on a Mac)? [more inside]
creative writing classes in dc
Looking for creative writing classes in the DC area. I have DC residency, so community college classes in MD/VA are out. I've taken one expository writing class before and am a voracious reader, but I havent really done much in the way of a class setting before. I'd like to take a class, also for the peer review aspect and some help getting started on writing! Anywhere that's cheap in the DC region is fine.
Neti Pot Nose Nuisance
Neti pot users- what am I doing wrong? [more inside]
Where did my .doc go?
When you open a .doc out of a yahoo email (just open - not downloaded) then edit it, and click the save icon, where does it go? What happens after you close that window? [more inside]
Help me make my Flash button-inside-a-movie-clip work.
Can someone look at my .fla file and tell me why my button inside a movie clip doesn't work? [more inside]
How do I go from skinny to kinda buff?
How do I go from newly skinny to kinda buff? [more inside]
Witness Inc.
I'm looking for way to get a CD or record single of an obscure 60s Saskatoon band. They're called Witness Inc. [more inside]
Maybe my brain just really digs on antioxidants.
Is drinking green tea giving me a buzz? [more inside]
Power strip remote switch?
I'm looking for a desktop switch that will turn a device on and off, similar to that of a lamp dimmer. But a hard switch. [more inside]
What's the brand of flashlight the aliens are hawking on this commercial?
Have you seen the commercial with the aliens trying to fix their ship? If so, what's the brand of the flashlight they're hawking? [more inside]
No Bum Album
I need a list of CD albums in which all the songs are great (no more than one filler). [more inside]
How can one reconcile Free Will and Depression
Does the current paradigm of Mental Illness having an underlying physical and biological basis (say, due to a chemical imbalance) negate the concept of Free Will?
Also, where can one read more on this issue?
I'm not drinking a widow!
Dateline: Oxford Blue's House, 11:59:59 31/12/2006.
You want to celebrate the new year.
Do you go with a bottle of:
A) Veuve Clicquot
B) Moët et Chandon
Warranties for laptops
Buying a laptop in the USA but giving to someone in the UK - anybody know about international warranties? [more inside]
Move over XP, / I heart Ubuntu
New to Ubuntu. How do I completely uninstall XP after already having partitioned my hard drive. [more inside]
Do hobos do a lot of data entry in the winter?
What's the deal with hobo gloves (gloves with no finger tips)? [more inside]
Cracked iBook hinge covered under warranty?
One of my G4 iBook's hinges has a crack and it's spreading. Should I be worried? Is there likely to be any hassle getting it fixed under warranty? [more inside]
News that grows on trees
What are some memorable news stories this year that could be easily turned into company contest fodder, and how can I go about doing it? [more inside]
I want to look like Lady Godiva
Help me stay sane while I grow out my hair. [more inside]
Talk about self-loathing...
I saw on the news tonight that there was a sect of radical orthodox Jews (some type of haredim? chasids?) attending the Holocaust denial conference in Tehran, Iran. I know some ultra-orthodox groups deny the legitimacy of Israel based on Scriptural reasons, are these the same guys? Who are they and what is their reasoning for denying the Holocaust? [more inside]
What artists are in the same vein as the Dismemberment Plan?
Recommend me some good music in the vein of The Dismemberment Plan. [more inside]
Under pressure
I think I have the flu. Should I stay in bed or run 5K?
How do I POST a file using php?
How do I POST a file using php? Not POSTing to a PHP script but using php to read a file from the file system and POSTing it to another site. The site I am working on doesnt have cURL but fsockopen is available.
The lighthouse ghost
Does anyone recognize this old Scottish lighthouse ghost story? [more inside]
Writers on writing?
Writers on writing? [more inside]
What should I stock my bar with?
I'm having a few people over one evening "for cocktails." In order to provide a decent repertoire of standard cocktails, what should I stock my bar with? [more inside]
Getting a Schengen visa
In which one of the Schengen countries is it easier to get a Schengen visa? [more inside]
Tamil Nadu Tips
IndiaFilter: anybody have any specific tips on places to visit / avoid in Tamil Nadu? [more inside]
One-click single page for nytimes.com?
