todvango

I asked a similar question about 3 months ago and we still haven't decided on a final solution yet. We have a small conference room and we want to set up a webcam in the middle of it for video conferencing and Skype. However, your standard web-cams won't work because of the distance the camera will be from the computer. We have already tried the USB extension cables and even powered USB hubs, none of that will work with the wired web cams.

So, anyone out there have a wireless webcam that they have used with Skype and similar programs that they have been happy with? I would love to hear some positive reviews!

If you are going to tackle this, I am afraid I have to give some details about the challenge we are facing.

We are setting up a small conference room with a computer dedicated to drive some video and conferencing equipment. We have everything in place and running at 100% with the exception of the actual video conferencing camera. We thought just a decent web-cam would work but the problem we are having is the computer and all of its associated connections are in the corner of this room and the web cams in the local store all seem to be USB based. When we attempt to run the USB cable of any appreciable length to get the camera where it would need to be it doesn't work. (About 30' from the computer). We ahve even tried powered USB hubs and active extension cables, no luck. So we are really starting to think that a USB camera is not the best option.

So now that you understand the challenge, what CAN we use as a camera that would be recognized as a "web cam" so programs like Skype would see the video signal and allow us to do video chats? Would a standard video camera work? How about a security camera? The only problem is most of these are going to give us RCA jacks, BNC connections, or S-Video. If we bought a card for the computer that would accept Coax or RCA video in, would Skype even accept that as an acceptable "web-cam" option?

So if you have had some experience with this sort of thing and would like to make some recommendations... we are all ears!

About 6 or 7 years ago (maybe longer) we had a quiz/trivia game on our computer. One of the only distinguishing features we can remember is that every player got 1 screw (phillips head maybe? haha) anyway, when a question was asked that you didn't think your opponent knew the answer to you could play your "screw" and force your opponent to answer. It was a pretty fun game and had a upbeat comical way of asking the trivia questions. Is this enough information for anyone to help us remember what the game was? (It's driving us nuts!)

After Answers changed the format of the advanced search, I struggle to get the thing to work correctly. I try to limit a search on a "subject" to open questions only and I constantly either get ALL questions, include those from years ago, or NO questions at all (when I no for a fact there are open questions out there.)

There is a check box for saving the search, but after I check it do I hit Apply? Repeat the search? Click on My Saved Search, and the seems like the results tend to vary on what happens next depending on what day it is.

Am I missing something here? Is there a procedure I should be following? Who knows how to operate that thing correctly that could give me a few pointers?

I am trying to remember a "short" I saw years ago. I would guess back in the 80's. This might have been an "Amazing Story" if anyone remembers that show or a new twilight zone, or something else that is slipping my mind. Anyway, the story was about a man who had the power to stop time. I think he used a special necklace he found. Anyway, he stops time and moves people and things around for his benefit at his whim until by the end of the episode there is a nuclear attack and he stops time again, but all the missiles are inbound and over the cities. So he lives the remainder of his life in "limbo" knowing that if he ever starts time again, everyone dies.

Anyone else remember this? It's driving me nuts.

I noticed about a week ago a small patch on the neck area of my cat under her chin was losing hair. The hairless area is appearing to grow, but I can see no rash or other skin irritation present. She is an indoor cat and rarely goes outside, nor has she been outdoors lately.

Anyone have any ideas before I schedule a vet appointment?

I saw the new star trek movie (more than once I might add) and have two questions for fans of the movies...

I read somewhere (I can't remember where) that there is a tribble in one of the scenes. Did anyone actually see the tribble? (if you don't know what a tribble is, then just move on...)

While the cadets were at the hearing for Kirk's handling of the simulation they get a distress call from Vulcan. I don't remember the exact line, but it was something about the planet experiencing a seismic disturbance. So okay, the movie established on more than one occasion that the "drill" on Nero's ship prevents long range communication and the usage of transporters. So if you can't use long range communications, how the heck did starfleet receive the distress call from Vulcan?

I know this sounds like silly question, but I really am being serious.

I like Diet Pepsi, Sprite, and I love a good root beer (Dad's, Barq's, or the best, IBC!). I love to open a pop and sit and watch a movie or some television and sip it over an hour or two.

I have noticed that diet sodas loose their "fizz" (CO2) the fastest. So maybe their is something to do with the sugars or corn syrups present in non-diet sodas?

That being said, Root Beer is by far the KING of holding fizz. I have literally seen cans of Root Beer open at room temperature for 12 hours or more and the things still fizz like crazy when I dump them down the drain. (A sin I know, it's my kids that leave them open and undrank!)

Anyway, what is it about root beer that gives it that ability? Anyone out there in the "soda pop" industry or know someone who is that knows the deal here? I'll tell you what, if you could figure a way to get that into diet sodas, you'd be on to something!

Let's say your car is damaged in an accident that's not your fault. You own your car outright and owe no money on it. The other driver's insurance issues you a check to cover the damage to your vehicle. Let's say the damage is superficial and the car is not unsafe to drive. Nothing says you have to repair it, right? I mean you could just take that check and buy a new car if you wanted. Or take a vacation! The check was simply to reimburse me for damages sustained, correct?

