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I'm trying to hunt the exact quote and source for what I remember as something like this: "I know I am at risk of having my statement of the way I think things are mistaken for a statement of the way that I think things should be". No luck googling this and variations, so I'm stuck.
posted by grazer at 10:46 PM PST - 5 comments

When do you take a pregnancy test if you don't have any periods? [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 10:25 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm visiting Boston for the first time over Veterans' Day weekend. What should I do there? [more inside]
posted by hoist with his own pet aardvark at 8:00 PM PST - 11 comments

A buddy and I cashed in air miles for a Florida vacation in early February, 2016. We fly into/out of Tampa and have six nights. We will have a rental car. We will be leaving frozen Montana. What do you sugest we do? Dislkes inside. [more inside]
posted by ITravelMontana at 7:51 PM PST - 10 comments

Story: I purchased tickets from a ticket vendor for an event. They have a no refund policy unless the show is cancelled. When I got to the event it was a complete mess getting in. There weren't enough check points in the lines or security guards to help with the traffic flow. Management put the attendees in danger by overselling tickets. People were being pushed and close to being trampled on waiting in line, and there was no exit out of the line once you got in. I waited 2 hours and was extremely disappointed by the disorganization and greediness of the management, and promoters. I have attended a number of similar events and this was by far the worst experience ever. [more inside]
posted by quasicalligraphic at 7:08 PM PST - 12 comments

Thinking about getting a car and live in Brooklyn. What's the best move? [more inside]
posted by jourman2 at 6:56 PM PST - 8 comments

This is a long shot because I'm so fuzzy on the details but I've exhausted my searching skills: I'm looking for a poem (it's possible it was a very, very short story) about a woman in a Vermeer painting -- maaaybe in reference to the one stolen from the Gardner Museum, since it ends with her "escaping." The bits and pieces I remember are inside. [more inside]
posted by ella_minnow at 6:43 PM PST - 7 comments

I basically divulged my feelings to my best friend, and now I feel like I am losing him. Is there any way to stop the damage? [more inside]
posted by bolognius maximus at 5:17 PM PST - 17 comments

An event occurred in my family when I was a teenager which I recently brought up with the family members involved. This created a second issue, and I have been trying to understand the reasons, meanings and ramifications of both the original and more recent events. [more inside]
posted by Thella at 5:06 PM PST - 23 comments

Help, I broke my original plunger (which I found out is a sink/shower plunger) so I bought the most expensive flange plunger the store had. I fill plunger with water, get a good seal (I think, can't see), and push down slowly, but when I come back up the plunger has partially popped "inside out" if you know what I mean and breaks the seal so I can only do one plunge at a time. I have had no luck googling. What do I do? How do I unclog this? [more inside]
posted by AFABulous at 3:42 PM PST - 32 comments

Disability insurance for freelancers: Worth it? Who does it well? The last question on this topic was from 2009, so I'm hoping for some more current info as well as (hopefully) recommendations! [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:49 PM PST - 3 comments

I take my dog [sorry no picture, I'm at work, can't get to Instagram for a link] to run or walk in our lovely regional parks 2-3 times every week. I keep her on leash, I always carry at least one dog bag, and I carry out her poop or deposit it in the garbage bins conveniently located at every trailhead. And every week I end up picking up at least a few other people's (full) poop bags from the trail, some of them within 40 yards of the garbage bin! [more inside]
posted by suelac at 1:22 PM PST - 36 comments

Do you use blue or red light therapy for acne? Does it work? A friend is looking to phase out the topical ointment she currently uses for acne treatment. She's going to ask her dermatologist, but wants to have some information prior to that meeting, and a lot of the information online is very obviously written by the manufactures of the devices. [more inside]
posted by Svenny at 1:01 PM PST - 4 comments

During disagreements (no matter how small), my partner tends to go from 0-60 and uses words, tone, and facial expressions that I see as an attempt to intimidate me into shutting up. It's frustrating and insanely uncool but my question: is there a name for this behavior? [more inside]
posted by youandiandaflame at 12:51 PM PST - 110 comments

A while back I bought a pair of glasses with these frames from Zenni Optical. They've since discontinued those glasses; where can I get a similar pair? [more inside]
posted by mistersix at 12:47 PM PST - 8 comments

My baby is breastfeeding 7 times a day, plus a bottle of formula. How do we transition to just 4 or 5 feeds of formula a day? [more inside]
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:39 AM PST - 16 comments

In the 1952 cartoon short "Trick or Treat", any idea what Donald says after he wakes up from unconsciousness? I've never been able to figure it out! [more inside]
posted by theatro at 10:20 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm as anti-woo as person can get, and my sister is the same. On a recent visit, she said she mixes a packet on unflavored gelatin powder (not Jello) into her smoothies, and it helps with arthritis pain in her knees, which I also suffer from. The theory is, it's made of collagen (protein) and will help with the ailing collagen in the joints. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 10:02 AM PST - 11 comments

I know for a fact someone has installed something on at least one of my computers. How do I get rid of this? [more inside]
posted by olivetree at 9:55 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm filling out a claim for temporary disability and am stumped on the section about a third party--both of us (or neither of us) were responsible, and I thought I was okay and didn't get the person's contact info. Both "no" and "yes" seem dishonest/incomplete as an answer to if a third party was responsible, and there isn't room to explain the situation. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:53 AM PST - 3 comments

I am stumped. I don't know why this keeps happening. I administrate the phone system in my workplace. One of my users has been receiving long voice mails that consist of static. Just really loud static. They are from several different numbers. When I call the numbers, the people have no idea what I am talking about. The first couple could be explained away as pocket dials. Now it's a nuisance. [more inside]
posted by domo at 9:50 AM PST - 7 comments

95% of the time I use my Mac laptop at home, docked to monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Problem is, it's a 13" air, and I find I really need a 15" for times when I do work outside on laptop. So I need to make a change. But the new MacBook Pros don't seem for people who dock at home. [more inside]
posted by Quisp Lover at 9:35 AM PST - 25 comments

What are the "tricks" used by authors such as Malcolm Gladwell in making science topics into "popular science"? [more inside]
posted by jacobean at 9:12 AM PST - 7 comments

For a game that I'm going to be playing I'm looking for love poems which will have been reasonably well known in Ireland in 1916/ 1917. [more inside]
posted by Laura_J at 7:59 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm heading to Berlin soon and am excited and overwhelmed by the variety and number of vegan/vegan friendly restaurants & cafes. I've read every list of recommended vegan restaurants, but I'd really like personal recommendations. What vegan or vegan friendly restaurants, cafes, bakeries, shops are your favorites? All cuisines, all price-ranges welcome.
posted by Pineapplicious at 7:56 AM PST - 8 comments

I need help with finding the answers for an ‘ancient boundaries of Yorkshire quiz’ for a charity quiz im completing. The theme & details for the quiz is: ‘cancer research - ancient boundaries of Yorkshire quiz', and the closing date is Monday 7th November. All answers can be found in or partly in the ancient boundaries of Yorkshire. I’ve posted the questions below which im struggling with and I've tried really hard working them out but i can't find the correct answers for the questions. [more inside]
posted by kelster1 at 7:09 AM PST - 11 comments

Do you have any experiences with wall-mounted convection heaters, like this thing? Are they any good? I have a small glass porch I'd like to warm up for winter mornings. [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:56 AM PST - 10 comments

How can I carry around a LOT of music? I have 300+GB of music, audiobooks, and lectures, and the few GB of space on my iPhone frustrates me. I have a travel router that works dandy as a pocket-able streaming server; are there USB storage devices in that size range that don't require wall power? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:45 AM PST - 22 comments

I'd like to continue to learn yoga when I move to London in the coming months. North or central London would be best. I've done research but I can't figure out what would the best class for me. So I thought I would ask for some personal experience-based recommendations. [more inside]
posted by Ziggy500 at 4:10 AM PST - 4 comments

What's a good method to stop feral cats from climbing up trees and getting on the roof? Special parameters inside.. [more inside]
posted by kilohertz at 8:04 PM PST - 12 comments

My knowledge of biology is minimal, so bear with me. I'm on 23andme, which shows me a list of relatives. From the names and biographical information, most look accurate (same South Indian ethnicity as mine). However, there are 2 people on the list who are white American and don't appear to have any Indian connection, who share about 0.10% of my DNA. I don't have white ancestors either, AFAIK. Is this a sequencing error? A coincidental common mutation? Or an actual shared ancestry?
posted by redlines at 7:57 PM PST - 18 comments

Hi folks. I run a hotel in a lazy, somewhat remote area of Mexico and at the moment our internet service is slow and frequently cuts out (our provider keeps telling me that their electricity keeps cutting out for no apparent reason). I was wondering if any of you had any genius ideas about DIY installations. As a side note, our cellphones get OK 3G service on some parts of the property. Also, I'm not sure how our current provider is supplying us with internet, but our setup for that involves an antennae on our roof that is pointing (I think) at the nearest cell tower that then connects to our router. I am willing to turn this into a project since most aspects of our business (hotel) requires reliable, high speed internet for both our customers and our administrators. Please help and thanks!
posted by MD_yeahright at 7:27 PM PST - 5 comments

On November 5th 2008 and November 7th 2012 here in London England, I tried to collect as many British newspapers as I could that featured Barack Hussein Obama II's historic election to the presidency of the United States. The whole world was united in pride for the US on both of those days. Now that he's moving out of the White House, I feel like it's time to give them away; the question is, who gets them? [Preferably to someone in New York City. Sorry Duluth.] [more inside]
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 6:52 PM PST - 7 comments

My boyfriend has keratoconus - a disorder that effects the shape of his cornea and causes vision problems including double vision. According to his opthamologist, it's a pretty severe case of keratoconus, but he's able to correct it with specially made contact lenses. I'm concerned about the fit of the contacts because they do not seem centered on his eye and they seem to be moving a lot every time he blinks... [more inside]
posted by snickersnee at 6:34 PM PST - 10 comments

I wouldn't normally think of myself as an angry person or a person with a big temper, but lately my temper has been out of control. I can't act like this anymore, it's completely unacceptable... how exactly do I calm down? [more inside]
posted by modesty.blaise at 6:14 PM PST - 25 comments

What is the best, most cost-effective transportation for me and my bags to get from JFK to my hotel in Times Square? [more inside]
posted by Cookbooks and Chaos at 5:21 PM PST - 21 comments

So I am looking for a bodycam and wondering what is out there. [more inside]
posted by metajim at 4:18 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm trying to build my own gaming PC and have hit a snag. The motherboard powers-up but a few seconds later powers back down, then repeats. [more inside]
posted by Jamesonian at 2:37 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm in the process of tidying my kitchen cabinets by finishing old products, and it's quickly becoming clear that there is no way I'll get through the massive jar of dried green tea leaves I got two Christmases ago. I drink tea, but this is not my favourite tea so I maybe have three cups a week of it at most and it's not making a dent. Help me use up the tea in creative ways. [more inside]
posted by easternblot at 2:23 PM PST - 22 comments

I found the BEST BAND-AIDS in the world in a pharmacy in Germany. I bought 7 boxes of them, but now they are almost gone, and I want more! They were 0.89 € for a box and are super soft/comfortable "sensitive skin" bandages. Unlike some other comfortable bandages, they also stay on super well and come off easily. I would love ideas for other similar products (if I could buy 200 for a reasonable price, it would be amazing), or how to get these magical band-aids from Germany to Canada. [more inside]
posted by oranger at 2:03 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm from Scotland, live in Utah, and recently came across this local company who assert that they make "authentic Scottish Meat Pies." That as may be, but they then continue with the following suggestion: "Top it with chili, soup or gravy for a great meal!" As a bona fide Scotsman, I'm pretty 100% sure nobody in Scotland tops their meat pies with chili or soup (although possibly with gravy). Is this a thing? I have never seen a pie served in a small bowl of soup either, as the picture suggests. How do you eat/ serve your pies?
posted by 7 Minutes of Madness at 2:00 PM PST - 26 comments

On your advice, I bought some offbrand Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I'm not feeling the magic. What gives? [more inside]
posted by deludingmyself at 11:45 AM PST - 18 comments

Overhead light with obscure bulbs long burned out so I don't know if it worked recently. Removed same. Confirm with voltage tester that hot wire is hot, neutral wire neutral, ground wire firmly attached to box. Installed new lighting fixture with LED bulbs. Put on juice. Light goes on for half a second, then died. Uninstall, check lights & fixture with known power, works fine. Repeat. Connections appear firm. (I've done this before.) Brief light, fade. Repeat. No light. Works fine elsewhere. Thoughts? [more inside]
posted by IndigoJones at 9:28 AM PST - 11 comments

One color, nothing super fancy, average size car. In the US.
posted by fixedgear at 9:23 AM PST - 2 comments

Depression/Anxiety help in Cleveland. Looking for a doctor/therapist/counselor to help my daughter deal with the return of her old nemesis. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:23 AM PST - 3 comments

I know velcro generally works by having one strip with tiny hooks catch on another strip with tiny loops. Does velcro exist where each piece contains a mixture of hooks and loops, meaning any piece can stick to any other piece? [more inside]
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 6:40 AM PST - 12 comments

Over the past year I've developed a recurring pain in my left foot's big toe joint. It would appear for a few weeks, heal, and return several months later at regular intervals. I do rock climb and hike, but this does not seem to correlate with the pain. My other foot is normal. [more inside]
posted by BeaverTerror at 6:02 AM PST - 13 comments

In the process of putting up my old desktop for sale I wiped the hard drive. Now that I'm ready to install Ubuntu via USB, I forgot how to get it done. Once I boot, what command do I type in so I can have it boot and install with USB?
posted by AngryTypingGuy at 3:03 AM PST - 6 comments

I feel like my partner avoids difficult conversations and often pays me lip-service to avoid unpleasant topics. How worrisome is this behavior long term? [more inside]
posted by aquablue582 at 11:27 PM PST - 33 comments

Can you help me find this book based on the very few (and disturbing) details I remember? [more inside]
posted by Ruby Me at 10:35 PM PST - 6 comments

I want to make a very specific kind of electronic music purely for fun, but getting a bit overwhelmed by all the hardware and software options out there, as well as the best way to actually learn them effectively with super limited time. Can someone help a snowflake out? Difficulty level: Sampling from Apple Music or Spotify [more inside]
posted by LongDrive at 10:04 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm using an old 401k rollover to pay for graduate school. Tuition is a higher education expense, so it qualifies for penalty-free withdrawals, and the PATH Act confirmed that "purchase of computer or peripheral equipment" is also a qualified expense (as is software). Do things like adapters and dongles fall under the aforementioned "computer and peripheral equipment", or would I have to separate those out? [more inside]
posted by chimpsonfilm at 8:29 PM PST - 1 comment

A number of years ago, I remember there was a middle aged or older woman, I think in the Midwest, who wrote very plain reviews of restaurants and other things of everyday life. Somehow, she ended up going viral, and was "a thing" for a bit. But I can't seem to remember enough about it all to find her on Google. Does this ring a bell for anyone?
posted by jasper411 at 7:49 PM PST - 4 comments

My wife, 3-year old son, and I are leaving Brooklyn for somewhere off the metro north. We're looking to rent. Is there anything affordably middle class, not too long of a commute, and with good schools (specifically pre-k and early elementary) in Westchester County? [more inside]
posted by demonstartivepapadonous at 3:35 PM PST - 18 comments

So, I'm a home-based worker and I've got the waking up at 5am-6am part down. The issue is that I'm in a mental fog for most of the morning. I've played around with sleep schedules and it seems I DO get enough sleep (7 hours), just that I have a hard time staying alert. Do you have tips or strategies on staying mentally sharp early in the morning? [more inside]
posted by neeta at 3:19 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm looking for a particular brand of chips and salsa from my childhood. It was a snack bag size, taller than it was wide, bright orange "mexican" style branding across the top, otherwise clear bag so you could see the round corn chips. The bag included a packet of red salsa about 1.5 inches wide 3ish inches long. [more inside]
posted by magnetsphere at 3:12 PM PST - 2 comments

First, I want to point out I am a guy, and I work in a professional white collar environment. There is someone at work who is annoying me to the point in which it's really aggravating. He comes up to me when I am at the copy machine, and says comments like: 1) You are looking good today. And sometimes he just gives an intense long stare at me, which is weird. 2) He once said I have a nice chest. 3) Yells out my name in a mocking way when I pass by, but when no one is around. 4) Makes comments about the way I dress. It might not seem much, but it's done in a weird way, which is done in a snide / mocking / teasing manner. Is this something that I have to learn to brush off? It's very annoying. I am close with my boss, so should I tell him first, before I tell this guy to stop irritating me? I will like to check with my boss first to see how he will react in the event I tell this guy to stop and he doesn't. Do I need real evidence of him bothering me? I was thinking of using the recorder on my phone to record any interaction.
posted by pieceofcake at 2:45 PM PST - 42 comments

I'm trying to remember a story I read some time ago. I'm 83% sure it was a novel, but there's a slim chance it was a short story. One key phrase sticks in my head: "Been down, goin' up!" I think the plot of the story was an intervention of a couple who, if left to their own devices, would give birth to the Antichrist. I don't think this was a religious book, instead I keep picturing a Neil Gaiman-esque author. Fantasy writing, but more along the lines of an American Gods-style fantasy. [more inside]
posted by Moondoggie at 1:40 PM PST - 4 comments

My uncle is looking for a new provider to service his hearing aids. The only, new-in-town one in his area (northern CO), is "incompetent" and wants to sell him a (prohibitively expensive) new pair. Alternatively, he is also interested in an online, $50 pair with "good reviews", which can be programmed individually?? Any suggestions/thoughts about local providers or cheaper hearing aides would be very much appreciated. TIA!
posted by warm_planet at 12:48 PM PST - 3 comments

In the cars of a few Indian acquaintances (I am in the US), I've seen what looks like a bright orange "flying" dragon or lion hanging off the rear view mirror. What is this called, and what does it mean? The closest image I could find is this, but the ones I've seen appear solid orange, perhaps plastic.
posted by Seeking Direction at 11:57 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a Zojirushi travel mug that I have had for a while. Someone gifted me a new one. What do I do with the old one? I don't to just toss the old one in the trash so it ends up in a landfill, but I don't know what else to do with it. [more inside]
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 11:36 AM PST - 13 comments

How can we make an umbrella costume for our 3-year-old that opens when he raises his arms and closes when he lowers them? [more inside]
posted by marlys at 8:32 AM PST - 13 comments

My job is, by most objective standards, terrific. I work from home (which I like); have flexible hours; overtime is okay’d whenever requested; boss likes me and thinks I’m brilliant. And the pay is more than I’ve ever made in my life (which puts me at just under the low end of middle-class income). Yay. What’s not good: the work I do, which includes an increasing number of tasks I dislike intensely – enough that I’ve thought not only, “I’d rather work with raw sewage than do this,” but “hey, I wonder if that guy I used to know who worked at the sewage plant still works there? Nah, they probably don’t pay this well for untrained labor. (Could I get trained?)” [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:48 AM PST - 32 comments

A relative of mine is visiting the US without travel insurance, and their child has been hospitalised in New York and is receiving treatment. This relative does not have the means to pay for the hospital stay or treatment, so what will the consequences be? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:48 AM PST - 14 comments

I am employed by a travel company as a tour manager. I am considered by the company to be a "full time employee" which means I get guaranteed 26 weeks of work, 2 weeks paid vacation and health insurance . On Monday we have a mandatory conference call with the head of HR and I would like to be prepared to ask the right questions. More detail inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:48 AM PST - 4 comments

Artists of Metafilter: what do you do to avoid hand pain and/or eye strain? [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 7:43 AM PST - 8 comments

Can Mefites help me find how many rent controlled units there are one year to the next in Berkeley, CA? I thought it would be simple to find this information but I have been looking for four days. Would help tons!
posted by parmanparman at 7:39 AM PST - 3 comments

I've been reading The Funny Times for years. It might be time to move on. [more inside]
posted by allelopath at 7:28 AM PST - 5 comments

Although I have almost entirely adjusted to the lactose intolerant lifestyle over the last few months, it never ceases to amaze me that lactose intolerance is supposed to be the default, yet dairy is such a permanent fixture of the American diet! There's cheese and/or milk in nearly everything. My question to is: why do so many lactose intolerant people continue to eat dairy? [more inside]
posted by Delia at 7:04 AM PST - 60 comments

The situation described in this question has gotten both better and worse. I'm stuck in yet another bind with regard to my mother, who has been hospitalized but cannot live by herself. They may release her on Monday to her home, where she has no supervision and is being evicted. I know that I shouldn't be the primary caregiver - I do not WANT to be the primary caregiver - but I am, and now I need to make sure that my mother has a safe place to unravel. More details within. [more inside]
posted by Ashen at 6:56 AM PST - 10 comments

In the Tomb Raider movie, Angelina Jolie has a bungee dance scene, where she's wearing a hip harness attached to two bungee cords in the ceiling and doing flips through the air. If someone wanted to do the same thing in their home, would it be possible (assuming you had the ceilings for it). How would you go about doing that? What's the required equipment, and how do you learn how to use it? (And what's this thing called? I'm finding a *little* under 'bungee dance' but not much...)
posted by sirion at 5:09 AM PST - 8 comments

I don’t want to go to the wedding of a formerly close friend. What’s an acceptable way to decline (and am I overthinking this)? [more inside]
posted by dayspteh at 1:36 AM PST - 33 comments

A friend from the UK who is enamored with my buttermilk biscuits is coming to visit, and I'm making her dinner. What should I serve with the biscuits? [more inside]
posted by mynameisluka at 10:28 PM PST - 22 comments

After some time away from my regular career (5 years), I am jumping back in. I have been spending time thinking what kind of perks I might look to negotiate in a job. It seems like more people are doing this than 5 years ago; certainly more of my friends have. So what is common? [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 9:01 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm a man with medium-length, thick, generally wavy hair that's prone to frizz. It's curled up at the ends since forever, and I've always tried to tamp that down by working in mousse while it's still damp. However, occasionally I'll accidentally wash it in a certain way and wake up the following morning with lots of big O-shaped ringlets. I quite like the look, others do too, and it does away with my curly-ends problem. How can I achieve this more consistently? [more inside]
posted by Panthalassa at 8:00 PM PST - 20 comments

Being recruited for a CEO-level position, and I recently had a baby. A mentor of mine suggested that I "Marissa Mayer the s**t out of the negotiation" to ask for all the lifestyle amenities I'll need to make this work. What should I ask for? [more inside]
posted by yearly at 7:32 PM PST - 16 comments

I have a lot of travel coming up this holiday season. I'm looking for two player games that I can play with Mrs Mars on a plane. Few parts or cards only would be best, and simple rules are a must.
posted by Eddie Mars at 7:04 PM PST - 18 comments

I've taken a job in NYC. Yay! The only tricky part is I'm in Texas. I could do with some advice on finding an apartment, neighborhoods, car ownership and the things I haven't thought of yet. Basically, tell me everything, but specific questions below. [more inside]
posted by hoyland at 5:34 PM PST - 40 comments

On Thanksgiving, can I just roast turkey parts rather than an entire turkey? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:04 PM PST - 25 comments

I am middle aged and need reading glasses. I like colorful relatively inexpensive reading glasses since I am good at destroying or losing them. I used to buy them at Flying Tiger, but it appears glasses are no longer in their range. I bought some cats-eye models from Amazon, but they literally disintegrated after 2-3 uses. Too cheap! Bonus if the company ships internationally to me in Hong Kong, but I can also live with shipping to my sister in the US or to friends in the Netherlands.
posted by frumiousb at 4:51 PM PST - 17 comments

Last.fm used to keep an amazing, long list of "similar tracks" for every song. As of a year or two ago, their godawful new interface only shows four. Can full lists still somehow be generated somewhere, and if so where/how? [more inside]
posted by zokni at 4:46 PM PST - 2 comments

I am looking at filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the next month. I would like to know what this process is like and how nerve-wracking it is and how anxious I, an anxious person, can expect to be throughout. You are not my bankruptcy lawyer, nor are you in my situation with my specifics, but I would like to hear about your experiences. More about my personal situation under the cut so you can give advice if you feel so inclined. [more inside]
posted by shamash at 4:14 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there some system to describe the ways that the human body can be positioned? Something like the International Phonetic Alphabet where you can notate the full range of human speech sounds, but for the human body? I have a project where I want to compare different body positions mathematically.
posted by gregr at 2:45 PM PST - 12 comments

What is the most breathtaking day trip into nature that can be had within two hours' driving distance of Tübingen, Germany? [more inside]
posted by a sourceless light at 2:06 PM PST - 7 comments

2 weeks ago, I thought I was coming down with a cold - one night, I started sneezing a ton & my nose started running. I went for a really intense sports massage the next morning and came out feeling very emotional & teary & tired. A few hours later I felt so tired and out of it that I went home - for approx 24 hours of vomiting & diarrhea and feeling awful. Complete with red rash on my chest. And then I was okay. Kinda tired & out of it for another day or so, but fine. No cold symptoms, even. I wrote it up to flu, or maybe food poisoning. THEN THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY. What? [more inside]
posted by red_rabbit at 1:30 PM PST - 16 comments

We were supposed to move on Monday. We were selling our previous home and we had an approved contingent offer on a new home. Closing dates were set. We found out today the buyers for our home had their loan fall through. Now what do we do? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:41 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for baby books in Spanish that meet the following criteria: 1. Board book 2. Written in Spanish (i.e. not a translation). 3. In Spanish, only (not bilingual) 4. Not somehow about the fact that they are in Spanish. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:17 PM PST - 7 comments

Back in July we were doing a number of renovations on a house we just bought. A local company did both window and roof work, so we thought we'd kill two birds and hire them. Turns out that was a mistake. [more inside]
posted by cartoonella at 12:08 PM PST - 4 comments

I haven't played video games in about 10 years. While I still don't have the time or inclination to become any sort of serious gamer, I've enjoyed games in the past and I recently came into possession of a PS4. I'm looking for The One Game to serve as my gateway into non-obsessive modern gaming -- something on which I can spend a rewarding few hours a week for a while and from which I can hopefully then branch out to other stuff I might like. A few (general, loose) criteria inside. [more inside]
posted by eugenen at 11:24 AM PST - 36 comments

