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I really loved Blond:ish's sound c. 2014/2015/2016 -- can you suggest other dj's that capture their sound? [more inside]
posted by pleasant_confusion at 8:42 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm not a witch, but I bought a very extravagant custom broom. Sadly my dustpan is ugly white plastic and obviously not a good match. Can you recommend a gorgeous or artisanal dustpan that can live up to my purple green and blue broom?
posted by vespabelle at 8:13 PM PST - 10 comments

If I like the soundtrack to Uncut Gems, what else can I be listening to with the same vibe? I prefer songs without lyrics when writing.
posted by egeanin at 5:23 PM PST - 9 comments

After shaving my head, I realized that my lifelong hatred of my hair and all hairstyles is due in no small part to the fact that I have a very, very pointy head. Help? [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 3:43 PM PST - 22 comments

I live in a small village. I was talking to our local butcher today and he was saying he and the other shop keepers in our village wish there was a platform where they could each individually list their wares but where customers could browse as if the wares were offered for sale by (for eg) a supermarket - so ONE checkout process but after that the orders get sent to each shopkeeper for picking and packing. [more inside]
posted by dance at 3:23 PM PST - 4 comments

What else might I like if I like 24 Hour Party People so much? [more inside]
posted by Corduroy at 3:01 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm currently working full time while going to school for biostatistics/public health part time. I have been kicking around the idea of eventually quitting the job towards the end of the degree to do an internship and/or do the last terms of the program full time. However, when I crunch the numbers it seems so much more economically appealing not to do this and just work until the very end. Would this possibly prevent me from getting a good job at the end of this though? [more inside]
posted by knownfossils at 2:56 PM PST - 4 comments

I love Dylan's output since Time Out of Mind. Is there any biography yet, either book or documentary film, of his later years? Anything in the works? I've read the Heylin and other books, which only go so far. Thanks.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 2:10 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm translating an Italian Baroque era text sung by the character of Emperor Nero, who at this point is dead and in the underworld. At the end, he threatens to go to war with the Gods, and makes a reference to using a string instrument as a weapon against the Giants. Is this a reference to something in the Gigantomachy? Text below. [more inside]
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:09 PM PST - 5 comments

Based off the nutritional label, processed enriched/fortified grain products look more nutritious than processed whole grain products. Is there more to the picture? [more inside]
posted by facehugger at 12:07 PM PST - 6 comments

I am moving into a house with a pool, which I need to install fencing around. It has previously had a fence installed, and has a line of holes in the deck that look perfect for this type of fence. The problem is that the way the holes are spaced, it looks like the installer was working with 15 foot sections of fence having five 36" panels each. The only kind of fence I can find is 12 foot sections with four 36" panels. [more inside]
posted by lostburner at 11:41 AM PST - 3 comments

My current MacBook is the better part of a decade old. I'm thinking of buying a new one soon. Googling suggests that there may be big changes to MacBooks released later this year. Is this likely, and are these worth waiting for? Also, should I get an Air or a Pro? Thanks!
posted by ClaireBear at 11:26 AM PST - 17 comments

My Asthma is weird (maybe) and I'm getting push back due to mental health history- YANMD but advice would be useful so I can self advocate and get what I need. Need to see my doctor in a day or two. [more inside]
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:01 AM PST - 11 comments

What is inside this four kilo magnetic levitation device? https://virtualongroup.com/product/levitation-display-4-kg/
posted by varion at 10:49 AM PST - 5 comments

He's leaving a family-like non-profit for less responsibility and more money in the corporate world - fantastic for him, but he's a super nice human who will be missed. Because we're all working remotely, there won't be a chance for the team to say goodbye, so I'm putting together a few surprises to be delivered to him. Ideas for great/funny/endearing departing/good luck gifts?
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 10:28 AM PST - 5 comments

In my city (Columbia, SC) I am always seeing neutral colored, newish Tahoes with some subtle white LED lights in the grille and also usually a vertical white LED light either side of the license plate. They can't all be undercover police... are they EMT's/firefighters? Something else? I've literally never seen them using the lights but I see one or two a day on my commute.
posted by ftm at 10:28 AM PST - 6 comments

Do you know of any material that talks about mathematical invariants and methods that are useful in 3D modeling (that is, making and editing models with a modeling program)? I'll add more details about the kind of modeling and math I have in mind below. [more inside]
posted by primal at 9:22 AM PST - 3 comments

Out of nowhere and over two decades of avoiding bodies of water, I have had the sudden desire to luxuriate in a pool. I bought the biggest inflatable kiddie pool that will fit in my back yard. The question is: how can I/should I/do I maintain this thing over the summer? I'd like to minimize the need to empty and refill the thing and also not marinate in a stagnant puddle of filth if I can help it. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 8:51 AM PST - 24 comments

Looking back on my life, I realize I've failed as a tipper and want to make amends. I'm particularly not sure about times you ask for what amounts to a favor from someone you're getting a service from. Would appreciate feedback on whether you'd tip and how much for following situations: [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 7:20 AM PST - 14 comments

How do I talk to my boss about my burnout and mental health issues? I don't even know how to approach it. [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 6:56 AM PST - 16 comments

Following up on a previous question, I am looking for well-rounded advice on how to be a good supervisor. Can you please recommend books or podcasts that target new managers from a "ground up" perspective rather than the Ask A Manager style of answering unique questions? [more inside]
posted by rebent at 6:23 AM PST - 8 comments

I need to email a lot of people an invitation to a forum that they would be very likely (but not 100% guaranteed) to want to join. I'm not selling anything. It's for mutual support. Gmail isn't allowing me to send the email as there are too many recipients (a few hundred). I realise this sounds like spam. Is there a way to do this that keeps everyone happy? [more inside]
posted by dance at 4:46 AM PST - 3 comments

I manage 9 salaried people in a small, creative, "cool," "progressive" company. It is one of those jobs people dream of having in a small-ish, creative industry. When COVID hit and we all started working from home, my bosses laid down the law that we want to be accommodating as possible to folks, especially those directly affected by COVID or dealing with childcare issues. A year later, I have likely swung the pendulum too hard in favor of my employees, and it is starting to be a real problem for me, for my higher performing employees, and for the company. But given that we're STILL in a pandemic, I'm finding it extremely hard to figure out discipline, accountability, and boundaries, and have been accused of "coddling them." They may be right, but... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:37 AM PST - 37 comments

Ever since learning about Julian Jaynes' 1976 theory of I've been excited by it - but why do people like Oliver Sacks or Sam Harris, who have written extensively about self-consciousness, never mention Jaynes? [more inside]
posted by Dressed to Kill at 4:17 AM PST - 20 comments

I'd like to track down an abstract art video from probably the late '70s or early '80s. It was on TV and I lived in Ottawa, Canada, at the time. I saw only the final minute or two and this is what I remember: The visuals were generated by computer or analog video synthesizer and consisted of fine curvy lines slowly morphing, similar to this and this. The soundtrack was Pachelbel's Canon. Does this ring any bells?
posted by mpark at 1:31 AM PST - 7 comments

Often I'm looking for x numbers of just one plant to complete an order. I typically send out a query to several nurseries asking if they have x many plants. In this case I was searching for 45 Chatham's akeake / Olearia chathamica. I insist they leave the plant name in the subject line (and I get near 100% success). There's enough consistency around grammar for me to think semi-automating replies and sucking them out into a table (markdown, csv, xls, other table format - all okay) is possible, [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 9:31 PM PST - 10 comments

We need to get our seven year old son touch typing! What's the best games to suit a child learning to touch type? [more inside]
posted by Jilder at 8:16 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm hoping I can get some direction on a very specific type of anxiety I've been struggling with. It revolves around the health of my family and those in my care. [more inside]
posted by Sassyfras at 6:12 PM PST - 12 comments

Obituaries and Wikipedia quote art dealer, Dane Cloutier, as declaring Gertrud & Otto Natzler's pottery as "among the finest pottery of all time." I am unable to find this article or full citation information. I do not have access to an index for Modernism magazine for 1999. Google searches point me in circles or to dead links. [more inside]
posted by calgirl at 4:56 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm trying to compile Wine on a musl-based system. I'm getting a segfault, and I don't know how to fix it. Help me at least understand the nature of the error. [more inside]
posted by mr_bovis at 2:23 PM PST - 4 comments

See crack here, looks to be about 10 inches long or so. Should we be worried about this? Is there any way to tell if it is just cosmetic or could it be a sign of something worse?
posted by mysticreferee at 1:56 PM PST - 6 comments

I'd like to compile a bunch of media from different websites - tweets, YouTube vids, Pinterest pics, Instagram posts - and display my "collection" so I can show it to others. Like, "here's all this cool stuff I found from across the web on ". Does something like this exist, where I could basically embed and display them in an easy way?
posted by NorthCoastRiver at 12:18 PM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to print some full colour images, ideally on some kind of transparent hardy sticker material, for sticking on the outside of my son's bentobox. The bentobox is not dishwasher safe anyway, so it doesn't have to be dishwasher safe, but it does have to be waterproof/washable. I have a colour printer. Presumably I need special paper/plastic to print on, right? What kind? Or else who can print it for me (yes, etsy, but WHO on etsy)? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:15 PM PST - 8 comments

I noticed on The Good Wife that many characters would say "Keep me in touch" which always sounded a little strange to me. I would have expected "Keep me in the loop" or "Keep in touch" (more likely "Stay in touch") but idk, is "Keep me in touch" a thing? [more inside]
posted by mpark at 11:51 AM PST - 15 comments

I have problems with my knee hurting when in full flexion / compression. [more inside]
posted by komara at 11:43 AM PST - 2 comments

I am looking for the tiniest hardware: pad eyes or strap eyes (for a loom modification). The smallest I can find in marine hardware circles is about 1.7” at the widest part of the base, but I am looking for a part that is a maximum of 1”/25mm across the base. Preferably 316 stainless, and smooth enough for soft yarns (ie a round profile vs a stamped strap). Help me, shoppers! I suspect this part exists in tiny-land but maybe under another name.
posted by janell at 10:44 AM PST - 8 comments

Mr. Darling has had a private disability policy since he was self-employed in the mid-90s. We are considering making a claim due to some ongoing health issues but aren't sure if we can manage the process on our own or should engage an attorney. [more inside]
posted by Sweetie Darling at 9:35 AM PST - 6 comments

Question about Star Trek Discover and its fandom/online conversations. SPOILERS FOR SEASON ONE [more inside]
posted by Ideal Impulse at 9:09 AM PST - 8 comments

My son and I have been playing Catan Junior and it was pretty easy for him, so we tried regular Catan and he loved it. Now I'm building our board game library and would love some suggestions. [more inside]
posted by bighappyhairydog at 8:53 AM PST - 32 comments

There's a fairly short list of historical novels that I've loved -- found deeply immersive and moving. I think some of it's the setting (not war) and like...the focus on daily life, maybe? The interest in religion, and in women's lives outside of their relationships with men? Also probably the writing? I'm pretty much hoping I can just give you all a list of books and you can figure out what else I would like to read! So here it is: [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 7:47 AM PST - 36 comments

I'm looking for a fun online escape room for a birthday activity. There would be five people playing (two households playing from different locations). Or, we could invite two more households if that makes it better. Subject-wise, ideally something that works well in the online format and isn't too creepy (no serial killers, escaped madmen, haunted hospitals, etc.). This is for a family birthday party, so age and tech experience is a range of 12 to 70-something. [more inside]
posted by xo at 7:46 AM PST - 4 comments

I would like to create a redlined PDF from a Word document. The document has been edited with Track Changes. I would like the printed copy to show the edits inline, rather than off to the right side. Is this possible? If so, how? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:08 AM PST - 3 comments

Established graphic designer interested in potential side hustle of illustrating children's books. Who are some good agents to submit portfolio? Preferably US, but also UK (because why not?)
posted by BWA at 6:55 AM PST - 6 comments

Looking for 1) pandemic clothes shopping best practices and/or 2) brands/stores/items you would recommend for my son [more inside]
posted by glenngulia at 6:54 AM PST - 5 comments

I want a postal address I can give out that basically sends the mail to a black hole. I would like to subscribe to the website of a certain tech magazine (rhymes with Tired) but they will NOT TAKE MY MONEY unless I also subscribe to their useless paper mag. I simply don't want the dead-tree one. They will not take NO for an answer.
posted by Kahomono at 6:42 AM PST - 11 comments

I qualify for the covid vaccine in Maryland's phase 2B, which starts today (March 30th) and was oddly fortunate to find an appointment this morning (for Thursday); can someone more familiar with Maryland's rules confirm that I was OK to book it? [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 4:28 AM PST - 12 comments

How flexible is an unconscious body under anaesthetic? [more inside]
posted by Quillcards at 2:46 AM PST - 8 comments

Our 9 month old pit terrier loves people and dogs, a bit too much. How do we teach her to greet other dogs without obsessively licking their faces - which is much for even the most patient dogs? [more inside]
posted by ms_rasclark at 9:51 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm trying to help someone (from a distance) find nonslip shower shoes that will fit her very wide feet. [more inside]
posted by oceano at 9:36 PM PST - 10 comments

I want more ideas of sauces to put on udon noodles. I’d like to buy 3-4 bottles to have on hand to quickly make tasty noodles with some tofu (is it possible to buy nice fried stuff?) and vegetables. If you have a different favorite noodle, a favorite noodle topping, vegetable, or protein let me know too. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 7:46 PM PST - 23 comments

I can double my current income within one year and triple it within two years. I just need to do a couple things to get there. But I just can't get myself to do them. [more inside]
posted by kmr at 5:12 PM PST - 23 comments

After years of having a prepaid flip phone, I'd like to switch to a prepaid smartphone. Since I don't use my phone much, Tracfone seemed like a good low cost option. But I might be taking a long road trip, so I tried looking at their coverage map, and that's when I got nervous. [more inside]
posted by daikon at 4:32 PM PST - 17 comments

One of my 5th-grade son's friends sent him a link to an anti-semitic parody video - "I'm Always Mean to Jew" - which he thought was funny, until he saw my reaction to it. I'm trying to figure out if I need to talk to him more about the Holocaust, modern-day online neo-Nazis and U.S. right-wing movements, and white nationalist recruitment; and if so, how. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:21 PM PST - 27 comments

We recently got enough of a setup together in the backyard to do backyard movie nights. What are some movies with especially good/pretty/interesting cinematography to view on a largish screen?
posted by edbles at 3:51 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a giant toddler with huge wide feet. What shoes will fit? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:50 PM PST - 12 comments

What do you think of my interview hit rate? I've been averaging about one interview a week in a technical field. This week I secured one, maybe two based on 30 applications. So let's say my hit rate is 3 -7%. I think that is outstanding but friends and family don't think I do enough or are doing something wrong. If you take out all the LinkedIn "Easy Apply" applications the hit rate is probable 10-20% [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 2:12 PM PST - 17 comments

A late middle-aged, fully vaccinated (Pfizer x2) relative has an opportunity through his workplace to get a J&J injection in about ten days. He insists this is a no-brainer, and because it's through his employer, he would not be taking a dose from someone else. I'm not sure this is a good idea, but I can't find much actual evidence for my concern. Where is the science on doubling/tripling up on vaccines? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:03 PM PST - 27 comments

Do you know of any resources to help compare mortgage offers? For instance, Lender A quotes interest rate X, origination fee of Y, and points of Z. How to compare that with the offer from Lender B? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 12:44 PM PST - 6 comments

I need real hardware running Windows 10, but I've just lost my job so don't have much money. Should I refurb my elderly but still passable laptop (Samsung Series 7: i7-3635QM, 12 GB RAM, 1600x900 display) with a new SSD and a Windows 10 licence, or buy a low-end laptop or SFF desktop (like this ThinkCentre M83 package for CA$370)? [more inside]
posted by scruss at 12:22 PM PST - 24 comments

One of these lasted about a minute. Carbide tip SDS bits last about has long, either with drill or hammer/drill. Yes I'm using water.
posted by falsedmitri at 12:14 PM PST - 7 comments

My laptop SSD just died. Is a name-brand replacement worth it, or should I get a cheap off-brand? Other considerations to narrow the search? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 11:14 AM PST - 8 comments

After a long period of denial and rationalisation, I’ve come to the painful realisation that I have control and jealousy issues that are long overdue for being addressed. But I don’t know where or how to start. [more inside]
posted by Riverside at 10:48 AM PST - 14 comments

Curious if a boxer would have an advantage in boxing someone they've studied over a long period of time. Is it possible to learn what to expect from an opponent?
posted by Mystical Listicle at 10:45 AM PST - 9 comments

Recommendations for an indoor tree that will grow to 5 foot+ height that can survive in the NYC region? I have east-facing exposures and am hungry for something that can eventually become a 5 foot+ height. Difficulty-level: no palms (spider mite memories...) and can't need significant grow light support in the winter. Thanks in advance!
posted by vacuumsealed at 9:50 AM PST - 12 comments

Canadian citizen working in MA on a TN for a private college which has no presence in Canada. I am exploring the option of relocating back home to ON and continue to work remotely for said college. I have been told that a PEO is the only option and that the associated costs could be 40-50% of my salary. Surely this can't be accurate? [more inside]
posted by methroach at 9:47 AM PST - 7 comments

Do we know anything about how COVID-19 makes people sick differently (or not) if they catch it soon after vaccination? This is hard to search for information. [more inside]
posted by medusa at 9:26 AM PST - 7 comments

I am doing a project that involves scanning illustrated printed material from the late 19th and early 20th century. Most of the illustrations are half-tones. Moiré patterns are making processing these photos with my editing software difficult. I am using Photolab 4. Is there a way that these illustrations can be stabilized before processing that would dampen the Moiré effect?
posted by Raybun at 8:54 AM PST - 4 comments

My family of 4 has been on COBRA since I was laid off in November. I start a great new gig on April 5 (yay!) and would like to avoid paying the $850 COBRA fee for the full month, to just cover those 5 days. Does anyone have experience with short-term medical insurance to cover such gaps? [more inside]
posted by nandaro at 7:34 AM PST - 10 comments

In the near future, I'll have access to an enclosed, unoccupied garage parking space. What are some fun things I could do with it? [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 7:13 AM PST - 20 comments

Details inside. [more inside]
posted by atm at 6:37 AM PST - 7 comments

As work from home increasingly looks like a regular part of my life going forward, I'm taking another look on how to get the most out of the flexibility, and mitigate some of the downsides. Any unexpected tips/tricks, etc that have improved WFH for you? Either new benefits on the personal side, or ways to make work more pleasant/efficient? [more inside]
posted by mercredi at 6:36 AM PST - 13 comments

I need some clarification on these acronyms. Are FEIN and EIN synonomous? Does a U.S. company have the same FEIN for every state - in other words, is it a single number assigned to the company? Can a company have more than one FEIN? How are they related to the SUI/UI? Are those synonymous? I can't seem to find clear answers online or get them from my supervisor. Happy to read info at a link if you have a good one. Thank you.
posted by manageyourexpectations at 6:31 AM PST - 2 comments

Can a company that issued a 1099 see when/if the person receiving the 1099 income filed their federal taxes? And would a company issuing a 1099 face any sort of trouble if the person receiving the 1099 income failed to file taxes?
posted by anonymous at 6:13 AM PST - 4 comments

I am 2 months in to a new ADHD med that has improved my quality of life to a degree I never thought possible. The only catch is that I sleep very badly now. [more inside]
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 6:02 AM PST - 14 comments

I've not been able to load Twitter for days, either through the site or the downloaded app. I check the downdetector sites and am told no problem, but won't load for me. Any suggestions?
posted by lometogo at 11:31 PM PST - 5 comments

A lot of masks are made of moisture wicking fabric. That certainly makes them more comfortable to wear. But does it make them less effective? [more inside]
posted by henuani at 8:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Does this ring a bell? I remember seeing this movie on cable in the late 70s. It was probably made in the 30s, about an old man on his death bed. Someone who loved him had a fake newspaper printed with headlines and stories that were all about how everything is just fine so that he could die a happier man. I have no memory of what happened after that.
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 7:54 PM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for examples of recent media (particular books and films) that highlight a promising future through technology. A recent ask.me post references non-fiction utopias - I am looking for something similar only I am interested in novels, movies and non-fiction that are hopeful about a future with technology. I am teaching a class related to technology and we have dystopia covered. I'd like to offer an antidote for those less interested in Black Mirror - and more interested in Inventing the Future.
posted by turtlefu at 7:38 PM PST - 17 comments

I have longer-than-a-bob hair for the first time in my adult life and no idea how to live with this much hair. [more inside]
posted by sepviva at 7:11 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm a novice, unsure what would be a good price to bid to acquire shares of stock? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 6:46 PM PST - 6 comments

I’ve never really understood what kind of weather or insect event occurred on a highway between Tucson and Phoenix back in the 90s. Surely, someone here can enlighten me. [more inside]
posted by dreamphone at 6:06 PM PST - 4 comments

I came across this abstract, which suggests that quercetin supplements reduce antibody response in...a non-coronavirus. But I have been taking quercetin. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 5:33 PM PST - 4 comments

In the very early stages of planning a trip to Utah/Colorado in June. Planning to go to Zion and some combination of Moab/Capitol Reef/Bryce/Grand Escalante. Then Colorado. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 5:25 PM PST - 18 comments

I have a friend in their late 20s who is very responsible, reliable, kind hearted, and employed. They have asked me to be the guarantor on their lease in NYC and I am... kinda freaked out about it? [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 3:22 PM PST - 43 comments

My mother has a signature recipe she got from her Brazilian roommate in the 1970s. She calls it a "chicken risotto" because that's the closest European equivalent, I think. What could it actually be, though? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 1:43 PM PST - 5 comments

I recently recorded a demo song in GarageBand. How can I make the parts of the song flow more smoothly into one another? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 1:17 PM PST - 5 comments

My Boston-area friend needs help updating her LinkedIn profile. She would also like to get a professional bio written. The works needs to be done this week. Can you recommend someone to help her do this? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 12:17 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm thinking of using this option for a project. How good (or bad) is the quality of books produced from a production point of view? Do they match up to "real" paperbacks from the big houses or do they look a bit shoddy and amateurish? Thanks.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:10 AM PST - 12 comments

I have a regular-width sliding glass door that leads to an unusable Juliet balcony facing a very public street. I’d like to fill the balcony with beautiful, privacy-screening potted trees that also present a physical barrier to entry. Difficulty: I don’t have a lot of money, and while I don’t outright kill plants, I’ve got a knack for bringing them to death’s door. Details within. [more inside]
posted by mr. remy at 9:50 AM PST - 10 comments

I am full of questions today! Who can tell me who the female vocalist on "Walking Through Space" is on the original soundtrack for the movie Hair. Doesn't seem to be listed on the CD and can't see anything on the internet.
posted by Iteki at 9:18 AM PST - 3 comments

I really want a tiny projector for very little money. I accept that it's likely gonna be pretty crap, but am unsure which type of crap. If it comes down to a choice between contrast and lumens, which should I pick. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 6:04 AM PST - 12 comments

Have you read “Goldilocks“ by Laura Lam? If so, can you tell me a little about the ending? [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:14 PM PST - 5 comments

Can anyone identify the undulating electronic music played between sets and during wrap-up on TSN 1 coverage of the Miami Open tennis tournament? Thanks.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:03 PM PST - 4 comments

I've posted some poems for sale as non fungible tokens on OpenSea. What's the best way to attract the attention of potential buyers? [more inside]
posted by Mistress at 4:09 PM PST - 7 comments

I had not-terrible but more severe than average side effects from the first shot of the Moderna vaccine. Does that predict that I'm also likely to have worse than average side effects from the second shot? [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 3:35 PM PST - 24 comments

My hotspot (android) -- The people on the other side of the wall got wifi and I'm wondering if my hotspot is now faster. And if my usual throttling after 30g will be less. Just feels like a possibility. They have 2.4 and 5G over there.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 3:14 PM PST - 7 comments

So, I got accepted into grad school in Canada for computer science and will be starting in September of this year. I've thought about applying for PR, a lot of people have certainly told me to consider it since I meet a lot of the requirements already. In short, I speak French(B2) and English(C1), I'm 27, I've got around 3+ years of experience as a software developer, I have more than enough money and I have a BSc in CS that is a valid four year degree. Those characteristics above are why people have told me to just apply already. Nonetheless, I have some concerns. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 2:58 PM PST - 11 comments

My 5 year old is starting school next year (2022) and we are at a crossroads at what to do about his education. He is currently in preschool and both his teachers have approached me over the last year about him being possibly gifted. I'd realised my kid was smart (doesn't every parent think this?), but his teachers are trained educators with decades of experience so I trust their opinions. Most recently they were concerned that his preschool does not have the resources to support him and that we should look for outside resources. [more inside]
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 2:18 PM PST - 30 comments

This weed-infested gravel path is making me sad. Help me not be sad anymore. [more inside]
posted by Diskeater at 1:47 PM PST - 20 comments

