JP

I just got my first pair of prescription sunglasses. I've never had them before despite wearing prescription glasses forever. I tried them on and they felt mostly okay, but when I looked down and over, it felt just a touch off. Nothing major, but a touch. If this were regular prescription glasses, I would know that means the prescription in the glasses is close but a hint off of what it should be. Is it the same with prescription sunglasses? I wasn't sure because of the tinted lenses (mine have a gradient tint).

They told me at the store that it was normal to have an adjustment period, and I know that is true for regular prescription glasses, but in my experience, that's only when the prescription has actually changed, not when moving from one pair to another with the same RX. These sunglasses should have the same RX as my normal glasses. I'll be moving back and forth between them, I don't want there to be an issue and this is making me think they need to redo the prescription on these lenses.

So, should the transition between regular and prescription sunglasses be seamless? Should I be feeling any effect if the lenses have the exact same prescription?

My eyesight is -4.00/+050/105 in the right eye and -4.50/+075/70 in the left eye. I have three related questions.

1. For my main pair of glasses, is the 1.67 the best option? Or is the 1.61 just as good? The cost difference is not monumental but if it won't make a difference in appearance (i.e., not noticeably thinner) or my ability to see, then I'm not sure I see the point in spending more on top of what is likely already going to be a $350+ purchase. This is the pair where I'll spend what is necessary because I wear them all the time. If a 1.67 is best, if there will be a noticeable difference, then that's fine, I'm just wondering because it seems like they tell you that regardless of prescription strength.

2. For my second pair of glasses, a backup pair, and sunglasses, is the 1.61 okay? This might already be answered depending on the first question answer. I won't be wearing these often, the second not much at all, the sunglasses maybe twice a week during the summer. Not looking to spend hundreds on these and going down to 1.61 can be a good way to keep things more reasonable from the prices I've seen.

3. Finally, is it a problem to go from 1.67 glasses to something like a 1.61 sunglasses some of the time? For instance, wearing the main pair for most of the day and the 1.61 for 2 hours when I drive somewhere. Is it detrimental to my eyesight in some way or is it no big deal?

I'm trying to save money where I can but I'm used to spending on the first pair. The backup glasses and sunglasses I've avoided because of expense, but plan on getting those online at affordable prices, just want to make sure there isn't a problem with switching between. I don't need help making my eyes worse.

I am adding additional RAM to my trusty old laptop. I've already researched and found the RAM and plan to install it myself. I have a non-working battery, been that way for ages, laptop runs fine on AC. I never replaced the battery because it was crazy expensive. In my search for RAM, I've found that prices for batteries have thankfully free-fallen by $100, but I wasn't planning on spending money on a new one right now, maybe in a month or two, but not right now.

Now, will the RAM install be affected in any way because there isn't a working battery in the laptop? I'm thinking no, it won't be affected, since part of the instructions for installing RAM are that you have to actually remove the battery before you open the RAM panel, but I thought I'd check. Do they have a connection that I'm unaware of that I ought to know about?

I'm looking for a mini timetable on the best way to paint. I am painting my bedroom, doing the whole thing, will be priming and then painting the ceiling, the walls, the trim, and the baseboards.

How much time between painting each thing do I need to take? For instance, do I need to prime one day, paint the ceiling one day, the walls the next, and the trim the next? Or can some one these things be done on the same day? If on the same day, how many hours should I allow for drying. Thanks

Please give your experience with painting when you answer to help me figure which is the best way. Thanks

I am helping host a bridal shower. The signature drink is going to be a pomegranate champagne cocktail. I am wondering how much I need of each for a party of around 30 to be served twice.

So, essentially, I'm trying to determine how much champagne and pomegranate juice is needed for 60 flutes/servings. If you have knowledge of how much orange or other juice would be needed in this case, that's fine too. Just trying to get an estimate.

I am looking at a particular Bill Levkoff bridesmaid dress, material is tissue taffeta (style 926) and I was wondering if his dresses tend to run truer to size or smaller? If smaller, by how much, like one size or two? I've found all of the above from different designers.

I've noticed when out looking for a dress that if you are not at the most a size 12 or less, you basically can't try on a dress and get a feel for whether or not it will look good on you.

Are there any places that actually have in-store a selection of plus size (sizes 22-28) bridesmaid dresses that can actually be tried on? They can all order them for you once you pay the non-refundable price, but that doesn't really tell a person that they will look good in the dress chosen, which really sucks.

A major concern with just ordering a dress even with the correct measurements, is making sure the bust doesn't look obscene, highlighting the chest is okay, them spilling out and looking like a Playboy bunny shoot is not.

If you know of any places in the Greater Philadelphia area that carry dresses in the store, please share the name and location. If you have a suggestion for a place that is nearby but not in the Philly area, still post that (so like North Jersey or NYC is doable).