I only ask because I have some people trying to tell me that would be insurance fraud and I think that's incorrect.

I mean, I have seen some "glitches" in my time on this site. But this Best answer percentage is just rediculous...

http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile;_ylt=AuO84HBZz...

How does one have 300+ best answers, but only show that 1 answer has been done?

I had a massive hail storm hit my house (and cars) over the weekend. I contacted an area roofing company and they are telling me that there is definately damage (which I have seen) and they want me to sign a "contingincy contract" which basically says I agree to use them as my contactor and they will "negotiate" on my behalf with my insurance company to repair the roof at no cost to me less my deductible. This seems pretty straight forward.

HOWEVER, some say that I'd be better off simply getting estimates from 3 reputable contractors and then getting the insurance adjuster to look at the house and see what the insurance would be willing to pay. This way if the insurance company says, for example, that they'd cut me a check for $7000, but I can repair the roofs for $6000, then the $1000 is mine to keep. (Seems kind of dishonest, doesn't it?)

So my question, for those that have been through this experience, or work in the insurance (or roofing industry) is: Would I be better off to just sign this contract with a good company and know that it will be handled or take the time to meet with several contractors, the adjuster, with the hope of "pocketing" money as some say is likely to happen.

I have noticed that in AutoCad 2008 and other newer versions of AutoCad (Since 2006, I think) that commands that are being typed do not appear on the command line as you are typing them, but instead appear near the crosshairs.

Is this a selectable feature? Can it be disabled so the command appears on the command line as you are typing? My guess is yes, but I cannot find where to make the change.

Have you seen the system respond immediately? Particularly on answers with vulgar language.

I generally don't report abuse. But the language does bug me and I will occasionally admit to reporting it. Recently, I reported an answer it it was removed immediately. I was surprised because I have never seen it do that before. Any guesses as to the fast response?

Our company has subcontracted many IT services. The new company came around to our location today and installed an angent program on all of our machines. The program is from Kaseya. The say it monitors the computers and software so they know how each machine is configured and operating. This all makes sense.

However, exactly how much montioring does it really do? Say, for example, I answer a few questions a day on Yahoo Answers, do they now know that I did that? They claim it only monitors network activity in the form of number of packets transmitted per hour and stuff like that... or maybe that's just what they TELL you?

Any one out there in the IT world that can shoot me straight on how much they can and can't see?

For months I have wondered why some questions that go to a vote seem to get more attention and a lot more people voting than others. I have even asked questions about that in the past...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArjJ0...

I finally figured the true answer out TODAY all by myself. Now it seems so freaking obvious! Truly a DUH moment.

So what was something you recently discovered about this site that you'd like to share with others?

A recent question made me think of this question.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200710...

While it's true that people in Biblical times were often referred to as the son of _____ or from ______, can you think of anyone who actually had a first name and a last name like we have first and last names today?

I am not talking about titles either, but a bonafide first and last name.

(I think I can think of two... was curious what the answers community had to say.)

Seems like most of the time now the question screen has the question shifted to the left side of the screen. I really don't see a whole lotta difference. Is this change just for the sake of change? Why go to all that trouble and still not fix the tooltip poping up over the scroll over window? Is this just a rant?

Okay okay, I'll turn it into a real question...

Do you like the new style with the questions shown on the left?

(I think I actually like it better, but I can't give a good reason why.)

Well, not you specifically, but everyone in general.

Answers operates all over the world, after all it's on the Internet!

Occasionally I see "English" questions that were entered from countries other than the United States. The world doesn't revolve around the USA, although I think many people would like to think it does.

Wouldn't it be nice to at least have an easy way to determine the country of origin? True, some people will offer those details in their profile, but many don't.

Take this recent question for example...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au_.5...

Many answerers were quick to answer based on where they are from. But since we don't know for sure where the asker is from, it makes it difficult to answer. Digging deeper we may find he is from the UK, but should we have to "dig"? Shouldn't that be a basic part of his profile?

Hey, I have to grant permission for people to connect to my 360 page.

Would it be a good idea if Yahoo Answers did the same thing before people could add you as an Answers contact?

Afterall, what good is the option to hide your Q&A from everyone except your network when all anyone has to do is add you as a contact and boom, there in! How is that helping to combat trolls?

Or is it just fine the way it is?

Opinions/comments/suggestions?

"Ask Mike" is quick to point out that many people don't spell very well on this site.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-d8pH0dcoRKeB12yOcnU...

I will admit, I am not the greatest at typing or spelling, but if Mike is going to pick, don't you think he should at least tell Yahoo to fix their darn spell checker?

Try this... ask a question. (Don't worry, you don't have to hit submit.) Type your test questions and then add some details in the additional details section. When typing your details, throw some good spwellglagk errors in there, like I just did.

Now hit the check spelling link.

Nothing right? It only checked the question line, right?

Has anyone else noticed that if you type a response to a question of any appreciable length, spell checker chokes and dies on that too?

Am I crazy? Is it just me noticing this stuff?