Ask MetaFilter

I've been learning piano the right way and intend to keep doing so. But, the music I can actually play is incredibly boring. What's a fun, impressive, show-off piece that someone who doesn't actually know what they're doing can master in an afternoon? I mostly want to remind myself that there's a reason I'm learning this instrument, but impressing guests whenever I eventually invite people over would be fun. Classical, jazz, or contemporary orchestral stuff with a strong melody would be ideal, but I'm open to other things. [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 9:03 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking for recommendations for stationary home exercise bikes that are less Peloton/spin-class and more “regular” gym bikes, for lack of a better phrase. We currently have a Schwinn 170, which has what we need features-wise, but has had reliability issues. [more inside]
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 8:37 PM PST - 2 comments

Brandon Blatcher shared a curse about email and passwords on MetaTalk. Now I want blessings/benedictions/etc. in the same vein - what are your favorites? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 8:32 PM PST - 15 comments

Just curious if there are online groups or clubs where the group will pick movies to watch & discuss every couple days, maybe with sub-groups depending on how often you want to watch? [more inside]
posted by circular at 8:07 PM PST - 6 comments

How do I learn French on the go given my limited mobile data plan? [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 8:00 PM PST - 10 comments

My octogenarian father has been struggling with chronic pain for many years and more recently his opiate regimen has led to truly debilitating GI side effects. I've been trying to help him explore alternatives (particularly trying cannabis), but am running into walls that I could use some assistance navigating. [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 6:32 PM PST - 19 comments

In this thread about the NYT purchasing Wordle, many folks mentioned how terrible Wirecutter is now. What are the specific reasons and where do you go for a similar service other than Consumer Reports?
posted by gwint at 4:47 PM PST - 41 comments

I've taken to the game Crusader Kings 3, which has been a surprise to me since I haven't regularly played any video games other than simple mobile games in decades. Can you recommend any other games I might like? [more inside]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 3:28 PM PST - 8 comments

Can you help me identify what type of professional(s) I need for my questions about retirement planning and paying for college? US-based. [more inside]
posted by widdershins at 2:49 PM PST - 9 comments

Looking for short stories about trades folks - plumbers, electricians, installers and the like. What are some favorites?
posted by storybored at 2:04 PM PST - 10 comments

This is a good example of what they look like, although they are used pretty much throughout this particular house. The prime characteristics seem to be that they are already patterned, and there are clear joints between the panels. I see them in relatively inexpensive homes, generally where they have been installed over whatever was there before. Extensive googling has turned up nothing, so clearly I'm using the wrong search terms. Please satisfy my curiosity!
posted by DrGail at 2:00 PM PST - 8 comments

Around the time I posted this question, I watched a video on Youtube where a woman at a Japanese music library demonstrated how to repair a torn page. I'm trying to find that same video again, but I can't find it for the life of me. Can you help me? [more inside]
posted by cosmic.osmo at 1:58 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm coaching a kids' sports team (under 11s) and managing groups of 7-30 kids at once. How can I handle cheating, slacking off and gossip? I imagine these are things that come up in parenting but I'd especially love to hear from people who've coached kids' teams or teachers. [more inside]
posted by happyfrog at 1:55 PM PST - 5 comments

Our 4 year goes to an all-day creche (daycare) in Switzerland. It is not mandatory, but he likes it and it's great for him to learn French and to socialize with other kids his age. Two weeks ago, we decided to stop having him go in, as Switzerland (and our area) were and still are at peak number of Covid cases. Now we're wondering whether we're being overly cautious. Many of his classmates continue to attend and previously his pediatrician said that the social benefits of sending him to creche typically outweighed the downside of him getting covid. How do we think about the risks of Covid for him and our family? [more inside]
posted by comradechu at 1:50 PM PST - 15 comments

We thought my wife's passport was good for several more years. By some miracle I looked at it last week, found it was expired, and was able to get an appointment for non-critical urgent travel at a passport agency. But I screwed up one thing... [more inside]
posted by hwyengr at 1:10 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there a sticky note app for windows that is private - that Microsoft or other's can't read and won't sent out the contents of the sticky note to the cloud or who knows where? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench at 12:02 PM PST - 6 comments

I’ve got a 55lb Great Pyrenees/Australian shepherd/bulldog mix and two (mildly) injured arms. I’m looking for a good hands-free leash to use on our daily walks. [more inside]
posted by rebeccabeagle at 9:15 AM PST - 9 comments

After an adult lifetime of struggling with oily skin (and frequent breakouts), my skin is starting to finally calm down in my mature years (Hooray!) However - this means that I actually do get some dry-feeling skin in winter. Can you recommend a simple moisturizer that I can use now and then? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:11 AM PST - 26 comments

Should I upgrade my air fryer? Tell me about your fancy air fryers. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 8:50 AM PST - 14 comments

Ideas for my sons twelve birthday. He is a mixture of forgetful, misplacing everything, sports devouring twelve year old with smart, bookish, reads the encyclopedia twelve year old. Doesn't do models, unless they are estes rockets! [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 8:26 AM PST - 10 comments

My partner and I are renting a one bedroom in Brooklyn, which we currently share with our 2 year old. With a new baby on the way, can you help me think through the planning for all of our sleep? [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 7:53 AM PST - 9 comments

A curtain-related mishap made me think that I might buy blinds for my room. I am looking for advice on price/quality and kinds of blinds. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 7:17 AM PST - 10 comments

What are the benefits of not being married in a long-term committed relationship? We are a cis-het couple who live together.
posted by socky_puppy at 5:57 AM PST - 36 comments

My normally decent research skills are failing me at the moment. I'm trying to find a list of passenger ships arriving in Boston in the years 1902-1905 (ish). [more inside]
posted by profreader at 2:36 AM PST - 4 comments

I want a 100% reliable, not sketchy, preferably more ethical than Amazon way to buy the duck banana yard ornament haunting my Instagram ads. All links via Amazon, etsy, Walmart, etc point me to the same Ali Express clones that look like crap.
posted by Grandysaur at 10:21 PM PST - 5 comments

Tell me your unicorn lore from various parts of the world. My 5-year-old is obsessed with unicorns, and wants me to make a story-adventure for her (like an escape-room-in-a-box sort of thing) about unicorns, and also possibly rainbows and cheetahs. [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:03 PM PST - 13 comments

I used to play way too much Candy Crush back in the day when it was more simplistic but now it's just like a terrible bombardment of cartoons and microtransactions and things popping out at you all the time. Looking for something else to play that I don't need to give my full attention to, because I usually only play mobile games when I'm already listening to or watching something else. Something that's kind of "zen" or calming would be great as well, in the current atmosphere. Oh and available on Android! Any suggestions?
posted by massofintuition at 6:14 PM PST - 38 comments

I would like to get back to walking again, and I need music/podcasts to keep me company. But my new iPhone didn't come with an adapter for my corded earbuds/headphones, and instead of going out and buying one of those, I feel like the universe is maybe pointing me toward finally accepting my fate and getting some Bluetooth earbuds. I just have...snowflakes. [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 5:48 PM PST - 38 comments

I'm interested in resources about putting on a pleasant, unruffled front at work (whether it's real or it's a mask to get through difficult situations). Customer service training? Handbooks for international diplomats and negotiators? Poker face exercises for poker players? [more inside]
posted by cadge at 4:51 PM PST - 14 comments

What would you call this strategy of REI's that I've encountered recently: You can buy all of the (very limited) available XC skiing and Snowshoe gear only if you're a REI member. Is there a defined name for this retail strategy in general, and where else is this used and why? [more inside]
posted by Cold Lurkey at 3:50 PM PST - 19 comments

As an M.R. James fan, I tried to watch BBC2's Mezzotint production, but was foiled first by the banner that it's only available in the UK due to rights issues. When I tried to use VPN, the website required a login and a TV license number. I would happily pay a reasonable amount to watch the show, so being told that I have to be a UK taxpayer seemed a bit excessive. How can I watch this in the U.S.?
posted by Atrahasis at 3:47 PM PST - 4 comments

I have some experience helping people create a routine and progress in a very challenging form of business development. I'm calling myself a coach in my quest to work with organisations who want their managers and staff to have more support but I'm also aware do the ubiquity of 'coach'. [more inside]
posted by parmanparman at 3:13 PM PST - 1 comment

My wife and two kids ( 12 and 11 ) are ready for a vacation of doing absolutely nothing and would like to go to a high end all inclusive resort during Spring break. We live in Austin so Cancun / Riviera Maya is an obvious option, but we are open to anywhere that isn't farther than Hawaii. I will pay a high premium if it's a memorable , exceptional experience. What are your recommendations?
posted by jasondigitized at 2:16 PM PST - 5 comments

Our eight-year-old has expressed an interest in learning how to type. He has an Android tablet and a bluetooth keyboard. Is there a fun game that will help him learn to type? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 1:34 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm looking for an easy way to photograph single and multi-page documents on my iPhone and upload them to various folders in Google Drive. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 1:13 PM PST - 13 comments

New Year's type stuff. What resolutions have you made that hit the sweet spot between meaningful and achievable, such that you've actually followed them and they've improved your life? [more inside]
posted by artisthatithaca at 1:02 PM PST - 35 comments

I keep running into specific writers whose pieces I’d like to keep up with, but many sites don’t have author RSS (which only would work for writers affiliated with a specific site anyway), and I guess Muckrack’s article lists don’t have RSS either (unless that’s a paid feature). Hoping someone out there has found a tool for this, or some ideas. [more inside]
posted by bixfrankonis at 1:01 PM PST - 2 comments

What do you do with your garage door remote? I’ve read it is unsafe to keep in the car since it would give a thief access to your house. However, it is too bulky to keep on a keychain that goes in and out of pockets a lot. The garage is the primary point of entrance/exit due to the storage for shoe, jackets, etc. Are there any other solutions?
posted by roaring beast at 12:35 PM PST - 18 comments

I recently downloaded my Twitter Archive, but I can't view it. Somewhere between the unzipping, the json file, and the "Your archive.html," something is broken. [more inside]
posted by Flying Saucer at 11:57 AM PST - 5 comments

We just got a new roof deck! Now we want to put lots and lots of plants on it … but I’m from the tropics and the deck is in Chicago, so I have no idea where to start. Help! [more inside]
posted by Yo Soy La Morsa at 11:45 AM PST - 10 comments

My 9-year-old has just started to use her tablet's photo app to manipulate photos and make fun collages and drawings. Today, I noticed that she was using the app's facial retouching tools (skin smoothing, chin shaping, eye-resizing) on a photo of herself. Yikes! No! Please help me find an Android alternative that's just as much fun — but doesn't have facial retouching / facetune-type tools. [more inside]
posted by Text TK at 11:24 AM PST - 3 comments

My elderly mother is sorting through a very large collection of old photos. She wants to make albums with handwritten notes that describe the pictures. She is not at all tech-savvy, so scanning-in photos is not an option. She wants to end up with physical albums. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments

They've eated at neat places, they've seen Sleep No More, they know things faster than I do - what the heck do I get the stereotypical New Yorker Who's Seen It All? [more inside]
posted by rmm at 10:14 AM PST - 17 comments

I am super curious about induction burners, and am thinking of buying one of the little standalone cooktops to supplement my gas range. Help me decide if this is a good idea. [more inside]
posted by gueneverey at 10:06 AM PST - 19 comments

How do I check if one Twitter account (X) is following another Twitter account (Y). Neither of these are my own Twitter account (Z).
posted by andoatnp at 9:52 AM PST - 3 comments

Have about a week free for a Roadtrip around Colorado, with a couple days in Denver on both sides for family stuff. Traveling party includes two adults: one experienced ski enthusiast and one total novice. Everyone loves hot springs. Where should we go? snowflakes inside [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:51 AM PST - 12 comments

My daughter recently left a big retailer and has a 401k with about $2k in it. She wants to get out of the company plan because she hates the place and wants to leave it all behind. She wants me to help find a rollover account. There's no plan where she currently works. [more inside]
posted by readery at 9:21 AM PST - 12 comments

To aid with trip planning, I'd like to hear some comparisons and advice from people who've been to both! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 7:35 AM PST - 5 comments

I am planning to go to Italy with my family this summer. We will be 5 adults. We'd like to hit several parts of Italy, including the Piedmont region, Rome, and Sicily. Where should we fly into, and how best do we get between regions? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 6:38 AM PST - 25 comments

Down, Down Alternative, memory foam. They all have drawbacks. Is there another alternative? Minor details and grievances inside. [more inside]
posted by WhenInGnome at 12:12 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm heading into a new job, and as part of that, I'm considering rolling my previous job's 401(k) into my IRA. However, the markets have been real tough in the past few months, and my 401(k) balance isn't looking great, just from a short term perspective. If I roll over now, am I losing money? If I waited for a market rebound, would I be in better shape? I guess I'd like to better understand the underlying mechanics of this kind of financial transaction.
posted by flod at 11:36 PM PST - 8 comments

My partner and I are planning to get married, and we don't want to customize how the laws of our state apply to us, but we do want to think about how to make our future lives easier if we ever divorce. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by mysh at 8:39 PM PST - 12 comments

For years I’ve sporadically received letters about transferring my time share. I would never sign up for a time share, I know they’re a scam. I just assumed it was junk mail trying to rope me into calling them so they can attempt to sell me one. Recently the number of those letters has increased and they’re now from services claiming they can help me get out of my time share or from companies that help with people struggling to afford their time share. I’m starting to wonder if someone signed up for a time share in my name. I’ve never seen anything related to it on my credit report but the increase in letters has made me raise an eyebrow. How would I go about finding out whether or not there’s a time share in my name? Should I just call one of these companies sending the letters and ask? The latest one is from the NewtonGroup. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:55 PM PST - 10 comments

So how does this work? I'm searching Google Earth for a specific address and it shows the house across the street. When I pan around to the address it is a large pixelated blur. Is this an address that has been blocked because of the email address (my phone number) or does this person not want anyone searching for them? How does one block having someone or anyone search for them?
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 6:51 PM PST - 2 comments

How do I grow out of being self-righteous? This is kind of hard for me to ask - you know, being right all the time about everything and all - so be kind, please. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:05 PM PST - 43 comments

We are moving this summer. I have a few different job options and I'm having a real hard time getting perspective on our location options. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:04 PM PST - 11 comments

A friend (in the US) works for a company that keeps a well-stocked office kitchen. This office is now closing, switching to permanent WFH. Most of the food has been claimed by employees but a lot ramen packets nobody wants will be discarded -- all of them well within their use-by dates. My friend, hoping their company would donate them, was told food banks prefer not to receive low-quality nutrition like instant ramen. Is this really the case? If so, how could my friend give away several dozen ramen packets all at once? This is in Minneapolis.
posted by theory at 3:21 PM PST - 21 comments

Trigger warning for discussion of childhood sexual abuse and dissociation issues. If you have dealt with CSA recovery while partnered and are feeling well-resourced, I could use some advice. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 2:28 PM PST - 4 comments

I have ~200 photos in an album on my iPhone. I'd like to turn it into a time lapse video. Is there an easy app for that? [more inside]
posted by NorthCoastRiver at 12:49 PM PST - 5 comments

Can you tell me some beautiful piano music you love? [more inside]
posted by alsoran at 12:40 PM PST - 35 comments

I’m a mid 40s woman with adhd that I’ve never been able to get sorted. I’m deciding I need to change what I do since I can’t change who I am. Where can I thrive? [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 12:24 PM PST - 17 comments

Why does my focaccia keep sticking to the pan? [more inside]
posted by meese at 11:38 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a Samsung soundbar (hw mm 45C) with Bluetooth subwoofer. Works great! I often listen to audiobooks (via phone Bluetooth) thru the soundbar... [more inside]
posted by esoteric things at 10:09 AM PST - 4 comments

Where to find practical "spam" email subscriptions that will teach how to avoid scams? [more inside]
posted by yohko at 9:54 AM PST - 5 comments

I love dragons. I'm redecorating my home office, and thought to search for a fine art print featuring dragons. Unfortunately, much of what's available depicts dragons as ugly stand-ins for Satan and is heavily influenced by Christianity. [more inside]
posted by little mouth at 7:41 AM PST - 12 comments

A friend is writing a play set in 19th-century Pittsburgh. She would like to include songs that would have been sung by or about steelworkers or any kind of laborers in the late 19th century. What she's hoping to find are songs that would have held a place like "Which Side Are You On?," but forty years earlier. [more inside]
posted by jocelmeow at 7:25 AM PST - 9 comments

Recently fell in absolute love with singers like Faye Adams and Ruth Brown and their sound. Need to know where I can lots more of the same! [more inside]
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 6:31 AM PST - 7 comments

Please explain NFTs to me like I'm five, with a minimum of under-the-hood jargon. [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 4:39 AM PST - 30 comments

Can anyone tell me what these numbers I've seen written walls in numerous locations in London Uk are? [more inside]
posted by multivalent at 1:53 AM PST - 8 comments

My 17-year-old son is looking for a streamable movie to watch with friends that is so bad that it's good. What do you recommend?
posted by ShooBoo at 9:04 PM PST - 115 comments

I have an old iMac and it might be time to replace it. [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:48 PM PST - 13 comments

What are your favorite poetry audiobooks that are available on Audible or Libro? Not really looking for epic poetry like Iliad or Beowulf, but poetry collections like Paige Lewis' Space Struck, the works of Carol Ann Duffy, Frank O'Hara's Lunch Poems, Robert Hass' Summer Snow, or the books of David Whyte.
posted by dobbs at 7:03 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm trying to read Marc Andreessen's "tweetstorm" from July 2nd, 2015 about how "Tech Gives People Superpowers" collected in these four articles on Medium. The Medium articles are full of blank tweets because his old tweets (as @pmarca) are not available. [more inside]
posted by ropeladder at 6:53 PM PST - 2 comments

I am librarian and a faculty member at my institution asked me to help him find a book (he read a review of in the past five years) in which one of the central tenets is that naturals disaster have been good for Japan (for the past 1000 years or so) in that they break up existing power structures. [more inside]
posted by cinemafiend at 6:22 PM PST - 7 comments

An odd thing happened to me about 30 years ago, when I lived in Manhattan. I've been wondering about it ever since. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 6:00 PM PST - 18 comments

Back when Peapod was still around, they had a box you could order called "best fruit of the season" and they basically filled it with a variety of the best fruit they had in stock. Sadly, Peapod is no more. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:00 PM PST - 15 comments

I’m looking for articles, books, frameworks and ideas to help me think about and build organizational structures and processes that value teamwork and collaboration. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by wemayfreeze at 2:01 PM PST - 2 comments

I am a sr. manager, with a small team. I moved over to this department about 6 months ago. My boss, who is a Director I really like working for, has asked me a few times in recent months at varying intervals, “How is Bob (insert name of a manager or junior manager who reports to me) doing?” [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 1:45 PM PST - 6 comments

Hi Hivemind! I'm starting in a new team on Monday and due to the laid back nature of my new boss, we don't yet have a role title yet. Context and details inside. [more inside]
posted by kmt at 1:22 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a fantasy of building a minute castle house on an acreage lot that I found outside the city however my building budget is quite small about 200-250k. (: I have little to no building experience myself... How feasible would a project like this be with that budget? impossible? Here are pictures: https://imgur.com/a/zdY0CcR The lot costs 200k and is already fully zoned and ready to go -- my build budget would be 200-250k. Located in Alberta.
posted by audio at 1:16 PM PST - 20 comments

I've recently recovered the mp3s (and various other audio files) from every hard drive I had going back to 2000. This is... hundreds if not thousands of albums, some mistagged, with lots of duplicates, in various bitrates etc, with no consistent file naming scheme. What programs and what workflow are currently my best bet for getting them sorted, tagged, and deduplicated? I use a Mac by default, can run Linux software easily enough, and... could probably borrow a Windows machine if I had to.
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:07 PM PST - 8 comments

How do I negotiate with my current employer (that I quite enjoy working with) when I keep getting recruitment offers? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:17 AM PST - 9 comments

I often read articles about debt as it relates to middle and low income earners and families. I'm interested in reading about the role of debt in maintaining or creating the illusion of a high-earner income life-style. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:20 AM PST - 26 comments

I've been watching Victorian Farm and reading Alexis Hall novels and both make me wonder how much I miss because I can't hear/understand the nuances of different English accents and their cultural implications. [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 7:37 AM PST - 20 comments

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy, how is it dealt with on a day to day basis? Is there anything in particular done to help? Are there particular things you avoid? A certain diet?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:22 AM PST - 13 comments

Someone gave us a gift. Now we have to give them a gift. Special circumstances apply. What would a person who always does exactly the right, socially gracious thing do? [more inside]
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 5:07 AM PST - 13 comments

This is for some research I'm doing - please share your most useful, funny, creative, eduacational or just plain interesting Twitter bots!
posted by atlantica at 3:48 AM PST - 21 comments

It was released in the past 4-5 years. He's an artist working at a boring job at a grocery store. He finds that he can suspend time and does so, stripping female shoppers and sketching their nude bodies. He falls in love with a young woman who works at the register. He sketches her also. They fall out of love. He has a show. She shows up and sees the images that he had drawn of her. Any help here?
posted by goalyeehah at 11:35 PM PST - 4 comments

What are some digital-nomad type jobs for an accountant who might be out of country for a while? [more inside]
posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were at 11:17 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm likely moving to Brasilia sometime in the near future to look after family. I've only been once or twice, when I was young, and I mainly stayed at home and rarely ventured out (I was easily overwhelmed by new things as a child), so I'm not overly familiar with the culture from an insider's perspective despite having family there. If there are any local mefites, I have a couple of questions about the culture there and what I might expect. [more inside]
posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were at 11:01 PM PST - 1 comment

I know little to nothing about the history on what is happening in Ukraine, but everything seemed a lot more Putin-friendly and US relations with allies seemed a lot more shaky with the last US presidency. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:34 PM PST - 16 comments

I've joined my favorite podcast's Patreon thing and now I can download a ton of extra content via that app. But after having gotten used to listening to podcasts on Spotify, I miss being able to change playback speed, queue up multiple episodes, start from last position, etc. What Android app can I use for these downloaded mp3's that will let me do that kind of stuff? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:10 PM PST - 8 comments

Our household was already in the midst of untangling from Amazon Prime, but it's feeling like the right moment to recenter my music collection on a local device. Plenty of stuff on Spotify that I've loved and never owned, and will need to purchase. [more inside]
posted by SoundInhabitant at 4:55 PM PST - 7 comments

What it says on the tin. Artist was definitely a band of dudes, maybe alt-rock? Screen was mostly white except for band and butt. Google has been entertaining but not helpful.
posted by mermaidcafe at 4:19 PM PST - 6 comments

Can y'all help me find an exfoliating paste that can keep me flake-free without aggravating my spouse's allergies? [more inside]
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 3:56 PM PST - 11 comments

I've been looking for upholstery material that I thought would "go with" our carpets for years, haven't found any, and am considering decorating plain cotton canvas myself. Stenciling would be easiest. The Jacquard textile paints that look right in the bottle aren't when I use them; especially the reds, which turn pinky-purple with the least dilution or wear. [more inside]
posted by clew at 1:55 PM PST - 13 comments

There's a recent short novel taking place in the near future, where authorities can repossess people's memories for failure to pay their student loans, and I'll be damned if I can recall either title or author. [more inside]
posted by doctornemo at 1:41 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm looking for a painting (or paintings) that are in the public domain and depict festivals, feasts, villages, and other examples of both communal celebration and social connection. Ideally, these would be or evoke pre-Christian Europe, especially pre-Christian Celtic Europe, especially Ireland, but anything that's close is worth sharing. Thanks in advance!
posted by overglow at 1:29 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there a way to automatically DM message around 200 people on twitter on a weekly basis? [more inside]
posted by andoatnp at 1:08 PM PST - 6 comments

My mom's anxiety is running my life. How do I set boundaries with her when everything feels like a life-or-death scenario to her? And how do I help her with her anxiety without making her feel invalidated? [more inside]
posted by switcheroo at 11:41 AM PST - 18 comments

Six protein shakes need to be drunk between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm. I would like the first shake to be had at 10:00am on the dot and the last shake of the day taken at 10:00pm. Please give me the mathematically equidistant times of day for the remaining four shakes.
posted by BostonTerrier at 10:21 AM PST - 11 comments

I have been offered a new job in a new organization. Yay! But I'm not sure if the offer letter I have is the real offer letter I need in hand before I give notice at my current organization. Help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:42 AM PST - 7 comments

