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I'm looking for student data management software with very specific capabilities, and I'm having trouble making this work in a spreadsheet or with the existing databases I have tried. Can anyone help point me in a direction? [more inside]
posted by al_fresco at 10:18 PM PST - 3 comments

I think I'm trying to do some kind of thermal mass calculation. But I'm not even sure how to approach the equations. [more inside]
posted by bartleby at 10:14 PM PST - 12 comments

Since as far back as I can remember, I have been plagued by an intense, pervasive fear of experiencing brutal retaliation following any form of confrontation, regardless of its severity. Specifically, this is the fear of violent home invasion or arson while I sleep. My therapist has told me to meditate, which has not been helpful, but does anyone have any tips and tricks for feeling safer at night, or any anecdotes and/or statistics to help alleviate this fear? [more inside]
posted by oxfordcomma at 7:39 PM PST - 16 comments

Looking for fun ideas for a 5-or-so-day trip with my 8-year-old this summer. We are in Toronto - my hope is to go somewhere within maybe a couple hours flight or less than half-day drive. The kid likes (in more or less descending order): Minecraft, dinosaurs, lego, pokemon, Dog Man, science museums, comics, jokes, movies. We both like wandering around cities. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 6:25 PM PST - 17 comments

How do I best send my condolences to a co-worker when their spouse passed almost 3 months ago? I have a lovely card but have been dithering, procrastinating, overthinking, and genuinely forgetting to write it... now I'm worried it is almost offensively late. [more inside]
posted by Weng at 1:43 PM PST - 26 comments

My company has been hit with layoffs and one coworker has already reached out to ask for endorsements on Linkedin. Should I create an account? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:07 PM PST - 10 comments

I recently got pulled into unhelpful online circles that are very anti-medicine in all its forms: anti-treatment, anti-therapy, anti-medication, and anti-recovery. I understand and respect people’s own personal distrust and experiences of harm within these institutions, but this type of content is starting to make me distrust my doctor, my skilled therapist, and mainstream resources around modern medicine and mental illness. Ideas on getting out of this headspace? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:07 PM PST - 20 comments

What are some of the most misused English words/terms which could potentially lead to serious consequences, even death?
posted by amfgf at 12:39 PM PST - 34 comments

I have bits of this ad stuck in my head, I think it was some chain restaurant (a la Denny's), featuring a chef singing a version of "Toreador" about their new breakfast (sandwich?) as he prepares it. [more inside]
posted by bjrubble at 12:08 PM PST - 4 comments

My friend taught high school Latin but got overwhelmed with the public school stress. She's now in graduate school to become an art therapist. She's been staying home with their small children. Her husband lost his job (not my place to ask) and I'm trying to help her brainstorm ideas for income.I'm hoping the hive mind here can think of some specific suggestions rather than general things like "try tutoring." She lives in Salem, VA.
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:01 PM PST - 6 comments

Trying to remember a sci-fi story I read decades ago about a man trying to resolve some issue (with tech support?) but is thwarted by the automated system. [more inside]
posted by justkevin at 11:53 AM PST - 5 comments

What are some healthy tasty drinks for a toddler who doesn't like milk? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:45 AM PST - 24 comments

How can I stop my Macbook Pro opening loads of apps all by itself when its lid is shut? [more inside]
posted by anadem at 11:15 AM PST - 10 comments

I am planning a trip by train later this summer, and am looking for some advice about doing it solo as an ambulatory wheelchair user. [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 11:02 AM PST - 8 comments

Planning a road trip for mid-June over the course of a long weekend. Where to go? What to see? Where to stay? What to watch out for? [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 9:50 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a new hire who is earnest and hardworking but is just not picking up what I'm putting down when I walk through processes and concepts with him. Can you recommend resources for me to learn to teach better/differently? [more inside]
posted by mosst at 8:42 AM PST - 12 comments

What song is the band playing in Transatlantic episode 3 ("The Wilderness") during the party, from about 33:10 to 33:50? Here's a recording. [more inside]
posted by jedicus at 8:28 AM PST - 2 comments

Project managers of MeFi, I need your help. I'm taking on a new client with several complex projects and need to find a simple and easy way to track my tasks and hours for each individual project or assignment. Normally this isn't an issue for me, but there are some complicating factors and I feel overwhelmed - more details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 8:17 AM PST - 6 comments

Can this track lighting fixture use this IKEA LED bulb? Neither one has been ordered yet. [more inside]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:59 AM PST - 8 comments

Sebastian Lee, played by Thomas Chaanhing, is a single episode character on Transatlantic. He is portrayed as a filmmaker but I cannot find him in real life. Any idea who he was or who the character is based on?
posted by donpardo at 6:50 AM PST - 4 comments

I am looking for a portable music player / mp3 player without internet connection. As the Last Ask is from 2018, I hope it is okay. I do not use Spotify etc and will end my YouTube music subscription. I hate those unsolicited suggestions i get by using YouTube music in my phone with a passion. [more inside]
posted by 15L06 at 6:30 AM PST - 24 comments

I bought a Schwinn IC4 stationary bike and signed up for Zwift. Any tips on getting the most out of Zwift? One question I have: since the Schwinn has a manual resistance knob, how do I know when to adjust this when I'm using Zwift?
posted by GernBlandston at 6:04 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm mystified by the idea that people would spend a significant amount of time playing a video game, ostensibly for fun, that promises sadness and misery. I regularly see comments from users that a game "wrecked" them, made them re-experience past grief or sadness, etc., and it makes no sense to me: what is the pleasure in feeling bad in a game? I'm familiar with the idea that games can and should provide different kinds of experiences and have goals much different from AAA-fests. [more inside]
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:56 AM PST - 19 comments

I love the look of Japanese brands such as Ank Rouge and Axes Femme. Living in the UK, though, means I have to import the clothes which is expensive and not at all eco-friendly. Are there any brands local to me which produce and sell similar clothes? [more inside]
posted by wandering zinnia at 3:23 AM PST - 6 comments

The 1985 Activision title Little Computer People generated a unique, immutable name for the Sims-like character it shipped with. I have always wondered what all the possible names and traits were. There are references online to drawing from a "list of 256 names." Has this list been published?
posted by johngoren at 2:19 AM PST - 1 comment

I have about eight hours between checkout in my hotel and my bus. I have spent a week in Asheville, and have done almost everything I could in town, I think. I don't drive so I can't do a day trip out of town. Any thoughts about how to kill eight hours (from noon to ten) tomorrow, in town?
posted by PinkMoose at 8:57 PM PST - 13 comments

I commute on foot and my purse-ish backpack is not cutting it. I need a proper ergonomic bag. Of course I have some snowflake details... [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 7:04 PM PST - 18 comments

Hi all, I am a junior graduate student scholar entering a master's programme in international development in the fall, and I have like three papers that have the potential to be published but need a lot of revision and then I have four other papers I want to get started on top of that this summer and fall, but I wonder if this might be too much to tackle. What are some ways to manage my time wisely and tackle all of this with good time management? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 4:40 PM PST - 21 comments

My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon in Door County 10 years ago. In July, we're taking our 7 and 6 year old kids (plus my parents, brother, sister in law, and their few months old kid) up there to show them the sights. We have some spots in mind like Al Johnson's, cherry picking, and a fish boil that we fondly remember, but what would be your suggestions for either family friendly things or new things from the last 10 years? (Admittedly I'm sure we will also have kid free time, so other suggestions are appreciated.)
posted by RyanAdams at 3:56 PM PST - 6 comments

Crew-cut human space explorers land on a planet and discover nothing but a lot of very cute, friendly dogs — some of whom the humans adopt. At some point, one of the space explorers realizes that canine cuteness and friendliness might be a sophisticated evolutionary strategy to get humans to take care of canine needs. One of the dogs intercepts this thought and successfully plots to kill the human who has discovered the canine plot. The end.
posted by PaulVario at 3:56 PM PST - 1 comment

I am having keyhole meniscus repair surgery in a couple of weeks, have never had a general anaesthetic or any kind of surgery before. I live on my own in a fairly inconvenient house and am quite solitary. Help me prepare to get through the recovery process and manage my anxiety. [more inside]
posted by ElasticParrot at 1:55 PM PST - 21 comments

Every teacher I know is dealing with an avalanche of essays written by ChatGPT or Grammarly. There are lots of ways to detect cheating and redesign assignments to make it harder, but beyond just punishment and deterrence, it would be nice to convince students that doing your own writing, thinking your own thoughts, has value and is worth doing! Please recommend me some articles that teachers could assign that address this issue in the context of AI.
posted by Beardman at 1:46 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for a list and related reading about colleges, universities and community colleges which are currently going through big shake ups due to primarily right wing Board takeovers. I know about North Idaho College and New College in Florida. I suspect there are quite a few more. Is anyone tracking them? TIA! [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:47 PM PST - 4 comments

We have a couple historic apple trees on our property, have to be at least 100 years old and they are probably not going to survive another 10 years. I would like to preserve and replant some of the same species - is this something I can do with an arborist or seedling center, bring some seeds/apples/etc and pay to have them grown to a state they can be planted in? And is there any particular course of action best taken here?
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:13 PM PST - 13 comments

We kind of blew it and didn't shop or pre-plan any birthday gifts for my college age daughter! Aside from gift certificates and Door Dash, what can I send her that is a physical gift that will arrive by Saturday? [more inside]
posted by hellochula at 12:02 PM PST - 15 comments

Main culture note: test / brain scan or something that automatically places everyone in their perfect career - with a very few exceptions; and the story had a happy ending. This was a short story, probably at least 15-ish years ago, possibly in an Asimov mag, "Best Science Fiction of" year collection, other magazine, online... I have no idea. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:52 AM PST - 17 comments

I’ve been gradually tapering off my SSRI and over the past month have been waking up several times per week with panic attacks. Help? [more inside]
posted by Maarika at 10:48 AM PST - 8 comments

We're investigating rooftop solar panels. Our roof is not new, but not in immediate need of replacement. What's the right calll in this situtation? [more inside]
posted by pullayup at 10:34 AM PST - 9 comments

This is a fairly recent movie, and I watched it somewhere in the past 5 years. It's nothing to do with the "Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" series, and it's not an Emir Kusturica movie. I'm pretty sure it was subtitled, and takes place in Eastern / Central Europe. Details I remember inside. [more inside]
posted by snarfois at 9:10 AM PST - 7 comments

I just watched all of High Desert on Apple TV+ and in Episode 2, the protagonist's friend Carol is wearing a dress that I would love to find. Official photo here. Pics from my tv here, here, and here. [more inside]
posted by 41swans at 8:53 AM PST - 8 comments

I like reading in Brooklyn parks, but I don't like reading on park benches or on the ground and I don't want to drag my own chair around. What parks have the comfy seating? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 8:46 AM PST - 11 comments

I am on paternity leave. This will involve a lot of hanging out with web 6.0. I really enjoy the New Yorker poetry podcast and would like to find something similar to listen to - but I will have a LOT of time: [more inside]
posted by web5.0 at 7:08 AM PST - 9 comments

Lorrie Moore has a novel coming out in I think June. I would really like to get my battered copy of Birds of America that I've read a thousand times signed if she does a book tour but do established writers well into their careers even do that? If so, how do I find out where/when?
posted by less-of-course at 5:22 AM PST - 7 comments

Is there any way to improve a mediocre fig? [more inside]
posted by tavegyl at 3:37 AM PST - 7 comments

9 year old recently proclaimed "Castle Hangnail" by Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher to be the best book ever. With tears in her eyes and bouncing up and down at the same time. It wwas soooooo emotionally satisfying. Excluding other books by the same author, how can we top this? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 2:18 AM PST - 18 comments

My darling spouse had a scan or photo of a photo from her childhood that meant a lot to her, but unfortunately the only copy of it I can find is on her Facebook, and it's literally a thumbnail, 113x114 pixels. What with the internet and AI and all, is there a utility I can upload the thumbnail to that will enlarge & 'fill in' the image, creating a copy that is of appropriate size and resolution for printing? [more inside]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:31 AM PST - 12 comments

I don't have any knowledge of Japanese, is there anyone who could tell me what month/day (I think this magazine was weekly) this 1974 issue of An-An (Elle Japon) is from?
posted by VirginiaPlain at 8:16 PM PST - 7 comments

Can you help me set up my Google Nest cam at my new address because trying to follow instructions on the web is MAKING ME BANANAS! [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 8:03 PM PST - 6 comments

My teen wants some food-centered activities for their birthday, but we've got an attendee who has an eating disorder. We'll be making individual pizzas and baking cookies. What additional food options would be good to have available? The friend is also eating gluten free. [more inside]
posted by Eolienne at 7:15 PM PST - 12 comments

I need blackout curtains that totally darken my bedroom. They do not need to be noise-reducing. [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 6:39 PM PST - 9 comments

I'll be traveling to Maui for the first time this summer. I want to see the sunrise at Haleakala but I'd prefer to go with a tour bus or shuttle. Any recs? [more inside]
posted by johnxlibris at 5:31 PM PST - 2 comments

Considering buying Hooked on Phonics for a 5 y/o and having a hard time choosing between the books and the app. [more inside]
posted by beyond_pink at 3:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I wanted a recipe for easy casserole style green chili enchiladas that was as low in saturated fat as I could reasonably make it. I came up with the recipe which follows at the end. Please help me pimp it! [more inside]
posted by Rad_Boy at 3:14 PM PST - 15 comments

I have what some of my friends call a "dream job": I get paid a fair amount of money to show up and be available, but have very little work during the day. However, job is also a complete dead end: despite glowing performance reviews every year, I keep getting passed up, not only for opportunities for more responsibility, but for extra work that falls within my current job description. Do I stay long enough to finish the masters my job is paying 50% of, or leave as soon as I can find something more promising? [more inside]
posted by bridgebury at 11:10 AM PST - 22 comments

I need a phone for my 10 year old that is compatible with Dexcom g6 (app for BG monitoring for type 1 diabetes), with other needs inside. [more inside]
posted by Ideal Impulse at 9:52 AM PST - 5 comments

A friend busted his phone screen and came to me since I'm supposedly the technical one. I told him I'd give it a shot, but I'm getting nowhere with it at all. [more inside]
posted by cmm at 9:40 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm making some replacement screen windows for my basement, which has been a fun learning process. The one thing I'm hung up on is getting replacement window latches. They're like bowtie latches, but the right hand side of it is ~1/3 - 1/2" offset from the other to fit over the window frame. [more inside]
posted by Kyol at 9:28 AM PST - 4 comments

YANMD. But I need some advice. I think I have finally figured out why I’ve been having so many asthma flare-ups over the past three years. But which doctor should I enlist to help me address this issue? [more inside]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 8:27 AM PST - 6 comments

I want a bike! I have not had a bike since I was a kid. I'm going to go to my local bike co-op for advice, but I process info best by reading things on my own time, so I'd like to do some reading ahead of time. Hit me up with "how to choose a bike for dummies" resources, please and thank you. [more inside]
posted by the primroses were over at 5:37 AM PST - 24 comments

I’m a fairly new manager. My team is great, except for one. He is smart but is clearly spending most of his time not working and it’s painfully obvious to everyone who works with him except my own manager. I’ve been supportive but I think it’s time to take off the kid gloves. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 4:58 AM PST - 31 comments

This is a handwritten note that accompanies a mycological exsiccata in the herbarium at Vienna. The first line reads "Aseroe [or Ascroe] rubra Labill" a Tasmanian species of fungi. The second line begins "from" - but how does it continue? [more inside]
posted by progosk at 1:51 AM PST - 13 comments

That burner will be red hot in about seven minutes. Thick bottom, big honkin' pan. I know to sear it, both sides, and then cook it in ???? for an hour, give or take. I'm thinking a can of tomatoes. 30 minutes in, chop up an onion. I've got this really great great salsa (medium -- why won't they stock hot? And I don't have even one jalapeño. Dang...) Broccoli and some almonds at the end of the show. What else? An egg? Do tell.
posted by dancestoblue at 9:17 PM PST - 13 comments

Looking for fish-or vegetarian-focused restaurant recommendations in Philadelphia or Delco PA. Along the lines of Little Fish wrt quality and price level, but open on weekends (or at least taking reservations on weekends) to help celebrate at 70th birthday. Thanks for any tips!
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:34 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm into a thing on Poshmark (it's so hard to find good stuff in my size, Poshmark has quite a hold on me). The seller says it only smells like "Fresh Linen" because that's the scent she washes her clothes in; it turns out she uses Dryel at-home dry cleaning stuff. Will I be able to get the scent out with regular dry cleaning? Amazon reviews are...not promising (I don't trust the "not that bad" / "smells nice" crowd, sorry.)
posted by amtho at 8:17 PM PST - 12 comments

My husband has been using a Samsung smart phone, SomeLetter100 I think -- an old phone. He HATES it. I hate it too! I can't even describe why. I use a Google Pixel 2XL and have no problems but even I just can't navigate this phone properly. In addition, he has trouble receiving calls. I called him today and he just couldn't connect. I can't even say more! It's BIZARRE. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:27 PM PST - 14 comments

I took my daughter on a short hike, yesterday, to a kind of urban nature preserve, outside of Boston. At the summit, we came across a group of five people: a man and woman in their 30s, an older couple, and a woman speaking to the group loudly in Portuguese. At one point the younger man was on his hands and knees in the grass. The younger woman may have been pregnant? [more inside]
posted by summerteeth at 5:22 PM PST - 9 comments

I downloaded tickets to Hamilton on to Google Wallet. It is my first time using it. Nothing shows up. I need to leave for the show in about 45 minutes. Help!
posted by NotLost at 4:18 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for an attractive refrigerator that's on the smaller side but has a larger proportion dedicated to freezer space. I've seen great deals on high end Samsung kimchi fridges and supposedly the temperature controls allow some compartments to switch from fridge to freezer temp. Do most Korean households use them for all their refrigerated foods or just fermented stuff? Is there any downside to adapting these to what a typical Western household would freeze/ refrigerate?
posted by genmonster at 3:12 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a video of a lizard. The lizard matches its environment very well making it difficult for predators and algorithms to distinguish it from the background. [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 2:55 PM PST - 3 comments

The display of time/date/temp/% of charge that for two years has always been at the top middle of my home screen (after login) suddenly disappeared yesterday. All the normal icons are there, but the display is gone. I have fooled around with it for an entire day now and cannot figure out how to get it back. You can see what I'm talking about here. Halp!
posted by Dolley at 2:21 PM PST - 3 comments

So, I just had a dexa scan at age 67. I am a non-smoker (for like the past 40 years), I walk minimum two miles every other day and run (well, jog!) a mile and a half on the other days. I work out 3 days a week with a trainer, mostly light weights and stretching. I'm average weight, didn't have early menopause, and according to the scan, I have osteoporosis. Based on the FRAX calculator, I seem to have about a 10% chance of a fracture. The medications recommended all seem to have unpleasant side effects, with the possible exception of estrogen. Im looking for your personal or anecdotal reports of the pros and cons of taking the meds. Is it overreacting to the possible side effects to decline treatment? Was the treatment worth it to you? THANK YOU for help sussing this out!!
posted by mmf at 2:05 PM PST - 13 comments

I have an iPhone 13. I use it as a GPS for my car (using Google maps). Usually, a while into the trip, the brightness on the screen goes down. My understanding is that this is because the phone gets hot. Is there a way to stop this? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 1:26 PM PST - 4 comments

I just planted black eyed susans, frost aster and sand coreopsis in a sunny bed beside my house. Thirty hours later, the black eyed susans have withered to the ground, one frost aster is wilting and the other has brown spots on the leaves. What is going on? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 8:48 AM PST - 16 comments

I've been Going Through It recently and impulsively booked myself a week-long retreat in the woods. At the time, the idea of being mostly-alone in nature sounded restorative, but I have problems with excessive rumination and I worry that so much unstructured alone time will just make me feel worse. [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 8:26 AM PST - 17 comments

I am doing some research on a provider's network geographical distribution. If my data is for 70 countries and 2,000 servers, how could I best visually display this? The relationship I'm trying to show is the potential even or uneven geographic distribution of servers while also taking in to consideration the fact that the USA would have more servers than a country than the size of Ireland or Hungary. This seems like the least complicated way of controlling for size rather than getting into population, etc.
posted by ascetic at 8:15 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for an online service I can use to make family memento books, like a photo book BUT with full pages of text and ideally data storage in the finished book to store videos. Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by Chausette at 6:22 AM PST - 4 comments

I want to buy a custom dry-erase board clipboard. I bought one for my son on amazon because the amount of paper pile-up with his hobby-writing was insane. It's kind of low quality and despite having bought him white-board cleaner, it stains/shadows a lot and it seems like the stained spots are actually the coating kind of worn off. I would like to buy something of slightly higher quality (i.e. I want to erase cleanly). I there somewhere I can send a line-drawing/writing pdf or whatever of what I want on a whiteboard and someone sends me a whiteboard? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:57 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm an Agatha Christie adaptation addict, who's run out of Agatha Christie adaptations to watch. Please help. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:35 AM PST - 45 comments

How do you handle applying for two jobs at a company when job A closes first, but job B perhaps suits you better? [more inside]
posted by Sockerkaka at 10:20 PM PST - 6 comments

I am a huge admirer of the actress Lesley Manville, and I was wondering if there are any good films and tv series that you recommend of hers? I really liked her in Mum, Magpie Murders, Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris, Phantom Thread, and Another Year. But are there other older and new works of hers to recommend?
posted by RearWindow at 2:01 PM PST - 14 comments

