#270858 - 29/11/2005 00:41
Question Thread #2
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12342
Loc: Sterling, VA
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If you missed the first thread, I basically don't want to overload the forum with threads asking for help, so I'm creating one thread with a bunch of questions that probably have very short answers, but have bugged me for a while without an answer. Of course, #8 is more rhetorical, as well as something I just thought of since I saw the movie. Anyway, here goes: 1) how are hard disk sizes determined? Exactly what is 3.5", 2.5", 1.8", etc? Is it the platters? 2) I have no walls on the left and right of my home theater setup, a concrete slab floor, and I can't run cable through the ceiling. So I'm forced to run the wires for the rear speakers across the floor and under the couch. This leaves $70 in cables to be stepped on or tripped over. I've looked everywhere for one of those rubber cable protectors, but can't find anything. They're available at Staples and Home Depot, but not in lengths/sizes that I need. I need one where the main channel is .5" high and 1.5" wide, and the whole thing is about 10 feet long. 3) What do you think is that absolute easiest way to get music on an iPod without using a computer (if possible at all)? I believe devices like this exist, although unfortunately it doesn't look like this one is available yet. (this is for my mom, the technophobe with an iPod nano). 4) I'm jealous of all the people who have space heaters at their office desks. I think people who like warmth don't realize how hard it is on those of us who like the cold. Is there any such thing as a "space cooler"? ( please don't say "a fan." That just moves warm air around) 5) Has anyone here taken the GMATs? I was wondering how difficult it was, particularly if your background doesn't lend its self towards the subject matter. They claim that your area of work and education aren't determinant of how well you'll do, but I'm a little nervous about taking it. I'm doing it for a program I'd like to get into (I don't want to be a help desk technician forever...or even a few more years...). 6) Can anyone recommend a good and/or fairly inexpensive single-cup coffe maker? My girlfriend's co-workers tend to like their coffee strong enough to melt mugs, and wants a little control over hers. 7) Why are these not available anywhere? They're on the Netgear website, there's nothing that indicates they haven't been released yet, and I've seen several news articles about them. I've searched for them, and found them listed in stores, but none of them seem to have any in stock. 8) Why can't JK Rowling create rules? I won't go too far into it, but in Goblet of Fire (at least the movie version), the rules for the tournamet make no sense whatsoever. As far as I can tell, the only thing you really need to do to win the tournament and go down in history is to wander around that maze. I get this from the fact that the girl (I don't know her character name) didn't complete the second task, yet still moved on for some reason. That made absolutely no sense to me. So that's it. Thanks for any help you can give me. The last thread was very successful. In case you were wondering: 1) my friend bought one of those amplifiers. it works well, I think 3) these commands fixed the thumbnail issue: regsvr32.exe /i SHDOCVW.DLL regsvr32.exe /i BROWSEUI.DLL 4) I'm still waiting for that Korean cell phone to be released, but since it'll be GSM, I won't get signal on any carrier that would support it. 5) I bought two boxes of Count Chocula from Amazon, and had it in two days. The only local grocery store that carried it was one Safeway that had it for two days starting November 1st. Argh. 6) I use the Google homepage exclusively 7) I bought that SATA controller and it works just fine now. The one on my motherboard has problems. oh well.
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Matt
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#270859 - 29/11/2005 01:22
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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enthusiast
Registered: 18/03/2002
Posts: 225
Loc: San Diego, California USA
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Well, here's my two cents worth on the cable protector... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/ProductsPage.asp?name=Rubber_Cord_Floor_ProtectorThey have 5', 10', and 50' lengths listed... Randy
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Happy owner of 2 Centrals, 2 Empegs Mk2a 160GB, 1 Empeg Mk2a 60 GB, a Rio Riot, 4 Rio Receivers, and two 1GB iPod Shuffles...
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#270860 - 29/11/2005 01:22
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14496
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
1) how are hard disk sizes determined? Exactly what is 3.5", 2.5", 1.8", etc? Is it the platters?
