Follow on question: Was it worth it?
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 12:51 PM on April 24, 2008

Excellent. How about searching for a string in a .PDF on open?
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 7:31 PM on November 6, 2006

Duh, don't know how I missed page 7 (well, I know but I'm unwilling to admit to laziness and stupiditiy in such a large forum). FYI: this is an intranet site, I wouldn't inflict such evils on the world at large.

Thanks all for the tips!
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:06 AM on November 7, 2006

My favorite photo accessory is a white card similar to this product. Setting a custom white balance makes an amazing difference in your color reproduction, but if you're just shooting standard daylight it may not make a big dif for you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 12:12 PM on October 11, 2006

BonusExtraCredit: Does 5.1 improve the audio (as in CD, Music, no video) experience as well? I understand it does this for video, I'm suspicious the techniques used there might not be helpful for audio...
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 1:03 PM on September 10, 2006

Crocs are good, but crocs don't breath -- that's why they have all the holes. If you get the hole-less crocs, get some good wool socks or prepare to have sweaty feet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:39 PM on May 20, 2006

I am a great fan of neti. Make sure to dry your sinues afterwards
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:35 PM on April 14, 2006

Wow, Frogan -- I've never heard of neti being called scientific, let alone psuedoscientic.

In my experience, I've stayed healthy while my family's gotten sick while doing daily Neti. Conversly, when I have not been doing Neti, I tend to follow the same patterns of illness as my fam. I believe that it helps to alleviate my congestion and presumably helps to mechanically clean festering phlegm from my sinues.

However, if you'd browsed the wiki... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:37 PM on April 15, 2006

Non-native english speakers I've asked this question to say it sounds like singing. They didn't mention whether it sounded like nice singing or not.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:11 AM on April 10, 2006

Jasper
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:55 AM on March 30, 2006

Ok, thanks for the comments so far. Allow me to refine my question, add a bit more data, and confess:

Refine my question: What stereo reciever can I get that will both improve sound quality from my crappy amp I've got now, and give me a remote for less than $300.

More data: The BA A-150s have a reccomended amp wattage of 100 according to the BA website.

I like the music to get loud some times, but I never turn my amp... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 2:34 PM on March 28, 2006

Thanks for the great answers all, I appreciate it!
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:11 AM on March 29, 2006

Neti. Similar to Sinus Irrigation. My nose is so much cleaner now it's amazing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 6:02 PM on March 23, 2006

Thanks for the excellent answers everybody. I tried to mark unique answers despite the fact that almost every answer was very helpful.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:44 AM on March 16, 2006

Disclaimer: I work for the Windows Mobile people.

My favorite feature of Windows Mobile 5 and Microsoft Onenote is that notes (voice notes, written notes) i make on my PDA are automatically imported into one note.

So often I've got a 'flash' of an idea -- saying it outloud and having it recorded for later use is incredibly helpful. I used to call myself and leave voice mail, but this is quite a bit easier.

I also get... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:02 AM on February 7, 2006

www.hel-looks.com
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:33 AM on January 26, 2006

Seriously examine your sleep. You'll probably need a drs. help to do so. Make an Appt w/ your GP and tell them you're unacceptably sleepy at work, and would like to do a sleep study to find out why, or at least talk to the Neurologist about whether one is appropriate (sleep docs are usually neurologists in my experience).

There are a number of sleep disorders which will cause you to be tired during the day without waking you up at night. Sleep apnea is one of them, and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 4:33 PM on January 24, 2006

I'd guess tannins rather than sulfites which is what bobot and andrew were referring to I think.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:45 AM on January 5, 2006

Treo700w definitely supports BT headsets. I'm 95% certian you can train it to voice tags.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:15 AM on January 5, 2006

We've ruled out bed bugs. Typically bed bug bites bleed and leave bloody stains in the bed. We don't have any of those symptoms. We've also thoroughly cleaned the house, vaccumed the bed and inspected it and the mattress for any signs of bed bugs. Good guess, and I'm happy to reconsider but for now I'm thinking no.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 11:35 AM on December 23, 2005

Why?
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 11:50 AM on December 23, 2005

In the interests of more information: the Wife and I were treated with Stromectol, which makes the chances of mis-applying the medice very low (since it's a pill).
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 11:55 AM on December 23, 2005

No bumps on hands, either -- just arms, torso, legs. The 3 year old get them on her neck and one on her face.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 11:57 AM on December 23, 2005

Scabies. Scabies are a parasite. Chicken pox is a virus.

