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I'm nonbinary/queer but not out at work. I'm looking for scripts/ideas for how to politely ask coworkers to not address me as 'sir' in a way that doesn't directly out me or spiral into having to debate/explain gender in general or as it relates to me, specifically. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:08 PM PST - 25 comments

I've always been afraid of confrontations, whether it be minor things with strangers or having important conversations with loved ones (more detail inside). For those who have overcome such a fear, what resources have been most helpful? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:08 PM PST - 8 comments

A friend of mine offered to write a bio for my website. She turned in a bio that didn’t work. How can I let her go? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:08 PM PST - 7 comments

There are a lot of books out there on the topic. I’m looking for something engaging and with layman appeal.
posted by tenaciousd at 7:31 PM PST - 7 comments

I learned QWERTY keyboard layout in elementary school and have more or less mastered it at this point in life. I get about 70-80 wpm, and don't really need more. But I wonder about the benefits of alternative layouts like COLEMAK or DVORAK. Is there any research into the topic? [more inside]
posted by pwnguin at 6:27 PM PST - 18 comments

I’m almost positive I’ve seen something that has the song ‘Come On Let’s Go’ by Broadcast on the soundtrack and I can’t remember what it is. Apparently it’s in a French movie from 2001 called My Wife Is an Actress, but I know I haven’t seen that. Any idea what I might be thinking of?
posted by theory at 6:04 PM PST - 5 comments

A few years ago my partner took a DNA test with Ancestry and tried to build her family tree, but she hit a roadblock on her Mexican father's side pretty early on. Complication: father was undocumented. [more inside]
posted by E3 at 5:08 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm in a six-month-old relationship. Things are good -- except that I feel little physical attraction to my SO. This has been the case from the beginning, but I've been hoping that either it would change or I would be able to live with it. Neither of these seems to be the case and I'm feeling like I will have to break up with her soon. This would be very painful for my SO, who loves me, has little relationship experience, and has deep body image issues around the features that my lack of attraction is due to. How do I approach this sensitively and skillfully? [more inside]
posted by zeri at 4:55 PM PST - 35 comments

A company I work for would like to hire a contract web developer to replace a creaky old website. The project would essentially be to duplicate the existing functionality using a modern codebase and design. Can you personally recommend anyone, either specific developers or a hiring service like gun.io or Scalable Path? [more inside]
posted by jedicus at 3:41 PM PST - 2 comments

Things I, and my ex, are bad at: paperwork, multi-step problems, and bureaucracy. However, I'm ready to get this done! DIY? Lawyer? ...Paralegal? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:00 PM PST - 13 comments

Between internships and new job, I have lived in 5 Bay Area apartments within the last 3 years. None of them had overhead lighting in the living room or bedroom. All had overhead lighting in the kitchen. One had overhead lighting in the bathroom. I thought it might be age related, but the last internship had me in a brand new apartment building. What gives. I miss overhead lighting.
posted by apex_ at 2:57 PM PST - 27 comments

Last week I asked about videos, Meanwhile, my friend sent me copies edited to my specifications. I downloaded one of the suggested programs (freemaker) and while it downloads alright, it turns the video sideways. The sound (a big part of it) was also distorted. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 2:19 PM PST - 4 comments

What credit card companies have great customer support across the board? [more inside]
posted by marfa, texas at 2:01 PM PST - 15 comments

A cheap airfare to Sri Lanka in November appeared. Please help me sort out the monsoons. Many of the tourist sites handwave monsoons away and don't talk about November weather at all. This site says the South West Monsoon is from May to June AND October to November, and that the North East Monsoon is from October to November. Other sites say the monsoons are ending in November and travel isn't that bad. Please tell me about your monsoon experience in Sri Lanka in November. Also, do the monsoon rains go on all day and all night? Are there dry days in between rainy days? Are the monsoon rains all torrential downpours? I would rather have an occasional rainy day than total 100 degree plus baking sunshine.
posted by jointhedance at 10:49 AM PST - 3 comments

Help us develop or link to strategic planning questions or formats for a small all-volunteer NGO. [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 7:50 AM PST - 3 comments

How do you alleviate pain from a bruised nose while having a cold? [more inside]
posted by jmsta at 7:46 AM PST - 6 comments

When I start my medical residency training this summer, I’m going to need to get a new, lightweight laptop. MacBook Airs seem to be the most popular among the residents I know because of the form factor, but it seems silly to get a Mac when A) I’ll primarily be using it for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and B) all the presentation systems I’ve seen in hospitals are set up to work with PCs by default. What are the PC laptops that compete with the Air? Bonus points for options with an HDMI port.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:28 AM PST - 26 comments

I orgasm in my sleep with vocalizations. I'm a female aged 25-30. It's embarrassing and the only reason I know is because I've had family tell me. I don't know how to stop. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:18 AM PST - 20 comments

With Preview on a Mac, I can easily drag thumbnail pages on the left-hand side of the screen into a different order. I can also drag pages from one PDF into another PDF. I need to be able to do this on a PC right now, and the PDF viewers I have don't let me do this. What is the cheapest, most pleasant option?
posted by cincinnatus c at 5:15 AM PST - 10 comments

For mainly environmental reasons I’m trying to eat less animal products. As well as limiting the number of days I eat meat or fish, I’m aiming to be completely vegan a couple of days a week. As a part-time vegan, I’m not interested in getting into meat substitutes, vegan cheese, vegan baking and so on; for the moment, I just want to increase my repertoire of ‘normal’ recipes that don’t have animal products in. [more inside]
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 4:08 AM PST - 63 comments

Why would a US based retail site be so vigilant about blocking access to its site from outside the United States? There is a store that I frequently shop at both in person and on the web. I moved out of the United States a few months ago but continued to shop on the site using a VPN (because I noticed that without the VPN the site was blocked) and having orders shipped to my mom's house in the US where I was going to collect them when visiting. Now it seems the retailer has caught on to the VPN service I was using because all of their US based servers are also blocked. [more inside]
posted by WeekendJen at 11:54 PM PST - 27 comments

I'm going to Barcelona in a few weeks and thanks to other Asks, have a good idea of where to eat and what to see. But I'd love to hear your recommendations on where to shop in Barcelona and any fun souvenirs to bring home. [more inside]
posted by later, paladudes at 9:48 PM PST - 11 comments

Help me decolonise and broaden my Spanish learning. Details/snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by Tamanna at 9:40 PM PST - 15 comments

On Tuesday morning. X-ray. Note says 'intra-articular fracture through olecranon with displacement of 3-5cm. ER referred me to orthopaedic outpatient clinic, they will contact me in 4 business days. They're not answering the phone atm. [more inside]
posted by adept256 at 9:04 PM PST - 10 comments

Post 9/11, a sitcom I was watching had a scene where the characters from the show were in a bar (?) doing a skit/dance to Arthur's theme (Best That You Can Do). The song's chorus has a line about being caught between the moon and New York City. As far as I can recall the characters were just waving around a cardboard moon on a stick, and a cardboard silhouette of the New York skyline. [more inside]
posted by slightlybewildered at 8:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I snore, apparently so loudly that it makes it difficult for my partner to sleep. I've visited a sleep clinic and I am working a treatment plan with a doctor in the meantime my question is this: is it reasonable.to continuously wake a sleeping partner up throughout the might simply because they're snoring? My partner does this regularly, sometimes multiple times a night continuously. I know but snoring and sleeping is a big deal when sharing a bed with someone, but I feel like my partner is being a bit unreasonable. [more inside]
posted by CosmicSeeker42 at 7:31 PM PST - 46 comments

When I was of high school age (the late 90s), proms and sometimes regular school dances had themes. I am writing a story that needs to reference a prom with a theme now, in 2020. But...what is that? What are regular high school prom themes, if any, in the U.S. today? I am interested in regional differences too.
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:02 PM PST - 14 comments

Planning a weeklong trip to LA to see family and friends, and trying to stay in one place while there, hopefully central to the many places we'll be visiting. Difficulty level: reluctant drivers with young kids in tow. [more inside]
posted by BespokePuppet at 6:40 PM PST - 8 comments

How do I successfully migrate two very large Photos.app libraries of photos & videos to Google Photos? And how do you tell what pictures or videos the uploader missed, when it doesn't get everything the first time? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:56 PM PST - 4 comments

What do you use to hold reserved cooking liquid? Glass or ceramic might shatter from the recently boiling water and plastic could melt. Today I used a metal coffee cup, but what do most people use?
posted by soelo at 5:51 PM PST - 36 comments

Sometimes my body thinks I'm napping, but I'm trying to get a full night of sleep. [more inside]
posted by Feminazgul at 4:12 PM PST - 13 comments

I will receive an offer letter very soon. It is with a company with a very strong intent to IPO in the next 12 months. I originally asked for equity as part of the offer. However, this was turned down. Please advise if I should take what they offered instead or come up with a counter proposal. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:12 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm fascinated by art-o-mats and want to repurpose an old cigarette machine to dispense free books. Is there any cheap way I could print public domain books that would fit into the machine? I'd be looking for books that I can buy relatively cheaply (since I will be giving them away) that would be 3 1/4" x 2 1/8" by 7/8".
posted by arnicae at 2:44 PM PST - 3 comments

Help me plan a relaxing but fun solo birthday "weekend" in Portland, Oregon. [more inside]
posted by lunasol at 2:02 PM PST - 18 comments

It’s that time of year and I’m unusually stumped and empty-handed. For the past few years, I’ve gotten my husband something nice that is functional and good quality, in the $100-150 range, and sort of add to his enjoyment of doing something or make it easier/better. What could I get him this year? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 1:52 PM PST - 37 comments

How can we contact Amazon complaints center? or whatever it's called... [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 1:21 PM PST - 5 comments

I was asked to take text from smartforms and create an editable outline/spec document for updating forms with automatic numbering for newly-added parts + a table of contents and appendix. Seems like a thing I should be able to do in Word, but the numbering conventions aren't matching up, nothing is automating the way I thought it could, and I'm. So frustrated. Please help me to not throw a computer out a window? [more inside]
posted by adastra at 12:02 PM PST - 3 comments

Why have some animals' ankles evolved up to be where other animals' knees are, halfway between the body and the ground? Is there any pattern to which animals have the halfway joint pointing back and which have it pointing forward? [more inside]
posted by clawsoon at 11:50 AM PST - 7 comments

I’m determined to get a flu shot today. What is the best way to go about this and what can I expect? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 11:27 AM PST - 61 comments

How do you recognize stress in yourself? [more inside]
posted by aeighty at 10:15 AM PST - 26 comments

So this is threatening to ruin the rest of my day if I can't find it... It was a viral video from 10 years ago or so that was a self-produced music video of this midwestern farm boy type who was trying to get his girlfriend back - seemingly completely sincere. The video consisted of him doing all sorts of training and maybe there were swords at one point? [more inside]
posted by cusack at 10:06 AM PST - 2 comments

I have slight esotropia that my brain usually accommodates automatically. Lately it hasn't been doing that. Do I need to see a doctor, or am I just too tired? [more inside]
posted by brook horse at 9:54 AM PST - 5 comments

We will have a few days in Berlin in April with a crawling but not yet walking baby. What can we do with said baby, particularly related to dining, and suggestions for where to stay? [more inside]
posted by k8t at 9:00 AM PST - 8 comments

So first off, I'm an engineer, yeah big surprise there. As a result I tend to think about almost everything as an engineer. Trying to frame everything as an engineering problem is a source of anxiety for me, mainly because when I try to do this, and then real life doesn't turn out to follow my "engineering approach" then I get upset that I don't understand what's going on. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 8:56 AM PST - 24 comments

I am much more active in this election cycle. I'm getting out there, registering voters, spreading information about primaries and voting options, the works. But I can't shake the feeling that the entire democratic process is a sham. How can I recapture faith in the system? And more importantly, how can I convince others who express similar disillusionment? [more inside]
posted by FakeFreyja at 8:31 AM PST - 16 comments

If I were to take up game development for fun, what language/frameworks should I learn? [more inside]
posted by rpophessagr at 8:08 AM PST - 13 comments

Help me name my fictional [cult / brotherhood / organization]. [more inside]
posted by komara at 7:35 AM PST - 29 comments

These are the instructions that Amazon provides, that I have tried to follow to unsubscribe to their Hollywood Suite movie channel. They don't work. "Auto-Renew (select digital subscriptions only) - Use the Auto-Renew On/Off option to stop the recurring charge for your subscription or free trial before the renewal date. Note: To cancel a membership or subscription, select the link under Advanced Controls. For more information, go to Cancel Subscribe with Amazon Subscriptions." [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 6:37 AM PST - 5 comments

We're thinking about doing a road trip from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Bozeman, MT for our honeymoon in late August/early September. Recommend stuff to us? [more inside]
posted by marfa, texas at 6:35 AM PST - 10 comments

Following a situation with a foreign man, I seek online resources to share with him about interacting with and respecting women... [more inside]
posted by maya at 5:07 AM PST - 19 comments

Two physically active beginners want to live and learn Muay Thai for 2-3 weeks in Phuket, Thailand. Snowflake details inside [more inside]
posted by jander03 at 4:03 AM PST - 1 comment

There are a lot of commonly held ideas about metabolisms (esp with respect to age and eating habits)...I want to know what the real deal is [more inside]
posted by wooh at 1:05 AM PST - 12 comments

I've been offered a couple of tickets to a show in March. However, that location/artist uses yondr. What has been your experience with yondr and locations that use it? [more inside]
posted by jojo and the benjamins at 12:08 AM PST - 16 comments

I have no frame of reference for slow and steady dating or even the gentle development of love and intimacy. My parents met, went on a few dates, decided they were soul mates (they are), and that was that. Will you tell me about you and your partner's courtship, and how you let your love grow in healthy, happy ways?
posted by Kitchen Witch at 10:53 PM PST - 8 comments

We are thinking of setting up a home server for backups, media, pi-hole, and miscellaneous cronjobs. While we are both professional computer people, neither of us are sysadmins, and we're not looking for new hobbies either. How can we simplify, automate, and future-proof our server? [more inside]
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 10:17 PM PST - 13 comments

I have asked a professional astrologist to do my chart for the year and am now really traumatized and worried about what I've heard. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by longjump at 6:26 PM PST - 31 comments

I have to overhaul my mac drives, which provides an opportunity to review my processes. What power tools or apps do you use to make your life more efficient and/or pleasant? [more inside]
posted by jadepearl at 5:53 PM PST - 7 comments

Good evening Mefites. I was contacted on January 20 by Lowell Eifskumm (not his actual name) of Company X, a company based in Australia. He said he had seen my resume on the Career Builder website, and that he felt I would be a good fit for a remote job working as an Administrative Assistant. He interviewed me via online chat, and I was offered (and accepted) this "job". [more inside]
posted by DavidfromBA at 5:24 PM PST - 11 comments

Other than what I already (unsuccessfully) tried, is it possible to remove liquid stains from soft-sided luggage? [more inside]
posted by DRoll at 5:09 PM PST - 3 comments

I'd like to read Jonathan Coe's Middle England. How necessary is it to have read The Rotters' Club and/or The Closed Circle? [more inside]
posted by andrewesque at 3:42 PM PST - 4 comments

Can you recommend a relaxed bicycle tour route In Europe? Flexible on length (a week? More? Less?), time of year, and precise location. [more inside]
posted by no regrets, coyote at 3:12 PM PST - 12 comments

What can I pour down my sink to test my theory about the source of a bad smell? [more inside]
posted by rouleur at 2:28 PM PST - 19 comments

The foods in question: 2 plastic tubs of candied citron, opened, expiry date 2014 and 2016. 1 tub unopened candied citron, expiry date 2016. 1 tub candied cherries, expiry 2016. The only reason I am even asking is because sugar is a preservative, thus do these things really "expire?" I want to know whether to include some in my pound cake or not. Thanks.
posted by Crystal Fox at 1:59 PM PST - 7 comments

Last year I voluntarily resigned from my job as a designer - now that I'm starting the job-hunt, I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to convey the 1-year gap on my resume (don't explain vs adding a brief note about it). [more inside]
posted by bellalia at 12:49 PM PST - 13 comments

Yes, another headphone recommendation thread. I'm looking for over-ear headphones that are not noise-cancelling and are smallish relative to what a professional DJ would wear. Basically, I want quality sounding over-ear headphones, but I want to look approachable and be able to hear when someone is talking to me in my office.
posted by Think_Long at 12:25 PM PST - 10 comments

My students, grades 4-7, are interested to learn more about different African countries and people. Please recommend some short videos and documentaries (less than 50 minutes) filmed recently anywhere in Africa, that are suitable for kids and give a glimpse into everyday life. [more inside]
posted by mai at 12:01 PM PST - 6 comments

How much propane does my 500 gallon tank have left? I'm getting a new tank and would like some remotely readable gauge, some sort of networked gizmo. Do you know of a good one? (Note: this is not for small tanks you use with your grill). [more inside]
posted by Nelson at 11:12 AM PST - 12 comments

I can’t figure out the best way to handle a new challenge/horrible anxiety-inducing situation at work and I feel like my brain is being clouded by emotions… so I apologize in advance if this comes out jumbled. Please help me figure out the best way to handle this. [more inside]
posted by koolaidnovel at 11:07 AM PST - 8 comments

Should I do something about this persistent truck revving outside my office? [more inside]
posted by ODiV at 10:56 AM PST - 16 comments

I have had a longstanding issue with personal organization: tracking and remembering tasks, time management, and organizing knowledge are all recurring problems for me! I think taking a class online would help, but I am not really sure where to start. Snowflake details inside! [more inside]
posted by skookumsaurus rex at 9:44 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm trying to keep better track of people in my life, and I've found that putting people in my address book and assigning them a complex system of emoji helps me remember them all better. However, my current app isn't really made for what I'm doing with it, and it's got a few other frustrating aspects. I'm wondering if there's a better one out there. [more inside]
posted by shirobara at 8:55 AM PST - 3 comments

Firefox has locked up on my computer. I still have access to locally stored files and there is a replacement computer on the way. How do I move the stored emails and the address book from the old computer that does not have a functioning browser to my new computer? There fortunately is a copy of xplorer2 on the system that allows individual files to be removed to a flash drive. The system also is backed up on a Seagate Backup Plus drive. I do not know if the emails and address book will be transferred to the new system.
posted by Raybun at 8:41 AM PST - 13 comments

I volunteered to prepare a birthday dinner for someone who is turning 76. I have been given the theme "Trombones" for the dessert (and possibly dinner?). Help me make this amazing. [more inside]
posted by papergirl at 8:40 AM PST - 17 comments

My PCP has referred me to a cardiologist because I have PVCs and am interested in trying a stimulant medication for my ADHD (if it’s safe to do so, hence seeing a cardiologist). To help manage my anxiety about doctors, I would like to know what to expect when I see a cardiologist: tests they might run, what they’re checking for, questions they might ask. [more inside]
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 8:35 AM PST - 5 comments

I have N desirable things and N*3 people attending an event. My first thought was to have attendees draw lots or play Rock Paper Scissors to select recipients. What should I do that will not create awkwardness for /offend people prohibited from gambling? What is the traditional solution? What is the word for this type of distribution? [more inside]
posted by unknown knowns at 8:04 AM PST - 16 comments

What are some of your favorite games you need only your self and some other people/person to play? Example: telephone, hand slap game, chicken game where you hold one leg etc? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 8:02 AM PST - 15 comments

Help me find this article online! [more inside]
posted by 6thsense at 7:06 AM PST - 3 comments

I just got this little Akai midi keyboard so I can easily write music in MuseScore. What other free software can I get to use this thing to make music? Assume I know nothing about any of this.
posted by something something at 6:50 AM PST - 6 comments

Due to a scheduling snafu I'm working 6 days in a row from 8a-8p. I need to make some kind of dinner today that is tasty and energizing and will taste ok on day 6. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 6:15 AM PST - 19 comments

My fingernails have overgrown (I think?) cuticles. I would like to make them look nicer. Difficulty level: phobia. [more inside]
posted by daisyk at 4:04 AM PST - 14 comments

My father has dementia (at a mild stage at the moment) and has recently moved into supported living. He's finding it a bit difficult and I would like to send him small and reasonably inexpensive things by post every couple of weeks as a way to make him feel cared about. I already see him for one or two days each week and speak, text or email every day. His interests are science, books, history, engineering, sailing, gliding. Here's what I have thought of - what haven't I thought of? [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 2:53 AM PST - 18 comments

My wife recently began a job as a librarian at an elementary school in our area. She graduated with a Masters in Library Science about 10 years ago and this is the first job as a librarian that she's been able to land, mostly because jobs have been really hard to find in our area. She absolutely loves her job and I've never seen her happier. I want to get her some kind of librarian-related gift to celebrate, but I have no idea what to get her. Does anyone have any ideas?
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 2:43 AM PST - 20 comments

If i had two android phones, how can i set it up so that I can use them both interchangeably and if either is stolen, I can remotely wipe it and continue to use the other as if nothing happened? [more inside]
posted by gttommy at 1:41 AM PST - 5 comments

A person I care about has been diagnosed as bipolar with manic episodes that manifest in paranoia and conspiracy theories. I’m looking for input from people who experience similar things about how to communicate with this person in a way that’s effective and respectful. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:45 PM PST - 4 comments

[Content Warning] My BPD has turned me into a cutter -- years later than most people who struggle with self-harm. Help me get over the guilt and shame for what I've already done and get the courage to stop. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:45 PM PST - 10 comments

My son has a hard time getting himself to school in the mornings. Any suggestions for how he can cope with feeling overwhelmed so he doesn't procrastinate? [more inside]
posted by alicat at 11:18 PM PST - 18 comments

Why are the cherry tomatoes in store brought veggie crudite trays always terrible? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 10:40 PM PST - 7 comments

I am going into the field Thursday to record some on-site interviews. I have been testing the equipment tonight and can't seem to record any audio. What am I doing wrong? [more inside]
posted by zooropa at 7:13 PM PST - 6 comments

I was assigned male at birth (AMAB) and identify as a demiboy or non-binary masculine. (I use he/him pronouns.) I'm curious about microdosing estrogen to achieve slight facial feminization. What effect would microdosing estrogen have on my face and other parts of my body?
posted by fruitdroid at 6:40 PM PST - 3 comments

I'd like to send some thank-you treats to some groups of co-workers in Vancouver and Edinburgh. Thinking something like local cookies/shortbread/etc. delivered, but I'm based in the US so I have no idea what's good in town. Help me find some tasty goods to send to each office! [more inside]
posted by enigmango at 6:32 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking for places that do bulk orders of coffee mugs with wrap-around art... similar to the Starbucks "you are here" mugs. [more inside]
posted by Unsomnambulist at 6:29 PM PST - 4 comments

UX professionals: what are the best and/or most essential resources (books, online videos/online courses, etc) for self-learning UX Research principles and beyond? I’m aware of several, but I’d like some input from the hive. Prefer resources that focus on the UX Research learning path, but would also appreciate resources for learning the essentials of the UX Design path. [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 6:14 PM PST - 4 comments

So I had dinner at the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia the other day and they had this amazing tofu you could get as a protein with a salad. It was silky on the inside with a rich umami taste and had a thick, crispy crust on the outside that almost melted in your mouth. The crust had almost a crouton texture. Anyone have any idea how one might achieve that? I know they do a long marinade of the tofu and that the marinade contains soy sauce but nothing else.
posted by eleanna at 5:54 PM PST - 16 comments

I just want a PC that will, in the immediate term, play Witcher 3 with all of the best graphics mods (including the Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project, which I would need anything more powerful than a GTX 970 or AMD R9 290X, along with 4 GB of VRAM). [more inside]
posted by ggp88 at 5:19 PM PST - 8 comments

Help! I added twice the amount of molasses in the following cookie recipe - what do I do?!?! I finished steps 1 and 2 and I should have a nice bowl of cookie dough, but it’s more liquidy than it should be. Not quite batter, but not dough. [more inside]
posted by pickles_have_souls at 4:54 PM PST - 8 comments

Without getting into all the details, I am trying to understand these Doppler results. My regular doctor is just scratching his head and I don’t know who to ask about this. Basically I got these results; [more inside]
posted by DeltaForce at 4:10 PM PST - 8 comments

My kid has a school science event in 2 weeks. They were supposed to conduct an experiment in preparation for the event - observing how the bean plant grows towards the sunlight, going around obstacles. And then present their findings at the event, 2 weeks from now. (*) Is there any plant that would grow enough in 2 weeks for the kid to actually see what's happening with the light, the obstacles and the plant, or should we just watch a few sped-up plant videos on Youtube? [more inside]
posted by gakiko at 2:52 PM PST - 16 comments

Tradwives have popped up in the news media a bunch in the last two weeks or so. I have so many questions. [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 2:31 PM PST - 19 comments

My partner is going to Germany for work, (Hamburg, Frankfurt) and I impulsively bought tickets to visit. They were an unbelievable deal. The low cost is offset by the fact that the tickets don't go exactly where I need to be. There will be trains and buses involved. I don't speak German. Having never been to Germany, how feasible is this? [more inside]
posted by domo at 2:29 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm looking for ideas for things to do with my hands while listening to audiobooks so I don't feel fidgety. [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 2:12 PM PST - 20 comments

I am part of a new pilot project for how new hires are oriented to the division. The expectations are ableist. They will want my feedback and I cannot decide how honest to be. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 2:01 PM PST - 8 comments

