Ask MetaFilter

We didn't make quarterly payments? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 8:19 PM PST - 9 comments

My book club's last three books were The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, and The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. All great, but also quite bleak, violent, or depressing, or a mix of the three. Looking for a more light-hearted or cheerful suggestion for our next book. Any recommendations? Fiction and under 400 pages are the only two requirements.
posted by emd3737 at 7:52 PM PST - 20 comments

I have a job interview tomorrow for a great position, but I fear that I've already self-sabotaged by not preparing enough for it. Now I'm having massive anxiety, how can I calm down before my interview tomorrow morning? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:51 PM PST - 18 comments

Could Google this but am beat. Just curious - how does LTC or caregiving at home work in the rest of the anglosphere? I know it depends on the state, too, for the US. Actually would be interested in hearing about how it works in other Canadian provinces, too. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:01 PM PST - 10 comments

I do a lot of googling for my job (preschool/head start teacher). I get tons of stuff from pinterest, which I despise. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 5:05 PM PST - 6 comments

Please suggest soundtracks that give some sense of what is happening in the movie? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 4:48 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm looking for a poet who had videos on Youtube to accompany their poetry. Details I recall: - Ranty / slam poetry style - Poet was (possibly?) open about being schizophrenic. - Videos were crude composites of pictures or two/three frame animations. Two pieces I remember: [more inside]
posted by solarion at 4:02 PM PST - 2 comments

I am a beginner guitarist and whether I'm standing or sitting, I'm not totally sure if I'm holding my guitar correctly. Besides the obvious answer of "hire a teacher to show you", what is the best/most correct way to hold a guitar? And how can I confirm that I'm doing it correctly? [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 1:35 PM PST - 5 comments

I will see my doctor about this but it's so bizarre that I was wondering if anyone had experienced anything similar. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 1:06 PM PST - 10 comments

Let's all just continue doing Scotland travel advice! We are visiting the country in October: spending a few days in Edinburgh, then riding a fancy train, then upon disembarking would like to stay out in a cottage or castle for a couple days to decompress. We do not want to rent a car so we are looking for lovely locations within an hour or two train/bus/ferry ride from Edinburgh. [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:59 AM PST - 10 comments

I have developed a rare disease which causes pockets of inflammation throughout the body. I have developed these inflammations in my brain stem. I have been feeling mild neuro symptoms for a few months now and my neurooncologist (it's not cancer) wants to treat the disorder and shrink the inflammation in my medulla with a course of prednisone. The course starts at 100 mg a day for the 1st 2 weeks and titrates down 20 mg every 2 weeks, all over the course of 16 weeks. I am also taking 2 accompanying meds to avoid pneumonia and stomach ulcer. [more inside]
posted by primate moon at 11:13 AM PST - 10 comments

A friend is trying to remember a short story she read 20+ years ago that ended the way it began. Can you help us find it? [more inside]
posted by mochapickle at 10:44 AM PST - 6 comments

I will need a new roof soon. Is there a time of year that construction is slower that would be better for the roof installation? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench at 10:20 AM PST - 8 comments

I need to organize a low-budget graveside memorial service for my dad, since he died destitute and I am not a Baptist, although he was. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by erattacorrige at 9:32 AM PST - 17 comments

While doing some research for a project, I noticed this Wikipedia entry where the writing style seems to have changed. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:26 AM PST - 4 comments

Talking -- even thinking -- about choosing between one with lower cost of attendance and another that's more highly regarded can be a little fraught. Have you ever come across reasoning that changed (or solidified) how you thought about it? [more inside]
posted by troywestfield at 9:02 AM PST - 67 comments

What metaphors and idioms get used as a crutch in or are unique to your field (or specialization within your field) as shorthand for larger or abstract concepts? [more inside]
posted by DB Cooper at 8:43 AM PST - 24 comments

Does anyone know of a service that facilitates a voter sending printed mail to elected officials? eg, it's a workflow a la signing a petition online, but this action triggers the sending a postcard to your congressperson? [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:16 AM PST - 3 comments

I’m on the lookout for art history courses that aren’t just a lecture series but also involve writing and research-based assignments. I cannot find anything online, and I’ve exhausted whatever edX and Coursera have an offer. Any area of focus/time period works for me! [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 4:49 AM PST - 2 comments

My on-again off-again friend has called to try to mend fences. I don’t want to. But she is the mother of my son’s best friend… [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:11 AM PST - 33 comments

We have a family event that takes us to Hanover NH in late June so we are planing to meet up with some favorite relatives and sneak in a little vacation. We will fly into Boston, rent a car and then spend a few nights a place A (maybe Cape Cod?) and a few nights in place B (??) and end up near Hanover NH. Where should we stay and what should we do on the two parts of this trip? [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 10:30 PM PST - 24 comments

I would like to test Solr, an open-source search engine that "runs on Java 11 or greater" and would create an index of (i.e. "crawl") content from 5-7 web sites which were all created by one person. This is my first foray into the world of Java, so I do not know the hosting provider landscape. I get that Java isn't common on shared hosting, but perhaps there's an option I don't know about? I would like to pay <= $30 for a month or two of access; this doesn't need to have a domain name or a ton of storage. Recommend a hosting provider? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 8:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Where do you find unbiased new car reviews? Is it still mainly Consumer Reports (which requires a paid subscription) or is there anything newer/better/free? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:27 PM PST - 13 comments

My family (husband, 17yo, 14 yo) and I will be in England the first week of June (through June 6) for a vacation, and in Slovenia the third week of June for a conference. It didn't make sense to fly back to Alaska, so we're just going to stay. We have about 11 days. Where should we visit in Europe between England (or in England) and Slovenia, that's accessible by rail? [more inside]
posted by leahwrenn at 7:23 PM PST - 21 comments

Hair people of Metafilter! The salon I go to has recently announced a number of new policies and honestly I've been a little taken aback by them. I'm trying to get a sense of whether these changes are happening throughout the industry or whether it's just my particular spot. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 6:19 PM PST - 41 comments

My current android phone (an LG Velvet) only has 15 volume settings between mute and maximum volume. Is there any way to either increase the number of steps or select a half way setting? [more inside]
posted by Mitheral at 6:18 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a friend who is fed up with living in Toronto, "a city that prioritizes the car". His way of rebelling is to press every single "Press to cross the street beg button" that he passes, regardless of whether he intends to cross the street. He insists that if enough people do it, it will fuck up traffic and cause the city to stop installing these evil things. Is he right? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 4:39 PM PST - 28 comments

I'm trying to organize/customize a deep, ceiling-to-floor pantry cabinet by adding some special shelving to an existing cabinet. I need some guiding principles. What belongs at eye level, chest level or waist level? What kind of pull out shelf works best for various types of items: wire, shallow wood, deeper wood? Or should I remove the shelves and install actual drawers for certain stuff? Any tips appreciated! [more inside]
posted by acidic at 4:26 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do about a nearly 20-year friendship that has turned difficult for me. [more inside]
posted by anotheraccount at 3:25 PM PST - 17 comments

Donald Westlake/Parker fans, what have you found that scratches a similar itch? I'm looking for something where a criminal is at the center of the story: no cops, wannabe cops or vigilantes. Like a police procedural, but for the other side. A few dead bodies are fine but I'm mostly looking for property crimes or scams (would consider espionage), not serial killers or anything like that. As little moralizing or valorizing as possible. [more inside]
posted by Not A Thing at 2:53 PM PST - 23 comments

Is there a rhyme or reason to why certain thrift stores have lots of great household items and furniture and others don't? Is there a geographically sweet spot between population centers (aka not in the city itself because it gets picked over almost immediately, but close enough in the suburbs/exurbs to get lots of donations?) [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 1:53 PM PST - 11 comments

I really enjoyed watching this explanation of Yuchan Lim's Rachmaninov 3 performance (which I discovered courtesy of beisny's MeFi post yesterday [thank you beisny!]). Can you suggest additional similar videos that break down musical performances and help convey why they're great? Bonus points if the performance's genre is jazz, western classical, or non-western classical or folk music.
posted by ciocarlia at 12:31 PM PST - 8 comments

What is the song that Paul and the band play for the outro at 8.50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFQKHXSZxqg Driving me bonkers.
posted by captainscared at 12:12 PM PST - 6 comments

Inspired by this question, where are you all getting your big chunky glasses? I am aware of zenni and have been using them for almost as long as they've existed. But I was at the eye doctor last week and all their frames were small and boring. [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah at 12:05 PM PST - 20 comments

Hi! I'm that MeFite who posts so many FF movies, especially horror. My kid? Also a horror nerd. Thing is, we've never explored anime or manga horror. But, we're headed to Japan for a few weeks this summer, and if we'd rather know about some of the cool horror titles we might see stuff from before we get there than after we get home and it's too late to do anything about it. We're looking for some guideposts about popular subgenres and some suggestions within them. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:46 AM PST - 18 comments

"I'm looking forward to meeting you and potentially other members whom I may be helping." [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 10:03 AM PST - 18 comments

We are undertaking a minor remodel of our 1980s-era guest bath, and are stumbling over the issue of the vanity. Can you help us think through what will work best for us? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 9:59 AM PST - 16 comments

If I share human behavioral data with a rival lab, what are the expectations surrounding their use of that data? [more inside]
posted by Mr. Pooh Baggins at 9:01 AM PST - 6 comments

Our adult child is abroad finishing grad school (STEM) and for the last 2 years we've been skyping to keep in touch. It's a struggle to find conversation for these weekly online visits. [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 8:10 AM PST - 31 comments

I woke up today to find myself in my mid-seventies, in good health, able to do everything I've always done, and my mind is still reasonably sharp. I had a strong feeling that I am" living on borrowed time". If you have ever been "living on borrowed time", tell me what that feeling motivated you to do, that you normally wouldn't have done.
posted by Xurando at 7:37 AM PST - 12 comments

I had my cat Mirana for 2 years, she was my first foster from the street and very likely she was not owned by anyone ever. She was a very shy cat which was too frozen from fear to even defend herself. [more inside]
posted by Salicornia at 3:09 AM PST - 11 comments

Two months ago my partner found my perfect chair: a leather chesterfield wingback armchair. I love it and want to make sure it lasts forever while using it for a long time each day. How do I care for it? [more inside]
posted by Hactar at 1:39 AM PST - 2 comments

At the end of November I bought some small electrnic items from a seller on eBay. None of them work, but because I was slow to sort this out, eBay and the seller are saying the return window has closed. [more inside]
posted by Kiwi at 11:10 PM PST - 7 comments

on my M1 iMac, I've been experiencing an issue where iCloud Documents routinely gets stuck at "100% uploaded," which prevents files from properly syncing to other devices. It seems like it occasionally does update, but it's always seemingly at least "one change behind" on my phone and iPad. My current go-to solution is to just occasionally do "killall bird" in Terminal ("bird" is the iCloud sync daemon), but I'm curious if anyone knows a way to figure out what's at the root of the problem.
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:41 PM PST - 8 comments

My car is on its last legs (wheels?). Three of the doors only open when they feel like. We are officially in the "repairs cost more than the car is worth" phase. I wanna buy a Chevy Bolt. Tell me what I need to know! [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:36 PM PST - 20 comments

We are prepping Mrs. Musofire's tiny (200 sq.ft.) NYC studio apartment for rental. We'd like to get rid of the crappy gas oven, but the apartment isn't wired for 220V, so electric is out. You are not our realtor, but if we replaced the gas oven with a cooktop and a microwave/toaster oven combo, would renters likely thing, "great, I never use an oven anyway," or "this is not a real apartment if it doesn't have an oven"? [more inside]
posted by musofire at 5:30 PM PST - 59 comments

In addition to getting rid of all HP books and merch, what orgs should I donate to in order to counteract JKR's heinous crimes against trans folks and the people of Scotland? Especially interested in anything that would be a really big F.U. to her and her bigotry. Thx.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 2:47 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for a game or two that I can install on my MS-Windows PC, that don't require an internet connection to play. This is for my 6 year old. Prefer games with zero-to-minimal violence. I don't mind paying for a good one. Thanks!
posted by splitpeasoup at 2:24 PM PST - 14 comments

I find myself the sole occupant of a fairly large (4-bedroom, 2 1/2 baths) city row-house in my favorite city. I'd maybe like to move to a smaller place. I haven't even begun to look at the market or talk to a realtor, but I'm trying to think through how to decide whether to move or not. If you've done this, what are the factors I should think about? What should I be worried about? Costs, taxes, life quality, pros and cons? [more inside]
posted by Peach at 1:21 PM PST - 13 comments

My employer issued me a new Lenovo ThinkVision T34w-20 monitor which uses USB-C cables. In addition to the fancy new MacBook Pro for work, I would also like to be able to connect it to my personal mid-2014 MacBook Pro which has USB 3 ports. Assuming there is something I can buy to solve this problem, can you link me to the exact item please?
posted by HotToddy at 11:35 AM PST - 9 comments

I have accidentally acquired a viceroy caterpillar. Help me let it live! [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:17 AM PST - 13 comments

I generally like the taste of wild rice, but I find it kind of hard to match it with other flavors. I was planning on making some chicken and roasted carrots with it, but that still seems a bit bland. What else would you add to top it off? Sauces, seasonings, whatever. Few dietary restrictions, although I don’t like bacon and I generally avoid beans.
posted by kevinbelt at 10:14 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm looking for song examples where the singer "speaks" over music in a more or less plain voice (possibly in a rhythmic fashion). The first forty seconds of The Butthole Surfers "Pepper" is the best example I know. I am not looking for rap or hip hop or trap unless it's very different. Not looking for people using recorded samples of speaking over music. I am looking for diverse examples of people using a speaking voice over music. It can be just a short section of a piece.
posted by fake at 8:58 AM PST - 110 comments

A city councilor in my tiny town is asking to "amend" (make meaningless) the Code of Ethics which was adopted in 2015. One of her arguments is that some of the even smaller rural municipalities in the area do not have codes of ethics. Google results vary by state - eg an adviory group in Washington State says they are unnecessary, but a consultant's report in Tennessee recommends making them mandatory. Conflicts of interest are especially important here, since we are a "company town" in the old sense of the phrase.
posted by mmiddle at 8:01 AM PST - 9 comments

I’ll be doing a flight to New York soon, arriving and departing from JFK within a single day. What's the most cost effective way/method from the airport to Manhattan and what do you recommend I do/see doing the day? [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:42 AM PST - 26 comments

I get EAP benefits (10 therapy sessions per year) and I'd really like to find a therapist who's willing to help me work on boundaries with friends/managing expectations at home. I'm male. [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 5:03 AM PST - 12 comments

I need help with words to de-escalate my father's REACTION to my mother's bipolar episode. She's not too manic, I believe she's relatively safe, but ABSOLUTELY annoying. Earlier my father sent frantic texts for HELP!, "She's threatening to leave him and will not see a doctor." A few hours later, I'm thinking it was mostly just a fight between two emotionally dysregulated people. I'm more concerned bout talking him down than I am about her. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 2:25 AM PST - 9 comments

I’m really hungry right now. I have ground beef in the fridge and I bought brioche hamburger buns and sliced sharp cheddar cheese the other day and I’m reading the news and MeFi with part of my mind running through explicit fantasies about opening the ground beef and splitting it in half and putting a patty into my George Forman grill which I’ll place to the right side of my sink while I put a bun in the toaster and can I melt the cheddar onto the burger somehow? My mouth is watering. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:01 AM PST - 40 comments

I'll be in Sydney, Australia, for work for six weeks in March-April. What should I do on the weekends? Recommend me parks, boats, museums, day trips by train, bookstores, distinctive foods, or anything I absolutely can't miss while I'm there!
posted by zeptoweasel at 8:21 PM PST - 18 comments

My triglycerides are high. They have been high in the past, but came down to well within normal when I got on thyroid medication that brought my TSH down to around 1. Well, my TSH is back up and my triglycerides are back up. My doctor doesn’t feel comfortable adjusting my thyroid medication and wants me to see an endocrinologist. She is concerned about my triglycerides and wants me to take a drug with known side effects of muscle wasting and shouldn’t be taken if you have had gallstones. Well… [more inside]
posted by Bottlecap at 7:10 PM PST - 5 comments

I remember reading a poignant web comic a few years ago — possibly related to Sept. 11 and/or the Iraq War, but also possibly going back in history — about how we spin chaotic and incomprehensible events into narratives over time. Anyone happen to know what I'm referring to based on this brief description? Thanks!
posted by archagon at 6:54 PM PST - 3 comments

I will be staying in Wellington, New Zealand for the entirety of the southern hemisphere Autumn. I've been devouring everything about it but I want more: I'm a photographer and I want to make a project out of my stay. What should I witness in the city? [more inside]
posted by cihan at 5:34 PM PST - 8 comments

I don’t fully understand the dongles you can get that aim to improve audio quality. Roughly speaking, their internal components hijack the components of the device they are plugged into. But does this mean that – if using the same headphones – they will sound the same whatever you plug them into? [more inside]
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 2:15 PM PST - 16 comments

Have you experienced or heard about one of the major fast food restaurants not being able to accept cards for that day, or so? If so, is it a one off thing, so need to make sure to have cash at all times, or could it happen again, and maybe even at more than one place? What is the conclusion that different people would come to as a result of that experience? P.S Is there a better category this question should be in? I guess it would be too late to edit after a day or so.
posted by amfgf at 1:40 PM PST - 25 comments

i just noticed last night that when i am reading and bopping around on reddit, Firefox 109.0 is not loading up-to-date pages, but is showing me pages from hours ago until I manually F5 refresh. Win10, Ff 109.0, no user-initiated configuration changes. [more inside]
posted by glonous keming at 10:50 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for a place to stay that will feel indulgent/ splurge-y but also, somehow, like a good value (?) [more inside]
posted by Sweetie Darling at 10:13 AM PST - 14 comments

As a result of a grocery order, I'm now the proud owner of a piece of ginger root approximately the size of my forearm. Quite a bit more than what I needed for a stir-fry. know it freezes well, but what else could I do with that much ginger?
posted by peppermind at 8:33 AM PST - 26 comments

So after one last crummy, snowy, backpack-plus-bags-on-the-handlebars ("I'm only getting a few things!!!") trip to the grocery store, I have decided that I'm going to buy bike panniers. I have a standard rack on my bike. What do I get? Specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 8:14 AM PST - 30 comments

I'm finally traveling again - I'll be heading to Los Angeles in mid-April for a film festival. This also means a week with solo access to a bathtub (my NYC apartment tub is too shallow, and I have a roommate), so I've decided to really lean into that and the whole "Hollywood" thing with a nightly bath-and-beauty ritual. What your recommendations for things I can bring to do that (on a plane, in my carryon)? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:13 AM PST - 20 comments

What can I use as a lid for my cast iron loaf pan when baking bread? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:08 AM PST - 15 comments

After playing with ChatGPT a bit like everyone else, I'm wondering about use applications. I'd like to point an app at a folder of documents and have the ai be able to answer questions about the text. Is this currently possible without programming and ai training knowledge, etc? Is it possible at all?
posted by dave78981 at 6:33 AM PST - 7 comments

(Yes, another. I see I am not the only flummoxed Mefite today!) I'm pretty sure they're both Greg Egan, but I've done a keyword search on all the e-books I have of his, and on Google, and I'm finding nothing. Details inside for body horror. [more inside]
posted by lesser weasel at 5:50 AM PST - 6 comments

Suggestions for a funeral reading for my godfather, who died last week aged 98 and who spent his career working in chemistry. [more inside]
posted by greycap at 5:00 AM PST - 15 comments

Quick overnight trip from Oakland with cycling - how do I do this. [more inside]
posted by fieldtrip at 9:40 PM PST - 13 comments

Read in an anthology, certainly before 1999 and probably in 1996. Robots programmed to fight a war have failed programming, and have killed (as best they know) all humans and most animals. They're sad about it because they can't maintain themselves or reproduce, but it is an instinct they can't overcome. [more inside]
posted by a robot made out of meat at 8:41 PM PST - 5 comments

I am involved with setting up a trivia game for a group I am involved in. So, I turn to you for help with questions (and answers, of course). [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 7:43 PM PST - 12 comments

I've planned to get a tattoo commemorating my beloved cat who passed in 2021. On the one hand, I really want to. On the other, would it make me too sad? For those of you who've dealt with this(or similar) , did you feel that either option was better? Under the circumstances, I'm not going to pay the cat tax on this one. I hope you understand. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:37 PM PST - 15 comments

I was out of the work world and parenting a kid for the past 2.5 years and it appears that all my lady-type business casual clothing is completely outdated. Where can I go to catch up on current trends? What are professional fashion-current lady-types wearing now? [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 6:03 PM PST - 10 comments

CW: Medical trauma, near-death experiences. Hi AskMe. I'd appreciate some help processing something which happened a couple days back, or at least advice on how best to do so. Details of the situation inside. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 4:36 PM PST - 17 comments

Looking for media that uses language that's easy to understand when you're not an advanced speaker. [more inside]
posted by Eyelash at 4:17 PM PST - 16 comments

Looking for more multi-step cooking videos like this one: [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 3:32 PM PST - 7 comments

I lost all my google tabs on my iphone ... sigh ... and am trying to remember the name of this blog. I never read it, but heard about it on a podcast. I believe it is British and it's about a fictional weird place--maybe a town?--but is presented as fact. [more inside]
posted by cardamom at 3:15 PM PST - 7 comments

Because Reasons, I will probably need to purchase a car suddenly. I don't particularly want to, but mine (a Honda Fit) is likely totaled. If Honda was still making the Fit, there's no question that I'd buy another. What car should I get? Parameters + additional car-related questions inside. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:34 PM PST - 33 comments

Ideally, I'd like a treadmill to be max 66" long when in the down position. Ceilings are low (but I'm short), but I'd still love a treadmill with a great incline. As high as I can tolerate it without hitting my head. [more inside]
posted by raztaj at 12:57 PM PST - 2 comments

I have joint British and US nationality. I was born in the USA but have lived most of my life in the UK, and have never worked or lived as an adult in the USA. The last time I lived in the USA was in 1992, when I was 12 years old. Later in 2023, I am going to be working as a scientific researcher offshore (but close to shore, within US waters) for around 60 days, while being paid by my employer (a research organisation in the UK). I am stuck trying to figure out how I can do this without causing lots of problems either for my employer, or for me in terms of tax and visas. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:32 PM PST - 14 comments

My job gave a signing bonus, with the stipulation that if I voluntarily separated within two years, "the full amount of the bonus will be deducted from your last paycheck." The bonus was larger than my bi-weekly salary. Am I on the hook for the portion above the last paycheck? Illinois jurisdiction.
posted by anonymous at 12:30 PM PST - 4 comments

How do I collect data (same questions/datapoints each time) regarding a constantly changing list of students assigned to a dynamic list of staff that changes weekly, on the scale of about 120 staff members? What form/platform/survey/tool should I be looking at? [more inside]
posted by _DB_ at 11:11 AM PST - 3 comments

Why are people in their 50s and 60s all wearing big chunky black glasses? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 9:20 AM PST - 70 comments