Anyone know of a firefox extension/greasemonkey script that would cause all nytimes.com articles to automatically open in the "single page" format. I read the whole paper online, and it's really annoying to have to click the "single page" button for every article that's longer than one page. Alternately, how hard would it be to write such an extension/script?
A death in the family.
My mother passed away last week and now I'm lost. [more inside]
Tetris shaped jigsaw puzzle?
Every heard of a non interlocking "jigsaw" puzzle using tetris-like pieces? [more inside]
suggest a solution to supply of surplus sheet-metal
What creative use can I put all this sheet metal to? [more inside]
No sweater thick enough
I have a double sliding glass door in my bedroom that leads on to an enclosed porch. These doors are slightly bowed outward away from each other, which leaves a gap about the thickness of my finger in the middle. In Beijing, in December, with prepaid utilities and heating that's barely adequate to begin with, that's not a good thing for my wallet, conscience, or bodily comfort. So how can I McGuyver this gap shut? [more inside]
Name that scary story for young adults
I'm looking for a young adult collection of ghost/scary stories I read in middle school (1980s). It was illustrated by Edward Gorey and contained a story about a young girl who discovers a creature of some sort living in a quarry near her home. She becomes obsessed/infatuated with the thing and frequently visits it. I remember strong sexual undertones in this story. [more inside]
the best way in install and run Windows Vista on a Mac
I want to take advantage of mf my new MacBook Pro's Intel chip: what's the best way in install and run Windows Vista on it? [more inside]
Do wet riding conditions increase the chance of getting a flat tire?
Do wet riding conditions increase the chance of getting a flat tire?
My rice lusts for your delicious recipes!
I need some tried and true suggestions for stuff to go on top of my rice. [more inside]
Inland Empire. What was THAT about?
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS: David Lynch's Inland Empire. What does it all mean? I have developed some theories and read some others, but I'd love to pick the Metafilter Brain Trust.
Stop me before I kill (my computer) again
Calling all Linux-minded MeFites: Please answer several questions related to kernels, upgrades, and Slackware 11. The last time I tried this I was left with a dead server. Help me do it right this time 'round. [more inside]
Media criticism
Phrases like 'the news about an event has become more important/more real than the event itself' are commonplace. Where did this kind of media criticism start? Who is known for having said this?
Where can I buy Xoriguer?
Help me find this Menorcan Gin: GIN XORIGUER. [more inside]
How to boost a line-level signal (in a car) to acceptable levels?
How to boost a line-level signal (in a car) to acceptable levels? [more inside]
Recommend an LCD monitor.
I'm looking for a glossy, high-brightness LCD monitor. [more inside]
Application to Turn External CSS to Inline
Is there an online application that will take an HTML page with an external stylesheet and make the styles inline? e.g. style="color:#000000" [more inside]
What's the bestest way to self-publish?
Has anyone used blurb.com? More to the point, what are my options for self-publishing? [more inside]
52 Fun Things to learn.
a list of 52 cool things you always wanted to learn but never got round to! [more inside]
Where can I buy a cradle for a Palm VX?
Where can I buy a cradle for a Palm VX? [more inside]
Need help with two iTunes annoyances
Any way around these two (Mac) iTunes annoyances? First, iTunes apparently cannot remember my password for "Check for Purchases". Second, iTunes always jumps the focus back to the next song it's playing despite how much further down I'm browsing and adding songs to playlists. [more inside]
Are there any open indoor track meets in the St. Louis area?
Are there any open indoor track meets in the St. Louis area? [more inside]
Rotating the view of pages in Illustrator
Is there a way to rotate my view of a page in Adobe Illustrator? [more inside]
An Apple a day
Children's Story Filter: Help me find a story about the Apple family. [more inside]
Corrosion, Palm
My Palm Pilot won't charge, and I think the problem is the charger. [more inside]
coreldraw exporting
When exporting from CorelDRAW to Adobe Illustrator, why does the file size jump from 4 MB to 50 MB? What am I doing wrong? [more inside]
Best photo ideas for canvas prints
What kind of pictures (photos) render best on canvas. I am trying to get a large sized photo-on-canvas frame from a night-time city shot. The picture I have in mind are night time photos of city skylines (manhattan from brooklyn) Would this look good when converted to canvas ? What other suggestions does the hive mind have when it comes to shooting digital images for framing on canvas
I've seen the artwork for an unusual tattoo before - but where?
