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Please suggest some lunches for a couple working from home. The main constraints are time and simplicity. We’d like to spend up to about five minutes preparing that day’s lunch, or about 20 minutes if we can make a batch ahead of time to serve us for at least a few days. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 10:48 PM PST - 39 comments

I’m looking for resources that have concrete exercises, techniques, challenges, or tasks that could help me build self-trust. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:27 PM PST - 8 comments

Does anyone have some good recommended reading on the information economy - I'm looking for book-length, specifically, but really interesting articles or blog recommendations would also be welcome. Academic works or books written for a popular audience are both great. [more inside]
posted by AdamCSnider at 10:13 PM PST - 2 comments

In the mid-late 1990s I had a rain-scented perfume oil that I loved and I can't remember what it was called. It came in a small round brown bottle and the brand was embossed/carved directly on the bottle--there was no paper label. I thought I'd remembered the brand was Air/Aire/Airs but can't find it by those names in searches. What was it?? More details below. [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 10:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Another Ask today produced one of those classic "I read this as a child and it traumatized me and now I'm remembering it dimly and feeling shaken" moments. It was a body-horror short story (I think?) about a man who went underground amongst goblins and slowly turned into one himself... [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 9:19 PM PST - 5 comments

What music sounds most to you as if it were written/performed by/for goblins? [more inside]
posted by scruss at 7:16 PM PST - 44 comments

First Up: I have zero (less than zero) interest in playing video games on my TV or computer. I play games on my phone a lot, but it's small, and limited, and I am very VERY over all the video ads playing between levels and static ads around the sides of games. I like simple games, I like collecting things, solving puzzles, matching things, running a "garden", tetris-y style games, stuff like that. [more inside]
posted by magnetsphere at 6:34 PM PST - 14 comments

This past fall I shared the drama of my mouse infestation with you (too exasperated to link, doesn't matter anyway). Now I have a vole. Internet says he doesn't want to be in my house but won't be easy to trap and to try to guide him outside with a corridor of boxes. WTF. He is everywhere all at once and there aren't enough boxes in the world. And indeed he does not care about my mousetraps. HELP. I can't leave the door open for him because it's too cold out.
posted by HotToddy at 6:20 PM PST - 28 comments

I accidentally swallowed a soursop seed while eating fruit. Am I in trouble? [more inside]
posted by batbat at 6:11 PM PST - 5 comments

My personal recipe catalog is sorely lacking in salads. The one problem: I don't like lettuce/arugula/whatever spring mix is/kale/etc. Creamy potato salads? Love it! Tangy pasta salads? Absolutely! Fresh veggie salads? You know it! Sweet fruit salads? Sounds great! A delicious caesar salad? Sorry, not for me. If you can call it a salad and the main ingredient isn't a leafy green, I want to try it. So if you have a favorite greens-free salad recipe you can share, I'd love to try it.
posted by noneuclidean at 4:24 PM PST - 55 comments

I hired an electrician to install some extra outlets in the basement apartment of my house, and now I have drywall repair to do, something I've only done a few times, so brace yourselves for a newbie question. [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 4:03 PM PST - 8 comments

I left Vancouver (Canada, not Washington) in 2012, and haven't been back other than very quick visits. My wife and I are going to have a 5 day trip there this coming July 10--15th. What have I missed? What should we make sure we see, eat, and do? [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 1:11 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm asking for general approaches here, but by starting with a small specific instance. I want to know the best ways to find people for a tiny project or two (writing/editing a simple page, for example), but with the second goal of finding one or two people with whom I might do a more serious longer-term project in the future. I'd like an approach that's better than randomly trying people from a random gig site, unless that is the best approach. Please help me think about this specifically and creatively! Way too much [more inside]
posted by amtho at 1:08 PM PST - 9 comments

Our new dimmer switch makes our lights blink when it’s set to max brightness, as in this short video. We can slightly decrease the brightness to make it stop. Unpredictably, sometimes the blinking doesn’t happen even at max brightness. We have installed a new dimmer switch (Lutron Dalia Single Pole 3-Way Dimmer Switch) to control 10 LED bulbs (Feit Electric Enhance A15 E26 (Medium) Filament LED Bulb Soft White 60W) in our house. The old dimmer (Classic Accent Single Pole Dimmer Switch 300W) did not cause the flashing. Can you help us understand the problem? Thanks!
posted by migurski at 12:31 PM PST - 9 comments

What's a good reference for how to comic? I know about Lynda Barry (<3). I'm most interested in the more technical stuff like what materials to use but open to whatever.
posted by latkes at 12:22 PM PST - 7 comments

I no longer have this regular monthly bill, and I would like to direct the same funds to some smart investment. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:57 AM PST - 15 comments

Please recommend a decent place to get bagels in Los Angeles. My Brooklyn relatives are driving from LAX to San Marino via Downtown LA, then to Palm Springs, and want to stop along the way and get a dozen or two bagels. They do not care about over-hyped or performative bagel shops. They will not be impressed by long lines, and are not looking to impress anyone with their bagel connoisseurship. They just want to get a dozen or two good, fresh bagels to go and be on their way. Any recommendations, roughly along the route described above?
posted by niicholas at 10:13 AM PST - 12 comments

Spouse and I are flying internationally to visit my parents, who are older and have some co-morbidities that increase their risk of severe illness with COVID, later this summer. Due an early takeoff time, we will have to stay at a hotel near the airport the night before. Images on Tripadvisor indicate that most of the airport hotels have windows that can be opened, but also wall vents (rather than motel-style individual heating/cooling units). My concerns: Is building-wide hotel HVAC considered to be a COVID risk? If so, would keeping the AC off and the window open during our entire stay be sufficient to mitigate this risk, or should I keep looking for a more-distant hotel with completely isolated rooms (stressful but probably do-able)? Chaos option: Is there any non-damaging way to seal the room vents while we're there? [more inside]
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 8:19 AM PST - 8 comments

I have somewhat wider feet than most women, apparently. I also have bouts of Plantar Fasciitis. I need shoes with a good firm sole and wide width. I am going to Portland this weekend and would like recommendations of a good shoe store or two that I can try on shoes that are in a wide width. Birkenstocks, Lems, or any other that may come in a women's wide and have at least a closed toe and come in some kind of natural material (leather preferred,) that I can wear when I am teaching and look somewhat professional. [more inside]
posted by 101cats at 7:46 AM PST - 10 comments

Have had some favorite flip flops and slide sandals in the past. There now seems to be a dearth in them that appeal to my eye. Not into rugged outdoor look or easy slackers sandals or crocs. Rather have sandals with a fashionable, sleek and unique design Ala' Cole Hahn. Doesn't have to leather.Low cost ideal.
posted by goalyeehah at 7:43 AM PST - 4 comments

What do you use to remove your waterproof makeup? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:00 AM PST - 19 comments

I have somehow screwed the large external shield on a commercial meat mincer tight to the mincing assembly, how do I get it apart? [more inside]
posted by runincircles at 11:39 PM PST - 12 comments

YANMD, but I’m looking for insights on how to actually get some concrete symptom management, and what to ask for from my doctor to help with my increasingly painful period problems. Tmi snowflakes below. [more inside]
posted by Pemberly at 9:51 PM PST - 14 comments

Firefox / Win10 is there a browser add-on or code that lets me just type notes on a blank screen tab ? [more inside]
posted by maggieb at 9:13 PM PST - 7 comments

My partner of 8 years and I think we are ready to buy a house. What might we do now to ensure our relationship is ready and get ourselves emotionally ready to take this big step together? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 8:39 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm in the lucky situation where I am about to take international business class flights on United and Aegean for work. I have flown coach my whole life. How can I make the most of this experience? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:53 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm going through old family photo albums and scanning the photos. What's the best way to store the original photos post-scanning? [more inside]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 6:33 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a new job, what I would call a robot caretaker. I'm having new body pains due to this job, and could use some advice. [more inside]
posted by hippybear at 6:19 PM PST - 22 comments

This is a long-shot: family member has a complicated, hard to diagnosis set of health problems that seems to be some kind of autoimmune / connective tissue disorder. It doesn't fit any of the easy to diagnose diseases so it may be a combination or it may be one of those "we don't have a name for it" problems. We need to find a doctor, probably a rheumatologist, who can figure out what is really going on. [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 3:55 PM PST - 8 comments

We have a little screech owl that has taken up resting in our gazebo, while adorable, we may want to use it at some point too. What do? [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 3:53 PM PST - 10 comments

My 90 year old grandmother, who lives with my parents, has been diagnosed with COVID. She is doing as well as can be, but is often either confused or mishears what's being said. I'm also struggling to help her identify what's hurting over the phone as she changes her mind about the source of her pain. How do you help a confused senior identify pain? [more inside]
posted by elsmith at 3:25 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a big stack of antique postcards. I am someone who likes to send postcards. Is it wrong to use these postcards as postcards? Am I defacing history? Or should I go for it? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:27 PM PST - 27 comments

I want to design my own Lego Duplo Bricks and looked online for their dimensions, but wanted to check the actual bricks. So I bought nice calipers from Mitutoyo, but my measurements do not match those of others. As it is my first time measuring something with calipers I wanted to ask you, what dimensions does your 2x4 lego duplo brick have? I got 31.75 mm for width, 19.25 for height and 63.60 mm for length. As the dimesions of normal Lego bricks are better documented I'll get some tomorrow to measure. Maybe someone can tell me his measurements of those too?
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 1:32 PM PST - 6 comments

A laptop PC (Windows 10 Home, updated probably before the last new year) is trying to connect to wifi. The building is full of dozens of different wifi networks, all of which are appearing intermittently on the network list of that PC except the one network it's allowed to use. The PC is sitting right across from the router for that network, so it's not a matter of distance, and the network shows up fine on other connected devices, where it's working as usual. How do I tell the PC to connect? [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 1:03 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m in a rut with my usual tofu + vegetable stirfries and I want all your suggestions for sauces to make, especially ones that will work well if I throw some cooked rice noodles into the pan at the end. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 12:48 PM PST - 18 comments

My mom is set on going to India for a spiritual journey. I am not super for it, but she's deadset on going so I figured I'd help support her. How can I help her find a yoga class, meditation retreat, or spiritual center that is not run by a fake guru in Chennai in May 2022? Thanks!
posted by maxexam at 12:46 PM PST - 3 comments

We're on holiday in Paris and our return flight has been delayed by a day. Customer service said they'd reimburse a hotel. Is it foolish to book an expensive hotel, or foolish not to? [more inside]
posted by twirlypen at 12:30 PM PST - 5 comments

I've never been to this festival before - any tips? Particularly where to stay - I'm guessing it's not too early to make reservations. Thanks for any advice (dates 9/9-11)
posted by mmiddle at 12:25 PM PST - 2 comments

What kinds of positive grandparenting relationships do you have with your parents? [more inside]
posted by Elsie at 11:30 AM PST - 9 comments

I'll soon be in possession of a yard for the 1st time ever, and have some questions about native plant gardening. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 11:11 AM PST - 9 comments

Not sure how I originally got to this mix, but I've been listening to this collection of Japanese gangster film music on repeat a fair bit lately, whistling while I work. I'm wondering if others know of other similar mixes (curated/mixed/'casted/etc.) in the same 1960s-70s spy/gangster/chill vein. Looking for something I can hit the play button on and just jam to the DJ's vibe for a good hour or so. Bonus points if said mix refers back to source movies.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:13 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been taking a Wilderness Survival Course and it is culminating in a four night trip in the woods. We're allowed to bring our knife, water container, and a few other things here and there, but the instructor is also allowing us to bring anything that we make out of natural material. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 9:38 AM PST - 25 comments

I have a history of being sexually abused as a child, so I'm particularly sensitive to any hint of it. Would appreciate some objective views on whether these behaviour seem a bit off. I'm f, 37 and he's m, 37. [more inside]
posted by burnttoast at 9:06 AM PST - 39 comments

I can't find motorized shades that fit my requirements. Do they exist? Have you owned motorized or top-down window shades before? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 8:49 AM PST - 7 comments

How does the Green Pass and all its levels work when visiting Italy? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 8:31 AM PST - 4 comments

I completely deactivate on people emotionally when they say or do something that isn't to my liking, especially when they display weakness and/or vulnerability... emotionally, I instinctively react with contempt. What is this called? How do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:18 AM PST - 22 comments

Preliminary info: We are citizens of Michigan. We both have Medicare and receive Soc. Sec. Benefits. I’m running into brick walls, trying to accomplish two things: 1. Get my husband some sort of disability payment. 2. Find some reimbursement for myself as his full-time caregiver. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 7:23 AM PST - 8 comments

I have to have a backing track ready for a wedding tomorrow, which I was going to do in GarageBand on my (very old) Macbook Pro. I try to open GarageBand and it instantly quits with the message "GarageBand quit unexpectedly". Already tried restarting; same result. DEADLINE LOOMS. [more inside]
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:08 AM PST - 7 comments

A friend has chickens and is very keen to keep my supplied with fresh eggs. Yet I am (irrationally?) worried about this being safe. Are they safe? Talk me down from the ledge if so! [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:26 AM PST - 23 comments

Seeking: an alarm clock that works like my Android alarm app but isn't my Android alarm app. My app has a nifty feature where, before an alarm goes off, you can set it to "don't go off - but only for today," and then it smartly resets itself to skip the upcoming alarm but go off at the next scheduled time, so I don't have to remember to come back later and turn the alarm back on. I want a physical alarm clock that has that same feature. Fussy requirements within. [more inside]
posted by Stacey at 5:43 AM PST - 6 comments

School is hard, especially for kids who are different. Where's the highest-leverage place to make it better? Professional opinions preferred. [more inside]
posted by eirias at 5:25 AM PST - 6 comments

Should I sign and return my COBRA form Today? Special snowflake details inside ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:25 AM PST - 4 comments

My wife just left her job of nearly 20 years in the food service industry. She is taking the summer off with a plan to return to some type of work full time in September. We plan to travel extensively over the next several years and are hoping she finds a line of work with easy flexibility to come and go. Is substitute teaching a good path? [more inside]
posted by halfsorry at 5:20 AM PST - 7 comments

Hello, we will be hosting a small family from Ukraine at our home in England. We would like to give them some gifts when they arrive but we're struggling to know what sort of toys to get as we don't have children ourselves. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 3:13 AM PST - 17 comments

Thinking seriously of relocating to my country of origin to support elderly family. I have many questions and need a plan. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 11:01 PM PST - 5 comments

One of my father's close friends just died. My father wants to go to their funeral. I want to support my father, but reduce his risk. What are the things I could focus on that will have the most effect? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 10:20 PM PST - 15 comments

This show had a bit where a driverless car would go to places (via voice commands?) I think it also had a bit where segments were presented in "Muskvision." I swear this was Amy Sedaris's show, but my wife has no recollection of this and Google also seems to be coming up dry. What was the show?
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 8:21 PM PST - 2 comments

My summer playlist is stuck in 2012. Give me your favorite twangy and jizjazzy guitar-centric surf-adjacent jams that are up-to-date, maybe west/best coast but maybe not. [more inside]
posted by credulous at 7:04 PM PST - 12 comments

Can you recommend two books that complement each other in striking ways when read at the same time, or one right after the other? I'm not so much thinking of books that refer or respond to each other explicitly, but rather books that have thematic or structural connections, such that your understanding of each is enriched by having read the other around the same time. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 6:54 PM PST - 35 comments

Inspired by this FPP and my extra-leanings towards socialism of late, can you recommend the best Eugene Debs biography? [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 5:40 PM PST - 2 comments

I am on day 10 post positive Covid result, seem to be going backwards in my recovery and seem to be developing new symptoms including sudden loss of smell. [more inside]
posted by arha at 4:57 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a 1994 Miata that I bought new, have put 82K miles on, and still drive. But the wipers squeak something awful! I've got new blades in the wipers, had the wiper motors serviced, and the squeak continues so I assume the 28 year old windshield is the culprit. Short of never driving in the rain or replacing the windshield, is there anything I can do to help? A coating perhaps? Something?
posted by DrGail at 4:11 PM PST - 9 comments

It's not like he was wrong, but he could have said it nicer. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 2:52 PM PST - 41 comments

My husband had a neurological injury a year ago and is physically disabled. Recovery is slow, but it hasn't stopped. I would like to hear stories of people with neurological injuries whose recovery was long/slow, but relatively successful. I'm interested in your stories, articles, and books. Less interested in movies/video, though short videos are better than movie or series length. [more inside]
posted by gideonfrog at 2:37 PM PST - 14 comments

Looking for recommendations for social media accounts of women who work in set/production design! [more inside]
posted by moons in june at 2:14 PM PST - 3 comments

This is about transitioning from an office-bound social work job to private practice, but I think the actual question is just about transitioning from 9 to 5 employment to freelance, and the timing of taking the plunge. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 2:13 PM PST - 8 comments

I keep hearing podcasts push their Patreon subscriptions where they have ad free versions. I hate ads and would like to throw five bucks to people! But I also only listen to podcasts through my phone, never through a computer. I haven’t been able to turn up an answer about how listening to a podcast through Patreon works if you are using a phone. Can anyone shed some light on this?
posted by Bottlecap at 1:22 PM PST - 10 comments

For the past few months I've been very preoccupied with the dream of going back to a specific period of my childhood to restart my life and do it differently using the knowledge I have now. A lot of the wishing has to do with my appearance, who I chose to be friends with, and what I pursued during middle and high school. The degree to which I daydream about this (especially before bed) is disrupting my happiness. Can you suggest ways to process these feelings so I can live in the present again?
posted by The Adventure Begins at 12:54 PM PST - 15 comments

Heading over in October and would like to stay pretty centrally on Manhattan. The mrs is really into hotels, I am open to other alternatives. Own bathroom a must, walkup a no-go due to lack of fitness. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 12:41 PM PST - 20 comments

I seem to remember a story told to me by a music teacher growing up, that a guest conductor for a large orchestra (we lived in Cleveland) is given complete authority over the orchestra during rehearsals and performances, to the point that they can even fire players if they deem it appropriate. I remember she told me that a guest conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra had fired two players during a rehearsal, and the players were quietly re-hired after the guest conductor was gone. Is that possible? [more inside]
posted by ToucanDoug at 11:53 AM PST - 5 comments

After my most recent awful work experience, I've taken the past few months "off" from job searching completely. I'm not independently wealthy, so while my hiatus from work has been fun, it's time to look for a job. I need to figure out a way "out" of this field. Based on my skills, etc. what other fields should I be seriously looking into? Also, how do I change my "librarian resume" to one that's better for other fields? How do I properly sell my transferable skills. [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 11:53 AM PST - 18 comments

As per my previous posts, I do have a childhood/young adulthood history of physical, emotional & financial abuse in the family so I'm aware that I am a bit traumatised, I've got anxiety and depression as a result. I wanted to get any thoughts from you all or if you could share your experiences around dissociating as I want to get a sense if anyone can relate to what I'm describing? [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 11:46 AM PST - 12 comments

I have recently (about a month ago) broken up with my platonic partner (both women, both around 30). I am an anxious person in general (in therapy, on meds). She was and continues to be a... not great communicator, and avoidant. I am happier out of her life than in it, but cannot avoid her entirely, due to being part of the same friend group, and I keep getting drawn back into trying to figure her out like I did when I was in a relationship with her. Help me... not? [more inside]
posted by bridgebury at 11:13 AM PST - 14 comments

What's a website that will capture the steps I'm performing, automatically take screenshots and capture where I'm clicking, then create documentation from that? [more inside]
posted by Pacrand at 10:26 AM PST - 6 comments

This is a shot in the dark, but Spotify recommended an album to me a while ago that I wanted to listen to again but I can't find it. [more inside]
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 10:17 AM PST - 8 comments

The ceiling exhaust fan saga has been fixed, it seems. Only issue left is, my bathroom still has this odd, lingering smell; I want that eliminated. How? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 9:29 AM PST - 21 comments

I have just inherited two large collections. One is a collection of ancient coins. The other is a collection of Magic: The Gathering cards. I need to figure out the best way to sell these (and/or to prep them for sale). [more inside]
posted by jdroth at 9:27 AM PST - 12 comments

I am looking for a place to donate some pet supplies: 1. unopened canned cat food 2. unopened cat litter and additionally, if possible - pet gates (1 open and 1 still in its box), food bowls and scratching posts. [more inside]
posted by Julnyes at 9:07 AM PST - 11 comments

I have got my hands on some maple syrup jelly and being a Brit I have no idea what to do with it. I am open to suggestions for ways to eat it/recipes it can be used in. [more inside]
posted by Nufkin at 8:59 AM PST - 23 comments

I'd like a stylus for my Pixel 5, so that I can draw kanji in a lookup dictionary app. I know nothing about styluses, what to look for for this purpose, what an expected price would be, whether I could get one which doesn't require charging, or if I need one (like this) which says it's specifically for my Pixel 5. Can anyone advise on this please?
posted by my log does not judge at 7:59 AM PST - 2 comments

CocktailFilter: Is creme de menthe just just mint + simple syrup + vodka/ethanol? Is it worth the bother to make compared to just having a good mint syrup around to add to drinks? [more inside]
posted by skewed at 7:57 AM PST - 16 comments

So, I have developed what appears to be a “new” idea. At least, I cannot find its equivalent out there. I persuaded myself both that the idea is well-supported and that it is necessary for the world to know. Inheritance is an error in human economic systems, which will always poison any hope of a market-based meritocracy and instead create an inheritance-rigged oligarchy, like the present one. The briefest, quite incomplete, summary I can provide is: [more inside]
posted by Lazy Buffalo at 7:49 AM PST - 27 comments

My work requires that I collect PDF forms from clients and transfer the info off those forms onto a web based form and then click submit. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 7:00 AM PST - 12 comments

I was groped (briefly) by a bouncer when I went to a nightclub the other night. Police think there's little chance of a successful prosecution. Should I pursue it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:06 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm thinking of situation where someone tentatively commits to something, I ask them to confirm close to event, then don't hear back from them (I may or may not have remembered to say "please let me know by X..."). After my email asking for confirmation is not replied to, not sending anything else and just assuming the appt. is off comes across as a bit hard. Is it fine to just say "Haven't heard from you, so I'm assuming meeting Saturday's not going to work..." and then go ahead and make other plans?
posted by Jon44 at 5:56 AM PST - 10 comments

When visiting streaming sites on my android tv browser I get pop-ups. Since it’s a single window experience that means it loads a new page. Perhaps ten times. And then I back to the original page and get same. Repeat for like 5 rounds or until the page is satisfied. Makes me nuts. Is there an adblocking browser or adblocking extensions for the android tv please?
posted by Iteki at 9:21 PM PST - 4 comments

Besides China, what nations and/or cities/communities are either taking a more aggressive approach with COVID, or making efforts to create accessibility for people who can’t be indoors with other unmasked people? [more inside]
posted by hungrytiger at 9:02 PM PST - 5 comments

After nearly 7 years at my job I am moving on! I would like to say thank you and goodbye to my co-workers and also have some pictures I would like to give them. I’m debating between giving hand-written cards plus prints of the pictures vs. emails plus digital copies of the pictures. If your co-worker was leaving, which would you prefer? [more inside]
posted by sleepingwithcats at 8:30 PM PST - 19 comments

How do I stop imagining my ex-boyfriend moving on with a woman he once told me wanted to have a threesome with? [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 6:52 PM PST - 33 comments

I'm looking for smaller nonprofits challenging the book bans around the country. I know the ACLU and the CBLDF are out there; are there smaller, regional organizations where I can donate money? Thanks!
posted by pxe2000 at 6:02 PM PST - 4 comments

My houseguest wants to make soup. I pulled out an appropriate cooking vessel and declared it to be "the biggest kettle." My houseguest, after shooting me a confused look, declared that to be a fine pot, but in no way a kettle. To them, a kettle is exclusively a tea kettle with handle and spout. Indeed that is the first dictionary definition. My use of the term is the second definition. So we are wondering, is this a regional thing? [more inside]
posted by evilmomlady at 5:44 PM PST - 40 comments

The Internet recently informed me about three songs that share a similar guitar riff: "Life Goes On" by The Damned (1982), "Eighties" by Killing Joke (1984), and "Come As You Are" by Nirvana (1992). What are some other groups of three or more songs that feature a very similar melody/riff and may have inspired/been inspired by each other? I'm also interested in the same sort of thing for other forms of art (eg, film scenes or visual art), but the three or more requirement still stands.
posted by a feather in amber at 5:25 PM PST - 24 comments

When something goes horribly wrong, what do you call it? I'm after colloquial expressions for chaotic, disastrous, or poorly-run situations—in the style of the 'goat rodeo', 'clown show', clusterf*ck or trainwreck. I'm particularly interested in obscure, older, professionally- or industrially-specific, or very local (and non-English) phrases, and much less in the obscene ones.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:19 PM PST - 80 comments

I'm a college adjunct at a state school in California. To date, the system has been very cautious and proactive: we went online early in 2020, were given months of advance notice for late 2020 and early 2021, and the university has had vaccine & testing requirements. In 2021 and 2022, I've been teaching in classrooms with all students masked, and myself wearing an N95 (fit tested) mask. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:16 PM PST - 15 comments

I just got an invite to apply to a fellowship program. I've never gotten one before, and although, when I click on all of the links, it goes to the named journalism school, I don't know why or why now. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 5:15 PM PST - 4 comments

After twenty years here, an iris has bloomed. Now what? [more inside]
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 4:52 PM PST - 6 comments

I read this in the early 2000s, but it was a mass market paperback in a rental house, so could have been older. Main character (or one of them) is a doctor, I think? Maybe named Sam/Samantha? and finds an abandoned child she immediately feels very bonded to. She is weirded out when the girl starts drawing beach scenes that Sam remembers from her own childhood (including her own sand bucket?). [more inside]
posted by tan_coul at 4:24 PM PST - 4 comments

