Regarding recommended models -- most current low-flow toilets should do a decent job. If you're a hyper-researcher like me, or if you'd just enjoy snickering at photos of "test media", this 2005 toilet study [PDF] will give you plenty of models to consider -- and a few to avoid.

Seattle-area plumber Terry Love's suggestions (and forum!) were quite helpful when I went through this myself, though his recos seem to push performance somewhat more than... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 8:24 PM on July 17, 2007

Thanks much, misterbrandt... your tip led me to what seems to be a more universal term, semi-recessed. I've now found several manufacturers... Awesome!
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 9:48 PM on April 8, 2007 marked best answer

(Hmm, this is fun... Dunno if your title is an intentional wink, but this is like those "What's on your PowerBook?" ads Apple ran in the early 90s.)
__PLEASE_RETURN_IF_FOUND.txt (dittoing above)A Work folder, including:
Work in progress: current projects and nonprofit work (this gets automatically backed up daily)Links to work-related sites, Web standards referencesExpenses to be filedA Personal folder, including:... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 10:14 AM on April 29, 2006 marked best answer

I don't offer a reward. (If it ever were lost and returned, however, I'd probably mail back a $20 gift certificate as a thank-you for their courtesy.)

In the file, after my contact info, I have a sentence that simply says, "Thanks for being a decent human being."
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 8:39 AM on April 30, 2006

Seconding Rattlesnake... less than an hour to get there, about an hour's hike up to the main ledge -- a good workout the last 15 mins or so -- with stunning views at the top, and a lake at the bottom.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 8:28 AM on April 30, 2006

Actually, Thorzdad may be referencing epoxy resin or soapstone countertops.

I think Fireslate is a bit different, piro; I saw it in a show home 2 years ago and didn't care for its dull appearance. (In fact, it seems to have gained some detractors.)

Can't really help with your decision, 'cuz I'm going through the same investigation myself. Leaning towards quartz surfaces at the moment, but the laboratory tops thing is interesting...... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 8:15 AM on April 30, 2006

Softlord put it right: It's all about economics (and by close association, lawyers). Any fantastic -- nay, essential -- work can be shelved indefinitely in a backroom vault if the copyright owner doesn't feel they can cover their costs to (re)distribute it.

Unfortunately, marketability trumps artistic value in this equation. And so we wait, and wait...

Since you asked, one movie that really, really deserves to be on DVD in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 9:12 AM on March 12, 2006

I'm still a softie for Goudy's Berkeley Old Style, though the book weight is a bit light -- the ink gain on newsprint usually makes up for it nicely, however. It's difficult to use at less than 11pt, though the alt-weekly I specced it for (almost 10 years ago) still keeps trying.

Jim Parkinson's designs are pretty interesting... I'd consider his Benicia or Azuza.

Typographica's Favorite Fonts of the Year is also useful for new trends: 2005, and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 7:10 AM on March 11, 2006

Eklektikos with John Aielli (from KUT-FM in Austin). Frequently amazing, occasionally confounding mixes of all kinds of music, with frequent live music guests as well. No podcast, but try the station's live stream -- the show runs from 9am-1pm Central Time.

PublicRadioFan has been mentioned here in the past -- it's a great directory of public radio programming.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 4:16 AM on February 21, 2006

I'm not sure it meets *all* of your qualifications, but I've been quite happy with the Adorama Slinger, which holds my 20D w/ zoom, flash (420EX) and another lens, plus battery/charger/etc in an outer zippered pocket -- it's even got mesh pockets for water bottles, which I've used more than I would have expected.