My brain seems to want to be processing and grieving the suicide of a work colleague from 15 years ago. I'm looking for advice and things to read to help the process. [more inside]
posted by do puppets wear socks? at 9:05 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to make pierogies. I know that pierogies are often made by a group of people working together, because it's a big task. However, I am only one person, working alone. I'm looking for advice on how to streamline the process. [more inside]
posted by cleverevans at 8:43 AM PST - 11 comments

I've had a bout of constipation about a few weeks ago, and after trying some stool softeners without success, my doctor suggested I take Miralax. As I am taking iron infusions once a week, she also suggested I take the Miralax everyday to help my constipation. However, the Miralax bottle says not to take it beyond the 7-day max. YANMD. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 7:01 AM PST - 20 comments

A long time ago I watched an episode of a late night talk show where the guest (who I think was another late night guy, maybe Jimmy Kimmel?) was bantering with the host. The conversation was reasonably friendly but with an edge. At one point the guest said, "Well, what is the name of your [some type of staffer]?" [more inside]
posted by reshet at 12:50 AM PST - 5 comments

So I just bought a Switch kind of specifically to play Breath and Pikmin, but I really loved Skies of Arcadia, and I'm hoping to relive that fast-paced, turn-based gameplay.
posted by Camofrog at 9:01 PM PST - 6 comments

I want to give something more than just money, usually $5, to people when I get asked for it in public, and an idea I'm having would be a business card/index card/booklet with a compilation of resources they might try to access. I'm thinking like a list of phone numbers/contact info and addresses/directions for soup kitchens, distribution points, legal aid, etc. I'm having trouble deciding what ought to go on it though, because people's circumstances are so different I wouldn't know if what I'm putting in would be useful or irrelevant. [more inside]
posted by coolname at 8:39 PM PST - 25 comments

When I was a kid in the 80s/90s, I found a strange book in the library. I remember it having few words, a surreal (or non-existent?) plot and having black and white woodcut or heavy geometric pen/ink illustrations. The only illustration I remember clearly had a head and shoulders portrait of Peter Stuyvesant (who I had never heard of before) which was reproduced 3 or 4 times smaller and smaller in different rotations, so it looked like he was shrinking as he tumbled across the page. [more inside]
posted by fussbudget at 7:51 PM PST - 4 comments

Lush discontinued my favorite soap, Respect Your Elders, a couple years ago, and the stash that I bought to keep me from discontinuation heartbreak is at an end. I keep trying to find a dupe of this soap, or something in the black currant/elderberry area, but I haven't had any luck. Soap me? [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 5:43 PM PST - 13 comments

As an art-loving first-time mother, I am obsessed with the fingerpaintings and chicken scratch my three-year-old brings home from pre-school. What is the best way to securely tape it to the wall that won't damage the paper when I eventually want to take it down and archive? [more inside]
posted by lovableiago at 4:29 PM PST - 18 comments

If someone hits your legally parked car and it's pretty obvious that they're the liable party, how long does it usually take for their insurance to conduct its "investigation" to determine liability and pay for your damages. (I won't be reimbursed for my deductible until they complete their investigation) [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 4:26 PM PST - 8 comments

I'd like to buy a new wireless router, but I can't find what I'm looking for, which is: well-supported by OpenWrt and two 2.5gig ports [more inside]
posted by Rhomboid at 2:59 PM PST - 4 comments

I am searching for an object that might not exist: A comb that is like scissors so it can grab hair. Does it exist? What is it called? [more inside]
posted by Acari at 2:33 PM PST - 4 comments

My husband asked me this last night and I'm stumped. Please help me come up with more recently coined eponyms that have successfully caught on! We're not counting all eponyms--no diseases named after doctors or policies named after politicians, for example. More rules below the fold. [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 12:47 PM PST - 76 comments

I'm reading a book by an author dubbed the Bard of Akron for his writing about life in Ohio. Can you think of other authors who have been called - by some reasonably notable source - the Bard of Somewhere? Avon is out, I already know about that Bard. The smaller and more obscure the somewhere, the better. [more inside]
posted by moonmilk at 12:41 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm trying to learn more about Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion (DOME) treatment for sleep apnea. Is there any data about efficacy / long term success rate for those who want to stop using a CPAP? How do I get ahold of it and compare it to other treatment methods? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 12:29 PM PST - 7 comments

I recently watched Warren Beatty's film Dick Tracy (1990) and I am wondering if the character in the film also called The Kid is supposed to loosely resemble Chaplin's film The Kid (1921)?
posted by RearWindow at 11:40 AM PST - 8 comments

I ordered a charcuterie board for an event this weekend and it just arrived. It all looks great, but there is not enough for the number of people I have. Can you recommend side dishes, extras, additions to round it out? Only dietary limitations are no dairy and no shellfish. I already planned on adding: cornichon, olives, nuts, roasted garbanzos, spreads, crackers, baguette, veggies, fruit. Thank you!
posted by papergirl at 11:12 AM PST - 25 comments

I can hear high-frequency sounds from some electronics (as discussed here). Does anyone know what frequencies these electronics are buzzing at? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 11:09 AM PST - 13 comments

Looking for scripts I should have used instead of (eep, I know how bad this sounds) going silent on these people. [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 10:42 AM PST - 19 comments

Websites keep requiring my cell phone number, and I don't want to provide it - Paypal and ChatGPT being the most recent. Most free temporary cell phone number services (usually VOIP) don't work - ChatGPT refuses numbers from there. What workarounds or other options are there if I DO NOT WANT to provide my actual cell phone number? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 10:41 AM PST - 11 comments

I've gone from cooking for one with lots of spare time to cooking for many with less spare time. The bottleneck is always cutting, slicing, and chopping. [more inside]
posted by Ookseer at 10:03 AM PST - 40 comments

Settle an argument. If my friend has an idea for a gameshow, and they write down how players should play it, which government agency would they send it to give it legal protection, the Copyright and Trademark office or the Patent office? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:33 AM PST - 11 comments

This year I have a slightly complicated (but not that complicated) tax situation as I moved countries and also sold some (but not all) stock holdings. My original arrangements for tax prep have fallen through and I am having a LOT of trouble finding anyone else willing to take me on as a client. Can I DIY this with a fancy version of Turbotax or something? Or, alternatively, does anyone have any leads on good US/Canada tax accountants who are actually accepting new clients? (Moved from the US to Canada last fall) [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 9:32 AM PST - 8 comments

My wife has pulmonary fibrosis and is on nasal oxygen. Sometimes at night the nasal cannula gets displaced and her pO2 goes down. Can someone recommend a device that measures blood oxygen while sleeping and gives a good alarm if the pO2 goes below a set level? Thanks!
posted by spulver at 9:24 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm a longtime happy LastPass user, but the time seems to have come to find a new password manager. What would you suggest as a replacement? It's been discussed in some contexts recently on both the Blue and the Green, but I wanted to ask the question again in a place that is likely to get more attention that the recent MeFi thread. [more inside]
posted by cheapskatebay at 7:42 AM PST - 40 comments

My employer gives us one volunteer day per year where we can go out and volunteer for a registered charity. I have a physical disability that would make most volunteer opportunities (homes for humanity, etc) challenging. The only criteria is that it's for a registered charity or community organization. I'd like to find a volunteer opportunity where I could do it from my home and wondering if anyone has any suggestions? If it matters, I'm located in Canada.
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 7:34 AM PST - 12 comments

Does anyone know of a large German-language library with an online catalogue likely to have older theology-oriented books which uses DDC call numbers? [more inside]
posted by nangua at 6:59 AM PST - 2 comments

Friend asked me if I would be willing to mend a couple of pairs of jeans. She offered $20 per pair. I said I would be happy to mend them on the condition that I do it for free as a friend, and that she just "pay if forward". I picked up the jeans, mended them, and delivered them back to her with a note that said, "Again, I've mended these at no charge other than to pay it forward, since we are friends." Later, friend left an envelope on my door containing $50 (even though her original terms were $20 per jeans = $40). [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 6:46 AM PST - 45 comments

I'm e-Filing my household' employee's W-2. I won't be able to use SSA because of reasons. I've found several 3rd party companies that do that, but I've never heard of them and seems like something review sites don't handle. Who have you used to do these and who do you recommend? Assume don't want to spend more than $10 on this.
posted by sandmanwv at 6:33 AM PST - 2 comments

My husband and I are trying to decide whether to buy a second car. We're in the fortunate position that we can afford one although there are plenty of other things we could spend the money on (redecorating the house, holidays, that sort of thing). Currently we share a 12 year old car and this works pretty well most of the time. I take the train to work on days I need to go into the office, and every few months when I need to visit client sites my employer hires a car for me. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 5:04 AM PST - 25 comments

(c.w. cancer, colostomy bags). My husband will be having stoma surgery in a couple of weeks time as the last available treatment for his colorectal cancer, diagnosed last May. He is in his mid forties. While we are consciously grateful that this life saving surgery is available, the forthcoming permanent body modification is a daunting prospect. Do you have any personal experience of this procedure and subsequently living with a colostomy bag? Or being the partner of someone in this situation? [more inside]
posted by Diomedea at 4:23 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm trying to recall the brand / model of an expensive, well-regarded "audiophile"-grade amplifier that was subsequently found to contain a handful of inexpensive parts and a simple (or short?) circuit design. What was it?
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 8:20 PM PST - 11 comments

My formerly scent-loving partner has developed some kind of sensitivity to smells. The only shampoo he can tolerate is baby shampoo. My products are all for wavy, frizzy hair so they’re heavily scented. Any ideas for reasonably priced odour free conditioners available in Canada? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:12 PM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone recommend recent (last five years) books about food, especially when it also discussed a specific place, please? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:56 PM PST - 15 comments

Experienced bread bakers, can you please answer a question I have about adjusting a recipe. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:28 PM PST - 8 comments

Best online sign-up sheet for office potluck events? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 6:53 PM PST - 4 comments

I reside in the United States. I have a fair amount of paper euros left over from previous trips that I would like to spend with a vendor in Europe. Is there a simple and inexpensive way to convert those paper euros into a EUR-based debit card, which I can then use to make a purchase online? [more inside]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 6:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Is there anything that I, as a layperson with some rudimentary knowledge of math and coding, can read to get a better sense of what's going on in there? To grok how it makes the leap from "matching patterns" to "answering complex and novel essay questions"? Ideally I'm looking for a shortish article (5 - 20 minute read?) or maybe a podcast episode? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 6:21 PM PST - 7 comments

I've got a hankering to do a good old-fashioned floral needlepoint pillow kit, a la this. I started trolling through Google returns and realized I needed AskMe instead. Who are the quality needlepoint kit purveyors these days, especially of beautiful florals? Note that I would be a beginner, but a determined one.
posted by HotToddy at 5:22 PM PST - 7 comments

I made this chicken curry a week and a half ago (Jan 14). It's still seems good, but there's still far more than I anticipated left. Can I still portion it out and freeze it, or have I missed the window for that? [more inside]
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 5:05 PM PST - 11 comments

PBS News Hour journalist Lisa Dejardins is an excellent journalist and her hair is irrelevant to her remarkable professional contributions. However, I am going to be very shallow and ask how she got her hair to go from fine/thin to thick and full looking. [more inside]
posted by ojocaliente at 4:24 PM PST - 19 comments

I want a website where I can look up my Seattle-area ZIP code, see one number, and use that number to decide if I should wear a mask that week when I'm out in public. Any suggestions for what that number should be, and where to find it? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:50 PM PST - 29 comments

Is there an app, website, or service that will give us a checklist of preventative car maintenance activities we should be doing and remind us to do them at the appropriate intervals? Or am I overthinking this, and we really just need to remember to get an oil change every X miles or Y months? [more inside]
posted by dyslexictraveler at 3:35 PM PST - 15 comments

I am looking for practical resources to teach me how to handle situations where I am not getting what I need from an employee, a contractor, an outside company, etc. [more inside]
posted by Arbitrage1 at 2:43 PM PST - 6 comments

Due to, well, everything, my two adult children (both over 30,) their partners and one toddler have moved in with me. That makes 6 people and a 70 pound dog in a roughly 1400 square foot, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house. I would like all the tips, tricks and thoughts you have on group family living in small spaces. Difficulty level: old resentments, untreated mental illness, money issues and more inside. [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 1:32 PM PST - 34 comments

I occasionally listen to YouTube's Conditions Underground playlist or, more frequently, Left of the Dial. These get updated... periodically? I really have no idea, I just see them on my sidebar and get sick of the usual suspects and click play. Anyway I heard two songs on either of these playlists within the last year and would like to find them again. [more inside]
posted by jabes at 12:59 PM PST - 1 comment

This is for the purposes of a recurring movie night: What are some films that contain quite a lot of sword fighting action? The mere presence of swords isn't enough; we want dozens of minutes of fight scenes. Gladiator met our needs, as did the recent live-action Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning. The 1998 The Man In The Iron Mask was a notable disappointment, lacking sword fighting almost entirely. The Princess Bride would not be suitable for similar reasons; people don't sword fight nearly often enough.
posted by 4th number at 11:45 AM PST - 34 comments

I have the service number, last name, and first/middle initials of someone who was in the navy around 1952. In short, is there a service that just lets me search for a person knowing their service number (and maybe last name)? [more inside]
posted by beyond_pink at 11:27 AM PST - 4 comments

I am living in university housing, in a dorm apartment - think the worst of both worlds combined in an unholy amalgam of student living. Mine is two bedroom, although since the last student didn't end up moving in the previous semester, I have had it alone since mid summer. Last week my new roommate moved in, and she's a graduate student from Ghana. How do I make her more comfortable and help her with the huge culture shock? [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 11:00 AM PST - 32 comments

There used to be this map floating around the internet, but I haven't seen it for years. Can you help me find it? It showed land use in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 10:12 AM PST - 5 comments

I am over the photo limit on Flickr and keep getting reminders. Amazon Drive is shutting down at the end of 2023. And I just got a notice from Shutterfly that Share Sites are shutting down effective 3/25/2023. What's the best way to download everything? [more inside]
posted by toastyk at 9:52 AM PST - 3 comments

I will have 6 hours or so to kill in Nashville this weekend, ostensibly East Nashville, and would like to know about thrift stores, antique malls, junk shops, curiosity shops, used book stores, and the like that people have fun in. Not looking to buy Aunt Millie's Revolutionary War era chair, but happy to look at it. Places with used books and art are a plus, but I like pretty much any old thing. Willing to drive away from East Nashville, but the further the place the bigger it should be. [more inside]
posted by AbelMelveny at 9:28 AM PST - 4 comments

I have signed up for an Open Studio Painting Class in acrylics. What should I take with me? And what do I put it in? [more inside]
posted by OrangeDisk at 9:02 AM PST - 6 comments

I usually swim about once a week, for an hour, doing nothing but freestyle, and without stopping. Could this be bad for me? [more inside]
posted by Vhanudux at 8:45 AM PST - 8 comments

I’m working on an article about the 10,000 Maniacs archive and I’m looking for a contemporary band (as opposed to their peers) who has cited 10,000 Maniacs as an influence and could serve as a secondary source to speak about how influential they were and still could be for up-and-coming artists. [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 8:45 AM PST - 10 comments

So I had wordrunner on my kindle fire tablet. And then left said tablet in some TSA bin somewhere. I don't actually use it for anything EXCEPT wordrunner. I watch videos on my ipad or iphone and if I'm doing real thoughtful reading I use my laptop or iphone kindle app. I'd use wordrunner on the ipad or iphone apps but it's not on there. So i need something like wordrunner that works with Kindle purchased books for IOS or laptop. Any ideas?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:42 AM PST - 2 comments

What's the best way to ensure my personal information is completely hidden when registering a new .com domain name? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 7:23 AM PST - 8 comments

It's sort of a question without an answer but I wonder if people might have insights anyway. I ended a long relationship probably 4-5 years later than I should have and I'm at times consumed with regret. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 7:17 AM PST - 24 comments

After 18 years of depression, I was tentatively diagnosed this week with some form of bipolar. I've started a small dose of Lamictal and am working on getting some medical leave from work to address burnout and give myself some slack during the med onramp time. I have questions for people who have lived with bipolar and people who have taken medical leave to address their mental health. [more inside]
posted by punchtothehead at 7:00 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for an iOS app where I can track what I've eaten and the pain levels that result from it. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 6:45 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a good app for keeping track of movies I want to watch? I use Goodreads for books and would like something similar for movies.
posted by emd3737 at 5:51 AM PST - 17 comments

I have an ongoing problem with deprioritizing sleep as a component of good health. Can you lend me mantras, sayings, slogans--anything that helps you keep 'sleep' centered in your brain as a priority as much as fun, exercise, good nutrition, intellectual interests, spiritual centeredness, the need to feel productive -- whatever the abstract concept of "health" looks like for you? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:38 AM PST - 22 comments

Fiftyish lady here, finding myself peeing a little bit when I cough or sneeze. Dr. says treatable, but every treatment option sounds awful. But I'd love to have my mind changed. If you (or someone you know) have tried treating stress incontinence with either physical therapy, or pessary, or surgery, can you tell me about it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:09 AM PST - 23 comments

I have an HP 5590 scanner. When the USB is not plugged in, the scanner turns on and off with the power button. When the USB cable is plugged in, the power button doesn't turn the scanner off. When I unplug the USB from the scanner and unplug it from the wall, and then turn plug it back into the wall, the power button turns it on. But once on, with the USB plugged in, it won't turn off. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:28 PM PST - 2 comments

I watch youtube videos on my LG TV's YT app. I don't log in to do that. I just surf "home" videos and click play and watch. However, occasionally, I'll pause and then inadvertently click "back" too many times and then it drops me back to "home". But now, it doesn't show me the same set of video choices, and I can't find the video I was just watching! And I also can't find a history of what I watched. [more inside]
posted by Pig Tail Orchestra at 8:21 PM PST - 4 comments

All the advice I've been able to find on saying No to requests for my time/effort assumes that I'm saying no because I don't actually want to do that thing, and just need a way to let someone down politely. But I have ongoing requests for side projects that I'd enjoy, from people I like. My life is too busy for me to say yes to all of them, but I wish I could. Everyone knows I want to do them, so they keep asking. If I manage to bow out, it becomes temporary because people ask again later. How can I say no to stuff and mean it, and convey that I mean it to people who will be disappointed that I'm not doing the thing? [more inside]
posted by harriet vane at 7:01 PM PST - 17 comments

I have something attached to my sliding glass window that uses DC power from a wall transformer. I'd like to install the wiring in a way that is unobtrusive and preferably provides power continuously no matter what position the window is in. I'm not seeing a lot of solutions out there but I may not know the magic keywords. I can sort of do it myself, but I'm looking for something polished. Ideas? Keywords?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:46 PM PST - 9 comments

There's this film I remember reading about in the Village Voice a couple of decades ago . . [more inside]
posted by the hot hot side of randy at 5:50 PM PST - 6 comments

Hello fellow Canadians. Do you use a points card or credit card with cash back/points on prescription refills? Somebody suggested Scene points, and I believe Optimum varies by province. [more inside]
posted by Juniper Toast at 5:26 PM PST - 8 comments

What are your very favorite collections of short horror fiction? Multiple authors only, please! [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:20 PM PST - 19 comments

Costco use to carry this almond keto bites . It use to be my go to snack. I want to make it at home. [more inside]
posted by SunPower at 4:00 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for a movie. NSFW. [more inside]
posted by Bambi_Ether at 3:25 PM PST - 8 comments

I am looking for a place where I can go online and plug in the name of an artist whose work is on public display and have a list generated that shows me where. A comprehensive list. [more inside]
posted by desert exile at 2:50 PM PST - 3 comments

What strategies have you used, in similar roles past or present, to de-escalate internal anger when someone is upset at you over something you told them that they don't want to hear? [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 2:49 PM PST - 8 comments

I want to get my body checked out and topped up before entering my forties as a man I'm thinking dental, mental, joints, hormones, sight, and gut How can I make an overall plan of action? What kinds of appointments should I make, with what kinds of experts? Experiences with experts in Latin America would be a bonus (to stretch that dollar) Let's say I could spend $50k over 5 years...
posted by jander03 at 2:38 PM PST - 9 comments

I lost my long-time companion, and I want to write about her. I'm thinking of writing a little book over the course of this year, answering one question every week. Can you help add to the list of questions? [more inside]
posted by toucan at 2:09 PM PST - 21 comments

I want to run a specific TTRPG for a geographically distributed group of friends online. I'm looking for a tool that will let me add digital assets to create decks that can be shuffled and shared digitally. [more inside]
posted by ursus_comiter at 1:01 PM PST - 5 comments

My beautiful dog is 5 years old and since we got him as a young puppy, my (diagnosed) anxiety has focused on him in what I feel is an increasingly unhealthy and unsustainable way. I had a strong realisation of this only recently, coupled with new and disturbing thoughts that while I love him deeply, my life would actually be easier and simpler without him. These thoughts are disturbing to me because I’m totally committed to, and capable of, being a responsible pet owner and giving him a safe, fun and happy life. How can I better manage and cope, and keep things in perspective? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:00 PM PST - 20 comments

Calling all vacation and second home owners or long term travelers - what should I think about when closing up the (home)shop for a while? [more inside]
posted by Eudaimonia at 12:24 PM PST - 21 comments

I know the basics of notation, but I don't get something in a piece of sheet music I'm looking at now. It's in E major, so I know that F, G, C and D are all sharps in this key. But at certain points in the melody, some G notes are marked as sharps. What gives? [more inside]
posted by Beverley Westwood at 12:18 PM PST - 8 comments

I need recommendations for doctors in NYC who can treat PMS/PMDD. [more inside]
posted by joeyjoejoejr at 10:52 AM PST - 3 comments

I bought a Kindle, using my Amazon Prime Store card with 6 months promotional financing. The only other charge on that card is $3.50. I’ve switched my Amazon preferred payment method to another card, so there will be no future charges after this, just the Kindle balance. [more inside]
posted by elphaba at 10:46 AM PST - 3 comments

Please recommend an energy-efficient air purifier that will excel at eliminating odors—especially cooking smells—in a large-ish room (500 ft² / 46 m²). It seems most purifiers focus on particulates, allergens, and pathogens by using a HEPA filter. But a HEPA filter isn't really effective for odors and VOCs, so I need a purifier that also has a very robust activated carbon filtration system (or some other tech that accomplishes the same thing) in addition to the HEPA. [more inside]
posted by theory at 10:26 AM PST - 10 comments

Our fridge water filter has finally crapped out so we are looking into an under the sink reverse osmosis filter that we've been considering for years. There are so many brands out there... does anyone use one that they are happy with? Are the ones from Costco any good? Thanks!
posted by madonna of the unloved at 10:14 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for an app in Teams for checklists that need to be completed on a regular basis, instead of just checking off a Word document every time. This is for a work team that has a high work load, to help manage recurring tasks that need to be done but get lost in the volume and pace of work. [more inside]
posted by bighappyhairydog at 9:32 AM PST - 2 comments

I recently discovered connectedpapers.com and it made me realize I'm probably out of touch with what's available in terms of science literature research search engines. My list of search engines is below the fold – does anyone know of others? [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:07 AM PST - 10 comments