Can anybody recommend a therapist with particular experience in cult-related/high-demand group related things? Or abusive relationships? In Wisconsin, USA.
posted by zeek321 at 3:34 PM PST - 1 comment

What's the best way to withdraw an RMD from an account that has several sources? [more inside]
posted by rhizome at 3:10 PM PST - 7 comments

I've been listening to some lullaby versions of various songs and have noticed there are sometimes some interesting chord or note changes. For example, in a recording of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by Adelmar Borrego, at 0:25–0:28 there are a couple of extra notes added compared to how I usually think of the song. How do these notes relate to the rest of the melody? Is there a name for this? What makes it lullaby-y?
posted by grouse at 2:57 PM PST - 4 comments

In "Who Shot Mr. Burns," Mr. Burns refers to Homer as a "dunderpate." A few dictionaries define is as a foolish person but attribute it to a single work: The Dramatic Works of Colley Cibber, Esq. (London, 1777). I cannot find usage outside of that and even in that singular work it is a bit of an obscure reference appearing only on a few pages. In the television show it means a foolish person based on the context, but I cannot tell if it means that in the Colley Cibber passage as it is Shakespearean English mixed with French. So as something as well researched as the Simspons, did the writers make this up or is it a real world and my Google is failing me?
posted by geoff. at 2:45 PM PST - 14 comments

We have a new (to us) condo with old kitchen cupboards in it. They show a lot of visible wear on the finish and are also kind ugh to start with, so it would be nice to get them refinished. How? By who? This is in Vancouver, BC. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 1:20 PM PST - 14 comments

Who created the cover art for Miracle Legion's 1987 album "Surprise Surprise Surprise"? [more inside]
posted by dusty potato at 12:45 PM PST - 6 comments

The ceramic tile-on-tile strip on the outside edge of our bathtub came loose and I need to reattach the tile. What's the best way to do it? [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 12:35 PM PST - 4 comments

Today on a pop radio station I heard a woman interviewed about her playlist curation business. Her name was (some spelling of) Sammy Wiseman. One playlist mentioned had a name like Yellow as the Sunshine or a similar phrase that had a color and a noun. The DJ said Sammy was on TikTok.
posted by xo at 12:19 PM PST - 1 comment

A few months ago I found a comment somewhere (I think actually not on metafilter, bc i looked through my saves here) that lead me to a directory of independent agents that sell medical insurance. It wasn't trusted choice, I'm pretty sure, the site was pretty old school looking design wise and I want to say had a mostly blue-ish aesthetic/color scheme to it, and some pretty small font sizes.. I ultimately found a local broker who helped me with getting a medical plan through it who was quite good. At any rate - does any one by chance know what this national org/site might.. be? [more inside]
posted by elgee at 12:07 PM PST - 1 comment

A week ago I got signed out of all my online accounts, probably because I accidentally deleted cookies or some such. I've managed to get back into everything but Facebook, on which process I've hit nothing but brick walls. Can anyone help? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 11:45 AM PST - 9 comments

I've seen a number of media claims that use the Ivy League schools' admittance rates (a miniscule fraction of colleges) and maybe other highly ranked schools as evidence that college is harder to get into than it used to be. I don't really know if that includes all colleges, like a regular state school or a regional liberal arts school. But I've seen the headline "Its harder to get into college now than ever before." Is that true? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 11:40 AM PST - 24 comments

I noticed a curious pattern of marks left in the pollen on top of our trash bin the other morning. Here are a few photos. The second one has my hand in the photo for scale; they're pretty small. What could have made these marks? [more inside]
posted by radiomayonnaise at 10:03 AM PST - 9 comments

I host a small podcast and have an opportunity to do a live show at a bar. What equipment do I need to make this work? [more inside]
posted by griseus at 9:52 AM PST - 5 comments

My mother is starting in-home hospice due to her advanced cancer. How do we coordinate care with hospice given that there is no "primary" caregiver? Interested in any direct experience that could give us ideas. More details below. [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 9:17 AM PST - 13 comments

I have two cars that I need to turn into one larger car, I hate selling things, but I also would like to at least optimize how much we get for them. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 9:00 AM PST - 11 comments

How can I make presentations of a slide deck to a small group, when constraints specific to our organization make a projector/screen set-up unfeasible? [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 8:23 AM PST - 7 comments

Every time I make stuffed cabbage the cabbage leaf wrapper is too tough. What's your secret to tender stuffed cabbage? [more inside]
posted by carrioncomfort at 7:51 AM PST - 21 comments

Just finished watching She-Ra. Things I loved: it deals with intense and scary emotions without being grimdark and full of tedious psychopaths, it's got a rich and creative setting, problems have character-driven solutions, Friendship Saves the Day, lots of people are deeply fucked up but nobody is irredeemable. The thing where everyone's just casually kind of gay and genderweird didn't hurt. What next? It doesn't have to be soothing or cute, adult TV or movies are also fine, but I don't find a lot of adult media that scratches this itch. [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:14 AM PST - 52 comments

Is it worth pursuing pay? [more inside]
posted by charlen at 6:31 AM PST - 7 comments

How does one find a college summer sublet to rent, north of metro Boston (Lowell/Andover/Lawrence area)? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:20 AM PST - 10 comments

HVAC repairman broke a water line in my attic, causing damage to my home. They are paying for all repairs, but I still would like some additional compensation for our troubles. What's appropriate to ask for? [more inside]
posted by gnutron at 5:57 AM PST - 6 comments

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago but the world is changing fast and I would like to see if there are updates. I am planning a trip to Tbilisi next month for work and am concerned about what might happen with Russia. [more inside]
posted by little striped mule at 5:33 AM PST - 4 comments

I read an article that convinced me that annuities are a bad idea. I can't find it. Can you? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 4:49 AM PST - 4 comments

I've been in and out of therapy for much of my adult life, with great success. More recently I have been seeing the same therapist for almost 3 years. We met weekly for the first 2+ years, and then I started to dread the weekly visits and wanted some space. It's hard to explain, but it started feeling heavy and I didn't want to deal with it. She is psychodynamically oriented (and I tend to gravitate towards that myself). [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:55 AM PST - 9 comments

My spouse and I are planning on rewriting our wills. We don’t currently have great options for guardians looking after our children if we both die while they are young (immigrant and medical related issues detailed inside the post). Wondering what others do in this sort of circumstance. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:55 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm trying to help a family friend who is facing a life and financial crisis late in life: She is older (70+), and her husband just passed away unexpectedly, leaving her without a monthly income. Life insurance has left her a small nest egg (about $200K), and she owns her home, but social security is her only revenue. Her monthly budget is about $3,600. What should she do with her cash, and how else might she get income or reduce her costs? (more below....) [more inside]
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 12:54 AM PST - 24 comments

With the welcome news that Delta is going to start paying flight attendants for their work during the boarding process, the question arises of how they and all the other airlines have been getting away with wage theft all these years. It seems like a pretty clear cut case of requiring people to work unpaid time. Why haven’t they been sued to oblivion and beyond?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:59 PM PST - 7 comments

So I'm currently "exploring" my sexuality and identity. I've been a drag queen for awhile but started recently to dress and go out more casually as a "regular female"... I'm not quite at the stage yet to consider surgical intervention. I've been attempting to create the illusion of a realistic vagina and breasts (without the use of clothing) for awhile. It has been kind of a weird (but fun) journey, but I've been stuck recently and could use some creative ideas from makeup and/or special effects artists... [more inside]
posted by audio at 9:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for your favorite recipes that will help me enjoy the two heads of garlic I need to finish. The easiest, laziest recipes you have. [more inside]
posted by possibilityleft at 7:04 PM PST - 22 comments

Recommend me an alarm app for Android. Difficulty: it needs to slowly raise the volume and I need to be able to disable the next alarm without disabling the next days alarm. [more inside]
posted by Mitheral at 7:02 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there anything more I could be doing for my current ear infection? YANMD, but... AYAD? or NP/RN/PA/long-sufferer with ear infections with wisdom from your own personal experience and ENT? I've had tons of ear infections, but this is a doozy. Extra intensity because I'm holed up in a hotel, waiting for this gorram thing to retreat enough to let me fly home. Many cool, fun, but potentially gross snowflakes below. [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 6:34 PM PST - 16 comments

I spend my work day in a state of low-level harried irritation. While I look for another job, I'd like to cultivate a more detached relationship to work. [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 5:32 PM PST - 12 comments

I use Vivaldi (Chromium) for most of my browsing needs -- extensions from the Chrome Web Store. What extension is best* to prevent videos from automatically playing on page load? And are there sites or pages I can use to test these extensions? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 5:10 PM PST - 0 comments

What are your favorite songs that don't involve people? I want to hear more of them, in all genres. [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 4:48 PM PST - 35 comments

I just moved into a new apartment and I want more houseplants, but I'm not that experienced with them and the sun exposure thing is confusing. The plant stand I want to fill is in the living room with a double-wide balcony door that faces NE and the plant stand right up against it. There are no trees or buildings to shade the balcony but there's no direct sun that actually hits the window. I thought because it's a north-facing window it's automatically low light, but my plants are telling me otherwise. [more inside]
posted by 100kb at 3:19 PM PST - 17 comments

Looking for a song based on a memory of a fragment! It's a early-mid 80s disco song, I think. Part of the chorus is a female vocalist saying "Hey, Mr DJ, hear my prayer / I'm looking for the boy with the curly hair", or something to that effect. In my memory, "hair" might also be "head". I probably found it via James Hamilton's Disco Page. I'll happily listen to any suggestions!
posted by sagc at 3:15 PM PST - 2 comments

Please link me to the absolutely, positively, most up-to-date web site you know of with COVID travel advisory info, preferably domestic. Or - tell me if I'm being way too paranoid. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:05 PM PST - 27 comments

If an electrician had visible double-lightning-bolt tattoos, would you hire him? [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:35 PM PST - 47 comments

I'm currently sleeping on a 20+ year old regular pillow top mattress with a thick (4 year old) Costco memory foam topper. And I'm comfy but soooo hot. I'm researching what replacement mattress to invest in. Special "cooling mattress" versus just getting a squishy pillow top and ditching the memory foam. Have you been through this? [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 1:15 PM PST - 5 comments

I am shopping for a new window unit air conditioner for my 100+ year old home. I'd like it to be wifi-enabled, so that I can turn it on/off from my phone, but the units I have been looking at can only run on 4G networks and I have a 5G network. Can someone explain this to me, or am I misunderstanding something? [more inside]
posted by sarajane at 12:27 PM PST - 14 comments

My girls (ages 9 & 13) are with me about 1/3 of the time. So far I’ve been woefully slack about having them do chores, and I want to change that. But the task is daunting, to say the least. [more inside]
posted by El Curioso at 12:22 PM PST - 20 comments

Got myself a mechanical orange peeler which worked perfectly out of the box. Once. Since then about a quarter of the way through the orange rips in half. I've tried various blade depths, speeds, and regular unclogging of the cutter. Turning both ends of the orange in sync works a bit but is still finicky. Do I just have wimpy oranges? Any special tips would be much appreciated.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 12:02 PM PST - 6 comments

I am sick, and often am not able to concentrate enough to read. We have also been managing a sick pet. Please suggest lower-stakes, less-murdery, less-intense, less-loud, not-vet-related fictional TV shows that will work for me. What I've tried so far: Worked: Bridgerton S2. Didn't work: The Great, Peacemaker (usually love them but both are too loud and violent and angry rn). Considering: Leverage. [more inside]
posted by rednikki at 10:51 AM PST - 60 comments

Hi! I have baseboard steam radiators in my new place--it's a condo, so I am responsible for repairing them. I need to cap off the pipe pictured at this link: https://imgur.com/a/t8Ztpqx How can I find out what part to get, thereby avoiding a service call? Any ideas? A cursory search for radiator end caps and the like gets me the end piece to the radiator cover. Thank you for your help.
posted by 8603 at 10:48 AM PST - 4 comments

Please help me achieve cross-platform calendar-integration nirvana! A couple fussy little issues within. [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:31 AM PST - 2 comments

A college aged person in my life is struggling with issues of natural talent, effort and achievement. They are at the age where it is an existential question for them. They were deemed officially “not gifted” in middle school but went on to be ranked first in 7th and 8th grade, and was among a handful top students in high school. In college they have confirmed that they are indeed not naturally talented enough to major in a STEM field. This doesn’t really come as a a surprise since they already knew they weren’t “gifted.” [more inside]
posted by GliblyKronor at 10:21 AM PST - 38 comments

I saw a white speck tailing the wing of a plane at about 16:00, 26th April 2022 over Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK. What was it? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 10:20 AM PST - 2 comments

How can I use up lots of flour tortillas with lots of vegetables? I will be eating this cold. Burritos and enchiladas are obvious; a pizza melt worked okay. I'm thinking cabbage and mushrooms next. What other brilliant ideas and recipes have you got? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 9:53 AM PST - 27 comments

I am in a new job that is about 50% travel. This is the first time I've had this kind of arrangement, and while I know that it will take me a bit to come up with systems that work for me, I would like some best practice ideas from those who have been doing this for a while. Most online tips/tricks articles seem written for first-time business travelers, which I am not. I know to be consistent with hotel/airline to rack up points and get status. I know about packing cubes, keeping a separate set of toiletries that live in my luggage, and that checking a bag is something to be avoided at all costs. I am looking for advice that is a little meatier than that - I am looking for ideas on how to keep things organized,how to work efficiently, and how to take care of myself when I'm on the road half the time. [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 9:51 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm an artist and I'm reaching out to galleries I've identified where I feel my work would fit well. I got a response from one and I need some help parsing it. [more inside]
posted by millipede at 9:14 AM PST - 9 comments

My Visa statement shows a $525.00 charge to eBay on April 1. It was deducted on April 8. I have checked my eBay account and I made no such purchase. I am not out any money, but what happened? Is this part of a scam of some kind?
posted by uans at 9:05 AM PST - 3 comments

I just started doing Wordle. But every day I play, I get 1/1 100%. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 8:55 AM PST - 4 comments

I have an HP ENVY Photo 7855, maybe a year old. The cartridges are 1/3 full. It won't print anything except it does print the strips on a bank statement. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 8:50 AM PST - 8 comments

How are folks extinguishing candles on a birthday cake in a "living with COVID" world? [more inside]
posted by zamboni at 8:39 AM PST - 31 comments

I'm working on building up my coding skills, and have clicked with the style of 'Automate the Boring Stuff with Python' by Al Sweigart. Can you suggest similar resources for other programming languages? [more inside]
posted by threecheesetrees at 8:23 AM PST - 8 comments

Basically, I want to be able to follow someone and get a daily digest of their fully rendered tweets. Is this possible? [more inside]
posted by wooh at 7:40 AM PST - 3 comments

We live at a high elevation and the winds can be quite terrible, especially in recent years. I just noticed that the dry ground just to the west of one of the trees near our house is showing cracks after a recent windstorm. Our winds are predominately westerly. If this tree blows down, it will do major damage to our house. [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 7:29 AM PST - 6 comments

Is there a reputable USB wifi extender that will work with a modern Mac laptop? TP-Link models don't support recent versions of MacOS. Off-brand models appear to have serious security vulnerabilities. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:24 AM PST - 1 comment

As with ask versus guess culture, the trying hard versus not trying at all culture seem very much at odds. What are the unwritten rules and expectations of each culture? [more inside]
posted by GliblyKronor at 5:57 AM PST - 52 comments

I am having no luck googling this : Can a full round of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid be taken a second time if Covid is contracted again (not a relapse)? Is there an interval recommended between courses of this drug? Thanks very much if you can point me to a source on this issue.
posted by nantucket at 4:16 AM PST - 1 comment

I have a WACOM tablet that requires a plug in, USB connecting cable. But I wonder does technology exist that lets me plug a wireless fob-type transmitter into my tablet and a wireless receiver into my PC, like I do with my Logitech wireless keyboard, so that I no longer need the cable? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:57 AM PST - 3 comments

How do people walk/run for exercise on hard surfaces but still have dry feet, if the running shoes their feet tolerate are not waterproof? [more inside]
posted by Salamander at 1:29 AM PST - 23 comments

My parents are cool people who do interesting things... so why don't we talk about them? They seldom ask about me, and when I try to talk, I'm interrupted until I shut down. After a particularly awful last visit, I decided to make a list of talk topics. Only I'm struggling to think of things that aren't repeats I dread. Help! What other things could we talk about? What can I try to be more interesting/not get talked over/not give up when I am? How can I reframe my thoughts about the same stories so I'm not as bored? [more inside]
posted by unsettledink at 11:56 PM PST - 23 comments

His mom dropped him off at "crime" sites from her minivan. He was really excited about it. [more inside]
posted by bendy at 10:39 PM PST - 2 comments

Looking for a way to purify the water in my rental, but when the time comes to move, I can easily take the system with me. No, not Brita, Berkey and not Aquapur or anything that comes in a pitcher or gravity feed tank or container. Looking for a Reverse Osmosis system that hooks up to the water pipes but is also easily dismantled. Must be proven (!) to remove all toxins, chloride, pesticides, fluoride and heavy metals. Can work on any technology except for electricity.
posted by watercarrier at 9:38 PM PST - 2 comments

My apologies in advance if I'm using the wrong words or phrases; I'm an outsider, trying to help a kid. So, this sixteen-year-old kid is a close relative who was born & raised female but has talked obliquely about being trans. She's still using "she/her" and what she wants to start with right now is a way to bind her breasts. So, two questions: first, is there a "trans tape" that's made specifically for this? I don't know if standard athletic tape (for ankles and knees) would work. And second, all I know about for resources are PFLAG and Lambda Legal; where else should I be directing the kid and the parents?
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 9:35 PM PST - 9 comments

How difficult is it to get a job for an American company, as a Canadian? [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 8:03 PM PST - 3 comments

We have a puppy who is about 4 months old. Despite ample opportunities to do her business outside, she often still pees on training pads indoors. How do we get her to go solely outside and on our schedule, not hers? [more inside]
posted by 0xABADBABE at 5:25 PM PST - 18 comments

Please. Her parents need to sleep! Who can recommend a night nurse for a newborn baby in Oakland, CA? [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 5:20 PM PST - 4 comments

For years, every time we are walking around a lake or anywhere peaceful my wife says "I should get a hammock and just hang out here for a while sometime." I would very much like her to stop saying that and start doing it. I need to get her a hammock, is what I'm saying. [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 5:11 PM PST - 12 comments

Where can I buy ~1.25" x 3" asymmetric L brackets for anchoring bookcases to the wall like the ones that come with IKEA Billy bookcases (image). [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 5:02 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for smart/scholarly resources about the construction of single-family homes -- less about architectural styles and more about how trends in materials and construction techniques have changed over time. [more inside]
posted by attentionplease at 4:39 PM PST - 8 comments

I want to give a board game to my friends! They prefer games for 2 to 6 people that can be finished in 30 minutes to one hour tops. [more inside]
posted by plant or animal at 4:18 PM PST - 24 comments

I've recently been prescribed Wellbutrin by my new primary care provider, and I'm wondering if the instructions I've received are accurate or typical. [more inside]
posted by rustybullrake at 4:00 PM PST - 11 comments

Tomorrow, I’m going to the dealership to pick up a car that I ordered from the manufacturer. I've never bought a car before and I'm not familiar with the process. The salesman is super unhelpful and I’m unclear what I need to do in advance or bring to pick up the car. [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 3:25 PM PST - 8 comments

Long story short, my brother's legs have become immobilized in the last year. He is having a hard time sitting upright for long periods because of foot pain. He wears pads on his feet. He has pillows under his feet. He takes OTC pain medicine. But it's not enough and the pain drives him back to the recliner or to bed. Any ideas? Thank you.
posted by Stuka at 3:16 PM PST - 8 comments

What is this wood stand? I found it in a neighbors free pile. I think its for gardening/yard stuff, but my mom didn't recognize it after a lifetime of gardening.
posted by kittensofthenight at 3:02 PM PST - 7 comments

My son will be getting married in Chelsea in the fall. My brother wants to drive to NYC for the wedding (himself, sister-in-law, adult niece, and service dog). The hotel my son booked for the wedding has no parking (of course). Nearest parking is $60/day. Does my brother have any options? [more inside]
posted by gteffertz at 3:01 PM PST - 11 comments

Where can I get samphire (a.k.a. sea beans) in NYC?
posted by mustardayonnaise at 2:18 PM PST - 3 comments

Finally all traces of covid long hair are gone (let's hope case counts are at least intermittently low enough for me to keep going to the barber) and I need a new pomade. I have smelled certain ones and would like something that smells nice but not overpowering, see below. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 1:57 PM PST - 3 comments

Are expensive CO2 detectors really that much better for casual home users than the cheap "effective CO2" detectors? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:36 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm being asked for my rate by a small agency I've done one project for, which was a per-project quote. For the next project they want my hourly/half-day/full-day rate. I'm at a loss for what to tell them, because the answer is pretty situational. [more inside]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 1:31 PM PST - 15 comments

In an effort to live my values, looking for a snack/gift box that I can put together... details below! [more inside]
posted by something_witty at 12:56 PM PST - 6 comments

I bruised my ribs in a fall last week and have had exams, x-rays, and a CT done to rule out other damage. The bruised rib is right under my right breast so it’s inconvenient for mobility as well as quite painful. Doing OTC meds and ice. YANMD but if you’ve found relief for a bruised rib, I want to hear about it.
posted by mermaidcafe at 11:19 AM PST - 12 comments

My eldest daughter has been accepted to American University in Washington D.C., specifically to the School of International Service. I'm looking for people with experience at AU (or kids @ AU). What was your experience like there, and did you feel like it lived up to your expectations? [more inside]
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:14 AM PST - 4 comments

I’ve been tasked to find a prepaid SIM card with specific requirements and I need help. [more inside]
posted by lesser weasel at 10:48 AM PST - 8 comments

The house across from us is being rented through AirBnB. I would like to find out how much they charge and how to reserve that specific site. It would be great for when family comes to visit. But the Air BnB website does not allow address specific searches. Does anyone know a backdoor or other way to locate this information?
posted by charlesminus at 10:39 AM PST - 8 comments

Learning a second language (Spanish) as an adult. I'm taking a class and studying with flashcards, but I need to start having conversations in Spanish if I want to become proficient. However, my Spanish is really awful (I'm truly a beginner) and I'm absolutely petrified of using it to converse with native speakers. How do I get over my fears? [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 10:33 AM PST - 19 comments

How do we eliminate dog odors that only seem to show up when it's humid? [more inside]
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:06 AM PST - 6 comments

I live in the southeast US, where muggy nights are the norm for much of the year. We do have central air but don't turn it super low; overnight temps in the house tend to remain in the low 70s with the AC on. Our current "winter" comforter is too hot for spring and summer, but sleeping with just a sheet and a thin blanket always feels disappointing. What is a truly lightweight/cool duvet for someone like me? [more inside]
posted by bananana at 9:50 AM PST - 13 comments

I own a Toyota 4Runner, and the lock/unlock beep has the same pitch and cadence as nearly every current Toyota and Subaru car. Is it possible to swap just the beep mechanism to one with a different pitch? [more inside]
posted by Mister Fabulous at 9:17 AM PST - 9 comments

I am allowed to spend up to $3000 from work on a professional development activity. I have never had any training in graphic design at all, but would love to use this money for some beginner level graphic design training. I'm leaning towards doing some sort of online community college certificate. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 8:35 AM PST - 3 comments

Is there any software that will help you clean up and organize the files on your computer? I'm kind of a digital slob, and I'm wondering if there's a quick way to, for example, have all my movies moved to a movie folder?
posted by matkline at 7:11 AM PST - 9 comments

I'd like a list of every food, by which I mean mainly "ingredient" type foods: produce items, baked goods, sauces, spices, etc.. Think a detailed list of every food available in a supermarket. Google has been surprisingly useless.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:29 AM PST - 17 comments

What's going on with my lights this morning? [more inside]
posted by congen at 6:25 AM PST - 5 comments

People who are literate in Hangul: Can you recommend a good index fund explainer? [more inside]
posted by ignignokt at 6:02 AM PST - 5 comments

I have recurrent bouts of prostatitis, urethritis, and epididymitis. My doctor gave me a bunch of doxycycline, and I usually take 100mgs/twice a day for 2 weeks whenever I feel something coming on. It's worked well for me over this year. But, this time, I felt something coming on, and made the mistake of only finishing about half the usual course. I was fine for a few days, but then got hit with epididymitis. I immediately start taking the doxycycline again, but now I'm worried about resistance, especially because I'm allergic to all the other major antibiotics. Will I be okay? I know YANMD, but I'm in the USA and I can't afford to see one.
posted by anonymous at 3:44 AM PST - 5 comments

How does a prospective car purchaser in the Netherlands go about researching available vehicles? Researching pricing? Negotiating? Any other questions I should have asked related to purchasing a new vehicle? Bonus points if you have wisdom to share that compares and contrast with the car buying process in the US. [more inside]
posted by minedev at 2:38 AM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone know whether PPIs actually do meaningfully affect COVID outcomes, and if yes, stopping them after catching it will help? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 10:41 PM PST - 8 comments

I don't have a nonstick pan. How important is that, and how can I make up for it? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:35 PM PST - 28 comments

Recently, I moved from an office with thick old walls and heavy doors to an office that is flimsier and more prone to spreading sound. I'd like to listen to music without annoying people. But I'm finding that music carries a good distance down the hallway, even though the speaker is pointed away from the door. Any tips or tricks to keep sound confined without having the volume so low it's inaudible? [more inside]
posted by chimpsonfilm at 8:48 PM PST - 6 comments

