Overcaffeinated

I have a laptop with a blu-ray drive, and I watch movies on it, but I connect it to an external monitor to watch DVDs and for gaming.

There are two outputs on the laptop: VGA and HDMI. There are two inputs for the monitor: VGA and DVI-D. So to connect, I have to use VGA.

When I try to play a blu-ray on VGA, the copy protection kicks in and will not play until I disconnect the monitor. But I would like to watch movies on the monitor like I do with DVDs. The monitor's specs say it supports HDCP, it just lacks HDMI.

So if I pick up an HDMI-DVI adapter, will the blu-rays play on the monitor?

If it helps, the monitor is an HP 2009m.

So I've been fighting with Defraggler and PerfectDisk for the last few days over an issue that shouldn't be this difficult. I'm trying to shrink my Windows 7 NTFS partition in half, and I have plenty of space. Unfortunately, there were unmoveable files near the end of the drive, so I defragged. Defraggler moved those files, then put the MFT at the very end of the drive, so I can't shrink at all.

So I switched to perfectdisk, which I've used before and does move difficult files, but the problem is it wants to optimize the whole drive. I'm going to move most of the data off of the drive after repartitioning, so this is a waste of time. All I need is to have the end of the drive clear for shrinking so I can add the new partition, and move the data over. Then I will optimize it. But I can't find a defrag program that will let me do this. Is there any way?

I've been using iTunes to manage my music library and two iPod shuffles, a 2nd and 4th gen. I was wondering if there are any good alternatives to iTunes that can manage my ipods as well as organize my music, without having to deal with the bugs and issues of iTunes.

I'm a bit hesitant because I tried an alternative program many years ago, and it corrupted one of my ipods and I had to restore it.

When we look at numbers, we're so used to them we don't think about this, but I find it a challenge in explaining math. We read numbers backward.

Like the numbers 2,464 and 542,464. Part of these numbers is the same, and that is the right part, because it is the left side that grows. When we break it down, the smallest, base part of the number is listed last, while the additional numbers are first. This makes sense when the numbers are read right-to-left, but not left-to-right.

It becomes more strange when looking at subtraction. Taking those two numbers and stacking them, the second number is two digits longer. If it was left-to-right, it would be 246,400 - 542,464, instead of 002,464 0 542,464. It is this problem that causes a lot of struggling with subtraction in students, I believe.

So my question is, why did we adopt right-to-left numbers when we used a left-to-right writing system?

So as an X-Files fan, thought this would be an interesting discussion. In 9 seasons, 2 movies, two video games, and several comics and novels, there's been a lot of strange and unique villains and questionable characters in The X-Files. Some are just iconic and creepy like Flukeman, Tooms, and Donnie Pfaster, others like Cancer Man you just love to hate, and then there's ones like Kersh that you just hate.

Best answer goes to whoever has the coolest explanation of why their villain is the best.

When Vista came out, I bought a retail copy of it. The problem was that the case it comes in, while cool looking, doesn't hold the DVD very well, and when my cat knocked it over, part of the case broke, and the inside ring of the DVD is now filled with cracks. This all happened years ago, and the DVD still works fine (I have reinstalled Vista a few times since then). But I am concerned that the crack will get worse, and I can't afford to pay more money to MS to have them ship me a new disk right now. What options are there to get a replacement, or make a backup of the DVD I already have, before I am out a few hundred dollars?

I just got done moving, and when I hooked my computer up, everything seemed fine until I tried to play some music. I noticed the music was loud, and when I went to turn to volume down, I found the volume was already turned all the way down. The left channel was playing sound when the power was turn on and the volume was turned down, and the right channel was hissing almost inaudibly. When the volume is turned up, the left channel suddenly gets very loud, while the right channel seems to go up slowly and quieter than normal.

I adjusted the balance settings to try to make the left channel quieter, however if the volume changes, the difference between the speakers also changes, so the balance settings are different at different volumes. It's almost like the two speakers have two different volume settings.

I tried the same speakers on an ipod, and had the same problem, meaning it is something with the speakers. They are Creative SBS 340 2.1 speakers. Any ideas on what is wrong and if it can be fixed without replacing the speakers?

I am wanting to dual boot Vista and XP on my computer. My question is, what is a working minimum size for an XP partition, that will only be used for the OS and swap file (I will have a separate HD for programs and storage between both OS's.)

I have an unspecified sleep disorder (I have never properly been treated or diagnosed) that has gotten worse in the last six months. I have had it my whole life. On a good day, it fits the description of "Sleep onset insomnia". But it is unpredictable, and while it does have a "cycle" (actually multiple cycles), I cannot reliably control my sleep (unless I work night shift, then I have less problems, but I still have them). So this morning, I had an episode of sleep paralysis that lasted possibly an hour, I can't tell how long. I was alert and awake, but still dreaming and unable to move. I was late for work because of it.

So my question...where can I go online for resources or help dealing with an unknown and problematic sleep disorder?

In City of Heroes, where are the workbenches in Atlas Park for crafting?

