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Hi, I'm looking for mention in Jill Lepore's These Truths where she talks about something along the lines of at one point in American history basically five rich men owned more wealth than half of the states. I've been looking in the Post War and Gilded Age chapters 1865-1918, but I can't find any mention of it. Help?
posted by ABlanca at 8:22 PM PST - 2 comments

I got rid of my disused VR rig five years ago but I thought I’d stick my toe back in. A lot of the equipment is looking very familiar, and while it looks like there have been some small advances in controllers the software seems to still only recognize the same basic inputs. Is there anything new over the last five years? New uses, new types of equipment, new concepts?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:04 PM PST - 15 comments

My dad was really into the iPad game Burds, but after some software-updating or grandchild-tampering the game is no longer on his iPad. And since it's not available on the app store, he can't redownload it. Anyway, he is bereft so I would love suggestions for games that are similar, thank you!
posted by middlethird at 6:53 PM PST - 8 comments

My son has gotten very interested in making small stuffed animals like this one - can anyone w/sewing experience recommend a pattern collection (preferably in book / print form) that's in the same ballpark aesthetically and in terms of level of difficulty? [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 5:07 PM PST - 8 comments

My sister and I have been collecting all of my mother’s writings. We thought it would be nice to publish a print-on-demand book of the best pieces. How best to do that? [more inside]
posted by blueberry at 3:57 PM PST - 8 comments

I had a link to a great website but I lost it at some point. Reasonable search terms aren't unearthing it for me. It was simply a photo archive of packages, signs, and other objects with logos or emblems of some kind on them. I have no memory of the site's name. [more inside]
posted by trevor_case at 3:25 PM PST - 3 comments

We are in San Diego. As per new requirements, we have to get a negative Covid Test before boarding our plane back to Portugal later this week. I don't know how this works in the US. Where and how is the best place to get a rapid test? [more inside]
posted by vacapinta at 2:53 PM PST - 9 comments

My sister and I have been distanced for almost a decade, and have barely spoken in the last year due to a big blow out. She has expressed interest in sitting down to talk, and told me to let her know if I would like to. I am feeling confused on how to go about talking, since it seems everything with her goes south. [more inside]
posted by anon1129 at 2:24 PM PST - 27 comments

We have an old tub which is fairly inaccessible. We are thinking about replacing it with a tub liner without removing the original tub. Have you done this, and would you recommend it? It is a fairly high use tub, our goal is something that will last for at least a decade (longer would be better). We have tried “reglazing” which has been a temporary and crappy fix.
posted by arnicae at 1:33 PM PST - 11 comments

Six years ago, you did my son righteous for Christmas with electronics gifts, and now he's absolutely loving his life as a (Rust) software and sometime firmware developer. He's convinced his company to use Raspberry Pi for some projects. What can I get him to help with firmware development? I got him a Saleae Logic 8 already. Is that the right thing? What excellent weird tool will delight him -- and astound him that his ol' Ma ever knew to get it? Because that's how you win Christmas.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 1:22 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm trying to connect a Sonos Arc via HDMI ARC to a Samsung TV from 2014. The Samsung seems to have a mind of its own, and won't let me make a simple adjustment that's necessary for the setup. [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 1:06 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm open to any material, though probably prefer canvas or waxed canvas as material that provides a good balance of weight and sturdiness. I'd like a bag that looks smart, has some structure so that it can stand by itself, and has pockets or compartments that allow for staying reasonably organized. I often see nice canvas bags that slouch or have one big central compartment so that everything sloshes around in one space. Browsing online, I really liked this: www.satchel-page.com/products/aviator. However, it is way outside my price range. Does a bag like this exist for under about US $150?
posted by Ensign at 12:47 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a language learning app that would be fun to use with friends who are far away. I'm not sure exactly what kind of features I'm looking for. I guess something with a social aspect where we can see each other's progress and encourage each other? [more inside]
posted by dokodomo at 11:49 AM PST - 2 comments

I know I'm capable of learning to play by ear on the piano, but I don't have enough chord knowledge to actually do it. I'd like to start, probably with a mixture of theory, simple sheet music, and practice. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 11:45 AM PST - 14 comments

I can't handle how inept my local bank is any more. Can I get recommendations for primary checking and savings accounts? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:12 AM PST - 28 comments

Specifically, I'm looking at a quilt with a cotton velvet front, cotton percale back, and 95/5% cotton/"other" fill. I'm hoping for something that will provide less warmth than a generic poly comforter, with maximum breathability.
posted by moira at 11:08 AM PST - 2 comments

I need to have 11 audio files transcribed, and for confidentiality reasons, I cannot upload them to an automated transcription program. My volunteer undergraduate research assistants are still working from home due to COVID, using their personal laptops. My upmost concern here is data security, and I need to figure out hardware/software needs. Can I set them up to do the transcription securely, efficiently, and also cheaply? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 11:00 AM PST - 10 comments

After many years of waiting, qlmommy will be having an inground pool installed in our backyard early next year. I would like to buy her some things to make her pool time most enjoyable. So, for those of you who have pools, what are your favorite floats and accessories?
posted by qldaddy at 9:57 AM PST - 13 comments

This has been driving me crazy for nearly a month. One night, while exploring international television broadcast streams, my spouse and I encountered this looping video on Swiss Broadcaster RTS2, on what the screen insert labels as "inédit" (pardon the quality of this quick-capture). It looks like the video might be part of a larger film, a short, or maybe an art installation. At first, we thought the looping would eventually resolve into something else, but no. We watched for at least 3-4 minutes, changed the channel, then returned several minutes later to find it still looping the same footage. I have some more details and clues, but I need help to figure out what this is! [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 9:38 AM PST - 6 comments

If I donate a video game or iPhone accessories will it go to a kid that can use it? [more inside]
posted by lepus at 9:29 AM PST - 6 comments

Historicity of "Gold watch presented at retirement": There's an old saw that comes up frequently in fiction, where working-class men (in the U.S. in the mid-20th Century) would receive a gold watch from the company upon their retirement from the mill/railroad/factory etc. I'd like to know more about this: when and how often this happened, in what industries, when and how it arose and the circumstances surrounding its decline, the value & appearance of these watches, etc. [more inside]
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 8:27 AM PST - 12 comments

I thought the word "scrip" (as in company scrip) was both a counted and uncounted noun. That it's counted when you're referring to varieties ("there were many different scrips in common use at the time") and uncounted when referring to quantity ("she paid with scrip"). Much like the difference between "the butcher sells many meats" and "the butcher sells a lot of meat". But I can't for the life of me find a good reference for this. [more inside]
posted by Lorc at 8:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Please recommend your favorite anthologies of mostly modern poetry in which depressing poems are kept to a minimum. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 8:16 AM PST - 4 comments

I want to find some part time work, with some physical limitations. It's supposedly a workers market out there, how best do I take advantage of that? [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 8:09 AM PST - 6 comments

For the last several months I have been being ignored by all my managers. No email, text, or call is ever responded to. I have tried repeatedly to connect with them without success since at least August (it is now November). [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 7:26 AM PST - 30 comments

My mother's house has 3 ceiling speakers: two in the living room (presumably stereo), and one in the kitchen (mono). She also has a pair of speakers in the den. Devices to power two sets of stereo speakers and a mono speaker are rare, so I'm considering getting a receiver which supports two sets of speakers (5.1 and stereo), using the stereo output for the den, the 5.1's left and right channels for the living room and center for the kitchen, but I'm wondering if audio would then sound weird in those two rooms. [more inside]
posted by jackbishop at 5:56 AM PST - 11 comments

My British spouse and I (a US-ian), planning a trip to the USA and trying to understand the latest requirements, ordered PCR "Fit to Fly" tests from a company called Source Bioscience, following a recommendation in the consumer magazine Which. So far so good, but now we hear that the U.S. requires the test to be "video observed," and this company doesn't offer that. Is that correct that we need to be video supervised for a PCR test or is that just for antigen tests? Any recommendations on what to do much appreciated.
posted by johngoren at 5:44 AM PST - 6 comments

What are possible downsides/risks to disclosing an Autism diagnosis to grad school, for fields that require licensing down the road (law school, social work, etc.)? Can that later be used against a person and prevent them from professional accreditation and development in some direct or roundabout way? [more inside]
posted by asimplemouse at 5:09 AM PST - 5 comments

For close to 3 years I had a terrible boss. Now I have an ok one. But I still find myself panicking, second-guessing, over-preparing... All the behaviours I learned to cope with the terrible boss. I also find myself flashing back to times with the terrible boss and feeling angry with myself for not sticking up for myself. What can I do to get through these negative feelings? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:27 AM PST - 7 comments

What is the scientific term describing "the poles", i.e. male and female, of organisms that reproduce sexually? I'm almost certain I've seen a term for it once when reading an article about intersexuality, which stated something to the effect of "'male' and 'female' are MISSING_WORD", where MISSING_WORD may have been "SOMETHINGtypes", in the vein of "genotypes", "phenotypes" or "haplotypes", though I'm not sure. I've been unable to find it since.
posted by jklaiho at 11:58 PM PST - 10 comments

I've been a data scientist for 4 years and am looking at transitioning to software engineering in the next year. Looking for input on how feasible this is overall, and general guidance. [more inside]
posted by mnemonic at 11:14 PM PST - 8 comments

What work has moved you or influenced how you think about memory? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 10:45 PM PST - 20 comments

My boyfriend has ED and anorgasma. He can take a pill to get it up, but still can’t orgasm. How do I get this man to cum?! [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 10:23 PM PST - 11 comments

Can anyone point me to the Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comic where a person corrects another person saying 'less' with a final dying word 'fewer'? The SMBC archive seems impossible to search.
posted by grazer at 9:41 PM PST - 1 comment

I am completely burned out and Done with my job. I am very fortunate in that I can afford to quit and take some extended time off to recover, but there is significant financial incentive for me to hang on for another 5 months or so (significant to the tune of $60-70k on top of my regular income). Can I hang in there? Should I try? [more inside]
posted by sock here, sock there at 8:51 PM PST - 17 comments

Please help me find the tackiest, silliest sausage-and-cheese-and-jams holiday gift basket for my 6yo. [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 7:18 PM PST - 12 comments

I know, I know! Usually I love this in-law event, and, what with its absence for 2 years I should be more excited, but I'm already exhausted and out of ideas and you all are so so creative! HELP [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 6:49 PM PST - 21 comments

I received a package from a mystery sender via Amazon, and I can't say it's a welcome one. It doesn't resemble a holiday gift in any way—it's three brass whistles. Amazon insists it won't tell me the sender's name or location, claiming that to do so would violate some sort of "security policy." I'm concerned someone might be harassing me. Is there anything I can do to discover the sender? [more inside]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 5:19 PM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to read some sci fi about people who don't need to sleep, at all. Any suggestions? I'm currently reading Beggars in Spain, and while it starts out promising it seems to be veering away from plot and into economic theory.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:45 PM PST - 23 comments

I am currently in a position I'd like to leave... help me figure out a specific plan for getting a new gig that is relatively efficient, could be scheduled onto a calendar, and is not maddening. [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 3:17 PM PST - 4 comments

Can you recommend any baby/picture/very-little-kid books where the parent is a single mom? The topic of the book does not much matter, just looking for more books where the only parent is Mommy. (The book definitely does NOT need to be *about* having a single parent, and in fact, it's better if it's not.) Bonus points for books about girls, but that is less essential.
posted by Charity Garfein at 3:01 PM PST - 19 comments

We are interested in legal, liability and insurance (workers comp) ramifications should business decide to remain open. [more inside]
posted by elf27 at 12:52 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm switching back to Apple for my desktop ecosystem, to match every other device in my life. That leaves me with a gaming PC to dispose of, and I'm reliably told the graphics card (an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) is the only piece of it anyone else would want. Seems like good graphics cards are in high demand right now. But how do I sell it? [more inside]
posted by invincible summer at 12:51 PM PST - 8 comments

My friend's been looking for a few replacement pieces of her flatware set, and though she managed to track the set on Replacements.com without any luck. I'm guessing that most people don't know the model number of their flatware and this set doesn't seem particularly valuable, and hoping that there's some sort of finder that someone may recommend. Or are there other avenues that people would recommend to explore to track down some replacement silverware? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by sincerely yours at 12:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Time to upgrade my Christmas music collection. Please recommend your favorite CD (album) or song or band or singer or group. Any genre is welcome. [more inside]
posted by luvmywife at 12:03 PM PST - 70 comments

A family member and I are considering a mutually convenient transaction where I'll take over ownership of his car, a 2001 Subaru. Difficulty level: He's in Canada, where the car is registered, and I'm in the U.S. .. What added difficulties should we expect and how can we make this easy on ourselves? Should he gift it or sell it — and do so in the US or Canada? Do I need to declare the car at the border? etc. [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 10:58 AM PST - 3 comments

My friends just moved from a tiny Brooklyn apartment to a large Brooklyn house. What can I get them for Christmas that takes advantage of their new space? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 10:15 AM PST - 16 comments

I got a camera ticket driving through an intersection in unincorporated Los Angeles County last week. Multiple people have told me that I don't have to pay this ticket and it won't impact my driving record. Is this true? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 9:55 AM PST - 9 comments

Mystery water on the floor has been tracked it down to leaking pipes behind a cabinet. There's hidden but extensive water damage. However the insurance damage assessor says that there's evidence the leak has been there over a year, and we only moved in a few months ago. Has anyone else got experience with an insurance claim relating to damage that started under a prior resident's watch? I am in the UK. [more inside]
posted by Lorc at 5:14 AM PST - 7 comments

How long did your tuft and needle mattress last? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 5:08 AM PST - 23 comments

My niece is hoping to go to university next year to do biochemistry. She would like some advice on which device would be best to take. Ideally she would like to ask for an iPad Pro and pencil this Christmas so that she can also use it to take notes and draw diagrams during her current A level course (the college won't let students take notes by typing, only by using a pen or digital equivalent). She's not sure if an iPad will meet the requirements of her degree course. Can anyone advise? [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 3:07 AM PST - 22 comments

I work in tech and I'm currently stuck working for a "flat organization". This is... not great for my ADHD as I am expected to manage myself and I am terrible at that! If I want to be completely honest frequently I just want someone to tell me what to do or at least have a manager I have weekly 1:1s with. [more inside]
posted by bee jam but sketched at 1:09 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a Pixel 6. I have Android Auto in my car. This cord used to work absolutely perfectly for my old Pixel 3, but is crap on the 6. Where can I get a replacement? [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon at 10:03 PM PST - 3 comments

ISO a vacuum cleaner capable of handling voluminous quantities of pet hair. [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 7:36 PM PST - 16 comments

The song is over. The drummer starts going BAPPITA BAPPITA BAPPITA and the guitarist goes DOODLE DOODLE DO and the bass player goes BWAAAAABABABABA up the neck and the keyboardist plays seemingly random notes on the piano but it's also probably in the correct key and the lights are going nuts and then they all look at the drummer and she hits the crash cymbal as they all land on a quick chord and now the song is really over. Who invented that? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 6:52 PM PST - 7 comments

My son is engaged to marry a wonderful woman next fall. I would like to give her a Christmas gift that welcomes her to the family. But I've only met her a few times. [more inside]
posted by southeastyetagain at 6:29 PM PST - 22 comments

Bathtubs are an officially listed amenity on airbnb, but darned if i can find a search option for that attribute. Projector is not an official airbnb amenity, but have run into them before in vacation rentals . [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:27 PM PST - 6 comments

Who's written really well about love (particularly from non-dominant perspectives)? [more inside]
posted by Rich Text at 6:04 PM PST - 21 comments

Covid's emergence, concurrent with Carbon reduction measures suggests global travel has to drop off - a lot. I'm writing from New Zealand where tourism has collapsed (and the low-paying industry is hankering for return to normal). I doubt normal will return, but what will after look like? Hence this somewhat work-related question, as I occasionally design public space. [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 5:14 PM PST - 27 comments

Got an M1 iMac, want to connect all my stuff and have decision paralysis. [more inside]
posted by jadepearl at 4:51 PM PST - 6 comments

My wife's new insulin pump needs a cell phone and bluetooth. We are Android people, but I think we need to switch her to iPhone for this. Help! [more inside]
posted by COD at 3:37 PM PST - 14 comments

For 26 years, after a major depression/anxiety episode in college, Trazodone has been my rock when it comes to getting sleep. And then, last week, for no discernible reason and pretty much overnight, it stopped working. [more inside]
posted by Lycaon_pictus at 3:02 PM PST - 13 comments

The adults in my family do a gift exchange, and the category is entertainment (interpreted loosely). I’m stumped. What would be a good gift I can give for $50? [more inside]
posted by biscuits at 1:50 PM PST - 18 comments

This lamp. How do I remove it? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by OrangeVelour at 1:27 PM PST - 9 comments

My wife's (beloved, now passed) dad got this ridiculous Christmas decoration from her (beloved, now passed) grandma. It started as a joke but became a treasured family heirloom. It recently died and I am trying to source replacement bulbs, but they are funky "clip in" types (view 1, view 2). Any ideas what they are called or where to find them? Based on the sentimental value, my budget is $12 billion.
posted by AgentRocket at 12:49 PM PST - 12 comments

As a follow-up to this question about organizing a large family photo collection, I am looking for a high-quality digital-to-print photo album service. I've happily used Printique (previously AdoramaPix) for single prints in the past but have never done a full album before. Quality is a much higher priority than price for this project. [more inside]
posted by 4rtemis at 12:34 PM PST - 2 comments

What are the best places to drink beer in San Francisco? Local breweries are my first choice, but would also love recs for bars or restaurants with great tap lists. Extra bonus points for anywhere that features lagers!
posted by lumpy at 12:18 PM PST - 11 comments

A company gave me, an applicant, a job description. But some of the bullet items are somewhat abstract. Can you put them in more specific and concrete terms for me? [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 12:11 PM PST - 6 comments

(Using 'her' pronoun for simplicity.) My young niece has called herself a boy a few times over the last couple years, likes boy stuff (so to speak) mostly, idolizes her father and uncle (me) and not much her mother, my sister. Recently she requested (and received) a 'cool guy' haircut and asked her mother if she's a boy now. Looking for advice to pass on to my sister. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:07 AM PST - 10 comments

I am a 58 yo male planning on going back to get my Masters in either Psychology or Social Work. I'd like some feedback re: the + and - of each. Some basics I've learned so far from a friend.... [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 10:23 AM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to use my resources to support the global vaccination plan. What's the best place for donations? Unicef? CoVax? Gates foundation? Red Cross? I'm in Canada, and it would be nice to get a tax receipt, but not crucial. What organization can use my money the most effectively, to give Covid vaccinations in the developing areas of the world?
posted by Valancy Rachel at 10:06 AM PST - 3 comments

After 24 years of multiple hours of daily use, my Aeron chair is finally borked. Do I replace it with a new Aeron chair, or something else? Specifications inside. [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 10:02 AM PST - 10 comments

I'd like to find a more effective way to filter out results that are (generally speaking) cheap generic goods with stock photos from overseas manufacturers/wholesalers on ebay. I do not want to exclude the "new with tags" items that are often closeouts/etc from known brands. Increasingly, these items are listed as being located in the US, so using the US only filter doesn't work. Is there a better way? A browser extension is fine.
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:32 AM PST - 12 comments

and can find them with a lightning connector. But, I need them with a 3.5mm connector as well. My cat keeps biting through the plastic sheathing that is commonly used and I hope that the braided cable will discourage this. Any ideas?
posted by partner at 8:17 AM PST - 7 comments

I remember reading a story, possibly by Tobias Wolff, about a man and his wife who have constructed a sort of ideal, back to the land sort of existence. The narrator works at a local farm with horses. One day the narrator's son lights the employer's barn on fire, killing these beautiful horses, and the father returns to working in the city at a job he hates, his family dissolved. It's just one of those painful Tobias Wolff stories designed to make you feel miserable, and yet I can't locate it or the title!
posted by mecran01 at 8:05 AM PST - 3 comments

I have some family members that I always get a joint Christmas present because they have a large family and they foster, so you can never be sure you're not going to be leaving someone out if you get everyone individual presents. I try to go for something that's inexpensive but inclusive. [more inside]
posted by Eyelash at 6:07 AM PST - 15 comments

My nearly 12 year old nephew is really into history, especially Greeks, Romans and Japanese history. I’d love to get him something related for Christmas, but I don’t want to just get him ‘plain old books’ - I’d like something that doesn’t resemble homework. [more inside]
posted by FavourableChicken at 5:19 AM PST - 25 comments

My daughter was absolutely entranced by this game at a shop, the Goki colour and pattern sorting board. She has autism, and loves to sort and make patterns, and the physicality of this is great, but it's meant for 4 year olds, and she is 10. I'd love to get (or make!) a more complicated version of this with more pattern possibility or find similar toys, are there key words to search for, related toys/games, anything?
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 2:32 AM PST - 22 comments

I have wood glue, cyanoacrylate, Super 77, and glue sticks. Is there anything I can't glue? If so, could I glue it if I had a glue gun? [more inside]
posted by trevor_case at 7:43 PM PST - 30 comments

What does a Mormon mean when they say they had a "strong testimony" or a "weak testimony"? [more inside]
posted by clawsoon at 5:30 PM PST - 7 comments

What do people do to have the best, most active life while on immune suppressants in 2021? (More details inside, if curious, but this is the tl;dr) [more inside]
posted by eleanna at 5:16 PM PST - 12 comments

Are there any stylish accessories that are reflective to help me be more visible in low/dark light conditions? [more inside]
posted by ellerhodes at 4:30 PM PST - 13 comments

Asking for a friend: what are some things you can do to improve life in an apartment or condo? The apartment/condo version of this, basically. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by Tamanna at 12:52 PM PST - 12 comments

My 15 year old car smells musty and is a bit humid. I plan to buy a new one in 6-12 months. What can I do in the meantime to take care of the issue as much as possible, without sinking a ton of money into it? [more inside]
posted by deus ex machina at 11:34 AM PST - 14 comments

