Ask MetaFilter

Basically, I'm quite happy with the functionality of the notes app except for a fatal flaw: no history/undo, so it's pretty easy to accidentally lose notes. Losing some notes has me looking for an app that works like notes, but has history. More specific requirements within, though! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 11:04 PM PST - 18 comments

So I've got a very limited amount of weight I can carry for the one checked bag that holds all my things and shoes just weigh a bunch. So I'm looking to two for one here. I want men's boots that are legit, hiking/getting dirty boots but also, when polished, could be dressy boots with a nice pair of slacks or nice jeans. Does that exist?
posted by rileyray3000 at 10:29 PM PST - 13 comments

For a Christmas gift, the recipient is interested in "A novel that emphasizes performing or studying classical music. It should have discussions of one or more classical pieces and describe the emotions of performing or listening to them." Potential examples: [more inside]
posted by What is E. T. short for? at 9:22 PM PST - 31 comments

I save almost everything friends send me, so that is a nice record of their letters. Libraries collects people's "letters." In the past, did people just keep/make a copy of any letter they sent? Did they only do it if they had a weird high regard for themselves? Did other people send in the other half of their letters later? Has anyone gone through, like, their dead parent's papers and found copies of letters they had sent? Do you keep your own outgoing mail somehow? In general, how did this work, and in specific, is it weird to keep a photograph of a postcard I drew for a friend, or should it be ephemeral? Help, historians and librarians; you're my only hope.
posted by lauranesson at 8:39 PM PST - 19 comments

How to navigate early dating as an anxious person? [more inside]
posted by Desertshore at 7:34 PM PST - 14 comments

I am looking to create a way for library patrons to check out a family pass to one of several local museums/zoo/botanical gardens for a short period of time. Our local library system has never done anything like this before and is a little baffled at how to possibly move forward and I need as much help as I can to convince funders and administrators that it can be worth the expense and potential headache. [more inside]
posted by shesaysgo at 7:11 PM PST - 14 comments

Aging eyes have meant the end of contact use for me, because my combination of serious astigmatism and severe myopia (-6.5/-9.5) has meant that there were no mass-market multifocal lenses for me. I understand that CooperVision has recently released a toric multifocal in a range that seems to include my prescription. Has anyone with a similarly wonky pair of eyes tried these? Are they comfortable? (In early days I used monthlies and wasn't thrilled with their comfort over time.) Easy to get used to?
posted by praemunire at 6:54 PM PST - 5 comments

Looking ahead to 2022 and 2024, turning TX seems like a next step in turning the GOP into a minority party. Who is working on this? [more inside]
posted by ichomp at 6:04 PM PST - 8 comments

My fridge is on the fritz. Is it possible to do a factory reset? [more inside]
posted by DEiBnL13 at 5:38 PM PST - 5 comments

Can you recommend a remote control car that can handle rocky hiking trails and not break the bank? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 5:36 PM PST - 4 comments

My landlord sold the house I live in and says I have to be out next month. I truly cannot move right now. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by Everythingsalrighteverythingsfine at 4:02 PM PST - 36 comments

I used to have a Marsona-brand sound machine that had a few presets - I think maybe rain/waterfall, stream/wind, and waves? - and one or two sliders to adjust the noise. For example, you'd select the rain/waterfall button, and depending on how far the slider was, you'd either get a thinner "rain" sound or a heavy "waterfall" sound. (Actual details may have varied). It allowed for a great customized sound. I never see this in newer machines. Can anyone recommend a model that does this?
posted by curious nu at 3:59 PM PST - 6 comments

I probably didn't have a mild/asymptomatic covid infection but is there any harm in checking with the antibody test? [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 3:54 PM PST - 5 comments

I am thinking about moving my web content to another web hosting service but would like to keep using my current domain name. [more inside]
posted by lanhan at 3:45 PM PST - 2 comments

what's the easiest DESKTOP utility for keeping track of Internet wish lists? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:07 PM PST - 1 comment

I’m an independent contractor. Typically I pay quarterly estimated taxes, but since the pandemic caused uncertainty and affected my ability to get work, I haven’t paid any estimated taxes yet this year. I’ve been able to earn some money working (about a third of what I earned in 2019), plus I’ve received unemployment insurance (with taxes withheld) to make up some of the difference. Should I make an estimated tax payment for Q4?? If so, how should I calculate the amount? I’m in California, USA. [more inside]
posted by atruesock at 3:03 PM PST - 2 comments

My family is two adults and a precocious nine year old. My son is an avid sci-fi/fantasy fan, and I'm considering Eldritch Horror, Mysterium, or Folklore: The Affliction. Hopeful that a Mefite who has played any of these games may be able to provide a brief review and speak to whether they might be appropriate for my family. Snowflakes below the cut. [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 2:46 PM PST - 15 comments

Our family celebrated the first Obama inauguration in 2009 with Spam and Pineapple Hash for brunch. Help us out with ideas for menu ideas for the upcoming Biden/Harris inaugural festivities. All we've got so far is an ice cream Biden allegedly likes, Jeni's Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks.
posted by Atelerix at 2:07 PM PST - 24 comments

My husband and I have moved back into our home this weekend, in a busy US coastal city that is experiencing a Covid surge like the rest of the country. Our movers were pretty unprofessional and did not wear masks correctly for the entire move and I am now feeling really uncomfortable and unsafe afterward and I don't know what to do. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:59 PM PST - 24 comments

When logged into my state's unemployment benefit page, I saw that my benefits were temporarily suspended until I filled out a "Still Employed--Claimant Questionnaire" form. This form uses some pretty scary verbiage, and I'm not sure how to proceed, or if I will need a lawyer. (more under the fold) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:57 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for a lightweight crossbody bag that will hold a tall water bottle (Hydro Flask) while also having a zippered pocket that's large enough to hold a women's wallet. Does this product exist? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 1:48 PM PST - 9 comments

It's the holiday shopping season and I am in search of a pair of women's boots. In this case, looking for boots for professional wear rather than hiking/heavy weather. What are your recommendations for good women's boot brands/places to buy women's boots? [more inside]
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 1:42 PM PST - 10 comments

Back in March, we ended up keeping this dog. We're now approaching our first winter. I am having a bit of trouble figuring out when she *really* needs to be let inside and out of the cold. [more inside]
posted by ohio at 1:19 PM PST - 12 comments

What is the best way to defrost your car window? I live in Central Indiana and it has just started snowing today. I HATE standing outside scraping the ice off the car windows, so what’s your foolproof/can’t miss method? [more inside]
posted by zooropa at 12:46 PM PST - 18 comments

What good deeds can I have my kids do right now? [more inside]
posted by Knowyournuts at 11:24 AM PST - 21 comments

We've seen all the Star Wars movies and we're enjoying The Mandalorian. Should we watch The Clone Wars or Rebels next? Or something else? In what order? [more inside]
posted by beandip at 10:53 AM PST - 12 comments

I've always stuck to my guns about not buying the first version of Apple products, so I ordered an early Christmas present that arrived today. Then I saw the reviews and benchmarks for the M1 Macs. Should I keep this Intel Macbook Pro or return it for an M1 Mac? [more inside]
posted by emelenjr at 10:39 AM PST - 15 comments

I would like to learn French as a second language, but I am concerned that it will be extra difficult to learn with my hearing loss - especially with listening to people who speak French (news, film, in person, etc.) because some people talk quite fast. I have to read people's lips sometimes depending how far away they are. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 10:11 AM PST - 7 comments

The future Mrs. 4rtemis and I are interested in getting pre-marriage counseling before we officially tie the knot. Is there any counseling approach or framework that is thought to be especially sound? How do we go about finding the right counselor for us, and how do we get the most out of the process together? We have both had individual therapy before but have never sought out proactive couple's therapy like this. I know people who speak highly of Catholic pre-marriage counseling but we're not a member of the church or any similar religious/cultural organization.
posted by 4rtemis at 10:10 AM PST - 7 comments

Can you help me figure out how to clean my refrigerator? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 9:49 AM PST - 15 comments

I am used to using pink incandescent bulbs in some of my rooms. They’re not perceptibly pink, especially because the walls are a muted gold. The bulbs themselves are tinted only the very lightest shade of pink. But when I am forced to use a regular lightbulb I’m offended by the lack of warmth in the light. Can Philips Hue bulbs (or similar) produce this very subtle effect? If you’re an ardent lover of incandescent light filled with resentment for our new non-incandescent regime, your answer will be especially valuable to me.
posted by HotToddy at 9:39 AM PST - 12 comments

I've discovered I like essay collection/memoir-type audiobooks that are (preferably) read by the author. What are your favorites in this genre? [more inside]
posted by andrewesque at 7:43 AM PST - 22 comments

Is there a way to download mail from Yahoo into pdf format? I have many messages that I would like to save, so I need a way to do this in bulk. [more inside]
posted by AMyNameIs at 6:52 AM PST - 6 comments

I've recovered enough from my broken knee to get around the house on one crutch. Yay! This means I can also get into the kitchen and COOK STUFF. Yay! But I'm not all the way there and need to remember that. Boo! Help me meal plan! [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:49 AM PST - 20 comments

What's new in classics? What are your tried and true recommendations for Latin study for the experienced but rusty? [more inside]
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a member of a group that uses Yahoo Groups, which is ending Dec. 15. Do you have any suggestions of a replacement for Yahoo Groups? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 10:07 PM PST - 13 comments

Looking for a site to collect memories and photos of a loved one in critical condition [more inside]
posted by sprezzy at 8:37 PM PST - 9 comments

A relative of mine is a nurse currently assigned to a COVID ward. I'd like to give her something extremely helpful and special but keep getting stuck because of...the fucking pandemic, obvs. Extra details and complications within. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:47 PM PST - 14 comments

Does anyone have experience with the Beautyrest Sofil 49404B chair or the Tempur-Pedic TP9000 chair? How does the seat cushion hold up, and how does the gas cylinder last? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:30 PM PST - 2 comments

A couple decades ago, when I was a teenager, I lost a contact up in that pocket behind the eyelid. My parents were unconcerned and this was before the internet had an answer for every common question.* I was 100% sure it was stuck inside The top of my eye somewhere and have since learned that there is in fact a pocket behind the eye lid (or something) where people do lose their contacts. But my eye never got infected and I never found a stray contact in my eye. SO... what happened? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 6:19 PM PST - 21 comments

I think it's my computer and not the network, but it would be nice to get a second opinion or two, and advice about how to fix the situation. [more inside]
posted by sardonyx at 5:52 PM PST - 5 comments

My wife has recently taken up a hobby of quilting, and has told me she needs some high quality scissors, rotary cutter and a (self-healing???) cutting mat. A few more details inside, but I'm generally just looking for recommendations of some high quality equipment to buy for her. [more inside]
posted by noneuclidean at 12:59 PM PST - 32 comments

I would like to handmake a cute winter hat for an infant, out of maximally soft, stretchy, warm materials. Sewing, knitting, crochet, or [other?] are all options. What should I make? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 12:12 PM PST - 11 comments

I can find a bunch of coins on eBay but I assume they are as likely as not to be fake. Where do the kids find authentic coins at relatively reasonable prices? [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 11:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a very large quarter pipe that will be installed along the ceiling of my bedroom projecting out 12” (imagine a pie cut in quarters to get an idea of the shape I mean). Obviously a pipe strap or similar would be the easiest way to secure it. I’m hoping for something more attractive, ideally something that looks antique but anything non-industrial will do. Any advice?
posted by arnicae at 11:43 AM PST - 9 comments

I just finished story mode of The Long Dark (on my Switch) and I'm looking forward to the episode 4 release whenever it drops. I loved it and just started one of the challenges. One of my issues with the game is how dark it is, visually. I didn't love having to kill wolves and bears but survival I guess. I played Firewatch several years ago and really enjoyed it. [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws at 11:19 AM PST - 6 comments

Need a indoor security camera. [more inside]
posted by LOOKING at 11:01 AM PST - 7 comments

My husband has suffered from anxiety all of his adult life. He has long been under the care of a psychiatrist and takes medications for it, which has made it manageable but he still experiences more anxiety than he would like on a regular basis. Ever since marijuana was legalized in our area, he has toyed with the idea of trying it for the anxiety. He recently decided he wants to try an edible and is planning a trip to a dispensary. [more inside]
posted by sock puppy at 10:20 AM PST - 32 comments

The science and empirical studies on this are pretty good. Essentially the ultrasound briefly disrupts liposomes and some of the stored fat is released into the interstitial fluid matrix where it is then swept up and re-used or excreted. [more inside]
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:11 AM PST - 1 comment

I have access to a large archive of local history on cassette tape that needs to be digitised and transcribed. There are people willing to help but I would like your advice on the best hardware and software to use to 1) digitise the (fragile) cassettes and 2) auto transcribe the audio before cleaning up with human transcription. [more inside]
posted by roolya_boolya at 10:00 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm about to get rotator cuff surgery for my dominant arm. Arthroscopic, outpatient, I'm in reasonably okay shape. I'd love a better sense of how soon I can do the little things - and what my immediate limitations really will be. [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 9:42 AM PST - 9 comments

My two children are sixteen months and three years old. They are with me from 2:45 PM daily until 5:45 the following morning, when I drop them off with their mother; I also have them around the clock every other weekend. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 6:25 AM PST - 23 comments

I have a recipe for some buttermilk rolls that I'd like to make, but it asks for an almond paste filling. For allergy reasons, I need to avoid nuts and peanuts. What might I use in place of almond paste? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 4:57 AM PST - 13 comments

My mother, in her seventies, recently mentioned that she regrets not doing a degree in English - she has a degree in a different subject. She's considering doing some OU or other literature-related courses. I'd like to find a recent-ish (say last ten years) work of lit crit that she might enjoy to build on her interest in the area. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 1:48 AM PST - 10 comments

I recently helped my parents navigate Medicare Supplemental coverage using a health insurance marketplace -- and somehow Healthcare.gov obtained our email addresses in this sign-up process. Is there a reason to setup a Healthcare.gov account after enrolling in a Medigap plan that has its own website and login? Healthcare.gov continues to pester us with pleas to register as a user before the mid-December deadline -- but is this an actual useful account to create? Does anyone have an account -- and what does it actually do (if you have insurance already via a different insurance marketplace)?
posted by mhh5 at 11:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I was poking around wikipedia the other day and came across this list of 100's of fake schools/diploma mills. A few minutes of googling turned up actual people whose online profiles list fake degrees from these fake schools. So, what now? [more inside]
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 8:10 PM PST - 35 comments

Snap on clip fastener used to hold a board to a wall. Need a name so I can order some. [more inside]
posted by ptm at 7:00 PM PST - 5 comments

Would you take your kids to Skyzone Trampoline Park (in the United States) considering the state of the pandemic? Why or why not. [more inside]
posted by kdern at 6:18 PM PST - 33 comments

Yeah yeah, why do cats do anything. My cat is displaying a particular behavior that is not causing any problems or anything, and gives me no reason to worry about the cat, but does make me curious. Have your cats behaved similarly? [more inside]
posted by eviemath at 5:09 PM PST - 5 comments

My sixish year old rescue Max is a very good doggo. He's got a lot of fast twitch energy but when he's indoors he's incredibly loving, cuddly, and sweet. But at odd times - usually if he's resting/laying down - if someone approaches him, he shows his teeth. [more inside]
posted by ftm at 4:46 PM PST - 13 comments

My wife wants to try buying a certain in-demand item that is hard to find in stores from an online marketplace like Offerup before Christmas. I have the (probably unfair) view that a lot of the sales of popular, high-dollar items on sites such as these are scams. My wife thinks that I am being overly cautious and dismissing potential good opportunities out of ignorance. How safe are these sites, and what rules should we follow if we are going to use them? What are your experiences with using them? [more inside]
posted by Chuck Barris at 3:15 PM PST - 12 comments

I teach a comparative text study to high school students and am considering Educated as a possible text of study. Can you recommend some films, plays or a novella that would compare well, thematically? [more inside]
posted by jojobobo at 1:45 PM PST - 15 comments

If you've seen drawings or sculptures of human figures made out of arrows would you please link me to it? [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 1:26 PM PST - 14 comments

How can I train my body not to pee as soon as I get to the bathroom? [more inside]
posted by Biblio at 12:26 PM PST - 12 comments

My elderly relative requires expensive in-home care, owns her house, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to tap her home equity. [more inside]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:26 PM PST - 8 comments

I like having a varied and inspiring feed of art stuff. Please help me get more stuff on that feed. [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 11:31 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking to buy a TV in the Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales. Which should I choose? Are there a few that are massively on sale this weekend and/or especially good deals for the quality? Are some brands better than others? Links to specific models are welcome. I'd like something greater than 48" (maybe 55" or 65"), with good picture quality, a black black color, and ease of use. What's the difference between OLED etc.? I have never bought a TV before, so I know nothing.
posted by ClaireBear at 11:13 AM PST - 13 comments

My dad has a hearing aid and can't use headphones. His new computer is not loud enough. I think that he would be more comfortable with a wired speaker than with bluetooth, but everything from major brands seems to use bluetooth. Any suggestions? The one I have is called JBL micro II and it would be perfect, but it is out of date. It should be small enough to hold easily in one hand. (the one i have is about 3-4 inches diameter and about 1.5 inches thick, hamburger shape). Thanks!
posted by melamakarona at 11:05 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for folklore and stories about changelings and similar mythological beings from around the world that don't focus on the "let's torment and murder the changeling to get our child back" approach. I'm especially interested in stories about changelings who successfully "pass" as human and stories about some kind of peaceful or collaborative resolution (if such stories exist). Open to books, articles, podcasts, and kind of media.
posted by overglow at 11:05 AM PST - 20 comments

I bought a battery charger which is an up grade from what I had for several years. The one I bought recently was an energizer- Double A , Triple A. Has bells and whistles where it has auto shut off, which works good. Problem it is detecting newer cells, that I had already- which need recharging- as bad cells. Alarm goes off, then I am supposed to get rid of them. Then it did it [more inside]
posted by Upon Further Review at 10:53 AM PST - 3 comments

Looking for great reads about people I can look up to as I grow older. Maybe someone cool or creative or courageous or kind. Maybe someone bigger than life. Maybe a wise sage, or a hopeless romantic. Looking for character studies of people, real or imaginary, who have a few qualities that are both inspirational and aspirational.
posted by jasondigitized at 8:12 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm located in LA, but willing to drive (hours if necessary). I'd like to wait until we're out of quarantine, but I have decent health insurance now and would at least like to schedule an appointment. Unfortunately, in my past experience, I've only dealt or met with fairly dismissive doctors. My mood, physical health (I mean, other that this), and self-care have improved tenfold in the last few years, and I'd like to tackle anew this hair-loss thing. [more inside]
posted by themaskedwonder at 7:56 AM PST - 4 comments

There is a spot out in the woods near my home where 4 municipalities come together. Because I am bored and taking lots of walks in the woods, I'd like to find this spot in the woods and mark it somehow so that if someone else stumbles upon it there will be a reward. [more inside]
posted by terrapin at 7:10 AM PST - 18 comments

How do you make sure employees have enough to do without being a jerk? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:22 PM PST - 10 comments

In the past few weeks I've spoken with 2 RN's on my local nurse line as well as a pharmacist, all about different issues. In all three cases, the person gave a disclaimer that they couldn't tell me what to do, that what they say isn't medical advice, etc. They've all repeated it several times. (They are saying things like "If this was me...") This is new. I figure something must have changed re malpractice laws/insurance etc recently to bring this on. Anybody know more? I'm in VA if that matters.
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:55 PM PST - 4 comments

Can anyone recommend a book containing a collection of cryptic crossword puzzles geared to someone who is new to cryptic crossword puzzles? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 7:41 PM PST - 8 comments

We live in the country and our 16-year-old chihuahua has disappeared. I blame my mom for losing him. What could have happened to him and how do I forgive her for losing him? [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 7:41 PM PST - 26 comments

I love knitting and I'm considering picking up a new crafty hobby. I think I might like to try cross-stitch but I have a couple small questions/concerns. [more inside]
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 7:20 PM PST - 13 comments

His iconic photos included a woman in a motel room with a baby lying on a bed, a winter night at an intersection in a small town, and a woman in a room filled with water. Searching on photographer documentaries hasn't produced it yet.
posted by perhapses at 6:20 PM PST - 3 comments

Hi folks. I am looking for a low-price Chromebook or regular laptop as a gift. This needs to be new in box, so nothing refurbished or used. [more inside]
posted by Slinga at 5:36 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for brief positive things to share with friends who are having a tough time. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 4:56 PM PST - 15 comments

We just moved into a new apartment and the landlords cleaned the crap out of it earlier today with bleach, Fabuloso, and Clorox bleach-free wipes. I have chemical sensitivities and the fumes are so bad I don't know if I can sleep here tonight. We have all the windows open and a fan going, but is there something we can rinse the cleaned surfaces with to get rid of any residue? Besides just water?
posted by Jacqueline at 4:53 PM PST - 8 comments

Where can I buy food grade sodium hydroxide for making pretzels? Can buy online or in person in the SF Bay Area (East Bay). I read I should buy food-grade lye - not the kind marketed for drain cleaning. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 4:31 PM PST - 14 comments

I installed No Script the other day. I uninstalled it today. I need something like it, but easier to use. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 4:25 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm finally upgrading to the last of the Intel MacBook Pro models and the newest MacOS. Unfortunately, this means giving up the music player I wrote back in 2006. I could write a new one, but I'd rather do other things in my spare time. [more inside]
posted by Fanghorn Dungeon, LLC at 2:48 PM PST - 15 comments

There is a quote from I think a Turkish scholar, in the second world war. He was admonished for caring so much about the placement of a semi colon in the time of war, and he replied about the world depending on the well placed semi colon. Can someone remember the quote?
posted by PinkMoose at 2:15 PM PST - 2 comments

A friend who is an artist -- an actual, known, professional artist -- gifted me a watercolor. It's been pulled out of a spiral-bound sketchbook, so one side of the paper has the row of punched holes with the ripped edge. Adjacent to that is the line where the paper has been lightly scored so it could have been ripped out more neatly. Now I'm going to have the watercolor framed. Should I include the ripped edge? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:12 PM PST - 12 comments

I am looking for Christmas gifts for my mother who lives independently but is in her 90's and should be easy on/off. I am thinking pant suits suitable for doctor appointments and church, but with the ease of sweats. [more inside]
posted by readery at 1:50 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm not going anywhere for a good while, of course, but I'm dreaming of traveling again at sometime in the next few years. I'm interested in natural phenomena worth seeing that happen on a specific schedule or within a relatively limited time span. [more inside]
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 12:38 PM PST - 24 comments

thinking of getting a really durable meat grinder for a dear friend as a holiday gift. have never really considered meat grinders before.. could you guys share some stories of .. your favorite home meat grinder? was thinking I might be able to score a deal today or monday.
posted by elgee at 12:26 PM PST - 8 comments

I like to lock myself out of apps like Google and Chrome so I can only get into them if I really need to. I used to use one called AppLock from DoMobile Labs, which allowed you to put a really long password in (got the idea from this post). Now it won't work on my phone, and the other apps I find only have 4-digit pins. Are there any other app lock apps which allow at least 16 digit passwords?
posted by catquas at 12:25 PM PST - 1 comment

Should I take a job I don't want? [more inside]
posted by Asian_Hunnie at 12:05 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm taking a goal intensive and need to do a time audit of how I spend my time. What are some ways to do this? [more inside]
posted by diode at 11:56 AM PST - 6 comments

It's the time of year when kitchen goods are going on sale and it's time to replace our cookware but there's a dizzying array of options and I'm dividing by zero trying to make a decision. [more inside]
posted by joycehealy at 11:18 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm having trouble deciding whether to paint the entire desk or just the wood parts, not the metal legs. [more inside]
posted by BeginAgain at 11:09 AM PST - 6 comments

What is wrong with our bathroom sink drain? Can we fix it? [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 10:15 AM PST - 13 comments

If your dog, who sleeps in a crate, predates your robot vacuum, which you run at night, how did you introduce it? Dog tax.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:06 AM PST - 1 comment

If you PowerWash a Chromebook and give it to someone who starts using it with their own Google account, will it have a new browser fingerprint?
posted by Epixonti at 9:33 AM PST - 3 comments

Well. Our libraries have all closed now. We have been reading picture books but I think now its time we try to move to chapter books for me to read aloud. I would prefer enough pictures to keep the boys interested, like one per page, or one per every other page? We don't have an e-reader for kids. [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 9:24 AM PST - 15 comments

My old watch has slowed to a halt and the band is falling apart. I’d like to replace it with something not too cheap or expensive. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 9:06 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm having an old friend over for the weekend and we want to play some PC-Games! We talked about it a bit and we like to play Coop instead of against each other. We both have laptops, but would prefer to playuse on my big TV. I guess I have to purchase a pair of controllers for that, which is no problem. I am also very open to use Emulators and, for example , play some SNES classics, whatever brings the most joy! [more inside]
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 8:31 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for a kneeling office chair with an adjustable seat and kneepad. At the very least an adjustable seat. One would think this would be a very basic feature to add to a kneeling chair, but I cannot find any that satisfy these conditions. Do you have any leads? Or any kneeling chairs you especially like? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:44 AM PST - 5 comments