Oh the irony of this post. I post quite a lot in another forum about very personal things - dating situations, a health condition I have, my deepest fears and vulnerabilities basically. And my good friend, who I know also reads this forum a lot has started saying things which indicate she has read my posts and is fishing for more info / wanting to give her opinions on stuff I don't need opinions on. Feel violated, a bit sick and also not sure how to approach as there's no way of proving she's done this. Opinions on what you'd do please. [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 7:57 AM PST - 60 comments

I had a great stupid idea, which is to run a five-letter word guessing game (similar if not identical to Wordle) for some family members. I'll mail them a paper form where they will enter their guesses and I will mail them back with yellow/green highlighting. I'd like to come up with a postal-based pun on the name Wordle to title it, but I've got nothing. What do you think? [more inside]
posted by Rock Steady at 7:51 AM PST - 28 comments

I have a bunch of dark/french roast coffee left over from the holidays. I strongly prefer light to medium roast and don't particularly like dark roast, but I like the idea of wasting coffee even less. What can I do with it to make it more interesting and drinkable? [more inside]
posted by pullayup at 7:38 AM PST - 27 comments

I have a laptop that I use as basically a desktop, and it's across the house from my AT&T wifi router. I am thinking I should just run a long cable directly to it, which I am fine with. Looks like it will be about 60 feet. My laptop has a cat 5 jack in the side. I see now that there are a bunch of options for Cat 5, Cat 6, Cat 7 cables. [more inside]
posted by Slinga at 7:30 AM PST - 11 comments

The quality of video editing I'm seeing in video clips these days seem to be quite high, I'm wondering how people are doing it? [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:21 AM PST - 14 comments

I’m hoping this will be my last question related to this mess [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 3:59 AM PST - 21 comments

Right off the top I'll tell you that I currently use Pert shampoo. For whatever reason, its mild scent does not set off my asthma. But I would like to upgrade to a shampoo that does not contain sulfates but is still un- or lightly-scented. My one attempt so far has been the Aveeno OatMilk Blend shampoo, and whoa! that stuff is stinky (at least to my nose). [more inside]
posted by nuclear bessel at 9:40 PM PST - 11 comments

I know there are a ton of asks like this, but i need some advice on this so here goes. In 2019, I finished a long, terrible divorce that ended a ten-year relationship. I had extraordinarily stressful year after that and never did the post-divorce nihilistic sex thing that people do. Then there was a pandemic. I’m recently interested in maybe possibly considering having some dates or sexytimes with someone, but… [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:03 PM PST - 13 comments

How to sell paper ephemera, antique books, magazines, etc... [more inside]
posted by fourpotatoes at 8:48 PM PST - 8 comments

I work in a library and am just completely over it, partly because of boredom, partly because of covid, partly because of complacency and toxic management further up the chain. I'm 46, halfway to retirement, and want to change careers. It is still possible, right? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:47 PM PST - 18 comments

This is not a "give me permission to leave the house/see people" question. I just want to feel less bummed/worried about long-term outcomes! What can I do to feel more festive? My birthday is in a few days. I'll still be isolating, almost definitely still sick. [more inside]
posted by pickingupsticks at 8:35 PM PST - 22 comments

I followed our kid's Discord profile links and found that while said kid prefers they/them (which I knew) they also identify as cis male and "mostly heterosexual" though primarily (and somewhat emphatically) as asexual. I am on a mission to be as cool as possible about this (but also as supportive/helpful as possible). What do I need to know to be both a) there for them but b) not a pain in the ass?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:51 PM PST - 23 comments

Mini Dancing Lamb has Emotional Support Cat needs and the internet is failing us so far. AskMe cat people, we need your plentiful expertise! [more inside]
posted by dancinglamb at 6:35 PM PST - 19 comments

Looking for suggestions on what to buy a soon-to-be three-year-old for his birthday. Difficulty level: I am on a budget of £10-£20 and I don't know his particular interests, nor am I a parent. I do know his mum and I would both prefer something eco-friendly, or at least not a piece of easily-broken plastic tat. Not a book, because I always buy him those, and nothing stereotypically masculine like toy cars or soccer stuff. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
posted by guessthis at 6:26 PM PST - 24 comments

This is a phrase I found in a 17th century English text, and based on the context, it means "going from the frying pan into the fire." Upon further research, a similar phrase appears in King Lear II, ii, 163-5. Can you identify the meaning of this phrase more definitively, especially since it seems positive on the face of it? I vaguely recall reading some archaic text where "God's blessing" was a euphemism for manure or feces, which would partly explain the negative significance of the phrase, but I'm not certain.
posted by Atrahasis at 5:30 PM PST - 14 comments

I stupidly accepted a delivery from as masked delivery person while unmasked myself. Given high rates of omicron, how much risk did i take? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 5:26 PM PST - 16 comments

What's the state-of-the-art in address book sharing solutions, for family/home use? There's gotta be something better than a shared Google Sheet without installing a whole CRM system… right? [more inside]
posted by Kadin2048 at 5:02 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm trying to create a medium sized line drawing illustrating the phrase "Fear has much imagination and little talent" but I'm blanking on ideas for it. There are at least two basic interpretations 1) "Fear makes things look really scary even though they're harmless" and 2) "You can get carried away with being afraid of something but you're not accomplishing anything" but any other interpretations would be fine as well.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:01 PM PST - 4 comments

Got quoted $4,200 to install a new subfloor and tile - about 45 square feet. Is this reasonable? [more inside]
posted by exutima at 4:55 PM PST - 17 comments

My beloved red enamel tea kettle is rusting horribly inside and needs to be replaced. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 3:02 PM PST - 10 comments

A colleague is moving on, and is an enormous Star Trek fan (as is a good chunk of our team). I am looking for...something...that we can have engraved with a message. TNG preferred, potentially something to do with Picard?
posted by rockindata at 1:33 PM PST - 11 comments

Someone deposited a nearly $2,000 check into my bank account, including filling out a deposit slip with the correct account number. Other than the huge problem of someone having this account number, what is the scam? No suspicious transactions have taken place in the month since the deposit.
posted by EL-O-ESS at 1:09 PM PST - 12 comments

I need to keep an eye on elderly dogs in variable locations around the house, don't want to make my dogsitter feel weird, and do not want my video in somebody else's cloud. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 12:55 PM PST - 7 comments

My elderly cat had a full, anesthetized dental cleaning about seven months ago, but the vet thinks he needs another one pretty much as soon as we can schedule it. I'm unsure about how to proceed. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 12:18 PM PST - 13 comments

Are there equivalents in other countries/languages for "the vibes are immaculate" or "immaculate vibes" (or even "good vibes" but ideally I'm looking for some youthier slang)? I cannot accurately define "immaculate vibes" I'm afraid, that resistance to precise definition might actually be part of what I'm trying to replicate.
posted by babelfish at 11:16 AM PST - 9 comments

Need advice, cautions, tips and tricks from those of you who have had a solar power system installed at your home. [more inside]
posted by Ginesthoi at 10:44 AM PST - 17 comments

A relative has a cheap phone and TracFone service. TracFone is requiring them to upgrade to a VoLTE-compatible phone. What's the process, and what's the cheapest option? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 8:53 AM PST - 6 comments

I need podcasts we can listen to on the way to school and can sit and listen to if we're early for school. In the interest of getting my son into the car in the morning, I would be especially interested in podcasts that have cliffhangers or teasers for the next episode. For episode length, something like 5-15 minutes would be good so we could do one episode or more depending on how much time we have. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:34 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for pithy sayings to convey the idea that you need to take responsibility for your own mess and clean up your own house. This is for a friend who’s making a proposal for a specific type of anti-racism work to be carried out by white people. Their premise is that it’s white people who are the source of the problem, and therefore it’s white people who need to do the work to solve it. (I'm over-simplifying but that's the gist.) My friend is German and their thinking is deeply informed by Vergangenheitsbewältigung. [more inside]
posted by Susan PG at 6:24 AM PST - 23 comments

I rent a first-floor apartment in a turn-of-the-century brownstone with 16 other units. We've had intermittent issues with the boiler -- boilers? -- for weeks, that still remain unfixed today. Please help me understand what is going on. [more inside]
posted by cardamom at 6:22 AM PST - 8 comments

My dad is in the hospital again and things don't look good, while my mother can hardly see. I'm an only child and I've been driving down to my (hated) hometown to help them a few days per week and doing as much for them as I can from home, but I have my own health issues and my parents simply need more than I can give. They haven't said it in so many words, but I feel like the pressure is mounting for me to move in with them to help. This can't happen. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:48 AM PST - 36 comments

A contractor came to replace a single broken window pane at my house. In the process of "fixing" this window pane, he managed to break the entire window, smash the window frame, and break some of the plaster surrounding the window. He then covered the whole thing with a tarp (duct-taped to the outside of the house) and left, saying he'd come back and fix it all later. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:47 AM PST - 6 comments

Can you recommend an instructor you or an acquaintance have used and are happy with. I have my own recurve bow but I'm a definite beginner. I'd like a few classes to help me with the basics. Other archers, do you have a favourite tutorial go to. Thank you!
posted by Tziv at 5:33 AM PST - 1 comment

My friend, myself, and my dog are taking a road trip in February but not sure where to go. I'd like it to be within a couple of days drive from NYC, warm but not necessarily hot, and somewhere that I can bring my dog out for activities. [more inside]
posted by newpotato at 5:20 AM PST - 4 comments

In the 80s I played a text-based game on the Apple IIC that featured items called "lapin" (the french word for "rabbit"), I think they were a food item, not animals running around. Any other aged MeFis recall this game? [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 4:57 AM PST - 6 comments

I am planning a romantic getaway, anywhere within a ~4-hour drive from San Francisco is fair game. We'd really like to have a private hot tub big enough for two, or a very nice soaking tub, or both. Indoor or outdoor options are fine for either--they just need to be private, not shared facilities. Where are the finest baths in the land? Hotels, resorts, cottages, & cabins are preferred over AirBnB, but will consider anywhere for very nice baths. [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:46 PM PST - 5 comments

Sporcle and Trivia Crack have bad recent reviews. Jeopardy is okay, but I'd like one I can play casually instead of being locked into 3 rounds at a time. I will pay up to $5 for one without ads, or to remove ads from one that I can play before paying.
posted by soelo at 9:15 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm a software developer who just got promoted to team lead of my small team (my first real lead position). One of our developers is not performing as well as we need. What (non-suck) metrics can I use to try and get the performance I need? How can I minimize negative karma when this hasn't been managed ideally up until now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:00 PM PST - 20 comments

I don't remember smiley face fries or potato smiles being a thing when I was a kid, but I know some people my age (thirties) who are nostalgic for them, and I know some people in their mid-twenties who had them in school as a kid. This page purports to answer the question but doesn't as far as I can tell. So who invented smiley face fries or potato smiles, and when and where did they first come out?
posted by limeonaire at 7:24 PM PST - 4 comments

My bad week is reminding me of a scene from a Betty Boop cartoon. It's a typical trope: Betty is all dressed up but has a really bad day, maybe even mistaken identity. She ends up all wet in the rain, hair dripping, crying, makeup running, her lips red and swollen because she fell or got hit in the face by something, not looking like herself. That's when someone kind, a guy maybe, helps her get dried off and cleaned up and maybe also doesn't realize it's her because she looks so different. What was this?
posted by limeonaire at 7:08 PM PST - 4 comments

We bought a Samsung AU8000 to hang on our wall. No problem. We have a Roku Steaming Stick+. No problem. I want to mount a small sound bar under the TV on the wall mount so that the sound isn't coming out of the back of TV, which sucks. [more inside]
posted by Snowishberlin at 5:22 PM PST - 11 comments

Yes, YANMD, but this has been an ongoing struggle for a bit of a while now. I have emailed my doctor, but want to get feelers from the community on what it could be. I've theorized it's appendicitis, but I only have one symptom, and so far, it's not sharp pain. Any helpful suggestions would be ideal, more inside the fold. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 4:56 PM PST - 25 comments

Sometime in the last five years I read an article online about (vague memories follow) a South American indigenous people in a severe state of decline: gettin drunk habitually on once sacred ceremonial drink (chica?), eating sacred monkey brains, generally eating their seed corn in what appeared to be a cultural death spiral. Whew. Perhaps New Yorker, but my clumsy archive search didn't find anything. Ideas? Thanks.
posted by Jackson at 4:46 PM PST - 4 comments

We're having a party! The party is a puzzle! It's very exciting. We've got schemes afoot to get guests searching the house, puzzling out clues, completing little challenges, etc etc. If you've even been a part of something like this, what was the one clue, challenge, or trick that you loved, that really blew your mind, or that did something with the format you hadn't expected? We do have some budget, so if it requires a small prop ($10 or less), that's likely workable. [more inside]
posted by wattle at 4:04 PM PST - 12 comments

The name Lee could be Chinese, or Korean, or English. What are some other names that are used in more than one language? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 3:35 PM PST - 41 comments

Just read a piece on Wired about Stewart Brands approach to end-of-life directive should he get Covid Got me to thinking about redoing my own directive. Does anyone know where I can find a distinctive, well written, legally sound directive on-line. Also, suggestions and advice of what to cover and be aware of in writing the directive and the directive itself would be appreciated
posted by goalyeehah at 3:10 PM PST - 7 comments

It's like my brain can't remember how to do this. [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 12:25 PM PST - 29 comments

... but you discover that several rolls have not been rewound all the way into the cartridge. Do you assume they're unexposed and shoot them just for fun despite their age? Or do you assume they're precious memories and have them processed even though they might be blank? There are no helpful markings on the cartridges to indicate whether they've been exposed. This is 35mm film fwiw. [more inside]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 11:43 AM PST - 16 comments

With the understanding that a colonoscopy is still the gold standard for detecting colon cancer, are there any acceptable (or good?!) non-invasive options that are accessible to consumers at this time?
posted by Forty-eight at 11:37 AM PST - 16 comments

I want to set myself some guidelines for contact with my (small) social circle, so I can be confident I'm not weaseling myself into risky behavior. Please share with me examples of how your "bubble" has decided to define what's OK and what's not OK. [more inside]
posted by rebent at 11:14 AM PST - 19 comments

I am trying to wean myself away from spending too many hours a day reading AITA on Reddit. I can literally feel it making me a less kind person as I spend time there. My chosen replacement addiction is Instagram, where I like to follow artsy-craftsy accounts. I got a lot of great suggestions a few years ago, and am hoping for more ideas from the hive mind. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 10:54 AM PST - 29 comments

I'm a longtime board/committee member for an existing 501(c)3 that is considering establishing a development/fundraising job for the first time. We have a few employees, but nobody with expertise or experience in that particular realm. Consequently, we don't know what's realistic in terms of salary/commission/other compensation, or any other quirks of the professional fundraiser trade. Do you know these things, or know who could fill us in better? [more inside]
posted by willpie at 10:48 AM PST - 12 comments

I know that Apple featured Feynman in their "Think Different" campaign after his death, and that he's wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with one of Apple's supercomputer design logos in this photo -- but did he ever actually work with Apple during his lifetime?
posted by egeanin at 10:28 AM PST - 4 comments

I want a really pretty, bright, comprehensive-as-possible, full size poster of Hawaiian reef fishes (with names, so we can learn them) for my wall. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:12 AM PST - 2 comments

I am a 31yo tall, butch woman, around a size 14 in women's sizes, looking to do a wardrobe refresh. I've got casual wear mostly covered, but want more blazers and button down shirts (simply cut, not overly feminine aka no ruffles or anything like that, but patterns are a-ok and even encouraged), and need a new place to buy a ton of pairs of the same comfortable, straight or tapered leg, navy blue, slacks. And maybe some grey and khaki colored ones as well. Where do y'all shop? Where would you recommend I check out? I have shopped heavily at H&M and Uniqlo in the past and am looking to branch out.
posted by bridgebury at 9:02 AM PST - 12 comments

I would like to apply for a work placement ((to provide legal aid for people on death row)) but my parents REFUSE to let me go because of how dangerous the US is. ((this question is from my friend)) [more inside]
posted by one teak forest at 8:57 AM PST - 44 comments

For professional troubleshooting purposes, my spouse would like to add a second line to their American AT&T iPhone 13. The SIM tray is empty, but it looks like we can put both lines on the eSIM. Who's the cheapest pre-paid provider with the shortest term? [more inside]
posted by Kyol at 8:31 AM PST - 7 comments

I am very bad at clothing and don't know the right things to search for, so I'm hoping MeFi can help me find some some comfy, casual pants, but not too casual. Something like a slightly tailored jogger that doesn't quite look like a jogger but is comfortable and relaxed enough to hike in? [more inside]
posted by buxtonbluecat at 8:29 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to figure out how to make a list of attributes for a row and then search for any one of those attributes. I am not very expert with Excel and I don't even know what to call what I want, to browse through the list of functions. [more inside]
posted by Liesl at 8:08 AM PST - 5 comments

I am not fond of elk meat. My freezer is full of elk meat. Please share links to recipes that will help me make something with it but also hide its taste as much as possible. [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:38 AM PST - 19 comments

I've heard two separate people in the genetics field mention to me that supposedly High testosterone men with high stressed jobs tend to have more daughters than sons. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 6:39 AM PST - 4 comments

There is a post on the blue about the current job market, but I think all the answers are from the USA. I am just curious about the current job market in the rest of the world and whether it has been affected by covid. Tell us your region and field and what it's like.
posted by NotLost at 6:36 AM PST - 2 comments

Just got a new OLED tv and am enjoying Android TV, much better than the various own-brand smart-TV solutions I've been used to. Help me be a smart-tv genius, specific questions inside. [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 5:29 AM PST - 5 comments

I've bean learning to make some Indian recipes from tik tok and I'm loving it. Now I'm looking for a good cookbook - but I'm looking for versions of the recipes that are not watered down Western versions. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 5:20 AM PST - 29 comments

I've been working my way through Apichatpong Weerasethakul's shorts and they are truly amazing. In addition to his creative brilliance, I appreciate three things: 1) he's prolific, so there's loads of films, 2) they are all relatively short shorts, mostly <15 minutes long, and 3) he's a non-European director shooting from a proudly non-European POV. Who is your favourite prolific, non-European short film director that I can devour next? Arthouse a bonus but not a requirement.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 3:25 AM PST - 2 comments

I was talking to a friend who has been very hydrated, drinking about 90 to 110 oz a day. They said more hydration causes them to crave more salt. I thought this sounded weird because I had heard that dehydration can also cause this craving. Friend thinks it may have something to do with the extra water diluting and thus lowering their salt levels. Is there something to that? If so, what is happening with dehydration? [more inside]
posted by circular at 11:02 PM PST - 10 comments

Hey all. I'm thinking of taking my second work sabbatical, by joining the great resignation and not working for 6-8 months. I last did this in 2016 and was horribly lonely for most of it. I'm looking for ways to remain connected to people since I won't have regular coworkers to talk to during this time. [more inside]
posted by mnemonic at 10:52 PM PST - 10 comments

We're prepping for a camping trip that's going to be luxe but also cold (for southern California), help us warm our bones. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 9:26 PM PST - 15 comments

What's the best mid-range 65" TV on the market? [more inside]
posted by Diskeater at 7:19 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm removing an old kitchen faucet that seems to have an unconventional connector—a black plastic tube (pic) that threads on to the base of the faucet (pic). I can't seem to remove the tube no matter what I try, and what remains of the faucet won't come up either. [more inside]
posted by KMouse at 7:15 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm curious to know if there are any current PC games channeling the look, feel and pace of 80s fantasy games like the Ultima series, Bard's Tale and Might and Magic. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 6:25 PM PST - 11 comments

Why do the YouTube comments and replies I make from one account always appear but replies made from a second account never appear? [more inside]
posted by plastic_animals at 5:41 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm planning to take my kid, who will be 6.5, to visit extended family in the Atlanta suburbs. During the trip I'd like to stay in a hotel or airbnb for a few nights to mix things up a little. What is a fun/cute/pleasant neighborhood for families? What are the best sights for kids? She likes especially likes nature, art, science and music. I'd also love to incorporate African-American history and culture. Anything we don't get to this year, we could consider for future visits.
posted by vunder at 4:36 PM PST - 4 comments

My little toe and the area around it (including the area just under it on the sole of my foot) has been black and blue and kind of swollen for around ten days. The black and blue mark is slowly starting to fade now. And the swellings reduced (I’ve been resting a lot). My orthopaedic specialist who’s seen an X-ray of my foot is convinced it’s a hairline fracture - but wants to confirm this with an MRI. The issue is that I need to wait 3 weeks for an MRI. How do I exercise in the meantime? [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 3:53 PM PST - 3 comments

What are the best sites for buying used books when you’re looking for specific editions or translations? (Not AbeBooks. This question was prompted by their flood of print on demand garbage.)
posted by betweenthebars at 2:21 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm working on a historical novel, and my writing group has given me feedback that my protagonist is "not very smart" and "kind of a loser." There were some suggestions to switch the POV character to someone else who is more traditionally heroic/cool, but it's really important to me (and for big-picture thematic reasons), that the POV stick with this introverted, stuck-in-the-past, slightly unstable "loser" -- he does grow in confidence though the novel! -- but obv the reader has to care enough to go along with him for ~300 pages. Are there examples where this is done well? [more inside]
posted by basalganglia at 1:44 PM PST - 49 comments

In 1992, Pavement released their most excellent debut album "Slanted and Enchanted." In 1998, Baton Rouge rapper Young Bleed released the most excellent song "How You Do Dat," which uses the phrase "slanted and enchanted" at 00:42. Is there any explanation for this other than to assume that Young Bleed is a massive Pavement-head?
posted by kensington314 at 1:35 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm using the Aura model N95 mask when I do quick runs into stores. Every time I put it on it seems to make my nose run. I'm asking because I just sent some of these to my family & I'm hoping this is just a "me" problem and won't be a "them" problem. Google hasn't been helpful. [more inside]
posted by bleep at 1:13 PM PST - 12 comments

I am finally getting around to reading Anne-Marie MacDonald’s Fall On Your Knees. But when I took it off my shelf I discovered a corner had gotten wet and black-moldy at some point in the last twenty years. I soaked that corner (pages and cover) in some 99% isopropyl alcohol for a minute or two, scrubbed the inside cover a bit, and soaked again. Post-treatment photos here. Is this safe to read now? Anything else I should do?
posted by sixswitch at 1:08 PM PST - 5 comments

I asked you all for advice for buying a car (thank you x3) and did what folks advised--got pre-approved for a loan, found a car, bought that car, drove away with said car after switching insurance. And then, a week after buying the car, the dealership said that they had "an issue" with USAA's preapproved loan and switched the financial institution. Should I push back on this? [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 12:38 PM PST - 25 comments

Looking for a wedding reading for my sister, but it's a bit of a snowflake. [more inside]
posted by Laura_J at 11:46 AM PST - 10 comments

I inherited an area rug made by Stroheim and Romann, according to the tag on the back. The company was bought out and split up, and neither of the companies that own the bits of it have any records of the rug business. I am trying to understand what it might be worth. I believe it is wool but I'm not sure. Any tips on how to figure out the material/value/find an appraiser?
posted by rednikki at 11:25 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm looking for online resources that talk about how to choose carpet, carpet styles, anything that's going to make our apartment look clean and stylish...but also we have a dog. [more inside]
posted by biscuits at 11:19 AM PST - 9 comments

Inspired by a recent post on the blue, I wondered if it was possible to discover 'charts' of what older music (eg, older than 18 months) is being played this week on a streaming service like Spotify. So - basically, this week's (or month's) chart for long tail music. [more inside]
posted by Sparx at 10:58 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm interested in China around 1850-1910 as a setting - daily life, the shock of industrial revolution and invasions and uprisings as experienced by people who weren't Big Historical Figures - but hampered by my lack of Chinese. Period sources originally written in languages I know (English, Polish, French, German) tend to be frightfully colonial. What would you recommend from a Chinese POV, fiction or nonfiction, that's available in one of these languages? [more inside]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:41 AM PST - 7 comments

Tldr; a guy I’ve been seeing for a few weeks wants to talk about feelings majority of time we sped together, among others crying because i am not ready to commit just yet and i don’t say I love him while trying extra hard to impress/claim me. Yet I got told to keep him because seems to genuinely love me. [more inside]
posted by Salicornia at 10:28 AM PST - 76 comments

I teach sophomore English in high school and am tired of saying "here, read this" as an exclusive mode of teaching. I would like students to tag some places to discover good writing and engage in good habits of discussion and discovery. My dream is that they check in with good articles, poems, reviews, discussions, short stories and other actual artifacts of the world of ideas. [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 10:15 AM PST - 5 comments