My job is a sick system and I feel burnt out, miserable, and trapped. This UK employer sponsors my Tier 2 work visa. If I quit, I will have to return to the US immediately, which I have absolutely no intentions of doing. Current UK visa rules mean it's nearly impossible for me to find a different employer, moreso since the Brexit outcome. I have three more years living here under a work visa until I can apply for citizenship, which is my long-term goal. As crazy as it sounds, I'd like to stay with them, but how do I survive this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:09 AM PST - 7 comments

My partner has come into some money. Can you recommend a financial planner? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:08 AM PST - 3 comments

My husband and I are looking to buy a (modest) home in (the farther reaches of) New York City. I recently mentioned this to my parents, who promptly offered to help and then wrote us a big check that's currently burning a hole in my pocket. It's a lovely, generous offer, but we don't need the money. What my parents don't know is that my husband has a trust fund that would cover a down payment with money left over. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:08 AM PST - 30 comments

I have an iMac where the internal USB controller has gone flakey. It corrupts photos from SD cards, and just recently seems to have messed up my backup drive (also USB). The repair place is suggesting it will cost $800 to replace the logic board (parts + labor). Since everything else works well, I'd like to salvage the machine. [more inside]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:07 AM PST - 10 comments

Here's a screenshot of the unicorn print in question. Is this familiar to anyone? Is it an actual replication of renaissance art than I can get my hands on?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm determined to continue my bike commute until the first here-to-stay snowfall happens. But I want and need to be visible! Suggestions that deviate from the usual bike headlights and how-to's wanted. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 9:39 AM PST - 34 comments

I'm a new PhD student and I am wondering if there is some kind of trick to finding a broad "Review of Recent Literature" or "Survey of Recent Literature" on my subject area. I've been on JSTOR and BMCR the last couple of days just trawling through single book reviews, papers etc amassing a prospective bibliography. But I do remember once last year stumbling across a gem that happened to be broad literature review on 10-20 different secondary works on the exact author I was interested in (in political philosophy). Is there a trick to it? [more inside]
posted by mary8nne at 9:22 AM PST - 13 comments

Alright, I gotta know. Is the live action trailer for Dishonered 2 actually live action + cgi, or is it 100% cgi and should I just give myself over to the computer gods because jfc I can't tell the difference anymore?
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:17 AM PST - 5 comments

Hello, I will be in Mexico City next week and I’m trying to find an American expat bar that will be showing the coverage of the election. I’d prefer a place skewed towards younger people if possible. I got to watch the last election in an expat bar in Buenos Aires and it was quite an event. If anybody can help me out I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
posted by Che boludo! at 9:16 AM PST - 1 comment

One of my dearest friends and his husband are going to Antarctica and The Falklands in a few weeks and I would like to get them a small going away gift. If you have been to these places, is there a small thing you wish you had with you? [more inside]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:58 AM PST - 12 comments

Once upon a time my favourite perfume was Yves Rocher Neonatura. It was chocolatey and dark with just a touch of vanilla rather than being flowery or sweet. Any recommendations for perfumes that hit a similar note? I feel like spoiling myself this fall/winter!
posted by MandaSayGrr at 8:40 AM PST - 5 comments

Is it still considered OK to have cross-dressed costumes for Halloween? I mean like, Sonny and Cher, or Leia and Luke, only with the guy in the female costume and the woman in the guy costume. As a cis white guy who's trying to be more aware of my privilege, I don't want to be a jerk to the LGBTQ community.
posted by notsnot at 8:36 AM PST - 18 comments

Spur of the moment trip to NYC this weekend and looking to make the most of it; what music/arts/culture would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by alexandermatheson at 7:45 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm having trouble keeping up with work requests coming at me from all directions. Seeking an online tool that will help me stay organized and on track. [more inside]
posted by jschu at 6:22 AM PST - 24 comments

Problem: I bought a couple pairs of booties. They seemed great at first - and they still are - but I now realize after a couple of wearings that they are both just a *little* too long for me. Enough that the heel slips a bit when I walk. It's just enough to bug me. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 5:14 AM PST - 12 comments

I have to get it after work tonight so no time for a lot of shopping around or flea markets. [more inside]
posted by unannihilated at 4:12 AM PST - 4 comments

How do you store your household medicines so you can see everything you have easily? We have so many little bottles of pills and stuff that I always have trouble finding what I'm looking for, which is extremely not fun when it's an urgent need. It also means a ton of waste, as we're always buying dupes of things we've got but couldn't find. How do other households deal with this? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:44 PM PST - 27 comments

I have a series of images that I would like to animate, but using a fade transition from image to image is less than satisfying. I'd love to be able to do a tweening/morphing type transition from image to image, but the tools I've found for this aren't suited for the type of images I'm working with. [more inside]
posted by radwolf76 at 8:05 PM PST - 2 comments

Does anyone have recommendations for a good couples therapist/marriage counselor in the Ithaca NY area? Is this the sort of thing that insurance covers?
posted by danep at 7:02 PM PST - 4 comments

Help me pick out a Lego set! [more inside]
posted by ian1977 at 6:40 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a I-Phone and I-Pad I use, my husband got a I-Pad last year and I used same Apple ID on it when in hindsight it would have been better if I had used another Apple ID for him. He has downloaded some apps and I don't want him to lose any of these in a transition. What is smoothest way for me to change his Apple ID on his I-Pad and keep his stuff on there too? [more inside]
posted by just asking at 5:24 PM PST - 3 comments

If I needed to hyphenate the term Bundespräsidentenwiederholungswahlverschiebung across the end of a line, where would be the acceptable places to do so? [more inside]
posted by Shmuel510 at 4:29 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for sexy, over the top songs about sexual awakening, kind of like Touch-A Touch-A Touch me from Rocky Horror. Looking for recommendations for similar songs.
posted by twill at 4:04 PM PST - 53 comments

Why yes, I WOULD like a (non-free) sample! So the discovery of perfume decant vials and snack samples (like Nuts.com and Sugarfina's sample packs/tasting bags) have greatly enhanced my life. What other things (food/drink and health/beauty are categories that immediately come to mind, but I'm open to ALL things) are readily available for purchase in sample sizes? Note that I'm NOT interested in beauty or snack subscription boxes... I'd like items that I choose, in quantities I choose, on a non-recurring basis.
posted by julthumbscrew at 2:53 PM PST - 23 comments

I have a mid-2010 MacBook Pro that I'd like to replace with another Mac (I like the OS) given that 1) I have run out of room to store things, 2) it's been running slow and pretty hot (even when I wasn't completely out of memory), and 3) it's a little heavy for me now. I can't decide which Mac would be the best replacement, and could use some advice. [more inside]
posted by Sakura3210 at 1:51 PM PST - 16 comments

With some American English-speaking, usually young female speakers, I sometimes perceive a subtle but distinct shift of ... tone, maybe (?), in the middle of the word "you" that makes it sound almost like "yeh-oo" instead of "yo͞o". My American English-speaking, mid-40's female partner neither pronounces the word this way nor does she hear it in others when I point it out. Am I hearing things, or is this "a thing"? What is it called? Is it a "glottal stop"? Why do some people pronounce it like that and others don't? [more inside]
posted by majorsteel at 1:35 PM PST - 20 comments

Need help with our baby name list! We are looking for ideas of baby girl names that are pronounced identically (or very nearly so) in French and in English. [more inside]
posted by ohio at 1:19 PM PST - 65 comments

I have about 3 years experience as Admin/Exec Assistant and I'd like to get a fulltime communications role. [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 12:57 PM PST - 6 comments

One of my cats has fleas. Unfortunately, she's also very skittish and nervous. Getting medication / Revolution on her is a hard battle. What alternatives do I have? As an added question, how can I treat my house when I can't take her away from the house (therefore ruling out flea bombs)? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:16 PM PST - 10 comments

I have lost everything this past year. How do I move forward? [more inside]
posted by ladykitty5 at 11:55 AM PST - 35 comments

Some family friends through an election night party every year and everyone brings a potluck dish. Doesn't have to be themed, but where's the fun in that? Looking for ideas that are punny but nothing that would cause real offense. Trumpkin pie territory.
posted by LKWorking at 9:48 AM PST - 50 comments

I work in a small public library system. In advance of upcoming contract negotiations, our tiny Staff Association is trying to get our act together. Somehow I was elected as an officer(!), and I don't have a good understanding of our current contract and how it affects various employees (part-timers especially). Help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:16 AM PST - 2 comments

Looking for offbeat, interesting things to do, places to meet people in my age range, traditional or alternative art galleries to visit, craft breweries, live music venues? and anything else that's a must see! Also looking for help on how to handle selling artwork internationally. [more inside]
posted by LonelyOnes at 8:51 AM PST - 8 comments

For any digital PMs can you describe the tools you use and skills? [more inside]
posted by stormpooper at 8:42 AM PST - 11 comments

(Cue Avenue Q) I'm at a lost with where to go with my next career path. Psych phd and now in the fed government. Kinda tired of research. My job is pretty ok, but I'd like a change. [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 8:30 AM PST - 9 comments

New cowboy boots -- the right one fits great, the left...just enough to be uncomfortable. [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:27 AM PST - 13 comments

Flying back to the US out of Toronto Pearson on a Saturday 7:45 AM flight (AA terminal 3). How early should we get there to deal with customs, security, checking bags ... (we are US citizens).
posted by gudrun at 6:29 AM PST - 8 comments

Seeking recommendations for books that mix the personal with critique/theory. [more inside]
posted by dearwassily at 6:00 AM PST - 14 comments

Is it possible to pump municipal water uphill to a house site from the municipal water supply if the municipal water supply doesn't *quite* reach the house site? [more inside]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:58 AM PST - 8 comments

The Native Americans at Standing Rock, who are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline being run through the Missouri River, as well as through their sacred grounds and burial grounds, are in need of an expert in Native American Treaties, to help their legal battle. [more inside]
posted by MexicanYenta at 5:57 AM PST - 9 comments

Recently met this guy & we've really connected. But I'm applying to a programme abroad next month and it will take me to another country for at least 8/9 months starting next September. [more inside]
posted by Ariel432 at 5:25 AM PST - 12 comments

Our sink/countertop combo has developed a raised surface where we do all our cooking prep, and I would like to know if this is fixable. (Details inside) [more inside]
posted by lesser weasel at 5:18 AM PST - 5 comments

A man at a car dealership in Mexico did us a huge solid today. We were very lost, and he called us a cab and let us sit with him at his desk. We had a really pleasant chat while we waited. He wouldn't take the money I tried to give him. We want to send him a thank-you box of goodies from the USA. What might go over well in Mexico? [more inside]
posted by topoisomerase at 4:29 AM PST - 8 comments

Last minute costume help.... I am attending a party on Saturday that I have just found out is dress-up for Halloween. I love dressing up and I have a silver full length velvet cape made for a previous costume that I would love to reuse but I need ideas on how to use that aren't just generic queen/zombie queen ideas. [more inside]
posted by Lesium at 2:21 AM PST - 15 comments

I have a wonderful peacoat with a hood that I have worn out (it is threadbare and beyond care). I've been searching for a replacement for the past 5 winters and can't find one that meets my specs. Does my jacket exist anywhere or should I have it made? [more inside]
posted by toomanycurls at 1:37 AM PST - 9 comments

Ha, this is such a silly question!! This question percolates every couple months/ years, and I think, yeah! damn, what is it I'm reminded of?! I feel like I recognize the melody in a phrase of the "Rainbow Connection" (that's right, the Kermit the Frog song) and have heard it elsewhere, but can't identify where. [more inside]
posted by queseyo at 11:21 PM PST - 10 comments

College kids (Tufts) moved in to the recently-purchased home next door and are acting like this is frat row. I have newborn twins, police have been called given no behavior modification after having spoken to them nicely several times. This dude cannot abide. [more inside]
posted by eggman at 9:18 PM PST - 21 comments

I recently dabbled my toe in the European job market, and one of the first things that I was asked was my salary expectations. [more inside]
posted by HiroProtagonist at 7:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I'd like to read a book about the Puritans, in particular John Winthrop. Any suggestions? Ideally the book would've been written in the past few decades.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:24 PM PST - 5 comments

If I've always loved the well-constructed, sophisticated music of Steely Dan, Donald Fagen's The Nightfly and Sade, what else should I check out?
posted by porn in the woods at 6:53 PM PST - 37 comments

I found this strange artwork at a thrift store today. Can you tell me what it says? [more inside]
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 5:53 PM PST - 47 comments

How do you know if your cats are mortal enemies when cats currently lack the ability to devise warring gang signs? [more inside]
posted by Sara C. at 5:50 PM PST - 12 comments

I want to be able to record moving images that are playing on my iPhone screen. Is there an app that will do this? It doesn't need to record audio, just video.
posted by MsMolly at 5:35 PM PST - 4 comments

I've got three beautiful unframed old doors I want to install. They were taken out of an old house and the frames did not come with. I know how to install a door that is in a frame but how the hell do you put a door IN a frame? [more inside]
posted by Foam Pants at 4:46 PM PST - 11 comments

I'll be traveling to SF for business in mid November, and I booked my flight so I'll have a long weekend before the obligatory part of the trip starts. I'd like to spend at least two days seeing the nearby parks, but I'm worried about weather and accommodations. [more inside]
posted by ayerarcturus at 4:40 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a clippable book lamp that has a soft yellow color to attach to my books for night reading. A cursory search seem to have the same bright halogen light, which I would like to avoid if I am using this before bed. Any recommendations?
posted by helios410 at 1:37 PM PST - 5 comments

Yesterday morning a new neighbor helped prevent the towing of a very large box truck I was borrowing. I'd like to thank him, but I'm stuck on ideas. [more inside]
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:32 PM PST - 31 comments

Through his breeder/handler, my boyfriend was offered a retired showing dog, a beautiful 4 year old Dalmatian. We already live with my rabbit, a very sweet 9 year old male. As an avid rabbit owner who has also been badly bitten by a dog in the past, I expressed my concerns to my boyfriend, who went ahead and brought the dog home in spite of my qualms. The dog is showing signs of aggression toward my rabbit, and now I am really worried about what to do. [more inside]
posted by Mistress of the Bunnies at 1:05 PM PST - 94 comments

Looking for everyone's best hacks when it comes to funding travel. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:21 AM PST - 46 comments

I'm a recently-out trans woman. Early in my period of self-discovery I fell in love with the name "Heather," completely forgetting that I have an acquaintance with that name. She and I haven't talked in the past few months, but we live in the same apartment complex, so we run into each other every now and then. We're friends on facebook, so she's definitely seen my coming-out post by now. Is this even an issue? Do I bring it up, or just ignore it? If I say something, what should I say?
posted by brecc at 11:19 AM PST - 36 comments

I hadn't got this call in a long time, but now I'm getting at least two a day, sometimes as many as six. Both on land line and cell. You know the one - sounds like a South Asian operation, they're getting messages from my computer, blah, blah. [more inside]
posted by Right On Red at 10:22 AM PST - 23 comments

I set up OneDrive on many windows computers and devices - including a desktop at a location I will not visit again. Without having physical access to this computer, is there a way to remove the OneDrive files from it? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Sock at 9:47 AM PST - 2 comments

What it says. Turkey menu not necessary. Know anything going to be open that's not so uber fancy? A delicious hole in the wall place that you just happen to know will be open would be perfect. We like all kinds of food.
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:59 AM PST - 7 comments

I need advice about what to do with a feral cat that now resides in my urban front yard. I like her, she likes me, but I can't take her in. [more inside]
posted by WeekendJen at 8:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm on the board of directors for our local community radio station, sitting on the grievance committee, and trying to help the station move forward from a situation where a problematic volunteer meant well in some ways but was a toxic presence in others, and was ultimately dismissed. Is there any existing work or wisdom on how to balance a community organization's obligation to accommodate community members against its practical limitations in dealing with people with extraordinary needs? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 8:38 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm teaching Introduction to Science Fiction and I'm looking for a good, free, science fiction game with a strong story that the class can play and talk about later. Even interactive fiction would work. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 8:27 AM PST - 15 comments

I have a Mac. It's not very old (spring 2015), but I have used Migration Assistant from Mac to Mac every 2-4 years for a very, very long time. And therein lies the question. [more inside]
posted by uberchet at 7:44 AM PST - 9 comments

Help me help my aunt and uncle create a memory journal for their grandkids. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by Tamanna at 7:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I need some new, casual everyday shoes. A flurry of snowflakes follows inside... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:09 AM PST - 13 comments

Greetings MeFi, I come from old-days when re-directing web-pages and domains was done via one line of code. Now I am hearing this is best done by updating (A) record within DNS. However, I want the Domain to re-direct to a page within another domain, not root-domain itself. My confusion lies with this. The domain I wish to re-direct is not going to another root domain name, but rather --- a product page on that domain. So I don't want Domain 1 to simply re-direct to Domain 2. A tech-lead told me this is how re-direction is done but I am 99.9% still sure that DNS (A) record is simply for DOMAIN to DOMAIN, versus Domain re-direct to a page within another domain. Thanks for your help and tips! Much appreciated.
posted by bostonhill at 7:04 AM PST - 4 comments

I was thinking about what would counter possible bad feelings about polling places this year, and started wondering if anyone had previously made an effort to just give away food, or even free samples and coupons from businesses, at polling places. Especially if it were part of a sincere effort to "be neighborly" (deliberately biblical word). Would this be allowed? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 6:39 AM PST - 67 comments

I am a SAHM of three little kids. My husband has a big important exam next year and will be working/studying seven days a week for the next several months. Housekeeping duties will fall 95% on my shoulders. What are some shortcuts and compromises I can make to keep the house clean and keep myself sane? [more inside]
posted by that's how you get ants at 6:25 AM PST - 33 comments

In January of this year, I made a small donation to a candidate in the presidential primary, through the candidate's website, and received an email confirmation via ActBlue. This page from the FEC leads me to believe that presidential campaigns must report either monthly or quarterly. The FEC individual transaction search page says that it may take an additional 30 days after the end of the reporting period for data entry to be performed. Nonetheless, it's now been more than 10 full months since my donation. Why doesn't it show up in the FEC's search?
posted by enn at 5:56 AM PST - 2 comments

My account is in litigation and my building called the marshals to change my locks without notice last night. My cats and meds are trapped inside the unit. I've been calling law firms but no one has called back. Does anyone know a good firm I could get on the phone with right now? Money is no problem.
posted by mins_mellow at 5:45 AM PST - 5 comments

I have serious career burnout. After an exhausting and stressful decade of working at two of the highest profile, most competitive tech companies anywhere, I'm quickly reaching the point where I just can't stand it any longer. I'm stressed all the time, and I'm starting to think it's becoming dangerous for me to have this much stress at this time in my life. Trouble is, I can't seem to decide what to do next. Snowstorm after the jump. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:06 AM PST - 30 comments

Help name my blog! It's going to be about my weightloss journey and healthy lifestyle choices, etc. More details inside! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:06 AM PST - 11 comments

I suspect a long-time e-mail correspondent of mine may be faking her illnesses and traumatic events, i.e., Munchausen by Internet. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:06 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a very specific interest in NYC during this period. What are some good non-fiction books about it? Think the New York of Taxi Driver and A Most Violent Year. [more inside]
posted by basehead at 2:26 AM PST - 11 comments

Can you direct me to short articles (for political dummies) on what Trump's ground game for getting voter turnout is? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 10:30 PM PST - 5 comments

Following my question seeking authors similar to Jane Rawson, Tom Robbins, Douglas Adams and Franz Kafka ... [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 6:58 PM PST - 7 comments

Last year, for a fundraiser, my organization had a paint-and-wine night. It was very successful and we'd like to do it again, but we're wondering -- is paint-and-wine still a thing, or is it played out? Is there some other X-and-wine activity we should do? Or will paint-and-wine still be a draw? [more inside]
posted by OrangeDisk at 6:25 PM PST - 12 comments

I'd like to purchase a wet/dry vac (aka shop vac) that is effective, well made, and relatively quiet. Can you help me? [more inside]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:21 PM PST - 9 comments

Victim: Mailbox. Cause of death: Decapitation. Prime suspect: USPS. What now? [more inside]
posted by circle at 6:12 PM PST - 6 comments

I ordered speakers from a 3rd party seller on Amazon (Discount Music) and when they arrived the serial numbers had been cut out of the boxes. This sketches me out. Why would someone do this and, given that the items are now out of stock and more expensive, how should I proceed? [more inside]
posted by lucasks at 5:44 PM PST - 17 comments

Specifically the natural world around me. I recently moved back to California (southern, but interested in all) and have a growing desire to know and understand the 'natural' world around me. The flora and fauna (ID & cultural/commercial/ethnobotanical qualities), weather, and the changes to this aspect of the world, all interest me, especially in an environment so dynamic and exceptional, yet heavily culled and altered by human hand. Books, articles, websites, film, writers; any and all resources are welcome. Thank you. [more inside]
posted by shaqlvaney at 4:48 PM PST - 15 comments

I need a new slow cooker. [more inside]
posted by bearwife at 4:23 PM PST - 24 comments

I fell down a bit of a Wikipedia rabbit hole today: Al Capone and his family. As in, whatever became of Al Capone's son? Along the way I unexpectedly found some stuff from 2009-2010 about a dude who claims he's Al Capone's grandson by a second and unacknowledged son, despite acknowledged Capone family members and assorted historians to the contrary. And other than several interviews from 2009-2010, plus a single book Christopher Knight Capone published in 2012, I can't find out much. [more inside]
posted by easily confused at 2:28 PM PST - 4 comments

I have been in a spooky mood lately and would like your recommendations for the SCARIEST movies available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, or HBO. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 1:57 PM PST - 21 comments

How do I not injure myself, continue to vary and enjoy my workouts, and optimize my chances at success as a budding jogger? Possible complications: I hate group activities and can't always rely on my lungs allowing me to exercise outdoors at a higher impact on a regular basis (indoors is generally always fine, and outdoor *walking* is generally always fine). [more inside]
posted by pammeke at 1:53 PM PST - 10 comments

PLEASE DO NOT OFFER HOMEOPATHIC SOLUTIONS. I AM NOT INTERESTED. I've been on Klonopin (1mg am / 1mg pm) for longer than I can remember. It is doing nothing at this point. My anxiety is higher than ever and i am sure I've developed tolerance for the medication. I have read nothing but bad things about the drug and I want off. My concern is the awful, awful and prolonged withdrawal period and all of the horrible effects. Is there any relief from this while titrating off? [more inside]
posted by chonus at 12:43 PM PST - 26 comments

Are there any (good) walk-in chair massage places in Portland, OR? I know in some parts of the country Whole Foods has them, but I haven't seen any here.
posted by kbuxton at 12:42 PM PST - 3 comments

So, in the wake of all the conversation about triggers/sexual assault happening in the USA right now, I shared an article about how this campaign has been demoralizing to survivors of sexual assault and briefly mentioned my own story (basically, I was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. My parents responded to my post saying "WHY DID YOU NEVER TELL US?" The thing is, I did. 10 years ago. And 3 years ago. And I have no idea how to proceed. [more inside]
posted by socktothepuppet at 12:37 PM PST - 29 comments

So I'm going to Japan (for the third time) in Dec/January. This time, I'm determined to buy one of the cute rain ponchos that seem so stylish and well made. I always wanted one; the ones I seem to find in Australia, the US and the UK are few and far between, they are also not well made. There are a couple of Japanese brands I've seen and I'm wondering if people know where these may be available for purchase? [more inside]
posted by Dimes at 12:02 PM PST - 6 comments

There appear to be many series of post-apocalyptic or zombie fiction. Which of these are good reading or worth the trouble? I guess vampires as in The Strain and The Passage count. (I have already read these, and I liked the former better than the latter.) I'm not interested in things like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
posted by OmieWise at 11:58 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm looking for yoga classes which are available online. I'm looking for a paid membership where the classes are updated fairly regularly by experienced/certified yoga teachers (i.e. not someone in their living room). Can anyone recommend anything they like? [more inside]
posted by onecircleaday at 11:51 AM PST - 17 comments

I want to propose to my girlfriend. I'm planning on using some stones from her family (and some new ones as well) in the final version of her engagement ring. However, she has pretty particular tastes, so I'd like to include her in the design process (although I do have an idea in mind). In lieu of giving her an "official" engagement ring, what do I give her when I propose? Thanks for your idea.
posted by Fister Roboto at 11:45 AM PST - 40 comments

Me and my friends are going to Moscow with no plans for a couple of days. Difficulty: we are 10 guys. [more inside]
posted by wolfr at 11:42 AM PST - 9 comments

What research do you know of (or how would you best word searches to get results on the topic) for how responses to toddler crying impact later attachment? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 10:57 AM PST - 5 comments

I live in NC, and I am interested in making a non-trivial campaign contribution to the US Senate candidate here. If I do this, am I setting myself up to get put on a list of people to be hounded for contributions forever after? Is there a way to avoid this? [more inside]
posted by msbubbaclees at 10:11 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm in the market for a little piece of audio gear to experiment with and add live sounds to a fairly traditional three piece rock band. I'm having a bit of trouble working out what would suit my 'needs'. [more inside]
posted by srednivashtar at 10:02 AM PST - 7 comments

I seem to have overly flaky salt, with the result that it sort of leaks out the bottom of the grinder onto the counter and plates, rather than being released by actual grinding. Is there a proper grinder for flaky-type natural salts, or do I need to either find rockier salt or go to a sugar-bowl approach? [more inside]
posted by acm at 9:57 AM PST - 7 comments

Legal Insurance: Has anyone done a legal insurance plan like MetLaw or Hyatt Legal Plans? My work is offering one and I’m not sure if they are a good value. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by edbles at 9:50 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a small amount of flowcharting experience. I'm creating a formal flowchart to identify which authority receives a report about an incident. If any of nine conditions is applicable, then X authority should be notified. How do I chart all 9 decisions? [more inside]
posted by angiep at 9:48 AM PST - 2 comments

I have an old school speaker, and I would like to be able to hook it up to my phone via bluetooth. I thought I had this solved, but is there a new way to do it? [more inside]
posted by zara at 9:47 AM PST - 9 comments