Things are unstable in my family. My life is hectic and overly scheduled at the best of times. How do I plan anything? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:00 AM PST - 9 comments

My departments culture is healthy. We are team oriented and most of us are pretty open with each other. (My larger workplace culture is very optics oriented and emotionally feels unsafe because of that.) My doctor was pretty insistent about my need to use FMLA for 3 weeks and then possibly more ad hoc/intermittent to recover from burnout. I can't decide how much to say and whether to be as apologetic as I want to be. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 8:19 AM PST - 22 comments

I am hoping to hear from women who have had a laproscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy to deal with fibroids. I am especially interested in knowing about recovery experiences and any longer term outcomes for pelvic pain and bladder/urinary issues. Recommendations for surgeons in New York City would be very appreciated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:48 AM PST - 16 comments

Hi, i have a 18 month old blue merle rough collie and i was quite excited about a second collie as his playmate. Coincidentally, there was one family giving their 6 years old collie away due to family issues. When we visited with my collie, we noticed the following : [more inside]
posted by Salicornia at 2:04 AM PST - 19 comments

Dear night shift experts, I'm in a situation where in April I need to work the night shift for 2 consecutive weeks: 10pm-7am, Tue-Sat. My spouse and kids are not thrilled. Fortunately I have the option to expense a hotel next to the office (40 mins away) for those 2 weeks. And then I have to go back to normal hours immediately. I've never worked the night shift before. Any do's / don'ts? What waking hours should I keep? Should I bother trying to see my family? (There's no school one of those weeks.) What should I do for that weekend in between? [more inside]
posted by Mushroom12345 at 9:38 PM PST - 22 comments

One week in Scotland in early May - advice on proposed itinerary and activity and food suggestions? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 8:36 PM PST - 15 comments

I want to deep-clean my Twitter and delete a lot of past activity. How? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:12 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to find a nice spot for a breakfast meeting tomorrow in Brooklyn near Park Slope. Doesn’t have to be fancy fancy but not a diner style affair either. I think Ft Greene is the furthest north I’d go and Windsor terrace is the furthest south. Red Hook is furthest east and Crown Heights the furthest west I’d go. Outdoor options are a big plus! Where would you go?
posted by whisper_robin at 7:04 PM PST - 7 comments

And heaven knows he's miserable now. My boyfriend of 6 months has moved away for a job that turned out to be a house of cards — now he's stuck there and is spiralling, and I am at a loss of what to do after he requested for a 'break'. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 6:15 PM PST - 27 comments

Right now there are lots of chickens in lots of egg-laying factories. How many chickens would fit in the same amount of space if they all were 100% ethically raised? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 6:15 PM PST - 13 comments

It's intriguing to me that our society doesn't filter out someone like George Santos from holding office at an earlier stage in his life. He seems to have a long history of telling a lot of people a lot of different things. Did people really believe him? Wouldn't he earn a reputation that preceded him? Not interested in judging his politics or his character. But I am curious what factors may have allowed him to get as far as he has in life because it might reveal something interesting about human nature for me.
posted by Gosha_Dog at 4:54 PM PST - 25 comments

The first episode of the new HBO TV show The Last of Us creeped me out for hours. I started the second episode last night, but I was so stressed, I ended up turning it off. Is there any way to make it easier for me to watch it and other similar things? [Spoilers for this and likely other media within probably] [more inside]
posted by bluedaisy at 4:03 PM PST - 22 comments

I'm planning a 10-day trip to Savannah in April (probably Charleston too) and I'm trying to figure out where else I should go, and if I should make it a full road trip or add a quick flight. I like antiquing & homewares shopping, pottery/art, easy-ish hikes with beautiful views where I can read & contemplate, good casual local food/booze. Not a civil war buff. I was thinking Asheville (I guess fall would be a better time, but I assume spring is still nice?) and Seagrove for pottery, but am open to other route suggestions. [more inside]
posted by acidic at 3:41 PM PST - 11 comments

I keep seeing recipes that call for a cup (!) of butter (Strawberry Blondies), or they want you to do that thing where you cut up butter and rub it around in flour until it's either like meal or has pea-sized pieces of butter (yeah no, no rubbing around), or I feel doubtful if I have an appropriate pan size or type, or *something*. I just want something quick (prep-wise), easy, and forgiving, but also reasonably yummy. [more inside]
posted by taz at 2:12 PM PST - 29 comments

I'm in California getting applying for term life insurance. The company is asking a lot of questions, much more than they did for my wife who also applied for life insurance. Is that normal? Is it because my policy is for a larger amount ($3 million vs $1 million)? I'm worried I triggered their system by increasing the amount in the middle of the process. [more inside]
posted by earlsofsandwich at 2:06 PM PST - 4 comments

Basically I haven't had more than a UPS box since 2001 at this point. I do a lot of airbnb's but mainly chain hotels. But i've been worried if my laptop went missing or something. I do have a car and car insurance? Does THAT cover it? Or is there a renter's insurance for someone who doesn't actually have a lease?
posted by rileyray3000 at 12:44 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm headed to Miami Beach at the end of February - likely prime spring break season. I'm in my late thirties, and I'm looking to relax with my partner, not party all night. We're staying close to where 195 hits the island and will not have a car. My taste can run a little bougie but I also love a good dive, and am a big fan of reading and coffee shops. What's chill, relaxing, and for grownups in Miami Beach? [more inside]
posted by woodvine at 12:37 PM PST - 5 comments

I need 1 scannable Copy A (red) of Form W-2 (PDF) as I am not able to get my SSA login details quickly enough. . One option I see is to buy 100 for $10 from Staples. Are there other options I am missing? I have asked my local Buy Nothing group.
posted by sandmanwv at 11:42 AM PST - 7 comments

Starting today, when I have the cursor in the formula bar and hit the Tab key, the cursor goes to the name box (to the left of the formula bar) instead of to the next cell. This has never happened to me before. I have not changed anything with the settings since it last worked fine on Friday. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah at 11:37 AM PST - 5 comments

I need to find a song for a new burlesque act to be performed in a sexy cocktail lounge atmosphere. Base criteria: slinky vibe, mid-tempo, 4-5 minutes in length. [more inside]
posted by merriment at 11:33 AM PST - 16 comments

I only noticed this morning: the carpet in my bedroom has developed a bald patch. What might have caused it? [more inside]
posted by Beverley Westwood at 11:15 AM PST - 8 comments

It goes something like this: Being around other people makes me tired, but working energizes me. [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 11:11 AM PST - 3 comments

I can't remember the name of a book from a Barnes & Noble promo email and I'm attempting to find it. [more inside]
posted by christiehawk at 11:04 AM PST - 2 comments

How often do you meet strangers from the same general area you grew up in? (Addressing the question specifically to people who no longer live anywhere near their hometown.) [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 9:53 AM PST - 45 comments

I bought a cheap corded hammer drill a few years back. Yesterday I tried to use it to mix concrete as I didn’t have anything else powerful enough. It worked okay but today it’s totally unresponsive. No noises or motion at all when I press the trigger. Do I throw the drill away? Or is there a straightforward fix I’m not finding on YouTube?
posted by sirion at 8:07 AM PST - 9 comments

This post on the blue has spurred me to ask something I’ve wondered for a while. It seems like a number of publishers (of books, newspapers or other media) skimp on copy editing these days. As a former newspaper copy editor, I see many problems in writing that I didn’t see years ago, even in supposedly quality publications. So, where can I still find writing where copy editing is taken seriously?
posted by NotLost at 6:43 AM PST - 13 comments

My cat is frequently congested. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by Garm at 5:52 AM PST - 16 comments

We have some housing upheaval coming, and we are quite stressed about what to do with our darling, semi-outdoor cat (in the UK). Help? [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 3:02 AM PST - 13 comments

I have about twenty-five webpages I need to monitor. I really want an app/service/thingy that alerts me whenever the content changes on any of these pages. (Assume RSS feeds are not available.) [more inside]
posted by desert outpost at 2:14 AM PST - 7 comments

I was prescribed 25 mgs of generic Topamax/topiramate sometime in 2006 by my MS neurologist for peripheral neuropathy. It was gradually increased over time to 275 mgs at which point it ceased to be of help and was backed down to 250 then 200 mgs. It never worked for the PN, but it did seem to have some psychological benefit, perhaps mood stabilization although I do not have a bipolar 1 or 2 diagnosis — I just felt it helped. When the dose exceeded my neurologist’s comfort level, my psychiatrist/s took over. [more inside]
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 12:45 AM PST - 9 comments

CN: past violence mentioned, not graphic. I currently have a therapist and we have been working on some well defined goals that I had going in. This last week, I mentioned in passing that I had been shot at seven times. Everything came to a screeching halt while she was like (paraphrased heavily) “wtf how has this never come up in the eight years we’ve been doing therapy together.” [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:09 PM PST - 26 comments

Tom Clancy remains creatively active after his death (as in this previous ask). But are there other authors or artists whose estates have simply continued to publish under ghostwriters-collaborators and the 'brand'-IP of the author or their pen-name? Who? [more inside]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:16 PM PST - 34 comments

Searching for the best pescatarian/vegetarian menu recommendations for Passover! It's hard mode without sweet and sour brisket... [more inside]
posted by kingdead at 6:17 PM PST - 13 comments

I live in an apartment with a convention oven/microwave combo. Last Thursday, it overheated and shut down when I was trying to cook some food. This left an acrid 'electrical' smell in the place that is triggering my asthma something fierce if I'm in there for more than 10 mins at a time. I'm out of there now, catsitting, but that ends tomorrow. The repair person verified that I used the oven correctly. I'm working with building management, I have Renter's Insurance, and I am in the city of Seattle, WA. [more inside]
posted by spinifex23 at 5:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Searching via Google provided futile because most results dealt with unjamming zippers/the teeth itself; my question is, how do I unjam/realign a zipper pull that's stuck? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 5:04 PM PST - 8 comments

It looks likely I'll be crossing the country by car with not one but two cats. I've posted about it before but now it's more specific so, begging your indulgence... [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 4:16 PM PST - 12 comments

For Reasons that will be explained, IUI and IVF are not options. I am about to turn 40, and my last AMH from a year ago was .85. Assuming I can access a clinic that can improve my chances through medication, but not anyone else's, what are my rough odds at the moment I begin actively trying to get pregnant through sex? What about over the next few years? How can I improve them? [more inside]
posted by corb at 3:34 PM PST - 10 comments

After several years in a job that caused me serious health problems, I can't shake the physical anxiety symptoms, even though I am no longer anxious about anything. Any strategies for coping with this? [more inside]
posted by robot inside a grid at 3:33 PM PST - 15 comments

I started with a new therapist about a month ago, and it's a great fit. We meet once per week. Discussions are helpful in-session, but how do I start to dig and find roots of certain internal issues outside of this, so that I can find answers and actually do things differently? [more inside]
posted by Jangatroo at 3:28 PM PST - 7 comments

[Trigger warning] I’m a healthy weight but my relationship with food is kind of disordered. I go between eating “normally” for months and slowly gaining weight, and then losing it quickly with an unhealthy level of restriction. I’m in the middle of a diet phase right now and realizing that I’ve sort of lost the plot. I just want to find peace and stability with food. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:24 PM PST - 13 comments

Did my DIY electrical work cause a transformer fuse to blow? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 2:19 PM PST - 11 comments

What are some good online and physical media resources for beginners*? [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 1:18 PM PST - 4 comments

Hello, I'm new to the epoxy world so I would appreciate your feedback. I've just built a new bar top made out of pine wood and I'm looking for a finishing material. I normaly use a wood finish from Varathane . However, I want to try to use table top epoxy from Primo Resin instead as it looks like they have good reviews on their products with decent pricing. Did anyone try this brand or do you recommend any another brand I should try instead? Thank you, Eli
posted by eli_woodworker at 8:13 AM PST - 6 comments

If you spin a top, presumably some atoms fly off due to centrifugal force. But does the act of spinning around an axis increase the top's mass due to gravitational forces? (And can someone please explain the latter to me like I'm five?) [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 7:25 AM PST - 14 comments

I lead a team of 25 people at a non-profit in central London, and I'm trying to organise an away day consisting of a workshop in the morning and a fun activity in the afternoon. We have a £750 budget including lunch. We can probably get a free office space and some fairly cheap refreshments for coffee breaks and a cheap in-office lunch option if needed, but I'm struggling a bit on the 'fun team bonding activity' for the afternoon. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:33 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for a secure portable door lock for my bedroom door that works from the outside as well as the inside so I can lock it when I'm out. [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 3:02 AM PST - 39 comments

I'm fairly well-acquainted with what happens to the nation if Republicans won't raise the debt ceiling. But I don't really understand what that would mean for me, Jane Q. Public. Can you explain how a refusal to raise the debt ceiling is likely to affect me personally, and what I should be worried about and not worried about? [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:12 PM PST - 26 comments

I have a gently used Macbook Pro 16" M1 Max that I'd like to sell. [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 4:10 PM PST - 16 comments

Frank the Adorable Wombat is dying. At this rate, he's going to starve to death before the heart failure kills him. What are the most calorie-dense foods I can cook for him? [more inside]
posted by DarlingBri at 2:08 PM PST - 27 comments

In a home we definitely want to sell in the future (but not sure when), would a 3 bed/1 bath always sell better than a 2 bed/2 (full) bath home? We could probably create a 3 bed/2 bath house, but the 3rd bedroom we would create would look/feel more like a den. [more inside]
posted by GrimmblyTuna at 12:08 PM PST - 28 comments

The TLDR (but please read) is that sensory overwhelm is exhausting for me even with assistive tools like earplugs, and I'm looking for specific spaces or carveouts of time that are friendly to someone like me. I'm a culture vulture, so assume I know my indie cinemas, I partake in the museum/gallery scene, I visit libraries -- but I may not know about particular programs they have for adults on the spectrum. Tell me! And tell me what else! [more inside]
posted by mirepoix at 9:21 AM PST - 18 comments

I’m planning a tour of libraries in Eastern Massachusetts. Which libraries in Eastern Massachusetts have live music programs? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 9:07 AM PST - 5 comments

We're considering visiting Colorado in late May, flying into Denver. We'd like to experience the Rockies, in a relatively chill way (driving, short hikes, no back country stuff). I'm looking for generic advice about conditions at that time of year (will late spring conditions affect our ability to do certain things/go certain places?), and for specific recommendations of things to do and places to stay. We're willing to drive a few hours from Denver, probably not more than four unless there's something really worth experiencing that's farther. Thanks!
posted by mollweide at 8:46 AM PST - 8 comments

If you love reading the news, what newspapers do you enjoy? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:46 AM PST - 12 comments

Do you have fine, shoulder length hair? Do you use dry shampoo between washes? Do you love it? Does it NOT feel like there’s a weird-feeling film on your hair? Does it NOT weigh your hair down? Please tell me about what dry shampoo you use for your fine hair and how you use it!
posted by bookmammal at 8:39 AM PST - 17 comments

What would you have wanted from your mother? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:20 AM PST - 17 comments

I just hired a tutor on italki. I like the tutor a lot, but I feel like maybe I’m not using the sessions as efficiently as I could be. Do you have any suggestions for me? [more inside]
posted by holborne at 7:46 AM PST - 6 comments

Need suggestions for where to book a European family vacay in July 2023! Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by something_witty at 6:15 AM PST - 10 comments

Had lumpectomy surgery on 11/29/22 and all went well, pretty good pathology report (clear margins, etc). But since my surgery I've had to have that breast aspirated twice due to swelling and just last week during my initial radiation appointment (the "staging" bit) the doctor said that the breast looked "red and angry" and I was sent back to my surgeon who prescribed a course of strong antibiotics. But I'm thinking that part of the problem is my lack of a compression bra. I've been wearing a stretchy cotton camisole (my usual undergarment; I'm not a bra-wearer) and from some other comments the doctor made it appears that if I wear a proper compression bra the support would help the fluid to drain and my incision to heal. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:28 AM PST - 11 comments

I made Jim Lahey's no knead bread recipe this week and it was awesome. We got a bread maker this week. I'd love to find a way to combine these two methods. Can I mix my ingredients together, let them age for 12 - 18 hours, then put into the bread maker? Or a similar method? TIA.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 12:21 AM PST - 11 comments

Ok maybe it's not really that complicated. My sex drive tanked recently. I can't tell if it's stress, chemical/hormonal changes or the development of sexual aversion. How do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 11:18 PM PST - 11 comments

I have heavy periods and require regular iron transfusions approximately every 18 months. For the last few months, my periods are heavier than ever (thanks peri-menopause) but my ferritin has remained high at 200 ug/L. What might be causing this? [more inside]
posted by t0astie at 8:28 PM PST - 4 comments

It’s deep winter and I’m spending a lot of time on the treadmill. Please help me maintain interest in this activity by expanding my list of perfect (by my definition) treadmill movies. [more inside]
posted by chuke at 8:27 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for recipes, with amounts listed, for vegetarian gyoza. [more inside]
posted by karasu at 8:27 PM PST - 9 comments

Writing cover letters has been very difficult for me lately. Is it ever worth hiring a cover letter writer? Have you done it? Did it work out for you? Did it not work out for you? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:44 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm RFQing vendors that do email append to lists of people. Help. [more inside]
posted by Glomar response at 5:37 PM PST - 2 comments

Hi. I have a need for a flexible, totally rimless, small plastic cup. The one I made by cutting off the end of a cylindrical shampoo bottle is perfect. I'd really, really like a more attractive version that's a) not covered in part of a shampoo label, and b) got a perfectly straight top so it looks less homemade. Current dimensions are about 2.5" diameter, 2.5-3" high. Any ideas? Color isn't that crucial, as long as it's not a dark color. My current cup is white, which is great. Not sure about transparent, but that might work. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 5:01 PM PST - 39 comments

Let's say you didn't need to file a tax return for 2021, and you just now found a subtle complication which means you do need to file for 2021 after all. Are there any reputable tax preparers or resources which can file it for you electronically or otherwise faster than usps? [more inside]
posted by zaixfeep at 3:58 PM PST - 8 comments

Can you identify this electrical device? It's located approximately 6'5" up an interior wall on the bottom floor of a freestanding house in northern New England.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:03 PM PST - 8 comments

My learning department is making a push to develop instructional video resources, and I need help in learning simple video production. The intended visual style will be similar to YouTube creators like Leila Gharani (Excel), Guy in a Cube (Power BI), or Analyst Academy (PowerPoint). [more inside]
posted by philosophygeek at 12:56 PM PST - 3 comments

Do the countertop rotisserie ovens make good rotisserie chicken, or just meh chicken? Even better, do you have a rotisserie over/air fryer/toaster oven that you love? Can you tell me what it is? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench at 11:33 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a macbook laptop, and sometimes I need to save documents onto this laptop not just on the cloud. I have folders on my laptop organizing various files in complex ways. But when a document has been downloaded, it often will not save to my macbook. How can I fix this? [more inside]
posted by ojocaliente at 11:06 AM PST - 9 comments

I have sprinkler-deposited hard water spots on my car’s windows, mirrors, plastic, chrome and painted metal exteriors. How can I remove it without further marring the exterior? Windex, Invisible Glass, Rain-X, ammonia and distilled white vinegar have all proven fruitless.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:23 AM PST - 5 comments

When I open a PDF in Preview, how do I get it to open in a new window, as opposed to as a new tab in another PDF that is already open? Mac with Monterey.
posted by andoatnp at 8:41 AM PST - 9 comments

I am taking on the layout (and some editing) of an 80-page letter-sized book, including text, pictures, some custom design elements, and ads. Unfortunately, the most experience I have with design where you have to worry about your bleeds and gutters is PowerPoint. My layouts come back from the printer looking as intended, but it does take a long time. I am willing to pay a few hundred bucks US for good software to make this task easier and/or improve the look. What do you recommend for someone who will have to learn a new tool? [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 8:37 AM PST - 7 comments

My New Year’s resolution was to watch more standup as it brings me joy! Please recommend me your favourite standup comedy specials, I like feminist, pro LGBTQ+, no punching down comedians, below are specials some I’ve watched and enjoyed recently. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by ellieBOA at 8:31 AM PST - 63 comments

We are getting our bathroom remodeled. Currently we have tile, which is over 50 years old and quite gross. It has to be removed because it has leaked so we need to assess the condition of the wall behind it. Should we replace the tile with new tile, or have a shower surround put in? [more inside]
posted by chaiminda at 8:01 AM PST - 13 comments

Two weeks ago, I asked about returning to school, which got me thinking about film school, and the local university's well-respected film department was remarkably receptive at having an old guy join their ranks; but, looking from a practical standpoint, I don't know much about the industry today. [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:37 AM PST - 16 comments

Does any one know of a way by which I could get a running stream of postings I make in various Slack teams I'm part of? Not as a one-time archive download, but (e.g.) as an RSS feed of my ongoing activity. All the RSS things that I can find are meant to send RSS to Slack, not from Slack. (Doesn't have to be RSS, but that's the general idea.) [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 7:04 AM PST - 1 comment

By Mara Wilson about how people treat her nowadays, specifically referencing some guys who wanted to engage her to hang out while they took psychadelics in a cabin and also referring to her fan-base as primarily bisexual librarians who knit (or similar). Should be easy, but I can't.
posted by Iteki at 6:33 AM PST - 5 comments

CW: loss of a pregnancy and an infant [more inside]
posted by The Adventure Begins at 6:15 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm writing some lyrics. I have this line: It's not here now 'cause it wasn't there then [more inside]
posted by allelopath at 4:55 AM PST - 26 comments

How do I go about making art with limited time and resources? [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 11:05 PM PST - 24 comments

I've just been inhaling Mick Herron's Slough House series over the past month, both the books and the stellar HBOMax series. Best stuff since Le Carré, I'm thinking. But I'm just a few chapters away from the end. What other spy series offer the same combination of acerbic wit, endearingly offbeat characters, gritty action and old school political intrigue? Ones that assume the reader is reasonably intelligent and paying attention. British author probably helps but not required.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:33 PM PST - 12 comments

Current Problem: On Saturday the hot water in our apartment suddenly turned tepid/luke warm and hasn’t returned to normal since. Maintenance's response to my repair request was not encouraging. [more inside]
posted by space_cookie at 10:18 PM PST - 10 comments

One of my dearest friends is burying her dad tomorrow, and her husband and son are flying to Chicago tonight, then driving to join her for the funeral. They've run into a potential hiccup picking up their rental car due to a delayed flight, which is causing quite a bit of stress. I'm hoping you can help me put their minds at ease. [more inside]
posted by commander biscuit at 7:46 PM PST - 6 comments

Should the company hire me as an employee and use a Canadian payroll company , or would it make more sense for me to set up as a sole proprietor? (asking for friend) [more inside]
posted by methroach at 7:24 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm living in a new place, and I want to make sure I can bypass interior privacy locks if I ever need to, but I'm baffled by what seem like they should be the pinhole interior push-button ones. [more inside]
posted by zeek321 at 7:14 PM PST - 16 comments