My therapist has suggested I try journaling to help ease anxiety, especially my tendency to get stuck inside my own head and think over the same things again and again. Our session ran out of time before she could explain more though so I'm hoping to get some help here. I'd love to hear from people who journal for mental health reasons. How, exactly do you do it, and does it help? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 3:19 AM PST - 30 comments

My darling cats knocked my coffeemaker off the counter tonight and broke the hinge on the basket. It's a Braun KF400 Aromaster 10 cup drip machine and it's faithfully served me since the '90s. (I wish that replacement parts were available, but that doesn't seem to be the case.) But I digress... [more inside]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:33 PM PST - 27 comments

What tools, products or items make housecleaning easier? I'm bad at cleaning and don't enjoy it. I'm looking for products that will make it easier, more efficient, and less annoying. Cleaning the floors (particle board and tile), scrubbing the bathtub, dusting, vacuuming, vacuuming behind the bed or under the couch - blah. Perhaps a better toolkit would help me.
posted by bunderful at 4:31 PM PST - 32 comments

I want a .ss domain because the last 2 letters in my last name are "ss" and I think that would be a cool looking personal URL. Things like .com.ss or .net.ss or .org.ss are already available, but all I can find online about .ss is ".SS top-level-domain is closed for now and will be made available at a later stage." Does anyone have any insight on this topic?
posted by glenngulia at 4:06 PM PST - 7 comments

One of our cats periodically gets violently aggressive and we’re not sure what to do anymore. [more inside]
posted by past unusual at 2:59 PM PST - 12 comments

Thanks to the magic of 2020 I will spend my first Christmas in my own apartment with my own tree. Apart from a small number of assorted dangly things with personal significance I utterly lack decorations for the tree and am in search of inspiration. Willing to spend some but not exorbitant money and / or try some simple crafting ideas. Very open minded on style of decoration. Tree is traditional green Nordmann.
posted by roolya_boolya at 2:29 PM PST - 25 comments

This will be NSFW. I can’t stress this enough. Anyways, my (basically-cis F) partner has been on a testosterone replacement regime for about a year. There have been some side effects; nothing major,, but we may be at a bit of a crossroads here. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:59 PM PST - 30 comments

Is this weird or not weird? Mother-in-law behavior. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:30 PM PST - 26 comments

What are some serial TV shows/miniseries which are genuinely scary/in the horror genre, and which follow an established or official team of people investigating a series of scary supernatural occurrences? Not looking for sci fi (a la X-FILES, DARK) or a cop show devoted to investigating one supernatural-tinged crime (a la TWIN PEAKS.) And no anthologies, please - just serials. Thanks!
posted by egeanin at 12:12 PM PST - 19 comments

This is such a silly thing, but I can't be the only one with this problem. I have trouble distinguishing app icons from one another. My brain does not like pictures. My brain likes words. And yet the world is becoming more and more image-oriented. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 12:01 PM PST - 15 comments

Very specific question. I want to deliver a small birthday cake to a family member who lives alone in Stuttgart. I don’t speak or read German, and the English internet doesn’t show me any leads. Are there any DoorDash type delivery services in Germany that will transport a cake from a bakery? Or good bakeries that deliver?
posted by redlines at 10:22 AM PST - 5 comments

What do you think is the best, most vibrant vegetarian and/or vegan guide to eating out in London that a college student would like? So, not a book whose sensibility pretty much shouts being Gen-X- or Boomer oriented. Which is all my algorithm wants to show me. It doesn't have to be youth oriented exactly, just not assuming a middle aged tourist. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 10:12 AM PST - 12 comments

I mis-remembered how long a turkey needed to defrost. It's been in the fridge defrosting since midday yesterday. ("An hour per pound" -- NOT.) For a 12-lb turkey, it apparently needed three days to thaw! I have many questions about this! [more inside]
posted by slidell at 9:47 AM PST - 19 comments

Is there anything I personally could do to help nurses in my area? Or even, like, one nurse? [more inside]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:52 AM PST - 5 comments

Right now I'm under homeworking and homeschooling pressure. While I don't spend any time thinking about work once I'm off the clock, my body hasn't gotten the message. It takes me more than an hour to fall asleep because I'm still tense, my heart is beating faster etc. I would like to get the stress response out of my system by doing something with my body. Please help me, who generally dislikes excercise, find three or four things I can do to help my body reset so I can settle down to sleep? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 8:33 AM PST - 21 comments

Can I eat this, expat edition. I was very excited to discover a jar of fruit mince for Christmas mince pies in my cupboard. This stuff is hard to come by in the us. BUT I bought it last year and it expired in July. It’s completely sealed and unopened. Can I still use it, knowing it will be baked into pies? Or will I need to to brave the local fancy supermarket to get a new jar?
posted by media_itoku at 8:26 AM PST - 8 comments

Apart from 200 Motels, what were the most essential/important feature films Frank Zappa was involved in making? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 7:28 AM PST - 9 comments

I feel like if I never had sex in my life again, I could be totally fine. But is something wrong? Am I missing out on life? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:15 AM PST - 33 comments

Ashkenazi background, Jewish mom, raised totally secular, no bat mitzvah, I live in a country with very few Jews, is there an online, asynchronous, adult Jewish education or conversion class for me? [more inside]
posted by athirstforsalt at 6:13 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm working on an essay for a law course I'm taking on information privacy; attempting to trace the evolution of "privacy in public" theory in the context of photo consent, and contrast it to both Canadian legislation and the growth pressures people in higher ed marketing are facing. I'm looking for information on how much higher education presence online has grown in the last decade -- increasingly large websites, more social media presences, etc. -- and it's been surprisingly difficult to find anything definitive, but I figured maybe y'all would have some ideas? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 5:24 AM PST - 1 comment

Little to no violence, please, but beyond that, I'm open. LOVED Succession, This is Us, Mad Men, Veep, Fleabag, Friday Night Lights, The Wire (back when I could handle more violence). Didn't love: Mrs. Maisel, West Wing, Sopranos. Ideas welcome!
posted by heavenknows at 3:21 AM PST - 43 comments

I have long covid. The neurological effects vary a bit but for the past few weeks I've been experiencing something like vertigo, which means my brain doesn't enjoy all the scrolling involved in internet time. I'm optimistically wondering if there is an app or extension that enables an alternative to this - something like page flipping in the Pocket app, but for the whole of the internet. I have a MacBook and an Android phone, and usually use Chrome on both, but definitely don't need to.
posted by FifteenShocks at 2:36 AM PST - 4 comments

I need some better masks for working out: mostly running (outdoor and treadmill in my apartment gym) and bodyweight training. Needs: fit is good for a woman with a somewhat small head, and with fabric that won't choke me (like my mask almost did today). [more inside]
posted by Paper rabies at 9:24 PM PST - 8 comments

Let's go beyond Heart and Soul or the Real Book. Please recommend piano duet books / pieces where *both parts* are moderate (2nd year piano skills). In "teacher / student" books, the "teacher" part is sometimes too hard.
posted by gregglind at 6:00 PM PST - 4 comments

This bird in Minnesota seemed to be crepuscular and/or nocturnal. It was first noticed in July and it was still around as recently as early October, audible at dusk and for a few hours after sunset. I don't know if it was active at other hours as well. In summer the calls were spaced roughly 5 seconds apart, while in October they were about 30 seconds apart. It was kind of like a screech but with a shift in tone that gave it a slightly drawn-out, plaintive quality. What was it? Audio links and additional details inside: [more inside]
posted by theory at 5:51 PM PST - 7 comments

I am having a debate with friends. None of us are computer experts. Is a paywall a type of firewall? [more inside]
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 2:57 PM PST - 15 comments

I am looking for a cheap or free speech synthesis/text-to-speech tool that (a) can control the pitch and timing of syllables for a janky "singing" effect, (b) can be invoked straightforwardly from the command line, and (c) runs more or less out of the box on a modern Mac or Linux machine. I don't need any level of acoustic realism: it could sound like Jingle Cats with English syllables as far as I'm concerned. [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:52 PM PST - 3 comments

I had a first generation actifry. It broke. I want a new air fryer for Christmas. I'm intrigued by the new models that don't have a whole in the middle (and are thus presumably more versatile), but I'm concerned that they don't (Seem to?) stir/move the food as it cooks, like the actifry did. Do they not stir the food? Do the fries get properly crispy if they're not stirred? Taking into account my non-negotiable need for crisy fries, what air fryer should I ask for? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:17 PM PST - 3 comments

I bought some "smart" GU5.3 6V LED downlights for my living room. When I install them and flip the switch, nothing happens — no solid light, and no flashing light for "pairing mode". The old "dumb" LEDs work fine. What's the problem? [more inside]
posted by robcorr at 1:13 PM PST - 5 comments

I am close to buying a laptop I plan to use for video editing, game making, comics creation and other graphics-intensive tasks. I have some rather specific requirements and I'm bewildered by all the choices. I hope the tech-savvy among you can help me out! [more inside]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 1:01 PM PST - 7 comments

These Versace house slippers are speaking to me... but not for $150. Can you help me scratch this (kinda wild) new itch at a more reasonable price? [more inside]
posted by argonauta at 11:50 AM PST - 7 comments

I need to find a computer monitor that fits into a fold-up desk — the space is 12” deep, 15” high, and 33” wide. The whole monitor needs to fit inside, including the base. [more inside]
posted by ageispolis at 10:56 AM PST - 7 comments

I still prefer to take notes on paper, but it would be nice to go digital. I've been considering a Remarkable 2 over an iPad because I already have a good phone for gaming and browsing. However, the various accessories (marker, folio, etc) put the price point for the R2 kind of high, so I'd love input on whether it's a worthwhile investment. Any thoughts or suggestions for alternatives?
posted by Kitchen Witch at 10:46 AM PST - 15 comments

I need to undergo pre-employment drug testing. I take two common SSRIs that are known for causing false positives. What are the chances of a false positive? To what extent am I able to maintain my privacy in the event of a false positive? [more inside]
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 10:16 AM PST - 6 comments

The comptroller of my county did something that seems unethical (although probably not illegal). Aside from the voters in the next election, who do they report to? [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 10:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I have a stressful job. It's becoming clearer and clearer to me that I must prioritise my physical and mental health over my work. But I simply don't know how to do that without falling behind at work and creating even more stress for myself. Any help? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:31 AM PST - 20 comments

I have no idea what just happened, but almost all the files have vanished from the desktop on my Dell laptop, Windows 10. For some reason a few things are still there....Audacity, Open Office, a VPN, but everything else I had on my desktop is suddenly gone. I don't seem to have a restore point. Am I fucked? It's not the end of the world as I save most things on google drive, but I did have some files on MuseScore I hadn't backed up other than printouts, and I'm sure if I think about it longer there will be some other stuff. Is there anything I should try as a person who just uses his laptop mostly for internet crap and is not good at the innards? [more inside]
posted by less of course at 7:35 AM PST - 9 comments

I bought a pair of shoes via ebay (Doc Martens, casual) but they've come from a house where they obviously smoked because they have a bad cigarette/nicotine odor. I've tried to clean them but the smell hasn't dissipated. Any tips on eradicating this stench appreciated. They are leather upper, DM soles.
posted by Webbster at 7:15 AM PST - 5 comments

Does a hands-on healthcare job exist for a burned-out marketing pro who wants to be of more use InTheseUnprecedentedTimes(tm) but can't take a cut in pay? Does that job still exist if the applicant is a woman with grey roots? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:07 AM PST - 7 comments

The most comfortable masks I've found are Happy Masks. The one that fogs my glasses the least is one from Etsy with a nose wire. Is there a mask that combines the best features of both? [more inside]
posted by Redstart at 6:44 AM PST - 7 comments

Mrs. 10ch is the absentminded professor type and has developed the habit of asking Siri to set an alarm for meetings throughout the day, "Set an alarm for 1:25." The alarm goes off and the meeting at 1:30 is attended. Except occasionally Siri sets the alarm for 1:25am. Please help us prevent this. [more inside]
posted by 10ch at 6:23 AM PST - 10 comments

I had a pedestal fan that I loved, and used every night while sleeping. It was a Whirlpool high velocity model. When it finally wore out, I threw it out. Since then, I have tried several replacements but haven’t found its equal. Whirlpool (licensed brand) isn’t carried in the market right now, and I can’t find similar models anywhere under other brand names. Can you recommend an alternative fan to meet my needs? [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 5:51 AM PST - 5 comments

A helpful person decided to clean our oven. I believe she doused it with a thick coat of Lysol spray, but I’m not totally sure. I’ve tried preheating a few times, and it just smells very strongly of chemicals. How can I clean it of whatever she did to make it safe for us to cook in it and eat? [more inside]
posted by studioaudience at 9:31 PM PST - 8 comments

I know you are not my lawyer. But I need a lawyers opinion. A family member with a history of bipolar disorder got a pretty disturbing message to me insinuating suicide. I know this family member very well and I feel they are serious. I dont want to understate my concern (cont) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 8:49 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for a lawyer to draft or review a operating agreement for a US-based multi-stakeholder/"platform" co-op. I have several unusual desires for this that I haven't seen precedent for, and want someone who is willing to have a dialogue about what I want and how to encode it into a contract. [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 8:20 PM PST - 2 comments

I've got a lot of apple computers, and they are all on the same wifi. And I've got the thingy turned on where they announce the time. And they mostly don't do it at the same time. Why is that?
posted by valkane at 8:05 PM PST - 10 comments

My daughter is into "cottagecore" tik tok. I'm learning how to repair drywall. What useful or fascinating niches or subcultures have you discovered on Tik Tok?
posted by mecran01 at 5:52 PM PST - 7 comments

We're planning to get mold remediated in our house. The assessor's plan calls for the use of antimicrobial products after the contamination is removed. Are there significant health risks to this, and is this likely to be helpful in preventing the mold from returning? [more inside]
posted by beryllium at 5:08 PM PST - 4 comments

My boss wants to do a combo Pinterest fail / GBBS zoom holiday party. To that end, he has tasked me with finding recipes to be assigned to our staff. Thus I turn to you. [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 1:42 PM PST - 19 comments

Can you suggest some xbox one games for me, given some criteria below? [more inside]
posted by no regrets, coyote at 1:37 PM PST - 16 comments

I am trying to select government insurance. I've just about given up on it. I have been sent to my doctors' billing dept (in her clinic) and then they send me back to the central billing dept (for the whole city) and then they send me back to my dr's office billing dept. One keeps sending me back to the other. This was the suggestion of the HealthCare.gov people. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 1:04 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm trying to recall the name of a highly acclaimed or at least critically well reviewed French (maybe German?) suspense/thriller from the 1980s (maybe '70s?) with a single letter for its title like M? W? T? [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 12:34 PM PST - 7 comments

What are some (legal) places, besides the lottery, where a small investment might turn into a a large windfall without a lot of work? [more inside]
posted by chiefthe at 12:24 PM PST - 13 comments

I need to fill many many small glass bottles with a fluffy, sticky powder. The neck of the bottles is so small i need to use a funnel, but the powder sticks to the funnel, and needs to be stirred in by hand with a stick to fall through. It's messy and taking forever. Any tips to make this easier? [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 11:36 AM PST - 24 comments

Ever since Big Sur, when I get texts on my apple watch - as well as on my mac - instead of it saying who it's from (the actual contact) it just says the number. Why is the identity linked to the number no longer coming up on my phone, my watch or my computer?
posted by rileyray3000 at 11:24 AM PST - 5 comments

I've been mixing my own hair conditioner by adding essential oils to a neutral-scented one. The neutral one I like is very thick and viscous. One thing I can't figure out is how best to get it back into the bottle. It's too thick to flow through a funnel, and if I push it back in with a chopstick or spatula or whatever it takes forever, makes a mess, and forms air voids in the bottle that keep me from getting it all back in. Are there tricks of the trade that would help? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:31 AM PST - 19 comments

My new laptop, purchased for photo processing, has an apparently uncorrectable brown/yellow cast to the screen (HP Envy x360 Ryzen 4700U Radeon Octa-core 32GB). This was intended for processing 8-bit photos to be displayed on a computer screen. HP recognizes this problem on their help pages. All of the recommended solutions listed by HP were tried to no effect. [more inside]
posted by Raybun at 10:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I deserve this [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 9:39 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm applying for jobs and have multiple documents I've created at my current employer - Word, Excel & Visio - which demonstrate aspects of my job - writing user guides, test plans & workflows. Can I just attach these to an application, or do I need to modify them in some way - what is the best practice? (These are all workflow-related docs, vs secret recipes).
posted by my log does not judge at 9:38 AM PST - 11 comments

Hi academics of ask-me, how unusual would it be for a hiring panel to ask for your job-interview-presentation slides? [more inside]
posted by Joeruckus at 7:41 AM PST - 20 comments

My current caffeine go-to is an Aeropress, but I miss lattes from the before times. I'd like to put an espresso maker on my Christmas wishlist, but there are too many options. I need to narrow it down or my spouse will throw up his hands and just buy something too expensive that's going to break. Price range: $200-400 or so? I realize that won't get me the real deal, but you have to start somewhere. I need something fairly foolproof for beginners, nothing with pods or proprietary refills. Thanks!
posted by libraryhead at 7:23 AM PST - 24 comments

Hey guys, I am struggling with a laptop purchase. I tend to be a power user of machines by having lots of apps running and doing multiple things at a time. I have a MacBook Pro 2015 15" with 16gb of ram. However, running windows with 8gb and another 8gb on mac just doesn't cut it. Excel (on Windows) is slow to respond at times depending on usage of the system. [more inside]
posted by iNfo.Pump at 7:08 AM PST - 15 comments

For Thanksgiving, my little family wants to have a picnic in a pine forest. But which one? Can you recommend a place within 90 minutes of the Twin Cities that has a pine forest where we can lay our blankets on a bed of pine needles? Bonus points for: not crowded, not a 5 mile hike from the car with picnic, and postprandial pretty hiking options.
posted by shadygrove at 6:13 AM PST - 3 comments

Oh cat servants of the green: Tell me of your favorite litterbox solutions! [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:43 AM PST - 32 comments

I just added an sd card to my phone. (samsung galaxy a21) and want to use this storage for my audiobook app. However, the operating system seems to have added duplicates of my existing directories to the sd card. I wanted to create a new audiobooks directory and so I did (via usb to a pc.) but my audiobook app doesn't see it (smart audiobook player). Instead it sees storage/emulated/0. Whatever that is. I think I don't understand the android storage model correctly. Can someone explain this to me like I'm 4 going on 5? [more inside]
posted by Obscure Reference at 12:47 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a therapist/counselor in my town (Columbia, SC just in case anyone has any local knowledge) that can help me with alcohol use disorder, resentment, and distrust (probably/obviously all tied up together). I know that's vague but can you suggest something specific I can search on or a certain focus area or specialty that I can google on that might be most effective? Thanks in advance.
posted by ftm at 9:10 PM PST - 6 comments

If I want it badly enough, can I manifest one (1) whole vegan (NON-PUMPKIN) pie, or even a cobbler or cheesecake, in time for Thanksgiving in Seattle without having to physically go check a bunch of stores? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 6:56 PM PST - 27 comments

I need a real-time collaborative handwritten notetaking app for the iPad. Is there any app you've used to take handwritten notes in real time with multiple people? [more inside]
posted by vogon_poet at 6:54 PM PST - 8 comments

A few weeks ago, I attended a week-long writer's conference that took place entirely on Zoom. It was a much better experience than I thought and since my travel wings have been clipped, I'd like to find more things like that for 2021. Please share your recommendations for upcoming virtual conferences, courses, workshops, and other events. [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 6:16 PM PST - 4 comments

Watching Tim Rogers's (!) latest epic video, it came to me that I really like things that are excessively elaborate. [more inside]
posted by rikschell at 6:11 PM PST - 11 comments

For the last couple of weeks my cat has smelled of pee. I need some help focusing on a cause. [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 5:30 PM PST - 13 comments

I found this in a coffee can of seashells in the basement of my new house. It's about three inches long, and an inch and a half wide. It has a somewhat rough texture. The house is in Illinois about 7 miles from the Mississippi. Anyone have any ideas? Photo here
posted by Westlake71 at 4:29 PM PST - 10 comments

Our TV is in front of the only window in the living room. It's too far from the wall to mount on even the longest arm. We have a big black monolith under it now, but with the demise of satellite TV and the VCR, need far less storage. However, we still need someplace to put power strips and a Blu-Ray player. What should I get? Snowflakes! [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 3:49 PM PST - 14 comments

I read this article recently about toddler tantrums. Can you recommend anything like this for an adult who has problems regulating their emotions? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:43 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm seriously considering getting Lasik—am done with glasses. However, I have had a series of frustrations with the company, and am having second thoughts, both about the place itself and about the surgery. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 2:45 PM PST - 19 comments

How many people would be happy at around 38 to leave their own roots and friends and life to move several hundred miles away for me? And would someone who was willing to do that actually be kind of psychologically unhealthy, or lacking in close ties? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:26 PM PST - 39 comments

I've been suffering from a bout of sciatica for six weeks. My right leg from buttock to toe goes from severe pain to numbness/weakness in a matter of seconds when I stand for more than a few minutes. Sitting down for brief breaks while showering would be enormously helpful, but there are so many options and I don't know what would work best - Back/no back? Arms? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:49 PM PST - 11 comments

Im thinking of not flying home for Christmas this year and spending the holidays mostly alone, which is a little sad but I'm not super depressed about it. How can I help my mom not worry about that? [more inside]
posted by mekily at 12:33 PM PST - 19 comments

I would love to hear recommendations for places I should look for cabins/homes/guesthomes I might like for a two week stay sometime next month (December) around San Francisco. I have a car and I'm happy to drive anywhere with 3-4 hours of the city. Could be coastal or forested, but I do need internet access. Hot tub would be great but definitely not a requirement!
posted by vocativecase at 12:26 PM PST - 10 comments

I run a small nonprofit I am lookin for a utility we can run that will go through the last 7 years of my (and maybe others on my team) work email (in Gmail) and extract name, email, physical address, and phone number for as many people as possible. [more inside]
posted by postel's law at 10:51 AM PST - 6 comments

Jus finished watching The Queen’s Gambit and I really want the 60s t-shirt that Beth wears in various colors across multiple episodes. Please help me find and/or make it! [more inside]
posted by somedaycatlady at 9:55 AM PST - 4 comments

Share with me your recipes, tips & tricks for noodles & gravy that don't taste like eating chewy glue in chicken slime like my first attempt at making them did. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 9:24 AM PST - 15 comments

I fell in love with Paperchase compact planners back when Borders carried them. Since then, I've managed to order them from the UK some years, but this year, it looks like they aren't shipping internationally. Does anyone in the US make a planner like this one? Or is there a company in the UK that will let me order one? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:55 AM PST - 9 comments

I may have lost a helpful sales representative their commission on a purchase of mine. I would like to make it right. Let me know if you approve of my strategy or have anything else to add - details (and wrinkle) inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous donut at 8:51 AM PST - 6 comments

Hi folks, I think I have mild problem with anxiety. Most of the time, it is a nagging feeling that something bad is about to happen - I'll get a call that a relative is sick; I'll get fired from my job, etc. Again, most of the time this is mild; I can't stop moving my leg, I have that nagging feeling of a negative outcome about to hit, and I have trouble concentrating. However, every once in a while, I feel like I'm having a mild panic attack (or what I think is a mild panic attack). Breathing is a bit labored, and I feel warm in certain areas of my body. What can I do about these symptoms? I don't think they are terrible, but I do think they impact my quality of life. I can live like this, but I don't want to. Thank you for any help. [more inside]
posted by stevenpl at 7:40 AM PST - 15 comments

New home owner, no info from prior owner, complicated to me! [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 6:52 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm in my thirties and have flat feet. I have just never really bothered to go to a doctor about it. But I'm starting to worry about the long-term effects. Who do I speak to about this, and what might the options be? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 4:53 AM PST - 7 comments

The protagonist of the Billy Joel song Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) declares his dissatisfaction with the New York city rat race. Mama Leone (seemingly his mother) tells him to move out to the country and he says he's moving out. Near the end of the song you can his car revving. But where is he moving to? Or where do you think someone in his position would have moved to?
posted by rouleur at 4:22 AM PST - 17 comments

Give me you best examples of "Trope Songs" These are the classic bits of music that films or tv shows will use to over a particular scene. Most points for songs that you probably don't know the name of but definitely recognise. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:15 AM PST - 57 comments

For Christmas I’d like to find a book for a talented fifth grader who is worried about whether drawing is worth it after someone was mean to them. Is there a book that might be inspiring to get them? Something that’s maybe like the equivalent of one of those great Lynda Barry books, only more aimed at age 10?
posted by johngoren at 4:05 AM PST - 12 comments