Starting 3 years ago my acne changed. I went through my 20's having some acne that would clear up entirely without leaving any marks... but in my mid 30's I have been unable to get a single zit that will not leave a practically permanent spot. [more inside]
posted by manderin at 9:01 AM PST - 15 comments

Asking for a friend. What is the best software under $300 for a solo interior decorator? [more inside]
posted by shaarog at 8:44 AM PST - 7 comments

We have decided dive in and test our house's water for lead (previously), and remove any pipes that are causing problems. We expect it to be expensive but worth it. Now... how do we test, and how do we make sure we get all the pipes that are causing problems? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 8:28 AM PST - 16 comments

We've noticed a few areas of torn-up grass in our backyard recently. Pic. Some googling suggests it might be raccoons or skunks tearing it up to look for grubs. Has anyone else experienced this? What's the best course of action?
posted by cozenedindigo at 8:23 AM PST - 7 comments

I've been bringing in something for my grad students to snack on during our weekly evening seminar because it straddles the dinner hour. I'm tired of making hummus and tea sandwiches. Other ideas? [more inside]
posted by pinkacademic at 8:02 AM PST - 24 comments

So many apps that I have on my cell phone require a credit card on file with them and I'm nervous about having my only credit card tied up to so many possible hack able sources. I wanted to get a Mastercard or Visa secured debit card to use in these instances. Low cost and good customer service are important.
posted by BillyAnne at 5:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I realized recently that I like nonfiction books that are about things -- books that don't have an obvious narrative, but that are exciting to read nonetheless. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 3:59 AM PST - 42 comments

So I've got really into baking while watching The Great British Bake Off. I guess that's happened all over the UK. We have a tradition of enjoying some homemade baked treat during the show. The finale is tomorrow. I've previously made: pecan pie, bakewell tart, croissants, pain aux raisin, baked cheesecake, salted caramel brownies etc etc. Can anyone suggest something similarly "easy" but impressive to make for the finale tomorrow? I don't mind beginning something tonight to be finished tomorrow evening. [more inside]
posted by dance at 3:36 AM PST - 18 comments

My partner of over 10 years and I split up on very good terms about a year and a half ago. We had a very platonic relationship almost all through, just a deep friendship really, so it's easy to continue to have a friendship with absolutely no attraction or complicated emotions. He has a sweet new girlfriend now, I am spending time with them for the first time this weekend, and I'm looking for tips on adjusting to the new reality gracefully, making her very comfortable, and dealing with emotions of possessiveness that might come up for me. [more inside]
posted by miaow at 2:11 AM PST - 16 comments

Wife and I need advice on the best way to downsize. We have no regular monthly income and very little savings due to many previous substantial medical bills. We have no health insurance (because of no monthly income). One idea is to sell our home and find a 2 bedroom place or condo. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:10 AM PST - 13 comments

I've just been offered the chance to become (the newly minted position of) "social media editor" at a local newspaper. Aside from a vague job description and lofty goals and expectation attached to it, I have other qualms and concerns that I hope you want to read about in order to help me make an informed decision: [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:10 AM PST - 7 comments

I just bought tickets to Hamilton in Chicago as a Christmas gift for my significant other. Since Ticketmaster won't deliver tickets (e-tickets at that) until shortly before the show, I'd like to get a playbill from the Chicago show for them to open on Christmas morning. I have no idea where to look to get one. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:10 AM PST - 6 comments

Some time between 1983 and 1985 (maybe as late as 1986) an electronica/experimental/post-punk band (probably British) released a slow-paced song that mentioned "yellow, blue and green" in its lyrics. The sound was more moody than aggressive. It was at least partially spoken more than sung by the male vocalist. I can't remember another damn thing about it, but it's been driving me mad for years. [more inside]
posted by maudlin at 10:55 PM PST - 14 comments

I have been on a podcast binge, and am very particularly enjoying listening to women talk about a niche interest. I can listen while I work, and need more recommendations! Examples of what I've been enjoying below. [more inside]
posted by jrobin276 at 10:16 PM PST - 20 comments

My nurse, while looking at images of my lungs, said I should start playing a harmonica as preventive medicine. She's a very smart lady, so I got a Hohnrr Special 20 G cheap and am almost able to play single notes moving between all 10 holes. So where to go next? I'll be playing unaccompanied to an audience of livestock and dogs for at least two hours a day and we would like to build up a large enough playlist I don't start to hate the songs I'm playing. [more inside]
posted by ridgerunner at 8:20 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm curious if there are scientists who, while not evil (so I'm not thinking here about the measure of The Worst Scientist meaning the one with the highest body count as a result of their work or most unethical practices), have achieved some historic notoriety for their general incompetence or stubborn wrongness in the face of all available evidence. [more inside]
posted by StopMakingSense at 8:05 PM PST - 39 comments

I'm trying to remember a movie I saw maybe ten years ago that was two different threads: one involved a man who traveled a lot, had various affairs, and eventually reconnected with his wife. The other involved a white woman and a black man awakening in a Garden of Eden and exploring their new surroundings! [more inside]
posted by Fukiyama at 7:46 PM PST - 3 comments

I have an absurdly painful lump on my tongue. Please help. [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 7:29 PM PST - 20 comments

I have been asked to digitise a painting that the artist would like to use on a website I am creating for her. The painting is black and white acrylic, on canvas, unframed, and not stretched. So it's going to have to be lying on a table or something. I have a DSLR. What are some tips for getting the best quality image? [more inside]
posted by lollusc at 7:27 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm a systems thinker. I like seeing the whole picture. What are some books, youtube videos, etc. that are useful in explaining why things are the way they are in a global way? [more inside]
posted by Gosha_Dog at 7:03 PM PST - 10 comments

Sometimes when I buy those bags of small, easy-to-peel citrus fruit (sometimes called mandarins, sometimes clementines) they are sweet and yummy. Other times they are sour or bitter. What’s the trick to always getting sweet ones? Time of year? Country of origin? Luck?
posted by mulcahy at 7:03 PM PST - 9 comments

I have an opportunity to capitalize on a local trend. I would like to have a milliner redesign a traditional suffragette hat in school colors for an upcoming 2017 event. It would be ideal to launch it in two weeks. In this day and age is it possible to have a quality hat designed, sampled and production ready in two weeks? I would like to have 4000 made.
posted by goalyeehah at 6:10 PM PST - 3 comments

I am a manager at a very small creative agency. A friendship between two of our employees is both alienating and distracting to almost everyone else, but they aren't doing anything wrong. How do I bring it up delicately? [more inside]
posted by ElectricGoat at 4:37 PM PST - 24 comments

Over the past week or so, I've noticed a whole bunch of small birds pecking at the lawn in our back yard. And something has also torn one edge of the lawn. So I'm wondering if there's an insect problem, and if so, what the correct treatment is. [more inside]
posted by primethyme at 4:25 PM PST - 13 comments

It's bonding time with my father again, so what board or card game do you recommend for 3 players, all guys (if that matters). Some level of decision making, skill or thought could be nice (Settlers of Catan?) but also just something fun (poker?)
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 4:20 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm in need of some basic financial advice and tips of general personal money management, on things like how to keep tabs on my spending, how to control/set budgets for some areas and how to set good savings targets. More inside. [more inside]
posted by longjump at 3:26 PM PST - 7 comments

Help me find the best screen time manager for kids ever! Difficulty: autism. [more inside]
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 2:18 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm in grad school in New York, he's working in Wyoming. We've got from Dec 16-Jan 1 to plan an awesome adventure. I love planning. He hates planning. He'd like a option presented to him in full detail that he can happily agree to. [more inside]
posted by grinagog at 2:02 PM PST - 6 comments

I can't do phonebanking or canvassing, for many reasons, but I want to help out the people helping get out the vote, and it looks like the best way would be for me to make food for them. The only part of this plan that I know how to execute is the actual cooking part; I have too many questions about the logistics because I'm anxious and/but I want to help. I'm in SF, so anyone who knows about the SF campaign office in specific is extra welcome, but it's probably similar to elsewhere. [more inside]
posted by you could feel the sky at 1:09 PM PST - 13 comments

Do you leave your bathroom door open or closed when not in use? [more inside]
posted by hworth at 1:08 PM PST - 60 comments

I'm looking for books that provide insight to a (perhaps) underrepresented group, time, or event. Happy to have fiction or non-fiction (but if non-fiction, prefer a more journalistic or narrative bent). [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 12:54 PM PST - 14 comments

I would like to order a couple dozen pocket calendars for low cost. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 12:30 PM PST - 7 comments

What are the "must have" essential books on teaching? Not necessarily about classroom management or working with kids, but about connecting with students (children or adults), helping them process and retain information and build understanding particularly when it is voluntary learning (i.e. there are no grades involved.)
posted by roaring beast at 11:52 AM PST - 11 comments

My son is a happy, loving, smart and funny almost-three-year-old and I love him tremendously. But sometimes he's crabby, or tired, or just generally unhappy, and when that happens I feel like it's my fault, like I'm a bad parent or maybe a failure as a human being. How do I stop feeling so terrible every time he cries? [more inside]
posted by beandip at 11:40 AM PST - 29 comments

I really enjoy reading semi-novel style books on the story of companies and technology. Do you have any recommendations for me? [more inside]
posted by gadha at 11:31 AM PST - 10 comments

Nearly every weekday morning I'm woken up by a phone call from the same scammer entity, it's a canned pre-recorded message trying to get me to lock in my loans or something or other. It always shows up in my caller ID as some all caps name like GETCASH, PBCASHPRO, PBPROMOTIONS, etc. They're using completely different phone numbers each time, with different area codes. I can and do block the number each time but it doesn't make a difference. What, if anything, can I do to prevent this? It feels like a daily onslaught and it seriously does wake me up, since I go to bed and start work later than most people do. I'm just so sick of it. Help!
posted by naju at 11:31 AM PST - 13 comments

Going to Chicago to be with the crowd outside of Wrigley Field during the World Series games this weekend. Three adult males and three teen boys. What do I need to know to make this as awesome an experience as possible. [more inside]
posted by tomjoadsghost at 11:14 AM PST - 5 comments

On the phone the other day, my mom, after complaining (perhaps justifiably) that I didn't call her enough, said, "Sometimes, I think you don't really care that you have a family." I can't stop thinking about this and I want to figure out a way to address it with her. [more inside]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 11:08 AM PST - 28 comments

The geopolitical situation has got me wondering, where are the likely nuclear targets in the United States? Suppose the United States comes under nuclear attack by a state power with many weapons (hundreds or thousands), where are the weapons likely to land? [more inside]
posted by grobstein at 10:40 AM PST - 5 comments

I would like to relatively quickly train my ear to understand spoken Spanish better, especially Cuban Spanish. I'm a little past the "News in Slow Spanish" phase of language learning. Are there any podcasts, audiobooks, radio shows, movies produced by Cubans or Cuban emigres that I can listen to? Ideally, with subtitles or a written transcription that I can follow along with? [more inside]
posted by LeeLanded at 9:03 AM PST - 4 comments

I have been seperated, and have lived seperately for 3 months from my ex, we have a 14 month old daughter. Looking through my past questions, it's clear I have a hard time setting and sticking to boundaries, and especially hard now in this instance when I'm trying to co-parent with someone who acts as if we are still together, and tells his family we are, and doesn't really listen or believe me when I say I have nothing left to give or hope for. Am I terrible for feeling as if he is not part of my family and I don't want to be part of his due to the fact that we are seperated now? [more inside]
posted by MamaBee223 at 9:02 AM PST - 22 comments

What are some great recipes that take less than 30 minutes and can be constructed using ingredients from tins or that live in the pantry? I'd like to increase my repertoire of tasty things I can prepare without either a trip to the grocery store or carefully planned fridge-stocking in advance.
posted by simonw at 8:39 AM PST - 42 comments

I need better news sources and am sometimes at a loss as to how to evaluate stuff on the internet. I am looking for left-leaning but fact-based news and opinion sources that discuss ongoing events and get fairly detailed about issues, events and policy - not the Economist, not Foreign Affairs, not Harper's or the Atlantic or the Guardian. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 8:25 AM PST - 21 comments

As it is finally cooling off in our area, I am in need of new corduroy pants. I am a plus size, petite (long torso, short legs) curvy (small waist, but hippy) woman. However, where I'm even more of a special snowflake is that I'm a child of the 90s, so this skinny pant/legging popularity is pure torture for me. [more inside]
posted by librarianamy at 8:10 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for people out there currently who made a felony criminal mistake, served their time in prison, and later (today) became successful entrepreneurs. While I know there are probably a lot in music, film and TV, I'm also looking for the ones in OTHER industries.
posted by rileyray3000 at 8:02 AM PST - 16 comments

As part of my post doc work, I'm helping to finish up a Drupal site that has been built by a few different grad students and post docs. They're gone, there's no documentation, and I need to finish up some parts and the faculty supervising me really haven't had any hand in the details. Drupal is sort of wildly-overfeatured for the simplicity of our site, but that ship has sailed. I have a small amount of CMS experience (older Drupal version and Wordpress) but I'm having trouble with a couple of things. [more inside]
posted by pantarei70 at 7:58 AM PST - 11 comments

I am considering going out on Halloween as Ser Jorah Mormont (of Game of Thrones). Part of the appeal is a little bit of character acting. What would Ser Jorah say, after squinting wistfully into the distance, if he misheard what his companion said in a noisy bar and instead responded about: his unrequited mistress, the wars of years past, the habits of Dothraki hordes, etc? [more inside]
posted by tintexas at 7:45 AM PST - 5 comments

Based on the results of my near-6-year-old's kindergarten eye exam, and watching the followup, I expect he may be diagnosed with convergence insufficiency and we may be recommended to do vision therapy. I'm interested in hearing about people's experiences, and in any information that may help me evaluate whatever I'm told at the upcoming meeting to discuss the results of the exams. [more inside]
posted by telepanda at 7:26 AM PST - 11 comments

my footage includes: 1. business names/logos in the background of outdoor shots 2. phone numbers of businesses on bus stop benches, etc. 3. people walking by in the background 4. logos on my subject's clothing 5. vehicle license plates driving by in the shot. [more inside]
posted by isaacq at 7:21 AM PST - 3 comments

Help me figure out what we should be doing on or around the week of Culture Day in Tokyo. [more inside]
posted by FarOutFreak at 6:57 AM PST - 2 comments

What exactly does it mean to be paid hourly? [more inside]
posted by Puck Soppet at 6:56 AM PST - 21 comments

Tell me your favorite scary, creepy, Halloween-ish shows for a middle school audience, that aren't so long they take up too much of a party. [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 6:43 AM PST - 7 comments

How do professional women* manage to maintain poise, or, even more--smiling--in the face of overwhelming emotion? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 6:26 AM PST - 30 comments

My friend has a Lenovo G770 laptop that has developed problems with the screen display and the battery. Coincidental? Or related? What is the hypothesis space and how do I whittle it down? More inside. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 5:03 AM PST - 4 comments

While I have an MFA in creative writing and lots of experience writing/publishing other genres (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction), I've never written a play that was meant to be performed. I have written verse plays, but performance wasn't a factor. I'm hoping to get some tips beforehand on strategies unique to playwriting. More inside. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 4:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I am an EU resident and have pending IRS tax debt (~$30,000) from when I was a US Resident (until 2011). I was on a payment plan but my finances were difficult for a while and I defaulted on my payments starting in 2013. I have had no communication from the IRS in this time (they have my current contact information). I would like to settle this issue now and be rid of this debt. I would like to request the MeFi community for help regarding two questions I have. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:27 AM PST - 3 comments

I am in a crisis situation with my SO. We are engaged with a wedding date less than 8 months away. While she is busy planning the wedding, I am spending more and more of my free time worrying about everything that is wrong with our relationship. As much as I'm praying that we can work through our issues, our fights have become more frequent and nastier. As a result, I'm experiencing major anxiety related to the upcoming wedding. I'm going to have a conversation with her about my feelings but am genuinely torn about what decision to make: keep the wedding date and try to work through our issues vs. postpone the wedding and work through our issues vs. cancel the engagement altogether vs. break up. Based on the relationship dynamics I describe below, what is everyone's advice as to the best course of action to take? To postpone the wedding & work through the issues seems like the most logical path, but my gut feeling tells me that she won't be receptive to that idea. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:27 AM PST - 64 comments

My daughter and her longtime girlfriend are engaged and are in early days of planning their wedding for fall of 2017. They're both horsey, outdoors women and they both have always dreamt of celebrating in a big red barn (Vermont friends will know this is A THING). The catch: they don't want to spend $3k and up on fulfilling their dream wedding as they're both good, frugal Yankee stock. How to get this to happen? [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 3:03 AM PST - 17 comments

I suspect I have the most impossible askme question ever... but miracles have happened here before, so I thought I'd give it a try! I have found a bolt of fabric that I've fallen in love with, but the shop (Zarin in NYC) doesn't have enough of it for my upholstering project. [more inside]
posted by torticat at 10:52 PM PST - 7 comments

Is there a Netflix type of service that's geared for classic (pre-1970) movies? I'm outside of the USA, so TCM.com doesn't work. [more inside]
posted by oceanmorning at 9:31 PM PST - 11 comments

Help me fix flash error on Xfinity on demand. Comcast is no help at all. [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 6:56 PM PST - 3 comments

We want to throw a party for about 300 people that happens to begin with a wedding ceremony. What are some nontraditional / outside-the-wedding-industrial-complex strategies for creating a meaningful, festive, family-centered, and cost-conscious celebration event for such a large group? We're in St. Louis, Missouri but are very interested in general strategies and examples from other regions that may not be as commonly known here, as well as St. Louis-specific advice. Help! [more inside]
posted by inatizzy at 6:53 PM PST - 27 comments

While moving, I put a glass tumbler inside a tea mug like so. Now they are stuck and I cannot separate them. I tried running hot water over them; I tried applying vegetable oil with a Q-tip but can't get it down far enough; I even tried breaking the tumbler in hopes that I could salvage the mug. (It's pretty sturdy). Any ideas?
posted by Jeanne at 6:24 PM PST - 8 comments

What are the best free or nearly free places in or quite close to Seattle that would be nice for a small 8 person wedding party to have a ceremony? We are thinking outdoors, like at a park, like Gas Works Park for instance. [more inside]
posted by TheRedArmy at 5:18 PM PST - 15 comments

One of my favorite tropes in film, TV, and books is when there's a supernatural, occult, and mysterious world hidden just beneath the surface of our own (metaphorically or physically), and that one simply needs to dig a little deeper to find it. I especially love it when an outsider gains knowledge of or access to this supernatural part of our world through a store, book, or, heck, even the words of a mysterious old person. [more inside]
posted by gregoryg at 3:49 PM PST - 53 comments

I live in a condo that is heated and cooled by PTAC's - 100+ pound electric air conditioner / heater wall units such as are common in hotel rooms. Except that two of mine are 15+ years old and don't work well, such that I need to replace them. I want to find someone to take my old PTAC's away and ideally help me put the new ones in place too. I figure I'd just put a posting up on Craigslist with that offer (no charge for the units, but I don't pay anything either), but before I do, I'm curious: are there really people out there who would be interested in this? If so, why? For the scrap metal? For the bit of life left in the things? Are they worth more than I thought, should I charge something? More info on them below. [more inside]
posted by Mechitar at 2:44 PM PST - 9 comments

I have no idea how to buy underwear that fits anymore. How do I buy underwear in the modern world? [more inside]
posted by Maarika at 2:19 PM PST - 33 comments

Work part time (eg, no full time contract) in academia. Currently split between two departments, with most of my time spent in Department A. Department B gave me a promotion. Now Department A wants me to only work with them. Dept B wants me to eventually be full time with them. Added complication: there is growing bad blood between the two departments, and both sides are smearing each other. [more inside]
posted by troytroy at 2:17 PM PST - 5 comments

I run the social media pages for our school's page, and want to do our part to GOTV on the 8th. I was thinking about doing a prize drawing for people who post selfies with their "I Voted!" sticker. As long as the selfie is taken at least 100 ft from the polling place - is there any legal issue here? I'm in Missouri, if it matters. We all get offered stickers here, and I suspect the number of absentee voters in our area will be low, so not too worried about them feeling left out.
posted by jferg at 1:54 PM PST - 7 comments

My 8 year old son cannot decide what he wants to be for Halloween. He has turquoise blue hair, which doesn't have to be part of his costume, but I mean, if you're going to have blue hair, you may as well make the most of it at Halloween, eh? [more inside]
posted by pyjammy at 12:16 PM PST - 32 comments

We recently moved from Brooklyn to Lake Tahoe and love it... but we're starting a family soon and i'm freaking out a little. Is a small mountain/ski town really a great place to raise kids? Is it "better" than raising them in NYC? [more inside]
posted by nightdoctress at 12:05 PM PST - 17 comments

Sitting around at the pub and a friend is dying to find the name of a film she saw as a child - please release her from this cinematographic purgatory! [more inside]
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 11:11 AM PST - 6 comments

Can Metafilter please crowdsource our dinner tonight. I'm out of ideas. [more inside]
posted by anastasiav at 10:59 AM PST - 9 comments

I just had my first surfing lesson and it was a lot of fun. I'll be in Bangkok and Pattaya later this week, but somehow I can't find any surf schools. Can the hive recommend and schools or teachers in that area?
posted by jander03 at 10:40 AM PST - 2 comments

Help me deal without panicking [more inside]
posted by aperturescientist at 7:33 AM PST - 9 comments

The news stories on Friday's attack on Dyn noted that devices from the "internet of things" has been infected by malware which was conscripting them to send requests to the DNS. Is there anyway I could know if devices which I own were infected? If they were is there anything I could do about it?
posted by gteffertz at 6:59 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm trying rather desperately to find some new eyeglass frames that are very similar in shape to a pair purchased years ago. I don't even know if there's a name for the shape I'm searching for; it seems fairly uncommon. Please see this photo of my old frames. New frames can be just about any material, and I strongly prefer to buy online at a shop that offers high index lenses. Anyone seen some glasses this shape? Thanks for any info you can provide!
posted by vers at 4:32 AM PST - 9 comments

Someone we met earlier this year needs help. He has asked for a loan but we can easily afford to give the money to him. We're not sure whether it's better to lend it to him or just make it a gift. [more inside]
posted by Skaffen-Amtiskaw at 9:57 PM PST - 22 comments

I am a Nigerian woman engaged to a white guy of Swedish background. We live in Canada. We've been together for about five years and I love him very much. We've been arguing a lot lately, mainly because of what I perceive to be his pattern of insensitive and condescending behaviour towards me. Recently he was in one of his argumentative moods, and in response to me saying (facetiously) that I have a fantasy about killing slave masters, he told me that it's strange for me to identify with descendants of slaves, since my ancestors in Nigeria also sold slaves to Europeans. He said by talking as if I have suffered from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, I am "appropriating someone else's tragedy". This deeply upset me, more than any of his other insensitive / arrogant comments have. He has also made other comments that suggest he is not sensitive enough to race issues to support me. He doesn't seem to understand how black people understand their identity or how racism works. I fear that we are going to have problems in our marriage because of this. How can I explain why the comment he made is so hurtful? Have any of you found yourselves in a situation like this, and stayed in your relationship? [more inside]
posted by Hummingbird1983 at 9:43 PM PST - 77 comments

I'm cooking a mini-Thanksgiving for six people tomorrow, occasioned by my birthday (yesterday) and realizing that I had a turkey in the freezer from last year. Turkey is now in the fridge, thawed. But I haven't cooked a turkey or mashed potatoes in a few years, and I haven't cooked for more than 4 people in a while either, so I'm kind of freaking out. Help me plan, and suggest mashed potato and turkey recipes! [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:57 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm trying to think about what to do for the Christmas-New Years-Early January Birthday period this year. Every year I get stressed out and exhausted thinking about all the planning buying all the presents, doing all the cleaning & decorating and such that I don't really get around to anything and the actual days in question are kind of let downs. Then I feel regret and wish I could get a re-do. Trying to avoid it all this year. Any thoughts? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 8:42 PM PST - 11 comments

We will have time to kill this Sunday afternoon. Looking for things to do between Princeton and Newark, New Jersey. Unique sights, nature stuff, events, anything goes. Also, any suggestions for comfortable, quiet places to rest?
posted by molla at 7:04 PM PST - 6 comments

The first 40 seconds of the song "Ecstasy" by The Wolfgang Press (1984) features a sample of a Mexican mariachi-style trumpet/brass piece. I cannot identify the source of this sample. [more inside]
posted by wivy at 6:39 PM PST - 6 comments

Help me dress up like a Crossroads (as in, Blues musician Robert Johnson selling his soul to Satan at a crossroads).... [more inside]
posted by purenitrous at 5:22 PM PST - 10 comments

My 8 year old son has some foot issues...his feet/ankles pronate inward. Between his OT and his podiatrist, we've been told to get him anti-pronation inserts and high top sneakers for ankle support. The inserts were easy to get...the high tops are not as simple. We're looking for recommendations! [more inside]
posted by christinetheslp at 4:46 PM PST - 8 comments

My friend, who is Taiwanese American, is having a gathering at his home for his mother’s 49 day funeral ceremony. We will be making paper lotus blossoms. This is in the United States, and we are in our mid-30s. I am not sure what dress is appropriate for the 49 day funeral ceremony. Is it formal black? Casual since we will be making origami lotuses? Also, is it appropriate to bring food and alcohol? Are there more traditional offerings that I should bring? Are there any other customs that I should be aware of for this ceremony?
posted by MS_gal at 4:12 PM PST - 5 comments

Two-three years ago, I had an oak branch plummet through my roof, like a spear thrown from Thor himself. Of course this was the year after my new roof had been installed, but I digress. I took a new shingle, and some of that black goo (can't remember the name) up there, and patched it up nicely.... [more inside]
posted by PlantGoddess at 4:01 PM PST - 10 comments

As a child, I dimly remember reading a specific comic book, and (after all this time) I'd like to find it again. The story had Iron Fist fighting Fu Manchu in a frozen or icy place. [more inside]
posted by Techbear at 3:37 PM PST - 10 comments

Another one of these! There is a book I have been trying to remember (for no real reason) for 157 years, and I'm finally going to ask. Early to mid-1970s, color illustrations, gems, a little girl... [more inside]
posted by tristeza at 1:50 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking for recommendations for movies or TV shows that will make me laugh out loud, with a couple specifications. [more inside]
posted by EarnestDeer at 12:11 PM PST - 55 comments