A chipmunk has taken up residence in my basement. He is undeterred by the fact that I have cats, and they have no interest in catching him. He is able to get the bait out of a havahart trap without triggering it. I would rather use a pest company as a very last resort, so are there some good nontoxic sprays or deterrents I could use? Everything I can find online is about keeping them out of the garden, which is of no use in the US northeast in November. Any ideas?
posted by JanetLand at 9:18 AM PST - 15 comments

A few years ago, a CD came out by some male musical artist whose album was a throwback to the 80s. The cover of the CD has a futuristic car with a Def Leppard cassette tape in it. I always planned to buy this CD some time, and a few of the songs I liked from the CD were on YouTube, but alas, they got taken down. And I cannot remember the name of the artist to Google the name of the CD. Does anyone know the CD I am thinking of? [more inside]
posted by wittgenstein at 6:20 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm revamping our 11th Grade comparative case study where we assess the experience of two different First Nations communities from the mid-1700s to mid 1960s; one in Australia and, this time, one from the USA or British-dominated Canada. However I know relatively little about individual North American First Nations communities and I need help selecting a specific community for our comparison. 'Community' can also mean nation or language group. [more inside]
posted by Thella at 9:47 PM PST - 10 comments

Unless my memory is playing tricks with me, Katherine Langridge used to have a whole series of excellent essays about the Narnia books on her Seven Miles of Steel Thistles blog. But they've gone missing. Does anyone know why, or whether they are still accessible somewhere? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 9:19 PM PST - 5 comments

I got an office job. I would like my work personality to lean towards quiet smart problem-solver, but I seem to be already moving towards my more traditional personality of gum-chewing smartass. I need a quick mantra that I can tape up so that I will see it, which will remind me to STFU and at least slow down on the smartass comments. It is reasonable to think that other people who come to talk to me might ALSO see this taped up thing, which creates its own problems. [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 8:44 PM PST - 42 comments

Help me plan out an elaborate assortment of Christmas Day desserts and sweets - for only one person. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:53 PM PST - 16 comments

I need help printing a webpage where the text that appears in my browser appears hidden when I view in print preview mode or when I print the page. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 7:53 PM PST - 12 comments

I have just passed the first interview for a job I'm not sure I want. What now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:27 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for a personal project management app for tasks around the house/yard. I want to use it both for simple single tasks like "move the bookshelf into the office" and more complex, multi-step tasks like "improve the drainage on the west side" that involve steps like planning, buying supplies, and multiple installation steps. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 5:42 PM PST - 16 comments

My dad loved the movie the hustler and drank JTS Brown his whole life until he quit drinking a few years back. I'm sitting with him in hospice now and he made a last request that I get a bottle of JTS Brown and pour a shot for everyone at his funeral. He knows how much I love bourbon (because of him) and that I'll get this done for him. Except Ive never seen it in Florida (sorry, I'm in Florida) and can't seem to find it online for shipping. [more inside]
posted by chasles at 5:29 PM PST - 7 comments

YANMD. I tripped & fell—spectacularly—leaving me with a large bruise on my lower rear leg (below the calf, above the achilles). Three weeks later the bruise is alllllmost gone, but I can feel a big lump under there, which doesn't feel great when I press on it but is otherwise not causing me any problems. Should I be doing something to break up this scar tissue/inflammation/whatever it is? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:54 PM PST - 7 comments

What's it like to live in The Bronx? [more inside]
posted by dtp at 4:28 PM PST - 6 comments

My spouse and I want to produce a single book for my 5-year-old niece. What is the best way to do this? [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 4:23 PM PST - 4 comments

My neighbour is behaving in a way that might be low-key stalking/harassment, and is in any case definitely paranoid, aggressive, asshole behaviour. But, he is also old enough that I wonder if age-related cognitive issues might be a factor. How to proceed? [more inside]
posted by busted_crayons at 4:17 PM PST - 13 comments

For the past week or so, I've experienced an unusual symptom. Periodically, when I stretch out my right arm (like when I need to pick up something off the floor), I experience a strange sensation in my index finger. It feels like a brief, mild electric shock. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 4:02 PM PST - 5 comments

Which presidents of the US can (or could) eat with chopsticks? [more inside]
posted by Rash at 3:15 PM PST - 11 comments

I've come into a WaterRower. I know next to nothing about rowing though have used a Concept2 a few times at the gym. I'd like to use this consistently to lose some weight over the winter. (During warm months I walk about 15 miles per day but hate doing it in the winter). I have a modern Android phone and an "ancient" iPad 3 and an M1 MacBook Air. I don't mind paying for a monthly app. What's the best way to ensure I use this thing properly and stick with it?
posted by dobbs at 1:36 PM PST - 11 comments

When did you disclose your ivf pregnancy to the HR department at your job? To your direct boss? How did it go? I’m 6 months into a job, and a few years into a new career, and have to discontinue my adhd medication. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:56 PM PST - 14 comments

I have to use e.g. in my writing but I find many phones (Android) and tablets (ipad Mini) automatically capitalise to E. G. I have tried having apps remember the word but it never seems to take. Has anyone found a workaround for this?
posted by parmanparman at 12:41 PM PST - 4 comments

For mysterious reasons, I would like to own a large (24"x36" or bigger?) photo print of The Tree That Owns Itself. I would like it to be high-resolution, and ideally a little artsy, or at least dramatic. I've seen this, and it's nice, but I've had bad experiences with the resolution of blown-up images from poster sites, and this seems like a glorified poster site. Are there other options I'm not finding? Is this a "commission an artist" situation? How would I even do that? What else should I be looking into?
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:33 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm having a hard time sifting through all the info online about raising a puppy. Can you all point me to some reliable, up to date advice on best puppy practices? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by kittensofthenight at 12:32 PM PST - 7 comments

If I replace cream with milk in my persimmon pudding recipe, will the texture be the same? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 12:19 PM PST - 8 comments

My Apple Watch is overriding the settings I have on my phone. I'm sure there's just some setting issue that I can correct in half a second but I can't find it. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:17 PM PST - 9 comments

This bathroom door got stuck it locked on its own. We can’t get in! Any ideas? The inside cog turns but doesn’t open the latch at all. Can’t access the inside to get at the hinges either. [more inside]
posted by gatorbiddy at 12:11 PM PST - 16 comments

Uniqlo's HEATTECH women's undershirts, a staple work base layer in winter, are no longer available in short-sleeve cut. Who else sells slim-cut short-sleeve under-Ts that are similarly light, breathable, warm, stretchy, and absolutely not stiff or bulky at all under office clothes? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 12:06 PM PST - 9 comments

Lately, like the last 4-5 years or so, I, a 54 year old woman, have seen a change in the way a noticeable amount of men treat me. I know, that should come as no surprise, but the intensity of their coldness and contempt is unnerving me. Details to follow. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:59 AM PST - 20 comments

How might a person find the full-text version of this journal article: "Videogames in Computer Space: The Complex History of Pong" by Henry Lowood? It's from the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. Jul-Sep2009, Vol. 31 Issue 3. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:05 AM PST - 5 comments

We brought home a turkey carcass to make stock and did so using a pressure cooker. However, after removing the carcass, we found the hock lock (the little plastic tie that holds the legs) still on the turkey! The web generally states that it's fine to cook the turkey with the hock lock in place, but would making stock with it in place cause plastic to leach into the stock?
posted by subocoyne at 9:34 AM PST - 4 comments

I have so had it with the one and only internet provider available at my address. I would like to get rid of wifi and just use my phone hotspot (which I know is adequate because of outage periods in the past). The one thing I'm not sure of is how to easily print wirelessly and if it's even possible. Any advice on this or if there's anything else I'm missing? [more inside]
posted by Salamandrous at 8:51 AM PST - 13 comments

I grew rather attached to Hema "everclean" fluoride toothpaste: it was dense, high in fluoride, and had a strong mint flavour that wasn't overly sweet. Is there a suitable equivalent that's easily available in the UK these days? [more inside]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 8:44 AM PST - 7 comments

As the title says. This might be heavy. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 6:49 AM PST - 30 comments

I know it's a longshot, but in case any of this rings a bell: I'm trying to help someone identify a movie they saw "many years ago" on TV. Spanish-language, a woman who lives in a semi-automated home. All the details I have so far are below. [more inside]
posted by theatro at 6:11 AM PST - 6 comments

Moving to Toronto from the 905 area. Want to keep my current number, which I understand I can do if I go VOIP (currently with Bell for telephone, internet, and TV). [more inside]
posted by feelinggood at 4:51 AM PST - 4 comments

Tips for flirting when you are very shy? [more inside]
posted by mintchip at 4:17 AM PST - 11 comments

Alas, LL Bean is no longer making the Turbo Transit Pack, and its replacement, is vastly inferior. [more inside]
posted by oceano at 3:30 AM PST - 11 comments

I made some spent grain bread last weekend. It was good, but it's stale now. Can I make bread pudding with it? Croutons? French toast? Stuffing? What applications work best for a stale loaf of hearty, dense brown bread?
posted by deludingmyself at 9:52 PM PST - 15 comments

I got takeout to tide me over through the holiday but the hot and sour soup is so hot I cannot eat it. Is there a way to tone down the spiciness? [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:08 PM PST - 11 comments

I am searching for nonfiction writing about people who noticed dangerous ideologies (particularly authoritarian ones, although I'm open to others as well) early on as they were gaining steam, and did work to try to counteract those ideologies. [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 8:22 PM PST - 4 comments

I am looking at a Studiobricks sound isolation booth for practicing music in (particularly piccolo and saxophone). I'm not handy with DIY and I'm a renter, so this seems like a good solution. But most of the reviews and information online come from VO artists. Are you (or do you know) a musician who has bought one of these to practice with? What was it like? Is there anything I should watch out for? [more inside]
posted by solarion at 6:26 PM PST - 3 comments

We play with some house rules in Catan. These are (I think) valid within the regular rules and these have been one of the aspects of the game that we've enjoyed the most. Are there other board games where the players will tend to produce new behaviours, conventions and technologies? Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 2:35 PM PST - 19 comments

Does some simple software for Windows exist that will help me manage my image files the way I want? Basically, make it easy to rename a bunch of images, one by one, without having to click with the mouse, then carefully select the filename excluding the extension, then type a name (in tiny print in the file folder window), then click with the mouse again to do the next one? I want to just keep my eyes on the screen and touch type names, with the images being large enough to know what I'm looking at. I also want to select a bunch of files, and resize them all to have a maximum length and/or width, or to resize them all to 25%, or something. Surely someone has done this? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 12:18 PM PST - 17 comments

I am making this collards greens recipe and I think I accidentally put in too much red pepper flakes. I’ve got an hour until they are served. Anything I can do to reduce the heat?
posted by andoatnp at 12:09 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for the illustrators and comics artists who I haven't heard of yet because they don't have wide, commercial distribution and I'm not deeply immersed in that world. Especially interested in queers, women, trans, artists of color and political artists whose work I can check out online. Aesthetic specifics below: [more inside]
posted by latkes at 11:25 AM PST - 12 comments

I want to pursue a degree that is largely a math degree, and I am really trying to figure out if it is something I can do at my age with my (lack of) math skills, if I work hard at it. I have always identified as being "bad at math", avoided it where I can, and yes, internalized "women are bad at math". I am 45 years old, which concerns me about tackling a subject that I will likely struggle with. But I want to switch to the the data science undergrad degree and as my advisor explained, its more math that computers. Its calculus and then some. [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 11:14 AM PST - 25 comments

Hey, busy Mefites. How do you organise your work and life calendars? I am busy and overly scheduled all the time, and it's exhausting. I thought it would be good to see how other busy people structure their lives, to see if there's anything I could be doing better. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:10 AM PST - 17 comments

Regular BP is low-normal, lately diastolic is periodically high (80s-90s). Under extreme stress last night, diastolic went up to low 100s with headache and nausea. Telehealth only suggested longer term strategies, GP not worried (but didn’t know about the 100s last night). BP is normal today. But are there any quick tricks to get that BP down? Tried cold water on the face and I remember reading something about a valsava maneuver (couldn’t figure that out last night, the water didn’t help). *Quick tricks* needed. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 7:04 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm finding the way my friends speaks about people in a different social class to her really grating and it's bringing tension to our friendship. I can feel myself trying to change her way of seeing things but not sure if this is appropriate, and whether this is something worth reconsidering our friendship over. Would appreciate your thoughts. [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 4:28 AM PST - 56 comments

I am obsessed with this bread pudding recipe But lost my way in the search of a French Loaf (translate lazy and ram out of time). I did find a rich cottage Loaf however of some similar texture but with it already im thin slices i wonder if it will be an adequate substitute. I do plan to toast it and cube it with only a mid forearm toss so as not to create mush bug will it hold up? What loaves have you found a good replacement in? [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 3:23 AM PST - 7 comments

I recently purchased at Asus ProArt PA278QC monitor for my 2020 13" Macbook Air (2 USB-C ports only). I *meant* to purchase a PA278CV, oops. If I buy a USB-C to USB cable (as shown in the PA278QV port image, halfway down the page), will I be able to A) charge my mac through the monitor, and B) use the USB and other ports available in this monitor? [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam at 2:46 AM PST - 8 comments

My girlfriend and I are both over 50. We've been seeing each other for over 4 months, and we still haven't had sex. In every other way it seems like a normal relationship; we hug and kiss, take long walks together, say "I love you", and spend much time together. But we still haven't had sex. I understand that a woman's libido goes down after menopause, but I would have thought that, in an exciting new relationship, the heart would be willing even if the hormones weren't. Is it possible that she is using menopause as an excuse because she doesn't find me sexually attractive? Should I cut my losses and move on? [more inside]
posted by ambulocetus at 11:20 PM PST - 59 comments

I want to watch the NBC coverage, so I can enjoy the musical numbers, so that rules out the various youtube feeds. I'm willing to $$$ for a subscription to a service that actually shows them. I know they'll pop up on youtube later, but I want to watch them live. Thanks
posted by Beholder at 9:18 PM PST - 4 comments

I know you are not my doctor, etc. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 9:00 PM PST - 7 comments

A person I know said they have a kidney infection and their temp spiked to 400 degrees before becoming more normal at 103. Is this even possible?
posted by firstdaffodils at 7:26 PM PST - 10 comments

I am making pecan pie and forgot to reduce the sugar for high altitude. How bad is this? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 7:15 PM PST - 3 comments

I left a couple of batteries (AA or AAA) sitting on an acacia wood serving tray. One of them leaked (with the white salty stuff) and left a small stain. This was months ago. Can the tray be used for serving food (cheese/crackers) or storing fruit again if I sand, re-oil, etc? Or do I just need to throw this thing away?
posted by acidic at 3:49 PM PST - 8 comments

The learning curve of uBlock Origin is, to be charitable, steep. Is there a good tutorial somewhere? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 3:11 PM PST - 3 comments

If you're looking at someone's Venmo Business Profile, is it possible to figure out the personal Venmo account, or the name of the person behind the Business profile? Or, if you know someone's personal Venmo account, is it possible to see if they have a Venmo Business profile? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 2:29 PM PST - 0 comments

I need to figure out what’s going on with my daughter's cell phone/cell phone service, and get some advice about what to do next - someone appears to be somehow 'sharing' the number with her, somehow forwarding texts from her old phone to a new one, and even to a new number. [more inside]
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 1:23 PM PST - 15 comments

Is there a good book or blog or anything for an introduction to interior lighting design? [more inside]
posted by hwyengr at 12:55 PM PST - 2 comments

What app should I use for private chatting/pics/links with my partner? We both have iphones and like the native messaging app, but want a segregated app that can be locked so kids using our phones won't stumble upon a private message. [more inside]
posted by skewed at 12:48 PM PST - 5 comments

What can I and my family do for the Thanksgiving holiday - that will be respectful to the Native-Americans and their reality of genocide and colonialism in the US. We are in a big US city in Northern California (near the coast) and we are a family of 4 adults and a young child (past toddlerhood). [more inside]
posted by alady at 10:38 AM PST - 10 comments

I know there are a bunch of MLS and information services people here! I'm hoping to find a new job I like that allows for geographically flexible/remote work, either in my current field (research libraries) or something adjacent like library vendors, corporate knowledge management/copywriting...other. Anyone have advice, leads, cautionary tales, or moral support? [more inside]
posted by eunique at 10:04 AM PST - 8 comments

i want to find the earliest post on tumblr of william s. burroughs, a thanksgiving prayer, but google advanced search has failed me so far. is there a specialized search engine that would be good for this? a google advanced search technique that would work?
posted by mumblelard at 9:54 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m about to book this hotel on the east coast of Puerto Rico: El Conquistador, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Anything I should know ahead of time? I’ll have my 70-year old parents and 5-year old daughter with me and we wanted to be close to the major attractions. The luxury hotels are crazy expensive, but I also wanted to stay somewhere really nice…hrm! Also, any recommendations on must-do excursions or even private tours (if I save money from not staying at the Ritz or Regis I can splurge elsewhere)!
posted by Shaitan at 9:50 AM PST - 11 comments

I have no idea how far away anything is or how long it takes to get places. I'm hoping some of you could help guide me to a place to stay, fun things to do, and hopefully stay near/get to the ocean. [more inside]
posted by retrofitted at 8:29 AM PST - 14 comments

His needs are simple: Windows ecosystem laptop that will run the full version of Word and Excel and will make browsing the Internet an enjoyable experience. Also fairly inexpensive. As a Mac-only user, I need help directing him to something that meets those criteria. Thank you!
posted by guster4lovers at 7:22 AM PST - 6 comments

My 5-year-old has been sufficiently indoctrinated into kindergarten culture that she was counting "one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi ..." when I asked her to give me 5 seconds to finish something before helping her with her coat. Which made me curious, how do children or adults in other parts of the world count seconds? I assume there must be other filler words, in a variety of languages. [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:35 AM PST - 53 comments

Can I drink CBD infused drinks after their expiration date? [more inside]
posted by floweredfish at 5:17 AM PST - 8 comments

What modifications (physical or procedural) have worked to help your aging family members stay safe in their house after a series of falls? What strategies have worked best when talking with your loved ones about their deteriorating physical conditions? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:51 AM PST - 32 comments

I want to make a pie from scratch. So roasting a pumpkin or squash, and then using it in a pie. Are there any places that have a good selection of rarer produce that might have these? Also, any variety recs would be very welcome, and any good recipe links if you have ‘em handy. [more inside]
posted by asimplemouse at 2:34 AM PST - 12 comments

If I wanted to avoid tech giants like Amazon to release an e-book on my website or on an indie platform with a "pay what you want" slider, what software do authors typically use for that these days? Wondering too what has changed in the e-book world since this 2012 thread -- whether people still would recommend services like Smashwords.
posted by johngoren at 2:06 AM PST - 5 comments

A young patient at the new job I have found a murdered woman :( :( Several people in the team wanted 'all the gory details' etc and horrific detail was shared and 'joked' about. Appalled and distressed I left the meeting and went to Management. We spoke about how 'humour' is sometimes used to cope with difficult subjects. I get that.. to a point... [more inside]
posted by tanktop at 1:23 AM PST - 11 comments

My upstairs neighbor is willing to put in soundproofing in their floor to deal with issues with footfall sound in my condo. What is the best thing to do here on a reasonable budget? [more inside]
posted by kms at 1:10 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a new job in a database/admin role at a school district and have a $750 budget to spend on professional development. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by likethenight at 11:04 PM PST - 4 comments

I have four monitors all with the same wallpaper and the colour looks different in each (e.g. the blue vs. cyan shade of the sky). Since I do photo/illustration stuff on the computer, i want to know what the colour will look like when it comes back from the printer. I need the colour on a Wacom One to be accurate, and hey why not the other 3, too? Oh yeah, free. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:32 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a pile of video ripped off old tapes about 15 years ago, and my wonderfully-generous friend who captured them did so into m2v/ac3 files. Fast-forward to now, I can't open them in anything on my Mac, and the only software options out there all seem like vaguely-scammy shareware options, none of which I trust. Help? [more inside]
posted by liquado at 8:11 PM PST - 23 comments

I am really stressed and would like to go for a stay on an inpatient unit but that's not feasible for many reasons. How would you provide yourself the resources a person could get on an inpatient stay? (A quality, reparative one not one that just adds to your trauma) [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 7:14 PM PST - 16 comments

Hello! I am looking to buy a condo in Toronto, first time home buyer here. Unfortunately, the only thing in my budget are older buildings. There is a building that I like that has some cons such as lack of air conditioning or en-suite laundry, which are not particularly deal breakers for me. However, I am concerned about the asbestos that is likely to be there in the building. Any asbestos professionals here (or just home or condo owners who have dealt with such a thing)? Can asbestos abatelement be carried out in a condo and how much is a professional likely to charge? Any other cons of an older building that I am not thinking about? Thank you!
posted by synapse2512 at 6:52 PM PST - 5 comments

Obviously, Silence of the Lambs, but what else? Youtube links appreciated!
posted by gzimmer at 5:25 PM PST - 17 comments

I saw a picture of a tomato grown from 150 year-old seeds, and it was almost black. Today's color, they said, was a recent phenomenon. [more inside]
posted by alonsoquijano at 4:41 PM PST - 13 comments

I have signed up to provide cocktail shrimp for thanksgiving, and need a supplier in my new city. Ideally I could buy them pre-cooked and fresh, but frozen is ok too. Further down the peninsula is also ok.
posted by Maecenas at 3:54 PM PST - 7 comments

I've posted a bit about him before and he's getting a lot better and he's incredibly loving 99% of the time, but Max still shows his teeth sometimes - my partner was trying to take off his hoodie and it took her too long and he slightly bared his teeth. He does same when he's disturbed while sleeping/nesting. Obviously if we yell at him in the moment it's just going to scare him more and make it worse. What should we do in the immediate aftermath of these incidents? [more inside]
posted by ftm at 3:45 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm trying to buy a bunch of wall art, as well as some other home decor like a wreath and throw pillows. Where can I do this cheaply? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 3:06 PM PST - 15 comments

What is a reasonable gambling limit that would allow an unseasoned gambler to have a good time at a casino? [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 2:24 PM PST - 24 comments

