1. What would cause the front tires on the car to wear unevenly such that the inside edge of each tire is worn down much faster than the outside edge?
2. If I publish an entry in MovableType with a link to an entry on another blog, how do I make changes to that entry without sending an extra trackback?
3. How do I add additonal search engines to Firefox? When I click on the “add search engine” option in the drop-down menu, I am taken to a page that tells me it’s possible to add more without telling me how. Can I add my university library?
4. What’s the best way to kick yourself out of inactivity and start exercising regularly?
5. How can I add a “Post to Del.icio.us” function to Firefox (other than just using a bookmark)?
6. Is it better to buy a new car, or a late-model used car with a warranty from some place like CarMax or a dealer? I’m leaning toward the latter, given that one can get a good deal on prices, but I’m also wary of getting a car with problems.

It’s snowing, and we’re having chili for dinner.

Makes 4.5 cups; serves 4 to 6

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups chopped onions
6 cloves garlic, minced
one-quarter cup of chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 cups chopped tomatoes
1 bay leaf
one-half teaspoon sugar
one-half teaspoon salt, or to taste
one-eighth teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
3 cups cooked kidney beans (cooked from dry; or canned, drained)

In a 4-quart saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic; cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano until absorbed.

Stir in the tomatoes, bay leaf, sugar, salt, and red pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the beans; simmr, covered, 15 to 20 minues longer or until chili is slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Discard the bay leaf.

Variation: Add 1 cup chopped green bell peppers when you add the onions.

From Carol Gelles’ 1,000 Vegetarian Recipes. ISBN: 0-02-542965-5.

Challenged by Amardeep, I offer you the following:

1. Total amount of music files on your computer.

4768 songs, or 22.34 gigabytes.

2. The CD you last bought is…

Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message

“Until the Led,” by Vic Chesnutt.

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.

Just five? Okay…

• “Umi Says,” by Mos Def
• “Skip Tracer,” by Sonic Youth
• “Moonshiner,” by Uncle Tupelo (and covered by Cat Power)
• “Rosa Parks,” by Outkast
• “This Is How It Goes,” by Aimee Mann

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to?

Anyone who reads this and wants to participate.

If you’re after gettin’ the honey,
Then you don’t go killin’ all the bees.
–Joe Strummer

I’m hoping that some of my readers, particularly those who have taught at the University of Maryland, can point me in the direction of essays that present definitions as arguments. At different points in time, particular terms come under debate (e.g. marriage, patriotism, justice); what I’m looking for are essays that argue for or against a particular definition of some term. It doesn’t matter so much what the term is.