May 18
A new ipad pro that I only use at home, how to take care of the battery?
I got an ipad pro that I basically use as a TV. I'm not quite sure what the best "charging strategy" is. Is leaving it plugged in all the time ok? [more inside]
A want a light switch with a timer and a motion sensor. Does it exist?
I want to control my bathroom LIGHT with a motion sensor and my bathroom FAN with a timer switch. They are both on the same plate. I need the switch to do this and I cannot find it. The problem is, of course, that motion sensors all have a timer for how long it stays on after motion which messes up the googling. Please can you help me find this. In Canada. Thank you. [more inside]
Quiet indy songwriter name
Trying to remember the name of a singer-songwriter I heard on All Songs Considered, maybe in 2022 or 2023? [more inside]
May 17
Hiking shoes or boots or trail runners? Olympic Natl Park + elsewhere
The basics: I live in Atlanta. At the end of June I’m going to ONP for a week to travel around and do a bunch of day hikes, starting at Port Angeles area and going from there via car. I want to buy shoes that will be suitable for that region and season but will still be useful to me on hikes around where I live (the Southeast) or other parks ill likely visit soon, like Acadia next summer. [more inside]
Nice Place to Pop the Question in Milan?
~Asking for a Friend~
My friend is taking his GF to Milan to propose next week and is nervous because hasn't yet found the right public place to do so.
Any Milanophiles in here?
(more inside) [more inside]
Looking for a game to teach about inflation to 10th graders
I'm teaching a unit on inflation to my high school students, and I'd like to find (ideally) or make (less ideal) a game based on teaching the basics of inflation. [more inside]
What could I use fridge shelves and bins for? Anything?
I got a new fridge. I'm scrapping the old fridge. As I'm gathering my condiments to transfer over, I'm looking at my fridge shelves and drawers and the bins in the door and the big wire baskets in the freezer compartment. One produce drawer is cracked, but the rest of this stuff is...really nice. I feel like i could use them to organize something else? Store something else? Something something? And if I let them go with the fridge a week from now I'll be like "OMG I wish I had a bin exactly that size right now." But I don't want a storage space full of random just-in-case someday shelves. So what might they be useful for? [more inside]
Two adults, two dogs, two weeks, one car in the PNW:what destination(s)?
If you had less than two months to plan a two-week roadtrip departing from Portland, what would you do? Help two bad planners make a plan! [more inside]
Quiet PDX burger suggestions?
I need a last minute place to go for burgers in Portland, OR. [more inside]
Best Menstrual Disc for PIV
Based on your experience, what's the best menstrual disc to use during PIV? [more inside]
What email clients or CRMs offer segmented unsubscribing?
My nonprofit has several different programs that our members might participate in - a lecture series, outings, wildlife monitoring, policy advocacy etc. We currently send emails through our Network For Good CRM, which has a single unsubscribe option. So there is no way for members to unsubscribe from emails about a program that they're uninterested. They either are subscribed to everything or unsubscribed from everything. What email clients or CRMs would allow them to just stay subscribed to the topics they want?
song lyric id
I'm trying to remember the name of a song, sung by a woman where she's talking to a romantic interest and there's a repeated refrain of "I've got a [insert something], you've got a [item that pairs well with the thing she's got]". I thought Juice Newton, but probably not. It's boppy and upbeat and I need to stop trying to remember what it is. Help! (and thanks).
Marty, we gotta get you back...to the 70s! (And early 80s)
Looking for a US brick-and-mortar store that stocks actual, wood/plywood, 4'x8' wall paneling. You know, the kind with the grooves. [more inside]
Weird conundrum with Verizon Fios (discounted bill)?
I chatted Verizon Fios up because I was having trouble applying my employee discount to my account. In an unexpected turn of events, the rep offered me a higher data plan (500mbps vs. 300mbps) at the same price monthly. I was excited and took the offer, but upon closer review, realized the rep applied the Verizon Forward discount, intended for low income customers on SNAP/SSA (which I am not). I'm not sure of the best next step here. [more inside]
Help me build a list of neologisms-by-truncation! (app, fam, cam, mag…)
Poem idea came along, so I’m hunting for more of these words (and maybe their proper descriptive term, if they have one).