Thanks for all suggestions.

My W-2 is missing the state employer ID in box 15. I've called my former employer already, but they haven't given me an answer yet. I'm wondering if anyone knows how things work in PA. I think I have always had the same employer ID for the state as I have for federal (in fact, I have two W-2s this year and the other one has the same number). So, does PA uses the federal employer identifier?

Can anyone confirm this? I'm only looking for what PA does in particular.

What is the best type of tape to use to keep curtains closed in the middle?

There is a lot of cold air coming in from the door/windows that these curtains cover and I think it would be helped a little bit more if I taped the opening of the curtains in the middle to create a better seal against the cold weather. Basically, its a heavy set of curtains but they are older and the curtain and valance don't hang as well as they once did, so the curtains aren't as flush as they should be.

Anyway, I want to close off the middle to help trap that cold weather better. I figured I could tape it. But I would want a removable tape that works on fabric, nothing permanent, would want it to be able to come off almost as if it wasn't there.

What type of tape should I get and where can I buy the tape (if possible, use a national chain as an example, i.e. Michael's or Home Depot)?

I am having problems with Limewire, it was working yesterday morning, now it seems to be on permanent low connection. I tried to download FrostWire, but it didn't download correctly and won't work (but that annoying Ask toolbar is downloaded anyway).

Is there a good alternative you can suggest that is similar to Limewire, where there is an integrated search within the interface? I've noticed more of the main torrent clients require you to go to a separate search engine and find the torrent files and then download them and there's no guarantee its even there. I'm trying to avoid this type of program.

So basically I'm looking for Limewire/Kazaa type format. The regular torrent ones seem like a lot of work. Yes, I know I'm lazy.

I haven't watched the 24 movie and have yet to watch the new season either. Considering DVR space, I wanted to know if I could watch the current season of 24 so that I don't fall too far behind and watch the 24 movie once I'm more caught up on the series.

Does anyone who watches the show, know if the 24 movie is stand alone or is it a bridge between last season and the current one and needs to be viewed before I start watching the current season?

I love La Colombe coffee and get it to have at home but it is really hard to get to the La Colombe cafe downtown or in Manayunk during their hours. Does anyone know of other places that carry La Colombe ground coffee or whole beans? I know almost every good restaurant in the city serves it, but I like to have this at home, prefer it to Starbucks, so if there's a more convenient way to get it, that would be great to know. Thanks

I need to download Firefox 2. I have noticed that some prefer certain versions over the most updated version, so which one is the best one to download, that runs the best and the smoothest?

Before anyone mentions, yes, I know Firefox 3 is out, but too many things I use don't work with it yet, so I need Firefox 2 for now.

I am invited to a wedding that I want to attend but am not sure if I will be able to yet. But the reply date is this week and I am wondering is it more important to give them an on-time reply saying "yes" today even though I am not 100% sure I can attend yet, or is it better to be late with my reply and it be accurate with whether or not I can actually attend?

I was thinking the latter since I know a "yes" means they are committing to paying for you at the reception and its still 6 weeks before the wedding, so that should still be enough time to give numbers to the caterer. I would give them a firm answer in the next 2 weeks, hopefully by next week. Also, I will be buying the happy couple a gift whether I can attend or not, if that makes a difference.

What do you think and are you giving this suggestion as a recent bride, groom, wedding party attendant, or wedding attendee?

I want to know what formula to use to count the occurrences of a number in a column. The problem is that even though I already know how to do this for most numbers, I don't know how to do it for single digit numbers that occur in higher value numbers.

For an example, let's say I had the following values in a column:

1

3

4

2

16

27

12

7

3

2

5

1

4

I want to know how to come up with a forumla that will count the number of times the number 2 occurs in the column, but only when it is the number 2. So, for the example above, I want it to return an answer of 2 occurences of the number 2, not return the answer of 4 occurences because the column has 4 numbers that contain the number 2 = ( 2, 27, 12, 2).

Anyone have an idea? Thanks for your help.

For a 7 or 10 day antibiotic prescription to treat a tooth infection or abscess, what are the dosage directions for the typical prescription? For instance, take 2 pills, 4 times a day, for 10 days, or something along those lines.

Does anyone know that has recently been prescribed antibiotics for this reason?

I have heard recently about how Bounce dryer sheets have a ton of alternative uses including repelling ants, mosquitos, mice, and the like. I am very allergic to insects so this would be great to use, but I am also semi-allergic to the scented version of the Bounce.

So, I am wondering if the Unscented Bounce dryer sheets work like the original ones. And if they do work in repelling insects, are they as effective as the regular version of Bounce or do you notice that they don't work as well? If there is another scent that you have used that works like the original and it's not the unscented, I'd be interested in knowing that too.

All responses are appreciated.