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I need a webcam for my work windows 10 laptop to use as an external setup at home with my big monitor. The work laptop can’t have any software or drivers installed without a lot of paperwork and I’m new to windows, used to macs without drivers. Is there a way to find a (cheap) webcam that can just plug in?
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:59 PM PST - 8 comments

I used to run a prison chess club in another part of USA. I mostly just need help identifying a prison near McAllen Texas that will be a viable option, then I'll reach out to the warden. The closest one I've found is Federal Correctional Institution Three Rivers. Is there a closet prison to McAllen? Thanks!
posted by maxexam at 6:12 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm moving into an apartment large enough to set up how I want (rather than being constrained by space limitations), yay! But I am terrible at anything involving visual aesthetics--I have a sense of what I do and don't like, but I don't know what looks good together, and need to see what others do for inspiration. But I don't even know how to search for inspiration! Help? [more inside]
posted by rhiannonstone at 5:03 PM PST - 27 comments

I was recently on a hospitalized fast to rule out insulinoma as the cause of some mystery hypoglycemia. At around the 40 hour mark, my blood sugar dropped below 50 and they gave me a glucagon shot that didn't change my blood sugar. It later dropped to 43 and they gave me a second shot, which also didn't work. I was in ketosis at the time. Googling doesn't turn up things or I've got the wrong phrases. Any ideas why a body would not respond to a glucagon shot? [more inside]
posted by 10ch at 4:15 PM PST - 6 comments

I have reached the point where I really need to make a decision regarding whether to pursue transfeminine hormone therapy. I feel very torn, and could really use some input/perspective/advice. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:55 PM PST - 15 comments

Where can I find a decent replica of Kate Bush's red dress in the Wuthering Heights music video for Halloween costume purposes? [more inside]
posted by maighdeann mhara at 2:24 PM PST - 8 comments

My trainer lives on a lake. When it gets to be in the 90s, we're gonna do gym shit in the lake. I have froufy fat lady swimsuits best suited for lazy river levels of activity. I need a bathing suit that a) covers me, b) won't frouf about in the water while moving, c) comes in a 26/28 or larger (preferable), d) is maybe mix 'n' match since my boobs are smaller than my stomach. Less than $200 is probably ideal. [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah at 1:37 PM PST - 24 comments

We are moving about a mile. Movers sound like they would be useful and back saving. Any recommendations for Boston-based movers? [more inside]
posted by chiefthe at 1:22 PM PST - 15 comments

Looking for some resources to help me find avant garde designers based out of Puerto Rico. Names or ideas of where to start looking would be much appreciated!
posted by egeanin at 10:34 AM PST - 2 comments

Please name cities anywhere in the world that meet the following criteria: [more inside]
posted by aniola at 10:07 AM PST - 33 comments

Trying to get organized, put things away, where they "belong". The problem is, how do you figure out (and then remember!) where something belongs? [more inside]
posted by aeighty at 9:28 AM PST - 27 comments

I quit caffeine a couple months ago after I realized I'd become completely dependent on it. After the first month, I haven't an issue going without, but the last week and a half I've been experiencing some serious fatigue and cravings for coffee. [more inside]
posted by coldbabyshrimp at 9:03 AM PST - 13 comments

I was in the magazine section of Barnes & Noble yesterday and was noticing the "bookazines" -- special one-shot issues that aren't tied to the regular subscription. I don't mean the timely ones about Biden's election or the anniversary of "Friends." I mean non-fiction, sort-of books. [more inside]
posted by Flying Saucer at 8:30 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm the same child who likes eating ice-cream for breakfast, but now I'm 25 and I have bills, and taxes, and responsibilities. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 3:03 AM PST - 69 comments

I need a tech assist to get my Zoom meetings ending on time, that doesn't depend on my monitoring time plus speaking up. I'm just tired of needing to spend the last ~6 minutes of every meeting focusing on when I can break in and remind people to wrap up, instead of attending to the discussion. [more inside]
posted by StealthOatmeal at 2:17 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm looking for answers on how my unusual covid vaccination might be received. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:00 AM PST - 13 comments

My teenage boy had a head of garlic on his bedside table. I said, "What is this doing here?" and he kind of laughingly said, "You don't want to know." Is this...a thing that kids are doing? Is there some naughtiness at hand? Some viral challenge? Of course maybe it's just some random nothing but I just wanted to ask if any of you parents has any idea? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:23 AM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone have landscaper recommendations for the Bay Area? I'm in the mid-Peninsula. I have a design but my landscaper is backed up until next year. Bonus question: Do you have an idea of current fencing prices? [more inside]
posted by mark k at 7:16 PM PST - 5 comments

My backyard needs attention. My backyard has ticks. I wear a coat with a tightly woven fabric (my old clean room garb) with gaiters, gloves and hat when clearing undergrowth in the back yard. What should be sprayed on the protective clothing to further discourage the little bastards?
posted by Raybun at 4:17 PM PST - 18 comments

What are the best current and past TV shows (drama, sitcoms, cartoons/animation, etc.) for a 13-year-old girl? [more inside]
posted by Dansaman at 2:50 PM PST - 27 comments

There are four of them. They seem like a set. Ceramic discs with brass fittings? What are they for? photos
posted by degoao at 1:45 PM PST - 3 comments

My home and garage has a 3-tone (very boring) color scheme: brown, cream, and forest green. I'm looking to add in a 4th color as an accent for the street-facing garage door but I can't land on a color that goes with the 3 that I'm already using. [more inside]
posted by mezzanayne at 1:14 PM PST - 13 comments

Former Type A cyclist coming back from a long hiatus due to back injuries. I bought a cheapish cruiser bike. The stock handlebars are still keeping me a bit too leaned-forward — I need the kind of posture you see in a British vicar tootling around the parish, totally upright. What are my options? Priority is cheapness since who knows if I will actually be able to sustain riding. Is there some kind of extender or grip mod, or do I need to replace the handlebars?
posted by sixswitch at 11:53 AM PST - 10 comments

Twitter regularly shows me ads from both institutions I despise and institutions I love. I don't actually want to read any of them. If my options are any combination of clicking, ignoring, responding, and muting. . . what's the strategy that most helps the ones I like the hurts the ones I dislike? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 10:55 AM PST - 6 comments

I've got a bit under 2 lbs. of blueberries that aren't particularly sweet. They're not great for just snacking on, but I don't want them to go to waste. Gimme your best recipes that use a lot of blueberries. Bonus points if it doesn't contain eggs and/or too much sugar.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:17 AM PST - 20 comments

I've had trouble with two different USB hubs over the past year. Both were new, supporting USB 3, and were no-name products I found on Amazon. Problems I've had included external disks becoming corrupted, not mounting at all, and my keyboard not being recognized. Currently my computer is not recognizing the hub at all, nor anything plugged into it. My computer had a freakout last night and when I rebooted it, I couldn't use the built-in keyboard or trackpad at all until I unplugged the hub. [more inside]
posted by adamrice at 10:14 AM PST - 10 comments

How can I confront a former Federal Investigator about stealing from me? [more inside]
posted by ~Sushma~ at 9:48 AM PST - 8 comments

My partner is having pancreatic insufficiency after gallbladder surgery. He is not responding to treatment and the symptoms are ruining his quality of life. What are our next steps? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:19 AM PST - 8 comments

I need to up my game when it comes to knowledge about mechanical fasteners. I would like recommendations for more academic resources, please. [more inside]
posted by Tchad at 7:21 AM PST - 13 comments

When I was a wee lad, my babysitter watched a show (more than once, eventually she had to send me to bed because I'd freak out when it came on.) The intro terrified me because it featured a crowded ballroom and a zombie lady. [more inside]
posted by jibberish at 11:08 PM PST - 18 comments

Anonymous due to embarrassment. I've recently taken up hiking. Absolutely LOVE it! I am still working on increasing daily mileage, but would eventually like to do a backpacking / multi-day hike. I tell people I don't like camping, but the truth is more embarrassing: I can NOT force myself to urinate outside! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:19 PM PST - 31 comments

I am a mechanical engineer with ~ 15 years experience in Oil & Gas manufacturing (ie, Refining) and want to make a career switch to something in the Energy Transition / New Energies space. I’m looking for resources and advice. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:19 PM PST - 4 comments

A question earlier today reminded me that my birthday is in a few weeks. My brainstorming muscles for fun things outside my house have atrophied, so I thought I’d ask here. I’m interested in recommendations for daytime solo activities, as well as a nice dinner spot. [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 7:39 PM PST - 9 comments

I've been friendless and alone for years, and it's starting to get to me. How do I stop being jealous and get back in the healthy mindset for making friends? [more inside]
posted by fern at 7:33 PM PST - 18 comments

As part of my work I need to upload and download a lot of images online, using Firefox. When I open the "file upload" or "save image" windows I'll click to scroll down once or twice and then the window often begins scrolling down REALLY fast, zooming far beyond any pics I'm trying to find. Clicking up will then make me zoom into the stratosphere. It's happened on multiple machines over several years, so I assume this mega-scrolling is somebody's idea of a feature instead of a bug. I want it gone forever. I want one click to give me one scroll, and that's it. [more inside]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:20 PM PST - 12 comments

So this happened. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 5:00 PM PST - 10 comments

I've deactivated my Facebook, which was fine for the last year or so. But now friends are starting to invite me to events, and they're still able to add me to the events on Facebook, but I can't see them, and they don't know that! I would also like to invite people to events. I have their e-mails. But I'm not sure what the simplest invite/RSVP system is (preferably something that doesn't also require logins!) So I have two problems: How do I see other peoples' invitations without logging in, and how do I invite people to things?
posted by LSK at 4:37 PM PST - 4 comments

Does what it says on the tin - I'm not usually a pink kinda gal but just love the colour combos on this raglan tee that Kiera wears in the locker room scene in Moxie. I’m guessing it’ll turn out to have been made for teenagers only and a few seasons out of date but you never know… [more inside]
posted by penguin pie at 4:18 PM PST - 3 comments

My wife and I want to take a road trip Out West (we're based in Chicago) this summer. We want this trip to include parks, hikes, nature, etc. but we also want to visit some fun towns. We like coffee (my wife is a snob), breweries (I'm a snob), and a general vibe of college town or up-and-coming city for younger folks. We like bookstores, good food, etc. [more inside]
posted by soonertbone at 3:13 PM PST - 12 comments

I have an upcoming surgery on Thursday, just had some kind of viral illness and a COVID scare, and the whole situation has made what was already going to be a very stressful week much worse. I'm having a difficult time handling all of my emotions right now. What can I do to avoid spiraling, make this time more manageable, and make the best of the remaining time I have? [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 1:42 PM PST - 12 comments

Following on from this askme*, I'm going to need a temporary placeholder website for a few weeks while a new ecommerce site is being built. I thought a simple "new website coming" page plus maybe a livechat function (I was thinking tawk.to) would do. Does anyone have any thoughts on what the best way to do that would be? Or the best platform to look at it another way? [more inside]
posted by dance at 1:29 PM PST - 7 comments

I am starting to try to put together a pedal board for my bass with which to tour and record. More inside: [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 12:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to get away for a night or two (Jun 12-13 or 11-13) to celebrate my husband's birthday. We live near San Jose CA and I have spent too much time browsing hotel sites trying to find a place that is an easy drive, a nice getaway and not too expensive (under $300 per night w/taxes) Please, would someone just tell me what to do! [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 11:49 AM PST - 10 comments

Our dryer is making a rattling noise. It kind of sounds like grinding. What should I do? Call a dryer mechanic (where do I find one of those?)? Spray WD-40 somewhere? [more inside]
posted by uncannyslacks at 10:42 AM PST - 7 comments

I purged a lot of my clothing after a move last year, and I'm going through kind of a wardrobe-and-style rebuild. I'm looking for inspiration along the lines of "low-key lady rock star," maybe with a touch of real-person or middle age to it. Can you recommend some instagram follows or photo sites for me? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:36 AM PST - 10 comments

Have you purchased a wallpaper mural (or some sort of other custom mural which covered an entire wall)? Can you recommend the best product? We were concerned seeing how low the DPI of the completed products seem to be.
posted by arnicae at 9:24 AM PST - 1 comment

Earlier this year I had a prostate biopsy, and of course that means sending samples to a pathology lab. Without telling me that he was doing so, or asking me, my urologist also sent off a sample for genetic testing. The test is expensive and apparently not helpful in treatment decisions. Do I complain? ask for reimbursement of my coinsurance? [more inside]
posted by Creosote at 8:14 AM PST - 22 comments

I need some pointers on Anglican theology, religious positions etc. during the Regency era in England, particularly more fringe or less mainstream beliefs, for the purposes of fiction research. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 7:29 AM PST - 8 comments

Morrissey was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on November 14 1992. But I have a clear memory of watching his performance the first winter I was home from college, in 1993. Could I have been watching a rebroadcast? This would have been in Milwaukee. [more inside]
posted by mr_roboto at 1:29 AM PST - 5 comments

I've been seeing someone for a little over three months, and my anxiety has sky-rocketed. I think this is more about me than them, but how do I cope? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:44 AM PST - 33 comments

Looking for suggestions for online clothes stores for women's summer wear. [more inside]
posted by fullerine at 9:23 PM PST - 5 comments

This is driving me crazy. I originally came across the passage when I was looking for places where the excellent American word “cattywampus” (many spelling variations) was used. I think it was Twain, maybe not, but a wonderful speech written in the very rich and rough vernacular of the American West — in the 1800s I’m thinking? [more inside]
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:04 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to buy a $40 restaurant gift certificate for someone moving to Columbus OH. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 6:37 PM PST - 6 comments

What is an article or essay that you have read that caused a dramatic change in your thinking / perspective / life? [more inside]
posted by beccyjoe at 6:11 PM PST - 47 comments

Odd question but here goes: Two failed marriages; the second husband passed away after our divorce. Do I ever have to really bring up that marriage again? [more inside]
posted by annieb at 4:19 PM PST - 31 comments

I bought it from Best Buy for my parents at the height of the pandemic from Best Buy. They didn't decide they didn't want it until the 15-day return period was up. I have no use for it. Short of reselling it on eBay or Craigslist, or begging the local Best Buy to give me store credit, do I have any options? Are there other retailers I could try a receipt-less return with?
posted by Borborygmus at 2:02 PM PST - 9 comments

I am trying to set up a spreadsheet that shows various outcomes based on a formula I can speak or write, but cannot get my "=IF" and "AND" functions to fully calculate. I get a message "Too many criteria in formula". I can do this calculation by hand pretty easily, but I want Excel to do it so I can change the parameters without having to recalculate by hand. [more inside]
posted by AugustWest at 1:04 PM PST - 19 comments

Teenager is super prone to having foot blisters. Looking for any and all tips or recommendations that might make her life less painful (brands preferably available in the UK). [more inside]
posted by muuratsaari at 12:58 PM PST - 28 comments

I got really into jazz during the lockdown, and I'd like to see some live jazz when things open up, but I've only ever listened to mid 20th century stuff and I don't know where to start with new jazz. [more inside]
posted by Chenko at 12:58 PM PST - 5 comments

My arm still hurts 7 weeks after my second dose. The doctor tried a steroid, which didn't do much. What else can I try? [more inside]
posted by past unusual at 12:48 PM PST - 13 comments

Is there a way to remove (en masse) old emails from Gmail so they won't count against my Google Drive limit, without losing them forever? [more inside]
posted by lewedswiver at 11:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I sent an email with a 28MB attachment to an AOL email address. It didn't occur to me until after I hit send to check AOL's maximum. It listed as 25MB. An hour later, I haven't gotten a bounce back message or anything. I have prepared a slightly reduced file, but I don't want to send it if the first actually went through. How likely is that? (no more inside; that's my whole question)
posted by Kriesa at 11:54 AM PST - 6 comments

We need a car for 2 months. Can we? Tell us the safest, most economical way? It needs to be insured, and we have been warned about the small print at the end of the lease period. Connecticut, if that makes a difference.
posted by ebesan at 11:36 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for a new job. My current job is fine, but I've recently moved and want something local as the world opens back up. I'm an artist who has generally been comfortable working square admin jobs the past ten years, a job that gives me the time and brainspace and money to do the stuff I actually care about. A question in a job interview yesterday has thrown me into a depressive spiral and I can barely get out of bed: "Would this job be enough for you?" Not money, but, y'know, personal fulfillment. [more inside]
posted by HeroZero at 11:04 AM PST - 25 comments

I video chat with some kids using Google Duo, which has an integrated drawing option, so I can see what they are drawing and they can see what I am drawing and we can see each other's video at the same time. The kids have been given the Amazon tablets for kids, which don't work with Duo. What other app has this functionality and is good for kids (ad-free, paid is ok if it works)? It should work on regular android phones as well.
posted by jeather at 10:31 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm interested in a house for sale, but was told that it has seepage in the basement despite having two sump pumps. I don't have more details about how much water comes in or where it's coming from. But based on that limited information, how bad could this potentially be? Is it something that could be impossible to fix? If it has caused mold, would that be visible? I'm trying to decide whether to make an offer contingent on inspection- would the inspector be able to clearly see what's wrong?
posted by pinochiette at 10:00 AM PST - 18 comments

Very random question but hoping someone on here may know... trying to identify an indie/pop-rock song from the late 90s/early 2000s... [more inside]
posted by matt755811 at 9:28 AM PST - 7 comments

I used to get brownies at a long-bankrupt cafe that were my platonic brownie ideal. Not caky at all, very little crumb, but kind of separating into dense horizontal flakes. And not just the crust either, these were flaky all the way through. Does anyone have a recipe like that? [more inside]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 9:12 AM PST - 10 comments

Why is one dose of Pfizer at 80% effectiveness worse than one dose of Johnson and Johnson at 60% effectiveness? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 8:34 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm shortly going to be moving my website from one host to another. It's not exactly clear when the old host will 'turf me off' and I'll have to move to the new host. The registrar is godaddy. [more inside]
posted by dance at 8:32 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m looking for recommendations for an over-the-counter/amazon neck traction device. I’ve seen inflatable collars, over-the-door pulley devices, hard rubber neck rests—what’s best? [more inside]
posted by DB Cooper at 6:16 AM PST - 5 comments

I deposited a $1,000 check on my phone but keyed it in as $600. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 6:04 AM PST - 7 comments

I’m having trouble dealing with the hand I’ve been dealt in life. Many snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by oywiththepoodles at 5:55 AM PST - 24 comments

Will magnets (like on a small purse or bag) damage my iPhone? When I google, I mostly get sites that sell magnetic iPhone accessories, so I'm not sure whether to believe them.
posted by quinoa at 10:19 PM PST - 5 comments

I am a 72 year old male and have been on Paxil 40 mg for well over 20 years, the last 10 or so years without psychiatric follow-up - my personal physician has been subscribing the medication. I need help deciding whether I should try to go off Paxil. More following... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:01 PM PST - 11 comments

Disclaimers first: you are not my lawyer, you are not offering legal advice, I know that this is a question that varies widely by jurisdiction. However, I'm still asking since there are a good handful of NYC Mefites here and this concerns wacky NYC tenant law. Buckle up. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:47 PM PST - 23 comments

According to Wikipedia, some Muslims believe that some of the texts held sacred by Jews were modified, and thus convey divine revelation imperfectly. How widespread is this belief among religious leaders and laypeople? Is it enunciated in any exegetical works popular today? Are there any organized tendencies within Islam that do not take this position and/or do not hold to a supersessionist view of Judaism? As a bonus question: are there any organized tendencies that do not take a supersessionist view of Christianity?
posted by phrontist at 3:26 PM PST - 2 comments

Our building management company has sold our building, but we had just signed a new lease with them that's due to start the next month. Will the new management company be required to honor that lease? [more inside]
posted by ghostbikes at 1:51 PM PST - 14 comments

I’ve just got a new wallet — the type that shows up if you search for ‘ladies’ wallet’ on Google Images, for example. It’s slightly roomier than my old one. What things would be cool to keep there, and also what shouldn’t I keep in there? [more inside]
posted by lokta at 12:28 PM PST - 29 comments

My partner and I are looking for some advice on COVID vaccines— essentially, Astra Zeneca/Johnson & Johnson in early June or Pfizer/Moderna in late August? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:02 PM PST - 24 comments

My husband received a cross pen for his bar mitzvah in 1987. The ink has now died. We’d like to get a refill for it but we haven’t had any luck (picture inside). [more inside]
posted by eleanna at 11:55 AM PST - 12 comments

I am trying to learn more about Canadian history, specifically social events and persons with a social impact in Canada. Are there any underrated social-historical events or persons in Canada worth learning about? Whether it changed the profound course of law, politics, et cetera, but with a sociological impact? I am looking for underrated or lesser-known social events and social persons, but open to all as well.
posted by RearWindow at 11:47 AM PST - 24 comments

I've always been a Windows PC person but things are changing, and I'd like to increase my arsenal, but I'm not sure how apples-to-oranges comparing an Android Tablet to a Chromebook is, and would like advice on what to look for or get. [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 11:26 AM PST - 7 comments

How do I remove the metallic-style manufacturing stickers from glass shower doors? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 10:48 AM PST - 9 comments

I have bipolar disorder and have been in therapy most of my adult life. I talked to my therapist today about starting to cut back on the frequency of my sessions now that I am very stabilized, and he said that the clinic requires weekly visits. I would not be able to receive psychiatric services without weekly therapy sessions. Is this a known model of practice? [more inside]
posted by Neely O'Hara at 10:41 AM PST - 17 comments

My 2009 Honda Fit has been recalled (again) for an issue where the boots sealing the axle bearing can leak causing the axle to corrode and break. This exact thing happened to my car last year and I spent a lot of money getting the axle replaced. My mechanic at the time said that he fixes this issue on Hondas a lot. Can I get money from Honda for this? [more inside]
posted by octothorpe at 10:25 AM PST - 9 comments

I've moved to a small(er) city and don't have as many in-person grocery options as I used to. I need to order some ingredients online. I'm specifically looking for Middle Eastern, West African, Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian grocery stuff, but enjoy browsing for cooking ideas/inspiration/snacks so if you have a favorite that doesn't fit those categories I'd still like to hear about it. I'd like to avoid behemoths like Amazon. I already know about H-Mart. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 10:08 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm going to be buying a home soonish, and it seems like buying a commercial building with a storefront + a condo on top currently costs around the same as buying just the condo on top. What do I need to be aware of when thinking about buying commercial real estate and converting it into a home? How do I compare apples to apples when I'm comparing it to normal home purchasing? And who are the right experts for me to consult if I really want to go down this rabbit hole? [more inside]
posted by sirion at 6:58 AM PST - 14 comments

What is this little thing called? It's for a door knob/handle. I'm asking because I have a set of such knobs/handles, and I lost one of the little bits. It's function is to lock the knob/handle in place - you twist it into a little hole with the hex key. Is it a generic part or would it be specific to this knob/handle?
posted by cincinnatus c at 4:28 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm a classicist with lots of experience teaching Latin and ancient Greek at university level. I'm thinking about starting a series of videos aimed at intermediate learners, partly because I miss teaching languages and partly in the hope of eventually building a follower base which might bring in a bit of extra income though donations or subscriptions. Help me think about format, platform, how to get the word out etc.! More generally, if you know something about monetizing very niche subjects online, I'd love to hear non-classics-specific advice too. [more inside]
posted by hoist with his own pet aardvark at 11:57 PM PST - 12 comments

My kitchen floor is tile and I've recently noticed that in one spot, between the grout, something underneath is pushing the floor up. At first, when I stepped on it, it was hard but now it feels like there's a little more give. [more inside]
posted by madonna of the unloved at 10:13 PM PST - 7 comments

When researchers talk about the overlap between Neanderthal DNA and the DNA of some modern humans, are they talking about whole sections of DNA which are completely different? Or are they talking about stretches of DNA which are identical to other humans with the exception of a SNP or three every couple of hundred base pairs?
posted by clawsoon at 9:26 PM PST - 3 comments

I am just off of Google Voice, used it for a number of years but it was continually going south. I've kept that same number, with Verizon temporarily but will change Mint Mobile. But neither Verizon nor Mint have a pc app, and I absolutely loathe attempting clear typing on stupidly small iPhone keyboard, and Siri is pretty much brain-dead, always misses something that I've got to wade in with my big fat fumble fingers and try to fix. [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue at 8:24 PM PST - 25 comments

I'm doing some work for a small theatre company. They give classes, register students and so on. We've been using Wordpress for our website and Google Sheets for our student database but there's much twiddling involved. We wanted to redo our software base. I've heard of class registration software like Amilia and Corsizio but curious to know how it works out in the real world.
posted by storybored at 6:42 PM PST - 0 comments

So this is very difficult for me. I'm having what I think are orgasms without any kind of stimulation. I find them highly unpleasant and triggering. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 5:47 PM PST - 12 comments

Can I be denied employment due to a high credit card balance even with good credit and a perfect payment record? [more inside]
posted by orangesky4 at 5:06 PM PST - 10 comments