My senile father's estate is in a managed wealth trust in Canada because my remaining brother and I live in the U.S. and can't legally manage his estate. I get statements but I have no accounting background and while I can look at the big number I can't really make heads or tails of anything else. Are there any resources I can look out to better understand this?
posted by srboisvert at 4:46 PM PST - 5 comments

What creators can I follow/watch who just loooove making stuff out of trash? [more inside]
posted by moons in june at 4:10 PM PST - 10 comments

I love graphic tees but have never found the perfect one. I've tried lots of sites that do custom graphic tees, from RedBubble to Etsy, and I have found all of these elements (soft, plus, low neck) but never in combination. The plus-size options tend to be thick "unisex" fabric even when they have V-neck styles. [more inside]
posted by Threeve at 3:40 PM PST - 7 comments

I am having lots of cuddles and fun sex a couple times a week with my boyfriend of 5 months. We're super attracted to each other and he's a sweetheart. It's great! Except for the overwhelming feelings of sensory overload that happens after (sometimes a little during, but then we stop/take a break) and, relatedly or as part of it, an emotional crash, sometimes really bad, that starts hitting me half an hour or so after we have had a lot of physical contact, and can take hours to recover from. I would really like to be able to have a healthy sex life without internally totally spiraling multiple times a week. Can anyone share similar experiences and provide advice on this? [more inside]
posted by Anyone's Ghost 16 at 3:29 PM PST - 5 comments

Trying to think of what my son might like for his 30th birthday gift (as a surprise): [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 12:27 PM PST - 11 comments

After the final scene in Sleepless in Seattle there are some visual effects, starting with a seemingly computer rendered Empire State Building, which then zooms out to a map of the US. I’ve tried to find information about how they were made, but haven’t struck on the right search terms. Do you know where I could find out more?
posted by Kattullus at 11:25 AM PST - 9 comments

I’m having major bathroom and kitchen remodeling done in my 2 bedroom condo. The (mostly) drywall dust is starting to accumulate despite my efforts, such as keeping doors closed and vacuuming. What hacks, devices, and tips should I consider to clean up the dust have you tried and found effective? I’m thinking dusting methods, air cleaners, contractors or anything!! Thanks!
posted by Rad_Boy at 11:01 AM PST - 11 comments

My travel tumbler keeps getting jostled in my bag, unlocking, and spilling tea all over my belongings. It happened again this morning and I'm done with it. What tumbler should I be using to avoid this problem? [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 9:45 AM PST - 26 comments

My beloved manual, diesel, jetta sportswagon is very suddenly and unexpectedly totaled. We had been planning on driving it until forever. I have no idea how to car shop! I want another car with great mpg, ability to tow, and cargo space for the two big dogs. I also now want something that I can convert to be able to transport my power wheelchair. (Otherwise, I would just buy the exact same car again.) 2020 and newer preferred, very reliable with relatively easy maintenance needs. I would not like to have to do this again soon. [more inside]
posted by Bottlecap at 9:42 AM PST - 14 comments

My email is being spoofed right now, and people who send me emails or occasionally get emails from me are getting requests for "payment of administrative expenses via Zelle". I checked my email and it hasn't been hacked - meaning the spoofed emails are not actually coming from my email address and there is no evidence of anyone actually using my email. So how do the spoofers know who to send the spoofed emails to? [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 8:52 AM PST - 6 comments

Remodeling bathroom that has real solid wood under very ugly sheet vinyl. Will remove the vinyl and if it can be done without damaging the unerlying wood floor I want to keep the wood floor as the "new" floor. But I am told that wood floors are not good in a bathroom. Even if it is sealed? [more inside]
posted by luvmywife at 7:47 AM PST - 14 comments

I've recently started taking the Cerazette (desogestrel 75 mcg) minipill. It's been great as I've suddenly lost my hideous periods which hit me like a ton of bricks even on the combined pill. Instead, I'm getting constant breakthrough bleeding. Any tips on how to deal with it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:27 AM PST - 15 comments

I've recently upgraded a few laptops and have some NVMe drives and spare RAM on hand. Rather than letting them gather dust or try to sell them online, I'd like to match them with inexpensive mini PCs for use in my home lab. Best way to backwards-match this? [more inside]
posted by jzb at 7:09 AM PST - 2 comments

I can't seem to access, let alone read in text form, my voicemail on this Samsung phone. Please help me figure it out. [more inside]
posted by Dashy at 6:57 AM PST - 10 comments

I briefly dated a man who is about 20 years older than I am. I broke it off after three months and he became angry, wrote many angry letters and would not leave my home when I asked him to (he did finally leave but only after I ordered/paid for a taxi to take him to the train station). [more inside]
posted by ponibrown at 6:50 AM PST - 18 comments

I don't have a basic stir-fry sauce I really like. Do you? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 6:39 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm very very sensitive to sounds and feels. We don't need to get into why. I want a nice laptop that I can travel with (so lightweight) and that will "feel" right. Typing on a MacBook makes my skin crawl. I have an Asus now and the keyboard is sticky and loud. What brands do you guys like that I might not know about?
posted by lextex at 6:22 AM PST - 13 comments

Looking for a clap/noise controlled light adapter (E27). Something similar to this, which is out of stock. [more inside]
posted by LizBoBiz at 5:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm in Japan and have recently started working for my former employer in the US. I've been invited to a 6am conference call, but I live in a small apartment with typically thin walls, so my neighbors will murder me if I start barking down the phone at 6am. It's not OK to do calls in a coffee shop here either (not that any are open near me at that time). How do other remote workers handle this, particularly as a semi-regular occurrence?
posted by my log does not judge at 5:08 AM PST - 11 comments

Please recommend me some good collections or anthologies of essays (in physical book or kindle format). Classic/seminal works and/or modern takes all welcome. So either: a collection of essays by a single author, or a collection by multiple authors on a single theme (or perhaps just a collection?!) [more inside]
posted by atlantica at 3:18 AM PST - 39 comments

What are some "must-read" articles from the past few years on sustainbility? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:49 AM PST - 2 comments

As a single man in my mid 40's, after five years of health issues, where should I go on vacation in February 2023 if money and vacation time aren't an issue? [more inside]
posted by ender6574 at 1:26 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there something like a shared-ranking web app that a group like a family could use to collect everyone's rankings of different choices into an overall result? For example, drag and drop in the list mom and dad made, to help decide what we do on Saturday. The app would do the math behind the scenes to get the overall ranking result.
posted by circular at 9:02 PM PST - 5 comments

On the 2005 SXSW Sampler there is a song titled: ATX Records Clique - Late Nights. The song has been in my rotation for a long time, but I can't find any more music by them. I gather ATX indicates Austin, TX, however I'm not able to find anything about an "ATX Records Clique". Anyone know who the artists are/were? Link to the song
posted by Carlo at 8:49 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a particularly bad case of epididymitis and am having problems where I can not ejaculate. You are not a doctor and even if you are, you aren’t my doctor or urologist, but if you have any ideas on how to fix this, that would be great. [more inside]
posted by clocksock at 7:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I have just had a very direct flirtatious approach from someone the same sex as me. Is this par for the course in non-heterosexual dating, and how can I handle this practically and emotionally? [more inside]
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 7:21 PM PST - 20 comments

Upgraded to a PS5 and the Sony Pulse headset I bought with it makes the sides of my head hurt in a way that my Turtle Beach PS4 headset never did with my glasses on. Anyone have experience with a good wireless PS5 headset that’s comfortable over their glasses? [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:01 PM PST - 3 comments

I went to a museum today for like an hour and a half. As always, when I go to a museum, I walked out limping. I am not mobility impaired. I am not elderly. But I go to a museum, this happens. So I read this, but I don't really get it. Can you explain it to me? Teach me to walk out of a museum tired, but walking as well as I went in.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:08 PM PST - 20 comments

I had a large patio table with a glass top, which flipped and shattered in a windstorm. I didn’t like it anyway and want to replace it. But with what? Difficulty level: Pacific Northwest [more inside]
posted by centrifugal at 4:02 PM PST - 11 comments

The police were SWATing around, treating my backyard (neighbour to the "crime scene" or whatever) like it was public property, and they pointed an assault rifle at my husband. Should I be complaining to their regulatory committee? [more inside]
posted by euphoria066 at 4:01 PM PST - 38 comments

I have a 2-year-old spitz type that I have had for a little over a year. She is a good dog but not the best behaved and I have to finally admit to myself that I sort of dropped the ball with training. The main concerns are leash pulling and getting over-excited…is it too late to correct these behaviours myself? Looking for any resources! [more inside]
posted by sibylvane at 3:38 PM PST - 16 comments

My colleague brought in some treats for Lunar New Year. What can we (white colleagues) gift her in exchange? Thanks for your help!
posted by Juniper Toast at 1:45 PM PST - 8 comments

Have a Macbook for work and a Mac mini at home. If they're 'connected' via Universal Control, could my employer conceivably see what is happening on my non-company-owned device?
posted by po822000 at 1:30 PM PST - 6 comments

What foundation types that are allowed by California building code will do the least damage to tree roots? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 1:24 PM PST - 5 comments

When I make a batch of brown rice in my Instant Pot, I put a couple of cups in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. What are good, easy practices to avoid food poisoning? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 12:45 PM PST - 7 comments

My friend is in their early forties and is constantly complaining about how little money they have and that they are behind in paying student loans and all kinds of bills. This person graduated from university a few years ago due to personal issues and feels behind in life. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 12:38 PM PST - 27 comments

My house has appreciated significantly since I bought it 2.5 years ago. Has anyone had success removing private mortgage insurance using a re-appraisal from the mortgage company? [more inside]
posted by momus_window at 12:07 PM PST - 7 comments

Hello! I'm wondering if you know of any philosophers/ethicists who are thinking about the ethical, aesthetic and/or philosophical implications of using ChatGPT or AI image creation software. Or, if there are any older philosophical/theoretical texts that seem especially relevant to its discussion. [more inside]
posted by cardamom at 11:35 AM PST - 5 comments

When I see or hear about certain types of injury, I get a sharp pain up the back of both legs. What's going on here, how common is it, and why does it happen? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 11:30 AM PST - 11 comments

Apple has discontinued the iPod. Can I still make use of an ipod from ebay? Ideally i would just use it as a dedicated device for audiobooks and spotify in a dark bedroom at night. Realistically, how long can i expect to have access to ipod technology if I get an old one now? What is the best model to ensure the lengthiest-possible access?
posted by wowenthusiast at 10:30 AM PST - 7 comments

Does a podcast exist about exploring different points of view about hope for someone needing regular infusions of optimism and just generally wanting to think about different perspectives and schools of thought? For non-philosophy majors? [more inside]
posted by catesbie at 10:14 AM PST - 4 comments

Our carbon monoxide alarm went off at 3am in the morning. Have vented the house, confirmed levels are back to zero , and will get a technician in to check on issues, but I have questions on what is and isn't normal for CO - and how worried I should be about what appear to spikes in CO when large gas appliances are on etc. [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:23 AM PST - 8 comments

I’m working on a project that involves identifying the primary cost drivers from a broad but defined body of identifiable units that are used over a period of time. (I am being intentionally vague about this.) I want to identify the units which impose the highest cost by frequency of use. I’m not looking for the million-dollar unit that gets used once every third year; I want to capture the $50 unit that gets used every single time an agent touches the system. It’s my belief that a Pareto-like distribution will emerge and I want to define this inquiry in statute. Are you aware of any US state or federal statute or regulation which accomplishes this? Thank you!
posted by gauche at 8:57 AM PST - 2 comments

We need one more bag to return home and are looking for an inexpensive duffle bag or suitcase.
posted by Tziv at 8:50 AM PST - 9 comments

Are there any accounts of how poor eyesight may have affected history? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 8:21 AM PST - 10 comments

I've been using Zoloft on-and-off for ~3 years. I say "on-and-off" because when I've tried to go off it, my anxiety spikes, and I'm miserable, so I go back on it. Details below about my tapering, but is this a sign that I just... need the meds? Or, do I need to give it more time? YANMD [more inside]
posted by pear at 8:10 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm getting ready for a trip. I'm also trying not to bring 187 guide books. So I'm looking for something I can use to plan ahead, gather all the information I want, and then print it out to carry with me. I've just looked at a whole bunch of travel planner printables but none seem quite right. Can anyone assist? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:15 AM PST - 20 comments

While listening to the Panic! At the Disco album, “Viva Las Vengeance,” I thought to myself, “This reminds me of the ‘That Thing You Do’ soundtrack, but I’m not sure why.” Lo and behold, both albums are written/produced by Mike Viola. So that explains why, but not how did my brain do that? I’m not knowledgeable about music production at all, and I’m really curious to know what I was hearing in order to make the connection.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 6:56 AM PST - 10 comments

Google is newly capping workplace gmail accounts at 10 GB. I have a "workplace gmail account" that is actually an old university email address that was given to alums to use permanently, and I use it as my main email (for over a decade). I have way more than 10 GB in there. Can I pay to add more storage? Is there anything else I can do other than a mass delete? [more inside]
posted by ClaireBear at 6:35 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a new .cbr reader for iPad. Willing to pay a little bit to avoid ads in-app, but would love something free that works well, as Comic Zeal seems to be dead/off the App Store. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah at 12:47 AM PST - 7 comments

Getting back in touch with my formerly estranged father has been… not great. Help? [more inside]
posted by Sock Meets Body at 8:26 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for short (about 15 minutes in length) to listen to while doing a boring timed task. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:15 PM PST - 13 comments

Possibly vaugue spoiler for the first episode inside. [more inside]
posted by Mavri at 5:21 PM PST - 5 comments

How would you describe the difference between irony and sarcasm? What if you were talking to a ten or twelve year old? Assume native English speaker. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:24 PM PST - 26 comments

A co-worker once made a joke whenever I’d get takeout at the office that I don’t like food; I just like vinegar. Apparently much of the food I ate foregrounded vinegar to the point where the vinegar aroma wafted around the office. Well, I’ve decided I want to lean into that. Give me your most vinegary recipes. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 4:12 PM PST - 46 comments

I wanted to buy a Thuma or something from Tatami Room but finances will not permit at this point, I don't think. Both are in the 1K-1400 range. I see a ton of platform beds on Amazon that both are cheap and look cheap, and I hate the ones at Ikea. Any suggestions?
posted by less-of-course at 3:53 PM PST - 13 comments

In search of artists who sell postcards or postcard-sized prints of their art for under $30 or so. Extra bonus if they sell sets of multiple different pieces in postcard format! [more inside]
posted by evilbeck at 2:39 PM PST - 19 comments

We have hardwood floors / tile all throughout the first floor. They get a lot of traffic. Currently I have a Dyson cordless vacuum that I use to pick up debris on the hardwood /tile and then a Swiffer and a Bona microfiber mop. None are really getting the job done, alone or in combination. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 2:22 PM PST - 12 comments

When I lived in Charleston South Carolina, on MLK Jr's birthday I would be frequently greeted with "Happy King Day" when I interacted with black people. I have not seen this in any other part of country (though likely may have not interacted with many black people on these dates). Do you live or have lived in a place where this is a common greeting on that date? Where?
posted by sandmanwv at 1:33 PM PST - 2 comments

I am looking for more songs like Safe and Sound by Capital Cities. I think what I love about it is that it’s cheerful and dancey, with a strong drum beat. I also like the horns and the sort of—orchestral? feel of it at certain points. Any recommendations are welcome, because I’ve got it on repeat now and I’m afraid I’ll make myself sick of it! [more inside]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:39 PM PST - 22 comments

I'm planning our Spring camping trip - looking for opinions on don't miss things to do in the relevant areas. The itinerary is: [more inside]
posted by COD at 12:14 PM PST - 11 comments

Some English teachers are discussing this word. I feel it can only be used to describe certain things, such as a behavior, error, etc. You can't have an egregious car accident or an egregious hurricane. Is that correct? And why? And what's the clearest way to explain that to students?
posted by chaiminda at 11:49 AM PST - 18 comments

Web developers of MetaFilter, what Javascript form validation libraries are you using these days? [more inside]
posted by number9dream at 11:37 AM PST - 2 comments

My twelve year-old just got an iPhone. My phone is an Android. I was tracking her usage via Google Family Link until now. What are my options going forward? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 9:34 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a small landscaped (think some tiny bushes, plants with mulch, not amazing) front area in front of our row-home in a dense city. We are thinking of fencing it in (it is elevated from the side walk around 3 feet) and adding some grass so that our toddler can play around and we can hang out more on our front porch and interact with neighbors more. Have you done this? Looking for advice if this would be worth it and if I'm getting the pros and cons correctly. More inside: [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 8:54 AM PST - 11 comments

Just what it says! I'm thinking of immediate family, but larger family works too. I know a lot of the basic ideas that do work for us -- dinners together, board game nights, for example -- but I'm also looking for other ideas to tighten a family unit. Also things your parents did for you that worked also useful!
posted by heavenknows at 8:29 AM PST - 29 comments

I am looking for a book or book-length report that provides detailed information on deforestation in some portion of the Amazon Rainforest. It should be relatively recent. I don’t want an overview, but something with names, numbers, locations, policies, and a discussion of competing interests and the dollar amounts at stake. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:13 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm interested to from folks who have direct experience with hot yoga, and specifically those who have done both hot and "regular" yoga. Have you found any different, specific benefits to hot yoga over standard yoga? [more inside]
posted by bearette at 8:11 AM PST - 14 comments

I just got a walking desk again. In the Before Time, I walked and typed. Now I WFH and have lots of zoom meetings. The treadmill isn't loud, but still, I'd like some earphones with a mic that will suppress or not pick up ambient noise (like a treadmill). Can you either point me to suitable options on amazon.ca or tell me what my key search words are for this kind of ambient noise suppression? It's not that I want it blocked from MY hearing, I want the mic blocking it for people I'm meeting with. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:42 AM PST - 9 comments

Just finished Prince Harry's Spare audiobook. Looking for other audiobook memoirs read by the author that are engaging but light enough to only half pay attention. The reality tv version of audiobook memoirs--potentially dumb, but fun. [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 7:34 AM PST - 35 comments

I recently bought a house in Windsor, Ontario and I'm hoping to do some energy-efficiency upgrades. There's a program through Enbridge Gas and the federal government that gives up to $10,000 in rebates for upgrades, but you need to have an evaluation first. I am having trouble with the first step of selecting a registered energy advisor to do it. That's where you come in. [more inside]
posted by number9dream at 7:03 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a 95L duffel bag which is great for carrying a lot of stuff, but is extremely heavy when full (doh!). I can just about get away with carrying it like a backpack, but it's a struggle - even more so in hot countries. Is a luggage dolly a viable option/ does anyone use one for this application? It kind of seems like a practical solution, but I'm not quite sold either (e.g. where would I store it when I check in)? Or maybe I should just get another duffel with wheels? This is for monthly trips.
posted by my log does not judge at 5:54 AM PST - 12 comments

Help out a VJ! I am looking for sensual visuals, preferably with a homoerotic / queer femme / campy bent. Abstract is welcome (i.e. doesn't have to incorporate people). Suggestions? (Ideas inside.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:08 AM PST - 15 comments

I sustained an injury which will have me staying in my studio apartment alone for the next several months. Thankfully I can work remotely, but I live quite far from my closest friends and family. Looking for practical advice and/or reflections from people who have had similar experiences. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:08 AM PST - 19 comments

Just this past week I noticed white marks on the leaves of my rubber plant (photos here). I'm assuming they're bad. What are they and how do I get rid of them? Should I treat the other potted plants near it too?
posted by Panthalassa at 12:48 AM PST - 6 comments

A slicer I've added to a workbook to help provide a more user-friendly path to filtering a pivot table refuses to allow anyone but me or the owner to use the slicer. This confuses me, given the language provided by Google on Slicers' Visibility and Permissions (see below). Does anyone know why this might be happening and/or if it's something that can be overcome? [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 8:32 PM PST - 4 comments

I live in a house in Portland, Oregon with a vegetable garden and I need some books to tell me how to grow things. [more inside]
posted by chrchr at 7:37 PM PST - 9 comments

I tried here and Google. It's about a question here being ''chatfiltery'' By the way, it's only one category that can be picked. What is the best category for this question?
posted by amfgf at 6:57 PM PST - 10 comments

It has been building for a while, but rather suddenly I experience some intense pain upon standing from a sitting position. I'm wondering whether I should self-treat, go to doc-in-a-box, or go directly to the urgent care center at my local orthopedic center. [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 6:02 PM PST - 4 comments

We adopted a wonderful male dog yesterday but still trying to find the right name for him. Time to name that dog! [more inside]
posted by actionpact at 4:07 PM PST - 70 comments

I'm 43 and (re)starting my career after a decade as a stay-at-home parent. Located in the Bay Area. [more inside]
posted by The Toad at 3:49 PM PST - 8 comments

Looking for something creative, interesting, or funny that tells a story over time but that is current and ongoing. I just want a little something to look forward to and distract me from the rest of the world for a few minutes each day as I don't have much free time to watch tv shows. Is there a webcomic, short daily podcast or vlog that you are dying to recommend that is daily (or almost) in small doses? Non-fiction or fiction, serial or not, doesn't matter. I'm just overwhelmed with where to begin looking.
posted by Mikey51 at 2:27 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking into grant writing courses, of which there are roughly a million. I need recs for specific, reputable courses or organizations [more inside]
posted by Archipelago at 1:57 PM PST - 5 comments

This song (really just a fragment is all I can remember) is something my grandfather used to sing to me. He was a Jew from Minsk, Belarus, but somehow he wound up in Minneapolis in the 1920's and worked in a factory alongside mostly Swedes, and he learned this song and sang it to me when I was a little girl in Brooklyn, NY. I would like to know more about its title, the rest of the melody, the Swedish words and their English translation. Anything. Thank you.
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:59 AM PST - 3 comments

Sometime during the pandemic, the quality of scrub sponges like these has gone down and keeps getting worse, so they fall apart in a short amount of time. [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 11:35 AM PST - 23 comments

I have an idea for a themed movie series of films that are grounded in particular, preferably semi-autobiographical, settings that nonetheless feel universal. My current list is Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All At Once and Minashe. I realized these are all released by A24. What are some suggestions that expand this list? [more inside]
posted by crossswords at 11:15 AM PST - 13 comments

Our kid is likely going to be forced to jump from Pre-K to 1st grade this summer when we move. We can't be the first people to move to with kids, but we're struggling to find concrete information/advice about what to expect and how to prepare for this. Two questions for parents and teachers inside. [more inside]
posted by caek at 10:53 AM PST - 17 comments

I have 12 hours of audio recorded from 8 focus group conversations. Can you please recommend me your favorite free or paid app or service for creating a transcription? Bonus points if it labels the different speaker names.
posted by rebent at 10:27 AM PST - 11 comments

I remember, from at least 20 years ago, a website I stumbled onto that was a collection of ideas from people from all over the world. I think the ideas were grouped by category, like, social policy, technology, etc. Can't remember the name of the site. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 10:13 AM PST - 2 comments

