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All the shows I've recently liked are in a similar vein, with supernatural or science-fictiony goings-on, a bit of humor, and as little actual horror as possible. List below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 9:35 PM PST - 20 comments

Here is the sound file. I don't speak Hebrew or Yiddish, but I think the words to the chorus were something like: "Oy oy mein vey oy mein dos-itz-vor yish-ach ben-dovid hi-teas-yore" [more inside]
posted by ch3cooh at 8:21 PM PST - 1 comment

A friend of mine does not consume pork, but does consume other meats/(shell)fishes. Where's the best ramen in Seattle for this person? [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 6:11 PM PST - 6 comments

I am a huge fan of Gone With The Wind, and the culture of its time (minus the pro-slavery, of course). Yet, I love the acting in the film, the scenery, the dialogue, and the wonderful character development. And Vivien Leigh, as beautiful as she was, she is brilliant and shines though, and her acting blows me away each time I watch the film. Are there any similar films from that time era or even present? And films from the Old Southern feel? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 5:00 PM PST - 15 comments

I have been having neck pain likely from covid. The pain was unbearable at times. Now it is much milder but, for reasons, having this pain at all is causing me a lot of stress. What can I do to relieve this pain? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:16 PM PST - 23 comments

I do show in in Toronto (info in bio to avoid self-link). I'm want to do the show in San Francisco and am looking for a venue. The show is a sort of off-kilter lecture series. We've toured it a lot to other cities. The ideal venue is a bar where shows happen, that's open to weird/smart/wordy events. Most places we play are places that mostly book bands, sometimes book other stuff, or places that do cabaret/variety/burlesque-type stuff. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 10:50 AM PST - 8 comments

I don't have a university degree. All I have for an education is a high school diploma, a CDL, and a one-year college diploma from a career college. My therapist says I put too much emphasis and importance on a degree for my self-esteem, but I don't know how not to. [Mod edit: Content warning for R-word / slur used multiple times, in context from one who suffered from this language] [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 9:45 AM PST - 50 comments

Happy new year, Mefites! Here's a fun q for the holiday: I'm traveling to Vegas with a small group in February. We need one, like, mid-level restaurant and one special restaurant (ideally a bit splashy and dressy, but chiefly: incredible food). What are your picks? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:52 AM PST - 15 comments

Some relatives are celebrating a big anniversary soon, and I'd like to set up a video greeting card for them to collect video reactions and cheers from friends and family. I found this article which gives me some options. Do you have any experience with these products and what would you recommend I think about and pick? [more inside]
posted by Borborygmus at 6:24 AM PST - 0 comments

Looking for a temporary solution -- the Switch requires 15V - 2.6A through what looks like a USB-C. [more inside]
posted by Kiwi at 2:13 AM PST - 7 comments

Hi! I have this vivid memory of reading a passage that described memory and how we create meaning from it as building a string of pearls. Creating a narrative of cause and effect that’s as neat as a pearl necklace even though it’s actually as random as pearls from the sea. It’s stuck with me for years. Do you know where it’s from? [more inside]
posted by hotchocolate at 11:02 PM PST - 4 comments

If a website is migrated successfully from one server to another, and the email is working just dandy for a day and a half, and then it stops, and it turns out the MX Records reverted to the IP address for the old servers...um, why? [more inside]
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 8:25 PM PST - 8 comments

What shoes are folks wearing for yard work that can handle mud and are easy to clean off afterwards? [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 8:11 PM PST - 16 comments

I don't think I've ever used sweetened condensed milk before. Bought some today to use for a recipe, and after opening it I'm suspicious of it. Should I not use it? Details below. [more inside]
posted by Mechitar at 6:43 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm currently awaiting diagnosis for a serious illness that is as yet unclear, but believed to be fast-developing lung cancer. I'd love to hear your coping strategies. [more inside]
posted by rubbish bin night at 3:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Acquaintance offered to connect me with a great professional opportunity from a third party. Acquaintance has not done so despite a couple of pings. This is somewhat time-sensitive. Should I keep pinging, reach out to the third party myself, or just drop it? [more inside]
posted by CactusJack at 2:51 PM PST - 13 comments

Neither my Macbook Pro nor my PC laptop will connect to my iphone's WiFi hotspot when I'm in the car. Not by USB, not by Bluetooth, not by wireless. They work find outside the car. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by musofire at 2:22 PM PST - 4 comments

What is the best OBD2 car code app for ios, Macintosh, Linux, or Android? (preferably Android) [more inside]
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 1:27 PM PST - 6 comments

For Reasons I need a pair of those polyester sport slacks men of a certain pre-boomer generation wear, that have a back pocket for a wallet and beltloops. Haband pants, I think of them as being, and Blair does sell them, but they think s-m-l-xl is an appropriate range for inseam sizes, and I disagree. Also they make them mostly in hideous denim colors, when everyone knows these pants come in olive green, maroon, taupe, or navy. Does your dad/granddad wear these? Where do you find them?
posted by shadygrove at 1:14 PM PST - 6 comments

Pelican from the semi-recent Islands record has a bit around at 2:25 that sounds to me like it might be a lot like maybe a Gorillaz track? But I can't place it exactly and it has been kind of a small vexation on and off since I got the album (which incidentally is really nice, strong recommend if you like that sort of thing). If anyone recognizes and can point to the thing it sounds like I would be very happy to know what it was. Or maybe it's some kind of weird musical Mandela effect? Perhaps we'll never know.
posted by implied_otter at 12:06 PM PST - 1 comment

Y'all found some great places to tent camp, in the 10-15$ range, and now I'm extending that to more central Texas, anywhere in the Austin -San Antonio or Dallas region. Thank you! [more inside]
posted by Jacen at 12:06 PM PST - 2 comments

I'd like to delete a whole lot of the activity I see when I look at my Facebook "activity log." Is there a way to do it in bulk, or only one item at a time? Similarly: is there a way to delete Instagram posts by the batch, or only one photo at a time? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:52 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm replacing the toggle-stopper cover on an older bathtub with a plain overflow drain cover and a pull-up stopper. Screws fit for the drain cover, but the plate isn't big enough to cover the hole. Options? [more inside]
posted by penduluum at 10:33 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for great salad dressing recipes. Details inside, but mostly a plea to answer the question as asked. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 10:32 AM PST - 31 comments

I bought my son a 3d printer for Christmas (a Creality Ender-3 S1) and we are struggling with getting our first test prints to come out. We know next to nothing about 3d printing so it's been hard to find answers. Pictures inside. [more inside]
posted by mkb at 10:02 AM PST - 8 comments

A friend asked me for help finding a story told to them by someone who read it. The story as remembered: a female protagonist makes robots. Robots replicate (at 1/2 size?), bringing ruin to everyone around. Eventually there is rain, halting the problem by bringing the robots to rest. Final words may be a variation of "next time I'll make them stainless steel". [more inside]
posted by tychotesla at 2:21 AM PST - 8 comments

Possibly early 2000s? Perhaps got a hint of poppy electro swing about it, beat definitely up towards that tempo. [more inside]
posted by spranks at 2:20 AM PST - 6 comments

I wish to move money from a regular checking account (either one at BofA or Chase, I have accounts at both) to a High Yield Savings Account. I have low financial literacy. [more inside]
posted by cboggs at 1:01 AM PST - 9 comments

Gorgeous pocket knife, from when grandfathers passed it to son who passed to his son, etc and etc. Name plate came loose, disappeared. My friend has a friend in common, an art jeweler, where name plate was now very cool, owners initials. But he wants to know the brand, maybe replace with original name plate Ie "Old Timer" or "Schrade" or whatever. Where online can he find what he's looking for, pictures of knives. He's a good guy, doesn't know I'm in on it now, hoping to help.
posted by dancestoblue at 12:05 AM PST - 3 comments

I Need ideas of how to be an awesome exchange student and an awesome host family. [more inside]
posted by jadepearl at 11:10 PM PST - 6 comments

My friend's home was broken into and ransacked while he was out of town. He's very distressed. I live far away but was trying to think of things I could offer, and he accepted my offer to research alarm systems. Help me out? [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 5:16 PM PST - 15 comments

I’m looking for a specific pesto recipe that was published prior to 2013. Unfortunately I don’t remember much about the recipe or the context but the recipe made the best pesto I’ve ever eaten. [more inside]
posted by poxandplague at 4:55 PM PST - 4 comments

I need recs for podcasts matching very specific criteria. Previous asks are a few years old, with many recs no longer active. More details below the fold, but in a nutshell I need: Current episodes. Nothing heavy, or occasional heaviness easy to spot and skip. Informative episode titles. Panel of hosts that regularly include women and who are generally likeable as people. Amusing but not comic, entertaining but not chatty. Thoughtful but not heady. Oh...and most episodes in the 20-30ish minute range, or 45 minutes tops. [more inside]
posted by shelbaroo at 4:41 PM PST - 14 comments

Give me your ideas for entry-level part-time jobs that are not retail (specific suggestions in the SF Bay Area welcome but general suggestions also helpful). The job seeker is interested in the trades. Executive function challenges - details below. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 4:21 PM PST - 10 comments

A stressful situation happened where I could feel myself freezing and fawning to keep safe, but at the expense of protecting a friend better. How do I take small steps to stop freezing and do something? [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 4:08 PM PST - 24 comments

What is best practice for terminating an apartment lease with a co-tenant roommate? [more inside]
posted by nowhere_sparrow at 3:39 PM PST - 3 comments

Yep another frizzy hair q. Didn't quite find what I wanted in the search soooo.. I get my hair cut every 2-3 months, and typically shower 1x a day in the a.m. It is worse when my hair is not quite long enough to sorta lie down? But my haircut is not so short that it is spiky. Not sure how to describe my haircut. Sorta like an older greyer thinning version of Gerard Butler's "300" hair? I don't want to try to make it look any thicker or what not, I just want the random frizzies to stay down. : ) [more inside]
posted by bitterkitten at 2:22 PM PST - 14 comments

Margaritaville. Ruby Tuesdays. Copacabana. What are other restaurants that have the same name as hit songs? [more inside]
posted by bq at 1:33 PM PST - 29 comments

I will be submitting my letter of resignation in a few days, with a two-week window until my departure date. I haven't been treated well or valued at this job, and I'm also not a bridge burner. Is this an appropriate and/or ethical approach to take? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:28 PM PST - 14 comments

I am 42 and hoping to go on some dates. Can you suggest some clothing? [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 1:09 PM PST - 23 comments

I work in Treasury, its high paced and high pressure. Its imperative to be super organised and on the ball and given I definitely have executive functioning problems, I am struggling. [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 11:21 AM PST - 26 comments

What’s the first instance of the spectral dead being described as having a green tint or light? I can think of some 1960s movie examples, and probably 1930s-40s comic books, but does it go back further? What colors are ghosts around the world?
posted by curious nu at 10:47 AM PST - 8 comments

Another "explain this to me like I'm 5" question: Kid Blah is going to the UK for a semester. He'll take his US cell phone (unlocked, AT&T) with him, and we've been instructed to have him purchase a SIM upon arrival at the airport. I have questions... [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:32 AM PST - 17 comments

So I have a thing. I'm usually good at figuring out what a thing is. My guess is some household device, but I'm stumped on this one. [more inside]
posted by BlueHorse at 9:40 AM PST - 4 comments

Bathroom issues with a close acquaintance are rapidly reaching a crisis point. This individual has multiple physical and mental challenges, and needs the simplest possible interface; one big red button to push would be ideal. [more inside]
posted by Bron at 9:36 AM PST - 6 comments

Please recommend to me the mental models/thinking frameworks that have helped your organize your thoughts, make decisions, interact better with people, or generally life a better life (examples: Eisenhower's Urgent vs. Important Matrix, Steven Covey's Big Rocks-Small Rocks, Byron Katie's "The Work" questions) [more inside]
posted by chara at 9:27 AM PST - 7 comments

I have an asbestos certificate document, but I don't know what it means. Is it safe to live in this apartment? Here's the certificate: page 1, page 2. [more inside]
posted by plant or animal at 8:01 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to get a sound like the zzzzzp of a match running against the striking area of a matchbox (something like 1:05 here or 0:10 here), but without lighting a match. What's the best way to do this with something I might already have in my home? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:35 AM PST - 8 comments

For a third year in a row, we've been gifted a savoury jam alongside a favourite sweet one. How in the world do I use this less breakfasty jam? Vegan suggestions only, svp. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 4:49 AM PST - 28 comments

I hate vacation planning - reasons inside. This year, I would like to figure out how to make it less terrible for me and my partner. [more inside]
posted by any_name_in_a_storm at 1:53 AM PST - 30 comments

We are having a surprisingly hard time getting money to our landlord. Maybe you know the answer? This is in the US. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 4:44 PM PST - 31 comments

Recently upgraded our doorbell with a Nest Camera, which necessitated upgrading the transformer, but now our doorbell is very loud. [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:26 PM PST - 4 comments

Boyfriend had a huge fight with his parents and sister under a strong influence of alcohol. I need to find my way of settling it – I thought the easy way (blocking) might cause him to hurt himself while a soft way might give him false hope. I told him I no longer want to be in this relationship since he asked rightaway. How do I do this in a least damaging way that is safe for me? I created safety plan already but I am a foreigner here and I live alone. [more inside]
posted by Salicornia at 3:34 PM PST - 23 comments

About a week ago, I put two packaged frozen lasagnas in my fridge to thaw, intending to cook them on Christmas Day. Are they still ok to cook and eat? [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 2:37 PM PST - 12 comments

Two photos here and here. [more inside]
posted by juggler at 10:27 AM PST - 2 comments

Hej MeFis, Thinking of leaving a very steady job that pays 150k in NYC for a job in the Northeast that is remote that pays 90k that would allow me to live somewhere I enjoy being more (think nature, outdoor activities, family friendly things to do, etc.). [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:37 AM PST - 32 comments

Just what the question says, I guess: I'm looking for recommendations for hotels in those neighborhoods. [more inside]
posted by holborne at 9:07 AM PST - 3 comments

Their terms of agreement say yes, but with the recent security issues, I'm a little reluctant. What upside is there with giving them my real name vs using a proxy name.
posted by storybored at 8:47 AM PST - 13 comments

I was given an immersion blender. I've never had one before. What should I do with it? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:00 AM PST - 29 comments

Next June/early July my wife and I are attending a wedding at NatureBridge on Lake Crescent in Port Angeles, Washington. We're looking to extend our stay in the area and would like some help choosing some accommodations, locations and activities, likely in and around Olympic National Park. [more inside]
posted by rbf1138 at 7:56 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to start a hypnosis podcast and from personal experience, using hemisync audio helps me go under. So where can I get some that’s royalty free? Or where can I make it?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:39 AM PST - 2 comments

inspired by Dot's journey on this season of Fargo, looking for stories about women escaping their pasts and starting new lives [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 12:26 AM PST - 24 comments

An alternate question might be, if I'm contracting with an American company through a foreign company, what tax documents will the company need to provide the foreign company? (the answer may be...none!) I realize you are not my account, but my accountant is on vacation for a bit and if the answer is very obvious, I might be able to at least unblock myself until they are back. Details within! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 10:25 PM PST - 1 comment

I am looking for a very specific style of t-shirt, from your neck of the woods...but keeping it real. [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:25 PM PST - 71 comments

We lost our old cat last year, so we (me and 12yo daughter; I had the cat for 13 years total) have experience with cat living. Today we welcomed a young adult cat (cat tax), whose only life experience was in crowded homes with many cats and at least a few humans. She's a rescue who has been with a foster (who has at least three other fosters) for about a year, and she'll be the only cat in our quiet household. It took her about 45 minutes to find our (non-working and clean) fireplace that has a chain curtain on it, and she's been chilling in there for a few hours. I know it can take kitties a while to acclimate, but my daughter is wondering what else we can do to bring her out of her shell. I'm more concerned about when/how she'll find the litter box! Any tips? We'd really ap-purr-ciate it!
posted by Molasses808 at 5:37 PM PST - 12 comments

Hi Askme Due to disability, I have time on my hands to revolutionise my life. I am autistic, have ADHD, high cholesterol, obesity, arthritis, asthma, aphasia, depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, poor eyesight, that thing when bile rises up into your throat, post-menopausal symptoms, other stuff that doesn't spring immediately to mind. I want 2024 to be a revolutionary year for me. [more inside]
posted by b33j at 2:30 PM PST - 18 comments

This evening, I was having a pretty normal dinner with my wife when I had some trouble swallowing, followed by what felt like all the muscles around my chest contracting, like I was being squeezed like a clamp; it was at the point where I couldn't breathe for about 30 seconds before it eased up and I could breathe again. What's up? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 2:20 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for practical, specific tips, from experience, for preserving my own composure and health in a repationship with a BPD (my amateur diagnosis which I don't want to dispute here) spouse and our two pre-teens. [more inside]
posted by KMH at 12:02 PM PST - 23 comments

Where I live, the state law changed almost 4 years ago saying that bicycle riders may treat stop signs as yield signs if there are no other vehicles present at a 4-way intersection. This is also known as the Idaho Stop. Problem is, there wasn't a widespread campaign notifying people of this change. In addition to publicizing the law change via traditional means like news reports, TV/internet ads, and direct mail, what are some concise ways to word a street sign placed at an intersection so that everyone understands the new law? [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 11:18 AM PST - 20 comments

Please explain this to me like I'm four years old: Kid Blah is going to do a semester abroad, and will take his laptop with him. Does he just need an adaptor so he can plug it into a socket, or does he need some other intermediary device? He'll be going from the US to the UK, but will also plan on doing some traveling thru Europe. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:10 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a newer iphone. My older one has a played game on it and I want to put it on the newer phone, is it possible? [more inside]
posted by the webmistress at 8:54 AM PST - 4 comments

Our senior cat, Bubby, has arthritis. He's been getting laser treatments from our mobile vet, which have helped immensely. They're also very spendy. Can anyone recommend a good home kit to DIY the treatment? Cat tax inside. [more inside]
posted by jzb at 8:35 AM PST - 3 comments

I received an enigmatic fortune cookie fortune that I’d like to try to understand. Is it a poor translation of an aphorism that makes sense in the original Chinese? The fortune read, “Because of your melodic nature, the moonlight never misses an appointment.” [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:52 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm interested in becoming a parent. It looks like the traditional biological method of having a kid might not be available to me. I'm interested in adoption, but I know adoption can be ethically fraught. I'm looking for information and resources on what an ethical adoption might look like. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:42 AM PST - 16 comments