My near-centenarian grandfather needs a stable, comfortable living situation and his family is gradually warming to the idea of hiring a professional to assist in his care on a continuing basis. Maybe. I'm hoping for some advice about norms/expectations, because no one in the family has experience with this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:58 PM PST - 11 comments

My father had a bad reaction to medicine last year, and has since had a major cognitive decline. Pixar's Dory may have a better memory than he does now. His occupational therapist has suggested he plays a physical card game like solitaire. Looking for other non-computer game suggestions. Mainly single player, since there are issues with expecting my Mom to play. He does not want traditional puzzles.
posted by Sophont at 3:23 PM PST - 12 comments

This Pride month, I'd like to spend some time reading good adult fiction that features queer joy, not misery/abuse/death. I'm having better luck finding young adult book lists that cover this ground, but this is what I've uncovered so far: [more inside]
posted by sugarbomb at 2:47 PM PST - 18 comments

It's hard to say what colour they are - I would say my dark circles are maybe purple/blue. I have tried everything. I'm looking for something that lasts and also isn't too thick. Help!
posted by Tziv at 1:59 PM PST - 14 comments

My question here is a simple one. Two weeks ago when I found out I had to move I called some movers in town then remembered my good friend is a mover with a very reputable company so I called for his company. He assured me I could use not only his company (more to come) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 12:57 PM PST - 33 comments

I’ve written a heavily formatted 250-page document (indents, indents within indents, block quotes, numbered and bulleted lists, outline style paragraphs, footnotes), which needs to include hyperlinked cross-references within different parts of the document, as well as a hyperlinked Table of Contents, also to pages within the document. There are also occasional hyperlinks to pages on the Web. [more inside]
posted by Violet Blue at 10:35 AM PST - 15 comments

I was thinking about a couple of songs today, Tom Petty's "American Girl" and "Here Comes Your Man" by the Pixies, and realized that they share a common trait. There are fan theories about the meaning of the lyrics, but in both cases the lyricist denied those fan theories. I'm now looking for other songs that fit the pattern. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 9:57 AM PST - 37 comments

I generally have a very clear pronunciation (I teach languages), but sometimes, especially when I'm not feeling well, I notice a lisp. Why does this happen? [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 9:22 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm trying to obscure some phone line along the baseboards of my new apartment and am curious what to call these little brackets - what are they and where might I find them online? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 9:04 AM PST - 17 comments

Was there a 1950s revival in England in the 1970s that mirrored America’s 1950s revival? (Aha Na Na, Happy Days, the Broadway production of Grease)
posted by pxe2000 at 8:58 AM PST - 10 comments

We're in DC this weekend and will have a free day. I was hoping to snag a timed ticket to any of the Smithsonians that are open, but nothing's available. [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 7:52 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for good stories of parasocial relationships -- particularly examples that show how these relationships can get extreme/obsessive. News stories, blog posts, online drama threads all welcome.
posted by attentionplease at 7:31 AM PST - 16 comments

Can/should I and my fam eat Smithfield (frozen, fully cooked) pork patties left out in warm kitchen for 3+ hours? [more inside]
posted by pepper bird at 7:00 AM PST - 15 comments

How do I, an accomplished editor with severe anxiety, get through job interviews without panicking? (More inside.) [more inside]
posted by brooklynlady at 5:47 AM PST - 21 comments

Has anyone seen a water pitcher like this that tilts? This is a scene from the Twilight Zone episode Passage on the Lady Anne (Season 4 Episode 17). The timeframe is probably the 1960s, the but the scene is on a luxury ship that has an interior of the 1910s or 1920s. Here are two photos showing the water pitcher in upright position and then tilted down. The question comes from a friend of mine who is also wanting to know if this has a name. Here are two screenshots.
posted by rmmcclay at 5:45 AM PST - 7 comments

Now that I'm vaccinated, I'd like to plan a day trip to see art in Baltimore or DC. Problem is, I'm bored with all of the big galleries. What other places should I check out? (I'm looking for more modern stuff – especially installation / video / experiential art.) [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:00 AM PST - 9 comments

I struggle when people I care about leave, in any sense of the word. Be it ending a phone call, driving away after a dinner together, going home after an event, there is a reasonably high chance that I'll end up very upset. This can happen even when I know I'll see them the next day. I've become a lot better at managing my reaction, but it still happens with great regularity. I also can't think about people I've cared about in my life that are no longer in it. It's detrimental to my life in that I almost don't want to interact with people I care about as I know what parting will lead to. Has anyone experienced this and found a way of dealing with it or making it lessen, or have resources they'd recommend? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:27 AM PST - 5 comments

Apropos of nothing, I am cavorting on the omnipilled corners of the internet, and a question that looms is "just which Roman Republic figure that led to the collapse and Imperium is the closest analogue of Trump". I have zero desire to discuss it, especially not with anyone who wants to discuss it, but I am curious what the takes are. Has anyone seen such a "which Roman is Trump" link roundup? It seems like, by now, the Redditors or similar would have some canonical pieces, or a greatest hits list. Do they? [more inside]
posted by saysthis at 9:22 PM PST - 9 comments

Where can I find a summary of ALL of the "Slough House/Slow Horses" books - the British spy series by Mick Herron? [more inside]
posted by lalochezia at 7:49 PM PST - 2 comments

I want to roll off my project, because I do not like working for my project manager, and I don't think things will get better. My longtime mentor/muse within the company that I trust that this is very well possible, and I should go about this by setting up a meeting with the said project manager (there really isn't another person do this) and explaining that "it's not a great fit". Help me with a script. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 7:08 PM PST - 5 comments

We are getting new Marvin windows. We had someone come and give us an estimate and that estimate was for LowE-2 glass. We currently have old (50s/60s) windows with no coating at all and we are worried the E-2 will seem too dark. When we asked for an estimate for LowE-1, it cost more! Does anyone have any experience with the LowE-2 vs 1 and could speak to the difference in lightness/darkness? [more inside]
posted by degoao at 6:52 PM PST - 2 comments

Is it sexist or just lazy when coparent refuses to make our son look presentable. [more inside]
posted by CosmicSeeker42 at 6:37 PM PST - 44 comments

Popular sites to sell newish used cars? As it says, by owner. Outside Craigslist, Offerup, the standard facilitators.
posted by firstdaffodils at 5:49 PM PST - 6 comments

I finally got a (part-time, temporary, May-November). It is much more physically demanding than I thought it would be and I would like to professionally leave (or find an alternative that is not so strenuous within). Please help me word an e-mail. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 5:04 PM PST - 6 comments

Several recent posts on the Blue have talked about the trauma of and around COVID-19, and the transition to whatever it is that comes next. I'm looking for small, practical things I can do to decrease my sense of hypervigilance about COVID and increase my openness to joy/hope/optimism. [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:56 PM PST - 19 comments

I have a window that slides open horizontally with a max opening of 20 3/8" width x 32 1/2" height. What is the highest BTU air conditioner that can fit in it? [more inside]
posted by badadvice at 3:56 PM PST - 2 comments

At least once per week, I need to solve a tiny programming problem similar to one I have previously solved in some other project. (This most recently came up when I realized I might need to vectorize a function in R.) I waste so much time racking my brain for what I was working on when I solved it so that I can find it again. Is there a technical tool that can help with this? [more inside]
posted by eirias at 2:43 PM PST - 27 comments

I have a 1/2 gallon of veg oil in a deep cast iron pan on the side burner of my grill in which I cooked a piece of cod. Afterwards I left it out uncovered by accident for a day and found 2 deceased flies in it. Scoop out flies and fry or dispose of oil? (Already made my choice but interested in what others would do).
posted by Fortnight Bender at 1:21 PM PST - 32 comments

TLDR: I need some kind of guide or primer that can help a reasonably technically adept person get up to speed on iOS enough to be The Tech Grandchild on a platform I haven't touched since 2016. [more inside]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:02 PM PST - 25 comments

Does anyone have a search engine for car parts (mostly motors) that isn't searchtempest or craigslist?
posted by firstdaffodils at 11:48 AM PST - 7 comments

I am interested in watching more historical fantasy television and some people have encouraged me to checkout Outlander. I hear the show has mixed views and that it has plummeted over time. Some people think season one is the best and should stop after that. Some have said the seasons can be repetitive and too dramatic. I have not read the novels. Yet, would it be worth watching all of the seasons? Or should I only stick to the early seasons? Which seasons are the best?
posted by RearWindow at 11:43 AM PST - 16 comments

10 year old and 7 year old have started choosing what to watch on youtube. So far, that means a lot of crappy Miraculous fan videos and weird (though not creepy) tik tok. I'm surprisingly bummed by how terrible the stuff is. Please reassure me that crappy storytelling is fine? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 10:32 AM PST - 9 comments

My mother has this lovely rose bush in her garden with exceptionally fragrant roses that bloom in May for a short time. She makes jam out of rose petals and it is very fragrant and delicious. Bush itself is about 1.5 meters high, grows wild and spreads itself. She had it for at least 60 years. I managed to grow some from seeds. Do you know what kind of rose could it be? Picture1 Picture2
posted by leigh1 at 9:34 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to learn to draw, but https://funnypng.blogspot.com/2004/12/how-to-draw-meme.html">this is my life's experience. This also seems to be the case for my (very old) copy of "Drawing for Dummies." [more inside]
posted by Melismata at 8:52 AM PST - 22 comments

... 8 hours and 14 minutes": Problem moving Delta ecredit to Sky Miles account. Am getting an error on the Delta website; automated system at one point said something about snail-mailing documents instead, but now I can't even find my way back to those instructions. [more inside]
posted by 5Q7 at 8:06 AM PST - 9 comments

However, in this case, I have already narrowed it down to two cameras! I would like to hear from experienced photographers or owners of these cameras to get real-world advice. I am moving up from higher end point and shoot cameras to a large sensor, and I just cannot make up my mind. For your consideration, the Fujifilm X-T4 and the Nikon Z6. [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 7:47 AM PST - 11 comments

I was reading something about Freestone County in Texas the other day and ended up looking it up in Google Maps. In the satellite view, the whole area is covered with white squares which seem to be some sort of agricultural thing -- just out of curiosity, anyone know what these are? Maybe some kind of grain storage? Maybe the type of soil there?
posted by iamsuper at 6:13 AM PST - 8 comments

Looking for a recommendation for a company or person that can create/produce an explainer-type video. [more inside]
posted by pmaxwell at 5:06 AM PST - 1 comment

We need a new home laptop. Mostly for web surfing and word processing. But we tend to keep computers for years and years so we want to pay a premium for something with good build quality and preferably lightweight so it'll be nice to use for years to come. What brands should we be looking at? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 4:50 AM PST - 26 comments

In high school, I was made to feel extremely smart. I got into a grammar school for girls and was always in the top 5 for my results in my class. Everything felt easy for me, I didn't struggle and was quite lazy - I didn't learn to study.

My Mum inculcated the idea in me that I should be a doctor and that's what I took on. I genuinely thought I was capable of getting into Oxford or Cambridge. Unfortunately things took at turn for the worse with my mental health at 17 and I developed depression and social anxiety. This was, I now realise, a result of ongoing trauma and abuse experienced in the family home.
[more inside]
posted by Sunflower88 at 4:40 AM PST - 35 comments

I'm in need of some inspiration. What's your favorite dish to bring to a BBQ? I've looked in the usual places but curious as to what the hive mind likes. No dietary restrictions.
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:32 AM PST - 46 comments

My all-time favorite musician is releasing a lot of his music equipment on a re-sale site, as he’s moving studios and overloaded with gear. Not many details have been given, but… [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 4:23 AM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone share their experience of tattooing over unsightly leg veins? [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 1:47 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m dealing with yet another pest issue in my new place. We told management who said they would contact their biweekly pest control company, but looked incredulous when I suggested they check out our unit specifically. How do most pest control companies actually deal with large apartment complexes if not to investigate where the problem is? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 8:28 PM PST - 11 comments

My brother just got a dart board in our garage. We thought we were smart hanging it on a stud. Unfortunately, the sounds travels really well upstairs and next door into my bedroom. What can we do to dampen the sound of the darts hitting the board so its not as loud in other rooms?
posted by gzimmer at 7:47 PM PST - 8 comments

Do you know a hack for getting a better hiking boot fit? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 6:14 PM PST - 13 comments

A friend of mine is seeking a restraining order against a man she knows. I have offered to serve the papers to him. I have some questions to make sure that I do this correctly. [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 5:20 PM PST - 7 comments

After a painful year+ of necessary separation, my partner and I are planning cross-country flight to see partner's 1.5-year-old nibling and are trying to understand the risks posed by the fact that while we and nibling's caregivers are fully vaccinated, other people who will have close contact before our visit will not be. [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 5:09 PM PST - 12 comments

Hello, I see only mutual funds at Vanguard. I remember making a choice for mutual funds but now I feel like I'd like an ETF. What to do?
posted by notned at 4:29 PM PST - 2 comments

My mom needs a dress to wear to my sibling's wedding. She lives in the Twin Cities area and many of the pre-pandemic recommended places seem to have closed. Anyone have post-pandemic specific recommendations for Mother of the Bride/Groom dresses in the Twin Cities? Looking for places with good customer service who still exist after the pandemic. My mom would also like to get a different dress tailored for events around the wedding. Any good Twin Cities tailors? Thanks!
posted by azalea_chant at 3:53 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to open a bank account for my late father's estate. His old bank (Wells Fargo) says they cannot create one because the court order for probate lists "My Name and My Brother's Name" as estate administrators rather than "My Name" or "My Name and/or My Brother's Name" (?) What brick-and-mortar bank operating in the Bay Area can handle this? Extra points for front-office staff who are familiar with the probate process, WFB has not been helpful in this regard.
posted by 4rtemis at 3:44 PM PST - 3 comments

I was working from home at a friend's house on the Lower East Side in Manhattan today and for about 3 hours of my day (still going, actually), a really loud helicopter hovered over the LES. I went up to the roof to see what was going on. There was nothing that I could see, and then another super loud helicopter joined the first. And then a third approached. The hovering helicopter noise feels like I'm stuck in Deerhunter or Platoon, especially when they hover all day. I submitted a complaint to the FAA. What else can be done? Any ideas? I suspect someone will say the helicopters need to hover overhead all day for security. Can that be true? If the threat is so high to warrant all-day helicopter hovering, then perhaps it is time to leave the city.
posted by ponibrown at 2:10 PM PST - 14 comments

I just listened to this string piece recently but can't remember what it's from. Replicated main notes here on piano with "strings" sound. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 12:52 PM PST - 3 comments

This song is from the 80s or 90s and has a chorus that repeats a name/word like “Alonna”: a-LON-na! (The word could be moana, ohana, hosanna, or something else similar. I don't know.) Almost like a chant; I want to say this part of the song at least has a vaguely African tribal choral sound. When I sing the notes of the "a-LON-na!" part into an online pitch finder I get G#4 A#4 A#4.
posted by Trespassers William at 12:17 PM PST - 50 comments

I am looking for resources on cooking/eating without soy. It's a multi-parter: [more inside]
posted by papergirl at 11:14 AM PST - 14 comments

I seem to have what Dr. Google suggests is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. There have been a couple of questions about this in the past (THIS is a great comment!), but I could use some info from people who've had this and fixed it. Namely: [more inside]
posted by spacewrench at 10:44 AM PST - 10 comments

Details below. [more inside]
posted by aquamvidam at 10:25 AM PST - 4 comments

Pretty much what it says on the tin. What are your favorite books by social psychologists? I'm looking for books that were sold as mass market or popular press books, not textbooks, not self-help books, but that are written by social psychologists (not sociologists, not Malcolm Gladwell) about social psychology. Books like Tim Wilson's Strangers to Ourselves or Jennifer Eberhardt's Biased. Ideally published in the last five years. Let me know why you're recommending it, too. Thank you!
posted by shadygrove at 10:22 AM PST - 13 comments

An acquaintance is in jail and he is only allowed to receive 3 books per week. He reads really fast so he's finishing his 3 books long before the week is up. Recommendations for long (1,000+ page) books? He enjoys fantasy, sci-fi, and anti-authoritarian politics, history, etc. The jail only allows brand-new paperbacks direct from a major retailer like Amazon. [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline at 8:14 AM PST - 107 comments

I want to add a day of dedicated dumbbell strength training to my existing running and yoga schedule. Which day and which exercises? [more inside]
posted by liet at 8:14 AM PST - 6 comments

This has been bothering me for some time and I can't seem to find an answer. No matter what I try, some emails (or some parts of some emails) display in Outlook as white text on white background. This only happens in Outlook desktop app on my Dell with Windows 10 (my main machine). What is going on here and how can I fix it? [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam at 8:13 AM PST - 3 comments

We need 2 simple fixes to our house - fixing wooden things that were done imperfectly the first time. When I search for a carpenter I mostly get results for handyman services. I was planning to pay a premium for someone who really knows what they're doing to it exactly right this time. Is a handyman okay? If not, how do I find someone with more expertise? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 7:09 AM PST - 9 comments

these little lines you see on forms sometimes. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 6:05 AM PST - 10 comments

So people constantly are telling me *That's a really good question* and I know I have an inquisitive mind, always have. A bit later in life but still in the game, wondering what career can I invent for myself utilizing a gift of seeing a bit beyond and then positing inquiries about it? It always seems a bit like teaching but with a twist of *let's learn something new here*. TIA
posted by watercarrier at 5:44 AM PST - 13 comments

I need to choose a personal size blender for primarily fruit smoothies plus protein. I have a taste disorder unrelated to Covid and until my docs figure this out, I need help. I have lost 40 lbs, everything tastes awful. Eating normally is impossible. Currently I am eating cantaloupe, grapes, pudding, occasional protein bars, OJ, seltzer, water. And the occasional ounces of cheddar. [more inside]
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 4:15 AM PST - 25 comments

Overall, I'm looking for a grade school Gold Star Chart to press those dopamine buttons & build good habits. On my phone. I'm not a huge app user, so I could be looking for a unicorn or not. Looking for a customizable iOS app to track my good habits, all carrot, no stick. Something that will ask me, for example, at 8:30am "woke up before 8:00? y/n?" and at 7:00pm "did you eat a healthy meal today? y/n?" I DO NOT want an app that will remind me to do these things, or one that keeps track of when I don't answer or answer "no". [more inside]
posted by Grandysaur at 11:42 PM PST - 4 comments

We just moved into a new apartment with enough space for my wife and I to have individual home offices! Of course, it turns out that the acoustics aren’t great for teleconferencing. [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 7:07 PM PST - 14 comments

My son and I are taking Amtrak to Portland and back tomorrow for an appointment he has at Doernbecher. I’d planned to take the day off, but will need to now work a good chunk of the day. Where could we both do some work and school on laptops from, say, 8:30-1030 and then 12:30-2? Easy Lyft from the station or the hospital (or walking distance to either). Hospital have any space appropriate for this (eg in a cafe)? Thanks!
posted by purenitrous at 6:06 PM PST - 6 comments

• All 65+
• 4 fully vaccinated
• 1 unvaxxed, often among unknown vax status, often masked
• All in a sports van together for 2-3 hours

All masked all the time? If not, who and when? Advice appreciated.
posted by maggieb at 3:48 PM PST - 15 comments

Someone I love installed this Drawtite hitch on my car for me, saving me a lot of money. I’m very grateful. Only problem is it’s about 1/16” crooked, which telegraphs to a noticeable crookedness in my bike rack and makes me a little crazy. I don’t want to even bring it up if it’s not very easily fixable. Is it?
posted by HotToddy at 3:32 PM PST - 7 comments

That's all – I'm flying to a country that requires a negative nasopharyngeal PCR test and having trouble finding a provider near Boston that can definitely do that test...
posted by nicwolff at 2:55 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to route around my ancient receiver's lack of HDCP 2.2, but ARC doesn't seem to be working... [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 12:39 PM PST - 12 comments

Friendfilter: a friend is working on a piece of fiction in which one of the characters is a feature writer working for a magazine like Atlantic Monthly, writing in-depth, long-form pieces. What does this work look like on a daily basis, eg. would it involve editorial meetings, does the person choose their own subjects, how many pieces would they be expected to produce in a month/year, etc.? [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 11:47 AM PST - 10 comments

We just bought a house, and the previous tenant had a bulldog. I don’t see any obvious pet stains, but now that the place is emptied out, the first floor reeks of pet smell. How do I get the smell to go away? [more inside]
posted by Liesl at 10:37 AM PST - 18 comments

I’m looking for a Mare of Easttown cheat sheet, that summarizes out all the subplots, characters, and their relationships to each other, in a simple format. A crazy-wall layout with pictures, thumbtacks, and string would be perfect. I’m NOT looking for speculation and rumors.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 9:49 AM PST - 7 comments

I question the way the trainer at my new job reconciled an unbalanced cash register till. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 9:44 AM PST - 17 comments

I often hear this song in the club—the context is a lot of '80s, new-wave, and goth club music—but I don't know the words. Here's the melody, an octave down from where the vocals actually are. I feel like I've heard this song faded into New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" by the DJ before because the bass line is complementary (similar key, also kinda plunky, different rhythm). I'm happy to record myself giving my best impression of the bass line, but... Anyone know what this song is just from this?
posted by limeonaire at 7:23 AM PST - 21 comments

I've been binging old episodes of This Old House and I'd love to find more house-fixing content. What I like about This Old House that I don't get from the vast majority of the HGTV content out there is the level of detail about how/why they're doing what they're doing and all the various "real life" steps involved. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 7:20 AM PST - 16 comments

We have one Sonos wifi speaker in the house and two IKEA-Sonos wired internet speakers, and they all work as integrated to each other. We also have a very good stereo with amp and speakers. Ideally I would attach some sort of dongle to the stereo to bring it into the fold (wireless). What alternatives exist? I'm especially interested in cheaper solutions obviously.
posted by Iteki at 6:48 AM PST - 8 comments

You have fine hair that goes limp at just the thought of humidity—perhaps it’s shoulder length—and you use a shampoo that you love that provides body/volume. Please tell me about it! (Bonus points if it’s available online)
posted by bookmammal at 6:42 AM PST - 9 comments

I have just recently come out as transgender to my social circle. However, I started a new job just this past week, and all my documentation is in my deadname as I haven’t started the paperwork process. We’re also all remote right now. I also don’t have much of a feel yet for how the place and my co-workers will take it. (We create and maintain websites for lawyers, if that helps people with the advice.) It’s a small company (about 25 people) and not much formal HR process - all the paperwork is outsourced. They talk about respect for others, but my experience isn’t there to see it yet. (My three direct co-workers and my supervisor have all be very nice, and very helpful, but that’s workplace.) I haven’t told anyone at work yet. Eventually, though, there will be a return to the office, and hormone effects, and it won’t be avoidable. I’m hoping to get ahead of it and be myself 24x7 instead of spending 40 hours a week cosplaying. Any ideas would be helpful. Thank you.
posted by mephron at 6:31 AM PST - 7 comments

Can someone be a "casual" cocaine user? My spouse and I are having a disagreement about addiction. The sides are abstinence vs. harm reduction. Spouse argues that someone who uses cocaine infrequently may be able to manage their addiction in life. I believe there is no such thing as a casual user of hard drugs. My opinion comes from personal experience and knowing many addicts in recovery. Spouse's opinion comes from graduate school where he took a counseling course on harm reduction. This comes from his textbook on harm reduction: [more inside]
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 4:23 AM PST - 51 comments

I saw this movie on TV in 1997 or 98, and it was probably made in the mid-90s. English, Scottish or Irish. It's about a teenage boy who is depressed and suicidal. He is a victim of bullying, partly because of his odd behaviour and looks, he wears glasses, old fashined clothes and has a nerdy haircut, black hair. He is skinny and small, and always a bit desperate because of his difficult life. It was a very sad film, but the desciption of this boy's difficulties was touching and heartbreaking.
posted by sidra at 1:17 AM PST - 5 comments

Help me, ornithologists of MetaFilter! A black-capped chickadee has decided my car’s passenger side mirror is a great place to poop. Then it spreads the poop, rendering the mirror useless and the car door revolting! Why, and how can I get it to go do something else instead? [more inside]
posted by centrifugal at 11:39 PM PST - 8 comments

I am going to take a leisurely roadtrip from through the central midwest to New York Traveling solo by car from the first time in a long time, looking for scenic stops along the way and pretty roads between. [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:12 PM PST - 10 comments

What was this riff on the 'typical' New Yorker poem, that featured something about a garden and something about infidelity? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 8:45 PM PST - 2 comments

As someone who identifies as an activist, I find that we should all be doing our best to address world problems as soon and responsibly as possible. The unanswered question as I see it, however, is: what should we be doing with our lives in an entirely just world/utopia (other than any maintenance that would be required for keeping said "just world" just)? I've been starting with formal logic to try to find the answer to this question but am wondering if there is a more intelligent way to go about answering this question. [more inside]
posted by defmute at 8:12 PM PST - 24 comments

