How small? Exchange is a waste of money and time for any office smaller than, say, 50 people. In that case you should go with a service provider that handles Exchange for you, as Eschatfische says.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:43 AM on July 3, 2008

There's a better way, I think. Use Google Alerts rather than Google News RSS feeds. That will give you one place to manage all your subscriptions. Among the pluses:

--Google Alerts allows you to get notifications of companies being mentioned in more places than Google News: blogs, Google Groups (including Usenet), video, and the full web.

--Each email contains an option to remove the alert, to create a new one, or to manage all alerts.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:31 AM on July 3, 2008

Left out the most important part: there is no way that I know of using any known existing online news alert service to dump in a list of topics and get RSS feeds in return, at least not without a lot of work or using the methods described above (which are very, very easy and involve only typing and patience).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:33 AM on July 3, 2008

If someone on the editorial side of the New York Times calls you, the number that shows up is 111-111-1111 (though that fake number is not exclusive to the Times).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 12:49 PM on July 2, 2008

nitsuj and everyone, Quick Find and FAYT might just do the trick. I don't need the buttons. Command-G, the almost universal "find again" command, works there just fine.

Now I'm off to find a way to make commmand-F invoke Quick Find. That should be easier than undoing 15 years of muscle memory.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 8:20 AM on June 29, 2008

To make your life easier across the web, call it "find", not search. Search means googling.

Have you tried googling variants of "find" in conjunction with this problem? I didn't think so. You'd see instantly how useless your advice is.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:24 AM on June 29, 2008

Bonaldi, bravo to you. Google's search is so excellent that even a lame-ass search string like "firefox find in page" produces results.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 11:10 AM on July 2, 2008

The SIM card is probably loose. Turn it off, turn it over, take off the battery cover, take out the SIM card, count to 10, put the SIM card back, put the battery back, then turn it on again.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 9:34 AM on June 27, 2008

I'm incredibly fond of using equal parts lapsang souchong and some really cheap regular tea bags. I like the earthy, almost rusty, flavor of the lapsang souchong but mixing it with another tea makes it more palatable as an iced tea.

I also recommend that you consider boiling your tea, then diluting it with lots of ice and water. I take one big bundle of lapsang (loose tea in one of those fill-it-yourself paper tea sleeves) and three regular tea bags and put them in two... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 6:17 AM on June 25, 2008

Some people smoke tobacco laced with embalming fluid (which is usually formaldehyde). (The link goes to a raw Internet search that turns up lots of results--pick your source. I don't know which are the most definitive or authoritative on this subject, since there is also a lot of fear-mongering, misdirection, and exaggeration about it.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 2:38 PM on June 24, 2008

Two other things:

1. Try that same search with "marijuana" in place of "tobacco" and add in "formalin."

2. I knew about this because I did a dictionary entry for a related term, wet, which is what formalin- or formaldehyde-laced joints or cigarettes are apparently called, although the meaning of the term is, so to speak, fluid.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 2:47 PM on June 24, 2008

I used La Poste to send boxes of books and clothes to New York City. Took from four to six weeks and was very inexpensive and hassle-free.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 3:05 PM on June 13, 2008

Related Ask Metafilter threads:

Will I be able to move to Brooklyn in September?

"If I can make it there..."

Where is Safe, Affordable Housing in Brooklyn?

NYC broker recommendations

How to cheaply furnish a Manhattan apartment?

How do I get over my fear of moving in NYC?

Advice on NYC neighborhoods, for Aussie in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 5:46 AM on June 6, 2008

Yes, the term you want is cronyism.

Most jobs suck. Sales jobs suck more. I'd start looking around but set the bar for departure, by requiring that the new job be very special. If you go, you want to go where things are clearly, visibly, obviously better, not simply different.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 11:02 AM on June 2, 2008

You've got to uninstall *all* of it except for the Microsoft User Data folder in Documents (though you can delete that, too, if you don't use Entourage--if you do use Entourage you MUST keep it). That means getting the Microsoft folders out of your user Preferences and out of Application Support folders found in both the root Library folder and the user Library folder.

I had the same problem and deleting these folders solved it for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 7:48 PM on May 28, 2008

You do need to install SP1. The bug fixes in it speed up performance enormously.

If, when you reinstall, it doesn't give you a screen to enter your user name and/or serial number, then you haven't deleted all the correct files. You'll have to go back and make triple sure to get al the Microsoft preferences.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 7:52 PM on May 28, 2008

It's not a family setup. It's a general interest number that anybody might call. It's a number that will be distributed publicly in Trinidad and Tobago.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 3:46 AM on May 21, 2008

One of the most intense minutes of my life was spent in a pie fight in New York City's Central Park ten years ago, organized by my friend Al (who sometimes is also part of a tuba-playing KISS-look-alike combo). Anyone could participate, but the price of admittance was ten pies. Many people just bought pie crusts and cans of whipped cream. We put out some big tarps, lined the pies around the edges, and everyone stood inside of the circle of pies until the "go" signal. Mayhem! Glorious.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 8:15 AM on May 19, 2008

The Wall Street Journal has a glossary of some of the more common terms.