I've got a PDF (see link after the jump) that should display cards for a board game, properly sized, multiple cards on a page. Instead, it's just showing each card as a single page in the PDF. I can tell Preview to print multiple pages on one page (up to 16) but this doesn't make the cards the correct size. Is there a way to lay out multiple pages on a single page (because I don't want one card per page), and scale each page/image to a chosen size? [more inside]
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 1:37 AM PST - 5 comments

Will waiting to pay off my student loan debt get in the way of qualifying for a mortgage loan in order to buy a first house? [more inside]
posted by mxjudyliza at 10:51 PM PST - 5 comments

What's your favorite flourish that you do (or have encountered) with a food to make it a little more special? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 7:55 PM PST - 38 comments

I'm 65Kg. I can run 2km in 15 minutes or I can walk 10km in 2 hrs. Which of these activities burns up more calories?
posted by storybored at 7:36 PM PST - 10 comments

Thank you, kind MeFites. Long time lurker, first post. Please help me help a dear family member find the title of a children’s book. I have searched MetaFilter and the Internet with no success. [more inside]
posted by kyraU2 at 6:32 PM PST - 4 comments

My father-in-law’s “companion” is ruining family holiday vacation and FIL’s relationship with his family. She has dementia and is both care resistant and an alcoholic. This woman is incredibly uncomfortable to be around and often a danger to herself (can’t be left alone (other than 2-3 hours in the house she considers home). Tips or advice for dealing with this in the short term (holiday together) or longer term appreciated. [more inside]
posted by itesser at 5:46 PM PST - 37 comments

Before the availability of reliable and accessible clocks and watches, how did people in societies in very high latitudes (where the summer sun is all day and the same for the winter night) self-manage time? How did they decide ‘time to get up’, ‘time to go to work’, ‘time to go to sleep’ etc.?
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:07 PM PST - 7 comments

Can I regift a gift card? A neighbor gifted me a 26 dollar supermarket gift card. A kind gesture. But I don't really need it and would like to gift our mailman with it. Is there the possibility that when he goes [more inside]
posted by Czjewel at 3:43 PM PST - 7 comments

My kid loves Nilufer Yanya’s song from Ms. Universe called Wway Health, Experience?, Paradise, A Warning. These songs all feature recordings that sound like subway announcements, a phone menu, or hospital announcement. Help us find more songs like this. [more inside]
posted by CMcG at 3:12 PM PST - 7 comments

My wife is 9 weeks pregnant, and we're also desperately in need of a vacation. We're so bad at planning and our efforts always devolve into a couple hours of googling and indecision before we give up. I'd love any specific recommendations that meet the following criteria: [more inside]
posted by soonertbone at 3:06 PM PST - 13 comments

I think of Vertigo as a pretty tightly constructed thing, but there's this one scene that doesn't seem to have any reason for being there. There are some spoilers under the cut. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 1:15 PM PST - 1 comment

YANMD, but my doctor has finally prescribed medicine which disperses my headaches. It's Sumatriptan, so what kind of headaches do I get? My worst cases are accompanied by feverish chills, and note that my father would get pain-free migraines accompanied by their usual visual effects (which I never experience). Is it all because of caffeine? [more inside]
posted by Rash at 12:32 PM PST - 28 comments

Hello, I’m looking for recommendations for a real estate attorney in the Duval county area who specializes in fraudulent transactions, for a house that was sold with a forged quit claim deed by a deceitful relative two years ago, right after my mother passed away. Thank you.
posted by SarekTu at 10:31 AM PST - 1 comment

We were gifted an enclosed, turned wood “hummingbird house”. As handmade wood-crafted items go, it’s lovely; but an internet search for where/how to hang it turned up the info that hummingbirds don’t actually use enclosed bird houses (though there seem to be many YouTube videos about how to make this style of turned wood birdhouse that claim to be for hummingbirds - maybe nest/house preferences vary by hummingbird species?). What else could we use this item for? Would other animals use it instead? Or is there some decorative or crafty use you clever and creative folks can think of?
posted by eviemath at 9:30 AM PST - 18 comments

I take the following supplements: iron, vitamin D, fish oil, vitamin b12. I take them all with food, at either lunch or dinner. Should I divide them up and take certain ones at lunch and certain ones at dinner, or can I take all 4 together?
posted by xo at 9:23 AM PST - 5 comments

I’m in my 50s. My dad passed away several years ago and my mom is in her 80s. My mom has ended up as kind of the repository for a lot of family stuff over the years - various people’s favorite sweaters or jackets, blankets, books, bibles, furniture, calendars, letters, journals, photos, etc. She is very sentimental and rather a packrat, though not to the point of being a hoarder. I am also a bit of both, though less of either than she is. [more inside]
posted by argyle sock at 8:24 AM PST - 15 comments

My husband has a sweater/sweatshirt thing that needs to be replaced because it is quite literally falling apart. We cannot find a suitable replacement. Can you? [more inside]
posted by millipede at 6:55 AM PST - 26 comments

I just finished reading “Poverty, by America,” by Matthew Desmond. I have earlier read his book “Evicted”, “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, and “Maid” by Stephanie Land. I would like to learn more about causes of and solutions for structural poverty. What do you suggest?
posted by NotLost at 6:22 AM PST - 22 comments

Assuming a month-to-month residency and that rent is payable on the 1st of the month, is 30 day notice for rent increase 30 days or 30 days + days to the 1st? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:49 PM PST - 4 comments

Here’s my situation: Have an M1 MacBook Air, a Windows laptop, an LG B7 television. The Mac and Windows laptops have no issue outputting to my computer monitors using a USB C to HDMI cable, USB C to DisplayPort cable or in the case of the Windows laptop, HDMI to HDMI cable. The Windows machine works to the LG TV with an HDMI to HDMI cable. However, neither the Windows or MacBook laptops work with the USB C to HDMI cable to the LG. [more inside]
posted by arm426 at 5:12 PM PST - 6 comments

What resources exist to find out a schedule for interesting upcoming radio programs? [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 11:51 AM PST - 4 comments

I watch YouTube a lot, but I never watch it logged in, mainly because I have weird feelings about Google and data collection. Anyway, I think Google/YouTube is collecting plenty of data on my watching habits because my suggestions page always has the new content from the channels I enjoy watching. So I'm wondering, what benefits might I get, aside from commenting on videos and subscribing to channels, would I get if I started to actually use a YouTube account for watching videos?
posted by hippybear at 10:54 AM PST - 14 comments

I am not currently on Instagram. But I am considering it. I wanted to be clear on something before proceeding. [more inside]
posted by jtexman1 at 10:01 AM PST - 8 comments

It seems like in our culture, the default relationship expectation between a man and a woman is: the man is feral and follows his instincts, and the woman is the organizing, civilizing force. Growing up with The Simpsons really hammered this one home for me, anyway. But I see it so often in real life... [more inside]
posted by wheatlets at 9:28 AM PST - 37 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for movies about the impending end of the world. Not action movies about people trying to save the planet or kill each other. In the vein of Last Night or Seeking a Friend for the End of the World or Melancholia. About how people spend their last days and deal with accepting their fate.
posted by starfishprime at 6:37 AM PST - 35 comments

I have a chromecast plug-in for my television. I haven't used it for a few months and in that time have switched internet provider. I'm now trying to connect it to my new provider and am stuck. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 5:19 AM PST - 12 comments

Bought myself Baldur's Gate 3 for the holidays and discovered that while it runs nicely on my M2 MBA, the game has wild lag on my HP laptop even at the lowest graphics settings. (Game auto-calibrates at Ultra, though!) I want to be able to mod the game, though, something that can really only be done on Windows. How do I figure out which of my HP laptop's specs is dropping the quality of my gaming experience? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by The Adventure Begins at 4:47 AM PST - 6 comments

Help us decide what bike set up we need for the nursery run [more inside]
posted by Chausette at 4:30 AM PST - 21 comments

I'm in a difficult relationship where there is a lot of good and a lot of red flags for abuse. I've asked for advice about it on MeFi some time ago and I've now reached the point where I recognise that I need to ask for a divorce for my own sanity and health. All my instincts are telling me not to do it even though rationally I'm pretty certain it's a good idea. I'm struggling most with the feeling that I don't have a right to ask and a fear that my partner will spiral into a depression and some harm will come to him. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:34 PM PST - 21 comments

What is a normal amount of rage, and what is an I-need-to-go-to-anger-management-therapy amount of rage? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:34 PM PST - 40 comments

It's time to update my will. Is an internet will as good as one written by a local lawyer? [more inside]
posted by Marky at 8:29 PM PST - 7 comments

When I watch or read things, I prefer to sit up in bed covered in blankets. I like slouching and putting my feet up on things. Sitting up straight makes me feel like I'm in the army. My body is starting to dislike my terrible posture, though. How can I sit in a way that's good for my long-term health but feels cozy, not rigid?
posted by wheatlets at 8:28 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm a 39-year old anxiously attached female and I feel like I'm never going to find a partner who is right for me, and years of toxic relationships with the wrong kinds of guys has really destroyed my sense of trust. I fell in love with this guy who I thought was good for me, he was sweet and nerdy, and things were going well but the moment he sensed I was falling for him, I sensed him pushing me away. I can't stop obsessing over what I did wrong. [more inside]
posted by tabertooths at 7:44 PM PST - 16 comments

It appears The Google cannot give me any information that doesn't involve a second car attached to a second battery. I have a second battery, tricklecharged, and no second car. I might know how to do this but asking the hive mind so I don't blow anything up. [more inside]
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 7:41 PM PST - 4 comments

We're heading to the above spots in January 2024 on a cruise. There's plenty of planned excursions available, but we (two adults in a relationship) are looking for other options to do in those spots that aren't the typical tourist things to do.
posted by anonymous at 5:56 PM PST - 2 comments

TW/CN for food/body talk! To maintain my current (lower) weight after an illness, do I just recalculate my TDEE, or is there more to it? Question is mostly for nutrition, training, & fitness experts! [more inside]
posted by cboggs at 5:23 PM PST - 4 comments

I find reality TV sickening. It showcases all my least favorite things about humans (selfishness, pettiness, consumerism, hysterics over things that don't matter, gossip, fakeness, etc.), but my girlfriend enjoys reality TV and somehow finds it relaxing. This is causing a lot of conflict because when she watches these shows no matter how hard I try, my judgment and horror at the content leaks out. I can see that the only solution is for me to let go of this judgment so I'm looking for advice or perspectives that might help me do this.
posted by 12%juicepulp at 5:21 PM PST - 23 comments

A local (Pacific NW) high-end grocery store did $340K in sales yesterday. This blows away old records for this store, which is in the 25,000-30,000 square foot range. Is this as crazy as it sounds? Same question, but limited to the Deli department - how much should the store deli expect to do on a record breaking day during the holidays? Are there any statistics on high sales numbers in urban grocery stores? Everything I have been able to find has to do with productivity or how much shoppers spend, but not how much the store brings in in daily revenue.
posted by happy_cat at 4:42 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm thinking about buying a (refurbished, always) OnePlus 7T. It looks really nice, but does it do well on a day-to-day basis? Anybody have experience with it?
posted by amtho at 4:21 PM PST - 8 comments

Looking for a classy/everyday black or dark brown leather boot, low heel, mid-to-high-calf shaft. Challenge: women's size 13-ish, and fitted. [more inside]
posted by curious nu at 1:19 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m looking for a crochet pattern for a Garrison cap in adult sizes. [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 12:47 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for advice on keeping our small dogs from becoming coyote Scooby snacks. [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 12:38 PM PST - 8 comments

You've recently replaced your shower faucet handle and you couldn't be happier. What did you get? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 11:58 AM PST - 6 comments

So, I was multitasking by making two different recipes at one time, and I accidentally added a half teaspoon of active dry yeast to my cake mix. Sigh. I am making this Yule log cake from Sally’s Baking Addiction. So, the cake needs to be pretty flat to make the roll work. Did I ruin the batter? Should I start again? Or, is this amount of yeast trivial and the cake will turn out fine anyway? Thanks for any advice from you more experience bakers out there.
posted by bitbotbit at 9:53 AM PST - 8 comments

I finally got fed up with the lack of AUX input on my elderly car's factory stereo, so Car Sound Guy installed a new stereo last week. It's not performing satisfactorily, and he has offered to remedy the situation (he's lovely, so far), but I want to be prepared to discuss it intelligently on Tuesday, and I'm a newb about audio. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Part of a story: a young man and woman, first year university students, are in the same art class. The young man praises a piece of work by the young woman, which is objectively good / talented. She has a crush on him, and insists on gifting him the (self referential) piece, which he was not expecting. He (not a jerk) likes the girl (to the degree that he knows her, which is not much) but does not have romantic feelings for her. He now faces a dilemma ... [more inside]
posted by taz at 8:02 AM PST - 13 comments

My friend had a baby! I get to meet the baby! I very badly want to knit or, preferably, crochet something for the baby, but I’m getting conflicting messages on whether such gifts are actually used or just pile up in a corner in a vaguely stressful way. So I am turning to the wisdom of the crowd: [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 6:20 AM PST - 44 comments

My much older sister has a disability and for as long as I can remember my mother has done everything for her. My mother is now getting old and I'm worried about caregiving in the future, as I do believe my sister has developed a form of learned helplessness. I've never been able to find someone in the same situation and I feel very lonely. Do you think I should distance myself, or try to make a change that helps her become more independent? [more inside]
posted by popcorngirl at 2:40 AM PST - 13 comments

I’m in therapy, and my therapist is great. But sometimes I feel like I’m really circling the drain. I think I’m somewhat looking for a listening ear, and someone who’s been through it before. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:52 PM PST - 23 comments

I have certain sensitivities when it comes to specific things; I get grossed out. It's frustrating me and I'd like help on putting a curb to it because it's (minorly overall) affecting my everyday interactions. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:52 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking for movies and TV shows about the contemporary American consumerist milieu (or similar) where generally everyone is alienated, atomized, and it seems like practically everyone is a detached, individualistic, selfish piece of shit [more inside]
posted by cotesdurhone at 10:21 PM PST - 44 comments

As a tourist in Paris, I know that I should bring/buy reusable grocery bags for my whole order. But what about the bags that produce goes in -- are those still at the store like before, or should I bring some reusable mesh bags for my fruit & veg, too?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:44 PM PST - 6 comments

My kid (5) has a science fair project due in Feb. We’re currently at an East Coast beach for a few more days. Any cool experiments we can do? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 7:15 PM PST - 12 comments

We have Verizon wireless for our iPhone 13's. If we buy an Airalo eSIM for a trip to France, how do we avoid getting International Roaming charges? We called Verizon and they said to put the phone in airplane mode -- but then it won't use the eSIM's data, right? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:08 PM PST - 5 comments

Reading Helen Buckley's The Little Boy reminded me of a song in a similar vein about a child wanting to color a picture in 'unrealistic' colors and getting corrected over and over again. I want to say it was a male singer songwriter visiting a TV talk show, and that the picture in the song had simple nature elements, like grass or the sun or trees or flowers. Help me, please?
posted by bardophile at 5:35 PM PST - 4 comments

We have several used doonas (Australia), duvets (UK)/comforters (US, I think) that we no longer need. What can we do with them other than send them to landfill? [more inside]
posted by Logophiliac at 3:21 PM PST - 14 comments

I have not had a vacation since pre-Covid. I will be flying alone with a well-behaved seven-year-old next week. What's changed? What hasn't? What can I expect? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 2:41 PM PST - 21 comments

CW: Food talk. My family can be strange about food. I find it stressful to deal with, especially around the holidays, and I think if I understood the root causes a little more I'd be better able to deal with it emotionally - in my family and also in myself, because I am also a little strange about food! [more inside]
posted by Stoof at 2:21 PM PST - 27 comments

For (Canadian) Thanksgiving I made a recipe similar to this one for baked stuffing and it was fine but suuuuuper bland. What's a good recipe for baked stuffing that isn't bland? I can't figure out what the recipe was missing, but it was missing... something.
posted by VirginiaPlain at 1:03 PM PST - 21 comments

I am looking for advice on how you give yourself “permission” to take several consecutive days of rest when you are in good health. Is their research that backs up taking periods of rest? Are their cultural traditions that back this up? [more inside]
posted by CMcG at 11:44 AM PST - 20 comments

...but nobody else (at least, who doesn't know that country's culture very well) would [more inside]
posted by wooh at 7:23 AM PST - 54 comments

A young friend and passionate environmentalist is struggling to reconcile the fact that her idol Taylor Swift is a major contributor to CO2 emissions. Meanwhile I am on year 6 of trying to separate Harry Potter from JK Rowling and her profound bigotry, something that brings me more sadness than I want to admit. What could my friend and I read together to help us process what is essentially grief over how disappointing these significant public figures have become? Thank you.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 6:22 AM PST - 30 comments

Years ago we were cleaning out an older relative's garage and found a mysterious and kind of beautiful book I've wondered about ever since. It's in an Asian language I can't conclusively identify and it has unusual binding so it unfolds like an accordion. More details (and pics) below the fold... [more inside]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:58 AM PST - 4 comments

I often find myself daydreaming about what I would do if I could go back to the past. Where would I go? When would I go?? I'd like more content on that! [more inside]
posted by lalunamel at 12:30 AM PST - 41 comments

I suffer from a compulsion that's been discussed a few times on Metafilter, as well as in other places. Briefly, I tend to relive memories of events that were embarrassing or otherwise painful. And when I experience one of these memories, I typically blurt out a short phrase, or I grunt. I have a psychologist I'm working with, but I'm also crowdsourcing advice here on the Green. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:12 PM PST - 21 comments

As old as time itself I get asked by a client for impossible things. I have moved from working with CMOs to CTOs and find this increasingly challenging, they used to be developers and still think they are and tend to ask for outdated things. I’m having a hard post-Covid transition into what I guess is called “solutions implementation” vs marketing agency or traditional consulting. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 5:23 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm trying to find a decent bathtub mat so I can avoid slipping in the tub. This seems to be harder than it should be. [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 4:39 PM PST - 11 comments

My partner deals with a number of health issues that sometimes make it difficult to take care of general life maintenance stuff. She doesn’t currently need medical care, but often needs help with running errands, doing laundry, and similar ad-hoc tasks. What kind of service is out there to help with this? [more inside]
posted by learning from frequent failure at 4:33 PM PST - 12 comments

Need one for a gift. 12”, available in Canada (asap I guess), average price (doesn’t need to be engraved or whatnot).
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:27 PM PST - 2 comments

