January 2016 Archives
January 31
Where to work in web design outside the US?
I'm an experienced web designer/developer looking to work outside the US, potentially in a developing country that needs my skills. How to do this and where to go? [more inside]
Celexa and Adderall XR in am... a beer in the pm?
Posting for someone else (really!). He takes doctor-prescribed Celexa 20mg and Adderall XR 20mg around 8am. He has been on the Celexa several months and is fine having a beer or two in the evening, maybe once or twice a week at the absolute most, with no side effects. Even the doctor thought that was OK. Now he's on Adderall XR as well and unsure if he can still have the occasional beer. [more inside]
Replacing alcohol with marijuana
I've been replacing my nightly 2 glasses of wine/bottles of beer with weed, but I'm not sure if I am doing it right. [more inside]
Seeking romantic compatibility anecdata
Deep in limerence, but the first attempt at sex was disappointing. [more inside]
posted by hellameangirl at 9:53 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by hellameangirl at 9:53 PM PST - 21 comments
Identify YA Fiction, again
So I'm in my mid-40's and at some point before junior high school (so, late 70's or early 80's), I read a YA book that I remember absolutely nothing at all about except a single thing. [more inside]
Iceland at summer's end?
I will be in Iceland from August 25-September 2nd this year. So far all I have booked are my plane tickets and two nights in a youth hostel in Reykjavik to start off the trip. What should I do? What are some places that are must sees? [more inside]
Looking for foundation or frame for queen bed that folds or splits
We need to upgrade my 18-year-old son from his child's single bed to a full or queen size. A friend has offered to give us his almost-never-used queen sized mattress/futon hybrid (I'm not actually clear on what exactly it is). I want to get a base for it, and figured we'd take a drive down to Ikea. But my concern is that my son's room is on the 3rd floor up 2 flights of progressively more narrow, steep, twisting stairs. There's no way a regular queen size--or even full size--bed frame or base will go up the stairs. I know that king size beds often come split into 2 pieces, but what about queen? [more inside]
posted by primate moon at 3:35 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by primate moon at 3:35 PM PST - 18 comments
Should I get a new mountain bike?
Is newer better? [more inside]
Time Machine to Nowhere
I have a 3TB Apple HD that I’ve been *ostensibly* using, in conjunction with Time Machine, to back up my data for the past couple of years. I say “ostensibly” because it takes forever and never seems to fully complete. Please help me figure out a new approach. [more inside]
posted by hapax_legomenon at 1:50 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by hapax_legomenon at 1:50 PM PST - 10 comments
Food, cooking, arts trip in Italy...
Please help me figure out how to craft a fabulous vacation for my two kiddos and myself to Italy this summer.. [more inside]
Was it a Sasquatch outside my tent last night? It was, wasn't it.
One of the most horrifying sounds I've ever heard woke me up last night as I was sound asleep in my tent. I'm assuming a sasquatch but maybe y'all can help me come up with an alternative explanation. [more inside]
posted by bfootdav at 1:16 PM PST - 45 comments
posted by bfootdav at 1:16 PM PST - 45 comments
Is my accessory belt misaligned, and if so, (how) can I fix it?
I think my accessory belt is misaligned and/or loose. Can you confirm or advise? More info and pictures inside. [more inside]
posted by methroach at 12:38 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by methroach at 12:38 PM PST - 2 comments
mo brunch, fewer problems
What are your favorite brunch recipies? Any skill level or theme. No snowflakes! [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:41 AM PST - 45 comments
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:41 AM PST - 45 comments
Are those LED light strips safe to embed in drywall? Fire Safety.
Basically my idea is to dig a groove the depth of the strip into the wall so the strip is flush. [more inside]
posted by mrflibble at 11:07 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by mrflibble at 11:07 AM PST - 7 comments
Does the US get worse tea?
Do tea purveyors give worse tea to the US market (versus, e.g., the UK) or are other factors at play? [more inside]
posted by pbh at 9:31 AM PST - 36 comments
posted by pbh at 9:31 AM PST - 36 comments
You want me to counter my own counter offer?
My wife has received a job offer that is lower than her stated expectations by about 10%. She has tried to counter the offer, and was told both no and that she needed to come up with another counter. Is this normal, for a company to tell a candidate that the ball is still in their court after presenting an initial counter offer? [more inside]
What to do about nipples?
Looking for a comfortable, affordable, natural solution for dealing with protruding nipples. (Some probably NSFW links inside.) [more inside]
is this dresser too good to be true? in other words, is it bedbugs?
I found a dresser on the sidewalk in Brooklyn yesterday, the 30th. I rushed to take it, since it appeared to be of very high quality and, having recently moved, I needed one! Now, I'm paranoid I may have exposed myself to bedbugs - not because of any obvious empirical evidence, but because the risk in New York City is purportedly so high, and the piece could have been thrown out because of an infestation. (It could also have been the casualty of a move.) The only possible visual sign of any infestation is here, in the base of the dresser: http://imgur.com/ARBrX3K
This white substance scattered and disappeared when I tried to scoop a bit of it up with some paper. I think it's probably wood shavings from the dresser itself; an extensive search turned up no obvious signs of droppings, shed skins, the things themselves. But this white, salt-like substance does not seem altogether inconsistent with eggs.
Should I get this thing out of my apartment immediately?
posted by barbudo at 8:26 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by barbudo at 8:26 AM PST - 11 comments
Should I Finally Let Him Go ? Need ADVICE DESPERATELY
Please Read Story .. Please
MY QUESTION IS : does it look like there can be a chance between us again or does it seem like his mind is made up ? im not going to stop myself from seeing and going out with guys im interested in but i really just feel right with him . [more inside]
posted by jennyage at 7:45 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by jennyage at 7:45 AM PST - 23 comments
Life keeps kicking me in the teeth. How do I stay resilient?
In the past five years, I've suffered a staggering number of losses, combined with generally stressful situations. I don't want to let it destroy me, but I feel like I'm running out of coping mechanisms. [more inside]
posted by missrachael at 7:07 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by missrachael at 7:07 AM PST - 15 comments
Oh, I see why you sued Starbucks
When people win big civil lawsuits, does this money change their lives? [more inside]
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 6:21 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 6:21 AM PST - 14 comments
I'm in a rough spot in my relationship. Should I tell my mom?
I'm quite close with my mother, and discuss many aspects of my life with her. She is a good sounding board, and has good advice, especially about interpersonal issues. I've been having difficulties in my relationship with my SO for several months now. Would talking to my mother about this be a terrible idea? [more inside]
How Do I Get Over This Psychological Job Search Hurdle?
I used to have a reasonably good job - now I don't. So I put everything in storage, took some time out, and now I'm back sitting in temp accommodation, looking for a new job, finding this and that... but I'm not applying for any of these jobs, because I'm convinced that what a new job really means is returning to my former lifestyle of essentially working, looking forward to not working (i.e. eves/ weekends), and then not actually doing anything outside of work because I'm a massive introvert. And I'm 40, and I now realize that I'm not going to live forever, and if I conscientiously choose to return to my former lifestyle for the 2nd half of my career, then more fool me if I reach retirement and look back with great regret at poor choices I made when I knew I should've known better. And so I spend all day looking at jobs - which feel like invitations back into my old life - and then not applying for them. I need help moving on from this. Former lifestyle details inside. [more inside]
Potentially codependent roommate driving me nuts.
Found this guy on craigslist in a city where for a number of reasons (high rates of hard drug use among them) it is very difficult to find a competent roommate. I am completely certain he will be a safe roommate to live with, which is paramount, but after knowing him for just a few days, I have already been feeling really drained. I don't think he's a bad person. Help me understand wtf is going on, and how to best cope with it. [more inside]
posted by a knot unknown at 2:00 AM PST - 28 comments
posted by a knot unknown at 2:00 AM PST - 28 comments
How can I buy a health insurance plan that's not on sale?
Friday, the State of Oregon said that it was forcing our health insurance company, Moda, to get out of the business of individual policies. It is not clear what will happen to the 67K people insured by Moda. I want to buy a new policy by Sunday night. Help. [more inside]
January 30
Kidneys failed in dog
I need a sanity check regarding making the right decision for our 12 year old dog who is diagnosed with kidney failure yesterday. [more inside]
What should a female "best man" wear at the wedding?
So my only friend is getting married this year and he has asked me, a female, to be his best man. His fiancee is totally down with this and all is fine. I would very much like to be mostly in charge of what I am wearing for a host of reasons. Advice required. [more inside]
Why do I get black bars on HD TV with FIOS
I have an HP ENVY 32-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor Quad-HD with a display resolution maximum of 2560 x1440 pixels. I just hooked Verizon's FIOS TV to it, and even on the HD channels, I have black bars on the top and bottom of the picture. What gives? [more inside]
posted by 4ster at 7:33 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by 4ster at 7:33 PM PST - 7 comments
How noisy is your heat pump?
I'm debating whether to simply replace my aging gas furnace with a more efficient one, or to add an air-source heat pump for primary heating (and cooling in summer when needed), and replace the gas furnace with a cheaper 80% efficient model for backup heat in winter. [more inside]
posted by sapere aude at 6:51 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by sapere aude at 6:51 PM PST - 13 comments
Medical Insurance Fraud
A friend from out of state (US) has asked if they could use my address to be considered to be in my city's insurance network, thereby saving them a lot of cost. I realize this is insurance fraud. I'm going to turn them down, but what would be the potential ramifications if I didn't?
So you won the lottery. Don't blow it all on Prozac.
I'm interested in a genre that I'll call "fantasy self-help": stories about people who go to extraordinary, elaborate, expensive lengths in the pursuit of happiness/mental health. Examples include the movies Welcome to Me (mentally ill woman wins the lottery and spends millions making a vanity talk show) and Hotell (members of a support group check into a hotel to escape their lives and fully devote themselves to therapy). What are some other movies, shows or books like this? I think most of these will be dark comedies but maybe not.
posted by acidic at 5:24 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by acidic at 5:24 PM PST - 18 comments
Why does yogurt make my front teeth feel loose?
I know this seems like a really silly question, and I would never even think that yogurt could possibly damage my teeth, but I actually have two front teeth that are already somewhat loose and that I never use to bite into anything hard. And eating yogurt just seems to affect my front teeth, which feel all wiggly, but once I rinse my mouth out with water, they're fine again. I'd just like to understand what is happening here.
What's the deal with salary non-exempt and overtime?
Are there exceptions to overtime after 40 hours? [more inside]
Looking for sites or books like Cosma Shalizi's notebooks
I really like the short explanations and exhaustive trove of links found in Cosma Shalizi's notebooks. Are there any other similar sites or books out there? [more inside]
Should I check out the St. Johns Parade while I'm in Portland?
I'm going to be in Portland, OR in May. I was looking around for things to do and saw that I'll be there the weekend of the St. Johns Parade. Is it worth checking out? Relevant info: I'll be relying on public transportation. This isn't my first visit, so I've already done many of the usual must-do things. I am a big fan of parades in general!
posted by atropos at 4:20 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by atropos at 4:20 PM PST - 6 comments
2007 Toyota Avalon starting problem...
About two weeks ago I started my Avalon and pulled it into my garage. I turned the car off and decided to restart it to pull a little closer inside. It would try to turn over but would not start until after about 4 tries. The same thing today, I started the car, turned it off and went in the house for something, came out and it would not start until about 4 tries. There are no dash lights burning after starting, what could be the problem?
posted by just asking at 4:10 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by just asking at 4:10 PM PST - 13 comments
Miami Family Funtimes
My family is going on a Disney Cruise in April out of Miami! Yay! Before that, we want to spend a couple of days vacationing on land. But we have many questions. [more inside]
Winter Camping w/ 9 yr old near Washington DC?
I'm looking for suggestions for one-or-two-day (night) loop trails within three hours of Washington, DC, that can be done in March with a 9 year old. [more inside]
Best practices for digital media and home theater?
I'd like to improve the way we handle our digital media storage and viewing at home. Currently we have a PC running FreeNAS as the storage server, and another PC hooked up to the TV (the TV PC) that we play media with using Kodi. We use an iPhone as a remote. I'd like to replace this with something easier to use, so that for instance, a guest at our house could watch TV just using a remote. [more inside]
Is there a way to speed up play on Amazon Prime or Netflix?
I like watching documentaries, but most of them have agonizingly slow narration - is there a way (bonus points for doing so on a Roku) to speed up Amazon Prime or Netflix films? [more inside]
posted by Seeba at 3:12 PM PST - 1 comment
posted by Seeba at 3:12 PM PST - 1 comment
What movies can I see without experiencing momma trauma?
This is me: mom with recent baby who can't sit through slightly difficult movies without wanting to hop out a window. What movies coming our this spring do you recommend? [more inside]
Where can I find a cheap 1-meter-diameter plastic dome?
For reasons that aren't important, but are possibly guessable from past questions. I am looking for a cheapish (let's say less than $40) rigid hollow plastic (or similarly rugged and lightweight material) sphere or hemisphere with a diameter of roughly one meter (let's say somewhere between 39 - 43 inches). Any color is fine, as I'll be painting it anyway. [more inside]
What are these brown bumps on my staghorn fern?
I have a staghorn fern named Robert. I just noticed little brown bumps on Robert what are they? Here's a picture. [more inside]
Motherhood, One Not Too Distant Day
What personal development strategies/hacks would you recommend for somebody preparing to adopt as a single working mother in 3-4 years? Special snowflakes inside, general advice welcome too! [more inside]
Oh baby, I'm...not sure whether I like it raw or not?
I have questions about raw milk! I am hoping to find objective, non-politicized answers! [more inside]
What's going on with 511 and Caltrain?
[Bay Area Public Transit Filter]. When I ask 511.org to show me transit from Palo Alto to Millbrae, it will not show me any Caltrains until Feb. 6th -- instead it will only show me buses. For example, here's it showing me only buses on Feb. 5th, whereas on Feb. 12 it shows me the right Caltrains. Has Caltrain screwed up its electronic schedule for the Super Bowl? [more inside]
Sausage Party in Los Angeles?
So, I'm back from my Portland trip and back in Los Angeles. I'm going to miss the overcast skies, the smallness of the place, the good public transit, the biking, and all the great friends I have there, but I'm seriously going to miss the crazy variety of sausages.
Is there anywhere in LA I can get something like this huge variety of sausages? And if not, what is wrong with LA? 8 million people could eat a whole lot of sausages.
Shaving every day as the price of admission for sex
Had a tiff last night with my boyfriend regarding leg stubble. When I tried to get frisky he told me I needed to go shave first since it had been three days. This has come up before and I'm feeling a bit hurt and resentful. He insisted he was joking and didn't care if I'd shaved. Do I need to just let it go? [more inside]
posted by Chkalovskaya at 9:47 AM PST - 159 comments
posted by Chkalovskaya at 9:47 AM PST - 159 comments
Anxiety about engagement and weddings
I love my boyfriend, I want to marry my boyfriend. I am deeply uncomfortable with being a bride.The idea of being engaged makes me want to hide under my desk and have a panic attack. Please hope me. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 8:08 AM PST - 53 comments
posted by pintapicasso at 8:08 AM PST - 53 comments
First project with Chinese clients - cultural etiquette advice?
Next week I'll spend several days together with clients from Shanghai coming to Europe for a project we are producing for them. As it's the first time we are working for a Chinese client (specifically: an advertising agency and their client), it would be great to know in advance any specific business etiquette (beyond usual international practice), and any relevant cultural pointers to keep in mind during our work together during the day, and dinners (that we will be offering) during the evenings. [more inside]
Can I use GIMP with a Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Pro 4 Pen?
I can draw fine in GIMP on my Surface Pro 3 with my new Surface Pro 4 Pen. But I can't use the rubber stamp tool. Is it just GIMP or is it the tablet or the pen? [more inside]
New 10 month rescue puppy from pound. Help with dog parenting?
She is approximately 10 months with an unknown history and lived at the pound in a cage for a while. She voids in the house. What should we do? [more inside]
posted by Punctual at 7:24 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by Punctual at 7:24 AM PST - 14 comments
Windows 10: restore the show/hide button in taskbar notification area
My Windows 10 is up to date, but the upwards facing ^ button to the left of the notification area (used to be called the system tray) which showed or hid the icons to the right of it has disappeared.
I have searched high & low as to how to fix this without luck, please help, Win 10 experts. TIA!
posted by lungtaworld at 7:05 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by lungtaworld at 7:05 AM PST - 3 comments
Tenant Lawyer Recommendation, Oakland CA
Looking for recommendations for a lawyer experienced with Oakland's just cause evictions. Our landlords are pursuing an owner move-in in our rent-controlled apartment, which we believe is most likely not in good faith. We would like to get legal advice on our options. [more inside]
Cow Buyers Deserve Reward.
[Sex Advice Filter] Past boyfriends got sex-kitten me, but Future Husband only got young-associate-lawyer me, who was way less interested in sex than she used to be. Now we're getting married, and he deserves a fireworks-filled honeymoon. Recommend me sexy books / other media we can consume together during the honeymoon that will help us spice it up.
How to get one of my associates to wear a belt?
I'm an assistant manager at a sub shop and one of my associates has a bit of a uniform problem. Her butt is often hanging out. How do I ask her to wear a belt? [more inside]
posted by blackzinfandel at 1:48 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by blackzinfandel at 1:48 AM PST - 23 comments
Daisy chaining surge protectors, cords, and power strips
How do I safely connect my computing equipment to a surge protector and a far away wall socket? [more inside]
posted by ticktickatick at 1:25 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by ticktickatick at 1:25 AM PST - 14 comments
January 29
Selling a used pickup truck in CA
I have some questions about selling a used truck via private party sale. Process, plates, smog. [more inside]
Adventure camera seems to have taken an arrow to the knee.
My Canon PowerShot D20 worked fine when I put it away, and now it doesn't boot. Help? [more inside]
Finding high interest / low reading level books
Does anyone have any suggestions for what books I could get for this student? [more inside]
posted by snowysoul at 8:46 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by snowysoul at 8:46 PM PST - 13 comments
Gentle, non-scary movie for preschooler?
My preschool-age son is scared by anything even mildly action-y or scary, but otherwise loves our newly-instituted monthly movie afternoon. I'm looking for movie suggestions for it (with a few other snowflake issues inside). [more inside]
New boss, better than the old boss
How do I stop carrying over anger and anxiety from a previous job with a terrible supervisor? [more inside]
Sending good thank you notes, cards, and letters
I am really bad with sending thank you notes / cards. I would like to do better. I have a major backlog of thank yous to send out, and I’d like some assistance with some aspects of that. Mostly I am asking about what makes a good thank you note, and how to deal with crafting one when it is very overdue. [more inside]
Inexpensive refurb or used ruggedized laptop?
Can you suggest a ruggedized laptop in the same vein as the Panasonic Toughbook, able to run Win7 but perhaps a couple to a few years old and relatively inexpensive? [more inside]
Will a dead rat make my friend sicker?
Will my sick friend get even more sick by living with a dead rat smell? [more inside]
posted by raisingsand at 4:36 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by raisingsand at 4:36 PM PST - 5 comments
Hobbyist level 3D scanner
I'm looking for a cheap or DIY 3D scanner just for hobby/fun purposes.
Has anyone used or can anyone vouch for a decent one? [more inside]
Making sugar scrub favors with canola oil?
I'm trying to save money, and making sugar scrub favors with canola oil is SO much cheaper than coconut, sunflower, safflower, or olive oils. Is this a bad idea? I can't seem to find many blog posters who use canola oil, but it's a fraction of the price. I'd like to avoid any disasters like rotting, but I also don't want to break the bank.
posted by onecircleaday at 3:44 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by onecircleaday at 3:44 PM PST - 5 comments
You are not r/Aquariums, but can you help me out?
I have a new aquarium and an even newer Reddit account. I can't post my question to r/Aquariums till 5 days from now. I have a question about replacing a cartridge in an hang-on back filter and cycling. [more inside]
Can you find the DIY couch instructions with the funny setup?
Several years ago I found some instructions for building your own (banquette style, I think) seating out of plywood, foam, etc.
What sticks out in my memory was the author introducing the need for new furniture. It was something like this: 'I loaned my apartment to some filmmakers for a shoot. After the fact, I discovered they made porn, and you can guess what they used my couch for. (They had sex on it.) Obviously I need new furniture.'
Can you track down this page?
posted by Monochrome at 2:48 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by Monochrome at 2:48 PM PST - 2 comments
I'm stuck! Calling the plumbing fairy...
So, I have a shower drain that is not draining properly, and decided to remove the drain cover to see what evils were lurking therein, and remove them. Unfortunately, I cannot remove the drain cover... [more inside]
posted by PlantGoddess at 1:57 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by PlantGoddess at 1:57 PM PST - 13 comments
Dogs that go Yap in the night
Our 7 year old dachshund-beagle mix has decided that her nightly crate sleep should be interrupted by a half-hour of whining and complaining and scratching to get out of her crate. Last night this occurred at midnight, then again at 4:30 AM. This has been a nightly thing for the past two weeks or so. [more inside]
posted by cameradv at 1:20 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by cameradv at 1:20 PM PST - 21 comments
One day in Phoenix
I unexpectedly have one day in Phoenix, AZ next week. Feb 5, 2016. What should I do? I like art, history, and culture. [more inside]
posted by Flood at 1:12 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by Flood at 1:12 PM PST - 18 comments
Best books: Media Strategy 101
What are the best, most current books for total newbies on creating a media strategy for small organizations? [more inside]
Book title where an object was passed down ending with Lincoln.
Years ago I read a fictional book in which a small object (I don't remember what. Maybe a ring? ) was passed down through several generations, being owned by some people that were good and some that were bad until it ended up with Lincoln's father, Tom, and his name in the book was written as Linkhorn. That's not much to go on and I don't remember if it was an adult or youth book. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Help for slippery carpeted stairs?
Our landlord put in new carpet just before we moved in, and it's very thick and very slippery, especially the stairs! At least once a week, myself or my husband seems to slip down them. The carpet is soft enough really so we don't hurt ourselves, but we have a new baby coming and this CANNOT happen then. Any ideas for non-permanent solutions? Rubber soled slippers? Carpet treads? Help!
How dangerous is the Porter Ranch methane leak to someone with asthma
If someone with asthma will be driving through the region, specifically: southbound on I-5, then east on I-10, how dangerous is the Porter Ranch methane leak to that person? I can't find any good information on exactly how widespread the methane is and in what concentrations it is on the I-5.
Art Supplies Tracker Template?
I'm teaching a class where students will be working with department provided crafting supplies, some of which are consumable and others of which are permanent. Is there a way we can use Moodle or Google Sheets to track what gets used up and what we get more of? [more inside]
Solo business, Schedule C question
As I consultant, when I travel on client business, I pay for travel with a card and the client reimburses me (on top of my fee). Likewise with other expenses -- I buy a projector for use on a project, client keeps projector and reimburses me as above. So do I include such reimbursement amounts in both my income and expenses on Schedule C?
Anne Frank's stepsister?
An article came up in my social media feed talking about Anne Frank's stepsister. Is there a journalistic reason for this? [more inside]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:36 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:36 AM PST - 13 comments
I mean, I won't be leaving a cake with a vagina on it in the break room…
Is it crazy to tell my immediate coworkers that the "surgery" I'm taking leave for is indeed SRS? I know I don't have to disclose — but (for snowflake reasons within) I'd honestly really like to. I'd especially love advice from trans people who have dealt with this themselves, or cis coworkers of trans people who have dealt with it well and gracefully. [more inside]
How can I get back my self employment tax?
I spent almost all of 2015 working full-time for a big company through a temp agency, but the temp agency misclassified me as a contractor. This means that I'm on the hook for self employment tax, which is 7.65% of the year's income! I'd like to avoid paying that tax. What's the best way to do it? [more inside]
posted by dadaclonefly at 10:00 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by dadaclonefly at 10:00 AM PST - 9 comments
Any hidden gems in Kindle Unlimited?
Hi, I'm a voracious reader in the midst of a 30-day trial for Kindle Unlimited (I'm thinking it probably isn't a keeper). It seems like lots of the books available are from self-published or otherwise obscure authors and don't have many reviews. Has anyone come across an obscure book on Kindle Unlimited that they'd recommend? I'm pretty genre agnostic (I'd rather read a good romance novel than a bad science fiction novel), though I'm not generally interested in urban fantasy.
posted by Area Man at 9:47 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by Area Man at 9:47 AM PST - 14 comments
Liquor Laboratory
Hosting a cocktail party: help with setting up a mini-bar! [more inside]
posted by Dressed to Kill at 9:30 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by Dressed to Kill at 9:30 AM PST - 20 comments
Grandad needs help with the computer again
I have a domain, and website that runs on AWS. How do I go about setting up an email account? Where do I do it? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 9:07 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by popcassady at 9:07 AM PST - 9 comments
Suggest Audiobooks with bits of non-English language and accents
I'm currently enjoying the audiobook of "Lost in Translation" by Nicole Mones. The narrator often uses a phrase in Mandarin, and then says the English translation afterwards. She also uses lots of accents. It has a very nice ear-feel, if that's a word. What are some other audiobooks you enjoyed that feature these techniques? Thanks! (Don't say Shantaram, it is already my favorite audiobook ever).
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:44 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:44 AM PST - 7 comments
How do I structure my guitar practice time?
I feel like my guitar playing skills have plateaued, and I'm not sure how to more foward. [more inside]
posted by steinwald at 8:11 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by steinwald at 8:11 AM PST - 9 comments
A friend of mine was murdered...
How do I address racist and hate language in the comments section that regards my friend's murder, in an online edition of a major American newspaper? [more inside]
Maintaining An Out-Of-State Health Insurance Policy
I used to live in CT, where health insurance is cheap and great. A couple of years ago, I moved to NY (state, not city), where coverage is expensive and lousy. So I've maintained my old CT policy (Anthem), using a home address that's actually a mail drop. Am I living dangerously? [more inside]
Changing google auto-suggestions
I am helping someone freshen up their google results. As per previous asks we are registering Linked-In accounts etc to push the juicier results down to the second page. Much good that does while Google auto-suggests Bob Bobsworth conviction when you start typing his unique name. Anything to be done? [more inside]
Detail My Ride . . . Difficulty Level: NYC
Can anyone in the NYC area recommend an auto detailing shop that can manage light paint correction and scratch repair work? [more inside]
posted by spitbull at 7:04 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by spitbull at 7:04 AM PST - 3 comments
It's NOT David Copperfield!
I cannot remember this book and it is driving me crazy. When I was in France I was starving for English language books, and so came upon a relatively dense English novel about a young gentleman making his way in the world. It's not David Copperfield, but in a similar vein. The book was not an immediately recognizable to me at the time (I'm guessing it's a lesser work), but it's by a very well known English novelist, I'm thinking 18th or 19th century. [more inside]
posted by leotrotsky at 7:02 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by leotrotsky at 7:02 AM PST - 6 comments
Your weight and fortune, 25 cents
I can't have a scale in my home, I don't have one at the gym, and it's not feasible to drop by my doctor's office. But once in a while I'd like to know my weight. Where in NYC is there a coin-op weight-and-fortune machine? (I used to go to the Musée Mécanique for this.) It's best if it's a minor hassle to travel to, so I'll consider all NYC locations.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:53 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:53 AM PST - 15 comments
email enigma - mystery message
I've recently been getting an email message which appears to be dated 12/31/69, but has "no sender," "no subject," and "no content." The first couple of times I just deleted it, but now it pops back in almost simultaneously with the deletion, so that my mail icon chronically shows at least 1 unread message. [more inside]
Coffee beans online, on a budget. Recommendations?
For the last few years we've had a subscription through Amazon for 8 O'Clock Columbian. We're bored with it, and last month the price inexplicably doubled so now I'm wondering what else is out there. If I can't get cheaper, can I at least get better? [more inside]
What's the name of this type of dongle?
I have speakers in my living room driven by an amp with one input. I want to plug both the TV and the media centre PC into the amp. What should I buy? [more inside]
posted by katrielalex at 6:07 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by katrielalex at 6:07 AM PST - 11 comments
How do taxes work on a Roth conversion that was recharacterized?
If I prepaid taxes on a Roth conversion then recharacterized back to a traditional IRA, how do the taxes I paid work? [more inside]
Worry about my referee's comments about potential jobs?
I've been offered Job A. Job B left a voicemail at the 11th hour today asking me to ring back on Mon. Based on what my referee told me at work drinks tonight, he thinks Job B is very likely to offer me a job. He said Job A were perfectly nice but felt like they were asking questions to catch me out, while Job B sounded like they wanted to hear nothing but good things about me, as though they *actually* wanted to employ me.
Having said that, Job A is interstate so I don't know if they're just trying to make sure I'm not a dud.
If I get offered Job B on Monday, would you make anything of what my referee mentioned? Could it be a reflection on them as people to work for? Thanks (and sorry I can't wait till Mon, it's been months and months of frustration and anxiety, to the point that keeping busy doesn't even work)
Snowy Tokyo Day Trip?
Our family will be in Tokyo during the first week of February, and we thought this might be a good time for the kids (ages 7 and 2) to see snow for the first time. If we hopped on a train in Tokyo in the morning, is there a good place we could hop off and--without too much additional transportation--end up somewhere where we could slide down a hill on something, toss a few snowballs, and make a snowperson? Ideally we’d like to make it back to Tokyo the same day, but will consider staying overnight. [more inside]
I want to go to Antartica.
I would like to go work in Antartica for a while. How do I make it happen? [more inside]
posted by halogen at 1:18 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by halogen at 1:18 AM PST - 19 comments
What do I do now that Facebook killed Parse
No sooner had I rewritten my iOS app to rely on the backend service Parse ("hundreds of thousands of developers trust us!" it said on the website) than did Facebook kill it. What should I do? [more inside]
Should have filed taxes married/joint. Already efiled married/separate.
My spouse efiled our US federal and state tax returns as married/separate. I haven't filed mine yet. We did some re-calculations and realized we'd get a bigger refund filing married/joint. How do we get the IRS to delete/reject the already efiled return or amend things so we can file the married/joint one correctly?
posted by ao4047 at 12:07 AM PST - 1 comment
posted by ao4047 at 12:07 AM PST - 1 comment
Moving to Queretaro for 4 months
My family and I (husband, wife, 10 year old, 7 year old) will be living in Queretaro, QRO, Mexico for the next four months. We have housing/work and school for the kids arranged. What advice do you have for us/what should we know? [more inside]
January 28
Books to understand conservatives
I’m curious to find one or two books that would help me understand conservatives better. [more inside]
posted by mulkey at 10:41 PM PST - 28 comments
posted by mulkey at 10:41 PM PST - 28 comments
How to deal with possible domestic violence situation next door.
The new couple over the back fence argue loudly and quite possibly violently at least four or five times a week. Besides the fact it's deeply disturbing, I'm worried that there's a battered partner involved who may need actual help escaping the relationship. Possibly. It's all really murky and I could use some guidance. [more inside]
posted by Jilder at 9:44 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by Jilder at 9:44 PM PST - 22 comments
I'm looking for a free OSX based PDF reader
I'm really not up for paying for Acrobat and just need a simple PDF reader for my macbook air. Something that will open a PDF as well as search the document. Got a suggestion? Thanks HIve! [more inside]
Living with no renewed lease in same apartment in Portland, OR
Our landlord has not sent us a new lease. [more inside]
Cool things to print with a new 3D printer
Santa brought me a 3D printer! Now I need some suggestions for cool things to print with it! [more inside]
Looking for more fun, flirty, zany entertainment
I've run out of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries episodes to watch, and now there's an awesome female protag with amazing costumes and flirting and female friendships hole in my life! Help me fill it up with tv, shows, or books with the same mouth-feel [more inside]
What is the best quality textile printing out there?
What is the best way of going about printing on t-shirts, hoodies, and other textiles apart from silk-screening? In your experience, what would constitute "high-end" textile printing and would actually be durable? [more inside]
Does My Landlord Have to Give Me a Parking Space?
If a parking space in my building is vacated, is my landlord required to offer it to me? [more inside]
fitting 10 women in a beach house
How do I plan a fun, chill bachelorette for 10-12 women this summer at some wonderful beach near DC? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 4:54 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by inevitability at 4:54 PM PST - 12 comments
Ace of Base is back
I updated my iPhone 4S to the newest version of the music player. Now it's displaying all the music I've ever bought on iTunes, even stuff I unchecked and deleted from the computer years ago. I've told it to stop, but it doesn't acknowledge my selection. How do I make it stop? [more inside]
Getting my music somewhere usable
I have a Mac-formatted external hard drive full of music, and no Mac to use it with. How do I get the stuff on it somewhere usable? [more inside]
I do not like foods with creamy mouth-feels. I want to start liking them
I tend to dislike foods that feel creamy: Cream sauces, mayonnaise, ice cream, butter or butter sauces, risottos, quiches, frittatas, milkshakes, casseroles, whipped cream, cheese, eggs that are not baked into a cake, etc. I feel like this is a preference I could actually overcome (unlike, say, my hatred of cilantro). Please provide me with either A) Some understanding of what is pleasant or appreciable about these textures, B) Some tips for coming to enjoy these more or C) Recipes that can ease me into these foods. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 3:49 PM PST - 56 comments
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 3:49 PM PST - 56 comments
Telling a Patient they have Alzheimer's
This is not anything I have to decide as it is about a close friend, not a relative, but there are several of us who have been friends since high school and we are very concerned about the friend who has been diagnosed with Alzheimers last year, but her daughter has made the decision for now not to tell her what the diagnosis is. Friend and daughter live across the country, so anything we can do is long distance, and we do not really know how to deal with this. [more inside]
posted by mermayd at 3:46 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by mermayd at 3:46 PM PST - 18 comments
What's in a name? ...Quite a lot, actually.
I am creating a YouTube channel and a couple of associated social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr). I figured I'd have come up with a name by the time I finished editing my first video. However, that's not the case, and I find myself basically ready to launch but with a lot of uncertainties about name. [more inside]
Internet Security: Is sending encoded data over SSL secure enough?
We're sending the names and/or email addresses of users from their browsers on their computers to our databases. Are plan is to fragment and encode (not encrypt or hash) that data before transit over SSL and store it in our databases the same way. Is acceptable to the expectations of security professionals?
Need to find an on-line inexpensive expense reporting/tracking system.
One of my client companies needs to implement an on-line inexpensive easy to use expense reporting/tracking system. So far they have initially looked at Expensify (5$ @user) and Tallie ($9 @ user) . Does anyone have any input on either of these? Do you have any suggestions for alternatives? Though initially Expensify was the strongest contender during our investigation and trial startup we have not been impressed with their customer support. So now we are a bit skeptical and looking for further feedback.
Best New TV For Watching Old Movies?
Our TV, a stately Sony Trinitron that's served us since 1999, is dying. We need a new 42 inch-ish TV. I have no idea what to look for in this new flat/plasma/HD market. All I want to avoid is that godawful HD thing where old movies look like cheap soap operas and everything is too sharp and flat. No interest in a smart TV or 3D or anything like that. What should I buy to make our media diet of old movies and Netflix TV shows look the best?
Best version of Bach's Suites for Solo Cello?
Particularly, I am looking for recommendation of an excellent recording of an excellent performance. Sound quality matters here! I have long been a fan of the Pablo Casals rendition, but I would like to find a rendition I enjoy that is recorded with more fidelity. Of particular interest are recommendations available on Spotify, though I would be happy to go outside of Spotify and buy a version if need be.
posted by jamaal at 2:30 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by jamaal at 2:30 PM PST - 18 comments
Kid "working" at major chain store, should I do something?
There's a local petco where every other weekend I've gone in, I see a small girl cleaning tanks and sweeping floors and stuff. I've talked to her, and one of the managers of the store is her dad, and on his visitation weekends, he makes her stay at the store for multiple shifts at a time, doing things like cleaning out cages. She's there so often that customers know her name. She's not being paid, by either her dad or the store. This weekend I stopped her from leaving with a sketchy customer who wanted her "help" getting something from his car. [more inside]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:22 PM PST - 99 comments
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:22 PM PST - 99 comments
One airline lost it, another found it?
An airline recently lost my bag and, after some prompting, gave up and paid compensation. Now, about six weeks later, a totally unrelated airline found my bag and has returned it. Err, what next? [more inside]
posted by aramaic at 12:05 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by aramaic at 12:05 PM PST - 20 comments
Help me navigate Memphis and New Orleans by Amtrak and bicycle
I'm planning our ten-year anniversary, complete with stays in Memphis and New Orleans in mid-to-late September. I've booked the tickets on Amtrak, and would ideally ship our bikes so we can get around car-free. Can you help me locate good areas to stay? [more inside]
posted by rocketman at 11:56 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by rocketman at 11:56 AM PST - 7 comments
Meaning of 'unconditioned' in the context of meditation or Buddhism
In English-language writing on meditation, I've come across the term 'unconditioned'. What does it mean in that context?
Eliza, I don't have a dollar to my name
Who is making money off resale Hamilton tickets? I'm looking for a more elaborate answer than "scalpers." [more inside]
The Big Island (Hawaii) for 4 days, help me plan a great trip!
I (36-year-old female) am traveling from Boston to Hawaii in early March for 10 days. Planning on 4 days and 4 nights on my own on the Big Island, sandwiched between three days on Oahu and three on Kauai where I will have company. For logistical reasons, I’m in some hurry to book my flights to/from TBI, and so am trying to nail down my itinerary. I’m also inflexible on days of the week on TBI. I’m thinking of one of these two itineraries: [more inside]
Exercise heart rate too high?
I've gotten back into hitting the gym, going five times a week since just before Christmas. I'm about 15 pounds overweight and would like to slim down and just get healthier and more energetic. I tend to do cardio such as treadmill running or use the cross trainer for about 30 minutes at a time doing high intensity interval training. I'm in my mid-forties, and my heart rate goes up to around 175 average during the intervals, and sometimes gets as high as 185. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 11:06 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by hazyjane at 11:06 AM PST - 16 comments
What's the best way to get a hand written manuscript typed up?
I have a nearly completed manuscript of a novel that I'm writing that is entirely handwritten. I need to get it typed up, but it's over 400 handwritten pages and I'm a.) overwhelmed and b.) trying to finish the novel with a limited amount of free time, so I don't want to spend all my time typing instead of writing.
How do I get this thing typed up? [more inside]
Hello? Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me.
I have no cell phone service at my apartment since two weeks ago. What can I do? Maybe-snowflakes inside! [more inside]
Useful Guidance for An Unexpected Loss
I emailed my therapist for an appointment, and it bounced. When I googled her to see if contact info changed, the first link was her obit (Nov 2015). My therapist died. I just found out, and I am pretty wrecked. Thoughts? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 10:33 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by j_curiouser at 10:33 AM PST - 11 comments
Help me find the perfect everyday crossbody bag?
I'm looking for a smallish, durable crossbody bag with lots of pockets, a wide strap, and a not-overtly feminine appearance that nonetheless isn't an army surplus store special, and won't set me back more than, say, $60. Does such a thing exist? [more inside]
posted by aecorwin at 10:17 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by aecorwin at 10:17 AM PST - 25 comments
NYC Real Estate Attorney Needed
Have you lived in NYC and used a real estate attorney that you loved? Can you please pass on his or her info? If not, do you know how I could find a great real estate attorney here?
Not sure how specialized they get, but looking for someone experienced in Brooklyn small single and multi-family buildings.
TIA
Two hours a day in the car. What else should I be doing?
I spend two hours a day in a car, alone, commuting. Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, books on tape, language learning, Kegels. What the hell else could I be doing? [more inside]
iTunes Alternative Please
I need an alternative to iTunes. I just want my music to be sorted by artist, album and song, make playlists and get all of that onto my iPod. I have Windows 10 and my iPod is an older one, appears to be version 2.0.5. I'm willing to pay for this. Please don't suggest Media Monkey, I couldn't figure how to work it and I think it was way too much for my needs.
posted by marxchivist at 9:41 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by marxchivist at 9:41 AM PST - 4 comments
I need a half tire
So there's an exercise where one hits a truck tire with a sledgehammer. It's a pretty great workout. I'd like to get a tire at home, but I don't have space to accommodate a truck tire. You can however, buy a HALF truck tire online for what seems to be an exorbitant amount of money. If I go to a tire recycling place, how would I cut a tire like that in half? Secondly, does half tire actually work ok?
posted by aeighty at 9:33 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by aeighty at 9:33 AM PST - 12 comments
Travel-style alarm clock recommendations
We've used one of these Timex Indiglo Alarm Clocks for many years, but ours seems to have developed an issue (alarm is on at the same time as the snooze is, so the alarm never goes off) and needs to be replaced. [more inside]
Should I take this camera in for repairs or is there still hope?
I have a Nikon Coolpix P-510. It has never worked right and I am trying to decide if I need to send it in for repairs or if there is still something I can do to figure it out. [more inside]
How to prove that Uber and Raiser are the same entity?
I have a friend who is applying for a loan. He doesn't speak great English (nor read it well) and yet he was able to prepare a tax return in 2014 on his own. The issue is, due to an error that he made on the form, the underwriter wants proof that Uber and Raiser are the same company... something official or at least authoritative. I have Googled profusely and I can't find this. Anyone know where I can get it? He does NOT have his user agreement from 2014.
Meetup masterminds?
I need to brush up on my professional meeting hosting skills and trying to find a way to do this in the context of a professional networking and skills development Meetup I run in the UK with about 200 members. Is there a Toastmasters for event planners?
Ideal tattoo placement?
I'm going to get my first tattoo for my 30th birthday. My question is, where is the best place on your body to get a small tattoo (probably a couple words a few inches across)? I want to be able to conceal it in case of future workplaces that frown on tattoos, I want it to age as well as possible, and I'd ideally like to be able to see it without the use of a mirror.
Should I be worried about rock salt being used near a bird feeder?
I have a suet cake in a small bush in my back yard. We got that huge snow storm here over the weekend, and yesterday someone shoveled the stone path right next to that bush and spread rock salt (100% sodium chloride according to the package) along it. Now I am panicking. [more inside]
posted by bananana at 7:14 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by bananana at 7:14 AM PST - 10 comments
Please can you explain my glasses prescription?
I am really puzzled by my glasses prescription. The optician said my eyes had got worse, which makes sense since everything has been blurry lately. But when I looked at websites explaining glasses prescriptions, it actually looks like my eyes have improved. Also the optician said my new glasses will let me see 20/20 whereas my old glasses didn't. When I asked why the last optician I saw couldn't make me up glasses for 20/20 vision, she didn't know. Opticians of MeFi, please can you help explain this to me? [more inside]
Damp surveyors in Edinburgh
Lots of things are damp in Edinburgh, but I'm being quoted £6K to fix a damp problem in a flat I'm looking to buy. Standard advice seems to be to get a survey done by an independent surveyor who won't then try to sell a remedy, but I can't find one. [more inside]
How to pay attention to people and not their status?
26+ years of high power distance in my home country are really affecting my relationships with people whom I perceive as having higher status. Having moved to Western Europe, I can see the negative influence even better, and I'm not happy. Please help. [more inside]
How do I deal with external hate influencing my relationship?
I'm a turban wearing sikh. I'm in a relationship with an American. The hate directed our way is making me question the sustainable happiness of this relationship. How do I proceed? [more inside]
Dairy-free flatbread/pizza options
I am looking for dairy-free toppings for flatbread/pizza crust. Meat suggestions welcome. [more inside]
January 27
All the best parts of hypothyroid & all the best parts of hyperthyroid
For the last 18 months, I have been on a thyroid rollercoaster. Finally, about 11 months ago, my doctor prescribed levothyroxine after my TSH hit 5.8. For the first few months, I didn't notice a difference, but soon I got locked into a cycle of hypo/hyperthyroid. These cycles last for a few days to a month.
Now, after months of cycling back and forth, and a TSH bouncing from .53 to 2.8 in a two week span, I am barely sleeping and having terrible hot flashes.
Help me make this stop, or at least help me live with it. Please. Teaching 12 year olds is challenging with no sleep. [more inside]
How does TV get to a TV?
What process happens when a TV studio produces an electronic signal and then sends it along to be displayed on your TV at home? Where does the signal go and how does it get there?
Freedom internet blocking software - how private?
It seems like it's now a yearly-based subscription service. I'm wondering how much data my computer sends to their services from my browser and hard drive. [more inside]
Why does my smoke detector beep when I turn on a light?
I have a battery-operated smoke detector that consistently beeps a loud alarm several times whenever I turn on a nearby light. What's setting it off? [more inside]
How rainy is Seattle, really?
Specifically, how rainy is Seattle going to be next week? Yes, I checked the weather, and yes, it looks like it will rain, but what is the rain like? Constant downpour? Light drizzle? Stormy wind and driving rain? And what do people who work in offices wear on rainy days? [more inside]
posted by erst at 5:15 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by erst at 5:15 PM PST - 22 comments
Having my disabled mother move in
I live in North Carolina and my mother receives disablity and Medicare. I want her to move in with us. She is afraid she will lose her benefits if she does not pay us rent. How can we make this work? [more inside]
Books with time travel as a minor subplot?
I'm trying to find stories and/or novels which are mostly about something else but also include a bit of time travel, with that aspect of the story only made clear toward the end. [more inside]
posted by johnofjack at 4:45 PM PST - 40 comments
posted by johnofjack at 4:45 PM PST - 40 comments
How much car will $2,500 buy in Canada these days?