Yes. The platter diameters.
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8) As far as I can tell, the only thing you really need to do to win the tournament and go down in history is to wander around that maze.
Yes. But one's starting position (time) depends on prior results. So by placing high in the earlier events, one gets a head start in the final maze. Read the books!
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#270861 - 29/11/2005 01:45
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
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Quote:
4) I'm jealous of all the people who have space heaters at their office desks. I think people who like warmth don't realize how hard it is on those of us who like the cold. Is there any such thing as a "space cooler"? (please don't say "a fan." That just moves warm air around)
Link
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Matt
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#270862 - 29/11/2005 02:20
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Quote:
8) Why can't JK Rowling create rules? I won't go too far into it, but in Goblet of Fire (at least the movie version), the rules for the tournamet make no sense whatsoever. As far as I can tell, the only thing you really need to do to win the tournament and go down in history is to wander around that maze. I get this from the fact that the girl (I don't know her character name) didn't complete the second task, yet still moved on for some reason. That made absolutely no sense to me.
See Mark's post. There is one other place in the movies that do the "rules" injustice- in the first movie the rules for Quidditch say that the game doesn't end until you catch the snitch, and whoever catches the snitch wins. Of course this is very silly because that makes whatever anyone else is doing completly meaningless. The only thing in those rules that matter is the snitch. However, while in the book the game ends when someone catches the snitch, it is only worth 100 points (a lot of points considering a goal is only worth 10). The 100 points means that a large percentage of the time the person who gets the snitch wins, but it is not always the case. In fact, in the World Cup (seen in the Goblet of Fire) the game is won by Ireland even though Viktor Crumb caught the snitch (Bulgaria was being beaten badly so he just decided to end it on his terms).
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
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#270863 - 29/11/2005 03:02
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: msaeger]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Quote:
Quote:
4) I'm jealous of all the people who have space heaters at their office desks. I think people who like warmth don't realize how hard it is on those of us who like the cold. Is there any such thing as a "space cooler"? (please don't say "a fan." That just moves warm air around)
Link
Warning! I bought that exact model for the downstairs of my house. The first one arrived beat-up directly from Sunpentown's warehouse in CA. They sent an advanced replacement easily enough, but the 2nd one was also roughed-up in shipping enough to make it leak. They must be aware with the packing problems with these, because after that they sent me the next model up from that for no extra cost. It has been working great.
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-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#270864 - 29/11/2005 03:17
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
6) Can anyone recommend a good and/or fairly inexpensive single-cup coffe maker? My girlfriend's co-workers tend to like their coffee strong enough to melt mugs, and wants a little control over hers.
Senseo, which is made by the dutch company Philips, is considered the best there is here in Holland. It came out just a few years ago and already you can find it in most dutch homes. It can make either one or two cups at a time, and it takes just a minute.
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#270865 - 29/11/2005 03:18
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: robricc]
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addict
Registered: 10/11/2000
Posts: 497
Loc: Utah, USA
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For Dignan's use, he could always just run the exhaust hose over to one of those people who like space heaters at their desks.
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-Aaron
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#270866 - 29/11/2005 04:05
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: msaeger]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
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Quote:
Quote:
4) I'm jealous of all the people who have space heaters at their office desks. I think people who like warmth don't realize how hard it is on those of us who like the cold. Is there any such thing as a "space cooler"? (please don't say "a fan." That just moves warm air around)
Link
Hot air can even be supplied to the more fortunate at the same time!
Edit: Dang! I really should read all the posts first.
Edited by gbeer (29/11/2005 04:07)
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Glenn
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#270867 - 29/11/2005 04:31
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: ]
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veteran
Registered: 19/06/2000
Posts: 1495
Loc: US: CA
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I'll second the vote for a Senseo. Oddly enough I just bought another one yesterday and took it to work this morning to have in my cube. Got it and a box of 104 extra pods (70 came with the machine) for $48.99* at Costco. Not a bad price. I don't remember what I paid for the first one I bought, but I know it was more than that.  * The box of extra pods was $19.99, but there was an instant $19.99 rebate applied when I checked out.