Our bumps appear in clusters (1-5), but are otherwise dispersed. For example: 5 in left arm pit, 1 waist line, 2 back of neck.

seriously: I'm open to considering they're scabies, I just need some evident I haven't heard of yet, and since we've been to the dermatologist twice I think I've heard it all. That said, keep it coming, maybe I missed something along the way.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 12:05 PM on December 23, 2005

OK, I'm off to get a gluetrap for near the bed this evening.
Keep 'em coming! Xmas guests in T-30 hours...
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 12:20 PM on December 23, 2005

For the visually oriented:
Itch_itch_itch
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 2:41 PM on December 23, 2005

I'm betting that stromectol is effective against all types of mites -- if it can kill Scabies plus a bunch of parasitic worms I bet it'll kill chiggers, spider mites, and any other mite smaller than a lobster.

I'm also betting fleas as most likely, bedbugs after that. Bedbugs just because I've had new 'bites' surface during the day.

Hot-tub-itis (flocular Pseudomonas?) is possible -- we do use a hot tub once a week or so. However, it's a 'club... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 7:11 PM on December 23, 2005

Regarding b1tr0t's advice: do the last bit first (try finding the remote). Not all cameras pass IR through, some have 'hot mirror's which will block the IR. Trying the Remote thing first should confirm whether your camera would see any other IR illuminator.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 11:07 AM on December 14, 2005

Look into using one of the new Windows Mobile devices avaliable in europe -- the O2 'executive', Orange 'M5000' or similar T-Mobile device meet most of your requirements. The Orange 'M3000' device also figures (it meets more, and let less). These will only work where you get cell coverage, so rural areas may be sketchy (but, frankly, unless you do Sattelite, I think you're stuck there, excepting dialup). You get email, some applications (.pdf, .xls. .doc) email, web and voice, with the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 7:34 PM on October 20, 2005

Jasper.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:40 AM on October 18, 2005

What they said.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 4:30 PM on October 11, 2005

I lost two cats to FIP a few years ago. When the first one died, I had no idea what do to, and took her body to the vet. Bad idea.

When the second one started to go, I asked my vet what I could do. She graciously agreed to come to my house to put my kitty down on the turf he knew best.

You should ask for this, and possibly shop for a vet who will do this. It was way, way better than taking him into the animal hospital.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:35 AM on October 11, 2005

Never tried the Ultrasonic Pest Controls because somebody told me that regular old Mothballs worked great. I tried it, they did. They need replenishing about once a year, but cheap and effective (at least for me).
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:20 AM on October 7, 2005

Also: the Amino Acid L-Lysine helps resolve canker sores.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:06 AM on October 4, 2005

I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Here's what my doc recommended. I swear by it, it works great:

Get out of bed. Go to a darkened room. Lie down. Do nothing, get bored. I usually start feeling sleepy in 20-30 minutes.

Trying the same thing in bed doesn't work for me at all. similarly, doing anything, particularly anything involving light (reading a book, watching TV, using computer)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:08 AM on October 3, 2005

Here's an earlier thread, and a not as early thread.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:51 AM on September 30, 2005

I've fired several doctors (it always feels great to say I fired them, the truth is I just went to other docs). In your situation I'd recommend you go get yourself a second opinion right away, but not necessarily fire your doctor yet. You've already got a set of diagnostics coming up. You might as well get the data and one interpretation of them. And, if he's doing a good job let's give him a chance to mend his bad bed-side manner ways.

In the mean time, ask your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:32 AM on September 30, 2005

Elpapacito, you didn't actually say what your goal was: to cover up an already messed up floor, or to waterproof it. Which are you after?