Help me find gloves to protect my hands from bugs, thorns and gravel during "scramble"-ish hikes? [more inside]
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 2:25 PM PST - 10 comments

I’m able to find the quit claim deed itself on a property appraisal site, but I can’t see who notarized it. This deed is suspected of forgery due to the handwriting and signature not matching the deceased’s handwriting/signature and also undue influence because of when it was signed (two weeks before death) and when it was filed (the day after they passed away). It’s important I find out who the two witnesses were before I talk to a lawyer, and who notarized the deed, but I can’t find this information on public records. I’ve already called the Duval County Clerk/Official Records and Research Department and I was referred to that same property appraisal site. Can someone please help me? Thank you.
posted by SarekTu at 2:11 PM PST - 3 comments

Does anyone have suggestions for retro RPGs where - and this is the important part - failing to pay continuous attention is not a tragedy? [more inside]
posted by buxtonbluecat at 1:01 PM PST - 7 comments

YANML. A friend owns a parcel of land in rural Idaho. They want to sell. What could possibly go wrong? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by mule98J at 12:54 PM PST - 11 comments

F.D Signifier's most recent video is packed with many references to music that isn't part of my life. I'm particularly curious about the more recent black musical artists influenced by punk and rock that he flashed a few images in the video to reference, but dropped no names. [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 11:45 AM PST - 5 comments

Spending a few days in LA in early Jan with my 8-year-old. Looking for stuff to do. They like: Minecraft, funny kids graphic novels (Dogman, the Bad Guys, Diary of a Wimpy Kid), dinosaurs, science museums. I like: Karaoke, drinking coffee, being with my kid. We both like - hanging out in diners, walking around a city. We're staying near Santa Monica Pier... Ideas welcome! [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 10:52 AM PST - 11 comments

The old wiggler in our DIY bird bath finally broke. It was ugly anyway. I'd like to find a more compact way to move some water. The bird bath is a large plant saucer with about an inch of water. [more inside]
posted by mullacc at 9:45 AM PST - 3 comments

In search of recommendations for teachers (especially, but not exclusively, voice) doing virtual lessons. Voice, theory, piano, and trumpet leads would all be welcome .. [more inside]
posted by elgee at 8:56 AM PST - 2 comments

I have successfully made David Lebovitz's flourless chocolate cake recipe literally dozens of times and yesterday it came out drenched in an inch of water and revoltingly, grainily uncooked -- even after double time in the oven. This cake is sometimes jokingly called "Idiot cake" because any idiot can do it. Not yesterday. [more inside]
posted by ojocaliente at 7:59 AM PST - 7 comments

Looking for quirky driving routes or fun places to visit NEAR the DC area but not IN the DC area. Highways need not apply. [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 6:22 AM PST - 12 comments

I recently got a Light Phone II to limit my internet time and I'm looking for a way to get SMS text messages sent to me daily to include the day's weather forecast, preferably for free. [more inside]
posted by donuy at 5:35 AM PST - 4 comments

One of my gmail accounts is basically the key to my entire life. If I were to lose access for any reason, or if it were to be taken over by someone else, it would be a disaster. What should I do to keep it (and my life generally) more secure? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:01 AM PST - 9 comments

In art history terms, when did the physical manifestation of death move to being commonly portrayed as a bony skeleton, instead of a weird dried-up skin-on corpse? [more inside]
posted by Naib at 4:46 AM PST - 4 comments

OCLC will shortly shut off the service that lets us look up DDS numbers for free (and WorldCat requires a subscription to get them). The LoC has not noticeably improved in this regard over the years. We can probably tease them out of various online catalogs, but it would be great to have a single site. Suggestions would be very welcome.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:45 PM PST - 4 comments

What are fun things I can do this Christmas (Dec 25) in the evening in Toronto? I like - parties, places people talk to each other, Karaoke, other stuff. It looks like there are good Christmas-orphan events on Christmas eve, but not Christmas itself...
posted by ManInSuit at 5:39 PM PST - 2 comments

How can I find really great TV shows available on DVD, that I can get through my library - or suggest to my library as a new purchase? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 3:37 PM PST - 7 comments

The phone is an iPhone XS and the power bank is a Nitecore NB10000 (which is slim and quite a bit smaller than my phone). How do I go about this?
posted by GlassHeart at 3:31 PM PST - 4 comments

Within the past year, you have shifted from wearing a cotton mask, surgical mask, no mask, or similar to wearing an N95 or similar mask. Why did you make the switch?
posted by aniola at 3:30 PM PST - 24 comments

Unless I'm completely "in the zone" and absorbed in what I'm doing, I hate moving. I'm constantly taking shortcuts that leave me prone to injury, spilling things, and damaging objects because the short, simple motion it would take to do it the safe way just feels like too much. [more inside]
posted by wheatlets at 3:05 PM PST - 34 comments

my laptop that i use for writing has suddenly started playing up. it lets me type normally for a few words or so then it suddenly freezes and won't type until I click on the place I was and then it works again or sometimes it starts typing in a completely different location on the document. how do I solve this? I've tried writing with both notepad and open office and the problem persists with both. thanks
posted by an opinicus at 2:47 PM PST - 10 comments

Can you help me unpack what law or statute this person was referring to that might compel a company to limit employee activities that are perceived as discriminatory? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 1:43 PM PST - 7 comments

I really like my older top loading washing machine with an agitator, but it’s leaking and not an easy fix. I see there are now top loading washing machines that have a removable agitator. That seems helpful for washing big blankets and comforters or maybe for really delicate items. [more inside]
posted by allison00 at 11:01 AM PST - 6 comments

I want to compile the ultimate indie Christmas playlist. Although I prefer the slower, really depressing stuff, I'll take what you've got. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 10:16 AM PST - 25 comments

Can I prep (not bake) a baklava a few days in advance? [more inside]
posted by hilaryjade at 9:00 AM PST - 5 comments

Twice now, I've opened a bottle of Just Egg, and it's been curdled. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:39 AM PST - 9 comments

If the first two songs on the playlist were Tom Waits' Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis, and So Much Wine by Phoebe Bridgers (or The Handsome Family original), what would the other songs be? Thanks in advance!
posted by muhonnin at 7:54 AM PST - 43 comments

Can you please recommend your favourite recipes using just under 14oz (395ish grams) of pumpkin puree? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 2:51 AM PST - 13 comments

I’m on the plane currently. When I was in the jetway, I stepped on a thin, hard-to-see “ramp” thing without knowing it, and stepped down, but my ankle kind of turned a teeny bit inwards, probably enough to feel it. It didn’t hurt initially and was definitely not a sprain, but I’m on the plane now and my foot hurts. Probably psychological, but still — YANMD but do you think I have anything to worry about? [more inside]
posted by thoughtful_analyst at 8:00 PM PST - 11 comments

The short version: last year was admitted to the ER with hyponatremia. SIADH was mentioned as being the cause after urine and serum were evaluated. Was discharged after observation (no treatment was given). Repeated Sodium and Osmolality at home. Serum Sodium was normal. I am including the results of tests performed for your perusal, [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 7:19 PM PST - 9 comments

Help! An artist friend is working on a mural in Pomona, CA depicting a number of civil rights leaders. He is painting a version of this photo (he has the rights) of Dr. King, John Lewis, and Dr. Jessie Lewis marching at the U of Alabama. He wants to know what is the book (pamphlet) both Mr. Lewis and Dr. Jessie Douglass have under their arms. Any ideas?
posted by pantarei70 at 6:26 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a lust for beautiful functional objects. Things with good knob-feel. Things that are beautiful to fiddle with. Things with heft. Importantly, things with switches and buttons. This sort of thing. What other gorgeous tools could I surround myself with?
posted by dmd at 6:24 PM PST - 37 comments

During a very stressful period of my life, I updated my OS to Big Sur (currently 11.7.10) from, uhhh, something earlier, discovered the iPhoto app is no longer supported, and figured I would deal with it when things settled down. And here we are. The full situation within. [more inside]
posted by HotToddy at 6:03 PM PST - 4 comments

Are ‘modern/danish” stairs without nosing dangerous on steep residential staircases? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 5:35 PM PST - 29 comments

Did Spirit Airlines just axe their direct flights from Austin-Bergstrom to LAX? I've been flying this route all year for work. As of this month, I can't find a single flight going forward that doesn't lay over in Vegas. Naturally, their customer service is nonexistent and has no mechanism for asking this specific question. Anyone have any insights?
posted by mykescipark at 5:34 PM PST - 3 comments

I am wondering, I am looking over StarStat on specific YouTubers, and does networth mean how much they have now or does that mean in total of what they made since the beginning of their channel? For instance, Flo Lum's net worth is over $200k (an Asian cooking channel). Does that mean she has that much in her bank right now, or that is how much she had made since the beginning of her Channel?
posted by RearWindow at 5:28 PM PST - 8 comments

Hi all, this is me usual plea for new books in the past year or so that would be similar to some of my favourites: Peter Watts' "Blindsight", Tom Sweterlitsch's "The Gone World" anything by Alastair Reynolds, and non-fantasy Charles Stross.
posted by Dag Maggot at 4:38 PM PST - 8 comments

I have been having fun learning about generative AI through cloud providers. I am curious about upgrading my computer to be able to run something locally, though I don't want to spend a ton. How much money is reasonable to spend here? [more inside]
posted by beepbeepboopboop at 4:23 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm on the verge of buying a copter-style drone. I've skimmed the local and federal FAA guidelines. The model suggested to me which most fits my needs (camera, range, automation, battery life, price) is the Holy Stone HS175D. I have a few concerns, though, before I make the (opposite of a) plunge, though. [more inside]
posted by not_on_display at 3:58 PM PST - 3 comments

I just discovered Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) and would love to see a visual illustration / graphic of the alphabet forms. I did some light googling, but I have no results yet, and very few spoons to devote to more in-depth research right now. [more inside]
posted by seemoorglass at 3:40 PM PST - 6 comments

Tomorrow I have to have a meeting at my father's sheltered accommodation with the house manager and another resident, B. This is because B has been harassing my father and we want to tell her to stop. I'm fairly doubtful that this will be successful, and wondered if any of you have suggestions to make success more likely. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 3:25 PM PST - 16 comments

I have a very strange question. I know what scaffolding is, but is there such a thing as a "ladder platform"? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 3:22 PM PST - 15 comments

An older relative has suddenly found herself with no place to go on Christmas, due to the illness of the person who was going to host her. Unfortunately, we shipped her Christmas gift to the host's house several days ago. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:03 PM PST - 9 comments

Routine pap with my NP shows ‘wow, big cervical polyp!’ so then off to the gyno who says ‘let’s just pull it all out!’ Is this a normal go-to solution for a healthy 55yo? YANMD. Have you done this? What do you know? [more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 2:55 PM PST - 9 comments

We have hornets (or wasps, or whatever) that are coming into our house. I know (roughly) where the next must be, based on observed behavior outside the house. Who do I need to contact, and what should I expect for remediation? [more inside]
posted by Gorgik at 2:50 PM PST - 8 comments

Can you personally recommend an online course (or series), self-paced guides, books, etc. for someone without a coding background (have some basic HTML & CSS) to learn or teach themselves iOS app dev? (holiday snowflakes coming down inside) [more inside]
posted by smirkette at 2:21 PM PST - 6 comments

How do my sister and I come to grips with having to help our Abusive Father who is now having cognitive issues? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 2:05 PM PST - 19 comments

I am in excruciating back pain and don’t see my medical professionals until January 12th. I need to make it through the next few weeks. I’d like to learn how MeFites handle back pain. [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 1:04 PM PST - 14 comments

It was one of those dumb shorts that got pushed at me on IG (I think). It was done in the style of those old "talk to your kids about drugs" PSAs, but using mics and recording equipment instead. One line was like "If you find a mic in your boyfriend's bag, and he says it belongs to his friend." (Not a quote, just in that gist.) It seemed like it was cute enough for me to share with friends, but I can't for the life of me find it. Thank you!
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 12:56 PM PST - 4 comments

What are the best PJs to can get for our aging parents? [more inside]
posted by DoubleLune at 12:46 PM PST - 7 comments

Santa and Grandmas are going to blow my kid's mind. And getting organized for wrapping, I realized I don't have a great "main" gift for my 6 year old. I need a headliner gift. He's 6. In grade 1. Loves dinosaurs, baseball, soccer, camping, folk music, reading (but he's getting lots of books). Some less intense interest in space/planets, science. Also open to "stuff kids like" not related to his interests. Need it by Sunday. I want it to be wrapped up (i.e.don't lecture me about experiences). [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:01 PM PST - 27 comments

I'm trying to help someone at Strongbox trouble shoot why the app is not recognizing my master password on my new phone. Long press isn't working anymore. Help? [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 10:26 AM PST - 1 comment

Seems you can't do this. Please enable me to do this with as few steps as possible. I want to go to a place tomorrow, log into an android tablet, and play the pics in the drive as a randomised slideshow. I can imagine downloading another app to do this, I cannot imagine downloading the photos. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 9:32 AM PST - 3 comments

I like flipping through lists of books with one-two paragraph descriptions to see what I want to read yet. Something like gizmodo's or the New York Times top books of the year they are publishing now. However, I want more. Are there other sites that publish something like this weekly? I am mainly interested in new fiction and science fiction.
posted by hermanubis at 9:25 AM PST - 5 comments

Please share recipes for your best vegan casseroles. I am especially interested in a good shepherd's pie recipe that you have actually tried. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 9:15 AM PST - 17 comments

Let's say I want to make website with a streaming audio. The audience can go to the page and listen in like they were listening to a radio station (every listener would hear the same audio at the same time). The back end would just be some sort of thing and a folder with a few hundred audio files and it's just randomly playing through them (ideally there would be a way to specific some station identification files to every three or four times and a way to not repeat the same files too often). [more inside]
posted by history is a weapon at 7:37 AM PST - 8 comments

What's a good fantasy or historical fiction series for an adult getting back into reading fiction? Think of "wind down at the end of the day" books. Good to feature more relationships and less epic war and conflict. The reader just finished rereading Heralds of Valdemar. They also loved Bridgerton and its spinoff(s). [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 6:48 AM PST - 16 comments

How can I support my elderly Mum, who has Alzheimer's? She lives at home with my Dad and my brother (who is nearly 50) who cultivates a toxic, even unsafe, environment that is detrimental to my Mum's care but also makes it difficult to provide support? (More inside, inevitably) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:16 AM PST - 4 comments

Say you've gone out with someone on three dates, perhaps you even became intimate in your "journey" exploring whether you liked them or not - which feels like it upped the stakes. The usual post-first date "unfortunately the chemistry just isn't there for me" script is simple and easy enough, but feels a bit rote and inappropriate for this scenario given there was SOME chemistry! A big lofty "break up conversation" does not feel appropriate either as we were never "together". What is the middle ground? Assume everyone is an adult in their 30's. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:15 AM PST - 28 comments

I am ready to leave Edward Jones for another brokerage firm. I’m completely new at this as I was left this portfolio and have a lot of anxiety about it. More below… [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 12:57 AM PST - 9 comments

Applesauce (cooked down apples) seem to be very widely used in the US. What do people actually use it for? It seems to be tasty stuff, but it doesn't seem to me to have many applications outside (presumably) piemaking.
posted by tavegyl at 12:40 AM PST - 34 comments

A buddy and I have been thinking about doing a split 7" vinyl release with some other friends who make similar music, but only if we can do it dirt cheap. Can anyone recommend an affordable pressing company for 7" vinyl? Ideally looking within Canada. [more inside]
posted by CarrotAdventure at 10:31 PM PST - 1 comment

I need to study one-person play performances for some theatre work coming up! I'd love to watch some good productions to see how they do their direction, set design and so on.
posted by storybored at 9:00 PM PST - 8 comments

Apple ecosystem: what's the best way to share only SOME albums with an Apple TV? It looks like doing iCloud Shared Albums doesn't have a way to toggle those on/off individually, it's either all shared albums or none. Similarly, just sharing all iCloud photos doesn't seem to have a toggle option. I've got plenty of iCloud space, an iPhone, and a Macbook. Newest AppleTV.
posted by curious nu at 7:59 PM PST - 2 comments

My elderly mother-in-law got a new heating boiler a couple of years ago. It has never been reliable, with the repair folks come in roughly once a month as it's still in warranty. I don't know much about domestic heating systems, but when I looked at the boiler today, there's a baggie wrapped around the expansion tank that's badly stained with rusty water and looks like it regularly gets a good quantity of leakage. It shouldn't do that, right? But I don't know who or how to ask [more inside]
posted by scruss at 7:25 PM PST - 6 comments

Hello, I'm looking for noise cancelling headphones that meet specific criteria, but searching has been very difficult. Can you please help me find my perfect headphones? [more inside]
posted by Rhomboid at 6:20 PM PST - 17 comments

What I've been doing thus far is using a Firefox add-on which allows downloading the vid, then play it locally on my machine. How are you dodging this jive? What I'm doing is mostly working fine but wondering what the community here is doing to get around it. [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue at 2:22 PM PST - 15 comments

Our go-to applesauce (Musselman's chunky) is suddenly unavailable in jars in my area, so we're going to give homemade a shot. Process looks easy; apple choice is more complicated. Specs inside. [more inside]
posted by dlugoczaj at 11:39 AM PST - 24 comments

I help out at a small cheese shop in NYC experiencing an IT Meltdown. This is not exactly shocking, because we are running some ancient Microsoft POS software on a computer that is running windows 7 professional. Yikes! [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:57 AM PST - 8 comments

I deep-sixed a tub of olives but was I being paranoid? [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 8:50 AM PST - 10 comments

You're preparing a special meal or snack board to celebrate the Winter Solstice. What are you serving? Drinks, dishes, nibbles, dessert ideas all appreciated.
posted by brookeb at 8:41 AM PST - 27 comments

I have one coming up and i'm interested in hearing first-hand experiences. They don't have to be positive; I know the hospital will take amazing care of me (they always do) but I'm just wondering about the range of what to expect, good or bad.
posted by rubbish bin night at 8:11 AM PST - 2 comments

My latest chiropractor is making a lot of claims and has a weird vibe, so I am wondering how much of what they are saying and doing is legit. [more inside]
posted by dabadoo at 7:50 AM PST - 33 comments

I want to buy the things I need for my child to use their iPad like a desktop… what do I need to buy? Explain it to me like I’m 5! Thank you! [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 11:59 PM PST - 5 comments

My legs have been staining toilet seats blue. I replaced the old one last week and have already started staining the new one. Nothing I try removes the stain: not bleach, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol. Help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:58 PM PST - 14 comments