My beloved 2014 Prius was totalled recently and I need to buy a new car ASAP. We've been mulling this over for a week and still keep flip-flopping between the AWD Prius and RAV4 Hybrid. How do we finally pull the trigger? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 11:02 AM PST - 12 comments

As a follow-up to my previous question, what recipes are must-haves for every baker? I’m especially interested in expanding my cookie repertoire, but also interested in cakes, muffins, etc. [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 10:52 AM PST - 32 comments

Over a short family visit, I'll be doing an OS upgrade (Win 7 Pro to Win 10 Pro) for a family member with a terribly slow DSL internet connection. I need to preserve installed programs, data, and activation. What's the fastest way to do this? [more inside]
posted by whatisish at 10:14 AM PST - 6 comments

I swim three times a week and it's murdering my hair. All swim caps I've tried are so tight they give me an almost instant headache. Help me! [more inside]
posted by mareli at 8:06 AM PST - 10 comments

I live in Europe and I have potted plants on my terrace. All of them prefer temperatures of 15-25 degrees Celsius and wilt when it gets hotter. I would like to have some flowers to look at during July and August, when we have 30 degrees and more. The problem is, it's not particularly sunny. We have direct sunlight maybe 2 hours a day. Do you have any recommendations?
posted by Omnomnom at 6:25 AM PST - 9 comments

Yesterday I came across this Yuval Mahler painting which reminded me strongly of a different work of art I encountered about 15 years ago. What was it? Sketchy (ha! ha!) description inside. [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 6:15 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking to make a blank journal with lines spaced at 5/32ths of an inch. Is there a font size in Google Docs, that I can use to just make a line of continuous underscores, or space with underlines on, that would achieve this? [more inside]
posted by Quarter Pincher at 3:09 AM PST - 6 comments

"Relationships" can be any form of close relationship...I mainly have romantic and close friendships in mind, but it can be anything. I'm curious to hear about relationships (ideally through articles or stories, but videos books etc are definitely welcome) that were able to survive really difficult circumstances. Separated by war for 10 years with only a phone call a month; a seemingly impossible reunion after both being sent to concentration camps; that sort of thing. Can also share personal stories! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 12:15 AM PST - 9 comments

I have cheapo Android cell, service through Tello costs 6 bucks a month unlimited calls/texts, I want to use on Google Voice along with iPhone, problem is that this android sometimes picks up SMS and voicemail before Google Voice client. I carry this thing on bike rides and/or anywhere else where I want a beater phone [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue at 12:06 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I noise cancel bass? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 10:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I managed to catch on the "YouTube Music New Alternative Channel" a woman with an immense vocal range and a more than pleasantly "reedy" voice that she used to melt into the dash the car stereo over Bluetooth with her sheer intensity. Unfortunately, I was navigating roads under repair, and could not follow up with at the time. The music appeared to be folk rock of some sort, another plus, and she was toying with us mere mortals at the end of her song with her vocals. I would very much like to listen to this song again when not in a minivan going through Pennsylvania roadworks.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:19 PM PST - 12 comments

The album is Look at the Time and can be heard here. [more inside]
posted by Tandem Affinity at 10:19 PM PST - 4 comments

This is a pretty self-explanatory one. My kindergartner and I were talking about myths and legends today, and she told me she wants to collect the silliest ones. So please tell me about the silliest myths, legends, and folktales you know! Stories about trickster animals and about people/animals/gods making fools of themselves over romance are especially hits with her. If they're collected in a book for kids, even better. Thank you!
posted by centrifugal at 9:35 PM PST - 25 comments

I am on Zoom calls/meetings many hours every day, but occasionally I attend a Zoom webinar. For some reason, only when attending a webinar, the audio is uncomfortably loud, and I am unable to change the levels. However, when I open the audio settings for Zoom, the sound level reduces to a reasonable level - but only while that settings window is open. [more inside]
posted by blurker at 9:13 PM PST - 5 comments

Kid is a high school senior, about to start at a highly selective college, considering majors in political science and/or economics. When asked where he sees himself in the future, he says that he's very into national-level (left to far-left) politics, and is considering becoming a politician. This is a world I know zero about, and I can offer him exactly no guidance. What do you tell a kid like that? What should he study? What should he know and/or do now, as he prepares to start college?
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:33 PM PST - 27 comments

How do I remove surgical glue that is stuck in hair? [more inside]
posted by sineala at 8:23 PM PST - 9 comments

After 17 years or so only using Macs I recently grabbed a mid-level Windows ultrabook to use when working remotely. I've got the basics for my job set up but would love suggestions - either in terms of apps or just settings or methods - for how to make this transition go smoother. Specific requests inside! [more inside]
posted by 235w103 at 6:47 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm in my early 30's in a career that I fell into, at a large pharmaceutical company. I've been in the field for almost 10 years now, and I still feel incredibly immature as a professional. I've always gotten good reviews, and I'm a really hard worker, but somehow I still feel like I don't fit in. I still haven't found what I call my "work persona". Who am I?! [more inside]
posted by koolaidnovel at 6:09 PM PST - 9 comments

Sometimes I have great success at growing tomatoes in containers, and sometimes it is a flop. How do you grow prolific amounts of tomatoes in containers? Are there specific varieties that you recommend? Do you mix egg shells in the soil? Do you fertilize in a specific way? Are fertilizer spikes the way to go rather than sprinkled fertilizer? Are the topsy turvy planters better than right side up planters? Any advice and tips and tricks that you have would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams at 5:23 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a Pixel 3XL and I use the flashlight regularly. I use the 'Okay Google, turn on flashlight' trick and the Google Assistant says, "Turning on flashlight", and then it does it. When I'm done using the flashlight I say, 'Okay Google, turn off flashlight' and the Assistant says, "Turning off flashlight", and then the light goes out. I don't want the Assistant to tell me anything. I just want it to *silently* turn on/off the flashlight. What can I do to make that happen? I'd prefer not to install an extra app, if possible.
posted by mcbeth at 4:27 PM PST - 4 comments

Photograph is from an upstate New York relative's home, all 6 have identical outfits, curved sticks, leather pouches. (Old?) Milwaukee beer sign so it was probably taken no earlier than late 1930s. It doesn't seem like a sport. What the heck was their vocation?
posted by blueprinter at 3:52 PM PST - 20 comments

In an attempt to retrain my shopping habits, I'm looking for retailers that cover a decently broad category (i.e. Chewy for pet needs, Powell's for books) rather than item-specific sellers. Product reviews & fast shipping are important to me. Not being owned by Jeff Bezos is also important to me.
posted by frizzle at 3:28 PM PST - 29 comments

In MacOS, I'm comparing the contents of folders on several external drives. In this particular situation I know identically-named files will be identical, so I only need to know how folders differ based on the names of the files inside them (which are inside lots of subfolders). I'm using the Terminal command diff -rq "pathname 1" "pathname 2". However, it's proceeding very slowly and seems to be looking for differences inside the files themselves. So is this really the command I should be using? [more inside]
posted by theory at 3:26 PM PST - 9 comments

My family is in the process of considering if we want to build a new house or renovate our existing house. We'd like to take climate change into account in our decision-making but feel completely at sea in figuring out how to do that. [more inside]
posted by joannemerriam at 2:56 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm currently taking sumatriptan and ondansetron on an "as-needed" basis for migraines. Would taking these medicines the same day I get the vaccine cause any issues either with the vaccine's effectiveness or a reaction to said drug combo? [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 2:33 PM PST - 5 comments

What's life like for cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy? Someone I know just got accepted, and I am curious what it's like. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:45 PM PST - 13 comments

I feel like lately there's been a lot of brand names showing up in crossword puzzle answers lately. Like today's Atlantic puzzle the clue for 14 across is "Snack sucked from a tube" and the answer is "Gogurt". Gogurt? In the Wednesday New Yorker, the clue for 47 across is "Seltzer brand with a bear named Orson as its mascot" - which seems suspiciously specific - and the answer is "Polar". Is this my imagination? Or is it a known thing that crossword makers and publishers get paid for including certain marketing words in their puzzles? [more inside]
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy at 1:23 PM PST - 15 comments

I would like to try playing a hide/hunt sort of game; I pretend to be a fugitive and run into the woods, and someone else tracks me down-- if they can! Is this a thing people do? [more inside]
posted by The otter lady at 11:29 AM PST - 15 comments

Has either (or both) of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines formula changed over time. That is, if I got the vaccine tomorrow would I be getting the exact same formula as the person who got it first (once available to the public -- I think it was a nurse in NY)? Or, does the formula change slightly to take into account current data or current variants of the virus?
posted by AugustWest at 10:53 AM PST - 8 comments

Do universities paying large legal settlements, such as USC’s recent $852MM settlement for Tyndall, pay out of pocket from operations or their endowment, or do they have an insurance policy pay? Apologies if this is obvious; had no luck searching.
posted by michaelh at 10:12 AM PST - 7 comments

My wife has been estranged from her family for over a year now and they will not stop contacting her. They have tried coming to our home unannounced, sending emails, as well as sending things in the mail. She has blocked their texts but they still send them (our carrier/phone just routes them to a blocked folder). She just noticed another text today and it pushed her over the edge - we need to know what options we have in our state (Utah) to deal with this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:59 AM PST - 23 comments

Are you a manager/leader in a corporate job that has figured out how to work "normal" hours (let's say 40ish hours a week) and stay sane/stress-less in an industry where those types of things are not the norm, (though not too off, i.e Finance, Law and Advertising do not apply)? How do you do it? What philosophies/scripts/actions did you apply? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 8:59 AM PST - 5 comments

We have a lovely house to make our own and are likely going to start with the kids rooms. They seem less overwhelming than the more family oriented spaces. We have two boys, ages 6 and 2, and are looking for the lessons that you've learned in doing your kids rooms. What worked well? What didn't? What was worth spending $ on? [more inside]
posted by rglass at 8:43 AM PST - 25 comments

Lately, there are subtle horizontal lines that constantly ripple down my computer screen. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 7:46 AM PST - 11 comments

I had my second Moderna shot last night and feel completely normal. Does this “mean” anything about the strength of my immune system? [more inside]
posted by cakelite at 7:38 AM PST - 21 comments

How would I find out how many students (kids) between the ages of 5 and 18 years old are in the USA? [more inside]
posted by Mike Mongo at 6:42 AM PST - 9 comments

Next week will be our 25th wedding anniversary and our 2nd Covid anniversary. We didn't do anything last March, expecting that we could celebrate later in the summer or fall. Yet, here we are. [more inside]
posted by RoadScholar at 5:42 AM PST - 12 comments

I plan my travels by flight deals. What are your favorite newsletters/apps/subscription alerts that provide truly good flight deals from a chosen destination to anywhere in the world? That is, no entering specific dates or destinations, just cheap flights from X to anywhere. I know of Scott's Cheap Flights, but the other ones I find through Googling either seem sketch or I'm not sure how good the deals actually are.
posted by anonymous at 5:33 AM PST - 7 comments

Setting up a lost property system for a self-service space... Any ideas? I don't know where to start! [more inside]
posted by socky_puppy at 2:57 AM PST - 3 comments

Hoping the MeFi hive mind can help me track down a fantasy/folklore short story (or novella) I read a few years ago. I’m finding that some of the plot elements are so common in folklore that searching for the title is turning up a lot of related tales, but not what I’m looking for. [more inside]
posted by darkstar at 8:23 PM PST - 4 comments

I'll be taking a timed series of tests regarding space relations (visualizing/rotating 3D objects) and abstract reasoning (those unfun pattern logic puzzles) and I'm a bit discouraged by the practice tests I've been doing. I know I'm smart, but I don't find visual cues as "grippy" or "sticky" as others seem to - especially in black and white. To compensate, I'm trying to write out strategies for problem solving, and looking for tips/tricks from folks who passed these tests or are otherwise good at these sorts of challenges [more inside]
posted by snerson at 7:00 PM PST - 6 comments

In the last year, I've noticed a huge increase in the number of runners who are using the edge of the road rather than the sidewalk. I thought it was a response to poor snow and ice clearance, but it hasn't changed now that we're experiencing summer weather and the sidewalks and parks are wide open. Why are they doing it? Is it organized? Does it have a name? Or, am I just now noticing something that's always existed? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 5:44 PM PST - 29 comments

Aside from the fact that it's a single dose vaccine, is there a benefit to getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine instead of the vaccines by Pfizer, Moderna, etc? I'm asking because I may have the ability to choose based on which location I get vaccinated at.
posted by 2oh1 at 5:12 PM PST - 15 comments

If you or someone you know chose to get divorced late in life -- say, around age 70 -- did you/they later regret the decision? Or did it turn out to a wise choice? [more inside]
posted by merejane at 4:59 PM PST - 13 comments

I have fallen for the affordable and lovely to write with the Platinum Preppy pen. It's refillable but the new ink cartridge I put in a few weeks ago stopped working. Hope me? [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 4:50 PM PST - 10 comments

I’m helping my elderly Mom buy a Tesla model S with full autopilot. I’m trying to navigate the how to process in particular the question of should I buy used given that Tesla doesn’t do CPO and famously doesn’t really inspect the used cars they resell. Similarly, trying to figure out what to budget for buying and installing a charger (can I buy a used charger)? Also, I have read online that there may be legislation that could result in Teslas being eligible for a new tax credit - any insights on that? Any recommendations on approach would be great, I have been buying 3 year old Priuses all of my adult life so this is a big change.
posted by arnicae at 4:09 PM PST - 9 comments

Back in the '90s, I think it most likely was, I read this short story that I thought was called The Wish Book or just Wish Book, in what I would have sworn was the Best American Short Stories anthology that's put out every year. For the life of me, I can't find it now and it's been on my mind for a while, so I'd like to find it (with these vague details). [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 2:37 PM PST - 8 comments

Yes, it's a fish. It's also a heavy plaster shelf / corbel in a particular style that I like, and I can't find anything suitably similar anywhere else despite years of Googling. I am keen to know if anyone has come across any other pieces of ornamental ephemera like it, and if so for the love of Dog, where? My Google is goggled. [more inside]
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 1:07 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm trying to learn more about Nathan Klein (died 1956, primarily active 1930s-40s), a Brooklyn-based American painter, printmaker + textile artist. Ordinarily Who Was Who in American Art, the Encyclopedia of Jewish American Artists, etc. would be first stops, but I'm still locked out of our library system's print resources due to COVID. Are any MeFi librarians or art historians able to put their hands on a good art reference collection? [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 11:27 AM PST - 9 comments

I need a new exterior hard drive for back ups. My present one is a very old Apple Time Capsule that also serves as my wifi server, which is quite slow. If I can get both the hard drive and wifi in one unit, that'd be nice. — MacOS Big Sur
posted by partner at 10:11 AM PST - 10 comments

What shape of glasses works well with a mask? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 9:58 AM PST - 9 comments

What tool is best to have around after you've used it to help get big tree roots out? [more inside]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:44 AM PST - 15 comments

It feels like there is something deep inside me which wants me to fail and I don't understand what is happening to me. Equally I feel a burning jealousy at those who have succeeded academically as I know I was once capable of the same thing. [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 9:17 AM PST - 26 comments

I want a climbing container plant to cover a wall about 6 feet high on my flagstone terrace, with these specific restrictions and preferences: [more inside]
posted by cilantro at 9:00 AM PST - 15 comments

I recently started having muscular pain in my right arm ( I'm right handed ) around the elbow. I started sometimes using an ipad, with the apple pencil, for making art about 2 years ago and never had any problem but this recent pain has me wondering if it could be related to that. Has anyone heard of this? [more inside]
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:38 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm a US citizen residing in Canada. For [reasons], I still use my iPhone with a US phone plan (AT&T) that gives me unlimited roaming data in Canada. I now have a brand new iPhone with a US sim card - I haven't activated the phone or even opened the box yet - that I want to activate so that it can replace my current iPhone on my AT&T network. Is it possible to activate the new phone here, in Canada while on roaming data, but with my current AT&T plan? [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 6:52 AM PST - 6 comments

I enjoy the content of a well-known atheist call-in show podcast, but the main host is almost always rude, gets angry, and interrupts the callers and hangs up on them. So much so that it isn’t worth tuning in, for content that I totally agree with and otherwise enjoy. What is the kind, calm, alternative? Someone who can be consistently science-minded, skeptical, and Socratic, yet also be a good listener, and remain calm in their tone so that a conversation can happen— which is more important in the grand scheme of things anyway. [more inside]
posted by cake vandal at 3:00 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm getting some serious and inappropriate pressure from my parents about deciding not to go to my great uncle's funeral because of COVID concerns. Although they are upset, I am not doing anything selfish. I am not acting against anybody to their detriment and my personal gain. I’m not denying anybody of their rights or needs. My decision is a neutral one based on my informed risk assessment and personal comfort level with attending church with anti-science, antimask/vax conservatives, Qanons, all that stuff. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 9:28 PM PST - 63 comments

My father had a rapid onset of dementia and for the past 6 months has been in an aged care home. My siblings have visited him but I have only spoken on the phone and kept it light. He has lost for the most part the last 20 years. I am the only one of my siblings with children. [more inside]
posted by dinoworx at 9:06 PM PST - 21 comments

So due to impaired fasting glucose, fatty liver and kidney issues I've found myself this year having to avoid carbs - particular starches and sugars. I used to rely on potatoes and matzah for my mainstay. I do eat kitnyot but I have to be careful with those as well - definitely no rice. I don't eat beef and am really forcing myself to eat chicken and fish. Eggs are ok, but how many eggs can I eat with high cholesterol? I also have the issue of not being satiated easily, ergo I need a larger volume of food than normal till my body stabilizes. I've been on this diet for a few weeks now and my numbers are improving. I seriously don't want to jeopardize my health at this junction. What are my options?
posted by watercarrier at 9:04 PM PST - 20 comments

I am looking for a simple, easy-to-use service that is hosted in Europe (I am in the US) and offers document storage, collaborative text, and spreadsheet editing between two people. Something that is user-friendly without too many rough edges. I would like a company that cares about privacy and the environment. Bonus points for open source. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 6:57 PM PST - 6 comments

If you're confident in your Latin fluency, please help! [more inside]
posted by shrimpetouffee at 5:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to quickly finish several biology classes as pre-requisites for physician assistant school. Are there any colleges or community colleges in USA that have "complete at your own pace" courses, so I could potentially do something like Anatomy 1 over the next 6 weeks, and Anatomy 2 over the few weeks after that? I know Houston Community college offers multiple "summer semesters" but I want something even more malleable.
posted by maxexam at 5:43 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm a freelance writer. For various reasons, I'm going to have a very large, out of the ordinary tax bill this year. I'm mulling over ways to deal with this. [more inside]
posted by gigondas at 4:22 PM PST - 10 comments

There are lots of pole chain saws out there. I have an electric one that I use frequently for pruning my fruit trees, etc., but I'm looking for one that will lay the business end down flat on the top of a very large hedge at a height of 10 to 12 feet. [more inside]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 3:52 PM PST - 3 comments

My husband and I are looking to fill our home’s cat vacancy. We thought we were in the market for a single healthy adult cat, but a pair of young cats with FeLV (feline leukemia) absolutely stole our hearts. We have 48 hours to make the decision to adopt them. What should we know? [more inside]
posted by mostly vowels at 3:22 PM PST - 17 comments

Need a health app to track my gut woes (which include nausea), plus my diet, pooping, and all of the other gross and less gross bodily functions and malfunctions it is my displeasure to experience. Want an app that can help me discover any patterns related to my acid reflux, headaches, etc. What are you using, and what do you like and dislike about it?
posted by Bella Donna at 3:19 PM PST - 3 comments

Can anyone help me find this grid with shallow display shelves? Does it have a name? [more inside]
posted by biscuits at 3:17 PM PST - 9 comments

What are some best practice tips for getting the attention of an investigative or targeted "beat" reporter? How does the process typically play out once you've got their attention? (Note the only information I can find on the Web is either tips for promoting a story about your business, or tips for pitching a story you will be writing. Neither is relevant here.) [more inside]
posted by Violet Blue at 12:49 PM PST - 15 comments

Is there a way to prevent music that's been played through my Youtube Music account from showing up in my regular Youtube recommendations? [more inside]
posted by downtohisturtles at 11:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I used to keep a journal/diary. In extreme youth, I diligently filled up maybe six A5 hardback notebooks cover to cover (US equivalent = half letter). These are perfect as they are in terms of taking up storage space. Later, I got more sloppy (less self-interested) and started occasional journals only to give up. Consequently, I have maybe a dozen more volumes, each with about 30 or 40 pages complete. This is unsatisfying and takes up too much space. What is the easiest, most elegant way to compile the (mostly unexciting) records contained in these later incomplete journals? [more inside]
posted by cincinnatus c at 10:32 AM PST - 16 comments

Dammit Nordstrom and your free samples. You know what you’re doing. Now I’m hooked. Stop me from paying $60 for Chanel le teint... unless I should? [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:23 AM PST - 20 comments

I don't think I have read any American history of the 18th and 19th centuries that doesn't make some mention of the graft and corruption in Customs House operations. What was it about the way a Customs House operated that made this so?
posted by John Borrowman at 9:24 AM PST - 8 comments

So I've had a bridge for a while and I've never gotten the hang of threading floss under the bridge with the floppy needle-shaped flosser things the dentist gives me. I have big hands and a small mouth I just can never seem to get the right angle to thread that thing under there. Are there any other tools for getting floss under there that would be easier to use?
posted by octothorpe at 9:00 AM PST - 13 comments

So this church is going to drop 10,000 Easter eggs full of candy from a helicopter. What could go wrong? I immediately started wondering if there was a risk that wildlife and dogs would choke on the eggs and particularly the candy inside, because I am no fun. (The pandemic issues are separate). [more inside]
posted by amtho at 8:29 AM PST - 33 comments

I am working from home for the foreseeable future. For the past year, I've been set up in my spare bedroom, which has a tile floor with asbestos fibers. Is using the office chair up here going to give me lung cancer? [more inside]
posted by rocketman at 7:50 AM PST - 4 comments

I need to automate extracting thousands of images (saved as blobs!?) from a firebird database and given them filenames that will allow me to link them up for the next stage of reimporting them into a new file system. Can anyone help me with how I'd go about this?! Bit lost.... Details about my IT abilities are below the bar.... If someone had time to do a bit of hand holding that would be amazing.... Thank you!! [more inside]
posted by dance at 7:48 AM PST - 1 comment

Months and months ago I saw (I think on twitter) a list of what the city and state governments did and made available after someone got a positive covid test in NYC. It might have been by a NYC politician? It was a list of public health actions and individual supports. Do you know the twitter thread I'm talking about or have some other description of the public health actions and individual supports available after someone tests positive for covid in NYC? [more inside]
posted by congen at 6:39 AM PST - 1 comment

Hello, I have no programming experience. However, I run a private subreddit with a bot that must run every week. Before, I had a member run the bot on their server, but they just left. I would like to run it myself to avoid any future issues. Do you have any recommendations on the easiest way to accomplish this goal? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 6:30 AM PST - 20 comments

How do you? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:45 AM PST - 13 comments

How do you guys deal with other kids at your house and manners/rules? We have a member of our pod who often does not follow our rules or use what I consider good manners. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:44 AM PST - 34 comments

I recently selected Raindrop.io as my bookmark manager. This led me to go searching for all of my previous bookmark exports from across the years. I could only find one I had which is 56 mb - it contains more than 13 000 pages of bookmarks. Help me wrangle pls. [more inside]
posted by infinite intimation at 5:39 AM PST - 8 comments

Do babies/children really need to eat dairy? My baby is 9 months old, really getting into solids, and I keep reading about how important it is for babies to eat food that's high in good fat. It seems like a lot of this includes foods with dairy: cheese, yogurt, butter, etc. [more inside]
posted by Forty-eight at 4:57 AM PST - 13 comments

My son is HUGE for his age but also the youngest in his cohort. To me it would be a no brainer to hold him back- but its complicated. Can you help me decide how hard to try? Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 4:06 AM PST - 20 comments

I haven't seen my two adorable nieces in forever and want to send them some gifts. Can you help me think of some awesome things? [more inside]
posted by Paper rabies at 8:54 PM PST - 17 comments

I am trying to replace a piece of furniture in my bathroom that is wedged between the pedastal of my sink and the tank of my toilet: No wider than 14" No deeper than 13" No taller than 25" [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 8:33 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm starting a new job in 3 weeks, I told my old job to pay out my vacation instead of letting me take it, which was a mistake. I gave them 3 weeks notice. Now my old boss gives what feels like a huge unmanageable pile of work to me to complete in the next 3 weeks. What to do? [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 7:52 PM PST - 20 comments

I decided I wanted to watch a show I could give half my attention to, and everyone says Scrubs holds up really well. And I've now watched season 1, and it's pretty actively sexist, homophobic and transphobic. Is this a season 1 thing, does it improve significantly, or is it people who liked it the first time and are blinded by their happy memories? (I have that for my own things, it isn't a dig.)
posted by jeather at 6:31 PM PST - 16 comments