Will be returning to North America for about a year of traveling across Canada and the US. Will be looking for a used car able to make it a year without needing expensive repairs. Difficulty: a budget of around $2,500. More inside. [more inside]
Travel advice for Louisville please!
Hey Metafilter! I'm going to be heading to Louisville, KY, in the near future for work. I have never been there before and am a special snowflake traveler as I will detail behind the cut. [more inside]
posted by bile and syntax at 4:10 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by bile and syntax at 4:10 PM PST - 7 comments
Deaf accommodations for a discussion group?
A deaf acquaintance will be attending a discussion group I run, and she doesn't have cochlear implants. I have no idea what I'm doing, and I want to maximize awesomeness. [more inside]
Road Trip with the dog
We're considering our Memorial Day weekend plans and want to take a road trip with our dogs - can you recommend dog friendly cities/towns/lakes in the Midwest? [more inside]
I need some new ideas for scoring non-competitive fencing nights
I am part of a fencing club that includes a wide range of fencers, some inexperienced, some very competitive, some young teens, some over 60 and lots in between.
I have started organizing a monthly "goofball" tournament to bring out the members and to have chances to win prizes and it is going very well.
The aim, however, is not to ensure the top fencer always wins -- we have plenty of tournaments for that. What I want is to encourage maximum participation for every fencer to get on the piste and be motivated to fence a lot, and have fun. [more inside]
Parents: what do you wish you knew in the first two weeks post-partum?
Approaching 37 weeks, and all the anxieties of new-mommyhood abound. I've read extensively, bought all the recommended recovery/ nursing/ baby comforting paraphernalia I think would be useful... and I'm still acutely aware that this is our first go-round and my husband and I have ZERO idea what to expect (other than sleep deprivation, a sense of despair, and unpredictability). [more inside]
Disavowing Trump?
I'm curious and I've looked everywhere and haven't found anything. I was wondering if any of Mr. Trump's family members have distanced themselves from him and his racial and general incendiary remarks? [more inside]
What is the best way of getting a 1 minute voicemail translated?
Recently I got a peculiar voicemail that was entirely in Spanish or Italian, about a minute long. The woman sounds very serious, and I'm intensely curious about what it says.
Once I've converted it to MP3, what's the best way of getting it translated?
What are some websites I can visit to take a short mental break at work?
Now that Cute Overload closed shop, I have nowhere to run when things get too intense at work. Can you help me find some options? [more inside]
posted by Tarumba at 1:35 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by Tarumba at 1:35 PM PST - 24 comments
Driving alone in the Yucatan. Difficulty level: 35-ish woman
I've done my research and had concluded that driving around the Yucatan with my husband would be safe - only now circumstances have changed and I'm alone. Should I still do it? Bonus points for other things a slightly morose woman could do around Cancun to lift her spirits. [more inside]
posted by scrute at 1:24 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by scrute at 1:24 PM PST - 11 comments
I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it.
What are your favorite songs with explicit references to kink, BDSM, or power exchange dynamics? [more inside]
Help me automate my bar's insta-tweets
The bar I work at has a daily daiquiri, throwback Thursday dinks, and stuff I would like to queue up and set on a timer to be later posted to Instagram on the appropriate date/time, and tweet the insta link. Am not on Facebook. Is there an iOS app that can do that? My dream is to spend 45 minutes once a week or so, queue up all my daily specials I have on the paperwork, and not be fucking around typing on my iPhone while looking at today's sceule while I'm setting up my station. TIA.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 12:12 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 12:12 PM PST - 12 comments
Your favorite kayak spots in the Bay Area
My friend and I want to kayak this Sunday. What are your favorite Bay Area kayak spots? [more inside]
posted by blueberrypuffin at 11:56 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by blueberrypuffin at 11:56 AM PST - 9 comments
"Is anything bad or untoward going to happen?"
I talk in my sleep and the content of the sleep talking (as reported by my partner) is usually anxiety-related. Is being anxious while you're asleep a thing? Is it likely to be impeding the quality of my sleep? Can I do anything to address it? [more inside]
Best way to uninstall WinMagic SecureDoc?
I had to have SecureDoc installed on my Win7 Pro 64 notebook for my previous position. I am no longer in that position and wish to remove it from my PC. What is the best method of doing so? [more inside]
Do I wait for things to get better or is it a bad fit?
I've been in a relationship for 7 months with a person who I'm incredibly charmed by, but makes me feel lonely when he's inconsistent in his pursuit of me. I've made excuses for his traveling for work, his creative brain, our cultural differences and his hurts from his previous broken engagement. Some things that just seem normal to me - romantic gestures (surprises, flowers, notes) and consistent communication - seem difficult for him. He says that he loves me. Are my expectations unreasonable or is he emotionally immature? [more inside]
posted by orangesky4 at 10:36 AM PST - 46 comments
posted by orangesky4 at 10:36 AM PST - 46 comments
What destroyed the Watership Down warren?
I know this is an obscure and perhaps overly geeky question, but I'm rereading the Richard Adams novel, and just got through the part where the original warren is destroyed. Since the destruction is (movingly) told from the rabbit perspective, it is hard to imagine what the men are actually doing and why. Anyone care to speculate?
What is Information Auditing?
Explain IT auditing to me, in plain terms, please. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:00 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:00 AM PST - 5 comments
Stamp stamp stamp stamp stamp
I'm looking for a PDF editor for Mac which allows me to create my own stamp -- and that stamp needs to have editable fields. [more inside]
How do I navigate the break-up with my first and only love (at age 30)
After having gone through cancer and mental illness together, the love of my life and I are on the verge of splitting up for good. How can I best try to salvage the relationship? Details below. [more inside]
Doctor's Visit frequency for long term SSRI medication prescriptions
How often am I required to see my doctor so that he can write me another script (with refills) for paroxetine? I've been taking it for about ten years and anticipate needing it for another ten years but I believe I need to see him every year. Is that a law, or is it at his discretion?
posted by qsysopr at 8:52 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by qsysopr at 8:52 AM PST - 8 comments
Pulled-together, fancy-ish vegetarian menu...from the freezer + pantry?
I'm dreaming of the following: a friend or date comes over and I effortlessly whip up something delicious, simple, yet impressive, from scratch. The kind of meal that makes me looks casually on top of my life. Maybe something with a starter, main, and dessert. Challenge level: I'm a vegetarian and I travel a lot, so what I'm really looking for is a vegetarian menu that I can make just out of things from the pantry and the freezer (aka it doesn't involve anything that will languish and die in the fridge if I don't use it before I leave town for a few weeks). Is this even possible? [more inside]
How much disbelief am I suspending?
Last night I was watching the Arrow, an admittedly ridiculous show that requires some suspension of disbelief, but this episode showed some legal procedures I didn't understand was possible. [more inside]
Menopause: Not with a bang but with a whimper?
I know, you're not my doctor. But is this what menopause / perimenopause looks like, or something else? [more inside]
What does it mean to "accept a resignation"?
I was under the impression that a resignation does not have to be accepted, but very often after a minister resigns, the prime minister (or equivalent) is said to "accept their resignation". What does this mean?
YANAL: Patent application extended missing parts denied
A year ago I filed a provisional patent application. Before the 12 months expired I chose to take advantage of the Extended Missing Parts pilot program to extend the deadline to submit the full application by another year. I thought I followed the Extended Missing Parts guidelines. [more inside]
posted by spacefire at 7:12 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by spacefire at 7:12 AM PST - 7 comments
ISO confident, easygoing male role models
Looking for some examples of male role models who are confident but not arrogant. Basically "good guys" who are secure in their masculinity. I prefer people who are still alive, around 30-60 years old, and well-known (e.g. no scientists that no one outside of their field has heard of). They can be fictional as long as they're in movies or TV, not books. Chris Pratt comes to mind - not particularly suave exactly, but he comes off as very secure and genuine.
Don't you know what you've prescribed?
Why would my PCP want me to bring my bottles of meds to the appointment? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:06 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by Thorzdad at 6:06 AM PST - 20 comments
Where should I start with adult coloring?
I've got a notion to get into coloring (because I don't have enough hobbies that I already neglect) and I have just become completely overwhelmed by choice on where to begin. [more inside]
posted by like_neon at 5:58 AM PST - 24 comments
posted by like_neon at 5:58 AM PST - 24 comments
Good sources on black American architects and modernism?
I've been asked to help research the history of a building in Washington, D.C. designed by the African American architect and educator (and student of the Bauhaus' Walter Gropius) Louis Fry, Jr. Much of Fry's career was focused on designing modernist buildings for historically black colleges and universities. I'm looking for some useful background material. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 5:57 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by ryanshepard at 5:57 AM PST - 2 comments
Anxiety at night
My mother (in her 50s) grew up in an unsafe neighborhood, and experienced a traumatic burglary and some attempted break-ins during the night as a child. She's had trouble sleeping since then, and I think it's affecting her health. What can she do? [more inside]
The digital camera equivalent of a Doro phone
My mum wants to borrow my compact for using when we go on holiday. Sadly, the screen is broken and, as it's nine years old, I'm not sure whether a repair is viable. Can you suggest an easy to use digital camera (ie. for a complete tech novice) which I could pick up new or used cheaply to give to her? [more inside]
Novels on trauma and healing
Please recommend novels where trauma and healing are major themes. Bonus points if:
(a) it's well written;
(b) it's genre fiction;
(c) it's a comic;
(d) the person who underwent trauma doesn't commit violence or suicide;
(e) it will make me cry.
posted by thetortoise at 4:49 AM PST - 30 comments
posted by thetortoise at 4:49 AM PST - 30 comments
Like a teleconference, but with PowerPoint
We've been using WebEx for teleconferencing with screen sharing, and it's been a nightmare to get all the attendees set up. What other options do we have? [more inside]
posted by harujion at 2:45 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by harujion at 2:45 AM PST - 20 comments
Fastest route to ANY degree with 3 years uni credit from 10 years ago?
What is the fastest route to a degree for someone with three years worth of general University education (but no degree) from a state university, roughly 10 years ago, who is no longer geographically close to that university? Assume that the degree field itself doesn't matter (it literally doesn't in my situation.) [more inside]
I am EXTREMELY attracted to my professors/TAs. Help?
I've been in school (grad school!!) for two years, and I want to sex every single one of my male professors/TAs, with very few exceptions. How can I turn this infernal brain thing off?!?! [more inside]
Midlife dating and how to cope with a sudden break up?
I'm in my early 50s and divorced for three years. For the last two years, I have been dating (but not living with) a man who is long-term separated from his wife who lives in a different country. This is an open relationship, not an affair. She is aware of me, and knows we are together. I have met her several times (we get on well) and I am introduced to the family as "Dad's good friend". He has two children, one at University and the other (16) lives with his Mom. During his last trip home, his 16 year old begged him to return home. My partner will likely do so. I know I can't play a part in this decision, but how do I take care of myself now? [more inside]
January 26
How can I help my partner get a job?
My partner lost their job at the end of last year and is in the process of looking for new employment. So far it is proving to be an overly difficult process. I want to help, however I can, but I'm a bit out of my depth. [more inside]
Typical salary for Senior Software Engineer at small company in SF
I've been working at a ~15 person software company based in San Francisco for ~7 years now, currently with the job title of Senior Software Engineer, and I'd like to know what the typical salary range for positions like mine at similar (small) companies would be. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 11:12 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by unus sum at 11:12 PM PST - 15 comments
I was a very near bystander for a violent fight on the subway.
I was a very near bystander to a fistfight on the subway today, and this is the second time I had to dodge something similar in the past year and a half. [more inside]
posted by elvissa at 8:31 PM PST - 25 comments
posted by elvissa at 8:31 PM PST - 25 comments
Driving on the other side of the road?
We're in the US and are considering matching with an au pair from the UK. We need her to drive our kids. How hard is it to switch sides of the road when driving? Can we expect her to adjust to this quickly? [more inside]
My cat itches like crazy( his anus) . Anyone with same issue?
My cat itches like crazy( his rear back) . He was given prednisone for a few days but that is not the solution. Did anyone had some issue with the cat scratching his/her rear back?
Weird SMS message, purportedly from Facebook...but mine is turned off!
Due to various happenings, I temporarily deactivated my Facebook account several weeks ago. However, today I got a message from (326) 651-00 reading "[Friend's name] shared [not a friend's name, someone I don't even know] post. https://fb.com/[various characters]. Reply with your comment or "like"." I did not open the link... [more inside]
Go play in the snow.
Looking for a vacation spot where two families with 4 young children (between 2 and 6) can enjoy some outdoor winter activities. One family lives in Toronto and one family lives in Montreal, so ideally we'd meet somewhere in the middle, or at least on the west side of Ottawa. Where do you recommend we go during the first week of March? [more inside]
Reference for b2b photo pricing?
I am looking for pricing references (e.g. what to charge) for photography sold to a business, for example a photographer selling a few landscape photos for use on a large banking client's website. Any recommendations would be appreciated! All I'm finding in books and online are wedding & high school portrait prices.
posted by circular at 6:01 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by circular at 6:01 PM PST - 2 comments
Can I ship alcohol and/or cheese from Canada to Bulgaria without hassle?
A friend would like to send me some things from Canada, and I want to check up on the legality and potential hassles of doing so. Any input would be appreciated. [more inside]
He travels across the world to see me, but does he actually like me?
For about 7 months I've (31f) been in a long distance relationship with a man (31m) who has visited me three times in a different country for increasingly long periods of time (10 days, 3 weeks, and soon, a month). I have also visited him for 2 weeks (my work schedule didn't permit more). We get along well in general, and have similar hobbies and amazing sex. Despite his travel to see me, I am still anxious about his level of commitment to me because of his communication style. [more inside]
Can I eat warmish uncured beef hot dogs?
It's a desperate kind of food night and I ordered Applegate Uncured Beef hot dogs to have with leftover chili. They came via Amazon Prime Now and felt room temperature. I wouldn't think twice but they caution "NOT PRESERVED, KEEP REFRIGERATED BELOW 40 DEGREES AT ALL TIMES" on the label. Does that matter if I fully cook it? Couldn't find anything on the FDA site and I'm juggling a teething baby.
posted by Locative at 4:23 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Locative at 4:23 PM PST - 9 comments
Where can I hug a capybara in the US?
Is there a zoo, park, sanctuary, etc where I can feed or a pet (a) capybara(s) within the US? [more inside]
posted by xtine at 2:49 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by xtine at 2:49 PM PST - 12 comments
3D Printed Games Workshop Figures and the Law
I've been having fun designing and 3D printing figures for use in Games Workshop's board game Blood Bowl and I'm thinking of uploading my figures to Thingiverse. Do I have to worry about GW coming after me? Blood Bowl is out of print, but GW is famously litigious. [more inside]
posted by Prunesquallor at 2:23 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by Prunesquallor at 2:23 PM PST - 8 comments
Areas in the United States with the most consistent barometric pressure
What are the areas in the US with the most consistent barometric pressure? I don't necessarily mean the warmest or best weather. Asking because I have chronic migraine and my partner has pain caused by fibromyalgia. Bonus difficulty: we already live in Southern California but want to get out. We're ruling out areas that are extremely expensive (SF Bay, et al). [more inside]
posted by lilies.lilies at 1:54 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by lilies.lilies at 1:54 PM PST - 4 comments
Name of TV show about testing casino and retail security?
I know there have been a million shows like this before, but I'm looking for a particular show where a team of people were hired to test security and reveal vulnerabilities. [more inside]
posted by tkolstee at 1:49 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by tkolstee at 1:49 PM PST - 6 comments
Emergency/EoL Digital Asset Planning
I'm trying to manage my emergency/end-of-life planning in an intelligent, secure and, hopefully, convenient way. What are the best tools and practices for digital asset planning? [more inside]
posted by peakcomm at 1:29 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by peakcomm at 1:29 PM PST - 9 comments
Pros & cons of replacing an older automobile engine vs remanufacturing
If I'm going to fix an older car with a broken engine, what are the pros and cons of (a) trying to get replacement engine vs (b) having the engine remanufactured? [more inside]
Why do revolutionaries become dictators? (and examples?)
Pol Pat, Sukarno, Mugabe, Mao, Afwerki, Stalin. Why is it that ideologically-motivated revolutionaries often become dictators? Is it that people only act out of ideology and principles when they lack power?
Not The Right Time for a Peekaboo Crotch
Please recommend me either a) a brand of pants that will not rip in the crotch after less than a year, or b) a recommendation for pants care such that I can prevent this from happening. [more inside]
Evangelical conversion to pickup-artist culture: Why so common?
It has been point out anecdotally - in this comment and others - that there seem to be a lot of former Evangelicals in PUA culture. Is this a real connection, or an artefact of the fact that Evangelicals were having a lot of kids in the '70s and '80s and thus there are a lot of former Evangelicals everywhere? If it is a real connection, what does (or did) Evangelicalism teach that both a) prepares the ground for PUA conversion and b) causes the converted to describe PUA culture as the opposite of everything they were taught growing up about sex, women, and relationships? [more inside]
County piled 10 foot wall of snow...
Hi, so after the NE snowstorm over the weekend, the county trucks came plowed our side street. They piled on a tonne of snow on the entrance to our driveway and it is about 10 feet high. Now every snow-remover person is refusing to plow our driveway (long, approx. 100 feet) unless we pay exorbitant prices. The county won't send the plow truck back again to remove their pile of snow... and we're under house arrest, essentially. [more inside]
Great Moments in Obscure 19th Century Italian History
I’m trying to fact-check an anecdote that I’ve come across in the course of a research project, and coming up short. In a nutshell: did King Umberto I of Italy ever visit Paris at any point between 1889 and his assassination in 1900? The anecdote suggests that he did, but my (admittedly limited) understanding of French-Italian relations at the time suggests that this is unlikely.
Have you cycled the Natchez Trace Parkway?
Last summer, my friend and I rode up a mountain in Glacier National Park. It was freaking sweet, and AskMe had some great tips. This fall, we are hopefully riding all 444 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Have you done this (in whole or part)? What advice can you offer? [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 11:34 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by AgentRocket at 11:34 AM PST - 5 comments
Should I quit my miserable job without another lined up?
It didn't take me long to figure out my new job isn't for me, but delayed training and mandatory training repayment if I quit could mean being stuck there for more than a year. I am miserable. What do I do? [more inside]
How to Submit to Book Publishers?
One of my closet relatives has self-published a book and now has revisited with hopes of submission to book agents. Aside from being a really interesting and good story, he is flummoxed by the plethora of requirements agents require (synopsis page, sample page, query letters, no attachements etc). He has used OpenOffice to create and is looking for software to help make agent submissions? Any ideas? More Inside the fold! [more inside]
Third party guardianship for elderly
An elderly person refused to make a will or get his affairs in order in any way (he was asked multiple times and given many opportunities). He now has dementia and can no longer make decisions. He has no spouse or children. His heirs are his nieces and nephews, who do not get along, do not trust each other, and do not agree on what is best for him. What are the pros and cons of a third-party, court-appointed guardian? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 9:25 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by FencingGal at 9:25 AM PST - 11 comments
Fancy Spa Day: Chicago Edition
My mother is having a milestone birthday, so I am trying to find a way of making the day fancy and indulgent and special. Difficulty level: Chicago, in the worst part of winter. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:54 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:54 AM PST - 12 comments
I need an online qualitative survey tool for a market research survey?
Is a tool like Survey Monkey suited to qualitative research? [more inside]
Replacement for Annotary, anyone??
Annotary, a site for collecting and organizing bookmarks, has been replaced, and I lost all my data. What other sites are there? [more inside]
Your favorite Japanese media and language resources!
I am looking for specific Japanese language resources that fall into two groups: adult intermediate-to-advanced level, and early childhood education for Japanese kids. Please share your recommendations! [more inside]
What's the best filter I can use for IPod touch for my child?
I will be getting my child an IPod Touch and my only concern is her access to the internet. We have wireless internet at home and from reading about the IPod Touch I understand she will have access to the internet. So do any of you have experience with a really good filter for that? I want it so that nothing inappropriate will pop up. [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh at 8:27 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by lynnie-the-pooh at 8:27 AM PST - 13 comments
Palms rough when wet
My five year old's palms feel rough when they're wet but normal when they're not wet. What gives?
posted by kristymcj at 8:07 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by kristymcj at 8:07 AM PST - 3 comments
How do I say no to cat sitting a diabetic cat?
A neighbor I don't know very well has asked me to take care of her cats for a few days. 2 of the 7 cats require twice daily pills and/or insulin. My own cat is diabetic so I know the routine. I don't know this person very well and I have never met her cats. She is willing to pay, but it's not about the money. I just don't want the responsibility or the time commitment. I have a really hard time saying no, but I KNOW I would regret agreeing to this. What is a friendly, but honest way to decline is request? PS- I have taken care of other neighbor's cats before but they are friends and the cats are low maintenance.
posted by nevertoolate at 8:02 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by nevertoolate at 8:02 AM PST - 18 comments
Small Business Internet Safety
Hey all. I'm looking for advice as well a good novice level resources to beef up the IT security at my workplace regarding use of the internet. [more inside]
How can I maximize my take-home working for a startup?
What kind of pay should I expect at a startup that hasn't hit profitability yet? Are my expectations realistic? [more inside]
Question about TV interviews conducted through an interpeter
During a TV interview conducted through an interpreter, is the interviewer understanding what the interviewee is saying? How do these types of interviews work exactly? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 7:13 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by iamsuper at 7:13 AM PST - 8 comments
Did I hurt my penis by using a cock ring?
I have an odd feeling in the head of my penis. Should I be worried or is it no big deal? [more inside]
How to Give a Client a Respectful Brush-Off
I’ve been running my own business as a consultant for a few years now and have a category of situation that keeps cropping up that leads me to ask myself, “Is it ok to tell not tell the whole truth in business when the full truth might be awkward or complicated?” [more inside]
Make us a awesome first ski trip
After this question, we are headed to the Canyons in Park City for our first ski trip. Kids ( 5 and 7 ) and wife have never been skiing. Give me all your tips on how to make this a awesome trip. Kids and wife are enrolled in lessons. I realize they may not like it. Answers could include stuff about apparel, safety, logistics, etiquette, things to pack, things to do in Park City, etc. Help us have a awesome trip and get the most out of Park City.
Left with a huge diagnostic lab bill
What are my options when faced with a large medical bill? [more inside]
posted by mhz at 5:30 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by mhz at 5:30 AM PST - 10 comments
Super Bowl party food, 2016 edition
I'm looking for a recipe for a dish to bring to a Super Bowl party, but there are two complications: It has to relate to either the city in which the game is being played or to one the teams that are playing. In addition, we won't have time to do anything complicated on the day of the game. [more inside]
posted by maurice at 4:59 AM PST - 31 comments
posted by maurice at 4:59 AM PST - 31 comments
January 25
How to get over being catfished?
I made a friend over Instagram. Yay! She turned out to be a catfisher. Boo. [more inside]
(Free) online book club for someone trying to read more?
I mostly read paperback thriller type books and want to broaden my horizons. I'm looking for some sort of online book club with weekly/monthly suggestions for books-that-make-you-think type stuff. A mix of old and new novels would be perfect.
Keeping an LDR moving forward
I've been dating someone long-distance for about five months. We met in Hometown 7 years ago. We now live on separate coasts. Our travel and work schedules forced 2.5 months to elapse between our first date and our second. Since then we've managed to see one another every 4-6 weeks or so. We've had five dates so far and another planned for a few weeks from now. Last time we were together we had a bit of a "where are we" chat and Date said that they were having a great time, happy with how things were going, enjoying our visits, the sex is great, etc. however Date is concerned that it's hard to see an end game where we end up in the same city and that puts Date, to quote verbatim, "half in and half out of the relationship." I'm absolutely not ready to discuss any sort of moving plan, but I do want to find ways to keep things moving forward. What are things you've done in LDRs to increase the level of commitment short of solving the Big Problem? [more inside]
How can I find this obscure Disney Channel bumper?
Back when Big Fat Liar aired on Disney Channel (I'd imagine shortly after it came out in 2002), there was a bumper for it with an original song. Help me find it. [more inside]
posted by pumpkin_iron at 5:38 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by pumpkin_iron at 5:38 PM PST - 5 comments
How to stop feeling like a tree without roots
I am struggling with adjusting as an expat and creating a decent life for myself; is there a perspective I'm lacking in turning things around and not feeling as the eternal outsider? [more inside]
posted by ariadne_88 at 4:02 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by ariadne_88 at 4:02 PM PST - 19 comments
Need new computer for Lightroom CC (Lightroom 6). Please advise.
Hello all. I'm looking to build or buy a new rig for photo editing in Lightroom CC (6). I'm dealing with some rather large .dng files around 60-90 MB in size and it's just killing my current rig.
My current computer is a 5 year old HP Pavilion Elite HPE-170f with an Intel Core i7 920 2.66 GHz, 15 GB Memory, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 with 1.8 GB Memory and a 500 GB Samsung EVO 850 SSD for my OS (Windows 7) and my Camera Raw Cache (currently set at 25 GB). My images are currently stored on a separate internal HDD. It's a pretty slow WD Green drive. [more inside]
Have no money, need roboceptionist.
I'm looking for an app (iOS or Android or webapp, no preference) that displays the names (and ideally pictures) of the six people that work in my office, and when a name is tapped, an email is automatically sent alerting the person that they have a visitor. And it needs to be free. Explanations within. [more inside]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:55 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:55 PM PST - 18 comments
Should you ask your doctor before applying for SSDI?
Is there any sort of protocol for alerting your doctor that you intend to file for SSDI (disability insurance)? That is, rather than just submitting the necessary government forms, is it best to mention it to your doctor, and if so, in what form? [more inside]
Extended Family Separation
Advice for surviving my wife's summer internship in another state. [more inside]
Books to Read After Losing Your Mother
A friend's mother recently passed away after a fairly brief but intense battle with pancreatic cancer. My friend is the type of person who is comforted by reading about similar experiences and I think finding books about mother loss or the grief process in general might help her process some of her feelings. Please recommend any books you think could be useful, keeping in mind that her mom died only a few months ago, so it might be better to have more general books rather than intensely personal ones (although I'm not 100% sure about that).
I'm Biased, Now What?
I manage various affinity groups at a large law firm so I am constantly trying to find ideas and research about programming and how to facilitate change.
Can anyone point me in the direction of people (authors, speakers, researchers) who are coming up with "crazy", innovative, and/or shocking ways to address bias at work/in society? [more inside]
I'm making a travel insurance claim. Do I get my premium back?
The policyholder is Allianz. Just wondering if I include the amount of the original premium in the cost to be reimbursed. I've heard it both ways--just wondering what the standard is. Thanks!
posted by eggman at 12:45 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by eggman at 12:45 PM PST - 4 comments
Intermediate to advanced level git training exercises
I'm looking for a set of exercises in git (the version control system) that will force me to think through resolving a difficult set of use cases. In other words, I'd like to replicate and practice fixing some scenarios one might encounter as a developer on a messy, complicated project. Can you suggest some?
posted by rhythm and booze at 12:31 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by rhythm and booze at 12:31 PM PST - 7 comments
Delicious and clever snacks for an Alan Rickman movie night?
In honor of the late, great British actor, about 10 of our friends are coming over for an Alan Rickman Film Festival. By popular vote, we'll be watching Sense and Sensibility, Die Hard, and Galaxy Quest. I'd love to serve cleverly on-theme foods and adult beverages, but I'm absolutely stumped. [more inside]
posted by slmorri at 12:30 PM PST - 35 comments
posted by slmorri at 12:30 PM PST - 35 comments
how to scent shampoo and conditioner so kids will REEK.
I am spending too much money on expensive rosemary shampoo, which so far has been successful at keeping my kids from getting lice, but costs too much. I have tried adding essential oil to unscented products to replicate the effect, but it doesn't work. Crafty scent-enthusiasts: what do I need to know to make my kids' heads reek of lice-repelling rosemary? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:21 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:21 PM PST - 24 comments
Fragrance/Dye/Optical Brightener-free Detergents: Canadian Edition
I'm looking for a couple of laundry detergents that are fragrance, dye, and optical brightener-free. One for whites, one for colours is fine, but if someone can recommend one that's colour-safe and will clean both, that'd be great.
Bonus difficulty: Available in Canada.
Can you tell me what this plant is? And how to take care of it?
I bought this mystery plant at IKEA about two months ago...and have no idea how to take care of it. There are no stickers or other ID on it; I've looked up various plants online and by searching IKEA's plants, but don't see a match. I haven't been able to figure out what it wants with regard to water, light, heat; do you have any advice? [more inside]
Best, easiest website blocker
I want to block my daughter's internet access except to three, homework-related websites, from the hour of 3 to 4, Mon-Thurs. This is a mandatory condition of her getting to use her computer for homework in her after school program.
Right now she has Chrome and Firefox installed on her MacBook. She is on board and wants to follow the rules, so will probably not go way out of her way to circumvent a blocker program. What is the easiest, bestest extension I should use?
How doable is commuting between Oakland and Palo Alto on public transit?
I’m considering a job that’ll significantly increase my commute. I live a block from the 12th St. Oakland station and currently take BART two stops to Embarcadero. Very easy. The potential new job is steps from the Palo Alto Caltrain station, which would mean my commute ups to: 12th St. to Millbrae on BART, then Millbrae to Palo Alto via Caltrain. This looks to be about 1.5hrs each way… minimum. [more inside]
posted by homesickness at 10:22 AM PST - 31 comments
posted by homesickness at 10:22 AM PST - 31 comments
Pimp my gym routine so I get stronger
I'm mid-fifties female, normal weight but looking to strengthen and firm up. I've been a gym rat off and on for decades. I just never really see any results from gyms and this is killing my motivation. [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 10:19 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by Coffeetyme at 10:19 AM PST - 21 comments
Ow, she bit me! What'd you expect fairies to do?
On Saturday, I'm attending a Labyrinth-inspired masquerade ball. I have everything I need for my costume except pants. [more inside]
posted by mkb at 10:04 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by mkb at 10:04 AM PST - 7 comments
Weekend Roadtrip
You want to take a weekend off...where should you go? [more inside]
WTF is up with this maddening lamp?
I have three pendant lights in my kitchen, in a row over the counter. I've replaced the bulbs in two of them, maybe... never? Once? But the middle one burns out after a few weeks. WHY WHY WHY? [more inside]
Our Nanny has lice! What do we do?
It turns out the friend who we pay to take care of our nine-month-old baby had head lice (which she thinks she got from another kid she looks after).
What do we all do? How long does she need to stay away from the house? We want her back here as soon as possible, but we also don't want to risk getting lice ourselves or infecting our baby.
Searching for answers online has been a lot less fruitful than I would expect so I am asking here...
Hot water heaters should not sound explosive
The pilot light in the water heater has been going out repeatedly. I've since realized that there is a loud bang -- you could even call it a boom -- associated with the pilot going out. Help me either diagnose the problem or come up with a better explanation for the plumber, because his explanation was "Haha ghosts" and "Call us back if it happens again." It happened again. [more inside]
posted by mudpuppie at 9:39 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by mudpuppie at 9:39 AM PST - 19 comments
Comprehensive resources on the one grand conspiracy theory.
Watching the X-Files last night with my father he said that he believed in all of it and that it the show was soft disclosure of what's really happening. He seems to believe in EVERY conspiracy theory out there. Are there any resources, preferably books (or other sources) with a skeptical point of view that review all theories in a comprehensive manner? Non-skeptical point of views might be useful as well. [more inside]
verizon to MVNO
I'm on a grandfathered unlimited data plan on Verizon. I use <1GB of data a month, and I'm paying $90/mo for it. I should go to an MVNO, right? Help me wade through the details. [more inside]
posted by Dashy at 8:45 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by Dashy at 8:45 AM PST - 5 comments
Sorry I had to shoot your dog
Do pets have a legal right to self-defense, and if so, can pet owners legally apply that right on behalf of their pets?
[Trigger alert: extended explanation describes a hypothetical violent dog attack on another dog.] [more inside]
Writing MS Word macro to convert glossary formatting to Excel table
I need some guidance in writing a macro that will parse a glossary Word document and reformat it into an Excel spreadsheet with the term in one column and the definition in a second column. [more inside]
posted by beammeup4 at 8:27 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by beammeup4 at 8:27 AM PST - 5 comments
How do I identify a cabinet hinge to order replacement?
I have a broken cabinet hinge that I've tried to identify via serial numbers on the hinge and by comparison to other hinges online, but everything I've found so far has been slightly off. Is there any reliable method to describe and locate a hinge that exactly matches the broken one? (Same spacing of screw holes, angle of opening, etc.)
posted by tobascodagama at 7:53 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by tobascodagama at 7:53 AM PST - 4 comments
Windows Equivalent of Linux /home Folder on Separate Partition/Drive?
I know Linux, I don't know Windows.
On Linux, I routinely create a separate /home partition on its own drive. [more inside]
posted by justcorbly at 7:05 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by justcorbly at 7:05 AM PST - 13 comments
I loved Myst/Riven. What books would I love?
Way back in the day I LOVED Myst/Riven. I don't play PC games anymore. Are there any properly good books that have a similar feel/appeal that I can read to recapture that experience? [more inside]
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:55 AM PST - 56 comments
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:55 AM PST - 56 comments
Second career teaching high school computer technology in NY State?
What is the best path for someone in NY State with a Master's degree in Computer Science to get certified to teach computer technology in high school? [more inside]
posted by tommasz at 6:03 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by tommasz at 6:03 AM PST - 7 comments
Inconspicuous or flush mounted curtain rod bracket?
Weird objectfilter. Looking for a permanently wall-mountable curtain rod bracket for our living room or something that can act as a curtain rod bracket that becomes inconspicuous as possible when the rod is not there. 1) Commercially available? or 2) my design? See pic & details here. [more inside]
posted by lalochezia at 6:00 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by lalochezia at 6:00 AM PST - 9 comments
Remote car starter preventing car from starting (apparently)
Remote car starter (Viper 4205V) installed in August 2015 in a 2011 Honda CR-V. Has worked for months, worked yesterday (while cleaning off from the January blizzard here in NJ). Details within. [more inside]
posted by forthright at 5:20 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by forthright at 5:20 AM PST - 2 comments
Most of the time I am sometimes reliable
I work in a call centre and sometimes have to schedule call backs. I'd say that 90% of the time I manage to call customers back when I say I will, but the other 10% of the time I call too late or early or forget completely until I have left the office. How can I work out a system that will make me more reliable? Details inside [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 5:06 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by kinddieserzeit at 5:06 AM PST - 16 comments
May the Salesforce be with you...
Any good Salesforce resources that get into more complex Approval Processes than the Force.com Workbook? [more inside]
Where to find the cheapest wool base layer online?
I've moved to Sweden, and it's a little colder than Australia! I want to find a good quality set of long wool underwear (long johns + long/short sleeved top). Do you know where I could find the best price online? Delivery to Australia or Sweden is fine. [more inside]
Eating lunch at an eating-averse office
I'm in an office where there is no kitchen to eat your lunch in and eating at your desk is not really a thing. Silently chewing a sandwich or drinking a yogurt is ok, anything requiring cutlery is tolerated but frowned upon. Most people eat out, but I'd like to minimize my eating-out budget. Also, I'm tired of sandwiches and even chocolate croissants get boring if you're eating them every day. Smoothies are cool but leave me hungry. So, any suggestions? [more inside]
Gluten-Free Bread
So I've started baking, and in doing so I've realized that I have a problem with the gluten in fresh-baked bread. (But not commercial stuff from the store--go figure.) So I want to start baking gluten-free bread. [more inside]
posted by persona au gratin at 1:45 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by persona au gratin at 1:45 AM PST - 15 comments
Which Car Should I Keep?
I have a 2000 Toyota Camry V6 5 speed. It was not treated well and I have spent at least $2K over its sale price of $7K since buying it in 2011. I bought it with 117K miles and now it has 140K. I've had to fix an oxygen sensor, the ball joints and battery wiring along with replacing tires. But I think I am running out of problems to fix. Plus, it's loaded and comes with the power, comfort and style I like. [more inside]
Best practice for Windows 10 update
I'm about to update my Thinkpad430s from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I always create partitions on my hard drive and store all data separately from the main Windows installation. Do I need to back those partitions up before upgrading or is backing up the primary partition sufficient?
posted by tavegyl at 12:36 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by tavegyl at 12:36 AM PST - 8 comments
January 24
Home Buying 201 -- Mortgage plus a start-up windfall?
How much house can we afford and what's the smartest way to buy given our parameters: healthy savings for a down payment, both spouses working but soon only one, and possible big pay-out in the next 12 months? [more inside]
I love my cat. Also, she's driving me mad.
My cat and I are in a bedroom-door war. It has been a protracted and emotional conflict. Please help. [more inside]
It's Study Abroad, not Study a Broad
I am and American and will be spending a quarter studying abroad in Berlin this spring, and I am wondering if my numerous media accounts will work while I am there? [more inside]
Should I get a cat if I want to keep living in San Francisco?
My therapist suggested that I get an emotional support cat. I super want a cat, miss living with cats, my housemates think it's a good idea and are happy about a cat living with us. I live in San Francisco; I'm worried that my landlord will raise the rent by lots when it's time to renew the lease/force us to leave or something.
Is this a supported fear? [more inside]
Replacing my ipod
My beloved ipod classic went for an inadvertent swim and is most definitely dead. Help me find a replacement. Details of what I'm looking for below: [more inside]
Help me wrangle my ipod classic
Can someone point me to the world's most clear, step-by-step tutorial for getting the music from my iPod classic to my computer with Windows 10? I'm having trouble following the various instructions I've found that date back a few years. Click for my music storage anxieties within. [more inside]
posted by TwoStride at 8:40 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by TwoStride at 8:40 PM PST - 2 comments
My Fitness Frenemy
I have started and quit My Fitness Pal so many times, but this time I am determined to make it work for me. Please help me use it without so much aggravation! Questions inside... [more inside]
Divorce lawyer in Toronto?
A couple of lawyers have given me opposing opinions and I'm feeling stuck. This community has given me a lot of great advice in the past, so...if anyone can recommend a reliable/knowledgeable divorce lawyer in the Toronto area (hopefully west of Yonge and hopefully less that $400/hr.) I'll be very grateful.
I'm watching my Memail.
Heart of a Dog
I saw Heart of a Dog, Laurie Anderson's new film last weekend. I'm pretty big fan of hers and ... meh. The film did have it's moments though ... [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:34 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by falsedmitri at 7:34 PM PST - 2 comments
Laquer touch ups, scared!
My kitchen was redone a year and a half ago. We installed custom cabinets that were lacquer finished. I was home during the entire process and know that they did a very good and thorough job. [more inside]
Any energizer bunnies out there?
Did you used to be a low-energy person, and then changed something and you're now a high-energy person? What did you change to get more energy? [more inside]
Inland Empire Travel - This Sucks!
I am having a hard time coordinating travel from Pomona to Palm Springs, CA and could use some insider/local help. [more inside]
Did Thomas Jefferson have a birth certificate?
My daughter just did one of those elementary school projects where you pick a historical figure and assemble a presentation of things from their life. One of the requirements was for a birth certificate. That got me wondering: would someone like Thomas Jefferson have had a birth certificate? When abouts did that become standard in England / British colonies? Is it something only rich people had or did everyone keep that level of records? [more inside]
posted by BeeDo at 6:46 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by BeeDo at 6:46 PM PST - 9 comments
How to get from here to there...to there...to there...and back here?
I need to drive to to several different cities across California over the course of a week. What is a good app or website that will help me plan the most efficient route? [more inside]
posted by The Architect at 6:14 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by The Architect at 6:14 PM PST - 7 comments
How do I be cute in the winter?
I am a lady who has recently gotten into dressing more feminine. But I am also a lady who has just moved to the Midwest, and it is winter here now. How should I be dressing? [more inside]
Is Trazodone safe to use a single time?
I am being offered a single dose of this drug by a nurse friend, because of an upcoming very sleepless night. I wiki'd the drug and am rethinking it - am I going be wandering the halls of the hospital and not remember it next morning, am I going to die, have nightmares, have an erection lasting more than 4 hours? What can I expect (a really good night's sleep?), and do you think I should do it?
posted by jbickers at 5:13 PM PST - 39 comments
posted by jbickers at 5:13 PM PST - 39 comments
Experiencing a narrative work by identifying with the protagonist
I am casually aware of the idea that some people experience some works of narrative fiction by identifying with the protagonist of the story, and by experiencing the protagonist's story as if it were their own. What is the formal name or definition of this idea, and what are some canonical writings about it? [more inside]
Should I be taking supplements?
I've been trying to cut my weight for the last 6 months or so and have been keeping meticulus records of everything I've eaten. And in the last 30 days I've hit the RDA for calcium 4 times and am usually half or less most days. I don't really like dairy as much as other food types so I've cut it out for the most part. Would it be a bad idea to take citrate pills with 40% the RDA just so I can get somewhat close? I've also been taking magnesium pills at night to try and help myself become regular in the morning again and it has worked for the most part. I just don't see how it's possible to get everything a body needs on 1900 calories a day especially when I'm human and like to have stuff with next to no nutrients at all some times. Should I be taking this stuff? Or should I try harder to get it all from diet?
Brass Rubbing Origin
Brass Rubbings My parents did these brass rubbings in the early 1970's. Mom isn't sure where these two were done. Anyone know? Image Link
posted by abbyladybug at 2:00 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by abbyladybug at 2:00 PM PST - 10 comments
Apartment Lighting & Lamps, for Dummies
Lamps. Incandescent vs LED. Bulb wattage. ...Lumens? "Layering" light. Filtering natural light. I can decorate an apartment, but I still can't figure out how to arrange the lighting so that it's both purposeful and warm. What tactics, strategies and core concepts do I need to make my rental apartment a home that is well-lit, yet still cozy? [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 1:53 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by nightrecordings at 1:53 PM PST - 8 comments
I feel like Zotero should be easier to use than this
I need the help of a Zotero expert--or at least someone with more skills than me. I had a beautiful system on my old computer: use Zotero plugin to download attachments and citations from Chrome, Zotfile to rename and sort them into a central folder, and I'd painstakingly deleted all duplicates and associated all PDF files without readable metadata to their proper items. Then I dropped my computer, and despite having my library on the Zotero server, I'm faced with going through aforementioned PDF files and doing this all over again. There must be a better way. [more inside]
Cleaning Suggestions
I recently came upon my grandfather's WWII US Navy Canvas Dufflebag. It's gotten a little musty over years and years in the attic and needs to be cleaned. I'm concerned about washing his name off by just throwing it in a regular wash, but money's always a little tight and I try not to dry clean stuff unless it's absolutely necessary. Does anyone have any thoughts? Here's a couple pictures.
posted by Flashbullzeye at 1:10 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by Flashbullzeye at 1:10 PM PST - 5 comments
How do I find my biological father?
I was born when my parents were but teenagers, and I never met my biological father. Twenty-six years later, I'm on the hunt for him. My mom knows hardly anything, but she's given me all the information she has (full name, name of parents, sister's name, date of birth). How do I use this information to find him? Should I hire a private detective? Or are there easier ways to go about this search. Any advice is appreciated. (Anecdote: Years ago, I mailed a letter to the house that is listed as his parents' house. However, the letter was returned to sender.)
posted by fignewton at 12:58 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by fignewton at 12:58 PM PST - 10 comments
We're all in this together
People make my commute unpleasant. Please help me make it better. [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 12:20 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by LoonyLovegood at 12:20 PM PST - 20 comments
Getting distribution/wholesale rights to brands
How can a small (B&M+e-commerce) retailer in Sweden convince international consumer brands to sell directly to them and not via their awful wholesalers/distributors in Sweden? What strategies can the retailer use to get those distribution rights in the first place? [more inside]
Why hasn't a mayor become the president of the US?
I'm sure this is a question Michael Bloomberg has a few answers to! The Atlantic has a good video explainer from the mouths of mayors, but there must be more to it.
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 11:30 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 11:30 AM PST - 12 comments
Going from physical print layout signatures to screen-compatible pages
Is there an application or script that provides the opposite service of the various booklet-maker printing tools? I have scans of some physical boards I want to convert to screen-readable documents. More, of course, inside. [more inside]
Martial arts for sweaty people
I sweat. I've tried martial arts before, I love it but noone wants to pair up with the sweaty guy. I get it - I wouldn't either. After a few sessions I felt humiliated and quit. What forms of martial arts wouldn't make me feel this way? [more inside]
posted by tzb at 10:29 AM PST - 24 comments
posted by tzb at 10:29 AM PST - 24 comments
Hey chemists! An alka-seltzer in isopropyl alcohol - what happened?
I am a 7th grade science teacher, and not a practicing chemist by any means. I had my students experiment with alka-seltzer tablets in water to observe certain features of chemical reactions. One class asked what would happen if we dropped one in a mixture of water and (91%) isopropyl alcohol (which was handy from a previous lab). So we dropped a plain alka-seltzer tablet into a beaker of half water and half 91% isopropyl alcohol and I would love to be able to explain the odd results to my students.... [more inside]
posted by chr1sb0y at 10:21 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by chr1sb0y at 10:21 AM PST - 4 comments
Heritage foundation
I'm interested in learning as much as possible about the Heritage Foundation, especially its involvement in the Reagan administration. Are there any books or articles you could point me towards? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 9:58 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by egeanin at 9:58 AM PST - 4 comments
WHY do men spit in the urinal???