More examples: fem, gen pop, con(vention), dom/sub, fan
Doesn’t have to be recent…
Looking for the TLDR of the replication crisis in psychology
I'm fascinated by the replication crisis in psychology. What I want is a two column summary: Experiment and did it replicate? Maybe with some commentary. I cannot find this. I can find links to hundreds of individual studies. That's too much reading for me. I can find summaries like "60% didn't replicate." That's too little info for me. I want to know which ones replicated and which didn't. Help?
Crtl+Z in life after making it weird
I stated my boundaries. My sister is respecting them by not talking to me.
My questions: what were my missteps, what are your insights, what do you recommend I do?
This is a LONG one. For anyone who wants to pour themselves a cuppa, I'm about to pour my heart out and I would love any support sorting this out. [more inside]
AI Catalog?
Is there a good site that gives an overview of current tools that use artificial intelligence? This would mean it would be updated regularly. I don't expect it to list all tools.
How long does a frittata cook in the Instant Pot?
I'm seeing recipes that specify 12 minutes and ones that, to my mild disbelief, specify 30 minutes and 10 of natural release. Ye who have made this thing, if anyone here has, what'd you do? Overcooked eggs are not a nice thing.
Improving personal presentation?
What are some options (resources, classes, activities, coaches?) for developing a more polished, confident demeanor and body language in day-to-day interactions? [more inside]
Chess Game t-shirts women’s size made without cotton material?
Hello all, I am trying to find a chess game shirt with pieces on it but not made of cotton material if possible and for women’s size? And that ships to Canada? I am trying to find one made of polyester, et cetera.
How to transition into a Software Automation Engineer role?
I would like to transition to become a Test automation engineer but need advice on how to fix my current issue? [more inside]
How do I proceed with this temp job and not overthink it?
Basically I’m out of work and used to do for lack of a better term FAANG style IT. If you’re processing 24 TB worth of transactions a day it is going to be easiest or the same price to build a data warehouse from the file system on up then force it on a vendor. Due to the economy I took a job where they have a couple of small 2 GB databases that were developed mid-90s. They never went to the cloud and just grew without a plan. This is only temporary, the person they had running it became sick and is retiring probably. They have a lot of transaction and performance based issues. I oddly don’t know SQL anymore, or the old way this was written. What are some tips to get me through this politically and how mid-90s SQL works? It is running on-premise on the latest addition of MS SQL. [more inside]
Sundowning Mom Terrified of Caretaking Dad
My 83-year-old mother, whose full-time caregiver is my father, has started experiencing hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions as a component of her dementia. We all understand this is common, and she is under medical care and following “sundowning” protocols. The issue is that when an episode comes on, her central focus is terror of her caregiver: my 84-year-old father and her husband of 60 years. I am looking for any suggestions to help them manage this stage of the disease and these episodes specifically. [more inside]
How to look impressive at my job
I feel a tension at my new workplace between being effective and appearing effective. I am a good worker with a fair bit of experience, thoughtful and detail-oriented, but there is a separate matter of being impressive where I feel like I am lacking. [more inside]
Slipped disc, effective treatment vs liver strain
My partner has a back injury diagnosed (via MRI) as L5/S1. He's been prescribed pain meds, but he only takes them sporadically because he's worried about his liver. [more inside]
May 16
GoFundMe-like service for a beneficiary in Jakarta, Indonesia?
The leader of my online gaming group just got out of the hospital with a bill he cannot pay. I suggested that he set up a GoFundMe so our group could pitch in, but Indonesia is not one of their supported countries. Is there a similar service that works in Indonesia where multiple people can send him small amounts of money without having to reveal the real names or banking details of the donors or recipients? We all only know each other by our character names in the game and most of us would like to keep it that way. [more inside]
Adventurous Travel with Kids?