I recently snagged a knockoff Eero Ball Chair on FBM. It's already been painted badly. What type of paint can I use to redo it? [more inside]
posted by Charity Garfein at 1:50 PM PST - 7 comments

Upon my bookshelves, all letters going by author last name are represented except for X. Obviously, this cannot stand. Anyone care to recommend a good author whose last name starts with X?
posted by kyrademon at 1:24 PM PST - 18 comments

My friend's father is slowly sliding into senility and can't keep himself safe from scammers, etc. while using his computer. I've recommended a few things to help my friend make their dad's online activities as safe as possible, but this isn't a situation I have much experience with and I wonder if there may be more/better options. All the online articles I can find are too basic and vague to be much use. I'm looking for specific suggestions. [more inside]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:30 AM PST - 11 comments

About two hours ago I decided to use this carpet refresher powder in an attempt to vanquish the smell of my cat's barf. I applied it rather liberally across a section of my carpet but it made everything smell like an acrid combo of lemon and spearmint so I immediately vacuumed it back up. Now I've got a cough and watery eyes. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by The Adventure Begins at 10:26 AM PST - 7 comments

I think I'm aware that Indian people use the word "pickle" in a much more expansive way than westerners - maybe it really means something more like preserving and not just using pickling salts, vinegar, but also oils, etc? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 9:55 AM PST - 16 comments

Yesterday, a friend brought me homemade lasagna with ricotta and (cooked already) ground beef. We heated it up, but it wasn't fully heated. We were in a hurry due to a birthday party, so I ate some of it (kind of lukewarm) then put it in the refrigerator. It was really good. Is it safe to bake again (this time, to doneness)?
posted by dubious_dude at 8:13 AM PST - 10 comments

A friend has a very old amulet and wants to know its meaning and how to best care for it. [more inside]
posted by aquanet at 7:48 AM PST - 2 comments

Recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis after decades of having plaque psoriasis. If you hav psoriatic arthritis, do you have any day to day, long term, and other advice for me? [more inside]
posted by sciencegeek at 6:20 AM PST - 10 comments

I have an old boombox that's indicating it's operational days may be nearing an end. I'm having trouble finding a replacement - a smallish, internet-independent radio that fits my criteria; they all seem to be poor quality. I didn't think this would be so hard. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by interbeing at 5:59 AM PST - 19 comments

This likely falls into fantasy-land for me, but this is my dream deck. But wouldn't the wood flush with the ground rot? [more inside]
posted by Ollie at 5:19 AM PST - 16 comments

A relative of mine is aging and ailing, and has a lot of anger and fear around it. Finally open to therapy. Seeking recommendations for a great in-person (not zoom) therapist in Boulder, CO (or thereabouts) who is taking new clients. [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 4:22 AM PST - 2 comments

I Love love love(d) my old Otterbox Defender for my iphone 12. however, the charging port protector broke off, and looking at the models now available, it is no longer as rugged a case. Before it was all one hunky protective thick rubber piece—now it comes with a few pieces to fit together. Any suggestions of the best rugged iphone 12 case currently available? I want rugged, water resistant, port covers/plugs. I don’t mind if it is chunky or (to some people) cumbersome as long as it is very protective and sturdy
posted by Lylo at 10:18 PM PST - 1 comment

I know that I physically can, but what should I consider before I do? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:36 PM PST - 39 comments

There are some lovely Buddhist temples in Shanghai and Hangzhou, and there are lots of people praying at them. How did they survive the Cultural Revolution? Considering they are old and religious, one might have thought they'd have been repurposed, or even dismantled.
posted by musofire at 7:51 PM PST - 2 comments

These two illusionists give me a powerfully strong and wonderful old-gay-couple-tired-of-the-others-nonsense vibe. Who are they and how do I see more of their act? (Warning: mechanics of illusions are revealed.)
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:10 PM PST - 2 comments

My Reason for Living just picked up a Waring blender model 51bl25 on Marketplace. The glass container does not seem stable when placed on its base. [more inside]
posted by Floydd at 4:47 PM PST - 4 comments

There's some gossipy chit-chat going on in my circles. I've kept out of it, but now I actually think that might be the morally wrong thing to do. Please help me think through this and plan a (potential) response. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:46 PM PST - 24 comments

I'm looking for videos of real kids (age 4-13) where pairs of children are interacting in authentic ways, having disagreements, and displaying real body language - that can be used to teach children to observe their peers' body language. [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 3:13 PM PST - 8 comments

I’d like to put my estate papers on a storage site like Dropbox or Google Drive (encrypted naturally) so my future executors can access them. Is there any difference in these sites and is one preferred over the others?
posted by jabo at 2:55 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm researching a surname used in a fictional story. I don't see any references to it being used as a person's name, only the name of a place. As a surname, it might be entirely made up, a little made up, or a name I just haven't found elsewhere. Have you heard or seen it (or an alternate spelling) before? [more inside]
posted by mr_bovis at 11:40 AM PST - 7 comments

You or a friend are...alive in 2023, and you decide that a small gift might give a little nudge of happiness to that person. Although the best gifts are usually not objects, sometime you _do_ want to get/give/send a small something. Gift giving is a love language, after all. What specific items would you gift, or want? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:14 AM PST - 33 comments

I played a card game - sort of like golf - called Hanif and I want to confirm the rules. [more inside]
posted by quadrilaterals at 10:53 AM PST - 3 comments

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is hosting the 2023 Psychedelic Science conference in Denver, June 19-23. I have a recreational interest in this field, and I'm looking for potential career changes and just general inspiration. This is the fourth MAPS conference so I'm hoping to hear from someone who has attended in the past what it's like and if it's worth attending? (I'll bring a friend so it won't be lonely!) [more inside]
posted by carlodio at 10:20 AM PST - 5 comments

Facebook's mbasic has stopped working on my phone, all of a sudden about a day ago. It says the website I'm looking at is mbasic.facebook.com, but the interface is the non-basic mobile interface. I deleted cookies, site data, and cached images and files (I haven't tried deleting browser history yet). I tried a different browser (Safari instead of Chrome). The problem persists. I can still use mbasic on my laptop's browser, however. How do I get back to mbasic on my phone?
posted by eviemath at 9:56 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm seeking ideas for pedestrian American items that make good gifts for friends and family abroad. [more inside]
posted by mosst at 8:08 AM PST - 48 comments

I'm interested in ways to keep my eyes busy while I listen to audiobooks/podcasts. Where can I find interesting photos and video (or maybe even games on my phone) that don't involve any words or sounds, which would distract me from the audio I'm listening to? [more inside]
posted by luzdeluna at 7:14 AM PST - 18 comments

In need of small gift ideas to buy in Israel for twenty-something year olds in the Philippines. [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 2:09 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm on the committee of a community hall that frequently gets noise complaints. I'd like to install a clearly visible decibel meter in the premises. Please recommend me the best devices you know of. [more inside]
posted by snarfois at 1:49 AM PST - 4 comments

In the 1889 novel "Three Men in a Boat", Jerome K. Jerome speculates on whether their everyday Victorian goods will be valued antiques in the future. Were they? [more inside]
posted by TheophileEscargot at 1:15 AM PST - 15 comments

partially a follow-up to this question [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 11:33 PM PST - 10 comments

A dear friend is a white trans woman in NYC facing homelessness in 5 weeks. What local non-shelter resources can she take advantage of? Is there a mutual aid group that can help? [more inside]
posted by icosahedron at 9:15 PM PST - 7 comments

How do I (30F) handle my sister (41F) who judges the company I work for? [more inside]
posted by anon1129 at 8:11 PM PST - 36 comments

I am trying to remember a British (?) author who wrote a couple of plot-twist-y thrillers that I read some years ago. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by virve at 6:07 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm curious about the grammar of the underlined part of this sentence from The New Yorker:

In spite of her experiences witnessing protocols fail or be subverted, Easthope still argues strongly for disaster and recovery plans.

Some specific questions inside... [more inside]
posted by aws17576 at 5:33 PM PST - 6 comments

Our Westie died of pulmonary fibrosis about six weeks ago and we are sadly dogless. But we have a very good chance of acquiring another retired show Westie and everything looks good (although we have not yet met this dog) except for the name, which we really don't like. Can you help us come up with a new name? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 5:25 PM PST - 22 comments

Short question: Is Grammarly changing the way people write in English? Long question inside: [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 5:08 PM PST - 14 comments

A friend of mine has a wall of autographed photos from opera singers, some of whom stopped singing before his birth, but he wrote to them and got them. With active singers, I believe you contact their artist manager. With someone who is in her 90s and presumably has no manager, is there a way to do this? I have missed getting the autographs of some singers I loved who died and the one or two I have are nice keepsakes. (I could go on ebay or something but the thrilling thing with my friend's little collection is thinking: you had Madame X actually write this for you. Be they ever so stupid, that few seconds of connection would seem to be the charm of autographs.)
posted by less-of-course at 4:44 PM PST - 2 comments

I know that an email message is always larger than what you'd think it would be given the amount of text and the size of the attachment. But why are they so bloated and bulked up? [more inside]
posted by sardonyx at 3:09 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm very curious about how to go about finding a new car that is actually manufactured for the non-US market and bring it to the U.S. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 3:03 PM PST - 11 comments

I want to emulate the effects of a CRT television (scanlines, a bit of a glow, curved corners) when watching files on my MacBook. Is there a Mac OS video player that supports GPU shaders in the same manner that video game emulators do? Or, if not specifically a video player, an overlay like the Windows program ShaderGlass? [more inside]
posted by kaisemic at 1:23 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a not super tech savvy acquaintance who occasionally gets tripped up by malicious websites. They asked me to recommend a "security system." Is there anything that will actually work in this case? [more inside]
posted by pullayup at 1:20 PM PST - 10 comments

After getting back from Iraq and facing regular exposure to burn pits, a good friend and battle buddy continues facing long-term unresolved skin conditions on his face. [more inside]
posted by Mike Mongo at 1:11 PM PST - 6 comments

I went through a period of reading books with strong winter vibes and those books were easy for me to find. Now I want books with summer vibes, but I’m having a harder time finding what I want. [more inside]
posted by scantee at 1:02 PM PST - 37 comments

I am in the process of interviewing for a job as a heart transplant social worker and am invited to a virtual "meet and greet" with the surgeons tomorrow. I've been advised that I should convey my understanding of the hospital hierarchy in those conversations and would appreciate any insight on that topic—or anything else that comes to mind! [more inside]
posted by pgoat at 12:05 PM PST - 9 comments

I just became eligible for much cheaper health insurance so we can stop using my husband's expensive work plan (or can we?) (US-based, in case not obvious) [more inside]
posted by Tandem Affinity at 11:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Sometimes I need to print a long PDF. Fifty to a hundred pages. Occasionally more. The result is a pile of paper that instantly explodes all over tarnation. How can I bind the pages together As One? [more inside]
posted by trevor_case at 11:34 AM PST - 16 comments

So this summer, I will be attending my first wedding since covid, and I have also happened to gain a bit of weight during covid, meaning none of my dresses fit. I am not at all fashionable in my daily life but for Reasons, I would like to look nice and feel confident at this wedding, but I've never bought a dress for my body as it is right now. More below... [more inside]
posted by madonna of the unloved at 10:54 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm currently stuck at home and hating my office chair even more than usual. Please recommend a chair that I can order online. Are you 5'5"-ish, stout, and into good back support and a kinda sturdy-feeling chair? Rec me, my friends. Short list of additional preferences below the cut: [more inside]
posted by TwoStride at 10:25 AM PST - 19 comments

My relationship with my partner (together for 3 years, long-distance for 1) has been struggling recently. My partner has asked that we separate while they work on some of their own issues. But, they would still like to remain in contact as close friends. I am having a really hard time with this (both the idea of staying in contact but not in the way I want, or going no-contact and cutting off that connection completely, potentially forever). [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 9:57 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm trying to find a job that allows me to work 9-3PM with no evenings or weekends in order to be with my kids (5, 11, and 15) during summer and after school. What roles should I be considering, and how should I find them? Right now, I work part-time in a public library and need to work until 5PM one day, until 9PM another day, and a full weekend day twice a month. [more inside]
posted by percor at 9:46 AM PST - 9 comments

Kind of a tricky one. For my recent hospital surgery (to help remove colon cancer), my insurance, Kaiser (HMO) is the main insurance covering my stay there. However, I also have Medicare (hospital insurance, part A only) still active from the time I had SSDI temporarily about 7 years ago. Medicare is listed on the hospital insurance website. Should I remove it? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 9:28 AM PST - 7 comments

Who sings "Watch Me" in this series finale trailer for "This is Us?" I have not been able to find and credits for the trailer and Shazam has nothing. There were two other versions of the song used during the series. My gut tells me it was something Mandy Moore recorded for the show and was never published. Any ideas?
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 7:30 AM PST - 1 comment

specifics within, but the tldr is I want to find some books (or other media: textbooks, videos, essays, whatever) that can hone how I think about criticism, especially of anime. ultimately I care most about the quality of analysis and writing, but an anime focus is a huge plus [more inside]
posted by wooh at 6:51 AM PST - 4 comments

Asking for my sister. She has tried thermocoagulation (Veinwave) treatment for rosacea, but it hasn't helped. The last question about what works for rosacea is from 2012, so I thought it was worth asking again. What has helped you?
posted by paduasoy at 6:22 AM PST - 19 comments

Trigger warning: SIDS question. [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 5:47 AM PST - 10 comments

We have what should be a pretty fearsome combi boiler, that puts out a pitiful amount of hot water. I'm fairly confident I'll need to phone a plumber in the end, but is there anything I can check myself first before doing so? [more inside]
posted by dudekiller at 4:35 AM PST - 8 comments

My grandmother's funeral is coming up and I don't feel like I will be able to attend it. [more inside]
posted by chiorlemas at 1:29 AM PST - 26 comments

I have two Android phones that I've used, at different (non-overlapping) times. How can I transfer everything from one to the other? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 8:18 PM PST - 2 comments

You are not my lawyer; this is not legal advice. I like to annoy local transphobes on Facebook, so when one posted something else to stir the pot, I responded by donating to an LGBTQ+ PAC and a charity in his honor. I posted that I’d done so along with screen shots. He quickly told me to remove the post or I’d be hearing from his lawyer. [more inside]
posted by ferociouskitty at 5:45 PM PST - 25 comments

We need a temporary vehicle due to car repairs for up to 3 months or possibly more. Insurance will pay for one month. Traditional car rental long term looks prohibitively expensive. What do people do in these situations? Are car subscription services a good idea? (I saw a previous question but it was posted during the height of the pandemic so I figured there might be different information) [more inside]
posted by eleanna at 5:14 PM PST - 9 comments

What do you do when heat bothers you more than usual? I have to spend some time outside this summer due to commuting and I temporarily am very sensitive to heat - looking for beat the heat tips. [more inside]
posted by eleanna at 4:56 PM PST - 15 comments

My feet hate shoes. My Achilles tendons are displeased with life in general right now and need some rest. Please help me find shoes that my feet will tolerate but will give my Achilles some respite. [more inside]
posted by tentacle at 4:42 PM PST - 18 comments

Asking for a friend who lives in an apartment in New York City. She has an upstairs neighbor who "has for some months been placing her bass subwoofer loudspeaker against her bedroom floor (my bedroom ceiling) and playing random jolts of low bass sound at irregular intervals through almost every night." [more inside]
posted by beagle at 3:15 PM PST - 14 comments

As part of a project a graduate student I work with created an interactive online training course using Rise 360. We tested it out and people like it and want to use it. We will be out of funding in July so our Rise/Articulate subscription will run out fairly soon. Now what? [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 2:49 PM PST - 4 comments

Help me find a therapist. Here are the deets: helpful if they're in Massachusetts and accept Blue Cross. Teletherapy is a must. Really, really want someone who has experience with parents of people with special needs. What I've already tried in the... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:29 PM PST - 10 comments

I usually do my taxes, and have for many years. This year the form came up that I owed $1300 and change. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:26 PM PST - 16 comments

There is a domestic abuser in my (perhaps soon to be former) community in a leadership position. I tried alerting mutuals, I tried going discreetly to women on what amounts to an oversight board. Nobody seems to be taking this seriously. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by JaneTheGood at 11:38 AM PST - 22 comments

As the title says! We are in an upstairs condo and our downstairs neighbor has very sweetly and kindly explained that they've been hearing loud noise at all hours of the day. Through some investigation we found out it happens whenever we run hot water - from any sink, shower, washing machine, etc. We're going to make an appointment with a plumber, but any thoughts on what may be happening in the meantime? [more inside]
posted by It Was Capitalism All Along at 11:05 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm 42. Starting 5 or 6 years ago, I noticed a strange phenomenon. When I see violence I have a physiological reaction. This definitely didn't use to happen. I feel what I can best describe as an involuntary light, fluttering feeling in my... well, my glutes, or adductors? In the back of my legs, around my butt. I don't know what this is, but for whatever reason my brain associates it with "feeling faint" - but is that what it is? What's going on? [more inside]
posted by kbanas at 10:31 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for a standalone hardware gadget that can play music from a local network server via DAAP or MPD. This will replace a dying Roku M1000. Not interested in a phone app or a player that runs on a desktop computer. Apple-phobic. [more inside]
posted by sourcequench at 9:34 AM PST - 4 comments

Hi, this Friday, the 26th, I need a car or taxi (not train or transport) from ORLY to Montmiral. Is there a service or a driver you could recommend please?
posted by fake at 8:35 AM PST - 8 comments

I want to add to my matchbook souvenir collection during an upcoming trip to Japan. Do you know places that hand out branded matchbooks in the Tokyo/Kyoto/Ishikawa or Toyama region?
posted by schamper at 7:55 AM PST - 2 comments

I recently attended a reception that featured a buffet table with appetizers, including dates stuffed with peanut butter. The stuffed dates were accompanied by a small bowl of strawberry jam, and you could spoon some of the jam on top of the date before you ate it. This appetizer was totally delicious, and I consumed like a dozen of them. I want to duplicate this item at home. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 7:54 AM PST - 15 comments

Our front-loading washing machine lives in our kitchen, which has an old, uneven tiled floor. We don't want to retile the whole floor-- but the unevenness of the floor makes it hard to keep the washer level. What's the cheapest, simplest way to level the area under the washing machine? [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 6:47 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm 51 (AFAB) and for the last year or so I've become increasingly sore, especially tendons. Not joints, so much, but my Achilles tendons, the tendons down my arms, my shoulders, all over my body. I've read that this can be to do with a drop in oestrogen levels? But what can I do about it? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 6:21 AM PST - 10 comments

My sister is driving NC > VA > MD > DE > NJ > NY > CT > RI > MA > NH > ME > NH > VT > NY > NJ > PA > VA > NC this summer. What EZ pass should she get? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 5:59 AM PST - 11 comments

I would like to open the windows in my basement, but can't reach the handles. Does a tool exist to help with this? [more inside]
posted by Sublimity at 3:11 AM PST - 3 comments

I have written a poem which copies a famous one fairly closely but changes the subject matter and doesn’t follow the original strictly in form. What’s the best approach to acknowledging the debt? [more inside]
posted by Phanx at 1:45 AM PST - 14 comments

I've been with my partner in a LDR for about 1.5 years. Nothing whatsoever about his appearance has changed since then. But I feel less physically drawn to him. I'm trying to figure out if this is temporary or likely to be more long-lasting, so that I can make the best decision re the relationship. [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 10:52 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm interested in pursuing voice therapy for the effects of GERD and other problems. What sort of specialist do I need, and how can I get therapy covered by insurance? [more inside]
posted by Comet Bug at 10:06 PM PST - 5 comments

I dated someone briefly, but the timing wasn't right. Can I reconnect? [more inside]
posted by treetop89 at 9:23 PM PST - 13 comments

Please help my dad remember a novel or story, probably by A. E. van Vogt, in which a ship flies into a person’s ear. [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 8:29 PM PST - 7 comments

my kid and I both have low iron ("ferritin", specifically) levels and need to raise them, but have had trouble with supplements causing constipation. Do you know of an iron supplement that doesn't cause constipation? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:59 PM PST - 17 comments

I left two pounds of dried apricots in a metal mailbox for two days in eighty-degree heat. They were sealed in plastic. When I retrieved them it was like holding a radiating heat pack. It's dried fruit; it's gotta be ok to eat, right? Right? They went into the freezer.
posted by zeek321 at 6:42 PM PST - 5 comments

I started to go to therapy for the first time back in February to specifically deal with cumulative grief, years after I probably should have. Right when I started though I had pressing, overlapping crises and have used the sessions to talk about that. But now it's time to do the therapy (EMDR) on the original issues and... I'm not ready anymore, I'm sure I'll never be ready, but it needs to be done, and it starts Friday. So how do I do this? [more inside]
posted by reader at 4:36 PM PST - 11 comments

My boyfriend and I recently went to a country western bar and took the complimentary “nothing but the basics” two step dance lesson. We got really hooked and went out dancing a bunch of times that week. We’re interested in taking lessons, but not sure where to look. Country western was really fun, but we’d be interested in related styles as well. [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 4:27 PM PST - 9 comments

I need a new formal handbag. I have one I like, but it is a cheap knock-off and I want something good quality. Here's the one I have, with a post-it pad for scale. Ideally, I'd like the original, but I don't even know what that is. [more inside]
posted by papergirl at 4:07 PM PST - 11 comments