Help me stop melting my laptop! I've gotten into Skyrim modding over the quarantine, and it's time to upgrade to a gaming PC that can handle my graphics. The internet is full of advice, but most of it seems outdated, untrustworthy, or conflicting. Budget: ~$2500. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by Feyala at 7:35 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm writing a novel, which I'm finding hard. Because it's hard, and I'm struggling, it's very easy not to do it. I think my issue is less writing-specific and more about finding ways to follow through on something I want to follow through on. [more inside]
posted by gigondas at 7:26 PM PST - 22 comments

I have a hundred feet of patio string light that I currently turn on but plugging into an outdoor receptacle. I'd prefer they come on when I turn on my hard-wired porch light (which is already at the right elevation on my exterior wall). I was thinking about adding a watertight cord grip to the octagon box behind the porch light, and cutting a short (1ft) length of outdoor extension cord to pass through it. The patio string light would plug into the dangling extension cord socket. You are not my electrician, I know, but is there anything wrong with this plan?
posted by Popular Ethics at 7:12 PM PST - 12 comments

After the outdoor garbage can has been emptied, what all natural (or at least doesn't harm the environment) solution do you spray in this exterior garbage can to prevent it from smelling too bad or even smelling good in hot and humid weather?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:21 PM PST - 6 comments

Young man who’s lived in the U.K. under indefinite leave to remain for many years. Got accepted into many unis. Every uni who’s accepted him has done so as a domestic student, with a domestic student’s fees, except his top choice, which is classing him as an international student. Does he appeal this to the uni directly? To UCAS? Elsewhere? Thanks!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 2:55 PM PST - 4 comments

I going to get new windows on my house and have questions. [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 12:03 PM PST - 4 comments

Photos I got it at an antique mall. The tag just said "ROOSTER MAN" with no other information. The human face is on a little spring and bounces around when you poke it. I can't find any manufacturer or brand markings on it. It's very heavy (about 3 lbs). I really love my little rooster man and I want to know more about it. Thanks!
posted by theodolite at 11:19 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m going to be in San Francisco for a weekend with my sister and her wife. I’ve been to SF many times, but not during the pandemic so my usual food-oriented travel ideas are a bit out of step (several options I’ve looked up are still takeout only). What would you do that’s actually open right now, including outdoor activities? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 11:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Traveling with a tween boy along I-81/I-84 northbound through PA on our way to NY. Looking for fun and easy outdoorsy stops to do along the way to get out, see something cool, stretch our legs, etc. [more inside]
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 11:02 AM PST - 6 comments

I am about to digitize some VHS tapes and have two DVD/VCR combos to choose from: a Sony SLV-D300P and a Sansui VRDVD4001AC. Is one a better choice than the other? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 10:59 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for an online career or life coach who works with autistic & ADHD adults. I highly prefer they are neurodivergent themselves! [more inside]
posted by lloquat at 10:38 AM PST - 5 comments

I am about to turn 40 *tears*. [more inside]
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 10:01 AM PST - 30 comments

We took in a stray and SURPRISE PREGNANT. Confirmed Wednesday at vet. They didn’t notice this eye discharge or it appeared after. That makes one eye basically have a halo of water/goo. Is this worth emergency vet or taking her in monday? [more inside]
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:52 AM PST - 10 comments

When I go to bed, I get super painful headaches where my head touches the pillow. If I stand up and walk around, the pain goes away. What gives? Details inside [more inside]
posted by maxexam at 9:01 AM PST - 10 comments

Looking for relatively light-hearted yet very well-written fiction or narrative non-fiction to read before bed? [more inside]
posted by bearette at 7:08 AM PST - 33 comments

I took a class in Western cinema. We were shown this low-budget, experimental short film about machismo and a boy who is killed in a hunting accident. [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 2:00 AM PST - 5 comments

When to quit? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:35 PM PST - 21 comments

In 1987 or so I (4th grade) I read a book about a kid whose parents die when a truck carrying hay overturns on top of their car. He subsequently gets the ability to manipulate magnetic fields. What is it?
posted by dmd at 4:07 PM PST - 2 comments

I often get irritated when I'm looking for power strips that have specific features (e.g. PD at 90 watts or whatever) and the plug (the part that plugs into the wall) has a front-on rather than 90 degree connection, which limits what furniture it can be put behind. Is there any actual advantage or historical reason why this is so? [more inside]
posted by Candleman at 2:58 PM PST - 11 comments

Help me find scenes/clips from films and TV shows of people removing masks to reveal something monstrous underneath. Phantom of the Opera's reveal, the climax of Twilight Zone's Eye of the Beholder, Twisty from American Horror Story pulling off his creepy face mask... etc.
posted by Unsomnambulist at 2:57 PM PST - 20 comments

I have a spreadsheet for orders from a restaurant. It lists the start time in one column and the stop time in another column. It’s massive (covers an entire year). I would like to find, for every hour (or every 12 hours, or any other interval), the maximum number of orders that were open at the same time. Ie orders that were started, but not stopped. How would I do this in excel?
posted by cacofonie at 2:34 PM PST - 12 comments

What are some ways I can get over worrying about how I look or how attractive I appear? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 1:47 PM PST - 15 comments

I have become aware of how not leaving an apartment for a year has killed my cardio. I would like to fix this before the fall when I can get out to my gym classes again. What has worked for you? Complications inside. [more inside]
posted by platypus of the universe at 1:35 PM PST - 21 comments

I am terrible at gift-giving--I have very little ability to see a thing out there in the world and say, "Hey, my friend So-and-So would love this." I am looking for gift ideas that are (1) useful enough or (2) charming enough that a large percentage of people would like to receive them. [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 1:06 PM PST - 42 comments

Wife and I are thinking of purchasing a new family car. We've narrowed it down to two options: 2018 Toyota Highlander or 2018 Mazda CX-9. [more inside]
posted by uncannyslacks at 11:54 AM PST - 19 comments

I have dandruff and it sucks. I tried Selsun Blue. Didn't work. Tried the Neutrogena coal tar shampoo. Also did nothing. Then did some Googling and learned that my actual problem might be dry scalp. Bought a fancy scalp scrub and a nice moisturizer. They felt amazing and my scalp was less itchy afterwards but still prolifically flaky. Help??? Don't want to keep buying random products, do want to get rid of dandruff.
posted by insteadofapricots at 11:06 AM PST - 43 comments

What are the best things (swings, toys, plants, other) to think about when designing an area for tweens and teens in the woods? [more inside]
posted by arabelladragon at 10:26 AM PST - 21 comments

Friend's family has a This End Up sleeper sofa that's... well the sleeper mattress is gross and they don't really need a sleeper sofa anymore. They want to get rid of it completely, I'm convinced you could remove the sleeper guts, screw in some 2x4s, put down some plywood and salvage it. But, is it worth it? Have you done this? Would you do this? Am I too emotionally invested in this furniture because my entire childhood was This End Up?
posted by danapiper at 8:40 AM PST - 12 comments

So i was reading this article about a private hospital in the US suing people for unpaid debts that they cannot possibly pay. And I was thinking, the federal government should just say any hospital receiving federal money cannot do this. That's how Title IX works for universities, right? Could they do this? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:04 AM PST - 7 comments

What's the last fiction book you absolutely loved? [more inside]
posted by bluecore at 6:48 AM PST - 82 comments

I'm in the US calling someone else who has a US phone number, but this person is currently in India. Is this treated like a normal intra-US call, or not? I have just the basic Verizon calling plan and don't want to incur extra charges. Prefer to use phone, but can zoom if I must!
posted by gigondas at 6:33 AM PST - 8 comments

I am trying to find a marinade recipe that I can make with miso paste for raw veggies but everything I find is for grilled. More details... [more inside]
posted by floweredfish at 5:18 AM PST - 9 comments

I bought cottage cheese for a recipe and I don't really like it on its own. Do you have a suggestion for a cake, muffin, scone or bread with cottage cheese? Or, maybe an egg dish? Thank you! [more inside]
posted by Emmy Rae at 5:08 AM PST - 20 comments

In the next couple months, I want to get a new job. I've been working at the same place for 10+ years. Right now I'm a bit apprehensive. Help me find resources (Price from $0 - $1000) that will help me get moving? Or suggestions you have? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 4:58 AM PST - 8 comments

Pictures of Kurdish fighters, often fighters in mountainous regions, are sometimes seen wearing loose fitting, baggy pants. Visually, they seem similar to what we might call "harem pants" but it's virtually impossible to find anything referencing their use by the Kurds. What do the Kurds call them and why do they use them? Example
posted by Socinus at 2:37 AM PST - 7 comments

This is something I've heard but feel like it's somewhat exaggerated. I hear stuff about how Canadians in big cities like Vancouver and Toronto are really cliquey or otherwise unavailable due to the stresses of life? Is that really true? I'm of the opinion that you can make friends anywhere. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 9:56 PM PST - 20 comments

My daughter is about to have her first child in a month and all the in-person classes are closed due to Covid. I'd like to sign her up for a friendly and informative english-language class that covers birth, maybe nursing and infant care, etc. Google gives me a flood of options, and my last pregnancy was a medical nightmare so I am unable to search without spiralling so please - recs for good online classes, live or on-demand?
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:27 PM PST - 8 comments

One of my best friends just got married during covid! I want to send a belated "yay you just got married!" gift, and she asked for dish towels. Help me get her the best dish towels ever. [more inside]
posted by hotchocolate at 9:25 PM PST - 20 comments

Hi AskMe, I'm about a dozen years too late for this, I guess, but I've recently discovered a liking for Harry Potter fanfiction, and I'm wondering how I can begin to explore it beyond finding stories recommended in random places, or just Googling… [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 8:49 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm a huge fan of Midnight Diner/Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories. What are some similar shows that I can watch? [more inside]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:33 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm not happy with my current clinic due to high turnover among providers, especially psychiatrists. This time around I'm being forced to switch psychiatrists *and* therapists so I feel like it's time for me to find someone (or someones?) I can have a long term therapeutic relationship with. Specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by green socks at 7:31 PM PST - 4 comments

I just ate a lot of food containing soy, which I am extremely sensitive to. In about 2-3 hours I'll have some stomach distress, and tomorrow I will get painful acne like bumps all over my neck, around my mouth, and along my jaw. Is there ANYTHING I can do to flush my system right now to lessen these side effects? The stomach stuff goes away quickly, but the bumps will last at least a week. YANMD.
posted by Hermione Granger at 7:18 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm helping an adult friend decorate their one bedroom apartment. He's decided he wants to go full out alien and/or Bigfoot themed apartment but in a "kitchy but tasteful" way. I have no idea how to help other than maybe a 50s/atomic age kitchen items (alien-ish lights) and a log bed (Bigfoot bed?) Any general or specific ideas?
posted by arnicae at 7:12 PM PST - 13 comments

Back in college I developed a very particular ritual for applying cream cheese to bagels, and I've had some luck replicating it recently, but it's costly and wasteful, so I'm looking for help figuring out alternatives [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 6:52 PM PST - 15 comments

I asked a question recently about asking for a raise at one of my writing gigs. I did inform the CEO of my new rates, but he said we could talk after the dust settled from the abrupt departure of an employee. Since then, thanks to a new supervisor, things have gotten bad. I am pursuing other work but seek survival tips in the meantime. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 6:17 PM PST - 9 comments

I contain multitudes. I love everything and want to try and learn about everything. I am a dilettante and I like it. This means, however, that I have a house full of half-finished and abandoned hobbies, and deep down I know that I should pass these items on to those that will love and appreciate them. How? Both in the physical, give away/sell sense, and in the emotional, farewell to old loves sense. [more inside]
posted by Gray Duck at 5:34 PM PST - 9 comments

Has anyone had experience with career coaching/counselling to not make more money, but instead make less money in order to allow for health problems and such? Particularly, help with trimming down a complex resume to be less broad? Snowflake details inside... [more inside]
posted by jaymzjulian at 4:33 PM PST - 4 comments

SInce the pandemic, many musicians have taken to Youtube, sometimes to deliver instruction to the world's locked-down amateurs. Three electric guitar examples of note, for me, are Kirk Fletcher, Guthrie Trapp, and Tom Bukovic. There must be people who started a similar project, free-form instructional content or playing with some explanations, on Youtube, but with acoustic guitar, not electric, and here is where you tell me who they are!
posted by thelonius at 3:32 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for specific recipe suggestions for big batch lunches that I can bring to work and reheat if necessary in the microwave. I've been bringing homemade bread, tomatoes, peppers, fruit, yoghurt, hard boiled eggs or sardines. But I think I would like something a bit more cohesive, and of course a little variety from week to week. I don't have dietary restrictions, but I am trying to eat more plants, moderate carbs, less meat. [more inside]
posted by melamakarona at 2:21 PM PST - 17 comments

Through traveling and various media, I've learned about some interesting gestures or local variations on universal gestures. I'm curious to learn about more and would love to hear about those you know of and their intricacies. For instance, I learned that in (at least some parts of) China, a light tap on the table indicates that someone should please pour their tea. But tapping can also be a general thanks, and perhaps one that indicates a status difference. It's complex and great! What are some more like this? [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:08 PM PST - 30 comments

My sister has diabetes, and I'm curious about her eating habits. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 1:26 PM PST - 15 comments

Can my contractor install a new fence, or would doing so violate Covid restrictions in Ontario, now? [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 1:08 PM PST - 6 comments

Do you use your iPad as a document camera? What kind of stand do you use? I would like to stream images to my library's projector via my iPad and I don't know which stand is the best. In particular I would like to project video of my hands doing the steps in a craft project so the participants can all see no matter where they are sitting.
posted by Biblio at 1:04 PM PST - 1 comment

I recently had a tinder date. I arrived to the bar where I had agreed to meet the guy. I was looking around trying to find the guy but I couldn’t find him. I saw a group of handsome guys sitting on a table. They were looking at me. A few minutes later one of them stood up and approached me. He told me that if I was looking for a place to sit I could join them. This never, literally, never happens to me. I didn’t know what to say. I finally told the guy that I was waiting for a friend but that I wasn’t sure if he was coming or not. He said, ok, come join us if you want. I thanked him and he went back to his table with his friends. I felt very flattered and happy but also kind of sad that this nice situation had to happen precisely at an inconvenient moment. I’ve been so unlucky in my love/dating life… Anyway, I text the tinder guy to ask him where he is. He replies that he is sitting on the bar next doors because he couldn’t find a table at the other one. I analyse the situation for some minutes. [more inside]
posted by Fromthesouth at 12:50 PM PST - 15 comments

I realised that I almost never watch videos where Black Americans talk about stuff that interests them. Can you recommend Youtube videos? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 11:52 AM PST - 20 comments

Or, Do Academic Libraries Care About Holes In Their Collection? A couple of times now I have found journals and periodicals that don’t show up in EBSCOHost, WorldCat, etc. What I’ve had to do is save a search on eBay and snap up any original printings. I just now paid $50 (and nearly as much in shipping) to get a year’s run of an economics journal from 1991. What am I supposed to do with that? [more inside]
posted by Monochrome at 10:25 AM PST - 8 comments

Hope me figure out how to get Peacock free via my Xfinity account. Of course, there are snowflakes... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 8:49 AM PST - 7 comments

I am a fan of Somewhere in Time (1980) - (a huge fan of the late Christopher Plummer). I am wondering if there are any other films similar in terms of the supernatural theme and time travelling all set in the turn of the century, the Victorian era as well, or even the early 1920s? One film and novel that comes to mind is Picnic at Hanging Rockas it does interweave some supernaturalism/time travel set in 1900 I believe.
posted by RearWindow at 8:37 AM PST - 21 comments

Trying to find a specific Punch cartoon featuring a family member from the early 20th century. Historians of socialist activism in Scotland during this period may have clues. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 8:29 AM PST - 3 comments

I use the Pinterest app every day. A recent update implemented a MADDENING feature change: I can no longer pin something directly to a specific board and must instead endure something called "quick saves." This is insufferable, and I cannot find a way to revert back to the normal pinning settings. Googling this issue isn't yielding solutions. Can you help? I've already emailed support.
posted by Hermione Granger at 8:22 AM PST - 7 comments

So, last year was hard. Severe movement restrictions, isolation, increasingly challenging WFH setup, and so on. It's a pandemic, it's one year and it's a small sacrifice, next year would be better, etc was what I told myself. Except that it's really, really not, in my country (India). Part rant, part question, below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 8:20 AM PST - 10 comments

I'd like to replace my current 14L backpack which I use for hiking up and running down trails with this 4L running vest, because 4L is as big as I need (water, keys, wallet, phone, snacks, camera, sunscreen + sandwich for longer hikes). The vest ticks all my boxes, but I have one concern: it's hot where I live, and when the trails get steep I only carry my backpack on one shoulder, which is cooler than having it cover my back. Should I be concerned about not really having the ability to do this with a running vest?
posted by my log does not judge at 8:13 AM PST - 5 comments

Is it possible to live survive off temping in Chicago? Is this a good pathway to find more permanent work? [more inside]
posted by ockmockbock at 7:52 AM PST - 17 comments

I have seasonal allergies and they’re way worse than usual this year. I’m already using daily Zyrtec, Flonase nasal spray, and Alaway eye drops (all generics). Is there anything else I can use when it’s particularly bad and I can’t stop sneezing? [more inside]
posted by insectosaurus at 7:25 AM PST - 21 comments

As you can see from my previous question, Missus Tchozz is the executor of her father's estate and co-trustee of the family trust he created. Unfortunately, he left three timeshares to the family. Can folks recommend legitimate services to sell these timeshares? [more inside]
posted by Tchozz at 7:25 AM PST - 4 comments

In my work on fungal iconographies, I've stumbled on an image from a series of woodcuts made by M.C. Escher around 1930, which is accompanied by a motto in Latin and brief poem in Dutch by (apparently florid) Dutch author G.J. Hoogewerff (under the pseudonym A.E. Drijfhout). The only translation I've found does not seem entirely accurate, but my Latin is poor and I can only second-guess the Dutch notes via my German... might you be able to help me out? [more inside]
posted by progosk at 6:52 AM PST - 17 comments

Does anyone other there use Logic Pro's smart tempo? I can't seem to get it to work properly. [more inside]
posted by umbú at 6:20 AM PST - 4 comments

Recently I've been contacted (by mail and in person, although I wasn't home for the in person visit) by a "licensed public adjuster" claiming they can help get a new roof for my home paid for by insurance. Is this a thing? How does it work? How do they get paid? [more inside]
posted by misskaz at 6:03 AM PST - 15 comments

I tested negative for COVID antibodies about two months after my second Pfizer shot. Should I be concerned? [more inside]
posted by redondo77 at 4:36 AM PST - 12 comments

For a project, I am looking for examples of products and services that are not necessarily valuable on their own but are valuable because of how they enhance or extend something else. I would give an example but I can't think of one, which is why I am posting this question. Please help me wow my client with as many examples of things that enhance, extend, or add value to other things as possible. Thanks, hive mind!
posted by Bella Donna at 4:15 AM PST - 47 comments

Earlier this year I was furloughed and received unemployment. Now my employer has recovered financially and wants to give the employees the money they lost during the furlough. Is there any benefit to them if I repay the state the unemployment compensation I received? Am I morally obligated to do so? (It seems obvious that I am but maybe I’m missing something.) Will I just cause a giant headache all around if I try to do this?
posted by anonymous at 3:19 AM PST - 14 comments

I’m a female breadwinner and miserable in my career. My husband wants to go back to school for a lower paying job. How to think about the future? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:19 AM PST - 29 comments

Last year I had a job that included weekly 3 hours of mind numbingly boring meetings where I had nothing to contribute and was only there because everybody was there. I started idly doodling around but over the year discoverd that this doodling gave me quite a bit of pleasure. Then the job ended and I forgot about this, until I recently rediscoverd my doodles. By leafing through them in chronological order I can see progress and also felt a bit proud of them. I would like to start again, but with a bit more guidance. At the moment what I draw looks a bit like Picasso doodles , but I would like to be able to sketch, better? More realistically? I don't know, I just want to be able to sketch a face? Person? Tree? that resembles more the real thing. What would be a good ressource for an absolute beginner? I don't care if its a paid online course, a book, whatever.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 2:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm taking vitamin D supplements because I have low vitamin D levels. Up to now, calciferol (the purple tablet you take once a week) has not been available because of covid demands so I've been taking a daily Vitamin D3 instead. My doctor wants me to change over to calciferol now that it's become available. Help me understand why? Communication with my doctor is a bit difficult at the moment with restricted appointments because of covid. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 1:52 AM PST - 2 comments

Did you decide to have only one child in your late 20s/early30s? How did you go over the years? Have you ever regretted it? Why/why not? *Mainly looking for answers from the parent's perspectives rather than experience growing up as an only child as there are already a few posts that I could see * I am F/30 - husband who is my best friend is mid 30s - son almost 1 year old. Husband is super supportive of any decision I make. Financially stable - we are both very careful with money and prefers a modest lifestyle. We are both introverts and need a lot of time on our own and also as a couple to feel connected. We completely adore our little boy (who also seems to be more on an introverted side although I know it's too early to tell) but I feel I will be a better Mom to one rather than multiples for reasons I don't really want to specify here in this post. Husband and I are both fit and healthy - son is generally easy going, eats and sleeps well (which makes me feel even worse about not giving him a sibling).
posted by azalea at 11:48 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for stories about unusual sight or vision, in the literal sense. Ideally novels or short stories, movies/shows acceptable. Preferably horror, sci fi or fantasy. [more inside]
posted by Paper rabies at 11:19 PM PST - 23 comments

If you were a dog that was rescued from the streets of Turkey, what food might you be really used to? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 8:39 PM PST - 16 comments

There is a Brooklyn queer tattoo artist who does simple line drawings of cowboys, often in erotic situations, in black, blue or red. It's a modernist illustrative style, not traditionally western, and not in the old school style of tattooing. Elegant. I followed them on Instagram, but the search engine is useless.
posted by PinkMoose at 5:43 PM PST - 2 comments

We know that certain artworks (e.g. movies or music) are intended for people under the influence of alcohol or other recreational drugs. But what about professional reviewers? Do they ever acknowledge using recreational drugs before or while forming their opinion? Should their opinion be more or less valuable on this basis?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:33 PM PST - 8 comments

What are some cool or interesting ways you’ve found to experience music? Click inside to see what I mean. [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 4:27 PM PST - 22 comments

I am trying to find these cool frames worn by Next In Fashion winner Minju Kim. Basically horn-rimmed, white on top, gold on the bottom. [more inside]
posted by *s at 4:08 PM PST - 3 comments

I had a strange job interview yesterday. The position was for an organizational development and change consultant role. It's a fairly high-skilled job, requiring an advanced degree, working with the C-suite and companies larger than 1000 employees. The interviewer/owner wanted to know how many words per minute I typed. I have no idea. Why would I? I take meeting notes in my notebook by hand. She doesn't like that. It's too inefficient to later transfer handwritten notes to an electronic system. Is this a real thing for high-skilled professionals? No paper notes? [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 1:38 PM PST - 50 comments

I'm looking for literature and inscriptions of Turkey in late antiquity- say 7th century and before. I know there are cuneiform texts, but is there anything else? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 1:22 PM PST - 9 comments

My recent poking and prodding at work has played a role in several people getting promotions and raises, the announcement of a new and generous stock grant program and, potentially, a more employer-friendly bonus program. I'd like for my colleagues to know that I was involved, but I'm not sure how or whether to ask. [more inside]
posted by Strumpf Marionette at 12:53 PM PST - 15 comments

When I was finishing up my undergraduate degree in comparative literature, and getting closer to starting my Ph.D, I was glancing over titles in the library and discovered a book titled something like "Reading (Studying?) Literature will Make You Sick". I laughed, took it over to the campus bar and started reading it. It turned out to be spookily prescient, so much so that I am kind of wondering if I dreamt or hallucinated this whole thing. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 12:40 PM PST - 8 comments

It's getting to be that time of the year when my basement gets a bit damp and I start running the dehumidifier. Except the waste heat raises my basement temps to an uncomfortable level. Do I have other options? [more inside]
posted by Kyol at 12:26 PM PST - 9 comments

When I was a teenager back in the 70s I was almost albino white. So I'd try to self-tan with my dad's old sunlamp. Oy. [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 12:14 PM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to receive a text alert every evening that tells me the time of my first Google Calendar meeting the next morning. How can I set that up? [more inside]
posted by mekily at 12:01 PM PST - 6 comments

We're thinking about refinancing our home, in order to lock in a lower interest rate. The best rates I've found are with Better Mortgage, of which I'd never heard until yesterday. Is this a reputable company? I've been reading mostly great reviews of this company, but is this apparent goodness on the level? They seem to sell the mortgage to somebody else and don't hold it themselves. Is this good/okay/bad? Our current mortgage is with Chase, and their refi rates are nowhere as good as Better. If Better isn't good, is there a company that's better?
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:45 AM PST - 12 comments

Need advice on feasibility of drastically changing eating habits of our household over the next couple of months. [more inside]
posted by sharp pointy objects at 11:04 AM PST - 33 comments

Mr Jane had/has a bout with toenail fungus. He's been treating it with Funginail and says its cured, but his toenails are thick and gnarly. He's asked me to help him get his feet looking better for sandal season. How best to clip these things? Can we file them? With what? Is this best left to a professional pedicurist (which he will likely balk at)? [more inside]
posted by sarajane at 9:48 AM PST - 19 comments

