Nthing ridiculous heat although both shows I attended were much later in the year. That may help.

Surprised no one has mentioned the oft-praised bottle redemption policy from last year's event. Too lazy to search for a link, but the gist of it was that if you brought 10 empty water bottles (regardless of their condition) to a particular tent, you could redeem them for one free water.

The grounds were *spotless* because of this -- it was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 6:59 PM on March 6, 2008

Don't get a Q.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 7:12 PM on February 25, 2008

Thanks for all the advice. Yeah, while my folks were visiting I asked them to pick up some Frontline, as I'd heard very good things, but they got an old-school (and ineffectual, obviously and to no surprise) flea and tick color instead. I've been meaning to pick some up ever since, but just haven't found the time. Got what I deserve, I guess. Or, well, the dog did.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 7:23 PM on February 9, 2007

My dad insists on buying these things (which he can never figure out how to use) over buying components. They do tend to break. If I were you, I would go the component route, but if you insist on sticking with the all-in-one gizmos, do what my dad does and buy them from Costco. That way, when they break three months later, presto! New piece of crap.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 5:54 PM on December 20, 2006

dead_,

I know I didn't really phrase my "question" in the form of a question, per se -- but put simply, I needed some affirmation that I was correct, after all the time I spent trying to find the simple solution that seemed like it had to be just beyond my grasp.

odinsdream,

Unfortunately, I'm stuck with Ghost - the company I'm working for is a Symantec partner.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 7:57 PM on November 16, 2006

Stepped out for dinner and then went home ... I'm very gateful for the links. I vaguely recall Bart PE from what I guess is technically now "back in the day."

While I want to reiterate my thanks for the workarounds, I reiterate (for no reason, I suppose) that in this day and age, the idea that a product like Ghost would not even have the option to natively create a bootable CD automatically is simply ridiculous.

Voting with my... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 10:08 PM on November 16, 2006

You're slightly bewildered? I spent literally hours working in Ghost Solution Suite yesterday, and I'm virtually certain that it was 1.1. Our license only arrived during the middle of this month. But if there was a CD to be created therein, I didn't see it ... then again, I wouldn't put it past Symantec to accidentally give us an older version of the product.

I won't be back in the office until Monday. The suspense will be killing me ... I'm... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:02 AM on November 17, 2006

Steven C. Den Beste:
Before you can talk about how much something would cost, first you have to prove that you have the technology to do it.

We don't have -- unless you are willing to consider using about 3000 hydrogen bombs. Which would almost certainly put enough dust into the air to jumpstart the next ice-age, and put enough radioactive fallout in the air to quadruple the cancer rate in humans for the next 500 years.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 1:00 AM on September 10, 2006

Thanks for all their answers. I wish I could say I was totally satisfied by any one of them at this point, but something still doesn't quite sit right about all of it (the whole "well, it's the way evolution wanted it" argument just makes me want more).

arruns answer was the coolest, although I have to give credit to the point advanced by frogan, the michael the and hatsix.

To i_am_joe's_spleen: I read your link to wikipedia and was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 10:02 PM on August 29, 2006

Pollo a la Brasa.

Taylor's Steak House.

Korean Karaoke places (Rosen is one).

Housing.

Crime.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:01 PM on August 7, 2006

Forgetting the argument over whether its ethical acceptable to download the shows, and ignoring all shows previously mentioned, I'd recommend trying out LUCKY LOUIE (basically an updated ALL IN THE FAMILY) that stars Louis C.K. (a brilliant stand-up who was formerly the head writer at THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW) and a lot of swear words). The show's still getting its sea legs, but it may turn out great.

BOONDOCKS is absolute genius.

For something a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 1:27 AM on August 1, 2006

Lamictal was great for me (for mild epilepsy, specifically), until I got Stevens-Johnson over two months after I started taking it. I had a relatively mild case of what is a potentially fatal reaction. I had the rash, my throat closed up and my lips swelled up to about 2x normal, cracked and then bled for three days. Bleeding from the eyes (albeit in small quantities) was uncomfortable. I hate to be the one voice of doom in the room, but I'm living proof that it does happen, however... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 10:48 AM on July 25, 2006

Steven C. Den Beste: Some people get allergic responses to it, but if that's going to happen it will happen in the first week or two.

ikkyu2: False, and irresponsibly so.