Hi. I am in my early thirties and I live in a small kind of city and I only have one friend here and she is going back home to visit her family for the summer and then I will have no friends in my city which saddens me. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 3:46 PM PST - 11 comments

I need short text message responses to my father who is unable to deal with not 100% knowing whether my manic mother is taking her new meds (we can't know). I need him off my back temporarily. We are estranged, he has a "fragile" ego, and when he gets an idea in his head HE DOES NOT STOP no matter how unrealistic it is. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 2:00 PM PST - 16 comments

My dermatologist suggested a chemical peel for my stubborn forehead melasma. What can I expect? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 1:26 PM PST - 7 comments

My friend has gotten a tattoo with somewhat disturbing implications, and seems non the wiser about it. I worry that the visibility of it might cause issues for her should others recognize what it is. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:10 PM PST - 62 comments

I miss the comprehensive listings for film, art, events, etc. Even if you can’t direct me to a NOW replacement, can you tell me where to find a weekly (online) listing for each of— film, art openings, concerts , etc?
posted by uans at 12:50 PM PST - 3 comments

where should one buy decent American made shirts for starting their very small business of hand printed art shirts? [more inside]
posted by wellifyouinsist at 12:03 PM PST - 6 comments

Just wondering how things are going with anyone taking the various treatments for this condition (hormonal, surgical, tranexamic acid) and the pros and cons of each, from the perspective of the person experiencing the treatment.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:04 AM PST - 4 comments

This image is an AI upscale of a texture used in a game called Thief: The Darkness Project (1998). I'm trying to identify the original artist. Wikipedia identifies the game's artist as Mark Lizotte, also the name of a well-known musician, which makes search muddy. Note: contains scantily-clad people, but no outright nudity. Gives me Vallejo and Bell vibes, but not quite. Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Thanks!
posted by moonmoth at 10:19 AM PST - 4 comments

I am a recently naturalized US citizen who may need to travel outside of the US on extremely short notice due to family events. I have a certificate of naturalization and a passport for my home country but not yet a US passport. What is my best course of action? [more inside]
posted by Artw at 9:32 AM PST - 28 comments

My new coworker keeps doing SOMETHING (but we have no idea what) that makes a small ghostly image appear on one of his monitors. [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline at 8:07 AM PST - 8 comments

I've noticed for the past couple of years a pattern in our utility bills. Our water usage goes way, way up (double or more) in the cold weather months (December through March). Our daily habits don't change much as far as I can tell. Certainly not enough to explain such a drastic increase in use. My initial thought is it must be linked to our (gas) furnace, but I am not sure why it would be using water like this. There is a humidifier attached to the furnace, but I had turned the line to it off this year and our usage still went up. Watching the meter, I don't see any evidence of a leak. If there's not running water in the house, I don't see the meter move. This is in southwestern Ontario, Canada.
posted by synecdoche at 8:00 AM PST - 24 comments

I have a business IG account and a shop. Only my shop link doesn’t appear on my profile, and I can’t figure out how to manage the inventory. I’ve read tutorials which turned out to be updated, and I’ve tried going through FB’s commerce center and Meta Business app, all without luck. I need to remove some items and add more. Anyone know or have up to date instructions? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:49 AM PST - 1 comment

We (mid-40s couple, no kids) are headed to Minneapolis mid-June. It's essentially a first-time visit for us. For folks who live in the Twin Cities or are familiar with the area, what are the top things to do that you like to recommend to out-of-towners? [more inside]
posted by DavidNYC at 7:42 AM PST - 13 comments

It's time to replace my 20-year-old panniers. I have seen the previous questions about panniers but have some specific needs and would like personal experiences/recommendations. [more inside]
posted by misskaz at 7:39 AM PST - 24 comments

XD is Adobe's application for web design and prototyping. It's their competitor to Sketch and Figma (until they bought Figma last year). Perhaps as a result of the Figma acquisition, XD appears to have been scrubbed from Adobe's website. However, I need to install it in order to open XD files. But even though I have a valid Creative Cloud subscription, XD doesn't appear in CC's list of apps to install. Anyone know a workaround?
posted by snarfois at 7:28 AM PST - 5 comments

I recently found out that “Are You Lonesome Tonight” entered the public domain, which got me wondering: which songs did Elvis Presley record that are now PD? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:07 AM PST - 11 comments

I am someone who is very externally motivated, that is, great at meeting commitments and deadlines imposed by others. For example, I would have to be pretty much dead to cancel an appointment with, say, a personal trainer or a therapist. If a paper or work project is due on x date, it will be delivered on that date. But if it’s just me, alone, doing a thing whether it’s education, work, exercise, cooking for myself, pretty much anything that’s even the most minimal effort, even when I really enjoy it? I find it much much harder to stick with it consistently. Are you someone who does things consistently by yourself? How?! [more inside]
posted by t0astie at 2:15 AM PST - 21 comments

"The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones will be available to stream on Disney+ on May 31, 2023. This release marks the first time the series has been officially available from Lucasfilm in 15 years." However... [more inside]
posted by kirkaracha at 10:45 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a Contigo Autoseal stainless steel bottle I like because I can use it one-handed, but it doesn't have a straw, which would be so convenient. I only drink water with fresh-squeezed lemon in it, so I don't care about flavors transferring. I do like my water to keep cool. Size-wise, 20 oz or a little over is my sweet spot.
posted by Dragonness at 7:39 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a whirlpool ventless dryer. When the water tank fills up with water, what is the water quality? Could I drink it? Water my plants with it? Fill the dog water dish with it? I don’t use any fabric softener except for the occasional glug or two of white vinegar. Is it pure evaporated water? It feels silly to pour the whole tank of water down the drain.
posted by Grandysaur at 7:29 PM PST - 8 comments

This is dumb, but I had a single song lyric pop into my head with no other information, and so I can’t remember anything else about the song. The lyric is “graduated from the u-n-i-versity”. This is not enough of a fragment to google. It’s probably some sort of hip hop. If you’ve heard the song, please remind me of the title and artist.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:11 PM PST - 3 comments

I thought this question was super complicated but maybe it isn't. My relative wrote and published a book in another language, and now wants to publish in the USA. They paid for a translation, and the translated draft is clunky. Can someone be paid to make it easy to read? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:45 PM PST - 15 comments

My mom didn't like being a mom, and it's a mental block in my own path to motherhood. (I am not pregnant but am considering it within the next 1-2 years.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:53 PM PST - 36 comments

I want to, with optimism, end a subscription to cloud-based Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic. But I called their help line, and I was told that I would my photographs if I do that. I can't believe that this could be true. Here's my situation..... [more inside]
posted by swlabr at 2:49 PM PST - 8 comments

What is this port on the back of my Vitamix blender? [more inside]
posted by Joleta at 2:00 PM PST - 4 comments

We have a print shop as part of our organization and are looking at Onyx Raster Image Processing software which requires admin privileges to run. Support claims it's not possible to make their software function without requiring admin. From my incomplete understanding of software development and what this software does and how Windows operates, this is bullshit and just lazy development. Am I wrong? [more inside]
posted by MrBobaFett at 1:53 PM PST - 9 comments

The New York Times has a recent piece that repeatedly uses the word "lie" to describe things that George Santos has said. My impression has been that newspapers generally prefer less direct language like "misinformation" or "misleading statements." Is there a policy change here, or does something about Santos's statements pass some test that previous politicians have not?
posted by one for the books at 1:38 PM PST - 13 comments

After years of planning and saving up and fun zoning battles, we finally are finishing up the construction of a vacation home in Central Oregon. Can you help us figure out the color scheme or painting suggestions? Here's two pictures of the house as is - that's just the siding color. Roof is an off-black. [more inside]
posted by Happydaz at 1:00 PM PST - 17 comments

I need snack ideas as I'm bored with my current options and find myself buying chips and cookies and stuff more than I want. I'd like low-sodium/low-lactose (so yogurt probably out) and vegetarian options that are relatively healthy and aren't super carb heavy. Right now I rotate unsalted cashews, fruit, homemade popcorn, and string cheese but I'm tapped out on other idea. Savory better than sweet. Thanks!
posted by rhymedirective at 12:48 PM PST - 24 comments

One of my hanging plant spots is too far out of reach for watering, what's a really good looking faux plant or something plant-ish that can go there? [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 11:48 AM PST - 8 comments

I would like to plant some plants next to my house. They should be perennial, drought-resistant and hard to kill. There are two beds involved. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 11:34 AM PST - 15 comments

I recently started using L’Oreal’s lamellar water (Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water) on my hair and it works wonders. The bottle says to use on “lengths only,” which I just now noticed (d’oh). What happens if you use it on your roots / near your scalp? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 10:21 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm going to start on a novel. I'd like the green's opinions on a few questions. [more inside]
posted by sharp pointy objects at 9:09 AM PST - 13 comments

So I've been wanting to get a surfswing to take camping and set up at our camp site, or maybe even take to the park sometimes. The problem is that hanging method isn't really designed for easy removal. But I just saw this method for hanging a bear bag, and I have no need to hang a bear bag, but I'm wondering if I can do something like that for hanging a surfswing. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:40 AM PST - 9 comments

I don't know what level of professional I should hire. I want someone to create a design templates, and then fill the template with different content for different clients. Should I hire a college grad, an agency, someone on fiver, etc? A graphic designer, or someone else? [more inside]
posted by rebent at 7:59 AM PST - 8 comments

This question is for BBC-watchers: My wife and I have discovered Antiques Road Trip, a competition show in which antique dealers travel around England, Scotland, and Wales, buy things at antique shoppes, then resell them at auction and hope to profit more than their competitors. But, there's a weird behavior we're uncertain what it means... [more inside]
posted by AzraelBrown at 5:55 AM PST - 7 comments

I have live in an inner-city neighborhood in a coastal state. There are many things I like about living here, but it's also subject to many of the issues that plague inner-city neighborhoods. I've never considered moving, but some things have changed and now I'm wondering if it's time. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:12 AM PST - 29 comments

Supposing your name is Stephen. With a ph. Suppose further that you end your text with your name, either writing or using Siri. Then Siri, apparently because it wants to hear you say words that it says it won't respond to, changes it to a v. This is wrong in many ways. Siri consistently, intentionally changes many words -- can a person not nicknamed Woz make it act right?
posted by dancestoblue at 8:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm about to teach some courses over Zoom in a hybrid environment which has a large television by nothing else. Looking to figure out current best practices in terms of the proper setup, and ideally specific gear to buy. Bonus points: Must be portable and operable by one person (the speaker). [more inside]
posted by sxtrumpeto at 8:18 PM PST - 4 comments

There are plenty of tips out there for using a pool for spiritual cleansings but I'm having trouble finding anything about cleansing the pool itself. Does anyone know of rituals for helping a swimming pool back to a more spiritually neutral state?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:04 PM PST - 11 comments

I need to get a (men's) suit or separates to wear to a wedding by Friday, in NYC. Before I fall back on the standard mid-range department stores, I'm interested in taking a day on anything more specific to New York. [more inside]
posted by egregious theorem at 7:32 PM PST - 12 comments

I want to take more advantage of the robots, computers and assistive technology available to me living in 2023 for work, life, whatever. What am I missing? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 6:42 PM PST - 13 comments

How To Blow Up A Pipeline was released on April 7 in the U.S., but typing zip codes into the Neon site results in just 1 theater each in NYC and LA and none for the other largest U.S. cities. Did I miss it going wide? The Wikipedia page has a "Concerns raised by authorities" section. Did Neon get scared to release it widely? Did theater chains reject it? [more inside]
posted by mediareport at 5:25 PM PST - 5 comments

I’d like to practice my data visualization and data manipulation skills, but I especially want to experiment with data visualization. But I need data! What are your favorite sources of facts that point out inequities? [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 5:25 PM PST - 10 comments

Help me set expectations for my first time "mountain climbing" tomorrow along with modifications to my keto slim-fast diet. [more inside]
posted by glonous keming at 4:27 PM PST - 16 comments

My mother is deeply codependent, in deep denial, and married to a belligerent man who is drunk every time we visit, dominates the conversation, and injects divisive politics into everything. We just had our umpteenth disastrous visit together, full of bad blood. Is there a reasonable way forward in family situations like this without cutting anyone off? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 4:24 PM PST - 11 comments

I want a simple ereader app for my iPad that contains no advertisements or subscriptions. No problem paying for it once. [more inside]
posted by skewed at 4:15 PM PST - 13 comments

Family is now on a third brand of motion detecting hallway lights similar to these for an elderly relative’s hallway and stairway. All of them are crap - either eating through batteries or the switch suddenly doesn’t work leaving us with a dead light. Has anyone had a consistent positive experience with any brand or model? Requirements are motion detecting, pointing down only so said relative doesn’t get blinded while walking, bright enough to light 2-3 steps each, and no wires or cords, which would add to the tripping hazards. At this point, I’m ok with something we have to mount with screws, tho self sticking is preferred.
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:47 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm would love to watch more media that features people banding together and working better together than they would individually. Think large doses of human decency + competence kink? Genre doesn't matter to me, but nothing super dark. [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 3:16 PM PST - 27 comments

My high school students are trying out several methods of ancient (Roman) divination in class to learn how they worked. For years, I have used a method of hydromancy where they throw a piece of bread into a container of water and sinking = "yes"/floating = "no." However, due to food allergies, I really need to stop using bread in class. Can you think of a substitute that would also sometimes float/sometimes sink that we could use in the same way or an entirely different method of hydromancy that would still be simple that I could substitute? NO FOOD. [more inside]
posted by lysimache at 2:37 PM PST - 18 comments

The weather’s getting warmer so I’ve been thinking about fruit soups… We have three soups in regular rotation - watermelon gazpacho, honeydew mint, and a sweet strawberry yogurt soup. I’d love some more! Could be sweet or savory or spicy or…? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 2:32 PM PST - 12 comments

In Zelenskyy's Servant of the People, there's a word (or words?) in Ukrainian translated in the subtitles as "normal," yet which shows up more often and in more contexts than we'd tend to use the word in English. Does this reflect a cultural difference, an extra emphasis on aiming for what's "normal" (and/or criticizing actions for not being "normal"), or is the translation I have access to not quite carrying the gist of the original? (Or is it a writer's tic on this show only?) [more inside]
posted by nobody at 2:03 PM PST - 8 comments

New idea for a song: I'm sitting on the porch, waiting for the rain, thinking about things. What comes to your mind? Anything is fair game from parallels to life to worms in the ground.
posted by falsedmitri at 1:43 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm back home from surgery and want to treat myself to a TV in my living room, but am having trouble and am overwhelmed at all the options. I have specific wants. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 12:47 PM PST - 12 comments

I mailed in my passport renewal application in February along with my old passport, and now, merely 10 days before my scheduled international flight and still no new passport in sight, I'm getting very antsy. The special wrinkle is that I would need both my new and old passport to travel, since the old passport contains a still valid travel visa that would allow me to enter the destination country. (I also checked the destination country regulation and they are very clear that one can only enter with a passport at least 6 months before its expiration date, and so my old passport alone is no good.) [more inside]
posted by of strange foe at 12:05 PM PST - 8 comments

You all helped me a lot find good poems for an autumn wedding. Now the mother of one of the people in that couple is getting married and I am looking, at her request, for readings on the subject of "finding love after hitting rock bottom." [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 9:52 AM PST - 8 comments

The book may not (or may) have been published. It may only exist as photocopies and pdfs, but it is not a figment of my imagination. It may have covered other subjects like solving equations, but I only flipped through the first few pages before losing track of it. I'm looking for some leads on finding it. [more inside]
posted by stuart_s at 9:51 AM PST - 3 comments

When a friend of mine is trying to fall asleep, they suddenly feel that all of their joints hurt and need to be moved. They get some relief if they do a bunch of wiggling, stretching, and popping some of their joints. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by do puppets wear socks? at 9:37 AM PST - 14 comments

Over the last few weeks I've noticed my Mac (Intel MacBook Air mid 2020 running the Ventura 13.4, FWIW) will periodically attempt to close down all open apps and reboot. It's definitely rebooting and not just going to sleep - details inside. I'm looking for some pointers to help me work out why. [more inside]
posted by infinitejones at 3:44 AM PST - 5 comments

I feel like variations of this question have been asked before, but here goes. I have the chance in a few months time for a complete reset. There are lots of habits I'd like to learn to inculcate, lots of opportunities for self-improvement. How do I prioritise? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:41 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for some guideposts for how to return to work after a 2mo medical leave for mental health issues. I'm nervous about returning, and there are some details that are making this challenging. I'm in Spain. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:13 AM PST - 4 comments

Maybe the format was still too new in 2007 when it did get a DVD release, but I'm surprised/disappointed that the Criterion Collection or another boutique restorer/distributor hasn't subsequently picked up a Palme d'Or winner from a celebrated director. I imagine it has to be some kind of rights issue and would appreciate any confirmation of this.
posted by Strutter Cane - United Planets Stilt Patrol at 1:31 AM PST - 3 comments

I probably am 2nd gen of Oxytocin deficient decedents. We've pretty much have all been tossed into this world deficient and devoid of love and attachment. Needless to say, my entire family is estranged and dying alone. I've been the proverbial black sheep, calling stuff for what it was, internalizing, causing trouble for everyone, but never knowing the root cause. Neurologically and technically, I do know. But now what? How do you cure a oxytocin deficiency when you've been entrained to isolate and shun people from inception? [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 9:48 PM PST - 4 comments

Going to a hotel for a weekend with 2 friends. One just discovered they have ringworm. How do we keep from getting it? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:17 PM PST - 6 comments

I owned (still own) the Kapture wristband. Is there any hope for a similar wearable device for always on recording? Do you know someone who could build one? [more inside]
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:58 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm hoping to spend June, Pride Month, doing a series of posts about Queer Women In Music. I have a short list already in my mind, but I don't have anywhere near 30, and so I'm asking for names and suggestions. I'm happy to do research but if you have publicly available documentaries [YouTube or other sources] to include with your suggestions, that would be awesome.
posted by hippybear at 7:53 PM PST - 67 comments

I know little about filters and how they function, but I don't want people to be able to see/read my phone screen. I have a decent one from Amazon called LYWHL, but there are even better "4-way" filters or reduced angle filters like one by dipos in Germany, but I can't find any available in USA for shipping soon. Recommend me a good privacy screen filter for my S10+ please!
posted by maxexam at 5:27 PM PST - 0 comments

Last weekend I got some es windshield wipers from AutoZone. Today is the first day it has rained since then, and my wipers sound kind of funny. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 5:01 PM PST - 7 comments

Suggestions for reading material for a boy who likes Dave Pilkey, The Bad Guys, and Jeffrey Brown’s Neanderthal books? [more inside]
posted by skewed at 4:45 PM PST - 18 comments

There's a beautiful Quaking Aspen at my local nursery but apparently they like to (aggressively?) spread via suckers. Does anyone have experience with this tree in a normal suburban backyard? Is it doable?
posted by luge at 4:01 PM PST - 5 comments

Hi. I am curious to know if food co-ops are better than farmers' markets in someways or are farmers' markets better?
posted by RearWindow at 1:45 PM PST - 14 comments

I used to love reading reviews from Cannes, Toronto and Sundance on the AV Club and the Dissolve, but the Dissolve is long gone and the AV Club isn't what it was. Now I only see reviews of the major stuff and I miss hearing about smaller films. I liked that those sites had short reviews of everything each critic saw that day, so I heard about films which never would have been on my radar otherwise. Are there any sites now which have similar coverage?
posted by Chenko at 1:19 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm in a truly toxic work environment. To the point where my health and sleep are affected. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 11:04 AM PST - 18 comments

It’s not really a dinner party, more like a get-together before dinner, I think. But I’ve never been to this friend’s house, so I don’t want to show up empty-handed. Difficulty is, everyone gathering is traveling from at least an hour away, and host has celiac so: No booze because driving, and no gluten. It’s tonight. What should I bring? Additional difficulty: I can barely boil water, so no fancy cooking allowed. I’d prefer to just buy something somewhere.
posted by invincible summer at 8:08 AM PST - 19 comments

I applied for a junior editorial scholarly position for a political science journal in Canada, and the editor-in-chief said it make take some time to glean through all the applicants. How long do you reckon that would take then? Would it be like a week or more?
posted by RearWindow at 7:33 AM PST - 12 comments

I am 30 and just accepted a job paying 52k. I’ve been opening my eyes lately and I really realize how far behind I feel in my career, how disjointed my work history and education feels, how little money I’ve been making compared to my peers and those younger than me, and how I really would like to get on a good path before everyone passes me by, or maybe they already have. [more inside]
posted by anon1129 at 8:57 PM PST - 17 comments

I live in the City of West Hollywood. I signed a lease and moved into a studio space that is not zoned as an apartment (It was once a large workout room in the condo/apartment complex) One person had lived there several years before me. I have been an excellent tenant. Tuesday, I was asked to meet with the president of the condo board (and from who I leased the studio). He informed me that I was to move out and that he would work with me on the time frame. I was informed verbally. Nothing written was given to me. No reason was given as to why I was being asked to move. My relationship with him was good. I was the caretaker of his neighbor for two years and left in good standing. I was going to help him with chores as he is having knee replacement surgery soon. [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 5:23 PM PST - 11 comments

We are looking to buy printers for our office but can’t seem to find anything that meets our parameters: -ease of use-ideally could print from an iPhone. -photo sized prints that we don’t have to cut down to fit in small albums. -networked-our IT security folks won’t allow wireless printing. [more inside]
posted by purenitrous at 3:05 PM PST - 16 comments