What sort of presents have you bought for someone’s tenth birthday? I’m struggling with this not-quite-child not-quite-teen stage and could use some inspiration. [more inside]
posted by d288478 at 10:10 AM PST - 13 comments

A friend overseas just finally took her tests and got certified after 2 years of covid delays. What's a good gift - not a jokey one - for a new GP?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:54 AM PST - 14 comments

Looking for recommendations for science fiction, fantasy, magical stories that explore memory in any way. Especially anything that might present some new or weird way of thinking about memory.
posted by latkes at 7:53 AM PST - 56 comments

I'm reading about the importance of doing an activity daily in habit formation. I need a set-and-forget system/app with reminders and timers to ensure I spend e.g. 1 hour every day on household chores, 8 hours for my employer (only on weekdays), 30 minutes exercising, etc. Simply blocking off time on my calendar won't work. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by commander_fancypants at 7:15 AM PST - 9 comments

I bought this cat scratcher although from another site. The cat has diligently tried to scratch it several times, but the frame is wire, and his natural scratching technique almost immediately results in his nails getting stuck in the poly wicker weave. Is there any way I can improve it for him — and prevent him from scratching (in a recent development) wood furniture? [more inside]
posted by Violet Blue at 6:53 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm running the GMail app on a Pixel 6 Pro running Android 12. By default, images are not shown when I open an email. I accidently clicked "show pictures" on a daily newsletter I get. Is there a way to set that back to not showing the images?
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 6:22 AM PST - 2 comments

I am trying to rekindle my German language skills. I like soccer. Can anyone point me to soccer analysis or highlights in German that are on YouTube? Looking for something like ESPN FC but in German. Doesn't have to be about German soccer, can be about English or Spanish or any other soccer, just need the language to be in German.
posted by glenngulia at 5:30 AM PST - 5 comments

[Vanity filter] I only use the same few make up products. There are so many brands I see online, and I can't figure out which ones are actually worth trying so I just stick to my old faithfuls. Which is fine, but trying new make-up products is fun, and I'd be interested to know what more knowledgeable people are enjoying. What make-up products are you loving? Especially interested in hearing from people of colour, with oily skin. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 5:16 AM PST - 20 comments

I have and love the OXO salad spinner in both large and small sizes. I've been growing microgreens and wishing I had an extra small salad spinner. Can you help me find one?
posted by doift at 1:08 AM PST - 4 comments

Does anyone know who I can contact to clarify rules around bringing medication into Australia from overseas? It seems that both Australian residents and tourists who are visiting are able to bring in just three months' supply under the traveller's exemption. But what if you need to bring in more than that? What if it's a treatment which isn't available in Australia? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 12:50 AM PST - 2 comments

How am I supposed to assign credibility and compare products using Amazon reviews? [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 12:37 AM PST - 17 comments

I prefer working in an office 1000x more than working from home. I recently started a new job at a company where we can work from the office, and I do - but everyone else on my team chooses to WFH. My new boss doesn't care where I work, but expressed mild curiosity when he learned that I have been going to the office regularly. How can I say that I prefer the office without causing doubts about the quality of my work if/when I would need to WFH? [more inside]
posted by rogerroger at 7:46 PM PST - 29 comments

Trigger warning: child sexual abuse, child abuse. My father thinks he is dying, and based off of what he told me he probably is. He hasn't been abusive towards me since before I moved out. He found religion at some point and has made strides to improve. But I know a family secret involving him that will probably be revealed at some point. [more inside]
posted by tweedle at 5:50 PM PST - 16 comments

I removed paint from a few doorframes, and now I'm going to sand them down and repaint. What is the best way to smooth out the grooves in the detail? I held up a pencil in this photo to show the size of the grooves (approx 1.7 mm): link [more inside]
posted by cincinnatus c at 3:28 PM PST - 31 comments

I've recently read a bit about Samantha Smith, the young American girl who visited the USSR during the Cold War as a goodwill ambassador, and Nobuo Fujita, the Japanese pilot who carried out the only bombing of the contiguous US during the Second World War and subsequently visited the US to apologise. Which other inspirational peacemakers should I know about?
posted by matthew.alexander at 3:06 PM PST - 4 comments

My son likes his hair long and wants to keep it that way, but I can't stand it being in his mouth all the time. He wears a wide headband and that used to help, until his hair got long enough that it goes over the top of the headband and into his mouth. He will not wear a ponytail, braid, bun, or any other style besides a headband. His hair seems to grow forward into his face, no matter how we comb it. [more inside]
posted by TrixieRamble at 1:40 PM PST - 15 comments

Should I go back to college as a 45-year old? When I was 17 I was accepted to Columbia University but I did not go because I could not afford it. When I visited the school back in the mid-90s, the students I stayed with were smart, kind and cool -- the sort of folks I hoped to befriend but never did when I managed to complete my bachelor's degree in my hometown in my mid-20s. Now I am old, pretty isolated, but gainfully employed here in NYC. I've been admitted to get a second BA degree at Columbia. I can afford it. Should I do it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:39 PM PST - 40 comments

How do we make our shared deck more private? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 1:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Not trying to be contrarian, but I don't really love diamonds and wouldn't buy them for myself. I don't love stones period really. I do love gold jewelry though, and own a decent amount. I'm also one of those people who wears the same earrings, necklace, bracelet every day for pretty much my entire life and they are all very special to me. I don't know what to think about wearing a diamond engagement/wedding ring that is just not ... me. [more inside]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 1:24 PM PST - 25 comments

I removed a ceiling light in my apartment only to discover a junction box with wiring I did not expect. Photo here. Left to right: two-strand white wire; four-strand blue wire; single-strand red wire. [more inside]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 1:16 PM PST - 9 comments

What's a good way to manage anxiety and doubt when starting a new job? [more inside]
posted by morning_television at 12:08 PM PST - 9 comments

Not sure how to explain this - There has to be a way to either crop or export the video in Final Cut Pro so that the format/frame rate/resolution matches the original file without ending up with black bars on either side, but I can't figure it out. [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 12:07 PM PST - 4 comments

A Thai friend was recently accepted to a 3 month long English immersion program at a college in the U.S. Concurrently, he applied for a master's degree in education at the same college offering the program—and will almost certain be accepted. With regards to his Visa application / interview: (1) Does he need to book accommodation for the entire 3 months in advance? (2) Should he mention the master's application at his visa interview or would this be detrimental? [more inside]
posted by matkline at 9:21 AM PST - 3 comments

A friend of mine is starting a therapy practice. I'm helping her set up a web presence. What scheduling tools should we consider? (I'm a web developer, so feel free to get technical.) [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:56 AM PST - 12 comments

What resource(s) can I post in my online Federal Government course to deal with students who still think “Democrats stole the presidential elections”? I would prefer if it was just one link/resource, but could link to other sources. [more inside]
posted by Neekee at 8:47 AM PST - 12 comments

Our 5 yo is getting into Star Wars. We're holding off on the trilogy movies for now because they're a bit violent, so what books/comics/movies/etc are good for a kid this young?
posted by Tehhund at 4:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I moved to Valencia Spain a year ago with my husband and we are both capable of getting things and done and doing the basics in Spanish. My husband, who speaks three other languages to begin with becoming fluent quickly. [more inside]
posted by privatechef at 3:42 AM PST - 8 comments

What is this kitchen tool that was passed on to me from my deceased grandparents’ kitchen?! [more inside]
posted by centrifugal at 12:42 AM PST - 12 comments

I have approx 100 people who have memberships to a service. I would like to set up something that will send them an email automatically two weeks before their membership runs out, based on that expiry date. I don't need upsells, added functions, tracking, metrics, or anything else; I just want to send them an email that I don't have to trigger manually/schedule, as I'm doing right now via gmail. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by liquado at 10:30 PM PST - 3 comments

Are there any games (other than Mario Kart) for the Switch or PS4 that support simultaneous local and online multiplayer? [more inside]
posted by Television Name at 7:37 PM PST - 12 comments

Looking for dining chairs that are appropriate for fat folks. I have seen some brands (West Elm/Williams Sonoma/others?) have "contract grade" furniture that is more durable, but does not claim a specific weight rating. Do you have recommendations based on real life experience for brands that sell dining chairs that will be trustworthy and durable for supporting fat people? Ideally we will be able to try the chair in-person in the SF Bay Area, but online OK also could work. Thank you! [more inside]
posted by latkes at 7:04 PM PST - 11 comments

As a long-time occasional bike commuter wanting to get a power boost on hills, last summer I ordered a Swytch ebike conversion kit for my Jamis Renegade link to pdf of specs. It finally arrived about 6 weeks ago, but unfortunately, when I finally opened the box and tried to install it, I found that it isn't compatible with my bike. The hub motor wheel will fit only forks with U-shaped dropouts, and mine apparently has 'thru-axles'. I would appreciate some help figuring out my next step! [more inside]
posted by sizeable beetle at 6:37 PM PST - 10 comments

We have a smoke smell in our house that shows up maybe once a week, and then disappears. I’m trying to figure out where it’s coming from but I’m completely stumped. [more inside]
posted by summerteeth at 5:40 PM PST - 12 comments

A good friend of mine has recently become an aunt. I love (a moderate amount of) baby pictures as much as the next person but I am running out of ways to tell her he is the cutest patootie to ever patoot, and etc. A bit more inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:30 PM PST - 33 comments

I have a Google Sheet with multiple rows and columns and I want to sort by the text in one row but can't figure it out. [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 3:56 PM PST - 2 comments

Let's say right now, today, I have a stuffy nose. I'm feeling mostly fine. I don't traditionally have seasonal allergies around this time of year. Other people in my family have also been unusually sniffly this week, but not to the point where I'd even keep anyone home from school in a normal year. Everyone old enough is fully vaccinated. What is the rough probability that we have covid, as opposed to some other cold? [more inside]
posted by potrzebie at 2:32 PM PST - 25 comments

I've always blown in the wind career-wise, so I feel very lucky to find myself a contractor with a significant amount of experience in a (currently) booming field. I'd like to make the transition to juicier projects with a higher level of seniority, however I have a tendency to shoot myself in the foot... [more inside]
posted by doornoise at 2:30 PM PST - 4 comments

I feel like reading something with a smart super-sleuth, the kind of novel overtly or covertly inspired by the Sherlock Holmes mystique. My favourite genres are SFF and romance, though mystery is obviously also fine. I'd rather avoid any machismo. Bonus points for actually strong female characters (not the Joss Whedon kind). (Riffs and parodies also ok if they're smart-silly.) Can you recommend any?
posted by Omnomnom at 2:05 PM PST - 29 comments

Mr. Dork and I are just about to finish the series finale of The Expanse (which we loved) and are in need of something new to watch. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:45 PM PST - 32 comments

Hi. What if I were to recreate this from scratch? What would the portions be? [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 12:28 PM PST - 5 comments

I’ve seen a couple recipes recently where you cook spiralized sweet potatoes on a sheet pan and am intrigued. Before I spend $40 on a spiralizer, what do you use yours for? Recommend me some recipes/meals! Thanks!
posted by skycrashesdown at 12:23 PM PST - 11 comments

What's the best resource to teach me how to dress like a professional? Not Men's Wearhouse or Jos A Bank, please; I haven't had much success with them. Austin, TX area and points north; maybe I should consult with an actual tailor? Does anybody do that anymore? Thanks in advance for your advice. :) [more inside]
posted by ZakDaddy at 12:22 PM PST - 17 comments

If you are a post-Santa house, when & how did it happen? And what traditions did you change afterwards?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:05 PM PST - 19 comments

My fourteen-year-old and I need a car. We don't currently have one. Specs inside; would welcome advice. [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 12:02 PM PST - 13 comments

My wife's beloved beverage container is showing signs of age - can you help us find a replacement (or similar)? [more inside]
posted by davidmsc at 10:56 AM PST - 6 comments

There is a lightweight travel trailer (caravan) sold and distributed only in Europe. I want one in the US and am willing to jump through any hoop. Art Vandelay doesn’t answer his phone anymore. How can I make this happen? [more inside]
posted by hwyengr at 10:03 AM PST - 8 comments

I recently had a ureteral stent placed. Since the placement, I've had extreme pain before and during urination, and now after in the form of lingering back pain. I called my urologist and he said if the pain is unbearable he can remove it, but that leaving it in longer will help me avoid longer-term kidney problems. You're not my urologist, but maybe you've had to deal with this kind of pain before, or can help me make an informed decision? [more inside]
posted by tonycpsu at 9:21 AM PST - 8 comments

Please recommend great queer literature written before 1960. I just read The Haunting of Hill House and it blew my mind. [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:02 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm ready to bail from my decades-long career in software design and do something I love for the ~7 years until retirement. I imagine that means a retail job, like in a bookstore. That means, most obviously, a big cut in pay. What can I expect and what should I plan for? [more inside]
posted by booth at 8:18 AM PST - 31 comments

I’d like to paint glow in the dark stars on my kid’s ceiling. For various reasons we don’t want to use stickers/stick on stars. There are many options and reviews of these many options are far from unanimous. Have you personally - or has someone you know personally - used a glow in the dark paint that you’d recommend? [more inside]
posted by sciencegeek at 6:17 AM PST - 10 comments

Here's the song. [more inside]
posted by Gorgik at 6:11 AM PST - 2 comments

Pretty much what it says on the tin, with a light flurry of snowflakes… [more inside]
posted by floweredfish at 5:27 AM PST - 24 comments

{rant} I've grown increasingly frustrated with iBook/Books habit of deleting important PDF titles every time I update the IOS and I've absolutely HAD IT with it's flakey offline functionality… [more inside]
posted by brachiopod at 2:11 AM PST - 8 comments

I really need a Microsoft Word CD or DVD for my 2013 iMac. Bear with me, please. I'm an old woman who's somewhat of a Luddite when it comes to computers. [more inside]
posted by Smalltown Girl at 1:22 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm trying to de-escalate my worklife from that of a Ph.D and need a little guidance. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:46 PM PST - 16 comments

I've been consulting (part-time) for a company and am going full time. I need tips for negotiating salary. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:46 PM PST - 3 comments

Do you find the idea of being an empath to be useful in understanding yourself, or is it a rationalization of unhealthy coping mechanisms? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 10:32 PM PST - 18 comments

Supporting materials for this author/figure? [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 8:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Curious about instances in where the same word occurs is used consecutively. Doesn't have to be the same use-case as "have" is used here. Is this a weird unique English thing or does it crop up in other languages too? What languages/tenses?
posted by curious nu at 7:51 PM PST - 36 comments

I was born in the US and am a citizen, but live in Australia and have joint citizenship here. I recently transitioned and have just completed the process for changing my name and gender in Australia. In order to obtain a US passport that matches, I need to do the same in the US, but I can't figure out how. Help? [more inside]
posted by contrapositive at 7:39 PM PST - 4 comments

It's looking more and more that I may be moving away from a career in Grocery. What other careers should I be looking into? [more inside]
posted by carnivoregiraffe at 7:39 PM PST - 9 comments

I am looking for examples of artists who had a particularly great single year. [more inside]
posted by zenon at 7:02 PM PST - 28 comments

I have recently passed a tipping point with my anxiety, and am seeking help to deal with it. There seem to be many options. Are any known to be more/less useful than others? (not looking for anecdotes) [more inside]
posted by Acari at 6:51 PM PST - 21 comments

In the early 1950s there was an explosion of monster culture throughout America, perhaps in no small part due to Universal monster movies becoming syndicated and widely available on television. I'm looking for recommended books, articles, etc. that discuss not just "why" monster movies became popular, but how they infected American pop culture, especially in the 50s and 60s.
posted by Unsomnambulist at 4:26 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for the name or author of a fantasy book, where one of the characteristics of the world was that objects got better - in better condition, more valued - as they were used. [more inside]
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:02 PM PST - 3 comments

I can't place the name of a show from probably 10-15 years ago that concerned a cryptanalyst/codebreaker, working for a think tank, who discovers what he thinks are secret messages hidden in (IIRC) crosswords. A few more deets inside. [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 4:01 PM PST - 7 comments

We're in the process of thinking through what the next few decades might look like for our family, and considering the instability and fractiousness in the US, we've begun exploring visa programs for residency elsewhere. The HQA visa for Portugal is interesting, but we're missing some important information: We don't know anyone who has pursued this route. (See inside) [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 3:40 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm want to make music videos of me singing my own songs. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 3:05 PM PST - 19 comments

I recently purchased a new TV and installed a small/med sized attic antenna. I am getting great reception on a large number of channels. However, only one major network channel only comes in at 720 instead of 1080. Is it an antenna reception issue or some other issue? (That channel's tower is at the same distance and direction as the other network channels where the antenna is pointed.)
posted by roaring beast at 1:43 PM PST - 6 comments

Are there microwave-only tricks I'm missing, or do I actually need to put them in the oven for 45 minutes to get a fluffy baked potato? [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 12:50 PM PST - 28 comments

Uninsured mefites on a budget, can you please tell me where you get your prescriptions filled? [more inside]
posted by hollyanderbody at 12:31 PM PST - 19 comments

So, I have covid. Symptomatic last Thursday; tested positive on Monday. The days in between have not been fun at all, but I seem to be coming out the other side of it now. What do I need to do (once I'm fully recovered and out of isolation) to make my isolation space, and my home, safe for myself and others? [more inside]
posted by invincible summer at 11:41 AM PST - 15 comments

Benefits provider emailing portal login passwords. [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:28 AM PST - 15 comments

Most of my working life, for a few decades now, has been mostly organized in MS-Word docs, along with the occasional spreadsheet, living on my hard drive. More and more, I’m using Google Suite, and really liking it. I’m interested in moving more or less fully from using MS-Office on my hard drive to using google in the cloud. I’d love to hear from others who have made this transition: How did it go? Are you glad you did it? Pros and cons? Any tips or things to watch out for? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 11:19 AM PST - 5 comments

We are three adults (late 40s) and two kids (12 & 9). Can you suggest a place to us to stay in London? We live in Chicago (Rogers Park) and know that cities are The Neighborhoods and that's where we'd like to stay. We're looking for something that has access to parks for the kids, local shops for local people, and not terribly touristy. [more inside]
posted by Wink Ricketts at 11:17 AM PST - 12 comments

This summer, I (mid-30s) plan to move from London, UK to Vancouver, BC, Canada, for a year (working and living). I'm looking for personal recs or tips for things to see and do, no matter how broad or small, but also "city life" recs (and for BC generally) as opposed to traditional tourism. [more inside]
posted by Quagkapi at 11:00 AM PST - 12 comments

I've been getting into erotic media, which on the whole has been great! But I'm not sure what a good (feminist, progressive, etc) take is on the more problematic ends of the spectrum. Seeking opinions on healthy ways to look at this! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:13 AM PST - 25 comments

A client has sent me a 20-minute mp4 video with subtitles they would like proofread. For "reasons" they are unable to send me a text file, but I feel sure there must be some way to extract the subtitles. [more inside]
posted by bwonder2 at 9:58 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a handful of antagonistic students in my Zoom college-2nd-year Gender Studies 101 class of 50 and I am losing sleep about how to deal with this graciously. I am burned out and a parent to toddlers and just don't have the energy to give a shit about this... but somehow I do. [more inside]
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:26 AM PST - 41 comments

I manage a small company. The owners are both working remotely, or out of town. We had potential bad weather last night & I was put in the position of personally making the call whether to start work on time at 8 am or delay the start time, using my judgement. Am I liable if an employee is hurt in a weather-related traffic accident on the drive to work, based on my decision? [more inside]
posted by Florida Lee at 8:54 AM PST - 10 comments

Is a road/camping trip in Utah in late March going to be gloomy winter weather or a generally pleasant escape from PNW rain & cold? I’ve already checked average temperatures and precipitation levels from past years, looking more for personal experiences! [more inside]
posted by leafmealone at 7:59 AM PST - 10 comments

So how do I get more into breathwork? It seems potentially transformative, a type of meditation that could aid my/our collective anxiety. All of the apps seem to contradict each other. Which flavor is "best"? (realizing that is a problematic way to frame things). Thanks. [more inside]
posted by craniac at 7:53 AM PST - 5 comments

My wife is considering incorporating Nuance Dragon speech recognition software into her workflow. Or at least something similar. It's likely that she'll end up going with Dragon but we want to do our due diligence and see what alternatives are out there that people use. It's not a type of software I know much about so I'm not much help to her in this situation. So, I turn to the hivemind. [more inside]
posted by Mister_Sleight_of_Hand at 4:18 AM PST - 8 comments

There are two taco trucks in my neighborhood - yum! One uses propane and one uses a diesel generator, but why? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:56 PM PST - 16 comments

Hi - I am looking for a programming / software development talk that I saw a few years ago. The thing that I remember about the talk was that it compared learning software development and how chicken sexing is taught. Does anyone know what I am talking about?
posted by stevenpl at 8:17 PM PST - 4 comments

What is this flat led light fixture that is in our kitchen ceiling light? Is it replaceable?
posted by christiehawk at 7:31 PM PST - 7 comments

There are a few verses that stand out in my memory as excellent wordplay. None of these are from songs I love. 1. What else feels this good, word-wise; and 2. They’re not puns. What are they? [more inside]
posted by OrangeVelour at 6:18 PM PST - 42 comments

I'm 50ish business type person in tech and education. Had a conversation with a person similar demographics to me but in medicine. Conversation could be summed up as "I hate Slack, but everyone wants me to use it". [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 6:13 PM PST - 40 comments

I’ve been exclusively a Mac user for over a decade and I’m barely a gamer. However, I’ve gotten into Crusader Kings 3 during the pandemic and I’d like to be able to play it on a more modern machine—and perhaps try other games. There’s so much advice and so many options for gaming PCs, though, that I don’t know where to begin. [more inside]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:06 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a folder from an old Microsoft Entourage for Mac account. It's from an old backup drive I haven't touched in years. I'd like to browse those old emails, but I don't own any Microsoft apps, and Apple's Mail app can't import them even though the database is a .mbox file. I've tried opening the file in a text editor, but most of the data is jumbled. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by 2oh1 at 5:50 PM PST - 8 comments

My mouth is in a helluva state. I need implants and god knows what else. Though I have dental insurance (Aetna PPO), my out-of-pocket cost for even a part of the work needed is several grand. I live within driving distance of Tijuana, Mexico though (I have an American passport) so I was wondering about getting the work done there - or somewhere else? Have you done this? Is Tijuana safe at the moment for me? How does it work? Other threads on this are pretty old. Thanks for any insight!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 4:21 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for PS4 games to play with two or three controllers for a family that likes Wytchwood, Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Spiritfarer, and Don't Starve Together.
posted by gwint at 2:57 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m looking for ideas for games I can play with my mom who has Alzheimer’s. [more inside]
posted by bookmammal at 1:59 PM PST - 25 comments

Prompted by yesterday's supermarket discussion in the blue, I'm wondering -- does the Safeway in your area use this robot message when their phone rings? And why? An employee there once cued me to what's going on when... [more inside]
posted by Rash at 1:47 PM PST - 23 comments

Can you help me find a new showerhead? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 1:06 PM PST - 12 comments

After reading this FPP I'd really like to hear what your new music favorites are! I'd like pop and rock and soul music, made in the last, oh, 5 years or so, and I'd be most happy to hear from women artists, though any will do!
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 12:42 PM PST - 37 comments

Please help me coin a new medical term. How would you say, "cat induced paralysis" in Latin? The term describes the condition of being unable to move because a cat has reached a state of maximum comfort in your lap and, you know, you just can't move. So far I have felinitopic paralysis, but I know that's not right.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 12:41 PM PST - 20 comments

Our two kitties are both 2 years old, and when we brought them home we had sort of a rough introductory period where the kittens understandably got it into their heads that we were trying to eat them. We've been letting the relationship heal. Now how do we get them into their carriers, because as soon as we do anything to impede their freedom, even if I just look at them while I'm thinking about it, they immediately revert back to "Oh, they're trying to eat us now, ok well, I can't fight them, but I can run, and if I can't run, I will fight them". [more inside]
posted by bleep at 12:33 PM PST - 25 comments

I'm making a decision in the spirit of family caregiving, and I'm *fairly* sure it's ALSO healthy for me (e.g. it isn't self-sacrificing, and it has elements I'm really excited about!) How do I process my fear that I'm being regressive/unhealthy? OR in other words, how do you reconcile independence-goals with caregiving-goals? [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish at 12:19 PM PST - 9 comments

The metal pieces holding up my punching bag are wearing out faster than I expected. Is there something I can do to reduce wear and tear? Pics: https://imgur.com/a/SjAQ7Yv. [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 12:12 PM PST - 5 comments