YANMD, but lately, I've noticed when I walk on an upwards incline for an extended time, or lift heavy items, I quickly become very out of breath and become sweaty/need to really pause to catch my breath. I've had a few occasions where I've been very concerned, but don't want to bother my doctor with this, because I've had a few other questions. Figured I'd turn to here and see. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 9:55 AM PST - 30 comments

I'm a novice that's slowly renovating my 1979-built town home. I have tools, willingness, workspace, time, and youtube, but I'm clearly out of my depth on some things. As the task list grows beyond my comprehension, I could use someone with experience to tell me what's important and what could wait. I'm glad to pay them for their time and knowledge... who are they? [more inside]
posted by SunSnork at 8:53 AM PST - 13 comments

What is the earliest recorded example of someone either complaining about the problem of writing the wrong year after the new year or clearly making that mistake (e.g. some monk scratching out AD 1273 and writing 1274 in early January)? [more inside]
posted by jedicus at 8:48 AM PST - 4 comments

Three or four years ago I was involved in a fender bender. I was driving a rental car ... [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 8:40 AM PST - 5 comments

I enjoyed the Expanse series (the books) and Haruki Murakami (pretty much all of them) - what should I read next? I liked the hard-science fiction parts/length of the Expanse and the wonderful every-day randomness and the lovely descriptions in the Murakami novels.
posted by mathiu at 7:48 AM PST - 18 comments

Wasting a question filter--ever since some random update a few months ago, my gmail is no longer syncing. Halp!! [more inside]
posted by Melismata at 7:38 AM PST - 3 comments

Mefites with parents with bipolar disorder, tell me about your relationships with your parent. I am trying, and failing, to take care of my mother. I feel that I cannot get this right, and I have a lot of mixed up feelings about her/the situation. I don't know too many other people who have parents with mental illness. How do you cope with your parent's mental illness? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:48 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for book recommendations where the main characters maintain a working partnership and mutual respect that straddles a wide morality gap. I know there's a ton out there that fits this bill, including many common tropes like 'cop working with a partially reformed criminal.' But what's an example that you think is exceptionally well conceived and written? [more inside]
posted by ch3cooh at 1:18 AM PST - 18 comments

I've been realizing that a lot of my stress in life is self-imposed and related to childhood trauma. I relate highly to descriptions of "overcontrolled emotion." You are not my therapist, but are there any books, practices or resources you've found especially helpful in learning how to be flexible and not filled with dread at making mistakes, failing to deliver on commitments, and being criticized? (More details within) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:53 PM PST - 11 comments

What are the best movies that deal with struggles and triumphs of immigrants trying to survive and make it in a new country?
posted by roaring beast at 7:41 PM PST - 36 comments

I’m looking for a calendar app that does not sync to or in any way connect to my iphone or google calendars, that doesn’t require me to register for anything, that just lives on my phone in peace separate from other apps. Please don’t explain to me why I don’t need ir want this because I can make another calendar in iphone or whatever. Hope me?
posted by shadygrove at 7:15 PM PST - 7 comments

Does anyone make such a "cooperating" smart switch that can be linked together to act as a 3 way switch without having 2 "traveler" wires between them? [more inside]
posted by Popular Ethics at 7:11 PM PST - 10 comments

From The Moon and sixpence. 1]Chapter53.The French Captain asks Strickland if he never regretted Europe." Do you not yearn sometimes for the light of streets in Paris or London, the companionship of your friends and equals, que sais je? for theatres and newspapers, ...2] Chapter55.When Dr. Coutras was taken into another room and given dinnerーraw fish,fried bananas, and chicken 一que sais je? the typical dinner of the indigene一I understand its literal meaning of the sentence.How do French people use it ? Is it used commonly?
posted by mizukko at 5:46 PM PST - 6 comments

Try as I might to find an answer, I am stumped as to how to stop "you might like" from showing up in my Twitter timeline. [more inside]
posted by jtexman1 at 3:51 PM PST - 13 comments

I want to inscribe a used book to a new recipient. [more inside]
posted by Gusaroo at 12:50 PM PST - 9 comments

"There is nothing so absurd that it has not been said by some philosopher." Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote this in 44 BC. What did he have in mind? [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 11:58 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for book/film/tv recommendations about someone who has been missing, returns home to their family, and their family believes (rightly or wrongly) that they are somehow not the same. Especially if they are believed to be an impostor or have lost some core essence. [more inside]
posted by mosswinter at 11:03 AM PST - 63 comments

Please help me solve an elusive medical mystery that is causing me to disappear very slowly. Epic poem inside. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 11:01 AM PST - 15 comments

A little dog in a sailor suit has been a good boy at the seaside. Who is he?! [more inside]
posted by perpetual color at 10:50 AM PST - 5 comments

My sister gets mad if I use their groceries, but has no issue using mine. (Snowflakes inside...) [more inside]
posted by Kobayashi Maru at 10:27 AM PST - 13 comments

Why don't my cheap wired earbuds work in direct sunlight? [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:44 AM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone suggest tools for planning a vacation? I want to do thing like collect ideas, plot locations on a map, keep a budget, etc. Online or MacOS is preferred over mobile. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:58 AM PST - 9 comments

My girlfriend and I (male) have begun looking at jewelry stores for an engagement ring for her. It's been a good experience so far, but I was hoping to get any advice on (1) what we should be looking for or mindful of, if anything, when choosing a jeweler, and (2) what we should be looking for or mindful of, if anything, when considering the setting and diamond. Alternatively, what do you now wish you had known or looked for or asked about if you could go back to when you first searched for an engagement ring. Further details within of where we are. [more inside]
posted by TheLinenLenin at 8:24 AM PST - 18 comments

In the last year I read about a mathematician or scientist who wanted to credit his cat for helping him with much of his work. I believe he lived in the 19th century. Publishers refused, but eventually, after his death, a statue was erected of him and his cat together. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:18 AM PST - 3 comments

The external monitor for my MacBook isn't working. Any ideas for stuff I haven't tried? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 7:08 AM PST - 20 comments

Louisiana Mefites: Help this New Yorker make up some fun, simple New Orleans/Mardi Gras gifts for my co-workers - on a budget, and without looking tacky! [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:41 AM PST - 11 comments

I've seen quite a few articles in the media about indoor air quality issues caused by gas stoves. It's easy to understand how the products of combustion might not be geat for indoor air quality, but muliple articles have claimed that stoves emit toxins when off. How is that possible? Today's article in the Guardian specifically mentions benzene.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 6:06 AM PST - 10 comments

My wife and I are entertaining a 12-year-old boy. He wants to do something sporty and outdoors. His first choice would be 2-on-2 touch rugby, or 2-on-2 football.... but there's only three of us. We could just throw a ball around, but he'd prefer something with rules and a victory condition. What three-person sports (or at least games that involve some exercise) could we play? [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 5:45 AM PST - 17 comments

I live in a single family house in a quiet neighborhood. The neighbors next to me must be new but have such large parties I am woken up by it. I can hear the music now. I at first thought it was due to the holidays but this is an all the time thing. I don’t want to involve the police and doubt they will actually respond anyway. What’s the best way to resolve this? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 12:39 AM PST - 10 comments

This light pollution map has a bright area that mystifies me. What's there? Google maps doesn't show any towns, just some... cylinders that look like power transformers or maybe water tanks? Could it be waste storage? Why would it emit light? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 6:11 PM PST - 15 comments

What are your favourite uses for raw honeycomb? [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 6:07 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for geology resources for my soon-to-be 5-year-old. Snowflakes abound. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 5:38 PM PST - 18 comments

I built a computer, it won't start/POST and I think I've tested everything. Is there something obvious (or subtle) I'm missing? (This is my second homebuilt PC; my first was 10 years ago so I'm not a seasoned builder.) [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool at 5:06 PM PST - 15 comments

A new male romantic partner is kind, thoughtful, passionate, and considerate (though also severely depressed) when in person. When at a distance, however, he is incredibly distant - barely texts, doesn't call much, and when he engages, it is not in a romantic way. Looking for anecdata: if you are a person like this, or have dated a person like this, what are some charitable reasons this might be happening? Bonus question: how can I deal with this? Details, of course, abound. [more inside]
posted by sockmeamadeus at 2:35 PM PST - 41 comments

Boyfriend (M/55) and I (F/34) were together for 5 months, recently decided to take a break for some self-work. We've still been maintaining contact and spending time together. Sacrifice vs. compromise was brought up yesterday, and I need a perspective check. Ended things with him after realizing that I'm still processing a previous breakup, and feel immoral being in a relationship in the interim. Currently grappling with the fact that I may have made too sudden a decision, that perhaps our values do align, and that after a break with no contact, things could be different. Several questions below! [more inside]
posted by Jangatroo at 1:27 PM PST - 39 comments

There was a gut wrenching gun violence article I saw on twitter, linked up to maybe up to a year ago, though potentially older. A young woman struggled with poverty and a key point was affording a dress, which she was finally buried in. I have the feeling it was published in a "random acts of gun violence" series. Looking for this article, thanks for your help
posted by gensubuser at 12:10 PM PST - 3 comments

I need to stand on top of some of the cabinetry in my kitchen to be able to do some ductwork. The space is awkward enough that getting a ladder in to the space so I could reach it would be difficult, bordering on impossible. (I'd be working in a skylight above a floating cabinet above our range.) I'm a larger adult man (230lbs, 6'2"); will this cabinetry be able to support my weight without reinforcement, or should I put some sort of struts in to shore it up against the countertop below?
posted by kdar at 11:48 AM PST - 12 comments

Got any links for a pretty good sized arts and crafts organizer? Amazon, Michaels, Target, Walmart, Joanns, Costco, wherever. I need it to hold and manage paintbrushes and small paint sets, pencils, crayons, paper, baubles, buttons, odds and ends, cardstock, glue, staplers, paper cutting tools, scissors, the works. [more inside]
posted by cashman at 11:29 AM PST - 12 comments

Help me contribute to the downfall of American civilization by recommending the most comfortable, casual men's pants possible for flying. My top requirement is that they have deep pockets so that my phone, wallet, etc. don't pop out. Aesthetics really unimportant! Just looking for maximum comfort. Thanks, all!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 11:26 AM PST - 15 comments

There are endless ads on YouTube (using my iPad or Android phone) these days. Can they be blocked? Or is it futile? There are ad blockers and I've tried a couple but I can't get them to work. I just read something that says YouTube has blocked ad blockers now for mobile devices (I have an ad blocker on my PC that works fine). What's the True Story about this?
posted by DMelanogaster at 10:50 AM PST - 13 comments

If you're not supposed to leave raw eggs out for more than two hours, how is it food-safe to let challah dough, with raw eggs in it, rise on the counter for four or more hours? Side question: why is my challah so slow to rise? [more inside]
posted by john_snow at 10:17 AM PST - 21 comments

Going to Copenhagen in late May with SO, her sister and 23 yo nephew. Looking for hotel/bnb with 2 bedrooms but one needs 2 separate beds. Happy to pay a little more for a nicer spot. [more inside]
posted by Farce_First at 9:24 AM PST - 7 comments

Can anyone suggest a free/cheap tool that I can use to design (roughly) a house? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 7:31 AM PST - 9 comments

Do you have a garment bag you like? My budget is up to $200, but I'd rather spend $100 or less. It would probably need to hold only about four outfits, and I'd probably use it only a couple of times a year, but I'd like it to hold up well for that.
posted by NotLost at 1:02 AM PST - 3 comments

I have about half a cup of homemade dulce de leche. What can I make with it? Reasonably skilled baker/cook but slightly short on time.
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 9:45 PM PST - 12 comments

The fridge in my San Francisco apartment stopped working two weeks ago and my landlord hasn't fixed it yet. How can I encourage them to hurry? [more inside]
posted by pmdboi at 7:58 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm reading Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon and I'm really enjoying it. It's about a woman who stays behind on a planet that humans were attempting to terraform. What other SF books /short stories / movies are also (even tangentially) about humans terraforming a new planet? [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 7:41 PM PST - 25 comments

As a vegetarian since age 8 and a Jew, I've eaten A LOT of mock chopped liver, homemade and commercial, in the US and Israel. Egg versions, bean versions, mushroom versions...help me try to recreate my favorite [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 5:22 PM PST - 7 comments

A friend is hurt that she was not included on an invitation for a prayer group for a sick friend. However, she is not a person of faith and does not pray. Does this seem unreasonable? How would you handle/get over feeling left out? [more inside]
posted by fies at 5:06 PM PST - 45 comments

I am looking for a microwave with a QUIET exhaust fan. Quiet snowflakes below. [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 4:12 PM PST - 1 comment

My senior dog passed away a couple of months ago. I still have her sister, and my plan was always to adopt another dog eventually, but I'm getting criticism from family and it's making me question whether this is the right idea. [more inside]
posted by Malleable at 4:09 PM PST - 36 comments

I’ve been reading a lot of Jane Austen and I have been struck by the common themes in her writing and would love to read more along those lines. Welcoming all recommendations for books that analyze the themes, characters, and other shared elements across her literary oeuvre. [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 1:30 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm going through a divorce and am having some serious trouble answering the following basic human question: since all relationships end in separation or death, what's the use in investing in relationships with others? If the pain of loss can't be mitigated and must be survived, how do we build resilience? [more inside]
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 12:46 PM PST - 46 comments

I'm seeking travel inspiration for a four day getaway next year to celebrate an anniversary. We prefer the outdoors to big cities. We'd be leaving from Reno or Sacramento. [more inside]
posted by carolr at 11:33 AM PST - 19 comments

My parent is minimally conscious, on life support and could be for a long time. How can I find others in this situation? I’m struggling to find a subreddit or message board related to this. [more inside]
posted by puppet du sock at 11:06 AM PST - 3 comments

Since starting to use a wheelchair I've noticed that dogs bark at me. Why? [more inside]
posted by narcissus_and_ambrosia at 11:00 AM PST - 26 comments

I was watching a marathon and finally realized that Joel/Mike and the robots would have been filmed in front of a green screen so wouldn't be seeing the film projected the way we do as the audience. I also now realize that this is obvious. [more inside]
posted by Eddie Mars at 10:51 AM PST - 5 comments

I mean, common "household" items. Bleach, hydrogn peroxide, what else should not smell like nothing or good for safety reasons, and just so no fraud can take place, (i.e no one can replace the content with water).
posted by amfgf at 10:50 AM PST - 15 comments

According to recent info I should, as a free (not Premium) YouTube user, now be able to start a video on YouTube, get it in Picture In Picture (no problem), and then, swipe out of YouTube, and the video should keep playing in its little PIP screen on top of whatever else I am doing. But it doesn’t… [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 10:10 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm trying to help my mother, a hoarder, create a package for me to eventually execute her estate. We're in Ontario, Canada. What do I need? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:51 AM PST - 11 comments

Pretty much what it says on the tin. I'm staring down moving a rather willful cat most likely by car but possibly by plane and having endless nightmares about her either getting out in the airport or getting out in a motel room. Please make me feel slightly better about this with practical suggestions. I'm looking for something easy to put on and ideally kind of small so she doesn't feel like she's covered in foreign stuff.
posted by less-of-course at 9:29 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm helping develop a workflow for collecting documents for use in litigation. I want a simple, free or inexpensive tool that clients can upload to on a time-limited basis (e.g. you can upload for the next week/month) with no ability to delete. Ideally does not change the metadata of the documents upon upload and is easy to use. I'd rather avoid requiring login (a downside with OneDrive). [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 9:19 AM PST - 7 comments

We have two cats, one anxious, one ... empty head no thoughts. Came home Wednesday night to find Anxious Cat on the bed in a very agitated state. Went to search for Simple Cat and immediately heard a bad (hissing, spitting, yowling) scuffle. Ran in to break it up, found Simple Cat growling under the couch with a plastic bag stuck to her. I removed the bag and tried to settle everyone but it is now Friday midday and Anxious Cat's grudge has shown no signs of abating. Is this normal? Any advice? [more inside]
posted by sparkling at 9:04 AM PST - 8 comments

I was impressed recently when my fitness tracker correctly predicted my period start day in a 42-day cycle, based on temperature rise. It got me wondering: what does menopause look like to a fertility tracker? Is it a temperature rise and the period never comes? Or does the person stay at baseline (slightly lower temp) and never get the rise?
posted by xo at 7:43 AM PST - 2 comments

I have an older relative who has in recent years been radicalised (mostly) by youtube and is finally showing openness to moving past this. Somewhat inspired by this question I'm looking for your recommendations for engaging clickbait videos that have a progressive (or apolitical) bent. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:09 AM PST - 12 comments

I happened to click on a generically named "My Mix" playlist on YouTube today and it is uncannily 75% exactly music that matches my esoteric tastes, and 25% stuff I don't know but really like. Is there any way to find the mix "author" and see if they have created more mixes? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 6:48 AM PST - 7 comments

I know this might be a very childish question but I'm battling a spending addiction and I was wondering if anyone had found any way to make budgeting/saving fun? [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 6:29 AM PST - 17 comments

We'll be traveling from the US in February -- three days in Paris, four days in London. I'd like to have data on at least two of our phones. AT&T's international day pass is $10 a day, which is convenient, but seems unnecessarily expensive for the entire week. Our phones are unlocked, so we could use local eSIMs -- but how? Which ones? [more inside]
posted by uncleozzy at 6:10 AM PST - 6 comments

Does anybody have any experience of recovering lost property from US airports? To my dismay I managed to leave a tote bag containing (amongst other things) my favourite jumper at what I think is Customs during a tight transit at Washington Dulles airport a couple of days ago. [more inside]
posted by katie_w at 4:22 AM PST - 6 comments

About to stock up on a bunch of music/ band/ concert tees or t-shirt dresses. Where can I find the most/best buttery/soft-well-made ones? Most of them are like shitty cardboard, but I’ve come across some great ones randomly. Sometimes at shows. Also looking for the same quality non-music t-shirts, but that’s secondary.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 1:13 AM PST - 5 comments

I signed up for a mentorship program through a professional organization a few months ago (which I forgot about) and I've been paired with a mentor, and we are going to meet for coffee tomorrow. I actually have... no idea what I'm supposed to do as a mentee. I've been so negative about the current state of my career (see previous questions) that I'm not even sure what the mentor can help me with now? What am I supposed to do so I don't waste our time? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 11:55 PM PST - 21 comments

My wife and I are planning to be in Japan in April, and would like to take a couple of days to bike the Shimanami Kaido. We're looking at options, and starting to get a bit overwhelmed by the variety of choices. We'd love recommendations from MeFites who have biked this trail before! [more inside]
posted by rishabguha at 8:31 PM PST - 3 comments

[Gauntlet thrown, Mefite geeks -- here's a challenge:] I've been playing with blocking a few sites by editing my hosts file and mapping domain names to 127.0.0.1. Google, bless their little "don't be evil" hearts, has decided to present me with a working solitaire game every time I search Google for the word [solitaire]. I cannot figure out how to block this without blocking Google. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 8:05 PM PST - 17 comments

Does anyone know a source for the printed (or digital) William Shakespeare-themed Tube map from 2016? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:20 PM PST - 4 comments

I recently enjoyed watching Radio Days and The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. I like the self-referential old-time radio and pulp vibes, it's pretty fun since I grew up listening to dad's OTR cassette tapes. What are some other works--films, books, podcasts, etc.--that I shouldn't miss? Some more details inside. [more inside]
posted by circular at 6:09 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm talking a mix of sanitizer and mold. How is that possible? How can mold live in alcohol even if the percentage of alcohol is not the highest? What am I missing?
posted by amfgf at 5:50 PM PST - 9 comments

Specifics and examples inside! [more inside]
posted by sweetpotato at 5:49 PM PST - 9 comments

YANMD. I messaged my Dr earlier but she’s been out. I’ve been having problems with dopamine crashes and I haven’t changed meds so it’s mysterious. If there’s a harmless supplement or something I can take to balance better, I will. I’m also not finding consumer-friendly info. There are articles from med journals and sketchy supplements. I’d like to find reputable info for consumers as well as some informed, harmless things I can do.
posted by mermaidcafe at 3:42 PM PST - 11 comments

In our family growing up we never took medicine for flus or colds. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 3:00 PM PST - 14 comments

If you know of any movies which had audio descriptions that you found particularly well-done or enjoyable, I'd like to hear about them! [more inside]
posted by The otter lady at 2:55 PM PST - 3 comments

Need some ideas for Ethiopian-inspired side dish recipes. [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 2:10 PM PST - 8 comments

Can you recommend a skilled NYC-based thyroid specialist who prescribes a range of meds (Armour, Naturethroid, NPThyroid) for hypothyroidism — and not just Synthroid? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:40 PM PST - 2 comments

It is unfortunately time to retire my vintage workhorse HP Laserjet 4 Plus printer. While I always expected to replace it with another business class HP, HP isn't the HP of yore, and I don't like its requirement to activitate printers online. Alas, buying printers has become more of a chore than it used to be. What would you recommend I consider, and what would you advise me to avoid? [more inside]
posted by cool breeze at 12:29 PM PST - 18 comments

What do you do with dried, de-headed, gutted, anchovies coated in sesame seeds? [more inside]
posted by SaltySalticid at 11:03 AM PST - 11 comments

The power input on my !@#% lenovo has given up the ghost so I'm typing this on the new asus a15. I've moved the ssd from the lenovo to the secondary ssd slot on the asus, and the asus can see it. Which directories should I copy to the nas? [more inside]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:43 AM PST - 4 comments

Partner just came down with COVID. What time-sensitive actions should we take? [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 9:08 AM PST - 33 comments

What are some approaches to remotely monitor whether a refrigerator is on? And aside from vinegar wipedowns, plates of baking soda and charcoal, what other methods to reduce or remove the smell from a fridge gone rotten. [more inside]
posted by Sreiny at 7:30 AM PST - 20 comments

For various Reasons (surprise hell-divorce among them) my 1L first semester GPA is not all that could be desired and is slightly below the curve at my moderately high-ranked, but not T14, law school. I am an older student with a, ahem, slightly interesting history. What are my odds of getting a summer internship (unpaid is fine), preferably in public interest in my profile location? Are the grades really as doomy as people are gloomfully predicting?
posted by corb at 6:25 AM PST - 16 comments

In my bedroom I have a humidifier with a humidistat. When running, the humidistat will get up to 80-90% while 10 feet away across the room, another humidity monitor will read 25 (but if i move it nearby, it'll match - both are correct!). This means the humidifier turns on and off way too much as it gets into a hysteresis loop. I feel like a fan could fix this, but I want something that doesn't generate a noticeable breeze; something slow enough that it circulates the air without making noise or really "blowing". All the fans I can find for sale seem to be the opposite - they're full of marketing about how powerful they are. Anyone have experience with a fan I could put on my dresser next to my humidifier that is NOT powerful - something slow and quiet?
posted by dmd at 6:09 AM PST - 8 comments

A gmail email was routed to Promotion. I did not want it in Promotion. I went to labels and unchecked Promotion, imagining that it would go directly to my in box. Instead it went into oblivion. Question becomes, how to get it back. [more inside]
posted by BWA at 5:32 AM PST - 6 comments

How to make waking up less horrible? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 5:31 AM PST - 26 comments