The other night I saw a woman with many tattoos - one of them was of a pair of worms that had the heads of a perky boy and girl. I know I've seen this image before but my searching has been in vain. Does this sound familiar?
What are the various government-subsidized housing programs in New York City?
What are the various government-subsidized housing programs in New York City? For buyers and renters [more inside]
Chalkboard markers
Can anyone tell me where to find erasable, colorful markers for a chalkboard? Specifically, the vivid ones you see used at Starbucks and other merchants? [more inside]
Help me boot into windows with a broken bootloader and no installation media...
I've messed up my boot loader. I have a (working, legal) XP installation, but it won't boot, and I don't have any Windows installation media. How can I fix it? Linux, Windows and general stupidity feature in the creation of the problem, and getting the computer ready to give away in time for Christmas is the aim. [more inside]
Hey Pancakes!
Calling experienced cooks: What would cause pancakes to come out dull and tortilla-like in appearance rather than a scrumptuous dark brown? [more inside]
Looking for the name of a movie
Name that movie - Japanese movie on television last night [more inside]
How to route plexiglass?
I've been trying unsuccessfully to figure out how to route a channel in a piece of plexiglass for quite a while and now, having run out of ideas, I turn to the hive mind for help.
I've tried both a Dremel and a full-size router, but since they both spin at high RPMs (even at the Dremel's lowest setting), the plastic winds up melting and burring all over my bits as well as turning opaque due to the heat. My goal is to make the channel as translucent as possible, and I believe that I can put the plexiglass sheet in an oven after routing causing the plastic to smooth out and clear up any opaque areas caused by roughness. Can anyone recommend the proper combination of tool, bit, speed and technique to achieve my goal? Note that I am not wedded to plexiglass; I just need a very translucent material that I can carve channels into. [more inside]
I've tried both a Dremel and a full-size router, but since they both spin at high RPMs (even at the Dremel's lowest setting), the plastic winds up melting and burring all over my bits as well as turning opaque due to the heat. My goal is to make the channel as translucent as possible, and I believe that I can put the plexiglass sheet in an oven after routing causing the plastic to smooth out and clear up any opaque areas caused by roughness. Can anyone recommend the proper combination of tool, bit, speed and technique to achieve my goal? Note that I am not wedded to plexiglass; I just need a very translucent material that I can carve channels into. [more inside]
What to wear in court?
How do I dress for court? I'll be a factual witness against the defendent, and may or may not be asked to answer questions, dependent on how everything goes - if I testify, my input is extremely important to the case. It's important that I appear (in both manner & dress) as respectful, calm, matter-of-fact (casually confident), honest, ladylike, etc. I am all those things, but... [more inside]
Places to stay in Killington?
Does anyone have any recommendations for places to stay in Killington (VT) in January? I'm looking for house for a large group (20-25 ppl) for a ski retreat weekend. I've been looking online, but I'm not too sure where to start looking and a lot of the places I have found seem to be booked. [more inside]
White to move and mate in two.
Help me solve a chess problem, please? [more inside]
Oh, Bristol
I might be moving to Bristol, England. What I should I really know before I get there? [more inside]
Foundations of DIY-culture.
Books that laid the groundwork for DIY-culture. [more inside]
Help with a charity gift request.
I need help locating a certain brand of cologne requested as a charity gift. The request is from a 14 year old male, and who wants "Sexy" cologne for men. On-line searches just seem to turn up "Very Sexy for Him" by Victoria's Secret. I'm not sure that is the right one. Any ideas, or thoughts on possibly substitutions? I know from my teacher friends that Axe body spray is all the rage with teen boys right now.
Good Chinese reading for non-Chinese reader?