The lingo was also discussed at Language Log.

Be warned about the slang in The Wire: if you go around Ballmer talking like that, you're going to get smacked, whether you're a cop, a dealer, a hopper, a pol, or a journo. The use of slang in The Wire is overdone and overwrought.

David Simon, the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 9:40 AM on May 17, 2008

The journalism lingo is discussed here. It's probably the most authentic use of slang in the whole series.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 9:42 AM on May 17, 2008

The obvious answer for integration is bbpress.

I can't agree with that. BBPress has incomplete integration with WordPress, doesn't offer sophisticated administration, and is slow to be developed. It's a C- forum, and that's being generous.

What you want is Simple:Press Forum. Its development is fast, its backend is mature, the community is large, and the integration with WordPress is superb. It's a B+ forum.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 9:26 AM on May 17, 2008

"Bonzer" is by far and away the most common spelling, not "bonza." Macquarie Dictionary confirms this and gives these alternate spellings: bonz, bonze, bonza, boshter, bosker.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 7:32 AM on May 14, 2008

Having worked at ad agencies in New York City for many years, some with offices in Portland, I'd say you don't want the suit. Dersin's advice is best. Make damned sure everything is well-pressed, high-quality, contemporary, and newish. A high-quality open collar shirt that is well-pressed and under a fashionable jacket will beat many suits in the ad world--among the ad people I know, trying too hard is worse than not trying hard enough. The shoes should be well-cared for and kinda hip. Above all,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:27 AM on May 12, 2008 marked best answer

Dr. Wu, the 6103 is close enough. Thanks for the data point. How long have you had your phone?

Fructose, on the 6101 were you sending your emails in the same way I'm asking about? Also, as I wrote, I know about the picture messages and the idea in your second comment doesn't work.

Aydeejones, as I wrote, I know there are those ways of sending SMS messages to email. But I am not typing out full email addresses on a phone keypad every time. That's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 12:52 PM on May 5, 2008

Harmfulray, what model of Nokia is it?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 1:44 PM on May 5, 2008

In discourse linguistics, the word implicature is used to mean things that are implied and understood but not explicitly said. For example, a former employer's reference letter than says mainly that someone "always came to work on time" is probably going to be understood on the receiving end as damning with faint praise.

If you browse through the glossary linked above, you'll also come across "indirect speech act," which is a term for situations, for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:22 AM on April 28, 2008 marked best answer

Many interesting "inkwell" words, but what to they convey that "Got it!" doesn't? If there's any doubt, say "I understand" and then mirror it back in a few words.

You need to reread the poster's question and follow-ups. What is NOT being looked for is synonyms for "to understand," but terms to describe the phenomenon of understanding despite insufficient or irregular communication.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 3:16 PM on April 29, 2008

Here are two, but I know there are many more of these somewhere. I seem to remember somebody on one of the better know blogs collecting a few, but that's the most I can remember. Let me think and dig on this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 5:28 PM on April 27, 2008

I started using Mozy a couple of months ago when Anil Dash mentioned it. It's $5 a month for unlimited storage and transfer per computer per month. I have a Mac and a Windows machine. The client will backup on schedule and also when the computer has been idle for a certain amount of time.

The Windows client seems to be fine. That computer is not storing all that much data with Mozy.

Mozy is backing up about 52GB for the Mac. The Mac client is in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 7:05 PM on March 31, 2008

Try removing all adjectives. You should have removed all adverbs already.

This is bad advice. Do not heed it. Instead, use adverbs and adjectives wisely.

Note that Microsoft Word's word count might be different than another editing program's word count, though Word's count is probably safe.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 6:07 PM on March 27, 2008

When we went to a church book sale a couple of months ago here in Park Slope, Brooklyn, the first 20 or so people in line were book scouts. They were a greasy, disheveled, disreputable-looking bunch, all male. My impression was that at least a couple had slept in their cars. The books were going for 50 cents up to two dollars, I believe, so the potential for buying low and selling high was large.

The scouts had a wide variety of gear and tactics. A couple had PDAs with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 6:11 AM on March 27, 2008

Whimsical, there aren't a lot of scholarships for writing MFAs. I encourage you to get a solid part-time job (or even full-time, if you can manage it) to help you through and to take some of the sting out of the loans you'll be getting. Columbia's program is good but the investment is upside-down. Your loans are going to cost more than the degree earns you for a long time and maybe forever.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 2:03 PM on March 13, 2008

Reporting Blogger spam works wonders. I also usually at least flag the blog and also report it using Google Webmaster tools. Stuff disappears fast and it looks like they do some blocking of those spammers to prevent them from making even more spam blogs later.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 12:36 PM on March 1, 2008

I'd forget all the classics and the stuff you'd read in French class. If you're working on keeping up or improving your French, it shouldn't be a chore or a struggle. In that vein, I would recommend the Arsène Lupin mystery stories by Maurice Leblanc. The collection I linked to there is one of three volumes of the collected stories. Lots of text, plenty of action, plenty of dialogue, good fun. It's a little dated, but I don't think it will harm your French.