I'm working on a project inventorying the recorded output of several influential musicians, whose careers can span from the 1920's up through the present day. I want to produce playlists to accompany the resulting documents. What music streaming service would be best for me to use? [more inside]
posted by Ipsifendus at 2:21 PM PST - 5 comments

I recently got a new job where the company hiring me used an online employment verification service. I was honestly worried about this because I suspected there would be stuff that wouldn’t match despite my best efforts to get them right. Turns out, EVERYTHING was right expect this inconsequential part time on call job where I worked maybe 10-15 hours a month. I would love any insight in this and perhaps reassurance that this is ok? [more inside]
posted by ancient star at 12:51 PM PST - 10 comments

I want Excel to automatically copy the contents of one cell I select (out of a range of cells in the same column, B10 thru B1000) into another specified cell, WHEN that first cell is selected. I'm fairly sure this requires a macro. [more inside]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 12:39 PM PST - 2 comments

Where you unschooled, are you unschooling any of your kids, did you look into and not do it? I'm interested in how it went and what you thought of it. [more inside]
posted by creiszhanson at 12:08 PM PST - 10 comments

What kind of DC-powered cable/connector am I? [more inside]
posted by mykescipark at 11:56 AM PST - 7 comments

The heat is out at my house. If I need to go somewhere for a few hours, I don't feel comfortable leaving a space heater on and running in my absence. But I have small dogs (under 15 lbs) whose health is a big priority. What kinds of options do I have for keeping them safe? [more inside]
posted by knotty knots at 11:47 AM PST - 12 comments

I read a book sometime between 2012 and 2018, and while I remember all sorts of weird little details I can't find the book again. Please help! It's about a teenage girl who lives on a different planet, and her village flees from a war. [more inside]
posted by cheesegrater at 11:41 AM PST - 8 comments

What are the most important or most famous moments in abortion clinic protests/invasions, or abortion clinic defense? I was talking to a current abortion rights advocate, and she mentioned the Wichita protests and Buffalo clinic defense in 1991 as being important actions, and I'm curious what other critical or impactful clinic events I should research.
posted by andoatnp at 11:32 AM PST - 7 comments

Other than the obvious (Little Debbie cakes, Cheez-its, etc.) Baked apples? Popcorn with melted brown sugar & butter? What about made from scratch applesauce muffins? Scratch cake with cherries in it and a light glaze on top? I eat other food, of course, but I MUST have dessert goodies. Weigh (heh) in, please.
posted by BostonTerrier at 9:05 AM PST - 26 comments

my stalker popped up again a couple of weeks ago and since then I’ve been actually, well, watching myself slide into insanity. If anyone crosses me I’m getting very very concerning intrusive images ! Someone was cruel verbally today and, like, I have VIVID thoughts of hurting him in front of his kids to somehow teach them a lesson. (Obviously I won’t do this!) It is not in my nature to lash out at anyone but these are STRONG thoughts! This is new, and I want to risk assess it. [more inside]
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 8:51 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a boss. My boss is awesome. My boss gave me something for Christmas last year and very likely will do the same this year. I want to return the favor (because he's awesome) but have the feeling that may look weird. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:04 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for quick, easy, free, ad-free games I can play on a Mac or in my browser along the lines of Freecell and Set. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 7:58 AM PST - 5 comments

Help! I ordered a Mi-Del gingersnap pie crust online (I know, terrible idea...) and it ordered completely smashed up. Is this salvageable? Can I, e.g., put it in the food processor with some melted butter and/or sugar and then re-form it into the pie pan?
posted by unhappyprofessor at 7:41 AM PST - 6 comments

The neighbor cat is becoming increasingly attached to us, but the neighbor doesn’t seem to like that. What’s the best thing to do here? We also really like the cat but would it be better to try and scare it away? [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 7:21 AM PST - 21 comments

I just started play therapy with my child. The therapists recommends Watch Wait Wonder therapy and I'm on board but she doesn't have availability to start right away. I would like to do some of this at home before we start with the therapist. Please advise. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:01 AM PST - 3 comments

Long shot but I’m trying to find an article I read in the last few weeks claiming that cults are all the rage now in pop culture. Also interested in any other recent pieces making the same claim. [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 2:29 AM PST - 9 comments

Trying to track down a specific piece for a lamp -- while staying at a friend's house we broke this part while changing a light bulb and want to replace it! But we have no idea where to get one. [more inside]
posted by phoenixy at 1:02 AM PST - 3 comments

A friend gave me some delicious homemade pumpkin mochi. I'd like to return the favor by baking them something, but they have dietary restrictions that I (who am blessed with the ability to eat most anything) don't normally have to worry about. Please point me to good recipes // recipes that I can easily substitute ingredients around! [more inside]
posted by isauteikisa at 7:11 PM PST - 8 comments

My husband and I are having an incredibly pointless recreational dispute (as one does) that has come to hinge on the frequency with which people incur a specific injury in car accidents. Details inside (in case you don't want to see them). [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:28 PM PST - 7 comments

This question isn't about what laptop I should buy, as I've done my research and know what features I want. But I don't know anything else about laptops. [more inside]
posted by Dolley at 4:40 PM PST - 15 comments

My cat has A Spot where she sits on a blanket on a loveseat. If the blanket is mussed she sits next to it and gives pointed looks until the blanket is fixed. Lately, even though it looks properly placed to me, she pulls up the edge and appears to check under the blanket. After a minute she gives this up and curls up. She is NOT trying to get under the blanket. She does not approve of being covered! What is she doing? Cat tax, shown on the blanket in question.
posted by Emmy Rae at 2:30 PM PST - 24 comments

I've developed the capacity to self-teach a wide variety of skills, but I'm reaching the point where I might benefit from hiring a coach in specific domains. I'm looking for advice on how to handle that from a psychological perspective. [more inside]
posted by philosophygeek at 1:34 PM PST - 4 comments

I just got results of a lipid panel. Usually I fast beforehand, but this year I had black coffee and a very small square of dark chocolate in advance of the test bc I didn't know she was going to draw my blood. Will this skew my cholesterol and triglycerides at all? And if so, by how much? Thanks!
posted by gigondas at 11:52 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to find an article or blog post I read last year. It was written by a career nurse, about her experience working in an emergency room, and her concerns about the state and future of her profession. Not to do with Covid; as I recall, it was either written before that, or about experiences which took place before that. The details, some tragic and rather graphic, are in the extended explanation (not to do with sex or violence, just medical misfortune). [more inside]
posted by Bufo_periglenes at 11:38 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm the kind of person who enjoys movies, but enjoys them SO MUCH MORE when I can dive into film analysis after watching them. Help me create a list! [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 10:21 AM PST - 23 comments

I live in NYC and all around are these pop-up tent Covid Testing places. I'm not talking about the clearly marked sites run by the City or by major hospitals, but random "no name" sites. They seem so sketchy. The one closest to me occupies the same bit of sidewalk as an Avon table. I've also seen these pop-ups outside NYC (in upstate and Westchester). My question is are these for real? By "for real" I mean legitimate tests?
posted by Pineapplicious at 10:21 AM PST - 6 comments

My boyfriend wants an ancestry DNA test as a gift. I kinda want to try one too (I’m more interested in the medical data side of things though) but I am a little sketched out about privacy concerns. What’s the best DNA testing kit these days? How concerning is what they do with your data? [more inside]
posted by vanitas at 9:56 AM PST - 15 comments

My boyfriend loves to lounge around the house in classic pajama pants. But, he hates the feeling of an elastic waistband around his stomach and prefers pajama pants that are primarily held up by a drawstring and/or a full button fly, with as little elastic involved as possible. Where can I find some? [more inside]
posted by naoko at 9:46 AM PST - 8 comments

My mother and I are navigating the "new TV for mom" process. It would be great if her new TV could connect to her existing receiver. Can someone who understands these things look at it? [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 9:09 AM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to find some shows about science to watch with the family, stuff that's accessible to a six year old but not specifically aimed at kids would be best. TV, Youtube, movie, whatever. [more inside]
posted by skewed at 9:05 AM PST - 20 comments

I like my new place but the refrigerator is way too f***ing loud. Even the landlords agree. It's not an issue with the fan. It's just a cheap, loud beast. So now I'm looking for a replacement that isn't that expensive (ie: $500-$1000 range) It doesn't need to be silent. Just not annoyingly loud. It would be great if I could find it at Costco. [more inside]
posted by philip-random at 8:42 AM PST - 6 comments

My arfpets kibble feeder lasted 3 years...which isn't terrible but I'd like one to last longer. Per their customer service there is no repair program either. I just need it to dispense 1-2 meals a day, plug-in with battery back up preferred. Absolutely do NOT want it to connect wifi or alexa or anything like that. I am willing to spend up to $200 for something that's durable, dependable and can be repaired.
posted by genmonster at 8:04 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm trying out compression socks for my nighttime leg cramps. Are there any in plus size that aren't virtually impossible to put on? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 6:28 AM PST - 8 comments

Where can I get professional assistance with my resume and cover letter? My current documents are updated and decent, but I’m applying for some high level positions now, including some outside of my city, and I want my them to really stand out and make me look like I am qualified for senior level positions. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by kdern at 9:14 PM PST - 7 comments

My partner (a mefite who will be anonymous for now) was detained at DFW for intoxication/bad behavior. I'm not entirely sure whats up as his phone call to me was interrupted when the airport people told him to turn his phone off. I later got a call saying he had been arrested. He's far from an aggressive person in general, but I'd like to do what I can to get him home, but I'm on the other end of the country (Washington state). Any information would be helpful.
posted by Death and Gravity at 8:50 PM PST - 4 comments

The rooms in my house seem to vary quite a lot in temperature and I'm not sure if this is normal or how to fix it. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 7:58 PM PST - 12 comments

There's tons of questions about getting rid of mice. My place smells awful. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 7:17 PM PST - 10 comments

Yesterday I jbought a new rug from a discount house (all wool), laid it out in my bedroom, and it's starting to emit an odd smell. At first I thought it could just be something inevitable in the manufacture, kind of chemical-ish - but now I'm worried that it might be related to mold? or something similarly in need of action. How can I figure out whether this is harmless and will dissipate, or whether it needs to be nuked?
posted by mmiddle at 5:16 PM PST - 5 comments

Should I part out, try to sell, or try to give away my old gaming computer? It has some good parts. But, it's also showing it's age. It can run modern games. But... at low settings. Stats below. Is anything worth keeping for a new build? It all seems... old. [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 4:24 PM PST - 8 comments

I've had a really exciting two months where I've gained 18 lbs due to depression medication and its side effects (increased appetite) on top of the usual fall pudge gain. I'm having a bit of a moment about it and I could use some coaching/validation/advice/? [more inside]
posted by snerson at 3:58 PM PST - 11 comments

I've been suffering a serious creative block for almost a decade. It's unbearable. I used to find joy in the process of discovery and creation but the joy's been replaced with fear and I can't shift it. I just want to take courses and practice my art techniques! But I can't concentrate on the course material, and then when I start to work I am filled with fear/dread/confusion/self-hate/doubt/hopelessness. Even just thinking about creating something triggers these feelings in me. [more inside]
posted by Stoof at 2:56 PM PST - 24 comments

With a shortening battery life and more and more of my apps needing at least IOS 13.0, I realize that I'm going to have to upgrade from my current iPhone 6. I'm not in dire need of a newer model, so should I go for an iPhone 7 (which is cheaper) or an iPhone 8 (which would last longer before IOS became an issue again?). Or splurge on iPhone X? (Long story short I might have some bills coming up, so $ is a factor).
posted by gtrwolf at 11:21 AM PST - 13 comments

Please send me songs I can listen to while being sad, angry, frustrated, and challenged to find places to hang four loads of damp laundry all over my apartment. A podcast won't cut it. (Later, I will have dinner and reward myself by continuing to read Elizabeth Gilbert's The City of Girls. Later, I will complete the stress-response cycle by exercising. But right now, I have to hang up this nightmarish amount of laundry.) [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 10:28 AM PST - 42 comments

Can you recommend a wireless charging dock that 1) isn’t ugly (like, sits on a desktop, maybe holds pens, etc) 2) works with an iPhone SE in an Otterbox and 3) maybe charges an Apple Watch at the same time? [more inside]
posted by Ollie at 7:01 AM PST - 3 comments

Looking for recommendations for reputable and effective carbon offset programs (if they exist). Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Osrinith at 5:56 AM PST - 18 comments

We (American couple) love going German Christmas markets. We're planning to go to Dusseldorf a few weeks from now, but we're worried that the markets won't be open after reading the very sad news that the Christmas markets in Bavaria and Saxony can't open this year. [more inside]
posted by Wet Hen at 4:48 AM PST - 10 comments

With a great sigh of relief, I'm moving from a job I've come to dislike to one I'm very excited by. I just received the offer and am now trying to figure out a resignation date and start date. The day before the offer, I also signed up for the FSA at my old job... this has made me wonder about how to time my last day to my best advantage with regard to medical, FSA, and anything else I may not be thinking about. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:40 AM PST - 4 comments

Given the spike in building material costs and supply chain issues, would it be better to delay a home renovation for another year? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:40 AM PST - 3 comments

I’m a woman living in the UK and am considering earning a little extra money as a phone sex operator. How do I get started? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:39 AM PST - 7 comments

My sister makes by brother's girlfriend uncomfortable so my sister isn't being invited to Thanksgiving while the rest of my family is. What are people's thoughts on when this is reasonable? [more inside]
posted by aaabbbccc at 1:19 AM PST - 105 comments

My 2-1/2 year old loves imaginative play: dollhouse, a baby with a stroller, etc. What is the best stuff to get? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 9:10 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm looking for videos--preferably a Youtube series or channel--that are focused on interesting food in the greater NYC area. [more inside]
posted by wintersweet at 8:49 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm still in the design phase for an app I'm working on but found that it might be a good idea to put up a "coming soon" page with a sign up form and a brief text description (similar to this page) in light of yesterday's Kyle Rittenhouse verdict as this app is geared towards activists and organizers and figure a lot of people want to take action right now but don't know what there is to do. [more inside]
posted by defmute at 8:30 PM PST - 2 comments

Years ago, there was a kind of parlor game website that equated where you currently are in your (average) lifespan via the span of The Wizard of Oz. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 7:23 PM PST - 3 comments

Assume that we have the ramen angle covered. [more inside]
posted by telophase at 6:05 PM PST - 8 comments

I was a private academic tutor for many years pre-covid. I'm now interested in finding remote/online only students. [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 5:33 PM PST - 2 comments

I really love sports video games and I’m struggling to find any good ones on switch or Xbox. Please help?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 4:51 PM PST - 5 comments

There was an artist who printed amounts of money on paper, then sold the framed pictures for the amount of money they said. Does that ring a bell with anyone? [more inside]
posted by Bufo_periglenes at 3:31 PM PST - 9 comments

My dad has unexpectedly put himself on a diet and needs a low to no fat Thanksgiving this year. My family is vegetarian and we typically eat all the best sides for dinner, but historically those all have butter and cheese in them because hello, that's what makes them yummy. Care to share some recipes for both dinner and dessert with us? Allergies: soy, coconut. Thank you!
posted by Hermione Granger at 2:42 PM PST - 21 comments

What are your favorite and/or most interesting recipes (or general ideas) for leftover turkey? [more inside]
posted by the primroses were over at 2:41 PM PST - 19 comments

A few months ago, I went to Louisiana, and while I was there I got a request to opt in to iPhone COVID exposure notifications, which I did. Now I've gotten my first one, headed "Louisiana Department of Health" -- but I haven't been back there in a long time. Does this mean that (a) I got a notification from any given person and it's just headlined "LA Dept of Health" because that's where I started it, or (b) I passed by a person from Louisiana who later got diagnosed and caused the notification? [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 2:28 PM PST - 4 comments

Did you do Disney's Mousercise in the 1980s or early 1990s? I had the cassette tape version and had no idea there was a tv series until I tried looking for the music as an adult and found whole episodes online. I'm trying to get a sense of how popular the album was and if other people actually followed along to the exercises. [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 2:05 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a 2016 Kia Forte 5 LX 4 cylinders 2.0 L that appears to have a draining battery overnight. More below. [more inside]
posted by erattacorrige at 1:57 PM PST - 4 comments

I've been invited to speak at a medical conference at the University of East Anglia. I'm speaking on the first day, January 13, and then I'm done. Meanwhile, The Russell Group has generously offered to pay for my hotel through the 16th, so I've got three days to rent a car and explore. What should I do/see in East Anglia? Are there any good day trips from Norwich? Thanks
posted by BadgerDoctor at 11:43 AM PST - 18 comments

Please help me plan a train trip. The first route is from Los Angeles to Chicago. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 10:59 AM PST - 13 comments

I just had some concrete done and one section is darker. I'm curious as to why this is. [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 10:38 AM PST - 3 comments

I need help communicating my budget for some home design+build work. I said the number I had in mind, and was told that it was feasible but they'd have to really pay attention to my budget in the design (implication being it is too low). I want a nice design! How do I communicate that I have some flexibility without letting them take me for a ride? [more inside]
posted by acidic at 9:55 AM PST - 6 comments

The last question was asked 7 years ago. I need a non-slip headband or sweatband for playing basketball. They absolutely cannot need adjustment for the length of a game or practice. Sweat protection is secondary to the non-slip requirement. Hair is kept in a ponytail, and have an average to large sized female head. Non-Amazon source a plus +
posted by gryphonlover at 8:52 AM PST - 6 comments

We have a Baby Jogger City Mini 2. It is starting to get dark at daycare pickup time and would like suggestions for lights and reflective material we could add to it to increase visibility. Stuff that would be convenient to leave attached even when the stroller is folded up would be best.
posted by grouse at 8:35 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm staying at a rental house and the owners have gone nuts with the scented items. There were 5 scented candles, two glade plug-ins and all the linens and blankets were washed in a scented detergent and dried with scented drier sheets. The house is only about 500 square feet, so this was complete overkill. It is nauseating - it is too strong. How can I make this house livable for 5 days? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 11:52 PM PST - 25 comments

This is the first year that my son is on meds for ADHD during Thanksgiving. We're going to be in a group, and stay up late, each of which is usually a challenge. For those with experience: do you ever adjust or add to meds when you know a long, trying, special occasion day like this is coming up? If so, how?
posted by nadise at 9:27 PM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone identify the coppery item atop the cabinets, next to the teakettle? There's another one just like it in the previous picture.
posted by DrGail at 6:36 PM PST - 1 comment

I just noticed a bump on the back of my head. What could it be? [more inside]
posted by melamakarona at 1:20 PM PST - 16 comments

It turns out that Eddy Grant's classic eighties sing-along "Electric Avenue" is actually about the 1981 Brixton riots. What other famous, popular songs are really overlooked protest songs? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 12:36 PM PST - 41 comments

I am going to make Swedish cardamom buns this weekend. I've done them before, but always start to finish in the same day. This time, I'd like to start them on Saturday evening, and finish them Sunday morning. Where is the best place in the recipe to stop for the overnight, and how long should I let them sit out the next morning before finishing the recipe?
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:36 AM PST - 5 comments

Short story set on I believe an alien planet, but where humans co-exist with other life-forms. The main character, a sheriff or some such, enters a town and comes across a group of townspeople attacking a mysterious young woman. Spoilers inside, I guess? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 11:32 AM PST - 2 comments

YANMD. For about a year, I've been dealing with pain on my right side. It's an achy-type of pain that I feel in the middle of my side, mid-way between my hip and shoulder, right around and below where my bra strap rests. The pain wraps around a little on each side. Pressing on the flesh between the ribs causes more pain. It is not debilitating pain, just annoying. [more inside]
posted by toby_ann at 11:23 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for a specific article about shape / line and emotion / psychology. Recently I saw a link to an article mentioning a word that looked like "baum" or "bahaum" (not bauhaus) that talked about line or shape and impact on emotion / psychology. I thought it was on metafilter recently, but now I can't find it - so perhaps it's a recent article that's been floating around social media. It looked really interesting, and I meant to read it - but now can't locate it. Have you seen this article? Please help if you can. Thank you.
posted by Speculatist at 9:43 AM PST - 3 comments

I live in the United States and my prescription for my transplant anti-rejection drug is very costly. I'm curious about what transplant recipients in other countries pay for their immunosuppressants. [more inside]
posted by twelve cent archie at 9:10 AM PST - 18 comments

Looking for recommendations for a simple and reliable treadmill to help with walking exercises now it's too cold for me to go outside. I have respiratory damage from Covid and am simply trying to get in half an hours walking a day to improve stamina so it doesn't have to be fancy. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 8:39 AM PST - 6 comments

Why won't my iPhone let texts go through to a once blocked number? [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 7:28 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm on vacation in Europe, and I got an STD. Any tips on mitigating symptoms and pain are appreciated. NSFW details inside [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:17 AM PST - 6 comments

I need to receive a bill or two by mail for a proof of address, but no one snail mails bills anymore! [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 6:12 AM PST - 25 comments

Advice from those that have experienced the merging of households as adults - what worked best for you? How do you approach differences in parenting styles and how do you do all of this while strengthening your relationship and adjusting to moving under one roof together after both have lived on their own for years? [more inside]
posted by MamaBee223 at 5:44 AM PST - 36 comments

Has anyone out there used this product? It looks great for my achey feet but at $199 and non-returnable, I would like some honest reviews!
posted by Lylo at 7:32 PM PST - 2 comments

So I started watching Tiny World on Apple+, and the first episode was fun but I did have my suspicions that there was a bit of staging going on -- for example the various dung beetles possibly being helped along in their individual mishaps. But nothing seemed terribly harmful, so I went on to episode two. Where a gigantic tree they had been filming animals in fell over under their drone. Since I think the odds of a hundreds of year old tree just happening to fall right then is low, I suspect they gave it some help. [more inside]
posted by tavella at 7:21 PM PST - 4 comments

My 2007 Honda Fit won't start again. If I buy an HR-V, will it start? [more inside]
posted by past unusual at 6:27 PM PST - 41 comments

I find myself without the use of one leg for an indeterminate period of time. I need exercises for the rest of my body. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 5:14 PM PST - 5 comments