Per its name, this bag is worn as a single-strap sling a la the Tamrac Velocity (which was too narrow for my gear), but also has a concealed waist strap to make... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 9:59 AM on February 18, 2006

As shellycat mentioned, if you're willing to invest about $30, the Kill-A-Watt meter is a cool tool for satisfying your curiosity. (Might be a bit steep if you're just renting, but it will likely last a lifetime.) For me, it confirmed that my old fridge has got to go -- it's using 2-3x the rated kWh of newer models, probably more in the summer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 6:03 AM on January 30, 2006

(I was hoping for more, but I guess that's about all I'm gonna get right now.) I'll have to mull it over some more, but it seems that I'm leaning towards other forms of advocacy. Thanks for the advice... and especially for the Suzuki Foundation link, matthewr.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 4:34 PM on January 11, 2006

Another SLR bag reco: After looking at many (many!) disappointing choices at a local camera store, I ended up ordering an Adorama Slinger and couldn't be happier. It has just the right amount of room for my 20D -- okay, maybe it's a wee bit tight at the viewfinder apex -- with its 17-85mm zoom lens attached, plus it has just the right amount of room on the sides for my flash and another lens, plus a large front pocket for the charger and various accessories when I need to take them. (I prefer... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 12:07 PM on December 24, 2005

I have a Goldtouch split keyboard at the office and it seems to help a decent amount, though I've never had severe problems to begin with. Things I like about the Goldtouch:
- height and angle of the split are adjustable
- no number pad, so there's (slightly ) less movement when moving my right hand from the keyboard to my mouse
- some navigation keys (home, end, pgup, pgdn) are on the left, which took some getting used to, but which I now... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 1:02 PM on December 16, 2005

Perhaps not quite what you're looking for -- it's a fictionalized retelling of his real-life adventures as a pilot -- but Saint Exupery's Wind, Sand, & Stars was a tremendously inspiring adventure book for me. Highly recommended.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 5:25 AM on December 16, 2005

Some Italian spots to balance out the other suggestions: Vespaio (usually very busy) or Tree House (not as much), each on different sections of South Congress. (Vespaio's location is fun for an après-meal walk, with plenty of boutique stores nearby.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 1:43 PM on December 10, 2005

The analogous role where I work is called a Front-End Developer, though we definitely lump client-side scripting in with the job as well -- I don't consider it a "design" role, though having a design background is certainly a plus.

(Of the 3 people who've filled this role here in the past, one swore he was really a designer, another swore he absolutely wasn't, and the third would perhaps best be described as a former-designer-in-transition.)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 1:52 PM on December 7, 2005

Agree with cloeburner: You should give Whirlpool another try to resolve the issue.

That said, since you asked for alternatives: I picked up a Bosch dishwasher from Sears about 3yrs ago and it has been absolutely flawless. Extremely quiet and washes very, very well -- I rarely bother to pre-rinse anything, unless something is truly caked on.

Downside: Bosch models are more expensive than comparable-feature models from other manufacturers...... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 12:45 PM on December 7, 2005

Well, if everyone's posting deal-watching sites, then my faves are dealnews and Techbargains. I highly recommend dealnews' email/RSS alerts, which you can customize to your liking (example: "20in LCD TV") Dunno if you'll be able find a "famous name" LCD TV for quite as low as $400 yet, but these sites will probably give you ideas...

Not to throw you off your chase, but my company just gifted a Dell 19" LCD TV to me (servitude anniversary), and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 9:09 AM on December 7, 2005

Another chronic recycler here... I know it's trendy to hate on IKEA these days, but I've had five of these -- one each for plastic, glass, metal, newspaper, mixed paper -- in a stack alongside my kitchen counter for nearly 8 years now, and I love 'em. Cheap, fashionably neutral (translucent), and extremely sturdy! They've survived countless rides to the recycling center. IMO these are comparable to the much more expensive bins at The Container Store and elsewhere.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 10:18 AM on December 6, 2005 marked best answer

"Baby Got Back," by Sir Mix-A-Lot. Sexist, misogynist, and downright stoopid, but when sung in a karaoke setting by a woman, it becomes transcendent. (I've seen it.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 1:35 PM on December 2, 2005

They don't seem to have any Season Five news posted as yet, but you might want to consider monitoring TVShowsOnDVD on a periodic basis to see if it shows up.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 1:12 AM on November 27, 2005

There's never a "perfect" time to buy new tech: assuming your finances are sorted out, you still have to weigh the value of having an HD set to use now vs. the opportunity cost of waiting. There will always be something better on the way.