For waterproofing, the going wisdom (here in the rainy Northwestern United States anyway) is that applying a product to the concrete won't actually solve your waterproofing problem. It will simply transform it into a water pressure or treatment failure problem. For waterproofing, the best idea seems to be interior perimeter drains. Not... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 8:42 AM on September 30, 2005

As an alternative, you could get a cellular data card (a gprs card from Cingular or T-Mobile should do the trick) and install your own SMS gateway. (http://www.nowsms.com/ for example). This would let you send SMS messages and bill them to your data plan. 60 day free trial on the gateway.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:49 AM on September 28, 2005

You can get Gmail (via pop or in the browser) on any windows mobile device. Sprint offers some, but there is a better selection on GSM carriers (T-Mobile comes to mind). The Audiovox windows mobile device works very well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:33 AM on September 21, 2005

I rode an electric bicycle for a year and a half or so. It was an older but well respected engine (US Currie Pro-Drive), and there were some good things about it. However, it was never a substitute for a motorcycle. I could ride pretty fast on the flat (18 mph) without pedaling, but any kind of hills required quite a bit of assist by me.

Now I ride fixed gear. It suits my needs much better: suitably geeky plus I get plenty of exercise. I reccomend it.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:29 AM on September 21, 2005

I wrote one of the two original threads above. 18 months later here's what I've found out. At least for me, the reactions you're describing are/were related to pre-existing stress. The most effective things I've done were to a) find out about and treat my sleep apnea and b) go on anti-depressants c) 'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy', which didn't deal directly with these issues but did help me identify them as a stress (or depression) reaction and gave me some tools for understanding them better.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:19 AM on September 21, 2005

I think what you want is here. Half inch plexi will be very heavy, be warned. You probably want 1/4 or slightly thicker. Drilling shouldn't be a big issue, you can probably do it w/ a standard high speed drill bit and a regular drill. You could consider getting some metal sleeves (or sleeve washers) for your holes to take some of the wear and tear off the plexi itself. Check out the bits and bobs section of your local hardware store (go to a big box store if you can't find it at true value).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 3:57 PM on September 9, 2005

The 6820 is a messaging phone, so I doubt it's the multi-part thing that's got ya. Ralawrence's guess is a good one. The specs for the device say that it supports SMS, EMS and a few other messaging types.

There are two other types of SMS style messages which might cause the problem. Class 0 and 2 SMS messages could be screwing things up. Similarly, it's possible this phone doesn't support Nokia SmartMessaging, although I think that's unlikely given that it's a Nokia... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 11:53 PM on September 2, 2005

Hey sgarst,

It's possible that as part of you getting over your flu you've re-opened some sinus passages which had been closed for a long time. Your un-used and newly recovered sense of smell might be sensative at first. Count your lucky stars, many people have lost their sense of smell (and consequently much of taste) forever. You just got yours back!
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 3:32 PM on August 30, 2005

Dude, get the used bike. Doing it yourself is part of the journey. Besides, you can buy a LOT of upgrades for $400 later. I agree w/ jmgorman -- get yourself a track cog and a english threaded Bottom bracket lock ring and some locktight (or nail polish). There's some risk that you could unlock it, but it's a very small risk with locktight and a BB lock ring. That's what I'm riding right now and I've had zero problems. FYI: I used the 'permanent' locktight to be on the safe site.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 10:20 AM on August 22, 2005

Hey Wjatitis:
Try these:
Wikipedia

Bike Forum

Also, try variations on this google-fu

You should be able to find both at your Local Bike Store, depending on how big/good they are. If it's small/not so good, call in advance so they can order them in. Or, order from Sheldon, he's a good cause.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 1:34 PM on August 22, 2005

Half links! Cool shit, I've never heard of them. Thanks for the tip!
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 1:11 PM on August 24, 2005

"Thank you Chicken"
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 9:53 AM on August 24, 2005

The Undertaker's friend google results alternatively refers to somebody who kills lots of people (Asa Cain comes up), or Formaldehyde. I agree that it would be virtually impossible to metabolically loose that much weight over a matter of weeks. Surgery seems more likely, or possibly something non-metabological which would rid you of fat, such as a possibly non-leathal does of a poison.

Of course, this whole things is probably bunk.
posted to Ask Metafilter by daver at 1:12 PM on August 16, 2005