I think the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 1:06 PM on February 20, 2008

My wife's first episode was "Countrycide." I had to keep telling her: it's not always like this! It was pretty freaky and violent and utterly unlike most television, and, frankly the rest of the series.

So my answer is: No, it doesn't get too much better, but it doesn't get much worse. We just watched the "Meat" episode and both had dreams about it, which says something for its ability to drop little idea bombs in your brain. Very tiny bombs, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 6:32 PM on February 19, 2008

Primeval, ITV's "monster-of-the-week" competitor, is surprisingly a much better show.

No way. What a turd! The two lead men stand around in artfully faded jeans and artfully arranged bedhead hairdos and go, "Doy! Duh! Da!" Some of the stupidest portrayals of supposedly smart people I've ever seen. You're spot on about the knickers, though. My wife and I call it the Panties Rule: the first episode of the first season of any new show... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 5:27 AM on February 20, 2008

I think you should treat this phone as a traveling gnome. Send it to far-flung fellow Mefites. Let him track that. My email address in my profile if you want to start by sending it to Brooklyn, New York. Then I'll happily pay shipping to send it to another Mefite in Alaska, Alabama, or wherever.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 7:06 AM on February 19, 2008

Ersatz, gemuetlich, and gemuetlichkeit are already in English.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 5:40 AM on February 18, 2008

It doesn't appear in any of my slang files or dictionaries.

Last December Metafilter stalwart jonmc remembered a Mad Magazine parody "called Magnumb PI (public idiot)."

It has probably been coined and recoined by others, especially as a backronym of PI = private investigator. Here's a use from 1997.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 9:58 AM on February 13, 2008

You've chosen to assume that there's media bias instead of assuming that your own search skills are poor. I can assure that, media bias or no, your search skills are indeed very poor.

A search in English on Google News for Gaza Sderot Kassam returns 252 results for the period covering February 1st and February 10th.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 5:48 AM on February 10, 2008

If Nathan's answer should fail, quit Mail.app and then delete "/Users/yourusername/Library/Mail/Envelope Index." When you relaunch Mail.app, it will reimport all of your mail from scratch, effectively rebuilding every index for every mailbox.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:53 AM on February 4, 2008

JimN2TAW, you're probably thinking of Ed Muskie. Sorry for the Wikipedia link, but it seems correct at least on this one point:Muskie made an emotional defense of his wife in a speech outside the newspaper's offices during a snowstorm. Though Muskie later stated that what had appeared to the press as tears were actually melted snowflakes, the press reported that Muskie broke down and cried, shattering the candidate's image as calm and reasoned.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 2:50 PM on January 27, 2008

Damn. Sniped by Cool Papa Bell, who was so fast he could hit the light switch and get in bed before the bulb went out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 2:51 PM on January 27, 2008

I concur with the recommendation for "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue." Somebody made a torrent out of more than 400 episodes of the show--30 years' worth--so look for that. It's really quite good and often has me laughing out loud.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 5:48 AM on January 16, 2008

No, I just want ads. It's not an attack or a harsh message or a revenge trick or anything. There are just some people that I want to blanket with an idea and this would help reinforce the idea being transmitted in other ways. I've already got the IP blocks figured out--I just need to find a way to make sure they see the ads.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 9:40 AM on January 15, 2008

Running my own ad network is useless. I need a huge network that has hundreds of thousands of publishers. I want these the targeted people to see the ads in the course of their daily web browsing, wherever they are.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:34 AM on January 15, 2008

I hate to be blunt but how much money do you make? If you are wealthy, NYC is a wonderful place to live and it's quite enjoyable. If you are not wealthy, it's almost pointless to be there.

Winner for the stupidest comment of the thread.

You do NOT have to be wealthy to live here. Evidence: me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 4:38 AM on January 15, 2008

St. Louis, MO

[incredulous] Are you kidding? [/incredulous]

I was born there, raised near there, have family there, and go back a couple of times a year to St. Louis or nearby. I live in New York City now.

St. Louis is not the answer to the original poster's question. No way. It's a recipe for having to move somewhere else, anywhere else, within a year.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 7:30 PM on January 14, 2008

You say you already used Disk Inventory X, but *how* did you use it? A more effective way to find all big files is to do a custom Spotlight search of the drive looking for all files that are 10MB or larger, then sort the results list by size. It'll take a while to do the search. Work your way down the results list to decide what should stay and what should go.

Also, I'm totally not convinced that you got all the Shakespeer files. So, add one more thing to your custom... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 12:39 PM on January 1, 2008

All dictionaries (I think) give phonetic transcriptions of each word at the start of the definition, if either of you can read phonetics.

Keep in mind that all mainstream American dictionaries--ALL--give short shrift to regional and dialect pronunciations in the entries, though they may have a note about it in the frontmatter. There are whole swaths of Alabama where a dictionary pronunciation key is about as useless as tits on a bull.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Mo Nickels at 10:16 AM on December 30, 2007