I feel the need to sublimate some of my spicier urges via fiction. I’m happily married, & I’ve had my share of whirlwind romances and flings and casual sex. I am finding myself a bit nostalgic about this, but not enough to jeopardize my reality. Time to live vicariously through the lens of fantasy as a healthy coping mechanism! Can you point me towards any fictional works - especially novels - featuring these specific concepts or tropes? [more inside]
posted by nukacherry at 1:45 AM PST - 8 comments

I was pulling out my old Black and Decker MT1405 multi-tool to drill something, and came across this item again, and if I ever knew what it was for I forgot it years ago. Can anyone identify it? Google photo album here. [more inside]
posted by tavella at 11:25 PM PST - 6 comments

Best brands and features to consider? [more inside]
posted by cycleback at 8:37 PM PST - 12 comments

I recently had an interview for an entry level technical position at a Teapot Testing and Certification company. The pre interview involved taking an OPQ (occupational personality questionnaire) and a large chunk of the interview was devoted to "Critical Behaviors for Success" questions, which the interviewer suggested that I was "probably familiar with, most companies use them." Is this so? [more inside]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 6:45 PM PST - 10 comments

I want to keep in contact with people, but when they don't text back I get hurt and offended, whether I should be or not. How do I feel better about this? [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:28 PM PST - 37 comments

Where to donate laptops for NYC public school remote students in need? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 2:33 PM PST - 3 comments

My boss gave me an Amazon Gift Card for my 10-year anniversary. While I appreciate the gift and was not given a choice on the kind of gift, I cannot in conscience shop at Amazon. Especially this COVID year when our local commerce is hurting while Amazon is making profit hand-over-fist. I'm not an Amazon person and do not really know what options I have to turn this gift card into something else. Any ideas are welcome.
posted by gloturtle at 1:55 PM PST - 20 comments

The exposure checks seem to log about 5 times a day, and if I expand the log, I can see "new files" added, usually one or two. However, on just after midnight on Saturday morning, the log for that time has about 75 new files. What is this? [more inside]
posted by LKWorking at 1:41 PM PST - 2 comments

In the late 90s, I took a women's studies course at the University of Cincinnati where we read several book by women sci-fi authors. One was Octavia Butler's "Imago." But I remember several other stories who's authors I can't remember. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:12 PM PST - 3 comments

We can get our gutters cleaned for $450 or we can get gutter screens installed for $1,250. But if we get the gutter screens don't we still need to call someone out at least annually to make sure they are working well? Will we really save any money in the long term by getting the screens or should we just have someone come clean the gutters annually and forgo the screens? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 12:51 PM PST - 10 comments

Since it's just me for Thanksgiving, I thought I would use my air fryer to make a small, easy main course. [more inside]
posted by miss-lapin at 12:13 PM PST - 3 comments

Is there an easy and effective way to add a spice coating to my DIY mixed nuts? [more inside]
posted by glonous keming at 12:01 PM PST - 7 comments

It seems to me that most people won't be traveling on Thanksgiving day, especially in the afternoon. Is this intuition correct?
posted by uninformative at 11:55 AM PST - 14 comments

I have discovered the joys of microdosing THC for sex (using tinctures) and wonder if you have any particular recommendations for products available in the state of Washington. To clarify: I am specifically interested in tinctures that you know from personal experience (not marketing hype) enhance sex. And why are strain-specific tinctures so hard to find??
posted by Bluesocking at 11:28 AM PST - 3 comments

Yes, I overthink things. But notwithstanding that, what is the best moisture meter you have found for houseplants. I do not think I need the optional soil PH or light level indicators (or do I???) but I just want something reliable and sturdy to avoid overwatering my plants. Does anyone have a favorite?
posted by Lylo at 11:06 AM PST - 1 comment

Recently realized how growing up in a home whose only two relationships skills were "give in" and "walk out of the room" left a huge deficit of those "middle skills" that involve clearly, respectfully, *productively* asking/negotiating for what one needs; addressing hurtful behavior; productively digging into deeper motives/wants needs. The books I've read to date talk about these skills, but give zero examples of the actual LANGUAGE to use. It's like being given a blueprint without the actual tools needed. Looking for recommendations on books or textbooks that specifically addresses how to say things. Social work/psychology textbooks are fine.
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:44 AM PST - 9 comments

My Partner believes a gracious dinner guest should accept the wine offered by the host. I have a strong distaste for red wine, and I always politely decline it when it's offered. Partner says I should force myself to drink more of it so I acquire a taste for it (as they've done). Doing so, they say, will make things "easier" for me at dinners. Is there some social norm I'm missing out on here? More details under the fold! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:30 AM PST - 60 comments

There are plenty of Covid models that estimate what will happen after Thanksgiving in the US. My SO and I meed models that show that our sacrifices are making a difference. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:30 AM PST - 5 comments

I need a better DIY haircut tutorial for thin fine hair. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 10:25 AM PST - 7 comments

A few months ago I asked whether I should take a "break" from working after my current position ends. Well, that scenario isn't going to happen as I have a new (sort of) position. How can I still slow-down and take a "break" while working and job searching? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:23 AM PST - 4 comments

I have been leading a report-writing project for a committee at my city's bar association for about nine months, and need advice from you, hive mind, to help me at a crossroads on the effort. I committed to the undertaking, have put a lot of work into it and do not want to quit, but the lack of congeniality on what is essentially a volunteer project is wearing on me. What can I do to steer this project safely to land? [more inside]
posted by ponibrown at 8:26 AM PST - 4 comments

We have a 5 y/o and 3 y/o cat. The 3 y/o (male, altered) came to us at 9 weeks old and grew up with the 5 y/o (female, altered) cat. Indoors only. Don’t love each other, but live together amiably and snuggle most days. Three nights ago the female saw another cat outside and warned him off with a moaning yowl. It seemed to trigger something in the male, who started shrieking (we thought that there was a raccoon in the house, he was flipping around and biting at the air). Turned on the lights, and he was chasing the female around the house. He retreated behind the couch, where he intermittently growled at all of us (2 humans, 1 cat) for the rest of the night. Next night - same thing triggered him. Third night, we put her in a room with no windows and we had a peaceful night, but on day 4, he just randomly flipped out at her, and once he started freaking out he couldn’t stop (so even after she was out of his sight he was hissing and growling at us). This morning - day 5 - same deal. What the heck happened to our peaceful household? Advice (other than cats are weird, which they definitely are)?
posted by arnicae at 8:10 AM PST - 11 comments

Staying overnight in New Haven tomorrow, coming from NYC. Primary reason for visit is to try their pizza, after having New Haven pizza in another city I want to go to the source. I'm not sure what COVID restrictions are like there, but what would be some fun things to do? It looks like a nice town to explore on foot, and I won't have a car but will be staying in the center of the city in a hotel. I like to walk around and explore architecture, take photos, etc. Would also love it if there's an amazing local coffee shop to check out. For pizza (no cheese), I've been told that Frank Pepe's is the spot. So just anything interesting in general that a solo traveler can fill a day with. Thanks!
posted by signondiego at 8:04 AM PST - 15 comments

In Europe, I got my hands on a couple of comforters of the standard individual size (140x200cm or approx 54"x75"); one is super heavy down, the other a medium weight poly-wool. I've been having a very difficult time finding new covers that aren't absurdly priced in the US. Like 90 $US+ or so. What is a good solution to get some "plain vanilla" cotton covers online?
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 7:30 AM PST - 5 comments

I would like to receive a daily e-mail with a Question of the Day. The question would come from me and answer would be saved for me. Difficulty level: have website with all the bells and whistles that should make this easy. I just don't want to reinvent the wheel. [more inside]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:04 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm trying to buy a frying pan or skillet that meets my finicky requirements: works on induction, as large as possible (at least 12"), non-stick-ish (not bare aluminium or steel) but no fluorinated coating, doesn't require seasoning (so not bare cast iron). If it came with a lid and didn't cost a million dollars that would be nice. Suggestions?
posted by medusa at 6:27 AM PST - 10 comments

Our wedding photographer tried to pull out of our contract to shoot her cousin’s wedding instead. I was upset but prepared to make other plans and informed her that we would find someone else. She abruptly changed her mind without explanation and refused to speak to me about it any further. The second non-refundable deposit is due next week and I’m torn about what we should do. [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:05 PM PST - 26 comments

I am thinking of making this dinner in a crockpot for Thaksgiving. Please help me make some adjustments. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:12 PM PST - 6 comments

I have 2 cats that are supposedly littermates. We recently found out one has type B blood and the other has type AB. Type B is rare in cats, but apparently type AB is super duper rare and now I'm curious. Can 2 cats from a litter have different, rare blood types like this or were my two boys just randomly put together and called littermates? [more inside]
posted by joan_holloway at 8:31 PM PST - 5 comments

Techies: what are your favourite (fun/useful/beautiful) tech accessories? [more inside]
posted by orange and yellow at 8:08 PM PST - 16 comments

There are plenty of articles telling me "just use repellent spray" "secure the tree" and so on, but I want some advice from someone with a cat like mine, who is both acrobat and escape artist. Is it pointless to try and have a tree w lights and ornaments or have some of you actually had active climbing cats plus a tree without disaster?
posted by emjaybee at 7:41 PM PST - 25 comments

I’m having a craving for frozen custard. Like a Ted Drewes or Kopp’s or Culver’s. But I live in New Hampshire, and none of the ice cream places I know of offer custard. I don’t see it in grocery stores either, but I haven’t been to Wegman’s recently. Would they have some? Is there somewhere else I could go? Alternatively, do any midwestern places ship? I looked at a few sites but didn’t see that option.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:33 PM PST - 6 comments

Tried to get my fridge fixed but now I feel like I'm being scammed. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 4:56 PM PST - 8 comments

This is the most boring thing to ask, I'm so sorry. I scoured the old answers and good ole Google for help before bringing this here, but I'm about to throw this dang computer out the window. It's an HP Pavilion laptop, Zoom was working fine for a long time, and now the camera says "Failed to start the video camera. Please select another video camera in Settings." and before that it was saying "camera being used by another application" but it ISNT! I need zoom every day, and haven't been able to have a camera for two months now, and it's driving me up a wall. [more inside]
posted by emirenic at 4:19 PM PST - 9 comments

There are so many people in need of support these days. Community care has been happening through Venmo, PayPal and GoFundMe, at least in my networks. But it usually only covers one gift at a time. I'm curious about solutions for providing ongoing support. [more inside]
posted by rockyraccoon at 1:24 PM PST - 6 comments

Can you recommend a moisture-proof/resistant clock I can put in the bathroom (or potentially the shower)? Needs to have a loud, easy-to-set alarm. [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:09 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm learning to mig weld. I practice a lot and have read a fair amount about it online and in several books. I have found diagrams showing acceptable and unacceptable bead profile shapes, but I haven't found guidelines which specify the acceptable bead height/width measurements for a given thickness measurement of metal being joined. That is, I'm looking for a source that says, with a math formula or in a table: if your base metal is "x" thickness, then for each joint type your bead should be approx. "this" wide and "this" tall (assuming proper fit up, penetration, and no defects). I already cut and etch to check penetration, profile shape, and defects, but I would like to know if my welds are correctly sized. (I won't be taking a class and I don't know anyone who is a certified welder to ask these questions to.) Thanks!
posted by atm at 1:06 PM PST - 4 comments

My mother died in Wagoner, Oklahoma, on Tuesday. I live in Arizona and will not be traveling to her funeral, because of the fucking pandemic. Please help me be as present as possible, through the wonders of modern technology. [more inside]
posted by kwaller at 12:08 PM PST - 6 comments

I need to block off part of my apartment from my dog. A pet/baby gate seems the obvious solution but I'm really concerned with it messing up my walls and then I'll lose out on part of my security deposit. My apartment has textured walls, so it's not as easy to repair damage. [more inside]
posted by Aranquis at 12:05 PM PST - 11 comments

A thought experiment: Person L is a left wing random citizen who thinks of himself as a science oriented progressive/humanist and believes we should wear masks. Person R is a right wing public figure who thinks covid is something close to a hoax and no reason to change behavior. [more inside]
posted by Kevin S at 11:45 AM PST - 40 comments

I have an indesign document where each page is 12x12 ish and the spreads are 12x24ish. I want to print all the spreads actual size, though I have only letter and legal paper. Just for proofing purposes. I would like it to just print the overlapping bit multiple times if there's room on the paper instead of just strictly slicing up the document. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:31 AM PST - 4 comments

My friend wants to do their PhD in Earth Sciences in the UK -- hopefully UCL or Cambridge for next fall. Yet, funding is very competitive and difficult they said. They are hoping to hear back from a Canadian federal governemnts scholarship that they can take to the UK if they were accepted. However, my friend is also looking for other PhD scholarships to apply to as a Canadian in order to secure PhD funding in England. It is difficult because scholarships are so competitive and not to mention its Cambridge they are aiming for and living expenses are so darn high. They cannot study in the UK unless they secure a lot of scholarship funding. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 10:32 AM PST - 7 comments

I have a pair of these "stretch flannel" jeans. They're by far the most comfortable pants I own, so they get worn a lot, so they're getting worn out. It looks like Levi's stopped making them - where can I get pants in a similar style and fabric?
posted by tylermoody at 9:55 AM PST - 7 comments

I recently read Abraham Verghese's My Own Country and Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking back to back. Both scratched a particular itch for me and I'm looking for other similar books that will hit me in the same place; specifics & caveats inside. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 9:48 AM PST - 18 comments

I'd like to return to therapy and am running into the same problem of not knowing whom to approach. I've been in therapy before several times, and it's been an okay, not great, experience. That said, I do want to work on/through issues of aging, anxiety and relationships, with a therapist. I'm completely open to telehealth therapy, so at least I'm not limited to the D.C. area. That said, it just means there are a lot more therapists from which to choose. The "rate my doc" sites aren't super useful, and therapists' websites don't usually convey much beyond their "philosophy" and payment structure. So, I'd appreciate any recommendations for a great therapist I can see during and after this pandemic. My temp mailbox for any replies that can't go on the green is needatherapist1120@maildrop.cc. Thank you.
posted by anonymous at 9:21 AM PST - 3 comments

1970s brick end rowhouse in southern Ontario gets very cold in the wintertime. I don't know where to start when considering options to remedy this. [more inside]
posted by stray at 8:42 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm looking for great essays/articles (non-academic/academic) on any aspect of climate change. The target audience is non-science undergrads, with an interest in this issue. I'll be supplying two or three weeks of basic science as a background against which to read the essays. Thank you! [more inside]
posted by carter at 8:40 AM PST - 10 comments

A HD in my NAS developed some bad sectors and crashed. I have replaced it but am wondering what to do with the crashed drive. It's out of warranty so I can't RMA it as I have done in the past. Is it worthwhile putting it in an external case, reformatting it as spare storage, but not using it for anything critical? Or would I be throwing good money after bad?
posted by Grinder at 8:08 AM PST - 7 comments

It was already sold sometime during the summer and is an oval shaped decorative plate with two blue colored birds on it. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 7:06 AM PST - 5 comments

Where do you browse and order cool stuff for a D&D loving, coding, theater kid? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:40 AM PST - 5 comments

My wife loves this green coat from The Undoing. Christmas is coming. I've found it for sale from several places, but how do I know if a store is reputable and will supply a quality product? Specific retail recommendations are welcome.
posted by donpardo at 6:28 AM PST - 11 comments

I know a person who has schizophrenic tendencies and also a number of restraining orders/stalking charges. He has been prohibited by court order from making any mention of the persons who have requested these orders on social media or his website. I'm curious about the legal basis for this. While I sympathize with the victims, I wonder about the implications for the first amendment. Obviously, YANHL.
posted by matkline at 3:04 AM PST - 11 comments

Looking for stories from people who have left (outwardly) successful/prestigious corporate careers for a “smaller” but (potentially) more meaningful role? What did you think about when making the switch? What did you decide and how do you feel about it in retrospect? [more inside]
posted by annie o at 10:07 PM PST - 8 comments

My daughter and I built a new PC for gaming. It now has Windows and Steam, and appears to be working, but I am not sure if all is well with the graphics card and liquid cooling system. OK, now it just did it again. Something is not right. Can you lend me the benefit of your lights? [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 7:54 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to learn how to organize information better. What book(s) do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 7:51 PM PST - 8 comments

I think I saw a site recommended on here that connects people with local tour guides for virtual tours of cities in developing countries. It wasn't connected to a large company. Does anyone remember the name?
posted by pinochiette at 2:17 PM PST - 4 comments

My friend is unable to go down to the municipal courthouse herself to pay a transit citation she received (it is a transit complaint with a court summons, but no court appearance is required). The fee is $74. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:22 PM PST - 5 comments

You, of course, are not my lawyer. I'm being sued in small claims court for something I did not do and am not at fault for. A third party has already been found at fault. This has already been determined by both parties' insurance. I'm in Washington State. I need a legal advice but am having a hard time finding it. [more inside]
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 11:37 AM PST - 15 comments

I am ready to buy a sofa. The one I liked was $700. I could pay 6x as much for my perfect unicorn sofa that will last a decade or more. [more inside]
posted by stormygrey at 11:09 AM PST - 20 comments

My vegan sister asked for a pecan pie for Thanksgiving this year and I've never made a pecan pie before. I've googled up a bunch of vegan recipes, but I'm looking for recommendations or tips from people who have actually baked a vegan pecan pie and have a favorite recipe. [more inside]
posted by gingerbeer at 9:51 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm teaching an Intro to CS course in high school and want to use the short week before Thanksgiving to introduce them to a command-line OS — namely, Bash on some vanilla Linux (Debian, I assume). How do I induce them to conclude anything other than "wow, command-line is a pain in the ass?" [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 9:20 AM PST - 44 comments

How do I create something similar to what was an old fashioned distribution list in Outlook? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:18 AM PST - 4 comments

I think I've asked about various parts of this before. Months and months ago, I decided to relieve lockdown tedium with a new hobby, which was model ship building. I found it...not that much less tedious than lockdown, but it led me to wood carving, which I now LOVE. My hands, however, do not love it. [more inside]
posted by less of course at 9:09 AM PST - 17 comments

So, my ceiling fan is possessed and I'm not sure if I need an electrician or a handyman? [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:39 AM PST - 9 comments

Last month I asked this question about facing someone who harassed me in the workplace. The situation is still eating at me and I'm truly starting to worry that this experience has wrecked my brief career. I'm wondering how my career can recover from this? How can I, personally, get over this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:29 AM PST - 17 comments

A teen in my family is slowly and tentatively coming out as trans or non-binary. They are nervous about other family members' reactions. I'd like to help by educating of teen's grandparents, who are open-minded but not very well informed. I'm looking for resources (videos, short articles, podcasts) I can send the grandparents, to help them understand what their much loved grandchild is going through. [more inside]
posted by EllaEm at 7:25 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm too bored and resentful to do my job, and too depressed for look for a new one. Please tell me how to trick my brain into working again. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking to replace 1984 in an 8th grade curriculum with a novel by a Black or Hispanic author. I'd like to stay in the dystopia genre or adjacent to that genre. Looking for recommendations to research.
posted by archimago at 6:59 AM PST - 19 comments

What should I look for in inexpensive protective goggles/glasses to make sure their lenses actually protect my eyes effectively from an 810nm class 1 diode laser (for home hair removal)? [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:26 AM PST - 10 comments

Will I have problems at the border? Details below. [more inside]
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 4:15 AM PST - 12 comments

Need to set up a virtual phone number for a company, not sure where or how. Asking for a friend; snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by sailoreagle at 4:11 AM PST - 3 comments

I'd like to buy this Jibun Techo DAYs 2021 planner, but it's sold out everywhere I can find it in English, and also the few places I've found it in Japanese. If you're actually literate in Japanese (unlike me), maybe you can help me figure out where to purchase it online? Bonus: peek at my persnickety list of dated, daily planner demands and suggest alternatives! [more inside]
posted by knucklebones at 12:14 AM PST - 6 comments

Medical/Scientist Mefites: Once someone is able to obtain a vaccination for COVID-19, could that person’s donated plasma be used for convalescent plasma therapy for current COVID patients? (Assuming enough time has passed for antibodies to be generated in the would-be donor)
posted by DB Cooper at 8:39 PM PST - 3 comments

Was there a group in the recent past that involved opera and ukulele?
posted by pxe2000 at 6:50 PM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for a collection of stories or a chapter book with ornate, gorgeous illustrations for every page. When I was a child I read fairy tales that seemed to be illustrated with beautifully detailed paintings that brought to mind golden thread woven into each page. I’d like to get something like that for my kid this year. [more inside]
posted by CMcG at 5:53 PM PST - 32 comments

Time to flip my macbook and for the first time in 8 years I'm not in any of the social or work situations where I used to get rid of my old electronics. Mac's buyback program will give me 1K for it and I don't want to get into some sketchy craigslist situation these days. Not the way the world is. So what's the way folks do this now?
posted by rileyray3000 at 4:59 PM PST - 13 comments

I can't say that we have made up our minds, or that we are either looking for confirmation or a strong argument against this idea. But I put it to the hive mind to discuss and help me think through this even more. And here are the details! [more inside]
posted by Snowishberlin at 4:22 PM PST - 16 comments

What are some of the most unusual and/or clever ways of building small structures? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 2:33 PM PST - 18 comments

Doing a project in which I make a model that consists of 3 rotating cylinders all which are wrapped in one of three pieces of a map. The toy is part of a museum exhibit and you are meant to rotate the three pieces until the map lines up properly. What is this called? The person who originally came up with the idea to do it saw it first at a historical museum in Italy somewhere. I know, super specific. Link to image. Help!
posted by leafmealone at 2:27 PM PST - 4 comments

Growing up my family placed an annual holiday order from Swiss Colony and I have many fond memories of tables covered with Incredible Spreadable cheese, petit-fours, assorted sausages, and a Forest Friends cake. I want to recapture that, but have grown up to be a snobby foodie type and prefer better chocolate, charcuterie instead of a Beef Log, etc.. Where can I get Swiss Colony-esque stuff but for snobby foodies? :) [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 2:12 PM PST - 18 comments

Husband came home from work with a fever. It's a tiny house and we -- me + teenager -- have all been on top of each other every day since forever. Is there any point now in trying to segregate my husband? We don't have a particularly easy way to do it -- yes, we can put him in my kid's room but it's a tiny house. The bedrooms are right next to each other. I'm thinking no matter what it is -- Covid or regular flu or whatever -- we've all been exposed already. Am I wrong? Help.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:20 PM PST - 21 comments

What is the Cliff's Notes version of how the Confederacy raised the money to pay for the the war? Did they levy a tax? Who bought their bonds and who was left holding them when the war ended? Was it simply expected that land owners would pony up?
posted by John Borrowman at 1:11 PM PST - 2 comments

Someone I know has requested I review a document about benefits from a company that is an MLM. They did not ask me about the company specifically, just this particular document. I have very strong feelings about MLM's [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws at 12:56 PM PST - 10 comments

A relative uses a password manager on one computer, with intent that I can access their passwords if needed due to emergency. (I don't live near them, so paper is not an option here.) They do not use or want autofill on web pages, syncing to other computers/phones, or any other bells and whistles. We've used Dashlane for this, but they are now pushing a web/extension model rather than a desktop app that will likely bother and/or confuse my relative. All they need is the ability to save passwords and text (in Dashlane this is "secure notes") and the ability for me to access this in case of emergency - and of course that this be secure. Are any of the other options going to be simpler than Dashlane?
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 12:01 PM PST - 10 comments

Is a recorder like a Zoom H1 or H2 or Tascam DR05 an improvement over a smartphone using the Smart Recorder app? The app records in wav and you can set gain. Will a dedicated recorder in the 100 to 200 dollar range offer a significant improvement? Or are they obsolete for amateur musicians? This would be for recording instrumental and voice tracks for mixing on a computer. Thanks for your experience, Metafilter musicians!
posted by starfishprime at 11:54 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a word to describe that crunchy rice crust in the bottom of a pan, in any language. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 11:38 AM PST - 19 comments

Can anyone recommend a mouse-proof automatic cat feeder? We have a low level of mouse activity in our new home that we're trying to nip in the bud. Among other suggestions, the pest control guy who just left pointed out that if the cat can stick his paw up the existing feeder and pry out a kibble or two at will, mice can get in there as well. I can't deny his logic. [more inside]
posted by The Librarian at 10:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I would like to manage my passwords, but at work I can't install anything. How can I still get passwords? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:47 AM PST - 21 comments

A few years ago in a museum gift shop I saw a large set of irregularly-shaped plastic pieces that could be combined to make abstract sculptures. They came in a plastic canister that was about 18" tall. Now I cannot figure out the name of this set. Does anyone know what this is called? I would also love to learn about similar art-making toys.
posted by mortaddams at 9:25 AM PST - 10 comments

I am tentatively planning to temporarily move from across Canada for the winter and have some questions about how to do it most safely. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:01 AM PST - 11 comments