I am an unpublished fiction writer who is lucky enough to have an agent who supports me. Last year, we sent my book to editors, but I wasn't able to sign a book deal. That's okay! It happens a lot to a ton of writers! But I've noticed a significant change in my ability to focus and write in the last year, and I'm struggling with guilt. [more inside]
posted by good day merlock at 1:06 PM PST - 14 comments

Assuming it travels at a constant speed for most of the trip up or down, what would it feel like to be a passenger inside of a space elevator car? [more inside]
posted by Narrative Priorities at 12:37 PM PST - 19 comments

Can you recommend (or just as useful, warn me off) some lash growth serums? I have (very mild) blepharitis and need to wash my lash-line with baby shampoo each morning, which over the years has left me with stubby, spindly lashes. I've had allergic reactions to lash-glue in the past when I used to wear extensions. Is there anything I should try?
posted by egeanin at 12:23 PM PST - 9 comments

When I'm composing an email in Outlook, I often need to paste a web address in the body of the message. How do I make Outlook allow me to type without creating multiple extra links? [more inside]
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:30 AM PST - 13 comments

I feel like I should start liking oatmeal. Help! [more inside]
posted by pdb at 11:00 AM PST - 59 comments

Do you know of any kosher restaurants that offer a pre-paid Friday night (Shabbat) dinner in NYC? The pre-paid is important because my guests do not use money on the Sabbath. The only place I'm aware of that offers such meals is Talia's, but unfortunately it's too far from where my guests are staying. Thank you!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 10:46 AM PST - 17 comments

I find interior makeover and/or decluttering or even cleaning videos soothing to watch, but only if they are more of the budget or DIY type. People with plenty of money buying expensive things or hiring experts / labor is much less interesting for me. What channels are your faves for this sort of thing? [more inside]
posted by taz at 10:30 AM PST - 11 comments

I, a grown-ass adult, have finally accepted that my mishmosh of jewelry would be better served inside an actual jewelry box, not the assortment of small containers & dangling nonsense I have going on now. Where is the jewelry box I need? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:09 AM PST - 15 comments

For a few years I've been using Hipmunk, not necessarily to book but at least to find out what's available between my base and a destination. Now Hipmunk has shut down and I'm lost. What are the good travel meta-search engines now? [more inside]
posted by Logophiliac at 9:46 AM PST - 7 comments

I would like to spend 20-30 minutes a day in my home with some kind of exercise routine that builds flexibility and strength, and I'm overwhelmed by the options. What would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by 2019 at 9:05 AM PST - 20 comments

A friend is trying to decide which to go to this summer. Are there any one-off special events happening in either of these two places in July/August? Family of four, two kids, aged 10-12 who like Lego, comics, nature, music and books. And the usual kid things :) The family will eventually visit both, but just wondering if there's anything that would argue for going in summer 2020. Thanks for any tips!
posted by storybored at 8:41 AM PST - 3 comments

I’m interested in reading about day to day life from people in the United States before they reached young adulthood. How was being too young to be employed or to vote dealt with? I want to learn about coping during the period of 2008 onwards.
posted by ayc200 at 8:19 AM PST - 1 comment

I just had a new door key cut, and it fits into the lock but can't actually unlock it -- I think it needs to be "broken in" because it wasn't cut exactly enough. What's a reasonably quick and easy way to do this?
posted by rue72 at 8:04 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm trying to change my max_allowed_packet but it keeps changing back and I have no idea why. And changing it might not even be the answer to the problem I'm trying to solve! [more inside]
posted by missmagenta at 7:56 AM PST - 4 comments

One of my employees mother passed away relatively unexpectedly and a group of employees at my job were getting together to pool some money to get her some flowers for her desk (I believe HR will send flowers to the funeral), a card and a visa gift card. Since I am her manager but also a personal friend, I wanted to also get her something as well. I know for me the best gifts were living plants, and she has a lot of indoor plants and takes good care of them. [more inside]
posted by hillabeans at 7:39 AM PST - 12 comments

On day 17 after buying my house, my sump pump failed. Thankfully the water entry in my finished basement was relatively minimal and I caught, fixed the issue very quickly. Though the failure was due to dislodging of the pvc pipe and not electrical related, I want to make sure I do what I can to be protected. What kind of backup do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by raztaj at 6:55 AM PST - 3 comments

In just about every single job I've ever had I've had unnecessary conflict with people. They're incredibly passive aggressive and find reasons to dislike me. I'm very quiet and non confrontational. I don't understand what's happening. How do I handle this? What do I change about myself to stop this from happening? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:04 AM PST - 34 comments

Are you an adjunct with a full time job? How do you grade? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:04 AM PST - 11 comments

Our town library is building out its Library of Things. What should it include? Can you share circulation stats or other specific inputs or resources to help optimize it? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 4:03 AM PST - 26 comments

I'm trying to find a BBC show (probably a half hour or an hour) which was about a process of randomly chosen and then vetted citizens discussing abortion. I *think* this led to the laws being liberalized. [more inside]
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 2:10 AM PST - 2 comments

In Chinese culture (and probably others), there is a strong belief that cold things (cold water, cold air, cold anything) will give you a cold, like, immediately. I have some questions around this belief. [more inside]
posted by wooh at 12:39 AM PST - 20 comments

I have never understood why Jesus' ressurection was as big a deal as everyone assumes. Yes, he suffered on the cross, but many people endure worse daily. Yes he died, as people also do; but he came back to life, and knew he would. Enduring a humiliating and painful surgery under general anesthesia is about comparable. Why is this all that was needed to save humanity from "sin"? [more inside]
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 9:33 PM PST - 38 comments

I have this sense that spices like cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice have something in common in terms of how they taste and I'm wondering if there's any chemical or biochemical similarity between them that might go part of the way towards explaining that affinity. [more inside]
posted by invitapriore at 7:57 PM PST - 11 comments

My son's PS4 only boots up in safe mode currently. If we do a factory reset and he loses his progress in Apex Legends, it would be very very bad. He's level 170 or so currently. It seems like all of the progress is stored on the cloud in his account, not on the individual console. But since I can't get boot up normally and save his progress I'm nervous. Help!
posted by selfmedicating at 7:27 PM PST - 4 comments

My wife likes to play piano to relax. It is satisfying for her when she gets it right, but it's not primarily a technical exercise for her; she hasn't had (piano) lessons and it's not mostly about the challenge. The main criterion is that it's pretty and relaxing. So, for example, the first movement of Moonlight Sonata = very yes! Third movement, no. She also likes the Emperor Concerto. What else should she play? [more inside]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:18 PM PST - 25 comments

So there is a bunch of news about the novel coronavirus and it got me wondering. How do doctors (scientists?) identify a new sickness? Like wouldn't they just assume that it is the flu or something?
posted by Literaryhero at 6:50 PM PST - 5 comments

My brown rice package says it takes 25 minutes to cook conventionally, but most brown rice is supposed to take 40-60 minutes. I'm cooking it in an instant pot. I'm concerned about overcooking it, and wonder if I should reduce the cook time. [more inside]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 6:42 PM PST - 8 comments

Back when HBO was a baby service I saw a short comedy about an ATM that talked and questioned the person's use of his funds. The voice implied it was in communication with another ATM and fact checked the man as to HIS use of the funds. Ended up by stealing the man's watch and offering it to the next user instead of funds.
posted by Freedomboy at 5:54 PM PST - 3 comments

A squirrel fell down the chimney and into my woodstove. We caught and released it. Now I'm wondering if we have to do anything to clean the woodstove (is squirrel poop dangerous? not that I see any, but it was in there for two days) or if just the cleansing action of fire is sufficient.
posted by hungrytiger at 5:25 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm racking my brain trying to come up with the name of a documentary, I believe from the '70s although it could have been from the early '80s, in which futurists were asked for their predictions. I remember them saying that the most valuable assets in the future would be drugs (in the sense of performance-enhancing, I think) and information. It's not Future Shock. [more inside]
posted by penduluum at 4:40 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm looking for a good soccer ball for my dog, do you have a recommendation? [more inside]
posted by BeeDo at 4:27 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm planning to ride the Way of the Roses in the UK this summer to commemorate my 50th birthday (or, at least, I'm using that as an excuse). It occurs to me someone in this community may have done this, or something like it, so here I am. [more inside]
posted by uberchet at 2:38 PM PST - 3 comments

We're moving and we're going to be taking our Comcast Xfinity internet with us. Currently we have a fiberoptic connection at our apartment (we're forced to rent the equipment from Comcast). However we're going to be switching to a more normal modem/router set-up. Please help me choose! [more inside]
posted by ClaireBear at 1:32 PM PST - 13 comments

6 months ago I booked a flight and a hotel to go to Miami, and now I find out I'm landing in the middle of Super Bowl Sunday. How can I get from the airport to my hotel? [more inside]
posted by fuzz at 1:16 PM PST - 10 comments

Me and my best friend's friendship was abruptly ended by her when we were eighteen (17 years ago!), because of what she saw as a betrayal of trust but what I saw as a potential lifesaving act (talking to her mum after she had told me she had tried to commit suicide several times, and also - crucially - that her mum knew about this, amongst other disturbing things which led me to feel, rightly or wrongly, that she was in immediate danger). She then badmouthed me to our mutual friends, saying she had never really been my friend, hated me, wanted me to have a terrible life, that I was selfish, made everything about me etc. [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 1:11 PM PST - 29 comments

I have Overdrive from 3 libraries, Hoopla Digital from 2 libraries, and I guess I could have Libby from them as well if I wanted. I'm tired of checking all of these places for books, audiobooks, and comics. I also don't like that my wish list basically lives in one library and not the others. Is there a way to better manage all of this? A justwatch.com for books? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 12:54 PM PST - 12 comments

I really screwed up this morning and fell while taking my bike down the stairs. My right ankle and my left foot are both swollen. I've been icing them for an hour, but now I'm a bit concerned I might have broken something in my left foot. What do I do? I'm in Hawaii. [more inside]
posted by Paper rabies at 12:21 PM PST - 13 comments

Interview coming up and I finished round one. I’m super excited about the job except for the pay, and wondering if it’s reasonable to negotiate in this situation. [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 11:50 AM PST - 18 comments

I really enjoy the text-based "logic puzzles" on Sporcle (e.g. Carmen Sandiago puzzle). There's only a handful of them on Sporcle. Googling "logic puzzle" yields different logic games, not the specific type I'm looking for. Do these have another name I could search for?
posted by Balthamos at 11:29 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a 50-year old Luxman turntable and Luxman receiver/amplifier. They have all sorts of RCA-type in and out holes in the back and they are connected to each other with no problem. My newer computer (like this) has almost nothing -- three USB ports and an earphone-out port. I want to record some vinyl. When my older computer had all the sound card doodads on the back, I could do it. That was years ago. [more inside]
posted by feelinggood at 11:24 AM PST - 11 comments

I need to be able to search my calendar to see a list of when I've say, serviced the car or what x-rays I've had done at the last 2 dental appointments. [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 10:47 AM PST - 4 comments

What are the best ways to learn about local live performances nowadays? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot at 10:41 AM PST - 8 comments

I'll be departing SFO. I can't find the answer on official sites. Unofficially, it's $5, payable by cash or debit card. Is that true in 2020?
posted by Homer42 at 10:34 AM PST - 2 comments

So I’ve accidentally transferred the glaze from a Corelle bowl to my bathtub (with fire). How can I remove it without damaging the tub? [more inside]
posted by rodlymight at 10:32 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm curious if there is a legal state of non-laundered money that gets put into a depository institution? Now that cannabis is decriminalized on the left coast, if a cannabis company gets an account at a credit union and puts the money into the institution, those funds are derived from illegal activities. When they pay PG&E on their electric bill, is the money that PG&E has in their account illegal? [more inside]
posted by herda05 at 10:25 AM PST - 17 comments

I have an opportunity to get a headshot done. But I have a hair color right now that isn't my usual. Should I do it or not? [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:52 AM PST - 7 comments

I’d like to visit Fort Ticonderoga and Fort William Henry sometime in May or June. I’m coming from NYC but I don’t have a car. Getting to Ticonderoga seems easy enough on Amtrak, but getting between Lake George and Ticonderoga, other than by Lyft/Uber (yikes!!), is proving trickier. Has anyone tried this before? I’d really like to do both in one trip if possible.
posted by orrnyereg at 9:48 AM PST - 3 comments

I want to order a shelf (as in a piece of somewhat finished wood-like or not-too-plasticy-plastic) cut to size. Is there somewhere that does that? MDF, laminate, etc. fine. Size is probably 11" wide and about 23" long, so nothing crazy. I know I could go to home depot, but I think they only cut length (not width) and also I would have to go and carry the shelves back, etc. ugh.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:36 AM PST - 6 comments

My fiancée and common-law wife is a UK-Canadian dual citizen. I'm a Canadian citizen. She's contracted to work as a theater actor in NYC for 14months under a P-2 visa. We've already moved the bare essentials by plane. I plan on driving down several bins of her stuff to her from Toronto a couple weeks from now. This includes lots of clothing, home wares, bags etc. How do I minimize friction at the border? [more inside]
posted by Evstar at 9:16 AM PST - 8 comments

Help a smart phone Luddite in finding the right smart phone and plan. [more inside]
posted by jabo at 8:39 AM PST - 12 comments

Would hypnosis, which has been studied and shown to occasionally work to get people to get past mental blocks to stop smoking or engaging in maladaptive behaviors, work for me? I have some learned-really-young behaviors around aversion to fruits and vegetables that I'm still struggling with in my late 30's and growing increasingly concerned for my long-term health. [more inside]
posted by juniperesque at 7:39 AM PST - 15 comments

I have a dumb and kind of gross question involving ear wax and hearing. To save you all from the horror I will keep most of it below the fold. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:04 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm trying to modify my diet to low carb/high protein, and for various boring reasons my protein sources are essentially chicken and eggs. I've been having the eggs in boiled and omelet forms, and chicken (boneless) usually marinated in lemon juice/garlic/pepper/oregano. I like these versions, but I can tell boredom is around the corner. Can you suggest nice non-oven cooking styles for chicken and/or eggs that are healthy and not too complicated? Thanks in advance!
posted by Nieshka at 7:01 AM PST - 25 comments

How can we know how much louder and more frequent train horns will be if we move closer to a train crossing? We've spoken to a neighbor, but I wish for something less subjective. [more inside]
posted by scottatdrake at 6:50 AM PST - 10 comments

I am fascinated by pictures and descriptions of what people have in their house. I loved the UCLA study and book and the pictures of people outside their house with all of their stuff. Can you send me more like that? [more inside]
posted by oryelle at 5:49 AM PST - 13 comments

I ordered a new iPad Pro — think $900 - to my work address, on a corporate (education) account. It was stolen during the last phase of delivery. Apple sent me a new one. What can or will they do — if anything — to the stolen one? Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by spitbull at 5:40 AM PST - 9 comments

I am seeking your favourite, single-step, 'dump it all into a pot' recipes along the lines of Marcella Hazan's famous tomato sauce. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:58 AM PST - 20 comments

Has there ever been a study or a report (by someone like the Rand Corporation) that explains how a despotic American presidential administration would or could gradually move the US toward martial law. Or, second best, has there been a fiction novel that treated the same topic?
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:41 PM PST - 10 comments

I am looking to make a website for a research project that would have something like a simple landing page, contact page, and a page that is essentially a form for uploading a file among with some other optional fields that the study participant can fill out. I have coding experience but no relevant experience with contemporary web development stuff, so building something from scratch is out of the picture. Something like Typeform might be perfect, but they only allow 10MB file uploads, even when the uploads go to your personal Dropbox. Darn. The files my study participants are uploading will be around 20-25MB each. [more inside]
posted by baptismal at 8:35 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm pushing my employer to offer daycare subsidies for parents, and I've told HR that I'll do some research myself. What do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by waffleriot at 8:25 PM PST - 15 comments

I have a nightlight that has a little pan on top, where I put scented wax... nuggets... to melt, and they make my bathroom smell nice. The bulb in the nightlight blew out. The bulb has "15W" stamped on it, so I went online and bought more 15W bulbs. Now the wax doesn't really melt correctly, it is technically a liquid but is opaque and flaky looking, and the smell doesn't really come off of it the way it used to. What are my options here? Are there multiple types of 15W bulbs? [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 7:49 PM PST - 7 comments

I used to be able to find spicy Afghan kabobs when visiting DC but for the past few years I've only been able to find their milder cousins. Where should I try the next time I'm in the area? [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 7:05 PM PST - 9 comments

So I make little videos for digital only, mainly for myself. I was using a service called Audioblocks for like 50 bucks a year. But I didn't love their music selection so I stopped. Then I started using free music sites but it's really hit or miss. Is there some library that you love that doesn't cost a ton?
posted by rileyray3000 at 6:59 PM PST - 2 comments

I want to buy ~500lbs of gear on eBay – but it's local pickup only near Atlanta, GA. Is there a service that will pack a pallet for freight pickup? The items range from 40lb - 140lb, and would almost certainly require two people to safely lift, secure and cushion for shipping. Does this service exist?
posted by reeddavid at 6:22 PM PST - 3 comments

My five-year-old is a little inflexible and a lot shy with her peers. Her other parent thinks this means she needs occupational therapy services. I do not. I’d like some informed feedback about who’s right. [more inside]
posted by centrifugal at 6:20 PM PST - 16 comments

My Samsung S7 phone (provider Consumer Cellular) was hacked/compromised/spoofed last night when a friend received two text messages subject "Help" and "SOS" with a nvg photo of me and a nvg Google map. She called the cops who came to my front door at 1.30 am to find all well, Confusion all round ensued. I have changed my Google password although I have had two step security for two years or more, so how has this happened and what further steps can I take to prevent this happening again?
posted by lungtaworld at 6:06 PM PST - 7 comments

I fell and got an acute fracture of the radial neck. Does it need surgery? Please share your insight and experience if you’ve undergone this fracture. Details below. [more inside]
posted by whatdoyouthink? at 5:02 PM PST - 5 comments

To what degree are the concepts of "school spirit" and "spirit week" localized to US schools and colleges (elementary to undergrad)? Why is that the case if so, and how did that came to be? Or can anyone outside of the US speak to their experiences of this concept? [more inside]
posted by galleta monster at 4:59 PM PST - 59 comments

I finally finished a long-term home project of organizing thousands of loose photos from the pre-digital era. I now have them all sorted by year taken, and now plan to edit them down as I decide which are worth going into an album. I haven't bought a photo album in 20+ years. 4 X 6 sleeves, vs. magnetic sticky pages? "Photo album" vs. generic three ring binder with 3-ring inserts? If I use pocket inserts I'd like to be able to have both portrait and landscape photos orientated correctly. Is that even possible? If you have opinions or links to products that have worked well for you please share.
posted by COD at 3:49 PM PST - 7 comments

I just started a part-time certificate/master's program for analytics. It meets once a week on Thursday nights because we all work. The professor hasn't posted anything for the coming class and it's been half the week... help! [more inside]
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 2:08 PM PST - 19 comments

While my elderly mother's (82) marriage has always revolved around her husband's (86) various "illnesses," there has been increased concern about the decisions she is reporting (refusal to take meds, refusal to see doctors). No offspring live nearby, and we are unsure how any of us help when mom is actively refusing any assistance, as she always has. We also don't know how real any of these illnesses are. [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 12:22 PM PST - 10 comments

Anybody recall a film where the premise is: Woman taking tickets at porn theatre goes into world pursuing man
posted by cmp4Meta at 12:08 PM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone recommend me a good product I could use long term? The only requirements I have for it would be that I'm in the UK and the product needs to have not been tested on animals (more inside). [more inside]
posted by sockpim at 12:07 PM PST - 18 comments

I would dearly love an answer to this math question, but I'm far too mathematically ignorant to figure it out. [more inside]
posted by Transl3y at 11:46 AM PST - 23 comments

There are things I regret. How do I do better and notice my blind spots? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 11:45 AM PST - 7 comments

My two year old has been at a wonderful home daycare for the last 6 months. But the owner has told me that her 16 year old son will be moving home from boarding school and that he is bipolar and ADHD. Yikes. How concerned would you be? [more inside]
posted by KatNips at 10:47 AM PST - 41 comments

I installed easus mobimover on my Win10 PC so we could transfer files to my daughter's iPhone. It works fine, but the fonts in the interface on the PC are nearly microscopic. I know I can use Magnifier to increase the size of everything in all windows, but I find that annoying. Is there a way to increase the size of fonts in just the mobimover interface?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:26 AM PST - 2 comments

I need to ship 15 pounds of breakable china from the US to Ireland. What mailing service should I use, and what box should I buy to pack it into? [more inside]
posted by DSime at 9:41 AM PST - 6 comments

Rather than upgrade my Win 7 PC (which had programs and hardware I figured would break) I bought a new Win 10 machine, and a KVM switch so I could work with both. How can I keep the Win 7 machine off the internet but available over the network to the Win 10 machine? [more inside]
posted by rochrobbb at 9:03 AM PST - 10 comments

I often wake up in the morning with what seems to be swelling on one side or the other in my sinuses. I can breath through one nostril but the other is closed almost completely. There is no indication of any boogers blocking it and eventually it will open back up. Sometimes the swelling may shift from one side to the other over time but I don’t know why. Looking for tips on identifying the cause and prevention. Thanks!
posted by GernBlandston at 8:51 AM PST - 10 comments

We adopted my mother's four year-old German Shepherd last June. He pretty much lived inside with my mother for the first four years of his life. We have successfully trained him away from pulling his leash on his walks, but he is still pretty barky at other dogs he sees. Should we do training at PetSmart first or socialization at dog daycare first? [more inside]
posted by Slothrop at 8:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Problem: All calls from at least two non-Ooma VOIP phones will not connect. I have contacted Ooma Tech Support and they passed me up the chain of tech authority, but so far no joy. How can I fix this problem? [more inside]
posted by mbarryf at 7:26 AM PST - 3 comments

I've been staying in to limit my exposure to coronavirus, since I live in Beijing. I've only been as far as the corner shop for the last three days. But I'm starting to get antsy. How can I keep myself entertained and sane?
posted by Trifling at 4:37 AM PST - 9 comments

I have the chance to see Parasite on Monday ... I don’t know anybody who has seen it and I don’t want to Google my question so I don’t accidentally get spoiled. Can somebody please tell me: 1. Is there any animal cruelty in this film? and 2. Is there any gory violence, and if yes then is it more like Friday the 13th or more like Saw? Thank you!
posted by mccxxiii at 8:27 PM PST - 18 comments

What is the general word for technology solutions that let people attend meetings remotely, e.g., videoconferencing today, and who-knows-what tomorrow, VR or something. Technology solutions is not really what I'm looking for.
posted by HotToddy at 7:55 PM PST - 16 comments

Brought this up to my employer (also new owner of our company) who agreed that I was shorted. He also admitted that he bought the company knowing my wage and my salary agreement. He acted like he fully understood! Told me he would “make it right” on my next paycheck. Next paycheck ONLY corrected withholding, net pay etc. So it “made it right” for my first check of 2020...BUT did NOT make up the $3900 I am short for 2019. Is this ok? Can he really get away with this legally? [more inside]
posted by pjlalala at 6:02 PM PST - 12 comments

My Subaru Legacy has slowly but surely been deteriorating, and I think it has finally kicked the bucket. I have been repairing it myself, as well as passing the difficult problems to my mechanics, but the repairs I need now are overwhelmingly expensive and not reasonable for me. It still runs but barely. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by erattacorrige at 5:34 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a 20 year old table that has what is politely called patina but is really sticky and gross build-up in addition to the stain/varnish breaking down. Can I refinish the table without fully stripping? [more inside]
posted by jadepearl at 4:46 PM PST - 15 comments

Can I bake falafel in one slab? [more inside]
posted by hilaryjade at 4:25 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm pregnant and due around early June, which is winter in Australia. Just wondering what I should do in regards to other family members and vaccinations. More details inside [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 4:22 PM PST - 14 comments

Is there a way on an iPhone to get a notice when a particular developer releases a new app/game? [more inside]
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:27 PM PST - 1 comment

What can I do with an old (psychology) button box? [more inside]
posted by ghostbikes at 1:55 PM PST - 6 comments

What it says in the title. Refrigerators seem to be intended primarily for storing packaged food, cartons of milk and cans of soda. We're eating (and trying to eat) more bulky green leafy things these days. [more inside]
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy at 1:22 PM PST - 16 comments

I am down a rabbit hole with the internet looking at so many pages and software to do this. I've read a couple of the others but even they have too many letters and names of things I don't know about. I just need to chop the beginning off of an MP4. The one program I'm looking at now seems to be designed for engineers or something. How hard could it possibly be (famous last words). Thanks so much!
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 12:51 PM PST - 11 comments

My lease ends at the end of January. My landlord is increasing the rent and also wants me to sign a new lease. The rent increase is legal but he hasn't given proper notice. I don't want to sign a new lease. Please help me craft a firm and polite response. [more inside]
posted by number9dream at 11:58 AM PST - 26 comments

I was a Teach For America (TFA) corps member and found the training invaluable for goal setting and learning how to achieve big, audacious goals. What I learned through teaching, I've applied to the rest of my life with successful results. Recently, I started learning about OKRs and CFRs and realized that TFA had taught me to do this: to set a vision, create objectives, set measurable key results, track my progress, etc. in a very structured way. Where can I learn more about the concepts and resources that went into developing TFA training? [more inside]
posted by saltypup at 10:59 AM PST - 2 comments

The contractor is starting demolition soon, and Mr. DrGail and I are still making decisions on the conversion of our alcove tub set-up to a step-in shower. This will be much more convenient for us as we age, while still accommodating dog-bathing. We have one chance to get this right, and we sure could use some advice on the specifics. [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 10:37 AM PST - 9 comments