My mom (71yo) can't seem to wrap her brain around using my friend's "new" name & pronouns, even after 7 years. Help me help her make this happen? [more inside]
posted by jeffjon at 6:10 PM PST - 22 comments

My bathroom has plastic tiles on the walls. I need to paint them or cover their ugliness somehow. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by christinetheslp at 6:06 PM PST - 7 comments

My boss is officially leaving, things went a little nuts at work, I'm going on anxiety meds to cope, and I just need some help on how to make it through this transition. [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 5:42 PM PST - 6 comments

My employer is moving to a flex time off policy (aka "unlimited" time off) in a few weeks. I have about 6 weeks' paid time off saved up which will be wiped out when the new policy takes effect. Should I quit and cash out? [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 4:51 PM PST - 37 comments

I just found out I have a medical condition that requires abstaining from any coffee, chocolate, or non-herbal tea (including green tea), caffeinated or decaffeinated, possibly forever. I've been a regular coffee drinker for nearly a decade and have no idea how I'm going to get through my days now without fatigue. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by maighdeann mhara at 2:50 PM PST - 30 comments

A few friends & I love playing private online mobile Carcassonne games. I know there have been other threads similar to this one, but they are mostly older or less specific. We dig that we can control the Carcassonne game parameters, length of game, the fact that it's optionally private, and the rules aren't too nuts. Thanks Mefiters. : )
posted by bitterkitten at 2:48 PM PST - 5 comments

I write a weekly blog with the simplest HTML I could come up with. Everything done by hand with a text editor and FTP client. Nowadays I'm getting requests to add an RSS/Atom feed - which the blog had back in the old CMS days, when I used WordPress or whatever. But now that I have this low-tech approach, is there an easy way to set up an RSS or Atom feed? I don't want to go back to a CMS just for this reason.
posted by mark7570 at 2:44 PM PST - 9 comments

Here's a fun one. This symbol is carved into the newell post of a house built in the 1840s. The house is in the Rock Hill area of South Carolina. The symbol is about nine inches high. Part of it may look like the ancient Greek symbol for a lyre. What is it?
posted by zzazazz at 2:26 PM PST - 11 comments

I have small veins in my arms which “roll” and having blood drawn is typically a long and painful process with many attempts which ends in a draw from the veins in my hand. Is there a reason we can’t just start with the hand? [more inside]
posted by philotes at 2:07 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm a writer working on naming a new product in the field of electric motor design for appliances. I know NOTHING about this field and am trying to 1) get a basic education (beyond what the client has given me) and 2) steep myself in the language so I can start gathering relevant words and concepts. I'm looking for any forums, subreddits, etc. that would help me get a window into the world of these folks. Thanks!
posted by MelanieMichelle at 1:46 PM PST - 5 comments

What manga should I read? [more inside]
posted by signal at 1:33 PM PST - 18 comments

We filed taxes promptly, like good boys and girls. Then H&R Block updated their tax software, and our refunds changed. Do we need to re-file, or will the IRS silently correct our return? One of the returns already as shows as "processing." [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:32 PM PST - 4 comments

Following lumpectomy and radiation, my wife must choose a hormone therapy med to go on. What have been your experiences? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:00 PM PST - 7 comments

Our cat is the poster child of the phrase “scarf and barf.” The vet thinks she can be cured. I think we could spend thousands of dollars and still find ourselves living with a puking cat. Cat-people of Metafilter, have you cured your cat’s bulimia? [more inside]
posted by Maarika at 12:48 PM PST - 33 comments

I've been researching student information systems for a small university, less than 400 students. [more inside]
posted by PHINC at 11:59 AM PST - 5 comments

I love a good club mix DJ set, especially from a community radio station, and double especially for ones that are podcasted so I can listen to them on my commute. What are your favourites? [more inside]
posted by some chick at 11:53 AM PST - 3 comments

I lead two teams with different but related functions and all of the team members have been working from home (in 3 different countries) for the past year. Our training materials are a little all over the place - some in shared Google docs, some in Confluence, some in Trello. I am looking for a solution for some kind of centralized location to make it easy for everyone to access the information that they need. [more inside]
posted by elvissa at 11:17 AM PST - 8 comments

When people give money to families or organizations in the wake of violent shootings, like the ones this week in Atlanta and Boulder, money comes in not just from those places but around the country and the world. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 10:10 AM PST - 3 comments

I had COVID-19 March of last year with fever, body aches, rash, fatigue, and neurological issues as my primary symptoms -- no problems breathing or hospitalization. For months, people would ask me, "do you have any long-haul COVID symptoms?," and I would reply "No, no, I'm very, very lucky." Now, over a year later, I'm experiencing symptoms and am worried they might be related to having had COVID. [more inside]
posted by cardamom at 10:05 AM PST - 12 comments

So this "toothache" is still going on and I went to a root canal specialist who said there is no sign of infection and it seemed to him that the pain was coming from my jaw muscle spasming all to hell. When he said that it all clicked and I was like OMG. Do you have any knowledge, experience or remedies to share? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 10:04 AM PST - 14 comments

Are there any vegetarian or vegan “seafood” products that work particularly well “raw”? [more inside]
posted by andoatnp at 9:58 AM PST - 15 comments

My 8yo loves watching object shows and wants to animate one. Is this possible at his skill level? What resources can I tap into to help him? Do you have advice on private tutoring or a class to develop animation skills? [more inside]
posted by LKWorking at 9:48 AM PST - 3 comments

My husband and I (in the US) were covered under his employer’s health insurance. He has left the company and we are now switching to my employer’s plan. I need to choose between two plans, and the best value for us comes down to whether or not our out-of-network therapists are covered. [more inside]
posted by brbmaroon at 9:16 AM PST - 8 comments

There is a 1988 computer game called Journey to the Center of the Earth that is based on the Jules Verne novel. I watched a video of someone playing it recently. The game has a character selection screen with four portraits of fictional scientists. This screenshot on Mobygames shows them: Link to Mobygames. Do you recognize the sources for these portraits? [more inside]
posted by primal at 8:42 AM PST - 7 comments

Playing radio or TV stations on our Echo and Dots from either radio.com or tunein has become an exercise in frustration, starting about three months ago. It will play for a few minutes, then stop. It might resume in a few seconds or minutes, or it might not. This occurs at various times throughout the day, without warning, although the wifi to our computers is unaffected. I have officially run out of ideas for how to stop them from cutting out on us. Please help? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 8:24 AM PST - 5 comments

Is there a source that makes localized forecasts of weather and climate in the far (years to decades) future and presents them in a unified, data driven presentation? There are lots of broad models of global and regional changes presented in narrative form, but is there something that could, say, take an address and present a forecast or prediction of future climate? [more inside]
posted by GPF at 7:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Classical musicians: Our local chamber music society is hosting an outdoor string quartet concert next month that looks great (two 21st century and two classical pieces) but there are two performances of the program on the same day, 1pm and 3pm. In your experience, which performance is likely to be the most exciting? Is it dull for you to perform the same program twice in quick succession on the same day, so the first one would be better? Or is the second more likely to be looser, more assured after the warmup of the first? [more inside]
posted by mediareport at 7:39 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a small urban community garden plot to grow veggies. I'm looking at ways to enhance and nourish the soil without using products that contain animal ingredients (most of the organic fertilizers have bone meal, blood meal, and chicken feather meal or fish-based ingredients). If you garden with non-animal based products, I'd love your recommendations for specific organic vegan brands of fertilizers and soil amendments that can be purchased online. Links especially appreciated! [more inside]
posted by Pineapplicious at 7:07 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm hoping to write a poem a month for April. Are there any online forums where members are taking it seriously, are engaged with reading one another's work (in small groups), and write at, say, an average poetry workshop level? Either these forums don't exist, or I must be Googling for the wrong terms, because I'm having trouble finding them. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 6:55 AM PST - 3 comments

We like to have a "party" for our kids (8 & 3) every now and then. This involves queueing up a bunch of Youtube music videos, playing them very loudly and letting the kids jump all over the living room for 45 minutes or so until they collapse in a puddle of sweat. The songs have to be fast, with strong rhythm, pumping, very energetic, generally in the pop/rock genre. My kids' absolute favorite song is "I Like To Move It" from Madagascar. They don't speak English, just a few words, so lyrics are generally not an issue, except audible swear words. (But we'd prefer no inappropriate chorus lines, so they don't memorize it and start running around screaming something that might offend English-speaking adults...) What are your suggestions for the playlist? [more inside]
posted by gakiko at 5:03 AM PST - 34 comments

Covid-19 has done a number on my social life and relationships and I'm sure I'm not the only one. How do I process/grieve relationships that didn't survive a year of lockdown, differing attitudes to safety, and increased stress? How do I approach social relationships now? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:12 AM PST - 19 comments

A friend and I are renovating an older home, long derelict, in my neighborhood. The condition is such that the interior is stripped down to studs and we have the opportunity, now, while the walls are open, to put into place improvements that will hopefully ultimately benefit the eventual occupants, whether they be renters or purchasers. But I have qualms. Help me figure out which choices make sense. [more inside]
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:02 PM PST - 22 comments

Looking for a black-and-white cartoon about a superhero who spends his life saving the city/world, finally retires to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant, and when he dies his obituary says something like "Beloved Chef Dies" (making no mention of his decades of super-hero'ing) [more inside]
posted by blueberry at 9:48 PM PST - 2 comments

An article I read within the past couple years (sorry, can’t remember the source) mentioned a human genetics conference in the US. At this conference there was apparently not enough support for convening a panel to discuss the problem of racists who appropriate and disseminate twisted interpretations of legitimate research. So I have several questions: [more inside]
posted by theory at 6:19 PM PST - 8 comments

I just watched the Netflix documentary, "Made you look" and I'm wondering what happens to the forged paintings. They might be pastiche, but they're still beautiful and since I don't have a few million for an actual Rothko, I wouldn't kick a fake one out of bed!
posted by Ensign at 6:18 PM PST - 11 comments

Work burnout caught up with me, and I feel like I have no idea what my strengths and interests are anymore. Help? [more inside]
posted by Sock Meets Body at 5:55 PM PST - 9 comments

So, in an effort to get high quality video into a zoom conference, I now have an ATEM Mini pro, a video capture unit from magewell and enough cables to tie down a hot air balloon. But so far i've gotten the video to go across my zoom. And the audio to do so but without my hearing it. I need someone to troubleshoot this thing. Ironically on another zoom (phone). How do I find such a person?
posted by rileyray3000 at 5:51 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a new laptop and am hoping to spend less than $1100. I've used both Macs and PC (most recently PC). I don't game, but I do stream and store a lot of music. In addition to internet stuff, I do word processing and slightly-above-basic photo editing. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 3:57 PM PST - 13 comments

My teen son has a tentative interest in writing. He’s pretty talented but bored with the assignments in school, they aren’t bad at all, just not what he wants to do. [more inside]
posted by pearlybob at 3:29 PM PST - 4 comments

I was introduced here to the concept of the cottage garden. I love the idea of beautiful messes, so this seems to be exactly how I should set up my flowers this year (which has been the cause of much stress, I fret over these things too much). But what do you do about flowers with different heights blocking shorter ones from view? List of flowers inside. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 2:16 PM PST - 20 comments

I want to change my name in the near future. I'm not sure of the consequences of choosing a name that is (effectively) globally unique. [more inside]
posted by shanek at 2:15 PM PST - 41 comments

I have a family member who will be eligible for the vaccine shortly. He is hesitant - he's worried about there being long-term side effects that we don't know about yet and the vaccine approval process being "rushed." I want to convince him to get the vaccine. More info inside. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:22 PM PST - 25 comments

I was at the gardening store this week and grabbed some "Big Moon" pumpkin seeds by Burpee. The packaging claims that if you leave one pumpkin on a vine, it could grow "up to" 200 pounds. I told my wife that we'd have a few hundred pounders later this year, and she immediately bet that this wouldn't happen. [more inside]
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:12 PM PST - 19 comments

I want to be able to connect my work laptop to the internet with an Ethernet cable instead of WiFi. What exactly do I need to do? [more inside]
posted by fozzie_bear at 1:08 PM PST - 27 comments

Well, for the first time in the 14 or so years I've been carrying a wallet, I lost it yesterday on a flight. I reported it to the airline and both airports; let's keep our fingers crossed. I wish it were possible to keep my credit/debit cards and license on my phone and not have to carry a wallet, but not every store accepts Apple Pay, and digital driver's licenses remain a pipe dream in my state. There are a lot of "trackable" wallets like the Tile series, but are they only as good as the Bluetooth connection of your phone, and thus just as vulnerable to loss once you walk away? I also see a device that claims to chime when you walk away from it (the Woolet), but all the information I can find about it is stuck in 2017, which is not reassuring. As of now (March 2021), what are my options?
posted by Seeking Direction at 12:55 PM PST - 23 comments

TW: Nonconsensual sex, assault, coercion This weekend, my boo and I were heading out on a hike, when a popular song from 15 years ago started playing on the radio, and triggered a series of memories of the person that introduced me to this band. As I started thinking about this friendship and series of events, as a now 37 year old fiercely feminist woman, I realized, that not only was it inappropriate... there was a sexual assault. [more inside]
posted by Quincy at 12:42 PM PST - 18 comments

This is going to sound kooky, but I'm looking for a name of an activity I recall from childhood gym class that was like skipping, but wasn't skipping. [more inside]
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:53 AM PST - 29 comments

Where can I find race demographics by US Zip Code? [more inside]
posted by grateful at 11:44 AM PST - 6 comments

Amazon Fresh never has generic milk available in my area. this was kind of expected during the early stages of the pandemic when demand far outstripped supply for grocery delivery. they do always seem to have super expensive organic milk in stock so it doesn't seem to be refrigeration issue. I'm just curious what could lead to the world's largest retailer being unable to stock milk when every other supermarket does it just fine. I'm not interested in discussions of the morality of Amazon.
posted by benzenedream at 10:59 AM PST - 14 comments

She's playing on Friday 8/20 in Lexington, KY. On Sat 8/21 I'm in Columbus, OH for work, and I'm thinking about flying to Lexington on Friday to catch the show, staying over, then doing the 3-hour drive to Columbus Sat morning. I saw her open for the Cowboy Junkies in the late 1990s, and Uncle Tupelo in the early 2000s, and she didn't impress either time. Lackluster live shows were fairly common for her at the time, but that was long ago. Has anyone seen her more recently?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 10:57 AM PST - 8 comments

Is there a tool that can take a set of words and output a list of words that are associated with those words (NOT a thesaurus)? [more inside]
posted by justkevin at 10:03 AM PST - 9 comments

I have never bought a house before -- where do I start? My friends say to get a mortgage broker first, and the broker will give me a short list of realtors and title companies... but how do I find a mortgage broker, and is that really what my first step should be? [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 9:44 AM PST - 11 comments

What alternatives are there to store/organize/listen to my large ripped/purchased from Amazon/DRM Free music on my iphone and Mac computer? I like how iTunes basically functions, but I hate the nightmares it puts me through on the regular these days. I hate Spotify, and it doesn't have a lot of my more obscure music anyway. [Could swear someone asked this recently but can't find it sorry.]
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:55 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for a decent vegan challah recipe. Ideally the dough freezes well and the cook time isn't different than for regular challah, but any suggestions are welcome!
posted by songs about trains at 7:21 AM PST - 4 comments

A couple of years ago I did an egg hunt which was very popular. Now I want to do another bigger and better! Can you think of any set piece puzzles I can build that need to be solved with lateral thinking. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 6:23 AM PST - 5 comments

My daughter died 1/2/21 from an overdose of fentanyl and meth (source, death cert). The tox report was 7 pages and indicted that she tested positive for a dozen substances. I met with the coroner to ask for clarification, but retained little of her patient explanations and forgot most of my questions. (I still can't believe my daughter is gone. The meeting was as surreal as a Dali painting.) I'm hoping you all can minimize/eliminate the need for me to bother this poor woman again. [more inside]
posted by she's not there at 6:02 AM PST - 15 comments

I am trying to figure out the honest answer to this "do I qualify for the vaccine" question. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:33 AM PST - 6 comments

About 20 years ago, I slipped and broke my ankle spectacularly in five places. Lucky for me, I drew a really talented and kind orthopedic surgeon from the ER who patched me up pretty well. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:33 AM PST - 7 comments

I’m looking for book suggestions! Open to pro/con perspectives, international or domestic (US) and illegal, legal, or decriminalized types/eras.
posted by Selena777 at 9:19 PM PST - 21 comments

I've had my iPhone SE (the original one) for about two years: I bought it new from Apple in spring 2019 (they released a cache of them on clearance then). It now has very bad battery life and enough damage that Applecare will give me a newish replacement for $100. I have a few options that I'm trying to assess the comparative merits of. It seems to me that the decision mostly hinges on how quickly the original SE will become obsolete/unusable after Apple's iOS 15 update. Please advise. [more inside]
posted by ClaireBear at 8:29 PM PST - 8 comments

When someone comments on the production (“The production on this song is great, it reminds me of the production on Abbey Road”) - what are they referring to, specifically?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 6:54 PM PST - 15 comments

I have to give myself b12 injections. My weight is in the realm of the 1" needle, based on a variety of Googlings (145lb-ish), but some hits say if you get over 150, time to go up to 1.5". It's certainly more pleasant to use the 1", but I can do either. What happens, b12 or not, if the shot isn't deep enough? I mean, I don't expect anything bad to happen other than not getting enough solution where it needs to go. Is it just absorbed more poorly? Zero benefit?
posted by bitterkitten at 6:33 PM PST - 5 comments

How to decide if having children is right for us, after our life plan going off the rails? [more inside]
posted by notesforever84 at 6:08 PM PST - 26 comments

I need to look up property ownership, death records, and if a will was registered in Puerto Rico. I've tried to google, but keep coming up with scam sites. Does anyone know the best way to access these outside of hiring a lawyer to do it for me?
posted by anonymous at 6:00 PM PST - 1 comment

Is there a way to share access to a single IG account without handing over the keys to my other linked IG/FB accounts? [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 5:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I'd like an easy to use way to keep track of my multiple-category to-do list. Doesn't have to be very fancy: If you tell me to use a google doc, I'll try that! But somewhere I can just track my current to-do's in a couple categories and cross them off when they're done. I have maybe 4 categories of "to-do's most of the time. Categories are like: Personal tasks, Union tasks, Stuff for my parents. Pretty straghtforward. I just need the tasks to sit there until they are done. Some level of due-date or prioritization might help but isn't necessarily needed. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 5:11 PM PST - 20 comments

I am going to inherit a bunch of money. More than I need. How can I pay off my godson's mortgage without causing him tax problems or ??? [more inside]
posted by ITravelMontana at 5:08 PM PST - 15 comments

I had my second dose of the Pfizer shot today. I suffer from chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia and am a medical marijuana patient. Is it ok to take edibles later this afternoon? It would be around 300mg of indica. I know y’all ANMD, but am still hoping the hive mind can help.
posted by anonymous at 4:07 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a device I can wear most of the day that will 1) track my heart rate and sleep patterns, 2) not transmit my personal health data to some remote server, and 3) preferably not be too ugly. That's really all I want. I don't need to interact with my smartphone or check my emails or anything else. Does such a thing exist? I'm willing to lose the sleep tracking if I have to, but I really don't want my personal biometric data sitting in a server somewhere where it will inevitably get stolen by hackers in two years.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 2:44 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a cotton bath towel that was produced in the Netherlands by a company that appears to no longer exist (Seahorse-Meyerink). [more inside]
posted by UrbietOrbi at 12:48 PM PST - 8 comments

I was contacted by an Amazon recruiter recently to apply for a Production Planning Analyst position in Nashville, TN. Ten days after submitting my application, I received an email asking for some additional information. Some of the questions are flummoxing me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:58 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a vintage (probably 1940s-1960s) Turkish brass samovar, except someone has made it into a lamp. To do that, they drilled a hole in the top and bottom and threaded the lamp parts through. I'd like to have it turned back into a samovar that I could use to make tea. Can this be done? Who specifically can do it? Links to specific craftspeople who do this kind of metalwork desired.
posted by shadygrove at 9:23 AM PST - 10 comments

During my commute I drive through 3 towns. Along the way I see yard signs with red hearts on them. They have no writing of any kind on them so I can’t tell what they signify or where to go to get one for myself. More details and a picture inside. [more inside]
posted by Biblio at 8:59 AM PST - 8 comments

Can you recommend any apps, sites, or books that are excellent resources for increasing familiarity with the Bible (especially outside the Gospels and Torah), as a supplement for regular Bible reading and general study strategies? [more inside]
posted by branca at 8:34 AM PST - 6 comments

I’ve fallen in love with a property that has a 100 year old brick schoolhouse (single story) on it. It is just a shell - nothing inside. It has been abandoned for the last 50 years. I want to move it onto a new foundation and restore it to live in. Is this feasible in any way? [more inside]
posted by arnicae at 8:32 AM PST - 15 comments

I am, for various reasons, in Columbia, Maryland in a neighborhood where none of yards or parks have the kind of landscaping I'm used to enjoying in the spring and I feel out of touch. I want to see things blooming--magnolias, other blooming trees, daffodils, irises, etc. What parks can I drive to nearby that have a good concentration of this stuff? Neighborhoods with nice landscaping is OK too. I would prefer not to go to Baltimore for Reasons. DC is possible but I'd l like closer options.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:41 AM PST - 6 comments

I have access to a sewing machine but have never used one. I would like to sew my dog a new cover for her Casper dog bed. Should I do this or will it lead to misery? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 6:29 AM PST - 16 comments

I want my curly hair to look nicer, but I am time-and-effort-limited. What products and basic method can I use? [more inside]
posted by cpatterson at 5:37 AM PST - 30 comments

Is there a way to configure my Win10 Display Settings so that the computer will only switch the UI size to 125% when running Photoshop, and then revert back to the system default of 150% upon exiting? [more inside]
posted by imjustsaying at 5:35 AM PST - 2 comments

My son is almost five and is showing very strong running talent for a child his age. How do I encourage it? [more inside]
posted by redondo77 at 5:13 AM PST - 12 comments

I live in NY. NY has a sort of vague set of guidelines around underlying conditions, where one of the categories is "neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or dementia." Nowhere is there an exhaustive list of conditions that apply, or even a real definition of what "neurologic condition" means. I've been assuming that I don't qualify and am waiting for vaccines to be opened to the general public. However, a sentence in this Slate article pulled me up short: "“Neurologic conditions” are listed as an eligible condition; anxiety is generally considered a psychiatric disorder." The quote is in reference to a woman who's claiming to have 'undiagnosed anxiety,' which is obviously BS. But I have diagnosed anxiety, for which I take medication. Does that mean I qualify? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:05 AM PST - 14 comments

What would be the best use of a ~$100K investment for a single parent in her mid-60's, who is still working, renting her home, and has very little savings of her own? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:03 AM PST - 11 comments

I got a (very small-press) DVD and it has a copy protection technique that makes it hard to watch on my computer. I've tried straight-up watching it in VLC and ripping it in Handbrake. Left is how it appears in Handbrake. Right is how it appears in VLC. I ripped it in Handbrake, but it came out with the green section, same as if I tried to play it in VLC. What is this copy protection technique, and how can I watch this video at all?
posted by LSK at 8:41 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking for the best sofa covers/slip covers for a 3 seater and a 2 seater. Must be available in Australia (ordering online and getting it sent from overseas is an option too). [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 7:12 PM PST - 2 comments

I was a weekly-but-rarely-daily pot smoker for the last ten to fifteen years. Mostly I used cannabis to improve my appetite, take physical and mental rest days, and enjoy social settings. My use climbed to “most evenings” in 2020 due to *waves vaguely at pandemic, isolation, a bad injury, and relationship troubles*. This week I had a horrible round of what was almost certainly Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (my second experience with this nightmare). I need to abstain from cannabis completely to avoid a recurrence. If you’ve changed this habit for yourself, what helped you?
posted by sixswitch at 7:03 PM PST - 12 comments

What’s the best kind of patio furniture? I live in New England and want to purchase some patio furniture for lounging. I’d like it to be comfortable enough to sit and read, enjoy the sun, and talk to friends. What kind should I get? Couches and chairs with cushions look super comfy, but can you actually leave them out in the rain? The space is not covered, and I don’t really want to put things away at night. What should I get?
posted by david1230 at 6:30 PM PST - 7 comments

Help! I am caring (in a sort of relay with my sister), for my dad. He’s 88 and not in bad health, but quite frail. He lives about a 4-and-a-half hour drive from us, on an island with a ferry journey at the end of the drive, so we are taking turns working remotely from there. We are spending several weeks (sometimes more) each with him. I’m “on” at the moment. [more inside]
posted by Samarium at 5:40 PM PST - 15 comments