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Donato MkII/080000565 MkIIa/010101253 ricin.us
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#270868 - 29/11/2005 11:11
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: ricin]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 13/07/2000
Posts: 4180
Loc: Cambridge, England
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Quote:
a box of 104 extra pods
Pods are the DRM of coffee. Who in their right mind would tie their coffee consumption for the lifetime of the device, to one manufacturer's whims on pod pricing and pod availability?
Peter
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#270869 - 29/11/2005 11:16
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: peter]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
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Quote:
Pods are the DRM of coffee. Who in their right mind would tie their coffee consumption for the lifetime of the device, to one manufacturer's whims on pod pricing and pod availability?
Quite, who wants to bet that one day down the line pods gain RFID tags and the added feature of only being able to use "approved" pods in your coffee machine.
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Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday
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#270871 - 29/11/2005 13:05
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: peter]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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Quote:
Quote:
a box of 104 extra pods
Pods are the DRM of coffee. Who in their right mind would tie their coffee consumption for the lifetime of the device, to one manufacturer's whims on pod pricing and pod availability?
Peter
I was thinking the same thing.. Not only prices, but quality and selection seem they'd be limited.
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Brad B.
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#270872 - 29/11/2005 13:13
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Quote:
6) Can anyone recommend a good and/or fairly inexpensive single-cup coffe maker? My girlfriend's co-workers tend to like their coffee strong enough to melt mugs, and wants a little control over hers.
I've been happy with this one. The permanent filter is nice, I just rinse it out every few uses. Those coffee pods remind me too much of inkjet printer cartridges, so I stay away from those.
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#270873 - 29/11/2005 13:20
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Phoenix42]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12342
Loc: Sterling, VA
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Quote:
I don't know why Matt but I found your post hilarious, must be the meds 
Hehe, thanks...I think...:)
That Senseo looks nice, but like Peter was saying, I don't want her to get tied into using one type of coffee. Is there anything that will take grounds of your choice, so I can get her Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts coffee along with it?
As for the Harry Potter rules, I knew that winning one of the events determines time for the last round, but that doesn't seem to fit the types of events. That girl could have sat on the dock for the second round and come out of it the same. And nobody told the contestants that volunteering would put their loved ones in danger, by the way. That just sucks.
Quote:
in the first movie the rules for Quidditch say that the game doesn't end until you catch the snitch, and whoever catches the snitch wins
Odd, I didn't get the first half of that from the movie, just the second. I'll have to listen to them explain that again. Do the books say how often the snitch is caught? If it's too often, they may need to adjust their scoring  Have they reinstated the replay rule yet?
That portable air conditioner looks really good. Unfortunately, I don't know where I'd expell that exhaust tube (aside from the people who were cold).
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Matt
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#270875 - 29/11/2005 13:36
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Isn't it just a teabag with coffee instead of tea? Seems like it'd be pretty easy to make one on your own.
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Bitt Faulk
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#270876 - 29/11/2005 13:43
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: wfaulk]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Quote:
Isn't it just a teabag with coffee instead of tea? Seems like it's be pretty easy to make one on your own.
Apparently, not that easy.
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#270877 - 29/11/2005 13:47
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: tonyc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Wow. I retract my statement and now fully agree with Peter.
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Bitt Faulk
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#270878 - 29/11/2005 13:52
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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How about a 2-cup percolator and tell her to drink more coffee?
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Bitt Faulk
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#270879 - 29/11/2005 13:54
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: tonyc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Quote:
Quote:
Isn't it just a teabag with coffee instead of tea? Seems like it's be pretty easy to make one on your own.
Apparently, not that easy.
Wow. Screw that. If you have one of those machines then you either chuck it in the bin or you just put up with the expensive pads.