I'm looking for some good Mandarin Chinese online reading -- news, blogs, etc. Very simple -- no fancy academic language. [more inside]
Best way to deep-clean a work computer before leaving?
I am leaving this job at the end of the week, and I want to get every last single one of my files off my computer and leave it as clean as possible for the next person.. [more inside]
Help me unbender my fender.
What is the likelihood that I can replace the front fender on my Honda Accord all by myself? [more inside]
Help me sell my software without getting screwed
The company I work for has expressed interest in purchasing a software product I've been developing privately. How do I go about doing this so I don't get screwed? [more inside]
Songs about a great mom
Need suggestions for songs for a video about mom [more inside]
Corporate Computer monitoring detection
How do I figure out what user/usage monitoring software is running on my work laptop? [more inside]
Some of my recordings sound like Tom Waits after a two-day cigarette bender
Crackly, scratchy distortion on the low bass notes on my recorded music: Audiophiles, what's the cause? [more inside]
What are the key culture changes between UK and US Universities?
I've got the opportunity to do an American Exchange next Autumn from my UK University for about 15 weeks. What are the key culture changes that I'll experience? Of course, there's [more inside]
apple
thinking of buying a 13-inch apple macbook [more inside]
Toronto anniversary ideas?
My girlfriend's parents' 30th wedding anniversary is coming up soon, and we'd like to do something nice for them. [more inside]
Snot Rags in the Stocking
I'm trying to find some nice handkerchiefs for my lady. She uses them instead of tissues, and is often running out of them, so I'd like to shore up her supply. [more inside]
Civic sitting for six years
Mechanic Filter: Someone left me a '98 Honda Civic that has been stored for 6 years it seems. VERY low miles lol. What do I tell the mechanic(s)? [more inside]
December 10
Name that fish!
Name my new fish! [more inside]
Estate gift or sales transaction?
Estate gift or sales transaction? Need advice...
I have a small condo which my daughter lives in ..... [more inside]
Why can't I see my flash drive?
Why won't my USB flash drive show up? [more inside]
Show me the money
Help me with some student oriented nonprofit fundraising ideas (mi) [more inside]
Should an under-30 couple join the Beard House?
Anyone know anything about dinners at the James Beard Foundation in Manhattan? [more inside]
Aw, Crap.
How likely is it that a woman's disposable razor, accidentally flushed down the toilet, will result in a pipe blockage? [more inside]
Looking for a stripper snow globe. Help me find one.
Looking for a Snow Globe with a stripper in it.
Preferably with dollar bills as snowflakes.
No luck on ebay so far.
Any suggestions where I could find one.
Wikipedia vandalism
Someone is using tricky html code to vandalize Wikipedia entries. Can anyone look at a page in question and tell me how they are doing it? [more inside]
Help me be compelling
Have you ever been on a guided walking tour? What did you like about it? What did you dislike? Was the subject matter most important, or the presentation? How long was it? Was it focused narrowly (like, sites to pick up dudes in the Castro) or more broadly (like, the history of Manhattan) I would love to hear as much detail as possible about the walking tours that have bored you, thrilled you, or just made your feet hurt. Thank you!
open source in the physical world?
open source in the physical world? [more inside]
Who are the Sugar Boys?
Who were the country musicians on COLD CASE tonight? [more inside]
"Quick! Call Flammie!"
Baloney Sandwich?
This lunchbox is no longer in stock. If you can direct me to somewhere I can buy it new online, I will send you a special holiday card. Really I will. [more inside]
So I know HTML. What to learn next?
What web technology/language should I learn to make simple online apps and just generally enhance my bare-bones knowledge of HTML? [more inside]
What to Wear?
What is appropriate interview attire for a very creative, non-traditional company? [more inside]
32 or 64 bit windows on a 64 bit AMD platform? Why?
I bit the bullet and bought the hardware to create a cheap PC. Dual core and 64 bit with a decent upgrade path, but I digress. Now I need to know: WinXP SP2 or WinXP x64? I figure I'll "try" before I buy the latter, but to save headache and hassle I thought I might simply ask. It's basically 2007, here, folks. Should I run a 32bit OS on a 64bit platform? What are the ups and downs, the pros and cons, in your experience. Thanks!