I've plowed through the Wikipedia entry, and am sure there's a huge Colonial text - and subtext I've missed. [more inside]
posted by citygirl at 4:59 PM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for a children's book that features Mother Goose's nursery rhymes, but with the words updated for today's generation. I want the rhymes to follow traditional Mother Goose and the writing to be less outdated or nonsensical. I am sick of explaining to my toddler why the farmer's wife cut off the blind mice's tails with a carving knife—it's too macabre and pointless—but we love the traditional melodies. My dream is a nursery rhyme that uses 3 Blind Mice melody updated about the Black Lives Matter movement, for instance, or just less gibberish than the originals (I get that silly rhymes are fun for kids, so I'm open to that). Illustrations would also be great, since it's a kid's book.
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 3:37 PM PST - 7 comments

Or is it a midpoint? Probably not. Help me! I have run into this problem before and I can't get my head around it. I have a friend who is about half my age, I would like to find out when exactly we will be half/double each others ages. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 1:38 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm doing a heroic rescue with a student in my sophomore English class who has been floundering and is at risk of failing. We've been reading Purple Hibiscus, a novel set in Nigeria — beautiful, but subtle and literary and not working for him. He says he's "a huge sci-fi nerd." Help me find him some snack-sized short stories. [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 9:40 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm studying for the GRE and struggle with reading comprehension passages about science. The concepts and terminology (e.g. planetary accretion) are often new to me, and I run out of time trying to sort it all out. What documentaries, tv series, or youtube videos make topics like geology, the formation of planets, sickle-cell genes, etc. interesting and accessible? Smithsonian books are great and along the lines of what I'm looking for, but in video form. BONUS PONTS if (a) the video(s) are relatively short and (b) kid-friendly (i.e. not violent and scary). [more inside]
posted by saltypup at 8:20 AM PST - 6 comments

I bought the new Macbook Air M1. It has the latest operating system on it. It keeps doing two things that infuriate me: When I put a CD in the external drive, it starts randomly playing music from my music library; it asks me repeatedly to sign in to the iTunes Store and no amount of doing so pleases it. Help? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 6:43 AM PST - 10 comments

We adopted Dixie last week. She’ a 9 month old retriever mix and has fit in with us very well so far, except for one annoying habit. If she is bored or wants something she can’t have, she repeatedly barks at us “I WANT IT NOW!” We are pretty good at ignoring her, which is helping, but if Jill, her 6 year old, shepherd/hound mix sister has the favorite bone of the moment, she repeatedly barks in Jill’s face. How do we correct this behavior without resorting to yelling? [more inside]
posted by sarajane at 6:36 AM PST - 11 comments

Woohoo, I’m finally back on an SSRI for anxiety. The last time I did this, I found myself suddenly able to play platformers competently after a lifetime of sucking at games. That faded after a few months but it was a cool special skill while it lasted. I’m now more of a gamer than before (still not a platformer fan), and want to have some fun during the taper-up adjustment period. What games should I try that I might have considered too hard or stressful before? [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 12:40 AM PST - 24 comments

How to cope? [more inside]
posted by oywiththepoodles at 10:35 PM PST - 12 comments

How do we grill 1-1/2 inch NY Prime steaks (what are those anyway?) on our Coleman RoadTrip propane grill? [more inside]
posted by magnoliasouth at 10:33 PM PST - 10 comments

I used to write for a music website that I did not own. It looks like the website might be closing soon, and I need to scrape and archive my 100+ articles. I'm wondering how I can do this most easily and effectively. [more inside]
posted by Mael Oui at 10:31 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for films or shows featuring an animated sequence that transitions to reality. Disney's Enchanted comes to mind, but the animated fairy tale world cuts to the real world in an instant, and I'm hoping to find something with a more elaborate transition, where a cartoon character in a cartoon scene becomes real before our eyes. The reverse process, with a real person becoming a cartoon, would be useful reference as well. I'm open to any style of animation (2D, 3D, stop motion). [more inside]
posted by roger ackroyd at 9:27 PM PST - 10 comments

Do you have any advice or resources for setting priorities, figuring out druthers and making trade-offs when house-hunting? Such as deciding between must-haves and nice-to-haves, and making individual choices and choices as a couple. I am open to comments such as “X is good because of Y,” but especially interested in any framework to help figure out what’s most or less important to us. We have already narrowed down the general price range and area of town.
posted by NotLost at 8:07 PM PST - 23 comments

How is a gel manicure going to hold up if I’m playing guitar every day? [more inside]
posted by something something at 5:41 PM PST - 10 comments

We’re expecting a son, which is tremendously exciting...except that we’re having a really hard time coming up with boy names. Do you have any great suggestions? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:11 PM PST - 101 comments

I'm trying to remove/reduce sources of ignition right next to our house, and looking for a fire resistant doormat but having no luck. We need to wipe our feet on something, however. When I was a kid we had a flexible galvanized steel mat outside our back door. I've tried to find something like that but have only turned up a rusty antique. Any other suggestions would be helpful. [more inside]
posted by oneirodynia at 5:10 PM PST - 11 comments

I care about someone whose mental health issues (anxiety/depression) seem to be getting out of control. I'm worried about her. How can I help her? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:10 PM PST - 20 comments

I need to add the handwritten signature of someone at work to a Word doc. The recommendations I see online for this is to have the person do a big signature with a sharpie on a piece of white paper, and then scan that and create an image file from it. Surely there must be a better way this day and age?? [more inside]
posted by imalaowai at 4:49 PM PST - 13 comments

In Portland, all of the ads I see for music publishing companies seem to be from one company. But there are at least 30 according to Yelp. I am trying to find one or maybe a musician who can work with me to help me create songs for my musical. Any ideas of where to look I would really appreciate.
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I want a large light weight platform. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 2:19 PM PST - 4 comments

My sick mother before she died and made sure that before she and my dad put the estate in trust, it probably had a value of 800000k, and the trustee would be my dad and when he died then my brother and I would get 30 percent each and my dads children from a previous marriage 20 percent each. My dad has now admitted that he has been supporting a my brother in full and in part for several years and has very little money left. My brother is now 38 and I think he’s been supported for maybe 10 years. He’s presenting as mentally unstable and delusional but when my dad tried to get him to access services in order for him to help my brother went in and got a clean Bill of health. So I don’t know how much of the mental symptoms are real or being used to manipulate (threatening suicide etc) [more inside]
posted by pairofshades at 2:03 PM PST - 9 comments

Looking for financial advice resources for middle-aged folks who are way behind. Books, blogs, websites, podcasts, etc. [more inside]
posted by sock puppy at 1:36 PM PST - 7 comments

Does it sound plausible someone would playfully trip someone else up? I was walking across a field with my boyfriend, I don't think we were play fighting or anything, he shoved me quite hard and I was like 'dont do that' and then/during he on purpose did a kind of judo move of putting his foot between my legs so I fell to the ground on my back. [more inside]
posted by mosswinter at 12:56 PM PST - 72 comments

I have a large basement, partially with concrete walls covered with fake wood paneling, partially finished with drywall. I would like to install a home climbing wall for exercise and fun. What is the easiest and cheapest way for me to do this? Details below. [more inside]
posted by music for skeletons at 11:50 AM PST - 10 comments

Whelp, my 2007 Honda Fit with the problems starting seems to need replacing. Is it worth replacing with a 2019 one given winter weather? [more inside]
posted by past unusual at 11:39 AM PST - 15 comments

I am an office manager for a socially-conscious company. Our founder has tasked me with researching our options for assisting our community in the face of pandemics/weather emergencies/etc. Please help me brainstorm, and inform me of potential blind spots. [more inside]
posted by MuChao at 10:36 AM PST - 6 comments

I (female, middle aged) had a verbal confrontation with a man (older, likely local) who felt entitled to butt in on a conversation between myself and female friend. I had such an awful physical and emotional reaction to this that I'm wondering how to find self-help resources? What helps? [more inside]
posted by Flitcraft at 10:16 AM PST - 20 comments

I have a former client whose self-hosted Wordpress site broke because their theme no longer worked with the most recent PHP versions, and unfortunately the theme is no longer being updated. I need to migrate their site to a new theme with a minimum of effort and am overwhelmed because I haven't worked in Wordpress for a while and suspect that it's got a lot more WYSIWYG tools for customizing themes than it did in 2015. [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 9:44 AM PST - 7 comments

Please help me get up to date on caring for a new PC! Specific questions (recovery disc, installation and Windows 10 guide) after the jump - [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 8:34 AM PST - 7 comments

I love funk music with a flute in it. Can you recommend some more songs and bands with funky flutes? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 7:29 AM PST - 29 comments

Looking for an old SF strategy game I played in the mid-90's, but I only remember fragments of it. I know this is a long shot. [more inside]
posted by Mogur at 5:32 AM PST - 8 comments

My son has asked for LEGO Mindstorms for his 11th bday. But it is more than I want to spend. Is there a similar toy that your kid likes that will scratch the same itch? [more inside]
posted by Ollie at 3:41 AM PST - 11 comments

In my office we have several departments, entry levels and shifts working at any one time. As I am one of several dozen just returned from Covid vacations we all entered into a new department training that staggered start dates lasting 5 weeks, one week apart. (Cont) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:40 AM PST - 8 comments

A dear friend has been going through a rough patch with her partner, and I want to support her, but am feeling powerless and ignorant. She says that she has been "mean" to him, that he is fed up. She can see that this behavior is hurtful and unfair, and that it reflects her own fears, but says she is trying as hard as she can and can't do any more. Is there any advice I can give, or any constructive way I can support her? [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:13 AM PST - 9 comments

Our oven is broken and we have a lot of puff pastry taking up space in the freezer. Is there anything I can make with puff pastry on a stove?
posted by trotzdem_kunst at 9:29 PM PST - 8 comments

I wish to yoga. [more inside]
posted by Evilspork at 9:20 PM PST - 7 comments

I got a massage gun (Legiral) as a birthday present and am excited to check it out, but afraid that if I use it wrong I'll hurt myself. What are the best resources for learning how to use it safely. [more inside]
posted by earlsofsandwich at 9:18 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm trying to get some stats from New York First Department Appellate Division orders, INAL [more inside]
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:12 PM PST - 9 comments

Does anyone else remember a single flat list-based productivity method? You write all of your things to do in a list (actionable next steps), and then cross them off when you work on them. If you don't finish the task, you still cross it off, but add it again to the bottom of the list. I want to find the web page that explained it and try to remember the name the author used. [more inside]
posted by that girl at 7:03 PM PST - 7 comments

I get keloid scars easily. I have a 2 inch-long keloid scar from a vaccine shot I received on my left arm. Once, an insect bit me on my left arm and now there's a raised scar. Needless to say, my left arm is pretty scarred up. [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 6:56 PM PST - 12 comments

The job listing is for a US-based health/tech company. The job post lists two major US cities which are the company "hubs," and it sounds like they are hiring for one position which can be filled in either city. The company's mission aligns with my values, and I think I would really enjoy working there. They recently expanded their operations in the UK. How can I tactfully request if I can perform that job from their London office? [more inside]
posted by mushtale at 6:03 PM PST - 16 comments

Recommendations for best culinary matcha for home kitchen coconut milk matcha lattes. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 5:55 PM PST - 3 comments

I am a patient with Stage 4 Sarcoma. Standard of care oncology has nothing to offer, but I have been working with an integrative physician and the results have been positive. However, I need to submit invoices to Medicare myself, and need help with coding. [more inside]
posted by onpointe at 4:41 PM PST - 5 comments

What's your favorite body wash? I'm in need of a new one soon. [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:40 PM PST - 26 comments

Back in 1995 or 1996 I saw a trailer in a movie theater for the terrific movie "That Thing You Do!". I feel 75% certain that when I saw it the movie was titled "The Wonders." I can see the logo (like the one on their drumhead) for it in my teenage brain, and I can sort of remember being surprised by the change in name when the movie hit. But there's zero evidence I can find so maybe I'm just making it all up? It feels dumb to use an AskMe on this but I've googled it so many times through the years that I really want to know... [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket at 3:42 PM PST - 15 comments

Looking for recommendations for documentaries that leave you feeling that old "truth is stranger than fiction" vibe. This is subjective, so below are some examples of docs I've seen that gave me that feeling.. [more inside]
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 3:26 PM PST - 46 comments

My sister will be giving birth soon-ish. My siblings and I feel confident in the “big things” but less confident on the smaller, less expensive items, and what items are good to have doubles on. [more inside]
posted by Aranquis at 2:31 PM PST - 33 comments

What song is this Mennonite choir singing?
posted by andoatnp at 1:45 PM PST - 4 comments

I am doing a lot of swimming lately, and I would like some pointers or resources on how to improve at it. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:55 PM PST - 12 comments

My wife and I are starting to think about buying a house. However, I defaulted on my student loans, and I'm concerned how that will affect our application. I've googled it, but I find finance stuff kind of hard to understand (see above, defaulting on loans), and a lot of mortgage and/or student loan-related advice sites look and feel pretty scammy to me. I'm looking for more personal advice about how to handle our situation. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:23 PM PST - 8 comments

I had my first Pfizer shot earlier in the week. I then learned that a pharmacy in a nearby town had given saline shots instead of vaccine by mistake. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 12:17 PM PST - 21 comments

Contractors for window replacement seem to have their favorite brands ... how do you choose? [more inside]
posted by a robot made out of meat at 11:21 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm not sure if age matters. I'm 67. Last summer, my last 5k races, I was 6.37 and 7.07 min per km. Now I started training for a 10k race and I'm started to work up my distance to 10k before I work on my pace. I'm very slow now having been in all winter so I wondered when am I jogging and when am I running.
posted by Tziv at 11:16 AM PST - 17 comments

We are converting a small basement into a guest room for older grandparents when they come to visit to take care of grandkids, so we need a comfortable sleep solution for them. We're based in the USA. Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by WedgedPiano at 10:45 AM PST - 22 comments

My mother was diagnosed with oral cancer a few years ago and had to have 75% of her tongue removed. She also had to have oral radiation which is now ruining her jaw and teeth. She has already lost three teeth, and the others are not looking great. She is on Medicare but does not have dental insurance, and she is currently being quoted at $250K to remove her teeth and get dentures. I would like to be her advocate, but I don't know the right questions to ask. [more inside]
posted by orangesky4 at 10:20 AM PST - 9 comments

Where can I get a truly light, breathable duvet insert? [more inside]
posted by amycup at 10:03 AM PST - 12 comments

I am 100% legit eligible for the vaccine. In fact, I am between shots 1 and 2 of the Pfizer vaccine. I have a doctor's note which I presented at my first shot. (Am I the only person who was actually asked for proof?) I had my 1st dose at the Javits Center. It was organized and it went smoothly, but it was 3 hours, 4 if you include parking and 5.5 if you include drive time. Worth it in my opinion for the 1st shot. 2nd shot is scheduled for early next week at the Javits. I actually live about 7 minutes from the Westchester County Center where they are also giving out Pfizer doses from the State. Can I go to the WCC to get my 2nd dose? [more inside]
posted by AugustWest at 10:02 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm trying to offer a custom puzzle for sale in my store, which is a tiny gift shop inside of a state park. However, most places that I look have MOQs that start around 1,000 units. I have room for ideally 50, at most (MOST) a hundred puzzles, tops, in my storage. Are there any companies that can help me get this done and still offer a puzzle for sale at around $35 a unit (so 17.50 wholesale or less)? [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:02 AM PST - 8 comments

My sister is breaking up with her boyfriend this weekend and moving her stuff out of his house on the same day due to her boyfriend's month+ long manic bipolar episode which he refuses to acknowledge as an ongoing health emergency. I'm going to help her move her stuff out in one swift event. But he's scary at the moment, and I am anxious about how this will play out. Details below. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:00 AM PST - 24 comments

It's time for another edition of "Name! that! Movie!" I would have sworn I saw this on Elvira's Movie Macabre, but I've been through the episode list and nothing seems to match. It would have been a low-budget horror film made in the 60's or 70's. [more inside]
posted by five toed sloth at 9:15 AM PST - 6 comments

Trying to figure out how critical it is that I purchase low/no-VOC flooring for condo renovations. Is this stuff much safer than regular flooring? Is other flooring actually unsafe? So far as I know none of us have VOC sensitivities, but upcoming new members of the family may or may not. Basically I don't want to waste money on snake oil or something very overblown.
posted by miltthetank at 8:07 AM PST - 4 comments

Recently, with a little time on my hands, I've decided to explore a topic that's piqued my interest for a long time--the history and social role of clothing. [more inside]
posted by Gordion Knott at 7:14 AM PST - 21 comments

We're planning to finish our basement this year and our contractor mentioned that wood studs are expensive right now, so they'll give us a price for metal studs. Is there a downside to using metal? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 6:06 AM PST - 9 comments

I love podcasts and vodcasts that deconstruct songs and explain why they’re amazing. Strong Songs, Song Exploder, What Makes This Song Great. I’m in. However, they don’t scratch the itch for me of deconstructing such genres as electronic and hip hop. Are there any podcasts, or episodes, that I should follow the rabbit hole for?
posted by chronic sublime at 5:29 AM PST - 7 comments

This is for a child (5) with mild intermittent strabismus in both eyes. [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 3:57 AM PST - 11 comments

I live in the EU and my kid's studying in the UK. Last autumn, the kid forgot some medication (melatonin pills) at home so I sent them to her by mail. Melatonin is OTC where we live, but requires a prescription in the UK. The package never arrived, but now, months later, my kid received a Notice of Seizure. Is this something we should be worried about? Is this safe to ignore? Should we contact the Border Force or will that make things worse? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:38 AM PST - 2 comments

Basically looking for a tea which is legal to buy online in the UK but which tastes something a bit like the mate de coca I enjoyed in Peru? No need for any stimulant properties nor do I want anything to do with companies which send from outside the UK. More below - [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:37 AM PST - 2 comments

I read this stat today: Over the past six months, at least 35 companies that were founded in the San Francisco Bay Area...have gone public for a combined market value of $446 billion, according to a tally by The New York Times. That, plus record sales an Amazon took in, how does this most recent tech boom compared to previous ones? IS this the strongest ever or was the 90's even more?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:34 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a bunch of old video footage (circa 2003, mostly) on DV tapes that I would like to get off of tape and onto my latest computer, which is a tower I built from parts and that is running Linux Mint 20.1. [more inside]
posted by skoosh at 7:18 PM PST - 8 comments

Hi everyone, I’m hoping that you can point me in the right direction. Any idea how I can get individual stock price data for an entire exchange (eg S&P 500) using getsymbols or any other command in Stata?
posted by seeminglyshy at 7:11 PM PST - 4 comments

After many months I've gotten a need to finish painting our bathrooms after we had all the pipes redone. The repipe crew patched and replaced their holes but now I need to sand, clean and paint. Problem: the bathtub (built in cast iron) fills one side of the room and I am short. [more inside]
posted by fiercekitten at 6:03 PM PST - 10 comments

One of my cats is notoriously spicy at the vet's and, in anticipation of tomorrow's annual checkup, I picked up a prescription of gabapentin solution. I attempted to give it to her tonight, but she spat it out / foamed at the mouth, and I noticed that the drug has a really strong sweet/fruity odor, almost like aspartame. I'm worried I gave my cat something other than gaba (I've given it to her before without issue and the sweet smell) and if so, if it was harmful. [more inside]
posted by snerson at 5:49 PM PST - 19 comments

My work never canceled a transit pass and has been deducting it from my paycheck for a year. I just caught it today. Do I have any recourse? [more inside]
posted by Diskeater at 5:28 PM PST - 14 comments

I am looking for ideas and suggestions to cozy-ify my back yard. I want it like a garden oasis. What I have is a flat lot with mediocre grass, and no real boundary between my yard, one neighbor's yard, and the alleyway. Difficulties & details inside: [more inside]
posted by Grandysaur at 5:12 PM PST - 8 comments

My tiny mountain village often has power outages during storms. If I needed to keep a fiber optic internet modem, wifi router, my Macbook Air, a smart phone and a lamp running for around 3 working days (so 24 hours total), what wattage do I need to buy? What kind should I get? (specifics inside) [more inside]
posted by ananci at 5:09 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for wholesale gemstone beads that state where they are sources their beads from and put some effort into ethical mining practices. Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 2:30 PM PST - 1 comment

Do you know of a good tax accountant in Portland, OR? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 1:51 PM PST - 5 comments

what's the cliche about a market cycle moving money from the weak hands to strong hands? I can't find a definitive source of the information and my google juice is failing me.
posted by wowenthusiast at 12:32 PM PST - 5 comments

What details should I iron out before I do so and what ground rules should I set ahead of time? [more inside]
posted by vespertinism at 11:47 AM PST - 20 comments

We have a medium sized patio that could use some art and/or décor. Looking for suggestions on where to shop or specific websites for DIY art/decor plans. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 11:28 AM PST - 11 comments

To help me as I work on communicating my boundaries better, I want to think through the typical actions/events early in dating specifically (like within the first 3-6 months) that can advance emotional intimacy, beyond sex/physical contact alone. Can you help me develop my list of these actions/events? [more inside]
posted by deus ex machina at 10:56 AM PST - 24 comments

I like REM's "Fall on Me" because they seem to be singing two or even three different sets of lyrics simultaneously. What is this called, and what other songs do the same thing? [more inside]
posted by Orkney Vole at 10:54 AM PST - 55 comments

My mother passed way in December. She has an astronomical amount of insurance on her apartment and its contents from the highest end insurance company for no reason, she just had it and the annual cost is substantial. [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 10:07 AM PST - 24 comments

I want to take some nice pictures on a trip to Europe this fall. However I tend to fall down long rabbit holes when researching new electronics and I don't have the time or energy to spend. Please recommend a basic, "good enough," affordable DSLR camera and 1-2 lenses that will be good for cityscapes, landscapes, and nice portraits of each other in front of said vistas. [more inside]
posted by ohsnapdragon at 9:12 AM PST - 23 comments

Two people (one in Canada, one in Australia) would like to spend time together doing Airbnb Online Experiences. I've really enjoyed myself while experiencing in-person Airbnb Experiences when I travel, but I'm hoping you might be able to recommend online experiences you've enjoyed. Thank you!
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:55 AM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for media about the experience of racism and identity of being a recent black immigrant to America (especially from an African country) vs. being African-American. English or French material is ok. [more inside]
posted by congen at 8:33 AM PST - 11 comments

I want to be able to click a cell on sheet 1 and have a specific row in sheet 2 to move to the top of the sheet 2. I know how to insert a link within the document which will take me to that row, but that row stays in the middle of the window. [more inside]
posted by kimberussell at 8:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm suddenly unable to access my school's online learning environment (I teach online). I get a 403 error and I'm pretty sure the problem is on my side. Please help me, the school's IT person just said "That's bizarre" and I haven't heard back from them again since Monday. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 7:57 AM PST - 10 comments

Lately we've been on a kick with indie, kinda-sad-but-not-depressing-sometimes-funny movies with Asian actors and directors (Farewell, Minari, Tigertail, Namesake). Looking for movies with the same kind of feel from South America and Africa that I can stream easily. Prefer stories set in those locales rather than immigration stories like the above, but those are interesting as well.
posted by sandmanwv at 7:51 AM PST - 6 comments

Younger me never could have imagined that I'd be asking this, but: I'm 45 years old, and considering plastic surgery to correct the noticeably dropping/puffing corners of my mouth. Is this a bad idea? Can you talk me out of it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:42 AM PST - 28 comments

I’ve struggled with various forms of ED for the past 15 years. Covid has worsened a lot of the symptoms and my normal coping strategies are no longer sufficient. If anyone has a reco for a specialist in ED, CBT emphasis who is straightforward and is able to call me out on my bullshit if needed. Someone who identifies as a woman is preferable. Nothing inpatient/outpatient. Your help is appreciated.
posted by anonymous at 7:41 AM PST - 2 comments

What is the secret sauce in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, Dungeons & Dragon's Planescape, and other similar stories? These stories all feature worlds filled with portals and doorways that lead hither and yon. These doors are often opened by specific keys or methods. These stories and fantasy worlds also contain an in-world culture that is unusually detailed or intricate by most fantasy standards. [more inside]
posted by jibberish at 5:51 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been on two wonderful dates with a person who I really enjoy the company of, and we have another date planned for the end of this week, by which time (for context) it will have been a little over a fortnight since we met. I would like to ask how my date is feeling about dating me and where they see things going. However, being an anxious person, I can't tell whether this is a legitimate thing to want to ask or a potential disaster that my brain is luring me into. Would appreciate your advice on whether or not to do it, and if yes, the best way to phrase the question. [more inside]
posted by Panthalassa at 2:01 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm trying to remember a one-act-type play script I read or saw in the mid 1990s, but given the situation, it was probably a relatively well-known play from anywhere from the 1960s to the 1990s. It is a small, intimate setting. There are four actors, and the entire play takes place at a restaurant table. [more inside]
posted by erst at 12:42 AM PST - 6 comments