Do you remember a science fiction short story where people can send images of themselves back to their high school selves? I read it about twenty years ago or so. [more inside]
posted by Kattullus at 11:02 AM PST - 2 comments

Can you share a very effective website for a small social justice organization? What makes it good? [more inside]
posted by alsoran at 10:20 AM PST - 9 comments

As above. Like people don’t even send holding messages anymore. I would rather rip my lips off then send another carefully crafted breezy follow up. (I don’t express this frustration in follow ups and I do check them with trusted friends for tone.)
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 8:42 AM PST - 42 comments

I have an old Sanyo ECJ-S35K rice cooker which works great, but the inner pot is starting to peel. Has anyone had success mixing inner pot brands, or do I finally just buy a new Zojirushi and call it good? Rice cooker says it's 0.63 L capacity (3.5 cup-sized pot)
posted by curious nu at 8:13 AM PST - 11 comments

When telling my cat that yes, it's finally time for breakfast, I say "Kitty kitty kitty!" What's the Japanese equivalent? A generic, "Come here, cat, you are wanted"? (Her name is Hopper, if that is relevant.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:43 AM PST - 8 comments

Please give me your most delicious and non-fussy recipes for soups and stews that can be frozen for future meals. I no longer eat meat, but fish, shellfish, dairy, tofu, etc. are fine. No allergies. What recipes are yummy both after you make them and after you freeze them? Thank you for helping feed me, hive mine!
posted by Bella Donna at 7:13 AM PST - 21 comments

Hello; Do you use a password manager? If so,which one? I have been googling and there are several out there. I don't mind paying for one,but which one?lol. I would like a simple one. Running Win.11,Chrome on desktop. Thanks for all your input :-)
posted by LOOKING at 6:10 AM PST - 39 comments

My online brokerage messed up what should have been a simple account transfer. As a result, I lost thousands of dollars. Realistically speaking, do I have any hope of recourse? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:13 AM PST - 9 comments

I just want to order (or heck, buy retail) some poppadums and have them not be spicy. Can anybody describe or link to a specific variety? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 3:52 AM PST - 20 comments

Do you know a gambling card game called bonanza? [more inside]
posted by fizban at 2:00 AM PST - 6 comments

I record a daily news podcast. I tag the recording when I export from Audacity, but it doesn't support adding cover art. What's the best way to automate the addition of the cover art? [more inside]
posted by action man bow-tie at 10:17 PM PST - 4 comments

Is the phrase "necessary if sufficient" a term of art in logic or philosophy? If so, what does it mean? [more inside]
posted by mark k at 10:01 PM PST - 9 comments

Where to get parts for Giantex Full-Automatic Washing Machine Portable Compact 1.34 Cu.ft Laundry Washer Spin with Drain Pump, 10 programs 8 Water Level Selections with LED Display 9.92 Lbs Capacity [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 6:41 PM PST - 3 comments

How can I best help my depressed, recently unemployed, ADHD partner find the structure he needs to find a new job after a long career in academia? [more inside]
posted by hollisimo at 6:15 PM PST - 20 comments

Wanting to limit my access to certain sites What do you website blockers/suggestions do you recommend for these two laptops? One is strictly Safari. The other has Safari, Firefox and Chrome. A blocker I can turn on/off with password will work also. I can type in a random password
posted by goalyeehah at 1:09 PM PST - 6 comments

I am helping a friend with a relatively large audio/video file. He's having a similar problem with the same program I had a couple months ago. We notice that each time AEP saves the file automatically, it seems to do so a tiny bit slower than the time before. Is each save, saving the entire file somewhere or just saving over what we just did? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:01 PM PST - 2 comments

We want to get rid of cable television, and retain only internet access from our hellish cable “company” (Comcast or Xfinity; whatever the hell they’re calling themselves now.) We’re in West Michigan, if that matters. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:00 PM PST - 34 comments

Created an MS Form, created formulas in another sheet to analyze data collected in the form. After submitting a completed Form, the data is captured, but it deletes the copied-down formulas. How do I stop Forms/ Excel from doing this? [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 11:03 AM PST - 3 comments

My second baby, almost 15 months old, has been much more difficult that my first. How much of it is just normal baby variability and how much is something more? [more inside]
posted by stripesandplaid at 10:28 AM PST - 30 comments

I am looking for the best (in terms of quality at a relatively low cost) option for a camera to record a computer screen. Using software on the computer to record the screen is not an option in this case. [more inside]
posted by roosterboy at 9:26 AM PST - 15 comments

My house gutters drain into the sewer line, and I'm having a trenchless sewer put in, which means I need the gutters not to drain into the sewer line. I live on a small lot in an area that gets somewhat frequent downpours. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by punchtothehead at 9:04 AM PST - 8 comments

Is there an automated way for patients to fill out the pages and pages of forms that seem to be required for every medical visit? [more inside]
posted by yohko at 8:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Where would I go about finding some charitable organization in my area to donate a new range we've apparently won? [more inside]
posted by Naberius at 8:20 AM PST - 15 comments

I have lists within multiple cells separated by commas and want a single list with each unique value. How do I best do this? [more inside]
posted by an octopus IRL at 6:46 AM PST - 3 comments

My aunt is aging rapidly, seems to be getting dementia, and recently was hospitalized with COVID, I have no way to reach her it seems, and my cousin who I think is my only connection to her isn't answering my inquiries. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:51 AM PST - 8 comments

Doctors of reddit: partner and I both have HSV-1. I have it orally, they have it genitally. Can they transmit it to me genitally if I already have it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:51 AM PST - 4 comments

I recall reading about an early (pre-D&D) form of role-playing game, in which the premise was that the player(s) were junior officers making a reconnaissance of a border town, where there might be other officers or agents from the other side, in the tension before a war about to start. What was the game? What did I read?
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 2:02 AM PST - 5 comments

In Excel, how do I turn Table A into Table B? I'm pretty sure it's something to do with PIvot tables but I can't figure it out (google sheet) [more inside]
posted by cacofonie at 6:21 PM PST - 4 comments

My turn! Can you help me find a new home office desk chair? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 5:24 PM PST - 16 comments

I just bought a new prebuilt gaming PC after a lifetime of assembling my own. Thanks GPU shortage! It's an HP Omen 30L that comes preinstalled with Windows 11. When it arrives, it seems like the easiest way to remove all the preinstalled bloatware to just reinstall Windows from scratch, but I could use some guidance on the best way to do this and what post-install steps are needed. [more inside]
posted by arcolz at 5:11 PM PST - 9 comments

I like a particular trope in (typically spooky) shows where the the big evil thing/twist is subtly introduced right from the start, but you probably won't pick up on the clues until you're a good way through it. This is an I'm-asking-for-recommendations question, so I guess be careful clicking through if you're very spoiler sensitive. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 4:55 PM PST - 38 comments

I own a small shop in Toronto and occasionally import things for my personal self and for resale. Every time, it's a crapshoot on whether I'll be charged and what I'll be charged. Today I paid $108 to import $180 frying pan and $54 to import a $90 pillow, both of which seem ridiculous to me. Last month I paid $40 to import $28 worth of magazines and same day paid $15 to import $2000 worth of magazines. It just feels like they charge whatever the F they want. Help? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 4:38 PM PST - 4 comments

This past weekend I planned to change my MX records to Fastmail but it didn't go well. This is purely a current best practices question, previous AskMeFi posts were pretty old. [more inside]
posted by forthright at 4:25 PM PST - 14 comments

Two Google Calendar Questions: 1. How do I share only my work calendar and have that show availability. 2. Can I display my google calendar on my windows desktop as essentially the wallpaper? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:03 PM PST - 9 comments

Say I have a pool of clients. I need to schedule a session with exactly two of them, any two, but there needs to be two for any given slot. Is there an easy way for people to be paired, given their availability overlapping with any other person, to be slotted into a meeting on my calendar. The expectation is that both people would show up at the same time and I wouldn’t have to coordinate all this by myself. [more inside]
posted by vocativecase at 12:50 PM PST - 10 comments

Outlook/MS Office question: I am the primary calendar delegate for my own boss in MS Outlook, but I have also been made a delegate for HIS boss so I can see the calendar. However, this also means I get alerted for all of his meeting invites, which is a lot. Is there a way to turn off my getting copied on my boss's boss's meeting invites without also turning off alerts about my own boss's invites? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:24 PM PST - 6 comments

Man I hope I didn't confabulate this. What is the song with lyrics LIKE "like a bat out of hell, I'll be gone, gone, gone" but that ABSOLUTELY ISN'T Bat Out Of Hell? [more inside]
posted by peppercorn at 11:27 AM PST - 5 comments

What differences have you noticed between heterosexual dating norms, expectations, assumptions and practices and those in LGBTQ+ dating? Where do you think one does better than the another, and what would you like to see cross-pollinate between them? [more inside]
posted by d288478 at 10:45 AM PST - 15 comments

My partner recently started doing freelance technical writing. We live in California, the person paying her lives in the US somewhere outside California. There are no other complicating factors. A few questions inside. [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 10:42 AM PST - 5 comments

What should I sing while putting eye drops in my dog's eyes? [more inside]
posted by meese at 10:17 AM PST - 20 comments

Earlier in the panny I read about Zoom groups for remote workers, where you join in and just have a little human companionship and mild accountability while you are working, sometimes featuring a few minutes of chatting before getting down to work. Now that I would like to join one I can't seem to find the right search term. Can you help?
posted by HotToddy at 10:13 AM PST - 8 comments

I have my first tattoo appointment next week and I think I want to cancel/postpone because of Covid. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:49 AM PST - 2 comments

In the long run I want to buy a nice bedframe, but while I save up for it I was thinking of adding legs to my boxspring. Have you done this? Did it work? What kind of legs? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 9:21 AM PST - 19 comments

Quite a long time ago, I read or saw an interview with Pat Sajak in which he joked that the Wheel of Fortune theme song had lyrics: "wheel of fortune, we love wheel of fortune, with ceramic doggies and some things!" Except I can't find any evidence of this. I may have mixed up some of the details - or all of them! Can you clear this up?
posted by moonmilk at 7:48 AM PST - 2 comments

Very straightforward question here. I want to send someone in Toronto a delicious cake today. (I am in the US.) They live in the Harbourfront, if that matters. Hit me with your cake concepts. Thanks!
posted by neroli at 7:47 AM PST - 7 comments

Our five year old daughter has, over the past month or so, been experiencing increasingly strong separation anxiety and we're not sure how best to help her. She's in general a very observant, very smart, somewhat shy and home-oriented (quiet out in the world, loud at home) child, but in the last few weeks is clearly deeply stressed out, which is manifesting as a very strong attachment to her mother and an aversion to doing much OTHER THAN hanging on her mother. [more inside]
posted by twigatwig at 7:41 AM PST - 16 comments

I am one of those people who seems to catch every cold that's going around, twice. It doesn't help that I'm a teacher and have a five-year-old. Right now it's extra obnoxious because I'm always worried I have the big C and have to wait for a test. It may just be a crappy immune system, but I'm wondering what you all do that seems to help prevent illness or at least shorten its duration. No idea is too basic (wash your hands) or too out there (neti pot? idk). Thank you!
posted by chaiminda at 6:38 AM PST - 40 comments

Do you know of any datasets associated with "Around the world in 80 days" or any article discussing the detailed geography from a factual point of view? [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:02 AM PST - 3 comments

Next month I'm starting a new job (yay!) in which I'll be managing a team of about 5 people in a specific technical area. I've managed small teams before, but not in the job I've had for the last 6-7 years, where I was on a team but worked pretty much on my own, without even much direct supervision. Oh and I'm painfully introverted by nature and feel like I've become practically a hermit working from a cave in the past two years... [more inside]
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy at 3:38 AM PST - 4 comments

How to keep up an actual esprit de corp among teammembers when your work life is virtual? [more inside]
posted by alchemist at 11:28 PM PST - 14 comments

I'd love to find some ipad games/apps for my kids (2nd grade and K) that have genuine educational value but are more fun than, say, Khan Academy. I know this is very subjective and debatable, but I guess I'm thinking of stuff like what I used to play as a kid - arcade-style games that involve solving math problems, or fun trivia games, things like that. I know apps like Minecraft and Tynker are often used in classrooms but I'm thinking more in terms of the "traditional" school subjects. Thanks!
posted by malhouse at 9:43 PM PST - 7 comments

I went to pick up my car and my mechanic's helper decided this was the day to give me a hard time about my mask. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 8:59 PM PST - 53 comments

Please share with me groups/charities that are working to close the racial wealth gap in the US, particularly through mutual aid and down payment assistance.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:19 PM PST - 5 comments

My adult child is pulling away from me. Maybe that's good, as he grows closer to his fiancee and grows up and all that. Maybe that's less good, because he is perhaps depressed as he has been in the past. But even if he is depressed, maybe I no longer can expect my support would be helpful or desired, because his fiancee would naturally take the primary role there. In any case, worrying doesn't help him or me and I definitely should not feel personally rejected/hurt. But yes, I am crying again. [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 8:11 PM PST - 37 comments

I recently got promoted. While I enjoy many aspects of my job, like my colleagues, the pay, and the benefits, I have not found it professionally satisfying for the most part, pre- or post-promotion. I wonder (1) how I can better advocate for myself and (2) whether I should reorient career-wise. More inside. [more inside]
posted by Clyde Sparrow at 7:56 PM PST - 3 comments

Do current Samsung models hassle you into engaging with their smart TV features? Are other options any better? [more inside]
posted by dephlogisticated at 7:37 PM PST - 8 comments

I need a really good joke about narwhals that I can tell at work. I googled for a while and couldn't find any that I loved. Also, I'm fairly new to joke-telling, so it would help if it's not super long or detailed.
posted by allison00 at 7:20 PM PST - 10 comments

I use Lightroom to organize and edit large numbers of photos and am now (finally) looking for some good presets. But there are a ton of commercial presets out there to pick from! Help? [more inside]
posted by mkuhnell at 6:40 PM PST - 2 comments

I am selling a few old external hard drives on Kijiji. What's the best way for me to completely wipe the hard drives so that any data I had on them is completely irretrievable by whoever purchases them?
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 5:49 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm part of a nonprofit healthcare org's communications & marketing department. We all (3-6 of us) work well together, but lack actual processes or systems for doing our work. I'd like to learn how to create some. Explain like I'm a high school dropout, because I am. [more inside]
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 3:35 PM PST - 5 comments

Do any language courses focus on quickly *returning you* to decent language skills? I took years of French in high school and would love to prepare for a French fluency exam as quickly as possible. I need to review everything but I don't need to spend hours on "bonjour, ça va?" if that makes sense. Any recommendations would be welcome!
posted by slidell at 1:13 PM PST - 12 comments

heavy boobs + narrow, sloping shoulders = constant misery. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:06 PM PST - 19 comments

I don’t think Screen Time (tm) will do this although maybe I’m wrong. In our house, kids’ access to most apps ends at 7 (music and audiobook apps are “all the time” apps). If we want to let a kid have access to Instagram til 10, but maintain the 7pm cutoff for other apps, what’s the best way to automate that? Open to additional apps, and willing to pay. [more inside]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 12:43 PM PST - 5 comments

My partner's prescription renewals ran out; she needs to speak to a psychiatrist to get it restarted. The telemedicine service my partner used to get her initial diagnosis keeps rescheduling the appointment. With 10 minutes' notice it was rescheduled from today to March. Looking for recommendations for services that might be viable for this. [more inside]
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:56 AM PST - 13 comments

I have two EU covid vaccine certificates from two different countries. I will be traveling soon, and my country of residence has a travel app that (I think) may not let me scan them to generate a QR code for re-entry. I'm not sure if/how I can reconcile this easily. [more inside]
posted by jpziller at 11:44 AM PST - 8 comments

If I were to replace my smartphone with a cellular smartwatch and camera, what camera and software/service would be the best replacement for the phone? By that I mean: it quickly takes photos, fits neatly in my pocket, syncs photos to a computer or cloud service automatically via wifi, and automatically does some processing for quality in the photo software. The goal would be to capture the same everyday things that phone cameras are good at and not have a new job processing and editing photos. Googling has failed me; apologies if the answer is obvious.
posted by michaelh at 10:33 AM PST - 8 comments

Like a lot of people with energy-vampire jobs, I get home from work and collapse into a pile on the couch and then arise, zombie-like, six hours later to get into bed. This is...bad, and has gotten much, much worse now that there aren't weeknight social events or dinners out that require me to put on pants and do the thing. In covid times, when there are few reasons to leave the house, how do you structure your non-work hours? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 10:11 AM PST - 39 comments

Asking for a friend who has an old house with drop ceilings and tiles that probably contain asbestos. They can be lifted out of the grid. How risky is removing them, if the tiles are intact? Does a professional need to do it in case a tile breaks, and if one does, how do they ensure that asbestos doesn't stay in the air?
posted by pinochiette at 10:10 AM PST - 5 comments

I haven't used my laptop (HP running Win10) for maybe 2 to 3 months. Now it can't find my network. [more inside]
posted by jtexman1 at 9:26 AM PST - 6 comments

I'd like to make a donation to a good leukaemia charity or research foundation of some sort. Is anyone familiar with one that does good work? [more inside]
posted by cultureclash82 at 9:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a new Dell laptop for work. I do TEAMS meetings most of the day in a small room that doesn’t have a window but does have over head lighting, a ring light and an additional lamp. The lighting is consistent and was fine on calls with my old laptop. I looked like a person sitting in an room with decent if not particularly amazing lighting. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 8:14 AM PST - 6 comments

What's it like living in a tourism-focused town? I imagine there must be good points (access to amenities that a non-tourist town of that size couldn't support?) along with the bad stuff. [more inside]
posted by moonmilk at 7:12 AM PST - 32 comments

I am interested in the nuts and bolts of an income-driven plan on an LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Program). [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:11 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm an immigrant who has lived in a Western country for decades. Should I move back to my home country? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 6:55 AM PST - 12 comments

One of my neighbors left an anonymous note in my mailbox last Fall. Since I live on a dead-end street, I responded by writing a note of my own and leaving it in each of the 11 other mailboxes. The reason & sender of the note was revealed to me shortly thereafter & then I started finding tobacco chewers trash in my yard. I've been bagging it & tagging it & am wondering what folks here think about taking it to the cops. [more inside]
posted by bricksNmortar at 6:46 AM PST - 19 comments

As part of the usual dog-and-pony show, we worker bees are, once again, being forced to jump through the self-assessment hoop to justify our continued existence (and potential bumps in compensation) to our employer. How are people completing these things these days? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:55 AM PST - 11 comments

No one to fill or cover for me. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 5:48 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for more songs like the Three Trapped Tiger's song: 1. It doesn't have to be metal vs. soothing, it can be any song that repeatedly transitions back and forth between two different moods, one relatively loud and the other relatively much more quiet. The song just needs to have at least two separate instances of each mood. Thanks in advance! :)
posted by ch3cooh at 11:39 PM PST - 30 comments

At our last visit, our vet noticed that our awesome, 8 year old sled dog mutt was developing some arthritis in his wrists. She suggested we try joint supplements but wasn’t really more specific. Maybe you can be? [more inside]
posted by charmedimsure at 10:30 PM PST - 14 comments

I grew up in India so I’m familiar with the the interior decor of the poor and lower middle classes. I’ve noticed from YouTube videos of places as varied as Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, that there is a similar aesthetic in those homes. I’m referring especially to brightly colored walls and bright, boldly patterned bedsheets and upholstery. Where did this aesthetic come from? [more inside]
posted by redlines at 10:23 PM PST - 29 comments

At odds with my co-parent over inviting family over for my son's first birthday. [more inside]
posted by CosmicSeeker42 at 8:47 PM PST - 23 comments

The manager that I work with is giving me the cold shoulder. Every time I try to talk to him, he pretends that I'm not there. If I need help finding something, he'll just sit there and says he doesn't know. He's only acting like this around me- he talks to everyone else in our department. Snowflakes inside... [more inside]
posted by lawgirl at 6:06 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm male, but I think that gendered clothing is stupid generally. And I really don't understand the sizing of gendered "women's" clothing. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:16 PM PST - 28 comments

A relative had a name change done and it is not public record because the change was done for her safety in regards to a dangerous person that was in her life. She was recently hired at Company "Y" but as it turns out- the heads of Company "Y" keep in touch with the heads of Company "Z"- which was where she interned several years ago. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 4:24 PM PST - 11 comments

But there are so many sellers. I went to the Christo website but prints are not available there. Where, who is dealing in good reproductions? I want to encourage good work, not shoddy.
posted by ebesan at 4:00 PM PST - 0 comments

My 9-year old has a big needle phobia and so can't get the COVID vaccine (or any vaccine). So I've been looking into getting a therapist for her, which is all kinds of fun (/s). [more inside]
posted by foxjacket at 3:44 PM PST - 18 comments

I have a friend who enjoys copy editing and who is looking at the UC SD 1 year online certification to open doors as well as to provide a solid foundation. Tell me what you think about this. Yes, this is a pretty open inquiry, but interested in reactions.
posted by bullatony at 1:34 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm trying to replace my existing physical-remote color LED light bulb setup with something higher quality. Help? [more inside]
posted by ghostbikes at 1:27 PM PST - 1 comment

I no longer live anywhere near a legitimate New Mexican restaurant. I desperately would like to learn how to make the papas of my youth. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 1:23 PM PST - 4 comments

We are moving to Texas later this year and I want to use some of the proceeds of our home sales in our current state to start 529s there for our kiddos. But I am OVERWHELMED with the information. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 1:12 PM PST - 7 comments

Suggestions for video games where the sole purpose is to restore order to a messy place? [more inside]
posted by moons in june at 1:03 PM PST - 19 comments

I’m looking for novels of people moving to/living in continental European cities (London and New York work too), navigating relationships, work, and so on. Think a literary, nuanced version of Emily in Paris. My city is essentially in lockdown so I cannot do much at the moment and would love recommendations.
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 12:35 PM PST - 25 comments

I just bought a new iphone 13 running iOS 15.2.1 on the ATT network. Because it's a new phone, many of my apps are requiring a new round of two-factor authentication. But something is blocking the authentication texts. I get regular texts. Calls to both Apple and ATT result in each one blaming the other. Help! [more inside]
posted by overhauser at 10:24 AM PST - 11 comments

Are you aware of a particularly cool poster representing the Circle of Fifths? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 9:22 AM PST - 4 comments

Other than Desert Island Discworld. Specific things I'm looking for below. [more inside]
posted by firechicago at 9:10 AM PST - 5 comments

These are difficult times, everywhere. The bad news feels all-consuming and inevitable. What gives you hope for the future? How are you staying hopeful? [more inside]
posted by summerteeth at 8:55 AM PST - 23 comments

So I discovered that Calvin Klien Jean's has boys dress shirts XL 18-20 fit me absolutely perfectly. Can you recommend other brands dress shirts that will too? Bonus points if you find a brand with a significant range of clothes in that size. [more inside]
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:49 AM PST - 3 comments

A friend in Toronto is a healthcare worker and is beyond exhausted. This is not a situation where a nice cup of tea and a hot bath will make it all better. I'd like to do something to lighten the load and was thinking meal delivery might help (not the kind they would need to cook, just reheat) but I'm not located there and don't know what service would be healthy and flavourful for someone with an adventurous palate. [more inside]
posted by bighappyhairydog at 8:24 AM PST - 9 comments

I've largely unplugged from social media over the past year. This has been mostly good, but I am trying to rebuild how I get my news (used to be Twitter). [more inside]
posted by alsoran at 8:20 AM PST - 10 comments

Is there a good place to find news and updates that inform people in the USA/western/liberal bubble about how other countries are doing? I'm particularly interested in how other cultures might have different conceptions, different responses to, and different outcomes for: (A) COVID (B) housing and homelessness (C) mental health (D) the economy, small businesses, and workers rights (E) quality of life (F) racial equity (G) pragmatism and resiliency [more inside]
posted by rebent at 7:37 AM PST - 3 comments

My partner and I will be relocating from the Netherlands to the USA in 1 to 2 years for work reasons. We will stay in the USA for about 3-5 years. What steps can I take now to make this process easier? If you're an expat, what did you wish you had known/done before your move? [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 6:52 AM PST - 27 comments

To balance maintaining a healthy weight and the pleasure I get from food, I'm wondering about the wisdom of following a "4 big feasts a year" type strategy. So, wondering if, at some point, excess calories will stop being stored as fat by your body. Any other harmful effects of occasional feast?
posted by Jon44 at 6:35 AM PST - 5 comments