Ancient percentage of alcohol in Molson Dry
Molson Dry Question [more inside]
Alternatives to trackpads?
What are the alternatives to laptop touchpads that work without a flat surface? [more inside]
QuoteFilter: universe & man
QuoteFilter: about the universe and thought. [more inside]
What is this rock-climbing finger pain, and how do I heal it?
What, exactly, is this rock-climbing finger pain, and how do I heal it? [more inside]
In the end he's stepping on?
Another song hunt. [more inside]
How do International Debt Collections work?
How do International Debt Collections work? Can I avoid it? [more inside]
Yet another ‘how to make friends’ post
Yet another ‘how to make friends’ post [more inside]
Where do I find funny websites to help me come up with "creative" entries to competitions?
I need a good collection of bookmarks to help me enter competitions! What are some good repositories for jokes, wordplay, and the like? [more inside]
Secure my documents abroad.
I am taking a surf trip to costa rica. Because of the nature of the trip, I will not be able to keep important documents on my person for large chunks of time. Where can I put them so that they are secure? [more inside]
How to make this toilet more attractive?
How do I beautify my scary industrial-looking toilet? [more inside]
Where should we escape to?
Where should we escape to? We (couple, not going to have kids) vant to be alone. We telecommute, so all we need is somewhere very quiet and safe and stable with good home Internet access. Where are the best places? I know we will have to do some travelling and check them out, but if you can give us some ideas, places, links, strategies to start on, we're grateful. [more inside]
Mystery song from rum ad
Do you talk AppleTalk?
MacNetworkingFilter: Setting up a print server in a small office–Ethernet, AppleTalk, wireless, oh my… Lots [more inside]
Looking to learn the nitty-gritty about property/real estate.
Looking to learn the nitty-gritty about property/real estate. [more inside]
The incredible reappearing bookmarks toolbar
Why won't the bookmarks toolbar in Firefox 2.0 remain hidden across multiple sessions? [more inside]
Who's got music recommendations?
Got any band recommendations? [more inside]
Where can I watch the Biathlon World Cup?
Where can we watch the Biathlon World Cup? [more inside]
when a foreigner goes through customs, their fingerprints and other details are being stored. who has access to all the information?
when a foreigner goes through customs, their fingerprints and other details are being stored. who has access to all the information? [more inside]
Cats + Me != Crazy Delicious
MedicalFilter: What allergy medications work best against cat dander? [more inside]
But I still sleep in Superman boxers!
If it was a planned pregnancy, how did you know when you were ready to have your first baby? [more inside]
How do I format raw data that will eventually be part of a database?
Complete database newbie. I have raw information in the form of text, numbers and photos. This stuff will eventually be fed to users on a web site. I am in the information-collection phase now. What's the best way to collect and format the data so it has the easiest possible path into a database that will serve the web site? [more inside]
More of that name that tune!
MoreNameThatSongFilter [more inside]
Ack! A Crack In The Wall!
There's a small crack/dent in the wall by my door where it got kicked by accident. What's my best bet on fixing it? I don't need it to be perfect, but good enough to not be obvious. I've uploaded a few pics. My initial thoughts were to throw some spackle over the crack/hole, smooth it over, and then paint. Or should I just be trying to find someone to pay to do this? Thanks!
Dance Studio Birthday Party - How Much to Charge
I'm trying to figure out how much a local dance studio should charge for hosting a 1-2 hour birthday party with dance instruction by one of our teachers. [more inside]
how to find a real estate agent in Buffalo
I need help finding a good real estate agent in Buffalo. [more inside]
Free, accurate foreign exchange data feed for GBP?
I'm trying to avoid shelling out an annual fee to XE for UK foreign exchange data. The European Central Bank provides a feed with Euro as base currency and the Bank of NZ has one for NZD. Surely there's a GBP equivalent?
Cosas hacer en Morelia?