I am looking to invest a small amount of money (under $10,000) in Bitcoin and Ethereum, as the fun part of my portfolio. I plan to treat this like a security, rather than currency: hold for the long term, and sell the position decades down the road. What's the best way to do this today?
posted by philosophygeek at 9:35 AM PST - 13 comments

I do not like to weed, I do not have time to weed. Even if I had time to weed, I would rather cook or do a 1000 other things from my chore or fun list. I could hire someone but there doesn't even seem to be anyone to hire right now plus I keep getting poison ivy and ticks from my yard. I do not prefer to use chemicals. There has to be some battery or electric tool? [more inside]
posted by RoadScholar at 9:14 AM PST - 16 comments

Seeking games I can play remotely (ie that have good online platforms available) with a group of four. [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 8:55 AM PST - 7 comments

The NYC primary elections are about a month away, with early voting actually starting in mid-June. New York has begun using ranked-choice voting this year, so that the Democratic Party primary, which by now would ordinarily be whittled down to two or three candidates at most for each position, is stuffed instead. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 8:54 AM PST - 11 comments

So as part of my upcoming Alaska trip I've decided that it's time to invest in one quality men's sweater. AND to make it cashmere. The thing is, most sweaters I've seen so far look great for lounging on a night beach in southern Spain but not so much for more rugged conditions. What's the right way to buy the right cashmere sweater now that will last for many years to come?
posted by rileyray3000 at 8:50 AM PST - 14 comments

How is your Veterinarian conducting business these days? I'm finding mine to be less than satisfactory. [more inside]
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 8:49 AM PST - 16 comments

I have damaged the property of someone who trusts me for the second time and I am panicking and don't know how to tell her or proceed. [more inside]
posted by Balthamos at 8:43 AM PST - 27 comments

What can I say or do to communicate my confusion and get a real answer from this? Is it possible, or should I end this friendship? [more inside]
posted by saturday sun at 7:38 AM PST - 23 comments

I’m a 38 or 40 G/H and I’m looking for wireless bras (or just without a stiff underwire or molded cup) that sufficiently cover my boobs and are not made primarily of synthetic fabrics. I’m obviously not looking for lots of support and I specifically don’t want a sports bra. I really wanted this from MeUndies to work but the largest size is too small, but if it had fit this construction would have been ideal. Help me wear a bra again without being so uncomfortable please
posted by tatiana wishbone at 7:07 AM PST - 5 comments

Riffing off of last week's question (which novels do you reread), which fictional characters do you find stick with you long after the reading, and why do you think they do? [more inside]
posted by BWA at 6:56 AM PST - 26 comments

A week ago today, I noticed that the back of my non-dominant hand is sensitive to pressure. It is still sensitive, although the sensitive area has shrunk and is pretty small. The tender area is closer to the wrist than to the knuckles. I had been tearing down boxes that afternoon, and I don't know whether that is related. The tenderness is not impeding me from doing anything. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 6:29 AM PST - 6 comments

There was a black-and-white comic strip, drawn in the UK in the 2000s, where the main character was an extremely right-wing middle-aged English man with a toothbrush moustache, and the premise was that he got angry at things on his computer. He made an onomatopeic noise like 'GNAARRR', and had a put-upon wife who was never actually drawn. It could be in fairly poor taste. What was this comic?
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 12:03 AM PST - 2 comments

My wife clipped this from an ad in a woman's magazine, we ate it regularly for a while, and after that I cannot remember. It had tuna, canned Chinese vegetables and Miracle Whip in it, and was served with crispy fried rice noodles. I'm sure there was at least one more ingredient in it, but my memory is not dredging it up. Anyone out there remember this and still have the recipe?
posted by ackptui at 9:30 PM PST - 17 comments

Hi AskMe, I come to you with a movie identification question, which is not really my usual thing, but here we are. I was watching a movie with my Dad a decade or so back. I think it was probably a classic alien invasion/pod people sort of plot. I remember a scene in a church, in which the priest recited the referenced part of Psalm 23, possibly the entire thing. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 8:59 PM PST - 3 comments

I am a confident swimmer in all respects but one: I can't do flip-turns. The problem isn't just that I never learned, instructors tried to teach me when I was a kid and gave up because my mind/body basically went NOPE!. I understood the concept but actually moving into the inversion/somersault just felt WRONG. Same thing on dry land—I can't do somersaults, cartwheels, etc. I'd like to learn this skill but explanations like "easy, just do a somersault underwater!" obviously don't work. I have access to a pool and some padded floor space. How can I finally learn?
posted by 4rtemis at 5:02 PM PST - 18 comments

What it says on the tin: Mrs. Skookumsaurus is thinking about starting a side hustle business helping people organize and maybe redecorate their homes. We need a fun name for business cards! Ideas so far are Chaos Control, Think Inside the Box, and Crate Expectations. Think the Good Place style punny names, but nothing embarrassing. Please hope us!
posted by skookumsaurus rex at 4:37 PM PST - 15 comments

God-teen enjoys Disney, Star Wars, red pandas and enjoys fun t-shirts with clever G-to-PG humor and his birthday is coming up. [more inside]
posted by childofTethys at 4:03 PM PST - 6 comments

How do I even go about finding someone to design a "starts from zero" movement/ exercise program for me, and then coach me through it? [more inside]
posted by asnowballschance at 3:49 PM PST - 20 comments

From an efficiency perspective, is it better to cool a small apartment with one larger window AC or two smaller window ACs? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 2:43 PM PST - 11 comments

If we want to calculate what percentage of the population are immune to Covid at present, to see, for example, where we are in terms of "herd immunity" (or, just because it's interesting), how do we deal with the following issue: [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 2:26 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to print a zine. Assume the content is all sorted out (text, drawn images, maybe photos) but still needs laying out. Likely to be B&W. The last time I did anything like this was for the college newspaper, where we designed everything in Quark Express and got it printed at a local facility, so definitely a bit rusty. What's the best way to get this project off the ground? What is the current state of the art for making a zine at home nowadays? What hardware/software and printing options do people typically utilize? [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 1:59 PM PST - 7 comments

I have hormone issues. Some of my hormone issues are related to obesity. Some doctors are dismissive of my conditions and just say "lose weight". How can I find an endocrinologist or urologist without playing roulette until I find someone who is not dismissive? I'm in Western NC. [more inside]
posted by arimathea at 12:30 PM PST - 5 comments

You know that tarot card meme of the guy with all the swords? That's me, but with art. I won a bunch of awesome art pieces on an online auction site and was so excited. Then the little mom and pop shipping place the auction house uses sent me a $400 invoice (which is like, twice what I paid for the items). Other than just coughing up the money to have them shipped, are there other options I haven't considered? More questions inside: [more inside]
posted by a.steele at 12:01 PM PST - 16 comments

Finding aspects of my new job challenging. Please help me brainstorm practical ideas for getting up to speed quickly and without burning out. And also please point me to any good reseources on dealing with imposter syndrome, as I think I am probably magnifying my lack of experience in my mind. Would also love to hear others' experiences of a situation where they got through this and stepped up their game to good effect! [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 11:09 AM PST - 5 comments

Is there a better camping water storage and dispensing option than the big blue plastic cube? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 10:27 AM PST - 18 comments

Have you smoked/vaped any of the newer high-CBD pot strains? How do you feel after you smoke it, relative to smoking high-THC weed? [more inside]
posted by OmieWise at 10:16 AM PST - 9 comments

What small, easy to pick up and put back down, non-screen hobby can I pursue while watching my kid? [more inside]
posted by Fallbala at 9:48 AM PST - 46 comments

(Lord help me, I've tried to navigate ASUS official support, but LOL.) I've just invested in an ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini (XD4) home mesh system. My Synology NAS isn't showing up on the router's attached device list, but it is visible on my laptop's network. What gives? [more inside]
posted by mykescipark at 9:26 AM PST - 10 comments

A while back, I set up iCloud Drive to store my desktop and documents folders. I'd like to end that arrangement, but when I uncheck that particular box, all of my documents vanish from my computer (i.e., iCloud doesn't seem to copy them back to my hard drive). How can I terminate this usage of iCloud Drive and restore my documents? Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 8:20 AM PST - 4 comments

I bought these Lightweight Long Sleeve Criss Cross Pullover Nursing Tops from Amazon when I was nursing. I still love them. They cover what I'm currently less confident about and accentuate what I'm more confident about. Throw a tank underneath and a pair of jeans or leggings and I really look like I put some effort in. BUT-unsurprisingly, these shirts are very very low quality. As in fall apart after one machine wash and line dry. Did I mention the low quality? Can you help me find their better cousins? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 8:08 AM PST - 5 comments

We are planning to paint our kids' rooms soon and would love advice on color choices. They're boys, age 2.5 and 6. Inspired by this question, we are not doing a theme - we are thinking we'll pick a neutral color for the walls and stick with white furniture. We're leaning towards a light grey but would love any input. Photos here. (Maybe someday the kids will keep their rooms neat too.) Thanks!
posted by kdern at 7:02 AM PST - 11 comments

We are taking a short trip to Telluride at the end of next week with our hike-loving pooches. With the snow still there at elevation and mud at lower levels, where should we go hiking? [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 6:37 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm looking for an inexpensive device that will reliably and unobtrusively track when I fall asleep and when I wake up. I need it to be able to distinguish between sleeping versus reading or listening to a podcast awake in bed, but I don't need it to do sleep cycles or quality or really anything else. I don't want to have to mess with it, I want to be able to look at it/download information when I think of it and see how much sleep I've been getting most nights. Recommendations?
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:00 AM PST - 11 comments

I am dealing with the mental and physical repercussions of being extremely physically inactive for over a year, and feeling extremely overwhelmed at the amount of work I have to do to regain a modicum of fitness. Has anyone else been in this situation and what would your advice be? CW: Weight and fitness. Please no diet talk or advice. Thanks [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:56 AM PST - 42 comments

Just started a free trial of Hulu with ads, watching on TiVo Bolt. I've noticed that when a show resumes after an ad break, it skips ~5 seconds of show. Basically it starts in the middle of a conversation. If I rewind, I can see the missing 5 seconds. It's consistent and very annoying. Does anyone else experience this? [more inside]
posted by mpark at 10:22 PM PST - 8 comments

Hi. What other sites or applications are like CL Rideshare, but less chaotic? (Rideshare's actually nice, sometimes)
posted by firstdaffodils at 9:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I need new glasses. I would prefer that my optometrist be Black. I haven’t been able to find anyone in the area. Thanks in advance!
posted by FallibleHuman at 9:10 PM PST - 4 comments

I’m looking for well-moderated, safe, healthy and age-appropriate places online for my 11-yr old to think her thoughts, feel her feels, and connect with like-minded LGBTQ or non-binary people IN HER PEER GROUP [more inside]
posted by armoir from antproof case at 6:58 PM PST - 10 comments

What are some good podcasts being made in English outside of the US? I’m especially interested in ones that aren’t strictly interview-based and are not hosted by comedians.
posted by vunder at 6:23 PM PST - 11 comments

Headed to Vermont next weekend and looking for great restaurants, and anything else you think we should do or see. [more inside]
posted by ReluctantViking at 5:21 PM PST - 15 comments

I am quite fond of western setting films, but do not know much about western television series set in the American Civil War or Post Civil War. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 4:53 PM PST - 25 comments

I'm looking for comfortable clothing for someone who is pretty sensitive to e.g. tags, exposed elastic, itchy seams, restrictive fit, snug cuffs, and tight crewnecks. Do you have an affordable go-to brand or shop? Bonus points if they have petite sizes. You win the thread if it's also gender-neutral clothing.
posted by moira at 4:35 PM PST - 7 comments

I’ve been an off-and-on runner for the past 15 years. I use a very unambitious training schedule every time I start again, and I’ve gotten up to the 40 mile per week range without any injuries. This is probably my third time restarting, but this time I have an apple watch and I notice that my HR is always around 180 when I’m running. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 4:18 PM PST - 16 comments

I've asked this before, but it's a new year with new inventory. I need a swimsuit. Most swimsuits that you find in stores don't fit me because I would have to wear a small or extra small to fit my body, and a medium or large to fit my breasts. I hope you all can direct me to specific suits or brands where I can find what I'm looking for. More inside. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 4:03 PM PST - 24 comments

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law wrote a family cookbook to keep themselves sane while my husband (their son/brother) was battling late stage cancer as a teenager. He made it! The cookbooks were professionally printed, but are in short supply 36 years later. I found a pristine copy and scanned it, AWESOME! Now that I’ve got the PDF, where could you recommend getting hard copies printed? I’d like to surprise younger family members with their own copies. [more inside]
posted by soleilMia at 3:46 PM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for examples where antifascists pledged donations based off of actions from fascist events. e.g. for each fascist that shows up, we donate X amount, or for each mile they march, we donate Y amount. Here is one example. Do you know of any other examples?
posted by andoatnp at 3:36 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm an autistic adult (academic faculty) looking for recommendations on what *specific* items I can spend money on to improve my experience of the world (any price level). Specific advice with links (e.g. "pseudo-earplugs like Calmer Flare") rather than general ("earplugs") is desirable. [more inside]
posted by rollcredits at 3:10 PM PST - 10 comments

In playing real estate scavenger hunt with my sister, she came across this contraption in a house in northern Virginia. Any idea what it might be?
posted by DrGail at 3:04 PM PST - 6 comments

I recently became a homeowner and have decided to buy an induction range to replace the awful stove that came with the apartment. I've picked out the model I'm pretty sure I want. The price is basically the same across retailers except for one, and I'm wondering if it's legit or I should steer clear. [more inside]
posted by weirdly airport at 12:51 PM PST - 28 comments

I've been tasked with updating an outdoor message board (similar to this one), and I have some questions. [more inside]
posted by grateful at 12:37 PM PST - 3 comments

Our 16-year-old adopted nephew ran away three times from his family this year. Now he's agreed to come stay with us. We need all the advice. [more inside]
posted by aoleary at 12:21 PM PST - 33 comments

When the IRS rejected my extension request today, did it keep my payment? [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 12:03 PM PST - 10 comments

I once read a sci-fi short story that was pretty focused on passive resistance and people avoiding oppression by saying that they "would prefer not to" when ordered or being coerced into doing things. I think the context was that some imperialistic/colonial Earth humans showed up on an alien planet and the people who lived on that planet were resisting the Earth forces in this manner, or at least something along those lines. I don't remember the name of this story and haven't been able to find it again. Does this ring a bell to anyone?
posted by Juffo-Wup at 10:44 AM PST - 5 comments

Masculine-presenting people of Metafilter, where are you buying your shorts? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 10:33 AM PST - 17 comments

I have an item of wooden furniture which has four legs and a significant wobble. If I shake it, it rocks, with the back left and front right leg alternately on the ground and raised up slightly. Currently I have a prop under the back left leg, which stops the wobble, but I really need a more permanent solution. If I was to shave some wood from the base of one of the legs until the wobble stopped, which leg should I do this to? (I am really hoping to do this to only one leg if possible.)
posted by Cheerwell Maker at 8:46 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm at the "I've tried everything" and am looking for any ideas I might have missed. I have two cats that shed a lot (e.g., in a ray of sunlight I can always see little pieces of hair floating around). [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 8:09 AM PST - 10 comments

I've decided I need to manage the projects I'm working on better. In the past, I've used Trello to keep track of stuff like that, but apparently my company's firewall blocks Trello, so I'm looking for alternatives. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 6:42 AM PST - 23 comments

If you had to have the same 3 meals every day. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 5:53 AM PST - 10 comments

For over a year I've been trying to withdraw my meager retirement plan contributions from the New York State & Local Retirement System (I'm not of retirement age, and I'm no longer employed in New York - I've been trying to roll it over into an IRA). They keep rejecting me because I didn't include a form that legally I'm not allowed to include. [more inside]
posted by Jeanne at 5:32 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm driving to the city this week for work and I've decided to extend my stay to the weekend. I'm having a lot of weird anxiety planning my free time. Can you help? Details inside! [Please don't tell me not to travel. Please don't tell me I should be concerned about spreading/catching Covid. I'd really, really appreciate it if you would just pass this thread by if you're feeling any kind of strong reaction to my travel plans. Thank you ❤️] [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 5:11 AM PST - 26 comments

I turn 40 in 2022. I last ran a marathon when I was 22. I’d like to do it again - and beat my time from 18 years ago. What’s the best training calendar/plan out there? [more inside]
posted by po822000 at 5:02 AM PST - 9 comments

I find this situation very confusing and am wondering what you would all think about what was going on in my appointments. [more inside]
posted by MarnieSrpings at 12:22 AM PST - 43 comments

When you buy a car from a name brand dealer using their financing, do you normally get an itemized receipt / bill of sale showing the price of the car, dealer fees, taxes, title, registration, etc.? If you didn't get one initially, what lengths would you go to to get one? [more inside]
posted by DEiBnL13 at 9:31 PM PST - 10 comments

Oh boy, I wish I had more to go on here. I think this was a short story in an anthology (but there's a chance it was a young adult novel). Science fiction, a teen girl starts turning into an alien whale... [more inside]
posted by peppercorn at 8:22 PM PST - 8 comments

I have an intellectually challenging work-from-home freelancing job (research and writing). I feel sort of guilty for not working more (because isn't productivity important?), not taking the opportunity to earn more money to set myself up for the unexpected things that are bound to happen in the future, and not taking the opportunity to develop my career more. [more inside]
posted by Squalor Victoria at 8:13 PM PST - 7 comments

I have received some money from my evil grandma’s estate. In her life, one thing that stood out about her was just how much she detested people who she deemed unattractive. I would like some of her money to go towards a cause (or causes) that support people who are considered conventionally unattractive, particularly women (she was also a misogynist). Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 8:12 PM PST - 12 comments

Do you have a preferred book that covers plot devices? Could be pointed at readers or writers, and for writers, I’m more oriented toward fiction, but screenwriting, etc. would work too. Something like a mashup of an encyclopedia of narrative techniques and TV Tropes, covering everything from unreliable narrators to time bombs to episode-in-a-bottle. [more inside]
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:59 PM PST - 10 comments

My trainer suggested to drink Glucerna for glucose control after every workout. His reason for suggesting this was not quite clear. Why would he have recommended this?
posted by Raybun at 5:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for an offline/desktop project time tracker. There seem to be a lot of these but most have issues. It needs to be desktop as net is not perfect here. What I'm hoping for is either something I can set to track folders and individual file actions, or something that I can just punch a shortcut for a e.g. jobcode and the system logs it. I've been running flabdablet's nagme.cmd for a long while now but need something more granular. [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 5:07 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to learn more about what Shazad Latif is doing with his voice (Star Trek Discovery, spoilers for season 1) [more inside]
posted by Ideal Impulse at 4:54 PM PST - 1 comment

I went to submit a law school application on the day it was due (the 15th) and received an error message that it was not accepted. I immediately sent an email with a digital copy of the application to the admissions office. Is there anything else I should do? [more inside]
posted by crocodiletsunami at 3:05 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm running into an ongoing, random technical issue with my computer. I need to do some troubleshooting. I want to figure out if Firefox and the Multi-Account Container add-on is causing or contributing to the problem. That means trying a new browser to see if the problem persists, but I need to have the same type of functionality. [more inside]
posted by sardonyx at 2:35 PM PST - 9 comments

I am looking for your favorite muffin recipes, your favorite recipes/ways to use up a lot of blackberries, and of course your favorite blackberry muffin recipes! [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 1:40 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm interested in hearing stories about amazing teachers. Ideally grade school or middle school. It could either be their overall memorable teaching style, or some way that they specifically encouraged you. Just looking for inspiring stories.
posted by swheatie at 1:39 PM PST - 18 comments

I want to get better photos of my artwork when I'm documenting it. Doesn't need to be stunning, just better and more consistent, and I think that's probably mostly a lighting question. What's my best bang for buck on this, for both literal bucks and simplicity of solution? [more inside]
posted by cortex at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I am searching for a concise simple relatively short video (youtube) explaining what is a bitcoin Thank You
posted by robbyrobs at 11:03 AM PST - 7 comments

My kids are obsessed with watching videos on minecraft on YouTube, like described here. They are also learning Spanish (immersion bilingual school). Is there an equivalent Spanish language genre? They are little kids, and I don't speak Spanish, so am looking for kid friendly: no swearing and not much violence.
posted by lab.beetle at 10:29 AM PST - 2 comments

I haven't read a lot of French criticism and would like to change this. Texts I've read and liked: Derrida's Monolingualism of the Other, Bourdieu's Language and Symbolic Power (I've read extracts), Barthes's A Lover's Discourse. I'm interested in texts that relate to art, linguistics, literary theory, and identity. Also, probably should mention that I specified French criticism because I can read French (slowly and badly — but it works!). [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 10:02 AM PST - 9 comments

HI there. I'm tasked with researching on possible retreat destinations for a group of professional women that includes a mix of identities, cultures and religions. A third of the members are Black, some are Jewish, some are queer. The Smoky Mountains came up as a possibility because it's the geographic epicenter of our group. We want to ensure a safe, relaxing time for everyone and avoid unwelcoming, biased or racist encounters with staff, other travelers, etc. Can you recommend any places? [more inside]
posted by Miko at 9:12 AM PST - 12 comments

Six months ago, my 65-year-old mother informed us that she had had her identity stolen and her bank accounts subsequently emptied. She has since changed all of her contact info multiple times and will not communicate with me, supposedly out of fear of being traced(?). I am doing research on my end with the FBI's webpage as a starting point, but my severely limited legal and financial savvy mean I'm flying blind here. Can anyone who has faced a similar situation suggest best practices, resources, first steps etc. for getting her financial/legal help? TL;DR at the bottom. [more inside]
posted by peakes at 8:57 AM PST - 19 comments

I’m writing a book proposal that requires a very brief summary of my book, like a couple sentences. I’m having trouble with that, even after outlining and reverse outlining and bouncing ideas off others. I’m aware that my topic might need refinement, but this is my actual question now: what strategies have you found helpful for condensing big ideas into an elevator speech?
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:43 AM PST - 15 comments

We will be traveling to San Jose the last week in June. We’d like to stop and camp for 3-4 days along the way and then again on our way back to Scottsdale the following week but we can’t seem to find a campground that checks all of the boxes. [more inside]
posted by twin_A at 7:24 AM PST - 7 comments

A friend remembers reading a science fiction book or series of books in the 1980s. Can you identify it? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by goatdog at 6:29 AM PST - 6 comments

I use Google Calendar's Schedule view on my iPhone. In this view, days with nothing scheduled simply don't appear. [more inside]
posted by Joleta at 6:10 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm curious about the possibility of using an electromagnet to make a power hammer, similar to one employed in smithing work but instead of a motor to drive the hammer up and down you used an electromagnet.
posted by Socinus at 5:39 AM PST - 10 comments

I'd like a thermostat that will maintain a steady temperature, whether that's using the furnace or AC. [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 7:51 PM PST - 4 comments

Today at the farmer's market I bought some smoked bacon from a local stand. It was frozen (I think) and wrapped in a sealed plastic package. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 5:30 PM PST - 4 comments

Arrgh ... I could swear it was Dr. Strangelove, but my Google-fu is TOTALLY failing me. What is the movie where a courier has to wait in a closet with his arm out the door while two(?) other men with top secret clearance examine the contents of the briefcase chained to his arm? Any identifying dialogue from the script? Bonus points for a YouTube link to the scene.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:12 PM PST - 2 comments

There was this simple little evolution game that I found circa 2010 (give or take a year or two) that I'd like to find again. It was very simple. There were lines and squiggles? Or maybe circles and triangles? And you were hoping they would evolve into something that could roll along. But they usually didn't. You played it from a webpage. That's all I remember.
posted by aniola at 3:07 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a fridge in my garage that has sat empty and unusued for over a year. Is it possible to clean and use it, or is it a pile of recyclable material? [more inside]
posted by Pacrand at 2:36 PM PST - 10 comments

I almost never drink, but when I do I like to drink things that don’t have a strong alcohol taste and have a relatively low alcohol level, but still some alcohol. Mike’s hard lemonade (5% alcohol) hits the spot for me. I know it’s not a “cool” drink but I don’t care. Unfortunately for me my local store is constantly sold out of the original lemonade flavor, which to me is the best by longshot. [more inside]
posted by Aranquis at 2:33 PM PST - 27 comments

I emailed my accountant a PDF of all my W2s on March 23, followed up with her that week and checked in 3 weeks ago. She said she would get to my taxes. Now she's not answering the phone. I've texted and emailed her kind messages, telling her that it's ok if she can't get them done -- I just need to know. No response. [more inside]
posted by cardamom at 2:31 PM PST - 10 comments

I scanned two files and want to combine them into a final Merged File, with the first file being the even pages and the second file being the odd pages of the final Merged File. From a year of usage, I know Adobe Pro has an indirect embedded even/odd page functionality, the ability to reorganize pages and they even have 'reverse pages'. Why can't I find what I want in Adobe? [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 12:00 PM PST - 3 comments

I received the test results for a water sample from my home, and don't know if I should be concerned, and what my next steps should be. [more inside]
posted by Apropos a pro's pose at 11:34 AM PST - 11 comments

Except we don't actually live there. Looking or advice on where to stay like a local and also suggestions on what to prioritize doing. [more inside]
posted by RoadScholar at 11:27 AM PST - 22 comments

In this period illustration, what is the woman doing? [more inside]
posted by Quillcards at 10:25 AM PST - 7 comments

I sell everything from glass blown yoshi eggs to artistic water pipes, using Instagram as my primary vehicle. I took a break for awhile and came back and am getting almost no likes or interaction even though I’m still using the same hashtags and stuff. Is there a good time of day or a good day of the week for sales posts?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 10:16 AM PST - 5 comments

I'd like some recommendations for good books on attachment theory. Specifically:

1. one about attachment styles in adults, and how they play out in relationships, and
2. a parenting book about developing good attachment styles in babies and young children.