I need a new general-purpose headset for calls and music. It needs to be over-the-ear and wired -- if it's smaller, it will disappear. No noise cancellation since I will probably walk around outside with it some for walk and calls. I don't intend on buying separate headphones for music, so I don't want music to sound too tinny, but let's not assume I'm a huge audiophile. Recommendations?
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 11:50 PM PST - 5 comments

Hi - in 1996, I got a free microwave from a friend, who got it secondhand. It still works. However, I think we deserve something with more power and maybe a rotating tray. I'm considering a convection microwave - I believe we'd use it, but I worry that the heat from the convection mechanism will reduce the life of the microwave part, and/or that the microwave mechanism requires non-metal interior parts that wouldn't last as long with a heated oven. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:10 PM PST - 8 comments

I am a woman who hates pubic hair. Can deal with it on others, but not on me. After many years of occasional waxes (painful, expensive, humiliating) and electric shower razor shaving (gross stubble,) I'd really love to celebrate the end of COVID, when it happens, by just getting rid of it forever. But I'm seeing conflicting information about whether this is a thing that is safe/effective to do, and I'm looking for anecdata. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:24 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to replace the toner cartridge on my Brother printer. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Marky at 10:21 PM PST - 12 comments

I am considering purchasing an item from Sweden. I live in California. The company selling the product has given me the price including shipping, but says that I will also be responsible for the taxes related to the destination - CA, USA. They are not able to tell me what these taxes will be, and I am not clear if this is just normal California sales taxes or something else. I do not want to be surprised by some super high customs charge or unforeseen tax. [more inside]
posted by The Architect at 7:04 PM PST - 7 comments

Tonight, I had a very weird smell that started in my bathroom, in my 1-bedroom apartment. It smelled like garlic and kind of... onion-y? I don't quite know how to describe it. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 6:47 PM PST - 20 comments

I was recently diagnosed with severe arthritis in my hip and was told I will need a replacement. Things aren’t bad now, but life will change in the not-so-distant future such that recovery would be more logistically difficult. MeFites who have hip replacement, what would you suggest I do? [more inside]
posted by Sublimity at 6:33 PM PST - 9 comments

I've dropped the ball repeatedly, without warning, in the past month at work. I'm talking to my manager tomorrow. How do I say anything without it sounding like a weak excuse? What's about to happen? [more inside]
posted by scruffy-looking nerfherder at 5:45 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm in the Bay Area, and I know lots of people in my work and social circles who are traveling for recreation - the classic case is traveling up to Tahoe to ski or play in the snow or just hang out in a cabin & enjoy being someplace else. Californians are under a travel restriction to not travel more than 120 miles from your home. I think traveling given the public health restriction is a wrong and selfish thing to do, but maybe I'm being too harsh? [more inside]
posted by Jaclyn at 4:58 PM PST - 47 comments

Inspired by an earlier question today, can you help me re-discover this comedian? The special/performance/set would have been late 90's or early 2000's. He was a slender, middle-aged to older gay man with a dry sense of humor. The first key joke I remember involves mistaking Yves Saint Laurent as "the night before St. Laurent". The second key joke involves someone asking a rural local person for directions to the hospital, and the local is having a side conversation with his wife and says, among other things, "He was stabbed. STAAABED." Ring any bells?
posted by Lokheed at 4:54 PM PST - 4 comments

As a means of preserving my sanity while the long tail of this pandemic plays out interminably, I'm starting to daydream/plan a short, sweet coastal getaway for partner, me, and our two doofy dogs for....late spring? early summer? mid-fall?? whenever things are safe and open again!! Given that very vague timeline, where should we go? Wish list inside! [more inside]
posted by Dorinda at 4:48 PM PST - 15 comments

My trusty Kindle Paperwhite is approaching 6 years old and showing it. I'm investigating new ones and before I just buy another Kindle I wanted to make sure that I'm not making a rash decision and overlooking something better from the competition. [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 3:49 PM PST - 11 comments

Please share with me your spice mix recipes that mix other spices with coriander*. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 3:37 PM PST - 16 comments

A long while back I read a magazine that featured an incredibly designed wrist watch. This watch had no digital elements, but the face of the watch used small bars, copper maybe?, to create digital style numbers. The watch display essentially looked like a classic digital alarm clock. My fuzzy memory tells me this was an engineer feat, possibly still under development, and outrageously expensive. I've searched for hours and cannot find anything. Perhaps you can help me can free me from this prison?
posted by dbbaily at 3:22 PM PST - 6 comments

I need to make some dashboards and data mashups. It's been over a decade since I've done front-end work. Between Vue.js, React, and Angular (or jQuery), which would you recommend for small applications whose main job will be to display JSON data in a relatively pretty way? [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 3:22 PM PST - 6 comments

I once read a quote from someone - could have been Donald Rumsfeld. The gist of the quote was like this: "Go on pointlessly arguing about the present, we will act instead of talking, through action we will define the future and then you will have to discuss that instead". Does this ring any bells?
posted by fake at 2:27 PM PST - 8 comments

This happened a few years ago, but it just popped back in my head today and I figured it's time to get an actual answer. In 2014, on my honeymoon in Switzerland, my wife and I encountered a Bollywood production shooting on a street. I don't actually think we were in any shots (if we were, we'd be far enough in the background that we'd be unrecognizable), but I would like to figure out what film it was and maybe some information about the actors and director. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 2:02 PM PST - 2 comments

I’ve found out that I’ve matched with someone through Be the Match, they’ve provided good resources for me, but I’d love to hear any of your experiences before I fully commit. [more inside]
posted by blueberrypuffin at 2:01 PM PST - 9 comments

I need to replace a lost power adaptor. But, snowflakes... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:53 PM PST - 5 comments

Asking therapists: I think we're heading towards the close of my therapy sessions. I'm super pleased with how we worked and I would like to write my therapist a thank you letter once it's over. Is this something people do? And what would you like to read in a letter like that? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 1:43 PM PST - 11 comments

I have some money I'd like to give to local K-12 schools that serve underprivileged kids. What approach will get the best bang for the buck? [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 1:07 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm trying to remember the name of a comedian. He did a joke about the band that plays "The People's Court" theme song. [more inside]
posted by paperback version at 12:23 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm assisting a small non-profit organization that has issues with managing their files. They are interested in DocuWare, but it's very expensive. Can they gain some of the same benefits by using Microsoft Office 365? [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 12:21 PM PST - 7 comments

My husband and I are in the market for a new bed. We currently have a King bed in a 9 X 12 bedroom and are considering having a ceiling fan installed. But when to do it? Can it be done with a bed still in place? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by Oriole Adams at 12:20 PM PST - 19 comments

My son ended up in the NICU after birth. The hospital is now sending me a bill for 46k. The thing is is that my insurance is saying that they already paid the hospital that money. [more inside]
posted by timesarrow at 12:11 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a feeling this is probably a bit of a dumb question but here goes. I have two separate Word documents that I always have open side-by-side, which I use as a reference in my work. Is there a way I can combine these two documents into one, but keep that side-by-side layout? How would I go about this? I'm thinking maybe Publisher?
posted by iamsuper at 10:55 AM PST - 13 comments

Calling all twitchers -- can you tell me the field guides (to anywhere in the world) that you like best for serious bird watching?
posted by Capri at 10:51 AM PST - 15 comments

I am in the market for a refurbished 2-in-1. Should I buy this Ultrabook instead? If this is not the computer for me, please tell me what I should buy instead. [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:30 AM PST - 7 comments

When I attend catholic elementary school, part of the uniform was a crossover tie. Are these still worn? What is the history of these? Where did they originate?
posted by falsedmitri at 9:25 AM PST - 10 comments

Can anyone point me towards an explicitly LGBTQ+ community of woodworking folks? [more inside]
posted by ursus_comiter at 8:27 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm not even sure this is the right terminology. Did you use a supportive garment for your stomach after giving birth and if so, do you recommend it? [more inside]
posted by Emmy Rae at 6:56 AM PST - 20 comments

He's sweet, kind and caring in usual life. But if I'm upset about something (like a sick kitten, or now, a terminally ill uncle) he just doesn't know what to say and it makes me feel way worse and even ashamed of being upset, like he is tired of supporting me. I have noticed feeling this way in other relationships, so perhaps this is a me problem? [more inside]
posted by flimflamflop at 4:40 AM PST - 43 comments

YANMD but I've tried all her suggestions. The past few months, I've frequently had a very very strong musty vulva odor. No infections, no other symptoms. I wear loose cotton underwear and go without at home. I trim my hair. I have a Mirena IUD and don't menstruate. I haven't been sexually active in months. The only symptom is the odor, and washing with gentle soap doesn't help. I'd like to figure this out so I can maybe get laid again before I die. FWIW, I'm not squeamish about my body odors in general; this is abnormal and strong. I avoid feminine hygiene products but am open to other ideas.
posted by anonymous at 4:23 AM PST - 16 comments

Anyone know what this means and if there is a 'solution', then what is it? [more inside]
posted by Quillcards at 3:33 AM PST - 12 comments

This year, I finally bit the bullet and committed to having my own website again, and this time I'm paying for my own hosting. My skill level however is 'late-90s-college-kid-building-stuff-on-Dreamweaver-and-uploading-via-FTP'. As part of the hosting package, I get a Weebly website builder. But I also have access to my own CPanel, with all the facilities (FTP server, file manager etc). But I can't seem to find the blog posts I've made in the file directory (and I've asked the IT hotline, whose answer is 'we don't host it'. Which makes no sense to me). Googling around found some partial answer with downloading the blog posts, which depends on the using the RSS feed, and what I get is only the .json file for the first page of entries. Is there some way to generate static/html pages instead? Am I looking at a future of manually scheduling backups?
posted by cendawanita at 1:40 AM PST - 4 comments

Long story short, one friend I'd like to ask to sign my marriage licence as a witness has not yet been able to legally change her name (she is trans). Can she sign using the name she uses instead of the name on her ID? This is for a civil ceremony to take place in the United Kingdom. [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 9:16 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm running a small diversity discussion group at my institution which has some real problems with discrimination and harassment. One topic I would really like to discuss but haven't been able to find a good article/podcast for is what a productive, forward-looking response to such harassment would be. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 9:04 PM PST - 1 comment

As as it says, please. Willing to entertain international institutions as well. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 8:51 PM PST - 22 comments

On my idle PC, I can hear the hard drive being accessed. I think it's interfering with my Zoom conferences. Using Task Manager, I noticed that Google Chrome is writing to the disk even when I've quit and shut down the browser window. What could be causing that? The other heavy users are System, and something called Realtek Bluetooth BTDevManager Service Application. What the heck? What can I do about this?
posted by storybored at 6:38 PM PST - 9 comments

Yes it's another audiobook recommendation question! I mostly have been listening to a lot of sci-fi and fantasy and would like to expand out into other genres. Can you give me your favorite genre fiction audiobooks? [more inside]
posted by edbles at 5:45 PM PST - 17 comments

I live in a 3-unit apartment building. All the apartment units receive hot water from the shared boiler (I'm pretty sure it's a boiler, which I believe is in the basement). Which unit gets priority in terms of hot water (that is, the first to receive hot water) if hot water is low and beginning to run cold? I believe it would either be the top or bottom unit. [more inside]
posted by thesockpuppet at 5:01 PM PST - 8 comments

What are some great websites that would print my art on t-shirts, bags, posters etc.? [more inside]
posted by morning_television at 4:02 PM PST - 3 comments

If YOU had a good tent and sleeping bag... and you the opportunity to meander from Massachusetts to Texas during the month of May, what would be your preferred stops? [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 3:46 PM PST - 10 comments

In a couple of weeks I'm planning to take the final step to change to a chosen last name, would welcome any thoughts/experiences you if you or someone you know has done this. [more inside]
posted by reader at 2:26 PM PST - 27 comments

How much should I expect to pay for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from a reputable breeder? I'm new to this dog thing. I don't want a show dog or best of breed or anything, just a cute friendly family dog. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 2:07 PM PST - 36 comments

After my last update, I'm back on the hunt, and would like to come prepared with some questions that will help me weed out potentially toxic workplaces. I'm also looking at Glassdoor reviews. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 1:23 PM PST - 26 comments

A few days ago my 7 years old PC conked out while struggling through a Windows update that had been dragging out over a couple days. Starting the PC would lead to a regular load screen, followed by a log in to the default account and then a blank screen with an unresponsive navbar at the bottom and no way to access files or programs. I put Linux Mint on a USB and after trial and error got that to work. Now that I can actually use the PC, how can I find out what the problem is and remediate it? More details and related questions within! [more inside]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:59 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a small garden in the front of my house in Toronto that I have never been happy with. Help me redesign it? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 12:41 PM PST - 18 comments

I thought of "Inside Out," but are there any other fiction works on film that touch on dialectical behavioral therapy? Thanks!
posted by longhaultrucker at 11:23 AM PST - 6 comments

My ex wants to know he can depend on me as a friend because of all the support he gave me while we were together, but I'm not sure if I can promise that [more inside]
posted by fantasticbotanical at 11:12 AM PST - 43 comments

I really like E-40, but starting in 2010 he began to release too much music for me to keep up with. We're talking somewhere in the universe of 280 to 300 songs, I think. What are the best songs from this era? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 9:50 AM PST - 3 comments

We use a wood stove for heat. We tap a single maple tree for fun. Before boiling the sap down in the kitchen, we passively reduce it most of the way in a pot on the wood stove. I'm wondering whether it reduces more if we do it in big batches or sequential small ones, and with or without a heat-powered fan. [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 9:31 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm going to start picking up trash from the shore when I canoe around our local lake. Please recommend a grabber tool that works well and won't rust or otherwise fail when it inevitably gets wet. I'm not sure what price point to expect but I suspect I'll be using this for a long time so a little pricey is okay if it's much better than a cheap version.
posted by Tehhund at 9:01 AM PST - 4 comments

So... a house we recently bought in Garrison, New York has a little garden plot that is in deep disrepair: https://imgur.com/a/2cj5pwN. I'm confident the prior owners never used it, so the last time it was used was maybe 15 years ago? I'd like to understand whether it can be turned into a garden again with minimal ongoing effort... [more inside]
posted by slide at 7:43 AM PST - 26 comments

Hey all -- I would like your suggestions please for international (i.e. non-english-speaking) songs/bands that are in the vein of Tame Impala's latest work 'The Slow Rush.' I'm thinking of: a psych-pop vibe/ echoey falsettos / soft-groovy baselines / arty glitching / vocoders / swirly flanges/ polished, layered soft disco funk -- ThankYou!
posted by mrmarley at 7:27 AM PST - 5 comments

Apparently it's possible to paint over tiles and laminate cabinets and get an okay result. Looking to spruce up an ugly looking kitchen and would like the result to last around five years. Has anyone done this and can tell me how it worked out?
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:26 AM PST - 12 comments

So I'm embarrassed about this - hence posting anonymously. I have an accountant for my sole trader business. We're coming up to the financial year end and the business has done surprisingly well, considering, well - you know. I just don't know whether I should spend some money on new infrastructure, fittings - fixtures, technology, office supplies etc at this point to reduce our tax liability a bit. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:26 PM PST - 8 comments

And does/says other things I don't agree with. How do you stay friends when you seem to differ on what feel like important questions of morality? Do you? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:26 PM PST - 25 comments

All the salient details inside, but the short of it is that a new person is being inserted between me and my current manager, and my title and salary seem kind of stagnant. Thanks for your help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:42 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm category 1B, and Philadelphia isn't exactly well-supplied. At this point, I know to keep hammering on the Walgreen's website, but I'm hoping there's a group which knows things like whether it's worth showing up at a Walgreen's in the hope of a spare dose. Thank you for any help you can give.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 8:42 PM PST - 27 comments

I want a shower head that is easy to remove the flow rate limiter on. I am not mechanically inclined but after watching YouTube videos on removing the flow limiter, I think I can do it if it's an easy one. I bought two already that seemed to have inaccessible flow limiters. Bonus if it is an adjustable angle shower head! All amazon recommendations welcome!
posted by maxexam at 6:36 PM PST - 6 comments

We are in Seattle with two cats. at some point we will need to get them (and us) to San Francisco. We are thinking of doing a straight shot, in some kind of large vehicle with a lot of cat medication involved. looking for feedback/advice. Cages? Vehicles? Routes? One of the cats is a certified escape artist (even said so on her cage when we rescued them), so we don't really want to deal with getting them in/out of a hotel. Thanks in advance.
posted by evilmonk at 5:40 PM PST - 26 comments

I've had terrible luck with all LED bulbs except for the sadly discontinued Philips L-prize bulbs. I've tried bulbs from Cree, Feit, newer Philips models- they fail ridiculously early and/ or the color temperature is whack. (The Philips bulbs are not rated to be used in enclosed fixtures, yet last longer in enclosed fixtures than newer bulbs which ARE rated to be used in enclosed fixtures.) I used to buy old stock or used L-Prize bulbs on e-bay, but they seem to be gone. Is there anything on the market today that's as good? [more inside]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 4:52 PM PST - 7 comments

I like how my face looks when I look in the mirror and in selfies. I dislike how it looks in photos. What is happening? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 3:04 PM PST - 16 comments

Thinking of taking a trip to grandma's house and want to gauge risk. Kind of an inverted risk situation because they have had COVID. [more inside]
posted by cali59 at 2:44 PM PST - 3 comments

My dad, who is in hospice with metastatic prostate cancer, is suffering terribly with pressure sores on either side of his tailbone. I'm looking for suggestions for topical, pharmaceutical, and behavioral strategies to help relieve his discomfort. [more inside]
posted by ottereroticist at 2:38 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm building an assessment to help people identify personal/professional challenges that could be partially alleviated by technology. Could you help me add more things to this list? [more inside]
posted by chara at 2:32 PM PST - 8 comments

Should I bring a token of appreciation, like a thank you card, to my vaccination this week? [more inside]
posted by glonous keming at 1:57 PM PST - 22 comments

We are looking for a safe, clean hotel in Nashville. Have you stayed in either downtown or the Brentwood area? We are looking for about 120 to 220 per night (our price range). [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh at 1:47 PM PST - 5 comments

A recent high-impact hopping around aerobics session left me with knee pain, although my knees were 100% fine before the session started. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 12:16 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m sure this is the six zillionth question about recipe apps. But I have snowflakes! (Don’t we all...) [more inside]
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 12:15 PM PST - 12 comments

So, I've been on a weight loss journey for a long while now. It's been very successful thus far. I'm healthier and better off than I ever was before. I have thus far maintained my body stats during the pandemic. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 11:57 AM PST - 7 comments

TikTok videos show up periodically on my Tumblr TL, and a number of them feature people, usually women, dancing to some song or another. What's caught my eye about them is that there seems to be an interpretative aspect to them. [more inside]
posted by the sobsister at 11:00 AM PST - 4 comments

Sometimes I "feel fat," which means (to me) that I feel uncomfortable in my skin, literally, as if my skin is stretching. What is the physiologic mechanism behind this? [more inside]
posted by shamefulsock at 10:35 AM PST - 6 comments

Hi, I’m trying to find some automation script that will let me turn notifications for specific apps on or off depending on my location. This could be based on geofencing or connection to specific WiFi SSIDs. I’m using an iPhone 12 running iOS 14.4.
posted by mattholomew at 10:20 AM PST - 1 comment

Looking for recommendations of books that will let me dive into the culture of the American Midwest circa 1890-1940. [more inside]
posted by artisthatithaca at 10:04 AM PST - 24 comments

I saw this house recently and could not figure out what the large structures are built into the roof. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 9:23 AM PST - 16 comments

My longtime friends live in NYC. They went to a vaccine center and lied on a form. They claimed to have comorbidities when they do not. They both got the covid vaccine. They defended themselves by saying there are plenty of available vaccine appointments in pharmacies throughout NYC. As a result, they claim that they didn't take vaccine away from anyone. This seems obviously illogical to me, since they were not in the next tranche of eligible people. How do I gauge whether they were knowingly selfish, versus had genuinely convinced themselves that their action was harmless? [more inside]
posted by sandwich at 6:35 AM PST - 112 comments

I stored a few boxes of personal items with a friend several years ago with plans to come back and get the boxes when I finished grad school. Because of the pandemic, I’m not able to travel to get the boxes and they’ve overstayed their welcome. Problem: We don’t know the weight [more inside]
posted by Skwirl at 12:06 AM PST - 14 comments

Should I get a Canadian or US accountant to prepare my taxes while outside the US? [more inside]
posted by miles1972 at 6:39 PM PST - 5 comments

I teach science writing to undergraduate students. Most are native English speakers, and most of the non-native speakers are Chinese. I'd like to lead a discussion on what the key requirements of good scientific writing are (structure, precision, clarity, simplicity etc), and it would be really interesting to have some ideas about how writing varies in different languages, especially Chinese, to help put the discussion in perspective. [more inside]
posted by neatsocks at 2:24 PM PST - 10 comments

Quick reality check on this mountain bike. If can only buy one bike to use on easy to moderate single track and also paved rails-to-trails type of rides, is this Liv Tempt 2 a reasonable choice?
posted by HotToddy at 12:52 PM PST - 11 comments

I would like to make a self-guided walking tour of some architecture and historic locations in the US, with an app rather than a paper brochure. What is the best way to do that these days? If you have done something similar, I would love to hear your advice as well. Bonus points if the way to do this is low cost or free.
posted by mortaddams at 11:53 AM PST - 6 comments

When working on community projects in groups of volunteers, what are your best practices for making decisions and getting things done? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 10:51 AM PST - 7 comments

I harvested wild clay from mountain that mainly consist of rhyolite and basalt. Clay contains black and white specks. White ones are very crumbly, and I imagine this is rhyolite, and blacks are very hard, so I think its basalt. I think that clay itself consists of mostly finely crumbled rhyolite. Can anyone predict how it will behave in an oxidation kiln? I know there is only one way to find out, but I'm curious anyway.
posted by leigh1 at 9:19 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm *finally* going to force myself to go on more walks around my neighborhood this spring. However, I don't own a good pair of shoes for walking long distances in? I hate the look of running shoes, so if you own a pair of moderately stylish women's casual sneakers/walking shoes, what kind of shoe are they? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:16 AM PST - 31 comments

I asked this question a while ago about getting my six-year-old to enjoy going for walks. A few people suggested Pokemon Go. I find it intriguing, but also have weird feelings about whether it's "good" for kids to get into games at an early age, worry it'll be addictive, etc. I'm looking for opinions, tips, etc. Evidence-based stuff extra-welcome, but in no way required. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 9:12 AM PST - 14 comments

We made this cocoa cream pie. It was refrigerated, then a slice was taken out, and then left on the counter for 12+ hours. Can I eat it?
posted by sacrifix at 8:44 AM PST - 13 comments

I have this earworm song stuck in my head US Girls - 4 American dollars . The chorus asserts 'you can do a lot with four American dollars'. It's a bit of an anti-capitalist anthem, but it makes me wonder. I thought some rolls and hot dogs would come to about four bucks. What else can you do? I'm asking for fun.
posted by adept256 at 8:40 AM PST - 15 comments

How to fix our (loud) bathroom door gap? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 8:36 AM PST - 11 comments

Where should I move in the West? [more inside]
posted by COD at 8:03 AM PST - 10 comments

Looking for suggestions for changing my perception of time as something that is flying by. Would like some tools for slowing down time. [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 8:00 AM PST - 8 comments

I am getting a dental implant on Wednesday. Please help me with a list of foods I will be allowed to eat after surgery. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 7:23 AM PST - 9 comments

We are fostering a litter of four kittens right now. In a couple of weeks, we'll choose a pair to keep and find forever homes for the other pair. Is there a recommended way to choose the pair? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 7:04 AM PST - 6 comments

I own an usual (mostly records) store run out of my loft in Toronto. During the pandemic, I've been approaching great, hard-to-find magazines about stocking their publications. The first two I'm carrying are Apartamento and Noon. Berlin Quarterly is next. What are some uncommon, keep-them-forever magazines that you love that you have difficulty sourcing? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 5:00 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a set of anonymous survey data that was sent out via email and social media at two time points. Some of the people who filled it out at time point 1 probably did so again at time point 2, but because the survey was anonymous, I don't know the proportion of overlap. What is the best way to compare time point 1 and time point 2? [more inside]
posted by basalganglia at 4:56 AM PST - 4 comments

Our cat is getting increasingly grumpy with old age (he turns 11 this year). He has always been prone to scratching, but it's gotten worse and now he frequently scratches when we try to pick him up to move him from a place he's not supposed to be. I want to train him to go to a specific spot so we don't have to physically move him. [more inside]
posted by chaiminda at 4:54 AM PST - 6 comments

We've had an awful year, with lots of catastrophes. One bright spot was the fact that filing taxes went smoothly and I filed 2020 taxes in February. We received our refund 10 days ago. I just learned that our 2020 earning amount is just enough to render us ineligible for the new stimulus. We received a specific windfall this year that put us over that limit: our 2019 taxes were significantly lower, and so will our 2021 taxes. We have crushing student loans and debt to relatives for our house purchase, so we'd really like to get the stimulus. Is it possible to un-file 2020 taxes so the government can rely on our 2019 taxes? Or can I re-file separately (my husband has the job and I stay at home, so I'd be eligible)? I called the IRS but they're too busy so not taking calls.
posted by anonymous at 4:17 AM PST - 13 comments