I want to spend several days eating, drinking, & lounging in a warm coastal area in January or February, but not spend more than ~3-4 hours on a plane to get there from SFO. I have a bunch of Alaska Air points I'd like to use. Of this list of Alaska Air destinations, where should I go and why? [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 10:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Also, any general thoughts on dating someone new when they are in the middle of major health challenges? More below about our specific situation. [more inside]
posted by Anyone's Ghost 16 at 9:12 PM PST - 18 comments

What do you get the American Girl Doll fan who has everything? My spouse always wanted an American Girl Doll growing up but could never afford one, now it's no problem for us. I want to surprise her with some kind of American Girl Doll gift for Christmas, but 1) I don' t know the first thing about American Girl Doll culture and 2) I don't want to make the mistake of getting something for someone's hobby/passion that's just completely off-base (like a beginner fishing rod for an experienced fly fisher). [more inside]
posted by whisper_robin at 6:30 PM PST - 11 comments

Two couples are celebrating milestone relationship anniversaries in Los Cabos (Baja California, Mexico) after Christmas up to 1st week of January. Looking for recommendations for day trips, places, restaurants, and activities. The last question about Los Cabos on AskMe was in 2018. [more inside]
posted by tinydancer at 5:07 PM PST - 4 comments

I read this in 5th grade, and don't remember too much about it... [more inside]
posted by lkc at 3:46 PM PST - 4 comments

You're single and you have a dog. How do you make that work? What is your life like? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:59 PM PST - 22 comments

Went for a regular exam and my dentist told me I've potentially had some dead teeth for a while - I have questions.. [more inside]
posted by limnerent at 2:12 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm having a debate with someone over the finding in this study which claims a correlation between amygdala size and political affiliation. I'm having trouble interpreting the statistical finding. [more inside]
posted by storybored at 2:10 PM PST - 9 comments

This question might be a bit of a long noodle inside, but I'll try to stick to the most relevant aspects. With the type of burnout I'll be describing, would welcoming a dog into our lives feel like a relief or would it be opening a different kind of Pandora's box? [more inside]
posted by It Was Capitalism All Along at 1:46 PM PST - 19 comments

I see these questions all the time but I wanted to ask a delimited version: What laptop at this link should I buy? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 1:35 PM PST - 6 comments

I want to know if there is a news article out there that attempts to explain the evangelical drift away from Trump before his more recent base-dividing comments (around 9/23) regarding the abortion issue - I believe as a result of a combination of polls he was shown and the midterm backlash - but after he captured the Roe victory for them.
posted by Selena777 at 12:02 PM PST - 3 comments

I've got a petite, aging Tortie who has a couple of really thick matts in her coat. She's aging and has some arthritis. We've got her on a monthly injection which is helping tremendously but the fur matting is pretty severe and I need some help... [more inside]
posted by Thistledown at 11:58 AM PST - 13 comments

I love riding my normal bike in the summer and I've been thinking of getting an ebike as well. Mostly I will be using the ebike for bopping around town (riding to new and exciting coffee shops outside of my normal range, for example). I love the idea of not having to trip plan around distance/tiredness/sweatyness/hills so much before deciding to take my bike somewhere. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 10:52 AM PST - 11 comments

So I'm having all the usual signs of aging eyes, including difficulty switching focus, fatigue, etc, which I assume are compounded by having too much damn screen time. I got progressive lenses but haven't really figured out how to use them so I usually just take off my glasses to read a menu or ingredients labels. What things are worth trying? Eyedrops? Heated eye pad? Eye exercises? Vitamin A? No more phone or video games? [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:59 AM PST - 20 comments

My 5 year old asked for a laptop for Xmas. I'd rather not encourage a ton of passive screentime or dopamine-heavy gaming, but I am ok with him having an interactive screen for educational puzzle games. What should I get him? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:30 AM PST - 5 comments

For reasons, I will probably not be able to go completely sober until January. I want some hacks on how to drink less at any given time since once I get started, I like to keep going. For example, last night I drank way more than I wanted to but at the time I was in "treat yourself" mode and feeling good. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 9:00 AM PST - 48 comments

I'm looking for a particular article in one of the establishment magazines about the character and demographics of Trump's base that asserts that Trump's most rabid base is the wealthy elites in less cosmopolitan, medium-sized cities like Tacoma. [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 7:47 AM PST - 3 comments

A couple times a year I get into an obsessive sudoko thing before I nuke it from my phone for a few months. I've noticed a pattern: [more inside]
posted by latkes at 7:17 AM PST - 6 comments

Max volume seems to mean different things on different days. I like to listen to music. Big whoop. I usually use Spotify, and a combination of either my desktop and PC speakers, my desktop and bluetooth headphones, my phone and bluetooth headphones, or a netbook and Bose speakers. Sometimes max volume hurts my ears and makes it hard to talk, some days its background music. [more inside]
posted by Audreynachrome at 3:09 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like some recommendations for "novelty" classical music. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot at 12:53 AM PST - 37 comments

My brother and his wife just bought a new house which is on five acres of aspen groves! My mom is getting them a wildlife camera for Christmas and I think that’s so perfect! What can I get them as a gift that’s under $100?
posted by exceptinsects at 11:17 PM PST - 28 comments

Is my friend just setting a boundary with me in other words? [more inside]
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 10:47 PM PST - 23 comments

I've made a habit of collecting T-shirts as keepsakes, but time has made some of them too small on me, and others are showing their artwork fraying a little too much from use. I feel like getting them in frames to be hung on walls is the best solution to the problem, and frames do exist for that, but they vary widely in price and required setup. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 9:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I saw and neglected to save a cartoon with two parts. As I remember it, in the first part, a man hires an artist to make a picture and says "Look what the artist created." In the second part, the same man uses ChatGPT to make a picture and says "Look, what I created." Does anyone know where I can find this?
posted by espertus at 2:21 PM PST - 4 comments

Despite a few successful attempts at amateur home dryer repair (i.e., one motor replacement, two belt replacements), I can't seem to figure out what the problem is this time. Help! [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 2:20 PM PST - 13 comments

My brother has been baking cookies and has found that his dough is always super sticky. Why? I've noticed it occasionally in the past during the humid summer months, but never in the dry winter. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 2:14 PM PST - 13 comments

On Etsy there are a ton of companies that will convert your pet to a painting for like, $12. Unfortunately I'm picky. :) Instead of ordering from them about seven times to make edits and test other photos, can I just do it myself with my rusty Photoshop skills and a one-month Photoshop subscription? Use the lasso tool to clip the pet from the background, put on a solid background, use some image filter on that layer, put text nearby, convert to high-quality JPG -- feasible, right? How hard is that image filter to get right? [more inside]
posted by Spokane at 2:13 PM PST - 6 comments

New York public affairs/politics events - where are you? I'm desperate to find a good public affairs/politics club/organization that has events and an actual community. [more inside]
posted by rmm at 12:19 PM PST - 3 comments

What is wrong with my foot and how do I find a running shoe? I’ve tried every brand and type of running shoe at every store near me and they all hurt in the same way. My right foot feels great in a variety of shoes. My left foot always hurts - specifically, there is an area about the size of a quarter in the middle of the arch of my left foot that always hurts when I am running. I have been to the fancy running stores multiple times and stood on their foot analysis machine and tried every shoe in every size while the clerk watched me run. They say I have normal feet and my running looks good. Stability shoes seem a little better but don’t fix the issue. I don’t have the problem with other shoes in my daily life and I walk a lot with no issues in many different brands of shoe, both sneakers and business shoes. The pain seems exclusive to running and running shoes. What is going on with my feet? What are some additional steps I could take to diagnose and treat this problem? (I’m mid-40s male, 230lbs, and usually us size 11.5, if it matters).
posted by TurkishGolds at 11:08 AM PST - 14 comments

You are a scientist in a work of fiction. What kind of research are you doing? More below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Whale Oil at 9:29 AM PST - 31 comments

I recently sent a couple of VHS tapes to a service that converted them to MP4 files. I now have over two hours of home videos that were originally shot on 8mm film. The quality ranges from poor to barely acceptable. What are my options to enhance the videos? [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 9:27 AM PST - 9 comments

What are some songs that sound a lot like The Jackson Five? I don't mean a general Motown sound; I'm talking about stuff like Animal Spirits by Vulfpeck (YouTube, bandcamp) where the similarities are numerous and deliberate.
posted by 4th number at 8:47 AM PST - 16 comments

Looking for a new laptop... [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 8:30 AM PST - 6 comments

My brother-in-law died early this year and when cleaning out his house, I kept anything that seemed useful or at all valuable (I tend to be a pack rat). Now I want to get rid of everything. I don't care about making money if it involves shipping or a ton of effort, but that's a nice bonus. Default is to donate everything usable and toss anything I can't find a home for. [more inside]
posted by caviar2d2 at 6:59 AM PST - 18 comments

Can you recommend me some books on graphic design? Any area/focus. I am a beginner. I find several lists of books online but sometimes it feels like the same lists are regurgitated again and again.
posted by iamsuper at 5:44 AM PST - 8 comments

I’d like to gift an amazing bottle of whiskey to a once-in-a-lifetime mentor. He enjoys whiskey but freely admits he isn’t a connoisseur. He really enjoys Johnnie Walker Blue, I think he considers it “smoky yet smooth.” He has mentioned he doesn’t like super peaty scotch. My entire scotch world is Islay. Help? [more inside]
posted by nemutdero at 5:11 AM PST - 11 comments

Here are a couple youtube videos where the host does a relaxed and friendly "here is a food. we will explore it now. now i am eating it. i could also eat it like this. it tastes good. i have eaten the food." Please share with me more videos like this, like a mr. rogers 101 for non-adventurous eaters. Any foods/cuisines, all ages.
posted by aniola at 11:50 PM PST - 5 comments

I really liked the sensitive digestion kibble from Purina ProPlan, but I’ve bought two bags of bug-infested food now - it’s been extremely stressful dealing with this and I don’t know if it’s worth the hassle. I’d like to make a switch to a similarly WSAVA-approved dog kibble brand, but would like your input on the different brands/type of food that are listed as WSAVA-approved. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 8:33 PM PST - 13 comments

Paris residents:what do non Christians do on Xmas? If they go out to eat, what kinds of places are traditional? [more inside]
posted by brujita at 7:36 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for audiobooks for someone with zero tolerance for swear words, particularly Christian blasphemous swears or phrases. [more inside]
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:34 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm looking for an anthology of sports journalism which is not entirely or primarily written from an American point of view. This is proving harder than I expected to find. [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool at 4:50 PM PST - 12 comments

Wanting to listen to some really attention grabbing fiction again on audible (or pre audible, i can rip cds etc no problem).. however my dilemma is I seem to be picky about who/what sorts of voices I can tolerate listening to when it comes to narrative.. [more inside]
posted by elgee at 2:55 PM PST - 30 comments

Our autistic daughter is almost 20. She can take care of herself but has no concept of money. Who looks out for her when we're dead? [more inside]
posted by musofire at 2:04 PM PST - 13 comments

I have talked with my son (6yo) about addiction when it has come up and I feel like he has an age appropriate understanding of what it is and it's dangers. However, a solid chunk of the drug use my son encounters is cannabis use. Cannabis is not physically addictive. I'm worried that if I don't address cannabis specifically then once he finds out it's not addictive the values that I hope to impart to him around drug use will go out the window with it. So how do I talk about cannabis? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:01 PM PST - 25 comments

This is for a senior with very little left to chew with. If you have tips on getting meat that’s maybe not the *most* expensive as soft as a noodle, I would be thrilled to hear about it. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 1:51 PM PST - 11 comments

Wife and I have long wanted to expand our horizons to include more "exotic" types of gratification. After years of mentioning them in passing, this year our New Year's resolution is to stop talking and start doing. Problem is, there's no "Kinky Sex for Dummies" books, and we have no idea where to begin. Light bondage, latex or leather fetish wear--the list of non-traditional sexual practices goes on and on. What would you do first if you were us?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 1:39 PM PST - 10 comments

Earlier this year I was in a fancy home boutique store and they had a gorgeous coffee table book. I recall that it was very realistic photos or illustrations of flowers and flowering plants with some of the illustrations/photos as vivisections showing some of the internal structures of the flowers. I cannot find this book or anything like it anywhere in my searching. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 1:13 PM PST - 8 comments

We need to find a lawyer in California to review the liability waiver for a horse related activity. No luck with personal recommendations - everyone else just copied from someone else or used a standard contract that they downloaded for a few bucks. Don't want to pay $$$ but want to make sure the contract actually does what it is supposed to do. Specific recommendations appreciated. Generic "how to find a lawyer" advice is not helpful - there are many out there but we need help choosing.
posted by metahawk at 12:45 PM PST - 5 comments

Is there a minimalist smartphone that includes Signal? I've only found the Boring Phone, which is out of stock.
posted by michaelh at 11:45 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a new Dell that came with Windows 11. 80% of my usage is development, but I sometimes need tools like Adobe Photoshop/XD/Illustrator. I know they have web versions, but once in awhile I'll find something that's usually OSX/Windows specific. Seems like OSX is out of the equation due to the new architecture but how good is WSL2 and should I just switch to Windows? Or is Wine/Proton at the state where I can avoid this? More details within. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 10:15 AM PST - 6 comments

What is the etymology of the sarcastic expression much, as in "gee, projection much?" How long has it been around? Title comes from a line I remember in the movie Manhunter.
posted by johngoren at 10:04 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for an online Spanish learning service that includes both a traditional coursebook with graded exercises and 1:1 live tutoring and conversation sessions. [more inside]
posted by jedicus at 9:23 AM PST - 3 comments

I've had a part-time job at a sports center for years. We have an "honored citizen" rate (age 62 and older). I want to make sure patrons pay the proper entry fee, but I have never come up with a tactful way to inquire about someone's age. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 9:05 AM PST - 19 comments

Every once in a while, something will trigger a memory from my early childhood (thanks, Ask!) that I cannot verify. My father was stationed (USAF) in Germany from 1983 to the mid-90s, and I have a vague memory of a theme park/attraction/village that was based on fairy tales. Is this memory real? [more inside]
posted by MuChao at 8:22 AM PST - 10 comments

I have been on the ACA Marketplace for several years. For 2024, I thought I had already selected to re-enroll in my previous plan, but it looks like I didn't. I also erroneously thought that I would automatically be re-enrolled, but that clearly didn't happen. [more inside]
posted by nanook at 8:06 AM PST - 6 comments

We work in mining reclamation and permitting. Me and 2 colleagues have been getting together at lunch time and making music (2 men, 1 woman, guitar, mandolin, voice). We are going to play at the holiday potluck. What is the name of our band?
posted by falsedmitri at 7:08 AM PST - 34 comments

I’m looking for adult fiction or narrative nonfiction book recommendations for one of my in-laws who I help take care of. Stuff she has read and enjoyed include The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, the Tudor series by Philippa Gregory, and Lord of the Rings. Some more specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by eekernohan at 6:28 AM PST - 19 comments

I haven’t bought a monitor in about 10 years. The options are vast, there is new tech, a variety of panel types, refresh rates, resolutions, etc. and it’s all overwhelming. Not to mention it sounds like any and every monitor has an issue of some sort when I start reading reviews. My needs are as follows: Primary use cases 1. External monitor for an M1 MacBook Air; playing games with GeForce Now via the MacBook Air, casual browsing, video watching, etc. 2. Midrange gaming PC that I intend to build next year [more inside]
posted by arm426 at 6:21 AM PST - 8 comments

I babysit a couple of kids regularly, and they're in a phase of wanting to feel useful, helpful, and competent. Last time, they made me a special drink and were delighted with themselves. They get a lot of practice with movement and arts and crafts at school, so I'm thinking more along the lines of "fry an egg". Ideally safer stuff than that, because they obviously should not be tempted to use the stove by themselves yet. I'm just looking to provide some opportunities for safe independence. Any thoughts? [more inside]
posted by toucan at 5:27 AM PST - 20 comments

I’ve had a recent breakthrough in therapy, when my therapist asked me: “why is it that you always need to do the objectively right thing instead of the right thing for you?” And I didn’t have an answer. I need some help figuring out what “doing the right thing for me” looks like. [more inside]
posted by gmb at 2:22 AM PST - 18 comments

Looking for examples of gentle sci-fi set mainly or exclusively on space stations/spaceships, but where the focus is about human relationships rather than grand sci-fi plots. [more inside]
posted by knapah at 2:15 AM PST - 24 comments

Do you have a moon lamp that works well and is high quality that costs $100 or less? I can't sift through the junk and am looking for recommendations from someone who has a moon lamp they like. [more inside]
posted by twelve cent archie at 8:14 PM PST - 6 comments

My 12-year-old wants an Apple Watch. Her friends have them and I see the value of her being connected without having a phone. Great! But wait! My partner and I both have Android phones, which presents a problem. [more inside]
posted by cholstro at 5:32 PM PST - 7 comments

How do I best change my responses to someone else's anger, so that I am calmer and less fearful? [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 3:50 PM PST - 15 comments

Ham is on sale at my local supermarket - there are only two of us who would eat it. Is it worth getting? If so, what should I do with it? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 3:35 PM PST - 20 comments

Not available near me and I'd like a holiday treat. Where do you order yours? Bonus for any additional sources for all things crab/shellfish. Thanks!
posted by cyndigo at 3:16 PM PST - 3 comments

They called me (repeatedly). I told them I know what they're doing and to take my number off their list and never to call me again. The guy read out my phone number and said that he was going to call me at 3 am over and over while drunk. Now what?
posted by janey47 at 12:00 PM PST - 11 comments

All we want for Chirstmas is a simple PDF map of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico with these things on it: (a) interstates, US highways, and major state highways (b) national parks, national monuments, and state parks. [more inside]
posted by Chef Flamboyardee at 11:26 AM PST - 7 comments

I seem to remember an identified trope in which a character moves between locations in a montage, making them seem closer together than they are in real life. Example: Gaston in the film Gigi, singing the titular song while easily walking between landmarks that are actually several km apart. I can't seem to remember the trope's name!
posted by aquamvidam at 11:15 AM PST - 5 comments

Do you have a recommendation for a good smelling shampoo (hopefully coconut)? I have been using Shea Moisture but it doesn’t have SLS and I cannot get it sudsy enough to clean my hair. [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 11:15 AM PST - 10 comments

Which mortgage terms would you take and why? I appreciate the advice! [more inside]
posted by Fister Roboto at 10:57 AM PST - 12 comments