A Janome JD 1818 sewing machine has appeared at a local thrift shop for $40. I know Janome in general is decent but I can’t find anything on this model w quick phone searching. I know it will be old and basic. Beyond that would this be a reasonable starting machine and is this a reasonable price? Will I be able to get accessories and parts for it as needed?
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 10:18 AM PST - 7 comments

If you are a completist, how did you choose your author? Or is it worth being a completist at all? I am thinking of reading all of Cormac McCarthy's works to immerse myself in his world, art, and methods. I am going with my gut, and feel he would be a great inspiration to my writing career. [more inside]
posted by foxmardou at 9:21 AM PST - 35 comments

Every year I set out to buy a new and nice coat so I can stop wearing the old hand-me-down one I got for free 10 years ago, and every year I get overwhelmed by the choices and give up. Please help me! Tell me what coat to buy! Criteria inside. [more inside]
posted by aka burlap at 9:12 AM PST - 23 comments

I love this GIF of a woman dressed in red making it rain red envelopes. What's the original source?
posted by invokeuse at 9:07 AM PST - 1 comment

it's time for me to cut ties with usaa... [more inside]
posted by megan_magnolia at 8:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I am a very skinny man who hasn't been to the gym in a while. I haven't had the best diet. I feel like I look like a snake that ate a large animal, skinny with a large chest/stomach. What do I do? I'm a middle aged. Details inside... [more inside]
posted by Alvin80 at 8:03 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to get my finances in order and downloaded the Nerdwallet app (what can I say, advertising works sometimes) and when I gave it my information it autopopulated with a credit card that I don't have and a student loan that is not mine. What gives??? [more inside]
posted by emirenic at 7:31 AM PST - 5 comments

I have been a doormat my entire adult life and it is starting to cause me serious problems and anxiety. Those of you who have learned to be more assertive, how did you do it? What process did you go through with yourself? For those of you who have always been assertive, how do you do it? [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 7:01 AM PST - 18 comments

We bought some Google Nest Minis. Easily the worst feature is how it tells me "Spotify stopped because it's playing on another device." Yes I know, I told it to play on another device. Is there a way to turn that off? Or if I sent them all back and got Amazon Echoes (or whatever their equivalent is these days) would they just stop playing and not tell me all about it?
posted by Tehhund at 6:38 AM PST - 10 comments

The doctor is not too worried. Has not seen extra fluid, or tumors, or abnormal shape. But I can’t not worry... any had a similar situation? What was the outcome. They are sending us at MFM to ensure is all ok and they are not missing something.
posted by barexamfreak at 6:27 AM PST - 14 comments

My new wife and I missed the time window to add her and my stepson to my employer based medical insurance after a qualifying life event (our marriage). Now, I can't add them to my plan for another several months. They were on Medicaid, but I believe they are now ineligible due to being part of a household where my income is counted. I'm losing my mind with worry over their uninsured status. Please, please give me some guidance. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:15 AM PST - 9 comments

Ladies who wear leggings/yoga pants: how do you get away with no VPL (visible panty line)? Do you go commando? Or wear a thong? Everyone must know how to do this but me.......
posted by anonymous at 6:15 AM PST - 30 comments

I've been doing curly girl for about a year. Post-shower (still in shower), lean forward, product, gel, plop in t-shirt. The problem is that while this works well for my front hair, the back hair ends up fuzzy instead of defined curls. I assume this because the front ends up piled on top, but the back is laying flat against the back of my head (hairs travelling from where they grow to the top). Surely this is the nature of plopping, though. Yet other people don't report this problem. What am I doing wrong? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:50 AM PST - 6 comments

I keep making the same error programming Applescripts, and am looking for a way not to! [more inside]
posted by Quisp Lover at 10:04 PM PST - 13 comments

Do competitive colleges really rescind students for dropping classes in their last semester of high school? [more inside]
posted by GliblyKronor at 10:01 PM PST - 31 comments

I'm looking for a (simple?) way to create a depository for information that can be accessed and edited by more than one individual, but that keeps the file(s) private/encrypted. [more inside]
posted by segatakai at 9:52 PM PST - 4 comments

My partner and I are looking for accountant recommendations to help us figure out our taxes this year. We're in California, and just got married at the end of 2019. I'm a writer (a poet, not a freelancer; my arts earnings typically come from grants and fellowships, which fall into more nebulous tax territory than 1099s) and get a W-2 for adjunct teaching a few classes a year. My partner is a web developer, and the majority of his income is from self-employment, though he does have one W-2. Our combined income is in the mid/high-ish five figures. Accountant recommendations please! Particularly if they're savvy about the arts, particularly if they're in the Bay Area.
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:45 PM PST - 3 comments

Do you like muffins, scones, pancakes, waffles and bagels with a passion? Have you come up with a way to consume something with actual nutrition in it in the morning? Please tell me how. [more inside]
posted by knownfossils at 6:43 PM PST - 30 comments

Looking for some work shoes, have a brand recommendation, but which ones? [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 6:29 PM PST - 6 comments

My exes are smart, accomplished people. So am I. So why do I feel inadequate when I see them doing cool stuff? [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 4:51 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm shopping for some odd gizmos. Wondering if there are reliable sites that I should look at besides Deal Extreme, Bang Good, Geek Buying and Brando. [more inside]
posted by Sophont at 2:53 PM PST - 9 comments

A couple of half-remembered sound effects from a shareware game (or possibly two separate games) from the late '90s popped into my head the other day, and I can't place them. One sound effect was the main riff from Bachman Turner Overdrive's Not Fragile. The other was Darth Vader saying "impressive." [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 2:37 PM PST - 7 comments

I’ve found that leaving BBC World Service overnight helps me not ruminate during my frequent insomnia episodes. Is there anything else that I can drift in and out of without missing anything? Accessible on an Echo, ideally. Thanks in advance!
posted by ftm at 1:57 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm curious about the process for identifying/processing people who are suspected to have come down with Wuhan coronavirus. [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 1:52 PM PST - 13 comments

I am currently browsing makerspaces, hackspaces, etc., but can't find a specific tutorial/overview. The perfect resource would give me a good tutorial on how to expand the capabilities of a computerized machine that has no USB port (Brother SC9500). I'd like to be able to program additional stitches on it, and need to find a way to "talk" to it with a computer (or: talk to its computer). So I'll need both, under-the-hood guidance and some idea of the relevant software/hardware setups. [more inside]
posted by ipsative at 12:44 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm trying to use up some more of my vacation time this year doing something more fun than lazing around at home. I've got a nice week-long vacation in Greece booked for late spring already, but I'd like to do some shorter trips throughout the year too. What are some good travel destinations for short 3-4 day trips for a solo traveler who lives in Los Angeles? [more inside]
posted by yasaman at 12:15 PM PST - 10 comments

My eight year old was diagnosed years ago with a sensory processing disorder. My impression is that she might enjoy sleeping with a weighted blanket, but I don't know much about them. Help me choose one, please? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 12:02 PM PST - 12 comments

What funny things have you taught your kids to do? I'm thinking of things like, "show me your tummy" but teaching them instead "where's your carotid?" (as a friend in medicine did with her toddler). I'm especially interested in toddler age, but older kid stuff is good too. What other party tricks can I teach my little kiddo?
posted by stillmoving at 11:32 AM PST - 31 comments

I have a secret workshop in a dirty old factory and I need a large hood for ventilation (40" or so). I already have a blower and ducting. I literally just need the physical hood part. I have $80. [more inside]
posted by Baby_Balrog at 10:37 AM PST - 10 comments

I bought a used car and registered it today. The license plate issued by the DMV includes the letters JMC, and I want to find the right phrase (or phrases) to associate with these letters. Silly, whimsical, obvious, though-provoking: welcome. Religious, angry, unkind are not welcome. It is a Beetle! [more inside]
posted by Pineapplicious at 10:13 AM PST - 36 comments

What are some recipes you love for a non-bready big weekend breakfast? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 10:01 AM PST - 23 comments

I’ve never been to a resort. But in looking at relaxing vacation options that are toddler-friendly, I’m considering going to one. Are they worth the cost? Anything I should know in advance? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 9:43 AM PST - 7 comments

Bought a rotisserie chicken from Costco on Sunday. It was refrigerated immediately and has stayed that way. I think it smells fine, but there’s a three-day rule in our house regarding leftovers. [more inside]
posted by ohcanireally at 8:46 AM PST - 32 comments

Looking for suggestions for mystery/thriller/crime novels with POC protagonists and/or POC authors. (Maybe especially POC authors.) [more inside]
posted by soundguy99 at 8:44 AM PST - 26 comments

After the recorder thread, I kind of want to learn to play as an adult. So many choices: which instrument, and what books/videos/channels/whatever will help? [more inside]
posted by scruss at 8:21 AM PST - 11 comments

Husband and I are planning a trip to New Orleans the last week of March, looking for pregnancy-friendly recommendations! [more inside]
posted by DoubleLune at 6:30 AM PST - 3 comments

Currently the group shares things by email, and relies on one person (who does not want to share permissions) to upload stuff to folders in a google drive. We've all got permission to view and download. They've asked me to tidy things up, but I think it's a lost cause. So migrating to a Zotero group might be one option? - But am I missing something cool and easy here? Anyone done anything else? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by carter at 5:09 AM PST - 5 comments

I planned a dumplings date in Chinatown (9900 Bellaire), this Saturday at noon. I bet it's going to be nuts. Coming from Medical Center / Midtown, should we park my car somewhere nearby and take a lyft for the last mile? Where should we park?
posted by tintexas at 4:51 AM PST - 2 comments

I wish to earn money online as a disabled/mobility limited person. [more inside]
posted by Evilspork at 7:45 PM PST - 9 comments

We're your typical family with a couple parents and a couple kids, a mortgage, daycare costs, grocery / Target / Amazon purchases, and intermittent big items like vet bills and car repairs. What is the easiest way to make and track a budget? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 7:34 PM PST - 18 comments

I am teaching an MBA-level international business course this semester, and am looking for examples of YT/streaming videos about various cultures. [more inside]
posted by seawallrunner at 7:26 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm a plumber, working for a mechanical contractor. Basically, we use "video games" (Revit and AutoCAD) to plumb (rather than providing plumbing for video games). Our department needs a slogan -- please help me think of one! [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 6:14 PM PST - 22 comments

As of very recently, I have a longer commute - one hour each direction. It is giving me sciatica and I have barely been taking the new route yet. What are some strategies to reduce pain from spending a long time in your vehicle? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 6:11 PM PST - 16 comments

I overheard someone from another team giving a one of my coworkers a hard sell about attending a Landmark Forum event. How sketchy is this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:27 PM PST - 20 comments

I have a new housemate who I simply dislike. She seems like a good person— trustworthy, reliable, friendly and communicative. My other roommates adore her and say she feels like family. I have no doubt she will be a positive force in our community-oriented home. However, I just don't like her. It's a gut feeling I've had since the moment we met. How can I change this? [more inside]
posted by aw jeez at 5:08 PM PST - 65 comments

Tell me what you think about the ethics of asking a former student to nominate me for a teaching award? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:48 PM PST - 6 comments

We're thinking of visiting Haida Gwaii this summer. If you've visited (or live there), any information would useful. [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 3:44 PM PST - 4 comments

Does eating *any* gluten during an elimination trial affect the way I'd feel if I eliminated it completely? [more inside]
posted by cocoagirl at 2:30 PM PST - 7 comments

The parents took a trip to Hawaii. They brought back some kind of white tea in a canvas bag. They brewed it for us and we seemed to legitimately experience a moderate high. What happened? What did we drink? [more inside]
posted by FakeFreyja at 2:19 PM PST - 10 comments

My "fencing with a port" problem has been resolved. Now I would like recommendations for shirts to make it easier to access ports and also some reassurance because I am super freaked out about this. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 1:36 PM PST - 11 comments

dear apple enthusiasts with airpod pros, is there any way to enjoy airpod pros and have acceptable microphone quality for calls? [more inside]
posted by zippy at 1:18 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm teaching in a classroom that has two big green chalkboards and no other writing surface. The chalkboards are smoother than the black slate chalkboards and the regular white chalk in the classroom hardly makes a mark. I need to write on this chalkboard visibly. Do any classroom instructors here have suggestions for chalk brands or other solutions? [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:09 PM PST - 14 comments

Seeking blogs, IG accounts, and YouTube channels about gardens and gardening to fill the cold, grey, dark void while I wait for spring. I'm especially interested in Zone 6 and/or New England-based bloggers, with bonus points for folks in the Boston area. [more inside]
posted by apricity at 12:54 PM PST - 5 comments

When I talk to Siri on my iPhone, her responses often make me wonder what the hell she is thinking. She comes up with some really weird interpretations of what I say. I'm not so much interested in fixing the problem (although that would certainly be nice) as I am in figuring out the reasons behind the idiosyncratic behavior. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 11:21 AM PST - 5 comments

Has anyone used a service to move an auto across country? It feels like the wild west and not in a good way. [more inside]
posted by rtimmel at 10:50 AM PST - 8 comments

I've been a sole proprietor for 20 years without legal incident, and I'd love to stay that way. But I'm in the process of renegotiating my contract with my main client, and it has me considering becoming an LLC. My question is, how much protection would I really get as an LLC, and is it worth the PITA accounting? And yes, I will speak to a CPA and a lawyer, too. [more inside]
posted by MelanieMichelle at 10:49 AM PST - 14 comments

I've recently started biking to work and have been experimenting with ways to carry my stuff. At this point everything I need fits in a small trunk bag that sits on my rear rack - except for my work laptop (15" Macbook Pro). What's the best way to carry this one last piece? Do slimline, laptop-and-not-much-else panniers exist? How about lightweight, small (but not too small for my laptop), NON-SWEATY backpacks/messenger bags? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 10:40 AM PST - 13 comments

Tomorrow I want to buy a used car, from a private seller, in a city a few hours from my home (both cities are in Ontario, Canada). What do I need to bring, and do? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:37 AM PST - 5 comments

Should I replace my morning Diet Mt Dew with a caffeine pill? Because soda is terrible for us, right? [more inside]
posted by kinsey at 9:25 AM PST - 33 comments

So my dad’s second stroke, in early December, wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. But he was already dying of congestive heart failure and is on oxygen constantly. How do I tell him that he won’t get to go home? [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 8:33 AM PST - 21 comments

Due to a variety of battery-dependent hobbies, my kids are going through a TON of AA/AAAs, and I need to stem the cost/waste. Can any MeFites that have done significant field testing recommend rechargeable batteries that are worth the extra cost?
posted by ryanshepard at 8:04 AM PST - 25 comments

If a friend emails me to say, "Let's meet for lunch at Leonardo's on Wednesday, March 5 at 12:30 pm," what's the fastest way I can turn that into an event? Google used to be really good at slurping up dates and times from gmail and making it very easy to add them to gcal, but this functionality seems to have gone away. (Note that I am not talking about automatic gcal events generated from emails with gcal invites, plane or hotel reservations, etc. Those seem to work fine for me.) [more inside]
posted by BrashTech at 7:56 AM PST - 14 comments

Over the last few years my estranged father, late 60s, has been subject to increasingly irrational thinking. He imagines a family conspiracy against himself and his grandkids (characterized further within). It's coming to seem that in order to protect ourselves from him my siblings and I may need to turn him into a social outcast. But he's our dad! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:37 AM PST - 20 comments

We had a falling out and I haven't had a peep from him since. I think it's over. When he does contact me, what should I say? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:32 AM PST - 24 comments

Looking for a New York City-based attorney with experience in handling housing matters. Experience with Mitchell-Lama cooperatives a plus. Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:40 AM PST - 1 comment

The plumber came yesterday cause my kitchen faucet stopped working. He took a look and said it needed to be replaced. I agreed, and sent him downstairs to the landlord to discuss cost. [more inside]
posted by TheGoodBlood at 5:17 AM PST - 24 comments

I have corn tortillas and would like to make tacos. There's ground beef and some pork loin in the freezer, and a ripe avocado on the counter. I'm a good cook, but need some inspiration. [more inside]
posted by serathen at 5:13 AM PST - 7 comments

I want advice, feedback, recommendations on resources for coordinating help for a young mom recently diagnosed with breast cancer. This is a close relative. I wish I lived nearby but I'm far enough away that most of my support will be remote. Closest family is a 3 hour drive. I want to coordinate a number of things and I'm looking for advice on best way to do it. [more inside]
posted by sulaine at 5:11 AM PST - 3 comments

Every so often someone talks about leaving the front door open or unlocked as a measure of how safe their area is. But what do people actually mean when they say this? If you have ever said something like this I would be interested to know, did you mean... [more inside]
posted by biffa at 2:04 AM PST - 57 comments

There is water dripping down from the top of a window well (that is, through the wood framing of the window well, not from the joint between the glass and the wood) in our upstairs bedroom. What kind of professional do I need to figure out where the water is coming from? More details and link to a photo inside . [more inside]
posted by TheLittlestRobot at 11:40 PM PST - 7 comments

Our financial advisor is suggesting we consider hybrid long-term care insurance. It's essentially long-term care insurance with a fixed cost, with anything leftover after death paid as life insurance. Anyone have any insight on it? [more inside]
posted by Sock, Sock, Sock, Sock, Sock, Goose! at 10:06 PM PST - 7 comments

My folks have lived in Naples for 15 years or so, so I've been to all the highlights--Billie's Swamp Safari, the botanical garden, the zoo, oh god the zoo. Are there other cool museums, tours, anything?
posted by Camofrog at 7:58 PM PST - 5 comments

We moved to a new house late last year. The new home is double the size of the old one and we've brought in a designer from a well-known local firm to help us with plans and decisions. We have lots of small to medium projects and wanted help planning them out and guidance making decisions since we haven't done most of this before. The house is much newer than our last house and we want to make it beautiful and to represent our style. [more inside]
posted by rglass at 7:50 PM PST - 10 comments

Are there classic-car clubs aimed at car owners who are younger than Boomers? [more inside]
posted by amk at 7:13 PM PST - 4 comments

I am really a newbie at photography as this question will show: [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 7:10 PM PST - 7 comments

When purchasing tickets to an event, how do I find a good-enough seat? [more inside]
posted by dreamphone at 6:17 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm planning to ditch my iPhone and switch to a phone that has no internet capability. What phone should I get? [more inside]
posted by Mystical Listicle at 4:10 PM PST - 10 comments

Ugh. A coat I'd ordered from an online retailer arrived today. I love it but it has a strong aftereffect from someone's cologne. (Maybe a customer who had tried it on, or whatever, while shopping). I contacted the retailer to have them replace the item, but they are sold out. [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 2:34 PM PST - 17 comments

In the late 80s or early 90s, I found a book in the library - a young girl enters the modeling world, she's quite poor and only has two suits to go to meet... agencies? casting people? So she has to wash and iron them every day. A photographer befriends her and takes her and her younger sister on a shopping trip. She subsequently sees herself through his eyes (somewhat pitying? I think?) and has... feelings about that image? What is this book?! This has been bugging me for YEARS.
posted by loolie at 12:05 PM PST - 5 comments

I know I should have asked for signature confirmation, but I had a positive history with an online retailer. I returned an item, tracking says it was delivered, and the merchant says they never received it. Am I likely to win a credit card dispute? [more inside]
posted by marfa, texas at 11:17 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to read some retellings of Arthurian legend. There are...a lot of those out there and I am overwhelmed. Tell me which ones are good? [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 10:29 AM PST - 35 comments

Having picked 15 iconic works of classical music begin my journey into the genre, I find myself "dis-concerted," if you will, by the idea that each has an equally iconic rendition. Experts say Mahler's 9th = Berlin Philharmonic, Carmina Burana = Eugen Jochum with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, and so on. There are dozens if not hundreds of recordings of each of my 15 greatest hits. Should I worry about picking the Cleveland Symphony, say, over Berlin?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 9:21 AM PST - 27 comments

My brain hurts from Googling "best states for aca 2019" and I'm trying to figure out what criteria is important, and what I might be missing. [more inside]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:33 AM PST - 6 comments

Fellow website designers, please help! On my latest site, about make websites for voiceover artists, I have a hero message that needs to really visually pop when viewers load the site. [more inside]
posted by world wide woman at 8:24 AM PST - 5 comments

Our 7.5 year old cat has been pooping on the floor, just outside the litter box, for months. What follows is the history of George and his new poop habit. How can we break the habit and prevent this stinky problem? [more inside]
posted by indyjones at 8:03 AM PST - 11 comments

I want to get inside the mind of a wealthy and powerful person who is alive today. I think the easiest way to do that is to choose someone most similar to myself. Maybe that means someone who speaks English. What biography would I read to get an accurate picture of that person? What things can I do to help getting into the mind of this person? What can I do to genuinely /think/ like this person?
posted by jago25_98 at 7:55 AM PST - 15 comments

I cannot find the source of our fungus gnat problem and I cannot get rid of the fungus gnats. I'm losing my mind, catching dozens of them every week, and I just want the problem to go away. Help, please! [more inside]
posted by rbf1138 at 7:37 AM PST - 8 comments

I'd like to build a relatively simple electronics project, but I have no idea where to start. My parents have a couple of largish ceramic bin thingies on the floor of their kitchen, and it has become a bit of a game of skill to toss wine corks into them. I'd like to create a "scoreboard" for this game that lights up and plays a fanfare when a player gets a cork in the bin. I'm envisioning a circular base mounted to some sort of pressure sensor wired to a separate device with the actual lights and speaker on it. [more inside]
posted by Rock Steady at 7:19 AM PST - 10 comments

A teen in my family has fallen into a habit of argumentative debates and pot stirring. I need suggestions and tips on how to gently end or extricate oneself from these lectures. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 7:08 AM PST - 42 comments

I need to start earning some money again after leaving work for a few years to care for my young children. I no longer live in the large city where most of my traditional job opportunities and connections are and I want to maintain a flexible schedule. I love making things. Is it naive to think I could start a a craft business? [more inside]
posted by messica at 7:05 AM PST - 16 comments

AskMe has proven good at identifying random things in the past - can you help me track down this half-remembered cartoon I saw? I believe I saw it on TV in the 90s as part of an animation festival, and I think it was....Scandinavian, and dealt with a family with a little girl who was either mentally challenged or on the spectrum. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 AM PST - 0 comments

I read it easily 15-20 years ago, so it was probably published around 2000-ish. It was similar to The Year of Yes by Maria Headley, but instead of going out with everyone who asked her, this woman put the word out [more inside]
posted by Zaire at 6:49 AM PST - 3 comments

My wife and I are unfortunately in the position of struggling to conceive. Do you have any useful practical suggestions for resources and advice? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:51 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm about to start a job search, which means that I have to revise the tiny, outdated handful of rags and bones that is my LinkedIn page. This will involve getting a headshot, and since I loathe being photographed, that won't be trivial. Please help me find a professional photographer in Seattle who can help me out with this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:51 AM PST - 7 comments

Can the plans, wall sections etc be done and submitted through a local Architect? Who can sign off on a project? Contractor? Is there an equivalent to an expeditor? What is the process at the local Building Dept./Council? Permits? Inspections?
posted by ebesan at 5:43 AM PST - 1 comment

Do you ever remember this one random thing from a book but it isn't enough to get good results from Google? Please help me figure out where this is from! It's a fantasy novel that I read in the last three or four years, but it might not be recent. It's probably by a woman because I rarely read books by men. Details below. [more inside]
posted by leesh at 5:09 AM PST - 3 comments

I need to make scenes to make a memory palace. It doesn't need to be pretty. It doesn't need to respect copyright since I'm the only one using this. But it does need to be QUICK. Is there a Unity3D level design plugin to rapidly add objects from Thingiverse/GrabCAD/Google Poly? What can I use to do this? [more inside]
posted by jago25_98 at 12:54 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m 8 months postpartum with my first, and weigh the same as I did a few days after giving birth, which is 15lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight. YANMD, but my doctor isn’t of much help, and I need a plan. Relevant details under the fold. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 12:28 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm a teacher of Year 7 (ages 11-14, generally 12-13). There's a character strengths survey we'd like to use, however, this is age restricted, and most of our students are under 13! [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 11:19 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm making a key lime pie for a fancy communal dinner party. What can I do to make it amazing? Either interesting changes to the pie itself or cool little ways to plate it up? [more inside]
posted by twirlypen at 11:04 PM PST - 25 comments

I keep getting ailments in various parts of my body and then searching for anatomy drawings on the internet and getting frustrated by the results--things are paywalled or tiny or don't show the right angle. Are there any good books of detailed, labelled color drawings that cover human anatomy comprehensively and relatively authoritatively? [more inside]
posted by ropeladder at 7:08 PM PST - 10 comments

My mom is having severe nausea from chemotherapy. I live in California and was able to get her a tincture but need guidance on using it. [more inside]
posted by fozzie_bear at 7:02 PM PST - 3 comments

I am having cat hair problems. Please help! Way too much detail within. [more inside]
posted by dragonfruit at 6:54 PM PST - 26 comments

We currently live a very long way away: multiple days’ drive, or a full day of flying. We want to be much closer. We would not be completely unopposed to moving back to our hometown, but would need a pretty strong case made for that to happen. Have you moved back to your smallish hometown (or close to it) and loved it? Have you done this and regretted it? [more inside]
posted by ferenjamin at 5:23 PM PST - 11 comments