I tend to agree with those who feel that an HDTV upgrade is a fairly discretionary move: the improvements are significant, but still not enough to make this an essential purchase, at least not for me. (I do still hope to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 11:17 AM on November 26, 2005

Almost Famous, Before Sunrise (& Sunset), The Princess & The Warrior
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 10:10 AM on November 26, 2005

I don't know of many video-out solutions in that price range, esp since you're looking for more of an appliance than a full PC... Some ideas:

- Have you looked at Roku's Photobridge HD?

- If you're willing to roll up your sleeves, you could probably build an Xbox Media Center within that price (screenshots) [OP: cillit just mentioned this]

- Try searching on "media adapters" to find... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 9:00 AM on November 25, 2005

I'd guess the writer was alluding to the theory of literary archetypes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 3:41 AM on November 22, 2005

Lost City of the Incas, by Hiram Bingham ("discoverer" of Macchu Picchu)
The Motorcycle Diaries, by Che Guevara (now available in movie form, which I quite liked.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 11:16 AM on November 11, 2005

One avenue: Going through age-targeted sites. I was going to suggest ThirdAge, but then I noticed that they've partnered with eHarmony for personals. Drat. Perhaps there are others you can find...
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 12:57 PM on November 10, 2005

I do design only occasionally these days, and I do feel that design applications are pretty much a wash across platforms... but I have to admit that a Powerbook has a certain cachet that scarcely any PC notebooks can match, which makes them a handy accessory for client meetings. Plus, sleep/wake "just works," unlike PC notebooks. Since money is tight, I'm seconding that perhaps you should consider a refurbished Powerbook, e.g. from Small Dog, ExperCom, or Apple itself.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 3:55 AM on November 6, 2005

Anita Baker? Riotous punnery! (I don't want to steal this thread's thunder, but, allmusic.com's search by Name or Song (title) is worth a try.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 2:42 PM on November 4, 2005

Hmm. Are you maybe thinking of Special Delivery? As I recall, this was Nick's equivalent of "the Saturday afternoon movie" -- a grab-bag on which they played any movies and non-series-length shows they had on the shelf. Lots more on this site, among other places.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 3:45 PM on October 30, 2005

Who Killed the Robins Family? was a mystery bestseller when I was growing up, complete with a cash-prize contest for readers to solve the case... I never read it, so I dunno whodunnit.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 6:10 AM on October 28, 2005

I struggled with this issue myself a few years ago, and I decided to just start scanning everything and see how it went.

Now, I keep a small pile of "important paper" and run it through the document scanner about twice a month when I check up on my online bill payments. I end up with searchable PDF files, which I keep in a set of folders on my hard drive, for things like:
- bills
- statements
- checks for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 3:21 AM on October 28, 2005

Typedrawing -- or else, Robotype? More info on expressive typography.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2005 marked best answer

(Oops, duped Robot Johnny's ref.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2005

My pots and pans have a nonstick surface (Anolon) and the manufacturer says they need to be hand-washed. Other than those, pretty much everything else I use goes in and gets very clean, with no pre-washing unless I've really, trully gunked something up (rare).

I do make sure to avoid purchasing non-dishwasher-safe items, esp cheap plastics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 10:50 AM on October 25, 2005

Atticus. Stuart. Hammurabi. (Well, you said old.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 11:16 AM on October 18, 2005

A mild cautionary note if you decide to donate... Dunno about Chicago, but there are often local laws against how used mattresses can be redistributed or resold -- which has the effect of keeping most charities away from even accepting them. (Though, apparently, not the AmVets of which you speak.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 3:39 PM on October 17, 2005

"Gilbert," by Calexico. The only in-print release I could find is from this year's edition of the series I Heard It On NPR.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 8:33 PM on October 16, 2005

Try Rollyo.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 12:54 PM on October 8, 2005 marked best answer

Maira Kalman: Next Stop Grand Central (among other titles).