I am wondering how fantastical my international travel dreams are now that I have a kid and am middle aged. [more inside]
Getting some writing done
What are my best options for a cloud-based service where I can do free-form writing and store it until I am ready to print it or submit it elsewhere? [more inside]
Post-Interview Etiquette: Executive Search Edition
A month ago, I had a first-round interview with an executive search firm, during which I was told "the hiring manager will interview candidates in the first week of May, then schedule onsites in late May/early June". I waited until this Tueday, a week after the first week of May ended, to reach out and ask if there is an updated timeline. No response. Is there any value in reaching out a second time, or to the other staffperson listed for the search? More details below. [more inside]
Best products and processes for painting interior residential walls
We are moving into a new home and need to paint a number of rooms (2 bedrooms, 2 baths, hallways, closet interiors) and are trying to get it done as quickly and painlessly as possible, without hiring anyone. What should we buy and what tips do you have? [more inside]
How to make the most out of attending a baseball game?
I am mentoring a 15 year old and we were given tickets to see a professional league baseball game next week. Although we are both excited about doing something new and different, neither of us is particularly interested in sports or knowledgeable about baseball. What can we do to keep this outing as interesting and exciting as possible? [more inside]
Charming seaside towns in Northern Spain with a train station?
My husband and I are thinking of renting a place in Northern Spain for a month next summer -- and we love trains! We'd love to be in a charming, walkable village, ideally close to the sea, which also has a transit train stop so that we can get to Barcelona/farther-flung locations fairly easily without having to drive ourselves/use the bus system. Which towns do you recommend?
similar songs to these
Hi! There are 2 songs I am in love with from Taylor's new album. I would love recommendations for others I may like. [more inside]
Need help with the order of operations for some home improvements.
We're trying to plan out the next few years of home improvements to future proof the house (re: climate change) as durably and thoroughly as possible. Decarbonization and longevity are the two broad goals. I'm having trouble organizing this plan. [more inside]
Dishwasher detergent recommendations for the sensitive stomach
Recently switched from a lifetime of handwashing to using a dishwasher. But even with sani rinse option I’m convinced there’s still some residue that’s irritating my stomach. What detergent isn’t going to kill my precious bodily gut biome ? Cascade platinum pods are dead to me now. [more inside]
SMS Registration Breaking My Brain
My organization recently switched to a softphone client and needs to complete SMS registration. We're not registering for any of the use cases the process seems to assume. We're submitting registration through an online portal so there's no one to reason with. I am your classic burned out nonprofit operations staffer, I have been fully out of spoons since 2020, and I am losing my mind trying to do this. If you have successfully completed this for a similar use case, please explain how. Details inside. [more inside]
Wire Stripper
I'm looking into getting a wire stripper. Something like this. Some of the bad reviews discourage me though. What do you have? [more inside]
More Freelancer Finance
Why is my tax rate varying pay period to pay period? Already accounting for changes in tax bracket but still not understanding. My employment and tax situation has always been very simple, so please explain to me like I'm 5 if I'm missing something. Thanks! [more inside]
How do I transfer all my files from one PC to another?
Two PC laptops, running Windows 7 and 10, I believe. I need to transfer all my old files from the one to the other. Easy, right? [more inside]
Avoiding Covid after exposure
I learned this morning that I had my closest known Covid exposure yet on Tuesday night. I'm testing negative and have no symptoms. What can I do now that might help my husband and me keep it that way? I'd love specifics on whether and how to do DIY saline gargles/rinses, a reliable source for Enovid if it's advisable, scientifically-sound supplements or vitamins that at least don't hurt, etc. [more inside]
ISO an obscure 20th Cen. European historical drama series
I am searching for a particular historical drama that: [more inside]
House cleaner - are my expectations too high?