Over a period of years, I've wrestled myself out of a liberal arts path into a math-and-logic-y career (software engineering). I know intellectually that I am smart enough to do this job, but on bad days I still feel like I'm weak at math and logic, and all of my hobbies involve liberal arts, community and culture. Are there games/puzzles I could add into my leisure rotation that would build math, reasoning and engineering skills? Bonus if they are not in front of a screen. [more inside]
posted by rogerroger at 7:11 PM PST - 32 comments

I need sandals. But I have sandal snowflakes. Come inside! [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 5:35 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm trying to juggle plant orders across several jobs by shifting cancelled orders (where a client cancels) to shortfalls in other jobs. I think the simplest way would be if I can select a group of rows in my Excel file and export it to a another Excel file where there's a shortfall. [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 5:21 PM PST - 9 comments

You come to a four-way intersection, but there is a barrier. Both streets are two-way. There is an elevated, planted barrier that compels traffic to turn on both sides of the barrier. [more inside]
posted by sugarbx19 at 3:50 PM PST - 20 comments

What are some good places to eat in DC, particularly food that I could not get here in Los Angeles? Bonus: a dessert place to brag about. [more inside]
posted by cuculine at 2:07 PM PST - 24 comments

Platitudinous friend-making strategies don’t seem to work for me. I’m 31, and besides my wife, I haven’t made a friend in more than a decade. [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 12:21 PM PST - 26 comments

I'm currently finishing up my undergraduate degree and am interested in pursuing a library graduate degree. Unfortunately, the graduate program I'm most interested in doesn't allow people to apply until they've already fully completed their undergraduate degree. I'm looking for ideas on what I should try to accomplish in the 17 months between graduating with my BA and earliest possible start date of this MLIS program. [more inside]
posted by dokodomo at 11:02 AM PST - 18 comments

When Gregory Alan Isakov sings many of his songs, it sounds to me like his voice is just floating out rather than being actively sung. Are there any other artists like this and does this style have a name or characterization? Thank you!
posted by ftm at 10:24 AM PST - 13 comments

My boss and a Director are using personal smart phones for personal use and business. We all want to get them out of this situation. Ideal inside: [more inside]
posted by CMcG at 10:00 AM PST - 11 comments

It's become clear that my being overwhelmed by figuring out food is doing damage to me and likely me son. Can someone just tell me what to cook? But someone who will A) Take my picking eating into account B) Not make me make fancy recipes all the time C) Consider that if I buy a big bag of X, I need to use more than a spoonful before it goes bad. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:09 AM PST - 26 comments

This Wikipedia entry for Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony contains an "Origin of the nickname" section, which I quote below. It states, "Thus the majestic nickname is also a humorous one." I've read and re-read the lead-up to that statement and I just don't get it. For one thing, why bring up "Phaët(h)on" at all? Hopefully someone can explain the joke. [more inside]
posted by mpark at 9:08 AM PST - 10 comments

I ordered sushi friday night. I put what I thought were just dynamite rolls (i.e. cooked) in the friday immediately on delivery. Turns out there were also salmon avocado rolls in there (raw salmon). It's now Sunday lunchtime. Can I eat the salmon rolls?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:21 AM PST - 6 comments

We have old friends visiting and wondering if I should be more social. [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 8:19 AM PST - 19 comments

Please share with me recipes for the easiest and best meatballs/koftas/rissoles/other similar food. [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 5:25 AM PST - 18 comments

I currently work in a stable, digital role for which I am underemployed and completely apathetic towards. I took the role for practical reasons as it gives me the necessary breathing room for me to work on my writing portfolio. However, over the last couple of months I have failed to maintain my writing practice, developed insomnia, and fallen into a spiral of complacency, guilt and worry. [more inside]
posted by foxmardou at 4:50 AM PST - 5 comments

Stomach bug just tore thru a friend's family. All but one had diarrhea and vomiting, one person even had a convulsive fainting spell. The last person to get it had all the same symptoms building up, massive nausea and tummy gurgles and moaning for hours, but they did lots of slow breathing and eventually fell asleep. 3 hours later they woke up with no symptoms, but worried. Is this a thing? How did they dispatch the virus without expelling like everybody else? Are they safe? Sorry if silly question.
posted by circular at 2:26 AM PST - 12 comments

UK based single mum, looking for ideas for single parent/mum friendly or single parent geared holidays or holiday homes. Going away to not run around so somewhere where there's warm swimming, good food and a bit of easy, local 'safe' life nearby or on tap... [more inside]
posted by tanktop at 12:42 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to watch this film with English subtitles. I have the film without subtitles, but do not mind purchasing it again if that's simpler. It was screened with English subtitles as part of an event (example), so the subtitles must exist somewhere. Am I just out of luck?
posted by i like crows very much at 9:01 PM PST - 2 comments

I am trying to replace a sink faucet. I have removed one lock nut, but the other I have now broken off the flanges that provide leverage on the nut, and cannot remove it with a basin wrench or vise grip. The space is tiny and cramped inside of a cabinet. Help!! [more inside]
posted by latkes at 8:24 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm suing a former writing client who used my name in authorized ways on their website. They didn't respond to my attorney's letter or remove uses of my name. The warrant hasn't been served yet. In the meantime, the website has an "account suspended" message. Guessing they took it offline over my case (I have screenshots) but there are a few other things it could be, including being busted by Viacom for using the MTV name. Is there any way to tell what's going on with the site suspension?
posted by mermaidcafe at 6:43 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for well made and stylish (i.e. not low-grade stainless steel) kitchen faucets, ideally two-handle. In Canada, but Canadian vendors are in the nice-to-have category, not essential. [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 6:43 PM PST - 2 comments

I remember reading somewhere about a service where you can hire someone (a specific person) to talk with you, and help you make decisions. This was not a personal coach or assistant, this was someone who specifically billed themselves as a "decision-making expert who will help you make decisions." It cost a lot of money, like $100/hour. Can anyone find what this service is? Or news articles about it?
posted by icosahedron at 5:17 PM PST - 2 comments

Imagine the case of a US-based company that has no business presence in the EU. And this company has a website that is clearly intended to sell goods and services to EU residents following the criteria of GDPR. According to the EU's rules, this company must comply with GDPR. But how would the EU enforce this? [more inside]
posted by ErikH2000 at 4:55 PM PST - 2 comments

My child had Covid 2 weeks ago and it seems to be flaring up again. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:54 PM PST - 11 comments

Can I bring two personal items on board? ie, can I count my backpack as a 'carry-on' and my purse as my 'personal item' from NY to Toronto? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 4:05 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a Nikon D40 with the following lenses from the 2007 era: Tamron AF 18-250 mm Di-II lens, and AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. If I upgrade to a newer Nikon DSLR body, can I continue to use those lenses? I've been out of the photography world for a couple of years so I don't know what the state of compatibility is like. Thank you!
posted by Transmissions From Vrillon at 3:28 PM PST - 3 comments

Family member is in a relationship with someone from another country whom he met online, and has met in person in her country since then. He is in the UK and she is from a poorer country (not in the EU). He wants her to visit him in the UK. She has asked him to give her £5K so that she is able to get a visa (I assume so she can show means of support whilst in the UK). This is raising red flags for the rest of us. Is this likely to be a scam? [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 3:20 PM PST - 24 comments

Turns out rolling on down to the local dealership is not going to work. What is? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:11 PM PST - 5 comments

Are there any meal prep services (i.e. get a box of ingredients + recipes e.g. Good Food Box, Chef's Plate, Hello Fresh) that let you pick your own sides? Delivery to Toronto/Canada.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:03 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm willing to go anywhere in London to buy a special-feeling, luxurious card for a special note to someone. Where should I go? [more inside]
posted by artisthatithaca at 12:57 PM PST - 9 comments

My new 11 month old puppy is super curious and chews on things that cause damage to the things, or potentially to her. I need a harness that can't be chewed through, and toys she can and will safely chew. [more inside]
posted by theora55 at 12:06 PM PST - 13 comments

Buying televisions is suddenly incredibly complicated. I'd like to get my elderly parents an easy to use TV for their bedroom, so not especially large (max 24"?). But... [more inside]
posted by srednivashtar at 11:00 AM PST - 7 comments

I have this clothing dryer from Siemens. I desperately want it to stop doing two things that it thinks is smart: [more inside]
posted by spisspisspis at 10:27 AM PST - 6 comments

Going through my partner's old HeroQuest figurines I spotted a couple of similar manufacture but clearly a different genre mixed in. They're black plastic with round slotted bases, and look like they're probably also by Games Workshop from the late 80s or early 90s. Help me identify what game or release these menacing fellows came from! [more inside]
posted by luftmensch at 8:49 AM PST - 7 comments

Are there some resources out there that can level-set me for front-end programming interviews? [more inside]
posted by SunSnork at 7:51 AM PST - 5 comments

Trying to remember a book I read as a kid. The main character was a girl, maybe 10 ish. I think she had a younger brother. As I recall the book centered around her finding her mother's behavior embarrassing. [more inside]
posted by klugarsh at 7:25 AM PST - 2 comments

We currently have a RING video doorbell (1st generation) and are wondering if we should upgrade it or switch to another brand. [more inside]
posted by clocksock at 7:17 AM PST - 5 comments

My cat likes to chase things but doesn't like to play with a laser pointer during the day (I think she can't see it that well with the daylight). I want to get her some sort of remote control car that she can chase around! [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 7:05 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm working on a story (well, not a story-story, but nevertheless a fictional thingamajig) in which my person is renovating (not restoring) a fairly grand Victorian mansion built in the U.S. at an undetermined point in the 1800s. I'd like it to be earlyish 19th century, but I can make it later if it makes more sense. I'm having trouble conceptualizing the space, though, particularly in terms of bedrooms. [more inside]
posted by taz at 6:30 AM PST - 17 comments

My palmar hyperhidrosis is nowhere near as bad as when I was a teenager. Back then my palms would be wet, even in situations where I wasn't consciously stressed or anxious. It caused me a lot of emotional pain and shame. I remember using a mouse and keyboard at school and leaving droplets of my sweat all over them, it was gross. Other girls during dance and physical activities wouldn't hold my hands, not in a cruel way and I can understand to be honest. If I held my hands in a fist, I'd feel droplets form. [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 1:03 AM PST - 12 comments

I have never been a good sleeper, and typically am both sleep resistant and wake throughout the night. I recently took hydroxizine for a couple months and it gave me real actual sleep for the first time in my life (including childhood). Unfortunately, it also gave me such bad gastroparesis that I had to stop taking it. Now I’m back to having a headache all the time and panicking about sleep. Please help me with what’s helped for your similar bad sleep? I am completely open to medications. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:58 PM PST - 26 comments

I have two tmobile sim cards with two different phone numbers. One of them works perfectly on my phone, but when I try to put in the other one (which is a newer version that says R15 on it) I get an error saying that my phone is incompatible with tmobile. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 9:14 PM PST - 4 comments

I would love to find more books (hardcopy) along the lines of Zebrowski's A History of the Circle. It explores way more than I thought and makes a nice desk reference for someone for whom math has always remained a mystery. With more books like this the mystery may open up. [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 8:50 PM PST - 22 comments

I was talking with someone raised Catholic whose children are now learning the catechism. Trying to answer the children's question, made her realize that she had real doubts about basic tenants like the virgin birth and the resurrection. I'm sure this must be a common experience - I would like to help her find some resources for how she can think about these questions as a Catholic. Or is it even possible to stay Catholic if a person decides they don't believe in some parts of the faith as expressed in the catechism? [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 6:09 PM PST - 20 comments

What creature is making this sound? [more inside]
posted by night kitchen at 5:58 PM PST - 3 comments

Can you recommend some good orgs that provide housing assistance, medical assistance and/or other forms of material aid to trans people? Bonus if the org concentrates on young people and/or seniors.
posted by hungrytiger at 5:36 PM PST - 12 comments

We'd like to set up an email list for the neighborhood. I'm only familiar with Google Groups for this. But I don't love hooking everyone into the Google ecosystem, and Google has a habit of killing good things so who knows if it will go away. What alternatives should I look into? (We will never, ever use a Facebook group so that's out)
posted by Tehhund at 5:05 PM PST - 15 comments

In this era it is nice to have access to open-air spaces while traveling! Tell me about the ones you know about. What airports (anywhere!) have some kind of outdoor area accessible to passengers after going through security? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 4:39 PM PST - 24 comments

I first tested positive for COVID-19 on a lateral flow test three weeks ago, followed by a series of intermittent positive and negative test results. More than a week after my last positive test result, I tested positive again. I do not understand what’s happening. [more inside]
posted by kyten at 3:15 PM PST - 12 comments

What is the best N95 or KN95 mask for people who wear glasses? Difficulty level: I cannot wear earloops and do not have time or inclination to futz around with earloop extender doohickeys. [more inside]
posted by creepygirl at 2:28 PM PST - 26 comments

I'm not talking about changing it after the fact. I'm in the creation stages and it will not let me drop down a preference. It's as if nothing happens when I click [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 2:08 PM PST - 6 comments

I want to make a playlist of powerful angsty songs about the difficulty of existence that also display a resilience [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 1:52 PM PST - 33 comments

I am looking for frames for multiple id cards, for display. I am having trouble finding the right search terminology or useful frames. [more inside]
posted by hepta at 1:14 PM PST - 8 comments

I worry a lot about my family. Seeking advice from others who have been in the same boat but have learned to manage this anxiety. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 12:57 PM PST - 7 comments

A friend of mine is getting married in November and I've been asked to walk their large, exuberant dog down the aisle. Yay! But! I have noodles for arms and no dog of my own to practice with. Aside from volunteering to walk shelter dogs, what kinds of exercises can I do to get myself ready for the big day?
posted by Recliner of Rage at 12:45 PM PST - 10 comments

In search of the perfect international beach destination that is EASY to help relax after an insane few months. More below the fold. [more inside]
posted by something_witty at 11:27 AM PST - 10 comments

I need to buy someone a gift basket as a thank you for a business thing. The only thing I know about their tastes is that they like coffee. Have you seen or received an outstanding coffee gift basket? Fair trade preferred.
posted by bq at 11:05 AM PST - 11 comments

I was gifted a Dansk 4-qt casserole (link inside for reference), and I don't quite know how to use it. What are some of your favorite uses/recipes for your Dansk pot? Assume no food restrictions, but my husband doesn't like onions. [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 10:44 AM PST - 8 comments

I finally realized I need to break up with my boyfriend due to differing life paths. Shortly after this realization, I injured myself in an accident that impairs my mobility pretty significantly, and will continue to do so for the next 2-3 months. We live together, and he has been an immense help in the immediate aftermath of my accident. Now that the initial shock is fading, I feel more and more conflicted about continuing to accept his help while also trying to disentangle my heart from our relationship. How can we proceed? [more inside]
posted by sock here, sock there at 9:23 AM PST - 10 comments

Covid Act Now has switched over to displaying data using the new, terrible, CDC community transmission guidelines. Is there any alternative daily updated information source that uses the old metric for low, medium, or high transmission? [more inside]
posted by shadygrove at 9:22 AM PST - 4 comments

I just realized the forever stamps I've been using are actually postcard stamps! But oddly I haven't gotten any return to sender pieces of mail. Could the post office have delivered my mail anyway? Seems unlikely... What do you all think/know about this? Thanks!
posted by bookworm4125 at 8:56 AM PST - 7 comments

I am behind, but starting to get serious about retirement planning. I'm not mathematically inclined but online calculators seem to be saying that EE-bonds would pay out more than an IRA? Is this right? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:42 AM PST - 12 comments

I am probably about to get an offer, but I have Feelings about changing jobs right now. I need help deciding if I'm just having some kind of "Stockholm Syndrome" with my current job, or if I'm being precipitate. Insight appreciated. I recognize this is a hugely first world problem to have. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:42 AM PST - 4 comments

I've recently started a volunteer position that requires being on-call overnight. I would like to be able to have a present "configuration" on my Android phone that mutes all notifications aside from calls and texts. However, I would also like the standard "bedtime" mode set by Digital Well-being (I think) to continue to operate when I'm not on-call. [more inside]
posted by hoyland at 8:40 AM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone recommend a therapist licensed in California who is experienced in ADHD, Autism in adult women, burnout, and trauma? I'm especially interested in anyone knowledgeable in diagnosing Autism as it presents in adult women. Teletherapy highly preferred. Oakland area if in person is required.
posted by Nickel at 8:35 AM PST - 1 comment

I have a new laptop that appears to have a fairly obscure charging port design (neither of the 2 universal adapters I tried worked), but it does have a USB-C port that it appears to charge through when I tested it briefly. In looking for a USB-C charger to use as a spare, it seems like they all list a wide range of compatible computers, but none list my model. Is that just SEO stuff, or do I need to look for certain characteristics in a USB-C charger? [more inside]
posted by Rock Steady at 8:19 AM PST - 8 comments

What are some relatively Covid-safe activities my friend and I can enjoy together tomorrow in London? [more inside]
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 7:48 AM PST - 4 comments

I got an email today from [popular tax prep company] thanking me for filing an extension. I did not file an extension; my taxes have been filed for weeks now, long since accepted, refund long since paid out. I attempted to contact [popular tax prep company] but their chat thing failed. Do I need to pursue this to the ends of the identity-theft Earth or is this more likely just an email glitch? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:30 AM PST - 5 comments

Cats are peeing and pooping in my garden. The pee I'm not too worried about. The poop is a big nope. In the process, these furballs are digging up my precious plant children (who I want to eventually consume). How can I protect my garden? [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:22 AM PST - 16 comments

Also, do you want or would you like? Just trying to decide the best way to ask for something. Please help me because I've been overthinking this for some time.
posted by h00py at 6:11 AM PST - 21 comments

I have an Ariens Compact 24” snowblower and have changed its oil, drained its gas tank, and changed spark plugs at the end of each season. Is there anything I need my local service shop to do to keep it in good shape, or is what I do sufficient? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:48 AM PST - 3 comments

I thought I'd be original, so I've decided to become depressed. Can you help me get through just this next week, until I can talk to a counselor? [more inside]
posted by toucan at 4:53 AM PST - 14 comments

I overdid it with singing the other day (I think it was 8 hours more or less straight), do have some strain. What are good practices to help with recovery? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:38 PM PST - 4 comments

What's up with USPS priority mail? [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 6:19 PM PST - 4 comments

It is very likely I will see my ex best friend who now hates me at a memorial for a mutual friend this summer. Even though it's months away, I am having nightmares and am terrified of seeing them. However, there is no way I am not attending the memorial, and I would not want or expect Ex-Friend to sit it out either just because we don't want to see each other. Can you help me survive the lead up and the event itself? [more inside]
posted by GingerWhinger at 5:10 PM PST - 29 comments

Gardners of AskMe: what is the best way to plant 25 gladiola corms? [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 4:24 PM PST - 2 comments

Western popular media often filters out facets of cultures that don't reflect our own. Does anyone know good resources for being exposed to a wide variety of the differing facets other cultures have evolved/retained in their unique environments? Things like castes in India, ideograms in Chinese writing, arranged marriage in a variety of cultures. [more inside]
posted by commander_fancypants at 3:33 PM PST - 15 comments

I have a bag of pre-made caesar salad - mostly romaine lettuce, chopped in 1/2 inch pieces. It's a bit wilted, not to the point of sliminess but noticeably a little soft. Can it be saved?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 3:32 PM PST - 8 comments

I've been using dreamhost for over 20 years as a hosting service so I have personalized email. I'm up against my storage limits and would like to download attachments and delete them from the server while keeping the mail. I'm OK with keeping the mail offline if necessary but I have no idea how to do this effectively as the host doesn't allow for smart mailboxes online. I can only do those locally. Perhaps I should create a smart mailbox locally, then drag those files into a sever based folder then archive the whole mailbox? Any better suggestions? Thanks.
posted by captainscared at 3:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm going to be spending part of May in Europe and plan to hit up Efteling and Europa-Park while I'm there. It's easy to find information on the rides, but harder to figure out what the can't-miss food options are. So if anyone has personal experience - what are the must-do food options at those parks?
posted by LSK at 3:10 PM PST - 3 comments

We are staying in Marblehead, MA in early June in close proximity to Salem. What are the coolest things to do or see? [more inside]
posted by marvelousmellitus at 2:45 PM PST - 8 comments

I know a lot of Python. I've used it for data related things and I know it's big in Finance. I also know that these sorts of python related jobs often involve the use of performance heavy languages like C++. I've been wanting to move to finance and for some reason or another most of my experience is in python. If I wanted to make inroads into such jobs, ideally what should I look for and what should I learn/know?
posted by Tarsonis10 at 2:45 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for some day hikes (7 miles tops) in Washington State that are within a few hours drive of Seattle and likely to be relatively empty in early June. I'll probably want to get a hotel somewhere in the area and do a different hike every day for three or four days. Suggestions?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 2:38 PM PST - 5 comments

We'd like to take a trip of about 1000 miles this summer. Is an RV right for us? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:31 PM PST - 11 comments

Is this normal? I am selling a rental property and the buyer's mortgage broker has requested our tax returns. If it matters, the mortgage will be for about a fifth of the value of the building and the rents are about 1/2 of the going rents in my city.
posted by InkaLomax at 2:19 PM PST - 2 comments

What are some good resources for handling difficult participants and group dynamics in a meet-up group that is open to the public? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:01 PM PST - 10 comments

I am away from home dealing with a family situation, but the superintendent of my building just sent me a photo of some truly awful graffiti that was painted on my apartment door. I have made an online report to the police back home, but is there anything else I should be doing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:01 PM PST - 11 comments

We're just a little past the 101st anniversary of the killing of Talaat Pasha, architect of the Armenian genocide. So here's the ethical question: at what point in the process of genocide or democide does the individual gain an ethical imperative to kill or take violent action, if ever? At what point in the forecast of probabilities does such a behavior become acceptable? [more inside]
posted by LeRoienJaune at 11:54 AM PST - 13 comments

What kind of glue is strong enough to fix this faucet handle? It broke off right where it connects to the metal orb. I glued it with gorilla glue but it fell off again after a month. [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 10:54 AM PST - 9 comments

What is this piece of playground equipment and how do you play with it? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 10:29 AM PST - 16 comments

I am looking for podcasts about art, science, history, philosophy and politics created by folks who understand the world in political terms, and see the world through liberatory, left and radical lenses. Let's say leftist intellectual podcasts. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 10:00 AM PST - 24 comments

The carob spirulina bites at Earthfare are amazing. I want to make them at home. Do you have a recipe? [more inside]
posted by mr_bovis at 9:47 AM PST - 1 comment

Anyone who has had to read data know that it's default behaviour is extremely obnoxious. It tries to convert everything into what it thinks the user might want, destroying information in the process. But... why? [more inside]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 8:45 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm looking for a good guide or set of practices to migrate from a windows 10 homebuilt machine to a windows 11 prebuilt machine by HP, both for continuity of information and to nuke the bloatware on the prebuilt machine from orbit. [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 8:45 AM PST - 2 comments

I play Wordle on the Safari browser on my iPhone. It thinks it’s still yesterday - how can I fix this without losing my stats? [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:43 AM PST - 6 comments

You helped me find the perfect shaker bottle: now can you help me find the perfect water bottle? I am picky about the lid. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:54 AM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to paint our front door, and I have a few novice questions. It's a french door, and the biggest question I have is what happens if I remove the screws that attach the plastic grids around the glass. [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 7:36 AM PST - 4 comments

Have any of the talented, kind, and -- let's face it -- atypically good-looking people of AskMe been successful placing their original music in films or tv shows? [more inside]
posted by troywestfield at 7:26 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm hoping to follow accounts that post: interesting things, beautiful things, curious things. [more inside]
posted by sciencegeek at 6:57 AM PST - 16 comments

I broke the handle of this mug (photo) so I'm thinking of smashing it to use the bits for a mosaic or something. Is there anything I can do to encourage it to break along controlled lines to try to get exactly one donut per shard? Is it safe to score or fully cut it with a bandsaw or hacksaw?
posted by moonmilk at 6:44 AM PST - 10 comments

I'd love to know about the stuff you keep in your pockets. [more inside]
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:19 AM PST - 54 comments

I fell on a slippery tidal pool five weeks ago and cut approximately 2x2" of my knee up. The wound has since healed and what's left is what I'd assume is early scarring though it does have sensitivity to pressure, too, so maybe still late-stage bruising as well? Sometimes now when I look at my knee, it is very close to my normal skin color. Other times, it's quite a bit darker. There's not necessarily a pattern I've noticed as to why. I'm not worried about it, just curious about the scientific explanation. [more inside]
posted by vegartanipla at 1:15 AM PST - 2 comments

I've been in software development, working for consulting companies, for close to 15 years now. I've been a "technical architect" or "technical lead" for probably 8-9 of those years. I'm burnt out and frustrated with the consulting treadmill. I feel like I painted myself in a corner. Ideally I'd like to be something along the lines of VP of Engineering or Solutions Architect. Preferably at a product company, but I definitely don't want to do development at consulting. I could see myself developing on a small startup if that's even possible, but somewhere I have agency in my work. My perfect job description and work experience within. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 1:09 AM PST - 7 comments

The office of my now-former dentist is still trying to bill me for $1XXX more than what I was originally quoted for surgery. I've already paid what I was originally supposed to pay and have been trying to settle the remaining amount. Unfortunately I seem to have reached an impasse, and am trying to find the best way to resolve the matter (including possibly filing a complaint with the state dental board). [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 10:40 PM PST - 10 comments

I just read in the comments to an article on menopause that in Sweden you can buy estradiol tablets (like Vagifem, the little vaginally inserted estrogen tablets) over the counter for $2 each. As someone who pays closer to $25 each I find this infuriating and want some. How might I get someone to buy them there and mail them to me?
posted by HotToddy at 9:06 PM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone know of food relief orgs that donate actually nutritious food (vegetables, quality protein , whole grains, etc) to people? [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 8:33 PM PST - 15 comments