So here is my question. In the Bible, there is nothing specifically stating God deciding to rescind his influence on Earth, or him ceasing to interact with humans. In the Old Testament, there are many cases of God bringing horrific judgment on society, for various reasons. It was clear from a literal reading of the Old Testament that God was active in certain periods of time, and silent in others.

In the New Testament, the beginning recounts more supernatural events, but they are not on the same scale as the Old Testament. By the time of the letters at the end of the Bible, miracles are limited to small events, like a jail wall collapsing.

I have never found a biblical explanation for why God doesn't interact with the world.

So then, in a world supposedly filled with sin and hubris, where is the judgment of God? Why hasn't God done as fire and brimstone preachers have railed about for several hundred years now? What is the explanation for his inaction in the world?

Many Christians are pro-life. As such, they will openly profess the innocence and importance of the unborn children. So they believe God is against abortion, or the killing of the unborn entirely. So then I run across this passage in the Old Testament:

Hosea 13:16 (KJV)

Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

In context, the chapter is spoken as though by God (verse 4 - Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. ). Most of the chapter deals with Israel, and the nation's disobedience, and God's willingness to forgive, before it goes into this statement about Samaria.

But what confuses me is God is promoting not only infanticide, but the murder of pregnant women. So the question is two fold...can this be reconciled with the view that God is against the death of the unborn, and secondly, what scriptures are there that specifically would refute abortion?

This is a theological question, not a ground for preaching, converting, or politics. If you aren't going to answer the question, don't bother replying...

I have posted a few questions recently, that had oddly recommended categories (such as a science question about the the dying of the sun, being referred to the LGBT section). So I manually pick the category I want the question in, and post the question, only to have it show up somewhere else entirely. In most cases, it hasn't been a concern (the above question ended up being in Astronomy, which is fine, but not what I picked, nor was it right for the question). In one case, I had people criticizing the question, because it was a TV question, in the arts section, after I assigned it to Entertainment > Television. Is anyone else having this problem on here?

It is logical to conclude that given Earth's orbit to the sun, that were something to happen to the sun, Earth would be destroyed. It is also certain that eventually, the sun will explode. So, assuming mankind survives for the duration of this time, do you think we will have developed the technology and wisdom to either relocate Earth, or prevent the dying of the sun, in order to preserve the planet indefinitely?

Since the KJV, the Bible has, for social and political reasons, made a mistranslation of the word chaseph. In the modern revisions, such as NIV, this concept continues. Is there a translation of the Bible that corrects this?

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u128/rodrigo74/...

The text of the letter is:

"It's time to stomp out atheists in America. The majority of Americans would love to see atheists kicked out of America. If you don't believe in God, then get out of this country.

"The United States is based on having freedom of religion, speech, etc., which means you can believe in God any way you want (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc.), but you must believe.

"I don't recall freedom of religion meaning no religion. Our currency even says, "In God We Trust." So, to all atheists in America: Get off of our country.

"Atheists have caused the ruin of this great nation by taking prayer out of schools and being able to practice what can only be called evil. I don't care if they have never committed a crime, atheists are the reason crime is rampant."

So as a question, if this a common, if unspoken opinion about atheism and freedom of religion?

Considering that some things in life are bad, and that they can really make you mad. Other things, well, they make you swear and curse. But, figuratively speaking, if you're chewing on life's gristle, what should you do? I don't grumble...should I give a whistle? Will this help things turn out for the best?

Or in other words, how profound do you think the Monty Python crucifixion scene is, what spiritual insight can be gleaned from the lyrics and visual?

In the last month or so, statements by high-profile conservatives Rick Perry and Glenn Beck have sparked a dialog about the idea of Texas seceding from the Union. As a Texan (although in exile), I am appalled by this notion, but with regards to other people in the state, what to Texans really think about this idea?

In the church, a number of people feel that the old King James Bible (oKJV or KJV) is the only true, God sanctioned version of the Bible. Others seem to think it is the most accurate. Yet, a reading of the version shows it to be an archaic form of English that not only does not hold meaning in modern vernacular, but also contains mistranslations (such as the presence of unicorns). It also is a historically political translation, being the only popular translation ordered and overseen by government. What is it about the KJV that people feel is different or more spiritual than other translations?

So, a little background before the question...I have inherited a sensitivity or allergy to Nutrasweet from my mother, who has all of the same symptoms. Like my mother, at one time I was able to use Nutrasweet safely for awhile, although I avoided it most of the time because of the taste. When I was a teenager, I began to have the same symptoms when exposed to Nutrasweet. Dizziness, confusion, changes in vision, irritability, nausea and diarrhea. I mean, unusual and serious side effects, that last for several hours after exposure. We've both also found that ingestion is not required, skin exposure to a small amount (maybe a sip full) is enough to trigger the response.

So for the question. Without referring to the number of "alarmist" sites that like to equate Nutrasweet with cancer, death, and every other known disease, what serious research and information is there on Nutrasweet allergies or sensitivities, and where can I find it (without wading through the above mentioned mess).