I grew up in Ohio and trick or treat times would be scheduled and published in the newspaper. I'm in California now and can't seem to find scheduled trick or treat times for my town. Is it possible scheduling trick or treat is just an Ohio/Midwest thing? [more inside]
posted by shesbookish at 11:56 AM PST - 55 comments

After fostering cats for a couple of years I decided to adopt the lovely Adelaide, rescued as a stray late last winter. She's been with me since February and recently I've had to own up to how she's putting on too much weight. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 11:51 AM PST - 19 comments

It is sometimes a herculean struggle to get people in my friend group to commit to events. Often 50% to 75% will cancel the day of the event, just hours before. None of them have kids, serious relationships, or crazy work schedules. Is it me? Could I organize things differently? Or is this the new normal? [more inside]
posted by AFABulous at 11:36 AM PST - 60 comments

Which resources should I be using to find high-value/low-cost flights/hotels if I don't have a particular destination in mind? Looking to take a short trip from NYC for a couple of days next week and go someplace new or different (to me). Do airlines have last-minute just fill some seat deals for those of us who don't travel enough to have any status? Do you have specific ideas for easy and inexpensive escapes from NYC at the end of October?
posted by andrewraff at 10:50 AM PST - 3 comments

We recently noticed some cracks in the drywall around a little alcove in our kitchen. The cracks appear right on the seam of the drywall where the wall angles away from the main kitchen wall. They're on both sides of the alcove. It looks to me like a patch job was done before, and I am concerned this is pointing to something more serious. Is it just a patch job over some poor drywalling, or should I be calling somebody in? If so, who? Photos are here. [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 10:26 AM PST - 7 comments

This is my second year as a certified secondary classroom teacher (I have 4 years of experience including full-time substituting k-12 and paraprofessional work). I don't know where to begin. I live 3000 miles away from all of my family and friends. I teach in an urban school in Arizona, consistently ranked as the 1st or 2nd worst state for teachers. I'm depressed, frustrated with myself, and feel like I'm losing control of my class more and more as the year goes on. Soul-spilling rant inside. [more inside]
posted by WhitenoisE at 10:26 AM PST - 13 comments

Things are finally better at work, but I think I'm finally letting myself have the meltdown I should have had before. How do I keep it from impacting my work and life? Strategies, tips? [more inside]
posted by sockomatic at 10:03 AM PST - 7 comments

My mom has joined a MLM business that sells "health" products. They've got all sorts of wonderful claims and, of course, no science to back them up. My mom wants to add my name in as one of her distributors. She says she will do all the work, I'll get the money, and eventually a new car. She just needs my social security number and bank account. [more inside]
posted by blackzinfandel at 7:40 AM PST - 36 comments

I'm struck by cases where someone who suddenly becomes famous is shamed by people online after they discover embarrassing comments they made in the past. As an example, CEO of Whole Foods used an alias and engaged in petty fights online over prospects of company. Somehow, hackers discovered it was him. Say I say some really harsh things about iPhones online (e.g., on Ask Mefi), then achieve fame through asking a question at a Presidential debate--how easy would it be for someone to discover my shameful anti-iPhone tirades?
posted by Jon44 at 6:27 AM PST - 17 comments

I have the chance to complete my master's in applied linguistics for almost no cost. I want to do, but am not sure it's quite right for my career. Can anyone help me, please? [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 6:25 AM PST - 7 comments

I've recently started walking the trails near my house for exercise. As it starts getting colder, I've realized I need better clothes to wear. Must be available in petite, and have pockets (either in the sweater or pants is fine, I just need to carry my keys and phone.) Ideally, I would like some kind of zip-out lining, but I don't know if that's possible. Thanks!
posted by backwards compatible at 6:21 AM PST - 17 comments

My main question is- if I take a day off work and go all the way up to NH on Monday, what are the chances that I'll actually get into the Clinton/Warren rally? If anyone has been to a Clinton rally recently, how early do I have to line up for a good chance at getting in? If I bring my 6 year old will it be a miserable experience for both of us?
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 4:09 AM PST - 5 comments

So this is 5~10 years ago but I used to get into dorm shower booths barefoot. I'd thought that if you wear a flipflop in the shower, that the flipflop(I wore a really cheap one back then) would become the harboring ground for bacteria itself. Now I'm in a university environment again and came to think about how to manage my slippers -- I found out that you need footwear in the shower. Even so the shower floors were cleaned by the janitors every day; I always washed my feet with soap and then wiped them with towels before wearing my flipflops outside -- how much bad fungus do you think I would have picked up? I seldom had any symptoms of foot disease during college as far as I can remember, although during work I had less luck and my formal shoes were worse places for athlete's foot and foot itches. Now I wear plastic, thick slippers around and will buy Crocs soon (although I'm sharing a bath with only four people now).
posted by red_alert_3 at 1:18 AM PST - 14 comments

Many years of Anglophilic TV-watching have left me with a clothing question. What's the deal with the light brown, mid-length, indoor overcoat that certain British workers wear? [more inside]
posted by NumberSix at 10:31 PM PST - 14 comments

My research has left me confused. I want to provide a simple online place/forum for participants in my adult education programs to share files and discussions. [more inside]
posted by MT at 6:53 PM PST - 6 comments

Does anyone have recommendations for particularly effective search engines for European second-hand / out of print books? Back when I used to look for these books pre-google, there were a couple of specialist sites that consolidated searches across numerous second-hand booksellers' catalogues, but I've forgotten their names. Do these still exist and if so, are they any use? [more inside]
posted by ogorki at 5:27 PM PST - 7 comments

I have social anxiety, and I've put off calling my family members (other than my Mom) for years because I'm afraid/don't know what to say/think they'll reject me. Now it looks like one of them doesn't have much longer to live. How do I not hate myself for putting off getting in touch? [more inside]
posted by Autumn at 3:56 PM PST - 11 comments

After my costume became a sleeper hit last year, I need help coming up with another fun costume for 2016! Help! [more inside]
posted by Nightman at 3:56 PM PST - 40 comments

My mother passed away over the winter, and now I am alone (except for two cats and the squirrels in the attic) in the house we've shared for years. I'll be staying in the house for a year or two, and I'm trying to figure out ways to make the house feel like *mine*, not my mother's house that I happen to live in. [more inside]
posted by Archipelago at 3:54 PM PST - 12 comments

Hi, my friend is a brilliant digital artist and wants to apply or ask to get a free or cheap computer - his present main box is manufactured in the last millenium! Are there agencies, websites or subreddits, etc where he could show some of his work and get parts or a complete computer ? Should be capable of running adobe cs5 if possible. He is in the UK.
posted by Mistress at 3:21 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm working with an ecommerce startup and we need a test credit card for production testing, as in a real credit card where we can purchase and void transactions. Is this something that a credit card company provides? I basically, don't want the card to get flagged because we use it then void it continuously. This might just be, use a corporate card and they don't care, but didn't know if there was a more clean way to do this. Bonus points if there's a magical card that we can have make transactions that don't actually go through so that we can use that for automated testing.
posted by geoff. at 3:14 PM PST - 10 comments

I have come to the realisation that I can no longer safely or humanely look after the 2 cats my daughter grew up with. It is not fair to them, my neighbours, my landlord, and I am unwell and it is difficult for me. But my daughter has gone through so much in the past few years, bulimia, OCD, anxiety, depression, at least 2 rapes, her grandmother died, her father went to prison for a horrible crime. She can't take the cats on, she lives in a high rise on a limited income. There is no one else. I can't face telling her that I need to find a new home for them, and causing her more grief, but I can't keep doing this. It's too hard. I also love the cats but I'm not being a good enough kitty mama. What do I do?
posted by anonymous at 3:04 PM PST - 15 comments

My partner was diagnosed with sleep apnea 18 months ago. He became somewhat emotionally unstable around the same time. It's time to put my foot down and insist that he seek treatment for the apnea. I'm wondering whether I need to ask him to seek separate treatment for the emotional issues--which would be an extremely hard sell--or whether those are likely to improve if the apnea is treated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:03 PM PST - 17 comments

Hi. I have a question about the FCC assignment of radio frequencies in the early 20th c. U.S. I know three things that I can't resolve, probably because I have only dipped into this lightly (and really can't get stuck in right now). [more inside]
posted by listen, lady at 2:23 PM PST - 7 comments

Leaving my job. Love my boss. She is taking my leaving like a champ despite it putting her in a tough spot. Looking for help for a thank you/good bye gift. [more inside]
posted by teamnap at 1:03 PM PST - 11 comments

Objectively speaking, is it better to eat with utensils than hands? If so, why? [more inside]
posted by yawper at 12:48 PM PST - 28 comments

I have a regular video chat with friends. For the last few years we’ve been using Google Hangouts for this purpose, but lately it seems like the quality has gotten worse. We have regular sound/video quality and connectivity issues, to the point where sometimes we just give up. What are our other options for doing this for as little money (and with as little hassle) as possible? There are usually 4-5 of us involved, and a mix of iPhones/laptops/Android devices being used to make the calls. [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 12:45 PM PST - 7 comments

After a truly horrendous day of travel (missed flights, extra fees to switch tickets, navigating Chatelet- Les Halles at rush hour, then locking ourselves out of the apartment), I'd like to treat my dear, patient, flustered husband to a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. He's expressed an interest, but unfortunately forgot to bring anything but jeans and (nice enough) collared plaid shirts. A couple of other qualifications inside... [more inside]
posted by deadtrouble at 12:41 PM PST - 14 comments

So the chip on my credit card fell off somewhere, what can somebody do with it if they found it? [more inside]
posted by crashlanding at 12:35 PM PST - 5 comments

Hello All, I seem be having some low-self esteem issues lately, especially with expressing a fierce opinion, sharing my beliefs, and sharing/explaining my hobbies to others. I have such a difficult time warming up to strangers, that I will excessively worry that I'm not interesting, exciting, and vibrant enough -- I'll shut down and become aloof. I have become withdrawn and reserved -- how can I open up and gain some confidence? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 12:17 PM PST - 6 comments

I used to be a maven at Lotus 123 -- that is not compatible anymore; and, I've forgotten what I was great at. Never really used Excel -- for real medical reasons not up to learning it now. For financial planning and estate planning I need to produce budget, asset and assorted other spreadsheets detailing my personal info. [more inside]
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 11:51 AM PST - 11 comments

My friend and I are headed to India for a 10 days trip, and a lovely woman answered a Facebook post I posted to a travelers' group about finding a driver. This lovely woman and her lovely travel agent sister have been essentially planning our trip, hotels, driver, etc. for free and I'm so, so grateful. How can I show my appreciation? [more inside]
posted by namesarehard at 11:49 AM PST - 10 comments

Hellllllllp. The file sharing site I use for a job has been up and down all day, but now it's apparently "up", and I still can't access it. How can I get back in? I am on a SUPER URGENT HOLY SHIT deadline and this thing REALLY needs to get fixed. Like now. Things I have tried below the fold. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:33 AM PST - 15 comments

I was hired a year and a half ago to a position that I very much like and work very hard at in an extremely niche field. Everything has gone swimmingly until this week. Looking for some extra outside insight into this situation. Anybody had this happen to them? Or something similar? [more inside]
posted by strelitzia at 11:25 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm making board games as a hobby and I'd like to have a better understanding of statistics and similar math topics in order to start the design stronger outta the gate - having better balance instead of just guessing. [more inside]
posted by symbioid at 11:01 AM PST - 4 comments

We recently moved from the US to Europe with our 2-year-old son. We immediately set about finding him a tricycle, and very quickly noticed that a lot of the tricycles here have chain drives. Watching him speed around I've been wondering: why don't we have tricycles with chain drives in North America? [more inside]
posted by CoureurDubois at 8:50 AM PST - 18 comments

AFAB, want to try binding to help me look more like I feel. I've seen other binder shopping questions, but few are around my size. Please help me buy my first binder. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:24 AM PST - 10 comments

Need to download hundreds of PDFs, but they are linked in PDFs... Browser extensions can't auto-download them- what are my options? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:23 AM PST - 2 comments

We are getting ready to release a free standalone CAD software. It is a downloadable product, does not run in a web browser (not like the more typical startup SAAS offers). Our company intends to sell an API library and consulting services using said API. The API was used to build the CAD software. [more inside]
posted by spacefire at 8:08 AM PST - 2 comments

Mr Millipede and I got married in September. I am taking his last name (and moving my last name to my middle name), but I haven't gone to the social security office to do so yet because work has been very busy and I never got the chance. I now have time to go, but I thought of something: voting. [more inside]
posted by millipede at 8:06 AM PST - 10 comments

What would you serve at a "Hunt for Wilderness" movie night other than twigs, whatever they eat in New Zealand, and Māori food? [more inside]
posted by RoadScholar at 7:47 AM PST - 22 comments

A lot of Hillary Clinton backlash I see from more left wing/radical friends is "FUNNY to see Clinton/Obama talk about how they stand up for children and women but then turn around and DRONE STRIKE SYRIAN FAMILIES." Has there been anything written to counter this critique from the left, or meditating on Obama/Clinton drone politics, or reconciling with drone policy on the democrat side? [more inside]
posted by windbox at 7:20 AM PST - 12 comments

I am looking for aggregated data/review articles on the estimated positive effects of lifestyle/diet changes based on research that could be used to prioritize such changes by their impact/effect sizes. [more inside]
posted by srboisvert at 7:10 AM PST - 3 comments

Where should I control volume when I am listening to music on a device with a volume control through one or more devices with their own volume controls? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:46 AM PST - 7 comments

So my tween has decided he wants to dress up as a cupcake princess this year for Halloween for a school event and general trick or treating. Advice for responding with something other than the string of cusswords and momma bear mode once people start saying something? [more inside]
posted by tilde at 5:56 AM PST - 23 comments

I will be quitting a professional, white-collar job after only six months. There are a number of reasons for this, but the bottom line is that the new opportunity is a much better fit -- though I'm not sure that explanation will go down well with my current manager. My current bosses are good people and I'd like to keep it cordial, given that our professional circles are small. Any tips? [more inside]
posted by GorgeousPorridge at 5:22 AM PST - 11 comments

I want to print a boudoir photo set for my anniversary. Where's the best online place to print it that will accept it? It seems I'm between Shutterfly and Blurb? Maybe Apple with some Photostream workaround? [more inside]
posted by SockWombat at 11:53 PM PST - 10 comments

I just had an eye exam. Took a picture because I thought my dialated eyes were amusing and I'm bored as I can't see anything .. I looked at the photo realized I'm currently cross-eyed. What's up? [more inside]
posted by chapps at 10:34 PM PST - 3 comments

Please recommend an alegbra/trig-based physics textbook to supplement the free textbook used in my college physics class. [more inside]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 8:29 PM PST - 4 comments

Hope me; I made a thing that is Popular On The Internet, people are asking for prints/t-shirts, and I want to give to charity any money from selling such products. But WHICH CHARITY? [more inside]
posted by TangoCharlie at 8:17 PM PST - 21 comments

I took a trip down memory lane and watched Exploration: The Movie. It made me want to make my own video in World of Warcraft. I got the screencapping software, now I want inspiration. [more inside]
posted by gorbweaver at 7:26 PM PST - 0 comments

AT&T refuses to unlock a phone that I own... What are my options? [more inside]
posted by matkline at 6:50 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm trying to find a song titled "Third and MacDougal" being a NY street corner where addicts scored drugs. Here are the lyrics that I know: "You hang around Third and MacDougal - with your mind and you body at war You spend half your life on the corner - just hoping and praying to score But the fire in your eyes is a blue fire - and the truth in your mind is a lie With a matchbox and spoon at your table - and the glory of hell in your eye" Thanks for any help finding this song!
posted by FlipDezz at 5:38 PM PST - 5 comments

So here is what happened... I have been applying to jobs, and I got an email from a recruiter about not getting a job offer, and I was reading this on my phone. After I read it I put my phone down, and I accidentally left the screen on after things got really busy at work, and so I forgot I left my phone on and went to a different part of the building. When I came back I then realized my screen was left on with the email for everyone to see. And I found out from my coworker that my boss came inside the room. And so my mind is racing and worried about if my boss went up to my phone and read the message. [more inside]
posted by pieceofcake at 5:15 PM PST - 16 comments

I bought a red vintage Samsonite train case (like this) but it's missing the tray (like this). I'm looking for a replacement—either the original design or an alternative that fits my requirements. Aside from saving a search for "Samsonite train case replacement tray" on eBay and Etsy, what can the hive mind suggest? [more inside]
posted by ottereroticist at 4:09 PM PST - 4 comments

For the past couple of years, I've been doing an informal, personal challenge to read a new-to-me book published in each year from 1900 to 1999. The only decade I haven't touched yet is the first, and I'd appreciate recommendations for books published from 1900 through 1909. [more inside]
posted by mixedmetaphors at 2:37 PM PST - 51 comments

I'm doing some research for a story about a broken marriage, and I was wondering if anyone knows of a Studs-Terkel-esque oral history containing interviews with people about their deteriorating relationships or the lies they would tell themselves to keep a marriage together? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
posted by Bobby Bittman at 2:34 PM PST - 5 comments

My office is in the middle of piloting a certain tool for cross-organizational collaboration, but I'm wondering what else is out there. [more inside]
posted by lunalaguna at 2:22 PM PST - 6 comments

Just had a mole removed from the back of my neck. The doctor gave me a shot of lidocaine (I think) and then sprayed the area with a numbing spray. Shouldn't it have been the other way around? [more inside]
posted by otherwordlyglow at 2:03 PM PST - 9 comments

I've decided to accept a job offer and leave a job that I had become dissatisfied with, yay! But now I need to tell my manager and my teammates that I'm leaving and I'm not sure how to do that because I'm a remote worker. Special snowflake details within. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:09 PM PST - 10 comments

Please assist me in re-finding this short story I read last year about a composer publishing his friend's unpublished symphony as his own, because his friend faked his death to escape from a crime. [more inside]
posted by Iron Carbide at 12:00 PM PST - 3 comments

Can we go to a Halloween party at the house right next door with the 10-month-old baby asleep in our house with the alarm on and baby monitor in our hands? [more inside]
posted by bluejayway at 11:13 AM PST - 80 comments

Which Nasty Woman T shirt should I buy? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 10:46 AM PST - 14 comments

Give me you best apple cake recipes! My boyfriend just got a job, we are going apple picking Saturday, and I want to make him a cake to celebrate. I plan to make this a round layer cake, with pipeable frosting for decoration, so recipes simple and fancy - send them my way! The only requirement is that they must be delicious and use apples.
posted by DoubleLune at 10:46 AM PST - 13 comments

Sometime in the past year or so I read, either online or in print, something relating to compatibility and fulfillment in (hetero) relationships where the woman is one who has a fast paced brain and needs to talk and needs to be with a man who will listen and take that all in order for her to feel fulfilled in the relationship. Did you read this, too? [more inside]
posted by PaulaSchultz at 10:16 AM PST - 7 comments

Any developers out there use WooCommerce? Anyone know how to write a PHP script that creates downloadable products from a script? [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 9:44 AM PST - 2 comments

Short version: Should ORMs only map to actual tables in the actual database, or is it useful to add classes that create "virtual tables" based on filtering the records? [more inside]
posted by lore at 9:41 AM PST - 2 comments

I think breaking up is probably a good decision, but I think this is something we should discuss. But I'm not sure how to have this conversation. [more inside]
posted by Urban Winter at 9:39 AM PST - 12 comments

Looking for songs that pick me up and make me want to live again after a long day of work! What are your favorites? [more inside]
posted by switcheroo at 9:34 AM PST - 77 comments

Looking for people who had ideas that changed the economy but were initially ignored/shot down. Like Brian Chesky & AirBnB — he got 7 rejections for $150K investment in 10% of AirBnB in 2008, would be worth $300,000,000 today. Or Brad Feld - invented the Fitbit, said “literally every VC passed on me.” When do the VCs/futurists/pundit class get it wrong? Looking for more recent examples, not like poor Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis who pioneered antiseptics in the 19th century and ended up in an insane asylum.
posted by Peemster at 9:31 AM PST - 13 comments

My wonderful father is turning 70 next year, and for his birthday he is flying a big group of family and friends to Mexico to celebrate. He is covering most of the costs for everyone. I would like to coordinate a gift from the group - something really special - and I need ideas! Details inside... [more inside]
posted by GoldenEel at 9:24 AM PST - 9 comments

I know the whole topic of acquiring a TLD can be fraught with interest; my question has more to do with what happens once you have it. I have a client interested in a .law domain. Has anyone run into problems with this TLD, either in dealing with registrars, DNS difficulties, or getting Microsoft hosted exchange or Google Apps working with it? [more inside]
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:44 AM PST - 4 comments

Is the term "save face" one that only older people use, or do millennials use it, too? If they don't use it, what are some alternatives?
posted by frizz at 8:37 AM PST - 26 comments

Friends have invited me to go see the Pet Shop Boys in Boston on November 9 at the Orpheum. I would love to go, but I am old and I have an early flight the next morning. The show begins at 7:30 and I can't find anything about an opening act. I haven't been to a show in maybe a decade - my memories are of everything starting late and ending later (enshrouded in cigarette smoke), but they're getting old, too, right? Has anyone seen them play lately? How likely am I to get home before midnight?
posted by chocotaco at 8:31 AM PST - 8 comments

The owner did not know, but they did give me permission to take a picture. [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 8:14 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm planning to purchase a new bike for my 9-year old for Christmas this year. (with 24" tires). I've done some research, and it seems like there's a bunch of bikes in the $300-$400 range at any of our local bike shops. There's also a bunch of bikes in the $100-$150 range at our local big box stores (Target, Walmart, Toys R Us). So, my question is, what's the difference? [more inside]
posted by stuehler at 7:40 AM PST - 10 comments

I've not had a reason to buy tickets for such a big event before, where should I look for seats that will be reliable and not risk losing my money? Coming from out of town.
posted by wnissen at 10:43 PM PST - 6 comments

How do I change Chrome's external protocol handlers on my phone? [more inside]
posted by anadem at 9:05 PM PST - 2 comments

A friend recently messaged me to ask: "Do you ever get the feeling like you feel absolutely too much about everything and you worry so much that you can't even exist anymore? I feel like I have no barrier to protect myself against all the sad and all the what ifs of the world and maybe I'm faulty." Is this anxiety, or something else? What resources can I point her to while she works toward finding the time and money for therapy? [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 8:54 PM PST - 14 comments

I have to take a tablet every day and would like an Android app (or a mobile friendly web-app) to help me remember to do that. The obvious choices don't suit me ... more inside [more inside]
posted by southof40 at 6:04 PM PST - 15 comments

Well, we better come up with a plan. I accepted a job offer at a company I'm really excited to work for in a position I'll excel in and be very happy doing. I've been a sahm for almost a year and out of work for a year and a half. We don't have childcare lined up and I don't know how I'll do transitioning back to work. [more inside]
posted by toomanycurls at 6:03 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm about to finish grad school and I've been applying to jobs furiously, but I feel like I'm shouting into the wind. I need some advice on networking and how to appropriately reach out to employers. [more inside]
posted by the offing at 6:00 PM PST - 10 comments

I am a chronic ruiner of kitchen sinks. What rules do people follow to avoid clogging or breaking their garbage disposal? [more inside]
posted by space snail at 5:22 PM PST - 32 comments

SF Filter: Best bar to watch debate? [more inside]
posted by mingodingo at 5:12 PM PST - 1 comment

What should I use to send sound from my HTPC to my speakers in two separate rooms? [more inside]
posted by soy_renfield at 4:52 PM PST - 2 comments

Can you identify for me, if it even exists, a cartoon (perhaps Bugs Bunny or other Hanna-Barbera) where some character averts disaster by dismanting and rebuilding the train track in front of a moving train? Perhaps a villain had previously done the same in order to move the train for some reason.
posted by Listener at 4:44 PM PST - 6 comments

Co-worker is planning a program of hands-on trainings in [esoteric public-sector field] and wants to jazz it up a bit with unnecessarily grandiose names. Specifically looking for current tech-sector jargon for "experiential learning" or something along those lines.
posted by psoas at 4:32 PM PST - 1 comment

Which NYC (Manhattan) ice rink, accessible from Chelsea Market, is best for figure skating practice? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 3:39 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for an article to get my husband to read which will convince him that active listening and empathising is a good thing to do and which will teach him how to do it. [more inside]
posted by hannahlambda at 2:45 PM PST - 30 comments

Some complications have arisen as I reach the end of my pregnancy. I think I want to ask for a c-section. Will they let me do this? Is is a smart idea under the circumstances? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 2:34 PM PST - 37 comments

Is there any machine created commodity? That is, could you set up a machine and make something that could be sold at a market price? [more inside]
posted by 445supermag at 1:21 PM PST - 29 comments

Is there a sensor (preferably a lit signal than audible) that will alert us that the front gate is open? [more inside]
posted by sarajane at 1:14 PM PST - 3 comments

My phone is an iPhone 6. Through work I have access to an unlocked iPhone 6S Plus. I would like to try using the iPhone 6S Plus as my everyday phone to see if the form factor works for me. Can I just move the sim from the 6 into the 6S Plus and start making calls, or do I need to involve my carrier (Verizon)? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:08 PM PST - 4 comments

Sounds easy but is surprisingly difficult. I need a blog and a blog theme, e.g. WordPress and a theme. Requirements: 1. Must be for a finance related blog 2. Must be FAST, must be also fast in China. Meaning loading no bulls.t from Facebook, google analytics, google fonts etc. since this stuff is blocked there. 3. Must be responsive. Must look good on a cell phone. [more inside]
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:17 PM PST - 6 comments

I have SharePoint 2010 sites, with lists, libraries and InfoPath forms. SharePoint is only worth a goddamn in Internet Explorer, as you probably know. I have a bunch of Mac users who do not like to use a virtual machine. These are senior-type Mac users, however. What can I do to bridge the gap? [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 11:51 AM PST - 7 comments

Two on going, things that just annoy and confuse me. [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 11:21 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a simple idea for a cottage business, but I don't want to get screwed because it's so simple the industries involved could easily shoulder me out. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by rougy at 10:51 AM PST - 11 comments