For the love of God, and WHY am I the only guy that doesn't do this? [more inside]
posted by Thrillhouse at 9:52 AM PST - 30 comments
posted by Thrillhouse at 9:52 AM PST - 30 comments
Compensation clawback experiences
I'm dealing with the tax ramifications of a bonus clawback, and it's ugly. I'd like get a feeling for just how ugly it's gonna get. Would any MeFites please share their US compensation clawback experience? I understand none of you are my accountant and that none of you are offering specific tax planning advice.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:51 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by infinitewindow at 9:51 AM PST - 10 comments
Kawabata / Hampō: "My Life, a Fragment of a Landscape"
From Kawabata's book The Master Of Go (trans Seidensticker; p149 vintage pb 1 edn):
posted by andrewcooke at 9:37 AM PST - 5 comments
On a wall above the Go board was a framed inscription by Hampō: "My Life, a Fragment of a Landscape."[more inside]
posted by andrewcooke at 9:37 AM PST - 5 comments
Help me understand my optometrist bill
I just received a bill from my standard annual eye exam. There are two charges on it: EP Comprehensive Exam, and Exam Refraction. It looks like the comprehensive exam was submitted to my insurance (and fully covered), but the refraction wasn't submitted at all. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by csox at 8:59 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by csox at 8:59 AM PST - 7 comments
Similar if not same clothes rack but in different country
Hi all,
I've fallen in love with this bamboo clothes rack from Argos but unfortunately they only ship within the UK. Do any of you happen to know a smiliar or same item from a different store, one that would ship to Berlin in Germany where I currently reside?
Many thanks, hive!
Speaker repairs for the soldering-averse
I have a set of Harman Kardon Soundsticks with a broken jack plug. I know I could replace it with something like this, but that would involve soldering which I've never done before. [more inside]
posted by Chenko at 8:22 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by Chenko at 8:22 AM PST - 3 comments
I want to go hiking in the mountains
I want to go on a week-long hiking/camping trip somewhere in the vicinity of Washington, Oregon, or Colorado, with maybe a few days rest afterward to enjoy a nearby city. I'm vaguely familiar with the Portland area, having visited once before but haven't spent much time in good hiking areas otherwise. I live in the Midwest. Can you recommend companies / packages that would make this easy and fun? Specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by deathpanels at 7:45 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by deathpanels at 7:45 AM PST - 5 comments
Sizing a kid's Weasley sweater
I'm knitting a Weasley sweater for my niece (who lives far away). It's hard to get in touch with her parents. Can anyone give me an idea of what the average shoulder width for a thinnish, medium height ten year old girl would be? I want to make sure it's too big, so I'll be happy with ballpark numbers. Thanks!
posted by 1066 at 5:13 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by 1066 at 5:13 AM PST - 4 comments
What's the most profesh way to ask my job to relocate me?
I got my dream job in a nightmare town -- stuck it out for 2.5 years and I gotta get out of here, but I want to keep my job. Help me persuade them to transfer me to our satellite office which is in a major city a few hours away. [more inside]
How can I not hate my birthday?
Like many people, I'm sure, I dread my birthday. I want to enjoy it instead. Has anyone else managed to change how they feel about their birthday? [more inside]
January 23
tall waterproof boots for NYC winters, with minimal greebling?
After postholing my way through some lovely meter-high snow banks today, I'm in the market for a pair of waterproof boots. What styles (or specific models) would you recommend, and why? [more inside]
Help identifying short film
Short, silent film of a cranky old white man who orders at a food court (?), gets up to get something to drink, comes back to find a black kid sitting at his table across from his chair and eating his food. Old guy continues to eat his food, puts up with kid eating his food for awhile, kid looks at old guy strangely for awhile, then shrugs and gets up and leaves old guy to finish the food. Old guy then stands up and realizes his food is actually sitting on the table behind him; that he sat down at the black kids table. Or something like that.
mysterious electricity
I am trying to help my mother...she is 66 years old and lives alone. She recently moved into a new house that was built mid 1950's. There appears to have been some updates done to the electrical outlets and some of them are giving us fits. Extended extended explanation to follow. [more inside]
posted by orangemacky at 7:42 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by orangemacky at 7:42 PM PST - 9 comments
ESPN3 Over FIOS on 2011 Mac Mini
American watching the Australian Open on ESPN3 over a Verizon FIOS connection using a 2011 Mac Mini (running Firefox). The picture is almost high definition---it's great. But there's intermittent pausing of a second or two at random times. Does this sound like a connection issue (download speed too slow), a problem originating from ESPN3, a slow processor, the browser, or something else?
How best to invite people to events but put a limit on # of attendees?
I'm interested in scheduling regular, artsy-fartsy outings with a select group of sweet people, but I (maybe) want to limit the number of attendees, because we're mostly introverts and I'd like the events to be kind of intimate. Like dates for 3-4 people who might not know each other, but I imagine could be fast friends. What are some online tools that can facilitate this? [more inside]
Anecdotal Feedback on ACA Exchange Health Insurance
Thinking of dropping spouses' employee-sponsored health insurance for an exchange plan due to high monthly premium cost. For people who have switched, were you happy in doing so? Were there issues to be aware of in switching? [more inside]
Ok to still be friends with someone you have slept with in the past?
Say you're in a committed monogamous relationship. Your partner has a friend with whom they once had a one-night-stand, which was a singular event at the start of the friendship. This friend is close with your partner, and they discuss personal things like sex, and talk regularly. Is this ok, or not?
Snowflakes within. [more inside]
posted by mymbleth at 2:53 PM PST - 47 comments
posted by mymbleth at 2:53 PM PST - 47 comments
Robert Burns night/NYC. Can you recommend a place?
There are many places celebrating the Scottish bard this week. But most are very expensive. Any leads on a place w/ good whiskey, some food and maybe poetry?
What Materials will I need to complete these house projects?
I have a number of things that need to be done around the house, that I am hiring a handyman for next week. Since I am not that handy myself, I need some help on the items to buy before he gets here so that he has what he needs in order to complete the project. [more inside]
posted by locussst at 2:17 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by locussst at 2:17 PM PST - 6 comments
Female road (air) warriors: What's best to wear on a plane?
I travel for work, but not often enough to get the upgrade. What's best to wear on cross-country flights? [more inside]
posted by nadise at 2:13 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by nadise at 2:13 PM PST - 29 comments
How can I make a sliding door into sliding art?
We have a barn-type door which covers a small closet in our kitchen. I'd like to make it into a fun visual focal point and would love some ideas on how to do it. [more inside]
Shed some light on my kitchen -- PAR20? MR16? LED?
We moved into our little one-story house in Toronto a few months ago and one thing that came up on the home inspection was that our pot lights are not covered by vapour boots. Since then, I spoke to an insulation guy about upgrading the insulation in the attic and he suggested that instead of putting in vapour boots, switching all the pot lights to LED would be more affordable/easier; he suggested replacing the halogens with LEDs as they burnt out.
Well, one bulb has burned out. I'm confused about the replacement choices. [more inside]
posted by greatgefilte at 2:02 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by greatgefilte at 2:02 PM PST - 8 comments
Quaint stopover between Amboise and Vezac
Traveling with the family through France in June. We will be driving from Amboise to Vezac and we're looking for suggestions for a cute little stopover for the night somewhere in between. [more inside]
Dog is hard to train, doesn't react as expected, please help!
My dog is a mutt (possibly some Aussie shephard and border collie in there, very high energy, working dogesque) my fiancé and I adopted at 2 months old. He is now 2 and a half. Training him has always been a bit difficult, because he doesn't react the way trainers say dogs "should." [more inside]
posted by petiteviolette at 1:10 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by petiteviolette at 1:10 PM PST - 20 comments
String art pattern from the 70's
How can I get my hands on this string art pattern from the 70's? I'm trying to finish my fella's present and I have it 95% completed (from photos alone) but I can not figure out how to the last few parts (top wing layer and the bird head and body). If anyone knows where to find this pattern it would be much appreciated.
2 weeks into new job in a new industry, given no time to learn
I have been trying very hard at a new job in a new industry, and have been reprimanded twice (both in front of other people and alone) by my boss during my second week in training. I am made to feel incompetent when I know I am very capable person who is simply learning the landscape. Please help me navigate this situation. [more inside]
Selling CDs in bulk
Where to cell >100 CDs rejected by Decluttr for either (1) not being in their database or (2) having a small bit of writing (my name, now crossed out) on both the CD and the insert? [more inside]
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 10:19 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 10:19 AM PST - 7 comments
Friendship after a break up
If you are someone who is or has been good friends with an ex-partner, how does that happen and what does it look like? What do you think are the necessary conditions for this to happen? How do you navigate feelings and boundaries? What are timelines like (ie is there a cooling off period involved)? Do you get jealous of their new partners? Thanks in advance. [more inside]
posted by mossicle at 10:16 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by mossicle at 10:16 AM PST - 17 comments
We're living somewhere else for a month. But where?!
We rented our house for 5 weeks in July and early August, so we're outta here (here being White Mountains, New Hampshire). We've got two dogs and a hankering for adventure. Where in the U.S. or Canada should we live for a month or so this summer? [more inside]
posted by nosila at 10:15 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by nosila at 10:15 AM PST - 11 comments
What did the old nursery rhyme's sound like?
Does anyone know of youtube videos or audio collections that share early nursery rhymes, some forgotten and out of use, what they sounded like, melody or tone of the rhyme? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 9:29 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by xarnop at 9:29 AM PST - 2 comments
What are some great works under the "political economy" umbrella?
I'm interested in studying more topics that fall under the category of "political economy" but I'm not quite sure where to start. Can anyone recommend any articles or books -- academic or otherwise -- that would fall under the "political economy" umbrella? (Note that I do not have a great definition of what I mean by political economy, so feel free to chime in there as well!)
How to cope with rejection without it turning into self-hate
I can cope with rejection when its a case of different priorities or whatever, but the really hard thing for me about rejection is how hierarchical it seems, that there are some people who are better and more valued than others, and rejection basically means you're less good than the person who has rejected you. Not always but as a kind of general trend. How can I cope with this? [more inside]
why is the snow killing my phone's battery?
Snowmageddon has started, and now my iPhone 6 won't hold a battery charge. What's going on and how can I remedy this? [more inside]
This machine warps clothes and applies a layer of lint. Why oh why?
I've just moved to Colombia and am doing laundry without a dryer for the first time. Why are the results so terrible? [more inside]
posted by graytona at 6:28 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by graytona at 6:28 AM PST - 8 comments
Suggestions for finding a rental in Seattle
I got my dream job in Seattle and will be moving cross-country! Yay! I'm going to make a trip out to find housing but have a couple of questions about when/where. [more inside]
You are not my optometrist.
I am moderately nearsighted and currently wear glasses with a prescription of roughly -3 in each eye. I take my glasses off to read, and always have. This is not because writing appears blurry with my glasses on, but because reading with my glasses on causes my eyes to strain, or feels like it does, and it has always just felt more comfortable to take them off. Does this make me a bad candidate for contacts or corrective surgery? Do I just need to get used to reading with my vision corrected? Is this something bifocals/bifocal contacts can address?
posted by eugenen at 5:10 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by eugenen at 5:10 AM PST - 8 comments
Can I eat this? Chorizo Stew edition
So I made a double recipe of this chorizo stew last night. It is delicious and there is so much of it. However, my husband left it out overnight by accident and I just put it in the fridge at 7 this morning. Can we eat this? I'm thinking no but hoping that the fact that the chorizo was cured before cooking makes some sort of difference and that I don't have to throw away a whole stockpot of delicious stew.
Please help us turn this tiny, ugly bathroom into a fun feature!
Our new house has this tiny downstairs bathroom. We'd like to turn it into a fun(ky) feature or themed room. We're open to any and all suggestions. [more inside]
Grow, little IRA
This seems like a dumb question but it's earnest. I have an IRA in PNC Bank with about $4,000 in it. It never shows any interest income. It's been the same for years. Not even the tiny amounts of interest my regular savings account gets. This seems wrong, doesn't it? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 1:57 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by bleep at 1:57 AM PST - 10 comments
How did pre-WW2 undergraduates access library resources?
In his 2010 article 'The myth of browsing' (American Libraries, vol. 41, no. 6/7), Donald Barclay states the following (emphasis mine): "Prior to the Second World War, the typical academic library was neither designed nor managed to support the browsing of collections. At best, faculty might be allowed to browse, but it was the rare academic library that allowed undergraduates into the stacks." Is this true? [more inside]
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 12:21 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 12:21 AM PST - 15 comments
Beyond the petroleuses
What are your best examples of women's or feminist organizing behind the barricades in urban uprisings?
posted by a sourceless light at 12:17 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by a sourceless light at 12:17 AM PST - 9 comments
January 22
Social Anxiety? General Anxiety? Medication?
I've been struggling with general anxiety my entire life, however it's been getting out of control lately. I also have random social anxiety and obsessive thinking mixed in. Looking for people's experiences and whether or not medication has helped. [more inside]
Finding a Job in Seattle
I will be relocating to Seattle in February. In addition to a decent amount of savings, I have a stable online business that generates enough monthly income to cover rent and basic expenses. I plan to find a full-time/part-time job so I won't be living paycheck to paycheck. [more inside]
Like a funeral, but for my ex, who isn't dead.
Months ago, I broke up with someone I was with for 7 years, under very sad no-one's-fault circumstances. I still love him and miss him like crazy. The sadness comes and goes. I think about him every day. I'd like to draw a line and move on and think it would help it I can decisively mark The End on that chapter of my life. I'm looking for ideas for how to make that mark. Some kind of ritual or ceremony. [more inside]
Sandy Koufax throws a fast ball... perfectly straight and level....
At the same instant, The three year old fan drops the autographed ball Sandy gave him before the game from the same exact height that Sandy released his pitch. Which one will hit the ground first? [more inside]
How to tell a narcissist I really did screw him over, this time
My ex has NPD and anger problems so I really don’t want to tick him off – but I think I’m about to. Please help me to mitigate the damage. [more inside]
How can I sanitize my home theater riser?
After a sewage line back-up disaster in the house were renting, is there any way for me to sanitize the riser I built for our screening room? [more inside]
posted by mboszko at 7:53 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by mboszko at 7:53 PM PST - 5 comments
How do I import a CSV file into MySQL
I am using mysql for the first time and I need to create a table using syntax to population a table with approximately 6000 rows. I am having trouble figuring out Bulk Import and Import From and am finding the explanations on the internet to be over my head. Can anyone explain this using language and steps suitable for a beginner?
I can't figure out what song this is! Please help!
We're going nuts at my house! What is this song? We think it's from a TV show. This recording is my daughter playing it from some sheet music - but the title is ripped off the top. I feel like it's a TV theme song or something? I know that it's very very familiar. I hope someone can help. Thanks.
Here's a link to a google drive file.
posted by crapples at 7:36 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by crapples at 7:36 PM PST - 8 comments
Looking for a NYC area gynecologist with expertise in Bartholin's Cyst
Would love recommendations from people who've had positive experiences with their gynecologist in treating Bartholin's Cyst in NYC or northern NJ. Bonus if said gynecologist accepts Independence Blue Cross.
Poems to Complement a Unit of Work on Antigone?
I am looking for suggestions for poems that would be appropriate to teach to 14 yo students that have some relationship to either Antigone or the world of Greek mythology. [more inside]
posted by jojobobo at 4:31 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by jojobobo at 4:31 PM PST - 14 comments
What is a gender neutral craft I can make from book pages?
I need to make an "I'm sorry" present. What are some gender neutral (or minimally feminine) crafts I can make from pages of a book? [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 4:12 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by FirstMateKate at 4:12 PM PST - 18 comments
Economics of underground fights in the movies
Lots of movies feature fights where the hero is fighting in some underground type of pit-fighter place. (Opening of Rambo III is a perfect example) Invariably, there are shouting crowds betting on the fight, all waving around wads of cash. My question: who are they betting with? [more inside]
posted by cosmicbandito at 2:44 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by cosmicbandito at 2:44 PM PST - 8 comments
Babies falling from the sky
In the next 6 months I will be going to 7 baby showers. I have never been to a baby shower, I do not have a baby and I don't know anyone with a baby. I don't know what is helpful (pack of diapers?) what is too impersonal (pack of diapers?) vs what is too personal-preference (pack of diapers?). I'd like to come up with a standard gift package for my expecting friends and family. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 1:58 PM PST - 45 comments
posted by pintapicasso at 1:58 PM PST - 45 comments
How did you deal with gender-based wage discrimination?
Forgive me for the two part question Hivemind, and I super know you are not my lawyer - I will ask a lawyer for legal advice if I need it. But...
1) Have you ever sued or reported a company for gender-based wage discrimination? Do you regret it?
2) Have you ever experienced it? How did you deal with your emotions? [more inside]
Tip of My Tongue Filter: Name that song
Should the cost of the baby shower gift depend on income disparity?
Should you give a more expensive baby shower gift if you know you are 'richer' than the recipient? Maybe you are not necessarily rich, but the giftee/person having the baby is very poor; in this case, do you gift based on your income disparity? [more inside]
Please suggest Speaker for my vsx-45 pioneer
I have a VSX-45 pioneer elite audio receiver. I have Samsung 65' tv hooked up to a wall. I am looking for decent speaker system preferably 5.1 sorround. My budget is 300 more or less. Please suggest something.. The setup is in the basement about 18 feet tall x 10 feet wide. I am not looking for a greatest speakers in the market, just something decent with good surround and sound quality. I will be watching movies, play call of duty on xbox one on this. I have Harmon, Bose, JBL in my mind.
posted by samcivic at 12:44 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by samcivic at 12:44 PM PST - 7 comments
i basically want a butt-sweater
What are the best toilets?
Have to replace a toilet: what's the best one? [more inside]
Transitioning to a Career in Editing/Publishing?
I recently graduated with a Ph.D. in English (with a focus on a national literature in a specific time period), and am considering transitioning from an academic career to one in publishing/editing. Should I? If so, how? [more inside]
Can anyone identify this 1940s VIP
I would appreciate any help in identifying the man in the white hat inspecting troops (RAF) in Egypt c.1942/3. In other photographs taken on the same day he is seen holding a horsehair fly swat and has a binocular case over his shoulder. He must have been either a visiting Head of State, politician, diplomat or high profile entertainer. Thanks in advance.
posted by Petromyzon at 11:35 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by Petromyzon at 11:35 AM PST - 7 comments
How to not be affected by sister's negative moods and outbursts?
I'm currently living with my sister and mother due to financial issues. We are all adults. My sister has bipolar + Asperger's so I have a lot of sympathy for her, but I have a difficult time being around her when she's in a depressive state. It has a significant impact on my mood, and I can become resentful. She's the type to make sure that everyone knows she is depressed yet refuses to talk about it; if pressed, she can become emotionally volatile. How can I learn to walk on eggshells without being affected by her negativity? [more inside]
Nonprofit nirvana ... or not
Phone screen with a social justice-oriented nonprofit next week... yay! I have never actually worked for a nonprofit full-time and it's been years since I've interned for one. I would welcome ideas on aspects to run toward/away from. [more inside]
How or where can I sell this?
I have about $110 worth of codes for a restaurant discount site. How or where can I sell them? [more inside]
posted by Michele in California at 11:08 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by Michele in California at 11:08 AM PST - 5 comments
What to get as a gift for a host?
My wife and I will be going to Florida on vacation for a week at the end of February. We bought a condo earlier this year, and one of our neighbors is an older couple that has a winter home near Orlando. Their place has a semi-separate one-bedroom living space, and they very generously offered to allow us to stay there while we're on vacation, which will save us a few hundred dollars in hotel costs. [more inside]
Do I cook or do I freeze (a cut of meat)?
I have a 2+ lb. tri tip steak that's been marinating (soy, lemon, sugar, garlic) for 24 hours and I have to concede I can't consume it by tonight.
Which will make for a less mushy and sad eating experience? Do I grill it today and freeze the cooked beef for later consumption? Or do I freeze it now, uncooked, still in the marinade, and then grill it later, thawed?
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 10:48 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 10:48 AM PST - 7 comments
What can I do for my friend whose father just passed away?
My best friend's dad just died last night. Fortunately, he flew in from NY to TX to be able to be by his side at the time of his death. He and his family are Chinese. What can I do from afar (I am in DC) to help / support him, and also to offer condolences in a more formal way? Send flowers? Food? [more inside]
posted by bengalibelle at 9:45 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by bengalibelle at 9:45 AM PST - 14 comments
Should I become a counselor?
I think I need a new career: my current one is going nowhere, and I'm incredibly unhappy. It occurred to me that I might have a better life, if I were to become a counselor of some sort. Am I right? [more inside]
That rug really pulled the room together
In search of a bright pink (or other colors, I suppose) kilim that is washable and impervious to dog smell. And cheap, too. [more inside]
Suggestions for cheap last minute NYC to Europe flights?
Short of Priceline, are there any ways to regularly get cheap last-minute airfares to Western/ Central Europe for a single traveler?
I have a job that sometimes allows me to work remotely, and I'd love to leverage that by hopping off to Europe every so often. I'd be happy to fly on last-minute notice, without a lot of luggage. I have relatively easy access to EWR and JFK. [more inside]
Help me find a patient information leaflet in Polish regarding cancer.
Hi,
I've been fruitlessly googling for awhile now and am turning to the hive-mind to help me find a patient information handout discussing the basics of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Polish for a patient of mine. So far, no luck going through official and googleficial channels, so I'd appreciate any assistance.
posted by kurosawa's pal at 6:50 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by kurosawa's pal at 6:50 AM PST - 8 comments
From Ian Thomson's Introduction
Ian Thomson says in the introduction of The Third Man by Greene that Lime,with his alley rat amorality, is a familiar Greene character. What does this "alley rat amorality" mean? And he also writes that Greene's literary interest was not just in shabby crooks and other compromised characters;he wanted to dissect their morally ambivalent worlds. Will you explain what "compromised characters" are? Thank you!
posted by mizukko at 6:19 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by mizukko at 6:19 AM PST - 7 comments
More sweet, non-twangy, female close harmony like this?
Having replayed all of Girlyman to death, I'm looking for more sweet, non-twangy, decidedly non-country, non-religious, mostly-female close harmony like this and this. [more inside]
Non-millionaire seeks fee-based financial planner in NYC
I'm looking for specific recommendations for a good fee-based (only!) financial planner in New York or nearby, who I can pay by the hour (or similar) for a few hours of general advice. That's it, really. Thank you for any pointers!
Craft Breweries in Melbourne
Travelling to Melbourne in February, what are some great craft breweries to check out? [more inside]
Simple online auction site/wp-plugin
Hi all. I'm setting up an auction of artworks our members have donated. Trying to find either a third-party site, a one-off site I could setup, or a plugin for our Wordpress install. Suggestions? [more inside]
Tiling for the uncertain
I want to tile our bathroom floor this weekend. Can you tell me what you know, in specific detail (including brands!) about how to accomplish this? A ton of questions to follow-- I'm grateful for *any* you're willing to answer. [more inside]
January 21
What model is this speaker?
I saw a pair of these speakers at a bar and I'd love to know their make and model.
Here's a photo: https://imgur.com/pDIO9fJ
It may not be that clear, but there's also an array of four horns below the main enclosure.
posted by mazarov at 11:11 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by mazarov at 11:11 PM PST - 4 comments
Comprehensive and in depth books/resources on oysters
I'm going into the oyster business! Help me learn more. [more inside]
posted by codybaldwin at 10:45 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by codybaldwin at 10:45 PM PST - 8 comments
how to handle a mean friend?
I need advice / strategies on the best way to address the problem of a friend who makes critical remarks to me. Details below. [more inside]
posted by seraph9 at 10:14 PM PST - 40 comments
posted by seraph9 at 10:14 PM PST - 40 comments
Dad (early 70s) is making weird sounds constantly. What could it be?
After some prolonged time with dear old dad in the car recently, I noticed he constantly makes weird little sounds and vocalizations when things are quiet. I don't think he has any idea he's doing this. What gives? [more inside]
posted by amoeba at 9:45 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by amoeba at 9:45 PM PST - 21 comments
Two person living room gaming with a Raspberry Pi 2?
I have a Raspberry Pi 2 that I bought from Kano. It's fun... for one kid at a time. I want my boys to be able to indulge in some silly two-person gaming as well. What is the Pi capable of? And how can I get two of them playing on the same box? [more inside]
How's Poughkeepsie living?
What's it like living in Poughkeepsie, NY? Things to do? Nightlife? Meet- up groups? Cost of living? [more inside]
posted by raccoon409 at 5:30 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by raccoon409 at 5:30 PM PST - 15 comments
How to amuse yourself when you're snowed-in
A blizzard is coming my way and it looks like I'll have three or so days by myself in my apartment. Any ideas for how to not get bored? [more inside]
posted by tooloudinhere at 5:24 PM PST - 36 comments
posted by tooloudinhere at 5:24 PM PST - 36 comments
Iceland vaction this summer - camping, RV or hotel/hostel? Or tour bus?
Looking for tips on which would be the best way to see most if not all of the natural wonders on a sorta cheap budget. Which way to the Bjork statue? [more inside]
SALE! 50% OFF! .... Tuition?
My daughter is headed to college in 2017. She's jumping into the big process of selecting/looking/applying, and I am jumping into finance/panic process. One thing I am seeing as we research schools: Many private schools, liberal arts and larger, are reported as being quite generous with grant aid. I need a reality check. [more inside]
Coevolutionary Quartely Essay on the legal costs of unborn children?
Does anyone recall an article in either the CoEvo or Whole Earth Quarterly where
the writer showed that by making a gestating fetus a legal entity, mothers (and
lawyers) could sue the companies making the products that cause birth defects, cancer, etc.? Which issue, who wrote the essay and is it easily accessible somewhere?
Thanks.
In England, what exactly do the GCSEs determine?
How make-or-break are they [more inside]
Digital Flipbook? Scrolling Gallery? Photo Project: Help Needed
I’ve been taking photos of the same(-ish) spot for the past year in the hopes of stringing them all together to illustrate the changing seasons. Now that I have the photos, I need some tech help to pull the next step off. Snowflakes (not many, I hope) inside. [more inside]
While the people who translate to Latin are around . .
My friend and I have a particular history and we want to get a buddy tattoo. Naturally I'm going to ask you to verify a translation. [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:48 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:48 PM PST - 7 comments
What kind of car should I buy?
I'm really a truck girl at heart, but current circumstances mean that it's smarter for me to buy a car in the interim until I actually need a truck again. I just sold my 1989 Ford F-150, which I loved. Looking to buy a fuel efficient, cheap to maintain car for now, but darn, do I miss the feeling of driving my truck. [more inside]
What are the best resources to learn about antiques?
What are the best resources to learn about antiques? I am especially interested in learning about great books, blogs, databases, and videos. Any insights would be most appreciated!
posted by mortaddams at 12:36 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by mortaddams at 12:36 PM PST - 6 comments
How comfortable would you be making this drive?
I'm thinking of driving from Portland to Las Vegas in August in a 20-year-old car (1996 Nissan Altima) with 183,000 miles on it. Owning a car is still new to me so I'm trying to figure out if I'm being overly cautious. Would you make this drive? [more inside]
Like Paw Patrol, but with more bitches.
My two-year-old daughter is obsessed with Paw Patrol. I'm not in love with the gender representation on the show. What shows are similar but with better diversity in terms of gender? [more inside]
Job Hunting in a Cultural Field
For the last five years I've been at the same small cultural institution in a large US city. During that time I worked my way up to a (non-executive) director role managing a few employees. I'm ready for a change, but I'm having trouble making that change happen. I've been semi-seriously looking for a year now without luck, and would love to hear experience and advice from other people who've grown or maintained careers in similar fields or situations. [more inside]
San Francisco geographical oddity
If you search Google Maps for "San Francisco", it shows tiny corners of Angel Island and Alameda Island as lying within city limits. Is this accurate? If so, how did the city/county boundary lines get drawn in such an unusual way?
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:39 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:39 AM PST - 15 comments
How do I end two relationships in a positive note?
Need help in ending two relationships in a way that is not too hurtful for any of those involved. [more inside]
I need some fun and interesting ideas for a 3-year old's bedroom!
Our son, who's 3 (I guess closer to 3.5 if that matters, has essentially been sharing a room with us, his parents, since he was born. We live in a 2-bedroom apartment, and our second bedroom has always been a combination of office, guest bedroom, and miscellaneous storage. We have on multiple occasions in the last three years needed to use the guest room for long term visits from various family members so haven't really converted it to our son's bedroom. Now we are ready to, and I'm kind of blanking on how to make the space really great for him. I'm hoping the hivemind can come through with some interesting ideas. [more inside]
My Dad Really, Really Hates Jimmy Carter.
My father swears that at some point during the Carter Administration, President Carter instituted a national wage freeze, such that no employer, public or private, was permitted to give any employee a raise, supposedly to put the brakes on inflation. He further claims that this had happened to him in whatever year it was, causing family hardship. He was working in construction for a private company at that time. What, if anything, is he actually remembering? [more inside]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 10:57 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by Spathe Cadet at 10:57 AM PST - 10 comments
Surprise! 10lbs of dry ice. What kind of fun can we have?
So we just got a surprise shipment that contained about ten pounds of dry ice. I know there's all sorts of fun that can be had, but I'm unclear on the extents of said fun. Something science-y, or just cool looking, or...? [more inside]
Please help this very infrequent flyer.
This is a very simple question, but I haven’t flown in five years and I want to get through the pre-flight BS as easily as possible. [more inside]
posted by Dolley at 10:13 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by Dolley at 10:13 AM PST - 21 comments
Breast cancer treatment with special needs child -- help?
I'm asking this for a friend who was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She's getting monthly chemo starting next week for 4 months. Following that will be radiation for 6 weeks and then Tamoxifen. She has an 18-month-old son born 3 months premature who cannot stay in daycare (he's immuno-compromised and has short gut syndrome, so the pediatrician has ruled it unsafe until he's at least 3 years old). We are looking for resources to help with child care during her treatment and recovery. [more inside]
It's an egocentric question, I guess?
What does being egocentric means and when is it a good thing / a bad thing to be egocentric? Is there a judgement to be applied to the idea of egocentrism at all? [more inside]
Why can't I reliably see my favorite folders on my Mac anymore?
Normally, when I open up the Finder on my MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012, running OS 10.11.1) in the sidebar to the left of the window, I can see a list of my favorite folders. But lately, sometimes when I open Finder (or when I click "Browse..." to select a file for upload somewhere) the list of Favorites is often missing. Sometimes all that's left is "Media," sometimes it's "Shared." This makes it really difficult to navigate my computer. What is causing this, and how can I fix it?
posted by ocherdraco at 8:57 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by ocherdraco at 8:57 AM PST - 3 comments
I just wanted to make some tea!
Got a beautiful Russian electric samovar. Now I need help running it on good ol' American electricity. Details (and a Russian electrical schematic!) inside. [more inside]
Finding songs on an iTunes playlist?
I had an iTunes library with some important playlists. I then deleted all the songs. The playlists are still there. How can I extract the names of the songs from the playlist? [more inside]
Using PayPal to send money to Ukraine
I bought a $70 camera located in Ukraine on Ebay; the listing showed that you could pay with PayPal. PayPal says people in Ukraine can't receive payments from PayPal. I was relying on the protection of PayPal to make sure I actually get the camera (or my money back). Is there some safe way to send money to Ukraine that doesn't reveal my payment information & gives me protection if I don't receive the item?
posted by gregr at 7:42 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by gregr at 7:42 AM PST - 11 comments
Excel filter: How do I add only data for a given month?
I have an Excel worksheet that logs hikes. The columns are date, location, miles, notes. The rows are hikes. I have a summary worksheet in the same workbook that I use to track progression. Things like cumulative miles for the year, average miles per month. I'd like to add month by month totals. I want to write a formula that will sum the distance only for a particular month (for example, January). I need a formula that will test if the hike occurred in that month, then add the miles to the sum. What would this formula look like? [more inside]
Recommendations for stories/podcasts to listen to
Hello Hivemind,
I am in need of some recommendations for stories to listen to on my iphone while commuting to work. First, I am asking for recommendations for podcasts. [more inside]
Best route from Billings to Bellingham
I'm moving from Billings, Montana to Bellingham, Washington in a couple weeks, and I'm looking for the best, least snowiest route there. I have heard all the horror stories of the Snoqualmie Pass. I'm fine with taking an extra day to detour through Oregon or somewhere, but I'm wondering if anyone has made this road trip before at a similar time of the year and has suggestions for me. If it matters, I have a car with fwd. Thanks!
posted by book 'em dano at 6:47 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by book 'em dano at 6:47 AM PST - 11 comments
Translate "Deal from strength or get crushed every time" to Latin?
Title says it all. I tried the online translation, but even with my twenty-year-old-intro-Latin, I could tell they weren't great. How would you translate that into Latin? I'm really looking for two sorts of translations: one literal, and one short and "motto"-like.
A publisher wants my book. How to pay the bills while I write it?
A publisher is interested in my unfinished book manuscript, and has asked for an estimated completion date. I’d love nothing more than to finish writing it. But my financial situation is precarious, and I haven’t been able to find a day job that will leave me with enough time and energy to write. Plus, I’m facing a rent increase in April that may cost me my home if I don’t find another source of income soon. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by velvet winter at 12:04 AM PST - 47 comments
posted by velvet winter at 12:04 AM PST - 47 comments
January 20
Getting the most volume when curling short hair
I've got a new undercut 'do and want some tips for volume+curls for my short hair! I've curled my hair lots before - but not this style! Inspiration and more inside! [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 11:39 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by Crystalinne at 11:39 PM PST - 14 comments
Options for a family sabbatical overseas?
I'm an American academic and I'll be on a partially paid one year sabbatical starting this July. I've applied for a funded program that would send my family and me overseas, but it's quite competitive, and I'm working on a back-up plan if I'm not accepted into this program. My preference is East Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa more generally, but I'm open to ideas. Where can I afford to rent a modest apartment or house and send our kids to an English-language school? [more inside]
surprise.mov
An amazing human being I've known since high school has a milestone birthday in a month. I'm considering secretly asking a bunch of her friends to record super-short videos, and then compiling those into a birthday greeting. Seems pretty straightforward. So what's the huge looming problem that I'm not considering? [more inside]
Have a seat, Dr Freud!
A friend has asked for my help setting up her new counseling office. She does psychotherapy with adults - individuals and couples. Knowing that y'all have lots of therapy experience, I'm asking the hive mind, "What do you love or hate about the furnishings in your therapist office?"
Does anyone remember this article about an internet backbone facility?
I am looking for a particular article that shows a municipal internet backbone being repaired in a facility that has served as an important telecommunications junction for decades. [more inside]
posted by daHIFI at 7:28 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by daHIFI at 7:28 PM PST - 4 comments
Best ink for dip pens/calligraphy?
Artists/Calligraphers, help me find the perfect ink for art and writing with a traditional dip pen. Tell me your favorites! [more inside]
Need some clarity on Dropbox Pro
Can I use Dropbox to automatically have the My Documents folders on 2 computers be identical? [more inside]
A name for this phenomenon.
Is there a name for lottery winners who seem to be cursed by their winnings? Or is there a word for that more general phenomenon of something that is bad for you counter-intuitively appearing to be a really good thing?
posted by Taft at 4:34 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by Taft at 4:34 PM PST - 21 comments
Help with Hashimoto's, etc in East Bay
My SO, who has been diagnosed with Hashimoto's, is seeking a new primary care physician or endocrinologist, preferably in the Alameda/Oakland/Berkeley area. [more inside]
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 4:12 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 4:12 PM PST - 4 comments
a diagram of the night sky as seen from a certain location and date
Is there a widget out there somewhere that generates a diagram of the night sky (i.e. constellations visible), given a date and viewing place? I see commercial websites that will make you a poster of such a diagram for your birthday or wedding anniversary, but I am not looking to buy a poster.
posted by xo at 4:10 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by xo at 4:10 PM PST - 7 comments
Where in the US should we move?
Daughter was born very prematurely nearly 4 yrs ago. As a result, her lungs are not as big/strong as they should be. We live in Minneapolis, and are therefore indoors for much of the winter. We would like to move somewhere we can be outside comfortably year-round: *more desired criteria below* [more inside]
What can I do to stop the major draft in this room?
Just moved to a new place. There is a small room that is supposed to be a guest bedroom, but it is absolutely freezing. By far the coldest room in the house. [more inside]
Macbook refresh; best practices needed.
I've got an older Macbook Pro I'm trying to refresh. Its been a while, and I'm looking for some guidance for software updates. [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 3:40 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by furnace.heart at 3:40 PM PST - 13 comments
Wheeze the Juice
Garrett Juice is a mixture of molasses, compost tea, apple cider vinegar, and liquid seaweed. Can it be stored? [more inside]
posted by cmoj at 3:36 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by cmoj at 3:36 PM PST - 15 comments
Travel insurance in the case of pet illness
Is there a travel insurance that allows for cancellation in case of pet illness? [more inside]
Casual Dresses
Where can I find casual but not so casual dresses that are comfortable to wear and not too pricey. [more inside]
Opinions on the essential oils Young Living sells? Worth the money?
My friend sells the products and I'm tempted to as well just for the discount. I've been researching the benefits of essential oils, especially for respiratory issues/illness. [more inside]
How does one clean a digital projector? Small pink blemish on screen...
A small pink spot appears on the same area of the screen when using a Canon digital projector. What is the cause and how does one go about cleaning/fixing this? [more inside]
posted by captainsohler at 2:28 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by captainsohler at 2:28 PM PST - 9 comments
Is there a reasonably reliable USB flash drive for use as back-up media?
Is there USB flash media < 32GB that is cheap and reliable enough to use as non-critical file back-up for a Windows 10 PC? I have had a ton of problems with USB flash drives failing mysteriously... so I had previously used a cheap usb hard drive, which failed completely (screeech) within about a year and a half. I'm not interested in any "cloud" solutions.
Why is my vision changing as my blood sugar goes down?
Last week I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. Since then I've lowered my fasting blood glucose by over a hundred. Yay! But all of a sudden I can't see. Boo! [more inside]
Healthy snacks for a diabetic with a very sweet tooth...
I have portion control issues, a very sweet tooth, diabetes, and climbing blood sugar levels. I'm looking for recommendations of things I can eat that will feel like a treat without killing me. [more inside]
Follow-up or wait for non-responsive interviewer?
Interviewer asked for availability for a phone meeting early this week, hasn't responded to my e-mail. Should I wait or follow-up? [more inside]
posted by ad4pt at 11:49 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by ad4pt at 11:49 AM PST - 10 comments
Just discovered Microsoft Volume Licensing, and I'm SO lost!
I've never used Microsoft Volume Licensing before and I'm COMPLETELY overwhelmed. Anyone out there able to give me a quick overview, or can point me to one? [more inside]
posted by TrueVox at 11:05 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by TrueVox at 11:05 AM PST - 8 comments
Book recommendations, please!
I am looking for book recommendations. Specifically, books that have gorgeous writing. [more inside]
posted by triggerfinger at 10:59 AM PST - 82 comments
posted by triggerfinger at 10:59 AM PST - 82 comments
What travel insurance should I buy, if any?
I'm an American who has moved to the UK. Should my spouse and I get insurance for travel to the US (and other countries)? If so, do you have recommendations? [more inside]
posted by ddbeck at 10:49 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by ddbeck at 10:49 AM PST - 13 comments
Which Toronto maker space?
I’m looking forward to a few months of planned professional downtime very soon, and I’d like to have access to workshop facilities to develop some 3D printed and laser/CNC-cut plywood constructions. I’m in the east end, and would prefer something readily subway accessible. I’ve heard that some of the better known places have their equipment over used and under maintained, and I’d like to avoid that kind of downtime. All suggestions gratefully considered.
How to simplify makeup shopping?
I bleached and dyed my hair grey/silver from brown and now I look different. Not only do I not know what colors would look best with my new hair I would also like to branch out from "everyday" makeup. What makeup and colors should I wear now? [more inside]
ID'ing a synth sound
In Bad Lip Reading's "Rockin' All Night Long" there's a synth riff (0:58 in this video) that I love.
How do I get that sound? [more inside]
posted by scrump at 10:20 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by scrump at 10:20 AM PST - 4 comments
Mutant basketball / "tactical" / "military" style boot finding help!
Hello. I would like to replace a pair of well loved boots / shoes with some new ones.
The ones I have at the moment look like this.
I have found these but they are less casual more military!
Does anyone have any knowledge of some more like the ones I already have (or like that but different - if that makes any sense) please?
Another warm vacation question
Where can we go that is warm (80s), DRY, and beachy that is within the U.S., will avoid El Nino, and is within 2-4 flight hours of STL in the middle of February?
Favorite fruit trees in pacific northwest
I have room for perhaps 5 semi-dwarf fruit trees in my backyard near Seattle (Zone 8b), plus a handful of berry bushes. I know blueberries and apples grow well here so I plan to have some of each. Also, some (all?) plums nearby seem remarkably pest-free. Are there other favorites that aren't too much fuss that the family can enjoy picking? Figs? Cherries? Are mulberries too messy? I'm usually a DIYer but is it worth it to hire a edible landscaping consultant in this case? Thanks.
Finding a digital animation job in the Twin Cities?
My future son-in-law recently graduated from the DAVE school and is looking for a job, preferably in the Minneapolis/St Paul area. Any suggestions on how or where to look?
Ugh, Fine, I'll Go to Hawaii (If You Think That's Okay)
Last week, I was thinking of doing a babymoon in Cancun. Then the CDC issued a warning discouraging pregnant women from traveling to Mexico and 13 other countries because of Zika virus. Now I'm thinking Hawaii. Am I making A Big Mistake? [more inside]
How do you keep your ears clean in 2016?
Responsible mefites, how do you keep your ear canals clean without the illicit bliss of cotton buds? [more inside]
posted by citands at 8:11 AM PST - 40 comments
posted by citands at 8:11 AM PST - 40 comments
90th birthday party activities?
My grandmother is turning 90 this June! I'd love some ideas for her "party". Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
Get Therapy 201: How do I get the most out of therapy?
OK, AskMe, around these parts we know and love the advice to get therapy. It's great advice! But what about the 201-level advice? Once you get yourself into therapy, how do you get the most out of it? I'm curious to hear some MeFite wisdom.
What has made your experience with therapy richer and more helpful? Give me your practical tips, and tell me about mindsets and attitudes that you have found to be helpful (or not helpful). [more inside]
Great Chefs Outside
I'm working on creating a 2 hour class that focuses on cooking and nutrition for wilderness guides. These folks are generally 23-33, and they mostly have some of the basics down. What are your greatest tips and hacks that make you a good cook? What are your best recipes that can be cooked over a one burner camp stove? What nutrition science is true and not just a fad? [more inside]
How do I maintain healthy boundaries? (grad school + work edition)
I told my boss I wanted to start a Master's program. She decided it would be a great idea if we did it together. I'm worried she might expect me to be their tutor/cheerleader for the next couple of years. What to do? [more inside]
posted by ADent at 6:57 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by ADent at 6:57 AM PST - 23 comments
Somebody said GYOB... so they did
To try to structure some irritating obsessions into halfway constructive output, I want to a. get a blog, and b. make some fanvids. I need basic rundowns of how to do these basic things fairly basically, in terms adapted to the meanest understanding. [more inside]
posted by runincircles at 6:28 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by runincircles at 6:28 AM PST - 4 comments
Mouse proof kitchen trash?
Can anyone recommend a mouse proof kitchen trash can? [more inside]
Ex-pat friend asked if she could use my US mailing address
She's an American citizen who has lived in Germany for many years and plans to stay permanently. Due to a life change, she asked if she can use my mailing address for her paperwork. I trust her but want to make sure it's OK from a legal/financial CYA standpoint. [more inside]
Is this particular situation a good time to use my Ativan prescription?
I have an Ativan prescription that is intended to help me deal with panic attacks. I rarely use it because my panic attacks are quite rare. I have a work event coming that turns me into a ball of anxiety every time I have to do it (2-3 times a year) and I'm wondering if this might be an appropriate time to make use of my prescription. [more inside]
How to contact an Amazon Corporate buyer?
I work for an import agency. I'd like to sell electronic and textile products to Amazon. Any idea how to contact a corporate buyer?
posted by anonymous_account at 4:40 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by anonymous_account at 4:40 AM PST - 2 comments
Pay as you go cell plans
Can you recommend a low-hassle prepaid cell plan for a backup phone? [more inside]
Who is Lila Cerullo?
I'm trying to find a piece written by Elena Ferrante in Corriere della Sera several years ago which apparently refers to someone on whom her character Lila is based. [more inside]
Trading Platform
I'm looking to get involved in the Stock Market and whilst looking around have been contacted by a company trying to sell me a Trading Platform solution. ATS 1Trader is the company - Website. Has anyone had any dealing with them? [more inside]
posted by lloyder at 1:04 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by lloyder at 1:04 AM PST - 15 comments
January 19
How to get started in investing?