But turn to static as soon as you walk away? Or even let go of the tuning dial? Please help me understand the reasons for this long-running source of low-level frustration in my life.
posted by happyfrog at 1:27 AM PST - 11 comments

I am looking for the most recent data on how well vaccines are protecting people from hospitalization and death from COVID's newer variants. Thanks.
posted by ojocaliente at 12:24 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm signing up for internet in my new home. It comes with a weird sounding deal that I can take or leave. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 8:38 PM PST - 32 comments

I'm looking for the name of a documentary about Playboy that can't have been younger than 2007 since I watched it on a Qantas flight that year but am having a devil of a time finding it now. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by creatrixtiara at 8:07 PM PST - 3 comments

What’s the 2023 take on job hopping / ideal lengths of job position? (Specifics on a job situation inside) [more inside]
posted by Sock Meets Body at 7:18 PM PST - 9 comments

My kid has diagnosed hand strength issues that mean her hand cramps and tires very quickly when writing. This year she has to write a LOT for exams and tests (next year laptops!) and I'm looking for more pen grips. We've tried your basic fat pen and the triangle and indented grips, not much help. I'm willing to try a lot of weirder ones like this Penline fish-grip. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:50 PM PST - 20 comments

I've been prescribed some medicated ear drops for the next 10 days - but the bottle they come in is too stiff for me to squeeze said drops out. Help? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:28 PM PST - 23 comments

Someone emailed me a document as an attachment. It's probably a Pages document in MIME format. I can't figure out how to convert the attachment into a file that my Windows PC can understand. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 6:24 PM PST - 2 comments

Tell me if I'm wrong about this; if I'm right, please give me a cite if you can. I seem to recall reading an article that made an informed argument that the CDC guidelines for safe alcohol usage for women were unscientifically restrictive and reflected a bias against any kind of substance use. [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 5:54 PM PST - 9 comments

On a strange whim the other day I was looking at property in Costa Rica and stumbled on a house I can afford. It's in a walkable neighborhood in Guanacasta, a short drive to a tourist area (Samara). Is this a realistic idea? Has anyone done something like this solo? What should I watch out for? Does anyone who lives in Central America have any advice about relocating? I'm prepared for climate, flooding, bugs and lizards, ineffective post, and good internet. What am I unprepared for? [more inside]
posted by irisclara at 5:45 PM PST - 17 comments

A US state's Department for Children and Families has hamhandedly "substantiated" a report that my cousin financially exploited her mother. My cousin, who did not do so, is at the beginning of an appeals process now. (This is all through the DCF, not criminal courts, although the information we have says "law enforcement may pursue charges.") The questions they gave her to be completed before the prehearing are all in legalese that neither of us understand. Clearly, she needs a lawyer, but what kind of lawyer, and how do I find one ASAP? [more inside]
posted by kutsushita nyanko at 5:30 PM PST - 8 comments

The internet is a series of tubes rabbit holes, and I find myself getting lost in them far too often. It's been a few years since I last used a distraction-blocker along the lines of Freedom.to or Focus and I'm not sure what's out there anymore, but I'm looking for something a little different than those two (which I already own). Finicky details inside, but I'd love your anecdotes and personal experiences, too! [more inside]
posted by knucklebones at 4:37 PM PST - 2 comments

I need help finding a web comic. It may have been Oglaf but if it is I can't find the strip. In it a human tricks a deity in some way, so the deity damns him or smites him or something similar. The exasperated human says something like "I fooled a capricious and vengeful god! Things should be going great for me!" Anyone suggestions?
posted by Tehhund at 3:27 PM PST - 4 comments

A friend's wife has Covid. Cold symptoms, positive test, is on Paxlovid. My friend has already tested negative twice on home tests. If those tests are negative, which so many seem to be nowadays but show up positive later, what should he do? [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 2:39 PM PST - 28 comments

I want to add 1 ply of plywood's thickness to the edge of a shelf and buying a full sheet of 1/8" birch seems like a foolishly expensive option. Is there a relatively straightforward process to delaminate a ply from some of my plywood off-cuts so I can use that instead? [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:34 PM PST - 17 comments

I had cataract surgery yesterday on my left eye, and have two weeks to go until my right eye has the same surgery. Advice on how to deal with mismatched vision until they're both done and healed? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:29 PM PST - 10 comments

I made tomato soup last night from the NY Times recipe but it tastes too much like pasta sauce. Just like every other tomato soup I've made. What's your favorite recipe, secret ingredients, or technique for making good tomato soup?
posted by GernBlandston at 1:21 PM PST - 29 comments

I am leaving my job at a non-profit where there is a lot of resentment about a rather opaque set of perceived salary inequities. Due to my position at the organization, I have both (1) knowledge of all salaries and (2) ongoing relationships with several staff. I'm looking for advice on navigating this. [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 12:56 PM PST - 21 comments

Ongoing food sensitivity issues have forced me to learn to cook, and I have now mastered two 'meal prep' menus. Looking to expand my repertoire! [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 12:49 PM PST - 12 comments

My son goes to a daycare where all the teachers are from Mainland China. I’m thinking about giving them gifts for Chinese New Year but have some questions about that. I’d be grateful for help from people who know more about this than I do. I have a bit of familiarity with Chinese culture but kind of just enough to know that there’s a lot I don’t know! [more inside]
posted by imalaowai at 12:49 PM PST - 4 comments

I asked a similar question here some time ago, but the issue wasn't solved, and I just let it go. But now this situation is bugging me again, so I'm trying again. [more inside]
posted by gigondas at 12:46 PM PST - 5 comments

We want to play a joke on a coworker! [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 12:28 PM PST - 7 comments

After 3 bouts with Covid, I’ve had increasingly frustrating experiences with testing: consistently testing positive with certain at-home tests and never testing positive through a health care provider. Are there known precedents for this at-home test sensitivity or am I a marvel of modern medicine who has contracted the worlds sneakiest Covid strain? [more inside]
posted by redsparkler at 11:35 AM PST - 20 comments

Our above-ground basement windows are old but we don't want to replace them. What we do want to do is better insulate them to stop bugs and air from getting in. Do we call a window repair/installation company, an HVAC place, a handyman, or someone else? [more inside]
posted by rbf1138 at 10:42 AM PST - 2 comments

After the recent iOS 16 lock screen features update, my lock screen has been behaving very strangely and I want to find the image that I'm currently using for it on my phone, but can't. [more inside]
posted by star gentle uterus at 10:31 AM PST - 8 comments

I am looking for a therapist and see that the person I have an appt with lists The Naropa Institute in Boulder CO (degree from about 30 years ago) as their only credential. [more inside]
posted by little striped mule at 10:30 AM PST - 6 comments

What's the fastest/bestest/legit way to get a dog registered as a companion animal for an adult with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 10:30 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to develop a habit of always doing a specific action in a specific situation, without having to think about it. Are there any methods for this kind of thing? [more inside]
posted by each day we work at 10:04 AM PST - 18 comments

I am 99% sure that I read an article about the constant battles between pay-tv providers and backyard satellite pirates/decryptors in the 1970s and 1980s, and it had a funny story about a pay-per-view sting operation. Basically: somehow the broadcaster of a big event (Wrestlemania? A boxing match?) inserted a fake commercial only into the pirated stream that promised a free t-shirt of similar gift to people who called or wrote in. And then when people did, BLAMMO they got busted. [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 9:56 AM PST - 6 comments

Apologies if this has been asked before, but given the limited space I have available, what's the best way to deal with artwork and 3D art projects lovingly created for me by various nieces/nephews? They're taking up a lot of space at the moment and creating clutter. But I love them. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 8:25 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a book that is the very reason the advice "Don't judge a book by its cover" exists. A book, fiction or non-fiction, whose cover is truly ugly or mismatches a gorgeous and literary story or serious content within. (For the purposes of the question, let's eliminate romance, fantasy, and light sci-fi.) [more inside]
posted by cocoagirl at 8:14 AM PST - 21 comments

So I recently found out that my elderly mother has been renting her hot water heater for the last TWENTY YEARS. Worse, she doesn't have a copy of her supposed rental contract and has no idea what the terms are. The company is, unsurprisingly, not very helpful. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by Naberius at 7:36 AM PST - 16 comments

I am inspired by the recent question on JFK's assassination. What book(s) should I read about his presidency? I am more focused on his interpersonal relationships and his health issues than his policies and governance.
posted by bookworm4125 at 6:37 AM PST - 4 comments

I've got a bad habit: In my life, at different points, I've gotten from 3/4ths of the way to 9/10ths of the way to a bachelors degree, but for various reasons was unable to finish, and wondering if there's any way to salvage anything. [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:31 AM PST - 16 comments

I was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I'm feeling all the feelings and want to do all the things. Can you provide any Toronto-based recommendations for an endocrinologist, or even a nutritionist or therapist that might be good for someone in this situation? General thoughts would be welcomed as well. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by evadery at 6:22 AM PST - 6 comments

Please share resources on coping with ongoing trauma. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:28 AM PST - 5 comments

I am flying domestically in the USA in a few weeks. I usually go by my middle name, and I bought my ticket as Middlename Lastname. My Real ID driver's license has Firstname Middlename Lastname. Do you expect it to be a problem that these don't match exactly? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:00 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm not able to attend a family member's funeral tomorrow, but the service is being streamed on the funeral home's website. Another family member will not be able to watch in real time, and I want to record the service for them. I don't know what program/service they're using to broadcast and neither does the contact at the funeral home. [more inside]
posted by Adifferentbear at 6:37 PM PST - 17 comments

I am trying to recall the name of a book I had as a child. I have a strong feeling that it was originally French or at least from a European country, but translated into English. [more inside]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 4:10 PM PST - 5 comments

Many years ago I heard this dance tune that I didn't enjoy very much, but it's rattled around in my head ever since. I think it mostly had some white European guy rapping, maybe, but then this person with a high, raspy, kind of drag queen-y/Eartha Kitt-y voice would cut in. I think that person sang the chorus, which went something like, "Oohh, you're so good when you're bad, and so bad when you're good, and so good when you're bad." [more inside]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:25 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm thinking about places like Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Custer State Park -- places that are absolutely Official National Park caliber, but for whatever reason are not official National Parks. Any state or national park unit will do, anywhere in the US, although answers for the continental US are probably most helpful. Best if it has some of the expected amenities of a National Park too (bathrooms, park rangers, trail maps etc.) [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 3:09 PM PST - 29 comments

I work at a university, and have the opportunity to pursue a grad program for my own enjoyment and learning, with 2/3rds covered by my job. Should I do a PhD? [more inside]
posted by elsmith at 2:48 PM PST - 27 comments

Is there bullet point list or something similar that Mefites can recommend as steps to follow for fixing my credit in the United States? [more inside]
posted by clocksock at 1:59 PM PST - 11 comments

As a child, my mother used Swiss Lactopine bath oil and it's seared on my memory as the greatest-smelling bath of all time. Swiss Lactopine has long been discontinued, and I'm looking for similar bath scents, either in oil or bath salt form. There was something about Swiss Lactopine that reduced the "Christmas tree" aspect of the scent—though it still smelled strongly of pine. It reminded me of hiking in the Sierra Nevadas or the CA coastal redwoods, not just Christmas. This is an aspect of the scent I'd like to find again. I am familiar with (and like!) Kneipp's.
posted by branca at 1:58 PM PST - 6 comments

I am the Human Resources department for our small business, but I don't really know what I'm doing. [more inside]
posted by paisley sheep at 1:17 PM PST - 8 comments

What are some tools to help me simplify my English writing? [more inside]
posted by Nelson at 11:37 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm flying Puerto Rico via Florida. I use delta 8 THC Cartrige cannabis derived terpenes for my vape pen. These are federally legal, and legal in my state, Florida, and Puerto Rico, but I can't find info on flying with them, and confirming everything is 100% legal. I prefer to use my carts, instead of something purchased at my destination because mine are lab tested, and high purity, and safety. This is my exact product if it helps. I have no affiliation with the company other than it relieves my chronic pain.
posted by maxexam at 11:23 AM PST - 5 comments

My brain will not let me rest until I can recover the title of a YA book I read about 30 years ago. What I remember: the main character was a tween girl named Lydia, visiting family (her aunts, I think?) for the summer. There was a coming of age feel to it but no real plot or tension, mostly just her hanging out with the neighborhood kids doing summery things. They played hide-and-seek in the dark and went swimming a lot. The title may have invoked fireflies or dragonflies. Ring a bell with anyone? [more inside]
posted by anderjen at 11:19 AM PST - 3 comments

I’m on my second therapist and wonder if I need to try a third one. Seeking advice on whether I should jump ship now, or stay with my current provider. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:12 AM PST - 15 comments

Someone was murdered, and later a suspect was arrested. Both of these were in 2020 in Los Angeles. I know the name of the victim and the name of the suspect. How can I find out what happened after that? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:10 AM PST - 6 comments

We've been wooing a young stray cat for the last few months, and she's very happily moved in. Miniface appeared as an older kitten in the spring. She was never fully feral, but it took some time to gain her trust beyond petting. But now that she's acclimated to indoor life, she loves it. However. She shows zero interest in the litter box. She's still going outside to do her business. We need to get her litter trained. Help? [more inside]
posted by kimdog at 9:52 AM PST - 12 comments

I was building a "Daily Report Survey" using Alchemer/Surveygizmo for a very large construction project that was supposed to keep track of productivity, labor hours, and other data from field teams. But it's starting to fall short... Are there any competitors with very customizable question types, recurring responses, and personalized links? [more inside]
posted by gzimmer at 9:49 AM PST - 1 comment

about 18 months ago we got an insurance payout to fix our roof, we foolishly paid in full to a company who then kept pushing the date they were going to do it back over and over. After almost a full year, (the amount of time the job needed to be done in by our insurance), they farmed the job out to a subcontractor. The contractor didn't pay the subcontractor and they're billing us for the amount we paid initially. Given that we didn't hire the subcontractor are we on the hook for any of this?
posted by Ferreous at 9:46 AM PST - 2 comments

I want to figure out how (and whether) calling the police applies to holistic self-defense. Obviously they're a last line of defense, and one should flee to a crowded area first if possible. But if it isn't possible, should one even bother calling as a general rule? What factors influence whether calling is a good idea? (E.g. location, time of day, etc.?) [more inside]
posted by commander_fancypants at 9:19 AM PST - 17 comments

Where do you like to buy men’s button-down shirts in NYC? Ideally looking for a place with a variety of styles. Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 9:15 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for advice and experience around buying a Pilates reformer for home practice. Recommendations? Warnings? Advice? [more inside]
posted by kinsey at 8:59 AM PST - 2 comments

The PC keyboard enthusiast ecosystem has become sprawling and hard to keep up with. Can you sort through my requirements and find something that matches? [more inside]
posted by Rhomboid at 8:12 AM PST - 8 comments

I was a late bloomer and basically did not experience strong romantic attraction growing up. Once I became an adult, I increasingly developed attraction to others, but it still feels hazy and confusing to me. I am curious to hear what others experience to try to clarify my own feelings. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:51 AM PST - 9 comments

In researching a book I found good news about an American star who was very famous in the 1990s. I'm sure they would be interested in it and they're extremely unlikely to have seen this on their own. It would open an opportunity for them to do good in the world, if they chose (no money involved). I don't want anything from them. How can I make sure the info gets to them? [more inside]
posted by nezlamnyy at 7:27 AM PST - 6 comments

The window frames in my home all have this peculiar handle. What is it called? How can I fix them? [more inside]
posted by kbanas at 7:24 AM PST - 3 comments

I've had a job for several years at a small company. For many years before this job, I worked 60-hour workweeks and was constantly stressed. With this job, I purposefully chose a role with less responsibility and lower pay than the other employees. Now my boss keeps pushing to give me a promotion with more responsibility, even though I have said no. What can I tell him to enforce boundaries? What can I tell myself to reduce my self-doubt over this decision? [more inside]
posted by vienna at 6:55 AM PST - 22 comments

It's been four months since a painful breakup and I cannot break free from this awful cycle of rumination, anger, and hurt. For the first time since we broke up, I'm considering opening up contact. [more inside]
posted by treetop89 at 6:19 AM PST - 33 comments

We have an old Kenwood coffee machine and we recently put its conical plastic basket (in which you put the paper filter) through the dishwasher. Now the coffee tastes awful – bitter and "chemically" – and I can't work out how to fix it. [more inside]
posted by fabius at 12:51 AM PST - 7 comments

I want to record an upcoming call on my Samsung S9. Sites like this are telling me to open the phone app, click the 3-dot menu, go to Settings and click "Record Calls" but I don't have that option. When I click the 3 dots and choose settings, I get a half-dozen or so options but none of them are about recording calls. I'm up-to-date on versions. I'd be ok with downloading an app to do this but all the sites I'm seeing look sketchy and are from companies I've never heard of. If the phone can't do it, what's a reliable phone-recording app? Thanks. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:25 PM PST - 6 comments

After spending a significant chunk of my 20s in academia/always studying something (and occasionally working part-time on remote projects), I have somehow managed to get a full-time job. Yay? Well, yes, but I am also very scared. I am old (nearly 31), I have never worked full-time. I know I am being terribly ageist here but I really need some help to figure out my thoughts. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:20 PM PST - 26 comments

Are there resources/support out there for a career government employee under a hostile administration? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:20 PM PST - 1 comment

Happy 2023! As part of this year's goals, I'm aiming to be authentic with myself, really unpacking why I've struggled so many years, and trying to get a fresh start. That, and continuing therapy. One particular thing I really struggle with is that I give so much to people, and get little in return. I'm continually disappointed. I acknowledge I often set myself up for failure, and want help devising strategies in breaking that pattern. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 7:32 PM PST - 14 comments

The passport is eligible for the "temporarily open" (since Nov. 20, 2022) online renewal process. Are there any downsides to renewing online? Secure passport photo app recs and other renewal tips also welcome. TIA.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:45 PM PST - 7 comments

I have had the dubious pleasure of editing and formatting a biannual international journal for 15 years. The authors are academics, and most have doctorates. Some have English as a first language, but this problem applies to all of them. Out of 30 issues (I can't tell you how many papers, but it's a lot), not once has a paper been delivered to me that didn't require changes. [more inside]
posted by b33j at 5:07 PM PST - 30 comments

Sometimes my friends do things that I don't like, and it gets me angry. At times, it just pushes my buttons a lot. Regardless, I am sure that much like they do, I also have things that I do that annoy them. In some cases these things are minor, and I guess I should just ignore them or deal with them somehow. Either way sometimes I feel angry about it, and like I want to confront the situation, even though the best course of action would be to not do that. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 3:50 PM PST - 10 comments

My manager may not approve my vacation request because my coworker may not return from maternity leave, and she won't tell me for sure for two weeks. How to proceed? [more inside]
posted by girlmightlive at 3:40 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm at my parents' house for a couple days and I'd like my mom's youtube algorithm to be less full of the usual goop, Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, etc. that it usually recommends her. What's some other stuff I could watch that might tilt the recommendations toward something better? [more inside]
posted by waffleriot at 3:35 PM PST - 19 comments

Our old home theater audio system (7.1 preamp/processor and separate amps) has begun its age-related downturn. One of the amp channels has gone bad, and the whole thing just doesn't sound as good anymore (after 20 years). So, I am shopping for a budget replacement. Reading reviews and forums, I have narrowed it down to the Yamaha RX-V6A and the Denon AVR-X2700H. Perhaps there are some folks here who can offer some real-world opinions about my needs. [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 3:20 PM PST - 6 comments

My Bluehost account says I have a domain registered with AWS. I have owned the domain longer than AWS has been around so I find this confusing. I would like to transfer the domain to a new host, but of course they need the auth. code which I cannot get because I do not have an AWS account. Now what? [more inside]
posted by Biblio at 3:18 PM PST - 3 comments

I own many audiobooks as MP3s (they are quite vintage). I would like to get an mp3 player that plays well with audiobooks. Ideally, I could turn it off and have it start exactly where I left off or let me bookmark, but I would also settle for having it use folders and play the tracks in order with a reasonable ability to fast forward within a track. I’m not fussy about whether it has bluetooth or not. It does not need to support audible or checking things out from the library.
posted by Bottlecap at 3:00 PM PST - 6 comments

Our InfoSec team enforces short (30 minute) SSO session timeouts on some web apps that are available over the internet. This has caused some discontent, as people can't leave browser tabs up with useful info. We also don't log people out of other apps (Outlook, for example) that quickly. Is this a good balance between security and usability or not?
posted by caviar2d2 at 12:25 PM PST - 7 comments

Have you tried Lume? Is it really "outrageously effective" in your opinion? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench at 11:56 AM PST - 21 comments

Our org is doing some housecleaning of our databases and mailing lists, and I've got a kludgy old email list that I am being asked to merge into our organization's existing mailchimp list, so that everything is consolidated there. Initially at least, I need to be able to reach just the people who came from the old list, and not already on the mailchimp list, but with two lists of that size, I'm not sure how to compare/sort them to get them into mailchimp wiithout causing damage. [more inside]
posted by leticia at 11:40 AM PST - 6 comments

Over the holidays, I went on a group trip with old classmates. During the trip, I started getting creeped out by the behavior of one middle-aged male acquaintance "Ken" toward a tween boy "Robbie" who is the son of my other friends. I want to bring it up with Robbie's mom, and need advice on how to phrase it. [more inside]
posted by cheesecake at 11:25 AM PST - 61 comments

What minecraft add-on content is worth trying out? I've not played in ten years, and I see there are all sorts of stories, adventures, games-within-games, and story-based content. But, as I'm not 9-years old, I can't stand scrolling through page after page of kiddo stuff. Got any recommendations for quality stuff? [more inside]
posted by rebent at 11:10 AM PST - 2 comments

I need to massively improve my German and despite living in a German speaking country and hearing it a lot and being able to understand some, I realize I have a major BLOCK with conjunctions. I spent all day today trying to remember some basic ones and no dice. Other types of words aren’t so hard I only need to hear them a few times. Any tips? [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 10:29 AM PST - 5 comments

Are there houseplant equivalents to the pink tinsel tree? [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 8:33 AM PST - 17 comments

A woman from Indonesia told me that the ONLY place to buy tempeh in this area is a local co-op because they make it fresh. Going to this co-op doesn't work for me, but now I'm curious about homemade tempeh. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:29 AM PST - 4 comments

I need a system! I need ... something! I've got my work and life calendar under control, but I need a place to keep all the little tidbits I notice, ideas, writing, things from books, lists of books I've read and want to read, thoughts on life, etc. Bonus points if it could also accommodate limited sharing of lists with my husband. I've tried Notion but struggled a bit ... but would be willing to give it another try. I've tried Evernote and found it impossible. Is there anything else? [more inside]
posted by artisthatithaca at 7:46 AM PST - 37 comments

I have a job interview for a non-profit that focuses on international development and the job is considered a career but it is pro bono work. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 7:39 AM PST - 10 comments

Can you recommend a gnat-proof tent for family car-camping? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 6:37 AM PST - 6 comments