American here who, like many, had to put any traveling plans on hold for the past two-and-a-half years. Now this year, I'm taking off from work the weekend of Juneteenth (actually, that's a Sunday this year so I could leave as early as June 18th through the 25th). I've wanted for a while to travel to either Iceland or Ireland and could use some help choosing and planning. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 8:10 PM PST - 11 comments

I need help figuring out who can evaluate an existing retaining wall in Philadelphia. [more inside]
posted by rustcellar at 7:53 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a bunch of menstrual supplies (think 3-5 packages of pads of varying absorbencies, including the special post-childbirth ones), some opened (i.e. loose), some unopened. Where can I donate these either in-person in the SF Bay Area (South Bay) or by mail? I've heard in the past that domestic violence shelters will take them, but I'm having trouble finding any, let alone ones taking donations. [more inside]
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 7:36 PM PST - 9 comments

My elderly father is determined to stay alone in his home in rural Oregon. A neighbor has family phone numbers and a key, so our first response to not hearing from him doesn't have to be calling authorities for a wellness visit. The neighbor has asked us to give her some kind of form letter giving her permission to release him to paramedics in the event that she finds him unresponsive. Is this really needed? [more inside]
posted by peakcomm at 7:00 PM PST - 11 comments

Pre-covid I signed up to run a half-marathon, which then got cancelled due to covid. They are restarting it again this year, and I'd love to do it, but I can't train by running. Is there another way? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 6:16 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm working on an all-volunteer community project (tool library) and am looking for tips or resources on engaging volunteers, especially when everyone is a volunteer. [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 6:10 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to buy a Raspberry Pi, but they're sold out everywhere, and a lot of sellers are massively price gouging kits. I'm looking for a board (3b or 4b) but I'd buy a kit if it's priced fairly. Is it possible to find a Pi in stock? If not, is there a shop that that will let me buy one to be shipped when they receive it? [more inside]
posted by 2oh1 at 5:49 PM PST - 10 comments

I recently achieved a huge life milestone, one that I worked on for 20+ years, where a lot of people have been congratulating me and telling me I have to celebrate. I don't have any idea what that means and am looking for ways that you celebrate yourself, especially if you grew up in an environment where celebrating achievements was discouraged and where "fun" was not typically on the table. [more inside]
posted by twelve cent archie at 5:06 PM PST - 23 comments

The other day, I was in a rush and didn't put moisturizer on after swimming (did spend time in the sauna). I noticed that my skin had a feeling of being cleaner or more vibrant the next day. I've heard some people argue you shouldn't use hand moisturizer cause it clogs your pores--same true for overall body?
posted by Jon44 at 4:32 PM PST - 5 comments

My beloved Trek 720 bicycle, bought in 1994, has enough wrong with it at this point (along with weighing a ton) that I need to get a new bike. I am a 5'2"-tall woman who hates change. What bike should I get that is as similar as possible to my old Trek and also available in Canada? Bonus if it can take fenders (my Trek does not have them) and is compatible with "saddlebags". [more inside]
posted by heatherlogan at 4:06 PM PST - 18 comments

A multi-award winning comic book creator will be a live guest in about a week on a show I work on. It is held on Zoom/Youtube and in AltspaceVR, with audience participation. Where can I publicize this? [more inside]
posted by Sophont at 3:51 PM PST - 3 comments

I need to sell a piece of memorabilia from a local sports team. It has a printed (not wet signed) autograph from a sports player, plus a certificate of authenticity from the team. I'd like to search for similar listings so I can set a reasonable/achievable price, even if that price is "$0, leave it on a curb." [more inside]
posted by assenav at 3:20 PM PST - 1 comment

Just like everyone else it seems, I make (and recommend) Nigella Lawson's clementine cake around this time of year. At the bottom of the recipe, it gives a suggestion of how to make it with lemons instead. I tried it once and it was... not good. I'd like to try again. How do I do better? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 3:07 PM PST - 7 comments

I like to print map sets out of CalTopo/Gaia for wilderness trips. I've been sending these off to FedEx to print, but that's a hassle. I'm looking to buy a home printer to print these map sets -- but only if I can find one with some very specific features. Does this printer exist? [more inside]
posted by dorothy hawk at 3:01 PM PST - 8 comments

I aspire to make origami hashioki (chopstick rests) from chopstick wrappers. I am pretty darn clumsy when it comes to crafts, so I'd like to order a hundred or so empty restaurant-style chopstick sleeves to practice on before breaking this out on sushi night. Unsurprisingly, this is proving difficult. (Don't want to waste perfectly good chopsticks by buying pre-wrapped sticks.) Help, please? (I'm in the U.S.) Arigato gozaimasu!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:38 PM PST - 6 comments

You are not my lawyer or my tax accountant. My wife and I own a house occupied by her parents. We have no written lease and no intent to ever have to exercise the sort of provisions a lease covers. Nonetheless, they have been making regular payments to us monthly to defray the mortgage (their payments are well below market rate for a rental in our area). From a tax perspective, is this rental income, or a family gift? [more inside]
posted by jackbishop at 2:21 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm newly pregnant (yay!!!!!!). I also moved to Baltimore last year and don't have an OB up here. Do you have any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 1:48 PM PST - 0 comments

I want to speak to a financial planner or advisor to get answers to a few specific questions. What I know I want: someone who is fee-only, knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to. What I know I don't want: someone who requires an ongoing retainer, charges a percentage, or is going to talk down to me as a young woman. What I do not know: where to find this person. [more inside]
posted by Mender at 1:28 PM PST - 2 comments

As above! This is very very much an emergency
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 1:06 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm overwhelmed even though everything is going well. Appraisal purchased, inspection passed, etc. I'm super tense and stressed. What can I do to make this easier on myself? Any major issues to avoid? Gifts to my future self? Ways to reduce PITI while still having robust coverage, without getting a thousand robocalls from random internet quote people? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 12:41 PM PST - 3 comments

My kids want to go on the ultimate California road trip. They are 11 and 13. They are down to do whatever. Both are curious and adventurous. I can allocate 10 days to this trip ( It can be less ) and will fly from Austin to wherever to start. What is our itinerary? [more inside]
posted by jasondigitized at 12:02 PM PST - 14 comments

My friend and I have too much time on our hands. Help us kill some hours with Playstation multiplayer time wasters. [more inside]
posted by Diskeater at 11:52 AM PST - 4 comments

I don't have tiny hands, I don't have huge hands, but apparently, the hands I do have are not big enough to comfortably use an iPhone 13 Pro (not Max) one-handledly because I can't reach the top half of the screen. I know about Reachability, and I've turned on the AssistiveTouch "circle" menu, but it gets in the way of other things, and using double-back-tap is a hit-or-miss affair. What else can I try? [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 10:58 AM PST - 14 comments

We'll be spending ten days in St. George to visit my in-laws, and we need some activities to do in the evenings and weekends. Details on what we're looking for inside. [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a middle-aged man working a job far below my capabilities due to COVID layoffs. I was baptised Baptist last summer alongside my wife, and at the time I felt something that I attributed to something bigger than myself in the months prior, but its faded and doubt has clouded my heart. How did you find faith and how do you recommend someone find faith? [more inside]
posted by Draccy at 10:29 AM PST - 22 comments

At least twice a day I walk past a wet chemistry lab that appears to be working on tiny biological stuff. (I'm sure I'm describing that badly. But, they have test tubes full of liquid and posters about stuff inside cells on the wall.) Doing so reliably makes my bluetooth headphones crap out and often disconnect. It seems to happen at all times of day and night. Any clues what specific thing might be causing it? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 10:11 AM PST - 12 comments

I have just turned 40 and am trying to figure out how to best manage my bleak future prospects for personal solvency which are encased in a deeply stressful snowflake described below. The overall context here is that I've finally had to admit that I've been priced out of homeownership in any American city. Certainly not my actual community, where very modest houses are purchased for $900k in cash these days. [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 10:05 AM PST - 17 comments

I'd love to travel more, mostly to other countries, and I'm wondering how to find places that are affordable to stay as a solo traveler. I know how to buy flights (though if you have pro tips for that too I'd appreciate it) but as a single person who hasn't found that many travel buddies I want to be able to initiate travel myself. How do I find cheaper but reliable hotels or hostels? Any other trips for solo travel? [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 9:09 AM PST - 19 comments

We have a very smart cat. He needs toys. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 8:38 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm trying to find the brand name of some shirts from the late 1970s. These were from the disco era, I think. They were a shiny sort of material, with bold art prints on them. I think the brand name started with 'N' but I could be wrong. Sold in smaller shops in the mall, not large department stores?
posted by TimHare at 8:22 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm getting married! And having a proper wedding! Did not expect the last part but here we are (dreams of a city hall elopement dashed for now). Have some questions about design and flower ideas. [more inside]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 8:07 AM PST - 13 comments

Going on vacation there, never spent any time there before. [more inside]
posted by alsoran at 8:04 AM PST - 7 comments

I love tea, but cannot stand to drink any caffeine. This is a problem, because a lot of "decaffeinated" teas still have noticeable amounts of caffeine. Specifically, I'm looking for Chai, Earl Grey, and Oolong teas that have no caffeine at all. Does such a thing exist? If so, can you please recommend some brands to me? [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 7:46 AM PST - 24 comments

How can I safely help her to not get splinters from her crib? [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 7:09 AM PST - 6 comments

My niece (turning 6 soon) was recently gifted a Nintendo Switch, and I already have one. Which games can we play together long distance which will be easy enough for her to pick up with a bit of initial guidance. She currently loves playing animal crossing with some help from her dad - what is the level of interaction we can have if I get a copy of that as well? Any other suitable options?
posted by amerrydance at 5:08 AM PST - 10 comments

The customer service guy from my ISP told me that the phone and adapter would need to be plugged directly into the main router; I want to plug it into one of the points on the mesh network. It’s a Grandstream ATA, probably the HT801. [more inside]
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 3:34 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm struggling with how to formulate this question because there are so many details, but I'm hoping someone out there can help provide some insight or advice. This is regarding an elderly aunt who's been diagnosed with a form of dementia that will almost certainly kill her in the next 5-10 years, and lives in the state of California, and a financial advisor we suspect might be taking advantage of her. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:58 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm starting to enter the world of 1 percenters due to work travel/events. I don't know this culture and I'm generally very uncomfortable in it. It gives me a lot of social anxiety, especially when it comes to tipping. With this different level and type of service, I have no clue who to tip and when. [more inside]
posted by dede at 7:22 PM PST - 26 comments

So there was a movie/comedy sketch/thing where a character had a hand that was a TV? Possibly also had a bear? My kid really needs to know this. Please identify.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:17 PM PST - 2 comments

TurboTax told me that I'd owe a couple thousand more in taxes taking a standard deduction compared to an itemized one. The catch is that my itemized deductions add up to less than the standard deduction. How do I figure out TurboTax's calculation? [more inside]
posted by redlines at 5:49 PM PST - 4 comments

How do you cut cork? I have watched many videos, looked at many pictures, and read many articles about cutting cork, but I can't seem to get it right. [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 4:44 PM PST - 12 comments

My family and I will be moving from the US to Europe in a couple of months. I'm trying to understand the best way to deal with expensive electronics while we fly without having to remove many things from our bags while juggling a toddler. [more inside]
posted by taltalim at 4:41 PM PST - 13 comments

How do I kill unpleasant odors wafting off of my apartment's disused heater units? [more inside]
posted by kimota at 3:06 PM PST - 0 comments

I thought this question would be easily googleable; alas, here we are. I've got a pack of blackberries from Costco I bought a couple days ago and as I was preparing to wash them today, I notice at least half of them have white fuzz in the hole at the top, where the stem was. Are these okay to eat? I am pretty clear that we should not eat any food that's got white fuzz on the actual surface, but honestly if I hadn't looked closely at all the divots, I may not even have noticed it.
posted by massofintuition at 1:19 PM PST - 7 comments

I've primarily worked as a writer, but I have significant experience in the more niche field of trademark research. Specifically, I screened our clients' proposed trademarks to look for any possibility that they'd infringe on others'. Only trademarks, not patents or logos or copyright. I'm good at this job, but working for the big companies like Compumark was way too stressful and corporate. Aside from cold-calling every IP attorney, what are some other ways I could use this experience? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:49 PM PST - 5 comments

Is this a bedbug, or something else? [more inside]
posted by eggman at 12:09 PM PST - 3 comments

So, I've got three years of work experience. I don't really know what "senior" is supposed to mean in software. Sometimes people tell me I'm good at doing that because I can work on my own and can direct projects somewhat. I don't know if I still have the leadership skills though. I've led stuff but not like teams of five people or something like that. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 12:03 PM PST - 13 comments

My husband is an artist working with pastels and he is looking for a vacuum for the chalk dust. He is hoping to find something good in the $40 Canadian range.
posted by Tziv at 11:54 AM PST - 2 comments

My 7-year-old hound has bad dandruff. What's the best way to reduce or eliminate it? [more inside]
posted by PussKillian at 10:58 AM PST - 8 comments

I am looking for a mid-80s/early-90s,story in which archaeologists repeatedly enter, and die (psychically?) within, an alien ruin. Successive "restoration" from some kind of mind-backup, is causing them to change via a sort of analog generation loss. [more inside]
posted by aaroninsf at 10:49 AM PST - 10 comments

My boobs are much smaller than the fashion industry thinks they should be in relation to my stomach. Hence any suit top that fits in the stomach has soft cups that are way too big for my boobs, and make me look weird and feel uncomfortable. I would like to somehow alter the cups (not just cut them out) to make them better fit me. Suggestions on how to go about this? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah at 10:47 AM PST - 13 comments

Can anyone suggest software for a young adult (turning 18, graduating high school) to track paychecks, cash payments, bills, etc.? iPhone and MacOS; free preferred. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 10:28 AM PST - 14 comments

Does posting a photograph on Facebook give them any rights to use that photograph without your permission?
posted by Raybun at 10:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd prefer to use my own domains for my email addresses, especially in a professional context (e.g. on LinkedIn, applications, my resume, etc.). But they're cheap, cute, silly domains, and not related to my work, any sort of personal "brand" (shudder), let alone an actual business or public-facing website that I maintain. Think something like bananafrosting.com [not actually one of my domains], when what I do has nothing to do with bananas, cake, frosting, baking, or food. [more inside]
posted by pullayup at 10:04 AM PST - 16 comments

How can I turn my job interview dread into energy, motivation, and confidence? [more inside]
posted by rodneyaug at 9:22 AM PST - 9 comments

Goya did me dirty and changed their Pink Beans in Sauce recipe. I want to just make these beans myself. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by cakelite at 9:01 AM PST - 13 comments

I have just been tasked with finding the "supplies we need for the prep area of a clean room". I need to find this ASAP, but I don't know what to find. Where can I find a list of what those supplies might be? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:26 AM PST - 10 comments

Our state public schools and state government are a disheartening disaster (ranked in the bottom 2 states) and the source of daily depression and frustration. While my spouse believes in the mission and loves the work, the system is crushing them and they need a new career where their employer (the State) isn't actively trying to undermine their benefits, salary and programs. We are having a hard time coming up with ideas for a realistic career change and hope the hive mind can help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:23 AM PST - 12 comments

With the recent passing of a family member, I'm looking at preparing my own affairs. What I've been doing is various paperwork and scanning it in, so that there's digital and physical copies. What's the best way to store these files, both digitally and non-digitally, so that beneficiaries will have easy access to these files when the time comes? I'm most curious about digital ways of storing files. Do I do Dropbox or some other third party service? PDFs? I am based in the USA and so are the beneficiaries and that is unlikely to change.
posted by anonymous at 8:23 AM PST - 2 comments

How can I tell whether this white stuff inside our central air-conditioning air-handler is mold? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:47 AM PST - 2 comments

My trusty 1980s furnace is finally getting replaced after years of service with a combination heat and hot water boiler. The heating company I've chosen has given me three options from different manufacturers, and I'm finding myself at a loss for how to choose between them. Are there unbiased review sites for this sort of stuff? My point of contact is trustworthy, but the purchase is a hefty chunk of change and I want to do my own independent research in order to make a decision. [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 3:31 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm reading Ivanhoe and as a Jewish person I was surprised by the depiction of Rebecca as someone with secret healing techniques her people had passed down from Solomon. I'd never heard of anything like this in depictions of Jews, and wonder what the author's sources may have been for this idea. Is it something Scott just made up? [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 3:02 AM PST - 8 comments

Think stained glass, glass blowing, welding, leather craft, screen printing, etc. I already know about Lill Street, Penguin Foot, the Parks Department and Chicago School of Leather. Is Discovery Center legit? Have you taken anything rad?
posted by Charity Garfein at 6:43 PM PST - 11 comments

You are not my therapist; I have had therapists; they are not super useful in this case for Reasons I will explain. However, I am having suddenly crippling executive function symptomology and need to deal with it. What are some new coping methods I may not have tried that can address these issues? [more inside]
posted by corb at 6:30 PM PST - 38 comments

I am doing political interview of candidates for the 2022 election year. I need wall sized, full color maps of Oregon's House and Senate Districts after redistricting. Where can I get them?
posted by CollectiveMind at 5:11 PM PST - 2 comments

my husband (51m) and myself (51f) would like to take a 7-10 day vacation in august or september. [more inside]
posted by kiwi-epitome at 4:51 PM PST - 9 comments

Can you suggest some secular invocations for a government meeting that I can use in the coming months? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 3:56 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm in a freelance industry. I'm a member of several historically-excluded groups. Sometimes I'm a new person in an org, but in a position of relative power, and when that's the case, sometimes I have a chance to recommend other people for gigs. Sometimes it's hard for me to decide whether I should or not. Can you help me come up with a metric to make this task easier? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 3:38 PM PST - 6 comments

3x vaccinated, first time with covid, and kind of scared - what are the next best steps to take to support a good outcome? Thank you! [more inside]
posted by suviko at 3:32 PM PST - 25 comments

What skills would be interesting/useful to develop, given a very vivid imagination/memory/body awareness? And are there any guides for how to go about training those skills? Athletes frequently "practice" by imagining in great detail the sensations of correctly doing their sport, and this is quite effective. [more inside]
posted by danceswithlight at 3:24 PM PST - 9 comments

I've posted previously and extensively about my feelings of grief about having grown up in a religious and culturally conservative Muslim family and only finding the strength to move out at the extremely late age of 28. A few people accurately pointed out that my jealousy of my boyfriend's ex (see previous posts) is probably more to do with my grief around my lost potential and missed opportunities. [more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 3:00 PM PST - 53 comments

My local grocery sells packs of salmon fish trimmings. I don't believe they've removed the scales. What can these trimmings be used for? Recipes requested! If they require de-scaling, I'm probably going to pass because the trimmings are about an inch wide and a few inches long. (There's a lot in one pack and it'd be hard to descale by hand?)
posted by storybored at 1:25 PM PST - 15 comments

My father-in-law has generously offered to pay for a family reunion in Edinburgh in July. While he's footing the bill for the flights and accommodations in Edinburgh, we thought we would try to extend the trip on either end and wanted some advice about how to make this all work. [more inside]
posted by Missense Mutation at 1:09 PM PST - 6 comments

Hello! Long story short (see details below). I took a job that offered me less than what I should be paid. Fast forward, it has been a year, and I'm killing it. Through public records, I learned that my male colleagues/peers are making 15k+ more than me (I have an advanced degree and more experience). 15K is a lot of money to me. That is saving for retirement and paying student loans. I did some research and yes, Black women like me are often paid less. How do I even start the conversation with my boss? I have distorted thinking about money (grew up poor), so I'm afraid of coming off as ungrateful or greedy. However, I is my bosses' # 2, I should have a be compensated commensurate this this. Any advice is appreciated :) [more inside]
posted by Boyd at 12:37 PM PST - 16 comments

My spouse and I are delighted that our younger child will be attending college across the country. This will be a new experience for anyone in our immediate or extended family and friend circles. What do we need to know about having a child attend college on the other side of the country? [more inside]
posted by cheapskatebay at 11:41 AM PST - 31 comments

We need to buy a new toilet. We have to fit a specific gauge, so our options are limited, but we do have a choice between "comfort height" and regular height. I know a lot of people have Opinions about taller toilets (mostly negative, it seems). We went to a Home Depot to check things out and found that all of the toilets were basically mounted high up on the wall. Is there a showroom / place in NYC where we can test-sit more than one brand of toilet? Obviously only as a dry run.
posted by Mchelly at 10:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I currently get a lot of PTO, but I am tired of my boss, tired of being underpaid, and tired of working in fundraising. I have a job offer at a new company to be an executive director, which obviously pays a whole lot more and is 3 days remote/2 days in office, but has a pretty crumby PTO policy. They declined my request to increase PTO but I'm wondering if I can push back and if so, how much. [more inside]
posted by CookieNose at 10:23 AM PST - 20 comments

Help! I'm getting a new phone, switching to a new provider, and keeping my old number. What kind of information do I need, and how long with it take? Mid-April snowflakes within. [more inside]
posted by lhauser at 10:23 AM PST - 6 comments

We're having houseguests for the first time in... well, over 2 years. They'll stay for 2 nights and include 2 adults and 1 child (we also have a kid the same age so I'm prepared for that). I want to have at least some meals (2 breakfasts, 1 dinner, 1 lunch) at home, and I don't want to spend a lot of time cooking while they are here. What's a good game plan for doing the bulk of the preparation ahead of time? Recipes as well as general concepts would be very helpful. [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 10:19 AM PST - 15 comments

I am looking at this chart/graph of Covid deaths per 100,000 in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated people in New York City and there is something I don't understand: [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 9:44 AM PST - 6 comments

Is RealLifeLore a credible YouTube channel? Asking on behalf of a friend who wanted to know more about the channel because her pre-teen son is into it. Thanks.
posted by DavidNYC at 8:55 AM PST - 6 comments

I submitted my federal tax return online this morning, but it's not accepted yet by the IRS. Did I file on time? [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 8:28 AM PST - 8 comments

Does anyone have tips for safe and extended temperature play in delicate areas? My partner has some nerve damage and can only experience temperature in some key places. [more inside]
posted by zeek321 at 8:24 AM PST - 4 comments

A vendor we work with is having a virtual wine and cheese event, and mailed cheese to attendees. Cheese was delivered... sometime. It's fine... right? [more inside]
posted by BekahVee at 8:16 AM PST - 7 comments

So every time I fill my water bottle at work (adding ice, filling the bottle) I suddenly have to pee. Can I train myself not to do this? [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 8:05 AM PST - 9 comments

My late father-in-law was the archetypal privileged, middle-class, white, nothing-touches-me, arrogant and unseeing of anyone he deemed “beneath” him. Got the picture? We were talking about the Depression and how it hit my parents’ families hard, as it did *most* families. I asked about his experience as a kid. (He grew up in Chicago in the 1920s.) He said it affected his family not at all. !!!!! In another conversation he blasé-ly mentioned that he was in a fraternity in his Chicago public high school. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 7:49 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm trying to track down who might hold the copyright for some novels published in the 1930s in the US. The author died in 1991 and had no children. I assume his possessions went to his surviving partner (he was gay) but I believe the partner is also deceased at this point (partner had a common name and was referred to as a "friend" so is hard to trace.) The copyrights were definitely renewed and are still active. What's the next step in researching this myself? I don't want to pay someone to do it.
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:26 AM PST - 19 comments

I just read “ Censorship battles’ new frontier: Your public library” (WaPost) (archive). Subtitle is, “Conservatives are teaming with politicians to remove books and gut library boards.” What can I do to help fight this? [more inside]
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 5:40 AM PST - 10 comments

I’d like to buy a futon from somewhere that will deliver to State College. It should be sturdy enough to sleep on occasionally. The main local store Google points me to has a BBB rating that’s in the tank and appears not to have a showroom anymore. I think the closest IKEA is VeryExpensiveDelivery miles away. But this is a college town and presumably it is full of futons. Where do I shop?
posted by eirias at 5:15 AM PST - 3 comments

My Columbus Flavortown, Ohio-based sibling requested a cooking class for their upcoming birthday, so I’m looking for some recommendations. [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 4:49 AM PST - 4 comments

I would like links to well-researched and intelligent (opinion) articles on whether there is now, or likely to be soon, a risk of Russian invasion to countries along the Russian southern borders east of Ukraine, such as Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
posted by little striped mule at 2:52 AM PST - 2 comments

As soon as Russian aggression in Ukraine turned into invasion this year (NB I do not want to discuss definitions / politics / ideology here) I started planning to leave the country. I live in Lithuania and have kids. Although we feel safe here as part of the EU and NATO, I am very much aware that any type of armed conflict is not a good place for kids. As things progress, I don't feel much better. Help me get perspective and put plans in place, and know what signs to look for. I'm not panicking but want to cover all the basics.
posted by KMH at 12:25 AM PST - 9 comments

My partner and I shared an iCloud account for many years. Now I need to get my files out of our old shared account and onto my own computer. How? [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 8:27 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm feeling depressed after friend break-ups last year and a romantic break-up this year and I feel like I've failed my college social life completely, and now I'm feeling super anxious about life after graduation. more details inside. thank you for the advice. [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 7:15 PM PST - 21 comments

I am looking for podcasts focused on pre-modern poetry written in English (let's say early 1800s and before) in which the podcaster (a) reads the whole text well (!important) and (b) supplies either (1) context and background about the poet and their times and how the poem came to be written and what people thought of it or (2) a line-by-line analysis of what the poet was doing and why -- or both! Thanks for any suggestions!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 6:20 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a very old printer, Brother 1850-1870N, and a very new HP laptop. My efforts to get drivers for it have been unsuccessful, including having Windows 10 look for and download the drivers and there are none on the Brothers website, which unhelpfully says they are installed automatically. Brother is...unhelpful. Am I just out of luck?
posted by answergrape at 5:41 PM PST - 5 comments