Is there a transcript for #MLKNow events, especially the live chat between AOC and Ta-Nehisi Coates? I just do not have the patience to watch something for an hour and all I can find are snippets and quotes of the conversations.
posted by toastyk at 4:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I had a theory that my oven was running cold. This was based on an observation that everything takes much longer to cook than recipes say. This is true across multiple types of food, and has been observed by several people. Yesterday, I borrowed a Fluke thermometer with a probe from a friend who works in a science lab and.... if anything my oven runs hot?!?!? I'm sitting here watching the temperature oscillate from a little below to somewhat (10 degrees) above the target temperature. So, what is going on and can I fix it?
posted by papergirl at 4:06 PM PST - 16 comments

My partner and I are travelling to Oahu, Hawaii for 8 days in May. We'll be in Honolulu for about 3-4 days, and then we're planning to camp on the east and/or north shores. We're looking at staying in state or country parks, like Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park. [more inside]
posted by jb at 4:03 PM PST - 10 comments

A friend who is dealing with grief and anxiety at the moment, and having trouble sleeping, is looking for unexciting podcasts for the middle of the night. Delivery slower and not too in one's face; topics not bleak, which rules out a lot of history or natural world stuff; UK accents. Assume she has heard of anything from Radio 4 - for instance, Clare Balding's Ramblings, which fits the bill. Thanks.
posted by paduasoy at 3:16 PM PST - 39 comments

Is it realistic to think I could be comfortable in a wig if I can't even stand wearing hats? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:12 PM PST - 8 comments

I just got a new cat, and he's been fighting with the one I already had (both males ~2 years old) at every opportunity for weeks. I can't keep them in separate rooms forever. What else can I do? [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 2:58 PM PST - 15 comments

My 90-year-old father has serious dementia and is very physically frail. My mom has it in her head that my wife and I should have him stay at our house for a week or so, which seems like a terrible idea to me as he would be in unfamiliar surroundings, we have lots of stairs and he wouldn’t have access to the hospice team he sees every week … but maybe I’m wrong? Would it be OK for us to take him for at least a weekend to give my mom a break from caretaking? [more inside]
posted by Clustercuss at 1:17 PM PST - 23 comments

My new-to-me "pillow top" is not attached to my new-to-me queen mattress, but is a separate pillowy pad which likes to migrate beneath the fitted sheet to my side of the bed. [more inside]
posted by Sunburnt at 12:56 PM PST - 11 comments

I've got a weighted blanket I love that I've been using for years. Only one problem: when I put a duvet cover on it, rather than acting like a nice duvet, it gets wadded up in the corner under its own weight, like the whole thing is a giant sock full of pennies. Does anyone have a solution that doesn't involve buying a new blanket? The internet says there are fancy blankets that have built-in attachment points for special covers, but I like the one I've got and would rather not buy a whole new one.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:06 PM PST - 12 comments

I’m doing a CrossFit boot camp in the mornings after a loooong period of inactivity. It’s going well, I go very early morning and on a fasting stomach, but last two times I’ve gotten dizzy and weak at the end. I think I need to fuel the machine. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 11:59 AM PST - 10 comments

I woke up this morning feeling odd. I seem to be cycling slowly through chills and then overheating, and my skin is very sensitive to changes in temperature and constriction and texture. No fever though. What is this? What should I call it when googling? YANMD. [more inside]
posted by snerson at 11:57 AM PST - 10 comments

Heading to Washington DC with my husband and kid this summer for a couple of days. I vastly, vastly prefer a hotel room that has the sitting room (w/ pull out sofa) divided from the bedroom with an actual door. Not a half-wall, not a doorless hallway, a real actual door that shuts. It's often impossible to tell from room descriptions and photos whether or not this is the case. Have you stayed in such a room in DC? If so, where? [more inside]
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:38 AM PST - 18 comments

Looking for some kind of support group, online is fine, for a parent who is in the initial stages of Parkinson's who lives far away. [more inside]
posted by kilohertz at 10:38 AM PST - 5 comments

People are gossiping about me and a friend. Everyone thinks we're secretly dating. It really bothers me to think that people are talking about me. How do I address this? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:43 AM PST - 25 comments

I understand the downsides of an “unlimited vacation and sick days” policy. Please help me understand the upsides. [more inside]
posted by anonymous donut at 8:41 AM PST - 26 comments

The company I work for commissioned a new website, which has been completed, and the agency that built the site is having a couple of us meet with them for a website training, which was explained to me as being given a tour of the site and instructions on updating it (it's a Wordpress site). This is my first time attending a meeting like this, and I'm wondering what would be good questions to ask and things to focus on. [more inside]
posted by Ser Dirtnap at 8:22 AM PST - 9 comments

I finally followed my dreams and got a Toto Washlet S300e for my home! NIB off eBay for a few hundred off MSRP. After getting the electrical rewiring done to accommodate the plug and hooking it all up, I realized my blunder - I completely missed that this was a 'Round' model and not 'Elongated' (the other Washlet model I was comparing to only came in Elongated, and I overlooked this critical detail on the s300e). There were no returns on this item, which is relatively sensible in a 'no returning used toilet seats' policy. Is there a way to order parts for just the ring seat and cover in 'elongated' that will fit with the bidet base? [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon at 8:06 AM PST - 4 comments

I thought silicone would work, but it doesn't stick [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 6:35 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm considering applying for a research stay for several weeks in Christiania in Copenhagen. I'm seeing mixed reviews in terms of safety. What's the reality? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:03 AM PST - 9 comments

My wife has recently had an emotional affair. The other man was married, but his wife recently threw him out. My wife's reaction was extreme, and she has become obsessed with working out if he returned her feelings, after he sent a text saying he wanted to be friends. I asked her what her reaction would be if he did feel the same way, and she couldn't answer. Help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:02 AM PST - 15 comments

So I’m turning 40 in a few weeks and it’s hitting me hard I’m in a pretty good place right now but also life has been kind of shit. Trying to give myself a reminder to aim high (maybe a subtle tattoo) [more inside]
posted by elvissa at 8:54 PM PST - 19 comments

Looking to read books, articles, memoirs etc. about people who live/lived alone, i.e. in areas where they were one of the few/only residents. [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 6:40 PM PST - 32 comments

I'm watching ALL of star wars and have questions about the robots. Are they slaves? Are they people? The droids in star wars are confounding me! In A New Hope, the droids were treated very differently, with much less personality or respect, than by Return of the Jedi. And by Rebels, robots are treated as wholly people (or sentient) with rights.... but stilled owned by people. Is this what's actually going on? Also, are there any thoughts about why some droids can speak basic and others can't (or don't) but understand it?
posted by rebent at 6:26 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm coming from MacOS and really enjoy certain apps for productivity like HazeOver and Magnet. I'm wondering if there is software for Windows that I should definitely look into, particularly for managing windows on a larger monitor, like the ones I mentioned. I'm also looking for a good PDF program. More inside. [more inside]
posted by baptismal at 6:15 PM PST - 3 comments

A 2 inch section of the felt gasket that seals in our dryer's lint trap screen is coming loose from the frame body. What's a glue that can hold up to the moisture and heat from a dryer to secure it in place?
posted by Ferreous at 5:53 PM PST - 1 comment

I have been contemplating on doing a master's in economics or public policy (or one first and the other second). Will public policy still be valuable with the rise of computer science/STEM? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 5:28 PM PST - 4 comments

In the coming months, I will make the much-needed leap out of my current, dead-end career path to a completely new one in the sciences. I'm not the only one...right? [more inside]
posted by otenba at 4:16 PM PST - 5 comments

I've been using an old cycling jacket as an outer shell when hiking and snowshoeing. It is no longer waterproof and I want to replace it with something that is. What should I replace it with? [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:10 PM PST - 8 comments

A friend and I really like going out for workday lunch - I work at home in Lakeview so it's nice to be able to get the lunch specials at local places. We're always looking to try new places; what are some of your favorite lunch specials in the area? It's surprisingly hard to search places by lunch special. [more inside]
posted by LSK at 3:05 PM PST - 1 comment

The pieces of ice produced have an odd taste (not that I've ingested any since), and the removable ice tray itself is left with blackish-greenish-yellowish streaks on the bottom. [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 2:00 PM PST - 4 comments

Help me figure out if I'm grieving or wallowing, and how to grieve well. [more inside]
posted by any_name_in_a_storm at 1:37 PM PST - 18 comments

So I'm a nomad lately and it's time to move on from where I am. So it's time to get weight down in my two suitcases. One heavy piece of clothing? My terrycloth bathrobe. But I lounge in this constantly so warm is important. Example: a kimono? Too light. What's a replacement that's AS warm but lighter in weight?
posted by rileyray3000 at 1:36 PM PST - 16 comments

Help me develop strategies to stick around see the sunset after the sunset? [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 1:03 PM PST - 14 comments

A friend of mine is trying to find a science fiction story she read when younger, in some sort of a "Years Best" collection, at some point during the 90s. The story itself is a low-stakes first person narrative where the (sheltered, religious) protagonist has to come to terms with the fact that the worldly girl he's falling in love with isn't taking the whole relationship nearly as seriously as he is. Content warning for below the fold: This story contains genital details that some might find squicky or bordering on body horror. [more inside]
posted by Canageek at 12:16 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm tempted to buy a phone lens kit to take some better photos. Based on experience, what kit would you suggest? I would like to keep the price under $50 . [more inside]
posted by metadave at 12:04 PM PST - 2 comments

The pump on my LG front loader is suddenly making a grinding noise but works perfectly fine. I cleaned out the trap; no improvement. I scheduled a service call for tomorrow ($79 minimum that I don't have). Am I courting disaster to continue doing laundry today? What about canceling the call and seeing how long I can continue to do laundry before it dies? Will a small repair turn into a much larger one?
posted by HotToddy at 11:39 AM PST - 11 comments

Last year, Tumblr and Instagram introduced me to Homestuck, Hiveswap, Hazbin Hotel, Pesterquest, and Sanders Sides. I have questions. [more inside]
posted by Kitchen Witch at 9:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I’ve been thinking about getting a cigar box ukulele, and I a would like to get a hardshell case to go with it. The luthier selling cigar box ukuleles doesn’t carry cases at all, and all the hard cases I’ve found have been in the traditional shape. Where should I look for a square/rectangular ukulele case? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 8:41 AM PST - 2 comments

We're on the market to buy a home in a new city where the real estate market is quite hot, and are having trouble deciding if we should put in an offer on a FANTASTIC house in a not-quite-ideal-but-pretty-good location, or hold out for something in our desired neighbourhood...even if it might not be quite as perfect a house. Obviously YANMR (you are not my realtor), but looking for some general advice and anecdata on how you, a happy homeowner, prioritized different factors when you bought your house. Lots of specifics to our situation within, but general advice also welcome. [more inside]
posted by Dorinda at 8:41 AM PST - 26 comments

A friend who DJs at a college station played my music (.wav file) on the radio but it sounded clipped and distorted - what could have caused it? [more inside]
posted by deern the headlice at 8:08 AM PST - 7 comments

(1) The most basic thing I'm looking for is table data for mileage between points. Something like this, but the raw data. I'll take it by zip code, I'd love to have it by census tract or taz. [more inside]
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 7:45 AM PST - 3 comments

I am going to a writer's workshop. I am getting ready to submit an excerpt from my novel and I am not sure if the formatting is correct. Right now I have a space between paragraphs with no indentation. I also have 2 spaces after periods. Are these correct or should I switch to indented paragraphs and 1 space after periods? Above all, I don't want my formatting to distract from the text.
posted by Biblio at 7:36 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm interested in learning how to draw, specifically to sketch simple pictures and color them in. Like the sketch at the top of this article. If I'm looking for resources to practice/learn to draw like this, or a class to teach me this, what would I call this drawing style?
posted by arnicae at 7:23 AM PST - 12 comments

What's the theme song in track 1 of this album (GATEWAY 2000 by MindSpring Memories) from? The track in question is called "□ flickering ◻ monitors □ in ◻ the □ twilight ◻". The theme song starts at 1:45. Track 2 is a General Hospital theme from the mid-'90s, so it may be another soap opera theme or it could be a drama/sitcom.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:15 AM PST - 6 comments

I don't have any issues with getting to the gym to get my workout in, but I really struggle with carving out time and following through on home workouts. I need to master this. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 6:07 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm experiencing anaemia-related fatigue at the moment and I have no idea if it's the kind of fatigue where resting more will help me feel less tired, or if the only thing that's going to reduce the fatigue is resolving the anaemia. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 4:09 AM PST - 19 comments

I have professional perfumer's alcohol but where do I buy the milk scent to dilute? [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 1:22 AM PST - 5 comments

Do hospitals drug test before minor procedures/surgeries?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 7:45 PM PST - 14 comments

I have this notion that there’s some song from my youth - late 80s, early 90s - where there’s a vocal bit that sounds almost exactly like the bass line from David Bowie’s “Heroes.” This is proving pretty difficult to Google and my wife says I’m just thinking of the Bowie song - but I swear it’s a vocal, not just an instrument playing those notes. Am I totally making it up, or can anyone help figure out what song I’m remembering? [more inside]
posted by nickmark at 6:05 PM PST - 3 comments

Had a long list the first time we visited but having a hard time coming up with more! [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 5:25 PM PST - 11 comments

I have long had a notion of taking a trip which involves, largely, walking from one place to the next. How can I make this happen? [more inside]
posted by breakin' the law at 5:23 PM PST - 24 comments

I need help writing a resume and am willing to pay for this. Recommendations for where to go and an estimate of how much this should cost are appreciated! [more inside]
posted by soelo at 5:00 PM PST - 2 comments

What can I learn to play on a little eight key toy piano with a C-to-C range (no sharps or flats)?
posted by griphus at 3:29 PM PST - 22 comments

I need to get island trim for my stove. According to the photos, this looks like a 3" wide, 36" long, 1" high piece of sheet metal that has little vent holes cut in it (it looks a little like a comb). The manufacturer wants $319 for this. This feels like the kind of thing that almost anyone with a piece of sheet metal could make. Any other options, or do I truly need to spend $319 on this?
posted by arnicae at 2:22 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm working on my little portfolio website and just added a bunch of new content and Google Analytics. Google Analytics says I had 6 new unique visitors today who all spent less than a second on the site. I know these are probably not humans right? Then who are they? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 12:55 PM PST - 5 comments

What tips and advice do you have for vegetarian hot pot? This is the place. Assume they have any and every vegetable, noodle, or sauce. What should I do to have the best most delicious experience? I’m a total amateur and don’t know what I’m doing.
posted by andoatnp at 12:42 PM PST - 8 comments

Back in college, I wrote a short story and got it published in a magazine. The rights have long since reverted to me. Now a friend has said they really want to do a graphic novel of the story. I really want nothing to do with the thing anymore (it contains material I now realize is problematic; racist, sexist etc) Can I file a document or something that says Friend has total rights to do a graphic novel of the story, and I wash my hands of it (including no share of any profits, I wouldnt feel right taking any)?
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 12:36 PM PST - 8 comments

Guess Culture members, how have you successfully adapted to relationships (romantic relationships in particular) with Ask Culture members? Askers, how do you help your Guesser friends and family feel at ease? I feel like there is a fair amount of discussion aimed at Askers needing to adapt to inscrutable, passive-aggressive Guessers. Coming from a very Guess family background, I am interested in how to successfully navigate the world of brash, noisily self-imposing Askers. (N.B. Very much not interested in an argument about which of these communication styles is better or worse.)
posted by 4rtemis at 12:18 PM PST - 16 comments

After this question, we narrowed our search quite a bit to Bellingham, started the house searching process, and now we're under contract on a house! What are the logistics of moving across the country with a baby (Philly to Bellingham)? [more inside]
posted by ancient star at 12:06 PM PST - 8 comments

Some time ago (within the past six months maybe?) I read a post or comment, I believe here on metafilter / ask metafilter, that linked to a dog training guide. Am trying to find it. Help? [more inside]
posted by kellygrape at 11:47 AM PST - 2 comments

My body ( or something in my body) attacks my follicles but my hair just keeps growing. Obviously I've been to tons of dermatologists, even had biopsies etc., but that's not what this question is about. I can't stand it any more. It's too grey to laser out. This is just a theoretical question at this point, I know we're (supposedly) never completely out of options for a cure, but I would like to know what drug that isn't too harsh will really wipe out most or all of the hair on my scalp. Assume tenacious hair.
posted by serena15221 at 10:36 AM PST - 3 comments

I am having trouble letting go of a brief, intense relationship. It's a new year and I want to leave this hurt in the past. But how? [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 10:35 AM PST - 16 comments

On Friday I noticed that I had a flat tire (passenger side, front). No big deal, I changed it and went to a tire store after work to get two new tires. Today I notice that the NEW tire is flat!! What on earth is going on?! [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 10:17 AM PST - 23 comments

If there's one thing I like, it's a museum. So I am going to London in April! Please tell me what you think of what I plan to see, and please tell me about other museums or points of interest you like. I am interested in history and beautiful things generally, and have a special interest in the Napoleonic war era and Roman Britain. [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 9:42 AM PST - 28 comments

We're getting into a routine of making weekend brunches that are fancier than our normal pancakes or waffles, but I'm also running out of ideas fast. What are your favorite fancy make at home weekend breakfasts or brunches (or not necessarily even "fancy", just fussier than normal, either because of preparation or ingredients)? [more inside]
posted by joycehealy at 9:16 AM PST - 36 comments

I'm having some purely positional difficulty sleeping since my spinal surgery and I was wondering if anyone else has solved a similar problem for themselves. [more inside]
posted by poffin boffin at 8:03 AM PST - 13 comments

I'd like to design / mod my own guitar pedals. How do I learn the basics of circuit design? [more inside]
posted by signal at 6:52 AM PST - 11 comments

My Fitbit Charge 2 is on its last legs and I am planning to replace it before too long. I'm considering another Fitbit device, but also an Apple Watch 5. However, I'm having trouble sorting through the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different models, and how they might fit my needs. What does Metafilter recommend? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 5:11 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm seeking support resources for trans male pregnancy loss, whether that's a community group, an online support group, grief counseling, or other avenues [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:26 AM PST - 4 comments

My amazing 13-year-old kid is genderfluid and newly out about it. My spouse and I are both cis and straight. If you're genderfluid: what do you wish your parents had known about that? What did they do wrong? What did they do right?
posted by anonymous at 2:26 AM PST - 9 comments

I just had a hysterectomy four days ago. I still have my ovaries, but at 48 I know I'll be dealing with menopause soon. Have already been having something that feels very much like hot flushes since the surgery. Please help me find resources appropriate for a not-quite-traditionally-feminine person like me. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 1:50 AM PST - 4 comments

More baking questions from me! Y'all were so helpful in the past, I'm asking about muffins this time [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 10:39 PM PST - 6 comments

I got a compensation cheque from American airlines for being bumped from a flight. It doesn't say USD anywhere on it. How will my Australian bank know that it's USD not AUD? [more inside]
posted by lollusc at 9:09 PM PST - 17 comments

My trusty desktop computer has been acting up in an exciting variety of ways and I am having trouble diagnosing the problem. [more inside]
posted by zeusianfog at 8:41 PM PST - 11 comments

I sat in a badly-placed chair today and mangled the edge of our floor. Help me mitigate the damage. [more inside]
posted by charmedimsure at 7:03 PM PST - 7 comments

Have you ever had an opportunity so big it overwhelmed you and you let it slip away? Were you able to figure out a way to forgive yourself? Please tell me how. My details within. [more inside]
posted by bluecore at 6:05 PM PST - 15 comments

So, about a month ago, we got a kitten who loves eating our pothos and our dragon tree. Not, like, in a big way—he just likes taking little nibbles. Just yesterday it finally occurred to me that maybe this is bad for him? [more inside]
posted by insteadofapricots at 4:48 PM PST - 12 comments

Too much noise on this subject and I'm "too unique" of a student to find applicable advice. [more inside]
posted by BeatriceB at 4:06 PM PST - 4 comments

Hello everyone and especially UK members: I (girly swot from New England) plan on having a solo month-long holiday this summer in God’s own country. Help me choose a town for my base camp? [more inside]
posted by henry scobie at 3:50 PM PST - 7 comments

So, after watching and re-watching the Corner Gas series, first on random YouTube channels, then on Amazon Prime when it became available, I am nearing to the end of the last season. What else is out there that is *just* like it? Preferably on Prime. [more inside]
posted by Ender's Friend at 2:56 PM PST - 24 comments

I'm finding it hard to keep doing things with this particular friend. He's a good friend but I feel like he doesn't want to grow up. In short our paths are going in very different and opposite ways. Moreover, he's depressive and I'm not sure how this is affecting the choices he makes. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 2:40 PM PST - 10 comments

I'd like to make some large, translucent paintings on clear sheets of plastic. I want thin, rigid sheets, not something like cling-film that will not hold its own shape. What kind of plastic sheets should I use, and what kind of paint can I apply to them that will create a translucent effect? Alternatively, if I want some parts of the painting to be opaque, how would I achieve that?
posted by cnidaria at 2:00 PM PST - 13 comments

I need recommendations for more electronic/symphonic music that I can listen to while I work. [more inside]
posted by Illusory contour at 1:38 PM PST - 22 comments

I'm new to weight training. I understand that the way to strength is to use a manageable weight and do reps until failure. Problem: I find that on the last rep I'm straining which gives me headaches afterwards. Maybe that's from the tensing of muscles leading to more blood flow to the brain? How can I keep progressing without straining or at least without the headaches?
posted by storybored at 1:37 PM PST - 12 comments

My Googling has failed. I read a great science fiction book with [potential spoilers!] a woman protagonist who was a retired military commander... [more inside]
posted by lillygog at 12:21 PM PST - 4 comments

I've noticed that the 20-somethings I know are way more into going to the gym (whether a chain or boutique gym) than my peers when I was 20-something (I'm late Gen X). I assume this is a shift in North American cultural norms, but I'm curious a) what are some factors in this shift and why do people go to the gym regularly b) if I am making a false generalization based on my particular circumstances... or if this is true in other countries as well. [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 11:50 AM PST - 29 comments

So, I usually overinvite for my birthday dinner, and I invited about 14 people for a 8 person resevation, thinking that like the last few years, a few people would cancel at the last minute. [more inside]
posted by PinkMoose at 10:53 AM PST - 21 comments

So, I (33 year old girl) am in a long term relationship, almost 12 years with a guy (35) we've been living together for past 8 years. I've started having doubts about our relationship long time ago, the guy had problems with an addiction and for all those years I've been trying to make him quit, yet he couldn't. A year and a half ago we broke up for a few days. [more inside]
posted by arakrual2020 at 10:40 AM PST - 12 comments

I'd like to find novels set in ancient Bronze Age pharaonic Egypt that don't suck. I'm not picky about genres. [more inside]
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 8:52 AM PST - 15 comments

In which months are rivers at all swimmable in southern Minnesota / Wisconsin? Specifically I'm interested in the Cannon River in Red Wing, MN (around where it joins the Mississippi), but please share if you have thoughts re. any similar area. [more inside]
posted by kalapierson at 8:36 AM PST - 9 comments

Have you or someone you know gone through a process of self-reinvention in your early thirties? What was your experience, and what do you wish you'd known? [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 8:32 AM PST - 14 comments

I had an eating disorder, and I can't diet. I am gaining a lot of weight, and I'd like to stop gaining weight if I safely can. Does anyone have resources or ideas to help? Bonus: anything on negotiating menopause when you have an eating disorder history? NOTE: my number one priority here is to avoid eating disorder relapse. Please don't give me general dieting advice unless it really takes into account the eating disorder part. [Content Warning: discussion of eating disorders and dieting] [more inside]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:23 AM PST - 22 comments

At the end of the Wedding Special of the Channel 4 series The Windsors, Princess Kate plays a song at Harry and Meghan's wedding that is a real banger. Can you tell me what it is?
posted by satyricaldude at 8:20 AM PST - 4 comments

Looking for out-of-the-box senior living alternatives. I'll get the ball rolling with the option of living on a cruise ship (see here and here), or taking up residency in an ashram (if meditation's something you're into anyway). More info below. [more inside]
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:27 AM PST - 16 comments

We were given a quart of NY maple syrup and we're looking for ways to use it up. We've used maple syrup in cooking lots of times, but it's generally in small quantities. Any ideas for using up a substantial amount of this quart? Complications follow. [more inside]
posted by maurice at 6:24 AM PST - 30 comments

Unfortunately, the based to my slow cooker got immersed in water by someone trying to be helpful and clean it. I came home to it drying upside down on a towel, having obviously been immersed or cleaned with a lot of water. I could tell a small amount of water was inside the casing. This was about 2 months ago and I haven't touched it since. Will I kill myself or a family member if I try to use it??
posted by schwinggg! at 6:23 AM PST - 7 comments

I have major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder. I manage it pretty well with medication and therapy. I have never checked "yes" when asked if I have a disability on a job application due to fear of ableism and stigma. Should I keep doing that? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:26 AM PST - 18 comments

Help. I have recurring nipple eczema and I have had lots of medical intervention but I can't stop obsessing. This is made much worse by two family members recently detecting early breast cancer and skin cancer through extreme vigilance, navigating a healthcare system in a different country, and contemplating a move back. I need coping strategies! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:26 AM PST - 5 comments

I just realized my relationship was probably abusive last week and ended it, and now I'm reeling. Help [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:25 AM PST - 5 comments

And if so, who are they? [more inside]
posted by zeri at 7:19 PM PST - 22 comments