My almost-5-year-old is discovering board and card games. He has not tried chess at all, mostly because I doubt I'd be able to make it interesting. What are some variants that will pique his interest? Also interested in computer game versions! [more inside]
posted by Acari at 2:59 PM PST - 17 comments

I've been using this one for two years. It was great but it's about at the end of it's rope. Nothing stays plugged into it. Requires multiple wiggles for connection and so forth. What do you nomads use?
posted by rileyray3000 at 2:42 PM PST - 8 comments

So, I have a small sealed package of tilapia fillets. I was going to cook them in a sauce tonight, but events have made that impossible. The package says to that in the refrigerator for 5-10 hours, and I took them out of the freezer (and put them in the refrigerator) about three hours ago. They are still very hard and cold. My options: [more inside]
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:48 PM PST - 14 comments

When it comes to comparing two PDF files, is there ANYTHING better than the internal Adobe Acrobat Pro "Compare files" feature? [more inside]
posted by Melismata at 12:37 PM PST - 5 comments

My friend is looking for a top surgeon (double mastectomy or aggressive breast reduction) in the Bay Area. A similar question was answered in 2013, but the top recommendation doesn't work with Kaiser and it has been ten years. Please share names, locations, experiences, and any (Bay Are) resources found helpful in getting care. Details in their words below. [more inside]
posted by kitten_hat at 12:25 PM PST - 5 comments

How to DIY baking powder so it measures the same as store-bought? Turns out it loses strength over time, so I want to make my own as needed. Recipes say 25% corn starch is "optional". [more inside]
posted by amtho at 12:19 PM PST - 7 comments

Do people still sell physical tickets outside arenas day-of-show? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 10:55 AM PST - 14 comments

I bought a carton of eggs at the chain supermarket. All the eggs in the carton are wet. [more inside]
posted by barnowl at 10:35 AM PST - 6 comments

Where to meet friends in CDG after Customs? [more inside]
posted by happy_cat at 10:27 AM PST - 7 comments

I am curious, and would like to hear from other MeFites on this topic. Ebook prices have risen in recent years, and I have questions about whether that has increased the use of libraries for ebooks. [more inside]
posted by TimHare at 10:13 AM PST - 20 comments

I need to find and hire someone who will grow some plant cuttings and avocado pits in water for me, for a trade show in August. Who should i look for, where should i post the ad/listing. Difficulty level: I'm in Europe and I won't be able to check the results until it's too late for a plan B. [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 9:21 AM PST - 5 comments

My spouse and I are having a discussion about my putting a filter on the air intake floor vent for our furnace/AC. It looks a bit like this. [more inside]
posted by Lescha at 8:48 AM PST - 6 comments

I bought a Bebird C3 from Amazon which allows me to look in my ears. I’ve become kind of obsessed with it. I had very itchy ears and found I had yeast in them. [more inside]
posted by shaarog at 8:38 AM PST - 2 comments

I received a copy of an airline flight itinerary for a booking I didn’t make. Should I ignore it, or is it worth contacting the airline to alert them about possible fraud? [more inside]
posted by hangashore at 8:38 AM PST - 8 comments

My name on my driver's license is a shortened version of my legal name on my birth certificate, social security card, and passport (think along the lines of Jon vs Jonathan.) With my recent state move which might require my first RealID drivers license, will this be an issue? [more inside]
posted by bluecore at 7:13 AM PST - 6 comments

I discovered recently that I'm heir to a reasonably large fortune, in addition to already having a lot of liquid net worth. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:30 AM PST - 51 comments

I'd like your recommendations for a beginner's Rubics Cube tutorial—well produced with a competent teacher. thx
posted by partner at 6:47 PM PST - 5 comments

We messed up. This week we had our crumbling driveway replaced by a nice, new, larger driveway. Unfortunately, we didn’t know that it could take up to a year to fully cure. In about a month and a half we’re having a renovation done on our home which will require a dumpster to be parked out front. How do we avoid it sinking and wrecking our new driveway? [more inside]
posted by summerteeth at 5:05 PM PST - 11 comments

At the beginning of The Terminal Man, Michael Crichton includes this quote attributed to geneticist J.B.S. Haldane: "I have come to the conclusion that my subjective account of my own motivation is largely mythical on almost all occasions. I don't know why I do things." I love this. I want to file it in my archive of quotes, but I want to source it properly — if Michael Crichton didn't invent it (which he often does with his epigraphs). Are your google skills better than mine? What is the actual source of this quote?
posted by jdroth at 4:44 PM PST - 2 comments

I have 160 GB of music on an external drive. I know that nearly 50% of it is duplicate files (songs sorted multiple ways into multiple folders over multiple years) and I want to delete all duplicates. I tried a Terminal command string I found in a tutorial and I'm afraid it is going to run forever. Are there other (easier) options? [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 4:09 PM PST - 17 comments

Where can I buy some Japanese girl’s school shoes, white ones, in Seattle? The person they’re for wears US women’s size 10 or 10 1/2 shoes.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:02 PM PST - 6 comments

I am a manager at my job. We work remotely. This week my team is having an in-person offsite for team connection and bonding. I have high social anxiety even though I'm a manager. All day yesterday, I had been feeling bad because I'm not outgoing enough, not interesting enough, not really fitting in with the group, etc. In hindsight I think that was just my skewed perception and not reality, but unfortunately I couldn't see it then. [more inside]
posted by starpoint at 3:10 PM PST - 33 comments

Another arcane tech question. On a LAN with no Windows servers (i,.e. no Win DHCPD/DDNS), how may I get DDNS fully working if the LAN's authoritative nameserver doesn't support it? (Note this is internal LAN DDNS, not the more widely discussed home-to-internet DynDNS setup) [more inside]
posted by Quesaak at 1:46 PM PST - 4 comments

A new problem arose today. I can't play back audio files I recorded on Voice Recorder. The files advance but there is no sound. I go to Settings and see that "Media volume" is all the way down. I put it manually all the way up, using the slider, tap on "Play Voice Recorder on Phone Speaker" and tap on Done. Then I go back to the file. Still no sound. ACK!(oh, I rebooted several times)
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:43 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm prone to bouts of quite intense anxiety and once my nervous system gets hijacked, I find it hard to come down. Besides the obvious meditation, medication, exercise, deep breathing techniques, and sleep, what are your best methods for calming a buzzing nervous system? I'm interested in anecdata here. [more inside]
posted by figaro at 12:30 PM PST - 42 comments

I'm about to buy a new MacBook Air to replace my old one. I can get the brand new one for about $1100 or the slightly older version (M1 chip vs the newer M2) for about $800. For a low-key user like me, are there any compelling reasons to spend the money and get the newer model? [more inside]
posted by swheatie at 12:23 PM PST - 15 comments

My daughter would like to try a protein shake. She would like it to taste good to a teenager (so, probably sweet and not weird). I don't know anything about protein shakes, but I would like it to be affordable and not contain aspartame, acesulfame or similar artificial sweeteners (ok with sugar, sugar alcohols, etc.) I also don't mind if it's something we need to mix or a recipe we could make ourselves – in fact, I assume that would be cheaper. Any suggestions from the shake appreciators here?
posted by lgyre at 11:24 AM PST - 29 comments

A week ago I received some news which were blessing in disguise – out company had massive layoffs, 30% of the staff had to go and my work is affected meaning I have 3 weeks to wrap it up and I am officially unemployed, after years of working there and unlimited contract. [more inside]
posted by Salicornia at 10:45 AM PST - 15 comments

I heard Annie Lennox's cover of "You Belong to Me" (you know the old song, "See the pyramids along the Nile...") in something I watched recently. I can't remember what it was and it's driving me nuts! [more inside]
posted by lovableiago at 10:23 AM PST - 5 comments

What it says on the tin, really. Many moons ago I could think I'll start doing something and simply... keep doing it till it became a part of my routine. Now, alas, those days are long past. And yet good habits (mostly health related) still need to be formed. How?! [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 8:24 AM PST - 13 comments

Have you given Credelio (oral "chewable" flea /tick prevention chewables) to a cat? [more inside]
posted by ojocaliente at 8:19 AM PST - 7 comments

My son's best friend has moved in with us. I love him, but his parents, who have agreed to the move, are unmanageable, and I'm wondering what advice people have for me. If you've ever done this, have you been able to establish any kind of enforceable agreement with the parents? Or do you have genius ideas for coping with the parents? [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 7:48 AM PST - 32 comments

Our shower is leaking and as far as we can tell, the only way to fix it is to rip out the shower tile (at the min) and replace the waterproofing and tile . Some folks have said we basically have to redo the whole shower as ripping out partial tiles is more work. In any case, if you were going to make upgrades to your (fine) shower, what would you do? Where would you get inspiration?
posted by sandmanwv at 7:24 AM PST - 17 comments

Visiting Osaka, we went to a tea museum which had a calligraphic hanging scroll inside which was called something like "Ro-Ko-Sui" and has a famous zen saying on it about the "humble owl." It's something about the importance of staying humble yet highly capable as a zen priest. Could you point me to it? Haven't been able to find anything on google. [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 6:40 AM PST - 0 comments

What is a good gift by delivery for an old friend whose spouse left her with small children? I would be present if I could, but I am states away. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:02 AM PST - 11 comments

My relationship busted up in November. It was a long relationship and a pretty rough time. I'm lonely and want to dip a toe in the dating pool but I don't want to be a rebound mess. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:02 AM PST - 12 comments

I e-signed a job offer for Status: Full-time regular Weekly Hours: 40 hours weekly & benefits in the USA. The company overpromised & deliver on the commitment only being able to provide 26 hours on average. Due to the income shortfall I couldn't afford the health insurance package. It's a relatively low-paying job at $16 hourly, I'm earning $1000 less a month than expected & have not earned approx $3000. Is it worth it to legally pursue anything? [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 1:08 AM PST - 12 comments

I assumed this all happens when a person gets e.g. a state ID or license, but it would help to know if that’s wrong. Am fighting insurance and would like one less hoop right now.
posted by moira at 12:28 AM PST - 11 comments

I just saw Les Mis for the first time in a few decades, and it really seemed like the songs were sung faster, with time cut between songs so that the whole musical moved faster. [more inside]
posted by emjaybee at 10:55 PM PST - 2 comments

I've been following anti-frauditor and related channels on YouTube (Frauditor Reaper, Dummy Kruger, etc.). Apparently there was some drama a few days ago, resulting in folks pulling support for other channels, etc. but I'm currently too sick to make it through 2-4 hour livestreams to see what happened. Would anyone be able to provide a condensation of what's causing/caused the current drama in said community?
posted by gtrwolf at 9:02 PM PST - 3 comments

They shoved a hammer into my hands at 13 and said "Go forth and pound nails." I did so. I also worked around asbestos all the time, just part of the show. My understanding has been not do I have mesothelioma but when will it show up; I shoved it to the back of my mind. I don't watch TV but a friend who *does* watch TV told me that there are now many attorneys in bad suits tired of chasing ambulances and now chasing sick people, or telling people that they are sick. What to do?
posted by dancestoblue at 6:16 PM PST - 16 comments

I don't seem to be able to sort this out; In a document I'm editing, the author writes: "Coeliac disease with the oe ligature is the spelling used in Britain, much of Europe and many countries in Africa and Asia." I'm not sure that IS ligature? Is the "oe" in coeliac maybe a digraph? (Internet definition: a digraph is a combination of two letters representing one sound, as in ph and ey.)
posted by Jody Tresidder at 2:34 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm going to be in a dunk tank at an elementary (4th-6th) field day and I want to kindly, sweetly, appropriately taunt the children. Give me your ideas.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:01 PM PST - 22 comments

I’m taking my 10-year-old daughter to LA for three and a half days in early July. We’re flying into LAX and renting the perfect car. Next step: figuring out where to stay and what to do. Help! [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 1:12 PM PST - 23 comments

There's an item that I'd like to buy that's only available on Amazon Germany and which won't ship to the US, where I am. It looks like there are some services that will forward purchased items from Germany to the US, but I can't tell if any of them are reliable. Does anyone have any recommendations for services that could do this - or any other way for me to get this item?
posted by Awkward Philip at 12:56 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a number of questions about how I do the actual process between getting an offer accepted and closing on a house. I promise, I am also working with several professionals and will ask them any number of questions too, but these are more like...pre-questions. This all sounds super basic and stupid probably, but frankly I did not plan for any of this to happen so it's all catching me unprepared. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:51 AM PST - 16 comments

What's the safest tool to download YouTube videos and convert them to mp4s and mp3s these days? I desperately need a copy of this song and all my previous tools no longer work.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 11:34 AM PST - 13 comments

I am awful at fixing bikes, but I thought I could manage to change a couple of tires. Overconfidence got the better of me, so I didn't even bother to take a photo first. I am simply trying to put the front wheel back on the bike, but the black bits here and here (sorry don't know what they are called) are not leaving me room to get the wheel back on. The back wheel has similar black bits, but the wheel slots between them no problem. Am I supposed to force the forks apart to give me room? It really doesn't feel like that's the right idea. I can't get the black bits closer together, but I could loosen them to put them farther apart - but that would make it worse? How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by cincinnatus c at 10:56 AM PST - 8 comments

I feel like there should be good options in 2023 for something that runs off a rechargeable battery/pack, and is loud enough to cover a gathering of about 100-150 people in a small outdoor park. Do you have direct experience with a unit you'd recommend? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 8:48 AM PST - 6 comments

A couple of weeks ago, I posted this question: https://ask.metafilter.com/372512/I-Chose-to-Reconcile-with-Ex-while-Dating-Someone-What-Would-You-Do I've been working extensively in therapy twice per week, practicing self-soothing, sitting in the discomfort, and learning how to detach. This has been very successful and life-changing already. I have a follow-up question. [more inside]
posted by Jangatroo at 8:36 AM PST - 44 comments

I have three weeks approximately where I will have lots of time during the day to do touristy things without my toddler. What sorts of things are better to do during the weekdays than on weekends? Where should I visit to find these things? Do you have any specific DC things where going during weekday is so much better than weekend or at night (or not even open).
posted by sandmanwv at 8:16 AM PST - 10 comments

I posted this excerpt to social media some years back. It looks like a book about being an artist but I can't remember what it was! I haven't kept great records about what books I've read so I'm stumped. [more inside]
posted by amanda at 7:57 AM PST - 2 comments

With a few exceptions*, most bean-based recipes I've tried turn out almost inedible because they're so bland and boring. Especially beans and rice, but other recipes too. The reviews will always say it has tons of flavour but it's a lie. I want to eat more beans but I need flavour. Do you have a recipe with a lot of beans that actually tastes like something? [more inside]
posted by randomnity at 7:37 AM PST - 65 comments

Do you have any recommendations for an iPhone timekeeping app? I need to track how much time I spend on different work activities daily and then how much time I spend on those activities cumulatively (weekly, monthly). [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 7:11 AM PST - 4 comments

I want to buy a documentary to watch and an album to listen to. Doing this through which providers/services will give the biggest amount of my money to the artists? [more inside]
posted by gakiko at 7:10 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm a software developer. I have a sitting offer with one company and I'm still interviewing quite intensely with a second, much larger and slower-moving company. The difference in the pay gap is significant, but the market is also quite hard right now so I'm hoping to keep the first option open through the slow process. Additionally, my partner has just received some medical news that has thrown in some uncertainty. I'm really stressed and would love some help coming up with a script or any advice navigating this situation in general. [more inside]
posted by one of these days at 5:27 AM PST - 11 comments

A zoo a zoo a zoo - is what song? (Toddler song request.) [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 5:19 AM PST - 8 comments

Have you and your partner ever been of two minds over a potential raise? My fiancée has been offered the chance to switch from contract to employee at a job he loves. It would be a 15-20% raise, considering the benefits that would be added and the time costs he’d no longer have to spend on taxes and the like. He is resisting, and I don’t understand. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:44 AM PST - 35 comments

Why is the effect of my homemade cannabis tincture so different from the store bought one? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:15 AM PST - 13 comments

I need to pack my own allergen-safe food for a two-night/three-day trip in Southwest England this weekend. I want to bring a big block of Cheddar or Red Leicester so that I can have some protein in my thrice-daily sandwiches without spending fancy nut butter money (peanuts are among the relevant allergens). This is fine. Is this fine? [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 4:00 AM PST - 12 comments

I currently have two fish tanks that I want to combine into one. Should I continue stocking the much larger new one before moving over the fish from the old one, or move them now and then add more fish later? [more inside]
posted by Eumachia L F at 1:30 AM PST - 3 comments

I have a Cruel World ticket I'm looking to unload (since I won't be able to go due to getting those double bars on my Covid test). Is AXS a good place to sell them and, if so, what cut will they take? Or are there better options? [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 9:51 PM PST - 1 comment

Hi everyone, I recently accepted a new job opportunity at a bigger company with more pay and stability. There are pros and cons with both options of staying at my current company vs. leaving but ultimately I felt like the new job is a great opportunity. I have accepted the job offer and I’m currently doing my 3 week notice with the current company. I couldn’t help but feeling apprehensive about whether or not I’ll regret my decision. Has anyone ever felt the same way and how did you cope with it? Will this feeling go away after a little while? [more inside]
posted by missybitsy at 9:28 PM PST - 11 comments

I have one small, round crystal hanging in my window. I really enjoy seeing the sun cast little rainbow fragments around the room. I want more! A few questions below the fold. [more inside]
posted by interbeing at 8:59 PM PST - 11 comments

I’m getting to stop in LA from Weds to Fri this week, and my friend-visits are going to be on Weds night and Thurs morning, so I have Thurs day to cavort! Anything fun I should do or check out? Previous faves (from almost 20 years ago, gak) and other details below. [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 6:51 PM PST - 6 comments

I've accepted I'm never going to get this written by myself. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:21 PM PST - 7 comments

I’m searching for other texts like The Questions of King Milinda, wherein a respected religious authority presented an account of his or her religion to a governing authority.
posted by jefficator at 3:26 PM PST - 5 comments

Should I take my antidepressant meds in the morning or evening? I'm having sleep trouble for the last month or 2, after getting great sleep for a while. I slightly increased my dose of Sertraline - generic Zoloft - from 20 to 25 mg. Tiny dose changes do affect me. [more inside]
posted by theora55 at 12:39 PM PST - 14 comments

My awesome partner will be in NYC for the week next week, Sunday through Friday for a workshop -and staying downtown/wall st. Wondering what the hive mind can recommend in terms of cool stuff going on next week that might be off the radar? [more inside]
posted by specialk420 at 11:31 AM PST - 9 comments

My teenage child is about to start buying ebooks for school. This will continue for several years, and probably entail purchasing thousands of dollars of books. What is the best way to purchase ebooks to maximize portability and minimize lock-in? They want to be able to read the books and take notes on an iPad and Macintosh. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 11:19 AM PST - 18 comments

Can anyone recommend something in between BaseRow/AirTable and "build a webapp from scratch"? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 11:14 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi. Can I get the Indefinite leave to remain on a student visa if I plan to pursue a PhD in England for 4 years and then a postdoc afterwards for a year or two? I am not sure how the indefinite leave to remain works. I am Canadian and have no parents or grandparents born in the UK but my great-grandmother was born in London but ancestry visa does not look at great-grandparents. I want to live in England permanently if I can and teach or work in government with a PhD in Political Science. My partner and I want to live in the UK eventually if we can.
posted by RearWindow at 10:55 AM PST - 4 comments

I mixed the colonoscopy prep solution with hot water, and I'm worried that it won't work. [more inside]
posted by tuesdayschild at 10:55 AM PST - 8 comments

Is there any sort of database or website whereby one can search for children's books that contain a particular name? [more inside]
posted by Synesthesia at 9:42 AM PST - 12 comments

I read on my ipad, and I read voraciously. Sometime in the last decade I found the perfect app for that after much trial and error. The devs seemed to have stopped working on the one I use, though. Please help me find a new ereader app (primarily for epubs) that will fit the bill. Am willing to pay for the right app, but do not want a subscription model (Readwise, for example). I manage my books in Calibre, so I don't need any organizational stuff out of this. [more inside]
posted by routergirl at 9:26 AM PST - 10 comments

It's been years since I sold anything regularly online and the landscape has changed a lot! What has been successful for you? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 9:17 AM PST - 18 comments

I have an extremely cheap pocketknife with glued-on wooden scales. Twice now, the knife has gone through the wash and the scales have fallen off. I'm willing to reglue them again, but I wonder if there is a heat-and-water-resistant wood-to-metal adhesive that would be worth picking up. (I believe the last one I used was Gorilla Glue, and it didn't hold up.) [more inside]
posted by restless_nomad at 8:39 AM PST - 11 comments

Wirecutter ended up concluding that all indoor air quality monitors were unreliable. I know this is a long shot, but has this changed in the eight months since?
posted by ignignokt at 8:23 AM PST - 10 comments

I just got a nice new keyboard and I'd like to replace the "windows key" caps with "super key" caps. [more inside]
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Just started mirtazapine 30mg nightly on top my usual venlafaxine. But dear god I’m SO tired during the day. [more inside]
posted by osmond_nash at 7:29 AM PST - 13 comments

At the age of 50 I'm growing a beard for the first time in my life. I feel like this is a life lesson I missed out on. How do you trim a beard, how do you style it, how do you keep it clean, how do you keep it looking good? Beard-wearers of MetaFilter, please assume total ignorance on my part, and give me the benefit of your advice. [more inside]
posted by verstegan at 7:18 AM PST - 19 comments

