You seem to miss having someone around, or just having that background noise when you're doing something like reading. Have you considered leaving a radio or tv on? Getting a pet?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:58 PM on July 25, 2008

You would be tied in to a contract with AT&T, which may or may not be an issue. If you get a 16GB iPhone, you can sell it for around $1000. Unlocking is always a good idea, because a lot of people that buy them don't know how to do it.

I did roughly the same thing with the previous version of the iPhone (but I did it for a HTC Touch Cruise), and it worked out well for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:18 AM on July 25, 2008

I lived in Lyon a couple of years ago, and while I can't give any specific housing advice, the first thing you should do as soon as you arrive is buy a couple of transit passes. They are awesome.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:02 AM on July 24, 2008

Just go to your local camping store and check out their cold weather gear. They'll have something thin, light, and built to keep in heat like a furnace.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 5:39 PM on July 23, 2008

Blogger supports access-restricted and private blogs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 9:36 AM on July 23, 2008

I think it's actually a useful tool. I can always tell when my girlfriend is falling asleep while we're watching tv because she starts doing that. It's my cue to get more comfortable, because if she's leaning on my shoulder, I'm not going anywhere for a while.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:23 AM on July 23, 2008

When seen from far away it can make a girl look like she has blue eyes, and it seems like blue eyes are considered attractive.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:02 PM on July 17, 2008

Bad: GoDaddy
Good: Dreamhost
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 3:29 PM on July 15, 2008

If you know the company name, try calling them and asking.

If you're willing to brute force it at work (honestly, not a good idea), you might want to look into the method of blocking, especially if it's at the DNS level. You can look into OpenDNS, or even do some SSH tunneling to your home machine to get around the restrictions.

But be aware that any of the above options may get you fired.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 1:58 PM on July 14, 2008

Whatever you do, don't cancel your old contract before the number is ported to the new provider, or you will lose it.

Once you number is ported, you old contract will still be in force, meaning you'll keep getting a bill, it just won't be tied directly to a phone number. At that point you can cancel, or do whatever you want with Verizon.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 3:45 PM on July 9, 2008

This might not apply to you, but there is one loophole in getting out of Verizon early-cancellation fees. When I cancelled my contract with them it was because I was moving to an area where they didn't provide coverage, so they refunded the $175. YMMV.

It was such an easy process, that I'm not sure why less-honest people haven't picked up on it, and signed up for a dozen Verizon plans the day before they move, get the free phones, and cancel the next day to avoid the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 3:48 PM on July 9, 2008

This is blatantly false for Verizon Wireless and fairly sure this is not the case (nor legal) for any other carriers. Upon receiving the port request you will receive a final bill with your early termination fee attached. You will probably also receive a call or two trying to "save" you by Verizon.

Hmmm, my apologies, I was assuming my experiences with porting in Canada would apply to the states. I stand corrected.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:55 AM on July 10, 2008

I live in Alberta, and my friends in the oil industry go to Dubai and Russia to make bundles of cash.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:50 PM on July 7, 2008

Email accounts and WiFi settings will not be transfered. Calendar and Contacts will.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 2:13 PM on July 6, 2008 marked best answer

The latest firmware for the iPhone hints at some unannounced features such as bluetooth A2DP, I assume that will be announced sometime after the iPhone2.0 is launched. Apple would be idiots to not add bluetooth the their iPod Touch at the same time. Unfortunately for the Touch that will require a hardware modification (there's currently no bluetooth in them), hence a new version.

That sounds like something Apple would add and announce in the near future.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 9:04 AM on July 3, 2008

Bluetooth is becoming very popular in portable media players for wireless headphones and speakers. No, there's not much point other than that, but it is a factor.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 2:30 PM on July 3, 2008

Are you interested in mobile apps? Write something for Google's Android, it needs all the help it can get!
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 2:23 PM on July 3, 2008

Where are you located? In Canada the best deal, hands down is the 7-11 Speak Out Wireless Pay-as-you-go Plan. Most national carriers expire your minutes after 30 or 60 days, while the 7-11 ones last 1 year. Other good options are Petro-Canada branded cell phones. Avoid Rogers, Fido, Telus, Bell, Solo, Koodoo, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 10:06 AM on July 3, 2008

You might be liable to your roommate for half the utility bill, but you WILL be liable to the Utility company for 100% of the bill if it is still in your name. If it is unpaid it will be on your credit report, and they'll sue you to recover it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:26 AM on July 3, 2008

See also: Short Code
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 11:58 AM on July 2, 2008

Ha, I did exactly the same thing, only I'm using an HTC Polaris right now. I found the spbShell to be a lot better than TouchFlo, and experimented with 6.1 roms, but went back to the factory install. Things I've done while waiting for the iPhone:

Use the Plaxo Windows Mobile Client and cut out Outlook
Grab the Pocket Scrobbler from Last.fm if you're into that.
Install Opera Mobile 9.5 (beta) for web surfing (you can find it on the xda-developers.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:04 PM on June 29, 2008 marked best answer

Don't say you have a phobia, say you have a medical condition, perhaps even a severe allergy. Because you do, it's a mental allergy. People are less likely to joke around with things like that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:50 AM on June 28, 2008

If you want to make them uncomfortable, when someone says something like that make eye contact and don't break it. Remain silent. When they look away, walk away.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 9:21 PM on June 27, 2008

The iPhone is useless if you're going to want turn-by-turn driving directions. For that you'll have to look at Nokia or Windows Mobile.

If you're ok with Windows Mobile look into some of the HTC phones. I have an HTC Touch Cruise, but would recommend a Tilt because you'll probably want one with a keyboard. Mine has Wifi, 3G, and TomTom navigation software (exactly the same software you get in a TomTom branded GPS).