I have been having stomach pain and random back pain associated with that stomach pain for about a week. It has improved in the last few days, though not due to any particular cause as far as I can identify. In many ways, it feels like trapped gas, and often I feel relief after passing gas or burping. I went to see a doctor, as my family has a history of kidney stones and I suspect maybe this was the start of one. My blood test results revealed very high potassium and slightly high uric acid. The doctor said the potassium result is very high (7.1 mval/l) and can be very bad for my heart, but said to just avoid eating potassium for one week and we'll test the blood again. Is this all I should be doing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:53 AM PST - 10 comments

When people invite me to do things, I can get indignant --what is the psychology behind this? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 8:36 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm looking for a knee length coat out of cotton sweatshirt fabric (similar to this question, but longer). It's a somewhat uncommon piece of clothing, and I could use a hand spotting one! [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 8:10 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for Evernote alternatives. Snowflake-y requirements in the details. [more inside]
posted by po822000 at 8:09 AM PST - 14 comments

I would like to purchase matching hoodies for our whole family including our dog. We range in size from 2 to 3x to women's medium. The dog is a large. Open to alternate clothing item besides hoodies - but has to work for a range of genders and still 'match'. Maybe t-shirts? Hoodie sounds cuter though. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:25 AM PST - 7 comments

I suspect I have internal hemorrhoids and I would like to see a doctor about it. But the reason why I suspect it is kind of... well... awkward, and I'm feeling anxious about making the appointment as a result. Can you walk me through this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:22 AM PST - 14 comments

I was a Very Fat and Very Unfit person (female, 50s). And then I spent a couple of years figuring out how to move my body in a way that made me happy. Next I focused on food. And now I find myself Rather Fit and definitely Not Fat (though not precisely thin, I'm in straight sizes). And...here's where I need a new kind of guidance. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:21 AM PST - 11 comments

My dad and I loved doing Eric Berlin's Social Distancing Puzzles. Where can we find more collaborative word games to play together? [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 6:59 AM PST - 5 comments

It has been suggested that this image on the wall behind Jasper Johns stealing light bulbs is "Hockneyesque" but as I haven't found an actual Hockney painting that matches or comes close, my question still stands. It is in the episode "Mom and Pop Art" from Season 10. As always, help is appreciated!
posted by 41swans at 6:40 AM PST - 2 comments

Need to buy a cellphone SIM and cell plan for one month only in Florida. I need fast internet and hotspot capabilities for my laptop. Phone calling isn't important, although texting would be nice. Will leave US by end of month. Solutions/suggestions?
posted by lometogo at 2:50 AM PST - 11 comments

My 2013 MacBook Air will soon be crossing the rainbow bridge. Should I replace it with a new M1-powered MacBook Air, or the previous 2020 model? [more inside]
posted by PlusDistance at 7:16 PM PST - 22 comments

I'm trying to sell art that I've made in Procreate on my iPad. I have several questions that I would like to ask of someone who specifically has experience with creating professional illustrations for paying clients in Procreate. Can I somehow consult with a professional Procreate artist to answer all of my questions? [more inside]
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 6:51 PM PST - 15 comments

My mother loves to sew and make crafts, and she wants me to set up an online "store" just for family that doesn't take money, but points instead. She wants to be able to put her creations up just like a store, but assign them a point value based on the amount of time it took her to make it instead of an amount of money, and then give selected people a number of points that they can buy things with. Does such a shopping cart, or module / plugin thereof, already exist? [more inside]
posted by Soliloquy at 3:37 PM PST - 6 comments

I can’t find a straightforward answer to this question. I don’t plan on downloading any drawing programs, so what could a Pencil 2 do for me? I’m imagining a scenario like this: editing a document and singling out, say, an exclamation point to be italicized. That’s hard to do with a mouse with any precision: could a Pencil 2 pinpoint things like that better? [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 3:12 PM PST - 10 comments

Important factor: we can’t rinse any coffee grounds down the drain. [more inside]
posted by lokta at 2:39 PM PST - 38 comments

I seem to remember a software program that would take a song (w/o vocals) and keep all of the major elements but rearrange them so that the song was recognizable to the song it originally was but different enough to not be considered plagiarized. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:33 PM PST - 11 comments

My mom has a pretty decent sized collection of elephant figures and assorted objects from the 50s-00s. In preparation for when she passes, I need to start thinking of how to donate/sell this thing... [more inside]
posted by symbioid at 2:11 PM PST - 16 comments

Are the services selling data plans via cellular a practical replacement for cable or DSL? [more inside]
posted by diode at 12:59 PM PST - 13 comments

What's the best and/or least expensive way to test a supplement for the actual chemical content? Is there another way to go about something similar? [more inside]
posted by dozo at 12:22 PM PST - 3 comments

Looking for recommendations! An immediate family I care about, one parent and four adult children, is interested in processing some family trauma and building a healthy relationship to each other as adults. One member suggested engaging a family therapist who could help as a sort of meeting chairperson and resource. Can you suggest a good one? Ideally North America based, and money, within reason, is not a limiting factor. Someone with a well-fleshed-out website is likely to be useful as the family member proposing this project will have something to read before making initial contact. LOTS of suggestions encouraged!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 11:55 AM PST - 7 comments

It doesn't have any usb ports to connect to a laptop. All it has is a mic jack and an ear jack. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 11:23 AM PST - 7 comments

We (an in-house legal team) hired a new lawyer, and they are starting remotely on Monday. They will report to me, but do work for several people across our businesses. I want to do whatever I can to make their first few days comfortable and interesting, to start to establish a good bond, and to get us set up for success in the future. Remote starters/HR onboarders/good bosses: what should I do (and not do) to get things off to a great start? (Bonus question: any tips on how to generally be a good remote boss to a new employee?) [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 11:21 AM PST - 7 comments

It's COVID times, and normally my brother and I get our Dad gift certificates for Christmas. What do we get him this year? [more inside]
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 11:20 AM PST - 7 comments

I have some MKV videos that I need to transcribe. They have a sort of humming background noise which is presumably made by some nearby machines. They DO have some otherwise silent portions of video (where the background noise can be sampled). What's the best way to remove the background noise. I'd like to open the file, click a few buttons/choose a few options and then save-as. I do not want to become an audio engineer or pull the audio out of the video and then re-insert it or whatever. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:44 AM PST - 10 comments

Is door to door pest control sales a scam? If so, how can I prove it? [more inside]
posted by crapples at 10:08 AM PST - 26 comments

I want to get Mr Corpse a battle rope (those heavy ropes you wave around at the gym) for him to workout with at home. Our garage is slowly turning into a home gym during quarantine, which is a good thing. He used the battle ropes at our Y back when it was a reasonable thing to do, and I know he likes them. This would be surprise present, so unless it's vital I'd rather not ask him what he wants. Advice, please. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:02 AM PST - 6 comments

Need teaching quality wifi access from a relative's house in the midwest from mid-December to mid-February. There is currently no infrastructure there, and we'd prefer to leave none behind. Can't leave the occupant with any recurring payments. Options? [more inside]
posted by scruss at 10:02 AM PST - 23 comments

Within the last few days saw, probably on Twitter, a COVID explainer in the form of a drawing/cartoon that showed left to right a woman as she passed through exposure, testing, infectiousness stages. The timeline was helpful, if it's correct. Anyone seen it and know where I can find it again? Thanks in advance.
posted by xaryts at 9:24 AM PST - 2 comments

Help me make my half bathroom a cozy place to pee in the middle of the night. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 9:17 AM PST - 24 comments

My husband leaves doors and windows wide open and forgets about them. in the middle of winter this is ESPECIALLY awful. Two nights ago he left the back door wide open (again) and luckily I realised it when I went down at midnight for a snack. He wants to exchange the air. That is his motivation. Is there a thermometer that will sound an alarm if it senses the temperature going below 21 celcius (for example)?
posted by flink at 9:15 AM PST - 8 comments

I'd like to get a small toaster oven, with a maximum depth (exterior front-to-back) of 11". Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 8:52 AM PST - 6 comments

I want a new job, and I’m realizing I don’t know how to search very well. Please help. [more inside]
posted by xenization at 8:45 AM PST - 10 comments

I was both saddened and dismayed to read that Prof. Lilienfield died recently at the too-young age of 59 (link to NYT). [more inside]
posted by Transl3y at 8:02 AM PST - 2 comments

I dog-sat a gorgeous Lab. Who was apparently covered in urushiol. I'm HIGHLY allergic and am now covered in rash. There's not much I can do about the current rashes, but help me clean everything to please make new ones stoppppppp [more inside]
posted by functionequalsform at 7:46 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I ensure that my cat eats enough when I am away? I accidentally acquired a cat - he was a stray that I was taking care of, and one day he just...didn't leave, I guess. He is, in my obviously unbiased judgment, absolutely perfect. He's even not noticeably naughty when I have to leave home for work. There's just one small issue, however. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 7:42 AM PST - 12 comments

Teen is 13, generally proficient with technology and Minecraft file structure, but resistant to extensive reading and tutorials that feel unrelated to Minecraft (for example, most intro to programming stuff). I'm comfortable with basic programming, but have no experience with Java. What are the best resources for getting started in 2020? Do we need any other software or anything? Bonus points for ways that teen and I can work together and projects across my Mac and her PC.
posted by lgyre at 7:34 AM PST - 2 comments

Our home internet has not worked for months - it looses connection dozens of times a day (sometimes it's up and down, sometimes it mostly works, and often it's like we don't have internet at all). We have four children doing partial distance learning and the adult who's home with them needs to be working, I am losing my bananas. What do I do next? All the details inside. [more inside]
posted by zibra at 7:16 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm an apparently 40 year old (time.. how confusing you are) AFAB cis woman in the US. I have been having a lot of hair loss for the last 5 years, but.. now getting to disturbing level of it.. although truly that symptom is the least worrying of them all... low energy (but this is like..always so who.t.f. knows) that's worse lately.. and recently really significant memory changes. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:00 AM PST - 22 comments

I’m frequently reading about law enforcement in the US choosing not to enforce certain laws, like mask mandates, gun control restrictions, immigration checks etc.. This made me wonder if police officers are actually legally required to enforce laws. As in, can they be sued if they fail to do that, and what leeway do they have? If a police officer is witnessing a crime like genocide/ murder/ arson/ theft/ public urination and does not respond to it, are they in some way liable fort he consequences? [more inside]
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 5:58 AM PST - 13 comments

My toddler loves to watch the Creature Report songs on the show "Octonauts." But we were watching it last night on BBC iPlayer and the story just ended without a song. I think the Netflix version has them but the BBC doesn't, although I feel like maybe it used to, or maybe it's only in certain seasons? What are the guidelines for identifying which Octonauts streams will and will not have Creature Reports?
posted by johngoren at 1:37 AM PST - 8 comments

When you have a channel with regular "hosts" reacting to songs heard for first time... a few different questions about this. [more inside]
posted by Meatbomb at 8:28 PM PST - 10 comments

Once, a part of your identity was "the person who does X". But now, you are a person who can't do X, or can only do a sort of X with much greater difficulty and effort. How did you come to terms with this? [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 8:08 PM PST - 8 comments

Can anyone recommend a psychiatrist in NYC who specializes in adult ADHD? [more inside]
posted by cosmic owl at 6:44 PM PST - 1 comment

Help me understand why I received a surprise bill and what, if anything, I can do to fight it. [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 4:57 PM PST - 23 comments

What are examples of works that combine critical analysis of usually "academic" fare with elements of pop culture don't traditionally get that type of treatment? Looking especially for works that are are upbeat, sincere, and accessible in tone. Examples below. [more inside]
posted by galleta monster at 4:33 PM PST - 12 comments

My mother would like to make two small Christmas cakes this year rather than one of the usual size. She uses the Mary Berry recipe. She has a 5in tin and a 6in tin at her disposal. Obviously she can divide the batter proportionally. But how should she adjust the timings? And should she do one cake at a time or do two different sized cakes simultaneously?
posted by hoyland at 4:26 PM PST - 7 comments

I used to buy digital albums through Google Play (for various reasons I like to buy albums instead of streaming). Now that Google Play is no more, I want a replacement one-stop-shop to buy albums - but it doesn't seem like it exists? [more inside]
posted by fever-trees at 3:58 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm spending a lot of time on video calls. I would like a physical button that I can use to mute and unmute my microphone. I don[t want to build one. Where can I buy a [cheap, easy to use] programmable USB button? Preferably a large one. Complication; must deliver to Australia.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:38 PM PST - 17 comments

This is driving me nuts! :-D I have an IoT device (an ESP32-POE) which is connected to an MQTT broker by ethernet. I specifically chose ethernet because I was fed up with the flakiness of IoT devices on WiFi. Anyway it turns out this IoT device keeps disconnecting from the broker. No obvious pattern to it. Really, really frustrating. [more inside]
posted by dance at 2:33 PM PST - 5 comments

Trying to help my mother-in-law find the unicorn of sweatpants. She needs Petite XL, and wants "baggy, comfortable" sweatpants. [more inside]
posted by something_witty at 2:18 PM PST - 7 comments

Thanks to (gestures around), plus some specific family and work circumstances, it looks like I'll be spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas alone this year. I am at peace with it. But I'll miss cooking with people and would like some advice for the best way to recreate that experience via livestream. Maybe this is an unworkable idea, who knows, let's brainstorm! [more inside]
posted by theweasel at 12:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Does anyone have suggestions for early winter birding in Oregon & Northern California? [more inside]
posted by rubatan at 12:35 PM PST - 3 comments

Which people or groups are working against credentialism/education inflation in the US? How can I get involved in this? I'm specifically wanting groups I could join that work towards eliminating unnecessary higher education degree requirements (and therefore making students take out huge loans for jobs that will never pay enough to cover them).
posted by Violet Hour at 12:22 PM PST - 13 comments

Hi, AskMe. I've started reading through Foucault's Pendulum, largely on a lark, as I have little exposure to the subject matter outside of the horror stories of Dan Brown. I was wondering if anyone had tips or advice to offer as I dive in. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 12:21 PM PST - 20 comments

I want to translate the phrase "Bend, Don't Break" into Latin for a ring I'm designing. [more inside]
posted by ceramicblue at 12:06 PM PST - 6 comments

I was procrastinating on Random Streetview yesterday, and landed in this gorgeous spot in Finland that, much to my dismay, I can't find again. I wish I had clicked "save this view," but alas. It's also not in my browser history. This seems impossible, but I wonder if I can describe it well enough that anyone would recognize the location. [more inside]
posted by brozek at 11:36 AM PST - 4 comments

So after a few videoconferences in Zoom where people shared a screen to show a jerky video I'm looking for alternatives. Is there a better way to do it in Zoom? With a different app? A new platform? I'll pay a reasonable amount for this to not look like a cellphone from 2004.
posted by rileyray3000 at 10:40 AM PST - 7 comments

My family and I have developed a plan for integration of our households at Thanksgiving, and while I think it's pretty good, I'm terribly anxious about it. Can you help me assess it? [more inside]
posted by pleasant_confusion at 9:48 AM PST - 38 comments

I want to send a housewarming gift to a friend but they are on a FODMAP diet and I know nothing about that. What treats can I send them? [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:16 AM PST - 14 comments

I maintain battery-operated sensors far from my main work site. These get fresh alkaline AA batteries every 5-6 weeks to ensure they're always working, leaving me with way more partially-used batteries than I can use in stuff like computer peripherals. They're still putting out 1.5V, but I know that doesn't tell me much about how much life they have left. What can I do with these? (I'm working on retrofitting the sensors to solar, but I still have a pile of batteries I'm trying to avoid just recycling. Rechargeable AAs are not a good option because the batteries are exposed to freezing weather.)
posted by momus_window at 8:35 AM PST - 15 comments

My mother has asked me to help her make a website with details of local gardens open for charity next year. My level of expertise is ‘built a couple of websites with Wordpress a few years ago but haven’t done anything recently’. If you were me, what platform would you use (Wix? Squarespace? Wordpress?), and what calendar plug-ins would you use, if any? [more inside]
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 8:13 AM PST - 5 comments

For several years I've been trying to find a Christmas album I liked as a kid (1980s). [more inside]
posted by BekahVee at 7:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm currently in grad school, and I am quickly realizing that the projects and research that seems most interesting to me requires math skills that I don't have. For anyone who has been in similar situations, what recommendations would you have to improve math skills without literally taking five or six semester-long courses in the necessary subjects? [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 7:24 AM PST - 13 comments

Anywhere I can donate my old/unwanted masks? Is that even a thing or is it gross? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 6:58 AM PST - 16 comments

I used to regularly listen to and enjoy a couple of TV criticism podcasts: Alan Sepinwall's podcasts with Dan Feinberg and (later) Brian Grubb, as well as the Mo Ryan/Ryan McGee podcast. However, Sepinwall hasn't been podcasting since he moved to Rolling Stone, and the Ryan & Ryan podcast seems to have gradually petered out a few years ago. Are there good substitutes out there that do the same sort of thing? [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:57 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a huge fan of the Buff neckwear products. I have maybe 4-5 of various Buff neckwear items and use them daily (for walks, activities). I love them and find them so versatile. [more inside]
posted by dbirchum at 4:38 AM PST - 4 comments

I recently upgraded my iPhone after the one I had for 4+ years stopped working. I got an iphone 8. All good so far, and I realized that it didn't work with the traditional 3.5mm headphone jacks. No big deal; I picked up a iPhone lightening adaptor jack to use with it, plugged in my headphones and started to listen... The sound quality is HORRIBLE! I have many pairs of earbuds and decent quality headphones that I love to listen to music on my iphone (Sony, Sennheiser, etc) and they sound horrible now. I have no desire to buy those Apple Pro earbud things, so am I now destined to abandon all of my earbuds and headphones , or dig out my old iPod and listen to music on that? Help!
posted by konaStFr at 4:30 AM PST - 17 comments

I went to an upscale mens shop for a specific boot in a hard-to-find size. They helped me try on a few pairs but didn't have the size they eventually thought I needed but offered to special order them. The thing is the "right" size they could order didn't have a key option that, during my subsequent research, I realized was critical to me (rubber sole). An online store does offer likely right size w/ rubber sole. I don't want to feel like I "used" the shop in any way (they were a little helpful in narrowing down likely size)--do I just buy something else (I may not really need) from the shop, or just let it go as 'part of doing business'?
posted by Jon44 at 3:50 AM PST - 16 comments

So I started a gofundme for my family and I last weekend. I didn't expect it to blow up but we just got many thousand dollars. This is a life changing amount of money to me. I'm trying to figure out a few things as this plays out and could use advice. [more inside]
posted by starlybri at 12:27 AM PST - 15 comments

I live in a place with lots of free, walk-in COVID testing sites, and a relatively low but increasing case count. I'm not a frontline responder but I am required to show up in person to work most days, as are my colleagues. I otherwise mostly stay home, but do shop for groceries and go on the occasional hike with friends. Would getting tested once a week or so be a responsible decision to try to keep others safe, or a waste of scarce public resources? [more inside]
posted by exutima at 11:13 PM PST - 5 comments

Help my figure out my best approach to dating through apps these days, not just due to the pandemic, but also changes in my schedule and availability and what I want from a possible relationship. [more inside]
posted by woolsocks at 8:42 PM PST - 4 comments

My senior kitty with arthritis suddenly started limping on his front paw this evening. He can't put any weight on it and seems confused. I didn't see him jump down from anywhere, but that doesn't mean he didn't. Is this time for the emergency vet or can it wait till tomorrow? I'm less worried about a sprain than I am a clot. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 8:05 PM PST - 7 comments

I recently read either a (USian) Twitter thread or a blog post in which someone said they'd spent time on some conservative message boards for years, and discovered that in many cases liberals and conservatives agree on fundamental things, but use completely different terms for it, which is keeping the two sides apart on many things they'd agree upon (like socialized medicine or protecting our natural resources). It had a number of great examples. Does anyone have a link?
posted by rednikki at 7:32 PM PST - 8 comments

Winter is coming and there's a pandemic on. Please help me find a jump rope! [more inside]
posted by aniola at 7:08 PM PST - 4 comments

Some time in the 1980s, I watched a movie in color that was being shown on India's Doordarshan TV. The film was in some Eastern European language (Russian/Polish I think), subtitled in English. I have a vivid recollection of some boys traveling on top of a train and playing some kind of game where they would light a Molotov cocktail and delay throwing the bottle until the last possible second.
posted by bardophile at 6:57 PM PST - 3 comments

Share your favorite tracks from your favorite film scores. [more inside]
posted by cursed at 6:39 PM PST - 35 comments

I am about to be gifted what is for me a large sum, about $60-$65k. I am not employed right now and this is unearned income so I cannot put it into a retirement account. However, that is what I will hopefully eventually use it for. In the meantime, I want to keep it safe and at least match inflation. [more inside]
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 6:20 PM PST - 21 comments

Super basic question: Where in Seattle can I 100% definitely find one or two turkey drumsticks, without the rest of the turkey attached, by next Wednesday? Thanks!
posted by centrifugal at 5:00 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a couple of liter boxes of soups that expired this summer. Can I eat them if they smell okay? Or is it a situation where I should just toss them and not look back? The soups are vegan, if that makes a difference. Complication: I have a fairly sensitive system that I really do not want to upset, but am not sensitive to anything in the soups.
posted by bile and syntax at 3:45 PM PST - 11 comments

I listened to the audiobook version of "Hamilton: The Revolution" recently, borrowed from my local library using Libby. The epilogue includes Lin-Manuel Miranda's notes on the musical, but without the landmarks his remarks are referring to, some of them don't make sense. Is there an upload somewhere of just that part of the book?
posted by cozenedindigo at 3:43 PM PST - 2 comments

My friend, tired of being the one who 'never knows anything about other countries' in our weekly trivia/quiz get-togethers, is starting a new project to learn about geography. She's bought herself a new notebook and pen, and has a plan to learn about a new country or two each week - and is now totally unsure how to start due to information overload. What magazine or book can I gift her for Christmas that will give her inspiring overviews of the different countries of the world? [more inside]
posted by archy at 3:43 PM PST - 11 comments

I have several titles I'd like to buy from the Canadian Amazon Kindle store, and then read on my primarily US-linked Amazon Kindle account (mostly read on an Ipad.) Several books, but top of the list are wartime memoirs of Farley Mowat. [more inside]
posted by seasparrow at 3:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a delightful soft sweater and I’ll be wearing it as a warm layer everyday, now that it’s getting cold out. The sleeves are getting baggy and loose, and if I stand up and shake them out, the cuffs fall past my fingers and I picture them catching on fire when I try to cook. Quarantine has not been kind to me and my reactions to this range from irritation to rage. Nothing about quarantine is going to get better for a while but maybe I can fix this sweater. [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 3:01 PM PST - 8 comments

I re-caulked our bathtub/wall joints, and now there are fine cracks in the caulk. Did I do something incorrectly? [more inside]
posted by Gorgik at 3:00 PM PST - 4 comments

Trying to pull the graphics card out of a PC I purchased to replace it with a marginally better one. Reaching under the card to pop the clip on one side is difficult due to position and fat fingers: the other side is currently inaccessible due to fan // heatsink placement giving no clearance. Is there a tool to help with this or do I need to start removing fans?
posted by isauteikisa at 2:50 PM PST - 7 comments

I want to get a Christmas gift for friends in Chicago. Usually I'd get a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, but obviously that's less than ideal this year. What are some other options? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 1:30 PM PST - 8 comments

After many years of having all my audio in the same iTunes library, I'm splitting off all of my DJ mixes (CDs, FACT, Resident Advisor, etc) into a separate library to make browsing easier. However, I've run into a few logistical problems: [more inside]
posted by Merzbau at 12:50 PM PST - 7 comments

I hired someone to paint my house, and he didn't use dropcloths properly and got paint on my deck, steps, and the bar I recently built on my deck. He used some sort of solvent to clean it up, which has left what looks like bleach stains on the Trex bar and steps, and removed paint from the deck. He hasn't said anything about it. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by metasarah at 12:39 PM PST - 10 comments

I have an airbnb booked for Thanksgiving weekend on Orcas Island (WA) and I'm wondering 1. if there are any accessible beaches I can take my dog? and 2. Where should I get take-out from? [more inside]
posted by lunasol at 12:19 PM PST - 8 comments

A friend is looking for a book that she heard about and now wants to read, but she can’t remember what it was. She describes it as an upcoming (or maybe recent) science fiction locked room mystery novel that opens with a woman alone on probably a spaceship, with a dead body and some bossy but unhelpful robots and no memories. (If not locked room, at least mystery structure.) [more inside]
posted by wintersweet at 12:00 PM PST - 9 comments

My family has a tiny tradition of gifting one another with a truly terrible Christmas CD. For example: Billy Idol, William Shatner, Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta, and Tiny Tim. I'm ready to buy another -- any in this, er, oeuvre that you know about?
posted by JanetLand at 11:55 AM PST - 38 comments

We've been using Eventbrite to run a free timed admission system for a cultural institution. One of the things that Eventbrite doesn't do is let us limit reservations by email. We are going to be doing a holiday event over three weeks and want people to only be able to register once per email. [more inside]
posted by sciencegeek at 11:22 AM PST - 0 comments