I'm visiting Morelia, Mexico this week, arriving just in time to miss the Virgin de Guadalupe fiesta, and staying about a week. Suggestions? [more inside]
Non-Christmas getaway near DC?
Christmas getaway near DC for people who don't celebrate Christmas? [more inside]
Internal Card Reader Not Detected
My internal card reader has suddenly vanished from My Computer. Help! [more inside]
Where in SF should I park my car?
Where can I park in San Francisco? [more inside]
Recommend a backup device for a Mac
I need a good 500GB backup device for a Mac - any recommendations? [more inside]
Lust in my heart
Is thinking/fantasizing/looking at someone who is not your partner cheating? What if your partner thinks it is but you do not? What do you expect from your partner in addition to simple fidelity? [more inside]
make my instep pain go away
What ski boot brands/models tend to have the most room for people with high arches, short toes, and somewhat wide feet? [more inside]
hungry hungry hippos
I have about $20 to keep me fed until Thursday night. What do I buy? [more inside]
What's it called?
I've seen this type of personal (unpowered) watercraft, used close to shore, in the surf. I don't know what its called. Please help me identify this distinctive board/boat/flat kayak as google is not being my friend on this matter. Description within: [more inside]
GPS Navigehtion
Best GPS navigation system for Canada? [more inside]
Clothes shopping in Taipei/Hong Kong: What to get where?
I am going on a trip next week to Taipei and Hong Kong, and would like leave with an empty suitcase and come back with a full one. Can you help me prepare for what to get where? [more inside]
Investing for Dummies
Does it matter where you buy a mutual fund? [more inside]
Confused Children
I'm an atheist. My fiancé is not. What about the children? [more inside]
Safe/dangerous African countries?
What are the safest African countries for a white, English-speaking visitor? What are the most dangerous? Why?
Single- or Multi-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker?
I'm looking for a drip coffee maker that can make a single cup, preferably in a thermal mug, or make several cups at a time in a thermal carafe. I've searched the internets without success so far. Any suggestions?
Public terminal software
Kinkos and other public internet terminals run software that restore the computer between log-ons. What software is this? [more inside]
Why have people always thought this?
So, despite no one having told me this through high school, now that I'm in college I've been informed that everyone, everywhere, thinks I'm gay (and high school friends have confirmed this, now that I've asked). Men, women, doesn't matter. I am aware that I have a (very) slight lisp, which I hate because I can't control it (from birth). I am aware that I'm upbeat and tend to talk fast when excited. My body language is probably somewhat submissive, but I don't think it's THAT bad. I'm shy around a lot of women, don't make eye contact a lot, and a lot of guys don't like me because I'm not that into the "guy topics of conversation". Aside from, you know, how EFFING HOT random girl #43 is. (Cause she was!)
The point is, I'm disturbingly straight and finding out what everyone really thinks has thrown me for a huge loop--not only am I being perceived as something I'm not, but it's also been (continually) detrimental to my success with women and social acceptance by guys... and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. [more inside]
So realistic they leaped off the page.
Half-remembered fairy tale: a kid could only draw one eye on an animal, or else it would come to life. His secret is revealed when he's forced to draw both eyes on an animal, which then.. leaps off the page. What was this story? Where did it come from?
cheap Mac file sharing?
I'm looking for a cheap (or better yet, free) software to run a simple file server in my journalism lab. [more inside]
Date Stampin'
I just bought a new camera that I'm very happy with (a Sony DSC-H2) but there's one imporant thing that it doesn't seem to do: Put a date stamp on the pictures! This is essential for a disorganized guy like me. How can I get datestamps on my pictures in some other tricky way once the pictures are moved to my PC? [more inside]
How to soothe an infant who wants 24/7 nursing?
Nursing advice before I keel over? We've got an almost-two-week old here at home, and if she could she'd nurse (for comfort as well as food, I know, but there are no indicator lights to tell the difference) around the clock. If we thwart her drive to be hooked up every moment when not in deep sleep, it's howling time. We're trying every soothing trick in the many books to get her to calm down when not latched... [more inside]
AlgorithmFilter
How do you fairly score a pub quiz?