Total investment newbie in need of advice on how to get started with investments and what type etc. [more inside]
posted by CheeseAndRice at 11:45 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by CheeseAndRice at 11:45 PM PST - 13 comments
NY Medicaid woes
When I turned 26 a few weeks ago, I was summarily dropped from the health insurance my mother gets through her job ( I was eligible to stay until 26 b/c of a disability). Now, I'm facing a nightmarish bureaucracy trying to get enrolled in managed care before the 31st. Help me shovel some snowflakes out of my way so I can actually do this right. [more inside]
What has happened to my iPad? Static lines edition.
Some weeks ago my iPad 3 screen became full of static lines with a 2 inch wide darker section of static lines. It first occurred when I knocked the (Apple) smart cover off. Returning the smart cover fixed it. Then it happened a second time, a third and now it is completely static. Any programs running underneath were still operating until I did a reset. [more inside]
posted by Thella at 10:23 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by Thella at 10:23 PM PST - 5 comments
How can I download my "saves" from Tripadvisor to Excel?
I'd like to access my saved locations in this way.
Automotive design, modification, & customization career advice?
I am an art professor and one of my freshmen is interested in professionally working in automotive design and/or car modification & customization. Yes, I know those areas encompass a range of positions and skills. Do you have any resources for her as she tailors her interests and studies in this realm, particularly if they're local to our KCMO area? [more inside]
posted by vegartanipla at 9:20 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by vegartanipla at 9:20 PM PST - 4 comments
Explain how my one monthly chin pimple comes to exist.
I get a pimple on my chin every month just before my period. It's kind of hard. It leaves a dark mark behind, and the back of my head hurts if I touch it(weird, I know!). I know that the basic mechanism is hormones, but I don't understand why these hormones only affect my chin and I don't understand why there's always exactly ONE and never more than one or it never skips a month. Do all my pores get together and vote for one pore to be the host? How does this work? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:24 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:24 PM PST - 19 comments
Scotch Club? Scotch Club! What goes with Scotch?
My office has a Scotch Club, where a group of people have monthly Scotch tastings. High-end single malts. These people are serious tasters. Tomorrow is my first meeting. I wanna bring a snack that I can buy at any well-appointed supermarket and don't have to cook or do much preparing. Besides cigars, fireplaces and Nick Offerman, what goes with Scotch?
Looks like one of those Chrome guys' girlfriends
When you go to a website in Chrome, there's a flash of the default white non-website before the website itself loads. I've figured out how to change the default colors of the website itself (there's an app for that), but not for that first flash. Or for popups, evidently (thank you MeFi for giving me the opportunity to learn that now!). That white screen before the page loads is not only blinding, but also often triggers both facial pain and migraines. I'd really like it to be darker - anything would help, dark gray or black preferred. Help?
If a guy isn't ready to commit to me, should I give him time?
I've been seeing a 23 yo guy for 3 months and been on about 14-16 dates. We haven't been intimate yet and he hasn't tried. He tells me he likes me and he's looking for a relationship. When I brought up the "what are we" conversation, he tells me he isn't sure if he's ready to commit. His reason is that he'd like to spend more time together and it's been hard since we're both busy with school and we see each other about once per week. I'm at the point where I'm starting to like him a lot and I'm just wondering if I should stick around or MOA. If I do stick around, what can I do to help him decide?
Adulting challenge: Picking a duvet cover
My wife and I have been putting off buying a new duvet cover for over a year because reasons. Our current one is just getting gross and is well over a decade old. This is to cover a mid weight queen size down comforter. Willing to pay for quality, as this one is probably going to be on daily duty for a decade or more. No fleece, and needs to be machine wash and dry friendly.
What is the best goddamn vacuum-insulated travel mug in the world?
Show me the last word in vacuum-insulated travel mugs for coffee. Specific requirements within. [more inside]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:13 PM PST - 32 comments
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:13 PM PST - 32 comments
Renting Shelf Space. The In's and Out's
I have had a movable storefront built for my business. (Men's fashion line) It has many shelves and hanging space. Much more than I need at this time. I had the thought to rent shelf space to other entrepreneurs who sell men's accessories and lines that do not conflict with mine. [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 5:04 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by goalyeehah at 5:04 PM PST - 4 comments
What do you mean I already watched every NOVA show on Netflix?
I want to watch more nature and documentary shows, and the well at Netflix is running dry. Trying to figure out what combination of hardware/subscriptions to get that will give me the biggest number of good shows. [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 4:25 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by bluesky78987 at 4:25 PM PST - 15 comments
Don't want to trigger a foam slide
Can I store a latex/foam hybrid mattress on its side for a month without compromising it? [more inside]
posted by scarylarry at 4:19 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by scarylarry at 4:19 PM PST - 5 comments
moving to a new city for a "girlfriend"
I met this girl from an online dating site from Peru, and we have been chatting by text and on skype for seven months. Now she has moved to Toronto in Canada for school, but I live in Boston, and we agreed to do a long distance relationship for some time while I look for jobs in Canada or Buffalo, NY (which is close to Toronto).
I only know this girl through 7 months of skype and texting, and she came to visit me one weekend recently and we got to hang out, and we had a really good time together.
But I am having doubts about moving to a brand new city for someone I hardly know but I am still attracted to her, and as far as I know she has a really nice personality.
Would it be worth it to leave everything behind to move to Toronto just to be close to her?
The other thing is that I really like Toronto as a city, and I have a close friend who lives there.
Reality check re: slow bathtub drain on the third floor
I feel like I'm being gaslighted by my landlord, who is either crazy like a fox or completely idiotic and I can't tell which, and I just want to ask a few really ELEMENTARY questions regarding my slow draining bathtub. Snowflakes? Oh you bet I've got snowflakes. [more inside]
How To Channel A Dawdling Kindergartner
I've just received a note in my five-year-old son's backpack from his kindergarten teacher. He is having trouble focusing and finishing his work at school in an appropriate amount of time. What are some ways I can help him focus on his task at hand? [more inside]
posted by Liesl at 3:42 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by Liesl at 3:42 PM PST - 22 comments
Please help with professional ethics paper topic.
Hi guys, I just finished a summer from hell finishing my accounting designation. To round off my degree, I need to finish a rather open ended paper, and I'm almost out of brain cells and motivation. The paper need be only 2000 words, so nothing too in-depth is required. [more inside]
posted by tatiana131 at 3:40 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by tatiana131 at 3:40 PM PST - 13 comments
How to screen doctors for aged relative who is a "difficult" patient
My experience so far has been that with the exception of the neurologist doctors have been unable to not take personally the patient's prickly+ personality despite having been informed of alz diagnosis. This extends to staff such as lab techs etc. What to do? Why is this the case? [more inside]
Crush On Someone Rather Confusing
Met a girl, hit it off, then things seemed to fall apart. Trying to figure out if I can still pursue this. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by argylesockpet at 3:08 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by argylesockpet at 3:08 PM PST - 18 comments
Find me a heavy, warm blanket.
Please recommend to me your favorite heavy, warm blanket! I've realized that I like sleeping under something pretty heavyweight, and while I love my down duvet, it's not really doing the trick. I don't think I need something that's specifically a weighted blanket, just something that will be thick or dense enough that I'll really know it's there. [more inside]
posted by kalimac at 2:56 PM PST - 25 comments
posted by kalimac at 2:56 PM PST - 25 comments
I'm flying to D.C., just in time for a blizzard. What can I expect?
You are not my weatherman. I'll be in D.C. for tourist reasons from Weds. (tomorrow!) to Sunday evening. We will be using public transit to get around. How badly hosed will we be if a huge snowstorm come? Will anything (restaurants, museums) remain open? [more inside]
posted by chowflap at 2:48 PM PST - 30 comments
posted by chowflap at 2:48 PM PST - 30 comments
The shirt off of his back
Help me find a new shirt for the Mister. [more inside]
Understanding Criminal Charges?
A friend has been charged with 10 counts of second degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor. I'm shocked, confused, and pretty grossed out - but I've heard there's a lot of gray area when it comes to sex offense charges (i.e., the friend who told me that his neighbor across the street became a registered sex offender after getting caught peeing in public one time, etc.). Can anyone offer some insight into what these charges could mean? [more inside]
Checking Incoming Texts While Abroad With Local SIM
I have an iPhone 6S on AT&T and am a Mac user. I'm headed to Colombia for a week, where I'll use a local SIM. I'd like to check my American phone #'s incoming text messages every few days. What are my options? My contacts are (per normal) a blend of iMessage users and SMS users. [more inside]
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:25 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:25 PM PST - 7 comments
Where can I buy a wallet *just* like this one?
This is my wallet. As you can see, it has this cool folding coin bit that I really like, but it's falling apart now. Where can I find one just like it? [more inside]
A New Career After Teaching?
Hi! I am in my 13th year of elementary school teaching, and have grown very tired of it. I work at a wonderful private school (which means that, in addition to it being wonderful, it is also quite demanding in terms of work load and parent expectations), but I still feel like I don't want to do this any more. But...what *should* I do instead? [more inside]
What do I need to know about incorporating?
I have a part-time freelance thing that I do, in California. At what point do I need to get more formal about incorporating and such? [more inside]
Help with a project!
I'm repainting this brick wall white, and it's in pretty rough shape. I've removed vines and am not really sure what kind of prep I need to do. Here are some photos of the wall. As you can see, some of it is kind of crumbly.. [more inside]
Documentary TV Shows On TV Modarn Day
What are your FAVORITE "Documentary-style" TV shows that aren't reality shows, currently airing in the US? [more inside]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:59 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:59 AM PST - 12 comments
How likely am I to be given an exemption to the ACA penalty?
I did not have health insurance for the last 8 months of last year. How likely am I to be granted an exemption to the penalty I'd normally face when it comes time to file my taxes? [more inside]
sunscreen for indoor outdoor wedding
i'm getting married around 6PM in april. the wedding is supposed to be outside (that's the plan, if we don't get rain). the reception will follow inside and we have the space till midnight. i'm a really pale person and i wear sunscreen every day, but i want to avoid crazy flashback for the indoor photos. should i skip sunscreen for the day? it'll be late, and i doubt i'll get a bad burn. if i do wear sunscreen, does anyone have a recommendation for something that will give me reduced flashback? thank you. : )
posted by mermaiden at 11:31 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by mermaiden at 11:31 AM PST - 12 comments
Integrating a bicycling app with a Fitbit Charge HR?
I have a Fitbit Charge HR. It doesn't do well with cycling, per Fitbit's instructions, so I'd like to connect it to an app like Map My Ride or Strava for my trips on my bicycle. Can this work or should I use something like Microsoft's Band 2 or the Fitbit Surge that has fully integrated GPS and cycling modes? [more inside]
Good storage/travel solution for absurd number of mobile devices?
I have a giant pile of tablets and smartphones for work, and sometimes I have to travel with them to work from remote locations. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for keeping everything better organized and protected? [more inside]
posted by Vibrissa at 11:12 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by Vibrissa at 11:12 AM PST - 10 comments
US warm long weekend destination in February for solo female traveler
I am thinking about taking a solo long weekend vacation sometime in February to get away from the gloomy Pacific Northwest. Usually I would go to LA but I have been thinking of trying something else in SoCal or even elsewhere. Criteria below the fold. [more inside]
posted by matildaben at 11:02 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by matildaben at 11:02 AM PST - 12 comments
I'm addicted to "Buts" - I need help writing better sentences
I constantly overuse this type of sentence: "X, but Y." Here's an example: "I liked the new Star Wars film, but I was disappointed by the absence of Jar Jar Binks." My writing is littered with these types of sentences. I need help mixing it up. How can I reduce these types of sentences? Is it just an issue of restructuring the sentence?
moving is the worst
Have you moved abroad (or even to a new city) and then moved back? How did you deal with your feelings about that? [more inside]
posted by anonymoosemoosemoose at 10:50 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by anonymoosemoosemoose at 10:50 AM PST - 20 comments
Looking for a substitute for this eye shadow
I have been using Femme Couture hazel eye shadow as a liner, and I am really happy with it. The problem is, I don't think they make it anymore, or it's just ridiculously hard to find if they do. I'd like to find another matte, "khaki" green shadow to replace this. [more inside]
Why doesn't UTF-8 include a black frowning face?
UTF-8 includes a white smiling face ☺, a white frowning face ☹, and a black smiling face ☻. However, I haven't been able to find a black frowning face. Why is that? [more inside]
That's what home should be.
Can you help educate me on what a modern home heating system should look like? [more inside]
How to best disguise my thinning lady-hair?
Asking for more aesthetic advise, not medical. My dark brown hair is wavy and about 6 inches past my shoulder blades, and falling out at a rapid pace. Is there a cut or color I should get to help make it look less startling? Or just invest in lots of hats? Or maybe there are hair accessories I can buy that sort of cover up the crown? Advice is most appreciated. [more inside]
posted by Syllables at 9:00 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by Syllables at 9:00 AM PST - 20 comments
Can you recommend a pediatrician in the Twin Cities?
Hi, our favorite pediatrician is moving to a practice out in the far suburbs. We really like her, but it probably makes sense to find someone not so far from where we live. We live in south Minneapolis so someone in the city or a first-ring suburb would be ideal. As a non-doctor, I find it hard to evaluate anyone's medical skills, but we obviously want someone good who also has a rapport with children. We ask lots of questions (we are curious worriers) so a doctor who likes explaining things to parents would be great.
posted by Area Man at 8:57 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by Area Man at 8:57 AM PST - 5 comments
Resources for Agile /Scrum
What are some good resources you have used for implementing Scrum in web development shops? [more inside]
Good comparison sites like The Sweethome/Wirecutter?
I was just wondering if anyone knew of other good comparison sites (the best, runner-up, budget choice, etc) for items in the vein of The Sweethome (house stuff), The Wirecutter (gadget & gizmos), The Nightlight (baby stuff), Ken Rockwell (camera stuff), etc? I'm specifically looking for a tool-centric site, but I'm curious what else is out there as well.
posted by JimBJ9 at 8:52 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by JimBJ9 at 8:52 AM PST - 8 comments
bugs in bed that aren't bedbugs - help?
I'm being bitten once or twice a night when I sleep by something that is not a bedbug. I can't find it, and no amount of washing my bedclothes helps. Advice please. [more inside]
posted by chonus at 8:45 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by chonus at 8:45 AM PST - 19 comments
UK mortgage questions
I've got a slightly complicated question about mortgages in the UK... [more inside]
Couch ID
A coffeehouse near me has a couch I covet. No one there remembers where they got it from, but they think it was a major retailer. It has everything I love in a couch: tufted camelback, rolled arms, bench seat, and exposed legs. Can anyone ID the manufacturer?
posted by megancita at 7:08 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by megancita at 7:08 AM PST - 6 comments
USB Audio Interface for a Mac
I need a USB Audio interface to take my phono pre-amp output into the USB on my iMac. (There is no audio line-in on the iMac.) I have one of the Behringer U202s (don't remember the actual number), but I cannot adjust the input level on the Mac, as it is unsupported on the Behringer. So, I need RCA in, USB out, with level adjustment during recording. I would like to be able to get 24-bit input. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by OmieWise at 7:05 AM PST - 13 comments
posted by OmieWise at 7:05 AM PST - 13 comments
Fitness for someone with hand damage.
I destroyed a finger in a way that is permanent & painful (details inside). I think even partnered dance might be impossible because the way my hand would be held might hurt. While I'm looking for non-partnered dance classes that fit my schedule (way harder than I thought!), are there any other fitness activities I could learn that would result in a skill akin to dance, rock climbing, or martial arts? [more inside]
Would it be irresponsible of me to get a dog?
As my AskMeFi history shows, I have significant mental and physical health challenges, but I am consumed by the idea of getting my own dog. MeFi, please help me decide. [more inside]
posted by xyzzy at 5:28 AM PST - 44 comments
posted by xyzzy at 5:28 AM PST - 44 comments
Should I leave the relationship?
I have been in a relationship for 3.5 years and have currently been told by my partner to have a 'think' about what I want to do. I don't expect you to solve my problems for me but other perspectives might be useful. Apologies as there is a background blizzard which I will try to keep brief. [more inside]
ID this song?
Can any Mefite ID the song in this video by artist and song title? [more inside]
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:40 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 3:40 AM PST - 3 comments
January 18
It's 15°F this morning. Time for oatmeal!
Everyone on Game of Thrones was reminding me, winter is coming.
Now it's here, it's bloody cold out, and I'll actually eat breakfast rather than just shooting down a glass of OJ.
What are some of you're favorite recipes for steel cut oatmeal? I'm not a fan of groats, and the steamed or instant seem like paste. [more inside]
Best website for market research? Difficulty: Australia
I have a couple of market research things I would like to survey segments of the population on, beyond who I know. What survey websites allow you to do this as an independent individual? Addendum: They need to have an option for Australia. (SurveyMonkey is the kind of thing I am looking for, but I'm shopping around in case there's a better option for what I'm doing in particular.)
posted by solarion at 11:41 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by solarion at 11:41 PM PST - 3 comments
Pros and cons of group tours
I'm hoping to spend my next vacation exploring Vietnam. Can you tell me about the pros and cons of taking an organised group tour to somewhere like Vietnam? What do you wish you had known before you went on your first group tour? Would it be safer than travelling alone for a Western woman?
posted by EatMyHat at 11:32 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by EatMyHat at 11:32 PM PST - 10 comments
Where to get the best bagels & lox in Seattle?
East Coast expats miss good bagels & schmear. [more inside]
What's a fun, easy, and creative date around Los Feliz?
I just moved to Los Angeles and want to spend some time with this girl who is a lifelong resident of the city. She lives in Los Feliz, works in TV, and loves TV. Both of us are 34. Hivemind, do you have a good idea?
Overwhelming laundry and when to wash
How many times can/should/do you wear your clothes before you wash them? [more inside]
Name of musician interviewed on NPR recently?
I'm trying to remember the name of a female singer-songwriter who was interviewed on NPR recently (or at least I heard part of the interview a few weeks ago). She played a simple folk guitar style and her Quaker (pretty sure, definitely a philosophical Christian minority sect) faith was part of her writing inspiration. [more inside]
posted by 3urypteris at 8:53 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by 3urypteris at 8:53 PM PST - 3 comments
Successfully turn medical leave into layoff/buyout?
I am currently on medical leave from my job (in Ontario). I don't want to go back. How do I do that? [more inside]
Raptor ID requested
I saw this raptor ripping up its prey right outside my window the other day. I'm pretty sure I've seen it hanging around the neighborhood. Can anyone ID it?
Video is here.
Workshops and classes in cool places
I'm looking for short-term classes and workshops in places that would make good travel destinations. For example, in NYC the Art Students League has weekend workshops (and their month-to-month classes are cheap enough that paying for a month to take a week's worth of class is not unfathomable). And Jalopy has awesome one-day weekend workshops (harmony, ukulele, singing) in Brooklyn. There's Choir!Choir!Choir! in Toronto and PopUp Chorus in Durham. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 7:40 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by bunderful at 7:40 PM PST - 14 comments
How to set up a true "alias" in Gmail
I have my main gmail inbox as mainemail@gmail.com, for example. Then I have a work email that I have added as a user for this account, called workemail@gmail.com. [more inside]
Age, the unknown quantity
According to many others, I look about a decade younger than I am, and this has had the effect of causing me very uncomfortable situations across a lot of contexts. [more inside]
posted by a knot unknown at 5:26 PM PST - 49 comments
posted by a knot unknown at 5:26 PM PST - 49 comments
40's movie, master chess player in prison, makes chess pieces from bread
This is for a friend, who saw this movie on tv as a kid: Chess player in prison, uses scraps of bread to make chess pieces, plays all the time. Upon release from prison, goes into a cafe (?) and seeing the floor made of black and white square tiles, "goes crazy." The End. [more inside]
posted by kestralwing at 5:09 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by kestralwing at 5:09 PM PST - 5 comments
UK pension after working there for 7 years?
I am Swedish and worked in London during 1996-2002. I was just contacted by some dever-group or similar (and will ignore that) but it made me wonder if I DO have a UK pension. How do you know, or check? Is it something I can just cash out? (I will presumably get Swedish pension, and/or, Japanese if I live here long enough).
How do I have the best book reading ever?
My novel has been out since August, and on Wednesday I am doing my first book reading / signing (!!!). It's for a local book club, not at a bookstore, so I will have to handle any sales myself. The person running the program was incredibly casual about everything - enough to make me suspect that if I want this to go well, it's all on me. What should I be ready for? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 3:41 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by Mchelly at 3:41 PM PST - 16 comments
Can we even have a dog?
My wife and I are interested in getting a dog. We sort of thought of it as something we'd ease into, especially since we had heard that adoption can take a little bit of time. We stopped by a nearby animal rescue this weekend just to see what was involved, and met a very sweet, gentle 7-year-old pugle. We were very surprised to be told that the rescue does same-day adoption, and we could potentially take her home that day. I balked a little bit because our apartment isn't really set up for a dog, but we're both first time dog owners, so don't really know what that even means. [more inside]
posted by Ragged Richard at 3:31 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by Ragged Richard at 3:31 PM PST - 16 comments
How does Google search work?
Specifically. autofill. A Gawker commenter noted that searching "David Vitter prostitute" did not auto-fill until the final letter of 'prostitute' had been entered. That seemed odd to me, so I Googled "Eliot Spitzer prostitute" and "Anthony Weiner sex scandal" both auto-filled. Then I tried "Mark Sanford sex scandal" and "Herman Cain sex scandal" -- nether autofilled until the final letter. "David Vitter diaper" also gave no hint of where this story might be going till the final letter.
These search results seem peculiar to me. David Vitter, former Senator and former Governor is surely a high-profile subject than long-forgotten Anthony Weiner or Eliot Spitzer.
So my question is, how does that happen?
Is there any remaining value on my car's extended warranty to cash out?
I bought an extended warranty with my new Honda back in 2007, and the contract expired in 2013. Is there any remaining value to cash out, and how much might I be owed? [more inside]
posted by germdisco at 2:59 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by germdisco at 2:59 PM PST - 5 comments
Concerned about mould
I've had weird allergic symptoms now for a few months. Itchy, watery, irritated eyes. A really runny nose. Occasional headaches. Aches etc. We have no pets nor contact with any pet dander. [more inside]
How to negotiate terms and salary for an editor-in-chief position?
For most of my adult working life, I've been a freelance writer and editor. The economic downturn hit me really hard, and I spent 4-5 years with the majority of my income coming from low-paying jobs outside my field, and I struggled financially. This has caused me some feelings of shame that I'm not "adulting right," and impostor syndrome. But I've been offered a great opportunity. I want to play my cards right. [more inside]
My kingdom for a closet!
I have a small room with no closet, and very little room in which to fit one. Are my ideas for a custom-made wardrobe realistic? [more inside]
Romance and uncertainty part two
I have clarified some of my feelings and done some self-work on this relationship, but I'm having trouble trusting myself and my insights. [more inside]
I want a custom Lenovo W541, probably not from Lenovo directly.
So, Power Notebooks is suddenly out of business and I don't know where else I can get what I want. I worked out a spec for a new custom Lenovo W541 with them. Went to actually order it today, but the company is out of business. Where can I get the notebook I want? [more inside]
Money Tracking
I'm planning a frugal year to try and get ahead of some debts and hopefully generate a bit of savings. In aid of this I'd like to produce monthly reports of income and outgoings. Could you advise me on good software to track spending, input receipts etc. etc. [more inside]
SF YA story id
Trying to identify a book I read in middle school. [more inside]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:29 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by Chrysostom at 11:29 AM PST - 3 comments
Attempting to Buy Property That Isn't For Sale- How To Approach?
I spotted a cool piece of property out on a drive today. It looks to be a building that was originally a single story commercial building that was built in the 1920's in the middle of what is currently a residential neighborhood. The building is abandoned and uninhabitable currently and the windows are all boarded up. The neighborhood is transitional at best- The average home estimate is about $70,000 in city where the mean home price is more like $200,000. It is owned by a guy who is a partner in a design firm, but he has owned the property since 1996 and apparently has not done anything with it so far. The city tax office values the property at $15,000. [more inside]
How to bring up body odor issue to family member?
A family member has rather strong body odor which she might or might not be aware of. How to tactfully bring it up? [more inside]
posted by 7life at 10:55 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by 7life at 10:55 AM PST - 20 comments
Moving to Norristown, PA area -- help me figure this out!
I have an interview in Norristown, PA later this week. I currently live in Oregon. Help me figure out if this would be a good move, and if so, where to live. [more inside]
Cloud-based personal finance program for personal & business?
We're a dual-freelance household looking for a cloud-based budgeting and bookkeeping system that doesn't suck. [more inside]
How much do I tip for valet parking at a hospital?
Basically what it says on the tin. What I can find on Google is all about how much to tip for FREE valet parking at a hospital in the US. But the hospital we're going to has paid valet parking, not free. How much do we tip? [more inside]
posted by kythuen at 10:26 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by kythuen at 10:26 AM PST - 8 comments
Volunteered to add up the votes for my Book Club; No idea how to do it
This year my Book Club decided to vote on the books we'll read all at once instead of month-by-month. There are 17 books choose from in total and I gave each person a sheet with the books in alpha order. I then asked them to order the books by preference – i.e., their first choice is #1, their second #2 etc. [more inside]
posted by Lescha at 10:14 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by Lescha at 10:14 AM PST - 6 comments
How can I know whether someone truly sees something?
I am an anthropologist-in-training who spends time in living with a community with a strong medicine-man institution. The medicine-men claim to see various sorts of spirits, and often in very casual settings, like during walks in the forest or while sitting in the house. They'll say stuff like, "there's one sitting right there. It's red with hair on top." I want to know - is there a scientifically compelling way to investigate whether they actually "see" spirits? [more inside]
Looking for a children's book.
Trying to find a book I read as a child in the late 70s. As I recall, it was about a little alien boy who lived on the moon. [more inside]
posted by Eddie Mars at 8:43 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by Eddie Mars at 8:43 AM PST - 2 comments
Crafting etiquette and intellectual property
It's often possible to look at hand-made items, figure out more or less how they were constructed, and make something similar. What's the consensus about where this crosses the line between inspiration and stealing? [more inside]
posted by zeptoweasel at 8:36 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by zeptoweasel at 8:36 AM PST - 18 comments
Tell me about your / your kids' experiences in weekend language school
We are thinking of enrolling our (half-Japanese) 5yo son in ほしゅうこう, Saturday Japanese school. I understand the pros - he's unlikely to attain any kind of conversational proficiency unless he has a formal impetus. But I'm worried about the cons: stress, anxiety, lots of extra homework, major reduction in family time. I'd love to hear from people who attended weekend language school as a child, or who have enrolled their child in one. Or even religious school, if it had a significant time commitment. Of course every family and every child is different, but I'm interested in hearing a variety of experiences of how it did or didn't work for you. [more inside]
melanosis or melanoma in cats
Please share your experiences dealing with your cat's diagnosis of ocular (eye) melanosis or melanoma. Melanosis is the spreading of eye freckles on the iris, whereas melanoma is a tumor on the iris. These separate conditions can appear similar. Please share how your vet has diagnosed and treated either condition. [more inside]
Contemporary jewellery in Chicago
I want to buy some lovely jewellery in Chicago next week, where should I go to look? [more inside]
posted by theseldomseenkid at 6:32 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by theseldomseenkid at 6:32 AM PST - 11 comments
What's behind the "look" of mid-80s cinematography?
I was recently watching old clips of Labyrinth and was struck by how dingy and washed out the colors all looked. All browns and grays, with a pre-digital fuzziness to everything (but which is nonetheless absent from even older movies). I've noticed this before in other popular movies from around the mid-80s: the New York of Ghosbusters, for example, appears constantly overcast and even sootier than it ever probably was, and the Neverending Story also seems to share the same palette of dark colors and the occasional washed out pastels.
What's behind this "mid-80s" look? Was it the quality of film stock that was used in big budget pictures during those years? Trends in lighting, set design and/or post-production? Or something else entirely?
Windows 10 Filter: What Is App Explorer And Can I Safely Remove It?
I've just recently updated to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 I've encountered App Explorer, and it looks like just a listings of apps I can download. This isn't useful to me, but when I go to uninstall it, I get the message, "WARNING: Are you sure you want to uninstall App Explorer?" So, now I don't know if it's an integral part of Windows 10 or an add-on I can safely remove. If it's the latter, I'd like to declutter. Thanks!
posted by Amy NM at 3:00 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by Amy NM at 3:00 AM PST - 4 comments
Shampoo/conditioner recs for mostly average Asian hair
I'm looking for a new shampoo and conditioner since moving to the Drought State, aka California. Got any recommendations for stick-straight Asian hair that tends toward dry-frizz? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 12:22 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by serelliya at 12:22 AM PST - 11 comments
January 17
Bowie's Modern Love
My husband vaguely remembers a scene in a movie or TV show where a character is singing along to Modern Love while crying. Which movie or tv show was this? [more inside]
posted by amapolaroja at 11:15 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by amapolaroja at 11:15 PM PST - 6 comments
Children's fantasy stories that taught pronunciation
Hi, I'm looking for a set of children's fantasy picturebooks from the 1960s or 1970s, that were designed for educational therapy, specifically to teach children how to correctly pronounce the "R", "Th" and "L". The ones I can remember were: [more inside]
Who will clone my bag?
I found, several years ago, the perfect cotton canvas cross-body bag. I have loved it, literally, to bits. It's falling apart and I would like to have it reproduced out of rather sturdier canvas so that it holds up to the daily abuse I intend to put it through. [more inside]
posted by burntflowers at 9:56 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by burntflowers at 9:56 PM PST - 9 comments
Reset Northridge 2000 gas valve
Looking for a London vegetarian restaurant I once visited
I'm trying to relocate a vegetarian restaurant I used to eat at in London, about 7 years ago. It's located in a trendy shopping district, which was unusual since the food and decor was very casual. The food style is homecooked, specials only, a few each day. You order in the front then take your tray to a seat. Seating had an unusual feature, a small nook in the back for private dining (maybe in an area with lowered ceiling.) Does this restaurant still exist?
posted by nologo at 7:46 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by nologo at 7:46 PM PST - 5 comments
This is the flu that never ends
I have (what I believe to be) the flu, but it will not go away. I know there are numerous causes for this, but I want to know if an existing health condition puts me at greater risk for complications. [more inside]
I have. He has not. What to do?
I own my own home outright. My boyfriend owns little, save for an older vehicle, and some heirloom furniture and general stuff. He has a pre-teen son, bad credit, and student loan debt. He's even still married, but they haven't been together for 10 years, and his ex has been with her partner the entire time. He's had a gf in between that break-up and even that relationship was over years before we met. He's done a lot of soul-searching and soul-work since then. We've been together for almost a year and a half, and he's a good man.
I'm just still... leery about moving in together.
He's a slob, and, 'like father, like son'... so I'd really be taking on a huge project.
Snowflakes inside: [more inside]
posted by itsflyable at 7:27 PM PST - 33 comments
posted by itsflyable at 7:27 PM PST - 33 comments
Inspired by "The Good Gut" - cookbook suggestions?
I just finished "The Good Gut" by Justin and Erica Sonnenburg, researchers of the microbiome at Stanford University. They have some delicious looking recipes at the end of their book, which are all high in microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MACs). I would love a cookbook or website which has more recipes like this. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by onecircleaday at 7:19 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by onecircleaday at 7:19 PM PST - 5 comments
Remarrying after immigration?
Was it typical/usual/done at all for immigrants to the US (20th century, pre-WWI) to marry in the United States even if they had previously married in their country of origin? [more inside]
Good resources on growing a small international business?
An acquaintance is at wits end running a successful small international business. He has a small staff warehousing and shipping retail and wholesale product from overseas. He's the CEO, salesman, accountant, web content manager, etc.. The problems of the day are inventory management, accounting, and assessing tax impacts of various corporate structures. Obviously, many small businesses have gone through this phase and there must be some specific advice on what employee one needs next and which consultants actually help, for example. Are there forums or other resources for people making this sort of business transition?
How do you wish you spent your free time in your 20s?
I'm getting used to the pace of graduate school now, and to my surprise, I actually have a fair deal of free time on the weekends. Currently, I mostly spend it idle at home doing nothing in particular, which doesn't strike me as a good use of this time. One complication is that the free time I have is not always consistent (some weeks I might have some major coursework due) or predictable (deadlines might pop up with little notice), so it's hard to take on any pre-scheduled commitments. With this constraint in mind, I'm still eager to spend this time on learning some new skills, or taking up a new hobby, or anything productive/interesting, really. Mefites of more advanced wisdom: what are things that you wish you had taken the time to do/learn in your 20s?
So if this is too bad to stay... then what?
Last night I read the section on "Power People" in Too Good To Leave, Too Bad To Stay and so much of it resonated with me that I underlined most of the chapter. But I have a young child with my Power Person spouse and am not sure what to do. [more inside]
posted by ABCApplePie at 3:54 PM PST - 36 comments
posted by ABCApplePie at 3:54 PM PST - 36 comments
Help me setup my small business VOIP configuration
Currently we're using Voip.ms for toll-free and auto-attendant, and then Google Voice for call hunting and voicemail/transcription. This works ok, but the Google Voice side of it causes enough frustrations that it might be time to cut that out of the setup entirely.
Here's about how I need the setup to work: Calls come in to our company number. We receive about 50 calls a day (not many). Auto-attendant picks up. Forwards to cellphones and/or softphones, depending on day/time. We have about 6 employees total that answer phones, with 0-2 that might have phone duty at any given time. Ideally, if one phone is busy it either tries another 'online' cellphone/softphone, waits in the queue (optional), or goes back to a central voicemail if no one is available. [more inside]
To be a cider drinker, in Swedish
I'm looking for a good Swedish expression for "Get some cider in you!" or "Drink up your cider!" Something that sounds a little on the rural / folksy side would be best.
Formal Wear for the Big Man
So my lucky, lucky husband has been invited to attend a party being hosted on a yacht in Dubai. He has no idea what to wear. [more inside]
posted by PorcineWithMe at 3:10 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by PorcineWithMe at 3:10 PM PST - 13 comments
How much should I reasonably weather and sacrifice for my dying mother?
How much disruption of my life is OK when it comes to caring for a dying parent? What if I just don't have it in me? [more inside]
Best practices for saving and investing as a Canadian in the US?
Finally paid off all my consumer debt and now saving 30% of my take home. Yay! I've been using YNAB and making my way through Frugalwoods, madFIentist, Mr. Money Mustache, JD Roth... for encouragement and best practices. The catch is that I'm a Canadian living in the US for work and I could be here for 2 years or 20 years+ and I think this complicates the savings matter considerably. [more inside]
posted by gillianr at 2:39 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by gillianr at 2:39 PM PST - 4 comments
Zika outbreak in Caribbean. 4 weeks pregnant. To go or not to go?
We just found out my wife is pregnant (yay!). Our honeymoon is scheduled for 1/31 (cruise out of NYC - 2 weeks). The only two locations on the CDC list on our itinerary are San Juan and Martinique. We could stay on the ship at those ports. [more inside]
Let's play house! In an office!
I'm getting a new office and want to spruce it up! All the suggestions for cool looking office decor is for home offices. Can you help me find some inspiration for design for an office in a boring, typical, corporate office building? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 1:04 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Toddles at 1:04 PM PST - 10 comments
Remembering and having the confidence to reach out to people
It is a longstanding habit of mine to assume I am "bothering" people if I reach out to them by, say, wanting to spend time with them or talk to them (how terrible!) unless we are already interacting for a reason that was not my doing (an activity, work, them coming to me). I am also in the habit of just not reaching out even with the few people I am confident I am not bothering. [more inside]
posted by picardythird at 12:31 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by picardythird at 12:31 PM PST - 11 comments
Anxiety + peer + professor = rough last semester of grad school.
So, a year and a half ago I asked this question. The good news? Almost done with grad school! The bad news? I have to take a class with both the peer and the professor this semester, and my anxiety in full-swing. [more inside]
posted by socktothepuppet at 12:22 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by socktothepuppet at 12:22 PM PST - 12 comments
Where can I get a dress made in Atlanta?
My girlfriend's favorite dress in the world was lost last year. We have pictures of it on her and pictures of it from the manufacturer (no longer in business). Who can we go to to get a dress made in Atlanta? [more inside]
posted by stewiethegreat at 12:03 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by stewiethegreat at 12:03 PM PST - 15 comments
Looking for a criminal record website.
I would like to research a criminal record for a friend. I was planning on going to one of those websites. Are they all scammy or is ok to do so? [more inside]
From Gospel to Rock and Roll
My current project involves a little research into gospel music history, how it influenced rock and other genres, and musicians who crossed over from gospel to rock (like Sam Cooke). Can anyone help me out with any part of that? It would be difficult to acquire a book right now, so online reading is best. Have read some articles but still looking for something substantial.
Viper Remote Car Start - 2016 car - novice question
My questions boils down to: "What hardware do I need for a Viper Remote Smartstart to work with a 2016 Honda Odyssey?"
I don't know much about cars and I'm trying to figure out what the least amount I have to spend to get a car to remote start [more inside]
BookFilter: History of the GOP and Dems
Seeking: a relatively unbiased book (or two, or three) on the history of the Republican and Democratic parties. [more inside]
posted by rebooter at 10:34 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by rebooter at 10:34 AM PST - 9 comments
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
How can I settle feelings of resentment towards someone I can't just boot out of my life? [more inside]
posted by Sara C. at 10:21 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by Sara C. at 10:21 AM PST - 19 comments
Special Interest Housing near the U?
I'm looking for a room to rent in a long term, stable house with an orientation towards social justice and vegetarian living. Is anyone familiar with a house like this in Minneapolis/Saint Paul? [more inside]
posted by ohshenandoah at 9:12 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by ohshenandoah at 9:12 AM PST - 7 comments
Where are the queer podcasts?
I'm looking for interesting, engaging podcasts about queer lives and stories, less news or politics, more art and culture and "This American Life" style tales of life. Also interested in podcasts with queer hosts that might have other focus areas. Failing both of those, specific queer episodes of more general podcasts also welcome. Thanks!
Dinner party main dish advice
Ms. Outfielder and I are having trouble coming up with a main dish for a small dinner party we are hosting. Pescatarian, low-carb. [more inside]
posted by outfielder at 8:38 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by outfielder at 8:38 AM PST - 21 comments
Pelvic weights 101
How do I use my pelvic weights? I got these a few years ago, and I don't use them because I don't really know how. Everything online is so vague! [more inside]
Where to meet other queer women in San Diego?
Where can I go in San Diego to meet other queer women? [more inside]
Calling all Internet super-sleuths... help me find this umbrella base!
Sam's Club used to sell these umbrella bases in-store. I can't find them anymore. I'd love to know the manufacturer so that I could order ten or twenty (even direct from China). However, I'm not only unable to find these bases in-store, but I can't find anything like them anywhere else. Can a Google or manufacturing super-sleuth help me? [more inside]
Hypothyroid or hypochondriac?
Please help me figure out if I'm being a hypochondriac or if there is something physically wrong with me, and how to find out. [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 4:32 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by LoonyLovegood at 4:32 AM PST - 15 comments
Hot-air ballooning in the USA
Suggestions for a hot-air balloon festival in the USA in a picturesque location that might have other things to do with a middle-school and high-school age kid. Also, any tips for a first-time festival goer? [more inside]
posted by youdontmakefriendswithsalad at 3:01 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by youdontmakefriendswithsalad at 3:01 AM PST - 10 comments
Am I hallucinating? Spiders when I wake up in the middle of the night.
A couple weeks ago, I had to spend the night in a hotel (long story) downtown in my large city. The hotel was a big chain, generally quite clean, located only about a 5 minute walk from my apartment. I woke up suddenly, in the middle of the night, around 3 AM, and saw a the shadow of a huge spider on the window. [more inside]
January 16
How do I open this antique lacquered tea chest?
My grandfather purchased this gold-and-black lacquered box decades ago while doing business in east Asia, and now that he's passed away we realize none of us know how to open it. There's a key in the lock but it doesn't seem to unlock the box. Is this possibly a trick box that we have to open some other way? Is there a way to try and pick the lock if it's broken? [more inside]
posted by Lady Li at 11:09 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Lady Li at 11:09 PM PST - 9 comments
Adult dygraphia diagnosis - how to get help?
As a result of this question I realized that I'm probably dysgraphic. What can I do about this as an adult? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 7:48 PM PST - 1 comment
posted by lab.beetle at 7:48 PM PST - 1 comment
I want to buy the car I've been leasing...
... but don't have a ton of experience arm-wrestling dealers. Know any negotiating tactics? Tricks to watch out for? [more inside]
Help me find these modern "Heaven" and "Hell" paintings again
I saw a pair of amazing paintings in San Jose, CA, around 2007. They were called "Heaven" and "Hell", and each showed a very detailed fantasy cityscape on a hill, covered in freeways. [more inside]
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:06 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:06 PM PST - 4 comments
Either I'm losing my mind or I have a poltergeist.
Help me find my Roku remote before I go crazy! I have ransacked my house. Is there any way to make it beep or something using an app or opening up the base and twisting a wire or something? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 6:57 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by silverstatue at 6:57 PM PST - 14 comments
"And, beauty dead, black chaos comes again..."
The passing of the Thin White Duke has me mulling over last works and final days. What other artists made work about the premonition of death? [more inside]
Pulsars and our sun's location
There is an interesting map showing the position of the sun on the golden record cover diagram from Voyager 1 and I would love to find the best-possible-quality version of the map of our sun's location based on 14 pulsars. [more inside]
Do you wanna swap veggies?
'Cause I sometimes have too many, like the bajillion lemons that are once again on their way. [more inside]
What songs can I play on a Little Tykes Piano?
I want to be able to play and sing for my 13 month old. Difficulty level: four key baby piano. [more inside]
posted by Maastrictian at 5:34 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Maastrictian at 5:34 PM PST - 9 comments
Would you want to know?
If you were cheated on in an ugly way, would you want to know that the guy's next relationship (with the person he cheated on you with) also ended up in him cheating on her? Would it give you closure? [more inside]
How to best experience the great outdoors without a driver's license?
I live and work in Blacksburg, Virginia, a good place to live without a car, which I don't own due to primarily budget, but also health/anxiety issues. And that's perfectly fine for city living, but there ain't no bus routes to the Appalachian Trail or to the Cascades waterfall or the dozens of other outdoor places I'd like to visit and hike and explore. What would y'all suggest I do? [more inside]
posted by smooshie at 5:19 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by smooshie at 5:19 PM PST - 12 comments
How can I combat Islamaphobic accusations about use of public space?
Neighbours of family have been alleging bizarre behaviour from "Muslims" and I'm trying to figure out if this is observer bias, cross-cultural misunderstanding, or what? The specific allegations are public defecation in a park (a long narrow park, where the anyone can be seen from the road and the houses on the other side of the road), and use of other people's private property (specifically lawn furniture/patio furniture). The second one I think may be a misunderstanding, but the first one baffles me. More context: [more inside]
2 month long sinus infection won't go away
I got the 3rd ever sinus infection in my life in mid-November. I finally went to a doctor about it in mid-December. I'm now on my third round of antibiotics to deal with it, and it won't go away. Help! [more inside]
Am I wrong for wanting my housemate out?
I live in a shared house with two guys. I’m 28 and the two guys are in their 50’s...in the beginning I was taken back by their ages, but I try not to judge. When I first moved in there he was the only one and he would visit his girlfriend most of the time, so it was only me in the house. The second guy that moved in is a friend of his and deep down I really didn’t want him to move because I just felt something was off about him. You know when something doesn’t sit well with your spirit, but I said yes to him to move in because I didn’t want to offend the housemate that was there before me. [more inside]
What's it like to drive for Uber?
I’m considering driving for Uber in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am curious: If you are or have been a Uber driver, please tell me your experiences -- the good, the bad and the ugly.
If you have been a Uber rider, I’m also curious about your experiences.
Is there an extended arm tool that will help me turn this water knob?
Moved to a new place and all the water appliances had a turned off water valve, so I opened them. Except the washing machine. The valve is in the back and I can't reach it. [more inside]
Should I intervene in my brother's relationship? How?
My brother is behaving in ways that I consider emotionally abusive towards his long-term partner. She's on the cusp of moving across the country to be with him under questionable circumstances. I'm very alarmed by the patterns I'm picking up. What on Earth do I do, if anything? [more inside]
Question about claiming dependents on taxes
After speaking with my stepmom and dad, they and their accountant said that I should be claiming my mom, sister and nieces as dependents. He has been their accountant for a while, but I don't know him and know whether I should trust what he says. [more inside]
Avoiding screens at night
I had a few days where I didn't look at my screens (laptop, smartphone) several hours before bed, and wow-- it made a huge difference in my quality of sleep. I rely on a computer for much of my work, and my smartphone for much of my mindless time-wasting in the evenings. What are some things I can to do change this habit? [more inside]
Can I file a car insurance claim for this type of damage?