This is a question I don't even want to try to google. Of 8 strands of outdoor LED Christmas lights, only one half of one of the strands will light up. First, how and why? I believe they are only 3 years old and they were working last year. Second, do I try to fix them, or just buy new ones? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 11:15 AM PST - 8 comments

As of today, I am COMPLETELY DEBT FREE! Help me make sure I'll be responsible with the money I was using to get that way! [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM PST - 39 comments

I've been watching The Queen's Gambit and it made me want to try chess again. I know how all the pieces move, castling/en passant, etc, but I lack any strategic understanding, openings/closings, etc. Where do I go from here? Online/digital sources preferred, but books are cool too.
posted by miltthetank at 9:04 AM PST - 13 comments

I am a single woman with no kids who has an amazing album of photos that my grandmother took in 1918 France while she was an Army nurse there. Since there's no family to leave this to, I'd like to donate the album to a library or museum (after scanning all the photos of course.) What is a reputable place to donate this that will take care of it and actually find it valuable/useful? [more inside]
posted by OolooKitty at 8:28 AM PST - 6 comments

Essentially: what is a way for a grandmother to come to Boston from Florida for Christmas that is as low-risk as possible. [more inside]
posted by jdl at 8:15 AM PST - 21 comments

I'm an artist and aware that for digital art prints, giclee printing is recommended as being most archival. This involves an inkjet printer and pigment inks rather than dyes. I'm wondering how this relates to the printing process for nice books. Do they use dyes or pigments, or is there some completely different process I don't understand? If not giclee, how archival is color generally considered? [more inside]
posted by lgyre at 8:10 AM PST - 5 comments

Best practices for website hosting service vs register vs nameserver? [more inside]
posted by mono blanco at 7:43 AM PST - 9 comments

A friend's birthday is coming up, and they love chocolate cake that is both sweet and uses dark chocolate. But... [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 7:14 AM PST - 12 comments

In the spirit of the unique hell that is final exams in 2020... I'm curious about grammar/document formatting, and best practices. For instance, today I learned about the indentation debate (ie., indenting the first line of a new paragraph OR putting line break between two paragraphs, but never both. Source [more inside]
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 7:00 AM PST - 12 comments

I want to read my grandma short stories for bedtime over the phone. [more inside]
posted by notsnot at 6:13 AM PST - 9 comments

Someone hurt me very badly and there is no way for justice to be done. I'm looking for advice, books, movies, songs, whatever you can recommend that will help me handle the feelings. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:13 AM PST - 10 comments

I would like to read fictional or non-fictional books about romances between an older woman and a younger man. Romance is preferred but platonic/friendship based stories would be okay too. Thank you.
posted by anonymous at 5:13 AM PST - 16 comments

I've been with my 33-year-old boyfriend for just under a year, and I love him and hoped to spend the rest of my life with him. He loves me, too, but my age and the fact I want a family have always hung over the relationship; he has a lot of internal/life stuff to work out and is not ready to have a baby. He had been deciding – and I'd been waiting and hoping for a shift in him, or for him to change his mind – all this time as we've otherwise enjoyed a wonderful relationship. Yesterday, I asked him to confirm the couples' counsellor he had suggested we should see about it, and he told me that he's finally come to a conclusion - he's not going to have a baby with me. He's not going to be ready any time soon. I was prepared for it but I feel utterly gutted. Please help me deal with the pain of this. [more inside]
posted by Ella_Bella at 12:47 AM PST - 44 comments

I regularly see reports of flagrant violations of COVID public health restrictions, and there seems to rarely be a strong enforcement response. For example, even when fines are possible, they seem to be rarely issued. What is the reasoning/arguments for this kind of "non-punitive" response? [more inside]
posted by kanuck at 10:12 PM PST - 23 comments

Sometime between probably 1974 and 1976 my dad took my sister and I to a movie that we remember as being European (for some reason, my sister and I remember it as being Hungarian, but that may not be true). [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:37 PM PST - 8 comments

What can I do indoors in a small space for cardio? [more inside]
posted by ASlackerPestersMums at 6:36 PM PST - 18 comments

I need to have a ~18"x12"x2" corrugated box delivered to someone. I can find corrugated shipping boxes in the size I need online in quantity 50 for close to $100, but what if I only need one? [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 6:08 PM PST - 5 comments

I want to wear this bracelet everyday, but I can’t do up the clasp by myself. I tried a magnetic clasp like I use for necklaces. Sadly, it wasn’t strong enough for a bracelet and I eventually lost the bracelet. Before I buy a replacement, any ideas on how I can get it on and off everyday? I think it will break if I sleep with it on.
posted by erloteiel at 5:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Why is my relative (not SO) falling asleep watching battle scenes on TV, and why is it irritating me so much? [more inside]
posted by bad grammar at 1:16 PM PST - 48 comments

I’ve seen references (off the top of my head, in the writings of Poul Anderson and John Braine, among others) to a Quaker Oats box design... [more inside]
posted by Epixonti at 12:57 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a book or series that focuses on believable, relatable, well-developed characters in a believable, relatable, well-developed world, being fallibly human while having adventures. The Expanse and Aubrey/Maturin series as main points of reference. [more inside]
posted by rustybullrake at 12:15 PM PST - 26 comments

My wife's boss forwarded to her an email purporting to be from an ER doc in Atlanta who says COVID is withering away. My wife is beside herself. But, I'm at a loss as to how she might respond. [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 11:40 AM PST - 27 comments

I need to find a place where I can order a vegetable roll, ginger salad, sushi rice, and edamame in Atlanta. I need these things to not have dairy or gluten in them. This used to exist but I can’t find such a place now. Bonus points if they cooperate with a delivery service.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 10:20 AM PST - 2 comments

Has there ever been a case where a government has purchased a patent from its holder, in order to then make that patent freely usable by its citizens or the world? [more inside]
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 10:09 AM PST - 10 comments

What would a Lithuanian Jewish teenage girl in 1890 wear? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 10:02 AM PST - 12 comments

Partially motivated by fears about the stock market but also partially not. See inside for details. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:33 AM PST - 16 comments

I used the software Gif Movie Gear (Gamani) for about 700 years. It's Windows only but that this point I am effectively Mac only. I don't really want to run an emulator or jump through a bunch of hoops. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by dirtdirt at 9:24 AM PST - 3 comments

I just started a new job with a highly aggressive weekly deadlines. I'm not concerned with the 12 hour days. What's challenging is managing all of the emails, slack notifications and additional communication that are a key part of the job, in addition to my primary job which is film editing, which requires concentration and lack of distraction. [more inside]
posted by captainscared at 8:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I have an 8-year-old boy who wants to learn how to program games. What are the resources I should assemble? [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 8:28 AM PST - 9 comments

On election night, I caught part of a live NPR interview with, if I remember correctly, an anti-abortion activist who was partying at the White House election night. The interview was pretty incoherent and I can't remember the person's name, nor can I find a transcript online of election night coverage. Anyone hear this or remember who it was? [more inside]
posted by pepper bird at 8:18 AM PST - 8 comments

Reading E.B. White's children's book to my kids inspired me to seek out his other work, and I've loved everything I've read so far: One Man's Meat, Here is New York, and Points of My Compass. I want to continue adding his books to my bookshelves, but there are so many collections... [more inside]
posted by Text TK at 6:34 AM PST - 4 comments

Let’s say a government gathers public input for the purpose of redistricting. The government amasses a thousand pieces of public input, possibly via different media, describing and justifying different geographic communities of interest. And the government wants to manage and mine that data. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 12:10 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m building an outdoor sauna in the corner of my yard and it needs to sit on 6”-8" of gravel. Rather than dig, I was hoping to just put the gravel on top of the dirt and tamp it down, but this means the bottom 6" of my unpainted wood fence will be touching that gravel. If that is a bad idea, is there another solution that would allow me to put down the gravel without having to dig and still not compromise my fence?
posted by Dragonness at 7:46 PM PST - 7 comments

I recently saw an article about burning and then "un-burning" iron powder, allowing the same material to be burned over and over again as part of a renewable energy system. Dang, I have so many questions! [more inside]
posted by Lirp at 7:39 PM PST - 17 comments

I’d like to give some small monthly X of the month style gifts to family for this holiday. I’d really like to support small businesses while I do it, and prefer consumable items (cookie of the month, interesting vinegar with an easy recipe, etc). I’d like to support artists and crafters and small businesses. I don’t really have room on my walls for more art/etc so would prefer ephemeral gifts. Would appreciate your suggestions! [more inside]
posted by arnicae at 5:33 PM PST - 14 comments

Anyone else running MacOS on an external drive? What is the best, most reliable way to do this? Should I just change the external drive to be the boot drive? Change my home directory to the external drive and keep the OS on the internal SSD? Or should I just point my Photo & Music directories to the external drive, since they take up the most space? [more inside]
posted by Big Al 8000 at 4:57 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm no Sushi connoisseur and wanted to check in before I go and write a complaint: I just ordered "Sushi Sashimi" for takeout and it was a pile of rice with the raw fish on top. The order size was given in "pieces". Is there any Sushi that is served in this way? If not it seems totally bizarre to make such a kind of mistake, to not roll the sushi and just dump the imgredients on the plate.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 4:27 PM PST - 13 comments

Planning to buy a wireless headphone for a hearing-impaired family member and wonder if it is possible to get audio from both headphones and TV speakers at the same time so people without headphones can watch together and still listen to the audio playing back from TV speakers. My experience with stereo or computer is that once headphones are plugged in the native speakers will be switched off. Any way or device that might help?
posted by lanhan at 2:56 PM PST - 7 comments

How do you protect seeds in a crowded garden from being trampled or buried under mulch? [more inside]
posted by zvs at 1:14 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm planning a road trip and want to dive deep into music. Please recommend an audio book, podcast, or maybe even a class! Something like Ken Burns' jazz documentary, but preferably where they play full songs instead of clips.
posted by rebent at 1:02 PM PST - 11 comments

Hospital cleaner apparently threw away my son's essential items, including his glucose meter? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 12:23 PM PST - 15 comments

Is a combination of secure email and a VPN enough to guarantee privacy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:02 PM PST - 9 comments

My dad loves The Revenant and other books about revenge and survival. What should he read next? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 11:30 AM PST - 19 comments

I am considering taking a tradesperson course. I plan on a building, U.S. There are 2 organizations; 1 North American, 1 German. What is the difference? What do they offer? How will they help me build a house, and do they lead to Certification?
posted by ebesan at 11:19 AM PST - 5 comments

We are going to have Thanksgiving "together" with 4 people seated on one side of a picture window and 4 on the other side. 2 people are hard of hearing. Any suggestions on how improve the audio beyond "2 phones on speaker phone"?
posted by arnicae at 11:16 AM PST - 10 comments

I want your recommendations for an easy to use site(s) to host photos and videos online for private viewing. [more inside]
posted by roolya_boolya at 11:11 AM PST - 2 comments

If someone participates in a clinical trial for a vaccine, does that preclude that person from also receiving another more effective vaccine later, or make it risky to do so? [more inside]
posted by SquidLips at 9:50 AM PST - 5 comments

Someone used my email address to sign up for a financial account. Now the company wants my personal information to close the account. Obviously, I don't want to give it to them. What should I do next? Am I overthinking this, or should I just reset the password, log in and try to close the account myself? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:17 AM PST - 10 comments

My cat (13M, neutered) has been peeing and spraying under a table. We're working with his vet but in the meantime have tried to make the situation more manageable. We created a big litter palace underneath out of a wood frame with insulation panels; the floor is 4 litter boxes. See it here: https://imgur.com/a/Tbz0wim. The problem is that the cat pees on the walls and it both escapes the structure and pools on the floor. We need some ideas to make the pee stay contained and have it (relatively) easy to clean up. [more inside]
posted by iliketolaughalot at 8:40 AM PST - 10 comments

It’s a long shot, but this rendition by Hafdís Huld and Alisdair Wright of an old Danish/Icelandic children’s song reminds me of some old indie song (probably late 90s or early 00s), specifically the guitar figure that begins the song and continues throughout. I can just about hear the other song in my head, but not quite. Anyone else reminded of another song?
posted by Kattullus at 7:55 AM PST - 10 comments

An adult relative asked for a rock tumbler as a gift. Many of the options seem to be geared to kids, and I don't want to inadvertently purchase a unit that is meant more as a toy. Any recommendations for a unit suitable for adults? Thanks
posted by smokyjoe at 6:55 AM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone know an online source for duck soup base? [more inside]
posted by cindywho at 5:53 AM PST - 4 comments

Have you ever made a big move rooted in general life dissatisfaction/ennui/adventure seeking? How'd it go? [more inside]
posted by ambulanceambiance at 5:47 AM PST - 15 comments

So I'm looking for a song called "The Four ????" where the question marks represent the plural noun I cannot remember. [more inside]
posted by Dysk at 1:02 AM PST - 3 comments

Specific requirements within, but I'm particularly curious about is what sound isolation options there are out there [more inside]
posted by wooh at 11:17 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a car In Brooklyn now and I want to escape the city on the weekend! But it's closing in on winter, so the usual summer/fall trips to pretty state parks for a hike or beach are meh. Suggestions for easy day trips--solo adult, no kids in tow. [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 6:45 PM PST - 9 comments

I am seeking the best vacuum(s) money can buy for my 3 level home - all hardwoods except for a couple of rugs - where 2 long haired dogs, 2 long haired humans, and 1 short haired human live. Ideally I think I want 1. a robot vacuum and 2. a cordless stick vacuum for random messes/hairballs, but I'm open to being persuaded otherwise. Please give me your recommendations that are tested and true. Thanks!
posted by ohsnapdragon at 6:32 PM PST - 20 comments

My parents want a digital picture frame for Christmas, and we'd like to get them one that all their children can send pictures to from our phones, so my parents don't have to do anything to get new pictures of their grandkids in rotation! Do you have one? Do you recommend it? Is there one that stands out from the rest? Features I should look for or avoid?
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:25 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a lot of data I need to capture and validate but I am constrained to using MS Word forms. What are the best practices to generate Word forms that aren't a data disaster? I am a programmer and not averse to technical manuals. Ideally at the end of the day something else could read the form, consume the form fields, re-validate, and probably turned into JSON or YAML for processing. What is the least terrible way to do this? I would be very happy to find something like regular expression validation in Word forms these days. If there is a good book that details modern Word form development let me know. I cannot install plugins for Word. I am much more familiar with frontend/backend web form validation. PDFs could be a possibility as well if easier to use than Word, as long as it doesn't require a full version of Acrobat to fill out and save the forms.
posted by benzenedream at 6:00 PM PST - 3 comments

I would like to do work, build things, read, etc. out on the deck even when it's dark. Can anyone recommend a battery and/or solar light that a) isn't motion dependent and b) isn't on all the time (i.e. has a way to turn it on/off), and that's c) reasonably attractive? I'm thinking I might want 2-3 gutter-mounted lights, a couple of sconces/wall mounted lights, or even a lantern or three that somehow won't shine into my eyes and make it hard to see other things. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 5:44 PM PST - 2 comments

Fellow mefites, what are your favorite stuffing/dressing recipes? To be honest, I really love the instant kind you get in a box, but I'd like to do a homemade version. We literally eat this only once a year, so I'd prefer the classic flavors, but I am also open to other suggestions if you have something truly amazing in mind. [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects at 4:45 PM PST - 20 comments

I spend lots of time in the sun. Most of my body tans but my face turns bright red with just a bit of sun exposure. It's uncomfortable and it's embarrassing to be constantly sunburnt even when it's winter or cloudy, (just a little sun exposure burns my face). The only problem is if I use sunscreen for some reason my face is uncomfortably hot that evening, every time. Is there a sunscreen I can use that won't make my face hot? Is there any other ideas? Hat and sunglasses isn't enough. Thanks
posted by maxexam at 3:52 PM PST - 20 comments

One of the things I've always enjoyed is wearing "fun" boxer shorts with bright colors and fun prints. Some of my boxers are starting to get kind of old, and my usual go-to sources don't have a lot to replace them with. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 11:43 AM PST - 9 comments

In my kitchen, we have a setup where the trash can and recycling are mounted in wire baskets on rollers that pull out of a compartment in a kitchen island, approximately like this. The rolling mechanism's busted, and appears to me to be irreparable, and I'd like to know if replacing it myself is a thing I could consider doing. [more inside]
posted by COBRA! at 11:18 AM PST - 6 comments

By the early 90s, musicians such as The Flaming Lips were adding an audio layer of vinyl record pops and scratches to some of their songs to evoke an earlier era, or simply to add character. But who was doing it earlier? [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 11:14 AM PST - 15 comments

I shipped an insured media mail package via USPS. The transaction was done at the counter where a worker weighed the package and applied the (supposedly) correct postage. Despite this, the package was returned to me "postage due". I was wondering if anyone who's dealt with a similar situation might know why the package was returned when the postage was correct, and/or if I have any options in fighting this and/or getting reimbursed for the postage. [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 11:14 AM PST - 14 comments

I need COVID-friendly thank-you gift ideas for two extremely overworked Chicago-based conference planners! [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 10:43 AM PST - 17 comments

Difficulty level: pandemic + being across the country. After a prolonged illness, my childhood best friend recently lost a parent (whom I was never personally very close to, but was a slightly distant fixture in my life throughout my childhood). What material things can I do for my friend that would be helpful? [more inside]
posted by music for skeletons at 10:42 AM PST - 8 comments

I want to become more handy - and I especially want to feel confident building basic things out of wood (like this, for example). However, I have no experience with most tools or techniques, and I don't really have a mentor available to teach me such things. What are some beginner- (and budget-) friendly ways to work up to those projects? [more inside]
posted by mosst at 9:56 AM PST - 26 comments

What is a resource link that covers this topic that is not the toxic garbage fire of cosmo? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 9:50 AM PST - 7 comments

My wife and I are invested in living with a low carbon footprint and have recently decided to get a dog. Do you have tips, strategies, or product recommendations that meet a dog's needs (comfort, safety, food, toys, etc.) while minimizing production/transportation/packaging?
posted by 10ch at 8:49 AM PST - 20 comments

I've seen news articles about fake relief funds posted by bad actors, shady gofundmes, and dubious links on tumblr. I want to donate, and I want to be sure my donation goes to a real charity that will actually help people. [more inside]
posted by the liquid oxygen at 8:43 AM PST - 6 comments

How to wipe an old windows laptop if the 'restore factory settings' option is giving me an error? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 8:30 AM PST - 7 comments

Because of spyware, Chrome's default engine keeps getting set to Yahoo instead of Google. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 8:25 AM PST - 4 comments

We've had no problems with drain clogs for the 10+ years we lived here. Yesterday a plumber came to fix a kitchen sink drain pipe and also "brought it up to code." This morning our sink is clogging and drains at a snail's pace, if at all. What the heck happened and how do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by castlebravo at 8:08 AM PST - 12 comments

Can The Hive Mind hope us find a military or commercial semi truck that fits our budget? [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:06 AM PST - 6 comments

I've got a chronic issue with my throat flinching when I try to eat or drink that doesn't seem to alarm my doctors but is making my life miserable. Help me brainstorm new things to throw at it? [more inside]
posted by space snail at 7:58 AM PST - 10 comments

I am helping with a protest of the law firms that are supporting Trump’s effort to steal the election. What are some good chants we can do outside their offices?
posted by andoatnp at 7:58 AM PST - 14 comments

Our refrigerator, set at 33 F, varies between 35 F and 40 F. Our freezer, set at 0 F, fluctuates between -4 F and 8 F. Are these normal fluctuations, or is our refrigerator broken? (Whole story below the fold, but ultimately this is the question.) [more inside]
posted by China Grover at 7:46 AM PST - 8 comments

Because of pandemic-circumstances, an acquaintance became my best friend and the sole other member of my pod this year (i.e. the only person I eat meals with, spend time indoors, see and talk to the most, etc). I developed romantic feelings; they didn't. Now what? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:49 AM PST - 8 comments

Any tips for having a party online for 25 to 30 people that involves eating a meal? Is it possible? I welcome any advice! [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 6:16 AM PST - 5 comments

Tuna casserole left out over night? Yea? Nay? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:02 AM PST - 26 comments

I've got some fantasy short stories that I'd like to publish. I'm inclined to make a Kickstarter and sell advanced copies to recoup publishing costs. This crowd-funding has been successful for other projects I've done. Does you have any good publishing blogs or books you recommend? [more inside]
posted by jibberish at 5:51 AM PST - 3 comments

We’re moving from Florida to Boston this winter and I don’t actually know how to do any of this. What is the least stressful way to transport all of us and all our stuff to Boston? [more inside]
posted by tatiana wishbone at 5:34 AM PST - 13 comments

If all goes well, I have roughly 3 months to increase my physical and mental stamina and energy level before a new grandchild is born. Help me improve my condition. [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 5:29 AM PST - 13 comments

My friends and I have made up "Soup Club International" where we trade off making fancy soup based meals for each other, getting pleasantly wine drunk with good music playing loud enough to hear each other all while hanging out in low lighting. (Being in your late 30's/early 40's can be kinda cool, lol) I'm outsourcing for more soup recipes, details below.... [more inside]
posted by vividvoltage at 5:20 AM PST - 29 comments

Yesterday evening I dropped off two expensive returns in a USPS mailbox. The box said that the pickup time for all mail inside is 10am on weekdays. I just checked the tracking number for both returns and neither are showing up as having been processed. Shouldn't both packages be in the system by now?
posted by Kitchen Witch at 12:04 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there a product that holds a standard house key with a mechanism something like this retractable USB flash drive, where the blade of the key retracts inside, but it can slide out to use the key? Ideally I’d like something like a slim and flat rectangle with a spring that automatically retracts the key, but I can’t find a single product even remotely close to this concept. Does something like this exist?
posted by stopgap at 10:20 PM PST - 6 comments

So on the news that Google Photos will no longer offer unlimited storage, I started wondering about how the whole process works. I realize this is probably a trade secret, but how does Google store all this data in a way that is immediately retrievable? [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 9:35 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a small hand drum with such a quiet sound that someone at an outdoor drum circle once (jokingly?) asked me if I was playing a "silent drum". I have a powerful bluetooth speaker (with both bluetooth and stereo 1/8" in) that could very decently amplify the sound. What are my best options for implementing this, for the least amount of money? [more inside]
posted by tenderly at 9:04 PM PST - 6 comments

What should I make with butternut squash and chard? [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 7:08 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm ready to try an e-reader. What's the best one for my fussy self? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 6:47 PM PST - 18 comments

I've always been interested in quick mental math/arithmetic. e.g. Sometimes I find myself checking a bill by adding it up the way we were taught in school. I'm sure there are better ways. What are the best books/resources? Looking for math techniques that can be used often, are easy to remember and easy to use!
posted by storybored at 6:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I recently got a piece of vintage luggage and the plastic handle got broken in transit. I managed to glue the big pieces back together with epoxy glue (specifically, this stuff). Unfortunately, it appears there was some chipping/splintering/shattering of the rather old plastic on one of the pieces when it broke, leaving a pretty big crack/gap after I glued it together. Here are some pics. [more inside]
posted by mhum at 6:05 PM PST - 7 comments

I don't know why after successfully receiving group messages and photos since March, a couple of weeks ago I started getting the circle of doom, it would show as a message -- and the message never would download. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 5:54 PM PST - 10 comments

Help, I'm drowning in negative news about how the U.S. is turning to authoritarianism, eroding democracy, etc. Are there books, articles and interviews about ways people fight/reverse/change minds amidst this situation? Other countries that faced this and turned it back? Please no "all hope is lost" comments, I've got enough of that pumping through my veins from Twitter/newspapers/social media!
posted by rogerroger at 5:30 PM PST - 6 comments

What group or album am I trying to remember? [Something] of Deauville.
posted by HotToddy at 5:19 PM PST - 4 comments

I would like to watch El Ministerio del Tiempo with English subtitles. Is that possible? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 3:37 PM PST - 3 comments

I just received a (very polite!) rejection email for a job I interviewed for recently, which was worded along the lines of "We liked your personality and your experience with Y, but at the moment we're looking for someone experienced in X." The thing is, I believe I'm perfectly experienced enough in X to meet the job requirements, I just emphasized Y more in the interview because I guess I misjudged the profile they were looking for. [more inside]
posted by mekily at 3:21 PM PST - 8 comments

I need to upgrade my internet and in order to do so, I'll likely need to turn in my ancient DVR. Before I do, I want to find a way to keep what I've recorded. Are the answers in this post still relevant? [more inside]
posted by Recliner of Rage at 2:56 PM PST - 3 comments

I need a debit card (my bank is Simple). I have access to them, I have Apple Pay but I need a card number to do things as I don't have the card yet. I don't get my card until November 22. I'm willing to pay for a pre-paid card or whatever it takes. What are my options? Ideally if I can use my routing and acct number to buy a "virtual card number" that'd help immediately, or use Apple Pay to go to a store and buy a prepaid card? Having a hard time Googling this and need something now. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 2:29 PM PST - 9 comments