I am not looking for a walking boot (such as this), but hard-sided boots that are comfortable, designed for everyday use, and would help prevent ankle sprains. [more inside]
posted by thoughtful_analyst at 9:14 AM PST - 11 comments

This article describes how to draw, using WebGL, a map of the Earth with animated particles blown by winds. It looks really cool! BUT... the program produces different results depending on the browser in which it's run (Chrome and FireFox match but the wind pattern on Safari is noticeably different)! [more inside]
posted by mpark at 8:51 AM PST - 4 comments

It has the word "ZEISS" (as opposed to "Carl Zeiss") at the top of the lens, 20.2 mega pixels in the tank, a single port with a flip cover on the (user's) right hand side and no tilt screen. From what I can see, Sony has done seven generations of the RX100, differentiated by Roman numerals, but I can't find one that precisely matches mine in any of the photos I've studied online. I bought this camera in London about five years ago and - needless to add - no longer have the receipt.
posted by Paul Slade at 8:48 AM PST - 9 comments

I've been told that two of my grandchildren would love remote-control planes for Christmas, and I've overwhelmed by the choices. Please help me out. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:36 AM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to buy myself a minor appliance to upgrade my life. What is your favorite minor appliance, what do you use it for, and how happy does it make you on a daily basis? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 8:07 AM PST - 68 comments

I'm looking for men's underwear that are the opposite of regular boxers - I prefer boxer briefs that are kind of stretchy and wrap everything individually for comfort. [more inside]
posted by JustAnotherPerson at 7:58 AM PST - 11 comments

A Signal Master SML6-2SML1F has fallen into my lap. But only 1/2 of one. [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:43 AM PST - 7 comments

With Christmas almost a week away, I'm fighting off a virus. Is there a way to be strategic about this? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 7:21 AM PST - 17 comments

Rearranging a kids bedroom the other day, I uncovered a 3' length of Scotch tape on the floor. I think it's been there for years. I did not anticipate it would be difficult to remove. I was wrong. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 6:42 AM PST - 10 comments

Spouse and I have one child, a toddler who is 20 months old. Based on our ages, if we want to have another, we need to get on it. We have some frozen eggs, too, but my impression is that no one should really count on that. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:42 AM PST - 48 comments

A medication I rely on to survive is listed as up for "pre-review" by the WHO's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. This appears to be a preliminary step before a "critical review." What does this mean? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:41 AM PST - 6 comments

I don't mean "please provide me a link as to how to read up on how to do it," because I have looked at all of those links, watched the videos, took notes, etc. Specifically I'd like personal stories/advice of how it went for you, how the testing process works, advice on things I can't find on Cal Careers, etc. Double bonus if anyone's used the LEAP program to do it. People I know IRL who I asked weren't very specific other than "just take the tests and get in." [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:40 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m trying out a new therapist who seems to be completely skeptical that I remember a traumatic event that happened when I was three. Am I making some outrageous claim? I can remember a lot of things from the same age. This doesn’t seem unusual to me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:39 AM PST - 24 comments

Why don’t online clothing retailers provide exact measurements for clothing the way Ebay and Poshmark sellers do? [more inside]
posted by Elsie at 3:32 AM PST - 6 comments

It's a dark and stormy mid-December night and while it's not gale force, the wind is blowing pretty decently outside my home in Southeast Alaska. Wondering what I might expect for the rest of the evening, I pulled up a view of one of my favorite weather visualizers and was pretty intrigued by what appears to be an extremely straight, extremely long front of some sort extending from Baranof Island in the north part of the Alaska panhandle much more than a thousand miles south. [more inside]
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:24 PM PST - 4 comments

I have not had a restful/unbroken night's sleep since moving into a new apartment. Culprits are nonstop sirens all night long plus a crazy dude who walks by under our window screaming at his hallucinations at least three times per night. It's been 6+ weeks and I have not gotten used to it. [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline at 7:43 PM PST - 15 comments

I have one hat from a bookstore and want to have more hats from bookstores. Unfortunately, many of my favorite bookstores only sell the usual smattering of mugs and totes and tees. What lovely independent bookstore near you sells hats?
posted by matrixclown at 7:03 PM PST - 19 comments

I’m not very good at grilling, and I’ve never smoked anything. My friend swears that I could effortlessly succeed at both of them with a pellet grill. I love the idea but I am skeptical of the “set it and forget it” claims. Pellet grillers of MetaFilter: what are your experiences? (bonus request: do you have a brand or recipe that you particularly like?)
posted by AgentRocket at 6:37 PM PST - 8 comments

Due to unfortunate circumstances, i was forced to replace my paleolithic sears 50 gallons a second washer with a higher-end washer/dryer combo. It was great at first, but now my clothes smell like soap a bit more every wash and i can't stand it. Any easy fixes here, from anyone who's dealt with this? [more inside]
posted by emptythought at 5:48 PM PST - 24 comments

Idle, (very) hypothetical question: If I committed some heinous crime, and were sentenced to lifetime imprisonment, could I petition to be executed instead? The consensus seems to be that lifetime imprisonment is more lenient or merciful than execution, and I'm not certain I agree. Has anyone ever tried this? How did, or how would, it work?
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:20 PM PST - 6 comments

My friend is in the hospital after a major surgery with some pretty miserable complications that have made it so she is not allowed to eat any food (nothing but water and ice chips), possibly for up to 14 days, and is on oxygen to boot. I am seeking distracting, pleasant, soothing, and silly internet videos (Youtube or otherwise) that require low to no effort to watch. Cute animals, interesting crafts or art -- what other ideas do you have? (NO videos that include food or eating please!) [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 4:06 PM PST - 21 comments

Are there any tools or tricks for remembering things that don't have a specific timeline or deadline? I'm mostly thinking about this with regard to digital gift cards, store credit that I'm holding after a return, and other "things of value" that I receive but may eventually forget about. I'm good at saving them and want to use them when the time is right, but I know I lose track and am just giving money to corporations! What's a good way to keep an inventory and be reminded of it periodically?
posted by luzdeluna at 2:54 PM PST - 6 comments

Mint (the personal financial software) is going to be disabled starting in March since they were bought by Credit Karma. Credit Karma won't have the budgeting feature that is my main reason for using Mint. What's a good/easy thing to transition to? [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 1:23 PM PST - 9 comments

How do I get mice to leave my house (they are in the attic which is difficult to get to) without killing them? I don't want to get a cat.
posted by GernBlandston at 11:58 AM PST - 16 comments

My aunt died about a month ago at a ripe old age after a long chronic illness. I just now caught myself before I wrote her a Christmas card. She didn't want a funeral and I couldn't visit her in the hospice just before she died due to Covid. It just feels like she's... missing. [more inside]
posted by spranks at 10:29 AM PST - 14 comments

My computer restarted in the middle of the night and when I woke up I realized I had an unsaved word document that it did not give me the option to restore (which it usually does). I had my husband try to recover it with the .asd file but there are only a couple of readable sentences and then the rest of the document is gibberish. He says it's corrupted and doesn't know what to do. Is there still a way to recover this?
posted by Forty-eight at 9:55 AM PST - 1 comment

I work out of a satellite office with a small staff (myself and no more than 8 other people on any given day). I was given a $500 gift card and would like to spend it on something that the folks in my office will enjoy. They are also thinking of possibilities and we will select something together next week. [more inside]
posted by honeybee413 at 8:35 AM PST - 32 comments

Hi. I'm looking to get a desktop for my elderly mom, but I'm really not sure what to get. I'm open to most suggestions, but have a few basic guidelines. [more inside]
posted by DavidfromBA at 8:26 AM PST - 25 comments

I dream of taking my child to a miniature outdoor city like Safetyville, Welleby Park, or the traffic playground in Copenhagen. Where are there more of these outdoor mini-towns / roads for kids? (I'm in USA but outside the US is of interest too!)
posted by beyond_pink at 8:23 AM PST - 12 comments

I have extreme stress in my family situation that I am managing and getting support with but I am struggling to implement ways to release the stress from my body and I know it is hurting me, more inside. [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 7:59 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm hoping to find a sunrise alarm clock (gently increases light in room until you wake) that is also 10K Lux, which is recommended for countering symptoms of SAD. My research is showing these two products as distinct, without crossover, but I'm finding that hard to believe. Do you have any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 7:25 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I write a mandatory performance review for an employee who by all of our metrics is excelling and doesn't need to improve in any areas? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 6:00 AM PST - 18 comments

We have two adorable cockapoo sibling pups who are now 12 weeks old. They are not our first dogs so we understand the basics of good training. But, after we got them, I became aware of 'littermate syndrome' and obviously want to avoid this. It's not an issue so far. Our main concern is any future aggression developing. We're starting to follow the general advice about giving them independent time for play, rest, training and exercise. To add to this, I'd welcome your specific, positive tips from personal experience.
posted by dowcrag at 5:38 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a very close friend who appears to be an alcoholic. However, they're very good at hiding the extent of their consumption around me. How do I talk to them about it even though I haven't witnessed it directly? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:14 AM PST - 19 comments

I have ADHD. I am married. I've read a lot of books, articles, forums, etc on ADHD and marriage, but none seem to address the question that I think is most impacting my relationship. I'm looking for "you're not getting dopamine anymore, now what?" and maybe "everything your partner does is grating (because you focus on all the wrong things)" and "your terrible memory means you can't remember what was good about this at the beginning" etc. From conversations, these seem to be common experiences, but I'm not finding resources that talk about how to address them. Point me in the right direction?
posted by anonymous at 5:12 AM PST - 4 comments

A sibling and I have been talking about moving to Las Vegas and buying a condo, to spend our later years together. I have been to Vegas a few times for conferences and know very little about it as a place where actual people live, as opposed to The Strip and All the Stuff that Happens There. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:12 AM PST - 8 comments

I purchased a new Toyota Tacoma about 2 months ago. Since then I've added a GoRhino chase rack, a Peragon tonneau cover, and a Garmin dash cam. Should I inform my insurer? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:09 PM PST - 3 comments

This thread sent me down an absolute rabbit-hole of doomy cultural theory--necropolitics, necrofuturism, necrocapitalism. Where can I read more about these three miserable concepts, plus any other critical -isms that begin with necro-? Most especially, where can I find easy to read stuff about it, since a lot of heavy-duty theory now goes over my head?
posted by mittens at 5:50 PM PST - 4 comments

I have an Azure environment (15 different service types) that is complex: API Gateway, Static Apps, Data Factory, Search, CosmosDb, etc. It also contains other SaaS resources (Okta for now). Some of these environments can be managed in a GUI such as Data Factory and it looks like if a change is made in the GUI it'll have some sort of auto-commit to a git repo but some items like data files and scripts will have to be uploaded manually (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/source-control#connect-to-a-git-repository). I basically want developers to branch in a monorepo, have it create a preprod environment, submit PR, have it accepted and tested and go into production then kill off the environment. How best to achieve this from DX perspective? Also taking into keeping costs down. No VMs, just services, more details inside. Looking for any thoughts that works for fairly small teams (<15). [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 4:20 PM PST - 6 comments

What is the nomenclature of control unit that accompanies the Grass Valley 100 Series of production switcher. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 4:05 PM PST - 7 comments

Is it possible to get the anti-static feature of dryer sheets without a dryer sheet, and in an unscented version? [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 1:26 PM PST - 18 comments

I posted a few days ago looking for suggestions on where to go for an extended-remix, unexpected vacation. I think my spouse and I want to spend all 4-ish weeks in Japan, with the first two spent doing a very short course at a language school. We're flexible on city. So which schools might suit us? And as ever, there's more context after the jump. [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 12:05 PM PST - 3 comments

Please recommend a white-label AR app to buy/license for a client. [more inside]
posted by signal at 11:58 AM PST - 1 comment

My husband has been asked by a business associate to select a gift for himself off of Amazon, for less than $70. He has no idea what he wants. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 11:54 AM PST - 25 comments

I had a plan from the marketplace last year and got a ton of emails about needing to apply again this year during open enrollment, which ends soon... [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 8:22 AM PST - 5 comments

I get free yoga classes through my gym, and I have been doing more of them lately. Usually I like yoga where I get a bit more of a workout (kinda power yoga like) but most of the teachers at my gym offer something that isn't super intense. In your experience, what benefits have you seen to a regular (like 3x a week) practice of less intense (but more intense than say yin or restorative yoga) yoga? [more inside]
posted by knownfossils at 8:14 AM PST - 13 comments

I am looking to banish household dust in the most enjoyable way possible. Do you have a feather duster you are madly in love with? Please share if so! A few reqs below. [more inside]
posted by starcrust at 5:01 AM PST - 15 comments

I can't land a job; I'm aimlessly industry-hopping and hoping something sticks. I have a useless Bachelor's in the humanities and lack guidance and networks. I desperately want to grow my skillset by pursuing a certificate but I don't know in what field. Everything feels urgent as I am very very broke. What line of work can I get into that will allow me to live a calm, comfortable, and fulfilling life? [more inside]
posted by misterpants at 12:47 AM PST - 30 comments

YANML. My wife and I own houses in two different states. Neither state collects income taxes. Property taxes on the house in state A are FOUR TIMES what they are on the house in state B, despite their values being very similar. State A offers property tax breaks for owner/residents, and require a drivers license in that state to qualify. Since I’m splitting my time between the two residences, I’m considering surrendering my state B drivers license and getting one in state A. I’m wondering if there are reasons NOT to do this…? [more inside]
posted by carterk at 9:16 PM PST - 5 comments

What should we consider in deciding between a bidet vs a washlet? [more inside]
posted by tentacle at 7:28 PM PST - 27 comments

I have two nephews, 9 and 6. Both of them love Minecraft. I also have a brother who has played Minecraft in the past and is interested in playing with me and his kids. I have a computer and can play Java or Bedrock. My brother has two computers that could play it. The kids also have a Switch and a Fire tablet and mostly play on those. In connecting with them this weekend, we realized only one (1) nephew can play with his favourite aunt at once, and all using their father's Xbox Gamertag. [more inside]
posted by juliebug at 7:18 PM PST - 4 comments

Last year I bought my husband a gift box of sauces from Zesti and he said it was one of his favorite presents ever. I'd like to get him a different assortment of sauces this year. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:11 PM PST - 10 comments

I am struggling to find a good work backpack or tote that will allow me to carry everything I want (laptop, heels, lunch, coffee mug, etc) and have an accessible secure pocket (metro card, badge, wallet, phone, AirPods) AND not be huge or ugly on someone who is 5'1". [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 5:45 PM PST - 13 comments

Is it ok to check out large print books from the library if the regular sized print are all checked out? It kind of feels to me like parking in a handicap parking space. Or is it just a first come, first serve situation?
posted by roaring beast at 5:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I use the Gemini app to review and clean up pictures on my iPhone but it's not available for Windows. Can you suggest something with a similar feel I can use on my laptop? [more inside]
posted by anderjen at 5:06 PM PST - 1 comment

Help me crafty/DIY-inclined hive mind. My Ikea Lierskogen valet (no longer sold, but like the one in this article) is slowly losing its mirror... any ideas about how to remove it from the foam adhesive and reglue it? [more inside]
posted by dazedandconfused at 4:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I am a literary artist and have a low-level admin position at a small, but prominent financial institution in one of the big metros. Recently, I was contacted by my compliance department and was told that I am in breach of its policy for not reporting outside business activities because I did not fill out a form to report that I was working on a book (that is completely unrelated to my work). The company is now requiring me to sign a form to acknowledge the breach and to do a remedial training session. I do not want to sign a form that acknowledges this as a breach, but am willing to do the training. What are my options? I'm looking for reasonable strategies/approaches/responses that will help me be effective in conveying that the policy needs to be more specific and to not have to sign the form. [more inside]
posted by mild deer at 4:16 PM PST - 17 comments

I am not one who thrives in the cold, but I am working hard to notice what is beautiful about this time, and they say we might even get some snow this year. I need snowy books to help. [more inside]
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 3:58 PM PST - 25 comments

So I've made the switch to FF and I'm looking for your must have add ons. I have the usual suspects like Ublock, Bypass Paywalls, I Still Don't Care About Cookies and Copy Me That. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 3:09 PM PST - 15 comments

Many modern electric vehicles seem to emit otherworldly trilling / drone-y sounds when operating. I do not know the industry term of art for these sounds. I'm wondering: a) is there a term for this kind of audio put out by a car? b) are they are simply sound files that get played by the car's OS? c) is there a collection or even one of them accessible somewhere to download and putter with, for free or for a fee? [more inside]
posted by german_bight at 1:56 PM PST - 9 comments

TL;DR What do you do need to take care of when a sudden brain hemorrhage takes out the person who was operating the at-home-nursing-home-for-one(his wife), and what if we suddenly have 2 people in need of long term care who have explicitly worked really hard at aging in place at home? More snowflakes after the jump. Just one snowflake as a teaser is that they are in the middle of a real estate transaction. So many other snowflakes. [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 1:20 PM PST - 12 comments

Looking for suggestions for dealing (emotionally & practically) with not showering my kids with amazing presents. Tips on powering through pesky "I'm destroying Christmas" feelings leading up to the day? Ideas on helping us all slow down & savor the gift opening on Xmas? Do you have Christmas Day routines, rituals, or traditions that smooth over the post-gift "now what" feeling? What other kinds of magic can I infuse into the season? [more inside]
posted by Baethan at 12:44 PM PST - 50 comments

Looking for holiday gifts for a friend in his 90s with increasing issues with attention span and eyestrain. He loves Smithsonian magazine and classical music (especially opera). [more inside]
posted by kristi at 11:03 AM PST - 8 comments

Looking to make the most of a 2 day Iceland layover (land 6am Saturday, leave 7:30am Monday) with a 6 year old. [more inside]
posted by beyond_pink at 8:51 AM PST - 12 comments

My kid (16M) is a reluctant reader. [more inside]
posted by Ftsqg at 7:51 AM PST - 17 comments

A person who is dear to me is dealing with a lot of Internalized Ableism related to chronic mental illness. The baggage they are carrying around is getting in the way of their ability to thrive. I would like to share some resources with them. So hit me with your favorite blog posts, authors, books, videos, etc. Let's keep things at the 101 leve for now as this is a fairly new concept for them
posted by brookeb at 6:39 AM PST - 5 comments

Where can I find lists of unsolved problems or unanswered questions for any and every branch of science? That might be physics, archaeology, botany, linguistics, any branch of engineering, oceanography, psychology, you name it. [more inside]
posted by underclocked at 6:23 AM PST - 12 comments