My front bumper area underneath the car is all dented and scraped up, I believe because I pulled into my parking spot too far and hit a big rock. (It may have perhaps happened more than once, to be honest. I can't say for sure.) I don't know when this damage occurred exactly and this was just me and a rock, not any other drivers. Could I submit a claim and get this fixed through my insurance? I have to turn my car in and I think my dealer will charge me for this damage, so I'd like to fix it myself beforehand. [more inside]
Walkie talkie substitute
I work in a middle school program that depends on walkie talkies. Most of ours are broken or almost broken and we can't get new ones. I can't believe in this day and age we can't use something else.
I'm thinking iPods to text or FaceTime, but haven't found out whether the school has an available number of them- we'd need about 20.
We need our communication device to be handheld and to communicate right away on the Internet to all members of our team in the building.
Any other ideas besides iPods?
Thanks
Tax return preparation -- how much should it cost?
I have a pretty simple tax situation, and I'm pretty sure that preparing my return isn't difficult. The exact figures differ, but the overall structure is the same every year. Still, I'm phobic about the whole thing and greatly prefer to pay someone to do it for me. The price seems to creep up each year, though, and this year it could be as much as $600, which seems like a lot. I live in NYC, but still. [more inside]
Patent Nude Heels Wishes To Be Silver For One Day
Is there a way to temporarily turn my nude patent heels into silver? [more inside]
posted by driedmango at 11:34 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by driedmango at 11:34 AM PST - 15 comments
The thing that can't replace the thing
What small special experiences or things or brief travels might help in a grieving process (for someone who's already got great emotional and structural support)? [more inside]
I really want to hang out but I'd also like to stay cuddled up in bed..
I'm working on building a more vibrant social life, but I'm going against the grain of my introvert tendencies. It takes a tremendous amount of energy for me to meet and hang out with friends, and I want to have more energy to do this. Help this homebody create the energy to be more social.. [more inside]
posted by Gray Skies at 10:21 AM PST - 22 comments
posted by Gray Skies at 10:21 AM PST - 22 comments
Nonprofit or government job resources Portland OR
Ever had to search for a nonprofit or government job in Portland? What resources did you use? [more inside]
posted by cielgris at 10:20 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by cielgris at 10:20 AM PST - 8 comments
Hack my move
I am downsizing from a 3000 sq ft home to a 1000 sq ft home in a month's time. I need your best tricks for making this less painful and more efficient. How to dispose of valuable objects/furniture I can't bring with me? Order in which to pack? Apps for logging what's in the boxes? Lessons you can share? [more inside]
posted by Dragonness at 10:18 AM PST - 27 comments
posted by Dragonness at 10:18 AM PST - 27 comments
Films that are similar to "All the President's Men" ?
I recent watched and loved All the President's Men. Journalists chasing the truth, 1970's aesthetic, Redford and Hoffman, it had lots of appealing aspects. I then saw and liked (but did not love), Three Days of the Condor. What similar films should I search out ?
Is This Blender Salvageable?
I like my blender. It serves me perfectly well in its role of making daily breakfast smoothies and I have been more than satisfied with it. Now I’ve got a busted part and need help figuring out options. Details below! [more inside]
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 9:45 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 9:45 AM PST - 11 comments
Wedding dress for a tropical leap day maritime elopment?
I'm getting married! We're functionally eloping, but will be having a brief ceremony on board a very small ship in the tropics. Woo! So, what should I wear? [more inside]
I'm in Nepal and my Umpqua ATM card stopped working
I am preparing to depart Nepal, and need to pay several hundred dollars for some different things. Umpqua bank has chosen this time to stop allowing me access to my account. [more inside]
errand router app for my special special wants
For years I've been wanting an app that will do these things:
1. Allow me to plan a shortest route between errands, and
2. not require me to tell it exactly where I want to do the errand, but be able to use categories as well as specifics.
3. be very easy to use on a iPhone 5s.
4. also estimate travel time between spots.
Does my thing exist? Examples inside - thanks! [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:23 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:23 AM PST - 3 comments
Preventing ear infections in a toddler
Is there anything I can do to prevent my toddler's colds from turning into ear infections? [more inside]
posted by john_snow at 7:37 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by john_snow at 7:37 AM PST - 15 comments
Surprise!!! Coordination.
Any bright ideas for getting someone to their own surprise party? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 6:31 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by geegollygosh at 6:31 AM PST - 16 comments
Facebook name check! Journalist/sex worker! Who should I email at FB?
I've been Facebook name checked, and I don't want to use my legal name - my Facebook name (shown on my profile) is my authentic name. I understand that public figures can contact someone at Facebook with clips and screenshots showing use of the name, and get to keep their authentic name. Who at FB is the best person to contact? [more inside]
I think I might know more about American Dad! than any human alive
Is there a better "lots of niche topics" trivia app than QuizUp available for iPhone? I'm getting frustrated with how shallow the question pool is on some topics on QuizUp but love the gameplay and a lot of the ranking and social aspects to it. Is there any better app for this?
I think I'm doing initial dating-site contacts wrong
I've been finding dating online frustrating. Everyone finds dating online frustrating. However - for me (as a guy contacting women), I seem to be doing especially badly at writing initial messages that lead to women responding, or even viewing my profile. What are those supposed to look like, anyway? [more inside]
I quit my old life in search of a new one. Now one is emerging...
Last year my wife and I jacked in our jobs, sold our apartment and travelled the country for a while. We were expecting to refine our ideas as to what we would do next, but instead - we found out we were having a baby. Cut to now and we realised we had to cut our trip short, came back to my folks place 'temporarily' and the baby has just been born. We're all consumed by the baby and ecstatic that he is here, but we're now worried about what we do next. An opportunity has presented itself that could be really interesting for us, but doesn't pay and is a leap into the unknown. We don't know what to do. More inside... [more inside]
Die on my hill? Change my attitude? Help with non-profit woes
Help me decide when it is ok to be obstinate and disagreeable, and if that is the right route for me. I work for an incredibly small non-profit and it’s driving me crazy. They hired me to make changes and it feels like most everything I do is wrong and re-rationalized back into the “old way” of doing things. I want to get shit done! However, I have a history of agreeing to all suggestions from authority figures, and don’t want to get fired for doing something The Board [my supervisors] disagrees with. [more inside]
Anyone know of a replacement for Pulse (news app) on Android?
The new version is very different, all the recommendations I've found just don't work the way I like...various RSS readers mostly. Looking for something that has minimal tapping and swiping while being headline and source dense. The old version was a big grid.
There was a similar question last year here but it was for iOS.
January 15
Billboard album charts for the 1960s
I would like to see the weekly Billboard album charts for the period 1965-1969. Is this data available online? [more inside]
Things to do with a 6-year-old in Auckland
I have a couple of days to hang with my awesome 6-year-old nephew in Auckland, NZ. What should we do and where should we go? [more inside]
posted by embrangled at 11:13 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by embrangled at 11:13 PM PST - 9 comments
Bidding on a house in a seller's market
I'm contemplating offering to buy a house in a seller's market. I know there is at least one other offer being placed sometime soon. What's a good strategy? [more inside]
How do I care for someone with cancer?
My SO has a large tumour we're expecting to learn is cancer. Chances of it being benign are small. Assuming surgery/chemo - how do I care for him, both physically and emotionally? We also have a 1yr old - how might he be impacted? What can I do to prepare for treatment? How can I prepare our home?
I have never dealt with a major illness before.
Thank you
Getting from Millbrae to Palo Alto before Caltrain is running
I don't have a car. I need to get to Palo Alto from the East Bay by 8:30 in the morning on a Saturday. I would prefer not to ride buses and trains for four hours. What should I do? [more inside]
Amazon Prime question
I feel silly, but I can't seem to find an answer to this. I'm currently in a free trial for Prime for another week or so. We were probably going to cancel it, but there is a weekend offer that knocks a few bucks off the price and I'm reconsidering. However, as I'm already in the free trial, is there any way to get the lower price?
posted by PussKillian at 6:45 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by PussKillian at 6:45 PM PST - 5 comments
Montreal Trip -- How to maximize exchange rate value?
We are planning a vacation in September of this year and noticed that the Canadian dollar is forecasted to drop as low as ~.55 USD. What is the best way to capitalize on the exchange rate favorably (as US citizens) and how long should we wait/watch the rates to get reservations? [more inside]
Last minute insurance question - deadline is tonight
How do you select a plan when you aren't working now, therefore eligible for Medicaid, but expect to be working in the next few months and will make too much money for Medicaid? (Asking for my adult daughter, who is in Illinois.)
Concerns over stopping Wellbutrin treatment
Hello- I've been on it for the past 8.5 years, currently on generic version of 300XL. Started treatment to successfully help me recover major depressive/traumatic events which are now long past, and I don't want to be on meds forever. That being said, after all this time, I am reluctant to go through the weaning process. You are not my MD, and I understand that everyone's chemistry is different. I would really appreciate hearing about any experience of stopping this or similar anti-depressants, and any suggestions for coping and support. Thank you!
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 4:11 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 4:11 PM PST - 24 comments
Books Like The Martian for my 14 year old
I have a son who has struggled to find books that he likes. Over the holiday break he picked up The Martian by Andy Weir and devoured it! What other books have the same feel? [more inside]
I don't need a *really* smart watch, just a kinda smart watch...
So, I joined a gym and intend to go there to lift heavy things, become strong and vanquish my enemies, as one does. I'm looking for a relatively cheap (under $100), small/non-cumbersome (e.g. not my smartphone) way to both blast sweet tunes and time myself holding lunges, etc. (OH GOD WALL SITS WHY ARE YOU SO TERRIBLE). [more inside]
Best majors for international students in terms of job prospects?
Majoring in economics(with one or two finance courses thrown in it) at a prestigious(i.e. Ivy League, top 20) university, where finance/accounting majors are not offered
OR
Business/accounting/finance majors in 2nd tier(i.e. top50~top100) universities
which is more likely to land you a job in say wall street or good firms?
p.s. I chose the former(econ major at ivy) instead of a mid-tier business college(NYU stern, berkeley haas etc), chose to come back to my home country(I frankly failed in securing any high-paying job in the US and decided not to try to get jobs for very long), and then am now thinking about doing an MBA or DBA(doctor of business admin) to move out of my country again.
Can I teach myself to cross country ski?
I didn't do any prep for my weekend at Lake Tahoe. I had planned to do a cross country lesson while my daughter does a snowboard lesson, but somehow I misunderstood and the place where I reserved her lesson doesn't offer cross country lessons. [more inside]
Dashboard webapp that will play nicely with an RDS postgres
I'm looking for the simplest, cleanest way to run a webapp that can securely run queries off my postgres RDS instance, and serve dashboards to a browser using the results of those queries via a google-authenticated webapp. This data is sensitive so it should be self-hosted, or otherwise extremely secure. We are not going to put any data elsewhere. Any suggestions? [more inside]
Looking for people who sold their soul to the Devil
So I'm starting research on a new project that involves people who supposedly sold their soul to the Devil for something Robert Johnson style. Unfortunately all the searching I'm doing is pointing to him. Help me find the early deals, the famous ones besides RJ and the most recent soul sales attributed to old Scratch.
English to Korean with no weird google translate faux pas
Can someone who speaks Korean help me translate a short statement to English pronunciation, hopefully resulting in smiles and good feelings for all? [more inside]
Clearing one inch of snow?
Hi Mefi! I've just moved to Boston. This is my first winter with snow so it's still kind of novel to me. I have some questions on whether I really need to pull out the snowblower. [more inside]
Best balance of quality and cost in current crop of TVs
I last bought a new TV fifteen years ago (an excellent Sony that has aged very well, but is SD and increasingly obsolete). We've decided it's time for us to step up to the 21st century. I'm finding myself overwhelmed by the array of brands and models of current flat screen HD tvs. I understand the basics (plasma is out, LED is basic, OLED and 4K are the hot new standards), but I am wondering what people's recommendations for best mid-range (under $750) tv makes and models are. Should I count on using a set's built-in smart features, or should we be looking to save a bit on a non-smart model, and buy a Roku? Also, are there special considerations for setting up and calibrating current TVs to get a decent picture?
posted by aught at 12:23 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by aught at 12:23 PM PST - 29 comments
What is it? Identify the object.
What is it? Identify the object. It is heavy for its size (2 lb), the housing is metal, the handle is wood, it has a SPST switch that makes a satisfying thunk and the electric motor runs and turns a threaded jawn inside the chrome nozzle-y looking thing. Marked Kenmore cat no 559 8392.
Pics
posted by fixedgear at 11:50 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by fixedgear at 11:50 AM PST - 5 comments
Do you know a great custom jewelry maker in the Bay Area/anywhere?
Do you know jewelry makers who would make a ring to exactly match my wishes? [more inside]
posted by namesarehard at 11:45 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by namesarehard at 11:45 AM PST - 10 comments
What is the Source of this Comic Panel?
Where does this comic panel come from? [more inside]
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:44 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:44 AM PST - 4 comments
Should I set up a separate Amazon account for my kids' Kindle Fire?
or share my account with them? [more inside]
What does this text towards the nose of Korean Air planes mean?
Been flying in and out of Seoul a lot recently, noticed some interesting hangul written towards the noses of Korean Air jets that I can't quite decipher... [more inside]
How to care for the leather upper on Sorel Boots?
I inherited a pair of Sorel Boots (the old kind, from when they were still made in Canada!). The leather upper is dry and I would like to clean/condition them before wearing them out in the snow. Hoping someone can advise on what they need right now in terms of care and then going forward. Photo 1. Photo 2.
posted by mlis at 11:06 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by mlis at 11:06 AM PST - 9 comments
How can I insulate my window air conditioner against the cold?
The sides are essentially open to the elements and I'm looking for a way to cover them up. [more inside]
Balancing a relationship and making friends?
Many of my friends have moved away and several 'groups' that I belonged to have now dispersed. How do I stop feeling like a loser and comparing myself to my boyfriend who has more groups of friends, and build my friendship group into something more cohesive? Plus - I have a number of closer, individual friends who have always been my priority over joining groups where this has been the opportunity. Do I need to just find the right group and make a concerted effort to join them? That feels a little strange at 31! [more inside]
Name That Satyr!
I'm trying to figure out the name/artist of the painting which appears as a backdrop in this National Theatre Live poster for Les Liaisons Dangeureuses. Anyone?
posted by mykescipark at 10:31 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by mykescipark at 10:31 AM PST - 3 comments
Mini-ITX Linux PC For Work (Parts from UK)
Please can you help me spec out a PC? I have a Silverstone Mini-ITX case that I would like to re-use, with a 450W power supply. I'd like 32-64GB memory and a decent processor (although the case doesn't have room for much in the way of a cooling fan). The board must have whatever PCI slot is necessary for a (small) Nvidia graphics board (which is for both display and GPU programming). [more inside]
posted by andrewcooke at 10:06 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by andrewcooke at 10:06 AM PST - 9 comments
Outlook: one person, many convos, getting in the way of everything else
Is there a way to set a rule in Outlook that will deliver all conversations involving a particular person, into a set folder? [more inside]
moving debt around on credit cards
I have 3 credit cards and am trying to determine the best decision to arrange my funds to accumulate minimum interest. Bringing up my so-so credit score would be a bonus. [more inside]
Stop a cycle that technically isn't a cycle yet?
How to foster a household that is devoid of physical violence, including threats of violence? [more inside]
Will covering myself in bacteria keep me safe from fungus?
I have some chronic patches of ringworm and seem to get new patches very easily. I have been treated multiple times by doctors with creams and one six-week course of oral antifungals. I wrestle, play in the dirt, and pet dogs, so I will continue to get exposed. Will ammonia oxidizing bacteria help? [more inside]
No sense of belonging
For as long as I can remember, I have not had a sense of belonging. I don't mean that I can't make friends or establish social networks; I don't have a problem with that, though I'm shy. But I never really feel like part of a group. Why do I feel this way, and how do I change this? [more inside]
posted by thetortoise at 9:20 AM PST - 24 comments
posted by thetortoise at 9:20 AM PST - 24 comments
Help me navigate the sea of available Purchase Order apps
Looking for a simple (cheapish) purchase order app to verify employee purchases and notate what job it is for. [more inside]
Fat gentlemen of Chicago where do you shop?
I got a desk job last year and with it came about 30lbs and I've gone from just being tall to being big and tall. I'm gathering momentum for working out but I need to dress the body I have right now. [more inside]
posted by Uncle at 9:01 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by Uncle at 9:01 AM PST - 6 comments
Moving from Alabama to Washington: help with details!
I recently accepted a job with a company (no, not THAT company) based in Redmond, Washington. I'm excited! That being said, I've not lived anywhere outside of Alabama in my entire life. Please help me prepare for this move! [more inside]
Small business social networks
Where do small business owners ask for advice online? I know many use Linkedin groups. What are some of the more popular social networks for "mom and pop" business owners to ask for advice and to share?
Many thanks,
Zach
Favorite high protein / low carb / low fat foods?
This cheese was one of my favorite snacks to help me lose weight during my last push. What high protein/low carb/low fat foods do you love? [more inside]
posted by glaucon at 7:45 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by glaucon at 7:45 AM PST - 16 comments
My sister is dating the best friend of the teacher who abused her
My older sister was sexually abused by a teacher at our high school more than twenty years ago. She acted out a lot sexually as a teenager after that and briefly married a different teacher immediately after graduation. She divorced the second teacher and spent some time dating the first teacher, but then she married someone else and moved across the country.
She has recently moved back, and has started dating a man who was, according to another family member, best friends with the first teacher. [more inside]
Feel unhappy...what do I do next?
I’m in a low point because I know I am unhappy, but I feel paralyzed with indecision about what to do with my life. [more inside]
Is there any way to appeal health insurance denial from exclusion?
I have pretty significant chronic pain. One strategy my doctor suggested to deal with the pain was to get a breast reduction as a way of managing pain from a thoracic herniation. I was denied because it's a policy exclusion. But special snowflake details. [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:11 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:11 AM PST - 15 comments
Best 2016 IPhone photo backup
Looking for the most reliable and easy to use automatic photo/video backup solution for iPhone. Contenders include Dropbox, Amazon, Flickr, icloud, Google, and probably others. We take tons of photos of the kidlet, and want to ensure they're backed up somewhere between syncing to the computer. Bonus points for a solution that can easily be imported to iPhoto for wife and Lightroom for me. [more inside]
Recommend hiking pants available in larger size
I'm a guy whose waist is in the 46" range and I've found that most hiking pants that people have suggested in other posts don't go up that large. Just wondering if anyone can recommend some pants that would work well for hiking that are available in larger sizes. I'm in Ontario, Canada, so I'd prefer something that was available in Canada.
Tax my stupidity: How do I bet on the Oscars?
I live in the UK, where it's legal to bet on the Academy Awards, and I'd like to have a little flutter this year. Help me lose my money! [more inside]
24 hours solo in Palma de Mallorca
Any reccomendations for a solo traveller spending 24 hours in Palma, Mallorca in January? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 3:54 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by iamsuper at 3:54 AM PST - 2 comments
Trying to recall an obscure audio ios app involving cartoon characters
I just remembered an iPhone app I had that had different audio 'games' that could be downloaded. Very cartoony with weird characters. Often times involving live audio processing via a microphone (At the time I bought a chord that enabled me to input any other instruments/sound devices into 1/8" jack). [more inside]
UK - how to digitise large number of photo negatives?
I have a huge number of negatives from my days using a film camera. I would like to get them converted to digital files. Is there anywhere in the UK, ideally London or mail-order, where I can get this done, and how much is it likely to cost? I would rather pay someone else to do it than, for example, buying myself a photo scanner - although I do have a standard scanner I don't think this can be used to scan negatives in this way.
January 14
Practical Plague Prophylaxis
I've been home looking after my wife today who had one of those 1-day vomiting illnesses. My toddler who seemed ok today just vomited all over me. Help me to not get sick too! [more inside]
posted by Joe Chip at 9:54 PM PST - 12 comments
posted by Joe Chip at 9:54 PM PST - 12 comments
What to see in Portland after being gone 15 years?
I last lived in Portland, Or in about 1999. I have very fond memories of the place. Soon I'm going to be visiting to see some old friends and check out how the city has changed.
What are the current "do not misses" in the city and what are good things to check out to see how much things have changed?
Floor me?
I'm trying to make our TEEENY TIIIINY kitchen very awesome. the floor is a rectangle, about 7'x3' wide. I want to make a custom vinyl floor out of a banner, then use vinyl adhesive to stick it to the existing terrible vinyl flooring, then protect it with some sort of varnish. Can I do this? Is it an awful idea? Could it be cool or will it just be a huge disaster? What should I do instead - think small budget for a small kitchen. [more inside]
Whose stuff is better?
How would today's cheap, ubiquitous goods (i.e. clothes, shoes, furniture, housewares, miscellaneous equipment, housing, possibly food products) compare to the finest goods available to pre-modern ruling classes? [more inside]
401k rollover turned into a fumble.
I did not get all of the proper rollover documentation to the new bank within the 60 day window for processing a rollover (I filled out the form incorrectly). The new bank rejected the funds from the old bank, but the account was already closed at the old bank. This is where the trouble begins. [more inside]
posted by mrcrow at 7:19 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by mrcrow at 7:19 PM PST - 6 comments
"Lucky" in Spanish as an animal's name
I'm writing a short story in which one of the characters has a cat named Lucky. For contextual reasons, it would make sense if the cat was named Lucky in Spanish. I know the Spanish word for "lucky" is "afortunada", but would this make sense as a pet's name? Do people in Spanish-speaking countries name their animals Lucky, and if so, would those animals be named Afortunada or another word?
I need good full-day speakers/trainers on autism spectrum disorders
Part of my job is to bring speakers/trainers on ASD to Montana. I am looking for new presenters. Our primary audience is special education teachers, paraeducators and speech-language pathologists.
So who would you suggest as a good presenter/trainer? [more inside]
Franch language television suitable for binge watching?
Just finished binge watching all of Young Montalbano and Detective Montalbano. Great stuff. What I would like to find is something equally binge worthy, but in French. Genre not important, just engaging characters and/or stories. DVD by preference. [more inside]
posted by BWA at 6:33 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by BWA at 6:33 PM PST - 20 comments
Ridiculously cheap, indispensable DIY books?
What gems of the DIY literature are out there for next to nothing? [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 5:34 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by ryanshepard at 5:34 PM PST - 6 comments
Where is the powdered tomato soup?
Does anyone know of grocery stores around New York that carry
Tomato Powder
and/or
Knorr Chicken Tomato Bouillon Powder
or equivalent items. [more inside]
posted by hexatron at 5:33 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by hexatron at 5:33 PM PST - 4 comments
In which NYC diner did they shoot this scene for "Shades of Blue"?
I'm hoping to identify the diner in this screengrab from the pilot for "Shades of Blue" [more inside]
posted by chudmonkey at 5:29 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by chudmonkey at 5:29 PM PST - 6 comments
Cover me, bro!
I have been pretty sad about David Bowie's recent death return to his home planet. But then I listened to this gorgeous cover of Life on Mars by Sarah Blasko, and I felt better.
So, gentle mefites, can you give me your favourite David Bowie covers?
Fear of pregnancy
I'm interested in hearing from women who had (or have?) an intense terror of pregnancy and childbirth, but decided to get pregnant anyway. How did you cope with this fear? [more inside]
posted by a strong female character at 5:19 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by a strong female character at 5:19 PM PST - 16 comments
It is a wonderful day in the neighborhood: Minneapolis St Paul
Planning to move to Minneapolis St Paul and would rather pick the best neighborhoods to look into from afar (snowflakes inside) and would also like to figure out the transportation system so that I still be car free if possible. [more inside]
posted by Wolfster at 4:43 PM PST - 40 comments
posted by Wolfster at 4:43 PM PST - 40 comments
Teeth extraction woes
My boyfriend is getting 7 teeth extracted tomorrow and a temporary denture placed at the same time. He's afraid of the dentist and had been a real champ about getting this set up, but now he's completely freaking out. He seems to think they will only be giving him novacaine shots and no pain medication. I don't know enough about this procedure to give him guidance. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 4:31 PM PST - 23 comments
posted by pintapicasso at 4:31 PM PST - 23 comments
Small laser printer good for envelopes and duplex printing?
What should replace my old Brother HL2270DW printer? Is there something with a similarly small footprint, but that is better at handling envelopes, and faster at duplex printing? [more inside]
Remote to a remote
Can I "easily" log into someones computer from os x 10.11 to os x 10.6.8? [more inside]
How to make these good feelings last....forever
Feeling a breakthrough in my depression. Damn, this feels good. I’m getting more actively engaged with life, and I feel happy about myself. To be honest, I don’t remember feeling this good. But there’s this underlying fear – how do I make it last? And how do I avoid the destructive thought patterns that got me here in the first place, especially during times that’ll inevitably be harder than being 23 with very little responsibility? [more inside]
posted by rhythm_queen at 4:00 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by rhythm_queen at 4:00 PM PST - 10 comments
Basically I'm Goldilocks?
Book Recommendation Filter: Looking for urban fantasy or "modern world" sci-fi (not horror) told in third person and doesn't try to sell me on vampire protagonists. This is turning out to be a surprisingly difficult itch to scratch. Help? [more inside]
Please help me make sense of an unusual debit card theft
My debit card was stolen. Normally this would be a no-big-deal, happens-all-the-time kind of situation, but this particular card had never left the house and seems to have been stolen from the kitchen table. Please help me decide what to do. [more inside]
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 3:03 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 3:03 PM PST - 21 comments
Is there a word for this?
Is there a word for when you hear someone say something in the background or when you're not paying attention and you don't process it immediately, but recognize the word a few seconds later from the pattern of pronunciation? I suppose sort of like hearing someone say your name without actually hearing them say your name. [more inside]
I'm going to Cadillac, MI, and need to use the internet.
I'm going to Cadillac, MI on a Friday through Monday "vacation" (that is, I'll need to work while I'm there). I'll probably need 16-24 hours of ~1.5 mbps or faster internet over the four day period, on my own laptop.
I'm fairly sure that our Airbnb-type accommodations don't have an internet connection/WiFi. Tethered mobile data probably won't be an option. Where can I go to use the internet for several hours at a time? I don't mind paying for it or purchasing something so I can use it.
posted by pullayup at 2:55 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by pullayup at 2:55 PM PST - 9 comments
Like Yosemite, but dog-friendly
I'd like to go on vacation in August somewhere that's similar to Yosemite (Sierra, wilderness, gorgeous). But! I'd like to bring my dog (as well as my husband and 4.5-year-old child). I'm not taking my dog to Yosemite. Also, no camping. [more inside]
What is this key for?
I found this key outside my band's practice space last night. We were hoping to get some clues as to what this key is for so we could attempt to return it to the owner, but we're all totally unfamiliar with the symbol. Anyone got any ideas?
If it matters, this was found in an alley in Baltimore, MD.
posted by capnsue at 1:58 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by capnsue at 1:58 PM PST - 3 comments
happiest hours
seeking LA bars at least somewhat conducive for early-evening write-togethers with author pals! [more inside]
He knows all my secret answers
How do you shield yourself from someone tampering with your vendor/service accounts who is able to get past the security gates designed to protect you? [more inside]
posted by TestamentToGrace at 1:49 PM PST - 58 comments
posted by TestamentToGrace at 1:49 PM PST - 58 comments
Engagement and marriage alternatives to a ring/jewelry
Engagement/marriage discussion is growing more serious. Neither of us (male/female) like wearing jewelry. Moreover, the cost of an engagement ring bothers me. What alternatives exist? [more inside]
What Research is There on Technology, Communication, and Empathy?
I've been thinking a lot about empathy and the way we communicate on the Internet. What research, studies, books, articles, etc. should I be reading? Special snowflake requirements: I studied Psych 101, so it's gotta be on my damn fool BA in English level of understanding.
posted by SansPoint at 12:31 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by SansPoint at 12:31 PM PST - 5 comments
[Pregnancy Filter]Did you/your partner deliver early? Baby measured big?
Help ease the mind of this mama. When I went to the maternal fetal specialist two weeks ago at 33 weeks, my baby was measuring four weeks ahead for the head and stomach - in the 99th percentile. I am 35 weeks and extremely large and uncomfortable. Your experience and anecdata appreciated - did you have a big baby and did you deliver early? How did you get through the last weeks of pregnancy with a large baby? [more inside]
Too many bay leaves, man
I was good at remembering that we ran out of bay leaves. Unfortunately, I was also good at forgetting that I had already bought them. Is there a good way to use a lot of bay leaves? [more inside]
posted by grateful at 12:08 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by grateful at 12:08 PM PST - 18 comments
Job prospects for a female auto mechanic?
I'm currently an apprentice at an auto repair shop and considering my options for working in this field long-term. Wondering about hourly pay, work culture, best way to get training, etc. [more inside]
Like Powerball, but less fun
Is there a way we can calculate our chances of getting into a given school in the Boston Public Schools lottery? [more inside]
Air BNB and New Orleans - just how creepy is it?
Married couple, 30 years old, Florida. First extended trip together (5 nights?), as a couple, since our honeymoon 9 years ago. We are looking for a place to stay in New Orleans that is both nice, charming, with the New Orleans feel - and more on the affordable side. (less than $150/160 a night) [more inside]
Photos of products from the '80s
I'm looking for resources for photos of toys, beauty products and clothing from the 1980s that I can publish on a large content site, free of charge. [more inside]
Why did these weird sketchy people buy my website?
A while ago, I sold a site to some bizarre sketchy people. I've never been able to understand why they bought it, since they removed all the monetization from the site. Can you help me figure it out? [more inside]
Bedroom music recording
iTunes, iPhone and sharing non-purchased Music
Hope someone can help - I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.
I have my music library shared with my wife's mac. I would like to put some of these albums on her iPhone, but iTunes/Family Sharing won't let me- it only works with iTunes-store-purchased music.
Is there any way to share my own CD collection that I have in my iTunes with my wife's iPhone, without deleting what she already has on hers?
Thanks!
Should I buy the Clone Wars DVDs for my wife?
SHORT VERSION:
What exactly is the revised canon scope with regard to Clone Wars material? The first series only, both series (and films), or what?
Will either of us enjoy it? On prior casual viewing nether show held our attention.
Can I hire a Darth Vader birthday-gram service in Seattle?
Longwinded stuff below. [more inside]
posted by mwhybark at 10:02 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by mwhybark at 10:02 AM PST - 10 comments
I would like to learn old-school cursive. Please advise.
My handwriting is artistic but illegible. I'd like to learn plain old cursive, which I think means the Palmer method. What's the best way to go about doing that? [more inside]
in service of ritual
What are some good examples of ritualized service? [more inside]
posted by divabat at 9:10 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by divabat at 9:10 AM PST - 17 comments
My mother is dying and I live 3500 miles away
This is my first experience with the death of a close family member. I feel a million things and it's all complicated being so far away and I don't know what to do. Snowflake details inside [more inside]
Can I password protect a single dropbox folder?
I have a Dropbox account that syncs to my work computer. It has a personnel folder. Occasionally, work staff need access to my laptop, like install programs. How can I give these tech-savvy staffers access to admin-level privileges on this machine while securing the personnel subfolder? In my ideal solution, they could log in under my username and access most Dropbox files, but they (or I or anyone) accessing the personnel folder would have to enter a password. Is this possible?
How do I deal with working from home?
I started a new job working from home 4 months ago. I'm also single and relatively new to the city I live in, without much of a social circle or local support network, and am finding the social isolation to be a bit much. What are some things I can do to cope/feel better? [more inside]
posted by Automocar at 8:52 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by Automocar at 8:52 AM PST - 16 comments
Programmable drum machine/metronome
I am looking for a good programmable metronome or drum machine or a sampler/sequencer for Android OS. [more inside]
The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Pint-Sized Presses
I have my fourth novel coming out as an author. As with the others before it, it is being published through a small press. What is the line between what comes with the territory of having a small outfit and what is unacceptable? Too many details inside, mushy-grimy snowflakes. [more inside]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:34 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:34 AM PST - 5 comments
Options for safely reducing female libido?
What are the options (besides antidepressants) a woman has to safely reduce her libido? [more inside]
Help protecting my niece after coming out to her parents
I'm gay and my husband and I are concerned about the safety of our 13-year-old niece who is in a relationship with another girl. My husband's brother and sister-in-law have reacted very poorly to learning about this. What we can do for his niece? [more inside]
Where to get a great, used, inexpensive Oriental rug in NYC?
I would like a large rug in a specific color scheme (either robin's egg blue or Cherokee red or both) and I think I'd like to get a used Oriental rug. Where in NYC can I look at the largest possible selection of rugs? [more inside]
We didn't start the seven-day week cycle
Why is today Thursday, rather than tomorrow or yesterday? I'm not asking why we have a seven day week; I'm asking whether we know how this specific cycle of seven days got started off. And, has it ever been interrupted?
Photographer recommendations for an author photo?
I am need of a professional-looking author photo! I haven't been professionally photographed since my wedding and I have no idea where to even start. I live in NYC and am more than happy to pay someone a reasonable rate, but I'm also not rolling in cash. Any recommendations for people I should look into? Any advice for how to best approach this process? [more inside]
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:13 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:13 AM PST - 6 comments
Real Time Stock Market News?
Could anyone recommend a good site for real time stock market news? Immediate news, if possible. Today the market started out down, then turned around and is heading up like gangbusters. I'd like to find the news that precipitated that turnaround.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:59 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:59 AM PST - 7 comments
Should I repair and sell or scrap/donate my old car?
I have a 2002 Ford Taurus station wagon with 170,000 miles. The other day the starter died, and it should cost anywhere from 200-300 dollars to fix it. If I scrap it, I'll get 100 bucks. Should I take it to a mechanic, have them repair it, then sell it? Or donate it? [more inside]
How do I handle this "medium"?
My brother died a little over a month ago. My mom recently went to see a medium who said my brother confirmed something I know to be false. It greatly upsets me that this woman is exploiting my brother('s death) and my mother('s emotional vulnerability). Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by blackzinfandel at 7:31 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by blackzinfandel at 7:31 AM PST - 21 comments
How can I make my desk job interesting for a 13 year old?
I have an engineering job at what is basically a software company and my 13 year old nephew wants to select me for a school-assigned job shadow day. I mostly do tech support and write code, and the coolest tech at the office is our coffee maker. I'd like to help him out (and encourage his interest in engineering); has anyone done this - any tips for making a full day interesting for him? Thanks!
posted by ftm at 6:34 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by ftm at 6:34 AM PST - 10 comments
Can’t use my hands and bored out of my brain.
Due to a medical issue (I am undergoing treatment) I’m suffering a lot of pain in my joints - especially my hands, and especially bad after intricate repetitive things like typing (my partner is writing this up for me). Unfortunately this rules out a lot of things I like to do and I need some more options to fill in the day. [more inside]
January 13
How do I JordanCon?
I am travelling to meet my favorite science fiction author at a convention, but I haven't done this before. What do? [more inside]
Will my NY medicaid work in LA, since expansion?
I am going back to New Orleans for next month. Since medicaid was just expanded in Louisiana, in the event of a health emergency, will my NY state medicaid work down there?
Looking for help identifying a life simulator game from a few years back
It consisted of a large circle on the main screen with different "life forms" represented by colored blocks that would interact with each other. IIRC there were green blocks that represented food. It wasn't a Conway, blocks would actually move across the "world" and interact with other blocks.
Need app: Picture-A-Day on iPhone made into a video?
I'm looking for an app, or some other method, to take a daily picture of the same area of our yard on my iPhone to eventually turn into a video. The goal is to look at a video of how the yard changes on a daily basis over an extended period of time. [more inside]
posted by Rad_Boy at 7:50 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Rad_Boy at 7:50 PM PST - 7 comments
Slow home server diagnosis.
Why is there a difference in performance between loading my home wiki directly and loading it via an ssh tunnel? [more inside]
posted by pompomtom at 7:46 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by pompomtom at 7:46 PM PST - 10 comments
muscle memory, don't send me to people.com again
I absolutely hate that on instinct i go to people, entertainment weekly, and e online multiple times a day.
please help me drop the gossip and find more productive ways to waste my time. [more inside]
posted by ovenmitt at 7:08 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by ovenmitt at 7:08 PM PST - 18 comments
Parent has cancer and I need help dealing
Parent has just been diagnosed with cancer. Quite apart from the emotional devastation, the administrative/family fallout burden is extremely hard to handle and there's just me doing it. Please help me figure out how handle this. [more inside]
I want to hook up. Trying to hook up is becoming exhausting.
Trying to hook up/get laid and failing. Hard. [more inside]
I need a pep talk
What are some essays, books, podcasts, art - anything - that brings you back from a low point? [more inside]
I lost my emojis!
I have a Samsung Galaxy S5. I'm not sure how it happened, but now when I'm in the (factory) texting program, I tap the smiling face to see the list of emojis, but it doesn't pop up. Any idea how I can fix this without losing everything on my phone?
posted by O. Bender at 4:48 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by O. Bender at 4:48 PM PST - 5 comments
How do I learn to understand Linux?
I got a new laptop. I tried Linux (dual-boot Win10 with Linux Mint). I think I'm in love. But I feel a bit lost and befuddled. How do I learn to understand Linux generally, and Linux Mint specifically? [more inside]
posted by Gin and Comics at 4:41 PM PST - 27 comments
posted by Gin and Comics at 4:41 PM PST - 27 comments
Looking for quotations and poems about doctors
The doctor who has been my wonderful GP for 20 years is retiring. I want to send her a note expressing appreciation for her excellent care, and I'd like to include an appropriate quotation or short poem. Any suggestions?
What is Google Sites?
On my Google Dashboard, it says I have an insane number of views for my "Google Sites". I don't know what this is or why this would be the case or even what "sites" are. I have tried using the developer module to research this, but honestly it is over my head. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.
How do I get compass bearings on google earth?
I need to get accurate compass bearing for my apartment. I purchased a compass, but it is crap and doesn't work. [more inside]
posted by rancher at 2:50 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by rancher at 2:50 PM PST - 15 comments
Canadian Semi-Amicable Divorce
My friend ("J") lives in Toronto. She was recently surprised by her husband ("R") moving out and filing for divorce. She has need of guidance/support from knowledgeable people. Level of difficulty: she hasn't had a FT job in around 13 years, and their two middle-school age kids have autism (one low-mid functioning.) [more inside]
Campus novel set in Mexico or other parts of Latin America?
Inspired by this post, I would like to find some fiction involving a university or college setting in Mexico or other parts of Latin America. Contemporary is preferred, but please don't hold back on any great historical reads.
posted by neutralmojo at 2:31 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by neutralmojo at 2:31 PM PST - 4 comments
Track Information via Bluetooth
I have a new car and when playing podcasts or streaming music to the in-dash unit via Bluetooth, the track and artist information will not appear. [more inside]
Horror Fiction by Authors of Color
Recommendations? I've got Sumiko Saulson's Black Women in Horror list/bios of 60 writers, which is an extensive and exciting resource. But I'm not looking exclusively for work by black women, so - who else brings the chills? [more inside]
Rather tenant/roommate leaves quietly without eviction proceedings...
Tenant/roommate has been late on rent all three months she has been there. Still no rent this month and I need to end this. It's a month to month rental agreement. Need to find free/sliding scale counsel, and have a few questions that I would like some insight on, so I can be most successful.
In Los Angeles.
Will get legal advice, but want to be a bit more educated going in. [more inside]
Elder abuse and dementia resources in NYC metro area
There appear to be numerous governmental and private resources to consider as we start dealing with an elder abuse situation. Do you have region-specific experience or recommendations? [more inside]
posted by maniabug at 1:28 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by maniabug at 1:28 PM PST - 2 comments
Best shrubs or trees for bird shelter in zone 5
Local utility company is over-zealously removing trees and I need ideas on shrubs or trees I can plant to replace lost habitat. Particulars and snowflakes after the jump. [more inside]
Living together but financially absolutely separate? (Canada)
I was wondering if anyone has any advice to impart about managing finances on an absolutely separate basis as a live-in couple. Specifically, if one person wants to pay for the mortgage with no financial help from his partner. [more inside]
posted by analog at 1:06 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by analog at 1:06 PM PST - 14 comments
Drama about guy who doesn't want to win the lottery?
I'm trying to identify a movie I saw on television when I was a kid. It's about a guy who doesn't want to win the lottery, but wins it anyway? [more inside]
posted by Iridic at 12:50 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by Iridic at 12:50 PM PST - 4 comments
Lunch is a dish best served cold. Or possibly room-temperature.
I need ideas/recipes/tips for light, filling, healthy-ish lunches that can be eaten in one dish, either at room temperature or cold. [more inside]
posted by PearlRose at 12:18 PM PST - 23 comments
posted by PearlRose at 12:18 PM PST - 23 comments
Creating a flyer, looking for images for a social, lego people
Hi HiveMind!
Any tips on creating fun flyers, like where to get high quality images for free? I am creating a flyer for a social. I was thinking of having a picture of lego people at a party or having drinks.
I saw a great ppt with lego people on a team, but cannot find this image or one in a social setting, online, thanks for the advice :)
Birth debrief- helpful?
I'm looking for experiences with birth debriefs and whether people found them particularly helpful. [more inside]
posted by threetwentytwo at 10:33 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by threetwentytwo at 10:33 AM PST - 11 comments
Gift (or annoyance?) for my mail person
I just bought my first house (Yeah!!). I order a lot of stuff from Amazon because I work long hours. My mail lady always hides my package behind a bush in front of the house or another inconspicuous place and then jots down a note with the location on one of the many 100 pieces of junk mail I now receive (See: New homeowner). [more inside]
posted by nubianinthedesert at 10:21 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by nubianinthedesert at 10:21 AM PST - 17 comments
Going to China. What should I do when I'm not working?
I will be in China for two weeks, from April 18th to May 5th, for work. Help me plan what to do/see/explore when I'm on my own time. [more inside]
Getting hotmail to accept emails from my domain
Short version is, I can't send any emails to hotmail users unless they've emailed me first. The mail logs show that the mail was delivered though (queued for delivery). I've contacted them and they were no help - just the standard form responses about unsubscribe links etc - except we're not sending junk mail. This is just a person sending an email to another person. [more inside]
Bands with animals in them?
Please tell me about bands (or one-off projects) who have one or more animal members, or composers who use animals in their compositions. Especially interested in animals performing/touring live, but purely recorded animals are okay too. [more inside]
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 9:35 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 9:35 AM PST - 18 comments
Employee with severe financial problems
My assistant in our small business is in financial trouble. How can we help and are we as a business potentially at risk in any way? [more inside]
How to put color additive in concrete?
I am considering an additive (lamp-black) for some new 12" columns. How is this done? What does the Contractor do? Add to the batch? How does he achieve consistency and not get a mottled look? Cost?
Because hiding under the bedcovers is not a paying job.
My job of over a decade went sour thanks to a newer supervisor whom I can't shake. I am being micromanaged within an inch of my life, and it makes me shut down and do even less. New jobs are scarce, and I can't quit for financial reasons. What do I do? [more inside]
My wiper fluid freezes. What am I doing wrong?
Yesterday it was -6°C in Montreal. I used the windshield spritzers to spray wiper fluid on my windshield. The thin layer of fluid immediately froze, rendering the windshield opaque until I could get it warmed up with the defroster. This happens regularly. It even happens after the windshield is clear of ice. I'm using regular windshield wiper fluid that' supposed to be good down to -40°. Am I doing something wrong, or is -40 a huge fib?
posted by musofire at 8:53 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by musofire at 8:53 AM PST - 9 comments
I am the photographer (or I would like to be).
Best entry level camera for an amateur photographer? [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 8:12 AM PST - 37 comments
posted by Kitteh at 8:12 AM PST - 37 comments
Need ADHD meds, am not Jesse Pinkman!
My PCP has decided to discontinue prescribing my (long-standing, very stable) ADHD medication. I pretty much just want to continue with the meds that have worked for me, with a minimum of additional trouble, expense and extra time. How can I find a new provider without seeming sketchy or drug-seeking? [more inside]
London lettings agents: as dubious as they're rumoured to be?
I've recently moved to London and have heard only horror stories about neglectful landlords and agencies. After a couple of months here, our flat has required major repairs (due to neglect of previous tenants) and the agency has been responsive about getting them done. By being vocal with the disrepair of the house, are we setting ourselves up for a drastic rent increase, termination of tenancy, or a reputation for being too needy for future lettings references? [more inside]
posted by pocksuppetteer at 7:19 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by pocksuppetteer at 7:19 AM PST - 6 comments
Friend didn't like a book I gifted... why am I so upset?
I recently gave a book to a friend for her birthday, she seemed happy, all was well. I later asked her how she liked it; turns out she couldn't get into it and ended up stopping halfway through. I was much more hurt by this admission than I feel I should have been. If someone doesn't like something I'm sharing with them, I often feel personally offended/rejected and have no clue why. How can I not feel so disappointed if my gifts aren't as well-received as I hoped they would be? [more inside]
Help me figure out what this song is with absolutely no information.
Mid to late 1980s punk-ish song with the line "I am not sorry" repeated in the chorus. I always thought it was Hüsker Dü but now I'm not so sure. [more inside]
Help me 'Antique Roadshow' this french sculpture.
I've stumbled across a little french sculpture from 1984, and I'd like to know more about it - but I can't figure out who made it... [more inside]
posted by evadery at 6:28 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by evadery at 6:28 AM PST - 7 comments
How to live with extremely different temperature preferences?