I have an aging cat who has has peed on an area carpet several times. The situation is beyond a typical steam cleaner service (trust me on this). I would like to send the carpet "out" to get it professionally cleaned. I then plan to store the carpet for the foreseeable future or to use it at a different site (e.g. in my office). I think this type of service is usually used for fancy carpets but I don't mind the price to save chucking the carpet into landfill. Recommendations / referrals much appreciated. I am in San Francisco. [more inside]
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 5:59 PM PST - 2 comments

Handy MeFites, halp! I rent a basement, and there's water coming down into my apartment (inside the wall, where the paint is now bubbling) and out on to the floor thanks to washroom renovations upstairs. Owner says don't worry. And yet, I worry. [more inside]
posted by Mike Smith at 3:20 PM PST - 23 comments

Next month I'm renting a minivan and going on a weekish-long road trip with an old friend. I got it in my head that I wanted to embellish the vehicle for the trip in some memorable way(s). Meaning, like, the way a touring punk band might bolt antlers onto the hood of their old van, or something. Looking for broad but non-permanent ideas, since unfortunately it's a rental. [more inside]
posted by churl at 2:33 PM PST - 13 comments

What are some good pop, rock, etc. songs that are happy, whimsical, and/or very simple on their composition that I could listen to with my baby? Examples within. [more inside]
posted by lovableiago at 2:06 PM PST - 59 comments

I've acquired 2 vintage Star Wars digital watches from the '70s. They don't work. Two watch stores and the manufacturer won't touch them. But I bet there's a way to resurrect them. Either the original LED displays can be replaced (to have that original look) or a modern-day LCD display can be ported into the cases. [more inside]
posted by Flying Saucer at 1:22 PM PST - 7 comments

If you work or have worked at an independent business unit within a larger company (like Instagram, Cruise, Waymo, Pixar, etc.) what is that like? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:30 PM PST - 10 comments

I've done a few personal projects (just some css, html, and javascript) and have them hosted on github's free server. I'd like to add a database to the program. What's an easy solution? Free is good, but I'm fine paying something. [more inside]
posted by AMyNameIs at 11:44 AM PST - 11 comments

I've had a habit of stocking my pantry with funky random ingredients on a whim - I'll be browsing in a little mom-and-pop Italian-foods store and pick up a weird flavored pasta, or I'l feel like I need to be stocked up with marzipan for some reason. And then I end up not using it because I can't think what to do with it. One of my resolutions is to finally eat some of the damn stuff - and in some cases I need suggestions for how. Ingredients giving me a hard time inside. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:08 AM PST - 37 comments

Recently, I made a mistake at work; it wasn't catastrophic, and didn't have any lasting consequences for the workplace itself, but it was embarrassing for me. As a result, I'm having a horrible crisis of confidence, to the point that I can barely drag myself into the office for the past couple of days. How can I reframe this? [more inside]
posted by O Sock My Sock at 9:55 AM PST - 20 comments

My father's alemtuzumab treatmentsappear to be going well. So well that his doctor is now very keen on a stem cell transplant (autologous). What questions do we need to ask ? [more inside]
posted by sockingjay at 9:47 AM PST - 2 comments

i hope to buy a new bed (double) this year and am confused by all the options. [more inside]
posted by ydaltak at 9:35 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm trying to count calories lately and often find myself with a certain number of calories left in my budget and no lunch ideas. Is there someplace out there where I can put in how many calories I want to eat and it spits out common things I can order/get at the store? [more inside]
posted by FakeFreyja at 9:30 AM PST - 1 comment

Is there a movie or tv show that has an old fashioned gate close elevator that folds in on itself to pop out of existence? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 9:08 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a standard, basic (old-fashioned?) A/V output (AppleTV, Bluray player, old region-free DVD player)->receiver (Yamaha RX-V677)->speakers setup in my living room. I'd like to be able to also (and simultaneously) send the audio into the bathroom, but it's not feasible to run wires for a speaker there--it would have to be some kind of wireless speaker. Is this even possible, given my receiver? If so, what's the best option?
posted by praemunire at 8:28 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm lucky to have a pretty great, comfortable life. My biggest current problem is that I work for a large corporation whose work I have come to object to, and I want out. I'm starting a private coaching business, and it's going well, but slowly, because I find the business development aspects of my work uncomfortable, so I avoid them. Help me think of ways to bring risk-taking into my days. [more inside]
posted by spindrifter at 8:10 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for attorney recommendations to handle settling my sister-in-laws estate in Southern Ohio (Butler County). [more inside]
posted by aerosolkid at 7:38 AM PST - 1 comment

Is there anywhere I could visit on our Californian holiday where could I shop for a variety of college ballcaps? [more inside]
posted by FavourableChicken at 6:01 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a new iPad Pro. I'm drawing pictures in various apps (mostly "Paper") and importing them to iMovie to string them together into a video. The problem is that iMovie cuts them off at the top and the bottom. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:14 AM PST - 1 comment

Any recommendations for an audiobook about molecular biology (stuff along the lines of Molecular Biology of the Cell) that would make for good listening while driving?
posted by clawsoon at 4:25 AM PST - 2 comments

Where can I leave my car for 30 hours in Vancouver, BC so I won't have to worry about it being broken into? [more inside]
posted by mollywas at 12:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I’m looking for the female underwear equivalent to some I’ve been seeing available to be personalized for men. [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 12:17 AM PST - 3 comments

The last two times I flew through the USA (including like, right this moment), my flight got cancelled. The airline in question (two different ones: this time it's American Airlines) gave a voucher as compensation... which are non-transferable and can only be used for flights originating in the USA. These are useless to me. Is there anything I can do about it? [more inside]
posted by lollusc at 11:49 PM PST - 13 comments

My 18 year old nephews want to visit Japan. It's their first trip abroad and I don't want to put them on a dice roll like China Eastern Air. Looks like I just missed a deal - NY to Tokyo on Air Canada - for $491. How can I set a very specific airfare alert (ex: only these airlines, or NOT X airlines and only under X amount of money) for the future?
posted by rileyray3000 at 9:24 PM PST - 10 comments

Queer mefites and/or mefites with some mental health background, can I draw on your experience to help me understand what's happening in my head? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:20 PM PST - 19 comments

After years of freelancing, I've just signed on as an employee at my company. The workers in my unit are currently unionizing, so my hire was (favorably and expertly) negotiated by representatives from that union. Unfortunately, it appears my employer is already violating the terms of that contract ... but the union has returned to focusing on bigger and more contentious issues affecting the whole unit, and I'm feeling a bit adrift as to my options for recourse. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:17 PM PST - 8 comments

A friend of mine in NYC would like to solve her carpet beetle problems with money while she disappears in the meantime. Who can she hire? [more inside]
posted by 168 at 5:35 PM PST - 0 comments

I've had a few strange conversations recently, in which the other party gets the impression that I'm sensitive/hurt/vulnerable about things that I actually feel neutral-to-proud about. And of course, when a person has that impression, "no, no, I'm fine!" is exactly what a sensitive/touchy person would say! After thinking about it, I realised it's because I often think through my answers carefully, breaking eye contact and looking away/pausing to answer accurately. Does this happen to other people? How can I avoid it, short of rehearsing my answers in advance? (Relatedly, people often miss when I *am* sensitive/touchy about something, so there's something weird going on there.)
posted by wattle at 5:31 PM PST - 11 comments

Hey guys, I've got something crazy going on. I have a temp job and I've been sitting for 8 hours a day. It's causing lower back pain. And I don't know if it's related to the muscle problem I'm having. I am going to the doctor tomorrow but I'm curious as to what could be causing abdominal muscle cramping that's painful like a calf muscle cramping combined with shortness of breath. While it's happening I just can't seem to get a deep breath in and it passes in a couple of minutes. It's happened three times today. Any thoughts? Thanks.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 5:30 PM PST - 7 comments

I make a lot of bread. I received a Kitchenaid Artisan stand mixer as a gift at one point, and it struggles with heavy dough (the bowl gets stuck and it starts to walk). I worry about burning out the motor. What should I think about buying instead? [more inside]
posted by marfa, texas at 4:05 PM PST - 23 comments

How do I not drink? [more inside]
posted by Twinge at 3:15 PM PST - 41 comments

Australia and Canada share a huge number of similarities, particularly in terms of international relations, comparable I think for example to the Scandinavians. So why don't we see the two countries standing closer together internationally and engaging more bilaterally? Is it simple distance? Is it that they're too similar, and therefore competitors? Or are we just too different on a few prominent aspects of our culture (for example, lacking a prominent sporting event; winter vs summer).
posted by jjderooy at 3:06 PM PST - 19 comments

Recently, it appears that Google has started showing "favicons" next to every single search result, completely cluttering the results pages. Has anyone discovered a way to turn this off, or developed a browser extension (or similar) that will do so? [more inside]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 1:39 PM PST - 17 comments

What sorts of things do you do to keep your home and family organized? I'm very organized at work but home can get a bit messy and chaotic. Partly because of living with others (including spouse and kid) in a small space, and not having a particular system in place (like the filing cabinets and supply closets at work), plus I think I am generally a bit impatient with my own home and mess. How can I be better at this? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 1:34 PM PST - 39 comments

I am seeking a comic book that includes a short tale of a woman in a car that won't start getting increasingly panicky as a shadowy figure approaches. It turns out to be a policeman who gives the car a push and gets her on her way. I am pretty certain this was in a collection of Christmas-themed stories published by DC in the 1980s, but it isn't the Super Star Holiday Special (April 1980). Any ideas?
posted by chavenet at 1:13 PM PST - 2 comments

I used to wear contacts all the time. Now the ones I've used for years dry my eyes out within ten minutes of putting them in. Help me by recommending other brands to try. Before you tell me to just talk to my eye doctor already, the reason I am here is to get more information and possible products to try before going. Google isn't being very helpful unfortunately. There seem to be hundreds of products but the reviews aren't as good as I'd like. Many are also not up-to-date. [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 12:47 PM PST - 24 comments

In Ontario, we have EQAO testing. Fraser Institute (which has conservative ties) uses this data to rank schools. I don’t believe these standardized tests and rankings are particularly useful in evaluating whether a given high school will better serve the average student than a lower ranking high school (assume no special needs or disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances etc). Give me your succinct arguments supporting this position.
posted by walkinginsunshine at 12:34 PM PST - 15 comments

I see this cloud design element all over the Tokyo and Yamanashi prefectures. For a verbal description, it's usually shown as long, rounded rectangles connected by small segments. It's vaguely represented in Hokusai's work and I see it all over Fujiyoshida/Kawaguchiko usually paired with Fujisan. Is there a name for this? Thank you very much! Here are some links for reference: 1 2 3 4 [more inside]
posted by frankokay at 12:05 PM PST - 5 comments

What free service can I use where I can video chat with 3-4 people at the same time, but have 2-3 other people call-in only so they can listen in? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 11:35 AM PST - 10 comments

My mind often goes to the (seemingly many) people in my life who are hurting or struggling and when I think of them I feel glum. I know very well that I can't help them and anyway I have my own problems though these are more tractable. Generally I can control my mind's reflections; I believe my gloomy thoughts are mostly voluntary. But I don't think it's moral or honorable to shunt them away entirely. I'm just unsure where/how to draw the line. [more inside]
posted by mf_ss at 11:24 AM PST - 13 comments

Like many of us I am trying to cut back on my use of Amazon. What's the best place to buy comics in terms of reliable shipping, as-described books, and availability of titles? [more inside]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:11 AM PST - 3 comments

I want an app to do French drills. Verb conjugations, pronouns, agreements, stuff like that or some subset if that. Less interested in vocab. Please recommend apps for Android. I tried VerbSquirt but I dislike 1. The timer that won't give you full "points" unless you produce in less than 1 second and 2. that it doesn't have all verb tenses (e.g missing past tense and subjunctive among others)
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:47 AM PST - 2 comments

How do I take a regular cardboard box and reinforce the interior so that it can support the weight of a toddler as a seat? The toddlers will be somewhere between 25-35lbs. [more inside]
posted by tealeaf522 at 10:05 AM PST - 18 comments

What can I do to help two high school students and a director who literally saved my life? They insist they don’t want anything but I really want to help in some way. [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 10:00 AM PST - 13 comments

I have the opportunity to develop a few basic websites for people/companies, which I'm pretty happy about. I'm new to this, and would like to do it more. There are a few logistical details with domain registration and money that I'd rather not stumble through out the gate.  My main question is this: How do I navigate well with clients of various tech ability when it comes to deploying the product in relation to domain registration and ownership, and commitment to ongoing services, as needed? [more inside]
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:41 AM PST - 7 comments

Hi ALl, REcently, as in the past few days, when I search for something on GOogle, I am greeted with something disconcerting. I use a screen reader, and always used heading navigation to move from result to result. Before, when I would do this I would be presented with page titles. NOw, I get URLs followed by page titles, like this: "https://wikipedia.org, Wikipedia." Needless to say, this is annoying to wade through especially when the URL doesn't mean anything in itself. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 9:38 AM PST - 4 comments

I’ve been having a very difficult time at my new job. The role isn't what I expected, the culture is challenging, and I am tempted to quit after 6 months. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:10 AM PST - 16 comments

When I create a task and then try to make it recurring by clicking on the "Recurrence" button in the ribbon, Outlook crashes. Sometimes it restarts, sometimes not. This always happens. [more inside]
posted by feelinggood at 9:04 AM PST - 1 comment

Is there any type of electronics store that might carry a USB Blaster II (or clone) in the greater Seattle area? I'm visiting so I don't know the area very well. I would like to purchase it ASAP, ideally today if at all possible. [more inside]
posted by Quiscale at 8:38 AM PST - 3 comments

Last week my partner and I went to a local cat shelter to meet a cat he had seen online. She seems very cute but I have some strong reservations about adopting her from this place, based on their online reviews and what I witnessed when I was there... [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 8:08 AM PST - 13 comments

Hosts are one person who is ethnically Chinese and one who is not, both 40-something professionals, seems like a reasonably casual gathering. They are people I knew well 25 years ago who have recently moved to my city and I would like to give them something nice and appropriate. I would spend up to $30ish, more if it's a totally awesome thing. Anything special for Year of the Rat? No red envelopes. I have seen this question.
posted by wellred at 8:05 AM PST - 9 comments

What do you, artsy person, do and why do you like it? What's your story? Do you paint? Computer-based art? Cast resin? Topiary gardens? Create and run ARGs? Translate obscure previously-untranslated poetry? Tell me about it. Especially if it's something less common. [more inside]
posted by ToddBurson at 7:36 AM PST - 27 comments

I work from home a couple days a week using a laptop running OS X 10.11. My company uses LogMeIn to access office computers remotely. As of today, the LogMeIn client no longer works on El Capitan. Is it possible for me to install an older version of the client? [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 6:54 AM PST - 3 comments

Do you and others on your team have regular one-on-one meetings with your manager? What do you talk about? Do you find them useful? What about them do you find useful? What's not useful? Etc.... [more inside]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:47 AM PST - 26 comments

My wife and I are going to Barcelona in early March. We've got the sightseeing stuff well in hand, but would like some restaurant recommendations, especially for at least one higher-end place. I am sure we will get our fill of tapas, paella, and other typical Spanish/Catalonian stuff for tourists, so I want to know what are some of the better places in the city for fine dining. Doesn't have to be El Bulli level, but we do want at least one memorable dining experience. I am a VERY adventurous eater (my wife less so, but usually game to try things).
posted by briank at 6:41 AM PST - 9 comments

I moved into a 200 year old farmhouse a few months ago and I have a lot of white walls, my color sense is terrible and I'm looking for advice on how to make my home look better. [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:20 AM PST - 19 comments

I ran across "Norwegian Wool" (brand name) coats and like their combination Italian wool exterior, goretex like membrane, and down insulation (so a bit like a ski jacket masquerading as a high-quality wool overcoat). Alas, none of their models work for me (fit or price) and would appreciate suggestions for similar products(?)
posted by Jon44 at 5:21 AM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for books to read with my daughter. We've graduated past the standard Dr. Seuss style picture books, but my daughter is losing interest with longer stories that don't have any illustrations to support the text. [more inside]
posted by wile e at 5:12 AM PST - 24 comments

Those of you who keep diaries/journals in a physical book: do you bring the book with you when you are not at home? Do you bring it to the coffee shop but not work, or everywhere? Why or why not? [more inside]
posted by atetrachordofthree at 4:40 AM PST - 13 comments

Sometimes I have weird mixed-up vision - blurred/scrambled, but only in places - parts of my visual field come in & out of focus. It's like I can see some fragments of an overall scene but I can't fit them together into a coherent picture. It goes away after a few mins, when I rest and/or eat. Pretty sure it's linked in some way to low blood sugar. Do you have this? Should I be worried? [more inside]
posted by rd45 at 3:46 AM PST - 7 comments

I often hear low volume music whenever I turn on the bathroom fan. What gives? [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 1:05 AM PST - 15 comments

For the last several days I've been tormented by a low frequency vibration in my rented apartment. I'm on the first floor (British English- 2nd floor in US English.) It sounds like an idling motor and I can feel the vibration through the floor, chair, bed etc. However once I exit the flat I cannot locate the source. There's a lot of traffic noise outside though, probably masks the sound. If there is a sound. What steps can I take to investigate/mitigate/develop a tolerance? [more inside]
posted by Coaticass at 9:11 PM PST - 13 comments

I had the flu about a month ago. Since then, I’ve had this stupid stinking problem... [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco at 8:52 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has inherited a set (or partial set) of heavy, lidded, Club cookware. So why can I barely find any information about the stuff online? I've found a brief history of the company and how it was acquired by Mirro, but why is it so prevalent in thrift stores and ebay today? What was their product lineup? Do they hold up to modern cookware? Why did so many people buy them? How were they advertised? What did people like my grandma (unfortunately deceased) think about them? What questions am I not thinking to ask?
posted by rubah at 8:21 PM PST - 10 comments

Or maybe it's a washcloth, since it's square. It was in a box of rags and I'd love to know what it says and if it's part of a set. Here's a picture. Some sort of description of Colombia? The second line of text looks like it starts with "South America " but beyond that I'm stumped. Does it look familiar to anyone?
posted by mefireader at 8:03 PM PST - 2 comments

I have an old TV, a Sony KLV-S32A10, and a dying Apple TV. The Apple TV was set up by my ex-husband, I don't know anything about it, and I feel totally out of my depth with this stuff. So can you please tell me whether an Amazon Fire Stick will work with this TV?
posted by HotToddy at 6:55 PM PST - 11 comments

The character in my novel is a sociology grad student who's working on her dissertation. The year is 1991. She's conducted qualitative research, and I know she has to code her interviews, but I don't exactly know what that entails. Can you explain what this is?
posted by swheatie at 4:46 PM PST - 9 comments

There seems to be lots of advice on apartment soundproofing available online but most of it looks like advertising or doesn't seem pertinent to my needs. I'm hoping some people here can share first hand experience with proven, economical, non-destructive methods. [more inside]
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:53 PM PST - 10 comments

My partner is in his 30s, male. Generally okay health. Every couple months, though, he will wake up in the morning and feel like his senses are turned up way too high. His blanket and even clothes will feel too sensitive on his skin, the sunlight through the blinds will seem too bright, and noises seem extra loud. The episodes usually last 15-30 minutes, until he gets tired enough to go back to sleep. Has anyone else experienced this and know what it is?
posted by madonna of the unloved at 3:33 PM PST - 13 comments

I do video conferences in my office and my wife also uses the space directly behind me. If I could roll down a photo backdrop behind me, that'd make our lives considerably better. I'd like to mount this to the walls on my left and right. The span between those walls is 16', which seems to be longer than the 10-12' that I'm seeing pair with systems like these. What are good options here? Also...could I light this well enough that I could use it for decent quality video recording? (I'll describe video desires in More Inside) [more inside]
posted by sirion at 2:07 PM PST - 9 comments

I've stepped back into the world of having a decent record player and would like some new (in-print) records. I have a few stores around for hunting for vintage stuff but would like an online resource for current production with a good selection, reasonable prices, and a shipping department that will ensure they show up safely. [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 12:44 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm working with a chocolate cake and wanting to put some frosting on it. Ideas for less-sweet kinds of frosting? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 11:52 AM PST - 22 comments

I’ve decided it might be time to splurge on an entry-level home 3D printer, but there are so many options available. Which one would best suit my needs? [more inside]
posted by Nedroid at 11:35 AM PST - 16 comments

I really want to acquire a copy of this mug. Asking the Instagram poster hasn't garnered any responses; anyone have better sleuthing skills than me? I'm guessing from the details that it's a handmade ceramics piece.
posted by serelliya at 10:40 AM PST - 16 comments

I live closely with my neighbours on quite a small street (maybe 15 houses). None of my neighbours seems to talk to each other at all. How do I get to know them? [more inside]
posted by thereader at 10:38 AM PST - 23 comments

Now that the fad is over and the resulting hyperbolic praise/scorn has died down, what is the general consensus on the standing desk? Yea or nay? [more inside]
posted by FakeFreyja at 10:24 AM PST - 25 comments

Are there non-physical symptoms (emotions, thoughts, attitudes) that manifest in adult survivors of childhood sexual peer abuse that are not also symptoms of childhood physical peer abuse – in other words, that could suggest the former happened if the latter is already known to have happened? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:15 AM PST - 6 comments

I want to create a survey for existing and new players about a potential video game to embed in my website. What service/tool/plugin should I look at? [more inside]
posted by justkevin at 10:13 AM PST - 1 comment

Our landlord has refused to fix a pipe that has been banging all night for months. My roommate can't sleep. Help! What actions can we take? [more inside]
posted by vecchio at 9:12 AM PST - 6 comments

I live in New England, and a lot of Hallmark Channel movies are set here. How can I be an extra in one of them? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:08 AM PST - 9 comments

my friend's 8yo has been having tons of issues with emotion regulation.... help? [more inside]
posted by megan_magnolia at 8:43 AM PST - 18 comments

I complained to HR about my previous manager and now that person is overseeing my raises. Should I speak up about it? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 8:01 AM PST - 10 comments

Since getting a new phone, I have periodically had apps showing up without my installing them. Why? [more inside]
posted by roaring beast at 7:54 AM PST - 3 comments

I have to cover poetry with my Grade 5/6 class and was hoping to devote one class a week to a 'song of the week' activity where we could use song lyrics as an entry point. Looking for some good songs to use. Snowflake details inside :-) [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 6:40 AM PST - 33 comments

I was gifted a new Kindle for Christmas with "no ads." While my old Kindle really had "no ads," my new Kindle's lock screen is now a giant ad for goodreads, and the home screen has a goodreads banner at the bottom. I've managed to turn off the goodreads functionality (greying out the goodreads icon) using parental controls, but I still feel like my Kindle is constantly shouting at me. Is there anyway to get rid of these "ads" or is this just what a Kindle is nowadays?
posted by whitewall at 5:05 AM PST - 8 comments

We have a six hour drive from snowy city A to snowy city B and we have to cram big dogs and a kid in the car. We'd like to have storage on the top so it's not quite so overwhelming. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:38 AM PST - 15 comments

I've got a dataset mainly sourced from newspapers and I'm looking for interesting analysis to do to it. What fun things could I do? I will be using R. Caveat, I only have an example subset for now. So I'd like to prepare some analysis based on that. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:28 AM PST - 6 comments

I've just started using a free Google webpage. It lets me upload photos. I want to upload audiofiles to it, not just post links. Will it let me? IOW, does it have an ftp, or do I have to upload them to another site and post links instead?
posted by CollectiveMind at 12:46 AM PST - 1 comment

I received an email at work with very specific accusations and no clickable links. It came from a gmail account. I reported it to work’s cybersecurity and they indicated it’s spam and blocked the sender but the details were so weirdly specific that I’m concerned. What would be the purpose of this? [more inside]
posted by andraste at 8:59 PM PST - 18 comments

I have an issue with a wooden floor and an issue with a tiled bathroom floor. Can anyone recommend an area flooring contractor who can help me with these issues at a reasonable price? [more inside]
posted by the hot hot side of randy at 7:43 PM PST - 0 comments

Before I updated from 10.12 to 10.14 I made a lot of use of a setting in terminal that I think was enabled with a "defaults write" command, that made it so that pasting (Cmd-V) in Terminal did not immediately execute the contents you pasted in the shell. [more inside]
posted by spbmp at 7:05 PM PST - 7 comments

In these days of job precarity, I have a habit of giving 150% to my job. Not surprisingly, I burned out. Now that my last job has ended, I have the opportunity to take a real rest. But actually, I'm completely exhausted. [more inside]
posted by so much modern time at 6:07 PM PST - 16 comments

My mother was released from the hospital last month and is doing OK, sort of... she was released from the hospital with a referral for home-care, but the home-care nurses/service managers that my mother doesn't need home care. She's open to hiring a cleaning service, but I'm wondering if I should be looking more at a service that does this type of stuff for seniors versus a regular cleaning company. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 5:49 PM PST - 13 comments

With all of the fuss about Harry and Meghan possibly moving to Canada, it leads me to wonder if Harry has Canadian citizenship. If he moved here, could he vote in an election? Could he get a passport? Or does he have to apply for citizenship like every other immigrant? [more inside]
posted by Valancy Rachel at 5:22 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a complicated set of issues with my rental apartment and I'm wondering if this is a decent landscape (and letter) for getting started resolving them? How do I maximize my power in asking for reasonable things? [more inside]
posted by rhizome at 5:16 PM PST - 12 comments

