Ask MetaFilter posts by Jeanne

iPod won't play nice with iTunes store

Jeanne — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:49:52 -0800

I bought an iPod Touch last month. Since the last time I plugged it into the computer to recharge it, it won't play any songs I downloaded from the iTunes store - it acts as if it's playing the song, but all I hear is static, no matter how high I turn up the volume. Songs I ripped from CDs or downloaded from other sources are fine. What's going on? iTunes wanted me to download some new iPod software, but I didn't because I currently don't have any internet at home. Could that be why it's not playing?

(I do live nearish to an Apple store, but it's always incredibly crowded.)

I crashed my car... and may have to move before I can fix it.

Jeanne — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:59:35 -0800

I rear-ended somebody with my car. Twist: I'm moving in a week... background inside. I have two cars: Van ('99 Dodge Caravan) and Sedan ('99 Mazda Protege). I replaced Van with Sedan when it got stolen, only to have it found again. I've been trying to get it together to sell Van ever since.

So, yesterday I rear-ended another car. The damage on their car amounts to a nickel-sized scratch; Sedan's front bumper came off and the hood is bent. It's still driveable. I'm planning to take it in to a repair place on Friday.

On Jan. 3rd, I'm flying to New York, and starting a new job there on the 7th (I live in Raleigh, NC now). I was planning on keeping Sedan until I found a place in NY, because I might end up getting an apartment somewhere that isn't close to public transportation. So here are my problems:

(1) How do I sell Van, given that I still need to drive it for another week?
(2) Should I keep Sedan at all, even for just the next month, or should I just get rid of it so I can cancel my insurance, considering that my insurance is going to go up?
(3) Should I just sell Sedan as-is? I can't imagine that would be a good idea, but
(4) How long might it take to get the damage repaired?

Any additional advice would be really welcome, I've never been in an accident before and I don't at all know how to deal with this.

Help me get teenagers to read! With good yet cheap prizes...

Jeanne — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:13:59 -0800

Seeking cheap yet not-lame prizes for a teen summer reading program... At my library, we are doing one of those programs where you have a reading record you can fill in and bring back for prizes. We've got some good prizes for the under-13 crowd and I'm satisfied with that, but I've been looking at Oriental Trading Company and other bulk-toys-and-novelties shops and I'm having trouble finding anything that wouldn't scream "lame" to the 13-17 folks.

I'd like to keep it under $20 per dozen, ideally.

Special bonus points for anything related to puzzles/brainteasers/detectives.

Cleaning up melted plastic

Jeanne — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 05:25:36 -0800

This morning I set my kitchen counter on fire. The only real damage is that an empty plastic bag of shredded cheese has melted to the counter, which I think is made of Formica or similar. Is there a good way to clean this?

No hablo espanol!

Jeanne — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:43:34 -0800

I've been self-studying Spanish for a while. While my reading comprehension and my vocabulary are good, and my grammar isn't bad. I can even largely understand the people I come in contact with. But, when it comes to my end of the conversation I totally freeze up. Has anyone been in similar straits, and what can I do about it? Additional facts that may be relevant:

I'm pretty much fluent in French and Japanese. I think the French has hurt me by helping me; what I mean is, enough of the grammar and vocabulary carry over that I think I'm better than I actually am.

I've heard of several students of both Spanish and Japanese getting interference from one language when they try to speak the other, and I'm not sure if that's because of some phonological similarities between those languages or for some other reason, but it's happening to me. I keep thinking of the Japanese word instead of the Spanish word. But the Japanese is really important to me and I don't want to let that slip in order to focus more on Spanish. (The Spanish is a job-related thing).

Poem ID, possibly Auden.

Jeanne — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 10:44:36 -0800

Poem identification: "There are no (something) rooms. There are no (something) doors." I am trying to remember a poem that was probably anthologized in one of my high school textbooks, so probably quite famous. It is probably from no earlier than the late 1800s. Could be Auden, or Yeats. Essentially all I remember are the last two lines, which went like, "There are/were no (something) rooms; there are/were no (something) doors." One of those might be "quiet." But I could be completely wrong about what I remember of those lines, and indeed I probably am, since I can't get anything to come up on Google.

Girly dark anime psychodrama, anyone?

Jeanne — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:04:27 -0800

What anime have I been missing out on in the last 5-6 years? I used to be pretty into anime (around 1998-2000) but since 2001 I haven't seen much of anything--for not knowing what to watch, or having the money to watch it... What I've loved: Escaflowne, Evangelion, Miyazaki movies, and especially Revolutionary Girl Utena.

At a level slightly below those, Perfect Blue, Saber Marionette J (but only the J TV series, not anything else Saber Marionette-related), Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Tenshi Ni Naru Mon, Descendants of the Darkness, Fushigi Yuugi (in spite of myself). I've already read the Ayashi no Ceres manga, so I don't have much interest in seeing the anime. I haven't seen all of His and Her Circumstances or Haibane Renmei, but I liked what I saw.

I bounced off of Gasaraki, Nadesico, and Here and There, Now and Then or whatever that's called; and I have absolutely no interest in anything that resembles a harem show.

Should I pay to fly to an interview?

Jeanne — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 18:24:25 -0800

Should I pay to fly across the country for a job interview? I am graduating in May with a Master's in library science, and I want to work in a public library. Preferably a public library not in the southeast; I like the immediate area, but the competition is very fierce, and I'm not so fond of most of the rest of the region. Most public libraries in the rest of the country can't afford to fly me out for an interview.

Now one wants me to fly out for an interview; it'll put me back $500, and I could swing it, barely. It seems like a lot to gamble--but it also seems like my one chance of finding a job in an area I really like. (Yeah, I do know that I can't be super picky when it comes to my first job). What to do?

No-commitment volunteering?

Jeanne — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 17:44:58 -0800

Community service: I have an assignment for school to do 3 hours of volunteer work. Anywhere I can find wants a longer commitment than that, and unfortunately, 3 hours is the most free time I can spare this semester. I've checked Volunteermatch. Any ideas? (I'm in Chapel Hill, NC, and don't drive; I have few real skills).

Recommended Spanish textbooks?

Jeanne — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 14:28:03 -0800

Looking for an intermediate-advanced Spanish textbook... I've been self-studying Spanish for two years and I'm looking for a more structured textbook focusing on grammar and conversation. Something around a 2nd or 3rd year college textbook would be good. Recommendations, anyone?