Her wit occasionally wanders close to the acerbic, but I'd still regard her as one of the most creative writer-illustrators of young childrens' books today.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 12:16 PM on September 28, 2005

Hmm. Fotki does all of those things... except the only print-editing feature they offer is cropping -- they don't have an online red-eye removal tool that I'm aware of.

Paid accounts ($50/yr) have unlimited storage.

I've had a paid Fotki account for over 2 years now and am quite happy with it, as are my friends who come to view and download my photos. Prices have risen over time, however; annual accounts used to be $30. Their print prices are... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 11:24 AM on September 28, 2005

Fotki, a site I use for photo-sharing, has mail-order pricing that's fairly competitive with Costco, and prints up to 4ft x 4ft. I've only ever gotten prints as large as 5"x7" from them, but they were very good quality.

Can't help you with prints onto foam-core board... you'll likely need to go to a print bureau for something like that . FWIW, I recently got a full-color banner design printed onto vinyl at a local FastSigns and was impressed with their... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 2:27 PM on September 21, 2005

A few more from TX:

Little Feat - "Texas Twister"
Chris Rea - "Texas"
Stevie Ray Vaughan - "Pride and Joy", "Texas Flood"
Joe Ely - "Dallas"
Lyle Lovett - "She's No Lady (She's My Wife)"
Timbuk3 - "A Hundred Lovers"

New Jersey songs? Egads, that's gotta be a toughie. Something by Fountains of Wayne, maybe? (wink)
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 2:10 PM on September 21, 2005

... which azlondon already covered above, I now see.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 2:13 PM on September 21, 2005

As mentioned above, you should measure your comfort with refurbs, and compare against new pricing... I was in a similar situation as yours (already had other PCs for "primary" work), so I was willing to take a chance.

I ended up buying a refurbished PowerBook from ExperCom (iBook, PowerBook refurbs) for about $600. In 6 months, I've had no problems, so it's worked out well for me.

There's no telling how much mileage I'll ultimately... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 4:42 AM on September 21, 2005 marked best answer

A few more films:
Shaka Zulu
Cry Freedom (South Africa)
Sarafina! (South Africa) Supposedly not nearly as good as the broadway musical, but I liked it.
Sometimes In April. Better than Hotel Rwanda, IMHO.
Africa: The Serengeti. Eye candy, but beautiful...

And I highly recommend the work and journals of Dan Eldon (esp this book), a brilliant photojournalist who was killed in Somalia, way too early in his life.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 10:07 PM on September 18, 2005

Another SBC evacuee... I left them several years ago after similar, spectacularly poor customer service regarding an ISDN line. I don't run a business per se, so I just moved my phone calls to cellular. For Internet, I went to Time Warner Cable and haven't looked back.

Dunno if they service your area, but I'm starting to see very some aggressive DSL pricing from Verizon. For phone, you might want to consider VOIP service (assuming you're OK with the drawbacks).... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 12:41 AM on September 17, 2005

(Great quotation, ZenMasterThis.) James Gleick also tackled this topic in Faster, an analysis of the rise of technology. Pretty good read, though a bit vague on conclusions.
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 4:57 AM on September 16, 2005

(I think meta87 was thinking of Lorenzo's Oil.)

Hmm... most of the examples not already mentioned I can think of are Rated R, and thus would NOT meet your rating criteria: Pi, Murderball (physical disabilities), Elling (Norwegian; Kevin Spacey is remaking this for US audiences), The Princess and The Warrior (German; DVD has an English-language track)

However, this one is PG-13:
- Shower (Chinese)

I'd be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by skyboy at 9:45 PM on September 14, 2005