Hi hive, Plan to visit the Cascades in Washington State, specifically Leavenworth in late December, renting a car out of Seattle. [more inside]
posted by lapsang at 4:43 PM PST - 11 comments

Is there a term or concept for an exact local time? Regular time-zone local time is granular. The measurement I’m thinking of, someone standing 10 miles east of me would be at 3:01pm when I’m at 3:00pm. It’s easy to calculate, I’m just curious if there’s a term for it. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by ftm at 2:42 PM PST - 8 comments

Mover did not finish the job and is coming back tomorrow to allegedly do so. How should I behave to escape this situation with minimal damage to my belongings, and finances? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 2:35 PM PST - 11 comments

Have you been involved with a performance of Music for 18 Musicians (or similar Reich pieces)? What should someone who wants to help fund & organize a successful performance of this piece know? [more inside]
posted by weston at 2:18 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm starting a new job in December, moving on from a chaotic agency to the same job (PR), but in a 150 year old corporation. Work will be slower before Christmas, so a good time to get settled. Please give me your best advice on what to do in my first few days / weeks to put in a good start and lay the foundation for a successful first year! [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 2:13 PM PST - 4 comments

Can I do anything to get a stream (RTSP, ONVIF, motion JPG -- whatever) from either a Kasa Spot Camera (model EC60) or a Petcube Cam? They both require using a mobile app and going through the vendor's cloud service, but I would like to grab the stream and pop it into my Home Assistant setup. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:12 PM PST - 6 comments

This thing was created 20 years ago & I'd like to be able to view/use it. [more inside]
posted by slkinsey at 12:44 PM PST - 6 comments

We seem to have >1 of these inside, and they are not welcome indoors. I'm addressing all possible entry points, and plumbing is a prime suspect, since I filled a lot of gaps years ago. What should I pour down my late-1970's era drains? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 12:06 PM PST - 11 comments

Here is a picture of the Chinese beer that I'm looking for in Ohio, Anchor Red Crown. How/where can I find this?
posted by maxexam at 10:32 AM PST - 6 comments

I go to a remote camp house with friends who are somewhat (majorly) college football obsessed. The house is in a valley and *just* outside dependable cellular coverage. If you walk 100 yards up the drive, you can get a decent data connection. Assuming good weather, is it at all practical to use a weather balloon to lift a phone/hot spot to an altitude of 100 yards and piggyback off of that connection for about 3 hours? Assume the payload is less than 8 ounces. [more inside]
posted by donpardo at 9:37 AM PST - 14 comments

I upgraded to Windows 11 Pro on my Intel NUC last week and ever since, the lag time between clicking on ANYTHING and that app/function opening/doing its thing lags for up to a minute. What can I do to fix this? [more inside]
posted by droplet at 7:21 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a simple TV and FiOS. The audio periodically drops out for a second or two, while the image continues, unaffected. It happens when playing recorded shows from the DVR, during Pandora streams, or content via apps on the Roku. I have swapped out the Roku and the TV, one at a time, and the problem persists. What else could it be? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:27 AM PST - 13 comments

I have always pronounced the word "sentient" as "sen-tee-unt" and have always heard others use that pronunciation. However, I just heard someone on TV pronounce it "sen-shunt". Some googling tells me that that's the American pronunciation, and I've been using the British pronunciation all this time? How do you say that word and where do you live? I'm in PA for reference.
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:14 AM PST - 70 comments

This feels like such a noob question, but here it is anyway. I (using Windows 10) have a folder with subfolders inside it. In the subfolders are various image files. I want to rename the primary folder. If I do, what happens with the name path? Will Windows understand the change so I can still find and use the subfolders and files?
posted by bryon at 12:47 AM PST - 8 comments

Would it be wrong to sell two tickets I won from work to a hockey game in order to purchase three tickets to the same game elsewhere so that my dad can come with me and my son? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 10:16 PM PST - 7 comments

My kid is quickly burning through all the Goosebumps books and also craving something a smidge scarier. He is begging for Stephen King but I know he's still a few years away from that. Are there any books that might hit the spot?
posted by malhouse at 9:59 PM PST - 19 comments

There is a trend I've noticed in my email that I'm finding irritating: when someone writes asking for something and ends by saying "Let me know." [more inside]
posted by Tim Bucktooth at 9:03 PM PST - 76 comments

Early 2010s there was this food blog by a rich guy in Switzerland. I believe one of the images on the header or background was an old photo or drawings of kids eating pasta with their hands (something like this). I remember too a big project was installing a tandoor I think into his kitchen. Does this sound familiar to anyone? [more inside]
posted by Carillon at 8:51 PM PST - 2 comments

...except I've actually never made a whipped cream dessert lol. But I'm not a big fan of sweetness. What whipped cream dessert recipes have not so much sugar in them?
posted by storybored at 8:21 PM PST - 16 comments

I love this question from a few days ago asking about where to read about the logistics of things! I wish I was the type of person who would read all these things, but I know I never will. I much prefer to consume via audio. Does anyone have any podcast recommendations where they touch on these sorts of topics? I'm basically asking the same question, but in audio form. [more inside]
posted by cgg at 6:37 PM PST - 6 comments

Apparently there are 2 Starbucks locations in Seattle that are offering vegan whipped cream. One is public, in Bellevue. Does anyone know where the 2nd "secret" location is? [more inside]
posted by dokodomo at 6:28 PM PST - 6 comments

Someone who I'm not close to, but meet with socially on a regular basis, has suffered a horrendous loss. The way some of our mutual people have been handling the subject has not been great, certain choices in particular seem insensitive in my view. I'm not sure if I'm overreacting or if something should be said? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 5:33 PM PST - 20 comments

This year, I'm attending a non-turkey-based Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's. I am partly responsible for providing the side dishes. Salmon is going to be the main course, so my question (as someone who never makes that or pretty much any fish at home) is what do you serve with salmon? [more inside]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:32 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a ton of audio equipment I inherited from my dad, and I should have asked more about proper setup and wiring for vintage hi-fi while he was here. I have been using his original wiring, but it recently stopped working. It seems pretty fragile anyway and I'd like to make sure I'm doing it right. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith at 5:31 PM PST - 13 comments

In my last question, I asked about computer back up. Not totally sure that that is what I'm looking for. I think I want a dropbox-like service, only in my previous question, a bunch of people said that Dropbox is a bad idea, I think for security reasons? So... what service should I get so I can store my files in someone's cloud I guess? [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 4:31 PM PST - 14 comments

Is there an easy way to get a second Venmo account, or an alias name for my Venmo account? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 3:15 PM PST - 9 comments

How should I build a site/video containing true/verified information that appeals to followers of conspiracy theories? I believe that the aesthetics and structure of conspiracy (and anti-elite in general) media is perceived by many as more reliable than traditional news and fact check websites, and I want to analyze what aspects could be borrowed. The goal is to communicate reliable information in a way that feels authentic to more people, and I could use some ideas. [more inside]
posted by JZig at 2:05 PM PST - 15 comments

Got various fish from a fishmonger a few weeks ago, about to cook one up, can't remember what kind it is, any ideas? [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:38 PM PST - 6 comments

I remember as an elementary school kid, in the early to mid 1980s being shown a bus safety film (that was already probably at least ten years old then) that was hilariously, inappropriately ominous. Blood on the highway, that kind of thing. If I recall correctly, the various unsafe/bad/misbehaving things the various nogoodnik kids did were dramatized and then we were shown the wreckage of the bus, the kids' discarded items, possibly even blood. What did I see?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:21 PM PST - 8 comments

I am looking for an accurate Spanish phrase for "female devil" or "she devil." I've found ella diablo, and el diablo feminino. I thought it might be el diabla. But the situation in a dramatic script is a Hispanic woman is calling another woman a devil. What would she say and how would she say it so as to be correct?
posted by CollectiveMind at 12:07 PM PST - 12 comments

I know technically we're not supposed to, but I have like three on rotation that I will use for short trips to the grocery store or to pick up a takeout order or something. For days where I need to be at the office the whole day, I will use a fresh one and then throw it out at the end of the day. But is it okay to actually reuse them sometimes?
posted by thelasttango at 11:34 AM PST - 20 comments

I have a LLC and I've read this article which indicates it's possible to buy a business car either a.) using my personal name or b.) using the LLC name. Having said that, I'm really looking for people who have first-hand experience with this scenario and can help me more fully understand the advantages and disadvantages. Also there are some potential twists that I'll explain inside. [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments

For the past few weeks when I try to share photos from iCloud, I get an error message. [more inside]
posted by mai at 8:49 AM PST - 1 comment

My GPay on Android and Google Pay on desktop (pay.google.com) seem to be unrelated to one another. Is this an error or by design? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 7:44 AM PST - 6 comments

Please help me find this word or phrase. It describes when someone perhaps has an ulterior motive, but they rely on culture to give them the benefit of the doubt when it's convenient. Kind of like "a likely story," this person will have two possible motives for their behavior, and depending on the actions of the other person, they'll proclaim their motive (even if it is disingenuous) is the one that they intended. [more inside]
posted by Dressed to Kill at 7:35 AM PST - 14 comments

Are there any ad blockers out there that are compatible with iPad Safari, totally plug and play, and ideally free or nominally priced? [more inside]
posted by tentacle at 6:47 AM PST - 10 comments

I find that I keep signing up for courses and seminars related to my interests like language courses, art history and literature courses - essentially short courses offered at various universities. I am always so excited about the courses but when they actually start I find I do minimal work (I barely keep with readings/homework) and find myself getting really stressed. What I am doing wrong? Is there something wrong with me? Just to add that I do learn a lot from these courses and enjoy the intellectual stimulation - but I feel like I am not doing enough (which of course is true).
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 6:35 AM PST - 24 comments

Nurses of MeFi...What is your preferred daily footwear? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:26 AM PST - 14 comments

This mysterious icon appeared on ms flabdablet's Huawei Y5 phone this evening without her having done anything to put it there on purpose. Neither Google Image Search nor TinEye can tell me what it is, and no app whose name begins with "Secure a hacke" appears in the Apps list under Settings. Anybody recognize it?
posted by flabdablet at 3:50 AM PST - 6 comments

None of the other volunteers at the dog shelter recognizes this breed, so we don't know if he's a known breed or a mutt.
posted by Homer42 at 3:10 AM PST - 19 comments

My partner and I need to have a repairman at our house next week for 4 hours and I am immunocompromised. Can you help me understand my risk so I can relax and stop jumping out of my gourd with fear/anxiety? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:54 AM PST - 14 comments

We are a family of three (two adults in their early thirties and a toddler) who are looking to travel from Australia to Charlotte, North Carolina next year for a few weeks. The reason behind the trip are complicated, but please trust that they are valid and I think that this trip does need to happen next year. Can you help me to make this trip as "covid safe" as possible? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:54 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm making an indoor "greenhouse" - basically a large, attractive (I hope) structure to keep humidity up around my plants. I might even let my frog run around in there. What's better than clear vinyl, which is probably too toxic for all involved, and less milky/translucent/white than the polyethylene sheeting I've found so far? Cost < $50 for 10 yards is a bonus. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 9:57 PM PST - 8 comments

(Yes, this is for a fanfic.) What it says on the tin, y'all. How would someone go about locating a couple who had recently immigrated to Australia in roughly 1997, if all one had were their names? [more inside]
posted by Tamanna at 8:16 PM PST - 11 comments

My last two eye exams were on beautiful fall days. Each time I got dilating eye drops. The first time when I left the eye doctor the sky was so blue it vibrated. The yellow trees were brighter. The red trees looked backlit like the brightest setting on your computer, but large as life. The red brick buildings GLOWED. The world was so changed I thought I was high. [more inside]
posted by serena15221 at 7:50 PM PST - 9 comments

For reasons, I'm thinking of trying to buy a car in my current state (NY) before I move to my new one (DC) in the next 30 days. I'd like to go through the process of only registering it once. Can I do that? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 6:21 PM PST - 4 comments

I want a new job but, though I’m great at what I do (essentially construction project management) it’s in a niche field, I don’t have any actual education or bona fides. I want to get more mainstream job. [more inside]
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 6:10 PM PST - 3 comments

Their birthday is in 11 days and we're drawing blanks on what to get them. What are some great gift ideas? Budget is a couple of hundred dollars. The current contender is a Lego Mindstorms set but that's more of a "this is pretty neat, how about this?" suggestion as opposed to something we know they'll love. [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:58 PM PST - 23 comments

In addition to being hard to operate (handles are difficult to turn), the sink faucet is poorly designed and gets water all over the vanity. Please help me replace it. [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 4:21 PM PST - 4 comments

I have recently become obsessed with the idea of a (black or navy) velvet suit, elegant, more masculine than feminine in cut, but slim fitting (imagine Tom Ford, but for a fat lady). Where would a person go to find such a thing? [more inside]
posted by thivaia at 3:42 PM PST - 11 comments

My thirteen-year-old who previously tore through books hasn’t been reading lately and I want to recommend some books that will hold their attention. They stalled out mid-book in the third book of a Robin Hobb series. Kiddo has also recently identified as aromantic and asexual and said they just aren’t interested in books where there is more than passing romance (or presumably sex). [more inside]
posted by ElizaMain at 3:02 PM PST - 30 comments

It used to be easy to print news articles from the web, and there was even a little printer button on many websites. Now it seems difficult to print anything. Even copying and pasting an article into a word processor does not always work. Are there any easy solutions to this?
posted by mortaddams at 2:00 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for fiction involving cities or other places that have been abandoned due to climate change. I'm a newbie when it comes to "cli-fi," so any book or movie tips are much appreciated.
posted by Beardman at 1:56 PM PST - 33 comments

I tend to think the U.S. prescribes too many drugs and tests, compared to their peers in other industrialized countries. I also read Barbara Eichenreich's Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer, and found it largely convincing. I'm posting because I’m looking for articles, research studies and comparative information on testing practices in other industrialized countries for two medical "lady tests": Bone density and mammograms. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by Puppetry for Privacy at 1:35 PM PST - 14 comments

I recently upgraded one of my Mac laptops from Mojave (10.14) to Big Sur (11.6.1). Since the upgrade, email windows don't scroll when I hit the space bar. Is this normal? Can you help me fix it? [more inside]
posted by brianogilvie at 1:10 PM PST - 5 comments

Because of COVID cancellations, I have $600 in my Alaska Airline wallet set to expire at the end of this year. But I moved to Canada and try my best not to fly for environmental reasons anyway. What can I do with this credit other than let it waste away? Can I donate it somehow? I could use some ideas.
posted by shahzebasif at 1:00 PM PST - 5 comments

I am in a fairly new (~3 month) relationship with a wonderful dude who has decided to go back to school. He is in his mid-40s, is coming out of the service industry, and will be a full-time student. His birthday is coming up, and I'd like at least part of his gift to be something useful for this new chapter in his life. What are some things that could make this transition easier, or be super useful as an adult student? Open to price points and I'll supplement with a small gift that is more personal and/or fun.
posted by tryniti at 12:46 PM PST - 11 comments

After months of silence after a billing issue was (supposedly) resolved, my dentist's office emailed me saying I have three days to pay a bill for $1xxx (after they blew off resubmitting a corrected claim to my provider). Options? [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 12:43 PM PST - 8 comments

We are having challenges with scheduling with our au pair and wanted to get some feedback on this, especially from others that have had an au pair and understand the au pair program in the US. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:27 AM PST - 27 comments

I have an extremely high deductible, which I just met. Now I pay 20% of the bills, instead of 100%. My medical situation will continue through to next year. [more inside]
posted by racersix6 at 11:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking to try a new type of exercise routine every quarter of the coming calendar year, to see if something clicks with one of them and I can add it as a regular part of my barely existing fitness routine. What is something that might work for me, that I could get a feel for after a couple months? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 9:45 AM PST - 20 comments

My oldest child just got accepted into the University of Exeter. It's their top choice and we are all excited. However, we live in the US and have questions. [more inside]
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 9:00 AM PST - 12 comments

My wife and I are looking for a complete walking desk solution (i.e., both treadmill and desk) for home use. Do you have one you like? Our specific requirements are inside, but we don't know anything about these things and any trade offs we need to consider. [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:01 AM PST - 5 comments

I picked up a number of interesting rocks along the shore of Lake Huron in the Owen Sound area this summer, and this one seems more like a tooth than a rock, but I've been unable to properly identify what it is. It's about 2.5 cm tall, 2 cm wide, and has light grooves along the side that radiate out from the base. Overall it feels smooth and hard, like a rock. Could it be a fossil? Pics here: 1 2 3
posted by Paid In Full at 7:36 AM PST - 6 comments

Are there exercises to lift a drooping mouth that work? [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 7:29 AM PST - 3 comments

Looking for a good general service law firm in Switzerland to handle a contract dispute. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 7:04 AM PST - 0 comments

I am looking for DJ sets to get me through the workday. Something like Triple J's Mix Up, because I like the variety, but with longer sets, because I hate interrupting my flow every hour to find a new set. (If it had a playlist function that would solve all my problems, but alas no.) Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by rednikki at 6:47 AM PST - 11 comments

U.S. Thanksgiving is coming up and I seek your showstopper turkey recipes. [more inside]
posted by joycehealy at 5:38 AM PST - 24 comments

I've recently started taking medication for my anxiety. I don't really want to specify what or why as I'm not looking for answers about alternatives to meds, or which medication I should be on. My question is this: how do I think about taking meds for mental health that doesn't put me in a place of "I'm broken"? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 9:34 PM PST - 26 comments

Why is Denmark so ambivalent about its EU membership compared to other countries, having the most policy area opt-outs of any member? Why is Denmark the only one that fully opts out of the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice, for example? I realize the UK had even more opt-outs, but the reasons for that seem a lot more obvious to me.
posted by theory at 7:07 PM PST - 6 comments

I am trying to run beamng.drive and failing with intel integrated gpu. Can you please point to a specific card I can buy this week in Canada for under $100 to make this work? [more inside]
posted by Acari at 6:27 PM PST - 9 comments

I am bald and when little hairs grow on top of my head my wife tells me that I need a haircut because I "look like the puppet kid from that Nickelodeon Thanksgiving special." The show was about a kid who saves a turkey (maybe?) and it was on Nickelodeon (maybe?) in the late '80s or early '90s (probably?) He had spiky hair on a mostly bald head, and he was a puppet. School was a setting. We can find no evidence whatsoever of the show and she doesn't know the title or any details; I told her this is what AskMe does.
posted by AgentRocket at 4:57 PM PST - 9 comments

I found a bone (vertebrae?) washed up on the beach in Port Townsend, WA this weekend. What kind of animal is it from? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 4:29 PM PST - 4 comments

My in-laws spend the winter in the Keys each year. I'd like to buy my mother in law a gift card for a massage that she can use there. [more inside]
posted by JennyJupiter at 2:47 PM PST - 2 comments

My partner and I are celebrating and would like to find an extra special place to dine. Unfortunately, most of the fancier restaurants around Seattle tend to be unsuitable for a vegetarian who can't eat spicy food. Also, it is important for us to dine at a restaurant that requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination—not just a recent negative test—for all patrons (and ideally staff) [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 2:15 PM PST - 5 comments

What can my nonprofit use instead of Constant Contact to email 4 different contact lists (with overlap between lists)? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 11:44 AM PST - 7 comments

I've been contracted to read affordable housing policy, municipal plans, and census data, and then apply that information to help write RFPs, presentations, and reports. Please give me advice on how to manage the data, sources, and content, so I don't have to start from square 1 each project. [more inside]
posted by rebent at 11:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I am searching for The Perfect black cardigan. I want a loose fitting cardigan, ethically made, made from excellent materials, possibly with a pocket, and definitely with large buttons. I think the style I have in mind is somewhere between 'balloon sleeves' and a vintage grandpa cardigan. I have seen babaa sweaters but I didn't know if it was worth the buzz and was also put off by their 'one size fits all' sizing. I am looking for a women's size large. I am willing to spend money to make my cardigan dreams come true.
posted by allthingsconsidered at 11:05 AM PST - 12 comments

Can you recommend your favorite children's books (suitable for pre-readers) about 1) dinosaurs and 2) outer space? (I am looking for 2 different books, one each for a different 4 year old boy; the books don't have to be about dinosaurs plus space.) I'm looking for delightful stories rather than those books that give a lot of encyclopedic detail. Ideal books are picture books that are enjoyable for the child and enjoyable for an adult reader.
posted by vunder at 10:24 AM PST - 17 comments

My cats have been eating Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain dry food, but it turns out it is stocked with peas and sweet potatoes and I'm trying to get away from legumes and potatoes in their food. Do you have any recommendations for a legume-free, potato-free, and ideally grain-free high-protein dry cat food? Ideally a price point at ~$2.50/lbs or lower, though that is negotiable. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:05 AM PST - 11 comments

I started playing video games during the great pandemic lockdown of 2020. I have a Switch and an old XBox 360. I like open world exploration games - so far I've played Breath of the Wild, Skyrim, Fallout 3, and am now on Immortals: Fenyx Rising. While I impatiently wait to get my hands on modern XBox or PlayStation, it occurred to me: Can I play games in this vein on my MacBook Pro? [more inside]
posted by something something at 8:51 AM PST - 18 comments

My sister is asking me for ideas for fun things she and her 13 year old daughter can do on the UofA campus this Christmas. Details after the jump. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 8:36 AM PST - 7 comments

As a modest indulgence in month 18 of these unprecedented times, I'd like to buy a luxury (e.g., European couture) men's wallet / card case. However, my experience with my last wallet tells me I may be hard on wallets. Can you recommend a maker and leather that will stand up best to my apparent abuse? [more inside]
posted by 5845(f)(1)(D) at 8:09 AM PST - 16 comments

My kids have found the kids football (soccer) animated series Supa Strikas on Prime. It’s a great show with positive messaging. I believe it’s also one of the largest distributed comics in the world, yet I don’t seem to be able to find it anywhere in the US in physical form (digital yes on Kindle Prime). [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:00 AM PST - 0 comments

YANMD. TINMA. My workplace expects us to undergo an annual health checkup. I'm curious about how many of the parameters being tested can be improved significantly within a span of say 35 days or so. Specifics below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 7:58 AM PST - 7 comments