My room-mate is only comfortable when I'm sweating, and I'm only comfortable when she's cold. What to do? [more inside]
How to find a husband in the San Francisco Bay Area
I'm a woman in San Francisco. Where should I go and what should I do do to find a man who wants marriage and a child in the near future, say 1 - 3 years? Specific examples of worked for you and for the people you know as well as concrete advice would be great. Thanks! [more inside]
My fiancee is uncomfortable with my friendship with another woman!`
My wife-to-be made a friend. That friend and I also got along well and became friends. My fiancee was hurt by this, the friendship ended and now I'm unsure how to proceed.
Much, much more below [more inside]
How to best retain my current job through a physical move.
My wife and I are moving to a new town, and my employer has a secondary presence in that town. I'd like to be able to keep my current job after the move and office at that other location. How can I go about discussing this situation with my boss to make that happen? [more inside]
Can I have a healthy relationship with a "passive agressive" partner?
(Not sure the PA diagnosis is accurate.) She has broken up with me three times over the course of last month over ridiculously trivial affairs (details below), just to make up again soon afterwards. I have developed feelings for her and enjoy spending time together (when she is not in her jerk mode, that is). Any experience dealing successfully with a partner who displays abrupt mood changes? [more inside]
posted by samufer at 4:04 AM PST - 86 comments
posted by samufer at 4:04 AM PST - 86 comments
How can I obtain permission to use an image I found on flickr?
As it says in the title - I found an image on flickr which I would like to use. I tried googling this and also the flickr forum but cannot figure it out, as I know nothing about how flickr works. [more inside]
Track ID: Egyptian hiphop / trip vocoder track
Just got back from Hurghada and recorded a snippet of a track in a shop. We asked a local DJ to ID it but he wasn't able to (-it's old, like 2 years - all that stuff sounds the same) so I'm turning to the hive. [more inside]
January 12
How To Not Freeze To Death
Walking to my internship is not fun at all. It's been under 10 degrees wiith winds of 20 mph and I'm as close as the bus can take me. How do I stay warm? [more inside]
Should I give a shit about my brother's bachelor party?
One of my two younger brothers is having his bachelor party soon. At this point, my interest level is too low to even respond to emails about it. Am I a terrible person? The usual upchucking of details inside... [more inside]
TV/Movies with toddler-friendly physical comedy?
Suggestions for toddler-friendly physical comedy clips/TV/movies? I basically need more Mr. Noodle from Sesame Street. [more inside]
posted by gatorae at 8:45 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by gatorae at 8:45 PM PST - 15 comments
How can I use my snowboard as a (supply) sled?
Googling has thus far been less than helpful. I'm going on a backcountry snowshoe trip, and would love to bring my board. But I can't figure out how to carry my backpack, boots, AND board and manage them while snowshoeing. Is there a way I could (easily) pull the board behind me while snowshoeing? I'll be using poles, so having a hard time figuring this out. Thanks!
Plans within plans
Asking for a nervous friend - male and wants to crowdsource perspective.
He has struck up a friendship with a woman at work (lets call her Alice) and he likes her. They meet in passing most days in the lunchroom. They chat and share a sense of humour. They work for the same company but different divisions. He wants to ask her out but is nervous and is scared about being icky. He has never asked anyone out before.
If he was to ask a mutual friend of his and Alice who works with Alice (lets call her Mary) out for a drink on Friday night - which is a totally normal platonic thing - as he and Mary often will have a beer on Friday after work.
Then - if he were to mention to Alice in passing that he and Mary were planning on going for beers and would wonder if Alice would like to join them - and if Alice agreed, do you think Alice would be wise to a deeper plot? I believe he's hoping that she would be.
posted by mattoxic at 8:17 PM PST - 23 comments
posted by mattoxic at 8:17 PM PST - 23 comments
Dating someone that doesn't want the same things in the future
How to figure out if I should keep dating him? [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 8:02 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by winterportage at 8:02 PM PST - 19 comments
Quick, Easy and Inexpensive Divorce in California.
What is the best way to go about achieving an amicable, no fault divorce in CA? [more inside]
He is pulling away - what should I do?
I have been getting to know someone over the past six weeks but he has been slowly pulling away over the last couple (i.e. lesser communication and dates). There are a few factors involved including him not knowing if he is ready for a serious relationship (it has been 2 years since his divorce), close family member being diagnosed of an illness and busy workload. Is there anything for me to do apart from being supportive, giving him space and waiting for him to sort things out? Thanks in advance. [more inside]
posted by sara479 at 7:07 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by sara479 at 7:07 PM PST - 17 comments
Embarrassed of my life.
I experience moments of defeat. Where's my courage? [more inside]
Where was this photo taken?
This photo was taken somewhere in either Italy or France. Most likely the south of France. Possibly the Italian coastline nearby. Many thanks.
posted by superfish at 6:16 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by superfish at 6:16 PM PST - 8 comments
Adults just know these things, I guess
What kinds of not-regular-but-important things for lifestyle maintenance should I, as a theoretically-responsible adult, be tracking? I'm talking about things like changing filters on air conditioners, getting dental checkups, cleaning gutters, and so forth. In theory I am an actual grown-up, but I keep getting blindsided by things I should have known about doing but utterly failed to do. [more inside]
Small Business needs ideas regarding tracking probation periods in HR
Our small business is getting ready to offer health insurance and it is a bit overwhelming trying to come up with a way to keep up with the new hires and when to offer them the insurance after 90 days and when to start taking it out of their check. How do company HR Departments do it? I could just use a calendar book but is there another way that would be better/easier (preferably free) and maybe even help with other reminders too?
Brownies plus ice cream plus cookies equals the best birthday ever!
My soon-to-be-9 year old stepson has requested that I make him a birthday "pizza" of sorts for his big day. His vision involves a brownie base, ice cream as the "pizza sauce" and cookies as the "toppings." I'm a decent baker and this seems like a thing I could accomplish in a straightforward way but I'm wondering if any MeFites can point me to proven recipe winners for this sort of thing. No food allergies or restrictions. He is a chocoholic. Thanks in advance!
posted by little mouth at 4:56 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by little mouth at 4:56 PM PST - 9 comments
I might be overthinking this
I'm a non-black person of color. I tried a street dance class and I feel conflicted about the appropriative aspect of it. Are my concerns legitimate and are there ways I can carry on respectfully? [more inside]
posted by quadrant seasons at 4:12 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by quadrant seasons at 4:12 PM PST - 17 comments
Applied for a research position, multiple labs responded. What do I do?
I applied to intern/assist at a number of research labs under the same university, and unexpectedly received multiple positive replies asking to meet in person. I don't think each professor knows I applied to other professors at the same university at this point, but they probably all know each other. How do I handle this properly and politely? (I don't want to offend anyone...) Help! (Longer explanation inside.) [more inside]
Could this be a scam?
Found a used guitar on Craigslist for a good price, contacted owner, he states it is now at a pawnshop for a significantly larger price but that he will sell me his pawn ticket for a middle price.
Is this a thing?
It is cold in Minneapolis
Where can I get a lower-carb hot lunch in downtown Minneapolis? [more inside]
posted by soelo at 2:01 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by soelo at 2:01 PM PST - 7 comments
Dinner in Phoenix
Looking for Phoenix restaurant recommendations with good vegetarian options... [more inside]
Need help wrangling spreadsheets
In Search of the Perfect Couch Potato Throw Pillow
When I was 8 years old, we had a TV couch pillow that was oversized, plump, plush, and neither too hard nor too soft. It was a world of comfort, and I've been searching for decades for a similar throw pillow....but the trend is for rigid, tight, earache-inducing knife-edged good-looking pillows that are anything but cuddlesome (if that's a word). Can anyone who understands my sentiment recommend a killer-perfect 18x18 pillow form or pillow? I'm down/feather allergic, but would consider adding a hypoallergenic barrier/cover layer.... [more inside]
Handwritten Thank You Note + ... ?
What's an appropriate gesture for my mentors as my "internship" ends? [more inside]
posted by ApathyGirl at 1:09 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by ApathyGirl at 1:09 PM PST - 9 comments
What's another word for "meaningless"?
I need a word (appropriate in a legal/business discussion) to define the following system: let's say a grocer's point of sale system produces a report, with one row per transaction, with a descriptor field showing "apple", "orange" etc. But now the grocer has introduced baskets so people can buy apples and oranges at the same time. The report doesn't know what to do so it just prints either "apple" or "orange". [more inside]
Fitness Tracker for a Very Small Windows User?
Microsoft Band, Band 2 and Fitbit are all too big. All the devices I've seen that look as if they *might* fit aren't compatible with Windows Phone. Dear MeFi, please help this tiny little Windows-using snowflake track All the Things. [more inside]
Toddler books with lots of things in the pictures?
Our toddler's really into pointing at things in picture books. What books have lots of things for him to point at? [more inside]
Where do experts go to learn more about statistics (in social science)?
If you do quantitative research for a living, where do you go when you have questions, or want to learn more about how to analyze data? [more inside]
Winter boots that actually grip
With our first real snowfall here in Toronto I've learned that my new winter boots while fitting, being warm and generally nice looking are, in fact, garbage at walking without slipping. I've fallen down twice today and I've not even been outside very long. Can you recommend a women's winter boot that doesn't slip in the snow? [more inside]
posted by machine at 11:37 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by machine at 11:37 AM PST - 18 comments
we take what we can get / the hell out of this town
I want to make a playlist of songs from pop-punk bands that HATE THIS TOWN. Their town. Every song must have at least one line about how much they can't wait to get out of their hometown. Any sort of garden variety town hating is appreciated (I have seen the supercut of bands saying "this town," what I am looking for are specific bands/song titles).
Computer defense
I'm getting a new computer (Windows 10). What are the current best practices in personal computer protection, starting from the beginning? [more inside]
Want website, will panic
One of my new year resolutions is to set up a website I've been saying I want to set up for ages. The problem: the last time I set up a website, CSS was in its infancy and I hand-coded static HTML files.
I know what I want the thing to do, and I've tried doing my research, but all the various ways of getting there are doing my head in, so I'm looking for recommendations. Please explain things like I'm an idiot, because this is absolutely making me feel like one. [more inside]
New Year, new spreadsheet for tracking joint and personal expenses
My partner and I have decided to track more accurately our expenses and this task is on me. We are looking for an Excel spreadsheet template that will allow us to track all our expenses by category (groceries, eating out, etc), making a distinction between personal and joint expenses. On top of that, we would like to be able to see clearly who spent how much on what. [more inside]
posted by lost_lettuce at 9:29 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by lost_lettuce at 9:29 AM PST - 12 comments
Best pants non-cargo utility pockets?
Where are the affordable, well-fitting, durable pants for men with great, non-cargo utility pockets? (details below) [more inside]
How much of classical antiquity was known in the Middle Ages?
I know that Aristotle mostly faded out after the fall of Rome, and that it was revived when Christian scholars began to translate Arabic editions into Latin in the 12-13th centuries. Fair enough. But what about Homer and the playwrights? Did they similarly disappear, and were they rediscovered alongside Aristotle? Would a 12th century monk have known who Pericles was? Would he have known Herodotus? The Pre-Socratics? If not, how were they recovered? Can someone point me toward some free online material where I can read about this topic? Thanks.
posted by jwhite1979 at 8:18 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by jwhite1979 at 8:18 AM PST - 17 comments
Partnership Dissolved. Which of the two ventures should I align with?
Within five minutes of meeting the partners of this fashion jewelry company I knew that ship was gonna sink. I signed up anyway because the pay was decent. I fully intended to be the last rat standing. I wasn't expecting the ship to break into two pieces. Now I'm trying to decide which half is going to float longer. [more inside]
I can't Sleep!
I'm a 34 year old woman, physically fit and active and I cannot sleep through the night.... ever. Help. [more inside]
Movement/Feminist Poem from 70s or 80s. Help.
This is on the tip of my tongue and I will slap myself when you name it for me: a poem from the 70s or 80s about community and activism. It counts up from 1: with 1 you can do this, with two you can do that. I remember that with six, you can share a pie. At some number, you start putting out a newsletter. I want to think Marge Piercy was the author, but I've almost certainly got that wrong.
posted by not that girl at 6:50 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by not that girl at 6:50 AM PST - 3 comments
Let's suppose I won the lottery. Now what?
So as you might have heard, Powerball is close to a billion and a half right now. Let's say I'm holding the winning ticket and I take it down to the lottery office to collect. Now what? [more inside]
posted by azpenguin at 6:37 AM PST - 24 comments
posted by azpenguin at 6:37 AM PST - 24 comments
What is the name of this BBC/Euro TV episode?
It features a Denmark or Swedish divorced woman living in a "commune" with about 5-8 people of varying ages from (probably) 13-50. [more inside]
posted by Submiqent at 5:23 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by Submiqent at 5:23 AM PST - 3 comments
Did I miss my window on notifying my new job of a planned holiday?
In late December, I managed to land myself an interview and a new job at an awesome small company (50-60 employees) in the space of 4 days. I start the new position on 1 February, but I've failed to mention that I have a two-week trip overseas already planned for mid-March, around Easter.
Have I missed my window on telling my new employer about my holiday? Should I tell them now or wait until my first day? [more inside]
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 4:18 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 4:18 AM PST - 10 comments
A Book Series for my Mom?
My mom is looking for something new to read and would prefer a series. She's in her 50s and has read Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. She doesn't mind fantasy or Sci-Fi but does not like things that are too heavy like LOTR. She has no interest in Divergent or Twilight. This is not a style of book I read very much of so I'd appreciate some suggestions. Thanks!
Running and cheering at the Boston Marathon
My brother qualified for the Boston Marathon, so I'm looking for practical tips for him on running the track, and for me on supporting someone who is running. [more inside]
January 11
Best business discussion group/forum on the world wide web
Are there any business discussion groups or fora out there where SME owners and entrepreneurs share thoughts and ideas? Something like Ask/Metafilter but strictly business oriented.
Single, in my mid-30s, and (accidentally) pregnant.
I'm weighing my options and not sure what to do. I really don't want to be a single parent, but I also don't want to find myself in my late-30s, unable to get pregnant, and regretting not having a baby when I had the chance. [more inside]
Seeking magical incantation to make my dentist take me seriously
Twice this past year, I've gone to my dentist to check on some unusually concentrated sensitivity + discoloration in spots on my teeth, and twice I was sent home in 5 minutes with a little sample of Sensodyne. Today I had a regular cleaning/check-up, where she found decay in (surprise!) exactly the spots I pointed out previously, and admonished me for not coming in sooner (my dental plan only covers annual visits). Next time this sort of thing happens, how can I be firmer about getting things checked more thoroughly? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 8:45 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by btfreek at 8:45 PM PST - 15 comments
My employer screwed up my tax withholding on my paycheck
I've been at my job for six months and I just noticed on my paycheck I'm marked as "single" for CA state taxes withholding. I'm married and had submitted a state tax form stating such when I was first hired. Obviously, it fell into a black hole. What do I do? [more inside]
Help me find non-racist stories about Westerners in Japan
I'm hunting for examples of stories about Westerners travelling to Japan that don't indulge in orientalist/exoticizing/racist tropes. [more inside]
Where did goths shop in Manchester around 1999-2000?
I visited friends in Manchester, England, in what I think was the summer of 2000, though it might have been '99. They took me to a place that had a whole bunch of small shops and kiosks with goth/cybergoth/assorted alternative-type clothing and accessories (and maybe home goods). Where was it? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 8:02 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by babelfish at 8:02 PM PST - 5 comments
What 1960s Mexican Film Can I Remember Only a Few Scenes From?
A Surrealist film with liberal use of curtains. [more inside]
So I have this crafting dilemma
I like crafting, but I don't really have the ambition to sell stuff, I have no one to give it to, and I don't know what to do with the finished products. [more inside]
posted by patheral at 6:45 PM PST - 45 comments
posted by patheral at 6:45 PM PST - 45 comments
Finding one's muse
What are some of the best strategies - and best practices - for rousing one's creativity? [more inside]
Can you identify this cactus?
My partner desperately wants a cactus like this. It's the tentacle-like shape that he likes. Is this a particular variety of cactus, or just an unusually shaped... standard cactus?
Thanks!
posted by torisaur at 6:37 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by torisaur at 6:37 PM PST - 5 comments
Pomodoro-style apps that are more gamified
I've tried a bunch of pomodoro-style apps that I haven't done well with. I recently found one that's like Pomodoro except there's a growing plant, and if you mess with your phone you'll kill the plant. This works for me for whatever reason. I was wondering if anyone knew of other apps like that; especially ones with more real-world consequences. [more inside]
"Give yourself the chance to get lucky."
Translate this phrase into as many languages as possible: "Give yourself the chance to get lucky." This was essentially my favorite uncle's personal motto, and I'd like to make something special with the translations. More context inside. [more inside]
Looking for Winter events/activities that beat "countdown to Spring".
The only activity I'm involved in January and February is counting down to Spring. After the holidays, there is nothing going on. I'd like to hear what others look forward to doing over those two months. [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 4:41 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by Coffeetyme at 4:41 PM PST - 11 comments
Newsmagazine covers Avery?
I'm seeking the dateline,20/20, or the 48 hours which covered the Avery trial. [more inside]
posted by femmme at 4:00 PM PST - 1 comment
posted by femmme at 4:00 PM PST - 1 comment
Best Matcha
I want to buy more tasty matcha tea. I normally buy Maeda-En universal quality 1oz(28gr) for $12. Do you have a suggestion for a tastier matcha at a similar price/quantity or maybe a similar tastiness at a better price/quantity? Is "ceremonial grade" worth it taste wise? [more inside]
What are the best online tutorials for learning Adobe products?
I'm looking for high-quality online tutorials for learning how to master Photoshop and Illustrator. I really like ones that walk you through processes step-by-step. I don't have any plug-ins, so I would prefer tutorials that use basic PS and Illustrator. Thanks! [more inside]
What are other procedural jobs besides a legal assistant?
I am working with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to determine the best job for me and to secure a job. I am not sure what I want to do, but I have some idea based on a temporary legal assistant job. [more inside]
Music to submerge in - rain / water samples
Please recommend music containing recordings of rain or moving water. Not vanilla nature noises, like Echoes of Nature (though I love those too), but music in which those kinds of recordings are incorporated as an intergral part of the piece. [more inside]
Help me visualize 'future' me.
My therapist and I have been working on improving my self-control, and replacing my bad habits with more constructive ones. She suggested a technique in which I imagine my future self as a personal friend of mine; when I engage in a self-destructive behavior, I would therefore be hurting my good friend. I've had some success with this method, but I'm still having a hard time employing this technique during moments of weakness as the idea is still so abstract for me. How else can I improve/expand upon my therapist's suggestion? [more inside]
I've come to look for America
The plan is: a counterclockwise loop beginning & ending in New Orleans with stops in Biloxi, Mobile, Selma, Montgomery, Huntsville, Shiloh, Memphis, Oxford, Vicksburg, Port Gibson and Natchez. I have a working list of what to see, what am I missing? [more inside]
Leveling up meal planning
Calling all meal/menu planners of AskMe! Any pro tips for planning weekly menus for your household that balance budget and diet? Especially with an eye toward low waste (i.e., better inventory management) and getting as much variety in as possible. [more inside]
Narrative-rich cookbook recommendations
I love the conversational tone and narrative-richness of Nigella Lawson's cookbooks. Please recommend more books similar to hers.
What to do with Santeria-related items found?
I've been finding the occasional Santeria-related object in a public location and would like to dispose of them respectfully. How can I do this? [more inside]
Does Sons of Anarchy rebound after Season 3? (No spoilers, please.)
I liked the first two seasons of Sons of Anarchy, but I think Season 3 is aggressively stupid and I'm begrudgingly finishing it today. Should I keep going or stop here? [more inside]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:19 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by kirkaracha at 11:19 AM PST - 25 comments
What is Social Justice?
What is Social Justice? How would you give a brief explanation to a conservative? [more inside]
posted by DGStieber at 10:54 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by DGStieber at 10:54 AM PST - 23 comments
Upcoming folksy concerts in Paris
I'm looking for some concert recommendations in Paris in February or March in the singer-songerwriter/folksy vein. Guitars, good melodies, good lyrics (English preferred). Josh Ritter is a good example. Are there any shows on Songkick (or other aggregators I'm not aware of) that you would recommend? Or maybe your favorite band is passing through on tour? Thanks!
posted by ropeladder at 10:35 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by ropeladder at 10:35 AM PST - 2 comments
How Do I Winter?
In November I moved from Houston to Amsterdam. I was okay in the beginning, but now I feel like winter is *really* setting in and I need some new clothes. [more inside]
Can I run 32 bit iTunes successfully on a 64 bit machine?
I have recently learned that instead of using iTunes version 10.x.x or 11.ugh.com or 12.bull.shit or whatever is most recent, I can actually just pretty easily download older releases of that software. Can I use older, 32 bit versions on a 64 bit machine running Windows 7? [more inside]
Its another relationship question, or I'm a commitaphobe, please help!
Oh geeze… Help me get over being a commitaphobe… Or reassure me that sometimes relationships that start in your teens are not doomed to failure just because conventional wisdom says they are. [more inside]
A man, a woman, a fetus, a plan ...
I'm thinking of taking a trip to Panama in early March when I'll be 25 weeks. Pros, cons, questions and more below the fold! [more inside]
How to answer the salary history question?
A possible employer has asked for my salary history. Hooray, they're interested! But I want to make *more* if I take the new job. [more inside]
posted by underthehat at 8:34 AM PST - 25 comments
posted by underthehat at 8:34 AM PST - 25 comments
When is medication the answer for kids with anxiety?
My son (8) struggles with anxiety (separation and generalized) and negative thinking/depression. How do you know when it is time to start treating it with medication? [more inside]
How does a comfort loving wimp toughen up? Winter exercise edition.
I want to exercise in winter but my body doesn't. Can you recommend motivation tactics and gear to make it easier? Also- what are valid reasons to skip exercise? [more inside]
posted by Tarumba at 7:17 AM PST - 26 comments
posted by Tarumba at 7:17 AM PST - 26 comments
Where to find how social media has influenced attitudes on sex work?
Has there been any scholarly work or research done on how attitudes toward sex workers/pornographic performers have changed due to social media? [more inside]
Cooking for a less-than-adventurous dieter
How do I start cooking healthy for a family that isn't used to kale and quinoa? [more inside]
posted by Thrillhouse at 6:04 AM PST - 47 comments
posted by Thrillhouse at 6:04 AM PST - 47 comments
Unsecured Email: Sensitive Info. Am I Screwed?
I sent some tax information (several years old) via regular email to a relative. Can this lead to identity theft? [more inside]
An app for crazy pills
Is there an app that can help me work out when to take my medication when changing timezones? (If relevant, it's SSRIs/antipsychotic medication.) [more inside]
January 10
Help finding an episode of On the Media from a snippit
Hi, I'm trying to put together a week of lectures on Women in Refrigerators for my students and I have gone and found Gail Simone's old list and looked at Feminist Frequency's episodes for Bitch Magazine, and I have some passages from a myth textbook and Joseph Campbell's work. But I want to add one of my favorite podcasts, On the Media.
I vaguely remember the host Brooke Gladstone talking to a guest once and she says that when she was younger and she remembers watching those old black and white movies like Perils of Pauline she remembers there being something vaguely erotic or sexual about the way that the evil villains would tie up the damsels in distress and leave them on the railroad tracks, and she may have said she wrote her masters thesis on it?
But I can't find a thesis on Proquest or JStor that Brooke published, anyone with a fantastic memory?
posted by ABlanca at 9:39 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by ABlanca at 9:39 PM PST - 6 comments
Recommend APA-style formatting and citation software
What software would you recommend for formatting papers, creating a research database, and building and inserting citations in APA-style? [more inside]
posted by angiep at 9:25 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by angiep at 9:25 PM PST - 14 comments
Find my photos a new home!
Now that Flickr is broken, where can I host thousands of images? [more inside]
posted by Nyx at 9:00 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Nyx at 9:00 PM PST - 6 comments
Getting separated, need a lawyer, have no idea how to find a good one
I am a Torontonian in the process of separating from my common-in-law wife. It's been mostly amicable. We've known for a while things weren't working and I finally made the decision late last year. I need to find a lawyer to possibly help with the separation details and also to help if we get to the point where custody becomes an issue. [more inside]
How long to find a new job in a new city?
How long does it take to find another job in another city? On average?
I am currently living in Providence RI, but I want to move to Buffalo NY, and I want to secure a job in Buffalo first.
How long would it take to find a new job in a new city that is many miles away?
Is there a general word for giving someone a beverage?
If you "feed"'someone, you've given them food. Is there a word for what you've done if you gave them something to drink? We can only think of "serve" which is too general.
posted by nicwolff at 7:55 PM PST - 33 comments
posted by nicwolff at 7:55 PM PST - 33 comments
Seeking a comprehensive list of internet forum communities
Does there exist an updated catalog or wiki list of internet forums and web communities living and dead over the coarse of the internet's history?
History of coffee and tea
I have been a tea-favorer for many years. I have recently discovered that coffee is pretty good. I'm interested in reading some good histories on both plants/beverages. I am not averse to dry texts, so don't feel restricted to pop-ish books! Who has written the best history/histories on coffee and tea?
Black costume Spider-Man pajama pants
I'd like to be able to find black costume Spider-Man pajama pants for an adult. At worst, I'd like to find cloth with a pattern of black costume Spider-Man, and I'll make pajama pants. [more inside]
Any ideas for weekly themed postcards?
I'm looking for some ideas for weekly themed postcards to my partner who lives 3500 miles away. Ideas welcome. [more inside]
Laptop case for travel
Need a good case/sleeve (?) (padded) for laptop for travel [more inside]
Downtime For My Eyes
I stare at a computer screen eight hours a day for work. Eyestrain is a real problem. Most of my after-work activities don't give my eyes much downtime. What can I do to relax or entertain myself that will go easy on my eyes? [more inside]
How to seal Frigidaire washer tub drain hose, when there's no clamp?
I can't figure out how to fix the leak where the drain hose attaches to the tub. It doesn't have a hose clamp like all of the instructions I can find online. More inside... [more inside]
Leaning a new language with a poor memory.
It's my 50th year and I still don't know another language. I am determined to learn Spanish and I've started with Duolingo, but it doesn't seem to "stick. I've repeated the basic lessons a few times, but keep getting some words wrong. I've just done these questions, what is wrong with me?!
Are they any good tips or methods on how to remember what I've just done ?
posted by Webbster at 3:42 PM PST - 22 comments
posted by Webbster at 3:42 PM PST - 22 comments
Making long-term timelapse videos
I'm recording a webcam stream, and intend to do this 24/7 for a year. How can I make week/month/year-long timelapses out of it? [more inside]
Pick up the Slack or (Potentially) Let the Children Suffer?
I have been dating a man with three children (10, 6, & 3). His ex-wife relies on him tremendously. Should he continue to pick up her slack, or allow the kids to suffer/force her to pull her weight? [more inside]
posted by TauLepton at 2:45 PM PST - 20 comments
posted by TauLepton at 2:45 PM PST - 20 comments
Can you tell me what kind of connection this is? (BNC, RCA, coax)??
See the photo at the link below (the round connection that is over the white label):
Link.
What kind of connection is this and what kind of cable should I use? I need to connect a TV antenna (coax cable) to the TV input so I can watch TV on my projector. Thanks.
posted by locussst at 2:34 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by locussst at 2:34 PM PST - 6 comments
Help me San Juan it up on a Short Trip to Puerto Rico
Going to San Juan as a quick 3-day getaway from the cold, Northeastern winter. We will be staying right on the beach in the Condado neighborhood in San Juan.
Looking for some advice and tips on beaches accessible within San Juan, San Sebastian Festival, and seeing the rain forest. [more inside]
Call for career ideas (based solely on motivations and interests)
Based solely on who I am and what I care about, could you recommend 2 or 3 specifc careers that might be a good fit? Intentionally omitting my current job interests, work background, and education in order to generate more ideas. [more inside]
how to get diagnostic blood tests prescribed as preventative
I'd like to get baseline blood testing from Wellness FX. Is there a way to get my new doc to prescribe this test as preventative? [more inside]
posted by diode at 11:51 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by diode at 11:51 AM PST - 7 comments
Movie name. Similar to "Ex Machina". Warning Spoiler inside.
Scrolling app for Firefox?
Long ago there was either a feature or an app for Firefox that automatically scrolled down a page at adjustable speeds. I could adjust it for my reading speed and this made reading a page easier. I've looked but can't find anything similar now. Does such a thing exist? Any ideas on where to find it?
Cats 101 - Remedial Stream
So, we are getting a cat. I have never owned a cat before, and the last time my partner did was a decade ago when he lived with his parents. I feel like I have a handle on how much this will cost but pretty much nothing else. I need, like, some really basic information. (A book? Is there a cats for dummies?) [more inside]
Protecting my daughter from culture shock on a 6-week-trip to Japan
My wife and I are planning a 5~6 week trip to Japan this spring. (post-grad-school, pre-starting-new-jobs) I am bilingual and speak to my 5-year-old daughter in Japanese daily, and she understands it at maybe a Japanese 3-year-old's level. We'll put her in a nursery school over there, and I'm looking for things I can do (both now and when we're there) to keep her from having (or reduce her inevitable) full-blown culture shock. [more inside]
posted by chickencoop at 10:58 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by chickencoop at 10:58 AM PST - 12 comments
The Association of Somewhat Knowledgeable Mindhive Enquirers
I've run into a lot of clever acronyms for organizations lately, and have wondered which came first, the chicken or the egg. If you ever were tasked to name an organization and/or come up with its acronym, did the name of the organization just happen to lend itself to compacting neatly into a self-descriptive acronym, or did the acronym dictate or alter the name of the organization? What was the path you followed to arrive there?
posted by not_on_display at 10:47 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by not_on_display at 10:47 AM PST - 6 comments
How do I apply for a mortgage refinance?
I've always been told to shop around for a mortgage. I have one and want to refinance, so what does shopping around mean? Is that still good advice? [more inside]
My apartment smells like rotten food. How can I make it smell nice?
I went away for a moth. Now I'm back and my whole apartment smells like a melange of food that's been left in the garbage for weeks. How can I find the source of the smell and repair the situation? [more inside]
Accounting for dummies
I'm considering making a career change in the next 2-4 years. I'm curious about entering accounting, but there are so many different types of accounting, different degrees/diplomas related to accounting, and places you can go with accounting! It's wonderful to read about all these opportunities, but completely overwhelming. I wouldn't know where to begin to find an area of accounting that would suit me. Can I get a little more clarity on the profession and where I could potentially go in the field? [more inside]
There are only bad options; which is the best one?
Out of work, unemployment benefits finished, and I feel like I need to choose between "take the crappy job that doesn't pay well" and "hold out for something better while temping and living off my savings." The catch? I've been fired twice in the last three years, so my employment history doesn't look great on paper even if I'm a good interview. What's the best job search strategy? [more inside]
App to identify plants?
Both my apartment complex and workplace have lovely landscaping. I am new-ish to this area/climate (SoCal) and realized I know the names of almost none of the plants or flowers used. I would like to gradually fix this, in part for future reference for when we hopefully are able to buy a house with yard in a few years. What iphone apps or other resources will help me to easily identify one plant a day so that I can do this over time? Not really interested in trips to arboretums or nurseries right now, I want to do this as an ongoing project.
Health Savings Accounts - How do they know which expenses are qualified?
Specifically, how can I be sure that my medication purchases at the grocery store are properly tallied as 'qualified expenses?' More generally, how does the IRS keep track of your purchases using funds from an HSA? What's to stop someone from using their HSA to pay for non-medical expenses? [more inside]
Help me find these boots, please!
Sorry, another fashion search question. I really want to purchase the boots shown here. Can any Mefi fashionistas help me out?
posted by raisingsand at 8:36 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by raisingsand at 8:36 AM PST - 3 comments
How can I match a broken, vintage lamp globe?
I've found an awesome mid-century lamp in great condition EXCEPT for the fact that it's missing a globe. I've found a seller on Etsy who has a different lamp with the exact same globes. They've got these 2 inch screw fitter bases.
I've looked - oh how I've looked for ones, at dozens of sites and struck out everywhere. Screw threads on lamp globes seem to be as rare as hen's teeth.
In lieu of buying two lamps to have one functional one - who can point me to a place where I can buy a replacement or have one made?
Waterproof backpack for school
My stuff inside my backpack got soaked this morning as I walked the half mile it takes me to get to school. 😱 I need a sub $100 waterproof backpack to carry my 13" laptop, study materials, coffee mug, and water bottle. [more inside]
Help me speed-grok iOS coding and Swift
I'm an experienced programmer who needs to make an iOS app. I like to learn by inference and lack patience for verbose pedagogy, so I'm asking for resources that you would show to a hacker who needs to get up to speed with iOS development. [more inside]
posted by mbrock at 5:32 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by mbrock at 5:32 AM PST - 9 comments
What different types of visual and written 'instructions' are there?
I am working on a project that relies on different ways to present instructions. I want to collect as many ways as possible. These can be visual, written, or otherwise, but each 'type' of instruction must have a design aesthetic or formulaic quality that is particular to it. So, for instance, recipes are usually laid out in a certain way; architectural blueprints have a design that we all recognise, as do maps, exploded diagrams, algorithms, technical schematics, toolkits... Can you help me think of more?
Melbourne Sporting Event Feb/Mar
This American is going to be in Melbourne from Feb 27th - Mar 7th and I'd like to see an Australian sporting event. Help me find one. [more inside]
Help me plan my sleep itinerary?
I am on a 10am-4pm sleep schedule. Have to get to ~1 am to 9 am. 2 am to 10 am would also be great. I would like to do this over the weekend. How should I plan my wake/sleep times over the next 3-4 days? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:15 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:15 AM PST - 18 comments
January 9
So a duck walks into my freezer
I have a duck. I want to cook it. I don't know how, but I do know that I don't want orange duck. Give me your best savory duck recipes with details on the howto on cooking times.
What is this houseplant with long stems, v-shaped leaves and no flowers?
I have done several Google searches and checked many lists of common houseplants. I can't figure out what this is.
posted by perryfugue at 8:46 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by perryfugue at 8:46 PM PST - 7 comments
Is it possible to teach attention to detail? How?
I supervise someone who is inconsistently attentive to the fine details of his job. Most of his mistakes are minor, but the cumulative effect is problematic. I brought it up during his last performance review but have not seen improvement. How can I help him gain this skill? Can it be taught? [more inside]
Coaxing a cat with a sore mouth to eat?
So this was me, but unfortunately I don't think I will have to worry about his long term companion. My surviving cat was *also* diagnosed with a different cancer. His was operable, and the healing process is okay, but he doesn't want to eat. I have 48 hours to get him eating normally before we go to a feeding tube. You are not my vet. My vet sees him so often he is officially sick of both of us, but maybe you have been successful in a similar case? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by frumiousb at 7:46 PM PST - 32 comments
posted by frumiousb at 7:46 PM PST - 32 comments
Why does my iPhone 6S keep hanging up on me?
I love my new iPhone 6S, but I have been experiencing an annoying issue in voice calls. The call randomly cuts out - it's as if my face is coming in contact with the red "end call" icon. I understand that all iPhones from the start have had a "proximity sensor" to prevent this issue, but it seems as if this sensor isn't doing its job. I never had this issue with my previous two iPhones. The software (iOS 9.2) is up to date as of today. Is there a setting I forgot about, or should I take it back to Apple? [more inside]
How likely will I be able to get a continuance on my court date?
I'm going to call the court on Monday, but wanted to know what you had to say: I have a court date for next Friday for a name change. Something big came up, and I'm wondering if I can get it postponed. How likely do you think it is I'll be able to? [more inside]
posted by lilies.lilies at 7:31 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by lilies.lilies at 7:31 PM PST - 2 comments
Taxi driver ran over my daughter's foot in Adelaide
Taxi driver ran over my daughter's foot in Adelaide this morning. She says it's swollen and bruised but not broken. She is not a doctor. [more inside]
posted by b33j at 6:56 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by b33j at 6:56 PM PST - 8 comments
Sichuan peppercorns .. not very hot .. so help me understand the draw
Don't get me wrong -- I love em. Love the flavor, love the heat, such as it is. But they're not THAT hot, are they? [more inside]
I was bullied at the gym I go to. Best approaches and solutions?
I got in an argument that resulted in the other person expressing physical threats and intimidation. I feel unsafe; however, I feel okay towards resolving this issue seriously and systematically. But this is an unknown area for me. If there are best practices that I should consider, that would be incredibly useful. [more inside]
posted by polymodus at 3:46 PM PST - 50 comments
posted by polymodus at 3:46 PM PST - 50 comments
Wait, you like me? Why?
I have developed a sort of uncertain romantic situation with a girl at my college. It's really the first time that I've been close to anyone in this way, or at all, and I am afraid that my self-hatred and self-absorption is getting in the way of a proper human relationship, as friends or otherwise. [more inside]
Could this anger be due to ADHD?
How can I help my family deal with my adult brother's potentially violent behavior? I live several states away, and he recently started ADHD meds as an adult. [more inside]
What Does Investment in Water Through Almond Groves Mean?
I have read that Michael Burry (the character played by Christian Bale in "The Big Short" ) is investing in water through the purchase of almond groves in California. Can someone explain to me how this is done?"
posted by goalyeehah at 1:59 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by goalyeehah at 1:59 PM PST - 5 comments
Who do I create a panoramic draggable video for use online?
I want to create a panoramic interactive HTML5 video to use online. How do I pull it off? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 12:53 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by critzer at 12:53 PM PST - 5 comments
Right turns and u turns
It occurred to me if you're making a right turn from, say, a parking lot, you would be in obvious conflict with someone in the left turn lane who decides to make a u turn (which you would have no way of knowing beforehand). When you're making a right on red or from a parking lot, do you usually wait for the left turn lane to be clear of cars? Or is that overkill? I never see people taking that precaution and I think lots of honking would result if you did.
posted by theshire at 12:47 PM PST - 23 comments
posted by theshire at 12:47 PM PST - 23 comments
Residual Smoke Detection
What can I do to measure the amount of residual smoke before and after a tenant's occupation? [more inside]
Which social obligation to attend?
I'm torn between conflicting events on the same night and am not sure which of two events to attend and which to cancel. Since there will be drinking at either (and I can't afford a cab or get a DD on short notice) I feel I must pick one or the other. Special snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by MeFiMouse at 11:02 AM PST - 42 comments
posted by MeFiMouse at 11:02 AM PST - 42 comments
Yet another "Should I go to the doctor?" question
Yesterday I burned my arm. Do I need to see a doctor? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:12 AM PST - 15 comments
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:12 AM PST - 15 comments
Natural Science Fun Facts!
I'm working on a project for which I need to compile a series of amazing/exciting/mind-blowing facts and stories about the natural world - and I'm hoping you can help. Think "ants can lift 100x their own weight" or "that bird that mimics cellphone ringtones" - but less well known. Areas of inquiry that I could dig into would be great too. Thanks!
posted by JPDD at 8:52 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by JPDD at 8:52 AM PST - 19 comments
Wanted: savory drinks that aren't coffee or tea.
The no list: sweetener, caffeine, alcohol, ginger. I don't want anything that tastes sweet. I truly, truly hate coffee and nearly all tea.
So tired of water and milk. Help?
posted by frykitty at 8:32 AM PST - 77 comments
posted by frykitty at 8:32 AM PST - 77 comments
Chinese Medicine/Food Identification
What is the stuff in the middle right of this picture, looking kind of like pork rinds? [more inside]
posted by Gorgik at 8:22 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by Gorgik at 8:22 AM PST - 4 comments
Help me understand socialization at work.
I've started a new job that I really like within the last few months, and I really really want to do well there. I've had problems making friends at work in the past, and I want to avoid social weirdness if at all possible in this new job. I'm not super great at social rules and understanding "culture." How do I find these things out? What are the universal rules of socializing at work, if any? [more inside]
posted by woodvine at 6:05 AM PST - 21 comments
posted by woodvine at 6:05 AM PST - 21 comments
Three signatures for a bank?
My bank asked me to fax them my ID along with three signatures on a piece of paper. What's that about? [more inside]
Help me find my OTHER nominees for the Hugos and Retro Hugos
I'm looking for suggestions for potential nominations for the upcoming Hugos and Retro-Hugos. Difficulty level: NOT the categories for fiction, film, or television. [more inside]
posted by kyrademon at 5:04 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by kyrademon at 5:04 AM PST - 4 comments
Word that means assumes power without justification
I’m trying to recall a word I’m fairly sure exists. It means to assume power (over a particular domain) without justification. Like “accroach” but specific to power. Except I don’t think it’s a verb, I think it’s an adjective that can be applied to a person to describe their behaviour (with negative connotations). So one could say, “When he took it upon himself to create rota for washing dishes, even though Graeme is responsible for the kitchen, Mike showed himself to be a ______ individual.” Though I don’t think implications of usurping are required.
Retirement planning for a 30-something Canadian in the UK
I'm a Canadian citizen, resident and working in the UK, but I also want to go home eventually and to work more in Canada. How do I plan for old age and retirement? [more inside]
Lip-biting while eating.
I bite my inner bottom lip while eating at least once a day. There's usually blood and I'm in the habit of blotting it with a napkin so I am sure of this. Why do I do this? How can I stop? [more inside]
posted by bendy at 2:06 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by bendy at 2:06 AM PST - 12 comments
January 8
Cool one or two-day courses to take in Hong Kong
Hi, I'll be in HK for part of February, and wondering if you can recommend any cool and interesting courses that visitors can take? They'd have to be in English, but other than that I'm looking for things that I wouldn't be able to experience elsewhere. This needn't be necessarily HK-specific, I mean if you know of say, a physics lecturer who'd blow my socks off, I'd be keen to hear about it. [more inside]
How do I fix my vulval eczema?
I've seen four dermatologists, and followed their advice, but my vulval eczema hasn't gone away. Maybe you can help? [more inside]
Should I see my doctor as I think Im getting a speech impediment ?
Im not sure whether I have one or not but due to when im really stressed, I seem to not say complete small sentences, my accent slightly changes and Ive been getting my words mixed up(saying the same letter words but not the right word like instead of saying malfunction i might say misfunction or something) [more inside]
posted by re at 8:59 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by re at 8:59 PM PST - 14 comments
Expiring Passport Blues--Mexico Edition
Which is riskier: Travelling to Mexico in mid-February on a passport that expires in late April or trying to send in my passport for renewal and hoping I get it back in time?
Plus bonus question about the pope's visit and how that might affect my time in Mexico City. [more inside]
Books with the same mouthfeel as Steven Universe
I'd like to read some fantasy or science fiction that has the same flavor and feel as Steven Universe. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:11 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:11 PM PST - 4 comments
Am I right to suspect that I'm in danger?
I can't go to the police for personal reasons, please, I know that this is long, but, I have no one to talk to about this, and I've packed my bags in the middle of the night and am staying at an Airbnb three towns over. I've been seeing someone for the past three months who has Bi-Polar Disorder. Well, some things have happened that have left me very spooked, to say the least, and I can't tell if I'm overreacting, or if I'm spot-on in my assessment of the situation. I can't talk to anyone in my life about this because I'm afraid of how insane this situation looks. [more inside]
Looking for Poster Size Print of Old Macy's Day Parade Photo
I'm looking for a poster size print of this photo. Any ideas where I could find one?
How do I trade in my vehicle for a cheaper one if I still owe money?
Several months ago, I purchased a Jeep Unlimited. Sadly, I can't afford it- I've missed two payments so far, and I still owe about $6000 on it. I want to trade it in for a cheaper vehicle. How would this work, exactly? Would I have to trade it in to the dealership where I bought it, or can I shop around? [more inside]
Did I break a rib?
As I was recently reminded, a few years ago I thought I broke a rib, went to the Dr. , was prescribed medicine, and got an X-Ray, in that order. I never heard the results of the X-ray, so never officially confirmed that the rib was actually broken. Do you think it was? [more inside]
posted by catatethebird at 6:50 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by catatethebird at 6:50 PM PST - 13 comments
Movies for family movie night
The kids are 10, 8, and 5. Can you suggest some movies we'd all enjoy watching for family movie night? We've enjoyed Bednobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, Elf, Willow (though some parts were too scary). and various Disney animated movies.
Los Angeles Parking violations, tips to avoid worst case scenario?
Ok, well I'm not looking for sympathy nor do I need a lecture, (yes, my screename is ironic since I'm in this embarrassing predicament) but it's past time for me to renew my registration at the DMV yearly here in Los Angeles, CA, and after imputing my plates and vin number I was shocked to find out I owe roughly 1500 in unpaid tickets, fees, penalties, etc. [more inside]
Thanks for the job, so about my pay grade
I'm an archivist at a large university in the USA. I've been at my current job for a few months now and it's my first archives job since I finished my master's degree.
I am the first degree-holding archivist they ever hired. Before very recently, all the archivists at my department had been part-time students in the master's degree program here. One other archivist stayed on for a few months after she graduated last year. Whenever she finished her degree, she was given some kind of promotion or reclassification because of it. She was still a part-time hourly worker, but was being paid twice as much as the rest of us. What could that mean for me? [more inside]
Tool or software for comparing weekly schedules of a group?