I live facing a park, in Toronto. The park is used frequently for celebrations which tend to run from about noon to 10 or 11pm, and are sometimes followed by fireworks (unauthorized) that can continue well past 1:00am. I need some tips to cope with this. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 7:01 AM PST - 17 comments

I am trying to remember the name of a film, which I hardly remember anything at all about, except that it featured a youngish woman who through several scenes was carrying around an enormous letter S. [more inside]
posted by flabdablet at 6:49 AM PST - 2 comments

I am self-employed consultant. I have a part time assistant who works with me, who is *amazing* and also a freelancer or two who help. We all work together on a lot of things, including securing new business. When we land a big new gig, I'd like to find a way for us to share in the good fortune. What are some good ideas for how to do that? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 6:42 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been trying for a week to restore my iPad from its backup. I start the restore, it appears to make progress, and then when the progress bar is around halfway through, the time remaining begins to grow and grow, before throwing an error that the restore couldn't be completed because the iPad disconnected. Please tell me there's a way to do this restore? [more inside]
posted by mittens at 6:01 AM PST - 5 comments

What's the easiest way to be able to send an email from a group collectively, and to some extent anonymously. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:36 AM PST - 9 comments

I’m in need of some kind of support, probably a group, for human connection about hard life things and a dose of dependency, too. How do I find this? NYC/online. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:59 AM PST - 8 comments

I'll be in Brooklyn this summer, and I'd like to use the opportunity to pick up a cute, decent-quality wig. I'd like to go somewhere welcoming to trans folks, or at least where no one will look twice at a masc-presenting person trying on pixie-cut wigs with a few friends. Thanks for the recommendations!
posted by anonymous at 2:58 AM PST - 1 comment

Did actor Ian McKellen (born 25 May 1939) audition for the part of Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant (1975) ? Or did he feel it was dangerous to his acting career as a not-yet-out gay man? Or was he simply busy with other projects, or uninterested in the role?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 1:25 AM PST - 2 comments

My aging aunt needs someone to coordinate general upkeep, repairs, and remodels. What do you call this person and what, roughly, do they change? [more inside]
posted by Narrow Harbor at 5:00 PM PST - 11 comments

I am noticing (through ongoing therapy, medication, meditation, and more--these types of general, adjacent advice aren't helpful for this question) that friendly conversation skills like responding positively, giving compliments, and offering support do not come naturally to me. When I try, I come off as fake or sarcastic or hinting at god-knows-what. [more inside]
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 4:29 PM PST - 28 comments

Circa 1957, there was a cartoon based on a Dr. Seuss book, titled The Gerald McBoing-Boing show. It included other short cartoons, one of which was about an eohippus (yes, the long-extinct equine animal) who went around boasting to the oth er creatures "I'm a prehistoric eohippus and I'm going to be a horse!" This entry in the "Big Cartoon Database" is the most I could find about it online. My mother saw it once on TV in the '70s, and she wants to see it again! Please help me find this cartoon!
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:43 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking for someone to finish the text/typesetting part of a logo. [more inside]
posted by kittensofthenight at 3:23 PM PST - 3 comments

So, being a child of the 80s, I love me a music video. Get me a song I love and back it up with some film that can be as weird as you like, as long as it sorta syncs up, that's my jam. Get me something that a devout fan has mashed up with their favorite characters and scenes and set to a song I love-- YES PLEASE. It seems like this sort of fan-made 'omg i love these characters what if I make a video that ships them and set it to this song' have either faded out these days, due to copyrights? or perhaps I'm just old and the songs I like to hear are lost in obscurity. Youtube is where I've looked; are there other sites that might have the cheesy dives I crave? Hope me!
posted by The otter lady at 3:11 PM PST - 10 comments

I live in a (rented) first floor apartment in Brooklyn overlooking a small depressed courtyard/alley. There are flies outside which desperately want to be inside. My bug screen isn't cutting it, and I need airflow. How can I stop them from getting into my apartment, where I live? [more inside]
posted by cosmic owl at 2:13 PM PST - 14 comments

For years, I was content to use Apple’s calendar app because it came with my devices and was easy to use, and I never had much in the way of needing to track appointments. But all that’s changed and I would like something better. [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 2:08 PM PST - 16 comments

Wants: knee-length or longer, mostly or all cotton, short sleeves or maybe a tank, scoop or v-neck, pockets, some kind of waist that has a drawstring or elastic that comes in or works being belted, available in solid colors beyond black and white, simple (not frilly or ruffly) shoulders, prefer sustainably made (or at least not fast fashion). [more inside]
posted by bluedaisy at 1:22 PM PST - 26 comments

I rented two eBikes this week. The first one was the Giant Roam E+, and the second was the GEN3 Stride. They both had pedal assist, but the experiences were completely different from each other. I want to understand how best to think and talk about what I felt while riding each, so that I can buy an eBike that feels right to my style of riding. [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 12:59 PM PST - 7 comments

I help run a Karaoke night at a piano bar. There's a wireless mic (shure SM57) on a mic stand. The owner would really like to stop people from taking the mic off the stand when they sing, because of various shenanigans that often ensue, especially as things get more lit. He has tried taping the mic to the stand but inevitably people end up taking the mic off anyhow. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 11:23 AM PST - 11 comments

You love your job. Or at least you like it. Or at least you don't spend every minute thinking about how much you hate it. It has the following characteristics: [more inside]
posted by foursentences at 10:50 AM PST - 28 comments

I ran my first marathon a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I’m thinking of starting another training cycle for a fall half or full marathon. I have a music playlist, but I’m kind of burnt out on it. I would like to give audiobooks a try. I’m looking for suggestions. I’ve found good reads from Metafilter suggestions before so I’m hoping y’all can help me with this. [more inside]
posted by August Fury at 10:20 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm attending a couple of very big, very formal weddings, for which I need at least one pair of high heels. I also have wide, slightly crooked feet. Please help me find some shoes that fit the dress code without causing too much pain. [more inside]
posted by guessthis at 10:06 AM PST - 8 comments

I remember a TV ad from the 1970s. I think it was on a San Francisco channel. I remember rocking out to the jingle it when I was a kid -- I'd belt it out, especially a part that drew out the word "Rakutaaaaaaaaaaaan...." with great passion. What am I remembering? I can't find it online. I don’t think it is Rakuten.com, which sponsors many podcasts, and which I’ve learned was originally buy.com and was rebranded when Rakuten Group, a Japanese company founded in 1997, bought them in 2010. So what am I remembering? [more inside]
posted by OrangeDisk at 10:04 AM PST - 6 comments

Just spitballing here: any areas good for kids and sort of affordable? [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:17 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been thinking recently about the first wave of craft hot sauce from the 90s, and I'd like to read something about it. Most of the web histories I can find are recent, with a more serious attitude that places hot sauce in the context of traditional foods in Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia. And that seems accurate for today's hot sauce. But that's not how I remember the 90s hot sauces. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 8:29 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm thinking about buying a used stationary bike for basic conditioning to supplement my concept 2 rowing machine I use each morning. I'm looking at used Pelotons on Craigslist that vary from $500 - $1800 but don't know much about them. Multiple sellers getting rid of theirs that they bought during COVID, so it might be a good time to buy. [more inside]
posted by GernBlandston at 7:32 AM PST - 11 comments

A rodent made a nest in my grill. Online suggestions for cleaning are varied. Help me think this through. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 6:42 AM PST - 11 comments

Since dinosaurs walked the earth, I’ve worn a certain style of Fruit of the Loom underpants and until now I’ve tolerated that the waist sits low. However, that annoyance, together with them “cheaping out” on cut and quality of the cotton and elastic in recent years has finally prompted me to get off my butt (see what I did there ;-) and look for a replacement. [more inside]
posted by interbeing at 5:53 AM PST - 10 comments

A friend has offered to house- and pet-sit while I'm away for ~2.5 weeks. It's understood that this would be a paying gig, but said friend is uncomfortable with such negotiations and is leaving it to me to propose a rate. What should it be? [more inside]
posted by jon1270 at 4:55 AM PST - 25 comments

What old (i.e. before photography) paintings depict buildings or landscapes that still look largely the same today? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 11:23 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm an atheist (though raised christian with extensive exposure) dating someone looking to be a priest in the episcopal church in a major, progressive city. We're OK with it (though recognize this will be a lot of work at times). Things are looking serious. Are there any books or other resources for someone who is going to be a priest's partner? Obviously "talk to your partner regularly" and "discretion!" are things I'm already doing, but other resources are appreciated.
posted by anonymous at 10:00 PM PST - 13 comments

Start 3 weeks ago, eczema has started on my forehead. First a small dot. Growing, growing growing. Now it's a big splot. Nothing has changed at work or diet. And I've been using the same facial wash (cetaphil), shampoo and conditioner for a while. It's so itchy, and of course, it looks horrible. It's a mystery. And, worse, it's growing. I'm thinking of changing my shampoo and conditioner. What's the most sensitive-skin cetaphil-like versions of these?
posted by Mushroom12345 at 8:44 PM PST - 27 comments

I am contemplating a multi-session viewing of every Muppet cinematic release with friends. I would like to (primarily) match one period appropriate contemporaneous film and (secondarily) match some snack or meal with each film. Please give me your recommendations for some or all of these!
posted by cortex at 8:18 PM PST - 12 comments

After another disappointing trip to Warby Parker in search of glasses yielded only 7 frames - all plastic, mostly brown, and all resembling the one pair I own already - I am expanding my search for glasses frames for very petite women's heads. [more inside]
posted by airplant at 6:09 PM PST - 16 comments

How can I make best use of a lot of black peppercorns? [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 5:55 PM PST - 19 comments

I need a modest website. I paid for a year of hosting at Wordpress, but I cannot work with it. Something about my brain and its interface are just a very bad fit. Tell me what I can do instead. [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 3:48 PM PST - 16 comments

In this video (e.g., 52 seconds in) one of the instruments appears to be a regular transverse flute which is played straight, like a recorder or clarinet. Is there a name for this, or is this some kind of one-off modification?
posted by Rumple at 3:47 PM PST - 8 comments

This summer I'll be spending a few weeks in Germany, my second home, and visiting South Tirol and Zurich for the first time for a few days each + spending two nights in Innsbruck. I'd love your tips! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 2:42 PM PST - 1 comment

I’m curious about trying some self-tanner this summer. I am very pale and want a subtle effect — the milder and more natural looking, the better. I’m also not a genius at beauty stuff and don’t want anything too hard to apply. What’s the mildest, easiest to use self tanner on the market right now?
posted by vanitas at 2:38 PM PST - 8 comments

I left a PhD in academia and am now interviewing for new jobs in industry that require references. Is it ok to ask my old advisor for a reference? How do I put this reference into context for a new employer in industry? [more inside]
posted by icosahedron at 1:53 PM PST - 8 comments

I need this. I'm looking for the one that shows me my Spam file when I log in, as opposed to showing me what's in my Inbox. Also has any of the well known ones started that?
posted by amfgf at 12:05 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm not very experienced in the kitchen but trying to cook more. I have sealed chicken thighs in trays unopened bought 6 days ago, shows expiring May 17th. Can I still eat it? [more inside]
posted by artificialard at 10:56 AM PST - 19 comments

I have an acquaintance. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 10:12 AM PST - 42 comments

I would like to embed a Calendly link in my Instagram business account so that followers can book an appointment on an impulse. I know that Calendly does not integrate with Instagram. What other options are available to accomplish this?
posted by John Borrowman at 10:01 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m moving, and I’d like to take some tulips from my current house to my new house. How? [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 8:49 AM PST - 10 comments

A lot has happened to me in the past couple years. A few friends have suggested "Write all this down! You're going to want to remember it", and I agree. But I hate writing! And I love talking. I wonder if there's some sort of way I could work with somewhere where I could talk through some of what's happened, and they could write it up. Sort of like a ghostwriter for a my own diary, or a memoir no-one reads like me. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 7:41 AM PST - 16 comments

My turn, for once! I am trying to remember a short story that I read in (almost certainly) one of the first twenty-five volumes of Dozois' Year's Best Science Fiction. This is How You Lose the Time War reminded me very sharply of it, and I want to find it again, but I no longer have my collection of the physical books. [more inside]
posted by restless_nomad at 5:58 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm thinking of resurrecting a campaign we had going several years ago (none of us have played any TTRPGs since). We were using Pathfinder back then, but I'd like to move to D&D. From what I've read, D&D One will be out next year. Should we wait for it, or should we just start with 5ed first? [more inside]
posted by destrius at 4:13 AM PST - 14 comments

I live in London, UK. I see fewer grey squirrels around than I used to. Has something affected the squirrel population? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:45 AM PST - 10 comments

Is there a good veggie chili recipe?
posted by hairless ape at 8:47 PM PST - 30 comments

Why are rental cars in Los Angeles so cheap? Am I missing something? I'm going to Southern California and renting a car for 9 days comes out to about the same cost as it would just to Uber from the airport to my parent's house and back to the airport. [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 6:23 PM PST - 21 comments

I keep on reading that kids on the spectrum “may struggle with math and writing as the subjects become more conceptual in middle school.” A teacher even tried to write this into my kid’s IEP (I deleted it.) There’s no evidence my kid has problems grasping higher order concepts or theories now and I have no reason to think that will be true in the future. Is there something I’m missing?
posted by haptic_avenger at 5:17 PM PST - 28 comments

I want to know 1. How did you get help with your adhd, autism, depression, anxiety, ocd to help you parent better. Meds? Specific types of therapy? Strategies you came up with or heard about? 2. Also if anyone has filed ADA accommodations at work for these things or for depression and anxiety. Was it helpful? 3. Please throw at me any resources: groups on FB, websites, forums, books etc.. [more inside]
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 5:05 PM PST - 11 comments

We are doing some traveling in New England and would love suggestions for places to eat! [more inside]
posted by needlegrrl at 4:23 PM PST - 21 comments

Can you help me find convertible furniture that will let me use my screened-porch for hanging out and dining during the day, then turn into the sleeping porch of my dreams at night? [more inside]
posted by minervous at 3:18 PM PST - 10 comments

When I was a child, my grandfather showed me a card trick, based on a mnemonic in a language other than English. I would like to reproduce it in English. [more inside]
posted by virve at 11:33 AM PST - 5 comments

Wild ducks seem to have messed up my pond's ecosystem, and tadpoles are no more to be seen. I am a frog-lover. Can anything be done? [more inside]
posted by Grunyon at 7:19 AM PST - 16 comments

Am I destroying a happy home? [more inside]
posted by bullatony at 7:11 AM PST - 7 comments

Recommendations or personal experience on extending control pedals for a 4'10" driver? Maybe 2-6". [more inside]
posted by Mitheral at 6:13 AM PST - 8 comments

My family of three finally has the time and funds to travel, and our two hard parameters are “in August” and “Spanish speaking”. An unofficial parameter for me is “less stressful”. I’d like to input on whether Madrid and Seville, or Madrid and Northern Spain, could be tolerable, and suggestions as to neighborhoods, hotels or activities. [more inside]
posted by Phyllis keeps a tight rein at 4:41 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking to crowd source some creative and fun ideas for supporting some behavior change in an office setting. In the brave new world of hybrid/remote work many more people are on virtual meetings. Combine that with an open plan office, and you get a lot more ambient noise. So that's the problem, see inside for the solution. [more inside]
posted by brookeb at 4:19 PM PST - 21 comments

I am taking a psychology course in Contemporary Aging for my masters. I am doing a report on senior sex and about the challenges and joys found in sex after 65. I have found good anecdotal information in Joan Prices books. I am looking for resources that include research results. Any suggestions?
posted by goalyeehah at 3:46 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a Brother HL-L2350DW laser printer. It works great. Except... it's started ignoring my attempts to print 95% of the time. Even immediately after being restarted, it goes to "deep sleep" on its small display (but does appear to be connected to wifi, based on the wifi button being a solid green). The printer shows up as "offline" on my computer, and I can't get it to print. Help! [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 3:04 PM PST - 15 comments

Semiglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.) are the new, popular weight loss drugs. Insurance covers them only if prescribed for diabetes. For weight loss, they're generally not covered -- definitely not covered by Medicare. Without insurance coverage, they are very expensive in the US. They are much cheaper in the UK. Is there any way to get a prescription that could be filled mail order in the UK? One would want to be sure they are actually getting the real drug, of course.
posted by DMelanogaster at 2:18 PM PST - 18 comments

In August 2020, I asked MeFi if I could run a firm that conducted candidate self-research for a client candidate, not necessarily opposition research against his or her opposing candidate. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:45 PM PST - 5 comments

I like to multitask while driving. I also have some older friends that get frustrated easily by online processes.. sometimes it would be faster if they could just place an order 90s style. especially some relatives who are .. ahem.. a tad difficult to provide tech support for. So, I'd like to hear about good experiences you've had recently with retail companies that still allow you to buy by phone (and, for purposes of older folks part of question, still have print catalogues. tho open to those who do not as well.) I'll start - swanson vitamins. really good customer service, open late. Others? thanks in advance : )
posted by elgee at 12:58 PM PST - 13 comments

Hey folks Looking for recommendations for good podcasts from Brazil and/or in Portuguese? bonus points if they are interesting series and/or documentaries. Thanks in advance.
posted by specialk420 at 10:52 AM PST - 2 comments

There are several examples in tv and film of “a set of steak knives” as a punchline to mean a crappy gift. Why? What’s funny about steak knives? I’m particularly interested as steak knives as a bad gift in office/sales culture. Was this a common practice? I’m seeing more examples of this in the 90s-2000s, and would appreciate any available historical context that might help me understand. Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by OrangeVelour at 10:52 AM PST - 30 comments

I thought that there was no problem, that it's fast and safe and now onto a life of better vision. Then I came across this article and it's put some doubt into my mind. Is this just a scare page to drum up traffic or is there something to it?
posted by dancestoblue at 10:40 AM PST - 15 comments

My step-sister's mother (who I did not know personally) has just passed away and I'm helping out with some of the process. The deceased person owned a house (which they were informally renting out) but probably did not leave a will, and we think we will need to talk to a probate attorney. How do you find a good probate attorney in Wisconsin? [more inside]
posted by JZig at 9:49 AM PST - 7 comments

In "Head Over Feet" Alanis Morissette sings "you held your breath / and the door for me." Zeugma! What other songs make use of this (most excellent) rhetorical construction? [more inside]
posted by quintessence at 9:36 AM PST - 43 comments

How should I think about my kids attending schools very different from the ones I attended? [more inside]
posted by sy at 8:45 AM PST - 46 comments

My partner and I are about to get into combining houses. The problem and source of my panic: she makes mid 5 figures and has immaculate credit. I make low 6 figures, live well below my means and have no debt besides my mortgage, and have terrible credit due to various issues around procrastination and anxiety. [more inside]
posted by ftm at 8:38 AM PST - 12 comments

Help me find this short story about a town doctor who ends up accused of secretly practicing eugenics on the population. [more inside]
posted by Wild_Eep at 7:43 AM PST - 3 comments

Okay, I'm not actually going to drink tea tree oil, but how can eat or drink that aroma (minus the poisoning part)? [more inside]
posted by so fucking future at 7:29 AM PST - 28 comments

other stuff I like within, but what it says on the tin. needs to be something that has an audiobook, though if you know of something that doesn't I'm still open to hearing the rec :) [more inside]
posted by wooh at 7:29 AM PST - 10 comments

What is the best way to get fan mail to the "Boleyn" touring company of the show "SIX"? Last time we sent a note to the box office of a theater, it wasn't delivered. :7( [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:34 AM PST - 8 comments

I received a "notice to vacate" from my property manager for an apartment that I have lived in for 20 years. The reason given is damages to the unit. This is my only rental history, but my salary, savings, job history and credit is good. How can I maximize chances of success in my search for a new place to live? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:00 AM PST - 33 comments

I was with a teenager and sort of stumbled over how to refer to his step-brothers who were living in the same house. He seemed to take offense and replied "you mean my brothers?"--is that the normal usage these days?
posted by Jon44 at 4:57 AM PST - 25 comments

How to edit a full feature film in Premiere or Final Cut? [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 4:16 AM PST - 8 comments

Looking for proven results only as I have searched for the answer online and have come up short. For the past few months, my Facebook feed--even when I click "most recent"--is showing me results of only 2 people. Nobody else. I have gone to friend's pages and purposely reacted to posts to see if the algorithm changes, but it doesn't. [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 3:44 AM PST - 4 comments

A while back, I’m guessing in the 90s, I saw a film on TV that stuck with me. Or rather, a scene has stuck with me. A man is on a date at a ballet, or an opera, but is surreptitiously listening to soccer on the radio through earbuds. When his team scores he jumps out of his seat in joy, to the surprise of his date and the bougie audience, at which point the man pretends that he was overwhelmed with emotion at the performance on stage and starts applauding, which impresses his date. Does this scene sound familiar to you? [more inside]
posted by Kattullus at 11:39 PM PST - 5 comments

I've established a tradition of making my mom little books of photos that show her cat Jax and my cat Bean having adventures. My mom is a retired French teacher, so for Mother's Day she'll get pictures from their trip to France. I'm needing help with a few more images and I think some of you have interest in cat shenanigans and French puns. I am using Canva to do these and don't have Photoshop skills. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:53 PM PST - 32 comments

