Search results

  1. DingDingDao

    Upgrading mixed network -- need advice on most optimal path moving forward

    Hi all, I'm working on upgrading the mixed network in my home and was looking for advice from you fine folks. Current Setup - 2500sqft 2-story house pre-wired with cat5e (8 lines) - Legrand OnQ distribution panel in Master closet on 2nd floor - OnQ patch panel to manage cat5e - Arris...
  2. DingDingDao

    First SSD purchase: Intel 320 vs Crucial M4 vs Corsair Performance Pro?

    I'm sure this question has been beaten to death, but searching for direct comparisons of these drives is like trying to drink from a fire hose. First SSD, going into SATA2 (3GB/s) system. 120-128GB. Intel 320 (G3), Crucial M4, or Corsair Performance Pro? I'm primarily looking for...
  3. DingDingDao

    Amazon: Panasonic LX-5 (Black) $269 12/02 only

    http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-...2848452&sr=8-1 Great price for a really great point-and-shoot.
  4. DingDingDao

    Awesome Japanese candy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-qewC-4gY Love the salmon roe.
  5. DingDingDao

    Gotta love working weekends

    Blech, working today despite putting in 60+ this week. Anybody else at work?
  6. DingDingDao

    How big of a rug to buy for a 15'6" x 16' room?

    We're getting hardwood laid down in the family room and I'm trying to figure out how big of a rug I'd need for a 15'6" x 16' room. I haven't the slightest idea what the appropriate size would be--how much floor should be visible on each border? 2 feet? 3 feet? Anybody have any experience...
  7. DingDingDao

    Any ATOTers have a beer tap installed in their house?

    Wifey and I are building a new house and thought it'd be pretty cool to have a beer tap. I have no idea how difficult or expensive such an endeavor might be though. Anybody have any experience with this?
  8. DingDingDao

    ATOT Homeowners: Who's your mortgage lender?

    I'm wrapping up the purchase of a new construction and I got a loan offer from the builder's mortgage lender for a 30-yr fixed at 4.875% and no points. Doesn't seem too shabby, but I'm going to shop around for a competitive loan. Who'd you guys end up getting a mortgage with? I'll probably...
  9. DingDingDao

    Home improvement/Interior design forums?

    Anybody know a good forum for home improvement and/or interior design? I just started construction on a new house and am looking for a good resource for all things house-related. Kitchen/bathroom design, appliances, flooring, landscaping, etc. etc. Thanks all.
  10. DingDingDao

    Need advice re:small room HT - new construction

    I'm about to start construction on a new house, and I'd like to set up a room for home theater. It's a pretty small room, however, 11'2" x 11'0". My plan for now is to get a Panny AE4000 ceiling-mounted and projecting a 95-105" screen. Not sure about sound, but I think my plan is to mount...
  11. DingDingDao

    Amazon Prime order shipping via...ONTRAC? WTF?

    So my latest Prime order was shipped yesterday via a company called Ontrac. Is Amazon getting away from UPS? Anybody have any experience with this company?
  12. DingDingDao

    Exchanging USD for foreign currency

    Leaving for the UK in a few weeks and I'd like get some pounds before I go, just to have some walking-around money when we get there. What's the best place to go for foreign currency exchange here in the states? Already spoke with Amex Travel, they charge $5 for cardmembers. Wells Fargo is...
  13. DingDingDao

    Onramp meters

    Onramp meters are so fucking useless. The one next to my place controls onramp traffic flow for two lanes merging to one onramp lane. I get that it's designed to control the flow of traffic onto the freeway. But the last two days, I diligently stopped at the meter, like I always do, while the...
  14. DingDingDao

    Should I buy the Best Buy extended warranty tonight?

    Hey Sawyer, What are you doing tonight? :P
  15. DingDingDao

    Another hypothetical driving situation

    Effowe's thread got me thinking about a situation I got into last weekend. I was on the freeway with my wife and we were in the carpool lane (here in CA separated from the rest of traffic by a double-yellow line). Traffic was typical LA weekend congestion. A CHP car with lights/sirens on...
  16. DingDingDao

    Rap in 30 languages

    Video Interesting how rap sounds better in some languages than others. Weird ones, too, that you wouldn't expect would actually sound decent. Like Hebrew?
  17. DingDingDao

    Noob question from first-time homebuyer

    I'm going to go get pre-approved for a mortgage, but being as this will be my first home purchase, I don't have any experience with this. As such, I have a couple of stupid questions. 1) Do pre-approvals expire? That is, I probably won't actually be buying until late this year or possibly...
  18. DingDingDao

    So I come home last night...

    So the wife and I get home last night at like 2am from a wedding 70 miles away. Exhausted. Looking forward to sleeping in on Sunday morning. Someone's car alarm was going off in our apartment complex. It's a quiet apartment community, but car alarms are not out of the ordinary, so I think...
  19. DingDingDao

    I'm using gmail in IE and I get slowdown.