I need an efficient way to break a class into teams based on schedules. [more inside]
Lawyer for a divorce, Bay Area (peninsula ideal)
A friend needs a good lawyer. [more inside]
weightlifting logging app for iOS?
I'm looking for an app to log my weightlifting workouts. Think Starting Strength or Bill Starr's 5x5 but with variations.
I've tried Strong for iOS and FitNotes for Android. FitNotes is close to my ideal, but I'm not on Android anymore. [more inside]
posted by zippy at 3:43 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by zippy at 3:43 PM PST - 5 comments
What breed of dog is this?
Trying to pinpoint my dog's origins. [more inside]
Seeking dermatologist specializing in "down there" problems
I'm pretty sure this describes what I'm suffering from (genital psoriasis). How do I find a Seattle-area doctor who specializes in this? [more inside]
posted by O9scar at 2:09 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by O9scar at 2:09 PM PST - 5 comments
Looking for art about time.
I'm fascinated by the subject of time and would like to explore literature, poetry, music and film that uses it as a central theme, but not necessarily in any overt way. As a point of reference, the Bukowski piece "Nirvana", which I find very moving.
Help me find more time-related art.
posted by davebush at 1:40 PM PST - 31 comments
posted by davebush at 1:40 PM PST - 31 comments
Multiple interviews in one week... How to handle current job?
Hi all!
Around 6 months ago, I took on a contracting/freelance (they use the terms interchangeably) position at a large company. Sadly, they have no intention on making the position permanent for any of the contractors in our department; this is in addition to me feeling the company isn't the right fit for me. As a result, I've started applying to other jobs. It's going surprisingly well and I've nailed down two interviews thus far... the problem, you may ask? How the heck do I get time away from my existing job? [more inside]
posted by theshmeek at 1:39 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by theshmeek at 1:39 PM PST - 13 comments
How to identify mystery "click-clock" sound on MacBook Pro (OSX10.11.2)
My 2011 15" MacBook Pro makes occasional "click-clock" sounds when I'm doing things. It sounds like the sound-effect of a radio button being changed or some other innocuous event, but it happens when I'm doing something else in another window (or even on another screen). It's not a sound I ever hear when I'm actually doing something that causes the sound. How can I figure out what it is? [more inside]
Nonfiction podcasts that are nothing like NPR or This American Life?
I've never bothered with podcasts because I hate NPR and This American Life (and TED Talks and Moth-style storytelling and John Hodgman, etc.) Part of it is the sound, and part is the emotionality (and/or cleverness) of it all. [more inside]
keeping secrets without going bonkers
I have been entrusted with a handful of REAL BIG SECRETS lately, and it's wearing me down far more than I expected or was prepared for. I'm not very well-practiced at compartmentalization, apparently, but I can't un-know the things, so I gotta get good at it in a hurry. I'm looking at at least another 2-3 months, depending on when/if these things are brought out more into the open. How can I get better at this? [more inside]
The most convenient way to play ripped or downloaded video on my TV?
Simple question, right? But wait, there's more...
In terms of convenience and family life, this is what's worked best for me in the past. Get a device (Samsung Blu-Ray player, e.g.) that plays all formats. Plug a hard drive or flash drive into device's USB port. HDMI cable to TV. Watch videos!
The devil is always in the details. [more inside]
Should I ditch my bike commute and walk instead?
I'm trying to look at my commute in terms of best fitness bang for the buck. Biking gets me there faster, but it probably delivers zilch fitness-wise. Help me look at this differently. [more inside]
Learning Latin, sans school
What are your suggestions/resources for learning Latin independently, outside of school? I am a beginner, with access to a well-resourced library and the Internet. I'll keep this question brief and general, since I am open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!
Doc for knee injury - better or faster?
My knee area started hurting after a long run. It slowly seemed to be getting better but suddenly got worse. I'm in moderate but not dire pain. I'm not certain if it's better to see someone soon or wait for a specialist. I'm concerned I'm doing more harm limping around on it. [more inside]
Mac photo organization for dummies
I am an amateur photographer, nothing more. All my photos are currently dumped into iPhoto, and I need tips for organizing them in a way that allows easy access. [more inside]
posted by reksb at 9:55 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by reksb at 9:55 AM PST - 2 comments
Riddles In Jesse Ball's The Curfew
Loons out under indelicate skies abate: a PICTURE of LOUISA was on a HOOK etc. Halp. Also, who else writes like this? [more inside]
posted by andrewcooke at 9:22 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by andrewcooke at 9:22 AM PST - 4 comments
What kinds of powerful telescopes did NASA have access to in the 1960's?
I'm curious as to what kind of powerful equipment NASA either had (or had access to) during the 1960's, which was considered among the best in the world for scanning the skies? And where were they located? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 9:21 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by egeanin at 9:21 AM PST - 11 comments
Unknown unknowns of baby #2?
My family is about to welcome child #2. We have a 2 year old who is about to be a sister. We have done some preparing, but not enough (did I mention we have a 2 year old?). What are your hottest tips 'n' tricks for making life easier in the 1st year of having a second child? [more inside]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:17 AM PST - 22 comments
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:17 AM PST - 22 comments
Name's bond, hydrogen bond
I'm looking for entertaining, science-review podcasts to prepare for the MCAT! [more inside]
My MacBook SSD is full. What are my options?
I am mostly a Windows guy, but I have a MacBook at home that's ended up getting more use than expected. We started using GarageBand and have a ton of photos and some videos as well. Now the smallish SSD is full. I plan to buy an external HD and move some stuff but am not that familiar with Mac file structures, so I don't know what's safe to move. [more inside]
posted by freecellwizard at 8:40 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by freecellwizard at 8:40 AM PST - 18 comments
Help me find the perfect lined boot for winter's special snowflakes
I need a moderately stylish, women's winter boot with a fleecy interior [more inside]
posted by scrambles at 8:26 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by scrambles at 8:26 AM PST - 8 comments
"How To" Regarding Plastic Molding
Ahoy, all.
I have an idea for a plastic, household whatchamacallit that would involve some large-scale plastic molding if the prototype proves successful.
I've yet to start researching this in earnest, but I've had good luck here, so I thought I'd ask:
Has anybody here worked with that industry? Large-scale plastic molding? Like for cups and plates and the likes? How does one go about getting a project done in that arena?
Thanks in advance,
rougy
posted by rougy at 7:29 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by rougy at 7:29 AM PST - 8 comments
My neighbor's dog hates my dog
A neighbor's dog completely and utterly flips out whenever my dog and I come within 200 ft of it. I'm worried about my dog's safety but I'm not sure what to do/say. [more inside]
posted by schroedingersgirl at 6:39 AM PST - 28 comments
posted by schroedingersgirl at 6:39 AM PST - 28 comments
Instant Pot recipes, please!
Intrigued by this comment, I recently purchased an Instant Pot. Please give me your easiest, most delicious recipes! [more inside]
posted by barnoley at 5:45 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by barnoley at 5:45 AM PST - 20 comments
Plain white sneakers for wide feet
I have wide feet (mens 12EEEE or 12WW). I wear sneakers most of the time when I'm not in motorcycle boots. I will not buy New Balance since my last two pairs both came un-stitched within three months of purchase and NB wouldn't do anything for me. I prefer old-school mostly white court shoes. Can you suggest a shoe for me? [more inside]
posted by DaveP at 5:08 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by DaveP at 5:08 AM PST - 8 comments
Securing custom MySQL tables in Wordpress
I have personal tables I'm using within the Wordpress database for my own data storage and manipulation purposes. How can I protect these *most easily* from sql injections and/or whatever other evil lurks? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:42 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:42 AM PST - 5 comments
Remember..... you will die.
Looking for a mechanical clock like the one seen in Ridley Scott's Legend (1985). It's a memento mori clock that Lily sees in the peasant cottage. Does anyone remember it? [more inside]
posted by Dressed to Kill at 3:32 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by Dressed to Kill at 3:32 AM PST - 3 comments
Preparing for a septoplasty
Next week, my husband is getting a septoplasty done so he can finally breathe and we might be able to finally sleep in the same bed if this helps his snoring. [more inside]
January 7
Buying a shelf company: Should I even bother?
I'd like to know if there's any benefit to buying a shelf company in 2016, particularly if the goal is to build a solid credit history fast (if not immediately). [more inside]
posted by CommonSense at 11:39 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by CommonSense at 11:39 PM PST - 3 comments
Non Profit v Social Entrepreneurship
A friend is considering starting a non-profit. Since the beginning, he's been thinking it will be a non-profit but recently, someone who specializes in helping develop social entrepreneurs told him that type structure would be better for this reason ... [more inside]
Help me find a way "in" to classical music.
I can seem to see what I think I should be seeing in classical music. [more inside]
Driving from Hilton Head SC to Orlando, anything in between?
This May we'll be driving from Hilton Head, SC to Disney World. Yay! With a 3-year old and a 9-month old. Uhoh! Where should we stop around mid-way to break up the trip? [more inside]
New Mexico Driving Advice re: Tomorrow's "Storm"?
Tomorrow night around 6pm, I am driving with my mom from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. My parents are watching the Weather Channel and FREAKING OUT that they think a coming storm is going to make our 1 hour drive impossible or *horribly dangerous.* Is this true? [more inside]
posted by aoleary at 9:20 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by aoleary at 9:20 PM PST - 8 comments
High Risk HPV Transmission
Can HIGH risk HPV be transmitted by performing oral sex? [more inside]
Tattoo stars sought
Tattoofilter: I have a bunch of moles. I'm considering turning them into a constellation. That's great, you say, just draw some lines between them. That's cute, I say, but I don't want to do that. I want to decorate individual moles gradually over time, so the constellation changes. Help me brainstorm small delicate designs that meet some or all of the following criteria: [more inside]
Optimal Order Management for magento, with barcode scanner?
We run a little store with lots of SKUs. Looking for the best configuration to manage inventory, accept orders, and generate shipping labels from bar codes. [more inside]
Non-Parent Needs Parenting Book Recomendation.
A family member has recently admitted that his parenting style is bad for the kid he's parenting, and that he isn't sure what to do instead. He liked the idea of finding a book with a set of parenting guidelines he could follow. I (a non-parent) would like to help him find one. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 7:51 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 7:51 PM PST - 17 comments
Looking for a bunch of nice blazers
I've decided to go for the "blazer, nice tee shirt, and jeans" look for work. Female. Where shall I shop online for blazers? Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
Answering the questions of a preschool scientist
I take care of a 3-year old boy who is extremely curious about just about everything. Sometimes, I'm utterly stumped. Help us learn together! [more inside]
posted by sucre at 6:30 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by sucre at 6:30 PM PST - 16 comments
lossy formats to minidisc, that bad? or equally obscure mixtape format.
Like alot of people over a certain age, I have a real fondness and nostalgia for making mixtapes (for myself at this point, since so few people have anything to play them on). Of course, I've used iTunes and Spotify and put tracks on memory cards etc etc but it's not the same thing at all. I'm looking to get something tangible that I can record and archive mixes to pull out and play whenever. I'm looking at Minidisc stuff on ebay, since I always liked them, but would be recording much of the material to MDs (lossy) from mp3s, AAC etc as well as higher rez formats. Would that sound ultra terrible? Should I just go back to cassettes? [more inside]
posted by tremspeed at 5:29 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by tremspeed at 5:29 PM PST - 7 comments
"Why am I so fat?"
I am what is apparently referred to as "skinny fat", meaning I carry most of my fat on my belly and have a high waist-to-hip ratio. I guess this is unhealthy (in addition to generally being unattractive). [more inside]
Where does one find under-the-sink storage trays?
I like the finished product of these sink storage trays, but I'm not prepared to make them myself. Where can one find them (or something similar) in Western Europe? Are they available online or in brick-and-mortar chain stores? Thank you.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 4:28 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 4:28 PM PST - 5 comments
Can you help me understand my Time Warner Cable internet bill?
I'm trying to help my elderly parents sort out their internet bill, and apparently I'm an idiot. Maybe you can explain it to me like I'm five? Details within. [more inside]
posted by bluecore at 3:48 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by bluecore at 3:48 PM PST - 8 comments
System for updating photoshop files/sales listings?
What's your system when you need to update a ton of photos for listings using photoshop? What's the most efficient way to do this? Can I reduce this workload? [more inside]
Tattoos and Fondue in Boston
Anniversary date concept: while in Boston, we get tattoos (each of us has a small, straightforward one we've been wanting) and then eat fondue. Ideally without spending an hour on the T in between. Where can our inky, cheesy desires be satisfied?
Business number of my cellular telephone
I'd like to get a "business" number that gets forwarded to my cell phone. I'd like text messages to be forwarded also. It be nice if I could specify that the calls are to be forwarded between 8am and 6pm for example. I'm in Canada.
posted by aeighty at 2:24 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by aeighty at 2:24 PM PST - 9 comments
How to make decisions while going through grief
Our sweet 7 year old kitty died yesterday after a fight with aggressive cancer. My spouse and I need to find ways to function. [more inside]
are my dining table requirements outlandish?
This is one those times I feel like there must be an obvious answer that everyone knows but me. I'd like to get a dining table that's not too heavy for two people to move; and is big enough to accommodate dinner guests; and which doesn't require tablecloths. How are these wants reconciled? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:08 PM PST - 33 comments
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:08 PM PST - 33 comments
Is it really possible that the Moto G 3rd gen doesn't work on Spark NZ?
My mother has never had a smart phone before, and wanted to get one, but she's a pensioner who finds it hard to cover her daily needs so can't afford to spend more than the bare minimum necessary. I steered her towards the Moto G 3rd gen as one of the best options in the low-cost range, and helped her buy it online so she didn't have to pay the $400+ actual shops here charge for it. Now that it has arrived, Spark NZ is apparently telling her it is completely incompatible with their network - that she can't even make phone calls or send SMSes on it. I have never heard of that before and can't find any reference to it in NZ forums. Is it really likely? [more inside]
posted by lollusc at 1:55 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by lollusc at 1:55 PM PST - 14 comments
Help weave my interests and experiences into job possibilities!
I've had several careers (or jobs) that seem very different from each other, and I have an educational background which is equally varied. I'm looking to possibly embark on a new path, but need help figuring out where I'm going exactly. [more inside]
Photo sharing for an event: 2016 edition
Looking for the latest answer to this ongoing question: what's the best/easiest site/app for people to upload event photos (probably, but not necessarily, taken with their phone)? It would be great if there was an "invite your friends" feature.
What's that faint red glow on the movie theater screen?!?
A small theater chain claims that their digital projectors produce a slight red glow that's visible on the screen and affects all of their auditoriums. They claim that it's so faint that hardly anyone notices it. I did and it bothered me the whole movie. What's going on there? [more inside]
posted by Jamesonian at 12:58 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Jamesonian at 12:58 PM PST - 7 comments
Cambridge/Boston date night - for fussy eaters?
I'm visiting my boyfriend in the Cambridge/Boston area, and am trying to plan a fun date night. I'm vegetarian, and he's gluten free, dairy free, and has some other allergies. I'm very happy with cheese and nice cocktails, he's usually happy with fish or chicken and cooked green things. Any ideas of a good Friday night place? [more inside]
posted by beccasaurus at 12:55 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by beccasaurus at 12:55 PM PST - 17 comments
Dumb Amazon Affiliate question? Where is the short amazon URL?
I was listening to the Question of the Day podcast and heard them plugging their Amazon affiliate url: earwolf.com/amazon which redirects to a surprisingly short Amazon url... Did I miss that short Amazon url when I signed up as an affiliate? Does metafilter have a short amazon affiliate URL? Is it just amazon.com/?tag=metafilter-20 ...?
posted by mhh5 at 12:46 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by mhh5 at 12:46 PM PST - 2 comments
Final term, college senior. What do you wish you had been told?
About 4 years ago, I asked what not-entirely-obvious advice you wish you had been given when starting college. My daughter appreciated your responses so much that she's asked me to ask the same question, but this time she's in her final term of college. [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 12:34 PM PST - 37 comments
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 12:34 PM PST - 37 comments
I'm worried about being a successful woman when it comes to dating.
At 24, I worry about how to present myself without coming across as intimidating to men. [more inside]
What do you know about intensive couples therapy/retreats?
Have you attended an intensive couples therapy retreat, or gone through an intensive couples therapy experience? Do you know about outstanding programs that are worth traveling for? Please, please share with us. My partner and I are going through a crisis, and we're looking into intensive couples therapy and retreats to jumpstart our work.
We are interested in considering all excellent programs, but we are also open to hearing about terrific therapists in the Chicagoland area who may be willing to work with us intensively. If you worked with an amazing therapist in the Chicago area, please let us know. We are having a super difficult time right now and would be grateful for information and recommendations. [more inside]
How do I find volunteer actors in Rotterdam?
I need some Dutch-speaking actors for a multi-media, animated, science fiction (?), art project I'm working on. Complications: very little money, and I (sadly) don't speak Dutch. [more inside]
posted by crookedneighbor at 10:39 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by crookedneighbor at 10:39 AM PST - 4 comments
Deeper Mac Networking Question
Has anyone else heard of a "problem connecting to the server" since upgrading to El Capitan? (With apologies for the length.) [more inside]
Ideas for your (small) dream kitchen
We're getting ready to gut and replace our 12' x 13' DC Capitol Hill rowhome kitchen. What are the little things you like in a small kitchen, or that you wish you had done? [more inside]
posted by zap rowsdower at 10:30 AM PST - 70 comments
posted by zap rowsdower at 10:30 AM PST - 70 comments
Any opinions on using DotNetNuke (DNN) for a site build?
A client is considering moving their marketing website (which I manage day-to-day) from WordPress to DotNetNuke on the advice of a tech consultant. If you have experience with DNN, pros and cons would be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by madamjujujive at 10:23 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by madamjujujive at 10:23 AM PST - 9 comments
Paris thrift stores
Where are the best second hand stores and thrift shops in Paris and its environs?
Where Does the INDIAN Mega-Wealth Come From?
So I'm just doing a bit of research right now on wealth and came across a few documentaries on India and the mega wealthy there, with the caste systems and the great divide between them. My question is how did the mega wealthy get that way? How did they accumulate such fortunes?
posted by watercarrier at 10:06 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by watercarrier at 10:06 AM PST - 6 comments
Help me replace my shoes?
About two years ago I bought these shoes (Gentle Souls Iso Jane) in pewter, and pretty much wore them into the ground. I assumed (wrongly) that it was a neutral enough style that they'd still be in production, but not only is that not the case, I can't find anything similar. I've had an eBay search going for months, and nothing is turning up in my size (7.5 / 8). I would love to somehow replace them. [more inside]
Why, exactly, does this scarab say 'Isordil'?
This scarab has been in my family's house for as long as I can remember, and was apparently a gift to my grandparents, who were amateur entomologists. As far as that goes, it makes sense. I haven't been able to figure out why it has 'isordil' on the front, though - google gives me angina medication exclusively. I'd love to hear any ideas!
posted by sagc at 10:00 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by sagc at 10:00 AM PST - 9 comments
How do I best list my vacation property: Airbnb vs Vrbo?
What is the best practice for listing a vacation property online, right now? Is one of the services better than the rest, or do I need to maintain pages on all of them? [more inside]
Name that artist who submerged a room in a museum installation?
I read an article about an artist who built a living room inside a glass enclosure that was periodically filled with water, I think as a visual representation of the housing mortgage crisis and the huge numbers of households "underwater." [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:14 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:14 AM PST - 5 comments
Resources for healing a troubled community group
Trying to heal conflict and build shared, stable and inclusive leadership in my troubled hobby group. I have high-level one-to-one people/communication skills but no experience wrangling groups. Your resources appreciated. [more inside]
posted by stuck on an island at 9:03 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by stuck on an island at 9:03 AM PST - 4 comments
Help me find an ankle surgeon in Columbus Ohio that can see me soon?
I had an appointment with a surgeon, waited 3 weeks, and now they postponed my appointment another 3 weeks. Help me find someone else? [more inside]
Do I need a Superfund to clean up my kids’ shoes?
Do those flash shoes and flash toys represent an environmental hazard? How should they be disposed of safely? [more inside]
posted by littlewater at 8:57 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by littlewater at 8:57 AM PST - 6 comments
Taipei or Seoul for a pre-Japan side trip?
We're going to Japan! My partner and I are taking a two-week-plus trip in late February centered on the Kyoto Marathon (Feb 21) and trying to fill out the remainder of our itinerary. We're getting into Narita airport (from the U.S. West Coast) at the head of Valentine's weekend and ...I don't want to go to Tokyo. But where should we go? [more inside]
Suggestions for 2-D post-processor to generate G-Code for turret punch
Any links to download free DOS software for a post-processor to generate G-Code for our old cnc turret punch? [more inside]
I need a good driving instructor in Toronto
I took a complete driver training program in Toronto. I had a bad experience. I still need more lessons, but don't want to continue with this school. Can anyone recommend a good instructor who can take me out driving, for a reasonable rate? [more inside]
Where can I buy this hat?
A friend recently left her beloved new hat (this one) at a restaurant. When she went back to look for it, a server said that someone had already taken it, claiming it was theirs. I'd love to find her a replacement. [more inside]
posted by Asterism at 7:33 AM PST - 9 comments
posted by Asterism at 7:33 AM PST - 9 comments
Switching from VPS to AWS, where to ask questions?
I am thinking about migrating my websites from a VPS server to Amazon's EC2 t2.small. I find the whole process a bit daunting and am looking for a good place to ask questions. Do you have any recommendations? [more inside]
Cancer troubles vs relationship troubles?
Boyfriend has colorectal cancer and I am starting to struggle to support him as I feel increasingly resentful and like I'm losing my own life to support his. Please help.... [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 7:07 AM PST - 17 comments
posted by starstarstar at 7:07 AM PST - 17 comments
Overthinking a plate of bubble and squeak
Wondering about an odd bit of dialog (spoiler-free) in Downton Abbey, Season Six, ep 1. [more inside]
posted by thebrokedown at 6:47 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by thebrokedown at 6:47 AM PST - 8 comments
I would like to own a hedgehog. What do I need to know?
Hedgehogs: they are so cute. I hear they make a good pet. What do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by sutel at 5:07 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by sutel at 5:07 AM PST - 10 comments
Recommend a Book on Law, Religion and Rule in Ancient Society?
I'm looking for a somewhat academic book on the inter-relations in ancient societies between the functions (or functionaries) of religion, law, and the "state" (or rule). Particularly something covering Sumer (and Cuneiform Law) and delving into Judaic Law and Christian law would be good. [more inside]
Who can name this game from the late 90s?
I played it in 1998-1999, using my PC with a 3DFX card. The character was controlled from a first-person perspective in 3D, and the game was very immersive - you were walking around a planet, with grass and water. There were bunny-like animals that wandered up to you; you could kill them (though that wasn’t the point of the game). That’s just about all I can recall. Any ideas, guys?
posted by scrm at 3:24 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by scrm at 3:24 AM PST - 4 comments
Books, films and television to pair with a rancid fever
I've come down with a full-on flu, and despite my best efforts, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I'm basically couch-ridden and very, very feverish. Help me find media to consume that won't weave itself into my horrific fever dreams. [more inside]
London hotels - dark, indulgent and luxurious?
For Mr. Rose Selavy's birthday I want to take him somewhere for the night, somewhere dark and luxurious and indulgent - http://thewitchery.com would be our dream. Except we can't get to Edinburgh so am looking closer to home - London or south east England. [more inside]
How to design a centralised, continuously updated image library?
I would like to have regular access to my OS X image library that is being kept on my Macbook using 'Photos' by the other machines within the home network, preferable without using Icloud Photo Sharing but with a NAS/Timecapsule. [more inside]
posted by fordiebianco at 1:47 AM PST - 2 comments
posted by fordiebianco at 1:47 AM PST - 2 comments
Okay, but am I *really* invited to your wedding?
A few months ago I got an invitation to the wedding of an old friend. ("old"=we were close friends a long time ago; I've seen him two or three times in the last decade and we're barely in touch online). It's far away from me, and we're not close anymore. Does he actually want me to come, or is this just a thing people do? The RSVP date is next week, so it's decision time. [more inside]
False flag or red flag?
Would you decide to stop seeing a medical professional because he is a mass-shooting truther? [more inside]
The self-perpetuating nature of academic disciplines?
I don't know whether that's the right wording, but it seems that it's common in academia for scholars to have a vested interest in their discipline (or a department, or method, or theory) being considered relevant or important. As a consequence, academics might over-emphasize, sometimes blindly, the importance or relevance of their own disciplines, which can lead those disciplines to continue surviving past their relevant value. My question is - does anyone know of any literature that discusses this phenomenon or better yet, uses quantitative methods to show that it may or may not be happening? [more inside]
check-in question about airports
I need to fly out of Portland, Oregon on a 6 am Delta flight. Can I check-in the night before around 10 pm and get my luggage checked too? [more inside]
posted by colfax at 1:11 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by colfax at 1:11 AM PST - 6 comments
What rights do I have in this situation?
I have signed a 6 months lease to share an apartment with another person that I found through an ad. He has now had a third person move in "temprorarily". It's been 2 weeks and the third person has no clear plans to leave. [more inside]
January 6
Graded course in accounting, statistics, calculus in Sydney?
I'm looking for a course (preferably a few months, not a degree) to count toward grad school requirements and to help my application. [more inside]
Printers are the WORST
My parents need a new printer. Printers are proof that the Devil is real. Plus, I'm the tech support and I'm 1600 miles away. Please help this not suck, for them or me. [more inside]
posted by Dilligas at 8:31 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by Dilligas at 8:31 PM PST - 21 comments
sweat 'er
Can anyone identify the glorious sweater in this photo? I would like to buy it at the sweaterery from which it came
posted by threeants at 8:24 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by threeants at 8:24 PM PST - 13 comments
How do we decide whether to move back?
Two Canadians, living in Australia for the last several years. We've built a good life here, but are constantly homesick. We both go through periods of wanting to move back, but hesitate as soon as we need to make an actual decision. Have you been through this? We need your guidance. [more inside]
posted by third word on a random page at 8:08 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by third word on a random page at 8:08 PM PST - 15 comments
Help, my work is stuck on a second screen
This feels like a silly question but - I disconnected my computer from the monitor when leaving work, and now when I try to open an Excel document it seems like it's trying to open it on the monitor. I tried restarting the computer but it doesn't help.
Other Excel documents open fine, it's just the one that I had on the monitor. [more inside]
posted by sweetkid at 8:04 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by sweetkid at 8:04 PM PST - 14 comments
How is a chargeback a scam?
My credit card was compromised - but I don't get it, the scammer got nothing. Explain to me how this works... [more inside]
If you have achalasia/dysphagia, how did/do you treat it?
If you tried drugs, which ones were useful? For how long? If you had procedures, which one(s)? Good/bad? Thx!
[way more stuff inside, if you are medically inclined] vv [more inside]
It's a...were-something, maybe?
There has got to be a Japanese word/term (from anime maybe) for a girl/cat shape-shifter, right? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 5:10 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by j_curiouser at 5:10 PM PST - 10 comments
New laptop hard drive transition
Just got a new laptop but my old laptop's hard drive is better. How do I switch new laptop to booting from old laptop's hard drive while keeping all the files? [more inside]
Should I give a LinkedIn reference to someone I don't rate?
I was head hunted by a recruitment agent through LinkedIn about 6 months ago, which has resulted in me starting a job I LOVE this week.
Today the agent called me up and asked me to give her a LinkedIn reference . I felt a little on the spot so I said yes. [more inside]
posted by Dwardles at 3:31 PM PST - 19 comments
posted by Dwardles at 3:31 PM PST - 19 comments
Can my employer make me sign away my workmans comp rights?
I work for a small business - a small chain of used bookstores. Recently, I broke my ankle. It was a home accident; I took a week off & then went back to work with a boot on my foot, crutches and a mobility knee scooter. My boss now wants me to sign a 2 page document in deepest legalese which, as far as I can tell, releases them from all liability of any kind if I hurt myself further by working while injured OR hurt anyone else (by running them over with my scooter?) This document would appear to never expire & says that I can never claim workmans comp, or, interestingly, that if I should die, my heirs cannot sue them. It also says that if I don't sign it they want me to go on unpaid leave until I am fully recovered. Under the ADA, aren't they supposed to make allowances for me? I am not asking them to pay for anything or even provide anything. [more inside]
What’s your favorite smooth writing pen?
I have liked Pilot’s Precise V7 for the past 20 years, but the latest batch I bought seems to have irregular ink flow. A couple times a day, the normally-smooth ink dries up a bit and needs to be coaxed out, looking like this. I have a pretty light touch when I write, and when the V7 works it’s the best thing ever. These dry spells are bumming me out, though. Has quality control on these dipped recently? Is there another kind of ballpoint pen with the combination of smooth ink flow and a fat line I like? I lose pens on the regular, so I’m looking for something that I can buy in bunches and keep around.
posted by migurski at 2:45 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by migurski at 2:45 PM PST - 24 comments
Where can I find cap sleeve sweetheart neckline dresses?
Where can I find cap sleeve, sweetheart neckline dresses like this but better quality and more casual (like a floral print or sundress)?
How to print a sketch of a photo on canvas?
I want to take a photograph of my cats and print it onto canvas as a "sketch," so I can paint over it at a paint-and-sip party. How do I do this? [more inside]
Where should I live in the DC area?
Have an interview for a DC-area job, want to start thinking about whether this would be a good move or not. Help me think about this. [more inside]
Dating a good friend's ex-girlfriend
Two friends of mine broke up a few weeks ago. I've been friends with the man for something close to a decade but became good friends with his then girlfriend over the last year, as well. So it was only natural that me and her continued to hang out, unexpectedly (for both of us) getting closer to each other. We're now at the beginning of a relationship ourselves - not knowing what to do with her ex/my good friend? [more inside]
Be a good person or a good employee
I recently found out that a department head at my office has accepted a position at a rival firm. No one at my office knows. Should I tell the division head? [more inside]
Optionally minded
I just received an offer for a tech job at a SF-based startup, with stock options. I saw this great Ask, which contains links to some valuable information on questions to ask. But I'm wondering: how many of those questions SHOULD a company be able to answer before I accept an offer? [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 1:32 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Sheydem-tants at 1:32 PM PST - 10 comments
Steger mukluks, plantar fasciitis, and New England winters?
So does anyone have experience/opinions about Steger mukluks, their utility in often-slushy New England winters, and any implications for mild plantar fasciitis?
(Fellow MeFite leahwrenn, I know, loves hers!) [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:18 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by wenestvedt at 1:18 PM PST - 8 comments
Winter climate forecast?
Can anyone point me to some good projections of winter weather 40-70 years out? I'm not able to follow the math used in the few reports I've found. All I want to do is hedge my bets when planting fruit and nut trees(50%), the nitrogen fixing trees(50%) reaching full maturity isn't as high a priority.
So will a future forest in the Ozarks look more like Wyoming or Mississippi?
posted by ridgerunner at 1:04 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by ridgerunner at 1:04 PM PST - 5 comments
Lock down my iPhone.
What can I do to make my iPhone more secure? Difficulty level: 1984. [more inside]
Help a Space Pirate recreate a Venusian shoreleave in his apartment
I'm looking for plastic, "realistic" plants that nonetheless look like they came from the jungles of Venus. Not the boring, toxic, crushing atmosphere Venus of pedestrian reality — I'm talking Edgar Rice Burroughs/SM Stirling "Old Venus" stuff, the lush, tropical, alien world filled with exotic life-forms & swashbuckling adventure for intrepid rocket-troopers to explore, raygun and boarding cutlass in hand. [more inside]
Minimal running shoes 2016 edition
What are some current minimal running shoes that don't have silly toes? [more inside]
posted by cmoj at 12:01 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by cmoj at 12:01 PM PST - 16 comments
TEFL certification online?
Which online TEFL certificates are accredited and legit for teaching overseas in either Japan or China? [more inside]
posted by Young Kullervo at 11:53 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by Young Kullervo at 11:53 AM PST - 3 comments
Portland to Wellington; comparison needed.
I need some assistance comparing Wellington, NZ to Portland, Ore, for the purposes of existing as a middle class family. [more inside]
Seattle in Summer 2016 - what's a don't-miss?
FamilyLucinda is planning a vacation to Seattle this summer. We have no real time constraints, so I'm wondering what sort of big events are coming to the city during July and August that we should factor into our decisions? Figure we'll hit all the big tourist attractions and museums already. Things involving the Arts & Crafts movement (particularly woodworking), bowling and roller derby are a definite plus.
What kind of yard person do I need?
We're looking to have our front yard re-done, and I'm not sure what type of person we need to hire. There are a variety of things that need to be done, and I'd like a single person to oversee it all, but I'm not sure what those people call themselves so I don't know what to search for. [more inside]
Urdu-English Translation Help
Google Translate and other online services are failing me. How would you translate this from Urdu to English? [more inside]
posted by *s at 10:31 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by *s at 10:31 AM PST - 4 comments
Need help identifying eyepiece from an old chemistry/science set
I have a small black eyepiece from my dad's old chemistry set. Its purpose was to teach about isotopes by showing a visual example of radioactive decay.
Any clues or knowledge of what the element inside is? Links to original documentation or similar sets? (Bonus question: This set is from the "our friend the atom" era, so, is it actually safe? I hope putting it up to my eye isn't like licking a radium covered paintbrush.) [more inside]
posted by BleachBypass at 10:12 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by BleachBypass at 10:12 AM PST - 6 comments
What was that book I saw about Not Giving an Eff?
For some reason I can't find the profanely named book I saw in the airport bookstore I saw yesterday - it was about not giving a f-k. [more inside]
posted by miles1972 at 10:08 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by miles1972 at 10:08 AM PST - 3 comments
Winter NYC vacation plans revolving around food, art, music, & history
I'll be in NYC from Jan 22 - Jan 24 and am overwhelmed with excitement and also panic about What To Do and What To Eat. Can you tell me what you love to do and eat given my wide range of interests? [more inside]
"Squeek," I say," SQUEEK!!!"
Why are all my shoes so squeeky? Do you have squeeky shoes? What causes this? How do I get it to stop?! [more inside]
One window won't open in my apartment, landlord won't fix - what to do?
When I moved into my new apartment, I discovered that one of my two windows won't open and it's the window that is not positioned to be blocked by furniture. This makes it difficult to air out cooking smells or enjoy fresh air and generally strikes me as a safety hazard. My landlord won't fix the broken window, so what should I do? Details inside. [more inside]
Will my stash stay safe?
Will TSA confiscate my emergency pain med pill box? [more inside]
My father made $500M. I made $500M. My sister made $500M.
Are there any available statistics on merchanise revenue broken out by Star Wars character? For example, I'm curious how much money the General Grievous character made Lucasfilm via toys, games and figurines.
Your problem is real but your solutions are racist
Are there any management courses or training programs geared towards a supervisor managing ESL employees with not-great English skills? Are there tactful methods of encouraging ESL improvement without singling out said employees? Employees are very educated white-collar professionals, no complaints there, but poor ESL skills are causing difficulty in communicating with the larger company. Also: aforementioned supervisor is a loved one whose frustration has started manifesting in some solidly racist rhetoric. Help. [more inside]
Combo feeding, las dos.
Expecting baby no. 2 any day now and this time we'd like to split the workload of feeding the baby. What do we need to know to make this work? What worked for you? [more inside]
Magnets, how do they really work anyway?
The magnetic car mount for my Nexus 6 is not playing nice with the wireless charger I got over the holidays. I do not want to compromise and yield either of these wonderful devices as a sacrifice to the gods of incompatibility. Any tips on how I can make them both work to the best of their respective abilities? [more inside]
If I didn't need food to live, I probably wouldn't eat
I do not like to cook or prepare food. It's a character flaw, I realize, but for whatever reason I don't like to spend time on food. This leads to me eating out a lot, just because it's simple. I'm looking for foods that are healthy, filling, but also have the lowest prep time possible. Non-perishables would be a plus. I'm also fairly active, so high energy foods would be good as well. Am I asking too much, or are there foods that fit the bill?
posted by holmesian at 7:49 AM PST - 44 comments
posted by holmesian at 7:49 AM PST - 44 comments
What animal is tis desiccated carcass?
A friend snapped this photo and is wondering what it is. [more inside]
London touristing for the older and non-English speaking tourist
Looking for suggestions for London touristing in March. We'll be with a 65+ couple who don't speak English and one of whom has some fatigue and mobility (no assistive devices) issues. What are some fun things for us to do? They'll be staying with us in central London and we're right on the Northern Line. Bonus points for free/low-cost activities and vegetarian eats.
Thanks!
Great Feminist Discussions/Dissections
I have to give a 45 min lecture in a week, on any subject of my choosing, semi-academic. I'd like to present a feminist discussion/dissection of cultural material (books, movies, songs, even court rulings). I have access to a university catalogue. [more inside]
Folder colours in Windows 7
Is there a way to apply colour to folders on a file server? Preferably colours are only visible to me, not to other users accessing the server. Using Windows 7 machines.
Odd jobs at the harbor?
So I'm working on a piece of fiction, in which one of the characters needs to have a job at the harbor... [more inside]
January 5
What do we eat to balance the chocolate?
My partner and I are going to to a 3-day "Chocolate Fest" for research purposes and expect to end up sampling lots of chocolate. What can we do to reduce the impact of all that theobromine and caffeine? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 11:01 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by sibilatorix at 11:01 PM PST - 13 comments
Dear Copious Notetakers: Organize my notes
Help me develop a system to organize my hard copy and electronic notes. I am forgetful and need to be able to find my notes! [more inside]
Best yarn for dog sweaters for daily wear?
I need to knit/crochet my dachshunds some sweaters since regular dog sweaters aren't long enough for wiener dog body shapes. Our dogs would wear these every day (not just as occasional costumes on holidays) and thus these sweaters would be subjected to a lot of wear and tear and go through the wash frequently. What kind of yarn would be best for this particular application? Thanks!
posted by Jacqueline at 10:30 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Jacqueline at 10:30 PM PST - 9 comments
Sexual abuse recovery chaos
This is me. In the two weeks since writing that post, I've talked to my partner and have had my first session with a therapist who specializes in sexual assault. Right now I feel like I am going crazy. What's going on? [more inside]
Yet another "identify this mystery object" question - treen edition
My dad found this wooden object at a market. He's quite delighted with it, and wants to know what it is.
It was labeled a "treen" - which the internet tells me is a "generic name for small handmade functional household objects made of wood"- so I presume the seller didn't know what it was either. Our best guess is that it's a tool for crushing/flattening/pounding something (cracking nuts?) - but we'd love a more definitive answer. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by une_heure_pleine at 7:55 PM PST - 14 comments
posted by une_heure_pleine at 7:55 PM PST - 14 comments
Good small world map?
Where can I buy a printed wall map smaller than 24x36 inches? [more inside]
posted by Bufo_periglenes at 7:37 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by Bufo_periglenes at 7:37 PM PST - 3 comments
Daily Rules to Function By
I'm writing this question because I have not put a set of sheets on my bed for about a year. I have clean sheets. I wash my comforter and pillows regularly. I just need a rule for actually putting the sheets on my bed! Here on MeFi there was a rule that helped me so immensely in terms of cooking and cleanup that I now actually cook and keep my kitchen clean ("Rule: Cooking is not finished until the cleanup is finished"). Can I get some rules for putting sheets on my bed, or life in general? [more inside]
posted by charlielxxv at 6:52 PM PST - 41 comments
posted by charlielxxv at 6:52 PM PST - 41 comments
Unfamiliar email in form autocomplete- how freaked out should I be?
I'm worried I've done something deeply stupid and potentially made my PC vulnerable. Full details below the fold. [more inside]
Wanted: Sad Electric Organ Music
I love, love, love melancholy or sad songs that feature an electric organ, but I stumble upon them infrequently. Could you help me find more? [more inside]
posted by Synesthesia at 6:11 PM PST - 16 comments
posted by Synesthesia at 6:11 PM PST - 16 comments
Help Me Remember This Movie, It's driving me nuts!
Thre's a movie I remember watching on cable way back when I was a kid. [more inside]
Grocery delivery or other services in Richmond, CA?
Can you recommend to me a way to buy, from my living room in Portland, OR, a gift certificate for grocery delivery or other useful services for a friend with mobility issues in Richmond, CA? [more inside]
Long shot: What was this dadaist book?
I recall seeing a book about art, dada, and language, but can recall little about it. On one page, the author used several different fonts on several words to express a rhetorical point. It was a paperback, and I am relatively but not completely certain the edition belonged to a classics republishing company like Penguin or Vintage Books.
posted by solarion at 5:33 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by solarion at 5:33 PM PST - 4 comments
Forwarding email from Google Apps at the admin level
Is there a way to have an employee's email forwarded to another email in our business domain, at the admin level? Google Apps. [more inside]
posted by Zosia Blue at 5:27 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by Zosia Blue at 5:27 PM PST - 9 comments
Help Me Set Up a Newish Cellphone
My phone has had a series of mishaps over the last few weeks, and now I must get a new (to me) one. I have Sprint. If I were to get a used/refurbished Sprint iPhone from Gazelle or similar, how would I set it up to work with my Sprint number? Is this even possible? I do not want to have to go to a Sprint store, and I would prefer doing everything online. I need very basic step-by-step instructions. [more inside]
posted by bluefly at 4:42 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by bluefly at 4:42 PM PST - 5 comments
Best eye-opening personal stories you've read online?
Where you come away thinking 'huh, didn't know that things could feel like/could be like that' . [more inside]
iMovie won't recognize my Aperture or iPhoto library
When I try to browse photos or videos from iPhoto or Aperture in iMovie I'm unable to do so. The libraries are greyed out. I've Googled and tried stuff to no avail. Help! [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 4:31 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by bondcliff at 4:31 PM PST - 6 comments
Temporary housing in Canberra
My sister-in-law and her family (hubby and 2 kids < 3 years old) are going to be in Canberra on sabbatical this year. Help us find somewhere to live! [more inside]
Why would my computer hang and reboot in Windows but not Linux?
About a year ago I made the mistake of building a computer myself. One motherboard and 12 months later, I have a crash that happens consistently in Windows but never in Linux. [more inside]
What app can I use to make 25 iPhone video clips into one long video?
I have about 25 clips recorded with my iPhone that are about 20 seconds each and I want to edit them into one long video, what (free) app can I use to do that?
posted by kikithekat at 3:32 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by kikithekat at 3:32 PM PST - 5 comments
Scared for my puppy, please help!
My beloved puppy (male, uncut, 9 months) is growling and being aggressive. We received a call from our apartment manager that there had been a complaint. I am terrified that this will happen again and they will try to evict us, or report him as a dangerous dog and try to kill him. Please help either with strategies or anxiety management or sanity check. I love him and am desperate. [more inside]
posted by corb at 2:35 PM PST - 72 comments
posted by corb at 2:35 PM PST - 72 comments
How do self-employed people manage sickness with their workload?
I've worked for myself (consultant; home office) for the last two years and I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with illness. If I don't work, I don't get paid, but if I don't take a break, I won't get better. I struggle to figure out what is "coddling myself" and what is restorative rest -- and how to ease back into the routine when I'm on the mend but not at 100%. If you're self-employed, what do you do when you're sick? [more inside]
I'm not really sure what happened... bipolar disorder reared its head
I have bipolar disorder and everything fell apart. I made straight Fs in school because I laid in bed for two months. I became more delirious and started hallucinating recently. Love of my life left. What the hell do I do now? [more inside]
posted by squirtle at 2:21 PM PST - 32 comments
posted by squirtle at 2:21 PM PST - 32 comments
Breaking up is hard to do
My phone service is VOIP through Comcast/Xfinity and, for the most part, I'm satisfied with it. But I keep having a recurring and troubling problem with the other person breaking up after about one hour; usually more than an hour, sometimes a little less. Can anything be done? [more inside]
What should I do with one Saturday in LA? Plus subsidiary questions.
If all goes according to plan, I will be in LA for one Saturday in March (work related travel, spare day). I'll be downtown and will need either to walk, use a city bike or take whatever public transit there is.
What should I do? What should I eat? Should I buy things, and if so, what? [more inside]
Can my employer not reimburse me for work expenses if I'm late?
My employer is trying to screw me out of money I spent on a personal credit card for work expenses. [more inside]
How important is it really to skip a day between workouts?
I recently discovered that I enjoy swimming laps for exercise, which I am doing to get fit. However, I realized today that the ideal days for me to go to the pool are Wednesday before work, Thursday late-afternoon, Friday mid-morning, and Saturday morning. This is contrary to the notion of my youth that I should really exercise more along the lines of Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Is my Wednesday-Saturday plan potentially harmful? Should i not do it? It just seems that the better schedule is the one I would actually follow. [more inside]
posted by 4ster at 1:48 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by 4ster at 1:48 PM PST - 10 comments
Upgrade my bean bowl and noodle soup! (No sugar and salt edition)
I've been trying a no sugar/complex carbohydrates diet by dumping vegetables and canned salmon together with beans in a bowl, or dumping vegetables and canned salmon together with shirataki noodles in a bowl and then pouring in hot water. This gets old, fast. What are some ways to simply upgrade the taste of my meals, without added sugar, simple carbohydrates, or too much added salt? [more inside]
posted by facehugger at 1:16 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by facehugger at 1:16 PM PST - 21 comments
What's a good hotel in London with very comfortable rooms?