I have two electric blinds in my bedroom that use a single remote to go down/up. The remote is super-damaged, thanks cats, and the blind company wants me to pay $280 for someone to come down and set up replacement remotes. I tried a cheap universal IR remote but it didn't work, but this must be a DIY-able situation, or should I just pay so I can sleep in darkness again?
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:48 PM PST - 17 comments

A friend is going all in on making a living through various types of online money-making ventures. I'm worried for her, but maybe that's because I don't understand these ventures well enough. Could anyone explain to me how these things work and how much risk is involved? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 4:54 PM PST - 16 comments

I need to replace my elderly 2014 MacBook and want to get a new MacBook Air. I am *so* overwhelmed by the options! Can the Hive mind help? [more inside]
posted by radioamy at 4:19 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for a name and/or discussion or research about the rhetorical device of connecting the main topic of a speech or sermon to a future everyday event you expect a large percentage of the audience to encounter. The goal of the device is to trigger a moment of reflection and mindfulness about the broader topic of the sermon later in the week when the small event happens. [more inside]
posted by ch3cooh at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

Throughout history, when towns/cities were invaded and annexed by different countries, how long would it have taken the inhabitants to learn the new language? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 12:21 PM PST - 20 comments

Short form: For years I've used a prescription drug (not a controlled substance) which was recently discontinued by its manufacturer. There is no substitute. Local compounding pharmacies tell me they can't get the active ingredient to make up the medication for me. But I really don't want to stop using it. There is no generic available in the U.S.; however, there are foreign generics. How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 11:04 AM PST - 11 comments

It has come to my attention during the recent crisis in Sudan that being evacuated from a foreign country isn't free. Is there any publicly available information re: the costs of being evacuated by the US during the early days of the COVID pandemic? Were evacuees just charged for their flights, or did they also have to bear the cost of quarantine? This seems like something that would have attracted public interest, but I am dreadful at locating all things civics on the internet.
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 10:21 AM PST - 3 comments

My wife is currently using an old Samsung tablet at the end of its life. She is quite far in a game she likes, "Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells," along with other games, too. Looking around at reviews and prices, she may decide to go with an iPad as a replacement. Can she transfer her game progress to an iPad? [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 9:38 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm helping my friend, who is poor and ill, to sell or give away his possessions because he may need nursing home care. [more inside]
posted by KayQuestions at 8:19 AM PST - 10 comments

I am interested in learning more about contemporary artists who have explored the topic of the domestic sphere, the home, and childrearing, having been pondering the famous 1970s art installation Womanhouse. Have any artists considered these issues in more recent decades? Work that touches on some element of gender would be especially interesting to me. What suggestions do you have for this??
posted by mortaddams at 7:32 AM PST - 21 comments

I’m using a little over half of my allowed 15GB of free Google capacity. I’d like to clear out a lot of the large attachments from my email, but I want to keep the emails themselves. If possible, I’d especially like to automatically keep one copy of each attachment in a thread -- but if not, I'll take what I can get. [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 6:19 AM PST - 15 comments

So I just got a positive Covid test, despite the many precautions I had been taking. I have surgery scheduled in 3 weeks. Is there any chance I can still do it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:05 AM PST - 13 comments

A young relative (YR) of mine is about to graduate university, but does not yet have a job lined up. Simultaneously, coincidentally, and for reasons, their dual-citizen parents have left the US and returned to their native country. This leaves YR with no parental home to return to, and no remaining connection to their current state of residence. Thankfully, they do have a few other US relatives, spread across several other US states, and the plan is for YR to basically couch-surf among their homes until they can get a proper job (which may take some time). The question: what should YR do for health insurance in the meantime? Is the right move to repeatedly sign up for, and then cancel, exchange plans as they move around (sometimes potentially for just a couple weeks at a time?)? Is there such a thing as a state exchange plan that includes non-emergency out-of-state coverage? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:09 AM PST - 9 comments

It's the story of a guy, whose life and conversations always revolve around him and all his problems. His wife has just left him. He doesn't seem to have many real friends. But then he meets someone who teaches him to listen. [more inside]
posted by many-things at 1:18 AM PST - 0 comments

At 0:55 in Prism's Spaceship Superstar, a low note sweeps or swoops smoothly up several octaves in pitch. It sounds like a sine wave to me, but I'm no expert. I'd like to duplicate that swoop. Difficulty: I'm cheap and lazy... [more inside]
posted by mpark at 11:28 PM PST - 10 comments

All of the sudden, a huge amount emails sent from all users at my small business are going to spam and not seen by our recipients, and it's absolutely crazy-making, as it means our proposals and invoices are not being seen. I've spent weeks on this with our IT consultants and have gotten nowhere so it's time to consult the green. Please help! [more inside]
posted by LongDrive at 9:04 PM PST - 10 comments

I have moved into a new apartment, and in the past 10 days I have: killed 2 mosquitoes, been bitten twice, been woken up with their buzzy nocturnal fly-bys on several occasions. What is the best way to keep mosquitoes out of my bedroom, and what is the best tactic to track them down if they get in? I'm in Japan - here's the link to the Amazon JP "mosquito" search results, if that helps (I don't know anything about any of these products/ approaches).
posted by my log does not judge at 8:50 PM PST - 11 comments

I did something selfish and stupid, and hurt the feelings of someone I love and care about deeply. Trying to cope with the consequences of my own actions. [more inside]
posted by Riverside at 7:58 PM PST - 15 comments

What is the best, most effective product for cleaning a brick wall which has recently been vandalized with spray paint?
posted by storybored at 6:16 PM PST - 3 comments

Up till my 40's, I never needed glasses. Then, for a decade or so, I needed glasses just for reading. Now, after a visit to the eye doctor, it seems I'm about to be someone who wears glasses regularly. What should I know? Looking for any and all advice and tips on this new thing!
posted by ManInSuit at 6:14 PM PST - 42 comments

Getting: Uncaught DOMException: Blocked a frame with origin "https://domain.com" from accessing a cross-origin frame at https://domain.com/resource" even though they're both same protocol, domain and port. [more inside]
posted by signal at 3:48 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a specific question about using different coloured Slide Masters in the same Powerpoint presentation. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 3:16 PM PST - 5 comments

If they exist, I would like wireless earbuds as similar as possible to the original iPod ones (and most earbuds of that period). I do NOT want anything resembling modern earbuds, with rubber bits poking into the ear canal. Here is an example of what I mean, except I want wireless. Why is it impossible to search for this??? Please give me your recommendations. I am prepared to pay for audio quality if that is even a thing with this kind of design.
posted by cincinnatus c at 3:07 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm mentoring a new systems administrator for our organization who has a background in mac repair. They have had no problem picking things up whenever I've taken them through how things work. They've got an opportunity to dip into our organization's training budget. [more inside]
posted by ursus_comiter at 2:30 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m currently recovering from brain surgery. Screens are a no-go for more than a few minutes at a time. I need podcasts or other audio type things to listen to while I’m not napping… [more inside]
posted by cgg at 1:31 PM PST - 26 comments

I'm traveling to Iceland in August. I have 10 days and definitely want to see as much as possible. There is so much info out there about best routes to take but it seems like Ring Road, Highlands and Golden Circle are the most mentioned. Any recommendations on where to eat/drink (in and outside Reykjavik)? Was considering forgoing Ring Road to spend a few extra days in Reykjavik (to explore, meet people and experience the culture). Is 2-3 days enough in the capital? [more inside]
posted by matt755811 at 1:10 PM PST - 11 comments

My local school district was recently taken over by an extremist board and they seem to be running the same playbook that's taken place nationally. What should I be reading to stay informed of general tactics and counter-arguments? [more inside]
posted by Arbac at 12:09 PM PST - 17 comments

Bought a 3 year home warranty for $1400. Can cancel within a year for a refund. That's today. Our central AC outdoor unit makes a really loud buzzing sound when it comes on and when it's running generally. Husband says that probably means it will go out soon. I have questions. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 11:47 AM PST - 10 comments

How should I tell my therapist that I started getting low-dose ketamine from an online pharmacy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:21 AM PST - 17 comments

I am trying to divide the country into 4 somewhat equal territories for my sales team. [more inside]
posted by eggman at 11:05 AM PST - 1 comment

My balcony (10' by 5') faces direct sun for most of the day. Per HOA rules I cannot hang a permanent or retractable awning. The sun mostly comes in through the 5' side of the balcony. That 5' side has wood along the top and one side, with house siding on the other side and a metal railing on the bottom. What can I do to shade my balcony so that I can work outside during the day? [more inside]
posted by twelve cent archie at 10:56 AM PST - 21 comments

Looking for a relatively small (less than 32") bedroom dresser-top TV that turns itself on at a set time. Not interested in anything pricey. [more inside]
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 10:15 AM PST - 6 comments

I have an old microwave, I would like to use it as a kiln. There's a lot to take in and a lot to compare. Maybe you've already done some of this work and will spill the tea. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 10:07 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for advice on a specific situation. I need to move out of a house and there's going to be a gap between leaving and start of new lease. I have two cats that need to be housed. There are pet-friendly apartment complexes that offer as short as 2 month leases but they are exorbitantly expensive, miserable, and the my sense is the situation could pose a real threat to the cats. [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 9:50 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm recovering from an illness, and my mobility is (hopefully temporarily) very reduced. It would be helpful to have someone stop by a couple times per week, for an hour or two, to go down a list of random chores like taking out the trash. What website or app is best for finding someone, these days? I'm not in a major metro area but also not rural.
posted by zeek321 at 8:43 AM PST - 4 comments

We are about to be drowned in a sludge of similar AI-generated video content using tools like Stable Diffusion, and I'm sure the novelty will wear off. Right now I'm fascinated and worried in equal parts but I'd like to see this medium develop. I'm not on TikTok so I'm mainly encountering it on Instagram (eg. 1, 2, 3, 4), but is there a good aggregator somewhere, or some particularly good creators I could follow on YouTube? Quality over quantity.
posted by snarfois at 8:27 AM PST - 3 comments

I recently purchased an 8 oz. bottle of liquid saccharine (Sweet N Low brand). I was surprised by how... diluted it seemed. How many drops do you find to be equivalent to two (pink) packets of the powdered version?
posted by zaixfeep at 7:06 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm a "failed" academic (PhD social sciences on the job market for 6 years before giving up) currently working in a toxic environment and want out. If I could, I would go live in a monastery or take up wood working or farming, but that's not realistic. So how do I just accept my lot in life and find a job? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:34 AM PST - 22 comments

Can you think of any songwriting duos--preferably well known songwriting duos--in which one of the songwriters is dead, while the other remains alive? [more inside]
posted by Black Cordelia at 6:17 AM PST - 39 comments

Do you have a recommendation for a car rental company in Iceland? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 6:05 AM PST - 7 comments

I want to sleep without my phone by my bed. Can you recommend a good alarm clock that allows me to set different alarms for different days of the week? Can also have a wake up light, which I'm interested in trying out. [more inside]
posted by cameleon at 5:22 AM PST - 15 comments

Seeking alternatives to a cat flap that do not require permanent changes being made to a window/door. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:52 AM PST - 18 comments

It's been a few years since I've done this, (and never from office365). Previously when importing to gmail, I used IMAP and manually dragged and dropped emails from one account to the other. I like the thought of not having to nurse an IMAP client all day... Gmail is giving me the option to 'migrate' emails (I think from the inbox only) using POP. But I'm [more inside]
posted by dance at 3:35 AM PST - 8 comments

Very long story short: My aunty has asked me to write a letter supporting her application for my deceased father’s navy service records. All good, but I have no idea what to write. Please help. [more inside]
posted by BeeJiddy at 10:27 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a time tracker which runs on both Linux and Windows as a desktop application, that has: 1) easy UI (crucial: inline editing of start and stop time, projects/tags/whatever means of categorizing each entry); 2) inbuilt Pomodoro timer; 3) idle time detection. I'm willing to pay for this. [more inside]
posted by gakiko at 10:20 PM PST - 4 comments

For medical reasons, I am currently not able to wear dress shoes. I unexpectedly have a job interview tomorrow. Should I address the fact that I am wearing sneakers at an interview or say nothing? [more inside]
posted by hworth at 6:33 PM PST - 17 comments

Having some back pain and am looking for ways to sit and sleep with minimal discomfort. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 5:56 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm a dual US-Canada citizen who has always lived in Canada but considering moving to Seattle. Tell me about what to expect with Medicaid in Washington state (Apple Health). [more inside]
posted by dokodomo at 5:44 PM PST - 5 comments

The features I really want are: ~~~Not Apple device ~~~lots of storage ~~~headphone jack (or could someone explain to me this thing about wired headphones being plugged into the phone in the charging port?) [more inside]
posted by janey47 at 5:32 PM PST - 19 comments

I’m curious to get people’s take on a situation I was involved in a few days ago at a restaurant where there were three of us for dinner. [more inside]
posted by That darn sock! at 4:28 PM PST - 23 comments

I've searched high and low and it's driving me nuts. I want to buy this song for my personal enjoyment but it's like a mirage - vanishes when I get close. [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 at 3:28 PM PST - 4 comments

Hi. I am wondering if there are games that are similar in nature to Nintendo Switch lite or Steam games at all? I loved Stardew Valley and played it all through the pandemic lockdowns (I know the creator is also making a second game that is in the works). However, I am trying to find an excellent game that parallels to Stardew Valley.
posted by RearWindow at 2:01 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a relatively common name for my area. Let's say it's James and that I do not go by Jim at all. When I introduce myself as James, some people immediately say "Hi Jim! Nice to meet you!". Why? [more inside]
posted by Garm at 1:53 PM PST - 31 comments

ATTENTION NICHE NERDS: WE NEED YOUR HELP. We're headed to Japan soon. There are lots of articles about things to buy in Japan: unusual Kit Kats, traditional handmade items, Matcha products, skin care, knives, etc. We don't need broad info like that. We've also read/watched all about the various shopping districts. We know that stuff. What we would like to know is: pursuant to your own weird, niche interests, what is an item a person can buy in Japan that you would be hard-pressed to buy anywhere else? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:18 PM PST - 65 comments

First time flying out of SWF (driving up from city). What do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 1:02 PM PST - 3 comments

My great-uncle was in a cell in the French Resistance during WWII and either took a lot of photos or was given photos by a Maquis friend of his. I have images of the album but next to no details besides that, because he died in the 60s and my dad can't remember what he told him about the location. Can you help me identify where in France these photos were taken? Am assuming Limousin region but am not sure. More details and image links inside. [more inside]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:56 PM PST - 7 comments

Does a complete version of this jokey list of "accompanist's fees" (FB link) exist anywhere on the interwebs?
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:20 PM PST - 2 comments

Looking to go on a trip for a couple of days and the only criteria are it be a place we haven’t been before, and that where we stay has a balcony. [more inside]
posted by cali59 at 11:53 AM PST - 9 comments

Do I need a Harmony Remote, Broadlink RM4 Pro, or something else to control my "home theater"? [more inside]
posted by lemonwheel at 10:28 AM PST - 4 comments

My teenager has gone through two backpacks from The North Face in less than a year. The North Face replaced the first one under warranty, and I expect they'll replace the second one, but we'd like to have something more durable. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:18 AM PST - 29 comments

I am thinking about going to Spain for a week in June and I would like to do some hiking. I really don't know much about the area so I would like some recommendations about where to stay and what routes are good to hike. [more inside]
posted by antiwiggle at 8:16 AM PST - 7 comments

What's a good and safe location for someone who's new to Chicago to take a flight or two of stairs down to experience the various levels of the city? [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:09 AM PST - 5 comments

A relative has a few hospital visits scheduled, and I'll be accompanying them. Can you help me brainstorm ideas to pass the time? [more inside]
posted by xenization at 7:55 AM PST - 19 comments

We (along with other neighbors) were feeding a neighborhood stray at our old house but now we're moving. I figured she'd be okay staying in the old neighborhood where I know at least one other family are looking out for her, but an encounter with her today is making me feel sad about leaving her. [more inside]
posted by Brain Sturgeon at 7:48 AM PST - 15 comments

Every time someone buys something through my website, I get an email confirmation. It goes into my spam folder. I don't want that to happen. Help. [more inside]
posted by goatdog at 7:14 AM PST - 13 comments

We’re celebrating GCofTethys who is now finishing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in CO. He doesn’t want to attend the ceremony, so we’re soliciting the hive mind for experiences that feel more like a graduation celebration than a regular family visit. Hope me! [more inside]
posted by childofTethys at 3:55 AM PST - 18 comments

Asking on behalf of a friend of a friend, based in York, UK: They are in trouble because it looks like the fintech business they work for is about to go under. This would be bad in itself, but - they are from China and they need this job or a similar one to be able to stay in the UK with a valid visa. It would absolutely crush them if they had to go back. [more inside]
posted by snarfois at 2:55 AM PST - 2 comments

This may be a stretch, but recently a friend visited and had this love seat in their AirBnB. I want it. But I can't find it anywhere. [more inside]
posted by Bobby Bittman at 8:58 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm early-forty-something (nonbinary but superficially dude-coded), and I find it extremely soothing to just talk to my mom about hard things I'm going through. Not for everything, but for enough things. My mother is irreplaceable, and I'm not trying to parentify my friends, but how the heck do I learn to draw a little bit more emotional support from friends? [more inside]
posted by zeek321 at 7:54 PM PST - 6 comments

nsfw english phrase for korean friend... [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 7:18 PM PST - 1 comment

I am looking for a VOIP service that my 9 year old can use if I'm unexpectedly incapacitated while she's home with me and/or for when I eventually start letting her stay at home on her own while I run down the street. She knows how to use the emergency feature on my iPhone but if she doesn't have access to it, I'd like to have a fallback. [more inside]
posted by scottso17 at 5:30 PM PST - 8 comments

I really want my home to look put together and polished in a way I just cannot seem to manage. I'm willing to pay a professional to help, but I'm not sure what kind of professional I should be reaching out to. I'm ready to pay a couple thousand per room potentially to help me declutter, organize, then figure out what to do with the art on the walls, the furniture, etc. Who would do this? [more inside]
posted by shesbookish at 4:44 PM PST - 10 comments

We own an old house on a small suburban block and can see ourselves staying here for the next 15+ years. I'm curious about knocking down and rebuilding. What do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 4:05 PM PST - 9 comments

Very excited to be headed back to Vermont. Been there more than 2 dozen times but it's been 10 years since I took my kid and husband. Staying in Stowe for a long Memorial day weekend and wondering what's new and what I might have forgotten! Food, sights, hikes! [more inside]
posted by ReluctantViking at 3:10 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m taking my girls (10 & 14) to New York City for 3 days in late June. It’ll be their first visit and I’ve begun the utterly impossible task of planning the perfect itinerary. I grew up near NYC and went there all the time, so I know the basics, but haven’t been there as a tourist in decades. Help! [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 2:41 PM PST - 19 comments

Should I report this? How does this happen? [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 1:48 PM PST - 9 comments

Please help rec a multivitamin that I don't have to take 6x a day. [more inside]
posted by kittensofthenight at 12:44 PM PST - 9 comments

Above all else, this was honestly communicated with all parties. I notified the person I was dating that I wanted to talk with my ex for closure, and I notified my ex that I was seeing someone but was willing to see him to try reconciling. So, everyone was fully aware of the situation. I (34/F) started seeing someone (34/M) last week, and really liked him. A lot. I dated someone (26/M) for about 4 weeks from mid-February to mid-March, and he left in a blindsiding way when he was supposedly deported. I thought he was more invested than he was, and I ignored the pile of red flags. I grieved the relationship and accepted I'd never hear from him again. Despite dating this new person wherein we were equally invested, when my ex reached out saying he was back in California, I wanted closure. I made a poor decision by doing this, and now I don't know what to do (if anything) for the person I was dating to give me another chance. [more inside]
posted by Jangatroo at 12:06 PM PST - 60 comments

I have something going on with my jaw, my official diagnosis is that the condyles are not fully seating and the lower jaw is pushed forward. (I think there is probably some asymmetry as well). I am not in any pain, but I am having trouble talking clearly and eating, and it just feels really, really off. The dentist has referred me to physical therapy, but the earliest appointment I could get was in four weeks. Is there anything I can in the meantime to alleviate some of the symptoms?
posted by nanook at 11:57 AM PST - 3 comments

I waited too long. None of the shoes I want to buy for walking around Rome’s cobbled streets and Tuscan hillsides are available in my size before I leave tomorrow. Where in Rome could I buy some good shoes for walking around without paying inflated tourist prices? We are staying in the city near the Vatican, where I am sure tourists pay top dollar for every damn thing. Help!
posted by conscious matter at 11:37 AM PST - 8 comments

I made a video of myself using iMovie for iOS. Here's how I did it: I'm singing to an instrumental arrangement I made on GarageBand and was playing "live" in my room. (confusing enough?) Here it is on YouTube. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:29 AM PST - 1 comment

What are some on the go breakfasts to give to kids (and parents) who commute. [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 10:57 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm thinking about taking a trip to Vienna with my wife this autumn. Looking for recommendations for hotels mainly. I'd like to find somewhere that's got some of that traditional Viennese style and I'm happy to go upmarket if its worth it for how it looks and treats guests. [more inside]
posted by crocomancer at 9:58 AM PST - 8 comments

Recently in working with my chiropractor she pointed me towards a published paper about the management of cervicogenic headaches with physical therapy and postural changes with the aid of a weighted kypho-orthotic. I did the exercises and they've been helping tremendously. I want to try the Weighted Kypho-Orthosis but I can't find one on google. Where can I buy one? Thanks!!
posted by maxexam at 9:24 AM PST - 6 comments