I *hate* that every App has its own #@!% built-in web browser, none of which are signed into my myriad of different accounts that Chrome is signed into. Is there a way to get my phone to open links the way I want them to? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 5:42 AM PST - 3 comments

I have a sunny mostly-unheated bathroom in an old drafty house. It gets minimal residual heat from a woodstove downstairs, and I use a space heater in there sporadically just to keep the pipes unfrozen. What plants can survive this?
posted by asimplemouse at 5:19 AM PST - 10 comments

I previously engaged in casual intimacy, remained in unhealthy friendships, and overall hesitated to enforce my own boundaries with people. This was most likely out of fear of not being liked, or that people would stop including me or wanting to be around me. I've been doing crucial inner work for about 1.5 years, and am now in a place where I neither want, nor have space for, these people in my life anymore. How do I cut off contact with them if they reach out? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:13 AM PST - 19 comments

When I'm in a library, I'll always check to see if a book I wrote is on the shelves. If it is, I'm happy... but I'm not sure what to do next. At a bookstore, I can sign their stock of my book, but that seems less appropriate for a library. If you're a librarian, would you want an author on your shelves to say hello? And is there anything a passing author can do for you other than that?
posted by yankeefog at 3:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Is this a real song, or just something they cooked up for the episode? Shazam can't seem to ID it. I set the link to start exactly where the song starts.
posted by Slinga at 7:34 PM PST - 6 comments

My husband and I are looking to spend a few nights at an all-inclusive resort this winter, somewhere an easy flight from NYC. I’d love specific resort recommendations with our criteria in mind! [more inside]
posted by rabbitbookworm at 6:10 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm on the lookout for interesting classes or workshops to expand my skills and hobbies. I recently enjoyed a four-hour flower arrangement session where I got to bring home my creation, and I'm considering attending a matcha tea 101 class. I'm also interested in trying out lettering on the iPad. My friend suggested another place where you just sip wine and paint. What else is out there? [more inside]
posted by benimaru at 5:03 PM PST - 25 comments

I've recently moved back to the Bay Area after living on the East Coast for a bit and am looking for an apartment. So far, every place I've contacted has had the agent or landlord requesting an online credit check and application before showing me the apartment. That seems fishy as hell to me, but is this just the new normal in SF & Peninsula? [more inside]
posted by smirkette at 2:34 PM PST - 9 comments

exactly what it says on the tin
posted by wheatlets at 1:58 PM PST - 16 comments

I want to start taking apart small appliances so that I can disable the speaker and make them stop beeping. I'm wondering what I need to know safety wise to get started with this, because I've heard that some can electrocute you even if they're off and not plugged in. I plan to start with a toaster oven, but I also have a fan and a portable AC unit that I would like to debeep.
posted by wheatlets at 12:49 PM PST - 13 comments

I wiped my twitter post history a few months ago. Last week it is repopulated with some old retweets and replies. Am I the only one? What happened? [more inside]
posted by thecjm at 12:29 PM PST - 7 comments

Can you point me to good information or give good advice for growing greens on my countertop in my kitchen? I want to start incorporating more dark leafy greens in my meals. When I look into how to start, I'm overwhelmed with the options. [more inside]
posted by banjonaut at 10:46 AM PST - 13 comments

What is the cliche / aphorism, "they look for the x in y, because that's where the z (or x or y) are"? There's some stock phrase that uses this formulation in a way that sounds tongue in cheek because it is so obvious. It's often repurposed to cover other domains. But I can't think of what the original (or most common) formulation was. Help?
posted by Winnie the Proust at 10:28 AM PST - 8 comments

Unexpected vacation question: My spouse is changing jobs. His last day is tomorrow, and his first day at the next job isn't until the end of January (22nd or so). We need suggestions for where to spend a good chunk of that time. Where have we not considered going? Preferences and complications follow... [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 10:25 AM PST - 19 comments

I just moved and got my new drivers license. My middle name is misspelled. I know I need to get it fixed, but I might have a timing issue. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 10:23 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for suggestions on how I can live a life that's more structured and communal. Right now, I live with roommates and see friends and family often, but feel lonely most of the time. Even though people are around, we live very separate lives and I don't have that feeling of being "on the same team" that I'm looking for. [more inside]
posted by wheatlets at 9:16 AM PST - 10 comments

Have you ever sat in, or do you own, a Nido futon chair or something like it? Is it comfortable for lounging and reading? This feels like a long-shot question, so here is an alternative question: do you have any other suggestions for comfortable floor seating that (importantly!) can be filled with wool? [more inside]
posted by tavegyl at 8:41 AM PST - 4 comments

French literature question: in search of French writing from the 19th/early 20th century which fits somewhere in the eerie-gothic-strange-uncanny mode. [more inside]
posted by sequel at 6:17 AM PST - 5 comments

Which non-fiction of the past three years will you still be recommending in 2030? I'm looking for more to add to my reading list. [more inside]
posted by clawsoon at 6:06 AM PST - 23 comments

Is there a site or web tool that, much like those that will tell you what you can cook if you list the ingredients on hand, will create different workout options if you tell it what equipment you have? [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:46 AM PST - 8 comments

Six years ago I asked about the sorts of outside spaces that work best for chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers. I've now been asked to design a landscape to include a person with multiple sclerosis - MS. They are mid-30's, female and still walking but not that well. My client mentioned this without my prompting but in a less than open way, and I don't see a client interview helpful. So asking here is the very best next place. [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 12:51 AM PST - 9 comments

I have an aunt, who I haven't seen in years, that I've reconnected with recently. I haven't been close since I was a kid, and for reasons of family madness, hadn't spoken in a few years. Not out of any issue with her, just family stuff. She's been amazingly supportive and a gift in navigating other complex family relationships. AAAAND she's completely politically different than me of the conspiracy theories sorts, a little bit too into it, and just keeps bringing up topics I have no interest in debating. How do I foster this relationship and delicately walk around these topics? [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:30 PM PST - 20 comments

I’m curious about the zodiac signs and personalities of my pets. Are there any reliable sources that provide astrology/horoscopes for dogs and cats? [more inside]
posted by shrimpetouffee at 9:35 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm reading the financial statement of a charity that was submitted to the Canadian Revenue Agency. And the Total Assets is less than Total Liabiliities. I can understand if Total Assets is > Total Liabilities because sometimes Shareholders Equity is considered separately. But what possible situation would cause Total Assets < Total Liablilities in a formal balance sheet. It's supposed to balance!
posted by storybored at 8:20 PM PST - 14 comments

Please recommend your best moisturizer/barrier lotion to prevent chapped skin on your face (nose specifically) in the winter. [more inside]
posted by Mid at 3:26 PM PST - 24 comments

I'd like to get better at cartoony drawing -- action, movement, but not necessarily realistic -- and would like to learn how to, but not just watch someone else do it. [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 2:28 PM PST - 11 comments

Are there any writings / videos / perspectives you’d recommend showing alternatives to “consume or create” as a binary? E.g. the value of maintenance and care work; weaving and connecting; etc. [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish at 2:13 PM PST - 6 comments

It's possible that I've asked this question before in various ways, but I still feel stuck, so here goes: [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:23 PM PST - 2 comments

I wrote my kids a 12,000-word story, my first nervous foray into fiction, that I'd like to have printed as a small book. Not for sale, just a few to have for fun. I've been looking at options like Lulu and Blurb, following up on this question from a few years ago, and I'm wondering if there are any new or better options. [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 11:40 AM PST - 7 comments

My weak grasp on art history has me believing that vanishing-point perspective was "invented" in the 15th century. Yet this painting [non-paywalled] shows it pretty clearly in the bottom section. Are there lots of other counterexamples out there too?
posted by dmd at 10:54 AM PST - 5 comments

I live in a very rural area. It is very hard to get construction , roofing help. my plumbing vent goes through roof and has been knocked down by snow 2 winters in a row. Can I just bend it and vent it through the wall to outside? [more inside]
posted by cda at 8:57 AM PST - 11 comments

I have been searching high and low for a printable 1040 form for 2022. I have been unable to find it. Help? Thank you.
posted by manageyourexpectations at 8:02 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm the new owner of a long-haired cat, and I am seeking advice on how to keep my home clean. I've only had her for a month or so. I clean assiduously, but my apartment feels so. much. dirtier. Pet-owners, please share with me your tips. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 7:57 AM PST - 30 comments

I'm working on learning Spanish and French and I want some specific books in those languages, because I have read them multiple times in English.... [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:06 AM PST - 6 comments

We are visiting Rome for a week in February and have already booked a hotel there for the whole stay. Since its our first visit, we'll primarily be exploring the city, however we're keen to see Pompeii. [more inside]
posted by fairmettle at 4:26 AM PST - 23 comments

Did I totally misread this situation? [more inside]
posted by charlen at 3:23 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm starting on a new song, one about feeling frustration with questions unanswered, situations unresolved, in life. Who said what about this? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 11:00 PM PST - 11 comments

Hey everyone. Long story short, I have to use Adobe InDesign to edit a work newsletter but I have zero idea what I am doing. I have never used any software like this before and unfortunately I don't have any prep time to learn - I just have to figure it out as I go as the thing I am working on is already overdue. I am getting over a particularly spicy case of Covid so my brain is not onboard with pretty much anything complicated. Yes, this is a recipe for disaster. Yes, I do feel like crying every minute I am working on this, how could you tell? [more inside]
posted by BeeJiddy at 10:11 PM PST - 14 comments

I am about to meet a 7-year old corgi rescued from a breeding farm, at the fantastic shelter where I got my very chill street dog who is now 12. We are doing a week foster-to-adopt and I want to get off to a great start but I’ve never had a corgi or brought in a second adult dog (they’ve been youngish). We have five cats who like our dog and a very pet-proofed house. Advice!
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm searching for gifts for 27yo daughter, and someone who is better at gift-giving than I suggested finding something on Etsy re: her favorite TV franchise. Which sounds great to me, but - I don't watch the shows, I don't know what quotes are particularly iconic, etc. As far as I know, all locations/series are on the table. [more inside]
posted by cinnamonduff at 8:42 PM PST - 8 comments

What is the piece of material that Amy Millar has attached to(?)/(below?) Christiano's shadow roll and what is its purpose?
posted by sardonyx at 7:25 PM PST - 2 comments

A friend offered their house. What'd be less annoying to kitty: freedom of movement on her home turf (there is no escape from the noise though), or being whisked away and having to spend the night with newly adopted human of 2-3 months, in a quiet but strange new house? [more inside]
posted by yoHighness at 4:57 PM PST - 19 comments

I have 30-40 colored objects that I'd like to arrange in a grid that is pleasing to the eye, balanced but random, where no same-colored objects are placed next to one another, not in rainbow order. Is there anywhere I can plug in all the colors and dimensions, push a button, and get a nice distribution? Or some kind of formula I can use?
posted by acidic at 3:45 PM PST - 5 comments

My cousin, 40, is undertaking training as a counsellor/psychotherapist. She's fairly far along (about half way) what sounds like quite an involved, rigorous and academic process. There are about 6 residential weekends a year that make up part of the training, where they practice counselling. They role play the counsellor/client relationship in front of others, but the issues they bring to the table tend to be real. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:59 PM PST - 19 comments

Asking for help is hard for me. I have recently begun to understand that, for reasons, I don't feel like relying on others is safe. There are a couple of big things coming down that pike that I NEED help with. How can I better understand and change this fear/belief? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:57 PM PST - 11 comments

Hi all, I am a huge admirer of The Thin Man series with William Powell and Mryna Loy and I love detective films and tv shows as well. I am wondering are there any similar films or series that are kind of like The Thin Man? They both had wonderful chemistry on screen as well. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 12:58 PM PST - 16 comments

Sometimes the elevator call button in my lobby makes the elevator on my floor leave and then come back before it lets me on. Why? [more inside]
posted by hayvac at 10:09 AM PST - 6 comments

How can I adjust the column width to view file names in list view in google drive? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 8:46 AM PST - 4 comments

I used to be able to print from my iPhone (11 Pro Max) via AirPrint to my Epson ET-3750 wireless printer. Some time ago, I stopped being able to send any print job from either iPhone's Safari or Chrome. [more inside]
posted by Joleta at 6:39 AM PST - 7 comments

We are looking for a hypoallergenic cat tree. We're having trouble finding a true hypoallergenic cat tree that doesn't have carpet. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 5:49 AM PST - 7 comments

I’m so sad. The Something Awful AOL Search Log Special (in which they posted the weirdest search histories from AOL’s 2006 leak) was the funniest thing I have ever read in my life, and I revisit it every few months… it’s gone now. Did anyone save it anywhere?
posted by wheatlets at 4:27 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm in the process of changing the dashboard on my car, and need a part that may not exist. [more inside]
posted by Marky at 12:42 AM PST - 2 comments

Got my first dose of Spravato two weeks ago. Didn't do much. I had high hopes, am now really disappointed, and would love to hear from others who have been through this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:41 AM PST - 4 comments

My wife is looking for a talk therapist who does virtual appointments. (I'm posting this in my role as her personal assistant; no need to read anything into her not posting herself). Her previous therapist had to stop working due to family obligations, and doesn't have any recommendations for replacements. We are in New York, but since she is looking for a virtual appointment, this probably doesn't matter. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:41 AM PST - 12 comments

I was summoned for jury duty for a criminal trial in California. (The charges are disturbing/potentially triggering but will be referenced inside.) I was in the third pool (ultimately dismissed without being interviewed), so five people from my group were selected to fill out the jury of 12 plus three alternates. Those 15 were sworn in and the rest of us were dismissed. All 15 people selected were men. Why? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:41 AM PST - 13 comments

I am Italian-American and closing in on 60 years of age. In lo these six decades, I've only ever heard other Italian-Americans say "oof." Until about six months ago, that is. This week alone I've heard it from my assistant, my partner's son's wife, and two friends who don't even know each other, and none of these people are of Italian heritage. What's going on?
posted by HotToddy at 8:23 PM PST - 30 comments

Perhaps some version of this gets asked a lot. I feel like meditation would probably do me some good. I often tell people to try it. I find myself bouncing off it really hard. Would an app help? [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 8:18 PM PST - 15 comments

My wife changed her last name to mine when we married. She now wants to change her last name to her mother's last name, in her memory and honor. She is from Europe, and we now live in the US. The procedure to do this in the US seems to be very easy, but I was concerned about the identity-security consequences. Does anyone have experience or suggestions with such concerns, including, if that is the case, that they are definitely not serious concerns and I shouldn't worry? [more inside]
posted by It is regrettable that at 5:16 PM PST - 12 comments

What are your favorite DVD commentary tracks?
posted by mbrubeck at 1:05 PM PST - 51 comments

How can I learn to use spices / spice blends more improvisationally - other than finding a recipe that literally calls for, e.g., za'atar? [more inside]
posted by catesbie at 11:31 AM PST - 19 comments

How do I restore faded leather boots? [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 11:30 AM PST - 8 comments

I am tired of the constant updates and horrible new update for Call of Duty (and I hear Modern Warfare III is not worth the $$) so I am looking for a new PS5 multiplayer FPS option suggestions (few weird details inside) [more inside]
posted by UMDirector at 11:30 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for Chrimstmas fiction books for adults that are entertaining, but not dumb. So no rom-coms likely to show up on Hallmark, no chicken soup for the soul-esque inspirational books. Nor do I want anything to weighty/dense or depressing. I liked The Autobiography of Santa. I have the Christmas Guest on the way. What else might I like?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:15 AM PST - 15 comments

Every time i wash my linen tops(one red, one navy) they lose colour. Would rit dye fixative work in a case like this?
posted by uans at 10:47 AM PST - 6 comments

Some people and professions get reduced to single word titles, 'Thanks Doctor', or 'Thanks [bus] Driver', but most professions do not and would sound either strange or ludicrous were they reduced to such short titles. Why? [more inside]
posted by Augenblick at 10:35 AM PST - 27 comments

Lindsay Ellis (eventually) noped out of public life after pushback on her tweet comparing Raya and the Last Dragon to Avatar: The Last Airbender. [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 10:32 AM PST - 3 comments

An old friend from childhood has died in some sort of accident and I can't stop thinking about it. Why? [more inside]
posted by Tanya at 9:49 AM PST - 16 comments

I have lived in my house for 20 years and the hot water heater has never been replaced, nor serviced. When to replace one's hot water heater? [more inside]
posted by honey badger at 8:58 AM PST - 17 comments

My wife and I have an offer accepted on a home we're buying, and we have moved forward with a lender, but I want to make sure I'm not leaving money on the table somewhere. So, what are things I should consider when shopping around for a mortgage? [more inside]
posted by Fister Roboto at 8:41 AM PST - 14 comments

I'll keep this as concise as possible. I have been at my job for over 6 years now. For the first 5 years, I received 2 weeks (80 hours) of vacation time each year, that renewed on my anniversary date every year. Up to 3 unused days were allowed to be carried over to the following year. [more inside]
posted by TwilightKid at 8:21 AM PST - 16 comments

Are there books for pre-schoolers about helping others process grief? [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 7:28 AM PST - 12 comments

I'd like to buy a few books of optical illusions. Preferences inside, but feel free to recommend any you have personally enjoyed! [more inside]
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:26 AM PST - 4 comments

I am in the process of converting a home office space which is roughly 10 feet by 20 feet (200 square feet) into a proper home studio space for painting. I'm looking for specific recommendations on: storage units, work tables, shelves, as well as any organizational insights you have gained over the years. More deets inside. [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 7:16 AM PST - 7 comments

Online comments reference an article which detailed that there was a team of people dedicated to "managing" Musk at Tesla, to limit the damage he could do to operations with his shenanigans. What was the article? [more inside]
posted by thetarium at 7:04 AM PST - 2 comments

Do you have podcast recommendations for learning to manage/deal with an aging parent with untreated dementia? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 6:57 AM PST - 8 comments

I’m looking into therapy, because well the last four years have been the longest decade of my life, but we’re changing insurance at work at the first of the year (and of course the deductible resets as well.) I need to complete enrollment, and I also need to have an idea of typical therapy costs and such entail as it can affect which plan I choose. [more inside]
posted by azpenguin at 6:40 AM PST - 7 comments

My fella n I have December birthdays four days apart and I’d like to take him out to a sweet and romantic dinner in his hometown of Minneapolis next week. Complication: I am in Western Australia until Tuesday. I can’t do a cruise by to check out the ambience. [more inside]
posted by honey-barbara at 4:14 AM PST - 7 comments