I can't believe I'm using a question for this, but... women of Metafilter, when you purchase a T-shirt how cognizant are you of how the design might interact with your chest? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:13 AM PST - 57 comments

Can you give me incontrovertible proof that Hillary Clinton had access to information illustrating that Iraq's WMD program was non-existant? Long story, but I need information that Hillary disregarded the warnings of Hans Blix and Mohammad ElBaradei, and other inspectors, and chose to support war rather than extend the UN inspections regime.
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 10:02 AM PST - 16 comments

Is the full archive of the Wiretap podcast available to download anywhere besides through iTunes? I want to be able to download/listen with Android phone, but all of my basic Googling points to iTunes. Can this be right? thank you.
posted by jimmereeno at 9:49 AM PST - 4 comments

Please recommend me your favourite recent-ish metal albums in the following categories: (1) stoner doom; (2) psychedelic black metal; (3) psychedelic doom/sludge/desert rock. Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by Sonny Jim at 9:48 AM PST - 13 comments

I need a good book about Diabetes Type 2, one that's a notch about 'Diabetes for Dummies'. And I need a good resource for looking up glycemic loads. Can be an app. The ones I can find online are either puzzlingly limited (Harved doesn't think I ened to know the GL of cucumbers) or have pictures of celebrities on them and seem untrustworthy.
posted by anonymous at 9:33 AM PST - 4 comments

I am a woman in my late 20s, and I had my gallbladder removed a couple years ago. I feel better now than I did before the surgery, but my gastrointestinal system has become JUST unstable enough to be a source of anxiety in my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:32 AM PST - 21 comments

A colleague (X) that I have closely volunteered with at a separate non-profit for a couple years recommended me to apply for a job at her workplace from which she is soon departing. This job (technical in nature) is in the same department that X works in and she also sat in on each of the interviews as a part of the interviewing team. I've had a couple interviews so far, and based on my advancement, now believe that I may actually be offered this position, and my long-held impostor syndrome is actually now warranted. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:32 AM PST - 15 comments

I am in the market for a 2-3 burner camp stove - do you have one you've used regularly for at least a few years? Looking for recommendations for one that's reliable and well-made.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I usually pride myself on knowing what the scam is, but this one has me stumped. It's on eBay, from a buyer named "wealth-enhancement-resources." I tried searching all the scam warning pages, but all of them assume that you have a valuable item like a phone or computer that they don't want to pay for. [more inside]
posted by Melismata at 8:43 AM PST - 16 comments

Six months ago I adopted the wonderful Huggy and we have come to live very happily together. I am taking an unknown foster for the weekend, and would appreciate some advice about how to go about this in the best way. [more inside]
posted by frumiousb at 8:31 AM PST - 8 comments

Can anyone think of some good wedding gift ideas for a very literary, offbeat, humanities grad student that won't break the bank? [more inside]
posted by armadillo1224 at 8:23 AM PST - 10 comments

An expensive wool overcoat got pretty much soaked in *used* fry oil several months ago. Long story. I know it would have been easier to resolve when it happened, but I procrastinated as the weather was warming up and forgot about it. Now I'm regretting that. Can it be saved? I'd ask a dry cleaner, but I'm afraid they'll just suggest, in bad faith, an expensive cleaning.
posted by barbudo at 7:59 AM PST - 11 comments

Please give me the words with which to speak with a screen printer in order to get what I'm looking for. [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:32 AM PST - 9 comments

When you see a photo of an unfamiliar landscape that was taken either early morning or late afternoon, are there clues (aside from human activity) that might indicate which?
posted by LonnieK at 2:53 AM PST - 4 comments

Hi, I finished an English degree recently. I'm older than most - late 20s. I really like the idea of an academic career, but... (there are several buts) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:13 AM PST - 21 comments

Does Google index child pornography? About two months ago, I Google Image Search'd "vintage porn" because I have a soft spot for Victorian pornography. However, as I was scrolling through the images, one caught my eye. I won't describe it because triggers, but suffice it to say, I'm almost positive it was a pornographic image involving a child. I noped out as quickly as possible and almost threw my phone across the room. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:13 AM PST - 9 comments

We've been seeing each other for 6 weeks or so, and it's a promising start. We're compatible in multiple ways, we clearly really dig each other, except for this one thing. NSFW snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:12 AM PST - 17 comments

What books give a sense of what daily life was like in the USSR? [more inside]
posted by StephenF at 1:44 AM PST - 23 comments

How do I create subtle boundaries with someone I just started casually dating without pushing them away? I want to give it a chance and see where it goes, but I don't want to get too attached while it is still casual. [more inside]
posted by prism4tic at 1:43 AM PST - 7 comments

Looking for recommendations for a 2-day (probably a bit rainy) trip to Córdoba, Spain next week. [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 1:20 AM PST - 1 comment

It's getting cold. I need to stay warm. I hate hairs, fibers, and lint that shed from clothes. How do I avoid them? [more inside]
posted by Avosunspin at 10:22 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm wondering if this is something deeper. Like some sort of synesthesia. [more inside]
posted by cacao at 9:33 PM PST - 8 comments

Need help/advice for resources for recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship with a whole mess of complications. I am the special-est of snowflakes. [more inside]
posted by FakePalindrome at 7:24 PM PST - 14 comments

I need some cool resources for topics relating to the Middle Ages (Europe for now, but soon Japan, northern Africa, the Middle East, etc.) that are appropriate for middle schoolers (11-13 years old, decently diverse with lots of students with special needs). Here's the catch: I would really like sources that DON'T propagate myths about the middle ages (burning witches, world is flat, church put scientists on trial, etc.) AND are interesting. [more inside]
posted by guster4lovers at 7:23 PM PST - 19 comments

Is it eccentric to submit a cover letter as a .txt file? [more inside]
posted by postcommunism at 5:23 PM PST - 24 comments

There was an online series of short videos from VH1 parodying home shopping TV from around 2006-2007 called "Home Purchasing Club". Does anyone know if there is any way to view or purchase these, or are they lost to the sands of time and the vagaries of digital culture? [more inside]
posted by Hal Mumkin at 5:22 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm trying to get a music project started in a city I haven't lived in that long, where I don't have a huge network. How do I draw an audience in the early stages? [more inside]
posted by invitapriore at 5:03 PM PST - 4 comments

Teradude and I are expecting Terababy in about three weeks. We do not know the sex and are trying to settle on names. If baby is a boy, can we name him Kermit, or would that doom our child to a life of ridicule and disgrace? The last name will be a common American last name, think Smith or Jones though neither of those. The middle name would be a more common, less Muppety man's name.
posted by teragram at 4:59 PM PST - 139 comments

I've recently been laid off. Help me make the most of my time between jobs. [more inside]
posted by burntflowers at 4:24 PM PST - 9 comments

A custom couch induces asthma after two years' careful offgassing; is it fair for us to ask the shop to resell it without commission? Their sample furniture didn't cause asthma. [more inside]
posted by clew at 4:12 PM PST - 21 comments

Hey clothes-loving folks! I've been reading about capsule wardrobes, paring down clothing, and other minimalism-type posts My question is- does anyone know of a good post on capsule wardrobes/minimalism that has color in it? Something along the lines of "hey, I'm a minimalist and I love color, here's how that works" [more inside]
posted by EVM at 4:06 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there a suffix (or other word modifier) used like -phobia/-phobic/-phobe that means concern or alarm or apprehension without the connotation of terror or hatred or exclusion? Ideally the word would make sense to a fluent English speaker, but if it needs a little explaining, that's okay. This isn't a political question; it's for a story.
posted by michaelh at 4:02 PM PST - 10 comments

My husband and I have a business trip to London in a couple of weeks and have tacked on some free time because OF COURSE. We would be so grateful if you would help us make the most of two and a half days! [more inside]
posted by woot at 3:41 PM PST - 13 comments

How do I tell my bosses about an impending surgical procedure I will be receiving? We are a tiny company, we are very busy, the procedure is pretty big, and I will be out of commission for a good while. Also: the procedure itself COULD be considered "elective" (but kinda isn't). Iodine-swabbed snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by julthumbscrew at 3:31 PM PST - 25 comments

Do you have, or have you encountered a design exercise for a UX job application that you thought was effective? [more inside]
posted by colin_l at 3:10 PM PST - 7 comments

Do you have any tips, tricks or mantras that help you detach from objects and/or reframing the need to document memories? [more inside]
posted by retrofitted at 3:06 PM PST - 22 comments

It is on my ballot. I think the newspaper story used only the county for a source. This is for Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA.
posted by maurreen at 2:48 PM PST - 3 comments

Winter is coming! I'd love any toy suggestions for burning off some energy when we're stuck inside. KidDog has an inflatable ball pit that he loves rolling around/being dragged around in, which has resulted in the untimely demise of said ball pit but has been super fun for him! [more inside]
posted by bighappyhairydog at 2:42 PM PST - 8 comments

I bought an avocado to make guacamole. I thought it yielded to my touch at the store, but when I got it home and cut it open, most of it was really hard. [more inside]
posted by Bruce H. at 2:26 PM PST - 12 comments

I would like to know more Celtic myths - what are the best books to start with? I'm looking both for accurate retellings that might be more accessible to a newbie and good translations of primary sources. Thank you!
posted by darchildre at 1:54 PM PST - 6 comments

A friend of mine is looking to change careers and is at kind of a loss for the best path forward. I was hoping to find them a career counselor in the Seattle area. This person is not in a technical field, which is what most of the Seattle area counselors appear to specialize in.
posted by lattiboy at 1:31 PM PST - 1 comment

I keep reading books and then finding out that they're just the first in a series that's not yet finished. I don't want to have to wait! Therefore I am asking you all to tell me about the best light sci-fi and fantasy books or series that you know of, that are entirely complete. A single standalone book or a completed series is fine. [more inside]
posted by that girl at 1:28 PM PST - 35 comments

What is the optimum strategy for following the US election results from the UK? Is there a guide as to when key states like Florida, Penn, Ohio etc are likely to release their results? I would like to have a good idea if possible of the result before I go to bed but I have to be in work at 10:00 GMT on the 9th November so I need to sleep at some point as well. I have seen some confusing stuff but is it correct that the earliest "call" about results will be at 04:00 GMT? [more inside]
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 1:01 PM PST - 12 comments

During the warm months, every other weekend, people put on a block party type thing on my street. Most aspects of of the event are benign and fun. But: about 3-4 DJs set up along the street, which is not very long and spend the next 10 hours competing with each other. It makes my apartment uninhabitable for that time period, even with all the windows closed. My wife and I have to shout at each other to communicate, etc. I'd like to know how to contact the board/committee/official who approves these permits and make a complaint about the noise. [more inside]
posted by eustacescrubb at 12:01 PM PST - 3 comments

My landlord intends to move back into my flat. She has discussed (with no terms) a lease buyout. She has indicated that if we can't reach an agreement on a buyout, she'll proceed with a move-in eviction. Any advice? [more inside]
posted by mrgrimm at 12:01 PM PST - 32 comments

I'm unfamiliar with drugs. Is this weed that I found in the parking lot? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:46 AM PST - 36 comments

Taking a wild swing: I'm trying to locate a book I had as a kid, likely published in the US somewhere between 1977 - 1984 or so, that featured instructions on how to mount & hide a 110 camera in a hardcover book. [more inside]
posted by mintcake! at 11:27 AM PST - 4 comments

Yes, pun completely intended
Will real estate help be get what I want from life, will it be a good fit, or is there something else out there better for me? What am I not thinking of? [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:26 AM PST - 25 comments

A package was shipped to me by an online retailer. The USPS is having a lot of trouble delivering said package to me. I'm not sure why, and now they seem to not know where my package is. Anyone know what I can do to suss out the location of my parcel? [more inside]
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:12 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm an Indian-American Hindu woman living in New York City. I've recently started wearing a bindi every day -- the sticker kind, a.k.a. kumkum or kunkma. If I want ethically produced bindis that have nontoxic, long-lasting adhesive (will stay on my face for 12 continuous hours without moving around), what brand should I seek out, and where/how should I buy it? [more inside]
posted by brainwane at 9:46 AM PST - 1 comment

I would like to hang some bird feeders in my yard but our next door neighbors have 2 semi feral outdoor cats. Is there a way to feed the birdies without presenting the cats with a moveable feast? [more inside]
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 9:28 AM PST - 6 comments

One of my favourite short love poems is Shailja Patel's 'First Dates in Utopia', which has a gentleness and loveliness to it that I associate with shy folks like myself. What are your favourite poems or lines of poetry about love that is awkward, hesitant and quiet - filled with silences and mis-timings? NOTE: I'm not looking for poems about unrequited love, but rather connections made or being made whilst shy. [more inside]
posted by beijingbrown at 9:03 AM PST - 21 comments

Looking for help finding a last minute room near Chicago's River North district without breaking the bank [more inside]
posted by downtohisturtles at 7:46 AM PST - 12 comments

Should I move back to England and back in with my parents? [more inside]
posted by guessthis at 7:43 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm always copying chapters from books at work. I usually scan them straight to a pdf file by opening the book face down and copying two pages at once. This makes the final product difficult to read on various screens. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 7:33 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm starting to get some ringing in my ears from various loud music/teaching/gigs/etc, and looking for earplugs that I can wear for hours at a time, with decently flat (i.e. not muffled) attenuation. I have these and they're great sound-wise, but uncomfortable long-term. Soft foam earplugs are comfy but too deadening & muffling. Any suggestions? Extra points for relatively invisible earplugs, so I don't have to explain myself 50 times a day.
posted by jeffjon at 7:29 AM PST - 12 comments

Hi. The cursor flies around opening/closing programs, etc. I see these weird "bubbles" at top of screen all along at points where icons are. Like someone's touching tablet. Well-known phenomenon -- and NOT a virus. [more inside]
posted by noelpratt2nd at 7:16 AM PST - 10 comments

My Mom, who is recovering from leukemia, needs an exhaust fan put in our bathroom before she can come home. We've tried getting estimates from five highly rated electricians, and each time they've said they need to "crunch some numbers" - then they leave and never call back, even when we give a follow-up call/email. How can we get one to actually want the job without us getting ripped off? (Details inside). [more inside]
posted by CottonCandyCapers at 7:13 AM PST - 18 comments

My 74-year-old mother-in-law was in a car accident on Saturday. The impact tore a hole in her diaphragm and her liver is poking up into her chest cavity. Help us plan for recovery, please. [more inside]
posted by kamikazegopher at 4:44 AM PST - 2 comments

My parents Humax YouView Freeview HD PVR has died after only two years. They are less than keen to get a Humax again but, last time I tried to find a Freeview HD PVR for them, the options out there really sucked. What's the least sucky option now? [more inside]
posted by mr_silver at 3:43 AM PST - 4 comments

We weaned Peanut #2 at the end of September. It's been 5 years of either being pregnant or breastfeeding. My boobs are back to pre-preggo size, but I'm suspecting my hormones are not. [more inside]
posted by romakimmy at 12:42 AM PST - 5 comments

My partner died a little over a year ago. He was a gregarious, goofy guy who had many friends. He was pretty much my only friend. His friends were wonderful when he was sick, and some tried to reach out after he died, though not many. I didn't know what to do except not be a bother; I couldn't bring myself to call them. The issue is that how to interact with people baffles me. [more inside]
posted by Vispa Teresa at 9:03 PM PST - 11 comments

My wife has recently started working full-time. We are struggling with the decision to enroll our little guy in daycare, hire a live in nanny, or hire a regular babysitter. For the past 21 months my wife has taken care of our baby boy while working from home. We have had some limited babysitting but he's never been to daycare or had a regular babysitter. Over the last month or so my wife has started working more and more and is now employed full time for the same company I work for. [more inside]
posted by karst at 8:25 PM PST - 42 comments

In Japan, is teaching english compatible with family life? would I ever see my children if I did that for a living? [more inside]
posted by myriad gantry at 7:53 PM PST - 9 comments

So I volunteered for a candidate phone bank tonight and was surprised to learn upon arrival that I was expected to use my own cell phone. If you've phone-banked recently, is this now normal? I felt a bit uncomfortable when I was called back by one of the folks on my list while I was in a restaurant bathroom a few hours later. "Yeah, you called this number? [more inside]
posted by mediareport at 5:45 PM PST - 33 comments

You have probably heard about one political party in New Mexico sending postcards warning voters that "their neighbors will know" who they voted for. However, I was under the impression that the only public voter information is whether someone voted, and not who they voted for. What else could one know about their neighbors' voting habits?
posted by Seeking Direction at 5:24 PM PST - 14 comments

When I was younger I remember playing a Win 3.1 game that either was a collection of four separate games or were four separate games distributed together. I don't recall very many details of gameplay at all, but I'll share what I remember in the extended explanation. [more inside]
posted by LSK at 4:24 PM PST - 3 comments

I grew up with two severely mentally ill parents, but my mother's rejection is what has scarred me for life. Details within.. [more inside]
posted by a knot unknown at 1:53 PM PST - 19 comments

She's never been and she wants to tackle a lot of deep issues. [more inside]
posted by morning_television at 1:33 PM PST - 12 comments

One of my friends suggested that we subscribe to Sunbasket, and we've tried them out for a few weeks. (I've got the next few weeks skipped). How wasteful is a service like that? [more inside]
posted by bleary at 1:28 PM PST - 21 comments

Help me to make sense of this largish C++ repository, so I can become an upstanding citizen and contribute to the program and give back to the community. [more inside]
posted by Zigurana at 1:10 PM PST - 8 comments

All of a sudden, every video I edit in Adobe Premiere and render through Adobe Media Encoder have no sound track. I have not changed hardware but AME is updates to 2015.4. [more inside]
posted by sandra_s at 11:43 AM PST - 4 comments

Starting our home buying journey slightly sooner than expected, what do we absolutely need to know/do? [more inside]
posted by shesbenevolent at 11:43 AM PST - 16 comments

I joined the Columbia Library system, needing a quiet spot to work, with a laptop. [more inside]
posted by ebesan at 11:40 AM PST - 15 comments

Due to a complicated series of events, Honolulu attorney/former law enforcement officer (28/F) (me) and Florida writer/drummer (25/M) who has also worked in retail, food service, hospitality are relocating to Denver together. (Yes we read the other Denver questions! Some of them were very helpful!) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:22 AM PST - 7 comments

Looking for help with the optics in my from-scratch overhead projector! [more inside]
posted by AutoPilot83 at 11:08 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a concrete carport with a brick trim, and it doesn’t drain well and sometimes has leaves on it, meaning there’s a decent build-up of green mold and some black stuff that’s probably mold or some other fungus. What’s a good cleaner or other stuff to use to eliminate it, without a ton of scrubbing or causing some kind of major environmental damage to my yard?
posted by ivey at 10:59 AM PST - 8 comments

We are a US based company that is in discussion with an EU based IT software development company. Are there any rules/regulations required by our company to be able to hire the EU company? This would be a B2B relationship, not an employer/employee relationship. [more inside]
posted by herda05 at 10:56 AM PST - 4 comments

I lead, and love leading, a pretty nomadic lifestyle. I do seasonal, travel based work interspersed with backpacking around the world. I am told constantly I lead a dream lifestyle. I love it, and am proud of what I have created. However, it's also becoming clear to me that something is not ok with my current mental health situation (more details below). My lifestyle is 1) interfering with my ability to get help and 2) possibly aggravating it. How can I keep the life I love and still get help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:28 AM PST - 21 comments

How do I find the right therapist in San Francisco? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:28 AM PST - 6 comments

Does anyone know why car rentals cost about $50/day in the States, on average, and cost about $30/day in Canada? [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 10:14 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for podcasts that will either a) teach me stuff that feels essential, or b) exercise my brain. Most "educational" podcasts feel more like entertainment than education to me - Radiolab and TED talks, for example, feel like they lack that essential element. Any recommendations?
posted by Anonymousness at 9:27 AM PST - 33 comments

My daughter wants to be male, and one of the things she wants to do in pursuit of that is minimize her breasts, specifically by binding them. Pros & cons, please? [more inside]
posted by ubiquity at 9:21 AM PST - 21 comments

I don't have a cell phone but I'm six months pregnant and probably need one. Difficulty, moving to Japan in the spring. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by stormygrey at 8:43 AM PST - 5 comments

Over the last 6 to 8 months, I've been taking better care of my skin, and the efforts (and, sigh, money) are paying off with fewer blemishes and better texture. The one thing that hasn't been affected, though, is uneven skin tone -- specifically, redness. What can I try next to help even out the redness? More details about my specific skincare routine below the fold. [more inside]
posted by devinemissk at 8:00 AM PST - 26 comments

Good news: we found a house we love and we close in two weeks. Even better, the school is the one that hosts our second grader's Cub Scout Pack. He knows many of the kids there and is excited to attend. Problem: it's a dual language school and there is a Spanish proficiency test required to attend, and if he doesn't pass, he'll have to attend a different school, further away, where he knows no one. HALP. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:49 AM PST - 18 comments

I work with some people in Thailand. Do I, and how do I, express sympathy at the recent death of King Bhumibol? [more inside]
posted by JuliaJellicoe at 7:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I know YNMD and I'm going to see mine but not for a week, but what could be making me have GI issues only at night? Again? Lots of details inside... [more inside]
posted by Valancy Rachel at 7:18 AM PST - 2 comments

I sometimes end up in areas without Wi-Fi, for days at a time, and I do not want to be bored. It's there a good way to preemptively save reading to an iPad or iPhone for this scenario? What strategies work for you? What is the best approach for news feeds? How about magazines or ebooks?. Any other tips?
posted by mortaddams at 7:00 AM PST - 18 comments

We probably have lead pipes delivering our drinking water. We have been advised not to test the water, but just to assume we have lead in our water. My wife doesn't think it's a big deal and continues to use potentially-leaded water for everything. We have an infant, and even if we didn't I don't want lead in my food and coffee either. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 6:39 AM PST - 35 comments

A group of friends are going to Iceland. I said I would go: it's been a rough two years and "I'm worth it." But now it looks like the trip will cost about 800-1000 euros. I'm not sure I'm worth... that much (existential snowflakes below). Should I bail? I am losing sleep over this. [more inside]
posted by athirstforsalt at 4:57 AM PST - 22 comments

How bad is it, really, to store a queen-sized spring mattress on its side for 2-2.5 months? Is this sure to ruin the mattress or is it likely to actually be okay? Would rotating it every couple of weeks help? [more inside]
posted by st elmo's fire at 4:18 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm trying to find a mashup I downloaded years ago. It included "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, as well as several other songs, but it did not include "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin, or at least I don't think it did. (I found a mashup of those three songs, and it's not what I remember.) I recall reading that the DJ who created it wanted to make a pleasant, happy mashup that his grandmother would enjoy. Can you help?
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:03 AM PST - 4 comments

I was recently, late at night, in a hotel watching random TV in a language I couldn't understand. Can you id the show for me? [more inside]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 2:46 AM PST - 4 comments

I understand why pie charts give dataviz folks agita, and I certainly get that there are many bad applications for pie charts. But I'm having a hard time with the maxim that there are no good applications for pie charts. In fact, I think I have a scenario where not just a pie chart but an exploding pie chart is ideal ... but if someone wants to talk me out of it, I'm listening. [more inside]
posted by blueshammer at 8:53 PM PST - 18 comments

An arsonist torched my vehicle last Friday, and we caught it on security camera video. My question: what type of time-delayed, improvised incendiary device (placed on the EXTERIOR of the vehicle) would burn hot enough to ignite the engine compartment, using no accelerants? [more inside]
posted by piedrasyluz at 8:48 PM PST - 31 comments

I know there are one or two posts on AskMe on this, but the last one was posted 2012 so I figure an update is due. [more inside]
posted by New England Cultist at 6:06 PM PST - 23 comments

i looked in my closet today and realized that i own dozens of tank tops (from years spent in vegas), more than a few hoodies, and band t-shirts. basically. my fall/winter uniform is usually a tank and a hoodie or something like that. but it's time to upgrade. [more inside]
posted by megan_magnolia at 5:40 PM PST - 7 comments

My partner has a job offer in Brooklyn. We both love Brooklyn. But we currently live in the midwest, I have no job prospects in NYC at the moment, and I have no idea how long my job search will take...can we survive? [more inside]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 4:42 PM PST - 29 comments

I have an idea for a house I might someday build, and I was wondering if it is a pre-existing Concept that I can discuss with builders. [more inside]
posted by BeeDo at 3:11 PM PST - 8 comments

Is it possible to make a twitter bot that tweets out my google searches verbatim? How would I do that? [more inside]
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 3:08 PM PST - 5 comments

Mr. Kitty and I are drafting our apartment rules & regulations. Help me think of things I'm missing! [more inside]
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 2:56 PM PST - 32 comments

So this is a little icky, but I had a gallbladder removal about 10 years ago, and about 5 years ago, a small lump developed over the scar. I looked that up online, and it appears to be a regular thing, no big deal, so I got used to it. It would occasionally hurt, but mostly, it was just there, a fatty, roly-poly thing. But two nights ago... [more inside]
posted by xingcat at 2:49 PM PST - 7 comments

Read in the early 80s: Some number of children are visiting (living in?) a place (on the coast?) and look for pirate treasure. There is a place (cave?) with lots of little mud balls. At the end of the book, they realize that the pirates have hidden their gems (emeralds?) by encasing each one in a little ball of mud. That's all I can remember. Help, please? Thanks!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:38 PM PST - 2 comments

I followed this Youtube video to the letter. Once that little bolt comes out of the center the wash plate is supposed to lift right off. This one doesn't. I have tried to pry it off, I gave it a gentle whack with a rubber mallet... nope. I have closely examined it and there are no other screws or bolts. Anyone have experience removing one of these?
posted by brownrd at 2:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I want to create a list of exercises/skills and tag each item with a ton of tags according to what it might be useful for. Then I want to search/filter the list by multiple tags. Is there an attractive Windows/Android app for this? [more inside]
posted by nevers at 2:08 PM PST - 3 comments

Tomorrow I leave for a "work retreat" my manager has arranged. Four days and three nights, with her and my two colleagues who make up our team. In a rental house. With every minute planned out. I'm starting to panic a bit and need survival tips. [more inside]
posted by castlebravo at 1:18 PM PST - 20 comments