Last night, I witnessed a car accident and I can't help but feel guilty that... I actually caused it?? I don't know what to do!! [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:03 AM PST - 28 comments

Visiting Toronto for the first time this summer, and trying to figure out where we should stay. Our friends have advised us NOT to stay downtown, as nothing we'll probably want to do is located there, but we're a bit bewildered as to where we SHOULD stay. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 9:01 AM PST - 23 comments

I can’t remember who he is, but he has curly hair and glasses. The attitude is a little similar to The Average Redditor, but I can’t find the video. There’s one where he’s in Central Park and another where he’s at a bar or pub. I saw these sometime last year. Any idea who it is? Google is totally failing me.
posted by glaucon at 8:52 AM PST - 3 comments

I love these MUJI shoes I purchased online several years ago, but they are starting to wear down and I'd like to replace them. The problem is that AFAIK they have completely disappeared from the internet. [more inside]
posted by gwint at 8:18 AM PST - 6 comments

My partner and I are finally ready (visa-wise) to leave UK to return to my homeworld. I have wanted to do this for years but now that we can, I am paralysed with anxiety and don't know where to begin. Please help? [more inside]
posted by Carravanquelo at 7:34 AM PST - 7 comments

We have a vendor that is insisting campaigns allowing access to the same Google account by multiple parties is a major concern and a violation of Google policy. This is the first we have heard of it. Certainly there must be cases of multiple ad agencies, comms agencies, etc having access to the same Google Ad Campaign? Does the concern ring a bell? Are they perhaps confusing an existing policy that anyone knows of?
posted by UMDirector at 7:21 AM PST - 9 comments

I think my neighbor would enjoy music by Einaudi. Without doing any interrogation of her, or making her sign up for something, or buying a music player myself, or ideally without making her download it even -- is there _any_ way I can just buy some Einaudi music and give it to her? I'm imagining buying and downloading some MP3s and putting them on a thumb drive, but also purchasing a license for her, so it's legal. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 6:07 AM PST - 13 comments

This is going to be the summer I find the trainer socks of my dreams. ISO recommendations for invisible/no-see mens trainer socks that stay up for more than, say, five minutes. I no more want to half stop, half hop, clutching a friend's arm whilst dragging a wadded up sock from the depths of my sweaty trainer. Hope me.
posted by Faff at 2:47 AM PST - 17 comments

What is the 406 in Dick Dale's "Blonde in the 406"? [more inside]
posted by Hactar at 1:23 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm trying to use Screen Time to limit my kid to 1 hour of a certain website on his MacBook (Big Sur). This website only works in Chrome or Edge, not Safari. According to the Screen Time data on my MacBook (Ventura), there's no usage of that website on his computer, which isn't the case. How can I get screen time to limit access to this one website by time? Does Chrome or Edge not work with Screen Time web page blocking? Does this require a newer version of Mac OS? [more inside]
posted by Mushroom12345 at 12:20 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm building a PC with Larry David Syndrome, Jr. This is my first build, although I am generally experienced with electronics. We're in the final stages of the build and are hoping for some help to make it over the finish line! The motherboard is a MSI MPG X570. The case is a Fractal Define 7 with a Nexus +2 Fan hub. Here are the pages from the case and motherboard manuals which pertain to fan connections. [more inside]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 6:43 PM PST - 6 comments

I've held a koala, a quokka, a wombat and a baby kangaroo. I'd like to do meet a fennect fox next. Where's there a sanctuary in the world - ideally close to their native habitat - where I can do that?
posted by rileyray3000 at 6:12 PM PST - 6 comments

Anybody remember a cartoon from the 60s — New Yorker or possibly Playboy — with this caption? The speaker was an older, tweedy academic.
posted by LonnieK at 5:16 PM PST - 0 comments

Looking for books about people who find themselves at a point in life where forward progress is challenged by their own self-limiting beliefs or negative thinking, self talk, defeatism. [more inside]
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 5:10 PM PST - 4 comments

Help me find a replacement for my ThinkGeek Handbag of Holding! I have several specific requirements. [more inside]
posted by sineala at 4:54 PM PST - 16 comments

I want to make something out of the mask that was made to hold my head in place during radiation treatment on my spine. I've thought about a bunch of stuff, from major alien queen type headgear for Halloween to something colorful and decorative for the inside of the house, but what I really want, I think, is to put it in the garden and use some kind of growth medium to have like a flowering moss or creeper type groundcover grow on it. How might I accomplish this? [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 4:35 PM PST - 3 comments

Rocket scientist from New Zealand considering two (2) specific job opportunities. One is near Munich, and one is in Swedish Lapland. Both opportunities specify that the workplace is almost entirely Anglophone because the workforce is highly international (not unusual for the field). Which one do I pick? [more inside]
posted by ngaiotonga at 3:48 PM PST - 12 comments

What are some good representations of late 90s/early 00s internet fandom conversations? I'm particularly interested in the kinds of conversations that would happen in, say, a specific off-fandom discussion thread or part of a message board (that is people within a community talking online but about some spin-off topic). Pre-Tumblr, Pre-LJ is helpful! [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish at 2:51 PM PST - 15 comments

Is it possible to self-actualize? How can I know if I'm self-actualized? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 12:36 PM PST - 21 comments

This low voltage garden flood light was installed during the pandemic by an electrician who left no owners manuals and I can't make contact with them now. The installation also consisted of 3 vertical walkway lights that were easy to figure out, and took FEIT GU4 bulbs. When I look down the center of the flood it looks like this takes the same bulb. More things I have tried below the break. [more inside]
posted by forthright at 12:32 PM PST - 3 comments

I do not enjoy lifting weights. However, it has recently become clear to me that if I don't engage in some sort of weightlifting training, I'm going to for-serious be the "I've fallen and I can't get up" lady from the commercials. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 11:36 AM PST - 11 comments

After several months of being ping ponged between various medical specialists, I've just recently found out that I need not one, but two laparoscopic surgeries. (Not a lottery I wanted to win!) After a lifetime of being pretty decent to my body, several traitorous organs need to be removed (no cancer). This will all go down later this month (at least it will be just one operating room visit). I’ve also had a lot of unrelated stress before these diagnoses and am trying to not freak out. Seeking information and empathy below the fold. [more inside]
posted by interbeing at 9:44 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm conflicted and I would like to hear from other people. Details about the situation inside. It's kind of long, because I am also thinking through this myself. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:56 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a masters degree in engineering and work in a growing industry, but see myself as somewhat of a generalist engineer. My job consists of a lot of data analysis work, and I can already see that if I don't gain more skills, I think my career prospects are going to become more bleak in the coming decade or two. [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 8:47 AM PST - 10 comments

Hi all, my 11yo kid is learning the piano and enjoys noodling, maybe more than learning classical pieces. He also loves any music with strong rhythm. What would be some good software for him to create music? It should be on Linux (Ubuntu-based) and ideally would be easy for beginners. He plays on a Kawai CA79 electric piano which has midi capabilities so any software which could use this (and any advice on how to set this up, including necessary hardware) is very welcome. Thanks!
posted by anzen-dai-ichi at 7:53 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a set of these Edifier speakers. I have an Android phone and use YouTube Music as my main music app. How can I turn this setup into a functional wifi streaming arrangement? [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 4:56 AM PST - 13 comments

I'd like to make a wicker man costume for Halloween, but I could use some advice on basketry and fake fire. [more inside]
posted by McBearclaw at 11:08 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm still in shock. I called 911 on my neighbors because I could hear him beating her. She flipped out when pd got there and turned on me. I definitely don't feel safe. I need help processing. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 9:37 PM PST - 22 comments

Twentysome years ago, when I was in college, I had on-site captioning with a steno machine hooked up to a laptop. One of the captionists had a driving game on the laptop that I could play while the captionist recorded the discussion session we attended. I've always wondered what the game was. [more inside]
posted by Stuka at 9:00 PM PST - 3 comments

My piano bench collapsed and the screw bent, what can I buy to replace it? [more inside]
posted by hermanubis at 8:47 PM PST - 8 comments

During a pretty unhappy breakup, staring at screens went from "thing I do too much" to "self-soothing strategy that is taking over my waking hours." Have you had any luck loosening the internet's grip on your brain? [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 7:05 PM PST - 17 comments

I’m travelling down the coast of Vietnam for 2 weeks in late June and I need women’s walking sandals. Lots of daily sightseeing, etc., not actual hiking. Please hope me! [more inside]
posted by Salamander at 6:20 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm getting a Porco Rosso tattoo and I need to know how to say "better a pig than a fascist." [more inside]
posted by waffleriot at 6:18 PM PST - 6 comments

I really need advice, I just moved into a new apartment with my 10 month old, alone, I just received these text messages from my landlord, I am not sure what to do. [more inside]
posted by DeltaForce at 5:58 PM PST - 18 comments

Relatively new to getting tattooed and want to attend the Seattle Tattoo Expo in August. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 5:49 PM PST - 3 comments

This is a movie about a single mother with a bunch of kids (like, at least four or five) by different fathers. [more inside]
posted by the hot hot side of randy at 4:54 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm considering putting an offer in for a house, and was just told by the seller's agent about the house's pump/grinder system. Is this a red flag? [more inside]
posted by monologish at 4:41 PM PST - 7 comments

Are you a member of a hobby group with a good website that’s easy to use? Please tell me about it. [more inside]
posted by AMyNameIs at 2:58 PM PST - 4 comments

AAAAARGH please tell me I can somehow create a Google account (to use Google Drive) without providing a phone number? This is using a non-Gmail address - I have my own domain name and want to use name@mydomainname.com as the user ID. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 2:44 PM PST - 8 comments

Is there any concrete evidence that people's attention span has decreased in recent years, with the advent of digital media? We often hear that attention spans have declined, but I would love to know if that has been quantitatively measured.
posted by mortaddams at 2:42 PM PST - 6 comments

Various life events, none of which are/are going to be cheap. But thanks to the same events, it's important to be able to budget or be more frugal in other areas to ensure I'm not overspending. Help me work this out please. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 1:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I need to pull data from a web site. This requires entering keywords and location filters from excel lists, and pulling data from a fixed part of the page and writing it back into excel in a way that will be associated with the keyword and location. Have you used something you would recommend for this?
posted by willnot at 11:57 AM PST - 4 comments

I have huge boobs. I want a new swimsuit. Challenge Level: I prefer less cleavage over more. [more inside]
posted by Aranquis at 10:11 AM PST - 24 comments

Looking for a driving simulator game that simulates actual North American driving, in all its dullness and terror, for Switch, iOS, or PC. I would like to brush up. [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 9:27 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm struggling with which ereader to go with, and I need some help. [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:26 AM PST - 20 comments

I like having over the air tv, and would like to add it to my laptop, esp. for road trips. Looking for a compact tv tuner, hoping there's a sweet spot for performance, price, ease of use, compact size. Would be pleasant to be able to add an antenna.
posted by theora55 at 9:24 AM PST - 3 comments

I remember reading a sci-fi story where copyright lawsuits run amok, in which ordinary people are automatically sued for infringement every day by lawyer bots searching the internet, and then people using their own lawyer bots to settle the legal threats without any human interaction. Does this ring a bell? [more inside]
posted by waxpancake at 8:20 AM PST - 5 comments

I am in the early, early stages of thinking about getting a motorcycle. I rode in my younger years and miss it. I'd like some advice about buying a used motorcycle, which I would almost certainly do via a dealer. [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 7:11 AM PST - 5 comments

Plot twist: my supervisor knows my potential PhD advisor, but I don't totally trust my supervisor [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:38 AM PST - 14 comments

I believe I saw a paper through MetaFilter about comprehending prosody in text, where the big reveal was that the whole paper had been written in rhythm and rhyme but that the text structure did not highlight this, meaning it could be overlooked. Does anybody know what this was?
posted by solarion at 1:55 AM PST - 2 comments

What's the best time to buy tickets from Boston to Paris for Tuesday, Dec. 26 to Monday, Jan. 1? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:05 PM PST - 8 comments

Spurred by this question, I bought a tube of the Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen and used it yesterday. Ouch! 1.5 days later, my cheeks are still puffy, red, hot, and sore. It seems like I got a first degree burn from it. Why? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 6:03 PM PST - 8 comments

This movie is probably very obvious, it is fairly recent and was on one of the streaming apps. [more inside]
posted by lesser whistling duck at 3:30 PM PST - 14 comments

What are the best resources to explain how these new language model AIs work? The intended audience (me!) has familiarity with computer science and programming, but no domain expertise in machine learning. Any materials for general audiences would also be appreciated.
posted by leotrotsky at 3:15 PM PST - 9 comments

I’d like to replace my ancient oil burning furnace with a heat pump. I have no idea where/how to start. As always… [more inside]
posted by 0xABADBABE at 2:25 PM PST - 21 comments

Approximately how many people on this planet lived their entire lives between the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, and before the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, and so never in their lifetimes experienced a UK coronation? [more inside]
posted by General Malaise at 1:55 PM PST - 7 comments

How are you submitting your music for review in printed and online publications these days? [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 1:48 PM PST - 0 comments

I have always taken it as a given that you would want your partner to value, admire, and respect that things that you like most about yourself, but a recent conversation made me question whether this is true, and now I would like to ask you for your experiences and advice. Example within. [more inside]
posted by HotToddy at 1:00 PM PST - 37 comments

I recently went through my first performance review with a company I joined a year ago. I was shocked and disappointed with the rating I received. On further consideration of the method of review, I've come to think that the entire method of review is either very flawed or deliberately set up to induce lower ratings, but I'm not sure what to do with this - what, if any, feedback would be wise to share with my manager? Or should I keep quiet? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:41 AM PST - 31 comments

Looking for a recommendation for a location on the gulf coast of Florida from Clearwater south to Fort Myers for a January vacation. Two adults, one senior citizen, and two late-stage teenagers. Trying to find a location with a nice beach close by (senior citizen) and lots of things to do for the teenagers (both very active, love exploring new areas, shopping, thrift stores, probably near a mid size city best for them). [more inside]
posted by mlis at 11:11 AM PST - 9 comments

I am not sure if I need a USB adapter for a wired controller for the Nintendo switch lite? I bought the 8BitDo SN30 Pro wired controller. It does state that it is a USB-wired controller, but does that mean there is an adapter attached to it or not? As I am not sure?
posted by RearWindow at 9:03 AM PST - 3 comments

I see full body scrubs (like the Korean spa scrub in this Buzzfeed video) that slough off loads of dead skin. But I thought that the outer layer of skin, including the old/dead skin cells in the process of shedding naturally, provided protection for the lower layers of skin and for the body. Do full body scrubs like this leave you vulnerable for a while afterwards? Are they actually kind of unhealthy for you? [more inside]
posted by cadge at 8:42 AM PST - 9 comments

Right now if I ask what song is playing, or what the weather is, the song keeps playing on a low volume during the question and answer, so I end up missing part of the song. [more inside]
posted by catquas at 8:23 AM PST - 1 comment

In the weeks following my first COVID vaccinations, I noticed that my sense of smell started to get clearer. Long hampered by allergies and about 10 years of smoking, food and particularly outdoor plant smells were suddenly easier to detect. But correlation ain't causation, right? [more inside]
posted by bendybendy at 7:29 AM PST - 9 comments

I bought a Breville Bambino after doing a bunch of research and deciding it was the cheapest good(ish) espresso machine. What’s the equivalent grinder? [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 7:25 AM PST - 19 comments

This is a common question, but google is flooded with chaff and marketing results and the best answers on AskMe are from 10 years ago and a lot changes can happen in a decade. If I'm buying something small but expensive (like more expensive than a new iPhone pro, less expensive than a used car), how do I avoid losing my money? Also, how can I help make the seller feel comfortable? [more inside]
posted by midmarch snowman at 6:42 AM PST - 1 comment

I've been hearing "at scale" and "at speed" a ton at my current company in strategy/corporate speak. At scale = "able to scale up", "at speed" = "fast". When were these terms popularized? Have these terms gone outside of corporate culture?
posted by sandmanwv at 6:34 AM PST - 17 comments

**CW WARNING: suicide** A close friend who suffered from severe depression and schizophrenia died and left this note which was written in the dark. Some lines overlap. Could the hive mind help me figure out the parts I am unable to? My best guess is inside. [more inside]
posted by Dragonness at 12:10 AM PST - 8 comments

Numerous times tonight i woke myself up releasing an obviously held breath. I breathed it out through closed lips to somewhat comic effect, bit it happened a few times. I generally sleep badly in that i never feel rested. I slept with a sleep monitor about a year ago to test for apneas but didn't have any.
posted by Iteki at 11:08 PM PST - 10 comments

I am pretty much new to all this. Hope me not get scammed and/or injured. [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 9:58 PM PST - 11 comments

Getting a pup in a couple of weeks (Portuguese Pedango Pequeno). Will be about 11 weeks old. Would like to start a good training regime straight away. Is there a particular methodology that works best? Best books or vid series?
posted by pmaxwell at 8:16 PM PST - 11 comments

We're converting our garage into a finished office/workout/storage space. We'd like to put in some storage/cabinets in, but aren't sure where to look. [more inside]
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 4:53 PM PST - 9 comments

I have resident cottontails in my yard. The other day I finally got some good pictures of them. Can you figure out if they are Mountain, Eastern, or some other variety of cottontail? [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 4:19 PM PST - 6 comments

My apt has a shared backyard, with 3 very tall fences, and one also tall but the cats can jump over short sections of it into the next yard. It's a wooden fence. They are never outside without "supervision" (as much as you can supervise a cat)--I'm wondering if there's anything I can temporarily drape over the fence that will keep them from jumping. I'm imagining something I can put up when we're outside, and then take down when we go back into the apartment. [more inside]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 3:47 PM PST - 9 comments

I need to fix the corner of this wall, which is in the entranceway to the basement of my house. I presume that I would need to use self-bonding cement mix, doing several applications to build up the layers until the corner looks whole and level again. Is this correct, and/or is there anything else I should know to do this repair?
posted by orange swan at 3:31 PM PST - 3 comments

Canadian here. I own a mutual fund with Mackenzie Investments and got a letter today saying there had been a data breach and my name, address and SIN are now out there on the dark web (not an exact quote). What now? [more inside]
posted by Epixonti at 2:43 PM PST - 5 comments

My boss hired a person I will be the direct supervisor of; I don't think this person is a good fit for the job, and at worst I think this person might be really unhappy in the job. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:09 PM PST - 9 comments

I was in Messenger at work, and a disturbing message popped up, and I don't know where it came from. It disappeared (maybe because I clicked on messenger) and now I can't find it anywhere. I thought it may have been a new chat in messenger, but it wasn't. The notification center just shows two standard notices (to update Apple settings, and weekly report available), can't scroll down because there are no others. [more inside]
posted by Glinn at 1:35 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m trying to ID this sweatshirt, which is purple, tan and grey swirl tie dye with three small melting smiley faces in a row. It looks like it says “happy daze” but I’m not sure what the word underneath is. [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 12:40 PM PST - 3 comments

I really like watching cooking videos on Youtube, but it's hard not to notice certain demographic similarities, and I'd kind of like to expand a little bit. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 12:17 PM PST - 23 comments

I asked a previous question about men's business formal dress in a hot & humid climate, and now I'm back to ask about specific recommendations for socks and undershirts. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:45 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm fairly certain it's not a bedbug. Found on the ceiling in my kitchen, NW Washington State, US. I think it's some type of weevil? [more inside]
posted by xedrik at 11:42 AM PST - 3 comments

Shopping online and finding it hard to choose. I'm looking for a reasonably comprehensive collection with lots of big, clear, colour reproductions. New or used.
posted by brachiopod at 10:39 AM PST - 0 comments

I feel so terrible posting this question, but I'm really stressed about the surgery to remove the mass colon cancer from my colon. It ends up my surgery was "pushed up" to this upcoming Thursday next week, and the only other availability after that was in July. I've worked things out with my mom coming in, but I've been getting some confusing messages from her, and it's aggravating my anxiety. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 10:30 AM PST - 23 comments

I inherited a work project that involves a highly outdated and mostly defunct WordPress site that has around 600 text entries describing scientific findings. I would like to figure out how to export the text content of the WordPress site into a pretty simple straightforward spreadsheet. I have zero WordPress experience. Can this be done? [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 10:27 AM PST - 7 comments

My sister will be visiting me in NY and wants to get her first tattoo. I have gotten a few tattoos here but I wouldn't call them warm, friendly experiences, and that's what I want for my sister. Who is the friendliest tattooer in New York? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 9:35 AM PST - 7 comments

I went out to a bar with a friend a week ago and used my card to buy us two rounds of drinks. No tab, no closing out, hand the card over, they run it, and I sign the receipt. The charges were in pending for quite a while and now entirely disappeared, so I guess we got free drinks? Would you contact the bar?
posted by rhymedirective at 9:23 AM PST - 12 comments

Netflix's DVD service is winding down, and I am the last dinosaur who still subscribes. How do I make the best use of it before it goes? [more inside]
posted by catesbie at 8:15 AM PST - 8 comments

Seeking casual restaurant recommendations for central London and Aberdeen. [more inside]
posted by gnutron at 8:01 AM PST - 10 comments

Calling to mind the wordplay involved in Big Pun's Twinz ("dead in the middle of Little Italy little did we know that we riddled some middlemen who didn't do diddly"), what are some other epic examples of amazing lyrics in hip hop songs? [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 7:28 AM PST - 22 comments

