There are people (like me, unfortunately) who love all techy books no matter how outdated they are. Somewhere out there (craigslist, eBay, whatever), there is a person who would love to take those books off your hands for a nominal (or nil) cost. That's the ultimate recycling as far as I'm concerned and the very technology that the books are about is what enables the books to be sent far and wide to an appreciative home.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:20 PM on April 30, 2008

Look at this another way - do you want to be in your 40s, in a permanent relationship and wishing that you had played around more when you were younger? No, you don't - trust me on this. In general, we regret the things we didn't do far more that the things we we did.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:16 PM on April 30, 2008

ssg: "You have the fuel consumption at top speed of the Veyron, but you don't know the fuel consumption at top speed of the Altima. Without that number, you really can't make the comparison you want to make."

Also, the statement about peak fuel efficiency is simply wrong, because that will vary dramatically for different cars (different weights, drag coefficient, gearing and other factor swill influence this).

Also... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 2:57 AM on April 30, 2008

Here (Australia), wires are never run through studs, only down between them, for exactly this reason. A stud finder should have no problem finding any wires and you can also get some idea of where wires are likely to be by mentally tracking back from wall fittings etc. If you can get into the ceiling space (or underfloor space if there is one), you can gather a lot of information about where wires are run, too.

Grounded tools, ELCBs or pretty much anything else won't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:08 PM on April 23, 2008

The sand you want is often referred to as "double washed" and will be a lot cheaper to buy than anything labelled play sand or sandbox sand. It will be hugely cheaper to buy from a landscape supplier than in bags from a hardware, even if it means you have to give some away to the neighbours (or stash it somewhere for when the sand mysteriously disappears from the sandbox, as it will) if there are minimum delivery amounts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:02 PM on April 23, 2008

People have to do what you say (ie your status does guarantee weight) because you are the boss. In an ideal world, you would have become boss because you were able to demonstrate the leadership abilities combined with sufficient technical knowledge to permit you to guide a team of people in that area. In an ideal world, your staff will respect that and willingly do your bidding when that is what is called for.

As a team leader, I expect (and explicitly state) that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 9:12 PM on April 22, 2008

I think you did the right thing in that situation because, when it comes down to it, the customer needs to be serviced now and policy revisions can wait until later. Next, you need to follow through with some action on the policy by either reviewing it (perhaps gathering some data on how often this happens to start with?) or making a judgement that this was enough of an edge case that it is not worth tampering with the policy and then let the tech know that you have done something, even if it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 12:20 AM on April 23, 2008

Not sure if it is relevant but, where I live (Australia), specific zonings have been developed to allow a certain amount of development in previously rural areas. They call it a "Park Living" zone and there are restrictions on size of blocks (minimum 1 acre) and the blocks cannot be further subdivided, there are no sewerage or storm water provisions and there is no obligation on councils to provide things like parks and playgrounds that would normally be mandatory in suburban... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 9:47 PM on April 22, 2008

The best bet for the connectors would be to cut the cables to leave a tail on the Sony connectors and then fit RCA or similar sockets to the tails, then you can plug in whatever you want.

I was looking at one of these systems on the weekend, but decided against it because I am concerned about the whole "one component fails and the whole box is fucked' aspect.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 9:39 PM on April 22, 2008

God, I'm getting flashbacks from a job I had once. The only solution I came up with that actually worked was to find another job, but you don't see that as an option yet.

One of the biggest issues that I had was people installing all sorts of crap such as screensavers and various pirated software. I (mostly) solved these issues by developing a list of "approved" applications that staff could have installed and (with the support of my boss) refusing to support... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:09 PM on April 21, 2008

... never, ever, ever let anyone who isn't your boss set your schedule. I'm repeating this I know but it's that important. Emergency? Immediately? Critical? These are your call to make, no one else's.
Not exactly IT, but I used to be responsible for managing a queue for admin-type work to be done and there was a ticket that had to be attached to the request, including the date the work had to be completed by. Any ticket with ASAP on it went straight to the bottom... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 10:28 PM on April 21, 2008

Almost certainly not - you can try changing the display set-up to allow you to choose resolutions that the monitor will not support, but the most likely result is complete garbage on the screen. Make sure you are working from the primary screen before you do this, or it can be difficult to change it back (picture yourself trying to change the resolution using mouse clicks and commands from memory).
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:50 PM on April 21, 2008

Not quite Asia (but easily accessed from Hong Kong, the Gold Coast has a number of surfing schools. I have heard good things about Godfathers of the Ocean but, as always, you should conduct your own investigations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:46 PM on April 21, 2008

The parts may be bonded together with a glue that has an organic base and the base includes some mould spores which, given the ideal conditions (apparently, your basement), will sprout. I have seen this before.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 10:08 PM on April 17, 2008

A Stilson wrench would be a better bet than either pliers or vice grips - it's what a plumber would use. But only if you don't mind damaging the chrome surface. Definitely don't try to unscrew it clockwise, or the most likely result is you will either strip the thread or snap the arm off. Even worse, if you apply enough force, you could crack the pipes inside the wall. Then you are in some serious trouble.