I am edging into the waters of making some small non-surgical changes to my appearance, in order to lessen my gender dysphoria. Specifically, I am interested in dermal fillers in order to create a more masculine jawline. These are of course widely available. However, as I am non-binary AFAB and don't have a lot of practice describing what I want in regards to my body, I would be more comfortable in a queer space where the practitioners understood I wasn't just going for a traditionally femme, cosmetic look. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:16 AM PST - 2 comments

I have some logistical, and also broader questions about getting a cat. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:19 AM PST - 12 comments

So this is weird. I tapped my finger on the left side of my face and realized, "hey, the face skin isn't popping back up." I did the right side and that's fine. Normal snapback. But not the left. That's now got a dip in it unless I pull the skin back out. So is that...something? If so, what?
posted by rileyray3000 at 11:45 PM PST - 7 comments

We love a local sporting facility. Our kid had a bad injury there today. We don't blame the facility - it was a complete accident. What is the etiquette here for a small struggling business? We'd like to keep going, and will change our own behavior to be safer. [more inside]
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 10:05 PM PST - 9 comments

Toronto condo crank window is stuck open. Two questions, which way should crank turn to close and any tips to get it to close before I have to call for help. [more inside]
posted by devonia at 8:47 PM PST - 8 comments

A and I have been together for the better part of a decade. Recently there was a moment where their temper flared and I was worried about being struck by a chair. It happened over a week ago and I'm still trying to sort out my own feelings on what happened and how to move forward. Any help or advice would be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:52 PM PST - 39 comments

I'm thinking of getting a new MacBook Air computer. But they have no ports! I hate no ports. What is the best dongle to give me my ports back? I'm noticing a lot of them don't seem to let you plug headphones in - I'd prefer a dongle that offers headphones. Thanks!
posted by azalea_chant at 5:34 PM PST - 11 comments

Which brands are currently making interesting androgynous style bras? [more inside]
posted by embrangled at 4:51 PM PST - 9 comments

Last summer almost killed me. Are there summer dresses for men? [more inside]
posted by SPrintF at 4:12 PM PST - 31 comments

I'm a US citizen living in Canada, but visiting my folks in New York. New York seems to require residence (contrary, I read somewhere, to CDC guidance). What's a fellow to do? Canada, unfortunately, is vaccinating at a snail's pace compared to the US.
posted by musofire at 3:38 PM PST - 12 comments

My physical attraction to my girlfriend has recently waxed and waned. The relationship is otherwise perfect and I'm at a crossroads at what to do. [more inside]
posted by invictus10 at 2:18 PM PST - 52 comments

I find myself in need of some assistance with seeing, particularly text, while I sort out some medical issues. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:56 PM PST - 6 comments

I've spent my whole career in the US, although I am a UK national. I am currently a full professor at an R1 university, with extensive museum experience. I would like to move back to the UK to work in the education/cultural sector, as a faculty member, curator, program director, etc. I am less interested in prestige than I am in finding a good fit: I excel at my job, get major grants, enjoy working collaboratively, and work well with the general public as well as with students. I am happy working on national- or international scales but also on the hyper-local. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:56 PM PST - 7 comments

I have tried a whole bunch of N95s and I cannot get a good seal over the (high) bridge of my (bony) nose. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 12:59 PM PST - 20 comments

occasionally, while going up or down stairs, I will forget how many steps there are. So I'll think I've hit the last stair, and move like I should be able to walk on a flat surface, and I'll stumble pretty badly when my foot doesn't connect with the ground where I expect. Ouch. A) I can't be the only person who does this, right? B) is there a more specific name for this phenomenon other than "spatial brain fart"?
posted by snerson at 12:08 PM PST - 14 comments

Like it says on the tin. I thought it might be a Marquez, but looking "Love in time of..." and "100 Years..." it didn't seem to fit. I read it in, oh, probably 1989 - but I have no idea when it was written. [more inside]
posted by mrzz at 12:04 PM PST - 10 comments

I've lived in the same high-rise condo unit for 8 years. About a year ago, new tenants moved in above us and the amount of noise they make is unbearable. I've made multiple complaints to the building manager. I'm looking to list my unit for sale in a month. What more can I do about the noise? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:57 AM PST - 21 comments

What are good phone apps for quickly identifying plants? Ideally, I could snap a picture of a plant, tree, flower or such and the app would identify the plant and offer basic info about planting or care. [more inside]
posted by mightshould at 11:35 AM PST - 12 comments

What are examples of ethnicities, tribes, indigenous societies, etc. where outsiders can be accepted into and given that identity by members? Meaning that members of a group give the identity to someone who doesn’t have heritage/ancestry of that group.
posted by andoatnp at 11:17 AM PST - 16 comments

I really enjoy reading The Hunt, which follows individuals and families in their search for an apartment or home in and around NYC. Sometime it's a hate-read (thinking rude thoughts at rich people throwing more money than I can conceive of at boring luxury apartments); sometimes it's a genuine pleasure to follow along as regular people find a home. What else would I enjoy reading? [more inside]
posted by adastra at 10:46 AM PST - 3 comments

DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats... Other options? What's the most non-exploitative, local business-supportive way to get delicious foods delivered to my house? [more inside]
posted by meese at 10:16 AM PST - 16 comments

It's going to take two to three weeks to get my new fridge delivered. Meanwhile, I need inexpensive, healthy meal ideas that don't require refrigeration or a time-consuming walk to the store every day. Hit me, ingenious meal planners of MeFi!
posted by orange swan at 9:00 AM PST - 22 comments

Let's say I have a trapeze in my house. Let's say I'm a middle aged and completely sedentary person who definitely cannot even lift myself up on to the trapeze much less do anything interesting once I'm up there. What I want there to be is a Couch to Trapeze training program, which would lay out in very specific day-by-day detail exactly what physical training I needed to do to get up on to the trapeze and maybe do some simple tricks up there. [more inside]
posted by shadygrove at 8:54 AM PST - 5 comments

I need to take notes while unmuted on Zoom calls. My current keyboard is disruptive. Looking for recommendations of quiet keyboards. [more inside]
posted by hepta at 8:39 AM PST - 13 comments

Asking for a friend. They watched a YouTube video six years ago, then after two years, they started to think about it. They tried to find it for the last four years. They even searched movie kisses on YouTube and scrolled for hours. So many kissing scenes...too many...so please if you know the movie for the scene inside, help them. [more inside]
posted by Roger Dodger at 6:50 AM PST - 6 comments

I just got my tax return and I would like to record some demos on my iPhone. What equipment do I need? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:28 AM PST - 4 comments

I need a new washing machine. It MUST be a top-loader and should be a workhorse vs. sophisticated or pretty. I just want it to be reliable, accomplish basic laundry tasks (no fancy textiles here) and not unbalance easily. Do I want a Speed Queen? [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 6:12 AM PST - 18 comments

How might I reduce the rabbit activity in my yard? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 5:49 AM PST - 6 comments

I've got forward neck posture, and it's finally interfering with other things I want to do. So I am generally looking for things that could help with this, but also I remember finding a YouTube video off of reddit a few years ago that involved a couple of exercises you can do to retrain the nerves (or something) to help you keep good posture after you've worked on all the muscles etc, but I can't find it. [more inside]
posted by schadenfrau at 5:31 AM PST - 7 comments

How to manage unavoidable cold-turkey off Venlafaxine (Effexor?) till Tuesday.? [more inside]
posted by runincircles at 4:01 AM PST - 9 comments

Absolutely hate the mac version of MS-Teams. Sadly required to use it.
Are there macos compatible clients that aren't dismal junk, so I can still participate in (skype) meetings without having to use the godforsakenly-bad Teams? [more inside]
posted by davemee at 2:41 AM PST - 9 comments

How can I rebuild and foster my capacity for positive anticipation and excitement? [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 12:03 AM PST - 13 comments

This can be comics directly dealing with "people playing a TTRPG," or set in a TTRPG universe (D&D has lots like this), or just that give a "vibe" of a campaign (I'd argue kill 6 billion demons fits in there). I'm casting a wide net but I have TTRPG withdrawal and think this would help! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 11:23 PM PST - 24 comments

I am getting a pint per week of unsweetened plain applesauce from my CSA, and need help using it up. Do you have a recipe that uses a little (or a lot)? [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 1:11 PM PST - 39 comments

I am sure I read about this here, but am stumped as to its title and author. This was a science fiction or horror short story. A man (?) hears a woman's distinctive laugh in a studio audience in a radio show or TV show, and recognises it as belonging to (his aunt?). Somehow it becomes clear that she is trapped, and her laugh sounds more desperate every time he hears it. I think somehow he is able to rescue her, and the next time he listens to the show her laugh is gone.
posted by Orkney Vole at 12:56 PM PST - 3 comments

I am contemplating taking up riding to and from work by bike, and I don't know whether or not a new bike would make the undertaking more likely to succeed. [more inside]
posted by Ipsifendus at 12:32 PM PST - 22 comments

A Command strip failed me for once, not only coming off the wall with very little weight on it, but also taking off a bit of the paint (standard apartment white). It's right where I'll see it every day walking in the door, so I want to fix it. [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 12:30 PM PST - 19 comments

My father is dying. How to prepare our son? Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by kmt at 11:15 AM PST - 17 comments

I'd guess this is a 1960s/70s American Muscle car, if anyone can identify the specific make/model/year I'd appreciate it. Side view and back view. [more inside]
posted by ChrisHartley at 10:44 AM PST - 7 comments

Recently, I purchased an e-book which I then downloaded. Supposedly it is a PDF but the file type name says "Adobe Acrobat File." [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 10:20 AM PST - 10 comments

I grew up working class/working poor and got my first professional job a few years ago. I have no idea what to do with my money. Investing feels scary, and yet I know keeping money in my savings account is a big no no. Please help. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:17 AM PST - 40 comments

Has anyone ever had surgical treatment for ptosis and if so, how did recovery go, side effects, etc? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 7:37 AM PST - 1 comment

I am excitedly planning a conference in an exotic location (which will take place months from now and follow all CDC guidelines). I am a one woman show for this and want to avoid outsourcing the planning for budget reasons. Can you help me consider all the moving parts, and maybe help me learn from your event planning mistakes? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 7:28 AM PST - 35 comments

True or false: If you make your Zoom window on the PC smaller does that reduce the amount of bandwidth it uses? Someone told me it did, it sounds plausible, but it all depends on Zoom's implementaton. Does anyone know for sure?
posted by storybored at 7:15 AM PST - 7 comments

My spouse and I have built up some money. We'd like to protect it. How does that work? [more inside]
posted by Dashy at 6:52 AM PST - 5 comments

I'd appreciate your help in thinking through the logistics of how I can help my parents complete their 2020 Federal and state income tax returns. [more inside]
posted by cheapskatebay at 6:43 AM PST - 14 comments

I've decided to leave half my money to charity. This will be in the form of real estate. How do I choose? Which criteria matter? [more inside]
posted by ClarissaWAM at 5:53 AM PST - 13 comments

If I look through my activity on Screen Time on my iphone, it can show me "first pickup" for a given day. Is there a way to get a *time* (not just bars on a graph) for the *last* pickup for each day? If Screen Time can't do this, can you recommend an otherwise entirely unobtrusive app that will track this? I don't want it to prompt me to do anything differently, just silently track/record the last pickup.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:04 AM PST - 1 comment

Yesterday I went to connect my Bluetooth headphones to my iPhone as usual, but no luck. After experimenting, it seems that they're no longer detectable on any device. What might have gone wrong and can I fix it myself? [more inside]
posted by rubbish bin night at 1:31 AM PST - 8 comments

I was adopted during the 70's and have been given my birth certificate, etc. with the names of my biological parents. Now I'm wondering as to the best way to obtain more information about them. (Ancestry?) [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 11:38 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a 100+ year old family photo album. Of about 100 photos, only these 8 have something written on the back, but except for a line in English, it's all in Russian or Yiddish, and I can read neither language. Any translations would be much appreciated! [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 10:19 PM PST - 5 comments

I want to travel from the US to Prague in October 2021. Is this a pipe dream? [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon at 9:25 PM PST - 12 comments

Are there any movies that take place in 17th century Europe OR anywhere in the Ottoman territories, where the costumes are done really well? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:00 PM PST - 11 comments

I am teaching a university course this spring on film. I would like some suggestions on teaching cinema concepts, as well as some examples of early films. [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 7:45 PM PST - 19 comments

I need to refill my steroid inhaler. It's a generic of Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol). The cheapest price I've found is $135 through GoodRx. I have Medicare and nothing else. My doctor doesn't have samples, and it'll take a while to apply for AstraZeneca assistance. I do have a prescription. Does anyone have a lead on where I can order one for less?
posted by mermaidcafe at 6:19 PM PST - 11 comments

Help me come up with a mental image for my alter ego: the relentless, goal-slaying version of me that I wish I could channel more often. When sparked, I am relentless in pursuit of my goals. I'll get up at 5am to work on my goal, work on it during any breaks in my day, and come home to work on the goal some more. I'll collect data and track my progress to hold myself accountable. I'll live and breathe the thing I'm trying to achieve. What person or thing displays these characteristics? [more inside]
posted by saltypup at 6:16 PM PST - 33 comments

A family member has decided to create a time capsule for his child's first birthday next month. He and his wife have asked people to contribute an item from 2020 for the child. [more inside]
posted by JennyJupiter at 4:25 PM PST - 28 comments

I think I need some perspective about Covid and what a reasonable level of precaution is these days. The world is opening up again but I feel unsure about how safe I should feel - can you talk some sense into me or give me some resources about this? Details of my situation inside. [more inside]
posted by carlypennylane at 3:40 PM PST - 16 comments

You all have watched the design & renovation TV shows, so hopefully I won't have to... We have recently acquired a modest condo, in a large, expensive West Coast US city, with a small galley kitchen that looks mostly original from 1982. It needs a lot of help. [more inside]
posted by sockpuppetryarts at 3:34 PM PST - 25 comments

One thing I'm interested in building to use after the pandemic is a "game show" setup where either one computer or a network of computers is used to display individual names and scores on three or four separate monitors, with a main control computer used as the sole input. The main control computer would also be able to hook up to a venue's projector, to display the main game (for instance, a Jeopardy or Family Feud board.) I need an angle of attack. [more inside]
posted by LSK at 3:06 PM PST - 12 comments

I love songs that have a big "reveal" in the middle where the song changes dramatically - help me find more of them! [more inside]
posted by _DB_ at 12:55 PM PST - 69 comments

I'm helping a friend with some photo editing: trying to find a way for me (on a Mac with Pixelmator Pro) to find the specs to replicate the "Sunscreen" filter from the Windows 10 Photos app. [more inside]
posted by profreader at 11:11 AM PST - 1 comment

My son wants a Rode NT1, but doesn't have three hundred bucks. What's the closest alternative for, say, $99? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:51 AM PST - 23 comments

Looking for a simple 2-disk NAS that'll do RAID1. [more inside]
posted by komara at 8:50 AM PST - 11 comments

My dad's band made a reel-to-reel tape demo of country/rock/blues covers back in the mid-1970s. I can't figure out the name of one particular song. Listening sample and more info after the jump! [more inside]
posted by TinWhistle at 7:32 AM PST - 13 comments

How do I buy milk (& milk products) from cows that have not been fed palm oil in Ontario, Canada? [more inside]
posted by quaking fajita at 6:47 AM PST - 4 comments

My once-faithful Selectric ll typewriter was stored in a dusty shop without a cover. It is filthy and mostly non-working. I hate to just junk it. Can you suggest a place or person who might want to refurbish it, keeping in mind that it weighs a ton (37lbs) so I don't want to spend a fortune packing and shipping it. I live in SW NH, USA.
posted by Hobgoblin at 6:30 AM PST - 8 comments

I volunteered for a bail fund and the state sent me their money. Are there going to be tax implications for me? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:55 AM PST - 6 comments

I'd like to create a birth announcement card introducing our new little one and our family then drop it on our block's mailboxes in well-post-gentrified Brooklyn. Have you done this? Would you suggest not to do this? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 5:48 AM PST - 66 comments

I have a surgically fixed ankle/lower leg. Thus, I cannot walk a lot nor stand a lot. I'm looking for something appropriate to volunteer for. Any ideas?
posted by tmdonahue at 5:40 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a friend in the Brooklyn area who has been suffering with a constant headache for about 6 months. She has been to a number of specialists, currently a neurologist who is prescribing heavy duty drugs with heavy duty side effects and no change in the headache department. This is obviously taking it's toll on her. I have had good results from osteopathy, including cranio-sacral methods. I would like to recommend an osteopath to her, but my osteopath (in the UK) doesn't know of anyone within a couple of hours travel from Brooklyn that he can recommend. [more inside]
posted by asok at 3:54 AM PST - 14 comments

We need a board game for adults that puts the fun in funny but without anything dirty. Also, it needs to be fairly easy, since one is in the early stage of dementia. [more inside]
posted by magnoliasouth at 2:12 AM PST - 27 comments

Help this US American figure out what this Canadian is asking for. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:49 PM PST - 67 comments

So, I'm leaving for Canada, specifically to get an MSc. This job I am at has been a mixed bag, it's a startup and there have been plenty of things to learn from finance to interviewing people to leading a team. Nonetheless, the job has run its course. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 9:13 PM PST - 10 comments

Cortana used to be able to control system volume, but everybody hated Cortana and so they took anything useful out to spite users I guess? (Gotta love Microsoft) [more inside]
posted by rikschell at 8:37 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a Hemingray Glass Insulator like this one. It has threads on the inside, i.e female. What did it screw onto and what are the thread dimensions?
posted by falsedmitri at 7:59 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for a font similar to this one, but with paint brushes instead of crayons. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 7:37 PM PST - 5 comments

Hello MetaFilter! Have I got an absurdly specific question for you. Recently I was reminded of a song I haven't heard in years - "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by LeAnn Rimes. I'm trying to figure out what specific version of it is now stuck in my head as a result, but I'm getting stuck. [more inside]
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 5:37 PM PST - 5 comments

What is this ball? I bought a set of two years ago and the label on the tube is gone. It is about 1.75 inches and very firm rubber. So too small to be a racquet or lacrosse ball I think? Too firm to be a squash ball. I’m desperate to find another one as it is the only thing that gets the knots out of my shoulders after a day hunched over the laptop. I’ve been googling for 3 days and can’t figure it out. Photo here
posted by tatiana wishbone at 5:18 PM PST - 4 comments

I love a good rockumentary. What are some of your favorites? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:21 PM PST - 84 comments

I suck at googling. I own a book and a flyer and I'd like to find out more about them but can find no proof of their existences online. One is for Carl Hansen & Son / Hans J Wegner and the other is for jazz label Impulse! Records. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 2:51 PM PST - 12 comments

Can anyone vouch for this surplus vaccination waitlist: https://hidrb.com? I've done some very basic checking by searching for some of the principals and haven't found any problems. The site is mentioned in the Times and some other legitimate press. I ask because they require one's birth date and some general health and employment information.
posted by donpardo at 2:26 PM PST - 10 comments

I love reading The Prepared -- a great manufacturing and engineering-focused email newsletter with lots of fascinating links to articles, videos, and other content across an extremely broad range of topics. I'm hoping to find a similar newsletter (or blog / link aggregator) but with a broad medical/human health focus (or perhaps life science generally). Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 2:25 PM PST - 7 comments

I have an opportunity to donate to a small Latin American direct aid group whose purpose is to help families with school-age children. How do I do due diligence? [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 2:16 PM PST - 5 comments

Those of you with low ferritin levels who've gotten iron infusions -- I have questions! [more inside]
posted by jabes at 1:36 PM PST - 6 comments

I need an iron infusion. Should I go now or after the vaccine? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 12:19 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a Substack newsletter and a Facebook Page. I’d love my Substack posts to autopost to my Page. How do I make this happen?
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 12:14 PM PST - 1 comment

I currently have my two monitors supported on two narrow pull-out drawers from an old IKEA table. I would like to replace these, ideally with two approx. 8"x8"x8" cubes. What relatively inexpensive item could I buy a pair of that could fit this function?
posted by my log does not judge at 11:02 AM PST - 15 comments

So let's say you have some chicken in your fridge and you let the best-before date sneak up on you. You really want to eat that chicken tomorrow, but there's no way you can eat it today. Should you just leave it in the fridge and cook it one day past the best-before date if it passes the sniff test, or should you freeze it first? [more inside]
posted by cilantro at 10:25 AM PST - 19 comments

What is the origin of this phrase? I've seen it pop up on Instagram, dating profiles, and in conversation. I googled it and the results yielded some romance novels and a LiveJournal entry from 2004. [more inside]
posted by Juniper Toast at 10:05 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for a running-based app that will coach me through different kinds of runs (tempo runs, fartlek runs, etc), with in-ear instructions. An app discontinued in 2017 -- Addidas MiCoach -- used to do this reasonably well. [more inside]
posted by u2604ab at 9:27 AM PST - 11 comments

For reasons, I need to eat a diet of foods that are low-sodium, not spicy, and require minimal chewing for two weeks. What are foods that I can put on my shopping list for this period? Bonus if they require minimal preparation. [more inside]
posted by Fuego at 8:36 AM PST - 46 comments

Hello! I have always managed my own finances. I don't really trust financial advisors to not sell me things. But there's tons of resources online. Can you review my retirement plan and tell me if it feels right or not? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 8:20 AM PST - 38 comments

A DJ friend of mine back in the mid to late 90s had an LP record with quite an unusual picture of a breastfeeding baby on the cover. Can you help me find it? [more inside]
posted by chillmost at 8:09 AM PST - 0 comments

What are some good ways to put in about 5 hours a month supporting progressive causes? Things with loose deadlines especially appreciated. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 8:05 AM PST - 6 comments

Help me figure out how to fill my time without scrolling on my phone! [more inside]
posted by lomes at 7:36 AM PST - 37 comments

So I should probably just go RTFA but I just spoke to Navient and they told me my loans are not eligible for the Covid deferral through September because that is only valid for loans taken out after 2010 (or whatever date she mentioned). Have you had luck with some professional of some kind helping with yours? [more inside]
posted by Glinn at 7:08 AM PST - 11 comments

Hello all, I have a question on behalf of my brother the embarrassed English teacher. (I described Ask.Mefi as a niche brains trust which may just be able to help him out - god knows I couldn't out.) [more inside]
posted by a very present absence at 7:05 AM PST - 5 comments

My wife and I got sick with an undiagnosed illness following an international trip in February last year; because of our symptoms, we've always wondered whether it might have been Covid. All throughout lockdown, my wife has suffered GI issues that we have recently been wondering whether might be some flavor of long-Covid symptom. She's under medical care, but we would be grateful for other evidence (or experience) that would help her to advocate for herself with the doctor. [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:39 AM PST - 12 comments

I have a lot of joint/ soft tissue/ tendon pain and weakness. My doctor sent me to a rheumatologist who ran a bunch of tests but didn't think I had an autoimmune disease or anything else she could treat. Do you have any ideas of what I might be able to do on my own or suggest to my doctors as a possible diagnosis/ treatment? [more inside]
posted by metasarah at 6:29 AM PST - 11 comments

We just got an Android TV box (and air mouse), and I absolutely LOVE how many streaming options it has opened up. What other non-intuitive apps are a great fit for this kind of set-up? [more inside]
posted by richmondparker at 5:42 AM PST - 3 comments

I am soon to be in the market for new furniture. My price point is roughly Ikea-level, but I want to make the most of that price point. What items at Ikea (or similar retailers) are high-quality and durable? [more inside]
posted by Hold your seahorses at 4:42 AM PST - 29 comments

My grandma often said a phrase in my direction that sounded like: min-SHARE-duh-BORN and I've never been able to figure out what she was actually saying. Do you know? Sounded vaguely French but I'm not sure she knew its origin. Context inside. [more inside]
posted by TheKevinFlynnEffect at 4:36 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm working on a project to attract new members to our professional society. I found & contacted new potential recruits in Mexico. I'm gringo but have many years working & living in Latin America. I'm familiar with doing business there. My team leader wants me to hand the contacts off to the Latino-American interest group. That group is about diversity & the Latino/x-American community, not business in Mexico. How do I say that I want to handle the contacts in the region & that I'm much more qualified to be the liaison to Mexico? [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 3:26 AM PST - 12 comments

I remember about five or six years ago, I heard a cover of Come on In My Kitchen done in the kitchen at a college party, acapella, most likey from the south, with really deep syncopated rythyms provided by boot stomps and the like. Can't find it again. It was a video on youtube.
posted by PinkMoose at 9:36 PM PST - 4 comments

