Our local WS had summer print cloth napkins on sale for $1 each recently. They are nice napkins.Puakinekine wrote:If you use cloth napkins, the quality is about the best you are going to find in a conventional store.
Search found 153 matches
- Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:34 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Deleted
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3856
Re: Williams Sonoma - what is worth buying there?
- Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Homeowner: Question about dealing with contractors
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1808
Re: New Homeowner: Question about dealing with contractors
I'm assuming they're trying to cover their butts because they aren't the door manufacturer. Would they let you just order the door from the manufacturer directly? Alternatively just pay with a CC and dispute the charge if the door never shows.
- Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: will the SP500 double in 7 years?
- Replies: 109
- Views: 16083
Re: will the SP500 double in 7 years?
I'm of the same opinion. So many long term bears, sounds like a wise move to stay the course.bob90245 wrote:Given there are no good forecasters (they typically get it wrong) and the general consensus of participants on this thread forecasting sub-par returns, I would say the S&P 500 will definitely double.
- Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Poll: Synthetic vs Regular Motor Oil
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4494
Re: Poll: Synthetic vs Regular Motor Oil
Low compression on one cylinder. It had many many drag passes, auto-x days, and track days under it's belt. It was still shiny inside.Leesbro63 wrote:So why the need for a rebuild :lol:Calum wrote:Mobil 1 every 5k with factory brand oil filters. When I rebuilt an engine that had always used synthetic (140k miles) I was sold- it was super clean, very minimal varnish build-up any where.
- Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Poll: Synthetic vs Regular Motor Oil
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4494
Re: Poll: Synthetic vs Regular Motor Oil
Mobil 1 every 5k with factory brand oil filters. When I rebuilt an engine that had always used synthetic (140k miles) I was sold- it was super clean, very minimal varnish build-up any where.
- Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Took the house off the market after 9 months!
- Replies: 69
- Views: 7714
Re: Took the house off the market after 9 months!
I would guess that's the real problem (not the age of the house, but the updates needed). In a market flooded with inventory buyers can afford to just be really picky. If it needs updates, even if the cost of the updates isn't terribly expensive, people just buy the house that doesn't need updates unless the price is really really low. I think you're making the right move, do the updates and enjoy them, then if and when you really need to sell the house maybe it will move quicker.surfer1 wrote:It's an old house and needs a lot of work.
- Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: E-reader for Mom (86 years old)?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 3971
Re: E-reader for Mom (86 years old)?
Another plug for the Kindle. My 89yo grandmother loves hers. She did need assistance getting the account initially setup but after that was good to go. The 3G version was good for her because it doesn't require her to figure out how to connect to a wifi network when she's not at home and wants to buy a book.
- Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tis the season
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1492
Re: Tis the season
Are they wine drinkers? If so it's always a good gift.
- Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Jogging shoes, why so complicated?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 4619
Re: Jogging shoes, why so complicated?
Jack Daniel's thoughts on running form etc are informative. Everything that's old is new again I guess.
http://runsmartproject.com/coaching/201 ... ning-form/
http://runsmartproject.com/coaching/201 ... ning-form/
- Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How Fast Can A Corolla Go?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 15963
Re: How Fast Can A Corolla Go?
If there is a governor can not a parent take the car to a mechanic and have it set much lower.. 75 or so? Not really (but maybe). The governor is a function built into the programming of the ECU (the computer that is actually running the engine) and isn't designed to be a serviceable parameter. Most mechanics have neither the technical abilities or desire to tinker with the ECU. Also since the ECU is an emissions component altering it is a legal no-no (although it's not something anybody is cracking down on). However there are many 'speed' shops that cater this market but aftermarket support for different manufacturers varies. Prices are all over the map too especially for newer cars. When I was an undergrad Electrical Engineering student ...
- Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How Fast Can A Corolla Go?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 15963
Re: How Fast Can A Corolla Go?
Most Japanese cars are governed at 115mph (185kph). Google seems to think a 2010 Corolla falls into that category.
- Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any cities that fit most/all of these criteria?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 6975
Re:
I will second the duke city recommendation. Really I like the smaller towns in NM but for employment Albuquerque is probably the best bet. Cost of living is all relative, we lived in Lubbock TX which is across the TX border from Albuquerque and we thought housing in Albuquerque was expensive. After moving to a small city in the mid-west we still do. Compared to either coast it's not expensive.thechoson wrote:I have noticed nobody has mentioned the cheaper COL desert cities like Las Vegas or Phoenix. Any particular reason for this?
Also, someone mentioned Albuquerque. Funny, it was at the top of my list as well.