For Reasons, I have decided that the perfect Christmas present for my dude would be a wooden gavel that doubles as a flask. Surprisingly, the internet is not providing for me here. [more inside]
posted by frizzle at 1:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm getting a Christmas gift for the teenage (14ish) daughter of a friend who lives in the states, and am wondering if there is something that I can get here in the UK (London, specifically) that she wouldn't be able to get herself at home? [more inside]
posted by catch as catch can at 1:07 PM PST - 13 comments

6-month-old babyminda is in daycare five days a week while I work and is sometimes fussy about eating formula. How much extra time should I be putting into addressing this problem? [more inside]
posted by chaiminda at 12:23 PM PST - 28 comments

My son (12, going on 13 in a month) rides his bike to/from school in the PNW. This means wind, rain, wet, damp, etc. He prefers to wear jeans, but doesn't like how long they take to dry, so I'm hoping for some good suggestions from the hive.mind. [more inside]
posted by dotgirl at 11:45 AM PST - 14 comments

I just tried to set up Apple Mail on my laptop and it insists on downloading the whole !@#$% archive for every account I link to it. Googling around, I get the sense this is a common complaint. Is there some kind of Apple Mail or Outlook alternative that will let me configure a Gmail account and an Exchange account to download all NEW mail but not any OLD mail? I'd be willing to pay for it. I don't need much functionality--mostly something that'll work when I'm offline. A Mail or Outlook clone that doesn't insist on this downloading-and-storing-1.1GB-of-email nonsense would be fine with me. [more inside]
posted by lotf629 at 11:36 AM PST - 5 comments

Let's say you don't have access to a full size, traditional/convection oven. But you have a large toaster oven - large enough to rotisserie a chicken. What baked, broiled, roasted or braised dishes can you still make in the toaster oven? [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 11:09 AM PST - 24 comments

Hello MeFites! Due to some odd scheduling issues with my job, I'm going to be spending several days in San Diego fairly soon. I am almost totally unfamiliar with the city and would like some advice about where to go while I'm there. I am very excited to go to San Diego, because it's a big city with lots of amenities, but the downside is that it's so big that I have no idea where to start. I am a special snowflake traveler and details are under the cut. [more inside]
posted by bile and syntax at 11:01 AM PST - 6 comments

I need help distinguishing what was my fault and what was bad management. Also need help dealing with the anxiety that still comes back to me about it. [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 10:21 AM PST - 11 comments

Whenever I listen to songs referencing relationships and attraction, either the lyrics are always referring to a generic "you" ("I love you, you're so sexy...") or they are explicitly hetero ("Girl, I want to be your man..."). I was wondering if you could recommend me songs that are hella gay. I don't mean the musician is queer (though obviously they probably will be), I mean the lyrics specifically have some non-hetero references. [more inside]
posted by picklenickle at 9:45 AM PST - 89 comments

I'm about to start as the advertising/marketing coordinator for a local non-profit. I'd like to set up a task tracker for myself and a small group of people, maybe 5, and of course, free would be a great price to pay. I have some experience with task trackers but would love it if someone has advice here. [more inside]
posted by amanda at 9:27 AM PST - 2 comments

I made a delicious batch of zoupa toscana yesterday. The recipe has you finish with heavy cream. There's more than enough of the soup. Can I freeze the rest in containers?
posted by kathrynm at 9:01 AM PST - 6 comments

Toronto-specific question: I need to buy some new clothes for work, particularly white shirts, but I don't know where to look. [more inside]
posted by jb at 8:52 AM PST - 12 comments

I am in some conversations about a potential new job at an organization based in Newark, NJ. When I was growing up in NJ the city had a reputation for being unsafe. My sense is that things have improved, but how much? What is it like to work in, and live in or near Newark? [more inside]
posted by Miko at 7:09 AM PST - 15 comments

I moved to the UK with my family a few years ago for work. I like my job a lot, we have access to good schools, we don't pay rent, and the quality of life is generally good. The problem is that, after 3 years, I have no friends. I've invited people over, invited people out, gone to everything I have been invited to myself, and it just hasn't worked out with... anyone. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:06 AM PST - 13 comments

I abandoned Mint after a programmer friend told me that if your bank account is compromised, and you've ever given your password to a third party, the bank can call the breach your fault and you're out of luck. Does You Need A Budget have the same problem? [more inside]
posted by pipti at 5:23 AM PST - 9 comments

Is it correct that a stove running on natural gas can only emit CO if the burner is lit? On Saturday morning, I went out to run an errand, and when I came back to my studio apartment, I smelled gas. One burner was very slightly on (but burner was not lit). I wasn't using the stove, but I guess I must have bumped into the burner. I opened windows and called the gas company to ask what to do, and they sent someone out. He showed up ~15 minutes later, and by the time we went inside, the smell had dissipated. Everything tested fine. He told me that an unlit burner would not produce CO- is that right? Is it true that a stove would only produce CO if there is a flame? [more inside]
posted by pinochiette at 4:03 AM PST - 11 comments

I am seeking a spiritual home in NYC through a Jewish group or synagogue. Help me find the right place! [more inside]
posted by 3491again at 3:24 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm worried about my 24 year old son slipping back into a rut and it's led to me badgering him and being tough on him, for his own good I feel. However I do wonder if I'm being too hard. [more inside]
posted by blokefromipanema at 1:38 AM PST - 34 comments

Help me ID a song from E04 of HBO's high maintenance (link to mp3 below) https://soundcloud.com/user-389686736/high-maintenance-clip-s04-1908m Shazam isn't helping and it's not listed on any of the websites that normally document this stuff.
posted by jtothes at 12:25 AM PST - 3 comments

I've a pretty good idea on my views on my CA ballot, but am having a hard time figuring out how to vote on Prop 61. Was curious of actually decent analysis of the potential effects.
posted by Carillon at 8:25 PM PST - 5 comments

I sufferred a very severe panic attack along with weakness and trembling in my arms and hands about 45 seconds after being injected with local anesthesia. This is the second time such a thing has happened and I'm looking for advice. A few more details to follow. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 8:10 PM PST - 20 comments

I feel like this is a stupid question, and yet here I am...in the United States, and wanting to buy my husband rum Saint James. But what is it, exactly? And can you point me to a place to buy it in the US? [more inside]
posted by handful of rain at 7:09 PM PST - 8 comments

I just got my mail-in ballot, here in Maricopa County, AZ. (Woohoo, democracy!) I see there are 43 judges listed, and I get to vote whether or not to retain each one of them... But how can I learn which way to vote for each one? [more inside]
posted by meese at 6:11 PM PST - 10 comments

Want to identify a book I loved as a kid in the 50's. I think it involved 2 kids, a boy and a girl, who spent some time on ranches in Montana and New Mexico. There were lots of illustrations of horse tack and cowboy gear. I think it may have been about 9"x12". That is really all I can remember. If you can think of anything even close, I will happily explore all suggestions,
posted by Hobgoblin at 5:09 PM PST - 6 comments

I'd like to buy a deck of cards that includes negative numbers. So all number cards should have a negative equivalent; ideally there'd be anti-face cards and zeroes, too. Where do I buy/commission this?
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:46 PM PST - 11 comments

I will be in metro PDX area monday the 17th. Any good creepy and halloween stuff to check out? Thrift store recommendations also appreciated!
posted by long haired child at 3:16 PM PST - 2 comments

It's tough to grow up much smarter than one's parents. Seeing clearly through the illusion of parental omnipotence at an unnaturally early age sparks a deep, lingering dread of perilous results due to lack of responsible navigation. I'm looking for writings shedding light on post-childhood fallout. Insights for unpacking it all, etc.
posted by Quisp Lover at 2:46 PM PST - 8 comments

I left it to the last minute and now I'm not sure what I should do for Sukkot. [more inside]
posted by manderin at 2:41 PM PST - 11 comments

Someone close to me has lost the only key to her 2012 Honda. Assuming they will never be found and there are (just go with me here), what's the cheapest way to get new keys made? I suppose it doesn't have to be electronic if that will save $$$. [more inside]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 2:39 PM PST - 6 comments

We are me (early 20s, female) and my live-in babe (late 20s, male). The party theme is Book Titles. [more inside]
posted by meemzi at 2:24 PM PST - 30 comments

She drives but can't go far, doesn't have friends where she lives (so can't ask someone else to drive her), and isn't the socializing type. I'd like to find a way to make her more mobile for shopping and doctors' appointments. Lyft or Uber seem like possible options, but she doesn't have a smartphone, and barely can use a cell phone. She can use her home computer. She lives in Hacienda Heights, CA. [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 2:14 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm having some surgery on Friday next week to excise what is probably not skin cancer on my scalp. I have no idea how to tell my boyfriend this. I'm usually good with difficult conversations and I'm at a loss for how to do this one. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:01 PM PST - 19 comments

I go to Thai restaurants and Thai massage on a semi-regular basis. My name is Dee. Googling has previously told me that Dee is the Thai word for a femme lesbian. Is this something that your average Thai person would know or sub-culture slang? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:01 PM PST - 7 comments

I've been reading what seems like an increasing number of articles that discuss the threat of voter intimidation and I'm like, yikes! I also work at a university that takes election day as an academic holiday. I'm considering volunteering to be a precinct election officer, and I'd like to hear from people who have done it before to see if it's something I actually want to do. [more inside]
posted by nvvd at 1:51 PM PST - 14 comments

Woke up to an infestation of these things -- maybe 30 or 40 around the apartment. Thought they might be ants but my boyfriend doesnt think so. What's really weird is that they don't seem to have come from outside -- they're not near doors or windows, not clustering near food. They're in the middle of the living room and on the interior stairs. [more inside]
posted by pocketfullofrye at 1:23 PM PST - 10 comments

Is there an online photo sharing site that will let me upload photos into an album, move around photos within the album, and caption the photos so that they show up in a slideshow? [more inside]
posted by Elsie at 11:56 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to find a picture book that I read as a child (1980's; I'm not sure how old the book was at that time). All I remember is that it was about a girl named, I think, Arabella, who ventured into a huge Victorian mansion with convoluted passageways and got lost. Can anyone help me figure out what this book was?
posted by Ralston McTodd at 11:40 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm new to Xpath. Take the (see within) XML representing the (nested) prepositional noun phrase "friend of father of cat". I want to select all nodes where pos=NN and orth=cat, that are children of a nsubj via a nested preposition. The Xpath for that is this: /nsubj/prep/pobj/prep/pobj[@orth='cat' and @pos='NN'] But now I want to generalise this to select the 'cat' node at an arbitrary depth of nested prepositions... [more inside]
posted by ed\26h at 9:50 AM PST - 2 comments

We are having a party for my wife's birthday in the western suburbs and I want to get a taco truck/cart for the food. I can find lots of Mexican food caterers, but google is failing me on proper taco trucks/carts. (It seems like most purveyors do not really have websites or facebook accounts or anything.) Do you know a guy?
posted by AgentRocket at 9:22 AM PST - 5 comments

My sister and I were desperately trying to remember the name and author of a book we read as children in the 60s. I don't have many details, and of course my memories of the book may be distorted by time. [more inside]
posted by primate moon at 9:15 AM PST - 2 comments

I am recovering from a bout of diverticulitis. I completed a ten day course of antibiotics (cipro and flagyl for seven days and then moxifloxacin for three days after an allergic reaction to the flagyl developed) two days ago. Can I get a flu shot now or should I wait? [more inside]
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 9:10 AM PST - 3 comments

Our increasingly elderly father has survived another health crisis, but is going to need more care than we can afford or provide. Difficulty level: he's an ex-pat on the other side of the world, but wants his kid(s) to take care of him. Wall of text and some Whiskey Tango Foxtrot-ness inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:57 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm on the board of a small condo. The building has a small staff that has been here for almost two decades, and last night, a situation arose that resulted in one member getting arrested. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:51 AM PST - 10 comments

I prefer to have just one pair of shoes per type that I wear to death, and my mostly loved Converse Shoreline shoes are falling apart after a year of daily wear. I'm considering Dr Marten Mary Janes, but I'm not sure if I'm being wildly impractical. [more inside]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 2:42 AM PST - 19 comments

Hi, AskMe! I recently received a refrigerator that was kept outside (through rain, in particular) for some time. The bulk of the mess is gone – trays and the interior are quite clean, though – but I'm concerned about everything we can't see. Will a little more in-depth cleaning of the gaskets and such help, or will it always be a food safety risk? Picture inside. [more inside]
posted by a series of tube socks at 9:57 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm obsessed with this Icelandic Hymn being played in a train station. Help me find more music like this. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:48 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a terminal illness, a husband, 2 children (boys, ages 8 and 14), and a very risky surgery scheduled next week...what affairs should I make a priority? [more inside]
posted by Amalie-Suzette at 8:50 PM PST - 61 comments

I found my water heater leaking today, probably a failed sidewall. Is there some perfect world where replacing one of these is both cost effective, timely and skillfully done? [more inside]
posted by diode at 6:41 PM PST - 8 comments

The service provider who will not be named (starts with a V) has kept me on hold for a total of 10? Hours over 4-5 useless calls re upgrading my internet. I'm in Manhattan with slow speeds- what do frugal nontechnical people do for Internet in this city?!? [more inside]
posted by bquarters at 6:18 PM PST - 10 comments

I plan to release a couple android/iOS apps in 2017. Personal projects that I do mostly for enjoyment and to gain new skills. I’m considering whether it’s really worth it to form an LLC just to release these apps and have some basic liability protection. I've read in a few places it's good to be paranoid about this kind of thing in our hyper-litigious country. [more inside]
posted by quantum at 5:27 PM PST - 3 comments

I feel conflicted about asking a girl (A) out. I've been trying to get over a crush over another girl (B) for a month now. B was everything I've wanted, but it didn't work out. I don't want to hurt A by asking her out and nothing happening in the long run. [more inside]
posted by Thisisbuffalo at 4:08 PM PST - 10 comments

I had a Skyla IUD inserted in August. I might have done goofed today. [more inside]
posted by Ruki at 4:05 PM PST - 7 comments

Hoping for a gut check from my fellow legal practitioners on the steps forward on a disputing I am having with a contractor in DC/VA. IAAL. YANML. Prior to signing a contract for installation of a product a few years ago, I inquired with the salesperson, in writing, as to how much a [service] would cost if [situation] occurs. Salesperson responds by writing stating it would not be more than $X. Relying on this, I sign the contract. The contract does not contain this specific price quote, but it also does not have a merger/integration clause. Two years later, [situation] has occurred. I require the stated service. Company is quoting $5X for service and says the original e-mail by the salesperson cannot be honored because salesperson does not work with the company any longer. I have a general idea of how to proceed with this, but I want to see if there's anything I'm missing and how my fellow practitioners would proceed. [more inside]
posted by Karaage at 3:29 PM PST - 10 comments

Seems it's been awhile since anyone asked about clothing web sites for us big girls. I'm a 22-24, 2x, and just want some new ideas for my wardrobe. I'm not asking about any particular style, just throw your favorite sites at me! (I'm craving palazzo pants right now!)
posted by wwartorff at 2:31 PM PST - 20 comments

At the school I work at (in a mostly non-educational role) there are several children with severe autism (or what I would consider severe, but maybe not). They have their own aides, do modified programs, etc. I've never really worked with or been around children with autism before and because I don't come from an educational background, I am really struggling with understanding what autism *is* exactly and understanding what reasonable behavior/educational expectations look like. Are there any resources I should be looking at to get a better idea of what autism is and how to best interact with the children at the school who have it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:01 PM PST - 19 comments

tl;dr, I worked for a non-profit that shut down and now a service I used for my job hasn't been paid and they've called me. I'm wondering if I should do anything or just ignore it. I used the service, but it's not like I was in charge of our financials or compliance. Full details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:00 PM PST - 4 comments

I had a great-paying job in fundraising but the job was insanely emotionally over the top and I found myself running away after 18 months and now work in the private sector as a business development director. I donate money to charity and it has created a major dilemma that I can't figure out how to solve. Can you give me some advice? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:59 PM PST - 10 comments

My childhood friend is married to an emotionally controlling, increasingly paranoid man. What can she put in motion now to assist with her independence later, if it becomes necessary to leave? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:57 PM PST - 18 comments

I am in need of a new belt, and in possession of a waistline an odd number of inches in diameter. As men's belts typically only come in even sizes, I can't find one that buckles properly at the third hole, and my Google skills have been unable to dig up a satisfactory answer to this question: A belt one inch too long or one inch too short -- which will make me look less of a schlub? [more inside]
posted by Devoidoid at 12:22 PM PST - 18 comments

I have recently become aware that in 1978, a documentary was made, entitled either "Birth", or "Birth with R.D. Laing". My attempts at finding the full documentary either on-line or for sale have failed. I'd be very grateful for any help. [more inside]
posted by holist at 12:19 PM PST - 3 comments

I will be running a quiz in a room with no PA system. I have a MacBook Pro and a reasonable bluetooth speaker - will a combination of that and simple USB microphone broadcast my voice to the far reaches of the room? [more inside]
posted by jontyjago at 12:05 PM PST - 7 comments

My mom is making what seems like a... suboptimal... real estate decision. Should I be concerned? [more inside]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:04 PM PST - 20 comments

About 15 years ago, I bought a mass-produced piece of fine jewelry, and about 10 years ago, I lost it. Is there any way to find a copy? [more inside]
posted by possibilityleft at 11:14 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a good (read: well-known/efficient) way to find the "near-miss" intersection of 3 lines in 3D space? The lines almost, but don't quite, cross each other (image in an attempt to illustrate the problem) [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 11:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Once I had a Garminfone, and when I’d rent a car, I’d plug the phone into the car’s USB outlet, run the GPS, and listen to podcasts, the radio, or just sit in silence. Now I have an iPhone 5s running on OS10, and I recently rented a Hertz, and found much of that impossible. Worse, Applemaps led me the long way round the Northeast recently, adding several hours to my trip. Soon, I’ll need to drive home. Please suggest a new mapping program. Without GPS, I’ll never get home at all. [more inside]
posted by Violet Blue at 10:48 AM PST - 23 comments

I found out my bf has been telling a female coworker he's unhappy with me and our newborn baby. I am hurt and angry. Now what? [more inside]
posted by piranna at 10:48 AM PST - 33 comments

Since getting a new camera and renewing my love of photography, the quantity of images I've generated has quickly outstripped the size of my hard drive. It's only going to get worse, so I'm looking for a plan for both storing and backing up these files, especially if you've solved this same problem with a high volume of data. [more inside]
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 10:19 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to learn the style of dance in this video. What is it called, and where in the Boston area can I go to learn it?
posted by spindrifter at 9:57 AM PST - 9 comments

I shipped a pair of large, moderately valuable packages to Italy last night, and I accidentally sent to the wrong address. The two addresses are about 5 hours apart from each other in Italy. I realized my mistake this morning. I went in to USPS and they said the packages were already out, but I could call USPS and try to get them sent back to me. I called USPS and they were busy and took my number and said they'd call me back. [more inside]
posted by Slinga at 7:52 AM PST - 4 comments

Please recommend a toaster oven available in the US market without a stay on feature. [more inside]
posted by zamboni at 7:14 AM PST - 9 comments

Recently I got active on Twitter again, and I'm experimenting with following a much larger group of folks than I have in the past. Now that I have achieved a critical mass, though, reading my feed is like drinking from the proverbial firehose. What I really need is a decent AI to crunch that feed into a digest with the best items, or at the very least, a list of trending topics from just my feed. Surely such a thing exists?
posted by monju_bosatsu at 6:26 AM PST - 6 comments

My (outdoor) cats pick up a lot of ticks and I live in an area with a lot of Lyme Disease. Consensus among Vets seems to be that there's never been an observed case of Lyme in a cat (though they're not really sure why). I'm opposed to putting any type of repellent on the cats (as it gets in their bodies). [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 6:02 AM PST - 19 comments

We need to get wills. I've never done this before. What am I not considering? [more inside]
posted by JoannaC at 5:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Please help me identify a recent video of a toddler silently and terrifyingly threatening a grown man with nothing but his eyes. [more inside]
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 4:44 AM PST - 5 comments

I would like to grow a hedge but don't want to plant it permanently as I'd like to be able to move it if necessary. Are there any suitable plants that I can grow in containers? Parameters below the fold. [more inside]
posted by KateViolet at 4:29 AM PST - 6 comments

What can I gift my dad to help my parents' motor home experience? [more inside]
posted by shortyJBot at 2:57 AM PST - 11 comments

After my recent question about a long distance relationship going awry, it has ended. He broke up with me and I didn't try to stop it. I know it was the right thing, and break ups are never easy, but I'm finding it really hard to cope. Please help me find some hope in all of this. [more inside]
posted by wreckofthehesperus at 1:45 AM PST - 15 comments

I am trying to brainstorm some ideas of small gifts for a friend’s birthday. I like to give gifts that are practical and can in some small way be useful for people’s lives; not just sit in a box or closet. As an example I have given other friends who really like live music Etymotic Ear Plugs or other friends who like to bake the Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book. Ideas for services are also cool. [more inside]
posted by cycleback at 9:11 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a wolf print outline tattoo - meaning there are four toe prints and the bigger heel print, obviously. [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 8:58 PM PST - 11 comments

Need help finding the details of a well-timed Wikipedia edit! [more inside]
posted by Nightman at 8:21 PM PST - 3 comments

Last year, my partner and I did farm work in Australia on a work & holiday visa. Some employers gave us PAYG forms, which appear to be the Aussie equivalent of a W2, but not all did. We have since returned home to the US. What documentation should we provide the IRS in place of a W2 when we file? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 8:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Someone put a sticker in the elevator lobby of my building that says "smop." with three lines above it (picture under the fold). Today I saw someone wearing a shirt with the same logo and words. What on earth does it mean? I am at a tech school in Atlanta, GA. [more inside]
posted by scruffy-looking nerfherder at 8:08 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for an stop-motion short that loops and repeats like a fugue, with people overlapping and walking around each other! [more inside]
posted by suedehead at 7:49 PM PST - 2 comments

What's a good way to politely handle a short pour? [more inside]
posted by plinth at 6:29 PM PST - 30 comments

Earlier today on reddit someone shared a hospital bill for a baby delivery from 1954. The bill was for $99.84, which inflation adjusted is $893.93. Other posters chimed in to complain about cost inflation for homes and college tuition, with the sentiment that the present generation "has things worse off" than the post-war generation did. Does it? [more inside]
posted by prunes at 6:28 PM PST - 28 comments

I have an old Alcatel One Touch 5020T that I would like to unlock so that I can use it with an Italian sim card. I used the phone on a T-Mobile pre-paid plan. (Have a new phone and new service now). What is the safest and least expensive way to unlock the phone? I did a google search and none of the sites looked very reputable. Prices ranged from $49.99 to FREE! (if you give them your email, SSN and first born child).
posted by pjsky at 6:05 PM PST - 6 comments

I have one book and two Audible audiobooks and have read several articles about the whole Danish concept of hygge, roughly translated as cosiness but also covering belonging and warmth of the group. From the photos I have seen on Pinterest and in the articles it seems cosy winter/ Christmas pattern socks, multiple candles, and a cosy fleece throw or wool blanket are absolutely essential to cultivate hygge. I have moved into a housing association rental in Glasgow so the walls are bare and there's no knick-knacks or decorations, just loads and loads of books. If I want to make my flat a cosy and inviting place where people might want to pop over in the winter, what should I be buying? I am willing to spend up to £200 in total, Amazon products are handiest as I have the student version of Prime, but that's not as important as getting nice things which create a cosy hygge feeling. Any suggestions (other than spending it all on beer and cakes whih might also be a very hygge thing to do :) )?
posted by AuroraSky at 4:40 PM PST - 12 comments

It seems like everywhere I look today, there's negativity*. Racial profiling by cops. The Syrian refugee crisis. Syrian children dying by the thousands on a daily basis. School shootings in the U.S. Corruption in Haiti preventing monetary aid from getting where it's needed. And, obviously, the Great Orange Millionaire Disaster, many of his supporters and much of what they represent. Heck, even Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint. I'm looking for ways on coping with all of this, because my hope in humanity is running real low. [more inside]
posted by Everydayville at 4:30 PM PST - 35 comments

The object in the linked picture was recently found on a gravel road in Northern Georgia (the US state). The picture is a cross section of something, either plant or fungi, which smelled mushroomy and has a light brown exterior. About 2 inches in diameter. I have deja-vu, I feel like I've seen or even asked this question before. I'm hoping someone who still has a good memory can tell me what it is.
posted by ...tm... at 4:14 PM PST - 5 comments

Were these gloves designed for some specific use? Made by Swaine Adeney. Pigskin maybe, unlined, and with mysterious asymmetrical suede pads. Swaine Adeney doesn't even seem to make many gloves, closest cosmetic match by another brand were some lightweight summer shooting gloves ... but no clues on the odd padding. Does it serve some purpose?
posted by Lorin at 3:58 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm in Chicago getting ready to fly home to Boston. If I buy an Italian beef sandwich (sold hot) right before I board the airplane at 7pm ET and manage to get it into my fridge at home by around 11pm ET is there any chance that it would be edible tomorrow with a bit of microwaving? By edible I only mean safe to eat -- aesthetics are not a consideration.
posted by duoshao at 3:27 PM PST - 9 comments

Last time I was actively job searching (2010-2014, give or take), conventional wisdom had it that hiring managers/HR wouldn't even look at a resume with an address beyond reasonable commuting distance from the job. [more inside]
posted by scratch at 2:44 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a working HTML + JavaScript webpage. I need to have it run on a tablet with no web/net access. What's the easiest / best / most stable / best looking way to do this? [more inside]
posted by signal at 2:36 PM PST - 6 comments

Why can't I select a given local Mac as an Airplay playback device? [more inside]
posted by mwhybark at 2:28 PM PST - 0 comments

I saw this photo on instagram and I think I have found my tribe! Where can I find the pink dress on the very left or styles that are similar?
posted by katinka-katinka at 1:30 PM PST - 11 comments

Looking for the simplest device/way to set up a mobile hotspot in the car that ideally doesn't involve tethering to another phone. Google research is making it tough to figure out what I need exactly. [more inside]
posted by andruwjones26 at 12:40 PM PST - 8 comments