Rap song (I think); heard about thirty seconds of it in a Youtube video. The refrain was something like "My x are ready, my y are ready, my z are ready", rapid-fire verbal delivery, where x, y, and z, were things like bros, squad, girls (but less polite language), etc. Ring a bell, anyone? Thanks.
posted by Bufo_periglenes at 4:50 PM PST - 2 comments

I am bad at asking for help. I need to be more comfortable asking for help at work. My partner also gets frustrated with me that I don't specifically ask for the help that would be actual helpful. Sometimes, even though it makes me feel uncomfortable, I do ask for help. Then I feel guilt and like a failure. Recommend me books or podcasts to help get over this hangup. [more inside]
posted by Kalmya at 4:38 PM PST - 11 comments

When I'm listening to music or watching things on YouTube on my iPhone or iPad (or via the device paired to the TV), whatever I'm listening to or watching gets paused when a notification from various apps comes in. I hate this. Is there a way to make this not happen? [more inside]
posted by Lexica at 4:06 PM PST - 7 comments

I recently re-reading a book I hadn't read in 20 years. I read a scene that I remembered vividly, but now understood in a completely different way. Have you had this experience? What had changed in the intervening time and what was your new understanding? (I'm not looking for 'First I liked it, but now I hate it.' or vice versa.) [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 2:54 PM PST - 88 comments

Here's the situation: small town government, dominated by corporation; wife of high-ranking corporate employee is on CIty Council and got herself appointed as its liaison to planning commission. Since then, decisions as to land use and development follow a pattern of favoring corporate agenda. [more inside]
posted by mmiddle at 2:47 PM PST - 5 comments

I'd like to buy a 2018 Prius prime from a private seller (because it's more affordable and I find most dealers shady). As far as I know most credit unions will only finance cars from a dealership. Is there a way to finance from a private seller? Cheers.
posted by maxexam at 2:29 PM PST - 11 comments

Just wondering who might be the subject of the song. [more inside]
posted by tractorfeed at 2:06 PM PST - 3 comments

A few years ago, I surprised my wife with a weekend getaway for her birthday. In the years since, pregnancies, newborns, and Covid have made it so that we couldn’t really go away. But now that our kids are both old enough to travel and the world has mostly reopened, I’d like to do it again this year. I’ve set my sights on the Brattleboro, Vermont area, and I’d like your inside info. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 1:26 PM PST - 6 comments

I run a store where new product is posted to the front of my site (as blog entries) every day at 7PM. Sometimes 3 items but sometimes as many as 8. Even though everything is set to post at 7, some don't show until 701 or 702 or 703, etc. Is there a way to have the posts all be there by 701? Note that this happens no matter how few items I want to post. [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 12:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I listen some to Radio Paradise's World/Eclectic mix, but I'm looking for other free, streaming, radio stations that exclusively play a curated mix of world music. I find lots of stations devoted to a particular country or style, but haven't found the kind of mix stations I'm looking for. I'm not interested in what I'll call 'fusion' world music, by which I mean traditional music of a culture that has been heavily interpreted to include pop influences, or heavy rhythms, etc.
posted by Jackson at 12:06 PM PST - 7 comments

People of New York City and environs: where do you go in the City for lighting? [more inside]
posted by holborne at 11:57 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm moving to the apartment of my dreams. However, since nothing in life is an unmixed blessing, there are a whole bunch of things to take care of, on a pretty tight deadline, and I'm turning to the Hive Mind for help/tips/tricks/inspo. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 11:37 AM PST - 11 comments

My wife and I met in college and fell in love instantly. We've been together for more than a decade, and married for a few years now, and we have a toddler. We've always worked as a great team together and never had any trust issues. We live comfortably but have never really talked about finances, mostly because it's never been an issue; we both do more than pretty well. If you were to look at us, you'd put us firmly in "lower-upper middle class" - we own our modest but nice 3 bedroom house, we have a couple of decent cars, etc. She files the taxes; I've always been happy to leave paperwork like that to her. Imagine my surprise, then, when I happened to read some statements she left on her desk, revealing that very shortly after we met, when her parents died, she inherited nearly $30 million. Am I unhappy with our life? Not at all. Do I think it's a little weird that she's not mentioned this at all, or had it influence our lives in any way? Yeah. How should I feel about this?
posted by anonymous at 11:25 AM PST - 100 comments

I remember reading a book back in the day (which could be anywhere from 5 to 20 years ago) about the president of the United States going to a conference and having an affair with the head of state of another country. Anyone help me locate the book?
posted by tafetta, darling! at 11:11 AM PST - 4 comments

Within the last week, we had a woodpecker decide our siding was more interesting than the two telephone poles she had been chilling on. Was grabbing on to a windowsill and going to town. Now a second one has showed up, who just grabs on the side of the house and has in a day or so, done a ton of damage. Any idea about how to get this pair to fuck off?
posted by Windopaene at 10:54 AM PST - 11 comments

Are you the kind of person who, when they take a long flight, take care to bring an assortment of pillows that will allow them to achieve long periods of uninterrupted sleep? If so which pillows are you using? Do you have links? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 10:53 AM PST - 5 comments

We recently moved to a rural area, in a development with about 12 homes. There's an apartment-style mailbox at the road with a package locker. Everyone else gets USPS packages delivered to their doors. We do not. FedEx and UPS do deliver to our door. Is there anything to be done? [more inside]
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:46 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm a late-20s bisexual woman who presents pretty butch/androgynous. I put a lot of effort into my appearance, but not in a traditionally feminine way -- I have a short men's haircut, wear minimal makeup (usually only foundation), and tend towards bold, androgynous clothing. Maybe a bit along the lines of Tilda Swinton, to give a celebrity example. I'm looking for stories of men attracted to women like me, to help build up my confidence in dating men. [more inside]
posted by mekily at 9:40 AM PST - 13 comments

Worried guy I’m dating is on the rebound as he was seeing someone for four months just before seeing me that he admits he was ‘falling for’. She has come up a handful of times and he still sounds annoyed, but says she was toxic and he’s glad it ended as he wouldn’t have met me. Im worried he has not had time to move on properly and is just using me, even though we have a lovely time together and he’s very keen. [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 7:48 AM PST - 22 comments

I found these vintage postcards (SL Twitter thread) in a London junk shop the other day. The one I'm particularly interested in here is the one showing three people posing in a car. The card was produced by Royal Photo Studio, 433 Sixth Avenue, NYC, and clearly taken against a painted studio backdrop. I'm trying to understand why this photo would have been taken and what use the customer had in mind for it. [more inside]
posted by Paul Slade at 4:10 AM PST - 15 comments

When I lived in China, I used to eat breakfast in a tiny cafe around the corner that served coffee, toast, boiled eggs and nothing else. They had a machine for boiling eggs. I would like this machine, or something similar. [more inside]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 1:22 AM PST - 11 comments

Our beloved cat, Ash, is 15 and has been blind for a couple of years. He had always been 100% with the litter box - never a problem at all - until he went blind. He knows where the box is, but if it's not immaculate, he will just poop on the floor. Please help! [more inside]
posted by getawaysticks at 10:57 PM PST - 12 comments

I am a big, beautiful woman of 62 years of age. I do not want to wear a bikini, or any other swimsuit that I see advertised. I want swim clothing that I can get into a swimming pool and swim around in, but is comfortable enough for my body that I can climb out of the pool without worrying it is going to fall off. [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 7:27 PM PST - 22 comments

I subscribe to the Atlantic and the Washington Post inter alia. A couple of weeks ago the Atlantic started serving me up captcha pictures when I try to log on. Today, the Washington Post started doing that too. I use Chrome, but I don't think it's a browser issue because I get the same with Opera. I still get it after clearing my cache. What's going on? Why such a weird layer of additional sludge clogging up access to websites I pay good money to view?
posted by mono blanco at 6:09 PM PST - 7 comments

I caught COVID last week. I have a job interview next week. For those who have gotten COVID recently, how long did it take you to recover? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 3:35 PM PST - 13 comments

I’m impatiently waiting for the next episode of Apple TV’s Slow Horses and am wondering if there are similar things that I could watch until then. Preferences listed inside. [more inside]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:13 PM PST - 31 comments

What's the most simple/efficient way of digitizing old family photos from slides? I've done a bit of searching online and the process seems daunting (I found a video that involved a digital camera and a empty paper towel tube and quit researching!). What's the best way to go about this? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 3:07 PM PST - 7 comments

Help me find the thing? I must be doing something wrong. I have 29 digital photos. I want to have them printed as a horizontally oriented collage poster. This poster would be a grid, with all same size photos. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:31 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for songs that rock hard, but are also unhurried. Examples: Ball and Biscuit by the White Stripes, Naked and Famous by Presidents of the United States of America, and Tomorrow by Silverchair. [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 1:49 PM PST - 29 comments

This job is a great professional opportunity and I started only a few months ago, so I'd like to stay. But I am overwhelmed by my immense workload. And meanwhile, a beloved, senior member of the company who is totally unqualified for my job is nevertheless gunning for my job. The stress is getting to me. Do I need to look for a job elsewhere? [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 1:19 PM PST - 9 comments

I am a late-millenial who grew up in Vancouver BC, recognized around the world for unaffordable housing even when I was a child. I've worked really hard and made a lot of sacrifices to my short-term happiness to try and accumulate enough money to buy a place of my own, but it might just not be enough and might never be. How can I gain some perspective and snap out of my FOMO despair? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:07 PM PST - 21 comments

I am looking for a device for a technologically-challenged person in their 80s who recently became unable to read due to low vision. [more inside]
posted by plant or animal at 11:46 AM PST - 13 comments

I don't know a whole lot about classical music, but I know that I love Bach, and so I'm looking for similar music. What is the most complex classical music that you know of? [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 11:38 AM PST - 22 comments

Besides cleaning my bathroom and living room, what else might I do to prepare for a friend coming over to watch TV together? All answers welcome, no matter how ”obvious”. [more inside]
posted by d288478 at 10:58 AM PST - 23 comments

What's fair compensation for appraising and selling a coin collection? [more inside]
posted by Boxenmacher at 10:29 AM PST - 5 comments

My sister is keeping the family on standby for her birthday. Just roll with it, or what? Also, the family isn’t very engaged with each other. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 10:27 AM PST - 11 comments

There is an article that appears in either New York Magazine or the New Yorker from time to time in which the writer tries to get from a building at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street to Central Park South without going outside. [more inside]
posted by lockedroomguy at 10:03 AM PST - 2 comments

I am not a gardener, but I do basic yard maintenance around my property. There are a few holly trees in my yard, and around here they are tenaciously invasive. If I were to cut down another holly tree and run it through a wood chipper, trunk, branches, leaves, berries, and all, would the resulting mulch encourage widespread seeding/sprouting of more holly trees? [more inside]
posted by xedrik at 9:21 AM PST - 4 comments

I have some large planters that I have filled with soil reclaimed from commercial decorative flowering plants (begonias, etc). Is it safe to grow vegetables in that soil, or should I dispose of it and use fresh gardening soil to grow vegetables? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Please share your insights into online psych meds management apps, sites, subscriptions, etc. This is for an uninsured U.S. adult currently on an antidepressant who will be paying cash. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:32 AM PST - 6 comments

I posted this question anonymously awhile back. The responses that came in focused on the idea that I would be trying to recreate a missed college experience, to be 19 when I am very much 45, which is not my goal or intent so many of the responses I received were not that helpful. The misinterpretation was reasonable since I did not provide many details. It is now time for me to decide whether to enroll to get a second BA so I am de-anonymizing myself and posting this follow-up. [more inside]
posted by ponibrown at 6:48 AM PST - 45 comments

I have three metal picture frames without any hardware to hang them (or stand them up, but I'm not interested in that possibility). All the corners look like this. What type of hardware do I need to hang them? [more inside]
posted by rawralphadawg at 5:33 AM PST - 4 comments

Trying to clear storage space on my iphone 4s. Podcasts are taking up huge space. I deleted all of them and even deleted the subscriptions, it still says that "Documents & Data" is using 666 MB. Is this fixable or is the Antichrist in my phone?
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 5:03 AM PST - 4 comments

I got an email from google titled "Your Google Account will soon be considered as inactive" but... it's the email account I use every day. It's my main account. I don't know what to do. [more inside]
posted by contrapositive at 1:22 AM PST - 6 comments

Any recipes for pork stew that you'd like to share? [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 10:34 PM PST - 14 comments

For gluten-free baked goods (like cakes , pie crusts, or cookies) do you prefer one of the All Purpose Gluten Free Flours (usually a mix of various flours including rice flour etc) or do find it best just to substitute almond flour for regular wheat flour? Bonus: any special brand of either?
posted by nantucket at 10:19 PM PST - 11 comments

(We're not American). My partner said that he'll never vote for any party that stands for legalising marijuana, having seen the destruction it's wreaked on places like San Francisco, American in general, and Canada, during the couple of times he's visited. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:00 PM PST - 50 comments

I recently dug up a vague memory about a mid-to-late '90s web animation series, and being unable to remember any more details is driving me nuts. Details are scanty, but if anyone can think of what I might be remembering, it'll be a real relief. I think it may have been VRML or something similar. My minimal recollections inside. [more inside]
posted by biogeo at 8:46 PM PST - 2 comments

How to make a jacket feel less waxy? [more inside]
posted by kilohertz at 7:40 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm playing around with GarageBand and am encountering a problem I don't even have the technological language to Google for help or tutorials. Let's say I'm trying to record a piece with three tracks - the software keyboard, my own voice, and a loop back beat. I want the beat playing to keep time while I do the recording. Even if I select that the only tracks I want recorded are the keyboard and the vocal track, the vocal track, picking up sound around it, inevitably also records the back beat, creating a terrible feedback-y distorted beat I do not want. I am aware that this is not very clear at all, I literally just don't have the words to explain what I mean because I'm not very technologically literate and am pretty new to music recording. Using my AirPods is not an option because the app keeps glitching and telling me there is no input source detected when I do connect them / select them as the source, I'm just recording with my MacBook Air's recording abilities. I guess what I'm trying to ask is, how can I play a track while recording two other tracks without recording that one or having it be heard in another recorded track? Can I do that? If I can't do that, how do I keep time while recording my vocals and keyboard with the beat loop I'll have to add in later?
posted by maighdeann mhara at 6:10 PM PST - 10 comments

I aspire to one day hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (and, necessarily, out again). What's the best way to train for this, especially when I live in the flattest part of the universe? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 5:04 PM PST - 10 comments

Measuring ingredients by weight instead of volume has become more common in North American kitchens only in recent years (I think the US and Canada are similar in this regard), while it’s long been standard practice in much of Europe. So when did home cooks in European countries and other parts of the world begin using kitchen scales en masse? I can imagine it may have been linked to metrication to some extent, but I believe weights were typical in UK recipes (for example) well before the metrication of consumer goods there.
posted by theory at 4:53 PM PST - 16 comments

My high school theatre program (I am the director) is staging a horror play set in 1890 in New England. I have a teenaged violinist willing to play some period pieces during the play. My knowledge of the violin repertoire is poor. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 3:36 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a gastric emptying study scheduled for a Monday and then an MRCP scheduled for the following Saturday (so roughly five days apart). I am worried that there might be lingering radioactive stuff left that will interfere with the MRI. Is this a reasonable worry? Do I need to reschedule one of these tests so that they're farther apart? [more inside]
posted by Bottlecap at 3:27 PM PST - 6 comments

We are visiting Copenhagen the next week. Lmt and me are going for a concert (twice rescheduled due to covid - original date was in 2020) but due to budget airline flight organization (ie.: no flights on saturday, very expensive ones of friday) we'll stay there 3 nights. I'm checking the previouslies, but would be happy to hear the hive mind suggestions - especially with regards to covid. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by kmt at 2:30 PM PST - 8 comments

I need a DJVU reader or potentially converter to PDF? I don't understand this format, but several academic texts apparently only exist in it. I use Windows, and I'm too much of a Luddite to trust myself googling not to end up with malware. There must be a reliable or standard reader for this format, right? Paid is fine, although naturally I would prefer free. (To head this off at the pass - Calibre can only support DJVU that has embedded text and will not open these three books.) [more inside]
posted by Bottlecap at 2:00 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm helping my recently widowed mom with her taxes, using form 1040-SR. YANMMA. I'm trying to calculate the taxable portion of her SS benefits. Using Worksheet 1 (IRS pub 915) "Figuring your taxable [ss] benefits," I hit line 7 of worksheet 1, which requests the "total of amounts from Schedule 1 (form 1040) lines 11 through 20 and 23 and 25." [more inside]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 12:34 PM PST - 5 comments

I sell used books on ebay and instagram, and I've published a couple of books and plan to do more in the future. Should I incorporate? LLC? What are the benefits to me? I'm in Illinois. You are not my accountant or my lawyer. [more inside]
posted by goatdog at 11:19 AM PST - 7 comments

I know a highly contagious avian influenza strain is going around, causing a lot of concern among chicken keepers and such. I heard that bird feeders should be taken down to discourage congregation and spread of the virus. Would this apply to hummingbird feeders as well? [more inside]
posted by luftmensch at 10:48 AM PST - 2 comments

I bought a bag of honey graham crumbs awhile back to make a specific recipe, didn't care for the recipe, and now I have most of a 1kg bag of graham crumbs to use up, and the recipes I'm seeing online that call for them don't have much appeal. MeFites, what are your favourite graham crumb-requiring recipes? I'm hoping for suggestions that aren't super sweet, and don't call for very artificial/highly processed ingredients such as instant mixes or marshmallows.
posted by orange swan at 10:47 AM PST - 19 comments

I have a slightly complicated tax return (rental income in a non-resident state, some investment income). What are my best options for tax prep software? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:30 AM PST - 7 comments

Based in the US and thinking about doing a PhD about disability, coming from an adjacent field. I know what the academic job market is like in my current field, but I’m not sure if it’s the same for the field in which I might end up working! Does anyone have insight on what it’s like for those in special education/education departments? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:30 AM PST - 2 comments

Does anyone remember the name of this French science fiction/modernist novel. [more inside]
posted by griphus at 9:48 AM PST - 5 comments

I was in a local park the other day and saw a graffiti artist there painting over an existing mural (presumably by a different artist) in order to create a fresh canvas for her own work. This got me wondering there's any generally-accepted understanding among street art practitioners about when it's OK to do that and when it isn't. Where's the line and is there any social penalty within that community for crossing it? I'm curious about whether there's an informal etiquette governing all this and, if so, how it works.
posted by Paul Slade at 6:33 AM PST - 13 comments

The hot water water in our home is a single line that dead ends at a bathroom. This furthest bathroom is located only a few feet from the hot water tank in the cellar. Is there any reason why this bathroom hot water line could not be connected directly to the water heater, turning the hot water line into a loop? This would allow hot water to travel in the shortest line to its end use. The cold water lines would not be changed.
posted by Raybun at 6:04 AM PST - 9 comments

We broke up 2.5 months ago. He initiated the break-up, and I didn’t want the breakup. We’ve been in very limited contact but I’ve been having trouble keeping him blocked…more details inside.< [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 4:49 AM PST - 27 comments

My thyroid needs to be removed completely. What should I expect after the surgery (both in the short and long term)? [more inside]
posted by avis at 1:56 AM PST - 11 comments

My partner and I will be moving to DC for about 1 year starting this fall - please give us your tips on finding a place to live (given our parameters inside)! [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 10:29 PM PST - 13 comments

I want to hire someone to find dog boarding facilities that will accept certain kinds of difficult dogs - to do all the internet research, phone calls, etc, and then present me with options and kind of a package writeup. What would this type of person be called and how would I find them?
posted by corb at 9:18 PM PST - 5 comments

I had a conversation with someone today about how many jobs in the legal profession have gone permanently remote after Covid. It made me curious about the following: If one were a lawyer (with a focus on contract law and property), what kinds of jobs might they seek out that would make use of their legal expertise but that weren't necessarily "lawyer" jobs? Specifically, what jobs might they do if their priority was to a) work in-person with a team of other humans and b) have as little to do with email as possible?
posted by virve at 8:26 PM PST - 9 comments

For how long after having Covid might I be immune to getting it again? Mr. Blah and I are slowly shuffling our way through it, but I was thinking once we're done we might actually do something nutty like eat at a restaurant. Help me understand if our antibodies will mean anything at all, given variants? FWIW, I'm vaxxed + boost, he's vaxxed + 2 boosts (though he got his 2nd boost literally hours before testing positive, alas).
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:13 PM PST - 18 comments

Among the multitudinous leftovers from the lunch spread following my son's bar mitzvah a week and a half ago was an entire unopened quart of half-and-half with a sell-by date of, basically, now. I won't even get a fraction of the way through it using it in my coffee before it goes bad. What amazing, scrumptious, Passover-friendly dessert can be made with the whole quart (or almost the whole quart) in one go? [more inside]
posted by sesquipedalia at 7:06 PM PST - 17 comments

I ordered some bulbs to plant this spring, but it turns out that I'm going to have to do some work on the house that will mess up the garden beds they're supposed to go in. I really wanted these, and think I have three options. What do the experienced gardeners of MeFi think is the best one? [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 3:59 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm totally comfortable swimming freestyle and backstroke, but my technique could be better and I cannot swim in a straight line or figure out when I'm about to hit the rope or wall. This makes lap swimming in public pools difficult. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:09 PM PST - 7 comments

We have been presented an opportunity to sell our condo in a way I had never heard of, and I'd like someone to help me think through whether it's a sound concept. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 3:02 PM PST - 17 comments

I left a job last month and my health insurance ended on 31Mar. I started a new job last week and my new health insurance starts on 01May. Now I have COVID-19. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 2:56 PM PST - 6 comments

I just learned that some people deworm their dog a few times a year routinely. My dog hasn’t had dewormers since we got her as a puppy. She’s never had worms but might be nice to ensure it stays that way. Should we be doing this? My vet has only mentioned flea/tick prevention which I do give. Thanks!
posted by vanitas at 2:47 PM PST - 8 comments

Windows 10 laptop, & they've said I won't be able to accommodate Windows 11. But my space is disappearing and I don't even want anymore Win 10 updates. No trick online seems to get rid of the yellow notification dot telling me to restart/update. What will happen if I just let that remain but never update? Somewhere along the line I shut off Auto-updates, if it took. Will I slow down, wifi get bad? Don't they understand, there's no space, I'm done w/ updates! Not gonna get extra HDD.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 12:41 PM PST - 25 comments

Floor mats! Dashboard accessories! Trunk separators! Improved lights! Trash cans! Glove compartment things! Unexpected-but-cheapish improvements?
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 10:51 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a friend (33F) with a few health chronic health conditions; we're trying to figure out the best approach to treating them. Specifically: acid reflux, vocal tension dysphonia, a recurring shoulder injury (RSI), Graves' disease, and depression (successfully treated). [more inside]
posted by osmond_nash at 10:36 AM PST - 5 comments

I broke my left wrist. I have a book deadline at the end of the month. What are the fastest ways for me to enter and edit text in a Google document one-handed? [more inside]
posted by Hogshead at 10:17 AM PST - 18 comments

I'd like to find wireless noise-cancelling headphones of the over-ear variety that are comfortable to wear for long durations. Problem: I have big ears. Every headphone I tried in the past were unusable because they pressed against my ears and hurt after a short time. I'm trying again to find ones that might fit completely around my ears. [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:22 AM PST - 9 comments

I, a person who studied art and media in college, have somehow raised a child who enjoys the hell out of math. As the end of his freshman year of college approaches, he's told me he plans to declare a math major. I'm certainly not against it, but it's so far from what I know that I don't understand it at all. So what do mathy people do when they leave college? He's pretty money-oriented, so I don't think "teaching math" will be something he aims for.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:19 AM PST - 49 comments

My father-in-law was a Petty Officer First Class in WW2. Recently he was honored with a presentation from his hospice provider. The hospice people researched his service online and found his rank is now listed as Chief Petty Officer. I do not know what online sources they used. He was thrilled when told he is now a Chief. He loved being a sailor. Can retired military persons rank be changed after they have left the service?
posted by Raybun at 9:19 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a job where the dress code varies based on the day I have planned. I've got the casual end covered, and even dress-and-a-blazer, but need business casual, simple tops for under a cardigan or blazer. I'm small fat, can wear upper end straight sizes or lower end plus sizes, but certain brands don't fit at all...hope me? [more inside]
posted by assenav at 8:53 AM PST - 15 comments

A good friend suddenly died far away, and her parents released no details other than vague rumors of some kind of accident. I would like to respect their privacy but I still wish I knew what happened. [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 8:42 AM PST - 28 comments

Last night, Will Smith and I flew jump seats and hopped freight trains to interrupt Paul McCartney's pirate ship wedding to deliver a missing issue of The Financial Times. I was told when I started a low dose of fluoxetine (generic Prozac) a few months ago that I might have a period where my dreams got bizarre/exhausting. Having already busted up a treehouse-based human trafficking ring this week, this has definitely been the case. I have been assured this will almost certainly let up, but any personal experience you have with this issue would be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:14 AM PST - 9 comments

Living in a new (to me) house that has three floors that has one central heat/pump (air/heat) and various levels of temperature in the three floors with sleeping temperatures un ideal (too cold in winter, too hot in summer) and very high electricity costs. How have you fixed this? Are there companies that can help honestly provide options? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 7:50 AM PST - 13 comments

Ever increasing population growth and a feeling of being alone in a sea of strangers. Can you help me identify my emotions? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 7:34 AM PST - 12 comments

How can I (currently qualifying as low-income, California USA) get AWS/GCE/Azure/Kubernetes certified for no/low/deferred cost? [more inside]
posted by Quesaak at 6:38 AM PST - 4 comments