Losing hope that it exists, but I am seeking a cordless/battery-operated or rechargeable lamp according to these parameters. [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 3:34 AM PST - 12 comments

I've always loved my niece, but the older she gets the more everyone is starting to say "she's just like you!"  If I tell you what I'm like can you tell me what books she'll like? [more inside]
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 2:52 AM PST - 14 comments

Thank you in advance! Friend is into mycelium themed horror. Poe or Lovecraft wrote about a craggy village by the ocean (of course) that was being routed by a massive-and-sentient root or mushroom network. It's been so long I can't remember the name! Extended story detail inside. [more inside]
posted by muppetkarma at 1:59 AM PST - 6 comments

So 6 months or so ago, my Radeon 6850 card seemed to have died. Finally got a replacement. Now I have this card. At the windows boot up, get two large green vertical bands on screen. Once windows boots I get nothing. So what to do with it? Garbage? Give to the local repair guy? Is there anything about this busted card that has value to anyone?
posted by Windopaene at 9:17 PM PST - 3 comments

I buy gallons of distilled water for houseplant purposes. Lately I haven't been able to find it at any of the Hy-Vees in town (and the shelves appear to have stopped being tagged for it). I was at another one today and asked customer service, and that person said they stopped carrying it (I'm not sure if that was true or a way to get me to go away). If it is true, why, and is this a broader change than just my Hy-Vees? [more inside]
posted by vegartanipla at 8:03 PM PST - 19 comments

I live in Australia, where it is summer and we've been on and off in lockdown for almost two years. Kids are still unvaccinated (thanks slow government rollout!) and I'm desperate for any new ideas of things we can do that are reasonably safe (i.e., outdoors) and do not involve sitting around the house. [more inside]
posted by contrapositive at 7:48 PM PST - 24 comments

My five-year-old got his first dose over the Christmas break and is not yet eligible for his second dose. School re-opens on Monday and I am terrified. In this 'pandemic of the unvaccinated' how protected will he be as a half-vaccinated person? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 6:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Please help me navigate the dynamics with my family and unprocessed grief from my childhood. Logically I keep concluding that I should cut ties with my family, but emotionally I can't bring myself to do it. [more inside]
posted by PercussivePaul at 2:32 PM PST - 21 comments

I went through an arthroscopic surgery in early 2021 to repair slight damage to labrum and reshape bone of both the femur and pelvis in the hip joint. Months later I am having daily muscle tightness and pain and don't know how to start advocating for myself more directly or how normal this pain even is. [more inside]
posted by PaulaSchultz at 12:56 PM PST - 6 comments

Do you have an especially thorough understanding of optics? My new progressive lenses supposedly have the same distance prescription as my old ones. The optician insists they're the same. They are not the same. [more inside]
posted by jon1270 at 12:47 PM PST - 13 comments

I think all the time about having some kind of organizer or assistant to help with tasks that I find really difficult (as a person with a cognitively demanding job and ADHD). But I also have a paralysis of choice and struggle to take even small steps towards this. I want to spend money to save time and improve my life. Can you help me, with clear and simple steps, figure out how to get this to happen? [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 11:27 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm a big fan of British comedian Stewart Lee, and have watched many of his videos on Youtube. There's a weird meme in the comments sections of people writing endless variations of "Stewart Lee has let himself go", usually (apparently) having something to do with increasingly unlikely similarities and comparisons to other people and/or things (Ex: "Louis van Gaal, the former manager of Manchester United and AZ Alkmaar, has really let himself go.") What is this about? Can someone explain it and put my excessively curious mind at rest? Thank you!
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 11:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I love reading about the practicalities and experience of running physical stores, restaurants, etc. and would love your favourite articles or books written by people who have done so. [more inside]
posted by fabius at 10:53 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm watching Bonus Family on Netflix. The show is set in Sweden and all of the houses have curtains in the interior doorways. Surprisingly I cannot find any information about this custom online. Is this a Swedish thing? A Nordic thing? They seem to change pretty often on the show--is that something people do, like seasonally? Are they ever pulled closed? The ones on the show are mostly from lightweight fabric so they seem to be purely decorative and not for stopping drafts. Do you only have them on doorless doorways or also on doorways with wooden doors? Tell me everything you know about door curtains, please!
posted by HotToddy at 9:01 AM PST - 14 comments

I just got a truly baffling email, and I would love for you all to tell me what this is! It appears to be an order (that I didn't place) with no company name, but that actually contains my full name and address in the text. It's for a not insubstantial amount of money, and it has me freaked out a bit. [more inside]
posted by lysimache at 8:38 AM PST - 14 comments

My Google-fu is failing me on this. I've found many articles for laymen saying that the cosmic microwave background radiation can be used to date the universe, and I've found the occasional math-heavy paper or Wikipedia article assuming that I already know how the CMB is used to date the universe. The explanation I can't seem to find is the one in the middle: Explain to a first semester physics or chemistry student how the CMB is used to find the age of the universe. [more inside]
posted by clawsoon at 8:08 AM PST - 24 comments

Can anyone identify an old episode of TAL with the theme of 'learning from mistakes'? I have searched their website, and googled, using terms like 'regrets' or 'mistakes,' but this episode was more nuanced - how making a big mistake and living with recognition of it can shape someone's life for the better over time. One part featured a kid who had betrayed a friend?
posted by mmiddle at 6:20 AM PST - 4 comments

I foolishly ordered a suspiciously low-priced, suspiciously in-stock pair of Euro-made shoes on this site, but realized afterwards that a lot of elements look scammy and fake. When I opened a dispute with Paypal, the seller sent a tracking link to this shipping site, which... also looks fake? How can I tell for sure, and how do I then demonstrate that to PayPal? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 5:14 AM PST - 13 comments

I left some potted daffodils outside on my terrace and to my surprise they're sprouting. (I am pretty ignorant about plants). There are green shoots several centimetres long! Temperatures in the last weeks have varied between -5 degrees Centigrade (at night) and +10 degrees, with occasional light snowfall. There could be colder spells coming, though. What do I do with them? Will it kill them to stay outside? Do I bring them into the unseasonally warm apartment?
posted by Omnomnom at 4:25 AM PST - 7 comments

Please trust me when I say that my partner is not a threat to me - I am a large male and they are small female and we had an altercation and a mark was left on me. They were taken into custody tonight because I was worried they might harm themselves and called the cops. Cops saw the mark on me and arrested them. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:49 AM PST - 15 comments

I am not religious or spiritual, but I find it interesting. I don't understand how prayer is supposed to work. I do understand that praying can be a way to help you get your thoughts centered, and that expressing gratitude can be good for your mood. What I don't understand is the idea that praying for something might cause that thing to happen, that wouldn't've happened if you didn't pray. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:49 AM PST - 34 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for online school for my 8th grade daughter. She is experiencing extreme depression and anxiety, and has been hospitalized twice since September, though is doing a bit better now and is back in normal school. However, she is having a lot of trouble making it to her normal school and has requested to try online school. Any questions for me can be sent to mfanon42@outlook.com Thanks for your help Mefites.
posted by anonymous at 1:49 AM PST - 6 comments

Please help me find an excellent blackout curtain for my doorway! [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 11:32 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm having a hard time finding replacement LED MR16 (type) GU10 (base) 2700K (color temp) 90+ CRI lightbulbs compatible with the Diva DVCL-153P dimmer. I'm in California so it needs to comply with the title 20 regulations as well. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 6:23 PM PST - 4 comments

Are there multi-outlets that can be attached to outlets using top and bottom screws instead of using a central screw? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 3:50 PM PST - 2 comments

Any idea which song is playing in Episode 647 of This American Life? [more inside]
posted by aquamvidam at 3:49 PM PST - 2 comments

I've been desperately trying to get access to my deceased husband's google account (gmail, Drive, etc.) for the past few months. I filled out the requisite form on Google's site, uploaded the needed docs, and received a reply that the account didn't exist. It's complicated, but he basically had an email domain he was forwarding to another gmail address. In any case, I replied with the actual gmail address. That was 3 months ago. I've heard nothing since. [more inside]
posted by firemonkey at 3:24 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm 32, and I've had health issues since I was 21. I'm running out of steam. How can I stay hopeful and not give up when I have nothing left. [more inside]
posted by ygmiaa at 3:22 PM PST - 15 comments

I have two nearly identical folders of files on my Windows 10 PC. I want them copied to a single location using the most recent version of each file (in cases where there are differences). How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 2:21 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm 36 and because of various reasons [economy, covid, climate change, take your pick], it seems increasingly unlikely I will have children, no matter how much I desire them. I'm interested in hearing how other people conquered their own feelings of longing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:10 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a fear/intense dislike of being or feeling “wrong” or “bad.” I would like to temper this and live more calmly. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:10 PM PST - 9 comments

My partner (late 30s) and I have been tryin to sort out his dental situation, which is not great, due to a mixture of poverty, neglect, etc. resulting in pain, tooth loss, cosmetic issues. Over the past year and change, he's pushed past the shame to start dealing with it, yay! I asked a neighbor (a dentist, who we are no longer in contact with) to suggest some options for who he should talk to, and he referred us to the top Prosthodontic dentist in town. We met with her and she did a great, thorough evaluation of the situation and suggested a realistic path forward with her referrals. She doesn't take insurance at all, but the eval was a fair price. We were able to do step one before money and time (and COVID!) became and issue. We REALLY need to get back to addressing this, as it has become worse for my partner. What now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:10 PM PST - 4 comments

Does this book ring a bell? I am searching for an illustrated/graphic memoir about the breakdown of a marriage. The husband is cheating with his personal trainer or running partner. [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 1:06 PM PST - 2 comments

How does it work to switch from a gas to an induction cooktop? Questions inside. [more inside]
posted by redondo77 at 12:48 PM PST - 10 comments

Do you have any habits or rituals for starting work in the morning? Things that help your mind focus and get the ball rolling?
posted by roaring beast at 11:35 AM PST - 19 comments

I can't picture how you would get a wagon or sleigh both up and down a big hill. How do they do it? [more inside]
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:51 AM PST - 16 comments

I just listened to an audiobook of the "Dunwich Horror" from Lovecraft and it had some outstanding audio design, especially the monster sounds of Yog-Sothoth. What are your favourite horror monster garglings / ramblings / rendings / moanings / incantations / manglings etc., intelligible or not?
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 10:44 AM PST - 10 comments

We have a very old, ginormous Whirlpool freezer in the basement. From the stylings and pink interior, I would have to guess 1960's or early '70s, but I'm not sure. It was in the house when we purchased it. The house was built in 1967. Location is Western Canada. I have questions. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 10:09 AM PST - 7 comments

Help me find a sewing pattern for a full-length cloak. [more inside]
posted by archimago at 10:04 AM PST - 7 comments

What book did I read that featured Louisa May Alcott's house in Concord, Massachusetts? [more inside]
posted by hydra77 at 9:44 AM PST - 4 comments

I might be the victim of hacking. What to do? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:41 AM PST - 9 comments

I have had lifelong sleep issues and I'd really like to get them in hand. I'd like to try CBT-I but because of my location, various complicated personal factors, and COVID, I'd like to do it remotely. When I look online all I can find are apps and programs not therapists who do this work remotely. What should my next steps be? [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 9:35 AM PST - 5 comments

In a few months I'll be moving from the east coast to the west coast (Boston to Portland OR) What do I need to think about? [more inside]
posted by Calicatt at 9:25 AM PST - 20 comments

In the real world, human eyes shift focus when they move between looking at something close and something far away. Is there any image-generating technology that can mimic this real-world requirement, requiring your eyes to distance-focus on distant virtual objects and close-focus on near virtual objects? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 9:23 AM PST - 5 comments

Traveling to Costa Rica in early February with my fully vaxxed/boosted mom. Help us decide if this is crazy, or will probably be OK. [more inside]
posted by quantum at 9:15 AM PST - 4 comments

If you're on trial and being held in jail during the trial, and the jury finds you not guilty, do you just get up from the defense table in the courtroom and, like, walk away? Or do they put you back into handcuffs and take you back to jail for some amount of time? Or do you go back to jail to get processed but NOT in handcuffs? How does it work?
posted by mccxxiii at 9:07 AM PST - 5 comments

I'd like to read page-turners (mysteries, thrillers, spy novels) where older women play important strategic roles. I'd love a novel starring Dorothy Sayer's Miss Climpson and her colleagues in the typing agency. Or a heist executed by a ring of 50-something jewel thieves. Anything where women are people rather than A Lady - in leading roles without being honey-pots. Give me your crone-island detective novels please!
posted by jebs at 8:45 AM PST - 21 comments

A relative designs greeting/holiday cards as a hobby and wants to start selling them online. Google unearths suggestions such as this. But if you have similar experience what's your favorite method?
posted by mono blanco at 8:30 AM PST - 4 comments

I did post a question before but I have since gathered my thoughts and want to post one more question. We are in our late twenties and got engaged in December, I wasn’t expecting him to propose at all. Since the proposal, for the first week I was thrilled, but since have been having doubts and concerned, however I always have a lot of anxiety in relationships. Does it seem like we continue with the engagement in marriage? [more inside]
posted by anon1129 at 8:16 AM PST - 54 comments

Readers of French language material: where do you find new books? Fiction, travel, essays sought. No mass-market stuff please. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 8:11 AM PST - 2 comments

I had this music magazine (here in the UK) many years ago (certainly before 2008) which had a sample CD on the front. The CD (ambient, dancey kinda music) was really really good and i've managed to lose it. I can't even remember the name of the magazine, but I do remember 3 of the songs on the CD.... [more inside]
posted by redskythinking at 7:52 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I find a therapist who will take my (42F) sensory and social overwhelm seriously? I don't care if they're an "autism specialist" (the word seems accurate to me, but I'm not diagnosed, I hear getting diagnosed is hard, and I don't need a diagnosis or label). But I do want them to believe me even though I look normal. [more inside]
posted by flexible-footwear figurine at 7:18 AM PST - 11 comments

I want more ideas for topping a bowl of polenta, please and thank you. [more inside]
posted by the primroses were over at 7:01 AM PST - 21 comments

What face mask works best while exercising? Especially while doing cardio. [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 6:54 AM PST - 10 comments

On kitchen cabinets, but also on small electronic equipment or little toolboxes you will find a latch that you push to open. You press, it depresses and then springs back into the open position. To close it you press it again, and you feel it latch. [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 6:30 AM PST - 3 comments

My partner and I are planning on moving, but we want to move to different places. Not sure how to solve this! [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 6:14 AM PST - 12 comments

Have you successfully used marijuana to manage pain? Do tell! [more inside]
posted by thelasttango at 2:41 AM PST - 10 comments

A key element of all my jobs to date has been managing up. It's getting harder and harder. What are some ways to do this effectively, without sending my anxiety through the roof? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:39 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm relocating to the South Bay/Peninsula of the SF Bay Area, and I'd like to be able to walk to a Caltrain station and to a pedestrian trail. Ideally I could rent a place where I would not have to cross a four-lane highway and/or fast-moving traffic to get to either. Are there any neighborhoods near Caltrain stations that would satisfy these criteria? So far, it looks like the Mountain View Caltrain is close to the Stevens Creek Trail. Anything else (or thoughts on the Stevens Creek Trail's safety/walkability?)
posted by rogerroger at 9:35 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a male cat who is, um... maybe 13-15 years old, who is fairly overweight and is very sedentary. And I'm starting to think his sedentary state is because his front joints hurt when he walks. mr. hippybear says he doesn't see it, but I spend more time with him, and he seems to be really moving differently and not very happy about it. I'd like to know how to be more clear if he is in pain, or not, and what I can do about it to help (food additives, OTC medications) that might help before restoring to a vet visit. [more inside]
posted by hippybear at 9:15 PM PST - 30 comments

Do you have real-estate dreams? I do, and they are very similar... [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:39 PM PST - 36 comments

I've now seen a few times the idea that once you answer one question, you waive your right not to self-incriminate. (E.g. it is a plot point in Miss Sloane.) This seems contrary to the language of the Fifth Amendment, but I am not a lawyer. Is this accurate? What are the actual parameters?
posted by musofire at 5:14 PM PST - 8 comments

We're recently returned to California, from Scotland. Going from a (sorta functional) welfare state to a (very much not functional, heavily-armed) nation in a state in a full-blown housing crisis is jarring and disorienting, and the upsides of being closer to friends and family are covid-constrained, though we are beginning to reconnect. It's easy to feel quite alone even though we have a decent extended network in principle. Can readers recommend strategies (cognitive, social, or practical) for returning expats coming to grips with the US again in useful and sustaining ways, especially in this period?
posted by SandCounty at 5:04 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for 'Cosmic Cowboy' jams that sits somewhere between psychedelia and country/folk/americana. [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 4:01 PM PST - 33 comments

I am looking for the best way to play video from my M1 iMac to my 4K TV. I am thinking of an Apple TV or Chromecast to stream content over, but I'm also thinking of an external drive/media player. [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 2:58 PM PST - 11 comments

I had a dream with a noted recognized man and visionary I hugely admire. I never knew him and instead became aware of him through his books, inventions, influence and artifacts. His recognition came to him in the last 25 years of his life and passed away at age 88. [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 2:50 PM PST - 10 comments

My 5yo son's class has to quarantine. He's never had a PCR test. He is vaccinated (x2) and the school isn't requiring a PCR test for him to return after 5 days of quarantine, but a time will come when my child needs the PCR test. He is very resistant. What are my options besides the use of force/restraint, other than what I've already tried? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 2:15 PM PST - 28 comments

Some of my mother's glass bowls have been broken recently (not by her, she'd be quick to add). She's looking to purchase some replacements. They are 14cm in diameter. Must be available for purchase in Canada.
posted by sardonyx at 2:12 PM PST - 11 comments

Office Space question: Since the pandemic started, the number of meetings over the course of my workday has begun to feel out of control. Is it actually, though? Or do I just need to get my shit together? [more inside]
posted by windbox at 2:12 PM PST - 19 comments

So, a relative of mine had an accident and was injured badly enough to go to the ER. They ended up in the hospital for a few days, due to age and complications. I was unable to go help (screw you, omicron), but the relative who was there to help talks about how great the nursing staff was. We are thinking of getting them something -- probably chocolate or cookies. [more inside]
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:06 PM PST - 8 comments

Warning: I barely remember this book. In the 90s I read a paperback about a boy at summer camp. I don’t remember any plot, except that the boy was scared of a corpse (or maybe zombie) in the lake. I don’t remember if there really was something in the lake or if it was just a legend. The paperback was from the 80s or 90s. I think the cover was predominantly blue.
posted by Monochrome at 1:44 PM PST - 6 comments

I’d like to buy an inexpensive ($150 max), probably used, exercise bike as a way to do some cardio when it’s too icy or cold out to go running. Looking for some advice since I’ve only used one a handful of times at a gym. [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:32 PM PST - 10 comments

I wind up posting articles here or on social media that are restricted to subscribers and behind paywalls more often than I'd like. Is there an easy tool that will tell me whether or not some random person in another country with no subscription or affiliation is likely to be able to read something? Some search engine hack? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 1:23 PM PST - 4 comments

With news that the gov't is considering providing high-quality masks and at-home tests for its citizens, what are the logistics for making this happen? [more inside]
posted by blackjack514 at 1:00 PM PST - 13 comments

I've had a few folks ask me about cryptocurrency and blockchain. I have a reasonable understanding of the concepts involved, but I don't understand them so well that I can easily explain. I thought about finding a nice, short explainer video, but my search-engine-fu has failed me. Any recommendations?
posted by braveterry at 12:40 PM PST - 8 comments

My last decade+ of iPhones have been "upgraded" or paid for monthly through T-mobile when one died/was stolen. Now I want to actually pay cash money for a new one. Please walk me through this. [more inside]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 11:43 AM PST - 19 comments

My web hosting service is imposing email storage limits, is this normal, and what solutions are there? [more inside]
posted by markblasco at 10:30 AM PST - 5 comments

What's the best knock-off Bluetooth speaker on AliExpress? Call it a budget of under $50 all told. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM PST - 6 comments

I've flown off the handle with this a few times already, it has caused to do hurtful things to people I like. I don't want to keep doing this and I don't want my personal flaws to get out of control and damage other people. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 9:47 AM PST - 26 comments

When I’m using my computer devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone) I lose all sense of time and sit too long. I limit internet access with Freedom, which works on all Apple platforms as well as Windows & Android. For limiting hardware access, I only have a macOS solution. Dejal Software’s Time Out blanks the screen and locks out the keyboard on my schedule, and survives a reboot. I want this kind of hardware limit for iOS 15. [more inside]
posted by Jesse the K at 9:40 AM PST - 3 comments

The back deck of our house came with this fixture, which I want to replace. There are no screws other than the ones that hold on the metal and glass dome cover. It will not pivot or shift to be removed, even with substantial torque clockwise, counterclockwise, up, down, left or right. The fixture is a single unit, there's not a plate that can be turned or removed. I'm absolutely stumped. There doesn't appear to be caulk around the edges holding it on but a waterproof gasket of some sort. Any guidance?
posted by eschatfische at 9:22 AM PST - 7 comments

Part of my front bumper is missing. Got an initial estimate for $3000 to fix, which is possibly more than the car is worth. What other options should I consider for repair or replacement? [more inside]
posted by girlmightlive at 8:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a new job and I think I won't want to do it for long. Should I quit now or later? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:36 AM PST - 5 comments

I have suffered from chronic migraines for seven years. I am on a daily oral preventative, a monthly injectable, I have an abortive medication and as needed medications for the side effects. I have had a migraine since Sunday night, my neurologist prescribed a six day course of steroids to break the migraine. I’m on day two of the steroid and I have had no relief. Questions about how to stay positive, be resilient, and advocate for yourself when your brain is not working. [more inside]
posted by OsoMeaty at 8:07 AM PST - 12 comments

I've got a new Oculus Quest 2 and I'm toying with the idea of building some of my own apps/games/experiences. What are the tools I should use, and what are the best resources for learning to use them? [more inside]
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:39 AM PST - 2 comments

I am interested in learning about strategies work best to achieve success in college for people with ADHD. What works to manage time? Master large amounts of factual material? Write papers? Prepare for presentations? Succeed with group projects? Any individual thoughts would be appreciated, as well as recommendations of insightful books and videos.
posted by mortaddams at 7:29 AM PST - 7 comments

Headed to Palm Springs and would like to drive to Joshua Tree tomorrow. I have a wife and two tweens in tow. Any suggestions on hike or drives we should take while we are out there. Any pro tips? We have the entire day.
posted by jasondigitized at 7:19 AM PST - 9 comments

In an effort to ween myself off of Amazon in 2022, I'd like to shop from more B Corps. Setting aside some of the shortfalls of the certification, what are some of your favorite to shop from?
posted by po822000 at 7:15 AM PST - 13 comments

Which is better --Chromebook or iPad (plus keyboard) to build blackboard courses? [more inside]
posted by aetg at 6:02 AM PST - 2 comments

Favorite current* Dream Pop? [more inside]
posted by signal at 6:01 AM PST - 11 comments

What experiences - eg nice bath, cool craft project, bizarre sensation - can I purchase for under 75 dollars? [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 5:42 AM PST - 23 comments

What I observe is that after going from a steam room to a cold locker room, I get chilled within a minute, but after leaving a sauna, my body feels warm for a few hours. Just curious on the physics behind this (perhaps just the fact that sauna's are hotter). [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 5:30 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to watch some films or TV shows that include a lot of characters speaking Hindi. I enjoy the big-budget song-and-dance you get in fictional Bollywood blowouts, but I often dislike the romance plots because the men treat women so condescendingly. Like, right now, I'm in the middle of watching Kal Ho Naa Ho and started yelling at the screen when Khan's character got all "you need to learn to smile" at the female lead. So can you recommend some alternatives? [more inside]
posted by brainwane at 5:12 AM PST - 20 comments

I am trying to organize my thoughts around hospitalization rates as anti-vaxxers seem to be using them as big ol' GOTCHA! talking points. This has been confusing for me so I thought I'd try to sort it out. I think I have it but I'd like to know if I am way off in my math & thought process. [more inside]
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 5:00 AM PST - 16 comments

I'd like to know everything about early 1980's raves, please. (Or proto-raves, I guess? Electronic music dance parties? Whatever the cutting edge underground parties were?) Specifically in California, but all information and resources are useful. [more inside]
posted by Jacen at 4:25 AM PST - 6 comments

I want to make old-style heavy-duty wooden storage crates, reinforced by metal straps, like these ones. I believe what I want is tin or galvanized tin metal, but I'm not totally sure. I want it to be ~1/2" wide, easy to cut, and not have holes in it already. Steel seems too difficult to work with. Why can't I find this??? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 1:28 AM PST - 17 comments