Phoenix is just too hot and Las Vegas is, well, Las Vegas.
- Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Clark Howard on Best Buy cell deal
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2380
It sounds like Virgin Mobile's deal after they jumped from $25 to $35 per months for new members.wander wrote:Very good deal! It sounds like Virgin Mobile's deal before they jumped from $25 to $35 per months for new members.
FTFY, although if they require the $55 for Android phones it's worse. I think Cricket is a mix of their own network and an MVNO for Sprint so you might get better coverage in some areas (VM is all MVNO from Sprint).
- Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Funny press release
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1305
Funny press release
This is one of the funniest press releases I've read in a while-
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/503333
Unintentionally funny is they were shopping to Oracle on April 1st.
I've really never seen a company release an official statement so not filled with corporate doublespeak. I can only assume this came straight from Larry.
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/503333
Unintentionally funny is they were shopping to Oracle on April 1st.
I've really never seen a company release an official statement so not filled with corporate doublespeak. I can only assume this came straight from Larry.
- Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Considering grad school
- Replies: 44
- Views: 5445
A thesis teaches you how to herd cats and also proclaims to the world 'I am a learned cat herder'. That may not be something you need to learn or demonstrate. It's also a chance to get exposed to cutting edge research; something else that you may not need or care about.
In the program I did there were two classes all MS EEs had to take and they were a huge time suck. After that I was actually taking stuff I was interested in so much less time intensive.
Good luck!
In the program I did there were two classes all MS EEs had to take and they were a huge time suck. After that I was actually taking stuff I was interested in so much less time intensive.
Good luck!
- Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Considering grad school
- Replies: 44
- Views: 5445
EE here with an MS in EE- what it really does is open up other kinds of opportunities not necessarily more salary (although that usually goes with the territory). I probably could have made more money going into management or sales etc but frankly I enjoy R&D more. The time commitment is probably the biggest hurdle, particularly with small kids possibly in the picture. Depending on how many classes you take per semester it can be very time consuming. I did it while not working full time, with no family etc. I did my MS at a large state school. They had two basic tracks- coursework only and thesis option. In the coursework only option you simply took more classes and had some sort of paper or something at the end. That track was intended...
- Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need freeware to make tracks in long mp3 file
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1413
Audacity. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Nothing fancy but can do stuff like this really quickly.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
- Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Vacuum/siphon coffee maker
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2001
That's interesting. I've been using one of these for years-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot
...which looks like a simplified version, albeit with metal and no vacuum action. It is dead simple to use though and makes good coffee. I prefer it to a drip maker because it gets the coffee nice and hot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot
...which looks like a simplified version, albeit with metal and no vacuum action. It is dead simple to use though and makes good coffee. I prefer it to a drip maker because it gets the coffee nice and hot.
- Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Computer Question -Brief
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4277
Google released a new offline gmail plug-in for Chrome btw-Judsen wrote:Thanks Lady Geek and Sidney.
I looked at Thunderbird but decided to go with g-mail and it imported all my Outlook Express info to a new g-mail account. I'm using Chrome browser.
Meanwhile the replacement video card came in so I now have my old machine back up and running.
Thanks to all responders to this thread.
Jud
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... ldlkglhimk
Not so handy on a desktop that never looses internet connectivity but handy for a laptop.
- Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Renting a car for the first time!
- Replies: 45
- Views: 6549
9 - upgrades usually come when a popular car class is selected and they run out of that class when you show up. car rental reservations are not really reservations when it comes down to it. also, for a long trip like you're taking, many upgrades will cost you in fuel economy, so better to stick to a smaller more economical car if you can. My wife and I play this game whenever we rent cars and work isn't paying for it; we call it rental roulette. I always reserve the econ box option and about 75% of the time get bumped. The odds seem better when flying into a busy airport at a busy time. Almost always it's to a mid-size sedan, but I've been bumped to a SUV before. Sometimes the house wins though and I get stuck with the shoe box, complete w...
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How Much Homeowners Insurance?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2694
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:44 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 36221
- Views: 4684018
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 36221
- Views: 4684018
Old news, the twitter fund is way ahead of this.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business ... ket/41389/
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business ... ket/41389/
- Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The Grand Canyon in Late October?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4340
- Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice for 30 year old seeking to start career
- Replies: 22
- Views: 6465
CS is really a math degree. My worry would be his background doesn't really sound math strong. I could be wrong- I worked with a successful physicist who's first career was a social worker.thechoson wrote:Thanks everyone. Interesting that nobody thinks that going back to school for something like comp sci is a good idea. I guess that is pretty darn risky
- Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:18 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: GPS Watch - Opinions please
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1937
My wife has the 305. It's a little larger than the 110 but the 305 can be found amazingly cheap if you shop around and are patient. GPS watches in general are way cheaper now than they used to be.