Grab an unlocked on from eBay,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:23 AM on June 24, 2008

esd: By turn-by-turn directions I mean that you cannot do things like get directions while you're driving, regardless of the gps hardware in the 3g phone. It's explicitly excluded from the license. It's also not possible to use it for GPS type programs that aren't internet connected.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:32 PM on June 25, 2008

I spent a couple of years in Europe (moved from Edmonton), as while it was the scariest thing I've ever done, I can't express how much it taught me, and showed me life in a different way.

You need to know that even when (if) you return to Canada, you'll never see things exactly the same way. You'll see things in New Zealand that are just plain better than home, things that are worse, and things that are just different. For example, I struggle... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 10:52 AM on June 25, 2008

Just wanted to chime in and agree with most of what has been said.

You do not need cardio to lose weight. You should do cardio because it is good for you and will make you feel better. 20 minutes of HIIT can do wonders. If you want to do more cardio than that,do it because you enjoy it, not for any other reason.

Lower reps will build muscle size, higher reps will build tone.

Weightloss is 100% about the calorie deficit.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 5:28 AM on June 24, 2008

Yes, in general any GSM phone will work on any GSM network. There are some minor frequency differences in various countries, but any quad-band/world phone should work anywhere you want to go.

Be aware that GSM is not the fanciest new technology, and you'll probably notice humming and chirping if you put your phone near a speaker (tv/computer/etc) but it is the most widely used consumer-friendly technology for cellphones right now.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 11:56 AM on June 23, 2008

I sold my iPhone a couple of weeks ago for a Windows Mobile phone with GPS (HTC Touch Cruise), and I will say that the iPhone was the best phone I've ever used. But if you're like me and you want more than an amazing phone, it might not be the best fit. Admittedly Windows Mobile is ugly, hard to use, and well... not as nice, but it can run circles around the iPhone in functionality (bluetooth, sync, turn-by-turn gps, dev tools, etc)

Until we get some Android handsets in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 10:45 PM on June 23, 2008

The Bathroom: The last bastion of gender specific complaints and/or jokes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 1:26 PM on June 23, 2008

Woah. Dude, admittedly I am no expert at relationships, but WOW. You need to run far, and run fast from this girl. You need to understand YOU ARE NOT HER BOYFRIEND. The guy she just broke up with was her boyfriend, you are now officially the guy she uses. Get out, get way out. Move, change your phone number, RUN AWAY.

Ahem.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:26 PM on June 22, 2008

Depends on whether you're primarily interested in conserving water, or encouraging growth. Watering at night will reduce evaporation, and reduce watering needs, watering at other times might be better for plant growth.

If your lawn consists of native/local grasses you should probably water at the same time of day as when you get the most rain, as the plants will be adapted to that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:22 PM on June 22, 2008

The only thing the Internet replaces is previous versions of the Internet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:09 AM on June 22, 2008

Using public WiFi is equivalent to being in a crowded room and shouting to your friend across the room. In general most people don't care about what you're saying, but imagine each one of them has a tape recorder, and a camera. Now would you be more careful about what you shout?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 11:35 AM on June 19, 2008 marked best answer

Xpresscall + a cell plan with unlimited evenings and weekends. Used it, loved it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 10:18 PM on June 18, 2008

Treat it as a simple mistake, and bring it to their attention.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 6:30 AM on June 17, 2008

BMW is releasing a hybrid X3. Is that an option?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:25 AM on June 15, 2008

I hate myself for saying this, but Sharepoint?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:43 AM on June 15, 2008

That's definately one philosophy. Many people subscribe to some form of Corporate Social Responsibility theory. There is no right answer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 4:29 PM on June 13, 2008

I would say that there's more incentive to be successful in military research. At the basic level, it's about kill, or be killed. That has a tendency to motivate people to perform. In private-research situations, it's generally profit-based, and while that can be motivating, it is a bit different in practice.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:37 AM on June 12, 2008

There's quite a bit of information available online about CPU speed comparisons, unfortunately there's not a lot of places that have it all in one place.

I'd recommend Tom's Hardware CPU Chart
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:33 PM on June 11, 2008 marked best answer

I have a friend that jogs on the "wrong" side because the camber of the road hurts her hips if she runs with traffic, but not if she runs against it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 3:16 PM on June 7, 2008

You can't win this, but you can at least have fun with it. Add an indefinite article. "Let's go to a Union Square Farmers Market!"
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 10:39 PM on June 6, 2008

System Restore might be hiding files on you. Is it turned off on your machine? And how big is your swap file?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:18 PM on June 6, 2008

It's called multi-factor authentication, and most banks get it completely hopelessly wrong. If you google multi-factor and banks you'll get lots of hits. Most of the time it's more of an annoyance than a decent security measure.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 8:34 AM on June 6, 2008

I had a machine like that. It was a custom mainboard, so it couldn't be replaced (new ones wouldn't fit in the case) and it had a Pentium D805, and the best I could get out of an upgrade was swapping in a E6750 Core2 Duo.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 1:25 PM on June 5, 2008

Bladerunner. But that was by faceless corporations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 7:19 AM on June 5, 2008

Gaelic psalm singers.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 10:06 PM on June 2, 2008

MusicBridge will do everything you want when transfering/sync'ing music between iTunes and Windows Media Player, and it's free.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 2:02 PM on June 2, 2008 marked best answer

If the couch is a standard woodframe covered with fabric, you might be able to partially disassemble it, move it, and then put it back together again with a few nails. YMMV.
posted to Ask Metafilter by blue_beetle at 12:54 PM on June 2, 2008