The quiz I run always has wildly varying team sizes - from one guy on his own to groups of eight or nine. It seems obvious to me that a sole participant who scores 95% has done better than a group of ten who score 100%, but I'd like an algorithm that will calculate a fair score for every team. I've tried to create one using exemplar data but I just don't seem to be able to hit the right combination of terms. My basic data set consists of (number of team members) and (score out of 100).
Any statisticians out there with a solution?
Bonus points if the algorithm is easily understandable to the general public.
Leaving the Earth behind us
Assume space travel is currently safe, as fast as possible and comparatively (compared to now) inexpensive. How feasible would it be to start colonizing a planet in a new solar system in a self-sustaining way knowing what we know now? Is this being thought about? [more inside]
Cleaning dog poop during winter?
Dogpoopfilter: what to do with dogpoop on a lawn that gets no sun? Now with Mea Culpa inside! [more inside]
A good knife for whittling?
Trying to remember the name of good French knife and also looking for suggestions for a good whittling knife. [more inside]
Trailers (not the movie kind)
I'm thinking of getting a towbar and (camper) trailer, but I have two questions: How do I make sure that the trailer sits level when connected to my car, and why does the towing capacity of the car appear to have no reference to the total weight of the car and trailer and load in both?
December 9
Foreclosure - how can I stop it?
Please help! I received a foreclosure notice. I have the money, but have been having a difficult time with the lender. How do I prevent a foreclosure on my house? [more inside]
When to lift weights in a weight-loss program
When to mix in weight training with a weight loss plan [more inside]
Augmentation question (SFW)...
Can ActiveSync be augmented?
I use the task list on my PDA extensively in a GTD-like manner. However, I would like my tasklist to be synchronized with my Outlook tasks via our office Exchange server.
My PDA is a Pocket PC running WM2003 SE. While Windows Mobile 2005 can sync tasks with a server, WM2003 cannot - instead it can only sync tasks with a PC.
So, the question is whether any third-party solutions exist to provide a conduit or some such, for Tasks for WM2003 for Exchange.
Any takers?
Simple email list maker
What's a small, free program to store a bunch of email addresses, label them according to categories, generate lists to mail different categories and eliminate duplicate addresses from the lists?
Why is my video/image quality grainy?
20" LCD Monitor + GeForce Video Card = Grainy Images/Video. [more inside]
I keep finding a small man in my bed
My boyfriend's 5-year-old son insists on climbing into bed with us in the morning. [more inside]
Travelers subway fare swap
Looking for suggestions on how to organize and promote an exchange of unused subway fare cards for travelers from Ann Arbor to DC, NYC, SF. Leaning towards a design that minimizes writing code.
I'm heading out to DC Sunday and had to dig around to find the remnants of the last fare - that should have been easy and an opportunity to socialize with the last person who came back with a partly full Metrocard.
How do you respond to news of a recent abortion?
How do you respond to news of a recent abortion? [more inside]
Name that tune...
Ridiculously specific question regarding Ladytron's just-finished US tour... [more inside]
Help Me Paint Some Balls
What's the best paintball gun to buy with a $200-300 budget? [more inside]
Ghost folder keeps coming back from dead
I had a folder on my XP desktop containing some .wav files. I then deleted the entire folder, and emptied the recycling bin. For some reason, this folder has been restoring itself on my desktop (sans the files) for reasons I cannot fathom. Each time, I delete it, and at some mysterious point later, it shows up again. [more inside]
Is there a GIS + Google Maps website?
Is there a website that lets you show GIS data (i.e. standard geographical data from various sources) on Google Maps? [more inside]
The learning curve to switch to Firefox from IE6
How much work will it take me to change from IE6 to Firefox? Looking at the list of problems in AMF, should a person not highly computer literate make the change? I use XP and have MS office installed and am now learning to write web pages -- CSS, HTML, Java.. Thanks in advance for your advice.
International money transfers between family members
What's the best way to transfer money from my father's (residing in Japan) account to my own in the US for banking/investing, and what complications may there be? Or, if he's not expecting extreme rates, are there better options he can pursue himself within