Ask MetaFilter posts by skyboy

Help me find the Hualapai Skywalk Bridge of bathroom sinks...

skyboy — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:08:59 -0800

RemodelingFilter: What's the name for the not-so-common style of bathroom sink in which (1) the back half of the bowl fits firmly within the vanity/countertop like a normal top-mount sink, but (2) the rounded front half of the bowl juts out several inches from the vanity, overhanging similar to the front edge of a pedestal sink? I really, really would like to find out the designer's term for the kind of sink I'm searching for. This has been vexing me ever since I saw a white ceramic one in a Scottish flat... sadly, my Google-fu has utterly failed me this time.

This sink style has a perfect room-enhancing, affordance-creating aesthetic, an antidote to the usual boredom of bathroom vanities... there's just something remodelly-fantastic about the idea of a shallower vanity combined with a sexy rounded edge cantilevering out of the otherwise straight countertop. (Yes, I'm a little smitten. With a freaking lavatory sink.)

BTW, I am not talking about those newly-trendy "vessel sinks" that rest entirely *on top of* the counter -- I don't really care for those, thanks. Bonus points, however, if you can point me towards a manufacturer or distributor of the mystery-name sink style...

Geometry term a TV tube's front-profile shape?

skyboy — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:40:39 -0800

Is there a geometric name for the "bulging rectangle" shape, most commonly found as the front-profile outline of classic (CRT-type) TV tubes? You know: that rectangular "television" shape with curved left & right sides, and slightly less-curved top & bottom sides.

This shape is now often found as an icon on computer monitor/projector menus to symbolize "pincushion control", among other things. Is there a term in math (geometry) to describe this particular shape?

Do carbon offsets really cook with gas, or just evaporate into thin air?

skyboy — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 15:05:45 -0800

Dang, those new year's resolutions... For the first time, I'm tempted to buy emissions "offsets" for my car in order to support the research and development of cleaner energy choices. Is this a good idea, or would I be wasting my money? Sure, offsets aren't very expensive, but I always want my charitable spending to be used effectively, so I'm seeking some advice... I've heard of TerraPass, and have also considered Better World Club's offsets (mostly because I need to renew my roadside assistance soon) -- are there others? Since neither of these are non-profit orgs, I'm wondering if there are any offset "watchdog" organizations, or even any generally-accepted practices for designating funds obtained from offset sales.

Gentle guidance: I'm looking for thumbs-up or thumbs-down info specifically on offsets, so you don't have to remind me that there's a myriad of other ways to contribute. I already donate to established nonprofit organizations -- ones whose track record I can research, esp. via sites like CharityNavigator and Give.org. And I'm planning to sign up for green power from my electric utility when the option becomes available.

Why is there a lengthy wait for new magazine subscriptions to begin?

skyboy — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 03:14:16 -0800

Why must I "wait 6-8 weeks for delivery" of a new magazine subscription? I wonder why -- in this day and age -- it often takes so long for new print subscriptions to start. I can understand perhaps a month's latency to wait for the next printing/mailing cycle of a periodical, but much more than that seems a bit, er, extreme.