I remember reading somewhere that it was important to quickly swoop in and open a safe deposit box following a death, as if the bank became aware of the death, they would require some sort of a probate procedure. Dad died yesterday- my mother and I both authorized to access the box- do we need to swoop in or is my dim recollection of something I read bogus? There are no valuables in it, just paperwork and stuff. Located in Illinois if it matters. TIA, my google fu is grief impaired.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 5:06 AM PST - 7 comments

Can someone please hope me adjust settings in Thunderbird in order to work with Gmail requiring OAuth2? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 4:39 AM PST - 15 comments

I have Hashimoto's and I think I have rosacea. Are there any lifestyle changes I can make which might actually help? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 4:09 AM PST - 13 comments

In an effort to reduce inbox clutter and phone notifications, I got really strict with gmail filters to make it so only email from real people end up in my priority inbox. It was great, except . . . [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 11:31 PM PST - 3 comments

If all goes according to plan I will be moving to a new house soon. There is no landscaping in the front yard so I'm dreaming about what I want to do. I would like to take the idea of landscaping near the front door and use it to build an edible garden that also has aesthetic value the way landscaping by the door is supposed to. I am a total novice and have killed lucky bamboo before so I need something easy. We are in zone 9a. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 10:42 PM PST - 18 comments

I purchased Lydia Davis' translation of Swann's Way not too long ago and I'm curious, if I enjoy Swann's Way and want to continue reading In Search of Lost Time... which translations should I go with? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 10:21 PM PST - 6 comments

Why won't the tube deploy/retract on our Brondell bidet? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 9:50 PM PST - 1 comment

My sister's birthday is on Arbor Day this year. Do you have any ideas for a tree-themed gift for her? But not an actual tree for her yard; I think she is happy with her current landscaping. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 8:36 PM PST - 16 comments

Any recommendations on restaurants with outdoor seating in Washington DC? Nothing fancy or expensive since we will be with a loud energetic kid, but we need COVID-safe dining options. Restaurants (or even fast food joints) near a nice park where we can get takeout and have a picnic would also work for us. [more inside]
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 8:22 PM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for a smaller, lighter Android phone that does all the basic phone and internet stuff well, that has a responsive camera for drive-by architectural photography and that also captures large blocks of text well when shooting documents in archives. [more inside]
posted by Scram at 7:34 PM PST - 8 comments

I got a screaming deal on my favorite (discontinued!) shampoo from my hair stylist. The catch is that it’s all in 3oz travel bottles. 300+ travel bottles. What is the best way to get the contents of these small bottles into big bottles? [more inside]
posted by the_shrike at 7:01 PM PST - 20 comments

Yesterday, I posted an Ask about my bathroom exhaust fan not working. Got an update, wanted to do a new post because the original question is already buried down from yesterday. TL;DR version for this question: replaced, not fixed, was told there's no duct line out and that it's just a fan — same goes for all units. Am thoroughly confused. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 6:13 PM PST - 14 comments

If I enjoy people who are (pejoratively) labeled "interesting," "weird," or "self-centered," and if I have trouble reading social cues and regulating emotion myself, should I assume I am such a person myself? I've been lucky enough to "find my niche" with friends who accept me and work that puts my strengths to use. But I still feel out of step with the world. Is it time to reach a deeper acceptance that neurodivergence seems likely, and not everyone will like me/us, or do I need to make some changes? Or, both? And how? [more inside]
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 5:10 PM PST - 18 comments

My friend asked advice on her daughter's moving to her 1st apartment. She (mom) can visit the rentals, explore the neighborhood, meet the landlord/lady. Aside from emotions and new furniture- I mentioned noise. Walk the area at rush hour, Friday nights, when traffic, bars, etc might be at their worst. Locate near a transit stop for work. Laundry room? Google the Owner/address. She is unfamiliar w/ NYC tenant leases. Is there a boilerplate form? Doesn't NYC have strong tenant laws? Has Covid changed things? Security? Ideas?
posted by ebesan at 4:35 PM PST - 9 comments

Looking for inspiration and motivation. I posted here a couple years back about finally being medicated for what had then been diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Since then, I've had a rediagnosis back to depression, another major mental health crisis, acknowledgement of ptsd, followed by what has been a year of stability I haven't felt in a while. Which I'm grateful for, except it feels like I've just awaken from a hundred year slumber and I dont know what kind of life I can feasibly lead. [more inside]
posted by iusedhername at 3:53 PM PST - 3 comments

I regularly use Android's share image function to send images from apps such as Chrome that support alt text to a group chat in Telegram. Telegram supports pasting of alt text by treating it as a comment that's automatically appended to the image. No one in the group chat needs this and in fact would like it to stop. [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 3:20 PM PST - 3 comments

I like a tiny house for sale from the 1920s (great light, great location, just enough room for me, nice old features like hardwood floors, etc.). My realtor is convinced that it's significantly overpriced. It also may need some major work, possibly including foundation replacement- I have an old estimate for $25k for that. The current foundation is made with clay structural blocks, (the same basic material as terracotta flowerpots!) and it has some problems. I am willing to pay for the work and deal with the annoyance. [more inside]
posted by pinochiette at 1:03 PM PST - 30 comments

I filed my US federal tax return (on paper) a little over a month ago. I was due a refund via direct deposit, but I have not yet received it. Looking over my copy of the return, I noticed that I indicated the wrong type of account (savings vs. checking) when I filled out the direct deposit information. Is this worth trying to correct? If so, how? Or will it get sorted out eventually? [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:22 PM PST - 11 comments

My grandmother spoke Portuguese as a child (her parents immigrated to the US from Madeira in the early 1900s), but lost most of the language as an adult and didn't teach any to her daughters. However, throughout her life she still used a few words that are probably Portuguese or corrupted half-remembered Portuguese. My mom has always wanted to know what they actually meant - unfortunately, my grandmother and most of the other family members who might have known are now gone. Maybe you can help? [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 11:34 AM PST - 4 comments

Planning a trip. [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 11:34 AM PST - 14 comments

Environmentally neutral or friendly, low cost, old buildings and residential. Rodents. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 11:34 AM PST - 3 comments

During a recent MeFi podcast conversation I found myself explaining "recordist" as term used by folks who do some mix of recording, engineering, mixing, performing, etc. music, and specifically that the term was useful as an umbrella term because it was distinct from someone who did only a given specific sub-role as their focus or primary job. Which got me wondering: what other examples are there of umbrella terms (for a vocation or avocation or ?) that aren't simply less-specific generalizations but useful for encompassing that jack-of-all-trades role in particular vs. a dedicated specialty? [more inside]
posted by cortex at 10:58 AM PST - 21 comments

If you had 24-48 hours with a Jeep Wrangler JK in Southern California, what would you do? Interested in any ideas that are within a few hours of downtown LA, with the caveat that they should be things you would only do in a four wheel drive vehicle.
posted by kensington314 at 10:53 AM PST - 7 comments

My friend, a 52-year-old married male with no children, needs some advice and feedback on investment strategy. Special snowflakes inside. YANMFA... [more inside]
posted by 4midori at 10:26 AM PST - 11 comments

I really love this Hans Holbein painting, with the inscription translating to "and so I let desire carry me along." I'd like to find more art that expresses the idea of listening to what you want - another example is Mary Oliver's poem Wild Geese. All media welcome, although this is motivated by wanting a physical object that conveys this message. I've searched the Latin phrase from the painting / Petrarch, what I'm looking for is this theme rather than things based on these exact examples.
posted by momus_window at 9:49 AM PST - 3 comments

Visiting Philly with a four year old next week. What are some fun places I can take them? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 9:37 AM PST - 7 comments

I have 193/218gb of storage in my Google drive. Most of it is email, a third is photos, and the rest is ebooks and other files. I show all the signs of a classic hoarder, except my physical hoarding is limited to books and board games. I really need a method for culling my unneeded photos (they are all backed up on Flickr) or fixing my brain so I don't hold onto everything, or a system for reducing my digital tottering towers of the equivalent of old newspapers. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 8:51 AM PST - 14 comments

Complicated covid logistics question inside. Please only answer if you understand the relationship between chicken pox and shingles. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:42 AM PST - 18 comments

My elderly mom has suddenly succumb to what seems to be severe mental illness. She lives in a state 2 days drive away from me where she has no friends or relatives. She refuses to move near me. I work full time and cannot afford much in the way of travel expenses so this is very, very hard. She never appointed a power of attorney while she was well so doctors will not speak to me and though I have consulted with a lawyer, I know I could never afford one without bankrupting myself. My mom refuses treatment and has cut off contact with me and basically everyone who cares about her. She hasn't yet threatened to kill herself or anyone else so the authorities will not step in. I feel helpless and like I have no options and perhaps I don't. AskMeFi is my last resort. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:42 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there any value to the expensive "Core Fill" procedure that has been suggested to me? Is moisture damage an actual problem I need to be concerned about? Or is this foundation contractor trying to take me for a ride? [more inside]
posted by BigLankyBastard at 8:33 AM PST - 2 comments

For (mildly amusing) Reasons, I want to make wine jello shots. I have had white wine jello a long time ago, it was actually quite good, with, I think, celery, walnuts, and grapes. What wine jello and mix-ins might be tasty? challenge: Kosher for Passover.
posted by theora55 at 6:41 AM PST - 12 comments

I have the opportunity to rehome, in a few months, a retired ex-breeding Siberian cat. I'm strongly considering it. What should I be aware of? What questions should I ask the breeder? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 5:02 AM PST - 8 comments

The volume on my TV has a very narrow range and it's driving me a little batty. [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 4:39 AM PST - 4 comments

So recently I have learned about Arabic coffee (qahwa/gahwa with cardamom) and I want to try making it at home! But apparently it requires extremely lightly roasted coffee beans, at least for the “yellow” style made in, say, Qatar. If I go to my local coffee bean roaster, who roasts the beans while you wait, what roast level should I ask for in order to make this style of coffee? Or should I just buy raw beans and try roasting them at home in a frying pan? Really, just give me all your yellow/green Arabic coffee knowledge!
posted by DoctorFedora at 8:54 PM PST - 11 comments

Years ago, I read a lengthy essay that used the Hunger Games/dystopian films to explain someone in an economically depressed area would vote for Trump. I CAN'T FIND IT AND AM GOING CRAZY. [more inside]
posted by blazingunicorn at 8:30 PM PST - 8 comments

Just what's in the title, academic and general interest are welcome. I realize this is very general, so feel free to share whatever you like that even remotely fits.
posted by Toddles at 6:22 PM PST - 11 comments

How do I make edible spruce essence from spruce tips? (Bonus: what was the recipe for that ineffably delicious spruce essence latte I had in Minneapolis sometime in the 2010s?) [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 4:58 PM PST - 8 comments

Are there books about the impacts Linux had in businesses in the 90s? For example, in the early 90s, Sun Microsystems had a very popular Unix. Yet by 2000, Sun gave away their OS with their hardware and made source code available. Microsoft had the famous Halloween memos in the late 90s. Are there books that talk about that, how businesspeople reacted to Linux’s marketshare in those intervening years?
posted by Monochrome at 4:04 PM PST - 7 comments

My decrepit old porch is under repair this week. Last night I got down between the joists and picked up the debris and trash underneath, and I found two old glass bottles, one a Coco-Cola bottle and one a Wilson's (side A & side B). One of the construction guys thought they might be worth something. They do seem to be vintage, and are in perfect condition, but I don't know anything about vintage beverage bottles or their market value. Can anyone tell me what, if anything, these bottles might be worth?
posted by orange swan at 1:45 PM PST - 3 comments

I transferred to a new unit (same building). Absolutely loving the new unit so far (it has a balcony, yeahhhh!), but having an issue with the bathroom. The fan doesn't seem to work properly, and there's this persistent strange odor in the bathroom. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 1:32 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm hoping to start playing casual pickup soccer weekly with some other men who are similar ages (35+). What can I do to make it more likely I have fun and less likely I get hurt? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 12:34 PM PST - 11 comments

Wild Nothing - To Know You, starting at 5:22, there is “panting” that I could swear I’ve hear in another song from years ago, and I can’t place it. Help! [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:32 PM PST - 11 comments

What I saw was a movie about a 25 year old in a predatory relationship with a 15 year old where she repeated gaslights, physically assaults and is psychologically abusive to a child... [more inside]
posted by Cosine at 12:16 PM PST - 21 comments

I have a lot of cardboard. I live in the middle of the woods and many things are shipped to me. I have a gigantic pile of non-glossy cardboard that I would like to turn into dirt or mulch (which will eventually be dirt). None of my attempts have worked very well. [more inside]
posted by pol at 11:18 AM PST - 29 comments

Can anyone suggest a currently-sold-in-2022 Bluetooth speaker whose startup tones/chimes/announcement can be muted, or doesn't exist in the first place? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 10:57 AM PST - 7 comments

The first modern Olympic games tool place in 1896. What sort of communications technology would have been in place at that time, to allow the events to be coordinated? [more inside]
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 10:11 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a 4-year old that loves reading about Greek Mythology, Norse Mythology and the Bible - some Egyptian mythology too. I'm non-religious, but am happy I have a somewhat solid foundation from my own childhood in these subjects. However, it was all very "western" focused. Plus, my wife is Jewish. So I'd like to expand my own kids' foundation - looking for some recommendations. [more inside]
posted by slide at 9:59 AM PST - 22 comments

More and more apps and websites force me to click on Google maps to specify my address. Most of the time there is no way to type the information in manually. For some reason, while I can see my address on Google maps itself, in all these completely different apps, when I click on my location on the map, it defaults to a different, nearby street address. This is causing me very real headaches as my bank, my ISP, and any business that needs to know my address, can't access my address. Most of my neighbours have the same problem. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 9:32 AM PST - 7 comments

For the past ~5 weeks I have been waking up at 2:00-4:00am, every day. I don't care for it. [more inside]
posted by Lorc at 9:29 AM PST - 19 comments

I remember once hearing about a town in (Europe? UK?) that was proud of the stained glass windows in its church, and during WW2 they feared it would be destroyed. Story goes, they dismantled the glass and gave a piece to each townsperson to safeguard, so that they could reconvene after the war and put it back together. A lovely story of hope and community. Is there any truth to it?
posted by egeanin at 8:32 AM PST - 4 comments

I'd like to dabble with some basic music editing/remixing. I have a decent background in music, but no background in anything on the tech or software side. To start, I'd want to be able to import an existing song and add my own drumbeats or piano riffs on top of it. Any recommendations on software that's user-friendly, especially for beginners? PC or Mac, free or not is fine.
posted by NorthCoastRiver at 8:12 AM PST - 11 comments

Thrifty parents of potted houseplants! What are your favorite free/inexpensive/recycled containers, pots, or other vessels for homing your potted plants? I need them in all sizes- small, medium, large. [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 7:05 AM PST - 14 comments

What skills can I learn that would be useful for myself and for others in a range of emergency situations? [more inside]
posted by quadrant seasons at 12:18 AM PST - 28 comments

Do you have any thoughts on working at a job where client-facing operations would be in your second language? (Working with colleagues and written work would be in your primary language.) Were you able to improve after starting the job and basically using it every day? Do I jump in, stretch myself, or avoid? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:30 PM PST - 11 comments

An immediate relative who lives in North Carolina was seriously injured while working. Last night he asked if I could be available by phone or email to help advocate for him as he tries to get his needs met. While you are not his lawyer, doctor, or employer, I'm hoping fellow Mefites might have advice or experience to help. The details and my questions are below. [more inside]
posted by kbar1 at 11:00 PM PST - 5 comments

I would like a *very specific type* of rice pudding recipe that you can personally vouch for since the ones I’ve made from recipe blogs have been abysmal. I want rice pudding made with milk (not coconut milk), in an InstantPot or slow cooker, that comes out on the thinner side but not runny. It might have condensed milk or eggs, but neither is mandatory. I really want a recipe that comes out the right consistency, not all dried out or a hockey puck of glued together rice. No raisins, please. I want to stress the instant pot/slow cooker stipulation, as I do not have the kitchen stamina for the “bring to a boil, simmer, stir, etc etc” recipes.
posted by Bottlecap at 10:27 PM PST - 6 comments

My five-year old son has grabbed Minecraft on the Nintendo Switch with both hands (pun intended) and built some awesome worlds in Creative mode. He's also been watching Minecraft videos on Youtube (curated by me!) and has picked up on the fact that multiplayer is a thing, so he really wants me to play with him in the worlds he's built. I'd love to, but how? [more inside]
posted by infinitejones at 9:48 PM PST - 6 comments

How to sell a long box of Infinity Gauntlet/Infinity Wars Comic Books? Do I sell it as a collection? Or Piece by piece? eBay or local shop? [more inside]
posted by shoesfullofdust at 6:22 PM PST - 5 comments

My dad is Jewish but I was raised Christian, so my entire knowledge of Jewish history comes from history books that used the Bible as a reference. I have some specific questions about Jewish history, but mostly I'm curious about the most up-to-date, atheistic history of how the Jewish people became who they were, and how we know. [more inside]
posted by rebent at 5:10 PM PST - 13 comments

Unfortunately some smart mice got into our shed this winter and ate through a bag of birdseed. Now a third of the shed floor is covered with a mix of birdseed and mouse poop. What can I do, safely? [more inside]
posted by summerteeth at 4:23 PM PST - 11 comments

How does an experienced software engineer find a great independent tech recruiter who can match them up with smaller companies, based on specific hard-to-Google-for criteria? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 3:05 PM PST - 10 comments

For example, a glass rinser installed in a kitchen sink. [more inside]
posted by shrimpetouffee at 1:47 PM PST - 50 comments

We're looking at going to the Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley. To avoid problems, I'm looking for advice from others who have been before, such as: 1) is it worth it to buy tickets in advance (is the wait long); 2) which of the three farms to visit; 3) other things to know before going (for instance: what is traffic like, generally, which makes one time better than another to go). [more inside]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 1:27 PM PST - 3 comments

I know some people find it easy to do good-enough work. That's never been me. The things that keep me going are pride and autonomy—being trusted to do really good work, and finding ways to deliver. Without those, I lose motivation and struggle to keep my spirits up. Working feels pointless. If you're like me, and you've been micromanaged and asked to do mediocre work, what helped you get through it? [more inside]
posted by flexible-footwear figurine at 1:23 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm a college senior in my early 20s. In my freshman year, I became very close friends with four other women. Then, in my junior year, I systematically destroyed those friendships by being an asshole and a bad friend. I apologized immediately, and tried to apologize again last year, but they've asked me not to contact them. I'm afraid that they hate me now, and I can never do anything to change their opinion of me, and it drives me bonkers. [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 12:43 PM PST - 39 comments

Recommendations? I'm looking for a book with romance in it, fiction, nonfiction, or romance novel, that has a specific sort of middle-aged love story. [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 12:17 PM PST - 22 comments

I paid a childcare provider cash last year. They gave us an invoice I could use to get reimbursed from my flexible spending account (this is in the US), which included their SSN (required on the invoice for reimbursement). All good. But it looks like they gave me an invalid SSN (last four digits are zero), which I never noticed until I was going through my pile of tax documents this year. I assume they were just masking the last four digits (fair enough!) [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 12:06 PM PST - 0 comments

How dated is it? ...I think I had this on cassingle. ...it's on Now That's What I Call Music #1. ...I bet this was really big on Pandora. Etc. [more inside]
posted by bartleby at 12:06 PM PST - 49 comments

Seeking a simple, well designed calendar app. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 12:02 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to replace a very old android phone and would like to a small model that will fit in a pocket. Is the Iphone SE my best/only option? [more inside]
posted by fies at 11:48 AM PST - 11 comments

I’ve made a pasta sauce a few times now with broccoli stems, spinach, onions/garlic, and cheese. Help me improve it! [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 11:15 AM PST - 30 comments

I am bad at gossip and conflict. I have worked both as a teacher and a fundraiser and have sworn off both. How can I be politically active without being miserable? Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by HeroZero at 10:06 AM PST - 11 comments

My daughter and her boyfriend are moving soon and can't take the bed they've been using. They are broker than broke, and have asked for my help in getting a bed when they get to the new place. I don't have a ton of money myself, and would like some ideas on how to do this as cheaply as possible. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 9:51 AM PST - 30 comments

I need some new trail shoes, and there's two I like on Amazon (nowhere nearby stocks either): so shouldn't I just order them both and try them on? Well, I've never done this before - bought multiple versions of something I want to try out - and it doesn't sit well with me: like, what a massive waste if someone ships them to me and neither work out and I have to send both pairs back. Or do people do this the whole time and it's just me being weird?
posted by my log does not judge at 9:36 AM PST - 35 comments

I have had great success in the past with using self-hypnosis for childbirth (through Hypnobabies, specifically). I am now looking for high-quality self-hypnosis resources, scripts, or recordings for convincing myself that work challenges are NBD. [more inside]
posted by maddieD at 8:29 AM PST - 2 comments

What are some examples of short stories where the author smoothly transitions from the use of past tense to present tense (not in a flashback). I've seen this technique used where the author is in past tense and then sneakily transitions to present tense for an action scene. It makes the scene more vivid. I'm looking for actual examples of this in action to show some fellow writers.
posted by storybored at 8:11 AM PST - 6 comments

Last Friday my 15-year old washer - a Whirlpool Duet - decided it was no longer interested in participating in the drain cycle. I realize this is likely just a elderly drain pump that gave up the ghost and, assuming this is part is still available, I could probably fix it myself, but I've decided after 15 years it's time for a new washer and dryer. Help me pick out a new one. [more inside]
posted by codex99 at 7:24 AM PST - 12 comments

My SO and I have been trying to conceive for a few months now. This cycle, my ovulation was delayed because of illness, and instead of getting my period, I got launched into the two week wait (the two weeks between ovulation and pregnancy testing). It’s emotionally difficult to be in this space between hope and… hopelessness, I guess. How did you get through it? Did you have mantras or other framing tactics that helped? [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 6:03 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm thinking of going no contacting with a parent. I've been in regular contact up until now. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this. Advice welcome. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:39 PM PST - 21 comments

How can a UK-based person with an MA in Social Work complete the formal study element of returning to practice to re-register with Social Work England? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:38 PM PST - 2 comments

Mrs. Gefilte and I are invited to a family wedding in Manhattan in a few weeks. We haven't been to the US since the onset of COVID, and with all that's changed in the last two years, we're feeling a little unsure about how best to proceed. Enlighten us, o NYC Mefites! [more inside]
posted by greatgefilte at 5:57 PM PST - 26 comments

In a time when nationalism is again on the rise (on both the left and the right), I feel like cosmopolitanism as a real approach is nearly invisible. Where are the books I am looking for? [more inside]
posted by dame at 5:44 PM PST - 2 comments

There is an auction that I am watching that has a Clementi Square Piano from 1825. It’s beautiful, I’ve wanted a piano for a while, and the opening bid is $400. Am I crazy for buying this sight unseen? [more inside]
posted by degoao at 5:33 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm a voracious reader but trying to limit my screen time these days. What are some particularly exciting audio books that will keep me interested and not put me to sleep? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 5:26 PM PST - 26 comments

I was stung by a bee on my ear about 36 hours ago, and the symptoms seemed normal until just recently. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:13 PM PST - 10 comments

A character in my novel is a radiologist in a teaching hospital in the 90s. I interviewed a radiologist who gave me a general sense of the job. But I'm looking for more details, anecdotes, color, etc. I know things have changed a lot in this field. Even so, if there are any radiologists out there, can you share descriptions, anecdotes, details about your job?
posted by swheatie at 5:10 PM PST - 4 comments

Sometimes my internet stops working and I get a message that says "This device is blocked by Acccess Control in the router". My question isn't only to know how to fix this but also to why it happens so that i can prevent it from happening in the future. PS - I'm not using the internet to do anything illegal (i.e. download movies) in case that information helps answer my question.
posted by defmute at 4:40 PM PST - 8 comments

I've been asked to consider expanding and improving how our organization handles names, in a database system I manage. I want to avoid the mistakes described in Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 4:39 PM PST - 15 comments

I have some questions about intermittent fasting. The most important being, for those with eating disorders or a history of disordered eating, did IF exacerbate your issues? But other questions as well. Possible triggers for those with EDs. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:22 PM PST - 15 comments

I have 4 pendant lamps from 16 years ago with lovely orange glass shades. One lamp stopped working a few years ago. The electrician removed the whole fixture and told me he couldn't fix it because [mumble, mumble I can't remember] was wrong with the socket, maybe not enough clearance to expose more wire? Now one more of the lamps on the circuit has died, and it's time to see if I can fix these myself or do I need to throw these away and buy all new lamps? [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 4:21 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm in NY and have health insurance through my job, but I'm about to quit. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 4:16 PM PST - 13 comments

Where is that famous MeFi comment where the people that survived war/shelling actually helped each other rather than fought each other? It was during the Balkan conflicts I think. In the future how do I find such famous MeFi content?
posted by RuvaBlue at 2:39 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a surname that begins with Mc. The second part is capitalized, but I have always regarded the Mc and the rest as one word. I've just proofread an item in which a key person has a name, not McDermott but similar, only it was spelled Mc Dermott throughout, and I was told that was correct (as were several other names in Mc and Mac in lists in the document). Is this new? Is this correct where you live?
posted by zadcat at 2:18 PM PST - 18 comments

Some time ago, I found a list of books that had been voted by some group of academics (maybe social scientists? anthropologists?) as the most important in their field. I think several Claude Levi-Strauss books were on the list, including Tristes Tropiques. I also think Pierre Bourdieu's Distinction and Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions were.
posted by matkline at 12:09 PM PST - 3 comments

I am trying to tally up my "saves" in a recent pro minor league game I played in. What counts as a "save"? For example, there was a 1v1, I came out to the half-line and slide tackled the opponent before he could shoot it, thus, it's not a save, correct? [more inside]
posted by maxexam at 11:49 AM PST - 9 comments