Get some penetrating oil and apply it with a generous amount... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 3:29 AM on April 17, 2008 marked best answer

The lyrics may be a bit cheesy these days, but this has to be close to what you are looking for:
The Outlaws, Put Another Log on the Fire

Put another log on the fire.
Cook me up some bacon and some beans.
And go out to the car and change the tyre.
Wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans.
Come on, baby, you can fill my pipe,
And then go fetch my slippers.
And boil me up another pot of tea.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 4:47 AM on April 4, 2008

As a complete moron when it comes to building Web pages, I have found php to be a godsend when it comes to repeating information such as menus on multiple pages. A simple "include" can pull together any number of files that you can change in one location.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:34 PM on April 2, 2008

Maybe a long shot, but it wouldn't be" There Won’t Be No Country Music" by CW Mccall? It does include the words No deposit, no sad songs, and no returns" in the lyrics, but maybe you misremembered the line? And the frequency of the line?
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 10:34 PM on April 1, 2008

I'm a quality systems auditor and we get together regularly to discuss decisions we have made and what evidence we used to make that determination, mainly to foster consistency in our decisions. We also moderate "edge case" decisions by bringing material back to the office to moderate with other auditors.

Outside the office (which I think is what you were really asking). I am on the board of an industry/community organisation involved in my industry and a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 6:15 AM on March 30, 2008

Like many things, you can't define it clearly but you know it when you see (hear) it. To further the automotive analogy, the '57 Chev is a classic, the '58 is just old.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:41 PM on March 16, 2008

The Beatles aren't classic or any other kind of rock - they were almost exclusively pop music. I think it is more of a coincidence that The Beatles and rock music can be traced back to the same starting point.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 1:48 PM on March 17, 2008

New Zealand, with Australia a close second. Don't worry about running out of water - the world will run out of oil first. New Zealand is probably a tiny bit "freer" (and has better 'net access), but has a higher cost of living.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 12:19 AM on February 28, 2008

If being physically attracted to co-workers was a bad thing, we wouldn't have the overcrowding on the planet that we do - this is perfectly normal and absolutely nothing to worry about.

Maybe you could work on the way you feel about those thoughts, though. Learn to accept that you are a sexual person and that it is natural to be attracted to other sexual people. just don't let them take over your life.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:49 PM on November 8, 2007

The problem with getting the "back-end" files is that it may rely on some sort of database software to build the pages.

Use Firefox with the Spiderzilla extension. I use this a lot and have found that it works perfectly. Of course, if the site relies on something like php to run, you may have some problems or may have to re-author it to replace those functions with more generic code.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:00 PM on October 25, 2007

cellocat: "Neither of us is baby-crazy at all, which is partly why there’s been ambivalence for each of us."

In my humble opinion, your answer is right there. If you don't really want to do this, then don't. There's no rule that says you have to.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:00 PM on October 22, 2007

Thirding engine mount - the noise is probably the exhaust banging against the floor or another part of the underbody as the engine moves under torque. I suspect that you have an ignition problem of some sort, which explains the rough idling and the shaking under acceleration - when was the last time the car was serviced? As for the "performs better with a full tank" thing, I have no idea - area you absolutely sure this is true? Does it still make the noise with a full tank, or does... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 9:00 PM on October 16, 2007

jak68: "well, I'm in a house right now where the shower drain clogs literally once a week, and the toilet clogs every few days. I think its abnormal too, but the landlady thinks everything is normal. "

You're right, the landlady is wrong - make her fix it. Plumbing that clogs that often is badly in need of attention and, in the case of the toilet, is a potential health hazard. If she won't fix it, maybe you can report it to the local... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:42 PM on October 16, 2007

Ikea is your friend. Their stores have displays set up with very small spaces having an amazing amount of storage spaces in them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:34 PM on October 16, 2007

Some chairs have a lever to adjust the height of the seat by lifting the lever and this lever also pushed in and out to lock or unlock the tilt of the chair. Try pulling the lever straight out to the side.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:43 PM on October 15, 2007

Get the position description and write your resume around it. Don't include too much detail that doesn't relate to the job, but include enough to show that, not only can you handle this job, you have potential to be a valuable team member in other ways. If you know enough about the unit, try and fit in something that you know you can do and that they have a current shortage of in terms of HR.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:41 PM on October 15, 2007 marked best answer

Try contacting the electricity provider to see if they have any record of a power surge or other event that may have led to one at the time and in the location that the client claims their HDD got fried. A long-shot, but worth pursuing because it's the only way you will ever prove this, unless there are a number of people in the same area with similar problems.

My mother had a similar issue some years ago, but with a number of TV sets - it turned out there had been a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:38 PM on October 15, 2007

Paying the debt will constitute acknowledgement that the debt is yours and it will stay on your credit report.