Hi mefites, I'm looking for some inspiration for dinner ideas/recipes with a bunch of limitations - no dairy, gluten, eggs, beans, or red meat/pork. I also have limited energy, especially towards the end of the day, so I'm looking for easier recipes (although I can cook well). [more inside]
posted by ellieBOA at 7:55 AM PST - 17 comments

We need to decide what to do to fix our well water issues and I would really like some advice from someone who is not trying to sell me a water treatment system. [more inside]
posted by cali59 at 7:44 AM PST - 7 comments

What's the near future likely to be for monitors that I can connect directly to my Macbook Pro M1 13" via Thunderbolt? There are few options now (and all way beyond my budget), but how soon can we reasonably expect that to change? Or are there complications that I don't know about that mean they'll never be more mainstream? [more inside]
posted by asimplemouse at 5:47 AM PST - 12 comments

Something that should be immensely simple is baffling me, and although it's a trivial problem, it's messing up an app I love and use a lot. HELP. The problem: ever since I updated to the latest version of the iOS Amazon Photos app (8.0.0 I believe), I can't add photos to the shared Family Vault. The option simply isn't there. [more inside]
posted by damsel with a dulcimer at 12:06 AM PST - 2 comments

I have been feeling lonely. Haven't we all? So, I have tried reaching out more to individual friends and showing up to some new group things, and found my anxiety spiking so much I couldn't be myself and/or needed to cut it short. I am doing therapy, have recently increased dosage of Ativan, and have been doing mindfulness regularly for years. Undiagnosed, but probably on or adjacent to the spectrum. Any ideas of what else to try? More inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:00 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm looking for some kind of daily/weekly challenges or programs - little things to add to my to do list to make me feel better - but something different every day/week. [more inside]
posted by Sparkling Natural Mineral Water at 10:45 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for a toilet paper dispenser / caddy thingy like the one described on this page, to fit in a narrow gap between our bathroom vanity and wall. I don't live close to an Aldi, and even then I don't think they sell it anymore. [more inside]
posted by beepbeepboopboop at 8:27 PM PST - 3 comments

Is it just me or do my phones kill my chargers? Over time, fewer and fewer chargers work with my phone until none do and I have to replace my phone. This is true with USB-C chargers, but it was true when I had older Android phones that used the older style chargers. WTF is happening?
posted by latkes at 8:11 PM PST - 28 comments

Why is a usb hub + lightning charge cord that I’ve used for months without incident suddenly prompting messages on my iPhone and iPad asking whether I “trust this computer”? I’ve said no, but this means that charging seems to be blocked. What on earth is going on? [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:55 PM PST - 6 comments

I like to draw. I'm very much a beginner. I'd like to have a simple set up to be able to draw using my computer. What do I need to do this? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 7:54 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for great audio books of first person fiction where the writing and narration combine to give an incredibly strong sense of character and voice. [more inside]
posted by eponym at 6:54 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm back again with yet another work-related question. My team is now 3 people strong after two people left at the same time. We are going through "teething issues" as the CEO likes to say, but morale is low and nobody is happy - even my interim manager has confided in me that he is losing motivation. I need to survive this. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 6:32 PM PST - 12 comments

My husband is looking for an tattoo artist in Seattle with experience doing detailed realistic animal work (faces, fur, etc). Tattoo will be black and white, maybe with touches of color, and will be on his upper back. Thanks in advance!
posted by Ideal Impulse at 5:55 PM PST - 1 comment

I have a chair slightly angled away from a wall, and I'd like to find a side table that will fit in the triangular gap between the wall and chair. I'm having trouble finding a table that will fit the space. Here's two pictures of the chair with a wedge pillow of about the same size as the table I want and a drawing of the dimensions of the ideal table (2' long with 1' at its widest and 4" wide at the narrow end). The table doesn't need to match that size perfectly as I have some room for adjusting the chair. Can anyone find a table for me? [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 5:17 PM PST - 2 comments

I will soon be getting on an airplane for the first time in two years. I bought some N95 and KN95 masks to up my mask game for the trip. I've heard that Amazon has lots of fake masks (surprise!), so I bought them from this seemingly reputable site. Just opened both the N95 and KN95 and they stink with a chemical smell. Is this normal, and ok?
posted by swheatie at 3:57 PM PST - 14 comments

Finally going out to see Meow Wolf in Santa Fe on the first Saturday this coming December. What else might we go see/do that is creative and off the beaten path? [more inside]
posted by cross_impact at 3:34 PM PST - 7 comments

A few years ago I had desk I really liked but had to get rid of. I'm love to try and find something similar but really don't know how to describe it so I'm able to what I'm looking for. It was an all wood desk with dovetail joints, but the thing that I loved about it was the front of the desk didn't end is a sharp edge but rolled forward down into the rest of the desk. [more inside]
posted by Carillon at 1:26 PM PST - 7 comments

My vendor moved to a containers/microservices, which are all Windows and compromise 21 different dockerfiles in a compose. They're all fairly simple: setup IIS, unzip a package, run a few powershell scripts on a package. The developers on the team absolutely do not want to move to docker. There's a lot of non-technical issues here but migrating a giant docker compose file provided by a vendor and updating it as they update is not feasible. I'm hoping that there's a way to run the docker compose on a build server and generate say 80% of what's needed to get the microservices working. Again this is Windows, the vendor is not officially only supporting containers but the non container installs are buggy, out of date and have no documentation. Details within. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 1:09 PM PST - 5 comments

Where in WA/OR/ID can we go for groovy chill bike trails? You know, smoothish surface, little elevation gain, lots of fun swoopy curves, pretty scenery, and nowhere near any cars? Let's throw in Montana too.
posted by HotToddy at 12:50 PM PST - 13 comments

Are there books for tweens that include fluid / non-binary kids, either centrally or incidentally? I'm particularly interested in kids who adopt gender-neutral pronouns and maybe change their name without otherwise going through a dramatic identity transition. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 11:28 AM PST - 11 comments

How do I, a happily sober person, be less passive-aggressive about my husband’s mostly harmless drinking? And why does it bother me so much, yet I find it hard to explain exactly why? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:20 AM PST - 46 comments

So, this feels like an easy "no, don't do that," but I live in a pretty small apartment and my options are limited so I thought I'd turn to the hivemind just to make sure or maybe get a more nuanced answer given my space constraints. [more inside]
posted by flamk at 10:29 AM PST - 13 comments

A young EU student in the UK has had pre-settled status since last year, but is in the process of changing their nationality from one EU country to another. UK authorities require sending the new passport by post for verification. Any idea how long it currently takes to get the passport back? [more inside]
posted by muuratsaari at 10:15 AM PST - 1 comment

Looking for your best recommendations for a nice place to spend two nights near Big Sur while having to also do a bit of work! [more inside]
posted by idlethink at 9:02 AM PST - 3 comments

I don't find any utility in the row of poorly labelled thumbnails that show up along the bottom of my iPad screen whenever I open Safari on my iPad. It only takes a second to dismiss them but is there a way to turn this “feature” off permanently? (I can’t believe I'm asking this here but I must not be using the right terminology in my Google searches)
posted by brachiopod at 7:52 AM PST - 10 comments

My family has a vacation home that is in frequent use by many different groups of people, and on most of those trips at least one thing breaks. Is there one iOS-friendly app or website that will let us track stays in the house and keep a running task list? (Maybe something targeted at airbnb/vrbo hosts, though that is not our situation.) [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 7:21 AM PST - 5 comments

I love Mary Roach's approach to researching the afterlife in Spook. She gathers information and experiences without trying to sway the reader into dis/belief. Are there writers who use similar approaches to write about psychic phenomena (clairvoyance, telepathy, etc). Nothing about afterlife communication, and I'm hoping for a tone that isn't woo but respectfully curious. Anything come to mind?
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:41 PM PST - 10 comments

What are the main technological obstacles stopping us from having a docking station which would take a smartphone and use it to run desktop Windows? [more inside]
posted by storybored at 6:06 PM PST - 24 comments

I live in a high rise apartment building with over 140 units. In the lobby, there's a mail area with a counter where people sort their mail and discard the junk. In the middle of the night, someone has been smoking in the lobby and tossing the butts in the paper recycling, which (foolishly?) sits next to electrical wires. See pictures here. It often smelled like smoke and ash. I think it's dangerous. Am I right? [more inside]
posted by 2oh1 at 4:27 PM PST - 29 comments

I have been trying to update my wardrobe recently, and find myself wondering... who buys all the clothing, especially higher-end and luxury clothing? [more inside]
posted by gemutlichkeit at 3:19 PM PST - 26 comments

I'd like to learn spanish. I find learning languages very very hard. If this is also true of you, what has worked? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 2:48 PM PST - 6 comments

I got assigned a project at work that has suddenly increased in complexity and now requires skills that are way outside my skillset/comfort zone. I told my bosses about this and they were able to "borrow" a colleague of mine who is experienced in this other thing to help me for one day (Monday). I have a deliverable due at the end of the same week and am quietly freaking out - how can I effectively use their time and expertise to jump-start my work? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 1:59 PM PST - 5 comments

Somewhere in Oaxaca? or possibly Chiapas? It was at a nonprofit-run cultural arts center that held family-style dinners for travelers to encourage community around food. It required a reservation and I must have read about it in my Lonely Planet. Did it start with ...an N? [more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:52 AM PST - 2 comments

There was a case around 1991-2001 where a woman who was active in the Chicago area poetry slam scene at the time disappeared and was later found dead in Lake Michigan with some signs of foul play. The police questioned her ex-BF, with whom she was living with at the time. There was a poetry blogger who attempted to do investigative journalism about the incident. The ex BF and his mother (!) responded to postings on the blog in kind of strange and to my mind suspicious ways. [more inside]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 11:06 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm assisting in evaluating and recommending a new email provider for a non-profit. My knee jerk recommendation is "Gmail".... What am I not thinking of? [more inside]
posted by Rabarberofficer at 10:40 AM PST - 10 comments

Was curious about silken tofu so picked some up and made a quick dish out of it which was basically just serving it cold with some soy sauce, spring onions and chilli. I only ate half of it and the rest is sitting in the soy sauce. Recipe said to serve immediately. Will the rest of the tofu still be good to eat tomorrow, taste-wise? The only reason I hesitate is that soy sauce is very strong so was thinking that marinating overnight might be too overpowering.
posted by iamsuper at 10:00 AM PST - 6 comments

Obviously, I have particular requirements (mainly tagging)... [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:21 AM PST - 4 comments

Need recommendations for a clamp/mounting bracket to mount ski button rack cups to a narrow wooden rail without having to put holes in the rail. Seems easy, and I'm probably overthinking it but can't seem to get the right bracket/mount. [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:51 AM PST - 3 comments

My ex is suggesting that I allow him to claim both of our kids as dependents so the kids can qualify for medical assistance. I am concerned about the implications of this on my personal finances. [more inside]
posted by deadcrow at 8:19 AM PST - 16 comments

I recently finished replaying Moss, and I am struck by just how much I love this game. I'd like to find more like it! [more inside]
posted by xedrik at 8:17 AM PST - 5 comments

I LOVE reading about the intricate logistics of things I never would have considered - my favorite example of this is John McPhee's Out in the Sort (John McPhee has lots of these), and I was recently delighted by Defector's Why Jordan Love’s Family Was Seated Near The Stratosphere. Seeking suggestions for similar pieces (article or book length is fine).
posted by everybody had matching towels at 8:16 AM PST - 23 comments

My local food share box keeps gifting me with rutabagas. My family’s only favourite recipe is to mash it with carrots. Do you have any recipes that would make you glad to spy the 11th rutabaga this month in your food delivery? Bonus joke inside. [more inside]
posted by warriorqueen at 6:44 AM PST - 16 comments

I have closet doors in my office that look basically like this. They're heavy, they grind noisily against the rail when you move them, and I hate them for attacking me. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:57 AM PST - 10 comments

I thought I had to work over Martin Luther King Jr Weekend (Jan 15-17) but turns out I don't! I'd like to use the time as a mini writing retreat, somewhere in the continental US. Where should I go? [more inside]
posted by basalganglia at 5:12 AM PST - 4 comments

How can I make an in-app purchase for my son's Android tablet that is managed using Family Link? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 4:48 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm looking for a simple black leather pump with a 2 inch chunky heel, or a 2.75 inch skinny heel. Help! [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 6:46 PM PST - 8 comments

Occasionally I get so something that I feel like I need to exhaust my body right away to help clear my head. Like my mind is so hectic that I need to evict some stuff through exercise. (Why yes, I do have moderate to severe ADHD.) [more inside]
posted by meemzi at 6:39 PM PST - 28 comments

How do I figure out what health insurance to buy for next year when I think I’ll need surgery (U.S.)? Does it make sense to get my surgery done in December, when I haven't met my deductible yet, or wait until 2022 with a new plan? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 5:34 PM PST - 4 comments

I recently got a covid booster shot. At the time of the shot, I couldn’t find my original vaccine card, so they gave me a separate card with the booster info written on the third line. I am considering taking one of the cards and copying over the information on to the other card, so all three doses are listed on one card. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:49 PM PST - 22 comments

On Monday we will be holding a memorial service for my father and spreading his ashes. I’ve been to very few funerals and have never been to any kind of ash spreading ceremony. We have a permit and also some cups for scooping if people don’t want to use their hands. I’m looking for any advice on making the ash part of it less squicky and just any advice about ash spreading in general, as well as the logistics of running our own ceremony instead of having a funeral director run the event. [more inside]
posted by sacrifix at 2:01 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm female/heterosexual and one of my oldest friends (from when we were teenagers) is a hetero male. The friendship has always been platonic, and we've supported each other through some difficult times over the last couple decades. He's always been a loyal, thoughtful, sensitive and all-around good guy, and I seem to recall him having a few female friends. [more inside]
posted by Pademelon at 2:00 PM PST - 28 comments

My boxed white wines are going bad right away or very soon. WHY? More details inside: [more inside]
posted by Hypatia at 1:41 PM PST - 7 comments

I would like to ask for some help with understanding my options at work, following a breakdown in a relationship with a colleague. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:49 AM PST - 17 comments

Asking for a friend. It is her lifelong dream to have 2 Siamese kittens. Do you know of a reputable siamese cat breeder within ~6 hours of the Houston area? We're not finding much to go on via Google (or they seem a little scammy/sketchy), wondering if this is more of a word of mouth thing or if there are other resources you might know of.
posted by jschu at 11:17 AM PST - 8 comments

Do you sleep in a king-size bed with a partner and each have separate comforters/blankets? What size are they? Do you also own a king-size bedspread? How do you make up the bed? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 10:02 AM PST - 27 comments

I happened to be awake this morning full of regret for accepting a 6am meeting request when I heard some bozos* jacking up my husband's car, I'm sure to steal the catalytic converter. I ran them off. I just need to make it extremely unattractive for them to try again until we can permanently remediate. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 9:35 AM PST - 17 comments

All the effective homemade deodorant I have made stains my clothes. Is there a base ingredient that I haven't tried yet? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by mr_bovis at 9:23 AM PST - 10 comments

If you've read the works of the 19th century Irish playwright J.M. Synge, you'll remember that the word "ditch" makes a frequent appearance (along with other descriptive nouns like "gap" and "glen"). However, the meaning of this word is unconventional to say the least. [more inside]
posted by Gordion Knott at 8:55 AM PST - 10 comments

My parents have generously offered to get me a gift that will improve my life for $500 but I'm having trouble of thinking of anything I want. [more inside]
posted by neematoad at 8:47 AM PST - 40 comments

We have a B/W laser multifunction printer (which is absolutely fine). Wife wants a color printer. Does it make more sense to add an inkjet, color laser, or replace existing printer with a color laser MFC? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:46 AM PST - 17 comments

Recently went through a breakup and questioning a lot of my friendships and relationships. [more inside]
posted by pando11 at 7:42 AM PST - 6 comments

OK, this is a real long-shot, but I'm looking for the name of a maker of puck-shaped Geiger-Mueller detectors (aka tubes) in Waltham, MA in the 80's. [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:48 AM PST - 6 comments

This is a long-shot, but I have a distinct memory from perhaps 15 years ago of reading a blog series written by a (very likely profoundly mentally ill) person who was living in a makeshift igloo/hovel-type structure near a highway. She was stealing electricity from a nearby building to power her computer. [disturbing details inside] [more inside]
posted by Baby_Balrog at 6:39 AM PST - 10 comments

My niece (vaccinated) and her husband (unvaccinated) tested positive for COVID yesterday. She has symptoms; he is currently asymptomatic. They have two young unvaccinated kids who tested negative. Not sure how this impacts thanksgiving. [more inside]
posted by dpx.mfx at 4:46 AM PST - 24 comments

Those who use burner phones for travel: how do you set them up? Looking for the hive mind to vet a plan. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:40 AM PST - 9 comments

So I am already thinking ahead to Thanksgiving, where my family would really like to get together for Thanksgiving dinner. We are all double vaccinated, and the 65+ in the group are triple vaccinated. However, I have a toddler, who will be the only unvaccinated one in the group (and cannot keep a mask on). [more inside]
posted by Forty-eight at 3:34 AM PST - 11 comments

I have access to a plot of land in northern Minnesota where it might be possible to grow cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) -- aka bakeapple, aka knotberry. This is near the southern limit of its range, but soil conditions and the local microclimate give me some reason to be optimistic. I've seen the seeds for sale, but have read they're very difficult to cultivate. Is it possible to buy the actual plants or cuttings somehow? If not, any advice on how to grow from seed?
posted by theory at 10:35 PM PST - 4 comments

Can any makeup experts out there tell me the closest dupe for this discontinued shade, please? [more inside]
posted by Salamander at 10:11 PM PST - 2 comments

I have had 3 doses of Pfizer, and just had one of two doses of a stout medication that is crashing my immune system (as it is supposed to do). Talk to me about how strict I should be about COVID precautions in various situations. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 10:09 PM PST - 7 comments

So I have an Akai pro midi keyboard/drum pads. I plan to run it through Garage Band. It came with some software called MPC beats. Within that there is something called iLok that also somehow factors in. I am lost. Help? [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 9:33 PM PST - 10 comments

Years ago I downloaded a book of brief quotations in CHM format. On each page, these is only the book title, a quotation, and a button that says "Another?", clicking on which brings one to another random quotation/page, but there is no Table of Contents (tree) or way of moving to a specific or non-random page. I would like, if possible, to free up the text contained in the file so that I can have it all in one text file. [more inside]
posted by tenderly at 9:03 PM PST - 5 comments

Can you recommend a restaurant in Tempe or Phoenix that is hip/cute/romantic and would make a nice dinner out for a couple in their early 30s? New interesting and fun are probably better than an old standby. For a gift card, so midrange or higher but not sky high.
posted by vunder at 7:21 PM PST - 6 comments

With the unexpected day off from school, I want to take my kids out tomorrow--we did an arcade while on vacation that loomed large in their brains and I'm trying to find something similiar, but mostly getting bars in my searches [more inside]
posted by Ideal Impulse at 6:09 PM PST - 4 comments

I guess like so many others I've become really depressed and anxiety-ridden over the past couple years. Also for a while now I've been thinking I might have ADHD and would like a professional diagnosis. I think normally people get referred to therapists by their PCPs but I'm in a weird spot right now where I'm switching PCPs. I'm on California Medi-Cal. How do I go about looking for someone?
posted by picklenickle at 5:54 PM PST - 7 comments

I'll keep this as consise as possible. Back in the day I purchased two Michael Jordan rookie cards for about $40 bux, got them professionally authenticated, and they have been sitting in a safety depost box for the last 35 some odd years. [more inside]
posted by TwilightKid at 5:02 PM PST - 16 comments

My company is offering, as part of the benefits package, discounted membership in a legal resources group. It's heavily discounted but not free. Is this worth doing? NOTE: I do not currently have ANY lawyer, and I do anticipate having some legal needs in the near future. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 3:24 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm an idiot. I was spray painting (matte finish) outside, and some of the mist got onto my glasses. I didn't notice until it had tried. Dish soap, my usual go-to, didn't work. I Googled, and saw that acetone works. It did sort of work, but I got some on my brown plastic frames and it has taken some finish off making them look white-ish. Is there any way to save or restore the brown finish?
posted by walkinginsunshine at 2:59 PM PST - 6 comments

How are small groups running elections these days now that so much is virtual? I'm on the board of a slightly dysfunctional Friends of ____ Park group and volunteered to help plan our elections. As a bonus, we're going through some growing pains and elections could be contentious. Vote padding is a real concern.
posted by sepviva at 2:23 PM PST - 5 comments

Where I've lived over the course of my life in Canada, HOAs haven't been a thing. I'm interested in recommendations for articles, essays, and books exploring the history of the development of HOAs in the U.S. in general. I'm also interested in their relationship, where it exists, to the broader historical backdrop of racist and exclusionary practices like redlining and blockbusting. [more inside]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:46 PM PST - 5 comments

My band has finally recorded our first album. What do we do now? [more inside]
posted by dearwassily at 1:37 PM PST - 7 comments

My wife and I have slightly different tastes and buying habits, and we want to be able to compromise as we furnish our new home. How have you handled this? What process/system has given you the most overall happiness?
posted by sandmanwv at 1:18 PM PST - 10 comments

Are there contemporary books for kids/tweens with short, solvable mysteries? [more inside]
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 1:15 PM PST - 5 comments

Over the past few years I have developed recurring tendonitis around the base knuckles in several fingers, to the point where I am often unable to fully close my hands. It's typically worse in the morning and after strenuous gripping (particularly things like pull-ups). My theory is that it's at least partly due to RSI from typing/mouse clicking/using the scroll wheel, but I wanted to hear whether other people had solved similar (finger-specific) problems by improving their computer setups. [more inside]
posted by ropeladder at 12:14 PM PST - 9 comments

I have swarms of what seems like gnats all over my window and door screens and I don't know what to do about them. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 11:32 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for something nifty to pull on over my socks I can wear around the house. [more inside]
posted by diode at 10:55 AM PST - 22 comments

