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My wife worked for a theater in town as an event planner. She has worked there for 3 months, and the original agreement was for her to get 50% of the gross revenue (WAY too HIGH in my opinion). The owner finally wised up and realized that 50% was too much, so he wanted to cut it to 30%. She didn't even have to show up at the event, all she had to do was book it, plan for the proper people to be working, and she received a check for 1/2. My wife and I were still thinking about...

As a background, I collect political campaign memorabilia, primarily campaign buttons. My oldest is from Grover Cleveland's campaign, before they discovered the pin. The earlier buttons were studs you stuck in your coat button.I digress.I recently found an item from JFK's campaign, and I'm not sure what it is. I think it's either gold, or gold-plated, but I'm not sure. And I have no idea if the three green stones are gems or colored glass. It does have a jewelers clasp for the pin (or brooch).Anyway, is there any way to reliably find out whether this is a real piece...

My husband is starting a medical practice devoted to helping patients with knee and hip symptoms. He is concerned that term patient is too demeaning and not representative of the best health care relationship. He believes that the best care requires the establishment of a partnership. Recognising this philosophy, should the people in the practice refer to people with health care needs as: A.) Patients B.) Clients C.) Partners D.) Someone else - if so, What would be a better term? Thank You

Dear FReepers,I have been embroiled in an eight year battle with the Social Security Administration without benefit of legal help. Up to now I have managed but filing an effective, and compelling, federal appeal is impossible for a layman. There is no attorney in my area who would take the long running case. I contacted the Federal Appeals Agency in Georgia, that is all they do is file appeals, but they want $175 for consultation and a whopping six thousand dollar retainer. Needless to say, after ten years of being out of work I do not have this money.Neither does...

I'm planning on reformatting my hard drive early next year. Do I have to update the BIOS beforehand?

My company has a good 70% chance to move my job to Des Moines. Is this a Red State or a Blue state? If its a Rat stronghold how Bad is it? I've been a westerner all my life, and Ive never been back east with the dramatic liberal laws... And I never saw snow until I was 26 years old. I only drove on ice once. I'm in Phoenix. So I have to live with McCain's antics. I dont recall who the Iowa senators are. I need to Google this, but I'm afraid of what I might find.

I've been surfing the 'net reading up about the Three Kings. I've discovered that they even have pages (servants) whose names are given. IMO rather than Santa and Christmas trees I'd rather see Nativity Sets (Creches) set up and have the the Three Kings bringing the gifts on Epiphany! I've not been able to discover yet whether their camels have names. Does anyone know? Santa's reindeer have names so it's only right and fitting and proper that the camels of the Three Kings have names too!

Is the Research Triangle area a good place to live? What is the job/housing situation there? Is it a good place to raise a family?

Before all you anti-MS fanboys attack my setup let me first say I am an ASP/VB web developer for an online company and require IE and MS so save the firefox/mac posts for another day. On to the problem at hand... I got the automatic update last night on my XP pro system and now my IE acts very odd. It seems to open fine but it always opens a new window no matter how I try (ie. type in an addres, using favorites). The original window stays open but it doesnt allow any interaction with it. If I try...

I bought 10 sheet of "Distinguished Marines" 37 cent stamps. Of the four great Marines pictured, I noticed that John A. Lejeune, c. 1924 was with the 2nd Infantry Division. But they show the Army insignia on his picture. Was he attached to the Army? Or why did they show an Army insignia on "Distinguished Marines" picture? Semper Fi!

Hello - I have a technical question for anybody who is good with computer software or images. I've read on several threads where people have posted links to image files with blown-up billboard size freep banners where you piece 8 or 10 pages of regular printer paper together to make a giant poster. A lot of these seem to go into PDF files. Here's my question: I have some campaign logo files that are regular 1-page sized and want to make them where I can print them out into a banner or billboard size. Is there any special software or...

The Web is giving me very little

Can any of you German-speakers tell me how to pronounce the "ch" in the traditional German gingerbread cookies called Lebkuchen? Have tried doing a search on the web, but came up with history and recipes, but not pronunciation.

I am in the process of updating my Philips DVD recorder and well I must ask for some help.I have a brand new Dell with XP so I should have all that is hopefully necessary to download a zip. I am basically stuck on "File System CD-ROM ISO Level 2". Any help is appreciated as I know there are alot more knowledgeable people her than me. 1 Download the firmware zipfile from internet. 2 Extract the files by unzipping the zipped file. 3 Write the extracted files – not the zipfile – onto a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc, using...

I am looking for a text copy of the email that was read on the Rush Limbaugh show. Something to the effect, this is our country, if you don't like it... get out.

I am engaged in a debate with an intelligent, but misguided gentleman who believes that diplomacy would have worked better than war. That we could have somehow won the hearts and minds of islamic fanatics. I am looking for a complete list of terror attacks from Sirhan Sirhan on. I have seen such lists here before but can't find one now. Thank you all.

I own a small motorcycle shop and want to know more about the new epa regulations coming out on them.

I want to collect the mailing address of every unit of an apartment complex so I can bulk mail to it. I have the building numbers, but I can't get the unit numbers inside each building because the front door is locked and the mailboxes are inside around the corner. I'm wondering if anyone can figure out a solution to this. I hope I don't have to resort to buying a pricey mailing list.

W. Douglas Pritchard just wanted to send a book as a Christmas gift for a friend serving in Iraq. Now, it looks as if Pritchard could be helping to send potentially hundreds of books to service personnel in Iraq in the coming months, with the support of a Central Tucson bookstore. The project, tentatively dubbed the "Tucson Book Caravan," began to germinate a few weeks ago when Pritchard asked his friend Mark Ballis what he could send as a gift to Ballis' son, 19-year-old Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Morgan Ballis, who is serving in Ramadi. Pritchard, 66, a retired University...

Hi all, All of the sudden when I was taking a shower, the pressure just increased at least by a factor or 2X... too strong!...I had to reduce the pressure from the shower head. Anyway, the water company came to check and found the pressure (78 lbs) which is normal so they said to check the "Water Pressure Reducer." (about $50.00) it seems this is what it is, although I can never be sure until a plumber looks at it. I already found out it costs $250.00. Not a lot but still.... On the surface it does not seem like...