I find it difficult to browse epub books, especially illustrated ones, as it can be difficult to browse to the images. I have been using Apple books, but is there a better app for this? When using PDFs, I often go to a mode with thumbnails to jump back to an image. I am guessing that similar functionality is what I want with epub books. Also, is there any great software to annotate epub books? Any insight would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams at 5:53 AM PST - 2 comments

Can you point me toward resources about effective editorial practices? At work, I'm responsible for getting some content approved and published. However, our process has devolved into an endless review process where people just keep making small changes and holding up approval. Help me avoid this. [more inside]
posted by entropone at 5:45 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm taking my friend to brunch for her bday this weekend and am looking for a restaurant in NYC with more than just food and drinks! [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 5:32 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a mirena, I have questions. [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 4:49 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a gmail calendar and an outlook calendar that is an IMAP Exchange connection. I would like to view them, together, on my phone. I am having a lot of difficulty with this. [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 4:05 AM PST - 7 comments

Looking for recommendations for an app, I want to start resistance training at home with dumbbells to minimise the possibility of injury. [more inside]
posted by slimeline at 2:44 AM PST - 5 comments

Moving cross-country with spouse and kids to take care of a difficult elderly parent. Is this something I should do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:07 AM PST - 30 comments

I'm about ready to re-home my cat, even though I love her, because I think her attachment to me is driving her to harm herself. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:03 AM PST - 18 comments

Asking for my partner: he enjoys Ethiopian food, but always experiences severe gastrointestinal distress shortly after a meal (or even a couple bites!). This seems to be unique to Ethiopian food, which he has had at restaurants in various parts of the US for at least the past 4 years. What could be the cause? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 11:29 PM PST - 10 comments

Where can I make a reservation more than a week in advance, for Valentine's Day dinner in SF, without a prix fixe menu? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 10:41 PM PST - 2 comments

Any and all advice is super appreciated. Full question inside. [more inside]
posted by xicana63 at 9:22 PM PST - 7 comments

I use Apple Music, and I like it fine, so I'm not looking for a complete replacement. I have a bunch of my own files that the Music app won't sync as long as Apple Music is engaged. I'd like to be able to manage a few playlists on a 3rd-party app and know that those songs will always be on my phone. [more inside]
posted by al_fresco at 7:51 PM PST - 8 comments

Back in '21 I purchased a Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (SM-P610NZAAXAR). It's worked great. But unfortunately it had quite a fall yesterday, and kiddo brought it to me with stuck-in volume buttons and showing a "Warning, you are about to change the OS" msg. I'm thinking it's broken and the mashed buttons triggered some OS-level signal? Anyhow--I'm considering a new tablet, and am wondering about upgrades in the $300 range. Hesitate to buy the same again but am not finding much around the same price or just a bit more. Any suggestions?
posted by circular at 7:20 PM PST - 2 comments

I have access to a bewildering number of seaweeds, and a family that will eat it non-stop. We want to add it to rice and porridge regularly, but the snack-type seaweed vanishes from our pantry too fast. I want to buy seaweed in bulk that is not for snacking but can instead be added to meals as flavouring. What names am I looking for? (Prev AskMeFi: How do I snack on seaweed?)
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:04 PM PST - 14 comments

I haven't taken the JLPT but I am around N2 level. I’m looking for an iPhone app to practice Japanese, like Duolingo but with more advanced content. [more inside]
posted by charcoals at 5:49 PM PST - 7 comments

Do reading glasses ever help with distance vision too? Are my eyeballs broken? [more inside]
posted by capnsue at 5:17 PM PST - 4 comments

Trying to determine whether there’s anything exceptional about this -- could help explain some physical challenges I've encountered most of my life -- and therefore worth following up on. The following contains rampant conjecture and a light dusting snowflakes [more inside]
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 4:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I just finished reading Pippi Longstocking (1950, translated into English by Florence Lamborn) to my daughter, and in the next-to-last chapter (Chapter 10 "Pippi Acts as a Lifesaver") the following passage appears in the middle of the 2nd paragraph: "Next she had gone into the parlor and painted a large picture on the wallpaper. The picture represented a fat lady in a red dress and a black hat. In one hand she held a yellow flower and in the other a dead rat. Pippi thought it a very beautiful picture; it dressed up the whole room." [more inside]
posted by AbelMelveny at 4:17 PM PST - 8 comments

Looking for help locating a Coast Guard report on the sinking of Electric Boat's research vessel Sea Surveyor  on January 7, 1969. 12 men survived a 26 hours in a 15-person life raft, and were rescued by a Norwegian ore carrier. [more inside]
posted by range at 3:43 PM PST - 5 comments

So we’re building a new home, and I’m wiring it up for combined Cat6 / Wi-Fi, and I’d like to isolate my POE security cameras and various IOT devices from the rest of the LAN. [more inside]
posted by ZakDaddy at 2:22 PM PST - 7 comments

How do the food products in natural paint not attract animals/mold, or start to smell? (...or do they?) [more inside]
posted by dusty potato at 12:40 PM PST - 7 comments

What I am looking for is a pack of reader glasses that has one pair of each strength/prescription, so I can wear them around and figure out what I actually need. (My searching has only turned up multi-packs of the same prescription, which will be great in the future but not now.) [more inside]
posted by rocketing at 12:27 PM PST - 8 comments

What is a good book on how to write comedy? [more inside]
posted by munchingzombie at 11:25 AM PST - 9 comments

I like my optometrist quite a bit, but they’re insisting I fill a single-lens script, while I am extremely ready for the add script they also prepared. How can I get that add? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:55 AM PST - 15 comments

I very much miss 24 hour coffee shops in Portland. They seem to have all closed. Is there a bar or some other venue that is similar enough to a late night coffee shop? I.e. a place where the vibes are relatively quiet and chill and it wouldn't be weird to sit for a few hours on a laptop or reading a book? And maybe that has nice non-alcoholic drink options?
posted by overglow at 9:43 AM PST - 3 comments

So my goal is to get to 100 pushups this year. I do 50 every morning and the idea was to add one a week and then boom, 2024, 100 pushups. But it's tough. And I'm wondering if doing it everyday is a problem? Should I be going every other day or is that not going to make a difference? Is there something else I should be doing WITH this to help me?
posted by rileyray3000 at 9:16 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for examples of novels that deal with the reincarnation of a group of characters over multiple cycles, as in Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 7:17 AM PST - 18 comments

I've been curious what superforecasters and prediction markets say are likely outcomes of climate change. I've found a couple of sources I find really interesting (from Metaculus and the Good Judgment Project), but both involve a level of technical/math/graphing detail that's beyond my expertise. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 6:16 AM PST - 3 comments

I remember that there was a publisher who was putting out great-looking editions of novels that were once out of print. I think many were in the public domain. The covers looked like fabric, or maybe floral? Thanks!
posted by chaiminda at 6:07 AM PST - 9 comments

Do you remember a late 90s/early 2000s website that showed little stories, poems, anecdotes, confessions, etc? More details that I (mis-)remember inside. [more inside]
posted by KevCed at 5:44 AM PST - 9 comments

My downstairs neighbor decided to turn his tv UP not down after I asked him to please change the volume for the third night in a row. I've already written my landlady. I've already tried different headphones. I think I need to go to a hotel, but it's 2:15am and I have no idea if I can check in to a room immediately if I reserve one. How do I do that? Desperate for sleep.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 2:14 AM PST - 12 comments

In English, there are "toes" but in Spanish there are "fingers of the feet." What is "inchworm" in other languages and/or how is it described (if there is a specific word or phrase for this type of caterpillar with a distinctive crawl)? My research so far has uncovered measuring worm, spanworm, looper, and earth-measurer. These are great, but I'm interested in additional already-in-use descriptors if you have any to offer!
posted by vegartanipla at 9:26 PM PST - 9 comments

Watching the "It Couldn't Happen Here" episode of The Sandbaggers made me want to know more about Kennedy's assassination. What's the definitive book about it, but a fairly recent one? Written in the past 10 to 15 years? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:14 PM PST - 21 comments

I’m increasingly thinking about taking time for myself to work on my art as a way of self healing, improving my practice, and/or potentially learning a new skill. Where should I go and how should I narrow down ideas? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:43 PM PST - 9 comments

(Hypothesizing Fun Time!) Curious why VCVRacks audio Record module being triggered with no data causes a a VCVRack crash and why the NVMe causes a crash FASTER (my guess is - because it processes faster it gets to crash faster) than the Platter/HDD? [more inside]
posted by symbioid at 7:15 PM PST - 3 comments

I would love to do some enriching things in 2023. Has anyone taken on a new subject in a retreat setting? I am up for yoga, silence, mindfulness, survival, or anything else you can think over a weekend. Thanks for the advice ; I live as far from either coast ( Oklahoma ) as you can get, but I am willing to travel!
posted by Mr. Metaphor at 4:22 PM PST - 4 comments

For a tabletop role-playing game, I'd like to read up on the early history of Interpol. I'm really only interested in First International Criminal Police Conference of 1914 in Monoco through the 1920s. [more inside]
posted by BrashTech at 2:51 PM PST - 0 comments

We're heading to Loreto in Baja for a long-overdue escape in early February. We'd love some advice on outdoor activities and anything else worth checking out. [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 2:42 PM PST - 5 comments

I am a new pellet stove owner and other than following along with the relevant subreddit, are there other places you have gone online that have good info, or do you have advice that you gained after some pellet stove ownership time that you think might be helpful? [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 2:05 PM PST - 8 comments

In 1985, I was living in Ottawa when I heard a song on campus radio that I've been looking for ever since. The lyrics included "Night is for the hunter/and the hunted is you and me/hunted just for having/some form of identity" and during a bridge, we hear two teenage girls talking about how their boyfriend "the one with the Cortina" beat up a weirdo and "it was so funny".
posted by Mogur at 2:05 PM PST - 6 comments

I've got bad post-traumatic osteoarthritis in my left ankle, from a fracture in 2017. I'm in my mid-30s and (formerly) quite physically active. Help me brainstorm exercise options that don't involve weight-bearing or ballistics, especially safe, pain-free, non-ankle-weightbearing exercise I could do at home (or at my building's small gym) as part of my daily routine! Also please help me make a comprehensive list of all treatment options and better understand the basics of each, so I can have a productive discussion with my podiatrist this week. [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 1:29 PM PST - 12 comments

I spent some time with an older relative over Christmas and came away concerned about their mental health. They do not come from a family or a community with any culture of talking about feelings or mental health beyond a joke (e.g. “I’m a bit OCD”), no one in their social circle has ever had therapy or been diagnosed (openly, at least) with a mental health disorder so this is extremely unfamiliar territory for them and I want to be careful how I approach it & sure of what I’m saying. [more inside]
posted by AFII at 1:03 PM PST - 17 comments

Our dog is madly in love with a ball. He really enjoys chasing it, but is uninterested in fetch, despite having kinda-learned and gotten a bunch of praise for it. Is there a way to get him back on board? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:26 PM PST - 7 comments

I've got a small stained glass piece my late Dad made many years ago. The lead channel around the perimeter has pulled up and away (It appears to have stretched as well) and the adhesive backed copper foil wrapped around the edges of the glass has also pulled away. What's the best way to fix this? I'm a skilled solderer (electronics and plumbing) but don't have much stained glass experience.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 9:50 AM PST - 7 comments

This morning I saw what appeared to be police guarding a dead body in my local park and I'm not sure how to respond. [more inside]
posted by shesbookish at 8:48 AM PST - 22 comments

I need ideas for what to cook on a boat for people with certain dietary requirements. [more inside]
posted by lpsguy at 8:47 AM PST - 15 comments

What is the name of the art style that combines a nostalgic view of the pastoral past with advanced technology? [more inside]
posted by bangitliketmac at 8:26 AM PST - 8 comments

I find that getting gifts for people in my life is hard! I think I end up either getting something amazing and perfect, or getting nothing, sometimes after lots of thinking and shopping. Do you have any strategies for being good at gift-giving?
posted by ManInSuit at 7:01 AM PST - 23 comments

I have an unusual tendency to get motion sick very easily. After having good vision most of my life, I am now old enough to need reading glasses. Switching between wearing the glasses and not wearing them makes me nauseous. What options should I consider? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 5:50 AM PST - 11 comments

I've started a new job and I'm lucky that my team is great, my manager is open and supportive. However some of the budgetholders I'll have to deal with seem very nasty. [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 3:10 AM PST - 12 comments

A long time ago you used to be able to add a config file to the Windows operating system installer that let you customize certain aspects. I'm looking to do that with Win11 and search results are full of garbage. [more inside]
posted by Otto Franz Joseph Leopold von Soxen-Puppetten at 12:22 AM PST - 8 comments

Last night, I caught myself taking my glasses off to get a close-up view of my project on the table saw. I stopped as I realized how incredibly stupid this was. So, what are the best magnifying safety glasses?
posted by Marky at 9:54 PM PST - 4 comments

I just heard about the 'inclusively.com' employment search portal, and no one I know irl knows anything about them. If you are registered (seeking employment) with them, how has your experience been? [more inside]
posted by Quesaak at 8:46 PM PST - 0 comments

My son is six and we listen to recordings of bedtime stories together on Spotify before he goes to sleep. I like reading bedtime stories to my son and would like to record myself reading some. However, my rudimentary knowledge of copyright law makes me think it's a bad idea to record just any stories. So, I'm wondering if there is a place where I can find children's stories that are in the public domain that I'd be able to record? Thanks!
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 8:14 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a lot of friends, but I want to make more friends and I want to meet more people. Going out alone and getting past the stigma of doing that is something that has helped me greatly to meet more people. Nonetheless, I still get nervous when doing it. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 6:42 PM PST - 14 comments

Looking for the term that describes when the author of a piece of media is obviously from a specific demographic, due to the perspective or a detail that they put in. Mainly thinking about general-audience works where the voice or audience isn't necessarily of a demographic but one or two details still give the author away. Sometimes the work marginalises other demographics but not necessarily. '-gaze', '-normative', '-centric', '-fantasy' words seem close and would fall under the umbrella of this word. [more inside]
posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were at 6:29 PM PST - 11 comments

There's a whole world of boxes and bins that fit in the Ikea Kallax shelf unit. What are your current favorites? [more inside]
posted by doift at 4:13 PM PST - 14 comments

If you're an ecologically-minded person who styles their hair in as low-effort a way as possible with a styling clay, what do you use? Is there something sold, or that I can make, with just a handful of ingredients that will get me good-enough results? [more inside]
posted by curious nu at 2:10 PM PST - 6 comments

How to accept a situation I cannot change? Probably a common scenario, but I am seeking perspective just the same. Details below. [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 1:50 PM PST - 17 comments

Looking for the name of this song I heard on anonradio / SDF.org today. There was applause at the end, guessing a live set. The radio tags ID'd it as part of a DJ set: "Repeating djvole from 24-Dec-2021" and AudioTag came up with nothing here. Thanks!
posted by circular at 1:42 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a very close friend who is very overwhelmed. I understand that. But at the same time.. [more inside]
posted by Ftsqg at 1:38 PM PST - 12 comments

Can you think of any examples of something that is efficient but ineffective? Or, effective, but inefficient? It can be a process, a system, a policy, something that occurs in nature, relationships, anything. At first glance, this reminds me of a logic problem, but I'm not sure.
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:00 PM PST - 35 comments

I bought this magical tea at a Japanese shop in Paris: dropbox link. I hope I can buy it here in the US! It's buckwheat tea, I know that much, but I can't find it via Google Images or other means. Can a Japanese person help source it? If not this specific brand, does it have any attributes that I need to be looking for in another brand, such as toasted etc? Thank you in advance!
posted by cyberian at 12:26 PM PST - 7 comments

I've been trying to remember where I saw this particular sketch on television, I thought it was Key & Peele but I certainly might be wrong. The premise is that a wife is on her deathbed with her husband there (both of them look mid-30s-ish), and her dying wish is that following a respectable grief period... the husband should never ever have sex with another woman. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:57 AM PST - 4 comments

My lab has an oxygen valve we need users to turn off at the end of their experiment. Our reminder sign is boring and wordy and people tune it out. In addition to "stick" solutions like charging them extra for the wasted gases, I'd like to put up a better sign. I am in search of suggestions, preferably lightly humorous, for text, illustrations, etc. [more inside]
posted by telepanda at 10:43 AM PST - 30 comments

I have a high-efficiency top-loading GE washing machine. It senses a load by weight and fills the water up accordingly. But I need it fill BEFORE I put laundry in. Is there a simple workaround? [more inside]
posted by Ms. Toad at 10:30 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm searching for quiet-ish office workouts I can do during my lunch break that last 20-30 minutes. I've been walking outside some days, but during the coldest days, the hottest days and the rainiest days, I need an indoors alternative. [more inside]
posted by allison00 at 9:59 AM PST - 10 comments

We're going to Japan from May 27th-June 11th. I'd like to see a Hiroshima Toyo Carp game if possible. It seems the 2023 schedules are released, but I can't find them in English. Does anyone either: know where I can find the schedule in English; have a solid plan of where I can find it in Japanese and get it auto-translated; or speak enough Japanese to just tell me when the Carp are at home during that span?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:20 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm struggling to find a solid gaming headset / setup to go on discord with friends on PC. The issue is that my wife and I play together in the same room, with two friends cross country. There is always a TERRIBLE echo. What hardware would be best to avoid echo? What layout of room? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 8:23 AM PST - 7 comments

Why does my hip/thigh hurt so much when I'm standing for more than 5 minutes? I've been to physio and had x-rays but still I'm aching. [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 8:14 AM PST - 12 comments

A family member has asked me to help him buy a new computer. I'm not sure where to start, because I've been using Macs for the past twenty years and I don't think we want to spend that much. He will use the computer very little. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:07 AM PST - 12 comments

...she'll want some new drapes to go with it. We're having some construction work done on our house. Once it's finished, I'd like to seize the opportunity to continue the home improvements with some interior updates. I'm experiencing some analysis paralysis here...is there an existing framework that would help me out? [more inside]
posted by Gray Duck at 8:05 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm writing a short story in which my character has a terminal diagnosis at the outset. It's not stated how long she has, but something on the order of months. Less than a year. The story never identifies what illness she has, and I want her to be feeling relatively okay at the moment. Are there situations where that could be the case? Since I'm not naming the illness, I have some leeway, but I don't this to ring absolutely false.
posted by swheatie at 6:56 AM PST - 8 comments

We have a small spot on the wall outside of our bath/shower door that always gets wet. We've had the contractor out -- nothing. We had a plumber out -- nothing. Maybe you can help? Or point us to people who can? [more inside]
posted by fruitslinger at 4:45 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there an environmentally friendly way to kill weeds? I have tall weeds growing between the gaps in my brick paving. I want to kill them, but I also don't want to harm the (Australian) wildlife in my garden, which includes frogs, fence skinks, insect eating birds and seed eating birds. I also don't want to get Parkinson's disease from weed killer exposure. Is there something like coffee, boiling water, or boiling salty water that would work?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 12:48 AM PST - 17 comments

How do I store and preserve a collection of postcards circa 1900-1910? [more inside]
posted by amusebuche at 9:56 PM PST - 3 comments

Someone important to me is having a baby! I want to give the baby something special that will be of use beyond babyhood. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:05 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm going to a wedding in Sydney in late February, where the dress code is cocktail attire, no ties for men. Two questions. (1) What is considered suitable cocktail attire for women in Australia at this time of year? (2) Specifically, what are the right shoes to wear, and where in Sydney can I buy a cheap but comfortable pair? [more inside]
posted by tavegyl at 8:29 PM PST - 6 comments

Help me come up with some interesting examples of musics that are attempting to be a simulation or re-creation of some big cosmological, geophysical, deep time, or otherwise sort of "big science" idea or event. Three examples inside. [more inside]
posted by glonous keming at 6:20 PM PST - 14 comments

I’m having pretty severe abdominal pain. I have a PCP appt at 8 am tomorrow. Help me figure out if it’s safe to wait til then? YANMD etc. [more inside]
posted by shadygrove at 6:11 PM PST - 25 comments

Help me tame this wild beast [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 5:54 PM PST - 25 comments

I'm wondering if there's any way to hide the icons for open Mac apps from the dock (and ideally have them appear in the menu bar instead). A program called GhostTile purports to do this, but when I run it, it tells me it doesn't support hiding the specific apps I want to hide. Have you any better luck with any other methods? Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 5:09 PM PST - 1 comment

This is a ridiculous question and I can't believe I'm asking it but, here we are. I need to empty the punch waste - where the little holes go when they have been punched - from the office copier / printer, a Kyocera Taskalfa 2553ci, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how. [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:52 PM PST - 4 comments

I am buying a home for the first time in Canada (ahh!!) and have been talking to both an independent mortgage broker and the mortgage folks at my bank. Other than looking at the rates and terms of the contracts they are offering me, are there any considerations involved in choosing one over the other? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 2:23 PM PST - 3 comments

Roommate takes in significant quantities of cannabis for medical purposes. Typically they use a bong. Side effects of this include the stink on their person and in the air, occasional resin deposits on the floor and sink, and needing to smoke outside in the dark/cold. Is there a less disruptive way to consume medically necessary cannabis that doesn't cost much more than smoking flower, per dose? We don't have much money. This is in Canada. Thanks for your thoughts.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:18 PM PST - 13 comments

My MIL wants to take a cruise to Alaska and my partner and I are helping. What recommendations do you have? [more inside]
posted by glaucon at 1:51 PM PST - 18 comments

I just picked up a cooler full of sausage 48 hours after it was shipped. It was packed with dry ice, and the packages at the bottom of the cooler were nicely frozen. However, the second to the top layer was only partially frozen and the top layer was basically defrosted. They come in packages of 4 and are vacuum sealed. I think I'm okay with the refreezing the second layer but I'm pondering whether to toss the first layer. Thoughts?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:45 PM PST - 16 comments

Everyone recommends Brother B&W printers (like the HL-L2350DW) as the best choice for cheap and reliable printing, but can anyone comment on their scanners? The Brother combo model MFC-J4335DW seems like a good choice, but any comments or alternative suggestions are welcome. This would be purely for personal home use.
posted by star gentle uterus at 12:22 PM PST - 16 comments

I have a non-ideal living situation and I'm not sure what to do. More below. [more inside]
posted by rhymedirective at 12:21 PM PST - 41 comments

I have long, color treated hair that I blow dry and curl with a curling iron. I only wash my hair twice a week and have for years. My roots get pretty greasy. I use dry shampoo but I would like to start showering more frequently without destroying my ends. Inside is a list of things I have tried and deemed failures: [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 12:17 PM PST - 11 comments

I found a clean, nearly new duvet that I'd like to reuse - it needs a cover, though, and I'm not having much luck finding one in its dimensions (70x75"). [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 10:56 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to buy a physically small/medium sized computer to plug into my living room TV. I think I want it to be Linux based but I have not bought a non-Apple computer this century, so I have a lot of unknown unknowns. [more inside]
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:30 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for love songs that don't ever use the word "love" or say "I love you" directly? Especially looking for songs that capture that early being in love feeling and also songs that speak to that knowing that a relationship is Meaningful and possibly a long term thing. I want to make a playlist of love songs for someone who's afraid of the word "love" but is actually a deeply romantic person in every other way. Examples inside! [more inside]
posted by fairlynearlyready at 9:13 AM PST - 39 comments