OK this is a weird one, not even sure how to categorise this and certainly not how to check anywhere else online: I have a VDSL modem connected to the same line as my wired landline via a plug-in filter - every few weeks I seem to experience internet failure (which the modem reports as a complete line failure rather than service issues) - this seems to be since I mounted the landline phone handset to the wall using magnets (further details below). [more inside]
posted by Dext at 4:38 PM PST - 5 comments

We adopted a new cat, and we are struggling with a name for him. He is a nine month old black and white kitty, with the softest fur and a little pink nose (pics here). His personality is super friendly, snuggly and sweet. [more inside]
posted by to recite so charmingly at 4:21 PM PST - 48 comments

So earlier today I tried to buy a bond fund (tax free if that matters) to include in my Traditional IRA. I got a warning message from my brokerage that: "Generally, it is not beneficial to own tax exempt investments in tax advantaged accounts as tax exempt investments typically provide a lower rate of return. Additionally, you may be subject to taxes on distributions from your tax advantaged account regardless of the investment holdings in that account." [more inside]
posted by nanook at 4:10 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking to rent a camper van for about a month to travel from upstate New York to Arizona (maybe via Florida) and back with my dog. [more inside]
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 2:37 PM PST - 5 comments

I want to begin combination-feeding my cats, who have been healthy on a raw diet. But so many recent reviews of all-natural or organic dry cat food are disturbing, with many 1-star reviews, news of reformulations, acquisitions by megacorporations and quality declines, recalls, lawsuits, etc. While online reviews can be biased toward extraordinary experiences, it's still concerning. Can you recommend an all-natural, safe dry cat food, without a lot of grain or potato fillers, available on Amazon Prime ideally, that I can count on to be healthy for my cats? [more inside]
posted by limeonaire at 2:20 PM PST - 25 comments

I've never been a gym member before but have felt a bit plateaued with my current in home program. I'm likely going to join a gym specifically to lift weights 2-3 days a week but have been overwhelmed with all the different advice. I'd love some advice and a basic work out plan to get me started. [more inside]
posted by Carillon at 1:23 PM PST - 18 comments

My niece is in her early 20s and just lost her husband after a long cancer battle. They were barely married when the problems started, and the bulk of the marriage has gone to fighting this battle together. I feel so bad for her and want to do something. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 12:17 PM PST - 22 comments

How can I make a little extra money? [more inside]
posted by Cosine at 11:03 AM PST - 22 comments

My dad sometimes breaks out into song, a satirical parody of The Internationale that he learned back in the 60s or 70s, but his memory is fading and he can't remember all the lyrics and it's driving us both nuts. Googling the parts he does remember is getting me nowhere. Hope me, please? [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline at 10:15 AM PST - 7 comments

My good pal is shortly moving out of a house she has loved, in a place she has loved, for a bunch of sad reasons. What's a good way to say goodbye to the house? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:13 AM PST - 30 comments

I'm looking for a Chrome extension that will act as a table of contents for my tabs/windows. Cluster is pretty close, but won't let me rename (or re-order) the windows. [more inside]
posted by itesser at 9:14 AM PST - 3 comments

Can anyone living in Palm Springs tell me what to expect? I've got a list of all the pros but I'm concerned about the cons. [more inside]
posted by cazoo at 9:12 AM PST - 18 comments

BBC Introducing is how the BBC finds, chooses, and broadcasts new music by less-famous UK talent. DJ Tom Robinson hosts The BBC Introducing Mixtape, a weekly radio show that's also a podcast (show notes with timestamps), and it's a great way to discover new music & artists across many genres of pop, rock, rap, & more (95% music, very little talking by the DJ, no ads). Recommend other podcasts like this, especially covering other countries? [more inside]
posted by brainwane at 8:59 AM PST - 2 comments

Looking for leads on UK based writing workshops, courses, degrees to help me get the chops and develop good practice in SFF genre fiction writing, with the goal of being able to produce quality work. Competitive is fine, and indeed desired. I am super not into crossing borders right now so UK or 100% remote necessary. Feminist and anti racist also necessary.
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 6:47 AM PST - 3 comments

I’m trying to make a call to Japan using a VOIP phone, but just can’t get it to go through. What am I doing wrong? [more inside]
posted by hot_tea at 5:47 AM PST - 7 comments

How to respond to a stranger offering me money? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:32 AM PST - 20 comments

Is eight weeks too long to wait for a rheumatologist as a new patient? I can't even get an appointment, much less a diagnosis. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:32 AM PST - 12 comments

I had a copy of a folk album from the mid-1960s, but all I can remember is the sleeve art. [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:19 AM PST - 7 comments

My group is organizing to start a dog park in a rural area that's sparsely populated by demographic extremes: there are newcomers who are very familiar with excellent parks, and others who come from a huntin' and fightin' background. Adding to this mix, we hope to draw from vacationers travelling with their dogs, as we're located near an intersection of major interstate highways. For various reasons, we're going to allow public access, even though the park will be entirely privately funded and managed. [more inside]
posted by mmiddle at 4:07 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm having a quandary of emotional purging and need a self help method out of my old habits. Let's say you feel a very strong feeling tied to a controversy and in previous years had no problem with openly expressing every raw emotion you felt about [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:35 AM PST - 12 comments

I have a concept for a YouTube series that would begin with an ostensibly non-fictional premise that over a series of episodes moves into something entirely fictional. Has this been done (too much) before? [more inside]
posted by brundlefly at 12:44 AM PST - 7 comments

So I started analyzing the food I eat and how much of it I eat. I have realized that my portions are too big, and that there's too many calories. I've only been at it for two days, but I find that I feel hungry after eating less. Is this normal? I'm not starving myself or anything but I've felt a somewhat hungry after eating less. Does it just take a while for your body to get used to this?If I just keep at it will it go away after a while?
posted by Tarsonis10 at 8:44 PM PST - 19 comments

i love to travel however there are few things I dislike more than organizing travel arrangements, and up there at the top of the awful list is figuring out car rental in such a way that it doesn't cost twice what the price tag says. [more inside]
posted by lapsang at 6:45 PM PST - 11 comments

I've been gone from my horror job over a year now. A work 'friend' (an acquaintance) I friended on FB (I friended very few work colleagues) recently messaged me to tell me that a woman I shared office space with "wants to know if you are willing to communicate with her." O hell no. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 4:13 PM PST - 25 comments

After waiting a few months, I have updated the Macs around here to Catalina. Apparently the initially reported mail problems haven't been fixed yet. I need some guidance to solve one specific problem, preferably from people who have been able to solve this one specific problem: [more inside]
posted by Namlit at 4:06 PM PST - 4 comments

A good Gastroenterologist in NYC whom takes Wellcare. i need a new Doctor.
posted by ebesan at 3:00 PM PST - 1 comment

I run the beachfront gift shop for an environmental conservancy and I'm trying to make our store 100% plastic-free. I carry these toys already and they are fantastic- but at $24 for the set, they are on the upper end of what people will pay. I'd love to have options in the $5-$15 range, either as a set or a la carte. This has been surprisingly difficult to find, so I'm hoping the hivemind can point me in the right direction.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 1:34 PM PST - 17 comments

Is there a trick to adopting dogs from rescue groups? I’ve tried a few times already, unsuccessfully. Recs for DC/MD rescues also appreciated. [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 11:30 AM PST - 33 comments

A few years ago, my family went to Ten Bay Beach in Eleuthera, Bahamas. At low tide, it was possible to walk out in 2-3 foot water for hundreds of feet, and this landscape was dotted with little 10 or 20 foot long sand bars you could climb up on and claim as your very own island. Where else are there beaches like this? Wading from sand bar to sand bar was the highlight of that trip and I'd love to do it again somewhere.
posted by dmd at 10:46 AM PST - 21 comments

To what extent do various religious (or other) prohibitions on the consumption of different animals apply to animal by-products that are not themselves food? I'm particularly interested in biogas that might be blended with utility gas used for cooking, but am interested in other cases as well. [more inside]
posted by nickmark at 10:43 AM PST - 8 comments

How can I transfer many iPhone notes into one document? [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 10:41 AM PST - 3 comments

What's the simplest, fastest, and cheapest way I can take reasonable outdoor photos of animals in low light? [more inside]
posted by asperity at 10:40 AM PST - 5 comments

Helping a friend sail a 60 ft sailboat up from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego in February. I've done a lot of sailing years ago but asking for advice on what to bring for the approximately 10 day long trip. Things like: clothing, how to handle medications, personal safety and comfort items, etc. Thanks!
posted by Rad_Boy at 10:39 AM PST - 3 comments

Grandma married a scammer from another country and is now actively (hopefully unknowingly) taking part in wire/mail fraud. What do we do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:12 AM PST - 13 comments

I am helping my parents clear out and reorganize their kitchen and need your help to decide how to put it all back together! It's a small galley-style kitchen, no pantry, and I am not going to be adding any new cabinetry or shelves. How do you store your stuff? [more inside]
posted by assenav at 9:47 AM PST - 22 comments

We want to spend this year visiting east coast beach towns to decide where to move in May 2021 when our lease is up. What towns should we be looking at? [more inside]
posted by COD at 9:45 AM PST - 9 comments

Calling electronics aficionados! I would like to create a light box using LED. Halp! [more inside]
posted by waving at 8:25 AM PST - 11 comments

I use a lot of MS tools in my job – SharePoint, Flow/ Power Automate, Power Apps, etc.. These tools are updated by MS at such a fast rate that oftentimes if I spend time to learn a thing, when I return a few months later, how to do that thing has changed, and I have to re-learn how to do that thing. This drives me crazy and makes me feel like I’ll never master these constantly evolving tools: how can I/ how do other folks work smarter with Microsoft’s approach? [more inside]
posted by my log does not judge at 8:20 AM PST - 2 comments

Our water heater is kaput, and we're thinking of switching from the traditional tank hot water heater to a high-efficiency tankless (specifically, this one). Our motivations are lowering our natural gas bill (I understand we might save about $10/month), and being environmentally friendly. Is there any reason not to switch to tankless, other than the fact that it costs a few hundred more for the heater itself? If you have horror stories, let me know!
posted by ClaireBear at 7:46 AM PST - 28 comments

We are seeking a recommendation for an attorney who is knowledgeable about tenant law in Minneapolis and Minnesota, who can evaluate our situation and help to guide us to a satisfactory resolution. [more inside]
posted by Kwine at 7:26 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm writing a Greasemonkey script to make Achewood look better on mobile. Google says some Achewood comics have alt text so I need to make sure I don't accidentally wipe that out, but does it ever get other non-obvious content that I need to make sure I don't obscure? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 6:36 AM PST - 2 comments

I want to set up a new network attached storage (NAS) device for backing up pictures, media, and whatnot for a household of four people with a mix of Linux, macOS, and Windows devices. Minimum four disk bays, preferably five. Help! [more inside]
posted by jzb at 5:00 AM PST - 9 comments

Having survived the first trimester with not much nausea or discomfort at all, I was excited to see the promised awesome second trimester- which so far has been a lie. I'm left with an overwhelming feeling of "what gives?!" [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 2:45 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm after books, podcasts, documentaries etc on dinosaurs aimed at adults. [more inside]
posted by poxandplague at 2:20 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a Solo 401K plan that I haven’t yet funded for 2019. My understanding is that ordinarily I’d have until my tax return deadline (April, or October if I filed an extension) to fund the plan for 2019. But for Reasons, I need to file my taxes sooner — and would still like to have the option of making a Solo 401K contribution later in the year. Is that possible? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:51 AM PST - 4 comments

I am a female and there are surprisingly few resources targeting female abusers. I need to find places to get help that are safe for me to pursue. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:51 AM PST - 32 comments

This is a question for UK Mefites. Should my spouse and I pay a solicitor rather a lot to create Powers of Attorney for us, or is it something we could realistically do on our own? [more inside]
posted by kyrademon at 12:58 AM PST - 8 comments

Hello, native speakers! I can find the concept online, but never in a context that gives me a definite sense of its meaning. Is it the second term of a president, or the term in which they can do the things that will make their reputation, or something else entirely?
posted by Skyanth at 11:09 PM PST - 5 comments

I'd like to read about methods for increasing the odds of conceiving a baby of a specific sex. Anecdotal, traditional, superstitious, or, better yet, supported by (even vanishingly small) scientific data- open to all.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 10:34 PM PST - 13 comments

Hit me with your favorite historical books of adventure and derring-do! [more inside]
posted by thomsplace at 9:43 PM PST - 21 comments

I recently read this NYT article on how good fruit is for you, that broke down the process of digestion and how our body uses fruit as fuel. It motivated me to eat fruit, in a "Wow! Nature is f’ing awesome!" way and not an "Ugh I need to eat 5 servings of this so I don't die early" kind of way. What credible, scientific, *non-diet* sources are there of information about how humans digest food, why some foods are awesome for us, and how fruits and vegetables help our bodies? [more inside]
posted by rogerroger at 9:43 PM PST - 7 comments

What is this kitchen gadget used for? [more inside]
posted by Mallenroh at 8:08 PM PST - 10 comments

In my last year of college in the mid-90s, I donated eggs through a clinic here in Portland, OR. At the time (age 21), I thought it sounded like sort of an interesting thing to do-- help an infertile couple out while also spreading my genes. Plus the (now paltry) $1,200 seemed like good compensation for what I figured would be a fairly minor role on my part. [more inside]
posted by hollisimo at 7:14 PM PST - 11 comments

Do I need to BURN IT ALL WITH FIRE? What is a realistic way to proceed? I have already carried out the usually recommended security measures. I have a lay person's ability with iT. I need realistic advice for an ordinary person, not advice that the NSA would give to Morgan Stanley or the US Secretary of State. [more inside]
posted by bad grammar at 6:30 PM PST - 11 comments

Why is my laptop suddenly going berserk and suddenly loading every box it can for five minutes and I can't stop it? [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:07 PM PST - 8 comments

I've just booked a flight to Barcelona and after accounting for travel time, will have 6 full days in Spain. I'm trying to decide if I should fit in a couple days in Madrid and/or Valencia, or just stay in Barcelona the whole time (with perhaps a day trip or two thrown in). [more inside]
posted by too bad you're not me at 5:05 PM PST - 14 comments

I am an OBGYN resident, pregnant with my first child. I am struggling to find books, blogs, forums, and other resources for people like me. [more inside]
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 3:28 PM PST - 8 comments

I am a relatively new user to Google calendar. I need to give a lot of people the option to schedule something without them seeing who else is on the calendar. Does Google Calendar let me send them a blank calendar and then, lets them select their own date and time with them seeing only their entry while I see all of the entries?
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:44 PM PST - 6 comments

Next week, I will be meeting with the staff of my organization to hear a proposal for some changes they really, really want to make to the way we're structured. While I am open to their ideas, there are some downsides, and the benefits will fall way more on the employee side than on management/leadership or even client service. I know that one of the proponents in particular will pull out all the rhetorical stops to influence my decision, and I have a history of falling for "pre-suasion"-type tactics. What should I watch out for? [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 12:45 PM PST - 12 comments

I have friends who have done or are considering taking one of those DNA tests. I think these services are generally a stupid idea and I just cannot relate at all as to why my friends want to waste money on them. How can I be less condescending and more supportive when they talk about it and eventually want to talk to me about the results? Help me understand why people take these tests, specifically when they say it’s because they want to find out more about their distant ethnic heritage. [more inside]
posted by like_neon at 11:58 AM PST - 45 comments

I want to quit drinking as hard, but it's tied to an activity I enjoy, making art. Making art has always been a solo activity... it's just a hobby I've always had. [more inside]
posted by ggp88 at 11:16 AM PST - 19 comments

Are you a person who moved from a gay/homosexual identity to a bisexual/pansexual identity over time? How did you cope with this shift in self-perception? Did you find any resources or communities (online or off) that helped you? [more inside]
posted by Balthamos at 10:49 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm headed on a trip to Mexico (at a seaside resort) with U.S.–based colleagues. People keep joking about ending up in Mexican jail and repeatedly mentioning tips such as not to drink the tap water. Help me explain to them why these can be racist and/or stereotypical things to focus on when discussing our upcoming trip, so I can effectively redirect these lines of joking or discussion. [more inside]
posted by INTJ at 10:25 AM PST - 18 comments

Will my MacBook Air work decently enough with Logic Pro? Should I pick another DAW entirely? Or wait until I can upgrade my laptop or replace it? [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 10:12 AM PST - 5 comments

I find stretching both boring and painful, but I understand it is important for long-term physical mobility. Please help me hate it less. [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 10:04 AM PST - 12 comments

I’m looking for the best non-plastic, disposable drinking straw. Ideally, it: [more inside]
posted by jroybal at 9:52 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm in Vanuatu, a country that will sell you prescription medicine without a doctor's prescription, but you have to know what to ask for. I feel like a golf ball is growing in my throat and swallowing is difficult. I'm dog sitting on a resort and may have already gotten one guest sick (or he me). Would like to nip this in the bud. Suggestions? And yes, I realize this is unorthodox and YANMD.
posted by dobbs at 9:41 AM PST - 9 comments

Now that my kid is self-sufficient at 8 years old, I think I've forgotten what to do with myself on the weekends! I have a few well-established priorities (exercise, home cooked healthy meals) and vague future goals (music, volunteering, spend more time with my friends) and things I always think I should be doing more of (quality time with kiddo), a regular list of weekend chores (laundry etc), plus a never-ending list of homeowner to-dos ... but I wake up every Saturday morning with absolutely no idea what to do, in terms of what I want to do and what I need to do. I do have a fair amount of kid-free time now, as he spends a lot of time out with his dad. I dunno, I guess I had come to depend on the hourly structure that used to be set from having a small kid, and now I have no idea what to do with the lack of structure? Help??
posted by schwinggg! at 9:30 AM PST - 5 comments

I came across a description of Manichaeism that went something like, "The gods hated themselves, and tried to kill themselves, which shattered them into fragments of light that became embedded in trees and rocks and animals. Manichaeans don't believe in having babies, because a baby is just a prison for that fragment of god-light" Can anyone find the original for me? And is this description even remotely accurate?
posted by mecran01 at 8:28 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for something like the 'Behind the Bastards' episodes on WeWork, except a series featuring multiple companies* or something that provides the kind of non-hagiographic/shilly industry coverage that Valleywag used to with an irreverent tenor and largely without the shepherding of previously involved parties. *'The Dropout' and 'The Missing Cryptoqueen' certainly have the subject matter I'm looking for but are high budget affairs with interviewed sources that feature only one company. I understand why I'm unlikely to find a series like that with a new company every few episodes.
posted by Selena777 at 8:05 AM PST - 5 comments

I recently hit on writing the date I opened something on things in the fridge, so that way I know just how long they've been lurking. My therapist suggested also writing when something should be disposed of, which is a good idea. But... how long do various things (generally) last once opened? How do you tell if something has gone off? [more inside]
posted by hoyland at 7:14 AM PST - 17 comments

Busy middle-aged women of MeFi: how did you finally STICK to an exercise routine? And what is your workout of choice? [more inside]
posted by yawper at 5:47 AM PST - 45 comments

An ornithopter is a machine that flaps its wings to fly. What would you call a vehicle that propels itself in the water with a swimming motion? [more inside]
posted by Lorc at 4:33 AM PST - 15 comments

As it says on the tin, looking for a particular Fleetwood Mac song I heard in a cab recently but unfortunately didn’t get the title. It was sort of upbeat and poppy and synth-y, sort of like beach music? Don’t remember any of the words. It definitely isn’t one of their top 20/25 hits and I was surprised it was Fleetwood Mac. Didn’t have that sort of pedal steely sound I associate with them and I don’t think it sounded like Stevie Nicks, if that’s possible?
posted by stillmoving at 4:30 AM PST - 23 comments

We just re-watched the Big Lebowski, and we enjoyed the gold and silver shoes from the dream sequence, and the purple shoes worn by The Jesus (both seen on Imgur), but modern bowling shoes are not in this style any more. They look more like modern sneakers. Where can find bowling shoes more like those, if not replicas of those shoes?
posted by filthy light thief at 9:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I've been under A LOT of stress for the past few months and during this time I've moved to a new city for a career opportunity, but... I've ended up with a roommate/landlord situation that isn't working out. I have until the end of February to find a new place, which is a relief. How do I do a better job of finding a more compatible landlord/roommate? And how do I present this situation to a potential landlord? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:36 PM PST - 14 comments

Me + my dear husb want to spend some time road tripping in British Columbia this summer. We are life long residents of Vancouver Island/Lower Mainland, but haven't ventured much further beyond that save for a couple of trips to the Okanagan to visit family, or else just cruising through on the way to Alberta for whatever reason. Where should we go and what should we do?? [more inside]
posted by wats at 8:11 PM PST - 4 comments

My cat keeps swatting at my toddler leaving scratches. I'm at a loss and might need to rehome my cat. Assistance, advice, needed. [more inside]
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:24 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm dealing with a lot of stress with my job and my finances, and I'm terrified I'm not doing enough. I keep trying to work harder, but I'm so tired that it's hard to motivate myself. I haven't taken any time to speak of for down time in ages, which is probably why I'm so tired. How do I convince myself that I deserve to take time away from work? [more inside]
posted by sciatrix at 7:20 PM PST - 17 comments

What are some important steps to starting a business with a new product I'm trying to invent? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 4:55 PM PST - 4 comments

Very recently, some websites seem to be blocked on Safari. I can access them from Firefox. First it was twitter (I'm not a user), then youtube, then WaPo. And today it is MetaFilter!! I've checked the settings and I can't see I have blocked anything. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any idea what is happening? I don't really mind using Firefox, since I have to, for work. But it is an adjustment, and it's weird.
posted by mumimor at 2:42 PM PST - 12 comments

Relative in Cambodia passed this week, leaving a teenage daughter. All sorts of complications. Looking for good advice and Cambodia specific suggestions to help the daughter. [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:38 PM PST - 28 comments

For reasons that don't matter here, the sleeves of "long sleeve" tops are always a few inches uncomfortably too long for me. I always have to fold them up; and it looks and feels sloppy (even worse if they're "pushed up.") I'd really like to be able to shorten them by myself. (Plaintive details inside) [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:31 PM PST - 13 comments

I've been at my job for nearly 3 years. It was fine/great but in the last 4 months things took a massive nosedive and I don't know whether to stay or go. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 1:15 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm having trouble finding a refillable notebook with a truly sturdy cover: not just a "hard cover" but something completely nonflexible and sturdy as a clipboard. I've tried Filofax, BlueLine Miraclebind, Staples Arc, which all claim to be "hard cover" but are actually just a little too thin and flexible. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by StealthOatmeal at 12:51 PM PST - 4 comments

In one bit of the movie 1917, the protagonists are making their way through an abandoned front line of the Germans. Part of the area includes an underground bunkhouse with beds (stripped of all but frames, springs, and a few overlooked personal momentos). But there also canvas food bags hanging from the ceiling; what were they for? The rats were nosing at them but not wholesale eating at them: one bit of dialogue indicates it might be food. Would that have been a thing, to hang up your ration?
posted by tilde at 11:52 AM PST - 9 comments

The devices work on my laptop, but not the desktop. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 11:46 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for "happy books" for my tween reader whose friends are all reading dystopian fiction or scary fantasy that freaks her out. [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 11:41 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm changing company names and looking for information on how to properly move a website example: abc.com to xyz.com. [more inside]
posted by Jackie_Treehorn at 11:13 AM PST - 5 comments

A friend is writing a story set in Sci-fi/Fantasy China (from the TV show 镇魂 Guardian, if you know it), and could use some help in coming up with ideas for food for the characters to cook and eat. Specific questions inside! [more inside]
posted by theatro at 10:59 AM PST - 5 comments

How to care for a French Polish guitar when I'm a bull in a china shop? [more inside]
posted by humboldt32 at 10:55 AM PST - 4 comments

My partner and I have moved to a part of upstate NY with cheap (?) land, almost no new houses, and old houses that mostly wouldn't work for us. I've always had the impression that getting a house custom-built was an expensive, life-devouring boondoggle. Is that the case? [more inside]
posted by wintersweet at 10:24 AM PST - 17 comments

Canada Post dropped off a package at my side door without a notification and I didn't see it for what was probably a couple of days. It's been very cold (-15C / 5F). Online instructions say to protect from freezing. How much would it actually impact the efficacy? [more inside]
posted by mireille at 10:17 AM PST - 5 comments

I've started listening to audiobooks via Hoopla more often, but for some reason many of them don't have integrated chapter bookmarks even though the same recordings (generally popular Audible ones) accessed elsewhere do. Is there a good place to look up the timestamps (i.e. Chapter 2 36:07, Chapter 3 57:13, etc) for books so that I can create my own bookmarks or at least know where I am within a book? Barring that, can anyone find this for the book Neurotribes?
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:07 AM PST - 2 comments

I made an admittedly stupid "joke" with a good friend of mine, and things did not go over well. I'd like thoughts on how to smooth things over. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 8:49 AM PST - 22 comments

I just got a really nice 3-d printed stainless steel bird that I'd like to turn into a pin. A pin I really really don't want to lose. [more inside]
posted by Geameade at 8:48 AM PST - 8 comments

What are the best ways to limit single-use plastic when buying and using dish soap? [more inside]
posted by rossination at 8:37 AM PST - 12 comments

I am totally driving myself nuts trying to get a a pattern printed of the sides of this case design on thingverse. [more inside]
posted by Catblack at 8:33 AM PST - 10 comments

Last year, I booked a flight ticket with Condor Airlines (a german company) who were owned by Thomas Cook Airways (TCA) who also provided the flights. TCA went bankrupt, my flight (and all TCA flights) were cancelled, no flight or alternate flight was provided by condor, I thus performed a successful chargeback on my credit card. Now Condor claims I owe them for the flight (even though none was provided!) and if I don’t pay they will pass my debt onto a collection agency. [more inside]
posted by lalochezia at 7:56 AM PST - 27 comments