I use human proof readers, but I want to send them a cleaner manuscript to reduce the number of errors they might miss. What proofreading software can I use? I don't need a grammar or style checker, this is mostly for typos, repeated words, missing quotation marks, that kind of thing. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 10:07 PM PST - 6 comments

At this point it's about an hour before sleep and an hour after waking of blowing and coughing to for me to clear my pipes. It's ridiculous. What special nasal knowledge do you have that may shorten this process?
posted by rileyray3000 at 9:06 PM PST - 23 comments

What strings do you like for your electric, nylon and steel string guitar? [more inside]
posted by jabo at 8:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm the parent of a trans college student who needs to leave the country before the 2024 election -- in case the GOP wins again, but also because we live in one of the states with busy fascist legislatures that will continue steamrolling ahead regardless. Are there any grants or scholarships to help my child get out and stay out? [more inside]
posted by farkleberry at 6:00 PM PST - 32 comments

For various reasons, I want to sleep with earplugs more. But doing so leads to 1. impacted ear wax 2. ear sensitivity near the end of the night. Any advice on either? Perhaps better earplugs, or earplug use advice, or alternatives to earplugs, etc [more inside]
posted by wooh at 5:32 PM PST - 20 comments

TLDR is that I've gotten 3 shots of the chinese vaccine (in china) and the pfizer bivalent vaccine (in macau) earlier this year. I am now a resident of Japan, and want to get the newest vaccine, but getting attestation of the past vaccines is tricky (they don't recognize the chinese vaccine, and I'm trying to figure out how to "prove" to the system that I got the bivalent vaccine etc). Specifics within, but I'm wondering if just starting pfizer from zero has any risks associated with it [more inside]
posted by wooh at 5:13 PM PST - 8 comments

My cat likes to go into the little courtyard out back but he's (apparently, per the vet) allergic to mosquitoes. How can I get him to understand when he can go out? [more inside]
posted by johnofjack at 4:25 PM PST - 10 comments

Both my Dr and my therapist are supporting me in my claim for Disability Pension (Australia). In the interim, I'm receiving Jobseeker without obligation to seek work or volunteer. I was going great guns in my career when a series of unfortunate events disabled me. Now I have time on my hands but significant barriers to activities. How do I plan out my days, months, years for a fulfilling retirement? [more inside]
posted by b33j at 3:43 PM PST - 9 comments

Later this month, a 23yo friend will have a layover in Auckland that includes an evening + most of the following day. She loves art and interesting shops and maybe thrifting, and definitely cute animals. But she's also shy and a little anxious so she needs things that are quite easy to bop into on her own. No car but presumably she can use a car service or bus or whatever's available. Ideas?
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:19 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a tungsten carbide wedding ring. I accidentally cooked it in a wood fired stove. What is it's new patina made from? [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:55 PM PST - 5 comments

Whenever I turn on my treadmill the wifi stops working on nearby devices. [more inside]
posted by aetg at 2:50 PM PST - 4 comments

I want to read a good book about the nervous system that's accessible to non-doctors but not overly simplified. I want to understand more about my various nerve-based illnesses and why I'm prone to them. I'm not seeking medical advice (and YANMD). Any best reads on the topic? I'll also take audio or video suggestions.
posted by mermaidcafe at 2:16 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for a new computer monitor for my M2 Mac Mini. I need a large fontsize due to my eyes, which influences this decision. [more inside]
posted by splitpeasoup at 1:46 PM PST - 8 comments

I'd like to get a loved one a Chromecast and set it up for them so they have access to the right services and everything with no set up needed. How do I do that? [more inside]
posted by Garm at 1:27 PM PST - 2 comments

I want to read, learn and hear about trauma informed workplaces, anywhere in the world, any field—particularly those that are genuinely walking the walk. Links, studies, anecdotes all welcome. This is to help shape the help I give (as a layperson) to trauma survivors looking for work. Thank you!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 12:42 PM PST - 7 comments

The other day IT triggered a sudden remote reboot of my faculty laptop with no warning or chance to opt out. How do I prevent this from happening again? CAN I prevent this from happening again?? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:57 AM PST - 21 comments

I just had an incident with a tree trimmer that really rattled me. What should I have done to vet them in advance? [more inside]
posted by diode at 11:56 AM PST - 10 comments

I drink 4 liters of tea daily, so my basic electric kettle gets a workout. Every kettle I’ve had fails by boiling over — uncontrollably spouting very hot water over my counter. I’ve searched for possible culprits, and I think I’m doing all the right things: [more inside]
posted by Jesse the K at 11:52 AM PST - 18 comments

How do you forgive yourself, especially in situations where the person your hurt was no one, yourself, a stranger, or dead? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:55 AM PST - 15 comments

My mother is elderly and has been in hospital for three weeks (a year post cancer diagnosis). We are pragmatic, but I am also some flavours of ND and ashamed to ask anyone I know the difficult questions I have inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:21 AM PST - 12 comments

At work, I frequently need to refer to the spots that are reserved for people who have disabled parking permits. If you're someone who qualifies for one of these spots, and speak American English, what do you call them? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:25 AM PST - 26 comments

I’ve been billed for a longer office visit than what I experienced, at a new urgent care center. [more inside]
posted by sucre at 9:11 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for some help identifying the fake flowers I had at my wedding 12 years ago. My mother (passed away 5 years ago) designed/put together the table settings/bouquet with materials she ordered online. The flowers came fully formed/she did not construct them, just arrange. My sister is now getting married and would like something similar. They are pretty nice IMO because they are in various states of open, and all seem a little unique. They crack/crumble when crushed and have a kind of spongy consistency. I seem to recall my mom saying they were made out of some kind of reed or something like that but I am having no luck finding anything similar online. Photo for reference https://photos.app.goo.gl/zLg9fw8kGe8p1fUN7. Would be quite grateful if someone knew what these were. The ones from our wedding are yellowing a bit and it would be nice to replace them too!
posted by zackola at 8:36 AM PST - 3 comments

Hello hive mind! Because I'm cheap, I want to repurpose an old, unused Samsung Android smart phone and make it into an FLAC & MP3 player. Special snowflake details inside ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:27 AM PST - 4 comments

My wife yearns for silly custom pajamas with our cats' faces printed on them. There are a ton of companies that will do this. The problem is all the ones I'm aware of are all synthetic materials, and she strongly dislikes wearing synthetics. Are there any companies doing this kind of print-on-demand custom sleepwear where the blanks are mostly- or all-cotton?
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:38 AM PST - 5 comments

I had a very aggressive anti-telemarketer app on my mobile, which worked great - but I needed to remove it. However, one of the features is still on my phone - it's autoforwarding any unanswered calls to a recording that says my number is no longer in service. Help? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:28 AM PST - 3 comments

Hi everyone; So I bought this small desk,I find it keeps "sinking"on the right side. Anyway,does anyone have a simple quick fix to prevent this? I have tightened the knobs very tight on each side,but it still "sinks"a bit over a few days. On the desk is a laptop and mouse-not to much weight there,lol. Thanks for any ideas :-)
posted by LOOKING at 4:58 AM PST - 6 comments

A friend in the UK wants to book a luxury villa in Scottsdale AZ in Feb-March 2024. She'd like to know which company to use. Would you recommend VRBO or some other agency/service? [more inside]
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 2:33 AM PST - 5 comments

What the title says, snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 6:15 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm facing challenges with my art/music studio space due to noise from other tenants in the building, limiting my usage to just a few hours weekly. I'm considering discussing with my landlord about either reducing my rent or letting me out of my lease. [more inside]
posted by chara at 4:07 PM PST - 5 comments

So I have a pretty severe case of misophonia. I also commute on public transport. These things doesn't really mix all that well a lot of the time. Can you help me find a pair of noise cancelling headphones that will keep me from completely losing my mind? [more inside]
posted by That darn sock! at 3:35 PM PST - 34 comments

Recently purchased a house in Savannah, GA, built in 1902. Our contractor found these under our house. Any idea what they're for? [more inside]
posted by Unsomnambulist at 2:42 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a client that has data all over the place: Oracle, SQL, Excel, etc. Every account they have the account person or whatever just set it up, so onboarding new people to the product is ... well no one knows. It involves calling someone up and doing everything manually. They want to digitize it. Long-term they need a better process but in the short term I'm looking for a no-code solution to get it into a well-defined schema. This can run nightly. Basically, rather than figuring out the 50 or so processes I want the non-technical people to map fields to a schema and have it run nightly. What's my best bet? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 1:21 PM PST - 5 comments

I’ve been reading the book “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership”. It’s a mix of things I like and things I don’t. What feels very appealing to me is: It presents a pretty compelling set of principles which seem like they could be really helpful in just about any situation to help decide how to respond in a way aligned with your values. I’m curious if folks have books that do that for them? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 11:32 AM PST - 17 comments

You have a far-off family member who for $reasons needs their home professionally cleaned on, let's say, a monthly basis. They need you to handle it all - finding, vetting, engaging and (potentially) setting up payment for the cleaning person/service, all remotely - and you did it! So how did you make this happen? [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 10:16 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for literary fiction in which the book is narrated in the present, but there is also a significant story that takes place in the past. Please no genre fiction or dystopian futures. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:43 AM PST - 63 comments

This thread on the Blue (as well as "best of the year" season in general) has me wondering: is there a way to make Spotify less of baffling ordeal? In other words, how do you use Spotify to: - Capture stuff you want to listen to (e.g., you hear about an album and want to check it out) - Listen to old favourites (albums and individual songs) - Discovery new music (songs, albums, artists, genres) - Organize everything? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 8:06 AM PST - 12 comments

How can I make in-line notes and comments to myself in a Word document, and only have those comments visible to me when the document comes back and forth to me via revisions by email? [more inside]
posted by TheGreenRye at 7:43 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm in a phase where I'm craving brothy soups. I'll make a pot and keep going back and eating it thoughout the day and night and it makes me very happy. I have a very limited repertoire in this area, and have stuck mainly to various versions of chicken soup, Tom Kha Gai (yet another version of chicken soup), my version of minestrone, and Miso soup base with a variety of add ins. When I'm feeling fancy I will also make Giadas Cioppino, but that's more rare. A whole bunch of snowflake food preferences within. [more inside]
posted by newpotato at 7:08 AM PST - 31 comments

I’m looking for more resources like Jacques Pepin’s TikTok : simple, classic, filling meals for one person using mostly fresh ingredients. Or, bougie cooking for one. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 6:42 AM PST - 7 comments

Beloved nephew is struggling to find books he really enjoys! As a book-loving aunty, finding him something awesome for Christmas feels like a mission but I don't have much info to go on precisely because he hasn't found much yet he really vibes with. Parents report that, TV wise, he liked things like Arcane and Sweet Tooth. Liked the Hobbit but struggled with LOTR. Loves Alice Oseman. Did not get into Percy Jackson. With this limited intel, what would you go with? [more inside]
posted by EllaEm at 6:09 AM PST - 26 comments

Looking for soothing celiac-safe soups in a sit-down setting. New York City, specifically. Second date. [more inside]
posted by Glomar response at 5:56 AM PST - 4 comments

My eighth-grader is in his finance/investment club at school and now wants to know everything about the stock market, investment banking, quantitative analysis, etc. He has asked for a book on investing for Christmas. He finds the "for dummies" series insulting (or really anything marketed for beginners). Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by Ollie at 5:30 AM PST - 12 comments

Please tell me about it as though you're my nice neighbor and you happen to know a thing or two about this tool. What's a good first recipe? What should be avoided?? What are some good tips overall? What is your personal favorite thing to do with an Instant Pot? [more inside]
posted by knotty knots at 11:13 PM PST - 33 comments

I need a pair of waterproof/water-resistant women's shoes/boots that don't make me look like I'm about to go hiking. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:42 PM PST - 16 comments

What are the BEST sheets?? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 6:34 PM PST - 27 comments

What can I do to make sure my legs survive 2 more days of standing all day, after day 1 made my legs/knees feel like they are going to crumble and my back like someone used me as a punching bag? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 5:30 PM PST - 20 comments

I announced my recent prognosis to a friend who had colon cancer as well. Her response was very overwhelming, and I'm having a hard time processing. I also need help to get a second opinion (NCI) through my insurance (Kaiser, HMO) and other bottlenecks. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 5:15 PM PST - 33 comments

It's looking like I shall need a place to stay in or around Fredericksburg, Texas for about a month. I have a decent tent and can sleep in my car in an emergency. Budget is about 20$ a day, max [more inside]
posted by Jacen at 3:15 PM PST - 5 comments

For the past few months I've been having spells where I remember dreams I've had and I briefly feel like I'm living in the reality of the dream. [more inside]
posted by Chenko at 2:06 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a long (10+minutes) video of forest/ scrub/grasslands burning. However, it needs to be without commentary or people. I just want the sound of the fire. [more inside]
posted by Hactar at 1:18 PM PST - 2 comments

I've had AT&T for over 20 years and would like to switch. [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 12:03 PM PST - 9 comments

I am trying to set up my university Outlook e-mail on the Microsoft Teams app, and it states: sign-in error: you'll need to accept the invitation to join this Teamd org. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 11:08 AM PST - 4 comments

Particularly for people with complicated family dynamics (i.e., divorced parents, separated from partner with kids, etc.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:56 AM PST - 41 comments

I apologize upfront with how long this is, but I really need some perspective. The wife of my husband's childhood friend has said some nasty things that I can't forgive. I don't know if I should bring it up or just distance myself from her. Long read inside. [more inside]
posted by xicana63 at 10:23 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm trying to find the original court documents for a case that eventually made it to the US Supreme Court in the 1960's. How does one do that, exactly? [more inside]
posted by bill the tinman at 10:06 AM PST - 8 comments

As my parents age we are looking for ways to have visibility to their finances. Is there a good way to do this without getting into 'power of attorney' type arrangements? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:49 AM PST - 12 comments

Found two featherless hatchlings on the ground. One died in my care. Did I screw up? [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 7:36 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a very small house in a pretty high COL area, and need more space. Specifically, I need the equivalent of an additional bedroom to use as a home office/craft space. I can't afford to add on to my house (I'm in a historic area) so I'm considering adding shed to my back yard. Buying pre-built, having custom made, and even buying a kit are out of my price range, so I am considering a DIY build. I have never built anything with wood. Am I setting myself up for failure? [more inside]
posted by tryniti at 7:28 AM PST - 27 comments

I asked Midjourney for some retro spaceships and it chose this art style. So far someone has suggested acrylic to match the paint, but the form remains a mystery. Something Victorian perhaps?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:18 AM PST - 6 comments

What's the lowest-maintenance way to scramble eggs without nonstick pans? I'm happy to buy better cookware or learn new kitchen skills. I'd rather not spend more time on it, though I will if it's really necessary. Details about what I've tried inside. [more inside]
posted by Birds, snakes, and aeroplanes at 5:45 AM PST - 52 comments

One of my parents is in their mid-sixties and experienced some memory issues (word access, remembering conversations from late evening). They will be sensitive to questions on this topic. I would like some help with prompts to inquire about their discussions with their doctor on this topic, to include ways to assuage anxiety and possibly mitigate or alleviate symptoms. [more inside]
posted by xaire at 4:31 AM PST - 4 comments

Have been prescribed bupropion for ADHD (inattentive) and interested in others' experiences. I have seen some older questions such as this one: All ADD drugs suck. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 4:27 AM PST - 25 comments

In my job, I am sometimes on first-line, meaning a case comes in via phone or email and I need to respond in a timely fashion. Also, I have ADHD. A few times over the past six months, I haven't realized I was on first line until getting a call from an angry manager asking why I hadn't responded to a new case. Is there an Android app that I can schedule to make it glaringly obvious when I'm on call? Like...maybe an always-on red border around the screen, or a different email notification sound on my on-call days, or anything else you might think of? Phone calls are less of a issue, because calls automatically route to me when I'm on call. Case emails come to me regardless of whether I'm on call or not. Any ideas? .
posted by SampleSize at 8:15 PM PST - 8 comments

I have tried several major stain removers including most recently Shout. The blood stains look literally 100% the same when they come out of the wash and I think it should be illegal for them to list "blood" on the labels as one of the types of stains their products can remove. [more inside]
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 7:00 PM PST - 35 comments

Every year, I give homemade goodies to my neighbours, usually loaves of Christmas bread (stollen) made from my mother's recipe. But it turns out one of my newest neighbours is gluten intolerant, so I will need to come up with something different for her household. I've never had much success with gluten-free baking. What gluten-free Christmas treat ideas and recipes can you suggest?
posted by orange swan at 6:30 PM PST - 31 comments

Looking for help building an exhibit of quartz crystals inside of a planter box, in a museum setting. Specifically, I'm trying to figure out what to fill the planter with that will support the large crystals and crystal clusters. [more inside]
posted by Secretariat at 3:32 PM PST - 7 comments

Two days after Thanksgiving, I came down with a sore throat and fever, which turned into a cough. The fever was gone by day 4 but the cough was getting worse. Oddly, nobody in the 20+ group of people I saw around thanksgiving was sick, or has fallen sick since. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 3:13 PM PST - 10 comments

1. I read this article about AI “memorizing” training data:. Why is that a problem? The data is already publicly available online. What is the harm in it being regurgitated elsewhere? The issue seems like it would be different if the AI were regurgitating anything that might have more-private expectations, such as a specific question a user wanted answered. ... and ... 2. What is a good source to learn about AI and what’s new with AI? I am slightly techy, but I am somewhat more interested in issues relating to policy, ethic, effects in or on society.
posted by NotLost at 2:41 PM PST - 24 comments

The group home where our developmentally disabled loved one lives is declining. There has been major staff turnover and now basic needs (shower, teeth brushing, laundry) are not being met. Given there is a national caregiving shortage, we are leery about moving her, as we don't imagine the situation will be great elsewhere. But this situation is not acceptable. Looking for any thoughts for how to navigate this, particularly if you have had to consider something similar in the last couple of years. [more inside]
posted by fies at 2:24 PM PST - 5 comments

My Couch cushions constantly leak down feathers=(almost 2 year old) if you have had a couch with lots of feathers, how have you fixed it so it's much less constant?
posted by sandmanwv at 1:32 PM PST - 2 comments

As a volunteer gig, I took over my UU church's Instagram account. Since I'm on social media a lot (at least as much, if not more than the average elder millenial), I thought it'd be an easy thing to do - post some pictures, figure out some hashtags, make sure that people know we exist, expand our reach. Step 1 of this process, making content to post, is not nearly as easy as it looks, or as easy and carefree as having a personal page. Do you have any good church Instagrams that you follow? Or, if not churches, community organizations? I'd like some inspiration of how to do a decent job of this. [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 12:59 PM PST - 5 comments