My preference is for relatively quick reads on these topics, as long as they do a good job.
posted by cosmic.osmo at 9:53 AM PST - 10 comments

I've been using IdentityGuard for the past five years, but they recently switched from giving me scores from all three credit bureaus each month to giving me a single "VantageScore" every month. This seems like a ripoff, because they are still charging the same amount. Are there any other companies that offer monthly credit score updates from all three credit bureaus? I enjoyed tracking my month-over-month score from all three bureaus, and I'd rather not pay the same monthly fee for an inferior service.
posted by jtothes at 6:47 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m looking for a site that can show me a grid of what’s currently playing and/or up next on many/all of the NPR member stations in the US. My reason is that I often want to be able to find/listen to that weekend’s new episode of something like This American Life streaming (before it’s released as a podcast Sunday night), but at a time that’s convenient to me/earlier than my local station.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:59 AM PST - 4 comments

This is just for my own sanity. The maker of Post It Note adhesive recently died. In ALL the obituary links I cannot find the story I KNOW I read as a kid in the 80's: that he was trying to make super glue and the glue he had just created was disappointing. His wife found the repositionable glue useful as what we know as sticky notes, and the Post It was born. But now. No mention of this. Does anyone else remember this story? I can't tell if it was a "Try to give women credit" thing or was made up and is now abandoned.
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:53 AM PST - 16 comments

I had a breakdown in 2016, and I don’t feel I’ve ever fully recovered. Help me get out of this rut and help myself. Trigger warning for assault. [more inside]
posted by Dwardles at 4:50 AM PST - 20 comments

We recently saw a terraced house for sale in London with a mouldy smell and some other visible issues. We're trying to figure out what that tells us about potential issues we can't see, and how much hassle and expense we'd be in for if we bought the property. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:24 PM PST - 14 comments

My name, street address and social security number were accessed in the Accellion hack. What can I do to mitigate potential damage?
posted by anonymous at 10:08 PM PST - 6 comments

I am looking for Asian American young adult novels, with a focus on historical fiction. [more inside]
posted by toastyk at 9:47 PM PST - 8 comments

I've recently started using stumbled.cc website that is in itself a reincarnation of the popular StumbledUpon website that had once drawn a loyal following. Is there a way to get a list of all the websites in one place that I can browse whenever want isn't slowly scrolling through them? I know this may defeat the purpose of stumbled upon but I'm curious if it's still possible.
posted by caudal at 9:16 PM PST - 3 comments

I graduated HS in 2012 at 18, and then went to community college but found their computer science program very lacking (Despite programming being my ultimately desired career), so I started a small online retail business by myself and ran it until I felt out-competed and decided to go into office work. I've been working my way to more and more technically-focused roles, starting from a payroll position in 2017 to a software integration position in 2019, to helpdesk IT in 2020, to a software technical support specialist today in 2021. I've done fine at these positions, but have felt increasingly unsatisfied and feel like I am falling behind my peers. I do not have any certs, and have mainly been getting/changing jobs through demonstrating eagerness, quick learning, and previous job experience/co-worker references. But now I feel I've hit a serious wall, described below. [more inside]
posted by wafehling at 7:31 PM PST - 13 comments

(Asking for Ms. Spike) There are companies that brands can hire that monitor the media for mentions of issues that concern them. Does the same thing exist for research? In need of a service that will report anytime there's a domestic violence homicide in our state. [more inside]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:21 PM PST - 4 comments

More pandemic clothing maintenance woes! I went into the office today and pulled out a wool sweater that I have not worn since pre-covid times. I forgot to dry clean it at the end of the season because of covid craziness. I noticed that there is a seemingly new hole in the forearm area, near, but not quite at the elbow location. Is this a moth hole? [more inside]
posted by gemutlichkeit at 5:15 PM PST - 13 comments

So, I asked a question long ago about what I could do to make the last three months of my job bearable. Well, I'm almost there but I had a situation and I'm finding it very hard to keep pretending like I care about this anymore. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 4:55 PM PST - 15 comments

Seeking suggestions for low-key outside activity in Portland, for a Saturday afternoon later this month. It will be a group of 5-7 adults, all who walk, some with limited mobility (walk with a cane / limited capacity for distances). Ages 40s to 70s. [more inside]
posted by quinoa at 4:44 PM PST - 7 comments

I am finding myself with choice paralysis and could really use some recommendations for a color printer for maps, handouts and all the paperwork that goes with running a face to face D&D campaign. Basically I need a reasonably priced color printer, but do I go inkjet or laser? And then which make and model should I choose? I last bought printer 10 years ago so I am completely out of the loop on printers. More details of requirements below. Thanks. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 2:01 PM PST - 16 comments

The perfect blue denim skirt has been eluding me for years. [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 1:07 PM PST - 4 comments

UPS' website and automated phone system both say my package was delivered. It wasn't. I can't file a claim on the website, and can't get through the automated phone system to a real person. Anybody got any super secret ways of getting through to a human person who might understand that I do not, in fact, have the package?
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 1:02 PM PST - 11 comments

I just spent a very annoyed hour at REI. The XL goretex rain pants were way too big but the L didn't fit in the thighs (I tried both men and women's.) Is there a vendor, brand or model of waterproof pants that is "curvy fit" or otherwise likely to accommodate fat thighs? This is for use in rainy hiking/other outdoor conditions. Has to be goretex or otherwise breathable. Nothing that chafes, including leg zippers. Size is something like US 16.
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:01 PM PST - 10 comments

First, when a computer stops stone cold and ctrl+alt+dlt does nothing, is there anything that can/should be tried before holding down the on/off switch so the computer restarts? Second, when a program is “not responding,” Windows gives two options: to wait until the program responds, or to close the program. I always choose to close the program, but are there times/circumstances when waiting is a better choice? Likewise, are there times/circumstances when closing is the better choice?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 12:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I noticed some ads and they claim it'll fix early gum issues. But then on the website it says the only active ingredient is stannous fluoride. So is this just marketing, slapping a new label on an old product?
posted by storybored at 12:12 PM PST - 6 comments

I (43M) take medication that causes sunlight sensitivity. Even though I live in a relatively shady area of the world, I will turn pink and begin to burn after 15-20 minutes of being outside. I need suggestions for dressing in summer weather while staying as covered and/or unburned as possible. Bonus if it's cool temperature clothing, as summertimes can hit 100F in my region. [more inside]
posted by jibberish at 11:01 AM PST - 14 comments

My doctor is not concerned about my cycle – it is apparently not unusual for someone of my age. But is it? [more inside]
posted by Lescha at 10:59 AM PST - 14 comments

Looking for tips on the best way to see Seattle and optionally the Peugot Sound by boat (ideally small charter or boat rental) ? [more inside]
posted by specialk420 at 10:56 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there a safe way to drain bug bite blisters? How long will it take for them to go away on their own if I can resist popping them? [more inside]
posted by ms_rasclark at 10:43 AM PST - 8 comments

Why is it when Adobe upgrades software they do away with what was an easy process or preset before? Ugh. [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 10:37 AM PST - 5 comments

My wife is pregnant! It's early days, but her birthday is coming up soon. I'd like to get her something to make her pregnant life better. [more inside]
posted by no regrets, coyote at 9:58 AM PST - 14 comments

The realities of the pandemic, economic and otherwise, have grounded the fledgling consumer magazine our organization was producing before covid. Moving forward a print product will no longer be possible financially but we have a rich set of archives that we'd like move online, and we'd also like the possibility of publishing new content in the future. Looking for suggestions for templates and/or platforms that can help us show off our past work, and possibly showcase future work, all of which is rich in photography and illustration. [more inside]
posted by braemar at 9:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I ordered frozen pastries from Porto's in LA. FedEx had a shipping delay and they were a day late. The dry ice fully evaporated, my Thermapen is reading about 25 degrees in the middle of the empenadas, but I can crumble the dough with my hands. Porto's says to toss and they'll replace. But I have 4 boxes of empenadas and potato balls IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW. I've dreamed of this since moving away from LA. Can I eat them?
posted by hwyengr at 8:50 AM PST - 12 comments

As of today, I am fully vaccinated. I want to be able to take off my mask when I'm walking around town, but I don't want to upset or scare the people I walk past. I want to continue to be part of Team Public Health. How can I signal my vaccination status in a way that is as prominent as a mask would be? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:12 AM PST - 54 comments

I've been self-employed and making 100% of my income in Massachusetts for quite a while, but in a few months I will be looking at making approximately 50% of my income in California. Currently, my bookkeeping and tax preparation are done by two different people in Massachusetts and we all agreed it makes sense for me to find someone based in California who can do both duties to stay on top of tax laws etc. More details inside, but I am looking for advice from any Mefites with experience in this scenario and with recommendations. Please feel free to MeFi mail me as well! [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 7:52 AM PST - 0 comments

I want to sell my condo in the next year, and I'm not sure how much it's worth it to fix it up. I know the real answer to this question is "contact a real estate" agent, so assume I know that and will do that when I can let someone in my house, but for now, I want to hear thoughts of the hive mind while I'm making plans. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 7:35 AM PST - 15 comments

So I'm doing a train, flying, hiking, boating trip in Alaska on May 28th. 12 days. I think I'm packing everything I need - base layers, new hiking boots, a patagonia rain jacket, merino wool socks, a solar power pack - and a lot more. I've probably dropped 900 bucks. I think I'm good but also...I don't know what I don't know. What do you wish you'd brought with you on a trip like this?
posted by rileyray3000 at 7:33 AM PST - 19 comments

College age son has a summer engineering internship in Beaver Creek, OH. I and wife and high school junior son plan to take a road trip from Rochester, NY to visit in early July. We’re looking for suggestions of weird or awesome museums, hikes, bike trails, record stores, book stores, used-clothing shops, local famous foods, etc in the Dayton and larger area. We’ve not found too much at a first pass of research - what are we missing?!
posted by chr1sb0y at 7:33 AM PST - 12 comments

Trying to post a listing for sale in a private buy&sell group on Facebook. It's not happening. [more inside]
posted by sailoreagle at 6:47 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm trying to get a gas burning...something...in the small not-really-functional fireplace in my 100 year old home. Most options seem expensive for the technology they contain and to have opaque pricing and difficult-to-compare features. Have you navigated these waters- or gasses- before? [more inside]
posted by genmonster at 5:45 AM PST - 10 comments

I am always taking pictures then using my computer to upload to websites within seconds. What is your favorite option for this? Right now I'm typically emailling them myself. Assume I can't install dropbox,icloud or the like, but any web based thin application is good. I have google photos installed on my phone but the sync doesnt seem instantaneous.
posted by sandmanwv at 5:37 AM PST - 4 comments

We've got a new EPOS system at the place where I volunteer. The EPOS system has a built in time clock/attendance module which I was initially very enthusiastic about because it would mean we don't need to keep paying $500 a year for the current web based stuff we use. We need a timeclock to comply with covid legislation in $mycountry. [more inside]
posted by dance at 4:41 AM PST - 6 comments

The CDC announced today that if you're vaccinated, you don't need to wear a mask indoors. Well, what happens to the rest of us? Is herd immunity ever really going to be a thing - in the NY/NJ area (hopefully)??? Or, am I doomed to home grocery delivery and shitty produce selection forever? [more inside]
posted by dancinglamb at 11:26 PM PST - 21 comments

At around 36:44 into the S01E04 "Reelin' in the Years" episode (2002) of Boomtown there's a song that goes :

Somehow, some day, I'm leaving for California/Some day, some way, I'm leaving for California

Can you figure out who does the song? My Googlin' has failed. It kinda sounds like Josh Joplin to me.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:20 PM PST - 6 comments

Let’s say a sentence is drafted as follows: “We must champion the interests of the 99 percent as vs. those of the 1 percent.” [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 8:46 PM PST - 18 comments

I currently work for a large, public company but have a job offer from a small, fast growing private equity-owned company. I've never worked for a PE-owned company before. What kind of PE-specific factors should I keep in mind as I consider this offer? Snowflakes inside... [more inside]
posted by dede at 8:31 PM PST - 11 comments

Should I repair or replace my old gas furnace? If I replace it, what should I replace it with? [more inside]
posted by Aizkolari at 6:30 PM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to host a private MUD with a few friends and build out an area with them for fun. What's the easiest way to do this? I don't mind spending a little money, but I don't want to learn how to deploy a UNIX server or something. [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 5:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I know someone that received Sinovac and will be returning to the US. Seeing the reports of multiple doses in the news that did not severely impact the person, safety after several months seems ok. And the difference between 60% and the 90%+ seems like a good idea. Is it? And where to look for more scientific data.
posted by sammyo at 5:09 PM PST - 9 comments

I would like to purchase something from a boutique in Tokyo, and have it shipped to me in the United States. My clumsy translation of the website suggests they don't take US credit cards or ship outside of Japan. How can I best make this happen? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 4:32 PM PST - 7 comments

Due to SI joint issues, I can't run or do any machine cardio anymore. But I can walk fast. Previous questions from others helped me find walking-fast shoes, can you suggest walking-fast sandals? [more inside]
posted by reader at 4:03 PM PST - 15 comments

I stopped seeing a therapist three years ago, that I believe acted unethically. The licensing board just finished its investigation, which took 437 days from the date I filed my complaint, and issued no disciplinary action. Because of how traumatized I am from this, my life has really been turned upside down and I really can't move on. How do I move on? It sounds easy to tell someone to move on, but I really can't. My story below the fold. [more inside]
posted by signondiego at 3:24 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm desperately trying to remember the name of a book. Not contemporary; it's the kind of book a historian or literary scholar might read. I think it's Japanese; I think the title is something along the lines of Ten Thousand Beautiful Useless Things, because I remember that it sounded like a list, and it had an evocative adjective (or two) that suggested it was about listing sublime, useless, luxurious, connoisseurial kinds of pleasures. Written by a man? Didn't really sound like a novel? It was not The Pillow Book; I think it might have been published a few centuries later. [more inside]
posted by w-w-w at 1:44 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a couple of boxes of DE razor blades. Can they be taken to a scrapyard, or a recycling facility? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:02 PM PST - 11 comments

A relative who is conducting some genealogical research has asked if I'd be willing to submit a DNA sample. I'm not entirely opposed, but have some privacy concerns. [more inside]
posted by slkinsey at 12:02 PM PST - 15 comments

Where do I find the right ADHD/executive function coach or formal group for adults? Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by bowtiesarecool at 11:59 AM PST - 7 comments

What tech set up is best for a bi-monthly hybrid meeting of 15-30 held in a rented space? [more inside]
posted by andythebean at 11:59 AM PST - 1 comment

I need to add a separate cloud backup program to my Apple MBP laptop, and it needs to handle backing up an external SSD that isn't always connected to the computer, as automatically as possible. My main data is on Dropbox, this is for stuff I use less often. What are your experiences in this situation? [more inside]
posted by svenni at 10:50 AM PST - 7 comments

How should I (NE USA) spiff up a house with old aluminum siding that is not in great shape? Repair and repaint? Remove it and reside with vinyl? [more inside]
posted by ElizaMain at 10:36 AM PST - 7 comments

I loved Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Absolutely loved it. What game should I try next? I have a Switch. Important qualities inside. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:27 AM PST - 33 comments

I’m making a complicated recipe that has several steps and involves separating eggs. I’d like to do the egg white portion tonight and the egg yolk component tomorrow afternoon or possibly Saturday (dessert is frozen in between stages so this shouldn’t be an issue for the end result). What’s the best way to store the egg yolks in the meantime? Or is this nuts? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 9:00 AM PST - 9 comments

We're moving to Philly (from Brooklyn) by the end of the year. Help me figure out where we land! [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 8:44 AM PST - 16 comments

What's the best way to sell a bike online these days? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 8:38 AM PST - 6 comments

A few years ago, Metafilter discussed a study suggesting that long-term use of diphenhydramine could be damaging. I'd like to know what the latest thinking is on this subject. To what extent should my family be avoiding the stuff? [more inside]
posted by HoraceH at 8:28 AM PST - 3 comments

I have 15 Withdrawals on my undergraduate transcript, which are mostly from a history of depression, physical issues, and other mental health issues. I also had to take five years off in between my undergraduate degree, which I started in 2011 and still have not completed due to my mental and physical health issues which were mostly resolved two years ago. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 7:15 AM PST - 16 comments

I’m planning a move back to a home I used to live in, after leaving town for years and renting it out. What should I do or keep in mind to make moving back in feel like a fresh start rather than a retreat back. Looking for ideas on space use, furniture layout, emotional well-being and anything else I’m not thinking of, both for the home and the city I’m returning to. Assume nearly zero dollars are available.
posted by OrangeVelour at 7:06 AM PST - 15 comments

I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the southwest a few times and I’ve always been struck by how there’s been miles and miles of lonely but relatively well-maintained tarmac. The roads are not in horrible shape, it looks like there’s been an effort to patch them in places, but the traffic along them is so sparse that it’s been ok to bicycle for hours on them in some areas. Why do they exist? I’m lost on how any of these roads make any economic sense. [more inside]
posted by Roy Batty at 6:56 AM PST - 8 comments

I've needed to do this for a long time, and have tried slow fading, but it doesn't work. I'm a bit concerned she'll unleash lots of buried anger at the fact that I think she has probably to some extent known I'm not very interested in her as a friend for many, many years but doesn't seem to want to accept it. Looking at it objectively, I think she may be a little controlling and that she triggers my guilt very easily which makes it hard for me to cut the cord. [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 6:30 AM PST - 23 comments

Like many people working from home during the pandemic, I've used online shopping to provide the occasional injection of serotonin into my otherwise humdrum repetitive working-from-home days. Not only are my purchases excessive (way too many pairs of shoes), they're just not cutting the mustard in terms of longer-term pleasure centers. I may have to make 2-3 small purchases just to incentivize myself to keep going. [more inside]
posted by Dressed to Kill at 6:25 AM PST - 32 comments

I'm going through a divorce, and the children have been with me for the last year from 2:30 PM until 7:00 AM Monday through Friday and every other weekend. This was the arrangement agreed upon at the mediation, since it accommodated both our schedules. Now, the mother has changed her hour and works only weekends. She has decided she wants the children Monday through Friday, relegating my role to the weekends. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 4:03 AM PST - 12 comments

I’ve always been a bit impulsive and fearful, yet somehow managed to struggle through and pull things off. I find that now when I try to intentionally make long term plans I feel a great deal of shame and fear. Can you help me work through this? (I am in therapy, but it feels very bite sized.) [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 7:01 PM PST - 16 comments

I changed my name - yay! I need a new Social Security card - boo. I'll be sending them my passport and a birth certificate. Do I need to include a stamped return envelope?
posted by ChodenKal at 6:41 PM PST - 3 comments

I have an old Android phone running 2.2.1 from like 10 years ago. Can it be used just as a phone? It would be nice to have a backup "dumb" phone for nothing more than phone calls. [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:36 PM PST - 9 comments

Our Mitsubishi mini-split smells bad at certain times. I've read about dirty-sock syndrome and understand something must be cleaned, but I'm not sure what or how to do it. The manual is completely unhelpful on this point. [more inside]
posted by oneirodynia at 5:16 PM PST - 2 comments

We are in the midst of planning a trip to the PNW. We have a few days in OR for which we have neither plans nor lodging. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Gray Duck at 4:46 PM PST - 17 comments

I ordered 12 bare-root raspberries from Gurney’s and three of them (all the ones of a certain variety) have fuzzy mold on the roots. Plant and hope or contact them for a replacement that they probably can’t provide this late in the year? Will I be introducing something terrible to my soil if I plant?
posted by HotToddy at 3:40 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm wondering if there's a protein or something that is less abundant in such people. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 3:23 PM PST - 5 comments

I was quoted $350 for a spring yard clean up today. I don't feel like that's the worst quote, but I just want to know if this was reasonable for the future. [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 3:20 PM PST - 6 comments

What are some words that were coined to provide antonyms to words that didn't previously have antonyms? Some examples of what I am looking for are stabile, prepone, cis, and allistic.
posted by aws17576 at 2:45 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm caring for a dementia patient friend. For free. He sometimes escapes. He won't take his IPhone because he thinks I track him with it. (I don't, because most times the phone is with the person who stole it from him, or lost). Sometimes he goes out in his underwear, t-shirt and socks. I bought Hanes shorts-looking underwear so he isn't walking out in obvious underpants. I need a tracking device I can sew into his underwear waistband. It needs to be unnoticeable to him. It would help if I could afford ten of these to sew in each pair. Help?
posted by KayQuestions at 2:33 PM PST - 21 comments

I was a bit bowled over by how severe my reaction to Moderna vaccine was (much worse than actual COVID, which I had a mild case of a year ago). I felt poisoned. Just looking for any feedback on typical reactions to second shot for others who also went into the vaccine having had COVID prior. [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 2:31 PM PST - 11 comments

I am looking for a binder in which to keep a bunch of things related to a certain subject. I wish I had the one I had in seventh grade because it was perfect. What I’m looking for: [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 2:15 PM PST - 6 comments

I would like someone smart and fun to explain Extremely Online things to me, a person who is just Quite Online. Imbecilic laughter is a plus!
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:10 PM PST - 6 comments

I did a bad thing and now my itunes is messed up. I danced with the devil and got involved with Apple's dumb iCloud stuff, and now the simple mechanical sharing of songs and metadata between my phone and computer can't happen anymore. This screenshot shows the root of the problem I think, which is that I unselected "iCloud" from the Preferences menu on my computer, but it's still in effect according to my phone, and I don't know how to fix it. I tried restoring my phone from backup and that didn't do anything. [more inside]
posted by bleep at 12:50 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm seeking recommendations for apps that have made your life easier when it comes to daily activities and staying on top of everything. [more inside]
posted by Malleable at 12:45 PM PST - 9 comments

Has anyone experienced short-term depression as a vaccine side effect? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:37 PM PST - 19 comments

I am new to the romance novel world and finding it somewhat overwhelming to find stuff I like. Please recommend some good fun reads. Specific wants/do-not-wants/stuff I've read and liked under the cut. [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 12:14 PM PST - 25 comments

I gave myself an ill-advised, uneven, way too short in several places haircut a few months ago. Normally I have a short layers but it's taking forever to get back to that length. Do those hair growth vitamins actually work? Is there anything else I can do to speed things up? My hair is thick and healthy - I just need it to grow.
posted by anonymous at 12:07 PM PST - 9 comments

Inspired by My Brother, My Brother, and Me's coverage of this Taco Bell promotion I had the thought that it would make sense for them to advertise on the moon. Would it be possible to project an image from earth, onto the moon, and have it visible back on earth?
posted by gzimmer at 11:37 AM PST - 7 comments

At this point we've all heard of Corporate Memphis. But recently I've been noticing a distinctive style of illustration popping up on what I guess I'd describe as neo-finance sites--it's sort of like, um, if Moebius illustrated Ayn Rand. Examples: The robinhood.com sign-in page; etherium.org. Does it have a name? Or is it the work of a single artist/design firm?
posted by pullayup at 11:00 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to find someone to help with some projects around our home, like painting/sealing windowframes, recaulking outside siding, light gutter repair, deck/stair repair, etc. I'm not having luck with trying to find BIPOC/Woman owned businesses to do this work. I tried using some lists that seattle.gov maintains, and found a few places (like amyworks.com), but either got no response, or that people were only interested in larger construction jobs. I have tried with personal referrals as well, without any results. Any suggestions? MeFites in the area, any suggestions?
posted by Gorgik at 10:59 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to practice interacting with the tarot as I am out and about, but -- at least for now -- only the 22 cards of the major arcana. The full tarot pack is bulky. How could I carry and protect these cards? [more inside]
posted by jander03 at 10:29 AM PST - 11 comments

I've gotten fully vaccinated and finally, a part time job. The second day of training they had us stand 3-4 feet apart, facing another, in two long lines. I felt skeeved out even though we were all masked. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 10:26 AM PST - 12 comments

I got myself a mechanical "gamer" keyboard and I like it very much, except for the Caps Lock key. I miss the physical, click-on and click-off caps lock key. It's a Redragon with Outemu Brown switches. Is there a physical caps lock switch that I could swap in?
posted by Tom-B at 10:19 AM PST - 8 comments