Can the U.S. House of Representatives subpoena Bolton to testify now? [more inside]
posted by gt2 at 7:50 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm working on a short story about a couple who earn a lot of money in a short period of time and who have shot up several rungs in the class ladder. I'm looking to find some academic research or first-person accounts of what it's like emotionally and logistically to find yourself -- through labor, but perhaps wildly overcompensated labor -- in a whole other economic class than you were before and how that impacts your identity. [more inside]
posted by megancita at 7:49 AM PST - 5 comments

I am looking for some art for my walls. What are some cool sites like Society6 and Redbubble? Also, is there a way to print images from Google or somewhere else that are affordable and look good? More details inside [more inside]
posted by Alvin80 at 7:39 AM PST - 5 comments

I lost someone important to me last year. The pain is still as raw as it ever was. I need help handling this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:21 AM PST - 19 comments

My kids (6 and 10) were asking the greatest questions last night. [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 6:14 AM PST - 3 comments

DOT Jr. is eleven years old and a fan of My Hero Academia. What should he watch next? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:10 AM PST - 26 comments

I was hoping you might be able to give me some reassurance and help me understand a hugely upsetting situation. My girlfriend of about 9 months, who seemed totally into the relationship, dumped me very suddenly a few months ago and didn’t seem to be able or willing to give me any clarification. [more inside]
posted by popcorngirl at 6:06 AM PST - 15 comments

I would like to use it to plan and encourage myself to work on my creative goals such as writing, painting and making music. [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 12:56 AM PST - 6 comments

Was the action I took worth the minor public commotion. [more inside]
posted by clavdivs at 10:18 PM PST - 20 comments

In honor of Neil Peart, I got blazingly high and am currently about to blast Moving Pictures at ear bleedingly loud volume directly into my, uh, ears. Afterwards I would like to watch some forked up trippy shirt on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. [more inside]
posted by disconnect at 6:33 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm a white male college professor in my late thirties. Over the last few weeks, I've gotten some bracing feedback about my way of being in the world. At work, it was a tenure review conversation with my (female) department chair. At home, it was a multiday debriefing with my (female) spouse after a party at our house where I had a bit too much to drink. These are people whose opinions I greatly respect. And they're telling me the same thing: that I have a habit of being rude and condescending, especially to women. (Of course the patterns they're diagnosing are far from new.) How can I do better? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:13 PM PST - 46 comments

I'm part of a small, private, closed group of online friends. We use a forum to communicate. It used to be a place where we just chat and share things, but for a while now many of us use it as a place for emotional support and advice. Rather than reinventing the wheel, where can I find a short, clear, simple list of guidelines for how to behave on the forum? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:11 PM PST - 2 comments

Asking for an HR professional: Looking for a diversity/inclusion course that is available online and which covers LGBTQ+ issues. There’s not a specific budget set aside but they are willing to pay for the right tool.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 6:01 PM PST - 5 comments

Once upon a time, I was given an extraordinary mix on cassette of "lounge music", with no artists or song titles listed. Over the years the original tape failed, the backup was permanently borrowed, and I figured the whole thing was lost to time. Then the internet happened, and I was finally able to track down a handful of songs from that mystery tape--but I need more than a handful to put a proper playlist together! [more inside]
posted by Vervain at 5:04 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm not a millennial, but I have been having fun building my houseplant collection of late. Now I find that I'm wanting to learn a bit more about these lovely creatures in my house. What's the best way for a non-science person to learn something about the botany of houseplants? [more inside]
posted by bluedaisy at 4:34 PM PST - 8 comments

I have an enormous, maybe even majestic early 2008, 17-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.5 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo and 4 gb of ram. What can I do on it? [more inside]
posted by umbú at 2:42 PM PST - 11 comments

The forecast says snow on Monday overnight. We are schedule to fly out on Hawaiian Airlines Tuesday morning. Should we stay the previous night at the airport? [more inside]
posted by amanda at 2:20 PM PST - 7 comments

In AT&T Archives - The Viewtron System and Sceptre Videotex Terminal (1983) there is something playing in the background for the first 24-ish seconds or so. What is that? I've heard it before, but I don't know its name.
posted by oonh at 2:18 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm planning on wrapping up my PhD and rejoining the working world around summer 2021-ish, but before I do, I'd love to hole up somewhere for a couple months and ski while I put the finishing touches on my thesis. (Yes, my advisor is on board with this plan.) Where would the best place in the western US (or British Columbia) to do this? Some more details inside. [more inside]
posted by un petit cadeau at 2:00 PM PST - 13 comments

Looking for a known sports cliche stating, essentially, "When the game is on the line, trust the process that got you there!". I.e. don't try new stuff when pressure increases.
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:37 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking to buy art for my walls. I want original paintings, not prints. Affordable - less than $500 each, maybe significantly less. In addition to eBay, where do you go? [more inside]
posted by lewedswiver at 11:35 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a quick dumb question. If you look here, I have no idea what "ace" means. I mean yes obviously Parvati is the best. However I don't get what ace means.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 10:06 AM PST - 8 comments

I want to learn to play the drums. I would like to be taught from the internet. I have a music background. Point me in the right direction. [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 9:57 AM PST - 9 comments

I love this music And want to play it on the piano. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 9:07 AM PST - 6 comments

Yes, another "where should I go?" question! My husband and I want to escape Denver in mid to late February for about a week. I want to be warm, but not bored. Puerto Rico is off the table for this year (we're going to try to go there in 2021). Budget is not a huge concern. [more inside]
posted by GoldenEel at 8:59 AM PST - 29 comments

I've got 2 lists in an Excel doc. I want to associate every item in list 1 with every item in list 2. The lists have 25 and 13 lines so I'll end up with 325 lines, and every once in a while an item is added. So I'd like to automate the process rather than doing a huge copy & paste job every time. Can I do this just with formulas (i.e., without VBA)? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 8:51 AM PST - 8 comments

There is a Brazilian song titled Aí, morcego by Irineu Almeida that I’m thinking of adapting for a community band. Google Translate renders the title as “there, a bat!” which seems harmless enough. However, my question is, is there some kind of slang interpretation of “bat” in this context that I should be aware of? [more inside]
posted by delicious-luncheon at 7:33 AM PST - 1 comment

I had a very minor scope and biopsy. Extremely common. Insurance covered it. Now I am getting an avalanche of bills in the mail, from small to large. I think it's over a dozen separate bills at this point. What the hell happened, and how can I avoid this in the future? [more inside]
posted by FakeFreyja at 7:17 AM PST - 18 comments

After many years of not taking or using french, I will be taking a french course to refresh my French. My french was pretty decent once upon a time. I feel like when I get back into it, I will remember A LOT in just a 2-5 hours of instruction. So I'd like to get those 2-5 hours done BEFORE the placement test. Where can I do this online? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:54 AM PST - 10 comments

My cycling coach has me lifting weights 2x a week, which has done wonders for my sprints, for sure. However, I'm running into a weird problem with foot pain. [more inside]
posted by uberchet at 6:51 AM PST - 6 comments

I almost wanted to say "non-visual" but I'm don't necessary want to rule out graphic novels. I've always been curious if I can find a book that can scare me...but up to now I haven't been able to. Any thoughts on books you find terrifying? Details within! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 5:11 AM PST - 48 comments

How did you determine a food budget for your college student if they were not on a full-on meal plan? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 2:17 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm looking for a typeface for use in a logo with a somewhat specific requirement; I need the lowercase "n" and "u" characters to be totally unadorned, i.e. just a single plain curve, something like the union and intersection symbols ("∪", "∩"). Obviously it's going to be sans-serif, and probably something quite geometric. I don't want something blocky though, but more curvy and round. Anybody know of a typeface like this?
posted by destrius at 1:29 AM PST - 12 comments

The Facebook page for the local railway station has the incorrect phone number listed. I believe this an automatically created page and there's no admin for it as such? I've suggested an edit but this doesn't seem to have done anything. How do I go about getting this fixed?
posted by onya at 1:01 AM PST - 3 comments

My friend and ex, whose opinion I value a ton, has referred to me multiple times as "earnest" as a defining character trait. I feel like I'm not totally getting what she's saying. What does earnestness REALLY signify, in this Year of our Goddex 2020? [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish at 9:26 PM PST - 27 comments

What is the most life-affirming (or hopeful, even) fact of which you are aware? [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 9:01 PM PST - 32 comments

Due to a dry-bag leak I recently inadvertently drowned my smartphone in the sea. Since then, I have been enjoying my pocketcomputer-free existence, and decided that it's time to go back to a flip phone. [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 8:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I have been dating a woman for 6 months who is great in a lot of ways. We get along rather well, we are at the same place in our lives, I respect and seek out her opinion, we trust each other and enjoy each other's company. I can see myself building a relationship with her for these reasons. But the romantic energy wanes on my end because she's a goofball. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:24 PM PST - 19 comments

I have this stuffed white tiger toy. I would like to colour parts of its synthetic fur in brown, grey, tan, and black, so it resembles a specific cat. What should I use? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:06 PM PST - 6 comments

When I bring up an issue with my husband, he'll often react in one of two ways: He'll either say something like 'I'm always the bad guy here anyway' and leave in anger or he'll pick up on something I say during a fight and turn it around to make that the issue of our argument. [more inside]
posted by TMBelair at 6:42 PM PST - 22 comments

Looking to re-create part of this set for a TV show. https://imgur.com/a/4tOaJ5o Looking for any ideas as the brand/designer of this chair. Any help would be appreciated thanks!
posted by cascando at 6:08 PM PST - 1 comment

I suspect that I'm about to misinterpret this paper. Could someone who knows what they're talking about explain "non-canonical transcription" and "dark DNA"?
posted by clawsoon at 4:41 PM PST - 3 comments

I would like soothing music to listen to while stretching and relaxing that has no sung/spoken words. [more inside]
posted by medusa at 2:07 PM PST - 23 comments

Lots of talk has been going around about how if you abbreviate the date on official paperwork to just "20" then someone can come behind you and change it to 2019 or 2021 to take advantage of you. But what exactly is it they could accomplish by doing that? [more inside]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 1:48 PM PST - 23 comments

I bought some wood furniture in a literal fire sale. No direct damage, but the furniture was exposed to smoke so it has a distinct campfire-mixed-with-a-bit-of-chemical odour. I've used vinegar and water once, and left it outside for 2 days, but it still smells somewhat. Any other cleaner you recommend? (The wood has a finish on it and looks like oak.)
posted by Beardman at 1:04 PM PST - 5 comments

Why does attempting to move an item up or down on an iPhone reminders list never work the first time? [more inside]
posted by sunshine37 at 12:53 PM PST - 2 comments

I have always struggled with being hard on myself and holding my work to a high standard. Instead of celebrating upon finishing a gruelling project, I mostly feel sick to my stomach since I just know there are glaring, embarrassing mistakes which will come to light. Now that I am further along in my career, this only seems to get worse and become more crippling. I need some advice on how to deal. [more inside]
posted by csjc at 12:42 PM PST - 13 comments

Where should I go in NYC (Brooklyn or Manhattan) to get pectin? I tried a Bravo supermarket and Key foods in Bed-Stuy and they didn't have it.
posted by andoatnp at 12:28 PM PST - 10 comments

My best friend and I will be in Sevierville, TN from a Friday early afternoon and leaving the following Sunday afternoon in mid-February. Just us girls. Looking for adventurous suggestions and reviews of things to do! [more inside]
posted by Sara_NOT_Sarah at 12:27 PM PST - 6 comments

Just in the last week or two, a lot of emails have been disappearing from my iPhone. The emails still exist on my server, and when I look at Mail on my computer, I have no trouble getting them, so this is something that's happening only on my iPhone. It's also happening on my iPod Touch, though. Why is this happening? [more inside]
posted by chromium at 12:17 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for small-rental-apartment solutions to replace stocking disposable bottled water in my fridge. A Brita filter that attaches to the faucet tap was suggested -- are there any that also produce *cold* water, assuming that my tap water starts out at room temperature? Or other solutions that fit my snowflake criteria? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 12:06 PM PST - 15 comments

I would like to set up a security system for the house, but the whole area seems filled with small, sketchy vendors and bright-shiny-probably-not-great consumer friendly cloud-based privacy killers like Arlo / Ring. [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 10:31 AM PST - 5 comments

I live in a condo where my actual house-door is not outside, but is inside behind a security door. We are about to change the security door over to a coded door to allow UPS etc to drop packages inside and ease access for repair people to the common area inside. While I am mostly on Team Coded Lock, I have some concerns. [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:21 AM PST - 13 comments

So I was told that due to health problems (long-standing depression, sadness and anxiety) that I have to change my whole chemistry and this to be done through happiness. Ugh. No really UGH. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 9:24 AM PST - 53 comments

Short and simple: which of these two smartwatches should I get: the Fossil Gen 5 Julianna, or the Samsung Galaxy? Needs inside. I assume both should be able to do this but I'd like to be sure, and I'd like to know if other considerations (battery life?) favor one over the other. [more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:34 AM PST - 1 comment

What's the term (named after a physicist, I think) for the phenomenon of reading an article in the newspaper about which you're a subject matter expert, realising it's all wrong, then blithely flicking the page to read about politics or foreign affairs, confident in the abilities of those other journalists who write about the stuff you're less familiar with? [more inside]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:33 AM PST - 8 comments

I work with a small but passionate activism nonprofit in the Rust Belt. Our work, and the work of the coalitions we belong to, is getting some press in progressive circles around the US. I think our org, our partners, and the issues we are tackling (progressive but not necessarily political, focused on human rights) would make for a pretty good documentary. I have a very loose understanding of how movies get made, but no experience anywhere near the industry. Can you help me think of things I should be thinking about? [more inside]
posted by skookumsaurus rex at 8:03 AM PST - 4 comments

I work in a dog friendly, 50-person office. Though I'm not a dog person, this has worked out ok so far. The three dogs I've met have been geriatric under-the-desk-lazers; one even took a shine to me, which was sweet. Now there's a new dog in town! [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 6:14 AM PST - 25 comments

I don't know much about phones and sometimes grumpy-snob myself into bad decisions. I have several phone choices from my provider but am utterly at a loss. Details within. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 5:51 AM PST - 15 comments

I’ve started drinking chicory instead of coffee and I really like it. Is something funky going to happen to me if I drink a lot of it? [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 5:03 AM PST - 6 comments

Our daughter is now nine and we've given in and set her up with an account on the laptop using Apple's really rather good parental controls. We can setup when she is and isn't able to login, we can set which applications she can and can't open, and I've set it up so that her default search engine is Swiggle. I've even changed the URL bar behaviour in Chrome (which is the only allowed browser app on that account) so that if she uses the URL bar to search it doesn't just take her to Google. HOWEVER [more inside]
posted by dance at 2:56 AM PST - 9 comments

I find it extremely difficult to spend any time with my mother and suffer from strong irritation and the sort of almost-allergic reactions I associate with teenagers. Help! [more inside]
posted by miaow at 12:50 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to have a very catchy original beat, I'm willing to pay to commission it. Then I will write lyrics about issues important to me and rap them over the song. 1. Where do I go to work with someone together to make a catchy beat that meets my needs. I assume there's a website or group or app or something to connect me with digital DJs? 2. I intend to just write rhyming lyrics and puns with lots of wordplay, and almost just talk-rap it over the best. Any issues that I should foresee? My goal is to make a song that I like, I'm proud of, and that some rap listeners would find at least mediocre if not good.
posted by maxexam at 12:13 AM PST - 4 comments

Up until about a month ago, I had a 2014 Macbook Pro and I had no problem using two additional large monitors. Neither of them is fancy, only one is 4K. I've acquired a 2019 Macbook Pro (16") and I can't get both monitors to handle input at the same time. [more inside]
posted by bendy at 11:20 PM PST - 14 comments

On one of the youtube pages of yesterdays hippybear post about David Bowie, I saw an interesting looking link -- a cut from a 2004 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Tribute to George Harrison, featuring Tom Petty, Prince, Geo Harrison's son Dhani (who looks so much like young George that it's unreal), Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" I had no idea the talent and showmanship of Prince -- he blew that place apart. Can you / will you give me links to your favorite Prince show(s)?
posted by dancestoblue at 9:41 PM PST - 14 comments

Most flavours that we taste are related to other, similar flavours. So there are fruity flavours, meaty flavours, nutty flavours, dairy-product flavours, and so on. But there are some sui generis flavours that don't seem to fit into one of these large categories — the blue bits of blue cheese, quinine, Marmite/Vegemite, liquid smoke, and other more interesting examples from outside Western food culture. Which of these one-of-a-kind flavours is the most one-of-a-kind?
posted by dontjumplarry at 6:34 PM PST - 63 comments

Walk me through taking six adults to Dave and Busters on 42nd St. in NYC after work. [more inside]
posted by griphus at 6:26 PM PST - 2 comments

This month the topic is food and menus in my ESL class and I'd like to go big: The Cheesecake Factory Menu. It's a way to show the ridiculous range of American food menus while also giving them a ton of descriptive food adjectives. So I can find a PDF of the eat-in menu WITHOUT prices or the takeout menu WITH prices. But not the behemoth of the eat in menu WITH prices. Anyone know where I can get that? Ideally in some printable form. Bonus points for one with pics (but not necessary).
posted by rileyray3000 at 6:21 PM PST - 4 comments

How can I acquire the right Thin Mints? [more inside]
posted by woodvine at 5:22 PM PST - 12 comments

I just finished reading T. Kingfisher's Swordheart, and before that I re-read Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor. Last year I read Lois McMaster Bujold's Curse of Chalion series and Penric & Desdemona series. I want more. Please recommend me some fantasy novels with characters who are kind, find love, and end well. A dash of humor is good too, but I've already read (and enjoyed) Discworld.
posted by fings at 4:54 PM PST - 30 comments

This winter I'll need to drive my 2009 Camry up to Tahoe several times, which means I need some tire chains. Online, tire chains that fit my car run the gamut from $40 to $400+ What's the sweet spot within this range? What else should I know about tire chains?
posted by boghead at 2:52 PM PST - 7 comments

I’ve suddenly found myself without good plans for my vacation first week of February. Are there any last minute travel deal sites that actually have deals? Would be leaving from Charlotte or Atlanta, destination and price highly flexible (Yes this has been asked before but it was 5y ago so things have probably changed)
posted by genmonster at 2:46 PM PST - 9 comments

My 17 year old started having seizures. We've been to ERs, neurologists, had EEG, MRI, and got referred to a leading movement clinic. It's taken me three weeks to get an appointment, but we finally have one tomorrow. Doctors prescribed xanax, which initially worked, but resistance built fast. Then a friend got him high, and the seizures stopped for a few hours, about as long as the xanax worked. I'll be honest, I'd prefer he smoke a bowl than take handfuls of xanax, but it's illegal in this state. How/should I tell his medical professionals? Am I at risk of them calling CPS and removing him?
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 2:31 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm haunted by the memory of robot/cyborg dinosaur wind-up toys that I played with as a kid ca. 1989 or 1990 in the USA. They had some kind of postapocalyptic lore setting and IIRC the T. Rex, who might have had a circular whirring sawblade in his chest, was described as blind, but with "the soul of a poet." Does this ring a bell for anyone?
posted by yhlee at 1:17 PM PST - 4 comments

Hi, just looking for the hive mind's input on which baking store in Portland should I go to for the following things: purple jimmies, purple sparkly chunky sugar, black gel icing, and some kind of cake adhesive to stick things on a cake. I am frustrated with goog/yelp and don't want to go to all the way to Beaverton or the like if there is a better option close by. Or, would I be better off just ordering on Etsy? Thank you!
posted by fairlynearlyready at 12:37 PM PST - 7 comments

If I charge $40 per hour for a service, how much would I charge for 50 minutes of the same service? Please don't answer "depends"; give me a straight-up figure, please!
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:14 PM PST - 13 comments

I am planning something of a memorial tattoo, an isolated patch of pattern. Would like some more ideas like how people have used kites as a frame or enclosure for an abstract design. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 11:40 AM PST - 5 comments

My mom says she will hire a professional organizer for her house if I find a reputable one for her. The level of clutter is not creating an unsanitary environment (no pets, dishes are washed, etc.) but the accumulation of paper and books worries me and my brother and I have to keep on her to not let her piles of paper spread to the floor and create a slipping hazard as it's been in the past. [more inside]
posted by queensissy at 11:40 AM PST - 5 comments

I am interested in working for a tech company, but I have a non-STEM degree. I would eventually like to do a master's that some how combines statistics, r programming/python, and some economics if possible. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 11:35 AM PST - 8 comments

Handyfolks, woodworkers, and metalworkers of Metafilter-- say I want to drill a reasonably perpendicular pilot hole (<1/8") in hardwood. Is my money better spent to get a nice (?) set of clamp-able drill guides like this, or an inexpensive ($80 or $130) Harbor Freight-quality drill press? Mostly (currently) for use in wood, not (currently) doing any tapping/threading. Precision desirable but I'm not going to Mars here. Compactness desired, all else equal. Assume reasonable existing cordless and corded drills. [more inside]
posted by supercres at 11:10 AM PST - 13 comments

I, a late 30s white lady, am financially ready to address some stuff on my face that has bothered me for years (angiomas, redness, brown spots, seb ks, texture). Besides facial treatments, I also have some chest acne and want sebaceous keratoses frozen off my neck/back. Looking for a dermatologist in the Portland, OR area, bonus points for folks around/between SE PDX and Wilsonville. If you have cost estimates for likely stuff like consults and laser, that's also welcome. [more inside]
posted by momus_window at 10:59 AM PST - 5 comments

Is Mark Kurlansky correct is saying that only the very poor people in Sichuan eat rice? [more inside]
posted by dum spiro spero at 10:22 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a quizmaster for a local trivia night and have a concept for a general trivia category that incorporates repeated words, phrases, or names (e.g. the songwriter Phillip Phillips or the poetry line "rose is a rose is a rose is a rose"). Do you have any good examples? (Creative interpretation of the guideline is encouraged!)
posted by AgentRocket at 8:12 AM PST - 123 comments

I have a wide social circle but relatively few close friends. How can I deepen existing friendly relationships into lasting and genuine friendships? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:41 AM PST - 22 comments

My wife and I will take our daughter to Dublin in mid-February for a week's vacation. We have a few things on the itinerary. I asked previously where to stay, and you kindly also shared some recommended activities. Can you recommend some other activities within our parameters? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:37 AM PST - 23 comments

so, after like 20 years, I'm getting scared about relying on yahoo.com for e-mail, and I don't want to use my g-mail address either...... what's the best e-mail to migrate to?
posted by valkane at 8:27 PM PST - 26 comments

My Chromebook says I'm out of memory, but I have no idea why. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 6:57 PM PST - 1 comment

Our elderly dog is not in terrible pain or beset with any serous illness or injuries, but she is plagued constantly with smaller recurring health issues. Over the past year, she has declined at an accelerating pace. How will we know when her quality of life is no longer good or even okay? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 6:29 PM PST - 16 comments

Follow-up to a previous question: Did the 1995 version of Pine allow users to save drafts of unsent emails?
posted by pxe2000 at 5:24 PM PST - 13 comments

How do I caretake my budding collection? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 4:32 PM PST - 4 comments

Assuming you were building an app that created a unique view of data depending on the visitor but was consistent? Such as on refresh as long as I was a visitor identified as "male over 30" they'd see the same data but that variable could change. Facebook and Twitter seem to treat data as immutable, they change on every reload. I'm looking for a way to architecture something similar that doesn't change unless the visitor themselves changes. It makes more sense inside. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 4:07 PM PST - 12 comments

Google Sheets: how would you program a way to calculate what you can make based on the resources you have available? This is for a game - more details inside. [more inside]
posted by divabat at 3:41 PM PST - 4 comments

I use Microsoft Word to write papers on different subjects with several co-authors. I'd like to be able to keep a running updated word count for different sections (specifically, abstract and manuscript) on the title page, to ensure that we stay within the word limit for whatever journal we're targeting. Is there a way to make Word do this? [more inside]
posted by basalganglia at 3:25 PM PST - 1 comment

I want to make a removable adhesive mask that, to a casual observer, closely resembles makeup or face paint, similar to this, or this. What's the best way to make this happen without messing up my face? [more inside]
posted by chara at 3:23 PM PST - 10 comments

Considering the purchase of the Apple SD Card Reader to transfer photos from my mirrorless Fuji camera to my iPhone and/or iPad. I have a question for anyone who has used or owns one. [more inside]
posted by jrchaplin at 2:16 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm seeking restaurant recommendations for three dinners in Chicago, January 28-30. This is during restaurant week, and the selection of participating restaurants is overwelming. What participants would you recommend? Or do you have other recommendations? Price range not more than about $50 for at least 2 courses before wine. I'm staying at a Magnificent Mile hotel but am fine with public transportation/Lyft. Comfortable for a woman alone is a plus. Thank you!
posted by CheeseLouise at 1:56 PM PST - 14 comments

I rent an apartment in a 3-family building in a very expensive city. My landlords live downstairs and we have a great, friendly relationship. I've lived here 10 years, and they've raised my rent only twice in all that time. I'm paying way under market. I shudder to think how far under! [more inside]
posted by gigondas at 1:55 PM PST - 17 comments

People who know about college admissions: Does being from a Title I high school benefit a student when applying for colleges? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:44 PM PST - 3 comments