(Possible trigger warning for disordered eating issues.) I eat fairly well most of the day, until after dinner. I need some new ideas to help me stop doing this. Thanks in advance. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 1:58 PM PST - 25 comments

I have trouble hiring professionals for home repair services, with the misguided thought that *I should be able to do it myself.* Obviously, that's not the case. How can I be okay with NOT DIY-ing home repairs/renovations? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 1:37 PM PST - 37 comments

As promised, I am making a stuffed puffin to ~100% scale. I need a sample-size quantity of this glow-in-the-dark fabric or similar. It's for the beak, since most people don't have the ability to see ultraviolet light. I don't use Amazon. 6"x6" should be more than enough. Where do I get it? Please advise! [more inside]
posted by aniola at 1:23 PM PST - 7 comments

Because I'm not a selfish monster, I won't be joining beloved friends for a festive meal. I love Thanksgiving, love cooking, don't own a car so can't do a fun drive or anything like that. I will be making pies for some neighbors, but the thought of sitting down to a table for one is bringing me almost to tears. Trying to focus on giving thanks for the blessings I do have. Seeking suggestions ... not sure if I should even bother. Thank you! [more inside]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 1:23 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm in the very early stages of planning a show for these strange times - meaning it will be online only. I'd like to emulate a little bit of the "event" quality that live shows have, in the vein of a watch party. [more inside]
posted by lizifer at 12:55 PM PST - 8 comments

How long (after infection) does it take for COVID to show up on a test? [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 12:44 PM PST - 4 comments

Thanks to a family member's generosity, I'm getting a new MacBook Pro running Catalina. Do I need to update my current late 2013 MBP, running High Sierra 10.13.6 (I know, I know) before transferring? [more inside]
posted by wintersweet at 11:33 AM PST - 4 comments

A family member needs to move from Chicago to central Washington state by late December; my husband has volunteered to drive them and their things. There are mountains between here and there; how should this be done? Also, should this be done? Details below: [more inside]
posted by sencha at 11:28 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm just beginning with keeping a log/journal for a lovecraftian horror themed game, and would love to make it look more interesting. I've tried looking for journal handwriting tips, but all of what I've found is based on clarity, or on making it more organized. The goal is to make it look interesting, and while my handwriting is not great right now, I'm going to be working on it for this project. Are there any sites that give examples and help with handwriting/formatting/embellishing for something like this that you can recommend? [more inside]
posted by markblasco at 11:24 AM PST - 12 comments

We have a relatively new (3 years old) ceiling fan wired on three strand such that there is a separate switch for the fan portion and the light portion. Is there any reason why wiring the only the light portion to a dimmer switch would be dangerous or not recommended? I know that you don't want the motor portion to run through a dimmer switch due to the risk of overheating or damage to the fan motor. For reference the light portion is 3 bulbs, currently basic LED but I can swap them for dimmable LEDs.
posted by Ferreous at 10:05 AM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for a pair of women's sleep/lounge shorts made with some stretch (like jersey) that does not have an elasticized waistband (drawstring is fine). Basically trying to find the least constricting shorts and since it's just for sleeping I am not concerned about them falling down. I have a few pairs bought from Target long ago, but they're falling apart and are no longer carried!
posted by acidic at 9:58 AM PST - 5 comments

I was prescribed Levaquin for a a prostatitis flare up, and I've taken it over the last 3 days. Although my prostate issues have cleared up, I noticed some soreness in my calves. Does that mean I should stop taking it? [more inside]
posted by matkline at 8:59 AM PST - 3 comments

My Grade 10 kid cannot write. He needs help, and I'm at a loss. I've reviewed his work, suggested edits, rewritten stuff for him, and then had him rewrite using my example in his words. He just isn't getting it. I've been doing this for years. [more inside]
posted by Ftsqg at 8:22 AM PST - 24 comments

When I was very small, my mother used to buy a kids' comic called Twinkle which she read to me every week. I'd love to re-create the experience with my own kid, who is a little under three and who loves being read to, but the kind of thing I remember doesn't seem to exist any more or, if it does, it's only as a marketing tool for toy lines. Parents and carers-for-small-children of metafilter, do you know of something like this? [more inside]
posted by damsel with a dulcimer at 7:17 AM PST - 14 comments

I have a large collection of cardboard boxes filled with good-condition, chronologically organized American Mercury magazines to deal with. Are there people/institutions in the world who'd actually want them? (If so, how might I go about finding them, besides just calling libraries near me?) My inclination is "no, those've probably all long-since been digitalized and should be treated like National Geographic hoards, i.e. recycled," but maybe one of you knows better? They seem to be from the earlier end of the magazine's publication dates but I haven't opened them all yet.
posted by teremala at 6:39 AM PST - 5 comments

On some TV show I was watching, somebody was playing a famous piano piece. But I can't even remember what show it was. I hear a bit of it in my head, mostly this. It sounds like Chopin, but I've listened to lots of Chopin pieces in the last obsessive hours and I can't find it. This snippet I'm singing is a kind of climax of the theme. I really want to know what it is! (and then get the music and try to play it!)
posted by DMelanogaster at 6:24 AM PST - 2 comments

I keep having days every few weeks where I feel like it's the day before I'm about to come down with the flu or a bad cold, but the symptoms never escalate and I inevitably feel much better the next day. What the heck is going on? [more inside]
posted by terretu at 6:07 AM PST - 32 comments

Village life, peasants, Shanghai, Emperors, Romance - all good. I really liked Raise the Red Lantern, what are some other movies I'd like in that genre? Extra points for them being historically accurate, good acting and splendid backdrops in color? Oh, also have to have English dubbing or at least subtitles. Thanks.
posted by watercarrier at 3:02 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm mentoring a young writer, helping him to write short stories. He's got an excellent grasp of writing basics, but he struggles to understand the demands of the short story format and all his ideas are basically only suitable to develop into a full length novel. The best thing would be for him to just read lots of short stories. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 2:56 AM PST - 23 comments

WFH and being at home all the time is messing with my sleep. I keep getting intensely sleepy very early in the evening, falling asleep and then waking up around 1am and spending hours awake before dropping off again around 5am. Then I have to wake up for work, and spend the whole day tired. How can I rejig my sleep cycle to start feeling sleepy later at night, closer to bedtime? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:45 AM PST - 11 comments

In stressful times I like to take a moment to decompress by reading smart people discussing their areas of expertise. With that in mind, please recommend me your favorite Twitter accounts from academics and researchers around the globe who tweet frequently and enthusiastically about interesting topics that they've made their life's work. Let’s assume my Twitter squad is already well-enough populated with virologists, epidemiologists, and infectious disease experts. [more inside]
posted by theory at 12:56 AM PST - 13 comments

Is there any decent way I can discourage my co-workers from telling me “Happy Veterans Day!”? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 10:08 PM PST - 20 comments

"A topologist is a person who cannot tell the difference between a coffee mug and a doughnut" is a popular mathematics joke. It relies on the mug and the doughnut having a single hole, making them topologically equivalent. If you translated this to French, the words for doughnut and mug would need to imply the existence of the hole. It looks like beignets are usually rectangular. Is the loan word donut understood to mean the torus shape? Is there a term for coffee mug that implies a handle? How would you best translate this? Thanks!
posted by Behemoth, in no. 302-bis, with the Browning at 7:29 PM PST - 25 comments

I'm watching BBC's The War of The Worlds and was wondering what is this place. I'm having a hard time finding it on Google Maps. The show is set in the early 20th century, does this place still exist?
posted by Tom-B at 6:07 PM PST - 9 comments

Landlord attempted to fix my kitchen faucet's wiggly single-handle without success, and I think he may have reversed the hot/cold. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 4:38 PM PST - 4 comments

It could just be a fluke, but my friend tells me she's calling from Europe, but when I call her cell phone and she calls mine, there are no extra charges or changes in my service. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 4:34 PM PST - 10 comments

I have no health insurance. Usually I do corp-to-corp freelance and pay for my own health benefits. This company had an unusual arrangement and wanted me as a full employee for the 8-week duration. I have to decide quickly on the health benefits. As of right now this is not an 8-week with extension. Can I go to ACA and get health insurance? Or should I go through the company for a month or two? Furthermore, will anything be impacted by the 8-week job duration? As in should I ask if I'm "laid off"? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 2:49 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to enjoy watching sports, because it seems like a fun and social way to escape from the world for an hour or two at a time. But I can't seem to enjoy it. What's a good way into sports fandom? [more inside]
posted by rue72 at 1:40 PM PST - 34 comments

Hello, I had a bad interview. The Interviewer misunderstood my knowledge,skills & abilities. Today I found out that the Sr. Talent Management Analyst - Global Talent Management. has a PhD in I/O psychology, my field. Should I reach out to this person in the future? [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 1:34 PM PST - 14 comments

Does what it says! Listen to the whistle - does this sound like a commercial you know? WHAT IS IT?? My spouse thinks it is for cat food but there are too many vintage commercial compilations on youtube to ever go through them all. This has been bedeviling me for years!
posted by 41swans at 1:31 PM PST - 6 comments

My 7 year old is celebrating her birthday with her best friend, with a nighttime picknick in a park. At 5 deg C. Please help me brainstorm 2 or 3 activities to keep them busy and warm. [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 1:30 PM PST - 19 comments

This was my situation at my workplace back in June. Since this time things at work have gotten considerably worse. The toxic atmosphere and apathy continues, including an incident months ago where I was yelled at by a physician and sent home for calmly telling her it was not okay for her to be seeing high risk patients after her son tested positive for COVID, and before she received her negative results. [more inside]
posted by Quincy at 1:18 PM PST - 16 comments

I’d like to learn some knots. I have two use cases: - camping; so things like setting up tarps - transporting stuff on the roof of my car. For the latter one, I learned truckers hitch which works wonders. The issue is I forget it, cause I only use it three times a year. For camping there seem to be a million videos so I’m basically overwhelmed. How do I build an inventory of useful knots and don’t forget them?
posted by aeighty at 1:14 PM PST - 14 comments

As it says up top, I’d like to know if you have PMDD and what you have done to manage it. I’ve suspected for a while I might have it and I’m feeling I might need to take action, but not sure how to go about it. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by robertthebruce at 1:04 PM PST - 15 comments

my feet are super busted. I want a holiday gift list full of treats for feet. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:00 PM PST - 20 comments

Our (adult 33 yo) daughter just tested positive. What can we do to make her life nicer? [more inside]
posted by rtimmel at 11:48 AM PST - 9 comments

I have to work with a junior coworker on a client. The coworker is hating every minute of it. I want to not let her drag me down and also I don't want to lose my patience and get antagonistic with her. [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 9:12 AM PST - 22 comments

It's been years, but I'm going to record my band and release an album early next year. We're really a live band, so I think that instead of going into a studio it would be better to record tracks ourselves so we can do a bunch of takes and choose the best. I'm looking for advice on how to use the equipment I have to produce tracks I can then give to someone else who knows what they are doing to mix. [more inside]
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:11 AM PST - 14 comments

Can you please help me get the mark and smell left by Nature's Miracle (for cats) out of a carpet? It did take out the original stain (kitty puked up a hairball) but now I feel like the solution was almost worse than the original problem. Details within... [more inside]
posted by deep thought sunstar at 9:04 AM PST - 12 comments

None of my real-life friends play Animal Crossing: New Horizons. My spouse and I have tricked out our islands (her more than me) and we're looking to expand our, er, horizons. [more inside]
posted by a complicated history at 8:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I've hurt my arm/shoulder, and I'm having trouble putting my bra on. Is there a bra that's easier to put on? A few snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:52 AM PST - 12 comments

I get oil massages and this has discolored the neck of a number of my jackets. They are discolored darker and look dirty. Let’s make them clean! [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 8:36 AM PST - 5 comments

Just purchased a 2020 keep grand cherokee, and added on their extended 7 yr bumper to bumper plus gap insurance ($4000 total for 7 yr loan warranty, and 800 for gap). Was this a good idea? Know there's more information probably needed, but it's through Fidelity Warranty services. Purchased vehicle on Monday, so I think I have through tomorrow to try to cancel, and I'm reading reviews of it not being with it? Anyone with experience?
posted by MamaBee223 at 8:30 AM PST - 6 comments

My grandma is 87 and has been hunkered down, alone, since March. I want to get her a Christmas gift to help her connect. Details within... [more inside]
posted by cheese at 8:00 AM PST - 11 comments

Socially isolated minimalist seeks daydream fodder. Can you please provide links to the most gorgeous, over-the-top dinnerware sets/tablescapes online? TIA
posted by ChodenKal at 7:43 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm a long-time civil service employee in a small org, newly appointed as a manager. How can I be pro-labor in my work now that I'm one of the bosses? Can I be? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:45 AM PST - 14 comments

I am new(ly returned) to AskMetafilter so this question will be brief in hopes of not getting deleted. What possible causes of action are there in U.S. law -- statutory and case law -- for what is happening right now in our country? Any standing for democracy-lovers? YANML, but you have some knowledge about U.S. law.
posted by ponibrown at 6:44 AM PST - 6 comments

A friend and I are working on a board game prototype for eventual publication and are looking to refine our card list of historical events. These cards reflect buildings, disasters, institutions, policy changes and social movements specific to New York City. We want to maximize the extent to which they are both recognizable and resonant. [more inside]
posted by meinvt at 5:58 AM PST - 21 comments

I think one of our Windows laptops was hacked, maybe through remote access software. The mouse pointer was moving on its own. What should I do and how f***ed are we? [more inside]
posted by gakiko at 4:31 AM PST - 18 comments

This is a very similar question as this previous question, just 15 years more recent. I'm looking to cut the interior pages in a book. [more inside]
posted by wile e at 3:00 AM PST - 13 comments

My cat, Nosy Parker, was diagnosed with vestibular disease at the emergency vet today. Has anyone else gone through this? Can you help me help him? [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 8:21 PM PST - 8 comments

This is a question for a temporary problem - how good would a Korean Bath Towel like this be for scrubbing the bottom of some gnarly and neglected feet? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:50 PM PST - 19 comments

Basically what it says on the tin. it's a job that didn't exist at the particular organization it's at until now that is exactly what I did for ten years so I'd probably get an interview. A few complications/details: [more inside]
posted by less of course at 7:32 PM PST - 6 comments

It's coming up on wool sock season here in New Hampshire, and I find that my supply is mysteriously depleted (I blame the teenagers and/or the dog). I like SmartWool and Darn Tough, but they are pricy. Can anyone recommend comparable women's wool socks for less than $20/pair, preferably closer to $10? [more inside]
posted by libraryhead at 7:22 PM PST - 18 comments

So to the extent I remember correctly, some spoilers ahead for this horror movie that I vaguely remember...also trigger warning if you can't stomach slasher-type films or descriptions thereof. [more inside]
posted by mingodingo at 4:26 PM PST - 2 comments

What are the ramifications, consequences, issues, etc., if any, of getting the initial shingrix shot, but not the second one? Let's say a person has the first shot but doesn't get the second within the six-month window. Can that person get the second shot later, or even get both shots at a later date? Is there any danger in forgoing the second shot altogether?
posted by Dolley at 3:50 PM PST - 8 comments

i used to devour books, to the exclusion of everything else. (hx: i am bipolar with adhd) lately i can't even sit still to read even a few pages and there is SO much i want to read! how do i re-train my brain to do this?
posted by megan_magnolia at 3:08 PM PST - 22 comments

I used to enjoy leafing through the various full color mail order catalogs that would show up in the mail like a force of nature. i haven't received any catalogs in years and years, but I'm tempted to sign up for some just so I can leaf through them and marvel at this brave world that has such things in it. What catalogs might I want to order? [more inside]
posted by moonmilk at 3:04 PM PST - 42 comments

My girlfriend loves schmancy vinegars, so I'd like to get her some as a gift. Have any favorites? Interested in all recommendations, regardless of price range. Prefer items that can be purchased online and received in the U.S. Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 1:48 PM PST - 29 comments

I just found out that my son is leaving in one week for a vacation on Oahu. He would very much like to learn how to (board) surf while he's in Hawaii. [more inside]
posted by Transl3y at 1:14 PM PST - 9 comments

Metafilter taught me that it is important for everyone to do their part in protecting democracy, instead of relying on others or "the system". I want to help protect the democracy in Germany. Please help me do that. [more inside]
posted by any_name_in_a_storm at 12:28 PM PST - 3 comments

Why does my cat scratch himself when we scratch him? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 11:32 AM PST - 12 comments

Hi all, I went through a divorce a few years ago which put me in debt. I have about $25,000 in credit card debt. I am trying to figure out my best options: apply for home equity to pay down the debt or continue on covid19 mortgage deference and to use that money to pay down some of the debt (I'm unsure how long I can extend that for). I own my home, but the world of home equity or refinancing is very overwhelming to me. Thank you for your time.
posted by retrofitted at 11:05 AM PST - 17 comments

Over the summer, I had a hummingbird feeder on my balcony, and I loved watching them come and feed. Now they're gone, I'd like to keep feeding birds through the winter months, but I need a feeder that won't drop seed and draw mice or other vermin to the building. [more inside]
posted by gladly at 10:29 AM PST - 14 comments

Hi, a company I’m working with wants a meet the team section with cartoons or sketches of the team, all done by the same artist. We’re trying to see what style suits our brand, so some examples of this being well done on other sites would be helpful - have you any great examples to share? Many thanks!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 9:55 AM PST - 11 comments

I would like a pair of gloves to keep my hands warm in the winter, both outside and possibly in my house (ugh). Requirements/specs: allow for use of touch-screen phone; fit short, stubby ladyfingers. Thanks!
posted by ferret branca at 8:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Where is my light parka, similar to this or this, that accomodates hips and boobs? Women's straight sizes. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:33 AM PST - 9 comments

I am a perfectly adequate musician--I've played guitar for 20+ years, bass for maybe 7, have dabbled in electronic music production, and have been teaching myself piano during lockdown. I have a fine ear. However, I never actually do much more than plonk along with my favorite recordings--I never write a complete song or record anything. If you've been like me, how did you pivot to doing more? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:40 AM PST - 18 comments

My boss has a specific oven he wants to buy, unfortunately we are concerned it won't fit up his stairwell. Has anyonce had experience in getting an appliance into a tight space or nifty ideas for angling? The stairweill is 27.5" wide. According to the specs, the range is 30" wide. It is 25-3/4" deep but 29-1/4" deep with the handle. [more inside]
posted by katesharks at 7:25 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for creative ideas for how to make my son's 4th birthday special when many of our options are limited due to coronavirus. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 6:42 AM PST - 24 comments

What it says on the tin. I have an old, stained tile floor I'd like to clean with bleach, but don't want to damage fabrics and woods within the room if the fumes from the bleach don't dissipate quickly. [more inside]
posted by myotahapea at 5:51 AM PST - 3 comments

I would like to add some books on public transportation to my library -- where to start? [more inside]
posted by jpziller at 5:08 AM PST - 9 comments

Yesterday, we noticed a few tiny white bugs (1-2 mm) in the bark mix around the roots of our Phalaenopsis orchid. Our best guess is they're root mealybugs, but frankly, we know nothing about plants. The orchid is two years old and needs repotting anyway, but we'd been waiting; it's finally blooming again and we didn't want to risk damaging the flowers. How can we get rid of the bugs? Difficulty level: we're completely ignorant. It's remarkable we've kept the plant alive this long, so we'd like to continue doing so!
posted by kyrademon at 3:42 AM PST - 4 comments

I would like to identify one of the first movies I can recall seeing on television. This was a silent movie (b&w) although it may have had some sounds added. There were tittle cards with limited dialogue. This would have been in Canada in the late Seventies, so could be from any time previous. Few facts I can remember are the main character was either newly rich or pretending to be rich, and at one point took a cruise (presumably in the North Atlantic), fell in the water and was recovered inside a block of ice. [more inside]
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 7:03 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm in my mid-30s and am ashamed about how poorly my life is turning out, despite having education and other advantages. How does cope with the embarrassment and disappointment, especially if one seems to be unable to change? [more inside]
posted by greatalleycat at 6:22 PM PST - 29 comments

My lease is up soon and my landlord just sent me the renewal paperwork. They're asking the same monthly amount as they did this past year. However, I'm fairly sure that rents for one bedroom apartments have dropped in my neighborhood (Williamsburg) due to the pandemic. How can I a) demonstrate this to my landlord and b) phrase a request for them to lower the monthly amount? [more inside]
posted by unhappyprofessor at 6:01 PM PST - 8 comments

Suggestions for a wireless microphone for MacBook zoom, a wedding event. [more inside]
posted by artdrectr at 5:59 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm interested in understanding the historical paradigms of thought around pharmacology and the concept of medicine - not medical practice in general, but specifically ingesting various substances to produce healing. [more inside]
posted by funeralcult at 5:32 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for a therapist in the Greater Boston Area and/or suggestions for how to find the right therapist. I have BCBS MA health insurance, and I need a therapist who actually takes insurance. So much [more inside]
posted by litera scripta manet at 5:26 PM PST - 2 comments

It's the feeling you experience when you are starting to fall in love with someone. The first letter "L" and I think the second letter is "U." A couple weeks ago I saw the word on TV. The story was about how people mistake that feeling for true love.
posted by Dodgy_Dude at 5:00 PM PST - 6 comments

The NY Times is one of my primary news sources, but has become nigh impossible to read on my 2nd Generation iPad mini lately. Pages, especially the front page, take forever to load, and scrolling is hit-or-miss. How well do your various iPad-like objects work with the Times?
posted by schrodycat at 4:27 PM PST - 8 comments

This is about a friend/mentee of mine who is now 16 years old. As a baby, she was diagnosed with some inflammatory disease, which is on the charts as rheumatoid arthritis, but no one is quite sure what it actually is. She has, I think, never not been in pain, and asking her standard pain questions just makes her shrug in defeat. She's dealing with anxiety, depression, and attention issues, and probably physical dissociation. Does anyone else have a similar experience, and can you recommend resources? [more inside]
posted by Alex Haist at 3:30 PM PST - 19 comments

Winter has arrived, and I'm in search of hot drinks to enjoy with things like Cheez-Its, or say... sour cream and onion potato chips. Normally I'd pair with water or a beer. (I guess I could have hot water? Hot beer or anything carbonated is going to decarbonate fast.) Hot apple cider is much too sweet to be anything but a dessert to my tastebuds, and right now I'm drinking it watered down at 25% concentration with these Cheez-Its and it's not really doing it for me. Gimme your weird hot drink for savory pairings!
posted by deludingmyself at 3:27 PM PST - 47 comments

How different is living five hours from close family compared to living within 30-90min? Future single parent edition. [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish at 1:15 PM PST - 21 comments

Hopefully this is answerable legally and not chatfilter: why is it legal/ethical for my state's Attorney General to use his time and the color of his authority to file this amicus brief regarding a case in a different state?
posted by ftm at 1:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Every year I have a cookie exchange party to usher in the winter holidays. I’m at a loss of how to host this party this year, if even at all. What are peoples best COVID holiday party ideas? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 12:52 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a bunch of hair ties. Sometimes they come with a plastic ring that snaps open and closed. You can put your hair ties on it and they'll stay together. Where can I buy more of these??? I have searched every possible phrase that could describe these on aliexpress and they just don't come up. The ponytail rings look like this. I want maybe 10 and I don't care what color they come in. The so far tried names for the ring: ponytail holder keeper, hair tie ring, scrunchie holder. [more inside]
posted by starlybri at 12:26 PM PST - 16 comments

I have multiple accounts in Google Chrome open at all times with windows on different desktops. This one, tzikeh, always has a whole bunch of tabs open (MetaFilter, twitter, tumblr, news stories, etc.), and I'm always signed in to my social media. I just quit Chrome, restarted my computer, and this account is gone. All of my other accounts are there. This has never happened before and I'm super-upset! [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 12:14 PM PST - 5 comments

I've found it helpful for my productivity to have my MacBook Air announce the time every 15 minutes through the day. I would like an option to do this with my iPhone XR or iPad Air 3. Is there any app or setting (maybe in accessibility?) where I could select the time interval and have it announce the time out loud?
posted by mattholomew at 11:05 AM PST - 3 comments

Due to strange circumstances, I'm the owner of 10 gallons of just-opened kerosene and a kerosene heater, and I want to get rid of all of it. Ideas on how to sell these? [more inside]
posted by mattu at 10:31 AM PST - 8 comments

After cooking a lot over the past eight months, I've run through most of my basic spices, etc, and have realized that I'd like to restock slightly differently. What do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 9:55 AM PST - 38 comments

I recently got a letter from my government insurance. Even though my state is paying $1400/ month subsidy, my premiums are going from $12.50/month to $50.00/month. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 9:48 AM PST - 5 comments

I would like to buy a gift hamper or gift card to an upscale foodie grocery store in Washington DC for a friend. But I live in the UK and don't know what the cool shops are. Any suggestions? I'm doing the same for a friend in Philly and have gone through DiBruno Brothers. Anything comparable in DC?
posted by shibori at 9:10 AM PST - 12 comments