I've begun offering some of my paintings as digital downloads. The other day a web design company bought one. I'm concerned that the'll use it commercially (I've stated that's forbidden). I don't know if there's anything I can do now. More broadly, are there changes I can make to help curb this? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:12 AM PST - 13 comments

I recently competed and won my first Cosplay competition. In looking at other competitions, they ask you to self-classify. How would I know if the award I won is major or minor? [more inside]
posted by plinth at 9:29 AM PST - 2 comments

We have recently purchased a bird feeder for our backyard. Many birds come to eat at the feeder, and we enjoy watching the different types of birds that come to visit. Lately, we’ve had new bird visitors arrive. Four to five pigeons at a time will arrive and start pecking around for seed underneath the feeder. The sight of the big birds scares the other birds away. [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 8:51 AM PST - 15 comments

A friend came across an old photocopy of a very specific kind of word puzzle in the shape of a snowflake with hexagonal cells. She really enjoyed it and I'd love to find more for her, but my web searches have turned up empty, perhaps because I don't know the correct name and there was no identifying information on the photocopy. Here's how the crossword puzzle worked: [more inside]
posted by mcbaya at 6:09 AM PST - 5 comments

It's my mom's birthday this Saturday. She's in Miami —near the airport— and I'm in Chile. I want to have a present delivered. Ideas/tips would be welcome. [more inside]
posted by signal at 4:48 AM PST - 9 comments

I've just got to the "write a cover letter" stage of applying for a job, and the old standard "Dear Sir or Madam" isn't doing it for me. I don't care about the recipient's gender, and I don't think "Sir or Madam" covers all the options even if I did. "Dear Hiring Manager" sounds weird to me, but is the best I can come up with. Can anyone help me with the first line? This blank page is bothering me.
posted by pompomtom at 1:31 AM PST - 42 comments

My fiancé is making a fake vaccine card to go to a music event and it bothers me.. [more inside]
posted by lain at 8:59 PM PST - 128 comments

I'm looking for an iPhone 13 Pro case like this one or this one. They have hand straps (not wrist straps) and card slots. Can anyone else find any others? [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 8:59 PM PST - 1 comment

Were you a person who loved being single but is now happy in a relationship? Were you someone who had "meh" relationships until you started dating queer? Do you have Opinions about what it means to be aromantic vs. "hasn't met the right person"? I have a lot of conflicting feelings about dating and I'm trying to sort them out before I jump back into the pool again (if I should at all). [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:03 PM PST - 12 comments

And wasn't there a box of mixed brews at one point?
posted by ebesan at 7:10 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm curious about careers involving ethnographic research. I like my current career, so I’m just dreaming here! I’m wondering if roles like this exist (I suspect not or I would’ve found it by now. :)) [more inside]
posted by metacognition at 6:14 PM PST - 13 comments

I vaguely remember there being a phenomenon in psychology where if you're kind enough to someone, and they decide they can't repay you, you only succeed at pissing them off or that your kindness was owed to them and your not offering them a hand (because it keeps getting bitten) as a betrayal. I'm sure this has a technical name but my google-fu is failing me.
posted by Sid and Marty Krofft's HR Sockpuppet at 3:07 PM PST - 8 comments

So: I have an iPad and I have scarcely ever used the Books app (I downloaded an audiobook to my phone maybe five years ago). I realized perhaps three months ago that I could use it for PDFs as well. The problem is some of the PDFs are unable to open and seem to have migrated to the cloud and will not come back. [more inside]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:34 PM PST - 10 comments

I want to make rough, ~3.5" diameter, flat-bottomed, non-angle-grinder bowls in stone. They need much steeper inner bowl sides than a 4.5" angle grinder can do. How? Dremels seem slow and non-ideal. I've bought inexpensive bowls like this from import stores in the past. How do they do it? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 2:16 PM PST - 17 comments

I read these two books in my local library in my tweens, and my kid is just about getting to the age where he'd really like them. But I can't for the life of me remember the titles, and you folks seemingly have a close to 100% success rate with these questions, so can you help me track 'em down? [more inside]
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 1:42 PM PST - 9 comments

How the heck do you hire a house cleaner in This Day And Age? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 1:36 PM PST - 19 comments

You guys always help with these. I'm trying to find a movie I saw far to young on TV in the mid 90s about a teen who find military grade weapons and kidnaps his crush. The movie begins with him reading a disturbing apocalyptic story about alien invaders to a classroom. The story is also the name of the movie. I want to say it was 'The Destroyers,' but that hasn't helped. Sound familiar to anyone?
posted by es_de_bah at 11:44 AM PST - 5 comments

I read an article about a tennis pro who decoded his opponent's body language to predict which way the serve was going to go. The other tennis pro had a tricky serve that was really hard to overcome. So this pro watched hours of video and finally noticed the other player moved his head in a certain way when he was going to do the tricky serve. Anyone remember which article or interview this was?
posted by umber vowel at 9:46 AM PST - 8 comments

My wife and I want to live and work outside the US for a period of time. How do I find a job? [more inside]
posted by cgs at 9:30 AM PST - 19 comments

Our new dehumidifier comes with this warning: "This dehumidifier uses about 65 grams of R290 refrigerant, which is flammable... Do not use in a room with any continuous sources of ignition, for example, open flames, gas fires or hobs, cigarettes or any other sources of ignition." We have a gas hob, a gas boiler, and candles that we sometimes light. Our flat is small enough that we can only station the dehumidifier so far away from any of these things. Should we return this dehumidifier, or can we use it safely? [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 8:41 AM PST - 13 comments

I need to provide attractive-looking storage for a large set (~20 or more) of old-fashioned, hard-sided briefcases. It needs to be inexpensive and open/readily accessible. How would you store these?
posted by shadygrove at 8:32 AM PST - 12 comments

My wife swears that she went to a museum exhibit in the UK where the size of a giant whale skeleton was compared to that of an elephant. The main thing she remembers about it was that the elephant was standing in the enormous whale's jaws . She doesn't think it was a dream or the squid and the whale from that NYC museum. Does this ring a bell?
posted by johngoren at 7:58 AM PST - 6 comments

Me and the family will be staying in DC for the upcoming weekend and would like to not use our car until it's time to come back home. We will be staying near Georgia Avenue up just a little north of Theodore Roosevelt HS. What is the best way to get down to the spy museum/LoC/museums/White House/etc? Bus? Metro? [more inside]
posted by NoMich at 7:52 AM PST - 10 comments

Multiple people remember this book, with specific details so it defiantly existed. 1970's Children's book titled "Don't Panic" (or some variation thereof). Roughly speaking, a kid's guide to dealing with household emergencies & covered stuff like 'how to replace a fuse' and 'how to sort dinner for your younger siblings if your parent is unconscious'. [more inside]
posted by Faintdreams at 6:55 AM PST - 5 comments

My brother and I were at the NYC marathon last weekend, watching and cheering, and in a moment of temporary insanity made a pact to run it in a few years together. Now we’re in dire straits… Help. Looking for an app to share our progress with each other! [more inside]
posted by nemutdero at 6:43 AM PST - 9 comments

My wife and I have always seen money as purely a means to an end, and are not used to thinking about it as something we need to do anything with. We're now making more than we need to satisfy the day-to-day needs of our family, and I'd appreciate some ELI5 advice on what do to with the surplus. [more inside]
posted by Alex404 at 2:58 AM PST - 29 comments

He is not responding to my attempts at following up on the status of my request. I have tried emailing him with HR copied, and sending him texts (I know this is not recommended, but I am desperate). [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 2:06 AM PST - 13 comments

Asking the forum to get some balanced opinions on a conflict with my roommate. She made last minute Thanksgiving plans and expects me to host her friends. Got some feedback from family that questioned whether I’m just frustrated with her in general. [more inside]
posted by halfnhalfling at 11:50 PM PST - 31 comments

Where do people who want to leave academia look for industry jobs? I want to hire them! [more inside]
posted by the_shrike at 6:06 PM PST - 11 comments

I recently covered “All That” for a benefit compilation, and a few of my friends and the people who have heard my cover have suggested I record an EP of Sparks covers. I sing and play ukulele, and I have some experience with keyboards and producing. Which songs should I include on a possible Sparks covers EP? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:09 PM PST - 10 comments

I got an invitation today to a bridal shower for my future D-I-L. The shower is in 3 weeks on the west coast (I'm on the east coast). What is the expectation for me attending? We have never met or communicated with her parents so, if I go, should my husband and I both go and use it as an opportunity to meet them? Would this be interpreted as pushy since they haven't extended an invitation for us to meet them prior to the wedding? Not sure if it matters but they are Asian (we aren't) and we want to be sensitive to cultural differences.
posted by Flacka at 4:49 PM PST - 17 comments

I need a holiday gift for US clients and would love to give them something like I do for Canadian clients on CanadaHelps.org. They essentially get a charitable gift card to apply to any of the Canadian charities listed (which is most of the major ones). [more inside]
posted by dotparker at 4:29 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm creating a holiday activity for my family where I ask trivia questions about the family - everything from lines from movies that we collectively love, to weird house stuff, to questions about family members. Without making this specific to my family, what other categories or questions could I include? And how can I best organize/score this? [more inside]
posted by punchtothehead at 3:56 PM PST - 5 comments

We have a six-month-old baby who has recently outgrown his bassinet and moved to a crib. The trouble is that it is difficult to reach him in the crib, even with the mattress installed at the highest level. This causes a lot of strain for my spouse, who is about five feet tall. [more inside]
posted by a certain Sysoi Pafnut'evich at 3:04 PM PST - 18 comments

I've been tasked at work with creating a fun staff activity for our staff holiday party. Previously folks enjoyed my chain-of-clues style* treasure hunts. I was looking to crib some ideas off of the old Dropbox Annual Quiz from years ago where answering questions got you more free storage, but it (and its walkthroughs) seem to have disappeared. [more inside]
posted by aesop at 2:27 PM PST - 2 comments

I would like to buy a laptop computer. These are my requirements: 1. Very large monitor. Within reason, the bigger the better. 2. Reliable (ie won’t break down, require visits to repair shops, need new parts, etc) [more inside]
posted by amy.g.dala at 1:41 PM PST - 27 comments

My fiance and I are getting married in June 2022 and are trying to come up with wedding ceremony music. It is a second wedding for both of us and while it will be a relatively tradtional ceremony + reception structure, we want to liven things up with the details. We want to have a lot of fun with the ceremony music but could use some ideas! [more inside]
posted by Neely O'Hara at 1:30 PM PST - 34 comments

I am in the interview process for a Very Big and Very Cool job that would be incredible for my resume (and it’s a job I’m completely qualified for and know how to do). My second round interview is later this week. HOWEVER, I’ve got another job offer deadline prior to my second interview. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by ancient star at 1:21 PM PST - 15 comments

What are some good current introductions to the enormous field of bioinformatics? I've had recommended Biological sequence analysis: probabalistic models of proteins and nucleic acids, Durbin et al., but this came out in 1998. Is it a classic I should read anyway? What else should I look at? Fairly technical is OK. Thanks!
posted by 8603 at 12:49 PM PST - 6 comments

Talk to me about strategies for buying a low-cost used car, from a private party on craigslist, in 2021 (or 2022). My main criterion is a car that is reliable and not a money pit. Almost everything else (price, looks, style) can be compromised on. My last 2 cars have been a Honda Civic and a Honda Fit; so far I've been looking at older relatively low-mileage Priuses (like this one that I'm test driving in a couple hours). I see that the used car market is low on inventory and that prices at the cheap end are double what I'm used to. [more inside]
posted by danceswithlight at 12:29 PM PST - 11 comments

I passed high school physics by the skin of my teeth and in general am not the best at grasping scientific concepts. But, I am also deeply fascinated by space, and I'd like to understand more about it. What documentary movies/series should I watch? [more inside]
posted by nancynickerson at 12:07 PM PST - 9 comments

Looking for a good non-fiction political book (or two) to gift my mom! Details within. [more inside]
posted by cakelite at 11:40 AM PST - 9 comments

Hi folks. I don't even know how to Google the question I have, but here it is. My sentence is, "The next step is helping these students really analyze with their own minds." Well, they don't each have minds, plural, nor do they all have one collective mind (at least that's not meant). So what do I go with, "minds" or "mind"? I'm editing this sentence. It's a direct quote, so rewriting it isn't in the works. Thx.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 11:28 AM PST - 13 comments

We are heading to San Francisco from Wednesday through Saturday with our 12 year older son and 15 year old daughter, staying at the Marker in Union Square. Need your ideas for fun things for kids that age in this pandemic era. Everyone fully vaxed. [more inside]
posted by purenitrous at 11:26 AM PST - 14 comments

My local big box pharmacy is within walking distance of me, but has failed to have my ADHD medication in stock more than once. This current round, stocking issues have kept me out of my brain meds for over a week now. I need something more reliable. [more inside]
posted by itesser at 11:24 AM PST - 7 comments

My elderly mom and stepdad live in Brooklyn and are largely confined to their apartment, with live-in assistance. They're both big readers, but it's gotten to the point where even getting to the nearby library is a real chore. I'm wondering if there's some kind of online book service where I could arrange to have a book sent to each of them each month or six weeks or so, with a focus on their interests -- poetry and literature for my mom, history and film for my stepdad.
posted by AJaffe at 10:10 AM PST - 13 comments

We'll be driving between NYC and Las Vegas in later December. What's the best route? [more inside]
posted by Dashy at 9:17 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking to see if there is a name for a tiny circle of missing hair in a hairline-- NOT a bald spot, just a shape of hairline? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 9:07 AM PST - 17 comments

Back in the 90s I worked at an independent record store, and we'd occasionally play a CD that was full of these field recordings of these odd, crackly prerecorded audio tracks that would accompany rides or amusements at small, regional theme parks in the US. (Like something Troy McClure would have voiced in The Simpsons). Google can't help me track it down. What was this album?
posted by Text TK at 7:33 AM PST - 3 comments

While house-hunting, I am looking at a place with a small, enclosed back patio that abuts commercial buildings. I am scared of what this could mean in terms of rats. What have your experiences with similar spaces been like? [more inside]
posted by mosst at 6:50 AM PST - 5 comments

Would love ideas for activities/hotels/restaurants/New Year's plans, etc. that suit a wide range of requirements! [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 3:22 AM PST - 10 comments

I think a lot of emotional pain I'm experiencing now is due to the fact that throughout my childhood I was considered academically gifted and based my identity around that. I have miserably, catastrophically failed to live up to that. But I am wondering now, was I ever even gifted? When I analyse my upbringing I had advantages that others didn't have. Could you read my story and tell me what you think? [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 3:14 AM PST - 40 comments

How do you support a friend with extreme anxiety in the moment? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:58 AM PST - 12 comments

I am wealthy. My spouse and I made our wills years ago, splitting our estate equally among our children (who are now almost adults). But that was before we had much of an estate to leave, and now I wonder if we should still do that. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:58 AM PST - 40 comments

I am looking to to improve my news/media diet to facilitate a less stressful life. [more inside]
posted by sharksmile at 2:24 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm interested in content creators (though especially authors, as that inspired the question, but TV and movies certainly are in the purview of the question, as is anything else) that are much more popular/consumed outside of their country of origin. [more inside]
posted by wooh at 11:02 PM PST - 7 comments

Today was my first day at a new job after an absolutely blissful two week vacation. One of the reasons I never took vacations in the past is that I lose my work momentum and become extremely stressed about my ability to perform once I've returned. I just don't know how to retain the relaxation I felt during vacation and use it to ramp things up slowly. What do you recommend? The past few weeks were maybe the first time I have been really happy in years. I don't want that joy to go away.
posted by Hermione Granger at 10:48 PM PST - 4 comments

My dad and I want to get brunch in Seattle on Capitol Hill around 10 am tomorrow and I haven’t spent much time up there in years. Suggestions? Preferably somewhere that won’t have a giant line. I like traditional breakfast foods but will eat most things.
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:07 PM PST - 5 comments

Can you direct me to more string/piano/both music in the style of the song Over by Julien Baker?
posted by bookworm4125 at 7:00 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m going to visit a friend who recently lost his mother tomorrow. I was bringing some poems to share with him that I have found comforting in the past. I also wanted to bring a story I read online years ago but my googling has failed me. It was about a mother who was dying and hadn’t been eating but suddenly she wanted a meal (I think it was shrimp. Maybe from a thai restaurant?). The author rushed out to the restaurant and was watching the workers prepare the dish and mulled about how they didn’t know they were preparing his mother’s last dish. He also had thoughts about doing your job well, even if it feels menial, because it could be significant to someone else. I thought I had read it in The NY Times as a personal essay about a life event. But I searched and couldn’t find it. If this rings a bell, please let me know!
posted by Sylvia Plath's terrible fish at 6:50 PM PST - 5 comments

Ok, more seriously, say you have a mild-to-moderate cold and you also have an important presentation two and a half days from now. What are your tried and true methods for being in the best shape you can possibly be in by Thursday morning? (Assume that today, Monday, is already day three of the cold.) Open to all suggestions, including booze.
posted by holborne at 4:47 PM PST - 45 comments

Is it worth it to repair a 2006 Toyota Prius with a broken motor mount and front axle? Our 2006 Prius, which has ~200K miles, broke down on Friday and was towed to the mechanic who's worked on it previously. The shop called today to say that the motor mount had broken and the engine had shifted enough to also break the front axle. The initial estimated cost to repair it is $4000. Should we pay for the repairs or is it time to look for a replacement car? [more inside]
posted by danielleh at 3:49 PM PST - 23 comments

Jogger looked at me like I broke the unspoken rules. Did I? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 3:27 PM PST - 43 comments

Years ago, a client said "we're changing our linen suppliers" and gave me a stash of new, very high-quality European duvet covers and fitted sheets. They aren't holding up well. [more inside]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:08 PM PST - 10 comments

I bank at a community bank with branches only within my local region. If I’m interested in buying a used car from a private seller in a city a couple hours away, what are my best options for doing so? I’d prefer not to carry several thousand dollars in cash but I’m struggling to see another way of handling it.
posted by cali at 1:12 PM PST - 21 comments

Are there any temp agencies or large firms that offer work from home jobs at around $15 per hour? (New York City/New York state, if it matters.) [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 1:03 PM PST - 5 comments

Currently I have no problem reading at a close range (cell phone, documents etc) but my intermediate and distance vision took a huge dive in the last 2 years and now is very blurry. Sometimes I see double and or I have astigmatism. Please help me figure out the best option for me. [more inside]
posted by ColdIcedT at 1:00 PM PST - 7 comments

What are your best ideas for modern window coverings that allow airflow AND can block light effectively? We thought we had found window nirvana when we installed some nice honeycomb-style top-down-bottom-up cordless cellular shades on the big window in my home office. While they block light very well, they don't allow air to flow through. And the metal bottom piece bangs against the window when it's windy. I'd like... [more inside]
posted by acridrabbit at 12:46 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm feeling out a potential love interest, and while they seem to be very, very well-aligned with my specific criteria for an ideal partner, there is one red flag I want to investigate further: He says he has run away from relationships in the past. How do I dig deeper to learn if he is doing the work to overcome this, or if he is essentially still unavailable for intimacy? [more inside]
posted by Dr_Janeway at 12:40 PM PST - 24 comments

So I've been reading a lot of the three horseman of the productivity apocalypse: Cal Newport (Deep Work), Mark Manson (something something F-bomb) and James Clear (Atomic Habits). Although much of what they write is helpful, I've noticed that they are all white guys who often work from a behavorialist perspective. I'm looking for alternatives, reading about productivity and wellness from a more culturally and theoretically diverse range of writers, and was wondering who you might recommend. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 12:36 PM PST - 10 comments

Have you ever received a Christmas present that you didn't know you needed? Something you'd never have thought to ask for but, because Santa knew you so well, that surprise gift turned out to be delightful and/or incredibly useful? Please share your joy! [more inside]
posted by fabius at 11:29 AM PST - 38 comments

My wife loves the smell of this candle, but Yankee Candle don't make it anymore (at least in the UK they don't). Does anyone know of a candle that smells the same or similar to this that I could buy?
posted by sockpim at 11:18 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a leather jacket with a fabric collar. I clean the leather semi-regularly with leather cleaner, but the collar's getting kinda manky - how do I clean that?
posted by my log does not judge at 10:45 AM PST - 1 comment

I just turned on my oil filled electric radiator — within 5 minutes, I was coughing and wheezing so hard that I thought my airway might be closing. When I turned off the space heater, my breathing returned to normal. What’s going on, and is this fixable? [more inside]
posted by femmegrrr at 10:19 AM PST - 12 comments

My family currently has Harvard Pilgrim health insurance. In general we are happy with them, but I've been increasingly frustrated by the small number of mental health providers who accept HPHC. Many more seem to accept BCBS. Should we switch? [more inside]
posted by alms at 9:43 AM PST - 6 comments

I've met a guy who I seem very compatible with (I've dated a lot of guys and I can speak to none so easily). He feels the same. But he keeps talking about his destructive relationship patterns and it is really making me uneasy and want to back out. I read the book Attached and it was useful, but I'm also concerned it's making me a bit too antsy when I see signs that someone might be avoidant. Some perspective please. [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 9:23 AM PST - 29 comments

A 16-year-old friend of my kid's (let's call her A) has a terrible relationship with her parents. This morning A called my kid (using a friend's phone, A is not allowed to have one) to let her know that A's mom had hit her in the face and busted her lip. CPS was previously and may still be involved in the family's case, I don't know how exactly. What can we do to help? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 7:29 AM PST - 9 comments

I like the following recording artists. Please suggest others I might like who started recording in the 21st century. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 6:16 AM PST - 27 comments

What current writers do you feel are following in Ursula K. Le Guin's footsteps? [more inside]
posted by signal at 5:04 AM PST - 12 comments

Help me metafilter please. I have someone coming over for a dinner date tonight and would like to make something really nice. But, it's 12pm UK time, they are coming by 6, and I have to work until at least 4.30. I am a decent cook, but don't have a lot of fresh food in the house or much time. The main thing I have is a bunch of cooked chicken breasts. Can I turn that into something good? [more inside]
posted by sedimentary_deer at 4:15 AM PST - 10 comments