I run a legit web app/service that puts legit computational work onto a legit local cluster. At the conclusion of that job, success or failure, the service sends an email to the end user. However, that email can get put into the end user's spam folder. So I'm looking for general advice on what I can do — without the obvious cheat of telling end users to check their spam folder — to change how I am doing things to get past Gmail's spam filter. [more inside]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 1:41 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm having a 90s themed event, and would like to present a simulation of AOL circa 1994. How do I do this? Difficulty level: no knowledge of programming. [more inside]
posted by kaisemic at 12:44 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm heading to Bogota with a friend the first week of February. We're staying in the Chapinero neighborhood. Have you been to Bogota? What did you most enjoy doing/eating/seeing? [more inside]
posted by aaanastasia at 12:22 PM PST - 4 comments

Hi. Is there an infinitive in how-to phrases, like "how to pass the exam"?
posted by noelpratt2nd at 12:09 PM PST - 10 comments

My HP desktop has an AMD A4-5300B APU processor, with 8G of RAM. It's too slow. Am I correct that I should update the processor, and if so, to what? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 11:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm a tech consultant focused on a specialized technology used by thousands of businesses and hobbyists. There is a lot of documentation about this technology, but it's spread across dozens of websites, wikis, ebooks, and youtube videos and is very poorly organized and of varying quality. I would like to build a site to help organize existing things and create a repository of community documentation. What web technologies make sense for this in 2020? [more inside]
posted by JZig at 11:35 AM PST - 6 comments

I adopted a 6-year-old torbie from a nearby shelter a week and a half ago. She had been in 2 different shelters for the last 7 months and was microchipped, so presumably had a home before that. She is very, very scared and has mostly stayed in hiding, which is not a huge surprise. But I'm confused by some of her body language, which concurrently seems comfortable and loving but also defensive and scared. Can you help me understand what she's conveying? [more inside]
posted by SweetAvenue at 11:34 AM PST - 14 comments

Not yet published (expected I think in early February); blurb reads like The Overstory, by Richard Powers, but this is nonfiction. Like The Overstory, it's not just "environment", it's pretty specifically trees if I recall correctly. Pretty sure the writer is a man. What book is this? [more inside]
posted by janey47 at 10:41 AM PST - 6 comments

How can I recover psychologically from a disastrous work presentation? [more inside]
posted by Caskeum at 10:32 AM PST - 30 comments

It was fascinating reading through this recent question, as I am in similar circumstances. [more inside]
posted by treetop89 at 9:39 AM PST - 26 comments

I find myself traveling to Albany for two nights next week (three, actually, but the first night I'll be getting in super late). Are there any really terrific restaurants in the walkable part of downtown? My standards for really terrific are broad and malleable -- I eat anything, it'd just be nice not to eat in the hotel. Also, my evenings are generally wide open -- if there was some appealing theater or music thing that happened to be taking place on either the evening of Tuesday, 1/14 or Wednesday, 1/15, also in the walkable part of downtown Albany, I'd be fascinated to hear about it.
posted by LizardBreath at 9:28 AM PST - 9 comments

My stepson (17 almost 18, slightly on the spectrum) pretty much wants to hide in this room and play video games and watch YouTube all day. I know this is standard teen operations, but my wife and I would like to help him discover a career, a trade, a profession that he could get excited about. Help us help him! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:08 AM PST - 24 comments

We will be in LA at the end of August with our 8 year old and looking for things to do. We already have 3 days at Disney, a day or so at Griffith park, day at the beach, studio tour and probably brunch at magic castle. What am I missing? Any fairs or festivals end of August?
posted by UMDirector at 9:03 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm curious if this thing I do in Excel with Pivot tables and an INDEX/MATCH function can be done only with pivot tables. [more inside]
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 6:32 AM PST - 6 comments

After our Canadian adventure later this month (thank you MeFi for helping to plan it!), my intrepid group of Australian travellers are going on a road trip from Vancouver to San Francisco over 9 days. What would be a reasonable itinerary for such a trip? [more inside]
posted by roshy at 5:54 AM PST - 16 comments

I’ve been using Lightroom for over a decade, always on the desktop version. My new camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII) isn’t supported by Lightroom 6, and so reluctantly I’m going to get the Lightroom on the cloud. Do you have any tips for migrating from LR 6 to the cloud (and maybe ultimately to a different platform entirely)? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:13 AM PST - 7 comments

I have snowshoes, but finding the right footwear is proving difficult. I've tried on 10 pairs last weekend at 3 different stores, and I've just gotten more confused. Help me stay active during the winter months! [more inside]
posted by tinydancer at 2:32 AM PST - 8 comments

How do I find a doctor? My partner and I have both been graduate students for most of the past decade and haven’t been in regular contact with (medical) doctors. The idea of making an appointment without a specific health concern is anxiety-producing--how do people do this? [more inside]
posted by besonders at 8:39 PM PST - 23 comments

I'd like to rank several irregular 2D shapes by how "squiggly" their borders are, so I need a good ordinal numerical scale. Their scale varies, so circumference won't cut it. What would be a measure that's valid to, say, a topologist? Maybe a ratio of circumference to area? Is there a better term? Help me help myself on math.stackexchange.com!
posted by paul_smatatoes at 8:29 PM PST - 16 comments

Hi folks, I'm a self-taught software developer trying to make the jump to a big tech firm. I am currently studying algorithms and data structures to prepare for interviews. I always feel a bit "frightened", I would say, before I start studying; it is something that I am not looking forward to. However, once I actually sit down and start learning, I honestly find it to be very enjoyable. I've noticed I feel this way almost any time I am learning something new - the time leading up to the studying is not pleasant, but once I sit down to learn, I am have a good time. Does this "fright before the storm" have a name? Has it been studied by psychologists?
posted by stevenpl at 8:02 PM PST - 15 comments

A laptop at a bar is fine most places on non-summer weeknights, but on Saturday nights the vibe often changes: it's louder and more crowded, and I feel awkward and distracted. Examples: Green Street Meats, CH distillery. Can you recommend Chicago-area bars I can bring my laptop to on a Saturday night and have it be socially acceptable? [more inside]
posted by nicodine at 8:00 PM PST - 4 comments

We just moved from a house that had an open space above the refrigerator to a house with no open space above the refrigerator. We used to store bread-y things and chips on top of our refrigerator. Now I’m stumped. It feels WEIRD to keep these things anywhere besides where we used to, but it’s been brought to my attention that I might just be freaked out about moving. Where do normal people keep their bread?
posted by ersatzkat at 6:22 PM PST - 67 comments

There are approximately 100 zillion sites that offer online language tutoring. Which ones (either sites or specific tutors) are good? I am looking to learn French from a Canadian speaker, not a European one, and primarily seeking conversational practice. I take grammar lessons already, but we don't get a lot of practice actually talking in those classes.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:43 PM PST - 8 comments

2020 update to this question. I'm looking for an introductory programming course that can be taken this spring for college credit. Any suggestions/ recommendations/ other input would be greatly appreciated. [more inside]
posted by oceano at 4:36 PM PST - 5 comments

I met a guy via a Match.com event and we seemed to hit it off so we scheduled a date. The date went well. However I kept having what I thought was a gut feeling that something was off about him. He seemed to be a very nice guy, and it would be easy to get together since we live in the same town. My mind was convinced though that there could be "skeletons in his closet" even though there was no evidence. There were also things in his Match.com profile that were putting me off (e.g. only one picture, it was sparse, etc), plus there were small things that came up in our conversation on the date that put me off slightly (e.g. he didn't seem like a cat person, and cats are a HUGE part of my life. And once or twice it felt like he was telling me what I should do/giving me suggestions). BUT we did have good chemistry and never once was it awkward, like it usually is on my first dates. At the end of the date I felt good about seeing him again initially, but after a few days that nagging "but what about the skeletons...run away quickly" feeling came back again. [more inside]
posted by starpoint at 4:32 PM PST - 35 comments

My family is trying to find at least one geocache in every US state, and we don't have Alaska yet. If you could go to Alaska for a short visit any time of year, when and where would you go? We'd be flying in from Seattle. There are geocaches all over Alaska, so if you know of a particularly Alaskan geocache I'd love to have it pointed out. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:48 PM PST - 4 comments

My siblings and I inherited the lot where my grandmother’s house stood in a small city in East Texas and 40 acres of rural land. We've been paying property taxes for 20 years because we don't want to sell some of the last land owned by African Americans. However, this ongoing expense is a bit of an issue and we haven't been able to figure out what to do. [more inside]
posted by shoesietart at 2:46 PM PST - 34 comments

What are the most fun things to do in the western/southwestern US for a dad and his teenage daughter? [more inside]
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 2:32 PM PST - 15 comments

Hello! I am looking for a lamp to put on my desk at work for SAD. Does anyone have any recommendations? My insurance will not cover, so I am hoping not to go over $250. thank you
posted by Boyd at 1:40 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm going to be doing a lot of driving this year in cooooooold weather and I'd like to have a wool blanket to keep in my car for emergency use. I'm having trouble figuring out WHERE I can buy a moderately priced wool blanket in Canada. Any ideas where I can pick one up? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 1:25 PM PST - 20 comments

I've always cut around the fat on steaks because I find it chewy and kind of gross. I get that if it renders out it will make it juicy, but I'm talking about the fat that doesn't render. Cuts like Ribeye with fat marbled through the steak just seem stringy and unpleasant to eat to me. However, I've been watching videos where people rave about the fat and how that enhances the experience, so I've tried eating it the past few times, and it's still a hard to chew rubbery texture that detracts from the meat. Am I doing something wrong, or are the people on those videos crazy?
posted by willnot at 1:21 PM PST - 34 comments

I want to give a gift to one of my dearest friends on the occasion of our 25th 'anniversary', but I'm struggling to come up with anything great! More details inside... [more inside]
posted by widdershins at 1:00 PM PST - 12 comments

This is another "how do we decide where to live?" question. However, I'm less interested in specific recommendations for cities or towns, and more interested in the how aspect. What factors should we—an early/mid-thirties couple in the U.S.—prioritize in deciding where to live? [more inside]
posted by oiseau at 12:39 PM PST - 15 comments

So the night before last I felt really happy, but when I went to sleep I feel into this really really really deep sleep almost straight away and it was horrible- I felt so scared and out of control, like I was going to become unconscious or something because the sleep was so deep. So I woke myself up and tried to go back to sleep again, but it happened again. [more inside]
posted by EatMyHat at 12:37 PM PST - 16 comments

I got married in October, and my husband and I are going on a slightly delayed honeymoon to Belize at the end of this month. We're staying on Caye Caulker for 10 days. We plan to spend a lot of time lounging/reading/swimming, but are also looking for a handful of day trips. What is absolutely not to be missed? (I've read all the previous Belize-related Asks -- it's how we picked Belize in the first place! -- but a lot of them are pretty old and/or not totally relevant to our plans.) [more inside]
posted by catoclock at 12:15 PM PST - 4 comments

A friend of mine tweeted: "i saw a comedian do a bit about saying “no thank you” while getting beat up because his parents had told him to say that when he didn’t want to participate in something. i cannot remember who it was. i’m rewatching every standup special i’ve seen this year and can’t find it. HALP" and since he didn't find his answer there, I'm bringing it to you all.
posted by komara at 11:47 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a YA book I read in the late 80s that featured a young girl and her brother and friend, and their adventures in another world/time. It may have been the first of a series. The title may have had "Stones" in it. [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 11:26 AM PST - 2 comments

Seeking recommendations for books that are

• available in paperback – ebooks won’t work
• easy reading — not academic or theory

[more inside]
posted by Jesse the K at 11:02 AM PST - 8 comments

So, I got some stock in my company, which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (V). I've read some really scary stuff about insider trading, and I obviously want to do everything above board. Am I an "insider" and if so, what/how to do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:36 AM PST - 12 comments

I read this short story in a magazine (I think Harpers but....?) maybe ten years ago and it didn't make a huge impression on me but I think of it once in a while and kind of want to reread it and see why it stuck with me at all. Dimly recalled deets under the fold. [more inside]
posted by less of course at 10:17 AM PST - 4 comments

I am looking for several large-ish exercise mats to do some big movement stuff on a hard floor, but it looks like anything wider than a standard yoga mat is strangely expensive. This stuff looks like it comes on giant industrial rolls and costs pennies per square foot to make. How can I get it for cheap? [more inside]
posted by FakeFreyja at 9:59 AM PST - 12 comments

Folks who've gone through the whole pregnancy shindig, could you please share when you told your parents, friends, work, everyone else? How do baby showers and registries work? [more inside]
posted by vespertinism at 9:21 AM PST - 28 comments

Going through troubles with a contractor. What should I do about it? Or not? [more inside]
posted by lpsguy at 8:41 AM PST - 10 comments

Last year I decided that the genre I most needed to write was "spiritualist erotica." This story is the only one I've posted. I'm looking for awesome moments in spiritualist (or spiritualist-adjacent) history to inspire more--please don't recommend whole books or movies or podcasts; just looking for specific examples. Some ideas below the fold. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:05 AM PST - 3 comments

We're taking out our small, clawfoot tub. We could replace it with a standard tub. But we only very rarely use the tub except to shower in, and the shower would be better if we gave up the tub. Before we do that, are there any tubs that are optimized for showering? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 6:21 AM PST - 33 comments

I want to know how to say "[do you] eat chocolate? Let's talk." in other languages. Bonus for colloquialisms! What can Metafilter give me?
posted by parmanparman at 4:14 AM PST - 16 comments

As I'm working myself through the Power Broker, I noticed some interesting tricks Robert Moses was using to manage his office work, communications. Where can I learn more about office productivity before computers? [more inside]
posted by kmt at 3:18 AM PST - 9 comments

I've been teaching data skills with a masters in and out of libraries. I ALSO see the appeal of pursuing a phd to go a more traditional faculty route. How would you compare instructional librarianship to faculty/professor roles? [more inside]
posted by Sock Meets Body at 10:28 PM PST - 3 comments

Asking for my daughter, who is working on a piece of fiction: Someone kills another person by stabbing him through the heart with a sword. You’re watching, and you're a doctor. How do you describe it medically? What’s actually happening to the person who got stabbed? [more inside]
posted by mbrubeck at 8:29 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a simple weekly planner program (PC) to organize my blocks of time for the week. [more inside]
posted by roaring beast at 6:13 PM PST - 2 comments

The kid got a Nintendo Switch from Santa and is having a blast playing her fun games. I used to be quite the gamer in the past, but really only with first person shooters. Are there any games on the Switch that you could recommend that are FPS? I would also maybe enjoy horror themed games and they don't have to be FPS. Thanks!
posted by NoMich at 5:57 PM PST - 14 comments

Where should I rent a house for a week of hiking, lobster, and fun in coastal Maine? [more inside]
posted by soy_renfield at 5:55 PM PST - 9 comments

My dog Gatsby was neutered at a very early age so he doesn't lift his leg when he pees. That's cool, but the problem is he usually pees on his front foot. This is kind of gross since he, you know, walks everywhere in the house with that foot. Anybody have any ideas how to get him to redirect or move his dang foot? [more inside]
posted by Weeping_angel at 4:46 PM PST - 11 comments

I would like a current video game console. I haven’t gotten a new one in maybe 5 years. Here’s what I like and have liked: [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 4:06 PM PST - 10 comments

I’m trying to identify a surrealist painting that I remember but can’t find. Very much in the style of Magritte, but I can’t find it anywhere in his works so perhaps not his. One or Two children, dressed in pajamas? in a room, and also some kind of geometrical object. Palette similar to ‘Time Transfixed’. Some kind of blue sky with cloud texture overlaying some part of the painting, perhaps the children’s limbs? [more inside]
posted by bq at 3:55 PM PST - 2 comments

I'd like recommendations for personal finance software, paid is ok. [more inside]
posted by medusa at 2:41 PM PST - 7 comments

We bought a house and the house has a gorgeous grapefruit tree in the backyard. It’s very pretty and this being Northern California it’s already bearing fruit. [more inside]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 1:41 PM PST - 36 comments

This year, I'd like to seed-bomb the vacant lot behind my building in NYC (so USDA hardiness zone 7a/7b), and I'd like to use native plants. The soil looks stony and is always full of dandelions in warm weather. What types of seeds should I get, and from where? And when is the best time of year to throw the seed bombs down? [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:28 PM PST - 12 comments

Carmax have lots of low mileage (15-25k) 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV's, which appear to mostly be ex-rental vehicles. Does anyone know why a rental company - or companies - would have sold such relatively new vehicles with such low mileages?
posted by my log does not judge at 12:54 PM PST - 12 comments

A friend of mine who owns rental apartments found this dagger/knife left behind after a tenant moved out. It has dull edges and the point isn't very sharp, and it was on top of a wooden board shaped like it (but no mounting hardware), so it seems likely that it's a reproduction of a prop from some fantasy movie or TV series. Any idea which one?
posted by brianogilvie at 12:24 PM PST - 9 comments

I've got a dresser whose drawers aren't staying in. It has side-mounted ball-bearing slides that are old and coming off their brackets – I've got tiny metal balls rolling all over my floor. Question: if I wanted someone to replace the slides with new ones, what section of the yellow pages should I be looking in? [more inside]
posted by Beardman at 12:17 PM PST - 3 comments

So. A lion and a tiger can interbreed, but I'm pretty sure they taste fairly similar. Zebra and Horse are *mostly* the same, but with a small difference to the intensity of flavour. So, what two animals, which can interbreed, have the most distinctive taste. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 11:47 AM PST - 5 comments

Where can I find a USGS map of a specific area and get a good print?
posted by ebesan at 11:25 AM PST - 4 comments

HVAC-oriented Mefites; Why does my air handler not come on with the heatpump? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 10:14 AM PST - 9 comments

My dad just had surgery at Roswell Park cancer center in Buffalo. His wife and I are staying in an adjacent hotel; the food options in these spaces are limited and bland. [more inside]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:45 AM PST - 15 comments

Something has changed in my Macbook OS 10.14.06 running Firefox 71.0 that causes some of my websites to log out when the computer shuts down or goes to the main log in screen. Formerly sites like Gmail and NYTimes were always logged in. Now I must frequently log in with user name and password. How can I reset the computer to prevent this?
posted by partner at 9:19 AM PST - 9 comments

I am looking for an Android app to help with daily, weekly, and periodic tasks. I've read up on dozens of options but can't seem to find just what I want. Ideally the app would have 1) daily task reminders for things like medication, 2) tracking of things to be complete with a certain frequency but not on specific days (ie. exercise 3 times a week), and 3) tracks longer-term housekeeping goals (change air filter at least every 4 weeks but not on a set day). Help?
posted by tryniti at 6:54 AM PST - 5 comments

I left my job as a tenured psychology professor at a community college a few months ago to find a job at a nonprofit, but that has proven very difficult to do. I'm looking for help in obtaining this type of job. [more inside]
posted by Four-Eyed Girl at 6:39 AM PST - 15 comments

An American friend just landed in Puerto Rico for vacation, alone, and realized they forgot a bottle of one of their prescription meds, Prozac (and have an extra bottle of another med, instead). They're in San Juan. They're asleep right now, so I'm doing some remote leg-work in hopes of handing them info when they wake up in the morning. Any advice/info I can pass along re: resolving this as quickly as possible and getting them the meds they need would be greatly appreciated! [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 3:50 AM PST - 7 comments

Parents of teen boys, how do you deal with their, um, *used* tissues? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:16 AM PST - 22 comments

Can I contract herpes? I’ve started seeing a woman who told me has herpes although she’s very, very rarely symptomatic (she said she’d gotten it via a nail salon, which doesn’t make a difference in terms of transmission, ultimately, from what little I understand?). We’ve gotten partway physical (mainly me using hands) but haven’t had PIV sex nor have I gone down on her, much as I want to. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:16 AM PST - 10 comments

A friend sent me a picture of chopsticks(?) with writing on them. They are something his father would have gotten in the 1950's. I have tried Google Translate and other online translations but the most I've gotten is, "You can." Can anyone help translate? ( I have never been able to hyperink here.) Link.
posted by ITravelMontana at 8:39 PM PST - 2 comments

This question is absurd, but eh! We have 200 new-ish laying-hen chicks. I don’t particularly like chickens, but I *do* like that they seem to be into it when I sing to them soothingly. Got any new-to-me lullabies/art/quiet songs? Bonus points for songs ABOUT CHICKENS? (Subject matter for the lulz). [more inside]
posted by functionequalsform at 7:24 PM PST - 38 comments

Can you suggest documentaries about Area 51 and associated phenomena that would be suitable for a bright (nearly) eight-year-old? Not too scary, and preferably not too full of nonsense, but given the subject and the target demographic I recognise that the latter, at least, may be tricky. [more inside]
posted by howfar at 7:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I have more than 2000 bookmarks in my "other" folder. They are unorganised. It's 2020. We have machine learning. There must be a service that can auto-categorise these into folders/tags for me. Frankly I'm surprised Google doesn't do it already. What does? [more inside]
posted by lollusc at 7:09 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm recently curious about a life that is rich and full of meaningful activities, where one does the things one wants to do frequently enough for growth, but without scheduled/daily consistency. Think an artist without a fixed job or daily routine. I'm wondering about your favourite apps to track and journal each day of this life in order to reflect upon it and improve it, or books, articles and examples of people who live it.
posted by miaow at 6:35 PM PST - 6 comments

My partner has requested my help in finding books on how to get past emotional numbness / unawareness. This has been an on-going issue for him his whole life, as he comes from a family who did not express or talk about emotions. He believes this led him to subconsciously repress all his emotions, to the point that most of the time he feels neutral, numb, or does not know how a situation is making him feel. [more inside]
posted by ananci at 4:42 PM PST - 13 comments

This morning while I was running a first load of laundry in the washer and working in the kitchen, I heard the most unholy racket from the basement laundry room. I ran down and found that the drum of the washer may have come unmoored or something -- it's very loose within the machine. The washer still seems to be functional otherwise (I went ahead and finished that load and the second of my weekly laundry), but is incredibly loud during the spin cycle. Can I fix this myself, and if so, how? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 3:51 PM PST - 20 comments

I have somehow never got around to reading literature from Spain. I do have Don Quixote and Benito Pérez Galdós' Fortunata and Jacinta on my reading list, but they are long and I'd like something shorter to start with -- and preferably (but not necessarily) something written in the 20th and 21st century. If it is set in Andalucia, I am happy to read novels set in ANY period. PS: I can't read Spanish so English translations would be appreciated!
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 2:25 PM PST - 12 comments

This thermostat is making life difficult. Please help. [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 2:20 PM PST - 5 comments

My grandmother’s recipe for banana bread calls for mixing 2 tsp of baking soda in a half cup of boiling water, then pouring this mixture into the batter. I’m wondering (a) if I can add these ingredients separately or (b) what purpose this particular step serves. [more inside]
posted by devinemissk at 1:26 PM PST - 11 comments

Looking for books on world history (i.e. not solely or primarily focused on Europe and the US) that are suitable for an inquisitive 14-year-old from a sheltered background. [more inside]
posted by Harvey Manfrenjensenden at 12:26 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm about to run my first D&D 5e game, on Roll20. I have played and run D&D before but it's been a while. Many of the people joining my game have never played any D&D before at all. How can I help these newbies have a great first experience with this wonderful hobby? [more inside]
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 11:16 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for day planners/agendas in other languages, specifically French and German. Ideally the books would be printed physical books (not downloads). Bonus points if there is a good amount of content in the language beyond the days of the week -- inspirational quotes, instructions for goal setting, etc. And I would be over the moon to find some that were fully tricked out with stickers, inserts, along the line of the Happy Planner series. [more inside]
posted by apparently at 10:21 AM PST - 8 comments

Can anyone help me put a name to this style of door knob? I cannot find anything similar anywhere on the internet, including ebay or any antique door hardware websites. These are glass and on 4 interior doors throughout our home and would like to replace a couple that are scratched/broken with something similar looking. Also I've lost a few set screws and the ones I've attempted from some antique door knob retailers have not fit. Thanks!
posted by zackola at 9:26 AM PST - 6 comments

Spotify often has long pauses or doesn't play songs. How can I fix this? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by bearette at 8:21 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm flirting with the idea of taking up computer games after having last played games in about 2002. What does the minimal setup look like today for someone who's experimenting with computer games? [more inside]
posted by hoyland at 7:43 AM PST - 10 comments

Somewhat improbably, I am going to Las Vegas for a work trip. Since I'm not really a gambler, I'd like to find a great spa where I can spend a day and experience another aspect of the OTT vibe. There are several dozen spas there, and I'm having trouble distinguishing them. Can anyone recommend a spa that offers a day pass (with treatment OK) and has a lot of good spaces to hang out in - pools, saunas, relaxation rooms, etc? Thanks!
posted by Miko at 7:08 AM PST - 9 comments

I found that the vinyl sheet flooring in my new basement bathroom is squishy in some parts, like there's playdoh under a layer of plastic. My suspicion is that they had to patch concrete, and then immediately laid the flooring over the top instead of allowing it to cure properly. Is that a likely possibility? Would there be a fix for this if it is what happened? I wasn't in charge of this remodeling and have not heard back from the person who was, but I know he was under a severe time constraint.
posted by SandiBeech at 6:03 AM PST - 6 comments

I am currently in the process of applying to a grad school program as a part of a potential career transition. Concurrently, I've gotten a job interview that is semi-related to my current field. When I have the job interview, do I mention the grad school application? If so, is there a way to do so and still seem like an appealing candidate? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:30 AM PST - 13 comments