My 6.5 year old daughter is an emerging reader. She loves adventures and girl heroes and especially loves comics/graphic novels. We have several favorites, but most are a bit advanced for her reading level. It's good to have a stretch, but I also think she's just looking at the pictures. Can you recommend graphic novels that might be a bit shorter and easier to read? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:52 AM PST - 26 comments

What are some very basic, simple, parenting101 guides or resources for people with essentially no previous experience with young kids? Asking for a friend. [more inside]
posted by randomnity at 8:41 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm making a small slide for small kids and need to know what wood will be super slippery. [more inside]
posted by anadem at 8:35 AM PST - 8 comments

If two people in a relationship are both COVID-19 positive is it safe for them to cohabitate or is it better for each to isolate? [more inside]
posted by cardamom at 8:31 AM PST - 11 comments

Hypothetical scenario, asking for a friend. Using personal equipment over personal wifi paid by employee, but plugging personal equipment into laptop docking station furnished by employer to use the larger monitor for personal computing. Still using employee's own wifi, not accessing the work network via VPN. Are the activities done on personal equipment protected from work monitoring? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 7:09 AM PST - 4 comments

My wife and I have two boys aged 3.3 and 1.2. The three-year old has a STRONG preference for me (his dad), and has since he was about a year and eight months. My wife and I have different parenting styles, but she's a good mother. But when he gets hurt, wants something, or if I'm around to do things like bedtime, he insists on me and has tantrums if we insist his mother will handle. He yells he doesn't like her, only wants me, etc. Has anyone else dealt with this? Tips? Is this within the range of normal? [more inside]
posted by slide at 5:59 AM PST - 18 comments

At some point in the past few months I froze some boiled eggs and forgot about them. Are they safe to eat and How can I do that? [more inside]
posted by Faintdreams at 5:33 AM PST - 3 comments

We're fostering a one-year old mutt that thinks it's ok to pee on the balcony. She knows not to do it inside the house, how do we extend this to cover the outside space? [more inside]
posted by each day we work at 5:04 AM PST - 14 comments

I misread a soup recipe and used ~8 cloves of garlic and 3 onions instead of the other way around. While the soup came out okay, my kitchen and I are in garlic overload mode. I am pretty sure that the leftover soup is gonna have to go. How do I get rid of it without the garlic saturating everything (sink, disposal, trash, me, etc) for weeks?
posted by Kitchen Witch at 12:29 AM PST - 15 comments

I can't stop listening to this song. What other songs do I need to make a whole playlist that conveys a similar feeling of heartache and longing? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 12:12 AM PST - 29 comments

I just blew two years of dust out of my computer tower. Now I'd like to keep dust out of it. I've got a single fan inside, and an intake vent on the front of the box. Can I effectively tape a paper face mask over the vent to keep the dust out? Would that negatively affect the rate of air going through the case?
posted by bryon at 11:58 PM PST - 12 comments

A friend and I were lamenting (while playing a game with very good positional audio) that it would be so nice to have features like that for the kind of family socialization that happens awkwardly via Zoom/Skype/etc these days. Aside from gather.town and Mozilla Hubs, are there other options? [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 9:29 PM PST - 4 comments

I need a new super simple, uncomplicated iPhone game that I can basically just play with my brain on idle. Just something to keep my hands busy while watching tv or listening to a podcast. Some progression like progressively more difficult challenges is a plus. Previous faves in this vein: Solitaire, Dots (not Two Dots), Sling Drift, Alto’s Adventure/Odyssey, Doodle Jump, Desert Golf, Temple Runner. Paid or paying to remove ads is fine.
posted by supercres at 7:55 PM PST - 32 comments

I just read An Unnecessary Woman, which starts right after New Year's. It made me realize how much I love books set either after New Year's or in the "dead week" between Christmas and New Year's. The feeling of anticipation and quietness after holiday bustle. Can you recommend other novels with that setting and atmosphere?
posted by estlin at 7:24 PM PST - 4 comments

Winter is coming, which means early nights and tv at night. I'm looking for a new hobby/craft, especially something I can do in the evenings while I'm watching tv. Basically, I'd like something that I can do with my hands without having to think too much while doing it. [more inside]
posted by McPuppington the Third at 6:46 PM PST - 24 comments

When I make blueberry muffins (or any muffins), they turn out sort of scone-like and bready, not cake-y like a grocery store muffin. The tops are crunchy instead of soft like a store muffin. I understand the grocery store may brush syrup on the top for moisture, but I suspect this is not the only difference. I would also say storebought muffins have a much more open crumb. [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 4:04 PM PST - 27 comments

I'd like to donate to a political campaign, and encourage others to do the same, by setting up a "matching donation" program. Basically, I'd match my friends donations up to $300 of my money. Is there a technical solution (a website, probably) that would facilitate keeping track of this? Or if not, do you have other suggestions for how to do this well? [more inside]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 3:19 PM PST - 5 comments

What is the easiest way for a tech novice to send videos? [more inside]
posted by momochan at 2:54 PM PST - 7 comments

I just inherited a couple bags of birdseed, one a mix for parrots and the other just plain sunflower seed. Both bags are showing expiration dates from January 2019. Can I put any of this food out on my birdfeeder, or is the risk of harm/illness too great? [more inside]
posted by knotty knots at 2:32 PM PST - 7 comments

I heard this song flipping through the radio, on a "crooners and big band" hour. It had that novelty, almost children's-song type feel and was basically just a string of stock phrases and expressions like "if you ever get in a pickle", "if you find yourself in a rut", etc. The two lyrics I remember are something like "If you ever go to jail, I will pay the bail" and "If they put a bullet in your brain, I would complain" (!). I think there may have been different people singing different verses. Thanks!
posted by dusty potato at 2:30 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for immersive audiobooks with people focused on accomplishing, building, finding, doing something -- especially books focused on survival tasks, setting up a civilization, that sort of thing (i.e., "survival" in a mundane sense, rather than the dramatic sense of "survival" when being stalked by a bad guy). Good examples are The Martian (trying to get off the planet) and The Dirty Life (trying to start a farm and not go broke). Looking back at my old questions, I realize that this is essentially a reboot of this question if that question's context is also helpful. Thanks!
posted by slidell at 2:22 PM PST - 9 comments

From the perspective of an external observer watching a cargo plane with a 2000lb bird(s) flying around inside, what happens to the bird and plane when the cargo plane opens its cargo-bay doors? [more inside]
posted by rubatan at 1:51 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm a software developer that specializes in software that is very outdated. It sees periodic updates but is based off of 15 year old technology and hasn't seen a meaningful large update in 7 years. Modern software development practices like Docker, automated builds and the like have completely passed it by. It is dependent on Microsoft, which itself has largely abandoned updating .NET Framework in favor .NET Core. This has lead to unsteady, short-term contract jobs with large corporations that need to support it. Even successes are horrible as no one wants to deal with it. I've learned I do enjoy developing software and I can't stand corporate environments. How do I get out of this cycle late in my career? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:44 AM PST - 12 comments

I'd like to make an advent calendar of tiny, luxurious shelf-stable foods. They need to be small enough to fit into an advent calendar. They should be things a person could gobble down ecstatically right then and there (so not ingredients, no fancy sea salts, no jams unless you also have a suggestion for a tiny fancy shelf-stable bread to go in with the jam). I have candy/chocolate pretty well covered and am especially interested in non sweets. [more inside]
posted by shadygrove at 11:40 AM PST - 15 comments

I just bought an AEE Sparrow 2 QC. I also have a small Syma X20W. And I have two phones, a OnePlusOne and an ATT Calypso I. The OPO is out of the box and hosted by Consumer Cellular. The Calypso is just connected to the Internet through home wifi. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 11:00 AM PST - 1 comment

URGENT How to save a young sea lion that's stranded on the beach? [more inside]
posted by signal at 10:52 AM PST - 7 comments

What to do with 3 days in Sedona end of December? [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:16 AM PST - 5 comments

The Republican Party delights in obstruction and cruelty and stands opposed to US national and global well-being. They've lost the presidency but retain an immense structural advantage --- and they'll extend it with redistricting. For the good of everyone, the GOP needs to be consigned to the history books like the Whigs. Is anyone working to promote this vision? [more inside]
posted by Chef Flamboyardee at 7:26 AM PST - 13 comments

My husband and i own a building in Chicago where we run our respective businesses on the first floor. What is a reasonable anticipated reimbursement from a major studio wanting to rent out the first floor for filming (I assume it will be for several days, but not sure yet of the proposed duration). [more inside]
posted by Lylo at 7:05 AM PST - 10 comments

Either at G.C.S.E or at A-level (English school system) I read a poem that was told from the point of view of a monk who had been killed in the Lindisfarne raid by the Vikings - or a monastery raid by the Vikings, maybe it wasn't specifically Lindisfarne. [more inside]
posted by Nilehorse at 6:37 AM PST - 6 comments

I just bought an Echelon stationary bike and am looking for an app suggestion that you like best and why. Thank you to all who respond. Much appreciated.
posted by Tziv at 5:45 AM PST - 3 comments

What would the term be for the nature of an attorney's role in speaking to the court in place of her client? To pick something at random, in this SCOTUS dissent it says stuff like, “petitioner conceded at oral argument...” and “petitioner asserted an as-applied proportionality challenge to his sentence...” and “petitioner abandoned his as-applied claim...” but obviously it's not the non-lawyer petitioner himself saying these things, it's the petitioner's legal counsel. [more inside]
posted by Charles Bronson Pinchot at 4:58 AM PST - 7 comments

How winnable is either U.S. Senate race in Georgia? And how best to help the Dems win?
posted by NotLost at 9:47 PM PST - 17 comments

A relative died, and now I have to figure out how to navigate the "No, it's a Global Pandemic, and I can't come..." [more inside]
posted by RedEmma at 9:13 PM PST - 29 comments

I am keen on learning more about Science since my background is mostly social sciences and humanities. What are some interesting enriching science-oriented non-fictional a beginner would enjoy reading? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 5:13 PM PST - 20 comments

I am in the mood for a typewriter. Manual or electric. Probably new rather than used -- but I might be convinced otherwise. I was an excellent typist, might still be. Retro looking would be cool, but not if it sacrifices usability. I would prefer black or navy blue ink. If it has correction tape, that would be a plus -- but there is always whiteout; and, I am not handing in a dissertation. I need to order it online for delivery. I am in the USA/NYC. Wirecutter has no suggestions. Do you? Thanks!
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 4:59 PM PST - 12 comments

My family is rough on dishes. So far in the past five years we have destroyed 3 sets of china dishes and at least one set of less valuable thrift store dishes. [more inside]
posted by aetg at 3:39 PM PST - 20 comments

My mom wants a flannel nightgown for Christmas. Should be easy, but she has many specific requirements. Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by Lay Off The Books at 3:38 PM PST - 12 comments

Help! Any ideas in how to remove the metal top from this this vintage glass cocktail shaker? [more inside]
posted by yet.another.boston.question at 2:25 PM PST - 13 comments

hey all, looking for horror recommendations with these criteria: 1. Horror 2. Largeish group of humans isolated from others 3. This group of humans is culty or there is an actual monster about - bonus if both? Some examples of this: The Village (2004) (pre-twist), The Wicker Man, Alma Katsu's The Hunger, Midsommar, The Other Lamb. This has a lot of overlap with folk horror, but I seem to have exhausted all of the folk horror rec lists I can find around the web. Thanks!
posted by snerson at 2:02 PM PST - 17 comments

See picture below. Cable in metal sleeve leads to circuit breaker. I can't find any toggle switch that says "water main shutoff" https://imgur.com/a/cEJHdVk
posted by spacefire at 12:03 PM PST - 5 comments

Are contact lenses of the same prescription swappable between brands? The internet seems to jump between "contact lenses are medical devices and need to be fitted by an optometrist" to "try all the brands and see which one you like" [more inside]
posted by lpctstr; at 11:23 AM PST - 6 comments

Is there an easy, automated way to archive the entirety of a mac laptop, but exclude program files and system files? (i.e. only move documents, movies, photos, etc. to an external hard drive) [more inside]
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 10:26 AM PST - 7 comments

Historically I've gotten some good answers to therapy-related questions (on the practitioner end) here, so here's another, mostly about starting to do some private practice while Zoom is the only option. [more inside]
posted by less of course at 10:13 AM PST - 14 comments

There are lots of Japanese variety shows on TV: usually, there's a famous(-ish) emcee, 5-15 panel guests (minor stars & starlets), and a parade of bits (trivia questions, man-on-the-street interviews, etc.) Is there anything comparable on US TV? (Or other countries, for that matter?) [more inside]
posted by spacewrench at 8:08 AM PST - 10 comments

I recently cleaned up old emails and spam, etc. from gmail. I deleted "sent" emails from that folder as well. Then I deleted the "trash" folder and I guess that was a mistake. [more inside]
posted by jtexman1 at 7:43 AM PST - 2 comments

For a while I've had this daydream that, if I were the CEO of a tech company, I would move company headquarters to Wyoming to increase the amount of Democratic voters there and thus greatly increase the chances of adding 2 Senate seats to the Democrats. Wyoming because it's the least populated state. [more inside]
posted by overglow at 7:24 AM PST - 35 comments

This question reminds me that my mother's father, who had a career as a PR bureaucrat for the US Atomic Energy Commission (and later, nuclear energy companies), released a novel in the mid-90s under a pseudonym. I'm unsure if it was self-published or not. How might I identify the book today, given that he passed away 15 years ago and I'm not on speaking terms with that side of my family? Where would one start? [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 6:52 AM PST - 6 comments

Pretty simple question...I'm curious if there is anything known about the difference in "impact" of reading the same book in different ways. Given research is thin, also open to just hearing about your experiences [more inside]
posted by wooh at 6:13 AM PST - 15 comments

I have to make a three-day driving trip across the US. What's the safest possible way (both for myself and others) to go about this, especially with regard to sleeping? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:20 AM PST - 9 comments

I've often wondered how some times in my life I'm able to find such a varied array of ethics among my social circle. I had a falling out with one over my use of the word "user". Heres the bitty bits: I have a long time friend C I have known 5 years. He is super sweet and very helpful but not totally clued In to body language, social cues etc and can make awkward gaffes of his hermit lifestyle. Hes also a bit of a Martyr type who likes to be a hero but usually at his own demise. I also have a friend T who I've known 1 yr she is funny (cont) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 11:29 PM PST - 14 comments

My adorable little apricot-and-white flame-pointed kitten is being cared for by her foster (who convinced me to adopt her and I am already in love). She went in to be spayed yesterday. After she got to the low-cost spay-neuter clinic, she pooped in the litter box in her enclosure and the vet tech thought her poop was too light in color (though actually it was darker than the food she's been eating), so they gave her a test for Panleukopenia, using the canine parvovirus snap test. It was positive! [more inside]
posted by chromium at 10:48 PM PST - 4 comments

At least in asia, boylove media seems to be having its hey day. But it seems like girllove media is still very niche. Why? Alternative: recommend girllove media? [more inside]
posted by wooh at 10:13 PM PST - 6 comments

Hi. OK, first off, my usual disclaimer: I'm not very computer literate. So, for the past few days or so, I've been experiencing something odd on Gmail. I hear that little "chime" notification, which of course usually means that I've just gotten a message on Gmail chat from a friend or family member. (As a general rule, I can clearly identify who is initiating a chat with me.) However, lately I'm hearing that chime, and nobody I've chatted with as of late is actually chatting with me at that moment. Could this be some sort of recent glitch that other people have been experiencing as well? If not, how would I go about identifying who if anyone is trying to chat with me? Because when I look under Google Hangouts, it's not any of those people. Thanks in advance for trying to shed light on this.
posted by DavidfromBA at 8:11 PM PST - 4 comments

So Stacey Abrams also writes romance novels (under the name of Selena Montgomery)! Who knew?!? This has me wondering—who are some other famous people who have written books in areas outside of their well known areas of expertise?
posted by bookmammal at 7:22 PM PST - 31 comments

I am looking for a new (and nonviolent!) metaphor to describe the circumstance when someone directly confronts a thing that had been previously avoided. Because the avoidance was preventing the person from performing a valued action, it is often helpful to find ways to face up to the unpleasant task or avoided thing. [more inside]
posted by dreamphone at 6:19 PM PST - 26 comments

I'm downloading images from the Internet Archieve Book Images Flickr page for a personal zine project. These are scans of old books so they have yellow backgrounds such as this and like this one. I am looking for an easy, cheap, not-to-technical way of making these images black and white again (instead of yellow and black) so they will photocopy well. A chromebook solution would be preferable.
posted by vespabelle at 6:12 PM PST - 4 comments

A 75 year old aunt is apartment bound in Hempstead, NY (Long Island). She needs a prescription picked up and dropped outside her apartment door. The pharmacy can deliver in 2 days, but ideally she would receive it the same day it is filled by the pharmacy. The friends and relatives who would normally do this can't for Reasons. Is this a job for Postmates? Taskrabbit? ServiceSquirrel? What exists that is accessible by me (far far away) from the internet? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 5:49 PM PST - 8 comments

I love learning languages in order to be able to read literature in the original. My local university offers language classes via Zoom at the moment and I’m torn between Yiddish and Sanskrit (these are the only two languages I can actually fit into my schedule). Plus we’ve just gone into lockdown #2 in Europe so I thought might be fun to learn something new. [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 4:58 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm considering renting a camper (van) in Denver and going to pick up my college student in Seattle to fetch her home for the holidays, and having never done that sort of travel/camping... really don't know a thing. Questions inside... [more inside]
posted by ecorrocio at 2:45 PM PST - 17 comments

my linen closet is a horror. Surely there are methods/tools out there I don't know about? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:28 PM PST - 23 comments

When did the word ‘vote’ represent both the singular and the plural? Legit English usage or wonk-ese? [more inside]
posted by thejrt at 2:03 PM PST - 6 comments

For years, I've had a Macbook and used my trusty iPod classic to listen to music. I'm a recent convert to android/windows, and I need to figure out the easiest/best way to store and listen to my music on my computer/phone. Can you help me? [more inside]
posted by carlypennylane at 1:59 PM PST - 7 comments

How can I get the heady odor of rubbing alcohol out of my fridge. A fuller explanation inside... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 12:41 PM PST - 6 comments

I am thinking of starting a small YouTube Channel podcast, and I would like to delve into certain academic papers, novels, and non-fictional works - reviewing and analysising some of the works. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 11:51 AM PST - 6 comments

What is the current state of the art/state of play for non-phone emergency calling devices for kids? If it's horrible, how have you handled keeping in contact with your kid (8-10), who you do not want to have access to a full smartphone, when they head off to the park?
posted by OmieWise at 11:30 AM PST - 11 comments

Are there style guides or best practices for the readability of the output of shell scripts? I am writing a number of scripts that should generate easily-scanned results, where users can run their eye down the lines and instantly spot trouble. I would like to not reinvent the wheel. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 11:21 AM PST - 13 comments

Piggybacking on this question: what is the best, reasonably priced, household-grade manual nutcracker for an adult person with weak lil baby hands that still allows for the satisfaction of nutcracking? Bonus points for nut mess solutions.
posted by phunniemee at 10:53 AM PST - 5 comments

I would love advice on whether it's worth getting a harp in the 80-200 dollar range and advice about it if so. Is there anything like a lyre for celtic or medieval harp? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 9:53 AM PST - 7 comments

More in the ongoing sago of book-making: I need to slightly resize my illustrator artboards. I might resize them SLIGHTLY differently from one image to the next. The thing is, all my images have drop shadows all the same size. I want the dropshadows to be the same size from page to page. I'm worried that if the resizing of artboards is done slightly differently from page to page the dropshadows will be different. What's my best practice for resizing? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:37 AM PST - 3 comments

Help! I moved out of a place that had the occasional silverfish but put everything into storage and am now worried about an infestation timebomb. What would you do to nuke them from orbit? [more inside]
posted by hampanda at 7:25 AM PST - 6 comments

I want to give lots more money to make sure everyone has the right to vote since voter suppression remains a huge problem. What organizations should I be donating to? Feel free to be generous with the definition of voter suppression, for instance I would include gerrymandering as a form of suppression.
posted by Tehhund at 6:44 AM PST - 12 comments

How do I control website access on a school owned Chromebook at home? [more inside]
posted by a22lamia at 2:02 AM PST - 29 comments

Like Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" in a recent viral video, what other songs embody that certain feeling of wistful tranquility? Melancholic but in a happy untroubled way, not somber. Of "comin' home from work, feelin' free", to quote a mefite.
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 11:05 PM PST - 44 comments

I've been trying to get numbers on how many people are registered as Democrats and Republicans in the US. I've figured out that there isn't any absolute answer (some states don't register by party at all), but I'd like to pin down the numbers that are available. [more inside]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:24 PM PST - 1 comment

My aged father seeks my approval and expects praise from me about his not great amateur poetry and I'm unable, for various reasons, to engage with his needs. I can't treat my parent like a child.. More inside. [more inside]
posted by whatdoyouthink? at 8:00 PM PST - 39 comments

NPR and other outlets are saying Joe Biden has 264 while President Trump has 214. TV Networks are saying Biden has 253. Why the discrepancy?
posted by CollectiveMind at 6:42 PM PST - 9 comments

This is the time of year when I want to sit around with a nutcracker and a big bowl of nuts and snack on walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, etc. If I want to spoil myself, where online should I order fancy nuts in their shells? [more inside]
posted by moonmilk at 2:40 PM PST - 17 comments

We might, and I would appreciate hearing about your experience. [more inside]
posted by Miko at 2:37 PM PST - 5 comments

For those folks who have made ice cream at family gatherings using old recipes. I am searching for the ice cream recipe that is NOT French custard and uses mostly whole milk and maybe has eggs. [more inside]
posted by jadepearl at 1:43 PM PST - 4 comments

We bought some fancy canned ahi/yellowfin tuna at Costco and are looking for good recipe suggestions! [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 1:22 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm in a group chat and I periodically don't get text messages from the other members of the group chat. Me - iPhone 6. Other people - iPhone 6s, iPhone X, and a Motorola Moto Z3. If I group text with the other iPhones it works 100% of the time. But if all 4 phones are in a group text, every few weeks for the last couple of months I stop getting any messages from either of those 3 phones (6, X, Z3). We tried deleting the whole message chain, tried having the other people delete and re-add me as a contact using my number without a "1" at the front, and making sure there are no parentheses around it in their contact for me. I soft reset, deleted files, everyone rebooted their phone, and so on. Finally I got one of the new iPhones a few weeks ago. The problem persists! [more inside]
posted by cashman at 12:52 PM PST - 5 comments

I frequently hear the crime tip that if someone accosts you, never go to a second location. Where was that line first used? There was a time lots of “safety tips for women” emails going around, and I wonder if it was in one of those. Since it’s always repeated in that exact wording, I feel like there was probably one place where that wording originated. Didn’t find it on Snopes. I just need the origin of that phrase, not its accuracy.
posted by mermaidcafe at 11:09 AM PST - 6 comments

I need a new eyeglass prescription, and I want to buy my glasses online. I know that an optometrist has to give me the prescription if I ask for it, but I also know that optometrists primarily make their money from the glasses they sell. Is it possible for me to get my eyes tested and also be nice to an optometrist? [more inside]
posted by meese at 9:20 AM PST - 28 comments

Working with my psychiatrist, I'm continuing a years-long taper off of a psychiatric medication (in IR tablet form) that I have developed an extreme physiological dependence on. Compounding services aren't financially viable for me in the long term, so I am planning on preparing my own solutions of appropriate dosages. Because of the therapeutic dose of this medication, I am going to need to have the ability to accurately measure liquid in very small amounts. Any professional chemists (or the like) have suggestions for me? [more inside]
posted by vocativecase at 8:05 AM PST - 24 comments

On 10/31 we were exposed to someone who has just tested positive for coronavirus. We have read all the guidelines but still want to be sure we’re doing the right things. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:50 AM PST - 20 comments

My auntie is going to have bariatric surgery next year. She has lost 100 lbs on a special diet and needs to lose another 50 before surgery. This is the diet. She is getting bored and wants to mix up flavors while staying within the confines of the diet. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 5:29 AM PST - 9 comments

I grew up in LA, and while I've lived on the east coast for 20 years, I dont know how to dress my tiny children. Advice? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 7:37 PM PST - 22 comments

I have a fairly large head of cabbage from my Misfit box. We had a small head last time and made deconstructed stuffed cabbage. I'm looking for other ideas. We have a grinder and as a fall back idea, I'll grind it and fry it and freeze it for cabbage and noodles. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 7:01 PM PST - 34 comments

I am applying for jobs that require management experience. I have none to speak of in my professional career, however, I am the parent of a profoundly developmentally disabled child who cannot be placed in a regular daycare setting, and subsequently have managed nannies and PCAs for ten years. [more inside]
posted by look busy at 2:47 PM PST - 17 comments