Character A makes some kind of error and says something like, "I hope you don't think any less of me." Character B (who doesn't particularly like A) replies, "My opinion of you hasn't diminished at all." I assume this was in a movie or TV show. Ring any bells? [more inside]
posted by mpark at 11:32 PM PST - 17 comments

Will explain what I remember within, but it was basically discussing some popular definitions of games and how that relates to visual novels, and then relating it to a particular gay erotic visual novel [more inside]
posted by wooh at 9:49 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm supposed to go to the bar mitzvah of a friend's son in a couple of weeks. I think this is a really, really bad idea. Help me figure out how to handle this. [more inside]
posted by holborne at 9:24 PM PST - 18 comments

Best US cities to spend a long weekend? [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 7:31 PM PST - 29 comments

During these last 3 years there have been many 'facts' about COVID that have been adjusted as we've gained information/come out of denial/tried new things, etc. I'm looking for an article that looks back at some of the various claims and assumptions that were made - especially early in the pandemic, and evaluates them now. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 6:37 PM PST - 2 comments

I have struggled professionally because I have excellent skills combined with mental health issues that can make living up to expectations difficult to impossible. After crashing and burning at my last/only full time position, I have been freelancing and gradually built this up into a pretty good work-from-home business. I've never been more stable than I am now…but my newfound success has led to more opportunities and, now that I am potentially going to be offered a job that is objectively an excellent opportunity, I am beanplating about it. Help! [more inside]
posted by picardythird at 5:40 PM PST - 17 comments

My sweet girl has head tilt and I don’t know what to do. [more inside]
posted by sc114 at 5:07 PM PST - 6 comments

I know, I have so many recipe questions, but it's that time of year. I need to make a birthday cake for someone who was recently rhapsodizing about memories of pound cake he ate at the Chock Full of Nuts locations. I want to make that pound cake for his birthday. I have looked and I can't find many mentions of this cake, and even more challenging, no recipes for it. Help?
posted by papergirl at 4:49 PM PST - 3 comments

I need a car for 28 days. I want to start and stop in different states. I'd like to spend less than $2k. [more inside]
posted by jander03 at 4:43 PM PST - 15 comments

I just realized that my kid is "graduating" 8th grade in just 5 months. Do normal people have graduation parties for the 8th grade with their families/friends? It feels a little special since he's been K-8 at the same school, but I don't know if parties are usual. [more inside]
posted by beccaj at 3:50 PM PST - 21 comments

... the pixel 4 ain't it. What are my alternatives? [more inside]
posted by Dashy at 2:16 PM PST - 17 comments

Karaoke mega-hits include old songs like Don’t Stop Believing and Sweet Caroline. But what are the new ones? [more inside]
posted by kerf at 2:14 PM PST - 12 comments

I came across this blurb about a nootropic drink used by Dr. Rhonda Patrick, and would like to try it, but I have no idea what amounts of the ingredients to use. Has anyone tried it or have suggestions on how to make? [more inside]
posted by Mikey51 at 2:04 PM PST - 3 comments

Spouse and I are traveling in an unfamiliar and sparsely populated (but generally safe) area for the next twelve days. I have had trust issues since childhood. My mind is going into overdrive, thinking up scenarios like "What if he gets angry and leaves me at a reststop?" [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:56 PM PST - 28 comments

I am settled in my life here, but an opportunity presents. If you've been in this situation, how did you decide what to do? [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 1:29 PM PST - 19 comments

I can't risk unnecessary exposure to covid, but my hip is messed up and I need to get it unmessed in order to be able to exercise and thereby not lose my entire mind. I've seen physical therapists before and know what they've told me about my hip. Now I need more guidance. Are there physical therapists that will do a telehealth consultation? My insurance definitely won't cover this, so I'm willing to pay out of pocket.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:17 PM PST - 5 comments

How on earth does someone newly pregnant survive pregnancy and childbirth and the fourth trimester these days, with *gestures generally at the whole planet* going on?? Especially with brain weasels? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:55 PM PST - 37 comments

I would like to copy EVERYTHING (emails, Slides presentations, documents, etc.) from one Gmail account to another Gmail account. I seem only to be able to SHARE this stuff, though, not COPY it, and copying it is what I'd like to do. [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:59 AM PST - 12 comments

Complication: K-12 school edition! I teach at a residential school. A student with whom I spent a significant amount of time yesterday, closer than 3 feet apart, most of the time both of us masked but at one point only myself masked, just learned that a family member they were living with up until Sunday tested positive and is actively sick with Covid. Am I at risk? [more inside]
posted by nancynickerson at 10:59 AM PST - 13 comments

My very good friend has an older ('90's) JennAir oven. A bad repairman came and told her it couldn't be fixed because the part wasn't available. Was he right, or just a dick (he was a dick, that much is sure) and it can be fixed. [more inside]
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 10:54 AM PST - 13 comments

As above! Book needs to be cc0. That page across from the title page needs to have some verbiage. Book is a USA publication. What should the text say exactly?
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 10:25 AM PST - 4 comments

A friend is staying in Europe during Covid, and her car's registration was lapsed, the car is in impound, and I am tasked with selling it to the impound lot. Am I missing any considerations here? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 9:58 AM PST - 6 comments

My very small, very tech-illiterate team is migrating from Google Drive to Teams/Sharepoint. I have a very basic question that I can't seem to Google regarding how to prepare our files for migration, and what happens in Microsoft Teams and Sharepoint once our files are moved over. Essentially, I'm wondering if I need to set up our Teams structure before moving the files, or if I can dump them all into Sharepoint and move what we need later? [more inside]
posted by a.steele at 9:43 AM PST - 6 comments

I am going to owe 5 figures in U.S. income taxes this year. Can I make this work for me? [more inside]
posted by catesbie at 8:55 AM PST - 15 comments

Essentially I got held up doing the testing and had to rush or miss my flight. As such I didn't get to apply for the VAT refund on a cellphone I had to buy when one was stolen (long story). Any chance or way to get that money back now that I'm in the states? Chilean embassy maybe? And if not, can I get it when I go back and how long do I have?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:01 AM PST - 0 comments

I've been studying Latin for the past couple of years, and am planning to continue doing so. I'm slowly reaching the point where I can more-or-less read original texts. It recently struck me that this might make it easier to learn Italian - do any classicists here have experience of learning Italian, and how did you find it? Did you do so in parallel, or one after the other, and if so, in what order? Did you find the different grammars muddled your understanding, or was the doubled-up vocabulary useful enough to compensate?
posted by wattle at 6:21 AM PST - 12 comments

When, how and how often do you read [books]?
posted by simmering octagon at 6:16 AM PST - 60 comments

Here is my problem in a nutshell: I am a Russian immigrant living in the US and married to a non-Russian-speaker. I work long hours, so during the week, I typically only see my kids in the morning when I get them up and ready for school. (I spend more time with them on weekends.) My older kid just turned four, and speaks no Russian. The baby is almost 15 months old and has started picking up English words. I want them to speak Russian fluently, but I don't know how to make that happen. I am stuck and hoping your advice can help me get unstuck. [more inside]
posted by prefpara at 5:52 AM PST - 21 comments

Every now and again, while out walking round the city, I find a cyclist zooming past me with very loud, very clear music blasting from somewhere on their person (or perhaps mounted on the bike itself). Whatever device they're using is too small for me to see it as they flash past. There's no tinny distortion or loss of bass. What device are they using, and how does it achieve such impressive results? Can this really be just a simple cellphone?
posted by Paul Slade at 4:45 AM PST - 13 comments

I have been enchanted with the apparent ease of corner clamps like these, but I suspect they really aren't that great to use. I want to clamp things from 1/4" up to 1.75" or even more, and these are too small anyway. Plus there are umpteen different versions. Can you point me to some convenient and not-too-expensive corner clamps? Of any type? I would like to be able to make boxes quickly. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 1:09 AM PST - 9 comments

I think I don't know how to keep a job. I am 32, female, graduated with english lit degree in 2014. Had/has OCD. Lives and is financed by aging parents. Keeps losing jobs. [more inside]
posted by Didnt_do_enough at 1:04 AM PST - 27 comments

A friend must travel from Washington state (masks required indoors) to the East Coast (no mask requirement) this weekend to see a very sick relative (hospitalized, but not with covid). Should they quarantine from their roommate when they get back? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 9:11 PM PST - 9 comments

I am wondering if it's possible to take a Complex Fourier Drawing (yt link with animation showing), decompose the frequencies of each cycle then sum them into a wave form (and then rendered to audio) - if so - does anyone know of any applications that can do this? [more inside]
posted by symbioid at 8:58 PM PST - 9 comments

I would like to find out how much precipitation my city has had for each day for the past month. What is the best way to find this info? I am in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
posted by NotLost at 7:36 PM PST - 6 comments

Artwork seen in a movie: What type of medium is this? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 6:55 PM PST - 8 comments

Recently was linkwandering on Metafilter, and saw a long, (I believe) twitter thread explaining the historical links between the various past flavors of gold-standard, silver standard and other forms of currency restriction and various eugenics/'race purity' movements. I think it was around January 5th/6th. [more inside]
posted by Orb2069 at 5:07 PM PST - 6 comments

If you've struggled with your attention span during the pandemic what concrete steps have you taken to repair it? [more inside]
posted by bluecore at 3:59 PM PST - 17 comments

What is the most guaranteed/surefire way to begin working from home? I have general office skills, am good with technology, etc. and I am taking an indefinite break from my normal job (substitute teaching) until omicron in NYC is over. [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 3:46 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a super old house (single story) and the flat roof is apparently made out of jello. My roofer says don’t walk on it, and the architect I called said building a roof deck would be a six figure undertaking. I am really, really interested in hanging out on aforementioned jello roof, as the view is incredible. I’m wondering about if I could create some sort of scaffolding that basically has legs on both sides of the house supporting a metal deck. Or, if anyone else has other creative ideas that don’t involve spending $$$?
posted by arnicae at 3:30 PM PST - 10 comments

My cardiologist just told me she recommends avoiding "extreme weightlifting" (which she has defined as lifting any more than 40lbs) to avoid risk of damaging my already enlarged aorta. My father died suddenly of an aortic dissection at 59 so I'm at risk. I want to follow medical guidance, but I also care so much about being physically strong! [more inside]
posted by mwahlalala at 2:12 PM PST - 20 comments

This is a multi-part question. Feel free to help contribute to any of the parts! Basically, Im looking for 1) services to create a framed family tree as a gift, 2) hiring a genealogist in Slovakia, and 3) Slovakia citizenship through descent, and Slovakia tax questions. [more inside]
posted by Mr. Papagiorgio at 1:59 PM PST - 4 comments

I want to collect money from a group of friends to buy a gift for another member of the group. But the group of friends varies wildly on how much they can chip in, and we don't want any of the rest of us to feel bad about having chipped in either a lot more or a lot less than anyone else. Plus, we don't know what the final amount is going to be, as it depends on what everyone contributes. What platform or service best allows me to set this up?
posted by smoq at 1:10 PM PST - 12 comments

Once or twice a day, two tabs pop up unprompted showing ads for "manlyz dot com" and "ebetaca dot com." [more inside]
posted by aralymn at 12:48 PM PST - 10 comments

I'd like to switch careers and become a therapist/psychologist, or a conflict mediator, or an organizational psychologist, working with somatics, psychedelics, mindfulness, and doing research. How? [more inside]
posted by many more sunsets at 10:51 AM PST - 11 comments

My partner (healthy fit early 30s cis male) had chest pains after his second Pfizer dose last year but did not seek medical attention (I know). Our boosters are coming up and he’s concerned about his risk of myocarditis. [more inside]
posted by vanitas at 10:27 AM PST - 24 comments

I'd like to get an ultrawide monitor but am struggling with how to choose from the wide range of features and prices. What would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 9:41 AM PST - 10 comments

Suppose I’m reading literature from the 1700s. I read a word and I know its modern meaning, but I think it meant something different then. What’s the easiest way to find what it meant 300 years ago? Free solutions preferred.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:11 AM PST - 17 comments

This is the year I learn a language...kind of. Help me pick which one? I have a full time job, two small children, and limited time to devote to this, so we are not talking fluency or even high level proficiency. We're talking getting started, establishing the habit, and getting tourist-level in a language that is not English. I hope to spend 15-20 min a day on the Mango Languages app via my public library for the first quarter of 2022, and then reassess my learning plan. But which to choose? Here are the options and their merits: [more inside]
posted by The Librarian at 9:07 AM PST - 24 comments

I doubt there's a definitive answer to this question, because, well, Covid, but... [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:26 AM PST - 14 comments

Can anyone identify this piece of art from a Seinfeld episode? [more inside]
posted by fourpotatoes at 6:26 AM PST - 9 comments

I played piano as a child, and would like to learn again how to play at a relatively basic level. Especially in the next few cold and corona-y months, I would like to take it up as a hobby. However, I'm having a hard time finding a suitable keyboard under 200€. [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 5:46 AM PST - 10 comments

I'll start by explaining the situation. First, I joined this student union because I thought it could help me professionally and because I thought I could bring in some of my expertise into it. However, I am growing disaffected with its leadership. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 5:37 AM PST - 23 comments

For years I've had a very, very difficult manager who made my professional life so hard I had multiple breakdowns over the course of the last two years. I held on (barely) because I knew it was temporary and once they moved on, I would have the chance to make a fresh start under someone who was hopefully a better fit. Now I have, and I'm struggling to adjust to a rather unexpected issue. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 3:24 AM PST - 16 comments

A couple years ago I wrote a humorous children's chapter book. I took a few stabs at seeking feedback and/or publication, then forgot about it. I recently reread it, and think I might still be interested in trying to seek publication. But I would in the meantime like some feedback, to see if it would be worth all that effort. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:21 AM PST - 8 comments

In a relationship, what relationship do you have with, and how do you feel, about the emotional needs of your partner? Where is the line between needs and neediness? More after the cut. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:21 AM PST - 19 comments

The family dog (a beagle) sometimes likes to grab and munch on the leaves of our various houseplants. Any good ways to get her to stop? [more inside]
posted by Mechitar at 8:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Our toaster oven is dead. Should I replace it with a multi-function countertop appliance? If so, what? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 7:30 PM PST - 21 comments

I have had one good-enough therapist and a string of people I broke up with after like...one to four sessions. That's not enough to really get a sense of "what I like," which means I'm struggling to narrow down my (theoretically) myriad options. If you also therapist-hopped until you found someone you clicked with, can you help me think this through? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 7:19 PM PST - 13 comments

Not a heavy question and a bit North-America-centric, but discussing our embarrassing theatre nerd high-school days with my wife and wondering if the same plays were still being done in high school as they were ~30 years ago. [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 5:28 PM PST - 27 comments

I tried to do a nice thing with my family and it somehow turned into a low-key fight. This happens all the time, and I don’t understand why. Is there a name for what’s happening here? What are some strategies for dealing with it? [more inside]
posted by Questolicious at 5:11 PM PST - 40 comments

I'm planning a trip for my SO and I sometime later this year to France (no actual dates yet). We'd like to visit some regions of France where public transit is not as prevalent and are planning on renting a car for part of the trip. I've seen on various auto rental sites that you can rent an EV at very low rates but I'm not sure that where we're going has a lot of infrastructure for EV charging. Are we setting ourselves up for a logistical nightmare? [more inside]
posted by fiercekitten at 5:02 PM PST - 12 comments

They hoard all the wealth and are directly responsible for destroying the planet and they need to go. How do we get rid of them, and what happens next? [more inside]
posted by turbid dahlia at 4:35 PM PST - 19 comments

I have recently had 3 different springform pans, used to bake cake in an old-ish oven at temps ranging from 350 to 400, fail to "snap back" together (bottom to springform). The springform latch is riveted, not screwed. Two of the pans were 7x3" (one = Wilton). Aside from why this happened, is there a brand that reliably does NOT do this?
posted by mmiddle at 4:21 PM PST - 4 comments

Please give me concrete examples of what the term "low mood" refers to. [more inside]
posted by heatherlogan at 2:32 PM PST - 21 comments

I want a great recipe for classic, homestyle lasagna – but without beef or pork. [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:30 PM PST - 19 comments

What is the origin of the modern use of the term "Member of the Tribe" as a description for Jews? When did it come about? What is the (historical) (linguistic) context in which "Tribe" is being used?
posted by andoatnp at 2:15 PM PST - 12 comments

Starting my first temperature chart on a weekly blackwork SAL—each pattern release is 19x9 squares. How have people selected temperatures for a project like this? [more inside]
posted by Scout405 at 12:09 PM PST - 6 comments

Our kid is a high school junior in Illinois and just got a really good SAT score (in the "99%+" range). She has straight A grades across AP and honors classes, and she's got good extracurriculars. But we make too much money to get any need-based aid. Are there any good data sources or sites that can predict where she'd likely get good merit-based offers? [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 11:55 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm an industrial engineering student and I'm applying for masters in computational neuroscience. I need advices for my SOP since I have little chance of being accepted. [more inside]
posted by confusedconfused at 10:33 AM PST - 4 comments

I've been contemplating a move from the Bay Area to LA for some time now, but not sure when. Many complications inside. [more inside]
posted by ziggly at 10:28 AM PST - 8 comments

Need some helpful advice on potential places to move up in Washington State or Oregon. I could also go ask in the appropriate sub-reddits, but I trust the green more. All the snowflake details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by sharp pointy objects at 9:28 AM PST - 20 comments

Up until a short while ago all of my computers would auto correct or suggest the correct spelling (this function works on Meta-filter but nowhere else that I can recall) but now my browsers do not react to misspelled words and I'm not understanding why. I am using: OS - Windows 7 and 8.1 Browsers - Brave and Palemoon If I deliberately will misspell something it appears with a red line underneath the word but it will not suggest the correct spelling. I have Auto correct and Spelling both checked in browsers and Windows. What is going on and how can I fix this? Thank you!
posted by watercarrier at 6:24 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm in the process of searching for a studio/one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn without success and despair is setting in. How can I step up my apartment search game? [more inside]
posted by fox problems at 5:14 AM PST - 16 comments

Roughly how old are you, and how has your libido changed over the last several years? How do you experience your sexuality at this stage of your life and how does it differ to (up to) ten years ago? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:42 AM PST - 17 comments

Special snowflake filter: CivilianUSGovHR: I received a relocation incentive for a job. It pays out over 3 years. I’m on year 3 and have been offered a new job (same department, same agency, same location). Do I still get my last relocation incentive or does taking a new job nullify that? HR has been confusing (and confused)
posted by anonymous at 2:53 AM PST - 2 comments

I will be teaching face to face starting today. I was able to purchase some N95 masks, but they are medium/large. My face is small. There are no kids’ or small sizes available in my small Canadian city and they’re back ordered everywhere online too. So, is there a way to make these too-big N95s I have at least somewhat more effective? The fit problem is at my chin, where there’s a gap of at least 1 cm. [more inside]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:09 AM PST - 23 comments

I have had my dog for 3 months now, and am finally coming to terms with the severe stress she's causing around my personal life, job, and relationships. I have always been frustrated when people rehome/return their dogs, so it's hard to imagine not keeping her. Help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:27 PM PST - 24 comments

My tiny show, PLEDGE The Musical (MeFi Projects) is almost ready. It is being presented via Portland's Fertile Ground Virtual Arts Festival at the end of January. But I'm having a couple problems deciding how to present it. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:06 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm looking for the name of a TV show that I heard about but can't remember the name. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Fister Roboto at 8:35 PM PST - 6 comments

School closed for a week because of covid-related staffing issues, and is theoretically reopening tomorrow. The teachers are clearly completely fried from 2 years of pandemic and being persistently understaffed even in non-plague times, and they've just been told that while they're teaching in person, they have to provide a full day of virtual material for any kids who are in quarantine or isolation. Teachers of Metafilter, what can we do to help? [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 5:10 PM PST - 15 comments

In the Prime movie The Courier, characters Greville and Emily exchange written messages on a kids toy. It's kinda like a clipboard with a plastic overlay sheet. Pulling the sheet away from the clipboard erases the last message/drawing. What was this toy? [more inside]
posted by shoesfullofdust at 4:32 PM PST - 8 comments

I want to save the planet, the ozone layer, the oceans, and all the animals therein (including humans, I guess, though sometimes that feeling goes away). [more inside]
posted by Flying Saucer at 2:20 PM PST - 13 comments

I saw a post today commemorating the release of Van Halen’s 1984 album which was released on January 9, 1984. But I pretty clearly remember buying it on Christmas Eve 1983 while doing last minute Christmas shopping. Was this possible? [more inside]
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 1:25 PM PST - 3 comments

On Jan 3 I put a $2k down payment for a cosmetic procedure on a credit card that then cycled on the 7th. That down payment is about to be refunded by the merchant. If my credit card bill for this month contains the $2k, then the overall balance drops, what can I do to not have to pay the $2k? Can provide more info if needed.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 12:40 PM PST - 20 comments

Do you know of any useful bookmark manager extensions/web apps that have drag and drop, visual sorting, and are powerful to deal with a lot of bookmarks in a lot of folders and sub(-sub-sub...) folders? [more inside]
posted by svenni at 12:02 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm trying to remember the name of a British sitcom about a woman named Bill who runs a bakery with her friend. In one episode they think they lost a baby under the floor boards
posted by mcbeitz at 9:52 AM PST - 1 comment

I have a column of numbers and want them to shade through a series of five colors, like this: [more inside]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:47 AM PST - 4 comments

I want to share a Google calendar with an iPhone user. They want to see my calendar through the official iPhone Calendar app-- but that seems to require that they sign up for a Google account of their own. For Complex Reasons, this will not happen. Is there any way they can share my calendar through Apple's calendar app without getting their own google account? If not, is there a good iPhone calendar app that would let them do this? [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 2:50 AM PST - 6 comments

All I remember is that it was a man singing in French and each of the verses sounded like him begging in preposterous ways for his baby to go to sleep. I heard it 10 years ago, but it could easily be older. Thanks in advance if you can help me find it! :)
posted by ch3cooh at 12:08 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a boyfriend and I also am the proud new haver of a girlfriend. My boyfriend and my girlfriend are also…boyfriend and girlfriend. What the hell should we refer to each other as when speaking about one another? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:36 PM PST - 22 comments

So, I haven’t picked up an electric guitar in 15 years and I’m too embarrassed to walk into a music store and pretend I know what I’m looking for nor, “test” guitars out in front of anyone. Would just like some suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Atlantic at 10:11 PM PST - 26 comments

A couple of years ago my wife decided she had had enough of her lunatic mom; she blocked all email and telephone communication with her mother. Then on one day in 2020 her mom showed up at our front door. We had never given her our address. [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 8:34 PM PST - 23 comments

Inevitably, I always seem to drift back to using Twenty Fifteen for things. This time around, I am trying to figure out how to make it always use the header it uses on mobile, and never use the sidebar it uses on laptop/desktop. [more inside]
posted by bixfrankonis at 8:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to run a 1500w space heater in a bedroom that has old two-prong outlets with no ground. The space heater's scary warning tags recommend against this. Would it be safe to run the space heater on a "no equipment ground" GFCI? [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:37 PM PST - 7 comments

The smelllll of a Cabbage Patch Kid doll. I want it. How? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:13 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm committed to leaving air travel behind. If you decided to do the same (or generally stop taking high carbon footprint vacations, including but not limited to long flights), what soothes the international travel itch? If you feel sad about it, how are you dealing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:02 PM PST - 34 comments

I'm looking for your favorite snacks and sweets with strong flavors. Things that almost hurt your tongue if you eat too much, like salt & vinegar chips, or open your sinuses like horseradish. Spicy is fine but I'm not really into the flavor of Tabasco hot sauce or buffalo wing sauce. Ready-made food as opposed to recipes, and snacks or sweets as opposed to full meals. Available online or in Northeast PA and NYC stores. [more inside]
posted by Majorita at 4:53 PM PST - 56 comments

Sometimes, my xfinity internet is too slow to stream on my TV. I'd like to move the modem from the office to behind the TV. I tried attaching my modem to the coax behind the TV, but it didn't connect. I remember the TV port working previously, and when I moved the modem to the office 18 months ago I called a tech who sent some kind of signal to identify where my router was to make it work. I can't find any description of this situation online and am wondering if I'm hallucinating it. Does this technology exist and what is it called? [more inside]
posted by momus_window at 4:38 PM PST - 10 comments