Okay does it mean something bad when a website Vimeo doesn't appear correctly on TWO different browsers I have - safari and chrome? Especially when website looks perfectly fine on other people's computers? Also I have a mac. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 at 12:40 PM PST - 13 comments

What's the most luxurious place in Boston where I can sit on my butt all day and do nothing? [more inside]
posted by Metroid Baby at 12:11 PM PST - 9 comments

Guys I've been trying to smoke a couple pork shoulders for the past four hours. Can't get the temp over 120F. Go time is in 3 hours and I'm about to just throw them in the oven, because they're totally smoked but barely cooked. But the question is, are they safe to eat?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 12:07 PM PST - 11 comments

I really can't deal right now with the (lack of) organization of my electronic photos, music, and files. [more inside]
posted by wannabecounselor at 11:53 AM PST - 4 comments

My wife has a medium-sized law practice in a specialized practice area. I'm a techie, but more of a developer and pointy haired boss than anyone with super appropriate skills in AdWords. Looking for a good resource to either learn enough to do some basic tweaking of her campaigns or a way to find appropriate professional help. [more inside]
posted by Lame_username at 11:43 AM PST - 2 comments

Right now all time tracking and invoice generating is done by hand. This will not do. I think eBillity would work, but looking for other suggestions - specifics within. [more inside]
posted by Lucinda at 10:28 AM PST - 10 comments

I want a car that is roadtrip-worthy and reliable. I can spend about $2700 cash and could maybe spend $100/month on a car loan, though I'd rather not. I don't care about what the car looks like, just that it's reliable and roadtrip-worthy and automatic transmission. I would be purchasing in the SF Bay Area but potentially moving to colder/snowy areas next year. What should I be looking at and what should my expectations be for that price range? ( Plus bonus q about my current car inside.) [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:23 AM PST - 22 comments

Hi! I'm wondering if you all can recommend some children's rhymes and songs that are positive or at least free of ghastly, scary, and offensive things? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 9:24 AM PST - 48 comments

My SO is going away to Minneapolis for a course for a week, and I'd like to make her a little care package. After checking the weather, I got some posh lip balm and swanky mittens, but I'd also like to get her a fun (non-travel guide) book about the area too -- she enjoys Jonathan Franzen and David Sedaris. Suggestions for the care package are welcome too!
posted by jobby at 9:03 AM PST - 19 comments

I've noticed a pattern at the software company I work for: our best engineers (not just in terms of engineering but also in terms of their social skills, collaboration, coaching and working well with others) are promoted to engineering leadership roles and given direct reports. This reduces the time they spend actually making things by at least 50% due to the time they spend in management. They often don't make great managers (at least at first) and in some cases they eventually ask to return to being an individual contributor. How can we make this work better? What patterns of success have you seen for this in your own workplaces? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:56 AM PST - 20 comments

A friend and I have received the tremendous honor of being asked to co-officiate the wedding of our close friends, Bride and Groom. Bride and Groom have given us a long leash for the ceremony, with only two requests: first, that the ceremony be "humorous and heartfelt" and second, that we meaningfully acknowledge the Bride's mother, who died several years ago. What might be a good way to reconcile a humorous ceremony with an emotionally significant tribute? [more inside]
posted by fiery.hogue at 7:56 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm currently "discussing" Clinton with 2 friends on Facebook (actual friends) who are very left-wing and also very anti-Clinton: the word "traitor" and "criminal" has been used. They seem convinced that the FBI investigation was a sham and then something about the Senate Oversight Committee hearing about it. I admit I'm not that well versed in this but I don't believe Clinton is a criminal. Can you give me some good resources about this? Either news or some sort of explanation of what sounds to me like a crackpot conspiracy theory. Thanks!
posted by Automocar at 7:53 AM PST - 27 comments

Okay, I was thinking about this last night, and realized that I don't understand the full extent of the US president's executive powers, and I don't really understand the political-capital consequences for using them. Questions inside! [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 7:22 AM PST - 6 comments

Let's say I wanted to listen to chiptunes in the style of e.g. Explosions in the Sky or Do Make Say Think or Sigur Ros. Ideally long pieces (7+ minutes?). Any suggestions on where to find these? Is anyone doing this? 100 bonus points if it's actual chiptune (or a faithful recreation) versus "sounds kind of video game-y".
posted by curious nu at 7:14 AM PST - 10 comments

Recent grad school graduate here on the first adult job hunt. I'm quickly realizing that it won't take a magical month to find the job I want. I'm living at home while searching, and a job in my hometown is hiring. It is in my field, but exact opposite of what I want to do, however it would help me save money. Would it be wrong to take a job that I know I would probably only stay in for 4-6 months or so? [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 7:08 AM PST - 13 comments

What American cultural habits are considered pretentious or eye-rolly when performed in another country? [more inside]
posted by amicamentis at 7:02 AM PST - 68 comments

I'll be graduating next year with a degree in Psychology with a concentration in Childhood & Adolescent development. I'm looking to find a new job in the meantime, and I'm not sure if I should try to find something in my field or switch fields entirely. [more inside]
posted by Autumn at 12:44 AM PST - 8 comments

I bought a large pre-built Lego toy at a tag sale. It came with three instruction booklets. What do you recommend is the best approach to taking it apart and organizing the 700 pieces so my kid can rebuild it?
posted by Dragonness at 10:25 PM PST - 17 comments

I’m nearly 50 and have all but given up on any form of worldly success or financial stability. What now? [more inside]
posted by Beethoven's Sith at 8:46 PM PST - 15 comments

Background info: I have an employer-based PPO plan with BCBS. According to the plan, out-of-network providers and services are covered at 80 percent (I owe remaining 20 percent). Deductible: $250 per year, out of pocket maximum: $2k per year which includes deductible and out of network as well. I am undergoing cancer treatment and one of the surgical specialists I want is out of my network. I'm trying to determine if I can afford to see him. See details below! [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 7:42 PM PST - 11 comments

What I remember of the book (likely with errors): Starts within about 25 years of 2010. We've identified exoplanets with a (light interferometry?) telescope (on the moon?). A 4-6 member volunteer genius crew sets off on the first interstellar voyage, but they burn through their entertainment/education material early in the voyage and are so bored they become supergeniuses (one solves Goldbach's conjecture?). Then plot twist, the telescope didn't really find planets; these folks were sent out as a psychological experiment. [more inside]
posted by Emmy Noether at 7:31 PM PST - 3 comments

I have stock purchased over the years through my firm’s ESPP. I also bought a house this year. But I may get laid off next year. My bosses expect the firm to be sold in 2017. Should I sell in 2016 or 2017 for the best tax advantage?
posted by Borborygmus at 6:26 PM PST - 4 comments

How can I tell my new roommate that I don't want her to walk my dogs? [more inside]
posted by Lingasol at 5:48 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm living in a place that seems to have invisible drafts coming from secret places that I do not know. [more inside]
posted by olivetree at 3:53 PM PST - 9 comments

Mrs COD and myself will be arriving in town on the 30th, and leaving on the 3rd. It looks like we will miss the parades and most if not all of the pre-31st activities. So what shouldn't we miss on Halloween itself, and what restaurants / museums, etc. should be put on our itinerary? I've been to N.O. once, for DrupalCon earlier this year. I was busy with the 'Con and saw little beyond getting to Frenchman's Street one night for some blues. WWII Museum is on my list. Beyond that - looking for ideas.
posted by COD at 3:10 PM PST - 8 comments

I've been avoiding adding widgets to my WordPress site ... keeping it basic, I think, may reduce the amount of security policing I have to do myself. But now I've made a coloring book page I'd like people to be able to download and print for free. Anybody with more experience know the best way to do this? I have it as a jpeg, but could easily make it a pdf.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 2:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I want to make high-density cardboard look like enamel-coated metal, even when inspected at close range, but there's no need to actually fool anyone (willing suspension of disbelief). What products/methods should I use? I have limited time to make this work, or I'd set up a series of experiments, so I'm hoping someone else has tried something similar.... [more inside]
posted by aramaic at 2:38 PM PST - 8 comments

I’m a PhD student with a stipend who needs to figure out how to manage their finances. What’s a good system to ensure I’m living within my means and am saving properly? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:48 PM PST - 18 comments

Short Version: I'm at a start up that I suspect will not be getting its series B in time for us to not run out of money. I'm kind of expensive and also I like having a pay check. I need to figure out what to say when I'm interviewing. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:48 PM PST - 7 comments

This question contains ongoing millennial grief about being friend-dumped in the age of social media! It's been over a year, I made it so I can't see her Facebook anymore which is great and everything was going perfectly, and I was totally over it. But now she's popped up on my Instagram feed, and it's making me upset all over again. I need some healthy mechanisms to deal with this! Please help! Lots of special snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by spicytunaroll at 1:29 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking for special trip recommendations 5-8h from LA by plane, good for a couple-ish celebration of sorts. [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:16 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm pestering the hive mind for any suggestions or best practices on trying to maintain my face. Simpler (and cheaper) the better... My googling usually just gets me advertising. I currently just use lotion with spf each day... Any other thoughts?
posted by aggienfo at 1:12 PM PST - 12 comments

Looking for a guitar amp, $200-range, just for messing around. The Blackstar ID15 looks pretty versatile. Good reviews on the Roland Cube 20GX as well. Anything else I should be looking at? Looking for some built-in effects with a good user interface, easy to program. (Good/bad experiences programming with an iOS app welcome!)
posted by starman at 1:05 PM PST - 9 comments

We're having a Halloween costume contest at work and I wanted to paint my face like a sugar skull. I've seen some great masks online in the finished stage, but the awesome pictures leave me with some questions about the how-to part. . . [more inside]
posted by onecircleaday at 12:03 PM PST - 14 comments

We are not a bank, but hold a secured note. (Complex details inside) Days before the sale, the debtor just filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy. What can we do to maximize our chances of getting either the property or the loan/lawyer fee amount soon? We were counting on this for a lot. Also, please help me not get taken for a ride by a lawyer that I'm not sure is acting in our best interest, and not panic. [more inside]
posted by corb at 11:48 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for a pomodoro timer that keeps track of my actual time worked/time spent on break. In other words, I'd like it to ring an alarm after the 25-minute work time, but keep timing until I press "Start break," and ring an alarm after a 5 minute break, but keep timing until I press "Go back to work." Does such a thing exist? [more inside]
posted by cider at 11:27 AM PST - 3 comments

I have hundreds of records (translation for those under 32: "vinyl"). I have stereo speakers. And somebody just sold me her turntable for twenty bucks. Now all I need is an amp. I don't want to spend a lot of money. What should I buy?
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:00 AM PST - 21 comments

Where can I go online to get specific, personalized advice on how to maximize my use of travel rewards points? I am looking for help with Chase Ultimate rewards specifically if that matters. [more inside]
posted by bove at 10:06 AM PST - 8 comments

I am moving to France in two weeks - I speak French, I have a visa, I'm enrolled in a doctoral program, my money is more or less straight. . . but I'm starting to flip out. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by os tuberoes at 9:01 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for either a secondary source confirming this so-called "empirical rule" of mean absolute deviation and standard deviation -- 1.25MAD≈s -- or a quick explanation of how that may have been derived. [more inside]
posted by glibhamdreck at 7:05 AM PST - 3 comments

New job in College Park in a month ... need to find a 4bdr (at least) house to rent for my family before then! Panic. Very little is available on Craigslist. Are there other/better options? [more inside]
posted by aperturescientist at 7:04 AM PST - 6 comments

This summer we had a lovely black and yellow orb weaver (named Agnes) set up on our porch. She hung out for a few weeks, ate heartily, and ultimately laid a nice egg sac in the corner of said porch and died/moved locations. The Catch: We may be moving soon and I don't want the sac to be destroyed by the next owners. [more inside]
posted by Twain Device at 7:00 AM PST - 4 comments

My partner and I are going on holiday to New York from the 5th-11th November. Yay! It's a big trip for us for lots of reasons, including a couple of milestone birthdays, his being on the 7th which is why we're travelling then. What we didn't figure in was the NY Marathon being held on the day after we arrive, and something about an election or something on the 8th idk apparently I've been on Mars? So in addition to the usual questions I'd like advice on navigating these events please. [more inside]
posted by billiebee at 6:27 AM PST - 25 comments

My 8th grade daughter is avoiding school because she doesn't like the people in her classes. She wants to change homerooms to be in more classes with her friends. I can't figure out if this is a reasonable thing to request from the school, and if so, how to go about doing it to maximize success. [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 6:21 AM PST - 21 comments

I am trying to cite a chapter in the Maine State Board of Nursing's website using APA. I am either having a brain fart or legit difficulty categorizing this source... [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 6:17 AM PST - 6 comments

What it says on the tin. I don't know this person and I've never lived in Indiana, where she is located. The service she contacted me through is called Getting Out and appears from a cursory Google source to be legit. A) how and why did she identify me as someone to contact, B) should I respond in any way, and C) is this a Thing?
posted by sciatrix at 5:56 AM PST - 26 comments

Help me learn Linux the right way circa 2016. [more inside]
posted by overeducated_alligator at 4:42 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for any real life experiences of using the Trust a Trader website in the UK in general and London in particular. Also for any recommendations for other ways to find reputable trades people.Assume we don't know anyone irl to ask, either friends or others builders/carpenters/roofers. Partner and I have been burned before so general trust is low but need some work doing around the house that is well beyond me.
posted by fatfrank at 10:47 PM PST - 9 comments

(Asking for a friend). A friend smokes weed a couple of times a year. They just smoked (for the first time in a year or two) yesterday, and are going in for a hernia surgery in three days. The hospital intake paperwork asks whether they use illegal drugs. The privacy statement specifically retains the right to share information with the police. So they'd rather not admit to the marijuana unless it's actually medically relevant. Is it possible that a couple of joints could have lasting effects four days later that a surgeon would need to know about?
posted by anonymous at 9:15 PM PST - 20 comments

Given the times and lack of single men around me in real life, I set up a dating profile on two different sites, but shy away from actually responding to people. How do I get myself excited and motivated to communicate and go out with men even if they don't seem that appealing on paper or after a few brief texts? [more inside]
posted by greatalleycat at 8:36 PM PST - 13 comments

So I scored tickets to the Conan O'Brien show when he comes back to New York next month. The venue is the Apollo Theater. I need to get there early to pick up my tickets but instead of going back home and then returning for the show which is in the early evening, I'd like to spend a day in Harlem. I've already got the Studio Museum on my itinerary but I need some more ideas for places where I can kill some time. Also a good coffee shop would be appreciated. Thanks.
posted by cazoo at 6:37 PM PST - 9 comments

I need to find a Word file from 8 years ago and I don't have much to go on. [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 6:33 PM PST - 6 comments

My boys are old enough to watch family TV (and movies) instead of just children's stuff! Yay! But this is hard to find! BOO! Suggest for us some family TV series in particular that we can enjoy as a family. Specifications within. [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:05 PM PST - 50 comments

My iPhone (and only my iPhone) is having trouble with my home wifi (and only my home wifi). What gives? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 6:04 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking to decorate some of the empty white walls in our house, and I've been to places like Pier 1, Home Goods, Target, etc. looking for some paintings or photographs to hang. Nothing has really caught my eye so I'm wondering if there isn't some online source (or even other stores) that sell affordable art. I'm mostly looking for landscapes or nature but open to considering a wide variety of subjects. Thanks for any ideas!
posted by madonna of the unloved at 5:47 PM PST - 18 comments

looking for help finding Sci-Fi books, short story's for a 9 year old boy. Trying to get that book habit going. thanks
posted by patnok at 5:47 PM PST - 12 comments

My kiddo and I are taking an impromptu mother-son day trip to Louisville. Help us figure out where to eat and one "mom" thing to do... [more inside]
posted by pinkacademic at 5:38 PM PST - 8 comments

The song "God, Please Let Me Go Back" by Josh Rouse is on the House MD Original Television Soundtrack released in 2007. What I can't recall and can't find online is which episode it's performed on. Anyone recall? Thanks.
posted by mmw at 4:54 PM PST - 2 comments

My partner can only come in one position (lying on her back with her legs dead straight) and then only sometimes. Do you have any suggestions for us? [more inside]
posted by sinbarambam at 4:06 PM PST - 41 comments

I am trying to understand the definition of Tier 1 capital. Internet sources seem contradictory. I understand the concept but I am confused as to whether it is shareholder equity or the market value of all shares of common stock that make up the portion that is not retained earnings, preferred stock or creative things. Wikipedia does not make this clear. Also if you can point me at a good resource for answering these kind of simple but slightly obscure questions I would appreciate it. [more inside]
posted by Pembquist at 3:27 PM PST - 8 comments

A dating question about potential red flags. Am I misjudging this person? [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 3:06 PM PST - 47 comments

A public park that I frequent (Sam Houston Park, in Houston TX) has a large statue which was dedicated in 1903 "to all heroes of the South who fought for the principles of states rights." I consider this to be a blot on the park, and while I don't want it to be removed, I would like to approach my city government about building a plaque or a marker explaining the historical context of "Lost Cause" monuments. [more inside]
posted by Clambone at 2:49 PM PST - 5 comments

I've worn glasses for the last ten years, and ever since I've got them, I've experienced what I can only describe as minor feelings of derealization. Everything always seems.... a little strange with them on - it's as if the world is not quite there, and everything is slightly unreal. How can I stop this? [more inside]
posted by inner_frustration at 2:48 PM PST - 17 comments

Almost done with pregnancy, so now I am looking to replace some of the pregnancy blogs I read with blogs about caring for a baby! [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 2:45 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm a dreamer, and always enjoy coming across beautiful thoughts on ways of living and thinking. Some seem to be so worthy of making change about! But they always only make marginal impact for about as long as I can hold them in my mind. Aside from those realizations that demand that a change happen right-then-and-there, how do you bring yourself to incorporate new ideas into your actions, mind, and lifestyle? Do you do this? [more inside]
posted by a good beginning at 2:25 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a poem that uses a play on words to find rhymes for both silver and orange, I believe within the same poem. For example, I think the use of "door-hinge" is used to rhyme with orange. I can find a bunch of poems out there that play with "unrhymable" language in this way, but I thought there was a shorter, catchy one that took on silver and orange in one verse. Maybe five lines or so, maybe a limerick? Sound familiar?
posted by SpacemanStix at 1:28 PM PST - 11 comments

I lost a lot of documents from the Notes app on my mid-2012 Macbook Air. Is there ANY way they are recoverable? [more inside]
posted by colorblock sock at 1:27 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for visual references to logbooks that craftspeople have kept over the years for their work. For example, maintenance logs, mechanics logs, captain's logs, work related journaling, etc. Digital copies are fairly important, and a getting a feel for layout, language, and visuals are all a plus.
posted by codacorolla at 12:49 PM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for an Android app which will allow me to scan a QR code (which the app may provide or have me generate my own) that is affixed to the outside of a physical box, then take a picture of the contents of said box. I can then put the boxes into storage/move them to new house/etc. When I desire, I fire up the app, scan the QR code on the box and can now see what is contained inside the box. [more inside]
posted by JJtheJetPlane at 12:43 PM PST - 2 comments

Good news: I'm getting a bigger office! Can you provide tips, tricks, or inspiration on how to set up a comfortable, productive, organized work space? [more inside]
posted by kinsey at 12:18 PM PST - 7 comments

I know that the Babylonians/Egyptians/Greeks (and through them European cultures), and China, Japan, Tibet, and India all had conceptions of the world being made up of four or five fundamental elements (e.g., earth, air, water, fire). Did any cultures outside of these (the Mayans, native North American societies, sub-Saharan societies, etc.) have similar elemental cosmological systems?
posted by Sangermaine at 12:07 PM PST - 2 comments

My business is planning an out of state week-long meeting for next spring, with hundreds of people coming in from across the country.... the week before my wedding. Am I unreasonable for asking for an exemption? [more inside]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:06 PM PST - 30 comments

SO and I will be in Austin Tx from late on October 30 to early on November 3. We're staying close to downtown and we'll have a vehicle. We're not into the 20 something bar scene. We'd much rather listen to some music (blues and country) and eat some good food. Not really picky eaters, but at least one BBQ meal. Franklins is amazing, but we're not sure we want to line up for 3 hours. Any suggestions from the community?
posted by Pablo MacWilliams at 12:00 PM PST - 15 comments

What are your best, specific recommendations for great food, design, and local culture highlights in Copenhagen for 3-4 adults and 2 18-month olds? [more inside]
posted by foodmapper at 11:24 AM PST - 7 comments

I've got a new baby and a friend coming to town who wants to meet this baby on Friday! Friend has a tight time window and needs to meet in Manhattan somewhere in-between Midtown and the West Village. I have no idea where to go. [more inside]
posted by yearly at 11:07 AM PST - 7 comments

My wife, baby (18 months), and I will be spending a couple of nights in Richmond, VA on the weekend of Oct 28. Looking for a good part of town to stay in. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 10:29 AM PST - 3 comments

Prior to the new update of the Tripadvisor app, I could open a saved location, zoom out, and then see the saved locations nearby. The new update destroyed this functionality. Is there any way for me to access a map of my saved locations? I like to plan a route among proximate sites, and I don't know how to do this.
posted by jefficator at 9:21 AM PST - 0 comments

I need a new hobby to do while watching TV that fits my desires to improve myself, have something to show for it and still be able to concentrate on my show. Difficulty: I have a bum shoulder. Please don't recommend knitting! [more inside]
posted by litereally at 9:20 AM PST - 24 comments

Been at a job for 2 months. Not what I was told it was be. I want to bail but concerned how potential employers will see this. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by stormpooper at 8:17 AM PST - 19 comments

Help! Back in the early months of this year I concluded that I was going to need to be somewhere outside of the U.S. as we headed into the last few weeks of the election. I had an airline voucher that needed to be used and I'd wanted to visit Turkey ever since taking a class in the history of the eastern Mediterranean region in university, and so I booked myself tickets to Istanbul with two weeks to spend between my arrival and departure (the last week of October and the first week of November.) [more inside]
posted by Nerd of the North at 7:58 AM PST - 12 comments

I have a large west-facing window and I'd like to set up some large leafy plants/trees set up in front of it. What would you recommend, based on the parameters below? [more inside]
posted by sea change at 7:32 AM PST - 10 comments

Help me find some spooky graphic novels or comics to get me in the Halloween spirit [more inside]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:30 AM PST - 17 comments

I just switched insurance and am looking for new doctors. Can you recommend an obgyn and/or an endocrinologist (in NYC) who you love? [more inside]
posted by 168 at 5:09 AM PST - 4 comments

I have trouble resting in my no-obligation-smaller-moments, and I want to know what you do in your free moments throughout the day to build energy rather than deplete it. [more inside]
posted by uncannyslacks at 4:46 AM PST - 22 comments

I’m a photographer and a writer. I’m working with a new music site and we really want to land an interview with a band who are on their farewell tour. I’m beanplating about whether to reach out to the band members directly. Help! [more inside]
posted by gmb at 2:14 AM PST - 6 comments

About three months ago (July 11), our nurse at the clinic wanted to start a biggest loser challenge at work with money on the line. ($1,050) It was seven people including myself that put in $150 each. Now, the nurse decided to include her boyfriend who’s not a regular employee and happened to be overweight at the time. Fast forward to today which was the final weigh-in, and some shady business took place with the boyfriend winning the pot money based on the amount of BMI (body mass index) lost. [more inside]
posted by tnar23 at 11:04 PM PST - 21 comments

With the arrival of the rains, a patch of mushrooms of a wide variety of shapes and color patterns has sprouted around my chestnut tree in the backyard. I heard mushroom identification can be tricky so I have no plans on eating them. But I would love to know what species they are. I've tried a couple of online mushroom identification sites but haven't had much luck. Here are some pictures They are all about 2-3 inches tall. As far as I can tell they don't have any striking odors. I live in Portland Oregon.
posted by Pantalaimon at 10:24 PM PST - 6 comments

Help a hopeless romantic get over her fear of asking a guy out. [more inside]
posted by Champagne Supernova at 10:23 PM PST - 15 comments

My housemate's voice really carries in our apartment, and it's stressing me out. [more inside]
posted by delight at 10:18 PM PST - 21 comments

Techniques to help when getting caught up in feelings of doom? [more inside]
posted by sprezzy at 8:57 PM PST - 11 comments

How would someone break a lease at the beginning of a rental agreement and what are reasonable causes for doing so? [more inside]
posted by CosmicSeeker42 at 7:17 PM PST - 7 comments

There is a project I have been pushing off for a long time now of sitting my loved ones down and interviewing them, maybe on tape. What questions am I going to most appreciate having their answers to, some day in the (hopefully distant) future when I can no longer ask them? [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 7:15 PM PST - 14 comments

We've just demolished our kitchen/dining room and now decided that in-ceiling speakers for music, and a tv would be a good thing. Short on time, and audio isn't my thing, help! [more inside]
posted by nobeagle at 7:02 PM PST - 9 comments

I purchased a condo, hurrah! I will have approximately 2/3 to 1/2 the space I had before [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 6:34 PM PST - 14 comments

Android device manager claims that my phone is somewhere in my house. But when I tell it to ring my phone at full volume, it claims that it's doing so, and then...nothing. My house is small. I have searched it from top to bottom, while the ringer should theoretically be sounding. I hear nothing. Which is more likely to be malfunctioning - the locator or the ringer? [more inside]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 6:27 PM PST - 6 comments

I just can't take the grey drizzle anymore, where should I move? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by Orca at 6:01 PM PST - 39 comments

I need the baseball underpants shown in this commercial (About 18-20 seconds in). I do not want boxers. I would like as close to these pants as possible. Can you help me?
posted by oflinkey at 4:44 PM PST - 2 comments

Are there any proven publications (specifically magazines and newspapers) that are bi-lingual (primarily in the USA/Canada and Europe) and are the non-English parts necessarily a translation of the English parts? [more inside]
posted by omar.a at 4:35 PM PST - 13 comments

After juice shots from a shop kept me going on a recent vacation, I'm interested in learning more and making my own. I have no interest in buying a juicer; I'm looking for things I can make with pre-made juices, oils, supplements, etc. A few more details inside. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 4:16 PM PST - 3 comments