In 2013 I owned some bitcoin but didn't want to. I gave them to someone to invest but they promptly vanished. I didn't persue at the time because it just didn't seem worth but now I'm wondering if there if someone (in the UK) I could hire on some kind of no win no fee basis to see if they can be reclaimed. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 1:43 AM PST - 5 comments

I picked up Heidi a few years ago on a lark and was surprised at how great it was. The descriptions of transhumance, dairy herding, and life in the Swiss Alps were so rich and detailed -- the different ways they ate cheese! the way the grandfather stirred butter with his bare arms and went around on a sled! Now I'm on the verge of making my first trip to Switzerland and I want to read other books that give me the same feeling. For kids, adults ... fiction, nonfiction ... anything goes. I'd love to read more about Alpine transhumance but probably can't handle anything too heavy while traveling.
posted by artisthatithaca at 12:08 AM PST - 5 comments

I have no idea what serious injury I have bestowed upon myself or the length of time ill be in this condition I was hoping some of you maybe had a similar injury. Ok Day one which was Oct 24 I fell at the skate rink (more to come) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 12:06 AM PST - 4 comments

The aging parent, Paul, has a will that divides everything equally between his two sons, Adam and Bert per stirpes. Adam is financially very comfortable. If Adam disclaims his inheritance, does it go to his children or his brother? What if Adam wants it to go the other way? [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 7:31 PM PST - 13 comments

Our friend group blew up a year ago. Now there's a mcguffin in the middle and I'm still grieving the relationships. Every time I think it's over something else comes up- and now there are mutual friends stuck in the middle. Many, many snowflakes ahead, but: What's the next step forward? [more inside]
posted by Torosaurus at 6:37 PM PST - 15 comments

Despite my better judgement, I updated Google Photos. Now, I can't easily download pics to my hard drive and I have hundreds of pics with the extension jpg.ison. Help me to fix the mess i made and if possible come up with a process for easily downloading photos fro Google Photos to my hard drive? [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 5:08 PM PST - 3 comments

We have a Seattle house with a gas furnace and would like to get it air conditioned . I have some questions. [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 4:19 PM PST - 9 comments

His past is highly traumatic, family is ongoingly dysfunctional. There’s a lot of pain. CPSTD. How can I be a useful support? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:55 PM PST - 8 comments

I am trying to get a pay raise at my job and am debating whether to bring up a particular point. [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 2:40 PM PST - 3 comments

Mr. DrGail and I are both on Medicare A & B, with insurance through FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits) as secondary. We have been offered a Medicare Advantage plan to go with our FEHB plan and it looks like a very good deal (as in, better benefits at lower cost). In fact, I'm hard-pressed to find any negatives, but there must be some or everyone would be on one. What are the downsides to Medicare Advantage plans, in general? What should we be considering in making the decision?
posted by DrGail at 2:26 PM PST - 15 comments

I’m the executor of the estate of a family member who recently passed away. I’m getting astronomical quotes from CPAs to file the final taxes. Can I just use H&R Block instead? [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 2:24 PM PST - 4 comments

Seriously considering applying for a job in a field where I remain employed on a part-time basis. But most of my time these days is in a completely different world. I want to turn this career zig into a major selling point (if possible). How should I do that? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:30 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking for recommendations of a layout/design pro or company, please! I’m in the U.K. and need to make a print on demand book. Next month, ideally. It will consist of thirty short poems and thirty images, which already exist and have fixed dimensions. [more inside]
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 1:11 PM PST - 3 comments

I know, yes. Yes, it is. But, like a lot of people, we have a family friend who has been watching too much Fox News, and is holding off getting vaccinated because, among other things, she claims the government pulled some kind of bait and switch, and the vaccines the FDA approved are not the ones being administered to patients. [more inside]
posted by Naberius at 1:09 PM PST - 11 comments

I need a new toaster oven, but I keep finding reviews of toaster ovens where the glass door has exploded, or they have dubious eye safety issues (flash xpress). What is the toaster oven of my dreams? [more inside]
posted by Luminiferous Ether at 12:42 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm going on a long trip to a place I don't speak the language. My move is to swipe right on locals and then pay for meals and extras and they translate and show me around. Sometimes it's a love connection. But most of the time it's just friendship and that's great too. But now I'm a little overloaded and I'm having a hard time keeping all the contacts straight. IS there any IOS app or system that handles this sort of thing? I'd rather not do an excel spreadsheet.
posted by rileyray3000 at 12:41 PM PST - 2 comments

Are people with last names that can also be first names more likely to give their children first names that can also be last names? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 10:58 AM PST - 20 comments

Asking for DH: The neighbors are (legally) shooting guns on their property. DH wants to know this: What is the dB at the source if it is 150 dB at 100 yards away. Thank you.
posted by manageyourexpectations at 9:48 AM PST - 7 comments

What is the statute of limitations for grand larceny (criminal and civil) in Montreal? The victim was elderly. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:01 AM PST - 4 comments

You're approaching your 50s. You make good money but you're burning out and you'll probably be on a downslope over the next ~5 years in your current role. How do you figure out the next ~5-10 years of your career? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:01 AM PST - 14 comments

Looking for advice from some of the talented designers and home remodelers I know are around here. I have a foyer that I’d like to paint soon and am having fun thinking of different color directions to go. I’m looking at the Benjamin Moore historical collection. [more inside]
posted by areaperson at 8:51 AM PST - 7 comments

Partner has to make Scotland - England return rail trip. He is double vaxxed but almost six months ago. I am double vaxxed but 5 months ago. Boosters will not be available in time. When he returns should I isolate in case he has caught breakthrough covid or is that over the top? [more inside]
posted by Flitcraft at 8:04 AM PST - 10 comments

I look after membership requests at our discount buying Club. I receive email requests to join our Club regularly. I need to generate a reply containing text and an attached FAQ. What's the fastest way to do it? [more inside]
posted by storybored at 7:13 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm trying to think of a fun gift for a snack-lover with a more traditional/classic palate, so I'm looking for something that's an interesting, or "artisanal," or fancier version of "normal" savory snacks (like popcorn, chips, Chex mixes, pretzels). Maybe something slightly less well-known than the UK flavors of crisps? Not too spicy or weird, though. I've seen those international snack subscriptions, and that's NOT what I'm looking for. Also, needs to be something I can purchase online (or at least have shipped to a mainland U.S. address).
posted by unknowncommand at 7:04 AM PST - 10 comments

The above is a repeated quote from my 4-year old son around 4:30 am when he's recently started to get up every morning... My question is, any strategies on how to get him to sleep to a reasonable 6/6:30 am like he used to? [more inside]
posted by slide at 6:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Asking for a young relative who has a BA from a western Canadian university and recently received a Masters in Media and Communications from a good program at a UK university. Unfortunately due to covid, he had to do the Masters virtually and so didn't create the network he might have to help him get launched in a job search. He is trying to develop a good plan for the next steps in establishing a career. Questions below. [more inside]
posted by canoehead at 6:10 AM PST - 5 comments

I've been having arrthythmias for a number of years. Was told it was a faulty electrical problem in one of the upper chambers. Since 2015 I've had numerous SVT's where my heart rate can go up to 200bpm. Was told an ablation might help with the SVT's back in 2018, but now it's questionable if this is the right thing to do given my status. In the interim developed normcalcemic hyperparathyroidism, no hypercalcemia, but PTH levels are high while vitamin D is normal. Fast-forward to now my heart has 3 valves leaking, thickened leaflets, a thickened septum wall and the E/A ratio has gone from 1 a few months ago to 1.37 now. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 5:55 AM PST - 7 comments

What songs of Canadian rock band Blue Rodeo would have been really popular among teens in 1998? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by knile at 3:24 AM PST - 12 comments

Let's say that I'm a beginning coder and I want to make a simple weather forecast website. How would I start? I assume I'd be using openweathermap api. What else do I need to know?
posted by matkline at 2:54 AM PST - 8 comments

As a kid (1980s, USA), I had some sort of metal toy that (I think) had a key/wind-up device and there were also little cogs and gears that you could see turn. The whole thing made some noise and also produced little sparks. What was this toy? Is it still available now? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 1:45 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm working on a weaving draft that has some woven text. I need to make my smallish (10 pixel or 18 pixel high) text follow a (customized) curvy line, and I need the whole image to only have black and white pixels. I've got Inkscape and Gimp. Please help! [more inside]
posted by janell at 7:39 PM PST - 8 comments

I trying to find bars or coffee shops in Minneapolis that are going to have outdoor seating/heated patios during the fall or winter. Looking for a casual place where you could meet up with a friend or colleague for a drink or coffee, cannot have romantic vibes at all or be so loud that you can't have a conversation. There's lots of articles on this topic online, but they're from fall 2020, when there wasn't an indoor option due to COVID. Some bars had heated patios or fire pits. [more inside]
posted by Bluebird Wine at 6:20 PM PST - 5 comments

I find myself with a lot of personal affects in a very large apartment that I'm having trouble moving out of. Landlord ended tenancy, and I am living in poverty, disabled but not on disability yet, (had rent assistance but the issue was building safety). The thing is, I had some (but not enough) help moving stuff out, but I still have so much. [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 5:53 PM PST - 17 comments

Bioethanol heater owners: are your heaters effective or simply pretty? I need to heat a couple of smallish rooms in a winter climate where temps in the thirties Fahrenheit aren't unusual. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 12:34 PM PST - 0 comments

So what is everyone doing now that cat food costs an arm and a leg? Any tips on how to avoid my beast bankrupting me?
posted by srboisvert at 11:26 AM PST - 17 comments

My ex-boyfriend sexually assaulted me about two years ago, and refuses to apologize for it. Yet he still has lots of friends and is well-liked by people who are against sexual assault, are supporters of the #metoo movement, and so on. How do I reconcile this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:20 AM PST - 19 comments

I have spent the past month whining about how much I hate waking up in the dark and how much better my mood is in the summer, when I wake up naturally with the sunrise, rather than being violently jolted out of sleep with an alarm. It occurs to me that there is a gadget for that. Have you used a sunrise alarm clock? Did it work for you? [more inside]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:45 AM PST - 38 comments

Instagram has, for the past year, exclusively shown me ads for clothing that I absolutely do want to buy right now, which suggests to me that I maybe do have a style. The problem is, I have no idea what it's called, and I'd love to find some blogs or real-person Instagram accounts to follow that feature this particular preppy-adjacent style. [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:34 AM PST - 10 comments

What’s the best engagement gift you ever received? Big, small, cheap, expensive - we just want to find a gift that will be cherished. [more inside]
posted by Chaussette Fantoche at 8:11 AM PST - 9 comments

Where did the “[adjective] memes for [other adjective] teens” template (for shitposting or other online groups) originate? I looked at the NUMTOT Wikipedia article but it didn’t really answer my question. [more inside]
posted by rivenwanderer at 7:40 AM PST - 6 comments

Looking for personal experiences with true EDOF IOL lens implants. [more inside]
posted by bitterkitten at 7:23 AM PST - 7 comments

What pop songs have borrowed from Jean Sibelius? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 4:39 AM PST - 7 comments

I moved to England and am trying to find a better way to move money over from my old bank in the USA. Is there a simpler way to do this than international wire transfers? [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 4:26 AM PST - 11 comments

It looks like one of my future responsibilities at work will be writing speeches for C-suite executives. Help me learn how to write compelling speeches for them! [more inside]
posted by catburger at 4:20 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for an "audio book" version of Four Quartets that I can listen to now and then. Any favorites, my favorite hive mind?
posted by Glomar response at 4:01 AM PST - 3 comments

What should I do with all of these habaneros? [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 3:12 AM PST - 17 comments

We all know that software bugs were named after an actual bug. But just today I learned that core dumps are so called after magnetic-core memory. I had always vaguely wondered where the name came from when my debugger said "dumping core..." but never thought to look it up. Now I'm wondering what other names for tech things refer to tech that's no longer in use, particularly if they wouldn't even be recognizable to many practitioners. [more inside]
posted by potrzebie at 11:36 PM PST - 28 comments

Song stuck in my head all day, but I can't find it to listen to it. Female singer, probably early to mid 90s. Not sure of the lyrics, but want to say it's something like "[Baby | Billy | Aidy] don't you lie to me" your something is as blank as your eyes are free. Can you name that tune? [more inside]
posted by willnot at 10:58 PM PST - 2 comments

In September, something happened at work that seemed hinky to me. I raised the issue by email with Jane, the person who did it, copying our boss (Mike) and our boss's boss (Lisa). Jane replied it was nothing to worry about, nobody else responded, and I didn't pursue it further. Today I had to take the annual ethics training, and it seems what happened in September was a violation of policy. What now? [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 9:06 PM PST - 13 comments

Normally I'm a huge fan of this company, but in the last few months I've gotten bags of their chocolate chips where the chips taste grainy and crystallized. I have questions. [more inside]
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 8:24 PM PST - 10 comments

Did you teach yourself German in the past few years but NOT using programs like Duolingo? If so, how did you do it? Do you have recommendations or caveats? I'm a little picky, so details inside. [more inside]
posted by pleasant_confusion at 5:48 PM PST - 14 comments

This has been floating around my house for…a while. I have no idea what it is. [more inside]
posted by adamrice at 3:33 PM PST - 7 comments

I got a new job. Yay. My last day at my current job is a Friday, and my first day at my new job is the next Monday. Last time I did this, I was unmarried and we were not in the middle of a global pandemic, so I didn't think much of a potential gap in coverage. Now I'm married, my spouse is on my insurance, and I want to make sure nobody goes meaningfully without coverage. We're in California. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:09 PM PST - 10 comments

The director of my department is requiring I submit a "peer review" of a boss two levels above me as part of my company's annual evaluation process. Same people are jerking me around a promotion. How do I respond? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:05 PM PST - 9 comments

I messed up big time, with my new computer. After less than a year, it seems, I have filled up my C drive, which is an SSD drive; and I have tons of room on my D drive. Now I'm trying to figure out how I can move things without breaking them, and how to do that without going insane. [more inside]
posted by swlabr at 2:56 PM PST - 9 comments

My dumb ass went to the Anthropologie site "just to look" at new hardware for a dresser, and unfortunately I love this. I'm not paying $16 per handle, so how do I search for something similar? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 1:47 PM PST - 14 comments

I left a laptop at the TSA checkpoint by mistake. I've filed a lost and found on their site, but I can't find any information on what to expect afterwards. What's the process like? How long does it take? Do they usually find the items?
posted by LSK at 1:34 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a Fitbit Charge 5, and it gives me Active Zone Minutes every day, and I greatly enjoy them. I am finding Active Zone Minutes way more motivating than steps. But I don't think its view of what constitutes activity reflects my actual body. Can you help me figure out where my zones should be? Or maybe they're fine where they are? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 1:14 PM PST - 8 comments

For years I've worn Loft's Curvy Skinny jeans. Now almost everything they have is high-rise, and their mid-rise is totally out of stock. Finding mid-rise jeans is becoming very difficult at many retailers. I hate wearing high-rise, and you will pry my skinny jeans out of my cold, dead, millennial hands! Do you have any recently-purchased mid-rise curvy skinny jeans that you love? In-store or online in USA.
posted by radioamy at 1:11 PM PST - 11 comments

My partner's family is being served papers with regards to a long-since foreclosed on (they thought) house. [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 12:20 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to read a book that's only available in French and I don't speak French. I can buy it on Amazon and read it on Amazon's Kindle reader (I don't have a Kindle), and I'm wondering if there's any way to copy out the text into a translation app or to directly translate to English inside the app. It's fine if the translation is imperfect, I just want to get the basic gist.
posted by pinochiette at 11:19 AM PST - 7 comments

I am a first time solo homeowner in Brooklyn. I bought my place about a year ago. Over the summer I removed crown moulding in the living room and found chalky, water damaged plaster underneath. I hired a licensed contractor to fix it and they did, but the plaster became damp again. I notified the Board of my co-op over a month ago and they have not conclusively identified the cause of the water damage (or a solution). [more inside]
posted by ponibrown at 10:06 AM PST - 9 comments

A very groovy, swingy song plays in the 1971 film "Little Murders", starting at about 08:16: https://youtu.be/YtUYLyy6r2c?t=496 (it really starts swinging around 08:40). Do you know what the song is, and who performed it? [more inside]
posted by theatro at 9:46 AM PST - 2 comments

Why is Network Solutions urgently bugging me to "Renew your services today"? These are services/products I don't recall purchasing. And if I did, I obviously didn't give the purchases much thought. The relevant domain is [domain I do own].com. The renewals are for three products associated with it: domain.online - private-registration - web forwarding. My assumption is that this is just Network Solutions being slimy, playing to my ignorance, trying to suck more money out of me. Am I missing something important here?
posted by philip-random at 8:56 AM PST - 14 comments

What to do when the COBRA admin says they paid your health insurance carrier, and your health insurance carrier says they didn't, and so you're not covered? Twist: Suddenly on the way to the ER [more inside]
posted by thumpasor at 8:47 AM PST - 9 comments

For the last few years I've been working my way through Duolingo and am now at the point where I can semi-read the Harry Potter books in Spanish with the occasional help of Google translate and referring to the original English. To supplement my studies I'd love a website that's the equivalent of vocabulary flashcards. Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by something something at 8:38 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm trying to remember a poem. It's fairly short, I think, like under 30 lines, and I think I recall that the author is a woman. The narrator parks in a dingy parking garage, and vividly describes the dull colors, maybe the reminder of what level she's parked on. Then, I think in the elevator, the narrator has a sudden brilliant electrifying moment realizing "I've got my life back" or something very close to that, and it sort of dispels the gloom. What poem is this?
posted by brainwane at 8:20 AM PST - 1 comment

As a kid I had a translucent marble, about 1" in diameter, and a dark amethyst purple - although it was glass, not amethyst. Can you help me figure out where I can find another one just like it? Thank you!
posted by thisclickableme at 8:13 AM PST - 3 comments

There is a chord/sound in a new song called Tell Me Something Good by Ewan McVicar that my brain is not a fan of, can someone tell me what it is/what to call it? It’s the first sound heard in the video that is repeated throughout.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:50 AM PST - 5 comments

What do you put on your baked potato that is not sour cream, butter, or cheese? Please share your favorite toppings for baked potatoes served as a side or as meals. [more inside]
posted by carrioncomfort at 7:41 AM PST - 37 comments

I’m hoping to get the name of this familiar typeface from the 1940s or 50s. [more inside]
posted by Brodiggitty at 5:34 AM PST - 4 comments

Looking for opinion questions that will start discussions where the answers are books or book-related (authors, series, etc.). Ideally with enough constraint that it's an interesting puzzle to figure out an answer, but open ended enough that people come up with different answers and can discuss. The best ones take you half an hour and then you think of a dozen books at once. We mostly read speculative fiction. Example: Which books have inspired the best response book(s)?
posted by anaelith at 11:30 PM PST - 16 comments

As of 2021, How many World War 2 P.O.W.s (Prisoners of War) are still alive? [more inside]
posted by clavdivs at 10:14 PM PST - 6 comments

Wife and I are very much enjoying the new US version of the TV show "Ghosts." There are six primary ghosts - and in each of the last three episodes, one of the six ghosts has not appeared in any scene. In tonight's episode, for instance, the ghost of the elderly matron was not featured. Curious - does anyone know why the producers/showrunners would do this?
posted by davidmsc at 9:35 PM PST - 6 comments

My partner and I recently bought a funeral home. Yay, and wow, and oh gods what did we get into, and all the other feelings. One feeling is at least more concrete: we need some art for our walls to replace the ones the old owners will be taking with them. [more inside]
posted by traveler_ at 8:26 PM PST - 20 comments

I like a few book series with similar elements, can you recommend any others that fit these requirements? (Already read series under the cut). * Alternate earth or earth history * Shenanigans are international * Female protag who prevails based on knowledge, learning, or cunning * Some politicking * FUN [more inside]
posted by snerson at 8:13 PM PST - 19 comments

We have a very nice, Media center that we would like to pair with a non dark wood stain bookcase or two that feels "nice" and solid". What colors can we use? What styles? Is there anyway to make this look integrated? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 6:15 PM PST - 1 comment

I (try to) use Banktivity to balance my checkbook. It has been having trouble syncing through Yodlee with USAA for most of October and I'm ready to change the app or the bank. [more inside]
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 6:02 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm looking for travel and food shows about Portugal. [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 6:01 PM PST - 7 comments

There is a little boy in the toddler room at work who LOVES dinosaurs. They have a bucketful of plastic ones in there. He asked what this dino is called [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 5:43 PM PST - 6 comments

My spouse & I have been married for a couple decades, and have a pretty good sex life, if less frequent than pre-kid, pre-jobs, etc etc. We've realized that... we just don't talk about sex. Everything from initiation on is body language & implicit signs & reading non-verbal cues. It feels like we could really improve both the quality of our sex life, and the emotional connection, by getting a lot better at finding ways to directly communicate. Questions like: "are you in the mood?" and "how does that feel?" and "is this working for you?" Any suggestions/guidance as to how to break years of maybe slightly avoidant habits, and learn to communicate directly & clearly in bed? We're both on board in concept, but getting to easy & natural execution seems like a big hurdle.
posted by anonymous at 5:18 PM PST - 9 comments

I received a misaddressed email. The signature concluded with “Lock Me” in quotes. Why? Is this a quote, a motto or something else? [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool at 4:03 PM PST - 9 comments

Looking for somewhere I can spend either January or February. My body does bad in the cold and I want to spend a month somewhere warm enough to swim. More below: [more inside]
posted by todolos at 3:47 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a growing awareness that I am much more sensitive than other people. I think I have very high standards for how I treat others, but I have those high expectations for how I am treated, and that can be very challenging in the friendship realm! I lose trust in others rather easily; for example, if they lie or display very self-serving behavior or want a lot of favors. Does anyone have any advice for how I can improve the situation so it will be easier for me to make and keep friends? Increasingly I have noticed that I have been avoiding making any new friends.
posted by MarnieSrpings at 3:11 PM PST - 9 comments