You tell 'im. To quote myself: "Lamictal was great for me (for mild epilepsy, specifically), until I got Stevens-Johnson over two months after I started taking it.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:41 PM on July 25, 2006

Scratch that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 7:39 PM on June 15, 2006

Sorry ... I don't know why I didn't look harder. It's been a bad day. Please delete this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 7:41 PM on June 15, 2006

Joe's moved? I've been away for too long! (Here's another vote for Joe's, Lombardi's, Ess-a-Bagel (they make a great black-and-white cookie, too (unless I'm thinking of Pick-a-Bagel))).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 2:22 PM on June 2, 2006

To piggy-back on the question here, I've always wondered about the etiquette that comes into play when one covers one's mouth while eating. I see people do this all the time, but am not quite certain as to the reason for it. I find myself doing it periodically now, despite not having any real understanding of why or when it is appropriate. So, what's the story? Does it serve as a sort of preemptive excuse for speaking with one's mouth full (or partially full), or is it simply to further... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 10:54 AM on May 22, 2006

Thanks to all who have posted already. My apologies for being absent from "my own" discussion thus far -- I was called into a meeting that ran long. I've only skimmed the comments above, but it's pretty clear that in my haste, I didn't do a terribly good job of editing my initial post (which doesn't bode well for my day job). It looks like the biggest missing piece is a clearer description of the project itself. So, to answer a few questions, it's for print, not web, and at this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:46 AM on April 26, 2006

Thanks very much to those of you who have responded to the actual question posed (bru, TurkishGolds, miss tea, godawful, macinchik, salvia, etc). I'll be sure to keep all of your advice in mind.

So far as my eye is concerned, it's definitely better than average. I grew up with an artist mother who gave me a good visual sense. I also deal with designers frequently and while I'm completely receptive to disagreement, they generally seem to respect my input.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 12:18 PM on April 26, 2006

Thanks again to all who have responded. Since a few people have asked, I'm going to reiterate that the "catalog" is probably going to be around a half-dozen pages with only one product per page. I got the feeling that it was going to be more of a Kinko's-printed job than the alternatives, but that's something I'll need to confirm. To davejay, yeah, one thing I'm considering is some sort of "ghost-writing," but the problem with that is that I will need to meet with the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 3:59 PM on April 26, 2006

One more thing from me (although I look forward to any more advice anyone can offer). I've received a couple of emails from mefi designers that have been really helpful. I won't name names, but I do want to express my gratitude for the extra help (and encourage anyone else to email me, should they choose to do so).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 4:14 PM on April 26, 2006

springload: And also, can anyone possibly be this stupid?

I'll save you some time. If ever you feel the need to ask this question again, regardless of the situation, the answer is yes.

Very late to the thread, but a hearty "great work" to the MeFi Justice Force and best wishes to the victims.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:43 AM on November 18, 2005

springload: I'd be scared for real about getting beaten up badly.

Also, perhaps you haven't had a chance to look at the pictures of him posted in this thread and to peruse his myspace profile? Although he does have a legitimate interest in the quiet art of "reading," his other two listed hobbies are "kickboxing [and] working out."

I don't think he's got much reason to be scared of the unwashed but CRT/LCD-tanned MeFi masses.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:57 AM on November 18, 2005

loquacious: Not that I advocate the outright kicking of ass, your assumptions are rather stupid and offensive.

Well, yeah. First, you're right - those potato cannons can leave quite a nasty bruise. And the lasers? What's to say.