I remember seeing a short film on the internet some time ago. I want to say it's comedy horror, or maybe just comedy. [more inside]
posted by KChasm at 9:09 AM PST - 0 comments

I'm looking for an android app which lets you see yourself on the phone/ tablet's camera all the time while using the device as normal. For instance I'd be browsing metafilter and there's a small live image of me in the corner. I've tried having the camera app open and doing a split screen type setup and that works ok but is a bit cumbersome so I was wondering if there is an app for this purpose but am having trouble googling for it. [more inside]
posted by mosswinter at 8:59 AM PST - 1 comment

What would be a good base for a week of cycling in West Jutland? What are the must sees in the area? [more inside]
posted by biffa at 8:28 AM PST - 3 comments

Are there places in the world where the moon being visible during the day is rare, and conversely where it is very common? [more inside]
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:50 AM PST - 8 comments

My friend tends to quote a particular translation of Canto 3 that he says is an older translation, but I can't find a precise match via Google. My suspicion is that he's flubbing it a little, but still referencing a specific translator. Does anyone recognize this translation of the passage as familiar and know which one I should be looking for? [more inside]
posted by corb at 7:15 AM PST - 2 comments

What, if anything, can I ask about whether he is anti-sexist? About his "second chance" medical school? About anything else beyond the basics? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 5:33 AM PST - 61 comments

I want to surprise my husband with some candies his late grandparents used to bring back from Mexico when they were snowbirds in Texas. Who sells them in the US or will ship to the US from a website I could actually trust putting my credit card info into? Here's a site in Mexico that sells them, but they won't ship to the US, and neither will Amazon Mexico, at least for this item. Help please!
posted by tubedogg at 10:25 PM PST - 6 comments

My daughter is a young adult (18) who met another young woman online. They love each other and have zoomed every day for a year but never met in person. Now she plans to take a one way flight to the literal other side of the world as a permanent move to start a life together in a small, cold, dark town even further away. I don’t know what to do. How can I make this safer or stop it happening or persuade her to at least visit first? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:05 PM PST - 47 comments

I'm interested in getting into Grant writing and I want to get some training before taking the plunge. Do you have any recommendations for online courses?
posted by tafetta, darling! at 7:44 PM PST - 3 comments

How do I get someone else to sell a semi-rare book for me? I live in Montana so I can't go to multiple book re-sellers. I just want at least a 60% cut. I'm not interested in trying to sell it myself (see below). [more inside]
posted by ITravelMontana at 6:28 PM PST - 30 comments

Where can I go in South America that is not hot? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 5:01 PM PST - 14 comments

I have worked for nonprofits for my whole career, but I would like to leave the sector. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by microscopiclifeform at 4:02 PM PST - 14 comments

I want to serve a gallon of something hot around a campfire. It will be made and heated ahead of time and kept hot in a airpot. Can’t be boozy or contain apple, and I’d prefer it to be dairy-free. Coffee would be fine, I did that before, but making a gallon is annoying. I’m not the biggest fan of tea. What am I not considering? [more inside]
posted by supercres at 3:24 PM PST - 36 comments

I haven't lived in my (American) hometown* in 20 years, but I know it, love it, and visit my family and friends there whenever I can. After years of daydreaming while browsing real estate websites to ogle too-expensive homes in my favorite neighborhood, a lovely, small house has come on the market there. I can afford it. Complicating detail: I currently live in the UK and may live here for some time (1-5 years at minimum, I think, maybe pursuing permanent residency in the future). Is this a stupid idea? [more inside]
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 2:55 PM PST - 24 comments

I have a new shed. I would like lo clear out the room in our house where most of the tools, and things like tools, are and move them to the shed. But I started to wonder, looking at things like electrical tools, are they ok in below freezing temperatures? What do you store in your shed and what do you keep in the house? [more inside]
posted by miles1972 at 2:15 PM PST - 6 comments

Bone density test revealed postmenopausal osteopenia in specific areas. Which specialist is better to see – a Rheumatologist or an Endocrinologist? I get it, YANM doctor, lawyer or shaman...
posted by pmaxwell at 1:59 PM PST - 2 comments

I set off a bout of endometriosis pain with a workout yesterday. Which part of the workout should I avoid in the future? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 1:58 PM PST - 3 comments

It is my dog's 1st birthday on Saturday and we are throwing him a party. Tell me what songs I should add to the playlist. [more inside]
posted by Pitachu at 1:39 PM PST - 38 comments

My new GF is recently out of 4 year marriage that was abusive. She's made it clear that if I have any questions about that relationship, she's open to answering them. But is there really anything I should ask? [more inside]
posted by clocksock at 11:40 AM PST - 12 comments

My work switched health insurance providers, and the new one I’m stuck with doesn’t contract with my beloved local independent pharmacy. Is there a way to fight this? Is it worth looking at other plans? Are there any upsides at all to being forced into CVS? [more inside]
posted by ActionPopulated at 11:09 AM PST - 13 comments

I had a particularly bad case of covid in which I was bedridden for about a week and a half. What are some gentle things I can do to help get my body moving again. Anything you did after a similar experience of being laid up in bed, would be helpful too. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 10:11 AM PST - 14 comments

I am looking for specific reports of experiences and strategies that deal with difficulties in pandemic-era college teaching. [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 9:46 AM PST - 12 comments

Could my 74-year-old father use a pair of binoculars, despite eye disease and age-related strabismus? [more inside]
posted by Theiform at 9:38 AM PST - 3 comments

I love Macanudo. I also love Calvin and Hobbes, Cul de Sac, and Phoebe and Her Unicorn. I like Fox Trot, Get Fuzzy, Bizarro, early Peanuts, and Candorville. What else would I like? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 9:05 AM PST - 38 comments

Like this is a thing I don't know how to do very well. I'm often not sure if I should just go for it or not, and I'm kind of afraid of being disrespectful. I like to think I'm very considerate with other people, especially women when it comes to touch. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 8:54 AM PST - 22 comments

I started doing yoga using the Down Dog app and find it a bit tricky to keep up watching the instructor while I try to get into the postures. I find that she is switching to a new position and by the time I get into that posture, she's moving to a new one. I'm looking for tips on how to set things up to make this easier and/or improve my practice.
posted by GernBlandston at 8:42 AM PST - 10 comments

Despite being pretty familiar with Mexican foods, I’ve never figured out exactly how to use the tortillas served on the side with an entree. Do you make a few whole tacos out of your meal, or do you rip it into pieces and scoop a bite at a time? Google is (not so) surprisingly useless with this search.
posted by hwyengr at 8:30 AM PST - 9 comments

How do you go about buying a not-professional-$25,000-cello-but-not-a-student-plastic-cello cello? Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by cmm at 7:41 AM PST - 12 comments

My wife and I have an ongoing disagreement in the kitchen about the best way to handle tough stains and build-up on dishes and the impact water temperature has on getting cookware clean. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by kbanas at 7:18 AM PST - 25 comments

My partner has just accepted a job across the country, which means we need to move, which means we need to sell our house and buy a new one. How do we do that? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:56 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm terrible at keeping track of my expenses/income. There must be an easier way, no? [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 6:54 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m interested in getting more Omega 3s in my diet. I eat mostly vegetarian, but not very much fish and not a huge fan either. A few things I’ve considered: algae oil supplements, flax and chia seeds, but I have concerns about these and wondered if anyone here could shed some light or give pointers about how you get your Omega 3s? [more inside]
posted by jonrob at 1:56 AM PST - 17 comments

I have the opportunity to attend a comedy show - either "Nimesh Patel: The Lucky Lefty Tour" or "The Second City Swipes Right: The Incomplete Guide to the Ultimate Date Night". Any idea what each might be like, or what kind of person might enjoy which? Thanks!
posted by ClaireBear at 9:38 PM PST - 5 comments

Should my wife and I travel to attend my nephew’s coming of age ceremony or stay with our long time dying dog? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 8:45 PM PST - 86 comments

There exists a short story or essay (very short, maybe just a couple of paragraphs) making fun of golden age sf's tendency to describe futuristic technology in extreme detail; it does this by describing the process of making a phone call, possibly to order a pizza, in very technologically precise terms, using a dramatic tone. I read this a couple years ago and now I can't find it!! [more inside]
posted by cheesegrater at 8:13 PM PST - 5 comments

Been going gray for the past few years, and while I don't mind the color, it's been increasingly hard to style. Looking for tips and product suggestions. [more inside]
posted by 0xABADBABE at 5:27 PM PST - 14 comments

Do you have any tips, tricks, or advice, for people staying on Elon Musk's Twitter, from a liberal perspective? How to deal with trolls, data security, blocklists, or anything else is all helpful. Any apps, plugins, usage guidelines, or other ways for progressives to make the most of Twitter? Thanks!
posted by andoatnp at 4:43 PM PST - 15 comments

Currently I'm using Cardhop to remind me when birthdays are coming up, so I can mail a card. I'd like an app that changes the reminder to a To Do item. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I’ve found lots of books about grieving, and some about end of life (for the dying person), but I’d like something to read about experiencing the last few week or days of a loved one’s death. Doesn’t need to be self-help, though that is fine too. Meditations on the experience welcome. But I want something that explicitly addresses the time prior to final passing. [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 3:16 PM PST - 9 comments

I recently finished Olga Tokarczuk's "The Books of Jacob" and loved it. I'd like to delve deeper into its real life setting, and am looking for book recommendations about 17th/18th century Poland and the northern part of the Ottoman Empire in Europe in the same era. [more inside]
posted by thivaia at 3:08 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm sure I read this in 2022, and in an issue of Catapult, but nothing is coming up - I definitely read it online. Two extremely good friends, both women, deal with the entire human race being asked (by God?) to pick the animal they want to live the rest of their lives as. Lots of food references. Female author, I think. [more inside]
posted by Gin and Broadband at 3:00 PM PST - 4 comments

My daughter is afflicted with intrusive thoughts. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by musofire at 2:58 PM PST - 25 comments

I had a stomach bug over the holidays and decided to follow some advice to get some GoodBelly shots (little drinks with good gut bacteria in them). Now looking these up online it seems like some people use these daily long-term. What's the point if that? Like can't I just give my gut a nice little seed colony and let them multiply in there from now on? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:23 PM PST - 16 comments

Big storm coming to the Bay Area threatening power outages. Basement protected by two sump pumps powered by the electric grid. Clueless homeowner (myself). Any help? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 1:57 PM PST - 14 comments

I have what I need to cut and join wood to make a base (circular saw, table saw, mitre saw, biscuit joiner, plane). I have a Dremel Advantage (which I have no experience with; I've only ever used it with grinder wheels to cut off protruding screws/nails; it's long since discontinued, and apparently not compatible with the Dremel plunge router attachment). I'm capable of rough woodworking, and would like to make a Go board by cutting very straight grooves in wood in a grid, then filling them with a compound, then sanding and varnishing. What is best? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 1:00 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a new phone and a new laptop. I want to sell the old ones. I don't know what order to do things in. [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:40 PM PST - 9 comments

I bought a lifetime account from an app. They cancelled my account with no explanation. I'd like my money back. I've never done this before. So If they sell over state lines can I just file the claim in CA or do I have to file it in TX where they're located?
posted by rileyray3000 at 12:12 PM PST - 6 comments

What do I say to T-Mobile to get a good deal on a new phone, and to whom do I say it? [more inside]
posted by Gorgik at 11:24 AM PST - 4 comments

My partner's arthritic knee has been giving her grief for the past several (5+) years, I'd like to hear your suggestions re: knee brace technology, medical intervention, diet, exercise (more inside). [more inside]
posted by elkevelvet at 11:12 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm trying to drink healthier or maybe just cheaper now that soda is pushing $8 for a 12 pack, and normally I just buy flavor additive drops (Kool Aid, MiO, Crystal Light, etc) but every last one of them is some variation of water, citric acid and malic acid and artificial flavors to the point that all of them kind of taste the same and have an ultimately unpleasant acidic mouthfeel. Are there any other, better options in the US? [more inside]
posted by Kyol at 10:55 AM PST - 29 comments

I have an Arlo base station and Arlo cameras. They're circa 2016 and Arlo has announced they will no longer support cloud-based storage for the recordings of older cams. Boo. (Don't get me started about Arlo). I'm deciding between purchasing an external drive for local storage, which my base station *supposedly* (hahahaha) handles, or ditching Arlo if there's a better alternative. [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 10:50 AM PST - 5 comments

I've got a sunny health and fitness walking treadmill that I use. The motor is about to die a second time. I use it on low speed (1 mile/hour) while I work at a standing desk. Are there better models out there with better warranty? [more inside]
posted by aeighty at 8:40 AM PST - 10 comments

I have wondered for years about how people are ordering medications from India or Mexico. *this is not a question about how to do an illegal thing* I don’t understand how the logistics of this work. [more inside]
posted by Bottlecap at 8:30 AM PST - 12 comments

It's time to get my 12-year old set up with a way to handle money and payments. What's the difference between a service like Greenlight versus a regular checking/savings account at a standard bank? [more inside]
posted by Liesl at 8:20 AM PST - 13 comments

I found this excellent comment on reddit describing a method for dealing with alexithymia. Where can I find out more about this particular approach? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 7:51 AM PST - 5 comments

I like to make 4-5 second videos and gifs of movies, tv shows, commercials, etc. Can you recommend an easy program I could use that isn't Quicktime? [more inside]
posted by the webmistress at 6:33 AM PST - 9 comments

In miami with my 7 year old. We want to see aligators in the wild. We don't have a car, but can rent one I guess if needed. What's the best place/way? Also : Are airboat rides super-loud? My son is very sensitive to loud noises... Thanks!!
posted by ManInSuit at 5:53 AM PST - 10 comments

I’m trying to understand and address a very long-standing situation in my life, which is that I do not have a single friend. Help me figure out what concrete steps to take. [more inside]
posted by averageamateur at 5:46 AM PST - 30 comments

I need a new suitcase. Help me narrow down my options? [more inside]
posted by sailoreagle at 3:58 AM PST - 7 comments

It's become clear that I can no longer sustain my life in the place I love the most. How have you made peace with the decision to leave somewhere you thought you'd never leave ... particularly when you have nowhere else that's calling you? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:09 AM PST - 20 comments

Nestea is so much yummier than water. I like the way it kind of coats the mouth in flavour. But it's pure sugar. Can I make my own at home with Stevia? How? Note: I want Nestea (this or this), not the kind sold in the US, and not U.S.-style iced tea or "sweet tea", which just tastes like cold tea with lemon and sugar (yeah, I know that's what it is). Also acceptable but not as good: Lipton Brisk or maybe Snapple Iced Tea, though I haven't had that in years. Lemon only. Raspberry/peach etc. need not apply. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:51 PM PST - 9 comments

A fringe neighborhood in old New York, probably way south Brooklyn in or near Jamaica Bay, was a collection of connected structures built on stilts out over the water. A train station was there, the end of a subway line? What was this place, and what's it like now? [more inside]
posted by Rash at 7:48 PM PST - 2 comments

I've had Covid 3 times. All I ever hear about Covid is "you will die". How do I not feel like I'm doomed? [more inside]
posted by creatrixtiara at 6:50 PM PST - 40 comments

My family loves to play board games and we are able to borrow any of the board games listed below to try out, but I'm overwhelmed by the quantity to choose from. If you've played any of these games, could you please let me know if they do or don't meet our criteria to help me narrow them down? [more inside]
posted by Eyelash at 5:47 PM PST - 40 comments

Clever uses for corkboard scraps, go! (I have three 12 x12 and two odd sized ones about 6 x 9ish)
posted by HotToddy at 5:27 PM PST - 6 comments

For several months, a friend in her early 50s has been experiencing some odd quasi-visual symptoms in very specific circumstances. Help us label and understand them. [more inside]
posted by jon1270 at 3:08 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm working on a biography and I don't know anything about how these things are done. I've written graduate-school level papers on a completely different topic, but this is for a general audience. I'm not even sure what I need to know. [more inside]
posted by nezlamnyy at 2:15 PM PST - 9 comments

I've been subscribed to YouTube Premium for a while. I'm wondering how much money a YouTuber earns from my views of videos vs. views from someone who is sitting through the ads. [more inside]
posted by mistersix at 2:05 PM PST - 4 comments

After a solid year of job hunting, I’ve come to the conclusion that my current job is actually the best I can do for now. I still kinda hate it and want to leave, though. How can I try to improve my attitude toward my current job to make it bearable while I figure out what’s next? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 1:57 PM PST - 8 comments

I run a monthly event here in Toronto. The main way we promote it is via an email announcement list (we also have insta/twitter/fb). I increasingly find myself meeting people out in the world (parties, bars, etc) who I talk to about the event, and who are interested. But we usually lose track. What's a way to make it easy for them to stay in touch? Some easy way to let them sign up for the email list and/or get in our socials? A card with a QR code? Something else?
posted by ManInSuit at 12:51 PM PST - 12 comments

I am looking for a US-based 1-credit AutoCAD class that I can take online and transfer to an architectural engineering program I am enrolling in. I could take it as a Spring or Summer 2023 class. I would prefer if there was a way for the cost of the computer program to be offset for students just during the class, I don't believe I will need it on my home computer after I get my basic intro. [more inside]
posted by Summers at 11:58 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm blown away by this recent Miley Cyrus performance of "Wrecking Ball" in which Dolly Parton is accompanying her. I'm specifically interested in the musical interval or harmony that Dolly's voice creates/adds during the chorus (around 0:40 and 1:30), because it causes me to cry, in spite of my having no real emotional attachment to the lyrics or anything else related to the song. Does this interval/harmony have a name? Are there other songs that employ it?
posted by unknowncommand at 11:36 AM PST - 9 comments

Please throw some recommendations of stories you've enjoyed that are centered around characters that started pursuing their goals later in life. [more inside]
posted by sharksmile at 11:32 AM PST - 7 comments

What are some websites, mailing lists, or online groups that provide members with simple, targeted ways to engage in the US political process for issues that you care about? I'm particularly interested in understanding how the groups have helped you realize your own power/voice and to be consistent in your involvement. [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 11:16 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm looking for any books or media with positive neurodivergent representation, just as the question title says. It's probably important to mention that this is for an employee resource group/DEI initiative, specifically a list of media that we can put on an internal website as a way for people to understand the neurodivergent experience, so while I know that there's representation in media aimed at kids and teens we'll probably want something a bit more adult-focused in audience. [more inside]
posted by daikaisho at 11:10 AM PST - 15 comments

My friend is a US expat in NL and has some "don't miss them or you're going to have a bad day" prescriptions that he takes regularly. How do I get him his medication? [more inside]
posted by Seeba at 8:41 AM PST - 4 comments

I was diagnosed with ADHD (primarily inattentive) and RSD two years ago and have tried stimulant and non-stimulant medication. These have not worked for me so I am looking for strategies to GSD. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 8:10 AM PST - 22 comments

I've exhausted Google and cannot find A5 loose-leaf paper in Toronto that has not been hole-punched. I'd prefer it in bulk (100s or 1000s of pages), as opposed to a handful of sheets. I'd even settle for Canada if they'll ship. Any ideas?
posted by dobbs at 6:41 AM PST - 11 comments

I live in a very small rural town dominated by a conservative college, where the ambitions of the college are often in conflict with the town itself, and where overrepresentation of college interests by elected officials has been a simmering issue for years. (Because we are so small, and times are what they are, it is very hard to find people to run for office and serve.) [more inside]
posted by mmiddle at 6:15 AM PST - 14 comments

I am a queer cis woman with a fetish that I don't want. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:56 PM PST - 17 comments

My current therapist is retiring. I'm living and working in Columbia, SC, but also spending time with my elderly parents in upstate NY in Ulster County. Do you have someone you recommend? [more inside]
posted by Schmucko at 10:01 PM PST - 1 comment

I am touching up my bathroom, and I’d like your help to find the towels. I have in mind to get this bath mat. I would like the towels to be teal, in the shade of the fourth stripe of the mat, between the purple and the light blue stripes. The towels get bonus points for being high quality, absorbent, durable, and ethically and sustainably sourced. They must be available to U.S. consumers.
posted by NotLost at 9:16 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for a weekly planner (paper, not digital, although I'd consider an iPad app if it's pre-structured with templates and it meets all my other requirements). Ideally, I'd like monthly calendars (already numbered!), a weekly page facing a blank dot-grid page for each week, and paper that is sturdy, pleasing, and doesn't bleed through. [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 5:22 PM PST - 10 comments

I'd like to show my son some artists who are known for witty, cheeky, and subtly funny work. Straight humor, like funny animal photos, is fine too, but I'm looking for something a little more subtle. Any generation/era, country-of-origin, media-type is fine.
posted by Toddles at 4:43 PM PST - 25 comments

I've started dabbling in image creation using Midjourney. I would like to use it to create a composition of two people, and each person would be based on their own separate reference images. I can't figure out how to do this, but surely it can be done? [more inside]
posted by Mechitar at 4:33 PM PST - 2 comments

How do I go about commissioning an artist to design a t shirt for personal (basically an inside joke) use? Bonus points if you know any heavy metal band t shirt artists. [more inside]
posted by airplant at 4:27 PM PST - 5 comments

My spouse and I have recently finished watching (or are about to wrap up) a number of terrific series, and find ourselves at a bit of a loss as to what comes next. Our shared sweet spots are generally crime drama and dark comedy/dramedy—somewhere between literary fiction (more my style) and genre fiction (more his). For example, I particularly love historical drama and espionage, while he loves sci-fi, superheroes, and fantasy (my interests in these are more limited). We just started The English, but we need more suggestions! [more inside]
posted by paper scissors sock at 3:54 PM PST - 63 comments

I'm cutting costs, cutting ties, and getting rid of my car. And I'm getting on in years. What interesting activity do you think should I take up next? [more inside]
posted by Peach at 3:53 PM PST - 37 comments

What are some high quality trench coats that have thick fabric that will keep me dry but also keep me warm? My old, thick trench coat is to fray and come apart, and I'd like to get a new one. I considered buying a Burberry trench coat, but I put one on, and it was actually very thin and not one I would want to wear for colder days at all. [more inside]
posted by deanc at 2:52 PM PST - 9 comments

Are my elderly felted wool slippers fixable? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:50 AM PST - 4 comments

Lately, I'm thinking I'd maybe like to start going to church. I was raised Roman Catholic but quit going to church when I was in my late teens. I could go back to the Catholic church, but it really isn't a good fit for me. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 6:36 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a new debit card and I’d like to update it on my Apple account. The old card has been cancelled so my subscriptions are requesting updated info. However, Apple won’t let me get rid of the old card because my subscriptions are tied to it. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 6:14 AM PST - 5 comments

I’d like to hang this contraption in my kids room. Mainly to hold teddy bears (nothing heavy). The issue is that the best place for it is right under this protrusion from the ceiling which I suspect is for some sort of duct. This was the hook type thing I was going to use. Can I drill a little bit into that ceiling? I don’t think I could get away with a sticker adhesive to hang it…
posted by cacofonie at 5:52 AM PST - 16 comments