Our family has discovered pop-it fidget toys (like this) and we are addicted (helpful for various family members with ADHD and autism). Is there a brand that "pops" on both sides? [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:43 PM PST - 7 comments

Need recs for books or other interesting gifts for two brothers, 15 and 16, very different in temperament. [more inside]
posted by plant or animal at 1:53 PM PST - 6 comments

Traditionally we consider depression to be illness, "sadness without cause," for example someone with a great life, friends, family, job etc. who is utterly miserable. There's an alternative idea that all (or most) "depression" is really a rational response to a broken society, and being embedded in the cause is why it eludes us. It's not a new idea, but I'm wondering if there's a succinct description for this view. [more inside]
posted by mnemonic at 11:52 AM PST - 30 comments

I own a house, have a part-time job, have a partner who contributes financially and domestically, and am raising a kid (with another on the way? Maybe?). I also need more sleep than average (?) — 9-10 hours. It feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to take care of the basics. What are you “this made my life so much simpler” hacks? [more inside]
posted by CMcG at 11:51 AM PST - 32 comments

I'm looking for visual examples of light (as opposed to darkness) being used as a symbol for an evil force in movies or TV shows. [more inside]
posted by SageLeVoid at 11:01 AM PST - 35 comments

I don't believe I've ever had a really good croissant, and would like to remedy that situation. The nearest large city to me is New Orleans. Where should I go? [more inside]
posted by skewed at 10:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I need sneakers that provide support for exercising in but that are easy to take on and off without having to bend over, at all if possible. I have respiratory issues that make bending over feel like I'm drowning so keeping bending over time as short as possible is the aim here. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 10:38 AM PST - 14 comments

Younger teen wants to keep up his fitness over the winter. I need help with finding some work out videos [more inside]
posted by Ftsqg at 10:29 AM PST - 2 comments

I get really ANGRY/tearful during and after exercise, but not exercising isn't an option. I'm fairly sure I know why this happens, but what can I do to avoid this? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 10:01 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm fat. I have zero rhythm. I'm very out of shape. I have asthma. I have poorly shaped feet and corresponding inferior balance. But, lord help me, I just want to DANCE [more inside]
posted by meese at 9:26 AM PST - 23 comments

I am a librarian considering alternate careers in the event that I decide to leave the public sector. Advise me? [more inside]
posted by toastedcheese at 8:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I opened a Coinbase account last fall and bought some Ripple cryptocurrency (XRP) and it's doubled in value. But Coinbase stopped supporting XRP in January after an SEC lawsuit. I'd like to cash out. Coinbase tells me I can transfer it to a crypto wallet and cash out (but not their crypto wallet). Can you recommend one that's easy to use?
posted by goatdog at 8:36 AM PST - 1 comment

Hooray! It's another "I need a facemask" question! Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 8:23 AM PST - 5 comments

My office is thinking about getting 200–300 stainless steel pint "glasses" laser-engraved with our logo. We aren't interested in Yeti-type, just a simple, 16-oz metal glass like in the right side of this photo. We're trying to use a local vendor for the engraving but need blank cups. Can anyone recommend a good, affordable source of blank, 16-oz stainless steel tumblers?
posted by griseus at 7:33 AM PST - 8 comments

I really like one of the shirts Billy Bob Thornton is wearing in Season 4 of Goliath. Some of his other shirts are by Billabong but on this one I have so far found no clue.
posted by patrick54 at 11:34 PM PST - 6 comments

Back in the 1990's I had a cheap compilation CD called "masters of swing" or something generic like that, including a version of "Ain't She Sweet" that I have been trying in vain to find (gone through many, many versions on Spotify). It is haunting me. Can you help me identify it? [more inside]
posted by beatrice rex at 10:02 PM PST - 8 comments

Due to a surveying error, our 100+ year-old house in Seattle was built right on the property line of our next-door neighbor's lot. His house is ten feet or more from our house. Between our houses there is no fence, just some plants that are trimmed about once a year. Would it make sense to purchase a strip of our next-door neighbor's lot so our house is no longer on the property line? [more inside]
posted by Sock, Sock, Sock, Sock, Sock, Goose! at 9:22 PM PST - 10 comments

Need a wfh job to work around caregiving and unpredictable hours. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:44 PM PST - 7 comments

Can you recommend any resources on survey design and other aspects of survey research?
posted by NotLost at 7:45 PM PST - 6 comments

I've been running a Facebook Group for organizing monthly meet ups where people purchase things I make. I'm looking for non-Facebook options for hosting a group that can receive regular updates and essentially replace the utility of the Groups function on Facebook. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah at 6:39 PM PST - 12 comments

Is there an iPhone app that will allow me to use the camera to scan the room I'm in and automagically creature a blueprint? (I do not have the iPhone with LIDAR.)
posted by musofire at 5:18 PM PST - 2 comments

Gentle, not-too-scary, not-too-exciting audiobooks help our 5-ish year old chill out as part of the pre-bed process. Suggestions for more audiobooks we can listen to? [more inside]
posted by joyceanmachine at 5:08 PM PST - 17 comments

[insert snowflake details here] i know about a couple groups on fb as well as the subreddit for gofundmes, but are there any other networks that i should be considering when sharing?
posted by megan_magnolia at 5:03 PM PST - 2 comments

Are there any other troupes currently doing characters and performances similar to Mummenschanz?
posted by Sophont at 4:22 PM PST - 8 comments

We found this metal tag, glued mysteriously to a notecard with"ANONYMOUS" typed on it, in a deceased relative's things. He was a mathematician who worked on developing computer systems in the early days and through the 80s on various projects. It looks like a tag that identifies a piece of equipment. What is it? Image link here.
posted by zennie at 2:15 PM PST - 6 comments

Looking for blogs, instagram accounts, books, classes and other resources to help me learn to doodle and watercolor. iring. [more inside]
posted by Brittanie at 2:06 PM PST - 11 comments

As an update to my previous question, I met with the Kaiser doctor/surgeon, decided to stick with them instead of the original external referral for plastic surgery. However, I learned of an independent, very specific practice in Boise, Idaho, that seems world-renowned for microtia surgery. I'm unsure on what to do now. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 1:48 PM PST - 7 comments

I live in the U.K, where it is hard to get an ADHD diagnosis as an adult. I have suffered from "depression" and "social anxiety" for over a decade and been on SSRIs for them for a considerable amount of time, I came off them a year ago. I put those terms in quotation marks as I consider them symptoms of a traumatic upbringing and not purely illnesses in their own right; in fact it makes me angry when they are treated that way. Anyway getting back on track, I spoke to my GP they said it's just depression and suggested going back on SSRIs which I don't want to do as I feel they made me extremely lethargic and unmotivated. I don't want a diagnosis but I would appreciate some thoughts around whether you think I might exhibit ADHD symptoms. I am currently too poor to go private, it costs over £1000 to get assessed privately in the U.K unless anyone knows anywhere else I can go cheaper? [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 1:01 PM PST - 26 comments

I am a CPA with 5 years experience in industry, and am also in law school (1L, part-time evening). I want to go into business law, but am not sure about the exact focus yet. Is it better for my future legal career to go into the legal field now, at a junior level, or to keep building on my accounting career for now and make the switch later on (either when I’m further along in my 4-year, part-time program or when I have my JD)? [more inside]
posted by rue72 at 11:52 AM PST - 15 comments

My kids (9 and 6) love being detectives. What board games can I get for them? [more inside]
posted by evadery at 11:47 AM PST - 16 comments

About a month into quarantine I switched from underwire bras to stretchy elastic bras. I am not going back to underwires, but I *am* going back to the office. Part of the delight of these bras is that the straps stay on my shoulders instead of slipping down. This means that you can sometimes *see* them when I'm wearing clothes that aren't turtlenecks. [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 9:16 AM PST - 26 comments

I keep my spice bottles in cutlery trays so they stay organized. But the shelf where they reside is at about my eye level so I have to remove a tray to access any bottles behind the first row. It would be a lot easier if the trays slid easily on the shelf instead of needing to be lifted for removal and replacement. What can I devise to make them slide? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 9:15 AM PST - 5 comments

How are Cheerios made? Are they scalable to home kitchens? Due to anaphylactic allergies, I avoid certain foods as well as products at high risk of cross-contamination. Can I make my own Cheerios? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 8:28 AM PST - 7 comments

So I recently brought a wall mounted plant holder from Etsy that was listed as handmade. It came drop shipped from Amazon, and surprise, wasn’t handmade. And I paid about 50% more for the item then if I’d brought from Amazon. Is it worth reporting or is the practice so widespread now it should just be expected, and I should just move along? [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:24 AM PST - 16 comments

Can an employer require someone to submit proof of having car insurance even if the employee never uses their vehicle for work purposes? At a new job I was told that everyone needs to submit proof of car insurance for the company's own insurance policy. But this seems false. My position is one of many where we work fully from home, no work travel needed. Not even to an office occasionally. They say this is a standard practice and that it is just in case. This seems to be the reasoning behind many practices, and I do not want to share extra things just in case. I am looking for more information about the legality of this practice.
posted by anonymous at 6:40 AM PST - 9 comments

My son is already showing signs of puberty. I would really love some suggestions for good books that he can read, or we can read together. [more inside]
posted by contrapositive at 3:43 AM PST - 7 comments

Surely *someone* will have a solution: I got a lovely little book of color schemes, used, with a bar code sticker on the back. The sticker came off! Yay! How can I get the goo off without leaving a greasy stain? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:18 PM PST - 29 comments

I want a really simple Health Tracker for iPhone, something like these screenshots: A single screen for entering various data (weight, glucose, a1c, pulse, cholesterol, blood pressure etc.) Then another screen that shows that data, broken down by category, into charts from 1 wk to 5 years in the past. I'm not looking for health plans or videos, although those are fine if they have the above. Absolutely willing to pay for this, what do you suggest? [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:00 PM PST - 5 comments

In a different Ask, someone here recommended possum-fur yarn as a super soft material for knitting accessories. I'm intrigued-- but where (US) can I acquire this? And does anyone know if it really lives up to the hype? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 7:43 PM PST - 13 comments

Can I pull these maps into my desktop version of google earth? [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 6:01 PM PST - 7 comments

The ex-wife of one of my wife's employees is making continued attempts to contact me. We would like her to stop, but she probably has not broken any laws or made any threats that would justify a restraining order. What should we do? [more inside]
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 3:55 PM PST - 14 comments

Hi. I'm seeking information or documentation regarding image and likeness in terms of contracts similar to modeling releases or booking agencies. I'm fairly familiar with relative terms, I'm seeking experiences from others. An example would be limiting a service to use/share only images provided to the service, without permissions to use other images. I am not seeking legal advice, just documentation.
posted by firstdaffodils at 3:02 PM PST - 2 comments

The other day I went to urgent care and was given a referral to an ophthalmologist at a hospital, who told me that my sudden weird vision was an ocular migraine. Ok all good! Except my insurance didn't pay for it...and neither will my vision insurance? Who pays for this stuff? (in the US) [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 2:51 PM PST - 24 comments

Tell me about living in Ann Arbor as a single woman in my mid 30s. [more inside]
posted by telegraph at 2:11 PM PST - 9 comments

How can I help long distance with elderly parents one of which has Alzheimer's and the other who is just difficult. [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 2:11 PM PST - 15 comments

We're heading to Pittsburgh this weekend for a short overnight trip with the dog. Can you recommend some neighborhoods, parks, and other areas to explore with a dog in tow? Also, good vegetarian takeout food? [more inside]
posted by pilibeen at 12:51 PM PST - 6 comments

Bought this folding chair a few weeks ago. While the product description reads "easy to clean", there are no official directions on how to do so. [more inside]
posted by lankford at 12:42 PM PST - 7 comments

I'd like some useable outdoor space to sit outside this winter - either on my porch, or in the backyard. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:41 PM PST - 10 comments

I live in an area of the US with a large overseas Chinese community (a historical Chinatown) that is mostly Cantonese/Taishanese speaking. I speak Mandarin, but unfortunately do not speak or understand any Cantonese. Is it better to use Mandarin or English when communicating? [more inside]
posted by contrapuntal at 12:25 PM PST - 6 comments

I would like to buy or make a leather phone sleeve that I can slide my iPhone 10 into, and also carry several index cards. Has anyone seen one anywhere, or do I need to make this from scratch?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:13 PM PST - 5 comments

Just ditched the microwave and I’m wondering if Ask has a perfect pot for reheating small portions (say, a 1 quart Tupperware) on a gas stove without burning. Either soups or chunky curryish stuff. [more inside]
posted by ftm at 12:04 PM PST - 15 comments

What would be some things to do in Portland on Thursday for 2 friends both from out of town? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 9:07 AM PST - 21 comments

I am unemployed, and I just received a job offer yesterday! The employer offered me a more specialized position than I had applied for, though the workload will be the same. I’ll have some authority in creating new city policies. I asked for $X0,000 when I applied to the original position. They offered this exact amount for the new position. I could probably push for more but feel no need to - it’s the most I’ve ever been paid. Was I wrong to accept it immediately over the phone?
posted by halfnhalfling at 8:19 AM PST - 20 comments

Or would it be hypocritical? [more inside]
posted by troywestfield at 7:25 AM PST - 22 comments

Please recommend a specific artist whose works I can study online - preferably a woman, mid-1800s or later, whose work is now public domain. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 7:22 AM PST - 12 comments

So I'm looking to get rid of the dozen bottles I bring with me in my nomad life and get something more compact. But I'm not looking for a pill case with seven days worth in one compartment. I want to dump the whole bottle in there. IS there such a thing?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:11 AM PST - 13 comments

I've been developing a desktop CRUD application in WPF using a local SQL Server database. Ideally, I'd like to market it in a single-user edition with a local database, and a enterprise edition with a database stored on Azure. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 5:16 AM PST - 12 comments

Wells Fargo is offering a promotion where, if you deposit $5000 and keep it in for 60 days and until the 20th day of the third month (IOW, 80 days), on the 81st day, they say I can withdraw it and keep it with no penalty and close the account. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 11:46 PM PST - 18 comments

I rent a house and the garage door has over the past two months opened itself three times. Two of those times were not witnessed; once was fully observed. That time, it touched down as requested but then went immediately back up again on its own. When halted and sent back, it stayed down the second time. My landlord is not very responsive but when pushed strategically will send help depending on his assessment and how much I bug him. Should I bug him or is this fixable by me? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:28 PM PST - 15 comments

How do you motivate yourself through a beyond-unacceptable situation, past the, "well it isn't cancer," "you're still breathing," "can't you be grateful?" general platitudes people respond with, when they're not experiencing the complexity, and can't possibly understand or care. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 9:13 PM PST - 30 comments

Big or small! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 8:16 PM PST - 66 comments

I have this owl house, which measures 26.5” H x 13” W x 15” D. What is a good trail or birdhouse camera with good night vision capabilities to put in this house? WiFi capabilities definitely appreciated. [more inside]
posted by Seeking Direction at 6:25 PM PST - 1 comment

My dishwasher has three racks. The top one is a shallow rack for silverware, with handy indentations for the silverware to snugly rest in. On approximately one time out of eight, when I pull the top rack out to add more silverware, the current silverware has left its designated place and is all jumbled together. Forks and spoons lying down together. It's anarchy. Why does this happen? [more inside]
posted by lumpy at 5:56 PM PST - 27 comments

Our 10 y.o. cockapoo has been diagnosed with a cranial cruciate ligament tear. We have to decide between surgery and "letting it heal". [more inside]
posted by aimeedee at 5:11 PM PST - 9 comments

This coming spring we'll be moving from Denver to Tbilisi, Georgia, with our cats. We're able to have both of them in cabin with us from Denver to Frankfurt, but apparently one will have to be in the hold for the Frankfurt to Tbilisi leg. We can work with this, but I can't figure out how we're going to find a hard crate at the airport. Lufthansa didn't have any suggestions -- anyone have any ideas?
posted by korej at 4:59 PM PST - 4 comments

Long-time reader, first-time homeowner: We moved into a new construction house five years ago, and in one corner of the house we've noticed a mounting number of clues and symptoms--a couple cracks in drywall, an inexplicably sticky patio door--that leads me to believe that we might be having some issues with the house settling in that corner. We'd like to start working toward investigating and addressing the problem...but I confess I don't know who to talk to between here and a solution, or even where to start. [more inside]
posted by Inkslinger at 4:10 PM PST - 10 comments

My husband and I just moved to New Mexico, and are doing our best to learn the history and be respectful of the amazing cultural heritage here. We would love to learn about Southwestern or New Mexico-specific Christmas traditions, ceremonies, events, and foods -- not to appropriate them but just to recognize them and to better understand and appreciate our new home.
posted by egeanin at 3:57 PM PST - 10 comments

I need to get gifts for a bunch of children ranging in age from 0-10, and I'm stumped... Can we do a "best gifts for each age" thread? Educational, not overly gendered, not brand-associated, and fun! [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:23 PM PST - 12 comments

While passing our Halloween candy with our neighbors last night I found out something interesting. A girl in a Wonder Woman costume prompted this neighborly share: "Did you know Lynda Carter filmed a movie in your house?" [more inside]
posted by mmascolino at 1:20 PM PST - 5 comments

How do you know if you're just on the receiving end of projective identification, or if the traits the person is ascribing to you are actually true and things you need to address? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:00 PM PST - 31 comments

What are the best programs (Mac or PC) or online companies that do automated transcriptions of interviews or meeting recordings? I'm aware of otter.ai and fireflies.ai.
posted by andoatnp at 12:51 PM PST - 14 comments

I was planning to ask my best friend from elementary school to be my maid of honor. I feel the closest to her, but her bandwidth has been fairly limited by a toddler and work. My best friend from college is also awesome, much less busy, and has already offered help, but I feel a bit weird putting her "above" my elementary school friend in the bridesmaid ordering, and I don't want to insult my elementary school friend (but I also don't want to overwhelm her with obligation)... What would you do in this situation? [more inside]
posted by iadacanavon at 12:21 PM PST - 15 comments

If you're a pagan/hippie/spiritual person, where do you hang out online that isn't social media to discuss topics? [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:49 AM PST - 11 comments

My niece is turning 21 in a few weeks. We live in NYC and I want to give her a night on the town! Any recommendations for really fun bars and restaurants to ring in the legal drinking age? [more inside]
posted by Neely O'Hara at 11:23 AM PST - 6 comments

Where oh where can I order custom rainbow-inducing stickers? This year, i would really like to create one of those window stickers that filter sunlight into rainbows in your room, as my holiday cards. I've googled for days and asked for dozens of price quotes, but i haven't found a supplier who could make those for me. I would need about 1000 pieces, ideally before mid-december. Help? [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 11:15 AM PST - 6 comments

I’ve got 95,000 pictures on my phone and iCloud. I do not need 95,000 pictures. I also can’t face doing this entirely manually. It’s too much, and I shut down after a couple minutes, which means I don’t even make a dent. Is there an app or service that can help me? Reviews were disappointing on the ones I looked at - primarily it seems they didn’t work on anything synced - so now I’m hoping for a personal recommendation or one that flew under my radar when I was looking.
posted by Bottlecap at 11:08 AM PST - 11 comments

This was me. A few months ago I finally broke off a 7 year relationship and have been dealing with the loneliness of the aftermath. To top it off, today I found out he has a new girlfriend and I am absolutely crushed. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:28 AM PST - 14 comments

For the past several years, I've watched The Witch on Halloween. For next year, I'd like to pair that with a movie about ghosts. Please recommend ghost/haunting/haunted house movies that would go well tonally as a double feature with The Witch. [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 9:46 AM PST - 20 comments

I've been rereading Winter's Orbit a fair bit as it is the kind of comfort read I want. What are other books that will scratch the same itch? I particularly like the "they both mean well but misunderstand each other" trope that this book was full of and am looking for this especially. [more inside]
posted by jeather at 9:15 AM PST - 12 comments

When you describe a relationship or feelings as being "romantic," or say that you have "romantic" interest in someone, what does that mean to you?
posted by wesleyac at 8:42 AM PST - 10 comments

I know that gratitude journaling is supposed to be very good for you. So why does it make me feel so wretched? Is anyone else like this? [more inside]
posted by kingdead at 8:36 AM PST - 49 comments

I am in the US and am moving abroad for a year, where I will get a new phone. Many of the online services I currently use in the US text me a code to confirm my identity, and my bank uses my current phone number as authentication when I call. When I move abroad, I won't have a new number until I get a new phone, I'm not sure if international text messages are reliable, and I usually use Skype for international calls. How should I handle MFA abroad/ avoid getting locked out of accounts?
posted by my log does not judge at 8:27 AM PST - 16 comments

Can I tell, or estimate, how much rot my joists have -- without pulling up all the boards? [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 8:17 AM PST - 3 comments

Where can I get a one-off shirt made with a design I created, and have it shipped out by this time next week with it costing $35 or less?
posted by cashman at 7:50 AM PST - 9 comments

(YANATherapist, or at any rate you're not my therapist.) I've had treatment for anxiety and I'm on the waiting list for more now that this latest, uh, 'outbreak' has started. In the meantime, I could use your tried-and-true tips for helping me think more positively about myself and just relaxing a bit. [more inside]
posted by rubbish bin night at 5:44 AM PST - 22 comments

(I hope this is an acceptable question for AskMeta) This is for a book I'm writing, a cozy Fantasy. One of the characters, Wren, is travelling magically around the world and keeps sending her friend Ray cryptic text and audio messages with hints of where she is. I could make these up, but it would be so excellent to have messages that describe actual locations. What message would Wren send Ray if she were in your part of the world? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 4:41 AM PST - 30 comments

I am looking for a book gift for a conservative family member who likes history. Based on our conversations they have been mostly exposed to American conservative talking points about US history and I'd like to offer them a chance to get more in-depth knowledge. What book should I buy? [more inside]
posted by M. at 4:10 AM PST - 21 comments

Please recommend a non-fiction book that would help me understand the topics such as negotiation, facilitation, and possibly conflict resolution. It doesn't have to be super practical or business-oriented, but it has to be thought-stimulating and vision-broadening. Hope me! [more inside]
posted by runcifex at 12:40 AM PST - 10 comments