I have been in a bubble with my cousin and wife, who until very recently seemed to be very careful. We planned a trip to Puerto Rico to visit relatives after a handful of successful local trips through the last year (all of which we had tested for COVID beforehand). Two days ago, we got tested for COVID while planning for this trip. Their live-in au-pair came back as positive, while the couple came back negative. I am supposed to meet with them this Wednesday (after they test again) but now feel unsafe, hive, what is your opinion? [more inside]
posted by The1andonly at 9:13 PM PST - 24 comments

I'm a relatively decent looking guy with a normal dating profile and an easy time making conversation. Why do I never get responses to my messages? [more inside]
posted by deern the headlice at 8:23 PM PST - 44 comments

I am considering taking on a part time job while working my full time job. I'd like best tips for work life balance, things I should think about, and how to make this work as well as I could. [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 7:24 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a really, really dumb and ugly kitchen that I'm struggling to make reasonably appealing and functional. Where can I see pictures of regular folks' ugly-ass kitchens, and how they make them liveable? Especially apartments, especially renters! [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 6:39 PM PST - 20 comments

I will ask politely the following hoping for a fresh set of eyes. I've literally had it with my twin sister. She is the most negative person I ever met. Our upbringing was similar until around age 17 when she went to live with our father for "freedom" but I'm afraid she has inherited his deadly negative outlook on life. (Cont'd) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 6:16 PM PST - 13 comments

Title says it all, need a FREE (or really, really cheap, like under $5) virus checker/fixer for an old work PC, what can y'all recommend? I
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:16 PM PST - 11 comments

I am smart. I was a gifted kid (I went through the assessments but not the program) and still have the same traits as an adult. I learn things extremely quickly, I'm very curious, I love connecting ideas and finding patterns and asking questions. I have accumulated a lot of skills and have knowledge in many areas. Since childhood I've felt like my intelligence is a burden, especially in my body and social strata (female, fat, poor, not attractive). I have always had to deal with people who go out of their way to make sure I know that they don't think I'm smart. They try to dominate me and catch me making mistakes. I try to make myself small and quiet, but eventually I forget myself and slip up, and then I'm punished for it. "Punishment" comes in various forms. Bullying/harassment, a bad formal assessment, accusations that I think I'm better than everyone else, even firing. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:01 PM PST - 43 comments

We are testing Microsoft intune company portal for BYOD but blocking all downloading from our network. Is there a way to see how company files are being used on a machine? Can the software block or note if it was emailed in native Mac mail app? Uploaded elsewhere? Copied to another drive etc? Just seeing what can we done to provide comfort that company files are not being shared or abused? [more inside]
posted by UMDirector at 12:40 PM PST - 0 comments

Is there an Ask MeFi-type website purely for cooking-related questions?
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 10:55 AM PST - 9 comments

Are there any barbershops that specialize in beards in New York City? Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 10:47 AM PST - 5 comments

We have two cats that don't get along. Is there anything I can do to help them? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 9:59 AM PST - 10 comments

I need to replace some dishes (due to breakage over time). In hopes of being able to have people over again in the future (with a specific set of food sharing needs), can you help me figure out a good set of dishes that a) take up minimal cabinet space, b) are affordable, and c) feel good to use? Ideally while being harder to break or chip. [more inside]
posted by jenettsilver at 9:58 AM PST - 27 comments

Though recently built, our apartment building is, in many ways, poorly designed. One way that is reflected is that there are not enough--and poorly situated--electrical outlets. Help us connect all our stuff! [more inside]
posted by QuakerMel at 9:41 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking for heavy intense driving emotional engaging longform metal and drone tracks. I prefer instrumental but hit me with whatever you gots. General preferences below the fold! But please open my mind to what's out there. I can't wait to hear what you come up with. [more inside]
posted by lakersfan1222 at 9:23 AM PST - 25 comments

I like to make a batch of pancakes and freeze them to have on hand for my son’s breakfast. I’m looking for some variations to keep things interesting. [more inside]
posted by erloteiel at 8:49 AM PST - 16 comments

ISO the best women's corduroy pants, available in US, further explanation on what constitutes "best" within. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 6:59 AM PST - 11 comments

My son has a red ring on his knee, about 15mm in diameter, with a lighter center. I'm pretty sure it's a Chilean Recluse spider bite. Do I need to take action? [more inside]
posted by signal at 4:58 AM PST - 6 comments

I've run into a frustrating problem with my state taxes - not the filing, but the tracking. Can anyone help? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:22 AM PST - 6 comments

It went something like this in response to PMS: "Sometimes your children actually ARE irritating Sometimes your husband actually is a useless twat Sometimes your job is sexist and unreasonable And they will all blame it on your PMS when It's you are sick to death of your whiny children, your lazy husband, your discriminating workplace." Paraphrased. Another poem in the anthology I read were two (unknown to each other) women running a marathon and being forced to stop hold handing hands before the finish line.
posted by b33j at 12:41 AM PST - 0 comments

I cannot for the life of me find socks that fit and don't constantly get twisted around my foot or slip down. I wear women's 9.5 shoes but have very wide ankles and calves, so socks that fit my foot generally don't fit my ankles/calves (even with folding them down), and socks that seem to fit both always end up twisting around or slipping down my foot, which is uncomfortable and irritating. What are your favorite crew socks for wide ankles? Merino preferred, but I'm open! [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:03 PM PST - 15 comments

What job has the best work:money ratio? That is, the job where you do the least amount of work for the most amount of money relative to the work you have to do? [more inside]
posted by juniperesque at 10:21 PM PST - 47 comments

I have an incredibly noisy neighbor. How can I soundproof my apartment quickly, easily, and cheaply? Or at least two of those three wishes? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 7:29 PM PST - 36 comments

I've been trying to find out what the latest computerized analysis of Shakespeare's plays have to say about authorship? Have they finally disqualified some of the pretenders? Which ones? [more inside]
posted by storybored at 7:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I have hyperlaxity/hypermobility in both knees. Have forever, formally diagnosed by an orthopod in 2018. My left knee has been “going out” (bending slightly backwards) a LOT more often recently. A few times a week instead of once or twice a month. Walking down stairs or just standing there and it happens. After it happens my knee hurts for a while. What can I do to prevent this or alleviate it? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah at 5:09 PM PST - 6 comments

I am *removing* an above-ground bedroom in my house renovation; now help me decide whether to add 1 or 2 legal basement bedrooms? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 2:07 PM PST - 14 comments

What are your must-have recipes? Everyone has kitchen appliance essentials (blender, toaster, etc.), but what recipes should all cooks have a favorite/classic/reliable/etc. version of? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 1:44 PM PST - 40 comments

I've never been interested in the British Royal Family, but I recently finished watching The Crown and am planning to watch tonight's interview with Prince Harry and Meghan. This has gotten me wondering why the Royal Family has lasted this long into the modern era, but that's actually not my question. [more inside]
posted by daikon at 12:09 PM PST - 21 comments

At 20:25 in this video about the York Museum of Automata, they show a fantastic automaton called The Birth of Venus, by Katie Rowe (spelling uncertain). I wasn't able to google up any more information about this artist, using multiple spelling variations of the name. The museum has been gone for 20+ years and has no significant web presence. I'm familiar with a lot of late 20th century automata artists through Cabaret Mechanical Theater and associates, but I'd never encountered this artist before!
posted by moonmilk at 11:03 AM PST - 4 comments

My friends' eldest child is turning 6, and I'd like to make her a playlist of female artists. Her favorite, favorite song since she was three is On The Road Again. Other Willie Nelson songs are apparently okay, especially if they've got some imagery to them (her next favorite song for a while was Willie's cover of Pancho And Lefty). Lately apparently she's gotten into vocals-free surfer rock, specifically Dick Dale. I'd like to make her a playlist of female vocalists that might contain one or two new favorite songs. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by deludingmyself at 9:49 AM PST - 48 comments

Help me find a nonbinary-friendly source for a masculine suit in DFW, and give my friend a great positive experience. [more inside]
posted by cr_joe at 9:41 AM PST - 3 comments

Is there a way I can file taxes for 2020 without having filed in 2019? I keep getting my return rejected for “incorrect 2019 AGI”. The SO and I don’t want to miss the $1400 checks! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:38 AM PST - 4 comments

My fictional character has left the Boston area to live in California. What are some not-so-typical things she might miss? I.e., something other than the falls leaves?
posted by swheatie at 9:21 AM PST - 69 comments

I’m interested in getting a hobby type robot arm. My main goal is to experiment with programming rather than focus on the hardware, so I’d prefer to get a kit (as opposed to picking individual parts and 3D printing stuff, etc) Does this look like a decent (reasonably priced?) robot arm kit? [more inside]
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 8:04 AM PST - 2 comments

How do I keep my knee support sleeve from falling down? [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 5:47 AM PST - 10 comments

I’m looking into alternate methods of having weed. Edibles seems to be the safest and the one that would be most pleasant to take into my body. But I’m afraid about price. I have this picture in my head that edibles are super expensive. Am I wrong? How can you make super inexpensive edibles? [more inside]
posted by ggp88 at 5:17 AM PST - 35 comments

Please describe your living experiences, here. If you work in NM remotely, particularly Albuquerque or Santa Fe, please describe especially. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 11:23 PM PST - 16 comments

I am writing a book pseudonymously (at least the surname is) and I would like to create social media accounts to promote it, but I don't want people who only know me professionally to find out about it. I created a new Instagram account using only my phone number and somehow it still gets suggested to all my contacts (professional and personal) there. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:45 PM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to use a monitor, keyboard, and mouse in my basement, but the computer itself is on the first floor. Can USB-C / USB 3 or another modern tech make this happen? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 7:05 PM PST - 15 comments

A snobby internet person, probably female, called the unwashed masses “grocery store people”. Google is only showing me information about Covid-safe grocery shopping; this was well pre-Covid. It might have been Gluten-Free Girl? [more inside]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:56 PM PST - 12 comments

Calling all academics...I'm a graduate student working on my first-ever research project in the field of information science (human-computer interaction). I'm conducting a qualitative, semi-structured interview study of end users and their perceptions around a particular category of software. My advisor is telling me that I need to establish and define my theoretical framework before I start data analysis, and I'm oh so lost in the weeds now... [more inside]
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 6:27 PM PST - 6 comments

I live and work from home in my tiny apartment. I want to redecorate my room so that I can stand being there for the at least sixteen hours that I spend on the weekday. What functional, cheap tips do you have to keep a wfh room tidy and pretty? [more inside]
posted by sheepishchiffon at 5:13 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm on the hunt for lightweight, high quality hoop and other dangly earrings that I can order online. By "high quality" I mean earrings that won't get discolored/broken/bent after a handful of wears. For hoops, something about the size as these chunky medium hoops from Madewell. [more inside]
posted by rogerroger at 4:46 PM PST - 7 comments

Due to various reason, we had to restore our iPhone 7 to factory settings. However, when attempting to set up the device, we are unable to activate the phone because the phone requires an update. But any updates we do through iTunes don't seem to work. How do we escape this recursive hellscape dilemma? [more inside]
posted by China Grover at 2:42 PM PST - 6 comments

In the last 7-10 days, I saw a bar chart of different countries' stimulus/relief amounts, most likely on a major English-language news site. The bars were ranked by amount of relief as a percentage of GDP, with the U.S. at the top. The U.S. bar included all three U.S. COVID relief bills, showing how much of the U.S. total each bill comprised. If it helps, the bars were yellow. Can you please help me find it?
posted by Atrahasis at 2:26 PM PST - 6 comments

I've eaten a bunch of these tasty things, and I saved the remaining spices, which are mostly dried red peppers and tingly Szechuan peppercorns. Do you have any ideas of what I can do with such spices? Any recipes to try? Can I recycle them into spicing up a packet of cheaper dried peanuts (I don't think it will be the same thing, since the original peanuts seems to have some bit of red powder adhering to them.)
posted by Borborygmus at 1:09 PM PST - 9 comments

I've been able to finally focus on work, something I've struggled with in the past 1-2 years and was the subject of my previous Ask. I've found a job where for the first time since mid-2019, it's something I enjoy doing...even if I plan on ultimately quitting due to yet another relocation this summer. But there are some downsides to this new job that I'm not sure I can power through. Financially I'll mostly be OK if I quit. Should I? Is this dumb? [more inside]
posted by signondiego at 12:56 PM PST - 20 comments

I have a whole drawerful of everyday black knickers, which seem to all be giving up the ghost at once. I'm trying not to wear so much black, so I've been looking for plain, dark-coloured cotton keks to buy in bulk. So far, the choices seem very limited / non-existent. What I think is a not unreasonable list of wants under the fold. [more inside]
posted by doornoise at 12:52 PM PST - 7 comments

Recording question: I use Logic X and recently replaced my DI, and now when I mute a track, I can still hear the dry guitar signal which didn't use to be true. What happened? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 12:49 PM PST - 9 comments

You know how you can point iTunes at your music folder and it will sort through the whole mess and put it into some kind of order for you? I need that, but for documents. Does that exist? [more inside]
posted by gauche at 11:30 AM PST - 6 comments

My wife's workplace mandates Calibri on sent messages, which apparently are in HTML with explicit CSS to force a font family. She dislikes Calibri, and wants, for clarity, to be viewing her messages in a font which better differentiates, e.g. an uppercase I (0x49) and a lowercase l (0x6C). She's fine sending messages in Calibri, in accordance with their dicta, but wants rendering on her client to be in some other font, even of messages which explicitly state Calibri as the top of their font stacks. [more inside]
posted by jackbishop at 10:17 AM PST - 8 comments

I'll be the host and moderator for a large virtual event in a few weeks, and I'd like to read up on best practices for how to do the job well. I've moderated panels and given talks, but this event will involve on-camera conversation with groups of audience members, and I want to make sure I'm prepared. Resources specific to virtual events with audience participation would be especially welcome! [more inside]
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a number of .dbx files that date back to the early 2000s. They're from Outlook Express. I'd like to convert them to plain text or Microsoft Word format. PDF would be acceptable but not ideal. I'd like each .dbx file to be converted to a single, long document – not a separate document for each email. I have a Windows 10 PC. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 8:46 AM PST - 4 comments

Looking for songs with sardonic, pithy lyrics that contain deep truths, folk / traditional Western European preferred. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 8:36 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a sleep study and daytime wakefulness test coming up in a few days, and I’m wondering what to expect. [more inside]
posted by liet at 7:21 AM PST - 17 comments

Is there a relatively fast way to get a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order signed in Ohio? The person does not have a primary care physician or any existing healthcare relationships. Remote highly preferred. [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 7:12 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm learning Mandarin, and I'm trying to practice pronunciation, so that I don't need to think hard in order to read pinyin and say the correct sounds. I've been practicing a little using speech-to-text software. Is this a reasonable idea? Are there downsides I'm not aware of? What's the best speech-to-text software for this? [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 1:47 AM PST - 6 comments

Since developing an ovarian cyst a few years ago (recently excised) I have started growing quite annoying chin stubble. Some of them are very visible and relatively thick black hairs, some are much paler but still robust and some are quite pale indeed but grow to quite some length.... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:54 PM PST - 32 comments

Some family members just moved to Bend, Oregon and I'm looking for recommendations of local businesses that I could order food/gifts from, bonus if they offer delivery. Something more local to Bend/less exploitative than Doordash. When Googling, I see ordertakeouttoday.com that says it's local to Bend, but would love personal recommendations!
posted by rogerroger at 9:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I found a few by Googling, but have I missed any? The list so far is inside. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 6:47 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm making Palermo-style arancini which have saffron in the rice. The recipe calls for a sachet of saffron (presumably crushed?) per kilo of rice, but the saffron I have is in whole threads. Approximately how many threads would be the equivalent of a sachet that someone in Italy might have on hand? A sachet in Italy seems to be 100 to 125 mg, and I doubt my kitchen scale would be able to register such small amounts.
posted by theory at 5:22 PM PST - 4 comments

(I'm going to see an optometrist when it's safe to do so. This is just to satisfy my curiosity until then.) Lately, I've been able to see better when I pull my glasses about an inch farther away from my face. I've read that this means my myopia has improved and that this sometimes happens in middle age. I'm also aware that this has negative implications but let's put that aside for now. My question is: if this has happened to you, by how much did your prescription change? [more inside]
posted by paperback version at 4:10 PM PST - 10 comments

Hi AskMe, I've posted a couple previous questions about this before, but things are coming to a head and I'm uncertain what to do. We have been trying to get a second PPP loan for weeks, and it's failed inexplicably several times. What do? [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 4:08 PM PST - 3 comments

The highly popular website of a respected international organisation received a message from someone who appears to be an established journalist/translator. He reported a couple of embarrassing typos (similar to mixing up there/their) on one webpage. Staff could not see the errors and requested a screenshot. The journalist sent one which showed the typos... but they aren't on the live site and, according to the page revision log, have never been there. Is there an explanation that makes any sort of sense both technically and in terms of human behaviour? [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool at 3:16 PM PST - 23 comments

Are there good enlightened articles online expanding on the perspective that there needs to be acknowledgment that burnout, overwork, stress in our pandemic times isn’t just solved with a bubble baths, vacation days, and self-care time? My team just got lectured by our boss that we need to take ownership of our well-being, and it was so tone-deaf my ears are still clanging. (More inside) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:03 PM PST - 12 comments

Many dating apps (such as Tinder, Bumble, CMB, Hinge), are free, but sell premium memberships and extra-cost features. I am interested to hear which upgrades Mefites have found to be genuinely helpful and worth paying for, and which were wastes of money. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:02 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm working on an ad campaign, and there's a picture of someone with this tattoo. I don't know the symbol, but it appears similar to the Odal rune that the nazis coopted (which was also possibly the influence for the stage at the CPAC convention). It maybe be this symbol with another symbol laid on top. I don't want to include this picture if the symbol if it represents something awful.
posted by jonathanhughes at 1:21 PM PST - 11 comments

After the Ebola horror, the Obama administration put together a comprehensive plan to battle future epi/pandemics. When the Impostor took over his office chair, the playbook was widely reported as being “thrown out.” I don’t know if that was hyperbole, or literal reporting, but was there a bound report that was shredded at one point? Hope this doesn’t count as chat-filter; I really want to know.
posted by BostonTerrier at 1:00 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking forward to the possibility of spending time with friends/family outdoors this summer, and am looking to buy a movie projector, so we can watch movies outside. I am not looking for a high-end set-up. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 12:54 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm trying to track down an old TV-movie on someone else's behalf, about two boys home from military school, one of whom shoots and kills a person with no remorse. Any ideas? More details inside! [more inside]
posted by theatro at 12:03 PM PST - 2 comments

What high schools in the Boston area are best for supporting dyslexic learners? [more inside]
posted by debgpi at 11:53 AM PST - 3 comments

Saw a cropped poster on Etsy of the JR Tokyo map and I'm looking for a full size version. Anyone know where I can purchase or print one? [more inside]
posted by princeoftheair at 11:22 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a way to solve this iPhone battery issue? [more inside]
posted by miles1972 at 11:10 AM PST - 14 comments

I volunteer as a tutor of conversational English (I'm not a trained ESL teacher). The learner I work with has very good English skills and she has a job requiring her to use English. She's expressed that her chief challenge is constructing complex sentences on the fly. What activities are good for building fluency in complex sentences (e.g. conditional, indirect speech) [more inside]
posted by pierogi24 at 11:10 AM PST - 9 comments

Is the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine safe for those at risk of HIV exposure? Back in October 2020 there was an article published in The Lancet highlighting a possible risk of increased susceptibility to HIV from adenovirus-5 vaccines like the Chinese and Russian Covid vaccines. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is derived from adenovirus-26. Is there a reason to be concerned? [more inside]
posted by Nelson at 11:03 AM PST - 6 comments

Shopping cart wranglers in large, upscale parking lots have a helper which makes it a one-person job. What do we call those little motorized units they use now, which bring up the rear of long trains of carts being herded back home? Is mule the best we can do?
posted by Rash at 9:27 AM PST - 7 comments

Yesterday I went for an IV iron infusion at the hospital infusion clinic. This setting is where immune-compromised people spend hours in close quarters getting chemo. It's a single room with chairs for 6-8 patients. During the treatment I was seated directly across from another patient approx. 8' away who was wearing her mask around her chin. [more inside]
posted by HotToddy at 8:50 AM PST - 20 comments

Are there any studies that actual try to test for universal archetypes out the collective unconscious? Especially any that work across cultural lines with cultures that have not been heavily impacted by the west? [more inside]
posted by Hactar at 8:11 AM PST - 11 comments

Help me host the most inventive family-friendly Zoom quiz ever - sibling rivalry edition [more inside]
posted by citands at 7:40 AM PST - 8 comments

Do you have a US company you like that sells raw, organic nuts online? I'm especially looking for walnuts right now, but am interested in all kinds of nuts and seeds.
posted by FencingGal at 7:33 AM PST - 6 comments

I have an 8 year old kitty (the handsome black fella on the left) who started having digestive issues in December. We got a preliminary diagnosis of IBS, but after bloodwork, they are suspecting small cell lymphoma. Since this seems to be a fairly common cat issue, I thought I'd ask for some advice. [more inside]
posted by tryniti at 6:57 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm in the US and I have a friend in France who is feeling down. I would like to send her a gift. I would like gardening-related gift certificate recommendations and how to info, if you have it! [more inside]
posted by banjonaut at 5:57 AM PST - 10 comments

My apartment has so far been...okay for my plants; but I want to get a grow light so the herbs get a boost. I'm just not sure how much of a boost to give them. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:13 AM PST - 11 comments

58 years old. Applied for job at [company] online. Received this message back from HR person at [company] the next day ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 3:41 AM PST - 19 comments

Recently the whole family has been enjoying questions whose answers make sense after a bit of explanation. Example 1, seen in the The West Wing, asks: Which player do you pick for your team? [more inside]
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 1:20 AM PST - 14 comments

Are there ways of writing English so that it translates well to a different language, in particular Chinese? [more inside]
posted by butwheresthesushi at 10:23 PM PST - 14 comments

I recently found out I have ADHD, and while I thought I’d run the gamut of hypothetical self-diagnoses I really didn’t expect this one. I’m feeling kind of down about it and hoping others will be able to buoy my spirit. [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 9:46 PM PST - 11 comments

I lost a beautiful website and I'm trying to find it again! In a media studies class in college, one of the discussions was about a website of illustrated stories. Each story was a single image many times larger than the computer screen size. The way you 'read' the story was to drag the screen to uncover more and more of the image. If you've ever seen anything like this (XKCD's "click and drag" comic works this way), please post the link, especially if it sounds like the horror stories site I'm describing. Thank you! [more inside]
posted by ch3cooh at 7:16 PM PST - 3 comments

A couple of friends recently moved to Providence, RI, and are looking for credit union recommendations. They've googled, of course, but would love to hear people's opinions. No particular special needs other than wanting to transfer a credit card balance to a card that the CU offers. Thanks!
posted by wintersweet at 6:14 PM PST - 3 comments

My wife has a qualifying condition and was extremely lucky to grab a vaccine appointment this Sunday. However, she has an allergy skin test tomorrow and is nervous that may disqualify her from getting the shot. [more inside]
posted by kittysockpuppet at 6:10 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm reaching out because I am at a straws end and feel so overwhelmed. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 5:34 PM PST - 23 comments

I've been having trouble with my leg for the past eight months. Its really starting to negatively effect my quality of life. I've tried a lot of things to clear whatever it is up but nothing works. More after the jump. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 3:47 PM PST - 15 comments

I made these peanut butter cookies. I cooked 6 and they are ... not good. What can I add to the rest of the batch to fix them? [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 1:55 PM PST - 19 comments

My wife and I both like to cook and we're pretty good at it, at least as far as following recipes, learning new techniques, etc. We can even improvise a bit here and there. But... [more inside]
posted by Mister_Sleight_of_Hand at 12:58 PM PST - 26 comments

I have started posting short videos of performers on the NYC subway. What are good platforms to post these videos? So far I am using Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok.
posted by andoatnp at 12:53 PM PST - 7 comments

The teenage daughter in the apartment below ours practices cello 14 hours a day, every day. 7am to 9pm, 7 days a week. Needless to say, this drives us round the bend. She has turned her nose up at other measures to make changes to her practice that would improve our lives. Is it unrealistic to expect her to use a mute? [more inside]
posted by cincinnatus c at 10:03 AM PST - 92 comments

My small one-story suburban US house is going to be painted navy with bright white trim, and the door itself will be Taos blue. The house numbers, which are over the front door, will be silver. The porch light, which is next to the door will be black. What finish would look best for the doorknob and lock?
posted by ChodenKal at 9:42 AM PST - 10 comments

My endocrinologist says glucose monitors, and in particular continuous glucose monitors, aren't very accurate for hypoglycemia. She also says that her awareness of the performance of these products is from about eight years ago. Are you aware of any finger prick or continuous monitor options that are better with measuring low blood sugar than others? [more inside]
posted by 10ch at 9:17 AM PST - 13 comments