I don't like thongs and I'm looking for something comfortable to wear with my workout leggings that don't show any panty lines and are comfortable.
posted by Tziv at 9:29 AM PST - 13 comments

I have three 17.5 watt dimmable LEDs in a bathroom vanity light fixture on a dimmer switch. Flick them on, they work great. Flick them off, fine. Try to turn them back on again though, and they won't come on for a few minutes. They eventually always do, if you leave the switch on, but it can be a good 5 minutes. Can I fix this? Am I going to burn the house down? [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:48 AM PST - 7 comments

Where can I find out more about environmentally friendly lawn maintenance? I'm not looking for a lawn replacement, but also am not trying to create perfect turf or nutritious pasture. [more inside]
posted by sepviva at 8:15 AM PST - 15 comments

In short, my family is planning on spending a year abroad where my kids (6 and 8) will be immersed in another language that they don't know yet. Is this going to be terrible? [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 8:05 AM PST - 22 comments

I was given a brief info sheet from the doctor's office, and have looked some online and in AskMe - but some specific questions I have are more about how one feels before/during/after this procedure. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:49 AM PST - 37 comments

I am trying to locate an old catalog or at least some online photos of the type of wooden backyard playset we had around 1976 in upstate NY. My dad ordered it from a catalog and it came as a kit. It was a frame about 8-10 feet tall made of smooth green painted two by fours for the vertical parts. There were yellow wooden dowels (1.5 inch diameter or so) like rungs in between the verticals. [more inside]
posted by chr1sb0y at 6:39 AM PST - 6 comments

What is this restaurant?
posted by jojo and the benjamins at 6:03 AM PST - 5 comments

How can I best store my pots and pans in my NYC studio for nearly daily use with no space? [more inside]
posted by bquarters at 8:01 PM PST - 18 comments

This movie is about 10 years old. It didn't star anyone well known at the time, and was not out out by a major studio. It's about a guy who was an A&R agent for a small record company. [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:33 PM PST - 6 comments

This bird was in my backyard but I couldn't see them. I couldn't find the bird call in my (limited) research. Who is this?
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:28 PM PST - 17 comments

Imagine (this is for a fantasy story) a glass sphere the size of an orange. Inside floats a needle that always points to the center of Earth's moon. What further information could you derive from it? [more inside]
posted by bartleby at 7:14 PM PST - 8 comments

I just got back into exercise in my home gym after a long dry spell. I have snowflake desires for tracking my renewed efforts. In the past I used Excel or paper. In 2022 I'm hoping for something better. More details within. [more inside]
posted by forthright at 7:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Mr. Blah -- double vaxxed and now double boosted -- had his 2nd booster yesterday, felt crappy today, and a rapid test (the one the US govt mailed out) just tested positive. Is that legit "oops, you got Covid" or "oops, you tested less than 24 hours after getting your booster and this is a false positive"? Google isn't helping me because I'm not seeing answers from reputable sites. Help? Bonus question inside. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:11 PM PST - 27 comments

How do install the nintendo64 version of Marikart on a windows laptop? I assume I need an emulator and it would coke with the game? Where do I acquire this? I did it years ago but I don't remember how.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:46 PM PST - 4 comments

I managed to recently end up on someone or mutiple someone's spam list. I am starting to get 2 spam texts per day, some with filthy language. [more inside]
posted by luvmywife at 4:38 PM PST - 3 comments

I bring deviled eggs to almost every potluck-style event, and often transport them on foot/by bus. Even when doing the "horizontal" style with a small slice cut from each end to make a flat surface, they often slide around and look like the dog's breakfast. Looking for THE best way to transport deviled eggs, and double bonus if the carrier will allow for a modest angle (such as when it's being pulled in a little rolly cart). Thank you!!!
posted by cyndigo at 1:19 PM PST - 23 comments

I used to use an Apple Watch for this, but it died and I don’t want to replace it because the only thing i need from a smart watch is for it to count my laps, ideally know what stroke I’m swimming, and as an optional bonus, take my heart rate. I’m willing to pay for decent quality but not for endless bells and whistles I don’t need. Fantasy price is under $100 but if that’s not realistic, I’m flexible. What should I get?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:57 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm looking for a word that means the opposite of an auteur. I feel there's a tasty term for this, but it escapes me. [more inside]
posted by Lorc at 12:51 PM PST - 27 comments

A number of online services, such as Google and Facebook, allow you to automatically transfer control of your accounts to a designated person or persons after you die. What other sites allow you to do this? Better yet, are you aware of any comprehensive resources that keep track of all the major sites that offer this feature? Thank you.
posted by DavidNYC at 12:27 PM PST - 3 comments

Our dog Sheba (dog tax) died at the end of February. We'll start looking for a new dog in late May / early June, and I'm eager so I've been looking at area shelters to see what the process is like. Many shelters and rescue organizations want personal references and specify that family and veterinarians can't be used, leaving me kind of confused about what sort of information they ask for, then, because it seems to me like nobody else could realistically provide meaningful information about whether we'd be a good home for an animal. [more inside]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 12:21 PM PST - 18 comments

Crackers. Cereal. Potato chips. These foods go stale when left exposed to air, so we avoid this by sealing bags and containers. I always assumed this was universal, but is it? Is staleness considered perfectly fine in some cultures? [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 12:17 PM PST - 18 comments

In the past 5 years I've watched a movie or TV show that had among its characters the poet William Blake. He was not a major character. I could have sworn it was Taboo, but having just rewatched it... nope. What movie or tv show was it?
posted by dobbs at 12:16 PM PST - 6 comments

I found a vine-twisted stick, and cleaned it up into a walking stick. I was going to finish it with tung oil, but first I'd like to color and stain the parts that were under the vine, to heighten the contrast of the twist. I'd love a metallic copper highlight that blends into a dark stain. I don't know what materials to use. [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 11:55 AM PST - 9 comments

For some reason, that I no longer remember, I purchased a big bottle of organic minced garlic. The garlic is going to expire in a few months and I want to use it up. What are your ideas and suggestions for minced garlic use? I have about a cup of the stuff. [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 11:07 AM PST - 19 comments

What are some good destinations in North America for a biking centric trip? [more inside]
posted by repoman at 10:30 AM PST - 14 comments

I’m on a very short trip to San Francisco and I’d like to go somewhere really nice for dinner. I’m alone, so I’m dining solo tonight. Any recommendations for a high-ish end solo dinner place within walking distance of Embarcadero Center? The only cuisine I’m looking to avoid is pizza, because I eat too much of it already and I live in NYC, so there’s no shortage of it there. (Note: “walking distance” for me is anywhere within roughly one mile.) Thanks!
posted by holborne at 10:19 AM PST - 17 comments

If you had to boil your kitchen gear down to maybe a couple of storage bins to carry between short-term rentals, what would you take? [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 9:55 AM PST - 32 comments

Can I get a second covid booster even if I am not eligible? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:45 AM PST - 9 comments

One of the things that we like to do for the kids in our circle of family and friends is help fuel their learning with educational gifts. The latest is a girl, going on 12, who is very interested in art and nature. [more inside]
posted by xedrik at 8:24 AM PST - 6 comments

I am likely having a fecal transplant to combat persistent gut infection. I'd love anecdata and insights if you have first or second hand experience with this. [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 7:56 AM PST - 8 comments

When I wear sneakers to our kids' soccer practice my feet frequently get wet. When I wear my waterproof leather boots they are awfully heavy for kicking the ball around with the kids. Is there some kind of intermediate I could wear? Probably not cleats but if indoor soccer shoes are waterproof I would consider those, but maybe there's something more substantial I should be looking at.
posted by Tehhund at 6:48 AM PST - 12 comments

My stepmothers mother Fled Kyiv 100 years ago as an evacuee with her aunt. Stepmum is devastated to see this history repeating. I am wondering if there is any way of tracking if any family are still there/fleeing? We have very little to go on - BUT Aunty was a Doctor! Can't have been common? There has to be records about her? [more inside]
posted by tanktop at 4:05 AM PST - 2 comments

When I was young, back in the 90s, I dated two girls of South Korean descent. One was American-born and artsy and weird, while the other had been born in South Korea and was shy and business-minded. They were very different girls, but one of the things they had in common was that the mere mention of a song called The Boogie would send them into total hysterics. Their friends and relatives had a similar reaction. What the heck was this song? (More info and a wav of me whistling the song within!) [more inside]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 1:03 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a woman in my early 30s. I have never liked how I look. I’m very insecure about and unhappy with my appearance and spend a lot of time obsessing over it. I loathe photos of myself. Is this BDD or something else? How do I get over it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:44 PM PST - 17 comments

I am interested in starting a coffee truck business in Massachusetts, but first I need to know if it makes sense. Many sites report the figure that 50% of food trucks report over $150k in revenue per year, but this guy's website says he made just $3k in one month (working half time, but still no where near even $100k per year working full time). It's hard to find objective information online because most sites are trying to get people into buying food trucks, so it seems like their projections are really inflated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:41 PM PST - 15 comments

We have to buy a car for reasons. We don't need a car often as we use our bicycles and public transport a lot for a lot, so the car will typically be driven about twice a week. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 9:34 PM PST - 15 comments

We have several elderly aloe plants that have become ungovernable and have been slowly ejecting themselves from their large pots for some time: example. We would like to somehow get this situation contained so they can be moved/dealt with more easily. Ideas from the also-experienced as to how to do this without killing otherwise extremely happy plants? [more inside]
posted by charmedimsure at 5:43 PM PST - 4 comments

What do you find is the best way to remind yourself to hydrate? [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 5:31 PM PST - 11 comments

In this reply euphoria066 asserts that this is the best carbide edge scraper. I'm sold on getting an edge scraper, are there any other models I should consider? [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 4:11 PM PST - 1 comment

I would like to rent a flat in Italy for at least one year, probably more. This flat would be shared among 6 people, each of whom would be entitled to 8/9 weeks of flat time over the course of the year. This used to be quite a common arrangement but I can't find relevant sample agreements or relevant advice or even narratives. [more inside]
posted by DarlingBri at 3:38 PM PST - 6 comments

I want to replace the wall switch that controls our gas fireplace, but I have questions. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 2:27 PM PST - 4 comments

I bought an iPad mini at an estate sale for $8.00. It powers on but I don't have the passcode to unlock it. [more inside]
posted by Joleta at 2:26 PM PST - 25 comments

A recipe for Szechuan chilli oil says it should be consumed within three days. Really? Can I change the recipe slightly to improve that? [more inside]
posted by twirlypen at 12:58 PM PST - 9 comments

Need to show a negative Covid-19 test, sample taken no more than 24hrs before the departing flight. I checked the destination and layover country, antigen tests are fine for both. Is the antigen test you can take at Walgreens drive thru or the local minute clinic lobby really ok? [more inside]
posted by one4themoment at 12:09 PM PST - 5 comments

Recommendations for films and books similar to Under the Silver Lake. [more inside]
posted by dearwassily at 10:59 AM PST - 15 comments

Can someone explain how cities or states deal with bonds when they reach maturity? I get that issuing the bond allows a city to get a lot of cash up front for a project, but if the entire principal is due at the end of the bond how is this helpful? [more inside]
posted by 12%juicepulp at 10:57 AM PST - 10 comments

For quite a while, I've used the Colonial Film Archive (http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/home) to watch historical footage related to the British empire. However, because the site relies substantially on Flash, many of the videos are now unviewable. I can't event seem to find a way to download the Flash video files. I wonder if anyone has ideas on how I can watch or export videos on this site?
posted by johnasdf at 9:59 AM PST - 8 comments

My hematologist has prescribed 325 mg of OTC ferrous sulfate for anemia. I have not purchased them yet, but I am concerned about taking them since my digestive systems hates everything. Is there anything I can do to minimize potential side effects? [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 9:58 AM PST - 28 comments

I’m depressed and burnt out. I took this week off to try to recover but now it’s almost over and I’m dreading getting back to work on Monday. I need to find a new job pronto but I’m out of ideas and have very little energy or motivation. Please help me. [more inside]
posted by aaadddaaa at 9:30 AM PST - 11 comments

How would I go about recreating this animation (with all the brands and logos changed and new text, of course) with no experience doing so? And how hard would that be? [more inside]
posted by penduluum at 8:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m looking for the lightest weight / coolest possible UPF top that covers my upper back and shoulders. [more inside]
posted by maleficent at 8:31 AM PST - 7 comments

I recently started watching Better Things and am obsessed with Pamela Adlon's style (and everything else about her - she's amazing). Where should I shop, and are there any websites that might help me with style inspiration? A little more detail below... [more inside]
posted by GoldenEel at 7:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm recently diagnosed as ADHD, female and probably on the spectrum too. Eating well, therapy, chilling out has no bearing on the constant rage I feel both towards myself and others. I'm awaiting meds to be prescribed but any suggestions on how to not. be. so. angry. all. the. time. [more inside]
posted by socky_puppy at 5:27 AM PST - 26 comments

Are there books that my parents could read about how to best support my nephews while their parents go through a divorce? [more inside]
posted by nangua at 4:55 AM PST - 1 comment

I am trying to figure out how to calculate the "spinning properties" of a hoop based on its diameter and weight. [more inside]
posted by Skybly at 1:57 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking to take a step back from a demanding, full-time job and want to do something with more flexible hours. I am not sure the path I want to go down yet, but I had some questions related to a particular skill: being a fast typist (120-130wpm). [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:28 AM PST - 14 comments

I lost my business and went through a pretty rough patch with depression. I was invited to come live with my recently retired parents. They decided unilaterally that I was to start paying rent, based on local apartment prices or I was to get out immediately. They have threatened several times that they're going to change the locks on me if I don't pay rent. I'm not looking for suggestions such as moving in with friends, I'm looking to see if they have any rights to lock the doors and hand me a suitcase as I'm essentially a house guest. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:28 AM PST - 20 comments

I froze a load of banana thinking I would use it in smoothies or something. Turns out I don’t have a blender at home. Is there much I can do with all this frozen banana without resorting to buying/borrowing a blender? Was thinking defrost and use in banana bread, any other ideas?
posted by iamsuper at 12:34 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm reading One Eyed Jack by Elizabeth Bear and there are references to a lot of historical and pop-culture characters. Who are the spies that she's calling the scholar and the athlete? [more inside]
posted by mark k at 11:03 PM PST - 6 comments

I am looking for a bikini top that meets some obnoxiously-specific criteria. [more inside]
posted by armeowda at 9:04 PM PST - 3 comments

Somehow, with all the travel mugs available out there...I still can't seem to find the one I need. [more inside]
posted by dede at 5:59 PM PST - 16 comments

This is not a joke: Everytime the KC Royals get a pick off, local grocery stores give out a free six-pack of Pepsi. Throughout the season they have similar giveaways. Are there any MLB APIs I can use (paid or free) so I can setup an AWS Lambda or something similar to tweet/email/etc. when this happens? I tried last year with a similar promotion but I could not find any MLB APIs. I know how stat heavy baseball is so somewhere these APIs exist. This is for a friend's kids to teach them how to program. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 4:07 PM PST - 14 comments

My apartment lease renews later this month and my rent will go up. Is it legal for my landlord to have charged me the new higher rent for the entire month of April even though part of the month falls under my current lease at a lower rent? My current lease has not yet expired. This can't be right. I asked them to fix the error and they said it's not an error. In fact, after I asked, they upped the amount they say I owe, which feels punitive. [more inside]
posted by 2oh1 at 3:53 PM PST - 18 comments

You may remember from previous posts that I lost all of my stuff in a moving scam. Until February, I had a full-time WFH job, so I had been getting by with random thrifted stuff. But now I'm interviewing for hybrid office work and temp jobs, and I don't have enough appropriate clothing for even a single five-day workweek. So, I'm looking for a service to help me curate a well-fitting capsule work wardrobe on as reasonable a budget as possible. [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 3:02 PM PST - 32 comments

I want to use a flash drive with my iPhone XS so that I can bring videos and music with me when I travel. What do I need to achieve this? [more inside]
posted by GlassHeart at 2:57 PM PST - 3 comments

My baby loves this song more than any other song she's heard. (Way, way more.) I'd like to find a replacement. [more inside]
posted by Bambiraptor at 2:32 PM PST - 59 comments

My 2003 Subaru Forester is in great shape--with the exception of a suspected electrical issue. Which caused me to stall out at an intersection. Car is at the mechanic's shop now, but... [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:36 PM PST - 8 comments

The second in a series of related questions. This is both "What car do I want?" and "How do I want to get it?" Snowflakes inside. Perspectives from people who bought cars in 2021-2022 and from hybrid compact sedan owners especially desired. [more inside]
posted by All Might Be Well at 12:58 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for stories of successful, happiness-increasing, consciously made (not fallen into by circumstance, but an informed choice) career changes that happened in an unexpected direction. Stories where there isn't an obvious presumed explanation along the lines of "well they presumably did that for the peacefulness/ status/ conventional consensus of rewardingness/big bucks". [more inside]
posted by hotcoroner at 12:07 PM PST - 15 comments

What sites do you use to find good liquor, beer, and wine? Serious Eats has gaps. I don't drink much, so I need useful tips. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 11:41 AM PST - 10 comments

Are there client seeking professionals who focus on the grey area between investment management and taxation? What name do i call them to locate them? [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 11:19 AM PST - 7 comments

My employer has expressed a strong interest in having me live in UTC+0 (I'm presently Bay Area (so UTC-8). They don't really care where specifically I live, just that it be UTC+0 (or, if I really want, UTC+/-1). It is financially reasonable for me to do this, sooooo..... [more inside]
posted by aramaic at 10:05 AM PST - 25 comments

Is it better to start with one parakeet or two? I've read that it is easier to tame/train a single parakeet and bond with it than with two. Is it better to get one first and then a second later? In that case will it be harder to tame the second one? If it is only one, we plan on spending time with it daily, but will not be home for a lot of the day, so we would eventually like to have two. Would it be better to just start with two so the first is not lonely?
posted by roaring beast at 9:49 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a set of these white porcelain bowls from IKEA that I use for soups, chili and the like. When I heat up leftovers, they get really hot. They are about 6in in diameter. Can you recommend a similar sized set of bowls that don't get hot in the microwave? I'd prefer them to be "nice" like the IKEA ones. Thanks!
posted by Rad_Boy at 9:30 AM PST - 20 comments

My Bosch dishwasher is giving an E24 error, which means it’s not draining properly. We’ve done all the recommended self-help - up to the point of disconnecting hoses and such. At this point I’m not sure if I need a plumber or appliance repair. The dishwasher itself seems fine. The impeller turns, so don’t think that it’s broken. So, plumber or appliance repair?
posted by ereshkigal45 at 9:16 AM PST - 10 comments

Moving into a new rental, and would like to line my kitchen cabinets. Anyone know of actually removable or non-adhesive liners that can be removed cleanly after multiple years? Does the new sticky Con-Tact paper that claims to be removable actually come off easily? After 7 years, the Con-Tact grip non-adhesive shelf liner mentioned in this 2013 Ask left rows upon rows of stubby, sticky residue in all of my cabinets, so that's a hard no. [more inside]
posted by rogerroger at 8:13 AM PST - 9 comments

I live in a building with a gorgeous lap pool and I like swimming. I always feel better after I swim. And yet, even though I have plenty of time, most days, I do not swim. How do I make myself go? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 7:33 AM PST - 46 comments

The figure of 'The Edgelord' has been gaining traction in recent years. But I haven't read anything directed specifically at (theorising) this phenomena. Do you have any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious at 6:55 AM PST - 12 comments

YANMD. What do these very, very faintly positive pregnancy tests and strongly positive ovulation test mean? Especially worried because I had a bad fever during what would have been my previous ovulation and the two weeks after, so I have no idea what's going on with my body. TW: loss [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 5:16 AM PST - 8 comments

I'll be traveling soon and staying at hotels. What are the best options to stream video on a hotel room's TV? I have accounts on Netflix, Hulu, etc. I have a MacBook, so a Chromecast is an option. But another option is a low-end streaming device like a Roku that I configure in advance and connect with the hotel's WiFi.
posted by ShooBoo at 5:11 AM PST - 12 comments

I have (provisionally) accepted a promotion at my current org, but a new role is potentially happening to which I'm much better suited. Too late to say anything? [more inside]
posted by socksister at 2:47 AM PST - 5 comments

Do you eat your greens? Do you eat them regularly, without stress? Can you answer some questions I have about eating them raw vs cooked? Come inside. [more inside]
posted by The Adventure Begins at 10:40 PM PST - 23 comments

Is there any negative in buying another set of retainers now, instead of waiting until they inevitably break? [more inside]
posted by meowzilla at 10:22 PM PST - 4 comments

A relative is beginning chemo tomorrow as part of treatment for breast cancer. I think it's HER2+ and has spread to nearby lymph nodes, so I imagine the treatment may be quite aggressive. Does anyone have any suggestions to deal with the various unpleasant side effects which may arise during treatment? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 9:53 PM PST - 12 comments

I joined the public service a year ago, and I fear it's not for me. Help!! [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 9:19 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a pair of Wranglers with premature wear. I am debating what to replace them with. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:13 PM PST - 8 comments

I had orthotics made many years ago but they're worn out. I have the forms (molds? not sure what they're called) of my feet that they were made from but have no idea where I go for this kind of thing. Googling only turns up people wanting to do the whole process from scratch. Do I have to go through the doctor who made them? Because $$$. There must be a cheaper way.
posted by HotToddy at 7:25 PM PST - 8 comments

Curious about how people responded to Paxlovid, and if it helped relieve their symptoms. [more inside]
posted by momochan at 5:10 PM PST - 8 comments

My dad retired and now can play guitar 24/7. How would he find a community of fellow musicians who would want to hang out, talk shop, and jam? Not necessarily starting a band (though I don't think he'd be adverse), just finding some like-minded friends. He mainly plays blues and blues rock, he's very experienced, and he lives in the DC-MD-VA area, specifically Montgomery County, MD. Alternatively, does anyone know of good online communities that would be friendly to someone who is Extremely Not Online? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:06 PM PST - 13 comments

Our college newspaper is trying to download a publicly visible PDF posted on the district website. Alas, they can't right click or even print it. We can read it. but that's all. [more inside]
posted by cccorlew at 4:34 PM PST - 11 comments

The booster seat says its weight limit is from 40lbs to 110lbs, and height is from 44 inches to 57 inches. My kid is 61 inches and 75lbs. Is there harm in keeping him in the bench-style no-back booster seat? or is it safer for him to not use a car seat at all?
posted by WizKid at 3:31 PM PST - 3 comments

I live on the top floor of a high-rise, facing north and west. That entire NW wall of my apartment consists of two floor-to-ceiling fixed glass panels and one floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door. We're having insane winds here, and for the second time in the past few months you can SEE the glass bowing in, the door shifting, and it makes a ton of noise. The cat has taken to hiding in the bathtub. Should I join her? [more inside]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 3:24 PM PST - 11 comments

Say I want to build many wooden boxes and give them to many different people. I want the people to tap the box with their phone to load a URL. (1) Is this possible? (2) Would NFC tags do this? Something better? 3) Would I have to "write" every tag to load a specific URL or can I order a bunch of tags that already know where to go?
posted by 10ch at 3:24 PM PST - 6 comments

Can I donate blood if I’m getting a cabotegravir injection every two months? Assume that I have no other eligibility issues. (I’m taking cabotegravir as prep in a clinical trial.)
posted by davidstandaford at 2:41 PM PST - 4 comments

I recently did a clean up of my browsers and realized that cleared my current run of The Shark Game. I have an exported save from January that I am trying to import, but it keeps throwing an error. [more inside]
posted by Julnyes at 2:04 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a Kindle Paperwhite 4. One of the nice things about it is how it can search for text in one book or in every book on the device. But before it can do that, the Kindle has to "index" each book, and mine seems to have stopped doing that. It is working fine in every other respect. [more inside]
posted by Flexagon at 1:39 PM PST - 1 comment

Neutrogena has discontinued their anti-residue shampoo, causing wailing and gnashing of teeth in our house. We're big fans of how well it removes built up oil and product, its relatively light scent, and how well it lathers up. Hair Mefites, what should we replace it with, once we're through the last couple of ounces of our current bottle?
posted by Kreiger at 1:19 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm currently undergoing a loss mitigation application process with my mortgage servicer and need advise, reassurance, recommendations, whatever you have that might be helpful. I am at my wits' end. You are not my lawyer, but do I need one? [more inside]
posted by a.steele at 12:50 PM PST - 5 comments

A dear friend of mine lost his mom to cancer in April 2020 (no funeral thanks to covid), put his cat down in May 2020, his dad has been in and out of the hospital since June 2021, and put his dog down last week. He's feeling very confused about why he feels so much more grief, weepy sadness grief, about his dog than he did his mom, or previous pets. Can you provide resources to help him navigate all the complications of this? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 12:02 PM PST - 27 comments

My gas stove/oven is malfunctioning and I am struggling to get the issue diagnosed/resolved. Seeking all advice. Long explanation inside. [more inside]
posted by mosst at 12:01 PM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone recommend any software or online tools for a child (with adult help) to create their own comic by dragging and dropping? [more inside]
posted by d288478 at 11:16 AM PST - 4 comments

So my wife has always referred to a small footstool as either an Ottoman or a word that sounds like "Pomposet" or "Pompeset." A couple of days ago, after 25 years of marriage, we decided to look up the word "pomposet" and couldn't find it, or anything like it. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 11:03 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm making a Spotify playlist and Spotify doesn't have Obsession by Sky Ferreira. I need a good replacement from 2010-2016 with lyrics about being deeply into someone and wanting them to be into you in return. Pop/dance is good, but can stretch to adjacent like Indie. [more inside]
posted by blueberry monster at 10:59 AM PST - 4 comments