I struggle with this issue much like the person here: But am seeking feedback on different arena of life; specifically dealing with a service provider. [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 6:54 AM PST - 18 comments

When you are riding as a front-seat passenger in a car, what are the rules of etiquette with respect to the driver? [more inside]
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 5:56 AM PST - 37 comments

Husband found this part of a bug in our laundry room, on the floor near the shelves he’s got clothes on. Does this look like a bedbug shell to you? Should we imminently panic? [more inside]
posted by caitcadieux at 5:49 AM PST - 4 comments

What it says on the tin. One of my adult kids has pretty severe money-related anxiety and I would like to be able to point them to a place where they can learn to help themselves. [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 3:07 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm in a new book club, and looking for book recs. The two main criteria. One: it's a geeky group that likes puzzles, so sci-fi, mysteries, historical fiction, etc. are good -- BUT two: people are busy, so it can't be too involved or difficult (no Eco, probably; no House of Leaves, nerds). The criteria are kind of at odds so I'm looking for books in the sweet spot. [more inside]
posted by fleacircus at 12:11 AM PST - 22 comments

Hello! I'm looking for resources for learning music at an extremely beginner level. [more inside]
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:19 PM PST - 10 comments

Got a job offer last week that I've been working towards for some time. Yay! Just sat down to read the 16 page non compete, non disclosure, non solicitation agreement. Um, wow. [more inside]
posted by disconnect at 8:15 PM PST - 12 comments

Last October, I paid $180 to reserve a service that will pick me up after a medical procedure that I will be having soon. As it turns out, I no longer need them to pick me up, so I cancelled, knowing that I would need to pay a $50 cancellation fee, and expecting the service to credit me $130. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 8:13 PM PST - 10 comments

I refuse to admit what my profession is, for fear of being roundly mocked, but accounting type things like this always confuse me, so here goes: I need to figure out how much my spouse and I should be putting away monthly when their job is taking out part of a large "shared cost" -- health insurance -- from their paycheck. [more inside]
posted by AbelMelveny at 7:52 PM PST - 12 comments

We were excited to feed birds with a new bird feeder in our backyard. We bought it Saturday. Today we looked out the window at dusk and saw like 5-6 rats having a Ratatouille time under the feeder. Help. [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 7:50 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a traditional IRA that consists of pre-tax 401k contributions from previous employers that I rolled over into it. Should I convert this traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (backdoor Roth)? I do expect my tax rate to increase in the future and I don't think converting would push me into another tax bracket. It seems like the answer is "yes you should" but want to do a gut check. [more inside]
posted by dede at 7:39 PM PST - 8 comments

I am considering turning the small, windowless storage room in my apartment into a home office to free up some space in the main living area. It is roughly 5' x 8' with 9' ceilings and currently looks like this (1,2). I put the table and dining chair there to simulate where my work bench would be as a trial run to take some meetings this afternoon, and the single overhead light feels very dreary and inadequate. What can I do to brighten up the place? The more specific the suggestion the better. [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 7:00 PM PST - 20 comments

Help me park efficiently near Canton Waterfront Park! [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 6:15 PM PST - 2 comments

A single cigarette is being smoked. Would a cylinder-type carbon filter with an inline fan be sufficient to capture the burn and the exhalation, and how effective would it be in capturing the odour? Links inside. [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 6:10 PM PST - 6 comments

My local bus system doesn't have an app and it's very frustrating. How hard would it be to make my own app and how should I get started? Assume I'm pretty bright and learn fast but am starting from zero. [more inside]
posted by an octopus IRL at 5:11 PM PST - 14 comments

I'd like to know more about art history, especially the first half of the 20th century. Any recommendations for documentaries? I'm more interested in learning about styles than individual artists. Expressionism 101, Non-Objective Art for Beginners, that sort of thing.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:09 PM PST - 8 comments

For the first time ever, I'm getting my house professionally cleaned on Friday. My house really needs it. I know I have to tidy up before they get here, but what exactly does that tidying up include? [more inside]
posted by meese at 3:19 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm preparing for a cross-continent move, and starting a new job. I am dreading the polite "getting to know you" chat that is coming, because my answers to many innocuous questions are unusual, and people have a lot of follow up questions. On the one hand, I am new in town, and I want to make friends and get to know people. On the other hand, I am real sick of the Aint Broke Story Hour (TM). Please share your tips for politely deflecting and/or redirecting conversation, while also getting to know people. [more inside]
posted by aint broke at 1:35 PM PST - 44 comments

I'm looking for awesome, fun cinematic fiction audiobooks. I've heard Baldacci thrillers novels with sound effects, looking for something a step up in literary value but with something similar. Thrillers, mysteries are good.
posted by sandmanwv at 1:16 PM PST - 7 comments

I struggle to pay attention during conference calls and tend to get distracted by my email, small tasks or reading. I've found that puzzles and some casual games help keep that easily distracted part of my brain occupied so I can pay attention and listen. Please give me your online games suggestions that aren't too involved and: 1. Don't involve words or reading 2. Don't have a timer or where time isn't an integral part of the game [more inside]
posted by captaincrouton at 12:55 PM PST - 31 comments

My uncle just sent this to me: kunk, z, n, p, e, m, a, x, r. k=t It's a cipher puzzle, that's all he'll tell me. And obviously, the two k's in "kunk" are supposed to be t's. I can usually work out puzzles where whole words are represented by the wrong letters, but this one where there are just a string of single letters separated by commas has got me flummoxed. Is anyone able to solve this and then explain how this puzzle works?
posted by NoMich at 12:11 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm almost a year post-partum, in my mid-30s, and need to switch up my vitamin regimen. I'm looking for recommendations for a daily multivitamin, fatty acids/omegas, and maybe collagen supplements. [more inside]
posted by thetarium at 12:00 PM PST - 4 comments

I’m looking for a free, simple web app or free, simple piece of Windows software that would function like a set of index cards. Most useful in this case: the ability to re-order the cards by drag-and-drop. [more inside]
posted by lokta at 11:34 AM PST - 10 comments

I saw a Facebook ad for this tiny maskless CPAP. It's cheap. It has a long list of seemingly reputable supporters. But the website it's listed on seems a bit sketch. Does anyone know if this is a real product and if it's actually ordered here, or do I find it elsewhere? Seems too good to be true. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 11:28 AM PST - 11 comments

In addition to Copenhagen, where else should we go? We're an American couple and neither of us has spent much time in Europe. We tend to enjoy wondering around neighborhoods, going to cafes and seeing artsy stuff, rather than the big tourist attractions. [more inside]
posted by mullacc at 9:16 AM PST - 22 comments

I've recently received a small windfall of around 60,000 euros and I'm wondering how best to invest it. What I'm really after is your top tips for resources to learn about buying shares. Can you point me to some good sources of information, so I can spend my time learning rather than searching? (Other investment ideas are also welcome. I'm in the eurozone but am also very open to investing in Australia/NZ.)
posted by rubbish bin night at 8:24 AM PST - 9 comments

I moved into a place with nice new appliances but am cooking less than I used to, in part because I'm intimidated by the induction stovetop. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 8:21 AM PST - 16 comments

Has anyone else experienced a situation where they had trouble narrowing down the cause of their mattress-related back pain? I recognize that something needs replacing at this point, but due to financial reasons, I don't want to waste extra money by replacing something if it isn't the thing that is actually causing the issue. [more inside]
posted by carnival_night_zone at 7:32 AM PST - 12 comments

I really enjoyed Mary Beard’s “SPQR,” particularly for the way it tried to explore behind the veil of myth, legend, and received wisdom that pervades Roman history. I’d love recommendations for similar works that cover ancient Greece. Thanks so much!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:17 AM PST - 9 comments

My ARM mortgage is resetting and the bank is also reamortizing the loan. Help me understand the math. [more inside]
posted by Mid at 5:55 AM PST - 20 comments

I have to run an hour-long training session tomorrow from 17:30-18:30 UK time. Originally, I was going to do this from home, but since it was scheduled, I've been booked (by work) to go to Edinburgh. Is there anywhere within half an hour of Waverley Station where I could join a Zoom call for an hour, at this hour (17:30-18:30) specifically? [more inside]
posted by obliquicity at 1:45 AM PST - 6 comments

hi! I'm disabled and need to eat more soup/stews for health reasons. I would ideally be eating homemade soup and getting it delivered to my place in the Bronx. I can't cook much because of my illness. Does anyone have recommendations for places /people that I can buy from that has 1.tasty soup 2.over 32 oz (so I can save more for later) 3.affordable (under $15 for a few meals worth) 4.delivers to the Bronx or can pickup near Flatiron Building [more inside]
posted by starlybri at 12:22 AM PST - 8 comments

Iron is an element. Ferritin is a cage made of protein that stores iron. How is ferritin made in the human body? How does iron get into the ferritin? What is the life cycle of iron? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 11:46 PM PST - 4 comments

I've been tapped by my bicycle club to make a roster for about 10 people and I'm wondering what's the easiest way w free software. [more inside]
posted by peacay at 10:46 PM PST - 2 comments

My company recently had a workforce reduction so I was worried and started casually looking and landed a great job offer that pays $165K ($22K more than my current salary). Current employer really wants me to stay but is unable to match fully because of people in higher role than me making less than this. I’m struggling with what to do next. I feel like I’m a marketable candidate so neither one is a bad choice but I would like an outside perspective please. [more inside]
posted by missybitsy at 8:52 PM PST - 24 comments

I'm trying to figure out the best way to get from Popejoy Hall to the airport after a Saturday matinee, but I will probably need to go to my hotel to pick up luggage on the way. I'd obviously like to do this without missing my flight. What would a local do if they didn't have a ride from someone they knew? [more inside]
posted by potrzebie at 8:02 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm organizing a political event which will have some local elected officials (city councilpersons, district and superior court judges, other county-level elected officials, etc.). I'm am struggling to figure out how to address them in our program. Are they all "The Honorable Bob Hob"? Or would I put "City Councilor Bob Hob"? "Registrar of Deeds Bob Hob"? Or just Bob Hob? How about Judge Bob Hob? Is he "Judge Bob Hob" or something else? [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 6:44 PM PST - 12 comments

We're looking to replace a renter-grade electric oven with (possibly) an induction top oven; are there any buy-guides that index against how loud they are? [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 5:42 PM PST - 17 comments

I thought June 16- 19th would be a good time to take a solo road trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park to avoid crowds and do some hiking. It's a 4 hour drive for me to get there and I don't want to do all that driving and end up not really being able to do much. I don't own snowshoes or chains, nor do I want to. [more inside]
posted by firemonkey at 2:40 PM PST - 8 comments

I am going to be traveling to Bangkok for the first time on a work trip in mid-June. I have another 5-6 days to explore on my own. However, my understanding is that June is the rainy season and I should expect the weather to be very hot and humid. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 1:48 PM PST - 4 comments

I remember reading a book, or possibly a short story, where a character realizes their marriage/partnership was over because they and their partner no longer took their child (I think a daughter) out of a freezer-creche. By freezer-creche, I mean that the child was in stasis between visits and did not grow or change or learn during that time. I'm pretty sure the character is thinking about this in a section where they were thinking about their "unlucky in love" relationship history. What was this story? [more inside]
posted by OrangeDisk at 1:03 PM PST - 7 comments

Sometime in the past few years I read or listened to a piece of media about how assumptions about naming can shut people out of databases entirely. People were described as unable to access government services because design assumptions about names did not permit their actual names. Examples included people who do not have a last name or have names of a single character. Does this ring any bells? I'd like to revisit this article or podcast, but can't find it.
posted by Glomar response at 11:54 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm heading to Dublin and Galway with my mother this week, and realizing I have a lot of mostly transit-oriented questions I've run out of time to dig into! Hope me with my annoyingly specific questions, please? [more inside]
posted by quatsch at 10:30 AM PST - 14 comments

Trying to sell my car. Possible buyer wants the VIN. Should I? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 10:17 AM PST - 6 comments

My now abusive husband (M41) of 5 years and I (F31) are headed towards divorce and I’m terrified. In need of any and all practical advice and general hope. 

[more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:53 AM PST - 21 comments

This is a question about my brother and a look back to the 60s/70s/80s and wondering how his abusive issues and strange behavior as a sibling would be treated today. [more inside]
posted by amanda at 9:10 AM PST - 22 comments

My work laptop was recently evergreened and the new device has been working fine since I fired it up last week Thursday, but as of this morning the fan kicks in every minute or so and runs in short bursts. It's a Dell, Intel 1.70 GHz if that matters. I'm not using this thing any different than my previous laptop and the fan never ran on the old unit. Should I be concerned? The fan is not particularly quiet.
posted by elkevelvet at 7:30 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm wondering, is there any literature out there that challenges the (seemingly) well accepted introvert - extrovert dichotomy (or spectrum, or whatever)? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:26 AM PST - 13 comments

I need to write an Excel formula that converts percentages to an 'x times as much' figure. It is breaking my brain. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith at 7:26 AM PST - 5 comments

My debit card account info is saved on the "mindbody" site connected to my yoga studio, but it keeps reverting back (by itself??) To an incorrect expiration date and thrrefore the monthly auto-charge can't go through. [more inside]
posted by bearette at 7:22 AM PST - 7 comments

A long time ago I used to be able to make a delicious peanut sauce, or maybe my standards were just low. But I lost that recipe and now every time I try, it's terrible. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 7:20 AM PST - 13 comments

I am attempting to enter into a new field however my resume looks less than favorable. I’ve had short stints at contract jobs and entry level positions. I look like a job hopper while in reality I’ve been laid off a few times. How do I make it so that my resume reflects my strength? How do I overcome being laid off several times in the last couple of years?
posted by sheepishchiffon at 7:19 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm just a parent, standing before a hivemind, asking for any leads on a children's book from 25-30 years ago. [more inside]
posted by OhHaieThere at 6:02 AM PST - 6 comments

We had two cats, and very sadly, the younger one died. The older one now seems to be relishing her place as our only cat. Is there a decent chance she’d be happy about us getting another cat? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 5:00 AM PST - 15 comments

WARNING: dark topic / childhood abuse / I'm trying to recall a Simpsons episode. At least I remember it as the Simpsons. It could have been another show. I saw it years ago. [more inside]
posted by trevor_case at 2:08 AM PST - 7 comments

How can a property chain be made to move faster (if all parties want to move quickly?) [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 1:00 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm sure this question can be asked for many types of white collar work. In my case, this is about writing, editing, and adjacent work - journalism as well as content/copy, etc [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 10:52 PM PST - 14 comments

I really want to paint a huge wooden staircase in my house. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the task. How do I manage dust and washroom access? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:10 PM PST - 16 comments

I have some concerns that at least one medication is causing other issues. My doctor hand-waved my concerns away and I need to figure out if I am being one of "those" patients or if this is really worth pursuing further. You are not my doctor, etc, but if you have any advice it would be appreciated. Wall of text ahead... [more inside]
posted by ninazer0 at 5:49 PM PST - 11 comments

We run a small, niche charity that to date has been mostly self-funded. But we are starting to take donations from third parties and the big request has been the ability to donate by credit card online. I have no idea how to do this and Google's search results look super SEO-optimized so I don't know what's what. Do you have experience with a reliable, fair site that I can link to from our website's donation page?
posted by AgentRocket at 4:45 PM PST - 6 comments

Canadian* jazz, 2013-2023, hit me. [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 4:04 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for carry on luggage options to take on United Airlines Flights [more inside]
posted by Upon Further Review at 3:48 PM PST - 15 comments

Can you help with with a couple of questions about the way my glasses prescription was written? [more inside]
posted by Otto Franz Joseph Leopold von Soxen-Puppetten at 3:47 PM PST - 4 comments

Max has always been free-fed and his weight stays at exactly a healthy 47lbs. I upgraded him to slightly nicer higher quality food about a month ago and now he cheerfully cronches it all as soon as I fill his bowl. I'd rather not have to measure his food or have him gain too much weight or be anxious about food availability. Will he eventually get used to it and go back to eating when he gets hungry? Do I need to shift him back to the slightly less nice food? Other options? TIA!
posted by ftm at 1:46 PM PST - 8 comments

We are in the market for our first house. We understand we can either borrow or withdraw from our IRAs, with certain restrictions, and we do plan to do that. Have you done that? What did you learn that I should know? How long from the point of the request to withdraw/borrow did you have the cash in hand? [more inside]
posted by Miko at 1:43 PM PST - 10 comments

For the verse "Another industrial ugly morning / The factory belches filth into the sky / He walks unhindered through the picket lines today, / He doesn't think to wonder why". Well, *I'm* now wondering why. Speculation is welcome, but something definitive is preferred.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 12:55 PM PST - 26 comments

Need help dealing with people who LOVE to talk and aren't great at listening [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 12:54 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to determine the country &/or military associated with the uniform in this old image. [more inside]
posted by obloquy at 12:45 PM PST - 4 comments

One of my kids (three years old, boy) has some behavioral problems that we think we've got a pretty good handle on, but occasionally he still gets sent home from daycare. This is a problem for me, because I then have to take the day off work to care for him. Is there a better way? [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 11:31 AM PST - 37 comments

My fam and I will be in Europe shortly and unfortunately my partner's knee went out making walking quite painful. Looks like the places we will be have options of renting mobility scooters, or mopeds of various sorts. She can't ride a bike so worried about balance when it comes to like a Vespa or something but that could be a nice way to get around.. maybe? We will mostly be in Edinburgh and Barcelona. Would love your thoughts. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 11:30 AM PST - 15 comments

In the past week I have had 3 emails not arrive. Three different senders. Three different kinds of email. The senders are certain the emails were sent. The emails never arrived. I searched for them, including in my spam. I use gmail. Note that it's entirely possible other emails are missing, but I only noticed these because they were important enough to follow up on. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:58 AM PST - 15 comments

I would like a charging station to keep the mess of USB messes on my nightstand less cluttered. Here's the thing: There's one phone. There's one tablet. There are 5 wearables (don't even ask). Watch style. Some plug in USB type chargers some have snap-in chargers like a fitbit. I would like to A) Plug them all into the same place B) Not have a spider-web of cords everywhere. C) Have lots of fast-charging plugs. All the charging stations I can find assume you have lots of phones and tablets but just one wearble, maybe two. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:16 AM PST - 8 comments

Does anyone know the etymology of the Turkish surname Upçin? I found one oral history referencing someone who might have used this name before the Surname Law of 1934, but that's all I know about it.
posted by yarntheory at 9:34 AM PST - 1 comment

Has anyone seen an application that would support horizon scanning for a topic or group of topics at a regular cadence (lets say weekly or daily initially? [more inside]
posted by specialk420 at 9:05 AM PST - 5 comments

turtlegirl and I are going to hike a section of the Cotswolds in June then visit with some friends (Hereford and Devon) before heading to London a few days before our flight home. We want to get a room somewhere which will allow us to get to Heathrow (relatively) easily, BUT we also want to be able to get into the city for a few meetups with London-based friends. [more inside]
posted by terrapin at 8:38 AM PST - 9 comments

The kitchen in my new apartment does not have any drawers. Does a standalone pull-out cutlery organizer exist? My search for countertop cutlery storage has yielded flip-top boxes and open caddy-type containers, but I would really like a low-profile drawer that either has a cutlery organizer built in, or is large enough to accommodate a small organizer like this one (12.75" x 9"). Please assume other options for storage (e.g. installing a drawer in a cabinet, storing the cutlery at the table) have already been investigated and discarded for various reasons. Thanks!
posted by btfreek at 8:36 AM PST - 17 comments

I've got a free day next monday to spend in Chicago, and i'd like to enjoy it, so hope me... [more inside]
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:20 AM PST - 18 comments

YANMD. This morning, I had a consultation with my surgeon. I've been getting some conflicting information, so want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Again, YANMD. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 7:36 AM PST - 31 comments

My partner and I got pandemic-married in our living room over Zoom, and had no honeymoon. Now we'd like to plan for one, but we're also feeling kind of overwhelmed about it. How can we find a travel agent that can help us plan a honeymoon in Iceland? Bonus if anyone can add any insight about traveling to and/or honeymooning in Iceland! [more inside]
posted by caitcadieux at 7:08 AM PST - 10 comments

I am ordering a new Gore-tex jacket this week. When it arrives, can I put an iron-on piece of reflective tape without trashing the garment? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:44 AM PST - 7 comments

IKYNMD, my supposed doctor is actually unavailable as this is being written. I thought I'd go back on Wellbutrin, after not taking anything for over 20 years, but here I am. My best friend passed away a month ago and that sent me basically spiraling. The whole nine yards, isolating and zoning out, numb, sad and sadder. I go through the motions, clean house, wash dishes, self-care, pray - have it all down, but this thing isn't budging. We were that close. So now am considering taking medication but before I get on that train, would like to start getting a bit deeper into the experience and maybe try to shift this getting different perspectives, namely from books. I can't with the podcasts or videos. Time for the wise ones to lend their viewpoints on this from every aspect possible, more points for the spiritual, esoteric, physiological and nootropical. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 5:21 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm considering switching from a situation of living alone to living with roommates and would appreciate insights on how this might affect my two indoor/outdoor cats from those with experience. Specifically: - if cats are used to sleeping with me, would you sleep with bedroom door open or closed and move food, water, and litter into bedroom? - will older cats eventually come to accept strangers and possibly other cats?
posted by Jon44 at 4:05 AM PST - 8 comments