I'll be in London somewhere around June 2016 and am looking for hotel recommendations. My stay will be approximately one week long. I will be spending extended periods of time in the hotel room working with one other person so I am primarily looking for hotels with very comfortable rooms. I would be very gratified if I could get some hotel recommendations in the 200 to 300 USD range (although if you happen to know of some amazing sub-200 USD hotel, please do tell). [more inside]
But it wouldn't mean nothing NOTHING without a woman or a girl
I'm scheduled to be on a panel about lack of women in senior roles within my industry. So I'm looking for pointers to articles, short podcasts, studies, puff pieces, reports, and just general interesting point of views on encouraging women into industries (from both women AND women). [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:17 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by anonymous at 12:17 PM PST - 15 comments
Help me buy this underwear from Turkey (or something similar in the US)
Once upon a time, I went to a Turkish bath in Istanbul where they gave out free women's underwear. I *love* this underwear and got 10 more pairs like it for 1 euro each at the bath before I left. It's the only underwear I've ever had that fully covered my butt, stayed there all day, and didn't dig into my sides. It's made by the Turkish brand Belinay. Can you help me get more like it? [more inside]
What's the closest offline notebook like Circus Ponies?
Circus Ponies Notebook is now defunct.
Does anyone have a suggestion for an offline outliner/notetaker/todolist that's similar? [more inside]
NYE party is over, ants. Please leave!
I got ants since New Year's Eve. They don't seem super-interested in the Terro traps. Now what? [more inside]
Criticism of value investing
I’ve just read “The Intelligent Investor”, which lays out a fairly simple investing philosophy. Warren Buffett describes it as “buying dollar bills for 40 cents”. It seems more reasonable than much of what I read in the financial news, and certainly more reasonable than the way people think about investing in the tech world.
But the fact that it seems so sensible to me makes me nervous. Its proponents are very confident and it seems like confident people often lose their money. [more inside]
We need professional Karaoke machine, with some specific features
Namely, rack-mountable, smart phone controllable, HDD storage capable. [more inside]
perfect lips even after i kill a man
I absolutely love the CoverGirl Outlast Lipsticks (this kind, with the wand and the separate moisturizer). I love a good deep red noir lipstick. But they only offer a few colors, and I want more choice! [more inside]
Am I about to die?
I have a history of frequent ear infections, and am having one right now. When they happen, I get antibiotic drops for the ear(s) and Tylenol 3 for the pain as needed. Normally I don't have any adverse reactions. I used both last night with no reaction. This morning, I put in my ear drops and took some Tylenol 3, and then about an hour later I had a sudden onset of symptoms I have never experienced before. [more inside]
posted by Lokheed at 9:28 AM PST - 23 comments
posted by Lokheed at 9:28 AM PST - 23 comments
line drawing comic with ludicrous email suggestions
I remember a drawing with some people in a meeting with the absurdity ramping up until people are suggesting that someone take a photo of something to fax it and then email it. One of the figures grows fangs and looks over the top. I can't find this, and I can't even remember where I read it. [more inside]
posted by bleary at 9:13 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by bleary at 9:13 AM PST - 6 comments
How is this a scam?
I received a major credit card that I didn't apply for. WTF? [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 9:02 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 9:02 AM PST - 14 comments
Severe car accident & injuries, unquestionable fault - get an attorney?
I am helping a family friend who was in a severe car accident. She is not a native English speaker and has zero experience with lawyers. I have worked with them plenty in a business setting, but never around personal injury. There is no question of fault and she has injuries that will impact her for life. Should we try to negotiate with the insurance company ourselves and save the 30% fee an attorney would take? [more inside]
Should I confront the man who sexually assaulted me 14 years ago?
When I was 15, my summer camp counselor manipulated me into having sex with him. I got him fired. We now live in the same city and have overlapping social circles. Should I contact him? [more inside]
What kind of map is this and where can I find it?
I'm looking for maps that shows isolines for the distance to shore around the world. There are products like this, but they effectively show distance from airports, not the distance from the shoreline. Any ideas where I could find these sort of maps online?
Is there a specific name for this type of map to make searching easier?
posted by cardboard at 7:29 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by cardboard at 7:29 AM PST - 5 comments
Help me avoid the wrath of the taxman
My payroll taxes were messed up. You are not my accountant or tax lawyer, but what/how do I need to file? [more inside]
Is speech pathology an option?
Is speech pathology a viable career option for someone with a slight stutter and mild high-frequency hearing loss? [more inside]
posted by jejak at 6:27 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by jejak at 6:27 AM PST - 7 comments
Practical Tips for Time Travelers
There appear to be a lot of versions of the Lord's Prayer out there. In Europe, between 1400 and 1700, how much did it vary over time and between locations? Did every place/ time have a canonical version or did it vary by sect? Is there a map or resources that show how translations shifted between times and locations? [more inside]
posted by oryelle at 5:08 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by oryelle at 5:08 AM PST - 5 comments
Why shouldn't we frame climate change as a national security issue?
I'm writing an article about climate change in relation to terrorism for my college newspaper and came across a Wired article which said:
Then there’s the fact, says [Joshua] Busby, that framing climate change as a military issue could lead to military solutions, not environmental ones. (more from the article in the extended explanation section)
So my question: what would be some effective ways to defend his argument? Can anyone cite instances in history that would support this? I can't seem find anyone else who shares his sentiment. [more inside]
posted by defmute at 4:25 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by defmute at 4:25 AM PST - 16 comments
Can I add a preview image to a video post in tumblr?
This is one of those questions that's probably simple once you know how but almost impossible to Google. I have posted a video to a tumblr, yet it shows up on my tumblr site as an unadorned black rectangle with a white 'play' triangle - hardly very tempting or interesting. Is there a way of adding a preview image, either a still manually cropped from the video or automatically generated?
Recovering emotionally from an ill child in the hospital
My 15 month old was seriously ill and admitted to the hospital through the ER. I am having trouble breathing through the anxiety and fear. Do you have any experience/advice beyond or in addition to therapy? [more inside]
I Forgot (Or Maybe Never Learned) How to Talk to Other People
I didn't talk to other people for six months and now I offend people constantly. How can I ease back into being part of humanity and learn to talk to people in the future without completely alienating them? And perhaps recommendations for etiquette books that are suited to modernity so I can start by having a crack at those. [more inside]
Problems with my therapist. Is the answer still "therapy"?
I'm completely confused and upset about recent developments in my therapy, and I don't know if I should continue it or not. I'm sorry but this is loooong, and there's really no good TL;DR I can come up with.
Please be gentle; I realize I'm possibly wrong about everything, but I'm feeling fragile right now. [more inside]
Treating and preventing breaststroke knee?
I've recently added some breaststroke swimming to my fitness routine, which previously just consisted of road cycling, walking and a little yoga. Now my knee is hurting. YANMD, and YANMSwimmingCoach, but how can fix this and stop it happening again? [more inside]
posted by A Robot Ninja at 3:01 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by A Robot Ninja at 3:01 AM PST - 6 comments
How to market remote software development coaching services in Europe?
I have a small training business and I'm looking for ideas on how best to market it. We put together custom courses based on our clients' technology stacks, and offer one-to-one remote coaching to their employees (new hires, cross training, advancement). We are based in Europe and want to market to companies in large western European cities. [more inside]
posted by jpziller at 1:49 AM PST - 1 comment
posted by jpziller at 1:49 AM PST - 1 comment
January 4
Adjusting from 9-to-5 to ?-to-??
I recently left my 9-to-5 job and have a lot of guilt about setting my own schedule! Help? [more inside]
Help me debug Dropbox on my Mac
Dropbox seems to have put me 500G over my internet usage limit. Please help me debug, and explain to me gently if there's something fundamental I'm not getting about Dropbox. [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 9:41 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by zadcat at 9:41 PM PST - 6 comments
Can you help me explain diabetes to a cranky old guy?
Family member (FM), mid-seventies, healthy (some mild arthritis), stubborn. Talked into getting blood work and doctor exam because of family history of kidney problems. Kidneys are great, everything is great, except his blood sugar levels. Doctor says "diabetic," FM very resistant to diagnosis, doctor unable to explain in a way he can understand. I'm the one he talks to most freely, so ... how do I explain this when I don't understand it very well myself? Seeking explanations, and sources if possible. [more inside]
posted by kestralwing at 8:55 PM PST - 21 comments
posted by kestralwing at 8:55 PM PST - 21 comments
What was the business that let actors use their address to receive mail?
I am half remembering an interesting fact...please help me remember the whole thing. I seem to remember their was a business (a bar maybe, or a store chain?) that had a policy of allowing actors without a permanent address to receive mail at their business. I think it is/was a long tradition, can't remember if the business was related to theatre or not. Thanks!
How do I easily transfer contacts from my old sim to new nano sim?
I've recently bought a new iphone 6S. I'm currently using my very old sim which has all of my contacts stored on it in a Samsung smart phone. What is the easiest way to transfer all of my contacts to the new iphone, taking into account the fact that the old sim card doesn't fit?
posted by h00py at 7:32 PM PST - 5 comments
posted by h00py at 7:32 PM PST - 5 comments
civil service oral exam advice?
I'm taking an oral exam later this week for a civil service management position and amlooking for suggestions on what I can do to prepare. [more inside]
posted by sepviva at 7:24 PM PST - 1 comment
posted by sepviva at 7:24 PM PST - 1 comment
Who has a prescription pad?
I remember a family member talking about a specialty of medicine that can prescribe medicine to humans without being a physician (or under the oversight of a physician)? In addition to a doctor, pyschiatrist and dentist, who can prescribe medicine in the U.S.? [more inside]
My apartment lights dim briefly when the elevator starts running
Should I be concerned that my apartment lights dim momentarily when the building’s elevator is activated? [more inside]
posted by germdisco at 5:52 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by germdisco at 5:52 PM PST - 8 comments
Can we use this German iPhone 5s on straight talk?
Question for a German foreign exchange student with an iPhone 5s and an O2 Sim card. Would like to use this phone in the USA but only need it for one semester. Is it possible to buy a sim card / then prepaid plan from Straight Talk (or any other bring your own phone no contract service)?
posted by J0 at 5:44 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by J0 at 5:44 PM PST - 3 comments
Wedding reading that compares love to travel/foreign countries
A very close friend (American) is marrying someone from another culture (Iranian), and they currently both live and work in another country (Singapore). They love to travel and neither of them are religious (in fact, both are atheists.) I'm helping them design a wedding ceremony and am looking for a non-religious poem or reading that compares love to the experience of travel and/or encountering new cultures. I've searching online fruitlessly. The couple seems not to like Rumi-style romantic poems, so something more wry/modern would be great. Thank you MeFi!
I need two of these to mount a soapdish. What are they?
I bought some vintage soap holders. They have some kind of slide mounting. I need some new ones but I don't know what the name is for them or where you get them. They look like this: PICTURE. So what are they and where do I get two more?
Cancer After-care
My dear cousin is in Durango, Mexico and is recovering from breast cancer. She's had some standard treatment, but she has questions. [more inside]
Where was the effing monkey?
Back in 1999, there was a website with a game. The aim was to find a monkey in a tree. If you won, you'd get $10k. Did anyone actually find this monkey? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 4:21 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by popcassady at 4:21 PM PST - 9 comments
What are some interesting examples of a culture changing its mind?
I'm working on a project that explores culture-wide examples of how wrong becomes right (and how right becomes wrong). [more inside]
posted by Lownotes at 3:35 PM PST - 28 comments
posted by Lownotes at 3:35 PM PST - 28 comments
Um. So, Do Normal People Get Pimples on Their Scalp?
I pretty much always have at least one hair follicle on my head that's all plugged up with dead skin or full of backed up sebum or just generally gross and disgusting. I know this because I have trichotillomania. How can I keep my scalp healthier (and therefore keep my compulsions under check)? [more inside]
posted by Juliet Banana at 3:13 PM PST - 27 comments
posted by Juliet Banana at 3:13 PM PST - 27 comments
Completely clogged drain.
How can I unclog my completely clogged bathtub drain? Will a zip-it work in this situation? [more inside]
Odd Animal Out. Which species are not like the rest of their kind?
Any examples of animal species that are vastly different or behave differently, eat differently than the rest of their species. [more inside]
How to get from Kansas City to Joplin, and back again?
My wife and I need to get from Kansas City Airport to Joplin, to visit elderly relatives, but we've just found we probably can't hire a car. [more inside]
Are there any good "puppetmasters" in fiction?
I have been binge-watching The Flash and it got me thinking... Characters who are manipulative, adept at lying, deeply skilled at reading people and pushing their buttons, who might be called chessmasters or puppetmasters always seem to be evil. Are their counter-examples, though? I can think of charming rogue types who are good at lying, but I think that's a different archetype. I'm open to any form of media--books, movies, comic books, operas, etc., even real historical examples. Preferably "good" characters, though neutral works too.
Winter weekend adventures/essentials in Portland
I'm looking for fun excursions, eateries, etc to undertake during MLK weekend in Portland OR with my wife. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 11:52 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by miltthetank at 11:52 AM PST - 8 comments
What's a good book or resource for understanding weather?
This is one of those writer questions. I'd like to develop a good working knowledge of weather and weather patterns that would enable me to...
1) Quickly come up with a plausible climate for a given latitude and geography.
2) Get a good on the ground sense of weather. (The more sensory details, the better). I basically want to be the old person who looks at a cloud and knows it's going to rain, and I want to know the variations in clouds, wind, how the air smells, etc. Like most authors, I want to sound like I know what I'm talking about.
I've read through some basic weather and climate textbooks. They do give a general systemic description, but I'd like more narrative detail, if possible.
posted by Alex Haist at 11:50 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by Alex Haist at 11:50 AM PST - 12 comments
Coding for idiots?
I want to make an app for my own use. I know basically nothing about coding and don’t know where to start. [more inside]
A fat man's north opens and he wanders over and turns the Liza over...
Looking for all East End London crime film recommendations beyond the usual suspects. Even if they're absolute crap films. [more inside]
posted by kuanes at 11:17 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by kuanes at 11:17 AM PST - 8 comments
App for building an online shopping catalog?
I need to build an online shopping catalog (No Shopify--not what I'm looking for). I have a couple dozen items in the catalog that come in three colors. I need clients to be able to place orders in large quantities (like 1-250 items) but I'm not concerned about credit card processing. I just want an online app that allows them to view products and submit an initial order that's followed up with a personal phone call that allows me to upsell or suggest alternate product combos or flexible payment arrangement that fit their needs. [more inside]
What's this bogus campaign business card about?
Yesterday on the bus I saw a business card in the route map holder.
It says Sanders For President across the top, a logo of Bernie (presidential seal) 2016 in the middle which caught my eye. Under that the card then had the name Andrew Nelson, Vice Presidential Candidate (D-Illinois), a phone number and an email with a .biz address, a P.O. Box and then www.BernieSanders.com. [more inside]
posted by srboisvert at 11:11 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by srboisvert at 11:11 AM PST - 3 comments
Short trip to Mexico City, ideas welcome!
Yay! I have a short (4 days) visit coming up to Mexico city, leaving next week. I've got one day marked for Teotihuacan and another day for the National Museum of Anthropology and other museums in that area.
That leaves two days with little to no plans, any mefites with experience in the DF who could share their must do's?
Also, I am staying in Zona Rosa, planning on using the metro as much as possible for transport.
posted by Cosine at 10:21 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by Cosine at 10:21 AM PST - 12 comments
How to recover files from old CD/DVD-R?
I have a decent number of 10+ year old CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, and a few of them have started to go south. I'd like to pull off as much of the data as possible, even if it means an audio glitch or a corrupted bit of an image here and there. (Where at the moment, the OS X Finder just gives up and I don't get any part of the damaged file at all.) Is there an app or technique you would suggest for this purpose? [more inside]
posted by mboszko at 10:21 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by mboszko at 10:21 AM PST - 10 comments
Help me replace my busted Reef sandals
My sandals have finally started falling apart with the sole separating from the body and making walking more and more awkward. I'd love to find another pair that will also last me 2.5 years. [more inside]
Website managers - do you block web requests by country of origin?
Website and network managers - do you block web requests by country of origin? [more inside]
New Year, new job? But how?
I'm miserable at my job, but living in a small Canadian city makes finding something new that I'd like harder. How to get out of this and do something I will dislike less? Whiny snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 9:28 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by Kitteh at 9:28 AM PST - 11 comments
Home management company doesn't want to fix clothes dryer
Wondering about the best way to navigate this situation: I rented a house unfurnished with the exception of a washer/dryer, refrigerator, and microwave which were included "as-is".
The clothes dryer has never been all that great, but it seems to be dying. I'll put in a load, expect it to have been completed, but then come back to find them damp ( and with that awful damp smell in the clothes ) and have to send it through the wash again. ( and then through the dryer twice ). Its costs me time and electricity. [more inside]
posted by jason9009 at 8:57 AM PST - 20 comments
posted by jason9009 at 8:57 AM PST - 20 comments
Ice-melt socks on a metal roof.
We've got a low-pitched copper roof. We had a big problem with ice dams last year and want to try the "ice-melt in pantyhose" thing. But what kind of ice melt? [more inside]
posted by Right On Red at 8:45 AM PST - 4 comments
posted by Right On Red at 8:45 AM PST - 4 comments
Things to do in Denver when you're Married
My partner and I will be taking advantage of Colorado's unique self-solemnizing law, which allows couples to marry themselves (no city official or pastor or even witnesses required.) That means we can create a meaningful marriage ceremony that appeals to us and only us. Thing is, we're from the midwest and need some ideas of great places to wed in Denver. No traditional wedding spots needed. We like hiking and legal marijuana smoking. Difficulty level: we want to do outdoorsy things in winter or early spring. We also enjoy arts and culture events or sites. We need your amazing ideas please. [more inside]
Puree 3 gallons per week of food?
I need to puree and strain 3 gallons a week of food for family members with various medical conditions. This takes a lot of time with my standard 6-cup blender and hand strainer. Are there wonderful machines that will make my life easier? Anything that will lead to less batches? Quicker blending? Mechanized straining? [more inside]
posted by clawsoon at 7:42 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by clawsoon at 7:42 AM PST - 12 comments
In search of a sound system.
Can you recommend a sound system to hook up to a TV, our phones, and that also has a radio? [more inside]
How to rent a house when one of us has bad credit
My husband and I have been living in a 1 bed apartment for 2 years, and for the sake of our marriage, we need to move somewhere bigger. We're looking to rent for the next year or two at least.
I have a good credit record but my husband doesn't (his credit score is around 600, he has around $5000 in medical debt in collections dating back to a period 4-5 years ago when he was uninsured).
What are our options? [more inside]
How to send wine back to the US from abroad?
We're going to Australia and New Zealand and plan on buying a bunch of bottles of wine (say, a dozen). Is it possible to send them back to the US, and if so, how? More inside. [more inside]
posted by gchucky at 12:46 AM PST - 18 comments
posted by gchucky at 12:46 AM PST - 18 comments
January 3
Anxiety about the unknown
I am interested in hearing about how other professionals entrusted with the lives of others deal with the anxiety that comes with this responsibility... [more inside]
Help me figure out how to Do Shoes!
My feet and ankles are annoying. I cannot find shoes that are comfortable. Plenty of excruciating detail inside. [more inside]
posted by mysterious_stranger at 10:09 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by mysterious_stranger at 10:09 PM PST - 6 comments
What's worth watching these days?
What do you consider the most underrated TV show to air during the past year? [more inside]
Please help me keep warm this winter
I am in search of the perfect sweater(s). Not scratchy, gauzey, drapey, boxy, or itchy. This shouldn't be so hard, but it is. [more inside]
Looking for simple fleece convertible gloves
Please help me find something as similar as possible to these sold out gloves! [more inside]
posted by illenion at 8:59 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by illenion at 8:59 PM PST - 6 comments
What to do with a surplus of buckwheat cocoa nib cookies?
Due to some overambitious cookie baking for holiday baking exchanges, I have a whole batch of Alice Medrich's nibby buckwheat butter cookies hanging out in the fridge (recipe here). I've eaten my share and I'm getting bored with them—can you think of a good recipe to use the rest of the batch up? [more inside]
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 8:23 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 8:23 PM PST - 15 comments
How do you deep clean a vinyl shower curtain?
What should I do for a scrub or soak or other method that'll help get the job done? It's a vinyl curtain that's kind of stiff and hard to deal with (not cloth), and it's too big for my washing machine. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by atinna at 7:35 PM PST - 24 comments
posted by atinna at 7:35 PM PST - 24 comments
Streaming Romanian/Hungarian TV in USA
My MiL is coming to stay with us in late spring. She's older and speaks no English. So to make the days tolerable while we're at work and her grandson is in school, I need to get TV set up for her. She's a bilingual Hungarian from Romania. Some of her very favorite shows are in Hungarian, her native tongue. But she still likes to watch the news and whatnot from home, in Romanian. What are the current options for shows from these countries together or separately? [more inside]
Feelings of inferiority are messing with my mental health. What to do?
Some years ago a psychologist conned me into taking an IQ test. If that weren't bad enough, my test subscores ended up being, for the most part, horrible—nearly bad enough to put me into a percentile in which the 'intellectually impaired' are a part of. Though deep down inside I'm not convinced I'm the dolt I am on paper, these results have really fucked with my head and have made me spend much time questioning my intelligence. Really, all these results have done for me is lower my confidence and cause me a great deal of depression and anxiety that sometimes gets so out of hand that it leaves me feeling suicidal. And this I very well knew could happen. And I knew that receiving less-than-stellar results was highly possible due at least in part to my anxious nature which makes it hard for me to focus when around others. And I knew this would ruin me; and ruin me it has. Now the question is: can the damage be undone? [more inside]
Queen size quilt on a budget
Shopping for the home: I never do it. I'm looking for a deal on a queen size quilt/bedspread. Nothing too fancy. I've checked Amazon, SlickDeals, and Overstock, but feel like I'm missing something. What other budget-friendly websites for home-goods-type-stuff should I check?
"(S)he doesn't age. (S)he youthens."
Is it possible for a person to de-age significantly without resorting to cosmetic surgery or expensive dermatological procedures? [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:20 PM PST - 29 comments
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:20 PM PST - 29 comments
Where should I go on vacation with my Mom?
My Mom (a lady in her 50s) and I (a lady in her 30s) have a week to travel together in April. It needs to be warm, relaxing, and accessible from the U.S. east coast (MA for her, NC for me). In the past we've done Big Deal trips (India, France) but we don't have enough time for that kind of thing. We mostly want to relax, walk around and eat good food, but both like outdoorsey stuff and cultural stuff. We don't like big crowds or resorts. Where should we go?! [more inside]
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, I CALL DIBS!
What's the deal with announcing your own engagement and "stealing the thunder" of another wedding? What's the optimal way to set a wedding date with other people's weddings in mind? [more inside]
What can I make with leftover lamb?
I cooked a 6 pound boneless leg of lamb. It was delicious. But I have a lot of leftovers. What can I do with it? We don't mind eating it cold as is, but can I make it into anything? It's already cooked, so I'm not sure how to make a stew or curry with it. What should I do? [more inside]
Bank address when ordering 3rd party checks?
I want to order checks from a third party where it's not stupid expensive. There are blanks for "Bank Name" and "Bank Address" on the form. My bank is Wells Fargo (previously Wachovia, previously... etc.). Wells Fargo has many addresses--which one do I put here? (I do not have, and have never had, any Wells Fargo checks to compare to--my most recent checkbook was still Wachovia.)
posted by anaelith at 4:39 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by anaelith at 4:39 PM PST - 6 comments
Help me type with my inside voice
A billion years ago, when I had a rotary phone and a pet dinosaur, I learned to type on a manual typewriter. I, thus, type incredibly loudly. It bothers other people. I am looking for tips to retrain myself to type more quietly. [more inside]
posted by Michele in California at 4:19 PM PST - 10 comments
posted by Michele in California at 4:19 PM PST - 10 comments
Severing ties all the tie-me
I grew up in an abusive family. I haven’t spoken to my brother in forever. I plan to communicate minimally with my parents in the future.
But this isn’t about them. It’s about the fact that I deal with friendships a little strangely. I tend to cut close friends out of my life abruptly. [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 4:19 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by kinoeye at 4:19 PM PST - 13 comments
How can I repair fire damage on a powder-coated metal table top?
A burning candle wick fell onto the table's surface and there is now a faint, grey streak or spot that will not come off when scrubbed with a variety of cleaners. It has faded a bit but now no change is happening. Can it be repaired? [more inside]
What do like to see in a corporate tech talk?
I volunteered to give a talk at a large company about a piece of software. Not sure how to do this. [more inside]
Push It! Push It Real Good!
Baby Kitty is coming soon! I am putting together an irreverent playlist for my birthing experience (Enya need not apply). What songs are must haves that will make me laugh and help me concentrate on anything other than the watermelon ripping through my insides for several hours? [more inside]
Help me fix a slow iphone on wifi
My wife's iphone is slow on our home wifi network but fine everywhere else. Our other 3 ios devices also have no issues. I've run out of ideas. Does anyone else know how I can fix this? [more inside]
Identifying children's book where child chooses to be reborn
Can you help me identify this book from my childhood? I think it was a picture book, and there was a part where a spirit was choosing what planet, family, etc. to be reborn into. [more inside]
posted by phoenixy at 1:51 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by phoenixy at 1:51 PM PST - 2 comments
Ranking cities based on UX/front end dev job potential
My partner's job will soon relocate him to one of the cities in the list below the fold. I am a fairly early-career front end developer who also does a lot of UX design and visualization work, and I'm hoping to move somewhere with demand for such positions and (hopefully) an active community of developers. Can someone with experience working in web development in one of these cities offer any advice? I'd also appreciate more general help in how to do my own research on the career potential of the different places I've listed. [more inside]
posted by loquacious crouton at 1:29 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by loquacious crouton at 1:29 PM PST - 6 comments
Help me get rid of the light spot on my unfinished wood table.
I overscrubbed a section on my reclaimed wood table and now it's significantly lighter. Is there anything I can do to fix it or is it time for a professional? [more inside]
I want to donate blood. Or plasma. But I have questions...
i live in China and I am AB negative, a bloodtype that is rare here. A while back I required hospitalization and the staff implored me to come back and donate blood once I recovered. My understanding is that it's actually my plasma that is desirable. Is this true? And how much should I, a 6"2 male, agree to give? Is there anything else to watch out for?
What's this song played by a toy?
What is this song? A toy plays it (hence the sound quality), and I'm sure I've heard it before, but can't place it.
posted by keltanen at 11:42 AM PST - 3 comments
posted by keltanen at 11:42 AM PST - 3 comments
Gift for 10-year-old with budding interest in architecture?
What's a cool present for a girl turning 10, who's said she wants to be an architect? She has a particular talent for computers, but present could be inspirational (art book or dvd), or creative (but beyond tinkertoys). Her mom says to lean towards interior design, but that might be speaking for herself. I've googled around, but am hoping for insider tips.
Massachusetts - front license plate stolen on leased vehicle
My front license plate was stolen. The police officer who took the report said to go to the station on Monday and get a copy of the report, then go to the RMV for further instructions. The lease is in my name, but the registration is in the name of the lien holder, Nissan Finance. And since it's a lease, I don't have the title to the car. So, what do I need to bring to the RMV to deal with this?
Help me identify the lyrics in this old Henry Thomas blues song
Shanty Blues by Henry Thomas (1874-1930) has long been on of my favourite songs, but some of the lyrics are very difficult to decipher. I have transcribed what I can hear. Can you hear any of the missing lyrics? Do you think I have made any significant errors? [more inside]
Are there more apps like Neko Atsume?
The kids and I are really enjoying collecting the kitty cats, but wish it was a little more interactive. Can you suggest any similar apps?
posted by gryphonlover at 10:43 AM PST - 12 comments
posted by gryphonlover at 10:43 AM PST - 12 comments
Burst main water pipe + new heating system in condo... $22,000??
One of my family members lives in a nice condo but is living on a fixed income and doesn't have much in the way of savings. The condo recently had a meeting and informed its residents that they were being assessed $22,000 per resident for a new water + heating system or else they will be forced out. I know that YANML but do we have any recourse against this? [more inside]
NYC dance clubs for the music snob (future funk, nu-disco, French house)
Where in NYC can I dance to nu-disco, electro funk, French house, etc...? Are there specific DJs I can follow? [more inside]
Smoky but safe props
I need to find a way to mimic/craft a round cartoon bomb. How? [more inside]
posted by aaanastasia at 10:01 AM PST - 11 comments
posted by aaanastasia at 10:01 AM PST - 11 comments
How can I learn more about the US Senate's nuts and bolts?
I've read Caro's LBJ books and I find them fascinating, but in "Master of the Senate" I felt I missed something - LBJ is described as being a master of the parliamentary procedures, but also strategically ignoring some of the Senate's usual rules, I think mostly in doling out committee chairmanships without respect to the seniority system generally in place. But I don't think the specific maneuvers were ever really explored in depth. I'd like to learn more about the nitty gritty mechanics of the Senate specifically hoping to understand what LBJ did that was unusual. [more inside]
posted by mzurer at 9:59 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by mzurer at 9:59 AM PST - 5 comments
Do I know enough for geneaology research
Is it possible to do geneaology research knowing only a few names and cities of residence around a certain year? [more inside]
How has your extended family handled your poly relationship?
Asking for a writing project (not in need of personal guidance). Have you told your parents, siblings, aunts, etc. about your "other" partner(s)? How do you handle family gatherings/occasions, and more importantly, how much or how little have your (or your partners') family accepted it? For lack of a better phrase, what happened when you "came out" as poly? [more inside]
How to furnish a room to enhance creativity, specifically songwriting?
My wife is a singer-songwriter who typically composes and rehearses in our bedroom. The room is a decent size, with a bed, love seat, small desk and bay window. [more inside]
Name my project! Podcast feed delayer edition.
Please help me name my "podcast feed delayer" project. I'm working on a small spare-time project that proxies a podcast feed (or any RSS/Atom) but delays it by some amount of time, and can also reduce the interval between episodes. Use case: did you discover Welcome to Night Vale recently and want to start at the beginning, but don't want all old the episodes in your podcatcher right away, and instead want them to be doled out periodically (eventually catching up with the new episodes)? [more inside]
posted by Emanuel at 7:26 AM PST - 14 comments
posted by Emanuel at 7:26 AM PST - 14 comments
Replacing the rear seat of an '09 Prius
Is vacant apartment insurance even a thing?
Does anyone offer short term coverage for vacant apartments (in Indiana if it matters)? [more inside]
posted by Krop Tor at 7:06 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by Krop Tor at 7:06 AM PST - 7 comments
Child custody and school registration.
My 17 year old son has chosen to go live with his mother, and she now needs to register him in a Illinois Cook County public school district. She says that the district insists that she needs to have custody. We have joint custody, but I am the parent with residential custody. [more inside]
posted by Evilspork at 6:56 AM PST - 6 comments
posted by Evilspork at 6:56 AM PST - 6 comments
How can I export Google search results (URLs) to a text document?
A Google search for this turned up several methods that no longer work. Do you know one that does?
How to start over?
My husband and I want to sell our house, move, and possibly start new careers. We hope to do all of this within a year, and I am overwhelmed with where to start. [more inside]
posted by hippychick at 5:48 AM PST - 10 comments
posted by hippychick at 5:48 AM PST - 10 comments
January 2
Canadian alternative to American Express?
I am a longtime AmEx customer (nothing fancy, just a charge card) who just moved to the US from Canada and who needs a new credit card. I love the customer service of AmEx--I trust them, especially, for travel and for dispute resolution. So far AmEx Canada has been iffy (reasons below). I'm happy to pay an annual fee. What's my best bet? [more inside]
What pens & accessories should I get for sketchnoting & design thinking?
I've been digging into various design thinking techniques (lots of sticky note stuff and writing/drawing on flipchart paper) and also am starting to get into sketchnoting (for now, just personal use and not in front of people). I own some black sharpies in 2 thicknesses but that's it. What's on your must-have pen/marker/carrying case/notebook recommendation list for being able to sketchnote or facilitate a storyboarding/concept poster/etc exercise on the fly? I'm curious about specific brand and product recommendations; the pen universe for instance is really daunting!
Please help me find this obscure anime (~15 years old)?
Please help me find this obscure comedic anime I watched ~7 years ago. It's definitely not Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, but extremely similar in terms of comedy and characters. (Spoilers inside) [more inside]
posted by I made this account so Matt could have a $5 beer at 8:49 PM PST - 4 comments
posted by I made this account so Matt could have a $5 beer at 8:49 PM PST - 4 comments
Organize my closets!
I have a apartment with a lot of closet space but most of it is nonfunctional. Help! [more inside]
Make me aware of cities similar to Austin and San Diego so I can move.
I want to move to a warmer (or even hot) city in USA. I tried living in Austin Tx, but it was chilly sometimes in the winter. Help me find a city that suits my snowflake details inside. [more inside]
Oh yeah, baby, lemme see that colonnade
I enjoy looking at grand architecture. What movies can I watch that contain lots of architecture porn? [more inside]
New Year's Resolution: Track My Expenses Less Stupidly
I want to move on from my primitive checkbook, which necessitates a truly odious annual tallying/categorizing chore come tax season. There's got to be a better way! If it's an app, ideally it's one that works on both iPhone and Mac, and is as automatic as possible when it comes to totaling expenses in tidy little categories for my accountant.
Does anyone have suggestions?
Where to get a Honda Civic 2012 key replaced in the East Bay?
What is the cheapest place in the East Bay (or beyond) to cut and program a key for my 2012 Honda Civic? [more inside]
Can they charge for that? Understanding the U.S. health system.
Can a doctor perform a test without informing the patient that they will be charged? I'm new to the U.S. and have twice been slapped with bills for work that was done in the doctor's office, so I had no idea there would be a fee separate from the visit. [more inside]
posted by Miss Viola Swamp at 5:38 PM PST - 13 comments
posted by Miss Viola Swamp at 5:38 PM PST - 13 comments
How to quickly, but nicely, shutdown all diet/weight discussions?
I'm about to start up work again on Monday (after a relaxing break) and I am starting to dread having non-work discussions with my co-workers. Most of my co-workers seem to have no problem discussing dieting, weight, all sorts of health ailments, etc., but I *hate* discussing those topics with people. How can I shut down these discussions with my coworkers, without seeming uncaring or rude?? [more inside]
posted by modesty.blaise at 5:09 PM PST - 18 comments
posted by modesty.blaise at 5:09 PM PST - 18 comments
How can I take control of my photos for editting and uploading?
Up until a few days ago, I took lots of pictures on my iPhone 5, deleting the bad ones as I went along, editing several with apps, posting some to Instagram or Facebook, and then uploading them to Smugmug for categorizing, sharing and archiving. I have now added a Sony RX100III to the mix and after only a couple days am over my head in multiple copies of photos, running out of space on my phone, accidentally deleting photos I wanted to keep, not sure which photos I've edited and which I haven't. [more inside]
posted by ms_rasclark at 3:33 PM PST - 2 comments
posted by ms_rasclark at 3:33 PM PST - 2 comments
How to be (very, temporarily) alone
I'd like to go somewhere and spend a while (a few days to a few weeks) without seeing or interacting with another person. How, logistically, would I do this? Difficultly level: no car. [more inside]
Trying to find a particular kind of photo album (or scrapbook?)...
A decade ago, I bought two spiral-bound rectangular blank books, probably 10" x 14", with plain black covers and thick and heavy black pages inside. With the aid of photo corners, they made great photo albums. I've never been able to find their like since. Any suggestions on where to look, or what search terms to use when googling? [more inside]
posted by mylittlepoppet at 2:13 PM PST - 3 comments
posted by mylittlepoppet at 2:13 PM PST - 3 comments
How to retrieve a watch left in an Alamo rental car?
We rented a car to drive from Charlotte to Hartford and my husband left his engagement watch in the car, tucked away in a little pouch. I dropped off the car in Hartford this morning and by the time we discovered the loss it was already on its way to Newark, and no one in Hartford can say if they've seen it. Has anyone ever successfully gotten a lost item back from a rental car? [more inside]
Can YOU solve the mystery of the missing soymilk maker manual?
Bought a used soymilk maker at a thrift shop today. I've never had or used one before. I can't find any information about this model online (ESTAR ESM-1300S). I've emailed the manufacturer, but the company website doesn't lead me to believe response will be stellar. Can you help me find either a manual for this machine, or a generic how-to that will work for most soymilk makers so I can try this out within the return/refund window? Pics at this standalone webpage...
posted by Shepherd at 1:03 PM PST - 7 comments
posted by Shepherd at 1:03 PM PST - 7 comments
I'm grown... so what should I be now?
I'm mid-thirties, no debt or major commitments. In what career should I retrain? [more inside]
posted by crawfo at 12:27 PM PST - 9 comments
posted by crawfo at 12:27 PM PST - 9 comments
Stephen King filter: why Tony?
In Stephen King's "The Shining," there is a scene earlyish in the book where the parents (Wendy and Jack) take their son to a pediatrician. The doctor is asking them about Danny's imaginary friend Tony. The doctor says... [more inside]
posted by cakelite at 12:02 PM PST - 8 comments
posted by cakelite at 12:02 PM PST - 8 comments
How should I look for an apartment convenient to Harvard med school?
My cat and I are relocating from Seattle to Boston at the end of March. Help me decide where and how to look for an apartment when I visit for four days at the end of February. [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 11:05 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by Cogito at 11:05 AM PST - 16 comments
Questions about my power company's peak usage electrical billing
I'm finding this more confusing that it probably is, and in the process wondering how part of this doesn't amount to price gouging... [more inside]
posted by FireballForever at 8:29 AM PST - 19 comments
posted by FireballForever at 8:29 AM PST - 19 comments
Make Mac and cheese in advance?
Can Mac and cheese be made up and refrigerated a few hours in advance, then put in the oven?. [more inside]
posted by mermayd at 7:20 AM PST - 8 comments
posted by mermayd at 7:20 AM PST - 8 comments
What movies treat cash with realism?
You have seen them, the movies where the protagonist or infamous hero scores the cash. I won't bother with links because they are so ubiquitous. Fiction is only good if it is believable. In the denouement the lucky character walks off the screen, bag in hand. [more inside]
posted by woman at 12:09 AM PST - 38 comments
posted by woman at 12:09 AM PST - 38 comments
January 1
Engineering career change research - Phase 1
EE working in Naval Nuclear Power seeks a foot in the door of the Aerospace Industry. I've got no network in this industry. Would like to develop one. Not sure how. Is this even possible?
Do I have to go back to college? If so, what would that look like? [more inside]
Please help me not kill my cactus' baby
My beloved cactus has sprouted a baby and I think I need to remove it. Please help me not kill it. [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 8:36 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by Amy93 at 8:36 PM PST - 6 comments
Can an old Polycom Soundstation EX work with iPhone or VOIP?
Is there an inexpensive way to connect a Polycom Soundstation EX to an iPhone 6, or a low-cost VOIP solution through her MacBook air (or our desktop PC)? [more inside]
What can a thief do with my reasonably locked down Mac
My MacBook Pro was stolen last night. The disk was encrypted with FileVault and the login passwords were non trivial (good enough for petty thieves though probably not hackers skilled in the art). I told iCloud to lock it down and erase it on first contact. Will the thief and his friends be able to do anything with this machine, or is it just a paperweight at this point? [more inside]
posted by alms at 7:41 PM PST - 15 comments
posted by alms at 7:41 PM PST - 15 comments
Model Rocket Help
My son got a model rocket kit for christmas, he put everything together and it all seems correct, but, none of the 3 flights we have taken have reached optimal height. [more inside]
Gotta eat but nothing sounds good
I'm 16 weeks pregnant and my doctor was concerned at my appointment a few days ago because I've only gained 1.5 lbs. I haven't had much morning sickness or nausea but food just doesn't appeal to me. What am I doing wrong? [more inside]
Book of Native American Short Stories
My mother is looking for a book of Native American short stories that she thought was titled "Best Indian Stories Ever". (Indian = Native American in this situation). [more inside]
Bookcase room divider
How can I use bookcases as a room divider safely in earthquake country? [more inside]
Like Dorothea Lange, but inside and without people.
Please help me find photos of poor to middle class living space interiors, in everyday condition vs. spiffed up for the photographer, from the Victorian era through the 1940s? American settings primarily, Western Europe okay too. Stipulation: no corpses. [more inside]
posted by Lou Stuells at 4:54 PM PST - 11 comments
posted by Lou Stuells at 4:54 PM PST - 11 comments
Identifying Kitchen Floods: PAR38, R40, BR40?
What bulbs should I use to replace the overhead flood lights in my kitchen? Special snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by pbh at 3:34 PM PST - 6 comments
posted by pbh at 3:34 PM PST - 6 comments
Theme Builders: Which one (if any) to use?
Metafilter Wordpress peoples: Tell me of your experiences in using any of the following:
[more inside]
I want to make maps or solve mapping problems – what career is this?
I love knowing and finding where places are. Where is the capital city of Tajikistan? Where do the most car accidents in Miami occur? Where is there the most pollution in Rio de Janeiro? Where are there untapped oil reserves? Where are the largest ergs? Where is an earthquake most likely to occur? What I have wanted to do for a long time is either make maps or solve issues that require finding a location. What I don't know is how to get into a career doing this. [more inside]
Something like Zite, now that Flipboard has killed it?
I really liked the app Zite, a news aggregator. It was acquired and shut down by Flipboard. Unfortunately, Flipboard just doesn't offer the same range and depth that Zite did. I'm looking for a new Zite. [more inside]
60th milestone ideas for a woman
I've been through a rough year or so. Divorcing and it will be final sometime between now and my 60th birthday. I am happy with this change so that is actually a positive thing. However, I want to mark my 60th milestone birthday with something I'll always remember. I like to try new things and am a bit on the adventurous side. [more inside]
Name my threads
I'm getting sewing labels printed so I can proudly brand my work. Anything from dresses and shirts to curtains and baby bibs. What should I call it? And which company should I use? [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:09 PM PST - 17 comments
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:09 PM PST - 17 comments
Who made the joke about freebasing a cat?
The spouse and I both remember a comedian, probably in the 90s, making a joke about someone (probably Steven Adler) getting kicked out of Guns n Roses - it was just something like, "What do you have to do to get kicked out of Guns n Roses, freebase a cat?" [more inside]
Learning enough Japanese to read manga.
I'd like to start reading manga in Japanese. I don't know any Japanese. What's the best way to learn it? [more inside]
ID this sticker so we can stop tailgating
We are driving thru southern VT and NH and we keep seeing this square yellow sticker on other cars with what looks like a backwards 3 on it, mostly green but the bottom bit of the 3 is blue. And maybe some small writing below it? We can't get close enough to figure it out. And is driving (ha!) us crazy. Please help!
posted by danapiper at 11:04 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by danapiper at 11:04 AM PST - 7 comments
Do I own my emails and attachments?
Does Gmail and GoogleDrive own your stuff like Facebook does? [more inside]
posted by human ecologist at 10:22 AM PST - 7 comments
posted by human ecologist at 10:22 AM PST - 7 comments
Identify this 80's hip hop song
Friend has been searching for this song for years, and just came across an old cassette tape, likely recorded from the radio. [more inside]
posted by Neeuq Nus at 9:37 AM PST - 5 comments
posted by Neeuq Nus at 9:37 AM PST - 5 comments
tin whistle instructor in nyc to supervise relatively independent study?
I'd like to take up the tin whistle. Could anyone recommend an instructor in New York City? Looking for ear training, music theory, and sight reading in addition to playing the actual instrument. I think I would prefer individual instruction interspersed with relatively long periods of personal practice, but feel free to tell me otherwise. [more inside]
Why shouldn't I move from Austin to Albuquerque?
There are a lot of upsides - real estate prices, traffic, scenery. A few downsides - weaker job market, higher crime rate, but I can't think of much more than that. Why not? [more inside]
posted by Florida Lee at 7:47 AM PST - 16 comments
posted by Florida Lee at 7:47 AM PST - 16 comments
I like things that cause terrible suffering.
I really like watching MMA and Rugby. Both, particularly the former, engender a situation where thousands of kids put themselves at risk (especially of CTE) trying to 'make it'. The sports' governing bodies do little or nothing to compensate for the long-term damage those pursuits cause. Does it demonstrate a lack of integrity that I still support those sports despite knowing the negative impacts they have on people? [more inside]
Adressing emotional infidelity
I've been dating Laura exclusively for 6 months. She was recently vacationing at a resort without me, and I have found out that she spent a lot of time getting to know another guy in a pretty intense/intimate way. I don't believe she slept with him but I can't be sure. She has not talked to me about this herself, normally we share practically everything and have discussed the issue of exclusivity/jealousy in the past. She's omitting it in my case but has talked about it to others and this is how I found out. Now I can't shake feelings of hurt and betrayal and I'm not sure what to do with them. [more inside]
Resources on being kind to yourself
Several awesome responses have come in MeFi lately related to self talk and your upbringing. I have in my own head screamed yes to a few of these. [more inside]