Christmas is coming up and I work for a family business. I need to get all the owners a gift. There are 10 individuals total (five couples). I am at a loss what to get them, I can not afford to spend a lot. I would consider spending up to $100 for all of them. [more inside]
posted by just asking at 3:30 PM PST - 14 comments

Hi; This is in Canada. When a employer hires u, and says u will be paid in cash once a month (no taxes), and it's up to u to pay your taxes - at the end of year, what happens to the employer - or u? How can the worker or employer get caught? Thanks :-)
posted by LOOKING at 3:29 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for a few comforting, fantasy-ish books I can immerse myself in while washing dishes or drinking my tea. Bonus points for audiobooks! [more inside]
posted by linettasky at 1:43 PM PST - 39 comments

I am going to a friend's house later for an impromptu, casual Thanksgiving dinner. I want to bring a little something to contribute, that would be tasty yet unconventional with turkey dinner. There are a few standout ingredients in my fridge, which include gorditas, flour tortillas, chicken breast, sweet potato and regular potato, refried beans, green onions, chipotle in adobo, salsa, and both mozzarella and cheddar cheese. I was thinking empanadas with the chicken, potato, cheese, and refried beans... but I'd prefer to not have to make dough from scratch. Is there another dish that you'd recommend considering what I've got? Thanks!
posted by to recite so charmingly at 1:05 PM PST - 11 comments

I've got a full time job but have landed some freelance work that will bring in multiple thousand pounds a year. I'm registering as self-employed and I've read a whole bunch around allowances/expenses etc. I've a couple of questions over the fold: [more inside]
posted by chr at 12:57 PM PST - 3 comments

Help me learn how to plan, shop, and cook for just me. Cookbooks exist for the cooking alone market, but it's hard to choose between them. What I want is something in the vein of Serious Eats for the solo chef. The things I need are guidance on how to shop in a non-wasteful way for one, including how to keep fresh vegetables on hand but not prone to spoilage, techniques for recipe splitting, etc.
posted by ChrisR at 11:00 AM PST - 19 comments

Dear Mefites, I've started going out with this person i met on a social app. He's jolly, but ever since we've met in person he hasn't stopped joking, literally. He's smart, confident, attractive and grounded but what tires me out abit is that he seems rather hard to get to know on a personal level. [more inside]
posted by eustaciavye87 at 10:17 AM PST - 22 comments

Trying to find a poem I once read, can only remember this: We sat inside, we drank our tea. In sips, he had enough of me. [more inside]
posted by autolykos at 9:16 AM PST - 1 comment

Last week I posted about a stray cat I found. I got him checked out by the vet and he's FIV+. Vet said he's about a year old and showing no symptoms. I have two existing cats that AFAIK are FIV- (they've never been outside or come into contact with other cats). What should I do? [more inside]
posted by AFABulous at 8:09 AM PST - 33 comments

I was billed for a surgical procedure that my doctor never performed. When I complained and asked for a refund, they instead raised the price of a different procedure listed on the same bill, so that my total bill still came to the same amount. What recourse do I have? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:05 AM PST - 17 comments

I am a lifelong, semi-professional photographer who has recently had severe vision loss in my right eye. Help me to become the best one-eyed photographer ever. [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 5:30 AM PST - 4 comments

I am losing my mind because of this election and the state of the world. In an effort to retain sanity I am trying to find alternate ways to entertain myself on the internet that have NOTHING to do with politics or current events. Please help. [more inside]
posted by forza at 5:13 AM PST - 33 comments

I met a great man about a year or so ago right after getting out of an abusive relationship. I left after a few weeks to figure myself out. I never told him about the nature of the relationship I left, just that I needed time and could I get back in touch when I was in a better place but that I didnt know how long that would be. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:02 AM PST - 15 comments

In reality TV shows where there is unavoidable ongoing contact between contestants and production staff (particularly camera/sound crew), how are the inevitable human relationships managed? [more inside]
posted by russm at 3:40 AM PST - 16 comments

He's been demonstrating bad behavior and regressing in his training in the past month. [more inside]
posted by Sherbil at 3:03 AM PST - 20 comments

Last night I heard a really intriguing piece of Arabic music. I'd like to hear it (or at least something similar to it) again! [more inside]
posted by soundofsuburbia at 3:01 AM PST - 8 comments

USA edition. Wanted 12 volt electric blanket with a built in step-down and rectifier circuit from 120VAC to 12VDC. [more inside]
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 1:39 AM PST - 12 comments

I have to process a ton of jpeg images that will be used for a web portfolio of projects. I have been struggling to come up with a way to do this efficiently (as well as not shooting myself in the foot of the images need to be used in a different format down the road). [more inside]
posted by This_Will_Be_Good at 12:37 AM PST - 3 comments

I had my wisdom teeth out 15 years ago and I've always thought my back molars felt sharp or like there was some jagged tooth behind my molars. I perpetually forget to do my dentist about it but aren't sure if they would see left over wisdom teeth bits in an x-ray or visual exam. [more inside]
posted by toomanycurls at 11:25 PM PST - 6 comments

My mom and I are planning a trip for Veteran's Day weekend, but we haven't quite decided on where. Our main interests are cute shops with handmade items, historical sites, gardens and nature hikes, and delicious baked goods. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by cndelia at 8:53 PM PST - 9 comments

This late in the election cycle, are my (modest) donations best targeted towards individual statewide candidates, or towards general democratic get-out-the-vote efforts? If the latter, any suggestions? I'm specifically interested in impacting Missouri statewide races, which will be highly competitive if enough disgusted GOPers stay home.
posted by chrisamiller at 8:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I've read online that over the triple doorways of Milan Cathedral are three inscriptions spanning the arches. Above one is carved a wreath of roses, with the words, “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Over the second is a cross, with the words, “All that troubles is but for a moment.” Underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is inscribed: “That only is important which is eternal.” I presume the inscriptions are in latin or something. Can someone confirm, and provide the exact wording in latin? [more inside]
posted by hellomina at 6:58 PM PST - 7 comments

Several months ago, I used some Terminal commands to set up symlinks to make my Macbook sync certain folders with Dropbox. Now I want to undo this. However, I now cannot remember how I set this up, and I want to stop it. This is where you come in. [more inside]
posted by 4ster at 6:56 PM PST - 5 comments

I have some extra room in my budget and would like to support a Democratic candidate in a close race. To whom should I donate? Or is better to just donate more to Hillary's campaign? [more inside]
posted by that possible maker of pork sausages at 6:46 PM PST - 11 comments

Asking for female, cool, well traveled, worldly, well educated, very fit, pretty, 30-something professional who is looking to meet a similar fellow not in a bar scene, not on tinder etc...? are there better apps in NZ? unusual places or groups to meet good guys? Loves great foods, cooking, the restaurant scene in Aukland, is hilarious, and generally great all around but has hard time finding the right cool cat. Suggestions? Tips? Tricks? Auckland dating hacks?
posted by specialk420 at 6:00 PM PST - 3 comments

Uber deleted my account because the tech support staff didn't understand me. I have contacted tech support twice and each time got a reply that didn't didn't make sense. OK, I'll make a new account. Nope, "Phone number is unavailable for use." Now what do I do to re-activate my deleted account or set up a new account to my phone number? More inside. [more inside]
posted by ITravelMontana at 5:45 PM PST - 9 comments

A friend and I are putting together a model T-34/76 '43 model, and we're stumped as to what a particular part is supposed to be. [more inside]
posted by coolname at 4:45 PM PST - 5 comments

We are going to be in London and Edinburgh at Christmas and New Years, but don't fly back to Canada until Jan. 21. Where should we go where our Canadian dollars go further than they do in the UK? [more inside]
posted by hamandcheese at 4:12 PM PST - 5 comments

What's the best route and things I should know for a trip from Ottawa to Saskatoon? [more inside]
posted by EarnestDeer at 2:25 PM PST - 5 comments

My 10-year-old son's friend moved to Spain permanently. We're looking for some online games that they could play together. [more inside]
posted by palliser at 1:57 PM PST - 7 comments

My wife's touchscreen laptop, an Asus Q302L, is cracked. Is there an easy way to tell whether I need to replace the LCD screen, the digitizer, or both? I've replaced the screen in my non-touchscreen laptop without much hassle, but I don't know where to begin with touchscreen technology. Extra points: whatever part/parts it turns out I need, where's the best place to go? Many thanks.
posted by jwhite1979 at 1:25 PM PST - 5 comments

I was cleaning my apartment this afternoon and I came across this bug. Doing a quick internet search it looks close to a bed bug, but doesn't quite match the pictures I came across. What type of bug is this? If it's a bed bug, how do I ensure my apartment stays bed bug free? Should I just burn down my apartment and call it a day (I've never had bed bugs before)?
posted by Shirley88 at 1:22 PM PST - 14 comments

I need positive, constructive references to peeing. [more inside]
posted by Michele in California at 1:16 PM PST - 42 comments

We need a name for this cat! He's gorgeous: completely black, green-eyed, sleek & lithe like a panther. His brother is a tuxedo cat named Sam. What do we call this one? [more inside]
posted by Westringia F. at 12:48 PM PST - 56 comments

Reading more dire climate change posts made me idly wonder: what could one build or buy today that would still be usable as a general-purpose computing device in 100 years? What about 1000 years? [more inside]
posted by doiheartwentyone at 12:18 PM PST - 20 comments

Well, I have a few really awesome problems that I would completely recommend to anyone. I would suggest you try any of, or especially the full combination of, the following:

Chronic illness

No social network

Mental illness

Geographic dislocation

My question: how do I build a decent life? Or start in that direction, in a stable way that won't fall apart in a light breeze. Again. [more inside]
posted by bizarrenacle at 11:32 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm trying to identify -- and then buy, in the UK -- a book about furniture design that was loaned to a friend of mine a while ago. Sketchy memories of details inside... [more inside]
posted by metaBugs at 9:46 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm in search of layout/design advice on how to set up my new bedroom. [more inside]
posted by trixie119 at 9:40 AM PST - 9 comments

I currently use the Bluefire reading app on my Android device, but it has two problems that make me want to kill it with the fire of a thousand suns and two other minor problems that only make me want to maim it a bit with a yellow flame, so I am looking for a replacement that does good things it does and doesn't do bad things it does. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 8:59 AM PST - 8 comments

I was talking with my dad today and he told me he enjoyed our going out to eat on father's day at a restaurant I have no recollection going to with him (ever). He described the meal in detail to the point where I'm sure he's not making it up, but what he was saying didn't even jog my memory - it's like the day didn't happen. I'm in my early thirties so I'm very worried about this. Has anyone had anything like this happen to them, and how did it turn out? [more inside]
posted by Thanquol180 at 8:38 AM PST - 31 comments

Hey MeFites of and familiar with El Paso! I'm going to be traveling to your fair city in the near future and I'd like to know what to check out. I am a special snowflake traveler as you will know if you've encountered my previous travel asks, so more under the cut. [more inside]
posted by bile and syntax at 8:12 AM PST - 4 comments

On my most recent trip, I slipped on some wet tiles in a bathroom and fell. I wasn't hurt but it could have ended my holiday and put me in hospital. (I barely missed hitting a steel plumbing fixture with my head). So I'm looking to replace my New Balance walking shoes with something more reliable. [more inside]
posted by storybored at 8:11 AM PST - 13 comments

Hi, refugee from the Hurricane Matthew evac, staying in Columbus, GA with a suddenly dead Macbook Pro. There are 4 Apple stores in Atlanta, which is best for making an appointment for someone to look at it today? It has to be today. [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:08 AM PST - 4 comments

This school year my kids both have to start school early, so we all have to be up at 6:30am. We're not morning people, and the kids especially walk out the door tired and cranky. How can we start our day feeling positive, upbeat, and energised? Tips please! I'm thinking music choices, activities, or other things you might do to start your day right. [more inside]
posted by tracicle at 6:02 AM PST - 19 comments

We are finding bare spots on our hardwood floor, (i.e. apparently missing the polyurethane sealant). We have found spots in the middle of the floor (away from windows) in a few locations (images here). The wood looks bare. The edges of the spots missing the polyurethane are crisp. I do not believe this is water damage. It doesn't appear to have "bubbled up" characteristic of the water damage that I've seen. [more inside]
posted by KevCed at 5:25 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm visiting NOLA from Chicago. Would like to watch the debate tonight, at a democratic friendly bar. Where? Also because I'm using a question, things to do this week, places to go and yummy food recommendations are encouraged and welcome. Staying near Benachi House.
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:18 AM PST - 3 comments

REM sleep behavior disorder. I've discussed it with my GP, psychologist and neurologist and we're fairly convinced I have it. Thrown myself out of bed twice in the last year, giving me a lovely new scar on my neck. Too many episodes of thrashing and kicking. Many, many episodes of talking. The last objectively confirmed by family while we were recently on holiday and thus in closer sleeping arrangements. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:06 AM PST - 5 comments

Aaaaaaaahh!!! Friend tried to fix my macbook and erased my hard drive in the process. Now I get a white "stop" symbol when I try logging in, which apparently means that my Mac can't find a valid System Folder to start up from. I'm beyond warranty--how do I get my macbook working again? [more inside]
posted by melancholyplay at 10:15 PM PST - 4 comments

We need a third opinion and have maxed out the dental insurance. Anyone have a dentist who knows their stuff and is t expensive? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:54 PM PST - 2 comments

I am an executive and wear a lot of sleeveless dresses to work in California. Right now I keep a suit jacket at work and throw it on top of the dress when I have the need. I'd like to up my game with lightweight, cropped/bolero (I'm VERY short) jackets made of interesting fabrics. I like this (high in back, collarless) but am open to anything with the proviso that I have muscular arms, so jackets proportioned for very short women with burly arms are particularly desirable. [more inside]
posted by stewiethegreat at 6:44 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm in a fairly new relationship with my girlfriend. We've been dating 2 months and exclusive for the last month now. How can I bring up the topic of money to her in a mostly non-awkward way? I'm uncomfortable about talking about it, but I would definitely like some help on occasion with dating. She's 28, a registered nurse. I'm 30, work in IT Helpdesk. We both really like each other so far and I'd like to start bringing up topics like this in particular in our relationship. I really don't know how to word it or even when on a date to ask it? I've looked all around the internet, and there's a lot of advice on BRINGING it up but not what to say. I'm more than a little awkward with these things and almost want an EXACT scenario and script to go by. [more inside]
posted by isoman2kx at 5:50 PM PST - 69 comments

I am reading The Orenda right now, which is set in 17th century Canada and told from the point of view of a Huron man, an Iroquois girl, and a jesuit priest. This has me wanting to read a history book about Canada that focuses on the indigenous nations that were here: can you suggest the best one? [more inside]
posted by chunking express at 4:57 PM PST - 4 comments

We have spent our adult lives living in big cities and as we grow older, our desires and priorities have changed. But how the hell do we know where is right for us? Kind of a two parter. [more inside]
posted by shesbenevolent at 4:52 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm wondering if asking men out sets the tone of being the pursuer - one man in particular. What are your thoughts? [more inside]
posted by Kat_Dubs at 4:30 PM PST - 17 comments

Mrs. W and I need a new refrigerator. We want freezer on top, stainless steel, easy to replace water filter, and, if possible, a tray that catches water if the fridge happens to leak ( if such a thing exists.) Do you love your refrigerator? Tell us about it.
posted by wittgenstein at 3:25 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for wordless (or nearly so), non-animated, non-idiotic/condescending short videos for my toddler. The Sesame Street Milk Song is a nearly perfect example.
posted by dmd at 1:23 PM PST - 10 comments

Trying to find a half-remember verse that goes vaguely like "(something something)/ever since the world began/for those who have to keep/and those to take who can" - thought it might be Kipling but Google won't help me.
posted by tspae at 12:29 PM PST - 9 comments

Trump's comments from the 2005 tape are, obviously, incredibly offensive. But why are they so damaging to his campaign, when nothing else has seemed to affect his popularity? [more inside]
posted by Questolicious at 12:20 PM PST - 46 comments

I'm going to Charleston SC with the company I work for on Sunday, knowing that tv and internet can be out due to storm damage, is there any good options for trying to hear the debate? I have a portable AM/FM/SW radio I can bring, do you know of any stations that would be broadcasting it? Barring that any other good options?
posted by Ferreous at 12:06 PM PST - 2 comments

Who are the politicians revoking support from Donald Trump? I'm looking for people who aren't on this wiki yet.
posted by andoatnp at 11:57 AM PST - 13 comments

The bigbrowncow family are signing up to google suite (was google apps for work). If I get a referral code I get 20% off and the owner of the code gets $15 per user. My question is how can I get my $15s to go to a good cause rather than some sketchy coupon site contributor? We are UK based if it matters.
posted by Bigbrowncow at 11:28 AM PST - 2 comments

Assume, correctly, that I am someone who barely uses social media and is still shocked that people prefer to text rather than speak on the phone, what tips/ideas/things have you tried that you would or wouldn't recommend for finding a great cat a great home? [more inside]
posted by not that mimi at 9:13 AM PST - 16 comments

I grew up in New Mexico, but I have lived on the East Coast for almost 15 years. I will be taking my significant other to New Mexico for the first time in a few weeks. In addition to seeing my family in Albuquerque, we are going to go on a two-ish day road trip to see some of the sights in the southern part of the state. But there's so many to choose from! [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 8:37 AM PST - 8 comments

My wife and I are in couples therapy, but I feel like we haven’t made much progress. Help me develop a strategy to get things on track. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:59 AM PST - 18 comments

I am a happily married women in my forties and this is causing me some heartache. I would like to be friends with straight men that I find interesting without constantly thinking about them in a romantic way. How do I stop this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:58 AM PST - 11 comments

After being financially ruined after a divorce, my 3 kids and I were lucky enough to be chosen for a low-to-moderate-income 3 bedroom home; the rent was $650 monthly which was all I could afford at the time. Unfortunately, my rent is now being raised to $1450 (30% of my AGI) and I just cannot afford that. I have a son with a mental health disability who is thriving in a special education program in the public high school. If we move, I won't find a comparable program (also, it's his senior year and moving him will not go down easy). Wise Hivemind: is there ANYTHING I can do to get the board to reconsider? Does my son's disability factor? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:58 AM PST - 15 comments

This is kind of the definition of a problem of plenty, but I was recently gifted $1000 with which to buy a musical instrument for myself, and I have no idea what to buy. I already play a number of instruments, and between my girlfriend and myself (mostly her) we have a small selection of instruments already. I would love to hear any and all suggestions. [more inside]
posted by teponaztli at 9:54 PM PST - 16 comments

I am turning 25 on the 25th of November this year (the day after Thanksgiving) and I will be in Portland/Tualatin visiting family. I'd like to do something special to celebrate! [more inside]
posted by jouir at 9:13 PM PST - 4 comments

How can I best forward my apartment buzzer? [more inside]
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:04 PM PST - 8 comments

Planning a quick solo-getaway to Vancouver. What should I be sure not to miss? [more inside]
posted by little_dog_laughing at 8:16 PM PST - 11 comments

After listening to too many true crime podcasts, I need suggestions on updating my apartment security. [more inside]
posted by pumpkinlatte at 8:08 PM PST - 12 comments

I think my husband would like more plants and his birthday is coming up. Help me figure out what to get him? [more inside]
posted by kat518 at 6:50 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a new battery for my old Lenovo laptop. The OEM Lenovo batteries are pretty expensive ($70 and up). I would like to buy a cheaper aftermarket one especially since the laptop is quite old and might not last another 2-3 years. Can you recommend good places to buy online? [more inside]
posted by roaring beast at 4:48 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm getting oral conscious sedation (not IV sedation) tomorrow for wisdom tooth removal and am feeling nervous about it. I don't like feeling high or out of control, and it doesn't seem these drugs do that, but what else do they do? Specific questions in the [more inside] [more inside]
posted by c'mon sea legs at 4:32 PM PST - 13 comments

My six month old constantly grabs at my face and pulls my hair, especially while nursing. What specific toys / objects / techniques have worked for you to distract a grabby baby? [more inside]
posted by insectosaurus at 4:21 PM PST - 21 comments

Is there an app or method to help me like tasks that are boring and rote? I have gotten by in life by avoiding things that tend to bore me, such as dry readings, cooking, waiting in line or cleaning my room. It feels like I need constant stimulation in order to get by. [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 2:53 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm going to be in San Francisco 10/30-11/2(ish. may stay a day or two more). I am attending a conference at Westin St. Francis. To save money, I want to stay in a hostel. There seems to be plenty in the immediate area. But I've never stayed in a hostel and I just don't know the area. What should I be looking for and what should I expect? [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 2:46 PM PST - 17 comments

My family has a tradition of traveling together for a week or so during the winter to Mexico (or similar) to get away in lieu of Christmas. Usually, this has been pretty easy to pull off, because all the couples simply booked the rate for two adults. I got divorced recently, and trying to fit three people in a room at one of these resorts seems crazy and super unaffordable. Does anyone have any tips or hacks to help us figure out the logistics of this? [more inside]
posted by theantikitty at 2:11 PM PST - 6 comments

We recently moved to South Carolina and are on the very edge of hurricane Matthew's path, but are close enough to a marsh that we might be impacted by some flooding. This an older home that has some electrical outlets located on the floor and at the bottom of the walls. At what point should I cut power at the main breaker? The ground floor is 26" above ground and we have no basement. Thank you!
posted by wensink at 1:50 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm currently in the first year of a PhD program in physics. Right now I am just taking classes. My school does not have a qualifying exam, and there's not much I need to do outside of my classwork. However, I don't want to live from homework to homework -- so I'd like to set aside some extra time for textbook-reading and problem-solving. Have you done this? Tell me about your experience. [more inside]
posted by miniraptor at 1:23 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a black, long sleeve cardigan that I can wear over a black lace dress to a semi-formal ("black tie optional," although people's dress tends to run the gamut from party/cocktail to full gowns) work event. I'd like it to be cropped or hit at/above the natural waist so it doesn't ruin the lines of a fit and flare dress. [more inside]
posted by misskaz at 12:00 PM PST - 15 comments

I just read the last available Eileen Wilks book and the next one won't be out for a while. What should I read in the meantime? [more inside]
posted by faethverity at 11:52 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm staying at a vacation rental property that is not clean. What is an appropriate amount to ask for compensation? [more inside]
posted by mrfuga0 at 11:39 AM PST - 6 comments

I have about $35 in “Groupon bucks” from an item I returned. Since the last two actual products I bought through Groupon were junk, I am leery of buying more. Is there a way to be notified just for Groupon gift card deals? Alternately, is there some great product worth around $35 that you’d recommend? [more inside]
posted by Kriesa at 11:34 AM PST - 7 comments

I will soon be spending a week by myself in Cairo. What should I do? What should I not do? In particular, I'm looking for live music and amazing food. [more inside]
posted by the bricabrac man at 11:22 AM PST - 6 comments

For a project at work, I'd like to know more about what happens at HIV+ diagnosis in settings where the patient isn't connected with a case manager (or peer navigator, linkage coordinator, or similar). E.g., at ER's, public health clinics, and any other diagnosis settings where connection to a case manager or similar isn't routine, what happens? Can you fill me in, or suggest how I can find out? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments

So someone told my six-year-old daughter that bad people take little kids and kill them. I wish I could say it's not true. It's just so unlikely. But kids don't understand probability. What can I say to put her mind at ease? She's been scared to be away from me (like, in another room even) for three weeks now and I just found out that this is what has been bothering her. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 10:57 AM PST - 26 comments

I'm writing a short story and I'm looking for a detailed, intense hobby my Type A/introverted character can engage in. Something like building ships in a bottle or detailed miniatures but less obvious. Any ideas?
posted by heavenknows at 10:52 AM PST - 44 comments

We are doing some remodeling and my wife is not happy with the old wall mounted phone we have in the kitchen. Since we have Xfinity Voice, I bet there are some options out there I'm not thinking of. [more inside]
posted by Rad_Boy at 10:42 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm having trouble tracking where my day is going. I've had a lot of success with pomodoro on the days when my schedule is well defined, however other days time just seems to disappear. I know I'm working and doing productive things, I just want a better record of it. Start/stop timer based approach doesn't work for me. What are some other things I could try? [more inside]
posted by aeighty at 10:23 AM PST - 11 comments

I am 8 years into a 30 yr mortgage, with a fixed rate that is about 1.25 to 1.75 points above where rates are now, so it seems like a good time to investigate refinancing. What are the problems and issues I need to watch out for? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:22 AM PST - 14 comments

How do you go about finding more information on music acts whose names are difficult to google? [more inside]
posted by obtuser at 9:23 AM PST - 9 comments

I have to learn "U Turn" by Tegan and Sara for a video shoot on Monday. I'm playing it in G from these chords, and I've tried everything that I thought would work for transcribing the riff, including isolating the tonic and playing up or down to it and putting the guitar riff through the converter on Ukulele Tabs and trying to play that (which wouldn't have worked because I'm playing it in a different key). This seems like it should be really simple and straightforward, but it is not. Can anyone help me?
posted by pxe2000 at 8:59 AM PST - 2 comments

I am looking for places anywhere in Europe where I can spend 1-8 weeks at a time to work long, consecutive, undisturbed and isolated days writing my thesis. They should be accessible by public transport and within reasonable reach from an international airport. Ideally the places would be in idyllic nature settings, with the possibility of long, picturesque walks, and most importantly contain a bright, clean study space within the apartment/flat/house/room or an inviting, quiet and small library in the near vicinity. I am on a student budget so I'm thinking no more than €300/pw. I am thinking there must be somewhere that fits the bill in 'overlooked' countries like Slovenia, Hungary, or Portugal where my money would go further than obvious choices like Switzerland or Norway. Any suggestions for this odd, particular request? Just to clarify, I am looking for specific places rather than countries/regions.
posted by nagoya at 8:39 AM PST - 12 comments

Need help coming up with a new for a blog! The focus will be on sustainability/green living, personal finance, paying off debt, and science related topics. [more inside]
posted by snowysoul at 8:10 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi. I want to know if this is dangerous, how, and what alternatives there are. [more inside]
posted by noelpratt2nd at 8:07 AM PST - 16 comments

I am looking for a health/fitness app to use to encourage some needed lifestyle changes. I want it to be fun, set challenges, track food, and be competitive among a small group of friends. [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 7:24 AM PST - 2 comments