In the world of "normal every-other-week house cleaning by a paid housecleaner", would you consider the following two jobs to be "normal, to be done every time or as needed", or more of a "deep clean that I should expect to do myself, schedule separately, or request and pay extra for"? Asking in advance of having a talk with my house cleaner to calibrate my read on what is reasonable. [more inside]
Software to figure out a viable schedule?
I'm organizing a thing. I have a list of workshop sessions with planned durations and people who need to participate in them. The list of participants is different for every session. I'm sure there is an app out there which will take this data and spit out a viable schedule, so that people are not scheduled for 3 different sessions at the same time - please help me find it!
New patient, ancient medicine.
I had my first session with a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner last week. Yay! What questions should I be asking her? [more inside]
May 15
Where to eat in Las Vegas?
I'm heading to Last Vegas this month for work and want to eat healthy. I'm limited to $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner, including tip. No alcohol. Any tips? [more inside]
Get paid for your todo lists
Banking app for kids, such as Spriggy or Commonwealth Bank's Kit, have a function where kids can earn pocket money from their parents' bank accounts by completing tasks from a chore list. Is there a similar app but for adults? [more inside]
Reno, baby
What's fun to do and where's fun to stay in Reno? We are a middle aged mom and young adult child; queers, nerds, enjoy history, fun facts, stuff that we won't see at home.
Picking a new smartwatch
It's time for a new, fairly simple/basic smartwatch. Given that I've had only one, plus the overwhelming number of choices and options, hive mind input would be helpful. [more inside]
What's the display device I'm looking for?
I want to make a dedicated little always-on display that simply shows the time remaining to 7am every day. Ideally it comes in an enclosure which can sit upright on my desk and be charged/powered by USB from my computer. Is there some sort of programmable hobbyist display that can do this? Hooking an Arduino up to a LCD and mounting them inside a box feels like over-engineering. Any suggestions welcome.
More mistakes at work - getting scared now
Ive done a couple of posts about mistakes at work. They have become repetitive and it's got to the point this week my manager got very annoyed with me and is now reviewing all my postings at the end of each day. She told me it's not acceptable for me to keep making the same mistakes after being in the job for just under a year. [more inside]
Large format posters with political or ecological themes
I love Just Seeds for their activist posters. I am looking at Rosemary Mosco for their bird prints. But I'm really wanting a poster ~24 inches wide and at least 30 inches long. Ideally it would be extra long! 40 inches long? 48 inches? Longer? Any recs for some large format posters with social or environmental justice themes? Even better... a poster with proceeds that go to an advocacy group. [more inside]
Best Personal Care Products
Looking for your personal favorites for self care products and why they're great. [more inside]
Divestment tools
The American Friends Service Committee produces this tool to aid divestment campaigns from mass incarceration, occupation and detention. Is there an analogous website/resource/program for helping organizations and individuals divest from the fossil fuel industry? Also, if there are other tools for 'ethical' investing similar to this - where you can put in various investment funds and the tool tells you which bad industries these funds are invested in - I would like to see them!
Suits for ladies on Amazon
I'm a noob at pant/skirt suits for women's businesswear, and I have an offer that someone else can buy me some at Amazon. What do I get? [more inside]
Slides into their DMs
I picked up around 30-40 circular slide trays from my in-laws, photos my father-in-law took over the past 60 years. My goal is to digitize them, but I'm not sure how to make these digital copies useful. [more inside]
Acupuncture recommendation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan
Hi! I’m looking for recommendations for an acupuncturist on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Thank you!
Current Literature on Charter Schools
What are folks' takes on recent (maybe last 3-4 years) studies, essays, and other interventions about the marginal efficacy of charter schools vs traditional public schools, and about the long-term benefits and risks of school districts encouraging charter schools while maintaining traditional public schools? [more inside]
Dark skies viewing camping in Oregon
Oregon now has a few different designated dark sky parks for stargazing. This summer I would like to plan a trip to camp out under the stars. [more inside]
Unhinged covid theories
I'd appreciate being pointed to some non-crazy looks at some specific crazy covid theories, or just some basic facts that are fairly robust. Details inside! [more inside]