HeavyD

Our Toyota Sienna minivan we rented from Zipcar today did not have any seat belts on the passenger side, middle row -- is that even legal in NY State?

My wife picked up a Zipcar minivan in NYC today and after driving it for 15 minutes we noticed the tire pressure monitoring system indicated it had a flat tire. We called Zipcar and they insisted we pull over immediately and take a cab from Queens to Manhattan to pick up a different van. As we were driving my elderly mother to the airport in Queens, this was not an option. Has anyone else had problems with Zipcar renting out unsafe cars?

We are considering getting a pet but probably would not do so if either of our kids is allergic to dander. Just wondering if there is a simple skin test that would give us an answer. I would not want to go through the entire battery of allergy tests.

I am shopping for a new laptop for work and want one with a large screen, hopefully 16-18". I use it for work at the office and home, but I do not travel much, so light weight is not really an issue. Reliability is important though, and I don't want to spend much more than about $1200 or so. Any ideas?

As I shop for a new laptop, I realize that almost all "business" laptop product lines are at least $200-300 more expensive than "consumer" laptop models from the same manufacturer. What are the main differences between the two in terms of specs or construction?

I am trying to set up a new venture with an old partner. At the beginning, we will be very lean and I believe I will work as an independent contractor. Down the road, if the venture takes off, I would like to be able to become a full-time employee or equity partner. What issues should I be looking at, tax-wise and legally?

How can I ensure that this katydid my son caught yesterday survives for another 2-3 weeks or more? What to feed her, etc?

I am considering buying a puppy for our family but I want to know whether the fur and dander might cause problems for my two young kids (ages 4/5).

I am looking for a durable, fairly inexpensive keyboard (<$150) my young kids can use to learn the piano. Any ideas about which brands or models fit this description?

My parents (not me) are interested in finding a new car with both hand-cranked (ie, non-power) windows and a manual transmission. They want a car, not a truck, but I think they would consider a small crossover SUV, too. So far all I have come up with are the base versions of: Nissan Versa, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Chevy HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and Ford Focus S. What am I missing?

I believe small 3rd-row seats were available (either from dealers or in the after market) for previous versions of the Volvo V70 and XC70 wagons; does anyone know if these seats are available for the newest versions of these wagons?

I am not an experienced baker. Last week I made a cherry pie; it turned out OK, but the crust was quite hard after baking, even though I did not overcook. Also, the sugar cookies I made yesterday were the same: hard, even though I did not overcook them. And while I was making the pie and the cookies, the dough seemed quite dry and crumbly. What's the problem? Am I not using enough shortening / butter? Too much flour? Not enough of something else? Thanks D

I have never been but want to check it out this Spring / Summer with my wife and 2 young kids. I have heard there are a few family-oriented communities there, and other communities that are all about partying -- and I want to avoid the latter. Any guidance? D

I need to re-paint much of the interior trim in my house. I am wondering, is it OK to use oil-based paint directly over the glossy water-based (latex) trim paint I applied 2-3 years ago? If it's NOT OK to do this, what is my best (=simplest) option? DH

Can someone tell me where in New York City or at which of the Northeastern ski resorts I am most likely to find a pair of size 15 or 16 snowboard boots? D

Last Summer the ceiling in our apartment sustained some very light water damage when a unit above ours had a brief leak during the rainy season. The damage is not too bad -- the latex paint 'bubbled' in a few areas and in other areas you can see the outline of a stain. What is the best way to treat these problems? Can I just peel away the 'bubbled' paint, prime it, and re-paint? The sheetrock itself seems to have dried out and its surface is flat and level. Tks, D

I repainted the entire interior of our house about 3 years ago. At the time I sealed the cans well and they have been stored indoors in a utility closet that sometimes gets quite hot -- probabaly over 90F. The paint is water-based (latex), eggshell finish and I want to use it to re-paint my walls (our toddlers have dinged them up good!). Is this a good idea? Any advice here? D

I am trying to learn a few good kids' songs that are also easy to play on the guitar (acoustic 6-string). Looking for nice songs that don't require 8 chord changes and long reach...in other words, some easy 3-chord songs that I can play with my 4 year old daughter! Thanks

I recently started as a junior accountant at a large firm here in Medicine Hat. Although I have a great mind for numbers, I have found that my keypad skeelz are somewhat lacking. Long story short, I submitted an important report to my boss (I will call him "Champ" though truth be told he's more of a "Chump" if you get what I'm saying) that had all the 4s and 7s reversed. I just said to him, "Look, bro, I know it's not perfect, but all you have to do is reverse the 4s and 7s when you read it, no big ish, brah" and he just basically went ballistic on me, going off about accuracy, presision, ect., getting up in my greel and all. Was I in the wrong here? If so, what is the best way for me to get back in my boss's good graces? I have been practicing my keypad skeelz, and they have improved immensely, but I should probably add here that after my boss yelled at me I called him a "lard-***" and threw a steaming cup of coffee in his face. Any ideas? D

And by 'we' I suppose I mean 'German-Americans born in the mid-20th century who lack taste and good judgement, if not basic cable'.