    Wat? It's not a conspiracy if Google designs two of their products to work better together than with a competitor's product. It's called common sense. See also: Apple. EDIT: Warp. OP Below.
  20. DingDingDao

    Up (the movie): 3D vs 2D

    Gonna take the wife to see Up this weekend. It's showing on a normal screen, but it's also available in the same theater in 3D. Anybody seen a movie in 3D? I'm wondering if it's worth seeing in that format, or if I'm just going to get nauseous and throw up halfway through.
  21. DingDingDao

    ATOTers in England

    I know there are a few Brits in this crowd. I'm planning a trip to England and Scotland later this year, and I've been researching train service from London to Edinburgh. Seems like there are two basic options: 1) National Express East Coast from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, nonstop. Slightly...
  22. DingDingDao

    Plane tickets from LAX to LHR in Sept

    I'm planning a trip with the wife to the UK in september. I have no idea how much a flight like this should cost, since I haven't been to Europe in almost four years. Flights from LAX to LHR are around $800 (taxes and fees included) roundtrip. Good deal or no? Should I buy or wait a bit...
  23. DingDingDao

    Can anyone recommend me a good public golf course to play?

    I'm looking for a good full-length (no executive or par-3) golf course that is relatively inexpensive (read: <$60). San Gabriel valley is best (coastline or south bay is too far to drive). Thanks all.
  24. DingDingDao

    WTF Personalized license plate

    I've seen a lot of personalized license plates that bordered on impossible to understandable, but the plate I saw today takes the cake: BIMATWH I don't own any cars with personalized license plates, but if you're going to do it, at least make it somewhat understandable. :confused...
  25. DingDingDao

    Poker help -- any advice on tournament play?

    A little background: I've been playing live cash games at casinos (Vegas and L.A.) for over three years, almost entirely NL (some limit and omaha). I have very little experience in online play--I prefer live games. I consider my style to be tight-aggressive, and I've read most of the major...
  26. DingDingDao

    Got a new car =D

    Picked up my new car last week. Lexus IS350, crystal white w/black leather, sport package, Mark Levinson DVD video/audio system, and navigation. Rear 3/4 Front 3/4 Now to just get through this break-in period... Flame away :D
  27. DingDingDao

    Where do I find a pocket protector?

    I'm trying to put together a nerd outfit for halloween--high water pants, short-sleeve dress shirt, bow tie, pocket protector, etc. etc. I found some online places that sell pocket protectors, but I don't think it'll get here before monday. Anybody have any ideas about where I could find one...
  28. DingDingDao

    99 Ranch or Ranch 99?

    Title says it all.
  29. DingDingDao

    Why is it THE Ohio State University?

    Just curious. Why isn't it THE Arizona State University or THE Oregon State University?
  30. DingDingDao

    We got a puppy!

    My fiancee and I just picked up the newest member of our family, Einstein. He's an 8-week-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi :D Cute dog He likes the camera He likes hot dogs too :P EDIT: Sorry about the fuzzy pics. He's hyper, so it's hard to keep him still long enough to compose a good shot :P
  31. DingDingDao

    YAP(oker)T: Success!

    So I have two weekly games I've been playing in for a little over two years, and I've been playing cash games at casinos for about a year or so. Yesterday, though, I thought I'd throw my hat into the tournament ring and entered a $30 buy-in NL Hold'em tournament at the Bicycle Casino here in...
  32. DingDingDao

    Recommend me a tattoo parlor in southern California

    Anybody down here in socal know a good place to get a tattoo? I'd prefer people whom you've actually had work done by. Thanks all. EDIT: No, they aren't going to be matching tattoos. :P
  33. DingDingDao

    Looking for a good forum for dog owners

    Can anybody recommend a good forum for dog owners? Thanks all.
  34. DingDingDao

    Crazy video

    Video The way he keeps getting 1ups is insane :shocked:
  35. DingDingDao

    YACT Rant: The left lane is for passing

    The left lane is for passing. Slower traffic must yield to faster cars. That means MOVE THE FVCK OVER if someone behind you is going faster than you. If you're going to drive 55mph on a freeway with a 65mph speed limit, GET OUT OF THE LEFT LANE. :| :| :| I don't give a fvck if it's a...
  36. DingDingDao

    Lens filters: what brand do you use?

    So I got a new lens, and I'm going to get a new set of filters (UV, ND, Circular Pol, B&W enhancement filters). What brand do you all use? B & W, Hoya, Tiffen? Any opinions on which company makes the best filters, or are they all fairly similar in quality?
  37. DingDingDao

    Want the ultimate F1 experience?

    Castrol XV Monaco F1 drive Be still my heart... Now I just need to scrape together the $6300 :P
  38. DingDingDao

    ATOT Photography buffs: Need help getting an old camera up to speed

    So we do some imaging at my work, but over the years we've upgraded cameras umpteen times. I found an old Nikon N2000 body in a box, and my boss told me I could have it. It's just the body. 1) Is this camera worth saving? 2) What lens should I get for it? I really don't want to spend a...
  39. DingDingDao

    ATOT F1 Fans: Who do you support?

    Just out of curiosity, who do you root for? Me personally, I just like to see good racing, so if Alonso wins a race it doesn't bother me all that much. That being said, I'm a fan of Ferrari, although I think my favorite driver is Takuma Sato (although he's having quite the poor season so far :()
  40. DingDingDao

    My vote for the sh!thead of the year: Omarion

    Story Text: NEW YORK (Reuters) - London was the scene of carnage on Thursday after a series of deadly blasts but American R&B crooner Omarion, who suffered no injury or inconvenience, wants people to pray for him. "Omarion was in London during the tragic bombings that struck this...