I’m starting to plan my Christmas gifts. We will not be travelling to see family and friends this year, so I’ll be mailing them out. This can get pricy in Canada—paying $20 to mail each package really adds up. I’d like ideas of some smallish, non-fragile, thin flat items that could be easily mailed in a 9”x11” padded envelope. They should be useful or consumable but also special or attractive enough to be a nice gift. Ideas I have so far: Swedish dishcloths and reusable mesh produce bags.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:07 PM PST - 36 comments

My landlord is considering selling our building, and one of the other tenants has had the idea to maybe all of us go in on a co-op. She wants to know within two days whether I am in on the idea. Help me figure out how much of a plan she has in place. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:20 PM PST - 17 comments

Looking for solo sea-going kayaks, I keep seeing "Recommended for up to 250 pounds". Are there any kayaks that accept people up to 350 pounds? Looking for someone close to me, this is their dream. [more inside]
posted by corb at 1:07 PM PST - 13 comments

We think we want to buy a second Nintendo Switch. Can we disentangle ourselves and get everything we want on two separate devices? If we can, I need step-by-step instructions. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot at 1:01 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I create a short screen recording and save it as a gif on a mac? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 12:00 PM PST - 3 comments

"If a system is working in my favor, then the system works. If the same system (under the same conditions as the original) is not working in my favor, then the system must be flawed.
posted by FireStyle at 11:00 AM PST - 23 comments

In the movie TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA, at about 50:18 in, there's a garage door that has a Chinese character on it. (Or at least I assume it's a Chinese character, because a character refers to it as one a few seconds earlier.) What does the character mean?
posted by UncleBoomee at 10:58 AM PST - 9 comments

I have some decent markers (Blick Studio and Copic). I never use them because most paper seems to slurp so much color out of them. Is there something similar to marker paper but cheaper? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 9:58 AM PST - 8 comments

Restaurant-bought and refrigerated for 3 days, has been frozen for about 2 weeks. I know lt can be frozen for several months but not re-frozen. So I guess my main concern is whether the restaurant made it fresh or heated it up from large frozen batches. What do you think? How do I evaluate this risk? We've no experience with this particular restaurant but it was well-packed and tasted good.
posted by jojo and the benjamins at 9:50 AM PST - 8 comments

Is Mint/YNAB a good fit for elderly retirees, or better to have professional help? [more inside]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:47 AM PST - 10 comments

Things I care about: writing/drawing sentences, symbols, equation, & diagrams; control over colors pen thickness; ability to erase, copy/paste, & move things around; pointing at things; exporting images of the content of the whiteboard; easy zooming and scrolling; saving the content of the whiteboard to open again later. Things I don't care about: interactivity, animations, autoshapes, handwriting-to-text, paintbrush-like tools. [more inside]
posted by ErWenn at 9:41 AM PST - 10 comments

My husband is 35 and buys himself anything he wants or needs. He doesn’t have any particular hobbies. Please help me with gift ideas, big or small. I used to plan trips but that’s not really ideal these days.
posted by amy.g.dala at 9:38 AM PST - 24 comments

I have storm door with a jamb bracket that over the years has never worked quite right. There are some photos of the issue here but essentially, the wood of the door jam is like swiss cheese and so the bracket has never been solidly attached and eventually gets pulled out by the force of the door opening and closing. How do I fix this once and for all? [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 9:04 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a 2016 Sony Xperia XZ running Android 8.0. I could upgrade today but, even though it's been 4 years, I don't get the sense that a new phone would be a that much better. Outside of cameras (which aren't important to me), am I missing out? What glorious benefits could I enjoy by upgrading to a current year phone and Android 11?
posted by my log does not judge at 8:20 AM PST - 10 comments

Is there a reliable source for calculating at least a rough range or upper limit? I've found some answers online but they don't usually cite their source so it's unclear how accurate they are. [more inside]
posted by randomnity at 8:16 AM PST - 4 comments

There was a sci-fi novel I read around 1997. I don't remember the title, but it involved empaths, climate change, orbital stations, and blind navigators. Also had an Israel-related plot arc. [more inside]
posted by jibberish at 8:09 AM PST - 6 comments

I have an iPhone 7SE. I absolutely hate it. The latest thing I'm fighting with it to do is attaching photos to emails within the Gmail app. I click the little paperclip icon as usual to attach a photo, then click on "camera roll" to get it to bring up my photo library... and then I can't select any of the photos that appear. Tapping on them does nothing. When the option to choose camera roll appears, I can attach photos if I swipe to the left on the tiny selection of pictures that appear, but of course the photos I want to attach don't appear in that menu. [more inside]
posted by Stoof at 7:27 AM PST - 15 comments

Can you help me track down a fake Harry Potter book that was circulating on the Internet just before the release of one of the books? [more inside]
posted by taltalim at 7:19 AM PST - 2 comments

Our veterinary practice has been requiring that the humans remain outside while their pets are brought in by staff and examined and treated. The vet speaks with the humans on the phone using speakerphone during the visit. Is there an inexpensive and "easy" way to video conference using a tablet in the exam room and connecting with clients' smartphones? I envision the staff sending a text to the client inviting them to the meeting from the tablet that is already in the room ( a staff member can send the text beforehand, or the receptionist does it from a computer for all of the tablets would be easier), the human connects and then waits for the Dr to start the video once he is in the room. [more inside]
posted by waving at 6:35 AM PST - 10 comments

It's been a while since my divorce and I want to change/alter my thinking patterns, but not sure if it's possible for some of us? I am still deeply impacted when I bump into my ex and don’t want to be any longer. Any suggestions of books, techniques, guides, or methods to help would be greatly appreciated. More details below. [more inside]
posted by konaStFr at 6:23 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm trying to organise some Christmas activities for my company. One idea I had is for us to somehow have a watch party in MS Teams. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 5:23 AM PST - 3 comments

My daughter is almost four and is still having problems with the potty. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:46 AM PST - 16 comments

I switched from regular metformin to metformin ER over a year ago but am still experiencing some persistent side effects, even though most people who take metformin ER stop having side effects. What gives? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:46 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm feeling a lot of regret for staying in a long relationship that didn't work out, and could use some help feeling validated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:46 AM PST - 9 comments

My Birds Eye frozen fish fingers cardboard box has a large slit in it. Should I eat the fish fingers inside? [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 1:50 AM PST - 7 comments

I have a successful software development agency/consulting firm with a primary focus on the Salesforce platform. I mostly do integrations and code-based customization/enhancements of clients' Salesforce implementations, but have occasionally taken on some product development as well. I'm currently solo. The past few years have been extremely challenging for our family because my wife has been battling a debilitating illness. The effects have been very far-reaching for all of us (touching nearly all aspects of our life), and it has been especially difficult for our children. I want to be more available to my family and have been working on a plan to work less while maintaining (or exceeding) our financial goals. I am seeking advice on that plan. [more inside]
posted by stranger in the village at 7:47 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm curious about what the internet is experiencing tonight. How can I get a layperson's understanding of how many people are online tonight vs. 4 years ago, or how tonight's web traffic contrasts with a normal day's traffic. How about individual websites -- like the major news sites or 538 or the like? I don't know anything about any of it, but it strikes me as wildly bigger than 4 years ago. That time, I was watching TV. Now even my elderly mom is glued to her browser. Inform me!
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:37 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m going to be job hunting early next year and am in the extremely privileged position that it doesn’t matter how much money I make. I’m pretty sick of working hard to make white dudes and their corporations richer. Therefore, I want to do the most good with whatever I do. [more inside]
posted by tatiana wishbone at 3:57 PM PST - 11 comments

Made a bread pudding - eggs, milk, sugar, spice, old bread. So pretty. Let it sit on the counter before baking for 30 minutes as per the recipe. Put it in the oven for an hour. It hadn't set by when I expected it to. Weird. Whatever, cooked it a bit longer and it looked, mm, ok. Took it out and set it on the counter to cool. And then... [more inside]
posted by dirtdirt at 2:57 PM PST - 11 comments

Hey University Students! Some of my law classes this year offer a take-home exam option. I have never written a take-home exam and have been out of school for a decade... I've never even written an exam on a computer! How do you approach a take-home versus classroom exams? Any advice for take-home exams, especially in the context of high-pressure, post-graduate degrees? [more inside]
posted by dazedandconfused at 12:36 PM PST - 11 comments

During the midterms we watched a Youtube stream of Pod Save America on election night and it was perfect: they didn't talk incessantly, they gave periodic updates, and then took breaks with the sound off where they went to cuddle dogs. This year Pod Save America is only doing pre-election coverage -- does anyone have a different calm election coverage source to recommend?
posted by hungrytiger at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

We’re thinking of moving back to NYC to be closer to my parents but are having trouble picturing life in the city during COVID. Where are some better places to live within NYC from a COVID perspective--with very young kids? [more inside]
posted by saltypup at 12:29 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a staff meeting that happens monthly, and we will be meeting tomorrow morning. We have been doing an anti-racism exercise every month, as part of my agency’s work to address institutional racism. We’ve had some good, and hard, and uncomfortable conversations as part of these meetings. Tomorrow, we feel like we should take an approach focused on care and kindness as much as possible-how do we support each other during these hard times while still doing the work of equity? We are in the US, Pacific NW, and although things aren’t as fraught re the election here as they are in many parts of the world, it’s still a tense and stressful time. Government agency so nothing can be overtly political. Any one have a good short video that would lend itself well to some discussion and leave folks hopefully feeling inspired and hopeful? Thanks!
posted by purenitrous at 12:07 PM PST - 2 comments

I remember reading something someone said once — I believe it was here on metafilter — about the charms of waiting until the last possible second to take the next step with a new person you’re dating or getting to know. Waiting until you couldn’t hardly stand it any longer to kiss the new person, or to have sex with them, or even to move in with them. I can’t seem to find this again. Does anyone know where to find that comment? (Maybe it was a link elsewhere? Maybe I read it in a book?)
posted by woodvine at 11:31 AM PST - 4 comments

I know I am far from the first person to have noticed the goat (the animal)/GOAT (the acronym for Greatest Of All Time) pun. I would be shocked if no one has yet put together a web site (or tumblr, or twitter feed, or whatever) ranking goats to find the GOAT goat. But when I try to do an internet search for such a site, I just get sportsball results. Help me find the GOAT goat rankings with many photos of marvelous contender goats that I seek?
posted by eviemath at 11:12 AM PST - 4 comments

We love reading chapter books to our five-year-old, but are finding many of the classics problematic and not aligned with the progressive values we are trying to teach him. [more inside]
posted by TrixieRamble at 10:49 AM PST - 16 comments

I'd like to connect my recent model MacBook Air to my TV. What do I need to look for on the back of the TV to ensure this is possible? And what cable/s do I need to get? The TV is maybe eight or nine years old, really can't remember, so not sure this is even doable. This is just to watch election returns, so not looking to spend a ton of $.
posted by swheatie at 10:40 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking to video+text chat with friends. Tools like Zoom etc put typed messages in an awkwardly separate pane; I'm looking for a tool where the messages just scroll in front of the video, or at least in the same pane, in a nicely designed way (kind of like this game screenshot, but for videochat with friends rather than gaming). Is there such a thing? Thanks!
posted by splitpeasoup at 9:50 AM PST - 0 comments

I found a use for an old laptop running XP. I did a fresh install of XP to clean it up. This turned out to be a mistake, because now I can't figure out how to activate the copy of XP. Two knotty problems below the fold. [more inside]
posted by dono at 9:35 AM PST - 3 comments

How do I doctor my alarm clock so I don't oversleep? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 9:17 AM PST - 12 comments

Looking for a modular home package passive house/net zero, and/or any thoughts on them.
posted by ebesan at 8:47 AM PST - 4 comments

I want to learn either Spanish or Italian, but am undecided on which one. [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 8:23 AM PST - 16 comments

I got an email confirming a 5day reservation to a motel I've stayed at before out of state. I did not make this reservation. When I called them, they said it has been pre-paid thru Expedia... [more inside]
posted by elmay at 7:58 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a laptop wall mount arm where the laptop stand is attached to the top half of a VESA mount. I want to add a small shelf underneath using only the bottom VESA holes to hold my keyboard when not in use. I want it to be fairly compact, not coming down any lower than necessary. [more inside]
posted by anaelith at 7:39 AM PST - 2 comments

I need cheap(ish), reliable, simple webhosting for migrating a bunch of Django apps with different dependencies. [more inside]
posted by signal at 7:20 AM PST - 5 comments

I've been making websites since they existed, pretty much, but have yet to solve the perennial issue of how to make and hand off a site for a non-technical user. [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 6:33 AM PST - 2 comments

What is the flag-topped structure depicted on the lawn in this 1843 drawing of a house on Guernsey?
posted by Weftage at 6:17 AM PST - 4 comments

Inspired by the logistics question: I have a layperson's interest in warehouse management and inventory control. Do you have related suggestions on what I should read, watch or listen to?
posted by NotLost at 9:54 PM PST - 5 comments

What are the best science magazines written for the layperson? Ideally, these feature articles that are well-written and high quality. Ideally articles put new ideas/discoveries/findings in appropriate context in the field and discuss the degree of validity / extrapolation appropriate, and are written by science-focused journalists. I'm fine with some sensationalism (to provoke interesting thoughts!), but would like it strongly tempered with appropriate skepticism and adherence (duh) to the scientific method. [more inside]
posted by ellerhodes at 8:29 PM PST - 16 comments

Does such a book exist? If so, I want to read it. Ideally with significant content about logistics on the domestic level. How does the crap get from the shipping container to the warehouse to my house?
posted by latkes at 6:42 PM PST - 12 comments

So, before the past two months I was doing a lot. I was programming, learning math, learning French and working out. However, after August things really started slowing down. I've been stuck applying to grad school and it really hasn't gone as well as I would like. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 5:55 PM PST - 9 comments

I was checking under the hood of my car on Halloween and found this bone sitting on top of the battery. Does anyone know what kind of animal it's from? Also, what kind of animal was likely to have put it there? A rat? There are lots of little toothmarks in it.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 5:27 PM PST - 13 comments

Yeah, I know, another one of these questions. Thank you ahead of time for putting up with it. But it is confusing. I'm a chronologically older (okay, I'm 63) guy looking to fill the many inside hours over the upcoming pandemic months to be spent indoors. I've got plenty of instruments to play, art to draw and outdoor winter runs to go on, but I've also decided to buy a gaming system, but which one? And which games? [more inside]
posted by lpsguy at 3:07 PM PST - 25 comments

My ~10 person team at work just successfully concluded our annual big, stressful Work Thing. To celebrate we're going to do a zoom happy hour next week. As a surprise, though, I'd like to have awesome gift baskets of alcohol + snacks delivered to everyone for enjoyment during the zoom event. Difficulty factor: we're spread out in a few different states. [more inside]
posted by Jaclyn at 2:52 PM PST - 14 comments

Does anyone have experience with/opinions on the Reme Halo air purifier? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 2:48 PM PST - 2 comments

How can I write blog posts about a business topic (leadership) using popular business publications without just recycling their ideas? I just picked up some contract work to do leadership research and write up blog posts for a coaching and leadership development company. I've never done this before and want to be creative and original but will be relying on things already written. I'm to: write summary of content based on research findings – referencing original content – for our website, blog and social media postings? [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 2:29 PM PST - 6 comments

What's the best way to store a large amount of CDs...with their inserts? We have a lot of CDs and Mr. BlahLaLa is totally invested in keeping them all. I very much want to reduce the amount of space they take up. He's just barely willing to let me get rid of the jewel cases, but will absolutely not let the inserts go. So what's the best solution?
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:22 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm an American outside the US. I thought my vote wouldn't matter much because historically overseas votes haven't had much impact on US election outcomes. But I just realized this election might be very different, because of the way it's being conducted with more mail-in ballots. Is it too late for me to vote, somehow? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:00 PM PST - 13 comments

Anonymous due to risk of co-workers on here. I have been fired or left when I started failing at almost every job I had. I started off as an admin but it was a disaster. After a couple of admin jobs I ended up working for a charity where I was supporting people as part of my administrative duties. I loved it - it was my longest role up to that point, but it was still an admin job and it's clear that I don't possess the organisational skills for that. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:00 PM PST - 7 comments

I love the Harley Quinn of the new animated series and the Birds of Prey movie, and I’m looking for graphic novels/trades with stories that are less Joker-focused. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 1:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm looking for TV shows like Taste the Nation and Ugly Delicious that go beyond the "white guy talking to white guys" schtick. I am in the U.S. and have access to Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. I'm not interested in competition shows or instructional cooking shows. Examples of what I've liked below. [more inside]
posted by creepygirl at 12:21 PM PST - 16 comments

My HOA has added pickleball nets to our neighborhood tennis courts. I’ve played enough to know my whole family will love to play. How much should I plan to spend on paddles? My girls are young teens and I assume could share with me. Husband is a tall guy. This would just be for recreational play in our family. Any recommended brand/style/material of construction, etc? Thank you.
posted by gryphonlover at 11:31 AM PST - 3 comments

Looking for gift ideas for a very cool nature-loving collecting kid during a pandemic. Any ideas from the hivemind? [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 11:15 AM PST - 17 comments

I've seen plenty of ads for masks that claim to be anti-fog. Can you recommend any mail-order masks that you have direct experience with that don't fog glasses? (Might as well throw in the same question for patterns for masks for those that want to sew their own.) [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 10:54 AM PST - 18 comments

My school has gone 100% online webinar. The entire textbook was scanned and divided into PDF chapters. So far, so good. However, the scanning was really really sloppy and I need to adjust the rotation of almost every page. Tedious and time-consuming, but not difficult, right? Wrong.... [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 10:30 AM PST - 13 comments

My four year old kid is an outside kid. I'd like to get him some fairly sturdy hiking/trail shoes. [more inside]
posted by sciencegeek at 9:53 AM PST - 5 comments

I have had a digital photography practice for a long time, but I'm finding myself in a kind of rut. I was hoping to find out if there were good opportunities for taking a workshop-type class that would get me out of my house and taking photos more often. What I'm looking for is just some hardcoded structure in my week with interesting prompts, rather than spending a number of weeks on technical aspects. Does something like this exist? [more inside]
posted by vocativecase at 9:49 AM PST - 3 comments

I need to locate someone immediately. In Canada. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:29 AM PST - 18 comments

I would love to find a ranch style home. I also need light. In the ones I've seen, some of them have low ceilings and short or few windows. Some have also had solar panels on the roof. A few have not had any windows on one wall and if they did have windows they would look directly into the next home. I'm wondering how much it cost to add windows, extend windows, and add skylights. [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws at 7:59 AM PST - 14 comments

This is our first winter with a hot tub in our backyard and I'm looking for recommendations for robes that will keep my husband, daughter and I warm as we go to and from the house and the spa. [more inside]
posted by melissa at 7:36 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for songs that share similar sonics as Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I'm thinking primarily of the distinctive opening guitar riff but also the spare and repetitive guitar, drum, and bass verse sounds. [more inside]
posted by cursed at 6:38 AM PST - 41 comments

I've found a lot of listicles that give examples of, say, 10 store-brand products that are made in the same factories as name-brand products, but I'm curious if anyone's prepared a spreadsheet that compiles lots of examples in one place. Bonus points if it includes a price comparison!
posted by LSK at 6:17 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm thinking of giving my character an interest, or maybe even degree, in mycology. I'm working in the life sciences but besides hunting mushrooms in my childhood and seeing a bizzare documentary about slime molds or lichen have no clue about the field. Is there some book/film/documentary where I can pick up something about it? [more inside]
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 3:53 AM PST - 11 comments

My Windows 10 desktop at work has suddenly acquired some kind of automatic brightness adjustment. As an example, if I adjust the Ask web page with its green background to cover the whole screen, the brightness adjusts down a little. If I tab over to a Google search that has a white background, the brightness adjusts up again. [more inside]
posted by Harald74 at 10:46 PM PST - 9 comments

When we eventually develop spaceships that travel between the stars, will new viruses still plague the travelers? [more inside]
posted by DrumsIntheDeep at 10:43 PM PST - 12 comments

Years ago, I saw a very shitty beater car somewhere in the northeast (around Boston/Cambridge) with a bumper sticker that said: "My other car is a Pynchon novel." WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? [more inside]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 8:27 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm close friends with a person who, unintentionally most likely, crosses my boundaries with questions relating to my job with a major technology retailer. Resentment is starting to build. I'm a people pleaser, in therapy, and trying to figure out how to draw better boundaries with her. More details under the fold. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 7:51 PM PST - 10 comments

I think I need 1) a good way to finely and precisely maneuver my miter saw while I'm adjusting both the miter and bevel alignments (or a way to make this unnecessary), and 2) the best right angle squaring tool(s) for this job. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 4:53 PM PST - 7 comments

Disclaimer: I've written this question and deleted it several times. It's the most difficult thing I've ever pondered. I have talked to my doctor but the other side of this equation lives 250 miles away and doesnt have access to insurance. I know you are not my therapists so just use as empathetic (cont) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 3:52 PM PST - 25 comments

Since I have hit my 40s, my weight has been slowly creeping up and the lockdown did nothing to help. I'm now about 15 pounds over where I would like to be and my BMI* is creeping up toward the upper end of the healthy range (23.4). I would like to lose those pesky pounds but so far my usual go-to methods have been failing me. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 3:01 PM PST - 21 comments

I really like the sausage cheddar breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks. Does anyone know what kind of sausage they use? [more inside]
posted by entropyiswinning at 2:44 PM PST - 5 comments

I work at large healthcare facility, which recently had a pumpkin decorating contest. One of the submissions was an extremely racist caricature. It is currently on display in a public, but out-of-the-way part of the building. I would like this to be addressed by my organization. How do I handle this? [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 2:39 PM PST - 6 comments

I have Election Day off and I'm interested in last-minute volunteering. What would be the best use of my time in the Bay Area? What is it not too late to sign up for?
posted by pinochiette at 1:47 PM PST - 2 comments

I get all kinds of emails with all kinds of names, what is the best one to throw a couple last minute dollars at for the election?
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 1:23 PM PST - 5 comments

I am working outside with my trainer now in Ontario. The temperature now is 41F, 5C. It promises to get colder. I am wearing a tank top and hoodie and it's way too cold for me now. Please suggest the best base layers that will keep me warm, are not too expensive, and where I'll still be able to move easily doing all the exercises. I know it's all about the layering. Thank you so much!!
posted by Tziv at 12:56 PM PST - 11 comments

Sometime in the past few days, our previously smooth wall has developed some very weird texture issues. I'd like to know what caused it, so we can prevent further issues and properly repair it. Photos and details within. [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 12:37 PM PST - 13 comments

What are reasonable precautions for someone commuting in NYC on election day? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 12:04 PM PST - 8 comments

In the 1966 movie "A Fine Madness" a character in the film has a dictograph that uses what looks like blue mylar or acetate sheets to record audio. [Screenshots one, two, three, four, five, six. Video at here, here, and here.] What is either the recording media or the machine that used it?
posted by Mitheral at 11:10 AM PST - 2 comments

Watching Gilmore Girls for the first time, and cannot believe the Rory/Logan pairing. This after having Veronica Mars basically ruined by the Veronica/Logan pairing. WTF? [more inside]
posted by rikschell at 10:46 AM PST - 13 comments

Used to pay lots of attention to how I dress but haven't for the past few years. Tired of bad fitting jeans and tshirts. Help! [more inside]
posted by huskerdont at 9:34 AM PST - 8 comments

I've developed a really useful, full-featured Excel workbook to track inventory and vehicles at my workplace. I've become pretty good at using forms, custom types, various kinds of loops, with statements, etc. I haven't done much with class modules, but I'm reasonably familiar with the concept. Now I want to take everything I've learned and design a standalone Windows application based on this workbook. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 8:55 AM PST - 22 comments

Holiday SOS! Is it possible to stream the 2020 lifetime holiday movie lineup? The answer to this question should be obvious but it's not. [more inside]
posted by countrymod at 8:13 AM PST - 5 comments

The standard narrative is that American cars declined in quality in the 1970s, leading to the rise of imports. But is this true? Is it possible that the quality of American cars stayed the same, while the imports were just better? [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 7:22 AM PST - 18 comments

I am interested in good podcasts about food history and culture. Tell me about your favorites.
posted by jammy at 7:13 AM PST - 9 comments

I bought some silicone spatulas recently. It has made me realise that trying to cook everything with that one slightly janky fishslice I has was suboptimal. What small things have you recently bought that have unexpectedly made your life unexpectedly easier? (Please do not limit your responses to kitchen things, these were just examples that came to mind). [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:11 AM PST - 118 comments

We feed our cat with an automated feeder in the mornings to stop early morning wake up calls. This worked for a while but now she's started yowling after eating and we're not really sure what to do. What's the best approach to making this stop? [more inside]
posted by quadrant seasons at 3:43 AM PST - 10 comments

I’ve realized that fairness in my personal life is overwhelmingly important to me, and this may not be healthy from a practical point. I’m looking for thoughts on how to take a different perspective, especially if you’ve dealt with this too. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 1:43 AM PST - 32 comments