Help. I have some mp4 video clips that somehow were aligned 90 degrees horizontal. I used a video converter to convert them to .avi thinking that would help me realign them to vertical which it did. But now, although when I play them in preview they're fine, when I plug them into my video editing software, I only get the audio track. Nothing I do gives me the video portion of the clip. What am I doing wrong? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 4:00 PM PST - 6 comments

For the first time in my 30+ year use of computer stuffs, I static-shocked my mechanical keyboard to death. Didn’t even seem like that big a shock, But sure enough, after the zap - 40% of keys no workie. Tried different USB ports, rebooting. No dice. other known good mechanical keyboard plugged in works fine. neither of the mechanical keyboards have metal exteriors if that matters. (more inside yep) [more inside]
posted by bitterkitten at 3:24 PM PST - 5 comments

My 8 year old asked for gifts of make-up this year for the holidays, and the family delivered! She is delightedly applying it to her face, sometimes with reckless abandon and sometimes with intention. I would like to point her to age and skill-level appropriate videos that can give her some pointers on how to apply it and how to achieve different looks. [more inside]
posted by keeo at 3:11 PM PST - 2 comments

Does anyone have recommendations for how to take an existing pdf file and turn it into an editable pdf? I've checked online and available free sources like soda will doing things like convert you pdf to some other format (liked word), but not an editable pdf and that's not a solution for my needs. I want a pdf file (a form) that someone can enter their own information and then save that file as a pdf.
posted by bluesky43 at 2:48 PM PST - 7 comments

I foolishly ordered a couple dozen tulip bulbs for my garden in New Mexico, only to realize I've missed the Fall planting season. What can I do to keep the bulbs viable until the Spring? And if I plant them in March after the thaw, I know they won't bloom this Spring... But would they bloom Spring 2023? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 2:20 PM PST - 4 comments

My wife and I love pop neuroscience books like Thinking Fast and Slow; can anyone recommend a book specifically on neurochemistry and cellular biology? [more inside]
posted by q*ben at 1:01 PM PST - 10 comments

My year-old patio heater lights but does not stay lit. How does the lighting process work, and how can I fix it so it stays lit? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 12:13 PM PST - 12 comments

I start a new job this week. Since I was a temp, my old job ended the health insurance as soon as I ended the job. Although it is pricy, I want to sign up for Cobra just in case anything happens between now and the first of the next month. Is there any way to apply online to Cobra? I have Cobra Open Enrollment forms but these need to be mailed and I want coverage ASAP. I'm leaving out of town this weekend and wanted to make sure that I would be protected just in case something were to happen to me.
posted by sheepishchiffon at 11:54 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm interested in finding Instagram accounts that are primarily focused on artistic /appealing text-based posts, or posts with text content as well as some form of image. The ones I'd be most interested in seeing would have harmony between text and image, good typography, basically a way of delivering a text-based message in a pleasing, easy-to-read way. [more inside]
posted by shirobara at 11:47 AM PST - 3 comments

I am a member of a few Facebook groups where folks post links to songs on YouTube. It's great, and every day I end up with a dozen tabs of music that I then forget to listen to. I need someway to listen to all these tracks without going to each individual tab when a song is over! [more inside]
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:32 AM PST - 10 comments

Looking to display tables and charts that animate and have rollover effects to include in client presentations (likely in google slides, ppt or beautiful.ai). [more inside]
posted by pmaxwell at 11:24 AM PST - 2 comments

Need some TV which involves humans or animals being kind to other humans or animals to help my brain rest. [more inside]
posted by batbat at 10:39 AM PST - 55 comments

As the title says, my kid did something cruel to some other kids. We are dealing with it appropriately but I’m struggling with my own feelings about it. (More below) [more inside]
posted by teamnap at 10:08 AM PST - 30 comments

I enjoy listening to science podcasts with the specific format of educated people discussing scientific research. Not your typical ‘let’s learn about this science topic in a fun way’ podcast like Science vs. I’m looking for ‘let’s talk about this specific paper recently published in Nature and what the strengths and weaknesses are’ and ‘let’s discuss the 7 major studies about the health effects of X and try to draw some conclusions’. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by bq at 9:25 AM PST - 9 comments

I need to write a lot of things 200 characters long or less. Is there a little piece of software or a website that will furnish me with a text box and either not let me go over limit or show me where I cross the limit? I’ve a Mac, iPhone and iPad. Thanks!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 8:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I just came back from a week of skiing, and my twenty-year-old boots are shot to hell. Where in New York City should I go to find a really good boot-fitter to replace them? Snowflakes below. [more inside]
posted by LizardBreath at 5:37 AM PST - 8 comments

Turn the spiraling clicking on related videos sessions into a virtuous circle, without me having to sit there and tell them what to search. [more inside]
posted by KMH at 5:37 AM PST - 4 comments

I read some of my old posts from a decade ago and they were quite good. Now it appears that due to lack of use my writing ability has waned and suffered. I'm writing shorter and simpler sentences. Where can I get practice writing non-fiction? [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 5:21 AM PST - 6 comments

Last week I has the worst stomach cramps of my life, lower abdomen. I was double over in pain for about three hours. (Left side so not appendix and my gallbladder has been removed) This was followed by an urgent need to urinate, for about 5 days, even when very little came out. [more inside]
posted by captainscared at 5:06 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a quote earworm that's driving me wild. On a tv show or movie, a female character is telling another character that soda is just syrup and water, that's it. I cannot figure out what this is from/who said it and it's driving me bananas!
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:15 PM PST - 6 comments

In order to play a particular arrangement I came up with, I need to modify a capo that I have, and I need any tips the hive mind can muster. [more inside]
posted by umbú at 8:55 PM PST - 8 comments

Many years ago, I read a review -- I think it was in the Village Voice but I'm not 100% sure -- of a documentary about people who obsessively watched movies. [more inside]
posted by the hot hot side of randy at 7:21 PM PST - 6 comments

I’ve recently been using +1 reading glasses when using my iPad at about arms length or a little closer to great success. My TV is about 3-4 meters away and I find myself straining my focus to watch as I used to with my iPad, but (of course) the reading glasses just make it blurry. Is there another strength I can try? [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 3:39 PM PST - 10 comments

They were sending off Audie Cornish today and they played a clip of a male film director saying “I need a hug from you” and she said “that’s not going to happen” and exited the interview. Who was that director? Google isn’t helping. Thank you!
posted by ftm at 3:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I just found out California is requiring people to separate their food waste and compost, but I can’t find much information or what I’m supposed to do in an apartment building. What do you guys know about the new law? [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 3:11 PM PST - 16 comments

So the European privacy law, GDPR, says you have to give people ("natural persons"?) the option to remove their information from your business' database if requested to do so. How does this apply to a business or non-profit organization compiling information on people who are not customers, but people working at either competitors or partner organizations? [more inside]
posted by Second Song at 3:09 PM PST - 8 comments

I was a partner in a law firm that closed 3-1/2 years ago. We never had any online reviews that we knew of and had a strong reputation and no need for advertising, so we never monitored for them. While looking up someone else today, I stumbled across the Google listing, which now has a one-star review from 10 months ago with a deranged narrative. I want the listing to be deleted, not merely marked "closed." I don't see a way to do this, though. Can you point me to the solution?
posted by HotToddy at 3:06 PM PST - 9 comments

I love escape rooms, but many of the top escape rooms are horror themed. I really don't like being scared, or feeling the tension of knowing something bad is about to happen. I'd like to be able to play them and enjoy them. Is there any way to learn to like horror? Has anyone succeeded at this? [more inside]
posted by aubilenon at 3:05 PM PST - 10 comments

Asking for a friend - I am looking for someone to help me update my resume. It's been a few years since I've been in the job market, and my resume /cover letter is very outdated. I'd like to have someone else write one for me. Do you have a recommendation of a good person or group to go to for that? [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 2:51 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m setting up an appt w a new psychiatrist I’ll be seeing remotely. Her receptionist says that Medicare requires the first visit to be in person (which would mean traveling several hours). I have had a few Medicare providers , including psychiatrists, that were purely telemed, no first appt in person, so I don’t think this receptionist was correct. Can anyone point me to more info on this? I’m in VA, this is “regular “ Medicare, and I’d rather not deal with Medicare if this info is available elsewhere.
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:22 PM PST - 5 comments

How do I get my colleagues to pull their weight or is it time to look elsewhere? [more inside]
posted by charlen at 12:46 PM PST - 11 comments

Need a print on demand service for a photobook, with very specific requirements. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by sailoreagle at 12:22 PM PST - 1 comment

I’m looking for suggestions for joyful, positive depictions of the LGBTQ community in tv, movies or online that would be accessible for a four year old. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:01 PM PST - 11 comments

Has anyone here had a decent experience with the GetUpside cashback app? [more inside]
posted by glonous keming at 11:27 AM PST - 5 comments

How much do I tip movers? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 11:25 AM PST - 17 comments

How do you keep fear at bay in your life? [more inside]
posted by tiny frying pan at 10:35 AM PST - 16 comments

Heard an interesting animal call after midnight in suburban central NJ, US. 3 Jan 2022, so it's winter here. Couldn't match it up to any 'northeast US bird/mammal call' samples. What is it? Audio samples inside. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:19 AM PST - 11 comments

Content warnings: death, dying, corporeal stuff, general grossness, and family emotional agonies. If you're not up for it, do yourself a favor and pass this one by. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:18 AM PST - 38 comments

Why did he behave his way? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:59 AM PST - 33 comments

I checked out a pair of folio-size, hardback books about WWI and WWII from the elementary school library at least 40 years ago. They each had paper-and-pencil wargames in them. I would like to find any information on them at all. [more inside]
posted by ob1quixote at 9:59 AM PST - 2 comments

I know you can work around stuff with scripting, but assuming you use a typical GUI desktop email client connected to a typical IMAP server, or maybe webmail. Is this doable? [more inside]
posted by bitterkitten at 9:28 AM PST - 8 comments

Early in 2021 I took up bicycling, after not having been on a bike for more than 35 years. "Ask" helped me make the jump, so I'm back again with a new question: How can I get in good condition for RAGBRAI? Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by Ipsifendus at 9:06 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for a caption service that will allow me to have captions on course videos. Free would be nice, but it's not a dealbreaker if it isn't. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 8:14 AM PST - 6 comments

Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich. Dysnomia by Dawn of MIDI. Elements of Light by Pantha du Prince. Gamelan orchestras. Seeking more like this: long pieces of music driven by steady, propulsive, repetitive and/or gradually changing rhythm. [more inside]
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 6:52 AM PST - 34 comments

Due to my partner's dietary restrictions I have been making pie and pastry crusts based on cassava flour rather than wheat flour and using this recipe as a guide. This has been mostly reliable but recently I have had a couple of pie crusts completely fail by turning soft, heavy, and kind of mealy in texture, rather than light and a bit crisp like a good pastry crust should be. Bleh. I haven't deviated from the recipe or changed my technique in an obvious way so what the heck is going on? [more inside]
posted by 4rtemis at 6:00 AM PST - 8 comments

My bathtub is peeling. I don't know who to call or what to do. Help! [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 5:56 AM PST - 7 comments

Please help me get rid of Froot Loop Jr. - I have many questions about processes and logistics but there's some emotional stuff there too. FLJ was the first and only car I ever bought new. [more inside]
posted by bendy at 5:27 AM PST - 13 comments

My boyfriend is concerned about how toxic my family is. He hasn't mentioned the details to his family and as we are both reaching "marriagable" age and aren't interested in messing around and wasting time, it is leading to a potential decision having to be made about whether to continue the relationship or not. I feel I can't talk to my family about this, I would appreciate some thoughts and opinions on here. [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 3:24 AM PST - 37 comments

I'm looking for the best info I can find on long COVID, especially in vaccinated adults, vaccinated kids, and unvaccinated young kids. I'm trying to get a sense of how much of a risk it is. The numbers I'm seeing are all over the place and I feel like I'm not getting much analysis of what's really going on with that and how likely it is that breakthrough cases will have that kind of impact. Thanks for anything you can point me to!
posted by slidell at 1:01 AM PST - 9 comments

Metalheads of Mefi - What music is this man listening to? Please help me identify song titles and groups. I need to try - and fail at - this challenge at home! Or possibly at work.
posted by Vatnesine at 8:24 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a family member I don't see often. We love each other, but every conversation is tense and prone to breakdown. How do I know if this is due to the communication/cultural gap between us, or if this family member is just difficult to be around? Because if it's the former, I'll work on it, but I'll just bite my tongue and be careful if it's the latter. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 8:18 PM PST - 28 comments

I've really been enjoying listening to the videos on this youtube channel. Do you know of a similar channel for folk songs, but in english? [more inside]
posted by lalunamel at 7:56 PM PST - 4 comments

I'd like to get into stereoscopic viewing with a focus on stereographs circa 1900. I see generalist articles and stuff about cameras but I'm more interested in viewers and getting guidance on compatibility and standards. I'm hoping to buy a sturdy, comfortable viewer and avoid wasting money on incompatibly sized images on eBay.
posted by brachiopod at 6:57 PM PST - 8 comments

Suppose I wanted to create a list of books that have been published in two languages (for example, Korean and Estonian). Is there any online database from which I could generate such a list, and how would I do so? [more inside]
posted by Not A Thing at 6:21 PM PST - 5 comments

There is a movie with a scene I am trying to remember. The scene is this: a single mother with two very young children must take one of them the emergency department in the middle of the night, but has no one to look after the younger child. [more inside]
posted by pasici at 6:02 PM PST - 2 comments

It's annual evaluation time and I need your advice on how to handle the following issues: 1) I believe I am underpaid by at least $10K. 2) I have been WFH for two years on a Covid-related ADA accommodation (so not permanent), and I want to permanently WFH. [more inside]
posted by HotToddy at 5:17 PM PST - 7 comments

if i wanted to be a trans person with a name like this ("“trans people with seemingly average shorthand names for absolutely insane full names” for example. max short for Maxwell House Brand Coffee Filters"), what else could i expand "joel" to? [more inside]
posted by gaybobbie at 3:25 PM PST - 53 comments

So I got a 15L Peak zip for my alaska trip. It was good. But by the end i'm shoving in stuff sideways. So I get the 30L Everyday Backpack for my next trip. But it's way too big so I return it. But now, I'm noticing I'm not loving the shoulder straps on ANY peak design bags. So what's the right goldilocks camera bag in that 18-25L sweet spot?
posted by rileyray3000 at 2:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Attempting to fiddle with and migrate my WordPress install to a new host but same domain name has gone completely pear-shaped. Please hope me. [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:44 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for non-fiction articles or books about the COVID-19 pandemic that people have found particularly insightful. Ideally, this should be as big-picture as possible: What does the pandemic mean for society, history, science, and the world? [more inside]
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 2:12 PM PST - 10 comments

Seeking a bed-warming...gadget? I want the convenience of an electric heating pad but the old world charm of a hot water bottle or warming pan. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 2:02 PM PST - 29 comments

I am being "fired" from my checking and savings accounts at HSBC. Apparently they let go of a certain part of their business. My accounts are being automatically transferred to Citizens Bank. I live in Manhattan, NYC, and the closest branch of Citizens Bank to my house seems to be Yonkers, Westchester. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:11 PM PST - 6 comments

I have about 5,000 PDFs that were created through a desktop scanner. They're all in color. I would like to convert them to grayscale but without any other loss of quality. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 1:09 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to get your LINKS or BOOK recommendations for SUPER DUPER fast meals for prep (less than 15 minutes- really, cooking can take longer) that don't use a ton of ingredients. No food restrictions, though ideally something a baby can eat with their hands. Have an Instantpot. Here's the rub, while I kind of get the typical mefi "dump this in, glug a olive oil, YUM", I've never actually done any of those recipes. Much rather get a traditional recipe. Don't even want some guidelines or strategies on how to do this.
posted by sandmanwv at 1:01 PM PST - 17 comments

I live in a reasonably urban area with a fenced yard and two dogs: a 40 lb. staffie mix and a 20 lb. Boston Terrier. My neighbor has chased coyotes out of her yard the past couple nights and just let me know, so I'm trying to figure out how to let my doggos have some free, unleashed play but also keep them safe. [more inside]
posted by cheese at 12:49 PM PST - 9 comments

Fun, long lasting, independently playable toys/activities/kits for kindergartners and first graders? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 12:35 PM PST - 8 comments

At least 10, maybe 15-20 years ago, I heard a skit (radio play) about a Unitarian church holding a meeting. There is some point at which the meeting leader acknowledged people who don't believe, or believe in nothing at all, and he otherwise acknowledged made up/whimsical belief systems. [more inside]
posted by 4midori at 10:52 AM PST - 10 comments

My 5-year-old uses a guest account on my Windows 10 laptop. I'd like to whitelist a few websites (e.g. misterrogers.org) that he can visit in a web browser, but block access to all other websites in the guest account. How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by splitpeasoup at 10:39 AM PST - 2 comments

Only my head and shoulders are visible on my videos at (tele)work. I hike on a stair master through the work day, so typically wear shorts and running shoes. have bold statement jewelry down - but need help with professional looking garments for a somewhat dressier workplace ideally look polished/substantial but are easy to wear with workout attire (and not too HOT- my telework location is very hot). I was imagining modern shrugs, stoles, boleros, “structured” scarves. I’m struggling to find good options that aren’t vintage-y or looked deliberately styled “old lady”. Hope me? [more inside]
posted by arnicae at 9:45 AM PST - 7 comments

Howdy! I do not want to use Substack or Revue or all-in-one hosting services for a newsletter I want to start. Instead, I want to use the delightful Buttondown with some kind of publishing platform that is dead easy (yes, WordPress is too hard for me) and that allows me to password-protect individual pages on the website. Got anything for me? I'm a one-person show and I have ADHD so the easier, the better. Thanks, hive mind!
posted by Bella Donna at 9:08 AM PST - 3 comments

I used to burn CDs with iTunes. Now, I use Windows Media Player (with Windows 10). When I play an old iTunes CD in my car, the track names are displayed. However, CDs made with WMP just display "Track #." Is there some setting in WMP, to enable track name display?
posted by Rash at 8:59 AM PST - 4 comments

I’m looking for N95s that will fit my huge head and face. [more inside]
posted by rossination at 8:56 AM PST - 12 comments

Wantto pick up a new TV for the new PS5. I understand that hdmi 2.1 is the most important feature to look for and 4K, something that’s easy enough to find in big screens from 43” up but I am looking for 37-40”. Can you point me to any models?
posted by Iteki at 8:25 AM PST - 5 comments

My current company provides a $500 "wellness" reimbursement every year. I'm leaving the company next week. What should I spend the money on, right now? [more inside]
posted by woodvine at 8:25 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm getting the itch to get some more plants up in my life. However, I've recently moved to a smaller apartment with less light. I'm trying to figure out how to overcome this by collecting some small low-light plants. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:18 AM PST - 14 comments

In the UK when we need to close the railway for repairs or upgrades it's called a "possession". I'm wondering if the same term is used in Canada or if it's a different one. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:44 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm worried sick about the next US presidential election. Who is doing good work on this? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 7:02 AM PST - 13 comments

So, I have a job which I like but which is unlikely to see me through the next twenty years to retirement (let's pretend society is going to hold on that long). It is a low-mid-level numbers job. I am at a loss as to what to do now/next, whether retraining is worth it at my age, etc. Have you changed jobs/fields while an Old without a professional degree? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 6:45 AM PST - 16 comments

Yesterday I noticed that the entire font bar in my toolbar at the top of MS word disappeared, replaced by a pulldown menu in the toolbar itself. I don't want a pulldown menu. I checked the toolbar preferences and there doesn't seem to be a way to put it back. I can have font checked (pulldown menu) or unchecked (no font option in toolbar at all). Did I somehow do this? Can I put it back? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 6:22 AM PST - 1 comment

For family/personal reasons, I'd like to be able to spend a significant amount of time each year abroad - say 3 months a year. I am thinking of moving jobs, and I'd like to be able to request a degree of locational flexibility in a new job that my current job just doesn't have. How can I approach this? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:18 AM PST - 12 comments

I finally got hip to the Wordle craze today, and was surprised when I realized what it is. I remember playing something very, very similar within the last ~15 years. It was browser-based and single-player, and given a set of blank spaces with no initial clues, you had to guess the word. It wasn't limited to 1 word a day like Wordle is, though, and I think you got unlimited tries. The UI was much less shiny. [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:57 AM PST - 8 comments

In follow-up to my question yesterday. I quit on the spot. The situation became unbearable. I guess quitting in and of itself won't ruin my career, but certainly quitting without notice might. I don't know what to do now. What have I gotten myself into? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:04 PM PST - 28 comments

I need YouTube tutorial videos for an older adult who has zero computer literacy. She needs to learn how to 1. Make a pdf from a photo and 2. Use google drive to upload and store documents online and 3. Use google sheets to manage a simple ledger. She doesn't know what "control c" means or that the key board has arrow keys or how to open a new tab in a window. There must be something out there. Help?
posted by Toddles at 8:54 PM PST - 16 comments

I need to hire someone to make a model animal, about 3 inches tall, realistic, and fairly quickly. How? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:40 PM PST - 7 comments

I was shocked to find, when researching a gastroenterology practice to which I was referred, that they refuse to see patients again who have sought a second opinion. [more inside]
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 8:30 PM PST - 6 comments

Back in September I moved into a new apartment and got Xfinity internet. It seems to be working fine. About a month later I switched from Verizon to Xfinity phone service. It seems to be working fine. Xfinity has mailed me two VISA gift cards, seemingly one from each service. I did not sign up with the promise of receiving gift cards, so I am not sure why I got them. Out of the goodness of their little hearts? I doubt it? [more inside]
posted by Glinn at 6:31 PM PST - 8 comments

In a couple of weeks, I will start a new job, fully remote. Do you have any advice? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 6:16 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a quote for deep cleaning from my dentist. How much should I be paying for that procedure?
posted by leafwoman at 6:11 PM PST - 10 comments

Is there any chance this was Omicron given this timeline? Symptoms Dec 20, tested negative Dec 21. Symptoms persist until now, but I had a second negative test Jan 2, 12 days after the first one. Is there any chance I could have had Omicron anyway between those two negative (PCR) tests? [more inside]
posted by cgg at 5:43 PM PST - 9 comments

Have you created social media profiles distinct from your professional self? I'm interested in process and logic, especially as regards which name you use for which, and how you establish the newer identity. [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 4:57 PM PST - 5 comments

Our nanny contracted COVID last weekend. We all had COVID. Is it safe for her to come back if we're all feeling better even though it hasn't been 10 full days? [more inside]
posted by redondo77 at 4:39 PM PST - 9 comments

Is it safer to socialize with people who have just gotten over Covid? [more inside]
posted by beyond_pink at 4:23 PM PST - 3 comments

Recently my hosting provider stopped existing. I still have the domain, and archive.org has backups of my website, a fairly unambitious Wordpress site of about six pages. I'd like to pay someone to help me recreate it (using the same layout), and to help me get it hosted again. Where would I find someone to do this? How much would I expect it to cost? [more inside]
posted by wattle at 3:28 PM PST - 3 comments

I just finished reading a mystery novel set on a train. I would like to read some more. Please recommend some! [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 2:51 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for 6" and 12" rigid steel rulers to use for repairs around the house and woodworking with inch and mm graduations in specific styles. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 2:20 PM PST - 11 comments

I bought this webcam on Amazon back at the start of the pandemic when any webcam was nearly impossible to buy. I recently replaced the PC it's connected to and now everything looks wrong and I can't find where I fix this. [more inside]
posted by DarlingBri at 1:35 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a task that I do every day on Windows, and would like to automate it and assign it to a button. [more inside]
posted by ubiquity at 1:26 PM PST - 5 comments

My (already bad) vision has been degrading rapidly over the past couple years. My eye doctor now says insurance would cover cataract surgery, but I think we were only talking about the bad (worse) eye. What about the other (also bad) eye? [more inside]
posted by fedward at 1:09 PM PST - 8 comments

An uncle transitioned. This plane was on the notice to all family members. He flew for Air Force at the end of World War Two. To me, it looks like a P-61 Black Widow. I am not quite sure due to the cones at in front of the propellers and the tapering of the nose. It may not even be a military plane Any help here?
posted by goalyeehah at 12:11 PM PST - 14 comments

I want to feel that my pup's safe while playing with a huge dog friend. I have been, and I always supervise; should I worry more than I do? [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 12:05 PM PST - 15 comments

I’m double vaccinated, due to take my booster in late Jan. I’m currently in country X and due to return back to the UK next week. I’ve just seen that the UK’s taken away the requirement to have a PCR test before a flight if you’re double vaccinated. My flight back to the UK is 14 hours long. I’m terrified at the thought of sitting in a plane for 14 hours around people who potentially have omicron. Should I delay my departure? [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 11:52 AM PST - 18 comments