The matriarch of the family is turning 90 shortly. The other side of the family are local and have gone the DIY route, remodelling her garden. We have to come up with something as a big gift, but she's the type to insist she doesn't need or want anything, will be gone soon, etc, etc. What did you give the nonagenerian in your life for the big ninety? [more inside]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:09 AM PST - 28 comments

I Zoom weekly with one of my siblings, and I'm casting about for things to do with him into the future. [more inside]
posted by xenization at 9:03 AM PST - 10 comments

My 24 year old daughter struggles with anxiety, though she typically manages well-she is employed, makes good money, has an active social life. She is in crisis today and “really needs someone to talk to” and I’m not sure where to point her as the normal mental health crisis lines maybe don’t fit-she’s not suicidal, out of control, in danger, etc. [more inside]
posted by purenitrous at 8:00 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm going to a shark themed picnic and need to bring an appropriate treat! [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 7:35 AM PST - 19 comments

Can anyone recommend a youtube video or free online class that breaks this down for me like I am 5 (er.. or say 12)? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 6:49 AM PST - 17 comments

Why do I find old buildings soothing to look at? Looking at a cathedral built over 500 years ago in real life brings out an inner peace. Looking at a modern skyscraper does nothing for me. [more inside]
posted by jacobean at 5:59 AM PST - 22 comments

I am seeking movies that will help me engage imaginatively with what may be coming in the semi-near future. I feel like we're headed into weird & tough times, what with climate change, the pandemic, declining democracy, rising xenophobia, and so forth, and so I'm seeking recommendations for movies that aim to imagine what that future may look like. They definitely don't need to be formally sci-fi: realistic drama would be great too. More inside. [more inside]
posted by Susan PG at 5:58 AM PST - 35 comments

Help me find an ID badge holder / lanyard solution that doesn’t always flip to face the wrong way! [more inside]
posted by rossination at 5:30 AM PST - 10 comments

My old bike has given up the ghost, and I'd like to build a new one. I'm looking for A Dutch-style city bike or beach cruiser frame compatible with a modern single cog gravel bike gear set, disk brakes and fenders. The brakes are negotiable, the fenders aren't. I don't mind buying a complete bike to rebuild, but I'd prefer a raw frame. Mostly bike path and suburban riding, with the occasional foray into the city or unpaved road touring with sudden and steep inclines and a heavier rider who likes to mash the pedals. Upright cycling is super comfy for me, I just need something more capable than a three speed hub.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:19 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm going to make pastry sheet pizza in a fan oven that doesn't have a conventional bake feature. How do I get the bottom crispy? [more inside]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 2:03 AM PST - 15 comments

Fellow technophiles, I seek reputable sources of dates of introduction (and retirement if relevant, e.g CDs) of popular information & communication technology. [more inside]
posted by b33j at 1:27 AM PST - 3 comments

My project lead is horrible, but is not my boss. Other people on the project have expressed grave concerns including late night meetings. My boss is willing to elevate this to executive level but needs concrete examples. The project lead is amazing at not putting things in writing, this is not a personality conflict but I need concrete things. How do I go about doing this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:28 PM PST - 10 comments

What are this Twitter thread and a bunch of comment replies talking about exactly, and how do I prevent it? Something about people having to go into bankruptcy to get Medicaid? I missed this class in Adulting in the US 21st Century. My husband and I have insurance through our jobs, but to prevent this is it... long term care insurance that we need? What about for our parents? Thanks!
posted by slidell at 9:48 PM PST - 16 comments

An elderly family member has a huge amount of collected photos, videos, and text, and wants to share it with family as a sort of legacy. What's the best way to share it without overload or TMI? [more inside]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:21 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm trying to clear up a big misunderstanding. Got myself into a pickle with my sub-par communication skills.
posted by jumanjinight at 7:14 PM PST - 22 comments

I love my current (brand name) oral contraceptive. I've been on it for 5+ years. Now, my new insurance is telling me that I need to switch to a completely different type of OC (with a completely different formulation of active ingredients) or engage in what will surely be a lengthy paperwork battle. [more inside]
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 5:42 PM PST - 13 comments

Recently bought a new LG CX OLED TV (48") to replace my 10-year-old LCD model. It's lovely, but... [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 3:12 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a 2016-model 13'' Macbook Pro. I've recently had some issues with the battery. [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 2:43 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm seeking out new and all those old stock phrases with this structure: All the Time in World. So far all I have is [more inside]
posted by Rash at 1:49 PM PST - 29 comments

My friend ("Rob") had been receiving Virginia PUA payments since last year when they were enacted. The payments have stopped and we cannot reach anyone, for weeks. This just isn't making sense to us, how do we proceed? [more inside]
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:15 PM PST - 4 comments

Did you get a second tax refund from the IRS? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:00 PM PST - 7 comments

I need a free screen capture app for Windows. Suggestions? I need it to not request account creation. I tried PickPic and it's ok, but a little finicky with too many options. What do you like as an alternative to Snagit? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 12:25 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm thinking about selling my small condo in Seattle (Cherry Hill/Seattle U/Cap HIll), and fully realize that the market is insane right now - good for me! The problem is that I am inCREDibly lazy, and never having sold a property before I have no idea how much work it will be for ME. I know the what the realtor does, generally, but don't know how much work the actual seller takes on.... [more inside]
posted by tristeza at 12:11 PM PST - 10 comments

The seal and logo for the school where I work has been in place for almost 100 years. Unfortunately, no historical narrative remains about its creation. [more inside]
posted by yet.another.boston.question at 11:10 AM PST - 10 comments

This is very subjective, but does anyone have opinions on what the tastiest tomato varieties are? Or can you link to someone who does? This is a question to help me choose what to grow next year. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 10:59 AM PST - 24 comments

I've made an offer within my budget on a fantastic house. Since the market is so hot and there have been recent bidding wars nearby, when I saw that comps from the last six months were $306-317,000 (list was $310,000), I decided to offer $325,000. As part of the offer, I also offered a $15,000 appraisal gap. Now I'm scared that the appraisal will come in low. What happens if it does? [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 10:44 AM PST - 15 comments

Why do I sweat (but not get short of breath) on the stationary bike and get short of breath (but not sweaty) on the 'real' bike? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 10:27 AM PST - 12 comments

What’s the best way to effectively dust/clean a lot of books that are visibly dusty and have been on bookshelves for a very long time—without damaging the aforementioned books?
posted by bookmammal at 10:25 AM PST - 6 comments

We will be in NYC in June (23-25), while we are vaccinated kiddo (9) is not. Any Covid friendly activities anyone can suggest? Likely staying near Central Park and my wife is not excited to get on a subway. Thinking museums with really limited capacity, outdoor exhibits, etc. Kiddo has only been to NY once in the winter for a show and our usual past haunts are not kiddo friendly.
posted by UMDirector at 10:01 AM PST - 15 comments

a family of little birds (finches maybe?) have built a nest under my eave and I want to peek at the babies. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:58 AM PST - 5 comments

I just bought a house, and I'm wondering if now is a good time to introduce a second cat into the mix. [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 9:57 AM PST - 5 comments

Celebrating my second vaxx with a 10 day trip to Alaska. Some hotel stuff. Some train stuff. Some boat stuff. Some dirt road stuff. This is not a job for my trusty wheeled carryon. What's the right bag for this journey? Duffel? Backpack? Leather? Lightweight? UNLEASH THE HOUNDS OF RECOMMENDATION
posted by rileyray3000 at 9:50 AM PST - 15 comments

Suppose I have a list of people's personal rankings of fruits, from best to worst. People skip the fruit they are unfamiliar with, so different rankings may be different lengths. What interesting data can I generate from my list? [more inside]
posted by one for the books at 8:31 AM PST - 7 comments

I was having worries about my apple trees. A friend of a friend came out to look at them, set my mind at ease. I want to send him a thank you. What should it be? [more inside]
posted by Gray Duck at 8:07 AM PST - 22 comments

Why does my curly hair appear to grow in front but not in back? [more inside]
posted by sunflower16 at 7:58 AM PST - 10 comments

Last year, I asked for YouTube channel recommendations, and you guys delivered. I found a lot of good stuff and YouTube is now one of my go-to sites on the internet. I just joined Twitter last week, and I'd like to ask the same thing for that. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 7:25 AM PST - 10 comments

Pretty much what it says on the tin. We were watching Ted Lasso and someone sang "Wonderwall" at a bar, and I was like, WAIT, is that England's "Don't Stop Believin'"? (Is it??) What's the "Don't Stop Believin'" equivalent where you are? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 6:11 AM PST - 29 comments

How do you track symptoms that change very subtly over time? [more inside]
posted by space snail at 6:05 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for blogs that analyze/review the New York Times crossword puzzle every day. I already know about Rex Parker but he can be curmudgeonly and surely there are other perspectives? Google-fu is failing me, so I would love any personal recs.
posted by nkknkk at 5:32 AM PST - 4 comments

When do small herds of cows meet, how do they behave relative to each other? [more inside]
posted by Quillcards at 3:10 AM PST - 4 comments

Hi everyone, I’m looking for words of advice or reflection from people who’ve experienced the feeling of not being able to be as valuable/interesting as other people because you lost years of your life to something, e.g. mental illness. What follows isn’t the most 'higher self' account of my thoughts, but it is the narrative that runs through my head almost every waking moment – theoretically, I know it’s not ‘true’ and requires defusion but I just can’t seem to crack it. This community has always given me so many valuable thoughts to reflect on, and I really appreciate it! [more inside]
posted by fantasticbotanical at 1:33 AM PST - 38 comments

I wrote a small program using python, and am using pyinstaller to bundle it into a standalone app on the mac. The build process looks fine, but when I double-click on the final app, I get an error saying, "You can’t open the application “[my_app].app” because this application is not supported on this Mac." [more inside]
posted by tickingclock at 10:57 PM PST - 5 comments

Has anyone tried to generate words intentionally, and written about it? E.g., someone determines that a word *should* be created for society's benefit, aims to create it, and succeeds in getting a community to use the word. [more inside]
posted by shrimpetouffee at 10:47 PM PST - 36 comments

I have never bought a house. I'm looking at buying one. I'm anxious. The local moms regularly post on social media asking about anyone getting ready to sell because the market is that hot. I am not sure what I am getting into or what I should be ready to do. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 9:51 PM PST - 22 comments

I tried google, not having any success. Is there a place online that lists show, date of show, and pundits or guests that appeared on it? [more inside]
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 9:14 PM PST - 3 comments

What are some examples of the arts (any genre--music, literature, etc) that now seem eerily prescient? Like poems or lyrics that allude to major world events that nobody knew would happen? I'm more interested in examples using major events, but personal ones are okay too.
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:35 PM PST - 27 comments

I learned that a significant portion of a very near-term vacation with my spouse, who I have not seen in three months, and my in-laws will be in an extremely rustic cabin in the woods instead of their perfectly comfortable house, which is inducing a lot of negative feelings in me for reasons. How can I get out of this part of the trip while hurting minimal feelings? [more inside]
posted by derogatorysphinx at 7:51 PM PST - 17 comments

My latest operating system is Ubuntu (20.10). For the longest time, I used Linux Mint, which was set up to be a kind of Windows knockoff as far as I was concerned from a usability perspective. I had my beloved start bar. I have tried to get used to this Ubuntu (it works with my touch screen) and it is just ... messing with my flow. It's a mess. Please help. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 7:27 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a specific book about walking. Pretty sure I read a review of it in the last 12 months and that it was a new release but it may be it was just described in an article - I think in the New York Times, but it might have been the Guardian. [more inside]
posted by AnnaRat at 6:15 PM PST - 3 comments

After announcing lay-offs, how much lead time should an employer give a to-be-laid-off employee before their termination meeting (more clarity below the fold)? [more inside]
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:30 PM PST - 13 comments

For an event, I'm going to build a whisper dish and have a distant choir be strangely audible at a single spot. Help me choose a song for the choir to sing. [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 5:03 PM PST - 16 comments

Flashback to two years ago - my 14yo son convinced me to buy some XRP, and said I needed something called a cold wallet to keep it in. So I hooked up an old empty hard drive, downloaded toast wallet, jumped through a bunch of crypto-hoops and viola, I bought the XRP. Ha-ha! I thought. Those hackers will never get me! I'll write all my info on a sticky note and tape it to the hard drive! ... [more inside]
posted by ericbop at 3:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I would like to eliminate some existential dread from my life, where it is sensible to do so. [more inside]
posted by commander_fancypants at 3:20 PM PST - 19 comments

I will be getting my first hair cut since before the pandemic in a few weeks and am looking for example photos. I like this piecey cool girl bob that Claire Danes was sporting in the late 90s. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 3:10 PM PST - 13 comments

During a space launch, the flight director has all the different people check in on the net and say "go flight" clearly so that no objection can be missed. But if there were an objection, hopefully it would have been raised offline before that process, and you'd never actually get as far as the person objecting at that point. Has that process ever failed? Has anyone ever, during that "go flight" roll call, called for an abort because their objection didn't get registered before?
posted by dmd at 2:34 PM PST - 7 comments

I paid $30 for this 1.5lb bag of lemon-pistachio biscotti and I can't bear to throw it away. Ideas for repurposing? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 2:27 PM PST - 24 comments

As the title says, snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by DTMFA at 2:22 PM PST - 15 comments

Is there a decent online tool that can help me figure out the ballpark costs of various standard renovations before buying a house? Assume I won't have time to bring a general contractor in. [more inside]
posted by lunasol at 1:11 PM PST - 13 comments

My son has been taking a few steps backwards in terms of things he used to do independently and my wife and I aren't sure what to do about it. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 1:03 PM PST - 11 comments

What it says on the tin: I’m currently in two hiring processes with two totally different departments. I have an offer in hand for one; sounds like a no-brainer, right? But it’s not quite that simple. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 1:01 PM PST - 7 comments

A few weeks ago I asked about how to deal with my job while I hate it. I still don't like it, but I think I have a better handle on it. However, it's obvious I was hired just to be a general-purpose support staff drone. I've previously had similar positions where I had a fair amount of autonomy and I'm having a difficult time dealing with the lack of that here. How do I accept the lack of autonomy at work and not let it drive me crazy? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 12:21 PM PST - 25 comments

Help me figure out the viability of my current pipe dream - working remotely for a US-based corporation for a year or two, outside the US, with my family (and small dog). [more inside]
posted by daikaisho at 11:48 AM PST - 16 comments

How do the partners who deliver courses on Coursera get listed? [more inside]
posted by shockpoppet at 11:48 AM PST - 3 comments

Hi! I'm looking for a new primary care physician on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Appreciate any recommendations. (If it matters, I'm male, mid-40s.) Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 11:37 AM PST - 2 comments

One of my housemate's cats bonded to me and spends all his time in my room. (I wfh, his owner works out of the house and lives on a different level of the house). He's seemed sick, so I briefly reported the symptoms, and his owner scheduled a vet house-call for next week. I think he needs to go to urgent care sooner, but I know very little about cat health. [more inside]
posted by itesser at 11:15 AM PST - 49 comments

I asked about this years ago and then didn't sell anything and now the market has changed. I have probably thirty pieces of nice, unusual vintage clothing, some of which is couture. It's not doing me any good sitting in a box and I want to sell. Where? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 10:44 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm thinking about getting a new flute which poses two questions: Will it be better than my present flute and how do you try out flutes in the age of Covid-19? Details below. [more inside]
posted by SemiSalt at 10:44 AM PST - 3 comments

Last weekend I walked down to the Thames to have a look at London's Covid Memorial Wall. It's a third-of-a-mile stretch running alongside the river opposite the House of Commons, which volunteers have decorated with 150,000 hand-drawn hearts: one for each of the UK's official Covid deaths so far. Many are dedicated to a specific individual. Does your city have a "people's memorial" doing the same job? If so, what form does it take and where can I find pics? Thanks.
posted by Paul Slade at 10:27 AM PST - 4 comments

What novels do you re-read and, more to the point, why?
posted by BWA at 9:04 AM PST - 66 comments

Every morning for both of my kids I need to complete a "my kid doesn't have COVID" form seen here. Is there a way I can script the responses so that I don't need to do it manually every day?
posted by leotrotsky at 5:17 AM PST - 7 comments

I asked someone to hold my stuff while I was moving and they agreed, but then when I was ready to retrieve it, they kept making excuses as to why I couldn't pick the stuff up and also they refused to send it back to me. I never got my things back. The small claims court website says the statue for property damage is 3 years... but as far as I know nothing is damaged. He just won't give my things back. So I guess it's just theft. I moved out of NYC since then and would rather deal with this whenever I have a stretch of time where I'm able to stay in NY again. So I need to know how long I have to do this?
posted by fantasticness at 4:58 AM PST - 10 comments

I've been looking for the water glass in this photo without success. I've found a few that are somewhat similar but none I like as much as this glass. Does anyone happen to recognize it? [more inside]
posted by taz at 3:59 AM PST - 10 comments

I live in Texas, my (surviving) parent and sibling live in Illinois. There is a living trust that has been set up, which I will become the successor trustee of in the event of my surviving parent's death, which is then intended to be divided 50/50 with my sibling. For many reasons, I expect interactions with my sibling regarding trust matters will be difficult or contested despite good faith on my part, and so I am interested in engaging an attorney immediately upon my parent's death to assist with these matters. If I engaged a lawyer to assist in trust administration, would I look for a lawyer in Texas or in Illinois?
posted by anonymous at 3:50 AM PST - 6 comments

I dated someone. I initiated a breakup and I'm still not over it, and wondering if I should get back together. [more inside]
posted by pando11 at 7:37 PM PST - 15 comments

I recently came into possession of this CZ ring, and I'm wondering what the setting is called? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 4:57 PM PST - 4 comments

I have recently discovered and love the original Cheburashka cartoons (thank you, vast cultural swamp that is Youtube). I am amusing myself by learning Gena's songs on ukulele. If I go a step further and, say, put a Cheburashka sticker on something public facing like a water bottle, what would a Russian person the appropriate age to have that as a childhood icon think? [more inside]
posted by HaveYouTriedRebooting at 4:16 PM PST - 7 comments

Last summer my kids had an amazing time looking at bugs swimming in ponds while we were backpacking. This summer, I'm hoping to up our game a bit and get some kind of portable, fairly robust microscope or (android) phone accessory that will give us a bit of a magnification. My google-fu is weak and while there are many products, I'm failing to find reasonable third party reviews on anything of this kind. Help? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 3:53 PM PST - 14 comments

Old account with former email address keeps charging a LinkedIn account I cannot access or use. I'd love a refund for the $60ish dollars, and I'd like to stop it before it happens, again. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 2:24 PM PST - 6 comments

I have been off work for three days and do not feel well enough to go back. I presume every company is different but is there general information you can share as to what qualifies for and how to use short term disability? I have a dr appt scheduled - do they assist or provide information? I plan to contact HR tomorrow but I have heard stories they are supposedly not very helpful. I've never had to do this and don't know anyone who has. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
posted by racersix6 at 2:14 PM PST - 6 comments

I read some essays by Carl Rogers and I loved everything about them. Experience tells me that any time I am enchanted by the work of a white man, he turns out to have been a jerk to women or to have been an awful person in other ways, and that just spoils it for me. Is there anything in that vein that I should know about?
posted by Omnomnom at 12:37 PM PST - 10 comments

At the beginning of today's Real Madrid - Sevilla game, they had a moment of silence. They played this music here, which they have used on many previous "moments of silence." Anybody know what it's called?
posted by MiG at 12:15 PM PST - 2 comments

Looking to buy a present for a child turning 5 years of age who can't stop talking about stars, planets, the solar system, meteors, different species of animal, different species of plants, etc. [more inside]
posted by braemar at 12:06 PM PST - 17 comments

I work as a security guard in a small art museum, an issue I sometimes run into is trying to find a way to politely ask kids or their parents to maintain more distance when they're exhibiting certain physical stimming behaviors near the artwork. I've had mixed success with using my go to line "Hi I know you're being careful but we ask you maintain at least a foot of distance from the artwork." Usually it goes fine but I've had some people get upset with me or continue to get too close after being asked. [more inside]
posted by Ferreous at 11:43 AM PST - 12 comments

What's the best way for a beginner to get into making hip hop beats? What tools do I need? What resources should I use? [more inside]
posted by fryman at 11:16 AM PST - 8 comments

Before the first iPhone came out, I remember SNL did a sketch about all the things it could do. It got increasingly ridiculous, and ended with something like "...and, it's a crappy phone." Anybody know how I could find this sketch? My searching is coming up empty.
posted by rouftop at 10:33 AM PST - 3 comments

My wife and I are both fully vaccinated, though my wife has an autoimmune disorder and is on immunosuppressants, so we are not sure how well the vaccine will work for her. My 78-year-old mother is not vaccinated, will never get vaccinated, and has lived her life over the past year largely as if the pandemic wasn’t happening — seeing friends and going to church maskless. [more inside]
posted by Clustercuss at 10:05 AM PST - 41 comments

I'm developing an application that tracks equipment, inspection records, vehicles, employee certifications, etc., and I thought I'd implement some basic productivity features. I'd appreciate any insight into what specific metrics would be desirable for tracking open projects, closed projects, projected revenue, etc. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 9:54 AM PST - 7 comments

I have to deliver a speech at Toastmasters tomorrow. What's an entertaining story to tell? I'd like to do something that's historical, has some suspense and humor. Hit me with your suggestions!
posted by storybored at 9:21 AM PST - 16 comments

This week I started a new — and much better — job at a new company. As I am meeting a lot of new people, including the CEO, Ops. Manager, etc., I have thought about reactivating my LinkedIn account. But there is a problem… [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 8:44 AM PST - 13 comments

Have you removed poison ivy from your property without significant damage to your garden, self, or mental health? If so, how did you do it? [more inside]
posted by thecaddy at 7:59 AM PST - 20 comments

I am about to buy a new washer and dryer (stackables). I was assuming I would get a gas dryer, because that's the type I have now, but I now see there is something called a "heat pump" dryer that's supposed to be more energy-efficient. I'm reading about them, but I just can't picture what this pump is all about. What kind of heat is it? Is it separate from the dryer itself? Does it use electricity or gas or ... what? I'm in New York City, if that makes a difference.
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:01 AM PST - 25 comments

I learned there are no heirs to a few unused land parcels still partially in my late great-grandfather's name in a coastal Croatian village. They're not seafront or exceedingly valuable, and he is one owner of many (even though the co-owners are likely deceased at this point). It's hard to conceive of a situation where I'd actually do something with it not least because my life is in the US. But nonetheless sentimentality is pushing me to consider transferring the title to my parents or even myself. Beyond indulging nostalgia, is there any rationale to pursue this? My hunch is there may actually be more downsides (legal fees, taxes, etc) than advantages. For context I also hold a Croatian passport.
posted by lecorbeau at 6:33 AM PST - 9 comments

Nobody on iNaturalist has identified this 1-1/4", pearl-gray pupa found in Durham County, NC. Can you help? I want to make sure it has food and appropriate moisture when it emerges. Also I'm curious. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 6:07 AM PST - 3 comments

I am a caretaker for a gregarious, witty 87 yo man who loves to play backgammon. I don't play and I see him playing backgammon alone on his PC. On there any on-line site where he can play live with other backgammon lovers?
posted by goalyeehah at 9:59 PM PST - 8 comments

Tomorrow morning I'm planning on making this shrimp and grits recipe, but the market had lobster tails at 50% off, so I decided, why not lobster and grits? That recipe calls for coating the shrimp with kosher salt, cornstarch and baking powder for 30 minutes before cooking. What do you suggest with lobster tail? Cutting in pieces and treat it exactly like the shrimp? Cook the lobster tails whole? [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 8:17 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a deep walk-in closet with one switch by the entrance for a light near the entrance, and one switch in the back for a light in the back. I want a single switch by the entrance to turn on both lights. I could get rid of the back switch and run some surface wiring from it to the front switch (replaced with a DPST switch for both lights). But I'd rather just use some remote controlled system, with a single switch controlling both lights. What's the best way to that? Things I don't need: dimming, an app, any other remote lighting.
posted by ShooBoo at 6:57 PM PST - 17 comments

With live shows on the horizon, I want to hear new music from bands who might be touring soon. I know its bad and wrong, but I like Spotify playlists. In addition to Spotify's Release Radar, I follow KEXP's Song of the Day 2021 and Pitchfork's Best New Music. Any recommendations for other playlists focused on new releases only? I like indie rock, but also rap, jazz, twangy stuff, etc. Thanks for any recs!
posted by lumpy at 6:20 PM PST - 3 comments

The area I am living in is starting to reopen after more than a year of Sheltering-in-place and I'm realizing that there are many things that I thought I would not have liked about the year that I'd like to hold onto. I wanted to hear what others thought they might keep doing even after things have completely reopened. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 5:34 PM PST - 84 comments

Just bought a late-1950s National Homes ranch--essentially post-WWII track housing--to which I'm trying to add curb appeal. Need help figuring out specifics about front door installation with this particular prefab house. [more inside]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 4:26 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m looking for a fiction book that I could have sworn was called “Them.” The book includes threat of sexual violence which I’ll save for after the jump. [more inside]
posted by CMcG at 4:07 PM PST - 2 comments