In theory, the onus of proof is on the credit agency to prove the debt anyway - ask them for evidence that you incurred the debt in the first place. Fifteen years ago, there would have almost certainly been some form of paper trail and, if they can't provide that, they don't really have a leg to stand on, as far as I can see. In reality, it is hard to stop... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 5:15 PM on October 15, 2007

You have an awful lot of faith in the longevity of Google. Plus, the quality of all (that I have seen) on-line video formats is awful. If you are determined to use HDD for your primary storage, why not set up a RAID array so that one dead HDD can't bring down everything and/or store the data on multiple HDDs in different locations.

In any case, the tape media you currently have the video on will most likely not last as long as any digital media you are likely to use.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:54 PM on October 11, 2007

... my boss suggested that I consider taking some tech writing courses on his dime. I agreed.

I signed up for a program that requires about 15-20 hours per week to keep up, in the form of night courses "designed" for working people.
All evidence points to you having not a leg to stand on here. Your boss suggested that you do the course, you agreed and signed up - your boss has met his obligation and you have to meet yours. Next... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:42 PM on October 11, 2007

Also, assuming you have sick pay available, a "mental health" day every now and again will help you deal with any spikes in the course workload.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:43 PM on October 11, 2007

Round-Up and other herbicides would only be half-useful to us, because while it'd get rid of the grass, it'd also make it difficult for thyme to grow, no?
No. Roundup (well, the modern version of it, anyway) leaves no residual once the plant has absorbed it. You have to apply it when the plant is actively growing, though, or it will most likely wash away before being absorbed. You can plant other things a couple of weeks after spraying Round Up with no problems... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:11 PM on October 10, 2007

I sometimes wonder how some people can manage to walk and talk at the same time without forgetting to breath as well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 3:16 AM on October 9, 2007

We always want what we don't have.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 9:23 PM on October 8, 2007

One of my daughters never crawled either - she just stood up one day and walked. She also refused to ride a bike until she was nine - she would happy ride with training wheels, but refused to ride anything with two wheels - she would sit on it forever or let us hold her up and push her along, though. One day, she just did it. Yours will too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 9:17 PM on October 8, 2007

In my experience, changing back from a manual update to auto-sync wipes the iPod completely, including ratings. It updates fine both ways subsequently, but not the first time. There are lots of variable at play here, though, so YMMV.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:38 PM on October 7, 2007

Most ready-made blinds can be cut down in width to a certain degree, but you need to be very careful, because the material (if timber) usually splinters quite easily. If you aren't confident yourself, ask the retailer if they know someone who can do it for you, or contact a handyman service. It's not that hard.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:33 PM on October 7, 2007

Do what davey_darling said, but give the area a very light sand with very fine sandpaper (400 or better) first - try not to sand through the primer to bare metal but, if there are a couple of small spots where the metal is bare, it won't matter too much as long as you paint it within 30 minutes or so or it will start to rust.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:31 PM on October 7, 2007

What can I do to save this relationship?
The question really is not what you can do, but should you do anything? Should you change something about yourself or your expectations for someone who can't be bothered to walk 15 minutes to see you? I don't think so.

I don't think so.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:25 PM on October 7, 2007

Is it possible to just create an eight-hour PowerPoint presentation, incorporating all your content? Does it matter if it's not quite that long if you set it to play continuously?

You could then put the presentation in the start-up folder, associate the file with PowerPoint Viewer on the machine and it should start to play as soon as the machine it turned on.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 7:19 PM on October 7, 2007

Check out the local engineering workshops - the smaller the better. A lot of them are experienced as small runs and may d a good deal if they think it is likely to lead to on-going business. What you are really seeking is a prototype - hope you have any patents etc covered because, otherwise, someone will steal your idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:11 PM on October 4, 2007

They are required to either include the GST in the price, or state something like "+GST" - if there is no statement that makes it clear that GST is not included, they cannot charge it. It's pretty easy to include a * on the price and a small "+GST" at the bottom of the ad and meet the requirements, though.

It annoys the hell out of me when companies quote prices without GST when there is no possibility of an exemption. I assume it is done merely to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 2:57 AM on October 4, 2007

Well, it's not technically hidden, is it? They just don't include it in the first place they mention the price. A bit dodgy, sure, but probably not illegal.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 4:40 AM on October 4, 2007

In Australia, companies submit either monthly or quarterly returns called Business Activity Statements. In overly simple terms, they add up the GST they have paid, subtract the GST they have collected and either pay or are paid the difference. It's not that they don't pay the GST, it's that they get a credit for it against tax they have collected.

You should try complaining about the GST being added on late in the process and see if it gets you anywhere. If it really... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 5:13 PM on October 4, 2007 marked best answer

Cool! Glad to be of assistance. See what happens when you word your AskMe questions properly?

;-)
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 6:25 PM on October 4, 2007

I would assume that any expiry date is only valid until the packaging has been breached. Once you have contaminated the contents, all bets are off. For many things, they are not likely to damage you even if well past the use-by date, but they may not look/taste right. Some things (fish, shellfish, meat etc), I would be more concerned about.

But still, eat the sandwich anyway. What's the worst that could happen?
posted to Ask Metafilter by dg at 8:20 PM on October 3, 2007