The 305 has worked great for quite a while except the one time we tried to use it running laps on a cruise ship while the ship was moving...
The 305 has worked great for quite a while except the one time we tried to use it running laps on a cruise ship while the ship was moving...
- Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:17 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kitchen Appliances
- Replies: 45
- Views: 5743
I agree but I think there is a room for one exception- our kitchen is a very narrow galley kitchen and the side-by-side (counter depth model too!) works much better in the narrow space (it's also opposite the stove). We loose space internally but gain space in the kitchen. The funny part is smaller appliances (side doors, counter depth) cost more!LadyGeek wrote:Ignore the side-by-side designs, it's a waste of internal space. Looks nice from the outside, but you can't fit anything wide inside like you can with a conventional design. Go for the freezer on top, fridge below model.
- Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: HP printer - ink cartridge replacement
- Replies: 33
- Views: 7834
Yes the drum is a separate unit. Brother rates it at 12k pages. I guess that's a double edged sword as the drum is expensive to replace, but the flip side is that toner cartridges should theoretically be cheaper than an HP. I've only owned the Brother for about a year so I can't comment yet on how long the drum actually lasts. I work from home so I print a fair amount but I still shouldn't have to replace it for quite a long time. FWIW previously I owned and used for many years an HP LaserJet 5000 with the optional duplexer. That was a solid tank of a printer that could duplex a large 11x17 sheet, very handy for printing schematics. It also weighed the same as a small tank though and the last time the duplexer went out (three times over the...
- Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: HP printer - ink cartridge replacement
- Replies: 33
- Views: 7834
- Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Negotiating Emergency Room Bills
- Replies: 36
- Views: 7796
- Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:21 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Negotiating Emergency Room Bills
- Replies: 36
- Views: 7796
- Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Having Chickens in an urban environment
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4050
They aren't our chickens btw, we rented the house in the background after our house sold faster than we expected. The fresh eggs came with the rental.
There isn't a top and I asked the same question- they've never lost a chicken to anything other than their own dog. I guess hawks and owls just aren't prevalent in this part of West Texas, at least not in the middle of a town.
There isn't a top and I asked the same question- they've never lost a chicken to anything other than their own dog. I guess hawks and owls just aren't prevalent in this part of West Texas, at least not in the middle of a town.
- Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Having Chickens in an urban environment
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4050
- Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Clearly not a boglehead
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1262
Clearly not a boglehead
http://consumerist.com/2011/07/whose-10 ... ceipt.html
I found it interesting that Capital One still nailed them with an ATM fee. I would have thought the banks would have special 'be nice to these customers' rules for people carrying a balance like that in a regular account.
I found it interesting that Capital One still nailed them with an ATM fee. I would have thought the banks would have special 'be nice to these customers' rules for people carrying a balance like that in a regular account.
- Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:05 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: First Generation American and Independence Day
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4193
As a first generation American I recommend blowing stuff up or watching other people blow stuff up. Unless you happen to live in West TX or NM where it's way to dry for that this year. Also, sleep in.
We're going to the local parade this year. My neighbor is marching in it in his old uniform which he is convinced he can still fit into.
We're going to the local parade this year. My neighbor is marching in it in his old uniform which he is convinced he can still fit into.
- Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: When does a letter get postmarked?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 108199
- Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VA Health Care
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2701
Re: VA Health Care
As a CS & SPD vendor I'll contribute that the VA seems to put more money into back-end infrastructure than a typical private hospital. For better or worse they also have significantly more rules and policies to navigate. YMMV and of course this is only my experience. I wouldn't hesitate to have a surgery at a VA facility.EmergDoc wrote:VA health care tends to be no frills. The buildings aren't that nice, there is no piano in the lobby, you tend to get less expensive drugs, there is less incentive to do more tests (for better or for worse), and there is less access to specialists. That said, you generally get what you need in my experience.
- Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Virus came on my computer---how do I avoid repeat?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 6032
That's nice in theory but the proof is in the pudding. As the maintainer for relatives near me's PCs (and my own) I've had to do zero virus/malware/etc clean ups since switching the daily use to Linux. I'll take being surprised.Milo wrote:All I'm saying is that if you walk down the street in Bowlegs thinking you're not going to be mugged just because you're in Bowlegs and things like that only happen in the big city, then you're going to be unpleasantly surprised some day. Safety in a small town is an illusion.
- Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: "Spent"
- Replies: 48
- Views: 6788
They had canned beans for $1! I stocked up. It brought back memories of being a poor college student.MWCA wrote:Didn't offer rice in the grocery section. Cheapest form of food that is the most filling.
Anyways made it through with 652 and I haven't punch my roommate yet.
Thanks for the link
I ended the month with $941.
- Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Virus came on my computer---how do I avoid repeat?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 6032
use firefox and have yahoo e mail.Surfing & e mail but also banking and finance. What is linux distro? For surfing and yahoo e-mail using any linux distro is great. Same if you're doing your banking and finance online. If you're using quickbooks or other software you would still need to boot into windows to do that. Firefox runs on Linux so you wouldn't experience anything different vs windows (except of course the whole virus thing). 'Linux distro' is short for Linux distribution, meaning a particular flavor of linux. Each distro is a different take on how things are done, how things work, how things look, etc. Ubuntu is one distro. It's also fairly easy to install and try and tends to get drivers etc right more often than not. Linux ...
- Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best PC for $500 - $800
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4475
- Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Virus came on my computer---how do I avoid repeat?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 6032
What do you really use your computer for? Just surfing and e-mail? Is your e-mail via gmail, hotmail, etc or tied to a locally installed program like Outlook? If most of what you do is online have you considered trying a linux distro? Chrome & Firefox are the same. It's a learning curve, but really not that bad. We use Ubuntu for most of our PC needs and only use Windows for specific programs (mostly netflix).
- Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:48 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any One travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 6880
- Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Thoughts on Pit Bulls
- Replies: 166
- Views: 16314
This is our dog-
She's a shelter dog. Officially for the insurance co she's a Boxer mix (and our insurance agent has met her many times). She's a very dangerous dog... if you happen to be a couch she can sleep on. She's fat and lazy. Very much not an alpha dog, she'll roll over when she meets a new person or dog. YMMV. My parents have always raised Dobermans and I've been around 'large' dogs all my life. Large animals are dangerous if they're not trained. Be around an untrained angry horse sometime; dogs are nothing.
She's a shelter dog. Officially for the insurance co she's a Boxer mix (and our insurance agent has met her many times). She's a very dangerous dog... if you happen to be a couch she can sleep on. She's fat and lazy. Very much not an alpha dog, she'll roll over when she meets a new person or dog. YMMV. My parents have always raised Dobermans and I've been around 'large' dogs all my life. Large animals are dangerous if they're not trained. Be around an untrained angry horse sometime; dogs are nothing.
- Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Web browser
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4228
- Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Virgin Mobile/Android Combo Experience?
- Replies: 127
- Views: 21963
- Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The right tablet
- Replies: 46
- Views: 5868
My wife really wants me in the same part of the house with her and when I do check internet/emails in the evening, I can get lost upstairs in my office for an hour. She said it bothers her that we are in opposite ends of the house. Appreciating her feelings, I have restricted my visits to the office, but am bored with watching TV and she sense that. For e-mail and surfing the iPad is excellent. For these tasks on the couch, airport, etc the iPad kills a regular laptop (or even a lightweight netbook). The android tablets are neat but the iPad really is all around a better product right now. I expect that to change but let someone else be the early adopter. Battery life on the iPad is phenomenal btw. Excel/word/etc stink on the iPad, don't b...
- Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Replace timing belts
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2492
Yes, you don't usually have to ever replace timing chains. That also means you don't need to do the water pump until it actually starts to fail. In other words you're good to go.Cody wrote:Calum: it looks like it might be a timing chain - I'll check farther on that. If it is does it matter on replacement (verses a belt).
This is a Dodge Caravan, V6, 3.5L engine.
Cody
With the timing belt you should replace it and you really might as well do the water pump while you're in there.
If you can't determine which engine you've got or if it has a timing belt/chain just give the dealer your VIN, they can look it up.
- Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Replace timing belts
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2492
- Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How safe is it around the national mall in DC?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 4775
Re: How safe is it around the national mall in DC?
If you're interested in something cheaper and with character the William Penn House http://williampennhouse.org/hospitality is also near where you're looking at. It is safe but is essentially a hostel, so a little different than a traditional hotel. No need to be a Quaker although they prioritize to people traveling for activist purposes.AQ wrote:Plan to go to DC, and book a hotel at 400 New Jersey Avenue N.W., Washington, DC. Never been there. Anyone could please comment the nearby areas mainly about the safety issues? Anything to worry about walking in the street in early evening hours say, 8pm on a weekend?
Many thanks!