What platforms besides Google and Zoom have automatic captioning, automatic translation of captions, and/or facilities for live interpretation? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 2:49 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking at house listings across the US on realtor.com has been pandemic entertainment for my sister and me. We want to make a game of it with a scavenger hunt and need help coming up with things to find in real estate pictures. There's a preference for items that aren't necessarily found only in high-end homes but otherwise anything goes. So far, we've got things on our list like dishes in the sink, a corded wall phone, bunk beds, a cat tree, a room painted purple, etc. Please suggest some others!
posted by DrGail at 1:13 PM PST - 61 comments

Saw this jacket on a character last night on Hulu's final season of the totally great show Shrill (written by Lindy West). [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 11:58 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been gaining weight. I did start drinking NO-SUGAR sodas again, like one a day, but was gaining before that. And I don't eat any more than I ever have. So: do carbonated drinks cause a change in metabolism, therefore weight gain? My sodas have stevia, sometimes aspartame.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 11:28 AM PST - 17 comments

I've been an employee for 7 years. At work I'm one of the most experienced developers and the top contributor in various projects. However, for various reasons, I'm ready to move on. [more inside]
posted by kamelhoecker at 10:23 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a (mostly) west-facing window in my living room. It gets direct sunlight in the afternoon, which scorches "bright but indirect light" plants I've tried. However, it also seems to not get enough sunlight for plants that want bright, direct light. I want a big plant in this spot but is there one that will work? [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 10:06 AM PST - 12 comments

I have an Opel Astra H from 2009 and there is no compression on one cylinder. My shop recommends I get a used engine and replace the broken one. Their estimate is 3100€ for the engine and 1400€ for installation. I talked to two more garages and one wants 1400€ for the engine and 3100€ for installation, the third wants me to buy an engine (about 1800€ from a commercial seller) and would install it for 600€. [more inside]
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 10:02 AM PST - 6 comments

There's an excerpt from a speech/article/essay that floats around on tumblr that I'm trying to track down. I think it was by a female author, but I'm not sure. It's about how all these grimdark stories are presented as "mature" and "realistic" option, and that happy stories are seen as immature and joy is devalued, which is not a good thing. I'm trying to find it again. Does that ring any bells to anyone?
posted by platypus of the universe at 9:28 AM PST - 2 comments

Say you're a single 30-something moving to the Boston/Cambridge area (but with few constraints otherwise). What are the cool, walkable, upscale neighborhoods you should be looking to live in? [more inside]
posted by kickingtheground at 8:42 AM PST - 28 comments

Curious how others use up all of their groceries while cooking for one. I have been trying to buy less but then I just end up eating out! Cooking was supposed to be a way for me to save money. How did you find a balance? [more inside]
posted by sheepishchiffon at 7:55 AM PST - 35 comments

First time seller on Facebook Marketplace. The app seems to allow you to get paid directly to your bank account, which seems convenient at first glance. But how do I avoid getting scammed? [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 3:24 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm about to switch my cat's oral suspension gabapentin prescription to a compounding pharmacy, which has a long list of possible flavorings. However, gabapentin is so bitter, I'm concerned a flavoring might actually make it worse. Has anyone found a flavoring that made their cat tolerate it better? [more inside]
posted by tavella at 2:31 AM PST - 16 comments

My partner has some issues around sex that she would like help working through, but we're not quite sure how to find the right person for the job. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:43 PM PST - 6 comments

what is this device? what does it do? is it meant to be there? https://imgur.com/a/VLuQ8f9
[more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:42 PM PST - 7 comments

This is probably beyond ask metafilter's paygrade but I need help. I cannot afford therapy and honestly it's more important for me to save up money so that I never end up being dependent on my parents again. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:41 PM PST - 15 comments

KOIN 6, a CBS affiliate in Portland, will present a series all next week called, "Is Portland Over?" It looks at how, as they say, "The city of Roses has become the city of trash." I'm esp. curious about the perpetrators. Whenever the arrested are shown on TV, they always seem to be young, white men and women. Very rarely are they represented by any other group. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 11:35 PM PST - 30 comments

Daydreaming about a visit to Puerto Rico in January (pandemic permitting, the fantasy is that travel is very safe in all ways,) to enjoy the tourist sites, warmth and some of the PR queens that have been on Drag Race or their drag children. I am interested in post covid PR travel advice and PR drag scene advice specifically.
posted by Duffington at 10:33 PM PST - 1 comment

I know this may not be the right crowd for this question but I also know there's a woo minority here. I'm looking for resources that one can use to help them interpret and digest the description of a shamanic journey made on their behalf. There tends to be rich imagery, metaphor, etc in these experiences similar to dreams. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 8:55 PM PST - 3 comments

I need help. My body has reached the end of its tolerance for junky fast food, but I have fewer spoons than ever to do any real cooking. I need help thinking of core recipes to base my cupboard around. [more inside]
posted by snerson at 8:44 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm sending wedding invitations and would like to create the look of multiple vintage stamps, but more affordably with one real stamp and stickers printed like vintage stamps. Will the USPS mail my invites if the envelopes have stickers on them, near the real stamp?
posted by Phatty Lumpkin at 8:05 PM PST - 14 comments

I have 2 small avocado trees in my backyard in the San Francisco Bay Area (each less than 5 feet tall). Today I noticed a mostly black, with some red, insect on a leaf of each tree; when I started pulling one off, one end of the bug seemed to stick to the leaf. I've uploaded a picture of it. What is it? Is it bad for the trees?
posted by mistersix at 7:19 PM PST - 4 comments

That's basically it. If one parent has to go to the ER or be hospitalized, does the other stay home with the baby? Go to the hospital, too, and bring the baby? Under what circumstances?
posted by J. Wilson at 7:08 PM PST - 21 comments

I was put in a PM role on a large project last year and it didn’t go particularly well - six months after coming off the project I’m still ruminating on what happened and need help finding the way out. More explanation inside.. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:01 PM PST - 13 comments

I keep getting email alerts from an academic website that I’ve signed up for that someone searched for me on google. The state and country location is the same each time so it seems to be the same person, and I think I know who it is. More details after the jump. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:59 PM PST - 8 comments

I need help finding a Simpsons clip from one of the earlier seasons. The Springfield men are saying goodbye to a number of Springfield women, who are getting on a bus(I think?). When they leave, all of the men stop sucking in their stomachs one by one. I haven't been able to find it as its a visual gag.
posted by kittensofthenight at 2:40 PM PST - 5 comments

Intermediate sewing filter: Questions about batting. [more inside]
posted by Melismata at 2:25 PM PST - 6 comments

How are concrete structures like these made? Are they poured in place with towering forms or are they built from discrete pieces?
posted by donpardo at 1:51 PM PST - 8 comments

I have trouble focusing and getting really into both novels and non-fiction, no matter how interesting I think they are, how much I would love to read them, and how much I want to know what happens. It’s like I just want the book to be over. How do I learn to enjoy and absorb, and be absorbed by the books, better?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 1:21 PM PST - 20 comments

I have been in my apartment for 5 years. My landlord is interested in selling and has offered me the opportunity to buy it. I have not made an offer yet, or indicated that I am interested - just running my numbers right now. [more inside]
posted by sundrop at 12:28 PM PST - 11 comments

Asking this on behalf of Hildy and Starling, do your kitties have any fun toys and games they enjoy? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 12:25 PM PST - 33 comments

I'm faced with a tricky, college-level grading issue: Two members of a three-person group claim that the third member barely did anything on a group project; that third member claims he contributed an appropriate one-third of the work. Per the assignment prompt, all members of a group are to receive the same grade. Teachers and ethicists: How would you handle this? [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:31 AM PST - 63 comments

Looking at my recent bank statement, I received a refund from this merchant: GOOGLE*CABLE TV OR RAD SUPPORT.GOOGLCA. I've never heard of this entity before and a google search was not productive. I presume 'CA' stands for California and not Canada, but I could be wrong. [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 10:46 AM PST - 6 comments

My dog weighs 15 pounds and has bad diarrhea, the vet said to give him Kaopectate for two days he has had it previously with no problems and it's worked well, unfortunately, thinking we had the information written down we never checked the dosage with the vet and our vet is now closed for the weekend. The Internet has everything from 7.5ml a day over 4 doses to 22ml per dose 8 times a day as options. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 9:55 AM PST - 4 comments

I get tremors when I try to hand write and the more I try to stop them the worse it gets - probably a mental thing. Pencil works way better for me than ink in this regard but is there a style of pen that might help?
posted by ftm at 8:56 AM PST - 8 comments

I moved to New York a few months ago from DC and desperately need a hair cut and color. (It's been more than a year since my last!) Any good recommendations of a nice salon on the Upper East Side? Ideally, I'd love to find one person who does cut and color, but I know that can be rare. Thanks!
posted by KMouse at 8:48 AM PST - 3 comments

Want to put together a playlist for my trainer. He used to compete in aerobics in the eighties, kneehigh white socks and all. He dismays at the powerlifting playlists that are all dubstep dudebro hardcore music. [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 8:37 AM PST - 13 comments

A good friend received a payment from the IRS on May 1. She's already received the three stimulus payments and her tax refund, so she's confused. IRS customer service wasn't super helpful. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by librarylis at 8:33 AM PST - 7 comments

Hi! About a year ago I ran across a website that had footage taken from a helicopter for the entire Spanish Coast (and most of the European-side of Mediterranean). Think of it as Google Street Maps for the coast but from a helicopter. Can't find it again! [more inside]
posted by wogbat at 8:28 AM PST - 2 comments

Had my second vaccine a few days ago and felt miserable for several days from a dehydration headache that stuck around. I was eventually able to sleep it off, but want some better strategies for the next time that happens. What are your tried and true ways of rehydrating (relatively) quickly? [more inside]
posted by switcheroo at 7:59 AM PST - 16 comments

I’m finally done with university deadlines and want to read! The last book I read and loved was Roth’s Goodbye, Columbus. What should I read next? I’ve ordered The Human Stain and The Professor of Desire (both by him).
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 7:39 AM PST - 16 comments

I really like shows about people who are serious about religion. Snowflakes within. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 6:30 AM PST - 33 comments

Can you help me make a list of 20 quirky things to photograph while walking around a city? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 4:32 AM PST - 27 comments

UK Mefites - are any of you going to the gym? What have your experiences of using the gym been at this point during the pandemic? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:14 AM PST - 5 comments

I need to make a digital teaching portfolio to apply for jobs. I am a new teacher, and this year has been [waves hands.] I'm behind. I'm not super tech savvy. What's the best, easiest, fastest way to do this? [more inside]
posted by Ollie at 3:42 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm bored and lonely and I'm not sure how to change this given the current pandemic measures. [more inside]
posted by rubbish bin night at 3:26 AM PST - 11 comments

I haven't shopped for hard drives for a long while and just realized that there is even a dual-drive unit that goes up to 20TB now. I get that one is for storage and one for mirroring. But do you make partitions in them nowadays? I am looking for a NAS solution for my home/family files so I need bigger storage but I am also scared based on past experiences. I also hope there is a power switch on NAS so it won't add too much unnecessary cost on the electricity bill since we don't always transfer files all the time but I really like what NAS does. Should I be worried about making partitions?
posted by lanhan at 11:15 PM PST - 5 comments

A while ago, there was a site called Quotenik (that has since stopped updating) that featured short thoughtful quotes from interviews, books, articles. It was great! Help me find something like that... [more inside]
posted by biscuits at 9:58 PM PST - 2 comments

Have you ever left a normal job for sex work? Has the pandemic tipped you into cam girl work? Have you started an Only Fans while you still have your resume on Linkedin? Tell me your stories of straddling the regular work-world and that of sex-work. Do you have any regrets? Tips?
posted by anonymous at 4:53 PM PST - 5 comments

Is it possible to recover bitcoins that I was "tipped" on Reddit through changetip.com several years ago? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 4:51 PM PST - 4 comments

What livestreaming platforms have the highest quality video? I sometimes livestream 1 or 2 hour protests, and I would like to download the video after and post clips to social media. What are the best options (free and paid) that produce the highest quality livestream video. (iphone)
posted by andoatnp at 4:16 PM PST - 1 comment

Mr. Never and I are going camping later this month. Help us entertain ourselves! [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 3:35 PM PST - 17 comments

First time buyers. We are looking for land for land to build a home on; or, alternatively, less likely, an existing home. NY/ Ct States. [more inside]
posted by ebesan at 3:17 PM PST - 10 comments

How do I shave my legs? [more inside]
posted by MetaFilter World Peace at 2:07 PM PST - 19 comments

We’ve decided to take a jaunt up to the Lost Coast / Humboldt County area over Memorial Day weekend. Our itinerary is sketched out vaguely but we could use suggestions from those who have been there before. [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 1:50 PM PST - 6 comments

What are some charities currently doing covid relief in India to which I could donate?
posted by bluecore at 1:41 PM PST - 6 comments

I have two family members (wife/husband) in their early 70's going thru chemo at the same time, alternate weeks. I'd like to send a "thinking of you" package. They of course say they don't want or need anything, are not hungry. Can you suggest perhaps hard candies, sweets (I know chemo affects taste?) and perhaps games or fiddly/fidget things to amuse for the long hours of infusions? Thanks so much! <3
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 12:33 PM PST - 13 comments

Is there such a thing as Mote + VideoAnt for web-based video? [more inside]
posted by oflinkey at 12:20 PM PST - 0 comments

Greetings all! Bought a spiffy new HP computer a few weeks ago - running great, it is now my second child that I call "compy face." Problem: despite my best efforts tinkering with settings, I can not figure out how prevent a "Software & Drivers Update" pop-up from happening (on the order of two or three times every hour). I have told it to NEVER search for updates, but even that doesn't work. Can anyone tell me how to make it stop? Here is what the pop-up looks like.
posted by davidmsc at 12:14 PM PST - 4 comments

I am trying to recall some research on humans, and maybe apes, using tools. I read this few years ago, and I'm not sure if I came across this in an academic paper, or just read a few sentences about it on some science website. I think the information had a scientific basis. The gist was that when humans use tools the tool becomes incorporated into our minds image of our body, which is why we can use tools so dang well. [more inside]
posted by TurnKey at 11:56 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a ridiculously soft and warm baby blanket and bought the adult version and it’s... not warm? How is a blanket not warm? [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:49 AM PST - 11 comments

There's a Jethro Tull song out there that includes a piano theme based on / lifted from a well-known piano concerto. Can you remember it? [more inside]
posted by mmc at 11:36 AM PST - 12 comments

a good paint sprayer that will handle exterior paint straight from the bucket is $400. I'm not really objecting to the price of this, but here's the hook - I LIKE painting. [more inside]
posted by euphoria066 at 11:25 AM PST - 10 comments

How dead is this minivan? Help me figure out if it's worth trying to revive a 2003 Honda Odyssey that hasn't been driven in a while. [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:35 AM PST - 9 comments

Will somebody please help me identify the Ego string trimmer item I want before I lose my mind. I already own the blower and battery and charger. I now want the telescoping string trimmer. I believe (but maybe I'm wrong?) it should be possible to buy the trimmer without the battery but all I'm seeing are ones with the battery. Or maybe all of the hedge trimmer/string trimmer/edger/pole saw type things are their own ecosystem and I do have to buy the battery? But you can buy the hedge trimmer without a battery! So confused.
posted by HotToddy at 7:37 AM PST - 13 comments

What has worked best for you, over the past year, teaching asynchronous classes online? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 7:29 AM PST - 11 comments

I lead a team whose success requires energetically loading and unloading 50 lb items from delivery vehicles. Because of my personal history, I have great anxiety around telling people they need to move their bodies faster. But, employee physical effort is a key issue preventing us from reaching our goals. Please offer me perspective on this. [more inside]
posted by rebent at 5:46 AM PST - 35 comments

Please share all the books and series you haven't been able to put down! I am in dire need of some fun reading and would love recommendations from the Green as you all have suggested books that have become favorites over the years. I'm looking for science fiction (please feel free to interpret the genre broadly) that's engrossing and fun but not completely retrograde or badly written. More details within. [more inside]
posted by snaw at 4:38 AM PST - 56 comments

I had a partial hysterectomy in January last year. I still have my ovaries and cervix. I've always had a very regular cycle, I but also pretty bad pre menstrual mood problems. In the past, when I was feeling unusually fragile or weepy it helped me to notice "Oh yes, it's that time of the month" and I could make sense of my feelings. Now I simply don't know what's going on. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 4:24 AM PST - 8 comments

Help me enjoy the company of the group of Mom's on my street more, pls [more inside]
posted by dmbfan93 at 3:59 AM PST - 7 comments

I understand, or at least I think I understand, how pregnancy tests work in a general sense. What I don't get is why they're all labeled as being accurate within a certain number of days before or after you either "expect" or "miss" your period. I would like someone to explain to me why the tests' effectiveness depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle rather than how long it's been since you conceived. [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 3:21 AM PST - 11 comments

Thanks to the ongoing pandemic and super slow rate of vaccinations in my province, weddings are still restricted to 10 people or less, including the officiant. We have a venue booked for 2 hours. What are we supposed to do with those 2 hours? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:24 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a bunch of photoshop files, which I'm then using for a layout in InDesign. Some of the files have 3 or 4 files placed as linked files (e.g. face.psd is placed in person.psd, is placed in persondrivingcar.psd is placed into streetscene.psd and streetscene.psd is placed in an InDesign layout)-- all placements are linked not embedded). If I make a change to a file, say face.psd, so I need to open and resave all the placed files for that to update, or will the fully updated versions show up in Indesign? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:16 PM PST - 6 comments

Mr. Getawaysticks and I bought a brand new home NW of Fort Worth. We closed just after the winter disaster here, and everything was a scramble moving from across the country. The large sloped yard was graded, but tons of rain and wind caused what wasn't covered in sod to erode terribly. How can we stop this in a hurry? [more inside]
posted by getawaysticks at 8:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm learning English. My question is from The moon and six pence. Why does Maugham write ' The suggestion sent a ray of hope in all their breasts ,but I would have nothing to do with it.'? Why not their minds nor their hearts? To me the breast sounds a bit strange. I'd like to know the differences in nuance. Thank you.
posted by mizukko at 8:14 PM PST - 18 comments

Trader Joe's discontinued one of my kids' favorite products, the semi sweet chocolate chunks a while ago. Many of TJ's products are made by name brand companies under a discount agreement to sell excess product or when they are just getting established and need capital, then when the company can stand on its own they walk away from TJ's. Does anyone know of an alternative source for these, or what chocolate company was making these? Thanks!
posted by benzenedream at 7:09 PM PST - 16 comments

I received notice from my employer that a fraudulent unemployment claim was filed in my name. I’ve filed a fraud report with my state and frozen my credit with all three credit agencies. What else should I do to mitigate the damage from the possible identity theft?
posted by Betelgeuse at 5:53 PM PST - 8 comments

Do you have blazing fast, consistent internet in the Mission? Which ISP do you have? We currently have MonkeyBrains and it's not good enough. [more inside]
posted by wym at 5:28 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm trying to find freight train schedules for a location. I think that this site should have the info, but when I follow the instructions I saw somewhere (to click on a dot and then click on "inv_link") I don't see anything. If it helps, I'm trying to find the information for a crossing called 697815C in Appleton, Wisconsin, but I'd like to know how to do it generally.
posted by pinochiette at 4:40 PM PST - 5 comments

Has anyone successfully bought a new car online in the SF Bay Area, where the entire process is handled remotely and no visit to a dealership is needed? [more inside]
posted by Mallenroh at 4:27 PM PST - 8 comments

Besides the obvious, what other tasks do my spouse and I need to do before (and shortly after) we move to a new (to us) home at the end of the month? [more inside]
posted by fizzix at 4:10 PM PST - 13 comments

A Discord I occasionally post in is now saying "I must verify my identity by phone before you can send messages in this server." It won't accept my VoIP phone (even though it can accept text messages). Is there any very low-cost way I can get a forward-only "cell phone number" to manage a rapidly growing number of companies I don't want to give my phone number to, but still want to use? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 3:16 PM PST - 9 comments

I've been granted stock options by my employer, a private tech company. I understand the basics, but not the details. [more inside]
posted by syzygy at 3:00 PM PST - 19 comments

A co-worker is trying to figure out the name of a science fiction book they read in the early 70s in paperback. In it, due to a nuclear war, people moved underground. Then, after time past, they came back to the surface, but had to start mining old landfills for resources like copper. Any ideas what the book might be?
posted by drezdn at 2:49 PM PST - 4 comments

There are certain youth slang words that have always been around:"groovy", "cool", "awesome", "gnarly" and "lit" all work the same way, as a compliment. Then there are those words inspired by new developments: Social media led to "flex" and "low-key" and "high-key" and "virtue signal" and "humblebrag." But what explains "yeet"? Why is sudden expulsion suddenly so popular? Does it have something to do with the "eet" sound? Is it a reflection of how instantaneous technology has made processes, like "delete"?
posted by Borborygmus at 12:59 PM PST - 35 comments

I’m getting back into serious hockey after a long bout with disability. Does all gear still have leather in it? Are there pads and skates that are vinyl or something? Talking full ice hockey gear here. And also roller hockey pants.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 12:21 PM PST - 3 comments

I just landed my dream job as a school librarian at a private, all-girls school. What are the tools that I need, magazines to subscribe to, list serves, books, any other resources to help make me an amazing librarian!?
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I was listening to Dave Rawlings' Bells of Harlem and it's left me aching for more uplifting tunes of the type - a soft exhale after having come through a tough time. Nina Simone's Feelin’ Good is more energetic but still in that pocket. I'm contentedly single right now, so I want to keep away from anything with an obvious romantic message like “everything's great because I found you”. [more inside]
posted by bonobothegreat at 11:54 AM PST - 12 comments

Link me to the most delicious recipe you’ve made recently! Anything goes. Think “delicious”—not necessarily “easy” or “fast” or whatever (although those qualities are welcome too).
posted by HotToddy at 10:30 AM PST - 54 comments

I was reminded today of a film, released somewhere between 1985 and 2005, which contained an entire scene of somewhat flirtatious dialog composed entirely of song titles. I seem to recall that they were Elvis songs, and it feels like it was some mediocre director who had a few box office smashes. It feels like a typical conceit, but I couldn't find other examples on a quick search. What do you think MeFites? You know what movie this was, or other films using this trope?
posted by aspersioncast at 10:12 AM PST - 4 comments

Lately, I've been experiencing sporadic, random ice-pick headaches (brief, stabbing pain in a localized, specific area), and am very concerned for a number of reasons. Wanted to get a pulse and see if anyone in the community has experienced similarly. YANMD, more under the fold. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 9:39 AM PST - 17 comments

I find that I spend a lot of my time reminiscing about the past. I'm aware this is not healthy, and I don't want to do it, but it subconsciously happens, and even seeps into my dreams. What actual things can I do to help my brain stay present and move forward with my life? [more inside]
posted by monologish at 9:35 AM PST - 11 comments

Dogecoin being in the news made me check my old laptop, and it looks like I have about 3900 Dogecoin in a wallet. I would like to turn this into actual money. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:16 AM PST - 4 comments

When I was in college in the 1970s, I had a delightful roommate from Iran, who shared her home care packages with me. I'm wondering if anyone can make an educated guess at what I ate. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:15 AM PST - 13 comments

IKYNMD - my primary said this is normal - but for the longest time, I've been feeling anything but. About 4 years ago went to a hematologist with my complaints of bone pain, fatigue and generally feeling unwell and underwent a few tests including urine - and she basically said that everything was ok. Fast-forward to now - it's really not. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 8:00 AM PST - 5 comments

Hi. I am trying to change my diet to a healthier fewer meats and more fresh veggies and fruits regime as well as exercise/hike/cardio every other day. Yet, I am feeling overwhelmed with trying to change my lifestyle to a healthier one -- it also feels time-consuming to prep and cook healthier meals at times. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 7:41 AM PST - 33 comments

I'm restarting therapy (huzzah!) and I'm determined to put in the work this time. The problem is that I'm not great at processing and speaking to my emotions generally, but I've found a good groove during covid journaling and reading books on a variety of topics. Is there a book or website with good journal prompts to help me do some of that work? Any great therapy adjacent books you would recommend? [more inside]
posted by glaucon at 7:37 AM PST - 3 comments

Would it be ruder to ignore a wedding invite or RSVP not attending? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 4:29 AM PST - 66 comments

Looking for advice for a friend about their laptop. On switching it on, it gives error 0xc0000034 Your PC needs to be repaired. They do not have the installation media to reinstall Windows. On Googling, we found the suggestion to create a bootable USB using Easy Recovery Essentials. Is this the best way to go? Any other suggestions welcome.
posted by paduasoy at 3:26 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm planning to open a gallery showing sustainable art, that is art made primarily or entirely of recycled materials and/or natural materials. I'm open to all materials, genres, themes and flavors of art and am looking for your favorites artists working sustainably? Please add links to websites if possible. [more inside]
posted by beckish at 1:05 AM PST - 6 comments