In all - well, more - seriousness, however, I'm sure you're right that there are some bad-ass motherfuckers around here, as evidenced by a recent martial arts-related thread. But I think it's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 6:31 PM on November 20, 2005

item -

That comment (odd as it is) has actually been there since near the start of this whole episode. I'm sure it's related to this particular scam, as I think it showed up just as this thread started to pick up speed, but it's been there for a while...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:58 AM on November 30, 2005

What's that place down on Main Street called again? The one with all the robots and whatnot in the window? I think it's open Sundays.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 4:00 PM on September 21, 2005

Having grown up in Amherst, then lived in the midwest, then in New York and on the West Coast, I want to echo languagehat's point. Please, rest of the world, pay attention: Western Massachusetts and Boston are not the same thing, no more then San Francisco and Los Angeles or Austin and Dallas or etc. It's a state, not a city, and the city's regionalisms do not necessarily extend westward (especially in this case, where Amherst is in a constant identity struggle and defines itself largely by... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 1:48 PM on August 21, 2005

One Western Mass. native's rebuttal/response to ericb:

> “Bang a u’ie”, not “turn around”
Well, yeah, but this is sort of universal. I've learned that in CA it's "flipping a bitch."

> “Bizza”, not “weird”
No.

> "Candlepin bowling" involves tiny little pins and tiny
> little balls.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 4:11 PM on August 21, 2005

Thanks to all for the great answers. While I'm a bit ashamed for not having thought to just google-ize (or howstuffworks-ize) an answer, the individual anecdotes made for really interesting reading. By the way, the howstuffworks explanations on how they train service and police dogs were also fun reads...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:38 PM on August 12, 2005

I'm with weapons-grade here. Find-as-you-type, once enabled, is great. And once you've found the term you need, you can simply press F3 to find further instances of that term. Unless I'm also misunderstanding you, this should do just what you need. If not, good luck.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 6:28 PM on August 12, 2005

Since we're asking winamp questions (and this one was already answered wrt to Winamp), I hope no one minds my adding a supplemental question. Is there any way to move large blocks of songs in WinAmp other than to highlight them and then drag them? I'm basically looking for a simple cut and paste function...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 10:18 AM on July 17, 2005

robhuddles, you're right that you didn't ask a winamp question specifically, but box's answer above will do exactly what you're asking for. I assumed you were unaware of that checkbox since you didn't mention it explicitly and it's sort of obscured by poor language in Winamp. Anyway, it occurs to me, that it won't do what you want if you're talking about enqueuing files from the Winamp Library instead of from Explorer. For reasons I can't fathom, the "enqueue" function is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:12 AM on July 17, 2005

ikkyu2 Would you care to write a law that distinguished between your sane 5mph self and the idiot who takes a blind corner on a 3 foot wide sidewalk at 20 mph
running over and killing a toddler who was walking on the sidewalk?

Uh, hyperbolize much, Mr. Strawman?

Neither would I.

Yeah, I think that I could probably muster up something like that. I think I'd call it a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:21 AM on July 11, 2005

I'm surprised to find as much of a negative response here as I've gotten, but appreciate the well thought-out replies as a rule, and want to thank everyone. The one bit of it that doesn't surprise me, however, is that Me* contains a lot of real cyclists who think of biking as sprinting/jogging on a bicycle, where I'm talking about something more equivalent to "walking" on a bike. I think there's an important difference to be drawn there.

spicynuts:... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:56 AM on July 11, 2005

One more post before I venture off to work. I've been working on it for quite some time, so I'm going to indulge myself by posting it, though I acknowledge that the question has largely been answered (or at very least an answer has been given, regardless of whether or not I like that answer - and I admit that that's irrelevant). I'd like to once again thank most everyone (here's not looking at you, dobbs) for responding with such great patience and care. I will look more carefully at some of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:56 AM on July 11, 2005

occhiblu: On preview: Sinner, you're still really saying that since *you* wouldn't get hurt, it doesn't matter that you're endangering pedestrians by acting illegally.