Can y'all help me find a music venue, active in 2003, located a bit outside of Montreal, QC? [more inside]
posted by alana at 12:56 PM PST - 5 comments

My iPhone won't backup because my iCloud storage is full. (Meaning, they want me to pay more to have more available storage space.) But when I look to see what it's full with, it's mostly "backups" -- 34.2 of the 50 GB available. Do they not...delete old backups and replace with the new ones? I'm okay with paying 99c per month, but I don't want to pay $2.99 a month just to have a mess of backups on hand. Am I misunderstanding this? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:28 PM PST - 14 comments

I am a 44 year old lady. I'm considering taking up rollerblading but wondering about the risks - mainly bone breakage, etc. I am healthy per my doc and in the border between overweight and obese. I haven't skated since I was 10-11. Should I do this or would I likely suffer some sort of breakage? Too risky at my age? I'd take beginner lessons to start somewhere.
posted by Saucywench at 12:18 PM PST - 14 comments

Caregiving for suddenly disabled friend I have a huge crush on, really struggling to deal with my emotions and worrying over how and when to bring up my feelings, help! Many many snowflakes below. [more inside]
posted by Anyone's Ghost 16 at 11:49 AM PST - 10 comments

Going to Costa Rica for 2 weeks at the end of the month. I have all my recommended vaccines but don't really want to take the malaria pills. Without getting alarmist about this, what is your experience or where can I find better information? [more inside]
posted by mireille at 11:42 AM PST - 20 comments

Heading into chicago and need to entertain a 2-year-old and a gaggle of adults on a cold winter's day in Chicago. we are starting with the shedd aquarium and staying ar the embassy suites near navy pier. what else should we be doing? have car, have stroller, and do need to eat. All suggestions welcome! Thank you, Metafilter!
posted by wowenthusiast at 11:27 AM PST - 6 comments

After some searching I found work in the same non-profit area I was working in before but with a much different role and at a much different corporate culture. I still hate it and feel like a need a more significant change. Can you help me brainstorm wildly different types of work that I have not thought of? [more inside]
posted by kittensofthenight at 11:18 AM PST - 3 comments

Should my stove have the ability to control the electricity in half of our apartment? [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 9:53 AM PST - 5 comments

We are very much enjoying the silly confluence of ridiculous reality actors and practicing anarchists on "The Garden: Commune or Cult". But does anyone know the story around "why" the Garden would agree to allow the film crew to do this sort of show? We haven't been able to figure it out. [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 8:50 AM PST - 3 comments

You are not my doctor, but I'm at a bit of an impasse and could use some outside advice. 2 years ago I, a mid-50's male, got a covid-negative cold and developed difficulties swallowing solids: food gets to the back of my throat, but there's no swallow reflex. I've been through a passel of tests, and I'm totally fine. Except for the swallowing problems. [more inside]
posted by SunSnork at 8:49 AM PST - 16 comments

How best to sell about 400g of scrap sterling? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 8:23 AM PST - 4 comments

You have a year to prepare before your country becomes a fascist dictatorship. What should you be doing now? [more inside]
posted by Naberius at 7:48 AM PST - 32 comments

I have developed a small product line that I would like to sell to gift shops in New England, the UK, and Europe. I am a citizen of both the US and the UK, and I live in the UK. The items will be made (and sold) in the UK and exported to the US and Europe. [more inside]
posted by stinker at 6:12 AM PST - 7 comments

Asking for a family member who can’t stand ear plugs, including loops, and is sensitive to any sounds even people walking past their door. Standard advice is ear plugs but what OOTB alternatives are there? The rest of us sleep deep and work odd hours so this is a major source of friction.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:29 AM PST - 24 comments

My trusty zip-front trolley bag has a coating (waterproofing maybe?) around the inner edge of the front cover. This coating has started to degrade and now sheds like dandruff when I use the bag. Is there anything I can do to prevent this coating from shedding further?
posted by 4th Matryoshka Doll at 12:29 AM PST - 5 comments

I think journaling would be a good idea for me. I want to keep it 100% private so no one else can read it, and towards that end I am waffling between a old fashioned actual paper notebook and Google docs. But the real question is how do I approach this without worrying about being embarrassed later? [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 10:08 PM PST - 22 comments

what are some whimsical / quirky / fun items for your home that fits a maximalist vibe? I want my house to feel like a cross between a bohemian who finds cool uses for ordinary things and a wizard whose place just feels magical and makes you want to look and look. [more inside]
posted by benimaru at 9:44 PM PST - 12 comments

I know nothing about hiking pants and could use some suggestions. [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 8:33 PM PST - 9 comments

I like Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, but I don’t like Dave Ramsey. Got an to recommend?
posted by zooropa at 6:24 PM PST - 7 comments

I’ve been using a regular CPAP machine every night for the last two years, no issues. I’m starting to travel again and got a travel machine from my provider, and tested it out the other week. It’s so loud! I called the provider and they said this is due to the smaller size of the travel machine. But it was so loud I couldn’t fall asleep! Any DIY suggestions to reduce the volume
posted by billsaysthis at 6:19 PM PST - 10 comments

In Chicago, there are many hundreds of little storefront currency exchanges. You can do the regular stuff, like wire money and exchange currency, but you can also pay tickets and utility bills, and get a city sticker, renew your license plate, get copies of vital records, like birth and marriage certificates, etc. How did currency exchanges -- which are owned by many different random people and companies -- take on this quasi-governmental role in Chicago, and are there similar things elsewhere? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 5:47 PM PST - 9 comments

Dad has Alzheimer's which has progressed to where he is a bit resistant to brushing his teeth unprompted. Or he will claim he does when he hasn't. Looking for a way to remotely keep track of when he does brush. [more inside]
posted by Sophont at 4:49 PM PST - 6 comments

My fluffy cat gets poop stuck to her butt, a normal thing. She will not let me clean her butt and seems unwilling to clean her own butt. Please help. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:48 PM PST - 16 comments

My dryer doesn't heat anymore. Wiring questions within! [more inside]
posted by ashbury at 3:35 PM PST - 6 comments

I grew up and lived in Oakland and Berkeley but have lived in New York now for many moons. I'll be out there this week and need to do some work while I'm there. Can you recommend cafes (or other places) that are good for working on a laptop? Relatedly, for any Cal students in the house, when I was a student, anyone could waltz into at least some of the libraries. Doe, for instance. Has that all changed? Or would I be able to work there?
posted by swheatie at 1:47 PM PST - 17 comments

Metal menorah had its leg twisted during a move. Who would be the professional to fix it? Metalsmith, or someone else?
posted by kingdead at 1:29 PM PST - 2 comments

I ordered 12 cans of vegetable soup online which arrived three days ago. The box was okay, but at least half the cans inside were dented, some quite a bit. ask.usda.gov says not to eat it if there are dents on the seam because bacteria could get in. But is there more than one seam? [more inside]
posted by pangolin party at 10:19 AM PST - 11 comments

Someone I know has been working on a book and somehow lost all of their edits, so they are looking for a new software/app/platform to use. If you’ve written a book or something book-length, what did you use to write it? [more inside]
posted by kat518 at 10:08 AM PST - 27 comments

My bike has been collecting dust since I got pregnant. I have it on good authority that Santa will be bringing my 6.5 year old a bike for Christmas. So we probably go on nearby trails and also take our bikes camping (our camping buddy is eager to take bikes). Can someone come to my garage and take my bike away and bring it back usable? How much will this cost me? Downtown Toronto. For added fun, I'm not sure where the bike lock keys are.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:52 AM PST - 9 comments

I was exposed to covid about 20 hours ago. Except for about five of those hours, I have been in close proximity to my spouse. Does it still make sense for us to separate or wear masks, to minimize me further exposing my spouse to covid, or is it too late to bother? That is, from the other direction, would my spouse already have gotten enough exposure to me that separation or masks wouldn’t make a difference? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 7:31 AM PST - 9 comments

I'll be visiting my parents in NJ in March and am looking for ideas within 20 or 30 minutes of Plainfield for something to do with my mother. [more inside]
posted by DarlingBri at 7:09 AM PST - 6 comments

My ADHD-ishness and executive function problems are starting to get out of hand, which has prompted me to see a doctor. In the meantime, I am looking for YouTube channels, books or any other useful resources that will help me to cope. [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 6:36 AM PST - 14 comments

I'll be spending 2 weeks with conservative relatives in February, using their internet as I help them deal with illness, and would like to shield them from seeing the sites I visit while using their wifi on my laptop and phone. Basically, I'd prefer not to reveal the specific accounts I use at some social sites, as the history they find (if they look) will cause friction. What's the easiest way to accomplish this? I am not very device savvy, so would appreciate details.Thanks! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:08 PM PST - 32 comments

I am working on building a website in Wordpress, as hosted by my webhost. I want to have a few different types of recurring content, each with their own default post format, and I don't know how to build this in Wordpress. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 7:26 PM PST - 3 comments

My cat, I think he's seventeen years old, has a lot of itchy bumps on his body. He licks at them a lot. I'd like to help, but don't know how. Advice? [more inside]
posted by hippybear at 7:11 PM PST - 12 comments

I like the older World War II Call of Duty games. What's the best plan for getting them on Xbox?
posted by kirkaracha at 6:03 PM PST - 2 comments

I, and honestly several people I know, have a lot of e-mail stored on my web hosting provider's server. I also have some massive Thunderbird archives somewhere. Under Windows, will MailStore or Mailbird or something similar let me download, store, and later search and read, all those messages (together) with peace and harmony reigning supreme? Do you recommend any specific mail archiving program? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 5:58 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm getting a new engine in my Hyundai Tucson under the Theta II class action lawsuit and the dealer says I have to pay nearly $1000 for work to "prep" the car for the new engine. I suspect they'd have to do this anyway and are trying to get away with charging me for it.... [more inside]
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 5:33 PM PST - 13 comments

I have been getting gel manicures for the past 6-ish months. I have read online that I'm supposed to take breaks after every 2 polish changes, which I have not been doing. This advice is typically dispensed by dermatologists, who don't strike as the most knowledgeable about this. My nail tech was noncommittal when I asked her. Am I destroying my entire future or even just my nails? Do I need to take breaks, and if so how often? What do I need to look out for in terms of problems? [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 4:08 PM PST - 18 comments

I am a university student of political science, and I had a debate with someone who thinks The People's Party of Canada is considered a fascist with their policies and ideas. Is it considered along the lines of a fascist party? I mean, it is not like Mao, Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin's kind of fascism, but it is more right-wing than the Conservative Party of Canada, so it is extremely right-wing. I am a little confused because most fascist parties are very into militarization, aggressive nationalism and very harsh deeper policies. But I think the person I was debating found their policies on conversion therapy, lesser immigrants, and anti-climate change all to be very extreme and fascist in their view.
posted by RearWindow at 3:41 PM PST - 17 comments

Please recommend me an audiobook from audible, details in the [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 3:20 PM PST - 8 comments

I would like to expand this gallery, which involves taking pictures of markers that are about ten feet up on walls. I would like my shots to match the gallery, perhaps with even more uniformity of angle and size. I was wondering if anyone has any important tips for the uneducated photographer before I start.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 2:10 PM PST - 2 comments

When generating AI images from a text prompt, there is often a variable you fill in to "don't include this" in the result, but so far, I'm getting discouraged from trying any more because the systems just can't seem to grasp the level of nuance I'm looking for. Is there a way I can volunteer to help train the AI better by accepting/rejecting results which do/do not contain content listed in negative prompts, that are not based on my own credits? [more inside]
posted by Quarter Pincher at 1:45 PM PST - 3 comments

Help me find a podcast to keep me engaged and ELI 10? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 12:30 PM PST - 24 comments

I have a rescue dog, Donnie Baseball, (pup tax) who will not be pilled. I am looking for advanced-level suggestions. [more inside]
posted by oflinkey at 10:23 AM PST - 43 comments

My partner doesn't wear his jeans on his hips like they are designed to be worn. He sags them some (possibly for sensory reasons). But he doesn't remember to raise the legs of the jeans before he sits down. This has resulted in a lot of ripped jeans. Where can I find jeans that can hold up against this type of wear pattern? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 9:35 AM PST - 13 comments

Due to Evernote Free's limiting/demise I've been looking at replacement services, but my sticking point is a web version - one of my use cases is a computer on which I do not have software installation privileges. Is there anything like that sticking around? Other snowflakes below. [more inside]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 9:24 AM PST - 9 comments

Instagram has been showing me videos by folks who use (mostly) hand tools to build stuff out of wood. This looks pretty awesome! I currently own extremely basic tools (hammer, set of wrenches, a screwdriver, one power drill). Is it possible to get into woodworking without thousands of dollars of equipment? I have no idea how to even get started. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 8:53 AM PST - 14 comments

Are these the remnants of Kelvin Helmholtz waves? I'm an amateur cloud spotter and have seen KH waves once before. These clouds from yesterday (Dec 1, 2023) in Boston, MA, US, were the only clouds in the sky, and I had a 360° view to tree-top level. Wind was southwest, 10mph.
posted by cocoagirl at 7:54 AM PST - 2 comments

I keep my Mac's photo libraries & music on an external drive, which I plug in whenever my laptop is sitting on my desk. My current drive, a 2 TB Seagate HDD is starting to fail (read/write errors, failing to eject) and it's probably time for a new one. Is it worth buying an SSD for this use case? [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:26 AM PST - 11 comments

What it says on the tin. I know I read about a writer--definitely male, probably British--who required all visitors to tour his pet graveyard. Who was that?
posted by mermaidcafe at 6:23 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a disabled senior on SSDI and would like to make a little extra money by working part time from home. I am thinking about taking a class in affiliate marketing as I know very little about that field. However, my understanding is that the earning potential is very high. I don't want to do anything that could sabotage my benefits. Does anyone happen to know if the money made from affiliate marketing is considered "passive income" where SSDI is concerned?
posted by htm at 10:36 PM PST - 9 comments

Did Hardee's kill a bunch of people in Illinois in the 80s? With food poisoning? The internet doesn't seem to know, but I'm sitting next to someone right now who swears it is true. Any information would be appreciated at this time. Thank you. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 9:33 PM PST - 15 comments

Are there any Japanese grocery stores on Oahu that sell gift-wrapped melons (or can deliver locally around Honolulu)? Price is not as much of a concern as quality and presentation.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 7:55 PM PST - 2 comments

I am looking for anything (academic would be great, but non-academic is also good) written that compares Pantomimes and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a focus on audience participation. [more inside]
posted by Hactar at 4:36 PM PST - 3 comments

I should get a realtor first or a loan first right? Then look for a house I like? [more inside]
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 2:23 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm interested in finding the transcript of a lawsuit that was tried in the 1920s. It was in a US Federal District Court - Eastern Division of Michigan. I have a case number and a date. Do these transcripts exist? Is there a physical archive I could go to? Would it be on PACER? (And how does one search on PACER? The Find A Case tab seems to be leading into a few thickets, websites that leave PACER, websites that aren't loading for me...)
posted by lewedswiver at 12:42 PM PST - 10 comments

Piggy-backing on this question from earlier today, I'd like any recommendations for cozy fall/autumn/winter/Christmas/holiday short stories. [more inside]
posted by lharmon at 12:22 PM PST - 14 comments

I recently changed my main google account password, which had a side effect of nuking my Gmail app-specific passwords, which I was using in macOS Ventura mail.app for IMAP & SMTP access to GMail. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 11:36 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for a workout app, ideally free, that will give me personalized daily workout routines. Looking for reviews from other people who've used workout apps. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 10:55 AM PST - 9 comments

I've spent this fall reading autumnal ghost stories with friends - we all had a great time. There must be spooky stories with snow and ice queens and frostbite - help me find them! Anything goes, as long as it can be read aloud in one sitting. [more inside]
posted by luminary at 10:47 AM PST - 11 comments

I accidentally left out a roasted turkey leg on my kitchen counter and my dog ate the whole thing overnight (skin, fat, bone, ligaments) around 2am. I was awoken by the sound of her crunching the bones. [more inside]
posted by honey badger at 10:33 AM PST - 30 comments

My instinct is to put a comma at the end of every line and (assuming there's no run-on sentence involved) perhaps a period at the end of the verse. Looking at printed poetry, though, it seems more usual to ignore all the line breaks and simply punctuate the text as if it were ordinary prose. Is one of these approaches right and the other wrong? And, if so, which is which?
posted by Paul Slade at 10:04 AM PST - 5 comments

I’m looking for a dining table and chairs, that my 3-year-olds, and Grandpa, can share comfortably. (Difficulty: No booster seats.) [more inside]
posted by tinymegalo at 9:32 AM PST - 12 comments

So, unfortunately, a followup CT scan I did recently revealed metastatic cancer (stage 4/spreading) and we're going to try immunotherapy, but I was warned by my oncologist that most people with metastatic cancer don't live much longer, so 5 years probably at most. I am so overwhelmed and grappling with guilt, too. Pointers on how to process and navigate this would be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 9:14 AM PST - 48 comments

Can you help me find a decent CD player that will fit my aesthetic, my budget, and be simple to use? [more inside]
posted by hydra77 at 8:45 AM PST - 7 comments

High school English teacher here. I work at an independent school and have a good amount of leeway in terms of what texts I assign. I am looking for a few great books to add to the curriculum in my 9th grade honors English class. [more inside]
posted by toomuchkatherine at 7:26 AM PST - 45 comments

I found out that my day job will cease to exist early next year because the organisation I work for is winding down. I've not been in a salaried role in a LONG time, and it's my first time getting laid off. What should I know? (Based in Australia, asking anonymously since part of the issue is that I don't know how public I can be about it.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:55 AM PST - 4 comments

We have a lot of Canadian currency. Some of the bills are fairly recent while others are decades old. We want to convert it to U.S. dollars, but also wonder if the older bills have value above that of a simple conversion. Would appreciate suggestions on how to best handle this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:55 AM PST - 6 comments

Please explain the logistics of re-carpeting a home like I’m a five-year-old. [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 4:25 AM PST - 8 comments

YANMD, but what was your experience with a child diagnosed with mild reactive airways disease? What was your child's treatment plan? Is it normal for a pediatric pulmonogist to do video appointments only (not check the child in person?) When I looked up Alvesco, it says not to be used for under 12 years old. Is there a different one that is OK for a child under 12? [more inside]
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 3:35 AM PST - 8 comments