Is this urgent enough to go to the optometrist? Feeling wary of unnecessarily going out these days... [more inside]
posted by massofintuition at 11:49 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm am compiling research/inspiration on current trends for some plant-based food packaging I'm working on. I want to open up my research beyond my region, so I'm turning to you! What plant-based foods/brands have you tried*? [more inside]
posted by miss lynnster at 10:58 AM PST - 30 comments

2022 is shaping up to be a terrible mess, but you know what's always good? Pie. Please tell me about your favorite recipes so I can make 50 different pies this year, a new one each week. [more inside]
posted by mochapickle at 9:43 AM PST - 72 comments

I'm obsessed with this TWICE song and I'm looking for more songs like it, on one or more axes. [more inside]
posted by southern_sky at 8:09 AM PST - 13 comments

What digital note taking methods work for you? (corporate edition) [more inside]
posted by larthegreat at 7:31 AM PST - 21 comments

I'd like to grow edible mushrooms (ideally morels but I'm open to others) in a wooded patch of my backyard. Can you recommend a good mushroom growing kit? What else do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by gauche at 6:54 AM PST - 6 comments

One of my bunnies is a jerk and ate a couple spots on the edge of a crocheted blanket. I can crochet in a very basic way and knit and sew decently. It hasn't unraveled at all from the damage as far as I can tell but I'd like to prevent any more. What do I need to do to reinforce it?
posted by brilliantine at 6:25 AM PST - 12 comments

What is the best set up for an outdoor hot cocoa bar? Last year I made an Ina Garten recipe for hot chocolate and put it in a big thermos with a pump. The chocolate ended up settling so the guests were pumping out this overly sweet and overly chocolatey sludge. [more inside]
posted by simplethings at 1:11 AM PST - 18 comments

I used the default phone setup to transfer data from my Pixel 3a to my new Pixel 6. Much of my data is missing. What now? [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 11:25 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm trying to learn some Ruby while doing this hobby scripting project. Get some YAML data, walk through categories within the data, shuffle the category children, tada, output it. The YAML validates. But the Ruby is driving me crazy. Code, data, and desired output example inside... [more inside]
posted by circular at 10:54 PM PST - 6 comments

I've searched high and low on the court's website but can't find this information. So far I still have the option to postpone (my summons is 2 weeks away). This is the superior court of San Diego County. More context on my specific situation within. [more inside]
posted by pupstocks at 9:59 PM PST - 10 comments

So a friend of mine wants to quit vaping and is looking to try it with hypnosis. Unfortunately she lives in the far end of Chile and so going to a hypnotist isn't an option. She could just do it by zoom I guess but I told her to find an app - which is what I use. She said she can't find anything. Any ideas?
posted by rileyray3000 at 9:22 PM PST - 4 comments

My fully (and recently) vaccinated family had close contact with someone (vaccinated and boosted) who has tested positive for COVID-19 three days after our last contact. There is no swearing at all inside, please clap. [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 9:05 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m hoping someone here can recommend a service or point me to a resource for financial planning for US citizens residing in Canada. [more inside]
posted by mustard seeds at 8:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I am thinking of switching jobs, but am in the midst of a promotion at my current place. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 8:12 PM PST - 20 comments

Introducing someone new to the mix [more inside]
posted by Sterros at 7:52 PM PST - 5 comments

Everyone knows 50% of Canadians live below this red line. What my question presupposes is, a percentage of the United States population lives above the same parallel. What is that percentage?
posted by michaelh at 7:48 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a good friend who is diagnosed with sleep apnea. He has been trying to get a CPAP machine for 9 weeks. Help me hive mind. [more inside]
posted by Horkus at 7:10 PM PST - 18 comments

I invited a bunch of friends to do an online escape room for my birthday. I was thinking maybe of one of these, which I had researched a couple of months ago. But in the meantime I forgot they're not for groups this big. Oops. Most of what I can find for bigger groups requires paying per person which adds up, or seems kind of 1980s text-based RPG lame. Please recommend something! Also open to some sort of non-role-play mystery-solving thing. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:09 PM PST - 2 comments

Recently I was asked to not use the term "spirit animal" as it is offensive to when used by non Indigenous people. Which is totally fine, I was ignorant of that offensiveness. Can y'all suggest a non-offensive replacement for that phrase that can be used by non indigenous people?? [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:26 PM PST - 42 comments

I found a dead worm on a cat blanket today, and want to figure out what type it is so I can choose a dewormer. [more inside]
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 5:37 PM PST - 2 comments

I had a book from the NYT with essays and quotes on Travel. It was from the 70s or 80s. I’m looking for a short quote from it about why travel was important. It said something along the lines that you’d always learn something and even if you didn’t like where you went you would gain a better appreciation of where you were from. It finished by saying that the author never regretted going anywhere but that three days in Dubai was enough.
posted by jvbthegolfer at 5:21 PM PST - 2 comments

I am trying to figure out the titles of two (unrelated) works I read some years ago -- one -- a poem, one -- a novel. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by virve at 4:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I am at a point where I probably need to switch careers, and probably move into the private sector. I have no idea what I'm doing. I was hoping to find some guidance/advice/new avenues to explore. There's a wall of text that you can see from space ahead, but the request is for 1) occupational ideas that maybe I haven't thought of (there are so many titles in the private sector; I don't know what they mean, help) 2) resources for me to explore this shift/career advice and info for a middle-aged-ish person. [more inside]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 4:24 PM PST - 16 comments

I want to find either an example or a gift/animation/recreation of an emoji from obsolete forum software. It was animated. I think it was evoked with :barf: and it was a smiley vomiting, and then the vomit formed the word UNLIMITED. It was brilliant and disgusting and I would like to recreate it for Discord. [more inside]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:13 PM PST - 3 comments

Last year, I started exhibiting symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis (the urgent need to pee after drinking caffeinated drinks like black tea or hot chocolate). I switched to green tea, but I could not drink more than half a cup a day. [more inside]
posted by thesockpuppet at 4:05 PM PST - 5 comments

I use a *lot* of strong emollient hand cream. When I lived in the UK, I relied on E45. I've now moved to the US, and I'm having trouble finding a replacement. In comparison, all the ones I've tried so far leave a greasy, tacky feeling on my skin. I find Eucerin, Cerave, and Cetaphil lotion about equally bad. Does anyone have any other suggestions for drugstore brands? [more inside]
posted by ectopus at 3:25 PM PST - 33 comments

Hi, there was a science fiction book that I had read when I was younger that I want to read again and cannot for the life of me recall the title and my Google-Fu fails me as well. It is a book about a man and a woman who die and are reborn as their younger selves, but retain memory of their previous lives. They keep coming back to be with each other after each incarnation, but in one of the incarnations, he is born as an adult, but she is born as a minor. [more inside]
posted by apark at 3:21 PM PST - 9 comments

I've been dyeing my grays for several years. Now and then I splurge at the salon and the rest of the time I touch up the roots every few weeks. I'd like a better way to manage this. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 3:06 PM PST - 9 comments

Some friends and I made an intentionally low bid on 100 acres (40 hectares) of forest and the winning bid was about twice as much as the property's assessed value, which we figured would be the high bid. What would have factored into that high bid? [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:52 PM PST - 6 comments

While changing gears on the Interstate on-ramp the other day, my clutch pedal sank to the floor, but I was able to pull it up again with my left foot and get home. I have another ride, but I'd like to decide if I should invest the money to keep this one. (Alert Mefites will notice that, yes, I did ask this question before). [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 2:31 PM PST - 7 comments

We (me: 58F heart failure/pacemaker, and mother: 76F in good health) are doing a self-imposed omicron-related lockdown right now, ordering groceries for delivery and cancelling any non-medical appointments. What does our next year look like? [more inside]
posted by QuakerMel at 2:17 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm a new library manager, I've been at my role for 6 months and it's getting worse and worse by the day. I want to quit. Can I quit a job after 6 months without ruining my career? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 2:09 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm a US citizen living in Canada. I need to renew my US passport, which expires in June 2022, and I'm finding the process frustrating, so I'm looking for advice from anyone who's done this recently. [more inside]
posted by mekily at 1:18 PM PST - 16 comments

I recently broke up with a longtime partner (and it went really well, all things considered). I know there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but would appreciate your thoughts on how to determine when I might be ready to start dating again (with specifics of my situation below): [more inside]
posted by Argyle Road at 1:14 PM PST - 10 comments

I am looking for safe online spaces where I can talk to people about sex/sexuality/sexual health. This is the first year of being out as a bisexual person, and I have questions about a number of things, including some shame related stuff that I am already working on with an excellent therapist. Is Reddit a viable option if I have multiple related things I want to ask at once, or...? Thank you. :)
posted by The Adventure Begins at 1:05 PM PST - 13 comments

I need to adjust a drop-down menu bar item in Safari. [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 12:55 PM PST - 4 comments

Live in Chicago but originally from NYC. Want to buy a home in next 2 years. Stay or head back? [more inside]
posted by allthethings at 12:04 PM PST - 7 comments

this is so basic, I can't believe I need help, yet here we are. I need a homework planner for a kid. Why is this hard? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:47 AM PST - 13 comments

My parents live in apartment in downtown Manhattan near Union Square (I live in Atlanta). They are mobile but limited, and my mom has Lymphoma (a slow developing one that is not much of an impediment at this point). I would like to get them some help keeping their place clean (and doing their laundry which is in-building). Cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms and vacumming. Obviously whoever goes there will need to be extra careful with safety and testing. Might anyone have a recommendation for me?
posted by softlord at 11:43 AM PST - 2 comments

DBT has rational mind and emotional mind, with wise mind in the middle. Freud has superego and id, with ego in the middle. What are other examples of models of the mind or self that involve a dichotomy with the real self or desired state found in between or in balancing the extremes? [more inside]
posted by Gravel at 10:36 AM PST - 13 comments

This is a question about dog products, along the lines of this one. What can we pre-buy or at least pre-select for a newly adopted adult dog if all we know is they weigh less than 40 lbs? [more inside]
posted by heyforfour at 10:27 AM PST - 19 comments

Twice now I’ve patched punctures in my road/gravel bike tires that failed super fast once I got them back on the bike. I’m 100% following the instructions on the patch kit, letting dry overnight and not over inflating the tire after. I’m sure it’s the patch, not a new puncture from getting the tube back on the rim. What gives? I’m using a cheap patch kit from Target, do I need something fancier from the bike store?
posted by genmonster at 9:52 AM PST - 22 comments

Thanks to glaucoma, I have to use single-use eyedrops twice a day. It seems that these can't be recycled (though I'm still checking this) so I would like to find something to do with these little droppers. [more inside]
posted by bwonder2 at 9:34 AM PST - 6 comments

I have found that having either physical or Kindle books with short, bite-sized chapters that can be finished in the span of a couple subway stops or while waiting in line is the best way to help prevent endless doomscrolling. Do you have any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by guttmann at 8:58 AM PST - 22 comments

My iPhone (x) is on AT&T but we live in an area with very shoddy reception (AT&T is among the best but still very bad). I have Wi-Fi calling but my calls still fail all the time. Does that make sense, or does it mean that Wi-Fi calling isn't working? When I look at my phone, it shows that Wi-Fi calling is on, I have a strong Wi-Fi connection (internet works great), but I have no bars and calls fail (as do regular green-bubble SMS text messages). Should that be happening?
posted by malhouse at 8:41 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been working with an independent contractor for approx. 1 year, and think it may be time to cut the cord, due to his various personal issues. [more inside]
posted by kilohertz at 8:37 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm back into gaming after years off. We're playing Borderlands 2, a first-person shooter. It's fun of course, but I notice I tense up and get stressed out during firefights. How do you remain calm when you're in the thick of it?! Aside from taking a break that is. [more inside]
posted by storybored at 7:46 AM PST - 18 comments

My son is a 19-year-old who, due to some physical health challenges, may not be well-suited to complete a four-year degree at this time. He is very interested in developing websites. What kind of training would be helpful for a young person interested in starting a career in web development? What is the feeling on bootcamps in this space? [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 7:39 AM PST - 11 comments

Locked down due to COVID exposure, and my grocery delivery sent me regular popcorn kernels instead of the requested microwave popcorn. I have only two pots--a saute pan (straight sides) and a 12-qt steamer (the basket is removable). Can I plausibly pop popcorn in either of these things?
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:26 AM PST - 33 comments

I sometimes receive an email on my Mac (OS Monterrey 12.1) running Mail 15.0 that says there is an attachment, but no attachment is visible, either in the preview pane or if I click File>Open Message. However, if I begin to forward the message, I can see the attachment. [more inside]
posted by Joleta at 7:21 AM PST - 1 comment

My son attends Merrimack College; my cousin plays hockey for Clarkson University. My son invited me to watch the game between the two schools. Do I cheer for Merrimack (the home team and my hosts's school), or Clarkson (for whom my cousin is skating)? This is partly facetious, partly serious. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:34 AM PST - 28 comments

several weeks ago I developed really bad back pain...at the time I wasn't sure if it was due to something I did at the gym, ovulation pains (was concentrated on left side). Then the pain and then numbness migrated down my leg to my knee. Then I get COVID (omicron). I am thriced vaxxed. [more inside]
posted by dmbfan93 at 6:26 AM PST - 6 comments

I have ~150 images that I want to post to Instagram, a few each day. Is there an app for that? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 5:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I’m interested in going to therapy, but I’m not sure how to find an appropriate therapist. My past experiences with therapy haven’t been great. I’m looking for a therapist who will do more than just listen. Instead, I'm looking for someone who will offer guidance and concrete suggestions. I’m also not interested in antidepressants or other psych drugs. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:09 AM PST - 9 comments

I've got a 1gb Seagate SSHD that I want to recover data off of. What company would be my best option, either SF area or to ship to? Looking through old questions I found recommendations for DriveSavers and Western Data Recovery, but they were also about 5 years old, and a lot can change in that time for a company. [more inside]
posted by tavella at 12:36 AM PST - 4 comments

Today while buying some bulk (pricey!) Brazil nuts, a bunch fell into the mat designed to catch crumbs under the bulk bins. Not wanting to waste food, I scooped them up and purchased the errant nuts but now I’m concerned about how/ if I should clean them of germs before eating them, since they were on a pretty public surface. They’ll be consumed raw. Should I clean my nuts? How?
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 9:43 PM PST - 10 comments

I recently got into the Fall of Civilisations podcast. Any recs for Documentaries or Doc series that have a similar vibe?
posted by kittensofthenight at 8:11 PM PST - 5 comments

My sibling (vax'ed) seems to be dragging their heels on getting their children vaccinated. The kids are in the 5-11 group. There have been a few rescheduled appointments, and when I ask when they are going in, they deflect. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by carmenghia at 7:42 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a Dell Optiplex 3020 (SFF form factor) with a Core i5-4570 @ 3.2 GHz. I luckily happened to get an MSI Seahawk Geforce GTX 1080 from a friend who was getting rid of it - I know graphics cards of any kind are hard to find these days. It's going to be used for iRacing and Halo Infinite (system requirements linked). (By no means do I expect to play these games on the highest settings.) I know I'm going to need a lot of parts to get this to work (case swap, PSU at the very least), but exactly what will I need to buy?
posted by Seeking Direction at 7:32 PM PST - 5 comments

I am committed to have a dumb phone. I am locked into AT&T for reasons. Are there any non-nokia/non-android phones that I'm not aware of that will be 4G compatible? [more inside]
posted by Cold Lurkey at 6:01 PM PST - 8 comments

I am most curious to learn the words and ideas people are talking about today that they were less likely to be chatting about a decade or more ago. For example, I have noticed that words like "placemaking" and "uncanny valley" are frequently emerging from people's lips today, but I don't think that I heard those words 10 years ago. Are there other phrases and terms that are now common among the creative crowd?
posted by mortaddams at 5:56 PM PST - 18 comments

I’m looking for a sewing pattern for a color-blocked A-line fit-and-flare dress—something like this. What’s a good pattern like this?
posted by pxe2000 at 5:19 PM PST - 7 comments

During my visit, my mom asked if I could place an Amazon order for her, valued at around $25, then she'd pay me back. She did not. She mentioned once, unprompted, that she didn't forget that she'd pay me back and would before I left, but that didn't happen. To be fair, we had a bad snowstorm that caused us to lose power for a few days, so it's possible she forgot. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 4:37 PM PST - 44 comments

Small gardening question: am I imagining a change in most commercial cactus mix, and where can I get the old kind? [more inside]
posted by moonlight on vermont at 3:01 PM PST - 4 comments

Taking off from my earlier Ask about furniture for a small apartment, I'd like to get specific recommendations for a chair to be hung indoors. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 1:58 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to rehab an LED fixture for an aquarium, and its cooling fans have some unusual parts that I don't know how to replace. Can you help me brainstorm how to deal with this thing? Details within. [more inside]
posted by agentofselection at 1:57 PM PST - 3 comments

We have hard water. One of the burners has developed a layer of hard water stains. This is not food residue - it's definitely from hard water. CLR has worked well elsewhere in the house, but I need to be sure it's safe for the cooktop and won't damage the finish. [more inside]
posted by La Gata at 1:51 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm staring at pictures of larger black squares on my smaller black square, mulling a lockdown boredom ipad purchase, and am hugely torn on what size and model to get. Please impart any wisdom at all you can to me, based on your own experience and my unhelpfully rough requirements: [more inside]
posted by ominous_paws at 12:16 PM PST - 41 comments

I'm looking for some good research-based sites that show what works and doesn't work for organizations/companies that are producing short videos to reach their audiences. [more inside]
posted by perhapses at 11:59 AM PST - 4 comments

I need some repairs done on my two suits before I can wear them without causing further damage, and based on past experience if they are done wrong the whole garment may end up unwearable. Do you have someone in Toronto who you can trust with those sorts of repairs? Bonus if they can also fix broken stitching on boots and handbags.
posted by sindark at 11:53 AM PST - 5 comments

If you could pretend you are my parent or older sibling giving me advice on buying a car as I don't have that luxury right now that would be great. My car was (likely) totaled in a bad accident this past weekend and I'm going to try and buy a car for the first time. [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 11:39 AM PST - 26 comments

I was gifted a pair of Vuori pants that are more than 4 inches too long for me. Sigh. How do I shorten them so I can wear them? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 11:38 AM PST - 6 comments

When someone mentions to you that their background is Ashkenazi Jewish, what associations does this activate in your mind? What would you understand or assume based on them or their ancestors being Ashkenazi Jews? What might someone expect the other person to understand by mentioning this?
posted by d288478 at 11:37 AM PST - 39 comments

I am updating a class schedule with a calendar of readings/activities/links that are arranged in order. Each term, I transfer the old calendar over to a new one. This is tedious. Is there a way to auto-populate a calendar with events? [more inside]
posted by Acari at 11:25 AM PST - 2 comments

I just realized I didn’t get a calendar for my work desk for 2022 yet! I am looking for a small or medium wall calendar (maximum size 12” wide, but ideally 8x8 or 8x16”) where the paper is matte finish like a book’s pages rather than slick and shiny like a magazine. Please recommend products or presses or artists who have 2022 calendars on nice paper. [more inside]
posted by janell at 10:57 AM PST - 2 comments

I need to move our accounts from a Californian based Credit Union because they don't have the kind of online flexibility that I need while living across the US and travelling. I need some ideas for the best US-based bank in terms of web interface and mobile app please, as I will rarely (if ever) go to a branch. [more inside]
posted by Brockles at 10:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I'd like to easily collect articles, emails, twitter threads, and possibly book chapters into one easy-to-print document, possibly on a weekly basis. How can I do it?
posted by jander03 at 10:28 AM PST - 3 comments

I am currently making an appointment with my doctor and a physical therapist to specifically address this, but since it will be at least a few days and I have to work at my remote office job before that, can you give me any suggestions for addressing leg pain when you are seated? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 10:00 AM PST - 10 comments

During the pandemic my indoor plant population has exploded into a gratifying hobby of beauty and magic. I have been using google to figure out the basics of temperature, sunlight, watering, fertilizer and soil, but this approach just seems so...random? Is there a more definitive resource (book, website etc) that you can recommend?
posted by nanook at 9:13 AM PST - 6 comments

Has anyone tried this? I have a B model. I've been researching and can't determine what the hex size screws on the bottom of the seat frame are. [more inside]
posted by Liquidwolf at 9:08 AM PST - 3 comments

What is the best spice grinder available on the market right now? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot at 8:07 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a brutal cough, but otherwise feel completely fine. It's not covid. Multiple PCR tests have said so. I need to suppress this cough so I can at least go to the drugstore and run some other critical errands. I need all the best cough suppression strategies you've got please! [more inside]
posted by cgg at 8:01 AM PST - 40 comments

We are looking after my friend's lovely, sweet, affectionate, diabetic cat while she is out of the country. Everything is going well...except the insulin injections. He meows in pain every time we inject him. He does not do this when she gives him shots. How can we make it better? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by rednikki at 5:25 AM PST - 10 comments

While clearing out my grandfather's electricals, we found an Amprobe A M 1A multimeter in its case. Is there anyone who would wish to own this out there? Or should we recycle this? [more inside]
posted by MarianHalcombe at 4:52 AM PST - 6 comments

Looking for book recommendations on the theme/thesis of "history repeating itself". [more inside]
posted by dragonfruit at 11:49 PM PST - 10 comments

Got some questions about picking up a pair of ski boots. Very small feet, don’t ski super often, more inside! [more inside]
posted by imalaowai at 9:09 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm a test prep instructor; one of the challenges I face is getting students to spend more than 2 minutes engaging with problems. I'm always on the lookout for problems that will require my students to invest thought/energy/deliberation, but at the same time will NOT require higher math (my students by and large need neither calc nor trig, save for a basic understanding of SOHCAHTOA; they DO need algebra/geometry knowledge). Where can I find a collection of such problems to give as "extra credit?" Books, websites, anything would be helpful. Example problem inside. [more inside]
posted by rjacobs at 8:20 PM PST - 22 comments

Have you had a full coverage inflatable costume with good visibility. If so let me know. [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:24 PM PST - 7 comments

We have several people in the family who want to do things, like go to school or work, responsibly. We have a small stash of at-home tests which may be hard to replace once they are used up. Can we use one test for several people to potentially reduce the number of tests used? Obviously if a pooled test is positive we'd have to use individual tests to narrow down who is infected, which could make this a moot point, but if the pooled test is negative we may be able to save test kits for future use. . [more inside]
posted by citygirl at 6:55 PM PST - 13 comments

My ex and I shared a car with both our names on the title. We are in the middle of a divorce, and I want to give him the car (he has both the car and the title with him right now; we now live in different states). He refuses to engage and won't let me sign the title over to him. He's now getting fines I'm responsible for. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:55 PM PST - 8 comments

Based on this terrific AskMe about peaceful videogames, I found and purchased Spiritfarer on Steam. But I can't run the game on my un-updated Mac because I don't have High Sierra, and I can't seem to find the complete the upgrade. Help? [more inside]
posted by mochapickle at 6:26 PM PST - 3 comments

About 3 years ago I bought way too many black peppercorns. I put some in a glass jar, barely covered them with cheap whiskey, and capped the jar. I looked at the bottom of the jar today and saw needle-shaped crystals that must have precipitated. What could they be?
posted by gray17 at 5:45 PM PST - 2 comments

Cycle of mistrust and infidelity, how to cope when *you* are the bad guy in a break up. Details below. Please do not read if you cannot (understandably) feel sympathy for a cheating partner. [more inside]
posted by Skadi at 5:14 PM PST - 26 comments

I've never put out music online before -- but I've been working on an album, and have put a ton of effort into producing it. I don't have any following or anything. So I'm expecting that if I put it on Spotify the payout will be hardly anything. So I'm thinking to sell it only on Bandcamp.... Am I missing out by not being on Spotify or is this a wise move whilst I start out? The genre of music is pop/dance. ^_^'
posted by audio at 3:43 PM PST - 11 comments

Our 5 yo is clearly left-handed. He's starting to play with computers at the library and struggling with the mouse no matter which hand he uses. He's free to do anything he wants left-handed, but is this an area where we should encourage him to at least try to learn it right-handed? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 2:18 PM PST - 39 comments

I’m building my emergency kit and don’t know what to put in food-wise. What MREs, rations, non-perishables, etc. do you have in storage? Have you tasted them and lived to tell? [more inside]
posted by erloteiel at 1:58 PM PST - 20 comments