Not at all... If it comes to it, I'd (un)happily fly off into a tree to avoid hitting someone walking. I'm talking about degrees of injury. And pointing out illegality is kind of moot - I mean, I acknowledged at the outset that I was questioning the law. Obviously I know that it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 1:04 PM on July 11, 2005

Can I just take back the whole "liberals versus conservatives" thing right now before I look like a total ass? Please pretend I never said that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 1:10 PM on July 11, 2005

Since a couple of people have mentioned me by name, I'll do what I said I might and respond, as briefly as possible.

occhiblu: People aren't angry about the idea of ever riding on the sidewalk. People are annoyed but the "But I should always be allowed to ride on any sidewalk, because traffic is MEAN and riding my bike is HARD!" tone of the original question,

This is patently untrue, occhiblu. It's sort of amazing,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:29 PM on July 11, 2005

Just one more thing:

This thread has already inspired another thread about bike-friendly cities. It also has a huge amount of links, information, statistics and well-reasoned opinions on the issue at hand (thanks, most recently, to dial-tone). If not for a few jerks (and everyone but them knows who they are), I think it'd be a shining example of at least one side of AskMe at its best. This is by no means to toot my own horn - the vast preponderance of the information... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:38 PM on July 11, 2005

Haven't read the thread yet, so I'll be embarassed if this question was answered therein, but ... when AIM lists a user as idle (and greys out their name), what does it mean? That the user has not used AIM recently or that the user has not used any part of the system in general? Apologies for being off-topic, but the question was already answered.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 12:38 AM on July 7, 2005

I realize that this is not helpful, but I remember reading that article, too. I think you're right that it was Wired - I had a subscription back then. You're right, it was cool. If I can find anything I'll post a link.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:43 AM on July 2, 2005

Thanks, Mitheral, that was my assumption, but I welcome any assertions to the contrary.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 6:48 PM on June 30, 2005

No. From what I understand, the offline cache was supposed to serve as a sort of primitive backup. It kind of makes sense - the old server that she had been connecting to apparently had backups running forever, she just hadn't connected to it for a long time. So, I guess the whole "primitive backup" thing appears not to have turned out so well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:59 AM on July 1, 2005

Obama will become the first black president.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:22 PM PST on April 27 [!]

Not if Will Smith beats him to it. God knows if Arnold and The Body can make the transistion to politics then the (possibly) smoothest, most likeable man in the world can. Mark my words.: The Fresh Prince will become the Fresh Prez. Has a nice ring to it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 3:10 PM on April 28, 2005

A very brief note before I run off to a meeting for a little while - all of these responses have been fantastic and I'm really learning quite a lot. Thanks for that.

For my part, I agree that (1) topical t-shirts are rarely funny enough to be worth the investment; (2) that Am. Apparel makes the best shirts out there; (3) anything outside of $15-18 is an unreasonable price - although I'm not counting shipping, which does add to that.

I do think... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:51 AM on March 28, 2005

To anyone still reading this thread, first, thanks again. It's really a great and informative thread (for me, at least), with lots of fantastic information.

I should note, by the way, that I will be selling American Apparel's retail markups are astounding. Their wholesale prices really are quite reasonable. Unfortunately, they won't permit you to resell their blank tees online or I'd skip the whole process and just sell them for $10 apiece or something. I'm sure... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 10:41 AM on March 29, 2005

I'm not certain about price and quality, but Staples and Radio Shack are always good bets for the old "return-after-you-try-and-buy" no-fee rental program. Also, it may be worth considering buying a USB client. I have an old Linksys WUSB11 that consistently seems to receive a stronger signal than a variety of different PCMCIA cards I've owned and/or tested. I don't know if they contain larger antennas or if it's just that the cable allows you to move it around until you find a sweet... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 9:50 AM on March 11, 2005

trharlan : Thanks for covering for me on the clarification front. I'm still hopeful that Derek can provide more of an explanation or that someone else might have a link.

cardboard: Thanks, but as trharlan said, I have a rough understanding of how the kind of anti-theft mechanism mentioned in your link works, but I'm asking about the yellow plastic strips that run (internally) along the spine of the DVD case.

Unfortunately, I still don't really... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:13 AM on February 12, 2005

OK, I had a little more time to look (and help from a friend) and while I'd still like a detailed explanation, I can provide more information. First, this picture shows what what the case looks like when opened with lock still inserted.

It appears that at least one manufacturer of this type of locks (if not the only one) is a company called Clear-Vu. The product they use is the reusable Clear-Vu Zenith-Pac (or a reasonable facsimile thereof), although Clear-Vu also... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 11:54 AM on February 12, 2005

"Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends."
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sinner at 8:09 PM on January 12, 2005