If you are involved with managing your parents' finances in some way, how do you... deal with it? Specific reasons why I am not dealing inside. [more inside]
posted by ahundredjarsofsky at 10:31 PM PST - 9 comments

I was all set to get gas ducted heating installed at our new place, but it looks like there's a big push to move away from natural gas fueled appliances where we live. What are our other options? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 9:21 PM PST - 16 comments

Okay maybe it's not crapola. I and another person at this law firm have been tasked with hosting an all-hands meeting. I'm a librarian here; our little department has recently been enveloped into a new group with such as recruiting, applications training, etc. My presenting partner has little interest, but the task is ours, so I want to find two 20-minute exercises. [more inside]
posted by goofyfoot at 7:06 PM PST - 10 comments

Someone I know will be on NBC's morning broadcast of the "Today Show" soon. How can I capture this to my Mac, so it can go in among our home movies? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:46 PM PST - 8 comments

There's a place in New Jersey, Steve's sizzling Steaks. Do you know it? They do..... Something.... To steaks involving Maggi sauce. But, what? They call it "sizzling" and it involves a fair does of Maggi. I want to recreate at home (here in florida). [more inside]
posted by chasles at 5:01 PM PST - 4 comments

With every Mac OS update for the last year, I get the "Relocated Items" on my desktop. I understand basically what this is, and that it's pretty safe to delete. But it's the SAME thing appearing there after EVERY update, even after I removed it last time. Isn't there some way to, say, find the original pre-relocated file and remove it permanently? (more detail inside.) [more inside]
posted by dnash at 4:22 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm all caught up on Younger and I need more TV shows along these lines, preferably with multiple seasons. What I like: women, being good at their jobs/pursuits, who are also flawed. Prefer light over drama right now but would take a juicy drama. Romance is ok, soapy is ok as long as it isn't cringe-worthy. Other series I've liked inside. [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 2:37 PM PST - 60 comments

Myself and a friend, both intermediate level learned-as-adults piano players decided to learn about (not play!) all of the Beethoven piano sonatas, one per week. We will get the scores and we will have recordings (Barenboim to start). What guides (videos, books, websites) are the best for this adventure? We'd be looking for insightful analysis, maybe a bit of the history, notes on performing... We also don't know what we don't know, what other things that would sparkle. I've reserved the Great Courses lecture series at the library but what else is good?
posted by storybored at 1:48 PM PST - 8 comments

Please tell me what (rebuilt or used) laptop to buy for my simple purposes. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 12:43 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm an artist. I have a photo in my android phone gallery that I want to display so I can trace a larger version of it onto a canvas. The phone and projector are connected, but now I need the projector to display my photo. [more inside]
posted by cartoonella at 12:08 PM PST - 4 comments

What are the best vegetarian or vegan friend chicken sandwiches in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens? I live down the street from a Popeye’s and I have to smell it every day and I need a good vegetarian or vegan alternative. Thanks!
posted by andoatnp at 11:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Our family have taken to bringing a grabber thing on walks so that we can pick up garbage. We do not have a non-gross way of holding the (small) bag. What works for you? [more inside]
posted by Acari at 11:07 AM PST - 9 comments

My microwave is making a weird noise, when it is plugged in but not running. I have taken to unplugging it when it's not in use, but I am very curious what it is, and if it's something to be worried about. Weird noises are notoriously difficult to describe, especially over the internet. But I will attempt to do so within. [more inside]
posted by primethyme at 10:59 AM PST - 7 comments

We just moved and our AT&T WIFI appointment went sideways. Rescheduled for later this week. Is there a way to get WIFI at home until then? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 9:58 AM PST - 14 comments

I (35 y.o. hetero cis f, married) met a guy (36 y.o., hetero cis m, single) through work whose company I really enjoyed. We both expressed that we would like to grow a friendship with one another. I made it clear to him that I am married, and discussed everything with my hubby so that everyone was on the same page. My new friend and I decided to meet up outside of work, and it was kind of weird. Since then it's been radio silence from him. What is going on here? [more inside]
posted by key_kat at 9:25 AM PST - 50 comments

My kid would like me to help them sell their box of pokemon cards. I'd like to help out, but not make this a big project. Are there resources to help my kid quickly sort the more valuable from the less valuable and to easily sell the cards? [more inside]
posted by another_20_year_lurker at 9:02 AM PST - 8 comments

I wish for old style headphones like these classic Sonys which have wires, but with Bluetooth instead and not garbage like this.
posted by Evilspork at 8:28 AM PST - 4 comments

Switching from MacOS to Linux for most of the things I need to do for my work. I was wondering what I should do about email now, though. I was previously using Mail.app just fine. The annoying thing is that I have to manage Outlook-based accounts, Gmail-based accounts, as well as a Google Workspace account. No idea how that complicates anything, though. I don't need any fancy features like scheduling emails or 'team interaction' and so on and so on. Thanks :)
posted by baptismal at 8:23 AM PST - 3 comments

I used to know SQL fairly well but that was a few years ago and I have forgotten basically all of it. What's the best way to relearn SQL fast? I'm looking for specific (ideally free) websites, tutorials, whatever. [more inside]
posted by an octopus IRL at 8:21 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to date again. I have some questions about how this might work as a 40-something with a kid. It's been awhile :-) [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 8:20 AM PST - 11 comments

Alternately, do you know of a grip switch that works on USB? Google failed me. Details within! [more inside]
posted by wooh at 8:15 AM PST - 7 comments

My best spatulas have been Rubbermaid flat spatulas. Used for scraping dough or getting the last bit of mayo. Should I be using Silicon? Spoonulas? They will be also used for getting the last of the beans off the plate.
posted by theora55 at 7:53 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm recovering from a broken knee. I've come a long way, but I'm not all the way there - and I'm getting impatient and paranoid that I won't keep recovering. Can anyone talk sense into me? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:23 AM PST - 21 comments

My butt is itchy, please help!!! [more inside]
posted by catoclock at 7:22 AM PST - 18 comments

My Gmail on my desktop is arranged the way I want it: new mail, unread mail, priority tags, etc. My Gmail on my Android phone is a hot mess, because I rarely use it. I'd like my phone Gmail to be usable without devoting additional time to making it so. Is there a way I can tell it to simply sync the exact state of my desktop email?
posted by WaywardPlane at 12:50 AM PST - 3 comments

A recent renovation of a small local building uncovered an unusual structural metal roof deck that no one has been able to identify for me. The deck is sinusoidal in shape, with flutes about 1 foot on center, and with a depth of around 3 or 4 inches. Panels are about 3 feet wide. [more inside]
posted by Jackson at 8:23 PM PST - 11 comments

The landlord had their lawn service spread either fertilizer or weed killer on the grass. Our cats like to nibble on the grass. How soon, if ever, will it be safe for them to do so? [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 8:11 PM PST - 5 comments

My wife went to the local Walmart to buy a few things this evening. Apparently, something (or things) didnt scan. Walmart (or Police) - I am not clear at this time - grabbed her and booked her for shoplifting and took her to jail. There was apparently a fair amount of humiliation involved. She tried to say muliple times that she has not done anything wrong and she has been coming to this Walmart for years - but to no avail. She was arrested, brought to jail, and has an "arraignment hearing" tomorrow. We are a by-the-book law abiding South Asian family. Have been living in Collin county, Texas for 11 years now. She hasnt even had a traffic ticket in the last twenty years that she has been driving here. My wife is under a lot of pressure. She had a COVID related death in the family in India last week. Her mother died a few months back. She has blood pressure and sugar. She doesnt react well to emotionally traumatic events. To her mind - this is the worst thing that could have happened to her. If there is any way that I can try to get her out from jail tonight on bond, I would like to try it. Would greatly appreciate your help with any of the following questions: - Is there legal help/lawyers available at night in Texas (Collin county)? - Is there anyway I can try to get her out on bond tonight? - The Jail officer (when I called back) told me that the arraignment is tomorrow between 8 to 10 am (when the judge arrives) and that family or lawyers can't attend. Is that correct? - I am out of my depth in a situation like this. What else can I do? Would greatly appreciate any general advise. Thank you.
posted by anonymous at 8:07 PM PST - 25 comments

I have a set of speakers (Philips CSS 5530) and they have some sort of mounting holes on the bottom, but I know nothing about speakers and without the right terms I can't find matching stands/mounts anywhere. Please help identify this mounting standard. [more inside]
posted by tiamat at 5:51 PM PST - 4 comments

How can I reduce the huge list of file save-as extensions in VSCode? I only ever save as .txt, .md/.markdown, .csv, .bat, and a few others like the various Perl and Python extensions. Have looked widely on web but found nothing useful. Is there a list I can load or what?
posted by unearthed at 5:43 PM PST - 3 comments

What would you bring on a vegetarian mother's day hike and picnic? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 5:08 PM PST - 15 comments

I'd like to invest some non-qualified money at Vanguard and can't figure out how to open that separately. It shouldn't be this difficult.
posted by notned at 4:49 PM PST - 7 comments

You're not my dentist, but after my most recent visit dental cleaning (today) I couldn't help but wonder if it's actually necessary/beneficial to actually get the polishing & fluoride treatments during dental appointments? My dental insurance doesn't cover either and I'm wondering if they're something I can skip. [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 4:09 PM PST - 14 comments

My wife and I are probably headed for a divorce. I know the first thing to do is to talk to a lawyer, but like, there's a lot of other stuff, and I just don't know how it would work. Stuff like moving out, money, etc. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:02 PM PST - 22 comments

I would like to find some of these books written from a perspective that is more true to the poly experience. I want more emotional intelligence and fleshed-out characters to go along with the sexy scenes and fun action/horror/mystery/space exploration/whatever. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:02 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm trying to find out the tax implications of a receiving a very large cash gift from my Canadian parents while I reside in the US. My understanding is that it is essentially tax free on my end because my parents are non-resident and the money has no US connection but that over $100K it has to be reported to the IRS by me when I file taxes but I am not entirely confident in my ability to read the 'IRSease' dialect. Is this correct? [more inside]
posted by srboisvert at 3:13 PM PST - 10 comments

I am moving for a new job. My employer is paying for the moving truck, but not packing. I have been packing myself but I'm coming down to the wire. I called a local packing/moving service and the price made my eyes jump out of my head like Bugs Bunny. Is that normal? Details inside [more inside]
posted by arniec at 2:30 PM PST - 32 comments

Is it normal to have iron-deficiency symptoms at my ferritin levels (75 ug/L)? [more inside]
posted by Atlantic at 1:36 PM PST - 5 comments

My kid and I both like disposable "Korean-style" masks. Anyone have good sources for ones with interesting patterns, in the US? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:44 PM PST - 14 comments

My spouse and I are vaccinated against covid19. Our asthmatic teenagers are not. What is the risk of us getting and giving them covid if we start spending time unmasked with vaccinated friends outside? We live in the south United States.
posted by qi at 12:33 PM PST - 11 comments

What platform(s) would be suitable for an online conference that mostly consists of 10-50 person facilitated discussions? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 12:26 PM PST - 6 comments

It's so exciting! but confusing -- so many washers, so many dryers! [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:45 AM PST - 12 comments

My neighbor has not been able to get a DX for central vision loss and she is seeking a neuro-opthamologist and eye institute for further insight, possible treatment. [more inside]
posted by egk at 11:06 AM PST - 11 comments

My 4.5 year old daughter and I have been enjoying listening to audiobooks together in the car, but I'm not sure what to listen to next! We've listened to and enjoyed the Dealing With Dragons books and the Lumberjanes novels, and both have been rousing successes. What should we listen to next? [more inside]
posted by twigatwig at 10:57 AM PST - 15 comments

Help me commemorate the incoming Brood X cicadas. I was thinking a nice way of celebrating would be to throw a 2004 themed party, but my memories of that era are a bit fuzzy. Any good suggestions for punny and thematic food/drink/entertainment? [more inside]
posted by crossswords at 10:46 AM PST - 11 comments

I am looking for a 1 year degree with a combination of computer science courses and business courses. It seems that there are a lot of programs that offer a joint MS CS and MBA. However, I already have had 7 years of college/grad school and do not want that. [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 10:14 AM PST - 5 comments

I'd like to buy some durable sneakers to wear to work. For ethical reasons, I'd like them to be free from any leather. I'm in the US. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 10:05 AM PST - 10 comments

I have been asked to get someone’s personal belongings (no furniture, just miscellaneous personal belongings) from their apartment in NYC to China (city unknown yet, I am finding out). The added twist here is that I need a company who will also PACK the belongings into boxes or crates for me. [more inside]
posted by brbmaroon at 10:05 AM PST - 2 comments

I have an allergy to cotton material, and I am not sure if either N95 or KN95 masks have cotton material in them? As I have only been wearing cloths masks made of polyester, nylon, etc. without cotton material.
posted by RearWindow at 9:49 AM PST - 3 comments

I am trying to fix a folding camp chair (pictures of broken chair). I know what needs to be fixed, but I do not know what type of fastener to use. I tried this type of screw/binding post combo, with and without washers, and each time the head snapped off within 10 minutes of sitting in the chair. I need something stronger, I guess - what would you recommend I use?
posted by mosst at 8:51 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a short, steep, rocky bank off of our back patio photos here). It’s slowly eroding - thoughts on what to plant on it? [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:49 AM PST - 4 comments

There's a website that, when you put in a url, will extract all the text and display it in a simple, no-ads way. Comparable to threadreader but more for articles, not twitter. I don't really remember if it handles comments or not. It's definitely a website (not a browser add-on) and I've for sure forgotten what it's called - and googling around gets me a lot of stuff about building web scraping programs. Help? [more inside]
posted by snerson at 8:31 AM PST - 8 comments

I am an accountant at a small real estate development firm, and am planning to relocate this summer. I want to pitch my boss on continuing to use me for contract work. We have talked about it a few times and she is pretty enthusiastic, but has not made a commitment. This will be my first pitch and my first client -- very literally, what should my pitch look like? [more inside]
posted by nowadays at 8:05 AM PST - 3 comments

What has been your experience as a woman without kids? [more inside]
posted by oywiththepoodles at 7:33 AM PST - 64 comments

I've had a couple of professional interactions recently where my interlocutors were straight-up bragging about their accomplishments, how much money they make, how in demand they are, and so on, for an hour, in meetings where I was asking for a favor. What is the best way to respond? [more inside]
posted by redlines at 7:09 AM PST - 23 comments

I want to send my sister-in-law in Oakland CA flowers on her birthday. Can you recommend anyplace that does pretty, creative arrangements, and isn't over the top expensive?
posted by swheatie at 6:44 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to restart piano lessons (after a break of 30 years), either in person (in a COVID responsible way), or online. Can you advise about how best to select a adult piano teacher, based on some of the details inside? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:28 AM PST - 3 comments

Excel project at work involving thousands of employees. Help needed! [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:45 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm mounting an all-out effort to lose the weight I gained during COVID lockdown. One of the motivators I use is to roughly measure the bulges that stick out when I wear a lycra bathing suit. I've noticed the one on my left is around 50% bigger than on right--does this indicate anything I should be concerned about? [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 5:35 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for any blogger or magazine out there has lists of upcoming academics books released in the social sciences and humanities although other disciplines are also welcome. There are such lists books for example but usually they're focused on either a particular year or month or season and are not specialized for more non-fiction or academic titles [published by Harvard University Press, for example, but this can W.W. Norton or other more commercial publishers]. [more inside]
posted by caudal at 11:33 PM PST - 5 comments

If someone's feet touch yours (you both are wearing shoes) and they don't remove them right away, would you typically assume that they are flirting? Would your same perception hold true if this happened in a professional setting?
posted by mintchip at 10:54 PM PST - 25 comments

After 30+ years in a suburban area in our large southern U.S. city, Mr. Darling and I are considering a move to the country. I'm wondering about how to feel safe when living in an isolated area, as opposed to (or in addition to) actually being safe. [more inside]
posted by Sweetie Darling at 8:43 PM PST - 24 comments

I really struggle to drink water, and it makes me feel kind of nauseous or faint when I drink supposedly normal amounts, and it's hard to find out what a minimum normal amount should be. [more inside]
posted by Elysum at 7:37 PM PST - 18 comments

Actually, maybe more like e-bike conversions 001, since I'm pretty early in my research, but I'd appreciate some help in sorting out possible plans for my bike, and converting it to pedal-assist. [more inside]
posted by kalimac at 6:55 PM PST - 16 comments

My 10-year-old daughter is suddenly very aware that she is not “good” at sports. She’s never been interested in team sports but now really wants to get better. We want to encourage this newfound interest without being overbearing. How do we do this? [more inside]
posted by JuliaKM at 6:21 PM PST - 26 comments

I waited for a deal and got an expensive Simmons mattress and my partner's main (and frequently repeated) complaint is that they feel like they aren't supported and sink/roll towards the middle of the bed, and that their hips hurt. I was wondering if someone could recommend an affordable mattress for side sleepers that is firm, not painful, and won't make her feel like this. Online reviews are untrustworthy and all over the place. Thank you!
posted by ftm at 4:44 PM PST - 14 comments

When I was exercising today Paul Simon's Obvious Child came on and WOWEE those drummers got me fired up. Give me more like this! Those happen to be Brazilian drummers, but I'm looking for any super heavy drumming similar to that, even American marching band drum line style, but I do want it similar to this in terms of drums + poppy music. Suggest music for me to sweat to, please!
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:26 PM PST - 35 comments

Our house has an invisible fence installed. Neighbors dug up part of it. Do I need to remove the rest of it immediately? [more inside]
posted by the primroses were over at 2:32 PM PST - 5 comments

I want to follow nonbinary writers/bloggers/tweeters/grammers/podcasters/TikTokers over 40/50/60. Any suggestions?
posted by matildaben at 12:59 PM PST - 8 comments

What small yellow wildflower is this? [more inside]
posted by sardonyx at 11:49 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm thinking about giving online dating a go after a long break. In the past I did OkCupid, but now it seems other places are where it's at. Any suggestions for me, a 53 yo, cishet, LTR-minded woman in NYC? [more inside]
posted by swheatie at 11:06 AM PST - 10 comments

Not meal kit - fully prepared meals [more inside]
posted by hot_tea at 10:39 AM PST - 14 comments

I live in a part of London that's got a few micropubs that do take-home beer, but the growlers for sale are cheap plastic jugs. Where can I get a good growler in London? [more inside]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 10:05 AM PST - 4 comments

I am especially interested in work that uses spellings like "ze" and "hir," rather than the singular "they." Bonus points if at least some of the poems are about gender issues.
posted by mortaddams at 9:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I have been encouraging a Gen Z friend to save for retirement. She is employed (as a contractor) and is doing all right but doesn’t have a lot of extra money. She knows this is useful and important, but isn’t particularly interested in it. We are both in the US. [more inside]
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 8:59 AM PST - 6 comments

Has anyone had experience with restaurants in the south San Francisco Bay area that are taking COVID seriously and running outdoor dining setups that are reasonable? My in-laws have expressed a strong preference to meet us for outdoor lunch or dinner in late June, and I'm trying to do the leg work to keep everyone as safe as possible, so general COVID risk management input greatly appreciated. [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 8:33 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been seeing a man I love very much for 8 months. We want a future together. But there are snags caused by miscommunications and difficulties understanding eachother - including one major misunderstanding last week where I got super angry and upset him a lot before realising, this week, that there is a clear explanation for the way he behaved (which at the time seemed super shady) -- and it is that he has autism. I would like other people's perspectives on this - from any place in the spectrum, and also help dealing with some of the emotional fallout. He's disappeared into his cave today, I suspect due to stress from our conflict last week and a conversation yesterday about his potential autism, and I feel a little insecure, guilty and sad about the whole thing. I also have, in reading up about it, realised that I think a high proportion of the guys I've been out with have been autistic to varying degrees. Why is this? [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 5:25 AM PST - 34 comments

I adding the finishing touches to my project of converting a Pye P45 to a Pi internet radio. Turning the tuning knob selects a station from csv file. I want to limit the station list to 30 or 40 items. I currently have my personal favourites in the list. I also want that vintage radio experience of travelling around the world as the knob is turned. I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to find the the right stations. [more inside]
posted by night_train at 3:39 AM PST - 17 comments

A social media team is formally forming for my activist group. It is meeting soon. Help me get it off the ground. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 10:46 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m looking for shopping help in replacing a specific leather wallet- my current model has a weak point where the keyring loop is going to break. [more inside]
posted by tangaroo at 8:16 PM PST - 4 comments

I love cream cheese frosting. Whenever I make it, it's so sweet. I've not found a recipe I like. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 8:06 PM PST - 19 comments

I have a number of boxes of books from my childhood and high school years. Many have been sold or given away; the ones that are left are books that would not be good choices for donation/resale (e.g. very old versions of reference works, books that have been written in extensively, books that handle their subject matter poorly.) What is the best way to responsibly get rid of these? Can we just put them in the recycling?
posted by LSK at 6:42 PM PST - 14 comments

Packing up to head home after a road trip with my cats, and the little one bolted. I have been calling and looking for him for almost 5 hours, I've put food out all over the property. Called the local animal rescue and posted on the local facebook lost pets page. [more inside]
posted by tinymojo at 1:23 PM PST - 24 comments

I have an old Danish chair with a variety of small nicks and discolorations. I want to refinish it, but don’t know exactly how I should go about it. Do I need to actually use a stripper or can I just sand it? [photos and more inside] [more inside]
posted by blueberry at 1:10 PM PST - 18 comments

I’m not interested in famous people or conventional humor, or in the kind of clever one-liners that end up circulating other platforms as screenshots. Think weirder—some combination of surreal, absurd, confusing, and/or vaguely unsettling. @horse_ebooks would be a good example, but I’m looking for accounts that are currently active. What’s out there?
posted by dephlogisticated at 12:37 PM PST - 33 comments

My ten year old daughter has a naturally quiet voice. When she does a presentation, she consistently gets feedback from her classmates and the teacher that she needs to speak up. She's also sometimes hard to understand in loud environments. I'm conflicted. [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 12:22 PM PST - 30 comments

2021 fire season preparation: full face masks edition. COVID-related masks dominate search functions for good reason, but I am building some full face PAPR style respirators for the family in preparation of the smoke-season that is inevitable here out west (if not this year, some summer soon). I can build 90% of what I need, I'm just having trouble sourcing the actual cover-up-your-faceparts portion of the project. I don't run in cosplay or prop-building circles, so there may be resources there that I'm unaware of? Help me source some weird ass helmets and masks. [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 11:46 AM PST - 8 comments

The hair stylist who did my hair years ago for my wedding posted one of the pictures that our photographer took of us on her her recently constructed website without my consent. The website says under construction and she hasn’t responded to my emails. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by Riverside at 10:49 AM PST - 8 comments

I'd like to be able to read books again and watch movies without "multitasking." What techniques for regaining focus have worked for you? [more inside]
posted by Pademelon at 10:08 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm an adult returning to college. I have a part-time job that I intend to keep working while in school. Can I withdraw money from a 529 college savings plan to pay for living expenses even though I have income? US-centric question. [more inside]
posted by mandanza at 8:59 AM PST - 2 comments

My gut says that there is, and I think I may have actually read something about here, on the green, at some point. Thanks
posted by BadgerDoctor at 8:01 AM PST - 12 comments

I get a delivery box every week from one of the national produce services specializing in organic surplus products. This question is about whether I can eat the produce if one of the coolant packages opened and leaked all over the goods, which sat in the liquid for at least 4 days. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 7:17 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for kids' books that are like the Eloise series: fairly long for picture books, relatively complex language for a picture book, hilarious pictures, a distinctive, funny voice in the writing, and a main character who makes choices that are clearly bad and funny to the reader but the character doesn't seem aware of this. Any topic is ok. [more inside]
posted by medusa at 5:42 AM PST - 23 comments

My 10y.o. daughter loves to read, and recently she's been talking about different kinds of narration -- first person, third person, a narrator that has their own personality versus one that just presents the perspective of the main character, etc. I'd love to give her a book at her reading level that has an unreliable narrator. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 5:03 AM PST - 23 comments

I’ve been offered a new job, but the new company isn’t as good as my current one. But there are troubles at my current job which caused me to seek out new opportunities in the first place. I want to talk it over with the current company, but is that the best approach? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:31 AM PST - 7 comments

Does it make sense to seek lower student debt by going through a state school generic MA in Counseling program and then tacking on a post-Master’s art therapy certification, versus going through a private MA in Counseling/Art Therapy program that costs more money but is faster? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:30 AM PST - 8 comments

I think I've been entering the Private Eye crossword competition for years, but have I? [more inside]
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 3:25 AM PST - 5 comments

Winter is coming and I'd like to knit myself a warm and cozy jersey. But I don't know where to start with finding a pattern that would suit me. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 2:59 AM PST - 6 comments

I am on the verge of buying a new M1 iMac, with a base 256Gb of storage. As the Apple storage upgrades are absurdly overpriced, would it be an option to connect an external SSD (via Thunderbolt?) without a loss of performance? [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 12:07 AM PST - 15 comments