At the age of 38, I've realized that I'm bi (pan?). I'm in a 17-year marriage with the only person I've ever dated (I'm a cis woman married to a cis man), and I'm trying to figure out what the point of coming out would be, for me personally. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:52 AM PST - 26 comments

I have a long-neglected MacBook Pro 8 (purchased in 2011) that I recently rediscovered, but I can’t get past the prompt to install OS X. Is there any way to recover my data? [more inside]
posted by chara at 10:33 AM PST - 5 comments

wondering if anyone has had any luck contesting this sort of thing? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:16 AM PST - 6 comments

My landline is ringing every 15 minutes with scams and telemarketers. How do I make it stop? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 10:13 AM PST - 18 comments

Piggybacking on my husband's early June work trip to Imabari Japan (Ehime Prefecture) and we've got questions!! [more inside]
posted by foxhat10 at 10:13 AM PST - 9 comments

I was a dumbass taking down a 6' canvas bell tent, left something sharp inside, and it ripped a seam. It's a fairly important seam, near the top of the tent where the central support is, about 14". Most of the fabric is left. How should I fix it? I made a pitiful attempt to sew it before realizing that sewing canvas with embroidery thread is hard. Is Seam Grip glue enough? Maybe combined with Tenacious Tape? Here's a picture.
posted by insteadofapricots at 9:49 AM PST - 4 comments

I actually really like where I live right now (Portland, OR metro area). I do not love the housing prices. Nor do I like wildfires, and as time goes on it seems like this problem is only going to get worse. Are there any places that I should consider that meet my snowflakey requirements? [more inside]
posted by daikaisho at 9:32 AM PST - 19 comments

This will probably be the first in a series of related questions. This is a question about climate impacts and feelings related to getting a car and moving to a suburb as a city resident who hasn't owned a car in a decade. Both actual research and personal perspectives are welcome, especially from people who, like me, have been vocal about their dislike of car culture and whose motives for remaining in cities have been ecological since at least 2020. [more inside]
posted by All Might Be Well at 9:13 AM PST - 12 comments

YANMD. Because of a sudden medical issue, I am on a 10-day course of Cipro and Flagyl + an extremely restricted diet (clear liquids only right now, ramping up to low fiber toward the end). Yikes. I am not happy thinking about what these meds + no/low fiber is gonna do to my insides. Has this happened to you? How did you handle it? What should I be doing to make this as easy as possible on my body?
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:08 AM PST - 5 comments

I need to purchase medical and dental insurance on the private market (i.e., not through my employer). I am in the United States. I have no idea where to begin. [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:10 AM PST - 10 comments

I am house-hunting in a neighborhood I love that was hit hard by the foreclosure crisis a decade ago. Many of the homes now available are newly renovated by flippers. What might an inspector want to especially watch out for, with regard to shortcuts flippers might take? [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 7:14 AM PST - 26 comments

I've been caring for my 73yo mom for 9 months post-surgery and am looking for next steps in her independent recovery. What are all the ways you've helped your loved ones age in place? (Snowflakes a plenty inside) [more inside]
posted by actionpact at 7:11 AM PST - 11 comments

My niece is obsessed with Roblox and we have been "meeting" nightly to play. Right now we meet in a place called Brookfield where she mostly just pushes me around town in a cart and sets me on fire. :) How else can I engage with her? [more inside]
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 5:22 AM PST - 7 comments

Back in the 1990s, I saw a number of documentaries and things at the Franklin Institute's domed IMAX theater in Philadelphia. Before they showed the legendary Philadelphia Anthem, they always had someone give an explanation of the theater, and they would show the sound system "through" the screen. Were they actually showing the speakers for real by brightly lighting the area behind, like a one-way mirror effect? Was it just a projected image? If anyone knows for sure, I would be greatly relieved to find out, because this thought has been bugging me for nearly an hour.
posted by DoctorFedora at 10:31 PM PST - 12 comments

It’s the hot season where I live and the main bedroom (the coolest room in the house) is around 90F for most of the day. When it’s bed time and I turn the AC on the air cools off quickly enough, but the bedding and in particular the mattress take a minimum of an hour to get to room temperature (generally around 75F). Are there tricks for dealing with this?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:26 PM PST - 19 comments

Due to a late-developed food intolerance, I can't eat potatoes or any potato derivatives*. Walking past the range of different chip flavors in the store makes me melancholy (and hungry). Is there a flavored, non-potato chip you like? [more inside]
posted by Lexica at 7:52 PM PST - 38 comments

I consider myself a focused, communicative, reliable, concise, shrewd person who believes in rigorous objective research, especially in the digital age. What would be an ideal profession for a person like me? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 7:02 PM PST - 18 comments

I’ve used a treadmill desk in my home office since August 2021, and I walk 4-8 miles per weekday (about 3-5 hours per day). Despite having done this for almost 8 months, my legs and ankles still get tired at the end of the day, and by Friday afternoon I feel pretty creaky. I thought I would be in better shape by now, or at least able to walk for steadily increasing distances. Instead, I’ve plateaued around 30 miles per week. Is this normal? What can I do to feel less tired and sore? [more inside]
posted by Maarika at 6:55 PM PST - 14 comments

from an article about CDC transmission categories: "A county's level of transmission is based on just two metrics: new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate, both measured over the last seven days. The basic idea is that these show how much virus is spreading around us, CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen said. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 6:05 PM PST - 11 comments

We have a bird feeder and love watching the birds on it. Or we did...until a grumpy group of grackles started bullying the other birds away. Grackles need to eat too - but how can we minimize their time on the feeder and give the other birds a chance?
posted by rednikki at 6:03 PM PST - 3 comments

What has your experience been like with your electric vehicle?

• Do you like owning it?
• Do you get range anxiety?
• Ever take your EV on trips that require you to recharge before you reach your destination?
• How do you recharge it at home?
• Do you have a level 2 charger?
• Is there anything I should consider when thinking of getting an EV?

[more inside]
posted by braveterry at 6:00 PM PST - 21 comments

Example: I run a speed test on my phone while connected to Wi-Fi and get a result. I go around the corner and test again and get another, lower result. Did my phone and AP somehow detect that they need to slow down? Or do they just transmit data at full speed and see if it works? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 3:54 PM PST - 3 comments

At least fifteen years ago I watched a movie that sent me on a big crying jag and I'd like your help in remembering what it was. It was not in English (I think), and was about (or mostly about) a heterosexual couple, and I think one of them was a hairstylist. Whatever it was that made me cry so much is probably not obvious because I felt a little baffled by it at the time, but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with utter loyalty in the couple's relationship. I know it's not much to go on but that's what you all do best!
posted by HotToddy at 3:24 PM PST - 6 comments

After serving two weeks on a grand jury, I ended up with not one but two parking tickets that would claw back more than half of what meager pay I got. Normally I'd just pony up the dough, but in this case they feel pretty unfair and I'm just wondering if there's any point in contesting them. Is it worth a shot, given the circumstances? [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi at 3:03 PM PST - 6 comments

Looking for recommendations for a grief counselor, if anyone has them. I’m asking for a friend, but they are in the Atlanta area. Online is also fine.
posted by needlegrrl at 2:57 PM PST - 2 comments

Short version: I'm looking for a toilet that's less than 29" in length, with a 14" rough-in (or some toilet miracle worker who can tell me how to make my Toto Carlyle II flush reliably). [more inside]
posted by straw at 2:14 PM PST - 10 comments

Should I start storing a couple of weeks/months worth of food and some water? How much? This is more about supply chain weirdness than worrying about what to do when SHTF. [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:00 PM PST - 15 comments

I've got a hundred things plus in my lists in Things and I just do better when my day is boxed up for me. But the problem is that I get kinda overwhelmed when I've got to lay it all out for myself. So the idea is to pay a remote to do it. But what's the best way to give them access to everything in multiple calendars - google, apple - and my tasks in Things?
posted by rileyray3000 at 1:57 PM PST - 4 comments

Related to my last question: I have a couple of pairs of black jeans I love. But they are somehow magnets for all sorts of light-colored dirt/stain/food/etc. They look great when I take them out of the drier, but after just a few hours they inevitably get some sort of schmutz on them. This is okay at home - I just rotate them and wash them every day. But I'm going to a conference where I'll be out all day. I'd love to wear these pants, but fear the dirt. Anyone have suggestions?
posted by ManInSuit at 1:41 PM PST - 6 comments

My elderly (15 year old) terrier has multiple medical conditions, including both renal and congestive heart failure. It's clear that we're getting close to the end, but when is the right time? [more inside]
posted by Krop Tor at 12:28 PM PST - 22 comments

My shower is not okay. I am not so bad at keeping up with other household chores but I do not go in and scrub the grout nearly often enough. I mean, what even is grout and why is it so stupid? Shouldn't we have invented some sort of polymer that repels mold and mildew? Anyway, is there anything that can be done/sprayed/conjured in between showers, short of mechanical scrubbing action, to keep the shower looking somewhat presentable?
posted by madonna of the unloved at 12:27 PM PST - 14 comments

Free with ads, or I would pay for the app if not too expensive. Quality, ease of use, and usability of the scanned text are my priorities.
posted by alsoran at 12:20 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm building a climbing wall for a 5 year old. I got the pre-sanded plywood. But the edges are still a little splintery. I'm thinking of just putting some decorative ducttape around the edge...so it would sit on the edge and then some of it would fold over on to the face of the climbing wall. Will that be totally cool or is it going to look like crape in 2 or 3 years?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:04 PM PST - 13 comments

Help my virtuouso blues guitarist friend from New Mexico find a new musical community after moving to the Kent, WA area [more inside]
posted by fenwaydirtdog at 11:23 AM PST - 6 comments

My wife is formulating a business plan to open her own dental practice. Help us with the name! [more inside]
posted by donnagirl at 11:00 AM PST - 27 comments

For some personal/sentimental reasons, I would like to watch a TV special that was on Much Music USA in 2001. I cannot find a place to download or stream it. Is there some way to achieve this that I am missing? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 10:25 AM PST - 0 comments

Partner and I both have ADHD which can cause moodiness. I have a hard time coping with his bad attitude and would like to hear how you deal with this in your own relationship, whether it is impacted by ADHD or there is moodiness from some other cause. (Side note: We suspect that we are both on the spectrum also.) [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 10:24 AM PST - 21 comments

My partner and I inherited a painting, and I'm hoping to learn more about it, its subject, and its artist. [more inside]
posted by rustybullrake at 10:13 AM PST - 7 comments

So as per my earlier questions, I went and got this printed....11x14 including the white border. The image as per photoshop is 11x14 at 555 pixels/inch. All the "pieces" from which the image is composited where very high resolution and look great, even at 200% zoom in photoshop. So why is my photoprint pixelated garbage? I will have to reprint, but how do I get a better print next time? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:06 AM PST - 8 comments

What is something fun that can be done within 30 to 45 minutes of Thousand Oaks, California without needing to leave the car? Some touristy thing that can be seen from a car? The best scenic drive? An urban area to explore? Thanks!
posted by andoatnp at 9:46 AM PST - 7 comments

Sending a care package to a war zone: what non-sugary snacks are best for providing high calories? Snacks that could be shared with multiple people would be ideal. Bonus points if it is low-weight so that some of them could be carried as well.
posted by corb at 8:47 AM PST - 19 comments

I tested positive to Covid about a month ago along with my entire household (all triple vaccinated healthy adults). Had mild(ish) symptoms for a few days then gradually felt better. Tested negative after 10 days. Resumed my daily habit of walking 5 to 10 thousand steps, was feeling great again, no issues. Now, a month later, I feel sick with some similar symptoms, testing everyday and still negative. Doctor says it's the lingering effects of Covid and that he sees a lot of it. Has anyone here dealt with this? How? Please share your experiences and if you have any tips on how to recharge batteries post-infection that'd be very welcome. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by bitteschoen at 7:59 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been in and out of so many relationships that saying "I love you" means, at best, that I'm into this relationship right now, but that could change, and I expect it means about the same to you. Where does one go from this point? [more inside]
posted by allelopath at 7:52 AM PST - 11 comments

During the pandemic, I changed my regular hairstyle to something that involves putting some product (pomade) in my hair. I am a man, 50s, with , midlength sort-of-curly hair. It usually looks good for a few hours before I need to re-apply. Next week, I'm going to a conference where I'll be out all day. Do I need to carry pomade around with me all day? I don't usually carry a bag - it seems like a hassle to carry one just to keep my hair in check. How do people do this? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 7:42 AM PST - 12 comments

Bonus points for sleep health recommendations which do not require prescription medication.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:22 AM PST - 7 comments

I have had a rough couple of months and am thinking of doing a quiet, romantic bird watching long weekend at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Broadkill and Slaughter Beaches in Delaware. Any personal recommendations for places to stay, eat, see, or visit in this lesser-visited part of Delaware are welcome! [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 6:55 AM PST - 1 comment

I want to be able to launch music playback from my Plex server to a headless speaker, and then close out while the music plays. Can a Roku & and HDMI audio-extractor handle this? Or do I have to wait for the rumored headless Plexamp client for Raspberry Pi? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:38 AM PST - 6 comments

I write fiction and have a song on repeat for hours and hours when I'm writing. Having the emotional swell of music is really helpful to my process. I'd love recommendations! [more inside]
posted by Calicatt at 6:13 AM PST - 3 comments

ikynMd I have major issues with spine from cervical area to lumbar, including a spinal surgery at l3/l4. Now hands, legs and feet are cold, purple and red. Doctor's who I have seen have no clue. It is no rheumatory, not auto immune but there is extensive inflammation throughout my body. This is not Raynaud's, though it might have started out as such. To figure this out - am trying to understand how the body works. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 11:56 PM PST - 4 comments

I am jealous of all those people who suddenly have what look like tie-dyed or otherwise colored KN95 masks. However, I'm not sure where they are coming from and especially if those are considered legally safe in the US by the FDA. [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:30 PM PST - 13 comments

Can anyone recommend a good book (on other resource) about dealing with avoidant personality types? Not passive-aggressive mean--more like disappearing during projects and refusing to come out and say they won't do it. Etc.
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:49 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm having difficulty figuring out a way to speak about quitting my last job that is professional and neutral. I'm still unsettled by what happened there, but I need to "get over" it and start searching for a new job. I'm just afraid of being asked about why I left my last job. What is the best way to put it? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:09 PM PST - 31 comments

I read about Lace locks for runners in a great book on running called Slow Burn. Do you use them and if so, are they worth it and what brand do you recommend.
posted by Tziv at 3:44 PM PST - 9 comments

Pretty much just what it says on the tin, but I'm also curious generally why it happens, and maybe age and gender identity. Mostly just curious.
posted by kensington314 at 2:50 PM PST - 45 comments

I’m going to be an out-patient at the hospital soon and will be confined to bed for most of a day while waiting for and recovering from a procedure. What extremely portable, two-person games can my companion and I play to pass the time? [more inside]
posted by bookmammal at 12:03 PM PST - 24 comments

The scene: a party tent at a concert festival. The month: July. The city: Chicago. The challenge: keeping a big cake hidden, cool, and happy for 2+ hours until it gets eaten. How can it be done? [more inside]
posted by picopebbles at 11:56 AM PST - 20 comments

I'd like to convert my smallish lawn into a fescue or other more drought-tolerant/ native vegetation. In my ideal situation, I'd overseed the fescue on my lawn over the course of a few years and eventually my preferred plant would just win out. Is that possible? Or is the only way to accomplish this to do a complete sod removal and reseeding?
posted by Think_Long at 11:54 AM PST - 15 comments

outline.com is dead. I've tried archive.today and the Wayback machine, but they are not as user-friendly (for me at least). What else is out there? [more inside]
posted by BekahVee at 11:28 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm craving some more eavesdropping adventures...! [more inside]
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 11:07 AM PST - 9 comments

I inherited a condominium in a major US coastal city that I want to sell as quickly and painlessly as possible. I have already contacted a real estate agent and had some preliminary discussions about the property, but haven't signed an agreement or moved ahead with listing the condo in any way. After talking to the agent, I was contacted by someone who might be interested in purchasing the condo as a private sale and avoiding paying commissions. What is the best way to proceed? [more inside]
posted by googly at 10:45 AM PST - 7 comments

24 years ago, as I prepared to leave for my freshman year of college, my mother took me to Sears and bought me a set of bedsheets. Nearly a quarter century later, I still use the pillowcase from that sheet set, because it turned out to have been the single greatest pillowcase ever manufactured by man. But... [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 10:38 AM PST - 16 comments

I am flying from Berlin to Manchester tomorrow to see my parents. My fave band ever (ADF) are playing in town on Thurs. Is there ANY way I can go to the gig? [more inside]
posted by runincircles at 10:03 AM PST - 15 comments

Our rescue cat has come so far since we first got him, but he's a feline who's inclined to swat and bite. In under a month, he's self-transitioned from "I have murderous intent and will draw blood if you get anywhere in my vicinity!" to "If you're doing something I don't like, I will lightly swat and bite but mostly not draw blood." And I'm wondering the best tactic on my end to help him stop this behavior. Does an adult cat ever fully transition out of such behavior? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:11 AM PST - 16 comments

This question is inspired by the previous tipping question on Askme, but was something I have been wondering about. I always think of my tip amount as acknowledging the quality of service. Like, I'd give a much bigger tip for amazing service and a standard tip for standard service. How do you think about tips asked for in advance - especially for services provided by the business owner themself? [more inside]
posted by lesser whistling duck at 8:32 AM PST - 11 comments

Something that seems to have popped up during the last couple of years is an option to add a tip to what had traditionally been a non-tipped sale - think Panera, Mod Pizza, or Noodles & Company here. Do those tips make it to the employees? [more inside]
posted by Kyol at 7:57 AM PST - 3 comments

In the last 6 months, my kid has had two very similar episodes of intense stomach cramping and vomiting that have resolved in about 8 hours....and we're not sure why this is happening. [more inside]
posted by gnutron at 7:25 AM PST - 22 comments

I have developed a fondness for breve lattes and am looking for a good and inexpensive maker for my kitchen. Please send along good brands :)
posted by goalyeehah at 7:20 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for a cloud storage solution like Dropbox, for a small organization, which also supports having the company data cloud on an in-house server. Something with all the bells and whistles that would support running an archive of tens of terabytes, accessible to all users. [more inside]
posted by svenni at 6:16 AM PST - 4 comments

Ms Fabius and I have never owned a dog but have been thinking of getting one for some time. We're a little uncertain about what kind to get and would like suggestions for any breeds that might suit us. [more inside]
posted by fabius at 4:36 AM PST - 37 comments

My spouse has been having certain issues for a some time. Previously they had a (specialty removed) doctor whom my spouse felt wasn't really listening to them. So the spouse switched doctors and has since been diagnosed with some severe things under the new doctor. Things that maybe the previous doctor should have caught? I don't know. I'd like to get all the medical records from the previous doctor, to see if there's anything that was missed. But I don't want to make a fuss about it. This is just me, with power of attorney. The spouse is ok with this being done, but doesn't want to make a fuss either. Is there a recommended way to for person to request their spouse's medical records from a previous doctor? Is there some formal procedure or should I just walk into the office and make the request? The records go back to 2013.
posted by anonymous at 2:52 AM PST - 13 comments

I am looking to buy a new house. Currently we have a mortgage of a value of x, with a fixed term. To buy the new house, we would need to borrow an additional amount, y. To avoid an early repayment charge, we need to port x, and get an additional mortgage y. How does that work? [more inside]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 1:25 AM PST - 3 comments

I've had a Bridgestone XO-3 hybrid bike for about 15 years. I found it at a nonprofit bike repair shop. Liked it but didn't know what it was until after I got it tuned up and was told by the store that they and their steel frames, were rare. I've since ridden it a few times and have gotten it periodically tuned up and touched up. It looks great. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 11:18 PM PST - 9 comments

Can you identify what it is? (the picture is a bit grainy, we had to trap it with tape on paper.) Is it a one off or the advance scout for the hordes to follow?
posted by FungusCassetteBicker at 8:48 PM PST - 7 comments

I (mid-30s female) have five weeks (April 29-June 3) to myself for what will likely be the last time in a long while. Help me plan a budget adventure trip and/or cross-country road trip from SF to MA? [more inside]
posted by pgoat at 8:19 PM PST - 6 comments

How do you keep food warm to serve during a seder? How do you as the host/cook time everything correctly? [more inside]
posted by Charity Garfein at 7:24 PM PST - 7 comments

I remember reading a short story where some aliens who were described as stereotypical vikings trapped in a small, stinking ship (smell, tight quarters) carrying swords, descending on an apparently-unsophisticated planet (it's Earth). [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:08 PM PST - 4 comments

I’m working with a 501(c)3 organization that is throwing an online fundraising raffle. I’m hoping to find a platform that could be used to run this. [more inside]
posted by cathodeheart at 5:23 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a couple of these collapsible box/tote things, and I am looking for a nicer version that will actually last. [more inside]
posted by rockindata at 5:12 PM PST - 3 comments

The soles on my not-very-often-used hiking shoes have come apart. The rest of the shoes are in great condition. Can they be repaired? Is it even worth trying? [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 5:10 PM PST - 8 comments

I have an embarrassing secret birthday habit I want to confess about, and discontinue, but would like your advice and tips on how. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 4:56 PM PST - 40 comments

Supply chain issues aside, I need a new car. I'm looking for a mid-size that can tow 3500lbs and handle some logging roads. Right now I'm leaning towards a Subaru Outback Wilderness, but the shortlist so far also has the Toyota RAV4 TRD. I also briefly thought about a Toyota Tacoma, but I don't need a truck. All in, I'm hoping to not spend too much more than 50k CAD. As always, I come to metafilter for advice. [more inside]
posted by cgg at 4:50 PM PST - 9 comments

I am very buxom and clumsy. Please name restaurant meals and hors d'ouerves that are unlikely to spill, splatter, crumble, leak and otherwise land on my "food shelf". Bonus points for healthier options. [more inside]
posted by b33j at 4:46 PM PST - 15 comments

If you were really, deeply, maybe weirdly attached to your very specific street/neighborhood, how did you convince yourself to move (a few blocks) away, and how do you feel about it now? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 4:42 PM PST - 5 comments

Taking full advantage of the new question limits to ask for some recommendations for where to get some new things from. I'm moving, and looking to refresh a lot of the things I own that I've bad for a bit too long and which are showing their age or hard to refresh. I'm not looking to spend too much but will pay a good price for a quality item. List below the jump. [more inside]
posted by LSK at 4:16 PM PST - 2 comments

Are there Android settings to force all my movie apps to display in portrait mode + split screen, by default? This is by far the most common arrangement I want to use, and so I'm looking to connect with the anti-full-screen resistance forces. [more inside]
posted by circular at 2:49 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm a 33 year old woman, since puberty I've always had a bit of a belly pouch which has slowly grown over the years. I look very slim if I'm not wearing tight clothes as the fat goes to my belly and thighs only, I'm lucky in that respect. I want to tackle this and I just wanted to know if anyone can advise on the specifics of habit, behaviour, routines, diet and exercise which you successfully used to lose belly fat? It might be a bit late but I really want to start slimming down before the summer. Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.
posted by Sunflower88 at 2:11 PM PST - 15 comments

A month ago, I put in a non-binding factory order for a car via a dealership at MSRP. I had a bad experience with them, so I ended up going to a second dealership. The second dealership was great and offered me $800 more on my trade-in, so I put in a second non-binding order for an identical car, also at MSRP. But the first car will be arriving in 2 weeks and the second won't be here for 4 months. Which car should I keep? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 1:48 PM PST - 7 comments

The killer feature I would dearly love is to be able to categorise them into folders, e.g. "TV shows", "History", "Cancelled podcasts", etc. on my iPhone. [more inside]
posted by NoiselessPenguin at 1:01 PM PST - 8 comments

I’ve explored doing some self-guided IFS and would like to try a few sessions with a pro. I’m looking for someone who will do zoom-based sessions. Have you worked with anyone you’d recommend? [more inside]
posted by nevernines at 12:51 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for recommendations of vet firms who will put one's ill dog down at home. Asking for a friend who is in Hampshire in the UK. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 12:07 PM PST - 3 comments

I am a nonfiction writer and writing lecturer. I'd love to start a side business teaching seminars on writing for companies. I have no idea how to do this -- help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:40 AM PST - 4 comments

Help me deal with intrusive thoughts about the cremation process [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:40 AM PST - 16 comments

I just got one of these air fryer lids for my Instant Pot. Please share your best recipes and advice for making the most of it. [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 10:31 AM PST - 5 comments

Friend's CPA is hyper-booked, IRS is crazy this year. Recommendations for a detail oriented, experienced CPA in Oregon with time? [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 9:53 AM PST - 2 comments

I can't believe I'm using a question to ask this since I'm usually very tech self sufficient, but clearly I'm not doing Google right. I have had two phones and am trying to consolidate to a single phone. I want to import only a subset of contacts from the secondary phone, but every option I've seen wants to import everything from the vcf file. There are a ton of contacts and I don't want to clutter up the primary phone. How do I this without having to import all and then spend a ton of time cleaning up? Both are Android and I have the contacts in a vcf file.
posted by Ensign at 7:52 AM PST - 4 comments

To keep this as brief as possible: I had a nine-month textationship (made contact through Tinder, never met IRL) and seemed to be getting the slow fade over the past few weeks. I always had the feeling that I was more into him than he was into me, but he did repeatedly ask me out which never eventuated for a range of stupid reasons (constant corona issues, putting my back out etc). I finally texted to ask, look, shall we meet? Got left on read. [more inside]
posted by rubbish bin night at 6:24 AM PST - 21 comments

My hardwood kitchen floors are getting battered. I think I need a rug. The problem is that I have a cat that sheds a lot of white fur, and a toddler whose favorite activity is running across the kitchen and prone to falling, so I need something that can be washed and is very slip resistant. Ideas?
posted by redlines at 6:17 AM PST - 8 comments