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#270881 - 29/11/2005 14:08
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: JeffS]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Quote:
See Mark's post. There is one other place in the movies that do the "rules" injustice- in the first movie the rules for Quidditch say that the game doesn't end until you catch the snitch, and whoever catches the snitch wins. Of course this is very silly because that makes whatever anyone else is doing completly meaningless. The only thing in those rules that matter is the snitch. However, while in the book the game ends when someone catches the snitch, it is only worth 100 points (a lot of points considering a goal is only worth 10). The 100 points means that a large percentage of the time the person who gets the snitch wins, but it is not always the case. In fact, in the World Cup (seen in the Goblet of Fire) the game is won by Ireland even though Viktor Crumb caught the snitch (Bulgaria was being beaten badly so he just decided to end it on his terms).
I still think the whole idea of Quidditch is a very poorly thought out game. The fact bits were added in later to show that you can't always win is evident of this.
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#270882 - 29/11/2005 14:13
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: tman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Quote:
I still think the whole idea of Quidditch is a very poorly thought out game.
No argument, really. The point of Quidditch was to give Harry something he could be good at besides just being the "boy who lived", not really create a compelling sport.
Quote:
The fact bits were added in later to show that you can't always win is evident of this.
I don't think this was added later- the first time I heard the rules I clued in to that aspect of the game. I'll bet she had a game like the one in TGOF planned from the very beginning.
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
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#270883 - 29/11/2005 14:20
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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old hand
Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
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Quote:
I
5) Has anyone here taken the GMATs? I was wondering how difficult it was, particularly if your background doesn't lend its self towards the subject matter. They claim that your area of work and education aren't determinant of how well you'll do, but I'm a little nervous about taking it. I'm doing it for a program I'd like to get into (I don't want to be a help desk technician forever...or even a few more years...).
I can't tell you how much I loath this test. The subject matter is fairly simple, but the questions are designed to trick you, literally. I did very well on the verbal section (98th percentile) and did VERY poorly on the math section. There is a type of question in the quantitative section of the test called Data Sufficiency which are pure evil. This type of question appears on NO other test and it will totally screw you up because thats's exactly what it's purpose is. So, my advice is to study HOW to take the test, much more than the material itself.
All that being said, I took the GMAT 2 years ago and I start at Suffolk University in Boston in January on my way to getting my MBA.
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//matt
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#270884 - 29/11/2005 14:23
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Dignan]
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enthusiast
Registered: 15/02/2002
Posts: 314
Loc: New Hampshire, USA
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I second... Quote:
I've been happy with this one. The permanent filter is nice, I just rinse it out every few uses.
My wife has had one for years and has worked perfectly. You can put whatever type of coffee you/she likes in it.
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Doug
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#270885 - 29/11/2005 14:33
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: phi144]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12342
Loc: Sterling, VA
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Thanks, Tony and Doug. I think that's the one I'll go for. And it satisfies the inexpensive part as well
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Matt
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#270886 - 29/11/2005 14:42
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: tman]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
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Quote:
I still think the whole idea of Quidditch is a very poorly thought out game. The fact bits were added in later to show that you can't always win is evident of this.
Leave it to a Muggle to not understand a wizard's game. Sheesh.
Joking aside, I do believe J.K. Rowling's intent was to impress upon readers that the game has so many confusing and contradicting rules that no Muggle could hope to understand it. She didn't spend much time trying to explain those 'rules'.
At movie-making time, some semblance of a game had to be revealed on screen.
I'm by no means a Harry Potter fan, so don't take my word as the last (of course I enjoy the films and books). It all works out in my head, anyway, and that's where I live.
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10101311 (20GB- backup empeg)
10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#270887 - 29/11/2005 14:54
Re: Question Thread #2
[Re: Robotic]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Quote:
Joking aside, I do believe J.K. Rowling's intent was to impress upon readers that the game has so many confusing and contradicting rules that no Muggle could hope to understand it. She didn't spend much time trying to explain those 'rules'.
*shrug* The rest of the rules aren't too bad apart from the snitch one. That one appears to be purely designed so that there is always an easy copout to make HP the hero.
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