My cat peed into my expensive, 32-inch 4K monitor. What do I do now? [more inside]
posted by JD Sockinger at 8:56 AM PST - 14 comments

A few of us were in a meeting with someone with their TV paused in the background. We've become obsessed with figuring out what show/movie it is. [more inside]
posted by magnetsphere at 8:52 AM PST - 10 comments

We are in the process of converting what we can in our home to a more friendly energy sources. Currently we have an oil boiler for heating and local utility for electric. The previous owners had a natural gas line run to the house, but no meter has been installed. [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 8:49 AM PST - 23 comments

Is there a type of camera I can put on a pole (the pole is around 4m tall and is 75mm thick) that looks downward so I can generate a sensible looking image? [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:12 AM PST - 7 comments

Coworker drama: Are these comments aggressive? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 7:07 AM PST - 28 comments

On the basis of two online images of a meticulously lettered paragraph in two early copies of Dioscorides' De Materia Medica - one smaller, colour one from the Morgan manuscript, and one larger, more distinct, black&white one from the Vienna manuscript - would anyone be able to help transcribe and possibly translate the text? (My previous appeal for a classical Japanese page found great help from the hive mind!) [more inside]
posted by progosk at 6:36 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm applying for a govt. job. They need a different thinker. It's the vaguest advert I've seen, looks more or less written for me. Position needs social separation but in a team enviro.; I'll be very different to what's there now, I'm more working class (among other diffs), these folk are not. I need to maintain that difference - some separation is not difficult as I'm not social - most people don't know that; I present as norm (and have done for 20+ years), I can't maintain a different act/manner for long, but I can look different. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:19 AM PST - 18 comments

Following on from my last ask about managing anxiety, I want to try using CBD oil. How can I tell which of the options available to me here in South Africa are any good? For example, this one? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 6:12 AM PST - 1 comment

I plan to launch a subscription service as a freelancer. A sticking point is that I and my business are located in Sweden, which means that I am obligated to collect VAT (value-added taxes) on subscription services purchased by Swedish residents (and possibly other EU residents as well but that part I can figure out on my own). I am having problems finding an appropriate and affordable payment processor. [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 5:58 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a way to turn the headphone output of the laptop into a BT signal we could connect our headphones to? [more inside]
posted by DrtyBlvd at 3:58 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm starting to train for a 10k race in 2 months from now. I haven't run all winter. Is it better to try to slowly increase the km I'm running or should I concern myself more with the pace, that is, the minutes per km. I'm trying to get out there 3 times a week. I workout the other 3 days a week. Because the indoor running track has been closed, this is the first I've been out to run in the winter and I've never started training so late.
posted by Tziv at 3:52 AM PST - 7 comments

Another job dilemma where I can't see the wood for the trees. [more inside]
posted by charlen at 10:27 PM PST - 14 comments

Can I make my toe-touch bathtub drain stopper stop leaking without involving my landlord? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 8:41 PM PST - 10 comments

Is there a website or service that will let you enter a list of addresses and then notify you when they are listed for sale? I'm in the US.
posted by Wild_Eep at 7:43 PM PST - 7 comments

Please share anything in film or video format, from Tik Toks to documentaries to fiction films, that effectively makes a case to decrease police and prisons.
posted by latkes at 7:15 PM PST - 5 comments

Is there any way to send an automated email AFTER a Google Calendar event? I want to send automated thank you notes to people, but it appears to be impossible. [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 7:04 PM PST - 3 comments

So, I'm having shoe problems. I generally don't like to drive a lot or use public transportation, I like walking like a lot. I thought I had made some good purchases on shoes the last time, but it's been two years now and I'm once again have the same problem: I walk too much and the soles of my shoes get worn out to the point I have holes in my shoes. This is annoying, especially when it rains. I don't suppose anybody knows of some super ultra durable shoes?
posted by Tarsonis10 at 7:01 PM PST - 29 comments

I have some bottles of Weleda Deodorant I no longer use because I find I don't really need deodorant. I love the smell though. Can I use it like febreze? To clean a mirror? Other ideas? [more inside]
posted by beyond_pink at 6:23 PM PST - 5 comments

My mother's house needs some sort of repair done to an exterior wall, but I don't know where to begin! Details inside. [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 6:02 PM PST - 11 comments

I own a brick two-flat in Chicago. A previous owner, probably 10+ years ago, had satellite TV. The dish is still up on the roof, bolted to the inside of the parapet. Can I remove the dish or is there some risk I’ll harm the roof/parapet in the process? Or should I involve a professional? [more inside]
posted by chimpsonfilm at 5:52 PM PST - 8 comments

I skipped my adderall today to catch up on sleep and surprisingly felt the best I have in weeks. I'd been planning to taper off, but now I want to just stop completely. Are there physical risks with that? [more inside]
posted by Gravel at 5:22 PM PST - 11 comments

I need to understand what this feels like, or at least what it looks like. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:51 PM PST - 5 comments

Can someone please direct me to a straightforward step-by-step guide to building a cement block house that meets California building code? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 2:45 PM PST - 12 comments

When I was hospitalized, a non-religious friend told me she’d light a candle for me, which I appreciated. What are some other secular actions of holding space for people who are experiencing difficulty in their lives? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 2:22 PM PST - 17 comments

We are going to book a cabin/Phantom Ranch, down the Grand Canyon. [more inside]
posted by ebesan at 1:51 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm going to be working at an outdoor job site for a few days. The employees will be given "thin electric heated thermals" to wear- basically battery operated long johns. I'm 17 weeks pregnant but my workplace doesn't know. Is this safe? Can I make it safer? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:37 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm investigating getting a satellite phone for emergencies but am a little overwhelmed by the options. [more inside]
posted by justkevin at 1:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I have tried alcohol, windex, peroxide, all regular glass cleaners. What product or method can you suggest? Or is there someone who would specialize with this? I'm a photographer and I'm concerned to damage the lens.
posted by Tziv at 12:52 PM PST - 1 comment

My lack of artistic vocabulary, combined with red-green colorblindness for extra difficulty, have produced an impasse trying to describe and learn more about a color palette trend I've noticed (and gotten obsessed by) over the last few years. Details and links to examples below. [more inside]
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:54 AM PST - 16 comments

When I lived in Ohio, community theaters groups operated independently (Footlighters, Tri-County Players, etc.) but were also members of OCTA (Ohio Community Theater Association). This seemed a loose affiliation that administered the organization of theaters while letting people from the community audition for any show they wanted w/o the need to be a member of any individual theater group or theater organization. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 10:18 AM PST - 3 comments

I want to put a picture on a PowerPoint slide and then send it backwards so that parts of it are hidden by the design on the master. I can't figure out how to do it. [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 9:28 AM PST - 12 comments

Me and my (non romantic) Partner need to overhaul our diet and exercise habits. Please help make this easy (lol). Difficulty level : body positivity, crohn's, moving, mental health, trauma, pandemic, etc. [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:55 AM PST - 26 comments

What is the best quality, high-end, luxury kitchen broom/ dustpan combination that money can buy? Natural materials preferred. Let's pretend there is no upper limit on price, the more ridiculous the better.
posted by Think_Long at 8:38 AM PST - 25 comments

Miami area swimming beaches/shores that are 1) very peaceful isolated vibe, not party vibe and 2) walkable from some lodging that's not luxe priced? Especially in lowish-season winter, such as early or mid Jan? (I see Miami's lowest sea temps are around 70F, which is fine; I'm used to wild swimming down to 58F or so, and I welcome but don't need a lifeguard.)
posted by kalapierson at 8:37 AM PST - 3 comments

Hi everyone; So, I need to buy eye glasses. Has anyone had exp buying these online? Any advice/tips? I been told it much cheaper this way, and I checked out some sites,yep,its ALOT cheaper,lol. I this a safe way of buying glasses? Thanks everyone :-)
posted by LOOKING at 8:17 AM PST - 27 comments

A friend is writing their thesis about climate change story-telling in movies. They're having trouble finding stories that paint a more hopeful picture of futures where we've actually managed to avert worst-case dystopian scenarios. What fiction (preferably science fiction) movies would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by anthill at 8:10 AM PST - 14 comments

If using science fiction and fantasy to imagine breaking the patriarchy into tiny crumbs is a sort of emotional labor, what men are helping with that work? [more inside]
posted by miles per flower at 7:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Can I set gmail up to send me a text or make an automated call if an email with the words "covid" and "vaccine" comes in? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:42 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for people to share their thoughts (or memorable books, articles, quotes, etc) on why consuming fiction has value. In my gut it feels valuable, I love fiction and consume a lot of it, but I find it hard to articulate why! Note: if you're the sort of person who doesn't like these sort of navel gazey posts, really not looking for "just enjoy it, whatever, chill out" type answers! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 7:24 AM PST - 28 comments

I have an iPad 2 that I bought used for one specific purpose that no longer applies. For a long time, the App Store wouldn't work (stuck on a dialog box that didn't load properly). Now it's unexpectedly working again, so I want to load it up while I can. What apps do you use that you suspect might work on an older iPad? The more random, the better. I am a medical resident, but I'm interested in all kinds of things. Thank you!
posted by 8603 at 7:21 AM PST - 4 comments

Ok, I'm trying to follow what is going on with Alex Salmond and the SNP, but I'm not sure I'm getting it right. Can someone Scottish explain to me if this is as dodgy as it seems to be? [more inside]
posted by EllaEm at 6:05 AM PST - 19 comments

I have a well-paying, secure, kinda fancy job that is frankly aspirational in my country. People make admiring noises when they hear where I work, and want to know how I like it. Anticlimax (or probably not) below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 6:04 AM PST - 33 comments

I've made a lot of progress in dealing with anxiety and depression. But the struggle with my BIG EMOTIONS is still a big part of my life. I want to know how to accept who I am, instead of beating myself up for not being [insert vague idea of what a normal person is like, that I can't even imagine]. I need some guidance on how to think about myself as an anxious person in a more compassionate and accepting way. How to stop framing it as being "broken" or unbalanced or wrong. This is tough to do because the anxiety and depression makes me feel so broken, unbalanced, and wrong. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 3:28 AM PST - 21 comments

YANMD but I'm surveying for personal experiences to help me decide if this problem is worth venturing to a walk-in clinic during a pandemic. Every day, after I eat lunch and dinner, I experience a debilitating crash in energy. It's often so extreme that I could not stay awake to save my life. I never had this issue pre-pandemic. Is this within the realm of normal (getting older? covid blues? winter?) or should I be concerned? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 9:08 PM PST - 25 comments

In my late 20's I decided to go back to school for a STEM degree after building my first career in language translation and localization. I'm about 2/3rds of the way through a degree in Civil Engineering, but I'm miserable, burnt out, and hating my life. Please, please tell me it'll be okay if I quit (at least for now), and help me brainstorm what type of job to look for if I decide to leave school. Assume I already have a BA and career experience, and that student loan debt is not an issue. [more inside]
posted by azuresunday at 7:59 PM PST - 20 comments

So, I think I've been spending too much time on Reddit. Time and again I've left and gone back, but I can't seem to leave permanently. I really don't like the site, though and almost always end up leaving because of its toxicity. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 7:54 PM PST - 15 comments

Every month, my team at work has our all-team meeting (we all work remotely). At the start of the meeting, we do a "Red, Yellow, Green" status where everyone says how they're feeling coming into the meeting (e,g. "red" means you're not feeling great, and "green" means you're swell). After you give your update, you pick someone else. For the past FIVE meetings, I've been picked last. It feels like being the last one picked for a sports team in the schoolyard. [more inside]
posted by starpoint at 7:21 PM PST - 35 comments

Sure, I know about LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster - but - what's the new 'hotness'? [more inside]
posted by rozcakj at 5:35 PM PST - 4 comments

I have searched MeFi and Google to the best of my ability, but I'm coming up with nothing. I'm trying to find a feminist Soviet short story that I read online; I was sure it was part of a MetaFilter FPP but now I'm having doubts. Does the vague summary below ring any bells for anyone? [more inside]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:46 PM PST - 3 comments

During the day, my neck (and back) feel totally fine, however I wake up from acute neck pain 1-2 times per night. The pain happens when I'm turning my head from one side to the other, as I'm changing sleep position (I generally sleep on my back or either side). It goes away after I've finished changing position, but it's still bad enough to wake me up. [more inside]
posted by unknowncommand at 2:07 PM PST - 5 comments

...or a recommendation to stay. I've used deluxe turbotax the last few years, but after learning about the lobby to make filing taxes worse because capitalism, and eff that noise. I am interested in hearing about your experience with options like CreditKarma, 1040.com, H&R block free online, etc. Or, if you've switched from turbotax in the past and are now switching back, I'd like to hear about that too. [more inside]
posted by snerson at 1:42 PM PST - 33 comments

On the latest episode of The Rookie (don't judge me), there's a scene with cult members in white robes standing on the edge of a roof (awaiting their ascension, as they do). But it reminded me very strongly of a very similar scene in another show which I cannot remember and it's very annoying. Does it ring any bells with you? [more inside]
posted by mpark at 1:39 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a Glade plug-in air freshener and it doesn't smell of anything. The tip (where the strength adjustment can be set) is warm. I have tried it in 3 different rooms and no dice. I also tried an Air Wick plug-in - same deal. Previously though (like a few years) I had an Air Wick plug-in which did work. What could it be or what could have changed? I can smell other things just fine. My house is old (built 1891).
posted by my log does not judge at 1:23 PM PST - 9 comments

I’m not in danger of self harm. Content note death and wanting to die. I’m looking for leads on how to respectfully pray to die in any spiritual or religious tradition. I think it would help me a lot and ironically would make me more resilient. Thanks so much!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 1:17 PM PST - 32 comments

I want to explore transferring from one degree program to another, but I'm not sure how it's done in my field (school psychology). [more inside]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:06 PM PST - 4 comments

I seem to remember, about a month ago, a news item about someone setting up an alternative to Amazon... like an independent ecommerce site that offered many different products, but without touching the Amazon ecosystem at all. Anyone remember this piece?
posted by mark7570 at 1:00 PM PST - 8 comments

My parents in Massachusetts got their first Moderna vaccine shot 27 days ago. Today their 2nd appointment got canceled for March 3 and MIT Medical isn't sure when they will get more Moderna... How to find an appointment for a specific shot? [more inside]
posted by creiszhanson at 12:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I recently had weight loss surgery and am now down into the size range of normal shops. My go-to when I was still plus-sized were sites like womanwithin.com. You can get great basics (which is about all I wear) for very little money. And their selection is rather large, with the same garment in lots of colors in addition to many different styles available. [more inside]
posted by wwartorff at 11:36 AM PST - 11 comments

For producing music at home, on a PC with Reaper, what VST/amp modeling/FX software should I be using? Seems like the main contenders are Amplitube and Native Instruments's Guitar Rig, but I'd love to hear about whatever else you got. I'm not looking for free stuff, particularly. [more inside]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:01 AM PST - 14 comments

An automated system builds our software at least daily. We like to give these builds fun names from a list. What's are some fun categories with lots of things in it that we could use to generate names? Past ones include: tomato varieties, pokemon, paint colors. Ideally a list would be readily available and would contain at least 100 things (500 is even better). [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 10:44 AM PST - 26 comments

In this lockdown era, I have been taking some Google Street View walks around cities I love. I was surprised today to find that the Washington Square Arch in Manhattan is blurred out. It must be intentional, as when you get within view of it to the north, east, or west, you lose the ability to shift your view to different years. Any idea why this would be?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:31 AM PST - 15 comments

My computer uses a Universal Power Supply. Yesterday we lost power while I watched a movie on Netflix. Everything shut down except the computer that was on the UPS. The movie kept on playing without any sound. The modem lost power also. What was going on here?
posted by Raybun at 10:11 AM PST - 9 comments

What is the state-of-the-art in hanging things on walls temporarily, as in apartments? Difficulty level: Moving relatively soon, want to avoid management company coming after us for wall damage. [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 9:10 AM PST - 7 comments

I cannot stand it when someone touches my computer monitor. In a time where nearly everything is a touchscreen (NOT my monitor though!) am I justified in still being frustrated that people poke at the screen? How can I politely signal to people to keep their greasy fingers off my monitor? [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs at 8:44 AM PST - 31 comments

We’re looking to buy a Murphy bed for a home office, and we’re trying to figure out which one to get. [more inside]
posted by Yo Soy La Morsa at 8:39 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for cultural histories of precolonial North and South America , as well as Egypt as a Roman province during the Ptolemy era. Any book recommendations for me? [more inside]
posted by House of Leaves of Grass at 7:53 AM PST - 5 comments

Please recommend basic guides for making a website look good, so I can make my hobby sites look less terrible - ideally something like, "do these five steps to make your site look better than plain Bootstrap." [more inside]
posted by kristi at 7:51 AM PST - 11 comments

If I purchase something on Etsy, does the seller automatically get my email address? Or just my username/address for shipping? [more inside]
posted by bluecore at 7:51 AM PST - 6 comments

I have long, very thick curly hair. When I do laundry, it feels like half my clothes come out of the wash and dryer with hairs of mine still clinging to them. Is there a way to deal with this other than picking them off by hand? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:07 AM PST - 16 comments

Is anyone able to ID the maker of this running top? The logo is visible on the zip, and the stitching seems quite distinctive. [more inside]
posted by mani at 2:21 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm trying to collect words or phrases that are typically found in North American skin care product ads. I'm mainly interested in facial skin -- particularly the eye area, but the general face is fine, too -- and in ads targetted to women. Please post anything aspirational that the product promises, like "glow" or "prevents fine lines," not merely informational things like "paraben-free" or "collagen." Thanks!
posted by paperback version at 12:49 AM PST - 19 comments

I've been listening to the same music for a while: The Beatles, Magnetic Fields, Harry Nilsson, Morphine, QOTSA, The Kinks, Weezer, Nirvana, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, and Daft Punk. I need some new choices to change up my playlist. Please send me your favorites. [more inside]
posted by doyouknowwhoIam? at 6:21 PM PST - 40 comments

My work Slack account suddenly won't open in my Firefox work container after having no problems doing so for the past few months. [more inside]
posted by sardonyx at 5:42 PM PST - 3 comments

What have folks been doing for COVID-safe initial in-person dates? [more inside]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 5:23 PM PST - 12 comments

The world is flush with resources telling me how to hack my Pax wardrobe, but I’m not finding this one. I want to add shelves to the cabinet along the depth, that is the short ends of the shelves would be at front and back of the cabinet and the long end would be as deep as the cabinet is. I’m looking to store shoes and take up only about a foot of the cabinet’s width, leaving the rest for hanging. [more inside]
posted by OrangeVelour at 4:44 PM PST - 7 comments

I like to read blogs. I like to sit down and just....read them, borne back ceaselessly into the past by the previous posts button. Because we are living in a nightmarish dystopia, I cannot read about anything challenging. I would like blogs about food, clothes and the past, with certain restrictions. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 4:44 PM PST - 13 comments

Is there a monitor arm that like... moves better than others? The reviews I'm reading are all about stability and whatnot and they honestly all seem roughly the same as long as you don't have a super heavy monitor. I can't find reviews that really address how nicely they move, so I'm wondering if there are any that have a motion that's better or smoother than others? I'm willing to throw a reasonable amount of money at this. [more inside]
posted by brainmouse at 4:42 PM PST - 9 comments

I need to clean out some dirty formicariums. Keyboard vacuums look like they might either be too cheap or not have a tiny enough attachment to really get in there, "tiny vacuums" are correspondingly useless as a search term. What tiny little suction device can I get that will be strong enough to help me clear up the cruft? Also would enjoy finding tiny stiff little scrub brushes as well for this effort, surely people need those in some hobbies...
posted by foxfirefey at 4:04 PM PST - 11 comments

My therapist is retiring, or moving on from being a therapist. I got an email from her about this and my last appointment with her will probably be next week. I am mostly okay with this, though somewhat apprehensive. Mostly I'm trying to think of what I have NOT thought about. If this happened to you, what would you have liked to know going into it? What would have helped? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:55 PM PST - 2 comments

I just got my period and I'm supposed to get my 2nd vaccine dose in 24 hours. I usually take ibuprofen and tylenol, alternately, for period pain. Is one of these better? Should I stop? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:59 PM PST - 10 comments

In the last ~2 years, I remember seeing a quote from William Gibson (I think, but am not sure, it was one of his tweets) where he talked about the writing process as something like feeling terrible about your writing and rewriting and rewriting it until your editors forcibly removed it from your hands to publish it. I am in this stage of writing a book, and I'd like to find the quote/tweet again. Going through twitter advanced search hasn't turned it up yet. Any leads?
posted by zingiberene at 1:21 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a senior developer title now, but I feel out of my depth, and I don't have enough free time or energy to spend with my family, or to pursue personal projects. I would like to work 40 hours (or less?) every week (or almost every week). Pay cut/losing seniority OK. Difficulty: Full-stack web developer, USA. [more inside]
posted by commander_fancypants at 12:54 PM PST - 15 comments

An elderly acquaintance recently passed. He was single and childless and all of his possessions were to go to an animal sanctuary. He was extremely proud of this and often talked about it over the years. He has been mentally declining with dementia for the last 5 years. A year ago he changed his will and left his estate (valued at around $2M based on housing prices) to the part time caregiver who has worked with him for the last 4 years. Can we/should we do anything? [more inside]
posted by arnicae at 12:19 PM PST - 15 comments

My friend is pregnant, the baby is due on the solstice. 🧙‍♀️ [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 11:45 AM PST - 12 comments

Apparently in a few months my area will be flooded with cicadas. How can I survive this? Is there any place I can escape to (plus pandemic safety)? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 11:32 AM PST - 29 comments

She needs an elective, but her high school doesn’t offer personal finance. Are there any online options that her HS might accept? [more inside]
posted by Gusaroo at 11:31 AM PST - 5 comments

So I'm not traveling right now, but one of the things getting me through this era is planning future travel, and one thing that's eluding me is this question. It's easy to find recommendations for upscale and fancy restaurants, but that's not what I'm interested in; I want to find restaurants where you can get a sub-$12/€10 meal that's filling, unpretentious, and quick. [more inside]
posted by LSK at 11:19 AM PST - 22 comments

I will be flying to visit family on the 11th day after my second covid shot. My parents (mid/late-70's) will be fully vaccinated at that point. They live in a small unit and have offered to let me sleep on their couch. Is there a rough estimate of what the risk I'd introduce to them would look like? [more inside]
posted by shocks connery at 10:58 AM PST - 9 comments

My son has an inherited dental condition that will need a lot of work in the future. I want to start putting money aside specifically for it. What's the most advantageous way to save for this? [more inside]
posted by disaster77 at 10:38 AM PST - 10 comments

One of the grade school kids I sometimes read to in my new country of residence has started to remark on my physical imperfections. I actually find this funny in an ironic sort of way, because I did the same thing to my mom when I was little. But in the year of our Bog 2021, this doesn't seem like something I should be allowing to let slide. Help this non-mom negotiate what could be a teaching moment. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 10:13 AM PST - 10 comments

Where can I buy or adopt a pet rat in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Queens? Thanks!
posted by andoatnp at 10:07 AM PST - 6 comments

At the recommendation of my psychiatrist, I would like to try using a mushroom to help me continue working through some big and tough stuff that has happened over the last three years. In a perfect world, I would like to do this under the care of an experienced therapist but for *reasons* I suspect that will not be possible. How do I lay the foundation for a positive self-guided or partner-guided experience in my own home? [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 9:42 AM PST - 12 comments

... And I'm starting to feel my reverse SAD kick into gear. What are some strategies to deal with seasonal affective disorder brought on by hot weather? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:23 AM PST - 19 comments

I have some lamp shades on new lamps that don't quite sit level, e.g., they are crooked. How do I fix this? And is this an unusual thing, or a common thing? How can I buy more reliably more level lamps in the future? [more inside]
posted by ellerhodes at 9:17 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm trying to figure out the fastest, easiest, and safest way to get rid of a house full of stuff, and what to expect from the process. Is an estate sale company the right way? Is it possible to have someone come pack up all the stuff, take it to some other location, and then get rid of it? How much of a fee should we expect to pay? [more inside]
posted by primethyme at 8:31 AM PST - 12 comments

I am trying to find the margin of sampling error in a report about a survey. I can't find the relevant verbal phrases anywhere in the report. But is that what is represented by the percentage figures on Page 48 of the report? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 6:54 AM PST - 4 comments

So the kid has had braces on for over 2.5 years now. We were supposed to be done six months ago. But that timeline has come and gone and the orthodontist, who was supposed to be in charge of all of this, has semi-retired and doesn't return our calls or requests to contact us. Even our family dentist is shaking his head. How do we close this out? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:52 AM PST - 15 comments

My couch is ten-ish years old and starting to show its age. I know one can purchase replacement seat cushion inserts. I have not been able to find reputable sites with non-spammy reviews of said replacement cushions. Have you done this? What company did you use? Would you recommend them or not? [more inside]
posted by Adridne at 6:38 AM PST - 6 comments